InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Heaven and Earth ❯ The Truth Comes Out ( Chapter 14 )

Chapter 14: The Truth Comes Out

 

Chan - suffix for a familiar female person (denotes a friend)

 

Ah-Un landed in the village right outside Kaede's door making most of the inhabitants extremely nervous, they gave the hut a wide berth. Rin jumped to the ground and ran into Kagome's arms, crying loudly.

 

“Rin, calm down, I don't understand what you're saying,” Kagome almost dropped her book bag and looked at her friends who had gathered around when they saw the dragon landing.

 

The little girl took a couple of deep breaths and whimpered, “Sesshoumaru-sama is sick, please come help.”

 

“Sick? What do you mean he's sick?” asked Inuyasha, alarm bells going off in his head.

 

“We can't wake him up, he's sweaty and cold. Please come and help him Kagome-chan!” The small child began to cry again, holding tightly onto Kagome's arm and trying to pull her towards the waiting dragon.

 

Miroku came up beside Inuyasha. “I thought you said he wouldn't get sick,” he whispered to his friend so the girls wouldn't hear.

 

“He wouldn't unless he…” wants to be my mate, unless he loves me, he finished to himself his eyes going large.

 

“Let's go!” Inuyasha stated, picking up Kagome and putting her on his back. Rin jumped back up onto Ah-Un, Sango mounted the now transformed Kirara. Miroku placed Shippo behind Rin before getting on Kirara himself and the whole group took off following the little human girl back to Sesshoumaru.

 

When they arrived Jaken was beside himself with worry. “Rin, what took you so long? And did you have to bring everybody?” he grumbled. Inuyasha scowled at him, looking so much like Sesshoumaru at that moment that Jaken almost bowed to him. He moved out of his way instead.

 

Inuyasha was shocked to see the state his brother was in. He was completely soaked in sweat, not a dry spot on him or the blanket he was wrapped in. He moaned and tossed from time to time and Inuyasha could see he had dropped at least thirty pounds. Inuyasha's heart leapt into his throat, why didn't he tell me? I wouldn't have abandoned him if I had known.

 

Kagome knelt by his brother and put her hand to his forehead. “He has a fever. We have to move him out of the elements to somewhere warmer and dryer.” She noticed four angry, red marks on his neck. “What are these?” she asked Jaken.

 

The toad looked over her shoulder after giving Inuyasha a nervous glance. He was stunned at what he saw. “Those are mating marks.” He was bemused, wondering why he hadn't noticed these marks before. Where did Lord Sesshoumaru get those and where is his mate? He wondered to himself.

 

“Well they look infected,” replied Kagome.

 

“Could they be what are making Sesshoumaru-sama so sick?” asked Rin.

 

“I'm not sure. First let's get him somewhere warm and then I'll look at them more.”

 

Inuyasha leaned in and picked up his brother, holding him close. “I'll carry him,” he growled out slightly, causing Miroku to give him a warning look. Inuyasha tried to get himself to settle down so as not to make Kagome suspicious as he noticed the odd look she was giving him. He could feel the heat coming off his brother but he did notice that Sesshoumaru seemed to calm somewhat in his arms. He wasn't shivering or moaning as before. Please be okay Sesshoumaru, I'm so sorry, he thought sadly.

 

Sesshoumaru, although completely unconscious, knew on an instinctual level that he was safe. His senses knew his mate was there and it calmed him, the scent of Inuyasha going straight to his brain, relaxing his tired body and boosting his wounded soul. His ears could hear Inuyasha's heart beat as his head lay against his brother's chest. Sesshoumaru's fingers instinctively curled around Inuyasha's fire rat coat tightly, making Inuyasha want to cry at what he had done to his once proud brother.

 

They all followed Jaken to a small abandoned hut just outside of a small village. There wasn't much in the hut other than a ratty wicker mat and a couple of old pots. Kagome spread her own sleeping bag and blanket on the mat and had Inuyasha put him down. Her and Sango removed Sesshoumaru's armour and the top of his kimono sending Shippo out to get water. Miroku started a fire in the old pit to warm the hut up as they could see Sesshoumaru begin to shiver again. Inuyasha hovered around, more or less just getting in the way until Miroku dragged him off.

 

“Let the girls help him, he'll be okay,” he said trying to comfort Inuyasha. He could see this was really bothering his friend.

 

“I didn't mean for this to happen,” he intoned to Miroku miserably.

 

“I know you didn't, but you've got to calm down, your making the girls suspicious and unless you're ready to tell them…”

 

“No, let's go outside.”

 

As the two boys left Kagome and Sango began to apply the cool water to Sesshoumaru, hoping to bring his fever down. Kagome inspected the marks. They were bright red, but not hot and she couldn't feel any lumps when she passed her fingers over them. When she touched them, however, Sesshoumaru moaned and tried to move away. “I don't think they are infected, but they seem to be bothering him. Where's my Tylenol?” she asked, rooting through her bag.

 

“Hasn't he been eating?” Sango asked the little toad. Jaken wished he had listened to Rin earlier, now that he could see his lord's body without the covering of clothing, he was shocked. He had not been expecting his master to be so thin.

 

“He said he wasn't hungry, Lord Sesshoumaru doesn't eat much at the best of times, I didn't know,” he answered back, angry at himself for not noticing what had been happening to his lord.

 

“Where's his mate, shouldn't she be here?” Sango asked Jaken another question he didn't know the answer to.

 

“He never mentioned a mate, I don't know,” he said miserably.

 

“I'm going to have to go home and get some medicine to help bring his fever down.” Kagome had searched through her bag but could not find the Tylenol she normally kept with her. “Can I borrow Kirara?” she asked Sango.

 

“I'm sure Kirara won't mind; go ahead, we'll stay here until you get back.”

 

“I can't see anything else wrong, he needs to eat when he wakes up and I'm sure he'll come around when his fever comes down. Just keep putting the cold cloths on him, that will help some,” she ordered as she went out of the hut. Kirara transformed into her larger form and they headed off to the well as quick as possible after telling Inuyasha and Miroku what was happening.

 

Inuyasha went to his brother and helped Sango keep him cool. Sango noticed that whenever he was near Sesshoumaru seemed better and more restful. “He seems to respond to you Inuyasha,” she informed him.

 

“I don't know what you mean,” Inuyasha quipped nervously.

 

“Try moving away.”

 

As soon as he did Sesshoumaru began to moan and tried to curl into a fetal position. “Now come back,” Sango told the confused hanyou.

 

When he was again at his brother's side Sesshoumaru visibly relaxed, sighing in his sleep. He knows I'm here, somehow he knows, Inuyasha thought to himself, amazed at the strength of the bond that had formed for Sesshoumaru. Does he care for me that much?

 

He said nothing to Sango. “You better stay with him,” she told Inuyasha, who just grunted and nodded his head. She got up to move away. “If you need to rest just give me a shout, I'll come back okay.”

 

“Feh,” he grunted again. She took that as an affirmation and went to tell Rin how her lord was doing.

 

Inuyasha pushed Sesshoumaru's bangs off his face noticing that he still kept the braid, and gently placed the cool cloth on his forehead. He looked around quickly to see if anyone was watching. Sango was entertaining Shippo and Rin, Miroku and Jaken were nowhere to be seen. They must be outside.

 

He turned his attention back to his brother who was lying quietly beside him. He gently ran his fingers over the marks he had given Sesshoumaru hearing a soft sigh leave his brothers lips. He didn't try to move away like he had when Kagome had touched them. Inuyasha's heart gave a little flip and he leaned in closer inhaling his brother's strong demon scent. He put his head on Sesshoumaru's chest and could easily hear the strong steady heart beat. Inuyasha found the sound soothing, and without even realizing it, he fell asleep draped across his brother's chest, his arm lying across the demon lord's stomach.

 

Miroku and Jaken returned to find Sango looking on at the two brothers with a thoughtful look on her face. Inuyasha, you're so dense, thought Miroku, wondering how he was going to explain this to Sango. “Ha ha that's kinda cute,” he laughed nervously to Sango as he scratched the back of his head.

 

“Umm,” she returned. She looked over to the monk suspiciously, “Know something I don't?” she asked.

 

“No, no of course not, why would you think something like that?” Miroku was beginning to sweat as he noticed Jaken's eyes narrowing. Uh oh, don't tell me that toad is getting ideas too. “Inuyasha is just tired that's all,” he said as he walked over to the two sleeping brothers. “Hey, Inuyasha!” he uttered a bit too loudly in his nervousness.

 

Inuyasha growled and clutched Sesshoumaru tighter to him. “Inuyasha!” Miroku yelled this time. Kami don't let him do anything stupid in front of everyone.

 

Inuyasha's head popped up, a confused look on his face. “What, I'm awake,” he proclaimed grouchily.

 

“You put the marks on Lord Sesshoumaru's neck. You're his mate,” Jaken announced for everyone's listening pleasure, including Kagome as she took that opportunity to walk into the hut.

 

“What did you just say?” she asked as her book bag fell to the floor of the hut.

 

“Don't be crazy,” Miroku returned, hitting the toad on the head and going over to Kagome. Inuyasha was trying to sit up away from his brother with a huge blush covering his entire face.

 

Kagome looked at Inuyasha and just knew that what Jaken had said was true. Large tears began to form in her eyes. She ignored Miroku and walked past him to stand in front of Inuyasha. “Is this true?” she asked the love of her life.

 

Inuyasha dropped his head to stare at the floor; he had no idea how to tell her.

 

“Inuyasha, answer me,” she demanded.

 

He looked up into her teary face and nodded his head, the lump forming in his throat preventing him from speaking at the moment.

 

Tears spilled from Kagome's eyes and down her cheeks. She said nothing but just turned and ran out the door into the forest, the sounds of her sobs could be plainly heard.

 

“Inuyasha what is wrong with you? Your own brother, how could you?” Sango asked, disgust etched into the features of her face. The demon slayer got up to run out after her friend but before leaving stated, “And you Miroku, you knew about this. How could you not tell Kagome?”

 

“It wasn't my place to tell,” he answered, trying to defend himself.

 

She gave Miroku and Inuyasha a look that could have killed and left the hut to find Kagome.

 

Miroku whapped Jaken on the head again, hard, “You just couldn't keep your mouth shut, could you,” he said angrily.

 

“How was I to know it was such a secret,” the green retainer grouched back, rubbing his head and staring daggers at Inuyasha.

 

Rin and Shippo snuck out of the hut not wanting to get involved in what the older members of their group were talking about. Rin was confused as to why everyone seemed mad at Inuyasha-sama.

 

“Is it bad for them to like each other?” Rin asked Shippo when they got outside.

 

“I think it's the way they like each other that's bad,” Shippo stated, having more of a clue than Rin as to what was going on. Personally, Shippo wished he could find out more about Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha, he was intensely curious as to why two guys would mate and wanted to ask them. Well I'd ask Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha would just hit me on the head.

 

“You need to go after her and talk to her,” Miroku told Inuyasha who was just sitting there with a wounded look on his face.

 

Inuyasha got up to leave when both boys heard Sesshoumaru whisper groggily, “Inu…Inuyasha.”

 

“I'm here, Sesshoumaru,” his brother answered, crouching back down beside the prostrate demon.

 

“Wha…what are you doing here? Where am I?” Sesshoumaru asked wondering why he was lying on the floor and why he felt so weak.

 

“You were sick, we came to help,” he answered. “Listen I have to leave for a minute, okay? I promise I'll be right back, Miroku will stay with you.” Inuyasha caressed Sesshoumaru's cheek gently. His brother nodded and closed his eyes, falling back asleep almost instantly.

 

“Go quick before Kagome leaves for good, she's pretty upset,” Miroku admonished, practically pushing Inuyasha out the door. “He'll be okay, I'll look out for him.”

 

Inuyasha followed Kagome's scent, she hadn't gone far. He found the two girls sitting in the grass, Sango holding Kagome in her lap as the younger girl cried her eyes out. “Go away, Inuyasha,” Sango ground out at him.

 

“No, I need to talk to Kagome,” he answered right back, determined to make things better for the girl who had stayed with him through thick and thin.

 

“She doesn't need to hear your excuses.” Sango could have spit nails, she was so angry at what Inuyasha had done to her friend.

 

“It's okay,” sputtered Kagome trying to bring herself back under control. She sniffed and looked up to the hanyou with large, wet eyes wanting him to explain all this to her.

 

“Are you sure, Kagome?” Sango asked softly.

 

“Yes, I'll be alright, I want to talk to him,” she answered, wiping her eyes and sitting up straighter.

 

Sango stood, and glaring harshly at Inuyasha, left to go back to the hut to give a certain monk a piece of her mind.

 

“Kagome, I never meant for all this to happen,” he told her.

 

“Why did you mate with your brother? I don't understand,” she sobbed.

 

“It was my demon side. It wanted to dominate Sesshoumaru and make me alpha. Sesshoumaru knew what was happening when I didn't at first. He allowed me to use him that way,” he finished, his face blazing with the shame he felt.

 

“He allowed it?” Kagome was shocked beyond belief and the timber of her voice reflected that.

 

“Yeah., if I hadn't, I could have hurt you or the others. I almost hurt you,” he told her quietly, remembering when he had wanted to rape her. “But I wasn't supposed to mark him. I did that against his will.” Inuyasha was staring hard at the ground, too ashamed to look into Kagome's eyes.

 

“What difference would that make?” she asked curiously.

 

“Sesshoumaru can't take another mate as long as he carries those marks. That's why he got so sick, it was because I abandoned him.” He didn't elaborate as to exactly why his brother was having such a strong reaction. He didn't think Kagome was ready for that, he didn't know if he was.

 

Kagome lifted his head so she could look at his face. “You didn't abandon him, he left on his own; he wanted to return to his lands.”

 

“That's true, but I never went to see him…I just left him alone. When a demon is marked…they have to see their mate from time to time. Or…or they start to get sick.” She sat staring at him; she could see how hard this was for him to talk about. “Why didn't you get sick like Sesshoumaru?”

 

“He didn't mark me,” he told her, trying to avert his eyes. Although he wasn't really lying, he was omitting part of the reason his brother was ill. It wasn't just the mark, there had to be true feelings of love and devotion for an abandonment to bother one so much.

 

“Did you want him to mark you?” she asked, hoping that what he told her was true, that it was just his demon getting out of control that made him do those things to his brother.

 

He hesitated slightly before answering. At the time he would have said no, now he wasn't so sure. He couldn't stand to see Kagome looking so miserable so he told her what she wanted to hear. “No, I don't want to be his mate.”

 

“Inuyasha, I put up with you running after Kikyo because I know she's your first love and I would never want you to forget about that,” she sniffed at him, starting to cry again, “But I can't compete with Sesshoumaru. I won't stay and watch you be with him. Are you sure you don't want him in that way?” She looked at him with her large brown eyes full of hurt and a glimmer of hope, so Inuyasha lied.

 

“No, I don't want him in that way.” He actually thought that maybe he did and he would have liked to have had the chance to stay with his brother to find out. Now he knew he couldn't. Sesshoumaru was right, we really can't be together, he thought sadly.

 

“Miroku thinks we can get that sorceress, you know…”

 

“Mahoutsukai?” Kagome questioned.

 

“Yeah, that we could get her to take the marks off Sesshoumaru so he could be free of their effects.”

 

Kagome didn't say anything and Inuyasha took her hands in his. “I'm sorry Kagome, I'm so sorry. I've fucked things up so much. Can you forgive me?”

 

She looked up into the face she had come to love so much and sighed, I must be a sucker, she thought. “Yes, I forgive you,” she said softly, putting her arms around his waist and resting her head on his chest. He put his arms around her, his face sad, his heart telling him that he had just lost something important by refusing his brother.

 

“Once Sesshoumaru gets stronger we'll go see Mahoutsukai, okay?” he asked.

 

“I think that would be for the best,” she answered, glad that Inuyasha had finally chosen her over someone else.