Okay, Minna-san. First, I'd like to apologize for the long delay. If it's any consolation, it wasn't entirely deliberate. This chapter could have been posted almost a month ago but my computer was dead for about half of that time and when I went to work on the chapter, my compy decided that it no longer wanted to read my disk...it took me a while to get up the desire to retype a chapter from scratch. (I was pissed needless to say). However, here I have a nice long chapter for you guys(I actually like it more than it's original) and I want you all to get ready for some serious drama.
I am happy to say, though, that thanks to you guys, this story has now hit the 600 review mark...do I even deserve that? I hear so many nice things about this and all I can say in my insecurity is, "Is it that, good? I don't think so personally." I beat myself up like that :sigh: Guess this is what happens when you draw and write since most of us artist types are never satisfied/dislike our own work. Thank you, though, for turning this into a success. Much love to you all.
To alien jin, I am very sorry for not e-mailing you but I couldn't read the whole of your e-mail address because fanfiction doesn't allow links or adresses to display. I think you have to put in in the e-mail box when you type your name in for a review. The only other way is to register with I do want to talk but we need to get over this hurdle. Thank you for the invitation though. (I caught the cjprets part of your. Maybe you can tell me your e-mail provider, just the name and write either dot com or dot net-in this format.)
That said, on to the rest of the thank you's (and as usual, please excuse me if I miss your name):
Thank you Yume Kakera, Blackfoxdemon, Inuobsessed (hope you're still alive), Clams of Macabre, Kerichi, Sintar, Ever Rin, Aaliyah (this is very close to my real name, so naturally I love it), firegoddess (doubles thanks since you haven't really read Sess/Rin before. This is my fav pairing from Inuyasha), HikoCassidy, imagine-me, New Fan, Moonglow gal, Zanamra a.k.a. Comets Chaos, Spirit Demon, werewolfpixie, Nikkler, Mini Micka, LunasStar, sarah, Psychotic Angel, jade eyed neko, and drake220.
Special Thanks to:
Rikou Suiyou (even though you didn't Beta this, I'm still happy for all of the other times and also for the review. I hope nothing bad has happened to you, please e-mail me when you can/if you can), SessXRin fan and the anime freak (Both of you really got me moving with reviews that were like sugar and spice respectively, thanks a lot), Tony (it is a painful thing to never have the love of your own father and yet there are far too many cases of that happening in the world we live in), Shira LiFallen Tears (I'm honored to be one of your favorites), aishiteru-inu (I can't imagine that I could have done nearly as well without the support you and the rest of the kind people who review give me. I do want to write a novel and I do have one in my head, but it needs tweaking. However, thank you very much for letting me know that this story isn't completely trite. It's almost a year old now and I feel that it's still going strong. It does wonders for my morale and even more so when I think of how much support you've given me.), evil sqeede (just read and see, read and see...he he he everything isn't what it seems. And I agree with you totally, Rin is just too cute for words.), Cloud X-soldier (lol, too bad about that VIP pass. I'm afraid my sister caught wind of your review-which is your fault :P-and we had a couple of good laughs since you're such a cool friend. Thanks a lot and I hope you continue to enjoy.), Ashley (KitKAt07 is a wonderful writer in her own right. We work as an inspiration to each other and I enjoy her story as well. Ganbatte on your own fics and let me know if you ever post them, Athat-Luna (prepare to have your questions answered...and have more to take their place), mushi (I did get to visit your site and I think you are a fantastic artist, pleae keep up the good work and I'll stand in line since I also enjoy huntress' "A New World."), RosieB (hope this satisfies you desire for reconciliation between the brothers), puppet-cat (I'm very sorry but I don't understand much Spanish :( if I can find someone to translate I'll let you know, okay?), Ayaia of the Moon (It is a very high compliment to us fic-writers to hear people tell us that our portrayal of the characters are accurate. Thank you very, very much), RenkonNairu (I'm glad this story is an exception ), and last but never least thank you Xyjah (even though the slap hurts :ouch:).
About the word "zakkenayo", it is slang that can mean either "don't mess with me!" or "FOff" depending on the tone used.
Teme – an ultra rude was of saying "you." Don't say this unless you're looking for a fight. Can also be translated as "bastd."
Note: Any mistakes made in here are because this chapter hasn't been Beta'ed. I really hope this chapter came out alright, please let me know it didn't. If there seem to be plot holes, it's because I think I might write another side story about Sess, Kagome, and Inu when they were still in school. I'm trying to keep this as Sess/Rin centric as possible. Please excuse Inuyasha for being a bit OOC in this but don't excuse him for being a total idiot as a teenager.
Thread Bound
Chapter Twenty
The Truth That Sets Us Free
Part Two
There was silence after Inuyasha's wife made her accusation as each person cast their eyes around to the others.
Inuyasha gave Kagome a concerned look.
Kogome game Sesshoumaru a murderous look.
Sesshoumaru gave her a steady stare in return, but only Rin saw the barely perceptible downward twitch in his shapely lips.
Sesshoumaru's bride-to-be watched everyone with a worried look on her pretty face before something occurred to her and she spoke, breaking the silence.
"Where's Sango and Miroku?"
All eyes turned to look at her and she found herself wondering if it was right to break the silence. Sesshoumaru looked around at the suddenly relaxed visages of the other and felt a small thrill of pride go through him at the fact that Rin seemed to have a calming effect on others besides himself.
There was a collective deep breath taken by the group and then Inuyasha answered her question, "he left a few days ago, saying something about visiting his father's grave and doing some kind of investigation. Knowing him, I'm sure he went to go investigate the short skirts these girls are wearing today. There no helping that perv."
"Now, now Inuyasha, he isn't that bad. I should know since I lived with him and Sango. He's very devoted to her, otherwise she would have killed him a long time ago, don't you think."
"I guess so..." he sighed before looking up at Sesshoumaru, his face turning grim once more.
"What do you think about Kagome's accusation Frosty? Does it ring any bells?"
The look his older brother gave him was laden with contempt as he replied evenly, "Inuyasha, for the millionth time, drop that idiotic nickname when adressing me. Why is it that we can't have a serious discussion without you making a fool out of yourself?"
"And why is it that we can't talk normally without Anal Frosty making an appearance..." he smirked as he pronounced the hated word, "...Frosty?"
Rin swore that the temperature dropped ten degrees even though Sesshoumaru maintained what she termed his stoic face. It almost threw her off, almost. She had thought that maybe he wasn't affected by Kagome's accusation, that maybe he only got angry when it came to Inuyasha and Kagura, that was...until she remembered that "maybe" wasn't a term you could apply to her fiancee. With a predatory grace that was and was not him, he rose and stalked his way over to Inuyasha, bending down in one fluid motion and hauling him to his feet by using one hand to grasp the front of his shirt until they were nose to nose and his younger sibling practically dangled from his grasp.
Sesshoumaru was THAT strong? she wondered with raised eyes brows and for a split second, she became that other Rin who watched on as her lord confronted his brother for the last time. Even the positions-from Inuyasha hanging from his grasp to his brother's golden eyes flashing threat and murder-were the same.
"I have enough stress and aggravation from you, brat, I do not need you disrespecting me when I have to deal with your wench of a wife hating me for something I know nothing of," the present Sesshoumaru said. Simultaneously she heard the past Sesshoumaru's words as he showed a previously unheard of loss of temper towards another being.
"This Sesshoumaru has had enough of your constant idiocy and embarrassment. I do not need you and that wench interferring with my decisions. I will send Rin away as I please."
It was weird to say the least, almost as if there was a visual as well as an audio echo with slight variations. What was even weirder, was the fact that it took less than a second.
She blinked, and her double vision was completely overlaid by the present, but her emotions...her emotions belonged solely to the past Rin who remembered the pain that followed Sesshoumaru-Sama's choice to let her go, even after everything they'd shared.
For some reason she felt like crying and it was the fear that history would repeat itself, even though the current discussion had nothing to do with her leaving her beloved Sesshoumaru, that prompted her to stand and gently grasp her koi's forearm, begging him without words to desist.
The look he gave her was dark, almost feral and she flinched, afraid that he didn't recognize her. That too lasted no more than a second and then he was the same old Sessh who had finally returned her feelings after waiting for so long. Letting go of his brother, he allowed her to lead him back to their seat, sitting down with a world weary sigh that made her feel as if he were much older than he looked and she wondered if the scarlet stripes that flashed briefly on his cheeks were a figment of her imagination or another echo.
For the second time that day silence fell and as they waited for him to say something, Inuyasha adjusted his clothing and fixed an unusually thoughtful look on his face while Kagome scanned him over to make sure that he was alright. Rin held her koi's hand in her own, deciding to nullify the "no touching until we're hitched" rule for the time being as he gathered himself together.
The look in his eyes, when he at last raised them to meet his companions, was old beyond old and she wondered if perhaps the other Sesshoumaru's were exerting as much pressure on him as her own predecessors were.
He opened his mouth and took a deep breath before flooring them with a single phrase.
"Gomen nasai."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Miroku stopped half-way up the stairs to City Hall and caught his wife absently as she bumped into him and muttered an angry curse at him for not warning her ahead of time.
"Forgive me, dear, but I had the strangest feeling just now."
"Really? And what could possibly make you pause to think," Sango groused, rubbing her nose where it had come into contact with his shoulder.
"It wasn't a thought, dearest Sango, it was feeling. I think that a great weight has been lifted somewhere and that time has begun to move again."
"What on earth are you talking about and who, here at City Hall, could possibly help us find out more about Sesshoumaru and the person who tried to kill us?"
He smiled and bent down a ways to place a gentle peck on her forehead, completely disarming her.
"Heart of my hearts, I do believe my monk's blood just told me something. However, since I am not a real monk this time around, I do not think I could fully interpret the change in the air. As for why I am here, I need to see an old friend of the family about a certain event that happened a long time ago, not too long before I met you, really."
"An event? What are you talking about and what do you mean by 'I am not a real monk this time around'?"
"All in good time love, all in good time. Suffice it to say that we may expect a marriage soon," and with that he began ascending the stairs again, his thoroughly confused wife trailing behind him.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
For once in his life, Inuyasha was speechless. Had his brother-his anal, arrogant, and aggravating (the three A's) brother-actually apologized? He pinched himself and the sharp sting of his nails told him that he was very much awake and that Frosty, no, Sesshoumaru had actually said the word "sorry."
I'm sure a river ran backwards as a flock of pigs flew over and the Easter Bunny danced a jig while Santa did a striptease. All of that had to have happened since his sibling, with a superiority complex the size of Fuji-san, had actually said something to indicate he felt regret for the way he had treated him.
He couldn't find it in himself to gloat.
His mouth opened, then closed, then repeated the cycle...for several minutes before he said in a quiet voice, "It's alright...I...let's just...just get this story rolling," he really needed a distraction as he waited for his brain to decide if he too should apologize.
"It began in my first year of high school. We were in an escalator, but everyone simply referred to it as Takahashi High. That's when we first met Kikyo..."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Ten years ago at Takahashi High...
"Wait up...I said hold it Frosty!" the yell echoed around the school yard, bringing the attention of every student and teacher in the vicinity to one person. The individual in question stopped and bent over to rest his hands on his knees, watching the back of his half-brother as it grew smaller and smaller. Arrogant prick Inuyasha thought to himself. He could have at least stopped. I don't know my way around school and he can't even give me directions to the office so that I can get a copy of my schedule? Naturally, he didn't want to think about the small matter of him losing it right after getting it in the mail, hence his need to obtain another one. He also wasn't sure if it was alright to go yelling at his brother and drawing attention. It was bad enough that he had to put up with being compared to his genius brother when they were both in Junior High, but if he didn't watch it the same cycle was liable to repeat.
Play it cool Inu, play it cool. He straightened himself up, unbuttoned on more button on his uniform-since the "look like a nice tidy student" facade didn't appeal to him in the least-and dusted himself off before checking to make sure his kendo stick was still safely in its holder slung across his back. Once everything was in order, he turned an annoyed golden glare on the losers who insisted on burning a hole through his head with their eyes and the wenches giggling behind their hands. Screw it, I've already drawn attention. Raising his hand as if in greeting, he tilted his chin back in a show of defiance and gave the assembled crowd a one-finger salute before opening his mouth and proclaiming quite loudly, "Oi, Minna...ZAKKENAYO!"
Ten minutes later in the office...
"You really are an idiot. If you didn't want the populace of the entire school to remember that we are related by blood then you've just insured that my lips will remain firmly sealed from now until the end of my days," Seshoumaru's eyes were flashing with anger even though his voice was control.
He had succeeded in riling his stiff brother up and pushing him one step closer to losing his cool. Inuyasha might have been happy if it hadn't been for the fact that he was seconds away from getting disciplined on his first day of school and there was a high probability that his parents would be getting a phone call.
Blowing out an angry rush of air, he sunk down lower in his chair and toed the end of his kendo sword, wishing that he could use it to fight his way out of this mess he'd gotten himself into. The art of sword-fighting was just about the only thing he was good at and he couldn't even use it in this situation without risking expulsion. Even though I'm sure I could take Frosty out if I tried he told himself before letting out a bitter laugh. Him, Inuyasha Toyotomi, beating Sesshoumaru at kendo? It would be like an insect fighting a god, who would not be so merciful as to hold back. He had received a fair share of bruises for trying to attack Sesshoumaru in the past - armed or unarmed and screw the honorable course – and each and everytime, he was brought back to reality in a matters of minutes. So, no, fighting was out of the question.
Looking around at the rest of the office, he noticed the way people pointedly ignored him and hunched down even lower in his seat, tillting his head just a bit before taking his hand and giving it a hard push, producing a very loud crack from his neck and catching the attention of the staff, who stared at him with various expressions of horror. Serves you right for ignoring me...feh, worthless pansies he allowed a grin to touch his lips.
"You...are disgusting," the hated siblings voice interrupted his moment of triumph and he turned to see that the person he wanted to acknowledge him the most was doing a beautiful job of maintaining a bland expression that somehow crammed contempt, disgust, and embarrassment all in one.
"So are you."
"I'm not the one awaiting punishment, brat."
"Well, I wouldn't be getting punished if you hadn't ignored me. You could have at least pointed me towards the office."
The look on Sesshoumaru's face was incredulous as he said, in that lofty voice that grated on his nerves, "you are accusing me of getting you into trouble? And how, pray tell, did I do that? Did I use some sort of magical powers to force you stop and make a complete and utter fool of yourself? Please explain it to me because I have trouble comprehending the reasonings that go on in that empty head of yours."
When he put it that way, he could see how illogical he was being and he blushed, grasping at a retort that would make him come out looking like less of an idiot...he hoped.
"I...well, I made it to the office didn't I," he replied at last, getting to his feet and folding his arms.
"Of all the idiotic..." his onii-san began before cutting himself off and fixing a glare on him, "do you mean to tell me that you intentionally offended nearly every person in the school yard so that you would be sent here? Whatever happened to asking for directions?"
They stared each other down before a voice broke in and ended the contest, "now, now, Sesshoumaru, don't be so hard on him. He's just a freshman, after all."
Both brothers turned to look at the speaker even though their reactions were very different. Frosty , aka Sesshoumaru, put on his cold facade while Inu's jaw dropped and his eyes nearly bulged from their sockets. The best way to describe the girl before them was to say that she had to be a goddess who had from heaven and remained with little choice than to stay among the low-bred humans infesting the earth. Neat bangs were cut to frame her heart-shaped face, warm brown eyes sparkled with mischief, skin so pale that it was almost translucent, and lips that most men would have died to kiss, let alone see. She locked gazes with him, before smiling and revealing pearly white teeth that glistened and made him feel relaxed...with a distinct feel of being in good hands.
A full minute passed before she broke the silence again and did something that put her at the top of his list of favorite people.
"Sesshoumaru," she said in a deceptively calm voice.
"What, " came the sullen reply.
"You haven't introduced us, yet."
"And I should care because...?"
A slight tightening at the corners of her mouth was all the warning he got before she sidled up close to the stoic man and used her shapely hips to bounce him rather unceremoniously out of the way. He apparently wasn't expecting the sudden attack because he stumbled into one of the desks and was forced to grip the wood to keep himself from falling.
"How dare you..."
"Oh shut it Mr. Vice President," she interrupted him, wagging a disapproving finger at his face, "I am disappointed in the way you are behaving. He's a boy, the same as the rest of you, and therefore prone to stupidity, but," she flashed a smile at Inuyasha that made his cheeks heat up, "that doesn't mean I can't appreciate this cutie right here. So tell me, my fellow freshman, what's your name and how are you related to the lord of second-bests over there."
Inuyasha glanced over at Sesshoumaru and caught his warning look but decided to ignore it as he stuck out a hand, surprised at just how firm her grip was, and said in a moderately polite tone, "the name's Inuyasha Toyotomi and I don't mind if you address me by my first name, miss..."
"Kikyo Higurashi. As stated before, I'm a freshman just like you and if I'm not mistaken, you're in Class 3-B. That's really close to mine."
"Nice," he exclaimed a bit too eagerly before clamping a had over his runaway mouth and casting his eyes elsewhere...which was how he discovered the young man leaning against the doorway with a smirk on his face.
He was an inch or two shy of reaching his brother's height but the difference might as well have been non-existent because he radiated even more arrogance than Sesshoumaru, if such a thing was possible. More than likely, he was considered good looking from a female point of view, with shiny black hair pulled into a slick ponytail and a face that was almost as girly as his brother's. However, the similarities between the two ended there. This guy's eyes were hazel, a deep shade that bordered on red and even though his sibling tended to radiate an air of superiority, this individual here put out massive waves of something...dark. It took him a while to come across the word "malice" but when he did, he found that the word fit the other boy to a tee.
"So...are you two brothers or something, " Kikyo startled him and he realized that she had been speaking to him the whole time.
"Sorry, Kikyo. What was that again?" he didn't take his eyes off of the strange boy as he spoke.
"I asked if you two were related and...what in the world are you staring at?" she turned to look at the newest addition to their happy little group and he wondered if the murderous look she gave the young man was a figment of his imagination because it went by in less than a second.
Now that he had her attention, the boy dropped Inuyasha like a hot potato and focused his intense stare at Kikyo.
"Hello Kikyo, " he said in a disturbingly even voice that didn't suit him in the least, "I see you're still mixing with the rest of the filth...excuse me, the rest of the freshmen."
"Can't you be civil for once? Why are you coming where you aren't wanted? I just wanted to introduce myself to some of my fellow students before school began. What right do you have to dictate to me who I should and should not talk to?" her pitch increased in volume until they had the attention of the entire staff, not that they didn't have it already.
"Kikyo, let's take this elsewhere, hmmm? A nice quiet spot free of," he gave the brothers a look that said he thought of them as being less than dirt, "nuisances. Namely freshman scum and mental cases."
"Oi...TEME...!" Inuyasha stepped forward, hand reaching for his kendo sword as his mind went over the various ways he could wipe off the superior smirk that had taken residence on the older boys face.
A strong hand stopped his own in midair and he glared up at his brother, who shot him another warning look, before opening his mouth and, in all his wisdom, choosing that moment to break in with an answer to Kikyo's earlier question, "we are related but it is rather distant."
It was way off subject, but it succeeded in getting the two to look at him and Inu felt warm inside at the look of gratitude that crossed the beautiful girl's face. At least you're good for something bro he thought even as their mutual enemy turned to frown at them.
"What does that have to do with anything...Mr. Vice President?"
Sesshoumaru remained unfazed as he replied in a neutral tone, "nothing at all, scum who thinks he is worthy of the title President...Mr. President. Ah, pardon me, I meant scum who thinks I give a crap about high school hierarchy. You remain a fool even though you have the position you so coveted. Ah, how I pity these wayward children who have placed you in power, Onigumo."
Inu snickered, now that was utter bull. His Onii-san was as cold as they came and they both knew that he didn't care one whit for the well-being of his classmates...but that didn't stop him from sounding cool as he told the other senior-who now had a name to go with that face-off.
"Unfortunately, I tire of your presence, " he walked over to Kikyo and traced a not-so-subtle finger down her spine before playing a wide palm over her lower back. Both inuyasha and Onigumo tensed and he desperately hoped that the small display was NOT what he thought it was. Kami-sama please, please, please don't let those two be a couple.
"We have things to do, Mr. President, but if you have a problem, then I would be more than happy to hear it out over our match in the kendo hall...after school of course," that said he deliberately turned his back on the Class President and added as an afterthought, "by the way, Onigumo, I despise hypocrites. You have so much to say about the lower classmen...but I see you chose Kikyo here to be your fiancee," he bent his head down to the slender curve of her neck, taking a deep whiff of her scent before opening an amused eye and giving him an evil smile, "I'll be sure to tell you how good she was when I see you later."
They strode through the office door, his hand still gliding against her back as the staff tried to figure out just what had happened and Inu hesitated for just a moment, wondering about his punishment before deciding not to look his gift horse in the mouth and following his half-brother out, leaving Onigumo to fume in their shadows.
However, the moment the door slid shut, Sesshoumaru and the girl separated and he quickly rubbed his hands against the sides of his uniform while she shook herself free of what ever Toyotomi germs she might have caught.
Inu watched all of this with a puzzled expression on his face before putting into words the question that had been plaguing him.
"Are you two a couple or something?"
Two sets of angry eyes fixated themselves on his face and he took a step back.
"Are you out of your mind," Kikyo exclaimed even as his brother said, "don't be an idiot."
He held his hands up in a pleading gesture and hastily replied, "alright, no offense meant. I was just wondering why it is that you two seem to know each other so well when both of you should have only just met."
"That, Inuyasha, is because this girl is a failure."
"Hey, hey, it wasn't on purpose. I had to take care of my little sister. Care to explain why you, who should have graduated by now, are in the same school as your brother who is five years younger than you. Sorry, but I don't buy that 'distant relative' nonsense you spouted back there-you two are way too much alike to be anything but siblings. You're almost nineteen which would mean that Inuyasha here is at least fourteen or fifteen. You should have graduated by now. Explain that Mr. Vice President."
Ouch, big mistake to bring that up. Time to run interference.
"Hey, you two, how about we go to class and talk about this later. I don't want to miss anymore of my school day than I already have."
The two glared at him again before his brother grabbed his hand and yanked him towards the boy's room.
"Where are you two going," asked the goddess who was was a lot more human than he had originally thought.
"I'm going to wash my hands since I know where they've been, " he gave her a pointed stare.
She didn't miss a beat as she returned casually, "I know where they've been, too, Sesshoumaru and that's under the skirt of every single girl you meet. Hey Inuyasha, be careful not to get whored too badly by that girly boy you call brother since he's a total man-slut."
The door cut off the rest of her words and he was grateful because he felt himself blushing furiously at her language, even he wasn't that bad and it was even worse because she was a girl and her words just didn't match her looks-it was disturbingly similar to that Onigumo guy.
He didn't have time to think about much else though because he was pushed against the wall and ordered in a firm voice, "stay right there."
Obedience had never been his strong point, but when it came to super-annoyed or super-pissed off Sesshoumaru, that meant precisely nothing. He stood there while his onii-san, true to his word, washed his hands thoroughly and dried them off with a piece of paper towel.
"What's all this about, Frosty? Who was that guy and are you really some sort of skirt chaser?"
Tossing his paper-towel into the trash, Sesshoumaru walked over to lean against the opposite wall and stare at him with flat eyes.
"How many times have I told you not call me by that ridiculous name, Inuyasha?"
"More than I can count, I can't help it, it comes naturally."
"Yes, as does stupidity, recklessness, and mediocrity. I've lived with them for well over a decade so I know those traits very well."
"Must you be so insulting, Frosty?"
"Must you be so brainless, brat?"
He sighed and rubbed his temples before continuing, "I tried to warn you away from that girl Inuyasha. She's trouble to put it mildly. Her fiancee, the leech I just told off since you have not the brains to do it, has connections to the Yakuza. In other words, he can make you disappear without a trace."
"Then how come you had the balls to sock it to 'em if he's so dangerous and why did you help us out when I know you don't care for either of us? Whatever happened to your 'the world revolves around Sesshoumaru' policy?"
"First off, watch your tongue. I've had enough of your vulgar language for one day. Secondly, I can get away with things because he considers me to be his rival and he somewhat respects me even though it isn't mutual. It helps that I trounced him bad in kendo. Onigumo used to be the best and I beat him in one strike. In addition he thinks Kikyo has it bad for me and while I can't blame him-since I do tend to have girls following me constantly-I would rather castrate myseef before I went to bed with that woman.
"Then does that mean that you really are a whore? How many girlfriends have you had? I want to know about the Sesshoumaru who goes to school."
The look his brother sent him put a stop to his chattering and he sighed before walking over to stand in front of Inuyasha.
"Listen, brat, what I do and who I do it with are none of your concern. I'm certainly not as bad as Kikyo says I am but I'm not innocent either, so drop it before I decide that this brotherly bonding moment needs to end. Understood."
He nodded, dazed by the thought of his brother, the supposedly straight-laced, perfect student, doing inappropriate things with girls and gaining a reputation for it. This is blackmail material for sure.
He kept his mouth shut though as Sesshoumaru placed his back against the same wall as his bratty younger brother and said in a lower voice, "as for me, don't misunderstand. I wasn't defending you, I was mocking him. Kikyo is the most annoying chit to ever walk the face of the earth but she doesn't piss me off nearly as much as he does."
"And what about me?"
"You, brat, are easy to manipulate and have the I.Q. of a pigeon. That makes you a bit more tolerable than him."
"Gee, thanks...I think."
"That wasn't a compliment but you proved my point so it is fine. You are predictable, loud, and annoying...and so are most of the first-years here, I suggest you take the opportunity to blend in and stay away from both Kikyo and Onigumo. Even if he wasn't here, you would have trouble from both her fans and her stalkers. As for Onigumo, don't bother him or indicate that you and I are close in any way, something that you've had a decade and a half to perfect. He has power here because people fear him as both the class President and the son of a criminal family. There will not be a repeat of today's events, drill that into your thick skull. You are on your own from here on out."
Like a good little subordinate, he nodded his understanding.
"Now repeat the two biggest things back to me, brat."
"Don't mess with Kikyo or her fiancee, I've got it. But, Frosty, can't I at least get to know her outside of school?"
"No, Inuyasha, she's too much for a child like you. A pampered brat could never hope to catch someone as independent as her."
"What do you mean and who are you calling pampered?"
"You, I'm calling you pampered. You've never had to deal with father and his moods and you are always remembered by him and that woman who gave birth to you."
"You talk as if I get better treatment than you do. Father's always telling me that I should 'be like Sesshoumaru.' Well, excuse me for being average. Not everyone can be geniuses like you so obviously are. But you know what I'm glad for, that I don't hide my emotions and I thank Kami every night that I don't have to take those weird pills like you do," the spell of obedience had worn off quickly and now he was remembering to be mad at Sesshoumaru.
"You're treading on dangerous ground," his brother said, something at the back of his eyes moving.
"Who gives a flip? I'm just telling it like it is. What would people say if they knew big bad Sesshoumaru was a total nut job?"
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"Ouch, Inu, that was a bit harsh," Rin said, pausing in her stroking of Sesshoumaru's arm.
"Yeah, yeah...well, maybe it was. But really, you guys have no idea just how aggravating he was back then so cut me some slack please. Anyways, Frost...I mean...Se...Sesshoumaru," everyone stared at him openly, "are there any bells ringing up there?"
"Yes, have you gotten to the point where you pushed her off the top of the building," Kagome said in a tight voice.
"Kagome!" both Rin and her husband exclaimed.
"It's...alright," came the voice of her fiancee, "it's starting to come back to me. I can't recall everything that happened leading up to that day but I clearly remember that day and I wonder now how I could have forgotten something so important. Kagome," he looked at her with sad eyes, "I didn't kill Kikyo, but I was responsible for letting her die."
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Ten years ago at Takahashi High...
"Sesshoumaru, Sesshoumaru," his name was being called over and over again and he might have continued to ignore it if it weren't for the fact that the person started banging on the door to the class room.
"Sesshoumaru, open up man. It's your brother, there's something going on between him and Kikyo up on the roof!"
Letting out a sigh, he pushed the girl away from his mouth and set about refastening the top half of his school uniform. He'd barely begun and here he was being interrupted already and on account of his idiot brother who he specifically recalled telling to stay away from that unstable girl. I am going to kill him.
"Mmm, Sesshou, ignore him and let's pick it back up," the girl-he thought her name was Kimiko or something like that-said as she drew little circles around his jugular and bent towards his face again. Too bad his mood had been completely killed off and he wasn't feeling particularly charitable.
He let her trail a few kisses along his jaw before , pushing her away and catching her hand, stalking over to the door and opening it up before thrusting her into the arms of the senior who had brought him the news of his brother's foolishness.
"If you want it so badly, wench, get it from him, " he growled before stalking off in the direction of the stairwell. What in the world possessed the old man to have another child? He already couldn't deal with me but he just had to get that woman pregnant, as if one failure wasn't enough. You are dead when I get to you brat.
Teachers and students alike, unused to seeing the prize student and Vice President so visibly angry, got out of his way, leaving him a clear path to the roof.
After an eternity, the ugly green door that lead out onto the roof loomed before him and he took deep, calming breaths before opening the door and squinting against the sudden sunlight. It was a beautiful day, that was the first thing he noticed. How ironic that he, who never cared about the weather, should take note of such a thing when he so fervently wished a few minutes later that he had never set foot on that roof.
"Or else this," he clearly heard Kikyo's voice and watched along with Inuyasha as she lifted her leg and brought it down on the other side of the guard railing, leaving her straddling the thing.
"Please stop!" Inuyasha yelled before looking around desperately and settling his pleading gaze on his brother.
"Please, stop her!" Inuyasha exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with pain. Only he heard the unspoken word in that request. Please stop her...Sesshoumaru. His little brother, his rival for his father's affections, his imperfect shadow...Inuyasha wanted him and him alone to save Kikyo. Only to him was he admitting his lack of ability to save the woman he viewed as his closest friend.
Maybe it was the vulnerable look in little brother's eyes, something that grabbed a hold on the minute cracks in his mental defenses. Or perhaps it was the shock of the situation, whatever it was, Sesshoumaru found that he had to close his eyes in order to shut out the flood of memories that wanted to spill free when he thought about the massive amount of trust in that statement. He barely heard the words that followed because he found himself remembering words that had meant so much to him a long time ago.
"Nii-san is the best in the whole world."
"Nii-san can do anything."
"I won't go unless Nii-san says so."
"No, don't leave me alone, Nii-san. I can't do anything without you."
Stop it, stop relying on me so much. Stop following me, not when you're the one he hugs the most, not when you're the one he puts to bed at night, not when you're one he says he loves. Why won't you look at me father? I came first. Why, of all times did his mind have to dredge those memories up. Visions of a silver-haired toddler who thought the world of him before he put an end to it and pushed him away. He created a chasm that had grown wider as the years passed and now he was trying to get him close it in a moment?
He was so caught up in his thoughts that he almost missed he parting words, "Sometimes...sometimes I get tired of being the strongest," the moment he heard that, the part of of his heart that clung to the image of the young brother who loved and admired him the most spurred his feet into action and time froze as the only people moving were him and Kikyo who had her eyes closed and a smile on her perfect mouth. Inuyasha was a statue and, for the second time, he wondered how this could be happening on such a glorious day...and then his body slammed into the railing and his reaching fingers darted forward to grasp...empty air.
It was a marvel to him, really, that he could come so close only to fail because he didn't move soon enough. And so he punished himself by never taking his eyes off of her body as it plummeted to the ground and a halo of red blossomed when she hit. It wouldn't have been so bad if she hadn't opened her eyes not long after he missed and her smile, that accursed smile, grew wider.
It was even more amazing to see how the people below formed a wide circle around the body, swarming like ants to a carcass. One ant in particular detached himself from the rest of the throng and he didn't need to see the features on the pale face that turned upwards to look at him because he knew in his heart of hearts that it was Onigumo and that he now had an enemy.
All of it was funny, too funny and he sat down, resting his head for a moment against the railing that was still warm from the girl who had sat there just moments earlier before looking over to see Inuyasha's shocked face. The sight of him, standing there when he had believed so strongly that if he couldn't save Kikyo, his big brother Sesshoumaru could...it was funny...so funny that he began to laugh and he couldn't stop. He couldn't contain his laughter, not even the police came and put him in hand-cuffs because who would believe that Kikyo-the beauty of the school, the girl who had everything-would commit suicide, especially when half of the school had seen him push her off.
It all became a blur after that.
He vaguely recalled being taken to the police station for questioning and it wasn't worth the effort to remember what he'd told them. His parents were there and even the tears on her face or the look of disappointment in his eyes couldn't stop the light-headedness. He was given sedatives to calm him down and a jail cell free of other occupants.
It wasn't until the medicine started to kick in that Inuyasha came and stared at him with baleful eyes until his image began to waver and he became aware of the tears that began to flow when he thought of his failure. It was right before he drifted off, that he made a wish.
Kami-sama, if you exist...please let me forget and if that isn't enough...please let me die.
The next morning, it was if that day never happened and his family was able to take him home because they couldn't get him to remember the events of the day before or even a girl named Kikyo. He found out later that the case was closed because of the vague circumstances and a lot of money thrown out by his father. Soon after, he was rushed to the hospital when he was found with his wrists cut and his father built "the room" to keep him from hurting himself again. He finished the rest of his high school education at home once he left the hospital and Onigumo, the last he heard of him, had disappeared along with his two best friends, Jakotsu and Bankotsu.
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"That can't be true, Inuyasha," Kagome exclaimed, rising from her seat, "you told me that he was responsible for her death. Why would you lie to..."
"Because I was angry," he snapped at her, "I was mad at him for not being able to save her when I placed so much trust in him, but I was even angrier at myelf for standing there and doing nothing. I was closest to her, I could have made it but I...I just stood there and watched, waiting for someone else to do the right thing. I proved Sesshoumaru right, that I was nothing but a pampered brat who relied on my brother, who I hadn't even tried to understand, to do my work for me. I never even told her, Kagome, that the person I loved over her was you."
All eyes were on him as he ran a frustrated hand through his hair and his face took on a haunted look.
"I was so afraid and to make things worse, I got a chance to look at the police report. Do you know, Sesshoumaru told them that I wasn't even there? How could he have protected me when he was hysterical? Why couldn't I tell him to his face that I was sorry? I buried it all beneath the anger and forced my mind to accept the lie that it was all his fault. So many wasted years..."
He gripped Kagome's hand and bowed his head.
She hesitantly placed a hand on his head and stroked his hair, her expression softening as she looked from him to Sesshoumaru.
"Sesshoumaru, I..." he held up a hand to forestall her and waited until she closed her mouth to speak.
"I do not need an apology from you," he said, "I allowed your sister to die and so I do not want you apologizing for the pain and sorrow that comes naturally when two close relatives are separated by death. This too is a punishment that I imposed upon myself," he turned to look at his brother.
"An apology from you will suffice, Inuyasha. I gave you one and you have yet to return the sentiment since you've behaved so cowardly in the past."
"But..."
"The past is in the past. I am worried about the present and you should be as well because...as...as mother said, the Miyazawa family might finally launch an attack on us after all these years. Also, you are invited to attend the wedding between myself and Rin tomorrow," his tone was so very businesslike, so Sesshoumaru and Rin loved him for it.
"The Miyazawa family...Onigumo...You finally call her 'mother' and she isn't here to see it? You're getting together tomorrow?"
The eldest Toyotomi brother cleared his throat and gave Inuyasha a look that told him he was still waiting for his apology.
"Ah...um...he blushed and looked anywhere but at his brothers face...G...G...Gomen...Nasai."
"Look at a person when you are speaking to them, brat."
He glared at him and said it angrily, "I said I'm sorry, jeez," Inuyasha "hmph-ed" cutely and folded his arms across his chest before adding, "just so you know, I still consider you to be the biggest jerk on the planet."
The corner of Sesshoumaru's mouth twitched upwards this time as he replied in a dead-pan voice, "and I still consider you to be a stupid brat with the I.Q. of a slug."
"Oi, oi, oi! I thought it was a pigeon!"
"I changed my mind. You've since proven to me that I was overestimating you at the time."
"What...why you," Kagome and Rin laughed as they held him back and her smile brightened when she caught the tiny mirror of her expression on his lips.
Perhaps things would be alright between the two, not perfect, but alright. Now if only, her smile faded, she could find out more about this Onigumo person. She was almost certain that she knew him from somewhere, but the memories eluded her. Oh well, guess I'll take my own advice and wait for it to come.
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After a long, long wait, and typing through a foggy head that feels as if it's going to pop off at any minute, here's the chapter you've all been waiting for. I hope I didn't disappoint. As usual, please read and review and I'll see you all, next time.