InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Feel Like Makin' Love ❯ The Painting ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter 1

 

The Painting

 

 

Baby, if I think about you, I think about love
Darling, if I live without you, I live without love - Bad Company

 

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There were many ancient trees around the fortress of the Lord of the Western Lands. The present Lord wanted it that way. He was not one to flaunt his presence; he did not need to advertise his home to command respect of his power. Under one of these trees, the Lord's brother sat, waiting. In his hand, he held something that was becoming worn and tattered. His golden eyes were cold and remote, showing an eerie family resemblance. But the way he seemed to treasure what he held in his hand belied this expression.

 

At the sound of someone coming up the path to the fortress, InuYasha looked up expectantly, his ears pricking forward. Slowly, they came into view, and he bent forward where he sat, waiting.

 

“We are here, InuYasha, as you requested,” Miroku said, leaning on his staff and smiling as he came up to the former hanyou.

 

Next to Miroku walked Sango, their eight-month-old son in a sling across her chest. The baby was sleeping peacefully, and the demon slayer looked every bit the contented young mother, in love with her husband and child. Her face was more relaxed and happy than InuYasha ever remembered it being before.

 

“So you came together,” said InuYasha, rising from the ground.

 

At first, Miroku and Sango were a bit taken aback by InuYasha's demeanor. His visage was so much harder and colder, his movements more reserved, but with an underlying intensity that seemed to make the very air vibrate around him. Gone was the impulsiveness of InuYasha's youth, replaced with a steely facade reminiscent of his older brother.

 

“Well, Sango came because you have not met our son yet,” said Miroku proudly, trying to overcome his initial trepidation at the changes in his friend.

 

“This is Daitaro,” said Sango smiling, and moved aside a fold of the sling so that the pink-cheeked, sleeping baby's face was visible.

 

“Hmph,” said InuYasha noncommittally. “He looks like you, Miroku.”

 

He did not have much experience with babies, and really did not know what else to say. Their obvious happiness only made InuYasha feel more distant from them, even though it had only been two years since the defeat of Naraku. Since he had moved in with his brother, he rarely saw them anymore. But this time, he had asked them to come.

 

“What do I see in your hand?” asked Miroku, looking pointedly at what InuYasha was holding so carefully.

 

“It's what I needed you to see,” said InuYasha, and passed it to him.

 

Miroku took the well-worn item from him, and saw that it was a picture of Kagome, which she had brought back from her own time and given InuYasha. Only it was hardly recognizable. The young miko's features, as she leaned against Goshinboku in her own time, were beginning to fade. If he did not remember the picture, Miroku would not have known it was Kagome.

 

“I remember that picture,” said Sango, leaning over slightly as Miroku gazed at it, one hand to his chin. “But why did you want us to see it again?”

 

“It's fading,” said InuYasha irritably. “I don't want to lose her image.”

 

“I don't know as we can help you with that,” said Miroku doubtfully.

 

“I know that,” scoffed InuYasha. “But there is something else I want you to see.”

 

InuYasha turned towards the fortress, and beckoned for them to follow. They went to enter the fortress, but the guards put down their spears to block Miroku and Sango. Snarling, InuYasha pushed the spears away, challenging the guards to try again. They didn't, but they had cold, displeased looks on their faces. The youkai retainers who lived and worked there followed their progress through the echoing halls curiously. Their Lord never had humans in his stronghold, except for Rin. Obviously the Lord's brother was a different story…

 

“These are my quarters,” said InuYasha, opening the door. “I have something to show you in here.”

 

Miroku and Sango exchanged glances, and Miroku raised his eyebrow a moment questioningly. Sango replied with a quick shrug, and they went inside. The room was sparsely but elegantly furnished, but looked little used. InuYasha turned and looked at the wall next to the door, arms crossed.

 

Turning around, Miroku and Sango were perplexed until they saw what he was looking at. They gaped in astonishment. It was a mural size portrait - obviously taken from the picture of Kagome, and unfinished.

 

“What do you think?” said InuYasha, cocking his chin towards the painting.

 

“Kami,” said Sango in wonder. “You did not do that yourself, did you?”

 

“Of course not,” scoffed InuYasha. “But I need your opinions on how her face looks - I want it to look exactly like her.”

 

At that moment, they heard a murmuring and shuffling in the hallway outside of the room. Sesshomaru swept in, followed by Rin and Jaken, and he pressed his mouth into a thin line, his eyes narrowing.

 

“Why are you challenging me, Little Brother?” said Sesshomaru sternly.

 

“What?” said InuYasha. “How am I challenging you?”

 

“Impudent whelp!” screeched Jaken. “You know you must have permission from Lord Sesshomaru to bring humans in the fortress!”

 

“Silence, Jaken,” said Sesshomaru to his retainer.

 

“They are not just any humans!” said Rin, happily clasping her hands in front of her. “It's Miroku and Sango - with a baby!”

 

“Hello, Rin,” said Sango, smiling at the girl affectionately. “You want to see our son, Daitaro?”

 

“Oh yes!” said Rin, and went to peer into the sling.

 

“I'm your brother and only heir,” snarled InuYasha. “I deserve to at least have the privilege of inviting who I want here!”

 

The youkai Lord's lip curled, and then he saw what they had been looking at and his expression grew even colder and grimmer.

 

“If this is not removed at once, I will send someone to do it,” said Sesshomaru, looking at the portrait with disdain.

 

“I think it's lovely,” said Rin, gazing at it with rapt interest.

 

“And it stays!” spat InuYasha. “You gave me these rooms and I will do with them as I please!”

 

“Another challenge, InuYasha?” said Sesshomaru in a steely voice.

 

“How am I supposed to gain any respect among the other youkai here unless you treat me as more of an equal!” InuYasha retorted, looking at his brother challengingly.

 

“Um, I think he has a point,” said Miroku quietly.

 

“We will continue this later,” said Sesshomaru, “and in private.”

 

The youkai Lord turned on his heel and strode out of the room, Jaken in his wake, and Rin running to catch up with him. InuYasha sneered and looked away as they departed.

 

“Does that mean I can't be there, my Lord?” they heard Rin say, but she got no answer.

 

“So, what will you do?” said Miroku slowly.

 

“Nothing,” snapped InuYasha. “The painting stays, but I need it to be perfect.”

 

As they went back to contemplating the likeness of the portrait, both Miroku and Sango could not help but feel sorry for InuYasha. They watched the intensity on their friend's face as he stared hard at the picture, and knew that although two years had passed, he was desperately clinging to the memory of his lost love. Though they missed her too, it was nothing compared to what InuYasha had gone through and continued to go through. Regardless that he was a youkai now, it was obvious that he was obsessed. And an obsessed youkai was a daunting sight to witness.

 

A/N: This story is not a comedy. This InuYasha is neither the rock star InuYasha of my “This Was Not in the Job Description,” story, or the hanyou in rut in “Can't Get Enough.” This is youkai InuYasha. Not to say he does not love Kagome - he does with an all consuming passion. But the romance and hentai will come at the end of the story - there will be a lot of angst first. And thanks to Knittingknots for helping me with this chapter - and possibly more to come, LOL.