Everyone stood in shock at the large bundle of clothing that pooled around Rin and Sesshomaru whom still had not awoken from his unconscious state.
"You think this is what he meant by 'My Prince'?" Kagome offered?
Inuyasha stepped forward placing a hand on Rin's head who was shaking so badly the tremors ran into Inuyasha's arm. "What happened Rin?" he spoke gently to the girl.
Kagome butt in quickly "Inuyasha, we should calm her down first." She scolded coming up to the girl's side. "Take Sesshomaru from her." At these words Rin tightened her hold.
"No! I have to protect Lord Sesshomaru." The girl cried burying her face in the bundle of clothing that surrounded them.
"No one will hurt the little ice prince here Rin." Inuyasha offered gently pulling her arms from around the smaller inu. "You gotta calm down then you can tell us what happened." He now held the smaller Sesshomaru within his arms.
'Kami he's smaller than Rin.'
He watched as Rin got off the dragon and placed the sleeping inu back onto the dragon wrapping the folded of his clothing around the pup as best he could. The kimono was so big and puffy!
Sango and Kagome tended to Rin over the next few minutes finally much to Inuyasha's pleasure had explained to them what happened.
Jaken had woken up around this time and sat quietly near his slumbering lord.
"A regent?" Kagome asked.
"Someone who rules in place of the Lord should he need to take leave of the kingdom for a long period of time basically." Miroku explained causing the future era girl to form her mouth in the shape of an o in understanding.
"I still don't understand what he meant by calling Sesshomaru his love and his first." Kagome sighed
At this Jaken screeched! "That devil! The nerve of him to suggest that he had been my lords first!"
"But why turn him into a child?" Sango mused.
"Do you think that maybe Tonkano had known Sesshomaru while he was in his youth? That would explain him being regent." Miroku offered scratching his neck in thought.
"But then to be his first means that he would have had to." Kagome trailed off face turning a slight green at the mere thought.
"That's sick! Wasn't he just a damn pup" Inuyasha exclaimed eyes wondering over to Sesshomaru's small form he hated his brother with a burning passion but for that to have happened to him as a pup. Kami
"And what about the blood Rin said that Tonkano gave Shouishi Sesshomaru's blood and that's how they changed them." Shippo quipped.
"Ah yes, sounds like blood magic." Miroku nodded. "It is old and not often used because of the dangers but blood magic is far more powerful than just regular magic or potions, the blood ensures the magic to work it is like an offering for the use of magic instead of waiting to see what the price will be you pay it with blood. The bigger sacrifice the more guarantee that the magic used will work."
"So the only way to reverse the spells effects is with more magic?" Sango mused
"Well in a sense yes but blood magic is very powerful, regular magic won't be enough. This sorcerer must be very skilled and have had dealings with blood magic or the results could be dire." The monk sighed "This is why blood magic is rarely ever used."
"But who said we" Inuyasha swung a finger around his group quickly "Are going to be helping." Narrowing his eyes in disgust at the form of Sesshomaru sleeping upon the two headed beast he defiantly wasn't going to be helping Sesshomaru with shit let the bastard help himself all of this was just speculation he was pretty not a thing happened to the bastard growing up.
He had father after all.
At this Jaken wailed throwing his little body to the floor before Ah and Un who held the sleeping Sesshomaru safe upon their back said dragon looked upon the imp before turned away with an annoyed snort.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" Jaken cried "Why must these things happen to you! First to be thrown away so readily by your sire for a hanyou no less then to find out these horrible things happened while in your youth!" Jaken cried a shrieking mass of green rolling across the grass patched floor.
Blah he looked like puke.
"Master Inuyasha." A small voice called belonging to the small flea demon perched upon the hanyou's knee.
Inuyasha was surprised Myoga hadn't tried to suck the blood from his skin when he smelt Sesshomaru's new scent he picked the small flea up and sniffed closer eyes narrowed. "So that's where you had your fill preying on sleeping pups?"
Myoga smiled sheepishly "Well it's been a long time since I've had the taste and I must say the young prince is as sweet as ever ehaha."
"Why are you here?" Inuyasha huffed
"I must speak with you in Private Master Inuyasha." Myoga crossed his many arms "There are things you need to know before you make such brash judgement."
"There is nothing I need to know flea!" Inuyasha hissed "This must be Kami kicking Sesshomaru's ass for pulling all the shit he's done to me let him fend for himself I survived being the 'lowly half-breed' so let his purebred ass do the same." Inuyasha huffed.
"He's even got friends!" the hanyou quipped.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome nagged "Were you even listening?"
"Kagome is right Inuyasha, if Tonkano really did take Sesshomaru's innocence then I suspect he wants to do the same which would be the reason for reverting him back into his younger self." Miroku offered gently.
"Master Inuyasha!" Myoga hissed "You all must be hush do not speak of such things so loudly. Come come gather around." The fled beckoned.
"Monk would you be so kind as to form us a barrier?" Myoga asked it would not due to have other find out the lords current situation and his past? Definitely not.
Nodded his head Miroku quickly did as asked and with a few short claps a shimmery white aura formed around the small group.
"Couldn't we have left Jaken out?" Inuyasha sighed and the whimpering toad. So annoying
"What Tonkano spoke although horrible is true." Myoga sighed heart heavy with regret
Covering their mouth Sango and Kagome gasped in shock eyes immediately watering.
Miroku looked down at the grass his heart heavy for the young prince.
Inuyasha blanched, how the hell did his father allow this to happen?!
"Prince Sesshomaru was not always as he is now, he was such a loving pup so respectful and trusting." Myoga smiled faintly "He would not even smack this old flea off his tasty skin no no! He would giggle and say it tickled." Myoga sighed.
"Well the West and the East had come to war you see and her Lady Inukumi had left with his Lord Toga to do battle for many moons they would be gone." Myoga nodded "I went along too of course."
At this everyone looked suspicious but said nothing.
"Tonkano was the standing regent at the time and it was said that he did become friendly with the young prince at this time the servants said it was becoming normal to see the Regent entertaining the young prince with games and stories after his lessons."
"No one knew the horrors that took place within Tonkano's chambers at night or when it officially started, he did defile the young prince, beat him and tear away his innocence and hid the evidence by soaking the prince in herbal water after his nightly abuse." Myoga sniffled a bit here rubbing his carrot shaped nose with one of his little flea hands. "Being demon the prince's bruised body would healed up quite nicely by morning if not hit hard enough."
"Oh my god." Sango and Kagome sniffled wet eyes glancing over to the sleeping pup.
"Upon our return home the Lord and Lady were so happy to see their joy once more he'd always be the first one awaiting at the stairs and yet he was not there and the stench!" Myoga hissed his large eyes narrowing in disgust.
"The princes fear tainted the castle and our lady went to his rescue, she found him scrubbing away at his beaten flesh apparently Tonkano had just finished with the prince." Myoga gagged.
"Prince Sesshomaru fell into a despair and being a beta-" Inuyasha cut the flea off.
"Wait come again?" Inuyasha exclaimed
"The Prince Sesshomaru was born of beta status, of course he would not let anyone to know of this no no hiding his scent was needed after the departure of his Lord Toga."
"Herb and other scents were used to mask his own scent, mostly the Lord hid behind the scent of his power."
"So that means what I'm smelling now is actually Sesshomaru?!" Inuyasha yelled.
"Hush!" Kagome scolded when Rin who sat at her side jumped a bit scaring Shippo as well who turned red in embarrassment. Inuyasha making him seem weak in front of such pretty girl. Stupid dog-boy
"So what does beta mean?" Kagome mused.
"Basically a male demon who can carry offspring." Sango offered.
"Lord Sesshomaru can have babies?" Rin quipped eyes wide in delight after such sad things her Lord should be blessed with his very own babies to love and Rin would be a very good girl so she can play with them!
"Should they be hearing this?" Inuyasha voiced
"Probably not." Sango and Kagome said sheepishly wiping their wet faces they were the 'responsible' females after all. "Fill us in later."
"Come on Rin that's enough story time for you and Shippo." The girls carried away a protesting Rin and Shippo who quickly agreed to leave once the bait of candy was offered.
Rin followed after quickly wanting to know what candy was with one last glance at her sleeping lord she left the shimmery barrier as well.
"Well now" Myoga started "Being a beta Lord Sessomaru's very life is heavily connected with his emotional and physical wellbeing. Physically the prince had healed but emotional state was wrecked!" Myoga shook his head.
"It must have been for someone so young, Kami he must have thought it was his fault or something." Miroku whispered.
"Well what the hell happened?!" Inuyasha's eyes locked onto Sesshomaru "That Tonkano bastard is still alive."
The flea sighed. "Well no one knows how the prince felt truly because he never spoke of it and became ill as I've said a beta is strongly connected to their emotional wellbeing in laymen's turns the prince was dying slowly."
"As for Tonkano that very same day on our return your sire hunted him down across the castle ground already in motions to flee the castle Lord Toga injured him greatly but he managed to get away in a fury of red smoke after sustaining such grave injuries I could not tell you how exactly he survived."
"Shouishi." Miroku offered.
"The being that Rin said took all the blows Sesshomaru put on Tonkano!" Inuyasha looked to Myoga for conformation.
"I am sorry Master Inuyasha I do not know of this Shouishi, but I would not say it isn't a possibility." Inuyasha nodded.
"So Sesshomaru got better?" Inuyasha asked a shameful look crossed Myoga's face.
"Well no and yes."
Narrowing his eyes Inuyasha poked the flea with the edge of his claw. "Explain."
"Your sire could not do what her Lady was trying SO desperately to do, to heal the prince's broken heart with her love and assurance that he would be loved and safe." Myoga cried now.
"Lord Toga asked the castle sorcerer Mishi to lock away the foul memories!"
A sharp gasp came from Miroku whose hand tightened around his staff. "And the price to pray?"
"The prince's heart paid the price." Myoga sniffled.
Wanting to hear no more Jaken ran from the shimmery curtain wailing from the top of lungs.
Inuyasha silently thanked Kami.
"What happened after?" Miroku who found it difficult to keep his own eyes dry looked to Myoga to continue the story.
"Well Sesshomaru grew older and he was so angry so misguided, the royal family broke apart with the Lord absences to fornicate and court your very mother Master Inuyasha. The Lady Inukumi left after the announcement that your mother was pregnant with you. The Lords treatment of Sesshomaru only worsened ignoring him and such." Myoga lowered his gaze shaking his round head.
"Beyond hurt and angry the prince left and swore himself dead to his father, and my Lord Toga let him leave!" Myoga cried again. "Only to return to his broken son when he needed help on the night of your birth."
"And Sesshomaru choose not to help I'm betting." Inuyasha whispered.
Myoga nodded.
"Gosh, why would his father do that?" Miroku wondered aloud "I mean to cost your son his heart for his life with magic then to isolate him and leave him fester in his unimaginable anger and hurt." Miroku caressed his staff.
"I mean that does excuse his actions toward you Inuyasha, but you can see where those actions come from." The monk pointed out.
Inuyasha said nothing looking from Sesshomaru to the silently weeping Myoga, he honestly felt confused all he thought he knew of Sesshomaru wasn't even the real Sesshomaru?
"What was Sesshomaru like before Tonkano?" Inuyasha mused.
"Hmm?" Myoga sniffled "Well he was a down right terror! With all the pranks he'd pull but still be so respectful all at once with the grace others could embrace through hard discipline." Myoga smiled.
"Always wanted to be under his lady mother and sire." Myoga chuckled. "He would have loved you of this I am sure Master Inuyasha it may seem hard to believe but I strongly believe had My Lord not used Mishi's magic unknowing that the price would be the princes heart…" Myoga trailed off with a soft sigh, wiping the last of his tears away.
A soft whimper filter through Inuyasha's ears and he looked over to Sesshomaru who tossed and tussled until he rolled off of Ah and Un's back landing with a soft thud upon his blankets of clothing.
The shimmery mist faded as Miroku rose to stand peering over to the fallen prince.
"Rin!" Sango called after the little girl who went running to her lord's side.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" she called lowering herself to her knees with all intentions of helping him up.
Inuyasha rose to disturbing Myoga's perch upon his knee and walked over to the now younger inu the scent of fear mixing in with what was apparently Sesshomaru's true scent.
But a scared pup with claws was never a good thing. "Rin don't touc-" a high pitched snarl sounded from the frightened pup cutting off Inuyasha's words.
Reaching her hand out Rin took hold of Sesshomaru's shoulder "Lord Sessho-AH!" the child startled back clutching her bleeding arm four long shallow scratches from forearm to wrist adorned her tanned skin. She sniffled and cried harshly not understanding why her Lord had hurt her.
Sesshomaru crouched on all fours naked as the day he was born eyes darting madly he didn't know where he was or who any of these people were he wanted his mother and could smell her nowhere had he been thrown out after she had found him in the bath? His heart ached he could smell Tonkano upon himself and it caused the fear to surge though him. He backed himself into the tree growling as best he could to ward off the strangers who stood and stared at him.
"Master Inuyasha!" Myoga cried from Miroku's shoulder "You must calm him!" Miroku only looked on at the flea in disbelief and wonder. How did the flea get up there so quickly?
With a nod of his head Inuyasha walked toward Sesshomaru whose childlike growls only increased rousing something within the hanyou who started to growl back never pausing in his advancement.
Sesshomaru smelt another inu this inu smelt funny to him however slightly like his sire and yet there was a touch of human to him the other inu growled back at Sesshomaru who whined in distress was the other inu going to hurt him? His youkai supplied to him that his inu was family but did not know if he could be trusted.
Inuyasha paused at Sesshomaru's whine golden eyes widen in shock and Inuyasha stared at the pup so obviously distressed.
Inuyasha just knew he had to help the pup he couldn't leave him to be caught by Tonkano. Resuming his short trek Inuyasha didn't stop until he stood before Sesshomaru who looked around in a wild panic distressed at being cornered at every angle.
"Shhh, Sesshomaru." Inuyasha knelt down keeping his eyes on the pups claws, Inuyasha felt his own youkai respond to Sesshomaru's distress forcing a deep grumbling from his chest his youkai was trying to soothe the pup allow him to know he meant no harm. "Come here Sesshomaru." Inuyasha spoke softly.
There was no way out he was corned and this new inu now knelt before him he didn't know what the older funny smelling inu wanted his youkai once again supplied the word family but Sesshomaru would have none of that he had been hurt once before and apparently thrown out by his Lady Mother and Sire these thoughts caused him to whine softly a deep sadness hurt his heart.
Until he heard the call of the other inu.
Locking his eyes on the other inu he saw golden eyes that matched his own and once again his youkai urged that this inu was family. The inu told him to come and so he did.
Inuyasha watched as Sesshomaru locked eyes on him then broke out into a quick scurry milky butt and all closing the short distance between them. The pup buried himself Inuyasha's chest little hands clutching onto the fabric of his firerat soft whines was all he heard from the pup announcing his hurt and Inuyasha truly broke then clutching his brother he rocking them gently hushing the pup. Gently he rubbing his cheek against the soft silver hair that adorned his brothers little head.
The others turned away giving the brothers especially Sesshomaru space, it wouldn't do to startle the child again. "Come on Rin lets clean up that arm." Sango sighed doing her best to cover the child's eyes as they moved away from the brothers.
What a turn of events.
ooo
Inuyasha sat back pressed against the tree with a smaller no longer fully naked form of Sesshomaru nestled in his lap the pup still clung to him and wouldn't dare allow Inuyasha to put him down so he had draped the large fabric of Sesshomaru's top around the small pup. It was insanely cute actually.
The small healing pinpricks on his chest was proof enough that Sesshomaru refused to be put down. Even as a child Sesshomaru has to have his way. Inuyasha sighed.
The group had agreed that someone needed to contact the Lady Inukumi and Inuyasha offered Jaken up like a pork at a feast complete with an apple stuffed within his mouth next he offered up Myoga to accompany Jaken. They would depart tomorrow at first light with Ah and Un.
The rest of the group had taken to setting up camp and looking for dinner after assuring Rin that Sesshomaru simply did not remember her and that he did not hate her of course.
And this is how Inuyasha found himself stuff with an eerily silent pup named Sesshomaru stuck to his chest. Inuyasha found himself breathing deeply lost in the scent of Sesshomaru the pup smelt heavenly it was like a being in a patch of beautiful flowers and the soothing mist of rain covering those flowers. How had he never noticed this? Sesshomaru always smelt of metal and power. What would his matured state smell like if he did not have to hide?
"Are you my family?" a soft voice broke his thoughts.
"Hmm." Inuyasha looked down at the trembling golden eyes staring up at him.
"Well, yeah we are brothers." Inuyasha looked away even in youth Sesshomaru was still so friggin pretty and without the cold ice no his eyes Inuyasha found his heart melting for his brother. His youkai purred in delight.
"You smell human too." the pup mused sniffling around Inuyasha's chest in a shy manner. "Is that why you've been away big brother?"
"Wha-" Inuyasha was startled Sesshomaru called him big brother, this child so readily accepted him when he heard him inquire about his human scent he thought for sure some part of the old Sesshomaru would rear its ugly head.
But he called him brother.
Big brother.
Inuyasha smiled softly was the old flea telling the truth, would this Sesshomaru have loved him no questions asked? It seemed that way.
"Well actually Sesshomaru I was born after you." The pup peered at him with confused eyes.
"You are my big brother Sesshomaru, Tonkano cast a spell on you to make you small again." he supplied.
At the mention of Tonkano, Sesshomaru closed his eyes face paling this made Inuyasha's youkai upset his youkai demanded he comfort the pup after distressing him so. It took forever to calm him down after all.
Pulling Sesshomaru closer to his chest he nuzzled the pup's forehead in apology. "You cannot remember anything can you?"
He felt the boy shake his head no.
"Well then for now I guess I am your big brother, until we get you fixed." Inuyasha pulled back from the child to look down at his face so small and cherubic. Pretty his youkai supplied.
A soft sniffle left came from Sesshomaru and the scent of tears wafted off the boy blobs of salt water ran its way down chubby cheeks "But I wouldn't make a good little brother." The pup whispered through a closing throat.
Slightly panicking Inuyasha wiped Sesshomaru's face. "Hey!" another wipe "Stop that, why would you say that?"
Looking away Sesshomaru scooted back and off Inuyasha's lap only to trip on the large bundle of fabric that surrounded him landing on his side Sesshomaru lay there curling up and wept softly. He hadn't forgotten what Tonkano had did to him, he didn't deserve his brothers comfort he was a whore who no one would love Tonkano said it himself, and the proof was in his sire and lady's actions they had to have thrown him out.
No one wants a whore for a prince.
Sesshomaru cried harder.
Jeez! How the hell was he supposed to make the kid stop?!
Affection! Show him love. Inuyasha heard his youkai hiss, damn this thing was talkative today was it because of Sesshomaru's distress? He had felt his youkai before especially in times of danger it urged him into doing certain things but straight out talking? This was new.
Inuyasha picked Sesshomaru up who whined at the contact and recovered the exposed flesh sitting the pup upon his lap once more.
"Sesshomaru." Inuyasha called softly.
"Yas' big brother?" he answered.
"Why do you cry?" the hanyou gently pulled small hands away from a tear soaked face and felt his heart shatter, Sesshomaru's face scrunched up and red cheeks moist with salty water small lips trembling.
Inuyasha felt his chest rumble offering comfort to the broken pup once again before he grasped that small silver patched head and licked the pup's tears away. "No more. 'Kay?" he felt Sesshomaru stiffen and try to pull himself away.
"'Top!" Sesshomaru choked pulling away from his big brother he was dirty someone as kind as his brother shouldn't have to dirty their tongue for him.
"Why Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha held him steady refusing to let the young prince move.
Sesshomaru looked down he felt his eyes burn with the threat of more tears. "I am a..wh-whore" and the tear fell once more.
Inuyasha swore his heart stopped did Sesshomaru just say that?! His youkai barreled against him in anger. Such strong emotions he was feeling today and toward Sesshomaru no less. Is this how caring for family felt?
"Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha raised that little head forcing Sesshomaru to look at him he took another swipe at those red cheeks.
"Listen to me and listen good, got that?" Inuyasha narrowed his eyes at the squirming pup.
"Did you ask Tonkano to do what he did to you?" Did you beg for it?" Inuyasha quizzed.
"No, I asked him to stop it!" Sesshomaru sobbed "I did not want it, and he took it anyway he called me a whore and said no one would love me ever except for him." Lowering his head only to be stopped by Inuyasha once again.
"Look at me."
Sesshomaru complied.
"You are NOT a whore, Tonkano hurt you and he will pay for it. This should have never happened to you Sesshomaru." He licked away those salty tears once more. "But it did and for that I am sorry Sesshomaru." He pulled the child to his chest, Kami his chest hurt and his eyes burned.
Why was Sesshomaru affecting him like this?!
Does not matter, ours now.
Inuyasha found himself agreeing "You are not a whore Sesshomaru, don't even think that."
Sesshomaru was in shock his big brother still wanted to touch him, he licked his face knowing that Sesshomaru was dirty he apologized for something he couldn't have possibly known had been happening at the time.
HE still held him.
Sesshomaru clung to his big brother burying his face once again within that his chest breathing deeply he wanted to keep his brothers scent fresh within his mind an earthy scent mixed with fresh heavy rain.
"You will not leave me?" Sesshomaru shyly shifted back peering into his big brothers eyes the older shook his head no.
"No one else will ever love me, and I may never find a life mate now."Inuyasha looked confused at this 'life mate?' while Sesshomaru looked down clenching his tiny fists in determination before Inuyasha could deter the pup Sesshomaru threw his head up eyes alive and warm like melted honey "But I have my big brother!" he voiced and clung to Inuyasha once more. "I will try for you big brother." Sesshomaru promised.
Inuyasha was shocked to say the least but those eyes such determination and they looked alive, it was such a better sight to see than those broken golden orbs that panicked and wept when he'd first encountered this 'new' form of Sesshomaru. This was certainly better than the cold dead eyes he was use to from his brother.
He wanted Sesshomaru to keep those eyes.
"Promise me then." Inuyasha nuzzled the soft hair upon Sesshomaru's head.
Sesshomaru yawned softly before nodding his child like head slowly fighting sleep he did have a very emotional day.
"I promise." He huffed before promptly falling asleep.
'Jeez you'd swear the kid didn't sleep for like the whole afternoon' Inuyasha chuckled.
What a day it turned out to be indeed.
