Author's Note: I've changed some of the dialogue here. It still has the heart of the original, but fits better with the narrative I've been weaving. This and the next chapter will be hard, but hopefully worth it in the end. As always, thank you all for the favorites, kudos, follows, and reviews!

~*Flame

Disclaimer: InuYasha & Final Act are all owned by Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Viz Media & Madmen Entertainment.

Chapter Fourteen

Kagome had returned her gaze to Tessaiga, still in awe at the feat of being able to do what neither Inuyasha nor I could do. The horror Jaken had exclaimed when Inuyasha nearly freed the sword was now tenfold as Kagome held it in the air.

"Im — impossible! Inuyasha, let alone Sesshoumaru-sama, could not budge Tessaiga… How could a human?" To anyone that didn't know Father, the confusion was understandable. Had Kagome not have come, Tessaiga would have been lost. Even if I melted it away from the dais, I would still be unable to break the spell placed upon it. Though, I wondered how the aspects of the spell had changed now Tessaiga was freed.

Both Inuyasha and I were still looking at Kagome; our fight pushed aside for the moment. At least I had pushed it aside. Inuyasha took this opportunity, viewing it as a moment of distraction to attack. He sat up, my hand no longer keeping him down and slashed at me with his claws.

"You shouldn't have looked away!" I won't argue that fact with him. I may have no trouble dodging the attack, but a sloppy teacher made a sloppy student. I would have to make it up to him another time. Dodging his claws with ease, I flash stepped over to Kagome using all the speed available to me. My sudden appearance in front of her surprised her. Sapphire eyes wide, pupils dilated as she took a step back, and for the first time I allowed myself to indulge and take a deep inhale of her scent.

It was the most divine experience. For the first time, I was glad scent didn't exist in the Dream Realm. Had it, I would have spent all my days by her side, taking in the heavenly aroma that was Kagome. She didn't smell like any of the humans of this time, not that I expected her to, but she was so different, so complex.

The first layer was an intense hit of sakura blossoms, likely from whatever bath oils she used. Under that were traces of the agarwood and sandalwood incense used at her family's shrine. But deeper still was the scent that made up Kagome herself. The part of her unique scent that would never change. Lightening. The sharpness came from her reiki, but other Miko didn't smell the same. Their reiki had more of a bitterness, a bite that made me want to clear out my nose and avoid them at all costs. But not Kagome. She was sweet and tangy, almost like a persimmon.

"Do you have any idea why you were able to draw out Tessaiga?" I looked at the blade a moment before looking back at her. She was thinking about it. I could clearly see the slightly dazed look she would get when trying to think back or hard about something. She might not know right away, but she was smart, and I spent more than enough time complaining over Father's preferential treatment of that woman. Sadly, Inuyasha refused to give her the time she needed to figure it out and truly see how deeply Father betrayed the west and our need for Tessaiga to ratify that wrong.

"Sesshoumaru! Leave her alone! She has nothing to do with you!" Oh, if only he knew how wrong he was. Kagome called out to him, moving to the side just enough to see past me. Whatever she saw made her give up on trying to understand why she was able to free Tessaiga, and instead held the blade between us.

"Don't come near me or I'll hurt you." Hurt me, will she? As if she hasn't hurt me already? She had already proven our friendship was in name only, with no true feelings of loyalty behind it. All her threat did was support why we should have ended our acquaintance long ago. Ignoring the Miko, I pivoted to look back at Inuyasha. I didn't see the same thing she had, but it didn't really matter. All that mattered now was obtaining Tessaiga for the West.

"Neither you nor I could draw out Tessaiga. Yet she had no trouble against the spell. You expect me to let her go?"

"I don't know why the spell had no effect on her! But she's only a human girl! Kagome! Hand over Tessaiga to Sesshoumaru!" For once, the hanyou was using his brain. Yet Kagome, in all her stubbornness, still refused.

"No! He couldn't pull out the sword! That means he's not the rightful owner! I will not give it to him." Her refusal had nothing to do with who the rightful owner was. She knew it as well as I did, especially when hunching into herself the way she did. No. This was her punishing me for actions she didn't agree with. She was being petty and knew she was. No matter, if I had to show her the error in her ways, so be it. She was the first to betray our so-called friendship, so she would only have herself to blame.

"Fool!" Inuyasha shouted, still trying to talk sense into her. "A human girl has nothing to do with this! Stop interfering!"

"Stop interfering, you say?!" Kagome shouted, using Tessaiga to point at the hanyou. She was letting her temper get the best of her and one glance back at me caused her to realize this. She jerked Tessaiga back to herself and away from my grasp. As amusing as their arguing was, I was growing tired of it all. I nearly sighed in exasperation, but settled for closing my eyes instead.

"Inuyasha… you seem to be very interested in the actions of this human." It was only a few days ago he had tried to kill her. Now he was worried about her safety. Was this his human side showing? Forcing his feelings to flip so quickly? "Why protect her? Why let her go?" I tucked some hair behind my left ear while opening my eyes to look at him. "Why befriend her?" That slight was more for Kagome that it was Inuyasha. Though I wasn't looking at her, I heard her small gasp. She knew very well who that was for.

Inuyasha stood there, silent and confused. Running the fingers of my left hand through my hair, I moved away from Kagome under the guise of taunting Inuyasha further. I doubted either of them knew what exactly I was planning. They would have stopped me if they had. "I certainly did not inherit from our Father the feelings of compassion towards humans that you have."

I stopped only a few feet away from Kagome, the only human I had felt any sort of compassion for before her betrayal this day. "It was this feeling for a human, your mother, this weakness of the heart that caused our Father to end up here like this." I glared at him, hating how that woman's legacy continued to cause trouble to this day. "Tainted blood courses through your body! Is it this blood that endears you to humans?" The blood of a whore and a traitor? "Well, I don't pay any heed to such infinitely vulgar beings." Yet another slap in the face to Kagome, but I wasn't done yet.

Lifting my arm to the side, I was certain the two of them were prepared for an attack against Inuyasha, but he wasn't the one I needed to punish for their insolence and betrayal. Turning quickly, I unleased my Dokkasou on Kagome.

She wouldn't truly be harmed as she was holding Tessaiga, but not all injuries were physical. Inuyasha and Kagome screamed out for each other as the bones of Father's ribs and spine melted around her. Only once I was sure she would be entombed long enough to deal with Inuyasha did I halt my attack. My heat twinged at the melted mass where Kagome once stood, but much like how she ignored our years of friendship, I ignored the pain of being the one to harm her in this way. I knew how she feared small places, just as she knew how badly I needed Tessaiga. It was a fitting punishment.

"So totally useless, right Inuyasha?" I asked while lowering my arm, forcing his attention back on me.

"Sesshoumaru!" The anger painting his voice was music to my ears. He might not have forced Kagome to betray me, but something about the blood of his human mother that ran through his veins inspired others to.

"Humans, as well as hanyou, should know their place." I turned back to face him only a moment before he started running toward me.

"Sankon Tassou!" He didn't come close to hitting me before I leapt out of the way and back into the air. His attack, completely fueled by rage, demolished a section of the bone covered floor. It gave him added power, but lowered his control. Sending out Mokomoko-sama, I grabbed him before he could straighten from his attack, wrapping him in the fluffy appendage as I pulled him closer to me.

"Wake up! With tainted blood like yours, you cannot touch me!" I spun with Mokomoko-sama as he was unwound and sent flying though the air before skidding to a stop in the jagged bones within Father's stomach, the extra force throwing him into a rib, cracking the bone when he finally came to a crashing stop. He struggled to get up, but I gave him no time to recover. My whip snapped out, forcing him to block each attack with his fire rat fur sleeves and give up trying to stand.

"Why was she so loyal to you?" I mumbled to myself, still upset over Kagome's clear preferential treatment of Inuyasha and disregard to my needs. I added more force to my whip, finally breaking through his defenses. "You're just a hanyou!" His mother's blood shouldn't be so powerful to taint so many long after her death.

Inuyasha went flying back as my whip landed, shattering yet another rib. He landed hard back to the ground, a distant look in his eyes. He muttered something under his breath instead of standing to face me. So once again, I whipped him, forcing him to once again block with the sleeves of his fire rat robe.

I grew bored without him fighting back, so I let up my assault to give him the time he needed to focus on our battle and show me what he was truly made of. He had to use one of the dwindling uncracked ribs to stand; his gaze focused on the melted cocoon that was Kagome.

"It doesn't matter whether one is human or youkai! I can't forgive you for playing with my mother's memory…" He finally glanced back at me. "But for her sake, I will not lose to you!" He ran at me full speed, finally controlling his rage. Did he think Kagome was dead? Did Myouga tell him nothing about Tessaiga? I nearly snorted, imaging his surprise when Kagome finally freed herself and proved him the fool. But my distraction cost me.

For the first time, Inuyasha was able to land a blow. His claws scrapped against my armor, snapping my attention back to the battle. I hopped back a step to avoid him landing another blow and to keep my eyes on him before leaping away.

"This one's for my mother! And this one is for Kagome!" He jumped up, hitting my armor again while I was still mid air. Had this been any other day, I would have been impressed. I pushed off against a rib the moment my toe touched the surface, using it to put space between me and Inuyasha. landing on the opposite side of the stomach cavity, the spiked guard of my armor cracked and fell away.

I admired the damage, pleased that he didn't seem to have many lasting effects from being under Kikyou's seal, just the typical rust from lack of use. But now wasn't the time for praise. Especially when he was unlikely to repeat it without having someone he cared for in danger or killed.

"Anger over a mere human woman?" I smirked. "You act in the heat of passion and rush to your death… you are a truly pitiful fellow." Had he been fighting anyone else, he would have been killed long ago. He needed to realize this if he were to continue down this path chasing after the Shikon shards.

"Why you…!" He turned to face me again, something he should have already done. "I'll slit you open and cut out your guts! For Kagome, who died a senseless death!" As if the two of them had planned it, Kagome chose that moment to escape the mass of melted bone, Tessaiga still clutched in her grasp.

"Phew! I thought I was a goner!" Inuyasha starred at her at though she rose from the dead like a zombie from one of her movies. She only took a moment to catch her breath before standing and pointing Tessaiga at me, pure rage in her eyes. "Hey you! You actually tired to kill me!"

She walked closer to Inuyasha, eyes and sword never leaving me. "Well, you're going to regret it now! Get ready!" She then handed Tessaiga to Inuyasha, a satisfied smile on her face. He looked down at the sword in his hands, confused. "I think this sword has special powers. Go for it!" She only thinks Tessaiga has special powers? Had she never listened to a word I said about the fang in the whole time I knew her?

"How—how come you're so energetic?" I nearly rolled my eyes at his confusion. These two were truly a mess. They both saw me as a true enemy, yet ignored me to have a side conversation. How are either of them still alive? Kagome looked down at her hands as if realizing for the first time she wasn't injured. Unable to take it any longer, I enlightened them.

"Tessaiga protected you." Yet they ignored me. Instead of learning something, they focused their attention on Myouga and some nonsense he was spouting. If they would not take things seriously on their own; I would make them. The bones beneath our feet shook under the pressure of my youkai as I prepared to release my true form. "Listen to you, prattling on!"

I let my youki surround me, skulls rising from the floor to swirl around me. I sent a few at Inuyasha. The numskull didn't bother to dodge, instead letting them hit him, taking unnecessary damage. "We'll see if one of her blood can wield the Tessaiga!" Mokomoko-sama whipped behind me. If Inuyasha planned on taking the Tessaiga with him, let him prove himself worthy of it. "This Sesshoumaru will bear witness!"

I felt my eyes bleed red as fur flowed over my skin. Jaw elongating, I could see the horror in Kagome's eyes at what I was becoming. Oh yes, little Miko, I am every bit the monster you believe me to be. My youki compressed itself, forcing my humanoid body into an orb of energy to zip around Father's chest cavity before slamming back to the ground and revealing my true form in all its glory.

I howled at the feeling of being free, bones shattering under my paws as I settled myself and my youki returned to its normal state.

"He transformed!" Mine exclaimed, more awe in her voice than horror now the true form of her Beta was revealed to her.

"Hah! Now he's showing his true colors!" Pup needed to be more respectful, but that could wait for another day.

"Pup! Prove yourself!" Pup just laughed, looking down at Alpha's fang.

"And just because he coveted this Tessaiga…" With each step forward I took, pup and Mike took a step back. "Does this sword really have such awesome powers?" Pup held the sword to the side and finally Mine looked concerned over what Pup might do to their Beta. He swung the fang, attempting to keep me away. But it was no use.

"Prove you can wild the fang!" My command once again fell on def ears. Pup turned to Mine, giving her his own command to hide herself. She had already been punished for her actions. She was safe from her Bata's wrath. Mine looked around but my attention was focused on Pup who had leapt into his attack, so I didn't see if she found the hiding place she was looking for.

"Okay! Now show me, Tessaiga, your power!" I jumped to meet him, jaws open wide. The fang bounced off my head, not able to penetrate my thick hide in its current form. I arced across Alpha's chest, proud of the grace I exuded. Mine was still standing in the open, and in the way of my landing. To avoid hurting her, my paw crushed Alpha's rib above her. Shards of bone exploded, Mine screamed, and I couldn't give pup a chance to attack with Mine so close. He already proved he doesn't watch his surroundings. Mine could get hurt by his carelessness. So I once again leapt across Alpha's chest. Pup barely dodged in time from my landing, too distracted by the humming of the fang.

Paws smacking, jaws snapping, I chased Pup, keeping him on the defensive. Fumes from Dokkasou spilled from my mouth. We would need to take this battle outside lest Pup and Mine truly come to harm. Turning to face them, I allowed them to watch as my now toxic drool dribbled past my lips, sizzling and melting the bones in its wake. Yet once again, Pup ignored the threat, instead complaining about the fang to Coward. At least until he ran, leaving Pup alone. I allowed my drool to continue to flow, encouraging Pup to travel for higher ground and force him to pay attention to his surroundings.

Finally Pup realized the danger. He called out to Mine, warning her not to breathe in the fumes. As if she could be harmed by such a thing. Mine was powerful, though untrained. Her body would purify the noxious threat before she could take ill. It was Pup that needed to avoid breathing in the fumes.

"Stop stalling!" I growled. "Either climb or fight!" I leapt about, motivating him to climb and avoid being squashed under my paw. Both Mine and Minion were already above the toxic clouds. As long as they continued to climb and didn't keep stopping to yell for Pup or their Bata, they would be fine. Mine would be safe regardless, but it would be unfortunate if Minion succumbed and stayed in the Underworld with Alpha.

The bones beneath our feet continued to melt, making it harder to keep one's footing. Pup slid back with each dodge until he finally began his assent. He leapt straight up, barely making it above the fumes before his body gave out. The fang would protect him on the outside, but there was nothing it could do from the damage being done inside with each breath. It was a grave error; one Pup would need to learn not to make again. Rising on my hind legs, front paws resting against a rib, I grabbed Pup, holding him tightly in my jaw.

Pup groaned from the pain pushing through the numbness caused by the poison. Bring him back into the fumes; I shook him back and forth in reprimand. Pup needed to prove himself worthy of the fang; he was failing. If he would drop the fang, I would not only release him, but bring him to the safety of the outside. But it was not to be.

"Even a useless sword like this…" Pup ground out, looking at the fang. "Hasta be more irritating than a mosquito bite!" With what remaining energy he had, Pup jabbed Alpha's fang into my eye. Growling, I reared back and shook my head, trying to dislodge the fang. When that didn't work, I rolled over. Fang finally free, I leapt up, bursting through Alpha's shoulder and into the fresher air of the Underworld. Pup had wiggled out of my jaws as I flailed about, but I could still feel him clinging to my ruff a few moments more before leaping away.

Finally, I could open my eye, though the pain. Though only briefly. Blinking, I tried to shake away the remainder of the sting. "Do you have any idea what you could have done?" I snarled at Pup once I could fully open my eye once more. The Judges would deem me unfit, something the could never happen as the consequences were far too great. Pup ignored the scold to argue instead with Coward over the usefulness of Alpha's fang. Enough of this foolishness. Pup needed to pay attention, and I was tired of trying to teach him to do so.

I leapt at him only to have him dodge in time to avoid being pinned under my paw. I tried to pin him a few other times only to have him dodge or smack my paw with Alpha's fang. It wasn't painful, but it was irritating. So as Pup fell back to where Mine was hiding, I took the opportunity to lick the irritant away while they distracted themselves from battle with yet another side conversation.

"Don't cry!" I looked over at the two, only slightly curious about what had them yelling and the scent of salt and Mine's sadness on the wind.

"You expect me to laugh?!"

"Shut up! I'm saying I'll protect you!" Moving closer to the pair, Pup seemed to finally take this seriously. Fang resting against his shoulder, he moved to join me, a look of cool determination filling his eyes.

"So, you're finally ready to prove yourself!" I snarled, glaring at Pup as he took his time to return to the battlefield.

"Damn! What the heck anyway? Come, baka Inu!" The fang pulsed in Pup's hand as he held it out before him. Remnants of Alpha's youki flowed out with each pulse. Pup brought the blade close, inspecting the change. It had been so long since I felt Alpha I was frozen in place for a moment. Minion started shouting encouragements until Mine asserted her dominance over him once again. Though I knew it was happening, I only gave it a partial mind. I was mainly focused on Pup with Alpha's fang in his hand.

Not wanting to give Pup the advantage, I leapt into the air, determined to have Pup prove himself or submit. Left paw outstretched, I would finally succeed in pinning Pup and taking Alpha's fang.

"I can do it!" His battle cry was lost when the fiery pain began. Never had I felt such pain before. With each millimeter Pup moved up my arm, the pain grew until all I could feel was the never ending white hot fire spreading from my arm.

Landing hard, I lay there, stunned. It wasn't until I felt the sticky wetness of my blood matting my fur that I realized what had happened.

Pup had taken my arm.

Forcing myself to stand, I looked at Pup as he held Alpha's fang in all its glory. Blood poured from the stump that remained of my arm as I tried to focus through the pain. Pup swung the fang, smirking at it sang through the air.

"A fang… What an heirloom the old man left me!" He admired the blade much as I had when I too was a pup. "Hey, Sesshoumaru, listen up! Here we are, two brothers, fighting for our father's treasure… compared to his magnificence, we're nothing!" Alpha was far older. We had much to learn still, but Alpha was gone. It would be easy for one of us to become the new alpha… though it would be harder for me once the Judges finished with me for this loss.

"Do you understand? We're battling it out now, on top of our father's body! We're nowhere near his equal." It was Pup that didn't understand. We would be stronger than Alpha one day. None of this mattered. I growled, frustrated at his tirade and losing my arm. This was more than just any injury. This was something the Judges and Alpha Bitch could take everything from me over.

"I don't have any memories of being loved by my father! But he chose to hide his fang inside my eye! And I ain't giving up this sword! Not to anyone! Not even to my 'fine' older brother!"

I no longer cared about the fang. Pup took far more than just an inheritance or the means to protect and become Alpha. Pup would never understand the harm he's caused this day. Fighting through the pain, I lunged at Pup, fully intending to hurt him as much as he did me. But Pup was prepared and slashed my chest with the fang. I fell back, falling toward the earth below. The added pain and blood loss were too much. For the first time, I used the pack's orb technique for what they created it for; escape.