InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Pride (In the Name of Love) ❯ Chapter 67

Pride (In the Name of Love) 67 / ??
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!
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// blah // indicates thoughts.

A/N - Mm, no major note to put here...again,the prequel (A Crow Left of the Murder) if ya haven't! But if you still decide not to, this chapter goes into a BIT more detail... prequel can be found at any of the three sites I host at under my profile.
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It was late and Miroku wasn't really expecting the soft knock on his door. He wasn't able to sleep, however, so he figured he might as well answer it. "The door is open."

The monk's eyebrows did arch when he saw Toga slide into the room. He was dressed only in a pair of loose pants and his hair was wet - obviously he had just come from the spring. "Monk...Miroku...I would have words with you if you do not mind."

Miroku sat up straighter and lit the lamp by his bedside. "Sure...what can I help you with?"

"It has come to my attention that there are things afoot that I do not have proper knowledge of...such as the rebirth of a creature called Naraku." Toga noticed the way Miroku's eyes darkened and his expression hardened. "I wish to do all I can to help you, but I need to know more."

"I will gladly tell you all I know of him."

Toga paused. "That...is not all." Miroku's eyebrow arched and the inu patriarch continued. "You were traveling with my younger pup for a very long time. I'd rather like to get the story behind a few things from an outsider's point of view. I have heard rumors."

"Ah, so you want the whole sordid tale, blow for blow?"

Toga arched an eyebrow and then leaned back, beginning to run a comb through his long silver tresses. "If you please."

Miroku nodded and began telling the whole story of Inuyasha's travels as completely as he could recall and in as much detail as he could muster, everything from Naraku to Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha's nastiest fights. The tale took the better part of the night.

Toga was gripping his comb tightly enough that Miroku was amazed it hadn't broken. The monk sighed and rested a hand on his shoulder. "I understand it was difficult to hear some of this. Inuyasha....well, he hasn't changed much. Matured a bit, learned to trust people more and accept himself more, yes. Sesshoumaru, however, has changed a great deal."

"He tried to kill his own brother with my fang...and failing that drove his hand through his chest."

Miroku nodded. "Yes. Sesshoumaru blamed your death on Inuyasha and hated him for it. He was jealous, too, of Tetsusaiga. Sesshoumaru coveted power. But he HAS changed a great deal since then."

"And you...I do not understand why it is you are not wedded to the slayer-woman."

Miroku sighed heavily. "It was a difficult decision. We cared deeply for one another...I still do love her in many ways. But our paths diverged. She wished to settle down and rebuild her family's village, to train the next generation of demon slayers. I...had a hard time with the thought of settling down. I felt I could do more good traveling the countryside and offering my services to those in need. Besides...after traveling so long by Inuyasha's side, I found I was...accustomed to his company. Inuyasha is an amazing person and I owe him my life many times over."

Toga smiled and nodded. "Good...although...how is it you can now settle down here, in this castle? I do not mind, of course, but would not your same argument as before hold water?"

Miroku fidgeted a bit. "Well...things are....different now, I suppose. I've never felt for anyone like I do for Sairex, and if it contents him to remain here...so too shall I."

Toga grinned. "That is good. He needs someone such as you."

Miroku paused for a moment before squinting at Toga. "How is it you two know each other? You seem rather...protective...of him."

"Hn, the raven is right. You are perceptive." Toga sighed and then offered Miroku a faint smile. "He came to this very castle when he was sixteen on a diplomatic trip with his parents. I was eighteen at the time and not yet Lord. I was only the Heir at the time. We met and...well, we had much to learn from each other. Our lives were very different. Sairex is wickedly smart and devious...as I'm sure you've noticed. He pointed out several tricks that I did indeed later employ when I built my lands up to what they are now. In turn, I showed him much of the world and...ah...things of a more emotional nature."

Miroku's eyebrows shot up. "You were lovers..."Toga chuckled softly. "To use the term broadly, I suppose. We were both young and our blood ran hot. You know how it is, you're a young male yourself. It was...a summer thing. At the end of the summer his parents gave him to that damned dragon, as was the plan." Toga's claws were twitching at the memory.

Miroku smiled. "Well, then...I'm glad you got there first."

Toga blinked, then smiled. "He's right, you are a rare one for a human."

"Well, even though it is obvious you care for him, it is likewise obvious you do not intend to try to take him from me. One thing I am curious about, though..."

"Yes?"

"When we were performing the ritual to revive you...Sairex mentioned dogs not being his style and you informed him he'd never had one like you."

Toga chuckled and had the good grace to blush a bit. "Er...well... bit of a conditioned response, that. We've used those lines before a time or two."Miroku grinned. "I see."

Both of them were abruptly startled from their conversation as part of the building exploded. Miroku gasped and snatched up his staff. "Something is wrong...I sense spiritual power!"

Toga beat him out the door.

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

Naraku eyed the long-limbed, cloaked figure before him skeptically. "And this...technique...of yours...it truly works?"

Jormandar smiled as he held his fingers over the dark glass of his mirror. "Yes...though the spells I had to put in place to affect someone this strong took days. They were almost ruined when I inadvertently triggered them previously, so my control will not be complete as I wish..." His black eyes turned to his mirror and he spread his fingers. With a wicked grin, they began to twitch.

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

Inuyasha's ears were flattened back as he stalked after Sesshoumaru. "Oh, you SO can not blame me for ruining that rug, YOU were the one that threw ink all over! Not to mention everything else!"

"It was your fault for seducing this Sesshoumaru, I was perfectly content to be left alone."

"Oh, yes, you resisted SO forcefully. You were helpless within the captivating spell of my gaze..."

"I did not know you even know a word as complex as 'captivating'."

"Asshole."

Sesshoumaru smirked slightly before flicking his gaze to his brother. "Why are you following me?""Because I said I was going to keep an eye on you and I damn well intend to."

Sesshoumaru paused outside of his bedroom door. Something felt...wrong. Scowling, he pushed open the doorway and stepped inside. He stopped dead as something black flashed in his mind. He felt as if a great many cords had suddenly been wrapped around his limbs and drawn tight, preventing him from moving. He struggled inwardly, but he had not been prepared for an assault. Further, with his mental state being as unstable as it had been of late...he was overwhelmed. In a numb, distant way, he watched as his consciousness was driven far back into his mind and chained. He could see and comprehend what he was doing, but he had no control whatsoever over his body.

Inuyasha had paused when he noticed Sesshoumaru's jerky movement. "Sessh?...Hey, whats wrong? Why'd you stop?"

Sesshoumaru was shocked and appalled when he heard his own voice. "This Sesshoumaru is tired of your presence, hanyou. You are not my Lord Father's true son and heir. I am. You are not fit to breathe the same air as either of us. I attempted to give it a chance, but time has only proven that I was correct. You are crass, crude, and uncultured. You are a shame to this House. Now get out."

Inuyasha's eyes were huge and he looked shocked and hurt. None of this was new to him, of course, he had heard these same things - from Sesshoumaru, no less - many a time. But things had changed between them. He no longer considered his brother an enemy - indeed, he had come to love him a good deal and rather thought it was returned in Sesshoumaru's taciturn, roundabout sort of way. "You...you don't mean that, Sessh...look, I'm sorry if I pissed you off..."

Sesshoumaru whirled, his golden eyes flashing malice. "If you do not get out, I will kill y ou."

Inuyasha's eyes narrowed and he flicked Tetsusaiga free of its sheathe, although he did not draw the blade. "What, this some sort of attempt to get me out of the way so you can do something stupid? I won't let you."

"You are not this Sesshoumaru's keeper. Die." Sesshoumaru launched forward with frightful speed, green-glowing talons leading. Inuyasha barely spun out of the way, the blow clipping him on the shoulder regardless and sending him crashing against the wall.

"You want to play rough, then? Fine, I can do that...you bastard...maybe I was wrong to assume you had a heart." Tetsusaiga flared a brilliant gold as the blade transformed. "I've cut you down before, I can again."

Then there was no time for talking as the battle began in full. Sesshoumaru leapt back, his light whip suddenly crackling to his life and lashing at Inuyasha in a rapid series of strikes. Inuyasha growled and blocked or dodged before lashing out with his own claws.

Sesshoumaru responded with Toukijin. "DRAGON STRIKE!"

Inuyasha yelped and barely got out of the way as the wall was obliterated with a terribly loud noise and a rush of falling stone. He leapt free of the building and darted into the courtyard, only to find Sesshoumaru pacing him...and then in front of him. Reflexively, he slashed with Tetsusaiga and kicked at Sesshoumaru's sword hand at the same time.

To his complete surprise, Toukijin went flying as his foot connected. "Hah! Looks like you're slipping, Sesshoumaru! Maybe the stupid hanyou knows a trick or two after all!"

// No, this moron does not know how to fight properly is all... // Inside, the real Sesshoumaru was lashing out viciously against the controlling influence. He felt he was making some progress.

Sesshoumaru darted abruptly inside the arc of Tetsusaiga's strike range, too close for the sword to be any use. His claws sizzled viciously as he snagged Inuyasha by the wrist, and his brother screamed and lashed at him with his free hand. Sesshoumaru caught that one, but suffered a nasty bite and several kicks at the price of avoiding Inuyasha's claws.

Inuyasha had no choice but to drop the sword, but he was stunned when Sesshoumaru snatched it up. Tetsusaiga immediately flared to angry life, sending jolts of blinding anguish up Sesshoumaru's arm. The smell of burning flesh was all too apparent.

The taiyoukai wasted no time in swinging Tetsusaiga. "WIND SCAR!"

Inuyasha gaped in horror at the brilliant beams of light coming his way. He didn't know how to dodge and just set himself in to block as best he could. Sesshoumaru had been too close in front of him. He didn't see Sesshoumaru drop the sword. Sesshoumaru was, in fact, gone.

Inuyasha was surprised to find that the attack had missed him. What could possibly have gone wrong? // Well, the attack IS narrowest at the front, but how did he MISS? Sesshoumaru doesn't miss on purpose and I had no chance to get out of the way. He whirled around and his stunned look grew to one of horror.

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

Jormandar sighed as he felt the last threads of his control break. The spell had been too far decayed...too damaged when he had accidently triggered it on Toga in the past. He had known he would only have a few minutes, at best, in control...and Sesshoumaru had fought him viciously.

But still...it had been fun. And not a complete failure.

With any luck, he could pluck Sesshoumaru from the realm of the dead to exact his revenge. It would make things so much simpler.

"Beautiful..." Naraku purred in admiration as he watched the mirror. "Truly beautiful. You must teach this to me..."

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

Inuyasha discovered the reason Sesshoumaru had 'missed' just as he discovered the reason he was gone. Sesshoumaru had teleported right after he swung.

Directly into the Wind Scar's path. The hanyou screamed in negation and horror as he watched the wind blades decimate his brother's body, ripping him apart.

Sesshoumaru felt the pain keenly. His senses had returned to him just in time to feel his bones breaking or being severed, to feel the explosion of his flesh and the warm burst of blood. His consciousness fled as he fell into oblivion.

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

Toga let out an anguished howl and Miroku stared in stunned horror. It was a noise Miroku never wanted to hear again for all the rest of his days. The slight trace of latent magic he had felt earlier was gone, dissipated.

Inuyasha was screaming in horror himself, Tetsusaiga at his feet...along with the telltale crevices of the Wind Scar's origin narrowing and pointing at him like some sort of damning arrow.

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

"You do know that they have that sword that will allow them to simply resurrect Sesshoumaru..." Naraku eyed Jormandar, noting that the circle lord looked entirely too smug.

"Indeed. It works by destroying the imps of the underworld as they come to collect a soul."

"What else do you have up your sleeve, then?" Naraku asked, one eyebrow slowly arching.

Jormandar's eyes glittered and he smiled like a knife. "The imps will not come. They will be intercepted. If Sesshoumaru's wounds prove fatal, as I hope they do..." His gaze slowly turned to Karalichala. The raven demoness was lost deep in the depths of her spell. "It will be something very different that comes to drag him away, that no mere swing of a sword will stop before it is too late."