*Tries to sneak in quietly* Hello? Ack! (dodges various objects thrown at him) Okay, Okay, I'm sorry for not updating since the summer, people! I don't have a good excuse T-T. But, hey, you guys have been enjoying the oneshots I've been putting up in that time, right? Even if you haven't, I promise this chapter was worth the wait! And since you've been waiting so patiently, I'll cut the chatter and move on to the fic!

Disclaimer: Inuyasha doesn't sit when I tell him to, so I guess Rumiko Takahashi still owns the rights to Inuyasha.

Inuyasha and Miroku: Warriors, Friends, Lovers

Chapter 3: Sibling Rivalry

Sesshomaru sat on his throne in his castle in the Western Lands. His thoughts were centered on Inuyasha's comrade, Miroku. Unlike his half-brother, however, he knew the reason why. There was just something about the monk that he loved. Maybe it was his lithe yet well toned body. Maybe it was his seemingly carefree nature that masked a more serious attitude towards life. No matter what the reason, he vowed to make the monk his.

----Scene Change----

"You know, I fully support your relationship, but that doesn't mean you have to have a make-out session every time we sit down for lunch," Kagome said as she watched the two lovers kiss after quickly finishing their meals.

The two seemed to ignore her comment, causing her to huff in frustration.

"Wow, I never thought Inuyasha could be so lovey-dovey. It's kind of sickening," Shippo commented, his face a grimace.

"Hey, can't a guy be sensitive once in a while?!" the hanyou snapped.

Shippo looked taken aback. "Jeez, no need to get so upset. I was just saying..." the kitsune said while rolling his eyes.

That was pretty much the end of the conversation and everyone returned to eating peacefully.

A strong gust of wind interrupted the peaceful lunch. Inuyasha and Miroku broke their kissing, sensing the aura of the hanyou's brother, which each person in the group recognized. Inuyasha stood up to confront his half-brother, who stood mere feet away.

"My, my, Inuyasha, I didn't know your affections for the monk stretched this far," Sesshomaru said with a smirk.

"Get off it," his half-brother growled. "What are you here for? Is this another one of your pathetic attempts to steal Tessaiga (A/N: Japanese spelling for Inuyasha's sword- I looked it up) away from me?"

On the contrary, that is not the reason I have graced you with my presence today."

The group stared dumbfounded and wondering what the youkai could possibly want from them. Perhaps the jewel shards they've obtained? No, he didn't seem like he was searching for jewel shards. If he was, he would have confronted them sooner. What could he possibly be after?

All of the sudden, Sesshomaru leapt in the air, only to land gracefully a few feet in front of Miroku. The monk stepped back a bit and took a fighting stance.

"No need to worry, monk. I have no intention of harming you," the youkai reassured him.

"How do I know you're telling the truth?" Miroku asked tentatively.

"Because I am a man of my word and I vow not to harm you."

"Then what do you want from him?" Sango asked.

"I am taking him as mine," Sesshomaru responded simply, taking a step towards the somewhat frightened monk, but before their faces met, Inuyasha nudged him self in between them and shouted, "Just what do you mean by that?!"

"I mean, you half-wit, that I am in love with him and have come to claim him as my own."

"What?!" the whole group screamed simultaneously.

"You heard me," Sesshomaru said coldly. "There is no need for me to repeat myself."

Inuyasha wrapped his arms around his lover and pulled him towards him.

"Inuyasha!" Miroku gasped, surprised by the sudden movement.

"Well you're not getting him. He's already mine!" the hanyou yelled possessively.

"We'll see about that," Sesshomaru said as he unsheathed his Toukijin.

"Hold it!" Kagome shouted abruptly. "Violence is no way to settle this. Why don't we all just accept the fact that Miroku is Inuyasha's boyfriend and move on with our lives?" she suggested, recalling the times when Koga and Inuyasha would beat each other to bloody pulps fighting over her.

"No chance," Sesshomaru said as he lifted up his sword quickly and attacked Inuyasha, who was barely able to block it.

"What the hell?! Why are you fighting me in such close proximity to your so-called 'love'? the hanyou shouted pointedly in anger for having Miroku's life endangered.

"For once you are right, Inuyasha. Let's move this battle to the open field over there," Sesshomaru said, pointing to an open area on his right.

"Fine," Inuyasha acquiesced, but not before turning to Miroku and telling him to stay put.

"I'm not exactly fragile, Inuyasha," the monk countered.

"I know that, but that doesn't mean I don't have to protect you. I am stronger than you, as much as you may hate to admit it."

Miroku paused for a moment before nodding in understanding. He gave his lover a quick peck on the cheek, signaling him to go. Inuyasha nodded and took off to make Sesshomaru understand what is his.

"Took you long enough," Sesshomaru commented.

"Shut up. Let's just get this over with," the hanyou said, clearly showing his imaptience.

He jumped in the air, making a vertical strike with his sword as he came down. Sesshomaru used his remarkable speed to dodge the attack and countered with his light whip (A/N: I don't know what else to call it...), wrapping it around Tessaiga as he attempted to pull it from the clutches of its master.

"Hah! I knew it! You were after my sword, you liar!"

The youkai didn't respond with words, but instead tried to show his half-brother his wrong assumption by leaping forward, whip still wrapped around Tessaiga, and impaled Inuyasha with Toukijin. The hanyou screamed in pain, blood flowing from the hole in his stomach as Sesshomaru removed it and kicked him backwards. Luckily, he was still clutching his sword, preventing his demon side from coming out.

"Naive brother, you should know your limitations before you fight someone, especially someone as powerful as me," Sesshomaru mocked as Inuyasha struggled to get up (A/N: Not necessarily true, but I just think it's something Sesshomaru would say given the circumstances).

"I've kicked your ass more times than I can count. You should know by now never to underestimate me!" Inuyasha shouted as he took a swipe at his sibling with his claws.

The youkai expected this, caught him by the wrist, and released his poison. He didn't hold it, however, opting to throw Inuyasha a pretty good distance instead.

"Give up," he stated plainly. "Accept the fact that the monk is mine and I shall let you live."

Inuyasha used his sword to help himself get up, panting heavily from the loss of blood. Using all his strength, he lifted his sword up and released his Windscar. Sesshomaru leapt above the attack and used his whip to give his attacker a good thrashing before landing.

"Damn you," Inuyasha grunted, his newly made deep cuts bleeding profusely.

Kagome peered into the distance, watching the sibling fight each other.

"Oh no, guys! It looks like Inuyasha is losing!" she shouted.

"Should we go help him?" Sango suggested.

"I think he wanted us to stay here," Shippo reminded them.

The reincarnated priestess looked over to Miroku, knowing his input mattered most. "Miroku, what do you think?"

"I think you three should stay here. This conflict does not involve you." On that note, he got up and started making his way toward the battlefield.

"Don't go, Miroku! You're the one he's after, remember?!" Shippo called out.

"I realize this, but he promised not to harm me. I am going to hold him to his word."

Sesshomaru charged at Inunyasha, sword outstretched and ready to make the final blow. Inuyasha was too weak at this point to get out of harm's way.

'Damn, I can't believe I'm gonna go out like this. I barely made a scratch. Miroku, if you can hear what I'm thinking, I want you to get over my death and find yourself another- don't mourn for me,' he thought, closing his eyes and bracing himself for impact. When the blow didn't come, he was shocked to see a purple robe in front of his face.

"Miroku?" he asked.

"Do not harm him any farther," the monk said.

"Out of my way, monk. This battle does not involve you," Sesshomaru growled.

"How not? I am the one you two are fighting over, so explain how this doesn't involve me," Miroku said sternly.

The youkai remained silent.

"That's what I thought," Miroku said, turning around to help his lover up. Just as he started to however, he was grabbed from behind.

"Ugh!" he grunted, feeling the pressure of strong arms around his waist.

"Bastard!" Inuyasha shouted as he saw his lover being carried off through the air by his half-brother. He forced himself to spring up and started chasing them, stumbling as he leapt in the air.

"Inuyasha!" Miroku cried.

"Stop struggling or I will lash the one you hold so dear down with my whip," Sesshomaru warned his captive. Not wanting Inuyasha to get hurt, Miroku did as he was told.

"Stop right there, Sesshomaru!"

"Huh?"

A lighted arrow hit Sesshomaru in his right arm, causing him to drop his captive.

"Miroku!" Inuyasha shouted and quickly grounded himself to catch his lover before he met an untimely death.

"Don't you try and take him again or I'll be forced to shoot again," Kagome warned the yuokai.

Sesshomaru didn't like to admit when he was at a disadvantage, but this was such as case. The holy arrow had hit him in a particularly bad part of the arm to take damage and he was surrounded by Inuyasha's troop. Even the hanyou himself seemed to have found new vigor, a fiery passion in his eyes, probably because his lover's life was endangered. The youkai decided that it might be best to claim the monk as his at a later date. Without saying a word he stalked off into the distance.

"Inuyasha, you can let me go now," Miroku told his lover who was still clinging on to him like a child with their favorite toy.

"Oh right, sorry" the hanyou said, blushing.

"We need to treat your wounds," Kagome said to Inuyasha.

"I'll be fine," he grunted in response.

"No you won't, Inuyasha. You've been impaled and cut by a whip and lost a lot of blood. Besides, you're the one in a relationship- now is no the time to be stubborn. You want to protect Miroku, right?"

"Well, yeah, but..."

"No buts, Inuyasha. If you keep pushing yourself like this, you won't be able to protect anyone."

"Fine..." Inuyasha grumbled and they started making their way to Kaede's village. However, one thought just wouldn't leave Miroku's mind-

'Why does everyone feel that Inuyasha needs to protect me?'

"Miroku, something the matter?" Sango asked.

"No," the monk sighed. 'I guess I'll just have to get used to it.... Although I hope everyone remembers that I'm still a man...'

Inuyasha saw the look on his lover's face and couldn't hold back a chuckle, knowing exactly what he was thinking. 'That's right, Miroku. You will have to get used to it.'

A/N: Don't worry, I'm not going to make Miroku totally helpless in this fic. He and Inuyasha will have a heart-to -heart a couple chapters from now. For now, though, he'll have to deal with it. I'm evil like that. I hope you all enjoyed anyway. By the way, I had forgotten to put the title of chapter one in the little purple title box, but it's there now if you want to know what it is. No changes were made to the actual chapter, so don't worry about that. Well, that's all for now! R&R please! Ja ne!