Author's Note:
I felt like spoiling you guys by posting another chapter this week. Don't get used to this, but I do promise to update as often as I can. What do you guys think about Sesshomaru in this story so far? I've already had someone tell me that they think he's "useless" and "ruthless" as an older brother, partner, and protector for InuYasha, but isn't that why we love him anyway?
Also, how do you think the twins will act as they get to know InuYasha? We already know that they take after Sesshomaru in the looks department, but what about their personalities? I'm excited to see what you guys think about them and Fukushu. Anyway, Chapter 4, let's go!
Author's Note 2:
I also want to let people know that demons age every ten years in this fanfiction. This made sense to me when I was calculating everyone's ages here. I know it will get confusing, especially with InuYasha, because he is technically considered fifteen in human years, but that has more to do with him being sealed away. I shall include a cheat sheet at the bottom of the chapter for reference.
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Chapter 4
A light breeze swept through the lands as the sun rose to about high noon. The birds chirped, and the forest was busy with mating season for most animals due to it being mid-spring. So much time has passed since Sesshomaru, Narou, and Usagi delivered InuYasha to be healed and protected by Bokusenō, and so much time passed in between his first visit. About ten years, to be exact, when the twins were equalized to one year in human years. Sesshomaru had come alone to visit his brother, and although he was completely healed by then, Bokusenō would not release him. The old demon tree made good on his promise not to release InuYasha back into his care until he showed he was ready to protect, honor, and value his brother. However, the demon lord had other more important things to worry about than InuYasha's return. As long as his younger brother was safe, Sesshomaru could continue to lie to his pack mates and heirs while also dealing with the threat of the present Fukushu.
Yes, the other daiyōkai revealed himself from his hiding place a few years after InuYasha was sealed away. Like other people, he was made aware of the hanyo's disappearance, but he was convinced that he was not deceased. So, over the next several years, Fukushu would attack them or send an assassin to his place if he were too weak to fight. This was how every event between the two Inu demons took place while InuYasha spent his slumber in Bokusenō's branches. However, that was not all that happened.
Life continued as the hanyo slumbered. Sango and Miroku would go on to have three children. Rin and Kohaku married and raised a family of their own in Kaeda's village. Shippo left to reconnect with his fox roots and study to improve his magic. Koga and Ayame eventually married and raised a pack of their own. As promised, Usagi studied healing properties under Narou's watchful eye. Finally, the twins grew into fine teenagers thanks to the guidance of their sire, the Inu Council, InuKimi (their grandmother), and the best tutors in the land hired by Sesshomaru themselves. Although he had no plans of stepping down anytime soon, the daiyōkai wanted to make sure that his heirs were ready when the time came. Yes, time continued onward, but one thing remained the same: everyone missed InuYasha's presence, especially Sesshomaru.
Despite him being busy fending off Fukushu's attacks, ruling over the lands, and assisting with raising their heirs, Sesshomaru realized that InuYasha was his motivation for everything he did. Even before Naraku's defeat, InuYasha had been his motivation for most of his actions. Not that he was gone, Sesshomaru felt himself become bored with any and everything around him. The person he dreaded the most was the person he missed the most, but that did not stop him from reclaiming InuYasha from Bokusenō. From time to time, Sesshomaru would find time to sneak away from the castle alone to sit under Bokusenō. Neither would talk, but they would take pleasure in each other's company. Bokusenō never complained since he finally had visitors. And who was better company than the sons of his late oldest friend? However, the old tree would be disappointed every time the Lord of the West would leave without asking for his younger brother. As more decades passed and the seasons changed, Bokusenō wondered when the daiyōkai would ever be ready for the retrieval of his younger brother. However, this time, when Sesshomaru visited, the demon tree could tell something was different.
It was late into the evening. The sun's rays barely peaked over the horizon by the time Sesshomaru arrived, which was unusual. Usually, when the daiyōkai visited, it was earlier in the day, and he would sit until the night sky blanketed the earth. However, this time, not only did he come towards the evening, but he was not alone. As Bokusenō's face formed, he could see two familiar beings following behind Sesshomaru. Both were shorter than him, but one of them was a shorter girl with her hair long, silver hair pulled into a curly ponytail hanging off the side of her head, no markings, piercing, fierce golden eyes, and a long, flowing, white kimono with deep red markings from her clan. The second one was a head taller but not quite as tall as Sesshomaru, with long silver locks pulled into a low ponytail, two dog ears on top, softer golden eyes, and matching markings and outfit and armor to his sire. The old tree smiled brightly as he immediately recognized the children as the heirs of Sesshomaru and InuYasha.
"Good evening, Inu family. What do I owe the pleasure of this visit in this lovely mid-spring evening?"
"Father, you did not tell us that we would be meeting a talking tree," the princess said as she moved forward to touch its bark.
"Yes, father, why have you brought us here? It's so late, too," the prince whined.
Sesshomaru ignored them and stepped forward with determination in his eyes.
"Bokusenō, I have come to reclaim what is ours. It's time to bring InuYasha home," he said, making the twins gasp at the name.
Bokusenō smirked as he acknowledged Sesshomaru's request, "I see. So, you've finally come to reclaim the hanyo as yours. Does this mean that you're ready to accept your position as his protector, partner, and alpha?" Sesshomaru nodded. Bokusenō continued to stare at the young lord's eyes before offering a smile and a gentle laugh. "Very well then. I shall release InuYasha to you. But be warned, young one. He will always have a place to rest within my branches should you not hold up your end of the bargain. And should anything ever happen to him… there will be consequences."
"I do not take kindly to threats, Bokusenō," he glared.
"It is merely a warning. Now come and reclaim your hanyo."
The twins watched in amazement as several branches were lowered close to them. At first, they could not see anything until a barrier was released, and a recovered InuYasha was found within its hold. Unimpressed, Sesshomaru walked toward the branches and held out his arms, ready to receive his younger brother. After carefully delivering the precious cargo into Sesshomaru's arms, Bokusenō retracted his branches with a smile.
Everyone gazed upon the sleeping hanyo with shock and excitement. To Sesshomaru, he hadn't aged since the day he was brought here, but to the twins, this was their first time seeing the man who gave birth to them. Their sire was the one who told them stories of InuYasha, but actually seeing the hanyo in person was completely different. The prince tried to reach out and touch InuYasha, but Sesshomaru shielded him with a warning growl, silencing his son. Once he was safely adjusted back into his arms, the daiyōkai turned back toward Bokusenō.
"We're leaving,"
"Farewell, Lord Sesshomaru. But do come and revisit me once Lord InuYasha wakes up. I would like to have a proper introduction one day with him."
He nodded before turning around and leading the twins away from Bokusenō. The old demon tree smiled as he watched the family of four disappear into the night before his face vanished into his trunk. During the walk back to the castle, neither of the twins said anything. Both because they were afraid of angering their father and because they were busy thinking of everything they wanted to say once the hanyo woke up.
During his slumber, InuYasha dreamt of his mother, Izayoi. Her long black hair, pale skin, gentle smile and eyes, and the scent of lilies invaded his scent as he lay with her. InuYasha laid his head in her lap and listened to her sing songs from his childhood. He knew it was a dream because she died when he was fifty years old, equal to a five-year-old in human years, but that did not mean that he could not still enjoy her presence during his slumber.
Izayoi continued to hum her song as she stroked his hair. Nothing else mattered as he listened to his favorite childhood songs and had his hair stroked. It was as if she were alive again, and he never lost her. However, his mind started to wonder about his twins. InuYasha knew that he wasn't dead, but that didn't stop him from wondering about them or if he would see them again. He just hoped that they were doing all right and that Sesshomaru was raising them right. He wonders how big they've grown and if they would even know who he was. Would Sesshomaru tell them about him? Or would he be a complete stranger? Only time would tell, but that didn't stop him from wanting to wake up from the dream, even if that meant he would be dragged away from his mother.
To his surprise, Izayoi suddenly stopped singing and stroking his hair. "InuYasha, it's time to wake up," she called softly.
"Huh? But why?"
"Our time is up, dear. Now, you must take care of your children."
"My children? You mean, I get to meet them now?" She nodded. "But how did you~"
"Shhhhh. It's all right, my son," she smiled as she lifted his head to kiss his forehead and cheeks. "I enjoyed our time together, but now other people need you. But don't worry. I'll be right here when it's your time to visit again. Goodbye, InuYasha,"
"Mother?! Please, don't leave me. I don't know what I'm doing! I need your guidance! Please, don't go!" he cried.
She only smiled and kissed him once more, "Trust your instincts. I will guide you from there. Until next time, my sweet baby boy."
And with that, she was gone from his sight. But before he could reach out for her, he felt himself being pulled back into reality. A reality he was not prepared for after all the time he slumbered.
The first thing that InuYasha noticed as he was brought back to reality was the stillness surrounding him. It was almost as if he were alone wherever he was, but that was not right, for he could sense someone in the room with him. The next thing he noticed was the softness beneath his body. In all of the years that he had been alive, InuYasha had never felt this comfortable before. It almost made him not want to go into the waking world, but his mother's words were enough to change his mind. Deciding that he had been sleeping long enough, the hanyo cracked open one eye to gaze around the room. After deeming it safe, he opened the other to get a better look.
The room was the cleanest and largest he had ever seen. The walls were clear and decorated with traditional demon artwork and his sword. There were two extra doors: one that he could see led to a balcony outside, and another that led to a small bathroom. He could also see that he was lying on a comfortable futon mattress with clean white and red satin sheets. Wherever he was, he could tell that he was in a royal palace. However, something that caught his eye was a figure sitting in the opposite corner of the room, fast asleep. One thing he noticed was that the person looked like Sesshomaru but had a set of dog ears on his head. Knowing that he wasn't his elder brother only confused him even more. However, when he made the slightest movement, golden eyes shot open with worry before turning to excitement when they landed on him.
"Oh, finally, you're awake. I'm so happy," the stranger smiled as he stood up and lay down beside InuYasha's futon.
The hanyo opened his mouth to speak but went into a coughing fit because his mouth was too dry. The stranger quickly grabbed him a cup of water, lifted his head, and helped InuYasha drink the water. The cool, refreshing liquid felt great against his course vocal cords. Once the water was gone, InuYasha tried speaking again, "W-who are you, and why do you look so familiar?"
A sudden look of disappointment etched itself onto the stranger's face before a gentle smile replaced it. "It would make sense that you wouldn't recognize me. This is technically the first time we're meeting. My name is InuRida. You can also call me Rida for short. I'm your son."
"My son?" InuYasha asked, causing the young man to nod.
"Yes. You wouldn't know, but you've been asleep for a long time, papa. Sorry, but you've missed a few things." Rida nervously chuckled as he scratched the back of his head.
Just as InuYasha was about to say something, the door slid open to reveal a demoness who looked like Sesshomaru without the markings.
"Rida, you fool, you forgot to~ Oh, he's awake. Why didn't you tell me that he was awake?" she asked as she came over to kneel beside her twin brother.
"Sorry, Kanpeki, but he just woke up. I gave him some water to help with his voice."
"You are hopeless," she said as she shook her head.
"Are you my daughter?" InuYasha asked.
"Yes. My name is InuKanpeki, but you can call me Kanpeki. How do you feel?"
InuYasha thought it over for a moment before answering, "Tired and a little hungry."
"That would make sense. You've been asleep for a long time, papa. Do you mind if we call you that?" she questioned.
InuYasha nodded before asking, "How long have I been asleep?"
"About 150 years," Rida said, shocking the hanyo.
"150 years? That can't be right."
"It is right. We recently turned 150 years old. You've been asleep the entire time, inside of a tree. We've been waiting a long time to meet you."
"Yeah, we thought we never would. We actually thought that you were dead." Rida said with a sad expression on his face. "From what father has told us, I guess I act more like you the more I age," he chuckled.
InuYasha chuckled at that, too. "When I first saw you guys, I said it was bullshit that you look more like that bastard than you do me. It's good to see that at least one of ya took after me. It's just weird seeing his face all the same."
"Papa! It would be best if you watched your language. Father doesn't allow cursing in his home," Kanpeki scolded.
"Your father knows better than to tell me to do anything, or else I'd kick his ass up and down the countryside," InuYasha chuckled until his side hurt.
"Yes, father has told many stories about your escapades before our birth. It was amazing to hear how you defeated a demon named Naraku and even fought father on a few occasions. I can't wait to hear more from you later," Rida said with excitement.
"Sesshomaru told you stories about me?" he asked with a shocked expression.
"Oh yes. He used to tell us stories when we were little. Although my brother would sometimes try to reenact them when father was not looking,"
"Oh, why would you tell him that, Kanpeki? I didn't want him to hear that," Rida whined with his arms crossed.
The twins bickered back and forth while InuYasha watched in amazement. Seeing and meeting his children for the first time was something unlike anything he could imagine. Although he did not have a direct influence on them, it was good to see that he still affected their lives and helped form their personalities. The ironic part is that they almost fight like Sesshomaru and he used to.
"Enough, Rida. You're clearly upsetting papa. Come. Father said once he woke up that we were to inform him and the healers at once," Kanpeki said as she stood up.
"We'll let you get your rest and something to eat afterward before coming to visit you tomorrow, ok?" Rida said before leaving the room.
InuYasha smiled as he watched them go before resting his eyes again. Thoughts of the little information he had received danced in his head. However, before he got too lost in thought, there was a knock at the door.
"Come in," he called. A little rabbit demoness let herself in and rounded to the side of the futon where the twins were. "Hey, I remember you. You're Usagi, right?"
The rabbit blushed in embarrassment when he said her name before nodding, "Yes, Lord InuYasha. It is an honor that you remembered me."
"How could I forget the person who helped take care of me when I was kidnapped? How did you end up with Sesshomaru?"
"After you passed out from blood loss, Lady Narou, Lord Sesshomaru, and I worked together to heal you as best as we could. Afterward, I pledged my loyalty to them and have been with them ever since. Now, if you don't mind, I need to examine you, so please hold still." InuYasha nodded and did as he was told while she examined him. It didn't take long before she sighed and smiled at him. "I must say that the old demon tree really lived up to his word about helping you heal. Your wounds and everything look great. Outside of you being dehydrated and a little malnourished, you're doing well. Tell me, how do you feel? Do you think you can eat and drink something?" he nodded again. "Excellent. I shall tell the cook to make you some soup and water. Unfortunately, you're going to have to be on a liquid diet until your stomach can handle solid foods, which shouldn't take too long. Please wait here. Lord Sesshomaru said he wanted to see you when you woke up. Afterward, I will send in the food and water."
InuYasha nodded as he watched her leave, dread filling his senses as he felt Sesshomaru's presence outside the door. Just as Usagi exited the room, Sesshomaru walked in. She bowed low to him before leaving for the final time. As the door closed shut, the two brothers turned their gazes toward the other as silence filled the room.
However, it didn't last long, with InuYasha breaking the silence first, "What do you want, ya bastard?"
"Is there any way you can speak to me after I helped save your life?" Sesshomaru asked with a raised eyebrow.
"You saved my life? More like you stole it from me," he growled, baring his teeth.
"I beg your pardon,"
"No, I beg your fucking pardon. 150 years, Sesshomaru? You stole 150 years from me. Please explain to me why I was just told, by our teenage children, by the way, that I was asleep in a tree for 150 years. You stole more of my life away from me, ya bastard. I missed raising my children. I missed Sango and Miroku having their family. I don't even know where Shippo or Koga are right now. And I'm confident that almost everyone I've ever cared for has died. What do you have to say about that, ya fucking piece of shit!"
"I do not understand your anger. You were dying, and I saved your life. Where is the issue?"
"My problem is that it took you 150 years to bring me back. I missed out on everything, Sesshomaru! Everything!" InuYasha yelled until he coughed, straining his still-course vocal cords. "Just tell me one thing… why did it take you so long? Why did you leave me sealed in that tree for so long? Why couldn't you have gotten me out sooner?"
Despite the line of questioning, Sesshomaru remained silent. Rather, it was from embarrassment from his actions or because he did not want to answer; either way, it did not matter, for he was not going to answer his younger brother. After a few moments of silence, InuYasha tsked as he turned his head away from Sesshomaru in disgust.
"Get out. I don't want to see your ugly mug around here again until you can give me an answer."
"InuYasha~"
"I said go. You're lucky that I'm in no shape to kick your sorry as and drag my children away from here. Just know this: the moment that I am back to normal and free to leave, I'm taking my children away from here and you. So, enjoy them while they're still here before we leave this god-forsaken palace."
Sesshomaru, not really caring about the threat, remained where he was for a few moments before finally silently leaving the room. Once he was alone again, InuYasha finally let the tears and breath he was holding back go as he cried into his pillow. Do not get him wrong. Yes, he was grateful for his life being spared, but at the cost of what he lost, InuYasha had to decide if it was worth it at all. And at that current moment… no, it was not.
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To Be Continued…
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Their Age Chart:
All demons stop aging about their late teens or early twenties
Every 10 years = 1 human year
Sesshomaru: 500 years old in demon years; 50 in human but looks 19 years old in human years
InuYasha: 350 years old in demon years; 35 in human years but because he was sealed away for 200 years, he looks 15 years old in human years because he's been alive for technically 150 years, which would make him 15 in human years.
InuKanpeki (Twin Girl) & InuRida (Twin Boy): 150 years old in demon years; 15 years old in human years and look their ages
I hope that helps!
