Brothers

Sango listened to Miroku's snoring as his head leaned onto her shoulder. She rolled her eyes and nudged him in his side. Startled, he sat up immediately and grabbed onto Sango's waist. He hadn't realized it, but they had been flying over the country side all morning. Sango had gotten plenty of sleep and was searching for the last person that may have valuable information on Inuyasha.

They had already visited the village that they found Inuyasha in and helped to rebuild as much as they could. The villagers had spoken of Inuyasha as a savage and ruthless demon. He destroyed human villages and killed, simply to watch everyone burn and bleed. Unlike most powerful demons, it seemed as if Inuyasha took to no particular land. He didn't have any territory to claim, he merely wandered aimlessly. But no matter what, there had to be somewhere that Inuyasha kept to. Was he only roaming land to murder? If that was the case, then the villagers were correct about him, he was a savage.

"Where are we going now?"

"We've already gone to plenty of villages, now I want to know if someone else can give us information."

"Who is this 'someone' you speak of?"

Sango didn't want to say it, knowing it could easily be a dead end, but she was willing to do whatever it took. She studied the ground, some miles below them, almost positive that the one she was looking for would be coming into her sights soon.

Sango gripped her weapon firmly in her hand as they touched down onto the ground. Miroku touched her on her side protectively, but she nodded him off. Ahead of them was the strongest lead she could think of. His long silver hair flowed almost gracefully in the wind, his eyes trained on them. He was the same emotionless demon Sango remembered him to be. She was surprised to see that Rin was still close by, along with Jakken. Sango noted that the young girl was growing more and more, however she didn't have time to think about that.

"Sesshomaru."

"Human, what grants you the audacity of approaching me?"

"I need to ask you something," Sango said.

"Your groups incompetence knows no bounds, I see."

"Cut the bullshit," Sango snapped while taking a step forward. "I don't care about you or your almighty mentality. We're looking for word about Inuyasha's transformation into a full fledged demon."

"That insolent-"

"Sesshy!"

Sango glanced down at the child that pounced to his side.

"Sesshomaru, is something wrong?" Rin asked.

"No, Rin. Do not interrupt-"

"You have to help them! I'm going to tell them what we saw, Sesshy. They need our help!"

Rin had to be reaching the age of 12 by now and had done some considerable growing. Her hair was tangled and messy as it bounced across her face when she ran.

"I do not care of what concerns Inuyasha," Sesshomaru said.

"Please, Sesshy, don't be so cold."

Sango noticed the way Sesshomaru cringed, ever so slightly, at the young girls last word. He turned from everyone else and studied the child, who stared up at him with pleading eyes. He grunted lowly to himself and began to walk. Rin squeeked and beckoned at Sango and Miroku. Hesitantly, they followed. They found that they were being led to a nearby stream, where Rin skipped away with a spear roughly her size. Jakken mumbled as he was forced to follow. The great dog demon now refocused his attention.

"Do not mistake me for caring," he said icily. "I do know of his most recent actions."

"Does he live anywhere close by?" Miroku asked.

"A common blood thirsty demon, such as what he has become, does not care for rule. He will have been sheltered in caves. It is by mere mercy to my fathers memory that I have not ended him. Should you seek him out, he will be amongst the western lands."

"You are lord of the western territory, surely you could have made it your business to kill him or exile him if you truly hated Inuyasha."

"I despise him as I despise anyone lower than myself, monk. He is no longer a hanyou and I do not ignore that, but I make no connection to him. I will not harm him unless he ever became a threat to Rin or myself."

"Is there no hope for Inuyasha?" Sango asked. "He acts as if he doesn't remember who he used to be. He recognizes us, but he hates us. I don't know how this could be..."

"I have no answer for you. The demon inside Inuyasha has always loathed everything and everyone. His transformation simple made that his permanent mind."

Sango sighed and looked away. She could only imagine all that he had been through as a child, most likely the reason his demonic side had always been so angry. She knew that Sesshomaru was done talking with them and decided it time to head back home. As they flew silently, she couldn't help feeling discouraged. There seemed to be no hope for their old friend. Kagome would, no doubt, be crushed. Sango hadn't expected much out of Sesshomaru, but knowing the area where Inuyasha was most likely inhabiting was good enough. They would have to find him and eventually, destroy him.

When they finally made it back to their village, they immediately took the news to Kagome. She sat silently, absorbing the information, but not really being able to process it. At last, she decided to get up at find some words of wisdom.

"I'll be back," she said quietly.

As she walked out of the hut, Kirara scooped her onto her back, purring in her chest. Kagome patted her gently, glad that the demon knew she was still in pain. Rather than her flying into the sky, she paced herself towards the village. The sky was clear of any clouds or rain, a beautiful day to say the least. Kagome enjoyed feeling the sunlight on her skin, the wind tickling her ears as it swept through her hair. She breathed in the clean air and softly shut her eyes to truly become one with the nature around her. It was something she had gradually learned to do ever since evoking her priestess powers. A small pink glow began to form around Kagome, the wind fluttering a little bit stronger from its strength. She let it die back down into her and smiled with a relaxed expression.

It didn't take long for the two to find Kaede. Kagome climbed off of Kirara's back and walked to the older woman, who was currently helping some children plant seeds. Once seeing the younger priestess, she shooed the children off to have their own adventures and motioned to Kagome to have a seat on a nearby bench.

"How are ye, child?" Kaede asked.

"I'm healing well, luckily. I'm grateful that it didn't get any worse," Kagome replied wearily.

"Ay, your body and will is strong, ye should be recovered soon enough. Does something trouble you?"

"Well, yes, I was hoping for your opinion..."

"Inuyasha?"

"Yes... He's not the same person we all knew. He's different, he doesn't have any remembrance of his human side, and he's a murderer of innocent," Kagome said softly.

"He is far from the person we knew, I agree with ye. What ye must never forget is that ye are a priestess above all, ye have a duty to those innocent lives and must protect where ye can."

"Even if it means killing him?"

The air hung still in the air. Kaede sighed softly into her chest and looked towards the hills, seeming to be transported into a deep thought in some distant land. Kagome knew that the older woman cared for Inuyasha as well, after all she had known him since she was a child. Despite the 50 years he had spent pinned to a tree, she had not forgotten who he truly was. A few minutes went by before Kaede finally said, "Ye must do the greater good."

"I just... I want to save him."

Kagome felt tears welling up in her eyes, her hands closed into small fists. She didn't want to cry or feel the way she was feeling, but she was only human. She could not forget the love she had for him, for all those years. Kaede instinctively pulled her into a motherly hug and waited patiently. Kagome couldn't help feeling embarrassed by her sudden burst of tears, but she couldn't very well stop them once they started. A moment passed on and Kagome was able to gather herself together again. She couldn't simply fall apart every time something happened, she needed to be strong and focused. She would never allow herself to forget the duty she carried as a priestess.

"Child, ye must pray. Pray for strength and help from the great priestess before ye. Although your heart is still healing, ye will rise and do what ye need to. I know this," Kaede assured.

Kagome smiled slightly, warmed by the confidence Kaede had in her. She received more words of wisdom from her before deciding to visit another. Upon hearing Kaede speak of older priestesses before her, she decided to go to the cave of Midoriko's body. She would indeed pray and take time to finish recuperating on her own. Ever since arriving to the Feudal Era, Kagome had not been given much alone time. She valued being able to meditate on her own and simply think.

"Kagome, you can't just go off on your own," Miroku said sternly.

"I'll be fine, I'm feeling much better already," Kagome replied.

"One of us needs to go with you."

"I'll take Kirara, that way I don't get too tired from the walk. Does that sound okay?" Kagome asked patiently.

Miroku looked doubtful but he trusted Kagome's judgment. He was still afraid that she might possibly run into Inuyasha, but Kirara would keep her out of harms way. After he and Sango agreed to it, Kagome packed a small bag with food and grabbed a blanket. She truly wasn't afraid, she knew Midoriko's cave was protected by an energy that would not allow evil in, or anything malicious. Her friends were simply being overprotective of her, although it did touch her heart to see them so concerned about her. No matter how long Kagome had been away from the Feudal Era, she would always be a priestess and knew how to protect herself, her bow would never be unfamiliar to her.

Koga sniffed the air, his head tilted up, as if to give his nose a better advantage. After seeing Kagome, he had immediately assembled his pack together. Although still located in the east, they had taken to a new den, numerous caves that were wedged into a large mountain, to accommodate their growing numbers. Their loyalty to him was undeniably strong, which allowed him to lead them fiercely. After catching them up briefly on Inuyasha, he went on the hunt.

When he had first caught Kagome's smell, he had not been sure of it. He couldn't remember the last time he had seen her, it had been purely coincidental that he had been traveling on the route near her human village to return to his pack. Still, he recognized the faintness of a flowery and exotic scent. Kagome had always smelled differently, more likely because she was from a different place in time. He had never quite understood her connection to his time, but he never questioned it. Occasionally, he had checked on the village to find her friends there, but not her. He didn't miss the chance to chase her fragrance when he found it again.

Currently he was tracking the filthy mutt's scent, although he was told the dog was no longer a hanyou, but full fledged like him. He hadn't heard much about Inuyasha, but other tribe leaders such as he could possibly provide information on him. Up until his meeting with Kagome, he had never given the dog any thought. Right away, Koga could tell that Inuyasha's scent was different. Somehow it smelled of malice and darkness. Ginta and Hakkaku were behind him, starting to shake from their anxiety of the hunt. Koga shouted at them, instantlys silenting their whimpers. The wolf leader crouched down and listened. A few moments later, Inuyasha came into sight. Koga could smell his pack mates' fear but he didn't give them any attention. His teeth were bared as he watched.

Inuyasha looked like a wild, untamed animal. Even from the distance he was at, Koga could see bright red eyes. Koga snarled to himself and suddenly ran forward. He darted side to side once Inuyasha looked up and slammed his body into his. The force of impact caused Inuyasha to fly back into a number of trees nearby. Koga watched as the dog jumped up, claws out and ready for a fight. Koga didn't allow him to act first, he ran forward, his own claws prepared. Inuyasha jumped into the air, temporarily surprising Koga, but he only needed a few seconds. He dug his claw deep into Koga's shoulder and threw him with his free claw.

Koga's body collided into the ground multiple times before he too crashed into a tree. His jaw was clenced tightly as he felt a pain shooting through him. He felt blood gushing from his back now. He snarled instinctively, letting his opponent know he was still ready to fight. An evil laughter escaped from Inuyasha's throat, his eyes brighter than before. Ginta and Hakkaku jumped in front of their leader.

"You idiot wolves always prefer to die together," Inuyasha sneered.

"We're warning you!" Ginta said shakily. "L-leave us!"

"I suggest you flee for your lives before I rip them apart."

"Stupid... fucking... dog..."

"Eh? You still alive, wolf?" Inuyasha chuckled darkly.

Koga was now covered from his back to his neck in blood, struggling to stand. He gritted his teeth and pushed Ginta and Hakkaku away from his aid.

"Koga, we won't leave you!"

"This filthy, pathetic dog isn't worth the time. YOU'RE STILL A FUCKING HALF BREED!"

Ginta and Hakkaku whimpered, but Koga's glare caused them to move away from the area. Koga stood on his feet, watching as Inuyasha's body began to convulse, his growling becoming deeper and deeper until his body transformed into that of a large dog. Koga had seen Sesshomaru do the same, never Inuyasha. However it only made sense now that he was a complete demon. The pain in his back was beginning to distract him. Without even realizing it, Inuyasha had started towards him. Koga leaped to the side, barely missing the jaws of Inuyasha that were trying to snap at him. As he stumbled, a claw crashed into his side, knocking him across the open clearing. He groaned from the pain and felt more blood trickling down.

"Koga, please! Let's go, you're in too much pain!" Hakkaku pleaded, suddenly reappearing.

"I gave you a command! GET- OUT- OF HERE!"

Koga got back to his feet, now pulling a dagger from his side. He wasn't stupid. The dog had gotten two good attacks in on him and had wounded him to the point he would not be able to transform. His humanoid body was too weak. However Koga knew he would also have to injure the dog in a way that would allow him to escape. Ginta and Hakkaku left the scene, without choice. Being that he was the alpha, Koga had the absolute word for his pack members and would punish anyone that disobeyed.

"Come on, you dirty mutt!" Koga yelled.

The large dog growled deeply into his chest and charged forward. Koga matched his speed and fierceness, jumping up and into the gaping mouth of the dog, slicing from his jaw to his snout. Out of reflex, the dog clashed his great claw over Koga, ripping him from his snout and causing him to fly out of sight. And then, nothing.