InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Waning Moon ❯ Heroes ( Chapter 14 )

14. Heroes

Sesshomaru watches with little amusement as the human woman, Izayoi, allows his younger brother to play in the mud outside the village. He's giggling and squealing and utterly filthy, yet his small chubby hands don't cease to bury themselves time and time again in the muddy ground. He looks far too pale, far too weak; this woman isn't caring for his younger brother properly. Sesshomaru's eyes the clean white mop of hair atop of the pup's head and the spark of fire within the pup's golden eyes, so much like his own. It is only a second later when his younger brother dumps mud on top of his own head.

He hasn't made an effort to completely conceal himself, and Sesshomaru is sure the human knows of his whereabouts; she cannot be blind, not if his father chose her. If anything she should see his silvery white hair shine under the sun's warming rays. White isn't the best colour to wear when attempting to hide one's self in a forest.

The newly made Lord of the Western Planes' eyes flicker back down to the pup still poking at the mud he's sitting in, before he grins broadly up at his mother and lets out a delighted shriek. Sesshomaru does not understand why females find such things cute; all his brother has succeeded in doing is making his sensitive ears hurt.

He casts one last glance at the family, before he turns and begins to think of his next visit tomorrow. He has duties, a lot more than what Sesshomaru had had when his father was alive. He'll return tomorrow, when he has some free time.

And he does. His younger brother looks sickly, more so than the day before. He is still pale, though now he is almost as white as his own kimono and he is unable to feel any demon energy at all from the small pup.

Sesshomaru allows his eyes to scan about the room he is floating outside of, before he hops down onto the window's sill and he steps into the room. He'd done this before, the night after his little brother and his mother had been saved and his father had died. However, it is the first time he has attempted a secret visit during daylight hours.

The young Lord quietly strides to the side of his brother's cot, where the small half-breed is supposed to be sleeping. He is not. The pup tugging at his own bedding, keen to completely demolish his bed. His little brother peers up at him, his eyes huge, bright and full of curiosity. Sesshomaru gazes down at his brother also, his eyes cold.

“You are weak.” He says with his voice a steady monotone.

The pup cocks his head. Sesshomaru raises his hands and braces them on the edge of the cot, before, careful of his sharp claws, he reaches for the fumbling pup now taking playful swipes at his claws and lifts him from his cot.

Sesshomaru gingerly holds him out in front of him, and the pup wriggles and kicks like a captured worm. Sesshomaru realises that he does not know how to hold him. Slowly, though he does not want to, Sesshomaru holds the pup to his chest, just as he has seen the human woman do. He feels tiny, delicate fingers grab and tug at his kimono, and he gingerly shifts the pup so he does not injure himself on Sesshomaru's armour.

The pup stares at the bone spikes protruding from Sesshomaru's armour, and the demon speaks, “They can kill you if you are not careful, little brother.” The pup whines, giggles and fingers one playfully, stroking the rough bone. Sesshomaru watches.

The pup soon grows tired of the shining armour, and is soon staring reaching for Sesshomaru's chin. Sesshomaru watches with disguised interest as the pup's eyebrows furrow, before you giggles and gurgles and strokes Sesshomaru's chin. Before long those tiny fingers are tracing his lips.

“Enough, little brother, you are not growing strong. Your mother does not know how to care for you.” He says against the fingers groping his lips. Sesshomaru balances the pup gingerly in his right hand, before lifting his left to his own mouth.

He bats away the small hands and opens his mouth. Sesshomaru quickly sucks his left index finger in his mouth and allows his sharp teeth to puncture the soft, smooth skin at the finger's tip. He sucks once, twice, making sure the blood will flow from the small wound. He then offers his finger to his younger brother.

“Eat.” He orders.

The pup looks confused, his ears pricked before they begin to twitch atop his head and Sesshomaru shows him again: sucking his finger inside his own mouth before pressing it against his brother's lips. The half-breed seems to get it this time and begins to suck on it. He makes a happy sound and clutches at Sesshomaru's hand. Sesshomaru is surprised the half-breed enjoys his blood so, he is half human.

Sesshomaru cannot help but gaze wonderingly at just how tiny his brother's hands are, and how small he is in general. Had his father felt as he does now when he'd first held Sesshomaru, the Lord wonders idly? His little brother feels fragile in his hand.

It takes a few minutes, but soon the half-breed is full and Sesshomaru is content with the changes in the little pup. He isn't as pale, his skin a pale pink instead of white. His grip seems stronger also.

Sesshomaru sticks his finger in his mouth again and swipes his tongue over the puncture wound, willing it to seal before he grasps his little brother around the waist again with both his hands. Gingerly, the Lord places him back in the cot.

The pup yawns hugely, before he curls up and begins to snooze. Sesshomaru covers his brother's mostly bare being in his silken blankets before he stands straight.

Sesshomaru doesn't know of his brother's name. He's heard the human woman call him `Inu' but Sesshomaru refuses to call his younger brother that. Calling a half-breed dog demon, `dog' seems disrespectful in the young Lord's eyes, and his younger brother is not even ten yet.

He hears footsteps and they serve as a reminder that Sesshomaru is not supposed to be here. Sesshomaru casts his brother one last glance before he disappears from the room, and resumes his floating outside the room's window.

Izayoi appears at the door a moment later, carrying a small bottle of milk. She seems surprised as she nears the oak cot and Sesshomaru sees her hand brush back his brother's fringe.

“How strange.” He hears her muse, “You're usually screaming by now, Inuyasha.” Sesshomaru recognises the name and stores it within his mind for future use; he will now be able to use his little brother's name. Izayoi frowns, “No fever, you can't be sick.”

Sesshomaru scowls. Inuyasha will be incapable of falling sick, not after his feeding on Sesshomaru's blood. It is a common practice amongst demons. All infants, human or otherwise, are incapable of fighting off illness. They must be strengthened by a relative's blood.

As the woman continues to check Inuyasha, Sesshomaru allows himself one last long stare before he turns to fly towards his home. Inuyasha is still fast asleep. It is time for him to complete his duties.

“This Sesshomaru will see you tomorrow, Inuyasha.”