InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Finding Kagome ❯ A Name is But a Name ( Chapter 5 )

DISCLAIMER: I do not own InuYasha and company, however I DO own an overactive imagination...

 

 

 

Finding Kagome

 

 

Chapter Five

 

 

“Humans are very vulnerable, as I am sure you know. They fear anything that they do not understand.” Sesshoumaru poured a cup of lemon grass tea, offering it to InuYasha. “It will take the edge off of the flight sickness.”

 

“I really don't feel so good,” the younger brother moaned as he leaned to the side.

 

“This is really very good,” the demon took a sip from the cup, then offered it again to his brother. “Trust me, it's helped me many times, little brother.”

 

“Oi! Would you stop calling me that??” InuYasha sat upright and glared at the pristine ceramic tea cup his half-brother held up for him. “Guess it's not poisoned, since you had some of it.” and he took the cup, sniffing the contents. It smelled like part of Kaede's garden back in Edo. Fresh and good, he tasted it cautiously.

 

“Very well, then. . . what would you have me call you?” Sesshoumaru inquired.

 

“Huh?”

 

“If you do not wish the honorific of brother, what would you have me call you?” He raised his brow, waiting for his answer.

 

“Hells, I don't know. . . why not halfbreed? It's always fit. . .” InuYasha trailed off, as he watched over the rim of the cup to see a momentary shadow cross the demon's features. What was that look? It wasn't anything he had ever seen before on that stoic face. . . could it have been. . . no surely it wasn't. . . regret? “What the FUCK is wrong with you, Jackass??” He set the cup down, forgotten.

 

“Is it so much. . . for this Sesshoumaru to ask his brother how he wants to be called?”

 

“Kuso!”

 

InuYasha, got up from the table and began pacing beside the it. “ Call me what-the-fuck ever you want, I don't care. . . I just feel like there's something you haven't told me. . . Something that you're going spring on me, dropping the whole damn floor out from underneath me.” He stopped, scowling, then leaned onto the table with both hands for emphasis.

 

“You are just posing as my brother, damn it! I never had a brother!! Where was my brother when our father died?? I was still wearing swaddling!! Where was my brother when my mother withered away with grief from the loss of the 'Great Inu no Taisho'?? Those fucking humans drove us away, where was my dear brother then? I will tell you where he was the day my greatest gift was bestowed on me. . . TRYING TO TAKE IT FROM ME!!” He slammed his fists down on the table, shattering the fragile tea cup, as red began to bleed into his eyes, and warm stripes began fading onto his hands and cheeks. His breath had become ragged from the tirade, and he bared his fangs in a snarl at the self possessed bastard that sat before him.

 

Sesshoumaru had not flinched, though he knew very well the enraged demon before him could kill him in one swift swipe of his clawed hands. He had known how formidable an opponent his half-brother was, ever since the day he had lost his left arm to him in the battle over Tetsusaiga, a sword that Sesshoumaru couldn't even touch, let alone command. His little brother had never been just a filthy hanyou. It had taken centuries for him to see beyond his prejudices, and jealousies. The enraged demon InuYasha had become still leaned on the table, waiting. . . waiting for either an answer, or a move to arms.

 

Sesshoumaru's greatest desire was for there to never be bloodshed between them again.

 

Though it was not in his nature to back down to anyone or anything, he refused to move against his own blood ever again.

 

“InuYasha. . .” the name was spoken softly, and with great respect.

 

“Jackass. . .” came his reply through ragged breath.

 

“Have you ever in your experience, known of this Sesshoumaru to tell a lie?” He was taking a risk, trying to calm the frayed nerves of his sibling, before things were too far out of hand.

 

InuYasha closed his mouth, red eyes dancing side to side as he thought about this question.

 

“Just WHAT the FUCK does that have to do with where my brother was??”

 

“InuYasha. . .” he began again, “you cannot recall an event like that, can you?”

 

“Get to the point, bastard..” he growled in response.

 

“Do you recall what this Sesshoumaru said when we were back at the terminal?”

 

“That Sesshoumaru bastard said a lot of things. . .” the beast panted.

 

“Brother should not plot murder against brother.”

 

“You sure as Hell wanted me dead that day, at father's tomb!”

 

“And the feeling was mutual, was it not?” he swallowed, almost imperceptibly.

 

“Then talk to me about the deal you made with Naraku, kusoaryou. You used a Shikon Shard

to try to take Tetsusaiga, and a stolen human arm to wield it!!?? What kind of audacity is that?? And you ask me if I have ever known you to lie?? Isn't that kind of shit the same as a lie??”

 

“InuYasha. . .” The clarity of his transformed brother's memory of the events was uncannily accurate. So long ago.

 

“Don't talk to me about brotherly love, bastard. I learned the hard way that it doesn't exist!!” He snarled, baring his fangs again, his ears at total alert. The visage was as surreal as it had been the last time Sesshoumaru had encountered it, only then the little miko had intervened.

 

“InuYasha. . .” his voice remained gentle but steady, the painful daggers of his ancient errors pained him, but he showed no vulnerability as he reached out slowly to touch his brother's hand.

 

“Those long centuries ago, I made. . . grave errors.” He felt InuYasha flinch at his initial touch, but he persevered. He had to break through to him, through the demonic aura. “This Sesshoumaru has many regrets, InuYasha. Why do you think it is that I traveled to Tokyo every fall? To find you. You were so despondent, even picking a fight with you did no good. This Sesshoumaru did not know how to undo the damage that his greed and prejudice had caused.”

 

The enraged demon's breathing had become less ragged as he glared into the golden eyes of his elder. The touch on his hand soothed and reminded him of his ultimate quest, to find his miko. Slowly the red faded from his eyes, and the glare became an exhaustedly awed stare. He looked down at his hand being pet by the Demon Lord, scrutinizing the claws and finding no hint of poison, he slumped onto the table.

 

Sesshoumaru imperceptibly sighed in relief.

 

He had only once seen anyone succeed in calming InuYasha this way, and he truly hoped that his brother was right, and the remarkable little miko was again alive somewhere and awaiting him. If she indeed was, they had a lot of work to do to prepare. And if she was, then he had hope of finding someone he himself had lost, long ago.

 

“Uhng” groaned the fully restored hanyou, a little worse for the wear. “What happened?” he tried to raise himself from the table and Sesshoumaru rose to assist him “FUCK!!”He shouted twitching, then grabbing at his head with both hands. “My head hurts. . .” he then mumbled.

 

“You had an. . . episode. . . little brother,” Sesshoumaru guided him around to the built in couch across from the table, and bid him to lay down.

 

“I turned, didn't I?” his arm covered his eyes, and his ears drooped flat against his skull.

 

“This Sesshoumaru angered you. . . without intent,” he seated himself beside his brother. “I am sure the stress of the journey aggravated an already difficult conversation between us. Perhaps we should try again, on a better day.”

 

“Uhng. . . sure. . . whatever. . .”

 

“You are remarkably articulate in that. . . state. . . its a shame you don't remember,” Sesshoumaru reached over and touched the arm not covering eyes. “We have much work to do, you and I. Rest until we land.”

 

“I just need to find Kagome”

 

“I know, InuYasha. . . I know,” and he squeezed the arm gently, as he rose to begin making the calls. Walking to the intercom, he pushed the button.

 

“Yes my Lord?” came Jenkins immediate response.

 

“Set up the phone, Jenkins, and pipe in some music. What is our ETA?”

 

“11:54pm my Lord, skies are clear, minimal fog. . . for a change sir.”

 

“Excellent. My brother is resting at the moment, please use all caution against turbulence.”

 

“Of course my Lord. Sesshoumaru-sama?”

 

“What is it Jenkins.”

 

There was a hesitation.

 

“You really did find him this time, my Lord?”

 

“Yes. . . Found him exactly where expected.”

 

“I am happy for you, Sir.”

 

“What are our chances of getting a car onto the tarmac today?”

 

“I will make the call Sir, probably pretty good considering our timing.”

 

“You are pleasing me to no end, Jenkins. Oh, and by the way congratulations, I hear your twins are healthy. . . be sure to come and talk to me before we depart, and you can meet my wayward sibling,” he glanced over at the sleeping hanyou. If he had been fully human, he would be perhaps in his middle 20s. His heart filled in a way he never had believed he could experience.

 

“As you wish, Sesshoumaru-sama”

 

Once upon a time he had been so certain that his brother and the miko were simply confused as to who was master and who was the pet . He only had his relationship with Rin to compare to what was obviously something very different between them. This concept of soul-mates. . . mating beyond one lifetime, intrigued him. Of course it was solely a human phenomenon, but still, he found it fascinating.

 

Seating himself to the rear of the cabin, he picked up the phone, and began making the calls that were necessary to prepare his household staff for the arrival of . . . he stopped considering. They never did get clear on what he was to call him. His name, but only within the confines of home. What will we call him. . . and Sesshoumaru's eyes sparkled as he waited for the call to go through..

 

“It is me. . . we are coming in. . . I have a guest. . . yes, please make up the cliff side room and prepare for an extended stay. Also, I need you to find some tutors. He's a little rough around the edges, he needs English. . . American of course. . . no, also cultural. . . I want him to pass for American born, and in short order. . . is he trustworthy? How dare you question. . . don't play the fool with me. . . I want him to get everything he should have gotten while growing up. . . then add extra security if you have to, he is staying with me! Do you have a report for me? Alright, proceed. . .”

 

A lengthy silence ensued, and InuYasha rolled to his side, his headache abating. His eyes drifted across the dimly lit cabin to the window, where he gazed upon a waning moon. He had a couple more days before first night, and he would need to decide just how much he could trust Sesshoumaru.

 

“He WHAT?” The shout from the back of the cabin made InuYasha jump high enough he banged his head on the cupboard overhanging the couch he had been reclining on.

 

“Uhng” he moaned, rubbing the tender spot just south of his left ear. He could hear hissed muttering in some other language emanating from the jackass's mouth. He really did wish he could remember the conversation they had been having earlier.

 

“InuYasha. . .” he looked up to see the Demon Lord standing by the partition to the rear of the cabin. “Are you better?”

 

“Feh. . .” he grumbled rubbing the little knot below his ear. “Tell you what, you call me Halfbreed and I will call you Jackass, sound like a deal?”

 

“You prefer to be insulted?”

 

“It's what I am used to, jackass. . . it's either that or 'old man', or 'bastard' or. . .”

 

“Enough,” Sesshoumaru firmly commanded as he gave his brother a quick physical evaluation, “How long has it been since you have seen battle... halfbreed.”

 

“Hn. . . lemme think,” he held up his fingers, feigning a count, “about 500 years or so. . . why?”

 

“This Sesshoumaru is gravely serious. . . how long for you?”

 

His ears went to full attention, “about a month, why? What's up?”

 

“We have had some unwanted visitors, while I was away. We need to find them, and stop them from doing any more damage.”He walked over to the case which held his twin swords, opening it deftly with one hand and pulling Tokojin out to examine the blade. “This. . . wolf. . . has been a thorn in my side for too long.”

 

InuYasha's ears twitched and a scowl darkened his face. “Did you say. . . wolf?”

 

Sesshoumaru, turned to face his brother his blade resting on his shoulder. “Yes. A Wolf-youkai. He came from Japan about 50 years ago, and has repeatedly broken the treaties we carved out with the native youkai. He's a savage, and cannot be civilized... it's time to end his misery.”

 

“What is this guy's name?” InuYasha was tense with expectation. It couldn't be. . .

 

“Kouga,” Sesshoumaru looked out the window, noting the phase of the moon. It was at a fortuitous position for him for battle. Turning back to his brother he found him bobbing his head with a cynical smirk on his lips.

 

“I know him, he's an ass.” He rolled his eyes. The Kouga he knew was more irritating than truly dangerous. “Kagome had him eating out of her hand, in nearly no time. . . right down to finally giving up the Shikon shards he had been sporting for years, without serious bloodshed. She had a way about her with negotiations, but when it came down to it she could be a power to be reckoned with.”

 

“I know this to be true about her.” Sesshoumaru, caught InuYasha's eyes, “We don't have the miko now, we have to deal with him in our own way.”

 

“I'll gladly help you spank that puppy. . . heh,” InuYasha tossed his head, smirking wickedly as he rubbed his hands together in anticipation.

 

“Good, get your sword.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“This Sesshoumaru is not accustomed to repeating himself, however for your benefit. . .” He sighed. “Get your sword. . . now.” Then after a moment passed while their gazes locked, “. . . please.”

 

“Damn, this must be serious. We haven't even landed on the ground yet!” InuYasha rose and crossed over to his two pieces of luggage. “Will I have to fight wearing those damn western pants?”

 

“No, change completely to the hinezumi, you will need the protection.” He seated himself in the swiveling chair, politely turning away from his brother as he changed. “His pack has grown the last few years, and the rumors are that they have resorted to human attacks for sustenance.”

 

“He promised Kagome he would never do that again. . .” Pulling his undershirt on, his speech was alternately muffled, then clear, “so he's not only an ass, but an oath breaker too. It will be my pleasure to remind him of the promise he made to Kagome.”

 

Inuyasha, stopped just short of belting Tetsusaiga. “Oi, Jackass! When did you start caring about the demise of humans?”

 

Hearing the brush of fabric cease, Sesshoumaru twisted around in the chair, examining his brother. “Soon after you disappeared, this Sesshoumaru found himself pondering the conditions of... this world. The relationship you had with the miko was fascinating, and your wreckage upon losing her was disturbing. It was then that this Sesshoumaru began. . . re-evaluating his ideas about the value of human life, regardless of how short it may be.”

 

“To a demon it is fleeting, but to a human it's the exactly right amount of time. It doesn't lessen the value of the individual life,” Inuyasha tried to rephrase it to better understand it.

 

“Precisely. . . as well renowned 20th century human philosopher once said, 'it is all. . . relative.'” Sesshoumaru eyed his legendary brother. “There is so much this Sesshoumaru has to show you, involving just how remarkable humans can be.”

 

“I already know that they are remarkable, Jackass. . . I AM half human, after all.” His sneer didn't contain its usual intensity as he finished belting Tetsusaiga.

 

“Indeed you are, little brother. . . indeed you are.”

 

 

 

 

 

~ooO0Ooo~