Chapter 3

In the days that followed the unpleasant birth of the replica, Sesshomaru taught her how to walk and awakened her ability to talk. He told me that since she was a copy of another demon, she knew how to talk, and only had to be reminded. We stayed near the thicket where she had been in her gel cocoon.

I stayed with them, though I didn't do much. I didn't know what to do. I did help the replica to choose a name. She and I agreed on Chiyoko. (Means thousand generation child) When she was bathed and clothed properly, she was a beautiful young woman. She had only one mark on each cheek, and a crescent moon on her forehead, with lines that extended down her arms to her hands and down her legs to her feet. Where Sesshomaru's marks were light purple, hers were indigo. She was attractive in a strange way. She had thin lips and a straight, prominent nose and large, curious golden eyes. Her hair was nearly as long as Sesshomaru's, and just as white. I was jealous of them both.

My time with my brother was an odd mixture of being awkwardly tense and reassuringly comfortable. I didn't know how to speak to Sesshomaru, or even what to say to him. He was very quiet and stoic, but not in a threatening or intimidating way as he used to be to me. Though we didn't really speak, he seemed to accept me. It felt good have him as company. To actually feel like he was a real person, and to realize that he was my brother. I didn't get too close to him. I kept my distance and minded my business.

I finished braiding Chiyoko's hair for her. It was sunset and she was tired. She retrieved Sesshomaru's decorative demon's tail and retired early. I began to wander. And before I knew where my feet were taking me, I was within 15 paces of my brother. He was on a hill, looking into the distance. I felt that if I were to get closer I would disrupt something fragile and important.

He turned his head towards me, and then back to the scenery. I took a step closer. It felt safe to approach him. I sat next to him. It was quite. The light was nearly gone from the sky before either of us spoke. It was Sesshomaru who began, and he was brief and to the point.

"Do you intend to stay with the girl and me?"

"I . . . I don't know. Can I?"

"If I preferred that you leave, I would not have offered for you to stay."

I thought for a minute. "Why?" It was the obvious question. "Why do you want me to stay with you now? And why are you being so nice to me? I thought… that you hated me." I looked at him pleadingly. I wanted an answer. A lot of answers. I wasn't sure if I would get them. I'm glad that he didn't look at me then. I probably looked pathetic.

"Did you expect us to fight forever?"

"Kind of. Well not forever… just… well I didn't think that we'd keep fighting, but I sure as hell didn't expect this either."

"… The offer still stands, Inuyasha." It was the first time he had said my name in those few days.

"I'd like to stay. But eventually I want to know why you're being so…not you. .."

"Fair enough."

Ha! Dialogue!

Tell me what you think, please. I love reviews. Do you think they're in character? That's what I'm going for…

Sorry the chapter's short. I just didn't know how to continue it. I'll probably update often, with short chapters as opposed to long ones like, once a month.