"So what of that girl? I know you haven't come to a full decision yet. There's only so much I can handle before I've had enough of your inability to choose and decide for you." Sesshomaru explained long after they had finished.

"What do you mean by that?" Inuyasha perked at the threat.

"I will leave and ensure you never touch me again." Sesshomaru stated with such seriousness that Inuyasha knew he meant it.

And the thought crushed Inuyasha. But in the same instance he couldn't see life without Kagome either. He was torn. Some part of him pulled towards Sesshomaru, and the other to Kagome. This was different than his interest in Kikyo and Kagome at once.

He wanted Kikyo out of familiarity. She was his first love. But he had to come to terms with the fact she is well passed her time on this earth. She was currently only sticking around to see Naraku end.

This, this was different. If Inuyasha could put it simply, his human heart wanted Kagome. However the part of him that was demon wished to claim Sesshomaru. And it felt like a war between his blood again.

"...The reason I can't decide is because it feels like human part of me wants her. Then the demon side of me wants to claim you. It's like that time I struggled to suppress my demon blood." He might as well explain to Sesshomaru so he had some idea as to why this was difficult.

"Figure it out. I'll give you until after Naraku is gone from this world. If you still can't decide then I'll leave." Sesshomaru promised as he gathered his clothes.

And he was doing that again. Leaving it all up to Inuyasha. It confused him that when it came to almost everyone else, Sesshomaru was selfish in the way he interacted with them. Either they were seen as below him, or an enemy. And usually the enemies wound up dead.

Yet when it came to anything about Inuyasha, Sesshomaru always threw him for a loop. He acted like he didn't care about Inuyasha at all. However there were instances that he showed that he did.

And now that it's revealed that they're interested in each other, which was still strange for Inuyasha to wrap his head around (they're brothers), Sesshomaru left all the decisions to him. Everything was strange and confusing and it didn't help matters. Inuyasha knew that if Sesshomaru was very interested in someone, he would declare it so.

So then why was he hesitating?

Confused and hurting Inuyasha dressed and wandered off. Sesshomaru showed no interest in following. Not that he expected that the daiyokai would.

Inuyasha found himself back at the camp. By now almost everyone was asleep. Kagome stood upon seeing him.

"There you are. I was getting worried." She approached.

"Heh. I can still take care of myself even without the Tessaiga." He huffed.

"I know that! But I still worry." Kagome crossed her arms.

"...Thank you." Inuyasha supposed he should ease up on his attitude.

"Excuse me? Did you really just...?" She was at a loss.

"Don't get used to it!" He hissed in a hushed voice.

"What's wrong?" Kagome knew how to read him.

"...Can we talk? It's about Sesshomaru. And us." Might as well get this over with since he already had this talk with Sesshomaru.

"Oh. Yeah. Come on." Kagome was amazed how quick he was ready for a heart to heart talk. Usually she had to drag him by the ears and make him talk it out with her.

So they walked off a little ways from the camps. Although they remained earshot and eyesight in case something happens. They sat under a tree, staring off at the stars.

"So, you wanted to talk. I assume this is about what's going on between you and Sesshomaru." Kagome started the conversation.

"...I'm confused. And this is different than between you and Kikyo. I liked her because she was my first love and she was familiar. With you, it's like I got a reason to fight. And then...with Sesshomaru, it's finally being accepted. And the part of me that is demon wants to claim him. But I can't tie him down when I'm also interested in you."

Kagome processed his words carefully. She understood what he was saying and where he was coming from. And it relieved some part of her that she was still considered important to him. She also felt a sense of pride that he was thinking before acting out for once.

"And Sesshomaru? How does he feel?" Kagome probbed gently.

"That's the part that's got me confused! I know for a fact that if anyone caught his interest, he will claim them without batting an eye. And yet, he refuses to make any decisions about me! He's leaving it all up to me to decide, like he doesn't care who I choose when I know he does!"

Kagome waited a moment for Inuyasha to calm down. She couldn't help but make the connection about Sesshomaru allowing Inuyasha to name the child.

"Maybe that's his way to show that he cares. He knows about us, right? So he's taking into consideration about your position, and whether he would break you by claiming you and thus tying you to him and leaving me behind." As she spoke, Kagome saw a whole new side to Sesshomaru.

It seems he cared so deeply that he would set aside his own wants for the sake of Inuyasha's wishes. Inuyasha turned to her, amazed at her wisdom. And he knew she was right.

There was movement in the distance. They both looked to see Sesshomaru approaching the camps. He paused, sensing eyes on him and turned his head their direction. After a moment he looked away and continued to place himself with his pack.

"...Guess it is all up to me, huh?" Inuyasha looked away.

"I wish I could help. But I can't make the decision for you. It would be like watching you secretly wish for another while you pretend to be happy. I don't think I could live with myself if I made you choose." Kagome knew this would pain him, but she understood that this was his decision to make.

Inuyasha remained silent. Of course she would be like Sesshomaru, leave it all up to him. But now he had a deeper understanding as to why they were doing this. Even so it hurt him when all he wanted was someone to cry on.

After several minutes of silence Kagome stood up and returned to the camps. She climbed into her sleeping bag and fell asleep even as she felt eyes on the back of her head.

Inuyasha stayed where he was until he passed out. He awoke the next day to Shippo jumping into his lap. Being startled awake earned the little fox a nice bump on his head.

"Owie!" Shippo cried.

"That's for waking me up!" Inuyasha yelled.

"It's time to wake up because Totosai finished the swords!" Shippo informed as he ran back to Kagome.

He looked up to see Totosai handing over the Tenseiga to Sesshomaru. In an instant Inuyasha rushed closer.

"You finished already?" Inuyasha was surprised. "Why did reforging the Tenseiga take longer?"

"Because it was the first upgrade for that sword. Yours was already tampered with, so convincing them to accept the heat of the forge was easier this time around." Totosai explained as he handed the Tessaiga over.

Inuyasha placed it where it belonged.

"So what can it do now?" He asked eagerly.

"The Tessaiga can now use the Meido Zangetsuha ability."

"Which can do what again?" Inuyasha was confused. He never seen it in action let alone heard of this ability.

"You never told him? Or are you just as confused?" The blacksmith turned to Sesshomaru, who was already walking away.

"The Meido Zangetsuha is opening a portal into Hell and sending your target straight in." He explained curtly.

"And you transferred that ability to the Tessaiga?" Miroku blinked in wonder. "Why hand it over to Inuyasha instead of keeping it to yourself?"

"Actually, both swords can use the ability. The Tenseiga was the first to create it. But after I reforged the Tenseiga, I sensed that the Meido Zangetsuha can be enhanced further. When I brought this up to Sesshomaru, he told me to transfer to the Tessaiga."

"Okay, then why so generous?" Kagome didn't understand his way of thinking.

"In case I'm not enough to handle Naraku." Sesshomaru stated so bluntly that everyone was in shock.

"In that aspect you should have let me enhance the ability further. By splitting it in half, you've greatly hindered yourself." Totosai was beyond confused.

Sesshomaru didn't reply. Instead he grasped Ah-Un's reins and began walking away. He had them already packed and ready to move. Rin followed his lead. Kohaku hesitated, studying the ever confusing demon that was Sesshomaru, before following with Jaken.

"Sesshomaru - " Inuyasha tried to call out.

"I don't need to explain myself further to any of you." His voice cut through like a cold wind.

And once again Inuyasha was left confused and conflicted now more than ever. He glanced at the Tessaiga as Sesshomaru and his group disappeared from view. Inuyasha turned to Totosai.

"How do I use the Meido Zangetsuha?"

"Hmm. Well, I've only seen it once. As far as I know that was the only time your father used that ability. He used it on complete accident when the Tessaiga was tossed out of his hands. In his panic he reached for the Tenseiga instead of Sounga."

"Okay, so what did he do?" Inuyasha grew irritated. This wasn't very informative.

"Your father sliced through the air. And in its wake a dark portal opened. It began to suck us all in. I knew it had to be a portal of Hell. But unlike Sounga, the Tenseiga's ability can be controlled and minimized. Soon as your father's enemy was sucked inside the portal closed upon his will."

"So how is it that the Tenseiga can create a portal to Hell? You once described it as the Sword of Heaven." Miroku inquired curiosly.

"Beats me. Maybe the Tenseiga leeched some power off of Sounga. Some swords can create a will of their own. Perhaps the Tenseiga wished to be proven more useful in order to be wielded more often than saving lives. I can't really say for sure, since the Tenseiga never gained a conscience like the Sounga."

"But wouldn't that conflict with the Tenseiga's original purpose?" Sango wondered.

"That's why it had to be reforged to balance itself out. I don't even want to imagine the consequences if the Tenseiga wasn't allowed to be worked on."

"So how do I practice using the Meido Zangetsuha?" Inuyasha felt they talked enough about the Tenseiga. He rather didn't like the idea of slicing the air all day trying to master this new ability.

"It might be the same as when you learned the Backlash Wave. Circumstances will help you learn how to use it. The Tessaiga is meant for fighting after all." Totosai shrugged.

"Helpful, that's real helpful old man." Inuyasha turned away.