InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Silver-Haired Beauty ❯ Forgive or Forget? ( Chapter 19 )

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Week Four

Day ?????

Pain. Where was he again? It hurt so much to move. Someone, make it stop. Cool hands pressed against his face, bringing welcome relief. The pain returned when the hands moved away and he reached out blindly to find them again, but his limbs wouldn't respond.

Why couldn't he move? The hands returned, driving the pain away again. He sighed thankfully and slipped deeper into the welcome darkness.

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Week Four

Day Three:

Inuyasha was not happy. It had been two days since Sesshomaru's attack and Kagome's escalated miko-fueled response. After finally healing enough to move, he was still feeling confused. Sesshomaru trying to kill him was no new thing. Sesshomaru laughing like a fucking loon and proclaiming a secret love for both his human stepmother and half brother, was. The fact that he'd come bearing death wearing a haori that had practically reeked of the dead woman's perfume hadn't resolved a damned thing.

Just as his outlandish claims of Kuroi's undying love for the hanyou hadn't been exactly clarifying either. On whole, the entire situation had worked Inuyasha into a seriously pissed frame of mind. His bad mood wasn't helped in the slightest by the fact that the bastard in question was lying in his bed, out cold.

"Let me waste him." A fist connected with the back of his head for the grim suggestion. Kagome and Kuroi glared at him with twin looks of disgust. Squeezing a cloth out and laying it on Sesshomaru's forehead, his mate scolded him, "He's sick Inuyasha. Even you could tell he wasn't in his right mind when he came here. I know you guys don't get along, but he is your brother."

"Yeah, that's why I'll promise to make it quick." The next blow knocked him to the floor. "Don't touch him Inu." Tight with tears, Kuroi's voice made him pause. Stationed defensively between him and his brother, her blue eyes pleaded with him.

"Please, don't. I-I'm so sorry." She started to stand, but two days straight of tending to the magically induced wounds that had almost killed her intended caught up with her. Sitting back down heavily, she lifted her hands to cover her face. "Kudasai. Please Koinu, leave him be. It's my fault he's hurting. It's my fault he even came here."

"What do you mean Kuroi?" Kagome paused by the door on her way to get fresh water and bandages.

The girl turned to look down on the ashen figure covered in bruises and burns as she laughed bitterly. "I lied to him. I was so damned mad at him that I told him a stupid lie because of it."

She moved closer to the still form on the bed and laid a tender hand on his feverish skin. "I told him after he kissed me that I wished it was you instead Inuyasha. That I hated him for not being you." At the twin intakes of breath, she laid her head on Sesshomaru's shoulder. "I can't believe how stupid I am."

Her eyes begged for understanding from the silent couple she'd recklessly endangered. "I just wanted him to let go, just let go of that stupid leash he always has on his emotions." Tears welled up in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks, "I wanted…I wanted to know if he really wanted me for me, and not because you and I were so close!" Sitting up, she curled her arms around her knees and cried helplessly at the mess she had caused.

"So I lied, and now he's going to die and it's all my fault!" She felt, more than saw the two position themselves beside her. There was no resistance as two sets of arms pulled her into a circle of comfort. Sobbing helplessly against Inuyasha's shoulder, she let Kagome's hands massage the tension from her shoulders and back.

Kagome brushed a strand out of the girl's tired eyes. "Kuroi, I think you should go to bed. You're exhausted and need the rest." Before a protest could arise, Inuyasha pushed her towards the bed beside his brother.

"Stay here with him. If I know you, you wouldn't sleep a wink if you're more than ten inches from him anyway." A hand silenced her words as he frowned down at her. "Look, we'll sort this out later, just go to sleep. Kagome and I will go to the mansion and check on dad. We'll be back in the morning."

Nodding, Kuroi settled down, mindful not to brush against the thickest sections of bandages. Satisfied that his orders were being carried out, Inuyasha pulled Kagome out of the room and headed for the front door.

Glaring at the bed again, he said softly, "We'll be back soon Cuckoo."

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Something felt really good. Sighing and moving closer to the source brought a new wave of pleasure. The feeling only increased as she struggled through the layers of sleep shrouding her mind. 'I don't know what that is, but it's really nice.' she thought happily before slipping under again.

The rasp of a tongue against her rib snapped her wide awake. Her mind fought to process the flood of sensations her body insisted on barraging it with simultaneously. "Wha…?" a gasp was torn from her as the tongue trailed up to breasts. Somehow, she managed to look down at the one responsible for her state of exquisite torture.

A pair of warm yellow eyes stared right back. "Sesshomaru?"

The eyes crinkled as if smiling, and then winked out of existence.

"SESSHOMARU!!"

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The scream echoed out the house and into the surrounding woods. Startled out of his sleep, Shippo tried to identify the source. A quick sniff of the air traced Inuyasha and Kagome heading towards the grandpa Yamatsu's home. 'Was that somebody else then? I'd better get Inuyasha.'

Swelling to his pink balloon shape, the little kitsune flew over the trees.

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"I'm fine toad, now get out!" Lord Yamatsu sat on the edge of his bed shouting at anyone who came closer than a few feet. "Damn it, you quacks have kept me in this bed like an old man for the last two days. If the lot of you don't move, I'll show you why I'm called the DEMON Lord of the West!" healers and retainers alike scattered at the threat.

"Shit Kagome, you weren't kidding. He really does act like me."

Relief flooded the Lord's face as his youngest son and daughter walked into the room safe and sound.

"Thank the gods you're both all right." Holding out his arms, he hugged Kagome tightly when she came to him. Inuyasha just watched with a wry grin from the doorway.

"Hey old man." still cocky, but warmer than Yamatsu could ever remember it sounding.

He was about to ask where the rest of his family was, but Kagome filled him in on what had happened. While he was happy that there didn't seem to be too much damage to both sides, it disturbed him to hear about the energy arrow she had used to stop Sesshomaru.

"It was white you say?" When both of them nodded, he stood and headed out the door. "I've had a few encounters with miko in my life, but that one is rare, even for powerful ones." Opening the door to his study, Yamatsu made a pass of his hand to dispel the magical barrier to allow them inside. His tone was grim as he knelt by a locked chest, "Sesshomaru is still in danger of dying."

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He was someplace cold and dark. There had been a light once, bright and brilliant as the sun but it had left him. It always left him. Now there was only the yawning emptiness before him. He sensed it extended well into forever, perhaps even beyond.

There were voices in it, promising him everything and anything if he would just come a little closer. One step, and he'd be free. Free of restrictions and pain. His heart's desires fulfilled beyond his wildest dreams. All for the price of one little step.

Tempted and more than a little relieved, Sesshomaru lifted his foot to go forwards into the promised bliss. 'One step to my hellish paradise.' Suddenly, the darkness withdrew like mist in the morning sun and he stood in beauty resplendent. Two figures approached him. As they came closer, the darkness lingering at the fringes departed for good.

"Mother? Ukiyo?" The two women he had loved more than his own life smiled at him sadly. Placing a hand on either sides of his face, they both mouthed the words 'We love you.' and pushed him back towards the light he'd almost left behind.

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Shippo landed in the largest garden he could spot and raced through the first door he came to. It happened to be Jaken's room. Upon spotting the kitsune, the toad gave a shriek of fear and passed out.

"Baka" racing out the door, Shippo let his nose lead him to the two people he needed to find. Rounding a corner, he raced into a room and smacked into something incredibly solid. He rubbed his head furiously, "Move it dickhead, I've got to find Inu-baka." His nose alerted him to his mistake even as the hand yanked him up by the tail. "Inu what?"

Shit.

Time to weasel and weasel well. "Kitsune bi!"

With a yelp and a curse, Inuyasha flung him at the floor. Before the hanyou could get another hold on the cub, Shippo slipped into Kagome's arms and said quickly. "Somebody at the house is screaming!" From the way Inuyasha froze, that had been the right thing to say to avoid a nasty smack.

"Woman or man?" Lord Yamatsu held a small bag in his hand.

"Girl, definitely." Peering up at his mom, Shippo scrambled into the top of her kimono, happy to be back by his siblings.

Yamatsu tossed the bag to his son before pulling out a piece of parchment. "Hold tight to each other. Travel spells are sometimes rough." When Inuyasha had his arms wrapped securely around Kagome, the old Lord smiled warmly at them before tossing the paper. "Save your brother son. I love you both too much to lose either of you."

There was no time to reply before the world rushed by them in a whirl. When it settled, they were home. Inuyasha was too stunned to do more than grunt as Kagome said "Told you." Clutching the bag in his hand, he hurried through the door.

They found Kuroi sprawled across the bed half asleep and babbling incoherently. Kagome went and checked on Sesshomaru, noting how clammy he felt while Inuyasha tried to wake his sister from the grip of what seemed to be a nightmare.

"Oi! Sis wake up. Wake up."

"Whu? Inu?" trying to focus, she touched the source of her despair. "Oh no." Pushing her brother aside, she tried to rub some warmth back into the cold hands she held. "Sessy, you cannot do this to me. You can't die on me, not for something this stupid!"

Labored breathing was her only response. Her soul ached to its core watching him like that. He wasn't supposed to leave he r, not yet and especially not like this. Still taxed past her limit, Kuroi curled up beside him and wept from sheer frustration. "I just wanted to know how you felt about me."

"You baka." Although gruff, waves of real concern flowed through Inuyasha's voice. "You could tell he felt something for you from the fact he didn't split you in half the first time you met." When Kagome blinked at him in bafflement, he huffed. "I may not like him a lot, but I do know a little of how he thinks."

More than a bit astounded at what seemed to be a rare jewel of knowledge, Kuroi and Kagome stared at the hanyou. "What? Sesshomaru is easy. If you interest him, he lets you live 'til he figures it out. If you bore him, he kills you." Fingering the cleaned and mended white haori folded by the head of the bed, he added thoughtfully, "I always thought he'd kill me one of these days. I never knew how he actually felt. About anything."

"If I told you idiot, you would have cried." the weak voice was uncharacteristic for its gentle chiding.

"Sesshomaru!" With a shout of relief, Kuroi launched herself to the side of her beloved and locked her mouth against his. Inuyasha made gagging motions behind her and got poked by Kagome in a sore rib for his antics. His hiss of pain brought a rusty, but delighted laugh from the bed. Sesshomaru struggled to sit up with Kuroi's help.

Once he was braced against the wall, he pulled her close and smiled warmly at his brother. "Hello Inuyasha. Hi Kagome. Thanks for helping me and I'm sorry for the way I behaved."

Scooting to the far side of the room with lightning speed, Inuyasha made motions to ward off evil. A shoe smacked him in the head. "Stop being stupid idiot." Kagome turned a bright smile back to the pair on the bed. "Are you feeling a little better Sesshomaru? We weren't sure what I hit you with exactly, so we didn't know how hurt you might be." she laughed a bit self consciously and scratched the back of her head.

The smile he gave her took her breath away for a moment. Sweet and just a bit shy, it was miles away from the cold sneer she was used to. 'Whoa, he really is different.'

"I'm fine Kagome. I hope you're all right."

"Uh, no problem Sesshomaru, as long as nobody's too badly hurt." a grumble from behind sounded suspiciously like 'in a pig's eye'. She was about to snap back about being rude, when the most delightful laugh caught her by surprise.

Eyes twinkling merrily, Sesshomaru absently stroked the bandages across his chest and stomach. "I always thought you were funny little brother, I just never told you." sighing, he rested his head against the wall. "I never said anything to anyone because of Ukiyo."

Immediately interested, Inuyasha crept forward, ears focused to catch every word. Looking at the ceiling, Sesshomaru marveled at just how easy it was to start. Why should he care what other's thought of him now? He had faced death and found love waiting for him on both sides.

"I remember the day my mother died, how it felt when father told me. When he brought Ukiyo home a hundred years later, it almost felt like a betrayal of her memory. I was so stupid. Ukiyo was the kindest woman I'd ever met. As much a mother to me as my own had been. In fact, she made that haori and gave it to me on your fourth birthday." Sighing sadly, he looked at his brother and whispered, "I still miss her too."

"If I didn't want to hear this, I'd leave because it's getting fucking weird in here." wrapping his arms protectively around Kagome, Inuyasha took a seat against the wall opposite the bed.

"It's not weird Inu, it's him." Everyone turned to look at Kuroi as she gazed adoringly up at Sesshomaru. "It's actually just him." She laid a hand against his cheek with a watery smile. "I've been watching him this whole time and this is who I saw beneath everything else." her eyes drank in every detail of his face. "You are who I want Sesshomaru. You have been since that horrible dinner party where I killed part of the family."

"Shit, I still can't believe I missed that!" Looking extremely put out, Kagome giggled when Inuyasha almost pouted with disappointment. "I have got to start coming around the house more."

Sesshomaru gave another delighted laugh, that ended in a gasp of pain. He slid down flat on the bed and Kuroi grabbed him frantically as he started bleeding through the bandages again.

"Kagome, please go to the mansion with Inuyasha and ask Lord Yamatsu for the bag I gave him." At their mutual looks of hesitation, she pressed harder against the wounds. "Please, he'll know what I need. This isn't going to heal the normal way because your magic is trying to block his youki." As his body shook violently beneath her fingers, she pressed harder. "Please!"

"Don't sweat it sis. Dad already gave it to us. He said you might need it." Inuyasha tossed her the small leather bag. As she struggled to open it, he scooted closer. "What is it anyway?"

Holding aloft a tiny stoppered bottle nestled in feather down, she beamed triumphantly. "Mom's thousand year white peach elixir!" Pulling out the cork, she held it gingerly over Sesshomaru's mouth. Before tipping it out, she looked at them with apprehension all over her face.

"Step back."

As the viscous liquid slid out the bottle and between the unconscious man's lips, they held a collective breath.

Nothing happened.

With a 'feh' Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "Step back my ass."

The pulse of youki aura knocked all of them flat.

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Dusting himself off, Inuyasha smiled drunkenly. He felt better than he ever had in his life. Looking around, he saw Kagome sitting up with a slightly dazed look and ask, "What hit us?"

"Thousand year old white peach elixir." Kuroi called as she shook her head to clear it of the pleasant buzz. "Mom said it had a kick, but would restore energy to youkai no matter what." A huge blush touched her cheeks. "She thought he'd need it on our honeymoon."

When the couple raised an eyebrow at her, she flushed hotly. "How the fuck do you think I got twenty brothers and sisters?!" Still blushing, she smoothed the hem of her robe in embarrassment. "Mom just wanted to make sure we didn't get tired."

"I think I could handle you on my own reserves little flower." Sitting up with ease, Sesshomaru pulled her towards him and kissed her thoroughly.

Scenting the arousal building in the air, Inuyasha stood up quickly to leave and called out tersely, "We'll be back tomorrow." before grabbing Kagome's hand. About to leave, Inuyasha paused at the door and gave a cocky grin to his brother and friend. "Don't die dickhead. You'll make Kuroi a widow before a wife."

The hanyou laughed at the reply he got. "I'll still watch over you and your kids even then little brother."

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Shippo peaked into the room after the two of them left. He couldn't believe Sesshomaru had actually been laughing. Cracking jokes even! When he saw a familiar look pass between the two still in the room, he rolled his eyes and scooted out the door to head for his campsite.

"Forget the hanyou," he grumbled as he went, "at least Inu-baka would wait until he was fully healed."