InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Ruins of Heaven ❯ Chapter One ( Chapter 1 )

Bored. That's what he was. Bored. Kagome had gone home to her time for a few days, for some more `tests' while Sango had taken the time to head back to her village for repairs to her weapon and paid her respects to her fallen kin. The taijiya had taken Shippou and Kirara with her as well, which had relieved him of the burden of caring for the kitsune. And Miroku . . . well, the lecherous monk had been approached by a nearby village to perform an actual exorcism. He wouldn't be back for a few days so that really left the hanyou with no one to talk to and with nothing to do.

 

Inuyasha yawned and stretched himself out amid the branches of the Goshinboku tree. Well, he did have something he could do. Granted, a nap wouldn't take that long and he couldn't very well sleep the entire time the others were gone but it was something to do at that moment. And it had been a while since he'd been able to take a nice, long nap. Without the various interruptions that had come his way since Kagome had released him from Kikyou's spell.

 

`Kind of nice to actually have things quiet for a change,' he mused as his eyes started to close. `Been traveling in a pack for so long, I've forgotten what it's like to have some time alone.'

 

Letting out another yawn, Inuyasha made himself comfortable and tried to relax. Within moments, his breathing had steadied out and his body had relaxed. It wouldn't be hard to get to sleep at this point, so long as a demon didn't attack the village.

 

`I can get to them if anything happens,' he reasoned, his mind becoming sleep-addled. `Just need to close my eyes for a little while . . .'

 

He'd just about fallen asleep when a very familiar scent reached him. Inuyasha's eyes fluttered open, his face furrowed with thought and drowsiness. If there was anything that he wouldn't let himself do, it was rest with a potential threat nearby. Inuyasha stretched some, ignoring the protests of his body as he did so. He really didn't want to get up but with a certain youkai in close proximity to him, he knew he had to. Despite his weariness, Inuyasha leapt out of the tree with the greatest of ease and landed on his feet.

 

`What does he want this time?'

 

Slowly, Inuyasha followed the scent to a clearing. He skimmed over the area quickly - wasn't much to see, just the open area and the trees - then focused his attention on the tall figure who had his back to him. Long, silver hair cascaded down the person's back while a white kimono with the red embroidery of some nameless flower along the sleeves, and a tail-like wrap floated in a light breeze. He seemed to illuminate the area, as if he were the only light. Rubbing his eyes and yawning a little, Inuyasha made his way towards his brother, idly wondering when it had gotten dark. It had been still light out when he'd started to fall asleep.

 

“It's about time you got here, little brother,” Sesshomaru murmured smoothly, turning around languidly. A light smirk graced the older male's features.

 

“About time I got here?” Inuyasha blinked, shaking off the last vestiges of sleep. “What's that supposed to mean?”

 

“It means you took your time in getting here,” came the smooth statement. “I know you detected me the moment I came here . . . yet you didn't come rushing in, sword drawn and a battle cry on your lips. That's what you normally do when you detect my presence . . . isn't it?”

 

“Yeah . . . so what?”

 

“That isn't like you, little brother.”

 

“Since when did you care?” he shot back.

 

“I don't. I just merely stated a truth, Inuyasha. That's all,” Sesshomaru murmured.

 

“So I didn't come barging towards you this time,” Inuyasha shrugged, sauntering closer. “Big deal. I'm not the only one who's acting strangely.”

 

“Oh?” Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow at him. Barely perceptible to the human eye, but noticeable to Inuyasha. Since some of his recent battles with his older brother, Inuyasha had started to make it a habit to notice any little detail his enemy did, facial expressions and all. He wasn't going to head back to the village, limping, simply because he'd allowed an enemy to get the better of him. Not anymore.

 

“Yeah . . . Don't you normally come and seek me out when you wanna fight with me?”

 

Sesshomaru smirked a little.

 

“So I do,” he purred. “Very good, Inuyasha. How astute of you to actually notice something about your enemy. Especially for being a half-demon.”

 

Inuyasha paused in mid-stride and scowled at his brother. Ire started to rise within him. His eyes narrowed. Sesshomaru always knew what to strike him with. Every single time.

 

`I can't let him goad me,' Inuyasha told himself, his hands flexing. `I can't. It's what he wants and I don't want to give that smug bastard anything.'

 

Inuyasha took a deep breath, hoping to calm himself down before he attacked.

 

“I'll say it again, Sesshomaru . . . what do you want? And you'd better have a fucking good reason for being here, too.”

 

“What makes you think I want anything from you?” Sesshomaru shrugged. “You're hardly worth my time . . . half-breed.”

 

He growled at the inuyoukai before him, his fangs bared and his hands clenched tight. All that he wanted to do at that moment was rip his brother's throat out and be back on his way. To hell with the promise to himself. He'd been in the middle of a rather nice nap when his brother had come along. He wanted to get back to it. With no further interruptions.

 

`No . . . I can't let him get the better of me . . . he wants to get me angry so I'll attack . . . I can't let him do that . . .'

 

“Why are you here, Sesshomaru? And you better give me a straight answer this time. I'm getting tired of your shit and your fucking little mind games.”

 

“Tsk, such vulgar language, little brother,” the older male mocked. “What would Father say? Do you honestly believe he'd be proud of such a pathetic creature like you?”

 

“You know I don't give a damn about what he'd say or how he'd feel,” he spat out. “Not like he was ever around for me anyway, the worthless bastard . . .”

 

Before he could say anything more, Sesshomaru's wrap shot out and wrapped around him, tossing him into the air. Pain erupted in his back as he slammed against a nearby tree then again in his chest as he hit the ground.

 

“Show some respect for the one who sired you, Inuyasha. If it hadn't been for him rutting with that human mother of yours, you wouldn't be alive,” Sesshomaru intoned coldly.

 

“Why the hell do you care what I do and what I don't do?” he rasped out, struggling to his feet. “You're not my . . .”

 

A hand squeezing his throat cut him off as golden eyes burned into his eyes. His feet dangled in the air. Instinctively, Inuyasha grabbed his brother's wrist and dug his claws into the older male's flesh.

 

“You are such a child, Inuyasha. Father died to protect you and that whore mother of yours yet you do whatever you can to disrespect him. He should have killed the both of you before you were born. It's all that you deserve. Consider this to be your lesson in manners and respect.”

 

The slight movement of Sesshomaru's hand was the only warning he had then he flew through the air once more, landing face first into a pool of water . . . and continued to sink.

 

Inuyasha's eyes flew open as the water enveloped him. He hadn't recalled seeing any water in the clearing as he had entered it nor did he recall smelling any water close by. The fact that he was sinking at a rapid pace was not lost on him, either. Panicking, he struggled to make his way back to the surface, inhaling water as he did so. Instead of going up, however, his body plunged further into the green depths.

 

`No! This can't be happening! It can't be! Sesshomaru!'

 

Clawed fingers stretched out as he reached for the ever shrinking surface. The water continued to swirl around him, and his eyes started to feel heavy, weighted down even. His body tingled, as if every part of him was coming alive . . . but he felt tired, weary. Inuyasha lunged forward in one final, desperate attempt to break free from whatever was dragging him done but to no avail. His body sank lower into the emerald depths. A pang of guilt and regret stabbed at him as his vision became clouded and the surface disappeared into green nothingness.

 

`It can't end like this . . . Sesshomaru, please . . . Not like this . . . please . . .'

 

With his lungs losing air, Inuyasha's eyes closed, his brother's words echoing in his ears . . .

 

* * *

 

Sesshomaru kept his gaze on the water, not quite believing what he was seeing. The pool itself had not been there a moment ago. At least, not that he could recall and he held pride within himself to notice everything about his surroundings. Now his brother had disappeared into its shimmering green depths . . . and had not surfaced.

 

“Inuyasha?”

 

He took a step forward, a torrent of emotions washing over him - fear, anger, panic, disbelief, sadness. Ruthlessly, he shoved those emotions to the side. He had no time for them. Drawing a deep breath, Sesshomaru straightened his back and narrowed his eyes. His brother had decided to play with him the same way he had played with Inuyasha. He was in no mood to play. Not anymore.

 

“Inuyasha . . .”

 

His next words were cut off as the water receded away from him, creating a luminescent wall. He watched as it rose higher and higher, stopping when it reached the tree tops.

 

Sesshomaru afforded himself a quick glance over this unusual sight, hoping to catch a glimpse of Inuyasha and whoever might be behind this. He knew Inuyasha wasn't behind it; his brother lacked the power and concentration to be able to pull something like this off. And he knew that it wasn't the miko or any of Inuyasha's other friends. They had left the village some time ago.

 

To his dismay, he saw no signs of Inuyasha. The hanyou had somehow managed to completely disappear in the shimmering emerald wateriness. Then Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed. Not only could he not see Inuyasha but he couldn't see the forest behind the water, either.

 

`Just as I thought . . . it's enchanted . . .'

 

Tentacles shot out at him at that moment, tentacles made out of water. Hand on his sword, he prepared to attack, to strike back . . .