InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Hurtful Words: Past & Present ❯ The Past: Chapter 4 ( Chapter 4 )

Disclaimer: Inuyasha is Copyright of Takahashi Rumiko

Hurtful Words: The Past
Chapter 4

"Inuyasha...You are finally learning to use Tetsusaiga properly."

Inuyasha growled deep in his throat, eyes spitting fire. "Quit yapping or do you need me to shut that mouth for you?"

"Your threats are meaningless."

Sesshoumaru stared into Inuyasha's eyes intently. Toukijin and Tetsusaiga were crossed in a deadlock between their masters. Both swords held their own as sparks of lighting power cracked from their surface. Neither brother gave way, each too determined to prove their strength. They remained that way for minutes, watching and waiting for the other to make a move. There was a rustle in the distance. Inuyasha diverted his eyes quickly. Sesshoumaru thrust his sword and sent Inuyasha flying backwards. Tetsusaiga landed a few feet in front of Inuyasha.

"You still are not worthy of Tetsusaiga." Sesshoumaru placed Toukijin back at his side.

"Keh, baka." Inuyasha forced himself to his feet. "Over and over again you try to take Tetsusaiga, but you never learn. Because you have no heart you are not worthy of Tetsusaiga. The barrier will reject you. Its pointless to even think you will ever be able to use it."

Sesshoumaru looked from Inuyasha to Tetsusaiga. "You are wrong little brother, I will get past the barrier."

"Keh, yeah right."

A smile graced Sesshoumaru's lips. "Why do you think I had that human girl? She is still with me you know. I only keep her around so that one day I will be able to use Tetsusaiga. That day has come, Tetsusaiga will be mine!"

Jaken jumped into the clearing just as Sesshoumaru began to rush forward to grab Tetsusaiga. "Sesshoumaru-sama!!!!!!"

Sesshoumaru stopped dead in his tracks. He and Inuyasha stared at the toad youkai who wore a shocked expression on his face. Jaken was visibly trembling, his mouth wide open, his eyes bulging as if they would pop out; he was clearly surprised by his lord's words. Sure he had always wondered why Sesshoumaru allowed Rin to remain in his company but he never thought it was for that reason. It was clever, but cruel. Though humans were useless he was sure Rin's life had more meaning than that. She would surely want to die if she knew...Jaken froze and turned slowly.

Rin stepped into the clearing and into the center of everyone's attention. A smile was on her lips.

"Sesshoumaru-sama, there you are."

Jaken stepped towards her. "Rin you didn't-"

"Jaken."

Jaken turned back and faced Sesshoumaru, knowing that he was to keep what he heard a secret.

Sesshoumaru turned his attention back to his brother just as Inuyasha made a dash for Tetsusaiga. Sesshoumaru wasted no time in unsheathing Toukijin and the battle between he and his brother quickly began again.

"Jaken-sama, who is Sesshoumaru-sama fighting?" Rin turned her curious eyes to Jaken for a moment, calmly awaiting his answer.

Jaken looked at the girl strangely, trying to understand why she hadn't heard what Sesshoumaru had said. "That is Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru-sama's useless brother."

"His brother!" Rin looked back at the two youkai. Both their hair and eyes resembled each other but other than that, there was a distinct difference between them. "But why is Sesshoumaru-sama fighting his brother?"

The conversation quickly got Jaken fired up and he forgot about what Sesshoumaru had said. "That sword that Inuyasha is using, Tetsusaiga, it should belong to Sesshoumaru-sama not some worthless hanyou!"

"What is a hanyou?"

"A hanyou is a filthy creature born from a human and a youkai. They are a disgrace to the human and youkai world alike!"

Hanyou...Inuyasha...Tetsusaiga...human...youkai... Rin turned and stared at Sesshoumaru, her attention more on her thoughts than on him.

Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru found themselves staring in each others eyes again with swords locked and power sparkling around them. Inuyasha spoke first, keeping his voice low enough for only Sesshoumaru to hear.

"Sesshoumaru..you think so low of humans. But at the end of the day, it is they who are better than you. How could you say such a thing about a little girl? She couldn't have done anything to deserve to be used by you. She heard what you said, you know she did."

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes at his brother. "Fool. If she heard what I said then her behavior would be the opposite of what it is now."

"Keh, believe what you want. You and I both know she heard you. She's just pretending she didn't. Pretty smart for such a lowly creature right? You're absolutely disgusting Sesshoumaru."

Sesshoumaru was about to speak when he caught the scent of a tiger youkai. Inuyasha became aware of it as well and darted his eyes to where he thought it to be. Taking advantage of the distraction, Sesshoumaru impaled Inuyasha with his sword, leaving a bloody hole in his chest.

"That is the second time you were distracted so easily little brother. You still have much to learn."

Inuyasha fell to his knees and covered his wound with his hand. "Keh. I get distracted because I am trying to protect the people I care about, unlike you." His eyes drifted to where Rin was.

The tiger youkai held Rin by her throat. Her feet were dangling in the air, her hands were grasping at his clawed hand. Under the youkai's foot was Jaken, with his face smashed into the ground so he couldn't make a sound.

Sesshoumaru appeared in front of the youkai a half a second later and had the tiger's throat in his own grasp. "Let her go."

"What are you doing!?" The tiger used his free hand to grab at Sesshoumaru's wrist. "Go back to your fight, the girl is my prey!"

"Let her go." His claws dug deeper into the youkai's throat, poison already seeping into his blood stream.

He dropped her and much to his surprise was released. Deciding it was best to escape before the inu-youkai changed his mind, he quickly disappeared into the forest unaware that the poison was already destroying his body.

Sesshoumaru bent to his knees and gathered the now unconscious girl in his arm the best he could before disappearing into the forest.

Kagome, who had been watching the fight from a safe distance, helped Inuyasha to his feet. "Inuyasha...she heard what he said."

"I don't know Kagome. The way she was acting..."

"No, I saw her. She was right behind Jaken but she stopped when she heard what Sesshoumaru said." Kagome watched Sesshoumaru walk away, a sad expression on her face. "It lasted only a moment but she looked...devastated. Her eyes were empty and filled with pain as though she were dead."

Rin sat up quickly and held her hands to her heart. She felt it pounding hard against her chest, heard it's thudding in her ears. It took all her effort to breathe and when she finally could, it took her remaining effort to stop her body from shaking. Though it was cold, she wanted nothing more than a dip in the cool river to wash the sweat from her body. She wanted to wash those images away.

"Rin."

She jumped at the sound of Sesshoumaru's voice, not comforted by it for once. "Hai?" Her voice was shaky.

"It was your dream again."

It was a statement rather than a question. She wrapped her arms around her legs and rested her head on her knees. "Hai."

Sesshoumaru stared at her for a moment, trying to decipher what it was about her that was different. He wanted to believe it was because of her encounter with the tiger youkai. She had proved to him and herself that she was strong and brave. It was like she was stepping into adulthood. But he knew that alone could not be the reason for her behavior. Then he thought back to the day before and remembered the thing he had said. But even that did not explain her behavior. Such words should have made her sad but she was neither happy nor sad. She was simply emotionless.

"You should go refresh yourself at the river."

Rin rose to her feet and stretched. "That is a good idea Sesshoumaru-sama. I also need to wash my kimonos. I'll bring back some fish so we can have an early dinner." She gathered her things and disappeared into the forest.

She never returned that night.

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