InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Suppression ❯ Chapter 5 ( Chapter 5 )

Chapter 5

 

“Are you always such a pompous ass?” Inuyasha asked his brother with a frown.

 

“Are you always such an irritating flea?” Sesshoumaru shot back at him. “I told you I was not going to wait for you. We rested just a few hours ago.”

 

“That was seven hours ago, you bastard. What? Do you intend to walk around the whole night long?”

 

Inuyasha was frustrated beyond belief. He had been following his brother around now for a week and all Sesshoumaru did was walk around the western lands like a ghost haunting its favourite grounds. He would occasionally stop in some village or another to conduct some business and then be on the move again. The hanyou never knew anyone that walked so much in his life.

 

The argument started when Inuyasha had wanted to stop in the last village they had passed through. He was tired and hungry and just wanted a warm futon to lie on. His older brother had other ideas. He had wanted to continue on into the forest; partly because of being uncomfortable sleeping with so many others around and partly because he wanted to irritate his younger sibling.

 

Sesshoumaru too was tired but that was exactly what he wanted to be. He pushed himself to the limits so he could fall into an exhausted, dreamless sleep. He had not had any dreams since that last one and had decided that not dreaming, not remembering would be a good thing.

 

“What is your problem with being around people?” Inuyasha asked irritably as he continued to follow his brother away from the town.

 

“I cannot relate properly to others. I cannot be like them. I am a demon lord without feelings or emotions and you expect a degree of responsiveness from me that I cannot give.”

 

Inuyasha stayed quiet and thought about what his brother had just said. It was true; Sesshoumaru never seemed to care about anything or anyone, with the exception of the little human girl that travelled with him. (That in itself caused Inuyasha some jealousy, and a great deal of wonderment.) He never showed happiness, sadness, affection or any other normal reactions. The only emotions Inuyasha had ever seen was anger or contempt and just lately, fear. Now why is that? he thought curiously.

 

The half-demon had been around other full demons and he knew that they had the same emotions as humans. He had seen love, joy, desire, empathy and various other feelings being expressed from others. Why not his brother? Was he so different from them? Did he really feel nothing as he always said?

 

Sesshoumaru took a quick glance behind him at his now quiet brother. He could see the hanyou was thinking about something and turned back around, thankful for some peace.

 

He was heading to a waterfall where he had camped at times in the past. It was secluded and easily defended in the event of attack. There was a nice, cosy cave hidden behind the falls where he always kept provisions at. This was actually one of the taiyoukai's favourite rest stops. He enjoyed relaxing in the pool of water at the bottom of the falls. The water was cool but not cold and the cave was warm and comforting. This was the first time he had ever taken another to this place and in the back of his mind he hoped his brother would like it.

 

Inuyasha was so busy pondering why his older brother kept himself so closed off all the time that he didn't notice when he had stopped in front of him. The inu hanyou ploughed nose first into his brother's back.

 

“We are here,” Sesshoumaru stated, giving his brother an irritated glare. He moved to the side so Inuyasha could see the tall waterfall cascading down into the pool below.

 

“Wow,” Inuyasha gasped. He stood for a moment taking in the impressive view and then ran to catch up to his brother as Sesshoumaru walked down a narrow path towards the falls. He followed his sibling behind the water and into the cave behind it.

 

“We will rest here,” Sesshoumaru said. He walked over to the fire pit in the center of the cave and lit the wood that had been here from the last time he had visited.

 

“This is really nice,” Inuyasha complimented. He looked around, noticing that the cave was well supplied with dry food stuffs. There were also towels, blankets, candles and various other items. As he checked out the back corner of the cave he saw a huge futon with a few large pillows thrown on it. “Come her often do you?” he asked his older brother curiously.

 

“Not often but occasionally,” the demon lord responded. Sesshoumaru had the fire going very nicely and the smoke disappeared up and out of the cave from a hole in the ceiling. The taiyoukai stood and removed his armour and fur pelt then went to leave the cave.

 

“Hey, where are you going?” Inuyasha asked. He looked surprised for a moment at how casual his brother looked without that armour. This was the first time the hanyou had ever seen him without it. He didn't look near as daunting as he normally did. He looks…kinda…nice, the half-demon thought. He shook his head to clear it of this strange idea.

 

“To hunt. If you want anything to eat I suggest you do the same.” Sesshoumaru disappeared out the door and into the forest.

 

You could get me something too since you're going anyways, Inuyasha grumped at his brother in his mind. The hanyou sighed and then left to find something as well.

 

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Inuyasha smirked triumphantly when he returned and found he had gotten his meal first. His brother was still gone, so he stoked up the fire a bit more and began to cook the small rabbit he had captured and cleaned before coming back to the cave. By the time he had finished eating, he was beginning to get concerned. Sesshoumaru still had not returned and he began to wonder if his brother had just gone off, leaving Inuyasha to himself. That can't be right, his armour and that furry thing are still here, he thought as he noticed them hanging on a homemade form off to the side. He certainly wouldn't leave that here.

 

He reached out and touched the fur boa wondering exactly what it was and why his brother always carried it with him. He brushed his fingers though the soft fur thinking that the thing must just get in the way at the same time as he thought how absolutely wonderful the hair on it felt as he let the short stands slip though his fingers. He had the urge to put it on and he might have given into that impulse if Sesshoumaru hadn't entered the doorway empty handed.

 

“No luck hunting?” Inuyasha teased, quickly removing his hand from the thick fur of the pelt before his brother could see him.

 

“I've already eaten,” the demon lord returned. “You've finished your meal I assume.”

 

“You've already eaten? Didn't you cook it?”

 

“No,” Sesshoumaru answered.

 

“What did you start the fire for if you were going to eat it raw?” Inuyasha questioned, feeling a bit grossed out at the thought of eating raw meat. Then a bizarre thought went through his head: did his brother actually do something nice for him?

 

“Did you start the fire for me?” he asked. He was never going to understand his older brother if he kept this up.

 

“Do not be foolish,” Sesshoumaru scoffed. “The night will be cold, the fire is for warmth. It is not my concern if you wanted to cook over it.”

 

Inuyasha gave a small grin. Maybe you do have some emotions in there after all. The hanyou began to strip off his haori and shatsu, tossing the items carelessly to the floor as he headed towards the back of the cave and that very comfortable looking futon.

 

“What are you doing?” Sesshoumaru questioned with irritation, picking up the discarded clothing.

 

“I'm tired, I'm going to bed,” the hanyou answered as he flopped down on the mattress. He was surprised at how soft it was.

 

“Get out. That's my bed,” Sesshoumaru ordered. He had followed Inuyasha and was now standing over him with his hand on his hip after putting his brother's haori and shatsu on a rock by the futon.

 

“What? There's enough room for both of us. Stop being an ass.” Inuyasha frowned and grabbed the blanket, wrapping it around himself. There was no way he was going to sleep on the cave floor.

 

Sesshoumaru stood over his brother and growled. He had never slept with anyone before and didn't want to start now. He almost reached out and pulled his brother, who was ignoring his blustering, from the bed. Instead, he sighed and returned to the fire. He actually was a bit afraid to go to sleep. So far the dreams had stayed away, but that didn't mean they would continue to do so.

 

Inuyasha rolled over and looked at his brother who was sitting by the fire silently staring into the flames. “Come on, Sesshoumaru. The futon is big, we can share it,” he said gently.

 

Sesshoumaru remained by the fire. He was tired and he didn't relish sleeping on the cave floor any more than Inuyasha did. I suppose it would do no harm, he thought, glancing over.

 

Inuyasha saw him look over and he pulled the blanket back and moved over.

 

The demon lord stood and removed his own boots, haori and shatsu and then lay down on the bed taking his half of the blanket. He was over as far as he could get from his brother, laying on the very edge of the futon, a hairs breadth from falling off of it.

 

Inuyasha just sighed and rolled over, turning his back to his brother and fell asleep almost instantly. All the trekking had wore him out.

 

Sesshoumaru stayed awake for another hour feeling unaccustomly nervous. He also lay on his side with his back to the hanyou. Finally, sleep claimed him as well.

 

It was still very dark out when Inuyasha began to wake. He was still half asleep and he was snuggled into something warm. The scent of his brother wafted around him and he found himself strangely comforted and began to drift back into oblivion.

 

Sesshoumaru lay on his side, his eyes wide open, his heart pounding in his chest. His brother was cuddled up behind him with his hand resting on the demon lord's hip. He could feel the hanyous breath caressing against the back of his shoulder. This was causing a memory to surface in the taiyoukai's mind, one he didn't want to explore, but one that demanded his attention.

 

Inuyasha's eyes opened quickly and his senses snapped to attention before he could fully fall back asleep. There was an aura of fear in the air that was so strong it was almost suffocating.

 

“Sesshoumaru?” he questioned, moving his hand up to his brother's chest.

 

He could easily feel his brother's heart pounding inside his chest as if it was a bird beating itself against the bars of a cage. The scent of blood began to fill his nostrils. The half-demon pulled his brother onto his back.

Sesshoumaru's eyes were squeezed tightly shut, his breathing hissing out between his clenched teeth. He had his hand fisted so hard that blood oozed from where his claws had punctured his palm. Inuyasha knew that his brother wasn't sleeping so therefore couldn't be dreaming, but he couldn't figure out what was wrong either.

 

“Sesshoumaru, what's wrong? Tell me what's going on, “the hanyou demanded, looking into the face of his brother. Sesshoumaru still had his eyes shut and his hand clenched tight. Inuyasha began to shake his older brother when he got no response.

 

“Come on, snap out of it,” he almost yelled, beginning to become extremely nervous and a bit frightened himself to see his normally strong, demon brother showing so much fear.

 

“Let go…get away,” Sesshoumaru ordered between gasps.

 

Inuyasha scooted away and watched as his brother brought himself under control. The demon lord sat up and unclenched his had looking at the deep wounds he had given himself. Inuyasha could see he was trying hard to put on his cold exterior, so he sat and waited for his brother to regain his equilibrium.

 

“I remember every night seemed like this,” Sesshoumaru spoke hesitantly. “It was dark like this, the whole castle asleep. I remember the total fright; the fear squeezed my heart the whole night making the sweat pour off me. I would keep my eyes shut tight, not opening them for anything until morning. Still, I could not shut my ears and I would hear the creak of a floorboard, a soft footstep. Then I would feel a presence in that dark bedroom, the hand following the curve of my body under the covers, pausing, resting…” Sesshoumaru trailed off into silence still looking at his hand that was slowly healing.

 

Inuyasha was looking at his brother totally aghast. “What are you saying?” he asked quietly, afraid of the answer he would receive.

 

“Someone…someone was in my room, in my bed, touching me. I didn't want them there. I didn't want them touching me there,” Sesshoumaru replied almost in a whisper.

 

“Who?” Inuyasha questioned. He wanted to hug his brother, to comfort him, but was afraid to cause him to be more upset than he was. The hanyou's ears were pinned to his head in anxiety as he realized that it had probably been him touching his brother that had caused this flashback.

 

“I do not know.” Sesshoumaru lifted his head and Inuyasha sucked in a breath at the haunted look now visible in his brother's eyes. “But it was real, it happened,” he finished.

 

“We'll figure this out,” Inuyasha stated firmly. With all his heart he wanted to help his brother. He never wanted to see that look in his eyes again.