Chapter 12 - Old memories and New deaths

Chapter 12-Old memories and New deaths

The group walked slowly and, for the most part, silently. Inuyasha kept his head turned to one side completely avoiding looking at Sesshoumaru, as usual Sesshoumaru seemed made out of stone for all the emotion he showed – but underneath his mask his thoughts span.

Seeing Ukil after all this time had reopened the old wounds of her death, and along with that his mother’s death and the exile of Inuyasha.

His thoughts turned once again to the days after he buried Ukil.

The door to his bedchamber opened but Sesshoumaru did not look up; he stayed still on his bed hoping that the visitor would believe him to be sleeping and leave. His eyes were red and swollen from weeping and his head hurt, his throat seemed dry as sandpaper when he swallowed, and he wanted nothing more than to be left alone with his grief.

“Sesshoumaru.” The voice was deep and commanding; Sesshoumaru gasped and immediately sat up.

“Father, what brings you to my chambers?”

The great demon lord did not respond, he simply walked to the bed and took hold of Sesshoumaru’s face and jerked it roughly up to face him.

“Why do you let tears fall?”

Sesshoumaru, although he made no move to pull his head free, cast his eyes downwards and sighed.

“The deaths, of my mother and Ukil, they feel like a knife through my heart. And to be betrayed by..by..Inuyasha..”

Sesshoumaru’s words failed him as tears blurred his vision again; he was startled when he felt a stinging pain in his cheeks as his father pierced them with his claws, Sesshoumaru tried to suppress a whine but could not stop the tears falling again.

“I warned you about half-breeds, my son, but you did not listen to my counsel. Now, because of your reckless trust, you have allowed one to kill your mother and two to invade your heart.”

Now Sesshoumaru found the courage to look his father in the eyes; a red-hot rage burned in him now, his claws cracked involuntarily.

“I will never allow that to happen again, father. I will be worthy of you.”

Finally the great demon lord released his son and took a step backwards, his eyes were clear and determined as he started to walk away.

“Never forget, my son, that emotion is weakness.”

From that moment Sesshoumaru dried his tears forever and the impregnable mask of neutrality settled over his face

Conflicting thoughts warred in Sesshoumaru’s mind as he glanced over at Inuyasha walking behind him; once more a half-demon threatened to break the barriers surrounding his heart and make him weak with emotion, he thought back to the time when he let his feelings show.

Sesshoumaru looked down in amusement; his little half-brother was clutching to the leg of his kimono with determination.

“Esso take Inu!”

Sighing, Sesshoumaru gently lifted Inuyasha into his arms and looked into his eyes seriously.

“No, pup, I have to go hunting today. A dangerous demon is trespassing on our lands and I must kill it; too dangerous for little pups.”

Inuyasha scowled and tried to growl but all that came out was a gargling sound.

“Esso take Inu!” The tiny half-demon’s voice rose to a wail and his bottom lip trembled; he fixed his large amber eyes on Sesshoumaru and whined.

“Fine!” Sesshoumaru snapped. “But you have to stay close to me and listen to what I say.”

Instantly Inuyasha was all smiles, Sesshoumaru berated himself for falling for an old trick like that but laughed softly at his brother’s excitement.

The journey to the plains where the demon was camped out took twice as long with Inuyasha tagging along than it would have done had he been alone; Sesshoumaru found a thick patch of tall grass and placed Inuyasha in the centre, immediately he was hidden from view.

“Stay here, Inu, and don’t come out until I call for you.”

Sesshoumaru moved slowly now keeping close to the ground, he cracked his claws and felt his senses heighten as the adrenaline of the hunt rose inside him. Straightening he looked ahead to where the scent of the demon was strongest but was surprised to see no trace of the huge beast; a small scuffling sound and then a high pitched cry made him spin around with supernatural speed.

The sight that confronted him filled him with terror; obviously sensing the easier prey the demon had skirted around the plains and gone to the patch of grass that hid Inuyasha, it now held the tiny half-demon in it’s jaws – Inuyasha no longer struggled and blood dripped from him to the ground.

With a roar of rage Sesshoumaru felt his body transform into the huge dog that was his purest form; unable to think clearly or feel anything but the anger that ripped through his veins Sesshoumaru pounced – a few seconds later all that was left of the demon was a pile of bloodied entrails.

Changing back to his human form, Sesshoumaru rushed to Inuyasha’s inert body and picked him up tenderly; inspecting him all over he was relieved to note that all the wounds were superficial and his brother had merely fainted, probably from shock or fear.

Wrapping Inuyasha in his thick luxurious tail Sesshoumaru started for home.

‘Emotion cannot be weakness’ Sesshoumaru thought. ‘I defeated that demon far faster and easier than I ever could have done had I not feared for one I loved.’

He suddenly realised the party had halted and were drawing whatever weapons they held; he followed their gaze up the road and was surprised to see Naraku standing and waiting for them. Furious with himself for letting his memories cloud his mind Sesshoumaru quickly took stock of the situation; he smelt enormous power radiating from Naraku in waves – but he also sensed a distance to this power.

“It’s a decoy.”

Inuyasha growled in the affirmative and started to unsheathe Tetsusaiga.

“Wait, we should not fight him. If we fight we may be injured and weary; this then gives Naraku the perfect opportunity to kill us. I for one will not waste my energy on this copy.”

Without warning Naraku raced forwards with inhuman speed drawing a long and powerful axe from under his baboon-skin cloak; he raised it and swung it towards Kagome, unable to react Kagome simply stood in terror.

“KAGOME!”

Inuyasha’s shout echoed across the road and he ran to protect her, he was stopped as the blinding pain seared his head; he turned his head savagely to Sesshoumaru who simply sat and watched.

“I will not fight a copy.”

Unwilling to hear Sesshoumaru’s words, Inuyasha turned his head back to Kagome, striving against the pain he fought to get to her but was too late.

It seemed in slow-motion that he watched the axe sever Kagome’s neck, a brief spasm of pain and surprise flickered across her face before relaxing into death; with a dull thud her body hit the floor.

“NO!” A primal scream tore at Inuyasha’s throat as he watched Naraku stoop to pick up the severed head and walk away.

Miroku, Sango and Shippo stood paralysed by the event they had just witnessed; Inuyasha launched himself at Sesshoumaru no longer caring about the curse or the shikon jewel, all he cared about was killing the older demon.

The last thing Sesshoumaru heard before the sharp claws ripped into his chest and blackness claimed him was Inuyasha’s broken voice screaming at him.