InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Hurtful Words: Past & Present ❯ The Present: Chapter 7 ( Chapter 7 )

Disclaimer: Inuyasha is Copyright of Takahashi Rumiko

Hurtful Words: The Present
Chapter 7

It took Inuyasha a grueling week to find Sesshoumaru. And during that week he thought of thousands of ways to remove each and every limb from his loving brothers body. The hate he felt toward his brother could not be described with words. He was more than tired of being harassed because Sesshoumaru would not accept the fact that Tetsusaiga was not meant for him. He was tired of fighting for what was his. So tired that he swore that this time, he would not let Sesshoumaru walk away alive.

Sesshoumaru was standing calmly in the center of a clearing, well aware that Inuyasha was heading his way. So when his brother stepped into the clearing, he merely stared at him. "Inuyasha...to what do I owe this displeasure?"

Inuyasha growled and tried to swallow the taste of disgust in his mouth. "Don't play stupid with me Sesshoumaru. You know exactly why I am here. So where is it? Where is she, where is Rin? I still can't believe you would stoop so low as to use a human. You're really pathetic."

Something stirred inside of him when Inuyasha mentioned Rin but the feeling was quickly and easily ignored. "If you came here to convince me to kill you there’s no reason to insult me. I would have gladly indulged you."

"Enough with the bull shit. Hand over Tetsusaiga right now!"

"Tetsusaiga..." Sesshoumaru eyes traveled down to where Inuyasha usually kept his sword. "What makes you think I have it?"

Inuyasha growled again. "You sent your little human servant to steal it from me. It was a clever trap, pretending that you two weren't friends anymore just so I would trust her. Well it worked. But play time is over, I want Tetsusaiga back."

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes. "If you think I would form any type of an alliance with a useless human girl in order to steal Tetsusaiga, then you are sadly mistaken. If you allowed yourself to be fooled by a pitiful human, then that is your problem, not mine."

Jaken cringed at the words and thought back to the time Sesshoumaru had spoken so cruelly of Rin. When Sesshoumaru had become so hateful toward the girl, he did not know, but he thought it curious that Rin had stolen Tetsusaiga. "Inuyasha you are a fool! You can't be sure that it was indeed Rin who stole Tetsusaiga. Why would she steal a sword she cannot use?"

"You know as well as I do that Sesshoumaru would do anything to get his paws on Tetsusaiga and using Rin is no exception."

"Idiot! We haven't seen that wretched girl since she disappeared four years ago, so there is no way Sesshoumaru-sama could possibly use her. Get your facts straight before you insult the great Lord Sesshoumaru!"

"There is no mistaking that the girl I met was Rin. Sure she smelled like a hundred different girls and she was dressed like a peasant, but once we got face to face, there was no mistaking her scent."

"It doesn't matter! Stop wasting Sesshoumaru-sama's time. Rin ran away after she realized she was just a necessary tool Sesshoumaru-sama needed to be able to use Tetsusaiga. She probably stole it to get revenge on him! But whatever she does has nothing to do with us."

Jaken crossed his arms matter-of-factly, pleased with himself for setting Inuyasha straight. He nodded, eyes closed, head pointed up like royalty. And then he unfolded his arms nervously when neither Inuyasha nor Sesshoumaru spoke. Peeking out of from under his eyelids, he found both brothers staring at him. He squeaked and started to back up, only to be grabbed by Sesshoumaru.

Sesshoumaru lifted the toad youkai so that they were face to face. "Explain what you mean by this revenge."

"I- uh, its just that- what I meant is, it was just a speculation." He feared he was about to lose another year of his life.

"Explain. My patience is running thin."

"Rin disappeared shortly after the last time we saw Inuyasha. She asked a lot of questions about him and..and about Tetsusaiga. She seemed very curious about them."

The event clicked in Inuyasha's mind and suddenly everything fell into place. "She heard what you said...That poor girl."

Sesshoumaru turned his attention back to his brother, not yet understanding what he could have possibly said that fueled Rin's actions.

"Keh, you don't even remember what you said. Why would you? You could never care about a human's feelings. You told me the only reason you kept her around was so that one day you would be able to use Tetsusaiga. But she heard you...and now she hates you and wants revenge. She wants to make you pay for using her. What better way to piss you off than by stealing the sword you couldn't get your hands on."

Jaken spoke up quietly, afraid he might be struck. "I was thinking the same thing Sesshoumaru-sama."

Inuyasha ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. "Congratulations Sesshoumaru, you ruined a perfectly innocent girl." He wanted to break something, wanted to break Sesshoumaru. "How the hell am I going to find her?" He turned to walk away.

Sesshoumaru dropped Jaken as though he were nothing. "You will never find her."

"Shut up Sesshoumaru. I'll find her eventually. But you are the one who should be looking for her." Inuyasha turned back and sent Sesshoumaru a dirty look. "Though I guess it would be pointless since you would never apologize. Just don't let your conscious eat at you too much. If you have one that is."

Inuyasha leaned against the doorway where his two little boys were sleeping soundlessly. The worry he felt ate at him every time he looked at or even thought of them. They were too young to do any serious fighting and had too little youkai blood to make much of a difference. It was his duty as their father to protect them and their mother but at the moment he felt as powerless as they were with out Tetsusaiga by his side.

"Inuyasha..."

He didn't answer when Kagome called him, didn't turn when she placed her hand on his shoulder. His thoughts consumed him. He had spent a month searching for Rin and had absolutely no luck in finding her. He was constantly worried that some hated foe would learn that he no longer had Tetsusaiga and come after him for revenge. Though he trusted in his hanyou abilities, it was easier for him to protect himself and his family with Tetsusaiga. After all, that is why it was crafted. But the constant worry and searching was wearing on him.

"Inuyasha...I'm worried about you."

Inuyasha turned and wrapped his arms tightly around Kagome's waist, burying his face against her neck. "If anything happens to you...if anything happens to them...I don't know what I'll do. I have to find Tetsusaiga."

"Inuyasha..." Kagome squeezed him. "You'll find it eventually, I know you will."

Inuyasha pulled her away from the boy’s room upon sensing that someone was approaching their house. He heard a knock as he slid the screen open. He and Kagome stared down at the small girl, both wondering what she was doing out so late at night. She held up a small envelope.

"Kagome-sama, this is for you. A girl named Rin told me to bring it to you."

Kagome quickly grabbed the envelope before Inuyasha could snatch it away. "Arigatou. Did she say anything else? Do you know where she went?"

The girl shook her head. "She left right after she gave it to me."

"Arigatou. Now hurry home." Kagome slid the door closed, blocking Inuyasha's way. "Osuwari."

Inuyasha was slammed into the ground. He growled and pulled himself upright, his eyes shooting fire at his mate. "I fail to understand why I still have to wear this damn rosary and why you find it necessary to use it!"

"She's gone, Inuyasha, and if you go out looking for her now, you'll be out all night. Now, may I read the letter now or do you want to rant some more?"

Inuyasha sat up and crossed his legs, feeling like a child. "Read it."

Kagome cleared her throat. " 'By now I am sure you have realized that I am not following your brother's orders and that I acted on my own accord. I have no intention of ever delivering Tetsusaiga into his hands, so you have nothing to fear. However, I do have a proposition for you. I will give you Tetsusaiga in return for your brother’s sword. Steal Tenseiga and in three days, Tetsusaiga will be yours once more.' Signed by Rin..." She held the letter to Inuyasha.

He took it from her and rose to his feet. "I will leave in the morning."

Sesshoumaru read the letter once more. It greatly displeased him to know the girl was plotting against him, to know she had purposely involved his hated brother. She had stolen Tetsusaiga and now wanted Tenseiga. What could the girl possibly be thinking...what could she be planning? He wanted to learn the true reasons for her actions.

"Rin obviously wants something from you or at least wants to see you again. So why not indulge her and make up for the cruel things you said."

Sesshoumaru watched the letter dissolve in his poison claw and said nothing.

Inuyasha tried to remain calm. "Just hand over Tenseiga and make things easier for us both. You don't even use Tenseiga and I need Tetsusaiga to protect my family. Now I know family and humans mean nothing to you, but you could easily have them both out of your life if you just give me the sword."

Sesshoumaru slowly reached for his side and pulled out Tenseiga. Without a word, he held it out to Inuyasha, who took it cautiously. And then he turned and walked away, leaving in silence before his brother could question him. There were already too many questions that needed answers and he was determined to find them. Rin, he was sure, had most of the answers he needed.

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