A/N: A chapter where Inuyasha dreams of a handsome man and a beautiful woman who asks about his older brother.
A bit shorter but I wanted to finish this off and post it.
Thanks for reading!
-Lucicelo
Inuyasha's dreams were filled with large pastures of flowers and big, juicy fruits.
Usually, he was inside of his late mother's garden. The flowers were in full bloom, making for a great sight whenever Inuyasha ate at the gazebo. Also, there were some fruits ready for eating. Inuyasha managed to convince Sesshomaru to add certain fruit trees in between the large trees. This was a good snack in case he was too lazy to go inside the kitchens for a snack.
For some reason, he was wandering around a different area of the castle. Almost like he was looking for something, but he didn't know what he was looking for. It was an odd experience. Inuyasha never forgot anything.
Takehiro always commented on Inuyasha's impeccable memory. He soaked up the knowledge of the sword just as well as his regular studies. Inuyasha liked sparring, but not books. He pushed through his disinterest in books to not disappoint his brother. Sesshomaru was seen as a strong and intelligent man. Inuyasha wanted to do the same.
When he turned another corner, Inuyasha didn't find what he was looking for.
He harrumphed.
He didn't know what this dream meant. All this was doing was making him frustrated to even be outside. He wanted to go back to his mother's garden, but his body wouldn't listen to him. It kept walking around the castle.
Good thing he wasn't tired from all the walking. This was a dream after all. He couldn't get tired from wandering around.
"Why, hello." A soft and demure voice carried from Inuyasha's left side.
Turning to the direction of the voice, Inuyasha's eyes widened at the sight of the beautiful woman kneeling beside him. She wore multiple colorful kimonos with various designs. Her black silky hair was long, trailing over her shoulders. She didn't have too much makeup on her face to appear clownish. There was enough to make her appear beautiful.
He recognized her from the big portrait in the hall of his ancestors. A hall which featured a little Sesshomaru with Aunt Kimi and Chichiue. The one with his mother showed her with a big belly with Chichiue's arm around her shoulders.
The newest portrait showed Inuyasha and Sesshomaru in armor. Inuyasha wore a mini version of their father's armor that they found in Sesshomaru's old trunks.
"Hahaue?"
She nodded with tears in her eyes.
Inuyasha immediately smoothed down his robe of the fire rat and clapped his hands to get rid of the dirt. His face warmed up at the sound of her giggle.
"Lord Sesshomaru has done so well." Izayoi ran her fingers through his hair. "I knew the moment he held you in his arms that he would protect you."
His smile turned shy, "Thank you…a lot of people don't think so."
Izayoi giggled behind her sleeve, before she commented. "Well, they do not see the considerate side that you see. Preconceived notions have blinded many to a softer side of your elder brother. Just as well. A man of his status cannot show viable weaknesses. He is strong to shield you."
Inuyasha puffed out his chest. "I will grow strong enough to protect aniki in return!"
"Oh! But you already do." Izayoi reassured him. "You defended him against those mean old men."
"You saw?!"
"Yes." Izayoi knelt down onto the grass, uncaring about grass stains on her clothing. "Your chichiue and I, have seen everything you two are doing. You are doing a good job."
Inuyasha hunched his shoulders and averted his eyes. "I didn't think you would listen."
"No matter where we are, we will listen." Izayoi rubbed Inuyasha's soft ears, inwardly cooing at the softness. "Whenever someone leaves the mortal plane, we are listening from the other side. Well, unless the person decides to be reborn into a new person."
Inuyasha's head snapped up. "You…won't be leaving for a new body yet?"
Izayoi shook her head. "No. Not yet. I want to see you grow up before I am comfortable enough to leave."
"Good." Inuyasha muttered.
Izayoi changed the topic. "Dear one, would you like to see your chichue?"
"Chichiue? He's here?!"
"Yes." Izayoi blinked back tears of joy as Touga made his appearance behind her.
In front of her, Inuyasha gaped up with wide golden eyes. Their Chichiue looked far more handsome than he expected. He thought the portrait showed every detail of the late Lord Touga, but the portrait didn't do him justice. Just the same as the portrait didn't show his mother's kindness and beauty.
"Chichiue?" Inuyasha uttered out.
Touga grinned down at his son. "Inuyasha."
When Touga crouched down, Inuyasha ran into his arms. His papa got up on his feet, spun them around and tossed Inuyasha up into the air. Their combined laughter echoed through the hidden garden. Touga inhaled Inuyasha's scent, his inner demon singing at finally being able to register his youngest son's scent. With this visit, Inuyasha wouldn't forget his parents' scents.
Placing him back onto the ground, Touga suggested. "How about we play?"
"Play?"
Slowly, Touga transformed into his true form. Inuyasha inched toward his mother, shielding her from possibly being squished. Touga was bigger than Sesshomaru.
Izayoi sat behind him, unperturbed at the danger. Her beloved was careful whenever he transformed into his true form. She used to sleep against his side during the middle of her pregnancy. Inuyasha enjoyed the closeness to his father and fell right to sleep in her belly.
Checking on his mama, Inuyasha saw that she motioned him to go on. Inuyasha sped on ahead, jumping onto his father's back as they made up different games.
There was no more talk of the world of the living.
Inuyasha awoke to Sesshomaru tweaking his ears again.
Pouting, he swiped his hands up, only to miss due to Sesshomaru's quick reflexes. His brother was too quick. There were times when Inuyasha wanted his brother to stop touching his ears, but he didn't say anything. Sesshomaru was never rough with him. He just touched his ears in the oddest moments.
