Chapter Nineteen: Detours and Jewel Shards

Sesshoumaru closed his eyes and frowned as the prince of Mirkwood continued on about the dangers in the woods around them. No matter what anybody said, the prince seemed to ignore it and raged on, pacing back and forth restlessly. Legolas glanced back in the direction Kagome and Inuyasha had gone, and then he would scowl and persist muttering under his breath about more danger.

Sesshoumaru drew his brows together in annoyance. Even Rin seemed to be getting to her limits, and his eyes snapped open when the little girl growled.

"Inuyasha sama and Kagome sama are together. They are fine." Rin placed her little hands on her hips. "I think you're worried about them."

Legolas stopped his pacing and shot the small girl a dirty look. "I'm worried about the unwanted attention they will attract with their recklessness."

Rin pursed her lips in thought trying to figure out the word.

The twins rolled their eyes and continued tossing stones into a pile two feet in front of them. "Give it a rest, Legolas. Your pacing is getting on every ones nerves." Elladan sighed.

Legolas opened his mouth to protest but cried out as a rock flew out of nowhere and cracked against his forehead sharply. His hand flew up to his head and he clenched his eyes shut tightly.

"Cease your ridiculous display." Sesshoumaru growled.

Legolas glared at the youkai and curled his lips angrily. "The stupidity of those two could get us all killed."

Sesshoumaru lifted his head slightly and narrowed his golden eyes dangerously.

Rin blinked and glanced at her lord and then to the prince. "You must remind Sesshoumaru sama of Jaken sama. He only ever throws rocks at him."

Legolas ignored the girl and was about to retort when a crack from the woods behind him made him spin around and pull his weapon out in attack preparation. He yelped when his throat was caught in a tight grip and he was slammed against a tree forcefully.

Legolas widened his eyes at the white haired being holding him. His blue eyes trailed upward to the hairline where a pair of white ears twitched and then he glanced down into the golden eyes. "Wha…?" He choked out around the tight grip.

"If I didn't know any better, I would say you were worried about my well being, Mirkwood Prince." Inuyasha sneered.

Elladan and Elrohir glanced at each other, and then at the youkai surprised. Kagome waved at them from behind Inuyasha and shrugged her shoulders.

Sesshoumaru sniffed. "I see you are once again rendered in that pathetic form of hanyou, Inuyasha." He stated coolly, molding his face into his usual emotionless mask of indifference.

Inuyasha narrowed his eyes. "Keh. It seems I am regaining my youki. When Rin gets irritated, that can only mean that you were still going on about Kagome and myself going off for a little alone time. Now if you don't mind, go some place else and keep watch for the night. We could all do with some peace and quiet." With that, Inuyasha released Legolas who dropped to the ground and glared at the hanyou.

The prince shot to his feet and pointed a finger at the hanyou. "Your stupidity of going off alone could get us all killed, you fool." Legolas snapped.

Inuyasha snapped at the finger in his face and smirked when Legolas drew his hand back quickly. "If anyone is going to get us killed, it's you. You're the one making all the stupid racket. Why don't you just shut the hell up and go somewhere else to rant."

Legolas glared at the hanyou and about faced, leaving every one staring after him.

The twins shook their heads and then once again began tossing pebbles into some kind of game. Elrohir glanced over at Inuyasha curiously. "So what happened to you?"

Inuyasha tilted his head to the side. "What do you mean, what happened to me?"

Elladan chuckled. "The ears?"

Inuyasha's eyes traveled upwards and he snorted. "Nothing. This is how I always look, well except on…" He trailed off and crossed his arms, scoffing. "Feh, whatever."

Kagome shook her head and giggled.

Inuyasha glanced over at her and narrowed his eyes briefly before changing his mind on any form of comment. Instead he turned his head away and glanced off in the direction Legolas had gone in and sighed. "I don't understand what his problem is." He stated.

"I think he is just feeling threatened." Kagome supplied, settling herself beside the fire comfortably.

Sesshoumaru shook his head. "Unlikely. He is unaccustomed to difference. He has no trust for other species."

Elladan smirked. "That sounds more like him. I have seen him around humans and dwarves and it's not a pretty sight."

Elrohir nodded. "He isn't always so touchy around new people, in fact he found you interesting at first, before he found out about you being demons. You have to keep in mind; the demons here are pure evil. There is no distinction between good, and evil, love or hate, white, black, light, or dark. They are simply evil."

Sesshoumaru smirked at that and glanced at Kagome and Inuyasha. "Youkai, or demons as you refer to them, are one and the same. However, I think the difference between us is we are aware of our actions, and can either control our rage, or unleash it to the fullest extent of our capabilities. Where we are from, humans and youkai share one thing in common; and that is protecting our pack. Whether we are as consistent companions, or just temporarily as such, we protect those within our company. Your demons, as you say seem to have no such distinction, and are consumed by their hatred and rage and thus do not know anything besides death and destruction."

Inuyasha blinked at his brother and snorted. "Trust me, there are youkai in our world who are like that. Some who could care less. Others who go about their lives seeking nothing but solitude, and others who seek power." At that, Inuyasha glanced at his brother. "Not that we are good or evil, but we have a conscience. We know the difference between right and wrong, and it's up to us as to how we perceive it and how we proceed with our actions." He paused for a moment and furrowed his brows in thought. "Others may not agree with those actions or decisions however. Like father. Was he wrong to save my mother and me from that fire? Some say he was a hero, some say he was a fool to go to his death against such a weak foe. Was he wrong to protect us against Takemaru? Was he wrong in loving a human, or loving in the first place? Was he wrong in protecting those he cared about? Some say he was."

Sesshoumaru frowned as he listened to his brother speak about their father. It was a touchy subject with him and his facial expressions signaled that. "I say father was a fool to go to his death, when he could have sent someone else in his stead. Was father wrong in his love? Perhaps not, however in his current condition of weakness, I think he was a fool. However, he was devoted to those he cared for, and he had made the decision to perish if they came to harm. Much like you, Inuyasha. You protect Kagome, even to the ridiculous point of dying for her, if the situation arose. Much like me with my protection over Rin. Are we wrong? Perhaps; does it make us evil? I don't think so. The word demon seems to be spoken rather loosely in this world, but where we are from, youkai are more complex, dedicated and honorable."

Kagome nodded. "Japanese are very honorable and traditional. We don't take things simply, or easily as most. Work and honor are engrained in us from the day we are born. Our culture revolves around respect, courtesy, and honor. Although for some people it is more difficult." She glanced at Inuyasha before looking away as he turned to glance at her when she paused. "The other distinction is that youkai choose not to love, or understand the complexities of it. Hatred is more easily understood within their kind, so they choose to follow that path rather than learn to love or understand that love and where it comes from. In humans, it's easy. We may not understand what it is exactly, but we learn to trust our hearts and follow it. Not only that, but there has been so much betrayal within the youkai race that they don't know anything of love."

Sesshoumaru furrowed his brows and shook his head. "It is not that we do not know of love, we keep everything locked away for our own protection, our own survival. In all youkai, emotions are a weakness, a burden that distracts us from either battle or our goal of more power. As is hatred, this is also a weakness. However, the issue here is not whether we are weak or strong, but our desires. This is what causes youkai the ultimate downfall. Just like father."

Inuyasha grunted. "Desire?"

Sesshoumaru nodded. "You have the desire to protect Kagome, just as father had the desire to protect you and your mother from Takemaru."

Inuyasha smirked. "Let me guess, your desire was more power?"

Sesshoumaru nodded. "At first, yes. Now we have our ultimate goal of killing Naraku. This is also a desire. We both desire his demise."

Elladan and Elrohir shook their heads. "Very complex. But this all does make sense. I do see a distinction, but I don't think Legolas does. He sees two demons and he fears what you are capable of, not just because you are demons, but what he has come to know about the demons of this world. Glorfindel was the biggest surprise to me."

Elrohir snorted and nodded. "Indeed. He faced a demon years ago, and perished in that battle."

Kagome frowned. "How is it he is alive then? If he died?"

Elrohir smiled. "There is some speculation, Glorfindel of old or the Glorfindel of new. The balrog slayer he is called. The Valar gave him life once again, but there is speculation on if he is the same spirit that defeated the balrog, or if he just possesses those memories."

"Reincarnated then?" Kagome blinked.

Elladan nodded. "Some say he is, others say he is one and the same. No one knows for certain."

Inuyasha glanced at Kagome for a long moment and closed his eyes. "Kagome is reincarnated from Kikyou."

Kagome swallowed and nodded.

The twins frowned and glanced at one another. "Who is Kikyou?"

Kagome cleared her throat and glanced at her feet. "A powerful priestess who fell in love with Inuyasha, but they were tricked and she bound him to Goshinboku. She passed away shortly after."

Elrohir glanced at Kagome and gave her a small understanding smile. "This touches you deeply. Do you have her memories?"

Kagome shook her head, and Inuyasha sighed. "This is why I desire Naraku's death. He was the bastard who tricked Kikyou and me into believing we betrayed one another."

Elladan frowned. "You were in love with her?"

Inuyasha stared at the elf and barred his teeth.

Elrohir shook his head. "Love is something stronger than any emotion. If it were meant to be none of that would have happened. Perhaps this is a test of your Gods to grow."

"Test?" Inuyasha snapped.

Kagome blinked her eyes rapidly and took a long deep breath.

"A test for what purpose?" Sesshoumaru asked.

Kagome released a shaky breath and cleared her throat. "Maybe a test for strength?"

Elrohir nodded. "Perhaps. Or something more, you have been given a second chance, Lady Kagome, maybe to set things right?"

Inuyasha shook his head. "This is too much thinking for me. All I want to do is find that jewel shard and find Naraku. His stench covers this entire area, but it's not recent."

Sesshoumaru nodded, his nose twitching, sifting through the scents. "Definitely. Why do you continue to seek the jewel, otouto?"

Inuyasha crossed his arms and scoffed. "So that bastard Naraku doesn't get his hands on anymore. We have to complete the jewel."

Kagome nodded. "Just one shard in the hands of the wrong person heightens their power tenfold. Besides, it is my fault that it was shattered in the first place."

Sesshoumaru frowned; he had not heard that side of the story before. "Oh? How was it your fault miko?"

Kagome glanced at him surprised. "I was the one who shattered it. My arrow took down the youkai who had taken it."

Inuyasha wrinkled his nose and glanced at her from the corner of his eye. "We should think about getting some rest. Tomorrow, we will find that shard and then find Naraku."

"We also have to find a way home, Inuyasha." Kagome reminded him.

He nodded in response and turned around, staring out into the dark forest in silence. "We will, don't worry, Kagome."

Kagome gave his back a smile before she got to her feet and brushed off her knees. "Well I guess I should take out my sleeping bag, and get some sleep. Some people don't need it. But I know I do."

Elladan nodded and turned his head up towards the stars now glimmering brightly. "It is a wonderful night for sleep. I believe I will take some rest myself."

Elrohir rolled his eyes. "I'll take first watch. I'm sure Legolas is keeping watch as well."

Inuyasha snorted but didn't turn back to them. He sprang up into the branches of a tree and vanished from sight.

Sesshoumaru shook his head. "You behave more like a neko than an inu, otouto." He mumbled softly.

A loud, 'Feh!' drifted out of the tree and Kagome grinned knowingly, as she shook out her sleeping bag. "Well good night everyone, see you in the morning."

Elladan and Elrohir nodded, and the elder twin rested his head on his arms that were crossed in front of him, after he had lain down on his stomach. "Wake me at mid night, Ro." He mumbled softly.

Elrohir nodded and stood stretching his arms above his head. "Aye."

Sesshoumaru glanced over in the direction Rin was currently picking flowers and he tilted his head at the soft tune she was humming to herself. His eyes softened briefly and he finally called her over. "Rin."

"Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama." Immediately the little girl raced over and held up her display of flowers for his approval and Sesshoumaru nodded. Slowly, Sesshoumaru untwined his fur and held it out for her.

Rin's eyes widened and immediately she grinned widely. "Ah, arigato, Sesshoumaru-sama."

He inclined his head once and watched as Rin rearranged the fur into the form of a bed and crawled into the deep depths of it and vanished. Only a small tuft of her hair stuck out from the side and Sesshoumaru smirked and shook his head.

A chuckle from the tree stole his attention and Sesshoumaru glanced over at it. "Find something amusing, Inuyasha?"

"Not a thing." Came the reply. A short snort followed, and finally a long sigh. "I can't believe this shit."

Sesshoumaru raised his brow. "Very civilized."

Another snort and a low growl. "Yeah, yeah. Too bad for me that I wasn't raised in a civilized house huh?"

Sesshoumaru frowned and almost rolled his eyes. Inuyasha's statement was in fact true to its word. Although at times, Inuyasha held the ability to show immeasurable intelligence and strength. However, most times his little brother allowed his youth to overpower that wisdom for the all-famous immaturity to shine through. Shaking his head, Sesshoumaru turned away from the tree and stared out over the land around him.

A slight movement to his left stole his attention and he glanced over slowly, almost as though he were really not interested in who it was. Elrohir glanced over at him and inclined his head, in a fashion that would signal royal upbringing in a Japanese noble house and he almost smirked at that. Even though they appeared youthful, the twins held an intelligence that almost rivaled his own.

They were jovial and enjoyed life, that much was clear, however when tested, they became what many humans strove for in the feudal era. It was easily noted that they were raised as lords and behaved as such when the situation rose, taking command if needed. Elrohir glanced over once again and frowned curiously as Sesshoumaru continued his silent appraisal of him.

Soon curiosity got the better of the elf and Elrohir wandered over casually. "I either have something on my face, or you are pondering something deeper within me." The elf spoke softly, barely above a whisper. The youthfulness was gone from the elf's voice, and held a seriousness about it.

Sesshoumaru nodded once, and turned his attention back to the dark forest that was thicker in this direction. "I do much thinking, and little talking."

Elrohir nodded and stretched lazily. "Elladan is like that. Quiet, and trying to solve some problem in his head." The younger twin tapped his forehead. "Sometimes it makes my head ache when he does all that thinking."

Sesshoumaru sniffed and turned his head slightly. "Much like when you were injured and he shared the pain?"

Elrohir nodded. "Aye. We share a powerful bond and a great deal more than that."

Sesshoumaru nodded. "I see. Do you hear his thoughts?"

Elrohir shook his head. "No, only that he is thinking too hard. I suppose it is the same when I read. I've seen him rubbing his eyes and glaring at me accusingly."

Sesshoumaru snorted this time. "Interesting. You portray yourselves as much younger than your years suggest."

Elrohir raised a brow. "I find it throws others off. Gives us a bit of an advantage. Dan and I are still young among the elves, even though we are over a thousand years old."

Sesshoumaru nodded. "Two thousand, if I am not mistaken."

Elrohir chuckled softly. "Aye, something like that. When you live as long as the elves do, you tend to forget the years. I know the season we were born, and the day. But ask us our age, and I really couldn't tell you exactly."

"You mentioned you had a sister."

Elrohir nodded. "Arwen."

Sesshoumaru nodded. "Do you have any other siblings?"

Elrohir shook his head. "No, Dan and Arwen are it. Is Inuyasha your only brother?"

Sesshoumaru nodded.

Elrohir and Sesshoumaru stood silently for several minutes before the younger twin spoke. "What is your real question?"

Sesshoumaru glanced at the elf questioningly. "Question? What makes you think I have another motive?"

Elrohir shook his head. "Think of it as elf intuition."

Sesshoumaru fell silent and pondered the elf's words. He really had had no intention of getting into a conversation with the twin, due to the young elf having to keep watch, however it did pass the time and Sesshoumaru wondered if he would ever get a chance to talk to one of the twins alone again. "Tell me, what is it about Elladan that makes you feel obligated to stay around?"

Elrohir frowned at the question and took a deep breath. "I wouldn't say obligated is the right word for it. Without Elladan I am half of one. How can I explain this?" He fell silent and furrowed his brows. "To put it simply, we are twins. We are too closely linked to be apart for long periods of time. If Elladan were to fall in battle, I would follow in his steps not long after. It is more than blood ties, or mentality. He and I are connected through something stronger, something more profound. It is complicated and no one, including Dan or myself have been able to figure it out completely. All I can say is; it is because we are twins, identical twins. We share a life force, a heartbeat, and breath. With him by my side we are one, a complete person. Apart we are half of that person, and thus weaker."

Sesshoumaru listened intently.

"If you listen to our hearts, they beat as one, we breathe as one, and yet if he is far away on some errand, I can feel him as though he were next to me. If he is injured, I know it instantly." Elrohir smiled and sighed.

"I see."

"I suppose that is why Dan and I find it hard to believe that you and Inuyasha are not close." Elrohir shrugged.

"Inuyasha's and my relationship is complicated. I do admit to not having a fondness for my brother. However, there is a long history behind that." Sesshoumaru glanced up at the sky.

Elrohir nodded. "I figured as much. Why do you hate your brother so?"

Sesshoumaru lowered his head to glance at the elf. "Hate? Perhaps at one time it was hatred."

Elrohir nodded. "So perhaps not hatred as much as annoyance? However, from what I can perceive, it's more humiliation now. From everything I have seen and heard, I see two brothers fighting for acceptance. Not physically, but emotionally. I know you stated that demons from your time have no need for emotions, but I see it. You were humiliated that your younger, half brother, who is not full demon, cut off your arm. He was humiliated because you refused to accept him for who he was."

Sesshoumaru snorted. "Ridiculous."

Elrohir smiled slyly. "Really? How do you see Elladan and myself? Are we elves? Are we humans? Hanyoo? We are what we are, half elven. Does this lessen us anymore than another elf, or human?"

Sesshoumaru glanced at the elf sharply. "Half elven?"

Elrohir nodded. "Does it really matter from what race we were bred from? Does it matter that Inuyasha is bred from a human and demon? Is it his fault that he is who he is? Did he have a choice to be born, or to live?"

"He is a disgrace to my fathers lineage."

"Is he? Perhaps in your views, but perhaps your father planned something more that neither of you have even realized yet." Elrohir stated.

"Oh?"

"Perhaps your father was trying to send out a message that everyone is equal no matter what race they are born into. I have seen you defend your brother, almost as though you are testing him for something greater, something more than either of you realize yet. To me, I see you training him, preparing him for something big. I see humiliation in you both, yet an affection that is buried deep within you." Elrohir tried to explain. "I also see that hatred, however it is not nearly what you both portray. It wasn't Inuyasha's fault that your father fell in love with a human, nor was it my fault that I have human blood flowing through my veins. Did Inuyasha have a choice to be born? No, just as I had no choice to be born the younger of twins. Your constant reminder of this hatred belittles his character, emotionally and physically. When you call him hanyou, it hurts him deeply, like a knife being shoved through his chest with each word you say to belittle him. Inuyasha shows it with anger, rather than display that pain, but next time look into his eyes."

"Inuyasha shows his emotions as clearly as a trickling stream. His pain and fears are evident in his eyes, his betrayals and love. Unlike you, he did not receive the training to mask those emotions, and unless he is taught to do that, I fear it will be his downfall. There is jealousy and distrust between you both."

"Jealousy? Of what?" Sesshoumaru ground out carefully. This elf saw far too much for his peace of mind.

"Perhaps, Inuyasha is jealous because you were trained and raised by your father and he was left alone. Perhaps you are jealous because Inuyasha is able to clearly show his emotions when he wants to, without feeling the fear of being vulnerable. He already has that in his life so he possibly thinks that it can't get any worse for him." Elrohir explained. "I could be wrong on my analysis, but this is what I see."

Sesshoumaru remained silent and glanced at the elf curiously.

"To live a life that is filled with betrayal and taunting, it leaves nothing left to protect. It becomes a part of that person, ingrained into them. Inuyasha is angry and afraid. I see his constant attempts to gain your approval and yet you shun him like he is nothing more than a bug under your boot. You look at Inuyasha as though he was something more, as though you wish something more from him, and yet you refrain from aiding him in anything." Elrohir shrugged and grinned. "I'll just stop talking now."

"This world has changed certain things." Sesshoumaru mumbled softly, feeling rather susceptible at the moment at being so easily read by a stranger.

Elrohir nodded. "I have seen the changes, rather subtle, but they are there. Come, let's go over there away from camp so we don't wake those who require sleep."

Sesshoumaru followed the elf to the farther end of the camp and seated himself down against a tree. His eyes landed on several pebbles he had seen the twins tossing earlier.

Elrohir gathered them into his hands and sat across from Sesshoumaru. He divided half of them and placed them in front of the youkai's feet, before settling himself comfortably. "Dan and I do this when we go out on our own. It is a game of sorts, and yet something deeper. Will you have a game?"

Sesshoumaru glanced at the pebbles and frowned. "Game?"

"I think that is the best description of it. More mentality and stamina, I think. You toss a stone if you wish something answered. Something you are curious about and would like answered. That person can answer truthfully or not, the other has to figure out if it is true or false. One stone means you have guessed the answer to be truthful, tossing two stones means you believe it is false. If no stones are tossed the answer was guessed correctly, however if a stone is tossed into the pile it means you have lost that round and it is the others turn."

Sesshoumaru raised his brow and muttered. "Interesting. So who decides who starts?"

Elrohir smirked and drew out a red and black colored set of stones. "These are the deciding stones. Red and black, if red is face up the roller passes the first round to his opponent. If black is face up, the opponent chooses who starts."

Sesshoumaru nodded and smirked. "Alright, so how many rounds for the winner?"

"This isn't about winning or loosing. It is how well you read the other, and how well you think you know that person. Believe me, this game is difficult with Dan and myself, because we do know pretty much everything there is to know, but there are times where we get stumped. It is to know the person more, and learn their secrets, fears and desires. You learn a lot about a person this way."

Sesshoumaru nodded his head in understanding and was given the black and red covered stones. He glanced at them for a moment before lifting his gaze to the elf who sat patiently waiting. The youkai noticed how the elf's attention was on him and yet on the surrounding forest area in a perfect balance. Wrinkling his nose, he tossed the stones onto the ground and watched as the colors rolled and fell to the ground black up.

Elrohir nodded. "I'll go first. This way you question and learn something about me."

Sesshoumaru nodded and thought on a question. He tossed a pebble into the center and Elrohir nodded. "The sword in your father's hall, he called it Narsil, how long has this blade been there?"

Elrohir smirked. "You mean the sword you and Inuyasha had called Sou' unaga?"

Sesshoumaru snorted. "Sou' unga, and yes."

"Since the first age, perhaps even longer than that. It was an elven sword crafted for the King of Gondor, and it broke in the last alliance."

Sesshoumaru watched Elrohir's eyes and sat thinking for several minutes before he tossed one stone into the pile. Elrohir sat there, grinned, and nodded. "You ask again."

"So the answer was correct?" Sesshoumaru asked when he noticed no stone tossed.

Elrohir nodded.

"You keep mentioning evil that is arising once again. What is this evil?"

Elrohir stared at Sesshoumaru for a minute before answering. "That is a complicated question and is not easily answered. But here goes. In the first alliance there was a ring worn by Sauron, the one ring they called it. Rumors state that this ring has once again surfaced, however they have not been answered fully. This evil is the rebirth of Sauron."

Sesshoumaru nodded and tossed a stone into the pile and watched as Elrohir smirked and nodded.

"Next question?"

"How dangerous is this evil?" Sesshoumaru asked.

"It destroyed many in the last alliance and was not defeated." Elrohir put simply.

Sesshoumaru raised a brow. "Oh?" He pondered the last question he had asked, and the elf had said rebirth of this evil, so that would mean it had to have been defeated. He picked up two stones and tossed them into the pile and Elrohir chuckled.

"My turn." He grinned.

"Did you not say that Sauron was seeking rebirth? If that is the case he would have to have been defeated." Sesshoumaru inquired.

Elrohir smiled. "Sauron was defeated in a certain level, however he was not the only evil I mentioned. The ring of power still exists. It was not cast into the fire from which it was made and thus the evil was not defeated. Sauron's soul to put it rather loosely is bound in that ring."

Sesshoumaru nodded and smirked. The elf was not only crafty with his answers but cocky as well. "So be it, ask your question."

Elrohir grinned. "What is your favorite meal?"

Sesshoumaru almost swallowed his tongue. Why the hell would the elf be interested in his diet? "Raw meat."

Elrohir rolled his eyes. "Come now, I already knew that; favorite meal. What would you have above all else?"

"Above all else?" Sesshoumaru sat there and pondered his answer carefully. Finally he blinked once and spoke. "Bear."

Elrohir snorted and tossed one stone into the pile, and Sesshoumaru remained motionless. "Such simple answers you are giving me, with no details. Next question." The elf grinned. "Have you ever fallen in love?"

Sesshoumaru barred his fangs at the elf. "No."

Elrohir narrowed his eyes at the youkai. "Not even once?"

Sesshoumaru snorted and shook his head. "My path to conquest does not include love."

Elrohir grit his teeth together. "So you hold no love for anyone?"

"No."

Elrohir tossed two stones into the pile and held up his hand before Sesshoumaru could grin with triumph. "Let me explain why I answered this to be false. That girl Rin who travels with you has a deep connection to you. You protect her, you care for her, and you tend to her needs as a father would to his daughter. Now whether you wish to acknowledge that as love, as simple as it would be, that is up to you. However your actions clearly state that you love that little girl as a father would his daughter. Do not deny it, it is clearly shown in your eyes. You just have not admitted that to yourself yet, but it is there."

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes at the elf. The elf was right in all his answers, so he remained motionless. "Very well. Ask again." He ground out between clenched teeth.

Elrohir nodded and prepared himself for his next question. "Just what is that fur you always wear?"

Sesshoumaru almost rolled his eyes. The elf was asking ridiculous questions. "My father gave it to me, on my coming of age day. All in my family are granted such a gift when they reach the peek of their maturity."

Elrohir nodded and tossed a stone into the pile, and watched Sesshoumaru continue to sit there. "During your search for power, have you ever come close to death?"

Sesshoumaru was taken a back by the sudden change in questions and he almost snarled in annoyance. "Hai. Once, against the Tessaiga and Inuyasha. It was the day my brother discovered the Wind scar."

Elrohir nodded and tossed another stone into the pile and he knew that Sesshoumaru would not move. He had wrapped the youkai up in a shell of security and trust that even the demon lord was not aware he was in and so Elrohir prepared his next question. "When was the last time you cried?'

This time Sesshoumaru visibly flinched, and Elrohir remained quiet while the youkai thought his answer through. "When my father died." He whispered. The youkai narrowed his eyes at the elf and wondered just exactly how intelligent Elrohir was. Even though the elf was several years his senior, he had taken for granted just how the twins youthful appearance had made them seem much like Inuyasha.

Elrohir nodded seriously and blinked once. "How did you meet Rin?"

Sesshoumaru smirked. "She found me, injured and near death. This was after Inuyasha almost succeeded in taking my life. Rin died shortly after and I revived her with my Tenseiga."

Elrohir frowned and stared at the youkai for several minutes before he picked up two stones and tossed them into the pile.

Sesshoumaru grinned, his fangs flashing in the dim moonlight. "I answered you truthfully, Elrohir."

Elrohir blinked and gaped. "How is that possible?" He questioned.

Sesshoumaru snorted. "I believe it is now my turn for questions. You will have to wait."

Elrohir snickered and shook his head. "Alright, ask away."

"What is it about these orc's that causes you and Elladan such anger?" Sesshoumaru asked curiously.

Elrohir's face immediately darkened as Sesshoumaru had predicted. "They took my mother and defiled her." He ground out.

Sesshoumaru nodded in understanding, knowing immediately that it was a touchy subject for the younger twin. Rather than press the matter, Sesshoumaru tossed a stone into the pile, waited while Elrohir regained his control over his anger, and sat there breathing patiently. "What is your weapon of choice?"

Elrohir closed his eyes and took a long deep breath. "Sword. My perfection of it is random at best. My weapon of skill is the bow and arrow."

Sesshoumaru nodded and tossed another stone into the pile. He had rattled the elf enough to give away certain signs to whether he was telling the truth or not, so Sesshoumaru took advantage of it. "The elves love to sing, do you? That night at the feast you played the pipes but yet you did not sing, why is that?"

Elrohir smiled and shook his head. "I sing, when I feel inspired to. I tend to find that my skill with instruments over power my vocal skills, so I try to keep to myself when I decide to sing."

-----------------------------------

It was sometime later when Elrohir frowned and paused in his answer and was not at all surprised when Sesshoumaru got to his feet calmly, as though this was an everyday occurrence. Only a few seconds passed when Kagome sat up in her sleeping bag and Inuyasha was out of the tree landing at her feet.

"I sense a jewel shard." Kagome kicked out of her sleeping bag and stood up beside Inuyasha. He glanced at her curiously, wondering how she had managed to put on her fluffy pajamas without him noticing. Inuyasha had always liked her in that particular pair, not only because it had small puppy faces all over it, but because it hugged her frame nicely and accentuated her figure beautifully.

"Uhh…yeah." Inuyasha flushed and looked away.

Elladan glanced over at them and shook his head. "What is this jewel shard?"

Inuyasha frowned and growled low in his throat as the faint sounds of running feet filtered through the thick forest to his ears. "It's that way." He shouted and grabbed Kagome before she could protest. She squeaked and gripped his shoulders tightly and quickly made herself comfortable and almost blushed when she felt his arms wrap around holding her weight onto his back firmly.

Her mind immediately went back to the small lake they had been in and she buried her face into his long mane of hair, trying to hide her rising blush. Those hands of his had touched other places and the memory made her shift on his back again.

"Oie, stop moving." Inuyasha growled softly, and bit back his other comment as her scent flooded his nose and he grit his teeth together quickly. Now was not the time to be thinking about Kagome and their growing relationship. He darted through the trees, sniffing frantically with his nose for any strange scents, and finally detected a new one, albeit a strange one, but it was filled with panic. Changing his course abruptly, Inuyasha bent his knees, sprang into the air, and searched with his eyes for movement.

Below him, Elladan and Elrohir raced through the trees, with expert practiced ease, barely traceable by sound, and his brother was nowhere to be found. Inuyasha frowned, there was one missing, and that was Legolas, however he wasn't interested in the prince at the moment.

Inuyasha turned his attention back to the frantic running, only feet in front of him and he quickly regained his momentum by vaulting off a tree branch, and rocketing into the air. Kagome gripped his shoulders tighter and buried her nose into his silver hair, shivering only slightly at the intensely high speed and sudden rise in climate. Narrowing his eyes, Inuyasha descended back into the forest and landed forcefully onto the dirt path, in front of the frantically running…child?

Stupefied, Inuyasha blinked at the small being for several moments until the child realized that someone was in front of him. The small miniature person skidded to a halt and stared at the hanyou much the same way he was staring at the child. Except it wasn't a child. Inuyasha didn't know of any child having a beard like a mortal did, and he was completely dumbfounded.

"Huh?" Inuyasha grunted, tilting his head to the side. "What the hell?"

Kagome slid off Inuyasha's back and also stared in surprise. "Oh gosh, it's a dwarf. Oh kawaii!"

The small being spun around suddenly and was about to run in the other direction when he was halted by the twins who stopped only feet in front of the dwarf, as Kagome had called it. As quickly as the small being could muster with his smaller frame, he some how managed to pull out an incredibly large two headed axe and aimed it at the twins. Inuyasha grunted, and walked forward snatching the axe out of the dwarf's hands with a growl of warning.

"Ain't you a bit tiny to be carrying around something this big?" Inuyasha snorted amusedly, hefting the rather heavy axe over his shoulder.

Indignantly, the dwarf whirled around and glared daggers at the hanyou. "Give that back…" He trailed off, unsure of what Inuyasha was exactly. The threat hung in the air aimlessly and dropped to the ground with an inaudible thud.

Inuyasha knelt down to the dwarfs level and held out his hand. "I don't want to hurt you, but that jewel shard you have, hand it over."

The dwarf looked totally confused and he placed his hands on his hips and took on an indignant stance. "Shard? What in all of Arda are you babbling about, dog boy?"

Inuyasha blinked and narrowed his eyes. "Who are you calling dog boy, shrimp?" He snarled and flexed his claws. "All I want is the shard you have, so hand it over, or I'll take it forcefully."

The dwarf snorted, and turned around to stare at the twins. "What are elves doing traveling with a human and a strange dog eared boy for?"

Elladan stared down at the dwarf emotionlessly. While Elrohir shook his head. "Does it really matter to you?"

Kagome just sighed heavily and stomped her foot. "Men! You all are a bunch of nincompoops you know that? Look, did you happen across a small pink looking shard? I can sense it on you, and we need them…uhh so we can get home."

The dwarf glanced at the human girl for a moment before he dug into his tunic. He pulled out a small glittering fragment and held it out to her. "You mean this thing? I did find it, and I was taking it back to the caves to examine it further." It lay in the dwarf's hand uselessly.

Kagome smiled kindly and knelt down to the dwarf's level. She held out her hand and was somewhat surprised that he dumped it into her waiting palm. "Thank you."

The dwarf shrugged. "Aye, but what do I get in return?" He winked staring at her suggestively.

Kagome blinked for a minute before it registered. "What?"

Inuyasha jumped in front of the dwarf snarling, blocking Kagome from view.

The dwarf held up his hands laughing raucously. "Give it back then. I don't give something without receiving something in return. If you want that jewel, I want the girl."

Inuyasha growled and crouched ready to pounce on the small person.

Kagome stood up and placed her hands on her hips. "I am not some prize to be tossed around. What is it with everyone trying to possess me?" She cried out indignantly.

The dwarf glanced at her quickly and wondered just who this girl was. No woman would ever spout out anger with so much freedom, except a dwarf female. "I like your spirit, girl. I think you will make a great trophy. Come now, we haven't all day." He said so firmly that it left no room for argument. The dwarf reached out to grab her wrist but Inuyasha knocked his arm aside and pushed the man back.

The dwarf tumbled backwards, head over heels into the dirt. He got up and dusted off his clothes as though nothing happened, ignoring the ferociously snarling Inuyasha. "Come on girl, I haven't all day."

Kagome's face took on a slightly pink flush of anger. "How dare you. I am not like that!" Her face lifted to the sky and she shouted. "I'm just supposed to be a normal teenage girl!" She narrowed her eyes at the dwarf angrily and the aura whirling around her got Inuyasha's attention immediately. He whimpered and took a wary step back.

"First Kouga! Then Hojo, so many others to count, and now a dwarf?" Kagome cried out. "I am not some tramp you can possess!"

Inuyasha blinked and stared at the raging female almost fearfully. What in the world had happened to his calm and collected Kagome? "Uhh, Kagome?"

"And you!" Her attention drifted right over to him and Inuyasha gulped audibly as her finger found the invisible trail to his nose. "You jealous little baka! I don't belong to anyone, but myself!"

Inuyasha sniffed the air furiously trying to pin point any evil aura around Kagome but found none. However he did catch a scent that had not been there before. His mouth dropped open quickly and his eyes widened to saucers. Kagome was at the prime of her heat. His ears flattened to his skull.

Kagome screamed into the sky and glared at all the males present. "I should have a rosary for all of you. Inuyasha, sit boy!"

"Bwaah!" The axe went flying into the air, and Elladan and Elrohir ducked as the weapon whizzed over their heads. It stuck a tree with a resounding thump and silence entered the immediate area for only a second, before Kagome growled and spun around.

Kagome stormed off stiffly ignoring the eyes that followed her progress through the forest. It was several minutes later when Inuyasha jumped to his feet and glowered. "Sure just stand there. No problem, just allow Kagome to wander into some strange woods alone with no one to protect her."

Without another word, Inuyasha leapt into the branches after the enraged miko.

Legolas broke through the woods shortly after and just caught a flash of red as Inuyasha vanished into the trees. Then his eyes fell onto the dwarf who stood there looking at the three remaining companions warily. A dwarf and three elves. The dwarf pursed his lips and quickly made a break for the woods, hoping to outrun the elves.

Elladan stopped Legolas before he could break into a run after the dwarf, and he shook his head. "Just leave it alone. We need to regroup and head out. We still have a long way until we reach Mirkwood."

Legolas stiffly nodded. "My father will want to be informed of dwarves roaming free once again in his lands."

Elrohir lifted a brow. "His lands? Surely you jest."

Legolas shrugged and walked away, heading towards camp casually. While the twins stared out into the dark woods silently, wondering just what was going on. Normally the dwarves kept to their own kind, however they had seen more and more of them of late, not to mention the wild and evil that seemed to be spreading through all the lands like a wild fire.