A/N: I am SO sorry for the late update x.X I've had writer's block for over a week now… yep it sucks… I KNOW what I want, now I just can't put it into words… but give me a break… I've been going through a rough time lately and I am sure that's what caused my writer's block. And I am SO glad there are some people out there who understand my perspective on Setsuko :D! I promise I won't keep bashing her, like one of my reviewers said "shes hurting but will never admit it" man you do NOT know how happy you made me xD Just sometimes people don't understand things the way the writer understands them which can cause heavy conflict o-o' If that actually made any sense at all…

Chapter Thirteen

Sesshōmaru raised an eyebrow then looked back down at Inuyasha. Inu no Taishō walked over to his two sons and rested his hand on Sesshōmaru's shoulder. With his other hand he moved the fluff from Inuyasha's neck and saw the holes Kane made in his neck. Immediately he knew that Sesshōmaru used his poison to burn Kane's poison out since his neck wasn't black at all, only s few spots around the holes in his neck were still black. Slowly, but surely, the little poison left in Inuyasha's body was starting to spread. Sesshōmaru took noticed of his father's wound but remained silent. Inu no Taishō looked back up into Sesshōmaru's eyes. "Thank you, Sesshōmaru," he spoke with pride dancing in his eyes.

Sesshōmaru only nodded then lifted Inuyasha up and rested him in their father's arms.

Izayoi ran forward towards them. "Is something wrong? Is he alright?" She asked stopping next to Inu no Taishō.

"He'll be fine. You go on and make those herbs into a remedy; it can only do him good. I'll take care of the rest of the poison."

His last words clearly made Izayoi understand what was going on. She turned to Sesshōmaru and bowed gratefully. "Thank you," she said with a grateful smile.

Sesshōmaru said nothing, his head turned back to his father and brother. Inu no Taishō did the same to Inuyasha as Sesshōmaru did. Inuyasha woke up shortly after.

"What the hell? Dad?" He questioned confused and sleepy.

"You're fine now," Inu no Taishō said.

"What makes you think I wasn't fine to begin with?" Inuyasha mumbled and got up out of his father's arms, giving him enough time to realise the blood on his father's arm. "I'm thinking you're the one who's not okay."

His dad got up as well. "These wounds are nothing," he spoke. Inuyasha closed his eyes as if thinking things through. Those words were the ones he used more than once.

Izayoi put the remedy on Inuyasha's neck and wrist where he has been poisoned.

Setsuko walked over to Sesshōmaru and fluffed his fluff. "You did the right thing," she smiled then lifted up his bangs with her hand and kissed his forehead. Sesshōmaru only looked over at his brother and father and the human woman with them. He enjoyed watching his brother from this distance, to see him pull away from the herbs that stung his wounds. It made him yearn for the years when Inuyasha was just a kid. Wait a minute… where did THAT come from? He shook his head. "Father, I am going back to the castle."

Inu no Taishō looked at him then walked over to him. "Why go alone? We're all heading back now aren't we?"

Sesshōmaru looked at his father in awe. He didn't say anything, he only started walking.

"Let's go," the father spoke and everyone casually walked after Sesshōmaru and his dad.

"Are you okay?" Izayoi asked Inuyasha when they started walking as she finished rubbing in the last of the herbs.

Inuyasha nodded his head, "These wounds are nothing." (A/N: How many times DO I plan to use this sentence:P )

"Ō-aniki!" Hana called happily from the porch. "Whoa are you okay?" She asked and her smile turned into a concerned face when she noticed his wound. It was also snowing in the village.

"I'm fine," he said when they all reached the porch.

"Yea, that's what you said when you and Ryukossei fought and look how you ended up," Hana reminded him.

"I don't care what you say, you're getting your wounds looked at," Izayoi said and nudged his arm, the one that's not wounded. "And you're not gonna lick them like you always do."

"There ya have it!" Hana said. "I'll call the doctors." She walked outside the castle to go and call one of the village doctors.

"Let's go inside, it's cold out here," Inu no Taishō sighed in defeat. They all walked inside again going their separate ways. Izayoi dragged Inu no Taishō to their room to wait for the doctor.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome called worriedly and stormed out of her room to hug the boy. "Are you okay?"

"What makes you think I won't be?"

Kagome smiled. "What's up with the weather?" She asked changing the subject. "It just started snowing and Miroku said it's not normal…"

"It isn't. I have no idea what's going on…" Inuyasha sighed. "But whatever it is… it can't be good."

Kagome looked up at him. "So did you find your dad?"

Inuyasha nodded. "This Kane guy definitely isn't happy about giving back what doesn't belong to him. But what bugs me though is Sou'unga. We haven't heard anything from it again and my dad isn't any help by letting us stay here."

"Well you heard what he said," Kagome said and playfully punched Inuyasha's chest to 'punish' him for insulting his dad. "He said that Sou'unga can't be destroyed unless you and Sesshōmaru get along. So maybe that's what he's trying to do by making us stay here," she spoke with her head slightly tilting.

"Keh! I don't care, something as ridiculous as that could never happen!"

"I don't know Inuyasha… you guys are brothers after all and there will always be that bond between you two that no one will be able to take away, trust me on this I have a little brother too you know. Despite all the many times we fight, we really care for each other…" Kagome said thinking of her brother, Sōta.

"Even so, Kagome, you guys actually show you care. Sesshōmaru hates me, and he'll always hate me because I'm half human, and because our father is married to my mom and not his."

Kagome shook her head. "You don't have to show you care to care, Inuyasha. Sesshōmaru probably does care, he's just too proud to admit, or show it. And if he hates you because you're half human, then why does he have a little girl with him? A human girl?"

"But that's different, she's not half."

"I thought Sesshōmaru hated all humans?"

Inuyasha made eye contact with Kagome. She was definitely on about something, but this was Sesshōmaru they were talking about. His half brother who tried to kill him more than once. There was no way they could ever make peace.

"Well whatever it is, I'm sure we don't have to worry about it right now… just enjoy the time right now… with your parents… you haven't seen them in a while after all," Kagome smiled at him.

"You mean you don't know if they'll go back to the dead world after all of this is over?" Inuyasha asked her.

"Well that too…" Kagome sunk her head. "But just accept the break while you have it…"

Hana came through the front doors with the doctor then she looked at Inuyasha. "Come, you too Inuyasha! You can do with a check up… besides I heard you were poisoned…"

"Keh! I'm still standing aren't I?" Inuyasha crossed his arms.

"And no one knows for how long," Hana smiled and tugged his arm.

"Feh!"

"Don't 'Keh' and 'Feh' at me! Those aren't even real words. C'mon Inuyasha," Hana said and tugged his sleeve again. "I'll get the doctor to check up on your brother and Setsuko too you know! Being out that long in the snow can't do you any good at all!"

"C'mon Inuyasha," Kagome said from behind then started to push his back in the direction Hana's trying to pull him.

"Two against one, that doesn't seem fair," Inuyasha grumbled.

"Sesshōmaru-sama!" The little girl cried happily and ran into his room.

"Rin!" Setsuko smiled and allowed the girl to run into her arms. Sesshōmaru seemed bugged now and she figured it'd be best if he was not disturbed right now.

Inu no Taishō stepped into the room, he just had his wounds bandaged so he was just in his kimono right now. "Setsuko, Rin, please excuse us."

Setsuko nodded and walked out with Rin in her arms. Sesshōmaru turned around to actually face his father. "If you came here to thank me or tell me how proud you are, save it. Nothing would've pleased me ore than to see him die right there and then."

Inu no Taishō sat down on Sesshōmaru's bed. "Why do you keep denying the truth to yourself? If it would've pleased you so much to see him die on that very spot, why did you bother to save his life?"

"I thought I'd spare him so that I can kill him later," Sesshōmaru spoke with his head in other direction.

"Then tell me why you kept him warm? He could've survived the snow even without your help."

"How would you know? You only met him for the first time two or three days ago."

"Even so, I know what he is capable of."

A moment of silence occurred and Sesshōmaru made eye contact again with his dad.

"Do you have something to protect, Sesshōmaru?" His father repeated the question he had asked him two hundred years ago.

Sesshōmaru remained quiet at the question and iteration was clearly shown on his face. Whether it was from not being able to answer, or too proud to answer, no one could tell. "If you are implying I have to protect that hanyō brat, you can think again. I, Sesshōmaru, have better things to waste my time with than to hang around with some puppy dog."

"It lays in your responsibility to protect and help him as much as you can. That is symbolised through your blood, and you being the oldest. I would know… I have nine younger siblings…"

"From what do I need to protect him, and how must I help him? You already provided protection for him by giving him the Tessaiga. He has many friends that help him, therefore he doesn't need me."

Inu no Taishō got up from the bed. "That's what you think, Sesshōmaru." He rested his hand on Sesshōmaru's back. "I'm not going to talk to you any further about this. I think you get it. Right now I'm going to force you to have a check up."

"You're joking," Sesshōmaru replied with no enthusiasm at all.

"No not at all. He's currently with Inuyasha, he'll come to your room when he's done," his dad smiled at him which could be pretty scary… He petted him on his back then made his way out but he stopped in the doorframe. "When you're done, meet me in the dojo," with that, he left.

Sesshōmaru grumbled. What could his dad possibly want more from him?He growled then walked outside of his room and got a view of his brother's room. He found it very tempting to see what was happening. All he could make out was that the doctor was looking at his wounds. Phht, what wounds? By now they should be healed.

"You seem perfectly fine to me," the doctor said.

"Heh, I told ya you were wasting your time!" Inuyasha said in his bad ass tone of voice.

"Orders are orders," the doctor smiled and petted Inuyasha on his head.

"HEY!" Inuyasha pulled away, "Do you mind!"

"Well now I have to check up on your brother, so excuse me," the doctor spoke and made his way out of Inuyasha's room.

Sesshōmaru heard this then went back into his room.

Inuyasha lay down flat on his back onto his bed then grabbed a random fluffy toy and bounced it into the air and started playing with it like a puppy dog.

After the doctor had left, Setsuko was playing outside with Rin, Aun and Jaken.

"Go fetch the ball Aun!" Setsuko told the dragon after throwing the ball into the garden. Aun happily got up and walked after the ball, didn't even bother to jog or run. Setsuko sighed, "This was so much easier when Sesshōmaru was a kid."

They were just a few meters away from the dojo where Inu no Taishō and Sesshōmaru now both were.

"What are we doing here?" Sesshōmaru asked getting impatient with his dad.

"To train – like old days, what else?" Inu no Taishō said looking at him with a serious, but jolly face.

"I don't need anymore training," Sesshōmaru said.

"This just for the fun of it Sesshōmaru, lighten up. How else am I going to catch up on you life?" Inu no Taishō stated while patting Sesshōmaru's back.

"Then what about Inuyasha?" Sesshōmaru asked coldly.

"The world doesn't revolve around Inuyasha, Sesshōmaru," Inu no Taishō said.

A vague smile was pasted on Sesshōmaru's face. He did enjoy training with his dad when he was a kid… his goal always was to surpass his father. And it still is his goal.

"Inuyasha," his mother entered his room.

Inuyasha looked up from him bed and looked at his mother. He was throwing one of his fluffy toys in the air and catching it again continuously.

His mother smiled at him and sat at the foot of his bed. Inuyasha sat up and put the fluffy toy down. "It's been a while, you've become a man…" (A/N: Okay so I watched fifth episode again… bite me… I watched it in English this time though… it's hell funny…)

"Heh," Inuyasha snorted.

"Let's go outside, your friends are playing in the snow… all you've been doing since we got here is stay cooped up in your room."

"Heh," Inuyasha said again. "It kind of takes a while to get used to. I'm not used to luxury living."

Izayoi just smiled at him, "C'mon." They both got up and walked outside.

Miroku was busy making, or trying to make a model of Sango with the snow, while Sango kept throwing him with snowballs. Shippō and Kirara were playing like two kids in the snow with Kagome. Setsuko was still busy with Rin and Aun, but Jaken was sitting aside being depressed like always. Inu no Taishō and Sesshōmaru were still in the dojo minding their own business.

"Inuyasha!" Shippō cried excitedly and threw a snow ball at him.

"Why you little turd!" Inuyasha growled and chased after Shippō. His mother chuckled as she got some snow kicked into her face from Inuyasha storming off like that.

"Whoa, what's going on out here?" Hana asked as she stepped outside into the snow.

"Ah, we're just having some fun," Izayoi smiled.

"Gotcha!" Inuyasha smirked and held Shippō up by his tail.

"Kagome!" Shippō cried.

"Not this time Shippō, you asked for it," Kagome laughed and walked over to the two.

Setsuko looked up at Inuyasha then she looked back down at Rin. "Go play with Aun and Jaken," she smiled. The old lizard needing some cheering up anyway.

Rin nodded her head, "Okay!" And skipped towards Jaken followed by Aun.

Setsuko shook her head with a sigh then sat down on a nearby bench, she still had the ball in her hands. She just threw it in a random direction to get rid of it.

Inuyasha's ears flickered and he turned his head to notice the ball hopping away. He dropped Shippō and instantly ran after the ball on all fours.

"Ah!" Kagome quickly caught Shippō.

"Awww that's so cute!" Hana squealed and threw a snowball in Inuyasha's direction just for the heck of it and it smashed into Inuyasha's face right after he caught the ball in his mouth and turned around. Inuyasha growled out of annoyance.

Setsuko couldn't help but chuckle at the silly hanyō. She got up and stood a few feet away from Kagome and the rest. "Throw the ball at me!" She yelled over to him.

Inuyasha coughed the ball up into his hand then threw it back at her. "Feh," he grumbled then walked back over in that direction.

"Aw well," Setsuko smirked. "Go fetch!" She threw the ball in Inuyasha's direction again.

Inuyasha's ears flickered once again and out of doggie instinct he chased the ball again. He grabbed the ball in his mouth again then walked over to Setsuko with it in his hand. He dropped the ball at her feet.

Just then the door to the dojo opened up and Sesshōmaru walked outside. He stopped in his tracks for a mere minute to realise what was going on.

"We're playing fetch, wanna join?" Setsuko said picking up the ball and throwing it at Sesshōmaru, knowing she's an idiot just by asking him to play with them.

Sesshōmaru caught the ball in his one hand then observed it and looked back at his mother. "Sure why not?"

Yes, naturally, no one had expected that and most of their jaws would be found on the ground.

"Go fetch!" Sesshōmaru threw the ball into Inuyasha's face, on purpose of course.

"Hey!" Inuyasha yelled and picked up the ball.

"This is pointless," Sesshōmaru said then made his way back inside the castle.

"Not so fast," Inuyasha grumbled and threw the ball at Sesshōmaru, but with his senses he immediately rose up his hand and caught the ball. "Lucky bastard," Inuyasha mumbled.

"Inuyasha, don't swear like that," Inu no Taishō exited the dojo as well.

"Keh!"

Sesshōmaru looked back at his brother and threw the ball at him again. Inuyasha being more on guard this time, dodged the ball, but caught it in his hand. They stared at each other for a minute.

"You two boys better play nice," Inu no Taishō warned before things got out of hand.

"Heheh," Inuyasha chuckled and threw the ball back at Sesshōmaru with extra force.

"Heh, I think I'll sit this one out," Setsuko said and sat back down on the bench she sat on before.

Sesshōmaru caught the ball again. He took one step forward then fired the ball at Inuyasha again with a hell lot of force. Inuyasha caught the ball just before he was sent into hyperspace. Sesshōmaru smirked then suddenly drew Tōkijin and with swift movement made his way over to Inuyasha in a breath's time and sliced at him. (A/N: Man and they say us women have mood swings…)

Inuyasha jumped backwards and dropped the ball.

"Sesshōmaru!" Inu no Taishō yelled. Sesshōmaru's head turned in his father's direction.

"Relax, father," Sesshōmaru assured him. His head turned back to Inuyasha. "What are you waiting for? Draw the Tessaiga."

Inuyasha was dazzled with confusion. What was Sesshōmaru up to just suddenly attacking him like that and now suddenly he wants to fight? What the hell did he just do in the dojo with their father then?

A/N: Blah dumb ending but I wanted an ending :D Again, sorry fort this effing late VERY late update… I've been working my butt off on it for over a week now… and since it's two AM and I don't want you guys to suffer (:P) any longer, I'll post it up so excuse the poor grammar and all the typos, if there are any… knowing me, there will be.

Anyway, what game are you talking about Cassie? I don't really watch games… I much rather play than watch but that's just me.

Anyway, thanks to everyone who reviewed, good or bad :P and very sorry for the late and crappie chapter.

Kiyoshi Kaiiki Rindō