InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Bishies Without Shirts ❯ Life and Death ( Chapter 41 )

Chapter 41: Life and Death

"Nani?" Inuyasha stared at his older brother as if he couldn't believe his ears. He removed his hand from his mouth just long enough to ask, "What the hell has gotten into you just now? Geeze you're scaring me worse than you ever did when I was growing up! 'You're my brother, Inuyasha.' What kind of sentimental crap are you spewing now?" Just then Inuyasha started to cough. Whether it was from the smell of the subway or the wound reopening in his back, Sesshomaru knew it wasn't good as he watched his younger brother pull his hand away from his face to stare at the blood on his palm. "Nii-chan…what's wrong with me?"

"Sssshhh…." He soothed as he tried in vain to spot the wegome in the sea of heads that passed by. "Don't talk… Oto-chan so you don't wear yourself out….I just need to think a bit and I can't here! Damn it! I don't know if it's the noise or the smells or the millions of ningen swarming around here like so much vermin. All I know is we need to find the wegome and soon… you know we could try to get on this 'subway' whatever that is…" he sighed. "I don't know about you Oto-chan…but I do know I have no clue as to what it is or even where to go if I did. Look if we can't find her…we can always go back the long way. I'm sure I can find the way back if you'll stop your whining long enough to let me figure out where we are…Inuyasha? Inuyasha!?" He tried to gently shake the hanyou awake. "Inuyasha…please wake up!" Swearing softly to himself, he dragged his brother over towards the wall, out of the way of the late morning commuters.

"Girls…are you two alright? Can I help you with anything?" a concerned and decidedly male voice asked.

Turning his head to look over his shoulder at the Good Samaritan, Sesshomaru said politely in an equally male voice, "Fine… we're fine. You wouldn't have happened to have seen the wegome, would you?"

Staring at the Youkai like he was seeing Sesshomaru for the first time, the man sputtered, "No! No ummmm…sorry to have disturbed you two…ummmm…girls…I mean guys? I have to be going now I have a train to catch!" Then he was gone as he melted back into the other people milling about looking for the train.

"Shit! Where the hell did that wegome disappear to?" he swore under his breath as Sesshomaru gently lowered the barely conscious hanyou to the ground. He stood there debating with himself as to whether or not he should leave his brother and go in search of her or just stay put so he could watch over him. "Hell you're making this harder on me Inuyasha, than it was when I left you the first time…" he said softly. "True you weren't wounded back then, but you could have just as easily died. Damn it! Where the hell did that stupid wegome go?" He yelled the last part out loud and several people stared as they went past. Sighing he chose this time to stay.

~

"Come on Inuyasha! We have to hurry and you'd better move it too Sesshomaru!" Kagome cried as she made her way down to the subway platform. Pausing just long enough to turn around to see if they were following, her heart skipped a beat when she saw they were nowhere in sight. "Shit! Where are they?" she swore as she looked around anxiously. "Inuyasha! Sesshomaru! Guys??? This isn't funny! Where are you?!" she called as she let her anger at the situation take over instead of the panic that was threatening to overwhelm her.

Torn between getting on the train and hoping to find them on it, and panic at the thought of the two of them being left behind in the station, Kagome stood there trying to look in all directions at once. She felt herself starting to tear up in frustration before she spotted a white blur in the crowd. So she headed towards it instinctively as she hoped and prayed it was at least one of them.

~

"Sesshomaru! Stay there! Where's Inuyasha?" Kagome cried out to the white head that was hurrying to catch another train in the station. "Sesshomaru! Huh?! Gomen!" she said to the white head as it turned around to reveal a male j-pop wannabe. She smiled weakly at his sneer and watched helplessly as he walked away. That was when the gods smiled on her. Turning around to look towards the stairwell, she spotted Sesshomaru in the crowd over by the wall.

~

Sensing that he was being stalked, Sesshomaru carefully turned around to face this threat. It unnerved him that he couldn't tell if it was ningen or Youkai that was doing the stalking and he tensed in preparation for the encounter. That's when he spotted her.

~

"Sesshomaru! Where's Inuyasha?! Kami! Nooooo! What's happened to him?" she cried as she ran to kneel beside the limp figure leaning against the wall.

"His wound has reopened. He should have remained at your home resting but he insisted on coming to get you. He needed you at his side Wegome, looking after him. You should never have left him to go to that school place. As his mate it is your duty to look after him at times like this. I really can't tell here how serious it is... But I know it can't be good. We really need to get out of here...the noise, the crowds, and the smells are starting to get to me, so I can only imagine how it's affecting him." He took in another shallow breathe through his mouth. "Please Wegome...we need to leave now! If I remain here any longer I won't be able to be much help..."

"Hai! Let's go then. We can't stay here if you say so....Sesshomaru...if we get him home so he can rest...do you think he'll be alright?" Kagome managed to choke out before the tears started falling down her cheeks.

"Wegome...know this: if anything happens to him...I promise you I will revive him…"

~

Sesshomaru dutifully followed the wegome while trying not to attract too much attention as they made their way home.

"Wegome...Kah..go...may" he said softly. "Kah…go…may… I...please, I need to check on the Whelp. Kah…go...may...."

"Hunh?! Sesshomaru, were you saying something to me?"

"Hai...I believe the Whelp is leaving a trail behind us. I would like to set him set him down for a while so I can check on him..."

Sesshomaru stopped and waited. He didn't have to wait long for Kagome to realize he wasn't following her. He chuckled softly at the way she turned and hurried back, concern written all over her face.

"Look there's a park over there... Can you hold on to him for just a bit longer until we find a park bench?"

He sighed. "If I must; I must." he smiled as his thoughts drifted back to their childhood. "Oi Sesshomaru! What's so funny? A minute ago you had me scared half to death that he was dying and now you're standing there smiling like you have gas!"

"Nani?" At her angry look he continued. "I was just thinking that I never picked him up so much when he was a little whelp as I did in these past two days...I hope he's enjoying it." He said ruefully.

"What was he like back then?" she asked as they strolled through the park looking for a bench.

He looked at her and smiled. "He was a royal pain in my ass if you must know. Now he's more like a pain in my neck..."

~

"Let's go put him down here, ok? I think there's a payphone over there. You know so I can call Mama."

He looked at her blankly and her heart ached for he looked so much like Inuyasha when he did that. "A payphone is a... Never mind. You just sit here with him. I'll be right back in a sec..."

~

Sesshomaru gently sat Inuyasha down on the bench with a bit of help from Kagome before she left them to call home. He sat next to him and he tried to position the hanyou so he could check his wound. After a bit of fussing during which Inuyasha moaned a few times; he managed to get his brother positioned so that he was leaning up against Sesshomaru's chest. While running his hand up under his brother's shirt so he could probe the wound, Sesshomaru's eyes widened in surprise at the comments he heard from some passers by.

"Oi! Get a room you two!"

"Terrible about the way the youth of the day carry on! You know when I was your age I wouldn't be caught dead holding hands with a boy in public, never mind sitting around kissing another girl! Have you no shame?"

"Awwwee! Isn't that sweet? Remember Koishii when we used to make-out in the park?"

"EEEEEWWWW! That's disgusting! Look at those two girls making-out over there!"

"That's not disgusting...Suiitohaato ...that's hot! Why don't we call your friend Tomoyo and...OUCH! What was that for?"

~

"Mama please be home!" Kagome thought as she waited for someone to answer the phone. Waiting for what seemed like an eternity, Kagome sent up a silent prayer to any gods who might be listening to keep her koibito safe.

~

Sesshomaru sat there holding Inuyasha close to his breast as his thoughts drifted back to when his brother was little. He sat there patiently waiting for Kagome's return when he sensed them. He stopped his wordless singing as he looked up.

"Go away! He's not ready to move on yet..."

Some of them stood there while the rest floated above the ground rattling their chains while two of them brandished their sickles. They stared at him and laughed as Sesshomaru instinctively held his little brother closer.

~

Kagome stood there lost in thought as she waited for her mother to answer the phone. After what seemed like a lifetime, Kagome heard a familiar voice in her ear.

"Moshimoshi, this is the Higarashi residence, Higarashi-san speaking…."

"Mama! Please hurry!"

"Kagome? What's the matter? Can it wait? I have a problem here… the boys are missing."

"I know, Mama…they're with me in the park, you know the one on the way to school?"

"I know Dear, but why are you there, and not in class?"

"Inuyasha came to get me, Mama…please hurry he bleeding all over Sesshomaru! Mama…please…"

"Hai! Kagome…Dear, don't cry I'm on my way! Kagome…everything will be ok, you'll see."

"Thanks, Mama…"

"Bye Dear…"

Kagome, after she heard the click, still held onto the phone. "Mama…hurry!" She thought as she hung up and headed back to the two brothers.

~

"Oi Sesshomaru! How is he now? I've just called Mama and she's coming to get us!" She sighed with relief as she sat down behind them on the bench. She reached over and took Inuyasha's hand in her own. Not liking the icy feel to it, she asked Sesshomaru about it. "What's wrong with him…why is he so cold? I mean his hand is like ice…and he looks so…so…so limp…." She said as she tried not to start crying again. Kagome let go of Inuyasha's hand reluctantly and got up to face Sesshomaru.

"It smells like the wound may be infected…but my guess is he didn't rest long enough to recover properly. Chichi-ue…Chichi-ue died from a wound…he had battled a dragon…and…well…. He didn't rest… like he should have…" He looked up at her as he heard her crying softly. "Wegome…Kagome…." He said softly. "The whelp will be fine…you'll see."

~

"Kagome! Sesshomaru! Come let's get him in the car so we can get him to the nearest hospital." Higarashi-san cried as she ran over to where she spotted them sitting.

Kagome at the sound of her mother's voice turned and got up to meet her halfway. "Mama! Please…let's just take him home…Sesshomaru says he'll be fine as long as he gets some rest. Mama in this condition we can't take him to the hospital…look at him…" she shook her head at her mother. "He has Youkai blood in him now…Mama. I mean what if they let him die just so they can…you know study him or something? And how can we explain those ears….?" She trailed off full of uncertainty as what he mother suggested sounded good…and yet…. She knew somehow it wasn't the right thing as far as her hanyou was concerned.

"But Kagome…."

"No Mama…I think he just needs to rest like Sesshomaru says…and no, I'm not going back to school either. I'm staying home to care for him…like I should have in the first place…" she finished softly as a wave of guilt hit her.

~

"Ummmm… Sessho-kun why don't you try and sit…then Kagome and I can help you get your legs in as well as Inuyasha. You know I still think it'd be better if you just laid him down on the backseat…you could still try and sit back there with him…."

"No. I must protect him from them…. They want him….but it is not his time to move on yet! All he needs is some rest so that his body can heal itself. He's lucky the night of the new moon has passed…." He sighed. "Pity it's not going to be a full moon tonight…or even a bigger one than the one a day past the new…."

They drove the rest of the way in silence except for the sound of the lullaby Sesshomaru sang softly as he watched over his brother.

~

"Kagome…You know I don't like this one bit! That boy looks like he lost a lot of blood and you can't just stick a band aid on it and hope the bleeding stops and he'll get better! And what's wrong with Sessho-kun? He's been acting strange since I came and got you." The two women looked over to where Sesshomaru sat next to Inuyasha who was tucked into Kagome's bed. They could just hear him muttering under his breath and Higarashi-san was worried when he came earlier and begged her for his sword. "Why does he want that one sword of his…you know he told me flat out he was going to kill Inuyasha one day and I don't want him to think he can do it here in some misguided attempt at putting his brother out of his misery…"

"Mama….I don't think he'd do that. Maybe the Sesshomaru from before all this happened would have…but he seems different now…" She shrugged. "Which sword did he ask for anyway?"

"I think he said it was the Tensaiga…why?"

~

Sesshomaru spent the rest of the day sitting and watching over his younger brother. He at one point was dimly aware of the fact that Higarashi-san made lunch, not that he even ate so much as a bite of it. It was hard to turn it down and he felt as if he hurt Higarashi-sama's feelings, but he just didn't feel like eating it. All he felt like doing was sitting there watching and waiting. So he sat there singing wordlessly whenever Inuyasha would stir; sometimes placing a cool hand on the hanyou's fevered brow. Once when Inuyasha started coughing wetly again he tried to pick him up in a one-handed embrace, but had to settle for rolling him onto his side. He wasn't happy with all the blood that came up but afterwards Inuyasha seemed to sleep better so he did his best to clean it up. He was pleased when he heard the women tell Sota to be quiet when he came home as well as thankful to hear the old man come and take him to the shrine out back.

~

"Sesshomaru…" he heard his name called in a soft silken whisper and for a moment he thought his Tsuki-chan was there telling him the hanyou was finally asleep. He heard her call him again and when he finally opened his eyes he was surprised at how dark the room had grown.

"Hunh?"

"Sesshomaru… I was wondering…how is he? You've been up here all day since we came home and all… He's going to be ok, right?"

"Hai… I think so as long as he rests…I haven't seen them in a while; so it's possible the danger's passed. I will let you know if anything changes. Sleep well…Kagome…."

"Good night…" She said as she gave her koibito a loving touch on his cheek, before turning to go.

~

He picked up the ball and threw it again. "Go get it Koiinu! Hurry so I can throw it again!!!" Then he turned and smiled at his woman as she came over and sat next to him. It was as he was busy kissing her that he heard the annoyance come back again.

"Maru-chan!! Me gots it! Throw again! Please Maru-chan!!!"

~

"Maru-chan tell me a story!!!!"

"Once there was this powerful lord…and what is it now Inuyasha??"

"It's about Oyajii, isn't it?"

Sighing, "No it's not. Now if you don't stop interrupting me I won't be able to tell this story, now will I?"

"No…Me be good…ok?"

~

"Kiss me good night, Maru-chan!"

"No! Now go to sleep!"

"Just do it Sesshomaru…it won't kill you, you know!" She said as she laughed. "Tsuki…why couldn't his ofukuro take him to bed with her tonight…and don't give me that crap about Chichi-ue being there too. I don't see why I'm always stuck with him…."

~

"Inuyasha go to your own bed now!"

"Me can't…me made wet…"

Sighing, "You did what? Just take off your wet things and come here…."

~

"No I haven't seen your Ofukuro…Inuyasha. Give us a minute and we'll go look for her, ok?"

~

"I'm sorry Inuyasha…she's with Chichi-ue now…don't cry!"

~

"Inuyasha…where's Tsuki? What happened here?"

~

"Don't cry Inuyasha…let's go get Tsuki's sandal and obi. Come on we'd better get home…"

~

"Inuyasha get out of that tree now!"

"No! I feel closer to Oyajii and Ofukuro this way!"

"If you fall and break your neck, I swear I'll leave you there to die!"

~

"We cannot go home anymore… what you saw was the way they are disposing of the bodies…there is nothing left there for us anymore…" He bent down to look his younger brother in the eye.

"Inuyasha… I have to leave in the morning… I must go to the land of the Seekers…I need to find the Tetsusaiga…"

"But Maru-chan… please… take me with you!"

"I'm sorry Inuyasha. It's too dangerous. I have to go alone. Promise me you'll stay away from any ningen you see. And that you'll hide when you…change. I'll come back and get you as soon as I can. I promise…Inuyasha… if I don't come back by the time you are a man… promise me you'll look for the Tetsusaiga and avenge our deaths…."

~

"Damn it Inuyasha! I told you to stay away from the Ningen! All I can say is… that Miko's lucky she's dead little brother…."

~

He heard the low moan in his sleep and it woke him with a start. "Damn it Inuyasha! I'm sorry I fell asleep! Get away from him! Damn it!"

~

"Kagome…wake up…Wegome!" He shook her gently until her eyes opened. "Where did your ofukuro hide the Tensaiga?"

"Noooooooo!!!!"