Hey Everyone, as always, thanks for their reviews. There were some good thoughts/ideas in them and I'm happy that most of you enjoyed Kouga and Sesshomaru's interactions as well as Kouga and Kadira's. Some of you were sad that Inuyasha was (yet again) asleep, but he's back awake in this one. I'm hoping chapter nine fills in some blanks regarding some of the original human characters (Sango, Miroku, and Kagome).

Previous disclaimers are the same, and as a side note, I'd like to dedicate this chapter to my own bathroom reno being done and my ability to once again take a shower in my own home . . . ahhhh. Of course, my "pissin' spot" isn't nearly as nice as Sesshomaru's, but then again, what in my house really is?

I hope you enjoy this one . . . Chapter nine . . .

Waiting patiently, it was near nightfall when Sesshomaru witnessed the first stirrings from his little brother. Remaining where he was, the Lord of the West sat, stone still in his silence as he watched long lashes flutter open. Despite his calm exterior, the DaiYoukai was more than ready to intercede should Inuyasha awaken in distress.

"Inuyasha?" Sesshomaru questioned. No sooner had the words left his mouth than his own heart constricted with grief at the sight of the Hanyou's stiffening body.

"Inuyasha - "

"I heard ya the first time," Inuyasha answered with a scratchy voice. Taking a deeper breath, Sesshomaru scented the air. Fear still clung to the Hanyou's scent, but it was not abject terror. A small victory, but he'd take what he could get.

"How long this time?"

Widening his eyes, Sesshomaru was a little taken aback by the question. "Are you asking how long you have been asleep?"

Inuyasha gave his brother a scathing look, not liking the mockery he'd heard lacing Sesshomaru's voice. "Don't act like it's a dumb question. One of the last times I woke up I found out over five hundred years had passed. So, how long this time?"

Quirking his lips into a wonderfully minuscule smile, Sesshomaru answered, "Only a day has passed. It is but nighttime now."

"Wonderful," Inuyasha groaned while pushing his body up. Despite his outburst the day before, not to mention its subsequent further drainage of his Youkai energy, the Hanyou found that at least this time, the room wasn't spinning by the time he was in a sitting position. Lips parted ever so slightly, Inuyasha felt his breath coming harder than it should. "I see you're still here."

"Indeed, this Sesshomaru plans on being nowhere else while you are so ill."

Narrowing his eyes, Inuyasha couldn't help but sneer. "Yeah? Well, excuse me for not fallin' all over myself with thank you's considerin' you're the reason I'm like this in the first place."

"I expect nothing of the kind, little brother. Improvement in both your physical and mental well being will be sufficient."

Inuyasha could only stare, disbelief well written across his face. He'd been looking straight into Sesshomaru's eyes as the DaiYoukai had just spouted such utter bullshit and yet the Hanyou could sense no lie, nor even the vaguest hint of mockery. "What in all the seven hells has gotten into you?"

Frowning, Sesshomaru allowed a rare sigh past his lips. "I have come to understand that it will take some time for you to fully trust that I no longer wish you ill, little brother. To that end, I shall be as patient as possible and give you the time you require to adjust, however, this does not mean that I will be any less a part of your recuperation nor shall I simply walk away and leave you to whatever devices you may wish to pursue."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" A bit of anxiety leached through Inuyasha's voice. Somehow, he didn't like the implications Sesshomaru's statement held.

Moving closer, Sesshomaru leaned his body forward, ignoring Inuyasha's movement as the Hanyou pushed further back into the headboard of the bed, his amber eyes wide with distrust as slender, claw tipped fingers gently stroked the side of his cheek. "What that means, Inuyasha, is that I shall give you the space you need, but make no mistake, you are mine to watch over. Mine to keep safe. Mine to do with as I will. Giving you space and time does not equal an absence of this Sesshomaru's presence, nor does it mean an absence of this Sesshomaru's touch." As if to prove the point, the DaiYoukai allowed his fingertips to wonder lower, grazing the Hanyou's tender neck.

Sucking in a deep breath, Inuyasha's eyes fluttered as a shiver went down his spine; a shiver which confused the young Hanyou to no end considering it should have been one filled with disgust and yet somehow wasn't. Still, Inuyasha felt his stomach roil at his brother's words, making him feel queasy with uncertainty. "You are one sick, possessive fuck. You know that?"

Smirking, Sesshomaru's eyes glinted with golden fire. "I have never claimed to be anything but, little brother."

Unable to handle the emotions Sesshomaru's touch was eliciting within him, Inuyasha brought a shaking hand up, weakly gripping the DaiYoukai's wrist within his fingertips. Given his weakened state, he knew his hold was no where near strong enough to physically stop his brother's movements, but to Inuyasha's relief, Sesshomaru stopped his ministrations, conceding to the Hanyou's wishes. Taking a moment to collect his thoughts, Inuyasha finally shook his head. "Unless it was to make me bleed, you've never wanted to touch or be around me before. You gotta be nuts if you think I'm just gonna welcome your touch."

Pulling his wrist from Inuyasha's grip, Sesshomaru sat back up, his eyes distant. "This may be true, but we shall never be able to move beyond our past if distance is maintained between the two of us." Looking towards the glass lined wall, the DaiYoukai chose his next words very carefully. Now that Sesshomaru had finally accepted what role both he and his Youkai desired his little brother to take in his life, he wanted nothing more than to inform the unruly Hanyou of his own intentions. But Inuyasha could barely tolerate being within the same room as himself, let alone anything more amorous. Turning his head back towards his wary little brother, Sesshomaru moved his arm slowly forward, allowing his hand to rest upon Inuyasha's blanket covered thigh. Ignoring the expected flinch and tightening of muscle, Sesshomaru stated, "One day, you shall no longer flinch at my touch, but find it both welcome and soothing. In such pursuits, this Sesshomaru shall endeavor to be as patient as possible."

Before Inuyasha could say another word, Sesshomaru stood from the bed, swiftly making his way towards the door, leaving a gaping Hanyou lying within the bed. With his mouth still wide at both Sesshomaru's statement and his abrupt departure, Inuyasha could only stare at his brother's back as he spoke with someone just outside the door. The conversation was swift and soon the DaiYoukai was moving back into the room and fishing for something within a large closet. Eyes wide with wonder at what on earth his brother could possibly be up to now, Inuyasha's mouth remained vacant of speech, even when Sesshomaru turned from the closet, a silky pair of sleeping pants and shirt draped across an elegant arm.

"You shall soon have company, little brother. As such, clothing is required."

Feeling his jaw drop yet again, Inuyasha could only stare at his brother, his own mind a buzzing whirlwind. For one, Sesshomaru had said he was about to have company. The only people he'd seen since being here had been that ancient miko, Kadira and that toady imp his brother still seemed to be keeping around. And, to his embarrassment, he was pretty sure Kadira had already seen him in the buff. That being the case, he had to wonder exactly who his brother was allowing in the room. And just like that, anxiety began filtering through the Hanyou once again.

Masking his growing fear with anger, Inuyasha's eyes narrowed. "What are you up to?" Sneering, he accused, "Oh, I get it. You plannin' on paradin' around your pathetic little half-breed brother for other Youkai to make fun of."

"Inuyasha, I have no such plans. As a matter of point, none except those this Sesshomaru personally approves of are allowed anywhere close to this room. Nor would I even consider letting anyone I thought meant you ill will to step foot upon this floor."

Huffing, Inuyasha crossed his arms over his chest. "Yeah, says you."

"Exactly. Now, you have the choice of dressing yourself or having me do it for you. Choose now."

Throwing his eyes wide, Inuyasha stared at his brother, the memory of Sesshomaru feeding that noxious brew Kadira had made after he himself had refused to drink it on his own was still fresh within his mind. "-Keh, fine. Lay the clothes on the bed and I'll do it."

Nodding once, Sesshomaru did as Inuyasha requested and then proceeded to stand there, both waiting and watching as the Hanyou scooted himself on the bed, his thin legs hanging over the side.

"Don't just stand there starin', pervert!"

Wary of stirring the Hanyou up as he did the night before in the bath, Sesshomaru felt at a loss. He could not understand what his little brother's problem was. Being a full blooded Youkai, Sesshomaru had seen his fair share of flesh over the years and thought little of it. Evidently, Inuyasha's issues with nudity were not the same as his own. Tamping down his irritation, Sesshomaru could only concede so far. "Inuyasha, you are not well enough to leave on your own - "

"The hell I'm not - "

"But," Sesshomaru interrupted the Hanyou's forming tirade, "I will be willing to turn my back as you dress. This is as far as I am willing to go, little brother. I suggest you accept the offer."

Rolling his eyes, Inuyasha knew he didn't want his brother within fifty feet of him while he was getting dressed. Unfortunately, he also knew Sesshomaru was dead set serious about not leaving him alone in the room. Chewing on his bottom lip, Inuyasha finally nodded his head. "Okay, but you gotta promise to keep your back turned the entire time."

"I will comply, but should you fall or need my assistance, I shall have little choice but to come to your aid, fully clothed or not."

"Fine," was all the answer Inuyasha gave before watching his brother turn around, the Lord of the West's back a straight and towering presence within the room. Blowing out a deep breath, the Hanyou steeled himself as he stood, his diminished form shaking but determined to stay upright and not give his sadistic brother any reason at all to turn his head even a centimeter in his direction.

Arms hanging deceptively calm by his sides, Sesshomaru kept to his promise, all the while fighting down his Youkai as they both heard the increased rhythm of the Hanyou's heart along with the increasingly strained breaths Inuyasha took as his body struggled to do even the simplest of chores. After what seemed like a lifetime to the ancient DaiYoukai, he finally heard the too quiet voice of his brother whisper, "All d-done." Quickly turning, Sesshomaru found Inuyasha sitting on the edge of the bed, his body slumped and panting hard. Ignoring the pain within his chest at seeing such a site, Sesshomaru moved forward, lifting a vigorously protesting Hanyou into his arms.

"What the fuck! L-let me g-go!"

Moving as if he hadn't heard a word, Sesshomaru easily made his way to the bathroom, setting his light burden upon the heated marble tiles directly in front of the toilet. Removing his arms from around his brother, the DaiYoukai was mildly surprised to feel Inuyasha's small hands fisting the clothing on his chest as the boy teetered uncertainly. "D-Damn-it. What - "

"You have consumed both food and fluids within the past twenty four hours. I assumed you would need to relieve yourself."

Pulling his head up, Inuyasha could once again only stare in disbelief. "You carried me in here just so I could take a piss?"

Wrinkling his nose, Sesshomaru looked disdainfully down at his brother's incredulous face. "A rather blunt way of wording it, but yes."

"Fuckin' hell! I could have walked in here by myself."

"Given your current condition, I found that doubtful and took matters into my own hands."

"Sessh - "

"Regardless of the means, you are here now. Are you going to stand there and tell this Sesshomaru that you do not need to relieve yourself?"

"I . . . what . . . " A dusky shade of pink began working its way up Inuyasha's face as the embarrassment of the situation finally began settling in. "N-no, I ain't gonna tell you . . . Oh hell, I ain't gonna take a piss with you standin' behind me."

"Very well, I expected no less." Taking the Hanyou by the shoulders, Sesshomaru turned Inuyasha around so that he was now facing the toilet. Once he was sure his little brother was able to stand on his own, he smoothly walked across the tiled floor and out the door, closing the door to ensure a measure of privacy. Unlike Kadira, Sesshomaru had no need of cracking the door to hear if the Hanyou became in need of him.

Standing before the looming commode, Inuyasha's unsteady fingers began working at the ties of his pajamas, all the while muttering curses and profanities under his breath as he berated his brother's actions. Unwilling to admit that getting dressed had taken almost every once of energy his body contained, Inuyasha cursed his brother up one side and down the other. But those angered words were muted once he began peeing and found unmitigated relief flow into his body as the urine flowed from his cock. After what felt like an hour, he finally found his bladder empty and leaned forward to flush the toilet, once again finding the swirling motion and emptying of the basin more fascinating than he should.

Shaking his head in wonder, Inuyasha turned his attention towards the sink, which thankfully was somewhat nearby given the enormity of the bathroom. Holding onto the counter top for balance, he inched his way towards the sink, quickly figuring out how to use the knobs and obtain a delightfully warm flow of water. Picking up a nearby bar of soap, Inuyasha's nose gave a tentative sniff, only to come away pleased that the soap's scent was gentle and not overly obnoxious as many of Kagome's had been.

"You are finished then?"

Nearly falling to the floor with his surprise, Inuyasha clung to the counter top as the dampened towel he'd used to dry his hands on fell to the tiles below. "Shit . . . I thought I told you to wait outside!"

Raising a single eyebrow, Sesshomaru took in the fully clothed figure of his little brother and wondered what exactly he'd done wrong now. "You are clothed and what I would imagine you consider . . . descent . I fail to see what there is to become upset over."

With a hand firmly planted over his racing heart, Inuyasha could only stare at his brother. Opening his mouth, he was ready to spew his numerous reasons as to why he was so upset, but in the end, nothing but a weak huff passed his lips. Shaking his head, Inuyasha could vaguely see Sesshomaru's point. Granted, the DaiYoukai was pretty well missing the whole point of privacy, but he thought that given his past conversations with his brother, this was something Sesshomaru simply couldn't grasp. Given that fact, it was a minor miracle the jackass had left him alone in the bathroom at all. Heaving a final sigh, Inuyasha unclenched the fist he'd made in the fabric of his own shirt, leaving both hands hanging limply at his sides as his body remained steadfastly upright. "You just . . . you just surprised me is all. This whole fuckin' place reeks of your scent and I can't figure out where you are." Looking off to the side, the Hanyou couldn't bare to see the derision he assumed would be coloring his brother's eyes as he added, "It's just unsettlin', that's all."

But, had he been looking, Inuyasha would have seen no such emotion in Sesshomaru's golden orbs. In fact, as usual, he would have had a difficult time figuring out anything from the typical blank mask his brother wore. "Your unease is understandable, little brother."

"I don't need your pity," Inuyasha shot off, his eyes narrowed.

"Then it is fortunate you do not have it."

Opening his mouth, Inuyasha wasn't at all sure what he'd have answered back, but he had little opportunity as once again the DaiYoukai lifted him into his arms. "Sessh - "

"Your protests are pointless. We both know you lack the strength to move from this room and I will not have you crawling on hands and knees simply to prove a point."

Forcing his body to calm, Inuyasha desperately pushed back the fear and anxiety threatening to overtake him. Thankfully, the trip to the bedroom was a quick one and soon the InuHanyou found himself deposited not on the bed, but in a nearby chair. Glowering for all he was worth, Inuyasha refused to give even the slightest bit of thanks. Although he couldn't deny to himself that Sesshomaru was right, he would be damned if he'd admit such an obvious weakness to his demented brother.

Completely ignoring the eyes boring into him, Sesshomaru gracefully moved from the chair to the same closet he'd fetched the Hanyou's clothes from earlier, this time coming back with a warm fur throw. Placing the fur across Inuyasha's lap, the DaiYoukai was inwardly pleased when his little brother gave little to no complaint but instead grabbed the edges of the fur and drew it closer to himself. Sesshomaru refused to think about all the reasons why that might be, but instead looked upon the incident as another small victory.

No sooner had he gotten the Hanyou settled than Sesshomaru felt the distinct aura of wolf closing in on their room. "I believe your guest is almost here."

Once again, the unease of earlier settled into Inuyasha's bones. By now he was pretty certain Sesshomaru wasn't lying about the amount of time that had passed. Before he'd been taken into Bakusen'Os care, Miroku had already died and Sango was an old woman. He'd watched over their children and grandchildren, but he was pretty certain no one would be alive today that would care a whit about his worthless half-breed hide. Other than his human friends, the only Youkai he could think of whom might possibly still be around who wouldn't find him completely detestable was either Shippo or . . . all of the sudden, the musky smell of wolf hit Inuyasha's nose. "Kouga?"

The name had barely passed his lips when the bedroom door opened, revealing a smug faced wolf Youkai. "Hey muttface, ya miss me?"

Leaning forward in his chair, Inuyasha's eyes widened as they took in the Youkai before him. No longer clad only in the skimpy furs Kouga used to wear, the Wolf King appeared dressed to the nines in what Inuyasha assumed to be formal clothing for this era. With dark gray pants and a crisp white shirt, Kouga looked respectable, even with his long dark brown hair flowing unchecked behind him.

With a grin practically splitting his face, Inuyasha finally answered, "How could I ever miss you, dog breath?"

For Sesshomaru, Kouga's appearance was a double-edged sword to his thawing heart. On the one hand, it was obvious by both Inuyasha's reactions and the scent of his Youkai that the Hanyou was not only pleased, but overjoyed at the wolf's appearance. And, to top it off, there was a calm peace that had settled into the air. No longer was Inuyasha's heart rate rapid and fluttery, but now it beat with a deep resonance that could only come from the comfort of feeling safe and secure. Yes, inviting Kouga into his little brother's room had been a good idea for Inuyasha's state of mind, but for Sesshomaru, the wolf's presence shot off a dangerous spike of jealousy. Jealousy that it should be he, not the mangy low-bred wolf, whom had this effect on the InuHanyou. In the end, he couldn't control a small, deep growl from escaping his lips.

Almost immediately, Sesshomaru felt Inuyasha's heart skip a beat, bordering on that rapid flitter it had been doing earlier. Feeling overwhelming regret for having allowed his baser nature escape, Sesshomaru tamped down his inner Youkai, forcing his aura into one of calming protection once again.

Not nearly as naive and stupid as he'd once been, Kouga took in the DaiYoukai's reaction along with Inuyasha's and quickly moved to quash the Hanyou's anxiety. To that end, the Wolf King totally ignored the Lord of the West's response and moved into the room, coming to stand almost directly in front of the sitting Hanyou. "Finally get enough beauty rest, huh mutt?"

Pulling his wary eyes off his brother, Inuyasha stared up at his once rival turned friend. With a smirk on his face and a wag to his tail, Kouga looked anything but threatening and the Hanyou had to wonder at Sesshomaru's response. After all, wasn't it Sesshomaru who invited the wolf in the first place? Shaking his head, Inuyasha tabled the issue as just another one of his bastard brother's issues that he'd probably never understand nor figure out. So instead of letting it drag him down, Inuyasha turned his attention to his latest visitor. "You could sleep a thousand years and it wouldn't do shit for your appeal, Kouga."

"Yeah, well maybe you should look in a mirror before throwin' stones, Hanyou."

Truly, the insult didn't bother Inuyasha, nor did the fact that Kouga had called him a Hanyou, because, in reality, that's what he was. What made all the difference in the world was how the word was said, and Kouga had long ago stopped using the term as an insult and more of a fact of life. Nodding his head, all Inuyasha could do was agree. "I suppose I've looked better."

Kouga grunted, "I'll bet you've felt better too."

"S-Okay, I'll be up and ready to kick your ass in no time," Inuyasha teased.

"Think so? By my understandin', I've got about five hundred years on your Hanyou ass, so I'd like to see you try."

Eyes skimming from Sesshomaru back to Kouga, Inuyasha had to wonder just how much the wolf Youkai knew. As if reading his mind, the DaiYoukai gave a small inclination of his head towards Kouga and said, "The Wolf King is aware you have been incapacitated for the past few centuries." Then, with golden eyes filled with cold malice, Sesshomaru turned his attention back to Kouga. "This Sesshomaru trusts that you will take the utmost care of his little brother while he is away."

Suppressing the uncontrolled shiver running down his spine, Kouga did what he did best and gave a brash, "Stop worryin' and get the hell outta here so I can talk with the mutt."

"Lord Kouga," Sesshomaru all but growled, a hint of red leaking into his eyes. But Kouga wasn't about to back down. "Relax, everything's gonna be fine. I'm just gonna sit down and shoot the shit. The mutt and I've got a lot of history to catch up on."

Pulling back, Sesshomaru took a moment to collect himself before looking back down upon his sibling, noting that for once, Inuyasha didn't seem fearful by his sudden show of power, but more quizzical than anything else. "Little brother, I have asked for a late night meal to be sent up for the both of you. It should be arriving soon. I expect you to have eaten everything offered by the time I return." Throwing a glance back in Kouga's direction before turning his attention once again on the Hanyou, Sesshomaru added, "If you should need anything, there are guards posted outside the door. Simply yell for them and they shall obey your every command, only my word hold's more weight than your own."

Gulping down the lump in his throat, all Inuyasha could do was nod his head, his large amber eyes wide with disbelief that his brother would instruct the guards to follow his own words.

Seeing the obvious confused disbelief on his little brother's face, Sesshomaru's own eyes softened, something he'd thought himself incapable of until bringing Inuyasha home. Going down on his knees, Sesshomaru placed his body at eye level with the Hanyou, his lips hovering close to one twitching, furry ear as he whispered, "All you need ever do is call for me, and this Sesshomaru shall hear and come at lightening speed. Do you understand this?"

Closing his eyes, Inuyasha flinched as he felt his brother's hand in his hair, rubbing the base of an ear and soon enough, his flinch turned into a suppressed whimper at how incredibly good that small touch felt. "I asked if you understood, Inuyasha."

Licking his lips, the Hanyou couldn't understand why his heart was beating just a little bit faster; why his stomach felt like it was doing small flip flops. "I-I understand."

"Good," was all Sesshomaru said before standing, extremely pleased with the reaction he'd just elicited from the one he desired. "Enjoy your time with the wolf," the DaiYoukai said before turning around and heading for the door. "Kouga, I leave him in your care."

The door had barely clicked behind Sesshomaru when Kouga let out a deep breath. "Possessive fucker, ain't he."

Feeling the burn of a deep blush from his head to his very toes, Inuyasha scoffed, "Damned if I know." Then, scratching the back of his head, he added, "It's kinda new . . . I think. Not really sure I understand it all . . . or believe it." Dropping his hands to his lap, he began running his battered claws through the soft fur. "I wish I knew what the bastard wanted."

Flopping down on the bed, Kouga stared at his friend. "What? You tellin' me you don't trust your all knowin', all powerful, dangerous as fuck brother?"

Looking up from the fur, Inuyasha's mouth quirked into a sideways grin. "Hell no. What kind of an idiot do you take me for?"

Thankfully, the answering grin on Kouga's face was one of deep understanding. "You're not an idiot. Weak and pathetic, maybe, but not an idiot."

"Dog breath - "

Waving a placating hand in front of his face, Kouga interrupted the ensuing tirade. "All I'm sayin' is that you're probably smart to question the bastard's motives. I've been workin' in one way or another for the all mighty Lord Sesshomaru goin' on two hundred years and still don't really know why he does what he does."

"Yeah, and I'll bet you still piss your pants every time he glares in your direction," Inuyasha added, a delightful glint in his eye. An irritated growl was his only response, but the lack of denial spoke volumes. Finally shrugging his shoulders, Kouga answered, "Not sure why, but for whatever reason, your brother actually puts up with a lot of my crap. As a matter of fact, Ayame's commented on more than one occasion that she's surprised I've actually returned home in one piece." Now leaning back on his elbows, Kouga's blue eyes narrowed down while taking in the diminished form of his one time friend. "I gotta say, mutt, I'm beginnin' to think that may have somethin' to do with you."

At that, all Inuyasha could do was scoff. "Me? I don't see how me havin' to do with anything would keep your furry ass alive any longer where my brother is concerned. As you can damn well see, it sure as hell didn't do me any favors."

Sitting up straighter now, Kouga took in Inuyasha's ill health with an even more critical eye. Sure, the Hanyou looked like he'd been beat from here to the seven layers of hell, but that didn't really explain why he looked like skin pulled over bone with absolutely no tissue in between. No, Inuyasha's body had definitely been well muscled and fleshed out the last time he'd seen him. Speaking of which, by Kouga's reckoning, the mutt had disappeared about seven moons or so after their last encounter over five hundred years ago. Up until that day, Inuyasha had been coming to visit his pack on a fairly regular basis. A Hanyou he might have been, but Inuyasha had gained near pack member status and was thought of well. The now Wolf King had even been planning on announcing his wish that should something happen to both he and Ayame, that the pups his mate was currently carrying would be left in the care of the Hanyou. Knowing Inuyasha's obvious joy at Kouga's expectant newest arrivals, the Wolf King had been stunned when the mutt had announced that he wouldn't be around for the foreseeable future and not to come looking for him. In fact, Inuyasha had been adamant that all of the Northern Wolf Tribe stay out of the Western Lands. Staring at what was left of the Hanyou, Kouga was just now beginning to figure out that Inuyasha's leaving wolf held lands had something to do with the all mighty Lord Sesshomaru, and that whatever had befallen his friend, had taken place over a far longer stretch of time than he'd first imagined. Sucking in a deep breath, Kouga felt his body stiffen, all previous mirth gone as he asked, "What exactly did the bastard do to ya?"

"-Keh," Inuyasha huffed, his eyes turned down and to the side as he avoided the wolf before him.

"I'm serious, mutt. That day, when you came to me and announced you'd be leavin' for a time and demanded no one of my tribe come lookin' for you . . . that day, I knew somethin' was seriously wrong. Tell me what Sesshomaru did."

Looking down at his torn fingers, Inuyasha began picking at the fur draped across his lap. "Are you sure you wanna know? I mean, you do work for the bastard . . . "

"You sayin' you don't trust me?"

Glancing up, Inuyasha was actually relieved to see the blatant look of irritation and disgust plastered across the wolf Youkai's face. "If I'm to believe what I keep hearin' it's been over five hundred years. In that time, I didn't change a bit. Not a day aged since. But you, I don't even know you anymore."

Clamping his mouth shut on the vitriol Kouga wanted to pour forth from his mouth, the Wolf King actually took the time to consider Inuyasha's words, finally blowing out a deep breath as he understood the truth of them. "Fine. Okay. I get it, so lets clear some shit up." Scooting forward on the bed, Kouga shot a finger out at the Hanyou. "But just so we're clear, your senses haven't dulled so much that you can't tell the truth from a lie anymore, have they?"

With his arms crossed over his chest, Inuyasha looked offended. "Of course I can still smell a lie. There ain't nothin' wrong with my nose."

"Good, cause you sure as hell better be usin' that obnoxious thing while I'm talkin'. Got it?" At the answering nod, Kouga added a, "Good," before starting in on what he really wanted to say. "I am Lord Kouga, King of not only the Northern Wolf Tribe, but of all remaining wolf tribes. Personally, I think your brother is a right fucked up jackass with too much power for any singular being to hold. That said, when it became clear that pretty much all of Youkai society was bein' overrun by the human's penchant for poppin' out kids like gum from a gumball machine, the remainin' Youkai didn't have much of a choice but to jump on board with what the most powerful of us decided on doin'. In the end, it was a matter of survival and although your brother scares the hell out of me and pisses me off more than occasionally, I don't regret teamin' up with the bastard as in the end, that decision has saved the wolf tribe from extinction along with numerous other Youkai groups." Glaring into Inuyasha's widened amber eyes, Kouga was convinced the Hanyou was not only listening, but hearing his words as well. Giving a soft smile, he lightened his tone. "Now, as for where my loyalty lies . . . I think the fact that I practically tried committin' suicide by attackin' Sesshomaru when I smelled your scent on him pretty much answers that question, don't you?"

Mouth gaping open like a fish, Inuyasha asked, "Y-you . . . you what?"

Waving a hand in dismissal, Kouga tried blowing the whole thing off. "Just what I said, muttface. When I smelled your scent; your fear, on Sesshomaru's body . . . I charged the son of a bitch." Turning his eyes away, Kouga huffed, "Not that I got very far. Seriously, that DaiYoukai is stronger than anything I've come across in all the centuries I've been alive."

"Yeah, tell me about it," Inuyasha's voice was small, distant with bitter remorse.

Feeling the change in the air, it wasn't difficult for Kouga to pick up on the obvious mood swing in the Hanyou. "Mutt, it ain't your fault. You're one tough nut to crack and I can't think of a single full blooded Youkai who could've taken you on and won back in the day, except for Sesshomaru. Trust me, there's no shame in that."

Once again turning his head to the side, Inuyasha felt his mouth curve down into a deep frown. Despite Kouga's words, he did feel shame. Shame that he hadn't been able to stand up to his brother's relentless wrath. Shame that Sesshomaru had beaten him, for if not for Bakusen'Os interference, he would have died those five hundred years ago.

Seeing the Hanyou in deep thought, Kouga pressed his earlier question. "Now that we've gotten things straightened out, how bout you tell me what really happened."

"And if Sesshomaru finds out?"

Shrugging yet again, Kouga could only respond, "I don't think he cares. If he did, he would've ordered either you not to talk about it or me not to ask. Since he didn't, then I say it's fair game and I wanna know."

Lifting his head back up, Inuyasha's eyes were filled with uncertainty. "Why do you wanna know so bad?"

Kouga felt his heart breaking just a little bit more at the look filling the Hanyou's soulful amber orbs. "Because, you stink of fear and that's not like you." Seeing the look of horror mixed with the desperate need to deny such a statement, Kouga went on, "Don't bother denyin' it cause there's nothin' wrong with my nose either. Now, the Inuyasha I know doesn't scare easy and I want that mutt back, not this shell of a Hanyou you've become."

Growling softly, Inuyasha clenched his fists. "Shell or no, I could still kick your mangy ass any day of the week."

With a cocky smirk, Kouga felt his mood lighten. "Now, there's the Hanyou I know and love. Still, how you plannin' on kickin' my ass when you can't even lift yours from that chair you're in?"

Damn, but the wolf knew he shouldn't have bated the Hanyou so skillfully. Watching in horror, Kouga's blue eyes opened wide as he watched Inuyasha begin standing from the chair, the Hanyou's body obviously still too weak to do such a thing. "Fuckin' hell, mutt. Don't take things so literally," Kouga shouted as he stood from the bed, swiftly placing his hands on Inuyasha's shoulders and pushing the him back into the chair, their faces close enough for Inuyasha to feel Kouga's breath on his cheek as the wolf spoke. "Sesshomaru will fry my ass six ways to Sunday if you hurt yourself anymore. Although I don't mind burnin' some fur if it's for a good cause, I refuse to get the shit beat outta me for somethin' as stupid as this."

Panting slightly from his recent excursion, Inuyasha inwardly growled at his own weakness, only fulling his anger. "You sure have gotten tame with that leash my brother has around your neck!"

Narrowed cobalt eyes stared into amber; amber that wasn't about to back down. "God's be damned," Kouga snickered, "Now there's the mutt I remember."

Blinking rapidly, Inuyasha felt a delightful blush of something akin to pride flush his pallid cheeks. "Oy, I ain't goin' nowhere so you can back the hell off." Waving an irritated hand in front of his face, the Hanyou chided, "One thing sure as hell hasn't changed in five centuries, your breath still smells as foul as ever."

Letting loose a full belly laugh, Kouga stood up, stretching the kinks from his back as he walked back over to the bed and sat down. Still chuckling as he answered, "Well, thankfully Ayame hasn't complained." Waggling his eyebrows lecherously, Kouga added, "Matter of fact, the little she-devil had her tongue shoved - "

"Oh, god's," Inuyasha groaned, "if you start talkin' about your sex life, I'm really gonna wish Bakusen'O hadn't saved me all those years ago."

"Fine, your loss I suppose," Kouga answered back playfully, before asking, "Now, whose Bakusen'O?"

Realizing his mistake, Inuyasha felt his body slump back into the chair. "Well, fuck it all."

"You finally ready to tell me what happened?"

Nodding slowly, Inuyasha pulled the fur up closer to his body, feeling a sudden chill at the memories flooding his mind. "I ain't goin' into details. Don't really see what good that would do."

"After all the long winded Youkai I gotta listen to, a summary sounds good to me."

Wondering just what role the Wolf King played in this era, Inuyasha decided he'd ask Kouga later what he meant by his previous statement. "You know, I hadn't really seen Sesshomaru much, if any, after we defeated Naraku. Matter of fact, I kind of thought we'd actually buried the hatchet. I mean, I never dreamed we'd be friends or that he'd act like any kind of a brother to me, but I at least thought we'd kind of reached a level of tolerance."

"I take it you were wrong."

"-Keh, dead wrong. A few days before you saw me that last time, Sesshomaru attacked - with a vengeance. He came outta nowhere and was more vicious than ever. No matter what I did, no matter how hard I fought, he just kept comin'. That day, I thought it was the end. But it wasn't. For whatever reason, Sesshomaru left me layin' there; bleedin' all over the ground. He could've ended it easy that day, but instead, he crouched down beside me and sneered, callin' me . . . well, spoutin' his usual crap and then he left. He just walked away lookin' kinda pleased or somethin'." All Inuyasha could do was shake his head at the painful memories. "I knew it wasn't over. I could feel it. Somethin' changed with him and I was afraid his hatred of me would be taken out on you and your clan. I-I couldn't let that happen."

"So, you left," Kouga said, a scowl forming on his face. He'd known something was wrong that day, but he'd had no idea the depth of what his friend was going through. And, deep down, Kouga was disappointed in himself for not having recognized Inuyasha's need. Once again, the Hanyou had sacrificed himself for those he'd cared about. "You could've asked for protection, I would have given it to you. Hell, the whole clan would've agreed."

Shaking his head, Inuyasha could only answer, "You said it yourself, Sesshomaru's too powerful. We all may hate it, but it's the hard, cold truth. Had he wanted, the bastard could've wiped out your whole tribe and he wouldn't have thought twice about it."

Nodding, Kouga knew Inuyasha was right. Not that he thought the Lord of all Asia would do such a thing today, but the Sesshomaru of five hundred years ago was a different beast all together. "So, after you left, what happened?"

Swallowing, Inuyasha felt the hard lump of his own saliva sear down his parched throat. "H-he . . . he hunted me."

A hissing breath was heard, along with a deep, "Fuck," from the wolf Youkai.

"I'm not really sure how long, kinda lost track of time but there were a couple of season changes so it must've been a few months at least. He was always there, beatin' the ever-livin' shit out of me, leavin' me at death's door, allowin' me to heal and then repeatin' the process over and over again. And then, one day, he didn't stop. One day, he just kept hammerin' away at me, and then . . . " Unconsciously, Inuyasha's hand clenched over the spot he'd felt his brother's hand delve into. Like a phantom pain, the Hanyou could almost feel the poison infiltrating his body yet again. "He . . . he, uh . . . well, let's just say I got a pretty hefty dose of that green shit runnin' through his veins."

"He poisoned you?"

"Yeah. He kinda stuck his hand right about here," Inuyasha tapped his abdomen, "and left it there."

"God's, I think I'm gonna be sick," and truly, the Wolf King did look a little green around the edges.

"Well, anyway, probably just to drag the pain out, Sesshomaru let me stumble away. Between the blood loss and poison, I knew I wouldn't heal, but I kept movin' forwards as if somethin' was callin' me. Finally I couldn't keep goin' and fell at the base of this really old tree, only, it wasn't really a plain old tree but a demon tree."

"No shit? I've heard about those before. Don't think I've ever actually seen one."

"Yeah? I've met a couple. One was a real psychotic ass, but this was a good one. At least, I think it was a good one. Anyway, when I touched it, the damn thing started talkin' in my head. Truth be told, I thought I was either goin' crazy or that the poison was makin' me hear shit that wasn't really there. But it wasn't neither of those things. Turns out, Bakusen'O, the demon tree, was a good friend of the old man, or, at least that's what he told me. He also told me - " stopping for a moment, Inuyasha thought about telling Kouga what Bakusen'O had said, that he would preserve and keep him until Sesshomaru learned to value his little brother, but for some reason, that information seemed too personal and so he simply ended with, "-he said he could save me and well, since I'm here, I guess he did."

Closing his eyes tight, Kouga struggled with the rage threatening to overthrow what had become of his common sense. To think that Sesshomaru could have done something that vicious and cruel . . . the Wolf King had known the Lord of the Western Lands could be a force to be reckoned with, but this . . . this was too much. "If I'd known what he was up to - "

"You'd have been as much of a bleedin' pile of meat as me and where would the sense of that have been?" Sighing deeply, Inuyasha reached up and absently scratched behind one of his ears. "No, the bastard seems to have some type of deep seated hatred towards me. Most of the time, he just seems ambivalent, ya know. He doesn't really go after somethin' unless it's in his way. Guess that's not the case when it comes to me."

Glancing over at the sword he'd noticed earlier, Kouga shot a thumb over his shoulder as he asked, "And all this is over a sword? Seems to me the bastard's got enough power without Tessaiga."

Staring at the old sword sheathed within its protective covering, Inuyasha had to wonder himself. Sure, Tessaiga had been a lightening rod for all the hate and animosity his brother had seemed to harbor against him, but towards the end, when Sesshomaru had been so murderously enraged, he'd never once acted as if the sword meant a damn to him. In fact, the DaiYoukai had only acted as if Tessaiga was an annoyance limiting his ability to inflict further damage onto his little brother. "I don't think it's just father's fang." Sighing, the Hanyou felt despair filter through his heart. "Most likely it has more to do with havin' a half-breed like me as any kind of relation."

Kouga hated hearing the defeat in Inuyasha's voice but found he couldn't counter his friends' statement without sounding like a hypocrite. Even he'd thought Inuyasha inferior during their first encounters due to the Hanyou's mixed heritage. But, what Inuyasha didn't know was how much things had changed. Sure, many of the purebreds still saw Hanyou as inferior, but Kouga would hardly list the great Lord Sesshomaru among their ranks. In fact, over the past few hundred years, the Lord of all Asia had done nothing to persecute those of mixed heritage, going so far as to include them into current laws of protection. In essence, Hanyou had all the legal rights and privileges as full-blooded Youkai. Kouga's thoughts from earlier came back in haunting clarity, for the Lord Sesshomaru of today really was different, and thank the god's for that tender mercy.

"Inuyasha, I can't condone what the bastard did to you back then, but I can tell you that he really has changed."

"-Keh, as if any of that matters."

"But it does, or, at least I think it does." Standing up, Kouga found himself pacing the room, winding up at the same expansive window one InuDaiYoukai had found himself in front of countless times over the past few days. "Listen, mutt, I'm not really sure how or why, but Sesshomaru's views on Hanyou have done about as close to a complete turnaround as you can get. Not only that, but he's no longer out to hurt you, at least, not in the way you think."

Craning his neck to the side, Inuyasha tried looking at Kouga over his own shoulder. "What the hell does that mean?"

"Truthfully, I ain't sure. All I do know is that when it comes to you, he's one prickly, possessive bastard and I'm pretty sure he'd cut anyone down who dared raise a hand to you, me included. In essence, for whatever reason, you've managed to gain the protection of the most powerful Youkai in all the world. I just . . . well, I just haven't quite figured out the cost yet."

Gulping loudly, Inuyasha felt his blood run cold and despite the warm fur, his body shivered. "I'll venture you know him better than I do, so what's your best guess?"

Keeping his eyes firmly fixed on the view outside the glass in front of him, Kouga's heart beat a little faster at Inuyasha's simple question. Oh, the wolf Youkai had an idea what Sesshomaru was after, but if he said that now, his friend would do anything and everything to bolt from this room which would only further injure the mutt and get Kouga a one way ticket to the afterlife. So instead of voicing his theory, Kouga only said, "I don't have enough information yet." It wasn't exactly a lie, so Inuyasha wouldn't be able to call him out on it. The mocking laugh coming from the adjacent chair let him know the Hanyou wasn't fully buying it.

"Somehow, I get the feelin' you're holdin' out on me, dog breath."

Ignoring the statement, Kouga answered, "Regardless, what is safe to say is that Sesshomaru really doesn't want you physically hurt." Turning around, the Wolf King came to stand next to Inuyasha's chair. "And, I think it's also safe to say that if he brought me in on his little Hanyou secret, he's also interested in your mental well being."

"How in the hell do you figure that?"

Giving a shit-eating grin, Kouga swished his tail merrily from side to side, his hands resting upon his hips. "Easy, who else could get you as riled up as me?"

"-Keh, you are the biggest idiot I've met since the monk."

"Scoff all you want, muttface, but you know you wanna get better just so you can try and throw this handsome wolf ass through the wall."

Growling low, Inuyasha scooted up to the front of his chair, his hands clenched. "There ain't no tryin' about it. As soon as I'm up to snuff, they'll be a Kouga size hole right through that wall over there." To emphasize the point, Inuyasha pointed haughtily towards the opposite wall.

Raising a single eyebrow, Kouga followed the path of the Hanyou's finger while letting loose a low whistle. "You sure about that? From what I understand, just on the other side of that wall lies your beloved brother's bedroom. A hole that big would be kinda hard to cover up."

Gapping while feeling that familiar role of nausea sliding up his gut, Inuyasha felt his face pale. Of course he knew he was in the bastard's home, which would also mean Sesshomaru had some kind of personal space around here, but to know it was literally on the other side of what now felt like a fairly flimsy piece of barrier . . . "Fuck, even when he's not here, he's just right over there."

"Naw, not always, but probably pretty often," Kouga answered with another annoying grin.

"If you don't wipe that smile - " Knock, knock, knock . . .

Scrambling across the room, Kouga shouted, "Food's here!" before opening the door wide and grabbing the tray from the guard outside, slamming the door in the boar Youkai's face with little regard. Pulling the tray up close, Kouga took a dramatic inhale. "Ahh, he may be a jackass, but that DaiYoukai brother of yours sure does have a kick ass chef."

Quickly moving back into the room, Kouga set the tray down on a nearby table. A quick glance was enough to let him know that most of the scrumptious morsels were most likely meant for Inuyasha. And, by the sounds the mutt's stomach were making, Kouga figured most of the food would definitely end up in the Hanyou's gut. Picking up a plate with a few perfectly seared morsels of rabbit as well as a glass of tea, Kouga walked back over to Inuyasha, placing the plate none to gently upon the Hanyou's lap while sneaking one of the strips of meat off the plate and into his gaping maw. "Mmmm . . . that shit's tasty."

Scowling, Inuyasha felt his mouth salivate but couldn't stop the low growl coming from his throat. "I don't need to be served like some feeble wench."

Rolling his eyes, Kouga could only state, "Just eat it already or else I'll be forced to shove it down your throat."

Although he didn't really understand why, Kouga watched Inuyasha's eyes widen as something close to fear passed through those amber orbs. What he had no idea of knowing was that Sesshomaru had made good on such a threat only days earlier, in a totally unexpected and disturbing way. "-Keh, you don't have to make threats about it," Inuyasha muttered, desperately trying to rid his face of the flush the thoughts of his brother's lips on his own had produced.

"Yeah, well you shouldn't be complainin'. You're as skinny as a bean-pole and hold just about as much strength. If you ever wanna make it outta this room, you better start eatin' what's given to ya."

Well, that was all well and good in Inuyasha's opinion, as long as it wasn't drugged. Looking up, he easily noted how Kouga was still licking his lips of the juices from the meat and decided if the wolf Youkai was eating it, then most likely the meat was safe. With that thought in mind, it was a fairly easy task for Inuyasha to get his friend to sample just about everything on the tray before he ever placed a bite of it into his own mouth. Soon enough, all the food had been eaten, leaving behind a sated, but naturally sleepy InuHanyou.

Noticing the drooping eyelids, Kouga got up and removed the teacup from Inuyasha's hand. "Have I tired you out already?" Kouga asked with a grin.

"Fuck off, flea bag." But despite his words, Inuyasha knew the wolf was right.

Laughing, Kouga got off the bed. "Maybe we outta switch places before you drift off in that chair." With his hand outstretched, the Wolf King was ready to help Inuyasha up, but his hand was roughly pushed away. "I don't need you fussin' over me."

"Geeze, no need to get all bitchy." None the less, Kouga was inwardly pleased at the spunk the Hanyou was showing. Oh, the effort to stand and shuffle over to the bed was more than evident, but the action suited the mutt much more than the passive obedience he'd shown earlier. Smiling to himself, Kouga couldn't help but think that given enough time, Inuyasha would be what he once was - a fighting, tough as nails, never say die, obnoxiously fowl mouthed Hanyou. Just like he should be.

Once Inuyasha was settled, Kouga sat back down on the edge of the bed, his eyes once again drawn to the sword leaning against a nearby wall. "Never seen you be so far away from Tessaiga before. You want me to move it closer?"

Shifting his head slightly, Inuyasha stared longingly at the sword. Did he want it next to him? Well, he supposed the simple answer was, yes. But he knew it would do little good. He didn't have anywhere near the strength to transform the blade into anything close to useful and he'd long ago gained enough control over his Youkai that he didn't need it for that either. Plus, as he'd so recently found out, even with his full power behind the sword, in the end, it hadn't been enough to protect him from the Sesshomaru of five hundred years ago, let alone this many years later. No, if anything, it would be even more useless considering how Youkai only gained power over their life spans. Tessaiga may make him feel better, but it was a false sense of security and that could be even more dangerous to the Hanyou. And so, instead of saying the,"Yes," poised upon his lips, Inuyasha only shook his head and muttered, "naw, leave it be."

Raising a single eyebrow, Kouga wanted to question the Hanyou further, but didn't. Something in his demeanor told the wolf to just let it be, which was well enough considering Inuyasha's next question.

"Say, dog breath, is . . . is, ah - well, is it anywhere near Kagome's time?"

Pulling in a deep breath, Kouga kept his blue eyes focused on the deceptively fragile sword, afraid to look into the deep pools of amber he knew would be swimming with too much emotion. He'd been afraid the mutt would ask this. He knew it would be a question sooner or later, he'd just hoped it would be later. Of course Kouga had known about Kagome's time traveling ways, maybe not at first, but by the time of Naraku's defeat, it had been fairly well understood. Lost as he was in his own thoughts, Kouga's sharp nails scratched at the back of his head, the deep intake of air he'd recently taken leaving his lungs in a heavy sigh. "Yeah, we're near it, just . . . well, you're about seven years too late is all."

Turning his head, Kouga saw what he'd been fearing; glistening amber orbs daring any tears to fall. "S-she's," Inuyasha swallowed past his parched throat. "S-so, she's . . . dead?"

Nodding, Kouga could only mirror his friends' sad eyes. "Yeah, she passed about seven years ago. From what I heard, it was some form of somethin' human's call cancer, although I'm not really sure what kind."

"But she was old, right? Kagome, she lived a long life, didn't she?"

The wolf Youkai could hear the desperation in Inuyasha's voice and was relieved he could allay at least one of the Hanyou's fears. "She sure was; old and wrinkly when her time came." Kouga's lips curved up into a small smile as he continued, "She wound up marrying some guy named Hojo and they had four kids. Last I knew, Kagome was a grandma to nine little humans." Snorting, Kouga crossed his arms over his chest. "Just another example of how fast those ningens reproduce. Not that I mind in the case of Kagome, but you gotta admit, humans take breedin' to a whole other level."

Relieved, Kouga found Inuyasha's expression to be peaceful and the weight of his grief not as heavy. "I'm glad. I'd liked to of seen her again, but I'm glad she found somebody to be happy with."

"-Feh, me too, but I still say she could of done better. Two Youkai courtin' her and she still winds up with a pathetic human."

"Idiot," Inuyasha grumbled. "Kagome and I were never anything serious and you and I both know there was never anybody but Ayame for you."

Blushing for all he was worth, Kouga found his heart rate increasing with the mere mention of his mates' name. "Yeah, well, she was persistent, I'll give her that."

"And just how persistent was she?" Inuyasha asked, a mischievous glint in his eye.

"Just what are you askin' now, mutt?"

"Only wondering how many pups Ayame has popped out. The way you talk, the two of you alone could repopulate the whole Youkai world."

Rolling back on the bed, Kouga held onto his stomach as genuine laughter filled the air. "Oh, if only you knew. If it were up to me, I'd have her pupped every season."

"Let me guess, Ayame doesn't see it that way."

Choking slightly, Kouga sat back up, his arms stretched out behind him as he casually leaned back on the palms of his hands. "No, she's got some other ideas. So far I've gotten three litters out of her. All together we've got five pups."

By now, Inyasha's eyelids were drooping even further, a wistful smile softening the hard lines of his emaciated face. "I wish I coulda' been there. I woulda' loved to see your pups givin' you the hell you deserve."

Rubbing a hand under his nose, Kouga's smile was equally as soft. "It was a sight to behold. Gotta say, I'd of enjoyed havin' you around. Those kids were murder on me. I coulda' used another kickin' bag for 'em."

"Huh? As if . . . " With his small fangs peaking through a gapping yawn, Inuysha's eyelids finally gave up their battle and soon both the Hanyou's heartbeat and breathing evened out into a peaceful slumber.

Leaning forwards, Kouga's clawed hands pulled the covers up around his friend more tightly before gently pushing a strand of silvery-white hair away from the Hanyou's face. "Sleep well and safe, my friend," Kouga whispered, the smile never once leaving his face.

Whew . . . that was the longest one yet. I hope you all enjoyed that one and that it cleared up some of the question's I've gotten in the reviews. Speaking of which, if you feel so inclined, I love getting them and very much appreciate the time you take to do so.

Thanks ever so much for reading and until next time . . . lunamist