Title: Behind the Blue Moon
Author(s): SkyFire

For Notes/Disclaimers, see part 1.

A/N: There seems to be a bit of confusion, so I thought I'd clear something up.

(1) Why isn't he more upset at his size and the lack of his left arm?
This, I can kinda see. that being said, I did write that Sess sees himself as being little. that means that if he looked at his reflection, his mind would transform what was actually there into what he expected to see, so he would see little-him. He would also hear his voice as his little-kid voice. As for the arm-- the mind is a strange thing, and probably rationalized the loss away so as to prevent a more serious mental trauma. He thinks he's six, so his mind plays tricks to prevent him from freaking out. That's how I see it, anyway.

(2) Why's he so good with his natural weaponry?
Even though his mind is saying it's six, he is not. It works like muscle memory; even though he might not consciously remember how to use his poison claws or whip, his subconscious does. So when he was panicking and instinct took over, his body reacted as it had countless times before and poof slice-and-dice time!

ALSO there are a few links in my bio page that you should check out. One is a PSA from my muses, a sketch showing what happens when you yell at an author, even if it is yelling of the 'more right now!' variety. The other two are about how to leave a review. Not everyone needs this, but I like re-reading them every now and again just as a reminder to me; they're very good guidelines. The references are for the Highlander fandom, but the guides are good everywhere.

As always, I have to say thank you to my reviewers, it's very appreciated! HUGS to you all! If you have a question that you really want an answer to, go to my bio page and click the link to my LJ. I answer every comment/review left there.

Whew, that's a long set of notes! Now, on with the story!

oOoOo
Part 7: Sesshomaru's Claws II

The Wind Scar's attack blasted through Naraku's hastily-erected barrier, barely pausing as it went on to strike the no longer cockily-overconfident man.

"No!" growled Naraku even as bits and pieces of his tentacle-sprouting body dissolved or went flying, showering the area in ichor-dripping, still-writhing sections of soft grey and green tentacles and chitinous red legs.

Though seriously injured yet again by the strike, he managed to escape once more in his now-familiar swirling miasma, followed quickly by what was left of the swarm of his poisonous insects.

"Damn it!" cursed Inuyasha as the remnants of Naraku's toxic fog dissipated, revealing the part-littered clearing -- and no Naraku. Again. "How many times do I have to blast that guy!"

A small, choked-off sound from nearby drew the hanyou's attention even as his human companions finished off the last of the demon horde before turning to each other, quickly breaking out the first-aid kit and seeing to each other's wounds.

"Sesshomaru?" came the quiet -- for Inuyasha -- query. A step in his half-brother's direction. "Hey, are you all right?"

oOo

His face and hands felt chilled as he looked jerkily around the clearing. Wide golden eyes jumped from one bit of gore to the next even as his shaking hand rose to his tightening throat.

The scent of blood, sweat, and ichor hung heavy in the air as he swallowed convulsively against the rising wave of nausea even as his gaze rose to meet that of his guardian. "I-- I--"

The words stuck in his too-tight throat. He swallowed again, trying to ease it; to no avail.

A slight tickle drew his attention down to his hand. Ichor dripped from claws and fingers, splattered his hand and sleeve in slowly-drying green smears. His wrist-stripes were nearly entirely covered.

He felt the blood leave his face in a rush at the sight. A vague tug at the side of his face as he grimaced betrayed the fact that the drying gore was splattered there as well.

It was too much for his six-year-old mind to grasp, to rationalize. The son of the Lord of the Western Lands though he might be, Sesshomaru was -- as were all young demons of his age and status -- surprisingly sheltered. He had never -- as far as he could remember -- ever seen anyone so much as seriously wounded, let alone dead. And now there he was, covered with gore, bits and pieces of myriad demons spread all over the once-idyllic clearing, ichor and bits of flesh caked beneath his claws--

"I-- I--"

oOo

Inuyasha watched incredulously, momentarily struck speechless, as Sesshomaru turned away from them, staggered hurriedly to the edge of the clearing, then gifted a helpless bush with all he had last eaten. The hanyou wiped the Tetsusaiga off on a mostly-clean scrap of fur on a halved demon, then sheathed the mighty blade.

"Sessho... maru...?" Inuyasha finally managed to stammer, even as he went over to the choking and heaving demon lord. Overcome by a surge of his protective instincts -- for Sesshomaru, of all people! -- Inuyasha gathered up the long silver hair, keeping it away from the mess, even as his other hand rubbed soothing circles on his half-brother's back. "Hey, it's all right. Naraku's gone."

A few more minuted of dry-heaving passed before Sesshomaru felt well enough to move away from the mess he had made. He stood, then walked shakily over to a tree just outside the now-gruesome clearing, and sat down on the scraggly grass there.

Inuyasha watched as his half-brother rubbed his hand on the ground, clearly trying to get the gore off his hand with limited success; with only one hand to work with, he managed to wipe off a little of the mess, but only managed to smear the rest. And as for the stuff under his claws--

A hard sigh left the hanyou. He followed the demon lord, sat down beside him. Ripping up a thick clump of slightly-damp moss from a nearby rock, he reached out a hand. "Let me help."

oOo

Sesshomaru looked up at the offer, saw his guardian. He looked to his hand; sighed in disgust when he saw that he had only managed to cover his hand in dirt on top of the gore that already coated it. Another sigh, then he held out his hand to be cleaned.

Even as Inuyasha firmly scrubbed at the hand with his scrap of moss, Sesshomaru was inwardly berating himself. What would his father think if he found out about that day? About that whole journey? He had broken so many of his tutors' rules! Surely his father would be so disappointed in him.

"Don't worry about it so much."

Sesshomaru looked up at the softly-spoken words. "What?"

"Don't worry so much," Inuyasha repeated, showing an uncharacteristic patience that would have shocked his human companions had they been near enough to witness it. "You're brooding." A small pause. "You can tell me."

"I--" A hard sigh. "Father won't like this. Any of this. Traveling with humans. Eating with humans. Fighting with anything. The mess I made of myself fighting. Throwing up." Another sigh. "I won't ever be allowed out again!"

Inuyasha was quiet a moment, thinking that over. Then he spoke. "You're saying that your father would rather you be alone, hungry, and letting yourself get killed?"

Sesshomaru frowned. When it was put like that--

"Look. You did what you had to. There's no shame in that."

"But I fought. Father always said to let other people fight for me if I had to because I'm still too small. I can't fight be myself. I don't know how."

"Like I said: you did what you had to."

"But--"

"If you hadn't, you would be dead. Would you have preferred that?"

"No, but--"

"Well, then. That's all there is to it." A small pause. "I'd think he'd be proud."

"Proud?"

"You're six, right? You did pretty well, I'd say."

"Oh." A small smile, a hopeful gleam replacing the despondency in oddly-young amber eyes. "Thank you."

More than a little embarrassed to have had to give such reassurances, Inuyasha finished cleaning Sesshomaru's hand in silence; scrubbing with the moss, then cleaning under the claws with a convenient twig.

He had just finished when Shippo and Rin ran up.

"Lord Sesshomaru, you're all right! I was so worried!" Rin cried, laying a big hug about Sesshomaru's shoulders. "When that thing grabbed you--!"

"I thought you were a goner for sure," Shippo said.

"I'm all right," the demon lord said simply, uncertainly returning Rin's hug. He let go when she did, then stood. Looking to Inuyasha, he said: "I'm all right now, just a little sore."

The hanyou nodded. "Let's go back to the others, then."

The four of them arrived in the clearing just in time to see one of the demons lying on the ground rise to its feet -- apparently it had been knocked unconscious, not killed, and had just awakened -- and, before anyone could do anything about it, it swung one huge hand, sending Sango flying.

The demon sayer -- hiraikotsu slung across her back as always when not in use -- flew across the glade from the force of the blow. She slammed into Sesshomaru and the momentum sent them both flying back to smash into the trunk a tree. Both fell to the ground after the hit, stunned.

Miroku and Kagome quickly took care of the demon, even as the two picked themselves up off the ground. Sango shook her head, dizzy for a moment, then she was back to her old -- if bruised and battered -- self. Sesshomaru got up, staggered. His hand rose shakily to his head, rubbed at his forehead even as he grimaced. His gaze -- a bit vaguer than usual -- finally settled on Inuyasha.

"My head hurts," he said simply.

Then he collapsed.

TBC...