Regarding byakugan-master93's question would it be right for me to explain all of that? I will tell you that that is one of the puns on the title. Thanks for being the only person so far that has reviewed for last chapter. As you will see in this chapter and even more in the next, Kagome's relationships to the brothers are a family affair. It's one of the major, and the fiercest internal, conflicts in the story. Again there will be things soon that will complicate this problem.

CHAPTER XIV

STRANGE BEHAVIORS

Kagome sighed in peace. Sunlight danced on the water of a huge pond only a few feet away and she reveled in the stillness of the garden. Rin sat next to her with a lap full of large variety of wild flowers. The miko noticed various shades of yellow, red, and blue. However, they were not alone, farther into the garden there was a small open space where a young demon and his father were sparing with a small kitsune cheering them on.

They were both wearing much lighter clothing than that which they had worn when Kagome had met them, but Shippo was wearing his usual attire. From time to time the young woman would turn to watch the training session. Usually this was when Sulam would be surprised by a tricky technique used by his father. The miko knew that if he wanted to Healo could score point after point on his untrained son. However, that was not the point of the exercise.

Healo reiterated this when Sulam used a desperate lunge with the small sword he was wielding. The demon lord laughed lightly as shifted easily to avoid the hasty stroke. Shippo groaned when his older friend met the dirt. Healo spoke patiently ", My son you cannot allow yourself to give into impatience. A true warrior must fight without emotion if he is defeat his adversaries." Sulam groaned as he rose and said in an irritable tone ", But emotions give a fighter more power." Shippo nodded vigorously and turned to listen to Healo's response.

The demon nodded and replied ", That is true. However, you must never exchange power for precision. The ungainly attack can damage a friend as easily as a foe." Kagome sighed as she thought ', I guess Inuyasha never learned that lesson.' She noticed that Healo gave her a small smile before turning back to his son and saying ", That is one of the things that makes your uncle such a powerful warrior. Knowing when, where, and how to attack an enemy are always more important than the strength of the attack itself."

Kagome's eyes narrowed at the demon lord. 'I'm almost sure of it now. There is something strange going on with him,' she thought with suspicion. "Rin I'm going to go talk with Healo for a minute," the miko said with a hardened look in her eyes. The child stared at her expression for a moment oblivious as to its reason but she replied ", Alright. When you come back I'll have a necklace for you!" Kagome's eyes lightened for a moment as she said kindly ", I'm sure it will be beautiful."

She was interrupted by a calm voice behind her ", I do not suggest that you interrupt their training session. Kagome turned swiftly to find the master of the palace regarding her with a neutral gaze. She hesitated for a moment before asking ", Why's that?" He only blinked once before replying ", My brother has many duties. The amount of time he may spend with his heir is limited and therefore precious. It takes a great deal of effort to raise a proper heir."

Kagome felt a wave of sadness at his statement but her tone was not hostile when she said ", Are you an example of a proper heir?" Silence continued in the garden, but it was filled with fear not peace. The miko realized her mistake when the taiyoukai's eyes narrowed and she realized that Healo had moved quickly to her side. He was quiet as he said ", Sesshomaru she doesn't understand our ways."

The miko was surprised when Sesshomaru lost his cool and said savagely ", Be silent. I may speak for myself." Healo's eyes hardened but he didn't contradict his brother who calmed himself as he turned again to Kagome. His voice was icy as he said ", The world of a demon is not one of kindness or tenderness. However, some may represent us." Here Sesshomaru's golden orbs dug at his older half-brother he only raised his chin in defiance and replied ", It will be so as long as we instruct our children that it is so."

Sesshomaru smirked as he said ", Indeed. So we should live by example should we not, brother." Healo's eyes filled with sadness as he asked ", You do not believe in forgiveness?" The Western Lord's eyes did not soften as he replied ", A Lord should be strong enough to not have to ask for forgiveness." The Northern Lord did not reply he only nodded and stiffly walked away. Kagome was still so confused by the whole conversation that she could only watch him leave.

The miko snapped out of her thoughts and started to follow him when Sesshomaru said ", Miko, do not make the same mistake twice." Kagome did a double take as she turned to the somber demon and asked ", What mistake?" Sesshomaru closed his eyes and answered her in a softer voice than she had every heard before ", You fell in love with my hanyou half-brother who is unable to return the same feelings for you. Why? Because he is absorbed in regret over his guilt in not preventing his love's death." He paused for a moment and opened his eyes before continuing ", Healo, with some exceptions, is a very powerful demon. However, his weakness is also his guilt."

Kagome began to walk away again dismissing his statement, but he reached out and grabbed her arm. When she looked back in outrage he merely stared at her for a moment before letting her go. She was so angry that she didn't look back but only said ", Guys, stay here for a little bit." Without another word the miko followed the path that Healo had taken which ran along the bank of the pond.

It was only a few minutes later that she found the demon. He was standing with his back to her at the very edge of the pond. She hesitated for only a moment before asking emotionally ", What is wrong with you people? I'm here less than a day and everyone, including myself, are having mental breakdowns! Tell me now!" Silence accompanied her statement for a few seconds before Healo turned to face her. He had an apologetic look on his face as he said ", Kagome none of this is unexpected. Sesshomaru and I have never agreed on Inuyasha, but for fifty years there was nothing to argue about. Don't get too upset at him he is under a great deal of pressure. The nobles of his lands are trying to force him into taking a mate."

The miko's tone softened as she sighed and said ", That's why he was so hard on you." Healo nodded before replying ", That and other things. But I believe that you should talk to Inuyasha first before you learn anything about them." Kagome sighed and asked ", Where is he at?" She had seen Inuyasha sneak out of the hall where they were staying shortly after she had been awakened. The demon lord said quietly ", Come I will take you to him. When his mother died it was decided that since Inutaisho had been her mate that she would be buried in the Western Lands. I believe that he went to see his mother."

Kagome nodded and followed the demon out of the garden. When they arrived at the gate Healo nodded once to the captain who had argued with Inuyasha. 'What was his name?' she thought curiously as she watched the silver haired demon. The miko was surprised when Healo spoke to her ", You remember Captain Riath? He is the head of Lord Sesshomaru's guard." Kagome smiled warmly and replied ", Of course I do." She was surprised to find that the captain smiled back before allowing him through the gate.

Once in the city itself Kagome was encouraged by the reaction of the people as they walked by. Most of them seemed to adore Healo, which did her no harm, but she did find that some of their expressions expressed pity. 'It must be one of the mistakes Sesshomaru was grilling him about,' the miko thought as she watched her guide. She waited hoping that he would give some strange response that would allow her to bring up some of her suspicions but he did not speak as they finally began to approach the edge of the city.

Healo turned towards a small cliff in the distance where Kagome was glad to see something red and white. It took them only a few minutes to travel across the rolling hills before they were feet away from the hanyou. He was staring down at a small stone that was placed near the edge of the cliff. "So this is the place," the hanyou asked in a subdued tone. Kagome saw Healo close his eyes as he answered ", Yes. There was little choice in the matter. As you remember, I was forced to deceive Sesshomaru about the whole affair. He would never have allowed her to be buried anywhere within his territory had he known."

Inuyasha was silent for a moment before he turned to regard them with his molten eyes. He spoke calmly ", I forgive you." Healo's reaction was an open smile as he asked ", You do?" The hanyou nodded and replied firmly ", Not just because of this. You've done way too much for me over my whole life. Even if you did order Onigumo to find the jewel you didn't tell him to kill Kikyo. You are not responsible for her death. After all what do you have without family." The demon lord nodded his head and said ", I will try to deserve your forgiveness. However, you can not keep this to yourself."

Kagome understood where he was going and interrupted ", Inuyasha. We all need to know what happened. It's the only way we will understand." The hanyou hesitated before replying ", I know that you deserve to know, but it's too painful for me." Healo nodded and replied ", Very well then. I will explain it to them. With your permission of course." Inuyasha turned away as he answered ", All the better for me."

Kagome almost smiled at the trace of his old confidence but instead she said ", Don't stay out too late Inuyasha." He did not reply verbally but she saw his shoulder relax before Healo gestured to her that it was time to leave. She nodded in asent and followed him back towards the palace. When she looked over the shoulder she saw Inuyasha standing on the cliff overlooking the wild sea as he stood unmoving.

Healo spoke suddenly ", Do not worry too much for him." She turned to regard the demon as he also turned and continued ", He has a strong heart. It has never failed him though he has sometimes failed himself." Kagome smiled as she commented ", You have a very perceptive view of people." He turned away with a smile of his own and said ", Well my lady, we all have our talents."

OK! Another chapter done but I'm not as happy with this one. I'm not sure what it is but something seems a little off with it. Oh well. If you see anything like that let me know, maybe it'll help me figure it out. So please review. Might get another chap. Tomorrow but most probably Sunday since my Prom is tomorrow night. REVIEW!!!