InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Waning Moon ❯ Clouds ( Chapter 22 )

22. Clouds

Inuyasha coos and awes as his large, sunny eyes blink up at the slowly clouding sky. His mother has just gone inside, warning him about the chance of rain and to run inside should it start doing so. She doesn't want him sick and Inuyasha finds he doesn't want to be either; he doesn't like that `liver' garbage his mother gives him when he feels ill; it tastes disgusting!

He flops back onto the grass, his petite feet swinging left and right rhythmically as he watches the clouds morph and float and - Hey! That's a falcon! He giggles as his imagination, so young and willing to be used has him reciting a story in which only he knows the plot to.

He giggles some more when the cloud he'd been using as the main character in his story smashes into the grey fluff in front of it, “BOOM! And the dragon is dead! The magical falcon has saved the people of Kanahura, again!” Inuyasha claps his hands and cheers, his baby face covered in a huge, toothy grin.

His cheering is interupted when he has a long, dark shadow cast over him, and Inuyasha is instantly staring up at his brother. Sesshomaru doesn't look impressed at his antics, Inuyasha realises, but he can't help but giggle at the way his view of Sesshomaru has caused his frown to look like a ridiculous sort of smile; his mother is right, the world is much more amusing when one is upside down.

“Little brother, what are you doing? Why do you still insist on acting like an idiot?”

Inuyasha blinks adorably up at Sesshomaru, before he rolls onto his stomach and practically bounces to his feet, “Inuyasha is reading the clouds, Sessho!” He exclaims loudly, his tiny, claw bearing finger pointed up towards the sky.

His brother levels an emotionless stare down on him.

The small half breed blinks again and looks confused for a moment. “Er,” He starts, slowly walking up to Sesshomaru and tugging on his sleeve. His brother humours him and sits down, allowing the young half demon to whisper into his pointed ear, “You haven't done this before, have you?”

Yet again, Sesshomaru doesn't respond. He simply stares. Inuyasha smiles kindly, his head tilted back slightly to look up into his brother's eyes, “Do you want me to teach you?” He asks in a slightly louder voice.

Inuyasha doesn't take Sesshomaru's silence for a no and sits down and begins pointed towards the heavens and the moving smudges in the sky, “Does Sessho see that cloud over there?” He asks, in an all knowing voice only eight year olds can pull off without sounding stuck up. Sesshomaru tilts his head up to look, “It looks like a lady bug, and can Sessho see how she's creeping towards that other buggy? She doesn't want him to hurt her little sister! See!”

Sesshomaru blinks slowly, and Inuyasha is sure he gets it; Sesshomaru is smart, he is older and wiser and - there is no way his big brother doesn't get how this game goes! Inuyasha, with that firmly in mind continues to point and tell stories.

The small one way conversation continues for sometime, until Sesshomaru is actually speaking and telling Inuyasha stories when his brother's mouth actually stops to allow him to breathe.

They are both participating in a small argument a few moments later.

“That's a tiger!” Inuyasha exclaims, his arms thrown into the air.

Sesshomaru's response is monotonous, “It is a dog.”

“No, it's not!”

“It is.”

“Is not!”

“It is.”

“It's a tiger! Look, see? He's attacking that man!”

And indeed there is: A man with a spear like weapon and no left arm. Sesshomaru remains silent for some time and the lack of a remark causes Inuyasha to look up at his brother, his hands slowly lowering themselves to the ground beside him.

He can feel that he's said something wrong. He can feel that Sesshomaru is sad, “Did Inuyasha make you feel unhappy, Sessho?”

The demon glances down at Inuyasha and the half breed is insanely happy to see his brother isn't crying - not that he'd think he is! Inuyasha knows boys don't cry, so why would Sesshomaru?

“Has your mother told you how our father past away, Inuyasha?”

Inuyasha solemnly shakes his head, “Was Mama supposed to?”

“Perhaps.” Sesshomaru replies. They are silent for a minute, before Sesshomaru moves to stand, “I must go.”

Inuyasha nods, “Bye, bye, Sessho.”

He can't stop the hope that bubbles in him as he smiles and waves, the hope that Sesshomaru will join him in watching the clouds again. Hopefully sometime soon.

That is when he feels the first rain drop fall from the sky and land on his nose and Inuyasha's golden eyes cross as he examines the now shattered drop, and he is quick to scamper back home. He doesn't tell his mother of Sesshomaru's appearance, though he does ask how his Papa died.

He doesn't receive an answer.