As everyone fell asleep Jeff walked into Ashley's bed room where she lay unconscious still he sat on the edge of her bed and caressed her face lightly with his hand and pushed her hair behind her ear exposing her entire beautiful face. He and kagome had cleaned all the dried blood from around her nose earlier and it had not returned.
" this was my fault.." he whispered softly. " I should have never let you leave my side then you would have been safe." suddenly Ashley's body jumped to life shocking Jeff and causing him to flinch as she jumped up and pulled her knees to her face.
"where am I." she asked as she looked franticly around the room before letting her eyes pause on Jeff.
" its ok your safe were in Sesshomaru's house." Jeff replied.
"oh." Ashley answered. " and what are you doing here." she asked coldly.
" although it was only a week ago our roles were reversed I woke up with you at my bedside, it feels like a year." Jeff replied. Ashley said nothing she didn't even look at him.
"everything that women said was a lie." Jeff continued. " she was Inuyasha's ex girlfriend apparently and she thought I was him."
" how would I know that...how do I know hes not just covering for you?" Ashley said still not looking up.
" I don't blame you, you have no reason to believe me nor my brother but you could ask your cousin, shes the one who explained it all to me." Jeff answered her. Suddenly an orange light filled the room Jeff looked up to see Ashley holding her hands to her nose as she fixed the damage.
"so what happened to the demon who was after me?" Ashley asked.
" I killed him." Jeff answered looking away again.
"oh." Ashley responded surprised that he could say such a thing with such ease, as though killing someone was natural like he had done it a million times. "how many people have you killed." she asked. This time looking at him searching for his eyes. This question caused him to raise his head and look her directly in the eyes.
" I have only ever killed one person." Jeff responded his eyes filling with hurt.
" oh so this was your first time.." Ashley continued on the subject.
" no I did not kill a person tonight, I killed a demon I have killed thousands of demons before." Jeff answered never breaking her gaze even upon seeing the horror enter her eyes at his words.
" thousands... but Jeff your a demon and your still a person.." Ashley began her words trembling off her lips she began to become frightened.
" we demons are very different then humans, we are not people, no matter how hard we try to be we are all monsters." he began watching the terror in the face of the girl he adored so much. " some of us are monsters with good intentions, and some of us are monsters with terrible desires, even demons with good intentions can not be trusted some of these demons give in to instinct and urges and hurt people they care about. These demons should be punished." he said flat out with no emotion at all. " they should not be killed, because sometimes living with their actions is worse then death." he took a long pause. " they should however still be severely punished, and demons who willingly give in to evil desires and instincts, they should be destroyed." he finished his explanation with the same cold emotionless voice he had started it with.
" I see...i think I understand so these evil demons you don't count as people because all their doing is hurting people so by destroying one of them your saving a ton of people right?"
" essentially yes." Jeff responded.
" I just have one more question." Ashley said as she began to sweat and shake and she could feel herself becoming very nervous.
" what is it." he asked.
" well.. who did you kill." Ashley asked never breaking her gaze as she watched his eyes swell with pain at the question she knew she hit a nerve but before she could apologize, Jeff broke her stair stood up and exited the room.
As he made his way to his room he could hear giggles coming from Inuyasha's room, he stopped and thought of what it would be like to have a normal life. Then he continued to his room where he laid on his bed staring threw the skylight at the stars.
Ashley fell asleep soon after Jeff exited the room she still couldn't help but wonder whom he had killed. Jeff on the other hand stood up all night gazing at the sky recalling that day the one moment he has relived over and over again every night of his entire life since the moment it happened.
When everyone woke up in the morning. They all went downstairs where Rin made breakfast for everyone. The only person not present at the table was Jeff.
" hey kagome, was everything Jeff told me about Inuyasha's ex girlfriend true?" Ashley whispered into her ear.
" yup." kagome replied as she nodded her head. " Rin this omelet is delicious." kagome complimented before diving back into her food.
When everyone was done eating kagome and Sango began helping Rin with the dishes while Inuyasha and Miroku headed for the living room to play video games, Sesshomaru began walking upstairs and Ashley followed him. Once they had reached the top of the stairs and Sesshomaru was sure no one could hear them he stopped and turned around.
" you shouldn't follow people, its rude." Sesshomaru said while leaning against the wall to listen to what the girl had to say.
" i'm sorry for bothering you Sesshomaru, but Jeff was telling me some things last night, he told me how hes only ever killed one person and told me how demons aren't people and all these things." Ashley started speaking quickly and making little sense.
" and your point is?" Sesshomaru asked unsure of where she was going.
" well I asked him who the person he killed was, and he got upset and just walked out of the room, I was wondering if you knew who it was." Ashley asked curiously.
"hmm yes I do know who it was." Sesshomaru answered.
"..well will you tell me?" the shy girl asked although she thought that was implied in her first question.
"no, I will not tell you because it is not my business to tell if you want to know then you must wait until he is ready to tell you." Sesshomaru answered before turning his back and walking away leaving the girl standing there speechless. She went back downstairs and helped the girls clean up. Now that she had been denied her answer twice by two separate people she only wanted to know whom it was even more. So for the next few hours all the guys played games and were loud and annoying while the girls sat and talked at the kitchen table watching them. Then Sesshomaru came back down the stairs and unplugged the game.
"hey we were playing that.!" Inuyasha protested.
" get your friends and get ready were going to dads they have all been invited on Rin's behalf." Sesshomaru said as though he wasn't the most pleased. Inuyasha nodded and headed upstairs to pack some cloths just as he reached the stairs Sesshomaru spoke again. "oh and Inuyasha, bring your sword." Inuyasha shot him a confused look. "it will be needed." Sesshomaru reassured him. So he went and packed his sword as well. A limo approached the front door of the house and Sesshomaru and Inuyasha began loading bags into it, as all of their friends stared completely confused.
" were going to my parents for Sesshomaru and Rin's wedding tomorrow Rin has invited you guys." Inuyasha enlightened them.
"oh." Miroku answered thinking with a very curious look on his face.
"uhm.. Inuyasha we don't have any clothes packed for the night and we don't have anything to wear at the wedding!" kagome exclaimed.
" don't worry were all gonna go shopping before we get to the house tonight and solve that problem." Inuyasha reassured.
"YAY! I love shopping." the girls exclaimed as they jumped up and down.
" yea don't we all." Inuyasha mumbled rolling his eyes as Miroku did the same. The only one who didn't seem to excited about all this was Jeff Ashley noticed that he had been lost in thought at the mention of his parents house. So everyone piled into the limo and it began moving after about two hours it arrived at a huge mall.
"wow, this place looks awesome." kagome said excitedly, looking to Songo and Ashley who nodded in agreement.
" this mall is the best, its where I do all my shopping Rin explained.
" well I need to go get these boys all some nice looking suits so i'm going to take them, Rin you take the girls get them their dresses and whatever else they need and well meet you back at the limo." Sesshomaru explained.
" ok sounds good." Rin nodded in approval. So the girls took off in one direction and Sesshomaru led the guys in another. The girls began wondering many different stores looking at make up and dresses and cloths and accessories.
" its all on me guys and my wallet is as big as Sesshomaru's so get whatever you guys want." Rin encouraged. Kagome leaned over to Rin.
" you probably shouldn't have said that." kagome giggled as she ran around with the others looking at all the different things. This made Rin laugh it had been a long time since she had had fun like this. The boys were very different they had very quickly picked out their sleeping cloths and a regular outfit although Sesshomaru only let them choose from one store and it was the same highly expensive store in which he bought his cloths.
" ok now you guys need suits." Sesshomaru said as he lead them to another department of the store.
So as Sesshomaru helped the boys all pick out nice suits in an appropriate price range Miroku noticed the price tag on his own.
" this suit cost $8000!" Miroku screamed. " I cant afford this."
"stop shouting your making everyone look." Sesshomaru said. " I will pay for all of the suits just pick something your comfortable in its something you can have for a long time." he finished.
" everyone in your family is nuts." Miroku said buttoning his suit jacket and inspecting the fit.
" it looks good have them tag it all up." Sesshomaru said. " and yes we may be nuts but we know how to live, except Inuyasha." Sesshomaru chuckled.
" that I can believe." Miroku chuckled as he dressed back down into his regular outfit.
" well i'm sorry if I don't like throwing my money around as much as Sesshomaru." Inuyasha said smugly.
"your as rich as him?" Miroku questioned.
" not quite I have to say the asshole works for everything he spends but we both have a few million our father gave to us when we moved out." Inuyasha explained.
" you to Jeff?"Miroku questioned as they left the store and were walking toward the limo.
" no I was a special case." Jeff didn't really elaborate at all. Miroku seeing he wasn't very comfortable talking about this right now changed the subject. They packed all their things into the limo and just as they finished the girls began walking down with all of their hands full of bags.
" you do realize you were only shopping for a weekend?" Sesshomaru kidded.
" well it was the girls first time here and they were excited I figured what the hell." Rin said as she handed her bags over to her fiance to put away. They all got in the limo and headed for the Taisho mansion. After about another hour of driving they arrived at the huge gate opening up to the long wavy driveway that lead to the front door.
" wow I thought your house was huge the first time I saw it Sesshomaru but this place must be four times that size." kagome announced as she stared at the large building in awe as they pulled up to the door. Everyone piled out of the limo.
" don't worry about the bags the help will get everything sorted and bring it all to your rooms." Sesshomaru explained. They headed for the front door.
" make sure you bow upon seeing my father it is customary." Sesshomaru instructed to those who didn't already know. They opened the door and everyone flooded into what looked to Ashley and kagome to be a thrown room because there in the front of the room stood high on a staircase two magnificent throwns carved in gold both of which were filled with a much older looking Sesshomaru and a short beautiful black haired women. As everyone piled in they were greeted by Mr. Taisho.
" well its about time you show up we have been waiting for you." he announced.
" and these must be your friends, very nice to meet you all." Mrs. Taisho greeted them. Everyone bowed as soon as they were all inside except for Jeff who stood leaning in the doorway glaring at his father with no sense of respect or any intentions of bowing to this man. Everyone had noticed this and immediately knew there was about to be a problem.
" is that whom I think it is Sesshomaru..?" Mr. Taisho asked in an already irritated voice.
" yes it is father I have returned against your will." Jeff spoke up before Sesshomaru could answer his father. He walked threw the small crowd of friends who were still bowing and approached the thrown not once ever falling to his knees.
" your insolence has not changed, you do not belong in this world." Mr. Taisho scolded in a loud voice. But before Jeff could return his hatred Mrs. Taisho had run down from her seat and flung her arms around her son.
" its been so long." she sobbed into his shoulder.
" I know mother." Jeff spoke softly as he hugged his mother for the first time since he was a small child.
" the last time I saw you you were barley passed me knee." she sobbed.
" Rin take them all to their rooms now." Sesshomaru instructed.
" ok." Rin agreed knowing things were about to get ugly. As soon as they all left leaving only Inuyasha Sesshomaru Jeff and their parents behind Inu no Taisho stood at his thrown. He held out his hand and instantly Tetsusaiga flew from Inuyasha's side and into his hand instantly transforming.
" draw your weapon you insolent brat." he demanded pointing his old sword at his son.
" please don't do this not now." Mrs. Taisho pleaded with her husband.
" its ok mom, I have been waiting my entire life for this day." Jeff said coldly as he drew his sword.
"ehem... don't you think it would be a better idea to take this to the arena instead of right here in the main hall?" Sesshomaru suggested.
"agreed." Jeff said putting his weapon down.
" very well." their father agreed. The four men walked downstairs to the deepest part of the mansion it was a very large fire lit chamber scared with hundreds of years of battle markings. Jeff took his position on one side of the room and raised his sword which then transformed into the vicious black fang. His father did the same across from him with Tetsusaiga. And before you know it they had lunged full force at each other their weapons clashing in a mighty blaze of fire as red and yellow energy flew in all directions.
" I have never seen father fight with this kind of intensity." Inuyasha said very surprised about the very serious battle going on in front of him.
" there is many years of hatred between these two and this is the only way for them to solve their issue, they will fight to the death tonight and the winner is the one who is right this is the custom of our people when such unspeakable horrors have been committed." Sesshomaru explained never taking his eyes off the battle of clashing weapons and snarling demons that took place on the floor below the balcony he and Inuyasha stood on.
As their swords screamed out when they clashed both demons nose to nose snarling at each other. Suddenly Jeff let his power go he let the hate he had been saving for this one man out he allowed himself to be completely consumed by his hate and let it fuel his power he exploded in red energy as he transformed into his uncontrollable demon state but completely maintained consciousness as he lunged at his father again.
' this battle is to important to lose control' Jeff thought as he flew threw the air swinging his sword with all his might. ' I will kill him! Not that monster.' he told himself as their swords met again and this time Jeff began pushing his father back again nose to nose as Inu no Taisho's arms struggled to hold his sword against his son and he began sliding backward. Then he himself transformed turning his eyes red and slightly extending the point of his face making him look as much like a monster as Jeff had.
"this really is serious you weren't joking about them fighting to the death were you Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha questioned.
" no I was not, and it seems that father is at a disadvantage." Sesshomaru said still never taking is eyes off the battle.
" i'm going to finish you off like I should had all those years ago!" their father screamed as he jumped backward into the air and crashed his sword into the ground below him. " WINDSCAR." he screamed sending an enormous ray of yellow light shooting toward his son.
Expecting this Jeff easily deflected the attack with a swing of his own sword sending out a red energy to easily over power his fathers attack and push it back at him. This was countered with a backlash wave that his father struggled with to send the attack back at his son. But to Inu no Taisho's surprise this now enormous swirling mixture of energy was deflected with the one handed swing of Jeff's sword sending it into the wall Inuyasha and Sesshomaru reside on blowing an enormous hole in the rock beside them. This caused a look of complete surprise on his fathers face which turned to complete terror.
" your some kind of monster." he muttered as he stepped backwards.
" NO YOUR THE MONSTER!" Jeff yelled back at him. " YOU IMPRISONED YOUR OWN SON WHO WAS JUST A BOY IN THE UNDERWORLD AND MENT TO LEAVE HIM THEIR FOR ALL OF ETERNITY!" Jeff began walking toward his father who was now retreating.
" you were dangerous I had no choice you couldn't be trusted in this world." his father tried to explain.
"YOU SAID YOU WOULD COME BACK FOR ME YOU SAID YOU WOULD HELP ME CONTROL MY POWER! YOU NEVER RETURNED YOU LEFT ME TO DIE!" Jeff screamed at his father as he drew nearer.
(upstairs)
all the girls sat quietly at a long table as Mrs. Taisho sat at the head of the table crying. The entire house shaking every minute or so.
" what could be going on down their?" Ashley asked curiously not fully understanding the situation.
"their trying to kill each other..." Mrs. Taisho whispered between sobs.
" what?!" every yelled in surprise all at once.
" we have to stop them!" Ashley yelled.
" there's no use young girl, this is a battle fated to happen since before your existence." Mrs. Taisho started. " my husband and my son, one of them will die in that dark room tonight and the other stained in their blood for the rest of their lives, and their to stubborn to realize their wrongs!" she screamed as she began to cry more and more.
(downstairs)
" its time you pay for your mistakes old man, I have been saving this just for you." Jeff said as a smirk grew on his face and he continued to walk toward his father who had hit a wall and could retreat no further. Jeff sword began to illuminate with static blue energy it made a sound so distinctive yet never before heard as though a thousand birds chipped together in rhythm. Jeff took off full speed toward his father with his blade raised, his father jumped off the wall and flipped around so he was now behind Jeff. Jeff continued running at the wall and began running up that wall before pushing off of it and flying straight toward his father with his sword still raised. Inu no Taisho raised his sword as well to defend against the attack.
"LIGHTNING BLADE!" Jeff screamed as his entire sword shrunk down to the size of a normal katana but the entire blade began glowing a bright blue he swung his sword directly into Tetsusaiga easily cutting threw the blade and releasing a wave of blue static energy from the tip which sent his father flying across the room and pulsating with electric shock as he fell to the ground against the far wall his entire body completely fried. In the moment of the attack Inu no Taisho was to shocked at the sight of it to attempt to properly defend himself he could only hold his sword in the way as he and his weapon were cut down with a single attack.
Inuyasha stood in awe as he watched his sword get cut down along with the strongest demon he had ever seen both with one attack. Even Sesshomaru had a look of surprise on his face as he watched his younger brother release an attack much like what his father had told him stories about as a child of a demon who could control the lightning.
Jeff's sword continued to glow bright blue pulsating wanting to send the final killing blow as Jeff dragged it across the floor sending blue bolts of lightning shooting from the tip walking toward his father who lay burned and bloody against the wall unable to move. Jeff raised his sword to meet his fathers throat allowing the blue energy surrounding it to dissipate turning it back into a black steeled katana and he pushed relentlessly until it was tight pressing into his fathers throat.
" that is it the fight is over Jeff has one." Sesshomaru announced waiting to see him deliver the final blow.
" finish me off my son, take my head and resume your rightful position on my thrown you have one." Inu no Taisho said threw coughs while gasping for air.
" you idiot!" Jeff said punching his father across the face causing him to spit blood. " you think I give a rats ass about your thrown or your money or the inheritance i'm entitled to? You foolish old man you know nothing!" Jeff screamed still pushing his sword into his fathers throat.
" then what do you want? Enlighten me." his father coughed out " is it simply my life is that all you desire?"
" no what I desire is recognition, I have learned to control my power, I have greatly surpassed your ability to control me or my future anymore, and if you ever attempt to kill me or send me back to that dreadful place I will kill you. But for now I am satisfied watching you squirm in agony like the weak pathetic afraid little rat that you are." Jeff spat at him holding nothing back verbally attacking his father.
" i'm sorry for abandoning you my son, your right I was afraid and I had no right to do as I did please forgive me." Inu no Taisho begged.
" I will never forget what you did to me and all the pain you caused me as a boy, but I will let you live with your wrongs and I will let you suffer now." Jeff said as he walked away from his father and sheathed his sword. " you will never be forgiven." Jeff said when exiting the room. Finally Inuyasha and Sesshomaru returned to where the girls had been waiting to hear the devistating outcome.
" what happened who won?" Mrs. Taisho asked franticly looking from boy to boy as Sesshomaru and Inuyasha sat down. They both looked back to see a very bloody and exhausted black haired demon enter the room and lean on the door frame.
" oh my god you..." Mrs. Taisho began before stopping. " well I guess you had every right to..." she finished.
" I did not kill him mother." Jeff said staring at his mothers dread filled eyes that instantly light up.
" you mean you spared him?" she asked excitedly.
" yes I spared the old fool now hes sitting down there swimming in his own thought since he can no longer walk." Jeff said smiling at how happy his mother seemed to be even hearing these terrible things about her husbands fate.
" you know Jeff, you remind me a lot of your father before he lost his way." Mrs. Taisho said smiling as she stood. " ill go pick the old dog up and help him heal up for tomorrow." she said as she walked down to where Inu no Taisho had been laying.
" you know id have to agree with your mother." Sesshomaru said looking to his younger brother. The two of you are a lot alike in many ways." Jeff shot Sesshomaru a death glare which caused Sesshomaru to smirk.
" i'm going to bed ill see you all tomorrow." Jeff said as he turned and walked to his room.
" what the fuck was that all about!" kagome screamed still lost in all this.
" well only four people really know." Sesshomaru said grabbing Rin's hand and pulling her up and heading to their room.
" like I said before your all nuts." Miroku chimed in.
" to be honest I still don't even know what just happened, all I know is my dad broke my sword and he better get it fixed!" Inuyasha said angrily.
" i'm sure he will now lets all go to bed i'm beat." Sango said yawning loudly.
" yea i'm with her." kagome agreed. So everyone went to their rooms and went to sleep except Ashley she stood awake wondering what Jeff has been hiding from her this whole time, she knew that tonight had something to do with her unanswered question, but what.
( ok everyone I've been trying to not talk to much throughout the story but I have to say i'm extremely disappointed in the lack of reviews and constructive criticism and it is really killing my motivation help out I have plenty of ideas but I don't mind listening to what my readers have to say!)