What is a wanderer? He is not lost, nor can he quite anticipate the tug of his guts towards any point of interest.

He is without stifling obligation.

Why does one wander? Well, his reasons are his own. At times, even the wanderer is ignorant to the draw of it all.

One may wander in mind, body, and soul, perhaps for all of time; who really knows the complexities of the afterlife?

There is an appealing tranquility to such a life. One truly grows to know oneself. But there is a longing, always a longing for something that may or may not become known.

There is contentment in the wandering itself. Or at least, this is what they tell themselves when the longing stretches beyond their mental capacity to validate the constant inability to satisfy their deepest, most desperate needs.

A wanderer is… A wanderer is…

Something cold and wet dragged across Sesshomaru's throbbing forehead. All he knew in this moment was the pain and this single pleasant sensation. His hand touched it and it stilled, allowing him to sluggishly prod at the damp fibers until it was the warmth of another's fingers he touched.

"…omaru?" There was something—a voice. It began to penetrate the thrumming in his ears. "Sesshomaru, can you hear me?" This voice was rough…yet gentle. It pushed back the fog that would wrap him in glorious unconsciousness.

The cool pressure left his forehead not a moment before his hand was grasped by another's. The sudden contact surprised him into opening his eyes. Sesshomaru groaned, blinking and straining to see more than blurry shapes. The world was just so bright. He fought the dizziness and the relentless ache behind his eyes but seeing was too difficult. Awareness was too difficult.

His eyes closed again and his hand twitched at the prickle of another's claws. That rough and gentle voice uttered once more what he knew to be his name. Someone wanted Sesshomaru to respond but it was all too much—he was a burning mass who perhaps did not even have a mouth to respond with. He did not have anything.

Well, he had the touch of a hand and the lull of a voice that seemed only able to call to him. Soon, that voice lost sense. And then there was no sound at all.

The next time Sesshomaru forced his eyes to open, everything was darker. And he could see. The pain in his head was less. A steady heartbeat and a soft snore coaxed Sesshomaru to turn his head towards his right side. Very near to him was a sleeping figure—a shock of red robes and silver hair.

It was only the two of them in this dimly lit room. The air smelled of herbs and of the strangely familiar scent of this male creature he did not know. They appeared to be sharing a futon for the time being. Though Sesshomaru could not seem to recall where he was, who he was, or why he was bedridden.

Despite the immense confusion, Sesshomaru found he did not panic. Even in this state, Sesshomaru knew he very well could have awoken alone in the forest, or at the bottom of a cliff somewhere. But he had not. He was sheltered and there was someone there who called him by name, who stayed by his side even in sleep.

Sesshomaru's caretaker had a young face, peaceful in his slumber. Rather than disturb him, Sesshomaru embraced the prospect of sleep yet again.

The warmth and light of the sun awakened Sesshomaru in the early morning hours. This time he felt well rested, though he thirsted greatly. He sat up, flicking his hair behind his shoulders. This motion must have been sudden, for the mass of red and silver beside him stirred before jolting upright. Wide, tired golden eyes swept over him before Sesshomaru was roughly embraced by the one who had been watching over him. He stiffened, unsure of how he was supposed to respond.

"Holy shit, Sesshomaru, you're awake," the overly affectionate being murmured into his shoulder. This person was an observant one. "How do you feel? Do you need anyth—?"

"Who are you?"

The dog-eared youkai drew back abruptly, his features baring his utter shock. Though Sesshomaru knew not why, his words had cut deeply somehow. He had not meant to scathe the one who had cared for him during his time of need.

"It—it's me. Inuyasha." This close to the one called Inuyasha, Sesshomaru registered a rapid heartbeat. It unsettled him. And the look darkening Inuyasha's eyes worsened the feeling in his gut. "Please. You can't do this, I…"

Inuyasha tried to reach for his face, but Sesshomaru inched backwards and held up a hand. "Enough," he found himself saying. This was too much. It was not as though he knew how to fix himself. What gave this Inuyasha the right to look at him as though Sesshomaru had just ripped out his stomach?

Inuyasha flinched visibly but sat back, allowing Sesshomaru his space. He seemed to take a moment to collect himself, though his hands shook. Sesshomaru almost wished he had been gentler towards the clearly vulnerable male.

"Sorry, Sesshomaru." Inuyasha smiled but Sesshomaru could see the strain in the action. "You're right, you…you just woke up. I shouldn't have jumped all over you like that." Inuyasha reached behind himself for something and procured a small gourd. "Here," he held it out to Sesshomaru, "must be thirsty."

Licking dry lips, Sesshomaru took the gourd without a second thought and drank deeply, emptying it. When Sesshomaru handed it back to Inuyasha, he nodded his head gratefully. "What happened to me?" he asked.

Inuyasha's eyes fell to the floor. "There was a fight. The cliff gave way and you were crushed under some boulders. Your head was hurt bad. I thought you were…" He cleared his throat. "And now it looks like you can't remember a damn thing…"

Amnesia.

This explained why Sesshomaru felt so lost. It was terrifying, but…

Inuyasha's eyes were on his face again. It was as if he were waiting for something. It was as if he were trying to figure out where the nightmare ended and reality began, just as Sesshomaru was. Sesshomaru knew not which of them were more pitiful—the poor fool who seemed only pained by his knowledge and awareness or the injured one with barely enough knowledge to face his predicament without panicking.

"Sesshomaru-sama?"

A young woman stood in the doorway, the front of her floral kimono clutched in her hands. Sesshomaru did not recognize her, but…she was human. He could only stare at her in surprise while she stood there with tears brimming in her eyes. The human began moving towards him but Inuyasha grabbed her by the hand before she could complete her attempt at an embrace.

"Inuyasha?" She tugged her hand, confused. "I know he's hurt but I promise I'll be careful." When Inuyasha only tightened his mouth, the human frowned. "What is it?"

"Rin… He doesn't remember. Not me… Maybe not anything." Inuyasha's voice was devoid of energy.

"Wh-what?" The human, Rin, slowly lowered herself to the floor and stroked Inuyasha's hand, though her wavering gaze was now fixated on Sesshomaru. "You don't remember us, Sesshomaru-sama?"

Disturbed by the magnitude of emotion before him, Sesshomaru merely shook his head. A human of all things was nearly in hysterics for him. It was an odd sensation—seeing genuine concern in the faces of those Sesshomaru cared nothing for.

Sesshomaru watched as the two of them comforted each other in a familiar way, quietly murmuring about what was to be done, though neither of them knew. There was talk of medicine, a sorceress, of others who might care to know of his condition. For a short time, it was as though he was no longer in the room. To them, perhaps he wasn't. Not the Sesshomaru they knew and possibly loved.

"I know your names are Inuyasha and Rin," Sesshomaru cut in. Unwilling to continue to sit there like a dead person, he hoped talk of himself would help to appease them a bit. As presumed, their attention was immediately captured. He assumed his appearance was ghastly if he had been wasting away in bed for who knew how long, but he straightened himself and tried to seem alert. "I know Inuyasha has nursed me and you both smell of human." Inuyasha and Rin appeared uncomfortable at the latter comment. "What I am to you is not something I know. It is true, my memory is damaged. There are scattered, misplaced images and ideas that do not make sense. However, I do feel better. I am able to leave." Sesshomaru did not enjoy this scrutiny, nor did he enjoy the idea of allowing himself to be treated as a fragile pup.

"Leave?" Inuyasha and Rin shouted in unison.

"But we are your family," Rin pleaded.

"This is your home," added Inuyasha with an air of distress.

Family? Home?

How could they be his family? Everything about them told Sesshomaru that he was nothing like them.

And his home? Sesshomaru glanced around the room. The space was unimpressive in size. Decoration was limited. Nothing about the room felt like home to him.

Then again, what reason did these people have to lie? Sesshomaru had no evidence against their claims. And that horrible feeling in his gut worsened whenever he looked into their eyes and saw that they were just as lost as he was. Their feelings toward him were not to be dismissed.

Perhaps if he lingered long enough in their presence his memories would return to him. For now, this was the only thing he could truly hope for.

Sesshomaru decided to give this strange life a chance before charging into the unknown like a dumbass as Inuyasha put it.

After managing a solitary bath and a pleasant hunt for a meal of young elk, Sesshomaru rejoined Inuyasha and Rin in the main living chamber of the place that was his home. Seated atop straw cushions, they spoke into the late afternoon hours.

First, Sesshomaru learned of himself. Sesshomaru was a particularly powerful youkai who wielded magical swords and defended the land against dangerous youkai. That was the straightforward description. Inuyasha and Rin spoke for far too long about the achievements he had made as this powerful being, probably thinking it would make him remember something or feel something about himself. Of course, he was glad he was not described as some kind of weakling. But he could not feel any strong connection to the information.

Second, he learned of Rin. When Rin was just a child, Sesshomaru resurrected her with his sword of healing and permitted her to travel with him. He'd practically raised her. A strange notion. He wondered what had compelled him. Rin no longer lived with him, as she had made a life with a serpent youkai named Ryuunosuke. The pair visited sometimes. Sesshomaru supposed, under normal circumstances, a visit from the girl would have made him sentimental.

Lastly, for the time being, Sesshomaru learned of Inuyasha. Being his half-brother, Inuyasha shared a father with Sesshomaru. A father who was long deceased. Inuyasha's other half was human. Apparently, humanity was a very normal thing in Sesshomaru's life.

It made sense that they were brothers. Their eyes were the same color and their hair was nearly the same shade of silver. This familial bond also explained the closeness Sesshomaru had felt between himself and Inuyasha when he had first caught his scent and felt his concerned touch. Sesshomaru was glad to have a true member of his family by his side. It was now clear; he could trust Inuyasha.

That general knowledge of his past was Sesshomaru's tie to this world. And with it he fell into a general routine of meditating, reading, hunting, swordplay, and combating demons because that was what his old self did. Sesshomaru took to the fighting well; he supposed his body remembered his many years of training and experience even when his mind did not.

His external wounds healed and his mind sharpened.

Inuyasha was almost always with him, a welcome presence. Inuyasha was a gruff, honest fellow who laughed easily and often. Though Sesshomaru often sensed a deep sadness in him. Seeing as the hanyou always tried to hide this from him behind garish remarks, it was most likely Sesshomaru's fault. He'd no idea how he could apologize to his brother or if such an apology would even be well received. So Sesshomaru let it be, though his chest was heavy.

Rin returned home, visiting when she could, while Inuyasha stayed in Sesshomaru's abode. Even though Sesshomaru gladly would have shared his room, Inuyasha slept on a straw pile outside with a claim that he preferred the fresh air. Sesshomaru could only think of the time he had first fully awakened from his long slumber to find Inuyasha curled up at his side. Perhaps the exhaustion of watching over Sesshomaru had forced Inuyasha to sleep that way. But Sesshomaru had been glad of it.

Eventually, Sesshomaru took to spending evenings outside with Inuyasha before the time came for them both to retire. At first the gesture had been fueled by curiosity and boredom. Inuyasha had done little else out there besides sit silently and watch whatever held his interest amongst the trees. When it came to Inuyasha, Sesshomaru preferred the noise.

Soon, the evening was their time. It promised camaraderie. They sparred at times and walked and swam. Inuyasha told stories of multiple evils and adventures alongside the humans, seeming to mention only sparse interactions between himself and Sesshomaru. Less and less Inuyasha mentioned Sesshomaru's memory loss until it seemed to have dissolved from conversation altogether. Sesshomaru did not know what to make of it.

"Tell me," said Sesshomaru while the two sat on the shore of a lake beneath the moon. Their bare, outstretched toes sifted through the cool sand. "What was I like? Before." Before seemed a better verbal indication of that time than when I had all my wits about me and actually fully knew whom in the blazes you are.

"Hah?" Inuyasha cocked his head with a frown and tossed the stone he had been fingering into the water. "Haven't we already been over that?"

Sesshomaru shook his head and shifted so he was facing Inuyasha more than he was the lake. "You told me of my pastimes and achievements. That is not the same thing."

Inuyasha fidgeted while he put on a face that indicated deep thought. The expression consisted of unfocused eyes and a strange, unconscious nibbling and puckering of his lips on one side of his face. Sesshomaru continued to stare and gave his brother something close to a scowl.

"Tell me you at least remember, Inuyasha." Sesshomaru was only half serious.

Inuyasha tossed an acorn at his head—how did Inuyasha always have throwing objects on hand—but it was easily dodged. This was such a small response for Inuyasha; he hadn't even scoffed. The hanyou's reluctance to merely look his way was steadily beginning to grate on Sesshomaru's nerves. Inuyasha had gladly answered his questioned before this…

"You will answer me," said Sesshomaru in earnest. Inuyasha did look at him then, strangely and with searching eyes. Perhaps it was something in his annoyed tone that made Inuyasha start. Sesshomaru made an effort to refrain from speaking harshly towards at his brother, who had stayed with him to help him adjust without complaint, though at times he could not hold it back.

"Well you were a real prick for one thing," Inuyasha suddenly snapped.

Sesshomaru blinked at him.

Inuyasha's burst of anger crumbled into something incredulous and he buried his face in his hands with a groan. "Fucking—no," he said, his voice muffled. He breathed deeply before lifting his head and shoving some stray hair away from regretful eyes. "That's not really what I meant to say."

Despite the tortured look Inuyasha was giving him, the corner of Sesshomaru's mouth curled. "Oh, I believe it is." Sesshomaru was thoroughly amused by Inuyasha's declaration. Had Inuyasha been holding his words back for fear that Sesshomaru was too fragile? It seemed, at least, Sesshomaru might finally receive some uncensored truth. "My status as a 'real prick' has been established," said Sesshomaru casually. "What else do you have?"

After a moment of surprised silence, Inuyasha's expression lost its constipation and a slow smile crept onto his lips. "You're one weird youkai," he said with a quirked brow. The statement seemed fond.

Sesshomaru's eyes fixated on the glassy, reflective surface of the lake. The air was clear and light from where he sat, content. "Is that a response to my current behavior or another declaration of my character?"

"Both," Inuyasha laughed. Arms encircled Sesshomaru, firm in their committed grip. They lingered longer than Sesshomaru would have expected them to during this show of affection Inuyasha simply did not share with him when it was clear neither of them were dying. Those arms shifted to pull away during the youkai's contemplative daze and immediately Sesshomaru grabbed Inuyasha to pull him back with his own longer arms. Inuyasha's raw scent filled Sesshomaru's nose and an overwhelming sense of peace claimed him.

"Sesshomaru..?"

Sesshomaru opened his eyes, not recalling having closed them. With the hesitant tone in Inuyasha's voice, Sesshomaru released him, having been guilty of lingering too long as well.

They reclaimed their proper sitting positions in the sand, though their sides now touched. It seemed Inuyasha did not at all mind the proximity. Inuyasha seemed younger now, less hardened by the world as Sesshomaru often sensed he was.

"We didn't always…get along," admitted Inuyasha eventually. "Actually, we hated each other for most of our lives."

Sesshomaru's brows knitted. So they had a complicated history. "What changed?" he asked softly.

"I'm not really sure," replied Inuyasha with a shake of his head. "I guess we had a common enemy and realized we needed each other more than we needed our pride. It wasn't 'til then that I started getting to know you. The you who wasn't always the 'prick' you." Inuyasha grinned.

Sesshomaru elbowed his brother with no real force. Inuyasha only laughed and retaliated with a shove. Sesshomaru's eyes threatened a dip in the lake and Inuyasha held up his hands, calling a truce. "Don'tcha want me to continue?" Inuyasha asked pointedly.

Sesshomaru did of course, so he spared Inuyasha for the time being.

Inuyasha scratched his chin, his smirk softening as he appeared to reclaim his direction of thought. "The real you surprised me. I found out you cared about things. Really cared. I guess I'd kind of assumed you were made of stone and couldn't possibly feel anything. I almost didn't forgive you."

Sesshomaru dug his claws into his knee as he watched Inuyasha intently, solemnly. Sesshomaru could not imagine the person he had been if Inuyasha had thought such a thing of him. How close had they been to hating each other for the rest of their lives?

"You'd changed though," Inuyasha continued. "Somehow. That, or you stopped worrying that someone might think you were weak or some bullshit. Because anyone having the balls to think that about you would have to be way off their nut." Inuyasha chuckled to himself, probably reliving a memory known only to him. "I realized you have a sense of humor. Dark as hell sometimes, but it's there. I knew you were smart before. But I learned that, once you got your head out of your ass, you could actually be kind of…wise." The hanyou cleared his throat strangely. "But that was after we could stand each other's company for longer than it took one of us to blow a fuse."

Sesshomaru swallowed as he waited for Inuyasha to say more. Something that had crept into Inuyasha's voice made him feel almost nervous. Why was that?

"You were a wanderer, you know."

Sesshomaru tilted his head, uncomprehending of the vague bit of information. "In what way?" he asked.

"Well… You never stayed in the same place. Always disappearing." A nostalgic look fell across Inuyasha's face as he crossed his legs. "I never knew how far you went or why you never seemed to stop. But for as long as I can remember, you wandered. I'm not even sure if you had a real home before this one." Inuyasha frowned, probably realizing this was yet another thing he may never be able to ask Sesshomaru again.

"What changed?" Sesshomaru wondered aloud. As Inuyasha said, Sesshomaru indeed had a home now. So he must have ceased his wandering at some point. Though the place he called home was still rather uninteresting and plain to him. It was so clean compared to the outdoors. And Inuyasha barely went inside, save for meal times. So when Sesshomaru was inside, he was often alone.

"You know," mused Inuyasha, "that's a damn good question. No one ever made you do a thing in your life, Sesshomaru, so giving it a rest was a decision you made on your own."

Sesshomaru pursed his lips, wondering if he would always be such a mystery to himself. Even Inuyasha, who appeared to be the closest living person to him, had no idea what coaxed Sesshomaru to make any of his life-altering decisions.

A thought occurred to Sesshomaru, then. "And what about you, Inuyasha? Why do you stay here?" Inuyasha was young and strong with a pleasing face. He was also kind and sentimental, as much as he would fight a person who called him either of those things. So why in the world was he not out in search of a life mate?

Inuyasha hesitated and Sesshomaru's stomach tightened. Perhaps Inuyasha hadn't a real reason for staying. Perhaps Inuyasha was there purely out of pity. Perhaps Sesshomaru was keeping Inuyasha from living the life he should have been living. Perhaps—

"You're my family, Sesshomaru." Sesshomaru caught Inuyasha's eyes, their sincerity piercing, and Inuyasha bumped shoulders with him good-naturedly. "You're all I got."

"And that is enough?" Sesshomaru knew Inuyasha could be anywhere. He could be living with the humans as he once did. Or he could be wandering, having adventures entirely his own, without obligation.

With a sigh, Inuyasha lied back and folded his arms beneath his head dismissively. "It is for me."

They each fell asleep beneath the stars that night. And in the chill of the hour before dawn, Inuyasha unconsciously partook of Sesshomaru's warmth.