~Their Salvation~

~Chapter 18~

"I know you're not ok Inuyasha." Sesshomaru growled sternly. They made it back to the village while Inuyasha carried sleeping Hana once they got her wound to stop bleeding, now she was resting inside while Inuyasha sat in a tree outside the hut Hana was in.

"It's none of your concern." He simply said, he didn't take on a sassy, angered, or sarcastic tone, he simply spoke calmly and his older brother knew that meant something was wrong.

"You are the worst at lying, you know that don't you?" He said before flying up and landing on the branch in front of his younger brother.

"Hmm." He hummed looking to the side at the moon as it shone down softly on the sleeping village.

"What on earth has you so unnerved you're acting.. mature... for once." Inuyasha wanted to glare at his brother for his comment but refrained knowing he was just trying to get a reaction out of him.

"I'm just thinking." He muttered.

"That's new." His brother said in an amused tone as he sat on the branch trying to figure out what was on his brother's mind. He never worried about Inuyasha this bad, but with recent events, he can't help but worry for him. Inuyasha couldn't help but glare at Sesshomaru for that comment.

"What's got your mind so captivated?" Sesshomaru asked now he finally had Inuyasha's full attention. Inuyasha closed his eyes letting out a soft breath.

"Hana, I suppose." He muttered softly. He was lost at this point, this damned loop he was stuck in was both annoying but also heartbreaking.

"What about her?" Sesshomaru asked. Inuyasha hesitated but shifted into a more comfortable position before letting out a weak snicker.

"How long do you think before she shoots an arrow in my chest?" He said with a weak smile, a strong pain coiling in his chest. Sesshomaru tensed seeing the pain in his brother's eyes with that statement. He slowly relaxed before looking down at the hut.

"She feels different then Kagome, if I may be honest, Kagome was rather harsh at times. Hana may have a confident attitude but she's very gentle to others and cares deeply for others." Inuyasha's ears fell as he looked at the moon again.

"That's how they always start out." He whispered making Sesshomaru look at him again.

"You're scared, aren't you?" He said now very sure of his conclusion.

"I... No, not anymore." Inuyasha said looking at his brother once more.

"Just like Muchiuchi said, history always repeats. It's already happened twice, so this cycle will always happen over and over and I know that." He gave Sesshomaru a weak gentle smile.

"I protect them, be there for them, do as they command until they don't need me anymore and seal me away for the next one. If that is my destiny, then so be it." Sesshomaru was frozen in place by his brother's words. Inuyasha looked down at the hut where Hana slept.

"I guess I still need to learn how to close my heart to them, I suppose." Inuyasha whispered.

"You love her." Sesshomaru muttered softly.

"I... don't really know if that's the word for it honestly." Inuyasha closed his eyes.

"This... thing... in me yearns for her. I feel so safe around her, powerful around her. I never trusted a human so fast before." Sesshomaru flinched.

"Yearns for her?" He asked quickly not liking his brother's choice of words.

"Yeah, something about 'Once I get the chance, I'll take her for my own' or whatever." Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed.