InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Waning Moon ❯ Dance ( Chapter 13 )

13. Dance

Sesshomaru knows about his charge's innocent, troublesome and almost dangerous, presence. She has introduced him to the idea of having a child, and to the concept of caring for another and protecting that other. Just as she has introduced him to the idea that he could be wrong about his subordinates and Inuyasha. He feels that she is very much his daughter, though he does not feel the need to express that aloud; Rin has always been good at reading him, she will understand without words.

Sometimes, though it is very rare, Sesshomaru will allow his knuckles to crush over her forehead accidentally when he knows his brother and his friends aren't looking and Rin is in need of comfort. He does not want Inuyasha to know of his growing feelings for this child. He knows of the argument that will follow and the smart ass answers and questions he'll be subjected to hearing and answering to. But Sesshomaru does not enjoy seeing his daughter cry or wallow in doubts and sadness; she is a naturally cheerful child and he prefers to keep it that way. So he will continue to accidentally comfort her.

However, even his young charge can hit a sore spot within the demon, sending his thoughts into a spiral of continuous deliberation that leaves him dazed and incapacitated. He will often avoid her for hours after she has stumped him with her childish games and views on the world. Her views on his relationship with Inuyasha have been a favoured topic of hers for some time now and they have left him feeling confused and thus irritated.

Her opinion of Inuyasha has made Sesshomaru review all his claims of what the half-breed should be and how he should act. In her eyes he is a hero, a nice man under his supposed tough-guy image. Rin believes that this has nothing to do with his human blood, but more about upbringing, and Sesshomaru often hears her talking to Inuyasha's deceased mother, as though she were alive and sitting beside her. She often thanks her for taking such good care of Inuyasha, so that he would live and make her Lord Sesshomaru happy. When he'd heard this conversation Sesshomaru was mesmerised by his child's pure thoughts on their very shaky relationship.

At the moment, Sesshomaru is sitting beside Rin, who is making flowery chains as presents for Kagome and Sango and is singing contently as she does. Sesshomaru is musing on what his brother could have been like had he fought for his guardianship when he was a pup. One such consequence would have been him being brought up the way his father would have wanted.

Sesshomaru is unable to change his brother's image or personality, even within his mind, and Sesshomaru finds it hard to resist wincing as he imagines his brother with his own aloof persona and his almost obsessive attitude towards his own hygiene. He is unable to claim that Inuyasha is Inuyasha should he be polite and unobtrusive and noble. Sesshomaru has grown too used to his brother being a ruffian, just as he can only accept any Inuyasha as being such.

“Oi, bastard!”

Sesshomaru's golden gaze flickers up to Inuyasha's face and the image he'd been sweating to create of a refined Inuyasha shatters. Inuyasha looks far more like the barbarian his made himself out to be than usual. His hair is full of leaves and has turned a light grey from his lack of bathing and his face bears smudges of dirt. He ignores his brother's bait and simply stares.

“Want to spar? Miroku's busy attempting to womanize Sango.” Sesshomaru can hear the predictable `again' sound through his brother's mind. The demon Lord knows of the consequences the monk will suffer; he'd been on the receiving side of the monk's flirtatious comments often. Sesshomaru was and is always saved by Inuyasha.

“Are you listening to me?” Inuyasha asks, his voice having gained a growling tone, like that of a dog being threatened.

Inuyasha is strong, just like their father, Sesshomaru thinks as his eyes flicker down to the little girl singing and smiling beside him. This strength is different to his own; it comes from wanting to protect one's friends. He will humour his little brother.

“Where shall we spar?” Sesshomaru allows his fingers to accidentally brush Rin's cheek as he stands with his face blank. He hears her happy giggle, the one that reminds him of the bells his nurse used to place on him as a pup, and strides towards his brother.

Inuyasha flicks his ears and they draw Sesshomaru's eyes like moon draws out the wolves' howls, “Over there. Shippo might actually learn something.”

There is a small cry of `hey' as the fox demon whines over Inuyasha's jabs and the cub is soon seated near Rin as they move to the clearing to their left. Sesshomaru claims that they can watch, as long as they stay a fair distance away; he does not want them to get in the way.

As they stand facing the other, a distance of three or more metres between them, Sesshomaru notes the crouch Inuyasha relaxes into: it is the same one as he'd taught his brother when he'd started the half-breed's training. He does the same, but turns his body side on and places his left and only hand in front of his chest, his palm turned out. He must change his stance, because of his lack of a right arm.

He hears Rin's cheerful chattering as they stare the other down. Sesshomaru must be patient, as Inuyasha is not; he will attack first, soon. A few moments later, as he predicted, Inuyasha flings himself towards Sesshomaru, his claws beared as he throws his hand at his brother's nose.

Sesshomaru dodges with ease. Inuyasha is far too slow. He resumes his stance when he is a metre to Inuyasha's right, amused by his brother's annoyed growl. They do this several times, each time causing Inuyasha to growl louder and louder and finally begin shouting at him. Sesshomaru graces his brother with a small smirk, one that holds only amusement and no hints of malice.

It seems to throw Inuyasha off balance and while the dazed look remains in Inuyasha's golden eyes, Sesshomaru sees it suitable to attack. He slows his punches and allows Inuyasha to evade and defend. Sesshomaru must be careful about his younger brother catching in only hand; it will leave him defenceless if he does.

After a while later Inuyasha is panting, and Sesshomaru is stubbornly trying to hide his own laboured breaths. Sesshomaru removes his boa, then - seemingly much to Inuyasha's surprise - sets himself to the clumsy task of removing his armour. It drops to the ground with whining clangs. Sesshomaru moves them to the tree their spectators are sitting at.

“We will start again.” Sesshomaru says quietly, not looking towards Inuyasha as he walks to stand in his original spot. His breathing is now normal, “Stand up, little brother, you are not so weak you cannot continue fighting.”

As Inuyasha gasps for breath and stands and gasps some more, Sesshomaru focuses on the conversation his little charge has started with the fox cub.

“You mean he's going to fight without it? Won't that make it easier to beat Inuyasha?” He hears the cub ask in surprise.

Rin giggles, “Lord Sesshomaru isn't going to hurt Inuyasha. They're dancing, silly. Can't Shippo tell?”

Sesshomaru notices his brother's ears twitch with annoyance and his face gain a pink hue, as though he were training in Totosai's `garden' and colouring from its heat. He thinks little of it. He tunes out all else, but his brother and his brother's vital signs: his breathing and his pulse. He will teach Inuyasha how to fight by beating him.

They must dance some more.