Author's Note:
Enjoy, love it...review me! Please? *puppy eyes*
xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
Fraternal Treachery ~ Strangers' Acceptance
Fourteen
Kagome sighed as she ran her fingers slowly over her stomach, ascending the stairs carefully. She didn't know why, but she felt all that much more vulnerable, all that more weak since she'd found out about the small, dependant life growing inside of her. These stairs were even a task enough, she felt so exhausted already, like she was going to fall. Pausing a moment at the top of the first flight of stairs, the once-priestess rested the small of her back against the banister, breathing heavily. Izayoi had said that her pregnancy would be virtually the same as a human one, yet it would occur much quicker. Apparently Inuyasha had only taken eight weeks to fully mature inside his mother's womb. At least at that she could breathe a sigh of relief. Only two months of pregnancy, she supposed, that was an upside only to be opposed by the long and painful labour Izayoi had warned her that she was in store for because of the baby's mixed blood.
The dim hum of Inu-no-Taishou's voice below in the main hall could still be heard slightly from where she rested, a small smile creeping across her face. Her heart had stopped in her chest when Inu-no-Taishou had found her, Sango and the others, the demon slayer mid-arguing whether Inuyasha was trustworthy or not. She'd been glad, however, when the demon lord hadn't taken offence, and had even gone as far as to understand. Although then her 'father-in-law' had jokingly reprimanded her for being out in the cold in her 'condition', hastily shooing her back up to see her mate. Her cheeks were still flushed from the suggestive wink he offered her at the swift mentioning of it being her 'mating night' and all…
Suddenly a shuddering crash sounded from the hall to the left of the landing. Her head turned to hear several repetitive slams against the wall, causing her to flinch with the sound. Steadying herself on the banister, feeling slightly dizzy all of a sudden, Kagome stopped. That voice. That harsh, agonised cry – she recognised it. "Inuyasha?" she called shakily, shutting her eyes against the spinning world, one hand resting over her face whilst the other clenched tight to the banister of the staircase, knuckles beginning to turn white. No answer. "Inuyasha?!"
A sharp jolt of someone seizing her by the shoulders ripped a tiny yelp of surprise from her throat. Eyes shooting open her heart thudded rapidly in her chest, as she gasped slightly. "Inuyasha don't do that!" she scolded. Wetting his dry lips, the half-demon blinked hard, avoiding her eyes until the tears had disappeared from his own.
"S-Sorry…" he murmured, pulling his hands down from her arms before she could glimpse the bleeding, torn flesh on his knuckles where they'd smacked into the stone wall. Too late.
"Inuyasha! What's happened? Your hand is-"
"-It's nothing," he cut her off blankly.
"Do 'nothings' usually bleed that bad-"
"-I said it's nothing!" She recoiled slightly at his abrupt shouting. Inuyasha had never raised his voice to her like that before. Her brow furrowed slightly as she stepped away from the banister to rest her hands on his shoulders.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell at you…" he apologised, leaning into her touch, lightly grazing the side of his cheek against one of the hands on his shoulders. "I just…I'm not having a good day…everything's just…I think I need to…" The girl squeezed her mate's shoulders gently as his voice trailed off into confused silence.
"It's alright. You don't have to tell me. Let's just go to bed, okay?" he nodded, turning to face her in the embrace, pressing his lips gently to hers. Drawing apart a little, he touched noses with her gently before venturing speech.
"Kagome? I…I just need to…" The half-demon's words lost themselves in his throat once more, as his golden eyes flickered to the creature practically gliding towards them. Sesshomaru stopped, watching his brother and Kagome impassively. Swallowing lightly, Kagome's gaze wavered over the two brothers, feeling awkward at the tension between them. "Get away from me. Traitor…" Inuyasha growled lividly, drawing towards the full-demon, away from Kagome's embrace.
"You're still my little brother, Inuyasha," Sesshomaru said blankly, causing Inuyasha to flinch at the seemingly affectionate words.
"I thought you were…once. You…the one I trusted more than anyone. The one I believed in…that I thought believed in me. All those times when I was younger I wanted to be you. But now…" he finally met his brother's eyes resolutely, his voice stronger than before, bearing a coldness that sounded foreign to his voice. "I'd rather be a 'mangy half-breed' than a filthy traitor." Sesshomaru's face narrowed into a slight scowl.
"And this is all you can say? To me? To the brother who has watched over you since you were in your swaddling cloth? To the person who has done nothing but protect and dote over you, keep your secrets – this is all you can say?" Inuyasha tore his eyes from him, unwilling to let him see the hurt within them. He wouldn't give him the satisfaction.
"No…I can say more. Oh so much more…but I…I won't."
"Inuyasha-"
"-I won't tell Father," Inuyasha said, cutting across Kagome's words. "I won't tell him, I can spare him the news that his heir is a treacherous bastard at least…if you leave." Sesshomaru's eyes widened.
"What?"
"If you go, now. I won't tell father what you've done…you're right. You're my brother, whatever you've done, whatever you say, you're my flesh and blood, and if father finds out he'll kill you himself…I can't do that to you. I won't condemn you to death. So go." Inuyasha raised his tear-laden eyes to his brother again, biting his lip in anger at his obvious misery. He loved his brother, why did this have to happen? Sending him away was tearing his insides apart, but he couldn't stay…not now, not after this…
"Inuyasha-"
"-GO!" The half-demon screamed over Sesshomaru's voice. Blinking back the tinge of glassiness in his stoic eyes, the demon held his brother's gaze a moment longer, moving past him.
"I meant what I said. You're still my little brother, Inuyasha," he said softly, descending the stairs, once more…
***
"So, you're Inuyasha." The half-demon raised an eyebrow at the demon slayer's words; it was a statement, not a question. The sun of the next day had risen fully in the sky by now, and to Inuyasha's horror he'd discovered the morning routine apparently included impressing Sango, Miroku and the kitsune whelp at their side. Damn humans, he growled mentally. He wasn't in the mood for this. He hadn't finished sulking – thinking in his room about Sesshomaru…
""Well he's good looking enough," Sango noted, speaking as if she'd quite forgotten he were there.
"Indeed," commented the monk, "yet he seems grumpy and from the sounds of his shouting yesterday evening I would assume he is quite violent." A Little growl brewed in Inuyasha's throat.
"He's not, really Miroku he's always gentle to me. Besides that, he's only really ever violent when I'm in danger, and he's only being grumpy because you're probing him for answers." A silly little grin struck the monk's face, and Inuyasha narrowed his eyes at him. Suddenly the monk's human wife jabbed him hard in the side, making him yelp slightly.
"Ignore him; he's a lecherous creep who finds the word 'probe' funny, along with many other words." Kagome clasped her hands together to bring the attention back to her.
"Listen Sango. Honestly, Inuyasha loves me; he would and has protected me with his life. It's as simple as that. He'll never let anything happen to me, or the baby, and I…I want you to like him too…" The once-priestess glanced over to Inuyasha, who was watching her strangely. Stupid woman, he growled mentally, hundreds of humans that have been living in these lands half my life still haven't accepted me. Why would a demon slayer and a monk do so within less than a day?!
"Oh I like him," Sango smiled mischievously; "I liked him the minute I caught sight of those ears of his." Inuyasha blushed, his ears twitching unconsciously at being noticed. Suddenly the kitsune leapt up onto Kagome's shoulder, tweaking one of the said ears curiously.
"Cool. Will your baby have ears like this, Kagome?"
"Hey!" Inuyasha shouted, shaking off the grip that Shippo had on his ear. "I'm still here you know!" Kagome laughed quietly. "And it's a pup not a baby."
"Well, as long as I get a kid with cool dog ears to play with later on, I guess Inuyasha isn't all that bad."
"Gee, thanks for the complement," the half-demon said sarcastically, crossing his arms sulkily, but secretly thankful they'd accepted him, and slightly moved by their practically immediate approval. He was startled from his thoughts when the monk bowed slightly to him.
"I hope we will become great friends, Lord Inuyasha." Inuyasha blinked a couple of times at him.
"Keh, maybe, if you stop that 'Lord' business right away." Miroku smirked a little.
"We support you and Inuyasha in this, Kagome, all the way," Sango assured her, placing her hands on her friend's shoulders. "However, I insist that we stay here and assist you and Lord Inu-no-Taishou in this battle." Kagome flicked a glance at Inuyasha swiftly, before meeting the demon slayer's eyes once more. "The revolutionaries, they destroyed everything and everyone in our home, we have to stop them. I won't let them get away with it." The woman seemed to serious, so powerful, even for a mere human, Inuyasha had to watch her with disguised interest. "Besides," she added, a little less cryptically, "Lord Inu-no-Taishou has already offered Miroku, Kohaku and I a place in his army." Whilst Inuyasha was partially despaired, partially intrigued at the news they'd be staying, Kagome frowned slightly.
"Kohaku made it out alive? Where is he?" Sango smiled warmly.
"He's on his way here. He and Kilala were out on a mission when the village was attacked so…" Sango's words trailed off, the woman obviously uncomfortable with the subject.
"Hey," Inuyasha interrupted cautiously, touching Kagome's arm gently, "while this little meeting is fun and all, we can play 'catch-up' later, the demon lords and ladies are leaving, we have to be with Father and Mother when they 'bid farewell' to them." He rolled his eyes slightly. "Some crappy 'royal' duty, it sucks, but we gotta do it." Kagome nodded, promising Sango and the others that they'd be back quickly, before following Inuyasha towards the main hall.
***
"Are you sure you have to leave?" Inu-no-Taishou asked quietly. "What has brought this on so suddenly? Do you not like it here any longer?" Sesshomaru shook his head, a small shred of a smile passing his features.
"It is not that I assure you, Father. I merely wish to travel a little. See our lands for myself, as I have not been able to do since Mother died. It is not forever, just…for a while." Inu-no-Taishou watched him carefully, staring into his oldest son's eyes deeply, as if searching for some part of the boy that had once never left his side.
"And what of the revolutionaries? Of Inuyasha? Will you not even stay for him?" Sesshomaru shook his head again.
"The revolutionaries are part of the reason I wish to go. Whilst they stay away from us, you can rest assured they're inflicting damage somewhere else in our lands, I wish to go, Father. And as for Inuyasha, he as good as told me – that he thought it would be good for me to go." At this, the demon lord raised a dark brow.
"You have not strayed from your post at Inuyasha's side since you first held him… Something is wrong." Sesshomaru pressed his hands on his father's shoulders reassuringly.
"Father, believe me, nothing is wrong. I admit, leaving Inuyasha is hard, particularly under the circumstances, however-"
"-Then do not leave," Inu-no-Taishou interrupted, "I do not want one of my sons beyond the walls, unprotected in this warring era. True, you are strong, and are more than capable of taking care of yourself, but I… They have ways, Sesshomaru, ways of making even the strongest and wisest fall, and to have you out of my sight is just-"
"-However, Inuyasha needs to be strong now. You said it yourself; he is just as much your son as I am. So let him be your son, a demon lord. He has the strength, let him the chance to use it. And let me the chance to use mine." Inu-no-Taishou sighed heavily, almost sadly.
"Keep safe, my son, make sure you bring yourself safely back." Sesshomaru nodded, turned to walk away from his parents, just as he felt something seize his arm gently. Looking down into the face of the one holding him, he blinked in secret shock at the sight of Izayoi's embrace. Pulling back slightly, the woman glanced behind her to be sure that Inu-no-Taishou was no longer watching, before leaning up on the tips of her toes to whisper to him.
"I know why you're leaving…" Golden eyes widened.
"Inuyasha told-"
"-No." she assured him. "Inuyasha hasn't said anything, in fact it's news to me that he knows, however I…I worked it out myself and I…I understand, Sesshomaru, and I won't disown you. Why would I? You're as much my son as Inuyasha is, you always have been. And I…I hope you find the strength to come back one day, though I know that is doubtful." Sesshomaru looked down at her questioningly.
"In all my years, Lady Izayoi, I have never quite figured you out," he said quietly, nodding his head appreciatively.
"I have not relinquished my promise; I will be watching Inuyasha, in my own ways." The woman smiled warmly, releasing Sesshomaru's hand.
Inuyasha frowned as he stood with Kagome beside Inu-no-Taishou, watching his mother and Sesshomaru converse. His heart ached. The longest he'd ever been away from his brother was a four days, when he was around sixty years old, and he'd cried the whole time, and then some more when he'd come back. He'd never been away from Sesshomaru long, and yet here he was, commanding that he leave. And that feeling, that throbbing pain more potent that love resounded in his heart with each beat – the treachery. He could never forgive him. It was better to see him gone and miss him, than allow him to stay and see the monster he'd become…
Remembering his parents didn't really know why Sesshomaru was leaving; Inuyasha moved forwards slowly, attempting to convince them nothing was wrong. At least that's what he told himself. An unconscious part of his mind took the moment that he threw his arms round his brotherly very unceremoniously, to say goodbye.
"Look after yourself, and…stay alive…" the half-demon raised his head to look into his brother's eyes, his own bearing such misery there was no doubt he was already regretting his decision, no matter how he tried to rationalise it, "…bastard…" he muttered under his breath. Sesshomaru patted his head condescendingly…or, affectionately?
Drawing away from him, he stepped back to his father's side, watching as his older brother – no, the man that used to be my older brother, his mind corrected, as Sesshomaru walked away. Inuyasha didn't even register the other demon lords and ladies he was supposed to be thanking and saying goodbye to, accept to watch them mingle with his brother in the small trail of demons departing the castle.
When Sesshomaru had finally disappeared, Inuyasha was ripped from his thoughts by the slimy, crawling voice that slithered into his ears.
"I expect you will miss him greatly, Lord Inuyasha," Lord Eisuke muttered, bowing courteously, "whatever will you do now your brother and protector has left you to fend for yourself?" Inuyasha sneered.
"I will miss my brother, and protect myself," he responded coolly, pulling his arm round Kagome's waist subtly, "and my family."
"Indeed," Eisuke nodded, bowing in turn to the people beside him. "We'll be passing through often Lord Inu-no-Taishou, the others may be departing along with us now the mating ceremony is over but you can rest assured, we'll be back." Kagome smiled falsely, bowing only a little, not looking forward to his return or that skulking son of his, Satoru either. "Maybe we'll even catch some glimpses of your wonderful grandchild soon." Kagome shuddered at his words, yanking her hand from the demon's grip. He smiled, returning the falseness with his that was in her own, before he departed, taking his followers with him.
"I didn't like the way he said that," Kagome whispered in Inuyasha's ear, "I'm glad he's gone. I only wish he wouldn't come back…Inuyasha?" She looked up, sure Inuyasha had heard her words, but frowning sadly at the single tear that crept down his cheek. He'd only just registered the fact. Sesshomaru was gone…forever…
TBC
xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
A/N: *Dodges flying fruit* I'm gunna be hit for that misery aren't I? *sobs* Jesus-McFudge! This chapter was wicked hard to write, I stopped and started again about 8 different times. All the words just didn't seem to come out the way I wanted them to. This didn't flow at all, and I swear it shows. This one wasnt very long either, so I apologise for that. Next chappie will hopefully be much better. Please leave me a review so I know you haven't given up on me. Thankies!
Shigure-san
x chuu x
