Two weeks. It took two weeks and one freezing night in his human form to finally find what he thought might be the mountain. It was always covered in clouds, but he hadn't seen the castle at the top because there had been storms. He was annoyed and agitated. He was tired too. The youkai in this area were no joke and the moment they smelled you they would quickly begin attacking. It was the main reason he was currently sitting atop a large rock. It was flat at the top and the creatures were mindless and luckily didn't climb.

He was fine in the cold for the most part; he'd tucked his feet beneath him and his hands in his fire rat as he watched the mountain. If he blinked, he would miss it and that much was certain.

Inuyasha began to feel like he'd been staring at the wrong one as the sun began to rise. As soon as the light began to peak over the horizon his eyes flash to a different, smaller mountain. He wasn't mistaken, it was there. "Fuck me." He'd seen it, the buildings and wooden structure. It was on the smaller mountain further in the distance. He was sure it was the larger, more treacherous looking one. He smiled down at Kilala in his haori. "Kilala I found it!" He grinned at her.

His blood began pumping as adrenaline filled him. He leaped from the rock he was sitting on and darted to the mountain as quickly as he could. The creatures were on him in seconds but with Tetsuaiga they were easily defeated. He continued to run and fight, noting just how far away the mountain was as he made his way around the one, he'd originally thought housed it. The cold air was starting to make his lungs still as well.

Four days, it took him four days to make it close to the base of that mountain and when he did, he realized he was mistaken about which mountain was larger. It was gigantic and he could only sigh a bit looking up at it. He looked down at Kilala, "You gonna stick it out with me to the end?"

She mewled again. They began to work together. Kilala would fly them as high as she could each day and rest while Inuyasha climbed. The air was thinner up here and it made it hard for him to keep focus. It was also freezing cold. Colder than what even those harsh winters threw at him. He had to keep moving though. He thought about the things he would accomplish once the bond was severed. He thought about killing Sesshomaru. Destroying the fortress. Running free and returning to the east. He thought about visiting the mainland and traveling there and other places. There was so much he still wanted to, something's he even promised Kagome that he would do. He would live until he made it to the time she was originally from. He would learn all about that time too. When she left to be with him in the past, he would care for her family in her absence. He would do it all. He just needed to keep climbing.

He was grateful when he found a small cave, he needed a moment out of the whipping wind to catch his breath. He was very close but still very far away. He needed to be careful, or he would be buried and suffocate under the snow. Kilala came from his haori and stretched. She mewled at him. Being that she was a fire cat, the weather didn't bother her as much as Inuyasha. She was literally the reason he felt like his hands and feet hadn't fallen off yet.

She stood by the opening. "You wanna keep going?" He asked and she meowed at him.

"Okay, give me a sec my hands are freezing." She transformed and curled around him. Inuyasha wasted no time warning his hands and feet in her fur. It was probably the coldest he'd ever been. He sighed once he felt sufficiently warmed. "Alright, I'm ready."

He hopped on her back, and she flew quickly up the mountain. Without her he was sure he wouldn't have made it this far this quickly. The sun was setting by the time Kilala needed another break and he saw it again. A flash of the castle as the sun disappeared. It renewed his vigor. He jumped and climbed as quickly as he could, being careful with his footing.

When he saw it again, he grinned. His goal was so close, he was so close to finally being free. As the day turned to afternoon he sighed, looking at the view. It was beautiful. Everything was covered in white snow and billowing in the wind. However, he felt his stomach knot up at what he saw.

A giant, floppy eared shiroinu heading his way. He didn't understand how the youkai found him and was cursing the wolves who probably let it slip. He wouldn't let this happen; he wouldn't go back there he would be free.

The youkai had spotted him easily and was coming quickly, growling at him angrily. Before Inuyasha could curse at it…it spoke. At least, it's voice began to ring in his mind. "What are you doing here child?"

It was the voice of a woman. He then noticed that her form was a lot more delicate than Sesshomaru's. Her markings were even neater. "…I think….I'm looking for you…." He murmured looking at her and feeling uneasy. The woman looked at the sword he carried and took in his scent. She hated the way this hanyou smelled. It was a scent she never wanted to come into contact with again. She scoffed and Inuyasha felt something grab him and tried not to shriek as he was pulled up to the castle and unceremoniously dropped to the ground.

When he got his feet underneath him, the most beautiful shiroinu youkai demoness was standing before him. Sesshomaru looked exactly like this woman. He pursed his lips and stood straight. She was glaring at him. "Why are you here?" She stated turning her back in him and walking away.

Inuyasha tripped over himself trying to follow her. Looking around and realizing he wasn't freezing cold anymore. It felt like spring in the castle grounds. "Totosai said you're the only person who could help me."

She turned and glared at him. Looking at him head to toe before continuing. Inuyasha was uncomfortable with her behavior but kept his mouth shut. He looked around to see servants moving here and there, taking care of gardens and cleaning. They would bow to the woman when she passed by as well. Kilala jumped from his haori and stretched before jumping to his shoulder. They entered another door. "Help you with what?" She asked coldly. She could already tell who this hanyou was, his blood and the sword at his hip declared it so loudly. He looked beaten down and tired. He was brought into a library, a very extensive one where she took a seat and continued to glare at him. "Speak child, I have no patience for the bastard of that disgusting creature."

Inuyasha growled, immediately assuming her to be speaking of her mother but then realizing that this woman suffered from his father, and that's probably who she was referring to. He took a deep breath, trying not to let the situation get to him. He'd been doing a lot better away from Sesshomaru and away from that prison. "…removing an unwanted mating mark…" he mumbled. His stomach began to hurt.

She didn't say anything as a servant came and served her tea. She drank it slowly and stared at him. How ironic. It was the only thing she could think. "And why should I help you?"

Inuyasha pursed his lips. He didn't want to anger this person, the only chance he had currently. He took a deep breath steeling himself though he was unsure of what to say. He didn't know what kind of relationship she had with Sesshomaru and wasn't sure she'd be receptive to cleaning up his messes. "I don't know why but that asshole…" He stopped when he saw her eye twitch. "Look I don't know! You're the only chance I have right now. I don't know who else I could ask. They all say it's impossible, but I refuse to let that bastard steal my life from me. I don't know what to say to ask for your help. I just…want my freedom back…" He ended in a murmur. His hands shaking as he clenched them tightly. "Ugh…I wouldn't even be here if not for that bastard Sesshomaru…"

She seemed surprised at his statement. "I thought you said Totosai sent you here."

"He did but…" He bit his lip. "Sesshomaru's the one who attacked me…"

This seemed to surprise the icy woman even more, but she only sipped her tea, "Interesting." Her eyes found him again. "Did he tell you why?"

"Why would that matter?" Inuyasha asked. "What's the point of knowing why when you weren't given a choice…?" He unclenched his hands because of how his claws were digging into them.

She sat staring at him for a while longer. She'd heard about this boy before, from servants as they came and went for supplies. A shiroinuhanyou who carried a large sword and defended both human and youkai alike from those that would do them hard. A righteous young man with a gruff exterior. Interesting what an orphan could become. "…please….if you know….how to remove it…I just want my life back…"

She glared at him. If she was honest, especially after she'd given him the meidou zengatsu, she never expected Sesshomaru to do such a thing. She was angry and annoyed by him and something else she couldn't pinpoint. After what he'd witnessed when Touga was alive, she was sure the youkai wouldn't ever follow in his footsteps. She was wrong it seemed. She continued to take in the hanyou before her, wondering if he was anything like the bastard as well.

She thought about all the torment she'd experienced, the anguish, and the feeling when she was finally free. "Ugh, Karin. Take him. See to him. I will call for him when necessary."

A woman came over and bowed to her, "As you wish milady." She then asked Inuyasha to follow her, and he had a bit of hope since she wasn't immediately kicking him to the curb.

—

Inuyasha followed the servant through the halls of the mansion to a room. "You may use these rooms here. Would you like a meal?"

"Uhh, sure….thanks…" He spoke as he sat down heavily. Karin left, but when she returned, she could see his story. The way he curled in in himself, his shaking hands and darting eyes. She left him to enjoy the meal with a frown. When she came back with a change of clothes, he was out of the room and looking around.

"Would you like a tour?"

"Yeah, sure." Inuyasha nodded. He began following her around and listening as she explained each location.

Inuyasha was curious about where all the workers came from. There were a variety, most were women but there were a few men as well. However, they were strange. Many would simply stop what they were doing and watch as they passed by. He didn't know why, but he expected to see other shiroinu here.

They continued on but were eventually approached by a man that was taking care of animals. "Karin, who is he?"

"Lady Inukimi's guest." She said plainly.

"What's it like out there nowadays?" He asked the hanyou. Though he was boisterous, the hanyou was grateful that he wasn't the type that felt the need to touch others.

"Crazy…there's a lot of fighting right now I think…" Inuyasha mumbled. It was just something he'd heard the servants in the fortress talk about.

"Rion when you're old enough you'll get a chance to go see it yourself. No need to bother the guest." Karin scolded.

The man straightened out and nodded, "I know, it's just fun to see a new face."

With that, Karin led him away. At the end of the tour, she offered to draw a bath. Inuyasha waiting on the balcony for her to finish and was happy she exited quickly. He felt comfortable being alone and quickly scrubbed his body until it was painful. He always felt like he couldn't get clean enough. He sighed heavily, looking at his short hair in the water. "Who are you at this point?" He mumbled to himself. He couldn't escape the feeling that he was missing chunks of himself. Pieces that he would never get back. He continued staring at himself until the water was cold. "What's the point?" He whispered. "Why am I here?" He asked. "I'm tired…."

I'm so tired.

He pulled his clothes back on and crawled into the bed. It was nice here because there were no scents in this room. Kilala cuddled around his head and he fell asleep like that. It was probably the deepest he'd ever slept in a long while, he was so close to his goal.

Elsewhere, Inukimi was sitting on a cushion, surrounded by books and candles. She was drinking wine and staring off into space. She couldn't believe how ironic this situation was. His blood, seeking asylum from the type of hell he'd put her through. She thought about the one she allowed to live, Sesshomaru. She shouldn't have allowed him to live, not if he was going to emulate that monster.

"Why should I help that child?" She spoke to herself. Really, she wanted to kill him.

She flinched away as her mind began to remind her of her tortured past. The abused, the pain, the humiliation. Everyday she believed she was in the underworld being tormented for a past life's transgressions. That's why she'd been locked away, why her family wouldn't save her. She despised everything and everyone. She was tired of it then and she was tired of it now. Her life was peaceful with the monster in the shadows in the great beyond. She hoped he was living a tortured existence.

She thought about it for a long time, helping him. She'd been told that his name was Inuyasha and she could only scoff. It was a pathetic name with a pathetic meaning. He was unfortunate from the moment he was conceived. She wondered about that too. Did the human woman suffer as she did? Was she tormented and abused each day. Had she been locked away where no one could hear her screams. A glass like tear fell from her eye before she blinked, coming back to reality. This felt like she was being confronted by her past. It was like seeing Sesshomaru. She hated seeing him most of the time. She was just grateful that he didn't look like him. He only resembled her and her mother.

She thought about all the ones she killed. Silencing their soft whimpering cries, watching them starve to death. She didn't really know what compelled her to take care of Sesshomaru. She had nothing else at the time. Locked away as she was. He looked like her maybe. He only looked like her. She sighed.

The sun was soon rising as her memories plagued her. She wanted to know exactly what had been done to the hanyou. He was still very young. She called Karin to bring the hanyou to her. When he arrived, he looked a bit less unstable. She hadn't realized how dark the circles under his eyes were until now. "Explain." She spoke coldly.

Inuyasha pursed his lips as he thought about all that he'd been through up to this point. He didn't want to cry about it anymore. He was so tired of it all. The constant torment since the day he was born, the pain and hunger. He wanted it all to end. He began to talk about things from the very beginning, including how he tore the pups from his own body.

Karin and a few others in the library shed a tear or two listening to this. Although, it wasn't because of what the hanyou was saying, it was the memories from their own lives that were reignited by his words. The inu demoness was cold however. "You are aware of who I am and what he did to me and yet you seek my assistance?" She asked. The servants in the room seemed a bit uncomfortable at her tone.

She watched the hanyou frown, "…I don't understand why people lie about who he was to me so much…why should I be proud to be his child…? He was a monster…and everyone exhalts him like this powerful, righteous person." Inuyasha had given up on his dignity when he thought about his mother, "…there's no telling what he did to my mom…" He took a deep breath to calm himself as he thought about his short years with her.

"For a child to never show any similarities to that beast, he's sure followed in his footsteps quite well." She spoke thinking of Sesshomaru again.

"I thought you were my best bet…since you would understand…at least…that's what Totosai said…" he sighed.

This annoyed her though and she slowly stood, glaring at him. "What would I understand? You know nothing about true pain and torment." She found herself becoming increasingly angry with his presence. She hated the way he smelled.

"That's not-!?" Inuyasha tried. "I just thought you might at least have a little pity for someone going through the same thing!"

"Did he shackle you?" she snarled. "Did he starve you? Did he beat you? Did he brand you? Did he torture you? Did he allow guards and servants to rape and mock you? Did he lock you away in a dungeon? Then you know nothing about what I've been through!" The servants in the room had never seen their lady explode like this. She was always quiet and gentle.

It felt like he was mocking her. What was a few months compared to 300 years of slavery and torture. She hated hearing him talk and she hated that godawful smell. Back when she was younger, what the hanyou went through wouldn't have even been a cause for concern considering he wasn't being tormented. She was angry. What he'd been through was child's play. "Come back when you know what true torment is."

Her cold gaze leveled on him as she waved her hand, "Leave."