A\N: Ugh! Late update! Really friggen late!

Gomen guys, my computer's been acting like the piece of crap it is, and so has my mind. But I'm back with another chapter now!

Lol, I also just discovered something when I was considering how to respond to the below reviews: I'm weird (Lol, actually I've known that for a very long time, but...) a little bit crazy (Again, know that for a long time, but...) and I think I scare people. I don't know, a lot of reviewers on some of my other stories don't seem quite certain how to react to me. Not that a lot of people do, but...

Anyway...

-Almandine-Azaleea - Lol, well, OOC or not, it's still interesting to see this side of Sess. As long as I can make it believable!

-Clouds of the Sky - Lol, I know that, I just like to "heckle" people. Gomen, but I do it to everyone, and I wouldn't want you to feel out of place, now would I?

-The Grand Dunegeon Master - Lol, kay! Glad you're liking it!

-xolovexinuyasha - Yeah... I don't know when the hell I'll get to that, but hopefully soon... It may very well make you cry! And I think you'll be happy to know that I was reading a story the other day and it kinda made me want to cry. At first I thought it was a fluke, but I read the story two more times and it had the same sort of effect. I didn't actually cry, but at least it's something, neh?

-Wish-full Thinker - Umm... I really can't comment on that... Lol, but still, I'm glad to hear you like this chapter and that I was able to quell your fears. This is an Inu\Kagome fic... well, an Inu fic, anyway... It will be an Inu\Kagome fic if I can ever get the two of them together again! Lol, and I never intended on making it otherwise. It was tempting, but no, not for this fic. -- And yep, Amaya is, of course, back, but I thought you guys might enjoy a little break from her, since it seems like she's always in every chapter doing everything. Apparently though she's more popular than I thought.

-lunerfox - Lol, yeah, Simple Plan and Avril I listen to and like most of their music (her being pretty much the only female singer in the world I can actually stand to listen to let alone like) and I have heard a couple of good charlotte songs, but not necessarily enough to say that I "listen to them." Lol, I actually rarely listen to songs by an individual band-- normally if I hear the song, like it, it goes on my playlist and I don't really care who it's by. However, if I hear enough songs by the same person then I might start to search them out. Simple Plan and Avril are some of these people who I might search out, but I haven't heard enough by Good Charlotte to really claim that big an interest in them. -- Lol, I bet you're glad you asked, you gave me a simple question, and I returned it with a loooooooong complicated explanation.

-Darking Queen - Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. I'll try and make the next chapter's a bit eviller so that you don't feel inclined to any sibling niceties. Lol-- it's fine if you miss chapters. Lots of people are doing it lately-- seems there's just a lot going on, and I never actually expected people to keep up with all the chapters anyway, considering that normally means reading every single day from this story, but I guess people just like it that much that they feel inclined to appologize for missing chapters.

-Black Betty - Lol, well I can honestly tell you that I can't wait to see what'll happen either! I am just as clueless as you people!... hang on a second, that sounded like an insult... oh well, it's not supposed to be, and I think you get my meaning anyway!

-RamblingPhilosopher - Actually, no, the fluff in this fic has nothing to do with valentines day. You guys should all know by now that I celebrate holidays with Angst and suffering. -- Still, glad you enjoyed it. I really gotta get some more angst in here sometime soon though, or my brain will explode. TOO MUCH FLUFF!

-Nassica12 - Thanks!

-Sexy Kat - Lol, thanks! There's actually a bunch of people saying that Sess is in character and a bunch saying he isn't, and I have no idea either way, so I just continue to write him this way because it better suites my means.

-wolfgirl13 - Wow, it's like Halloween all over again! -- Of course I'll continue to try and write well (and gomen again for the late update) because I'm not really writing this for me. If this was written for me, it'd probably be entirely different. But it's not, it's written more for you guys than anything. I wasn't even going to continue it. (manipulative reviewers!)

-Ryunosuke-sama - Oh no! It wasn't any fault of yours! Have you ever read a sentence and, no matter how many times you read it, your mind tries to organize it in a different way then it's written out? That's what was happening with me-- I was reading the sentence, it was worded right and properly, but my mind refused to put it in the right order. -- Lol, that's what I'm trying to go for with this-- I think Sess is probably acting a bit more like his old self in this chapter. I just want to make sure everyone knows, Sess isn't becoming completely OOC for everyone, mostly just toward Inuyasha and maybe a bit OOC for other people. He's probably more shaken up inside than we originally perceive. -- Umm, no that's not a rarity. Most of my chapters are very short. It's a rarity if they're long, and people normally bring out the champagne when they are. -- What can I say-- I'm not one of the authors who can just sit down and write, write, write, write, write forever on a single 10-page chapter. My are shorter, but cover mostly the same amount of things, and I get them up sooner than that. Not that there's anything wrong with that method of writing, that's just not the way I do things. -- "Greatness?" Really? Woah... that's just... well, not something I ever thought would be associated with my stories. Arigato!

-sourapple10000 - Oh, that's fine, I understand completely. Lol, you don't have to apologize, it's not like you betrayed me or something. There have been some people who have seemingly abandoned this story, but I don't expect an apology from them either-- if they lost interest, that's their problem, not mine. I've still got all you guys! -- Lol, besides, it seems I'm a little late with the updates myself... o.o

-MewMewFireHeart - Everybody keeps apologizing for not reviewing every chapter! Lol, I said it to everyone else, and I'll say it to you: Apology is not necessary! I never expected anyone to review every chapter anyway! -- Lol, yay, reinforcements! Lol, actually it seems that even the people who do think his OOC like this new form of him, and are willing to let me live writing it. Besides, if they didn't, then we'd never finish the story, now would we? -- Hm. Now that is definitely an interesting thing to say-- Which is more interesting? My rants or my story? I have absolutely no idea. My story is clearly the workings of complete insanity, and my rants even more so. -- "Argh! Fuck no!" I say that only because it's true. there is no point to Kikyo's existance except to add love interest-- which there's enough of that already. I think the most she ever did was send a couple of people the spirit world, and tell Tsubaki not to hurt Inuyasha. Plus she foiled Naraku up a very little bit, but I gotta say, I'm on his side. In fact, I've become a lot more fond of Naraku ever since he killed her way back when. Not that killing her ever does anything-- she just keeps coming back, again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again anad again and agan and again and again. Annoying yet? Well, not nearly as annoying as Kikyo! I'd rather have this than her! -- Oh, also, I've heard the song "wasn't me" by Shaggy. I've heard the real version and the radio version, and it was sooooooo bad. You know how they change or bleep "bad" stuff out on the radio? Well, you know the line from the song "Picture this, we were both butt-naked, banging on the bathroom floor"? Well, they, of course, couldn't allow that, so they changed it to "Picture this, we had all our friends over, cleaning up the bathroom floor." Yeah. Picture that. You can understand why his Girlfriend wanted to break up with him, huh? Imagine that bastard, trying to clean up the bathroom. Sheesh! The nerve of some people.

Well, this is probably almost as long as the story now, so I guess I better shut up now and let you guys get onto the chapter. Sorry, guess I just had a lot to say!

Acting Like It

Amaya stopped in her tracks, catching sight of the two inu demons.

At first she was more startled at Inuyasha's appearance in general, what with his black hair and round ears, and had instantly tensed at the idea that Sesshomaru now knew of Inuyasha's transformation date. She herself had not known it until now, but she was not necessarily a potential threat to the hanyou. She would not kill him after all her work just to get him free.

However, the longer she stood staring at the two oblivious youkai, the more she absorbed of the peaceful and relaxed aura around them, until it began to take hold on her as well, and a slow smile began to spread across her lips.

From what she knew, the two brothers had always had a great hate and loathing for each other, and now here they were, curled up on the ground, oblivious to the world around them, just waiting for the time to move again.

She wasn't even aware exactly how long she had stood there staring at the two, only that when she had arrived there it had still be dark in the moonless night of the new moon, and now the sun was painting streaks across the ground.

She started slightly, an moved to take a step forward, then stopped as the sun's rays reached the two sleeping youkai, and she watched as they touched Inuyasha, seeming to paint his hair pale silver as they spread up his body. Human ears disappeared, and his dog-ears returned resting on his head, both drooping slightly to the side in sleep, his eyes fluttering slightly as he pressed closer against his brother.

Amaya smiled, her eyes slightly wide, and shook her head, stepping toward the two inu's, and drawing Sesshomaru's sharp gaze toward her. It seemed he hadn't been asleep, but neither had he been aware of her presence, and he looked up at her now, a faint tint of red flickering into his gaze momentarily, before flickering out just as abruptly.

'Ohaiyo gozaimasu, Sesshomaru.' She said, not bothering to hide her smile as she flicked her gaze over the still sleeping Inuyasha. She took in the narrowing of Sesshomaru's eyes and the fact threat in them that anything she might say next could possibly get her killed, before risking it all and saying 'It seems the little hanyou has warmed up the cold castles of the Western Lands.' Her smirk grew as Sesshomaru gave a low growl, cutting off when Inuyasha's eyes fluttered again and his body tensed noticeably.

Sesshomaru forced his anger down and relaxed his body, trying not to waken his brother while he gazed up at the sorceress.

'Why are you here?' He asked, regaining some of his normal indifference. The hanyou had him off-balance, and he didn't like it.

'I merely came to check up on Inuyasha, to see that he was still alive.' She said coolly, and Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed at the blow to his honour. It was a serious one indeed if someone accuses you of being untrustworthy enough to kill someone you've taken into your care.

'That doesn't explain why you are skulking around in the middle of the night. You could have just as easily made this "check-up" during the reasonable hours of the day.'

'It is day, Sesshomaru, or had you not noticed that your brother has changed back and the sun is shining in your eyes?' She asked, taking a few steps closer. 'And no, I could not have made this "check-up" as we are dubbing it as easily during the "reasonable hours of the day". I have been busy ever since I left the hanyou in your charge, I have been busy with the humans and Naraku and other things that are not yet of your concern.' She said, eyeing Inuyasha's sleeping face again. All her words were true: She had been busy keeping the ningens calm, especially Sango and Kagome, who were incredibly worried and relieved at the same time to learn that Inuyasha and Kohaku were now in Sesshomaru's care. Neither seemed to trust the demon lord not to kill them, and that was the main reason she was here: to ease their hearts. Even if she did not trust the demon Lord, she knew that he had enough aristocratic honour not to kill those in his charge. Inuyasha and Kohaku were alright. For the moment.

Yet she had never suspected to find Sesshomaru holding Inuyasha in such an intimate embrace, never expected him to... act like a brother. The Lord had been less than pleased when she had announced that Inuyasha would have to stay with him, and yet here he was, holding the sleeping Inuyasha protectively against his chest while he had slept through his transformation. She had seen the flash of red in his eyes when she had approached, and she knew that, had she been coming from behind, Sesshomaru would have undoubtedly killed her.

That fact alone would be enough to relieve any tension or worries of him killing his brother at least: He was so protective over the young hanyou, he was ready to attack any living thing that approached, friend or not.

She cocked her head thoughtfully as Inuyasha's face scrunched up for a moment into a frown, and then relaxed and smoothed out again. 'He is very peaceful right now.' She said, causing Sesshomaru to look down at his brother, his face instantly softening some. 'I have never seen him so relaxed before, not even in sleep in the Miko's care.' She said, and Sesshomaru seemed slightly surprised at this.

'He was very reluctant to sleep at all. I am surprised.' Sesshomaru murmured quietly. 'He has been asleep most of the night though.' He paused and stared at Inuyasha's eyes, which were moving rapidly under their lids.

'He is dreaming.' Amaya said, and Sesshomaru stared more intently at his brother, as though searching for something. Inuyasha's face contorted again, an expression of pain this time, and he whimpered, his head thrashing to the side.

Sesshomaru's own eyes narrowed slightly as he shifted, tightening his arm around Inuyasha's body, and leaning down to whisper something into Inuyasha's ear that her human ears could not pick up. The cat-like ear flicked back, then forward, and Inuyasha whimpered again, his hand reached up toward Sesshomaru's face, causing the demon lord to instinctively pull away. Inuyasha's hand closed around air, and he whimpered again, his face darkening, as his lips moved softly. 'Sesshomaru.' He whimpered quietly, and Amaya raised an eyebrow, while Sesshomaru looked slightly startled.

'He's calling for you Sesshomaru.' She said, making sure her challenge was evident in her voice, in her next words. 'Will you go to him?'

Sesshomaru looked up at her, eyes cold, then back at his troubled brother, whose eyes still moved rapidly, and whose hand was slowly curling into a fist and moving toward his chest in a protective manner, as though someone was trying to attack him and he was weakly trying to defend himself.

Sesshomaru's hand moved to meet it, and he gently wrapped his own elegant fingers around that of his brother's. Inuyasha tensed and stilled, his eyes cracking open after a minute, blinking in confusion, a trace of fear from whatever dream assailant had been attacking him lingering in the honeyed depths, before focusing in on his brother's face.

'Sesshomaru?' He asked quietly, his voice full of confusion, as he glanced down at their clasped hands. Amaya decided this would be a good time to leave, since she had not even planned staying this long in the first place. She cleared her throat loudly, drawing both hanyou and youkai's gazes to her.

'I take my leave.' She said quietly as Inuyasha stared at her in shock, and Sesshomaru in icy contempt.

She turned to walk away, then paused and looked back at the two brother's whose eyes were still fixed on her.

'Inuyasha, you have nothing left to fear, Sesshomaru will take good care of you.' She said gently, before turning and continuing on her route, leaving a stunned silence behind her as the two brother's contemplated what had just happened, and the seriousness of what she had just said, even as both realised for the first time that she was telling the truth.

Sesshomaru would protect and look after him.

And Inuyasha would let him.

Because somehow, when the universe had suddenly decided to spin rapidly out of control, it had become natural. It had become right.

And that made everything else that they had been through silly and insignifigant, because it was right. They were brothers, after all.

And the time had finally come that they were acting like it.

A\N: sighs another WAFF chapter. I really gotta stop this...

SPECIAL THANKS TO: Almandine-Azaleea, Clouds of the Sky, The Grand Dungeon Master, xolovexinuyasha, Wish-full Thinker, lunerfox, Darking Queen, Black Betty, RamblingPhilosopher, Nassica12, wolfygirl13, Ryunosuke-sama, sourapple10000 aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand MewMewFireHeart. -- These are truly great people, but, unfortunately, I can't tell you why I'm thanking them. I'm sure if you have more than one functioning brain-cell you can figure it out for yourself though, and give them all a pat on the back!

CMoC - Brand New World - V6, Don't Tell Me - Avril Lavigne, Somewhere Out There - Our Lady peace, Angels Loosing Sleep - Our lady Peace, We are One Tonight - Switchfoot, Right Here - Staind, Drown - Three Days Grace, I'm 18 - Creed, It's Over Now - Neve, Thank-you - Dido and Perfect - Simple Plan