"Don't let go, okay?"

With a final, nervous glance, Inuyasha grabbed for his brother's hands and allowed himself to be pulled into the rushing river. He gasped at the waters chill, squeezed Sesshomaru's fingers, and padded further until he could no longer touch the sandy ground. A sound of fear slipped from his lips, but Sesshomaru lifted Inuyasha slightly to assure him that he was safe.

"I'm scared." Inuyasha's nails dug into his brother's skin as the cold water lapped at his chin. He wanted to be back on land now.

"We haven't started yet." Sesshomaru replied. He agreed to teach the child to swim only after the hanyou convinced him that it could save his life one day, which in turn would save the yokai the headache of rescuing him. It was a fair enough deal given their circumstance, and Sesshomaru was already out, stark naked, helping his brother learn the skill — a.k.a swimming. No way was he allowing Inuyasha to bail out and waste his time.

"If you want to stop," the yokai said as he took Inuyasha deeper, toward the river's middle. Inuyasha yelped. "Swim back to shore, and you can be done."

Inuyasha glared but didn't retort. There was no sense in arguing when they both knew he couldn't swim back to land. He'd be carried too far down stream for it to matter— that is if he didn't drown first. The realization hardened the boy's features as Sesshomaru's fingers traveled down his sides. He hated being so weak and dependent, but at least this was a step in the right direction.

"Lay on your stomach." Sesshomaru prompted. When the hanyou hesitated and glanced at him with apprehension, he added, "now, Inuyasha." There were a million other things the yokai could be doing, and he'd quit this to tend to one of them if Inuyasha didn't get over his qualms. Sesshomaru was right there, for God's sake. He wasn't going to let anything happen.

Inuyasha turned from his sibling's displeased expression and toward the rushing rapids. The small waves came at him so quickly he wasn't sure he'd ever learn to swim against them. They were like tiny, outstretched hands that, if he ever lost focus, would latch on and drag him under.

Gulping, the child swallowed his anxiety and shakily did as instructed. As he did so, he felt Sesshomaru's claws glide across his stomach and press upward to keep him afloat. He shivered.

"Do I kick now?" Inuyasha asked.

Sesshomaru nodded, "not too hard."

The two of them stayed like that for the next hour or so, rolling over the basics until Inuyasha did them by instinct. Granted, the child wasn't a pro after the hour was up, but at least he could somewhat keep himself afloat. Not to mention Inuyasha wasn't nearly as frightened. In fact, he squealed with glee as Sesshomaru slid his body across the water, his arms extended as if he'd grown wings. The yokai sighed though he didn't complain. The child's laughter was preferred over his whine.

Regardless though, this was still a lesson, not play time.

Sesshomaru briefly released Inuyasha, allowing the boy's momentum to carry him across the water. The hanyou's grin was gone in an instant as he tried to right himself vertically. However, Sesshomaru's hands never left the child's body; they merely glide along it until Inuyasha's hands met with his own. Inuyasha laced his fingers with his brother's immediately.

"Y-you said you wouldn't let go." Inuyasha sputtered around the water gathering at his mouth.

"I promised no such thing."

"Yeah, but you—"

"Kick."

Huffing, Inuyasha did so with a little extra force. Without the yokai's strength holding him up from the waist, he had to kick harder to keep himself buoyant, and after another hour of that, his legs ached and burned, his breath shallow from fatigue. Sesshomaru notice this and allowed the younger brother to lean against his forearm. Inuyasha slouched against his sibling and relished in the river's caress against his skin. Relished it as if it were a tender congratulations for his hard efforts.

"Can we be done now?" The hanyou asked a moment later. The earth had been dark when they started, but now the sun ray's began bleeding light pinks, purples, and oranges across the sky. Dawn would be upon them soon, which meant the threat of sun burns would rise, and neither brother was particularly fond of that. Mainly because aloe plants— used to soothe the burns —were a pain to find.

"Not yet," Sesshomaru frowned when the child growled in protest and splashed water at his face. Inuyasha scowled. "There's one last thing you need to do."

"Please don't make me swim back." The thought made Inuyasha quick to cling to the yokai's arm. He may feel confident in the water now, but that was only because Sesshomaru stood by him. On his own the hanyou was sure to flail and drown.

This kid, the edges Sesshomaru's lips twitched as if he were about to smile. He didn't, but he did say, "On my mark, hold your breath."

Inuyasha's eyes widened, and his heart hammered so terribly hard against his chest that he almost didn't hear Sesshomaru count down. He tipped his head back, allowing his mouth to get one last gulp of air, before Sesshomaru pulled him completely under. His fingers trembled as they dug into the yokai's arm. Nothing but the rush of the river roared inside his ears. It was much louder down there than above the surface. Much more frightening. Inuyasha cringed against the fish that brushed against his skin and nearly screamed when one nibbled on the heel of his foot.

A tap on his eyelid prompted Inuyasha to open his eyes, but he refused with a shake of his head. He didn't want to stare at the vast darkness that surely awaited him. Didn't want to look at something so empty and cold. However, Sesshomaru tapped him again, this time with more force, and Inuyasha pulled himself closer before sliding his eyes open.

Sesshomaru watched with some relief as the panic in his brother's eyes faded. Bubbles flew from the child's mouth as he gazed at the life around him. In the morning's soft lighting, the river's belly rippled with light and glittering blue. Families of fish shuffled from their places on the floorboards and rocks fell silently in their wake. Inuyasha looked to Sesshomaru with a face of wonder before he sneezed. A sneezed that ultimately needed air which didn't exist under water.

Panicked, Inuyasha thrashed. The water that quickly filled his lungs burned in a way heat never did— it was worse —and Sesshomaru had half a mind to push him away as he scrambled up his chest. Was Inuyasha so incapable that he couldn't hold his breath for fifteen seconds? That's all Sesshomaru wanted: fifteen seconds to give him a reward of sorts.

The yokai's face was pinched he rushed them to the surface. The hanyou immediately gave a raspy gasp as they broke from the water. Sesshomaru hitched him higher so that the kid leaned over his shoulder, and Inuyasha coughed up the liquid in his lungs. Something thicker than water ran down the older brother's backside, but he didn't dare think about it until he had the younger one resting on land. By then, Inuyasha simply wheezed, his chest blazing, and his face streaked with tears and drool.

"You really are quite pathetic." Jaken said as he approached the two. He had just barely set a towel around the child's shoulders before Inuyasha threw out a hand. The limb hit the imp squarely in his nose. "That's the last generous thing I'll do for you, you ungrateful half-bred!"

Inuyasha ignored him and wiped furiously at his face with the towel. At this point, he didn't expect any nice gestures to come from Jaken— not after the imp and Ah-Un left him behind. It still hurt, especially the two-headed beast's betrayal, but he never let it show. He mirrored his brother's stoic expression instead; the same expression he wore now as he dried himself off with an offered towel.

"How long have they been watching us, Jaken?"

"Who do you mean, mi'lord?" The green imp turned his head this way and that, but didn't spot anyone.

Sesshomaru nodded toward two women standing at the edge of the forest. One was younger, perhaps in her late twenties; the other appeared older, mid forties maybe. Nevertheless, they both stared in what Inuyasha would dub as… dumbfounded? Awe? They didn't look scared, but there was a hint of shock as they watched the group of four.

"Hi!" Inuyasha waved at the ladies. They jumped in surprise but returned the boy's grin with hesitant smiles. After all, it wasn't every day they came across hospitable demons— much less ones that were naked.

Sesshomaru scowled at his younger brother and threw the child's clothes at him. "We're leaving." These women had desperate looks on their faces. Who knew what they were about to do or say. As Sesshomaru slipped into his ropes he decided he didn't want to find out. He'd given enough charity to Inuyasha, and that even went beyond his generosity.

"They're already coming over here though."

"I don't care."

"You aren't just a little curious?"

"No."

The closer the women came the stronger the smell of smoke became, and all five of the demon's noses twitched at the pungent scent. Inuyasha and Jaken went as far as to cover theirs with the drapes of their robes. Sesshomaru ignored it altogether as he lifted his brother onto the backs of Ah-Un. He gave the half-breed a threatening look, a silent warning that he better not do anything troublesome or stupid. The hanyou flattened his ears against his head, glared at Sesshomaru for his condemnation, but remained silent.

"Wait!" One of the women called from behind.

Sesshomaru didn't stop. He didn't even pause or hesitate. Instead he leapt toward the sky, his silver hair whipping behind him in flight. Ah-Un followed suit. Inuyasha grabbed the demon's reigns to keep steady and dared to glance back. The two females watched with scrunched faces. Faces that twisted into anger and grief. Tears streamed down their clenched jaws, and as the hanyou looked away and up, he realized why.

Beyond the forest from which they flew, a village blazed.

How had he not heard the crackle of the towering flames and the frantic footsteps that fled below? How had he overlooked the smell of burning flesh that seemed so obvious? He couldn't be that dense. Surely Sesshomaru hadn't noticed either. However, looking at the demon now, Inuyasha knew that was not the case. Nothing ever got past the yokai.

"Why didn't you say anything?" Inuyasha asked him. He couldn't take his eyes away from the burning village. It was horrific and beautifully disastrous. How many would lose their loved ones today? How many would end as orphans just as he was? Did they have older brothers to look after them, too?

"Because I know how you are." Sesshomaru said. There wasn't an ounce of sympathy in his voice.

"There's nothing wrong with caring." Inuyasha snapped.

"No," the yokai agreed. "There's not, but you can't save everyone."

"You could have tried."

Jaken snorted from the hanyou's side. "For what?" Inuyasha glanced at the proud smirk that marked the imp's face and wanted nothing more than to wipe it off. "So they could live a measly forty more years?" The arrogance in the green demon's voice told Inuyasha that he didn't see value in human life. That their lifespans were too short for them to matter.

Curling his fingers, Inuyasha returned his stare to Sesshomaru. "Is this what immortality does? Does it make you cold?" Did you stop caring after so long?

"We aren't immortal, Inuyasha."

"Am I going to be this cruel when I'm older?"

"If you survive long enough, perhaps."

Inuyasha shook his head as watched the village slowly turn to ash. It grew smaller and smaller the farther they flew, but he still heard the screams. Could still smell their fear and death. It turned his stomach. He couldn't understand Sesshomaru's indifference toward another being's life. The yokai had every power in the world to save anyone he desired, but he chose not to, not even a few. Why? Why wouldn't you help if you're able?

"What am I supposed to do?" Inuyasha heard himself whisper.

"Watch them burn." Was Sesshomaru's only response.

Inuyasha growled at him. Again, he'd found himself in a situation he was absolutely useless to do anything. Only this time, people were losing their lives as a result. Had the hanyou possessed even a fraction of his brother's prowess, he'd be down there helping. Maybe no one wanted assistance from a demon. Maybe Sesshomaru knew that and that's why he refrained from intervening. But it hardly mattered. A life was a life.

"I will," Inuyasha said. His voice trembled with emotion. With anger. "And when I'm strong enough to kill you, no one will miss such a cold-hearted bastard."

At this Sesshomaru did smile. He wanted Inuyasha to harbor this fury— wanted to let it fester and grow. Kami knew the yokai wouldn't ever outright encourage the boy, but at least in this way the hanyou would be motivated to improve himself, and he didn't need to like Sesshomaru to do that. Hell, he could hate him for all he cared. Their father certainly wouldn't approve of such conditions, but the quicker Inuyasha learned to defend himself the sooner he'd be out of his brother's hair.

Sesshomaru looked back at his younger sibling to find the child glaring back him.

There would come a day where they would part. A day where they would hate another and fight on the battlefield. They would forget their nights under the stars and their adventures across the land. Forget they were brother instead of enemies.

One day but not today. Today and until then, Sesshomaru would groom Inuyasha for their inevitable downfall.

a/n: thanks, guys, for sticking around for another chapter. it was pretty difficult to finish given the events that happened in America last weekend. my mind has just been frazzled and scatter brained since, but i hope you all understand and still enjoyed the chapter. if you have any suggestions please leave them in the reviews or PM me; i'll put it in my list of to-writes. until then, much love to you readers, and i'll see you soon!