InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Family Bonds ❯ Explainations and training ( Chapter 2 )

Thanks for all the reviews, everyone!! Still haven't decided on the pairings but I think I'll just wait and see. This chapter kinda sums up what happened the day after Kagome was knocked out. It's a little long to make up for the fact that I haven't updated this. Oh yeah I don't own the cute puppy dog-eared hanyou, though I'd like to own his brother.

 

* Flash Back*

 

Kagome's body fell towards the fire despite her claims that she was far enough away. Sesshoumaru caught her with his newly regenerated arms and pulled the unconscious miko into his lap.

 

Inuyasha growled at his proximity to Kagome. “Give her to Sango,” he ground out.

 

Sesshoumaru raised his eyes to Inuyasha's and narrowed them. Completely ignoring Sango's hovering form, he rose and carried the miko over to her bedding that Miroku and Shippou were laying out. He gently laid her down and turned back to a very pissed off hanyou.

 

“I neither see nor smell your mark on her, Inuyasha, so cease your growling. And since you fight so badly there is no doubt in my mind that I will have to rescue and help the miko quite often. So get used to me touching her.” He allowed a small smirk to cross his face.

 

“Sesshoumaru,” Inuyasha snarled as he pulled tetsuiga free. “My fighting is a hell of a lot better than yours or did you forget who took that arm off in the first place?!” He charged Sesshoumaru intent on kicking the crap out of his older brother.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Later that Day~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

They had found a small abandoned hut in a large field about a days walk from their camp. Sesshoumaru had decided that since the miko would be out for a while it would be to their benefit to keep her in a hut instead of outside and in the elements. Hearing no complaining from the still sore and bruised Inuyasha, he once again picked up Kagome and motioned for the others to follow him. Settling her on an old futon that had been left in the hut Sesshoumaru took off his mokomoko-sama and draped it over her. Inuyasha narrowed his eyes and cracked his knuckles threateningly at Sesshoumaru, earning himself another glare from his brother.

 

“Tell me brother,” Sesshoumaru spat. “Do you think your incessant knuckle cracking actually scares anyone besides small children and defenseless kits?”

 

“Hey, I'm not defenseless!” Shippou spoke out. He quickly flattened his ears and dove behind Miroku after Sesshoumaru shifted his gaze on the kit.

 

“Kit,” Sesshoumaru started.

 

“His name's Shippou,” Inuyasha snapped. “The miko's name is Kagome, the taijiya is Sango, and the monk is Miroku.” He stepped towards Sesshoumaru. “Why don't you use their names for once.”

 

“I will use their names when I feel like it,” Sesshoumaru responded coolly. “You obviously don't have trouble calling the miko nor the kit by less flattering names. Why should it bother you if I call them by their titles?” Sesshoumaru bluntly asked. He turned to the others ignoring Inuyasha. “Sango, Shippou if you two would be so kind as to go out and gather fire wood for us. Miroku can you grab that old bucket over there and scout out a water source?” The others stood a little stunned that Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands was asking them, politely, to do camp chores. And he had used their names.

 

“What the hell do you think you're doing ordering us around?” Inuyasha yelled as Sango, Shippou, and Miroku left. Inuyasha was the boss of this group not Sesshoumaru and he didn't appreciate the others following the orders of his older brother.

 

“I assumed, Inuyasha, that weaklings such as yourselves required a noontime meal. But if you don't require one then I shall train you until dark.” He stood up and walked to the door noticing that Kirara had already seated herself next to Kagome and with a nod of approval from Sesshoumaru had curled up next to her head. Sesshoumaru stepped outside to wait for Inuyasha. After a few tense minutes the hanyou stormed out, scowling at Sesshoumaru.

 

“Well, Inuyasha, will you be requiring a noon meal or will you attempt to go without it? After all a weak hanyou such as yourself needs sustenance.” Sesshoumaru inwardly smiled. Inuyasha would be goaded into not eating and the hanyou would be a lot easier to train while he was weaker from lack of food. He simply would have the energy to taunt anyone or annoy Sesshoumaru into really killing him. He didn't want to use tenseiga too soon after joining the group. It just didn't do to kill your allies, even if you resurrected them.

 

“Keh, I don't need a meal.” Inuyasha sneered.

 

`Hook, line, and sinker,' Sesshoumaru thought. “Very well then, let's move over farther then. Your relentless and uncoordinated swinging of the tetsuiga might hit the hut.”

 

“Why you…”

 

Inuyasha charged Sesshoumaru for the second time that day only to have him neatly step aside at the last second to dodge the attack. He grabbed Inuyasha's arm and pulled him close to himself. “I said we would move over farther, hanyou.” He spat the last word out as he picked up Inuyasha and flung him into the field, much like he flung Jaken.

 

 

Sango and Shippou returned later on to find Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru in the middle of the field staring at each other with their swords drawn.

 

“Wonder what they're doing,” Shippou said aloud as he and Sango stacked the firewood up against the side of the hut.

 

“I don't know.” Sango replied as she went inside to check on Kagome. Finding her still sleeping Sango reached down and picked up Kirara and took her outside. “Shippou, can you and Kirara dig a fire pit for me please?” The fire neko leapt out of her arms as Shippou and Kirara started digging in the ground. A sudden noise caused them to look up at the field.

 

Inuyasha had broken the staring contest and was charging Sesshoumaru again. This time however Sesshoumaru was yelling at him.

 

“Unless you have the patience to wait for your enemy's first move you will never be able to predict their movements.” He smacked Inuyasha back with Tokijin.

 

“Yah, well it doesn't really matter in the long run if they screw up and loose an arm or something in battle,” Inuyasha taunted back as he skidded to a stop in the grass.

 

“Still able to speak half-breed?” Sesshoumaru spat back. “Well, I'll just have to take care of that now won't I?” He started to attack Inuyasha instead of merely defending his attacks.

 

Inuyasha just dodged and laughed as his brother missed him. “You wouldn't catch me on your best day, ass hole. The truth of the matter is that I don't need training, you do!!” And with that Inuyasha charged again but jumped back as Sesshoumaru sheathed Tokijin.

 

“Really now Hanyou? You don't need training?” His eyes turned red as he switched to his demon form. “Why don't you try to beat me without tetsuiga?”

 

“Keh, Any damned day of the week.” Inuyasha shot back as he put tetsuiga away. He charged again.

 

“Hmm, well that didn't take long,” Miroku, muttered as he returned with a full bucket of water.

 

“Hoshi-sama, you're back,” Sango said as she turned towards Miroku. “Did you find a stream?”

 

“Yes, and a lovely hot spring as well. If you'd be willing I'd go to keep you company since Kagome is unable to go with you.” Miroku smiled hopefully at Sango. Unfortunately for him Hirikotsu left a rather large lump and an unconscious monk in its wake.

 

She turned and looked down at the large pit in front of the hut. “Hey, you two!” Sango shouted at Shippou and Kirara. “I said dig a fire pit not a grave.” Shippou and Kirara jumped out of the deep hole in the ground to face Sango.

 

“Well we figured that once Sesshoumaru was done we'd be digging Inuyasha's grave anyway,” the little kit smiled innocently.

 

“Ha ha,” Sango replied. “Now fix it so I can make a fire and cook lunch, or we'll not be eating.” She watched as the started putting back some of the dirt they had flung out, before shifting her eyes back out onto the field. Inuyasha was bloody and heaving but it looked like Sesshoumaru hadn't even started sweating. `Baka's' She thought as Sesshoumaru pounced on Inuyasha and ground him into the dirt. He looks like a puppy playing with a butterfly or some toy.

 

Sango frowned; Sesshoumaru had shifted forms again and was now carrying a clearly unconscious Inuyasha back to them. Shippou and Kirara jumped out of the now completed pit and started to build a fire in it, as Sesshoumaru tossed Inuyasha in a heap next to it.

 

“Was that necessary?” Sango asked pointing to Inuyasha.

 

“Was that?” Sesshoumaru asked back pointing to Miroku. Sango smiled, nodding her head at the Taiyoukai. “Why is he such a lecher?”

 

Sango's face dropped the smile. “He claims its because he's cursed by Naraku. You know of the wind tunnel in his hand, ne?” Sesshoumaru nodded. “It's caused by Naraku's curse on his family, one day that wind tunnel will go out of control and suck him and anything around him in. His family swore vengeance, and the lecher needs a child so that he can be assured that his quest for vengeance will go on until Naraku's defeated. So he gropes every woman he can reach and asks them all to bear his child.”

 

“I see,” Sesshoumaru nodded slowly. “What is your story taijiya?” He asked.

 

“Naraku took control over my youngest brother and used him to kill my family, he then let the demons destroy my village. He still uses my brother in battles though, but you've met him. He's Kohaku.”

 

Sesshoumaru's eyes widen a little at hearing this. He had heard the miko begging for the boy's life but he hadn't known the reason behind it. He turned to the kit. “And what's your excuse for staying with my half-wit brother?”

 

Shippou took a deep breath. “The-Thunder-brothers-killed-my-dad-and-I-needed-to-become-stronger-t o-fight-them, sooo I-tried-to-steal-the-shards-that-Kagome-had-and-Inuyasha-caught-me-and-then -Kagome-had-Inuyasha-fight-them-and-defeated-them. Then I was in their debt and Inuyasha said that I could tag along with them to keep Kagome company.” He expelled his breath, and hoped Sesshoumaru had caught it all.

 

Sesshoumaru raised his eyebrows at Shippou. “If you didn't want to talk about it then you didn't need to race through your explanations.” Shippou started to nudge a rock around on the ground with his foot and looked a little ashamed. “Later when I bring my ward you may play with each other.” Shippou looked up and flashed a smile at Sesshoumaru. “However, since my idiot of a brother has not started you in any training I am assuming you have had none at all.”

 

Shippou protested at this. “I was by myself for a couple of weeks before Inuyasha and Kagome showed up. I know how to track and forage.”

 

“But you do not know how to hunt correct?” Sesshoumaru asked. “I will teach you. You are youkai, and should be better than that overbearing Hanyou.”

 

The kit looked up at Sesshoumaru in surprise his eyes glistening in awe. “You would do that?” He asked hesitantly.

 

Sesshoumaru gave a short nod. “Come,” he said. “We can start now. I expect everyone in this group to pull their weight, including you. You are now in charge of making sure there is enough food and reminding either myself or Inuyasha when you need to go hunting.”

 

“But I can't pull down big game by myself…”

 

“Any you won't be by yourself. When you hunt either Inuyasha or myself will be there to make the kill for the larger game. You would be prey yourself if you went alone. However, you will be expected to kill smaller game such as rabbits.”

 

“Oh…” Shippou said thoughtfully. “Well then let's go!” He yelled and with that he followed Sesshoumaru off into the trees.

 

“Well that was odd,” Sango said to Kirara. The firecat mewed her agreement.

 

Then sun was just setting when Sesshoumaru and Shippou returned with a rabbit dangling proudly from Shippou's arms. Inuyasha had already awoken and was skulking around the hut. Even though he'd be healed in the morning, Sesshoumaru had broken several ribs, and Inuyasha was covered in bruises and deep gashes. He begrudgingly ate the rabbit stew that Sango fixed from Shippou's first kill, if only to avoid the beating Sesshoumaru's eyes promised when he upset the kit by calling the rabbit a puny sac of bones that even Kaede could have caught with her bare hands.

 

The others were setting out their sleeping gear when the inevitable sound of “Hentai!!” sounded through the camp. Sango had been digging through Kagome's backpack to look for an extra blanket when Miroku kindly showed his appreciation of her backside.

 

“Monk,” Sesshoumaru growled. “Show your affections in a less corrupt manner or I shall remove your `curse' for you. If not for the sake of my hearing, for the sake of any poor onna that is near you.”

 

Miroku swallowed, the Taiyoukai was not one to cross and even Miroku knew not to push his luck by retorting. He turned to go about his business and decided that he would need to make sure Sesshoumaru was firmly out of hearing range when he would show his appreciation to Sango's curves.

 

“Monk,” Sesshoumaru said again, causing Miroku to look up at the youkai that was still watching him. “IF you manage to not grope any women nor ask any women to bear your child for a month, I will teach you some new barrier spells as well as some attacks. Is this agreeable to you?”

 

“Yes, most certainly, Sesshoumaru-sama.” Miroku wasn't happy about being separated from his favorite pastime, but well, new spells weren't something the monk could turn down. He crawled onto his bedding and went to sleep.

 

Since the hut was so small they had decided (or rather Sesshoumaru had decided) that Sango, the kit, and the neko could sleep inside if they chose but the others including him would sleep outside. Inuyasha suspected that the amount of dust and lack of fresh air inside the hut had more to do with it than modesty on the girl's behalf. He leapt up into a tree and was just settling down when he spotted the Shinudama (I don't know if this is the correct spelling or not. Tell me please!!) at the edge of the clearing. Eyeing his brother and praying that Sesshoumaru wouldn't wake he slipped off the branch and started to go towards Kikyou who was waiting with her soul stealers in the surrounding forest.

 

A low growl alerted Inuyasha that Sesshoumaru was indeed awake and not happy about Kikyou being there.

 

“Leave onna,” he growled. “And torment him no longer. His debt to you will be fulfilled when Naraku breathes his last. Be satisfied with that and quit trying to fool anyone into believing you belong in this world.”

 

“Sesshoumaru, stay out of this,” Inuyasha warned.

 

“I will not,” the cold Taiyoukai responded. “I am a part of this group as well Inuyasha, and that means protecting all of you. Especially from being dragged to hell by walking corpses.”

 

“It's not her fault,” Inuyasha protested.

 

“Nor is it Kagome's fault. Yet this `holy',” he spat. “Undead miko has repeatedly tried to kill her to reclaim `her' soul. Do you know how painful it is to be literally missing a piece of one's soul?” Sesshoumaru glared at Inuyasha who had a stupefied look on his face. “I take it the miko never mentions the pain it causes her, probably because she doesn't want to make you feel guilty. Some protector you are, hanyou. You cause Kagome pain by allowing this undead abomination to continue keeping a piece of her soul, while keeping Kikyou attached and imbedded in consuming hatred. Why don't you just release them both by killing the undead bitch and setting the soul free?”

“I can't do that!” Inuyasha spouted back. He was furious at Sesshoumaru. That bastard didn't have the right to talk about Kagome or Kikyou that way. “If I release Kikyou before this is resolved she'll go to hell for the hate she harbors.”

 

“No she won't baka.” Sesshoumaru spat back. “She's already earned her way out again if she's been reincarnated into Kagome.” He looked back to the forest edge and noticed that Kikyou had already left. `Good', he thought. `Now to teach this idiot the true meaning of pain.' His crescent started to glow and Inuyasha's eyes widened.

 

“What are you doing you bastard?” Inuyasha growled, the hairs on the back of his neck were rising in alarm.

 

“Teaching you a lesson in true pain,” Sesshoumaru answered his hair rising around his body. “I'm going to let you feel what the miko has been suffering this entire time, and combine it in one simple minute of absolute hell for you.” The crescent flashed and in an instant Inuyasha was on the ground screaming and writhing in pain. He felt like his body was full of holes. Emptiness, and a feeling of pure agony rushed through him as he screamed into the night. The minute was up quicker than he had expected, but still his body shuddered from the pain. He couldn't gather the strength to move, so he simply laid there, crying and whispering apologies to Kagome. `Was this what she goes through everyday?' Inuyasha thought. `Is this why she asks to stop for a break every now and then?' He thought of the times he pushed her limits. Calling her a weak human and a hindrance to their group. “I didn't know,” he whispered into the night.

 

He felt arms go around him and lift him up. `Who? Sesshoumaru?' Inuyasha was confused. `Why?' he wondered. He deserved to suffer, he thought as Sesshoumaru brought him back to the dying fire. “I am such an idiot,” he whimpered aloud. Sesshoumaru gave an agreeing snort as his brother started to drift off in his arms. He cracked his eyes and saw Sango going back into the hut and Miroku rolling back over. He felt a slight pressure on his shoulder as Sesshoumaru shifted him, and darkness over took him.

 

The next day Inuyasha awoke wrapped in a blanket next to the lighted fire pit. He looked around and saw Sango practicing her katas and Miroku meditating. He stretched out his aching muscles and popped a few sore joints. Other than being sore and tired he was completely healed. `I feel like shit', he complained to himself. His turned and looked at the hut and his eyes narrowed in sympathy. `I'm gonna make it up to you Kagome,' he promised. `I won't be such an idiot again.'