A.N~ Hey guys! I don't think I made it very clear last time that Inuyasha is older in this one… so yeah and I think I'm going to make this yaoi… majority rules, and I have to choose NOW because what I chose will drastically change the story and I really want to be 100% sure with the plot so I don't make any huge mistakes…. So yeah… enjoy!

DISCLAIMER!: I don't own Inuyasha, the only things in this that are mine are the O.C's and the plot… so ye… XD

"Don't leave me alone
'Cause I barely see at all
Don't leave me alone…"

Chapter 2: Almost Alone

"Don't be scared." Sango reached out and grasped the young hanyou's hand, pulling him to his feet. He had healed quickly in the short time it took to get to the castle; which made Sango wonder if he would have survived if they hadn't found him. The boy immediately pulled his hand away from her when he was on his feet, and stared back down at the patterns on the floor.

"Lady Keiko will return once she has spoken to Lord Sesshomaru." The boy turned to look at her for the first time though out their whole trip blessing her with the sight of familiar golden orbs.

"Who's that?" The boy blinked his eyes in confusion and Sango smiled, it was hard to believe anyone could hurt the cute little hanyou.

"Uh…" Sango chuckled looking around, hoping her Lady was finished her talk with Lord Sesshomaru. She turned to her demon companion, Kirara and sighed when no help was offered. "You should speak to Lady Keiko about that…"

Inuyasha turned his head to where the dog demon had left to. It smelt like she was only a few rooms away, he could still sense her demonic energy.

He shivered at the sudden power that emanated from the room they were stationed in. He knew there was no way it could be Lady Keiko, though she was kind, she was surprisingly weak for a dog demon. Was that Lord Sesshomaru? He shook the thought from his mind. There was no way someone could hold so much power… Right…?

His question was answered when a group of demons exited the room Lady Keiko had entered. Maybe that was it? A horde of powerful demons… Inuyasha curled his lip at their presence, it couldn't be them, though they seemed strong, they were nothing compared to the energy he had felt…

Inuyasha shifted his eyes to the demon slayer. When she suddenly stepped in front of him, her knuckles white from the tight grip she had on her weapon.

"O hayou gozaimasu Sango." One of the demons cooed, bowing slightly, his eyes never wavering from the hanyou behind her.

"My Lords…" She greeted in a rehearsed bored tone.

"And who is this…?" A snake demon extended a long tail to caress the boy's cheek, only to be immediately swatted away by a small hand. The boy glared at him, his golden eyes mustering as much hate was possible.

"My Lords, I am under direct order from Lady Keiko to watch over the boy, and I would appreciate it if you would refrain from touching him."

"Of course Lady Sango…" One by one, they walked past the hanyou, each throwing their own looks of disgust at the boy.

"Are you alright Inuyasha?" Sango knelt down in front of the boy, who turned his head away from her.

"Yes…" He said in a small voice.

"Inuyasha…" She didn't continue until he had locked eyes with her. "You must remember that not all demons are kind…" She looked over his shoulder at the group of nobles who disappeared into the hallway. "Not all demons have noble intentions…"

Inuyasha shivered at a sudden presence behind him, and turned just in time to see a pair of blood red eyes fade into the shadows. He looked to Sango, to see if she noticed, but if she did, she kept it well hidden.

Would he truly be safe here…?

Present day…

"Come on Inuyasha." Keiko held the growling hanyou down, swiftly pulling her now bending comb through knotted silver hair. "Just stop moving and this will go much smoother." She yanked another knot free, causing the hanyou in front of her to squirm in his seat.

"OW! God Keiko! FUCK OFF!" Keiko removed the comb from his hair so that she could swat him with the teethed end of the comb. "OW!"

"Don't talk to me like that!" She called, returning to combing the hanyou's unruly locks. "Maybe if you would stop getting into messes outside of the castle, we wouldn't have to do this every day!"

"Well – OW! – there isn't much – SHIT! – to do here now is there? HOLY SHIT, ARE YOU TRYING TO YANK MY FUCKING HEAD OFF?" He snapped, earning another strike from the annoyed youkia behind him.

"I think I liked you better when you didn't talk…" She sighed, smiling when Inuyasha calmed down. Most of the tangles were out so she could easily slide the comb though his hair. She reached to massage one of the dog shaped ears on top of his head, earning a satisfied sigh from the hanyou in front of her.

"Hey Keiko...?"

"Hmm...?" She smiled, caught up in the serene atmosphere of the moment. Quiet moments with Inuyasha were rare - let alone pleasant quiet moments - and there for, where greatly cherished. So she dragged out her response watching the swiftly growing hanyou in the mirror in front of her. It seemed like only yesterday, he was the broken child she had found, beaten and left for dead. Though ten years had passed, he still only had the out ward appearance of a seventeen year old boy. She sighed. She hated how fast he was growing. She missed the years when he had first arrived at the castle. So sweet, kind and quiet, now, he had a colorful vocabulary and a short temper, but she loved him either way.

She smiled, looking at their perfect contrast in the mirror. Her black hair, still tossed over her shoulder in a loose braid laid against Inuyasha's silver locks. A perfect ying and yang... She noted how much their skin differed also; Inuyasha's golden skin and her own pale tone. And unlike Inuyasha; usual blue markings of a dog demon, created scratch like markings along her arms. Though most youkia markings were smooth and elegant, hers were ragged and ungainly. Her smile wavered. Her and the hanyou in front of her… They were one in the same, though he didn't even know it.

"Do I have to go to dinner?" His voice was so soft that at first she didn't catch it, but smiled, smoothing his hair back.

"Yes Inuyasha, you do…"

She smiled at the growl that followed her words, and patted Inuyasha's head to tell him she was done. He immediately shot up to look at her. "But they hate me!"

"Inuyasha, they don't -"

"Don't give me that 'their just intimidated by something they don't understand' crap." He said in a mocking tone. "Because you and I both know that's bullshit." She sighed, sitting on the bed and allowing Inuyasha to lie next to her and rest his head on her lap. "They're a bunch of wrinkly pricks."

"Inuyasha!"

"What they are!" Inuyasha closed his eyes, breathing in the comforting scent of flowers and honey that always seemed to follow his Lady. "There not like you okay…"

"I know musuko…" She smiled, running a hand though now silky hair. She really did love the young hanyou in her lap like a son. She knew she would do anything for him regardless of the consequences, which was why she fought for him every day to keep him safe from the many threats around the castle. He was unaware of the many assassinations on his life and she wanted to keep it that way. It was best that he be in the dark of all she did to keep him safe.

"My brother has never even talked to me…"

"Inuyasha, that's not true he –"She looked down at the warning glare she received from the boy on her lap and sighed. "Well Sesshomaru is a different story, he… He doesn't know yet." She smiled at the questioning look she received from the hanyou. "You'll understand one day… Sesshomaru will too."

He closed his eyes, easing into the touch of his closest companion; he wondered about her sometimes, she had a weird way of putting things. "Whatever Haha…" He shot up as realization of his words hit him. "I-I mean Keiko… I-I don't know why I said that…"

She laughed, pulling him into a tight hug. "It's alright Inu-chan" She cooed, leaving a blushing Inuyasha to struggle against her hold. "Let's get to dinner…"

Dinner was uneventful as usual. Sesshomaru was absent – apparently on a business meeting – so the dinner was slightly more boring than usual. He usually enjoyed the many attempts made by the nobles to woo his brother at the table, and the creatively discrete ways he would turn them down. It was the only entertainment provided in this godforsaken castle, he was just lucky it was good entertainment.

The hallways were empty tonight, as he traveled towards the garden. He didn't know why, but to be there, with the life growing around him… It felt right – whatever that means.

Inuyasha entered the garden, and sat in his usual bed of flowers, quietly brushing the yellow petals with his finger tips, careful not to touch them with his claws. The garden had become a safe place for him. No one visited the garden besides the gardeners and Lady Keiko, but he didn't mind the Lady, and the gardeners kept to themselves. Inuyasha looked towards the garden entrance; he could use the company now. He had grown accustom to the soft words of the kind youkia, and had come to see her as a guardian and a friend. He had almost even grown to tolerate her when she braided flowers in his hair…ALMOST…

He sighed smelling the sweet scents of the earth around him. So much life and beauty, yet no one took the time to truly see it. He picked a flower from the ground and breathed in the honey like scent. He smiled at the familiar color. It reminded him of his mother; of the times when they would sit by the palace garden and look out towards the water. Sometimes he wished he could go back to where it was him and his mother in the garden, but he knew it was wrong to wish that. He loved his mother, but he didn't know how life would have been without Lady Keiko and his friends that he made here. Though they weren't many, they were all he had now.

He turned at the sudden sound behind him that interrupted his thoughts and gasped in surprise. Lord Sesshomaru? Inuyasha stared, uncertain if he should make himself known. It seemed as if Sesshomaru hadn't noticed him yet, and to be honest, he wanted to keep it that way.

He quickly ducked behind a bush and peered over the hedge. Lord Sesshomaru was truly a sight to behold. Long locks of silver hair cascaded down his shoulders, not unlike his own, golden orbs, watched the small pond before him in deep contemplation, his pale skin, contrasting the magenta markings along his body, similar to those of Lady Keiko, but much more… regal. His mokomoko lifted in the breeze and whipped around his white and red kimono. Inuyasha shook his head, it was wrong to sit in the shadows and watch his brother, it was fucking STALKING; but he couldn't look away. He didn't want to. Everything his brother did was graceful and precise. Nothing like himself, it was almost cruel to compare the two.

His thoughts were interrupted, when shuffling of grass, alerted him that Sesshomaru wasn't alone.

"I understand your upset My Lord, but it must be done."

Inuyasha held his breath and moved closer so he could identify the new voice. He recognized the man in the baboon fur from around the castle, though he'd never known his name. Whenever he'd ask, Keiko would tell him not to concern himself with it, so he didn't. The man stood next to Lord Sesshomaru, who seemed...troubled by something.

"I understand…" He turned towards the baboon, allowing Inuyasha to catch the side of his face, and wondered if anyone else noticed the confusion in his eyes.

"The elders have granted you a year before the decision is made, though I would insist on you taking care of this before that." Sesshomaru nodded thoughtfully and turned back towards the water. "And I also would suggest…removing those who might…complicate things."

"What exactly did you have in mind?" Inuyasha's ears perked up. He shouldn't be listening; he should have snuck out and went to bed…. But nothing ever happened in the castle, and this was the most action he'd ever stumbled upon. And he'd be damned if he missed his chance at excitement.

"The hanyou…" Inuyasha raised a brow. They were talking about him… "It would be in the best interest of the castle if he and Lady Keiko were removed from the castle." Inuyasha's eyes widened. Lord Sesshomaru wouldn't send them off…would he? Maybe him, but not Keiko, right? "I will leave you to your thoughts My Lord; I can assume that you will do the right thing."

"No…" The baboon turned back to Lord Sesshomaru, and he continued. "There is no need for that. I will do all that is in my power to keep my kingdom. Lady Keiko and the mutt will be gone by next moon." Inuyasha covered his mouth with his hand to keep himself from cursing his brother out loud. As much as he wanted to tell his "brother" what was on his mind, he didn't want to die.

Inuyasha could almost feel his smile as the baboon clad man bowed to the daiyoukia. "Excellent My Lord, I will alert the elders of you decision." And like that, the baboon demon disappeared into the darkness of the garden like he was never there to begin with, leaving Inuyasha with his thoughts.

He shifted back. Sesshomaru wouldn't do that. He wouldn't disown Keiko like that. She was the only person who could be considered the Lord's friend, and he wouldn't do that to her.

Lady Keiko always said that there was more to Sesshomaru's heart, and he believed her. Not because he'd ever seen it himself, or believed in the best of people, but because she told him and Keiko never lied. But now he knew, Sesshomaru had no heart, no emotion, no guilt.

"Who's there?" The dog demon's voice was threatening and deadly, having heard an intruder's sudden movement is the bushes.

He knew he should be scared. In fact any normal day, he would have crawled out and screamed for Lady Keiko, but today was different. He didn't know what to think, didn't know how to react.

He shot up and stared into the surprised golden eyes of his brother. He didn't know what to do when his brother stepped towards him.

He didn't know what to do…

So he ran…

A.N~ In the next chapter Inuyasha and Sesshomaru will have their FIRST CONVERSATION EVER! So yeah, I think this is going to be yaoi, but you can still convince me otherwise….yeah

I know, this ones short too...TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK!

My next update will be much slower because March break is almost over and I'll have school, but I'll try to finish it before that… No promises… (The quote in the beginning is from a song, falling inside the black by SKILLET… The song is much longer, trust me!)~