When Sesshomaru entered his castle he was not surprised at the amount of tangible anxiety that permeated the air. The entire grounds reeked of it and he did his best to continue forward as he had expected the staff to be nervous with his absence and Kagome's illness. What did cause him pause was the destroyed area before him. Trees were completely uprooted, part of Kagome's balcony was missing along with a section of the roof, the ground was uneven and individuals were picking up debris from who knew where. The scent is what confused him the most though seeing as nothing other than the typical smells surrounded him. There was no undercurrent of demon, no scent of adrenalin or anticipation for a fight. It lead the question as to what had happened to his home.

It was well past dark but the castle was still active seeing as the damage around them would not repair itself. With ire now in his step he headed towards the scents of others as they converged in different areas around the castle. The monk, slayer and fire cat were with Kagome in the now open air bedroom with the scent of fresh wounds; Shiho, Uza and the kitsune were entertaining the visiting nobles in the dining area then Malik and Inuyasha were in his study.

He paused briefly…what?

Flash stepping forward as curiosity got the better of him Sesshomaru easily reached the familiar area. Noticing that no guards were present he opened the door with an extended claw and gracefully entered the room. No guards bothered him; they were to always be stationed in the area due to delicate correspondence between the nations and their lack of their presence had his curiosity even more engaged. This meant that Malik or Inuyasha had turned them away for privacy.

Inuyasha was the first to acknowledge his presence which immediately turned into a glare, "Hey where the hell have you been? The world stops working right and what do you do? You disappear?"

Sesshomaru shut the door and gave him his own hardened stare, "I had something to gather."

Inuyasha all but felt his tongue stick to his throat on that one. Seriously, he had something to pick up? Who the hell runs an errand at a time like this? It better be some super-secret bad ass as hell weapon or something. What was Sesshomaru doing daisy picking while Inuyasha ran around with a nearly dead body on his back? Stupid ass brother and his annoying as shit communication skills really got Inuyasha riled.

The double standard between his own communication skills in Inuyasha's mind was pleasantly ignored.

The half demon scoffed until he noticed Sesshomaru's pelt wrapped around something as his arm supported whatever it was. The familiar fury appendage was draped over the tall shoulder facing towards them and covering the object from sight. Was that the item he had picked up? Sniffing gently his nose registered the scent immediately. Seeing his beta's response Sesshomaru pulled the fur covered pelt away only to reveal the face of a small sleeping child, one by the name of Rin.

Inuyasha fell back onto the cushion as he scowled. Internally his first response was what the hell, his second response was what the fuck. The second one was what he went with, "You picked up a fucking kid? In the middle of a war and Kagome dying but now is when you decide to have fatherly instincts?"

Sesshomaru's glare intensified and a warning growl was emitted.

Malik placed his hand forward as if a flimsy barrier between the two, "Give him a moment Sesshomaru, things did not fare well with the dead witch and his anger is showing."

Everyone knew the issue of father's, attachments, parents or a role model was something never brought up in front of Sesshomaru if one wanted to live.

Sesshomaru gracefully let it slide but only because his arms were occupied and hitting Inuyasha might wake the sleeping girl. Rin's village had been a few hours away and he had quickly made the decision to reclaim her. If he was going to take on the responsibility of a pack then Rin would be a part of it. He had sent her away for her own protection and fear of losing her; apparently those concerns were no longer relevant if Inuyasha was any indication.

The little brother in the room seemed to respond to the dismissal rather unwell though. Upset at Sesshomaru's choice to bring someone else into this battle, possibly at the cost of Kagome's life, and the official death of Kikyo on his mind Inuyasha was not ready to be ignored by someone he was conditioned for the last two hundred years to fight, "Oh hell no, crazy shit went down and we are fucking talking about it. No silent controlling bastard statements from you."

Sesshomaru's whip was out faster than anticipated but Inuyasha dodged it as he tumbled to the side with a roll. He landed on his feet in a crouched position as if ready to go at it, practically itching for a fight. Looking where he was standing a moment before Inuyasha scrutinized the beaten feathers of the once comfortable seating arrangement. Great, fucking feathers were getting everywhere and would stick to his clothes like he was a pansy.

Inuyasha growled in retribution while pulling a few feathers away but was cut off by Sesshomaru's quick chastisement, "Language."

Inuyasha stopped mid pick and glanced up. He fucking hated that world. He was getting lectured on manners? By someone other than Kagome? How the hell had she managed then when half dead?

He crossed his arms in defiance and spouted an extremely mature, "Fuck you."

Luckily Malik stepped in before further damage could be done as his hand singed while grabbing the re-emerged poison whip directed at the half demon. His own fire surfaced in order to stage off the effects of the poison but it only slightly protected him seeing as poison was rather difficult to combat. Sesshomaru eventually pulled his whip back towards himself and continued to scowl when it became clear their referee disagreed with their current method of discussion.

Malik turned towards the brothers and glared, "Grow up."

Sesshomaru turned his head in silent defiance at having to put up with Inuyasha and Inuyasha was quick to huff his way down into a new nearby pillow while crossing his arms at being told what to do. Malik gestured again to Sesshomaru but the young Lord remained steady with his arms still around the girl, "She will remain here with me for now."

Rubbing his head Malik gave up the argument. Sesshomaru was an incredibly stubborn child and that had hardly changed as he aged. Right now he could temper the physical brawls but the ego's would take more assistance than he currently had in the room. "Fine, whatever. But if she wakes up it is not a pretty bedtime story."

Taking the win, as was expected because he was the Lord of the West, Sesshomaru walked over to his desk and sat in one smooth movement. Not once did the young girl feel the typical jarring movements that are felt when being carried. Instead she snuggled closer to the Lord she had ben desperately missing as if nothing could be wrong with him nearby. Sesshomaru did not acknowledge this and gave his full attention to Malik, "Why is my castle destroyed?"

Inuyasha's composure darkened as he recalled the events from a few hours prior. It took him a few seconds but Malik's silence confirmed that this was indeed Inuyasha's story to tell. Looking away and glaring at the wall as if that would somehow protect him from the raging feelings within him, all the way from rage to debilitating depression, Inuyasha told what he had been a part of, "Kikyo tried to absorb Kagome's soul after telling us how damaged it was, it didn't end well for anyone but especially her."

Sesshomaru recalled the chaos he had seen outside as he tried to determine how a soul could cause such pandemonium. It was something similar to one of his full transformations and uprooting many of the things around him by the force of it. Categorizing that he returned to the conversation, "And the priestesses?"

Malik spoke this time, "Kagome absorbed her soul back into her body which limited the damage, she is unconscious but fine. The other one did not survive the attack."

Inuyasha's head locked to the side as he stared angrily. He did not want to think about the woman's passing. His feelings for her had always been conflicted and her death had not helped the matter. Part of him had believed they would find a way to save her, where he could have everything he wanted after being stripped of nothing for so long. Once again what he craved in life was ripped from him. He knew Kikyo had a rather large part to play in her own death with how she defied those in the room and took on something no one should have. But how did logic really help the ache his heart was going through? "From what she told us Kagome is sick, really sick."

Sesshomaru turned as he watched Malik's aura pulse slightly at that comment. He waited a few seconds to see if the demon would share of his own will. Nothing happened and he pressed the information forward, "What have you not told us Malik?"

For the first time ever a look of uncertainty crossed Malik's face. It was brief but present and both brothers recognized it. Inuyasha, determined to focus on something other than the loss of both women he cared about was the first to respond, "What the hell old man tell us what you know."

Half of him expected another whip for his language but it never came. He could only assume that Sesshomaru was just as troubled by thinking anything could unsettle the angry demon lord.

Malik glanced at the brothers and sighed in borderline defeat, "It has to do with the migration."

Inuyasha continued to stare blankly indicating he had no idea what was being discussed.

Sesshomaru, not seeing where this was heading but knowing what Malik referred to, supplied some insight, "The origin of demons; our ancestors were not originally of this world but that of another. Our kind had been at war with ourselves for millennia destroying our original world which resulted in our ancestors moving here. Slowly we migrated towards this plane as well as absorbing the traits of the creatures inhabiting the land. This was in order to survive the change needed for living in this world."

Malik nodded, "It is why there are so many kinds of demons, we call it the migration. Most do not know the story as it has died out but those of power continue to pass it onto their young. It is sad my great grandfather was one of those demons though, I never met him but I heard it was difficult initially to adapt and most died."

Sesshomaru continued forward, "This is a fairy tale and even if it were true it is irrelevant to us. We have moved past this in our history."

Malik shook his head, "Tell me Sesshomaru, what happened to those we fought? You know as well as I the legends of what they were, a different evolution of ourselves. One built on peace rather than bloodshed."

Sesshomaru blinked slowly as if coddling a child with difficulty comprehending straight facts, "They are legends Malik."

Malik growled, "Except they are not. That race came here as well but their bodies could not adapt to this plane either. It was too tainted for their pure souls and they died off one by one. The air was unbreathable, water burned their skin and the food was inedible. Some lived long enough to procreate in hopes that their children would survive but most did not. The only way to survive was to adapt as we did, demons chose animals and celestials chose humans. Did you not ever wonder where holy men garnered their power? Did you truly believe it was from the Kami's?

Sesshomaru rumbled a growl, "You stated this would not be a child's tale Malik, I hear nothing but fairytales."

Inuyasha cut in as he shifted to the balls of his feet, "Wait, all those things sound like what Kagome would tell me. And the burn marks on her skin from crying sounds right too."

Sesshomaru let out an absent minded scoff, "Next you will tell me she will fly."

Malik glared, "Your father and I spent years debating this boy but with no real proof all we could do was study the literature and listen to old tales. If it is true she has the blood in her and enough power to access it. I can assume that this particular combination along with being triggered by what ails her left her with the perfect storm and her soul is evolving into that what it was meant to be, what it wants to be."

"But the old ones died," tried Inuyasha.

"Yes but they hadn't adapted, the human in Kagome permits her to remain in this realm as her body tries to adjust. The enlightenment her soul has had or evolved into is massive and changing still. The fact that this is happening speaks volumes about her as a person," tried Malik, "Nothing could be more rare, I have only ever heard of this happening with Midoriko."

Inuyasha shot forward and stood up angrily, "What the fuck!" immediately he turned back around and pointed an accusatory claw at Sesshomaru, "No poison whip, this shit is serious." Inuyasha turned back to face Malik once he had established the need to curse up a storm, "Now talk."

Malik stared blankly, as if proving a point of the need not to answer to such a command. A good amount of time passed before he started again, "The ancient tree confirmed the change in the air and earth, the same for both Kagome and Midoriko. And he has lived long enough for me to trust his words. Either way he believes that Midoriko was killed mid-transformation which resulted in the jewel, though it is anyone's guess as to whether she would have survived such a change."

Inuyasha fell back down onto the makeshift couch and laid on his back in an exhausted manner. Glancing at Sesshomaru out of the corner of his eye he felt his anger escalate a bit, "Why aren't you more pissed?"

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed and the sarcasm dripped from his voice, "Because it does not make sense. Perhaps Kagome's soul has matured greatly since its last life and perhaps she has more power than the average priestess-"

"Enough to travel through time," cut off Malik.

Sesshomaru's eyes widened at that. Within seconds his head whipped towards Inuyasha who suddenly was the focus of the accusatory attention. Not liking that uncomfortable guilty flutter in his chest he immediately turned towards Malik, "You are not supposed to know that. How do you know that?"

A fist connected with Inuysaha's turned face and he went across the room smashing through a cabinet while damaging the nearby wall. He waited a few seconds before shuffling around with a grunt and moving the items off of him. He could not imagine that the sleeping human child managed such a precise punch and he had been making direct eye contact with Malik which left only one option. The demon was now standing with the kid still in his arms and a part of Inuyasha was thankful Sesshomaru was unable to use his full strength while trying to keep the child from waking, "What the hell did you give her that she is still sleeping?"

Sesshomaru growled, "One, I told you to watch your language and two, you have a duty to tell your alpha such things."

Inuyasha summersaulted forwards until he landed on his feet with only a slight wave of dizziness. He shook his body in an effort to dispel some of the aches and slowly realized that his brother had not used any poison. That was strange, Sesshomaru loved his poison. It was like a constant stinging reminder that someone very powerful had been annoyed and you were the stupid person to do it. As if trying not to put the pieces together he realized that perhaps his brother was not as mad about the time traveling thing as he was letting on. The question was as to why.

Categorizing that for later he resumed the conversation and defended his actions. Besides Sesshomaru was his alpha for what all of half a day? "Not my secret to tell and seriously, I'm going back and forth about this whole submission thing now that it gives you permission to beat me up."

Sesshomaru growled, "She is a time traveler? That is unheard of; the sheer power is questionable for one body to hold."

Brushing off the imaginary debris but very real dust Inuyasha scoffed, "Well the god tree helps and I go back and forth too. It's not like a huge deal."

Sesshomaru's eye twitched but Malik cut him off, "You travel too?"

Rotating his shoulder, Sesshomaru had dislocated it earlier that day and now thrown him into a wall thus aggravating the injury to the point of being willing to silently complain about it, he nodded, "Yeah, the jewel shards let Kagome travel back and forth along with the well and I am allowed to go there in order to bring her to this time when she is being her and you know ridiculously difficult, at least that is Miroku's theory."

Malik glanced at both of them, pointing back to their seats he directed them to sit. Inuyasha attempted to bark out a no but was cut off by Malik's glare. He did not know why but something about it reminded him of Kagome and he immediately found himself back on the ground. Sesshomaru remained standing not even bothering to lean against the wall while he processed the information. Sighing Malik tried to remember why he was in this castle. If it was possible the brothers were worse when together than when separate.

"The fact is the potential is there but it needed something to bring it out, if this asinine theory is correct of course. I gave a sample of the girl's blood to the tree and he strongly believes that it is. The way his leaves responded to her was as if they wanted to please her and her blood was like nothing he had tasted before. He stated it was as if his soul was cleansed of wrong doings and he no longer felt conflict within himself."

Inuyasha nodded, "That is what her scent can be like too".

Sesshomaru remembered it as well but said nothing as Malik continued.

Malik rubbed his temple and tried to figure out how to word this next part, "The problem comes up with how reckless this is. The likelihood of this killing her is incredibly high as her humanity cannot take on the transformation of something so powerful. The person who would-"

Sesshomaru cut him off, "There is an individual behind this then."

Inuyasha was at apt attention at the idea of being able to beat the creature who was tormenting his friend. What could they possibly want from this change anyways? Kagome was much to stubborn to listen to anyone and he could only presume they needed her to do something with these abilities.

"Sesshomaru, there are some things you need to under-" but Malik was cut off by said demon Lord.

"We will kill the creature, do you doubt my ability?" he tried with a slight growl. "I will not permit the girl to die as she is vital to Naraku's defeat."

Inuyasha scoffed while quelling his own doubt about the reasons his brother wanted Kagome alive and focused on his hope. If they could stop the creature they could stop Kagome's illness. "What we need to do if figure out why and who. The idiot is dead as fuck for thinking they could get to her."

Malik once again tried to intervene, "I do not think he would have pushed her this far if there was anything else we could do to prevent it."

Both heads turned towards him, one at a rushed step and the other at the usual leisurely but observant pace he usually worked at. Slowly, as if mentally categorizing each word, Sesshomaru suppressed the urge to click his tongue in annoyance. "You presume to know who the culprit is?"

Closing his eyes and nearly praying to be anywhere else Malik sighed, "The gate to the underworld was opened with the dead witches' resurrection but with her passing it has been closed. Bokuseno confirmed that he has felt the wisps of the afterlife surrounding this general area. There are very few demons who know this origin story and only one with invested interest in this happening."

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed, "Someone has traveled from the afterlife in order to see this transpire? Who would have that power or be so thoughtless?"

Malik felt the words catch in his throat as he tried to lighten the blow. "Have you noticed any patterns in her behavior? Any strange requests she has of others? I believe the goal originally was something far different and he happened to learn about this by chance."

Sesshomaru growled loud enough to wake the sleeping girl at the informational stall from someone he considered family. It was a deep growl and one of an incredibly threatening behavior that would have shaken the castle had he been in his true beast form. Rin's eyes opened briefly as she registered the instinctive threat of an upset animal so close to her. Opening her eyes she glanced at her Lord for protection. Once realizing it came from him her eyes moved across the room and any identifiable threat. With a slightly cracked voice she asked, "Lord Sesshomaru?"

Without making eye contact with anyone other than Malik the demon Lord released her from his grip, "Return to your previous rooms Rin. Someone will attend to you."

The girl nodded sleepily as she transferred from his arms to the floor. She knew the way there and could find it even in this state. Glancing behind her Rin stepped through the room's intent to look for Jaken first despite the order. A detour felt necessary seeing as she had never seen her Lord in that state before.

It was a few tense seconds before her footsteps were no longer heard by the sensitive ears in the room. Once she had rounded the corner Sesshomaru's glare intensified without moving even one aspect on his features, "Speak Malik, who would threaten her in both mine and Inuyasha's presence?"

Malik glanced between the two eager dog demons and decided to take the injury and be done with it, "It seems even in death your father is a bloody foolish idiot."

Inuyasha's face paled and Sesshomaru's silent anger all but seize the room in a choke hold. No one spoke as Malik's response settled in. Finally it was Inuyasha who asked the needed question, "What?"

"It is the only thing that makes sense. I evaluated all of her strategies and demands. While some were for her friends most were directed at the two of you for one reason or another. Even her being here goes against what she originally wished yet she demanded to stay with no warning," he argued.

"No, the old man wouldn't hurt her. He couldn't do that," argued Inuyasha desperately. He had never met the man but he had been told stories his entire life. Some were good, some were bad but most were terrifying for anyone that caught the demon lords attention when he wanted something. He couldn't believe that another family member wanted to kill something so precious to him, not when he just gained tolerance from the other.

"Touga would do absolutely anything if it got him what he wanted Inuyasha, that is a trait I believe he passed down to both of his sons," defended Malik.

Inuyasha shook his head in angry shock, "Kagome would have told me, somehow she would have told me!" he yelled.

Malik cut him off while catching him in a strong grip and ignoring the near thrashing movements of the boy, "When Inuyasha? Between crying acid or passing out from pain? Who knows what else he did that we are not aware of in order to trigger the change. Celestials and demons were originally of the same kin until their differences caused a war. Brother fighting brother and Kagome has the more peaceful nature of her ancestors in her against Touga warlord of the West. What chance did she stand?"

Inuyasha pulled away abruptly and threw himself against the wall causing a few scrolls to fall nearby, "Why, why would he do that? Kagome is all I have he cannot take her from me! She is all I fucking have."

Malik shook his head, "Not anymore she isn't, or did Sesshomaru not take you on as a pack member?"

Inuyasha's words caught in his throat as he choked down feelings of betrayal from a man he had never met.

Malik turned to the silent demon lord who was seething and aura pulsing wildly. The older brother was clearly in turmoil but did not have the ability to express it without destroying what was left of his home, of his father's home. Finally he spoke with a level of rageful disbelief in his tone Inuyasha shuttered, "Even in death he torments me."

Malik could feel the killing intent and knew nothing other than blood would quell him if not abated quickly. This was rooted so much further than the growing fondness for the priestess and the fear of losing something he had begun to accept. This was a centuries old insecurity surrounding a father and son relationship which was at the ultimate breaking point. "Sesshomaru, you are no longer alone either for you broke your own vow and took a pack, accepted your half-brother."

Sesshomaru silently stood as if to leave the room and Malik knew he had seconds to keep both son's attention, "Your father saw an opening and he is taking a one in a million chance knowing that if it failed both his sons would hate him."

His anger clearly fueling him to leave the room as soon as possible Sesshomaru gave a brief, "I do hate him."

"He saw her impact on both of your lives and he acted."

Inuyasha stood angrily, "To kill her? His instinct was to kill the one thing I care about?"

"Yes, he needs her to die. He needs her humanity to die with her because a celestial is not human. If she were to survive she would no longer be limited to the life of a mortal because she would not be one, mortality be damned. He is trying to make her immortal; he is trying to make sure she cannot leave the two of you ever again."

Sesshomaru stood still as his hand rested against the door, his breathing shallow. His aura held no fluctuation or movement at all. In fact if one did not know he was present they would have thought his presence to be an illusion or ghost. That was how tight Sesshomaru had locked every part of him away. His aura, his emotions, his anger; it was as if the first day Kagome had met him but so much worse. Without moving to face those in the room Sesshomaru pushed against the door as it slid open and he stepped out of the room. His footsteps were unheard as he disappeared and left the individuals around him.

Inuyasha had nearly stopped breathing but he dared not mutter a word under this new information. Everything was upside down, everything was wrong. He had everything he had ever wanted and nothing he wanted at the same time. He spent the next few minutes regaining his breath before looking up at the ceiling, "What's her chance of survival?"

Malike stopped, "I doubt there is a number that small to reflect it."

Inuyasha continued to look up, "You know…I think I hate him too."

Touga sat in a nearby chair that had previously housed the slayer not a few moments before. It had been difficult for him to watch the woman weep but he had been determined to sit through it. If he was going to be causing this much pain to others he felt it was only fair to live through it. He had learned later in his life and then throughout his journeys in death the importance of goodness in the world. When he was young he had thought to have fun despite the consequence to others but now he knew.

He hated this; Kagome was much too good to suffer as he had been making her.

He imagined he would have been just as blinded sided by her as his sons if they had met while he was among the living. Her ferocity for life, complete faith in others and disregard towards anyone that did not meet her personal standards in kindness was something to behold.

He watched as her brow furrowed and wished there was anything he could do to relieve her pain but knew it was far past the point of turning around. Her aura did not even respond his demonic presence anymore; it was on a constant state of change and registered very little.

His part was done and what came because of it was his burden to bear.

Touga pushed his corporal self back into the chair and imagined the hate his sons would feel for him once they discovered his role. He held no doubt that Malik or Shiho would piece together the parts as soon as Kikyo's presence was demanded.

And they would hate him.

They would hate him for interfering in their lives and ruining something they saw as untainted. Sesshomaru would retreat and fight within himself about a father that he could never impress. About a father that cared more for land and entertainment than spending time with the small creature he had made. Sesshomaru would take it as an insult, his father laughing at him from the grave for daring to invest in something other than war.

And Inuyasha, the son he had only met once as he resurrected the child from the underworld with Touga's last breath. The child who grew up tormented and alone would see his life falling apart by this unknown figure. It would be worse than when his mother died because at least then he knew death was imminent for a mortal, he could smell the decay on his mother each day. But Kagome was different, her death would be sudden and painful and caused by someone meant to love him.

Touga shook his head as he tried not to picture what would await him in the afterlife when both children eventually passed and they were reunited.

Instead he focused on the hope that Kagome could survive this. If her humanity died and her celestial self could hopefully adapt to this world and his boys would be safe. Maybe they would hate him and scorn his very name but it wouldn't matter. Touga would die a thousand times for the slightest chance at them being happy and he would absorb all the pain in Japan if it meant success. There was nothing he would not do for them, nothing he wouldn't sacrifice if it was needed.

He just hated that the thing that needed to be sacrificed was also Kagome's life. He had become attached to her during his time here. He had watched from afar from the underworld and delighted at the spirit she brought back to his son. It had been a passing thought that she had done the very same thing to most of the other demons in her life, them developing a quick love or at minimal fascination with her.

He hadn't realized it had been because they recognized kin, a world that had been lost to them but even instinctually they craved. And she was kin, maybe thousands of years of evolution into a different kind of kin but kin none the less.

Touga moved forward again and reached out to grab Kagome's hand. It slipped through her form and he inwardly cursed. With Kikyo's passing the gate had closed to the underworld and he was slowly being dragged back to that existence. He had learned so much from his death and no part of him wanted to return. He wanted to be here for her, he wanted to help her understand what she was.

Kagome was peace and light. She was purity and goodness. She was what demons were before they became selfish and adapted to greed and fighting. He needed to see her survive this burden he had brought into her life; he needed to see what she would become. He needed to know that he would not be meeting her at the gate to their ancestor's previous homeland trying to explain why he did it.

Why he killed her.

Before he could contemplate further the door to her room gently slid open and he watched as a figure walked through the door. Part of him wanted to be surprised but he knew better. The man had become attached to Kagome no matter what he preached in his mind.

The stoic figure steadily walked forward and stood at the edge of the bed. He looked at the clearly sedated but in pain girl. With a sigh he moved himself towards her head and checked her temperature. Briefly the clawed hands hovered near the frayed and dangling string that connected the jewel shards, "What have you done Touga?"

Touga felt his heart drop as he recognized his friends question and what it meant. Malik knew, which means he had told the boys. Knowing that his friend could not hear him Touga hardened his heart and answered anyways, "What I had to, I could not leave them alone to suffer."

Malik moved his fingers to move between Kagome's hair. He frowned when more than a few strands pulled out with the movement. "She will die and not in the way that I believe you want. They will be more alone than ever."

Touga growled and stood. Had he been among the living the chair he formulated his corporal self in undoubtedly would have been slammed against the wall with the force put into that movement, "What was I to do Malik? Leave my children in their misery? You have not seen what I have in the underworld. You do not know their suffering like I do." He began to pace as he tried to justify himself to someone who couldn't hear him, "Maybe Inuyasha would have managed, maybe he could have moved past it and somehow tried to start something for himself again but Sesshomaru would have done what he always does and ignored everything until there was nothing left in his life. He would have continued killing and driving everything good in his life away and I couldn't watch that. I couldn't witness his destruction knowing that if I had given him the slightest affection as a child he would have been different. That I brought that fate onto him more than anyone!"

Malik moved away from the girl and tried to organize things in his head. While he could not sense his friend his demonic energy picked something up in the air akin to frustration. But he ignored it while assuming it was his own. This entire situation was frustrating and not at all what one would expect to be dealing with. He spoke for his own comfort now, hoping beyond his usual level of belief that somewhere Touga would hear him, "Just do what you can Touga, for her. You get one minded and selfish when you are determined. Just…try and not let her be alone when it happens. When this plan fails."

Malik stepped away further and watched with another sigh when Kagome's response was the same. He did not know if he was expecting some retort from who knew where but he hoped his old friend heard him. While he was not a sentimental person, kami knows over the last few days was the most he had spoken to anyone in years, he felt as if his friend could hear him; possibly he had been able to all this time.

So Malik left the room not knowing that Touga had heard it, he had heard his old friends pleas and wished with all his might that things could have been different.

Touga could have thrown every item in the room at that but restrained himself, knowing it would be fruitless with his diminishing hold on this world. Pacing back towards Kagome he tried to remind himself why he was doing this, why the girl was in such a state.

He had been so selfish in his youth as he cared mainly for amusement and battle. He had mated and had a pup out of necessity rather than want, what with his self-centered behaviors and determination to reign over everything in sight. No part of him was ready to dedicate his soul to another, let alone be a father. He had channeled the selfish nature within and relished in what he had gained but had never felt happiness no matter what he tried. He had been to pre-occupied with creating it that he never actually found it. And now his eldest was following the same path, though in a more stoic fashion. It did not escape his notice that the son that had never met him was faring better in life than the one he had raised, though perhaps that could be attributed partly to Inuyasha's human nature.

Slowly he placed his palm on Kagome's upper chest and permitted some of his demonic energy to slow through her. His energy would be a small comfort to the girl and incredibly painful for him as her pure energy sought to destroy something so different in this vulnerable state but he would bear it.

He would bear all of it.

Inuyasha sat in the highest tree he could find as he tried to control his sadness. He wished it was anger, perhaps then he would feel like he had a fight worth fighting but right now unbelievable sadness overwhelmed him.

His damn father was killing Kagome. In a sick twisted up way he understood what the old man was trying. Having Kagome around and not having to worry about her dying would be the ultimate dream but he had never let himself go there. It was practically impossible and one of the reasons he kept others at a distance. People died; they aged and got sick and pass away leaving you with nothing. The idea of that not happening to Kagome as a miracle.

Malik was pretty damn clear that she wouldn't survive the change though and that hurt more than anything. She had this chance to be a part of his life for forever but living in this world was literally becoming impossible for her. He honestly didn't know what was worse, having her die as a mortal or the pain of what was happening to her now.

Well screw this, he couldn't take these feelings and this confusion. Inuyasha recognized that he was completely out of his depth with this one and no amount of thinking it through was going to change anything. The fight in him returned slightly but to an unexpected person. His eyes narrowed as he decided that this was no longer his job. This was his damn alpha's problem and the fucker was going to fix it.

Jumping off of his branch Inuyasha sniffed the air. Nothing came to him and he felt his irritation rise as no signature aura permeated the air. Sesshomaru was not bailing on this, he was not leaving Inuyasha to face this alone. The son-of-a-bitch had taken on a pack and all the shitty stuff that came with it. To hell with not knowing what he was taking on Sesshomaru still did it and Inuyasha still submitted.

Getting on all fours Inuyasha dug up the dirt around his feet and all but buried his nose in the ground. Once he found himself good and nearly buried he pressed his ears against the surrounding dirt. Without the wind to distract his hearing and focusing solely on the vibrations around him Inuaysha concentrated on what he was looking for. Sesshomaru wouldn't dare leave the castle grounds again but would sure as hell be away from others. But even that rage couldn't be completely tapped and the animals around him would know to avoid the killing intent.

So he continued to search and pressed his ears to different aspects of the ground. He channeled the noise from the rocks, mud and packed earth while looking for anything out of the norm. He could hear the vibrations of soldier's feet, the sound of metal vibrating through the underground weapons forge, the noise of animals burrowing their homes. It wasn't until he reached a small patch of land where he heard nothing that he paused.

Nothing?

Inuyasha pulled his head from the ground and began walking in that direction. Sesshomaru had probably scared off everything in the area because animals always made noises unless there was a life threatening reason not to. He continued walking through the nearby forest and slowly registered that his nose had begun picking up animal scents and what appeared to be a river. It was dampened due to the thick forest but still present. Jumping up into a tree he felt his body shiver and knew he was heading in the correct direction. It wasn't until he passed a small bend that he realized why nothing was moving, everything was dead.

The clearing was demolished by claws and poison was seeping into the ground. Nothing but melted bones or what could have either been demons or animals remained. He halted in his steps as he watched a pair of deer and a few small rodents remain as still as statues around the terrifying creature sitting against a broken tree. Even when Inuyasha stepped forward they did not move. Their instincts must have them frozen on the spot, a sight he had never seen.

Glancing down he realized that the bones distinctly smelled of demon. "Feel better?"

Sesshomaru did not even look his way as he cracked his knuckles with one movement while spraying some residual blood across a few non wilted trees, "No."

Inuyasha attempted to take a step closer but apparently that crossed an invisible barrier Sesshomaru had deemed as acceptable distance. When golden eyes snapped his way Inuyasha moved his extended foot back to his body and placed it on the ground. "So the old man, he always this much of an ass?"

The golden eyes turned back to the red covered claws and Inuyasha could feel the angry detachment radiating off of him. Sesshomaru picked what could only be described as demon meat from his claws and flicked it away. After a few more seconds Sesshomaru responded with a short, "Yes."

Inuyasha sighed, "Just tell me these were not soldiers from the west."

With the same disinterest but with a slight narrowing of the eyes Sesshomaru stated "Naraku's."

Inuyasha who was taking that as Sesshomaru being of at least semi-sound mind began pacing, though continued to remain away from the invisible line. After a few minutes of trying to figure out how to frame this but not get beat up, Inuyasha stopped, "What about the Sword of Heaven, that could bring her back right? You did it to the kid."

Sesshomaru ran his bloody palm against the dirt as he wiped away the remaining blood. After a few seconds he paused, then with a quick flick of his wrist he had his whip out into the open and snapped the ground at his feet. As if it was silent permission the remaining animals in the area sprinted from the land faster than should have been possible. Once they were out of the near vicinity Sesshomaru answered the question, "She repeals it. I tried before I came to get you and the sword flew from my grip and nearly cracked when it lodged itself in a wall."

Inuyasha felt his anger rise as the one idea he had was shut down in a few seconds, "Then she just can't die. We can't let her."

Sesshomaru give his full attention at that comment, "And what do you suggest Inuyasha? We beat the celestial out of her until she is human again?"

Inuyasha glared, "You are the alpha not me. You are supposed to figure this out Sesshomaru. My entire life you were always superior to me so what is different this time around? The old man got you scared?"

Inuyasha's throat was gripped and pushed against a tree faster than he had ever been. He registered the pain in his back far sooner than the threat to his life with how quickly things were progressing. He kept his glare though and tried not to choke on his own spit as it failed to slide down his closed throat. Sesshomaru lowered his nose to reach Inuyasha's as his fangs extended. Mere centimeters before Inuyasha would have sworn his esophagus was about to be torn out by teeth Sesshomaru growled in a commanding tone, "I am not afraid."

He coughed shortly but the air still wouldn't make its way through his body. Inuyasha grabbed his brother's arm in an attempt to get him to let up but was deterred by the solid muscle making up his brothers extended body.

In the same low tone Sesshomaru continued, "What I am is frustrated and tired of being reminded of life lessons by a father who never cared," he growled again.

Inuyasha then noticed how his feet were not on the ground and his vision was going black. The tunnel vision was starting and he realized that maybe this was a stupid move. Despite being a pack neither him nor Sesshomaru had any form of relationship to keep them from killing one another. They had never faced any great trials or had time to build some semblance of a bond with the other. Kagome had always been the buffer between them and now he had expected Sesshomaru to take a verbal beating from a former enemy? So yeah, he countered in his own head, it may have been a stupid move coming here.

"I am tired of being outdone by the son that he wanted rather than the one he had," Sesshomaru said angrily before releasing said young brother with a shove strong enough to dent the tree.

Inuyasha immediately crumbled to the ground while trying to regain his bearings. The black was still present and he realized how much damage had come to his body over the last few days. While he had been out of the castle for the last new moon and the next one was still a few days away it felt as if the weakness was settling in today. He coughed a bit, finally getting the release his throat had been gasping for moments before, "You've" he coughed again before he righted himself, "got to be kidding me."

Sesshomaru glanced over his shoulder and the muscles bunched again as if in preparation for an attack. Who would be the attacker was still unclear. Since Inuyasha was still on the ground and in no position to physically fight he used what Kagome had taught him and attacked with words. "I struggle everyday for something as basic as food and shelter. He left you with everything."

Sesshomaru turned swiftly on his heel to counter the accusation, "He left me a home full of enemies and a feast doused in poison. You were the one given a family. Do not play this game Inuyasha."

Inuyahsa shook his head and rose to one knee before making what he assumed was eye contact. His regaining sight did not let him know quite yet but was clearing, "You are right, I do have a family but it is not because of the old man. I made mine and I fight for it every damn day. And before I met Kagome I thought it was impossible that anyone could ever treat me like she has so screw you if you think I am giving that up to someone so stuck on themselves."

Sesshomaru scoffed but there was a new sense of anger behind the motion. Inuyasha must have said something that sparked the anger for it grew tenfold with that last comment. "Yet again you end up with what you want; someone to care for who cares for you back." Bitterly Sesshomaru nearly spat that sentence out at the healing half-demon regaining his full sight…in more ways that one.

Inuyasha paused as he registered those words. Something sounded off in that comment and the level of resentment had reached a different degree which he had not seen in years. There was no aura change or fluctuation in energy but Inuyasha still felt something shift in the conversation. Longing steeped into the blood filled clearing but it did not come from Inuyasha. He reflected further on what was said that could have enticed such strong feelings from the typically stoic brother. Inuyasha pushed himself fully back up to his feet as he felt realization dawn on him.

The words family, cared for and home resonated in his mind before the breath was nearly knocked out of him with shock, "Holy shit, you like her. Like really like her."

Sesshomaru's hands clenched and his breathing immediately stopped while he took a step forward. After a few tense seconds the empty space was filled with a stern, "You do not know of what you speak."

Inuyasha took a few steps back while fumbling, eyes wide like dinner plates as everything happened in his mind at once. Scene after scene flashed before his memory as he remembered stupid little fights: his brother trying to dominate Kagome mentally, the way she sparked his beast into action near constantly, conversations with Uza about Malik's own priestess and the similarities in the situations, his older brother practically showing off for the girl during their fights. Well crap Sesshomaru had even taken on Shippo needlessly to train him. Fox demons weren't even fighters, they were scared little magic wimps but the killing perfection was taking him on as a student? Of course Kagome was going to find out about it and while initially Inuyasha had thought his brother did it on a whim maybe it was more than that. He registered the comments and everything else that had happened further and it was as if all the broken shattered pieces of this quest were piecing itself together, "No, no, no. I mean I knew you liked her as a person and respected her and stuff but I didn't think it was where you liked her."

Sesshomaru took another step toward the in shock half-demon to combat Inuyasha's previous steps back, "Whatever it is you are thinking it is wrong. She is a human and-"

Inuyasha's eyes widened. That was his argument? Talk about a useless point with all the information they had just learned. "Not anymore, not if this works she isn't."

More thoughts crossed his mind as he blocked everything out but Sesshomaru standing in front of him as if being tortured. The look in his face was just as determined as it was confused. Just how long had Sesshomaru been feeling this way? He had always been way worse to Kagome than Sango or Miroku and was this possibly why? Inuyasha had always believed it was because she pulled the sword from their fathers grave when neither of them could. Had it started then? Because the animosity certainly had. Was Sesshomaru trying to ignore her or push her away because he didn't want to face something like being mildly interested in a human? And based off his response maybe it wasn't so mild anymore. They had spent a ridiculous amount of time together since joining the castle and Kagome had this freaky way of making herself important to others.

Inuyasha stepped forward and he saw the uncertainty in his brother's face. The discussion had clearly thrown him off and the great killing perfection was at a loss for words. Despite Sesshomaru's usual lack of them he was always confident in what he did not matter the situation. This was a new side Inuyasha had never imaged possible let alone be witness too.

After a few seconds Sesshomaru seemed to notice Inuyasha's continued pestering and glared, "She is annoying and obstinate."

Inuyahsa nodded his head as he remembered Kagome's arrow and how Sesshomaru turned towards it mid fight. That was it wasn't it? When Sesshomaru finally let her in and he stopped caring what it meant to have a human around. Inuyasha had thought it meant acceptance for a comrade but it was clearly way more than that.

Sesshomaru had accepted her and seconds later their father had literally destroyed all hope when her blood coated the field. Sesshomaru had had moments of acceptance before everything turned upside down again. And Inuyasha had wondered why he was so angry, so bitter? Determined to stay involved in the conversation and capitalize on his brother's fear of feelings Inuyasha responded to the unnecessary comment about Kagome and her legendary disregard for authority. "And has a crazy as hell temper. Don't let any rosary beads get put on you ever," he said absent mindedly.

Sesshomaru took another step back, almost as if trying to escape, as he registered the recognition of the situation in Inuyasha voice. "I do not like her."

No part of Inuyasha believed that particular comment but he knew it was more for Sesshomaru's own sake than his. It was most likely what Sesshomaru had been doing out here; he was trying to convince himself that he did not like the woman and blamed himself for even trying. Going against every instinct Inuyasha pushed further as he tried to imagine what his brother had been experiencing, "How long have you wondered about it? About what it would look like if she felt the same way?"

Sesshomaru's glare intensified, "Stop, or your arm will be dislodged from your body."

Inuyasha wasn't sure why but he didn't feel threatened in any way. He should have with how annoyed and uncomfortable Sesshomaru clearly was while knowing the demon's low tolerance for feelings. Something told him despite the delicate nature of the conversation Sesshomaru was much to lost to actually be more violent than what was already done. "She is an amazing person."

Sesshomaru's eyes flashed red and he gave a growl of warning with another step back. Inuyasha ignored it though nearly gulped as he recognized a wild animal caged as it tried to get away. "Listen, don't bark at me cause you are pissed about the situation. This isn't nice for me either you know. I've never even met the man and he is taking everything I love from me, I can't imagine what you are going through knowing how emotionally constipated you are."

"I do not love her," came the raspy growl of said caged beast.

Inuyasha sighed and rubbed his temples. He was not equipped to be the adult in this situation and his own feelings of confusion were starting to show as the shock wore off. How this mess had become this big when all they had originally been doing was hunting down a crazed-face-stealing-half-demon was a mystery. Holy crap his bastard brother was in denial about being head over heels for his dying best friend while their long lost father was murdering said best friend in her sleep. Inuyasha felt the uncontrollable urge to laugh and even he couldn't stop the noise that came out based on the ridiculousness of the situation. "You know what, fine, you don't love her but does that mean you are just going to let her die? She means something to you or I would have been ripped apart when I first challenged you about it. So you have a choice to make. Are you going to protect her and maybe prove yourself to someone as I don't know, a capable protector, or are you going to sulk?"

Sesshomaru features calmed down at the insinuation that Inuyasha was dropping the topic, "I am not sulking."

Inuyasha took the win and countered the deflection, "I don't know the old man at all but he clearly planned this out. He knows what she means to me and must have known some of what you were going through based on the timing of her collapse. So, are you going to be an alpha and solve this shit or are you going to let the best thing that ever happened to your castle die?"

Sesshomaru frowned, "Again to the beating the celestial out of her plan. You are a child."

Inuyasha crossed his arms as he felt something shift between them in a positive direction. "I don't know the first thing about the celestial crap but Sango knows more about Midoriko than anyone. Maybe between everything there is something we can do. Celestials and demons used to be the same species right? She was triggered by a demon so maybe there is something we can do to make it easier for her."

Sesshomaru nearly answered with a scoff but stopped mid action. He paused briefly and processed something within seconds. "It is said demons used to protect celestials before we became overcome with greed and war. It is unclear how the war ended other than the destruction of the realm and the migration here. If we knew more regarding our ancestors previous role perhaps then we could do something."

Inuyasha nodded, "It makes sense that there is something somewhere. Touga clearly knew how to trigger it and he had to of learned that from somewhere."

Sesshomaru nodded, "You will-" but he was cut off by a bark of Inuyasha's.

With a crossing of the arms Inuyasha was sure to give his opinion on the matter, "Oh hell no, you are the alpha and Malik and I cannot stand each other. He is freaky as hell and does this glare thing that I am to beat up to face right now. Besides I'm not the one in love with Kagome. You are doing this."

Sesshomaru's glare returned, "I am not in love with her."

With new ammo to use against his older sibling, and honestly needing a hell of a lot of time to process this and figure out where he stood on the matter, Inuyasha brushed it aside. Knowing that Sesshomaru at least questioned his feelings towards the woman gave him a new confidence for his life expectancy since Sesshomaru wasn't about to kill the only connection he had with the girl. That and Kagome would never forgive him if Sesshomaru 'accidentally' killed Inuyasha. "Okay, you are infatuated, either way I need to sleep and Kagome could use a new guard dog for her room. You can talk to Malik in the meantime."

Sesshomaru growled as he immediately flash stepped and swiped his arm across the back of Inuyasha's head effectively flattening the ears with the force of the blow. Within half a second Inuyasha was unconscious on the dirty ground. Silently spinning on his heel Sesshomaru smirked at his ability to manage two potentially frustrating situations with one move.

Inuyasha was both sleeping and had the inability to speak his ridiculous statements.

Two bird's, one stone.

Firevixen73- Hello everyone, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I had so much fun writing the brothers and how they figure out how to be around each other while also bringing Rin into the story. I knew I wanted it to be a part of Sesshomaru's mindset change so was excited to finally be able to write it. Have an amazing weekend and reviews are much appreciated!