InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Life is Like a Rose ❯ Better and Better... ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: Pease tell me you aren't that stupid…

 

(((O)))

 

Life is like a rose

 

(((O)))

 

Even the coldest of cold have a heart.

An ice prince may truly be a fire king, for all we know.

The cold doesn't really tell us about them.

Only that they have suffered far more than the warm ones have.

Besides - sometimes, ice just needs a good fire to help it melt.

 

(((O)))

 

Ch 2: Better and better…

 

(((O)))

 

“No.”

 

The cold, emotionless voice rung with fierce authority. It was a voice that had struck fear in the hearts of many, had made normally the strongest and bravest men quiver. No one dared question the power and authority of the one it belonged to. Well, no one except…

 

“I don't recall giving you a choice in the matter.” Inutashio, the lord taiyoukai of the Western Lands, watched his son through narrowed eyes. But there was nothing to see. The normally cold, emotionless prince stayed exactly that - cold and emotionless.

 

Sesshomaru stared at his father. If he had a mind to, he would have been glaring with hatred and disbelief. “Let me see if I indeed understand what you are saying,” he stated coldly. “You and that human,” he spat the word as if it were some foul thing he had tasted, “you claimed as a mate went behind my back to plan a ball for my 2,100 birthday (21 in human years), knowing I would not approve. Not only did you plan a ball, but you invited every eligible female in the entire lands. And now you are trying to demand that I go, expecting me to look at potential mates. I refuse.” Sesshomaru stood and made move to exit the room and would have done so had his father's words not stopped him.

 

“Sesshomaru, I do not think you do understand. If you do not make an appearance at the ball, I will be forced to choose a mate for you. Something,” he added ruefully, “I neither believe in doing nor want to do. So you either go, and not even have to choose a mate, just look, or I choose a mate for you. And since I barely know you anymore, I doubt that my choice would be to you liking. Well, Sesshomaru?”

 

Sesshomaru stood frozen at the door, his back to his father, clenching the doorknob so tightly that had it not had been forged by a demon himself, it would have been nothing more than scrap metal. If he squeezed any tighter, that's what it would have become.

 

`Would he dare?' Sesshomaru thought. Would his father dare give him an ultimatum? He slowly turned to face him.

 

Inutashio was startled, though he carefully made sure to mask this. His son was beyond angry; he was livid. It was evident in the stiff manner in which he moved. His eyes were bleeding red, his fangs were a bit elongated, and his claws nearly glowed with the poison that was dripping into them. Yes, Sesshomaru was livid, and that was shocking enough. But what was even more shocking was the show of said emotion. Inutashio calmly watched him, but was shocked inside. `He has not shown so much emotion since his mother died.'

 

O

 

Inutashio was a considerably young demon when he became lord of the Western Lands - only about 2,800 (28 in human years) years old. His father had not been a mentally stable man, and killed himself just before Inutashio's birthday. Fortunately, he was wise beyond his years, fair and just. The people loved him.

 

But for several years, he was restless. For nearly a century, Inutashio found himself unconsciously searching - for what, he did not know. Sometimes he found himself nearly tearing a small village or town apart looking for something he felt so near, yet evading him. Each time this happened, he came a little closer to understanding why he was restless - what he was searching for. One day he knew - he was searching for something to complete his soul.

 

Though Inutashio's restless spirit did not keep him from being a good lord, many still worried about him. One person especially was his best friend, who was also his royal advisor. He knew his friend need something to do to distract him, and he had the perfect idea. He would plan a ball.

 

The plan worked perfectly. Inutashio was delightedly surprised, and all went well in the preparations. The night of the ball, an incredibly handsome demon lord entered a full ballroom fully prepared to have the time of his life. And he did. The music was excellent, the food was superb, and the dancing was wonderful.

 

Inutashio was talking to some men he had met when he saw her. Sitting alone near the back of the room was the most beautiful inu-youkai he had ever seen. She had long silver hair which was pinned up in curls atop her head but still fell to her shoulder blades. Her high cheekbones were adorned with a deep purple stripe, and the rest of her skin was pale. Without even noticing, Inutashio slowly began walking toward her. Through the haze, his heart acknowledged the fact that this was what he had been searching for.

 

Soon, all the Western Lands were rejoicing that their beloved lord had found a mate. And it wasn't too long after that when Inutashio proudly announced that his mate was with pup. She bore an heir to the throne.

 

The boy was powerful. Even as a baby, he was strong, and even dangerous. As he grew, he learned to control his powers, and to fight. Yes, Sesshomaru was dangerous indeed. By the time he was 16 (1600), he had already defeated the best of the best in fighting. Besides his great power, Sesshomaru was a normal boy, with the obvious exception of being a prince. He liked to play, and even flirted. But then…

 

It was the night of his 16th birthday. Inutashio and Sesshomaru were going to a ball, but Inutashio's mate decided to stay home. Late that night an assassin snuck in through the balcony. His orders were clear - assassinate the lord and his mate. Though only one body was in the bed, he made no hesitation and slit her throat. This is how he found her.

 

Sesshomaru had decided to retire early from the ball. Thinking that his mother should still be awake, he walked without hesitation through the door, only to find his mother not yet an hour dead.

 

The next weeks were ones of torment. Sesshomaru spent hours crying, or sleeping. He hardly ate, and he was not himself. He no longer antagonized the guards, or teased and mocked the servants. He drew into himself, and was no longer the young, carefree young man he used to be. The only thing that would have kept him from this total transformation would have been his father. But Inutashio handled his grief a totally different way. Instead of facing his mate's death, he unconsciously refused to even acknowledge it. He threw himself into his work, into being the lord the lands had expected him to be. He made sure to be there for the people - but he wasn't even there for his own son.

 

By the time Inutashio realized what he was doing, it was too late - the damage was done. Sesshomaru had drawn into himself so far that almost seemed to have no emotions. He trusted only himself, and refused to be close to anyone. Gone completely was the carefree young man he once was, and in his place was a quiet, dangerous young man that no one knew at all.

 

There may have been a chance to heal Sesshomaru, but that chance came and went the day Inutashio fell in love with a human.

 

Sesshomaru did not know of his father's state, but he did notice the change. He no longer threw himself into his work, and he spent more and more time with Sesshomaru as time went on. Sesshomaru was nearing the point where he would have gone back to being his old self when he saw them together. It was in the gardens; they were laughing and talking as his father and mother once had. Sesshomaru couldn't believe it. His father fell in love again, so soon after his mother's death. And with a human, no less! There was a time when Inutashio would have told him that the world would be a better place without humans marring it. But apparently his father had forgotten the principals he had once lived by. And seeing him with a human - that was the breaking point; the point of no return. Without a sound, Sesshomaru turned and went back inside. He resolved that he would be his and his alone - forever.

 

O

 

Now, as Inutashio watch him, it was obvious that Sesshomaru was battling him inner demon. Perfectly aware of just what Sesshomaru's youkai self was capable of doing, we found himself warily hoping he won. Finally, the red receded completely and Inutashio silently let out the breath he had not known he was holding. Sesshomaru was in total control now, and his face returned to the usual expression of indifference.

 

“Fine,” he said, though not in resignation. Without another word he left the room, his face a wall of ice, as usual. Inutashio slumped in his chair, something he only did out of pure exhaustion. This is how his mate found him about ten minutes later.

 

“How did it go?” she quietly asked, sitting down on his lap. Sighing, he wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. Laughing, she said, “That bad, huh?”

 

“Oh, Izayoi, sometimes I have trouble believing that he is my son. He is so cold - but he got so angry! If you could have seen his eyes…well, I would have feared for your life had you seen his eyes. But then, it was gone! He was once again the great and formidable `ice prince'.”

 

Izayoi sighed and ran her fingers through his long silver hair. “Inutashio, have you ever considered that, in his mind, he is no longer your son?” At his look of confusion and despair, she continued. “Think about it. His beloved mother dies at a time he needs her. He would feel hurt - betrayed even. And by not spending any time with him, it would seem like you betrayed him. Then you started spending time with him, and he begins to heal. But then he finds out why you are spending time with him, and he feels betrayed once again.” She stood and moved to leave, but stopped at the door and turned back. “Even the coldest of cold have a heart. An ice prince may truly be a fire king, for all we know. The cold doesn't really tell us about them. Only that they have suffered far more than the warm ones have. Besides - sometimes, ice just needs a good fire to help it melt.” With a soft smile, she left.

 

Inutashio stared after his mate for a time. In an anguished whisper he said, “I have betrayed him yet again.”

 

/AMA\

 

Sesshomaru stalked into the courtyard, intent on finding some poor soul he could spar with. Not seeing any guards, he began to wonder about the security of the castle if there were no guards around. He, of course, didn't know that every guard had felt his anger-flared aura and had no wish for an early grave.

 

When Sesshomaru finally saw someone, he smirked at who it was. Coming his way was his hated (by Sesshomaru, not generally) half-brother.

 

As a hanyou, Inuyasha would not have had an easy life. But the there was an advantage to being a prince. And he was treated like one - by everyone but Sesshomaru. He had hated Inuyasha from the moment he was born. Only Inutashio knew why. Inuyasha didn't even mind his half brother that much, only when his face was being smashed into the ground or the wall of a dojo. Sesshomaru's strength and skill was one of the things he had admired when he was a pup. Now - well, they were a pain in the neck. Literally.

 

As Inuyasha got closer to Sesshomaru, he saw a familiar glint in his eye that made him want to groan. Someone had ticked his older brother off, and now he was going to pay for it. He knew he was correct as soon as Sesshomaru spoke.

 

“Well, little brother,” he said with a sneer, “Care to join me in a sparring match?”

Inuyasha sighed. “What's wrong, Ice Butt? Someone tick you off?” Inuyasha almost cringed at the anger in Sesshomaru's glare. Thankfully, the anger was not directed at him, so the beating would not be as bad as if otherwise. But there was something else in his eyes, something Inuyasha could not quite define. But before he could say anything, Sesshomaru replied to his taunt. “If you must know, yes, someone indeed ticked me off. Do you want to fight?”

 

Inuyasha stared at his older half brother, resisting the urge to ask, “Okay, who are you and what did you do with Sesshomaru?” Sesshomaru would never admit to actually having emotion, let alone answer a question asked in the manner Inuyasha used. But that just showed how mad he really was. Gulping, Inuyasha nodded and said, “Let's do it!”

 

/AMA\

 

An hour later, Inuyasha collapsed to his knees, leaning on his sword for support and gasping for breath. He rested his head against his arm and groaned. He glanced up to see Sesshomaru leaning casually against the wall and breathing normally. “How the … heck do you … do that?! I've turned … circles around champions … without being out of … breath, … and here … I'm gasping for breath … on the floor while you lean there … like you didn't … move a muscle!”

 

“Its quite simple, little brother. Just imagine your skill - more advanced - on a full demon.” Without another word, he regally strode out of the dojo, leaving Inuyasha to catch his breath before leaving as well.

 

(((O)))

 

I'm sorry this took so long to write. I had a minor writer's block. Basically, I knew what I wanted to write, but the words wouldn't flow. I hope you liked this chapter.

 

I need to explain some things. 1st of all, I'm not going to switch back and forth between chapters. I will have both Sesshomaru and Kagome in most of the following chapters. 2nd, when I switch back and forth, there will be a symbol to show who I'm switching to. Kagome's sign is )iO )i( Oi(. (It symbolizes butterflies). Sesshomaru's sign is /AMA\. (It symbolizes a castle).