InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Empty Smile ❯ Chapter 4
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: Kumorism 
last chapter, let me know what you think~!
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 08.06.2007 | Pages: 1 | Words: 958 | Visits: 207 | Status: Completed
last chapter, let me know what you think~!
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 08.06.2007 | Pages: 1 | Words: 958 | Visits: 207 | Status: Completed
That evening set a pattern for the next few weeks. Minako slowly began to talk to Rin about her brother, and even opened up to Sesshoumaru, if only slightly. She had no idea that he occasionally watched her as she played with Rin in the garden. Her bruises had faded completely and the only remaining signs of her past life were the scars scattered across her body and her continuing nightmares. She never awoke screaming after that first night.
One night after her bath, Minako decided to search the halls for the library. When she found it (after receiving directions from two servants and finally having to follow one to the right door) she inhaled deeply. The walls were covered, floor to ceiling, with books, books about anything but sewing! Seizing a large book about demons that lived in a land across the sea, Minako curled up in one corner of a large sofa, absorbed in the book until she dozed off.
~~~~~
The dream began with her six-year-old self wandering the halls of her house, searching for her mother and finding instead her father, drunken and enraged. Just like that day, he pounced on her unsuspecting frame and began to swing his fists. But this time, when he tired and retreated to his bedroom, little Minako watched as her mother entered the room with her brother. Both of them were gazing at her with unwavering hatred. Her mother yelled at her, shouting that it was all her fault, her husband had never been so cruel until Minako arrived. Her brother joined in, kicking his sister and screeching into her ear that she wasn’t even worth saving.
~~~~~
Minako awoke with a yell. Her lungs were heaving and she shivered uncontrollably. Reaching up, she felt the tears flowing down her cheeks. When she felt a comforting hand smoothing her hair she whipped her head up. Meeting Sesshoumaru’s gaze she shrank back a little. When he continued to stroke her hair she leaned against the sofa and tried to control her breathing. The tears continued to flow. The demon hid his concern for the human, though he tried to comfort her. As he sat there beside her, watching her face devoid of vacancy, it brought him sorrow to see her so broken and alone.
“Is there nothing I can do?” The words startled him, although he knew she needed someone to console her. Why he cared, though, was a mystery even to himself. Trying to read her eyes, the demon saw her terror and pain. Drawing her closer to himself, Sesshoumaru remained silent.
Turning her tear-streaked face up to his, Minako fought to keep her pain to herself. But it was too much.
“Why does he hate me so much?” her voice was so soft the barely heard it. With a choked sob she continued, “When they left… wasn’t I worth saving too?” Her control shattered and she huddled in a ball. When the demon wrapped an arm around her she clutched his haori, sobbing into it all her pain and torment.
Eventually her sobs reduced to sniffles, and she released his haori apologetically, turning her face away because she knew her emotionless expression was in tatters.
Sesshoumaru turned her face back to his, locking her eyes with his.
“Tell me,” he said gently.
After a while, Minako looked down at her hands.
“My father,” she began hesitantly, “After my grandfather died, he… he hurt my mother. My brother and I- we were safe unless we got him angry.”
Taking a deep breath she continued, “After a few weeks, I woke up and my mother--…”
She couldn’t get the words out. Sesshoumaru waited patiently and she leaned into his hold before continuing.
“She wasn’t home. Her clothes were gone and she just left us… She took my brother with her--… but not me. She left me with him.”
Shuddering slightly, Minako felt that pain in her chest, the one she’d felt every day since her mother left her alone.
“My brother was worth saving… He was worth it, but I wasn’t. I had to stay behind and live with him for eleven years.”
She felt Sesshoumaru tense beside her, but she didn’t really notice.
“He didn’t care about me; he didn’t care about any of us, but I thought at least my mother cared…”She was still trapped in her memories and didn’t notice that she’d begun to tremble again until he shifted beside her. He stared down at her, for the first time revealing his emotion.
Concern, she realized dimly. Concern, and something indescribably. She couldn’t fight him when he turned her face up to his,
Brushing her lips in a kiss, Sesshoumaru felt her tense slightly before she relaxed into his hold. As he deepened the kiss, her arms reached up to wrap around his neck.
“I’m glad I’m here, Sesshoumaru.” she whispered. “It beats the world I grew up in.”
“Whatever your parents decided, Minako,” he murmured, before seizing her lips in another deep kiss, “I care.”
One night after her bath, Minako decided to search the halls for the library. When she found it (after receiving directions from two servants and finally having to follow one to the right door) she inhaled deeply. The walls were covered, floor to ceiling, with books, books about anything but sewing! Seizing a large book about demons that lived in a land across the sea, Minako curled up in one corner of a large sofa, absorbed in the book until she dozed off.
~~~~~
The dream began with her six-year-old self wandering the halls of her house, searching for her mother and finding instead her father, drunken and enraged. Just like that day, he pounced on her unsuspecting frame and began to swing his fists. But this time, when he tired and retreated to his bedroom, little Minako watched as her mother entered the room with her brother. Both of them were gazing at her with unwavering hatred. Her mother yelled at her, shouting that it was all her fault, her husband had never been so cruel until Minako arrived. Her brother joined in, kicking his sister and screeching into her ear that she wasn’t even worth saving.
~~~~~
Minako awoke with a yell. Her lungs were heaving and she shivered uncontrollably. Reaching up, she felt the tears flowing down her cheeks. When she felt a comforting hand smoothing her hair she whipped her head up. Meeting Sesshoumaru’s gaze she shrank back a little. When he continued to stroke her hair she leaned against the sofa and tried to control her breathing. The tears continued to flow. The demon hid his concern for the human, though he tried to comfort her. As he sat there beside her, watching her face devoid of vacancy, it brought him sorrow to see her so broken and alone.
“Is there nothing I can do?” The words startled him, although he knew she needed someone to console her. Why he cared, though, was a mystery even to himself. Trying to read her eyes, the demon saw her terror and pain. Drawing her closer to himself, Sesshoumaru remained silent.
Turning her tear-streaked face up to his, Minako fought to keep her pain to herself. But it was too much.
“Why does he hate me so much?” her voice was so soft the barely heard it. With a choked sob she continued, “When they left… wasn’t I worth saving too?” Her control shattered and she huddled in a ball. When the demon wrapped an arm around her she clutched his haori, sobbing into it all her pain and torment.
Eventually her sobs reduced to sniffles, and she released his haori apologetically, turning her face away because she knew her emotionless expression was in tatters.
Sesshoumaru turned her face back to his, locking her eyes with his.
“Tell me,” he said gently.
After a while, Minako looked down at her hands.
“My father,” she began hesitantly, “After my grandfather died, he… he hurt my mother. My brother and I- we were safe unless we got him angry.”
Taking a deep breath she continued, “After a few weeks, I woke up and my mother--…”
She couldn’t get the words out. Sesshoumaru waited patiently and she leaned into his hold before continuing.
“She wasn’t home. Her clothes were gone and she just left us… She took my brother with her--… but not me. She left me with him.”
Shuddering slightly, Minako felt that pain in her chest, the one she’d felt every day since her mother left her alone.
“My brother was worth saving… He was worth it, but I wasn’t. I had to stay behind and live with him for eleven years.”
She felt Sesshoumaru tense beside her, but she didn’t really notice.
“He didn’t care about me; he didn’t care about any of us, but I thought at least my mother cared…”She was still trapped in her memories and didn’t notice that she’d begun to tremble again until he shifted beside her. He stared down at her, for the first time revealing his emotion.
Concern, she realized dimly. Concern, and something indescribably. She couldn’t fight him when he turned her face up to his,
Brushing her lips in a kiss, Sesshoumaru felt her tense slightly before she relaxed into his hold. As he deepened the kiss, her arms reached up to wrap around his neck.
**********
When the sun rose bright the next day, Minako and Sesshoumaru were still on the sofa, sleeping in each other’s arms. Sesshoumaru woke first and smiled down at Minako’s face, full of innocence and content. Leaning down to kiss her, the demon watched Minako drift back into the waking world. She smiled sleepily at him and snuggled into the crook of his shoulder.“I’m glad I’m here, Sesshoumaru.” she whispered. “It beats the world I grew up in.”
“Whatever your parents decided, Minako,” he murmured, before seizing her lips in another deep kiss, “I care.”