I know what you're thinking.. "Two chappies in a row?! Crazy stuff!"
But anywho I've been going crazy trying to link the beginning to kind of towards the end.. So sorry for all this wating

And thank you for all the awesome reviews! Everytime I see I get a review my heart races and I think , "OMG they hate me Noooooo!" but it's never like that so thankies=D

And Nechi.. I'm sorry to say but none of those three things happen... I like the kind of stories where even if there's some suffering that they'll ultimately be met with a happy ending... and quite frankly... some of your outcomes kinda depress me... why kill people? It makes me sad:(

Also.. I really like Kagura and Kikyo - I guess a lot of people don't like them? Which is cool:) In fact... I don't think there's a character in Inuyasha that I truly dislike... Not that I can think of in this very moment anyways... Well anywho enjoy and everyone stay safe this holiday season!


Three years later~~~~

Blood splattered onto the floor. A lifeless man crumpled to the floor in a pool of crimson. It was nothing unusual; it was nothing that hasn't happened before. Arrogant eyes fell on the sight of death. Centuries ago, death and corpses lay like flowers on the ground. Now it was different. It was a different time with different protocols.

Times change. Rules and even religion change over time. Things that were once 'right' are now wrong. And things that were 'wrong' are now accepted. People, however, don't change – they simply adapt. He was born in a time of war and aristocracy. He was not one to court or greet death. He was the one to introduce it. He made no apologies, showed no mercy. That was his birthright.

Few individuals have started to instigate a feud. Sesshoumaru cut down anyone who even vaguely challenged him. One even threatened the life of his 'runaway whore'; the one currently lying in front of his feet, heartless. He flexed his claws and crushed the pathetic creatures' heart and then threw it on the floor next to him.

"How dramatic," a woman said, observing from behind.

"Kagura, I assume that you have killed those who needed to be killed," Sesshoumaru said coolly.

"I did. And if I might add I didn't ruin my pretty office floor in the process or dirty my pretty little hands."

"I must lack your finesse," he replied.

"No, finesse is not standing in an office with the putrid smell of death wafting in the ambiance. However, here we stand talking pleasantries."

Kagura smirked. "I must say though. Your slow descent into madness is quite entertaining. Still missing your little pet after all these years?"

Sesshoumaru stared at the dead body on his floor and decided he grew tired of his face. He swung his poison whip at him and disfigured his face making him unrecognizable.

"Cute," she said slightly sardonically. "Take me out to lunch. All this demon uprising is making me hungry."

"Hn."

The two of them left his office to head out for lunch.

Months ago the Panther demons made an official statement of waging war against the Western House. A few fools started to attack but they were easily struck down. Besides the few nuisances, they have been pretty quiet. Sesshoumaru was waiting for the real attack. He imagined it might take them years to plan a real uprising. War wasn't something to enter lightly. However, the panthers were fools. They had to be, announcing their impending suicide.

"Have you spoken to your father yet," Kagura asked from the passenger seat. "I heard he moved back to his Tokyo residence."

"That reminds me," Sesshoumaru turned left at a stop light before continuing. "I was supposed to go over for lunch."

Kagura scoffed. "Typical Sesshoumaru. You shouldn't blow off your family so easily. When is the last time you spoke to them for longer than an hour?"

"Only a decade," he answered.

"I'm not surprised. Anywho," she said coolly. "Just drop me off at that café, I'll have Daisuke pick me up. We're getting serious ya know. I might even have to stop screwing you on a regular."

Sesshoumaru scoffed but turned into the café she pointed to.

When the car stopped, she got out and closed the door. "Have fun with the parents. Try not to be such an ass to them. They're not like me; they're sensitive."

He watched her walk in before driving off. He drove to his fathers' house in silence. It was always silent. After two years of nothing from Kagome, his beast just became silent. No more growls, no more demands for his miko, no nothing. He just became dormant. He had wished he became dormant when he first laid eyes on her.

However, he knew it wasn't all his beast. He only noticed her because of his beast. But something else kept him wanting more. She was an enigma and ethereal even. She was everything he wasn't and he wanted more. He wanted to be able to place a finger on that which was Kagome. To figure her out. He wanted to taint her purity and happiness with his own hands. He admitted it; he wouldn't lie about it. Lies were for those too weak for the truth. He was not weak. But Kagome, Kagome was. And he knew it.

If he ever came across her again… he would do things differently. He would make her his mate and bind her to him forever. Or kill her.

Sesshoumaru eventually arrived at his fathers' house. He pulled into the drive way and walked through the front door without knocking.

He looked around and scowled. There were too many flowers, he thought. Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes when he felt his over eager father heading towards him.

3, 2, 1

"My son," Sesshoumaru's father – Touga - exclaimed excitedly.

Sesshoumaru looked at his father coming at him with arms wide open. "Put your arms down this instant."

A look of sadness washed over his face as his slowly lowered his arms.

Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes. "It's nice to see you in good health," he said reluctantly.

In response, his father let out a hardy laugh and patted his son on his back. "That's my boy. Always thoughtful. Food is on the table and Izayoi and Inuyasha are at the table," he said leading him.

Sesshoumaru sat next to Inuyasha, as his father and Izayoi sat across from them. He can't exactly recall when, but he and Inuyasha seemed to have become somewhat civil with each other. Sure there were the occasional quips, death threats, and violent acts, but perhaps it was brotherly love…. No.. brotherly tolerance, would better describe it.

"How's Kikyo," Sesshoumaru asked in regards to Inuyasha's now pregnant mate.

"Keh," he scoffed. "Kagome once said she could be moody," he said absentmindly. "She ain't seen nothing." A look of both fear and dread was on his face.

Outwardly, Sesshoumaru seemed passive to the mention of Kagome. But he inwardly twinged at the sound of her name.

Touga laughed. "It means she's high-spirited! So she and the pup must be healthy and strong," he said proud as he took a large bite of his food.

"Make sure you let us know when the pup is born. We'll fly out to London to see our first grandchild," Izayoi said.

Inuyasha smiled and silently thought about his first born. It was going to be a girl and he was ecstatic.

"That reminds me," Touga said thoughtfully. "How is Kagome? I haven't seen her since she was in high school?"

Both Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru were silent for a moment. Neither Touga nor Izayoi knew about what happened. Even Inuyasha was fuzzy on the details.

"She and Kikyo are cousins right," Izayoi asked.

"Yeah," Inuyasha said.

"Well how is she?" Touga asked once more. "You two used to be pretty close, we should have her over again some time."

Inuyasha shrugged. "She moved. No one knows where she's at."

Sesshoumaru silently let the conversation continue, quietly listening.

Touga and Izayoi both widened their eyes in alarm. "Really?" Touga said worried. "Does anyone know if she's okay? Is she missing?"

"Oi pops, if no one knows where she's at, that prolly means she don't want anyone to know. So she's prolly not talking to anyone. So what makes you think I know?"

"Anyways, she's not missing. She's hiding from Prince ice butt over here," he motioned his head towards Sesshoumaru. "So aim the 21 questions to him."

Touga and Izayoi both looked to Sesshoumaru. "Why would she be hiding from you," Izayoi asked.

"When I come across her, I will be sure to ask," he said nonchalant.

Touga raised a brow. "Relationship gone sour?"

Sesshoumaru scoffed.

He was growing annoyed and impatient with the family lunch. He hardly wanted to sit and listen to their questions about Kagome. Questions he couldn't answer. He looked at his watch and then stood up.

"The elders are having a meeting later. I'm going to prepare," he said taking his leave before anyone could object.

The three of them watched Sesshoumaru leave.

"Guess that's a yes," Touga said.

"You have no idea," Inuyasha said under his breath.


Later that night, Sesshoumaru along with his father and Inuyasha were in a large meeting room with the demon council. The council consisted of 7 elders – who were once leaders of one the four houses who had since stepped down – and the present 4 leaders of the each House.

Touga was selected to soon join the council and Sesshoumaru would be the ruler of the Western house.

"Mutt-face, is that you I smell," a young man with dark hair questioned.

Inuyasha scoffed. "Keh, your mate let cha off your leash?"

"Barely," he grumbled.

Any joking aside, Inuyasha turned serious and even sympathetic. "I feel ya, Kouga. My ears are still ringing from the yelling Kikyo did. How's the pup?"

"Shippo? Just turned three, he's doing really good. Strong, healthy and happy. Our neighbor has a son his age – he's a hanyou but he's really something else. Never seen anything like him."

"Just wait till my pup is born," he exclaimed.

"Meeting's starting," Touga said.

"Well if you're ever in Nagoya, Ayame and I would love to have you," Kouga said.

Inuyasha half smiled. "Okay, and tell her I said hi and she's too good for your ass."

"Tell Kikyo the same."

With the meeting starting, everyone in attending sat in in accordance to their house. Those in the northern house sat in the northern side of the room and so on and so forth. The elders were in the middle of the room.

One of the elders who was a wolf demon was the first to speak. "The panthers are no longer targeting just the Western house. Their endgame has been revealed."

There were a few murmurs among the demons.

"It has been revealed that they plan to revive the panther king and overthrow all four of the houses. With the first being the Western house in revenge for their fallen king."

One of the demons spoke up. "How are they going to revive the Panther King?"

"It has been foretold that on the night where all the planets were aligned, if the blood of the one who killed him should fall on his bones, he shall be revived," that same elder answered. "Which is roughly in four years."

Sesshoumaru sat there. He thought that he could probably hurl from the boredom he felt. He felt no fear or even the slightest bit of worry in this pathetic temper tantrum the Panthers were throwing. He also doubted that anyone else did. The Panthers were easy to kill.

It was Kouga who first spoke. "Kill em now or kill em later. Either way this will be an easy win," he said confidently.

Other demons cheered and agreed with him.

A second elder quieted the room. "They are not to be taken lightly. Right now everything is hear say. They have made no real move only threats. A few individuals have made attacks however, that isn't reason to wipe all of them out."

"Keh, then what's the point of this meeting exactly," Inuyasha complained.

"Do not give the Panthers any leverage over you. Keep your mates and pups safe. Their goal is to subject all demons to them and will do anything to reach that goal."

"Keep in mind, not all Panthers are a part of this and not all of their allies are Panthers. War is near, stay on alert."

The meeting was over soon after that. However his father stayed after with a few others to simply socialize so he was stuck with the task of taking Inuyasha to the airport.

Inuyasha leaned Sesshoumaru's passenger seat back and laid back.

"I'd thank ya for the ride, but as the older bro it is obviously your duty to take care of me," Inuyasha said nonchalantly.

Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes, focusing on the road with one hand on the wheel.

"You worried about this whole Panther thing?"

Sesshoumaru inwardly scowled at agreeing to drive him. He should've let the idiot walk, he chastised himself. "No," he answered.

"Yeah, why would you be," he said thoughtfully, more to himself. All Inuyasha was thinking was that he had nothing to lose. And Kikyo once said that fear and worry was sometimes good, it meant he had something to lose.

Overtime, Inuyasha sorta forgot the whole thing with Sesshoumaru and Kagome. Even in the beginning he didn't know what was going on between them. Just that he had something over her. It may be several centuries overdue but Inuyasha felt that a brotherly moment might be in the works.

"So, uh, what was up with you and Kagome," Inuyasha asked.

Sesshoumaru's grip tightened slightly around the steering wheel. "Nothing."

Inuyasha scrunched up his nose at his answer. He was hoping for something more interesting. "Keh, yeah okay," he pouted. He turned to look outside the window. "I wonder though, why her? Never chased after a female before. I guess she's a step above average but," Inuyasha was obviously having trouble with finding the right word.

"But, what," he reluctantly asked sounding impatient.

Inuyasha shook his head. "I don't know I just don't get it. So, you have to tell me, why Kagome. I need to know."

Sesshoumaru was silent for a minute. Inuyasha thought he wasn't going to answer so he was going to give up.

"It was her type," he answered.

"What parts," he asked deciding he might as well take advantage of this opportunity.

Sesshoumaru sighed, exasperated. "Her face, body," Sesshoumaru remembered something. "I suppose her laugh to. Atmosphere."

"Heh," Inuyasha mocked. "So, everything huh?"

Sesshoumaru scoffed but said nothing else.

Inuyasha smirked in response. "Wait till I tell pops," he said to himself.