. Inuyasha and his friends were done their food and were on their way out of the village.

Inuyasha lead while the rest stayed in a little group behind him.

They reached the outskirts of the village, after they packed up everything, and headed towards the moist forest, humid from the greenery and the hot summer sun above their heads.

The ground was warm and the dirt stuck to the soles of Inuyasha's feet. The hair on the edges of his forehead were sticking to his skin because of the hot air that surrounded the group of people.

"Inuyasha. Can you slow down, it's really hot outside," Kagome said from behind him.

Inuyasha frowned and pivoted so he could reply, "Naraku is close, I can smell him, this isn't the time to be slowing down!"

The others looked down at their feet and sighed.

We've been chasing after Naraku for long enough. I'm going to get him, for Kikyo,' thought Inuyasha. He still felt he had a huge mission to complete, revenge for Kikyo, killing Naraku was the first thing on his mind, he would kill him for Kikyo, who wasn't around anymore. He felt sullened by the thought that Kikyo was dead. She was his first love and he missed her deeply.

But, he was grateful to have Kagome at his side, very grateful. If anything had every happened to Kagome, he wouldn't know what to do with his life, he would die for her. He cared deeply for her and her well-being.

He looked at her from his position for a few moments before she smiled at him, he blushed a little, he just realized that he had been staring.

He turned back around and continued walking, this time more slowly so that she and his friends could keep up with his eager pace to find Naraku.

--

Sesshoumaru and his group of companions were silently walking though the forest, Sesshoumaru trying his best to find contentness with the quiet.

But it didn't come, his mind was to occupied with the fact and uneasiness that Naraku was near somewhere.

A few times he would slow his pace to sniff the air, to make sure he was on track, though he would doubt himself at times, he was usually right, but it was a precaution he decided.

And, sure enough he was on track of Narakus scent. But, the wind also brought more news, he could smell his hanyou brother, Inuyasha, near too, his aroma filled the air, almost grotesque amongst the rest of the smells, the forest, the sky, the heat, the grass.

His scent indicated that he was headed right towards his direction.

He wasn't eager to confront his half-brother, but he did want to stay on the right path to Naraku without long detours to avoid Inuyasha, so, he would be forced to run into Inuyasha, to his great dismay, how the world treated him.

He mentally sighed. He estimated maybe five, eight minutes before Inuyasha rushed out of the bushes to talk or fight with him, most likely fighting though.

He was such an annoying little brother, and he was related to him?! He should feel embarrassed, but, luckily it didn't come. Sesshoumaru didn't make it a habit to care what others felt or said towards him.

The lesser youkai around his lands were nothing, the humans were worse. He didn't have reason to worry what people thought of him or his brother.

They were fools from the beginning. My lucky day, Sesshoumaru thought with dismay and disappointment. He was hoping to have a nice quiet day without distraction, but the universe had other plans for him in his wake and path.

--

Kagome was right behind Inuyasha. She watched his silver hair sway to the rhythm of his steps.

She did this for a few moments before she looked away and to the path ahead, 'Inuyasha's right. Naraku is our first priority.' She hoped that she and Inuyasha, including the rest of her friends, could teach Naraku his lesson, one that would sure enough lead to his death.

He was an evil jerk, no one gets away with all the stuff he did, no matter who he is.

There was also Sesshoumaru, he might be able to help Inuyasha kill Naraku, Kagome thought that if they would just get along they could co-operate with each other and end Naraku's life. When they weren't trying to bite each others heads off or kill each other, they made a good team, though they could use some work around the edges with the actual teamwork.

She supposed that this sibling rivalry went deeper than a few fights and arguments, all the way to the blood.

Sesshoumaru criticized and disliked Inuyasha's human blood, that was probably one of the reasons why they always fought and hated each other. 'Theyre so hopeless,' thought Kagome to herself. 'I hope they learn someday.'

They were brothers, and trying to kill each other was not part of being a brother to the other.

She would have run right into Inuyasha if she had not come out of her head in time to stop before she hit his back. Her nose was about three inches from him, "Inuyasha?" She looked up at him expecting an answer. "The wind."

Kagome didnt get it, so she asked, "Hu?" This time she got a better answer, "Smells like Sesshoumaru and his group."

Kagome wasn't sure it if was coincidence or irony that they would probably run into Sesshoumaru at this point in time. She shrugged.

"What should we do?" Miroku asked from behind the two. "I'm not sure," replied Inuyasha. "Do we go after him?" asked Sango.

Inuyasha looked behind him at his friends. "I'll go after him, you stay here," he indicated to Kagome and the others. They all nodded. He turned around to go after Sesshoumaru.

"Be careful Inuyasha," said Shippo. Inuyasha turned his head to look at the rest and said, "I'll be back, dont worry."

Kagome looked at him with a worried look, he grinned at her, "Promise."

With that he turned around and started to leap from one side of the road to the other, following his brothers scent.

The relationship the two shared was not the best...Inuyasha just wished that they could at least act like brothers and not a couple of revenging, mouth-foaming dogs always at each others throats. But, he knew that that would never happen. Sesshoumaru and him would always have utter hatred to each other. No matter what happened.

--

Sesshoumaru found himself at a river, he guessed the same one from before, but different, must have had a bend in it he guessed.

Inuyasha was close to his position, he supposed that the river would be their battle scene today.

It was shallow and not very wide, he and his followers were stationed on the eastern side of the river.

The bushed that outlined the forest were but fifteen feet away from the river shoreline on both sides. From the distinct density of Inuyasha's scent he guessed a few seconds or so till he emerged from the bushed and trees.

But, it seemed that Inuyasha came alone this time. He left his friends somewhere else it would seem, for the better Sesshoumaru decided, they would only be in both their ways.

Then, from the corner of his senses, he could smell something out of place. He experimented the air, inhaling deep, closing his eyes for concentration. And sure enough, he found it. Humans, he thought. Though, in reality there was only one.

When he concentrated harder he found that this human was old, really old, probably in it's early eighties or so. It was watching him.

Then, he heard Inuyasha before he even saw him, Inuyasha was so ungraceful and loud, unlike himself, he came crashing though the trees like a bull on it's rampage.

"I knew it was you Sesshoumaru! Your stench is stinkin' up the forest everywhere," said Inuyasha.

Sesshoumaru really grew tired of Inuyasha's attitude, but he supposed it couldnt be helped, unfortunately Inuyasha grew up as a hanyou, which was not the best.

"Yes, little brother. I think I have a right to walk my lands, no?" he sighed in reply. "What does someone like you want with me?"

Sesshoumaru still felt the human watching the both of them now, by it's stench, he could tell that it was slightly confused, 'Nosy human,' Sesshoumaru thought to himself.

"I came to finish this once and for all!" shouted Inuyasha.