InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Princess and the Pauper ❯ Chapter 12 ( Chapter 12 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

"Why, little brother, I am happy to see you too." said the man in a sarcastic tone.

"Lay off, Sesshoumaru. I asked what do you want?" demanded Inuyasha.

"Nothing much, really. Just your eye."

"Say what? What nonsense are you talking?"

Sesshoumaru walked closer to Inuyasha, who backed away, pushing Kagome behind him,

"I see you are in the company of a mortal girl." said Sesshoumaru.

"Yea, what of it?" asked Inuyasha angrily.

"Is it a taste from Father? You really are pathetic, Inuyasha. You may be a half-breed but you have my father's great and powerful blood flowing through your veins. The least you could do is fuck a demoness." Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed.

Inuyasha growled fiercely.

"Oh, but is it because even a low class demoness wouldn't have a half-breed ... even if he were the son of the greatest demon to ever walk the earth." Sesshoumaru taunted.

Kagome felt Inuyasha's body tremble. Was it anger? Or maybe ... fear?

"Sesshoumaru, you don't belong around here!" Inuyasha yelled "Go back to the Western Lands where you belong."

"Not without what I came for." said Sesshoumaru, sinisterly.

"Allow me to handle him, m'lord." said a green creature at his side.

"No, Jaken. I will handle Inuyasha." Sesshoumaru said, as he glided effortlessly to his brother's side.

Grabbing Inuyasha by the neck, he lifted him up in the air. Kagome screamed as Inuyasha struggled,

"What the fuck are you ... cough cough." Inuyasha started.

"Ahhhhhh. Yes." Sesshoumaru said, as he used his other hand to draw out Inuyasha's pupil to Kagome's shock and Inuyasha's pain,

"Toutousai. Torturing you did prove useful. It is right where you said it would be." Sesshoumaru smiled wickedly as he dropped Inuyasha to the ground.

Kagome ran to Inuyasha's side. Inuyasha was holding his neck and sputtering,

"What did you do to him?" asked Kagome, fearfully.

"I do not answer mortals. They are beneath me, woman." Sesshoumaru turned his attention back to the small orb in his hand, as he rolled it around in his fingers,

"That is it, m'lord, the fabled black pearl!" said Jaken.

Shouts were heard from the castle,

"Let's go Jaken. We have no time to waste here." Sesshoumaru said, lifting off the ground and flying away.

"Inuyasha, what was that black pearl for?" Kagome asked.

"I don't know. How would I know? I didn't even know it was there." muttered Inuyasha.

The shouts and guards became closer,

"Hurry Master, you must follow Sesshoumaru." came a tiny voice.

"Huh?" said Kagome.

"Myouga? Is that you? Where did you come from?" asked Inuyasha of the tiny creature.

"Hurry. That pearl contains your father's treasure. A treasure that belongs to you." said the creature.

"Treasure? Like I care about anything of my father's" commented Inuyasha.

"You should, Inuyasha. You didn't know your father and yet he left something precious behind. It must be precious and it must belong to you if it was hidden in your eye." urged Kagome.

Inuyasha growled, "I didn't say I wasn't going after Sesshoumaru ... I just said I wasn't interested in the treasure. But, he's gonna pay for insulting Kagome! Kagome, you stay here ...."

"No way. I'm coming with you." she stood up defiantly.

He looked into her green eyes and saw the determination in them. Realizing the guards were right on their heels, he grabbed Kagome and headed into the trees, following his brother's scent.

They found Sesshoumaru on a hilltop and saw a hole open in the air,

"A portal." exclaimed Kagome, "Go through it Inuyasha!" she told him.

"Errrrggghhhh ... I hate being told what to do!" he told her, but jumped through the portal anyway, "You should have stayed behind." he said to her, realizing his goof of bringing her with him,

"I belong with you." she stated emphatically, "You are my protector, right?"

"Yea, but this is Sesshoumaru we're talking about. Humans are garbage to him." Inuyasha stated, worriedly.

"You'll protect me." she said, softly, as she kissed his cheek.

As they exited the portal, they deftly landed on a skeletal bird. Kagome gasped at the sight that met her eyes. Inuyasha merely said softly,

"Dad."

"That's your father?" she said, looking at him, "His bones are huge!"

"Yes" said Myouga, "That's his true self, unencumbered by the skin."

"Let's go, bird." Inuyasha said, aiming the transport towards Sesshoumaru's scent ... at the heart of his father's skeletal remains.

Gatting to the bottom of the remains, Inuyasha and Kagome landed on demon bones,

"Eeeew." said Kagome, picking her feet up one at a time and looking around.

"So, you've come, Inuyasha." said Sesshoumaru, "But, you are too late. Tessaiga is mine."

"Tess ... what? That old, rusty sword ... I don't care about that. But, I do care about you insulting Kagome."

"Oh, are you here to fight me then?" taunted Sesshoumaru "Let's see you try." he said, as he lifted up the sword, only to drop it when a powerful barrier eletrocuted him.

Inuyasha grinned broadly and laughed wickedly, "Oh really? And how are you gonna use a sword you CAN'T HOLD!"

"HALF-BREED!" Sesshoumaru yelled out, as he ran after Inuyasha.

Inuyasha pushed Kagome away and dodged the attack. Sesshoumaru looked at the mortal girl, then back to his brother,

"So her life means something to you, does it?" he said, as he grabbed Kagome and headed up to the outside.

After the shock of Kagome's capture register in his mind, Inuyasha, not knowing exactly why, grabbed the rusty sword and followed after them. Reaching the top, he was faced with his brother in his full demonic form, growling and snarling at him,

"Damn you, Sesshoumaru! Where's Kagome?" Inuyasha said, looking around.

Not seeing her, he feared the worst, "Oh no ... you didn't drop her over the ledge, did you?" he asked the huge dog.

"Master, she's down along the side." said Myouga, "She's safe for now, but you have to get passed Sesshoumaru first."

"Yea, but how am I gonna do that? He's faster than me!" he said to his retainer.

"Use the sword." urged Myouga.

"This ... thing? It can't even cut paper ... wet! How's it gonna work on Sesshoumaru? Especially when he's in his true form?" demanded Inuyasha.

"Just trust in yourself, master."

Inuyasha's eyes narrowed and he steadied himself. Looking into his brother's demonic eyes, he yelled

"KAGOME! HOLD ON! I'M COMING FOR YA! I'LL PROTECT YA!"

As he said those words, he felt it. He lifted Tessaiga up and stared,

'Tessaiga is pulsing.' he thought to himself.

He returned his gaze to Sesshoumaru, "Sesshoumaru, this is it! You'll pay for insulting Kagome, dammit!"

Inuyasha charged at Sesshoumaru as Sesshoumaru jumped into the air. Inuyasha timed his move as Sesshoumaru prepared to pounce on his brother,

"You BASTARD!" yelled Inuyasha, as he leaped into the air to meet his brother halfway.

Slicing through the air, the sword made contact with Sesshoumaru, slicing him under the neck. As blood fell from his injured body, Sesshoumaru came around for another attack. Inuyasha was ready for him, and shoved the sword deep into Sesshoumaru's chest. Yanking the sword out, Inuyasha stood, setting up for another attack.

Sesshoumaru stood, unsteadily on his feet. Before Inuyasha could move, Sesshoumaru curled up into a ball and disappeared, with Jaken following close behind.

Inuyasha laid down the sword and ran over to the edge. Just below him was Kagome, pressed tightly against the side. He extended his hand,

"Take my hand, Kagome." he urged.

She reached up and grabbed his hand and he lifted her easily to safety,

"Come, my lord." said Myouga, "We must hurry before the portal closes."

Inuyasha grabbed the sword and the trio flew back to the portal and re-entered, exiting on the other side, safely in the grass. The portal closed and fell softly and silently back into Inuyasha's right eye.

Inuyasha looked at the sword, which had reverted back to it's old, rusty form,

"It looked like a ... fang." said Inuyasha.

"It was a fang. Your father's own fang forged that sword. It was forged to protect your human mother and you, master. When you vowed to protect the young lady, it transformed into it's truest form."

"Who is that?" asked Kagome.

"Oh, Kagome, this is Myouga the flea. Myouga, this is Lady Kagome, from Ireland." said Inuyasha, offhandedly.

"Lady Kagome." said Myouga, "Where is this Ireland?"

"Far far away, Myouga. I'll tell you all about it later." assured Kagome, "Inuyasha, you have something of your father's. That is wonderful." she said, sweetly.

"HMPH! Well, at least he left me something that I could use." Inuyasha commented.

"We will have to retrieve the sheath, master." said Myouga.

"Where is it, Myouga?" asked Inuyasha.

"Old Bokusenou would have the sheath for Tessaiga. He is the one that held Tenseiga's sheath." said Myouga.

"Tenseiga?" queried Kagome, "Is that another one of Inuyasha's father's swords?"

"Yes. Sesshoumaru owns that one." said Myouga.

"If he owns a sword why was he insisting on getting this sword and why did this sword reject him?" asked Kagome.

"Because Sesshoumaru hates me." said Inuyasha, "Because he can't stand that a half-demon shares his father's bloodline."

"Is that the reason?" Kagome queried, "Is he that cold hearted?"

"Yes." said Inuyasha, "And then some. C'mon. I need to get you back to the castle. The guards will be looking for you."

With that, he knelt down and encouraged Kagome to get up on his back, and raced away to the castle. Sure enough, the guards were looking for her,

"Lady Kagome, where were you?" asked one guard.

"We were worried, m'lady, are you alright?" said another.

"Please, please, gentlemen, I'm fine." she said, assuradly, "Inuyasha protected me like he promised he would. Now, please, I'm tired. Inuyasha, please walk me to my sleeping quarters."

Inuyasha nodded to her, keeping the air of dignity around her. After entering the castle, Kagome assured her father and lord that she was fine and that Inuyasha had protected her like he said he would. The lord offered Inuyasha a bag of coins,

"For your service, Inuyasha." he said.

"I have no need for money." said Inuyasha, as he pushed the bag away.

"I am very tired." said Kagome, "I will be retiring now. Good night, father. Good night, my lord." she said, as she headed up the steps.

Inuyasha followed a distance behind. Myouga was on his shoulder,

"Master?" the flea queried.

"Go away, Myouga." said Inuyasha.

"But, master"

Inuyasha picked up the flea and tossed him out a window as he passed by and quickly headed up to walk beside Kagome. With no one around, he pulled Kagome closer as he hurried up to her bedroom.