Confrontation

When we emerged from the well, a happy greeting awaited us.

"WINDSCAR!"

Inuyasha's blast tore through the trees skirting the clearing as it made its way towards its target. Thankfully though, Kouga is much too fast to be caught in the devastation of the Windscar, and he evaded the blast with little difficulty.

"What the hell Mutt-face!" Kouga barked at Inuyasha. "I already told you I was called here!"

"And I already told you," Inuyasha rebutted, "That I don't give a crap if that bastard called you here or not, you're not welcome!"

Apparently the two were so caught up in their game of whose what is bigger, that they were completely oblivious to the fact that their quarrel now had an audience. Sesshomaru took a step forward towards the pair, but I stopped him with a soft touch on his arm. He looked at me, and I could clearly see his annoyance that I was stopping him from partaking in the game, but I wasn't about to let things get any more carried away than they already were. Besides, it just wouldn't do any of us any good if some of our major players were to acquire injuries before the upcoming battle.

"Inuyasha," I called out, immediately putting an end to the squabbling and causing the two to turn and look at me. "I asked Sesshomaru to call Kouga here."

"What? Why the hell would you do that?"

"Ha!" Kouga proclaimed as he trotted over to Inuyasha and swatted the back of his skull while he was distracted with me. "I told you I was called here!"

"Why you…" Inuyasha really needs to work on his comebacks. But then again, with him always putting all his energy into swinging that big sword around, it's amazing he even has time to say anything. Inuyasha took another swing at the wolf prince, but again Kouga evaded and the two were left at a standoff.

"Oh would you two knock it off!" I was so sick of all this male posturing. I swear; the next one to try to pick a fight is going to get sat whether or not he has a subduing necklace. "Look, I asked Sesshomaru to call Kouga here because the oracle told us that we need all 'friends of the pack' on our side if we plan on facing Naraku. And since I have the chemical that I believe will draw him out, that time is now. Kouga must be here for the battle, not only for his strength against our common enemy, but because of the Shikon shards he carries."

"Keh," Inuyasha huffed. "Why don't I just rip those shards out now and be done with it. That scrawny wolf wouldn't be any use to us anyways."

I could see Kouga tense at Inuyasha's proclamation. He was preparing for yet another attack. But he wasn't the only one who was angry. I had had enough of all this male egotism and I was about to put an end to Inuyasha's part in it the best way I know how, but I was beat to the punch by Sesshomaru.

"Tell me, little brother, do you plan on taking those shards in the same manner that you have been employing against the wolf? For if you are, perhaps you should consider using Tetsusaiga's sheath as opposed to the fang for all the good it has done you in stopping him thus far."

That's it! While Inuyasha was still too flustered by his brother's demeaning words, I spun around to face Sesshomaru, spitting out the first reprimanding word that came to mind.

"SIT!"

I heard the crash from behind me where Inuyasha had met the ground and the snickers coming from Kouga as he sat back and watched the hanyou's punishment, but what had happened to Inuyasha was not what caught my attention. I was facing Sesshomaru, and if I were not so close, or if I didn't know him so well as to know his postured stance when he is around others; then I may never have seen what I did. Upon my use of the reprimand, which I have used so often against Inuyasha, Sesshomaru's frame immediately stiffened as though he were fighting against the same invisible force which always drags Inuyasha to the ground.

I thought that perhaps I had been imagining it, but the look he was sending me clearly told me that I was not. I couldn't help but to test out this newfound ability again.

"Sit," I ushered the command again.

Again I heard Inuyasha slam into the ground behind me, and again Sesshomaru stiffened. The glare he was sending me was most definitely one of those ones which should have made me take off into the hills in a dead run, but I found that his looks didn't elicit nearly as much fear in me as they had only a few short days ago. I smiled a wicked smile at him to let him know that I had seen his slight lapse and that I knew it was me who had caused it. His expression didn't change, but his eyes told me that he was not about to let me get away with using the subduing command on him now or ever.

A chilling promise for retribution, but I ignored it in favor of taking the quiet time while Inuyasha was face first in the ground to talk to Kouga.

I turned and began walking over to the wolf prince, but I had barely made it five steps when my feet suddenly became glued to the ground. I tried pulling them up, but I couldn't move. I was at a loss as to what was happening. Feet just shouldn't become glued to the ground for no reason.

"Kagome, are you alright?"

Kouga had made his way over to me. He set his hand on my shoulder and my feet were immediately freed from whatever hold had been placed upon them. I was still confused, but I had a sneaking suspicion I knew what had been holding me, and the reason I was now free was because of Kouga's touch.

"I'm fine Kouga." I smiled sweetly at him as I picked his hand from my shoulder. "Thank you so much for coming."

"If I had know it was you who had asked the dog to call me, I would have been here much sooner. You know that I would do anything for you Kagome."

I suddenly found myself filled with overwhelming emotions of resentment and rage. I had never reacted to Kouga in such a way. In fact, though I do not always appreciate Kouga's forwardness when it comes to me, I have always considered him a friend; and I would never feel such dark emotions towards one I consider a friend. I had no idea where the strange feelings had come from, but the bitterness and the anger was so strong that I actually had to strain myself to not react to them lest I do anything brash.

I laughed nervously, as I tried, unsuccessfully, to take my hand away from his. I had hoped that lessening the contact between us would put an end to the strange feelings that were flowing through me; but he didn't seem bothered by the fact that I didn't want him holding my hand. He ignored my pulling and continued as though I were just as comfortable as he with the contact.

"I owe you an apology. The last time we met, the circumstances were very peculiar. I don't know what came over me, or why I would react to you in such a way. I want you to know though, I have never seen you as any lesser than me. I just want so badly for you to one day love me as much as I love you."

"Kouga I…" before I could finish, I felt what seemed like a strong arm encircle my waist and haul me back. But once I had been moved away from Kouga, there was nothing attached to that arm to stop my fall. I landed hard, cracking my head against the unyielding ground.

When the pain in my head had finally lessened to the point where I could open my eyes, I found that it was no longer Kouga standing in front of me, but Sesshomaru. He had placed himself between where I was on the ground and the wolf prince that had been vying for my attentions. The standoff between Sesshomaru and Kouga carried far more tension and far more aggressive air to it than Inuyasha and Kouga's playful banter. I looked upon the two with fearful apprehension, knowing that whatever was going on, there was likely nothing I could do to stop it.

"Kagome," Inuyasha was at my side helping me to sit up, "What just happened?"

I had thought he was asking why Sesshomaru would pull me away from Kouga in a way similar to that which he had always separated the wolf and I (though I must say, Inuyasha always left me on my feet after he stepped between us; I guess Sesshomaru was still a little miffed about the whole 'sit' thing).

"Ummm…I guess Sesshomaru doesn't like Kouga being so close to me."

"What are you talking about?" He was clearly confused, but I had thought that he just couldn't come to terms with why Sesshomaru would be acting protective of me all of a sudden. What I didn't expect though, was what he said next. "Sesshomaru didn't even move until after you had fallen."

"He didn't?"

I was totally confused. I was sure that it had been him who had pulled me away. I had even felt the same strange pull within me as I had outside of the laboratory which alerted me to his movements. Whatever had happened, it had been him that had done it. The question is though, what had he done? Was his pull against me similar to the effect that the sit command had on him? If so, then how was such a thing possible?

Just what was going on?

"KAGOME!"

I looked down towards the sound of the voice, and saw the tiny body of Myoga the flea bouncing up and down on my knee. When he saw that he had my attention, he bounded up to rest on my shoulder.

"Oh, I am so glad that I have made it in time," the little flea breathed a sigh of relief. "As soon as I heard the call I came as fast as I was able. It has been a long time since a dog has called upon a wolf for a coming battle.

"Even longer," Sesshomaru was speaking in a dangerously low tone and never once did he break his eyes away from those of the wolf standing before him, "since a wolf has answered that call."

"Hey don't look at me for that one!" Kouga exclaimed. "I was still a pup when that battle was fought. That doesn't even have any relevance here. I came to destroy Naraku, and if that means that I have to walk into the battle with a wild turkey tied around my neck I'll still do it! That bastard is going down, and I will be the one to strike the final blow."

"Do not assume that because I called you here that I would allow any other but myself to dispose of that vermin."

"That's it!"

I had had entirely enough. Not only had I no idea what they were talking about, but I also figured that whatever it was it would lead nowhere good. And on top of that, there was still the little issue of how the hell I had ended up on the ground to deal with. I pushed away from the ground and from Inuyasha who was still by my side, and marched forward to set myself right in between Sesshomaru and Kouga.

I faced Kouga first.

"I have no idea what is going on between the two of you, but it is getting us nowhere. We need to be focused on the real enemy; not on petty fights between allies."

Koga looked back to Sesshomaru one last time before he turned back to me.

"If it is what you wish, Kagome, then I shall take my leave for now. But I will be back, and I will be the one to destroy Naraku when the time comes." And just like that he wrapped himself in the swirling energies of his youki and took off in a torrent of dust and winds.

"And you," Now that the wolf had been taken care of, I had one other fish to fry; or more specifically, a dog. "You have some explaining to do."

"I do not answer to you." If he thought that his narrowed eyes or his chilling tone would do anything to stop me, he was dead wrong.

"Of course not!" The man was seriously exhausting. "You don't answer to anyone! But sooner or later you are going to have to tell me just what the hell is going on!"

"Kagome, if I may?" Myoga was still on my shoulder and he decided to add his infinite wisdom to my current dilemma. "I couldn't help but to notice your predicament, and if it is alright with Sesshomaru-sama, then I shall explain to you the cause."

"Why the hell would you have to clear it with that bastard before you tell her? If something is wrong with Kagome then just spit it out you little vermin!"

Inuyasha, you should really be more careful with your use of that word around your brother. Something tells me he doesn't take too kindly to it, and one of these days he might decide to see how well you do at saying it without a tongue. What is wrong with me? Why do I keep thinking such awful things? And removing his tongue? That is seriously gross! I don't think I could have ever come up with that one on my own. There is definitely something strange going on. I just hope that Myoga really does know what the problem is, and that Mr. Tight-lip will actually allow him to tell me.

"Lord Inuyasha," Myoga was speaking again, "I'm afraid that what is afflicting Kagome has nothing to do with you. If, once she is aware of the situation, she is willing to tell you; then let it be as it may. However, until such a time, only Kagome may be witness to what I would say."

"You listen here you little pest, if that bastard has done something to Kagome, then you tell me right now before you find yourself facing a danger that you will never find a way to run you cowardly ass away from!"

"Inuyasha."

There is just something about his voice that demands whoever hears it to turn and face him. He even managed to turn Inuyasha away from one of his rants/insults/death-threats, and that is pretty impressive because usually once he gets going on one of those something either has to die or he has to be reacquainted with the ground thanks to one special little word.

"The choice is not yours to make."

"What? And you think that it's yours? What a load of crap!"

"Inuyasha," I had to step in before things could get any more ugly, "He meant that it is my choice. I want to know what Myoga has to say, and if he says that I must hear it alone, please allow me to do so."

"I aint leaving you here alone with that bastard!"

I suppose he had every right to worry. Sesshomaru had never been very kind to him, and he had no reason to believe he had acted any different towards me. But I knew that I was safe with him. Even though I had been witness to his great power and his terrifying attacks, I knew that now such things would never be used against me again. However, I also knew that there was no way I could get Inuyasha to see such a different face of his brother as I had. But if words could not make him see, I knew something else that could.

I walked over to Inuyasha and wrapped my arms around his neck. I pulled him close to me in a tight hug. Though I knew how uncomfortable such displays make him, I also knew that he would not pull away from me.

"Inuyasha," I whispered in his ear, "thank you for worrying so much about me. You have always been there to protect me. I owe my life to you more times than I can count. But no matter how much you may want to help me face my troubles, there are some things which I must do on my own. Trust me Inuyasha, I'll be fine. You don't have to worry."

"But Kagome…"

"No." I interrupted him and pulled back so that he could see the certainty in my eyes. "When the time is right, I will tell you. But for now, I'm asking you to trust me."

He studied my face for a moment, his eyes searching for some hint of a lie, or of coercion; but he would find none. Eventually he pulled away from me.

"I do trust you," he said, "But I don't trust him."

"But I do." No matter how hard it was for me to say such a thing to him, to tell him that I would place my trust in his hated older brother, I knew I had to say it. More than that, I wanted to say it; not only for Inuyasha to hear, but for Sesshomaru as well.

He seemed hurt by what I said, then confused, but he finally settled on a look that I know so well: stubborn determination.

"Yeah well, we can't all be smart and good lookin. Just make sure you keep an eye on him. I'll be around. If you need me, just call and I'll come faster than you can blink."

"I know. Thank you Inuyasha."

"Keh," he huffed to try and conceal the fact that he had just been almost sentimental with me. He sent Sesshomaru one last glare warning of promised pain should anything befall me in his absence, and then he was off; bounding through the trees as nothing but a flash of red and silver.

I sighed as I watched him depart, I was keeping far too much from him lately and it was really beginning to wear on me. He truly is my best friend, and if I could I would tell him everything, but right now, I don't know what I would tell him; I don't even know what I would tell myself.

I turned around to face Sesshomaru. It was time to get some answers.

"How long has the connection been present?" Myoga was questioning Sesshomaru from my shoulder. That little coward. Gee, I wonder why he didn't decide to perch himself on Sesshomaru's shoulder, or try to taste his blood like he always does to Inuyasha.

"Six days."

Well that certainly caught my attention. Six days; it had been six days since I first used the sex pheromone, six days since I had first been saddled with a stalker that wouldn't leave my side, six days in which I have had more revelations about the enigma the is Sesshomaru than I had ever dreamed possible. Only six days, and yet so much had happened.

But how was it that Myoga knew there was a connection between us? And what connection was he talking about that had only begun due to my experiment? I had thought the connection Sesshomaru and I shared that had allowed him to pass through the well was because I was a member of his pack, but that connection would have been established much longer than six days ago.

"What are you two talking about? What connection?"

"Kagome, have you noticed yourself becoming aware of Lord Sesshomaru's movements without having to see him to know he moved?"

"Well yeah, but I just figured that because I'm a miko that…"

"And have you noticed that you are able to decipher what he is thinking even if he uses no words?"

"Sure, but that's only because…"

"And have you noticed that you have been experiencing unusual thoughts or feelings that you would not normally have?"

"Yeah, but…"

"And you have experienced the physical connection which seemingly had no substance and yet was able to pull you from you feet."

"Yes but…"

"Entwined souls," the little flea finished as he sat down on my shoulder as though there was nothing left to say.

"Excuse me?" I'm sorry, but there was no way I was just going to let him leave it off like that. I may not be able to pry answers out of Sesshomaru, but Myoga is a whole other story. He is, in all actuality, a flea; and I am not only much larger, but also much stronger than him, and I also have access to a little thing called bug spray which I'm sure he doesn't want to meet again after his first encounter with the blessed substance.

"The entwining of souls has been known to happen on occasion between inuyoukai because they are so adept at deciphering the moods and emotions of those around them. The bond is merely an extension of that innate ability, allowing for two separate beings to experience each others thoughts and feelings when they are strong enough to be transmitted across the connection; and sometimes, when the entwining is very strong, it is possible for the pair to affect the physical being of the other, to pull on the very soul. When the bond occurs, it most often occurs between a mother and her pups, but sometimes it can exist between siblings, and very rarely it has been known to happen between mates."

"Ok, so it's a dog thing. That all fine and good, but it doesn't explain why it is happening to me, because last time I checked I'm human."

"Yes it is very strange indeed." The flea mused. "Also, for the bond to have reached such incredible strength as to affect the physical being in such a short time is all but unheard of."

Well that just great. I get to be yet another exception to the rules of normalcy. When I find out what god it is that has been playing with my life as their own twisted game, I will be sure to have many, many, choice words for them.

Then again, the whole bond thing really did explain a lot: like how Sesshomaru knew exactly what I had been thinking before he had taken us into the well, and how I have been able to decipher what he is thinking even if all he does is lift one of his eyebrows at me. But still, even if the bond was what had allowed us to read each other so well, why had it happened? What could have caused it to form when before there had been nothing between us save for a few chance encounters which usually ended up with someone loosing blood?

"Why haven't you said anything before now?" I asked Sesshomaru. "Didn't you think I would notice something like this?"

"I had no reason to believe you would be experiencing the effects of the bond."

"Well obviously I am!" How typical of a guy, just because he didn't think I would understand he thought it would be best if I didn't know at all. "When did you figure it out?"

"When I realized I could not only smell your tears."

"You're hopeless did you know that?" There was just no good reason why he couldn't have given me a straight answer to that question. He could have said 'because I felt your pain', or even 'because your fear was affecting me as well'; but oh no, all I get from him is 'I could not only smell your tears'.

Whatever, as long as I had one person who was willing to finally give me some answers to my questions (since I just know that any answer Sesshomaru would give me would be so bloody cryptic that I would have to ponder over the meaning for a week) I decided to continue questioning Myoga of this new development.

"Is this bond thing dangerous?"

"If this were a normal circumstance, I would say no. But because of the fact that you are human, and given how quickly the bond is progressing, I really don't know."

"Is there a way to break this bond?"

They both looked at me as though I had just spouted a second head. Did I say something wrong?

"What?"

"The entwining of souls is a sacred thing among inyoukai. They see it as a great blessing when it occurs. It solidifies the ties within a pack and usually brings with it times of great happiness. It is very rare for the bond to be broken in any way but death, and from what I'm told; it is very painful for the one who must share in the feelings of the death of the other."

One of these days I'm going to have to ask Myoga how he knows all the things he knows. Then again, the whole fly on the wall thing would work out very nicely for the little flea, and not to mention the fact that he is…well…ancient. I suppose he does have some things working for him, even if he is the biggest coward I have ever met.

"You said that it rare for the bond to be broken in another way, but it does happen right? What is the other way?"

"Betrayal." I didn't have to hear the ice lacing his voice to know how close to home that had hit for Sesshomaru. I could feel the anger building inside of me, and I knew it was his anger I was feeling.

But who had been the betrayer, and who had been betrayed? Almost as though I had voiced the question aloud, I found that I knew the answer. His father had betrayed his mother when he had left her for Inuyasha's mother. I felt his hatred for what his father had done, and I finally understood why he could hate his brother so. If the breaking of the bond was such a painful thing, then Sesshomaru would have had to bear witness to his mothers suffering and known it to be caused by what his father had done. When his father died, there was no one left for him to take his anger out on but for the hanyou child that had been left behind.

But still, despite the anger and the hatred, Sesshomaru had protected Inuyasha. Though he had never been kind to him, he had still seen him as a member of his pack. Though he may not be able to forgive his father's transgressions, he had not completely taken out his fury on the brother who could not have known what pain his coming to be had caused him.

"I'm sorry."

I knew that my words could not take away any of his anger or his pain and that he most likely didn't want my words of solace, but I had to say something. He wasn't given the opportunity to reply to what I had said though, because the frantic call from the distance caused us both to turn and see who it was that approached.

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That was so incredibly long! Whew! I think my fingers are sore from typing so much :P I have been putting off writing this chapter for a long time because I didn't know how to make it right. I'm still not sure if I got the idea across like I wanted to, but I think it's good enough for now. I know that I set everyone up for the final battle to be here in this chapter, but I still had some loose ends to take care of. I think there is still one more chappie on the drawing board until we'll hear from Naraku. I need to have a bit of fun and perhaps throw in a bit of fluff before I take them into the final show, and since I still have ideas; I'm going to put them to work.

On another note, I would like to give the term 'Entwined Souls' a Japanese name because I think it would be fitting, but since I don't speak the language I would probably mess it all up. So anyone that can help me out with that, that would be great.

Well, that's all for now. Until next time

ShadowsWeaver1

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters I am about to weave into my web of chaos. Any and all definitions have been taken directly from Wikipedia the online encyclopedia because I am far too lazy to do any further research to support my Inuyasha obsession.