Author's note : Thank you (again...) for reading the story this far ! I really hope you enjoy it !
Chapter thirteen : The protector
Sesshomaru's POV
Sesshomaru jumped to his feet. There was smoke everywhere, and debris were falling all around him. He searched through the mist with piercing golden eyes. There, just in front of them, about fifteen feet away, were standing six Hell demons, including the black one they had lost a few moments ago. They had just thrown them some explosive red glowing balls, that could (Sesshomaru could guess from the huge holes in the ground) do a lot of damage. He raised his gaze to the Hell demons again ; they looked angry and frustrated. They were probably tired of him escaping them all the time...
Suddenly, the Black Demon that had attacked them with his sword took a step toward him, placing himself in front of his group. He was definitely the leader. Then, to Sesshomaru's surprise, he spoke :
- Surrender, or die by our hands !
His voice was deep and growling, with absolutly no trace of humanity. But he was easy to understand. Sesshomaru answered calmly :
- I have no intention of surrendering to you or to any other creature in this realm. I am not one of your defenseless victims ; you can't subdue me in any ways. Keep that in mind. And, I am perfectly free to kill every last one of you if I feel like it. Don't forget that I have the sword of life in my posession.
To support his words, he raised his glowing Tenseiga in front of him so that everyone could see it. The damned souls begun to scream and whine, while the Hell demons were squirmimg uncomfortably, throwing incertain looks at their leader. The Black demon observed his sword nervously and finally seemed to take a decision :
- Very well, he said. We'll let you go freely, stranger, as long as you promise not to use that sword against us.
Sesshomaru raised a brow. Could it be possible that it would be so easy ?... He was about to agree when the Black demon added :
- However, you have to give us back the soul you have taken from us. No souls are allowed to exit from Hell. That's our first and most important rule.
He lowered his cruel little red eyes on Inu-Yasha, smiling visciously. The hanyou whimpered and leaned against the wall behind him like he wanted to disappear into it. Sesshomaru growled and stepped in front of his brother. With a voice that could've turn the flames of Hell into blocks of ice, he retorted :
- I'm afraid I can't grant your request. This soul is my brother's and I intend to bring it back with me.
He took a battle stance and added :
- Those who shall try to stop me will perish under my blade.
An understatement, but the Black demon looked very displeased by his answer...
- I'll give you a last chance to save yourself, he told Sesshomaru. Surrender the soul or die !
Inu-Yasha moaned and begun to shiver. Sesshomaru noticed and said over his shoulder :
- Don't worry, little brother. I will not let them have you.
- No... the hanyou answered weakly. No... you don't understand... the monster... his voice...
The demon Lord glanced back at his brother. Inu-Yasha was all huddled up on himself, a haunted expression on his face. Just like when he had first found him... That worried him a hundred times more than the Hell demons in front of him. Always keeping an eye on his enemies, he moved back a little and crouched down beside his younger brother. Softly, he asked him :
- What about his voice, Inu-Yasha ?
- It's... it's the same voice... I recognize it... he... he...
For some reason, he was on the verge of tears, his voice trembling uncontrollably. Sesshomaru passed a soothing hand in his back, encouraging him to continue. It helped, and the hanyou pursued :
- He... he's the one who... who tortured me the more often... He... he was always laughing... laughing at me... and... and...
He let out a little sob and finished :
- He... he's the one who burned my eyes...
Sesshomaru had heard enough. He was practically boiling with rage. He raised his head and shot a killing glare at the Black demon, who couldn't help but step back under the threat. The other demons started to become nervous ; this white haired man was a dangerous foe, even for them. And this without talking about his sword...
The dog demon lowered his head toward his brother again. When he spoke, his voice was incredibly gentle compared to the fire that was burning in his golden irises...
- This time it's different, Inu-Yasha. I'm here and I'll protect you. I won't let this demon touch a hair on your head.
The hanyou nodded and his tremblings calmed a little. Sesshomaru rose and faced the Hell demons. His eyes had turned red, and his sword was glowing with a beautiful white light...
- You disgusting beast, he said to the Black demon. You're through. Now I have personal reasons for wanting you dead. Your miserable existence has come to an end. Prepare to die.
- If that's the way you take it, the demon answered.
He raised his own sword and shouted :
- Kill him ! And bring me back that soul he's protecting !
The other five Hell demons threw themselves on him. With one move of his Tenseiga, Sesshomaru disposed of them all. After what, he turned toward the Black demon...
Their swords crashed against each other. The blade of the demon's sword crackled, but didn't break. Now or the demon himself was strong, or his sword was a special one. But Sesshomaru didn't cared. He would kill that beast...
The fight continued with each of them dodging, jumping, attacking... They were equal in strength and in skill, but not in speed... Sesshomaru was a lot faster. After a moment, he dodged an attack coming to his left... and to the surprise of his enemy, he whirled on himself and lowered the Tenseiga. The Black demon's sword was torn out of his hand, landing a few meters away and sticking into the ground. The second after that, he felt a cold blade under his throat. He gulped. Looking up, he saw the merciless expression on Sesshomaru's face. He was going to die...
But just when Sesshomaru was about to deliver the final blow, he heard a scream behind him. And he knew the owner's voice...
He whirled round and look in the direction of the scream. His heart skipped a beat ; a red demon was holding Inu-Yasha by the wrist, clenching it harshly. It was one of the five demons he had knocked out earlier, or so he thought... Apparently, he had missed one... who was now attacking his brother. The hanyou was struggling with all his might, but it was no use. Something resonated in Sesshomaru's memory, something Inu-Yasha had told him... "I can't defend myself ! I tried and I couldn't !..." It was just like his father had said : damned souls were totally defenseless against their attackers. Inu-Yasha was totally defenseless...
The red demon forced the hanyou to stand, and then brung his arm behind his back, twisting it painfully. Sesshomaru knew what he was trying to do... He rushed toward them, but it was too late... A loud cracking sound was heard, followed by a yelp of pain from Inu-Yasha. The Hell demon released him, a smirk on his lips. As the hanyou was falling to his knees, holding his left arm, the demon raised his head and... met the glowing red eyes of an infuriated Sesshomaru. It was the last thing he saw... Sesshomaru straightly sliced him in half with his sword.
He then kneeled down beside his brother, the bitter taste of guilt in his mouth. Inu-Yasha was breathing with difficulty, pain written all over his face, little droplets of sweat appearing on his forehead. Sesshomaru asked him with worry :
- Inu-Yasha, are you OK ?
- I... I think my arm is broken...
The demon Lord was about to add something when another voice interrupted him :
- My, my... Some protector you are...
It was the Black demon. With all the fuss going on, he had had the time to go pick up his sword again, and was now standing in front of them, a little mocking grin on his face. He continued :
- Seriously, if all the people you claim to protect end up like this, I think I'll pass...
Okay, that was the thing NOT to say. And it was SO not the moment... A deep growl escaped Sesshomaru's mouth. Now, he really had enough. When he rose, snarling and eyes flashing red, his demonic aura was so powerful you could feel the air crackle around him. His hair was floating all around his head, and his sword was glowing a blinding white. The Black demon realized too late his mistake. He wanted to run, but he was paralyzed by fear. Sesshomaru slowly raised his Tenseiga, and then brung it down just as slowly. The demon's head rolled on the ground, and the body fell a second after that.
It took a moment for Sesshomaru to calm down. The sight of his brother helped him a lot : Inu-Yasha needed him right now. He kneeled beside the wounded hanyou, trying to ignore the little voice in his head that was saying : «It's your fault if he's hurt !». How could he have let that happen ? He put his hand on Inu-Yasha's shoulder and asked :
- Does it hurt a lot ?
- N... no... I'm fine... his brother answered.
And to prove his point, he tried to move his arm a little... which happened to be a bad idea, since he nearly collapsed under the pain it caused. Sesshomaru caught him in time, moving him so that he could lean against his chest. Inu-Yasha gave an exhausted sigh. Sesshomaru knew his brother couldn't take much more of this any longer. If he hadn't been dead already... that would've killed him. But maybe his present state was worst... Damned souls couldn't die, couldn't rest and couldn't heal, they were forced to suffer for the eternity. Yes, Inu-Yasha's present state was definitely worst. No doubt about it.
Sesshomaru was feeling horrible. He stroke his brother's hair and whispered in his ear :
- Inu-Yasha, I'm sorry. I told you I would protect you and look what happened. It's all my fault, now you're even more hurt, and I broke my promise to you... I'm so sorry...
Inu-Yasha tried to sit down but gave up when he found out that he was too weak to do so. Instead, he raised his unwounded arm and took his older brother's hand that was stroking his hair. He brung it down and held on to it tightly, murmuring :
- Th... there's no need to be sorry... If it wasn't for you, I would still be chained to a stone... and in a much worst condition... then now... And besides... I'm so glad... that you came for me...
Sesshomaru could tell that his brother was trying to cheer him up. "What a joke, I should be the one doing that for him !" he thought. Nevertheless, it was working. He felt a bit better now. Just a bit...
He looked down to Inu-Yasha. He seemed so fragile, lying against him like that, like he would break at the slightest pressure. He was tired, in pain, and probably emotionally shaken too. Sesshomaru wished he could've just shared his own strength with him, to help him recover. But of course that was impossible. He had to wait... "Dad, please !" he prayed silently, "Just get us out of here !" Sesshomaru had never prayed before... That alone showed how desperate he was...
And then, he saw it : a soft blue light, alike to his sword's aura, shinning over one of the constructions. That was it ! That was the sign !
He bent down and took Inu-Yasha in his arms very gently. He asked him with a smile :
- Inu-Yasha, do you think you could hold the Tenseiga just a little while ? I just found our way home !
The hanyou said happily :
- Really ! But how ?...
- I'll explain later, okay ? But now, we have to go. So, will you hold my sword ?
- Yes.
He took the Tenseiga in his uninjured hand. Sesshomaru went back on his feet and walked toward the light, slowly to not inflict more pain to his little brother. Since the crowd was still making way for them, it wasn't long before they were standing in front of the construction. The demon Lord observed the light on the top and told his brother :
- Well, it seems I'll have to jump. Inu-Yasha, is it OK with you ? I mean, it might hurt a bit...
- Go on... As long as you bring me back home...
Sesshomaru smiled. He was planning to do just that ! He gracefully jumped on the construction's roof. His brother stiffened a little, but didn't say a word. To amend himself, Sesshomaru whispered :
- I'm sorry...
Apologizing to Inu-Yasha was almost a routine, now. A lot less difficult then before...
As soon as they were before the light, it started to whirl on itself like a tornado, to finally transform into a huge vortex. This one wasn't black and red, it was a soft blue and green color... Much more welcoming ! Sesshomaru walked pass it, saying to his younger brother :
- We're going home, Inu-Yasha... I'm bringing you back to the living world...
Then, just like the first time, the hole engulfed them and disappeared.
A/N : Yeah ! They did it ! They escaped Hell ! You don't wanna miss the next chapter !