"I suggest you stop your childish behavior towards Kenji. He hasn't done anything to warrant being the target of your fury." Sesshomaru spoke once they were well out of earshot.

"I just don't understand why you let him stick around. Offering his services to repent? You don't care about redemption. For all I know you could have accepted him to - "

"Finish that sentence. I dare you." Sesshomaru turned to glare.

Inuyasha closed his mouth.

"I'm not blind, Inuyasha. I know he's interested. Unlike you, he's actually being mature about this mess."

"...So then a part of you is interested in him." Inuyasha frowned.

"Why should it matter if I am? You're not going out of your way to claim me." Sesshomaru was growing irritated.

"Because I want to know you at least return my feelings!" The hanyou snapped.

They both stared in shock.

"I don't want to trap you in something that's irreversible. For all we know we could be like father in the end." Inuyasha continued once he felt confident enough.

"Have you ever asked a demon pair what it's like after being marked?" Sesshomaru asked in all seriousness.

"No? How is that relevant?"

"When a pair mark each other, they're marked for life. Nothing will break that bond. Nothing will come between them. No one will even catch their interest because they will always be pulled to their mate that has marked them. That is why claiming a mate is irreversible."

"...Then why didn't your mother mark our father?"

"Ask her yourself." Sesshomaru turned away and continued walking.

"Would you actually let me meet her?" Inuyasha blinked.

"After Naraku is gone, I'll consider it."

"But that's the deadline." The hanyou followed.

"Then you'll never see me again."

"Sesshomaru..."

"I won't be toyed with Inuyasha. Do you not understand? My inner demon is asleep because of this pain caused by your stupidity."

"...I've heard what happens when marked. It's like pouring a piece of the demonic aura into the mark, right? And it's not recommended for humans. So then what will happen to me during the new moon?"

Sesshomaru hadn't thought of that.

"Is that the other reason why you've been hesitant?" He turned, eyes not so infuriated anymore.

"Kinda. It kind of scared me when Myoga explained that part." Inuyasha looked down in shame. "It's also because I don't know how you would feel during those nights."

"Inuyasha, I won't abandon you just because of one night being human. As for the marking issue, I won't bother marking you in return if you're so scared of the moon."

"...I can't tell if you're playing with me or not." He really couldn't.

Sesshomaru sighed. It was so soft and irritated that it would be missed if Inuyasha wasn't intently watching and listening. It also might have helped that somehow, since they crossed paths during the mating month, the hanyou was beginning to learn how to read Sesshomaru.

Any thoughts on why or how that came about died when they reached the garden. Inuyasha couldn't help but stare. The stream started from a waterfall. Around both sides grew moss, some trees, and lots of bushes. Glowing crystals joined the little nature that somehow thrived here.

Sesshomaru couldn't help the sense of pride swell in his chest. For once Inuyasha was quiet. Even he felt taken in by the scene before him. It was so peaceful and beautiful that even he could admire it.

Suddenly Inuyasha was filled with a sense of possessiveness. He lunged forward to Sesshomaru. The daiyokai turned just in time to be tackled to the hard ground. His snarl died in his throat when he opened his eyes to see Inuyasha so close.

Arms on either side of him. Their noses almost touching. The expression of the hanyou was one full of seriousness. There was a hint of anxiety in Inuyasha's eyes. But in the same instance they were determined.

What was he waiting for?

Sesshomaru was confused. He really had no idea what it was Inuyasha wanted. Or what was expected of the daiyokai. For the first time in his life Sesshomaru was perplexed.

And then it hit him.

Did Inuyasha mean for them to kiss? Not once had they ever done such an act. Sesshomaru considered the action something humans did. And Inuyasha was driven by instinct to mark and bite during the heat. Their one slip up after the heat cycle he had been too busy making Sesshomaru beg and squirm.

And yet strangely at this moment he felt his inner demon stir. This was different than the slightest interest with Kenji. And for some reason Sesshomaru was seriously considering to initiate a kiss.

Their moment was interrupted when they sensed another presence. Inuyasha tensed as he glanced around. Taking this momentary distraction the daiyokai pushed Inuyasha for them to be back on their feet.

They both turned to see a figure standing at the edge of the nature garden. The figure was dressed in dark robes. The face was hidden behind a white expressionless mask.

"What the hell is that?" Inuyasha tried to sniff the air. "It has no scent!"

"It's neither demon or human." Sesshomaru had already concluded that upon first sight.

"What do we do?" Inuyasha knew he wasn't the only one who was wary.

"Spirits aren't my field of expertise, hanyou."

"Well I'm not exactly an expert either!" He snapped.

"One would think, traveling with a priestess and a monk." Sesshomaru commented dryly.

"She's still learning! And he's...well he's mostly preoccupied with women!" Inuyasha realized halfway through his argument held no strong points.

"And you get on my case for allowing Kenji to be in my pack why?"

"Don't you dare suggest Miroku and Kenji are the same!"

"If all he cares about are frolicking with women as you say, then he's in the same category as Kenji."

"I knew it! That asshole just wants to lay with you!" In his fury he forgot about the creepy spirit to make his way to give Kenji a piece of his mind.

Inuyasha didn't get very far when a poison whip wrapped around his ankle.

"Shit!" Inuyasha cursed as he collapsed to the ground. His ankle burned from the poison. "Did you have to use that!"

"...Where did it go?" Sesshomaru's question made the hanyou tense as he glanced around in a panic.

Whatever that thing was, it disappeared.

Suddenly apprehensive that the others were in danger Sesshomaru released his whip in favor of racing back to the group. He even leaped over Inuyasha with ease as he ran.

"Hey! Wait! Damn it, stupid ankle and stupid Sesshomaru with his stupid poison whip!" Inuyasha got up.

In the end he ended up leaping his way to catch up. All the while favoring his left ankle. Upon their arrival and panicked state Kenji was alert. Miroku and Sango stirred from their approach.

"What happened?" Kenji studied them curiously.

"There was a spirit. It disappeared right when it showed itself." Inuyasha explained, glancing around for any sign of it.

"A spirit? I haven't sensed anything here." Miroku was fully awake now.

"It snuck up on us pretty good."

"We would have learned more information about it if you hadn't decided to try to pick a fight." Sesshomaru's cold retort earned several sighs.

"Oh yeah well - "

"How did it sneak up on you two exactly?" Kenji's inquiry earned silence. Inuyasha turned away, but everyone who was awake caught sight of the flush on his cheeks.

"I suppose this means we need to be extra careful. It might have just been curious about us. If it lives here then we're basically intruding it's home." Miroku changed the topic.

"I'll keep watch while everyone rests." Kenji volunteered.

"I'm going to search for a way out." Sesshomaru didn't like staying still.

"I'm coming with." Inuyasha tried to put weight on his ankle and winced. "Or maybe not."

"I'll go. It's better if we explore in pairs." Miroku stood up, grabbing his staff.

"You? You're willing to go with Mr. I Hate Humans?" The hanyou raised an eyebrow.

"If Kenji goes then you'll just follow their trail when you've healed. And if a fight breaks out Kagome can keep you in check." The monk's reasoning had valid points.

"So long as you keep up. I won't help you if you lag behind." Sesshomaru didn't argue as he chose a direction to begin searching.

Miroku wordlessly followed. Before they got too far Sango stood up. Her action surprised both Kenji and Inuyasha.

"Sesshomaru! You better protect Miroku as if he were Rin! If anything happens to him you'll be in for a world of hurt!"

"Sango!" Miroku and Inuyasha nervously reprimanded.

Kenji studied the daiyokai. He was amazed Sesshomaru wasn't phased by the threat. Realizing that he wouldn't react like he normally would Miroku continued to silently follow. Sango watched until they were out of sight before she laid back down.

"You should relax. You can't exactly put your full weight on one foot." Kenji urged gently.

"...Why are you being so nice?" Inuyasha was suspicious, but he sat down anyway. He was eyeing the demon as if he would suddenly start attacking them.

"Because I'm accepting the fact that I won't have Sesshomaru. Besides, it was never meant to be. Not that he remembers."

"What are you talking about?" Inuyasha glared.

"...Ever wondered why I was able to identify Sesshomaru? Tracking down his scent?"

"Now that you've mentioned it I am now." The hanyou blinked. "I just thought you were there when the whole negotiation thing went down."

"My brother left me behind as punishment over...well I was sleeping with the first assassin that tried to use me to get to my brother. I didn't know until the idiot almost snuck up on my brother. Anyway, I met Sesshomaru once."

"Funny, he doesn't seem to remember." Inuyasha didn't believe him.

"I was maybe six. He was three. Still in that cute phase where he could get away with demanding to follow his father around, even to travel into foreign territory for peace treaties."

"...You met my father?" Inuyasha was at a loss with this new information.

"He was kind. Even though I was a wild brat and didn't greet him like a guest. I was wandering outside the castle gates when I ran into them."

Around them the crystals dimmed. They both glanced around, suspicious.

"Guess we can tell time down here." Inuyasha commented.

"I wonder how it's possible? The sun can't reach down here for the crystals to sense it." Kenji wondered.

"Whatever. So, can you tell me more about the day you met Sesshomaru and my father?"

Kenji sighed. But nevertheless he sat down to get comfortable. He began the story.