InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Nothing of Importance ❯ Segment Eight ( Chapter 8 )

Sesshomaru gazed at his brother as he pulled a blanket up over the boy's shoulders. They'd made it to the castle in record time after his revelation about the wolf. As soon as they'd arrived, he had sent for Shinsei, the palace healer. Inuyasha's fever needed to be kept under control and Sesshomaru longed to take care for the hanyou himself. However, given his revelation had sparked more questions in him, he knew that it would not be possible. At least, not yet. And Shinsei was the only one of his staff whom he could trust with Inuyasha. The only one.

 

“You sent for me, my Lord?”

 

The daiyoukai blinked as a smooth, calm voice interrupted his thoughts then raised his eyes to see the healer, a tall inuyoukai with a single, silver stripe on his right cheek, standing in the door to his brother's room.

 

“Hai,” Sesshomaru nodded. “I need for you to look over Inuyasha while I take care of a few things. He is . . . ill . . .”

 

“Ill?”

 

“Hai. Ill. Like I was after Father died . . .”

 

“I see . . . I take it you do not wish for me to leave his side, ne?”

 

“Hai.”

 

“Very well then. Have some servants bring me some fresh linens and cool water, my Lord. I will do my best to tend to the boy.”

 

Sesshomaru rose to his feet as Shinsei crossed the distance between them. The healer gave him a quick bow before kneeling next to his feverish brother. Out of everyone who stayed in the palace and worked for, Shinsei was the only one who could give him an order like that. The healer had lived a very long time, having served his father and grandfather before him. He was one of a very select few that Sesshomaru knew he could not afford to lose.

 

Once he was sure that his brother was being tended to, Sesshomaru exited the room and headed for where he had sent the ningens and the wolves. He had questions to which they had the answers to, especially the dark-haired wolf, the one called Kouga.

 

A few things were now beginning to make sense to Sesshomaru. He had already figured out why Inuyasha had gone from being a happy and playful child to the angry and frustrated youth he was now. From there, it really had not taken that long to figure out who one of the boy's assailants had been. The former wolf tribe leader had spent a great deal of time in his home and had often been alone with Inuyasha. Sesshomaru could see that now. All he needed to figure out now was who else had destroyed that innocent part of his brother and who had given them access to the boy.

 

`And when I do . . .'

His eyes narrowed as he thought of what he'd do to those persons, if they still lived. Then he blinked once more and shook his head.

 

`No. Punishment isn't mine to give. If Inuyasha is to recover, he has to be the one to confront them. Not me. But he won't be alone.'

 

Sesshomaru stepped into the old war room, having strode as quickly as he could to get there. Instantly, the small group snapped their attention to him and rose to their feet. The miko was the first to speak.

 

“Where's Inuyasha? Is he all right?”

 

“Where Inuyasha is right this moment is none of your concern,” Sesshomaru replied evenly, coldly. “As for his health, there has been no change.”

 

“But he . . .”

 

“My healer is tending to him, little miko. He will be all right.”

 

“But I . . .”

 

“Will stay right here until I get the answers that I require,” he responded coldly. “And, until Inuyasha is better, you will not be allowed near him. That is this Sesshomaru's final decision.”

 

“So what's wrong with Mutt-face anyway?”

 

Sesshomaru couldn't help the low growl emanated from the back of his throat at that insult. Now that he understood his brother a little better, no one had the right to insult the boy like that. No one. Inuyasha had gone through enough without anyone else treating him like that.

 

“You, wolf,” Sesshomaru breathed, “will show Inuyasha the proper respect due to a son of the Inu no Taisho or I will rip your throat out. Do I make myself clear?”

 

The entire room went silent at that, the wolf's eyes going wide. All anyone could do was stare at him. They couldn't stop him from carrying out his threat, and they knew it. Then, very slowly, the wolf nodded.

 

“Hai. Very clear.”

 

“Good . . . now . . . where is your father?”

 

“My father?”

 

“Yes,” Sesshomaru nodded. “Your father. I wish to . . . have a discussion with him.”

 

“You can't,” the wolf shook his head. “He died a long time ago.”

“He's dead?” Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow at him. “How did he die?”

 

“Yes,” came the confirmation. “He's dead. I killed him.”