Hello everyone! I am glad to say that I received several kind reviews for the last chapter. Special thanks to Blackstrawberry for responding to my question. Also warm thanks to byakugan-master93. I thought about doing something like that, but really, do you think Inuyasha would have the patience to do something like that? Thanks for reviewing though and you did use the word correctly! From the beginning I had the idea that Riath would end up betraying them, especially because he is connected to Healo's past in a painful way as you all see now. For the last chapter I was glad to hear from Kaihaku No Iroke whose review I found to be as helpful as the others. Here we go with Inuyasha's reaction. Let me know how it is. (Sorry if the number is wrong.)
CHAPTER XXLI
BATTLE BETWEEN BROTHERS
Riaths POV
The Captain had listened to part of the two brother's speech in quiet contemplation. He had been struck by the emotion and strength of the older brother's voice, and by how near the edge Inuyasha seemed to be. Riath could remember that his master had agreed that the hanyou would never openly serve him, but if the double agent could just find some way to push him a little farther than he would end up doing Naraku a great service. If Inuyasha succeeded and was able to take the jewel shards from Kagome then it would be easy to regain them from him.
Kikyo had already promised her cooperation in any venture to take the shards of the sacred jewel from the hanyou. However, Riath also knew that he could not allow the Northern Lord to be too severely beaten otherwise it might delay Naraku's plan by a few days. Still the problem was how to push the hanyou without revealing himself? A devious solution came to the young demon as he smiled in a wicked manner. It would work perfectly. It had better. Naraku would accept no less than that. However the malicious hanyou would appreciate what the young Captain had in mind…
Healos POV
The Northern Lord held the silence as he waited in suspense for his brothers reaction. The hanyou's eyes were clouded and his claws were clenched as he seemed to struggle with unseen enemies. His own doubts and fears were obviously weighing him down. Healo tried to offer him comfort and serenity but Inuyasha's mind was a raging inferno. If he suspected that the demon lord was up to something all hell could break loose.
Inuyasha finally spoke his voice raging with despair as he said ", It's too late. No matter what I do Kagome will never forgive for all of this." Healo responded with compassion as he said ", No she doesn't ever need to know what you were considering. I did not tell her because I respect you more than that. You are my brother. I would never do anything to hurt you unless you pressed me to a point where there was no longer a choice. We have not crossed the point of no return yet Inuyasha. You can still be forgiven by the only one who knows, me. Once, that is done I swear never to repeat what transpired here. You are not beyond redemption."
Again confusion crossed over the hanyous face, but this time the tide had turned. Healo just knew that Inuyasha was beginning to see the light. The alliance would survive and the brothers would be able to work through their differences to the disadvantage of Naraku. Unfortunately forces out of the Northern Lord's control chose this time to intervene. A cold voice rang from the hills behind the demon lord that said ", No brother. The hanyou can no more be forgiven for this than he can change his ancestry."
Both brothers turned immediately to see who had dared to interrupt them. Healo knew that all was over when he noticed the golden gaze of the Western Lord, who was flanked by Captain Riath and about a dozen guards. The Northern Lord spoke in an angry tone ", Sesshomaru be quiet! This is not your concern." The younger half-brother only straightened and replied firmly ", The captain says that Inuyasha wishes to steal the jewel shards from my intended. He will be punished for his betrayal."
Before Healo could continue his attempts to dissuade Inuyasha, the hanyou cried angrily ", You didn't come here just to talk! You planned all along to have this idiot show up and help you kill me. I'd like to see you try!" The young half-demon's eyes flashed as he swiftly drew the powerful Tetseiga from its' sheath. However, before the Northern Lord could react most of the guards foolishly set their weapons as they rushed towards the hanyou in a vain attempt to disarm or kill him.
When Healo saw the feral smile that came to his brother's face he knew what was coming and leaped backwards with as much force as he could. While still in the air, he watched as Inuyasha raised his father's fang and brought it crashing back to the earth as it sent waves of deadly energy in its wake. When the attack was over only the three brothers, Riath, and two guards who had been wise enough to stay back were left standing. The Northern Lord tensed when he saw the bodies of the Western Lord's guards laying on the ground with the grooves cut from the Tetseiga.
Sesshomaru gazed at the bodies for a second before gracefully pulling Toukijin from its sheath. The Northern Lord understood that his half-brother was duty bound to exact vengeance for the death of his guards, and if he didn't his reputation would suffer. Healo realized that he had only a moment to act or that this battle would spiral still farther out of control. He had every intention of persuading Sesshomaru to let him fight Inuyasha, since he did not desire the hanyou's death.
The Lord of the West was preparing to spring towards his younger brother when Healo said stiffly ", You must not intervene yet. I was here first and the claim of attempting to harm a mate to be is greater than that of a lord who wishes to avenge the death of his servants." Sesshomaru turned towards the Northern Lord and did not speak for a moment. Then he said with calm ", Very well. You will have the first try."
Perturbed by his brother's words Healo only nodded then turned back to face Inuyasha who was holding Tetseiga in front of him with his right foot leading. The Northern Lord had to struggle not to smile at the simplicity of the hanyou. Instead he said in a disappointed tone ", Inuyasha, did you learn nothing more of swords play than that? If you cannot even pick a stance that keeps your opponent in the dark you will lose."
Inuyasha's eyes widened then he said in an annoyed tone ", Keh! I don't know how powerful you think you are, Healo, but some very skilled demons have fallen to my blade." Healo smiled as he said softly ", I do not doubt that. I can easily see how someone could underestimate you, but I will not make that mistake. This is your last chance to back down. I can no longer give you promise of pardon, but I will allow you to flee." The demon knew that the hanyou was very proud and stubborn, but he hoped that he would realize how dangerous his current situation was.
His heart sank as Inuyasha only laughed and said ", I'm not leaving without my jewel shards." Silence followed this statement as Healo only regarded his brother with unspeakable dread in his eyes. Then he slowly moved his right hand and drew a bright katana with a black hilt from his side, and he allowed the point of the blade to rest only a few inches above the ground. Inuyasha hesitated for only a moment as he watched his brother standing with such resolve, but his face showed only the regret and sadness he felt over the situation.
But then the hanyou focused his attention on the katana held in Healo's right hand and he nearly laughed as he said ", You're going to go up against Tetseiga armed with that toothpick?" The two guards began to whisper something at this statement, but Sesshomaru and Riath had both seen the Northern Lord use this sword. Healo responded in a cold voice ", Yet another lesson forgotten? Any sword, spear, or any other device is only a tool. The true weapon is the mind that wields it."
Instead of responding verbally Inuyasha began to move towards his brother at what the hanyou obviously thought was pretty fast. To Healo the attack was no surprise, but he had been expecting the half-demon to leap into the air. Still, thanks to Kagome's memories, he felt that he had more than enough information on his brother's fighting style to anticipate most of his attacks. When Inuyasha finally came within range of Healo he raised his sword and began to force it down in a blow that would have split the Northern Lord in half.
Healo grinned as he moved quickly to counter his opponent; who obviously had no idea what to expect of him. First the Northern Lord struck the side of Tetseiga with his katana in order to push Inuyasha's blow to the left. Then he used the momentum from the blow to swing his body further from range, and last he made a small slash across the hanyou's left arm as he allowed the momentum to push him away. All of this had transpired in the two seconds it took for Tetseiga to reach the ground where it left a large slash in the turf.
For a second the hanyou only glared in annoyance at Healo who was standing about ten feet away. However, Inuyasha's eyes widened when he realized that he had been hit in his arm, but when he tried to move his arm it worked fine, except for a small twinge of pain that came over his face. Sesshomaru said quietly from the sidelines ", Why didn't you take the arm off? Or you could have at least severed a little deeper so that his arm would be useless." The Northern Lord answered in a calm tone ", I wanted to give him a warning. He could not have known what to expect from facing me."
The Western Lord said in obvious humor ", The hanyou gave me no such warning." Healo would have laughed if the situation hadn't been so serious. His half-brother rarely spoke about his injuries without heavy prodding; especially since he had told the Northern Lord that he had lost his arm in a battle with a powerful chieftain. It had been fun to confront Sesshomaru once he learned the true cause of the wound.
Inuyasha only laughed, looked at the long cut on his arm, and said ", I've had much worse wounds then this little scratch." The hanyou then held up his sword as firmly as before and said calmly ", I won't underestimate you this time." Healo only nodded and then he moved right at the hanyou with is katana again held at his side in a ready position. However, when Inuyasha was about to strike at the demon lord, he leaped right over Tetseiga then turned and aimed a slice at the sword's hilt before the hanyou could turn to engage.
The sword easily came out of Inuyasha's grip which had weakened because of his surprise, and flew to land point down about fifteen feet away from the pair. Healo did not stand and relish his triumph but flipped backward about five feet to ensure that the hanyou did not turn to slice at him with his claws. The Northern Lord needn't have taken such a step since Inuyasha was watching the Tetseiga and not him, but Healo had gone through to many battles to leave anything to chance.
Several approving murmers reached the demon lord's ears from the spectators, but he didn't care about that. He wasn't fighting his brother to impress anyone or even because he wanted to, but only because of his intended. Inuyasha turned back to look at Healo with appraising eyes, and the Northern Lord knew that the hanyou had realized that he couldn't possibly make it to Tetseiga before he would strike him.
While Inuyasha was trying to think of something to do Healo spoke in a calm tone as if he were teaching a child something. He said ", It is true that both yourself and Tetseiga possess great strength. However, you have yet to gain a true sense of balance, which isn't surprising considering the sword's weight, but until you have you will never be able to truly defeat those who use balance and economy as much as swords. The katana I weild could never tackle Tetseiga, but by using speed and deflection I can nullify your strength and even use it against you."
Healo spoke with truth but he left one part out. The whole reason he fought that way was to avoid truly hurting Inuyasha. Also he would quickly drain his energy if he tried to fight the Tetseiga head on head. 'I can only hope he comes to his senses soon, or Sesshomaru will realize that I have no intention of striking Inuyasha down,' the demon thought with desperation as he glanced at his glacial younger brother. From the look on his face he didn't have much more time; especially since he realized that Inuyasha had no desire to quit just yet.
Yay! Another chapter added. Thanks again to all of the reviewers. Hope that you let me know how I did because this is my first attempt at writing a fight scene. I almost kept writing but I have to leave soon and I wanted to get this chapter in since I told you it would be in by today. The fight will intensify in the next chapter as both brothers let loose. Hope to hear from you all. Update will be Monday. Please review!!!