InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Secrets of the Shinju (Part I): Sesshoumaru's Stolen Memories ❯ Punishment for Disobeying ( Chapter 15 )

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

Chapter Fourteen

Punishment for Disobeying

After he calmed Kagome, Sesshoumaru returned to his place near the fire and looked up at the stars. The smells were familiar to him, though he didn't know why. He felt his eyes growing heavy and again was whisked away into dreams.

Sesshoumaru heard his father calling him. He was now about twelve years old. He hurried to his door and stood perfectly straight, his hands behind him. His father looked him over giving him a slight nod of approval, and then informed him that he would be joining him. Sesshoumaru followed his father and did not question him as to where they would be going. He had learned long ago that he was not to speak out of place, or there would be dire consequences.

He and his father traveled some distance to a small village. His father informed him that several of the villagers had been planting food on his land, and he would not tolerate such a thing. He told Sesshoumaru that it was his duty as his first born son to assist him in setting an example. He watched in shock as his father laid attack to the small village. He tore apart homes and slaughtered innocent humans. Suddenly there was a small girl at Sesshoumaru's feet. She was crying and trembling. He looked up at the carnage his father was leaving and without thinking grabbed the child, flying off with her. Several villages away he stopped. He dropped the girl into some mud and made sure to get rid of as much of her scent as possible. He left her at the village and quickly returned to the small village from where she came. One look at his father told him that he knew what Sesshoumaru had done.

Sesshoumaru didn't know how he got back to his home, but when he became conscious his father was standing over him. His father called him a traitor and grew eerily calm. Sesshoumaru was ordered to remove his kimono and his father whipped him relentlessly. He couldn't move for over a week. He could only lie on his stomach in his bed. Not once did his father check on him. Sakura was ordered by her father to stay away. Sesshoumaru had no contact with anyone; he could only lie in pain waiting for his wounds to heal.

Kagome and Kilala both heard Sesshoumaru whimpering in his sleep. He was lying on his stomach clutching his hands into fists. Kagome went to his side and gently woke him. Again she felt Hitomi there, and could tell his dream was disturbing him. He slowly woke but didn't try to move. "Sesshoumaru, what's wrong?" He only stared up at her. She stroked the hair on his forehead and again asked him what was wrong with him. Finally he began telling her about his memory. He gasped for breath between words and looked as though he would pass out at any moment. "I can still feel every whip mark on my body. I can't even move". She felt tears come to her eyes as she placed her hands on him. She focused her energy through them and felt them tingle. His body softened and he sat up. "Thank you" He said before he stood and slowly walked away from her.

For the first time she didn't think he was so evil after all. Sesshoumaru had lived his life in pain and abuse. He felt responsible for his mother's death and his father was a mad man. She lay down with Kilala. So badly she wanted to enter his dreams and protect him. Though she knew that doing so would be going against his wishes, and would most likely be putting herself in danger.

Sesshoumaru came back about an hour later. Kagome was again asleep with the cat. He sat across from her, not wanting to go back to sleep himself. He looked up into the sky. The moon was still high, it would be several hours before he could wake her and begin traveling. He again lay down and closed his eyes.

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Sesshoumaru was walking through a field near a local village. He was about fifteen years old. Approaching the age when demon's aging nearly came to a halt. Young demons aged much like young humans, however when a demon reached their teenage years they would remain in that form for a long time. Some for hundreds of years.

He was enjoying being outside and had no desire to return home because his father was there. He had been lost in his own thoughts not paying attention to his senses when he came upon a young human woman. She too was walking in the fields. He came to an abrupt halt and tried to remain motionless, hoping she wouldn't see him. However, she looked right at him and beamed a huge smile in his direction.

"Hello" she called out to him. He still stood unmoving as she walked in his direction. She was a pretty human, with long brown hair and sparkling green eyes. He was surprised when she walked right up to him as though she didn't fear him. The fact that he was a demon was not easy to miss. She didn't seem to care and began talking to him in a friendly manner. He stood dumbfounded at her kindness. Never since the day his mother had been killed had he spoken to a human. She eventually laughed at him and again asked for his name. He looked to the ground and told her his name.

He had a sudden rush of emotion. This woman's manner of speech reminded him very much of his mother's. The fact that she too could overlook the differences in them also reminded him of his mother. Most humans feared him, mostly due to his father's cruel treatment of them. He found himself intrigued by the girl and stayed with her most of the afternoon, learning much about humans. She did not laugh at his questions, and even asked many about demons. Finally, she jumped up and told him she had to go. "Good bye, Sesshoumaru. I'm glad we met. I hope to see you again soon." She then rushed off towards her village.

He slowly walked home, still not eager to return. The idea of sleeping outside had crossed his mind, but thought that his father would probably come looking for him. Once inside his home, he realized his father was not there. He went to his room immediately. A short time later he heard his father's heavy footsteps inside. They stopped outside his room and he held his breathe. His father burst in, his eyes glowing red. Sesshoumaru instinctively cowered away, knowing he was in serious trouble.