InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Heaven and Earth ❯ Meet Sess ( Chapter 17 )

Chapter 17: Meet Sess

 

Done with repairing the door, Inuyasha made his way back into the hut gathering up the tools and putting them away neatly. The witch and his brother were seated at the low table in the kitchen area, three bowls of hot rice and freshly baked bread before them.

 

“Breakfast is ready, Inuyasha,” Mahoutsukai called out to him as he entered. He came and sat by his brother. Sesshoumaru still had that lost, empty look on his face but perked up when Inuyasha sat down. The demon lord was wearing his hakamas and yukata but not his haori, obi or battle armour. His two swords were resting neatly on the end of the futon with his discarded garments.

 

“How are you feeling, Sesshoumaru?” he asked.

 

“Fine, this body heals pretty quickly,” he answered, looking into Inuyasha's eyes. Pretty eyes, he thought to himself.

 

NO, NO, NO, don't think like that, something inside said to him. That will make you remember, you don't want to remember.

 

Sesshoumaru flushed and an alarmed look appeared on his face, he quickly stopped looking at his brother's golden eyes, putting his attention on the food in front of him.

 

What's that about? Inuyasha thought, noticing the odd behaviour of his brother. “Hey, are you okay?” Inuyasha reached out and touched the demon's arm. He was not expecting the reaction he got.

 

Sesshoumaru jerked his arm away as if it had been bitten, his eyes going wide and frightened. “Don't touch,” he gasped out.

 

“Okay, okay I won't.” Inuyasha was confused and a bit hurt. He didn't understand what was happening to his brother, but he sure wasn't the Sesshoumaru he knew.

 

Sesshoumaru's eyes took on that blank look again and he began to eat as if nothing had happened. Inuyasha and the sorceress shared a look of bewilderment, than began to eat as well. The sat silently for awhile as they enjoyed their meal when Sesshoumaru spoke. “Sesshoumaru: what a long name. Kinda pretentious don't you think? Maybe you could just call me Sess.”

 

“Sess,” Inuyasha sputtered out, almost choking on his rice. This really wasn't the old Sesshoumaru at all.

 

“Yeah, I like that much better.”

 

“Uh…okay, Sess,” replied Inuyasha, coughing a bit before getting his breath back. He was really worried at the way his brother was acting. He hoped this wasn't going to last for long and that he'd be able to bring his sibling back to himself.

 

After breakfast, Mahoutsukai went to clean up asking Inuyasha to help her. Sesshoumaru, or Sess, as he now wanted to be known, went outside to enjoy the fresh air.

 

“I'm worried about your brother. He seems to be trying to distance himself from who he really is. I think you need to take him back to his lands, to some familiar surroundings,” advised the sorceress.

 

“I've never been to his castle, I'm not even sure where it is and I don't think he's going to be able to tell me,” returned Inuyasha.

 

“He travels with a retainer, he would know the way,” Mahoutsukai told him. She looked at the hanyou before delicately saying, “I don't think it would be wise for your human friends to accompany you.”

 

“Why?” he asked, confused.

 

“They don't seem to be comfortable with the two of you…being together. They may inadvertently cause more problems than help. You are going to have to spend a lot of time with your brother if you are to help him come back; the dark haired girl…she may not understand that.”

 

Inuyasha thought of Kagome and had to agree that the witch was probably right. Sango too, would not be happy with the turn of events or his change of heart if she knew of it. He wasn't too worried about Miroku, he seemed to accept what had happened and the half demon knew his friend would stand by him no matter what. Maybe I should deal with just one problem at a time. I'll sort things out with Kagome and the others later, after I deal with what's going on with Sesshoumaru.

 

“I will go retrieve his retainer and tell the others of your group what has happened, and my advice to you. You stay with your brother. Perhaps, if you told him some of his history, maybe that would help to jog some memories for him.”

 

“Alright,” Inuyasha agreed, and went outside to find the stranger that was his brother while the sorceress left to head to his village.

 

He found the demon by the pond that was on the witch's property. He was sitting on the bank with his boots off, his feet dangling in the water. His head was thrown back and his eyes were closed as he rested on his elbow. He had a small smile on his face, enjoying the peace and the warmth of the sun.

 

“Sesshou…Sess, hey,” Inuyasha called out gently, marvelling at the beauty of his brother.

 

“Yash, come on over and sit with me, it's really nice here,” he replied, turning his head to look at the surprised hanyou.

 

Yash? “It's Inuyasha,” he complained, not used to hearing this shortened version of his name.

 

“I like Yash better. Why'd our parents give us such long names anyways?”

 

“Our father gave us our names,” Inuyasha told him, watching to see if there would be any reaction.

 

“What's he like?” Sess asked.

 

“I don't know, he died just after I was born, I never met him,” the hanyou sighed sadly as he sat down on the grass beside his brother.

 

“Oh. I don't remember him,” Sess stated just as quietly.

 

“He was a great taiyoukai,” Inuyasha told him. “He was lord of all the western lands, which was handed down to you. We'll be travelling to your lands soon when Mahoutsukai brings back Jaken and Rin.”

 

“Who are they?”

 

Inuyasha stared at his brother in shock, he's really forgotten everything. “Uhh…Jaken is your retainer, he's a toad demon and Rin is…is…well I'm not sure what she is, but she travels with you. She's a little human girl, real cute. She really likes you.”

 

Sess looked back at him blankly. “Oh.”

 

Don't you remember them at all?” Inuyasha asked.

 

“No. Is that girl, Rin…is she my daughter?”

 

“No. I don't know how she came to be with you, maybe she'll tell us when she gets here,” he told the confused demon, wondering himself why Sesshoumaru had allowed the young human girl to follow him around and why he cared so much for her.

 

Sess sat up and put his hand to his head, furrowing his eyebrows.

 

“Are you alright?” Inuyasha reached out but then pulled his hand back, he didn't want to freak Sesshoumaru out again.

 

“My head hurts, why can't I remember this stuff?” he asked miserably.

 

“Don't push yourself to hard; it'll come back to you. I'm going to go with you back to your castle. You might remember if you're around familiar things.”

 

“You'll stay with me?” Sesshoumaru asked hopefully.

 

“Yeah, I'll stay,” Inuyasha answered him, blushing slightly. “I mean, if you want me to.”

 

The demon named Sess gave him a big grin, “Yeah, I just got to meet you, well sort of. I want you to tell me more about myself. But later, okay? Right now I'm just going to enjoy the day.” Sesshoumaru fell back on the grass with a satisfied grunt and closed his eyes, letting the warmth of the sun lull him into a doze. Inuyasha sat on the bank quietly, contemplating what he was going to tell Rin and Jaken when they arrived.

 

<><><><><><><><>& lt;><><><><><><><><>< ><><><><><><><><><> ;<><><><><><><><><>&l t;><><>

 

Kagome came running up when she saw the sorceress approaching their hut. “What happened? Is everything alright? Where's Inuyasha?” she asked, worry coursing through her when she realized the witch was by herself.

 

“He's back at my hut with lord Sesshoumaru, there's been a…complication,” she answered the young girl. “Where are the rest of your group and lord Sesshoumaru's retainer? I'll tell you all at the same time.”

 

“I'm sorry, I've forgotten my manners. Please come into the hut and I'll gather everyone,” Kagome said kindly, bowing to the sorceress politely.

 

Kaede welcomed Mahoutsukai into her home and soon everyone was sitting on mats and pillows waiting for the witch woman to tell them what had happened.

 

“Lord Sesshoumaru has lost his memory,” she told everyone.

 

“What do you mean?” squawked out Jaken

 

“He's okay though, isn't he?” Rin asked, beginning to get upset.

 

Mahoutsukai sighed. “Yes, child, physically he's fine but he just doesn't know who he is or who anyone else is. He didn't recognize his brother either. I want Inuyasha to take him back to his castle. I've come to collect Jaken and the child to accompany them back to lord Sesshoumaru's lands. I'm hoping that when he's back on familiar ground and surrounded by his normal routine that he may remember who he is.”

 

“Rin can help, he'll remember me,” she blurted out happily.

 

“He may not, but don't be sad. I'm sure you'll be able to help your lord,” Mahoutsukai smiled at the little girl. Rin gave her a cheerful smile back, glad that her lord was well and determined to make him remember.

 

“We should go as well,” Kagome spoke up. “Inuyasha may need our help.”

 

The witch shifted uncomfortably, “I'm not sure that your presence would help. The fewer people for him to deal with right now, the better it would be for him. He is still in a fragile state of mind. Perhaps after he settles in and his memories begin to come back,” she offered, hoping she hadn't offended the humans. She understood they were loyal friends to Inuyasha, and on the part of the young girl, maybe more than friends, but right now he did not need their distraction and neither did Sesshoumaru.

 

The witch still didn't know if her spell to remove the mating bond had even worked. It seemed so, but it could be that he just didn't recall. Mahoutsukai didn't think it would be good if he did remember with all the others there, especially if the bond was still intact. She knew the two brothers should be together and these humans had probably interfered enough with that.

 

Kagome looked saddened and Sango frowned. “I'm sure Inuyasha will send for you if he needs you,” Mahoutsukai told them, putting her hand on Kagome's shoulder to reassure her. “I really think it best if you wait here for now.”

 

“You did say you had to go home for awhile, Kagome,” Miroku spoke up. “There is a lot of things that need done around the village as well that we've been putting off, perhaps now is the time to do those things.”

 

“You will come get us if Inuyasha wants us, won't you?” she asked Jaken. He looked at her sourly.

 

“Of course,” interjected Rin happily, before Jaken could even think to refuse. “I can come get you on Ah-Un.” She smiled merrily up at Kagome. She had really liked being with Inuyasha-sama's friends. They had been very nice to her and she loved playing with Shippo.

 

Jaken gave his head a quick nod, “I'll come get you…if you're needed,” he grumped.

 

Kagome felt better but Sango was still unsure. “Did the ritual work? Has the mating bond been dissolved?” she asked the sorceress.

 

Mahoutsukai nodded, “I believe so, as he doesn't even remember his brother, I'm certain the bond is gone,” she lied. They didn't even ask how he was, except for the little girl. Mahoutsukai was getting slightly miffed at the humans and the selfishness she perceived in them.

 

Kagome and Sango looked relieved.

 

The orange eyed woman rose and bowed. “I am going back to check on them now. Thank you for your hospitality. If you're ready to leave,” she motioned to Jaken.

 

“Let's go, Rin,” he told the child, picking up his staff of two heads.

 

They all walked outside waving goodbye to the sorceress, Jaken and Rin. Rin waved back enthusiastically as the three walked down the road, Jaken towing the two headed dragon by its reins.

 

“Sesshoumaru will be okay, right Miroku?” asked Shippo.

 

“I'm sure he will, Shippo. Inuyasha is there to help him,” Miroku told the little kit confidently.

 

Shippo was glad, he hoped they would be able to go to Sesshoumaru's lands soon, he missed his demon friend.

 

<><><><><><><><>& lt;><><><><><><><><>< ><><><><><><><><><> ;<><><><><><><><><>&l t;><><>

 

Inuyasha looked over to his snoozing brother. He snuck over quietly to check and see if the mating mark was still there. The wound the witch had given him was completely healed, of course, and at first he thought his mark was gone as well, but when he looked closer he could see four extremely faint fang marks. He reached out to touch them when Sesshoumaru opened his eyes, looking at him with surprise.

 

“What…what are you doing?” he asked nervously. His brother above him, so close to him was making something flicker across his mind.

 

Move, you don't want to remember, make him move, a voice inside his head shouted at him.

 

Sess reached up with his one arm and pushed Inuyasha hard and sat up, scooting backwards, his eyes wide and round with anxiety.

 

Inuyasha flew backwards into the pond with a large splash. “What the hell did you do that for,” he sputtered angrily as he stood up, his hair and clothing plastered to him. His anger quickly dissipated to concern when he saw Sesshoumaru trembling on the grass, staring at nothing, his face a blank mask.

 

He leapt out of the pond and rushed to Sesshoumaru's side. “What's wrong?” he asked, distressed at the fear he felt coming from his brother.

 

Sesshoumaru just sat there, his eyes glazed, a soft whine emanated from his lips.

 

“Sesshoumaru!” yelled Inuyasha, waving his hand in front of those empty eyes, “Snap out of it!”

 

His demon brother still didn't respond so Inuyasha grabbed him and tried to shake him. Sesshoumaru began to whine louder, breathing in short, fast pants.

 

Damn it! What's wrong with him? Inuyasha began to panic, he couldn't get his brother to stop making that noise and it was getting louder and louder. So he did the only thing he could think of, he slapped the demon lord across the face.

 

Sesshoumaru stopped keening and blinked. “Why are you all wet?” he asked, confusion written all over his face.

 

“You pushed me in the pond,” Inuyasha told him, looking at him with concern. “Don't you remember?”

 

“No,” he answered, rubbing his cheek with his hand. “That hurt,” he admonished the hanyou. “Why did you hit me?”

 

“Because you were freaking out,” answered Inuyasha, irritated and shaken by what had just happened.

 

“Was I?” Sesshoumaru asked, suddenly feeling drained. “I'm feeling very tired, I think I want to go to sleep now,” he stated, rising from the ground and heading back towards the hut.

 

“Are you going to be alright?” Inuyasha asked, following after him.

 

“I'm just tired, I'm fine.” He went into the hut and curled up on the futon, wrapping his tail around him. In a few minutes he was fast asleep.

 

Inuyasha stripped his wet clothing off and hung it by the fire. He wrapped a towel around himself and went and sat on the floor by the futon. What the hell happened back there? Shit, I hope Mahoutsukai gets back here soon with Jaken. The sooner we get to his lands, the better.