Adult-FanFiction.org : Inuyasha / Yashahime

Reassembled
By : Macx
Category: InuYasha > Yaoi - Male/Male
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Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, nor make money from this story.
Chapter List
- 2
- 3
- 4
III. Arami Tama - Courage

The fighters hadn't really split up, but they had fanned out, taking
on their opponents with well-honed skill and trust in each other. Inuyasha
and Sesshoumaru were the ones attempting to get closer to Naraku while
the rest covered their backs. Miroku, Sango and Kagome destroyed the lesser
youkai and some of the stronger ones, Miroku always careful of the ever-present
poison bees. The hell creatures were protecting their stronger foes, the
more powerful youkai, and it was up to Kagome and Sango to get rid of them.

Inuyasha had gone into the fight with his usual brashness and enthusiasm,
not backing down from any opponent, whatever its size or danger. Sesshoumaru
had stayed by his side, the two brothers cutting up numerous opponents,
keeping each other's back. He had marveled about Inuyasha's style before.
Nothing seemed to scare the young hanyou. Even if there was fear, it disappeared
behind a mask of determination and bravery. He would never run from a fight,
whatever the outcome might be, and while his rudeness covered up his own
feelings, his deeds backed them up.

Still, they got separated by the sheer number of creatures, and Inuyasha
was soon in the middle of a vicious trade of blows and punches with a blue,
fanged thing on two legs, snapping and spitting at him. Its spittle dissolved
even rocks.

Sesshoumaru disposed of some unfortunate youkai trying to go up against
the Toukijin, but was suddenly faced with an unexpected opponent. He looked
at the little girl, his brows drawing slightly together. Her face was completely
without emotions, the eyes black as night while her skin white as snow.
The hair was straight and no breeze lifted it. She held an exquisite mirror
and while she wasn't looking at him, he knew she was aware he was there.

"Intriguing," her voice sounded.

It was soft, that of a child but still so much older, and inflectionless.

"You have a soul."

He almost physically moved back. What?

"It is so rare in youkai kind. Let me have it."

She turned the mirror about a quarter and its reflective surface started
to glow.

And then the pain started.

Toukijin clattered to the ground as his hands opened involuntarily.
Agony ripped through his chest and through tearing eyes, Sesshoumaru watched
in horror as a white mist began to form around him, wafting in the air.
It moved toward the mirror.

"You fight it, youkai. You are strong. But even a youkai soul cannot
resist me."

He screamed.

Sesshoumaru had felt pain before, had been in battles where he had
been wounded, and his own brother had cut his left arm off while he had
been in his true demon form, but none of those injuries and their pain
compared to this. None at all. This was slicing him apart� slicing his
soul apart.

The world began to waver, white out around the edges, and his knees
gave way.

"Come to me," the girl whispered enchantingly.
*
Kagome had used her arrows as best as possible. There were so many youkai
here, fighting to keep them from where Naraku was hiding, and it was almost
impossible to keep them all under control. Inuyasha was using Tetsuseiga
to eliminate them in huge groups, and Sango and Kirara added their own
skills.

A scream pierced the battle-heavy air. It spoke of soul-deep pain,
of an agony that made him shiver.

"Sesshoumaru!" Inuyasha yelled and there was an undertone of fright
in his voice.

Before the hanyou could move two steps to where his brother was, new
monsters attacked him. Kagome looked over to Sesshoumaru and she discovered
Kanna and her mirror, drawing something that looked suspiciously like a
soul out of the tall youkai.

A soul�?

In a youkai..?!

Kaede had once told her that monsters had no soul, but Kagome had never
really believed it. All things had souls; everyone had feelings�

Sesshoumaru went down on his knees, his eyes wide, his mouth open in
a silent scream. Kagome's features settled in an angry expression and she
raised her bow and arrow. She had defeated Kanna once� she could do it
again.

She pulled back an arrow and aimed for the mirror.

"Stupid girl," Kanna whispered as she discovered Kagome. "Your arrows
are useless against an empty mirror."

Kagome clenched her jaws. Last time the mirror had been overflowing
from too many souls and the arrow had simply been the last straw on the
camel's back, but now�

"We'll see about that," she hissed and let the projectile fly.

Engulfed in a pink light, the arrow headed unerringly for the evil
mirror, but instead of hitting the reflective surface, it buried itself
in the silver frame. Kagome was aghast. She had never missed�

Kanna looked at the still glowing mirror, then the child-like face
suddenly showed surprise � in a very detached way.

From the entry point of the mirror, cracks ran through the frame, growing
in number and size until the whole frame was nothing but an unstable collection
of shards.

"She destroyed the mirror," she murmured.

Suddenly the surface burst into a million parts and the child rocked
back, her arms spreading from her body, and her impassive face gazed at
Kagome. Within a heartbeat, she evaporated into the nothingness she had
come from.

Sesshoumaru fell forward, catching himself with his hands, breathing
hard. His eyes were wide open, shock displayed in their golden depths,
and disbelief in his expression.

"Sesshoumaru!" Kagome called and ran to him. "Are you okay?"

The youkai lord staggered to his feet, reaching for Toukijin. "What
was that thing?"

"Kanna. Another detachment from Naraku. She was Nothingness. Her mirror
can draw out souls."

The golden eyes, still whirling with the experience, met Kagome's.
She knew what he had felt, though she had never felt pain. Just the heavy,
leaden feeling of no longer being in control of her body�

Sesshoumaru straightened and turned around, hand clenching around Toukijin.

"It's time to end this."
* * *
The barrier around Naraku's misshapen body shattered and Inuyasha smiled
ferally.

"Gotcha!" he growled.

Tentacles whipped toward him and he slashed at them with the Tetsuseiga,
obliterating them immediately. Sesshoumaru watched the fast, elegant moves
of his brother as he approached their common enemy, noting with satisfaction
that Inuyasha had indeed gotten better. A lot better.

"Haven't you learned?" Naraku said, voice soft. "You cannot destroy
me. I will always be there."

Inuyasha landed in a crouch from his last somersault and his fangs
glinted in a cold smile.

"Sesshoumaru!" he yelled and the older brother turned.

Tetsuseiga was tossed into the air and the youkai caught it easily,
again amazed that the sword would let him touch it. It felt different than
before when he had managed to get a hold of it. There was power sizzling
through it that hadn't been there before. It had evolved; it had become
the weapon their father had wanted it to be.

Only one who holds what has been shattered

Who carries the blade made of a dog's fang

Given to him out of love and not of hate

Love? Did Inuyasha hold any love for him? They had talked more than
he would have thought in the weeks at the palace. He had come to an understanding
about this man, about his half brother, and something had changed. In both
of them. For the future.

But love? Tetsuseiga had accepted him�

"So you are the chosen one?" Naraku said, almost bored, drawing him
out of his musings.

"I'm your death, Naraku," Sesshoumaru growled.

The ground broke open and with a burst of speed, more tentacles appeared,
wrapping themselves around Sesshoumaru's ankles. The demon looked at them,
face emotionless. Naraku's appendages were nothing against the sword. He
raised it, about to cut through them, when his whole body froze.

Inuyasha watched as his brother caught Tetsuseiga. The sword didn't
resist his touch and it seemed to hum and pulse in agreement to the move.
Tentacles wrapped themselves around Sesshoumaru, intent on binding him,
but Inuyasha knew there was nothing to stop Tetsuseiga now.

And then Sesshoumaru froze, his body grew rigid, his features like
made of stone.

Naraku slithered closer, the abomination resembling more a snake with
a thousand tails and writhing tentacles than anything human. Only his face
was still that of Naraku, while his upper body was a puzzle made up from
different youkai parts. A clawed hand reached out toward Sesshoumaru and
Inuyasha gave a yell.

He started to run toward his brother when he was stopped and rather
unkindly grabbed by more tentacles, which flung him back against the solid
stone wall of the fortress. The air was pushed out of his lungs and for
the second it took him to regain his breath, he was immediately bound by
more of Naraku's limbs. Spread-eagled, he hung in the air, his back aching,
his wrists and ankles tightly bound, he looked down on the two opponents.

Naraku didn't even deign him with a glance.

He just placed the sharp claws of his right hand over Sesshoumaru's
heart � and sank them into his skin.

The youkai made no sound, despite the blood starting to flow, and Inuyasha
screamed instead in denial. Fighting the vines, the tentacles, he tried
to get one hand free to use his claws and rip them apart. All he managed
to do was make them tighten around his limbs, his left wrist aching sharply.
The pressure intensified until he heard the tell-tale snap of broken bones
and he gave a hiss of pain.

"Sesshoumaru!" he cried. "Snap out of it! You worthless asshole of
a brother!"

He continued to insult the other man, but there was no reaction at
all. Still like a statue, Tetsuseiga hanging uselessly by his side, Sesshoumaru
let Naraku up close and personal.

"You were a wonderful toy, Sesshoumaru-same," the creature whispered,
lips right next to his ear. "How about we play a last game? One of mind
against mind?"

Inuyasha increased his struggles, uncaring of the injuries he was inflicting
upon himself, while his brother just stayed still, eyes empty� like Kohaku's.

Mind against mind, Inuyasha thought desperately.

No!
* * *
Miroku was hard-pressed to keep up with the non-stop flow of youkai
battering against this barriers, dying under his ofuda and staff blows.
They weren't very powerful, but their number was endless and for the dozen
he killed, two dozen appeared. He couldn't use the kazaana because of the
bees, and his body was tiring.

A scream of denial and anger pierced the air and his head whipped around.
Violet eyes widened in shock as he saw his lover and Sesshoumaru.

And Naraku.

So close, so near� moving in toward Sesshoumaru, who seemed to be frozen
to the spot. Inuyasha was twisting and screaming, trying to get out of
the hold of hundreds of tentacles.

"No," he whispered.

Then a decisive expression settled over his features.

"It's time to end this," Miroku growled and began to unwrap the seal
around his kazaana.

He felt its power awaken and stretched out his arm in front of him,
supporting it with his left, and opened his right hand.

The black hole came to life.

And death came to the youkai foolish enough to rush toward him.

Bees were sucked in as well and he felt the tell-tale stings of the
poison starting to work. His body had been through this twice before. The
first time it had almost immediately felled him; the second he had held
out longer. Today Miroku planned to remain standing until it was over �
one way or another.
* * *
Sesshoumaru was in a place where there was no up or down, no left or
right. There was only nothingness.

"What's on your mind, Sesshoumaru-sama," a voice whispered. "Or more
precisely� what's in your mind."

He turned, trying to find the source of the voice, but there was only
the all-encompassing whiteness.

That changed all of a sudden as he was almost physically flung forward.
He landed in a forest, looking down what seemed to be a wide path.

"Ah, yes, you remember that place, don't you? Let me add some hints�"

The body of Rin appeared. She was older than the time he had found
her, killed by wolves. This time the wounds hadn't been inflicted by teeth
but� claws. Blood pooled underneath the girl. She had been gutted and her
eyes were wide open, as if in surprise.

The scene changed, like time had been turned back, and he was looking
upon himself, standing in front of Rin. The girl was smiling at him, her
face open and trusting, so admiring and adoring� But his own was changing,
becoming more feral, his eyes turning red� glowing evilly� and his claws
lashed out, striking her. Rin was whirled around by the force of his strike,
mouth opening in a surprised 'oh'. Large, brown eyes looked at him, wanting
to know, unable to understand�

Sesshoumaru felt something rip through him. A kind of physical pain
that he had never experienced before.

"She means a lot to you, right?" the voice wanted to know, taunting
him.

Naraku, he thought.

"She's human, Sesshoumaru-sama. You're a demon, a monster. What do
you think the monster does with its prey?"

He looked out over a battle field. Hundreds of humans had been slaughtered,
all by his hands. They were bugs to him, worms, of no consequence.

"You killed before, you took lives like they were nothing, but this
one girl changed you."

Rin's bloody, torn body appeared, empty eyes looking into the dark
sky.

"You care� oh, and not just for one human�"

Naraku sounded intrigued as he dug deeper into the mind so open to
him.

"Jaken," it chuckled. "That little toad. I disposed of him. He cried
for your help, but you didn't come�"

Burned, pulverized and molten body parts. A trusted ally and friend,
a servant who had been with him for most of his life, someone he had relied
on to be there� Gone.

"The great dog demon is gone, too. What did he leave you? Tenseiga,
a useless sword. And what happened to the powerful Tetsuseiga? Your worthless
brother received this almighty gift. He took your arm!" Naraku hissed.

The pain raced through his left arm, phantom pain, a memory. Again
he lived through the agonizing moment when the fang blade sliced off his
left arm, left him bleeding heavily, as Inuyasha slashed again and again,
wounding him. The wounds had taken long to heal. The pain had been sometimes
unbearable.

Sesshoumaru shuddered.

"That hanyou brother of yours� so much stronger� so much more dangerous.
So much closer to the youkai power you wanted than you could ever be."

Red eyes glowed and sharp claws took him apart. Poison worked inside
his body, his reflexes slowed, and finally he was looking into the merciless
eyes of the person he had never expected to lose to.

"Beg for mercy," the creature that was his brother whispered.

Sesshoumaru's mouth opened for a scream, but no sound came out as the
deadly strike tore out his throat, his heart, his spine, as his brother
gouged himself on the bloody remains.

"And you trust that mongrel? He did it once, he can do it again."

Sesshoumaru was reeling under the renewed impact of old memories, of
pain, despair and an agony that ran deep down into his soul.

His soul.

"Ah, yes, a soul. You developed feelings for Rin. You love a human
girl� you love�" Naraku started to laugh evilly. "You love a human."

Sango materialized. Beautiful, enchanting and strong Sango. Her body
was cut and bruised, her face disfigured, and her uniform hung in tatters
on her athletic body. Sesshoumaru's heart skipped a beat and he made an
involuntary step forward. Sango's eyes widened in absolute terror and she
threw up her arms, but nothing could stop the razor-sharp claws that took
one off, that dug into her vulnerable flesh and right through her heart.

The youkai lord screamed in denial as he looked at his blood-covered
hands. Sango's body fell next to Rin's.
*
Inuyasha was bleeding heavily by now, his voice hoarse from yelling
at his brother, but except for the occasional twitch, Sesshoumaru showed
no signs of hearing him.

He's under Naraku's control. Like Kohaku, he thought desperately. No!

And then the golden eyes widened, an expression of intense suffering
crossing the blank features, and Inuyasha froze in shock. He had never
seen anyone, human or youkai, look like this. Like his worst nightmare
had materialized�

"Sesshoumaru!"

A new voice could be heard and Inuyasha twisted his head, looking for
the source. Sango was atop Kirara, both heading their way. Naraku didn't
even look up as she came in. He just sent dozens of tentacles her way,
most of which were pulverized by her boomerang, but one caught the large
demon cat and Kirara gave a roar.

Sango was flung off the cat's back and a cry of surprise left her lips.
She landed hard on the ground, a gasp audible even to Inuyasha, and didn't
move.

"No, Sango!" Kagome yelled, trying to get to her.

Inuyasha renewed his struggles, but something stopped him. It was the
snarl from down below. Sesshoumaru's eyes were suddenly filled with consciousness
again and looked right into Naraku's surprised ones.

"What� how�?" the creature whispered. "You cannot break free!" The
scream was denial and anger in one.

"Die," Sesshoumaru just said, voice cold and chilly, filled with such
loathing and hatred that Inuyasha felt something shiver down his spine.

Tetsuseiga swung up, the large blade glowing � and then it changed
color. Before his wide-eyed stare, the blade turned bright white and Sesshoumaru
seemed to be surrounded by its aura, then it sliced right into Naraku's
form. Inuyasha felt the purifying energy of the jewel, an almost painful
blast to his senses. Every molecule in his half-demon body reacted to the
powerful light, twisting and turning under its energy.

Naraku's mouth opened in a scream, but no sound came out. Eyes filled
with confusion, pain and surprise were fixed on his opponent, then the
mismatched body began to dissolve.

Sesshoumaru was still bathed in light, which slowly shifted from brilliant
white to pinkish, the center of if all coming from where the Shikon no
Tama hung around his neck. He wasn't moving, his eyes cold, his face a
mask, as he watched Naraku's fight to live.

Cracks appeared in the ground where he stood and out of the cracks,
light streamed. It was brilliant, it was blinding and it was deadly to
whatever it encountered and classified as an enemy. Lances of purifying
light shot out into the sky, bringing down flying youkai, decimating them
in one blow. Lightning bolts of white, blue and green color danced over
the multiple bodies, twisting them out of proportion.

Screams echoed in the silence of the destruction; screams of the dying
youkai. And more light poured out of the cracks, widening them, washing
over the fortress, cleansing it of evil.

Similar spears of light lanced through Naraku and chunks blew loose,
together with sharp claws and spear-like extensions. Inuyasha felt his
prison give and he crashed to the ground, but not before several sharp
objects cut into his already tortured body. He tried to get up, but the
shockwave of the destructive power of Tetsuseiga blew him down once more.
There was an all-encompassing explosion.

He thought he was screaming, but there was no sound except for the
deafening thunder and crackle of lightning all around him.

Sesshoumaru watched it with dispassionate eyes, the power of the blow
raging all around him. And then the shockwave of Naraku's death, combined
with the purification powers of the Shikon no Tama, hit. It was a physical
and mental shockwave, though neither was actually painful. He was bathed
in Shikon energy, paralyzed on the spot by it, his mouth agape, his eyes
wide open. He was still aware of everything, but the pain was slow to catch
up on events. When it hit, it was all the more pronounced.

He was a demon, a youkai, and with it represented everything the Shikon
purified. His body was in the epicenter of it all, almost translucent as
the fingers of energy streaked through every molecule.

The pain was indescribable.
*
Inuyasha's breaths were coming in harsh pants. His whole body ached.
There were deep wounds, broken or cracked bones, and he felt light-headed.
The shockwave had blown him several feet from his original position and
he tried to get up, knees wobbly. His body shook from the purifying energy
resonating through him and little whimpers escaped him. Blood ran into
his left eye from a deep cut to his forehead and he wiped at it with shaky
fingers.

There was a soft gasp coming from his left and Inuyasha staggered around
as he recognized the source of the noise.

"Miroku?" he called, though it only came out as a rough whisper.

His lover and partner stood not far away, and he looked bad. Really
bad. His skin was a chalky white, eyes wide and glassy, and there was blood
all over him. Tremors raced through the slender body, the robes around
him in tatters, and his right arm� The sheath was still there, but the
cover that usually sealed the kazaana was shredded. His hand was streaked
in black and purple stripes, pulsing angrily.

"Miroku!"

He staggered toward the wounded man, just fast enough to catch the
collapsing figure.

"Bees," the monk whispered, his face contorting in agony, his whole
body arching in pain.

Naraku's poison bees, the hanyou realized. Miroku had sucked in whole
swarms of the lethal creatures, not caring if he died in the process. This
had been the final battle; all or nothing.

But Naraku was dead.

The kazaana was gone.

And the poison�?

Inuyasha moaned softly as he held his badly injured lover. "Hold on,
koishii," he whispered.
*
Sango had been briefly out of the picture after her forced descent and
she had just joined in the fight again when the explosion had made her
stagger. She had been far enough away from the epicenter to remain on her
feet, but it still rocked her. Kirara gave a growl of confusion and Sango
looked at the debris lying everywhere. Body parts� which quickly and without
much ado melted into dust. The dust was picked up by the wind and dispersed.

Youkai who had still fought them suddenly screeched in fear and confusion,
stopping their attacks, and started to run.

Naraku was dead.

Sesshoumaru had killed him.

He had� killed him.

Sango let lose a yell of triumph. Yes! They had made it!

Battered and bruised, but they had survived. Grabbing her boomerang,
ignoring her bruised and maybe pulled muscles, she ran toward where she
had seen the two opponents battle for the ultimate victory.

She saw the tall, silver-haired figure standing in the middle of a
field of debris. The ground looked scorched, there were chunks of rock
missing, but Sesshoumaru was the one left standing.

One clawed hand opened and the Tetsuseiga clattered to the ground.

"Sesshoumaru?" Sango called.

A shudder ran through the tall, lithe frame.

He made a small, strained noise.

And then he collapsed.

"Sesshoumaru!"

Sango fell to her knees at the youkai's side, fear and terror battling
for the upper hand. And she saw the terrible injuries. His robe was in
tatters, slashed and torn apart, black blood soaking the remains. There
were deep, ugly wounds all over his chest and back, now open to her eyes
as the long hair fell aside. His face was disfigured by three, deep cuts
that looked like claws had lashed at him. The left hand seemed broken,
the right showed blisters from burns.

"Sesshoumaru?" she whispered. He looked too much like the time he had
nearly died at Inuyasha's hands�

Those wonderful, amber eyes cracked open a little and a weak smile
curled the perfect lips. "Over," the youkai managed, voice weak and trembly.

Yes, he had defeated Naraku, but at what cost?

Sango's hand fluttered over the terrible wounds. She pulled off her
scarf and tried to clean away some of the blood crusting one eye. Sesshoumaru
winced and she stopped.

"Hold on," she pleaded. "I'll get help."
*
Kagome had received numerous cuts and bruises, and except for her aching
shoulder from shooting so many arrows, she was one of the few who hadn't
been injured critically. Farthest away from where Naraku had turned into
bite-sized pieces that had evaporated, she tried to get to her friends,
when the sight of a familiar body stopped her. In the middle of a field
of dead youkai lay a woman in expensive, silken robes. Her dark hair had
come undone from the intricate knot and had spilled like a puddle around
her. There were no open wounds, but to Kagome it looked like she was dead.

Kagura.

The girl stepped closer and froze when red eyes opened slowly.

"You," Kagura whispered, her voice rough and uneven. A smile appeared
on her red lips. "He's dead."

Kagome found herself nodding.

"I am but a part of him," Kagura went on, her voice weakening. "And
when he dies, so do I. My heart is stilling. I can feel it." She touched
her chest, her hand badly shaking. "I've got it back� Sesshoumaru kept
his promise. I am free."

Kagome stared at her as the red eyes closed and her face relaxed completely,
then her body started to dissolve. Shocked, Kagome remained where she was
for a moment, but then a soft moan reached her. Looking around, she tried
to find the source of the very human sound. Her eyes widened.

"Kouga!"

The wolf youkai lay on his side, curled up, the fur skins and armor
ripped to pieces. Deep gashes decorated his arms and legs, there was a
spear-like thing stuck in his stomach, and blood was pooling under him.

Blue eyes cracked open and a weak smile flew over his lips.

"Kagome."

It sounded like a prayer, a soft breath on his pale lips.

"Oh my god, Kouga," she whispered and sank to her knees, discarding
of her bow and arrows.

Careful fingers brushed back errand strands of hair and his smile widened
fractionally.

"You are okay," he murmured. "Good."

"Yes, I'm fine, and you'll be, too."

"No, leave me here. A fitting end to this existence. One among many.
Just a forgotten death."

"No!" she protested. "You'll survive, Kouga. You'll heal!"

"Nothing can heal me, Kagome. Nothing. Everything is gone." He closed
his eyes and a soft sigh left his lips.

Kagome gave a sob of despair and searched for a pulse, finding it weak
and thready. Kouga was a wolf youkai, a full demon, and she had seen Inuyasha
recover from worse injuries. But unlike Kouga, Inuyasha had had a will
to live. The wolf had lost everything. His own pack long before this battle,
except for the last two loyal subject. They had been slaughtered by Naraku.
Ayame, too. With her pack. He was the last wolf youkai in these parts of
the world�

"You can't go," she pleaded. "You promised to protect me!"

The blue eyes opened again. "You're a strong woman, Kagome. My woman."

"Yes, your woman. And I still need you."

She met the pain filled gaze and gently touched the bloody face. There
was a faint expression of hope in the blue depths, a flicker of longing.

"Don't give up. Promise me!"

"Kagome�" he breathed.

He closed his eyes again and for a second she was afraid he had given
in to the darkness that begged him, but she still found a pulse.

"Fight," she whispered. "Please."
*
In the end they only made it back to the palace because of Kirara, Hachi
and Aun. All three carried the wounded and unconscious. The injured were
brought to the rooms and Kagome and Sango set out to help wherever they
could. Shippo had been sent with Kirara to get a healer's help. Kirara
had taken him to the village where the woman healer Aiko had saved Miroku's
life.

The little kitsune looked around the small settlement where people
stopped and gazed at him, clearly curious but not the least afraid of the
two youkai in their midst.

Shippo approached the healer's house. "Aiko?" he called. "Please, we
need your help. Miroku and Inuyasha sent me�"

The bamboo matt was pushed aside and the old woman stepped outside,
looking at the fox and the cat.

"Help, you say?"

He nodded. "Yes. They and others were wounded in the battle against
Naraku and we need a healer's expertise. Please come with us!"

"Why should I help a youkai, little one?"

The kitsune frowned and his teeth clenched unconsciously. "You helped
Miroku before, and Inuyasha, too! They're my friends."

"What about the youkai lord?"

Shippo froze. How did she�? Wide-eyed, he looked at the healer.

"He's a youkai," Aiko went on. "They're nothing but monsters."

"I'm not a monster!" he yelled, hurt. "We're just different, and Sesshoumaru
is Inuyasha's brother!"

"They share the same blood, but they never shared any love."

Angrily, Shippo stared up at her. "Sesshoumaru has changed, old woman!"
he argued. "He was the one who defeated Naraku! And I'm not going to let
him die now! I'll find someone else!"

Maybe Kaede would help. She lived even farther from here, but if Kirara
ran quickly� Walking over to the large, two-tailed cat he was about to
climb on when Kirara growled softly. He stopped and looked around.

Aiko had descended the steps, her face calm, her eyes giving nothing
away.

"You care for this youkai who has brought your friends so much pain
before?"

Shippo clenched his teeth. "Yes."

She studied him silently, then nodded and reached for a bag sitting
next to the rickety chair. She slung it over her shoulder.

"Show me the way, little one."

Shippo climbed onto Kirara's back and Aiko followed, then the demon
cat took off on flaming paws.
* * *
Aiko began her slow work of cleaning deep and bloody wounds. Inuyasha
refused treatment, telling them to concentrate on Miroku and Sesshoumaru
first. Aiko just tsked and went after her task of cleaning Sesshoumaru's
considerable, deep wounds.

Shippo was with them, fetching water, towels and healing herbs. Apparently
Sesshoumaru kept a good stock of them in his cellars, much to the healer's
approval.

The youkai was in a bad shape. Aiko and Kagome worked on him while
Inuyasha took care of Miroku, who was suffering quite badly from the poison
now. He had a high fever and it was steadily climbing. Neither of their
patients had regained consciousness and Sango was glad the demon lord hadn't.
Those injuries were painful. She winced as Aiko sewed the gaping flesh
closed, bandaged his body and applied salve liberally to the bruises and
scrapes.

When she was done, she went to look after their other patients. Kouga
had been brought to a separate room and while the wolf youkai was awake,
he was only staring off into space.

"He'll be okay," Rin said, her little voice confident as she stroked
one hand lightly over the thick bandage around her guardian's arm. "He's
powerful. He can heal."

Sango wasn't so sure. Feeling her own aches and pains, she looked down
at the critically injured man and something inside her clenched in fear
at the thought of his death.
* * *
Kagome knocked carefully, then stepped into the room where Inuyasha
had carried Miroku to. The monk was stripped of the soiled clothes and
Inuyasha had cleaned him up quite nicely with Aiko's help. They had bandaged
the wounds and the hanyou was currently getting out of his own stained
and ripped clothing as the healer prepared another bowl of herbal ointment
for him.

"Let me help," Kagome offered.

He nodded, then winced as muscles and deep cuts protested movement.
Her eyes fell on the deep slash marks, crusted with blood, the bad bruising
and the abrasions. There even seemed to be a stab wound.

"Sit down, I'll clean these up for you."

Inuyasha silently let her do what needed to be done, eyes on the motionless
figure on the bed. Miroku appeared haggard, drained, liked dead� The right
arm looked the worst and it reminded her a lot of the discoloration from
Kouga's poisoning when he had received the evil Shikon shard.

Aiko handed the young woman her bowl and both wordlessly treated their
patient.

"How is he?" Kagome asked.

"The poison is working inside him," the healer answered. "I did what
I could, but his body needs to fight."

Kagome combed back a strand of hair to treat the left shoulder. "He'll
be fine, Inuyasha."

The shoulders slumped a little and the white head fell forward. "I
can't lose him now that the curse is lifted, Kagome," the hanyou whispered,
sounding desperate.

The young woman stepped around him and drew him into a hug without
thinking much about her actions. Strong arms curled around her waist, pulling
her close.

"You won't," she murmured.
* * *
Sango sat curled up on the large, overstuffed chair, looking at the
pale, almost frail looking form on the huge bed. She was tired, close to
completely exhausted, but she refused to give in to her body's growing
need for rest. Ever since returning from their final battle against Naraku,
she had been with him. Hour after hour, through sunset and sunrise, and
through the high fever that, like Miroku's, showed no sign of getting better.

Stripped down to only a pair of plain pants, his chest swathed in bandaged,
just like his left arm, pads on his badly injured face, Sesshoumaru looked
little like his so invincible self. The long hair had been bound back.
There were so many wounds, internal as well as external, and whatever Naraku
had used, while it had left visible marks, it had also worked in places
no eyes could see. Then there had been the Shikon's purifying energy. It
had done the most damage, in places no one could see.

A soft moan escaped the youkai and Sango jumped a little. She rose
slowly and walked over to the bed she had shared with him before. The eye
not covered by the thick pad soaked liberally in a healing herbal liquid
opened slowly and the slender form tensed slightly. There was fear in his
expression and it was so unfitting for him. As was this weak and beaten
appearance. They had won and looked like they had lost anyway.

"It's okay, Sesshoumaru," she said softly. "You're safe."

A soft gasp could be heard and she unconsciously stroked over his matted
hair.

"The others are okay, too. Inuyasha's a little better off than you.
Miroku's fighting the poison from Naraku's bees and Kagome has a concussion,
some bruises and cuts�"

"You?" he whispered, voice fading.

"Bruised. Mostly my ego. Some of those mindless servants nearly got
me." She shrugged and regretted immediately as her sore muscles protested.

"Good," he breathed and closed his eyes, slipping off into sleep again.

Sango settled back, slightly dizzy and so much craving sleep. Her eyes
started to droop.

Sleep.

Just sleep.

Just a little rest.

She crawled onto the large bed. The covers felt wonderful against her
tired body and she reveled in the softness, the smell of him�

Confusion seeped into her exhausted mind. Confusion about her feelings
for this man, confusion about her actions, confusion about their future.

Who was she kidding? There was none. It had been an act born out of
adrenaline and hunger. It had happened once and would never happen again.
He was a youkai, she was a slayer! She didn't� feel something for him�
nothing at all.

Then why had she been so afraid that he had died on the battle field?

Why was she still scared?
* * *
Kagome entered the room where Kouga had been placed to rest and heal.
Like Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha he had been cleaned and bandaged, and it
was the first time she saw him without his usual attire. Actually, he wasn't
wearing a lot, except for the bandages and a loincloth not unlike his old
one. He still looked bad, some cuts and abrasions uncovered, bruises all
over his visible skin. His eyes were open but they were simply staring
into nothingness, looking out of the window without seeing the clouds in
the sky or the occasional bird.

She sat down at his side, gazing at the one who had been her self-proclaimed
savior and 'man' in the past. She wasn't embarrassed by his almost completely
nude state; Kagome had gone past that girlish feeling a long time ago.
Now she was only pained by his state, his own pain.

"Kouga?" she asked softly.

There was no reaction to her presence or her voice and she carefully
touched one hand. She wrapped her fingers loosely around it.

"Kouga? Please look at me?"

Those wonderful, blue eyes shifted and she looked into such deep pain,
she almost gasped. Kagome touched his face with her other hand and wordlessly
stroked one cheek. His eyes glistened with unshed tears, but he wouldn't
allow himself to cry. Like Inuyasha he was a very proud man and despite
his immense losses, he was still trying to control his emotional reactions.

"It's okay to let go," she murmured. "It's okay to mourn them now.
You had your revenge. Naraku is dead."

He looked away again, burying his head in the futon. One tear slid
down his bruised cheek and she wiped it away with her thumb. And suddenly
he was in her arms, holding on to her, head buried against her neck and
shoulder, his body shaking in silent sobs. She felt the tears, but he didn't
make a sound.

Kagome held on, stroked over his back, his hair, and was simply there
as her own throat tightened and the lump in it thickened.

Kouga was the last of his kind -- his family, comrades� all packs gone.
And Ayame. The wolves of the mountain had been wiped out. Yes, there were
still wolves left, but no wolf youkai.

He was alone.
* * *
Inuyasha sat on the large bed, next to his unconscious lover, letting
his eyes take inventory of the human. Cleaned of the blood and dirt, it
was now all the more visible how much his lover had been hurt. Miroku had
been badly injured by the youkai, his skin blemished by numerous bruises
and cuts and scrapes. One cheek looked like someone had taken sandpaper
to it and Inuyasha's eyes tightened. The left, scarred arm had taken some
punishment, featuring a sprained wrist, but the right one was� healed.
No more kazaana, no more covering it up. For the first time in his life,
Miroku no longer had to wear the protective beads and the bandage. Inuyasha
smiled dimly.

The poison was still running its course and he was feverish. The right
arm had leftover streaks of purple and black. Even now Miroku's temperature
was too high for the hanyou's liking and he was sweating. Aiko had brewed
several herbal medicines, but somehow Inuyasha feared the worst. Two days
now. Two days where both Miroku and Sesshoumaru were hovering between life
and death.

His own injuries were no better. There were deep cuts and broken bones,
but those would heal. His youkai side took care of that. It would take
time, though. Broken bones didn't mend over night and each shift reminded
him of the fact.

But they had survived.

They had killed Naraku.

And the jewel was gone.
* * *
Kouga hadn't left his room for a single moment. There was nothing outside
these four walls that held any interest for him. His blue eyes held an
empty expression as their stared at the wall, his inner eyes replaying
scenes of the past, memories and wishful thinking alike. His wounds were
treated, his bandages changed, but he didn't care anymore.

Everyone was dead.

Everyone.

He was the only one left. It was a sad fate, an unchangeable fate.

The door to his room opened almost hesitantly and he heard soft steps.
Too light to be Kagome's and the smell was wrong. Still, he didn't turn.
If it was an assassin, so be it. He had nothing worth living for.

"I brought you something to eat."

The voice was young, that of a child, and when the owner of the young
voice stepped into his line of sight, he discovered it was the girl he
had seen with Sesshoumaru before. She had grown quite a bit, but her face
was still so very much open, her eyes large and filled with gentleness
and also� happiness. She radiated such a calming nature, it was almost
like having Kagome around.

"I'm not hungry," he murmured, looking past her.

"You have to eat to heal."

He gave her a sad smile but didn't say anything.

The girl placed the food on the table and walked up to him. Her large
eyes studied him and despite his own pain, Kouga could detect something
like fear in their depths.

"What's your name?" he wanted to know, breaking the silence.

"Rin." She took a piece of food and held it out to him. "Eat, please.
You have to be whole again."

He pushed himself up a little, noting her increasing unease. It had
been the same when they had first met. She had been afraid of him, but
he didn't know why. She lived with an incredibly powerful youkai, so why
fear him? He couldn't even get close to Sesshoumaru's power.

Kouga took the food and chewed it slowly. His eyes were on the little
girl, who determinedly stayed with him.

"You're afraid of me," he murmured after some time, speaking out loud
what he had been pondering.

She stuck out her chin. "No, not any more."

"But you were?"

"I don't like wolves."

He nodded. "I can accept that. You don't have to stay here."

"I'm not afraid of them anymore."

"Oh?"

Her small face was set. "No," she repeated.

Kouga chewed thoughtfully, taking whatever Rin handed him. She smiled,
pleased, and held out a jug of water. He emptied it.

"Rin?"

"Yes?"

"How did you come to live with a youkai like Sesshoumaru?"

"He saved me," she replied. "From the wolves that attacked my village."
Now her eyes had taken on a harder look, one that told of dark memories
and the determination not to let them rule her again.

Wolves, Kouga thought. Wolves attacked her village, probably killed
her people� killed her? He knew of the Tenseiga, that Sesshoumaru could
bring humans back to life with it, but why would he save a small human
child?

"I won't harm you, Rin," he said softly. "I don't harm human beings."

Her hands clenched around the jug.

"Rin?"

She shook her head.

Kouga leaned forward a little and she stepped back, her eyes suddenly
wider.

"Rin?"

"You� were in my village that day," she blurted.

"I�" Kouga stopped, paling. "I was�?"

He had killed her people� and her?

"Rin� I'm sorry," he whispered.

She bit her lower lip and finally looked up, facing him straight-on.
"I'm not afraid of wolves any more," she repeated her earlier statement.

Kouga regarded her silently and finally smiled a little as he sank
back onto the bed. "No, you aren't, Rin."
* * *
Sesshoumaru was surrounded by suffocating blackness. There wasn�t a
single point of light and he wasn�t so sure if he was coming or going.
He thought he was walking somewhere, but he could also be standing rooted
to the spot. His sense of direction was gone, his eyes, though wide open,
were of no use, and his feet were definitely not on solid ground. He gasped
for air that wasn�t there, feeling the blackness close around him, bringing
an inhuman coldness. He had the sudden feeling of falling down and screamed
in surprise. His hands flailed out for something solid to hold on, all
the time thinking he was rushing down to his certain death on very solid
ground.

He opened his eyes.

Light blinded him and he averted his eyes with a groan. When he looked
up again to try and make out his surroundings a wave of dizziness washed
over him and the world tilted sideways. He squeezed his eyes shut as he
gritted his teeth and tried not to cry out in pain. Every nerve ending
blazed with the agony of his body. He had been hit bad and he knew it.
The youkai tried to take inventory and came up with a sickening amount
of damage to his body. Several broken ribs, a crushed wrist, burns, slash
marks, bruises, deep cuts, and an all-encompassing headache. All was nothing
really all too bad alone, but together it created quite a problem.

Opening his eyes he tried to get a bearing on where he was. His chambers,
his bed� and there were faint memories of someone treating his wounds,
giving him healing brews and teas, and someone else staying at his side.

Sesshoumaru stretched his senses, trying to ignore the pulses of pain
from everywhere of his body, trying to find out if he was alone or not.
He wasn't. There were at least two humans outside the door, talking, but
he couldn't make out a word. Trying to turn his head was a bad idea, the
youkai found out a second latter as spikes of liquid agony shot through
him. He clenched his teeth so hard he thought he'd crack his jaw. Pain
rippled through his abused body and he felt muscles twitch involuntarily.

"Sesshoumaru!"

The voice was like a sledge hammer on his already so pain filled mind
and he groaned softly.

"Don't move! You're hurt badly."

He wanted to glare at the woman whose voice identified her as Sango,
but he didn't have the energy. Instead he just sank back and tried to relax
his cramping muscles. Soft hands caressed his head.

"Just give yourself time to heal," Sango murmured and suddenly her
voice took on a very soothing quality.

Sesshoumaru turned his head, clouded eyes taking in the slayer. She
looked pale and had been injured, too. Her face had a worn, hollow quality,
and her eyes told of little sleep. He wanted to say something, but the
exhaustion took him once more.

He slipped into sleep.
*
Sango looked at the youkai and a tender smile touched her lips. Sesshoumaru
was healing, he was getting better, and soon he would be back to his old
self.

Her eyes rose and looked at the closed door that led into the hallway.
Just one floor down, the situation was very much different.
* * *
Miroku's body was burning up. For three days now he had fought the poison
and the damage done to his body. He was feverish, couldn't keep anything
down, and he was losing weight at an alarming rate. The hand where the
kazaana had been was marked by the poison, the skin discolored and inflamed.
Cold baths hadn't brought down the dangerous fever. His body was fighting
against the poison, but it was losing. Aiko had sent Shippo and Kirara
to gather special herbs, but even they hadn't brought the temperatures
down.

Inuyasha was with his lover non-stop, even now as the hot body lay
almost motionless on the large bed, its sheets soaked in sweat. The frantic
heartbeat of before had dulled to an erratic one, and the hanyou's sensitive
ears were following each thump.

"Koishii," Inuyasha whispered, stroking over the hot face.

Miroku's features twisted in pain at the cramps that had been running
through his body non-stop now. Glassy, violet eyes cracked open and dry
lips moved. No sound came out of the parched throat.

"No," Inuyasha pleaded. "Don't�"

The heartbeat faltered and the hand in his cramped as new pain shot
through the tortured body.

"Please, no...."

Miroku's eyes slid shut, a whimper escaping instead of words.

"Miroku!"

And then the last, stumbling heartbeats stilled.

"No!"

Inuyasha frantically sought for a sign of life. A breath, a pulse,
anything. There was nothing but the terrifying silence, the confirmation
of a passing.

"NO!" he roared. "Miroku!"

It couldn't be. It just couldn't�. He hadn't fought everyone and everything
in his way to defeat Naraku, only to be left with� nothing.

"No, no, no," he whimpered. "Please, no�"

But there was nothing anymore, no more blood running through Miroku's
body, no more breaths leaving his lungs.

He was dead.

Dead�

Gone�

And the world blurred into a red haze.

His mate had died; killed by Naraku. Poisoned by his insects.

Cold emotions rose and turned into fiery hot feelings of pain, loss
and revenge, but there was no one to kill, to maim and destroy. Naraku
was dead.

Like Miroku.

A growl left his lips which pulled back over much longer canines. Razor-sharp
claws tenderly caressed the cooling body, and blood red eyes lifted and
gazed through the silvery white bangs.

He moved away from the bed and his dead mate, each movement slow and
dangerously predatory. The door to their room splintered under his claws.

A howl could be heard throughout the castle, startling the servants,
terrifying the lesser youkai among them.
* * *
Sesshoumaru was reasonably awake, only dozing slightly, but he felt
better than before. Just twenty-four hours ago he had woken for the first
time, had been coherent for the first time, and since he had vastly improved
by the hour. His body was healing. Slower than he was used to, but it was
mending itself. He had tried to get out of bed twice before, but each time
it had ended with him face down on the ground and Sango giving him a piece
of her mind. It was always a very loud and uncensored piece, too. The woman
was driving him insane�

But in a way he didn't really want to miss her presence.

A howl reverberated through the castle and the youkai's eyes widened.

"Inuyasha?" he whispered, unaware he had spoken the name of his brother
out loud.

The voice was unmistakable, even if the emotion expressed in it was.
He had heard such noise before. Such howling. Such soul-deep pain, such�
horror.

No� it couldn't be� no�

Sesshoumaru pushed back the cover and painfully, as well as laboriously
sat up, already feeling the first slivers of renewed pain in his healing
form.

The door to his chambers opened and Sango came in, her face a chalky
white. It quickly changed from shocked to angry as she saw him getting
up.

"What are you doing?!" she demanded.

"Where's my brother?" he countered her question with his own.

"What?"

"You heard me! Where's my brother, slayer?"

His eyes flashed red for just a brief second and it showed her more
than anything how much he was running on adrenaline. Sango hesitated, then
the sadness returned, a pain hidden in the brown depths of her eyes.

"Sesshoumaru� you should stay here� Inuyasha�"

"Lost his mate," he finished her sentence, his own voice hollow.

"How�?"

"I heard his cries. I've heard them before. It's the cry of the mate
after the passing. Where is he?"

There was a splintering sound from somewhere, echoing through the castle,
followed by a roar that sounded less and less human or even half-human.
Sesshoumaru reached for his sword to use as a crutch and swayed to his
feet.

"Where is he!" he demanded again.

"Taking apart everything in his way," the demon slayer answered softly.
"Miroku died of the poison� you shouldn't� I mean, we should leave him
alone, Sesshoumaru. He's mourning�"

He ignored her as he staggered toward the exit and into the corridor.
He heard Sango sigh, but she followed him.
*
In his room, which he hadn't left since he had been brought here, Kouga
raised his head. His pale, drawn face grew even paler and Kagome, who had
spent most of her time with him, looked up.

"What is it?"

"Inuyasha," the wolf youkai murmured. "No�"

Kagome jumped up, suddenly afraid. "What do you mean?"

Kouga shivered and sat up, his weakened body not yet completely at
ease with moving around. "It's a call of mourning, of despair, of revenge
and pain� He lost someone, Kagome."

She paled dramatically. "Miroku!"

And she ran out of the door.

Kouga staggered to his feet, swaying briefly, then grit his teeth.
With determined steps he left the room.
*
Sesshoumaru had never been more shocked in his life than the moment
his eyes fell on his half-brother. True, he had seen him like this before,
but back then he had been plain scared. He, the great Sesshoumaru, had
been frightened, terrified, at his little brother's mercy, who had nearly
killed him.

Now� now he was looking at a horrifying memory of the worst time of
his life.

Kneeling on all fours in the middle of the battle court, the hanyou
had buried his long, sharp claws into the hard-packed earth after he had
destroyed whatever puppet or training equipment there had been. Nothing
looked like it had survived his wrath. The slender, semi-naked body was
heaving with each panting breath and the youkai could hear the air escape
with soft hisses, intermingled with what could be growls. The silvery white
hair hung in thick strands around his head, obscuring his face.

As Sesshoumaru fell against the arch of the entrance into the battle
ground, his whole body shaking, he felt a hand push against his back to
keep him from toppling backward. A brief flash of gratitude coursed through
him, but he didn't let the woman behind him see it.

And then Inuyasha raised his head, his nose taking in his scent, and
Sesshoumaru took two involuntary steps back. Again, Sango just kept him
from falling.

Memories� painful, nightmarish memories returned and he felt himself
shiver. Those eyes�

Blood red eyes looked at him out of a face that, while human, was no
longer human at all. The purple stripes underneath the hanyou's eyes were
a clear sign of the demon inside him. Those inhuman eyes narrowed at the
two intruders, the crimson color increasing. A soft, warning rumble left
his lips.

Nothing of the human had remained.

Nothing of Inuyasha was there to be seen.

There was only an animal, a hurt, dangerous animal that would kill
whoever approached him. The pointed ears were laid flat back on the top
of Inuyasha's head as his claws dug deeper into the soil, and he snarled
softly, pulling back his lips from long canines.

It was a clear warning.

The only one he would get from the demon he was now facing.

Someone he had seen like this before, but even then � there had been
some humanity in him. Not now, though. Inuyasha had lost his mate just
after the battle that had freed Miroku of his curse.

His brother was ready to die � while taking whoever might be in his
way with him. Sesshoumaru doubted he would stand a chance against the primal
force that gazed at him even if he were at the top of his powers. Once
before he had noticed what lay dormant in the hanyou; once before he had
felt the fear course through him. Right now that fear was closer to terror
than anything else.

His muscles trembled with exhaustion and fear. The demon Inuyasha had
nearly killed him once; had only let up because he had chosen so. Because
Sesshoumaru had shown submission. The demon lord doubted that submission
would do the trick now. This was a creature driven by abysmal pain.

They wouldn't be able to stop Inuyasha, even if he were at his full
strength. There was only one thing he could do.

Sesshoumaru's hands closed around Tenseiga and he turned, almost losing
his balance. Sango's hands were on his arm and around his waist.

"Sesshoumaru?" she asked.

"I can help," he whispered.

The primal youkai behind them snarled softly, watching them, and Sesshoumaru
shivered.

Each step sapped at his strength and he was leaning heavily on the
woman, but he forced himself to walk.

"What are you up to?" Sango wanted to know.

"Tenseiga," he said through clenched teeth.

Her eyes fell on the sword he was using as a crutch, then understanding
coursed through her. He could bring back the dead monk� he could save both
him and his brother.

Sesshoumaru had no idea how he made it to the chambers, but he was
trembling quite badly now, sweat running down his face and the pain was
all-encompassing. The sight of his brother's blood red eyes and inhuman
features drove him on, though.

Both were stopped by the healer who had helped the wounded warriors
in the last few days. Aiko stood in front of the doors like a sentinel,
looking at the unlikely duo.

"Out of my way, woman!" Sesshoumaru snarled.

"You cannot enter, youkai."

"This is my castle, and I order you to get out of my way before I make
you!"

As if he even could. He needed all his strength to stay upright. Sango
was taking on most of his weight now and Sesshoumaru felt so incredibly
tired and exhausted.

"It has begun, youkai, and you cannot change it. Your motives are honorable,
but you are not needed. He will be fine."

"He's dead, witch!"

"Yes, but his healing has begun. It will be obvious soon. The bond
is strong."

"What are you talking about?" he growled.

Aiko gazed at him, the serene expression driving him insane.

"The hanyou and the monk are bonded as one. Should one ever perish,
the other's life energy will bring him back. Neither shall die if not killed
at the same exact moment in time."

Sesshoumaru gaped at her.

"You mean�" Sango stuttered. "Miroku's alive?"

"He will be fine, soon, slayer. The hanyou's life force is draining
right now. He will be weakening, return to his normal state because of
it, and he will need your help more than his mate."

Sesshoumaru's thoughts were whirling. His brother and the monk� bonded�?
And they shared� life?

His knees buckled and even Sango could no longer support him. With
a soft gasp he collapsed onto the hard ground, pain shooting through his
abused body. He was trembling so hard, he could no longer hold on to Tenseiga.
It clattered to the ground.

"Sesshoumaru?" Sango exclaimed.

He closed his eyes, fighting for composure, for control over his traitorous
body.

"Yes," he heard the old hag say, "it has begun. For all of you."
*
Down in the battle court the creature that had been Inuyasha howled
as if in pain, then roared and attacked the bare stone wall, digging deep
gauges into it with his bare claws.

Kagome watched the display of unrestrained, primal power and she felt
slivers of fear course through her.

This wasn't Inuyasha anymore. Not even the Inuyasha she had seen as
a youkai before. This was something dark and primeval, something so mindless
and driven by instinct, she knew it would kill many before someone might
take it down.

"Oh, Inuyasha," she whispered.

Kouga suddenly appeared at her side, his face pale and drawn, and his
horrified eyes were on what was currently taking out its rage and pain
on the battle court walls.

"Inuyasha?" he whispered in disbelief.

Kagome nodded.

"But� that's� he smells� like a youkai!"

"He is a youkai, in a way. There's nothing left of him."

Suddenly the semi-clothed figure froze, staggered, and collapsed onto
his knees. Crimson eyes burned with inner rage and he tried to get up,
but whatever was causing it, he couldn't. Stumbling for two more steps,
he crashed down once more, then landed flat on his stomach on the dusty
ground.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome called and started down the stairs, but Kouga held
her back.

"Wait�"

"He needs help!"

"He could just as well slice you apart!"

Kagome's features twisted with the need to help and the understanding
that she might just end up killed by his claws.

Inuyasha whimpered softly, pushing fruitlessly at the ground, and his
features grew more and more lax. Before their astounded eyes, the purple
stripes on his cheeks disappeared, the crimson color faded into amber,
and the claws no longer looked like knives.

Kagome ran over to him, Kouga on her trail, and sank down beside the
stricken hanyou.

"Inuyasha�"

Incredibly pained eyes, showing the suffering of a tormented soul,
met her inquiring gaze.

"Kagome� why?" he wanted to know.

She touched the dust-streaked face. His eyes closed and his muscles
relaxed completely.

"Unconscious," Kouga muttered. "What happened?"

"I don't know," she replied, puzzled.
* * *
Inuyasha had no idea how he came to be here. He lay on a bed, in a room,
and it was day. There were soft sounds coming from his left, sounds of
someone sleeping, moving lightly in his dreams, and he turned around.

Miroku.

Dressed in only light pants, chest naked, the monk looked peacefully
asleep.

Asleep� not dead.

Dead.

Miroku!

Inuyasha sat up with a gasp as memories returned. Memories of his lover's
dying breath, of the hot, feverish body in his arms, of the fading heartbeat
and then�

But�

Inuyasha placed a hand onto the smooth chest and felt the strong heartbeat
he had subconsciously heard before. The warmth of the skin seeped into
him, reassured him, and he gave a soft whimper.

Miroku� was alive?

Dark violet eyes cracked open and pulled the hanyou into their depths.
It was like a spell. He felt the heartbeat, listened to its wonderful sound,
felt the warmth underneath his touch, and then he saw the slight smile.

"Inuyasha," Miroku murmured.

And the powerful half-demon flung himself into his lover's arms, feeling
Miroku's embrace.

"Koishii?"

"You're alive!"

"I� yes�" He sounded confused.

"You died," Inuyasha whispered, feeling the first tremors course through
his body. "You died� in my arms. You died!"

The tears came unbidden as the pain clenched his heart, came back with
a force that threatened to drown him, and Inuyasha felt strong hands hold
him, stroke him calmingly, and soft lips moved against his neck as a warm
breath brushed over his skin.

"I'm here. It's okay. I'm fine."

The hanyou finally quieted down, breathing hard, swallowing convulsively
to get his reactions under control. Watery, amber eyes looked at the man
still lying underneath him on the bed, felt the gentle hands caress his
face, and he drank in the sight of the lively, violet eyes, the smile,
the healthy color of his skin.

Miroku was alive.

He didn't know how or why, but he was alive.

Tenseiga, he thought. Maybe his brother had used the sword to bring
him back to life. He would have to ask him, thank him�

There was a soft knock and the door opened. Aiko came in, smiling at
the two men so intimately entwined on the bed. Inuyasha had no intention
of moving an inch and Miroku looked comfortable, too.

"I see you have awakened. How do you feel, Houshi?"

"A bit tired," Miroku answered honestly.

"That was only to be expected. You pulled a lot of energy, but your
body will heal completely."

Inuyasha frowned and sat up a little. "What do you mean? What energy?"

Aiko smiled again. "Come see me later today. I will explain. For now,
rest. Everything is in balance."

And with that she left.

Inuyasha kept frowning, but then Miroku pulled him down into his arms
again. Later sounded like a good plan, he decided.
* * *
Kouga sat in the peaceful garden, eyes holding a faraway expression.
Kagome approached him silently and when she sat down beside the still wounded
youkai, he turned his head a fraction to glance at her.

"How do you feel?" she wanted to know.

He gave a little snort. "What do you think? I'm the last of my kind�"

She reached for his hand and clasped it tenderly. "But you still have
friends."

He looked at their joined hands, but unlike before he made no romantic
overtures. There was such sadness in his eyes, even Kagome's presence couldn't
drive it fully away.

"I hear the monk has recovered," he said, changing the topic.

Kagome hesitated a moment, her compassionate gaze on Kouga's closed-off
features, then she nodded.

His eyebrows twitched up a little. "The dog boy's mated to a human?"
He chuckled, but there was no humor in it. "Now that's something."

"Hey, what are you laughing at!"

The challenging voice rung out over the peaceful landscape and Kouga's
head snapped up. Inuyasha stood just a few feet away and he hadn't even
smelled him!

"You and that� human." He put enough sarcasm into his voice to make
it an insult. "Here you had a chance to have a real miko, a woman like
Kagome, but you gave that up. Couldn't compete with me, huh?"

Kagome tried to hide a smile as the old fire was reborn in the blue
eyes.

"Compete? There was never anything to compete with!" Inuyasha snarled.
"Little wimp."

"Mongrel puppy!"

Inuyasha bared his teeth but he didn't reach for Tetsuseiga. Behind
him, Miroku remained out of the circle of fighters, like Kagome trying
to hide a smile. Their eyes met and she winked at him; he gave her a barely
detectable nod.

"Who do you call a puppy, kid? I could wipe the ground with you!"

"You haven't been able to so far, what makes you think you'd stand
a chance now?"

Inuyasha huffed. "I don't have to be at my top to beat the crap out
of you! If you stay long enough, that is. You always run anyway!"

Kouga growled and got to his feet. "My time's more precious than showing
you your place, dog face!"

Inuyasha grinned insolently. "I'd like to see you try."

"Guys!" Kagome yelled and stepped between them. "That's enough!"

Kouga crossed his arms in front of his still bandaged chest. "Need
my woman to defend you, puppy?"

"Your woman?!"

Kagome rolled her eyes. Oh, that old argument.

"Kagome's not your woman and never was!"

"You claim her now? One human not enough? Or is it the monk can't satisfy
your needs, huh?"

Inuyasha snarled and stepped closer. "You keep out of my affairs and
your paws off Kagome!"

Kouga grinned widely. "She's my woman, hanyou!"

"Oh for crying out loud!" Kagome grumbled.

Part of her was glad for the fire and spirit the wolf youkai was showing,
though.

Miroku finally stepped forward and laid a hand on Inuyasha's shoulder.
"We're late to meet with Aiko," he said, his voice reasonable, but also
soothing.

Inuyasha seemed to relax under the touch and voice, straightening out
of his slight crouch.

"I've no time to play with you, wolf."

Kouga laughed. "Running because your human said so?"

"I've a much more important appointment than you. And the only one
who's always running away from everything is you!"

Their eyes met and despite the harsh words, there was something else
there. Kouga stiffened as he read the expression in the amber depths, as
the real meaning of the words sank in, and he made an involuntary step
backwards.

Not Inuyasha!

He couldn't� he couldn't actually suspect, or worse, know!

But he did. Somewhere deep in those suddenly much older eyes was that
knowledge, of loss and pain and desperation.

The hanyou turned and walked away. Miroku gave both Kouga and Kagome
a small smile, then followed.

"Kouga?" Kagome said softly and he flinched. He had forgotten about
her presence.

Now her small hand touched his bare arm and while something deep inside
of him rejoiced at the gentle contact, another part was trying to push
her away out of fear of losing the one person he still held dear.

"He's right," the wolf murmured.

"Huh?"

"Inuyasha is right. It's time to stop running."

He started to walk away.

"Kouga?" she called.

The youkai gave her a slight smile. "I'm leaving, Kagome."

"But you said you would stop running!"

"Yes, but to do that, I've to be somewhere else, away from here, and
find the acceptance within me that I am the last."

She made a few steps to follow, but he stopped her.

"You'll always be my woman, Kagome. Always. But for now, I've to leave
you in the protection of Inuyasha. Till I see you again."

He bowed slightly, then continued his way. Out the garden, down the
path to the large entrance doors, and finally out of the fortress. Kagome
stood rooted to the spot, something inside her screaming to follow him,
but she remained.

"Good luck, Kouga. And please return," she whispered.

From the defense walls, Inuyasha watched his former rival and sparring
partner go. Miroku stood at his side. Silent. Eyes on the ever smaller
growing figure. Finally the dark-haired human touched his arm and slid
his hand over Inuyasha's. Their fingers interlaced.

"Safe journey, Kouga," Inuyasha murmured.

"Let's go and see Aiko," Miroku interrupted his brooding thoughts about
he young wolf youkai.

He nodded sharply. There was a lot he wanted to know about what had
occurred here, about Miroku's survival.
* * *
"We're� bonded?" Miroku gaped at the old woman.

"Yes," Aiko confirmed. "The soul bond between you is strong. It was
already balanced when you came here, but now you have completed it. The
Shikon no Tama fused you as one."

Inuyasha stared at her, then shook his head. "But� why?"

"The Jewel of the Four Souls, when it dissolved, it became what it
was named for � the power that binds the souls meant for each other. You
two are one such pairing." She smiled slyly. "Have you never wondered about
the second part of the prophecy?"

"What second part?"

"Only the one who has sworn to kill can bring this heart to life,

And they will become one.

When the four hearts beat as one

The darkness will flee

So the jewel will forever bind the four souls."

"I� never heard that," Miroku murmured, stunned. "So� if I die, Inuyasha's
life energy brings me back?" He sounded shocked.

"Yes."

"And if he dies� the same?"

A nod.

"What if we both die?"

"Only if you die the exact same moment in time will your life end forever.
Your energies are forever interwoven. It's a life cycle of energies, streams
running through each of you, looping back again and again. There's no beginning,
no end. Just life."

"Oh."

The two lovers looked at each other and there was something in Inuyasha's
eyes that was almost fear. They were now one, bonded for life, each the
energy and power and strength of the other. If one died, the other's life
energy would insure the rebirth.

"Aiko�" Miroku started slowly as a thought hit him. "You said the Shikon
bound our souls, but we're just two� still, it is named the Jewel of Four
Souls."

The old woman smiled slightly. "Another pair has been bonded, Houshi,
that is true."

"Another� pair�?" Inuyasha's eyes widened. "Shit!"

She smiled more. "I believe they will soon achieve their balance. It
has begun, hanyou. You cannot stop it. Both have experienced the power
of the bond before, have taken healing energy from the other, and they
will continue to grow to reach your level of bonding."

Inuyasha gaped. It couldn't be� Miroku just frowned, not yet sure he
understood correctly.

"Koishii?" he addressed his lover.

"Sango and Sesshoumaru. They're the second pair."

Miroku's eyebrows rose, but otherwise he remained calm. "I see. Do
they know?"

"They will soon," Aiko answered.
* * *
It was gone. For good. For real. Forever.

The air hole had closed, and all that remained of his right hand was�
unblemished skin. Miroku couldn't remember a time in his life when he hadn't
had the kazaana. True, before his father had died he had been a normal
boy; but that had been a life time ago.

Now�

Now there was nothing anymore.

So strange.

Miroku rubbed a thumb over the right palm, feeling the skin that hadn't
been there before.

The kazaana was gone and with it his power had changed. He had relied
heavily on this dangerous weapon to keep youkai at bay, to threaten and
frighten opponents, and to simply save a life. Now he was a normal man.

Well, he thought with a grin, not so normal. His powers had grown quite
a bit and now he was also bonded for life with his hanyou lover. He still
had no idea how that would work, but he accepted it, like he had accepted
so much in the past.

Someone approached, soft steps on the grassy ground, and settled behind
him. Miroku fell back into the warm, familiar embrace of his partner and
Inuyasha nuzzled his neck.

"Thinking?" the hanyou asked softly, his voice gentle.

"Yes."

Inuyasha took his right hand and the clawed fingers interlaced with
his. "Do you miss it?"

"In a way. It's been with me so long� and I never thought about the
time after we defeated Naraku." He sighed. "It's like part of me is missing."

"Part of you is, but it's a part you can live without."

Miroku stared at their hands. "I've relied on it in the past," he murmured.

"You can fight with other weapons, koishii. The kazaana was the most
powerful, but also the most dangerous � for your life."

Inuyasha kissed his neck again, nibbling slightly.

Miroku nodded and relaxed completely back into the warmth of his lover.
"Yes," he whispered. "It was."

He had to change his fighting technique, work more on his spiritual
power, his shields and charms and casting. But at least he would grow old
with Inuyasha, and according to Aiko, they would live for quite some time
to come.
* * *
A soft, warm breeze was blowing through the small garden. The trees
moved with it, a rustle of leaves among the sound of the water the only
noise disturbing the quiet scene. It was a moonless night, with only the
stars out, and no clouds crossed the sky.

The night of the new moon.

Sesshoumaru stood hidden in an archway that led to a path that would
end in the garden. His sharp eyes were fixed on the two men sitting at
the fish pond where the Koi were lazily snapping for a few late flies.
Miroku sat with his back against a thick tree trunk and Inuyasha had settled
between his open legs, his back to his lover, snuggled into the loose embrace.
Dark hair spilled against the black robes of the monk.

Inuyasha was human. It was the second time Sesshoumaru saw his brother
like this � not counting the time he had picked up the unconscious form
so many weeks ago -- and it surprised him again how much trust the hanyou
displayed in staying here. He was at his most vulnerable now.

Miroku's hands caressed the long hair, then he leaned down and tenderly
kissed his lover's lips. Inuyasha answered the intimate contact, hands
burying in the dark robes, mouth opening, inviting Miroku inside. Sesshoumaru
stayed completely silent, a voyeur but not the least bit ashamed of it.

There was a strange kind of balance between those two men, something
he had noticed before. Not just the intimacy of lover's, but more. Now
that the bond had been revealed, he wondered what would become of them.
Bound together, living one life, almost immortal. Hanyou lived a very long
life, grew older than humans, and if the monk was now tied to the same
life cycle as his lover, it meant an extremely extended life expectancy,
too.

How would they deal?

His brother was a protective-possessive being, and the monk meant the
world to him. It was visible in every touch or look.

Inuyasha buried a hand under the black robe and started to nibble at
his lover's throat and neck. Miroku's eyes closed and he sighed softly.
The wind brought with it the smell of arousal and Sesshoumaru turned quietly.
It was time to give them some privacy.
*
Inuyasha listened to the soft moans and gasps of his lover as he worked
himself down the slender throat exposed to his teeth and the hand he had
underneath the black robes found a nipple that expressed a rising interest
in its presence. Miroku whispered his name, eyes closed, an expression
of pleasure on his face. He claimed the partially open lips again, deepening
the kiss, making his intentions clear.

Miroku buried his hands in the dark locks and held on to him as they
kissed in abandon. Despite the new moon, Inuyasha felt completely safe,
for the first time in his life. They hungrily nipped and licked at each
other until Inuyasha sat back, breathing heavily.

"Let's go," he whispered.

Miroku nodded, rising to his feet, and his hands were on his lover
again. Inuyasha had no idea how they made it back without major injury.
The moment the door had been closed, he was all over his lover. Miroku
sank back onto the futon, the hanyou atop, and gave him free rein to do
whatever he wanted. Inuyasha used it to the fullest, exploring, reaffirming
and simply loving the man underneath him. He had lost his lover once and
he needed to reascertain again that he was whole and healthy and alive.

The unrestrained cries and moans told him just how alive Miroku was.
He had never been a silent lover and currently, he was also a very demanding
one. Blunt nails raked over his skin and Inuyasha closed his hand around
the straining hardness, caressing it gently. Miroku moaned in appreciation,
bucking into his grasp.

Taking his time, Inuyasha let his tongue taste all the soft spots,
let teeth nip and nibble without having to be careful about his sharp canines.
Teasing a hard nipple, he smiled at the whimper that drew, and he repeated
it.

"Inuyasha�"

He growled softly, concentrating on the hard evidence of Miroku's want
and need, reveling in the twitches and pleading. Before his lover could
spill himself, he stopped, drawing a cry of protest. Inuyasha crawled up
the straining body, looking into the wide, violet eyes.

"I want you, Miroku," he whispered.

Miroku's eyes filled with realization and he cupped one cheek with
his right hand � his free, unbound right hand. It was such an amazing feeling
to be touched by the healed flesh.

The next kiss was soft and slow and filled with love.

Miroku proceeded to stroke and arouse him, and Inuyasha closed his
eyes in bliss. He fell into the warmth of his rising pleasure, feeling
his body heat up in arousal and buck in need for his lover's touch. As
the first finger penetrated him, he arched his back, moaning. Miroku was
gentle and thorough, and when he was sufficiently lubricated, Inuyasha
stopped the nimble hands, rolling them around. Miroku blinked at him in
confusion, but then his eyes widened slightly in realization as Inuyasha
settled over him.

"Inuyasha�"

"It's okay."

He smiled down at his lover and Miroku's hands touched his hips, helping
him guide himself down onto the other man. Inuyasha moaned softly, breaths
coming in hisses. Miroku's fingers dug into his hips and his own twitched
slightly.

"Inu.. yasha�" he moaned.

And the hanyou started to move. Slowly at first, experimentally. It
felt incredible and from Miroku's reaction, he was feeling good about it,
too. His lover's hands let go of his hips and reached for his own hands,
entwining their fingers. He gasped softly, still going slow, but the need
to speed up was increasing.

Miroku pushed up into him, making him groan loudly as that special
spot was touched.

Neither man noticed the purple sky outside, as the sun broke through
the night, coloring black first dark blue, then purple and finally a soft
shade of pink. They were too engrossed in each other, bodies moving in
a sensuous rhythm.

Inuyasha knew he couldn't last much longer and despite the wish to
draw it all out, there was nothing he could do as his body needed and craved
release.

The sun's first rays broke over the horizon as the hanyou threw back
his head and cried out his release, as the human underneath him pushed
up hard and desperate, seeking his own climax. Inuyasha fell forward with
the power of the rush he had felt, hair cascading over his lover, and Miroku's
arms came around him. Still connected deep inside, breaths coming in pants,
chests heaving, the two men lay together, Inuyasha on top of Miroku. Finally
the hanyou raised his head, white hair and amber eyes, pointed dog ears
and claws.

Miroku smiled lazily and drew him into a kiss, his tongue expertly
slipping past and around the long canines. His hands carded through the
silvery strands. Inuyasha sighed in pleasure, wincing only briefly as Miroku
slipped free and the two men curled up together. Miroku reached for a towel
and cleaned them off, then Inuyasha drew the blanket over them.

The sun was up, but he didn't care. For once.

Both dropped off into a light doze.
*
When the door opened Inuyasha's head snapped up, amber eyes narrowing
as he discovered the identity of their visitor.

Sesshoumaru.

Dressed in rather simple clothes, without armor or splendor, his older
brother looked at him. There were still wounds visible on his body. His
face was badly slashed up, the cuts clean and just now closing. He was
limping slightly and favored his left arm. The right one was carrying Tetsuseiga.

Inuyasha raised himself, tensing. Sesshoumaru had never entered their
quarters unannounced, never this early in the morning, and he had most
definitely been aware of the scent of sex from the outside already. He
bared his teeth slightly in a warning. There might be a kind of truce between
them that had extended to much more than a cease fire, but this was downright
unacceptable.

"Don't bother getting up," Sesshoumaru remarked, arching an eyebrow.

"What do you want?" the hanyou demanded.

"I came to return what belongs to you."

And with that Sesshoumaru placed Tetsuseiga on the bed, then stepped
back, wincing only slightly.

Inuyasha glanced at the sword, then his eyes returned to his brother.
"Why?"

"It was meant for me only once, Inuyasha. I used it. I doubt I would
be able to wield it ever again. It is yours, made for you by our father.
I have my own."

He frowned again.

Sesshoumaru just smiled and turned around, leaving them alone again.
Miroku moved slightly and a soft groan left his lips. Inuyasha looked at
the monk and smiled as dark eyes opened.

"Hey."

Miroku smiled sleepily and raised his right hand to touch him, then
his eyes fell on the uncovered palm, and the smile widened in wonder, as
it had done so many times in the last days since he had returned from the
dead.

"No dream," he whispered.

Inuyasha clasped the healed hand. "No. No dream. It's over."

Miroku's eyes were suddenly swimming and he squeezed them shut, trembling
slightly. Inuyasha just held him, curled himself around his lover in a
protective, empathic and loving hug.

"It's over," Miroku whispered. "Finally."
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Reassembled	By : Macx Category: InuYasha > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 3401 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, nor make money from this story.

Reassembled