InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Heaven and Earth ❯ Becoming Brothers ( Chapter 18 )

Chapter 18: Becoming Brothers

 

 

Inuyasha was finally able to get dressed after his clothes had finished drying. Sesshoumaru was still out of it when Mahoutsukai, Jaken and Rin returned. Inuyasha stopped the little girl from running in and waking the sleeping demon. “He's really tired, Rin. I'll make sure to bring you to him when he wakes up, okay?”

 

Rin was satisfied with that and went to find something to do until her lord awoke.

 

Inuyasha sat down with the witch and the green toad. “Sesshoumaru had an episode while you were gone,” he told the witch. “I'm not sure if I should be the one to stay with him, I think I scare him.” The thought that he was making his brother worse hurt Inuyasha and what had happened earlier today had shaken him badly.

 

“Scare him?” questioned Jaken. He gave Inuyasha an angry glare. “You marked him and then left him. That's no way for a mate to act, you could have killed him. Now you're going to run away again?” Jaken didn't like the idea of Inuyasha and his lord being mates, but, being a demon himself, he understood it and he always had a feeling that his lord had no real interest in females. What he didn't understand, and wasn't going to forgive easily, was that Inuyasha didn't seem to take the mating bond seriously. Was he just a play thing for this retched hanyou? “You shouldn't toy with other's affections, boy,” he spoke angrily.

 

“I wasn't, you little fuck!” Inuyasha yelled back, getting to his feet and hitting the toad on the head, making Jaken see stars. He was already feeling extremely guilty about everything that had happened and didn't need to be reminded.

 

Mahoutsukai grabbed Inuyasha's arm as he tried to lunge and hit the toad again, showing his fangs. “You two need to get along if you're going to help lord Sesshoumaru,” she admonished them both sternly. They both lowered their eyes. “Now, tell me what happened today.”

 

“My marks are still there. I was looking at them when he just freaked out. He pushed me in your pond and then…it was like he just wasn't there, you know. His eyes were so blank,” Inuyasha finished, his ears drooping.

 

“Humm,” the witch breathed, thinking to herself. Those marks should be gone if the bond was destroyed, seems it's still there, at least somewhat. “Perhaps he tried to remember something that he wasn't ready to deal with yet. Were you touching him?”

 

“No, but I was sitting pretty close,” he mumbled out, blushing.

 

“Try to keep from touching him or getting too close for now. Just go slow. If he is trying to recall things, that is a good sign, but let him remember at his own pace. If he's forced too fast, I don't know what will happen,” she told Inuyasha. “That goes for you too, Jaken. I know you want your lord to get better, but don't push him too hard.”

 

“I know how to take care of lord Sesshoumaru,” Jaken huffed indignantly.

 

As the group were discussing Sesshoumaru, he was in the middle of a nightmare. In his dream he was trying to go to Inuyasha but something or someone was holding him tight, not allowing him to move.

 

Let me go! He yelled out inside his head.

 

No, you need to stay here.

 

I want to see Inuyasha. Unhand me now!

 

No. He doesn't want you. Stay here.

 

Sesshoumaru used every ounce of his demonic strength to break free but the entity holding him would not loosen its grip.

 

Stop struggling, you know what I say is true, the being whispered wickedly in his ear.If he wanted you, he wouldn't have left you. He doesn't care about you.

 

That is not true, he came back for me. But even to himself he sounded unsure.

 

Only to have you break your bond. He doesn't want you as his mate. Stay here, it's quiet. There's nothing to bother you here.

 

Sesshoumaru ceased his struggles, feeling dejected.

 

Good, that's good. Just go to sleep, the voice soothed.Everything will be alright if you just stay here.

 

Sesshoumaru whimpered in the lonely, darkness. He didn't want to stay but he couldn't break free and he was so tired. Inuyasha, help me, he whined.

 

Sesshoumaru bolted upright on the futon, gasping for air, his body wet with sweat. His brother was by his side. “Sesshoumaru, it's alright, you were just having a bad dream,” Inuyasha said, trying to calm the agitated demon. He didn't want a repeat of what had happened earlier by the pond.

 

“My name is Sess, and I don't recall a bad dream,” he answered back, a bit confused as to why he was so sweaty. “Is it hot in here?” he asked, wiping the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand.

 

Inuyasha looked at him with worry, unsure of what to do. He had run into the sleeping area when he heard his brother whimpering and calling out his name, but Sesshoumaru didn't seem to remember one bit of it. Suddenly, before anyone could stop her, Rin came blasting in at full speed and leapt into the demon's lap.

 

“Hey, I know you,” Sesshoumaru announced joyfully. “You helped me when I was hurt. I was in a battle and you brought me food.”

 

“Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama, Rin is so happy you remember her.” The little girl wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a huge hug. Inuyasha just watched, astonished, as his brother happily returned the small child's embrace. He remembers her but not me, he thought sadly.

 

“This is good,” the witch spoke up from the doorway. “Rin may be a great asset to you in your efforts to return his memory.”

 

“Lord Sesshoumaru, do you remember me?” asked Jaken hopefully. He was standing beside Mahoutsukai looking in on the little scene.

 

Sesshoumaru brought his tarnished colored eyes up to his retainer and frowned. “I think so; you've been with me a long time, Jaken, right?”

 

Jaken grinned and gave Inuyasha a smirk. “Yes, my lord, that's correct.”

 

“Ug, you don't have to be so formal, just call me Sess,” he stated to the toad, feeling embarrassed by his title. He wrapped his tail around the little girl.

 

“My Lord, I could never do that,” sputtered Jaken, unsure of his lord's new demeanour.

 

Sesshoumaru sighed. Rin put her hands on his shoulders and looked at him, “I'll call you Sess,” she told him happily. She actually would have rather called him chichi-ue, but maybe she would get the opportunity to later. She liked the way Sesshoumaru was acting. He was so much friendlier with her than he ever had been before, and she loved the feel of his fluffy tail snuggled around her.

 

“Thanks, Rin,” he answered, feeling a huge surge of love for her. I wish she was my daughter, she's so cute.

 

They decided to stay overnight at the witch's hut before starting the journey to Sesshoumaru's lands The rest of the day they spent relaxing, and much to Rin's enjoyment, Sesshoumaru played silly games with her until it was her bedtime.

 

Jaken had told Inuyasha the story of how Rin had came to be with them. It surprised him to know that his formerly uncaring brother had brought the child back to life with the Tenseiga. Jaken thought he had done it as a test of the swords power and out of a sense of duty, as the child had tried to help him when he was injured. Inuyasha began to think differently.

 

“Was he like this before with her?” Inuyasha asked Jaken

 

“No. He would never let his emotions show so much, although he is quite protective of the child.” Jaken watched Inuyasha for a moment, “Did no one teach you of mating bonds?” he asked, changing the subject, trying hard to be respectful and quiet, as they were within earshot of Rin and his lord.

 

Inuyasha growled at him, “I don't want to talk about this with you,” he ground out at the toad, still upset by what the little retainer had said earlier.

 

“Just answer one question for me, are you going to honour your bond and stay to be lord Sesshoumaru's mate?” Jaken gripped his staff a little tighter at the look the hanyou gave him. He relaxed a bit when Inuyasha looked away and sighed. “I want to be, if we can get him back and if he'll have me.”

 

The toad was satisfied. “In that case, I will aid you in any way I can.”

 

“Quite protective of him aren't you?” Inuyasha mocked.

 

“Yes, quite,” answered the imp, giving the half demon a serious look. Inuyasha felt a bit nervous under the toad's scrutiny and turned his head to watch Sesshoumaru and Rin picking flowers and making wreaths with them.

 

He's really cheered up since that kid's gotten here. Rin may be the best thing for him right now. Inuyasha smiled lightly as he heard his brother laugh at something Rin had said to him. He hoped he would be able to make Sesshoumaru laugh like that; it was such a nice sound.

 

Soon after, they all went in and ate the delicious supper that Mahoutsukai had prepared. After eating, Sesshoumaru put Rin in the futon and tucked her in, giving the small girl a kiss on the cheek. He came out and sat outside feeling very content and happy.

 

Jaken stayed inside talking to the witch woman while Inuyasha went out and joined his brother. “You seem cheerful,” he smiled.

 

“Yeah, I'm glad Rin and Jaken are here. I remembered her, isn't that great?” he asked.

 

“Yes, that's really good Sess, maybe you'll remember more when you get home.” He grinned at his brother and then noticed Sesshoumaru's smile fade. “What's wrong?”

 

“I remember her helping me. I was really hurt.”

 

“Yes,” Inuyasha waited nervously to see how much more his brother remembered about that time.

 

“I don't remember the battle; who I fought or what I was even fighting for. Do you know Yash?”

 

Inuyasha didn't know how much he should tell his brother. Mahoutsukai had told him to be honest but not to overwhelm him with information. He decided to just keep his answers simple.

 

“It was us, we were fighting,” Inuyasha told him.

 

“Why?” Sesshoumaru asked, surprised.

 

“We were fighting over father's sword, the Tetsusaiga.”

 

Sesshoumaru furrowed his brow, thinking hard, but very little came to him. “Who won?” he asked, curious to know if one of the swords he had was the Tetsusaiga.

 

“I did,” Inuyasha stated softly.

 

“Did you hurt me, Yash?” he asked quietly.

 

Inuyasha shifted uncomfortably, he felt guilty but he took a deep breath to answer, “Yes. I'm really sorry.” The hanyou lowered his head, letting his bangs cover his eyes so Sesshoumaru wouldn't see his misery.

 

Sesshoumaru sat and thought for a moment, frowning hard as he concentrated. I remember a bright light coming towards me...I felt pain…Shit, why can't I remember the rest. It looks like we didn't always get along so well. He looked over at his saddened brother. We get along now. I guess that's all that matters. “Hey don't worry about it, Yash. That was a long time ago right? We don't fight anymore, do we?”

 

Inuyasha looked up, giving his brother a small smile, “No. We don't fight anymore, at least not too seriously. And, my name is Inuyasha,” he scowled, but with no real anger behind it.

 

Sesshoumaru's eyes twinkled as he suddenly realized he had a way to bug his brother. “Yash, Yash, Yash,” he chanted, laughing.

 

“Cut that out, Sess-hou-maru,” Inuyasha laughed back, drawing his name out.

 

Sesshoumaru pushed Inuyasha and the two began to wrestle on the ground like children, laughing and making fun of each other. Finally finished their foolishness they lay on the ground side by side, panting but happy. Inuyasha was thrilled to see that his brother wasn't freaking out with the close contact. Maybe we're getting somewhere, he thought. He stood up and offered his hand to Sesshoumaru. The demon lord reached up and took a hold of it, allowing his younger brother to pull him to his feet. “I'm glad you're my brother,” Sesshoumaru said shyly, a ruddy tinge flushing across his face, the color almost matching his cheek markings.

 

Inuyasha's face colored as well as he thought again how sexy Sesshoumaru looked when he blushed, remembering back to when he was human. He wanted to take him into his arms but denied himself, thankful to be this close to his brother for now.

 

They both stood looking at each other for a moment and then realized they were still holding hands. Sesshoumaru was the first to pull his hand away, Inuyasha saw a look of nervousness flit across his brother's eyes. He said nothing about it but just grinned, “You're a mess, you should go get cleaned up.”

 

“Ha, like you look any better,” Sesshoumaru joked, as the two of them walked back into the hut, picking leaves and debris off themselves as they went.