Chapter 25 Explanation

"Se…Sesshoumaru?"

Inuyasha stumbled backwards falling over the chair in his astonishment and raising a smile on the face of Sesshoumaru as he offered a hand and yanked his younger brother back on to his feet. The smile faded quickly though as the older brother looked at the younger with compassion and understanding, making Inuyasha even more confused having never seen those feelings so openly displayed on his brother's face before; not that he could remember anyway.

"How are you here…do you need me…is Kagome alright? I don't understand." Inuyasha understood even less when Sesshoumaru made no acerbic remarks about his lack of intellect. Inuyasha became more suspicious when his brother just smiled again, but even then his mind did not jump to the correct conclusion. He came from a time where mind control and spells were more common and he assumed that somehow Sesshoumaru had come through the well or else someone had trapped him, which was highly unlikely, or else...Inuyasha's thoughts raced and he stared at the youkai.

"You are not my real brother; so who are you? I warn you, I'm not afraid of you or any imposter." Then he hissed, "The jewel is gone, so leave right now and no threatening this family. I'll even give a friendly word of caution, don't let my brother find out that you pretend to be him; he'll kill you." Inuyasha's eyes had narrowed and were like chips of golden ice, but Sesshoumaru did not smile as he did not want to irritate his volatile brother.

"What makes you so certain I am not Lord Sesshoumaru, Little One?" Sesshoumaru questioned and Inuyasha looked at him in annoyance and surprise.

"I ain't your little one, whoever you are, but if you must know, you haven't got him quite right, you look different." Inuyasha said thoughtfully, to him the difference was quite plain. Sesshoumaru however was intrigued; he knew that did not look any different at all. He could honestly say dispassionately that he had not changed in any material way; he was still as beautiful and youthful looking as he always had been.

"In what way do I seem different to you Inuyasha?" Sesshoumaru enquired; but Inuyasha wasn't going to fall for that, he was not going to tell this jerk that he'd got the eyes and voice all wrong. They were far warmer and kinder than the Sesshoumaru's he knew, whose eyes were like ice when they looked at him and who still lacked patience in his tones when he spoke to him; even though they were much better than they used to be.

"Keh! Like I'd tell you, I'm not such a fool; but I can tell you, you are not my Sesshoumaru." Inuyasha growled, but before he could start to make the unwise decision of drawing Tessaiga inside the house, Mama came back in and said cheerfully.

"Yes he is Inuyasha, and I have known him for years remember? It was Sesshoumaru who showed me the old writings that proved Kagome was the Miko of the Shikon jewel; it is thanks to him that I let her follow you. Now are you boys ready for some more tea because I certainly am!" They both nodded and Sesshoumaru even helped her while Inuyasha stayed bemused trying to work out how his brother was here but different. Without turning to look at Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru knew what he was trying to do.

"Would it help if I told you that my children are older than you are now, in fact my youngest are twins; they are the nearest to your age." Sesshoumaru said with a gentle laugh that seemed strange to his brother as it was neither taunting nor superior. Inuyasha had now worked it out; this was his brother in the present time, who'd lived the five hundred years, married, and become a father with children older than his brother was now? It was so much to take in.

Mama was relaxed and put tea and biscuits out for them and for a while they all spoke of the trip to the past and the things that would be needed. Inuyasha though watched Sesshoumaru like a hawk, never taking his eyes from this future version of his brother. There was not much that needed to be done; Sesshoumaru said they should travel light as there would be plenty of kimono to choose from when she got there; his past self understood that they were from a different world and would not be surprised they had none, besides as host it was his privilege to offer hospitality of that sort.

Listening to the pair chatting and laughing about the preparations for his and Kagome's mating banquet, reminded Inuyasha sharply and in stark contrast of the situation back in his time. How had the brother he so distrusted in his time, become this relaxed person who had just indicated that he'd been through all this before for two of his own sons and therefore had experience and anecdotes aplenty? This Sesshoumaru was so caring and concerned, he could smile and even laugh; Inuyasha could tell he was being genuine from his scent alone. He really did want the right things for Mama, so that she would be comfortable and preparing her delicately for the things she would face in the court.

It was getting too much again for Inuyasha, he found himself longing for impossibilities as his heart was pulled inexorably to wish he were one of this Sesshoumaru's sons and not his brother of the past. The youkai sounded so proud and full of love for his children, his eyes were shining as he spoke of his family to Mama. This was obviously an old topic of conversation for them; Mama knew these children, they had often come with their father to the shrine to study their history. Inuyasha suddenly felt like an intruder and left quietly to perch himself in the familiar surroundings of Goshinboku.

He was not alone for long before the branch he was on moved slightly with the weight of Sesshoumaru who promptly grabbed his brother and sat him in his lap holding on to him tightly. Inuyasha was unable to do anything but protest loudly about this indignity, but was told to stop being a fool. Sesshoumaru wished to speak with him, but Inuyasha did not feel safe in the tree unless he was depending on himself for safety. His brother understood and said very gently:

"I will never let you fall again Inuyasha, do not fear me."

"Feh! I've never been afraid of you." Inuyasha sneered automatically and didn't notice the sad smile on his brother's face.

"Yes you have my brother, to my shame you had every reason to be afraid. But that is the case no longer I promise; even in the past. What a paradox our situation is." Sesshoumaru sank into silence as he mused and Inuyasha too felt strange; it was almost nice being held this way, his youkai felt very calm. Inuyasha wondered if this was how his father would have held him and had his thought solidified as Sesshoumaru broke from his reverie to say;

"I must confess that I am finding it hard to remember that you are my brother at the moment, it feels more as if you are one of my own pups."

"I wish I were." Inuyasha said to himself, not realising he had spoken his thought, even if so quietly that Sesshoumaru had a job hearing his utterance. But the older brother did hear and knew why Inuyasha felt that way. But he didn't say anything in explanation yet, just held Inuyasha very tightly, wrapping him close to his breast and Inuyasha could hear Sesshoumaru's heartbeat and was soothed in his mind; although his feelings remained rather jangled.

"I wish I could've made you look like they do when you are speaking of them. They are good pups and make you proud and…and you love them?" Inuyasha wasn't sure where all these personal questions were coming from, only that he needed to know.

"Yes Inuyasha, my pups are very important to me and I think of you in the same way too. You have made me more than proud; I have a lot to thank you for and I love you very much as well, 'Little Brother Pup'." Sesshoumaru said simply and easily, leaving Inuyasha speechless; he looked up open faced at his brother and saw the unhidden love that he had yearned for, for so long, shining from Sesshoumaru's eyes all for him.

Inuyasha could only stare at his older sibling, fearing that if he took his eyes from Sesshoumaru's face, the expression would vanish or be replaced with a sneer and the scornful voice that had always immediately followed any slight sign of affection before. Sesshoumaru caught the fear that momentarily crossed Inuyasha's face and he reassured his little brother with an extra squeeze smiling at him. Then he nuzzled the top of Inuyasha's head and growled comfortingly.

"He has gone Inuyasha; that jealous, angry boy who would hurt you by word or deed is gone forever, I promise and you know I do not lie. Having my own pups made me realise the wisdom of that old Lion's words to me. He said I'd missed out too on having my father around, now I realise how true his words were. I was younger than you are when I was left alone with you; but far too powerful to be contradicted. Father would have flayed me alive for the things I did to you, just as I would any of my pups who showed such tendencies."

Sesshoumaru's grip had tightened on his brother yet again but Inuyasha didn't care, he felt safe. The Daiyoukai's own instincts were in full force, Inuyasha had for most of his life missed out on the closeness that pack provided especially for the young, and the pup craved the contact without knowing why. Unfortunately Sesshoumaru knew there was danger for them if this form of closeness were to continue in the present; as Inuyasha's next words proved too well.

"Sesshoumaru, I…I can fetch Kagome and we can seal the well and come and live here; she and Mama would like that and I don't mind if you'd rather think of me as another son instead of an idiot brother; I can learn…I'm not really stupid." There was quiet desperation in Inuyasha's voice and Sesshoumaru had to close his eyes at the sight of silent tears on the boy's face.

Until he'd seen him close up on that day, Sesshoumaru hadn't fully recognised how very young Inuyasha was, now that he could compare him to his own pups. Really the boy was far too young to be considering mating and yet he had experienced so much in his deprived life, that to compare him with his own rather spoiled son of similar age was not valid. Besides Kagome couldn't wait like Inuyasha, her lifespan being so much shorter. Sesshoumaru could see however that Inuyasha was transferring the instinctive need for a father figure, onto him and he had to put a stop to it firmly.

"I know you are not stupid Inuyasha and I know that you will understand that I have to say 'no'. It is not that I wouldn't welcome you into the pack as a son, I would, but for me to be here as I am now, you have to go back and not risk changing all of our history. More is at stake than you can possibly realise yet. In fact it has been decided that you will not see me a lot, if at all; even when you visit here. I cannot risk you saying something that might change things back in the Feudal times. You also mustn't let anyone other than Kagome know that you have seen me, do you understand?"

There was a hard edge to Sesshoumaru's tone and words that Inuyasha recognised and he stared reproachfully at his older brother before nodding in grudging acceptance. He sought of understood but didn't like it; but he did understand that he had lost someone else that he could love.

"I will be here to continue to watch over you all, just as I have done for all yours and their lives, on both sides of the well." Sesshoumaru said rather cryptically as he pulled a silk square from his sleeve to offer Inuyasha and stopping him using his sleeve to wipe his face. Then he smiled thinking that neither of his twins ever carried a hankie yet either, they still relied on their parents to supply them, Inuyasha was obviously no different.

"Damn crying, I can't seem to stop it recently, I'm sorry makes me into a right wimp." Inuyasha said, and Sesshoumaru chuckled.

"According to Kagome even I'm entitled to tears Inuyasha."

"Keh!, since when do you cry?"

'You'd be surprised little brother'. Sesshoumaru thought, but aloud he said: "After you left this morning actually; you left hating me, thinking me a liar and you disowned me, not even I had ever done that to you. Now then, don't cry anymore, I deserved it; I know that." Sesshoumaru said, but it was too late to stop him, Inuyasha was utterly distraught. Despite the exceedingly tough exterior that he projected, Inuyasha hated to be the cause of anyone's distress. Sesshoumaru explained some more.

"I truly thought you would never love me or want me again and it hurt me, I understood what pain I had caused you in the past. What I didn't realise was that because you have a human heart, your anger can say and mean things that can be reversed in an instant with a believable apology. Whereas youkai who smell of hate do not easily, if ever change their way.

"It was Jaken of all people who was my comfort and your Kagome, they gave me hope; but at the moment on the other side of the well, I am a sorry sight. That is if I could be seen, but I am shut in my chambers not seeing a soul and Jaken is in despair trying to make me eat or drink."

"What am I going to do Sesshoumaru; I mean when I get back, what am I going to say to you?"

"That I cannot tell you dear Little Brother, you must rely on what you wish to do, what your heart alone guides you to say."

"I want to stay here with you." Inuyasha whined, he sounded like such a small child sometimes to Sesshoumaru now. It was a warning to the older youkai; Inuyasha was already starting to look to him in the way of his pup on this side of the well. Therefore it would be a grievous mistake to have prolonged contact; or even Sesshoumaru might find it too difficult to remember Inuyasha was his brother and not his son.

"I understand that Inuyasha, but I need you in the past, I need you to learn to love me then, so that you will be able to love me now." Sesshoumaru took matters into his own hands now and jumped Inuyasha down the tree and they went back into the house. Inuyasha didn't want to let his brother go but the Youkai lord was firm, Mama came and put her arms round the boy while his brother re-activated his concealment.

Lady Higurashi, I hope you will enjoy yourselves in the past, and Inuyasha, I will be somewhere near you always, do you understand?" Then he kissed his brother and was gone leaving Mama to deal with the sulking boy. She kissed him too and soon busied herself with making him a bowl of Ramen while they waited for Souta and Grandpa to come home. Grandpa was not going; he didn't think he could survive with all the youkai around him. He was happy to wait for the newlyweds to return to his side of the well.

Soon, Mama, Souta and Inuyasha were ready to make the trip to the other side of the well. Souta was on Inuyasha's back and Mama was gripped in his arm when he jumped and the light engulfed them all. Several pairs of eyes had watched them leave. Sesshoumaru and his youngest pups had waited in hiding to see them go.

"I think your Mama will be impressed with the way I handled your uncle don't you?"

"Yeah, probably, but wait until she hears that he wished he'd been your pup, do you think he meant it?"

"Yes he did, his instincts were to the fore in the presence of an older, family Alpha male, remember Inuyasha has no father; he was acting much different here with me than he is over there with me. And what may I ask is so funny about him wanting to be my pup? Be careful how you answer, I can still put you across my knee."

"Poor thing, he must have been completely deluded at the time."

"Just wait till I get you home whelp, I'll show you who is deluded if you think you can get away with that."

"You have to catch us first." The chase was on. Meantime on the other side of the well, Mama and Souta were getting their first taste of the clear skies and fresh air of Inuyasha's time and the time that had their Kagome soon to be mated to the boy who accompanied them.

TBC