Inuyasha; A Feudal Fairy Tale – The Sesshoumaru Blues

Chapter Six – The Passing

Zayane, Sesshoumaru, and Rikkimaru looked at the dormant Inuyasha, pinned to a tree.

"I told him to stay away from the shrine…" Zayane sighed. "Now he's stuck there."

"Can't you do something?" Rikkimaru was distressed. He'd have no one to play with now. Zayane shook her head no. "But you touched her arrow once before, even plucked it out of the air."

"That's the thing, sweetie. It was a powerful arrow, and despite what you saw, my hand nearly was unusable after grabbing it—and it was airborne. I can't remove it from Inuyasha's chest."

"Good riddance." Sesshoumaru said. Zayane and Rikkimaru gave him a glare. It was Inuyasha's funeral and they wanted to keep it all eulogies, not drama. "What?"

"Half brother, half demon—whatever, he was still a kind person." Zayane said.

"Except when he hit me…" Rikkimaru said nervously.

"…Or when he called you, old hag." Sesshoumaru said. Zayane narrowed her eyes.

"Like father, like son…" Zayane muttered.

"What was that, mom?" Rikkimaru asked.

"Oh, nothing." Sesshoumaru heard her and frowned. Rikkimaru looked at Sesshoumaru suddenly.

"I didn't think you'd care, Sesshoumaru." He said.

"I'd prefer not to be associated with that mutt or you for that matter." Sesshoumaru said turning his back. "I only came here to make sure Inuyasha was out of my way."

"Well, why don't you just kill him now, Sesshoumaru?" Rikkimaru suggested. Zayane rolled her eyes at how Rikkimaru planned on feeding Inuyasha to Sesshoumaru.

Sesshoumaru said nothing, with his back turned. How macho Sesshoumaru appeared. "It wouldn't be worth it if I couldn't see the look on his face before I killed him." Sesshoumaru walked towards the forest where Jaken, Ah, and Un were at. Sesshoumaru had instructed them to keep their distance.

Zayane turned her attention back to Inuyasha, who seemed so at peace being stuck to the sacred tree. Zayane rubbed her eyes, slightly. Rikkimaru noticed.

"Mom, what's wrong?" Rikkimaru asked, putting his arm around her shoulder. Rikkimaru had a few inches in height in comparison to Zayane.

Zayane was crying. "Oh, Inuyasha…" She grieved like a mother had lost her child. "Oh Inuyasha, why did this have to happen to you? You were such a kind hearted person—demon or human. Why couldn't you just accept that, and be who you are? Trying to be something you're not got you here! Inuyasha!" She kept herself from spilling on the ground, acting like a fool.

"It's okay, mom. I'm sure he'll come back to us…" Rikkimaru said, rubbing her shoulder. "I'm sure of it."

BLUES

But Inuyasha did not come back. A year had past and he was still bound to the sacred tree. Zayane visited Inuyasha every week, laying flowers before him, and telling Inuyasha how the week had gone. Today, Zayane was doing that very ritual. Zayane placed the orchids at the root of the tree. She backed up a bit, and sat in seiza.

"Haha, Inuyasha. This week was a funny week. I taught Rikkimaru Blades of Blood in your honor. He nearly died of blood loss from training so hard with the technique. Sesshoumaru even showed up once he smelled the blood in the air. Even though he says he doesn't want anything to do with his illegitimate family, he's always in ear shot. Rikkimaru still doesn't know that Sesshoumaru is his father, but something tells me at his age—he isn't stupid. Everyone misses your cocky attitude, Inuyasha. And I miss your presence. See you soon, Inuyasha." Zayane said with a gentle smile.

Zayane heard the grass rustling behind her. She thought it was Rikkimaru for sure but something wasn't right. Zayane stood up and turned. All she saw was a blue mask, and a figure covered in fur.

"Hello there." The unfamiliar masculine voice said to Zayane. Zayane slowly turned her head.

"Did you know this demon, Inuyasha?" Zayane didn't know all the demons that Inuyasha associated with. Unfortunately for Zayane, Naraku was no friend of Inuyasha's.

"Actually, I'm quite fond of Inuyasha." He lied.

"Really?" Zayane asked letting her guard down. "I took care of Inuyasha when he was younger. His mother and father passing away was really tough on him."

"That's too bad," Naraku said walking towards Zayane. Zayane wondered what was under the baboon mask. She caught a glimpse of his lips. From what she could tell, he was very pale. "but I like Inuyasha just the way he is."

The selection of words made Zayane put her guard back up. "You're not a friend of Inuyasha's, are you?"

"What ever would make you think that?" Naraku toyed. He was getting closer to Zayane.

"I'm perceptive!" Zayane raised her hand ready to protect Inuyasha's body from the strange man.

"A little too perceptive; such a pity it'll go to waste." Naraku said as a poisonous cloud exploded from his feet. The purplish miasma soared to Zayane, surrounding her. Zayane coughed and heaved as if to vomit. "I don't want you to get in the way when I make Inuyasha's brother my next experiment, or should I say victim."

"Y-you bastard…" Zayane struggled to say. Zayane lifted her hand to remove her eye patch. Naraku grabbed her hand, preventing her from doing so. Zayane's eyes widened. He must have known.

"A Mistress of Time. Did you think I wouldn't notice? I know all about you and your eye." Naraku said. "And today, will be your time." Zayane gasped for air in the thick miasma.

"I-iron Reaver…" Zayane couldn't finish the incantation to summon the strength to use the technique. Zayane buckled to her knees and fell backward. She was unable to use her power. Even if she would have opened her eye behind the eye patch, Zayane couldn't delay time with out time to look at. All she could still was the blackness behind her eye patch—which was not the time she wanted to delay. Naraku kept her fighting hand away from her face, to prevent her from stilling time. There was a sadistic grin on his face the whole time. Naraku wanted to be sure he got the job done… Naraku took his clawed hand, and slit Zayane's throat…

BLUES

Sesshoumaru smelled the familiar blood in the air. He smelled twice, just to be sure.

"It couldn't be…" Sesshoumaru said, in deep forest. Jaken waddled over to him.

"What is it, my lord?" Jaken asked. Sesshoumaru would not say. He held a stern look on his face.

"Fetch Ah and Un." Sesshoumaru ordered. Sesshoumaru was off in the direction of Zayane, but he had to make a stop some where.

Sesshoumaru noticed the hut that Zayane and Rikkimaru stayed. Sesshoumaru always hated it. It was unfit for anyone to live in, let alone his 'family.' Sesshoumaru settled Ah and Un outside the hut. He dismounted and Rikkimaru was standing in the door way. Rikkimaru heard Sesshoumaru land his beast.

"What do you want?" Rikkimaru gave Sesshoumaru a stare best left for Inuyasha's face. It was a mean yet pouty look. Sesshoumaru ignored it.

"I think something has happened to your mother." He said. The mentioning of his mother took Rikkimaru's mind of the feud that Inuyasha and himself shared with Sesshoumaru.

"To my mother?" Rikkimaru started to dread. "W-where is she?" Rikkimaru sniffed the air, but all he could smell was the miasma's rancid smell. "I don't smell her scent anywhere." Sesshoumaru was angry that his son's nose wasn't stronger. But he couldn't blame him either being brought up by a human or a half breed.

"It's being covered by a cloud of poison, which is probably where she is." Sesshoumaru said.

"Mom!" Rikkimaru cried, leaping towards the sacred tree. He took great bounds and leaps like Inuyasha did. Sesshoumaru followed close behind Rikkimaru. It was a bonding moment, as Sesshoumaru wasn't aiming to kill Rikkimaru. Sesshoumaru watched his off spring and could see why Zayane would treasure him. Sesshoumaru would never publicly admit that, though. Jaken waddled behind Sesshoumaru, pulling Ah and Un by the reins.

"Please wait for us, Lord Sesshoumaru!" Jaken cried. Sesshoumaru ignored his babbling.

Rikkimaru landed seven or eight yards from her body, the blood was apparent. Sesshoumaru landed behind him. Rikkimaru was going to dart to his mother's body, but Sesshoumaru put his hand on Rikkimaru's shoulder.

"It's best if we go together." Sesshoumaru said. It seemed like Sesshoumaru was willing to give Rikkimaru emotional support if his mother had really passed away. Rikkimaru gave a solemn nod. Sesshoumaru didn't let go of Rikkimaru's shoulder as they walked over to Zayane's body. Rikkimaru saw her throat gashed open with three lines. Zayane didn't have a look of terror on her face. Zayane looked as peaceful as Inuyasha. She was in a pool of her own blood.

"Mother!" Rikkimaru cried out like it would wake her up. Rikkimaru tried to move for her, but Sesshoumaru held him back with the arm he had on his shoulder. "Let me go, damn it!" Rikkimaru's delicate eyes filled with water. "How could this have happened to you, mother…? You were so strong… You bullied Sesshoumaru around, and made Inuyasha eat his words in a daily basis. How…?" Rikkimaru yelled at her body. Sesshoumaru couldn't believe he was about to do this, but he pulled Rikkimaru inward pressing his head against his boa.

"It's alright, Rikkimaru." Sesshoumaru said. Rikkimaru actually believed it. Rikkimaru pressed his face into Sesshoumaru's boa, bawling a storm. Sesshoumaru looked away, grossed out by the slobber and snot getting on his boa. Sesshoumaru's eyes caught the flowers in front of Inuyasha. Sesshoumaru knew it must have been a surprise attack on Zayane, but he couldn't figure out the other scent because it was shrouded in the stench of the miasma.

Jaken finally caught up to Sesshoumaru. Jaken looked over Zayane's body.

"It's about time that human bit the dust!" Jaken said. Sesshoumaru and Rikkimaru looked down to Jaken with the same stare. It was of hatred.

"Don't you ever speak that way about Zayane ever again." Sesshoumaru growled, his eyes started to turn red as his iris was turning green. Jaken groveled begging for forgiveness. Rikkimaru looked up to Sesshoumaru. Rikkimaru could see that he truly cared about what was said about his mother. Rikkimaru pulled away trying to dry his eyes.

"I knew it!" Rikkimaru pointed his finger at Sesshoumaru.

"Knew what?" Sesshoumaru's eyes returned to normal. Rikkimaru started to smile.

"Pops." Rikkimaru said. Sesshoumaru went blank faced.

"Don't call me that. I'm not your father." Sesshoumaru looked away.

"You know, you guys could say that when I was little but I'm older now. You think I wouldn't notice that we practically have the same body markings. And why you insisted on hanging around my mother so much." Rikkimaru crossed his arms.

"That doesn't mean anything. I never insisted on hanging around your mother." Sesshoumaru lied.

"Then why did you tell me that something happened to her?" Rikkimaru questioned.

"Touché, Rikkimaru."

"Please, be honest with me. Either you're my father, or you know who is." Rikkimaru pleaded. "Inuyasha might have known, but he's strapped to a tree. My mother is dead so I can't ask her over and over, and I don't know what to do…"

Sesshoumaru sighed. What would it hurt? "Yes, Rikkimaru. Your mother and I had a fling when we were younger. A master and servant kind of fling—and that was it." He tried to make it sound bad. "You shouldn't have been born."

"So—you are my father?"

Sesshoumaru wheezed for a second, "Rikkimaru, I am—your fathaa."

"What?"

"Er… I'm your bloody father, okay?" Sesshoumaru confirmed.

Rikkimaru threw at punch at Sesshoumaru. "You tired to kill me!"

"I did the same to your mother!" Sesshoumaru was reminded of when he killed Zayane, and when he attempted to a second time. They both looked at Zayane's body. Sesshoumaru sighed. "Do you know how your mother wanted to be… Preserved?" It was the only word that Sesshoumaru could think of. Rikkimaru understood.

"My mother would have wanted to be cremated." Rikkimaru said.

BLUES

Zayane was dressed in an all white kimono. Her arms folded over her chest. Zayane's peaceful expression wasn't on her face. She seemed depressed looking. Zayane was on a bed of tree branches and twigs to help her body burn. Rikkimaru, Jaken, and Ah and Un stood back as Sesshoumaru was the last person to speak to Zayane. They were at such a distance it seemed like Sesshoumaru was by himself.

"You should have given up on Inuyasha. Now those flowers you laid for him are being laid for you. Maybe if you had just given up on Inuyasha, fate would have shown you mercy… You were probably all gung-ho about protecting Inuyasha, you didn't even realize what kind of demon you were up against. You stupid human. Did you ever think about your son and how'd he feel? Did you ever think of how I'd feel…? Such a stupid human… And I'm such a stupid demon for even getting worked up over you!" Sesshoumaru shouted the last part. Sesshoumaru reached for the Tenseiga. He tried to unsheathe the sword, but it would not let him. "The hell!" Sesshoumaru couldn't believe the Tenseiga was rejecting his commands. Sesshoumaru looked at Zayane's body wanting to bring her back to life. Sesshoumaru's mind was dragged into the Nether world by the Tenseiga.

It was all black setting. It was only him and Zayane. Zayane stood with her eye closed.

"Zayane…" Sesshoumaru's voice reached her. Zayane walked over to him with a smile on her face. "What happened to you…?"

"What happened to me…? Freedom happened to me. I'm free of the spells, free from the deformity that took away my self-esteem…" Zayane pulled her eye patch from her head. She opened both of her eyes. They were both maroon as opposed to her right eye being aqua blue with no pupil. "I'm free of you."

"Did you hate me that much…?" Sesshoumaru felt hurt that she despised him even in death.

"No, I loved you dearly. But the burden of not being with you… Is much worse than this."

"Are you blaming me for your pains because I didn't want people to know, about—us?" Zayane shook her head.

"No, Sesshoumaru. I blame you for nothing, hate you for nothing… I just wished that maybe if we were a family, you could have protected me." Zayane was crying with a grin on her face. She felt that maybe if they had been a family that was proud of whom they were, Sesshoumaru could have been there, holding her hand and telling Naraku to fuck off. "Please take care of our son." Zayane turned her back walking away.

"Wait!" Sesshoumaru cried out to her. "Wait, please! I'll take it all back, just come back!" Sesshoumaru was thrown into the real world. He was looking at her lifeless face. Sesshoumaru closed his eyes tightly. "Stupid human." He said. Even after all of that, he still called her stupid. Sesshoumaru didn't want to admit to himself he was the one being stupid.

Sesshoumaru walked away from Zayane, with Jaken following close behind.

"Are you alright, my lord?" Jaken asked.

"I'm fine, just a piece of dust in my eye."

Rikkimaru was the one who put the flame to the wood. Rikkimaru put his mother's ashes into an urn, and gave her a humble tombstone. He buried the air tight urn and placed the tombstone in the forest close to the sacred tree. Rikkimaru and Sesshoumaru didn't do much talking after that anyways. One would think that they had some catching up to do, but Sesshoumaru wanted nothing to do with Rikkimaru even more so than ever. Rikkimaru became cold and distant, taking up after his father.

Through the years (49 and a half to be exact), Rikkimaru had become a tyrant to humans and demons alike. He terrorized villages for fun, and sliced demons into pieces. He was so busy doing that, he didn't revive the news that Inuyasha was alive and well, and searching for the Shikon jewel with the human who broke it. Rikkimaru had heard of the Shikon jewel shards from other demons but thought nothing of it. Even though his mother had been dead for so long, Rikkimaru still obeyed her words about staying away from the Shikon jewel.

But one day—Rikkimaru would ravage the wrong hut…

つづく(Tsuzuku)

Author's notes/Translation notes:

There are no translation notes this go around, but get ready for ANOTHER OC to take Zayane's place. Shuku is her name and throwing heavy blunt objects is her game. Please endure!