Inuyasha sat on his haunches to regard his half-brother. It had been a lie, he had promised to protect him. Then their father had died protecting him and mother, and Sesshomaru shunned him.
His brother had cared for him at one time; he wouldn't treat Sesshomaru like Sesshomaru had treated him after their father died. No, he would be better.
He reached down and pulled Sesshomaru to his chest just like the demon had for him then. He hugged the demon child close and rested his chin on the silver hair and whispered without knowing, "I will be better."
Chapter 3
They left the village soon after he had calmed the demon pup down. His friends had seen them off with a few supplies for the couple day trip. Rin giving Kohaku a tearful hug and a promise that she would visit again. Rin was riding the twin headed dragons and Sesshomaru was walking alongside his half-brother, reaching up to hold onto his over-shirt. It was beginning to get awkward with him like that so Inuyasha hauled him up to sit on his back.
"Hold on, if you fall it's your own fault." Claws dug into his clothes as he spun around to regard the dragon, halting their progress. "Hey kid, that thing will follow me right?"
"Ah-Un? Rin will tell him to follow Inuyasha, Inuyasha wants Ah-Un to fly?"
"Yeah." The half-demon leaped into the trees and the dragon took to the air with twin roars to follow as he moved along.
The wind whipped through his hair as he bounded along the branches, he took a large leap into the air, almost missing his landing when he heard laughter. He paused and reached back to pull his half-brother out in front of him, his hair was tangled and he was grinning; showing his sharp teeth.
"Was that you?" Sesshomaru nodded and pulled a little at the 'tail' that was wrapped around his waist instead of over his shoulder.
He snorted, "Who knew you could even laugh?" He grunted a little in surprise when the dragons came down in front of him and the little girl watched him shyly, opening and closing her mouth as she tried to speak. "Spit it out kid."
"Rin wants to jump with Inuyasha!" She gave him puppy eyes as he resettled Sesshomaru.
"I guess. Land." His ears went back as she squealed and asked the dragon to land. "You can't scream."
"Rin won't scream." She jumped up and down as she waited for him to exit the tree, when he landed in a crouch in front of her she threw her arms around his neck. "Thank you Inuyasha!"
"Yeah, Yeah." He pulled Sesshomaru down and set him next to the girl. "Can you hold on to her brat?" Rin giggled as Sesshomaru's fur wrapped around her waist and she moved closer to him so he could get a hold on her dress just in case. "Good, climb on."
He turned his back to them and then they were off. He was happy when the kid didn't scream, though the occasional laugh reached him when he took the particularly high leaps off the trees. It was weird for him; he had forgotten how much he missed doing this for someone. Sure he used to complain, but it had always been nice that he could inspire that kind of amazement in someone.
Inuyasha stopped on a branch, "You okay with waiting for dark to eat?"
"Rin is fine, Lord Sesshomaru says yes too."
"Good, hold on." They were off again, bouncing through the forest for hours on end with no complaints from the children. Soon it was getting dark and they were already beyond the clearing they had stayed in before, he found a new one large enough for them and began collecting wood for the fire, letting the children help. Rin giggled as Sesshomaru tickled her with his 'tail', he had become much more relaxed after the crying episode and was beginning to act like a normal child.
"Inuyasha?" He paused in his cursing at the unresponsive fire.
"What?"
"Can Rin pick flowers tomorrow?"
"No." His ears laid back when she began to tear up. "I'll take you to a whole field when we get home."
"Are there lots of colors?"
"Sure." He pulled out a little packet with food from the slayers village and tossed it to her. "Eat this, then you can go to sleep. I am gonna feed the other brat, don't move from here." He stood and walked from the clearing, the little girl's voice carrying to him as he disappeared into the trees with Sesshomaru in tow.
"Yes Lord Inuyasha. Thank you!" He rolled his eyes and picked up the demon and placed him on his back.
"Be quiet brat or you don't eat." He ignored the small yip of agreement and listened for the sound of game. He caught the scent of a small low-level demon and decided to test something. He pounced and snapped the neck of the squirrel demon then settled down in a small clearing that was within earshot of the camp. He repeated what he had done with the hare and handed one of the bloody strips to the demon.
Sesshomaru sniffed it then bit into it delicately to try the strip out before swallowing down the rest as they were handed to him. Inuyasha grabbed his wrist as he was about to wipe his face on his sleeve. "I'm not smellin' blood all night cause you want to do that, and I don't need the other brat getting' scared." The demon whined as Inuyasha wiped the blood away with his hand and then wiped it off on the grass. "Oh shut up and clean your claws." He grunted after the demon had finished licking his claws clean and walked away, forcing the child to run and catch up.
Back in the clearing where they had made camp Rin was already sleeping against the dragons, wrapped up tightly in a blanket. "Sleep with her and make sure she stays warm." He pushed the demon over and helped settle him under the blanket with the girl. As he turned to jump up into a suitable tree the pup whined softly. "What is it?" He grumbled when the demon child whined again and ran his clawed hand over his head in a gruff gesture of comfort. "Go to sleep."
He settled up into a tree, once again cradling the two swords and only resting his eyes, as he stayed alert to his surroundings. It was a few hours later when he smelt the rain; it only registered right before it started falling. He cursed and jumped down, pulling off his fire rat kimono he wrapped the waking children in it and bounded back up into the tree.
"Inuyasha?"
"You're gonna sleep with me so you don't get wet."
"But Ah-Un will get wet!"
"Look kid they're curling around the tree under us, they'll be fine." He maneuvered so she could see the dragons sleeping on the dry ground under them. It had also dragged the travel bags it carried over with it. By now the rain was falling heavily but they were all three protected under his kimono.
"Okay, good night!"
They settled onto his lap while he listened as best he could through the rain for threats. The red material was restricting his ears as he used it as a shield against the rain. Inuyasha picked up a faint thrumming sound and looked down, it was coming from Sesshomaru as he held onto the little girl and rested against his chest. He knew the demon child hadn't started 'purring' until he had picked them up.
He hadn't had anyone, -child or otherwise- put this much trust in him since Kagome, it was amazing to him that they could sleep so securely. The rest of the night was absolutely miserable for him, the rain running down the bark of the tree soaked his back and the kids constantly shifted in their sleep. He was grateful when the rain finally let up sometime close to dawn, the kids stopped moving and he allowed them another hour of sleep before jumping down.
He roused them none to gently and gave the girl some more of the food that had been packed, eating some himself as he cleaned up. The morning was unusually cold for the season because of last night's rainfall, Sesshomaru was fine but the little human was shivering. Taking off his fire rat once more he wrapped her up in it as they left, carrying her in his arms and his half-brother on his back while the dragon followed.
Finally tiring of dodging the mud on the ground and not being able to jump through the thick branches because they were too wet he turned to the twin heads of the dragon. "Look, I need you to fly us." He growled when they snorted and looked away.
"Ah-Un please let Inuyasha ride Ah-Un, Inuyasha is taking care of Lord Sesshomaru for us?" She pouted at the dragons and brightened instantly when they lowered their heads in agreement. "Thank you Ah-Un!" Inuyasha jumped up onto him and sat astride him, he sat Rin in front of him and Sesshomaru in front of her facing towards them. The little demon would be able to take the harsh winds better than the human child.
Inuyasha pulled them close and Rin ordered the dragon to take off with him pointing it in the right direction. At the rate the dragon flew they would be halfway there by lunch and would arrive at the village by nightfall. Rin was chattering at Sesshomaru for a long time before Inuyasha got irritated enough to ask what was going on.
"Rin is trying to teach Lord Sesshomaru how to speak Inuyasha."
"Well be quiet for a while, you can teach him when we stop for lunch." The wind whistling past his ears was already making them ache; he didn't need the endless chatter of the girl on top of it.
"Rin is sorry Inuyasha, Rin will be quiet." She hugged close to little demon, still shivering. Inuyasha pulled her back to give her his body warmth, not wanting to listen to any lectures on neglecting the child because she got sick.
"Lord Inuyasha?"
"Yeah, what now?"
"Rin is hungry, and thinks Ah-Un needs to eat too."
"What does this thing eat?"
"Ah-Un eats grass!"
"Fine. Dragon! Land in the next field where you can graze." One of the dragon's heads turned and gave him a dirty look before it snorted and moved through the sky a little faster.
"Thank you Lord Inuyasha."
"Whatever kid, don't call me that." Not long after things fell silent once more they landed in a large field of grass. He jumped down and lied back on the grass, "Get yourself some food kid." He closed his eyes and listened to the sounds around him. The dragons chewing and soft snorts, Rin digging through the bags. He realized he couldn't hear where Sesshomaru was and was about to look when the demon child pounced on him and knocked the air from his lungs with a loud 'whoosh'. He opened his eyes to look at the evil child and found him grinning with all his teeth showing. "What the hell do you think you are doing?"
"Inu." It was growled out, and barely understandable but it was obviously his name, or rather a shortened version that came from the pup's mouth.
Rin squealed and tackled the other child in a hug, "Lord Sesshomaru said Inuyasha's name just like Rin was trying to teach!" Inuyasha couldn't speak, and just looked at his half-brother when he butted his head under his chin by lying down on him.
"Inu." It was a lot clearer now and more distinguishable from the growl behind it. Inuyasha sat up, sending them tumbling onto the grass.
Rin giggled, "Inuyasha looks so surprised, is Inuyasha happy?"
Sesshomaru smiled with her and latched onto his half-brother's neck, brushing his cheek against Inuyasha's. "Inu."
"Uh yeah, go play over there." He pulled the little demon off his neck, "You too, be careful with your claws she's only human." Inuyasha found himself being less guarded around them, the sooner he could get rid of them, the sooner things could get back to normal. He watched how the little demon seemed to droop and couldn't understand why. "What's wrong with you?"
Rin came over and spoke in a low conspiratorial voice, "Rin thinks Lord Sesshomaru is upset because my Lord tried so hard to say Inuyasha's name but Inuyasha didn't say anything." She was amazingly observant for a child and it threw him for a loop.
He pushed her away gently with a gruff, "Go play." And snagged the demon by his collar as he went to follow. Sesshomaru turned around with his large eyes, no longer grinning. Inuyasha pulled him closer and ran a hand through his hair, "Good, now all you need to do is learn how to tell me what you want." His fingers snagged a little as he pulled them from Sesshomaru's hair, the dog demon growled out his name again and nuzzled his face before leaving to play with Rin.
He knew it was only a matter of time before his half-brother was back to normal and he was left with nothing again. Kaede was training a new priestess so even the village wouldn't need his protection. Shippo was happy where he was with that fox family and he couldn't very well stay in the demon slayers village. Sango and Miroku were teaching them tolerance of certain demons, but that wouldn't change how they saw him. As just another demon or even worse in their eyes a half-breed, tainting human and demon blood alike.
He looked for the kids, they were sitting in the middle of a field of flowers and Rin was doing something with her hands, at the rate things were going they would be here for a little while so he settled back on the grass. The girl had been so panicked and upset when she found him he decided it wouldn't matter if they took a little longer for lunch. If the kid wasn't crying he was happy, he hated it when anyone cried, he never knew what to do.
Inuyasha heard the two creep up behind the hill he was resting on, he could barely hear his half-brother's footsteps but both of them were stifling laughter and ruining their surprise attack. He let them think they had the upper hand for a minute…
Then he pounced. Flipping back over the hill and behind them in quick blur of motion he grabbed them, being careful so he wouldn't hurt them. His ears laid back at the excited squeal from Rin and Sesshomaru's sharp yip of surprise but he grinned nonetheless. "What made you think you could sneak up on me?"
Rin tried the innocent act, "But Rin wasn't sneaking! Rin wanted to give Lord Inuyasha this!" She held up a flower wreath that was barely staying together, that was when he noticed the wreaths on both their heads. Rin's sat crookedly on her odd ponytail and Sesshomaru's hung down over his forehead, hiding the crescent moon and brushing his eyelashes as he blinked.
"Didn't I tell you not to call me that?"
"But if Lord Sesshomaru is Lord Sesshomaru and Inuyasha is Lord Sesshomaru's brother wouldn't that make him Lord too?"
"Things don't work that way kid. There is no way you are putting that flower mess on my head." Rin pouted and lowered her hands; which hand been inching towards his head.
"Rin usually gives them to Jaken but Jaken isn't here. Rin makes Jaken look pretty!" He pictured the squat little imp covered in flowers and looking pretty with a snort of amusement but the girl was still babbling. "Lord Sesshomaru never let Rin give him flowers before, he always told Rin to give them to Jaken."
"Where is the toad?"
"Rin doesn't know, Jaken was sent away." She frowned at the wreath in her hand for a moment, before jumping up and down happily. "Rin will give it to Ah and make one for Un! Want to help Lord Sesshomaru?" Her spirits didn't dampen in the slightest when her former protector shook his head and plopped down in the grass to play with his own 'tail'. She skipped off to the flowers and began weaving another wreath for the dragon's head.
Inuyasha looked at the now crouching demon, his eyes were trained on something and he wasn't moving. Only a slight shifting in position gave way to what he going to do right before he pounced and caught something between his hands. He sat and parted them a little to peer intently at what he had caught, the flowers falling more in his eyes when he bent over. Standing again he walked over in front Inuyasha, holding out his caged hands expectantly. "Inu!" Now it sounded like his name and less like a growl. It was just like he remembered Sesshomaru sounding when they were younger. They were distracted by Rin bouncing past and over to the dragons. Sesshomaru watched the girl intently, seeming to try and figure something out.
"Here Ah-Un! Rin made these," She put the two wreaths on their heads as the dragons bent them to her reach.
Sesshomaru looked at her then down at his hands before holding them up to Inuyasha again. "H-here Inu." He smiled proudly and lifted his hands up higher, "Here Inu!" Inuyasha didn't like the significance of this, it was basically the kids first catch (whatever it was) and he was giving it to him. That kind of thing was usually given to a father, though he had given his own to Sesshomaru. He was only about four and he remembered how proud he had been himself.
-Flashback-
He had been playing in the garden while one of his nannies watched. He had been chasing a ladybug for the better of an hour. His keen eyes allowing him to keep track of it as it flitted around and landed occasionally before he caught up and stirred it up again. Crouching he had followed it with his eyes as it landed on a large white flower, he stalked it from the crouch, taking a little leap foreword covered half the distance to the bug.
Readying himself he jumped onto the flower, snapping the stem as he landed on it and grabbing the bright red beetle. He could feel it crawling along the insides of his hands as he ran over to the female dog-demon that was watching him, "I caught it! Miss Yumi I caught it!"
"Good job Inuyasha, your first catch. What are you going to do with it?" Yumi had known he wanted to give it to his father; it was what his instincts told him to do. His first capture or kill was supposed to go to someone. He remembered her smiling sadly down at him, his father was once again gone to defend against those that didn't approve of the child before her.
His ears drooped and he crouched down to stare at his hands, "Daddy isn't here." He perked up and stood looking around, his ears swiveling. "I wanna give it to Sess!"
"Well, I think he is in his room." She followed as he ran off towards the castle with his hands held close to himself. He ran inside and up the stairs, only his fast reflexes saving him from crashing into his brother's door. He knocked with his clasped hands on the wood part of the door.
"Come in Inuyasha, you may remain outside Yumi."
She slid the screen aside for him, bowing from the waist at Sesshomaru. "Yes Prince Sesshomaru." She closed the door and he could hear her waiting outside.
He moved over to the balcony where his brother was sitting and looking at one of the scrolls for his studies. His brother had still been happy then, and he set the scroll down before smiling at him.
"Sess! For you." He held out his hands to him and he remembered his brother raising an eyebrow before cupping his hands in his own. He had opened his much smaller hands so the bug could crawl out into his brothers.
"Your first catch." He clasped the bug in one hand and scooted over so he could climb onto the chair with him. "You should save this for father." He remembered nuzzling his face into his older brothers just like the transformed demon had been lately.
"But I want you to have it."
"You're sure?" He nodded and his brother's free hand came up to gently scratch at one of his ears.
"Thank you." They leaned back in the chair together and he continued to scratch and rub his ear while staring at the hand that held the ladybug. "What shall we do with it little brother?"
"You should let it go. I was only playing with it." He moved his head so Sesshomaru would pay attention to the other ear, listening to his brother's thoughtful tone.
"Yes, its life is too short to stay with us." He had opened his hand, jerking it so the bug would take flight. He remembered the bug flying out a ways before it turned around to land on his brother's forehead, right within the circle of the crescent moon.
"That's good luck Sess." He grabbed his brother's hand as it went to flick the beetle away. "Don't flick it!"
"Why not?" He sounded amused as he tried futilely to see it.
"Then it becomes bad luck." He had spoken in the sure tone only a child can have as he reached up with his still semi soft pup claws and scraped the bug off. He had stood then wandered over to the balcony, which was still higher than him and leaned through the bars as best he could with his hand in front of his face. He blew on the bug, sending it flying into the air he watched it land on one of the vine flowers climbing the railing. "It wants to stay."
He went over and climbed back onto the chair with him, giggling, "I chased it for a long time, maybe it's too tired to leave." Sesshomaru had pulled him over to sit on his lap and lean against him. Hands had come up to stroke his ears while Sesshomaru's chin rested on his head. He begun growling lowly, almost a purr as they sat together watching the ladybug crawl around on the blue flower.
"Perhaps."
He remembered how he had thought that it didn't matter that their father wasn't there, he was glad he had given it to Sesshomaru. He was important to him; he was the only person besides his mother he ever let touch his ears after all.
-End Flashback-
Inuyasha came out of his momentary reminiscing and looked down at his half-brother; who was still stretched up to him. He cupped his hands over the top of his, "Open yours." He felt something flutter up and beat against his hands. He pulled away and looked inside his hands, Sesshomaru had caught a soft-white butterfly. "Good job kid."
The pup grinned and sat down in front of him, watching as he inspected the butterfly. "We should let it go, its life is too short to stay with us." He heard the echo of his brother's words in his mind even as he sat before him nodding. He opened his hands and jerked them in an all too familiar way. They both watched as it flew up and circled around them once before flying off.
Inuyasha stood and picked the pup up with a sigh, "Come on kid, we're leaving." Rin ran over at his call with a handful of bright flowers.
"Inuyasha is taking us to Inuyasha's home?" He nodded and picked up his discarded fire rat and wrapped her in it. "Will Kagome and Shippo be there?" Inuyasha's ears drooped as he picked her up.
"No. Shippo is spending some time away learning how to use his powers."
"And Kagome?"
"She went home." He jumped onto the dragon and positioned the kids, hoping that the painful conversation would end as they took to the air.
"Will she come visit?"
"No, she's too far away. She won't be coming back. Ever." He looked away and the girl could sense the change in his demeanor. She handed her bouquet of flowers to Sesshomaru and turned awkwardly in her seat to slide her arms around his waist as best she could for hug.
"Rin did not mean to make Inuyasha sad. Rin will miss Kagome too, she saved Rin once." He patted her on the head and breathed a sigh of relief when she turned back around to snuggle down inside his coat.
The rest of the trip was spent with her talking softly to Sesshomaru, Inuyasha didn't bother listening. Instead he thought about how exactly he was going to get his half-brother back to normal. It didn't escape his attention that he would probably need the girl to control the dragons so he could get back to where the witch (or whoever did this) was so he could find out what they did and reverse it. They were over his forest and only a few minutes away from Kaede's home when both children started complaining. "Rin is hungry Inuyasha!"
"Hungry Inu!" He glared at them; apparently Sesshomaru was a fast learner. Now he wasn't so sure about the brat telling him what he wanted.
Inuyasha sniffed the air a couple of times and listened carefully as they approached the hut from downwind. He could hear and smell Kaede beginning to cook inside. "Kaede's making dinner, we're almost there."
They set down and Rin helped him put the special reigns on the animal that kept it from using its attacks but allowed it to graze. Since the place was new, Sesshomaru took his customary place on Inuyasha's back, staying away from his flicking ears when Inuyasha growled.
Steeling himself for the annoying questions that were sure to come he placed a hand on Rin's shoulder to keep her from running before calling out, "Hey! Ya here ya old hag?"
"Is that ye Inuyasha? Ye were not to return for another day. What has brought ye back early?" She pushed aside the reed mat and stepped out, her one good eye focused immediately on Rin and the dragons that were wandering off to graze some more. "Is that not the child that travels with ye brother?"
"Half-brother." He rolled his eyes when the demon himself, crawled up to grab his ear.
To Be Continued
Review Responses
dark angel-justice(Anon): As I have already said, this story is completely written out, I am taking my time to post so I can do last minute editing. Kagome is not really a part of this story; it's meant to focus on the dog brothers. Thanks for reviewing though!
Eboni: Hey! A return reviewer, nice. lol Got to have the good old Miroku-gropes-Sango-and-gets-beat-down, you just can't leave a classic like that out! o.O Sleepy and hyper? Is that possible??? O.O Scary. Thanks for the review!
Evil Fierce Deity Link(Anon): Glad you like it, thanks for the review!
GirlLoki(Anon): .:waves finger:. That would be telling! Your questions will be answered though… Eventually. Thanks for the review!
insanechildfanfic: Déjà vu. Thanks for the review!
inugurl666: Actually, I learned about the whole Rin's speech thing when it was in another story and they explained that that was how she spoke in the original but they changed it for the dub. I think that's right. Thanks for the review!
Jennifer(Anon): blinks Wow, so excited you missed the space bar. I feel really special. J/K u.u0 Thanks for the review!
Shadow Dragon59: I have one word for you, suuuuurrrre. Lol Thanks for the review!
Shinna: Short but still good, just like before! There you go. Thanks for the review!
Verika(Anon): Again a short-y but a goody! Thanks for the review!
Vulcana(Anon): Lol I just started the editing for this chapter when the e-mail came in telling me about your review! That's how good I am, I was getting ready for the update even before you asked.
Now to the things you liked:
I figured what kind of kid would he be if he didn't have a sense of humor? Especially since he's a blank slate. It was also fun just picturing the look on Inuyasha's face too.
Gotta keep the classics, it just wouldn't have been a visit to Sango and Miroku without it!
I actually added that deal with Sango a little later when I was rereading the chapter, it just seemed like it needed to be there if that makes any sense. -.-
I have to say that is probably my fav. too.
A lot of people make Inuyasha seem totally ignorant and stupid, when he is clearly not in the show, just hot headed. Like the rerun of the episode where he transforms and kills the demon moth and bandits I watched just last night. A voice over from his mind shows there is more depth to his character and that he does think about things.
Wow. o.O Long review gets a long answer, lol. Thanks for the review! It's nice to know what people like about the chapters.
A/N: .:does a happy dance:. Yay, people like it! .:sits, clears throat and tries to look dignified:. Anyways, thanks for all the reviews. Also thanks to anyone who is just reading and may be too lazy to review or whatever. (I suffer that too sometimes.)
Please Review and tell me what you like or don't like!
Wish He Was Mine