InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Price of Freedom ❯ Fifteen ( Chapter 15 )

Inuyasha leaned his chin on his fist as he tried not to fall asleep as the report droned on and on. His mind began to naturally wander.

He looked out into the garden where a light blanket of snow covered the veranda and all of life was preparing to go underground. His eyes became vacant as he rehearsed the edited version of the report that he would give to his brother.

Since he stepped into the fortress walls, he had hardly had a moment to himself, had not even gotten a proper nights rest, or a proper bath. In a small way, Inuyasha was grateful for the frenzy of activity which starved off the feeling of the walls closing in on him.

He wouldn't allow himself to dwell too long on his thoughts or he would stumble between the gaps of his own piss poor judgement. I'm an idiot, a complete idiot. Inuyasha closed his eyes at the barrage of his thoughts, and waited for the wave of self loathing to die down.

"Lord Inuyasha! am I boring you?" The flea demons voice cut into his self deprecating talk, bringing him back to the room as he blinked dumbly. For a moment he felt like a school boy caught doing something shameful. He scowled as his eyes refocused on the minute demon, who sat across the round oak table, propped up with too much self importance.

"As a matter of fact, yes, yes you are." He said frankly and wondered idly how long he had been sitting. He glanced down at the set of maps marked in red ink and scrubbed his face, when the symbols began to blur. Between briefings, he missed the leisure of a good run, the lush, open canopy, and the natural calming effect of the wilderness.

Myoga's faced flushed in indignation, and he narrowed his eyes at the young lord's nonchalance.

"My Lord, I'll have you know that these are very trying times. And I have been entrusted with the honorable task of bringing you up to speed you on the matters of this kingdom, which your sovereign father laid down his life to protect." The flea demon began his impassioned lecture, and Inuyasha shifted, muffling a sigh as he longingly eyed the pine tree in the distance.

"Don't you ever get tired of hearing your own voice, old man? For the last time, I got all of that, let's just skip to the part that actually matters."

Flabbergasted at his abrupt remarks, the flea demon launched into a impassioned plea for the young lord to be sensitive to these matters, and how could he possible forget the sacrifices his holier than thou brother and father made to get him into this current position?

Inuyasha half groaned, half tuned the pesky demon out.

It didn't take much to make Myoga scandalized, and these days, everyone seemed on edge and Inuyasha was growing tired of it all. It reminded him that he was no good at these matters, and for all the years that he was trying to be something that he was not. He was not suited for all of the useless decorum.

"My lord, I am deeply troubled that you do not understand the gravity of the situation. In your absence, much has taken place and I am sure you are aware that we are in the middle of war, and we have a traitor amongst our ranks trading secrets to our enemies!"

That got his attention. When he left the border town and received the letter, he could not conceal his surprise that his bastard of a brother had let his guard down. These were very different times and he had a feeling that things would get a lot worse before they started to get better.

"I know that much, I'm not a complete idiot. What I don't understand is why we have to walk on eggshells like we're on some damn trial. It doesn't take much to lure out a rat, so let's just act on what we already know and be done with all of the crap."

"Well, I'll have you know that as Lord Sesshomaru's beta, you must be briefed on every new development. And while I admire your gusto, all good leaders must think, plan, and strategize before they act." Myoga began in his automatic, nasally time for a lecture tone that Inuyasha was too accustomed to.

"Right..." Inuyasha brusquely stood up, "Well if you're finished with the dry lecture, I'm going to go get some air. Be back in a second." He lied, as he tried to excuse himself despite the flea demons adamant protestations about duty and obligation. Feh. Of all the hypocrisy. It was not like his presence was accepted, and he was getting annoyed at the pretentious act.

"You will do no such thing." A stern voice cut in, as Sesshomaru glided into the room, causing Inuyasha to tense.

"If it was your idea to bore me to death, then you're succeeding. Just give me the facts straight, without all the stupid lectures ." Inuyasha cracked his knuckles, and rolled some of the tension from his shoulder, as he faced his brother blocking his escape.

"Myoga, leave us." Sesshomaru ordered, as the flea demon bowed and made an hasty exit.

Years of history stood between the two brothers, as Inuyasha sized up the older demon, preparing to fight his way to freedom. Sesshomaru coolly regarded his half brother's tensed jaw, and the ragged look about him.

"Sit." The daiyokai ordered, and Inuyasha growled in warning, as an old defense mechanism kicked in, and his stubborn nature reared its head.

"If you think you can order me around like one of your little vassals, you have another thing coming."Inuyasha spat out, his rebellious streak already began to wear on the older demon.

For a moment Sesshomaru's eyes flickered to the large portrait of their late, sovereign father looking over the pair. A sudden burst of old resentment warmed Sesshomaru's gut, as his fathers eyes came alive, full of mystery and amusement. Father, you old fool. The daiyokai thought with scorn, as he tried to collect his composure.

He had done everything that his father had asked of had taken in the ungrateful filthy wretch, prepared a place for him, and had even made the wretch his beta after much deliberation and backlash from his court. And yet, at every turn, the damnable half breed saw to it to undermine his efforts and try his waning patience.

"Please Inuyasha." Sesshomaru tried again. Inuyasha narrowed his eyes, not buying his act for a minute, but despite his distrust Inuyasha slowly slunk down on the cushioned floor, an uneasy expression warring on his face. In all his years, Inuyasha had never heard his brother say such a thing to anyone. He wondered how bad things must be if Lord Jackass himself was changing his tune so dramatically.

Time stretched between them, as Inuyasha crossed his arms and looked away.

"Heard you were ambushed." Inuyasha finally muttered.

"Yes," The daiyokai drawled out, " that's why I sent for you..welcome back Inuyasha. I didn't know you'd be gone for a fortnight and a half. Tell me brother, how was your patrol?" Sesshomaru asked, as he watched with mild suspicion as a dark expression crossed the half demons face, and for a second Inuyasha hesitated.

"Same old, same old" Inuyasha began with practiced ease, he did his best to keep his facial expression neutral. " I was able to safeguard the borders inside the human settlements, but those idiotic wolves kept encroaching on human territory. That bastard Koga almost got his ass handed to him by those hideous bird shits. Hell, I almost let them too, and let nature finally do its job and rid itself of one less fuckup. If wasn't for-"

Inuyasha shut his mouth when he realized what he was about to say. Kagome's face flashed in his minds eye and his gut clenched. Shit, that was too close. He was definitely more than a little off form. He couldn't even get through a goddamn report back. Inuyasha felt a familiar mix of shame and self loathing, he silently reprimanded himself, as his brother narrowed his eyes at the change in the half demons scent.

"If it wasn't for what Inuyasha?" Sesshomaru pressed.

"I would've left that moron to fight his own battles, but I was in a generous mood that day." Inuyasha lied easily, he winced internally at his own shit attempt to cover his hide, knowing fully well that he would have never lifted a finger to help the wolf if it wasn't for the woman.

Sesshomaru's icy gaze bore into his half brother, who stubbornly stared back, as if daring the daiyokai to challenge his report. Sesshomaru drummed his claws on top of the polished oak table. He knew that Inuyasha was withholding information, something had happened to the half demon and for some reason outside of his own pigheadedness, Inuyasha was not being honest.

He was fine with that, he knew his brothers weakness lied on his reliance on emotion rather than logic, and he would draw the truth out.

"Koga sent word to us recently." The older demon began carefully, "His tribe has been decimated and he is the sole survivor" Sesshomaru finished with little emotion. If he was honest, he had never liked the wolves, and only honored their covenant out of loyalty for his father.

He saw them as a thorn in his side and far too weak and inferior to be considered as allies. Secretly, the daiyokai was not to troubled by this unfortunate turn of events. Sesshomaru was more worried about the force that wiped the wolves out of their miserable existence.

Inuyasha's face drained of all color, and he broke out of his nonchalant defense.

"W-what?" The half demon lord stammered. He had never like the wolves, or cared that much for Koga if he was completely honest, but the idiot wolf took care of his own and he recalled that their was women and children counting on him for their survival. Inuyasha ran a hand through his hair.

"Shit. How long ago was this?" Inuyasha asked, as his mind was racing a mile a minute. He told himself that when he got back to the fortress he would put his patrol behind him, rest his aching muscles, and redirect his energy to more important matters.

He cursed himself for the umpteenth time, and was sorely tempted to storm out of the meeting, and gather his bearings.

For a moment, he forgot about Sesshomaru. All he could focus on was Kagome. Why was it so easy for him to walk away? He left her alone to return to a village full of ghosts, how did he know that she was safe? He wondered if she had gone back to Koga's people, seeking refuge, and his heart hammered in his chest. The stupid girl.

Sesshomaru studied Inuyasha's reaction with growing interest, he steepled his fingers together as he weighed the stench of Inuyasha's fear, which rose between them. Hn, very interesting.

"That is a trivial concern. But Koga's predicament has raised some red flags." Sesshomaru laid out flatly.

"They were our comrades, doesn't that mean anything to you?" Inuyasha started, banging his fist on the table, as he glared at the daiyokai with open dislike.

"My opinion on the wolves doesn't matter. I believe that the attack on Koga was no accident." Sesshomaru pulled out a piece of paper, and unfolded it, placing it on the table between them. Several red x's where crossed out and Inuyasha waited impatiently for him to go on. "These are the tribes that we are allied with."

"Okay?"

"Look closer brother. All of these tribes, including Koga's, have been attacked and nearly decimated. First, the northern tribes, then the eastern tribes were attacked shortly after, and now the southern tribe. Which means that our enemies are making their way west."

"They wouldn't be so stupid to come here, bold as day. Besides, how do we know that this isn't just some coincidence? You know everyone has gone raving mad and it could just be minor tribal wars that's taking them down."

"I got word from my intelligence.. they found evidence that something unlike anything we have seen before is brewing right under our noses. The humans are getting smarter, more adept and dangerous." Sesshomaru, slowly reached for a sack tied to his belt, and he began gingerly pulling out a series of items,weapons. First a sickle and chain, worn armor still caked in blood, and a crudely made leather pouch that contained some strong smelling herbs.

Inuyasha began sneezing violently, his eyes watering.

"The hell is all that junk?"

"Demon slayers." Sesshomaru said grimly. " These items have been found scattered about each territory, amid the ruin.I strongly believe that the attacks are tied to a human lord from a minor tribe, who at this moment, is amassing an impressive army at a frightening speed. We believe that he has an army of capable fighters strong enough to take out our lesser allies."

"So what, we're supposed to be afraid of a bunch of slayers and some nobody? "

"I wish it were that simple." The daiyokai sighed, "There are rumors. Word is spreading that this human wretch has acquired a dangerous weapon that can potentially cause problems."

"Right… So there's a human who got his hands on a weapon, why get so worked up over it? We'll just show them whose stronger." Inuyasha placed a hand on the hilt of his sword.

Sesshomaru briefly closed his eyes as he wondered what went on in his brother's thick skull. He was slightly appalled at the half breeds inability to connect the dots.

"Inuyasha, do you know how demons survived for so long?"

"Feh. What does that have to do with anything?"

"Fool, you're inability to think of the future is a part of the problem. Tell me, brother, how have you survived so long with that infantile mind?" Sesshomaru, slowly got up and began to pace the large room and folded his arms behind his back pausing under the portraiture of their father. "We survived so long, because we were the superior race, humans have been under our heel since their inception. That is until we began mixing blood with prey, and compromising natural order." Sesshomaru finished, turning his back on his father, and staring down his nose at the half demon.

Inuyasha balled up his fist and gritted his teeth.

"Watch it, asshole." Inuyasha said lowly, he was not about to stand idly by and let the bastard insult his heritage.

Sesshomaru seemed to ignore the open hostility and returned to the head of the table.

"To tell you the truth, the real reason I called you back wasn't because of the possibility of treason. I knew the only way to reach you was to create a sense of urgency. You don't know the trouble my men went through tracking you down."

"You mean, you lied?" Inuyasha's eyebrows shot up in disbelief. "Son of a…you mean to tell me I came back here for nothing?"

"Call it what you will." Sesshomaru cut in before the half demon could fully react. " There might not be an enemy in our midst, but there is a greater threat that can shift the balance of power. If those fools sitting in my court caught word of these developments, I'm afraid that someone might do something foolish and I cannot afford to take risks. At least not yet."

Inuyasha began to grow agitated, this was too much at once. He felt unanchored and the stifling feeling that he managed to repress, magnified causing his throat to tighten.

He didn't remember feeling like this for a long time. It was like the day he lost his mother, and Inuyasha was launched back to those early years in the fortress, when he was bought from his mothers small village, to his father's cold, restrictive home.

A father he had hardly knew. How much time had passed since he'd been that boy? Yet, he could still feel the coldness of the stone walls seeping through his robes, sense the confusing shadows huddling around him, mingling with a canopy of voices full of scorn and mockery.

He fought down that familiar sense of powerlessness, and focused his attention on the familiar twist and flare of hatred notched in his chest.

"You've lost me." Inuyasha said, "So let me try to get this straight. There was no enemy attack and you lied to the whole damn court to create some kind of cover up for what exactly?

"This." Sesshomaru said carefully as he retrieved a neatly tied scroll from his breastplate, and placed it in front of Inuyasha, who stared quizzically down at the rough drawings, and his brothers disgustingly neat handwriting marking the parchment with his own notes.

It was some kind of jewelry. Maybe a human relic. Inuyasha recalled the beaded jewelry that his mother use to wear, but he was lost as to what was brother was getting on about.

"Did't exactly peg you as the artist type.."

"Tell me what you've heard about the shikon jewel." Golden eyes clashed with golden, as Inuyasha's eyes widened. A thrill raced down his spine, as a familiar pair of brown eyes flashed in his minds eye cutting straight through him, and a strange sensation rifled through him. Inuyasha felt like he was reaching fro something inside of himself, but when he reached to grab hold of it, he was met with cobwebs.

His head began to pound. The half demon lord frowned when he realized that all he could come up with was Kagome's frightened face.

"On the southern border..there was that freak back in Honshu. He was a real piece of work, and he kept yammering on and on about this thing... this jewel. The asshole kidnapped a whole village and I guess he needed some type of human sacrifice to fuel his freakshow, but he didn't succeed." Inuyasha bit out slowly, as his brother looked at him expectantly, encouraging him to go on.

"You know, now that I think of it, those harpies back in Koga's territory where on about something strange too. I was so wrapped up in the battle that I didn't give it much thought, but the priestess said." He was on the edge of something, he could feel his instincts rise, and could still recall the dream of flesh, the stench of her blood bombarding him, and those sorrowful brown eyes reaching for him.

"Priestess?" Sesshomaru cut in sharply. Ah, that could explain the gaps in his report, and account for the subtle change in Inuyasha's scent. The damnable fool, getting himself mixed up in the affairs of humans, and a priestess no less.

"What?"

"You made no mention about a woman. Explain."

Inuyasha's eyes went vacant as he detached from his irrational thoughts.

"There was a woman near the eastern border, she was practically tied to a stake and left to die. One of those weird human rituals, I think. I saved her, and bought her to a neighboring town." Inuyasha said dully, as Sesshomaru coolly regarded him.

"It seems like you had quite the adventure little brother. I could never comprehend that particular weakness for human women. I was waiting for you to mention the woman, you practically reek of the miserable wench." Sesshomaru smiled thinly, a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, which glittered with cold contempt.

Inuyasha could never imagine that he could resent the daiyokai more.

"Feh, you make it sound like I was on vacation. She meant nothing to me, just some scrawny girl trying to find her way back home and I'm not that much of an asshole to leave a defenseless woman to fend for herself." He said too quickly.

"No matter. I had the sneaking suspicion that you would come back with something useful."Your encounters is exactly why I have chosen you for this assignment. You are to find the shikon jewel and destroy it. We have its approximate location, and some of my best scouters have their noses on the ground."

"Is it that simple? Expose myself to the enemy and sneak around like some rat? Don't we have to follow protocol, and take this up with the council of old farts?"

"I'm afraid there's no time. Formality will have to suffer. I will need my best men on top of the most important matters. Your half blood status make you the best candidate. One of my spies will rendezvous with you and you will join this troubling human lords quarry, My spy will set up the sale." Sesshomaru said, as he began to write something furiously on a piece of parchment. Before neatly folding it.

"Sale?! Wait a minute, you're selling me into slavery?" Inuyasha shouted.

"You are to meet her on the night of your weakness, and you will give her this." Sesshomaru continued and he handed the paper to Inuyasha.

"You will infiltrate the human lords camp and act accordingly. Jaken will have more instructions for you." The daiyokai finished. It was an order and Inuyasha bristled as he clenched his jaw.

"Oh and Inuyasha, on this assignment, try not to trifle with any more human wenches. "

"Jackass.." He pushed himself up and sauntered off to his quarters to brood over his luck.