Sweetest Sin

Chapter Two

Explanations

The wounded companions were next awoken by the sound of steel on steel. They forced open their eyes and to their horror, Inuyasha was fighting with Sesshomaru again. They weren’t strong enough to lift their heads up let alone fight so they just had to sit back and watch.

It looked like any other fight at first glance but it was Sango who saw the change. “They are not really fighting.” She told the others in a weaken voice. “Look at how they move, something has changed.” She explained. The brothers weren’t fighting in a rage it just seemed like they were practicing, not actually trying to hurt each other.

Her quiet voice reached Sesshomaru first but soon enough Inuyasha’s ears began to twitch listening for that soft sound again. Slowly the brothers stopped fighting. They had been sparring for so long they had to take time to cool down their muscles before they completely stopped or they would ache later on. When they were able they sheathed their swords and moved back over to where the others were resting. Inuyasha could see their plight and he carefully sat each of his friends up in a tight circle. He made sure something was supporting each of them in that position before speaking.

“Good to see your awake.” Inuyasha said as he sat down in between where Sango and Kagome were sat up. Sesshomaru just nodded, he was resisting the urge to cringe when he noticed if he wanted to be included in this conversation the only open seat was between Sango and Miroku. He sat gingerly and waited for the inquisition he knew was going to come.

“Why is he here?” Sango asked directing the question at Inuyasha.

Sesshomaru himself answered. “I am in need of assistance and he has agreed to help provided all of you are ok with the arrangement.”

“What do you need our assistance of all people for?” She asked.

“Naraku has stolen Rin away from me. I can’t take on that bastard alone. My warriors refuse to fight him for a ningen girl. You were my best chance at getting her back quickly enough he doesn’t have much chance to hurt her.” He answered honestly.

“How do you know he didn’t just kill her?” Miroku asked.

“Because if he wanted her dead he would have killed her and been done with the matter. I know he is planning on using her in some fashion I just don’t know exactly what that is.” Sesshomaru answered evenly.

“Why should we trust you? You can’t tell me all those times you tried to kill us were something else, you honestly wanted us dead.” Kagome said accusingly.

“You are right, I really was trying to kill you, and nothing would have stopped me from doing it. Now the threat Inuyasha poses to me is less than the threat Naraku has over Rin. We both need assistance to get what we want out of Naraku. It is safe to say I would rather kill Naraku then Inuyasha. A demon Lord never breaks his word, I will not kill you.” Sesshomaru explained.

“I never realized Rin meant so much to you, it seems unlike you to care so much about one person.” Sango asked again. She had the most experience dealing with demons she knew Sesshomaru’s words were the truth.

Hearing that made Inuyasha heave a sigh of relief if Sango was asking questions like that she had already accepted what his half brother had said. Now he had to work on getting the others to approve of this. As much as he hated to admit it, they needed Sesshomaru’s strength to help them win. Plus, he didn’t want to see the little girl get hurt either. She did not belong in this battle just like any other child.

Sesshomaru’s answer to Sango brought Inuyasha back to reality. “I don’t, it is not her that is making me do this. I made a promise to keep her safe when I took her in. I can not break that promise to her.” Sesshomaru explained, but Inuyasha knew differently.

His brother told the truth, but he had left a part out. He would have never made that promise to the girl unless he cared for her in some capacity. Because a Lord always kept his word they chose their promises carefully making sure they could keep them. He needed Sesshomaru too much to call him on the fib, well for that moment anyway.

“If you are on our side now then why were you two fighting earlier?” Shippo asked having barely followed the conversation.

“We weren’t actually fighting, we were practicing.” Sesshomaru answered.

“You just wanted a chance to knock me out a few more times.” Inuyasha replied.

“If you had accepted my offer of training you may not have ended up in the dirt so many times.” Sesshomaru told his brother.

“I don’t need training I was doing just fine on my own.” Inuyasha snapped back.

“You rely on luck and superior strength in a battle. When you are faced with an opponent stronger or luckier then you, you lose, it’s a simple thing.” He answered coolly.

“I am still alive so I can’t be as bad as you think I am.” Inuyasha answered.

“Suit yourself but you better make friends with the dirt you’re going to be meeting it a lot.” Sesshomaru answered in his dead even tone.

The others were hiding their amusement as the conversation went back and forth between them. They descended further from maturity as time wore on. Any of their number with siblings came to realize it didn’t matter how different (or in this case how many times they had tried to kill each other) siblings would always have some form of rivalry. They were a little astonished that despite the childishness of the comments now going back and forth they still wore their normal expressions, Sesshomaru was expressionless and Inuyasha was pink with anger.

“After seeing that I guess we can let him join us.” Miroku said gaining nods from the other.

“Now you have no reason to refuse my offer of training.” Sesshomaru said to Inuyasha getting back to the original reason the argument started.

“Fine I’ll do it. If it will make you happy.” Inuyasha snapped back.

Sesshomaru was going to make a retort when Kagome got their attention. “Two jewel shards are coming towards us, fast.” She told the brothers.

They simultaneously sniffed the air and caught a familiar scent. “Kouga,” they said together.

A/N well what do you think? Is it living up to expectations? Again if you catch any spelling mistakes on their names please correct me.