Chapter eight : Interview with a ghost
Sesshomaru's POV
Sesshomaru couldn't remember how to breath. He blinked. Once. Twice. But it was still there. Long silver hair like his own tied up in a high ponytail, warm golden eyes, wearing a white kimono with an armor over the chest... His father was looking at him with an amused expression, as impressive and intimidating as he recalled him. The... ghost spoke again, a little grin appearing on his lips :
- No offence, my son, but you look awful. Even worst than your brother. And he's the one who's dead !
And then he laughed. A strong, deep laugh. How Sesshomaru had longed to hear that... But then reality hit him again : his deceased father was rigth in front of him ! Talking and laughing like there was nothing strange at all ! Maybe he was hallucinating, he thought. Finally, he asked :
- Father ?
The ghost stopped laughing and answered :
- Well yes, of course. You were expecting someone else ?
- No, but... your dead, Sesshomaru stated.
Well duh... Like it wasn't obvious !... But Sesshomaru was a bit taken aback by this new turn of events. He had good reasons, damn it ! He was having a conversation with a dead person ! Seeing his confusion, the ghost continued more gently :
- I know, it's quite unusual. Spirits don't normally come and go between the worlds. But I've been allowed to because... something happened that sould've not happen, something terrible, and it concerns me in a very close way. So I've been given kind of a special pass to come and see you.
He suddenly took a much more serious tone and pursued :
- Sesshomaru, it's very important. I need to do this, but I also need an exterior assistance. I need your help, my son.
Sesshomaru was surprised. And also, he had to admit, a bit curious about this "something" that had happened. What could be so dramatic that it would get his father a special pass for the living world, and the right to come ask him for help ? He frowned and asked :
- What's the problem ?
His father sighed. Well... as much as a ghost could sigh. He looked to the ground for a moment, like if he was summoning the courage to speak. Then he raised his head and gave him a sad look. Sesshomaru swallowed back the lump in his throat... He had the feeling that he would not like the answer he was going to get... and he was right.
- It's Inu-Yasha, his father said.
He knew it. His heartbeat quickened. He looked at the hanyou lying beside him, almost afraid to see him disintegrate. The spirit noticed and said :
- I meant Inu-Yasha's soul, Sesshomaru. Although, it's not like it's any better...
Sesshomaru turned back to his father. In the surprise of the moment, he had forgotten to put on his mask again, and you could see anxiety and apprehension on his face when he asked :
- Why ? What's wrong with him ? What happened ?
He vaguely realized that he was babbling, but tons of questions were running in his head and he wanted the answers now. He wanted to know what was wrong with his little brother... And he was soooo not in a emotional shape for more bad news...
The concern was clearly visible on his every features, and at this sight, the spirit couldn't hold back a soft smile.
- Sesshomaru, he said to his son, I've been watching you and your brother for a long while, now. I saw what he did, when he pushed you aside... and I also saw what you did. I only wish you could know how proud I am of you two, and how happy I felt to see you finally acting like brothers again. That was the greatest gift you could have given me.
Sesshomaru just stayed stiff, not knowing what to say. With any other person, he would've just raised his cold barrier again, and answered that "this wasn't of their business". He would not have shown his feelings. But his father, dead or not, wasn't any other person...
Giving up, he relaxed and gently stroke Inu-Yasha's hair, whispering :
- Yes, what a great reunion we had...
He knew he was being sarcastic, but it was only to hide his pain...
- I understand, Sesshomaru, his father suddenly said. But you can save him. That's why I'm here.
He felt like he had been stroke by a lightning ; had he heard correctly ? Could it be possible ?... He hadn't imagined it, right ?
- I... can save him ?... he repeated just to be sure.
- Not only can you, but you HAVE to ! the ghost declared. That's why I came here in the first place.
Sesshomaru was a lot more interested now. Regaining himself, he asked calmly :
- What happened ?
- Well, it all started whit Naraku's pet demon, the one who killed your brother. Oh don't look so angry and let me finish ! You probably noticed that he had strange powers. That's because he wasn't a typical demon. He was a soul-slayer.
- Soul-slayer ?
- Yes. There's not many demons of that kind. I'm forced to say that Naraku has been very brilliant to create one. Don't give me that look, I don't like the guy either. Anyway, a soul-slayer is a demon that curses the soul of his every victims. In other words, when you're killed by that sort of demon, your soul is immediately damned and forced to go directly in Hell, weither you deserve it or not.
Sesshomaru's heart stopped. No... it couldn't be true... there was a mistake... little brother...
- But... that means that Inu-Yasha...
His father was clenching his fists, and there was a deep pain in his voice when he pursued :
- He's in Hell as we speak. I don't know what they could be doing to him right now... or what they may have done already... and I'm not sure I want to know. The only thing I'm sure about Hell is that it's a terrible place. And that Inu-Yasha doesn't deserve to be there. I wanted to go and get him... but they didn't let me... I wanted to get him out of there ! And his mother... dear Kami, she was totally panicked ! And I was not far from it either ! I didn't wanted him to finish there... my little Inu-Yasha...
He paused and closed his eyes. He looked so sad, and worry... But Sesshomaru wasn't going to criticize him. He was feeling exactly the same... Then, his father went on :
- They explained to me why I couldn't go. It's a bit complicated, so I'll save you the details. But the thing is, a spirit like myself cannot go in Hell. I may stay prisonner there, or disappear, or all a bunch of other things worse than that. I was desperate, but then they accepted to help me... You see, someone that goes in Yomi no Kumi just because he has been killed by a soul-slayer doesn't necessarily belong there. Add to that, your brother wasn't suppose to die so soon. He has... like you... a destiny to fulfill, and if he dies now a lot of things will change. It may be catastrophic. Though the rest of the world isn't really my first priority. All I really want is to get my son out of there...
He sighed.
- Anyway, because of all that, they all agreed to say that Inu-Yasha should be taken out of Hell. But since no one in our world could do it, they sent me here... It appears that living beings can be sent to Hell in certain special cases, like this one, to bring someone out of it. It doesn't happen every so often, but it is possible... I immediately thought of you. So, if you accept of course, I'll be able to send you to Hell for a certain amount of time, and then you may have a chance to save Inu-Yasha... But you should know that it's not without risks, and you may...
- I'll go, Sesshomaru interrupted.
- But it's dangerous. I'm serious, Sesshomaru. I'm perfectly aware of what you can do, but even for you there's absolutly no guarantee that...
- I'll go, the dog demon repeated with an unwavering voice.
His father looked at him for a moment, thinking. Then he smiled and said :
- Fine. To tell you the truth, I expected you to react like that.
They stayed silent a couple of seconds, then the ghost continued :
- OK, so here's what you'll have to do : I will open a portal for you. Once you'll have passed through it, you'll find yourself directly in Hell. From there on, I will not be able to help you in any way, you'll be entirely on your own. So listen well to my directives ; first, always stay alert. Even if it seems calm around you, danger can be everywhere. Keep that in mind. Secondly, no matter in which place you'll drop, always walk straight ahead. Never take turns, they're only traps. Thirdly, if you encounter demons... and you surely will... don't waste time and kill them. If you don't, they'll stab you in the back with their twisted little tricks. Remember that, Sesshomaru : demons in Hell are not the same as those who live on Earth. They can't die... except if you use Tenseiga to kill them. Don't be so surprise, I'm serious ; Tenseiga is the sword of life. You may think it's useless here, but in Hell it'll be the deadliest weapon of all. Rely on it and it'll save you a great deal of troubles... However, I suggest you leave your Tokijin here. Not only will it be of no help, but it'll also be a veritable magnet that will lure all demons and damned souls to you. And believe me, it's better if you fight as less of them as possible. The main reason for that is that you'll have to hurry, my son... Inu-Yasha won't be able to hold very long...
Sesshomaru was taking precious note of all the information his father was giving him. When it came to the last comment, however, he flinched. Who knew what his youngest brother was going through right now ? His dad was right... he would have to hurry...
The spirit pursued :
- You have to know that rules of Hell will not apply to you, Sesshomaru. Normally, damned souls have almost no control of what happen to them. Whatever it is, and whatever how strong they were when alive, they can't defend themselves against those who torture them. That's the whole point of Hell. Whatever painfull treatments they're given, they remain helpless. That may be a good punishment for criminals and murderers, but for those who've been sent there by mistake...
He stopped, letting Sesshomaru imagine the rest. It wasn't hard... Then he continued :
- However, it won't affect you. Since you're a living person and not a soul, they won't be able to subdue you. You'll have full control of you're body and mind, and you won't have any difficulties to defend yourself. The Tenseiga will also help you a lot more than you think... You'll see what I mean... Don't be reckless, though, it could cost you your life. Saving Inu-Yasha's soul won't be as easy as you think.
Sesshomaru's eyes glowed menacingly. He wouldn't let anyone stop him from getting to his brother ! He would kill anyone who would try ! He listened to his father who was still speaking :
- Be careful, Sesshomaru, because if you die there, your soul will remain in Hell. I don't want you to fihish there either, you know... You're my son too, and... Just promise me to be careful, OK ?
Sesshomaru nodded. He was touched by the concern in his father's voice. Happy to see that he cared... but it was no time for fluffyness, he thought, concentrating on what the ghost was saying.
- Well, I think that's all. Now, weither you succeed... or not... I will be warned and I'll open another portal for you to get out. When the time comes, I'll know it and I'll be ready. I'll then send you a certain sign so you can know where and when the portal will appear. Don't worry, you'll recognize it. I'll make the exit as close to you as possible, and once you'll go through it, you'll come back right here in this room.
Sesshomaru got up. He was ready. He would save his little brother, no matter what. But then, something hit him :
- But father, what about the humans ? They'll never gonna believe me if I try to explain all of this to them, and once I'm gone, they'll most certainly bury Inu-Yasha six feet underground. What will we do then ?
Th ghost grinned and said :
- Oh don't worry about that. You see, the flow of time is not the same here and in Hell. There, it passes a lot more slowly, so even if you have the impression that you've been there for months, only a day or two have passed in this world. What I'm trying to say is that if from your point of vue you'll be in Hell quite a long time, to them you'll only be gone for a couple of minutes.
- That's useful, Sesshomaru commented.
- Indeed, his father retorted with a smile.
But his happy behaviour suddenly vanished ; he had the expression of someone who just remembered something important, but didn't really want to tell it. He hesitated and finally said :
- Sesshomaru, there's something else you have to know...
"I have the feeling I won't like it..." the young demon thought. The spirit sighed and added :
- Inu-Yasha, he... may not recognize you...
- Why not? he asked, shocked.
- Listen... Hell has a way to break souls... you understand ? They don't just hurt them, they break them ! I don't want to know how... but that's what they do. As I told you, time passes slowly there... so by now... Inu-Yasha has probably went through that state already... and I don't think he'll remember you when you'll get to him... and he probably won't want to follow you...
- So what am I suppose to do? Sesshomaru shouted. Force him ?
- No ! his father yelled back. Especially not that ! Don't you think he'll have been put through enough already ! If you try to force him, he'll get scared and it'll be worst !
Sesshomaru felt a bit ashamed of himself. Of course, he sould've known that... His dad calmed down and pursued more softly :
- You'll have to make him remember you, Sesshomaru. That's the most difficult and important part of your mission. You'll have to be patient and make him trust you, then recognize you. It may not be easy... but I'm sure you can do it. Just think about all the horrors he has seen by now, all that he had to endure... and there's more to come 'til you reach him... He'll be broken, Sesshomaru, there's no other words. You'll have to be patient and soothing, you'll have to be something reassuring, something he'll be able to hold on to... Don't frighten him by going to fast or by losing your temper... His soul will be wounded, my son... you'll have to heal it. Do you understand ?
Sesshomaru nodded. He fully understood. He just hoped that he would be able to do it. Fighting demons was one thing, healing broken souls was another... totally... As if reading his thoughts, the ghost told him :
- Don't worry, I'm sure you can do it. The fact that you both made up, and that you're the last person he saw before dying, will make you more fresh in his memory. He may recognize your scent, or your voice, or even a stupid little thing like your eyes or your hair. Once that'll be done, the rest will be a lot easier. Trust me.
Sesshomaru relaxed. He would do it. He could do it. There was nothing he couldn't do. He would heal his brother's soul and bring it back safely to the living world. That... was a promise.
- OK, you should get going now, his father suddenly said.
Sesshomaru gave a determined look and waited. He lowered his gaze to Inu-Yasha's body a last time. It was really ironic ; his brother DID looked like an angel right now... but his soul was in Hell. What kind of cruel joke was that ?
- Sesshomaru, his father called. You may go, my son.
This one raised his head again and almost gaped ; in front of him, just about one feet away, a big hole that looked like a vortex was floating in the air, not leading anywhere at first sight. It was black and had strange red lights whirling in it in an hypnotizing dance.
- Here's you're way in, the ghost added. Good luck...
Sesshomaru just smiled (yeah, again...) and removed his Tokijin from his side. He laid it on the floor and walked in the vortex without an hesitation. As he passed through it, he thought with an arrogant grin : "Prepare yourself, Hell, for Sesshomaru of the Western Lands is coming for a little visit ..."
Then, the hole engulfed him completely and disappeared...
A/N : Boy, that chapter was longer than I expected ! But anyway, now Sesshomaru has to go in Hell to rescue InuYasha. And even for him, Hell is not a pretty place to be... But he'll be alright. He's Sesshomaru, after all !