Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi owns Inuyasha and related stuff. I don't, and I'm glad I don't, because I couldn't do it write. I'd ruin it with miscellaneous details, and over emphasize how hot some of the characters are. As it is, it will take a great deal of self-discipline to get through this chapter. I'm already drooling.

Author's notes:

Ok, I realize Inuyasha is very slow and a little repetitive in this chapter, but he gets like that a lot in the series, and I wanted to show him- well, you'll see what I wanted to show. Point is, this story is not some exhaustion induced rambling ( I had a nap today!), it is very deliberate. Just to let you know.

Oh, I just noticed, I seem to forget to change font to bold or italics sometimes when their thinking. Sorry about that, hope it didn't cause any confusion.

Ah! See! I knew this would happen! I got over zealous when I finished the chapter, and since I hadn't started my responses yet I got trigger happy. I was writing responses, I scrolled down to the bottom of the page for a note, and then forgot I wasn't done yet and posted it without finishing my responses. And that is why I really do need to finish them before I start the chapter.

Ok, just for the record, yes, I am a drooling fangirl, but no, that is not why this scene takes place where it does. Look at Sesshoumaru. Inspite of all his battles and travels and everything, when he arrives, he always looks well groomed. Only during a battle have I ever seen him even with blood on him. Well, that, and while he was recovering from that battle where Inuyasha learned to use the wind scar, but he couldn't even move, much less groom. So, with that in mind, he strikes me as the sort of person that does not go a full 24 hours without routine grooming.

Thank you everyone who reviews!

Oh, and I've decided that I'm just not reliable enough to respond to reviews directly on the story. Besides, I've found an interesting feature to this site, "response url". So nice! Now, I don't have to feel bad if I accidentally forget to post the response! I will, however, post a response of some sort if I feel my answer my interest more than the person who I'm responding to. For example:

In a review, InuNightWalker made a great point. I use "This Sesshoumaru" way too much. I agree completely. Anyone who has read, "Rin is Bored" probably realizes I have no restraint when it comes to writing, especially with the improper use of the 3rd person. I adore it. And it often makes my writing strained or confusing. I am going to use it too much, it's a fact. I've accepted this, I recommend you do to. However, I don't want to use it so much it distracts from the story, like it does so often in my writing. So, I'll try to cut back. If you find me using it way to much (and I don't acknowledge it) then please do remind me, odds are it slipped my mind and I got a little carried away. No worries, as long as you're not mean about it, I won't be offended. InuNightWalker is a very good example of someone who knows how to give constructive criticism. From this review I was able to determine what I need to work on without feeling discouraged or attacked.

I've never actually read him using it, or heard him using it on the anime, it's something I picked up reading an unreasonable amount of fan fiction. If anyone feels I should give them credit for this, because I read one of your stories, let me know, and I'll mention you in my notes. Okie Dokie? Cool. I think that's it.

"Speaking"Inuyasha thinkingSesshoumaru thinking

Ch. 6- Tense

Don't fidget. Don't fidget. Don't fidget. Don'tfidgetdon'tfidgetdon'tfidget…

Inuyasha's nose twitched. He tried not to blink, but it only made him blink more. He tried to stand still but it made his limbs twitch. He tried to quiet his breath but even that seemed to get worse. And the worst part of it all was the strange, expanding sensation in his nose warning of an impending sneeze, causing his nose to twitch in an effort to contain it. Inuyasha was not good at being still, but he didn't want to move, to make a sound, because it didn't seem right. The unnatural silence of the hall as his older brother stared at the portrait was just too much, he felt like if he broke it, the demon lord himself would shatter along with it.

This is crazy, why should I care if he's in a freaky trance or something, damn it, since when do I care if he breaks? Let him break!

"Sesshoumaru!" Inuyasha flinched at the harsh sound of his voice in the otherwise silent hall. Sesshoumaru simply bowed to the portrait, and began to walk away.

Inuyasha was stunned into silence. Not that that lasted long.

"Hey! HEY! I'm talkin' to you! Sesshoumaru!"

"This Sesshoumaru agreed to answer any question. That does not mean I have to baby sit you. If you have something to ask me, you had better learn to keep up."

"Where are we going?"

"To my chambers."

"Why?"

"I intend to take a bath."

"What?"

"I will not repeat myself"

"But you said I could ask you questions the entire night!"

"So you can."

"And how am I supposed to ask you questions while you take a bath?"

"Very carefully."

"And what is that supposed to mean?"

"Judging by your reaction to the knowledge that I will be taking a bath, I take it you would rather not see me exposed. If that is so, I suggest not looking in the water."

"What kind of lecher are you?"

"Lecher? Inuyasha, I do not recall inviting you to join me for a bath, I only granted permission for you to be in the room. No one said you had to look, or even come for that matter."

Baka hanyou all flustered. You won't accept. This will give me a little peace from his trivial questions.

"Fine."

Odd pup. Now who's the lecher?

"Suit yourself." Sesshoumaru traveled in silence, Inuyasha following close behind. So quiet. It isn't like him. What are you thinking, Inuyasha?

He's just trying to shake me up. Well it won't work. I won't be distracted. I saw you, Sesshoumaru, you've got strong feelings about the past and I'm gonna find out what. He'll answer my question, whatever my question, but if I don't ask the right questions he won't volunteer the information. What to ask… Think. What have I learned so far… The first real answer I got was about how he was raised, something about obligation…

…Flashback…

"I have no life outside of service to my land and my people. And I was brought up to do precisely that. You cannot know the importance of honoring ones debt; because you have never known what is was to be in debt to another. I have been taught, from the time I was young enough to understand the words, that I am a servant, first and foremost..."

…End Flashback…

So what does that mean? He kept going on about servitude, and debt, and obligation, and how I don't understand, and… hang on, how I don't understand? People only say that when they are overwhelmed, but Sesshoumaru wasn't overwhelmed… Was he? Damn. This would be so much easier if he'd just show a little emotion once in a while. It's not natural, going around blank all the time. How does he do that? Inuyasha was about to ask, but stopped. Hang on, he'll just answer it and distract me again. For my next question I need to shake him up a bit, then I can look for details. Think. He seemed overwhelmed. Why? Well, he was going on about his responsibility and obligation, maybe that's what he was overwhelmed by. Wow. He doesn't like being all controlling and irritating?

"You don't like it, do you?"

"Inuyasha, be more specific."

"You don't like being responsible for your entire kingdom."

"You're wrong, Little Brother. I adore my station. It is all I have wanted since I was very little."

"What the hell? Then why were you all weird and intense when you started going on about obligation and all that?"

Sesshoumaru turned to face his brother, his eyebrow slightly raised.

"'Weird and intense'?"

"Yes! Well, compared to normal, anyway." He got no response. "Answer me! Why did you get all serious when you were talking about it.?"

"Because it is a serious matter. Those simple facts define my very way of life." After a silence, Sesshoumaru turned, and resumed his walk.

Damn. That didn't get far. Think. So he doesn't dislike it, it's just huge. Ok. But what does that mean? He has no life outside of his station, it defines his entire way of life. So, he's a cocky bastard because it's his job to be? No, I'm pretty sure he's just like that. Besides, Father had the same responsibilities, and from what I've heard he wasn't like that. Hm. He said it was taught to him when he was very little. Maybe he was taught other things too. I should ask him about that. But I need a plan. What else do I need to ask. Hm. Well, what about Rin? His second big answer was about her.

…Flashback…

"She is completely unabashed. She reacts to her environment as though the whole world could be trusted with knowing that she was startled or impressed or confused. She is easily startled, but not easily shaken, and is often quick to recover. She can smile after nearly anything. And…

"Well?"

"It's calming, to see someone react so shamelessly."

…End Flashback…

I still don't get that. Why should it be calming to see her act like that? He never acts like that. He never shows any emotion but anger and the occasional sadistic pleasure, but even those are more words than they are actual expressions. He just sort of makes his eyes a little more or a little less narrow. Why would it be calming to see her act like that? Hang on, he said 'as if the whole world could be trusted with knowing that she was startled or impressed…'. He doesn't show his emotions because he can't.

"Why can't you show some emotion?" Inuyasha was startled as he realized he had asked that last question out loud. He was about to take it back, when Sesshoumaru answered.

"Baka. Do you have any idea who you are talking to? Every politically minded demon in Japan is watching me, waiting for me to show weakness, to slip. Everyone is either depending on me to protect them, or wanting to get revenge, or wanting to over throw me, or judging me for not being as powerful as our father" Sesshoumaru stopped.

Damn. I can't believe I let myself sound so whiny.

Of course, by normal standards he hadn't been whining. In fact, someone who didn't know him would think he didn't care. Inuyasha, however, sensed the tension in his brother.

Wow. Sesshoumaru seemed, almost upset for a second. Inuyasha waited for his brother to continue, but he didn't. I won't push it. Besides, I got what I was looking for. He doesn't show emotion because he has to appear strong. Oh! That must be why he seemed overwhelmed. It isn't his obligation to protect them, it's all the crap that comes with it. Even when he talks about me and my mother, he sounds more like he's just doing it out of procedure, but you don't hate someone out of procedure, and he obviously hates me. There's got to be something more there. But I bet he buries it like everything else. It's gotta be hard, suppressing every emotion like that. That must be why he likes Rin's reactions. But what about his reaction to that portrait?

Inuyasha was distracted from his musings when two huge wooden doors were opened by servants, revealing an extravagant bedroom. Inside there were servants waiting in a line. Inuyasha was speechless.

"These are my private chambers. Consider yourself honored, Little Brother, you are the first guest to see them."

………………………………………………………………………………………………

End Chapter

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Ok, this chapter didn't cover ANYTHING that I had expected to cover. But, there was two different chapters competing for my attention, and I sort of lost them both in the process. Wow. I always swore I'd never do one of those episodes where the entire thing is the main characters thinking about older episodes, but this just came out that way. Sorry if you didn't like it. No worries, I have an idea of what will happen in the next chapter, and how it will happen, and it's not quiet like this. There's a heavy emphasis on thoughts, but bear with me. Besides, after a chapter like this I'm sure there's bound to be mischief in the next. Hehehe, so much fun. No worries, TheAlchemist'sDaughter, I still fully intend to go over there father's feelings towards his hanyou son, probably in the next chapter. I had ment to go over it in this chapter, but it sort of got away from me. InuNightWalker, I'm not sure which chapter it will be in, or exactly how it will come up, but I assure you, will be doing a chapter where we see Sesshoumaru as a child in the not too distant future, it feels to me like these questions are leading up to his childhood as well as… Well, I've probably said to much as it is.

Oh! And I only used "This Sesshoumaru" once the whole chapter, and it wasn't even an especially short chapter (for one of mine, anyway). I'm so proud!