Chapter Six: That Flesh is Heir To

Inuyasha didn't bother to ask how Miroku and Nanashi had secured quarters in the greatest house of this village. Nor did he care much for how exactly they had evacuated the home so quickly of its human occupants. He was only mildly aware, like one is concerning the placement of their armies, of where Shippo and Rin were roomed to recover. Zen and Kagome had followed them into the room to keep a close eye on the victims.

Instead he walked the edge of the home, methodically and felt the dirt under his feet as if he meant to inspect every piece of ground before him. He had to be careful. Tama could return at any moment. He walked slowly, continuing to stare at his feet as he did. He tried to ignore the throbbing truth that had settled into his brain behind his eyes. He tried not to picture his brother in the Headman's rooms. Sesshoumaru had never looked so disheveled, so weak as he did during the trip to this home.

But Sesshoumaru never spoke. He was too prideful. Half-heartedly, Inuyasha was proud of this. He wasn't quite certain he wanted to hear what had befallen his brother.

He looked up as Nanashi exited Sesshoumaru's rooms. She gave him a quiet look before meeting Sango and Miroku outside the children's room. Miroku called to Kagome. She appeared a moment afterwards, giving him the same quiet, concerned look Nanashi did as they walked into center of the grounds. They wanted him to come. Everyone was scared. He didn't need his Youkai senses to know that. They wanted him near; to feel better about themselves.

Gingerly, Inuyasha abandoned his trek and moved to obey. He knew acutely how it felt to be assured by another's presence.

He was still very young, young enough to clutch at Izayoi's shirts when his brother came for a visit. His brother who stood tall, majestic and fearsome before them; his face a stone mask of strained patience and cold indifference. On his hip was a solitary blade, the latest of a long line Inuyasha had seen Sesshoumaru don. It was as if his brother was waiting for a blade worthy of him and his greatness. Not likely. Inuyasha doubted there was a sword in creation worthy to be called his brother's.

His brother. Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands.

Inuyasha suppressed a grin. His brother was the greatest demon alive and it gave him no small amount of pride knowing that. It meant one day, when Inuyasha was old enough, Sesshoumaru would call on him like he did with Tama: to help him and fight along side of him. And together they would rule the Western Lands and beyond. It meant one day, Inuyasha would be just like his brother: tall, proud and fearless. There was nothing Sesshoumaru couldn't do.

Inuyasha couldn't wait to be just like him.

There was sound beyond the walls of Izayoi's rooms. A sound as thick and loud as thunder that reverberated through his skull, making him flinch. Even Izayoi seemed to feel it. Her face, aged and worn as it had become in these many years, registered fear but only for a moment. She drew herself up and stared at Sesshoumaru.
"I won't go."

Sesshoumaru's feature were like ice and his features were like Inuyasha's own; rarely changing in the decades that had passed. Izayoi seemed to age by the year, with Sesshoumaru his clear, elegant features never dulled. "The armies are at my gates." He said simply, unaffected by the gravity of his own words.

Inuyasha could tell from the way the other servants scrambled about things were bad but he wondered why everyone was so afraid. Sesshoumaru couldn't be beaten. That was as certain as the sunrise.

"This is my home." Izayoi answer him. Her voice shook in passion. "My son's home. I will not abandon it!"

"I telling you to go with the others."

"And I told you my husband died there! I won't step foot in that place again!"

Sesshoumaru's head inclined. "And was he nothing to me?"

She seemed to regret her words suddenly. Inuyasha felt her tremble a little. A shadow appeared at Izayoi's doorway. Inuyasha shuttered a little as Tama smiled down at him. The shadow lifted as Nanashi came into view.

"My Lord, the defenses will not continue to hold." Tama mumbled. "Their Master has summoned you for a challenge."

"In a moment." Sesshoumaru answered. His eyes never left Izayoi. "Go with Nanashi."

"I will not!"

"I will not protect you."

"I'm not asking you to." Izayoi said quietly. Then, she lifted her head a small way, to greet his cold eyes. Inuyasha smelled desperation and pain on his mother, and instantly hated it. "Sesshoumaru, you and Inuyasha are all I have left. Do you not make me abandon this." Her eyes dimmed a little. "Don't make me leave you."

Sesshoumaru kept her gaze for a long time. Then, wordlessly he moved towards the exit. "Nanashi, I count their lives as one with yours. Should they perish…"

"I understand, milord."

"Wait!" Inuyasha shouted, running away from Izayoi. He rushed towards the door and planted himself firmly in the frame, blocking Sesshoumaru's exit. Those cold eyes of his brother rested on him, waiting. For a moment, his resolved melted away. No. He couldn't fail. "Let me go with you! I can fight!" Tama laughed. Sesshoumaru's expression never changed. Inuyasha felt his chance fading. "I can help, brother!"

Sesshoumaru flinched at the sound of his title. He narrowed his eyes a little, and then brushed Inuyasha away carelessly. "A hanyoi has no place by my side." He said as he disappeared.

Inuyasha stayed on his knees for a long time. It was then, child though he was, that he swore he'd become powerful. Somehow, someway…He would prove to Sesshoumaru he was worthy to be by his side.

Worthy to be his brother.

"What did you found out?" Kagome was asking when Inuyasha approached. Sango wrapped her arms around herself as if she were cold. Miroku and Nanashi exchanged glances before speaking. It was beginning to annoy Inuyasha, the way the all clustered together.

As if Sesshoumaru's death would have any affect on him.

"There's a powerful binding seal on him." Miroku said, rubbing his own shoulders.

Nanashi tilted her head. "So remove it. Simple."

"Not that simple. It's specific and two part."

"I'm waiting."

Miroku gave Nanashi another dark look and for a moment, he touched his broken wrist as if tempted to damn it all and leave to her to his Wind Tunnel. It was only Inuyasha's complacent stare that made him give up. He tilted his head slightly, searching his mind for the best and quickest answer. "Put simply, Sesshoumaru's physical form is becoming human but he's not losing his powers."

"That wouldn't kill him." Nanashi hissed, her voice low and terse. "Sesshoumaru has been able to assume a human form since he was a child…"

"You weren't listening. I didn't say he was assuming a human form. I said he was becoming human." Miroku turned and touched his arm, then flicked hers. "His body is transforming into that of a human man. A real flesh and blood moral, with all the fallacies and weakness."

Inuyasha felt the night suddenly go darker, and the earth seemed to shift under his feet. He found he could no longer care much for Nanashi or the others reactions. Instead a thick uneasiness began to blossom behind his eyes and sink through all parts of his skin.

"There's…more." Miroku's voice faltered a little, and then seemed to continue. "The binding spell used didn't give him room to facilitate his powers, nor did it expel them. He still has his demonic powers but cannot call on them."

"What does that mean?" Kagome whispered in a voice as thin as vapor.

"There's no way a human body can hold that much power. I don't think even a hanyoi's could." There was another beat, as his dizziness continued to creep to Inuyasha's heart and began to choke it. But still, Miroku spoke. "But still, his power will remain...and eventually, it'll destroy the vessel holding it."

Nanashi's voice, as dull as a Kagome's. Inuyasha turned to see her face. The woman's skin as a pale as winter, and in this dim night, the sickle moon on her brow appeared like inky blood. "Sesshoumaru's own powers are destroying him. His own powers are killing him."

"Can we expel his powers, Miroku? Sango asked, her voice strengthening as she clutched to the idea. "It would be like any other exorcism of demonic powers from a human."

"I could. But I'd have to wait till his transformation is complete and there's no guarantee he'd survive till then."

"Sesshoumaru would rather die and I won't make him choose otherwise." Inuyasha said, suddenly. He turned and met the Monk's face, daring him to rebuke him. "Break the curse."

Miroku bowed his head a little. "I can't. The curse isn't on Sesshoumaru's body…I would have sensed it." He rubbed his wrist again. "It probably works like Kanna's mirror. Something captured his true form and was able to seal in the curse that way."

"When Jaken arrives," Nanashi spoke suddenly, "We'll see if he remembers any incident that would give us an idea to where Tama is hiding the object."

Inuyasha nodded. "I'll ask Sesshoumaru. It's important that we have no loose ends."

"We have to be careful." Kagome said suddenly. She stepped a little closer, blocking Nanashi from Inuyasha. Kagome's eyes darted upward. "We're running out of time."

Inuyasha began to question her but the realization hit him a moment later. Turning slowly, Inuyasha looked up. The new moon was coming.

He inhaled, stifling a curse. "We better hurry then."

Sango nodded, telling him she'd do whatever was needed, like a true warrior. Then she pivoted and marched back to her rooms. Inuyasha saw her gait slow as she walked further from him. She had no hope for this. He couldn't blame her. In the end, Sesshoumaru was a bigger threat then an ally.

Which didn't explain why he was helping him.

Inuyasha watched as Kagome and Nanashi moved away to: Kagome to find some comfort in sleep and Nanashi going straight to Sesshoumaru's bedside, to keep watch. It took him a moment before wondering why Miroku hadn't yet left.

"Yeah," He deadpanned. "What is it?"

Miroku looked over, waiting till the other parties had gone completely from view. "Inuyasha, there's something else."

"Hm?"

"This curse was very intimate. I don't think it was cast by some chance meeting. I think whoever did this was able to get close enough to him without ever raising alarm." Inuyasha turned and followed Miroku's eyes to one room. Sometime during their private meeting, the adults had neglected to look back and check on the children.

Standing there, as quiet and as watchful as the night, was Rin. Her dark eyes were watching them both carefully.

"I think we should be careful." Miroku continued. "Sesshoumaru might not be the only one controlled."