Warning: Smoking, drinking and gambling reference are made.

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. All rights are reserved to Rumiko Takahashi, Viz, and Sunrise.

Chapter 8

The night was especially cold due to the bitter snow storm outside. Such weather was not unusual for the Alps, but it was having its toll on the eight weary travelers since their journey began. For seemingly perpetual days and night they had not stopped traversing from Paris to Romania, but the weather had turned on them and they now found themselves in a lonely roadside inn sheltered from the snow, winds and hail.

Out of courtesy, Rin, Sango, Kagome and Kirara were in their own private room talking and laughing about things that only women could understand. In a separate room just down the hall, gathered about a warm fire the four men of the group were attired casually in their white long sleeved shirts, and waistcoats, doing nothing.

Languidly Inuyasha was seated in an armchair muttering under his breath and damning the weather for its bad timing. Shippou was besides him, occupying his time with a lolly-pop Kagome had given him. The former monk was playing with a deck of cards that caught Sesshomaru's attention. He was curious to know what he planned to do with them. Inuyasha followed his brother's eyes and saw Miroku playing with the cards. At once the hanyou became alert and he stiffened.

"Where the hell did you get those cards Miroku?" Inuyasha asked, nervously. A smile came to Miroku's lips; he looked up and replied, "Judging from your startled countenance you know what game I have in mind don't you Inuyasha? I was thinking we could play a nice and discreet game of poker. What do you say?" he asked them all.

Shippou shrugged and said, "But we don't have anything to bet; you're the one who has most of the money while we're all broke." Inuyasha snorted and crossed his arms; he had learned his lesson the first seven times when they had played during their journey in search for the jewel and he didn't plan to make himself look like a fool again in front of them.

Sesshomaru was the only one who said nothing; he remained devoted to the book in his hands not caring in the least for their game. Miroku laughed lightly and shook his head.

"Now Inuyasha there's no need to be angry about losing so many times back then. Times are different now and perhaps your luck has changed from then. Just one game Inuyasha, one game won't kill you." Miroku pleaded. Shippou stood up and dragged the table so it was in the centre of the room. Inuyasha closed his eyes and muttered, "Hn, easy for you to say you charlatan; the only thing I have to risk losing is the little money I have on me."

"Fine, open or closed?" Inuyasha sat himself down besides Miroku. Miroku answered closed and shuffled the deck, then placed his bag of coins besides him. Shippou dug into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief with some coins he had been saving and laid them besides him. Inuyasha was in the middle of drawing the small sum of money he had, when he noticed the silent silhouette of his brother besides the fire.

He turned to address him and said curtly, "You playing Sesshomaru or what?" Miroku continued to shuffle and observed the exchange of words between the two. As their attention was turned to the dog demon, Shippou slipped an extra ace of spades up his right sleeve to cheat with if the odds were against him.

Sesshomaru did not bother lifting his eyes as he sensed Inuyasha's aggravated eyes upon him. He turned the page of his book and responded languidly, "I do not waste my time with such petty and vulgar things. And if I was playing your frivolous game, I would make sure to check the kitsune's sleeves to see if he didn't have any cards concealed to cheat with."

At this both Inuyasha and Miroku turned to look at the florid face Shippou. Miroku laid down the deck and snatched the kit's left wrist and searched for any concealed cards. Inuyasha grabbed his right wrist and withdrew the concealed ace of spades.

Sesshomaru grunted and continued to read as if there was no one there in the room with him. After they made sure Shippou had nothing more to conceal, Miroku sighed and voiced his opinion. "Perhaps Sesshomaru is right, though I think the only reason why he doesn't wish to join us is because he knows either one of us will beat him. But since I assume too much, let us begin."

Inuyasha laughed and nodded his head. "Yeah you're probably right about that. Sesshomaru knows this is one think he can't say he does know how to play since it's beneath him." Miroku began dealing the cards and to their surprise Sesshomaru was seated right besides Shippou waiting for his hand.

They gasped and Sesshomaru smiled dryly at their bewilderment. "I never said I didn't know how to play, I merely said I believe this to be a frivolous game that is vulgar. And yes monk you do assume too much, I can assure you I can beat you." With Sesshomaru joining in, the fierce cold night turned into interesting indeed.

Miroku dealt five cards to them each and set the deck in the centre of the table. Each player held their five cards close and studied them. When they played poker, it was one of the scarce times when Inuyasha and Shippou were serious, but not to the point of being rigid. Everyone was calm and relaxed.

As the night wore on, money and tempers were lost. Sesshomaru had indeed proved to Miroku and the others that he was more then capable of playing their silly little game, but that did not mean he did not yield to losing as well. Somewhere in the middle of the fifth game a bottle of liquor and a pack of cigarettes had appeared out of nowhere. These items that had miraculously appeared from thin air were not questioned. The light was centered over them and they studied their cards as well as occasionally observing each other.

After a few seconds of thick silence, Shippou laid down his hand and revealed a six, a five, a ten, a four and a nine. Miroku laid down his hand and showed a pair of jacks, a king, an eight, and a seven. He had managed to beat Shippou, but they had still lost. Now the only two remaining were Inuyasha and Sesshomaru.

At the precise time both siblings laid down their cards. Both Miroku and Shippou laughed and studied Sesshomaru's face. He blinked in bewilderment and studied Inuyasha's luck. The hanyou had the joker, two aces of the same color, a king and a queen. Sesshomaru's hand was an ace, a king, queen, jack and a ten. Inuyasha smirked and gathered up all the money he had won and laughed.

"You were right Miroku, my luck did change." He put all the money he won into a handkerchief and placed it inside his waistcoat. Shippou leaned forward and whispered into Miroku's ear, "I bet you he cheated." Miroku smiled and rejoinder, "It's probable, but we both know it is unlikely Shippou." He stood, collected all the cards, shuffled them and placed them back into the case.

"I think we should go to bed before we loose the clothes on our backs from seeking another game of poker. Good night." Miroku grabbed his things and left to his room. Shippou climbed to his feet, said good night and left. The only ones left were Inuyasha and Sesshomaru, just as it had been a few moments ago.

Sesshomaru retired to his chair besides the fireplace where he had been reading and stared into the fire. The air between the two was tense and Inuyasha was anxious. He couldn't think of any reason why Sesshomaru could be upset. The thought of losing a game of poker was highly unlikely, so it must have been for another reason.

Inuyasha took a seat besides his sibling and got as comfortable as he could with Sesshomaru being so eerily silent. As of late he had been like this; he would scarcely utter a word if it was not necessary or completely stayed silent. Not even Inuyasha could make him say a word if the adamant bastard didn't want to. The only explanation Inuyasha could conclude about his brother's silence was that he knew something they didn't and it was affecting him.

"It's going to be another silent night isn't it Sesshomaru? I can guess as much since you barely said a word night, but I can't say I know exactly why you played with us tonight." Inuyasha said it mostly to himself.

"There has to be a reason as to why I was playing tonight?" came the sudden remark from the quiet figure seated besides him, that Inuyasha jumped from his seat. He looked at his brother and was disappointed to find him glazing into the fire. What does he see within the flames? Inuyasha thought.

"No there doesn't have to be a reason I guess, but it was just surprising." Inuyasha implied with a calm air. "You managed to prove to me tonight that you haven't lost the ability to use your tongue to talk, but why are you acting so strange? Most of the times it doesn't even seem like you're here."

"Inuyasha what if I told you I know how this journey of ours is going to end? Would you believe whatever I was to tell you right now and not interfere when the time comes? Have I your word you won't step into the path of destiny and change the future?" Sesshomaru whispered his voice remarkably gentle and cryptic.

His eyes however were a different matter; they were subtle yet void of life. Only hollow golden irises remained; the life from them had long been extinguished. For the first time during that night Sesshomaru meet his brother's vigorous eyes and held them as he had that night when they had been reunited.

The manner in which he stared at him made Inuyasha shiver; Sesshomaru had never appeared as cold, aloof, and fragile as he was displayed now.

"Cut the bullshit Sesshomaru and tell me what you're trying to tell me already! What do you know that has you acting like some sort of lifeless, mindless idiot?" Inuyasha snapped. He found nothing propitious in his brother's words. Inuyasha used his anger to conceal his anxiety from the latter, but Sesshomaru saw through his anger.

"Would you interfere, Inuyasha?" Sesshomaru repeated this time with more life. He snatched Inuyasha's wrist and pulled him to him. Inuyasha gasped and fought against his brother's hold. To tame him, Sesshomaru pressed his light blue lips to the hanyou's and hissed into his ear as he held him with his hands tangled in his silver mane, "Answer my question Inuyasha: would you interfere if I were to tell you what is to come?"

Sesshomaru's claws were as sharp as glass, as strong as steel and even deadlier then acid, Inuyasha stayed calm and smirked apathetically. Instead of retreating and risking upsetting his brother further, he willingly came closer to Sesshomaru and pressed his lips to his ear and gave his answer.

"It would be best if you didn't commit the mistake of telling me Sesshomaru because I won't stand aside and see any of my friends die if I have the chance to prevent their deaths." A heavy sleep came over Inuyasha abruptly, compelling his beautiful golden eyes to close and block out the world and his grim brother.

A second did not even pass by when Inuyasha was in deep slumber and slept right on his brother's lap. Sesshomaru released his vicious hold on Inuyasha's tresses and embraced him carefully as not to intrude his sleep. The alarmingly cold dog demon held his brother close to his body, but no matter how close he held him he could not get warm.

Warmth however was the least thing he was seeking. He held Inuyasha as a means of reassurance that he was there in his arms asleep and alive and not how he had imaged him to be. Sesshomaru glanced down at Inuyasha before returning his attention to the dying fire in the inglenook.

Before the remaining ambers of the once vivid fire died, he whispered to the darkness, "I never said it was going to be one of your friends Inuyasha." and then the fire died.

-O-

AN: I wish to thank those who told me to continue this story. I'm sorry the plot hasn't moved on, but I only want to give you a small glimpse to what I have in store for this story. Okay I've said too much so I'll be quiet now. Please forgive the occ-ness and lack of development. And thank you for reading my dears. Good night.