After they said their goodbyes to their father and Inukimi, they left to Zokushi's home. Inuyasha was expecting for them to run and/or fly to her best friend's home, but they were taking it leisurely. Inuyasha wasn't really a patient person. Ever.

He said to break the silence, which he wasn't used to, "Why are we walking?"

Inuhime looked at him and smiled. "Why? Are you in the hurry to see Kikyo?"

"Uh... Hell no! I don't understand why I have to see her or anything. If she's happy, then so be it."

"She broke your heart, Inuyasha. Do you want to know why?"

"No. Not really. She said that I couldn't give her children."

"And I said that you could have, despite what she said to you. I want the truth.

"Well, she wanted children, that's why she left me."

Inuhime stopped because she sensed that he was hiding something and turned to Inuyasha. She narrowed her eyes. "You aren't telling me everything, aren't you?

Inuyasha with his puppy ears pulled back and looked away from her. He sighed. "No, I didn't tell you everything. Not long after we returned from the dead, we really talked about our feelings. It was hard, especially for me. We, both, decided that we should stay friends."

"Why you told Kagome that she left you?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. I guess... I guess..."

"Were you testing Kagome?"

"What?! No!"

"Then why?!"

"I missed her. I missed our talks... hell, I even missed our stupid arguments. I missed my best friend."

Inuhime's eyes soften a little. "Aww, does my little brother miss his mistress?" She said that as she messed with his puppy ears, which rewarded her a growl from her little brother. She chuckled in response. "Sorry. I couldn't resist teasing you a little."

Inuyasha turned away from you with his nose up in the air and did a fake sniff. He said, "Keh!" She giggled at his antics. She sighed as she placed both arms on the back of her head as they resumed walking. "Kagome is now a very busy lady, Inuyasha. She's the Lady of the West. It consists of a lot of duties; some are so ridiculous and some are very important. Whatever she plans things; it has to be perfect. Well, perfect in her and Sesshomaru's eyes anyways. She reflects Sesshomaru. Whatever she does or says, it reflects on our brother."

"Feh, he's your brother; not mine!"

She sighed, "Half or not, you both share the same blood; our father's blood. Anyways, she, basically, runs the household as Sesshomaru runs the lands. If the house running efficiently, then so are the lands. Kagome's been a mother-like figure to the fox kit for how long now?"

"Since we met the little brat and, then, Rin, since she first spent time with her."

Inuhime nodded, "Now, she's mother to Natsume. If she's anything like us, Kagome will have her hands full. So she'll need help from all of us. I mean, ALL OF US, which includes mom. dad, me, you, the servants... I remembered that I always had kept our father on his toes. The stuff I pulled..."

"You know, you and Sesshomaru were lucky. I'd never had that luxury. People, when my mother wasn't round, treated me like shit. People that I thought would accept me were the youkai, but imagine how wrong I was, then. I learned, then and there; not to trust no one. I didn't want to trust anyone. Then I overheard some youkai talking about some jewel that supposed to grant the wielder any wish he asked. They also said that it was guarded by a powerful miko. I made myself a vow that day to somehow and some way get the jewel and made that wish."

"What wish that you wanted to make true?"

"It doesn't matter anymore."

"Oh, come on, little brother. Tell me, please." She knew of the Jewel that he had spoken about, but she didn't know about his wish. Being a clairvoyant, one should know, right? Wrong. She knew that a wish could be granted if ask for from the Shikon no Tama, but she didn't know HIS wish. However, she has her suspicions.

"You really want to know?" Inuhime gave him a look. "Okay, fine. I tell you. I wanted to become a full fledged youkai. I was tired of being disrespected and treated as if I was an inferior creature. That's what I wanted to wish for."

"Why the change of heart?"

"I changed my mind after I met Kagome. It took me awhile to realize that I didn't want to be a full youkai. I finally accepted what I am. Of course, Kagome made me see that I am not a worthless, unwanted half-breed that I was lead to believe. I know if it wasn't for her, then I don't know where I would be today. Probably, a loner, like I am now."

Inuhime saw his past future before he met Kagome and his other friends. She had to agree with him on that. If he'd never met Kagome, he would have been killed because he would loose himself to his inner youkai. That would have been a great lost to her; perhaps even Sesshomaru. Even though, he practically blamed Inuyasha for father's death. Of course, he wouldn't know how and why that father felt the need to save Izayoi and his unborn son until Rin came into his life. She was a gift sent by the Kamis. She remembered watching the fight between her brothers in a magical caldron. She saw the reaction that Sesshomaru gave to Rin; trying to scare the girl away. Then he asked her questions like 'where she got those bruises?' Then she gave him that toothless grin of hers. How could he ignore that adorable little girl? She knew if she was in Sesshomaru's place, she couldn't by a long shot. One thing, her maternal instincts would kick in and care for the child. She knew that Sesshomaru tried not to let the girl inside his heart. He fought hard, but no avail. Once he resurrected her by Tenseiga, he couldn't forget her afterwards. Rin had the hold of his heart and Sesshomaru didn't know it until it was too late. He, even, defend her from Jaken's verbal abuse in his own way. Inuhime would always laughed whenever Sesshomaru gave that imp a cold, death glared, stepped on him, or threw a rock at him. It was so hilarious.

"Inuyasha, you aren't a loner now. You still have your friends, father, me, the pups, Sesshomaru..." She trailed off because she saw the incredulous look on Inuyasha's face. "Yes, even Sesshomaru. Believe it or not, Sesshomaru cares."

"Feh, he has a funny way of showing it."

"Yeah, he does, but at least he shows it."

He snored. "Keh!"

"Oh, please. If Sesshomaru really wanted you dead, he wouldn't thought twice about it. You'd been dead in no second flat. Believe me, Inuyasha, there was plenty of times he had the time and opportunity to kill you. When you, two, fight, there's no question that he's the strongest. You're strong, Inuyasha. You are the strongest hanyou living. Take pride in that. Other hanyou looked up to you, you know."

"You know, you are starting to sound like Kagome. Always looking on the bright side."

"Positive thinking equals positive outcomes."

"Keh, whatever."

"Of course, Sesshomaru would deny it."

"That bastard wouldn't admit that, even if it was to save his life."

Inuhime nodded in agreement.

Inuhime and Inuyasha walked the rest of the day until night came. Inuyasha began telling his sister about his childhood, when Inuhime decided to make camp and asked Inuyasha to go hunt for dinner. She got camp set up when he arrived with a big, strong, and healthy buck. He was surprised to find that she had a campfire blazing. Why? Because...

"I thought full youkai eat their meat raw."

Inuhime chuckled. "Some do, but I was around humans a lot when I was training as a miko. If I wanted to blend in, then I had to start eating my meat cooked. It's not all that bad, than I thought at first."

Inuyasha's eyes widen after what she said. "You have holy power?"

She giggled at Inuyasha's unbelieving look. "Yes, I am a miko-youkai."

"But how?"

Inuhime shrugged. "It just is. I almost killed my mother when I was coming to the world. If it wasn't for Sesshomaru, I would had purified her. His youki; plus my mother's, overpowered my reiki. Our father had Midoriko came to the palace to see if she could do something to ease my mother's pain. The miko had my father called to me to come out of her womb. Afterwards, my mother hated me for nearly killing her. She blamed me for father's marriage to your mother and his death. She finally got over her so-called hated of me and called me her daughter. So you thought that I was 'lucky' earlier. If that was lucky, then I have no luck at all."

"Sorry, I didn't know."

"Don't be. How would you know anyways. It was a time way before you were even thought of." She stood and walked towards Inuyasha. He gave her the buck. She professionally skinned, gutted, and cut the meat into pieces. She skewed the meat and put it over the fire. While the meat was cooking, she got some vegetables out of her provision bag and also skew them over the fire to cook. She, then, refilled some water containers to them to drink.

Afterwards, Inuyasha leaped into a tree. Inuhime went to lean up against the same tree that Inuyasha had leaped in. "I'll stay awake and keep watch, Inuyasha. You should sleep."

"Hell no! You sleep! I stand guard."

"Inuyasha!"

"No, just because I am your little brother. It doesn't mean that you could boss me around. I am a big dog now. I don't need you or anybody to protect me!"

She sighed. "Fine. Stand guard! I just stand guard with you!"

"Feh, whatever!"

The next morning, they packed up and began another day walking.

"It shouldn't take long to get to Zoku's hut. Another day; give or take."

Inuyasha nodded.

They finally reached Zoku's hut. Something seemed amiss. Inuhime narrowed her eyes as she scanned the area with her youki and reiki. Inuyasha did the same, except he sniffed the scents around the area. Suddenly, they heard someone whimpering in the hut. It was Zoku's ward.

Inuhime went to the whimpering girl and crouched down to her level. "Hana? Are you alright? Are you hurt?"

Hana was sitting with her knees to her chest while she sat at the corner of the wall. "Hana*, sweetie. It's me, auntie Inuki and my little half-brother. Hana?"

All Inuhime got was Hana's silence and her tears. Ever being the impatient one, Inuyasha said, "Hey, kid! She asked if you are alright! Are you deaf?"

"Inuyasha," Inuhime growled, "Stop that! She's obviously just been in something tragic. She'll talk whenever she gets ready to."

"Feh!" He walked away as he put his hands in his fire rat sleeves.

Inuhime, then, pulled the girl into her lap and comfort her. Hana continued crying until she cried herself to sleep. Afterwards, Inuhime laid Hana down on her futon. She walked outside to see where Inuyasha ran off to. She found him sitting in a tree. She said, "She's asleep, now."

"Keh!"

A few hours later...

Hana woke up to find herself in her futon. She was tired. She wanted to sleep more, but something told her that she needed to tell Inuhime about what happened not even hours before she and Inuyasha arrived. She stood up and began to look for Inuhime and Inuyasha; only to find them sword-playing.

A few hours earlier...

Inuyasha stared at a far away distance and said, "I am bored as hell. Since the war with Naraku and his wanna-be son, I hadn't gotten any fighting done. Yeah, I fought with lower class youkai, but they are so easy to defeat."

Inuhime was startled by Inuyasha'a voice. She wasn't expecting him to talk. He, sometimes, remind her of Sesshomaru, but don't tell him that. He would deny and also be mad at you for comparing him to Sesshomaru in some fashion. "You're bored, huh?"

Inuyasha answered with a nod. "Alright," She stood up from a place that she was sitting down. "Lets sword-play."

Inuyasha raised his eyebrow. He'd never sword-play before. Well, there was a few times with Sesshomaru, but if you could count that as sword-play, that is. They fought for keeps; never fought for the hell of it. Or so he thought. "Sword-play?"

"Yes, sword-play."

"But you're a female."

"Oh, you'd never fought with or against a female before? What about Kagura or Kagome? Don't tell me that you hadn't fought with or against them!"

"Yeah, well, they're different."

"Different? How so?"

"Kagura was an enemy. So obviously, we fought. Kagome only fought with a bow and arrow."

"Hn. You don't think I could fight?"

Inuyasha took that moment to take a good look of his half-sister. He thought, "Inuki looks like one of those women, who stayed indoors all day. I mean, look at her arms. There's no way in hell she could wield a sword. The way she dresses... well, her kimono looks a lot like what a miko would wear. Plus, I'd never seen her fight before." He said out loud, "No offense, but you look like one of those women, who'd always be inside. I mean, you look weak compare to Kikyo, Kagome, or even Kagura for that matter."

Inuhime laughed at his words, "Oh, Inuyasha," she said between laughs. "You really shouldn't judge a snake by its color. You will get bit if you misjudged one. You shouldn't underestimate your opponents and/or enemies. If you do, you'll get your ass kick or worse."

"Oh, bring it on!"

Oh, it was on, alright. Why do people think she couldn't fight or was weak? For Kami's sake, she's as strong as her mother, if not stronger. Don't underestimate anyone, especially a woman.

"Have you seen me fight before Inuyasha?"

"Um... no."

"Really? What about that time when I fought you for the possession of Tessaiga?"

Inuyasha furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. He remembered the fighting terms and all, but he don't remember the actual fight. Then he remembered Kagome gestured to the sword to pick it up. However, Inuyasha didn't want to because it might had been tainted, but Zoku, his father, and Kagome reassured him that Inuhime purified it before she left. He remembered smiling when he touch Tessaiga. It was like reuniting with an old friend or something. Inuyasha nodded, "I remembered holding it after the fight, but I don't remember the actual fight itself."

"Hn." Inuhime got her fan out from her sleeve.

"What the fuck! You couldn't fight using a fan," Inuyasha yelled mockingly. Inuhime raise an eye brow at his mocking tone.

"Oh? Is that so?" Inuyasha nodded. "Well, have you ever heard of a tessen*?"

"A what?"

"Tessen. You know what Kagura used when she fought." Inuyasha looked as though he still didn't know what it was. So, Inuhime sighed and then explained, "Tessen are folding fans with outer spokes made of heavy plates of iron which were designed to look like normal, harmless folding fans. Also, they are used for fending off arrows and darts, as a throwing weapon, and as an aid in swimming." Inuhime opened up the fan. She smiled behind it. Inuyasha saw what the fan looked like. It was beautiful.

"Inuyasha, don't let your guard down to anything that seems harmless to you. Always be aware of what your opponents holds. After all, looks can be deceiving."

"Keh, like I don't know that already! How was it that you knew what Kagura fought with? You weren't there!"

Inuhime chuckled. "There are more ways to see what's around us, Inuyasha." She paused, "I suggest you unsheathe your Tessaiga."

Without another word, Inuhime leaped up in the air...

"What the..." Inuyasha quickly removed Tessaiga from its sheath and looked around. She'd disappeared. It felt like deja vu* to him. Then he remembered their previous fight. She disappeared then, too. What the hell... "She's playing with me," he thought. He waited for her to show herself, which wasn't very long for him to loose his patience. "Get your ass out here and start this duel already! Or is it that you decide to chicken out?!"

Somewhere in the treeline, Inuhime chuckled at her brother as he began pacing and talking trash to her. She knew what he was doing. She wasn't stupid to give her position away. Well, except that one time, when she fought against her father and brothers. She thought, "Oh, my dear brother, we need to work on your patience." She waited a few more seconds until she decided to reappear.

"You actually think that I would chicken out and run away," Inuhime suddenly said after she reappeared behind Inuyasha, which made him, quickly, turned around to strike her. However, she blocked his strike with her war fan. Inuyasha was shocked to feel how strong the war fan was. There wasn't even a scratch on it where Tessaiga had strike against it.
Inuhime smirked at the shocked expression on his face. He hadn't seen anything, yet.

"Oh, there's more to this tessen than meets the eye."

"Keh! Show me, then."

"As you wish, little brother." She leaped away from him. She folded her tessen and said, "Seitoshi no tenga." The said weapon, instantly, transformed from a tessen into a katana. Inuyasha's eyes widen as he'd seen it transformed. It was beautifully amazing. "Shall we begin?"

Inuyasha smirked cockily. "Hell, yeah!" They stood in their fighting stances and the next moment their swords clashed.

AN: Tessen is a kind of war fan. The word 'tessen' means Iron Fan(s).
Hana is the name of Zokushi's ward. I didn't give her a name previously. Seitoshi no Tenga means The Heavenly Fang of Life and Death.

Inuyasha (c) Rumiko Takahashi

Fanfiction & OCs (c) ladytari