InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Forgotten ❯ The Ascension Ceremony ( Chapter 38 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, Sesshomaru or anyone from the hit anime/manga series. Rumiko Takahashi does. I do own all OC's and plot in this story.

Chapter 28: The Ascension Ceremony

 

149 years before the search for the jewel shards.

 

I have stepped into a waking nightmare from which there is no deliverance. My destiny is cursed. The more I walk this path the more people are hurt simple because they were standing in my way, whether they meant to or not. There is nothing that can compare to the horror of having all your greatest fears confirmed. Why was I born a child of fate?

-Inuyasha

 

“Oh wonderful. Are these permanent now? My life just keeps getting better and better.”

 

Sesshomaru blinked wondering who was complaining. He didn't recognize the voice. Whoever it was, he was clearly disgusted with whatever was occupying his attention. The demon lord sat up, rubbed his eyes then glanced in the direction of the speaker. Someone was hunched over a pool of water. Sesshomaru blinked again, the person was wearing a white kimono and blue hakama, the uniform of a priest. There wasn't one person who dressed like that among his people.

 

He looked around and found everyone curled or lying around the cave they were in, sleeping. Weak sunlight peeked around the edges of a boulder that covered the cave's entrance. Even for his demon eyes the cavern was better lit than it ought to be with so little light getting in. He glanced back at the stranger and grunted, startled. The light in the cavern was coming from in front of the stranger.

 

The stranger's shoulders twitched and he turned around to look. Sesshomaru's eyes widened, the light was from a white flame that danced above the stranger's open palm. Then he took in the stranger's appearance. White dog ears perched atop his head. Long silver-white hair was pulled back in a horsetail. Fat, jagged, purple stripes split each cheek. Hazel-gold eyes peered at the demon lord.

 

“You're awake, Aniue?” said the stranger who wasn't really a stranger. Sesshomaru stared unable to speak. “Are you all right? You were hurt pretty badly yesterday and then I gave you that nasty jolt.”

 

“What are you doing here?” Sesshomaru finally managed to spit out as his gaze remained locked with his little brother's.

 

Inuyasha raised an eyebrow and replied, “Looking for you. You do realize there are rumors stating you, and your entire clan, are dead?”

 

Sesshomaru blinked then a growl rose from within him in bitterness and said, “Well that explains why we seem to have been forsaken. I thought with all the fuss someone would have come sooner.”

 

Inuyasha gazed at his brother then rose to his feet and walked over to him. “There was too much fuss for us to notice,” Inuyasha said in a tired voice. “Tenji has been split in two, Aniue.” He settled next to Sesshomaru and extinguished his light. “Truth is, you're on the wrong side to be receiving any aid. Kuromakaze's attack pushed everyone north and east. His territory is between you and those who would aid you.”

 

Sesshomaru stared at his brother in disbelief. “When did this happen?”

 

“I'd say the same day you and your clan were driven south,” replied Inuyasha in a light and even voice, meeting his gaze unflinching. “Everyone remembers a bright light coming from the direction of your castle on the same day Tenji came under attack. I don't think it was coincidental.”

 

“Who is this Kuromakaze?” asked Sesshomaru and anger rising within him. If this was true then it didn't seem coincidental to him either.

 

Inuyasha held up his right hand and unwrapped the bandages, revealing the hideous scar beneath them. “You've met him before, remember?” he said holding the crippled hand before Sesshomaru's gaze while his own expression remained impassive. “He made a comment about your family devotion.”

 

Sesshomaru hissed and then growled as he remembered the hanyou he had fought, and nearly been killed by, back then. “I killed him!” he insisted.

 

“As everyone believed,” said Inuyasha, “but the reality is what it is. He survived and took advantage of everyone's assumptions to take him time and gather his army. He completely blindsided us.” The hanyou rose and took a step toward the entrance.

 

“You're certain it's the same person. Couldn't the reports have been wrong?” asked Sesshomaru, not wanting to believe he had failed again.

 

Inuyasha paused and looked back. “Since I'm the one who did the reporting; yes I'm certain and no, they couldn't have been. You might say that is the reason why I'm out here instead of with my comrades.” The last words were spoken with a touch of bitterness and the hanyou's expression hardened. Sesshomaru wondered what had happened but decided to press later.

 

The occupants of the cave were beginning to stir. Sesshomaru slowly stood up, flinching as his abdomen flared briefly in pain. He had just gained his feet when he bowled over by an overenthusiastic Naomi. Sesshomaru yelled as he slammed into the ground with all the grace of albatross.

 

“Chichiue, you're alright! I'm so happy. I was so afraid,” cried the young woman and sobbed her relief into his chest. Inuyasha had managed to sidestep the tackle and avoided getting tangled in the touching father-daughter moment. Sesshomaru let loose a world weary sigh and patted his daughter's head; how could he be angry with her when she was this upset? Though he wished she would stop jumping him like this. He remained standing only half the times she jumped him.

 

“I think I'll be going now,” said Inuyasha as he turned to head toward the blocked entrance. Naomi moved allowing her father to sit up.

 

“Going?” echoed Sesshomaru, staring at his brother, incredulous. “Go where?”

 

“I need to pick up something,” said Inuyasha, he waved his hand at his brother. “Don't worry; I'll be back in a few days. It's not like I have anywhere else to go.” The hanyou walked up to the covered entrance then pushed the boulder until it moved enough to allow him through then he was gone.

 

Sesshomaru looked around and flinched. Everyone was fixing him with questioning stares including Naomi, who now sat politely next to him. The demon lord sighed again; it was going to be a long few days.

 

****

 

Totosai was asleep at his forge when Inuyasha flew in, but he woke when the hanyou flared his wings to land. The old smith rubbed his eyes as he said, “Inuyasha, good to see you. You have excellent timing, I just finished -AH!”

 

Inuyasha spun around thinking Totosai had just spotted an attacking enemy but no one was around. The hanyou growled and said, “Don't yell like that, you nearly gave me a heart-attack.”

 

“Give you a heart-attack? I thought the dead had risen from his grave!” snapped Totosai, pointing an accusing finger at Inuyasha. Inuyasha's eyebrows twitched as he glared at the old sword smith.

 

Myoga bounced over and announced in a cheerful voice, “Inuyasha-sama, you look more like your father every day.”

 

“Oh?” Inuyasha was not impressed. His feelings remains confused on the matter of his parents, though he had forgiven his mother, and he wasn't sure he wanted to be compared to his father in any way.

 

Sensing a need for a change in subject, Totosai climbed to his feet and walked over toward his collection of swords. He reached down and picked up a pair of gloves with three knobs above the knuckles. He tossed them over to Inuyasha whose expression had softened to mildly curious. The hanyou caught them and looked them over; save for the missing blades it was exactly as he and Totosai had worked out.

 

“Well, put them on and see how they fit,” said Totosai as he walked back over to him. Inuyasha pulled the gloves on, having a bit of trouble with the placing of his left glove and resorting to using his teeth to adjust it. A metal bar ran along the fingers' base giving him something to grip when he wore them. He looked again at the knobs and noticed they looked like short rusted blades only an inch long. Remembering the Tetsusaiga, he concentrated on the knobs, focusing his power into them. The rusted blades glowed and extended by a whole foot. When the glow faded three narrow but sharp blades reached out from his fists.

 

“Well?” inquired Totosai.

 

“Do you know a place where we can safely try these out? I don't wish to make a mess of your home, Totosai-jiisan,” asked Inuyasha. Totosai nodded.

 

****

 

“I can't believe you kept this a secret!” said Naomi, hands on hips, shoulder thrown back, violet eyes snapping. Sesshomaru was sitting with his back against the cave wall, Himawari gently pressing a cold, wet cloth against his bruised and bloody face. He met his daughter's gaze as best he could with one eye swelled shut and his vision spinning. Naomi hadn't been fast enough to stop her mother from laying him flat with a spectacular sidekick after he had told his followers about his little brother, Inuyasha. Soranoko, Xeno, Yukihana as well as Naomi had wrestled the irate dragoness out of the cave while his betrothed had rushed forward to treat the prone demon lord.

 

Kaiyoshinju was the only one where Sesshomaru would literally just lie there and take it. Fighting back only prolonged his misery. Still it had been several minutes before he regained his senses enough to speak. By then Naomi had returned and handed her father the ultimate humiliation; she scolded him like a bad child. Everyone else just stood back and let her speak for them all. The proud dog demon would have taken a beating from Kaiyoshinju over Naomi's lecture any day.

 

“First, Ojii-sama doesn't bother telling anyone his lover is pregnant then you, Chichiue, who apparently knew about this, say nothing to anyone about the child. Why exactly did you keep this a secret?” demanded Naomi leaning in closer.

 

“And what exactly would everyone have done if I had told them?” countered Sesshomaru. “Chichiue didn't say anything to anyone; shouldn't that have said something of its self? Besides, he's a tenko. It's not like he wasn't cared for properly by his mother's people.” Silence followed. No one had an answer. They all knew the court had been unstable in the Inu no Taisho's final years. His refusal to speak of the matter had undoubtedly been to protect the mother and child.

 

Naomi sighed and muttered, “That still isn't something you should be keeping to yourself.”

 

“I wasn't sure when to bring it up,” said Sesshomaru. “The last time I saw him, he was a small child. Then all this occurred. When, do you believe, in all this was the appropriate time to mention I had a younger half brother?”

 

Naomi growled in frustration then sat down next to him. He had won his argument. The other dog demons dispersed to various tasks and soon it was just the three of them. “Are you afraid, Chichiue?” she asked suddenly.

 

“Afraid?”

 

“Now that you do have a sibling, they're going to demand it, the ascension ceremony,” she replied. Naomi turned violet eyes toward her father. “Are you afraid of fighting your brother?”

 

Sesshomaru remained quiet. Himawari bit her lip and paused in her care but the demon lord didn't answer. He had never considered the possibility that he might be usurped. He had wondered why his father had had another child, though, it had been speculation about why he had chosen to lie with a human woman or, more accurately, a tenko woman. Now he wondered about his father's reasoning once again from entirely new angle. Had the Inu no Taisho been trying to create a superior heir to replace the notoriously unsuitable Sesshomaru? His blood turned to ice at the thought.

 

****

 

Inuyasha flew back toward his brother's clan, skirting the southern border of Kuromakaze's territory. He didn't want to drag the wearied group into his personal battle. If the ones fighting with Sesshomaru really are employed by Kuromakaze then it's best to remove them as a factor prior to any engagements with the main force. I don't want to be caught in a pincer move especially since we're the ones without fortress or supplies. I'm amazed they lasted this long.

 

His test of his new weapons had gone without disappointment. Totosai had even included Tetsusaiga's main attacks in the design; a detail that had given the hanyou immense pleasure.

 

“Well, that's that,” said Totosai after Inuyasha and obliterated the demons foolish enough to approach the hanyou in challenge. “I'm amazed that you mastered it so quickly.”

 

“I can use its power but that doesn't mean I've mastered it. I'm certain I can take these even further than what they did today,” said Inuyasha with a shake of his head as he held up the gloves. The blades gleamed in the light. “Thank you, for these. It's a pity really.”

 

“What is?” asked Totosai as he hopped atop Momo, his three-eyed bull.

 

Inuyasha glanced at him and said with a straight face, “If it weren't for your persnickety attitude, you'd be a famous sword smith by now.”

 

“You impertinent whelp!” shouted Totosai. Inuyasha coughed into his hand.

 

“Anyway, what did you do with the other fang?” asked Inuyasha once his amusement had been reigned in. Totosai blinked in confusion. “Don't give me that, I know you have the other one somewhere in that cave of yours.”

 

“It's just sitting there now. I wasn't even halfway through before I realized it wasn't going to do what I needed it to do to make your weapons,” said Totosai. “It doesn't resemble anything at this point.”

 

Inuyasha didn't know why he inquired about it. He didn't know what to do with an unfinished blade but something nagged him about it. “Just hang on to it for the time being,” he said rubbing his forehead.

 

“Whatever for?” asked Totosai.

 

“I don't know but something tells me that answer will become clearer at some point in the future,” replied Inuyasha. Totosai nodded like he understood then rode away.

 

Inuyasha's thoughts were snapped back into the present when he found himself dodging a lightning bolt. He turned to face the attacker and saw a woman dressed in red and gold, with long black hair, red eyes and a brilliant set of white wings. The scent was familiar, though, he couldn't place it at the moment. However, he could fathom a guess as to who the lady hanyou was.

 

“Kurohane, if I'm not mistaken,” said Inuyasha as he hovered by the grace of his kaze jutsu. The female hanyou had to beat her wings to maintain her place and even then she was drifting.

 

She was taken aback by his recognition then said, “I didn't think anyone knew that name in this day and age.”

 

“There are a lot of things people don't know that I do,” said Inuyasha. “Like the fact that you have a grudge against my father for ordering the execution of your entire clan, for instance.”

 

“He was afraid we would grow more powerful than him and overthrow him,” snarled the woman, raising her hand as celestial power gathered around it.

 

“Well, weren't you?” he asked, throwing her again. “Don't get so self-righteous. You had your vision and he had his. This is the result when dreams clash.” She growled but he continued, “Instead of being overjoyed that you had survived that event or even going to the authorities with your sad tale, you instead chose to sacrifice your kin to try to and obtain the power needed to destroy him.”

 

“What are you talking about?” she demanded but her tone implied she did understand. She just didn't want to believe he knew.

 

Inuyasha smiled and said, “I know about your failed attempt to take the Jewel of the Heavens nearly one hundred years ago.”

 

“You actually think there was any other way? I know your clan is in alliance with him directly. As if your clan would have done anything about my clan's demise,” she shouted.

 

“Truth is, he admitted to be afraid of how Tenji would react to his decision. That's why no one in Tenji knows about it. He suppressed all word of it to make certain he wouldn't have to face those consequences,” replied Inuyasha. He had completely rattled her and caused her to forget she was supposed to be fighting him.

 

“You lie!”

 

“And you think Kuromakaze will support your vengeance, Kurohane?” asked Inuyasha. Let's cause him some trouble from the inside. The dark hanyou stared at him with hate but didn't say a word. “He's not like that. He'll do what he wants and use you and your powers as he sees fit. That's why he's been ignoring the Inuyokai clan and leaving it to the incompetent to handle. If he had given them his full attention from the start… they'd be dead by now.”

 

He could see he had struck a nerve. He had spoken her doubts aloud and now she couldn't ignore them. With a yell she hurled her celestial spell at him. He launched his counter. While they had been trading words he had been etching the complicated series of spells onto his right palm. Not only was her spell defeated, she was blown away by the immediate follow up. He didn't believe he had killed her but she was definitely down. When the air cleared he couldn't see where she had landed.

 

Tsk! I don't have time to worry about it, he thought as he resumed flying to the southwest. This area will soon have enemy warriors swarming all over it because of that spell. I have to leave before I'm entangled in another battle. At least, this will distract Kuromakaze. Every little bit helps.

 

****

 

“Must you insist on this?” Sesshomaru asked the Kou elders, glaring. Naomi had been right in her prediction and the demon lord was now filled with dread.

 

The lady elder of Kou looked at him and replied, “We're afraid so. We don't regret how things have been. This boy, Inuyasha, was obviously too young before when the transition occurred. Then there is the fact that if he had been with the clan at the time of Noriko's insurrection he might have died. So We're not going to ridicule anything that came before.”

 

“He's still a child, not yet of age to even be thinking about this,” argued Sesshomaru, a weak argument even to his ears. Children came of age at eighty; Inuyasha was only fifty-one. However…

 

The lady elder raised an eyebrow. “A child? It was a child that single-handedly killed the panther demon lord and drove away his tribe. Also there is the fact that the tenko typically acknowledge their young as adults when they master their abilities. Whether we agree or not that their way is correct one part of his heritage accepts him as an adult. Are we to begin treating him as a child when for decades he was held to the responsibilities of an adult? We do not think so.”

 

They had a point and Sesshomaru knew it. If they were going to treat him like a child, then he should never have been allowed to leave by himself on an errand. Still he wasn't happy. He didn't want to face his brother in combat. Inuyasha had been raised by the tenko who had a very different view on power transfers. He might not take to their traditions well.

 

The argument ended when Inuyasha walked into the cave. He stopped when he noticed everyone was staring at him. “Is something the matter?” he asked.

 

“You have perfect timing, young one,” said the lady elder, turning to face him.

 

Inuyasha eyed the aging female demon with suspicion. Little good followed such an announcement and the tension in the cave could have been cut with a knife. “How so, Lady Elder?”

 

“Due to your father's untimely demise when you were still very young, your elder brother has assumed the role as lord unquestioned,” said the lady elder. Inuyasha continued to regard her, wondering what this was all about. He had no understanding of demon clan politics. “However, your appearance a few days ago and near miraculous victory over the panthers has shown that you have matured enough for us to hold an ascension ceremony.”

 

Inuyasha blinked in confusion, one ear perked the other lying flat. “Ascension ceremony?”

 

“These are ceremonies that occur when the head of a family retires or dies,” explained the lady elder. She didn't blame him for not understanding, he had been raised by tenko. “They usually consist of the heir being acknowledged by the clan as the new head. However, there is a part in the ceremony where other family members can challenge the heir for leadership using one of three categories: combat, academics, and sorcery. The challenge can only be turned down if the challenger is illegitimate otherwise it must be answered. If the heir is victorious then that particular challenger cannot challenge again. If the challenger is victorious then he becomes the heir and may in turn be challenged. The defeated heir may then challenge again but not under the category he has lost at. If the original heir is victorious then he regains the position and the one that lost cannot challenge again. When all challenges are met the heir is then named the new head of the family until he retires or dies.”

 

“I have no desire to challenge Aniue,” said Inuyasha, his expression cold. He knew that wasn't the end of it and the lady elder of Kou didn't disappoint.

 

“Your father left no indication to anyone if Sesshomaru was to follow him or not,” she said. Sesshomaru turned away but his fists were shaking. Inuyasha broke out into a cold sweat.

 

He never believed Sesshomaru could follow him. It may not have been said in Hahaue's letter but it was clear nonetheless! Damn that bastard! He knew he was dying, why couldn't he have arranged things better? Inuyasha growled.

 

Crushing his frustration, he said in a voice filled with ice, “Is that so? Seems Oyaji neglected to do a great number of things before the end.”

 

The lady elder blinked and eyed the hanyou. “Your father is a great man yet you seem strangely bitter toward him. I highly doubt he planned on dying saving you and your mother,” she said. She hadn't wanted to say anything about the Inu no Taisho's death but the boy's words infuriated her. His disrespect for a parent who had sacrificed his life for his was inappropriate at best. What he said next shocked the entire assembly and caused Sesshomaru to turn around to face him.

 

“Yes, he did.”

 

Sesshomaru growled and was suddenly in his brother's face. “What do you mean by that?”

 

Inuyasha met his gaze without flinching; they were standing eye-to-eye. “It's the whole reason why I exist,” he said in a voice devoid of emotion. “Oyaji wasn't going to survive the winter. Hahaue told him so.”

 

“Was your mother some kind of prophetess?” demanded Sesshomaru not budging and ignoring the gasps coming from the gathering behind them.

 

“No… She was a healer,” Inuyasha replied, looking away.

 

“Why does that-?” Sesshomaru stopped and gasped as a thought flickered through his mind.

 

The hanyou's laugh was bitter. “And suddenly everything just falls into place,” he said.

 

Silence reigned for a moment then the lady elder bowed her aged head as she too came to the same conclusion as Sesshomaru. “I see. You were born to fill a role not the unfortunate child of an abandoned lover. That doesn't explain your bitterness, though.”

 

Inuyasha glared at the aging demon, hints of red showing in his eyes, and said in a low tone, “If you can't understand it then its best it remains unsaid.” He whirled and stormed out of the cave without a backward glance.

 

****

 

The next morning storm clouds gathered overhead turning day into twilight. Thunder rolled across the fields and the wind gusted with the heavy scent of rain. It hadn't started yet but it was going to, soon. Inuyasha had returned in the wee hours of the morning but was still in a foul mood. Many wondered if the poor turn in the weather wasn't a side-effect of his power.

 

The lady elder of Kou was adamant. “Regardless of what you two believe, when an heir is not specified, one must win in two competitions with all eligible members. We cannot let this continue any longer.”

 

Sesshomaru refused to look at the elder while Inuyasha stared at her with open hostility. They both knew the sooner this was done the sooner they could put it behind them, but both also dreaded it. Sesshomaru didn't want to experience the humiliation of losing his title. Inuyasha had neither wanted nor coveted any place of leadership. He understood the responsibilities and had seen what occurred when someone failed them. He would support a leader to prevent such failures but he was afraid what power might do to him if he were placed in such a position. He might just become his uncle. He shuddered at the thought.

 

Inuyasha sighed as the lady elder continued to nag and the rest of the clan looked on expectantly. They were waiting and Inuyasha knew it couldn't be forever for the enemy wouldn't. With the proper leader suddenly uncertain, they would be easy pickings for the rebelling clan members. “Then pick the damn competitions and explain the rules. For the record, I was content being a mere support beam,” said the hanyou, rising to his feet. Sesshomaru turned to regard his younger brother but didn't say anything. There wasn't anything to say.

 

“You are supposed to agree upon the challenges,” said the lady elder.

 

“I - don't - care. Aniue can choose,” said Inuyasha crossing his arms, uncompromising.

 

Sesshomaru grimaced. Ordinarily this would be a good thing; he could choose which ever he was best at. However, Sesshomaru understood this was a best two-of-three match. My martial skills are better than they were but I'm not a master. I never bothered to push my sorcery use because celestial power is superior to everything but another celestial. My academic knowledge… Sesshomaru flinched. He hadn't studied or read anything since his mother was still alive. The demon lord stared hard at his brother, trying to assess where his weaknesses were.

 

Tenko emphasize discipline above all things. Even if he hadn't studied anything since his was young it's only been a few decades while it's been centuries for me. He has a better chance of remembering. All tenko study the martial arts and jutsu relating to their power. He's not wearing his clan colorings but, if the other day was any indication, fire is his power. Priest robes, huh? He must be a shaman tenko. I'm certain now; in a battle of sorcery I won't stand a chance. He's not wearing any weapons; just those strange gauntlets. He must me the close combat type. Maybe…

 

Sesshomaru closed his eyes then opened them and said, “I don't think two competitions will be necessary. Despite the lack of formality, I have been holding the rank of demon lord this whole time.”

 

“Sesshomaru-sama!” started the lady elder in a scolding tone but Sesshomaru pressed on.

 

“Then again there is the fact that father seems to have sired a child, as you say Lady Elder of Kou, to fill a role.” The lady elder closed her mouth, her hackles lowering. “If Inuyasha was born to fill a role then it was to fill the role that I am holding, making him the heir. In such a situation I must stand down for the heir that has finally grown and arrived. However, I do not wish to stand down, so I will challenge to maintain my place. This means only one competition is required.”

 

“Chichiue!” cried Naomi and many gasped in alarm.

 

The lady elder regarded the demon lord and said, “You gamble much, Sesshomaru-sama. Are you certain of this decision of yours?” Inuyasha narrowed his eyes as he regarded his brother. He hadn't missed Sesshomaru searching gaze or the troubled looks he had given the hanyou.

 

Sesshomaru returned his brother's stare and felt chilled. Inuyasha seemed to be looking through him. “I am certain, Lady Elder,” replied Sesshomaru. I won't be able to stand the humiliation of losing twice. “One competition, combat!”

 

The lady elder of Kou turned toward Inuyasha who nodded his consent. His gaze never left Sesshomaru's. “Then let us to step outside. This cave is no place for a duel.” Inuyasha turned and walked out while lightning flashed and thunder cracked. Others moved to head out, to bear witness to the important event. Sesshomaru started for the cave entrance when a hand gripped his. He glanced back and saw Himawari; she looked on the verge of tears.

 

“Sesshomaru-sama…” she began then looked down. “Forgive me.” He could understand her fear. She had never seen an ascension ceremony before but she had undoubtedly heard stories. Ginhane had been the last ones to have a proper ascension ceremony where a challenge had been issued and the heir had been killed then. Not a prohibited outcome, just an undesired one. There wasn't anything he could say to her; these duels were intense, the outcome never certain. He pulled his hand from hers and walked outside.

 

Outside the cave the clouds stubbornly withheld their bounty of water but rumbled with suppressed rage. Inuyasha was limbering up, going through various forms and stretches. He had removed his kimono and sandals and wore only his blue hakama. The strange gauntlets had also been removed. Sesshomaru couldn't help but notice the scarred right hand as his brother moved, along with the rippling muscles of his back and chest.

 

Inuyasha stopped and straightened at the lady elder of Kou's cough. “I will explain the rules of this combat competition. First, this is a test of martial skill. There will be no magic of any king used during this fight. Second, you are allowed the use of any weapon you choose but if the weapon possesses magical techniques you must refrain from triggering them. Third, this duel doesn't end until the victor is clear, death is an option. Am I clear?”

 

Sesshomaru nodded as did Inuyasha. Then the hanyou turned to his brother and said, “Aniue, I'm not going to hold back. These people clearly will not be happy without an honest victory from you. If you desire victory, come at me as if you mean to kill me. I won't begrudge you if you succeed.”

 

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes and said, “Nothing good will come from your death.”

 

Inuyasha smiled and said, “Save those concern for yourself, Aniue. I already told you I wasn't going to hold back.”

 

Sesshomaru searched his face but his brother showed no hint of deception. He meant every word. He pulled off his armor and stripped down his hakama as well. The wound along his stomach was mainly healed but a thick purple knot remained where Noriko's blade had stabbed him. Sesshomaru went through his warm up and Inuyasha resumed his. No one said a word.

 

When Sesshomaru felt he was ready he held out his hand and said, “I choose to wield the sword, Bakusaiga.” The blade materialized in his hand and he turned it till is pointed to his brother.

 

Inuyasha bent over and picked up his gauntlets. He tied them to his hands then raised them so Sesshomaru could see the metallic backing on them, a shield to his sword. “My weapon is Rokukafuga,” said Inuyasha.

 

“Ga - fang?” echoed Sesshomaru. Inuyasha turned until he was crouched in his fighting stance. The knobs at the end of his gauntlets glowed and extended until there were three - foot long blades on each glove.

 

There was no more time to ponder. Sesshomaru gripped his sword and lowered into his stance. Sesshomaru and Inuyasha held each other's gaze, waiting for some hidden signal. No one breathed.

 

Lightning flashed and struck a tree a short distance away. Both launched as one. Sesshomaru drove his sword under Inuyasha's left fist aiming for his heart. Inuyasha spun on the balls of his feet. The right guard of his gauntlet came up driving the deadly Bakusaiga above him as he went low in his spin. His left fist came around in the spin, slashing for Sesshomaru's vulnerable ribs. Sesshomaru flashed stepped to the side and the blades missed drawing blood by centimeters.

 

Sesshomaru tapped the ground and was at Inuyasha's back in an instant, his sword diving in for the kill. Inuyasha's heel collided with his brother's ribs and Sesshomaru was knocked back several feet. Inuyasha finished the spin and launched himself after the winded demon. Sesshomaru saw him and slashed Bakusaiga at the incoming Rokukafuga. He knocked the left blades inside Inuyasha's defenses.

 

The hanyou spun again with his right set coming around and his left following. Sesshomaru jabbed his hilt into the right guard, disrupting the spin then went for his brother's back with his bare claws. Inuyasha suddenly wasn't there. Sesshomaru immediately tumbled forward on instinct and felt something tangle and cut through strands of his long silver hair. He rolled to his feet and into his stance, his sword up and on guard. Inuyasha was charging again.

 

Sesshomaru slashed at Inuyasha again and his blade was met and stopped by the guard again. This time he was ready for his brother's spin. He turned the sword with the motion of the guard and knocked the incoming blades up. As Inuyasha continued the spin coming full circle to face his elder brother, Sesshomaru caught the hanyou's right wrist with his bare hand, stopping his attack while simultaneously restraining his movements. This time the Bakusaiga found flesh when stuck.

 

Inuyasha pulled with his right while simultaneously stepping forward using it as leverage making his strike faster and stronger. Sesshomaru couldn't dodge in time, he was barely aware of his brother's second attack, until the three blades of Rokukafuga plunged through his side. Sesshomaru released Inuyasha and flashed stepped away.

 

Both paused in their fight, assessing their wounds. Bakusaiga had not bitten as deeply into Inuyasha shoulder as Sesshomaru first thought. Inuyasha's lunge had dropped him below the cutting blade. It bled heavily but his arm was still functional. Sesshomaru hadn't been nearly as lucky. The Rokukafuga penetrated deep into his lower chest. Worse, when he jumped back, the blades had torn his side open. Ribs and organs peeked between the shredded flesh. A lung had collapsed and Sesshomaru gasped for air and in pain. For a human this would have been the end of them. For Sesshomaru “the end” had a completely different meaning.

 

He raised his sword, refusing to give in, and charged. Inuyasha stepped to the side and lunged, blades leading. He was aiming for Sesshomaru's wounded side, exactly what Sesshomaru expected. Sesshomaru flipped his sword so the blade ran parallel to his arm, in the same fashion Inuyasha's shield ran along his. Sesshomaru swung his arm forward but Inuyasha didn't guard, he struck. The three blades of his left hand bypassed the sword and plunged into Sesshomaru's arm. The edge struck the joint between the blades and their arms were momentarily locked.

 

Before the right set could strike, Sesshomaru caught the wrist yet again then whirled, lifting his younger brother into the air and slammed him into the ground. He jammed his heel into Inuyasha's wound with all his strength. Sesshomaru pulled his arm free of Rokukafuga then stabbed down with sword, ignoring the fountain of blood. The tip struck the right guard. Inuyasha kicked up, breaking Sesshomaru's nose and momentarily robbing his elder brother of his senses.

 

The hanyou rolled into a crouch and Sesshomaru felt a tingle of fear pass through him. Inuyasha's eyes glowed red and the irises had changed from gold to turquoise. With a feral growl, Inuyasha was on him. Sesshomaru stabbed forward and Inuyasha backhanded the blade, feinted to Sesshomaru's wounded right then dove at his left. His right blades came around and Sesshomaru smacked the arm away, receiving several cuts on his forearm. Inuyasha jabbed with his left at his brother's face and Sesshomaru ducked and dodged to the side, the tips of the blades scoring shallow scratches on his cheek. He scored his own by slashing at the hanyou's unprotected flank as he moved but the blade slid along ribs and didn't penetrate lungs.

 

Inuyasha continued his spin as Sesshomaru planted his feet, sword hilt held in both hands at his hips. The battle couldn't last much longer; Sesshomaru could feel his strength waning with every labored breath. Inuyasha came at him again and Sesshomaru's blood nearly froze. Inuyasha's feral eyes held not crazed battle lust but cold calculation. If he had been out-of-control Sesshomaru might have been able to salvage a victory, but he wasn't.

 

Inuyasha jabbed at his throat and Sesshomaru back stepped to avoid the fatal blow while at the same time he swung his sword backhanded in his left at Inuyasha's eyes. The hanyou balked and leapt back. When he touched down he reversed directions and flew at Sesshomaru, blades leading. Sesshomaru, on his heels, off balance, couldn't hope to dodge. He raised his blade and put the tip between him and Inuyasha as the hanyou came down on him. Lightning flashed and thunder cracked.

 

Then it began to rain.

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Whee! I had to act out a few sections just to make sure I visualizing the moves right.

 

Anyway, I've begun using the Japanese honorifics. I may or may not go back and change the rest of the chapters. Probably not but the rest of this story will have them. If you see any places where I'm using them wrong please tell me and I'll correct them.

 

Rokukafuga means six fire wind fang. Sesshomaru's question of “Ga?” is because Inuyasha's weapons are shaped like claws but he's calling them fangs. Reason they are fangs is because they were made from Inuyasha's fang. The second fang, like a number of details being revealed, will have significance in the sequel rather than this main story. Yes, I have decided to write a sequel but that is a long way in the future.

 

Please tell me what you think of this chapter!

 

Chapter 29: In the Rain

 

Defeat is bitter. Everything that was thought certain now stands upon unstable ground. While Kakiboufuu moves to assert his control, Sesshomaru must come to terms with his new position in the clan. What more will the former demon lord lose in the wake of his brother's takeover?