InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Youkai and the Exterminator ❯ Chapter FortyFour ( Chapter 44 )

Chapter FortyFour

 

 

Sesshomaru was so angry he could hardly see straight, but he knew one thing for certain. As soon as he found out the details of what had happened to his wife, he was going to kill his little brother.

 

“Damn it, Sesshomaru!” Inuyasha twisted violently and forced his brother to break his grip. “I don't know where she is!”

 

“Then I have no reason to keep you alive,” Sesshomaru hissed. Quick as a flash he sent a streak of bright green youki to strike at Inuyasha. The hanyou threw himself to the side, narrowly avoiding his brother's attack. Sesshomaru came after him again, this time cocking back his fist for the sheer satisfaction of striking Inuyasha with his bare flesh.

 

Inuyasha growled and ran at him, finally managing to land a hard punch to Sesshomaru's jaw. “Just listen to me, you stupid asshole,” he shouted, grabbing a handful of Sesshomaru's fur pelt. “He got Kagome too, that son of a bitch took them both!”

 

“So you also failed to protect your own mate?” Sesshomaru snarled angrily. He caught Inuyasha's hair and twisted until the hanyou had to let go of him. Then he slapped his brother so hard that Inuyasha staggered and nearly fell to the ground.

 

“How dare you call yourself even half a demon?” Sesshomaru raged, his eyes glinting crimson in his fury. “You are a weak, pathetic excuse for a hanyou; even with our father's sword you cannot protect what you call your own!”

 

Inuyasha wiped a trickle of blood off his chin, glowering at his brother. “I'm sick of your bullshit,” he spat. “You bastard, why are you even pretending that you care about Sango? Didn't you throw her out?”

 

Flexing his claws, Sesshomaru advanced on his younger brother with a malicious gleam in his eyes. “My personal affairs are not your concern,” he said coldly. “She is my wife and carries my child. I do not answer to you!”

 

Inuyasha stared him dead in the eye. “She's too good for you and you know it,” he whispered. “Sooner or later you'll figure that out and so will she, Sango and her baby are better off without you.”

 

“How dare you,” the youkai hissed. He reached out and caught Inuyasha by the throat, even angrier when his younger brother made no attempt to evade him.

 

“And when Sango realizes what you really are,” Inuyasha said quietly, driving each word into his brother like a blade. “She'll leave you on her own.”

 

Sesshomaru froze, stunned to angry silence as his half-breed brother named his deepest fear. He had made a grave mistake with Sango; he had shattered the trust that he'd tried so hard to build. And he had only his own jealousy and distrust to blame. Slowly, he unbent his fingers and released Inuyasha, turning away so that there was no chance of the hanyou seeing that even Sesshomaru's mask might crack.

 

“Be that as it may,” he whispered, looking up at the trees for answers. “If she chooses to stay with me, it is her choice. I…no longer need to keep her with me if it is only by force.”

 

Inuyasha rubbed his throat, wondering at Sesshomaru's sudden change of demeanor. Could it be the bastard was actually having regrets about what he'd done? It seemed unlikely, but Sesshomaru caring enough for a human to call her his wife had seemed unlikely too. Maybe, just maybe, he had been wrong to think that Sesshomaru was unchangeable. After all, if a rude and stupid hanyou could be changed, wasn't anything possible?

 

Awkwardly, he shuffled his feet, not knowing what to say to his older brother if it wasn't an insult or a challenge. He scowled, realizing that they were just wasting time by standing here.

 

“Sango's tough,” he said gruffly, folding his arms into his sleeves. “I'm sure she's alive.”

 

“If she's not, I will hold you responsible,” Sesshomaru murmured. “I won't forgive you, Inuyasha.”

 

“You bastard,” the hanyou spat.

 

Sesshomaru smiled faintly, casting a glance over his shoulder. “I believe our father married my mother,” he said calmly, watching as Inuyasha's face turned almost purple with rage. “Can you say the same? Choose your insults more wisely, little brother.”

 

For a moment, he thought seriously about trying to strangle Sesshomaru and then with a rare moment of insight, Inuyasha swallowed his anger. The son of a bitch was trying to get under his skin, just like always. He managed to grin, not realizing that his fierce expression mirrored his brother's at the moment.

 

“I'm not the only one who needs to watch his mouth,” Inuyasha drawled. Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow and affected an expression of icy disinterest before replying.

 

“How so?”

 

Inuyasha's smile widened until it was positively malicious. “Just that the next time you call me a dirty half-breed, you might want to make sure that your wife isn't around. Remember, I've seen Sango's temper in action.”

 

The corner of Sesshomaru's mouth quirked in what might have been a smile, but it vanished quickly and a serious expression settled in his eyes. “I'm not here to waste time with idle conversation,” he said softly. “Tell me what happened that you have lost both my mate and yours, Inuyasha.”

 

“He's an idiot, that's what fucking happened!”

 

The brothers both turned, having completely forgotten the presence of Kouga and his companions. “Are you still here, stupid?” Inuyasha barked.

 

The wolf demon looked angry, glaring from one white haired son of a bitch to the other. Stupid bastards wanted to have their arguments, fine. They could kill each other for all he cared, as long as he was able to rescue Kagome. He didn't mind grinding in the fact that both Sango and Kagome were missing due to Inuyasha's stupidity; it was obvious the mutt had a problem with his older sibling. He sure as hell didn't like Sesshomaru, but the daiyoukai wasn't as dense as his half-breed brother.

 

“Something took them both,” the wolf said bluntly, dismissing Inuyasha and pretending not to enjoy the angry flush that lit the hanyou's face. “Same thing that tore the hell out of me before Naraku dropped me at your fucking fortress. Now mutt-face might not give a damn, but I want Kagome back.”

 

“Are you saying that Naraku's minion has taken my wife hostage?” Sesshomaru said, deadly intent radiating from his soft voice. His eyes glittered at his younger brother. “You careless fool, if you've involved my wife…”

 

“She was already involved,” Inuyasha snarled “That's what you keep forgetting, Sango has her own revenge to settle against Naraku.”

 

“I forget nothing,” Sesshomaru hissed, his fangs glinting as he bared his teeth at Inuyasha. How dare the whelp accuse him? “I specifically sent Jano to protect her, since you are so obviously incapable of doing anything right, and now I find my bodyguard's blood coating the ground. Are you responsible for that as well, little brother?”

 

“Don't you accuse me of that!” Inuyasha shouted. “I didn't tell him to get himself killed!”

 

Sesshomaru's face turned even paler, making his eyes seem ghostly. “Killed?” he whispered. He refused to believe it. Jano was injured, but no doubt he was still at his duty, tracking Sango somewhere in the forest. It simply wasn't possible.

 

Kouga stepped up and smacked Inuyasha on the back of the head. “Tell him,” the wolf hissed, his pale eyes going dark with anger. “Tell him what really happened!”

 

“We were attacked,” Inuyasha said bitterly, looking away. It was his fault, no matter how much he hated to admit it. “We got separated, Sango went after Kohaku, and Kagome went after Sango. They were attacked and Jano must have tried to defend them. I thought he was already dead, but Naota said not.”

 

The effect of that name upon Sesshomaru was startling. His brother's face was transcended by sudden rage and he moved like a flash to seize Inuyasha by the front of his haori. “Naota was here?” he demanded, his eyes glowing crimson with fury and the marks on his face writhing as he fought to contain his true form.

 

Inuyasha slapped his hand away. “That's what I've been trying to tell you!” he bellowed. “If you'd just fucking shut up…”

 

“I told that traitorous whelp to stay away from my lands…”

 

Grinning, Inuyasha couldn't help but enjoy seeing his cold, implacable brother nearly frothing at the mouth. If the situation hadn't been so grim, if he hadn't been worried sick about Kagome, he would have loved every minute of Sesshomaru's distress. Then his smile faded slowly and he glanced up at the sky. Kagome was out there, maybe suffering, and he was too busy fighting with Sesshomaru to find her?

 

The hell!

 

Sesshomaru glared at Inuyasha as the hanyou shrugged and turned away. “I don't give a damn what your problem with Naota is,” he muttered. “He took Jano back to the fortress, you can find him there and kill him if you want.”

 

“We will see.” Sesshomaru looked up at the sky and sniffed the air again. No sign, no trace of his mate. It was as if her essence had vanished from the earth, but he refused to give up and cast a calculating gaze at Kouga.

 

“Tell me, wolf,” he said, ignoring Kouga's angry look at being addressed so casually. “You said that you tracked this creature, how did you find its trail?”

 

Kouga scratched at the back of his head, embarrassed to admit the truth in front of Inuyasha. “It wasn't easy,” he said, doing his best to look thoughtful. “If I weren't so skilled at tracking…”

 

“Bullshit,” Inuyasha sneered. “I already heard those two morons of yours talking. You lost the scent over and over, it was Naota who found him again.”

 

“That noseblind human wouldn't know a scent if it jumped up and bit him on the ass,” Kouga answered hotly. “He couldn't smell your stink from downwind!”

 

“You saying I stink? No wonder you lost the trail, probably can't smell it over your own reek, mangy-wolf!”

 

“Silence!” Sesshomaru didn't have to raise his voice, the pure malice of his tone was enough to stop both Inuyasha and Kouga from their arguing. He sighed, letting a very old memory wash over him. Some of the memories were pleasant, others no more than bittersweet. For nearly a century he'd avoided thinking about his cousin, even if those memories of their childhood were some of the happiest he possessed.

 

He turned away, lost in his own dark thoughts before realizing that Inuyasha and Kouga were still watching him. The trail was cold, there was no chance however remote that these two would be able to pick it up again. His eyes narrowed slightly as he gazed up at the late afternoon sky. Particularly tonight, he mused, his younger brother would have a difficult time tracking the scent.

 

“I am returning to the fortress,” he said quietly.

 

“You're giving up?” Inuyasha asked incredulously.

 

“Fool,” Sesshomaru hissed, but he found that he didn't have the heart for malice. His mate was somewhere out there, in the hands of an abomination or a madman. “I will never give up.”

 

oOo

 

“So,” Miroku said, leaning with his chin resting on his fist. “Here we are again.”

 

“I don't feel so good,” Shippou moaned. The monk smiled at him, noticing the kitsune's hands as they went to his bulging stomach.

 

“I'm not surprised,” he said dryly. “I thought you were never going to stop eating. Don't you think that's a little disrespectful under the circumstances?”

 

Shippou looked abashed. “I always eat when I'm worried,” he said defensively. “And I'm really worried about Kagome and Sango. Do you think Inuyasha will find them?”

 

“I'm sure of it,” Miroku answered. His fingertips drummed on the tabletop as he looked down at his own uneaten meal. He hadn't been able to force himself to take any of the excellent supper, unlike Shippou, his stomach was too twisted with worry to eat. He had to smile as the young kitsune yawned widely, almost falling over in his seat. The poor kid had to be exhausted, Rin had barely even opened her eyes before Makiko's people had taken her away.

 

“Why don't you try to rest for now,” he said kindly. Shippou was already curling up on the floor next to Kirara, nestling his face in the tired kitten's soft fur.

 

“I'm just closing my eyes for a minute,” the fox said.

 

Miroku sighed and rubbed his eyes. He was feeling more than a little tired himself, but he didn't feel easy enough to sleep. He wished more than ever that he'd stayed with Inuyasha to search for Kagome and Sango. He knew that he would have probably only held the hanyou back, but he hadn't counted on how lost and helpless he'd feel once they returned to the safety of the fortress. His friends were in trouble, he could feel it in his bones, in his cursed palm.

 

What kind of a fool was he to have just left them?

 

“There was nothing you could do,” a quiet voice answered him. Miroku glanced up and smiled faintly at Naota's words. The young man who was apparently neither young nor a man smiled back at him, easing into a seat near the sleeping kitsune. He reached out to ruffle Shippou's hair, receiving a sleepy purr from Kirara who only opened one eye to look at him.

 

“What makes you think you know what I'm thinking?” Miroku asked idly. “Can you read minds as well?”

 

Naota gave him a wry smile. “I'm not that unlucky,” he said lightly. “But I know how I'd feel if my friends were missing while I sat safe. You couldn't have gone with them, Miroku.”

 

Irritated, the monk shoved away from the table. “I know I couldn't have kept up with Inuyasha and Kouga,” he said, his tone dark. “But I should have tried, maybe Kirara could have come back for me. We could have gone on together.”

 

“She's tired too,” Naota answered. He leaned back and folded his arms, giving the monk a direct glare. “You'd still be sitting on your ass in that forest, wondering what was happening. Only you'd be alone and cold.”

 

“Better than here and warm,” Miroku said bitterly.

 

Naota shrugged. “Whining about it to me won't help,” he said flatly, his eyes shadowed with his own worries. “As soon as she's rested, Kirara will take you to wherever Inuyasha is. I don't know if she'll be able to track that monster, but she should be able to find my cousin.”

 

“Speaking of your cousin,” Miroku said, “I understand you aren't particularly welcome here. What are you going to do when Sesshomaru returns?”

 

Smirking, Naota only shook his head. “Don't worry about me, monk. He hasn't killed me yet.” His eyes darkened and he looked away. “Not that he doesn't have a damn good reason to do it.”

 

Miroku frowned, hearing pain and old regrets in the man's voice. “What happened between you two?”

 

“I betrayed him.”

 

The monk laughed softly and shook his head. “You don't seem to be the type who betrays your family. And Sesshomaru isn't the kind of demon who would let someone betray him and live. What happened, was it over a woman?”

 

He was only joking, making light of the tension that seemed to drive his strange companion. To his surprise, Naota sighed and nodded, seeming to age before his eyes. “As a matter of fact, she had a lot to do with it.”

 

“Houshi-sama?”

 

They both turned and Miroku suddenly sat up straighter, a flush darkening his cheeks for a moment as he met the young woman's eyes. “Aiko,” he murmured, thinking that she couldn't possibly have grown more beautiful.

 

“Forgive me for interrupting you, houshi-sama, Naota-sama,” she said, breaking his gaze and bowing deeply. “I have been sent to bring you, houshi-sama.”

 

“By Makiko?” he asked.

 

Naota also sat up straighter, fixing the girl with a piercing look. “Is it Jano?” he demanded.

 

Aiko only looked at her feet. “Jano-san seems to be recovering, Naota-sama,” she said quietly. “Makiko-san has not sent for you.”

 

Miroku shrugged and stood up. He picked up his staff and cast an appraising look at the sleeping Shippou and Kirara. “Do you mind keeping an eye on them?” he asked.

 

Lazily, Naota leaned back and waved him away. “Don't worry about it. It's the kitchen that should be worried, I didn't know a kit that size could eat three times his weight.”

 

Miroku followed Aiko from the room, a faint smile of appreciation on his face as he reminded himself about the shape of her hips. The girl didn't look at him, walking sedately with her long braid barely swaying between her shoulder blades. He wondered what the problem was, if Makiko had really sent for him and for what reason. Suddenly he wondered if Sesshomaru had returned and reached up to gingerly feel the bruises on his throat.

 

“Aiko-san,” he said politely, drawing closer to her. “Can you tell me who has sent for me? Has Sesshomaru-sama returned?”

 

“Not yet, houshi-sama,” she said placidly. “I believe the guard has posted a watch for his return, but we are not expecting him.”

 

Her continual politeness was grating on his nerves. It just wasn't normal, he decided grumpily. He'd missed her a bit more than he'd expected, it would have been nice to have a bit more enthusiastic greeting. She'd been so passionate when he'd left, honestly, he'd thought he'd made more of an impression.

 

“So, have you been well, Aiko?” he asked, letting himself use her name because it rolled so familiarly on his tongue. Pretty name, pretty girl, he thought. She didn't turn to look at him as she led him down another long corridor. He rather thought she was taking him deeper into the fortress, not out to the courtyard as he'd expected.

 

“I have been quite well,” she murmured, her voice as gentle and quiet as her demeanor. “Thank you so much for your concern.”

 

Miroku stopped, his hands gripping his staff fiercely. “Have I done something to offend you, Aiko-san?” he asked.

 

She turned, a look of surprise in her warm brown eyes. “Of course not, houshi-sama,” she said, sounding a bit startled by his question. “Have I given you such an impression?”

 

“No,” he said evenly, counting to himself to hold his temper. “But I had thought we were close enough talk less formally, at least in private.”

 

Aiko tilted her head to the side, still maddeningly obtuse. Damn her, he couldn't tell what she was thinking. A human woman would be easier to read, Sango would never hide her anger if she were upset with him. Why did this youkai, yes, this youkai woman treat him like a stranger?

 

“Come with me,” she said, turning away again with stiffness in her shoulders. Miroku grunted and followed her, turning again down another long corridor. This one was dimly lit, only two or three candles burning to illuminate its depths. He suddenly realized how far he was from the room where he'd left Naota. It occurred to him that other than Rin, he was the only human here. And not a particularly welcome one either, much in disfavor with the fortress' lord.

 

A trap, he wondered, starting to back away. He knew he couldn't rely on Naota to back him up and he'd gone and left Shippou and Kirara in the strange hanyou's care. Again, that was a reason to not trust Naota. He admitted to having some human blood, hid his demon heritage. Couldn't it be that Naota had some reason of his own to be here, one that didn't need a wayward monk tagging along?

 

“Aiko,” he said harshly. “Tell me what this is about.”

 

The attack came so fast that he was unable to defend himself. Without a word the youkai launched herself at him, throwing him to the floor with an agile ease that he had difficulty in countering. He brought up his staff to defend himself, but she slapped it out of his hands, sending it clattering down the hall. They wrestled silently, Aiko grappling with his wrists and managing to keep him off balance with her supple grace.

 

Finally she managed to flip him over on his back, straddling him with her thighs and holding him down with both hands on his shoulders. He was breathing hard, thinking it was a bit humiliating to be beaten by a slip of a girl, even if she was a full-blooded dog demon. He decided sullenly that he had misjudged her, she was again following her sister's orders. Miroku wondered what he had done to offend Makiko, but it didn't make sense. Perhaps this was a standing order of Sesshomaru's to eliminate a bothersome monk who might have influence over the exterminator Sesshomaru had chosen for a mate.

 

“Aiko,” he whispered, loathing the thought of having to use the wind tunnel to defend himself against a woman he'd slept with. “What is this, are you betraying me? Are you following someone's orders? At least let me talk to them.”

 

Her expression flickered and she leaned forward until her nose was almost touching his. “Do you think I'm going to kill you, little monk?”

 

Her tone was mocking and he flushed, realizing that she was calling into question more than just his manhood with her comment. “I think you won't find it easy,” he replied.

 

“Easy?” she asked, leaning back and running her hands down his check. A small smile played at her lips as she gracefully started to shrug out of her yukata. “What does easy have to do with it?”

 

He stared at her, realizing that he'd misinterpreted both her distance and her intentions. “You attacked me!”

 

Aiko's delighted laugh rang against the cool walls of the corridor. “Of course I did! I missed you, Miroku. I've thought about nothing else but your touch since you left. Can't you tell when someone is happy to see you?”

 

Miroku groaned, remembering a few choice comments from Naota during their hurried flight on Kirara. Inuyoukai girls. It seemed like he was under attack but he sincerely hoped it wouldn't be lethal. He turned his face to the side passively, showing her his throat, bruised as it was.

 

“I'm completely at your mercy.”

 

She growled, pressing her body down on his. “I like that,” she answered, her voice rough and almost feral. “Do you want me to be merciful?”

 

Well, he wasn't a complete idiot. Miroku grinned at her, letting his hands wander up over her thighs. Aiko's eyes flashed at him as he caressed her hips, feeling the smooth taut skin welcoming him. Desire was flooding him, blocking out all other thoughts. Aiko arched her back as he slid his hands around her waist, grinding her hips into his with a knowing intent.

 

“Do you want me to be merciful?” she asked again, letting her clothing fall away from her skin, offering the sight to him like a gift. Miroku decided he could let her do whatever she wanted or he could try to take the advantage. The former was the safe option; Naota said that inuyoukai tended to be possessive. If Aiko had decided he belonged to her, she would do whatever she wanted. But she wouldn't really be able to regard him as a male either. If he wanted more than to be used as a toy by an avid demon, he needed to show her his initiative.

 

What a choice, he mused, smiling to himself.

 

He remained passive while Aiko started to remove his clothing, her fingers quick and expert with the complex knots of his monk's robe. Just as she finished, sliding her hands possessively over his chest, Miroku seized his opportunity. He grabbed her wrists with both hands and twisted his body so that she was momentarily thrown off balance. Aiko growled at him as he flipped her over, using his weight for leverage and trapping her under him.

 

“Now,” Miroku said pleasantly, kissing the startled girl on the nose. “Tell me again about how much you missed me.”

 

oOo

 

It hurt to breathe. That was his first conscious thought as he slowly awakened. It hurt to breathe, it hurt even more to move. His body felt like it was one big mass of bruises, but it was the pain in his gut that really got his attention. If Jano had ever considered how it would feel to have all of his internal organs ripped out, this was exactly how he would have guessed it would feel.

 

He raised a hand, fumbling over the bedclothes until he found the bare skin of his chest and slowly reached down to encounter the bandages. There were a lot of them. This wasn't good, there was a burning sensation under those bandages, one that not only stung like a bitch, and it made him damn nauseous to think about it. Grimacing, he decided to open his eyes and find out if he was going to live.

 

“Seems like I lost a fight,” he muttered.

 

A shadow blocked the light suddenly and Jano flinched involuntarily. A cool hand brushed his forehead and for the first time he realized he was a bit feverish. It bothered him more that he couldn't focus his eyes, but he knew who was tending him. Like he wouldn't remember that scent. In fact, he was really disappointed he couldn't see clearly, the way she was leaning over him right now, he'd have the most splendid view.

 

“You lost more than a fight, Jano-san,” her voice said, cool and professional. “You very nearly lost your life.”

 

“Makiko, my love,” he began, reaching blindly for her hands.

 

She evaded him easily and tucked his arms under the blankets. “If you're wondering why you can't see,” she said calmly, “it's the aftereffects of that creature's toxins. We were lucky to be able to flush it from your system, but I beg you to not exert yourself.”

 

She's pissed, he decided, huddling under the blankets like a sickly pup. The absolute neutrality of her tone, calm, unhurried, spoke volumes. If it had been nothing, she'd already be cursing him out for being so stupid as to nearly die.

 

“I do feel quite weak,” he confessed, easing back against the soft futon and closing his blurry eyes. “I will probably have to be watched carefully, Makiko-san.”

 

The woman didn't answer, moving away from him and making rattling noises as she collected her supplies. “Yes,” she answered quietly. “I imagine you will have to be tended and allowed to slowly regain your strength.”

 

That was a little more like it, Jano thought, feeling smug in the idea that Makiko would be at his side, lovingly urging him back to health. Wasn't that just almost dying for?

 

A male voice startled him, low and measured. “Almost is too vague a term, I fear, for what you experienced.”

 

“Barou?” Jano struggled to sit up, fighting against the damn blankets. The very last son of a bitch he wanted to talk to when he was lying flat on his back. The same son of a bitch that could read every thought that crested in his mind. And didn't have the damn decency to keep his mouth shut either.

 

“See, Makiko-san,” Barou said lightly. “I told you he was going to wake up feeling feisty. Death will only enhance this one's taste for life.”

 

Death? Jano glared at the blurry outline he knew was Barou. “I'm not dead, you condescending asshole!”

 

Barou made a clucking sound with his tongue. “Not at the moment.”

 

Suddenly all the strength seemed to leave his body and Jano sagged against the bed again, feeling sickened. “Not at the moment?” he echoed hollowly. Jano winced and reached up to cover his face with his hands.

 

“Please,” he begged. “Tell me that Sessh didn't use that damn sword on me! I told him that if he ever found me dead he was just supposed to leave me that way!”

 

“Don't be so dramatic,” Barou scolded mildly. “Sesshomaru-sama has more important things worry about than you. If you had died in his service, I'm sure he would honor your wishes.”

 

“Unless he brought me back to curse me for dying,” Jano muttered.

 

Barou chuckled. “See, Makiko-san,” he said, gesturing around the room with a smile. “He's already thinking like himself again. The poison has truly been cleansed from his system if he's up for his usual self-pity.”

 

“Yes, Barou-sama,” Makiko answered, her tone as smooth as the polished floors of the fortress. Jano didn't like the way it sounded, too flat, too impersonal to belong to the same woman who had only recently bedded him to near exhaustion. Was she that angry? Was she so disgusted by his failure that she didn't even care if he died?

 

“Makiko,” he whispered.

 

Barou cleared his throat. “Actually, Sesshomaru-sama only just returned a few moments ago. I will pass your regards to him and let him know that you're on your way to a full recovery.”

 

“Barou, wait,” Jano said, his hands clenching in the bedclothes. He hated to ask, he had to know the truth. “Tell me, did I die or not?”

 

There was a long silence and Jano scowled, hating the way Barou would do this. For someone that knew entirely too much of what went on in the minds of others, he was remarkably unsympathetic to those who were left in the dark. Makiko's grave demeanor and Barou's cryptic comments really weren't helping his stomach to stop throbbing either.

 

“I believe you might have come close enough to death to see the other side,” Barou murmured, almost to himself. “You certainly would have died if someone hadn't provided the precise antidote to that particular poison. Luck may have not been on your side in your battle, Jano-san, but it was definitely with you for Naota-sama to have come to your rescue when you needed him most.”

 

Obviously his injuries were affecting his hearing and Jano raised his hands to rub at his eyes and try to clear some of the fuzziness from his mind. He could swear that Barou had just said the name Naota. That was impossible, even if Naota had any reason to be in the territory, and he didn't, there was no way that fate would have brought him to the fortress.

 

“I'm not feeling too good,” he muttered, one hand going to his sore belly. “I thought I heard you say that Naota rescued me.”

 

He heard a snort that didn't sound like Barou and Jano's heart gave a hard thump when the snort turned into a chuckle. “That's all the thanks I'm gonna get, Jano? Shit, I thought we were friends!”

 

He sat up, damn the pain, and glared at the dark figure that had settled on the edge of his bed. Sniffing the air, he had to believe his nose even if his eyes weren't cooperating yet. “Is that really you, Ta-kun?”

 

“Yeah, it's me.” Naota sighed and raked his hand through his hair, glancing up to meet Barou's eyes. “You want to explain what happened to your head?”

 

Jano blinked. “My head?”

 

“Yeah, stupid,” Naota said harshly. “What the hell were you thinking, taking on something like that by yourself? I figured you must have cracked your skull to do something that stupid. You're lucky he didn't just murder you before you raised your sword!”

 

Jano didn't answer and Barou cleared his throat, reaching out to touch Naota's shoulder. “Ta-kun,” he said quietly.

 

Naota slapped Barou's hand away with a sullen growl. “You saw him, didn't you, Barou? I recognize those marks on your face. Tell me that Jano wasn't an idiot for taking on that monster by himself!”

 

“I didn't have a choice,” Jano murmured, knowing that Makiko was still present and listening. “I had to protect the woman.”

 

“And you did a great job,” Naota sneered, rising to pace restlessly around the room. “You want to tell me how much good you would have been to her if you'd died? You want to explain how getting yourself killed by the…by that thing would have helped Sango and Kagome?”

 

“It was my duty.”

 

Disgusted, Naota laughed, his voice harsh and mocking. “Oh yes, I forgot. Your loyalty to my dear cousin means that you get to throw your life away. Like your loyalty means a damn thing when…”

 

“At least he understands the meaning of the word,” a cold voice interrupted.

 

The air seemed to chill and Naota's face twisted in a bitter smile. Slowly, he turned around and faced the doorway where Sesshomaru was standing. “Well,” he said, his voice every bit as chill and hard as the air. “You've returned.”

 

“As have you,” Sesshomaru answered. Tension built as he slowly crossed the room, his face set carefully into an expressionless mask. His anger radiated from him in an aura of malice. Years of bitterness, years of betrayal, it washed over him but he let only his eyes be touched by his emotion. They glittered like sun scorched glass and now, hearing Naota's words, he felt like he could burn the traitor to the ground.

 

If he didn't need him.

 

Deliberately, because he knew nothing would anger his cousin more, Sesshomaru turned away and went to stand next to Jano's bedside. He glanced at Makiko but her expression was tightly controlled, giving nothing away. Still, he could smell the lingering scent of poison in the air. Sesshomaru frowned slightly, he knew this scent. It was unlikely that he'd ever mistake it, but as it was also impossible, he decided something was trying to trick him.

 

“Barou,” he said quietly. “Have you determined that the demon that attacked Jano is the same demon that you fought with?”

 

“Of course, my lord,” Barou answered.

 

Naota grunted, his expression still bitter. “So, cousin,” he said, sarcasm dripping from his voice. “How long are you planning on letting that abomination have free rein over your territory? Have you been so distracted by your personal affairs that you've forgotten your duty as lord of the West?”

 

“Naota,” Sesshomaru murmured. “Still your tongue before I forget that I'm tolerating your presence here. A traitor and a murderer has no place within my father's fortress.”

 

Jano sat up, leaning on his elbow when a painful hitch in his gut told him he'd better lie still. Only he had a feeling that things were only going to get worse and just like when they were children, he was the only one who could keep these two from each others' throats. “Sessh,” he said, feeling the weakness return. “I apologize, it's my fault. I wasn't able to protect her.”

 

Sesshomaru didn't even glance at him. “Quiet, Jano. If I had known that Naraku would let his minion target my wife, I never would have let her leave.”

 

“The way I heard it,” Naota said coldly, fixing his cousin with an icy glare, “you threw the woman out when she wouldn't obey. Haven't you learned in all these years that you can't expect to command the hearts of people like you would command an army?”

 

“I'm warning you, cousin,” Sesshomaru said dangerously.

 

Naota grinned, his eyes lit from within by some strange fire. His voice dropped to a hiss of contempt. “If you were half the man your father was, you'd understand what it means to give a damn about someone. I can see right now you're still every bit the selfish bastard you were back when he was alive!”

 

“Don't you dare talk to me about selfishness,” Sesshomaru said harshly. “Your betrayal caused a civil war that nearly destroyed my father's territory.”

 

Naota leaned over Jano's bed, never taking his eyes from his furious cousin's. “I know,” he answered, his voice raw like an unhealed wound. “And I'd do it again. In a fucking heartbeat!”

 

“Enough!”

 

Makiko had been standing quietly to the side, listening and taking in the strange confrontation. Apparently, Naota-sama was living up to his reputation and no doubt her lord was about to destroy him. But she wasn't going to permit it, not at this moment and not in this place. She hadn't missed the pain that had crossed Jano's features, not a physical pain from his wound, but a heartsick expression that tore at her.

 

“I will not permit you to continue this argument in the presence of my patient,” she said, her eyes glittering as she looked from her lord to his bitter cousin. “Jano-san is weakened from the toxins and needs rest to heal. I beg you, my lords, take your discussion elsewhere before you cause him more damage.”

 

Sesshomaru cast a quick glance down at his injured bodyguard, noticing again the unhealthy paleness of his face. He was not here to fight with Naota, he was not here to open old arguments and cast blame. Naota knew damned well what he'd done and the cost of his betrayal. It was time for his cousin to pay back the debt that he had incurred with his willfulness and his disobedience. Sesshomaru had every intention of forcing payment for that debt from him.

 

He turned and stalked out the door, gesturing at Naota to follow him. “Follow me,” he said in a voice that allowed for no argument.

 

“Whatever,” Naota muttered, wondering why he bothered. It would just be easier to leave before either of them had to resort to violence. However, he found that there were a great many things he'd wanted to say to Sesshomaru over the years, things that needed to be said before they ate at him for any longer. Since he was already here, they might as well have it out. It had been a very long time in coming.

 

oOo

 

Inuyasha scowled at the horizon, daring the sun to actually set. He couldn't believe that he was doing this; he should have stayed in the forest even if it meant spending the night near the mangy wolf. He would have been more comfortable if he'd been alone, but he was too worried about Kagome. He didn't think he could stand it if he tried to treat tonight like any other night.

 

There was no moon.

 

He'd fucking forgotten about it, too consumed by worry and stress. Too busy being angry with his brother; too busy trying to keep himself from going insane from being separated from Kagome. Inuyasha snorted and reached up touch one of his ears. It was still there, but not for long.

 

“Why did I let him talk me into this?” he muttered, looking out over the mountains that ringed the valley. It was a beautiful place, but Inuyasha refused to let his blood be swayed by mere beauty. He was sure the fortress hadn't been built here because of the pretty view. The mountains were all but impassable unless you knew the right way to go, a natural fortification that was enhanced by the way the mists rose and obscured the stone structure.

 

A fortress within a fortress, he thought grimly. He wondered about the other clans of inuyoukai, supposedly out there, supposedly his brother's allies. And his enemies, dog demons being a capricious bunch to begin with. He closed his eyes, trying to imagine it. Armies of inuyoukai warriors, hundreds of them, maybe thousands. Banners swaying in the breeze, battle cries and the laughter of comrades. He could see spears bristling like spines over the massed warriors; he could see the pitched battle as thousands clashed over and over.

 

He could hear the screams of the wounded, the defiance of the dying who fought to their last breath. The army would fight to the very last warrior, spurred on by loyalty and…love…of the one who commanded them. Then on the horizon, like a shining beacon, a figure that was so bright it hurt the eyes to look upon him. He saw a great sword, the blade of it glowing almost as brightly as the man who held it and his heart swelled until he thought it would burst. Instinct that he barely recognized called him to that warrior's side, urged him to fight beyond his endurance, even to sacrifice himself because that person, that lord, was worth dying for.

 

A loyalty that couldn't be shattered, a vow that couldn't be broken, a command that couldn't be denied…

 

Inuyasha gasped, suddenly realizing that he was standing alone on a tall tower, looking out over a valley as the sun began to dip beyond the mountains. There was no army; no shining figure and his heart gave a painful thump when he understood that he had been taken by a dream. This place held memories of its own and the unwary could be sucked into them like an undertow in the vast ocean.

 

“This place gives me the creeps,” he whispered.

 

If it hadn't been a moonless night, he never would have agreed to return. He hadn't meant to do it at all; only as Sesshomaru turned to leave he'd glanced back at him and met his brother's eyes with a serious expression.

 

“I am not giving up. I'm returning to the fortress to speak to Naota. If he knows how to track Naraku's minion, he might be able to find out where it has taken our mates.”

 

Then Sesshomaru had given a meaningful glance to the sky and almost smiled. “You may return with me, little brother. You will not be able to find Naraku on your own, at least not tonight.”

 

“Why not?” he demanded, angry again that Sesshomaru seemed so bent on ridiculing him. The condescending son of a bitch couldn't find them either, what made him think that tonight would be any different? Even if it took him forever, he'd search out Kagome's scent, let it call him, draw him to her like a homing call. He couldn't lose her, not even if his nose seemed to be playing tricks on him and scents were wandering away and becoming indistinct.

 

Then he'd realized what night it was and he'd cursed himself bitterly. Of course he wouldn't be able to track her tonight, he wouldn't even be able to keep up with Kouga as a lowly human. It wouldn't stop him from trying, but then he scowled, thinking of enduring Kouga's ridicule on top of everything else.

 

So Sesshomaru thought that Naota could help him find Kagome and Sango. Thought so because he'd been the one who'd guided Kouga this far, to the place where they'd found Jano bleeding out his life all over the ground. And Miroku had gone with him, the monk understanding that without Kirara he wouldn't be able to keep pace with a frantic hanyou. And Kirara was the only way to get Jano back to the fortress in time to save his life.

 

“Damn it all,” he muttered. Only the wind answered him, lifting his hair and twisting it around his face until in frustration he batted it away. He wasn't doing any good to Kagome by standing here; his restlessness was only compounded by the fact that he knew, once here, he was stuck for the night.

 

Maybe he should go find Miroku and Shippou, make sure they were okay. He'd even ask after Jano, make sure the asshole really hadn't died after all. Anything was better than just standing here.

 

He turned to leave and heard the sound of voices echoing up the stone staircase and hesitated. If he wasn't about to turn into a damn human, he was pretty sure he'd be able to hear them perfectly. Then one of the voices suddenly raised in a violent curse.

 

“Fuck you!”

 

Inuyasha found himself grinning. “Naota,” he murmured, leaning against the wall and hoping he was going to hear the rest of it. He had a pretty good idea who would be on the receiving end of a curse like that; the silence that answered Naota's voice was enough of identification.

 

A moment later his older brother emerged from the dark staircase, his face even more of a stone mask than usual. He glowered at Inuyasha for a brief moment before stalking to the far end of the parapet. In contrast, Naota's expression was livid, fury burning his face a dark red. He barely spared a glance in Inuyasha's direction before stamping over to Sesshomaru.

 

“You gonna tell me what you want?” Naota asked. Sesshomaru didn't answer, only glanced over his shoulder and then shrugged. Naota made a long slow hiss of frustration and shook his head in disgust.

 

“Fine,” he spat. “I'm leaving then. Good luck in find your woman, Sesshomaru. Good luck in finding anything left of her.”

 

“Hey,” Inuyasha said, watching as Naota spun away and headed for the stairway that he'd just emerged from. “Didn't he tell you what he needed?”

 

“Needed?” Naota looked confused, and then set his jaw stubbornly. “He didn't say he needed a damn thing.”

 

Inuyasha groaned and covered his eyes. Damn Sesshomaru. “Look,” he said, hoping that Naota wasn't so pissed off that he wouldn't help them just to be spiteful. “Kouga admitted that you were the one who was able to track that monster. I need to know how you did it.”

 

Naota snorted. “He'll take you apart, kid.”

 

“I don't care!” Inuyasha's shout made the stone fortress ring with his voice. “I don't care what you did, Naota. I don't care why Sesshomaru hates you. All I care about is finding Kagome and Sango. If he wasn't such a stubborn bastard, he'd admit that and just ask for your help.”

 

“I will not ask for his help.”

 

“You'd rather let Sango die?” Inuyasha growled menacingly. “You heartless piece of shit, I knew you didn't really care about her.”

 

“You know nothing!”

 

“Then fucking ask him for his help,” Inuyasha hissed. He turned on Naota next, advancing on his cousin with a dark glare. “And if you refuse, I'm going to beat you until you beg me to let you help us!”

 

Naota looked at him for a moment, his eyes shadowed and then he grinned. Inuyasha was startled as Naota began to laugh, shaking his head. “Okay,” he said with a smirk. “At least you mean it.”

 

Inuyasha glared at him. “What's so damn funny?”

 

“Nothing,” Naota said, grinning easily now. “It's just that you looked so much like your father when you said that. I apologize, Inuyasha, of course I'll help you in any way I can. The Daimyo would expect it.”

 

Sesshomaru made a disgusted sound. “And I expect that he would be ashamed of you both as well. Our father never begged for anyone's assistance, Inuyasha.” Meeting Naota's fierce glare, his mouth twisted into a bitter smile. “And he'd never put conditions on his assistance if someone asked for his help.”

 

Inuyasha noticed that for some reason, that comment seemed to strike home and Naota flinched, as if beset by guilt. Well, he didn't give a damn what crime Sesshoumaru thought Naota had committed. Ignoring his brother, Inuyasha folded his arms and glowered at his cousin.

 

“I don't give a flying fuck what he'd think about anything,” he said bitterly.

 

“Is that so?” Sesshomaru turned to face them, the wind making his hair dance around him in the dying sunlight. “Perhaps you don't care what he'd think about Naota's betrayal? After all, plunging his territory into a civil war wouldn't mean a damn thing to him.”

 

“I did what I thought was right,” Naota answered. “You were the one who left me with no choice, Sesshomaru.”

 

“No,” Sesshomaru answered harshly. “I was the one who made the mistake in trusting you, Naota. I made the mistake of assuming you understood the gravity of the situation, the sacrifices that my father would have expected you to make. I made the mistake of assuming that you would, for once in your life, think like a youkai and know that there were things more important than the life of a single woman!”

 

“A woman?” Inuyasha asked. “This is over some woman?”

 

“Yes,” Sesshomaru answered, noticing that Naota's face had gone pale. “He betrayed me by leaving when I needed him the most and it was for the love of a woman. A woman that he couldn't have, a woman that he wanted desperately enough to throw away everything honorable in his life.”

 

“Shut up, Sessh,” Naota hissed. “It's not what you think.”

 

Sesshomaru's eyes glittered angrily. “What, do you think that my dear, younger brother doesn't have the right to know? It wasn't out of compassion or nobility that you betrayed your people. That in the end you were every bit the fool your father was, ready to throw away everything that you once held dear because you finally saw your chance to win her heart?”

 

“I…I didn't do it because of that,” Naota murmured, his voice filled with pain. “I knew she wouldn't love me, not the way she loved him.”

 

Smirking, Sesshomaru shook his head. “Even now you deny it,” he hissed. “She had already refused you, hadn't she, Naota? Tell me, was she grateful to you when you appeared to rescue her, watch over and protect her? Did you make a condition of that also, like you would have if I'd asked your help?”

 

“I'd never do that!” Naota cried angrily. “You're the heartless bastard that would have let them both die.”

 

“Maybe,” Sesshomaru murmured. “Perhaps I should have made sure they were both dead so that your loyalty wouldn't have fractured at time when it was most needed. You accuse me of selfishness, Naota? How selfish were you the night you ran away from this fortress, not for love of my father or a wish to protect his woman and child?”

 

“Shut up,” Naota whispered, his eyes closed so that he wouldn't have to look at his cousin. Not the cousin who was maliciously naming his deepest shame, but the other one, the one that had been too young to remember him from the first time they'd met.

 

“Our cousin is quite convinced of his own righteousness, little brother,” Sesshomaru said quietly. “I imagine he'd managed to absolve himself of any guilt over the years, blaming me for my refusal to bring you to the fortress.”

 

Inuyasha felt the blood drain from his face, he suddenly felt ill. “What are you saying, Sesshomaru?”

 

Naota wouldn't look at him and Inuyasha felt a pulse of power deep within his body. He turned to look at the sky, knowing even as he did that his hair had darkened to black, his eyes had turned human and the fangs and claws had disappeared just as he became certain he was about to use them. Helplessly, he looked down at his human hands before surging forward to grab Naota and bury his fists in his cousin's shirt.

 

“No,” he whispered, disgusted and filled with hatred. “Say that he's lying, Naota!”

 

“Tell me, cousin” Sesshomaru asked, his voice pleasant and dry. “Did she submit to you then? Did you hold her baby's life hostage for her affections? It would have been easy, Naota. She was only a human woman, defenseless with a newborn baby in her arms. Do you really think that she had any choice about accepting you?”

 

Naota stared at the ground, his hair hanging in his face and a young hanyou turned human's hands at his throat. “No,” he whispered, such shame filling him that he wished again that he had died. “I knew she didn't love me. I didn't care after that. I told myself that I could make her love me, I told myself that I was doing the right thing because I was protecting them both.”

 

Somehow he'd always known this day would come, when he'd have to face Izayoi's son with the truth. She hadn't refused him, but he'd known all along that she only let him make love to her because she thought it was the only way to protect her child.

 

And he'd let her think that, knowing that if he'd said otherwise…she never would have let him love her, never let him touch her, hold her…

 

It had been a mistake, one he would never forgive himself for making. He raised his eyes, put both hands on Inuyasha's shoulders and stared into those eyes that reminded him so much of her.

 

“I'm so sorry, Inuyasha.”