InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Crow ❯ Chapter 1

Sesshomaru sighed inaudibly as he pulled into the parking lot of the apartment complex where he and his half-brother, Inuyasha, lived. He hated the place. He hated it with all his might and for good reason. Dark, dank, practically crumbling at the seams, and rat-infested . . . It was a dangerous and unhealthy place for anyone to live in. He'd had to set traps throughout his apartment just to ensure his and Inuyasha's health. But it was all that either of them could afford at the moment. He worked for a local law firm as a legal assistant while Inuyasha played guitar for a local garage band. That didn't give them much money for rent, let alone to pay utilities and buy food as well.

`Guess it can't be helped, though,' he told himself as he brought his car to a stop. `At least . . . not right now . . . Tomorrow, it'll change . . . I can't wait for this wedding to take place . . . Then we can leave here and never look back.' Grabbing the day's paper, he climbed out of his car.

"Sesshomaru!" a familiar voice called out.

At the mention of his name, he looked up to see his brother walking towards him, a light scowl on his face. Not sure if he should be worried or indifferent, Sesshomaru calmly approached the hanyou. After all, it didn't take much to set him off anymore, especially since they had moved in to this place.

"Yes, Inuyasha?"

"Rin's inside," came the simple statement, his way of saying the girl's mother had, once again, neglected her. "I'm going to get some food. I'll be back."

Before Sesshomaru could protest, Inuyasha was gone, his hands shoved into the pockets of his leather jacket. Shaking his head slightly, Sesshomaru entered the dilapidated building and climbed the stairs all the way to the top floor. Rin's living conditions were almost as terrible as theirs. Maybe even worse, he often mused. Their father had been a powerful youkai businessman and wealthy to boot but had passed away several years ago. He had left them a great inheritance but had put a clause in it. They couldn't collect on it until Inuyasha got married. Why he had decided that, no one could say and Inuyasha finally had to leave that fact out when looking for a potential mate. Their young friend had not fared as well, however. Rin's mother, Kagura, had amounted to not much of anything in her life, being a drug addict and a drunk for who knew how long. The woman worked in a dive called The Pit, often there for long hours and when she wasn't working. He surmised that the woman probably dated some loser that lived there, keeping the young girl for the welfare benefits, and that ultimately jeopardized Rin's well-being but really had no way to prove it unless he called child protective services. However, if he did that, there was a good chance that, while she'd be placed in a good, foster home, she wouldn't be allowed to come and visit him and Inuyasha, given the neighborhood they resided in. Those thoughts alone were enough to upset them.

`Some people just don't deserve the gifts that they have received in life,' he told himself as he tossed his keys on the counter. Rin sat on their couch, holding and petting Gabrielle, Inuyasha's white cat. She seemed rather unconcerned about being there or the fact that her mother had, once again, left her to her own devices. `It's a wonder she isn't into drugs yet.'

"Hello, Rin."

"Hello, Sesshomaru," she greeted, a smile lighting her face. "Where'd Inuyasha go? He said he'd be right back in."

"He went to get some food," he replied.

"Oh . . ." Her face fell then became thoughtful. "When's Kagome supposed to be back? The wedding's tomorrow," she pouted. "She has to be here! She can't miss her own wedding!"

Kagome was Inuyasha's fiancé, a dark-haired girl of Asian descent. It had taken him some time to find her but, when he had, it had been love at first sight. He had taken her out that very night and a whirlwind romance ensued. Then it had happened. He had proposed to her and she accepted, much to his, Inuyasha's, and Rin's delight. Inuyasha and Kagome had promised Rin she could be in their wedding. Two weeks ago, though, Kagome had received a call concerning her grandfather and she'd had to leave rather suddenly. But she had promised to be back the day of the wedding. The Gods themselves, she had stated, would not be able to keep her from the one that she loved.

"She won't miss her own wedding," Sesshomaru chuckled. "Inuyasha and I will be picking her up at the airport tomorrow. Don't worry. The wedding will go on as scheduled."

"Good," she grinned. "I can't wait!"

"Neither can I, Rin. Neither can I."

Inuyasha returned some time later, carrying two large paper bags that smelled strongly of Chinese food. He seemed in better spirits when he came back, his amber eyes sparkling with some shade of happiness. For that, Sesshomaru was grateful. He didn't know what he'd have done if Inuyasha had returned in the same mood he had left in.

`He's too much like Father,' Sesshomaru mused sadly to himself as he watched Inuyasha dish out food for the three of them. `He wants to help everyone that he can but he can't. He knows it but it's the only thing that truly keeps him going. That and his desire to be with Kagome.'

After they had eaten and Rin had left to "check in" with her mother, Sesshomaru slipped his jacket on. They were running out of some bare necessities and he'd forgotten to picke them up on his way home from work. Plus, he'd wanted to pick something special up for his brother for tomorrow.

"I'll be back in a little while, Inuyasha," he called out. "Try not to trash the apartment up while I'm gone." Inuyasha snorted softly but lifted his head up as he adjusted his guitar in his arms.

"All right . . . when you get back there's something I want to talk to you about."

"Does it have to do with Rin?"

"Yeah . . ."

Sesshomaru sighed as he shook his head. "Never going to give up on trying to save everyone, are you?" he grinned. He had a fair idea as to what Inuyasha was going to tell him. It had been something the hanyou had thought of before but had never acted on simply because he was a hanyou and unmarried. Tomorrow, things would change.

"Nope," Inuyasha replied, grinning back. "Never."

He paused for a moment, giving his half-brother a good, long look. Of course, Inuyasha would never give up. Their father wouldn't want him to. Kagome wouldn't want him to. And Sesshomaru wouldn't allow him to. They both knew it.

"Father would be proud of you, Inuyasha," he murmured. "You're turning out stronger than what he could have ever hoped for. You've proven all of his associates wrong."

"I know," came the sad smile. "It's because of him and Kagome that I can't give up. And I don't want to give up. Not now. Not when we're so close to changing things around here."

"I know . . . You'll keep fighting the good fight until you've drawn your last breath." Sesshomaru smirked slightly. "I'm proud to call you my brother."

"Thanks."

"I'll be back in a bit. Want anything while I'm out?"

"Nah," Inuyasha shook his head. "I'm set. See you in a bit."

Sesshomaru slipped out the door and down the stairs. Tomorrow was the big day. For the both of them and it promised to change everything.

`And then we can say goodbye to this dump,' he thought, a cool breeze touching his cheeks as he stepped outside into the night. `I can't wait.'