InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Brother My Brother ❯ Chapter 15 ( Chapter 15 )

It was a clear and peaceful night. The moon shone in the sky while countless sparkling stars spread out in the darkness. There were no clouds to disrupt the peace, save for those clouds storming deep within Inuyasha's heart. The half demon had donned his usual position up on a high tree branch, his back leaning against its sturdy frame wile his eyes locked gazes with the stars. His golden eyes shimmered with them and they stung with the threat of tears. His arms were crossed inside his sleeves and he clenched his fists in defiance of those tears. He felt a stinging on his palms and the scent of his own blood came to his nose, but he paid it no heed. Instead his mind focused on just one thing: His absolute misery. The emptiness he felt in his heart was overpowering. He felt a pain there like no other he had ever felt before. The immense guilt he felt threatened to overtake him, to defeat him entirely and leave him drowning in his own despair. The only thing keeping him going now was his determination in making Naraku pay for it all. Inuyasha's sadness transformed into rage and his tears disappeared as he thought of just how much he was going to make Naraku suffer. Inuyasha clenched his teeth and growled to himself, his eyes clouded over with his anger and hatred.

"What are you doing up there, half breed?" came Sesshomaru's voice from the ground. Inuyasha looked down, seeing that his brother was not looking at him but rather was sitting with his back against the tree, his eyes hidden under his bangs.

"Nothing," Inuyasha replied quietly, leaning back against the wood. "I'm just… thinking." He sighed, returning his gaze to the stars.

"Naturally, there is a first time for everything," Sesshomaru's voice said plainly. Inuyasha frowned, but did not answer. There was silence between them for a moment until the elder of the brothers snapped sharply, "Stop it."

"Huh?" Inuyasha questioned, leaning forward to look down again. "Stop what? What're you talking about?"

"Hurting yourself," Sesshomaru replied. "I don't know exactly what you are doing, but I can smell your blood."

Inuyasha paused, then uncrossed his arms and looked at his hands. They both had four curved indentations scarring them, and blood stained his palms and dripped off his wrists. He huffed and crossed them again, this time laying his hands palms down on his arms. He sighed again, leaning his head back and closing his eyes, feeling so very tired and at the same time much too awake. He opened his eyes again, gazing up at the brightly lit moon as it stared back down at him, its one half-lidded eye glaring at him accusingly. Your fault, she silently said to him. All of this is your fault. You brought this on yourself. You brought on the deaths of your friends.

He heard a noise below him and looked to find Sesshomaru standing on his feet, his eyes fixated on the forest before him. Inuyasha followed his gaze, seeing nothing but the dark shadows. He perked his ears up and scouted the area with his nose, searching for whatever it was that had disturbed his brother. Eventually he picked up the sound, the soft thumps of footsteps on the ground. They were light footsteps, too light to be Naraku's, or someone of Sesshomaru or Inuyasha's stature. And then the smell came floating on the breeze to his nose. It was a sweet smell, a smell rivaling the purity of spring flowers. Inuyasha leapt down from the branch, landing smoothly on his feet next to his brother, keeping his eyes fixated on the unseen individual. After a moment the figure emerged from the shadows and upon her entrance, Inuyasha felt his heart leap from his chest.

"K-- Kagome…?" His voice was hoarse and part of it lost its way in his throat. The woman who stood before him was familiar in every way, her beautiful ebony hair flowing down her shoulders and framing her beautiful face. Her eyes were dark and loving, and although her skin was a bit pale, she smiled warmly and his heart melted. He was frozen in time as he stood staring at her, taking in her sight and her smell, remembering everything that had he had loved about her and seeing it there in front of him. His body moved, although his mind remained frozen, and he ran forward, embracing her in his arms. His tears thawed and began to flow down his face as he held her to him and she held him as well, her arms wrapped tightly around his back. "Kagome…" he whispered, his voice trembling. "Kagome…"

"Inuyasha…" Her voice chimed in his ears, sending waves of warmth washing over him. She rubbed her face into his shoulder, and he felt her wet tears through the fabric of his kimono. He strengthened his embrace, pressing her closer to him, and she wept in his ear. The thoughts of how or why did not cross his mind, and he was stuck in the realization of now, seeing that now Kagome was with him and now she was embracing him as he embraced her. He whispered her name and she in turn whispered his, and her voice brought more tears to his eyes. He did not know how much time passed as he held her, but he was only brought out of his euphoria when he felt Sesshomaru's presence at his side. Kagome broke the embrace, her eyes falling on the elder demon brother and shock painted on her face. "Inuyasha…?" she began.

"It's okay," he cut her off. "Sesshomaru and me… We've patched some things up. We're teaming up to destroy Naraku."

"Inuyasha," Sesshomaru said, his voice cold. "Are you a fool?" The half demon looked at him, his eyes narrowing.

"What the hell're you talking about now?" he demanded.

"This girl," the demon went on. "she is not your dead friend revived. Can you not smell it on her? Her scent is different from before and her disposition has changed. You were more familiar with her in life, why can you not see these differences now?"

Inuyasha looked from Sesshomaru to Kagome, using his nose to pick up her scent. But it was exactly as how he remembered it, sweet with a softness to it like silk. He looked her up and down, but still could not find anything abnormal about her. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said, turning back to his brother. "She's exactly the same. I should know, I know her better than you ever did."

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed. "Do not let your emotions cloud your judgment. I know that you want nothing more than for her safe return to you, but you must not jump to conclusions. Look at her again, more closely. She does not smell human."

"Stop it!" Inuyasha growled, putting a protective arm around Kagome. "I don't know what you're talking about, Sesshomaru. She looks and smells completely the same. So back off already. I won't let you hurt her feelings!"

"Inuyasha, what's going on?" Kagome questioned, her voice a whisper. "Are you working together with Sesshomaru?"

Inuyasha's anger was evident in his eyes. "I was," he said. "But he's back to being a total ass."

Sesshomaru raised himself to his full height. "I did not think you were this dense," he said. "This is obviously some form of trickery, and you have fallen into it without a second thought."

"Shut up!" the half demon snarled, leaving Kagome's side to stand before his brother with a rage burning within him. "Kagome's come back to me and not you or anyone else is going to take her away from me again!" He lashed out with his claws, but Sesshomaru moved far too quickly for him to make contact. The elder brother moved to the side and caught Inuyasha's wrist in his claws.

"Damn you and your emotions, hanyou," he growled. "I will not stand here and take this abuse from you."

"Then get the hell outta here!" Inuyasha shouted, pulling his wrist out of his brother's grasp. The claws ripped into his flesh, but he paid no heed to the blood dripping down his hand. "It's not like I needed you with me anyway!"

Sesshomaru's gaze left his brother for a moment as he regarded the form of Kagome standing not far behind him. She took a step backwards, her eyes reflecting confusion and unease. "Very well then," he said, not taking his eyes off of her. "If that is what you wish. I will take my leave." He turned and began walking into the surrounding forest, the shadows falling onto him and concealing him from his brother's vision. "This will not be our last meeting," his voice came floating back. "When you realize your mistake, you may come find me. If, that is, you are still alive."

"Bite me!" Inuyasha shouted back at him. Silence was his response, but he did not spend much time looking after his brother. Instead, he turned back to Kagome and smiled at her. "You all right?"

She nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine." She walked toward him, laying her head on his chest. "I've missed you."

"I've missed you, too," he responded. They held each other close for several minutes, Inuyasha relishing and losing himself in the girl's scent. He was quite certain that he had never been as happy as he was in that moment. But it could not last forever and, much to the half demon's dismay, Kagome broke the embrace and looked up at him with curious eyes.

"Inuyasha," she said. "I don't remember anything that happened. I remember there was Naraku and Kagura and that everything suddenly went black. The next thing I knew, I was alone and didn't know where I was. I was so scared!" She wrapped her arms around him again and pulled him forward, causing him to stumble slightly. "Inuyasha, what happened? And where are the others?"

His breath caught in his throat and he had difficulty swallowing before he could respond. "Kagome, I was certain Naraku had killed you." He wrapped his arms around her, pressing her close to him. "I tried to save you, I really did. I even went to find Sesshomaru to bring you back to life with the Tenseiga. But Naraku had stolen it, and then I was all out of ideas. That's when…" He swallowed hard. "That's when Kikyo came and took you away from me. I tried to stop her, but she got away. That was the last time I saw you." He broke the embrace to look down into her eyes. "I don't know how you came back to me, but that's all that matters now."

She nodded, although her eyes were reflecting a sort of horror and fascination. "I was… killed?" she whispered disbelievingly.

His own eyes softened and he gently touched her silky ebony hair with one hand. "That's what I thought. You have no idea how much I-- I…" He struggled against his own emotions. He hated to cry, especially before someone he had sworn to protect. He forbade the tears to fall and shook his head. "It doesn't matter. As long as you're here with me again."

She smiled and his heart melted. She appeared happy, but her eyes were sad and still filled with inquiry. "What about the others?" she asked him.

Inuyasha bit his bottom lip and had to look away from her. "I-- They're all… gone." Kagome gasped and he licked his dry lips before he continued. "Sango and Shippo… They were killed by Naraku, too. Miroku became depressed and then he got sick. He was killed by a possessed wolf, and Kirara died trying to protect him." He paused again. "Koga… When he heard that you had been killed, he went completely crazy and attacked me for not protecting you. I had to defend myself or else he would've killed me. But I didn't mean… to kill him…" His voice trailed off and there was a longer pause before he finished. "Kikyo was killed, too. I couldn't protect her, either."

Kagome had laid her head on his chest during his tale, and now she trembled against him, her tears falling onto his kimono and seeping through the fabric. For several moments the only sounds were her uncontrolled sobs. Inuyasha laid a hand on the back of her head, gently stroking her hair and desperately trying to hold back his own tears. He failed, and they fell rebelliously, dripping on the girl's raven hair as he continued to stroke and comfort her.

"I'm sorry, Kagome," he whispered, his voice trembling. "I'm so sorry."

She shook her head. "Don't be," she said, raising her face to look at him. Her tear-stained face pained him and he flinched slightly. "It's not your fault, Inuyasha. None of it's your fault."

He sighed. "I wish I could make myself believe that," he said. "Oh Kagome, you have no idea what I've been through these last few weeks."

"I can't imagine," she replied. "I'm only hearing about it, but you… You experienced it all. And you were alone. I have you here with me, but you were all alone."

Inuyasha's right ear twitched. "Maybe not completely alone…" He turned from her and his eyes fell upon the shadows into which his brother had vanished. Kagome followed his gaze, searching the darkness.

"He's gone," she said. "He left you." She looked back at the half demon, finding his face distorted in anger.

"He's such a damn bastard," he growled. "Let's not worry about him now." He turned back to her, his face softening as he smiled. "Are you tired? It's late."

"I'm exhausted," she answered. "I've been looking for you and the others for days now. It's hard to sleep alone in the woods. There're so many… things out there." Inuyasha put his hand on the small of her back and gently led her over to the tree he had been resting in before. He gestured to the ground and she laid down there, resting her head on her hands before closing her eyes. Inuyasha looked at her, feeling a warmness in his heart, the like of which he had not felt in far too long. Without thinking he removed his outer kimono and gently placed it over the girl's body. She opened her eyes and smiled at him as the half demon laid next to her, propping himself up on his elbow so that he could see her.

"Thanks," she said, her voice quiet and soft. She pulled the kimono up to her chin and nestled into the red fabric as she closed her eyes again. Inuyasha reached over and brushed away the stray black hairs that had fallen onto her face. He watched her, her body rising and falling with her even breathing until she finally fell asleep. Then he himself laid down and closed his eyes, feeling tired but restless as well. It was some time before he was able to fall asleep.

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Sesshomaru's golden eyes pierced through the shadows, seeming to glow in the darkness. His anger at not being believed had compelled him to leave the forest and the area completely, but his better judgment told him to stay nearby. He stood tall against the cold wind that rustled his clothes and silver hair, looking down from his perch atop a tall plateau. His eyes were locked onto his younger brother and the object of his delusion. He was far enough away that Inuyasha could not see, smell, or detect him, but close enough that Sesshomaru could watch over him and be at his side in an instant. The woman who had approached them was in no way human, and her scent resembled that of rotting earth and death. She had no trace of humanity within her, and her demeanor was different than what he remembered Inuyasha's friend to have.

The wind blew again, colder and harsher than before, and a strange scent came to Sesshomaru's nose. He turned toward the south, the direction from which it came, intently scouring the landscape for the source. The tops of silent trees stretched out before him, hiding whatever may have been there from his watchful gaze. But although he could not see the figure, its scent was becoming more and more distinguishable by the moment as the wind began to pick up. That scent, he thought to himself. is of the wretched creature that stole my swords. He narrowed his eyes. But this scent is a bit different than his. Even different that that wench, Kagura. What is the meaning of this? Sesshomaru looked down at his younger brother who had settled down to sleep. The fool doesn't even realize it. He cannot pick up the scent as the trees block the wind from carrying it to him. He looked again to the south. I will investigate this on my own. There is no need to awaken him and again ignite the flames of his rage. He leapt from the plateau, gracefully landing on the ground below with hardly any sound and took off at a demonic sprint southward. The forest blurred on both sides as he moved with great speed toward the source of the smell that had disturbed him. As he approached he slowed his pace until he had stopped before a young white-haired girl. She stood stoic and still, her face blank and emotionless as she held a white mirror in her small hands.

"Who are you?" Sesshomaru demanded of the girl. "If you refuse to answer, I will cut you down. Your scent much resembles that of Naraku and the Wind Sorceress."

"Naraku is my master and Kagura is my sister," the girl said quietly. "I am Kanna, and Master Naraku has instructed me to seek you out, Lord Sesshomaru."

"And why is that?" he inquired, eyeing her distrustfully. She did not answer and instead turned her mirror slightly. The glass shimmered and an image appeared there. A dark room was visible, blanketed in foreboding shadows that seemed to move on their own. In the center of the room was the small, frail form of Rin as she curled herself into a small ball, her body trembling against the frigidness of the room. Her kimono was torn and her body looked abused and beaten. Sesshomaru felt his blood boil and his rage began to take the form of a low growl in his throat. He turned his gaze to Kanna before him, his eyes turned crimson with anger. "How dare you…" he snarled, his fangs elongating in his mouth.

Kanna turned her mirror again and the image vanished. "Master Naraku requests your presence at his fortress alone. You will come there if you wish to rescue this young girl. She does miss you so. I have heard her weep alone in the darkness."

"Tell me where Naraku's fortress is," Sesshomaru demanded, his voice venomous.

Kanna turned from him, her empty eyes fixated on the landscape to the south. "It is there. A demon of your caliber should be able to reach it within a few hours. Master Naraku will open the barrier for you as he is expecting you." She turned back to him. "Now go, if you wish to save the girl." She vanished into the darkness, leaving nothing behind her but her deadly flowery scent. Sesshomaru growled low in his throat and took off running in the direction she had specified. Rin was still alive, and Sesshomaru set his mind to saving her above everything else, no matter what happened to him in the process.

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Inuyasha's dreams were unlike any he had ever had. Where they had been blurred and cloudy before, they were now crisp and clear. Everything came at him in vibrant colors, calming and gentle, making him feel warm and invited. In his dreams he stood with Kagome and she was smiling, her beautiful ebony hair dancing in the breeze and her creamy white skin shining brightly just for him. They were surrounded on all sides by beautiful, radiant flowers of the most extraordinary reds, yellows, and blues, and they carried with them the sweet scent of their petals. "Kagome…" he whispered and held her tightly, refusing to let go, even as the smell of the flowers changed and became the ghastly stench of death. He shut his eyes and pulled her close, burying his face in her hair in order to drown himself in her scent, but it had also faded and he finally opened his eyes. He was no longer in his field of flowers, but instead in the darkness of the unforgiving forest. As his dream faded and reality set in, he realized that he had made a costly mistake. The woman laying beside him-- She was not Kagome at all. And as her unfamiliar scent sank in, he wondered how on earth he had been led to believe such a lie. He sprang to his feet, outraged at her masquerading, and his sudden movement woke her.

"Inuyasha?" she asked sleepily, rubbing her eyes. "What's wrong? Do you sense something?"

"I sense something all right," the hanyou replied, gnashing his teeth. "I finally sense it. I don't know how you managed to trick me, but it stops right here!"

"So, you finally figured it out, did you?" she said, her voice mutating as she spoke. "You truly are a fool, letting your emotions cloud your judgment as you did. If only were as perceptive as your brother."

"Who the hell are you?" he demanded. "Where did you come from? And why did you trick me?"

She laughed, a cold and cruel cackle that sounded harshly in his ears. And as he watched, she began to transform. Her body seemed to explode as another form emerged, shedding her skin as if it were a shell. The new form was all too familiar to him, and the sight of the baboon pelted man sent waves of rage washing over him.

"You… bastard!" Inuyasha snarled, baring his fangs. "You damn bastard! After everything you've done you have the gall…"

Naraku smiled and it looked unnatural on his evil face. "You sentimental fool. Emotions will be your undoing. They've already led to your brother's downfall."

"What did you say?" Inuyasha growled. "What did you say, you bastard?" He took a step forward, unsheathing the Tetsusaiga as he did so. "Where's Sesshomaru? What did you do to him?"

"He has answered my call to come to my fortress," Naraku replied, remaining completely still. "I see you wish to go to his aide. First, however, you must defeat me."

"Whatever you say," the half dog demon snarled, taking a swing with his large sword. Naraku moved swiftly, avoiding the blow completely as his long tendrils stretched out from beneath the baboon pelt. Inuyasha leapt into the air, avoiding the lashing tendrils that had come at him, and as he came back down, he aimed his sword at Naraku's head. Before contact, however, a tendril caught him by the wrist and threw him to the ground. Inuyasha landed hard on hi side, his sword falling from his grasp upon impact. "Damn it…" he swore, reaching for the Tetsusaiga with his free hand. But another tendril wrapped around his neck and yet another around his midsection, and they raised him into the air. Inuyasha struggled against the strong grasp, feeling the tendrils wrapping more and more tightly around him. His lungs began struggling for air as the tendril began to crush his throat, and he desperately clawed at it. His claws did little to deter it, and Naraku began applying more pressure.

"You are nothing more than a wretched half breed," Naraku snarled. "Your attachment to your friends was your greatest weakness and has led to your demise. And after your death, I will turn my attention to your foolish brother and make sure he does not leave my fortress alive."

Inuyasha growled viciously. "You… damn… bastard!" he managed to snarl. "I… won't… let… you… win!" His claws suddenly became as hard as diamond and as he lashed into the tendrils again, they shredded easily. He dropped onto the ground, feeling his blood raging inside him as it burned with a merciless hatred. His fangs had grown and suddenly his mind was filled only with the desire to kill his enemy. His blood-red eyes glowed in the night, and he roared as he sped forward, lashing out with his claws and quickly reducing his enemy to shreds. He landed on his feet, feeling his head pounding painfully, and he could do little else but struggle to remain standing upright. A sound came to his ears, a strange pulsating sound and as he turned toward the source, the sheath of Tetsusaiga called the sword over, and it forced itself into his clawed hand. His migraine slowly disappeared and his senses became unclouded as his body began returning to normal. He dropped to one knee, breathing heavily as he surveyed the scene. There in front of him was a broken golem, and he realized that his enemy had not been Naraku at all. "Damn it all to hell…" he swore, pushing himself to his feet with his sword. "You're not going to get away this." He sniffed the air, and a faint trace of Naraku's miasma drifted to him on the wind. His fortress must be nearby. Hang on Sesshomaru, I'm on my way.