I do not own the show/manga of InuYasha. Nor do I own the characters.
I do own the creativity that has forced me to write a fanfiction, however. D:

It Is Not True
Pairing: MriokuXSesshomaru
Side Pair: InuyhashaXKouga
Chapter Fourteen: Brotherly Bonding

"Sesshomaru! Let him go! What is the matter with you! Do you not see where you are!" Inuyasha stood up and fixed himself. "I'm fine. Kouga was just playing a really unfunny joke on me. Much as the bastard needs a lesson taught to him; now is not the time." Even if Kouga was slowly choking to death, Inuyasha could not get over how awkward this situation was. He was Sesshomaru's current voice of reason. And Sesshomaru was helping him? No, that didn't sound right. He was. . . protecting him? None of it sounded right in Inuyasha's head. None of this made sense, why was Sesshomaru here? And what didhe think he was doing?

Inuyasha's words slowly made their way into Sesshomaru's head. He did know where he was, in the middle of a wolf den trying to kill the leader of the tribe. Sesshomaru wasn't worried for his safety or even Inuyasha's, since he could kill everyone in a heartbeat if they tried something. But, even in this state, Sesshomaru knew that if he wanted to have an honest talk with Inuyasha listening had to be part of the deal. Right now Inuyasha was telling him to let Kouga go. Sesshomaru slowly let go of Kouga's throat. He walked over to Inuyasha and did a split second check over. Everything seemed to be in order, but what happened while Inuyasha was human? "A joke. This most certainly did not look like a joke."

Kouga fell to his knees to gasp and cough. He could finally breathe. If he learned anything from this, he should have learned to keep a nose out for trouble. He should have sensed Sesshomaru coming, and maybe he did he just pushed it away since his other senses were full of Inuyasha.

"Kouga!" Shahi ran into the room and looked over Kouga's throat. "Are you okay?"

Niiha, on the other hand, crossed her arms. She could smell the relation between Sesshomaru and Inuyasha. They had the same demon sent. 'That'll teach you to be a pervert.'She mentally scolded Kouga, not that he could hear any of it, or that she would voice it to his face.

"I'm," Kouga coughed again, "I'm fine. Leave us."

"Are you sur—Niiha!" Shahi was going to question his orders, but Niiha walked in, grabbed Shahi and marched her way well enough away from the fiasco about to happen.

"We really don't want to be a part of that, Shahi."

After the girls left the room, Kouga stood up. Everyone stood there in an awkward silence. Sesshomaru stood next to Inuyasha and Kouga stood a good distance away from them. Kouga cleared his throat, which was still painful, "At least you know he cares now, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha looked passed Sesshomaru and at Kouga, he didn't look the least bit guilty he got caught in an embarrassing act. Inuyasha still didn't get it. He wasn't human anymore. He wasn't part of that 'fetish' Kouga seemed to enjoy. . . What was he getting at? Was this really a plot thought up by the reckless Kouga to show Inuyasha that his brother cared? Sesshomaru did come rushing to his rescue, even if given a few more seconds Inuyasha's strength would have kicked in and he would have freed himself, if he wanted to. 'If I wanted to?' Inuyasha reprimanded himself, 'Of course I wanted to!" Why was he giving himself a choice? "I didn't enjoy any of that!' At least, that's what our half-breed told himself.

"It seems I did take my joke a bit too far. I apologize." Kouga scratched the back of his head and smiled at the brothers. It wasn't a joke at all to him, but now it was apparent that Inuyasha wouldn't feel anything for Kouga. He would just have to get over this passing lust. Once he saw Kagome again, or hopefully some other beautiful woman he'd forget all about the silvery haired half-demon. Maybe Kouga spent too many nights alone all he had to do was, finally, get Kagome to agree to be his and problem solved. No more lonely nights, no more lusting after Inuyasha. Besides, Kouga knew even with the power the jewel shards in him, Sesshomaru was too powerful. He needed to play this off as a joke if he wanted to live.

"See, I told you." Inuyasha looked up at Sesshomaru. The look Sesshomaru had unnerved Inuyasha. Not because it was a particularly deadly look. His face looked as it always did; emotionless and stern, but behind the eyes he saw emotion, maybe the tiniest bit of emotion but, emotion nonetheless. Was the emotion. . .protection? Was this all Miroku's doing? Inuyasha would never think that Sesshomaru would ever want to 'protect' him. It was an odd thought. Inuyasha looked away at Kouga, since he couldn't look at Sesshomaru when he looked so alien to him. However, when he looked at Kouga he couldn't help feeling a bit pissed off. All that he told him before was a lie and Inuyasha had been right. This lame joke was some elaborate plot just to show him how that Sesshomaru cared? "Hmph. Fine. Screw him. It didn't work."

Sesshomaru's intelligent gaze passed over Kouga. He wasn't sure if he didn't believe Kouga because of what he had seen or what he saw now. None of this story that Kouga was trying to sell him seemed to be truthful. He remembered the look about Kouga that he himself had for Miroku. One thing was for sure, Kouga was in no way joking. "Stay away from Inuyasha, mongrel. Do not ever force yourself upon him again." Sesshomaru took a step forward. "Keep what you saw about the new moon to yourself."

Kouga put his arms up. "We're all allies here. No need in telling me twice. My point was made. Inuyasha saw it. I'm done here." He turned his back on the two, a dangerous act, and started to walk out. "Now if you'll excuse me, Ginta and I really need to get to work." He brought his hand up and waved 'goodbye' without even a second glance at Inuyasha.

Sesshomaru turned to Inuyasha looking over him once more, slowly this time, just to make sure he didn't overlook anything in his haste. To his surprise, the firerat robe had indeed slipped by the tiniest inch to expose a little past Inuyasha's neck. "Isn't that thing supposed to fit you properly?" If Sesshomaru remembered correctly, which he often did, then the robes were supposed to grow with Inuyasha, not be too big or small.

Inuyasha did not fake the annoyance in his voice. "I ain't got it on right, is all." Inuyasha moved it till it fit properly. Now that he was alone with Sesshomaru the awkwardness only got more intense. He didn't know what he was supposed to do so he pretended to fidget with his robes again.

"Let's head back. Miroku's been worried." Sesshomaru started walking out of the den with Inuyasha not too far behind. The other wolf demons, who must have known what was going on, but knew everything was fine thanks to those girls from before, watched closely at the brothers as they left. Inuyasha didn't see Kouga on the way out, but it wasn't like he was looking for him, right?

They didn't say a word to each other for a long while as they walked out of the den and in the general direction of Kaede's village. Sesshomaru was trapped in his head imagining all the terrible things Kouga could have been doing to a defenseless human Inuyasha. For some reason, it irked him beyond compare. Inuyasha on the other hand could feel a steady stream of rage radiate off the Demon Lord that was so intense he could almost physically see it coming off in waves. What was he so mad about? If anyone had any reason to be mad, it was Inuyasha! Sesshomaru was the one playing with Miroku and Kouga had played a mean horrible trick on him. Hewas the one having the bad day, bad week too. . .

"Did he do anythi-"

"I don't see why yo-"

They both stopped walking and talking at the same time. So it was back to this then? They both wanted to talk at the same time. The only difference was Miroku was nowhere to be seen to help them. To tell the truth Inuyasha wasn't sure Sesshomaru and him could talk without Miroku around to act as a buffer between the two hot-headed brothers. Inuyasha crossed his arms. He had made a promise to Miroku, even if he didn't know it, back in the den to try and work this out with his brother. If his brother wanted to talk first, he could. Inuyasha sighed, biting back his pride and trying to keep his calm, "Go ahead."

Sesshomaru wasn't sure what to think. He didn't think Inuyasha would calmly trot behind him for as long as he did and both of them speaking at the same time would normally send the half-breed into a tangent. Was he working on this too? Sesshomaru knew in order to become real brothers, for the first time, it would require effort on both parties. "Did that wolf do anything . . . immoral . . . to you before just now?"

Inuyasha couldn't stop his huff. "And if he did? What does it matter to you?"

Sesshomaru's furry increased. He wasn't sure how much longer he could keep himself in check without Miroku around. "Did he or did he not, half-breed?"

Inuyasha flinched at the term. "No." He lied. Inuyasha mentally waved the "an honest talk with Sesshomaru" idea goodbye. Inuyasha hated to be called a half-breed to his face. The only time someone ever called him by what he was, was when he was being talked down to, or verbally abused. 'Pftt. Stupid half-breed child.' 'Haha! You think you can defeat me, half-breed?' 'Don't touch it, it's a half-breed!. . . But mommy, what's a half-breed?' Any talk where Sesshomaru was calling him 'half-breed' wasn't a good one.

Sesshomaru knew he shouldn't have used that term as soon as the words left his lips. There was nothing he could do about it now. Apologizing wasn't in his nature. There was no way nothing happened in there, Inuyasha had to be lying. But what could Sesshomaru do? Nothing. If Inuyasha didn't want to talk about it, Sesshomaru wasn't going to pester. Sesshomaru responded with a forced, "Good." He made a mental note to visit this Kouga once more when Inuyasha wasn't around. He turned and started walking again. When Inuyasha didn't follow he turned around and stared at Inuyasha. The half-breed stood looking down at the ground, clenched fist and rigid as a tree.

"Good? GOOD? You bombard you way into the wolf den like a rebel without a cause, get Kouga off me, take me away, ask me about what happened, call me a half-breed and your response is 'Good'? You just assume I'm telling the truth." Inuyasha didn't want to spill the beans, but this talk with Sesshomaru was going nowhere and it was his turn to get some damn answers. "I can feel your anger, yet you choose to hide it from me like that's possible! Why are you so damn angry! What would you do if Kouga did immoral things to me?" He couldn't possibly look up at Sesshomaru now. In order to keep his promise to Miroku, and not pounce on his brother with the intent to kill, he just couldn't look at him.

"You answered a question with a resounding 'no'. No matter if I have assumed your answer to be truthful or not, I do not wish to pry into this any more than I have to." This was starting to feel like the times Miroku doubted himself and Sesshomaru had to remind him that things weren't exactly as bad as they seemed. It did prepare him for this moment though. It was obvious his little brother was having a hard time understanding him. "I do not know why, but I am furious. I suppose it would have something to do with wanting to be your brother." He let some of the anger be felt through his voice, an action he normally wouldn't let happen. "If that wolf did do something to you, I'd rip his head off. It be a joke or not." Unless of course, it was consensual, which Sesshomaru highly doubted. Inuyasha didn't seem to be enjoying any of the attention Kouga was giving him. Besides, if Inuyasha rejected his relationship with Miroku why would he go off to another man? There was always the part of Inuyasha rejecting the relationship not because Sesshomaru and Miroku were both men, but because it was Sesshomaru and Miroku. In which case there was nothing that Sesshomaru could do about that. Inuyasha would just have to suck it up.

Inuyasha wasn't sure how much of Sesshomaru's own words were truthful. What he wouldn't give to be able to read Sesshomaru's mind. Kouga's words came back to Inuyasha, "At least you know he cares." Inuyasha looked up at Sesshomaru. "Are you furious because you care what happens to me?"

Sesshomaru was silent for a while. "I'm not sure." Sesshomaru lied. He knew that he didn't want anyone hurting Inuyasha simply because he knew how important he was to Miroku. There was a small part of him that didn't want any harm coming to Inuyasha because if anyone was going to harm his little brother, it would be him. "Shall we go now?"

Inuyasha sighed, this talk was getting nowhere. "One more question." Inuyasha watched as Sesshomaru raised an eye brow waiting for the question. "Did you save Miroku from. ." Inuyasha wasn't sure how to say this. Sesshomaru watched as he struggled with his words. ". . . from death?"

Sesshomaru knew what he was trying to say. "I did." Sesshomaru was now done with questions. It didn't matter if Inuyasha was done or not. He turned and started walking again. Inuyasha silently followed behind him, obviously lost in his own thoughts.

~It Is Not True~
/SS

The day started out grand for Kouga and then quickly went bad. It had started out like a dream. On top of Inuyasha. His hair. His eyes. That kiss. Kouga, now roaming the eastern part of his territory aimlessly with Ginta, thought back to the few moments this morning with Inuyasha. Inuyasha didn't even fight back until Sesshomaru was nearly there. It all started out so innocently. If Sesshomaru hadn't of shown up how far would things have continued? Kouga remembered the gasp of surprise that Inuyasha didn't brother to hide when Kouga broke off the first kiss and moved on to the right crook of his neck, a tender spot the half-breed seemed to enjoy. He wasn't asked to stop, but Inuyasha did start trying to twist out from under Kouga at some point. Maybe he had sensed his brother's presence? He was getting stronger with each struggle, until Sesshomaru pried him off his younger brother. Thinking back, Kouga did sense someone was coming, but Inuyasha was too much of a distraction. Kouga sighed softly.

"Uhm. Kouga. We've. . .walked this part three times already. . ." Ginta managed to muster out.

"Yeah, Kouga, what was the deal with that Lord Sesshomaru and Inuyasha being here, anyway?" Hakkaku kicked a rock for no reason what so ever. He was sick of walking around pointlessly. After all, only Kouga was walking around aimlessly, Hakkaku and Ginta were just following.

Ginta nudged his friend to keep his mouth shut, or at least watch what he was saying. He didn't get any information out of Niiha, but Shahi managed to shed some light on the situation. Ginta only knew the few seconds of what Shahi had seen, but he didn't know if there was any meaning in Kouga's actions.

Kouga looked at Hakkaku, when did he get here?, and then to Ginta, if there was anything he could tell anyone in his tribe, Ginta and Hakkaku would bet the first people he'd turn to. "You guys remember Kagome?"

Ginta smirked; of course it had something to do with Kagome. So, he was playing with Inuyasha until Kagome came to her senses. Understandable. "Of course we remember Sis."

"I don't think I'm going to mate with her." Even if Inuyasha was a passing lust; an attraction he felt one night on a new moon. He had feelings for someone else. If she was meant to be his mate, he wouldn't have been able to have feelings for anyone else. After all, wolves mate for life.

Hakkaku gasped. "Surely you don't mean that, Kouga!" Ginta was so taken aback all he could do was nod his head vigorously in agreement with Hakkaku.

"I do." Kouga sounded depressed, which was much unlike this wolf tribe leader. To finally figure out his feelings for Kagome was a hard task. Almost liked he searched for a beautiful flower, found it, picked the flower and took it home only to have it die right in his hands on the journey back. "I've thought about it. You remember what happened with Hiroki when he met his mate, right?"

Hakkaku tried to hide a laugh only to make it sound like a snort.

Kouga looked at Hakkaku with a 'did-you-really-just' look. "Okay, so it wasn't the most graceful wooing. . ."

"He was being attacked day and night by-" Hakkaku stopped talking and his smile slowly faded when Kouga interrupted him.

"The pointI am trying to make here is: He didn't like anyone else after he found his mate. I, on the other hand, don't feel the same way for Kagome anymore." Kouga turned around and started walking back the den. Sesshomaru and Inuyasha should be gone by now, right?

"You mean you felt something for someone else?" Hakkaku was stunned. There wasn't a single tribesmen who switched mates once they found someone they had an interest in. Kouga had found Kagome and end of story right? Wrong, apparently. Just who was the mystery woman that did this to his leader? "Who is she?" However, that earned Hakkaku a stomp on the toe from Ginta when Kouga wasn't looking.

Kouga turned away from them, ignoring a small 'eep' from what he guessed was Hakkaku. "That's not important. They don't return my feelings." Kouga shrugged and continued walking toward the den.

To say that Hakkaku and Ginta were both shocked by Kouga's words wouldn't even describe how they really felt. It went much deeper than that, the feelings they suddenly felt. A mix of a multitude of many things. Before Kouga got too far ahead of them, Hakkaku and Ginta caught up. "So what!" Hakkaku was the first to voice his thoughts. "Win her over! Make her love you. No one can resist you for long! You'll see."

Ginta, again, nodded vigorously. "Right! Kouga, you've got to fight for your loves heart!" Ginta started to get starry eyed. "Love is worth fighting for!" Even if it was a half-breed, and man, Ginta didn't think it was wrong. Kouga deserved to have love.

Kouga stopped walking and turned back to them, again. "…" He hadn't thought of it like that. Should he try and win Inuyasha over? "You're right. . . Maybe."

"Of course we're right, Kouga! She makes you happy, doesn't she?" Hakkaku started.

"Why wouldn't you fight for someone that makes you happy?" Ginta finished.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I?" Kouga, now filled with a new found hope, didn't say a word as he turned away from them one final time and continued back to the den.

"Oi, Hakkaku." Ginta stopped Hakkaku from quickly following Kouga.

"Yeah, what?" Hakkaku was only mildly worried as to why Ginta stopped him.

"There's something that Shahi told me. . . That you might want to know."

"Oh, is it about Kouga's mystery woman?" Hakkaku was suddenly excited; it would makes since for Shahi to know the mystery woman, especially if she was a wolf-demon. Shahi was the tribe's apothecary, and as such knew almost everyone.

"Kinda. . ." Ginta sighed loudly.

~It is not True~
/ESS

"Inuyasha! You're back!" Kagome came running up to him, but stopped short when she noticed Sesshomaru not too far away. "… With Sesshomaru." She took a few more steps to the side Inuyasha walked on. She did remember that Sesshomaru had helped them that one time, but there was no Rin here to keep the peace. If Sesshomaru wanted to he could attack at any moment.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm back. Where is Miroku?" Inuyasha's posture and voice were as angry as he felt. "We need allneed to talk."

"Me too?" Kagome questioned before she answered Inuyasha. "He woke up not too long ago; he went to bathe."

Sesshomaru turned in the direction of the nearby river. That would have been the ideal place to bathe, but Inuyasha stopped him by reaching out and grabbing his empty sleeve.

"We'll wait for him out here." Inuyasha directed his angry voice to Sesshomaru this time, and then turned to Kagome. Would Miroku want Kagome around? Did even Inuyasha want Kagome to hear the talk the three males would have? He sighed, "You'll have to ask Miroku." Of course, he'd have to fill Kagome in on the goings between the Demon Lord and the Human Monk. This was not a subject that Inuyasha wanted to touch. Sesshomaru pulled is sleeve out of Inuyasha's hand and walked up to Kaede's home. He sat on the ground, not even bothering with going inside to wait.

Kagome stood beside Inuyasha as they watched Sesshomaru take a seat. "Okay, seriously, what's he still doing here?"

"Still?" Inuyasha questioned.

"He was here this morning. He carried Miroku inside and put him in his room. I checked him while she slept and he didn't seem to be injured. . ." She stared to put the pieces together slowly. "Miroku told me the other day that Sesshomaru wanted to be allied with us." She bit her lip. "You don't think-"

"NO. I don't think! Go do something productive with your time. Leave me the hell alone." Inuyasha stopped his way back into the woods since he couldn't go inside, due to Sesshomaru being near the hut, and he wasn't going to stay with Kagome and gossip. The only place he could get some peace and quiet was to go back in to the woods.

Kagome stood there in mild shock before, annoyed with Inuyasha's current attitude problem, took in a big breath before she yelled. "SIT BOY!" And stomped her way into Kaede's home, Sesshomaru or no Sesshomaru.

Before Inuyasha knew what happened, he went flying face first into the hard earth.

~It is not True~

It was nice to just get away from everyone, Miroku thought as he relaxed in the water made warm by the heat of the day. His lips let out a soft sigh. He felt much better after that talk with Sesshomaru. Most of his anxieties were diminished by Sesshomaru's light; or love. Thinking back he couldn't believe he worried about half of the things he did before hand. Things he didn't know about Sesshomaru he would find out with the passage of time. Miroku cupped some water in his hands and washed the old worries away. As he scrubbed his face he heard a noise. He kept up the act of washing but he made less noise so he could hear better. He heard the noise again, this time he was able to make out what it was. Sticks crunching under someone's weight. "Ahhh!" Miroku made a loud noise and stopped washing his face. "What a perfectly comfortable bath." If it was human, and they didn't know he was there, they'd leave. If it was an animal, any noise would scare it away. There was the noise again, it sounded louder and from behind him. He was two seconds before turning around when he heard that laughter that always made his heart stop and the hair on the back of his neck to stand up. "Naraku!" He turned around and there, above the rocks he had been leaning on, sat a man in a white baboon suit.

"Ah, I'm honored that you know me by just my laugh, Miroku." The man teased. "Hmmm. And I see why the great Lord Sesshomaru would possess you as a mate."

Miroku didn't bother asking how he knew about Sesshomaru. He just glared up at Naraku. "What do you want?"

"Oh, nothing. I just wanted to bring to your attention a few things."

Miroku was skeptical of this. What would Naraku have to tell him? He shouldn't trust Naraku, ever, but he was curious.

"I can tell you don't trust me. But look, I have not harmed you and my Saimyosho are nowhere near." He watched as Miroku took the bait. "I'll take your silence as you'd like to know." Naraku made a big deal of this dramatic pause. "I wonder how will you defeat me and avenge your family if you cannot have children. Surely, you know two men are incapable of having children." He watched Miroku absorb this information. "Besides, you're not going to live forever, Miroku. You'll grow old and frail. Sesshomaru will not, not for a long, long, long, looong, lo-"

"I get it!" Miroku couldn't hear anymore. "I will not pass this curse on. I don't need children. I'll defeat you"

"Ahh, so your father and your grandfather thought, but where are they now?"

"I'll kill you!"

"I'd actually believe your threats if you weren't naked in front of me. The water doesn't hide much. Too bad I have to leave now before old friends show up." Naraku chuckled as he disappeared before the monk's eyes.

Miroku hated his luck. The only time Naraku could find him alone was when he was bathing.

"Miroku!" Inuyasha's yell reached him before he did; Sesshomaru close at hand.

"Are you alright?" Sesshomaru asked, even though he could see everything was fine.

Miroku nodded as he got out of the water and started to put his clothes back on before anyone else decided to visit him while he was naked. What, no Kagome or Sango? "I'm fine. He just wanted to scare me." Miroku finished dressing and looked over the two brothers. He didn't want to think about what Naraku said. Instead he focused on Inuyasha. When did Inuyasha get back? Was it while he drifted off to sleep? He was glad his friend was okay. Did they come here together? Were they on speaking terms now?

Sesshomaru quickly walked up to Miroku and pulled him close. He was his; no one would harm Miroku. He looked off in the distance to see if he could find Naraku sneaking off in the distance, but no luck. Naraku was gone. They would have to destroy him once and for all, soon. He could not have somethinglike him walking around and causing trouble for the monk.

Inuyasha huffed at this act, "We should go before he comes back. What did he say to you?"

Miroku sighed as Sesshomaru let him go. "Nothing I didn't already know." On some level the monk already knew what Naraku was talking about. "Nothing he hasn't already threatened us with."As the three males started to walk back to the village he changed the subject. Miroku did not want to talk about this. "When did you get back? Did you pass the night okay?"

Inuyasha felt his face heat up. His only hope was that no one would notice. "I'm alive aren't I?" Since he would rather not talk about who he spent the night with, he changed the subject. "Kagome's back. Should I go get the others and we'll tell them about the new addition?"

"New addition?" Miroku asked, slightly surprised. Did this mean that the two bothers had finally talked it out? He took a glance at the silent Sesshomaru beside him, but he gave no clue if they had spoken about this or not.

"If Sesshomaru's going to follow us, we might as well ask the girls if they're okay with it." Inuyasha huffed out.

Miroku smiled a real smile for the first time in a long time. Inuyasha finally accepted Sesshomaru. He sure hoped that things would look up from now on . . . Ignoring the whole Naraku thing for now.

Hi!
There is a reason Naraku popped his face in. =P
And it wasn't just to see Miroku naked.

What do you think about this chapter? =]
I hope you enjoyed it!
Thanks for the R&Rs! *heart*
They do make me giggle like a school girl when
she sees her crush. =]

:3
Much Love,

Maddening Shroud