Hi folks. Due to the responses I got for this story, I have decided to add another chapter to it. I must say I had origionally intended for this to be a one shot, but who knows, perhaps the story will grow into something more. Here is chapter two, and I hope you enjoy it. Thanks to everyone who reviewed.

Astonishment

They reentered the clearing amongst stone, and trees. Sesshomaru was the first to emerge from the forest, Inuyasha not far behind. Immediately, little Rin jumped off the boulder she was sharing with Kagome and raced to her Sesshomaru's side.

"Are you feeling better, milord?" She asked curiously.

"I wasn't ill Rin." Sesshomaru sighed walking past her. She quickly fell into step with him and looked up with her big brown eyes.

"Lord Sesshomaru?" She asked.

Knowing he wasn't going to be left alone by any of the group, he stopped walking and looked down at the small human child. "What is it Rin?"

"Are you still angry with, Inuyasha?"

Caught off guard by the innocence of those words, he lifted his head and looked at his hanyou brother. He glanced back down at the child and did something he had never done before. Lifting his hand he rested it on the top of her head and patted gently. Walking away, he left her standing there stunned and mouth agape in astonishment. Knowing he was the subject of much attention, Sesshomaru groaned, and seated himself on some roots of a tree. Closing his eyes he sighed. He was never going to hear the end of this.

His memories of his childhood were hazy, and he shook his head clearing his mind of any thoughts. Sitting quietly, he heard the hushed conversation of Kagome and Inuyasha. They were discussing his talk with his brother and sighed again. He felt a hand on his arm and jerked in surprise. Opening his eyes, and looking down, Rin stood there with her brown eyes bright, but her mouth was turned down in a frown.

"What is it, Rin?"

"Are we leaving soon?"

Shaking his head, he lifted his gaze upward, staring at the sky absently. He heard her walk away humming softly to herself, but he didn't turn his head away from the sky. An irritated growl escaped his throat when his retainer walked up to him. Closing his eyes, taking deep breaths, he glared down at the toad clearly showing his annoyance.

"Jaken!" He muttered, stopping the toads mumbled tirades.

"Ye-yes, milord Sesshoumaru?"

"Do you mind taking your conversation elsewhere?" Turning away from the toad's frazzled stance, he heard the youkai drift off somewhere cursing the little girl.

Taking a deep breath, he scanned the area. Irritation grew when he realized that he was still in Inuyasha's company. In honesty he still despised his brother. Still felt rejected by his father, and highly jealous of the hanyou. He was a full blooded youkai, bred from a powerful Daiyoukai, his father. Bred from a mighty Inuyoukai princess, his mother. Shaking his head, turning his gaze to his half brother, he wondered why this boy traveled with humans.

Inuyasha was also bred from his father, but by a human girl also. That was his weakness, humans were a weakness, what use did they provide? His eyes trailed to the little girl who traveled with him. A frown pulled the corners of his lips down. She was human. Yet she was able to light a fire when she required one, acquire food when she was hungry, plus she attended to his two headed dragon. Rin took care of herself, but she couldn't fight.

Looking back at the small group that traveled with his hanyou brother, he wondered what the difference was between them and his Rin. Besides them being older, there wasn't much difference, except the female dressed in warrior garb, who carried a large boomerang. Searching his mind for what his brother had called her, he recalled the name of this human to be Sango.

She had been called a youkai exterminator by the other humans in Inuyasha's company. Was she really that good to be called such a title? Looking at her, he noticed a fiery personality and a quick temper. 'Ah, but a temper aimed at that one.' His eyes trailed to the monk who stood beside her. Eyes widening slightly, he saw the monks hand trail to the girl and grope her. Staring, he watched Sango stiffen, and turn to the monk in outrage. 'Interesting.'

Smirking to himself, he looked at the monk who now sat on the ground nursing his head. 'Severs him right.' Sesshoumaru thought to himself. Looking at the monk closely, he had seen this one in battle. Miroku he had been called by his brother. This one had a strange black hole in his hand that seemed to suck up everything around him. Already knowing the monks strengths, his gaze trailed to the other girl who traveled with his brother.

Peering at her for a moment, he moved his gaze to the small fox youkai sitting beside her. He needed time to scrutinize Inuyasha's strangely dressed human girl closely, and therefore left her for last.

Shippo was the fox demon's name, if he remembered correctly. This small fiery demon would prove to be a great foe if he was trained properly. The little one had even confronted him once begging him to save another youkai. Not remembering every detail of that, he frowned. Indeed this little Kitsune was full youkai, but why would a child be traveling with Inuyasha, and where were his parents?

Turning his gaze away from Shippo, he smirked remembering the fire in that little one. His eyes stopped on the human miko. Strangely dressed and quick to anger, and extremely observant, this human was very interesting. Sesshoumaru stared at her long and hard. This human confused him. Her clothing was far too revealing for his liking. Certainly not appropriate garb for a woman. Her strange hakama was thin and short, and she wore no obi to hold it in place. The top had no nagajugan under it, and was revealing in its own right. Her tabi socks were longer then normal and her strange geta shoes looked uncomfortable. All in all her kimono was left to be desired. Lifting his gaze to her face, he wondered if it was her clothing that Inuyasha found appealing, as little clothing as it was.

Staring at her face, he noticed a resemblance to Rin. Startled, he sat forward slightly. The innocence that emanated from her was the same as Rin's was. Not only in appearance, but the same curiosity and innocence as his little girl, this one was definitely a miko. However she was something more as well. Shaking his head, and sitting back against the tree again, Sesshoumaru turned his gaze to his hanyou brother. Sesshoumaru had never had the opportunity to soak in everything about his brother's group before and he found himself intrigued. His eyes connected with the golden orbs that both brother's inherited from their father, and Sesshoumaru smirked. His brother was watching his every move it seemed.

Inuyasha appeared to be irritated, and he stalked over to Sesshoumaru. "What are you doing?"

Sesshoumaru ignored him, looking over his hanyou brother in the same silent scrutiny that he had done with the others. His hanyou brother wore the red hakama pants that matched the fire robe their father had once had. His nagajugan was a simple cream color, and his feet were bare. Snorting, he wondered why his brother still traveled like a commoner and a child. Lifting his gaze he allowed his eyes to meet his brother's.

"No geta?" Sesshoumaru lowered his gaze peering at his brother's feet again.

"Huh?" Inuyasha was stunned and confused.

"No geta?" Sesshoumaru repeated.

"Why would I confine my feet in those blasted things?" Inuyasha grumbled.

Shrugging, Sesshoumaru peered at Rin who was also bare footed. One day he would give her geta sandals, but children always raced around in bare feet so not to ruin their footwear.

"Why are you looking at my friends hungrily?" Inuyasha blocked Sesshoumaru's view.

Lifting his gaze back to his brother's golden orbs he lifted a brow. "Hungrily? Afraid that I'll eat them?" Shaking his head, almost chuckling, Sesshoumaru once again looked past his brother. "Fool, I don't eat humans." Standing up he turned away from them. "Jaken, Rin. We're leaving."

"What? Why?" Inuyasha grabbed at Sesshoumaru's left arm, but froze remembering it wasn't there, all because of him. Gritting his teeth, he lowered his hand allowing the material of the sleeve slip through his fingers, and he lifted his eyes to Sesshoumaru's now narrowed ones. Inuyasha noticed that his brother's haori was made of silk.

"It would be wise and healthy for you, not to attempt to grab me again, little brother." Sesshoumaru hissed.

Inuyasha muttered under his breath, but nodded. "Keep your eyes off my friends."

"I was merely sizing their abilities. You are in good hands." Sesshoumaru turned away and began walking, not glancing back to see if his little girl and his retainer were following, already knowing they were.

Inuyasha was astonished. "Good hands? I can take care of myself." He shouted.

Sesshoumaru remained silent, and continued walking.

"Where are you going?" Inuyasha called. Running up to his brother, he walked beside him. "Sesshoumaru, please." He almost begged.

Sesshoumaru felt his nerves begin to break. "What?"

Inuyasha looked behind him, to see how close the others were, and then turned back to face Sesshoumaru. Stepping in front of his brother, knowing that at any moment his brother could cut him through, he walked backwards to keep in pace with his youkai brother. Sesshoumaru stopped.

"I wanted to talk more."

"Talking is pointless." Sesshoumaru hissed between clenched teeth.

"I wanted to learn more about dad." Inuyasha whispered.

"You will give him the respect he deserves, and call him father." Sesshoumaru felt the first nerve break.

"Alright! I wanted to learn more about father." Inuyasha corrected himself, feeling the change in the air surrounding his brother. He knew that if he kept pestering him, Sesshoumaru was going to get enraged. "Please Sesshoumaru." Inuyasha was practically begging now.

"We will meet again, Inuyasha. If you catch me in the right mood, perhaps you will hear more. As for now, you are getting on my nerves and I wish to leave while I am still calm."

Inuyasha lowered his head and stopped, stepping out of his brother's way. Desperately he had wanted to know more about his father, learn about his brother's life. Feeling defeated, he stopped walking and watched his youkai brother vanish over the hill, with Rin and Jaken following behind quickly. Shaking his head, he sighed. Brushing his eyes, he smiled slightly. At least he had been able to talk with his brother without them fighting.

"Maybe, just maybe Sesshoumaru isn't as black hearted as we had first thought." Inuyasha whispered to himself. Smiling wider now, he turned to his friends and walked back to them, his brother's words ringing through his head as he did so. 'We will meet again, Inuyasha.'