Chapter 1. Brothers in Blood
The wind came to a cold and silent halt as Inuyasha and Sesshomaru stepped forward. Kagome and the others stood a safe distance away from the brewing violent storm. Sesshomaru's
malevolent amber glare met Inuyasha's in a stare that seemed to last an eternity. Across the grassy plateau Rin and Jaken watched their master closely as he and Inuyasha closed the gap between them.
"Master Jaken, "came the little girl's inquisitive voice, "Why are they fighting again?" "What silly question, Rin. Obviously it's because that wretched half-demon insulted our lord. Hmpf, he'll finish him for sure this time and claim the Tetsusaiga." Rin looked across the field at her master. Lord Sesshomaru why do you hate him so much?
Inuyasha readied his sword hand as his brother stopped, not four feet from him. The wind began to pick up again, much more vigorously than before. Sesshomaru ran his fingers through his smooth silver hair, letting it flow in the angry squall around him. "You do realize there will be no escape for you now. No one will interfere with our battle." He directed the latter toward the band of humans standing atop the hill, the girl known as Kagome in particular. Inuyasha smirked placing his hand on the hilt of his sword, "Just what I was thinkin'." Sesshomaru's glare narrowed, as he reached for his own sword and Kagome's heart skipped a beat. She'd never felt this in any of their battles before. So why now? Inuyasha turned to look at her once more and his eyes said it all. "Let this be our final battle!"called Sesshomaru.
They drew their blades and the sun was blotted out. Tetsusaiga roared to life, discharging a colorful flame as it transformed. Tokijin was enveloped in a blue aura and Sesshomaru saluted the enemy. The battle was on.
The two rushed toward each other at full speed. Shippo clutched Kagome's shoulder and hid his face in fear, and just as it seemed they would collide they ascended and took to the sky. "Die!" Blade met blade in an explosive ball of light, as the warring brothers fought in midair to gain leverage. To no avail. Inuyasha pulled back and cartwheeled back to the ground. Sesshomaru was already there bringing Tokijin up in one swift strike. Inuyasha managed to avoid the blow, and struck at his head. Sesshomaru grinned as he blocked the attack with ease and forced his brother backwards. "You'll have to do far better than that."
"Okay!" Inuyasha leaped at him swinging Tetsusaiga, a false swipe. He ducked down and rammed Sesshomaru in the chest, catching him entirely by surprise. Tetsusaiga came dangerously close as he just managed to pull back.
"How was that?" Inuyasha taunted.
Sesshomaru's eyes flickered violently as he glanced down at the streak across his armor.
"Half-breed." He sneered.
"And here I thought we were above all that, ya jackass!"
Sesshomaru leaped forward unleashing a fearsome flurry of strikes as he did. Inuyasha countered but was quickly overwhelmed. Their blades locked yet again and he was sent sprawling. A bolt of lightning burst out from Tokijin and connected with the target. Inuyasha was hurled back in searing agony as the lighting tore through his body.
"Inuyasha!" cried Kagome.
"Is he okay?" Miroku asked.
The smoke from the attack dissipated and slowly, he rose to his feet. His kimono was scorched from top to bottom. Sesshomaru grinned at the pathetic site.
" What's the matter, Inuyasha? Don't tell me you've been silenced by so meager an attack."
"Don't make me laugh," he said, raising Tetsusaiga over his head, "You've no idea who you're dealing with!"
Sesshomaru readied himself as the scent of the wind changed yet again.
"Wind Scar!"
Inuyasha struck the ground with the blade, and streams of demonic energy ripped through the earth aimed straight for Sesshomaru.
"I think not."
Sesshomaru waved Tokijin and dispersed the attack with little effort.
"Did he really think? ..."-
His gloating was interrupted when he looked up to see Inuyasha descending upon him.
He avoided the attack and Tetsusaiga crashed into the ground.
"You truly are a fool, "Sesshomaru sneered as he ascended.
"Oh, really. Well we'll just see about that, you bastard! Wind Scar!" Inuyasha roared.
He swung Tetsusaiga again sending its blazing fury into the air.
"Not this novice trick again! Dragon Strike!"
Pillars of blue lighting came screaming out from Tokijin cutting through the Wind Scar and arching straight for Inuyasha.
"Just what I was waiting on! Backlash Wave!"
The monstrous bolts of lightning were caught in the flow of the Wind Scar and sent back at Sesshomaru with double the force.
"What!"
"Lord Sesshomaru, no!", cried Rin and Jaken.
The blasts of lightning crashed down upon him followed by a towering mass of wind and flame.
"He's really doing it!" Sango said.
Inuyasha pushed all of his might into the attack as it closed in around Sesshomaru. Just as the blast's full power came barreling down the blade at his side began to glow.
"Inuyasha!" he bellowed.
"It's over!"
The field was engulfed in a blinding light, and Sesshomaru vanished within the blast.
Sango shielded Kagome, and the others with her Hiraikotsu as chunks of flaming earth rained down upon them.
"Is he okay?", Kagome asked trying to see through the cloud of smoke and dust.
"I can't see!", Miroku shouted over the roar of the aftershock.
Gradually the cloud of flame and destruction began to dissipate and there stood Inuyasha, seemingly victorious.
" D-Did I beat him?" he asked looking on at the gapping crater where Sesshomaru had been.
Just as he raised his sword in triumph the screams of his friends rang out across the field.
"Look out!"
An injured and furious Sesshomaru reappeared above his head and descended upon him.
Inuyasha turned to meet his brother's attack and was brought down to his knees.
Lighting burst out from Tokijin and burned through his kimono and searing deep into his skin.
"Die!", Sesshomaru roared sending waves of demonic power pulsing through the blades.
Inuyasha felt his grip loosening under the pressure of the assault. He wouldn't last much longer.
" Please, don't do this!"
Sesshomaru turned to see Rin crying out and in a moment of broken defense Inuyasha took the chance he needed. Tetsusaiga unleashed a blast of wind and heat and the warring brothers were hurled back.
"Lord Sesshomaru!", called Rin, running to his side.
"Stay Back!"
She froze at the sudden change in his voice. It was no longer the calm collected tone of her master and protector. It was the feral snarl of a beast, the beast that until now had been kept locked within. That time was over.
"Inuyasha, are you okay?" Kagome asked desperately trying to go to him
Miroku grasped her wrist and shook his head urging her not to get involved.
"I can't just stand here and watch!", She protested.
"If you go now, you'll be killed on the spot!", Miroku replied.
"Listen to him, Kagome!" Inuyasha said rising to his feet, "I can handle it."
" Yeah, but . . . "
Sesshomaru's eyes blazed red as he surrendered to his hatred. For too long had he kept his true power hidden, had he allowed such a disgrace to exist. He would crush him here and now and prove once and for all who was fit to master their father's legacy. He raised Tokijin over his head and transferred his wrath into the sword.
"Perish!"
Inuyasha raised Tetsusaiga, readying himself for the overwhelming attack about to come his way.
One way or another the battle would end here.
Kagome quivered as a familiar aura caught her attention. They were being watched!
"Wait you guys, don't do this! Something. . . !"-
"Dragon Strike!"
"Wind Scar!"
The blasts tore across the field and clashed with unfathomable fury.
Kagome and the others were knocked to the ground by the sheer force of the colliding winds.
The Wind Scar cut a narrow path through Sesshomaru's Dragon Strike and struck him head on sending him reeling back. The streaks of lightning curved around Inuyasha's blast and ripped through him.
"Inuyasha!"
"Lord Sesshomaru!"
Inuyasha fell back to the ground, silent.
Kagome tore free from Miroku's hold and slid down the crater of destruction the brothers had left in their wake. She crawled up next to him, resting his head on her lap.
"Kagome. . . .", he moaned.
She place her hand on his chest to ease him back down. His shredded kimono was soaked in blood and he was losing even more by the second. Kagome cradled him in her arms.
"Inuyasha."
Across the field Sesshomaru lay bleeding. Rin, Jaken, and Ah-Un ran to their master's side.
"Oh my lord, are you alright?", Jaken asked hysterically.
Sesshomaru said nothing as he stared across the field at his brother and the human girl holding him in his arms. His two vassals managed to drape his tall and heavy figure over Ah-Un, their two headed dragon. "Inuyasha.", he whispered as his vision blurred and then faded completely. Rin and Jaken mounted the dragon youkai and rose into the air. Rin's curious yet fearful gaze met Kagome's. Her heart went out to the little girl who had witnessed this battle as they passed overhead.
Sango, Miroku, Shippo, and Kilala ran to Kagome and Inuyasha's side. Shippo hopped off of Miroku's shoulder and brought Kagome her first-aid kit.
"Thanks Shippo."
"I-Is he gonna be okay?", the little kitsune asked.
Kagome nodded as she got out a package of gauzes and bandages.
"He's lost a ton of blood and his ribs are broken, but if we can keep him off his feet for a while he should be able to recover."
"Good.", Miroku added, " Kagome. . . .?"
"Yeah?"
"U-Um never mind it's probably nothing."
Miroku looked up into the sky as the remaining rays of light broke through the darksome clouds.
Miles above their heads two youkai floated in a large white feather.
"The time has come.", Kanna whispered.