Inuyasha Series © Rumiko Takahashi
Opening small talk: I came down with a flu since last weekend. My voice is still weird and my nose is still runny right now. *sniffs*
In this chapter there is a mention of Shiori and Jinenji from the original manga/anime and the half-demon children from Horaijima of the Inuyasha Movie 4 in case you are confused where I got the names from.
The Japanese meaning of hanyou is from han 半 (half) and you 妖 (youkai - apparition, demon). This word was first used and mostly invented by Rumiko Takahashi herself for Inuyasha series to call one being half-demon and half-human in her comic. In Japanese folklore, off-springs from demon and human were mostly humans and hardly retained any trail of their demon parent. In short, half-demon half-human children in most cases could pass for a normal human kids as they were humans.
I might have made Sesshoumaru to be judgmental but he had his reasons to think that way, originally his opinion about humans was not that high to begin with. One if his reason was also from my point of view, seeing how humans in the castle where Inuyasha lived with his Mother treated him from his flashback.
Magatama is a coma shaped beads from Japan, often described as jewels (tama). The Yasakani no Magatama is one of the three Imperial Regalia of Japan. For more information please visit wikipedia.
I tried to minimize typo and grammars as best as I could. If there are still some lurking around, please inform me when you spot them.
2. Other side of the truth
Rating: T
Warning: incest, boys love, Kouga-pedia, original manga's information twisting (this is a fan-fiction. I repeat, this is a fan-fiction!). And your usual dose of Inucest.
"How long have they been at it?" Kouga asked, sniffing his way to the clearing Inuyasha often found frequent despite Kagome was perfectly capable of leading him there (and that had been the reason she came with him).
"I know Sesshoumaru used to visit monthly. Since the last time you were here, he's been around more often," There was confusion in Kagome's voice, "But they always fight."
"Huh?" Kouga stopped momentarily to throw a back glance at his human companion, also waited for her to catch up with him. "Why do you think?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Kagome frowned, her head tilted in inquiring, "Sesshoumaru would attack Inuyasha out of nowhere, or Inuyasha would whenever Sesshoumaru was just done visiting Rin." Kagome had expected a snide comment about misbehaved dogs but Kouga only gave an amused chuckle before he continued walking ahead.
"You know," Kouga mused, "Sometimes thing is not what it seems." He left it at that. The girl was still wounded and she needed more time, even though she didn't show it.
"I only want to understand…" Why Sesshoumaru? Kagome mumbled in a small voice, if it reached Kouga's ears he said nothing, knowing that wasn't meant for him. She almost bumped into Kouga's back because he had stopped. When her mind occupied with thought, the walk seemed shorter and they had reached the edge of Inuyasha's Forest before she knew it. There, Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru, Tessaiga and Bakusaiga drew, colliding each other. What out of place was the absence of their usual bickering.
A whistle called Kagome's attention toward Kouga. The wolf demon was no longer at urgent to see Inuyasha as much like earlier when he barged into their village for the second time after his first episode last month. Now Kouga was leaning on the nearby tree, arms crossed, enjoying the scene at his leisure. His fingers twitched from time to time and the competitive aura oozed from him were more than telling Kagome he was most likely tempted to join them. Something obviously held him back. Kagome shifted her gaze to Inuyasha.
To see the half-demon was completely absorbed in his concentration toward his opponent, likewise, Sesshoumaru didn't show any sign of acknowledging her and Kouga's arrival. In a flash impossible for human eyes to catch, Sesshoumaru was behind Inuyasha and swung his sword, aiming for Inuyasha's neck.
Kagome gasped, dread filled her and before she knew her body acted on its own to run forward, almost screaming Inuyasha's name to alert him, Kouga's hand obscured her sight and followed with a quiet, "Say nothing."
Inuyasha precisely brought Tessaiga up to guard the side of his head, put his other hand on the sword edge to support blocking the deadly assault at his life, knowing one hand wouldn't be enough to withstand Sesshoumaru's point blank full swing. With his hands busy holding Tessaiga, he was open for Seshoumaru to exploit weak points and launch Poison Claws at his mid ribs. Inuyasha gathered demonic aura in his feet and twisted back, a knee kicked up to divert Sesshoumaru's claws strike, getting a small scratch on his bare ankle which meant little to nothing compared to the damage he would have received otherwise. With remaining momentum, his other leg dealt a front kick almost broke Sesshoumaru's jaw if the demon had not done channeling his own aura into Bakusaiga and released a powerful blast to distance them at the last second.
"Don't distract Inuyasha or he will be injured more than that." Kouga warned. Though he was not so sure if she heard him at the awestruck on her face fully focused on her favorite half-demon. Kouga glanced upward and back. Girl.
"The first time I saw Sesshoumaru on Hakurei Mountain, I said he smelled like Inuyasha." Kouga commented out of nowhere. The abruptness of random conversation caught Kagome off-guard, causing her to look at him in confusion. Not waiting for her obvious question, he continued with a short laugh, "Now that they are in the same place at the same time, it's easier to understand why. In fact, it's the opposite. Inuyasha smells like Sesshoumaru."
"Because they are siblings?" Kagome reminded him with a frown, still unable to understand what intrigued Kouga so much about that.
Shaking his head, Kouga chuckled low in his throat, elaborated a little more, "Beside that. Inuyasha always has Sesshoumaru's scent lingered on him. He always does. It has become too natural we are fooled into believing that is all Inuyasha's while his real scent is almost hidden by Sesshoumaru's, to the point nearly mixes with his. Now, we wonder why."
"Why?" Kagome repeated, truly wanted to know. This was not something any of them had been aware of, until the Wolf demon told her.
"Have you ever seen any lone half-demon, as in they were all by themselves, beside Inuyasha?" Kouga inquired, his eyes didn't move from the sparring scene.
Kagome thought back to Shiori, Jinenji and then to the half-demon children at the Horaijima. "No. We've met several half-demons along the way, but there was always one parent with them or they were with their own kind," Surprised herself when she continued, "Even Naraku hadn't been alone. Before he created Kagura and others, he surrounded himself with the Saimyōshō and infiltrated human castles, living among them."
"You've already known how half-demon is detested by both human and demon," Kouga remarked when Kagome's nod in confirmation, "There is no way Inuyasha could survive by himself in the wild alone. In fact, he should have been killed long before we got to know him."
"But he's strong!" Kagome protested, furrowed her brows in disapproval at Kouga for his seemingly berating Inuyasha.
"You don't throw a cub at starved tigers and expect it to not get killed," Kouga deadpanned, "Someone must have been training him to be stronger one way or another, like run when he couldn't fight, kill when he could hunt back, and when he was cornered by stronger opponents, he would gamble his own life for the chance to escape or die trying."
"Sesshoumaru did?" Kagome wondered. It was hard to imagine that possibility. But he was the only one left for Inuyasha after his human Mother passed away.
"The fall of the Great Dog General changed something within their circle of alliances. While until now most stay loyal to Sesshoumaru and his Mother, some completely detached themselves. They bowed down to the late General and his Lady, not their heir and son." Kouga tilted his head, contemplating his next words. "In other words, Sesshoumaru was put in some kind of a trial to see if he's worthy to succeed his Father. Many have looked down on their Royal family for the General's… affair with the human princess, which resulted in Inuyasha." Kouga sighed, scratching the back of his neck at Kagome's arched eyebrow. "I did my reading when I had nothing better to do, don't look at me that way." In fact, he didn't even bother about Inuyasha until he got to know the half-demon on a personal level.
Kagome was at a loss of how to proceed with the new information. Most of all, what was it doing at the moment? "Sesshoumaru didn't make any good first impression of a brother to me. He even used a demon disguised as Inuyasha's mother to force him into telling the way to their Father's grave. Inuyasha had always been wary of him."
"Why would Inuyasha even believe in the impostor if he tried to be cautious?" Kouga questioned, not expecting Kagome to answer, "Have you ever wondered why Inuyasha is still alive at all?"
Kagome was about to repeat 'He's strong!' as if that would miraculously answer all of Kouga's questions but her raising uncertainty held her tongue. She had a feeling this was not like Kouga had asked because he wanted to know, but for herself to figure out something, or to face what she refused to see that was blinded by her jealousy of Sesshoumaru in general. She thought back when she was little and she yearned for most. Sense of safe. Kagome turned her sight toward Sesshoumaru, whispered to herself, "He's been protecting Inuyasha?"
"If Sesshoumaru didn't care, just let the dog-breath have a life of luxury and spoiled him rotten would do. Inuyasha should be completely useless then, killing him hardly posed much of a problem. Not to mention at the same time exposed Inuyasha and his human mother to the possibility of treachery when other humans saw that as a disgrace of the house for sheltering an abomination half-breed. Or Sesshoumaru could simply ignore Inuyasha all together from the start, let others kill him just for being a half-breed. After all, no one witnessed when Inuyasha was born as son of their Father. As long as Sesshoumaru didn't recognize Inuyasha, no one cared who Inuyasha was. Somehow none of those ever happened, yeah?" With a begrudging grumble, Kouga muttered, "Some elders told me Sesshoumaru had already led an army to defend their Fortress when I was at the kit's age, that insane beast."
Kagome swallowed. For the first time starting to see what she'd been against. Of how capable Sesshoumaru truly was at killing them all if he had chosen to, even more so now with Bakusaiga in his possession. Could it be because of Inuyasha that Sesshoumaru had spared them when he could kill them all given the chances? Sesshoumaru didn't even need to interfere before the demon Inuyasha was going to massacre them after he killed off the bandits that time, but he did. Could it be because he did what he did then only for Inuyasha to come to his sense? Sesshoumaru even protected Inuyasha and their group on several occasions despite he gave his reason for doing so that was not about them, but his timing was always too perfect to be just another coincidence. Could everything be truly because of Inuyasha after all?
Inuyasha leaped high in the air with Tessaiga mightily struck down, fragments of his diamond spears glittered around him and Sesshoumaru when the demon countered with Bakusaiga's trademark ability. The two swords' most recent collision caused a strong surge of demonic aura to explode that would have blown Kagome away if Kouga hadn't wrapped his arm around the back of her shoulders to steady her.
"You told me they fought for Tessaiga before." Kouga resumed their conversation, trying to distract the girl from her attempt to tell them stop fighting and destroying the area further. No thanks to her, he wanted to enjoy the rare sight in peace by himself here.
"Their father had put an anti-demon barrier in it. Sesshoumaru and other demons can't touch Tessaiga without getting burned to death!" Kagome threw her hands in the air at his incredulous look. "Maybe except Sesshoumaru, but he still got burned!"
"Why Sesshoumaru didn't just endure it while killing off Inuyasha and figured out some ways to deal with it later?" Kouga wondered, ignored Kagome's exasperated look.
"He didn't think Tessaiga would answer Inuyasha. He didn't think Inuyasha could use Wind Scar! But Inuyasha did!" Kagome groused, started doubting whose side Kouga was on.
"Wait." Kouga raised a hand to stop her next rant. "Inuyasha used Wind Scar out of nowhere?"
"No. Sesshoumaru demonstrated it, arming himself with a dragon claw! Can you believe it?! A dragon claw!" Kagome gripped the front of Kouga's armor and asked him viciously in his face.
"Kagome." Kouga cautioned, fearing for the girl's sanity. "Do you believe Inuyasha would figure it out by himself if it wasn't for Sesshoumaru?"
"Sesshoumaru was trying to kill him!" Kagome grilled. Those vivid memories of numerous times Sesshoumaru tried to kill Inuyasha at the front of her mind. "He has changed! But the past didn't!"
"You know, Kagome," Kouga tried reasoning with the young priestess, "I doubt that was the case."
"What do you mean?" Kagome scowled sulkily.
"Despite what he said, had Sesshoumaru ever really killed Inuyasha when he could?" The Wolf demon was surprised at his own patience. Usually he would snap by now. There was an interesting sparring session between two strong opponents in front of him and he got his hands full placating the recently heartbroken priestess. Usually the irritating part came with her girly personality didn't aim at him so he entertained the thought that it was amusing, but not so much now that he was at the receiving end of it.
It took Kagome a while to proceed the question, despite it was fairly pointless to do so. She hesitated. "… No?"
"How was Inuyasha when you first met him?" Kouga asked out of nowhere.
Kagome was ready to answer without much thought, but her mouth could only manage an "Uh…"
Sesshoumaru caught Tessaiga with his bare hand and thrust Bakusaiga at Inuyasha's throat. His facial expression might not show much, but the strain of withstanding Tessaiga's demonic aura slowed his movement enough for Inuyasha to avoid losing his head in the nick of time and shot Blades of Blood point blank at his demon opponent. Sesshoumaru released Tessaiga and jumped backward, dodged most of the flying projectiles but one still managed to graze his cheek. The thin line of red started healing instantly before any blood could leak out and the two siblings leaped at each other again.
"He was loud, snappy, rude, mean, and overly obnoxious! All he knew was Jewel of Four Souls this Jewel of Four Souls that." Kagome grumbled, though with an affection undertone.
"That was so unbelievable." Kouga commented sarcastically. His tone changed to a more neutral side when he noticed Kagome's glare shooting at him. "So why did he want it?"
"To become a full demon." Kagome deadpanned, "He always wanted that since the time he tried stealing it from Kikyo."
"Why?" Kouga prompted.
"To be stronger?"
"Not because his only blood-relative older sibling looked down on him for being half-demon?"
Kagome turned back to Inuyasha. If putting it that way, the reason was perfectly understandable. Inuyasha had always looked like he wanted to prove something to Sesshoumaru. Come to think of it, unless Sesshoumaru appeared hostile, which was more often than not, Inuyasha wouldn't start being all defensive. However rare the occasion was when talking about Sesshoumaru in the after match, she could say Inuyasha was… docile?
"Say, Kagome," Kouga probed at the silence suddenly descended on her, "Has Inuyasha ever called Sesshoumaru brother?"
"No. Only Sesshoumaru mentioned it to provoke him. Myoga-jisan and Toutousai-sama also talked about their relationship to prove some points one way or another. But I don't think Inuyasha has ever voluntarily said anything about it." Kagome tilted her head. She found it was weird but didn't think she should read too much into it unless Inuyasha wanted to talk of course, which was about never.
Kouga hummed, now that was interesting. "How does he think about their Father?"
"Not much. When he fought Ryukotsusei to get Tessaiga less heavy after Toutousai-sama first fixed it, he said he didn't know his father's face so there was no way he would be revenging him." Kagome tilted her head to the other side, pursing her lips. "We all saw their Father's spirit briefly on one occasion after those two—" Her fingers motioned at the duo dogs still pretty much nonchalantly destroying whatever left of the opening, "—teamed up, albeit reluctantly, to defeat a foe. That one was practically a sword. A talking sword, the name is So'unga. Apparently, it also belonged to their Father and chose Inuyasha to possess instead of Sesshoumaru."
"I almost start feeling bad for them." Kouga snickered. A prick at the back of his neck alerted him of danger. The Wolf demon looked away from Kagome in time to catch twin pairs of golden eyes death-glaring at him briefly before they ignored their peepers and continued with their usual session of biting each other's head off. Maybe it was a trick of light so the eye contact had never occurred at all.
"What was that?" Kagome asked him, noticed his pale face before it was back to normal.
"Nothing." Kouga looked at the sky, mumbled his reply absentmindedly. "Just thinking maybe Inuyasha didn't start out thinking of Sesshoumaru simply as his brother since like, forever? Because, you know, he got confused as to what exactly Sesshoumaru was in his life…?"
"Huh?" Kagome was dumbfounded at his comment. "Why would you think that?"
"Here is what we know," Kouga drawled, perplexed by his own conclusion, "He went after the Jewel of Four Souls to become something more tolerable in Sesshoumaru's eyes. Then he and Tessaiga. And so on? While Sesshoumaru intentionally or not, protected him and led him, forced him went through unspeakable ordeals to be… stronger?"
"It's like…" It finally dawned to Kagome, and she hardly believed it took so long to figure out. She looked at Kouga with wide eyes in realization with a gasp. "Don't tell me…!"
Nodding, Kouga was pretty sure Kagome was thinking the same as him. "To the Inuyasha didn't know about his Sire who had never been really there for him, Sesshoumaru was like his own father."
"That is too much to think about." Kagome sighed heavily. "And it's only a guess."
"True." Kouga agreed. He might have trodden too far from where he should stop. Royal issues had always been the taboo within their society since forever. The practice of incest to produce pure-breed offspring was one of what kept unsaid. Sesshoumaru was born with the perfect right to be proud of his upbringing, because his birth was that sacred to begin with. So Inuyasha might or might not be informed about the full meaning of his own birth to Sesshoumaru's status, not with their Sire was no more. Slit blue eyes narrowed, in an inaudible whisper mindful of the sharp hearing of his two fellow canine demons out there, Kouga warned the girl, "Keep in mind Kagome, demon and human are different species. It's normal to be confused when you look pass that point only to be reminded of it."
"What do you mean?" Kagome was distracted from getting defensive because Inuyasha looked her way momentarily. She smiled softly at him in that instant before his attention was called away by Sesshoumaru's newest move. Then, Inuyasha did something caused her to laugh at his antic, he stuck his tongue out at his brother's death-glare.
"Inuyasha is not just going by human's rule. Half of him belongs to demon society." Kouga leaned his head on the tree trunk. "Let's say in the case Inuyasha and you become man and wife, what will become of him in another 50 years?"
"He'll…" Being forced to face a fact she had tried to bury somewhere in the back of her mind, Kagome trailed off, "He…"
"He will barely change from how he looks like right now, while you are more noticeable aging." Kouga narrowed his eyes in answering to Inuyasha's warning glare at him. "And once you are no more, he will die shortly after, of loss. As all us demons do once our chosen one passes away."
Kagome was struck speechless at the revelation. Was that why?
As if hearing her inner inquiry, Kouga contradicted. "That's why demon and human shouldn't be together, to protect ourselves. I don't know about your belief in regarding to demons, but we don't like getting hurt just like every living being out there. Though by my understanding of Inuyasha, it's not the reason he didn't choose to be with you in that way."
Kagome took in a deep breath and released it, feeling weary by now. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Maybe because it was unfair of him to only inform you of his choice and not giving any explanation," Kouga paused, the corner of his lips slightly curled up at Inuyasha's annoy look while Sesshumaru was highly amused by the way his eyes twinkled with something more malicious cooking in his head, "Or maybe it was unfair for him to have you hate him because he has hurt you like this."
"I am willing to hear what he has to say." Kagome said with a strangle edge signalized the returning of tears.
"Is there a reason you love him?"
Kagome gave no response, realized her answer was not meant for him to hear as he didn't wait for her reply.
"Ask him his reason for choosing Sesshoumaru then."
"You shitty mouth mangy-wolf." Inuyasha snapped, materialized beside Kouga and shot the Wolf demon a dirty look.
"Nice to meet you too, little moonless night." Kouga sarcastically bit back, inclined his head at Sesshoumaru's uninterested expression.
"What the hell are you doing here anyway?" Inuyasha interrogated politely, leading the group back to the village.
Kouga puffed his chest and announced proudly. "Call me Lord Kouga now, dog-breath!"
Sesshoumaru was first to react at his announcement. The older Dog demon grunted dismissively and walked pass Inuyasha, whispered inaudibly in a twitching puppy ear. The half-demon was about to say something when Sesshoumaru shook his head once and took flight, leaving his sibling to deal with the bragging Wolf and his still distressed priestess. He turned back to Kouga and scowled, "Just great! I'm stuck with you!" To Kagome, his voice was softer, "Come on Kagome." He crouched, patiently waited for the girl to get on his back. They continued to the village, bickering all the way with Inuyasha and Kouga traded insults back and forth at each other.
"I am so going to talk to Sesshoumaru about throwing his property at random things with four legs!" Inuyasha scoffed. "Can't he find any stronger demon to do his dirty job?"
"For your information, I am strong! And handsome." Kouga flipped him a finger.
"And good at running away." Inuyasha added in.
"What did you say, dog-breath?" Kouga stopped and took a fighting stance.
"Bring it on, mangy-wolf!" Inuyasha barked, drawing Tessaiga and leaped over Kouga.
"Do it, Kagome." Sesshoumaru's commanding voice hit them clear in the ears.
Kagome was more than willing to comply. "Osuwari."
Lost balance by the force of the Beads of Subjugation in mid-air, Inuyasha barreled right at Kouga and took the Wolf demon down with him. Kagome, unscratched since she was perching on Inuyasha's back, ended up on top of the two previously squabbling males.
Kagome stood up and walked over to Sesshoumaru with surprise on her face. "I thought you went ahead."
"He called," Was Sesshoumaru's curt answer and explanation to his reappearance.
She didn't recall anything relatively close to his claim and got more confused, "I only heard him mention you…"
Sesshoumaru briefly glanced at her, then his gaze shifted back to his motionless sibling. Wordlessly he turned, knowing Kagome would follow him instead of waiting for the other two to get up and move on. When they were out of earshot did Sesshoumaru say something, "Hanyou, that is what all half-demons are called for being half-demon, meaning half-demon."
"I know." Kagome informed him.
"By calling them hanyou is an acknowledgment, that a part of them belongs to us demons. However, nowhere in that ever includes the human counterpart. And humans blissfully adapted and had been calling them hanyou in their own ignorance to this day."
Something told Kagome this conversation was not going to be pleasant.
"Despite looking down on half-demons, no demon ever denied there was demon blood running in any hanyou they encountered." Sesshoumaru stopped walking. "Humans hate differences. They group demon and half-demon together and refuse to acknowledge there is also human blood inside half-demon." In front of them was the Goshinboku tree, Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed, zeroed in the spot where Kikyo's arrow once pinned Inuyasha there. "Izayoi died using her last breath deactivate the barrier surrounded the human castle for Inuyasha to escape, knowing her own kin would sacrifice him after her death for what he is. In turn sacrificed her own people sheltering behind the castle walls to the demons always waiting outside."
"For what?" Kagome demanded.
"The greatest creation of her clan was Jewel of Four Souls."
"What do you mean? It was created by Midoriko!" Kagome didn't know why she protested his claim despite knowing little about the other priestess herself.
"Her full name is Setsuna no Midoriko."
"Setsuna?" Kagome gasped.
"The Setsuna clan was famous for their warriors and priestesses. Izayoi was a Setsuna priestess and the princess of her clan. However, on contrary to Midoriko, she was a kuromiko." At this, Sesshoumaru turned his head slightly to glance back at Kagome from the corner of his piercing eyes, an unmistakable smirk on his lips at her flabbergasted expression. "A kuromiko is the priestess who communicates with demons instead of purifying them, in the most cases."
"Tsubaki…" Kagome breathed. This couldn't be true. Even if she only knew of Inuyasha's mother via a demon imposter, she was nowhere like Tsubaki!
"You seemed to encounter a nameless kuromiko to know what one can do." Sesshoumaru observed with amusement in his eyes.
"I'm trying to think why you would want to deceive me before believing you are telling the truth."
"There is something I'd like to entrust in your care."
"Inuyasha?" She asked almost bitterly.
"We will see about that." Sesshoumaru replied vaguely but a spark of interest flickered in his cold eyes. He turned, in his hand was a beautiful black box crafted of wood, decorated with gemstones cut in swirling patterns so they looked like waves, Kagome noted, or were they clouds? Pleased to have her attention where it should, Sesshoumaru brought the box in front of the priestess. Though he didn't give any more gesture to indicate she could have the box, his nonverbal command had been just as loud, Kagome took it hesitantly. "This is something of Inuyasha's Mother," Confessed Sesshoumaru.
"Why are you giving it to me instead of him?" The box looked harmless enough at first glance. But now that she held it, Kagome could feel something… not entirely unpleasant.
"I was not informed of what it could do to him."
"What is it?" Kagome asked almost immediately. This couldn't be something possible to hurt Inuyasha. She wouldn't keep such a thing of that capacity in her care with Inuyasha around.
Instead of answering, Sesshoumaru gazed pointedly at the box in question.
Sesshoumaru wouldn't go to such length to harm her or worst, kill her now, would he? Even knowing that much, her nerves were still on all ends. Kagome swallowed and hold her breath, her thumb had a mind of its own and brushed the white jewel in the shape of a full moon on top of the box with her thumb, bit back a surprised cry when it sank inward to be easily pushed completely to one side. The top half of the box opened with two pieces splitting on either side. Now, the visible part of the jewel looked like a crescent moon.
Kagome gasped at what she saw inside, nestled on a red cushion, "A black magatama!"
"It's Yasakani no Magatama." Sesshoumaru corrected her. "Originally belonged to the Setsuna clan, given to Izayoi when she succeeded their former kuromiko."
"What is this for?" Kagome found herself question, ignored the feeling of not wanting to know.
"To subdue demons." Sesshoumaru told her. "In order to communicate with those who are not willing to listen, there is no choice but forcing them."
"How did you have it?" Now her curious quipped. Inuyasha's Mother couldn't be in any danger with their Father around.
"She gave it to me."
"What? Why?" Kagome gaped incredulously. Wasn't this her own heirloom?
"So I would know she didn't control Father in any shape or form," Sesshoumaru sneered at the mere notion, "Humans had long grouped demon and the materialization of contempt in the same category. Only because it effects the lesser ones, they immensely believe something like this can cause harm to a daiyoukai."
"But you keep it. And by the look of it, this is very well-kept in fact." Kagome muttered, feeling a bit offended at his condescending tone.
Sesshoumaru ignored her observation. He silently scrutinized the young priestess, maybe a little too intense that he noticed something normally he wouldn't, as no one ever could. With a frown, the demon took a step closer to the girl, and another. Kagome looked up from the content of the box at the sudden shortened distance of herself and the lethal demon. While having no fear of what he could do to her, she couldn't help feeling a little wary of him.
Wordlessly Sesshoumaru raised his hand, pushing back the dark hair fell from the left side of Kagome's neck and leaned closer, taking a deep inhale of her scent. His eyes widened in realization. Impossible! She—
He drew back instantly.
Kagome gave a startled squeak, her face burning. "What are you—!"
"Return to the village, Kagome." Sesshoumaru cut her off. His face voided of the emotions he expressed only moment ago, leaving behind the strange calmness that put Kagome on edge.
"But you—!" The young priestess stuttered incoherently, exasperatedly trying and failing to get words out, her face impossibly getting redder the more she was in his presence, and this close! He was too close!
"You would want to spend time with Inuyasha until he is awake." Sesshoumaru could only hope the girl took the hint and left. But apparently not.
"What? What happened to him?!" At the mention of Inuyasha, Kagome found her voice and also the nerve to grab his Mokomoko with one unoccupied hand to demand answer from the obviously unintimated demon.
"He was barely able to stand back then."
"And you made me sit him?!" Kagome shrieked. Her face now colored from hackles raising unlike the earlier embarrassment.
"You could have not done it." Sesshoumaru pointed out to her.
"I…!" Kagome trailed off, still glaring at him.
Sesshoumaru smirked deviously, "While you are wasting your time here, that Wolf could have done plenty things to him."
"What are you talking about?!" Kagome yelled again, hardly able to believe in her ears at hearing his words anymore. "They are like dog and cat!"
Completely unimpressed at her comparison, Sesshoumaru removed himself from her sight, leaving Kagome's hand gripped at thin air. His parting words were the most unpleasant revelation to her. "The Wolf Prince has more interested in Inuyasha than he ever did in you. And you only have your ignorance to blame."
That was ridiculously laughable! Kouga used to be interested in her ability to sense the Jewel of Four Souls at first, but later he—No, could it be… Kouga only did what he did to get a reaction out of Inuyasha? To get Inuyasha to notice him? Since when did it happen? When Kouga was fooled into believing Inuyasha was the murderer of his clansmen? When Inuyasha sided with Kouga despite being badly injured by the Wolf demon in his bloodlust for revenge? When Inuyasha helped him numerous times? When he partly witnessed how Inuyasha was getting stronger? When he looked pass the fact Inuyasha was a half-demon?
"Even then…" Kagome whispered to no ear, "Even then, both I and Kouga can't even start comparing to you in his eyes." She gripped the box close to her chest, sensing the pulse of the magatama's awakening from within. Not feel like seeing Inuyasha at this moment, she headed back to the village instead.
"Are you still alive?" Kouga drawled, flicking imaginary dirt from the underside of his claw tips.
Inuyasha sat cross-legs, leaning on the Bone-Eater's Well, arms folded inside his sleeves, eyes close in reposing. He took his sweet time to ignore answering the obvious. When he decided to speak, it was a low hiss in anger, "Mind your own business."
"For your information, I only mind my own business." Kouga growled back, swatted down from his standing position in front of the half-demon. "How long are you planning to lead us on?"
"Us?" Inuyasha scoffed. Golden eyes opened, glaring at the opposite darkened blue eyes. "So you used Kagome to say it in my face your intention toward me? Weak." He sneered.
"Be careful of your words, Inuyasha." Kouga warned, narrowed his eyes further to back up his unspoken threat, which still did little to make Inuyasha start feeling threatened. "Kagome perhaps will give up on you in due time. Rest assured I will too, but not without a fight."
"Why would you?" Inuyasha lifted his chin, looking down at the other demon.
"Don't take me for a fool, dog-breath." Kouga grunted, his voice haughty. "I am not doubting Sesshoumaru but I also know he is not a God. There is no way he could forever protect you along with whatever you are."
Prepared for the inevitable, Inuyasha tensed up, his fangs grinding against each other. Was he able to kill Kouga once he decided the Wolf demon truly mean harm? 'I will deal with him if you can't, Inuyasha,' Sesshoumaru's words rang clear in the back of his mind from their earlier exchange. His brother knew his naivety too well.
"You, Inuyasha," Kouga stated, blissfully unaware of what he had gotten himself into, "The perfected Jewel of Four Souls."
Inuyasha drew his sword. Instead of letting Bakusaiga score a clean cut across Kouga's neck as soon as the clueless demon spoke his last words, Tessaiga deflected the attack was meant to put an end to Kouga's life before the Wolf demon knew it. Sesshoumaru leaped back and lowered his weapon, narrowed his eyes at Inuyasha's defensive stance shielding the other demon. Kouga, after getting over his initial surprise also stood rigidly, prepared to not about to lose his life, again. He was once again got his ass saved by Inuyasha. This was way pass ridiculous!
"Give me a reason you spare his life." Sesshoumaru ordered his sibling. If the Wolf had not been there, he would be free to check Inuyasha over. But he felt overly proud nonetheless that Inuyasha had not only sensed his killing intent at the last moment, but also efficiently blocked his attack while the wolf could have been long dead if not for Inuyasha's interference.
"Give me a reason you don't." Inuyasha demanded defiantly in response. That most recent reaction had taken a toll on him, but he would be damned if he let it show now, not in front of Sesshoumaru when Kouga was looking.
That prideful stubbornness was certain from himself. Sesshoumaru could have smirked in satisfaction, now was not the time. They had an audience to take care of. His gaze shifted from Inuyasha to the demon behind his sibling. "You hear him," He addressed Kouga, waiting for what the Wolf had to say to save his life this time.
Despite Sesshoumaru was more or less subdued, his sword was still in his hand and his presence alone was life-threatening enough. Kouga was no longer able to endure the humiliation no matter how much he was thankful to have Inuyasha willing to go such length for him, even when the half-demon barely stood still at the moment. His best course of action would be saying what they were waiting to hear and moved on so Inuyasha could finally rest and recuperate instead of holding himself up like he was doing now.
"Inuyasha," Kouga called the motionless form in front of him.
Inuyasha straightened up and sheathed his sword, stepping aside to give both demons full view of the other, his expression unreadable.
It could be his imagination but Kouga swore he saw a faint purple something fading away on Inuyasha's cheeks, but he couldn't dwell on it for long due to the situation. "I've known who you are before I know what you really are. That's not going to change how I see you in the least. It only makes you more desirable I almost regret mating with Ayame." He grinned at the arched eyebrows from both the Dog demons, "Besides, it doesn't hurt to try recruiting you as my Beta!" Kouga threw over his shoulder while hightailing out of Sesshoumaru's killing range.
"I have a reason to kill him now," Sesshoumaru declared with finality.
"I don't care!" Inuyasha stomped away after he was sure Kouga had run a good distance to be safe from Sesshoumaru's claws. He didn't get to make a second step before Sesshoumaru scooped him up and took flight.
Far from protesting for being treated like a child or worse, a damsel, Inuyasha laid his head on his sibling's shoulder, further cushioned with Mokomoko and sighed in relief. Just exactly what he was waiting for.
"I considered leaving you in the village." Sesshoumaru informed his dozing bundle.
"Why's the change of heart?" Inuyasha humored him.
"I don't feel like having you out of my sight for a while."
"You have been awfully weird as of late." Despite saying that, Inuyasha still wrapped an arm around Sesshoumaru's shoulder and buried his face in his brother's neck, feeling Sesshoumaru tightened his hold on him in return.
Sesshoumaru whispered in Inuyasha's exposing ear, "Is that so?"
Inuyasha hummed, "When was it? When did my loving daddy turn into my big bad brother?" He inquired airily, nipping playfully at Sesshoumaru's throat.
Sesshoumaru answered with a flick of his tongue at one twitching puppy ear before he closed his fangs over the point tip and gave it a gentle tug, causing Inuyasha to yelp. But the younger of the two start laughing out loud right away at his sibling's scowling face when his momentarily paralyzed state worn off from having his sensitive appendage assaulted.
"This Sesshoumaru will not be ridiculed, especially not by his pride." Sesshoumaru huffed condescendingly, kicking off his speed when he spotted his Mother's Fortress.
"You only want to hear your own name in your own voice!" Inuyasha quipped, still snickering hopelessly despite the dull ache on his side he had received somewhere during their sparring.
Sesshoumaru leaned down and bit the other ear. This time the shock successfully caused Inuyasha to lose consciousness until his body was rested enough to throw a tantrum at his overly smug sibling when he woke up several hours later.
To be continued...
A/N: Thanks everyone for your favorites, follows and reviews on the first chapter. I don't know why but Nikkie's review always makes some light bulbs went off in my head. Maybe I'm going to write a one-shot about royal family incest starring Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru when I'm out of flu meds. Well, they both are royalties. Haha.