Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. I own my ideas however, I make no profit from the publishing of this story.

Ammends

Sesshomaru placed Inuyasha on the bed. The boy had cried himself out, and was currently asleep.

He took a moment to ponder the young voice, and innocent eyes he had met with a few hours before. It had been a century or so since he'd last seen them – many a-year since that night when the moon had shone black.

"Sesshomaru? I wanted to thank you, really."

"It is time to fulfill the other side of the agreement."

"Yes. What is it?"

"Tell me exactly what he remembers. The favour comes after this."

She paused for a few seconds.

"Well...he thinks it's about eight months or so since his mother died; he says he's been living with you and ran away..."

Sesshomaru nodded.

"He...he talks a lot about you. He told me you saved him from drowning. And that you feed him – more than the villagers – and that he...wants to be like you when he grows up."

"Foolish."

"He...he really looks up to you, you know?"

"This Sesshomaru is aware. Now, before the favour, I request an answer to a particular question."

"Yes?"

"Do you find this Sesshomaru to be heartless?"

She blushed, fumbling with her fingers before finally settling down to answer.

"I thought at first it was so. But...I saw you with Rin-chan, and Jaken, and I felt that Rin-chan could not care for you as she does were you heartless, nor would Jaken be as loyal. Then I thought...about you and Inuyasha...and...he understands it, more so than myself. He told me that you are incapable of expressing emotion, other than through physical acts...he mentioned a few beatings. He takes them as discipline. When he told me...I thought...I wished I'd be able to make you suffer the way you made him suffer...then I realised, you already have..."

She raised her eyes from her lap.

"You lost your father at a young-age...and being the eldest you feel that the most."

"What would the likes of you know?"

"I, too, have lost my father at a young age. I remember him...Souta doesn't really. I think that's painful enough sometimes, but then...you...your father died protecting Inuyasha and his mother. I think that must have hurt you terribly."

"Do not think to pity this Sesshomaru. It is mere anger at having lost the chance to battle him and prove my worth."

She cried then, silent tears that plopped on the floor causing echoes in Sesshomaru's ears.

"You are not heartless Sesshomaru...you...you are heart-full...you...can't talk about such things, can you? It is not in your nature...or...it has been forced out of your nature...I do not know...but I know that Inuyasha is aware of this also. Even now...with all the fighting...all the anger...you know...he would never raise the sword to kill you. He may wound you...but he would never dare kill you...because after everything you've put him through he still considers you his brother."

The tears slowed down.

"I can understand there would be anger on your behalf...but please...don't you think it's time for you to move on?"

"You do not understand at all."

"Then, tell me."

"This Sesshomaru has no reason to explain himself to you."

"Just leave the act, and tell me! What could be so important? What did Inuyasha do to make you hate him like that? What could possibly make you, his own brother, treat him like dirt...like an animal? Why? All this time I've know Inuyasha...he may call you names, and get angry with you, but he never ever has spoken against your choice to treat him like that. He just bears it. And I, for one, am getting sick of seeing him hurt like that. Your words do him more damage than your fights. And you know how he is...he won't tell me...and I just want to understand...I want him to understand...but he still believes you...believes that he's a worthless, useless half-breed...and...I can't reach him..."

"You are in love with him." She supposed he meant it as a question, despite it having come out as a statement.

"I am."

"Very well then. I will heal him."

"You can do that?"

"Indeed. As for your part of the bargain, once he has regained his memory you must keep him here for another half-a moon. He will be human in that time."

"Alright."

"Be patient, woman, and let me finish."

She flinched.

"This is what you are expected to do in order to fulfill your bargain: you must not tell Inuyasha it was this Sesshoumaru that healed him nor, indeed, that I have seen your time. Fear not, my scent will be long gone by the time he awakens as a half-demon, so that your story can be confirmed. Furthermore, when he is healed you are to travel to the Western lands where we will find him a suitable consort."

"Con...sort?"

"A mate. Whatever you would prefer to call it. As the eldest, it is my duty to him now that he is well past being of age."

"He is only..." She paused realizing she did not actually know how old he was. "And...anyway, you're not mated yet."

"Not yet. As the eldest, the estate resides with me, as does the responsibility of bearing an heir, and furthering the line. My mate has been chosen, now it is Inuyasha's turn, and I have decided Inuyasha must marry a full-demon."

Kagome's eyes widened.

"No! You cannot do that! It's not fair! He loves...he loves...a human...you know he does."

"My half-brother's emotional ties are no concern of mine. If he is willing to be with a half-dead woman, he can certainly get used to having a fully alive demoness."

"But..."

"Remember you are meant to acquiesce."

"But...what about him? Don't you care at all about him?"

"Do you weep for your own heart, or his, woman?"

She stared at him.

"Foolish human. Have you not realized he is not like you? Were he to become yours, he would be condemned to a life-time of loneliness." She tried to say something, but he merely ignored her and continued.

"You say he's suffered, but you, yourself, would add to that suffering."

"H-how?"

"You say you love him. Are you aware of the union rituals of demons, woman? Were he to respond in kind to your feelings, and accept a union with you, he would be binding himself to you."

"We are already bound..."

"Not in that way you are not. Such a union would result only in tragedy, for the life of a human is short, and the bond is permanent. You would be condemning him to live out the entirety of his maturity and old-age without his mate."

"But..."

"Demons only take one mate, though however many concubines, and when that mate dies, they are bound to them. They do not move on, no other person suffices. They wander alone, feeling incomplete. Many have been known to kill themselves in order to be reunited with their consort. You would do that to one you claim you love?"

She paused, and for a moment all that could be heard was her thumping heart.

"So...it's okay to be with him as long as I am not his mate...?" He could hear the hope in her voice.

"Would you show a thirsty man a glass of water knowing full-well you cannot offer him more?"

He heard her swallow slowly.

"So...what am I meant to do?"

"Do whatever you please, as long as you honour your side of the bargain."

"So...you're saying there is no way...?"

"None."

"I see."

"You accept the conditions set?"

She looked down.

"I have no choice, do I?"

"True enough, but that was not what I asked."

"I accept your conditions, Sesshomaru." She ground out bitterly.

"Very well then. You will lead him to his ancestral home, where I shall introduce him to his future consort."

"But…I don't know…"

"Silence!" He took Tessaiga from his hip and brandished it before her. "You can feel it can't you."

Kagome nodded.

"Follow its aura, and so you shall reach your destination."

"But…"

He regarded her silently while she frantically tried to regather her thoughts.

"…what…how am I going to…? What should I tell him?"

"That is not something this Sesshomaru is concerned with. You have given your word, and I shall leave it to you to honour it."

The smells coming from outside were beginning to invade his senses and he felt himself weaken.

" Now, go fetch some cooling cloths. They will be needed, shortly."

He would have to hurry if he didn't want more of his strength to be spent. Silently, he cursed, at his lack of knowledge regarding the girl's world.

"You tarry girl!" He growled.

Kagome stood up.

"You will have your wish Sesshomaru. I will do what I must." She paused and lowered her eyes. "Thank you for…looking after Inuyasha."

He nodded in reply and she left the room quietly.

Once she had gone he let his attention return to his brother. Again, he let his eyes wander across the younger's face, so similar to his own, and so distinct all at the same time.

More gentle than he had allowed himself to be in a long time he reached out and brushed the hair off the side of Inuyasha's face. In his mind's eye he could still see the little boy who trusted him, who looked up to him, who loved him with all his heart – the little boy whom he had chosen to betray and wound by giving in to selfish needs, and anger; the little boy whose spirit he had broken so early on for no better reason than his own inability to deal with the cruelties of life.

For the first time he could openly admit to his little brother – he had stopped thinking of him as a mere half-breed many-a moon, nay, season before – that he had wronged him; even if Inuyasha would never know exactly what happened, he had a feeling he would understand. He knelt by the side of the bed and tenderly brushed the young one's head, seeking the strength in him to say what needed to be said.

"This Sesshomaru..." He began, and had to stop in order to control the flood of emotion that was threatening to outpour from his heart. Years of denial, and bitterness had only lead to great shame and regret once understanding set in.

"This Sesshomaru, has wronged you, and wishes to apologise...little brother..."

Then, closing his eyes, he let his claws grow, feeling the poison dripping through them, and in one swift motion plunged them into the boy's neck. Hushed words in his mother tongue were uttered swiftly to bring forth forgotten occurrences and seal the boy's recollection of the recent happenings.

Fight this, and find me. Then we can settle things.

With one smooth movement he stood up and exited through the window before making his way to the well.

Author's Note: This chapter is for my dear, dear friend Senchi-chan, who I know has a soft spot for a particular word I've used in reference to Sesshomaru here. :p Thank you so much for putting up with my eccentricities with sarcasm as your sole shield from them XD Lots of huggles and smiles!

Also, to all my readers - much love. My apologies for not being able to reply individually of late - time eluded me. Thank you all for your continued support. I hope this chapter is enjoyable. :3