InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Story Continues ❯ A Toast to Kagome ( Chapter 2 )

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

"Sesshoumaru! Where's Kagome?" Inu Yasha yelled running up to his half brother.

"She has returned home. She sends her farewell," Sesshoumaru said coolly.

Inu Yasha looked at his brother, his face contorting as if in pain, gathering tears in his eyes. He sank to the ground on his knees and said weakly, "She didn't wait for me. I was going to ask her to be my mate."

Sesshoumaru for once actually felt pity for Inu Yasha. Mostly because he knew his brother had guarded his own feelings with his fiery temperament as Sesshoumaru covered his own with a stony mask. He closed the gap between himself and his younger half brother, and put a hand on Inu Yasha's shoulder.

"Fear not, little brother. We live a long time. We shall see her again if you truly wish to be with her. I read a book that Kagome-sama had given to me about time paradox. She explained to me that youkai and the Shikon no Tama are merely legends in her time and no one knows of her journey. Perhaps we are already there in her time. I never told her this, but when she told me that there were either no youkai or if there was, they hid, I know the truth," he explained.

"And, so what is that truth?" Inu Yasha said, not convinced.

"Watch, little brother," Sesshoumaru said and closed his eyes, calling up his jyaki.

He glowed red, his hair changing to raven black, as his markings and tail disappeared. His pointed elfin - like ears rounded and when he opened his eyes, they were sapphire blue, so dark they almost looked indigo if it were not for his multi-faceted coloured irises. Inu Yasha gasped and said, "I didn't know you could do that."

His brother barely even smelled like himself, only a small percentage of his actual jyaki leaking out to detect he was youkai.

"Of course I can and you can too. It is a mere concealment spell. Yours would make you look like you do on your human night," Sesshoumaru smirked.

"So, I guess I will wait for her," Inu Yasha sighed, accepting his brother's hand to stand up.

"We will both wait," he answered.

"Keh, I knew she got under your skin too," Inu Yasha smirked, then walked back to the village.

"Yes, I believe so," Sesshoumaru replied softly into the night, Inu Yasha already out of hearing range.

If someone were watching, they would have seen a ghost of a smile upon Sesshoumaru's lips. He walked gracefully back to the village to join the festivities and then gather his retainer and ward to head back to the Western Citadel. He planned to ask Inu Yasha to join him as his half brother. Despite being hanyou, he deserved to live in his ancestral home. He had proved to Sesshoumaru that he fought with courage and upheld the honour of his family. Even before joining the Inu - tachi, he had resolved himself to never again asked for Tetsuseiga. Inu Yasha needed it to seal his youkai blood. Another reason was that Inu Yasha had finally mastered the sword and had become a formidable opponent. He was no longer disgusted with Inu Yasha, only proud to know that his half brother had grown up from being a wild child to a hanyou worth his lordly title.

Sesshoumaru arrived and noticed the sad looks among the Inu-tachi.

'Inu Yasha must have told them already.'

He sighed within the back of his mind and watched as they shed tears and eventually started sharing stories about Kagome to try to make things better. All ended with a toast.

"A toast, to Kagome, the Shikon Miko. She was our sister, our friend, and to some, maybe more. If it were not for her, we would not be here. May Kami bless her all her days. May those who can live beyond the normal recesses of time reunite with her. To Kagome," Miroku said, lifting his mug.

"To Kagome," everyone said almost in unison, clanking mugs together.

"So, what is everyone's plans?" Miroku asked, very curious.

"Yes, I was wondering that myself," Sango agreed.

"This Sesshoumaru will return to the Western Citadel. Hopefully Inu Yasha will join this
Sesshoumaru to live in his ancestral home," Sesshoumaru replied, looking to Inu Yasha.

Inu Yasha's eyes widened,"You accept me?"

"Hai, little brother," Sesshoumaru replied. "You have been gone from home far too long. You have proved yourself worthy and this Sesshoumaru is proud to call you brother."

Inu Yasha's eyes filled with tears, something so out of character that everyone gasped. Inu Yasha did not care. As a child before his mother and him were released from the palace and into the wild, he had idolized Sesshoumaru. It was his reason for wanting to be full youkai in the past. Sesshoumaru had tolerated him and his mother's presence until the Western Lands fell into war. It had not been explained to him as a child that opposing youkai from another land sought out to take over, starting with Sesshoumaru because he was so young coming into his lordship. He had been convinced to believe through the constant conversations with family of his mother that he had been banished simply for being a half - breed. However, one night weeks after Sesshoumaru had joined the Inu - tachi, the ordeal had been explained thuroughly and Inu Yasha after years of
misled anger, put it to rest.

"Hai, aniki, I will go with you," Inu Yasha hugged his brother.

"Kagome would be happy to hear this," Sango smiled as Inu Yasha stepped away from his brother and wiped the tears from his face away with the sleeves of his haori.

Inu Yasha grinned, a tooth slipping over one side of his lips and replied, "Keh."

"Well, Ginta, Hakkuku, and I will be returning to our den. I have sent wolves out to inform Ayame that I will be visiting her soon. I wish to court her. Though I would've preferred courting Kagome, it is obvious that she only regarded me as a friend. I can smell Kagome on your lips Sesshoumaru," Kouga winked.

"Nani! You got a goodbye kiss and I didn't get anything," Inu Yasha huffed.

"Little brother, it was a thank you kiss for restoring my arm. No one seemed to have noticed it since I have been here," Sesshoumaru replied coolly, raising his left arm to show the group.

"Sugoi! She is truly powerful," Kaede gasped, her one good eye wide with awe. “Ye are lucky demon lord to receive such a gift.”

"Do not worry little brother. You will get yours 500 years from now," Sesshoumaru smirked as everyone laughed.

Inu Yasha stuffed his arms in the sleeves of his haori and rolled his eyes.

"So, what will you be doing, houshi?" Kouga asked.

"Sango and I will be marrying and we plan to move to the demon slayer village," Miroku smiled, pulling Sango close to his side, his arm around her shoulders and hand on her breast.

Sango noticed, her eyebrow twitching, and her face flushed. She turned to glare at the seemingly oblivious monk and slapped him.

"Not in public. Can't you control yourself," Sango gritted out through her teeth.

"Damn bouzou ruining the moment. Hey Sango, if you want, ask Sesshoumaru to cut his hands off with Toukijin?" Inu Yasha snickered.

"Indeed. Would be my honour to grant such a wish," Sesshoumaru smirked, tapping the hilt of his sword.

"I'll keep that in mind," Sango giggled, watching Miroku pale.