InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A New Sibling ❯ Back Home... ( Chapter 25 )

Boredom ensues upon my poor, insane mind. So, I'm playing Wheel of Fortune® with Hikari and typing more chapters. Poor you, ne? Ha! Anyway, here's the quote and the chapter:

"Hey, that snail was about to charge!" - Marlin from "Finding Nemo"

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*Western Citadel*

Kuzume stepped out of a darkened bedroom. She stood in front of Sesshoumaru with her head hung low.

He reached down, hooking his finger under her chin and lifting it to face him. "Well?"

Kuzume shook her head. "I tried everything, but nothing brought her eyesight back." Before Kuzume continued down the corridor to her own room, she placed her small hand upon Sesshoumaru's shoulder. "She's awake, so it might make her feel better if you go talk to her."

Sesshoumaru nodded and entered the room after watching Kuzume turn the corner and disappeared from sight.

Ayumu lay on her side, facing the window, in the dark. She sat bolt upright when she heard him come in. When she realized who it was, she roughly flumped back to her side, turning her back to him.

Sesshoumaru walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, facing the opposite direction, placing him hand on her shoulder. "Ayumu," he started to ask before she interrupted.

"Save it for someone who cares, brother. I don't want nor do I need your sympathy."

Sesshoumaru sighed, then gave a small chuckle. "That's good," Ayumu lifted her head, "because I was never any good at that pity crap."

Ayumu joined in the laughter. She gave him a light punch on the arm. "So, what'd you want?"

Sesshoumaru studied her blank eyes as she looked straight passed him. He sighed, "Kuzume thought it would be best if I visited with you."

She burst out laughing, but stopped when she felt his hand tense on her shoulder. "I'm sorry, but it sounds as if she's already got you on a leash."

"She does not," he said in self-defense.

Ayumu nodded her head. "I can tell by the way you answered that. She may not drag you around and either of you know it, but you still do everything she says.

And vice versa."

Sesshoumaru quirked an eyebrow, but had to remind himself that she couldn't see his face. "You're observant, aren't you?"

She tapped her left eye. "At least before this happened. So, what's new around the citadel?"

He stopped to think for a moment. "Well, the others miss you as well, and Kuzume seems very anxious to speak with you herself. Kagome says that if we couldn't find a cure for your blindness, then she might have a last alternative."

She nodded her head. "Brother," she asked cautiously.

"Yes?"

"Do you," she paused, choosing her words carefully, "love her?"

Sesshoumaru tensed again, not knowing how to answer. He did…didn't he?

"Just think about it, and answer me later," she said as she laid her head back against the pillows and drifted off to sleep, leaving Sesshoumaru to ponder her question.

He left the room, taking one last glance at Ayumu before closing the door.

<Perfect…> she thought as she waited on baited breath for the door to close. <This'll get them both thinking…if they have a doubt, then they'll know it wasn't meant to be…>

*In the hallway*

"Is she better?"

Sesshoumaru looked at Kuzume as he walked down the hall, still pondering Ayumu's question. He snapped out of his stupor and answered, "she seemed much better, but she fell asleep just before I left."

Kuzume nodded, smiled, and said, "that's good. I think I'll go visit her later."

Sesshoumaru smiled back. (A/N: Woah, you haven't seen one of these in a while…anyways, don't you agree that smiling can be very infectious?! I do…besides, hanging around all these people must've softened his heart a bit…)

She began to walk off, but Sesshoumaru caught her arm and pulled her into an embrace. She stood there, caught off guard, for a moment, but soon wrapped her own arms around his neck.

"What was that for, Sesshoumaru," she asked as she looked into his eyes.

He leaned down and placed a quick kiss on her lips. "Nothing in particular," he said before walking away, a bounce in his step. O.o;

After getting over her momentary shock, Kuzume walked down the hallway toward Ayumu's room, feeling like she was on cloud 9.

*Courtyard*

"So, how long are we planning on staying here, InuYasha," Miroku asked as they continued to sit in the garden area, watching the servants scurry around like frightened mice.

InuYasha shrugged.

"Probably until everything settles down around here," Sango answered for him.

Kagome and Shippo nodded. "That might take a while though," she said.

Shippo bounded over to InuYasha. "Think you can put up with Sesshoumaru that long, InuYasha," he teased.

InuYasha jumped up and started chasing him, yelling, "why you little--?!"

"InuYasha," Suzuka's sleep-filled voice froze the small scene, "quiet down. You are not the only guests in this house." She turned back to go into her room, but stopped and walked toward the group. She stopped, bent over, and picked up a large, staff-sized stick. "Sakura," she called out.

Soon, a young, demon girl scurried out of a door and bowed before Suzuka. "Yes, Mistress Suzuka?"

Suzuka handed the branch to the young girl. Glaring at InuYasha, she said, "if InuYasha makes another noise other than speaking softly, you have my permission to beat him senseless with this." She turned to go back inside but not before saying, "and if he gives you any trouble, just come to me. We'll see how much noise he can make if he can breathe." She flexed her claws menacingly just for good measure and went back inside to sleep.

After she was gone, everyone except InuYasha and Sakura burst into laughter. Sakura was still trying to get over the shock of being ordered to beat her superior senseless with a large stick, and InuYasha was still glaring at Suzuka's door, thinking, `if looks could kill, she would SO be dead five days ago…' With a dark chuckle at that thought, InuYasha flumped back to the ground.

Sakura sat next to him, whacking him with the stick. "You are only to speak softly, Lord InuYasha."

InuYasha grumbled something about never getting any respect, and killing some vain demon, earning him another hit to the head.