InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Into the Fire ❯ The Bitter Taste of Truth ( Chapter 4 )

Title: Into the Fire

Author: Chiaztolite

Rating: NC-17/M for future lemon, rape, and violence

Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Inuyasha

 

Nii-sama: older brother

Youki: demon energy/aura

Kitsune: fox

 

Into the Fire

 

Chapter 04: The Bitter Taste of Truth

 

A tall taiyoukai stood at the edge of a cliff, watching the vast ocean below him. Wind blew and tousled his long, bluish silver hair. He dropped his gaze to look at the young female youkai standing next to him. Tears were in her eyes, streaming down her soft cheeks. She had been crying everyday for two weeks now.

“Mother…” she faintly sobbed. They were just done tossing her mother's ashes into the ocean. The taiyoukai gently took her hands in his as he kneeled down before her. He looked into her emerald eyes that were moist with her tears. He ran the soft pad of his thumb on her cheek, wiping her tears away.

“I want to go home now…” she kept on crying. “I want to go home to the west…”

The taiyoukai shook his head slowly.

“This is your home now.” He said. “This eastern land is your home now.”

She shook her head, her eyes bore into his.

“No…!” she cried. “I want my Father, I want my brother…!”

The taiyoukai smiled at her as he put his middle and index finger on her forehead, slowly working his power into her mind.

“But your father is long dead.” He said. “And your brother, Yuusou, is over there. He is waiting for us.”

She shoved his fingers away and shook her head furiously. Her hands covered her ears, her eyes shut tight.

“No…NO!” she started screaming, “Sesshoumaru nii-sama…”

He gently lifted her hands away from her ears. Her eyes slowly opened and he tenderly forced her to look into his eyes. Again, he placed his fingers on her forehead and smiled as he sensed her young mind trying to fight his power.

“Shouri…” he called her name, his eyes never left hers. “Yuusou is your brother, and this is your home now.”

Her eyes blinked though she said nothing. Her tears slowly run dry and her struggling ceased. The taiyoukai smiled again, nodding as he grazed her cheek with the back of his fingers. He turned his head to look at the young male youkai standing behind him and gestured him to come closer.

“Yuusou,” he called him. “Take your sister back to the palace.”

The youngling seemed reluctant at first as he eyed her with curiosity. She stunned him when her hands reached out for him, a sweet and trusting smile was on her face. So he took her hand and just as their grandfather commanded, he walked her back to the palace.

The taiyoukai watched his grandchildren with clouded eyes. When they disappeared from his sight, he loosened his fist and a sphere of blue light floated before him: Shouri's memories of her past. He slowly absorbed the light in, locking her memories away in a safe place…

 

 

The tall inuyoukai princess stopped before the door to the main court of the eastern palace. Subconsciously, she ran the palm of her hands over her pristine baby-blue kimono, trying to smooth out creases that did not even exists. Her slender and elegant fingers stroked her long, silver hair that was pulled up and tied in a loose bun, letting a few silky locks framed her fair face. It was unusual that her grandfather summoned her to the main court, not to mention in such an urgent manner…

A frown suddenly appeared on her immaculate face as her keen sense of smelling captured human scent mixed with those of youkai's. As long as she could remember, her grandfather never extended his hospitality to humans before. She suddenly found her fingers playing with the sash of her cerulean blue obi: an old habit that emerged whenever she was either nervous or bashful. For a moment, her green eyes examined the thin paper of the shoji before she lifted her chin up and knocked.

 

Anticipation hung in the air as they all waited for Shouri to enter the room. Out of curiosity, Inuyasha peered at Sesshoumaru from the corner of his vision. His half brother was watching the sliding screen intently, impatience clearly shown on his face. As soon as the female entered their space, Inuyasha could hear Sesshoumaru gasped in shocked. He looked at him and saw his quivered lips uttering a mute word:

“Mother…”

Inuyasha shifted his gaze to the beautiful creature who just stepped in. Her figure was tall and slender. Her silk kimono and obi wrapped around her body perfectly, showing off her feminine curves. No one could deny that she looked so much like Sesshoumaru, only with softer and more delicate features. Even though Inuyasha did not like to admit, he felt mesmerized by her rare beauty.

She took her place in the center of the court, just a few feet away from where her grandfather was sitting. Gracefully, she kneeled down and inclined her head as a sign of her respect. She did notice that so many pairs of eyes were aimed at her. She was about to ignore them all when she felt a gaze so intense that she could not help but turned to her side. She saw a male inuyoukai with hair and facial markings identical to hers was watching her intently with his golden eyes. Whatever his emotions were, Shouri could not guess, since they were hidden beneath his stoic exterior. She chose to return his stare unwaveringly, matching him with her cold expression even though in her heart she wondered who this strange youkai was. He sent her some familiar yet unrecognizable aura, like something that she should have forgotten a long time ago and yet she could not.

 

As for Sesshoumaru, he could not lift his eyes away from her. He could not believe how much she resembles their mother. The only differences were the color of her hair and the magenta stripes on her cheek, which she inherited from their father. He could feel his heart wavered and tugged at her. His little sister… Whom he adored when they were just young puppies, his beloved sister that he thought was dead for 200 years… All the memories from his childhood came rushing back as he felt pangs of pain and longing melt the soft part of his icy heart.

 

At last, Shouri returned her gaze to her grandfather. “Grandfather,” her velvety voice greeted him. “I heard you required my presence?”

Hyougo-sama did not answer. He had his eyes locked to her and the Lord of the Western Lands. Slowly, he lifted his hand and gestured to Sesshoumaru.

“Shouri,” he called her with his heavy voice. “Let me introduce Sesshoumaru-sama, the Lord of the Western Lands.”

He could see a frown on his granddaughter's face, since she understood his hatred towards the western country very well. However, she kept her poise as she turned to face the other lord and bowed deeply.

“Sesshoumaru-sama,” her voice sounded polite when she greeted him. Sesshoumaru stared at her with mixed emotions.

`Does she not remember me?' he whispered inwardly. `How could she not remember?' However, before he could say anything, Hyougo-sama cut him off.

“Shouri, do you remember the day you first came to this palace?” he asked.

She looked at him in the eyes, bemusement clearly shown on her face. Her hands clamped on her lap.

“What do you mean, Grandfather? I was born here, in this palace.”

Sesshoumaru's eyes widened at her answer. `No, you were born in the west.' He silently exclaimed. `It was just before sunrise when Father called me into their bed chamber to introduce us for the first time.'

“Do you remember your father, then?” Hyougo-sama asked again. This time, Shouri glanced towards Yuusou, questions were in her eyes. However, her brother's green orbs provided no answer to her queries.

“You said my father was dead before I was born…” she responded quietly, making Sesshoumaru stared at her in disbelief.

`Shouri…' he felt his heart sank. `What happened…?' He glared at Hyougo-sama, his eyes narrowed in hatred, his jaw tightened as he slowly realized what the Eastern Lord had done to her.

Hyougo-sama sighed deeply. This time she was right, he did tell her that. He was not surprised that Shouri had no recollection of her life in the west whatsoever. He was the one who made her forget that day at the edge of the cliff. He had always known that the day will come when he had to tell her the truth, what truly happened 200 years ago. Even if it might hurt her… However, this was much more difficult than he ever thought possible.

“…There is a secret I have to tell you.” He explained at last. “…About your mother, about your father, and about…” he shifted his gaze to Sesshoumaru who was watching him with fire in his eyes. “…your brother.”

Shouri stared at the inuyoukai she thought was her brother. “About Yuusou?” she repeated, feeling even more perplexed.

“Yuusou is not your brother, he is your cousin.” The Lord of the Eastern Lands said unemotionally. However, his tone softened when he added, “Sesshoumaru is your brother.”

The princess stared at him with blank eyes. Her grandfather's voice seemed to come from a faraway place, but it resonated inside her mind, over and over she heard it again.

Sesshoumaru is your brother…

“That can't be…” she whispered in a raspy voice. “How can that be…? I…”

“Let me explain.” Hyougo-sama stopped her. “You have always thought that you were born in this palace, but the truth is… you were born in the west. Your father is Lord InuTaisho, the former ruler of the western country.” He paused to look at his granddaughter. Her face grew pale, her eyes filled with disbelief.

“…I am the daughter of the lord whom you despised?” She understood very well that her grandfather loathed the western lord, and anything about the west even though she never knew the reason for his resentment. She too, was taught to loath everything about the west. He just looked at her without uttering a word, and nodded at last.

“You lived with your parents and brother in the west for 8 years, until one day, 200 years ago… I went to the western palace myself and took you and your mother back to this land.”

Sesshoumaru glared at the Eastern Lord as the tragedy that took place 200 years ago recurred in his mind. “The serpent youkai we fought that night on our boundary…” came his voice, low and thickened with hatred. “You sent him as a decoy to lure us out of the palace?”

The taiyoukai shifted his gaze to his newly found grandson. His eyes were cold when he responded.

“The serpent youkai was one of my generals. However, I did not expect that you would go with your father. I was aiming to get your mother, and both of you.”

“You attempted to kill my father with the poison needles…”

A thin, mocking smile was on the lord's lips when he said, “The needles were not for killing your father. They were just to put him unconscious for a few days. He was not worthy enough to be killed by our secret weapon.”

Sesshoumaru growled as he heard those contemptuous words. His eyes burned with rage as he tried to suppress his desire to slay the eastern ruler, to see his blood splattered all over his palace's walls. But, there were still some questions that needed to be answered, some mysteries to be solved.

“A week after you took them, a messenger arrived bearing the news of their death. He said you executed them because they were traitors to your country…” He paused. His glance fell on Shouri who looked very much taken aback by the truth of her past. “…Was that how my mother died? Did you kill her?”

Lord Hyougo chuckled as he shook his head. “They were both alive when I sent the messenger to your land.”

“What about the necklace your messenger showed us? You stole it from my mother to get us fall into your disgusting trap?”

Again, a sardonic smile appeared in Lord Hyougo's lips as he pointed towards Shouri, towards the necklace around her neck, the exact same necklace that their mother used to wear.

“That necklace?” His voice was calm but condescending. “No matter how important it is as a family heirloom, it is still an object that one can easily duplicate. Your father fell for a petty lie like that…How despicable.” He shook his head in disgust. “He did not even bother to come for her… Instead, he turned to seek the company of a mere human. At the end, it was your father who betrayed her.”

Shouri's eyes widened at her grandfather's words. A mere human…? She turned to glare at the hanyou in red. `Not only that he betrayed Mother for a human woman, but they also had a child together?'

At the same time, Lord Hyougo was also watching Inuyasha. He remembered that day clearly as if it was yesterday. He had heard that his daughter's mate had taken a new bride, a human this time. That day he told Isha that her husband had abandoned her and her daughter for a human woman. She refused to believe him at first, but over two years had past and he never came for her. Teardrops fell from her emerald eyes when she realized that it was true. He told her the news as his last effort to make her forget about her mate, to kill the love she had for him. Little did he know…

He shifted his gaze to Sesshoumaru, meeting his angry eyes.

“Do you want to know how your mother died?” Sorrow crept into his voice as he recalled Isha's last moments. “When she found out your father had deserted her, she became ill. Her body grew weaker and weaker. Your father's name was on her lips as she drew her last breath. It was your father who killed her!” His spiteful words pierced Sesshoumaru's heart. The memories of his mother flooded him as he pictured her dying, but still waiting for her mate to come.

“Then I heard he died to save that woman!” Lord Hyougo growled in fury. “My daughter died in vain! She should not have left this land...” He shook his head. “No, I did not execute her…No matter what she had done, I could never kill my own daughter…” he whispered. “Even though she was foolish enough to elope with that worthless creature you called `father'.”

Sesshoumaru snarled in anger as he rose up and took his fighting stance. In his heart, he wondered why he was still defending his father, despite his disappointment for his father's decision to forget about his mother and replace her with a mere human. But Sesshoumaru was raised to be proud of his family and bloodline. It was the blood in him that urged him to stand up for his father. His hand touched the hilt of Toukijin, ready to draw his sword and start their duel.

“My father was an honorable ruler.” He managed to say between his clenched teeth. Anyone could hear the hatred and vengeance that tainted his deep voice.

Lord Hyougo also rose from his chair, his blazing green eyes glared at the younger youkai as he roared,

“Your father was no lord!” His youki was unleashed, so powerful it whipped Sesshoumaru's long, silver locks. But the western lord stood firm against the power forced upon him. Lord Hyougo continued, still with his enraged tone. “He was a thief! He stole my daughter from me, and from her lands!”

Inuyasha felt his throat choked. The eastern lord's youki was so powerful, causing his lung to crave for air. He turned to check on his companions. Their bodies drooped like broken flowers, weakened by the force of Lord Hyougo's aura. He stared at his half-brother who was still standing still opposite the infuriated lord.

“My daughter was a fool to fall for that worthless male. Your father was no more than a lowly, common beggar…” His voice was frosty as he spitted those words. However, he had started loosened his youki, and the air cleared up little by little.

Sesshoumaru's voice was just as icy as he responded,

“You called my father a thief, yet it was you who stole my mother and sister from us. You stole her contentment as well as ours… No, it was not my father who killed her. It was you!” He saw Lord Hyougo's face darkened with rage, but he could not care less. He glanced at Shouri who was still kneeling down on the tatami, frozen like an alabaster statue. “And you have stolen Shouri's memories from her as well…”His golden eyes narrowed as he stared into the green eyes of his grandfather. “I have heard of this lord whose power can manipulate minds of others. Is that not what you did to her? You have poisoned her mind with lies and deceits so that she hates her own father and homeland.”

Shouri was struck by his words. She looked at her grandfather, realizing that what the stranger said was true. How could she not realize this before? No one knew her grandfather's power as well as she and Yuusou do. She turned to the male she believed was her brother for 200 years. Her voice shuddered when she spoke to him.

“…Nii-sama…”she called, her eyes locked with his. Sesshoumaru could not help but winced when he heard her calling another with that intimate title. “…Do you know about this?”

Yuusou seemed reluctant to answer her question. However, her demanding eyes forced him to nod.

“Yes,” he responded honestly. “I was there when Grandfather extracted the memories of your past.”

She closed her eyes, feeling wounded in her heart. She did not even know whom she was most angry with… Her grandfather and Yuusou who had deceived her for 200 years? Her father and brother for neglecting them? The hanyou who was the fruit of his relationship with the human? All she knew was she had enough of this. She was just started to rise when her grandfather's stern voice caught her.

“Shouri, stay. We still have something to discuss.”

She stood still in the center of the room, all eyes were on her. She could be a good granddaughter like she always had and obey all of his commands, or she could do what she wished to do and leave. All the lies, the previously unknown tragedy of her mother as well as her past wounded her deeply, causing her to choose the later one. She ignored her grandfather's command and walked towards the door. Before she could open the sliding screen, her step was frozen, and she realized that her grandfather had started using his power on her. She felt the urge to turn around and sat back where she was, but she gritted her teeth together and push herself to reach for the handle on the screen. Almost that instant, she felt a powerful yank at her hair, causing her to stumble backwards. Her delicate body hit the hard floor in a crash and she cringed as an invincible, yet powerful force dragged her to the spot where she sat. Her long hair that was originally pulled up now cascading down her back, covering a portion of her face as she tried to gasped for air.

A low, angry growl formed in Sesshoumaru's chest.

“Stop it…” he hissed at his grandfather. Toukijin was unsheathed, and now clutched tightly in his hand. In one swift movement, he leaped forward, ready to slice his enemy in one slash. His eyes widened as his keen vision saw a shade of blue rapidly appeared in between him and his grandfather. Another blade met his, both of their energy sizzled in shards of silver lighting. A pair of green orbs met his golden ones. It was Yuusou who blocked his way.

“Move.” He commanded him. Yuusou stared at him with a cold expression, not willing to comply with his demand. “Move if you still value your life…I could slay you in one blast, you insolent creature of the east…” Sesshoumaru hissed again as he applied more force to his sword. A haughty smirk was on Yuusou's lips, as if he was challenging his cousin to do so. Before any of them could do anything further, Lord Hyougo's voice stopped them. His tone was back to calm and composed, indicating that his rage had ceased.

“I will not allow a ludicrous brawl like this in my court. Put an end to whatever you are doing.”

Yuusou gave his grandfather a sharp glance before slowly lowering his sword. He turned around and walked towards Shouri who was still on the ground, weakened by Lord Hyougo's power. He kneeled down before her and extended his hand, offering help to get her up. She bit her lower lip and turned away, refusing to look at him. Without a word, she rose to her feet and left the court.

Lord Hyougo sighed and leaned his back on the chair, his fingers rubbing his temple. They did not even realize that it was past sunset and the room had turned dark.

“…Enough for one day…” he murmured quietly. He turned to look at his guests. “As long as you are under my roof, you will be my guests. The servants will now escort you to your rooms. We will talk to Shouri about this demon Naraku tomorrow.” He flicked his fingers to call the servants and left without saying anything else.

 

 

Kagome put down the comb she had been using to untangle her hair. She and Sango were just done taking their bath, and now resting in their room before supper. It felt great to take a dip in the hot spring adjoining their chamber. Sango was sitting on her futon with Kirara on her lap.

“You know…” her voice broke the silence between them. “I never thought that I would say this, but Sesshoumaru seemed pretty nice compared to the Eastern Lord.”

Kagome let out a soft chuckle. “I guess…” she responded. “He seemed very powerful too… Even Sesshoumaru did not seem to be a match for him…” She remembered the superb amount of youki the demon lord had unleashed during his enraged moment earlier.

She jolted when the sliding door to their chamber suddenly flung open. She turned around to find Inuyasha, Miroku, and Shippou entered their room.

“How rude!” she complained. “You could've at least knocked, Inuyasha!”

“Keh!” Inuyasha ignored her complaint and sat cross-legged on the tatami floor. “Just shut up!”

Kagome scowled at him, trying not to `sit' him again.

“How long are we gonna waste our time here?” Inuyasha grumbled. “We should've just asked Shouri earlier if she'd help us and leave right away!”

Miroku shook his head. “It would be very rude to decline Hyougo-sama's hospitality, you know. Besides, there was no chance to talk to her about it earlier.”

“It's probably better this way…”Sango added in agreement. “She seemed pretty upset with all the commotion. If we had asked her earlier, she'd probably refuse anyway.”

Shippou jumped to sit on Kagome's lap. The little kitsune folded his tiny arms in front of his chest, thinking. “Are you sure she's the one we need to defeat Naraku? She doesn't look that strong!”

Inuyasha laid his back on the floor, sighing and thinking at the same time. He also doubted Shouri's power, as he did not sense any strong youki from her earlier. Well, it could have been because she was keeping her energy leashed. She did not have Katsujinken or any sorts of weapon with her either…

“All we can do right now is trust what Toutousai said and wait for tomorrow…” Kagome told the kitsune.

“But don't you think it was sort of weird?” Miroku stared at his companions. “Hyougo-sama and Yuusou-sama's reaction when we mentioned `The Mountain of Gods'…To me, it seemed like they were hiding something…”

Inuyasha did not bother to answer. His eyes were staring at the ceiling above him. He could still feel the immense power of the Eastern Lord, the enormous amount of Youki he had. He wondered if his father was also as powerful.

`The power to control minds, huh…' He mused. `It turned out I still have a long way to go to become a taiyoukai…'

 

 

Yuusou walked through the palace garden. There was silence but the faint sound of water and crickets. He could see Shouri's figure as he approached the pavilion where she went every time she needed to find solace. Moonlight shone on her silver hair, creating a halo that made her look like an unearthly creature. She was leaning on the rail of the pavilion, watching the rippling water beneath her. The sound of his footsteps caused her to turn around. She looked rather taken aback and uncomfortable as she saw him approaching. He joined her in the pavilion, two inuyoukais watching the pond as if it was the most important matter in the whole world.

“So…”his voice broke the silence. “How are you feeling?”

No answer came from her. `Well, that was pretty much expected…' he thought as he smiled inwardly. After 200 years, he had learnt to know her very well. He turned around, letting his back rested against the railing. His eyes were on her even though she refused to look at him. “Are you not glad to find your brother?” he kept luring her to speak.

“…How could you do this to me?” she finally took his bait. However, her bitter tone made him wince. “How could you, and Grandfather, hid the truth about my past for so long? How could you not tell me that Grandfather had extracted my memories?” Her emerald eyes burned with flame, yet moist with her tears.

Yuusou sighed. He returned her gaze and tried to explain to her. “You were still young when that happened… only 8 years old. Your mother had just died and you cried everyday asking for her, asking to go back to the west to be with your father and brother.” He shook his head. “Grandfather was just doing what he thought was the best for you.”

Again, she turned away. Rage was in her heart as she felt betrayed. “Why did you not tell me earlier? You had to wait until this…” she paused for a moment. “…stranger came to tell me all this?”

`I was hoping you'd never find out…' he said inwardly. `Everyday for the past 200 years I had been dreading for the day he'd come and take you…'

“I do not understand why you are so angry, Shouri…”he uttered, ignoring her question. “Nothing has changed. You still have Grandfather, I will still be your brother… From how I see it, now you have another brother and another home in the west.”

She turned on her heels, facing him. Anger was still in her eyes.

“It is you who do not understand!” she snapped at him. She shook her head in exasperation and looked away. Her voice sounded frail when she said, “Of course everything had changed… Do you not remember? We have been taught to hate the western lands ever since I could remember… And now you are telling me that I am from the west… That I am the daughter of the youkai lord you all despised…”

“But Grandfather and I had known you are his daughter from the start.” He cut her off. “And we love you regardless…”

She was astounded to hear his words. She bit her lower lip, her fingers playing with the sash of her obi. Yuusou could not help but smile to see this. He stepped forward and took both of her hands away from the piece of cloth wrapping around her waist.

“I told you to stop doing that…” he looked at her with his eyebrow arched. “Never show anyone that you are nervous. Fear is the mind killer…” She blinked her eyes when she heard him uttered that familiar phrase.

Fear is the mind killer…

Her late mother had repeated those words over and over again when she taught her the arts of sword. The phrase had been like a spell, a litany, a proverbs believed by all the eastern fighters ever lived.

“You are the Princess of the Eastern Lands.” Yuusou continued. “Do not forget that our people look up to you.”

Her eyes softened as a smile graced her lovely face. Yuusou had been the only one who knew her the best. It was hard for her to learn that he was not her brother, but her cousin instead. However, she was relieved to learn that his love for her was still the same, and it will always be. He was still holding her hands when he spoke again,

“I have something else to tell you, dear sister…” His green eyes stared deep into hers. “The strangers have come here to ask your help to defeat a demon named Naraku. Your mother's sword is needed. Your sword is needed…”

A deep frown was on her face as she questioned him. “What does this Naraku has to do with me? Why would I help them?”

Yuusou was quiet for a moment. Shouri began to feel a knot inside her belly, and her heart fluttered as she wondered why he looked so serious. “They said Naraku had fled to the Mountain of Gods to join his forces with the Great Dragon…”

Shouri's eyes widened instantly. `The Mountain of Gods? The Great Dragon?'

“You understand, do you?” Yuusou asked, grazing her soft cheek with his knuckle. “You do understand what this means…?”

She felt a lump in her throat and she tried to swallow. She nodded, even though many thoughts were clouding her mind. `So it is time…' she mused.

“Are you going to go?” he quietly asked. She shifted her eyes to watch the fireflies surrounding them. Their body shone like green lanterns in the dark. “…You know I have to…” softly she whispered, her response caused Yuusou to sigh.

“You know what is waiting for you there…” his words were more like a statement than a question. “Can you survive what is coming? Do you think you can lift the curse?”

She closed her eyes tightly. Her whole body shuddered, although she did not know whether it was excitement or anxiety that caused it. When she opened her eyes to look at her cousin, they were filled with determination. “I will lift it. I will lift the curse.” Her voice could not be more resolute.

There was silence before they both looked at each other and smiled.

“So, do you still love me even though I am now just your cousin?” He asked her, half teasing.

She grinned at him before whispered in her gentlest voice, “You will always be my brother…”

He laid a kiss on her forehead and took her into his embrace. Her slender arms wrapped around his neck as she leaned her cheek against his shoulder. He held her until he sensed someone approaching, his eyes narrowed and his body stiffened. She noticed the change in him, causing her to look up to gaze at her cousin.

He peered at her as he whispered softly, “Your brother is here…” He let her go with a smile on his face. Her eyes pleaded him to stay, her fingers tugged at the sleeves of his haori. He kept on smiling, taking her hands away from him and put them on each side of her body. He gave her a wink before he left.

Shouri stood alone in the center of the pavilion. She came face to face with the strange youkai from the west, the one who was supposed to be her brother. Their eyes met, both of their long, silver hair shone under the moonlight. He looked at her with unpredictable emotions in his eyes, she looked at him with eyes that only contained hatred. Both stood in silence for quite some time, until Shouri turned away. She walked pass him and was on her way back to the palace when his quiet, impassive voice stopped her.

“Wait,” he said. Although they were back to back, they both were very aware of the opposite side's presence, yet refuse to look at each other. “I want to talk to you.” He turned around and she could feel his gaze on her back. Yet, she refused to return it.

“There is nothing to discuss, my Lord…” she replied quietly. If he noticed a slight hint of mockery in her tone, he did not show any of it. However, she still stood there. She could have left just as she wished it, but she felt a sliver of curiosity in her heart. A small part of her wanted to put the broken pieces of her past back together, to remember who he was to her and who she was to him.

Sesshoumaru had his eyes locked on her back. After so many years of longing, she was standing right there in front of him. Tragedy had rendered her different, yet still the same. He thought of many things he wanted to tell her, but managed to utter none. Silence was all around them: brother and sister, filling the air with their unspoken words.

 

A/N: Thank you for everyone who has been reading this story or reviewing it. The plot started to reveal itself little by little. Please keep on reading, as it will only get better and better. If you have any comment or suggestion, you know where to go!