Hi!

Warning: Character death and slight OOCness from Inuyasha.

Disclaimer: I am proud to say that Inuyasha and its characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi!

'Talking'

Thinking

Enjoy! 

oOoOoOoOoOo

As Inuyasha, Kagome, Sango and Miroku sat in a small field eating, the Hanyou suddenly jumped to his feet, hand resting on the hilt of Tessaiga.

'What is it, Inuyasha?' Kagome asked, staring up at him.

Inuyasha did not answer. He continued to growl but stopped abruptly when he saw who the small figure coming towards them was.

'What's she doing here?' He asked himself, removing his hand from his sword. The others looked at each other in confusion before turning to see Rin running up to Inuyasha.

'Rin-chan!' Kagome exclaimed. 'What are you doing here?'

'You must come quickly!' the young girl panted.

'Why? What's happened?'

'No time to explain! Come!'

The group followed the girl back across the field and into the forest. As they rushed through the bushes and shrubs, Inuyasha caught Sesshoumaru's scent. He frowned, was this some sort of dirty trick to lure him into another fight? No. His scent, it's different.

The Hanyou was pulled out of his musings when they entered a small clearing which had a few tree stumps dotted about it. One of which was being used as a leaning post by none other than Sesshoumaru.

The Youkai was slumped against the wood. His eyes were closed and small cuts graced his cheeks and for what could be seen of his arm. Sesshoumaru looks as though he entered a battle with a wooden sword and a blind fold. Kagome thought.

'What happened to him?' She asked Rin as she knelt beside the TaiYoukai. Rin looked down at her feet before meeting the Miko's gaze and explaining what had happened.

oOo FLASH BACK oOo

Sesshoumaru and Rin were walking down a forest path when the TaiYoukai stopped. He had caught the scent of several Humans up ahead. Hmph. Humans. They are no threat to me. And with that thought he continued but was stopped when a monk emerged from the bushes to stand in front of him.

'Demon! We finally caught you!' The monk said as several other monks appeared from bushes to stand beside and behind the two.

'Now you will pay for destroying the village!' Another declared. 'Prepare to be exorcised!'

Sesshoumaru could sense that there was going to be some trouble so he gently shoved Rin in the direction of the trees.

'I destroyed no village.' He said calmly. 'So if you value your lives, you'll leave now.'

'Oh, we're not going anywhere.' The first monk said and held out a small stone. It was white and appeared to be glowing. The other monks followed suit.

What the- Sesshoumaru's thought was cut off by a sharp pain in his left temple. The monks then began to say a prayer as they moved in closer.

The closer they got the worse the pain got. Soon Sesshoumaru fell to his knees as the pain spread to the rest of his body. His eyes turned red and he could feel his fangs growing as he was being forced to transform into his demon form.

Rin watched helplessly from behind a tree. She had to do something but she didn't know what. Just then she saw a small imp like figure leading a two-headed Dragon up the path.

'Master Jaken!' She said gladly, running up to the Toad-Imp.

'What is going on!' Jaken demanded when he saw his master on his knees. He ran towards the monks and stood behind one.

'Take this!' He shouted and out of his staff came huge flames of fire that burnt three of the monks to a crisp. In seeing their comrades dead, the other monks drew back their stones and retreated into the bushes.

'Sesshoumaru-Sama!' Jaken cried running to the TaiYoukai's side. 'Sesshoumaru-Sama?' He asked, when he noticed his eyes where closed. 'Are you alright?'

Sesshoumaru said nothing but proceeded to push himself up off the ground. He took a few steps before collapsing.

'Sesshoumaru-Sama!'

oOo END FLASH BACK oOo

'... And we used Ah-Un to get him here.' Rin Finished.

'Hm. Well, we can't just leave him here.' Kagome said.

'What! Why!' Inuyasha exclaimed.

'Inuyasha, you know as well as I do that he won't survive out here.' Kagome retorted as she stood to face the Hanyou. 'We should take him to Kaede's she'll know what to do.' And with that, she turned her attention back to Sesshoumaru.

oOo

Kaede sat in front of a small fire. It had a pot placed above it of which she was stirring the contents.

As the birds sung from the trees, Kaede gave a sigh; the village and its surrounding forest were so peaceful and quiet. That was until she heard a shout.

The priestess looked up to see Shippou, Inuyasha, Kagome, Sango and Miroku followed by Jaken and Rin who was leading the twin-headed Dragon Ah-Un.

Upon closer inspection, Kaede noticed that Ah-Un was carrying someone.

She gasped, 'Sesshoumaru?'

She stood and hurried to them. 'My! What on earth has happened to him?' She exclaimed.

'Someone tried to purify him!' Kagome replied.

Kaede nodded. 'Get him inside, quick!'

Inside the hut, Sesshoumaru was being looked over by Kaede. The Miko had checked his entire body for any other injuries, besides those on his arm and face, but could find none.

Inuyasha was sat in the corner of the room watching intently. He claimed he was "making sure his brother didn't do anything." but Kagome knew better than that; he was worried about his brother. He didn't want to see him dead either.

'Kaede-sama?' Kagome asked as she sat herself down beside the old Miko. 'I found this beside Sesshoumaru when we were in the forest,' She held up a small dart. It was made out of wood and it had a small amount of liquid in it. 'Does this mean anything to you?'

Kaede took the dart and emptied the liquid into the palm of her hand. She then sniffed it and gasped. 'This is Holy Water.' she said. She then lifted the unconscious Youkai's arm and pulled back the sleeve to reveal a small hole in the skin.

'Those monks must have thrown this dart knowing the Holy Water inside it would enter Sesshoumaru's blood stream.' Kaede concluded.

'What does that mean?' Kagome asked.

Kaede was silent for a moment before she rose to her feet and walked towards the door. She sighed and turned to meet Kagome's gaze.

'The Holy Water in him will purify his demonic blood.' She said slowly.

'Then, Sesshoumaru will...' Kaede nodded.

'What?' Inuyasha demanded. 'Sesshoumaru won't die, he's too stubborn!'

'Inuyasha,' Kagome said. 'The Holy Water's in his blood stream. it's purifying his blood.'

'No! He can't die!'

'I'll leave you along.' Kaede said exiting the hut.

'Inuyasha, there's nothing we can do.' Kagome continued. 'I don't think he has much time, why don't you spend some brother time with him?' and with that she left.

Inuyasha sat in silence for a moment. He seemed to find his hands rather interesting.

'Oh, fine.' He stood and walked over to his brothers still form and sat down beside him.

'So, brother,' he started. He wasn't sure of what to say so he fell silent again.

'Gosh! how could you let yourself get like this!' he suddenly shouted angrily. 'I mean look at you! Your half-dead in an old Miko's hut, for crying out loud!' He sniffed. 'How pathetic do you wanna be?' He could feel the tears coming. 'I mean...' the tears were flowing freely now. '... you're always going on about how pathetic I am but you're the one who's gonna die soon! Gosh! Why couldn't you just accept who and what I was? Why did you have to so... so...' He found himself unable to speak anymore.

'Why did I have to be so... what?' Inuyasha looked up to meet the golden eyes of his brother.

'You're... You're awake.' Inuyasha said with surprise as he briskly wiping the tears away with his sleeve.

'You're so pathetic, Inuyasha.' Sesshoumaru said in a weak voice.

Inuyasha glared at him. 'You're the one who's on his death-bed!' he exclaimed.

'And you're the one crying!' Sesshoumaru retorted angrily.

Inuyasha sighed. 'Why are fighting?' He asked quietly. 'Can't we at least get along for five minutes? Not even when you gonna...' He fell silent

Sesshoumaru was silent until a small coughing fit shook his fragile frame. He put his hand to his mouth and when he drew it away, he saw blood on the palm and the realisation that he was going to die, hit home.

'Inuyasha,' he said his voice quieter and softer than usual. 'I want you to know that I... ' Another small coughing fit interrupted him and Inuyasha felt almost sorry for him.

After he recovered, Sesshoumaru lifted his hand and pulled something out from around his neck. He gave it a quick tug and it came loose in his hand.

'Inuyasha,' he started, holding the small pendant to his younger brother. 'I want you to have this.' Inuyasha took it and looked at it; it pendant was made of pure gold and shaped like a mountain dog.

'It belonged to father.' Sesshoumaru said quietly. 'Please don't loose it.'

'I won't.' Inuyasha said, taking his brothers hand. 'I promise.'

'One more thing.' Sesshoumaru was beginning to feel the Holy Waters full effects. 'I want you know... that... I never... meant to... hurt you...'

Tears started to build up in Inuyasha's eyes as he could tell his brother was beginning to slip.

'I... I'm... ' His hand became limp. 'Inuyasha... ' It started to slip. 'I'm... Sorry...' It hit the floor.

'Sesshoumaru!' Inuyasha grabbed his hand again. 'No! Sesshoumaru!' The tears flowed freely but he didn't care not even when Kagome entered the hut and hugged him did he cense his crying. His brother was gone. Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands, was dead.

That night Inuyasha sat alone in a tall tree. He was absent-mindedly playing with the small pendant that hung around his neck. His fingers passing over the smooth curves of the mountain dog. His thumb passed over the back of it and instead of feeling a smooth surface it was rough as though it were scratched.

Curious, he looked at the back of the mountain dog and found that something was written on it. Tears appeared in his eyes as he read;

"I will always be with you."

oOoOoOo

R&R!