Hello everyone, this cleaning up business took longer than I'd hoped it would. But it's all done now.

Thanks to all the reviews and support I've gotten, it really brings a smile to my face :)

Enjoy :)

Chapter 35 - Incentive

Inu Yasha was racing through the halls of his half-brother's castle after a redheaded demoness. He'd just saved her younger sister and left her in the castle's infirmary. She'd caught his attention slightly. There was something about her that sparked his curiosity; something that he couldn't put his finger on. At the moment though, he did not have time to deliberate. His eyes studied her sister, she was dressed to fight and she seemed very capable. Just as his mind was beginning to wander to his human companions, Kiome opened a large door and the two hurdled outside into the brightening day.

He ignored Kiome's repeated thanks and watched her spring toward Miroku and Lady Aki to fight alongside them. The hanyou's eyes scanned the battlefield for his half-brother. The telltale silver head of hair was nowhere to be seen. Lifting his nose into the air, Inu Yasha sorted through the mixture of scents until he finally found Sesshomaru's; it was intertwined with Kagome's and Naraku's scent. Scowling, Inu Yasha followed the scent into the forest behind the castle. As soon as he entered the trees, the scents from the battle softened and he could smell the taiyoukai better.

Suppressed emotions swelled up inside him and he could feel nervous butterflies raging inside his stomach. The first sight that assaulted him was Kayo's unconscious body lying on the forest floor. Instantly the butterflies died down and he ran to her side. "Kayo! Kayo wake up!" When she did not stir, Inu Yasha looked up and surveyed the clearing. Sesshomaru and Naraku were fighting overhead, both bodies moving so fast they appeared as a blur. Back on the ground, Inu Yasha noticed another miko lying unconscious a little ways away.

Cautiously, Inu Yasha went to her and turned her onto her back so that he could see her face.

His heart skipped a beat; it was Kagome. "Kagome! Kagome wake up!" he shook her but like Kayo, the girl did not wake. Nevertheless, Inu Yasha kept speaking, "It's me, Inu Yasha. I'm sorry… for everything. I was stupid, but I know now. I need you Kagome! I'm here to save you."

Inu Yasha glared at the two fighting above him and let out a low growl. He would kill them for harming Kagome. Leaping up to a higher position in the trees, he unsheathed Tetsusaiga, "Wind Scar!"

Sesshomaru and Naraku leapt apart to dodge the attack. They both turned to Inu Yasha and stared at him expectantly.

"Ah, Inu Yasha, you've finally arrived," Naraku greeted.

Anger built up inside Inu Yasha, "What'd you do to Kagome?" he demanded.

"Nothing… yet," Naraku drawled, smirking at the way both half-brothers tensed.

"You will not touch her," the silken voice of Sesshomaru warned.

"Stay away from her!" Inu Yasha growled, sub-consciously noting the protective edge in the taiyoukai's voice.

Sesshomaru eyed his younger half-brother from the corner of his eye before turning his attention back to the hanyou that stood before him.

Naraku laughed, "This is going to be fun."

Kikyo had left Kagome alone with her thoughts and was currently sitting silently with Kayo. Kagome sat a few feet away with her knees drawn up to her chest. Tears slipped down her cheeks. This was not an easy decision. She had asked Kikyo what she would do if she were in her situation and older miko had given her a cold look, "I would never have been so foolish as to put myself in this situation in the first place."

That was when tears had first appeared in her large chocolate orbs, "Please Kikyo…"

The older priestess stared at her for a while before her eyes softened slightly, "Miko… this is a decision that you must make on your own. I am not at liberty to tell you what to do. You must do what you feel is right. Your decision will carve the path of time and no one is to interfere."

"B-but I can't leave them… and… I can't kill Kayo either."

"You wouldn't be killing her. She is a part of you."

"But—"

"I can say no more," with that, Kikyo had walked away from her, leaving her questions unanswered.

Staring at the ground in front of her, Kagome's thoughts drifted to her family 500 years in the future and then back to her adventures in Sengoku Jidai. 'I love my family, but I love it here as well…' Ever since Kagome had first been plunged into Sengoku Jidai, she'd spent more time here than in her time; it had become more than a second home to her; it had become her home.

'How can I choose between my family and my home?'

A plan quickly formulated in Naraku's mind and he allowed himself to be knocked to the ground far below. He had witnessed the effect that the slight implication of hurting the miko had on both the brothers. Clearly, they both loved her. Sibling rivalry could go a long way and with any luck, they would turn on each other and give Naraku the upper hand. At the moment, Sesshomaru posed more of a threat than his younger half-brother. If such a thing were to happen, he would go after the taiyoukai first. After defeating him, Inu Yasha would not be a problem. Not moving, he waited and paid careful attention to what was happening above.

"Stand back hanyou, I'll handle this," Sesshomaru said condescendingly, heading toward Naraku.

"Shut up you bastard. Naraku is after my Kagome, I will kill him."

Sesshomaru glanced at Inu Yasha over his shoulder, "She is mine hanyou."

Inu Yasha temporarily forgot about Naraku and his eyes narrowed as he turned to face the taiyoukai, "You hate humans you bastard. What do you want with her?"

Sesshomaru sensed a change in Inu Yasha's tone and he stopped and turned back to him. "She is mine," he stated simply.

Inu Yasha snarled at his words and readied his sword.

A thought flashed in the demon lord's mind and the corner of his mouth slipped up a notch, "Give me the Tetsusaiga and I'll give you back your wench."

Inu Yasha's eye twitched; the inuyoukai was toying with him now; goading him into a fight. 'If it's a fight he wants then I'll give him one.'

Not willing to play his brother's sadistic game, Inu Yasha ignored Sesshomaru's words. He charged at his older brother, lifting Tetsusaiga over his shoulder in preparation to attack.

Sesshomaru easily blocked the attack, "You really are a worthless hanyou." Sesshomaru couldn't help but bother the boy; he'd been a thorn in his side ever since he's been born.

Bounding back, Inu Yasha landed on a branch and attacked his brother from a different angle, "Shut up you bastard!"

Sesshomaru glanced nonchalantly into the enraged hanyou's face. Now that he was angry; it would be even easier to defeat him. Carefully manoeuvring his blade, Sesshomaru disarmed Inu Yasha and pushed him against a tree. Holding his sword against Inu Yasha's neck he hissed, "You are a disgrace to the family. You don't deserve to wield the Tetsusaiga."

Outrage flew through Inu Yasha, this man had always looked down at him; he had belittled him his entire life. He'd tried to kill him on numerous occasions and now he refused to release Kagome. Inu Yasha felt the demon blood pulsating angrily inside him, leaving his body humming with energy.

"You're pathetic," Sesshomaru spat before turning and darting to Naraku's side. Sesshomaru looked down at Naraku disdainfully before raising his sword. Just as he was about to end the hanyou's existence, he felt movement behind him. He whipped around and blocked Inu Yasha's raised claw, noticing that his eyes were tinged red.

Naraku smirked and swiftly lifted himself up off the ground. Within seconds, he had transformed his arm into a poisonous tentacle, and plunged it through Sesshomaru's chest.

Sesshomaru's eyes widened slightly before they narrowed into slits. Using his sword, he sent Inu Yasha flying across the clearing. Leaning forward, Sesshomaru delivered a well aimed, backwards kick at the eye in the centre of Naraku's chest. Using the momentum he'd created, he grabbed hold of Naraku's forearm and spun, twisting it in its socket. His claws began to glow an eerie green and the smell of burning flesh assaulted his sensitive nose. Pulling the offending arm out of his chest, Sesshomaru let the acid leak from his fingertips until he could pull the tentacle easily from Naraku's shoulder. Sesshomaru vaguely noticed the purplish tinge to the tentacle; indicating that the hanyou had injected poison into his system. 'I'll have to finish this quickly then.'

Throwing the useless limb to the side, he engaged the two hanyous in a terrible fight. The three became a swirling, deadly storm of swords and claws.

Half an hour later, they were still at a deadlock. It was too late now. The poison was fast acting and Sesshomaru could sense his body growing heavier; it was beginning to slow him down. Every time he would close in to wound either hanyou fatally, the other would interfere and force him to leap back. Their lethal dance went on for infuriatingly long; the only hits that Sesshomaru was able to land were minor and didn't deter either of his opponents for very long.

Sesshomaru flinched when he felt the poison begin to approach his heart. 'That was too quick! I expected to have more time.' He supposed that since he'd been moving around so much, the poison had been pumped through his system faster. 'I don't have much time left…' He was now moving at the same speed as the hanyous. He would no longer be able to dodge their attacks.

Eying his two fast approaching opponents, Sesshomaru's vision blurred. It wouldn't be long now before he blacked out. 'Damn,' he spotted Kagome lying on the forest floor where she'd collapsed; she was not far from him.

To his dismay, Sesshomaru began to feel light-headed. He grit his teeth against the strong call of darkness that threatened to engulf him. The demon lord half fell down to the unconscious girl's side. With his back turned to the hanyous, he scooped her up in his arms protectively. Holding her tightly, he bent down and touched his lips to hers.

"I love you too."

A/N) Sesshy finally says I love you! But ohh, he's injured :(

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