Author's Note:
Major kudos and ramen noodles to my reviewers!
Shadow Wolf of the Blue Moon: You'll find out. Thanks for reviewing.
Umi5: Glad you like it.
Dodg-demon-emiko: That was so cute!
Unwary Hanyou: Hey, thanks for the cookie. Sorry you had to wait so long.
Hanyou-Demoness: Vous parlez francais? Vous aimez francais? Je parle francais, et j'aime francais. It's totally cool, no problem. I know what assignments are like.
Sioned: Run, Fluffy! Run, Sioned! Kagura's coming!
Chapter 7
"What do you mean, 'kill him'?" Inutaisho demanded of Kagome and Shippo. "Sesshomaru wouldn't do that! Not his own brother!"
"Oh, yes, he would!" Shippo said angrily, allowing his tail to bristle. "He's tried it dozens of times already! First, there was the time when he tried to find your tomb, and then there was the time when he tried to take the Tetsusaiga, and then—"
"Oh, honestly!" Sesshomaru snapped.
"What?" Inutaisho snarled dangerously. "Have I heard this right?"
"It's completely true," Kagome said, glaring at Sesshomaru. "He tried to trick Inuyasha into revealing where your tomb was by making the No-Woman resemble his mother. You should have seen what Inuyasha was like after that! Inuyasha was almost killed, and then, after he had gotten the Tetsusaiga, Sesshomaru tried to kill him by transforming into his demon form, and later—"
Inutaisho held up his hand to stem the flow of words.
"Sesshomaru," he said quietly. "Is this true?"
Sesshomaru looked at the man who resembled his father. He wasn't going to lie, but a part of him didn't want to admit to it, either. He could feel the anger and disappointment radiating from the being who resembled the father he had respected so much, and he wasn't sure how much longer he could bear that reproachful look.
"It is true," he said at last.
"Why, Sesshomaru?" Inutaisho looked at his older son as if he could not believe what he was seeing. "I asked you to protect him and to teach him! Instead, you try to murder him!"
Sesshomaru saw Inuyasha's eyes widen in surprise. Obviously, he hadn't known about his father's final requests of him.
"Couldn't you put aside the knowledge of his mortal blood long enough to raise him?" Inutaisho demanded. "It is obvious to me you could not! No one else in our clan has such a dislike for mortals, and if you had not been left in charge of my lands, then perhaps Inuyasha would have been cared for properly! What did you do, forbid the rest of the clan to care for him?"
The look on Sesshomaru's face told Inutaisho that that had been the case.
"I don't believe it," Inutaisho snarled. "I cannot believe my own son would neglect his duty to his younger brother!" He whirled on Sesshomaru. "Was I such a terrible teacher that you learned nothing about family duty and your obligations? I know that you dislike mortals, Sesshomaru, but I never thought that your feelings would interfere with your duties! Perhaps I was wrong in my judgment in making you Inuyasha's guardian! I can see now that you aren't fit for the responsibility!"
"What?" Inuyasha said, surprised. "You were going to have him raise me?"
"That would have been his duty as your older brother," Inutaisho assured him. "Tell me, Inuyasha, who was the first of our clan to hold the Western Lands?"
"Huh?" Inuaysha said, visibly confused. "Wasn't it you?"
Inutaisho massaged the point between his eyebrows with a finger. "Oh, I am getting a headache. You don't even know clan history. I am disgusted, Sesshomaru. You have neglected your duty completely, and you have become a disgrace to your clan."
Jaken gasped. "My lord would never disgrace his clan!"
"Well, he did when he refused to complete his duty," Inutaisho snapped. "I cannot believe this. Sesshomaru, return to your quarters. I shall deal with you later. Jaken, you're to return with him."
Rin, still sitting on the floor with Inuyasha and Shippo, regarded Inutaisho with large eyes. "Are you angry, my lord?" she asked.
Inutaisho's expression softened. "Not with you, little one, so you have nothing to fear. I am only angry with Sesshomaru."
Rin looked serious, as if she were thinking about something very hard. "I am a mortal."
"Yes," Inutaisho said, his anger visibly lessening.
"But Lord Sesshomaru takes care of me."
Inutaisho looked as if something had just dawned on him. He scooped Rin up, laughing, and gave her a hug before handing her to Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru took her perforce, looking very surprised that his father had laughed so soon after being so angry.
"What just happened there?" Shippo whispered to Kagome. She shrugged, not quite sure.
"Anyone else confused?" Inuyasha whispered to the both of them. They both nodded.
Inutaisho seemed to be winding down. "Well, a lesson is better learned a little late than not at all. We shall discuss this later, Sesshomaru, but, for right now, let's have some breakfast."
Breakfast was a tense affair until Inutaisho assured them all that everything was all right. Shippo sat next to Rin and they chattered away in the way of children, but Kagome and Inuyasha sat together, both silent aside from the usual table conversation.
While Sesshomaru and Inutaisho discussed Western Lands business, Inuyasha turned to Kagome and asked about the rest of the group.
"Are Miroku and Sango all right?" he asked. "What about Kirara?"
"They're all fine, they're just worried about you," Kagome assured him. She was a little surprised at the smile Inuyasha was wearing. "What's the matter with you?"
"Oh, I was just thinking of Sango and Miroku…all alone…together."
Kagome felt her own smile starting. "They should really own up to how they feel about one another," she said, grinning.
Jaken, who had been following the conversation, piped up. "Well, that's pot calling the kettle black if I ever heard it," he said nastily. "Everyone who sees you can tell that you two are certainly—"
BAM.
Inutaisho was shocked. "Inuyasha, that was completely uncalled for—"
"Sit, boy!"
WHAM.
Inuyasha picked himself up from the floor, groaning. Kagome was glaring at him and Jaken in turn. "Inuyasha, it was not necessary to hit Jaken. Jaken, you need to keep your mouth shut," she snarled.
Everyone at the table was staring at Kagome, except for Inuyasha and Jaken, who were glaring at her.
"Lady Kagome," Inutaisho said respectfully, "Remind me never to anger you."
Sesshomaru sipped at his tea, keeping his amusement hidden, while Rin and Shippo turned their attention back to the sweet melon that was in front of them. Jaken nursed his sore head while Inutaisho poured some more tea for everyone.
"Did you have to do that?" Inuyasha demanded, rubbing his head and neck. "I've been sick, y'know!"
"I wouldn't have done it if I hadn't thought you could take it," Kagome said, glaring at him.
Sesshomaru suddenly snorted, choking on his tea, and he had to leave the room. They could hear him heading outside, laughing his head off.
Inutaisho was positively beaming. "It's been a long while since he's laughed that much."
Jaken was stupefied. "What have you done to my lord?" he demanded, suspiciously sniffing Sesshomaru's tea.
"It's nothing in the tea," Inutaisho assured him.
"It's probably a layover from his time at Kimi's," Inuyasha said, taking a bit of rice cake. "She made him mortal for a while, just to teach him a lesson."
Inutaisho stared at him. "Perhaps you'd better tell me the whole story. I'm getting very confused."
Author's Note:
Well? Shall we continue?
