InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Road to Remembrance ❯ Never Worthy ( Chapter 21 )

Chapter 21

 

“It's amazing isn't it?” Sango said to her husband as they stood in the doorway of their hut and watching Inuyasha play with the village children and Shippo, “Everything he has been through in the last few years? A wizard, a prisoner, a pirate...I mean, it's scary how much he's changed.”

Inuyasha had spent a good couple of hours the night before explaining to his friends about his adventures. He conveniently forgot to mention many of his nightly excursions and only briefed over his time in Azkaban, but the story had been a compelling one to say the least.

“I can believe it,” Miroku stated as he watching Inuyasha with the kids. The hanyou was crouched in a circle of children, many of them petting his ears or tugging on his braids, asking him questions of his travels. It was obvious to the monk that Inuyasha had developed quite a confidence in himself. He seemed more enlivened and yet softer at the same time. He wasn't afraid to show his compassionate side in public anymore, being more open and trusting. He seemed more alive.

News of Inuyasha's return had spread like wildfire, not only in the village, but throughout Japan. Demons remembered the half-breed who slew Naraku as well as taken on many formidable demons. So it was no surprise when the Lord of the West himself showed up a couple days later in the tiny village along with his vassal and a thirteen year old girl.

“A demon!” one of the children cried, pointing at the approaching TaiYoukai. Inuyasha, who was in the middle of telling them about his battle with Magnus, chuckled, having smelt his brother long before he made his appearance.

“It's alright,” he said reassuringly, “why don't you go back to the village, I'll talk to him.”

The children dispersed quickly, not wanting to be around the fearsome demon longer than they had to. Inuyasha stood and faced his brother, who didn't seem to have changed a bit over the years. Rin, on the other hand, had changed considerably. Now in the throws of puberty, the young woman seemed a bit awkward as she developed her figure, but still as energized and charming as ever.

“Hello Rin,” Inuyasha smiled at the budding youth. She smiled dazzling at him; a preview of the beautiful woman she would grow to be.

“Hello Inuyasha! I like your new look, you look very handsome indeed. Don't you agree my lord?”

Sesshomaru said nothing; he simply scrutinized his younger brother, noticing the changes in his appearance and demeanor. After a moment of silence he spoke.

“Half-breed, where you have been for the past five years?”

Inuyasha had to smother a groan of frustration. His damn brother hadn't changed a bit.

“I've been traveling, learning some things about my human side, that's all,” he replied. Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed further. Thinking he had not given a sufficient enough answer, Inuyasha continued.

“You won't believe the different kinds of humans out there and there are no demons either. Well there are some, but they make themselves scarce. They've got the right idea too. It won't be long before more and more Europeans come over here and start changing things, then you'll be screwed.”

Sesshomaru nearly snorted as his insolent brother babbled. It would never come such things; he would see to that. But there was something else on his mind concerning the single sword strapped to his brother's hip.

“What is this sword at your side? That is not the Tetsuiga. Where is it? I demand you release it to me.”

Inuyasha knew this would come up with his brother, and he knew it wouldn't be pretty. He closed his eyes, resigned, knowing he couldn't avoid the confrontation that was about to arise.

 

::Flashback::

 

It was the day after he left Berchin and the day before the dementors took him to Azkaban. Inuyasha's feet had led him strait to Cornwall, England and he soon found himself standing in front of the Men An Tol stone circle. In his right hand was a transformed Tetsuiga, in the other, the Book.

There was an aura around the donut-like circle he was positioned in front of, something ethereal, as if the PTB had paid special attention to it above all common things in those lands.

Inuyasha knew why he was there, though he didn't know how he knew. He didn't exactly like the plan that was in his mind, but he knew it was for the best. This way, demons would not be able to get their hands on the book.

Inuyasha lifted the Tetsuiga, the sword that had saved his life countless times and never failed him once, high above his head. He paused only for a second before bringing it down with all the strength he possessed. The aura of the stone pulsed with a sacred power; the sword would not be able to break the simple, man-made rock structure and Inuyasha knew that.

It shattered, almost like it had when Goshinki's teeth broke it, but this time it wasn't in half. This time the Tetsuiga shattered into hundreds of tiny pieces, a sound that was ear shattering to Inuyasha as he cringed, feeling the Tetsuiga's pain.

Inuyasha shakily dropped to his knees, almost not believing what he had done. Mechanically, his fingers began picking up the ivory shards, pushing them into the leather cover that seemed to wrap itself around the intrusion. It wasn't long before each sliver managed to morph itself into the cover, leaving the once completely leather-bound book now speckled with silver.

Inuyasha felt slightly empty after that, but knew it was for the best. The Tetsuiga was a part of his past he intended to leave behind him. He had seen the world and he had seen its future, and demons were not a part of it. It was high time to accept his human half and play to his strengths. He never thought it would come to this, but his demonic heritage was becoming more and more of a liability. It was almost ironic.

 

::End Flashback::

 

“I destroyed it,” Inuyasha said quietly. Sesshomaru didn't buy it for a second. Tetsuiga was his brother's most powerful weapon, he would not destroy it.

“Lies,” he hissed, “This Sesshomaru demands you tell him where it is.”

Inuyasha growled. It figured his arrogant brother wouldn't accept any answer he gave him.

“This Inuyasha would like to know when that Sesshomaru will stop talking in the third person.”

Faster than the speed of light, Sesshomaru had Inuyasha by the neck and lifted a good foot off the ground.

“If you value you're life, you will answer my question and never mock me again.”

“I destroyed it,” Inuyasha said back calmly as if a demon did not have his throat in its grip.

“Do you honestly expect me to believe such absurdity? You need that sword, you are weak without it.”

Inuyasha was thankful that he was not in the village.

Sesshomaru saw a flash of red and soon found himself embedded in a tree nearly twenty feet from where he stood before. He looked to the half-breed with widened eyes. Inuyasha stood before him calmly with blood dripping down his arm, but his eyes were anything but calm. They reflected a golden sea of torment, fury and power. What exactly just happened?

“Rin, I think you should go in the village and play with Shippo,” Inuyasha said through the corner of his mouth to the shocked girl.

Rin looked to her lord, who, with barely concealed rage, managed to nod his agreement. She left hurriedly, knowing how violent a meeting between the brothers could get.

“As you can see, I have no use for the sword anymore. I've put it to a much better use.”

There was no falsehood in his scent; Sesshomaru had no choice but to accept the truth.

“You had no right to destroy it,” Sesshomaru stated, nearly loosing his composure, “It was mine. Mine to destroy if I so wished, not yours.”

“Cut the crap Sess. Will drop this God damn temper tantrum you've been throwing for the last who-knows how many years?”

“What?” Sesshomaru snarled. His claws flared green with his poison. The half-breed was overstepping his boundaries.

“So father favored me, get the fuck over it,” Inuyasha snarled right back, not intimidated by the slightest, “That's what started this whole beef and put your fucking claws away, I'm not going to fight you.”

Sesshomaru didn't move. Inuyasha sighed, and dropped his fighting pose.

“Tetsuiga's gone; you have no reason to bother me anymore. Haven't I proven myself enough to you? Aren't I strong enough for you yet? What more do I have to do to prove my worth as your brother?”

It was his deepest desire to have a family, or to have what family he had left to accept him. Even with the countless times Sesshomaru tried to kill him, Inuyasha couldn't bring himself to hate the older demon. Try as he might, he couldn't deny that Sesshomaru's neglect had hurt him. His patronus, which was his brother in his true form, betrayed Inuyasha's heart to him.

“You are a half-breed,” Sesshomaru stated, “Worthiness will never be a word to describe you.”

Inuyasha swallowed, determined not to let the dog demon know how much that statement hurt.

“Then I pity you.” Inuyasha said quietly and turned to leave back to the village. He finally understood what the Power That Be had meant when they said his brother was ignorant. Ignorance, he had learned at a young age, was the worst plague one could suffer under; one that both demons and humans were bound by.

Sesshomaru stared at his retreating form. Pity? Why would he need pity, and from a half-breed no less? The demon lord scoffed and, seeing his charge come running back to him after sensing the danger pass, prepared to leave.

But try as he might, the Lord Sesshomaru could not get his brother's parting words out of his mind.

 

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“Kouga!” Ginta called, running up to the pack caves. He soon found the alpha in his chambers, looking over deeds to the lands surrounding theirs. It seemed the coyote demons still wanted to work out some sort of a compromise over the waning land issues despite Kouga killing their prince years ago.

“Kouga!” he called again, getting the wolf's attention. Kouga raised his eyebrows to show he was listening, “I've just received word that Inuyasha has returned from his travels!”

Kouga dropped the scroll in his hands accidentally.

“Mutt face?” he asked, standing from his desk, “He's back?”

Ginta nodded.

“Everyone's been talking about it. Who knew he was so popular?”

“Well where did he go?” Kouga demanded. Ginta shrugged.

“Why don't you go and visit him?” a feminine voice asked. Ayame entered from a neighboring cave, their four-year old cub at her side, “I can stay here and take care of Norika. I think it would be good for you to catch up with Inuyasha.”

“Ayame,” Kouga groaned, “We weren't exactly friends.”

“That doesn't matter. You and he have no reason to keep that stupid rivalry going. Just say that you were going to see Shippo or something.”

Kouga thought for a moment. He had just seen Shippo a few days ago but his curiosity was killing him.

“All right,” he conceded, “I'll go.”

He leaned over and pecked his mate on the lips and patted his daughter on the head.

 

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There is an area in Japan that had been untouched by any life for years. The ground was bare, void of trees or grass, and it pulsed with a dark aura strong enough to keep any human or animal from stepping foot on the land.

It was the area where Naraku took his last breath of air; where the final battle had taken place. And true to his nature, Naraku had left an evil presence in his wake so no one would forget about him.

It was always quiet in that secluded place, despite being surrounded by a dying forest. No birds tweeted or crickets chirped. Even the leaves were silent, as if the very wind feared blowing past the grave.

But on that day, the land was disturbed. It started with a boom that came from below the earth's crust that rippled the cold, untouched dirt. That boom was followed by another, a louder boom, and then another and another. They continued, growing louder and louder, the earth trembling under the force of the noise. A climax was growing as the evil aura grew stronger; trees from the surrounding forest began dieing, as if a disease had fallen upon the woods. Suddenly, all fell silent once more.

A purple robed hand broke through the dirt crust as the first forced opening to hell in the last three hundred years was made.

Hundreds of miles away, an inu hanyou gasped as a searing pain shot through the scar on his back.

 

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