Inuyasha (manga and anime) belong to Takahashi-san
The Journey Home – Chapter Fourteen
"Well?"
"Well what?"
"What are you feeling Inuyasha?" Sesshoumaru asked. Currently they were talking privately under a sakura blossom tree, away from human eyes.
Inuyasha lowered his eyes but they remained in the direction to where the girl was.
"Is it really her? That girl…?" He found he could not finish his sentence.
Sesshoumaru could see a flicker of hope in the hanyou's eyes. In a flash it was gone, replaced by his expressionless face.
"Yes, I will not resort to trickery against you. I know the consequences." He said this as he felt the stump of his left arm.
Inuyasha smiled slightly, noticing his older brother's movements. "Well then, I just have to take your word for it."
"Is that how you threaten people now, Inuyasha?" Sesshoumaru said, almost smiling. Yet he restrained himself. Instead he laid a hand on his brother's shoulder, and looked at him with a severe expression, "Do you think that I would lie to you?"
Inuyasha however, had no reaction from the tai-youkai's comment and his face continued to have the same blank appearance. He brushed away the hand that held his shoulder and sighed.
"You are not untruthful, Sesshoumaru-san, that much I know. You have great honour." He gave another hint of a smile, "That is why I find it so difficult to find a suitable companion for you."
Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed suspiciously, "Just what do you mean?"
"You do not need me to tell you, Sesshoumaru-san." He said as he lifted up his head to feel the rays of the sun.
The tai-youkai looked upwards as well.
A warm breeze gently lifted a few leaves and it was made to slowly drift along, almost lazily, freely. It was another reminder of that woman…
Kagura…
Sesshoumaru thought back to the first meeting with the wind youkai. She had asked him to destroy Naraku for her.
He of course refused, it was not his business.
And she of course left in a fury.
However she would always return for some reason and he would have no part of it. Weak youkai did not have the honour of his presence, no matter how pitiful they looked. And he did not pity others, unlike his brother.
After Naraku's disappearance, Sesshoumaru went to his hanyou brother in a private meeting to talk about their general plans, plans that did not concern Naraku. None of their group members knew about these meetings. If they did, someone would have to explain, and Inuyasha was never good at explanations. Their reputations would be ruined and Sesshoumaru would never let this happen.
In this particular meeting, he briefly mentioned Kagura asking him for help. He saw that Inuyasha had a strange gleam in his eyes and the tai-youkai did not like it at all. He prayed to the fates that his brother would not say it.
"I did see this Kagura. She looked quite elegant. Should I…arrange something?"
The fates must hate him.
Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed. "Why?" He said slowly daring his younger brother to speak.
"Well, why not?" Inuyasha replied, equally slowly. "You said yourself you wanted someone who was equal to you. Can't you see it?"
Sesshoumaru felt the urge to punch his brother, but Inuyasha did not seem to notice as he continued to speak animatedly.
"You both dress elegantly and you both kill with grace, a perfect match."
And Sesshoumaru did something that he never did before: he rolled his eyes.
The look on his hanyou brother's face told him that he would not take no for an answer.
He had told Inuyasha that he would consider it, just to please him. Inuyasha laughed and told him when the whole Naraku business was over, he would formally arrange the meeting.
Sesshoumaru told him that he would rather die.
As the months passed Sesshoumaru did get to know her better from afar, and he had to agree, she was very elegant.
However everything changed that day when he smelt the air, Kagura was dying. Behind Sesshoumaru's cold facade he felt something constrict in his chest. Humans and youkai all died eventually, this he knew, but upon seeing Kagura dying in a field full of wild flowers was a haunting image for him. She had told him that she was glad to see him one last time and gave him a beautiful smile.
He realised then that she loved him.
Inuyasha saw the slight glazed look in his eyes and knew who he was thinking about. He almost regretted giving him that painful reminder. They would have been good together.
A small feather gracefully floated towards the tai-youkai. Sesshoumaru raised a hand to catch it.
"She was a very beautiful woman, was she not?" The hanyou questioned quietly.
Sesshoumaru glared at him for bringing up the youkai woman, but kept silent, the feather felt warm and light. He let it fly again with the gentle winds.
The hanyou decided to change the subject when they did not speak for a long time. "I see you came here for a reason."
Sesshoumaru inclined his head and reached inside of his kimono. He pulled out a black envelope and handed it to his brother. Inuyasha's eyes narrowed in interest.
"I suggest that you be careful, otouto. You have heard the rumors, have you not, about humans wanting that jewel, especially houshi and miko? Not to mention the youkai who are looking for territories. They were saying that the youkai were found near the place where you reside."
Inuyasha placed the envelope in his kimono. "Interesting…I would just have to make sure that they never find me then." He hoped that Kohaku would be alright for now.
"I have another favor to ask." The tai-youkai asked.
"Another one?" The hanyou replied knowing exactly what the favor was. At least Jaken would be happy.
Sesshoumaru was about to walk away, when he turned to face his brother, "One more thing," he smiled, a silent threat. "Try not to kill anyone in front of the women. Women have a weak heart for that sort of thing."
"You do not need to tell me that Sesshoumaru-san." He does not need to worry.
Inuyasha suddenly felt small and his voice almost trembled with a feeling he could not describe.
"Th-thankyou, for finding her…you do not know how much it means to me."
Sesshoumaru turned away from his brother.
I do know.
He went silently, gracefully disappearing in a flash of light.
Author's notes...
otouto...younger brother
Like to leave a review? Any comments are appreciated.
Until next time...