Chaos Corner: I have opted to take down all my other stories until this one is completed. From now on I will be posted a chapter every Thursday.
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14. Sacrifice
Panic course through Inuyasha's veins, he was too late. His mate had shown great strength defeating his nemesis of three long years all alone. Inuyasha blamed himself; he was supposed to be there with Sesshomaru. Instead he left his brother with his troubles and now Sesshomaru was going to die. Running and sliding onto his knees Inuyasha sat in front of the beast face. He hugged as much of Sesshomaru as he could while the beast was transform. The young dog could feel his brother's aura fading slowly. Tears burned Inuyasha's eyes, but he didn't care, as he ran his claws gently through the fur on Sesshomaru's muzzle. "Don't leave me," Inuyasha could see that Sesshomaru closing his eyes as if giving into death. "Damn it Sesshomaru!" he yells, "I didn't get the chance to tell you how much I love you. You still have to train me with my own beast." Inuyasha became frantic as Sesshomaru fully closed his eyes. "We have too much to do," his voice fell to a whisper, "you can't die. You're not supposed to die.''
He felt extremely cold. The feeling was ironic to Sesshomaru; where were hell's flames that were meant to consume the wicked like him. Sesshomaru concluded he had to be in the hell, because the last image he could recall was his mate crying. This truly had to be a torture that the devil himself personally placed upon him. He could feel small hands combing through the fur on his muzzle and his brother rough voice pleading and crying in anguish. A proper mate would be able to calm his lover's worries, but try as hard as he could his body refuse to cooperate. Sesshomaru called to his beast for aid, but was meet the loudest silence in the world. Sesshomaru felt alone, cold and a pathetic excuse for a mate. Sesshomaru groan, through all this grief there is one silver lining, Inuyasha is alive. The western prince was hopeful that his death will be a disguised blessing for his mate. After all, Inuyasha deserved a man that would be able to protect him better. His mate merits a person who Inuyasha wouldn't fight with constantly. His mate earned a happy lifestyle, even if it wasn't with him. Sesshomaru could feel his aura dissolving as he involuntarily morphed into his humanoid form.
For a slight second Inuyasha held hope that his brother was coming to when his beast began to transform back to human form. Sesshomaru lay naked as the day he was born. His wounds, now more vivid, sickened Inuyasha. His brother's body lay in a pool of blood. Sesshomaru's chin, neck and chest looked like ground meat, Sesshomaru's flesh seem to tear away like rice paper. Gently Inuyasha laid his brother's head in his lap. The sound was soft, and the young dog swore it was his imagination playing tricks on him until he heard it again; Sesshomaru was calling out to him. Inuyasha began to cry harder, "I'm here." he muttered over and over again.
He couldn't die like this; he would be a disgusting vermin of a man if he stood here and simply watch Sesshomaru die. The fox looked away, there was absolutely nothing; he or anyone could do to save Sesshomaru now. Sitting on the floor, Natsume prayed for Sesshomaru's soul to find peace and that Inuyasha would take his rightful place at the throne and become the next Western Ruler.
Everything felt hopeless, "Lady Luna," Inuyasha called out, "Do you see him now? Your Sesshomaru the pride and joy of the western land, and the Dog Clan is dying; Death practically has a hold upon him. How will you sleep at night knowing you allowed him to die?" Inuyasha cursed the gods, none of them were safe. His vengeance was directed at them all: Death, Chaos, Luna and everyone in between. Their joke had gone too far for Inuyasha. "Bring me into your presence again, so that I may slit your throat." The young dog boldly proclaim in raw anger.
Sesshomaru's breathing was becoming labor, his vision blurry, the name of his lover repeated on the tip of his tongue. Death was slowly approaching. The fallen dog could feel Inuyasha's aura flare in anger. He knew there was nothing he could do, and he could only hope that Inuyasha's anger would qualm itself. This sadly was the life cycle, born-live-die a simple three step process that even he, Lord Sesshomaru could not overcome.
To say Inuyasha is angry is a complete understatement, the boy was furious. That annoying high pitch ringing was not helping at all. The black fox could hear it as well, Natsume focus on the sound needing anything to block the sound of the grieving young dog. It was not like he didn't feel the same way as Inuyasha; it was just that if he didn't see his lord die he would not be forced to realize that death was a forever thing and that Sesshomaru may never walk among them again. As time went by the sound grew higher. It was easy to pinpoint the sound even though it echoed in the silent ballroom. "Prince Inuyasha," Natsume called even though Inuyasha didn't directly answer him he knew Inuyasha was listening for he had become silent, "What is it that you know about your father's sword?"
Like a thousand fireflies lighting a starless night an idea came to Inuyasha, "I am going to bring back Sesshomaru."
Spinning around to face Inuyasha Natsume's mouth fell open, 'The prince has definitely lost his mind.' "What is gone is gone?" Natsume tries to reason.
Inuyasha blocks out all reasoning. Placing Sesshomaru gently on the floor he ran to the forgotten blade that lay respectfully aside on a small table during the ceremony, which was supposed to represent a time of peace by placing their weaponry away. Inuyasha grab the sword by the scabbard, he was immediately rejected. That didn't fade the young pup at all. Ignoring the physical pain as the sword literally burns away the skin of his palm he ran back to his mate's side. "Stay calm Sesshomaru, I will save you." Inuyasha drew the sword; he didn't get the same reaction that he normally associates with his own blade their father made for them. He knew Sesshomaru's sword was just as powerful as his own, he just need to tap into the power. Blindly and desperately Inuyasha swings the sword above his brother's body as he saw Sesshomaru done before. Nothing happened.
His brother's pain was so thick that Sesshomaru could taste it even with all his senses dulling. Sesshomaru felt when Inuyasha laid his body down. He didn't want Inuyasha to leave, but maybe it would be better this way. Sesshomaru did not want to Inuyasha to see him in such a weaken state. Inuyasha was supposed to be able to trust his very life in his hands and he had failed his brother-mate. Wasn't death only appropriate then? He could feel Inuyasha approaching, once again he is tormented with mixed emotions. They say that death is a peaceful? Inuyasha had his sword. Sesshomaru knew that Inuyasha most likely would not be able to master the blade in a few seconds, hell Sesshomaru thought that the sword had a mind of his own even at times it would not do what he wanted. He knew Inuyasha was trying to save him. He could not see or hear anymore but he, like a sad desperate mortal, held on for even the smallest second that remained for him and his mate he would cherish in the afterlife.
Wildly and fruitlessly Inuyasha swings the blade back and forth. Inuyasha couldn't help it this was his last option it had to work. Inuyasha held the blade up to his face, "Father, have you too forsaken Sesshomaru?" He allowed the vane to fall from his shaken hands. This just wasn't fare.
Ebony fox, who was watching the entire time, felt for the two. He couldn't turn a deaf ear to Inuyasha's cries anymore. On all four he crawls over to Inuyasha, "Let him die peacefully." Inuyasha instantly rejected the idea screaming at Natsume to shut up, "Tell him you love him and say your goodbyes. It is selfish of you to make this man stay alive through this pain for your own satisfaction," Natsume's anger caused his heart race to increase, tearing the muscle a little bit wider from Naraku's attack, "let him not die with harsh words in his ears!" The old fox began coughing up blood; he lowered his voice as a serious tone made it present "Prince Inuyasha, it is time to let go."
Inuyasha's blood ran cold, "You are dying?" Inuyasha's voice came out in a child-like tone.
Natsume smiles and nods his head, "It seems my time has come."
"This isn't fair," the young dog was breaking down, "I didn't even get the chance to prove to you that even though I might not have been worthy of Sesshomaru's love, I would never take it for granted." Natsume nods in a silent agreement that he was positive that Inuyasha was the right man for Sesshomaru. Those last few days, when the couple were at peace, Natsume could see the happiness radiate off of the once cold lord. Sesshomaru never looked so happy since his puppy days. The old black fox was glad to have meet Inuyasha.
Inuyasha ventures back to his mate as he laid Sesshomaru's in his lap. He combs his fingers through Sesshomaru's silk hair. It was a sad truth Sesshomaru was dying.
"This is it?" Inuyasha growled at the goddess, as she began to appear from mist, "You fight against me, curse my name and when it comes to doing what you came for, to save Sesshomaru, you fall short." Lady Luna stands in the middle of the room accompanied by an ebony hair priestess. Natsume stands ready to fight even though he didn't know what was going on, but if they were here to finish Naraku's work and bring harm to Inuyasha he wasn't going to allow that to happen. There are too many people dying in the Western Estate today.
"What do you want?" Inuyasha growls up as he holds on tighter to Sesshomaru's body. Only involuntary actions Sesshomaru was taking apart in. Shallow breath every few minutes and an even more inconsistent heartbeat.
The priestess steps forwards, "That sword will be no help for Sesshomaru has to die first."
"Who the hell ask you?" Inuyasha snaps back.
"Inuyasha, if you would have heard me out before you would have heard when I informed you that I was not the only one to bring you to the safety." The goddess indicated to the priestess with a swish of her right hand, "Lady Midoriko is powerful and she may be of help."
"Midoriko," Inuyasha tested her name, his brow fused together in concentration, "Are you not the priestess of The Jewel of Four Souls?" The woman nods her head. With the flexibility of a child Inuyasha erases the hatred as he looked up at the priestess hopefully, "Shouldn't I be able to make a wish upon the jewel?" Inuyasha broke out into a grin, "I'll wish Sesshomaru back to life."
Before Inuyasha wasn't even able to bring his hopes up, Midoriko cut it down, "That would be a selfish wish that would only taint my powers." Cursing underneath his breath Inuyasha turns away from her, she too was no help. The priestess was unfazed, "The only thing left to do, is what you were trying, using your father's sword." Inuyasha growled, she said herself, he had already tried it and it wasn't working for him. As if reading the broken hearted dog's mind Midoriko answers, "Like your own Tetsusaiga, Tenseiga can transform. That sword true power lay dormant for the centuries Sesshomaru held it as a 'useless' sword." Inuyasha was listening carefully, "Transform the sword and you'll have a chance of saving Sesshomaru."
"His heart has stopped beating a while ago," Inuyasha admit hoping it wasn't a marker that he was too late. The young dog held his brother close to his chest as he gently rocked back and forth like a mother with her child.
Priestess Midoriko nodded her head, "You must leave Sesshomaru in Lady Luna's care. As a goddess she'll be able to see the ghouls of the afterlife and keep them away from harvesting your brother's soul." With the directions the goddess of the moon walked over to the boys. Inuyasha shakes his head, how could he in good conscious leave his brother with the woman who had refused to let him leave to save his mate.
Lady Luna couldn't instantly tell Inuyasha did not trust her, "I am your mother as well as I am Sesshomaru's, give me my child so that I may watch over him so you, who claim to love him can go forth and save him." Inuyasha tightens his grip. The goddess went on her knees so that she was eye to eye with the young pup, "Forgive me Inuyasha."
Inuyasha shakes his head, "My forgiveness isn't important." They locked eyes blue and gold connect, "You will protect him." the young dog's voice held authority.
She nodded her head, "I will."
Reluctantly Inuyasha relinquish his hold as he watch the goddess cradle Sesshomaru. A warm blue light surrounded his brother. Kissing between his brows Inuyasha gives a silent vow to bring his brother back to life. Standing in front of the priestess with determination stich into his heart, "What is next?" Inuyasha demands to know.
"May I be of any help," Natsume's voice breaks through the tension.
"Stay by Sesshomaru," Inuyasha orders, "I want no more surprises today."
"Understood." the fox sat beside the goddess as she held his lord. It seemed to Natsume that faith played a cruel game. There were many times in life, when Sesshomaru and he were young, wished to be held by a mother. It was an act that was frown down upon for future lords; they didn't want their first born son to be soft. Natsume simply didn't know his mother. Now century's later Sesshomaru was being held by the mother of dogs because he was dying. The ebony fox prayed it wasn't some twisted omen of a dead's man final wish being granted.
Lady Luna watch as Natsume sat at her left hand side, she was a goddess she wasn't blind to the emotions the fox had for Sesshomaru. With her free hand she held Natsume's; a single tear stream down her face as she silently mourns for the fox. She knew that his role in life wasn't over yet, no matter how close he was now tittering on the brick of death. Lady Luna squeezes his hand reassuringly as her way of saying goodbye without giving anything away. Natsume was strong and in the end it would be his decision that would matter the most.
"Inuyasha, do you know how your father's sword work?" Midoriko inquires bringing Inuyasha's attention back to herself. The pup groan, he was in no mood for a history lesson. "I will make this short, for time is against us. Your sword works by purify demons," Inuyasha raised an eyebrow silently questioning her, 'how could a demonic sword purify.' Midoriko quickly answers, "The sword wraps a demonic aura over the purifications, when your enemy is attack the demonic abilities disperse leaving behind the pure aura. The sword behaves in such a manner because the enemies of demons are priestess; your father knew this and used that knowledge to create a sword that would kill 1,000 demons with one blow. This also explains why your sword has never transformed against a human enemy and why you could only wield Tetsusaiga when you were using to protect Kagome, the very first time."
"This information was all good but what the hell does that have to do with Tenseiga." Inuyasha crossed his arms over his chest.
"Bear with me a little longer and I'll show you how this relationship is the same to your brother's weapon." The jewel priestess assures the impatient dog. "Do you remember the first time you transformed your sword."
Inuyasha nods, "I was told that I had to kill a half-demon named Shiori, but she gave me a way to not kill her and still gain what I wanted."
"Do you know why the sword chose that girl?" Inuyasha admit that he did not. "It simply was because she was a half-demon. That is the savagery of the sword." Inuyasha was surprised the sword hadn't seek her out for her strange powers but for her blood. The thought was chilling. "To transform the sword again, in its natural phenomenal way, you'll have to kill a human and allow the sword to bath in its blood."
"A sword that needed the blood of what it swore to protect, isn't that wrong?"
"It might sound so," the priestess agreed, "that is how your father's blade confirms the difference between the two warring sides." She placed a hand gently on Inuyasha's shoulder. "It is the same way your brother sword works in vise versa." Now was the interesting part, Inuyasha pays keen attention. "Tenseiga must immerse in the blood of a dying being."
"Why?" Inuyasha blurs out.
"How else will a blade sharp enough to cut through spirits understand the difference if it is not introduced to the middle where the difference is clear. Your brother had never tried to transform the sword, so the sword ruled over itself only working when it sees fit. Tame your brother's sword and save Sesshomaru."
"What man must it be?" Inuyasha ask fearing that he might be sent out on a mission to find one specific person.
"Any man that is content with his own death."
Natsume sight was blurring and his senses seemed to be shutting down, Natsume focus on hearing the conversation between Inuyasha and Midoriko. The ebony fox heart skip a beat when he heard that he may be of use to his lord one more time, "Tenseiga must immerse in the blood of a dying being," He was dying man. He tries to call out to the young pup, but his voice fails him. Desperately he reaches out to the goddess; his sight was so blurry that she resembled a blob of white even though he was positive that she was sitting right beside him. He grabs hold of her, his fingers wrinkling her clothing. She turns to him, "Are you sure?" she questions. "Do you not wish to think about this first?" Natsume nods his head as if he has lost all control of his neck. He tries to tell her that he has already made up his mind, but with the vile and blood accumulating in his chest his voice was suffocated with it. She squeezed the fox's hand with motherly affection; the fox clan will hold a special place in her heart as well. "No one is holding you to this," Natsume growled though it sounded like a gagged whimper. The goddess was wasting time. "Understood," she calls Inuyasha. Both parties turn to look at her. Midoriko quickly caught on to the situation, this is why neither even tried to save the fox for if they did they would have eradicated all options of saving Sesshomaru. If Natsume had not wish to save Sesshomaru then his life would have been spared.
"Are you positive," the priestess question. Natsume was quickly getting irritated with these women questioning his decision.
Inuyasha on the other hand instantly disliked the idea. "NO!" Inuyasha grabbed Natsume's shoulders and began shaking the man, "I won't kill you. Sesshomaru would never forgive me." The fox shakes his head, "I won't get the chance to prove your threats as empty words."
Natsume grabbed on to Inuyasha, though his grip was loose. Looking away from Inuyasha he retched the mixture of blood and vile from his chest. His body shake violently as his knees gave out from under him Inuyasha catches him by the waist. After taking a few deep breathe he tries to push off the boy, but fails causing Inuyasha to hold on tighter to him. Maneuvering his head he got as close to Inuyasha's puppy ears his voice gruff and raw he said, "Kill me Inuyasha." The sadistic determination in his voice sent a shiver down Inuyasha's spine. "I love Sesshomaru," Natsume finally confess. "I love Sesshomaru," he repeated the sentence before once again his voice failed him.
The pup thought he should be angry at Natsume's words, but couldn't bring himself to it. Here was a man that was going to die to save Sesshomaru, Inuyasha's mate. That was all the proof of love Inuyasha needed. He wrapped his arms tightly around the man in a hug. Inuyasha pressed their foreheads together their breath mingled, "I know Sesshomaru loves you, I—"Inuyasha's voice began to crack, "I love you." Natsume broke out in a smile. He had not expected a confession in return but knowing his life was not ending in a loveless abyss made death's embrace a little bit warmer. "Know that you will always be honored in the House of the Moon." Tears stream down both male's face as Inuyasha placed Natsume gently down in a sitting position. "Forgive me for what I am doing." Natsume sat there patiently his face held high with a smile.
Once again Tenseiga rejects Inuyasha but the pup is unconcern with the blades wants. He will not have Natsume sit there and suffer. This would be Inuyasha's first mercy killing and he would make sure it was painless. This time when Inuyasha released the blade from its scabbard the sword flared to life with a small blue aura. The damn sword knew what he was about to do and was enjoying it. Swallowing the lump in his throat Inuyasha aims for Natsume's heart. Inuyasha closes his eyes and with as much force as he could muster he pierces though Natsume. The blade held little resistance. Inuyasha lets the sword go his hands shaking as he turned away; he had just killed a friend.
The rapier was alive, it began pulsating madly, and reluctantly Inuyasha looked. Natsume's body was still sitting upright with a smile. Not a single drop of blood fell from the wound as the blade literally drank every drop of blood. "Now," Inuyasha was startled by Midoriko's voice, "retrieve the sword." Inuyasha grabs the haft; his entire body felt as if it was on fire, the pup could feel himself on the brick of unconsciousness.
"Open your eyes," Lady Luna calls, "look at Sesshomaru. Do you see them?"
Against every protest of his body and mind, Inuyasha focus on his brother-mate. He could see them, small Jaken-like creatures that were climbing over Sesshomaru's body. Running Inuyasha swipes the sword of his mate's body. He hacked through two of them and they immediately disappeared. Now with more confidence that the plan was actually working Inuyasha swipes cleanly through the rest of the small ghoul creatures. With his task down exhaustion laid heavily on his shoulders. Falling to his knees Inuyasha holds his brother's hand. With his brother hand between his grasp Inuyasha kissed his knuckles, "please work," the young dog pleads. An entire minute crawled by before Inuyasha could hear it. 'Thump,' it was light but it was there. Once again the thump sound echoed weakly in Sesshomaru's chest. Even though the sound was still feeble it was becoming more consistent. Soon the beat of his heart began to harmonize with the sound of the western lord breathing. "Just open your eyes, love," tears of joy pour from Inuyasha's eyes.
"He might not wake," the goddess imputes after another minute flies by with no more changes. Inuyasha turns to her with his eyes narrow, 'the woman would do good to change her title of goddess of the moon to something more fitting as the goddess of bad news,' Inuyasha think, for the very moment he had meet this woman that was all she had done. "Sesshomaru is still wounded from his battle his body will need time to heal."
The pup looked up at the woman that was now towering over him, "You will heal him like you have done for me."
"Yes," Inuyasha smiles, there was a chance for Sesshomaru to live. She kneeled beside Inuyasha and removed Sesshomaru's shirt. The wound was worse than Inuyasha had thought, strong demons died of less. Wordlessly the goddess glides her hands over his chest and with a small light the wound began to heal. "That is all the power I have left, forgive me but I must leave." she began to fade away, "Worry not Inuyasha at least you now know that Death does not holds Sesshomaru."
Turning to Midoriko Inuyasha asks a question, "If he isn't in Death's grasp why he isn't awake?"
A sorrowful looks claim the priestess, "I can only assume that his soul resides in purgatory. It is now up to Sesshomaru if he wishes to return or not." Inuyasha could only nod at her answer, Sesshomaru would return; his brother wouldn't abandon him again. "Come, let us bring Sesshomaru to his chambers, it would be a more befitting way to awake." Inuyasha lifts his brother in his arms. Inuyasha was so worried for his mate that he hadn't even realized the distraught war story that the room now possessed. What was once an elegant and overelaborate room was an empty image of itself as a mockery of a battle zone. Midoriko stood at the door. Inuyasha stops at Natsume side. "With your Sesshomaru no longer in position to make chooses; you, Inuyasha is now the standing lord of the west," Inuyasha listen, but he didn't like the idea at all.
"My mate will come back and take his rightful place once again."
She nods in agreement, "Until then, you are now in charged. It is you that will decide what will happen to the dead,"
"We will hold a ceremony for Natsume's brave sacrifice," Inuyasha answers automatically. He began walking to the doors.
"It is you who will have to speak to the crowds." Inuyasha's mouth fell, without waiting for a response she opened the door.
"Patience is power.
Patience is not an absence of action;
rather it is "timing"
it waits on the right time to act,
for the right principles
and in the right way."
― Fulton J. Sheen
XOXO
Disclaimer Inuyasha ©2000 Rumiko Takahashi/Shogakukan - Yomiuri TV - Sunrise
All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.