InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Swords of Fate ❯ Finding a Neutral Path ( Chapter 7 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

By: Cierah

Chapter Seven: Finding a Neutral Path

Inuyasha stood there for long moments, deep in thought. The news they had received from Toutousai and Myoga was just starting to sink in, and now he was left speechless, and confused. There were so many questions racing through his head, but he didn't utter any of them. Except one.

“Hey, Myoga?” Inuyasha looked up quickly.

“Yes, Master Inuyasha?” The flea replied, rubbing the feeling back into his body from being held so tightly in Sesshoumaru's grip.

“You said that we would resort back to our childhood forms, should we not find this rift in the swords allotted time frame correct?”

“In theory yes.” Myoga nodded, hopping across the floor and landing on the bridge of Inuyasha's nose.

Inuyasha frowned. “There is one thing I don't understand.” Lifting his fingers, he pried the flea off his nose and stared at him. “I understand the part where we would remain children, but would our minds also resort back to it? Would we forget everything?”

The flea sighed. “I'm not familiar with this myself, Master Inuyasha. But I would image that everything you have learned and seen in your adult life would be erased along with your adult form.”

“That would mean…” Inuyasha looked over at his friends slowly. `I would forget Sango, Miroku, Shippo, Kirara, and…' His thoughts trailed off. `Kagome.' He frowned. `I can't forget about them.' Swallowing, he turned his gaze back to the flea. “I can't forget about them. I refuse to.” He growled and stood up walking out of the cave angrily.

Miroku looked at the retreating form of Inuyasha and shook his head. “What should we do?” He asked the others who sat in a circle.

Kagome looked at him hard. “What do you think we're going to do? We're going to help them get back to normal.” She replied suddenly fuming.

Rin was seated beside Sango and nodded in agreement. “I don't feel very safe without Lord Sesshoumaru around.”

Jaken sputtered. “What about me, you brazen child? Who looks after you when he is away?” He shook his staff.

Rin smiled. “I feel safe with you Master Jaken, but it is a different kind of feeling.” She shrugged, and drew her knees up wrapping her arms around her legs. Placing her chin onto her knees she sighed.

Sango rubbed the little girls back. “Don't worry, Rin. We'll find a way to reverse this.”

Shippo shook his head. “What about Naraku? We have to continue our search for him too, you know.”

Miroku nodded. “We can't go looking for him until those two are back to their normal selves. We alone can't destroy him; we need Inuyasha's Kaze No Kizu and his Bakuryuuha.”

Rin nodded. “Lord Sesshoumaru's Souryuuha.”

Jaken sat down heavily and nodded. “It's true. Compared to those two we have nothing.”

Sango narrowed her eyes. “We do so.” She snapped. “We have faith in each other, have companionship, trust, dedication, plus we aren't as weak as you think, Jaken.” Sango fumed. “I have my Hiraikotsu, Miroku has his Kazaana, Shippo has his Kitsune-bi, and if we stick together we are strong.”

Kagome nodded. “Divided we don't have a chance, but together that's a whole other story.” She smiled widely.

Toutousai smiled slightly, and nodded in approval. `Perhaps they could teach those two blockheads a thing or two.' He reached out his hand and pulled the Tenseiga closer. The blade was immaculate, almost new looking, so that left the conclusion that Sesshoumaru had used the sword rarely. Shrugging, he took out his leather cloth and began polishing the blade.

-------------------------

Sesshoumaru was situated in a tree to the right of the caves entrance, sulking. His arms were crossed and he glowered in anger. The last thing he wanted to do was to travel with those measly humans, but what choice did he have? In this body he was weak. Toutousai had been correct. Looking at his hands he stared at the small flimsy claws that had yet to strengthen and grow longer. His milk teeth had yet to fall out and reveal his adult teeth, which would eventually include his fangs. Even his whips were out of the picture. Shuddering he remembered how long after he grew his fangs that the whips had made themselves known. Closing his eyes tightly, he shifted on his branch.

Taking a deep breath he lifted his head to the darkening sky, a shuffling of feet caused his gaze to travel to the caves entrance and he smirked. Groaning, Sesshoumaru lifted his gaze once more to the sky.

“Hey, Sesshoumaru!” Inuyasha muttered, climbing the tree to sit beside his brother.

“Can't I have a bit of peace without you around?” Sesshoumaru snarled.

Inuyasha nodded, and began his descent. “Sorry.”

Startled at how easily Inuyasha apologized, he reached out his hand and stopped his brother. Not sure why he did, he took his hand off Inuyasha's arm and stared at it. “Just remain quiet, and don't bother me.”

Inuyasha frowned, but he nodded, shifting his position on his branch. There were questions he wanted to ask Sesshoumaru, but the sudden change in his brother made him not want to disturb that, so he took a deep breath and stared at his brother for a moment. `What is he looking for?' Inuyasha wondered, seeing Sesshoumaru's gaze dart across the sky. Tearing his eyes away from his brother, he lifted his own eyes to the sky.

They sat there in silence for a while before Inuyasha glanced over at his brother, who still scanned the sky for something. Frowning, he looked back to the sky, then back to his brother, back to the sky and again to his brother. This went on for a few minutes before Sesshoumaru sighed.

“Will you stop that?”

Inuyasha twitched. “Sorry. What are you looking for?”

Sesshoumaru lowered his gaze and peered at Inuyasha. “The moon.”

“Oh.” Nodding, the hanyou smiled. “I watch the moon.”

Sesshoumaru smirked. “Why is that?”

Inuyasha smiled. “All Hanyou's have a specific cycle during a month that they fear. I am no different. I watch the cycle of the moon every night, dreading that one particular cycle that changes me.”

Sesshoumaru frowned. “Changes you? You mean when your human blood takes over and you are left defenseless.” Smirking, Sesshoumaru turned his gaze away. “How close to that night are you?”

“Too close.” Inuyasha whispered. “Will you be traveling with us to find this rift?”

Sesshoumaru snorted. “What choice do I have? You heard them, we have to work together. We need both swords to show us the way, Inuyasha.”

The younger brother nodded. “Then you will see what cycle of the moon changes me. That is something I don't particularly want you to know.”

Sesshoumaru frowned and stared at his brother in surprise. “Did I kill you that time you were full youkai?”

Inuyasha shook his head.

“Then what makes you think I would kill you should you be human? If I kill you Inuyasha it will be when you are in your hanyou self.”

Inuyasha glared at his brother for a moment. `If?' He thought. Turning his eyes back to the sky, he glared at the small sliver of moon that began showing against the darkening sky. “Dammit.” He growled. Counting silently to himself he figured he had two or three days until the new moon.

Sesshoumaru frowned and turned his head to stare at the moon that seemed to push through the dark blue sky. Glancing back at his brother he saw Inuyasha's mouth move in silent counting. “Its close isn't it?”

Inuyasha froze, but after a moment he nodded. “Too close. Maybe a few days.”

“What did you do when you were younger and this happened?” Sesshoumaru asked, feeling a strange sensation enter his soul.

“I hid. Where ever I could, I always hid so no one would find me. I still do.”

Nodding, Sesshoumaru frowned deeper and scrutinized the moon. `A few days, would be a new moon.' Startled, his mind ran back to Inuyasha's birth. He had been born on a night with no moon. Blinking with sudden realization, he snapped his head back to his brother. “It's the new moon isn't it?”

Inuyasha sucked in his breath sharply. “Why do you say that?”

“You were born on a night with no moon. It was the night of the lunar eclipse that you were born actually. In a few days the moon will vanish for the night, which would mean there is a connection on the night of your birth to the night you loose your youkai power.” Sesshoumaru spoke quickly in a hushed tone. Feeling his frown deepen even more, Sesshoumaru thought back to his first discovering Naraku. “When was the first time you saw Naraku?”

Inuyasha shook his head. “Umm.” He paused. “My first knowledgeable discovery of him, or the first time I actually laid my eyes on him?”

Sesshoumaru tore his gaze from the moon. “When you first discovered his betrayal. When was the first time he tangled his hanyou self with your life?”

“I think it was the night I was sealed. I didn't discover that until only months ago. I believe it was Kikyou who had her first encounter with him, but Kaede would know about that.”

Sesshoumaru nodded.

Inuyasha pondered this. “Didn't Naraku tell us that he can change his night? That it is his doing on which night he looses his demonic power?”

“So he says. If that is true, then it is because of the constant changes he makes to his body. His absorption dates, now if we can figure out when he plans on absorbing his next victim, perhaps we can figure out the cycle when he is at his weakest.”

“Sorry to bust your bubble, Sesshoumaru, but we do have a little problem of our own that we need to take care of first.”

“Bust my bubble?” Sesshoumaru blinked.

Inuyasha giggled. “It's something Kagome says all the time. Sorry.”

Shaking his head confused, he lifted his gaze to the moon once again. “I used to watch the moon with father.”

Inuyasha smiled. “I wish I could have known him.”

Sesshoumaru sighed. “Just watch the moon and do your thinking in silence.”

Grinning now, Inuyasha jumped off the branch landing with a soft thud on the ground. Racing into the cave, he hoped his friends remembered his night of uselessness and weakness.

His friends turned to look at him as he entered the cave. “Hey Inuyasha? Something wrong?” Miroku asked seeing his racing.

“No, but we will have a problem in a few days. Has anyone noticed the moon lately?” Inuyasha groaned, waving his hand to the gaping hole that was the entrance of the cave.

“That's right!” Kagome gasped. “The new moon.”

Inuyasha glared at her.

“Well, we will just have to remain hidden, and keep our eyes open for signs of danger.” Miroku sighed.

Rin looked over at them. “What's wrong with the new moon?”

Sesshoumaru walked into the cave. “It's when things get complicated, Rin.” He muttered.

Kagome turned to stare at him. “You know?”

Sesshoumaru nodded. Seating himself beside Rin he frowned when his eyes saw Toutousai. “What are you doing with my sword, old man?”

“Polishing.” Came the distant mutter.

Rolling his eyes, he turned his gaze to Rin. Fighting the question that came to his lips, he grumbled. He was feeling restless, standing up Sesshoumaru began pacing. Taking a deep breath, he let it out with a huff.

Inuyasha stared at him. “What's wrong with you?”

“I'm restless. I need to do something.” Sesshoumaru muttered absently.

“I'm hungry.” Rin sighed.

Sesshoumaru nodded. He turned to ask her that question that sat on the tip of his tongue and he snapped his mouth shut with a click, biting his lip trying to hold the question at bay.

Inuyasha grinned. “There is a stream nearby.” He smirked when Sesshoumaru turned around nodding.

Rin suddenly jumped to her feet. “We can go fishing!” She exclaimed.

Sesshoumaru felt a smile pull at the corner of his lips. `What a smart girl.' He thought silently, relieved he didn't have to ask. Grunting with indifference, he turned away from the group and made his way out of the cave, following the smells of fresh water. Soon he was accompanied by the others, and he almost jumped when Rin raced past him in excitement. Even Jaken seemed to be excited, since Rin had taught him how to catch fish. “Heh.” Inuyasha fell into step beside him.

“You should have just said something.”

Sesshoumaru grunted.

Inuyasha rolled his eyes, and then he grinned and darted after Rin and Jaken. “Perhaps having a little fun wouldn't kill us, right?”

Sesshoumaru shook his head. `Fun?'

“I'll race you, Sesshoumaru.” Inuyasha's voice cried out from far a head of him.

Frowning, he lifted his gaze at the challenge. “You had a head start, mutt.” He remained walking.

Inuyasha grinned and stopped. “Fine. I'll wait.” If he was stuck in a child's body, then he wasn't going to be the only one who found a bit of joy in it. If he had to beat it into his brother, then that was what he was going to do.

Before Inuyasha could recover from his thoughts, Sesshoumaru raced by him and pushed him to the ground.

“That is not fair.” Inuyasha cried, getting to his feet, and racing after his brother.

“Children.” Miroku muttered.

Sango smiled. “This should be interesting.”

Shippo pouted.

“Why don't you join them Shippo?” Kagome laughed seeing the pout on the young fox's face.

Without a word, Shippo hopped off Miroku's shoulder and bolted down the path after the others.

Kagome looked on her shoulder at Myoga. “Is it ok to let them act like kids, Myoga?”

Myoga nodded. “I don't there is any harm in it, but be wary about their actions. If they start acting like this all the time, then I would worry.”

“What signs should we be looking for?” Kagome asked, looking back to where the children had raced.

“Constant play, Inu pups play rough and don't have a care in the world. They are mischievous, sneaky, always up to no good. I'm sure Toutousai can converse with the swords to find out exactly how long they have to find this rift and seal it.” Myoga said seated contentedly on Kagome's shoulder.

Kagome nodded, and hoped that was what Toutousai was doing back at the cave. He had waved them off, saying he wanted to polish the swords and repair any damage he found. Sounds of splashing water reached her ears and she grinned. Happily she ran towards the stream, and came upon it moments later.

Rin was wading in the water, her kimono hiked up to stay dry. She was hopping from foot to foot, chasing what fish were in the stream, towards Jaken who scrambled through the water awkwardly.

Inuyasha sat on the bank and watched the fish curiously, as if he were trying to remember how to catch them. Sesshoumaru was beside him, leaning over dipping his left hand into the water, trying to scoop up the fish that evaded Jaken's grasp, and Shippo was sitting on a stray rock watching them as if he were the one who was protecting the children. Kagome grinned.

A sudden splash made her look back towards the water, and she saw Sesshoumaru head first in the stream, with his feet in the air, and a grinning Inuyasha dusting his hands off with contentment. The hanyou turned away, and bolted towards Kagome, before Sesshoumaru had pushed himself out of the water eyes narrowed, and looking around for his brother.

Inuyasha darted behind Kagome's legs and she gasped. “Why are you hiding behind me? I'm not going to save you.” She stepped away just as Sesshoumaru's eyes landed on Inuyasha whose eyes widened. Gasping, he jumped behind Miroku's legs, and Miroku shook his head stepping away as well.

“Hey!” Inuyasha whimpered, his eyes widening even more as he took in his brother's casual walk towards him. Holding his hands out and backing up, he darted behind Sango's legs, and gripped her kimono tightly in his little hands, holding on for dear life.

“No way.” Sango muttered, prying Inuyasha's hands from her clothes. “You are on your own, Inuyasha.”

Whimpering desperately, Inuyasha glanced around him. “Traitors.” He grumbled, and spun around taking off down the rocky shore of the stream.

Sesshoumaru grinned, nodding his thanks to them as he continued to walk casually after his brother. Kagome grinned. “He does deserve what ever Sesshoumaru does to him this time.”

Miroku chuckled and nodded in agreement. Sango placed her hand over her mouth also nodding. They turned their heads when they heard a shout of surprise, a large splash, and then silence. Glancing at one another curiously, they saw Sesshoumaru strolling back towards them, a small smile on his lips and a glint in his eyes as he dusted his hands off. Nodding to them once again, he went back to his spot by the water, and they turned their heads back to where Inuyasha had vanished.

Soon a rather wet child stumbled across the rocks, defeated. His hair was plastered on his head, his ears drooping slightly and he glared at them. Curling his lip he walked up to them and thought for a moment. Dropping down to all fours he shook himself spraying them all with the water that flew off his clothes and out of his hair. With a smirk and a sniff, Inuyasha turned away and dropped back down beside his brother, still pouting.

Kagome blinked, and turned her head to Miroku and Sango who also stood there a bit stunned. Frowning, Kagome narrowed her eyes and stalked towards Inuyasha. “Inuyasha!” She cried.

Inuyasha stiffened, glancing over his shoulder, he felt his eyes widen drastically as she stormed over to him. Yelping, he took off down the other side of the stream, covering his ears with his hands as he ran.

Smirking, Sesshoumaru took a deep breath and sighed. This was turning out to be a very good evening.