Title: Behind the Blue Moon
Author(s): SkyFire
For Notes/Disclaimers, see part 1.

/Thoughts/
Italics

oOoOo
Part 3: Awakening

It was nearly mid-morning before Sesshomaru woke again. As before, Rin was the first to notice his struggles to awaken, was the first to greet him as golden eyes opened, awareness flooding them within moments. A small frown crossed his face as he struggled to sit up slightly, repaying her ready help with a small, thankful smile.

"Here are your clothes, my-- er, Sesshomaru," Rin said, holding out the neatly-folded bundle of his clothing; washed, dried, and mended.

"Thank you," he said softly as he took the bundle awkwardly with his one hand. The tentative, almost shy tone of his words gave lie to the hope that his regression had been a one-time thing and that he would be his old self the next time he woke. He looked at the stump of his left arm for a long moment, frowning once more, before his expression cleared and he apparently put the question aside.

Kagome and Sango brought Rin with them down to a nearby stream, ostensibly to get some water and give Sesshomaru a girl-free place to get changed.

Once the girls were gone, Sesshomaru gave a quick look to the remaining members of the group. Seeing that they had no intention of going anywhere, he turned his back to them and pushed the blanket away, putting the clothing down close beside him.

The others discreetly ignored him, though they could hear the hiss of the fine cloth as well as the little noises he made as still-tender --if mostly-healed-- wounds protested his motions.

A heavy sigh of frustration, more quiet rustling.

Inuyasha looked up at the soft, hesitant touch on his shoulder, saw Sesshomaru standing there, teeth digging lightly into his lower lip, eyes full of frustration. "What?" he asked.

The injured youkai hesitated a moment more, his hand clutching at the front of his clothing; he had nudged Inuyasha with his elbow. "I can't... the ties... I tried, but... could you--?"

It was then that Inuyasha saw that none of the various ties and sashes that held Sesshomaru's clothing closed were tied, though a small amount of visible wrinkling showed that he had tried.

He can't tie his own clothes shut/A brief surge of vindictive satisfaction flowed through him, only to be ground into the dirt by the look of frustration and borderline-humiliation in his half-brother's golden gaze.

Were it the older Sesshomaru, the one who repeatedly attacked him, tried to kill him --near-succeeding a few more times than the proud hanyou would admit-- he could give in to the glow of gleeful satisfaction that the other's inability to do so basic a thing inspired in him.

But this wasn't the older Sesshomaru.

The body was the same, there was no doubt there; appearance and scent both proved it true, as did the presence of Rin and Jaken. But the consciousness inside was not, and he could not help but feel the slightest tinge of guilt for that earlier flash of emotion.

And so Inuyasha only nodded, reaching out clawed hands for the ties with a gruff: "Here, let me do it."

Seeing that the half-demon was going to help him, Sesshomaru released his hold on his clothing. Silken fabric, no longer held by anything, fell as it would; hanging limply from the shoulders, pooling in a snowy heap at his ankles, leaving the body half-covered at best before Inuyasha's startled gaze.

Not having expected that to happen as it had, Sesshomaru thanked the powers that at least he had managed to pull the laces of his underpants tight enough that they stayed put. As it was, his face was red enough that the pale purple stripes at each cheek were nearly invisible.

Inuyasha felt his own face heating as he froze in place, shock momentarily stealing his ability to think or move. He shook off the paralysis and finished the motion he had started, making quick work of the ties. Soon, Sesshomaru stood there before him, dressed once more, a thankful expression on his face. If his clothing was not as perfectly done as before his injury, what of it?

"Thank you," Sesshoumaru said. Kneeling on the grass, he bent forward over his knees, head nearly on the grass as he bowed to the startled half-demon who had helped him. "I am Sesshomaru." A small hesitation as he sat back on his feet, looking up at Inuyasha, curiosity dancing in his eyes. "You are kin to me; I can smell it. Did Father send you to protect me?"

/Protect/

It took Inuyasha a moment to start to figure out his answer. "I... er..." he trailed off uncertainly. An unsubtle jab in the back from Miroku's staff jolted the startled-silent words from him. "Yes, I'll protect you."

A gentle smile was his reward. "Thank you! Might I know the name of my guardian?"

/My name? Oh. He scents that I'm related, but he doesn't remember that I'm his half-brother. I guess he doesn't remember that we're always fighting, either./

"Inuyasha."

He waited a moment to see if his name had sparked any memories, but there was nothing that showed any recognition in Sesshomaru's eyes, face, scent, or actions. The demon lord simply bowed again in thanks.

Then Rin and Shippo came over and pulled him with them over to another patch of grass, this one liberally dotted with cheerfully-colored wildflowers.

oOo

"What are we going to do?"

So strange to look over and see a faint edge of clumsiness to once flawlessly graceful movements. So strange to see him kneeling on the grass, picking flowers with the children. So strange the small, shyly proud smile on his face as he made a flower chain under Rin's instruction, using knees and teeth to make up for his missing hand. So strange to see him wear the flowery crown he had made afterward, the flowers almost seeming to glow against the backdrop of his silvery hair.

"What are you looking at me for?" Inuyasha asked, seeing everyone looking to him for an answer. "I don't know!"

"He is your brother," Miroku said, Kagome and Sango nodding in agreement.

"Half-brother," Inuyasha argued. "Not that that's any good to anyone. You were there when he woke up earlier. I had to introduce myself, same as everyone else."

"He's right, though, Inuyasha," Kagome said. "He trusts you. He did even before he knew your name."

"Big deal. He thinks I'm some guardian his father assigned to him!"

"There you go; he trusts you," she said blithely. "Now what are you going to do about him? We can't just abandon him; not when he's helpless like this."

"Kagome, this is Sesshomaru! Have you forgotten how many times he's tried to kill us?"

"I don't think that matters right now."

"But--"

"Don't make me say it. Now figure out what we're going to do about your brother."

Sigh.

TBC...
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