InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Finding Kagome ❯ Chapter 23

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finding Kagome

 

 

 

Chapter Twenty Three

 

 

 

 

“Hold your arm out, son... don't slouch!” Laura swatted InuYasha between the shoulder blades, illiciting a murderous glare from the hanyou.

 

“Feh! Why do I have to have this stupid suit, anyway?” He grouched, folding his arms across his chest. The petite woman snapped the measuring tape down, and faced the hanyou squarely, lowering her glasses to peer over them into his golden glower. He sneezed in her face, in reaction to her perfume, which gave her a start.

 

“Don't pout...” her composure was regained swiftly, “you can't run around in jeans and moccasins all the time,” she wiped the back of her hand across the dampness on her cheek.

 

“I don't pout, wench!” his hands on his hips, he leaned toward her threateningly, sniffing loudly.

 

“Could have fooled me,” she rolled her eyes, pushing her glasses back up on her nose and slipping her chalk pencil between her teeth, she slurred, “Now raith your arm... pleath,” and she smiled around the pencil, batting her eyelashes.

 

“Keh!” and he complied, rigidly extending his arm. “And for your information, I am probably twice your age, so don't fuckin' call me son!”

 

“Too bad you don't act like it,” she muttered under her breath, as she hunkered down to measure his inseam.

 

“I fuckin' heard that, wench! Dog ears, remember?? HEY!!” he reacted to the sharp jab in his groin as his tailor pressed in for an accurate measurement.

 

“Almost done... InuYasha,” she spoke his name pointedly.

 

“About damn time,” he grumbled. “I still don't see why the hells I need this stupid suit...”

 

“It's a tuxedo... and a perfect color for you, if I do say so myself,” she corrected him, holding up a swatch of the midnight blue fabric next to his face. “It really sets off your eyes. Oh! And I have nice headpiece that matches...” and she reached over for what in all appearances was a do-wrap like motorcyclists would wear.

 

InuYasha frowned at it, judging that it would probably constrict his ears as uncomfortably as those nasty ball caps did. Between that and the hard looking shoes she insisted that he wear with the tuxedo, he was certain he was going to be miserable. He sneezed again, rubbing the back of his hand across his nose. Her perfume was making him miserable enough.

 

“I don't get why I have to have all this shit...” he growled.

 

“Because, halfbreed... you cannot wear western attire to the opera,” Sesshoumaru stood just inside the door to the study.

 

“When did you get here, Jackass?” growled the hanyou, having missed his brother's appearance between the arguing and sneezing.

 

“About the time you were declaring your advanced age, I believe,” he raised a brow. “I have need to speak with you. When you are finished here, get your hinezumi and sword, and meet me in the dojo.” With that, he left without another word.

 

“What the hells is the opera??” he demanded from the space that his brother had just vacated.

 

“Trust me dog boy, it's a big deal... and you need to dress appropriately for it.” Laura was gathering the pieces of the fabric on her arm. “I'll have this ready by this evening for a final fitting. Right now I believe you have an appointment.” She looked over her glasses at the hanyou, with a raised brow.

 

“Dog boy, huh? I guess I had that coming...” he mumbled.

 

“Yeah... I love you too.” She set the pile on her arm down across the back of a chair. “Now get the hell out of here before I start playing with your ears...” she grinned wickedly holding up her hands and rubbing her fingers together, which was all the prompting he needed to bolt out of the study, followed by the peal of her laughter.

 

“That bitch is pure assed evil,” he muttered shaking his head, as he stomped down the hallway toward his quarters. It seemed a little odd that Sesshoumaru required him to wear his hinezumi, but he wouldn't complain. It was familiar and comfortable, and he would wear it all the time if he could. But Tetsusaiga... wonder what he's got in mind.

 

He found Sesshoumaru in the dojo, gliding through forms with Tensaiga. Even one handed, his movements were poetry in motion, and InuYasha was transfixed as he stood quietly by the doorway, not wanting to interrupt. He didn't have long to wait, as his brother was aware of his presence immediately. Bringing his sword to his brow as though in reverence, the Demon brought his routine to a close.

 

“You wanted to talk...” the hanyou broke the silence.

 

“Hn,” Sesshoumaru grunted as he sheathed his sword, then lowered himself to the floor where he stood, motioning for InuYasha to join him. “You were rather harsh with Laura,” he observed.

 

“She was being annoying... and that damn, stupid perfume was giving me a headache,” InuYasha grumbled as he sat in front of his brother, straight backed with his arms folded in his haori sleeves.

 

“She didn't deserve that kind of treatment, halfbreed... she was only following my directive,” admonished the elder brother.

 

“Yeah, well... it's over...” the hanyou dismissed the issue, “She loves me, regardless.”

 

“Indeed,” Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow.

 

“She said so, anyway...” InuYasha moved to change the subject, “So what's with this opera shit?”

 

“Ah, yes,” and the Demon settled in for the discussion he had originally intended to have with his brother. “Tomorrow night is the opening night for 'Don Giovanni', and this Sesshoumaru would wish to attend ... to introduce you to a classic human art form, as well as some aspects of the modern culture.”

 

“Maybe this InuYasha could care less about classic art, or modern culture,” the hanyou clipped the last words crisply, glaring at the Demon.

 

“Let me guess...” Sesshoumaru pondered, “You would perhaps prefer a... Rodeo?”

 

InuYasha blanked for a moment as he reached in his memory for the definition of the word... ah yes, the taming of wild livestock from their backs... that could be interesting...

 

“It would be a helluva lot more exciting, I bet...” somehow he doubted this was a realistic alternative to the torture his brother had in mind. “You really do hate me don't you...” and he grimaced.

 

“I do not hate you, but the fact remains that it is not rodeo season. It is, however Opera Season,” Sesshoumaru stated logically, his expression bland. “Perhaps we can negotiate a compromise.”

 

“Will I still have to go to that stupid opera thing?”

 

“Yes, halfbreed...” The Demon's tone was firm. “However, afterward we can do something of your choosing.”

 

This brought InuYasha to pause, considering just what he might want to do. He looked at his brother with serious intensity.

 

“There are two things... only two things that I really want to do,” he leaned forward for emphasis. “Find Kagome and kill that fucking wolf, Kouga... can we do either of those tomorrow? I mean, after the opera of course.”

 

Sesshoumaru blinked.

 

“You have time to consider a more... realistic activity,” the Demon pulled a slip of paper out of his pocket, “in the meantime, we need to discuss your modern American identity.”

 

“My what??” the hanyou was incredulous.

 

“I have all the paperwork in order, all we need now is your name.”

 

“My name is InuYasha... what the hells are you talking about??”

 

“As far as the world at large is concerned... InuYasha died 500 years ago. I have a modern identity, which I use in my business dealings. You need one too, halfbreed.” Sesshoumaru looked at Tetsusaiga on InuYasha's hip, and inwardly thanked any deities who might be listening. He did not want a repeat of what had happened on the plane, and Tetsusaiga tempered the hanyou's demon aura most effectively. “I am going to assume that as we are brothers, we will share the same surname. What I need from you is agreement on your given name, so that you can have access to your birthright.”

 

InuYasha blinked.

 

“Tetsusaiga is my birthright, Jackass,” he touched the hilt of his sword.

 

“InuYasha... half of everything this Sesshoumaru owns is yours,” his voice was low and gentle.

 

InuYasha pondered this for a moment, then rose gruffly.

 

“No...” he began to pace. “I earned nothing of what you have. I did nothing to accumulate it...”

 

“Your sentiments are most admirable, but the fact remains that it is indeed yours, by virtue of who you are. You are the second born son of the InuTaisho of the Western Lands. It is all part of the family legacy,” he pressed his point. “It is yours and that, halfbreed, is not negotiable. However what you shall be called is.”

 

InuYasha stopped pacing to face his brother.

 

“Alright, Jackass... so what are you called?” he demanded. “Everyone I have seen calls you by your name... Sesshoumaru.”

 

“Those are all trusted retainers. Out there,” and the Demon motioned out the door generally, “I am known as Seth Inudono. You also shall be known by the surname Inudono.”

 

InuYasha gaped at his brother, then blinked again.

 

“Mister Dog??” he asked incredulously. “Are you serious?? So where did the Seth come from?”

 

“It's of Hebrew origin... it means 'appointed one'. Appropriate since I have been the one to keep things running for the last 500 years, don't you think?” there was a sparkle in his eye, as he held out the paper he had been holding. InuYasha took it and read over a list of optional 'given names'.

 

“Not like you ever wanted my help... HEY!! What the hells is wrong with my own damn name? I like it... I've had it a really long time...”

 

“Other than blatantly proclaiming your demon nature? Nothing...”

 

“Hn,” the hanyou grunted, as he continued to peruse the list. “So... how long do I have to decide?” he asked.

 

“Not long... I needed to know yesterday...” came the response.

 

“I wanna go over these with Clint and Thomas,” he announced. “Can you keep that stinky bitch, Laura away?” it was nearly a whine, as he rubbed at his nose, heading toward the door.

 

“I will do my best, but no promises...” the Demon smirked at his brother's back.

 

 

 

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Later that day, Sesshoumaru showed InuYasha the press release he had prepared for the morning papers.

 

 

 

Triple D Enterprises magnate, Seth Inudono has announced that the search for his missing brother is now at an end. 25 year old Caleb Inudono was found last week in a shelter in Tokyo Japan, after an extensive 5 year search, The younger Inudono, apparently having suffered from amnesia, is now recuperating at the family estate in Marin Co.

 

 

“Amnesia?? What the fuck is that??” demanded the hanyou.

 

“Loss of memory... what better reason for you to have been missing all that time?” explained the Demon with a bland expression. “It also will explain any future baka behavior, should the need arise.”

 

“Fuck, Sesshoumaru... you just think of everything, don't you?” InuYasha snarled.

 

“I try to,” and he grinned.

 

“Oh great...” and InuYasha sneezed loudly. “Guess who...”

 

“There you are!! I have been looking all over for you two!” Laura swished into the room, holding a suit bag over her shoulder. “Ready for your final fitting? You are going to love this Sesshoumaru... he cleans up real nice!” And she grinned.

 

 

 

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