Author's note: Awww… you make me feel like I abuse poor Fluffy ;o;! Well maybe I should explain o.o'' why Inu no Taishō is with Inuyasha the entire time? Is that what you wanna know? x) Well… in the next chapter he explains (yep already wrote it, gotta proofread it now…) but Inuyasha argues with him xD sort of… not really an argument… man I'm gonna spoil it… anyway… let's just say anyone wouldn't want their two kids to fight one another to the death… and since Sesshōmaru OBVIOUSLY is the stronger one, Inu no Taishō is more protective over Inuyasha than Sesshōmaru while he still gets mad at both of them… and Inu no Taishō HAS spoken and LIVED with Sesshōmaru before, while he only SAW Inuyasha when he was born, and of course named him ;) Inu no Taishō's just giving Sesshōmaru some space to work through his dilemma of his hatred of humans…uh… just use your imagination up until the next chapter x) Even though it's kind of being explained in this chapter… and in the next, at the ending of the next at least… have patience x)

I'm updating too fast now :P but I just wanna put this chapter up before I go to school… partly cause I have nothing to do… Luckily tomorrow I don't have any classes… Next week is an entire science week. I'm gonna DIE from boredom. Anyway, I wanna be your friend :D!

Chapter Five:

Sesshōmaru ran through the cave killing masses of zombies. Even if they came back to life, he didn't care, he just ran past them. It wasn't long before he realised that he was running in circles. Sou'unga was doing this on purpose just to piss him off. He walked down into a different path, trying to catch Rin's scent. Either she was just too far away, or his nose wasn't strong enough to smell her scent between all these dead scents. He started to hear voices.

"Are you okay?" He heard Inuyasha speak.

"Yea, it just hurts when I move my arm." Kagome's voice said.

Oh great, what were THEY doing HERE? Seeing that there was no other detour to take, he was going to have to walk past them. He walked into the clearing and everyone went silent and looked at him.

"Sesshōmaru!" Setsuko exclaimed and jumped up running over to him. She grabbed hold of his arm.

"Sesshōmaru-sama!" Jaken cried happily and ran over to his master's feet.

"C'mon, let's get out of here and leave these pitiful humans to die…" Setsuko told her son.

"I'm not finished yet," Sesshōmaru said.

"Well then I'm going with you, I'm not staying here with them any longer," she threw them one hell of a dirty look.

Sesshōmaru said nothing and started to walk again, his mother and Jaken following close behind.

"Sesshōmaru, wait!" Inuyasha suddenly spoke. That was a sudden action that no one expected. And what they all least excepted was for Sesshōmaru to stop.

"Don't listen to him! Let's go!" Setsuko said.

Inuyasha lifted Kagome up form his lap, his mother ran over and sat down where Inuyasha sat and he lowered Kagome's head down onto his mother's lap.

"What is it…? Inuyasha?" Sesshōmaru spoke, half annoyed, his head slightly tilting to the side.

"Please stay with us until father returns…" Inuyasha asked, his pride must've gotten a hole in it somewhere back there… But Inuyasha himself knew that if a zombie were to attack them now they'd be doomed. And they can't move Kagome, his father said she mustn't move a muscle in her body. The poison would obviously spread faster that way.

"Why should I?" Sesshōmaru asked, his back still on Inuyasha.

"We need the defence!" Inuyasha exclaimed.

"So you admit you're a useless pathetic hanyō?"

Setsuko smirked. This was definitely her son.

"No, I don't admit," Inuyasha growled. "All I admit is that if a zombie attacks us now we'd be useless."

"It's not my problem. You being the hanyō you are… it's your job to die," Sesshōmaru said then turned around and faced Inuyasha. "Better sooner than later," and he drew Tōkijin. He charged at Inuyasha and Inuyasha immediately pulled Tessaiga out, blocking Sesshōmaru's attack. "I don't protect humans," Sesshōmaru spoke.

"Oh yea?" Inuyasha jumped backwards then ran forward again with an attempt to hit Sesshōmaru. "Then what do you call Rin?"

Anger grew in Sesshōmaru's eyes then he pulled Tōkijin away from Tessaiga in an attempt to make Inuyasha lose his balance. Of course his attempt didn't work, Inuyasha immediately regained his balance by placing his right foot in front of him. Sesshōmaru's next target was Tessaiga. He slammed Tōkijin from the side into Tessaiga in order to try and hit it out of Inuyasha's grip.

"Heh, don't you think I learn from past mistakes!" Inuyasha exclaimed, still having a firm grip on Tessaiga.

Sesshōmaru raised his left hand with the Dakkasō, he pushed his hand forward into Inuyasha's chest. It all happened so quickly Inuyasha didn't have time to dodge, instead he pulled Tessaiga away from Tōkijin and walked backwards to prevent further attacks released by Sesshōmaru.

"Inuyasha!" Izayoi exclaimed wanting to jump up and run to her son's side. Her attention was brought down to Kagome who was shivering really badly now. "The poison is spreading faster than we thought it would!" She gasped.

"Inu…ya…sha…" were the only words to escape Kagome's mouth right about now.

"Shit… Kagome…" Inuyasha murmured, looking at her taking his mind off from the battle. Bad idea. The next thing he knew, he was hit against a wall of the cave and fell to the ground. Sesshōmaru charged at him and Inuyasha used Tessaiga to help him up, and then he raised Tessaiga up making sure that's what Tōkijin hits. Again with Sesshōmaru's left hand, he made a fist and punched Inuyasha through the face sending him flying backwards, luckily not into the wall again, just aside it. Sesshōmaru looked down at his sibling who was helping himself up, as if feeling sorry for him.

"What are you waiting for Sesshōmaru! Finish him off!" Setsuko exclaimed excited to see the hanyō die.

Sesshōmaru raised his left hand with Dakkasō again.

"Not gonna happen!" Inuyasha exclaimed and threw all of Tessaiga's weight over his shoulder onto Sesshōmaru who jumped out of the way. Inuyasha sweated, "'Shit, Dakkasō's poison is spreading...'

Sesshōmaru raised his blade and brought it down hoping to slit the hanyō's throat. But his eyes widened as his blade only met the blade of his father's.

"Damn it!" Setsuko murmured, looking around as if looking for a way to escape.

Anger grew in Inu no Taishō's eyes. He hit Tōkijin away then he turned around to Inuyasha and hit him with one swing of his sword into another one of the cave's walls, leaving a hole in it. Inuyasha dropped to the ground, letting go of Tessaiga. That punch was even harder than Sesshōmaru's… Sesshōmaru's eyes stretched as he didn't expect that. He thought the impact would be on him not Inuyasha. Perhaps he spoke too soon as his father turned around and swung his sword out of rage at Sesshōmaru sending him flying through the air through a stone that looked like a pillar.

"I cannot believe the two of you!" He growled, his eyes flashing red at one point. He held his sword with one hand and in the other hand he held herbs. He glared at his two sons who were helping themselves up. He walked over to Izayoi and Kagome then kneeled down, putting his sword into the ground. He handed Izayoi the herbs, "Here you'd know what to do with these." Izayoi took them and nodded. "Please lift Kagome up," she spoke. Inu no Taishō nodded and lifted the girl's head up trying not to move her too much. Izayoi moved out from underneath Kagome. "Hōshi-sama, I might need your help," Izayoi said. Miroku nodded and followed her.

"Kirara, please comfort Kagome-chan," Sango asked her demon companion. Kirara made her usual roaring noise as a sign of agreement and lay down behind Kagome. Inu no Taishō removed Saya, Sou'unga's sheath, from Kagome's back so that she won't be uncomfortable, he rested the girl's head against the cat's soft fur. "Are you comfortable?"

"Yes, thank you," Kagome spoke with her eyes closed, sweat dropping by the second.

Inu no Taishō stood up and pulled his sword out of the ground, sheathing it, then put Saya on his back.

"What an honour to be carried by you my master!" Saya exclaimed.

Setsuko helped Sesshōmaru up. "Are you okay?" she asked concerned. He didn't answer.

Inuyasha helped himself up into a sitting position, then he took hold of Tessaiga and sheathed it. He wasn't sure what to do now, his dad is pretty mad at him, and since he doesn't know his dad he doesn't really know how to act in situations like this.

Izayoi kneeled down next to Kagome, "Here, drink this." (A/N: Whoa… that was fast o-O SUPERMOM! O-O)

Kagome opened her eyes and wanted to rise up her unbitten arm, but Inu no Taishō held her arm down. Kagome drank the remedy out of Izayoi's hands. "Now just rest," Izayoi smiled at the girl. She stood up then walked over to her son.

"Are you okay?" She sat down next to Inuyasha.

"Yea… I guess…" Inuyasha said with a frown.

"Drink this, it should help with the poison of Sesshōmaru's claw," Izayoi said and handed him the remedy. Inuyasha drank it. "You should rest too, or else it won't work." Inuyasha remained speechless. Izayoi smiled at him, "Here, rest on my lap. Just like old times." Inuyasha smiled back at her then rested his head on her lap.

Everyone was now minding their own business. Inu no Taishō was sitting next to Kagome keeping an eye on her along with Sango and Miroku who mostly kept an eye on each other, Izayoi was keeping an eye on Inuyasha and Setsuko kept an eye on Sesshōmaru. Shippo was lying next to Kagome, ready to fall asleep at any moment.

"This is useless, let's go," Sesshōmaru spoke and started to walk.

"Sesshōmaru," Inu no Taishō spoke, his head slowly moving its direction from Kagome to Sesshōmaru.

Sesshōmaru stopped in his tracks and looked at his father.

"Where do you think you're going?" His father spoke.

"Away from here," he replied. "What does it look like?"

Inu no Taishō stood up and walked over to his oldest son. He stopped in front of him and it seemed like he wanted to embrace his son since he rested his hands on Sesshōmaru's shoulders.

"Don't touch me," Sesshōmaru said with a warning tone.

Inu no Taishō sighed then looked around him. They couldn't really go anywhere now, not until Kagome has fully healed. "Setsuko," Inu no Taishō spoke, and dropped his arms to his sides.

"Uh… what?" She asked surprised at him speaking to her.

"I have a favour to ask you."

"What is it?"

"Stay here and protect everyone here."

There was silence for a while as Setsuko's brain was just configuring what she just heard.

"Why me!"

"Because you have a fire sword."

"Figures," she crossed her arms over her chest. "And you actually trust me with this?"

"Yes, you know better than to kill them," Inu no Taishō said.

"And what are you planning to do?"

"I'm going with Sesshōmaru."

Sesshōmaru's eyes widened and he looked at his father.

Inuyasha opened his eyes as he heard this. Was his father choosing Sesshōmaru's side? Is that why he's leaving with him now? (A/N: Um... note no… he's NOT picking sides, sheesh what kind of a parent DOES that? (Don't answer that…) This is just what Inuyasha THINKS. Heck I often think my parents choose my sister's side… and I STILL do… yea you get the picture…)

"I'm coming back," Inu no Taishō said, "but I can't leave them here and they can't move so I'll leave you here to defend them."

"Fine," Setsuko walked over to a rock and sat down on it.

"Sesshōmaru. Let's go," Inu no Taishō said. Sesshōmaru eyed him then they walked on further on into the cave.

"Jaken!" Sesshōmaru called his servant and Jaken ran after the two.

Izayoi looked down at Inuyasha's sad face. "Don't worry," she smiled. "He'll be back and I know him, he won't stay mad long."

Inuyasha smiled at his mother who was trying to cheer him up. But that wasn't what he wanted to hear.

"Go to sleep, you need rest."

Inuyasha nodded and closed his eyes.

"I can't say you haven't grown at all," Inu no Taishō smiled at his son with a silly look on his face.

Sesshōmaru remained wordless.

"I see you haven't gone back to the Dog Village yet," Inu no Taishō said with a more serious face. (A/N: I'm making this Dog Village up, I don't know if it REALLY exists seeing that Inu no Taishō IS Lord of the Dogs)

"I don't have a reason to go," Sesshōmaru finally spoke.

"Yes you do. You know as well as I do that you're the family heir. You are the oldest after all."

"I don't want it."

"They need you, Sesshōmaru."

"But I don't need them."

"Didn't you say you that your path is that of a conqueror?"

"Yes and by that I didn't mean by inheriting anything from you. I plan to work my way to the top, not by receiving it on a silver platter."

"As you wish. I won't force you," Inu no Taishō looked in front of him again. "Though I would like for you to come with me back to the village once we're out of this cave."

"What for?" Sesshōmaru's head turned from facing in front of him to facing his father now.

"Because that's where we used to live together and I would love to be there with you. I am sure everyone in the village would be happy to see you."

"If you say so."

"Wouldn't you like to be back in your home town?" Inu no Taishō made eye contact with Sesshōmaru.

"Maybe. I can't say," Sesshōmaru spoke and looked in front of him again, breaking the eye contact.

"Well, will you come with me?"

"I don't know. It depends."

"Depends? On what?"

"Just about everything."

"You mean that if Inuyasha is coming with, don't you?" For some reason, anger wasn't found in Inu no Taishō's voice right about now.

"Yes. If he's going I refuse to go along."

"That depends if he wants to go, Sesshōmaru."

"So you want him to go along?"

"Naturally. I want him to see the village he was meant to live in."

"Do you think the dog demons in the village would like him there? He is only hanyō after all."

"And that's no reason to not respect him, Sesshōmaru. He's a living creature just like you and I."

"I don't care."

Inu no Taishō sighed. He knew words wouldn't help, but Sou'unga can. That was the main reason he had the three swords wielded. To bring his two sons together, and if his plan works successfully, they should get along at the end of all of this, since the only way to defeating Sou'unga was if Sesshōmaru and Inuyasha put their differences aside and worked together. "Sesshōmaru, you've lost all your respect for me, haven't you?"

"Obviously."

"Only because I married a human woman and therefore brining Inuyasha into this world?"

"Why else?"

"I won't argue with you. Everyone is free to have their own opinion, either if it's wrong or right, it's just an opinion."

"Then why do you always get so angry?"

"Wouldn't you get angry if your two sons couldn't get along at all and spent all day trying to kill each other?"

Sesshōmaru remained silent.

"You have a human companion… what's her name?"

"Rin."

"Rin. Why do you let her stay with you?"

"She decided to tag along."

"And you allow her. That should tell you enough, Sesshōmaru. You do care about humans. It's just a matter of you let going of your pride."

Again, Sesshōmaru remained silent.

"Speaking of Rin… she was kidnapped, wasn't she? That's why you're here right now. To save her."

"So you noticed."

Inu no Taishō looked in front of him again. Sesshōmaru looked respectfully at his father. He looked back in front of him and walked silently next to his father with Jaken right behind them. Maybe, just maybe he hasn't lost all of his respect for his father.

Inuyasha opened his eyes. "Are you feeling better now?" His mother asked him as she noticed he woke up.

"Aa…" Inuyasha nodded and sat up.

"You slept for about an hour," his mother smiled. "I bandaged your wounds while you were sleeping."

"Thanks," Inuyasha said sitting next to his mother now. "Dad still isn't back I see…"

"Don't worry, I am sure he's not mad anymore," Izayoi said. She was so different from Setsuko, she didn't blame everything on Sesshōmaru like Setsuko would blame everything on Inuyasha. Right now Inuyasha couldn't understand how Setsuko and his dad got together… maybe there's a good side in Setsuko that his father saw that none of them can see.

"How's Kagome doing?" Inuyasha asked.

Izayoi stood up, "See for yourself," she smiled and helped Inuyasha up. They walked over to Kagome and the others.

"Ah, Inuyasha, are you feeling better?" Miroku asked.

"Aa, what about Kagome? How's she doing?" Inuyasha asked.

"Don't worry," Sango spoke from Kagome's side, "She's fine. Seems like her body temperature already returned back to normal. The remedy Izayoi-sama gave Kagome-chan is really amazing."

Inuyasha sat down on Kagome's left side. "She'll be alright, right?"

"Don't worry Inuyasha," his mother spoke. "She'll be fine, we just need to let her rest until all of the poison has been worked out of her system. By the time your father's back she should be ready to go."

Sestuko sighed out of boredom on her rock. So far everything's fine, only a few zombies found them, but she took care of them.

After another few minutes of walking and searching for the missing girl, they finally heard a cry for help.

"Sesshōmaru-sama!" The little girl's faint voice echoed.

"Rin!" Jaken exclaimed.

Sesshōmaru immediately fastened up his pace and ran towards her faint voice. Inu no Taishō ran after his son and Jaken tried to keep up.

Sesshōmaru pulled Tōkijin out and instantly attacked the zombie that held Rin. The zombie threw his own blade in front of him to protect himself.

"Sesshōmaru-sama!" Rin cried happily.

Inu no Taishō unsheathed his sword and attacked the zombie as well, trying to separate him and the girl.

The zombie put up a pretty good fight, but to try and block and dodge two swords was a challenge. Finally Inu no Taishō got hold of Rin and pulled her out of the zombie's arm while Sesshōmaru kept the zombie occupied by slashing his sword at him non-stop. "Jaken!" Sesshōmaru said.

"Yes!" Jaken said and held the staff up-right allowing it to release fire.

Rin held onto Inu no Taishō out of fright. Since she preferred yōkai over humans, she wasn't scared of Inu no Taishō. Just the zombie. Inu no Taishō kneeled down and let Rin's feet touch the ground. Rin bowed to him then ran to Sesshōmaru and hugged his leg. "Sesshōmaru-sama!"

Sesshōmaru looked down at the girl. Inu no Taishō stood up once again. "Did Sou'unga enter the cave?"

"Not that I know of, but this was obviously a trap set by Sou'unga," Sesshōmaru spoke looking at his father.

"We better get out of here before the trap is successful."

Sesshōmaru agreed then they all headed for the clearing where they left the others.

"This was too easy…" Sesshōmaru murmured.

Author's Note: Not exactly what I call a cliff-hanger :P Aw well, bare with me, can't have a cliff-hanger for every chapter. Or would you qualify THAT as a cliff-hanger?

Well in the next chapter there'll be some Inuyasha and Izayoi mother-son bonding, at the beginning even. :P I'm already busy writing it. :big HUGE grin: and well in the next chapter HOPEFULLY they'd be going to the dog-village and then more Inu no Taishō and sons bonding stuff should take place there.

This chapter was boring… might seem rushed... hey maybe i'll do it over...

Kiyoshi Kaiiki Rindō