Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
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Inuyasha lifted his eyes with an effort. He groaned a bit, attempted to lift himself off his stomach, but a hand gently pushed him down. The human gasped as a shooting pain came from his back.
Sesshomaru's voice was oddly soothing. "Only two hours until sunrise." His hand lingered to move a bandage back in place. "Don't move, again."
Inuyasha couldn't help but smirk a little. "Yeah, I don't think that's gonna happen." He couldn't see his brother, but he got the feeling his humor wasn't appreciated.
Something clacked against the rock, and Inuyasha looked to his hand. The ring was back on. "Why is this ring so important?"
Sesshomaru stopped fiddling with the wound. "I told you, my will-."
"I'm not stupid. There's more to it."
The demon closed his eyes to hold back the urge to strangle his brother. "That's none of your business."
Inuyasha sighed, "I know... Sorry."
Sesshomaru wanted to growl, or pull his hair out, or both. The emotions coming into him were awful. Sadness, pain, misery, more pain! 'It's not so bad when he's a half-demon, but this is unbearable,' he thought, gazing down at the human's wound. 'How can he still act so strong?'
Inuyasha bit his lip, "I apologize about running out like that. It was...stupid."
'Don't snap at him. Don't lecture him. That'll make it worse.' Sesshomaru suddenly blurted out, "These human nights are hard for you." He paused, uncertain. 'Where am I going with this?' He forced himself to figure out his next words with care. "I will not hold this against you."
Inuyasha felt a small smile comes to his lips, "Alright."
The demon almost gasped. The feeling of relief was so great it was ebbing away the sadness and misery. 'Did I do that?' He gave his brother a shocked look. 'Do my words mean that much to him?'
Sesshomaru wanted to test this, but how? He certainly didn't want to hurt his brother, and indirectly hurt himself, so what could he say? He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it. The words wouldn't come.
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In the forest, Katrina moved unseen through the trees. Her wounds were healed, thanks to a simple spell and her full demon blood. She wanted closer to the cave, to see exactly what had transpired after her attack.
Truly, she didn't care about the two men. This was all about competition to her. Mina had been her rival since their Lord Inutaishou's reign. She refused to let a human become her better.
The trickling of a stream told her she was close. She didn't dare go any farther. From her, she would be able to hear any conversation going on between the two.
'Come on, you two.' She thought, 'Hurry up!'
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Totosai yawned, stretched, then fell over onto the floor. "Goodnight." In a few moments, annoying snoring filled the room.
Mina just turned to look at him, then looked away. "Well, that was random." Myoga hopped onto her shoulder. "Indeed." The flea sighed, "Master Inuyasha doesn't look so well."
"Yeah, and Sesshomaru isn't doing so well either." She wrung her hands together. "Only another hour to go. They can make it."
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Inuyasha was so tired, but he couldn't go to sleep. The presence of his brother made him uneasy. 'Sesshomaru doesn't hate me anymore, I know that.' He gazed at the ring on his finger. 'Still, I can't forget, and I can't hope for more.'
'Not again.' Sesshomaru felt the sadness, and wondered what his brother thought of to make him so upset. 'Now is the time for the right words.' They still wouldn't come to him. He found himself speaking without a point again. "What are you thinking about?"
The human shifted, trying to get comfortable. "Just things."
"Tell me about them." The lord mentally shook his head. 'What am I doing?'
Inuyasha rolled his eyes, "Not much to tell. I'm thinkin' about those times we fought, and my friends. Things like that."
Sesshomaru found himself intrigued. "The times we fought?" He felt the sadness increase from his brother. 'Am I the reason for your sadness?'
Inuyasha sighed, "Yeah, nothin' special."
'Ask the question.' Sesshomaru fought with himself. He knew he was going to regret asking, he just knew it. "At times, I have found you...More than interesting. What do you think of me?"
Inuyasha closed his eyes, then started on his spiel. "You are cold, cruel, powerful, heartless, and arrogant. I can't stand you most of the time, because most of the time you're starting a fight with me!" He stopped to inhale a breath, not knowing that Sesshomaru had his head down, seemingly defeated.
"But sometimes, when you aren't so much like that, I think you have honor, and I like you too."
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