Beyond 2
Sesshoumaru left a fuming and almost speechless Inuyasha with an injunction to be ready to leave in two days. Almost speechless was all that Inuyasha could do nowadays; the old insults didn't come as readily as they used to because the brothers had formed a truce of sorts. More than a truce even, in fact a relationship that had become more tolerable as the years had passed; but his brother was obviously still a stuck up snob at times. But although the insult was so old now, and he hadn't heard it for a long time, it still stung and Inuyasha called out;
"I am not worthless, my life isn't meaningless you bastard..." However before he could protest anymore, Sesshoumaru was instantly before him in a shimmer of white silk, making Inuyasha take a step backwards. Strangely the older youkai didn't look annoyed, or ready to extract painful retribution; he merely stared calmly at his brother. He did not even bother to correct the boy on just who was the illegitimate one of the two.
"I said not that you were worthless Little Brother, but you have to admit your life is meaningless at the moment. Besides which, Mother has something she wishes to discuss with you; I will come for you in two days, therefore collect all your things together and be ready." And once more he was gone, but in his wake this time he left a warmer feeling from the almost affectionate and teasing, 'Little Brother'. Inuyasha though was more than surprised and finally distrusted his own sense but he would go, he liked Sesshoumaru's mother and looked forward to seeing her again.
She had been surprisingly kind to him when he'd met her for the first time, considering he hadn't realised who she was. Kagome had come back to him and they had been together for a couple of years when she had seen the huge white dog lying down on the hill above the village. Or rather she had seen the paws and tail at first and called for Inuyasha as she made her way up the slope. Inuyasha had soon overtaken her and had berated her for putting herself in danger. Kagome had replied rather testily that she thought Sesshoumaru might be hurt and had come to where he knew he would receive help.
Inuyasha just gazed at her wryly; his brother might not be so aggressive anymore toward them but for him to seek them out would be a longshot. Besides which, as Inuyasha informed Kagome, he could tell the Inuyoukai was a bitch, not a dog, which prompted his mate to hurry even more as she was sure the female needed help. Inuyasha had merely huffed that Kagome mainly wanted to touch the creature and get her hands on the silky fur, but the bitch would probably not appreciate being petted. Kagome had grinned sheepishly at her husband before he pulled her behind him and drew Tessaiga as the dog started to stand.
She was huge, and as she stood, Inuyasha gasped and held Tessaiga ready to attack. The crescent moon on her forehead gave her away, Inuyasha had heard from Rin that his brother's mother was still alive and now it seemed that she had come to seek him out. However the bitch looked like she was laughing at him as she dropped her tail close to Kagome who had crept out from behind Inuyasha and waved it lazily near to the human girl's hand. Before the hanyou could react, Kagome had stroked the beautiful soft fur and all he could do was warn the bitch that should she hurt his mate she would be blasted by Tessaiga.
In a sudden flare of powerful youkai that buffeted the young couple, instead of a dog a lovely female Inuyoukai stood in front of them, her visual similarity to her son leaving no doubt as to her identity and Kagome gasped as for the first time she realised just who she had been patting. The Lady of the West just laughed gently and said;
"As if any part of My Beloved could ever harm me; you can toss that toy about as much as you liked Puppy and I would receive no hurt. However you needn't worry, I haven't come to destroy you; although young human, your mate was correct to advocate caution, I am most dangerous when I wish to be. This time however I wish to visit only, and come to know my stepson personally." With that she swept past them and ahead to lead them to their home. The visit had been disturbing and had led to unhappiness, but despite this, Inuyasha and the Lady had become friends.
As Inuyasha ran to Goshinboku and jumped into its branches and to his private sanctuary at the heart of the tree beneath its leafy canopy, he thought ruefully about how much Sesshoumaru had to learn of diplomacy still. But for all that, as he sat and mused over the events that happened since Naraku was defeated and the jewel destroyed, Inuyasha had to finally admit to himself that Sesshoumaru was right and that he was only clutching at straws. With a heavy sigh Inuyasha decided to humour his brother and go with him, if only for a short time; it would at least be warmer at the Palace with winter only a week or so away.
It was strange, Inuyasha thought, he had rarely felt the cold in the shard hunting days, but they were long gone and although he was not human and didn't suffer as badly because of it, the deep cold did affect him and he remembered being alone and cold with nobody to care. Then he shook off the melancholy thoughts and tucked himself further into his shelter; Goshinboku had been a constant for nearly one half of his life. Once his prison, it was now his home, and besides those times it had been a meeting point for friends and the common thread between the past and future, a familiar landmark in a confusing time.
Thankfully the tree was big enough to have some sturdy branches up high; in particular four close enough to make a living bower. Inuyasha had trained new twigs growing from the branches to make leafy sides and fill the gaps between the branches to make a floor and ceiling strong enough to support him and protect him from casual sight and all but the worst of the elements. It was not a huge 'room', but it allowed him to string a hammock to sleep in if he wanted and he had a chest he'd made that now served him as a table.
But best of all Goshinboku concealed him from being found and hounded by people who always wanted something more from him, more than he was sometimes able to give. Nobody now knew where he lived; the villagers didn't come out this way and thought that he inhabited an old woodsman's cottage leaving him food offerings on occasion. Suddenly Inuyasha felt mentally exhausted and he pulled his feet into the bottoms of his hakama and folded his arms into his sleeves to keep them warm and rested his head on his knees.
This was an old habit that Inuyasha hadn't fully outgrown although usually now he didn't curl up quite so tight. But when he'd been a child alone, the pose would serve not only to keep him completely warm, but also aware of his own heartbeat. This in turn comforted him; reminding him of when he would listen to his mother's heart as he fell asleep safely tucked against her. Now, of course he didn't think like that, but it served the purpose of warmth still and helped him to meditate and as he curled into his own warm ball he reflected on the past eighty years.