I'm back! How are you all doing? Lets get on with the next chapter…. Plzzz read and review…. Plzzz

Disclaimer: I do not own Inu yasha


Sesshomaru did crush a hundred demons! Perhaps, even more! He was in no mood for counting. His fury did not subside one bit, as his heart was filled with envy, disappointment and hopelessness; the worst part is, he did not even know why. Sesshomaru halted, suddenly, sniffing a familiar scent. He had never had anything to do with the bearer of the scent during the past few years. But something within him told him that he will be in need of the bearer's 'assistance' to sort certain things out.

He landed on the ground soundlessly.

"Huh!... What're YOU doing here, Sesshomaru?" His half-brother turned and inquired gruffly.

Sesshomaru took a moment to gather energy from every atom of his body and also borrowed some energy from Mother Nature, to keep a tight leash on his temper and his desire to tear Inu yasha apart. He had needed to; for this may end up being the first and the only longest conversation he may ever have with Inu yasha.

"That would be my enquiry" Sesshomaru said, in his coldest tone.

"Keh! why do YOU care?" Inu yasha countered.

"you should be back at the village…. Protecting Rin"

That bighead! That's the only thing he really cares about! Does he think I have nothing else to do? Inu yasha thought sulkily.

"Look, Sesshomaru! The Village is falling short of supply of some vital medicinal herbs, which are required without delay. They're available in the slopes of these mountains. This place is dangerous for humans and it will cost more time for them. So, I've come to gather them instead, considering my strength and speed-"

Noticing Sesshomaru's impatience, Inu yasha came to the point "Kagome, Miroku and Sango are back at the village 'protecting Rin' ANDprotecting the village"

Sesshomaru noted the sarcasm and grimaced.

Inu yasha ignored and went on, "I'll be going now. I haven't all day."

"Inu Yasha." It took all the strength from his body to call his beloved half-brother. He'd need to ask his 'assistance', which would require much more strength. He bitterly decided to compromise on an infinitesimal amount of his pride and ego, only for minutest nano second.

A surprised Inu Yasha turned to see the demon lord.

Then it dawned on him, and his hand instantly grabbed the hilt of his tesseiga, "Sesshomaru! I've no time to battle with you. If you insist we can have our battle after I get the supplies to the village"

Half-brother. Half-breed. Half stupid. cursed Sesshomaru and replied icily, "This Sesshomaru is not here to fight"

He doesn't want fight?! This is not the Sesshomaru, I know. What else does he want from ME of all half-demons?

"Then, what?"

Sesshomaru turned to avoid Inu yasha's eyes, breathed in and began, "Is Rin….. happy?"

"Huh?" Inu yasha was surprised at the half-brother's enquiry. Why is he asking me? Before answering, involuntarily, Inu yasha held his hands together such that, the whole of his arms were covered by his sleeves.

"Why don't you ask her, yourself? She's YOUR ward"; taking Sesshomaru's deadly silence as 'Answer me, you idiot!', Inu yasha went on, "as far as I know, she's happy as ever. Kagome talks about her all the time. She also noticed Rin's excitement when she bumped into this Seiko guy"

The magical name 'Seiko' caused Sesshomaru's ear twitch and he had to throttle a growl. He was mildly content that Inu yasha had mentioned of the 'someone' he wanted. Seiko. But he was dissatisfied that he had mentioned of 'something' he didn't want. Rin's excitement.

Inu yasha couldn't possibly read his reactions, although he knew it meant something significant. He took Sesshomaru's silence as a cue to go on, "Rin seems to like his companionship a lot. She was always happy with him. Even I have noticed the chap with Rin, quite some number of times-"

"Is she in love with him?" Sesshomaru interrupted, unable to listen further. He inwardly cursed himself for asking this question. Of course she is! After all she's engaged to him, which means she accepted the proposal. On the contrary his inner voice argued that, Rin was disheartened when she heard of the impact of her wedding on the relationship between her and Sesshomaru. She may love Seiko as a companion and may even accept the proposal looking forward to a royal wedding, but is she really 'in love' with the prince?

"What?!..." Again! Why is he asking me? "I don't know…. But I do remember kagome telling me that she's very likely to, anyway….. Well may be she is…. Why not? It's about time she falls in love and takes a mate…. And this guy is a good one; a prince. She'll be happy, no doubt, not to mention her royal life"

Inu yasha couldn't make out anything of Sesshomaru's silence. But the subtle change in latter's demeanor, which could be felt only by a dog demon, told the former that Sesshomaru was displeased at the news.

Sesshomaru was indeed upset at the confirmation. For the first time in his life, Sesshomaru had to force his mouth open and shove out those words that were at the tip of his tongue, "what… what is love?"

"gah!" Inu yasha eyes were bulging out, jaws dropped, his body visibly shaking, not to mention he was blushing.

Sesshomaru was extremely annoyed at Inu Yasha's gaping at him like that. Inu yasha, you fool!

"S-sess-sesshomaru?" Is he crazy?! Is he trying to figure out the whether Rin is really in love with this prince guy? Man, is he over-protective!

The demon lord was again annoyed, but this time, at the odd syllables his brother has envisaged for his name. He remained silent, but not on purpose. He was just too embarrassed to even threaten Inu Yasha into telling him; not that he showed his embarrassment on his face.

Inu yasha was still red. 'love' was never an easy topic to discuss, for someone like him, although his whole being was filled by love for his mate, pups and friends. Even if he can manage, Sesshomaru would be the last demon on earth with whom he may choose to discuss with. I'd rather thrash it out with that brat, Kouga! Inu yasha felt.

The half-brothers, who were, once, fighting over tesseiga, to the point of almost killing each other, are about to chatter about 'LOVE'. Inu yasha self-pitied for the first time in the recent years, at the irony of the situation. Is this some kind of punishment fate has bestowed upon them for their past enmity? But he would have to cooperate. He could not waste time battling with Sesshomaru. He needed to get the herbs to the village.

This time, it was Inu yasha who had to turn his stare from Sesshomaru and breath in to begin, "Love… love is an emotion that can only be felt, Sesshomaru. It can't be easily defined"

"…."

Inu Yasha who was still blushing let out an exasperated sigh and went on, "my point is, you'll know when you're in love; your feelings and emotions will be the signals"

"elucidate."

Immediately Inu yasha's thoughts flew to Kagome, and his emotions were taking him over; he was no longer wearing the usual scowl on his face and it was softened. He spoke as if he was speaking to himself, "your loved one… she'll be everything to you… she'll be your world… There'll be no life without her… Nothing can replace her, and-and her…. absence will take a part of your soul away…. She'll be all that you care about… Her safety and happiness alone would matter to you… Nothing else would ever matter to you more…. Not even your desire for strength, for power… not even your own life"

Inu yasha, was musing about his own love-life: his love for kagome; how important she was to him; how her absence for three years tormented him; how much he cared about her; how little did he care about becoming a strong, powerful full-fledged demon by using the shikon jewel; how little did he care about his own life.

Sesshomaru was undoubtedly thinking about Rin. Whom else would he think of anyway?

Inu yasha who became a little too emotional, looked up at the sky and continued, "you'll soar upwards to conquer heaven just to present it at her feet; you'll plunge into the depths of hell just to save her from the fate of death."

Sesshomaru felt strangled at the statement: 'you'll plunge into the depths of hell just to save her from the fate of death.' Did he guess what I was thinking? Or does he think, I'm in love with Rin?... Inu Yasha.

"Anything else, Sesshomaru?" Inu yasha seemed to have concluded his 'elucidation'.

"…yes"

Inu Yasha let out a sigh of impatience and said, "What?"

"do you love your miko?"

"Gaaaaahhhhhhh!" this time, Inu yasha looked even more surprised and colored, if at all that was 'demon'ly possible. He fell on the ground immediately, as his body was so shaken it couldn't support him even to stand….


Well, why did Sesshomaru ask such a question? What was he thinking? Stay tuned until next chapter… ;-

How'd you all like it? I hope the story is thrilling as you expect it….

dear readers, the next chapter will unravel many interesting facts about sessXrin relationship as in the manga/ anime... so plzzz continue reading

Plzzzzz review :- your reviews and suggestions encourage me for improving the quality of the story… plzzz review n.n