A/N: Thanks to TenshiBabe for the energy boost I needed! Here we go! Oh, possible character death or humble pie, read to find out….
Chapter 6:
Sesshomaru would have been labeled a liar if he said that he was not afraid of the figure his brother portrayed. It reeked off power, authority and if possible, an inferno personified. Never in all his years has Sesshomaru beheld such rage. Challenging his brother's birthright was the last straw.
"HOW DARE YOU CHALLENGE MY BIRTHRIGHT AND MY TITLE!" Inuyasha's voice boomed. "THIS IS HOW YOU HONOR THE LAST WILL AND TESTEMENT OF YOUR LATE LORD AND FATHER?"
"YOU MAY HAVE CHANGED NOW BUT IN MY EYES YOU WILL ALWAYS BE THE FILTHY, LOWLY HANYOU YOU WERE BORN AS!" With that, the older Inu-youkai lunged at the younger, despite the cries of Sesshomaru's mother. Inuyasha saw his Beta hold his stepmother and his friends at bay. He knew that this was Inuyasha's fight and his alone. Kagome was ready to shoot an arrow but was stopped by Naraku.
"Don't interfere." He said sternly. "Trust me, this can get ugly." Kagome looked over Naraku's shoulder and her eyes widened. The two brothers were oblivious to their audience and began to fight. Their claws and fangs were bared and both were looking more and more animalistic by the second. Inuyasha was trying to prevent his brother from unleashing his full demon, for it would cause harm to everyone. Sesshomaru on the other hand was trying to get past his brother to destroy everything, planning to savior his brother's pain over their carcasses. Especially his Beta's….No pain was greater than the loss of a loved one. Sesshomaru never cared for anyone. For a spell he cared for the human Rin but when she was killed by a raving demon, Sesshomaru shut himself down from any signs of compassion. Nothing he did brought his ward back and now, the one thing he had left, his Lordship, wasn't even his! He blamed Inuyasha for his father's death, ever since the hanyou was born, even before then, for even so, Inuyasha had his father's favor and affections. He hated Inuyasha beyond words and the hatred was deeper than the pits of Hell.
"LET'S LEAVE HERE." Sesshomaru's voice roared. "THAT WAY I CAN PAINT THE LAND RED WITH YOUR BLOOD…"
"FINE THEN, LEAD ON." The younger Inu-youkai ordered. Sesshomaru turned tail and made way to the lands that were not too far from the Western Lands, but there were no signs of life, no means of holding back, and that was just fine for the younger Lord. Before leaving, Inuyasha turned demon red eyes to the group.
"I SAY THIS ONLY ONCE, DO NOT INTERFERE AND DO NOT FOLLOW. THIS IS MY FIGHT. WHATEVER HAPPENS, DO NOT COME. IF YOU DISOBEY ME, YOU WILL BE DEALT WITH, THAT'S A PROMISE." After stating his order, The younger Lord leapt away, following his older brother who had already taken his demon dog form and was a good distance away.
"Oh no," Sesshomaru's mother said. "Inuyasha's never learned to transform!"
"I'm sure he'll figure it out." Masaki said. "He's a clever young demon, he'll do just fine."
"So the battle has begun," Inuyasha heard his father say in his head. "My pup, I am going to be honest with you, the first transformation is always the hardest and the most painful."
Is this lesson really necessary?
"If you want to be on even ground with Sessho, then yes!" Inuyasha sighed and allowed his father to guide him through. "Focus my pup, but not on the pain. Focus on your youkai. It'll help you. You're bringing out the demon from within."Inuyasha did as he was told and felt the 'change'. His body expanded and grew more muscular. His hands turned into massive paws and his ears, were like his puppy ears, raised, white furred with pink in the middle. His twin tails were massive! In short, he was even bigger than Sesshomaru!
Damn I'm huge!
"You make me feel like a toy poodle!" His father teased. "You'll be fine my pup." Inuyasha landed on the opposite side of his brother and took a stance.
"ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SUBMIT." Inuyasha said. "DON'T MAKE ME KILL YOU SESSHO."
"YOU HAVE NO CHOICE, BECAUSE I WILL NEVER SUBMIT TO THE LIKES OF YOU!"
"THEN YOU'RE A FOOL!" Inuyasha barked. Sesshomaru snarled and lunged at his brother for the second time, aiming for the other's jugular vein. He was going in for the kill. Inuyasha was not willing to let that happen. He could've sworn he heard his father, clear as day ask one question:
Have you something to protect?
Inuyasha dodged his brother's lunge and snapped at the other's hind quarters. Images of his friends and all the good times they shared, the villages, their adventures and the latest with his Beta and new found friends, played through his head. He did have something to protect. He had his people, his family and his friends to protect. He fought hard against his brother, biting and scratching, whacking with his tails. Sesshomaru wasn't faring too well. He hadn't realized how much his brother had improved on the battlefield until right now. Inuyasha's fighting spirit was brighter than even the sun. It was beautiful and strong and now Sesshomaru saw what his father saw years ago. Inuyasha was just like their father. He cared and loved one and all, just like their father. Where Sesshomaru failed, Inuyasha excelled. Inuyasha was a survivor, he was able to think and be on his own. He was determined and passionate. But the fact that he was born hanyou and bested him was too much for Sesshomaru to handle.
"NOW IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO JOIN OUR FATHER IN THE UNDERWORLD! DIE INUYASHA!" With that, Sesshomaru bounded toward his brother, who was recovering from a bite on his left shoulder, courtesy of his brother. Inuyasha looked up to see his brother bounding toward him. He braced himself and waited for the right moment to strike. When his brother reared on his hind legs, Inuyasha had his shot! He swiped a powerful paw; electric claws extended, sliced his brother's chest open. Sesshomaru let out a blood curdling howl and fell backwards, shaking the ground as he crashed down, his life's blood dyeing and matting his fur red. Inuyasha's form loomed over him and after a moment, locked onto the wound, tearing at the tender flesh, spouting more blood, cracking the breast bone and withdrew. There was one part he needed to keep intact; the heart.
Sesshomaru reverted back to his humanoid form, blood gushing and his chest open, his heart visible to the world. Inuyasha also reverted back and looked down at his ailing brother.
"You know what I can do to you," He said. "But I've always done things my own way. Instead of killing you, as you would me, I'm letting you live. But you are now and forever, exiled from the Western Lands. You are to leave the sword our father left you, for it belongs to my family. For abandoning and renouncing family, you no longer have family. You will live quietly amongst the humans you despise, as one of them." With that declared Inuyasha rammed his hand into his brother's chest and gathered his brother's demon energy, but not before slicing his brother's tail off. Almost instantly, his eyes went from amber to lilac, his hair from silver white to white blond, his markings disappeared, his ears and fangs reverted to human ears and teeth. He was still beautiful but a human nevertheless. When the process was complete, Inuyasha removed his hand and licked the wound on his brother's chest, healing it instantly. Once completely healed, Sesshomaru turned away from his brother and wept.
"Why? Why don't you just kill me?"
"That would be letting you get off easy." His brother said. "This is more suitable for you. You will live in the village of Kaede and tend to her for the rest of your days." He picked up his brother and took him back to the palace.
"Hey!" Shippo called as he saw the two brothers return. "Inuyasha's back!" The group came running forth and waited for the duo to touch down. As he was being welcomed back by the group, Sesshomaru's mother walked up to the pair and looked at her son, then her stepson.
"Why didn't you kill him?" She asked.
"Then I would be no better than he was." Inuyasha said. "Sessho needs to learn a little humility. I spared him, in hopes that he finds what was lost to him long ago." Sesshomaru's mother surprised everyone by smiling warmly for the first time.
"You are your father's son." She said. "So, where will he live?"
"I've decided that he live in Kaede's village." Inuyasha said. "She will need someone able bodied to watch over her and help her. He is no longer a demon and can pose no threat. Also, Miroku and Sango will be able to keep watch over him, As his mother, you have final say. What say you?" Sesshomaru looked at his mother with pleading eyes, sure that she would 'rescue' him. He was in for another shock.
"I will not object to my Lord's decree." She said, bowing low. "I am grateful that you have spared my son and I am forever in your debt."
"So it is decided." Inuyasha said, "Today we rest, tomorrow; we head for Kaede's village." With that he walked into his stepmother's palace, leaving the group alone, he had a lot to think on and plan. So much has happened in such a short time that Inuyasha was surprised he hadn't gone insane. He was close to his room when he caught his Beta's scent. He looked up and saw Naraku by his room, reading on the ground, and using the doors as his backrest.
"If you wanted to go in," Inuyasha said with a tired chuckle. "You could've just entered." Naraku looked up from his book and graced his Alpha with a real smile.
"Not yet," He said. "I'm so glad you're back. Is that blood yours?"
"Not all of it." He said as he felt pain from his left shoulder as he gently led Naraku into his room, "Some of it is, most of it is Sesshomaru's."
"You didn't kill him did you?" Naraku asked as he sat down at the edge of his Alpha's bed.
"No, I took his demon energy away." Inuyasha said as he painfully removed his ruined kimono. "He's to live the remainder of his life as a human." Naraku looked at the wound on his Alpha's shoulder and rose from his seat.
"I'll be right back." The ravenette said. "Sit on the bed." Inuyasha did as he was told and smiled a bit when the crimson eyed demon returned with a bowl of water, towel and some medicine. He turned his back to his Beta and sighed when he felt soft elegant hands on his shoulders.
"Now, why did you do that, spare him and remove his demon energy?"
"Naraku, if I killed him, I'd be no better than he was. I think what demons fear the most, is existing as a human. So, I just made the fear a reality."
"And where is he to live?" Naraku asked as he cleaned off the wound on his Alpha's shoulder. Luckily there was no permanent damage. He cleaned the wound and applied the medicine. After he applied the medicine, he dressed it and looked at the Inu.
"How does it feel?"
"Much better, thank you," Inuyasha said with a smile. "You're pretty good at this."
"Well, I wasn't always graceful." Naraku said as he repacked the medicine. "And I was human once upon a time you know. I didn't have a healer with me and I wasn't able to get treated often so, I learned how."
"Don't take this the wrong way, but what kind of hanyou are you?"
"Why do you ask?" Naraku chuckled softly. Inuyasha blinked. He's just full of surprises….
"I'm asking because even though you have a spider mark on your back, you don't have the characteristics of a spider demon."
"You're right." Naraku said, admiring his Alpha's clever observation. "I'm a blend of so many so call it a Chimera Hanyou if you will."
"I can live with that." Inuyasha said with a smile. Naraku looked away a bit, trying to hide a slight blush. "You should rest, we have quite a journey ahead of us." Naraku nodded and bowed to his Alpha.
"Then I will leave you now." He said softly, medicine carefully balanced in both hands. "Goodnight my Lord." Inuyasha got up, escorted the Chimera back to his own room, holding the door open. As he watched Naraku enter the room, Inuyasha placed a gentle hand onto his Beta's arm, turning him around and for the first time, touched their lips in a tender, chaste kiss.
"Goodnight, Naraku." He whispered, causing the ravenette to slightly shudder in pleasure. The Chimera watched the Inu return to his own room and made sure the door was shut before his knees buckled and his blush grew to full. He placed the medicine down on his desk and decided to return to his book when he noticed it was missing.
Oh damn. He swore. I left it on Inuyasha's bed!
Oops, Naraku left his book and Sesshie's human. How will the story unfold? Read on to find out!