Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, okay? Good :)

A/N: I figured, I might as well finish this story. Well almost finish it with an extra chapter because you're all sweethearts! Well those who reviewed! I appreciate it! This will be the 2nd -to-last chapter I think... oh my! By the way at the end of this there will be some VERY important information you have to read. The quotes I put in do have some significance to the chapter! It's shorter than the others for a reason.

Also, you might not like Inuyasha in this chapter...

"It breaks your heart to see the one you love is happy

with someone else, but it's more painful to know that

the one you love is unhappy with you." ~ Unknown ~

Puppy Instincts

Chapter Four – Dead Puppy?

Sesshomaru couldn't help the yelp that escaped his mouth when Inuyasha grabbed him by the scruff of his neck. They had climbed out of the well and had been walking a bit of a ways for several minutes, and in that time, Sesshomaru couldn't help but panic. Every sense felt like it was on fire, from the shock and from his current furry state. Inuyasha gripped him under his right arm, and with the way that he was holding him, it felt like his little ribs were getting bruised.

'What am I to do? This is one of those times where I regret to say I need that wen-Kagome's help.' The moisture from the past rain clung to his fur, and with the pain of being held and the irritation on being captured, Sesshomaru couldn't help but shiver as his bastard brother made off with him.

To make matters worse, Inuyasha began talking. "You sneaky bastard of a dog, I knew I'd get you if I just came back there every night. I knew you'd have to screw up sometime." There was deliberate emphasis on the words 'screw up' which fueled Sesshomaru's anger. When you messed with him, even on a good day, heads would roll.

Sesshomaru snarled and bit Inuyasha's hand, which made Inuyasha drop him on the ground. He hit the ground with a painful thud, but he shook it off, knowing it would do no good to pass out now. He turned tail and ran to the well, knowing that was his only chance for escape. If he could make it down the well, and make it back to Kagome's time...then she would be able to help him. Tha part of him that was the domineering youkai lord was ashamed that he had to ask for the help of a mere human girl just to save him. For the moment however, he was entirely out of options.

Fate had other ideas. He made it halfway back to the well when Inuyasha grabbed him roughly and held him at an arms length away from his face. Molten gold eyes met molten gold eyes, but neither were eye to eye.

"You bastard...you poisoned me!" Inuyasha spat. "Anyways...you fucking asshole, don't think you can get so cosy with Kagome, with my mate." Mate? This concept made the angry, protective side of his youkai come out, and it would take no prisoners. Kagome wasn't anyones. "I'll destroy you...very soon."

Him and Inuyasha had their differences, their fights, and their battles of wits, many times. However, right now Sesshomaru could honestly say that he knew that Inuyasha would kill him without caring. For now, that was the most terrifying thing his mind could think of: the fact that his brother would kill him when he was in such a susceptible state.

Inuyasha gripped him fiercely by the scruff of his neck once more, and he swung him from his hands as if he were nothing but a sack of potatoes. 'Sluggish oaf, how dare he handle this Sesshomaru in such a manner? I swear that the moment I revert back to my proper form his head will be mine on a platter!'

All thoughts of platters, how dumb Inuyasha was, and so forth vanished the moment he was thrown to the ground. Sesshomaru attempted to stand up and run away, but Inuyasha was too quick for him. Inuyasha stepped on his tail with the heel of his foot, and with applied pressure, a small crack was heard. He let out a loud yelp of both disgust and pain, for he knew that this was a serious injury that would hinder his plans for escape.

Sesshomaru swallowed back his yearning to whine aloud from the pain as Inuyasha towered over him, much like those skyscrapers in Kagome's time. He was terrified, injured...but his survival was more important than freezing up in terror. He lowered his body to the ground in a pouncing stance, and waited for the perfect time.

Inuyasha smirked, and cracked his knuckles, as if to ready himself for the fight. "Sesshomaru, you're not leaving my sight..."

Sesshomaru knew that his inner-youkai was grinning. He launched himself at Inuyasha's crotch and bit down on the soft material and skin underneath, and he let his poison do the work. 'This Sesshomaru is glad all of his powers didn't leave him.' Inuyasha let out a howl of agony, and Sesshomaru released him, hitting the ground in a dead-run. He ran through the grasses, jumped over fallen trees and logs, and finally, when he couldn't sense Inuyasha, he stopped to look at his surroundings.

He knew this area well, for he often patrolled it when he was more of a youkai...literally.

He inwardly sighed as he saw the moon glistening on the lake, casting a delicate duplicate amongst the reflection of the still water. As he wearily walked towards the pool to drink, he felt sadness wash over him like a wave over the sand. So much had been lost in this time: his pride, the little respect he had for his brother, and he was now in a sense, lost. Sesshomaru felt immediate relief as the cool liquid filled his mouth, and it reminded him that as long as he knew where he was, the end wasn't upon him.

After he had his fill, he searched the small forest until he found what he was looking for: a tree with a very small hole in it. Sesshomaru sniffed around the area to make sure that there was no other animal inhabiting its depths, and crawled into the space. It was a bit of a tight fit, but it was enough for him to have a safe bed for the night. He could smell rain on the horizon, and he knew it wouldn't be too long before Inuyasha would come looking for him, thinking of all the ways he could kill him. The gods were for him on this terrible night after all, for the rain would mask his scent.

Sesshomaru closed his eyes to a clear frame of mind.

XXxXxXxXX

Kagome awoke with a cold sweat, and sat up in her bed. 'What a horrible dream. I could've sworn that I heard Sesshomaru yelp in real life.' She stretched and wiped her eyes, then turned to look at the clock: it was only four o'clock in the morning.

Sighing, she put on her pink slippers, the ones with the cute little ears, and proceeded to walk down the stairs. She felt a twinge of sadness as she looked to her slippers, for one ear wasn't there. 'I shouldn't have been so mean. I guess I'll let him in, he's learned his lesson.'

Kagome opened the door, expecting there to be a little ball of fluff curled in on itself. When she saw an empty blanket, she let out a gasp. Panic became her as she ran all around the property, in search of her little Sesshomaru.

When he didn't turn up anywhere, she knew what had happened. She wasn't dense, even though most thought that she was, and she knew that something bad had happened, and that thing was a certain dog demon that was going to be sat into eternity if he was the one who stole her puppy.

Kagome decided if she was going to get out of there, and get Sesshomaru it would have to be now.

Heedless of proper clothing, she ran to the shrine, threw open the door, and climbed halfway down the ladder and jumped. Colors flew around her, the mystifying shades of blue and crimson, but for once she wasn't entranced by their beauty; all she cared about was in finding her precious puppy again.

She looked up to the skies and saw that there was a gentle shade of yellow staining the horizon; it was dawn over here.

Promptly, she found the first stone to climb on, and proceeded to climb out of the well. The morning dew clung to the top of the well's wood, which made it difficult to climb out of. Kagome grunted and threw herself over the edge, and wound up falling face first in the dirt. She quickly dusted herself off, and looked around the familiar surroundings. 'I hope Sesshomaru's okay.'

Thunder boomed overhead, and though the skies appeared clear, rain clouds unleashed a torrent of needle-thin drops. She groaned aloud and made a run for it, knowing that her slippers would be ruined, along with her pyjamas. Finding shelter was first, and then she had to look for Sesshomaru despite the weather. A voice told her that he would do the same for her if she was hurt, or lost.

Kaede's village came into view, and she knew that Kaede would have a change of clothes for her.

Ever the clairvoyant one, Kaede stepped out of the hut in the early morning rain. She saw Kagome, ushered her inside quickly, and made her change.

The moment the warm fabric hit her body, she sighed in relief. As she ran a hand through her tangled hair, Kagome voiced her inquiries. "Kaede, you haven't seen Inuyasha have you?"

Kaede shook her head. "Nay child, I haven't seen the brute. But Sango and Miroku did see him last night. Apparently, he had severe bite marks on his nether regions which were poisoned. Regardless he left a few hours ago, seeking revenge on the animal that did it to him." Kaede sighed heavily.

Kagome shot up and threw on a pair of enclosed boots that she had brought over from her time. Kaede didn't protest against it, and for that, Kagome was grateful; nothing was going to stop her. She ran into the forests by the well, knowing that Sesshomaru might not have gotten very far in his state. 'He must be so scared...'

After an hour of searching the forests, calling Sesshomaru's name and covering herself with her hands from the rain, she found Inuyasha. She ran forward, prepared to unleash the fury of a woman scorned when the reality of sight crashed over her, like a roll of thunder.

Inuyasha was there, leaning over a very badly bleeding pup.

XXxXxXxXX

Inuyasha remembered smirking as he slashed his claws into Sesshomaru. His older brother had been sleeping when he yanked him from the shelter, threw him to the ground, and prepared to take his timely revenge. Sesshomaru had put up a good fight, but it was so apparent that he was weaker in this state. He just hadn't cared, for he recalled plenty of times when Sesshomaru had attempted to do battle with him and he was in a worse state.

His claws raked into Sesshomaru, and warm blood soaked his hands. Sesshomaru fell over, and the scent of blood was mixed with something else: salt.

The half-youkai looked up, and saw Kagome a few feet away from him, crying silent tears. Her eyes were puffy and blood-shot, and he knew that he had done wrong. 'This isn't good, I didn't want her to cry...this wasn't supposed to happen! I love her...'

He wiped his hands clean of the blood and walked over to her, not knowing what to expect.

"Kagome, why... why are you crying?" Inuyasha began wiping a tear away.

Kagome shrugged off of his grip. "You jerk... how could you do that?" She screamed the last few words and pushed him aside to get to the body of the fallen pup, the body of his half-brother.

Inuyasha's ears detected the faint sound of a heartbeat, one that let him know that Sesshomaru was alive for the moment. His heart broke in halves in his chest when he saw Kagome pick up Sesshomaru's small body and kiss his nose.

He closed his eyes against this sight, and he felt the sting of guilt on his tongue, as well as the abysmal feeling of unrequited feelings. 'It hurts to watch the one you love be with another. But when the one you love hurts because of something you did...that hurts far worse.' This was one hell of a time to come to that conclusion.

Inuyasha opened his eyes and saw that Sesshomaru had reverted back to his humanoid appearance, and that his head was in Kagome's lap. She was brushing the hair from his eyes, silently crying.

Inuyasha's ears twitched as he heard the slight fluttering of a heartbeat and then, nothing.

XXxXxXxXX

A/N: No killing the author XD I promise you another chapter... but I do have some other stories I have to write and such so please bear with me... I think 2-3 weeks and the LAST AND FINAL CHAPTER WILL BE OUT! I have decided there will be a sequel because of how I am going to end this... Will it have a happy ending? Well this won't ...

Thank you for reading! Please review!

Note from the BETA: AUGH! How could she kill off Sesshomaru? How could Inuyasha be so cruel? *sobs* I sure hope this ends happily...*dies*