For the Honour of My Family

Author's Note: First of all, I'd like to thank everyone who has read Chapter One and left reviews. Taking the time to read this old piece means a lot to me, and I know Himeandi has always been pleased with this story.

Second of all, I'd like to thank those who have sent Silverblue Sakura at fanfiction.net messages about this story possibly being plagarized. I can guarantee you that it isn't because I am also Silverblue Sakura of fanfiction.net. Please check both profile pages for more information.

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Swords clashed, causing sparks to fly. Sesshomaru grunted from the exertion and allowed himself a tiny yet faint smile. All it had taken to rile the half-demon up had been a single yet cutting insult. He had not said a word since then. Inuyasha's determination had not waned over the course of the battle. If anything, his determination had grown stronger. He could smell the perspiration as it beaded down the hanyou's forehead, could hear the younger youkai's heart racing as the battle raged on, and he relished in the throes of the battle. However, he still had presence of mind to keep his youki instincts under control. He wanted to test his brother, not injure or kill him.

'Time to end this.'

With a single stroke his sword, Sesshomaru disarmed Inuyasha and had the hanyou pinned on the ground. The ningens that traveled with him cried out and started to run towards them but he ignored the humans. They weren't his concern right this moment. His brother was. Golden eyes glinted and shimmered as they glared at him, and his brother's chest heaved as Inuyasha fought to gain his breath. A slight hint of fear spiked in his brother's scent. Sesshomaru smirked.

'Right where I want him.'

"Had enough, Inuyasha?"

"You wish, you fucking bastard," he spat. Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow at him, knowing full well that his brother was tired. The hanyou had been in a battle earlier and this battle had not helped him in the least. Very carefully, he lifted himself up and eased Inuyasha to his feet. The hanyou's eyes widened in surprise.

"What . . ."

"The time for us to fight has come to an end, Inuyasha. Now it's time for you to come home."

"Come home?" Inuyasha's eyes narrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Exactly what it means, Inuyasha. Our feud has ended as of this very moment."

* * *

'Stubborn fool,' Sesshomaru sighed, casting a quick glance at his brother's prone form. The hanyou was slumped over Uhn and Ah's back, his wrists bound. 'He should know by now that, when I says something, I mean it.'

As usual, after his declaration of their feud being over, Inuyasha had scoffed at him and started to hurl out insult after insult in an effort to keep the fight going. The humans he traveled with hadn't helped matters, either. Two of them had started spouting out about all of the times that Sesshomaru had tried to kill Inuyasha and stating that he couldn't be trusted. Inuyasha had agreed. Of course, Inuyasha wasn't about to be taken without a fight. A fight that Sesshomaru wasn't about to give. Ultimately, after much cursing and insults, he had sent the humans flying and had knocked Inuyasha out. Before the humans had recovered, he'd slung Inuyasha over his shoulder and was gone.

'Little brother, you are in for a rude awakening. You may not trust me now but you will see the sincerity of my words. I swear that you will.'

As he walked, Sesshomaru kept an ear for his ward and his retainer. The two weren't that far away. He could tell by how fresh their scents were in the air. How he had lost track of them, especially Rin, he didn't know, but he wasn't about to allow it to happen again. Not with Naraku still on the loose.

'Naraku . . . you have no idea as to what you're in for, do you? Or perhaps you do. Perhaps that is why you wish for a wedge between Inuyasha and myself . . . because you know what will happen if he and I unite forces. He is strong . . . stronger than what he's given credit for.'

Sesshomaru blinked as that thought came to him. He had always considered Inuyasha to be weak, because he was only half demon and because he had a soft spot for humans. Inuyasha winning most of their battles he had always believed to be a fluke. Never because the hanyou actually had any strength to him. The more he thought about it, however, the more he realized it to be true. Inuyasha had their father's blood flowing through him. Whether Inuyasha realized it or not, he very much resembled their father in both looks and attitudes. Their father refused to ever accept defeat, and the man had been one of the strongest youkai Sesshomaru had ever met. Ryukotsusei didn't even factor into Sesshomaru's mind. Inuyasha had defeated the dragon. As a half-demon.

'Something I'm sure Father expected him to do.'

He shook his head. At some point, he and his father had lost the rapport they had once shared. Sesshomaru could not recall when, how, or why. It had just . . . happened.

'Doesn't matter. I can fix most of the mistakes I have made,' Sesshomaru told himself. 'Starting with Inuyasha.'

Already he had the plans formed. He'd send for NatsuMaru, the same as his father had done for him. Most of the tutors that he'd had as a pup still resided in his father's palatial home. Inuyasha's education would begin while they waited for NatsuMaru. The only trouble he could foresee was the Tetsusaiga and Inuyasha's demon blood.

'Maybe Grandfather will know how to seal it without the use of a sword. He somehow managed with Uncle Hiroshi.'

"Sesshomaru-sama!"

Rin's voice cut through his musings and Sesshomaru turned his gaze to the road in front of him. His young ward was running towards him, her arms outstretched and a bright smile upon her face. Jaken ran behind her, doing his best to keep up with the young girl. Sesshomaru allowed himself the tiniest of smiles when he saw them. Things sure were changing for him. Not that he was complaining. Rin was a bright spot in his life. It was through her that he had started to unconsciously understand why his father had started to behave towards Izayoi the way that he had.

Once again, the promise that he had made all those years ago came to his mind, steeling his resolve. The time had come.