Chapter fourteen : Back home
No one's POV
- What the Hell is he doing in there ! Kagome asked with a frustrated tone. It's been almost fifteen minutes now !
She was tired, sad and angry against Sesshomaru who was taking all his sweet time to come out of the hut. She wanted to be with Inu-Yasha, at least a bit more, even if she knew perfectly that staring at him wouldn't make him come back... She had cried, so much that now she probably didn't have any water left in her body. She had prayed, also, but her prayers had stayed ungranted. Inu-Yasha was dead. He would never come back. She had lost the love of her life, without being able to let him know, and she was feeling so lost and empty without him.
Now, all she wanted was to have a couple of minutes with him, before the burial. She wanted to see his handsome face a last time, touch his silky silver hair, rub his cute puppy ears, hold his hand... She wanted to remember every details of her precious hanyou. Just a last time...
But nooooo... She couldn't, because there was a thick-headed, cold-hearted and over-dramatic youkai in the hut, who had asked, no, more like ordered them to leave him alone with his younger brother. Why did he care, anyway ? Wasn't he always saying that he wanted Inu-Yasha dead ? Hadn't he tried himself to kill him in the past ? So what was it with the whole caring act, suddenly ? He had acted strangely, back in the forest, when he had kissed Inu-Yasha on the forehead. He was so gentle, so protective with the hanyou... But personally, Kagome didn't cared. She wanted to see Inu-Yasha. She decided that if the youkai Lord wasn't coming out of the hut in at least five minutes, she would just burst in and to bad for his privacy... Suddenly, Miroku spoke with a soft voice, bringing her back to the present :
- You must be patient,Lady Kagome. Sesshomaru-sama really does need some time alone with his brother.
- Yes Kagome, added Sango. Although they didn't really like each other... and I even start to doubt that... they're... I mean they were brothers nonetheless, and Sesshomaru has a right to ask us for some private time with him.
- I know that ! Kagome retorted. But why does he even care !
Still speaking softly, Miroku answered her :
- I think Sesshomaru-sama just realized that he didn't hated his brother as much as he thought,Lady Kagome. He does not show it, especially not to us, but he is very sad. I could feel it from him.
Everyone stared at him like he was crazy. Miroku knew that what he was saying was hard to believe. Even him had not believed it in the first place. But when Sesshomaru had entered the hut, and looked at Inu-Yasha, there had been no more doubts in his mind : the youkai Lord was grieving. Deeply. Painfully.
He looked at Sango and the others, explaining patiently :
- I know it is hard to believe, but just remember his actions when he brought Inu-Yasha to us. He hides it well, but he is in great pain, I can assure you. I do not know what happened during the battle that cost our friend his life, but it is clear that something changed between them. For Inu-Yasha asked a favor to his brother, and gave him his last wishes. He trusted him enough to do that, and Sesshomaru-sama did fulfilled his requests. I may be wrong, but I think they had finally made up with each other, just before... well, you know what.
He stopped, letting his words sink in their minds. They had thoughtful expressions on their faces, considering what he had just said. After a moment, he spoke again, startling them :
- So you see, they had made peace, but they had been given no time to share it. It has been taken away from them in the most brutal manner. There were probably a lot of things Inu-Yasha would have liked to say to his brother. As for Sesshomaru-sama, aside with other things, he would have probably liked to apologize.
They lowered their heads, finally understanding the weird demeanor of the demon Lord. Kagome whispered softly :
- It's a bit late to apologize now...
- Yes,Lady Kagome, Miroku answered. I think he realizes that too. That is why he's in such pain...
They stayed silent after that. Inwardly, Kagome told herself that she would wait for Sesshomaru to come out on his own, finally...
Sesshomaru's POV
When he stepped out of the vortex, he found himself right in the middle of the hut, just like his father had said. The second after he was out, the hole of light flickered and vanished in thin air. Sesshomaru jumped when he realized that he couldn't feel Inu-Yasha's weight against him anymore. He quickly lowered his gaze and almost yelped of surprise...
His brother was still in his arms, but he was now completely transparent, a soft glow framing his features, while a non-existant wind was making his hair dance around his face. He wasn't weighing anything, it was like he was barely floating in Sesshomaru's arms. But most of all, what surprised the demon Lord was that all of his brother's wounds had disappeared : his skin was smooth, his little ears had not a hint of blood on it, his kimono was as good as new and his eyes weren't burned anymore. They were closed at the moment, like if the hanyou was sleeping.
Sesshomaru sighed in relief. Inu-Yasha wasn't hurting anymore. He looked fine and healthy. Well, aside the fact that he was dead... But that was about to change, Sesshomaru thought.
- So, I see you made it... a voice said behind him.
He didn't jumped this time. He turned slowly and faced his father's ghostly form. He answered calmly :
- Yes, I did. Don't tell me you had doubts ?
- Well, for a moment then... the ghost teased him.
They looked at each other for a while, and finally, a bright smile appeared on both of their faces. They had this big urge to laugh their head off, but they were civilized demon Lords, after all... so they just smiled. But it was a beautiful warm smile.
Sesshomaru and Inu-Yasha's father finally walked... or floated... toward them, and lowered his head to look at the sleeping hanyou. He had a tender expression on his face when he whispered :
- Inu-Yasha... open your eyes... I wish to tell you something before I go...
Inu-Yasha's POV
Inu-Yasha's ears perked up, and his eyelids trembled a little. He blinked a few times, trying to focus his newly restored vision. He was a bit drowsy, like if he had been drugged, and couldn't seem to wake up completely, no matter how hard he tried. It scared him a little, add to the fact that he was feeling a bit lost... Nervously, he called for his brother. This one answered immediately :
- I'm here, Inu-Yasha. Don't worry, we're safe now.
Inu-Yasha calmed. If Sesshomaru was there, and was saying that they were safe, then everything was fine. Another voice called him, deep and gentle, full of care and love :
- Inu-Yasha, look at me...
The hanyou focused his sight on a figure standing before him. A man... with long silver hair...
- Father ?... he asked in a breath.
The man looked a bit startled.
- How did you know ? The last time I saw you, you were merely a pup ! How could you remember me ?
Inu-Yasha smiled a little and retorted :
- I didn't, but I don't know a lot of guys with long silver hair like mine, except for Sesshomaru of course. You look like an older version of him, so I just guessed. From your answer, I see I was right... Nice to see you...
His father just looked at him with a stunned expression, then raised his head and met Sesshomaru's gaze. Him too seemed impressed. Who knew Inu-Yasha could be so smart ? The ghost went back to his youngest son, asking slowly :
- Are you not surprised to see me ?
- Because you're dead ? Not really. After all, I'm kind of dead myself... so it's not that strange...
He was becoming sleepy again... He fought it and pursued with a very little voice :
- And believe me, I've seen more scary things than ghosts...
He closed his eyes, trying to force back the images of blood and tortures that were threatening to overwhelm him. The images he had seen... before getting his eyes burnt. He shivered, despite that he didn't really had a body at the moment...
Suddenly, he felt a hand on his head, and heard his father say :
- Inu-Yasha, I'm so sorry about that... It should've not happened... You should never have gone to that place...
Inu-Yasha opened his eyes just to meet two sets of golden ones like his own staring at him with remorse. His father and Sesshomaru looked sad and worry... What ? Did they think it was their fault ? That he was blaming them ? Yeah... although it wasn't true, it was probably what they were thinking... He smiled at them and said :
- Oh come on guys, cut it out ! You're not the ones that put me there and you're the ones that got me out, so I have only thanks for you OK ? Jeez, sheer up a bit !...
They looked at each other than back at him, a bit puzzled. Finally, they smiled and Sesshomaru told him :
- You're really something else, you know that little brother ?
- Yes I do ! Inu-Yasha answered proudly.
They chuckled at his childish retort and the atmosphere relaxed around them. Inu-Yasha's eyelids were dropping again, almost against his will, and he couldn't repress a big yawn when he asked his father :
- Dad ? I'm very sleepy... Is it normal ?...
- Yes, the ghost answered with a smile. It means that your soul is ready to be reunited with your body.
- Oh... Okay... So what did you want to tell me, father ?...
The spirit ruffled Inu-Yasha's hair with his hand and said with an happy grin :
- Just that I'm very proud of you, my son... Continue to go on like this, you're on the right path... Oh, and don't be too hard on your big brother, OK little one ?
Inu-Yasha mumbled an answer, slowly falling into a deep sleep :
- Yeah, okay... and I'm not little...
His father grinned even more at his clumsy protestation, and so did Sesshomaru. But Inu-Yasha didn't see them... He was far asleep...
Sesshomaru's POV
- Yeah, okay... and I'm not little...
Sesshomaru grinned. He could've never imagined that he would think that of his brother again, but Inu-Yasha was just adorable when he was pouting like that...
The hanyou fell fast asleep, sign that it was time to put his soul back in his body.
- Sesshomaru, his father called.
He raised his head and looked at him. The spirit told him with a smile :
- I'm proud of you too, you know ?
- I know. Thank you father.
This one pursued :
- I mean it... Well, I have to go now. I'm very grateful for your help, Sesshomaru. Keep an eye on the little one, OK ?
- I will.
And with that, his father's spirit disappeared.
Sesshomaru lowered his gaze to Inu-Yasha. He felt kind of euphoric. Walking to his brother's body, he slowly kneeled down beside it.
- Come on little brother, it's time to come back to life...