InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Pride (In the Name of Love) ❯ Chapter 31

Pride (In the Name of Love) 31 / ??
Written by Jezz-Ra
Warnings - Not all warnings apply to all chapters. Yaoi, Het, Rape, Lemon, Violence, Language, Torture, Angst, Incest, Dark (at times). It's a massive story, folks, it's got a little bit of everything.
Disclaimer - I don't own Inuyasha, don't make money off it. Wish I did.

Sidestories can be found under my author profile at any of my archive sites.
Archived at - inu.adultfanfiction.net, fanfiction.net, and mediaminer.org ::: Anywhere else, ask!
Questions or Comments? - Email me at megami_no_remon@hotmail.com
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// blah // indicates thoughts.

A/N - Oh, this last list of reviews amused the hell out of me. Everyone seems to have come to one of three conclusions - that Miroku brought Tsetsukosei back, that Miroku brought Inu no Taisho back, or that it's one or the other but they aren't sure. XD I do apologize that it's a little short. I'm still really sick and exhausted. =(
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Miroku swallowed thickly and looked at Sairex. The raven still looked utterly floored. Again, the voice spoke. "Unadulterated shock does not become you, Sairex. Pick your jaw up off my floor. And you, monk...what is it you demand I talk to you about? I do not often comply to demands, but I'm amiable enough to requests."

Miroku slowly turned to look at the tall and striking figure standing behind him. Even if he hadn't seen the grand portraits and dozens of illustrations dedicated to him, Miroku would have recognized the Inu no Taisho by the strong resemblance he bore to his sons. Miroku stared for a moment before looking to Sairex. "In my defense, Sairex...I only did what you asked me to do."

"I don't recall any plans to raise da dead..."

"You told me to communicate with the spirit of Tenseiga..." Miroku gestured grandly to Toga, the Inu no Taisho, and bowed. "Well, we are communicating." Toga arched one eyebrow and then chuckled.

"So, a student showing you up, my friend? You're slipping."

"Kaa...no offense meant of course, m'lord....and not to zound less dan happy to zee you, but...how?" Sairex swiveled his gaze to Miroku. The monk shrugged.

"I was just trying to reach the sword's spirit...and I found SOMETHING so I grabbed it and...pulled. Heh.""I am not alive, if that is what you're assuming." To illustrate his point, Toga walked over and casually waved his hand through Sairex's chest. The raven let out a startled gasp and shivered.

"Hey! Don't do tings like dat, s'cold..."

Toga chuckled. "Ah, yes, yes. Mm...I have been gone a long time. I will need to know some things."

Miroku nodded. "Actually, you being here could be a good thing."

"Oh? Is something the matter?"Miroku frowned slightly. "Well...I'm assuming you know about the Tsetsukosei incident."

Toga scowled darkly. "I know my son was fighting him. And because Sairex is here, I can assume he was victorious. That is not a battle that ever should have occurred, and I regret that it fell on my pup."

Sairex sighed. "M'lord, Zezzhoumaru is...vell..."Toga's amber eyes narrowed. "Did that bastard hurt my pup?"

Miroku had to bite his lip, finding something strangely amusing about anyone babying Sesshoumaru. The humor vanished quickly, however, in light of the question Toga had asked. The monk nodded slowly with a frown. "Yes...very badly. We...Inuyasha and I have been here in the castle because we believed Sesshoumaru had perished. I was helping him out and trying to take care of the paperwork...Inuyasha is not much of a diplomat. However, we learned he had not been killed and eventually were able to retrieve him...but not before the damage had been done."Toga growled, fists clenching in frustration and impotent rage. He knew there was nothing he could do, but the mere thought of what that beast had probably done to his beautiful, precious pup...."How is he now?"

Sairex mulled the question over before answering. "He is...fragile. Lord Inuyazha is attempting to help him recover. He's hardly left his zide."

After a long moment, Toga nodded. "That is well, then. So they are getting along?...Hmm."Miroku smiled "Sesshoumaru has changed recently. He's realized humans aren't terrible and has been learning to deal with all manner of emotions."

Toga arched an eyebrow. "That is quite well...and if he's learned to accept humans, it explains why he's getting along with his brother...but what made such a change occur? I do love my son, but he is stubborn and not given to altering his mind once it is set."

The monk grinned happily. "Oh, you'll have to meet her...you see, Sesshoumaru, for whatever reason, was compelled to use Tenseiga and revive a young human girl-child that encountered him when he was injured. Not only did he revive her, he took her on as his ward and has cared for her and looked over her since."

Toga grinned. "Good! But are you sure he did not do it out of a sense more of responsibility than true compassion?"Miroku chuckled. "When you meet Rin, you'll understand. She's grown and is a young woman now. She's...oh, I don't know. Probably the liveliest, cheeriest, most...bouncy...person you could ever hope to meet. And she absolutely adores Sesshoumaru. No one, not even him, could live next to her for long and not react. She has a....an innocence about her that is just...amazing. Trust me. You'll understand when you meet her. Er. Whenever she gets back, that is.""My son let his ward out of his protection for any reason?" Toga found it hard to believe. Miroku looked at Sairex uneasily.

"Er. Well. She was in danger and...Sesshoumaru was imprisoned. Inuyasha is friends with more humans than just me and one of them lives...far away in a very safe location. So Rin is staying with her for now."

"I see. Mm. I suppose I shall stop asking you questions and being curious and simply go to my pups directly. I would like to meet my youngest. We shall speak soon." With that, Toga strode off calmly, walked through the wall, and was gone.

Miroku stared after him for a long time before looking to Sairex with a smirk. "How's that for communicating with the spirit of the sword?"

Sairex rolled his eyes. "Oh, hush. Ve vill...ztick to more zimple tings for a vhile. Da next zpirit you might accidentally zummon might not be zo benevolent." Despite his words, Sairex flashed Miroku a grin. Impressed, he surely was.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Toga stood next to Sesshoumaru's bed for an indeterminable length of time. Inuyasha had slid off to find some dinner and wasn't present.

Sesshoumaru wasn't thrashing at the moment, but obviously had been recently. A light sheen of sweat dampened his skin and the sheets were tangled around him. The angry red marks of Tsetsukosei's scar radiated out tiny red lines. Sesshoumaru's claws were dug deeply into his mattress and he was breathing heavily. A low, inhuman whine tore itself from him, and Toga had seen enough. He had never wished that he was able to touch someone as much as he wished it right now.

"My Sesshoumaru."

Deep in the younger taiyoukai's mind the familiar voice echoed. This voice he obeyed without hesitation or reserve, it was ingrained into him. Haunted golden eyes flickered open and slowly came to a stop on the figure of his father standing next to his bed. When he spoke, his voice cracked and trembled. "So I...truly have gone mad...I am hallucinating."

"No, I'm real enough. Your monk friend accidentally called my spirit from the underworld, it seems."

Sesshoumaru's eyes widened and he sat up abruptly. His self-derisive tone melted into one of trembling disbelief. "M...my Lord Father?...It is truly you...?"

"Yes, my pup."Sesshoumaru closed his eyes and let his head fall forward, fingers clenching into fists. He felt the heat of tears behind his eyelids and did not bother to fight them. "I...oh, I am...so sorry...for what I've said, what I've felt, what I've done..."

Toga blinked and sat down. He found that, with a concentrated effort, he could make himself solid enough to touch and did so so he could rest a hand on his son's shoulder. "My Sesshoumaru, it is alright. I'm no fool. You seem to forget it was I that raised you from a tiny mewling pup. And over those years I learned to read you fairly well. There is often a gulf between what you say and what you mean. I know the things you said in anger were simply that. And I can accept if you cannot accept the fact that I do not have issue with humans."
"I understand now," Sesshoumaru said softly. "About...humans. I understand. Forgive me my lack of insight and the poor judgment I passed on you, my Lord Father."

Toga smiled widely. "Of course. You are young yet, and we all make mistakes. The difference is whether or not you learn from them."

Sesshoumaru had an almost undeniable urge to fling himself into his father's arms at that moment, but refrained. "Oh, my Lord Father...I have missed you." The admission tore itself from him, his voice a broken whisper. "I do not know what to do..."

Toga's heart felt like it was about to snap as he saw the naked grief and raw emotion displayed on his son's face. He knew Sesshoumaru better than anyone, and to see him so broken and vulnerable was unprecedented. He had no compulsions about pulling his son into his arms protectively, in a way he hadn't since...well. Since Sesshoumaru was young. As he grew, it would have injured his pride to be so coddled, to give in to such an open display of affection.

Right now, in the extremity of his confusion and still struggling to find a way to deal with his trauma...Sesshoumaru made absolutely no effort to resist. He was beyond feeling any shame for his need for comfort or the tears that slid unbidden down his cheeks. He instinctively clung to the only being in all the world that had ever made him feel safe.

Toga let out a soothing rumble, low in his chest, and held Sesshoumaru tightly, lightly stroking his hair. Inside, he was both horrified and enraged beyond reason that ANYONE could bring his beloved pup to such a state. A horrible sense of guilt welled up in him - Tsetsukosei had been HIS enemy, his problem to deal with. The beast had made no secret of his lust for Toga's pretty puppy, even at that young age. At the time, Toga had thought his interest in Sesshoumaru was an idle threat, just a barb to gouge him with...a demand he would never meet just so the dracolich would have excuse to fight him further in the future. And now, his pup had paid for his lack of foresight.

"Oh, my dear Sesshoumaru...I am so sorry..." he whispered, curling his mokomokos protectively around his son.