Chapter 10: In comes Sesshoumaru!
Darkness surrounded him as he fought demon after demon. Inuyasha held onto his Tetsusaiga, gripping it tightly as he looked around in the darkness. His golden eyes looked up, seeing a point of pink light. His tetsusaiga pulsed in his fingers. Gripping it tightly in one hand, looking at his sword as the blade turned into a flushed black, the Meido Tetsusaiga.
"What...what're you trying to tell me?" he asked, looking up at the pink light. "Am I supposed to cut that?"
Almost as though it were answering his question, he gripped it in both hands. "MEIDO ZANGETSUHA!" he yelled as he slashed his sword, cutting through the pink line of light in front of him. Quickly rushing towards the tear in space, moving through it, through the point of light in the darkness.
Once he made it through, in an instant he was face-to-face to one he'd never thought he'd see again. Those chocolate eyes that he loved so much. The features that looked like Kikyou, but didn't at the same time. Gripping his swords handle tightly as he stared into her chocolate eyes.
"K-K-Kagome?" he asked slowly, his eyes going wide. Quickly his arm went around her waist, bringing her frame close to his body in a gentle hug, burying his nose within her hair. "Kagome.." he said again, smiling a little.
"Inuyasha..." her voice whispered, looking up at him. "Save. Me." she muttered slowly.
Blinking a little, he held her tighter. "From what? I'll do anything, just tell me." he insisted.
"Please." her voice groaned.
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Sitting up quickly, Inuyasha gasped, sweat dribbling down the side of his face as he looked around, wide-eyed. He was drenched in sweat, panting, breathing hard, his heart racing a mile a minute. Had that really been a dream? But she felt so real, she smelled so real.
Shaking his head, he rubbed his eyes a little. Her words sounded in his head. Save her? Save her from what? He didn't understand at all. It'd only been a dream though, right? Looking down and seeing Tamako still fast asleep in her futon, he moved to stand up. Walking out of the room and then outside, looking around. The sun was just barely up. Well, it was breakfast time.
Gathering some of the fire wood, he started the fire in the fire pit in the livingroom of their hut before grabbing a pot. Making his way down to the river to gather the water he'd need for breakfast. Kneeling down, letting the water pool into the pot he held, his eyes closed halfway, his dream stuck on his mind.
Taking in a breath, he caught an unmistakable scent and just sighed. "Sesshoumaru, I am not in the mood today." he said, standing up and glancing back at his older brother who stood just behind him. Before Tamako had gotten there, Sesshoumaru had always been coming to the village to visit Rin, bring her various gifts, and try to goat him into a battle. Usually he fell for it, but today he didn't feel like it. Besides, with Tamako there now, he really didn't want to fight on their front lawn.
The older demon that stood before him just stared at him with cold, unfeeling eyes. While Rin had done wonders on Sesshoumaru's attitude, but he was still the same cold man he'd always been.
"So, what is it you want?" Inuyasha asked harshly, holding his pot. "I have to go make breakfast. And you are not staying." he said. Tamako had yet to meet Sesshoumaru, and he wasn't looking forward to that meeting. His older brother was a bit better because of Rin, yeah, but it was still Sesshoumaru.
"I've come here to see Rin." was the demons only words.
Rolling his eyes, looking up at his brother. "Keh, then what the hell you out here bothering me for?"
Sesshoumaru looked at him for a moment before he responded. "You have yet to prove you are worthy of fathers sword." Though, Sesshoumaru had made that decision a long time ago, that he indeed had proved his worthiness. He would never tell his brother the truth of why he came to challenge him. To keep him on his toes, keep him and his sword practiced. The lower demons that his brother had taken down in villages around him were no real challenge, and he did not want his half-brother to become rusty. Not that he would tell Inuyasha this.
"Baka, I am not fighting you today. I'm busy. Get the hell away from my hut now." he said, walking past his brother and towards the hut.
"Is it because of the pup inside?" Sesshoumaru asked. Yes, he'd smelled Tamako's scent before he'd even come here. He wasn't sure who she was, and why his brother was harboring a child. "Did you take pity on another hanyou?" he asked.
Glancing up to Sesshoumaru, a growl raising in his throat. "That is none of your business. Like I said, get the hell away from my hut. You will not goad me into a fight today." he insisted, stopping just outside the hut door.
Hearing a stirring inside of the hut, he glanced towards it. Fuck, she's waking up...
"Look, I'm not concerned with you right now, okay? Just leave me be. Go see Rin, she'll be glad to see you." Inuyasha said, trying to hide the panic raising within him as he heard tiny footsteps making their way towards the door.
"Otouu?" Tamako's small voice called out as she walked to the door. She'd woken up soon after she felt her father wasn't there. Walking to the door, pushing it open and looking up at Inuyasha, rubbing her eyes slowly. She was still in her night kimono that was white and loose on her so she was comfortable to sleep in. Walking up to her father, reaching her hands up to him. "Otou sleepy time." she murmured slowly.
Inuyasha looked down at her quickly, shaking his head. "Go back inside, now." he whispered to her. Though, seeing her reach up for him, and her fingers only wiggle around when he'd told her to go back inside, he sighed. Leaning to pick her up, leaning her against his side slowly and looking back at Sesshoumaru. Well, ready or not.
Still being half asleep, Tamako rested her head on her fathers shoulder sleepily, cuddling up close to him and yawning, wiping her eyes. Looking up at the other man, she blinked a little. "Who is that Otou?" she whispered. He smelled like a demon, but his scent was somewhat like her fathers, and somewhat not at the same time. She was confused.
Sesshoumaru's eyes rested on the girl as soon as she exited the hut. Seeing the dog ears atop of her head, the specs of gold in her otherwise chocolate eyes, he blinked just slowly. His eyes turned to focus on Inuyasha slowly, awaiting for his answer to the girls question.
"Thats...Sesshoumaru. He's here to see Rin." he said, not quite wanting to introduce him as his brother.
Tamako looked up at Sesshoumaru slowly, blinking to him. "Sess-hou-maru?" she asked softly as her father held her close to his side. "Ohhh! Sesshoumaru! Rin-chan told me about you! She says you come visit her and bring her nice things." she said happily. Rubbing her eyes a little before looking at her father. "Otou, is Sesshoumaru-sama staying for breakfast?" she asked.
The instant sort of invitation that his daughter gave his brother made him growl, shaking his head. "No, he's not." he said, glaring towards his brother. "Are you?"
Sesshoumaru crossed his arms across his chest, looking at the young girl. "Ah, so, Inuyasha...you had a pup. Where is the pups mother?" he asked.
Inuyasha's ears lowered, shaking his head. "Gone. Her mother was Kagome." he informed his brother. He'd already figured out that Tamako was his daughter, there was no harm in telling him who her mother was.
Looking from his brother to Tamako slowly. "Ah, so the priestess's child..." he said slowly.
Tamako smiled to him slowly. "My name is Tamako! Won't you stay for breakfast? Please?" she asked sweetly, giving her same puppy dog eyes that everyone else usually melted to.
Inuyasha shook his head. "Stop Tamako, the ice prince over there won't-" he started to say.
But, Sesshoumaru's voice interrupted him. "Fine. I'll stay." he said, looking up at his brother.
That shocked him as Inuyasha glared towards the older demon. "The fuck? Did you pull the stick out of your ass or something?" he asked.
Tamako blinked a little. "How'd a stick get in his ass, Otou?" she asked innocently.
"Tamako! Ass is a bad word, don't say that. Its...a um...expression. Yeah thats what it is, an expression." he said. Sitting her down on her feet and looking down at her. "Why don't you go get dressed?" he asked.
The girl nodded to him and ran into the hut before he looked up at his brother. "What the fuck is wrong with you? Why don't you go visit Rin and leave us alone?" he asked.
"Why, Inuyasha, if that girl is a friend of Rins, I must know her as well, correct?" he asked.
Growling, he glared at his brother. "No, not correct. You can come and have breakfast, because she wants you to. But so help me, if you try anything...you'll wish you hadn't." he said. Turning to walk into the hut, letting the door fall shut behind him before moving to the fire pit, starting to put the rice on to cook.
Sesshoumaru was only a few steps behind him, his eyes looking around at the inside of the hut. Inuyasha had his hut for years, but he had never been inside before now. It was quite small, pretty modest.
After she had dressed, Tamako ran out of her room, looking up at them and smiling. Reaching to take Sesshoumaru's hand slowly. "Come on, I'll show you my room!" she said happily, starting to pull the older demon with her.
To Inuyasha's surprise, Sesshoumaru walked with her as she tugged on his hand. Keh, must be getting softer than I thought.
Walking into the bedroom, Sesshoumaru looked down at the messed up futon on the floor and then around a little. Tamako just smiled up at him. "I like my room. Its mine. Otou sleeps here sometimes too." she said, looking up at him. "You look a lot like Otou...you smell like him too. Only a little." she observed.
Nodding to the girl a little. "We have the same father, but not the same mother." he answered the girl.
Realization hit her eyes as she held onto the demons hand, looking up at him. "Ooohh! You're my uncle!" she said, smiling a little to him. "Rin-chan didn't tell me that! Why don't you come around more? I've been here a while and only heard Rin-chan talk about you."
"We are not that close, Inuyasha and I." he said.
"Why not?"
"We are not full blood." he explained.
Tamako shrugged. "But you're brothers. You should be close. I'd love to have a brother! That'd be cool."
Shaking his head, the demon looked down at her. "I do not harbor those sorts of feelings." he said. Though, he had come to actually care more about his brother than he ever had in his life. He still would not admit that to anyone.
Sighing, she pouted a little. "But Uncle Sesshy...it'll be fun to have a brother for you, and you can be around me and Rin more too." she said, squeezing his hand a little bit.
"Things do not work that way." he answered. Lightly pulling on her hand and bringing her outside of the room and back into the main room. He hadn't even reacted when she called him Uncle Sesshy. Anyone else, he probably would have reprimanded for addressing him like that.
Letting go of her hand once they came out, but she did not let go of his. Tugging him to sit down, he actually followed her command, having a seat by the fire.
His brothers whole demeanor was strange to Inuyasha. He seemed to actually like sitting there. Never did he think that Sesshoumaru would willingly be sitting in his home, with his family to have a meal. He even knew that he didn't usually really eat around anyone.
It was pretty awkward, sitting there, getting breakfast ready and dishing out a bowl to his elder brother and daughter. Once the food was cooked and they each had some, Inuyasha sat back, shooting a soft glare towards his brother as they ate quietly. Well, almost quietly.
Tamako ate at her food, humming softly to herself before looking up at Sesshoumaru. "Uncle Sesshy. Who is your Okaa? You said you and my papa had a different okaa...so who is yours?"
Sesshoumaru shot a glance towards his niece. Inuyasha almost choked on his food when he heard his daughter call his brother that. Glancing to his brother, narrowing his eyes a little as he watched him.
The only flinch Sesshoumaru gave to the name was widen his eyes a little. Otherwise, he was his usual silent, cold looking self. "My mother is a full dog demon. Inuyasha's mother was a human woman." he answered, shooting a glance towards Inuyasha.
Growling at his brother slowly. "Sesshoumaru, shut the hell up about my mother, hear me?" he growled.
"Now now, Inuyasha, I was simply comparing the status of them. A human woman could not out due a full fledged dog demon."
"The hell they can't!" Inuyasha yelled, instantly getting insulted. "You will not come in to my house and fill my daughters head with such nonsense! You realize her mother was human, don't you? Or do you not give a fuck?"
Glancing at his niece slowly, Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed slowly. "Yes, but her mother was a priestess. Quite different from a normal human woman, wouldn't you agree?"
"Keh, I agree that you're an asshole and that you should get out of my hut."
Tamako pouted slowly. "Stop it!" she said, standing up in one fluid motion, looking at her father. "You! Apologize for calling your brother those names! Thats not nice, Otou." she said, looking at Sesshoumaru. "And you! Stop being mean about Otou's mama." she said, actually sounding the more adult of the three even though she was the youngest.
Inuyasha looked at her, his eyes wide. "Tamako..." he said slowly. It so seemed like something Kagome would do. Shaking his head and looking away. "Him and me will never see eye to eye on things. You're wasting your time on him." he said.
Sesshoumaru, however, was impressed with the childs boldness to come right out and yell at the two of them. Chuckling a little. "Why, Inuyasha, I would venture to say that your child knows more wisdom than you do."
Shaking his head, Inuyasha growled. "Thats it. Get out. Now. I am tired of it. You come here and goad me into fights all of the time, which I refuse to participate in. Just go and see Rin and be on your way." he said, resting his bowl down as he stood up, walking to the hut door and opening it, looking back at his brother. "And...you speak so lowly of humans, but, you yourself should not speak for the fact that you harbor feelings for a human yourself." he said.
Sesshoumaru watched him before slowly starting to move to stand up. But, feeling a small body hug him, he paused, his eyes widening a bit. Nobody really ever dared to touch him, and it made him growl just slightly, looking down at the girl.
Tamako had, indeed gotten up and hugged her uncle tightly, looking up at his face. "Please...please get along with my Otou." she said slowly. "You...you only have one chance at being brothers." she whispered to him, leaning and kissing her uncles cheek softly with a smile before she leaned to let go of him.
The whole encounter made Sesshoumaru stay still, half on one knee as he'd gone to get up, looking at her. Still, he was not one to show too much emotion, as he just allowed the young child to hug him before he moved up to his feet, starting to walk to the door that Inuyasha held for him. Glancing to his younger brother, the older demon nodded to him. "That pup has guts, Inuyasha. See to her safety, would you?" he asked.
The question caught him off guard as he blinked. "Keh, of course I'm going to keep her safe, she's my pup after all." he said. Glancing over, his brother was already walking out and disappearing into the forest towards the village to see Rin.
A sigh came from Inuyasha's lips as he let the door go, walking over and taking the bowls off of the floor and looking down at Tamako. "You need to stop inviting people into this hut. Sesshoumaru is my brother, yes, but we are definitely not close, nor will we ever be." he told her before taking the bowls to start cleaning up from breakfast.
"So? You can still be nice. I like him too. He looks all cold and mean when you first look at him...but I betcha he's really nice inside. Just...nobody taught him to be nice, y'know?" she asked innocently, looking at the fire. "The way Rin-chan talks all the time about him makes me think that. If Rin-chan likes him, he couldn't be all bad, could he? Rin-chan wouldn't like someone that much who isn't a good person here." she said, holding her hand over her heart. "Besides, I bet he likes humans more than he lets on. He takes care of Rin-chan, always bringing her pretty gifts and nice things..."
Glancing at her, he shook his head. "Yeah well, I'll believe it when I see it." was his only answer.
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A/N: There you have it, folks! The long-awaited chapter of Sesshoumaru meeting his niece. :-). I hope you enjoyed it! I will bring him back eventually, one day haha.