Chaos Corner:

I know it has been forever, but I am one more week away from being done with summer classes. Back to updating (until school start in August)

Reviewers Response:

Boarderlinecrazy: Is that a white tiger (in profile pic) that's fucking awesome. Hopefully they get to the "I sorry" later. Kagome and Inuyasha has been through a lot. Telling someone you once loved and spent years scarifying for, had dreams of once being with and share a shit load of happy moments its kind of harsh to say Fuck off to. Then again Kagome has been a bitch.

Inuhime1: It has been a while since I updated . . . but an update is an update.

Thewolf74: The following chapter is what happens next . . . The better question is: "What's going to happen after this chapter?"

Review! Please Read the Chaos Corner at the end of the story ;)

XOXOXO

10. He Is Winning

Naraku arms flare out as he answers the call unceremoniously, "Sesshomaru my love!" An animalistic growl is the only response he got from the Western Lord as the demon frantically looked behind Naraku to see if he could see his younger brother.

Unable to spot Inuyasha Sesshomaru's eyes snap to the half-demon spider, "Where is he?" Naraku chuckles as miasma slowly begins to seep from underneath his clothing. The demons in the room began to take a step back confused at what was going on. Miroku and Sango screamed and fought against the bodies that were holding them back. The crowd of demons didn't know what was going on, but quickly understood that this was a challenge directed at their lord. It was common knowledge to them that if Lord Sesshomaru was challenge then it was no place for simple demons or humans to dare intervene. "I will not ask again." Sesshomaru hiss, his self-control was dwindling all he wanted to do was run his blade through the abomination that was Naraku. He knew that the spider wanted him to lose control and he was about to bend to Naraku's whim, "Where is my mate." Sesshomaru ordered the question.

A collective gasp came from the bystanders, 'Who in the world was brave enough to take Sesshomaru's mate?' Shippo and Rin, who entered the room late due to the fact they found it more fun to challenge the servants in a game of tag then quickly dress, froze in fear at the sight of the common enemy. Natsume, who wasn't sure he could handle the public declaration that he knew was coming decided to watch the children. Natsume never seen Naraku before, but instantly knew he was bad man by the children's reactions. Rin quickly hide behind his legs as Shippo's aura flare in anger. Blindly Shippo jump up to attack, but was quickly pulled back by the tail by Natsume. Shippo growled incoherently at his displeasure as he tried fruitlessly for the older fox to release him. "Be still," the dark fox hiss in the kit's ears, "we must first know who our opponent is."

Shippo hiss, "It is Inuyasha's greatest enemy. He has tried to harm and kill us countless times." He turns and locks eyes with Natsume, "We must kill him before he kills us." Shippo's eyes began to bleed red.

Natsume shakes his head has he envelopes Shippo in his aura. The demons beside them moved back but no other attention was paid to the escalating raise of power, "Remain calm, Shippo. We might need you for this fight." The black fox could feel the aura of the spider that stood in the middle of the room and it screamed of a sickening danger.

Rin tighten her hold on Natsume pants. She had only seen this man once and that was when Naraku had kidnapped her, to get hold of Sesshomaru. From their brief meeting she became wary of him. He had thrown her in a dungeon. It was less than a day, for Sesshomaru had saved her, but she had preferred being locked away in the cell than the revolting gleam in the spider demon's eyes. Rin whimper as tears began to sting at her eyes as she began to relive that traumatizing time in her life. "Where is Papa Inuyasha?" she quietly asks afraid that Naraku had kidnapped him too.

Both males eye's doubled in size as they scan everyone's face in the room. Inuyasha was missing! "Shippo," Natsume gains the kit's attention as he use the authority voice that he normally saves for training, "I leave you in charge of protecting Princess Rin." He places the green eyed fox down. Shippo pulls Rin closer to him. Natsume nods his approval. "I will venture closer." Natsume made his way through the crowd slowly doing his best not to draw attention to himself.

Inuyasha was frantic, as he desperately tries to move any part of his body. Tears burn his eyes in a complex mixture of betrayal and panic. Inuyasha was angry, Kagome had gone too far. The girl knew that when he and Kikyo were forcefully separated because of Naraku it practically tore him apart. He knew separation from Sesshomaru; his soul mate would literally kill him. It was then he began to panic and it wasn't for himself but for his love. This was his brother's greatest fear that his mate would walk away from him on the day of the ceremony.

As if she had the ability to read the half-demon's mind Kagome smiles sweetly at him, "Feeling deceived Inuyasha, more than likely you're completely terrified." She begins to slowly remove the top part of his clothing as the serpent-like creatures moved allowing her to, yet kept him immobile. Inuyasha hiss, and again Kagome gives a little giggle as she place a finger above his lips signaling him to remain quite, "You wouldn't want Sesshomaru seeing you in a compromising position." She places her left leg around his waist and slowly gridded on she finally reaches the last layer of clothing.

Believe or not, Inuyasha still didn't want any harm to come to Kagome. She still held the title of being his first friend. She had saved him as much as he had saved her; they once had a good thing going. Nevertheless he wasn't sure he would ever be able to forgive her if anything happened to Sesshomaru. Killing Kagome was still out of the question. She was pregnant and a child without his mother would be awful, he doubt he would of survive in this world himself if his mother hadn't been there for as long as she could be.

Kagome's tongue licks his neck as she nips on his chest. This act wasn't for pleasure, but to simply demonstrate to the half-demon that she was the one who was in charge. She takes Inuyasha's hand and places it on her stomach, Inuyasha was slightly please when he notice he could move, but quickly realized it was only because she granted it. A small push came from the child inside her. "Many people believe that childbirth is some great natural phenomenon." The young dog, knew it was pointless to try and talk. "It really isn't." She shrugs her shoulder, "The only real phenomenon is the power of the Jewel." Kagome glides Inuyasha's hand lower until he is touching her belly button. Inuyasha could feel the hard and smooth change in her skin right at her belly button. Kagome can see Inuyasha's eyes flash in understanding. "I almost died last night," Kagome murmurs, "that would have pleased you wouldn't it." Her hand gentle touch his neck and Inuyasha felt his neck complete relaxed. Instantly he screams out his brother's name. The sound echoed through the barrier, but went no further, for no one turn to see where the noise was coming from.

Sesshomaru wasted no time facing Naraku with his demonic speed he meet his challenger in the center of the room. A bright purple puff of miasma was directed in the toxic lord's face, but Sesshomaru didn't blink an eye as he dispersed the weak poison with his own. The western lord was struggling to keep his beast at bay as it struggled for Sesshomaru to rip the creature into bite size pieces. Spider legs would soon be on the menu if the beast had his way. Swirls of red slowly began to consume the old dog's eyes. "Everyone leave." Sesshomaru orders in a scary calm tone. The occupants of the room began to depart slowly afraid that quick motion might trigger the fight that would occur.

"Want me for yourself huh?" Naraku tease as one spider leg reached out to touch Sesshomaru's face. The Lord doesn't even answer the question as he snaps the tip of the leg. Black blood and miasma burned the spaces between them. Naraku hisses in pain has he pushes the broken appendage closer to Sesshomaru, "You should kiss it and make it better."

Naraku twisted sense of humor was getting old. Sesshomaru was beginning to favor his beast idea, but knew that the damn spider knew Inuyasha's location and sadly dead men do not talk. Sesshomaru growls, threatening the man to answer his previous question, but he would not go back on his word to ask again.

Sango and Miroku were knocked unconscious and carried out the room with some random demons that were too afraid to leave them to their own devices.

"Silly puppy," Kagome chuckles, "That isn't the sound that I want you to make." She reaches into the hem off her pant and pulls out a small silver dagger. Inuyasha stood there helpless as he watches her coat the blade in something that smelled of Naraku's personal poison. Kagome held the blade up to the light and the tip sparkled in the sun. Inuyasha kept his eyes on Kagome; he refused to back down now. "Naraku isn't that bad of a person," Kagome began to talk as if they were conversing about the weather. This time Kagome began to douse the other side of the slick metal with the poison, "I almost couldn't make it to this little party of yours. Naraku told me to use the jewel shards that I collected to allow me to move freely." Inuyasha raised his eyebrow in question, hoping to buy more time. Kagome use the back of her hand and hit him in the forehead, "I see you've picked up some nasty habits." she comments as if goes back to what she was doing. "Anyway," she continues, "recently all I could survive on was Naraku's blood because this child," she rubs her stomach, "that you made me create is trying to kill me. It's okay, because this same child will be sitting in Sesshomaru's throne one day. I the mother will enjoy the spoils of such."

"Don't threaten Sesshomaru…" Inuyasha began to threat before Kagome restricted his voice once again.

"That is the wrong sound." Kagome presses the blade on Inuyasha's exposed shin. The blade itself didn't pierce his skin but the acidic poison quickly ate away at his flesh. The half-demon hiss in automatic pain and Kagome freed his voice so that she could hear it, "That's the sound." Slowly she tilts the sword in the half-demon's open wound. Inuyasha gasps before biting his lips not wanting Kagome to get the satisfaction of hearing him in agony. Kagome continue shallow cuts on Inuyasha's upper body, "I want to hear you scream." she whines. Inuyasha bites harder on his lip as blood begins to run down his chin. Kagome yanks his hair wanting him to scream, "Scream," she hisses in his puppy like ears. Switching the hold on the hilt of the blade she slices Inuyasha's hair. His hair ends were now jagged and uneven stopping at his shoulder blades. "Don't you see Inuyasha; I can control every aspect of you. From the way you look, when you talk and of course," she begins to slide the dagger across his chest, "when you die."

Inuyasha's eyes doubled in size at the malice in her voice, he had horribly disfigure the Kagome that fist came into feudal Japan. Back then she was a fiery independent woman and now, because of his actions, she has been so badly emotionally distraught that he has damaged her mental health. Tears stung at Inuyasha's eyes, but it was not from pain. The tears that fell originated from the anger that swelled in his chest, it was his fault that Kagome had transformed into . . . this and he couldn't bring himself to forgive himself. "I'm sorry Kagome."

For a moment Kagome stopped. He hands began to tremble and the dagger threatens to fall from her hands. "It is too late for that." she murmurs in shock. Her hand tightens around the hilt as she quickly decides something in her mind. The tip of the blade seep deeper into his skin as she lazily glades through the bleeding flesh. With a light ding the stiletto hits the small moon fragment. Kagome moves over the stone gently. "This is why sorry can't fix anything." Kagome knew what the stone represented - Naraku had told her, it made her angrier. Inuyasha thought he could get away from her. She pushes on Inuyasha's chest, but he doesn't falter. "You'll always be connected to that bitch!" She is yelling in the half-demon's face. The pain is clearly etched in her expression, "Why did you do this to me!" She throws hand back and attacks the moon fragment. "We would have been perfect with each other." Kagome couldn't even hear Inuyasha's scream of pain as she tried to destroy the stones that symbolized that Inuyasha practically belonged to someone else. The sight of the small fragment sent her crazy. "Don't you love me?" This was all Sesshomaru fault, Kagome reason in her mind. He should have just left her and his brother to live happily. Sesshomaru lived up to his flashy name of the perfect killer…of joy, she concluded. Blood splattered all over Kagome's face, but she barely notice her sight focus on the stone, no matter how blurry her vision got from the tears and blood she keeps stabbing on. "Was I not good enough?" She jabbed at the jewel and it cracked. 'One more time,' she attacks again…

The pain is indescribable. His bond between him and his lover was being physically attacked. From his head to his toes Inuyasha felt sick. A blood curling cry flies from the tortured creature's mouth. Salted tears stream down Inuyasha's eyes mixing with the rubicund blood that ruptured from his throat. His skin was peeling off his muscles, he didn't mind because he knew in time that they would heal seamlessly leaving no scar behind. The pain and nausea that rippled through his body from the small shattering fragment made the wounds seem to spread. He was hurting and immobile that his muscles felt stiff and death wasn't even close enough to eradicate any of the pain. He called out Sesshomaru's name, not for aid, but to seek his brother's forgiveness for him being so weak. With all her force Kagome took another jab at the small fragment and it shattered. Inuyasha instantly felt cold and numb as he watches the small pieces fly in front of his eyes in slow motion. Inuyasha desperately launches forward before he is engulf in a bright light.

"Tell me, Sesshomaru how much does Inuyasha really mean to you?" Naraku asks as he nonchalantly tries to pass by Sesshomaru. "Would you be willing to give up your throne for it? Maybe you'll take me has you mate instead? After all a small request like that might be all you have to accept to free your mate from the torture, I don't doubt, Kagome is giving him."

His lover was with that girl. He should have known she had left with Naraku he should have expected to see her by now, attacking him by Naraku's side placing blame on him for breaking her and his brother up. Taking a deep breath in Sesshomaru tries to concentrate on finding the girl. There had been too many people in this room before. There were too many scents floating around to specifically distinguish just hers. Sesshomaru snapped it was all too frustrating. Forsaken caution, Sesshomaru released his beast. His bound hair became loose as his aura snapped dangerously around him. Teeth and talons elongated. The markings on his face became darker as his bone structure began to alternate. Sesshomaru didn't become fully dog, but a mix between humanoid and beast. His breathing became heavy as he snarls the spiders name, venom saliva glisten from his bottom jaw. A peaceful danger; now transformed into an outright ravenous monster out for blood.

Spider demon's body tickled in anticipation. He could feel the massive aura bouncing off the walls trying to suffocate his own. This was the way he wanted to absorb Sesshomaru, when the dog was at his strongest. Naraku could taste the power on his tongue. This was his true goal. He had been so weak before.

The western lord gave no warning as he attacks. Naraku counterattacks. Sesshomaru easily bats away the disposable body parts. Sesshomaru had fought Naraku before he knew that he had to destroy this abominations heart if he wanted any chance at winning.

Natsume couldn't sit there idle, and watch Sesshomaru risk his life. First Natsume began to calculate the intruder's fighting style. It was simple movements of avoidance. He has never seen Naraku before but rumors of cruelty spread fast among the higher rank demons. The spider was supposed to be a manipulator, he was positive that taking Inuyasha was his way of trying to control Sesshomaru, one problem with that theory he would be holding Inuyasha hostage in front of everyone to show that he had the upper hand. If this was supposed to be a hostage case, why weren't any demands given. Naraku seemed to be planning something bigger than that. Another thing that bothered the black fox was the fact that Naraku wasn't attacking. There were a few times that Naraku clearly had an opening, but he purposefully didn't take them. Natsume moved in closer blending into the shadows.

Naraku's blood soaked Sesshomaru's sleeves, just another thing that pissed the Western Lord about the spider. The man wasn't fighting him; Sesshomaru knew he was planning something. Naraku was alone and in person. This was not his normal behavior. Sesshomaru didn't wish to analysis why Naraku had altered his ways because the demon would soon be no more. Sesshomaru was getting closer to his target as he dodges and slices away at the limbs that tried to keep him at bay. With his claws he pierces through his enemy's chest. A smile claims the full demon's lips as he indulges in the feeling of Naraku's skin tearing away, the spider's muscles ripping apart. He expertly rams through the rib cage has he reaches for Naraku's heart. Slender fingers close around where the beating muscle normally resides to find nothing there. The smile is immediately eradicated from Sesshomaru's face has the beast growls in anger. Thinking quickly Sesshomaru releases a high concentration of gas poison. Naraku screams as he begins to feel his muscles liquefy, but a smile claims his face, "Not there." The evil man held Sesshomaru's wrist, "That space is for you." Sesshomaru could feel Naraku trying to absorb him. Spider like limbs quickly cross behind Sesshomaru's back as Naraku tries to pull him closer to his body. The beast didn't even flinch as he flares his aura burning away the appendages that dare to touch him. The beast laughs, as he does a backflip and lands a few meters away from the other man. "Guess you're not tired yet." Naraku notes, revealing his plan subconsciously.

Sesshomaru muscles in his jaw twitch in irritation. Spider had no plan on fighting him he wanted to absorb him. He would burn a thousand times in hell before becoming one with Naraku. The beast flexes his claws as he takes a fighting stance ready to pounce again.

'This was going to be an endless fight,' Natsume notes. Sesshomaru was right in attacking Naraku's chest to destroy his heart but the spider had gone away with it. The heart was close by, Natsume could hear it. It is easy to distinguish between his own and Sesshomaru's heartbeat. There was a third beat. He sneaks closer to the fighting men and the sound was getting louder. His lord will distract the spider and he will destroy the heart as soon as he can locate it, because no one threaten the Sesshomaru and got away with it.

The beastly Sesshomaru broke out into a sickening smile. Naraku watches closer as he observe Sesshomaru come out of his fighting stance. "You seek my body to gain power. So, come get it."

"You are offering your body to me, Lord Sesshomaru?" Naraku playfully inquires as thrust hundreds of spider tentacles in Sesshomaru's direction.

Sesshomaru easily destroy the limbs with a flick of his poison whip. Sesshomaru holds out his hand palm upwards and signal Naraku to come, "Come to me and take the power you seek." The beast wanted Naraku to start moving to increase his heart rate so that he could pick up more precisely where Naraku's heart might be beating from. Neither man moved.

This was new to the spider, he hadn't expected this. He could see in the gleam of the slightly transformed man's eyes. Naraku had never seen Sesshomaru fully transform before, he knew there had to be more than this because he could feel the excess power stinging at his flesh. Never before had Naraku come before a demon that had this much control over his beast that they could literally share a body and not become mindless in the process. Sesshomaru is great power and Naraku's mouth watered in anticipation to be able to taste such raw strength. He couldn't allow the dog to know that he was slightly flustered. "Maybe I don't have to kill you. You have such a beautiful body." Naraku licked his lips actually enjoying his blood splattered randomly across Sesshomaru's body. "It really wouldn't be so bad to be dominated by me. I'm surprisingly a very passionate lover."

The beast wanted to go into a corner and vomit from the shit that Naraku was spurring out. Sesshomaru was about to answer when a foreign pain shot from his chest. The dog coughed and blood spew from his lips. Instantly Naraku took a step back. What in the world was going on? Naraku hadn't touch Sesshomaru and the man was bleeding. Naraku scans the surrounding. Was there an unknown third party? He spotted nothing out of the ordinary. He called out Sesshomaru's name in anger hoping this wasn't some twisted plot the lord was somehow playing on him.

The feeling of anger, pity and disgusted rippled through Sesshomaru chest. He stiffen his back the emotions where over taking him as he narrow his eyes on Naraku. Did the spider somehow attack him? He saw Naraku take a step back and heard when he called his name. If it wasn't Naraku, then what just happened? Again he felt as if he was being stabbed.

"SESSHOMARU!"

It was faint but he heard it. It was his bother voice calling out for him in pain. He narrows his eyes at the man who stood in front of him, "Where is my brother?"

Naraku was slightly caught off guard by the question, "By now he's probably laying back as Kagome rids his dick." Naraku snicker his response.

Sesshomaru didn't find the response amusing at all, but he couldn't respond due to the stabbing feeling returned full force. Sesshomaru fell to his knees. Inuyasha's voice screamed louder in his ears as he slowly and painfully reverted back into his normal humanoid form. He screamed out Inuyasha's name hoping where ever Inuyasha was that he could hear him.

Naraku began to panic. He would have to absorb Sesshomaru now for he was afraid that Sesshomaru was losing power. Naraku had tasted the extreme raw and unadulterated power of Sesshomaru. The humanoid was strong but the power the dog had held before was delirious. He had tasted the power before and he is positive that anything less wouldn't be good enough.

Sesshomaru placed his hand over his chest. The fragments were burning him from the inside. The irrational pulsating of the stone felt has if it was being tugged at. Sesshomaru tried to feel in what direction the pulling sensation was coming from. The entrance door was still open, frantically the western lord searches the area with his eyes, yet he didn't see anything out of the usual. He was positive they were there. He could tell that the damn human was literally trying to sever their bond in a very crude way. If he could feel so much pain. . . Inuyasha must be suffering. His brother was never supposed to feel pain. A vile matter clogged his throat, Inuyasha suffering and he wasn't doing anything . . . he had failed as a mate.

He had lost Sesshomaru's attention, but he quickly realized what his opponent was paying more attention to. Naraku wasn't sure if the old dog could see them or not but Sesshomaru didn't move his eyesight from where he had place the barrier around Kagome and his mate. A mere minute had passed by though it felt like hours, no one moved. Not wanting to allow a grand opportunity of Sesshomaru with hiss guard down Naraku attack. With speed and precision Naraku's spider appendages fly through the air piercing through Sesshomaru's shoulder blades and over the western lord's heart.

Sesshomaru coughed up blood, but didn't even turn around to face his attacker. Nausea over took the normally calm and collective male, the disgusting belief that he had botched his relationship with his lover was something that didn't set well with him. The older dog could sense himself being hoisted up into the air. It wasn't until Naraku turned Sesshomaru to face him that the dog even paid the spider any notice.

Anger course through Naraku's veins, the spider was unaccustomed to being ignored, "Given up already mongrel." He laughs hoping to get some reaction, when none is given a frown mars his face. "You are really no use to me weak like this." He throws Sesshomaru across the room, and the dog just allows his body to fly until stopped by the unforgiving wall with a loud thud. Naraku takes slow and calculating steps towards his falling nemesis, "In the state you're in, I wouldn't even give you the honor of becoming one with me."

A bitter laugh sprang from the lips of the fallen man, as he took a shot of a plan in the dark unsure if it would even work. He calls Naraku's name in a mixture of his own and beast voice as he manipulated the beast power has a crutch for himself due to his own lack of strength at the moment. "I've lost power because of Kagome. She is the reason you will never gain my full strength." Sesshomaru smiled as Naraku contours his face in a mixture of confusion and anger. "Absorb the little power the girl has left you."

Naraku picks Sesshomaru and thrust him into the wall. Doing his best to intimidate the broken man he towers over him their face a mere centimeters apart, "Explain." he snarls. The wretch wasn't in the room as far as Sesshomaru knew, so why would Sesshomaru blame her.

"Did the girl not tell you that my brother and I have already mated?"

"Such trivial matter is unimportant to me."

"Supposed you really not a demon after all, you are only a human made from decaying demon parts." Sesshomaru could tell he was getting underneath Naraku's skin. "All demons know that when they mate it is for life. There are precautions to make sure that demon chooses the right mate after all one's own life is a serious matter. My brother-mate possesses half my power and I have half of his." Naraku pushes Sesshomaru harder into the wall, demanding that he cut straight to his point. "That means while your partner is killing my mate she is killing me." Naraku slacken his hold subconsciously, Sesshomaru pushes his arms away from him and lands hard on his feet, pain rippled all the way up to his knees. "I find it really ironic that you are the one keeping your word and letting the girl have Inuyasha all the while she's the one who's taking my life, betraying you and leaving you with nothing."

Naraku wasn't sure if the futuristic priestess was conscious of what she was doing, but he damn well was going to put a stop to it. Dark red and furious eyes narrow at the door as he tries to demolish his own barrier to only find out that Kagome had reinforce it with her own barrier, that he had no control over.

Sesshomaru notice the flinch of a dissolving barrier. He smile, he could see the outline now. He focuses on it actually hoping that the spider could take it down. Naraku's back stiffening in his fail attempt. Sesshomaru notices and panic settles in his stomach, whatever the girl was doing Naraku had no control over.

He refuses to look like a fool. Naraku attacks the barrier with a combination of his aura and miasma. The barrier explodes in a mist of white light.

The light blinded her. Her eyes water as she fell backwards on her ass. Kagome rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand as she opens her mouth to yell at the half-demon for attacking her. Frantically Kagome looks everywhere for any sight of him, but Inuyasha is nowhere to be found.

Naraku was displeased and his aura rang with his anger. What did that foolish girl do?

Sesshomaru fell back on the wall…he had failed.

Natsume was frantic, Inuyasha was gone and he knew Sesshomaru wasn't going to take it well.

Kagome was scared, she didn't like the way everyone was looking at her. Yet, there was also a satisfy gleam in this entire situation. "He's dead," she whispers in an unbelievable tone. "I killed him." She flexed her fingers in front of her face. She wasn't positive if she had purified him until he was no more than dust, but she didn't care how Inuyasha was eradicated, she was happy to know she witness it.

Naraku was in front of the priestess faster than a blink of an eye. His fist connected with the side of her face giving the young girl whiplash. Kagome stun around back to face him her mouth slightly ajar. "Look what you've done." Kagome tries to run away, but he grabs her by her waist in mid stride. Her body is thrust forwards as she is pulled back. "Wretch you knew that I wanted unlimited power." He shakes her violently, "You've destroyed his power, and there is no known man who has ever overpowered the western lord. Tell me where can I go to obtain such raw power now?" He pulls her to his body. Kagome whimpers at the rough treatment. "You really have outlived your purpose." He murmurs in her ears calmly with a threatening tone.

The moment Naraku had turned his back to Sesshomaru; Natsume was at the fallen lord's side. Just a few hours ago Sesshomaru had looked the best he ever looked in his entire life. Now the man was broken. Sesshomaru couldn't even hold up his own body weight as he leaned against the wall. He kept whimpering the younger dog's name as sunken eyes threaten to cry. Deliberately Natsume takes measured steps towards the once unbeatable man. In hush tones the black fox speaks, "Allow me, your humble servant in aiding you in your next choice of action. Do we continue to fight or shall we flee?" Natsume actually hoped that the silver dog would opt for the latter option. The fox silently wait for an answer that he wasn't even sure was coming. He knew that if they ran, Sesshomaru's pride will shatter. Though he wasn't sure if there was anything left to shatter as Sesshomaru just sat there moaning after his disappeared lover. Natsume scolded himself he felt as if he should have done something.

Sesshomaru felt disgusted with himself. Inuyasha and he had spent way too much time fighting each other. His mate had called out his name with his dying breath and he wasn't even there to die with him. Sesshomaru knew Natsume was in the room the entire time. He was glad the fox had not interfered with this fight; Sesshomaru was positive that he would have failed at protecting his only friend as well. At least now he wouldn't die with that guilt on his conscious as well. He turns to look at the fox, "Kill me."

Natsume froze, before a force and bitter laughter sprang from his throat, "I was once told that one's sense of humor is warped in death."

"I never jested in life, so I won't in death." Sesshomaru places a shaking hand on top of Natsume's. "It's the only way I'll see him again." Natsume knew that Sesshomaru was referring to his brother. Automatically Natsume shakes his head in refusal, he is about to argue when Sesshomaru cuts him off, "As a friend I ask you not to torture me in this manner, by allowing me to physically be here yet dead inside. I beg you do not trap this sinful soul in this body." He grabs on tighter to Natsume hand, "As your superior and your lord, to kill me is your direct order. Do not fail."

"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."
― Martin Luther King Jr.

Chaos Corner: I'm split on what direction I want to take this story. So, I'm asking you (beautiful reader) to drop a review answering one or both these following questions:

1. How cool/upset do you feel if Sesshomaru dies and the brothers don't get an opportunity to mend their issues?
2. Do you prefer happy ever after kind of ending/ suspenseful ending/ tragedy?

I am only asking for your honest opinon, I just exploring the many avenues out there. Thanks for all your help.

XOXOXO

Disclaimer Inuyasha ©2000 Rumiko Takahashi/Shogakukan - Yomiuri TV - Sunrise
All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.