InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Primal Scream: The Series ❯ 41 ( Chapter 41 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
"You did WHAT?" Shippo's father, Katama, boomed loudly. "How many times have I told you not to go around giving out our magic secrets?"
"I'm sorry father, Bankotsu told me it was urgent!" Shippo whined, obviously trying to save his own tail.
"So you made my son vanish?!" Sesshomaru snapped, his fathers hand on his chest the only thing that kept him from ripping the kitsune into jerky.
"No, kitsune magic doesn't work like that." Jiraiya explained importantly. "It just makes them unnoticeable. They could be standing right beside you and you wouldn't notcie."
"Oh so we could have walked past them a hundred times?" Inuyasha moaned, frustrated and angry. Shippo, Katama, Inutashaio, and Jiraiya all nodded at once.
"They're not- are they?" Sesshomaru looked from side to side a little paranoid.
"No," Shippo said. "I do know where they are though."
"Well take me to 'em!" Inuyasha snatched the tiny kitsune by the tail. "Or your ass is the first one I beat!"
"Inuyasha!" Inutashio admonished. "Put him down, he's not the one we're mad at, it's not all his fault he was just trying to help a friend."
He growled but released Shippo, "How do we find them?"
Shippo took three good steps back from the hanyou and handed a few small leaves to Jiraiya. "When you pass through the area if you have one of those with you it will break the spell and make them visible."
______________
Back at the hideout, Bankotsu and Jace finally stopped rolling on the floor of the shack laughing and sat up. Poor Rin had the hiccups from her laughter.
"I take back all the mean things I said about the Kitsune, Bankotsu said seriously. "That was the best trick EVER."
"Yeah, did you see that? They were right beside us and like didn't even LOOK at us!" Jace's mirth renewed itself when he thought about how Inuyasha had looked when he couldn't find a scent. The string of curses that came from the hanyou had left Inutashio's jaw hanging open like a trap door.
"This is too much fun. We can stay like this forever!" Bankotsu put his forefinger on his chin. "If no one can see us, we can simply go home for supplies at will! NO more grown ups, no more rules, no more bedtimes!"
"Yeah!" Jace pumped his fist up into the sky. "We can stay up all night and eat candy and ice cream till we puke and we won't have to clean our rooms again!"
"And I can't get in trouble again for staying up late and teasing Jakotsu." Bankotsu mused. Then the boys were drawn to the sound of sniffling, Rin was drawn into the corner, head buried into her knees that her arms were wrapped around and sobbing.
"Rin?" Jace spoke softly.
"Rin wants to see mommy and daddy again. Rin no wanna be here forever." She muttered.
The boys exchanged looks, they had not thought about this. How did they break the spell once it was on them? Where they doomed to be invisible forever? The shine was taken off the moment as reality sank in.
"Oh Rin. I'm sure it won't be forever, sis. But we can't go back now--" he winced, imagining the wrath of his mother and father when they found out he'd run away. Jace's ears twitched then flattened against his head, suddenly he as very afraid. He'd seen Bankotsu wince and he knew why, he was thinking it to.
"Why not?" Rin looked up, her tear stained face bewildered.
"Cause if we do---" Bankotsu looked at Jace with a sigh. "We'll get into trouble. And I mean REAL trouble."
Rin gasped, "I no want daddy mad at Rin!"
She'd reverted to talking in third person, Bankotsu knew she only did that when scared or upset and he draped his arm around her for comfort. "Daddy will be more mad at me and Jace for bringing you."
Jace frowned at his cousin. "We're gonna get grounded for the rest of our lives! Why didn't you talk me out of it?"
"Well I probably will but your parents are more understanding. Aunt Gypsy's pretty cool." Bankotsu shuddered and Rin felt it. "I'll be lucky if I'm ever allowed out of my room again."
Then Rin did start crying, "Rin no want you and Jace in trouble! Rin doesn't want to get into trouble again either! Promised daddy--"
She was referring to the one time in her whole life she'd crossed her father's temper, she took her promise to never do anything bad again seriously, not like her brother or cousin who would beg mercy just to get out of trouble, and now she was breaking it and that broke her little heart. Suddenly the door of the shack burst open, revealing Inutashio and his half brother, Jiraiya.
"So this is where you have been all this time!" Inutashio smirked down at the three kids in relief. The spell was broken, tiny shards of glowing light fell around them as the kitsune barrier collapsed. Inutashio turned to the door, "Sesshomaru! Inuyasha! Over here."
Bankotsu stood quickly, he was going down with dignity if he was going down. Jace followed his lead but Rin didn't move till she saw her father, then she launched herself at his leg and attached.
"So this is where you have been!" Inuyasha grabbed Jace's wrist, the pup whimpered and fully expected to be struck. He was not, however.
"Do you have ANY idea how worried we were?" Sesshomaru's voice held a deadly undertone that came out so calmly it struck terror into the children's heart. "Your mothers are worried sick! And to play such a dirty trick as use Kitsune magic, Bankotsu I am shocked at you."
The chastised little boy looked down at his feet, a blush creeping along his cheeks. "Dad can't we just go home? Sit down and talk about this?"
Sesshomaru nodded, his white hair sweeping over his shoulders which were bared in the black wife beater he wore. "Oh we will go home. And we will discuss this. But sitting down is something you're going to find very hard to do for a while."
Bankotsu went beet red at that threat. He lived with his cousins, there was no way to hide the fact he was in trouble. But to have it said so plainly and in front of a total stranger to! Bankotsu looked up, his eyes meeting Jiraiya's. "Who are you?"
"I'm you're grandpa's half brother. Jiraiya!" He nodded lightly at the child.
"Come Bankotsu, we have things to 'discuss'." Sesshomaru turned for the door, Rin in his left arm and sobbing against him.
Jace tugged Inuyasha's pants, and the hanyou scooped him up into his arms as he walked. "What is it?"
"Are we gonna have a 'discussion' too?" Inuyasha smirked a bit, he knew what Jace was asking-- he remembered all to well the threat of a 'discussion' as a child. "I'm afraid so-- but I'll let your mom decide."
Jace nodded, his mother was cool. Bankotsu walked like a prisoner heading for the gallows, he refused to cry and show his fear. He had not had the idea to run away but he had sort of taken the lead and directed the whole fiasco. Although he knew once he was alone and facing his parents alone his facade would probably fade away and he'd be reduced to a crying sniveling baby begging for a reprieve.
Kagura and Gypsy almost got tangled in each other trying to get out the door to the small returning group. Bankotsu, still in 'fearless leader' mode, wrapped his arms about his mother and hugged. Rin refused to leave her father and Jace went bounding into his mothers arms as well, glad to at last breathe in her soft vanilla essence. It calmed him considerably.
"I was so worried!" Gypsy pulled him away a bit. "Why did you do this?"
Jace sniffled, "You didn't need me. You already have another son and he's Inuyasha's! So you don't need me anymore."
"Oh honey that's not true!" Gypsy nuzzled him, tears forming in her eyes. "We need you more than ever now and it doesn't matter whose son you actually are-- you will always be mine and Inuyasha's!"
Really?" His eyes got really big.
"Yeah," Inuyasha added. "I been there with you since day one-- always remember this: Anyone can make a baby but it takes a SPECIAL man to be a father."
"Does that mean- you both still want me? You still love me?" Jace wiped his nose with his hand, ears dropping a little.
"We never stopped!" Inuyasha took him from Gypsy and kissed his forehead. "Now promise me no more running off and no more kitsune magic."
Considering it for a moment he nodded, "Yes daddy. I promise."
"Good now lets go see your new brother!" Gypsy picked up Shiori who was clinging to her leg and led the way to the little nursery.
Inuyasha smirked, he didn't have the heart to tell the pup he wasn't out of trouble yet--- he did intend to discipline him, just not right now. He was enjoying the family moment, Jace insisted on sitting in the floor and holding his baby brother, who giggled and tugged his older siblings long dark hair, which had turned black very recently, with glee.
It took Sesshomaru fifteen minutes to pry Rin from his shoulder, and even after that he just give up and allowed Kagura to pull her off. Bankotsu waited on the couch, twiddling his fingers nervously until Sesshomaru growled in frustration at his crying daughter. Inutashio stepped in then, trying to console the inconsolable Rin.
"Damn it! I can't tell if she's throwing a pity party to keep herself out of trouble or if something really is wrong with her!" Sesshomaru rubbed his face with his hand, growling low.
Inutashio gave his granddaughter a sniff, "Kagura take her upstairs and allow her to calm down. Whatever you have to say to her can wait, Sesshomaru. Deal with Bankotsu."
Kagura and his father left the room then, carrying Rin into her own bedroom. Sesshomaru looked down at the boy he had adopted as his son, he knew he was freaking him out but there wasn't anything he could do about that.
He didn't know what to do, he wasn't good at starting conversations like this, like his father was. In his eight year old step-son he saw himself after the fated baseball through the car window incident. He'd tried to frame Inuyasha but his brother was too small to throw the ball with that much force and anyways had been inside asleep-- he seemed to recall looking just like Bankotsu did now.
"Bankotsu?" His voice was smooth and silky. The child looked up at him with wide eyes. "Why did you run away? Was it something I did? Or your mother?"
"Um, well-- eh-- Jace wanted to do it first and I just sorta followed." He admitted truthfully. "Please don't be mad at Rin because I eh-- made her come so she wouldn't tell you."
That wasn't wholly untrue, he had just left out the part that she had invited herself under a threat that she'd tell him the plan. He took a deep breath and told Sesshomaru everything, and even admitted the kitsune magic was his idea, he knew he was going to be in deep shit but the more logical part of him knew he deserved it.
"Bankotsu, you are older than Rin and Jace. They look up to you and you are to be an influence. How many times have I told you that you have to be careful about what you do!" Sesshomaru scolded lightly.
"I know, dad. At least a hundred." He nodded, his shoes so interesting right now he couldn't remove his eyes from them.
"So when they do something like that you are supposed to talk them out of it, or at least tell an adult. You let them put themselves in danger-- you put yourself in danger as well. Anything could have happened and I couldn't have done anything about it because with that spell on you I couldn't find you! Honestly, Bankotsu, kitsune magic? What were you thinking?" Sesshomaru suddenly stopped, he was reminding himself so much like his father right now, right down to the pacing and hand waving. Stopping he dropped to kneel in front of Bankotsu on one knee. "Do you understand why I am so upset?"
He nodded lightly, "Is it 'cause you-- you love me?"
Sesshomaru nodded and gathered the smaller boy into a hug, "I love you, son. As much as your brothers and sisters, never forget that."
Bankotsu nodded against the strong shoulder he was now resting against, his fathers scent, a musky earthly scent calmed him a little. He heard his father speaking again, not angrily but he made it clear he wanted no nonsense.
"That said, I am still going to punish you, just as I would have been had I pulled this stunt." Sesshomaru stood up slightly, shifting his weight from his left knee on the floor to the couch. He had a brief thought that he should take the boy upstairs but that was too close to Rin, if she heard him cry out, she'd start crying more.
"I know." Bankotsu looked down, he could already feel the sting creeping up his thighs. "I don't blame you."
Sesshomaru made short work of the boys jeans and underwear, pushing them to his knees then guiding him over his lap. Bankotsu squinted his eyes shut, willing down the whimper that threaten to escape him, he would not cry over this, he'd make his father proud of him. A few more short memories passed through Sesshomaru's mind, he pushed them away to think about later and raised his hand, bringing it down with a sounding smack.
Bankotsu flinched but made no sound. Sesshomaru's hand fell again and again, his hand large enough to cover the eight year old's entire bottom. "From now on you will learn responsibility and you will not repeat any more stunts like this. Am I clear?"
*Smack. Smack. Smack.*
"Yes-- sir--" Bankotsu sounded as if he were panting, the sting was starting to turn into a burn and he feared he wouldn't be able to keep up his tough guy act.
*Smack. Smack. Smack.*
"You will not put yourself, or any other member of this family in danger!" Sesshomaru caught a movement to his left and from the corner of his eye he saw Jace standing in front of Inuyasha and Inutashio. Jace's bottom lip quivered and Sesshomaru almost stopped but his father shook his head, mouthing for him to continue.
*Smack. Smack. Smack.*
*Smack. Smack. Smack.*
Bankotsu was too wrapped up in the stinging heat radiating from his backside to care who was watching, it took all his concentration to hold out the tears that were scalding his eyes now. He nodded in agreement, just hoping Sesshomaru would finish soon.
*Smack. Smack. Smack.*
"If I have to punish you again for anything along these lines I will not hesitate to use my belt, do you understand?" Sesshomaru had stopped, almost alarmed how red his son's cheeks glowed from the punishment. But he had seen much much worse-- he and Inuyasha had gotten much much worse spankings than this. He glanced at his father for approval, which was silently granted with a small nod. Absently he rubbed the boys back in small circles, feeling him relax under him. The smell of salt told him Bankotsu had broken and started crying, giving in to the flood of tears. He also knew they were not tears of pain, they were tears of regret and he had truly learned a lesson here.
"You won't have to, dad! I promise!" Bankotsu promised fervently, the thought of being spanked with anything other than his fathers hand too much to bear.
Sesshomaru pulled up his pants then, standing him on his feet and drawing him into a hug. "I hope not. There there-- it's all over. You are forgiven."
The softness in his voice almost took Inuyasha by surprise, he had no idea how tender his brother could be. That when he became aware of wetness in his jeans and he knelt to hug Jace who had turned from the scene, pressing his face into Inuyasha's leg for shelter, he felt utterly guilty because he had not been spanked. Sesshomaru pulled Bankotsu's hair back, tilting his head back and kissing the star that had appeared on his forehead when he marked him in the blood marking ritual. It was a simple gesture, but it brought a smile to Bankotsu's face-- it meant he was no longer in trouble.
"Go to your room now and prepare for bed," Sesshomaru instructed. "You're grounded for the rest of the week."
Bankotsu nodded and turned to head up the stairs, stopping to stare at his family who had been watching, a blush crept over his cheeks. Jace wouldn't look at him, he could see his shoulders shaking lightly, so he went over.
"Jace, I'm okay! I promise!" He whispered.
"Really?" Jace peeked up from Inuyasha's arms.
"Yes-- well I won't be sitting down for a while but I'm okay." Bankotsu chuckled with a sniff and rubbed Jace's little puppy ear then rubbing the seat of his pants.
Jace looked up at Inuyasha, "Can I go with Jace to his room?"
Inuyasha nodded slightly, "Yes but no TV or games for you either, young man."
Watching the children go upstairs, Sesshomaru stood up slowly then moved over to clap Inutashio on the shoulder, "I don't know how you did it."
"I did it because I had to." The older demon replied, ruffling Inuyasha's hair then patting Sesshomaru on the back.
Inuyasha turned from them, a growl low in his throat. He had smelled Gypsy's arousal from the hallway, and she was talking with Sesshomaru in the corridor. His eyes narrowed, 'Why the hell is she getting-- over HIM?'