Chapter Twenty
Inuyasha and Kagome sat on the porch and watched their kids playing in the courtyard, and whispered to eachother.
"I wonder what Diaroku has to tell me. If it's some lame ass excuse on why him and the rest of my fathers family abandoned my mother and I, he can save it."
"You never know, say Inuyasha, did you know that Rin's pregnant?," Kagome inquired.
"Well duh, I smelled the baby before we even got here. I wouldn't go telling anybody else though."
"But why not?"
"I'd bet they're waiting to announce it, and are only telling those closest. A lot of people do that, Kagome."
"Oh well I know I just can't keep a secret about a baby I'm so excited!"
"Well you have to...alright?"
"Okay fine...since you put it that way."
"Thank you," he breathed a sigh of relief as he saw Sesshomaru approaching.
"Brother, I trust you've been finding your way around," he greeted.
"Yeah...hey Sesshomaru this place is huge. How come I never knew about it before?"
"I'm taking you to Diaroku now so he can explain it all to you."
"Okay then, let's get going, enough of the chit chat."
"So be it," he acknowledged Kagome and led Inuyasha away. Their walk to the castle gates was uneventful. Diaroku's face went from irritated to slightly less irritated once he laid eyes on his nephews.
"Good morning Inuyasha, I didn't see you at breakfast this morning."
"Yeah we ate in our room what of it?"
"Inuyasha, must you be brash as always?," Sesshomaru sighed, already exasperated.
"Depends on what it is he's gotta tell me," he snapped.
"Maybe we should...get away from the castle first. So we are not overheard," Diaroku's eyes bore into Sesshomaru's and he nodded in understanding. Nobody outside of the brothers and their wives could know the truth. They'd call for Diaroku's head. Sesshomaru would be backed into a corner with no choice but personally to execute his own uncle, he couldn't bear the thought. Losing his father and then having to put down the man who filled that void when he was so lost? No. It was out of the question.
"You can tell me now," inuyasha began to get irritated.
"Inuyasha, enough," Sesshomaru boomed and then quickly lowered his voice again. "We will go for a run. Outside of my territory. Where not a soul can overhear," he said with venom and finality in his voice.
"Okay but why-"
"You'll understand when you hear what he has to say."
"Okay let's get a move on we ain't got all day."
"Diaroku," Sesshomaru nodded to him to lead the way. The run seemed to calm Inuyasha down, at least slightly. Once they stopped, he was too out of breath from trying to keep up with Sesshomaru to make any snarky comments.
"Inuyasha...this is going to be hard to hear. But, the night you were born, I alerted the castle of your father coming."
"So you...your the reason?..."
"Yes...I'm the reason your father was killed. I told him if my deceit and he still chose to go. He laid down his life for that of you and your mother...I...I'm so sorry."
"Y-y-you. I can't...I can't believe." He tried to take a step forward but Sesshomaru put a hand on his shoulder.
"Finish the story Diaroku. Clear the air and let there be no more secrets between us."
"The night your mother was killed...Sesshomaru heard of the plot and asked my advice. I...I didn't set it up but I tried to convince him not to go. At that point I felt I had no chance of knowing you so...so I was so consumed with retaining my relationship with Sesshomaru and helping him succeed that I thought it best you were gone. But I regretted that to. Inuyasha I-" Sesshomaru released his grip on Inuyasha and his fist connected with Diaroku's face, knocking him to the ground. Inuyasha dove on top of him and delivered blow after blow, Sesshomaru standing back to watch. He knew Inuyasha had to get it out or they would never make peace. Sesshomaru was just here to make sure it didn't get out of hand.
"You. Low. Life. Piece. Of. Shit. Why. In. The. Fuck. Would. You. Ever. Think. I. Would. Want. You. In. My. Life. You. Traitor!" He delivered one final blow and pounced to his feet, spitting on his elder.
"You knew! Sesshomaru you knew!"
"Yes you're right, Inuyasha. I knew of it all. But I protected you. If I had made it in time I would have protected your mother too. I came to you that night with every intention of at least hiding you in a village somewhere. If I couldn't find a safe location I would have brought you back here. But then she died."
"And you abandoned me too!"
"Yes...I-I'm sorry for that. I truely am. But we've already made our peace Inuyasha."
"Yeah, we have, now let me go so I can kill that son of a bitch," he punched at Diaroku but Sesshomaru tightened his grip.
"Uncle, it's best you go," Sesshomaru ordered and Diaroku nodded, seemingly disappearing before their eyes.
"Sesshomaru! Why'd you let him get away? Why've you protected him all these years? I...I grew up alone because of him...you were protecting him when you kept me at arms length as a child weren't you? Weren't you?" His voice rose to an ear splitting, guteral scream as blood vessels in his throat and face popped but Inuyasha didn't care. Tears streamed down his face as he threw blow after blow at Sesshomaru, who deflected his attacks, but never threw a punch. Eventually, Sesshomaru let him go and for the first time, wrapped his arms tight around his little brother. Inuyasha's body racked with sobs as he soaked Sesshomaru's fur with his tears.
"I-I-I-I never knew f-father b-bec-because o-of him?," he choked out desperately.
"Shh...Inuyasha...I know it's hard but...but listen to me. I'm traveling to visit my mother and she has certain...powers. H-how would you like to...speak to father?," he said softly and Inuyasha pulled back with a sniffle.
"Y-you mean...there's a way?"
"Yes...there is. We will leave in three days...alright?"
"O-okay...I guess."
"Come...let's sit while you collect yourself," Sesshomaru offered and motioned to a rock beside the stream.
"Yeah," he sat down gratefully with a sigh. "So...I understand now why we had to get away from the castle...to protect Diaroku," inuyasha spat, venom in his voice. Sesshomaru sighed, at least Inuyasha was calming down.
"Yeah...I'm sorry. You'll understand later when you've had time to think it through."
"That doesn't make me feel any better now."
"I know..."
"Ya jackass," he said.
"That's a little better at least. Shall we start walking?"
"Sure," inuyasha rose to his feet and wiped his face on his sleeve.
"So uh, can I at least tell my wife?"
"That's fine...but no one else may know."
"Okay yeah...I get it," inuyasha fell quiet and they walked in silence the rest of the way to the castle.
...
Soooooo how was that? Theses review :)
