InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Demon's Diary ❯ Song of the Flute ( Chapter 13 )

Chapter 13: Thirteenth Entry - Song of the Flute

 

Bougumaru has given a flute to Chame and the fox demon has taught himself to play it reasonably well. I first heard him playing last night and the sound of it brought back a memory to me, one I had almost forgotten. That woman, she played a flute as well.

 

This was just after my battle with Inuyasha in the tomb of our father. After he cut my arm off I left in my ball of light angry, frustrated and in immense pain. I landed in a village where I was accosted by the soldiers there. I just wanted to pass through but they attacked me, a poor choice of judgement on their part, I was not in the best of moods. There was not much left when I finally was able to continue on. That was when I first saw her, looking down at me from a window in her home.

 

I thought nothing of her, I just wanted to find a place to rest and recuperate after my battle. I found a large tree and sat under it, I was so tired, my pride had taken a blow as well and I must admit I was more than angry at my brother. That's when I heard her music, it soothed me and she would come everyday to play for me. It made me glad to know that there was one person who felt compassion for me. One who did not fear me or want my death because of what I am.

 

The girl turned out to be the lord's daughter and he was not pleased that she was coming out to play her flute for me. He sent his soldiers out to destroy me thinking I would be an easy target with my wound. Jaken, that foolish toad, tried to get between them and me. I had to tell him twice to get out of the way. They brought their guns and fired at me, foolish mortals, their weapons were no match for me and I sent their bullets back to them with my whip. I did not even have to stand to do it. Those that survived ran like the cowards they were.

 

Jaken wanted to go after them but I forbade it. What is the point, their lives are short as it is and as long as they leave me in peace I have no issue with them. We leave that place and I do not think of that woman again, but I do hear her flute song in my mind and it still sooths me.

 

The next time I see her she is not who she once was. I can sense demonic energy within her, it seems she has given her soul to demons and all to be with me; I who can offer her nothing. I tell her I do not know her and walk away. She, or the demon within her, says that she can fulfill my greatest desire. This interests me, how would she know my greatest desire, can she sense into my soul? Can she really know what I truly want? She again confirms that she can, saying, “Yes, and that by giving you which you most desire I'll prove I am worthy of you.”

 

This demon inhabiting her body is trying to trick me for whatever reason. This girl does not know me, nobody does. What I desire no one can give me. To not be lonely, to have my brother at my side and to not have the burden of being lord of the western lands; that is what I desire and this being cannot grant that for me. I turn away telling her to do as she wants, what do I care, there is nothing she can do for me, in hindsight a foolish thing to say on my part.

 

I had not gotten far when I sensed something was wrong, the image of my brother came to me so I turned back to investigate.

 

I met that demon/woman, she had the Tetsusaiga in her hands, my brother is not far behind, cursing me and attacks me with his bare claws. He will never learn that in hand to hand combat I will always be the stronger.

 

I easily grab his wrist and hold him, and as I look into his eyes, so like my own, those feelings of wanting him to be with me, to be my brother, come to the fore. I have the strongest urge to embrace him and I might have done just that except I hear that woman coming, she is telling me to hold him as she comes to attack him. I release him to turn and throw out my poison at her. She will not kill my brother or wound him while he cannot defend himself. I will protect him even if we cannot be together.

 

I manage to destroy the bird she has been riding on but not her, or what passes as her. My brother wishes to interfere, I can hear him rising to attack. I tell him this is none of his business as she comes and presents me with the sword. This demon flatters herself if she thinks she knew this Sesshoumaru's desires and I tell her so, saying that I did not want her to steal my brother's sword, and it is his sword. I do not covet it any longer. How this news is taken by my brother, I do not know for I leave that place. I cannot stand to see what she has done to herself in the name of love. I am confident my brother can retrieve his own sword.

 

When I land and emerge from my light I find myself by the tree I rested under when I heard her play. It saddens me that she is nothing more than a shell for what possesses her and I wish to release her soul from the torment she has willing accepted in my name.

 

As I think of her she appears and confronts me about my feelings for her. What can I tell her; I do not love

her. Before I can say anything Inuyasha is there, hot on her heels to gain back his sword which she still has. I strike at him with Toukijin, wounding him on the shoulder. It is a warning for him not to interfere in my business, he will heal quickly. Perhaps I was trying to protect her as well.

 

He throws out his blades of blood which I try to block but one manages to cut into that woman's face, and as expected, the demons I sensed pour out of her. They quickly ensnare my little brother and I step between them and him to prevent more from gaining control over him. I try to bait the woman to come after me; I need to give Inuyasha time to free himself.

 

I slice into her with my sword, dividing her in half and exposing the main demon who has taken possession of her body. He is like Naraku in the way he commands his minions to attack me rather than attack me himself. There are many but I strike them down. I can hear my brother breaking free of the ones that have him, finally.

 

Apparently I was the demons true target, again like Naraku, he wants to gain my powers.

 

I hear that woman's voice, she is asking for my forgiveness. The demon cannot seem to control her as well as he thought as he tells her to be quiet, that she is one with him and must obey. This angers me. She does not deserve this fate and certainly not because of me. She is again talking, telling me to destroy the mononoke. I try my best for her, to release her but I cannot.

 

This demon tells me that since the Toukijin is full of hatred and betrayal that it will not affect him and, in fact, will increase his power. I realize there is only one sword left that can defeat this demon and I quickly cut off the arm that is holding it. There are still many demons flying and attacking and my brother has his hands full. I grab the Tetsusaiga asking it to lend me its powers so I can defeat this bastard. It burns badly but I cannot fail that woman or my brother. I use the Tetsusaiga to destroy many demons and the mononoke but I cannot hold the sword any longer, it is burning me to the bone. I still carry a scar on my hand from that time.

 

I throw Tetsusaiga back towards my brother so he can grab it, he and the miko girl combine their powers, him with the wind scar, her with her arrow, and defeat what demons are left. Most impressive really, my brother has truly gained some skill.

 

All that is left is that woman slowly dissolving. I walk to her, picking up her flute that has fallen on the ground. I still remember her words plainly.

 

“It's finally over. Sesshoumaru, thank you, I have no regrets and in the end I was able to tell you of my feelings for you, of my love.” Those words cut deep into my heart. She loved me and I was unable to return those feelings for her. I place her flute in her ashes and leave. I speak to her in my mind and tell her to feel free to continue playing her flute in the afterlife. I know Sara is at peace now.

 

I take the flute from Chame and play the tune that she played for me. He is a quick learner and it feels only right to pass on that song. She is there in the notes, I will not forget her.

 

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“So that's what was going on,” Kagome said.

 

“Seems like your brother has not had much luck in love,” spoke up Miroku.

 

“I thought for sure he had put her up to it, damn it, why is everything I thought wrong.” Inuyasha's ears drooped to the side. It was so blatantly obvious that he was trying to protect me, how could I have been so stupid? And that look he gave me when he was holding me. I can see it now, why couldn't I have seen it then?

 

“Don't feel bad, Inuyasha. He's very good at hiding what he feels, how could you have known?” Kagome tried to console the hanyou.

 

“You did Kagome, you said he saved her soul, I didn't believe it,” Inuyasha intoned guiltily.

 

“I don't understand why we can't find him now,” Sango spoke up. “We've been all over his lands; he should have sensed us and came to investigate himself. Something isn't right.”

 

“Do you think he's in trouble?” questioned Miroku.

 

Inuyasha snorted, “Not likely, one thing I do know about my brother is he can take care of himself.”

 

“I think Sango's right,” returned Kagome. “He should have picked up that we were here.”

 

“Maybe he's hiding,” Shippo interjected.

 

“Possibly,” Miroku thought out loud, “but unlikely. In any case he is not here on his lands.”

 

“Where else could he be?” questioned Kagome.

 

“Maybe he's found Naraku,” Shippo again spoke up.

 

“Well if he has then we better get to looking for him ourselves. Sesshoumaru will have a hell of a time trying to defeat him by himself. And he calls me stubborn.” Inuyasha rolled his eyes.

 

“Runs in the family,” Shippo whispered to Kagome, the human girl hid a giggle behind her hand. Inuyasha glowered at the kitsune on Kagome's shoulder but refrained from trying to hit him not wishing to be sat as he saw the warning look in the dark haired girl's eyes.

 

They turned back the way they had come leaving the western lands to try to track down Naraku, knowing that if that was what Sesshoumaru was doing that they would soon meet up with him.