Niko Mane: Hey all, thank you for all the lovely reviews! Sorry it took me a while to update, I've been busy with all the holidays. By the way, the names of these chapters are completely random, if you haven't guessed that yet. .

Chapter 7: Royal Flush

The next day, Inuyasha walked along the river again, fingering the uncomfortable collar around his neck. Suddenly he heard rustling and he jumped quickly into a nearby tree. A teenage girl ran through, giggling.

"Miroku, you're such a perv!" she squealed when a young monk followed her.

"Oh, come on! Please bear my child?" he grinned. The girl giggled and ran away, with the monk close at her heels.

"Eh?" Inuyasha said to himself, blinking in confusion. He shrugged it off and hopped down from the tree.

1 day later

Inuyasha had finally made it; he had reached the ocean. Now he could somehow get aboard a ship and leave this island. There were plenty of ships to choose from. Chocolat was a large town that was pretty much only for shipping and fishing.

But before he got on a boat he decided to take a short walk on the beach. It was night now, and the full moon was shining brightly, its reflection shimmering on the dark water. The sand was soft under his bare feet. He took a deep breath, inhaling the salty scent of the sea breeze. But mixed in was another scent. Inuyasha gasped as he recognized it, but he was too late. He was pinned against a tree sharply. Sesshomaru had found him.

Inuyasha struggled like mad to free himself from Sesshomaru's grip.

"You've got a lot of explaining to do little brother." Sesshomaru said calmly, his face expressionless.

"No! Leave me alone!" Inuyasha cried desperately. He was starting to hyperventilate again. Sesshomaru frowned.

"I'm taking you back to the castle." He growled.

"No!" Inuyasha said again. "I'm NOT mating with you!"

Inuyasha gasped in horror when he realized what he just said. Sesshomaru's grip loosened from his shock, so he seized the chance and leaped away.

"So… You've known all along." Sesshomaru said, stepping towards him. Inuyasha backed up and looked back at Sesshomaru wearily. There was no point in lying now.

"Yes, I overheard you and father talking about it 8 years ago." Inuyasha answered softly.

Sesshomaru was amazed… This explained everything. Why he had become so nervous when he realized he was in his first heat; why he had panicked whenever Sesshomaru got near him; and why he had run off in the first place. Sesshomaru shook his head.

"This changes nothing. You are still coming back."

To this Inuyasha turned and ran, but Sesshomaru easily leaped in front of him, grabbing him tightly.

"Inuyasha, stop this foolishness!" he growled, becoming impatient.

"YOU stop this foolishness!" Inuyasha cried. "We-we can't possibly…"

"I'm prepared to follow our father's orders, even if you're not." Sesshomaru said smoothly. The he noticed the metal collar. "Who did that?"

"The Black Sun…" Inuyasha muttered, looking at the ground. He now hung limply in Sesshomaru's arms. He had no strength left to fight. Sesshomaru's eyes blazed in anger.

"I'll be sure to take care of them." He said with deadly softness. He suddenly reached around and hit Inuyasha in the back of the neck. He didn't even have enough time to struggle as he fell into unconsciousness.

Niko Mane: Heh heh, the next chapter's going to be interesting huh? And by the way, don't ask me why there was a tree on the beach. Please review! My goal is to reach 100 reviews with this fic!