InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Young at Heart ❯ Devastating Dreams Part One ( Chapter 20 )

Chapter Twenty: Understanding Between the Inuyoukai

 

The sounds grew closer with each breath they took. Blinking rapidly, Sesshoumaru sucked in his breath and tried to summon all the courage his father had taught him. Inuyasha gripped his shoulders, and whimpered softly.

Suddenly a large beast crashed into their clearing and Sesshoumaru turned his head to the side with a gasp. Two large eyes bored down on him and he yelped, and tipped over backwards off Kirara's back. He landed on his back, and crab crawled backwards trying to get away from the large beast, and then he stopped, blinking.

Narrowing his eyes dangerously, he threw a glare at the two headed dragon, snarling. It was one of their companions. Jaken jumped off the dragons back confused and frowned at Sesshoumaru.

“Milord, is something wrong?”

Sesshoumaru gathered his feet and stalked over to the dragon and stuck his nose close to the face that lowered to peer at him. The youkai was on his tiptoes, and still had to crane his neck upward in order to stare the dragon in the eyes.

“Don't do that!” He snarled. He clenched his fist, and drove it firmly onto the nearest thing, which happened to be the toad youkai.

Jaken squawked, and lay twitching on the ground. “Mi...lo…rd. What have I done?” He asked, his words twitching along with his body. Somehow that action felt really familiar to him and he lowered himself to his knees to peer at the twitching toad youkai.

“I've done this before, haven't I?” He asked, growling softly.

“Hai!” Jaken moaned.

Sesshoumaru threw a glare at the toad and sniffed. He rose to his feet, and turned away from both youkai. How dare they scare the living daylights out of him?

Inuyasha snickered and followed him.

“Hey Sess.” Inuyasha smiled, falling in step with his brother. “Why'd you hit the toad guy? It wasn't his fault that Ah `Uh scared you.”

Sesshoumaru gritted his teeth. “I wasn't scared. Besides, I couldn't reach Ah `Uh's head. Jaken was much more convenient.”

Inuyasha smiled and nodded. “That makes sense. So umm, Sess?”

Sesshoumaru turned his head slightly. “What?”

“What are you going to do for clothes?” Inuyasha asked, taking in his brother's torn hakama pants and his once nice haori, which was now shredded beyond all repair.

Sesshoumaru shrugged, and stopped when the scents of the humans came back to their camp. Sango glanced at the children, who were now in the company of Ah `Uh and Jaken, who had mysteriously vanished when the fighting had begun. Slumping against a tree, Sango watched as Miroku checked everyone over to make sure they were all still intact, and then he wandered to Sango's side and made she was alright, in the most absurd way. A loud slap echoed through their camp and Sango shouted obscenities angrily.

Sesshoumaru frowned and shook his head. Kagome came over and hauled Inuyasha off the ground in a tight bear hug, which the hanyou fought against with all his strength, and he was once again placed on the ground after a kiss to his cheek.

Chuckling, Sesshoumaru turned away from the strange sights, and bumped right into a pair of black clad legs, with pink pads, and he gawked, lifting his head up and up until his golden eyes caught the brown ones of the youkai exterminator, and he waited to see what she wanted.

Blinking, Sesshoumaru waited for a long moment before scoffing. Both stared at each other long and hard, before Sesshoumaru snorted and made to maneuver around her legs. A strong hand came down and gripped his arm, and he was dragged back towards the camp. “Oh no you don't.”

“What do you want?” Sesshoumaru struggled against her grip on his arm. “I haven't done anything.” He protested.

“We need to find you a change of clothes. The blood on all your clothes is probably what is causing the uproar of youkai in the area.” Sango shook her head as she dragged him over to Ah `Uh.

She released his arm and opened one of the many bags on the saddle, and she pulled out a rather large haori, which she held up. “Well we know that this was yours.” She muttered, looking at Rin and Jaken.

Sesshoumaru blinked at the large haori and he gawked. “I'm that big? Wow.” He grinned. “Okay, I want to be tall and big again.” He fingered the material of the haori and his grin broadened.

Sango shook her head and ruffled through the other bags, pulling out other items all, which would be too small for Sesshoumaru, or would make him, dress like a girl. At one point, Sango had held up one of Rin's kimonos and he had shook his head furiously. “No way! I will not wear that!” He exclaimed.

Sango giggled and placed the kimono back into the bag and dropped her hands dejectedly. “Well there isn't anything in here that will work. I guess we will have to make another trip to a village and find you something appropriate.”

Sesshoumaru wrinkled his nose, and sighed fingering the shredded material of the haori he was currently wearing. In his hands, he still held the large haori that Sango had said was his, and he smiled, slipping his arms into the sleeves. The material pooled around his feet, and the sleeves also seemed to blend into the material already bunched up around his feet.

Sango turned around, just as he wrapped it around him and he lifted his head to grin at her. She blinked at him for a long moment, before she threw her head back and laughed heartily. The commotion caught the others attention and they all turned around staring at Sango for a moment, before their eyes fell on Sesshoumaru who stood wrapped up in what appeared to be a bundle of material. It was only when Sesshoumaru turned around when they realized that it was his normal clothes he wore when he was full-grown.

The grin on his face faltered for a moment, when he realized that they were laughing at him, when he felt rather proud for having clothes as fine as this. Looking down at himself, he knew it was too big, but still, there was a certain amount of pride wearing this fine silk haori that was crisp white with red honeycomb designs on it. Frowning, he lifted it up and fingered the material in his hands and managed to find his feet under all of the extra cloth. Grinning again, he realized that maybe he could work with it and cut it down to size.

Sango shook her head, and knelt down to his level. “Sesshoumaru, maybe you should leave this for when you are back to your normal self?”

“But why? I like this. It fits.” He said, throwing his arms out, which only caused Sango to laugh even harder when the sleeves fell to the ground and the extra material pooled around his feet again.

Sango shook her head. “I think you should leave it for later, Sesshoumaru. You don't want to ruin the fine silk do you?”

Sesshoumaru pouted but nodded his head, slowly slipping it off and handing it back to the woman. Sango took it and placed it neatly folded into the pouch at Ah `Uh's side, and she turned around seeing his look of hopelessness and she knelt beside him once more.

“What's the matter Sesshoumaru?” She whispered.

His golden eyes locked onto her brown ones and his brows moved slightly in a frown and then into confusion. “I'm alright.” He whispered back. “Where can we find clothes for me?”

“Well, I remember there is a village near here, and we can always go there. You had mentioned once about youkai silk and human silk being different. Maybe we can send Kirara to search for Toutousai and see if he can find something for you.” Sango smiled gently.

Sesshoumaru's mouth gaped open and he blinked. “I know Toutousai, I met him once when my father went to get a sword repaired after a battle.”

Sango smiled wondering what mental image of the sword smith he had in his little head. The youkai didn't remember anything from when they were adults, so his image of the sword smith must be one of a youthful Toutousai.

Rin wandered over shyly, and gave Sesshoumaru a small smile, which caused his head to tilt to the side boyishly. Blinking at the small girl, he noticed Sango get up and wander away. Turning his eyes back to the little girl, he remained silent to see what she was going to do. Slightly nervously, Sesshoumaru took a small hesitant step back.

Rin's smile faltered and she stopped. Sesshoumaru also stopped. He remembered her brave encounter with the youkai so she wasn't all that bad, was she? Pursing his lips, Sesshoumaru sniffed the air slightly and caught his scent on her, and he took a step forward.

Sniffing more intently now, he took another step and another step, until he was right in front of the girl and he paused in his movements. “You smell like me.”

Rin grinned widely.

“Why are you smiling?” Sesshoumaru asked curiously.

“Because.” Rin placed her hands behind her back and rocked slowly on the balls of her feet. “Why aren't you?”

“Smiling hurts my face.” Sesshoumaru said honestly.

Rin blinked for a moment, and then giggled. “I don't think it hurts mine.”

Sesshoumaru felt a small smile try to escape his mouth at her innocence and he forced his mouth downward. He refused to smile, even if his scent was on this little girl.

Rin watched his face expressions and giggled harder. He looked so serious in concentrating so hard on not smiling that he looked really funny in her eyes. “What are you doing?”

Sesshoumaru wrinkled his nose. “Nothing. What are you doing?”

“Watching you. You really look funny, Lord Sesshoumaru.” Rin smiled, trying to stop giggling.

Funny? Sesshoumaru blinked for a moment, before frowning even more. “Why are you laughing?”

“Because you look funny.”

“Why do I look funny?”

“Because you are trying not to smile, because it hurts your face. But really smiling is a good thing.” Rin babbled.

Sesshoumaru's eyes widened. “You talk a lot.”

Rin sighed and nodded. “I know, master Jaken always tells me to be quiet.”

“Why?”

“Because I talk too much sometimes. I get really excited and if I don't talk, I get lonely.” Rin said simply.

Sesshoumaru nodded. “Why do you get lonely if you don't talk?”

“I get scared.” Rin said sadly, lowering her head, remembering the life she had before she had come across her Lord Sesshoumaru.

“Why?”

“I always get scared when you aren't around, Lord Sesshoumaru. I just try my best to not show it.” Rin said, putting a smile back on her face.

Sesshoumaru felt his forehead crease confused. “You are strange.”

Rin blinked for a moment, waiting.

“Your moods change so quickly, more quickly then the other humans.” Sesshoumaru explained, walking past her towards the base of a tree to his left.

Rin nodded. “I think that's why master Jaken gets all flus…flusht…flutsh…why he gets all weird.”

Sesshoumaru bit back a laugh. “I think he is always weird. I felt like I knew him somehow, but I have never met him before today, at least I don't remember.” He said sitting down.

Rin followed and knelt down beside him. “I miss your fluffy fur.”

“My what?” Sesshoumaru asked turning his eyes to her curiously.

“Your fluffy fur you always have on you. When I get cold, you let me curl up under it to stay warm.” Rin beamed at him.

“I have a fur?” Sesshoumaru gawked. It was a high prize to receive a fur pelt. He could only guess his father had given it to him in honor of something. “Did my father give it to me?”

“I don't know, you don't talk very much all growd up.” Rin said quietly. “You usually stare at the moon like you are sad or deep in thought.”

“Why would I be sad?” Sesshoumaru asked confused. He silently wondered the same thing. If he was fully-grown, with fine silks and a fur pelt, and servants, then he must have done something right.

Rin shrugged. “I don't know. You don't talk much. Only when you need to.”

Sesshoumaru frowned and stared at his feet. Why would he stay quiet? What purpose was there to be lost in thought all the time? Unless there was a deeper and darker meaning to it, which he wouldn't understand until he returned to his adult self. “Do I say nice things?”

Rin sighed. “You do with me, and sometimes master Jaken. But only when you need to. You don't like Lord Inuyasha very much though.”

Sesshoumaru looked over to her and then lifted his gaze to where the small hanyou was sitting in Kagome's lap. “Why? He doesn't seem so bad. He is pretty brave, and he is happy.”

“I think it's because he isn't your full brother. Lord Inuyasha always is brave. Even all growd up. He doesn't like you very much growd up either.” Rin stated with a sigh, placing her chin in her hand.

“What did I do to him, to make him not like me?” Sesshoumaru asked curiously.

Rin shrugged. “I wasn't around then. You are always fighting though.”

Sesshoumaru blinked confused. There must be a reason why he and Inuyasha didn't like each other. Normally Inuyoukai were completely devoted to their families, despite blood relations. What would have happened to make them fall to such disgrace? “Where were you then, if you weren't around?”

“I was in a village.” Rin said simply. “I found you hurt in the forest, and you tried to scare me.”

“Did it work? Did I scare you?” He asked hopeful.

Rin nodded, her chin still in her hand. “I was scared, but you were hurt, and I wanted to help you. Then I was killed.”

Sesshoumaru blinked for several minutes trying to register her words. “If you were killed you wouldn't be here, baka.”

Rin grinned. “You saved me from the wolves, with your sword.”

“I have a sword that can do that? Wow.” Sesshoumaru breathed.

“You don't like that sword though. That's why you got another one.” Rin smiled, shifting her position.

Sesshoumaru was lost. Was he really so petty? In truth, right now he felt excited about having a sword that could help bring the dead to life, so why would he hate it grown up? He was amazed that he had a brother, but grown up he hated him, why? This little girl seemed to be the nicest human he had ever come across and she seemed willing to do anything for him.

Shaking his head, he snorted. “So when I'm grown up, I don't like that sword, I don't talk too much, and I'm sad, and thoughtful and I hate Inuyasha?”

Rin nodded. “You hate humans too. Really hate them lots.”

“If I hate humans then why are you traveling with me?” Sesshoumaru asked frowning. How could he hate this little girl, or even the humans in this group who seemed more then willing to risk their lives to save him, and Inuyasha? Why would he hate anyone who would go out of his or her way to help him restore his life to what it was?

Rin shrugged. “I don't know, you never told me. You only said that it was okay for me to follow you. I never asked why.”

Frowning even more, why would these humans want to restore him to his former self if he was so petty and cold? Shaking his head, he rubbed his forehead. It started to hurt from all this thinking.

Rin glanced at him curiously. “What's wrong, Lord Sesshoumaru?”

“My head hurts.” He whispered. Closing his eyes, he really wanted to sort through all this information. Little Rin was more useful now then he at first thought. Maybe she could help him understand why he was so heartless in adult form. Perhaps the others could help him understand this as well. Sighing, he groaned and flopped onto his back. In truth, he had been wary of Inuyasha at first, but he hadn't felt any hate towards him. The hanyou seemed so carefree, and happy. Maybe it was partially due to them not remembering what they were like before they were turned back into pups, but heaving a long sigh, he wasn't sure that was entirely it.

Pushing himself back up, he got to his feet and threw Rin a grin. It startled the little girl for a moment, before she tilted her head. “What?” She asked wide-eyed.

“What do you do for fun?” He asked. Maybe all he needed to clear his aching head was a little bit of fun.

Rin blinked up at him stupidly. “Well lately, you have been playing with Inuyasha. Really rough, but playing.”

Sesshoumaru glanced at Inuyasha who was cuddled up in Kagome's lap still, and he grinned. “Really?”

The idea seemed tempting, but he really didn't want the human girl to say that word that made him fall face first onto the ground. Pursing his lips for a moment, he shrugged. Walking over to where they were seated, Sesshoumaru knelt down and stared Inuyasha in the eyes, while Kagome blinked confused.

Inuyasha stared back at his brother and then grinned, flying out of Kagome's lap before she could register what was going on. Before she knew it, both Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru were wrestling on the ground, throwing out growls and snarls, that sounded more carefree then she had ever heard before.

Watching surprised, Rin skipped over with a large grin plastered on her face.

Kagome glanced over at the happy little girl suspiciously for a moment, before Rin sat down next to her. “What caused this?” She asked with a smile.

“Lord Sesshoumaru said he wanted to do something fun.” Rin shrugged.

Kagome turned her head back to the tousling pups, and she shook her head in amazement. The fight was more playful then their other scuffles, and she giggled. It was perhaps half an hour later when Inuyasha strolled back with a large grin plastered on his face, and he crawled into Kagome's lap silently.

Kagome smiled and wrapped her arms around him, giving him a tight hug. Sesshoumaru walked over, and rubbed his head.

“You play dirty.” He mumbled, sitting next to them.

Inuyasha beamed proudly, and shrugged. “That was fun. Can we go fishing now?” He asked, looking up at Kagome.

“Sure, why not. We will need some food for dinner.” She smiled.

Inuyasha gave a joyful whoop, and jumped out of her lap, racing towards the smell of water.

Sango shook her head, and walked over. “I'm going to go see if I can find some clothes for Sesshoumaru.”

Kagome nodded as her eyes trailed after Inuyasha worriedly. The picture in her mind was one of a small hanyou falling into the river, splashing around crying out for help. Blinking that dreaded image out of her head, she quickly nodded to Sango, and bolted out of the clearing, leaving Sango, Miroku, Shippo, Rin and Sesshoumaru staring after her confused. Kirara mewed happily, catching Sango's attention, and they quickly wandered off together.

Jaken scoffed and slumped down beside the two headed dragon, and Rin tagged Sesshoumaru's shoulder, and his head turned to his shoulder confused, and then his eyes trailed after the little girl bewildered.

“Hey!” He shouted. “What was that for?” Immediately, he raced after her, and caught up to her giggling form easily. “Why'd you tap me?”

Rin stopped, and Sesshoumaru skidded to a halt, slipping on the leaves, and he about faced and stared at her. The little girl beamed at him, and then feigned right, which he blinked at stupidly. Before he could open his mouth to ask her what she thought she was doing, Rin bolted past him, racing down the path towards the river.

Sesshoumaru spun around, and shouted after her. “Hey!” He stood there for a moment staring after the little girl abashed. “Huh?” blinking rapidly for a second, he muttered. “What?”

Shaking himself out of his stupor, Sesshoumaru broke into a run and exited the trees and stared at the scene before him. Inuyasha was in the river, pouncing after the fish under the surface. Rin stood next to Kagome, holding her arms out, trying to ward off the water that was being splashed at her. Kagome laughed happily, and Sesshoumaru smiled.

Glancing down at his appearance, he sighed. Strolling over to the waters edge, he knelt down at stared into the glassy surface, far enough away so it wasn't rippled by Inuyasha's pouncing, or by the girl's splashing.

He caught his appearance in the water and stared at his golden eyes, and saw the similarities between him and Inuyasha's. Both their faces were similarly shaped and their hair was silver. That was where their appearances stopped being alike. Blinking, Sesshoumaru caught the color on his lids, and without any doubt, his stripes and moon held his heritage as an Inuyoukai. Inuyasha had those small dog-ears on his head, where Sesshoumaru's were small and tapered.

Lifting his hands, Sesshoumaru stared at them. His claws were short and flimsy, signaling his youth. When he got older they would lengthen and harden to razor sharp weapons. His stripes on his wrists were prominent, very similar to his father's cobalt blue stripes. Folding his hands in his lap, he almost jumped startled when a hand touched his shoulder.

“What's wrong, Sesshoumaru?” Kagome asked, kneeling beside him.

“Nothing, really.” He whispered. Lifting his head, he glanced at the human girl sighing. “That's a lie. I am just thinking about everything.”

Kagome nodded, encouraging him. Before he could respond, Inuyasha wandered over and crawled onto the bank beside them. Inuyasha peered at him, dripping wet, and grinned boyishly.

“You know, Sess? If you jump into the water, maybe all that blood scent will wash off and no more mean youkai will come and get us.” Inuyasha tilted his head to the side.

Sesshoumaru glanced down at his torn blue hakama, and then at the dark stains that signaled where his blood or another's blood had seeped into it. His haori was no better, hanging uselessly off his small frame in shreds. “Maybe you're right.” He nodded. Standing up, Sesshoumaru hopped into the water, and slipped beneath the surface, scrubbing his arms, and hair.

Rising to the top once again, Kagome's voice called to him and he waded over to her.

“Turn around. Let me wash your hair.” Kagome smiled, pulling something out of the big yellow bag she carried.

Sesshoumaru turned around and knelt down in the water, and he felt something drop onto the top of his head, and he blinked. Soon her fingers were massaging his scalp and he sighed, closing his eyes in contentment.

“Now go rinse.” Kagome said as her fingers stopped their massage.

“No, no. Keep going.” He grinned, his eyes still closed.

Kagome giggled. “You're as bad as Inuyasha.”

Sesshoumaru turned his head slightly, and smiled at the small hanyou who stood sulking off to the side.

Inuyasha stepped forward and placed his hands on his hips. “My turn next.” He growled at the girl.

Kagome laughed and nodded. “Okay, okay. Go rinse your hair off, Sesshoumaru. Inuyasha go get that tangled mess wet.”

 

Soon both brother's were lying in the sun, beside one another, soaking in the sun and trying to dry off their clothes, when Sango arrived, riding Kirara. She walked over to Sesshoumaru and dropped a bundle beside him. “Try those on, Sesshoumaru.” She stated.

Immediately, Sesshoumaru grabbed the bundle and opened it, taking a look at the clothing she got for him. The white pants and green haori looked simple enough, and were made from a light cotton material. They weren't as elegant as the silk one he had tried on earlier, and he pouted slightly disappointed. Shrugging his shoulders, he ran into the bushes and soon came out wearing the new clothes, and he handed Sango the old torn ones.

The youkai slayer knelt beside him and wrapped another layer of haori over his arms, she then pulled out a green and yellow obi and tied that around his waste and she stood up nodding in approval.

Frowning, Sesshoumaru glanced up at her. “You like green don't you?” He stated.

Sango winked at him and nodded. Turning around, Sesshoumaru saw Inuyasha curled up in Kagome's lap once again, and Rin walked over to them and sat down.

“What happened to Miroku and Shippo?” Kagome asked, running her fingers through Inuyasha's hair.

“He's checking the area for danger. Did we catch any fish?” Sango asked looking around.

Kagome shook her head grinning. “Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha both decided that they wanted a bath instead.”

Sango rolled her eyes, already knowing how Inuyasha loved having Kagome's fingers run through his hair massaging his scalp when he was full grown. Even though he had never admitted it, she knew that the hanyou loved the attention. It was proof enough that he loved it as a pup.

Turning towards the river, Sango hiked up her kimono, and waved to Rin. “Looks like it is up to us to search for dinner.” Rin eagerly raced to the river, placing the bottom edges of her kimono into her obi, and both were soon in the water silently stalking the fish that were swimming lazily beneath the surface.

By the time they were done, they had enough fish to fill all of them up for the night and Kagome carried the sleeping Inuyasha back to camp, while Kirara carried Rin and Sesshoumaru on her back.

It was growing late, and they quickly found a fire already roaring, thanks to Miroku and Jaken, who were now setting up the bedrolls. Kagome put Inuyasha down on hers and went to the fire to help Sango gut the fish, and Rin wandered over to help out, while Sesshoumaru stood staring over their shoulders watching with bright eyes as they pulled out the fish's insides.

He was grinning from ear to ear before they were finished, and Kagome placed the fish on some sticks. It seemed that the night would go well for them as they settled in for their meal, and Inuyasha walked over rubbing his eyes, sleepily. Crawling into Kagome's lap, he gratefully accepted the fish and everyone dug in silently. Kagome, Sango and Miroku shared a quick look that signaled that once the children were asleep they would discuss their next move on where to look for the rift. They didn't have much longer before their time was up, so the fooling around had to come to a halt.

With Naraku hovering close by and now knowing that both Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru were pups, they had to make haste before the spider hanyou decided to attack them again. Twice he had stumbled across the rife, and twice they had failed to return Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru to their normal forms.

They were running out of time, and they needed to move quickly.