InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Tomaru's Story ❯ Chapter 9

Chapter 9

 

Sesshoumaru blinked. Kagome blinked. Shippou cringed.

 

“Yay! Rin gets a mama and a brother!” the little girl squealed as she squeezed Shippou again.

 

Kagome opened her mouth to protest, when Sesshoumaru spoke first.

 

“You will bathe,” he commanded. He then turned and left the room, leaving Kagome to stare after him in disbelief.

 

Arrogant baka… Kagome mentally stuck her tongue out at the retreating tai-youkai.

 

Rin paused in her mangling of the poor kitsune. “Kagome-chan, can I call you Mama?”

 

Kagome almost fell over. “Uh… well, Rin-chan… if you want to… but what about your own mama?”

 

Rin looked sad. “My real mama died when I was born. Papa died just after I turned four.” She smiled suddenly, her whole face brightening as she released Shippou, who jumped to the safety of Kagome's shoulder. “But now I have Lord Sesshoumaru as my papa, Shippou-chan will be my brother and you're going to be my mama!”

 

The little girl danced around the room, smiling and singing. “Rin's got a faaaaamily… Rin's got a faaaaamily…”

 

Kagome shook her head. She didn't want to disillusion the little girl, but she didn't plan on staying. But where else was she to go? Miroku and Sango wouldn't want her underfoot now that they could go ahead and marry. They would be looking forward to starting their new life together, not brooding about the past.

 

Kneeling down, she stopped Rin's dancing. “Um, where can I get cleaned up? I'm awfully dirty and Sesshoumaru said…”

 

Rin pointed to a nearby doorway. “That leads to an indoor hot spring. That's where I bathe.”

 

Nodding her thanks, Kagome straightened and lifted Shippou from her shoulder, setting him on the nearby bed. “Try to get along with her, okay? I won't be long.” The poor kit nodded, keeping a wary eye on the little girl.

 

Sighing, Kagome turned and went into the room Rin had pointed out to her. Indeed, a vast room held a steaming hot spring pool in its midst, surrounded by a fine tile floor. The room was extremely bare, with only a stack of cloths and a basket of bath items resting in the corner.

 

She shrugged as she peeled off her ripped and filthy clothes, dropping them in a pile on the floor. Walking over to the hot spring, she carefully lowered herself into the steaming water, giving a sigh of delight as the warm sensation flowed over her skin.

 

At least he's got a hot spring, she thought as she closed her eyes, relaxing.

 

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Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes as he raced back to where he had knocked his half-brother unconscious. Without the miko nearby, he was unable to wield Tetsusaiga, but Tokijin should be more than enough to finish off the hanyou permanently. Still, he kept his brother's sword next to Tenseiga. He was unsure as to why, but he had more important matters at hand.

 

Landing next to where Inuyasha had lain unconscious, Sesshoumaru sniffed the air. His brother had obviously awoken and wandered off, presumably in search of the miko again. He turned his head in the direction the scent led off to. It was in the direction of a small human village.

 

Giving an uncharacteristic grunt, he turned and ran toward the village, intent on killing his brother before the wretch could destroy innocent ningen lives. After all, they're just humans. Why should you care? came the voice of his brother, taunting.

 

Because of Rin. Because she was ningen and she had lived in a village like this one. And even, though he was loathe to admit it, because of the miko. Because he didn't want to see the sorrow in her eyes at the news of innocent lives lost at the claws of a youkai Inuyasha on the rampage.

 

Kagome… why did the mere thought of her name make his gut clench? No…this Sesshoumaru will not lust after his lowly half-brother's wench!

 

No matter how deep her eyes seem to be… no matter that her hair is as black as a moonless night… no matter that her young form is lush and fertile…

 

Stop that! He hissed at his youkai. She's a ningen and a miko- therefore, completely off-limits!

 

That isn't stopping you from being attracted to her, is it?

 

Silence!

 

He finally reached the village, the scent of fear rolling thickly off the tiny group of huts.

 

The sounds of whimpering caught his sensitive hearing, drawing him over to a small family, consisting of an older couple and their two children, huddled together in front of a dilapidated house. Their eyes were wide with fright and the two little girls were shaking.

 

The focus of their terror stood a few feet away from them, growling and cracking his claws. “Where is she?” he snarled, deep in his throat. “Where is that damned bitch?”

 

“W-we don't know w-who you're t-talking about!” the father stammered out. He gasped and winced fearfully as Inuyasha stepped forward, intent on slicing the information out of the man.

 

“If you're looking for the miko, hanyou, she is beyond your reach,” a velvety-smooth voice interrupted.

 

Inuyasha's crimson gaze snapped to Sesshoumaru, who stood motionless a few yards away. “Bastard… where have you taken her?” he snarled.

 

“Somewhere you will never find her,” he replied dryly. “Since I will now take the pleasure of sending you to hell.”

 

“I've lived in hell from the day I was born!” Inuyasha grunted. “So I think I'll send you there first! Give my regards to our esteemed father!” With those final words, he leapt for Sesshoumaru's throat, claws extended.

 

The inu-youkai blocked the attack with Tokijin. The blade didn't cut through Inuyasha's hands like he expected though. Something is definitely wrong…

 

Inuyasha gave a cruel laugh. “Your pathetic youkai sword is no match for me now.”

 

“Silence,” his older brother murmured. “It is time for you to die.”

 

“Oh, I think you'll be the one dying today,” he replied with a snarl. “And then I'll find that bitch Kagome and finish her off too!”

 

At the mention of Kagome, Sesshoumaru's golden eyes widened a fraction as a twinge of unexplainable fury pricked his usually non-existent emotions. He swung Tokijin down upon his rabid brother, only have the hanyou grasp the blade of the sword, halting the attack.

 

The tai-youkai narrowed his eyes as he forced Tokijin to try and slice through his brother.

 

Crack! His golden eyes flew wide as his youkai sword was shattered in Inuyasha's hands. The violent hanyou chuckled. “Now, with that out of the way, enjoy your trip to hell!”

 

Sesshoumaru dropped the useless hilt of Tokijin, backing up a step from Inuyasha's deadly claws. If he has the strength to shatter my youkai sword…! He didn't want to finish that thought. He brought his hand down to rest on Tenseiga, although he knew the sword wouldn't be able to help him now.

 

“Why don't you just tell me where that bitch is?” Inuyasha growled as he circled the tai-youkai. “She's just a human wench. Why should you care what happens to her? She don't need to be protected anymore!”

 

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes at his brother again. “She is under my protection now, Inuyasha, and I will protect her for as long as I choose.”

 

Tetsusaiga pulsed once from its position next to its brother. Sesshoumaru's gaze would've flickered to the sword, but that would mean an opening for Inuyasha to strike. It pulsed again, calling to the inu-youkai lord.

 

Moving his hand from the hilt of Tenseiga to that of Tetsusaiga, he slowly unsheathed the sword, unsure of what it wanted. The rusty blade transformed into the mighty fang as it had when the miko was nearby, although he knew her to be nowhere near. Strange… why would it transform for me if she isn't near it?

 

Inuyasha growled. “Damn you, Sesshoumaru! You're lying! You have to be! There's no way you'd protect a human!”

 

Ah, yes. Tetsusaiga only transformed for Inuyasha when he had declared that he'd protect Kagome. And now that I have vowed to do the same…

 

A grim smile touched his lips as he raised the fang sword high in the air. “It is finished. Sayonara, Inuyasha.”

 

He dropped the sword, unleashing the Kaze no Kizu upon his half-brother at point-blank range.