InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Divine Retribution ❯ A Second Chance ( Chapter 5 )

Divine Retribution by Taiyoukai's Lady

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Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.

A good home must be made, not bought.
Joyce Maynard, "Domestic Affairs"

"Force is all-conquering, but its victories are short-lived."
- Abraham Lincoln

Inu yasha smiled as he limped up to the now familiar house that he had been visiting at least once a month for the past three years. Kagome had purchased it with the help of a loan Inu yasha had gotten her. He would have bought it for her outright if she had only let him. Kagome just wasn't that type of girl, she had always earned everything that she owned, and simply couldn't see receiving a house as present from a friend.

It was more of a home than the place he had grown up in; it was the type of place that kids dreamed about, there was plenty of space to play, woods to hide in, and open skies. It was a little piece of the past, full of nature and thankfully without the Youkai courts that Inu yasha had grown up around.

Rin and Shippo would grow up with the family that had long ago ceased to exist, and Kagome was the cause of it all. Everyone had known that she would make a great mother, and the moment they found out about Rin they had sworn to protect both from any more harm from Sesshoumaru.

Wincing as his bruised ribs struggled to take in enough air Inu yasha found himself wondering just how well their plan had worked out. Sesshoumaru had found them eventually and nothing could change the fact that Inu yasha and Koga had broken Youkai law. Now that one of the Cardinal Taiyoukai knew of it, there was little time until retribution was established and they would both literally have their asses handed to them.

The door opened suddenly and Inu yasha's best friend and sister walked out the door. Kagome simply took in his beaten appearance for a moment before rushing to his side.

“Inu yasha, are you ok?” She asked, gently running a finger over his bruised face. The hanyou simply smiled down at her revealing several missing teeth and ignoring her questioning glance.

“Feh, you should see the other bastard, he got it twice as bad.” He replied smiling even though his broken lip cracked and began to bleed again.

Tears filled the doe brown eyes staring up at him and Inu yasha felt his nose twitch as the smell of salt filled the air. After all the years he had known her she still cried at the drop of a hat, especially if someone she loved was hurting.

“He did this didn't he?” She asked her hands dropping away from him to twist in anxiety in front of her. She was worrying her lower lip with small white teeth and looking very upset in general.

Inu yasha sighed and looked toward the house where Takamatsu stood in the doorway watching the scene.

“Kagome, maybe we should talk more about this later.” He said throwing an arm around her shoulders to lead her back inside.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Moments later Inu yasha was sipping a cup of hot tea while Kagome bandaged the worst of his wounds. Takamatsu sat across the table for them, a grim expression on his face. He was no doubt thinking about the events that would be unfolding before their very eyes.

“Sesshoumaru had no right to do this!!!” Kagome hissed as she dabbed at a particularly bad cut on Inu yasha's chest with some antiseptic. “I don't care who he is or what he thinks!! You were only protecting us, can't he see that?” She asked jabbing a little too hard in her anger.

Takamatsu winced along with Hanyou, his blue-grey eyes filled with sympathy for his long time friend.

“I'm afraid that he has every right to do whatever he wants to Inu yasha, Kagome. Our friends have broken Youkai law, and just as with your laws, atonement must be made.”
Takamatsu replied tapping his fingers on the table in concentration.

Kagome glared at him and the fox spread his hands in a soothing gesture. “I'm not saying what he did was right, but I am saying that as a Taiyoukai Sesshoumaru has the right to hand out punishment as he sees fit. Especially in an occurrence such as our own.”

Kagome growled in a cute but threatening way.

“So because he randomly comes back from the past and decides that he wants me back he can hurt my friends for doing their best to protect me from him? That's a bunch of bull Takamatsu and you know it!!!”

She dipped the rag she had been using to clean the hanyou's wounds in a bowl of warm water that was beside her, and rung it out viciously.

“Sesshoumaru is not in control of the universe, no matter how much he acts like it!!! Everyone needs to realize that, especially him.” Kagome sighed suddenly, her anger subduing down to a mild rage.

“What would he think if Rin saw you like this? She would be worried sick and wouldn't let you out of her sight for a week! Remember when you sprained your wrist fighting with Koga? I had to stay up half the night with her, assuring her that you were fine. I don't want to do that again especially when I'm not sure that you are.”

Inu yasha found the strength to laugh, and immediately grimaced as his lungs protested against it.

“Don't worry Kagome I'm not in that bad of shape...” Inu yasha cut off suddenly, his ears tweaking to catch a sound that Kagome couldn't hear while his eyes took on a glazed expression.

Lifting his nose to the air the hanyou took a quick sniff before letting out an angry “Oh Hell no,” and staggered to his feet.

Grabbing on to Inu yasha's arms to steady him Kagome shot her fiancé a questioning glance, but he too had a far away look in his eyes, and didn't seem to be paying any attention.

Cursing Inu yasha plopped back down into his chair, and began rubbing the wound on his shoulder. Not even looking at Kagome he finally spoke.

“We've got company.”

The moment the words left his mouth there was a knock on the front door. Ignoring the injured hanyou's cussing Kagome made her way to her there, Takamatsu following along behind her. A sixth sense was stirring in the back of her head that had goose flesh popping up on the back of her arms.

Power personified was standing on her doorstep, and judging by the waves rolling off of it, it was angry. Recognizing the familiar aura Kagome allowed her miko powers to rise out of her.

`If Sesshoumaru thinks that he can simply walk in here and claim anything after all these years he has got another thing coming!!!”

Takamatsu sensing the danger, backed away as Kagome's powers licked at the front door. He knew that there was little protection he could offer against a Taiyoukai of Sesshoumaru's strength, yet instincts demanded that he offer his mate to be what little protection he could.

Seeing her Fiancé ready to defend her Kagome felt her anger subside a little bit, she could always count on her fox to stand right there with her, and protect her. Even if he knew the odds were way out of his favor. Appreciating the gesture Kagome shook her head. “Takamatsu, keep Inu yasha busy for me please?” This was personal.

Not even bothering to check and make sure he was going to do as she asked Kagome threw open the door, before her actions fully registered with her brain. Sure enough, Sesshoumaru was standing on the other side. Without the door to separate them her powers were rolling on to him in a way that would have made any other demon writhe in agony.

Yet Sesshoumaru simply stood there unblinking in all his glory. The setting sun, behind him had turned his silver hair blood red in the fading light, and the furor of her miko powers seemed nothing more than waves lapping at his toes.

He was magnificent, and it was enough to make her knees go. Yet his eyes were as hard as her own, and she knew in that moment just how determined he was. It was the look he had given her years before when she refused his offer for a date. She had known then and there that nothing would stop him once he decided he wanted something, and it seemed that even now, years later it was the same

Anger boiling up in her upon remembering her current situation Kagome glared at Sesshoumaru fully. “Is there some particular reason that you are here? It can't possibly be to see how your little brother is doing.” Her voice was condescending as she stepped outside and closed the door behind her.

Sesshoumaru didn't even respond, his eyes never leaving her own as she moved to sit on the porch railing. He simply watched her, ignoring her questioning stare he seemed to be basking in her presence, the same way a cat would in the sun.

She shook her head in exasperation. “I don't understand you Sesshoumaru honestly I don't. You're the one who wanted the divorce, and here you are beating up your brother for his protection and practically begging me for a second chance.”

Sesshoumaru glared at her reacting the way she knew he would to her words.

“This Sesshoumaru does not beg.”

Kagome glared back. “Well this Kagome does not appreciate your treatment of her best friend! My God, Sesshoumaru!! What if Rin saw Inu yasha like this? Do you have any idea how much she loves him? Or how much stress seeing him in this condition would cause her? You had no right to beat the crap out of him simply because he didn't hand me over on a silver platter after the way you treated me!”

Sesshoumaru's eyes tinted pink at her questions. “His punishment is light considering the circumstances Kagome, it could have been much harsher, and considering how little you understand of Youkai law it would make very little sense to you how sever the hanyou's crime is.”

The small woman's eyes snapped with indignation. “Enlighten me then Sesshoumaru, how is it that Inu yasha should be punished for protecting me from you when you are the one who wronged me? That makes no sense and you know it!”

Sesshoumaru closed his eyes and exhaled, reining in his growing frustration and anger. Once he was sure they were under control he opened his eyes again.

“As his alpha Inu yasha had no just reason to withhold information of you from me, regardless of the situation. It is betrayal of one's pack to do so.” Seeing as how she was about to protest he held his hand up in a silencing gesture. “We can argue about this later Kagome, right now I have more important matters to discuss with you.”

Still furious about the way Inu yasha had been treated she shot Sesshoumaru a look that clearly stated the subject was far from finished before she leaned back to listen to him.

Thankful that she was willing to listen to him Sesshoumaru relaxed a bit. He had to be careful of the way he presented this to her, for if it was done wrongly his plans would be for nothing. While he was positive Kagome wouldn't keep Rin from him he knew he would never be able to accept Kagome being with that damned kitsune. She was his to begin with and that meant she still belonged to him, regardless of what anyone else said.

“I wish for a chance to get to know my daughter, as I am her blood father it is only right that you grant me this. Humans are so very frail, they age quickly. While I understand that in some aspects it would be best if she was left not knowing of me till she was older, that is simply not time that I am will to wait. ”

He stared at her the entire time gauging her facial expressions and steeling himself for her answer. She sat there for a moment thinking over what he said.

Finally she gave a small sigh and spoke. “I will not keep Rin from you Sesshoumaru; I'm not that type of person. However we will do things my way. You simply cannot barge in here and act as though you own everything. This is my home, you have your own that you can run. Also I do not want Rin to be informed that you are her father right now. She sees Takamatsu as her father now, and he has earned it. When the time is right and only then she will be told. If I find out that you went over my head and tell her Sesshoumaru that will be the end of your visits. Understand?”

Sesshoumaru found himself nearly snarling at the way she spoke to him. How dare she assume that he would allow his only child to see another as her sire! It was preposterous and there was no way in any world, this one or the next that he would simply sit back and watch as another raised his baby girl.

Seeing the turmoil brewing in Sesshoumaru's eyes Kagome spoke up. “Remember Sesshoumaru, I have proof that you disowned us. You can't prove that you didn't sign those letters, all you have to go on right now if your word, and honestly that doesn't mean a damn to me.” She shifted and hopped off the railing, ignoring the Taiyoukai as she made her way to the front door. Once there she turned and looked at him and gave a heavy sigh.

“While I may not personally care if you rot in hell or not Rin is a different matter. I mean it though Sesshoumaru, if you're not willing to play by my rules then we can't play at all. We've been doing just fine with out you. Also let me make this perfectly clear, I'm doing this for Rin, and only for Rin.”

Sesshoumaru nod once at her questioning glance and stepped forward at her gesture, following her into the house.

“Your first visit starts now, and since you were responsible for Inu yasha's current condition you can explain any questions Rin has.” She turned and walked into the house the Inu Youkai following behind her.

Rin was waiting by the front door the moment that they walked in, she had been crying. There were still tears in her eyes and she was hiccupping. Takamatsu was standing beside her, petting her hair and telling her that everything would be all right.

Upon seeing her mother the little girl ran forward, arms held up, begging to be picked up.
Kagome immediately scooped the little girl up into her arms and shushed her as she rocked the child. Rin buried her head in her mother shoulder as her sobs began anew.

“Rin sweetie what's wrong?” Kagome asked even though she had a strong feeling she knew the answer.

Rin pulled away to look at her mother, her adorable face blotchy, and covered in tears.

“Mommy I had a night scare and when I woke up Uncle Yasha was hurt!” She cried out hugging Kagome tightly.

Kagome shot Sesshoumaru a dark look as she continued to try and sooth the child, but nothing she did would stop Rin's tears.

Realizing just how upset Rin was Sesshoumaru felt the stirrings of guilt building, this was something that he hadn't planned for, and if Rin found out that he had been the one to harm Inu yasha it would be twice as hard to have the relationship he wanted with her.

“Little one stop crying, Inu yasha will be fine. I promise.”

Rin's sobs ceased the moment Sesshoumaru spoke; she turned her head to look at him over Kagome's shoulder.

She rubbed her eyes before blinking up at him as though he was a figment of her imagination. She started at him for a few moments before she spoke.

“Really?”

Sesshoumaru nod once “I do not lie, little one.” He said meeting Kagome's eyes.

“Are you going to take him to the hospital? Will he have to get a needle? I don't like needles! They hurt!! They'll hurt Inu yasha!” Rin cried wrapping her arms around her mother's neck once again.

Sesshoumaru shook his head “No Rin, Inu yasha is not going to the hospital, we are going to fix him.”

The small girl looked at him through tear filled eyes. “How?”

Sesshoumaru racked his brain, trying to think of something that could possibly ease Rin's fears.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Inu yasha was currently sitting at the kitchen table, an empty glass and a bottle of Advil beside him. This was not how he wanted to spend his evening. All he wanted to do was get through with work as quickly as he could, so he could go home and take his wife out to dinner and maybe if he was a good puppy a have a little romance. Was that honestly such a bad thing?

Yet here he was sitting in Kagome's kitchen, with bandages covering what felt like ninety percent of his body while every part of him ached in protest of any movement he made. And the cause of all his pain was currently in the next room trying his best to console a very distraught child.

`God if only I had the strength to get up.' Inu yasha was currently willing to bet his last dollar that Sesshoumaru was having absolutely no luck with soothing the child. And it was a picture that the hanyou was very upset about missing out on.

So he did the next best thing, he tried imagining Sesshoumaru's reactions. After all it was his entire fault that he was in this shape. Closing his eyes he did his best to pull up a mental image of a distressed Sesshoumaru. Yet no matter how hard he tried he simply couldn't get his brother's emotionless face to contort into anything that could possibly be real. Thinking that he might have better luck sitting more comfortably the hanyou put his head down on the table.

The door opened silently and Inu yasha didn't even sniff twice before he knew exactly who it was. Knowing that Sesshoumaru could do nothing to him under Kagome's roof with out dire consequences the younger inu smirked.

“I hope she got you good. I hope she grabbed your balls and purified them on the spot, and then cussed you ass out for being a complete and total bastard.”
Sesshoumaru would have rolled his eyes had he been anyone else. Instead he replied calmly “Kagome does not cuss.”

Inu yasha rolled his head to the side and looked at him against the table's length. “Still doesn't mean that you aren't a bastard.” He smirked when Sesshoumaru growled and sat up crossing his arms over his chest.

“Why are you here? Come to finish the job? Hate to break it to you fluffy but you can't touch me here Sesshoumaru. Not only will Kagome personally send you to hell, but this is sacred ground. No fighting allowed.”

“I am aware.” Sesshoumaru replied stoically.

Inu yasha frowned slightly. “So if you aren't here to kill me why the fuck are you back here?”

Sesshoumaru allowed a small smile to flight across his face. It was nothing more than the lifting of the corners of his lips slightly, but it was enough to make the hanyou sweat.

“I am simply here to inform you that you are not to let the knowledge of who delivered you punishment slip to Rin.”

Inu yasha looked slightly confused “why the hell shouldn't she know? Then she will know just how big of a bastard you really are!”

Sesshoumaru snarled “I do not wish it to be known hanyou. The punishment was warranted and could have been much severer were you fully Youkai. While I may not be able to personally be able to touch you right now due to Kagome's protection, there are thousands under my command who would be more than happy to elicit moans of pain from you. And some of them in more ways than one. Consider Jakotsu, if I remember correctly he had a very strong adoration for your ears.”

Inu yasha nearly fell out of his chair. There was no way in the seven hells Sesshoumaru would pull something that bad unless there was something big in it for him. Jakotsu was one of the few people that made Inu yasha truly shudder to think of. And jus the thought of that man near his ears had the hanyou ready enough to shut his trap for a good while.

Seeing the look of acceptance on the hanyou's face Sesshoumaru nod his approval once. “Then we have reached an agreement.”

Inu yasha `feh'ed' and crossed his arms mumbling something about absolute bastards under his breath.

Ignoring him Sesshoumaru walked towards the door. “In order to calm Rin's fears she has agreed to help me take care of your wounds. Watch your mouth while in her presence little brother, and allow her to work to her hearts content. Or I will personally see to it that Jakotsu has ample time to make his every fantasy come true.”

He opened the door and there stood little Rin. A play nurse costume on and a bag full of bandages and other utensils clutched in her small hand.

She walked to the table briskly and began to rummage through the assortment. Finally she pulled out a thermometer, and turned to look at Sesshoumaru.

“Sesshoumaru-sama, is this like Rin's visit to the doctor or like Athrun's visit to the vet?”

Inu yasha groaned as Sesshoumaru smirked and told the child that it depended on how well behaved her patient was.

Rin nodded and turned to the defenseless hanyou sitting at the table. Sticking out the thermometer she smiled. “Say Ahh!”


Authors note: Wow...I feel really bad for poor Inu yasha. If he ever finds me, he is really going to kill me, along with everyone else who has been waiting so patiently for this ... Must Hide!!!

Really sorry about how long this took to get out. I've had major writers block since I moved back home, and I finally just sat down and forced myself to get this out. If this chapter is really bad, that is honestly the reason for it. Really hoping some inspiration will hit me here, hard!

Thanks to everyone for all the reviews and such! I promise to do my best to get the next chapter out ASAP! I know where this is going and I will answer any and all questions as soon as I can, but you have to review and keep on telling me what you like and don't like.

New story coming soon.

~Taiyoukai's Lady

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