InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Heaven and Earth ❯ Journey to the Sorceress ( Chapter 4 )

WARNING! This chapter contains sexual situations, yaoi in nature.

 

Chapter 4: Journey to the Sorceress

 

Mahoutsukai - witch

Chichi-ue - honourable father

Tenjin - heavenly gods

Shatsu - shirt

Inu no Tashio - dog demon lord

Totosai - sword purifier (rough translation)

 

Inuyasha awoke alone in the cave, his fire rat coat neatly folded beside him with the Tetsusaiga resting against the wall. He noticed the Toukijin laying off to the side of the cave.

 

Why wouldn't Sesshoumaru take his sword? Inuyasha thought in confusion. He then realized that as long as Sesshoumaru was human, he wouldn't be able to wield the sword without being taken over by it. He must have realized that himself.

 

He walked over to the sword and looked at it, remembering how it came to be in the first place and the evil intent it had in wanting to destroy him. He decided not to try his luck with the thing so just let it lie there.

 

Where the fuck did he go? He asked himself sourly. Damn, I'm going to have to chase him down, the bastard, just getting up and leaving that way. I should just let him go.

 

He almost did, but the thought of having to explain to Kagome that he had not helped his brother when he had no way to defend himself, in the condition he was in, was something he did not relish doing. He thought of all the sits she would pile upon him and then she'd make him chase after him anyways. He sighed loudly, put his haori on, and then put his nose to the ground to follow his brother's scent.

 

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Sesshoumaru had been walking for about two hours and was getting tired; sweat was beading on his forehead as he walked along at a quick pace. He was disgusted that he was so weak and his hand was hurting like nothing he had felt before. How can they live this way, this is awful, he moaned to himself. He continued to push himself, feeling his heart pound and his breath come hard and fast. He was stopped by three men blocking his way on the road.

 

With his rich silk clothing and his battle armour he looked every bit the lord he was and the men figured he must have money. They noticed that he had no weapons so figured he would be easy pickings.

 

“Move or suffer the consequences,” Sesshoumaru ground out dangerously.

 

“Bit arrogant aren't ya, for a guy with no weapons,” one of the men jeered at him.

 

“I need no weapons to deal with the likes of you,” he returned haughtily.

 

The three bandits converged on him. Even though Sesshoumaru was human and no longer had his demon strength, he still had his training and he was doing well for quite some time, managing to kill one of the men with a sharp jab to the neck, making his injured hand wail loudly at the pain.

 

He was still outnumbered though and tired, and one of the two remaining men managed to grab hold of him while the other punched him in the stomach. Sesshoumaru's breath whooshed out of him and he was gasping trying to take in another.

 

“We were only going to take your money, now we have to teach you a lesson,” said the man holding him.

 

Inuyasha came upon the scene and jumped in, grabbing the man that didn't have Sesshoumaru, and throwing him into the bushes at the side of the road, rendering him unconscious. Damn It, I knew he'd get himself in trouble.

 

He turned to the man holding Sesshoumaru and growled, showing his teeth, the man immediately dropped his brother, who was still trying to bring breath back into his lungs, and ran away saying, “Take him, eat him not me!” Inuyasha felt disgusted at the thought. Why do they always think I eat people?

 

Inuyasha walked over to his brother and held out his hand to help him up. Sesshoumaru ignored it and stood shakily on his own.

 

“Your welcome,” Inuyasha intoned sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

 

“Why are you here? If I remember correctly you did not care if I fucked myself,” Sesshoumaru returned, still panting slightly.

 

Inuyasha frowned. “I can't leave you to walk around on your own, you don't even have your sword,” he griped, his voice beginning to get loud in his frustration.

 

“I think I did alright without it,” Sesshoumaru dead panned, looking passively over at the dead man on the road.

 

Inuyasha was impressed. To do that with one hand, and as a human, he was surprised that Sesshoumaru seemed to be coping so quickly to his situation.

 

Sesshoumaru began to walk down the road in the direction he had been traveling before being so rudely stopped. His hand was really acting up, and now his stomach hurt, he could feel his feet swelling in his boots. He was hot, sweaty, tired and thirsty; his emotions were getting harder to control. He found himself taking large shaky breaths to try and stop the tears that were threatening to come to his eyes. He stopped and stood clenching his hand into a fist, closing his eyes, concentrating on the pain to take his attention away from his rioting emotions.

 

Inuyasha watched his brother in puzzlement, what the hell is he doing? He then saw the blood dripping onto the ground from Sesshoumaru's fist. “Hey stop that, you're making yourself bleed.”

 

“What do you care?” Inuyasha was surprised to hear a small quaver in Sesshoumaru's voice.

 

“I don't, but your blood is going to attract any demons within smelling distance. You need to get that cleaned up.”

 

Sesshoumaru said nothing; finally back in control of himself. He gave a small sigh and then opened his hand slowly. He started walking again with Inuyasha beside him. He decided to ignore his half breed brother and hoped that he would just go away. They walked to a stream and Sesshoumaru knelt down and put his hand in the water, hissing at the pain he felt.

 

Inuyasha leaned over and took Sesshoumaru's hand and began to unwrap the ruined bandages before putting his hand back in the water and gently cleaning the debris and blood off. Neither brother said anything to the other. Inuyasha concentrated on rebandaging the wound with strips of cloth he tore from his shatsu under his fire rat haori, Sesshoumaru just looked off into the distance as he sat on the bank, allowing Inuyasha to care for him.

 

When Inuyasha finished he went back to the stream and took a drink, Sesshoumaru followed and did the same thinking smugly, you had to drink first, Inuyasha.

 

Sesshoumaru took a large long drink and wished he could bathe, he hated feeling dirty. His emotions started to act up again but he smashed them back down. He was not going to lose it in front of his brother.

 

Sesshoumaru rose and began to walk down the road again, Inuyasha right behind.

 

“Where are you going? This isn't the way to your lands,” Inuyasha said trying to break the stillness. He was used to his friends bantering back and forth and this silence was really bugging him.

 

“How long do you think it would take my enemies to kill me if they knew of this?” Sesshoumaru asked, talking to Inuyasha as if he was a child. “I am going to find a sorceress I know of to either break this spell or help me find that Tenshinoyounashoujo so I can kill her.” His deep voice reverberated with deadly malice.

 

The degree of hate apparent in Sesshoumaru surprised and slightly frightened Inuyasha. Even when he and his brother had fought and cursed each other, Sesshoumaru had not shown this much hatred. He moved a step or two away from him, casting quick glances his way. They continued on in silence for awhile longer until Inuyasha could stand it no longer.

 

“I'm going to get something to eat and stop and rest for awhile, I'm hungry.” He was hoping if he said it this way he could get his brother to stop pushing himself. He could see that Sesshoumaru was stressing himself trying to continue as if he was his old self. Inuyasha knew he needed to rest but didn't want to think why he cared.

 

“Very well, if you need to stop, I suppose that would be fine for a short time.” Sesshoumaru was never so glad to stop in his life. He was beginning to become exhausted, but he was not going to show any weakness to his younger brother.

 

They moved off the main track into the forest until they came across a hot springs with a small waterfall of cool water falling into it at one end. The trees were tall and leafy and cut out the sun; the springs looked like it was surrounded by a canopy.

 

Inuyasha headed off into the forest to see what he could round up to eat, Sesshoumaru went to the springs. He undressed and slipped into the hot water sighing contentedly. He closed his eyes, leaning his head back on a rock and within a few minutes was sound asleep.

 

Inuyasha returned about a half hour later with a couple of birds. Sniffing lightly, he smelled his brothers scent so he knew he was still around. He began to set up a fire to cook them and then sat down, plucking the feathers from the carcasses. Putting the birds on sticks to roast over the fire he headed off in the direction of his brothers scent.

 

Inuyasha stopped and stared when he found him; a warm feeling coming over him as he looked at the body of his sleeping brother. This was the first time that Inuyasha had seen Sesshoumaru nude and he thought he looked stunning. Fuck, why am I thinking shit like this, about my own brother no less.

 

He still did not move his eyes away; in fact, he began to creep forward as if he was stalking prey to get a better look. He licked his lips letting his eyes rove over his brother's muscular chest and tight abs. He could see Sesshoumaru's manhood under the water and his eyes grew larger at the size of it. Shit! He's not even hard and he's big.

 

Inuyasha stared at his brother a bit longer and then shook his head to get the image out of his head. I'm worse than that fucking monk! Why do I feel this way? I like women, right? He asked himself. Himself choose not to answer.

 

He stood beside the springs and called out to Sesshoumaru. When he didn't get a reaction Inuyasha called louder and Sesshoumaru's head snapped up causing him to slip and dunk himself under the water. He came up sputtering and choking which caused Inuyasha to laugh loudly. It serves him right, the bastard, lying out there like that.

 

Sesshoumaru gave his laughing fool of a brother a death glare, which just seemed to increase Inuyasha's merriment, as he began to laugh louder, holding his sides as tears began to run down his cheeks. Inuyasha didn't think his brother looked particularly scary at the moment.

 

Sesshoumaru got out of the springs, walking stiffly over to his clothing and grabbing them with a blush rising across his cheeks. He walked past Inuyasha to go put them on in private.

 

Inuyasha, noticing the blush, and thinking it looked remarkably sexy on his brother's face, began to gain some control over himself. Kami, what is wrong with me? I've never thought of men like this, why now? Why him?

 

He called out to Sesshoumaru and told him he had food cooking over the fire and then went to check on it to make sure it hadn't burned.

 

The two brothers ate quietly. Sesshoumaru was surprised at how hungry he was and how good the meat tasted cooked, not something he would normally eat but in this human form it tasted wonderful.

 

Finished Inuyasha asked his brother “Hey, who was that girl and why did she take the Tenseiga?”

 

Sesshoumaru's brow furrowed in anger, “She called our father a thief, saying the Tenseiga belonged to her.”

 

Inuyasha was shocked as Sesshoumaru told him all he knew of Mitsukai and what had happened, becoming angry when his brother told him of the bargain he had made to get the Tetsusaiga.

 

“So why didn't you take it when you left the cave?” he asked, glaring at his human brother.

 

“It will not work for me in this form, but make no mistake, when I again become normal, I will have it.”

 

Inuyasha began to growl low in his throat. Bastard! After all the help I've given him, he still wants the damn sword.” “I hope you have to stay this way forever, serves you right, you bastard,” he complained, getting up and leaving Sesshoumaru to himself.

 

Sesshoumaru pretended that what Inuyasha had just said didn't bother him. He was actually scared to death he would have to remain this way for the rest of his now shortened life and he did not like that thought at all. This human form has way too many emotions, I must control them, he thought to himself pushing the fear down as he lay by the fire closing his eyes. He didn't know if his brother was going to come back or not nor did he care. He just wanted to rest for a moment before heading off again.

 

Inuyasha returned a few hours later. It was now evening and the sun had set an hour ago. He had gone to the village to talk to Miroku and Sango telling them what was going on. They were quite surprised to hear what had befallen Sesshoumaru but more surprised that Inuyasha would help him.

 

“Kagome will kill me if I don't,” he told them; neither Sango nor Miroku totally believed this excuse.

 

“I need you to go to the cave and seal the Toukijin,” he stated to Miroku. “We don't need any demons getting a hold of it.”

 

“Sure, I'll bring it back here until it can be returned to Sesshoumaru,” he replied.

 

“Well, we'll see about that. Listen I'm going to head back, I'll be back when Kagome returns,” Inuyasha told them as he gathered up his supplies.

 

He returned to find Sesshoumaru sleeping by the now dead fire. He started it up and tossed a blanket he had brought with him over Sesshoumaru and then jumped up into the tree above to catch a few minutes of rest himself.

 

He awoke late into the night with a raging hard on. He had been dreaming of his brother, specifically his brother's naked form beneath him writhing and screaming out his name. Fuck! What is going on with me? He touched himself and groaned, sitting and thinking of why he could be feeling this way as he began to gently stoke himself to help relieve some of the pressure.

 

His demonic side, always accepting that Sesshoumaru was a powerful alpha had now come to realize that, since Sesshoumaru was in a weakened state, Inuyasha should become alpha and was trying to give the hanyou the idea to dominate his brother and take over that role. It really just boiled down to simple inu pack hierarchy.

 

The more Inuyasha thought of getting his brother to submit under him, the more excited he became and he started to stroke himself harder and faster until he came, growling out his frustration that he wasn't inside Sesshoumaru. He cleaned off his hand with some leaves and then looked down at the still sleeping form of his brother. He almost leapt down to do just what he had been day dreaming about, but the thought of Kagome finding out what he was thinking stopped him, and he jumped off into a tree further away so he wouldn't have to see and smell the human male. I'm not an animal, I can control myself, he told himself firmly, sitting up the rest of the night until the morning sun snuck up from below the horizon, trying to keep certain images from his mind.

 

The next morning they were up and on their way again, Sesshoumaru in the lead as he seemed to know where they were going. He gave no indication that he knew his brother was walking behind him which was beginning to grate on Inuyasha's nerves.

 

The sorceress he was going to see was one his father had used in the past, and he hoped she would know what the Tenshinoyounashoujo had been talking about when she told him the sword was made from the wing of her father. He also hoped she could break this spell upon him. He hated being human, not just the weakness and dullness of his senses but the way his emotions threatened to overwhelm him. Even though he was able to squash down the feelings bubbling within him they were far to close to the surface for his liking and he longed for the peace his demonic control gave him.

 

Inuyasha continued to stare a hole in his brother's back, getting more irate by the minute. He's too damn arrogant for his own good! “Hey, you don't have to ignore me you know,” Inuyasha shot out at him, frowning mightily.

 

“I was not ignoring you, I was thinking,” Sesshoumaru replied as he continued to walk along, not looking back.

 

Inuyasha surprised himself by growling low, he didn't like the fact that he was behind in a subordinate role, and he walked faster to catch up to Sesshoumaru so he was at least walking beside him.

 

Sesshoumaru noticed his angry brother glancing over at him. It was beginning to make him jumpy as he saw a glint of hunger in his eyes. “Stop staring at me like that,” he ground out to his brother in an angry voice of his own to cover his nervousness.

 

Inuyasha stopped and grabbed Sesshoumaru's arm, “Don't tell me what to do.” He was staring hard into Sesshoumaru's brown eyes, beginning again to growl to scare his brother into backing down.

 

Sesshoumaru just now figured out what was going on with his brother, He's trying to challenge me, he thought with wonder.

 

He pushed the fear that was beginning to rear its head down and stared right back taking a step forward in an attempt at intimidation. It worked, he saw a look of confusion cross Inuyasha's face as he let go of his arm and looked away.

 

Sesshoumaru sighed inwardly in relief and then turned to walk away. He stopped, asking his brother “Are you coming?” Inuyasha started walking and Sesshoumaru kept in step with him not wanting to get in front and cause him to try to challenge him again. He may not back down so easily next time and at the moment I am not a match for him. As he walked, he used his training to control his heart that was beating a little too fast.

 

They finally made it to the witches hut by mid afternoon. “Mahoutsukai, I am Sesshoumaru of Inu no Tashio, I wish an audience with you,” he announced respectfully as she came to the door. Sesshoumaru gave his brother a shove trying to tell him to bow.

 

The sorceress looked at the two bowing in front of her. One demon turned human and one half- demon. “What can I do for you lord Sesshoumaru?” she asked. Then she turned her orange eyes to Inuyasha. This is your brother?”

 

“He is my half brother, Inuyasha,” Sesshoumaru told her as he stood. “I was hoping you could undo this curse that you see upon me.”

 

“Come in and I'll see what can be done. Who has cursed you this way?” she asked as they entered her hut.

 

There were many strange objects in jars along a shelf that went all the way around the hut. Hanging above the kitchen area drying were herbs that they had never seen before. The rest of the hut was neat and tidy and surprisingly cosy. She had them sit before a low table as she began to prepare tea.

 

“Mitsukai, the Tenshinoyounashoujo has done this. She said the Tenseiga belonged to her father and not chichi-ue, do you know anything of this?” Sesshoumaru asked. He knew the witch and his father went back a long way, if anyone would know she would.

 

Mahoutsukai hesitated slightly as she poured the tea. She didn't say anything at first, passing out the tea to them and settling down before speaking.

 

Inuyasha, to his aggravation, noticed she gave the first cup to Sesshoumaru. Shit, I've got to control myself. I definitely don't want to piss off a sorceress.

 

Mahoutsukai began to tell them the story of the Tenseiga and how it came to be. She told them, to their surprise, that indeed the Tenseiga had been originally forged from one of the bones of Tenjin's wings. Tenjin was Mitsukai's father and one of the lords of heaven.

 

Tenjin and Inu no Tashio had been friends and had fought together many times, protecting each others territories, Inu no Tashio using the Tetsusaiga, the sword of earth and Tenjin using the Tenseiga, the sword of heaven.

 

One day, during a particularly hard battle the Tenseiga had broke and Tenjin had been mortally wounded. Sesshoumaru's and Inuyasha's father had protected his friend and killed the demon, but was unable to save him. Tenjin died but before doing so passed the Tenseiga to Inu no Tashio in thanks for his help in defeating the beast that would have taken over his realm The sword was repaired by Totosai using the fang of the dog lord, and had been with him until it was passed on to Sesshoumaru.

 

Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru were stunned, neither knowing what to say about this information. “So she was right, the sword is indeed her birthright,” Sesshoumaru whispered, confused as to why his father had not told him of this.

 

“No, it is yours, she does not understand what happened between the two lords; she blames your father for her father's death.” Then Mahoutsukai hit Sesshoumaru with a bomb shell. “You and Mitsukai were promised to each other as children to bring the lands of heaven and the lands of earth together.” She watched to see what reaction her news would bring.

 

Sesshoumaru was floored. “Why did father not tell me this?” he proclaimed angrily.

 

“I do not think to understand the mind of your great father. Perhaps he was waiting for the proper time.”

 

Waiting for the proper time?! Sesshoumaru was furious, his repressed anger at his father came up like bile and he desperately wanted to kill something, preferably his father. He tried his best to bring himself under control, surprising Inuyasha, the sorceress and himself when the cup he had been holding burst in his hand. He hadn't realized he had been gripping it that hard.

 

“Let me see to your hand my lord,” said Mahoutsukai as she cleared up the bits of china. She pulled out a large piece from his hand as he squeezed his eyes shut at the pain and unwrapped the bandages that Inuyasha had put on previously.

 

“I have something to aid in the healing of this,” she offered, getting up and going to the shelf. She looked here and there and finally picked a jar with a yellow powder in it. She got some warm water from the pot over the fire and a cloth, cleaning his hand which had begun to fester; she applied the powder directly to the wound.

 

It fizzled and Sesshoumaru waved his hand in the air to take away the burning sensation. Mahoutsukai smiled, taking the hand and rewrapping it in clean bandages. She passed Inuyasha the powder folded up in some paper.

 

“Put this on his hand once a day for a few days, it will help the healing process.”

 

“Can you reverse this spell?” asked Sesshoumaru when she was finished. He found his hand felt much better and didn't ache as much as previously.

 

“I am sorry, I cannot. Mitsukai is the only one to lift the curse from you as it is her spell to start with.”

 

Sesshoumaru's heart fell. It wasn't likely that the Tenshinoyounashoujo would reverse it any time soon. He didn't even know how to find her.

 

“If she were to die, would the curse be lifted?” he asked hopefully.

 

“I'm not sure but I believe so,” replied Mahoutsukai, wondering what he could be thinking. There was no way he could defeat the angle in his current state.

 

Inuyasha too could not believe that Sesshoumaru was thinking to fight her. He really is an arrogant bastard, he thought.

 

“How do I find her?” He didn't care if he was human, he was going to defeat her and lift this damn curse.

 

“My lord, I do not think this is a wise course of action,” Mahoutsukai suggested, trying to politely dissuade him.

 

“Whether you think it or not, I will find her” he stated, again becoming angry at the situation he found himself in and all because his father would not tell him about the damn sword. What other secrets have you kept from me chichi-ue? he wondered, his feelings profoundly hurt.

 

Mahoutsukai watched the determined look on his face and went to the shelf again, this time reaching under it into a hollow set into the wall. She pulled out a black pearl, very similar to the orb in Inuyasha's eye that housed his father's grave, and passed it to Sesshoumaru.

 

“When you wish to go to Mitsukai's lands, blow on this and throw it into the air, it will release a portal into her realm. Make sure you retrieve the pearl when you are on the other side or you will not be able to return.”

 

Sesshoumaru took the pearl and placed it into his chest armour. He was rising to leave when the witch said. “My lord, at least spend the rest of the day and tonight here to rest and recoup your energy. What you are planning will be hard on the body you have now, you very likely won't survive.” She hoped that this would dissuade Sesshoumaru from what he seemed determined to do.

 

“Very well, one night,” he agreed. He then turned to Inuyasha, “You have performed your duty to me; you no longer need to assist me.”

 

“You think I'm going to let you go alone to your death?” Inuyasha asked, astonished at the courage or the foolishness, he couldn't decide which, of his brother.

 

“Suit yourself, but you come of your own will, I did not ask you,” Sesshoumaru said haughtily.

 

He was in fact glad Inuyasha had decided to accompany him but was too proud to ask his brother for his help. He breathed an internal sigh of relief that he would not have to face this alone.

 

Inuyasha growled too low for Sesshoumaru to hear but Mahoutsukai heard it just fine and raised her eyebrow at the pair.

 

Someone needs to take him down a peg or two, Inuyasha thought, images of his dream coming to his mind. He shook his head to get rid of them and then walked around asking the sorceress about her medicines and such hoping there was something he could learn to help Kagome and the rest on their travels.

 

Sesshoumaru settled down on the floor, looking around curiously and listening to Inuyasha and Mahoutsukai talking. He soon tuned them out trying to plan how he could defeat the Tenshinoyounashoujo.