Chapter sixteen : Happy ending

No one's POV

A moment later, the group was sitting in circle around Inu-Yasha, except for Kagome who was snuggled in his arms. They were still staring at the hanyou like if they were afraid he would suddenly disappear.

- Come on guys, I won't disintegrate ! he said in annoyance.

They just smiled at him. «Humans !», he mumbled under his breath. But in fact, Inu-Yasha was touched to see how much they cared about him.

Sango was the first to ask a question :

- How ? she simply said.

- Hum... well...

He didn't want them to know. He didn't want them to know what had happened, what he had gone through. He didn't want to talk about it... and besides, they would go crazy if he should tell them where he had been... So, he answered :

- It's Sesshomaru. He revived me with his Tenseiga.

They all turned their gazes toward the demon Lord that was standing a bit away from their group. He had his cold facade back, and his Tokijin was hanging at his side again. He observed Inu-Yasha, who gave him a pleading look. He understood, and nodded slightly.

- But you told us it hadn't worked when you tried it ! exclaimed Kagome.

Sesshomaru just answered calmly :

- It hadn't. I tried another time. It worked.

Satisfied, they turned back to Inu-Yasha, who was frowning at his older brother.

- Don't sound so happy about it, will you ? he said sarcastically.

His friends stiffened, holding back a sigh. Not another of their fights, so soon after Inu-Yasha had been revived !... They thought that the two brothers had made peace... Were they gonna try to kill each other again ?

- Are you making fun of me, little brother ? Sesshomaru asked menacingly.

The hanyou let go off Kagome and stood up. He grinned at his brother and said :

- What if I am ?

Sesshomaru looked at him for a moment and replied :

- You're just a stupid pup.

- Asshole !

- Cry baby.

- Scum !

- Lapdog !

The little group was staring at the two brothers with wide eyes. Was it them, or Sesshomaru and Inu-Yasha were they really... bickering ! You know, like normal brothers ! No, it couldn't be...

- Puny insect ! was saying Sesshomaru.

- Fluffy ! shouted Inu-Yasha.

An angry look passed in Sesshomaru's eyes. He growled :

- You're gonna regret that one !

He walked toward the hanyou, who slowly begun to step back, looking scared. Sesshomaru jumped on him, and Inu-Yasha's friends closed their eyes, not wanting to see the bloody fight that would certainly follow. But it was not a battle cry they heard... It was a yelp, and then the sound of Inu-Yasha... laughing ! Their eyes popped open, and what they saw was really worth it : Sesshomaru was on top of Inu-Yasha, tickling him mercilessly, an amused grin on his face. The poor hanyou was laughing madly, trying to free himself, and when he found out that he couldn't, he pleaded his brother between outbursts of laughter :

- Sessho... hahahaha !... stop !... hahahahahah !... please !... hahahahaha !... I didn't mean it !... hahahaha !... Please !... hahahaha !... I can't... hahahahaha !... breath !... hahahaha !...

An huge understatement, but Inu-Yasha's companions were very surprised. They looked at the two like horns had suddenly popped out of their heads, unable to believe what they were seeing : Inu-Yasha and Sesshomaru were playing ! And then, another thing hit them : the youkai Lord had his two arms ! OK, this was too much for their poor brains...

Sesshomaru finally took pity of his brother and let him go. Inu-Yasha extricated himself, gasping for air.

- Damn it Sesshomaru... you really can't take a joke...

The youkai just grinned, ruffling his little brother's hair.

- Don't do that ! shouted the hanyou.

But the second after that, he started laughing joyfully, looking happier than ever before. He sighed and told his older brother :

- Jeez ! I missed that ! And... you ?...

- Me too... Sesshomaru assured, not embarrassed in the least.

Inu-Yasha smiled, but then he remembered that there was other people in the room. He turned toward his friends ; they were looking at them with an expression of total bewilderment, not saying a word. The hanyou blushed at the thought of how he had just acted before everyone, but then he decided that there was nothing to be ashamed of. Looking at Sesshomaru who seemed completely at ease (he just didn't cared what those people were thinking of him), Inu-Yasha cleared his throat and said to the others :

- Yeah, hum... you see, Sesshomaru and I... hum... we kind of made up...

- You did ! they all asked at the same time.

Sesshomaru shot them the glare "you-have-a-problem-with-that-?", while Inu-Yasha was answering :

- Well, yeah...

Kagome stood up and went to kneel before them. She smiled and said :

- So you're both OK with each other now ? Wow, that's great !

- It sure is, agreed Miroku.

- That makes two wonderful news in one day ! added Sango.

- Does it mean that Sesshomaru's on our side now ? asked Shippo innocently.

The room went silent. Inu-Yasha looked apprehensively at his brother. Sure that question would make him angry. Even for him, Sesshomaru would never accept to be related to humans. But to everybody's surprise, the demon Lord just answered :

- I'll think about it.

No need to say Inu-Yasha was the first surprised. "OK, this is getting weird !" he thought.

- Sesshomaru ? he asked. Could I talk to you ? Hum... in private ?

Inu-Yasha's POV

- So, what did you want to talk about ? Sesshomaru asked him.

They were sitting under the Goshinboku tree (sorry if it's not spelled correctly), in Inu-Yasha's forest. The hanyou had wanted to come here because it was always calm and quiet. He had wanted to have a conversation with his brother, but now he wasn't too sure what to say. So he just asked :

- I... hum... wanted to know... Were you serious when you said... that you would fight on our side, maybe ?

- Of course I was. Why would I have said it if I wasn't ?

- But... why ?

Sesshomaru turned and looked at him, saying with a serious tone :

- I have my reasons. One of those is that I have to keep an eye on you, little brother.

Inu-Yasha was speechless. He wasn't sure if he should be offended, or grateful. Finally, he chose the second option :

- Thank you.

Sesshomaru grinned and added :

- Just imagine all the silly things you would do without me around !

- Hey ! That's not true !

His older brother chuckled. It was good to hear him laugh again.

- You know, Inu-Yasha started, Naraku has better watch out if we go against him together.

- You can say that again ! his brother agreed.

- By the way, the hanyou pursued, I haven't asked you about Rin yet. I... I hope she's alright ?

Sesshomaru smiled at his concern and answered :

- She's fine.

- That's good ! Inu-Yasha said. Hey, you know what you should do ?

- What's that ?

- You should go get her, and then come back here to have dinner with us ! We'll make kind of a big one to celebrate my... huh... revival. It would be great if you were there ! Well... I mean... if you want... of course... No one's forcing ya...

He looked at his big brother hesitantly, waiting for the answer...

- I would be glad to come, thank you for the invitation.

Inu-Yasha jumped on his feet, a large smile on his face.

- Great ! he exclaimed. So you go get Rin and bring her here, and I'll go tell the others that you two will be joining us !

He started running toward the village, but just as he was at the edge of the trees, he stopped and looked back to Sesshomaru, a more mature expression on his face.

- You know, Sesshomaru... it's kind of great to be brothers again...

- Yes, the demon Lord answered. Yes, it is.

The hanyou smiled and darted into the forest, in the direction of Kaede's village.

Sesshomaru's POV

Sesshomaru rose and started to walk toward the clearing where he had left Rin and Jaken. The face that the little toad would make when he would learn that his Lord was having dinner with his younger brother and a bunch of stupid humans... He would surely make a heart attack ! "Well... those humans aren't that stupid..." Sesshomaru thought. They cared a lot about Inu-Yasha, they were kind of strong for their race, and they had never ran away from him. They had even accepted him when they had learned that he and his brother had made up. Even after all he had done... But it wasn't like he cared anyway... Right ?...

He thought of his little brother again. Who would've imagined that they would one day be reconciled ? Certainly not him... But it had happened. And he wouldn't change it for the world. Just like with Rin, he wanted to look over his little brother, now. His hatred against him had totally vanished. He didn't even remember why it had been there at the first place... In any case, it wasn't important anymore. The past was the past...

But he knew he had done things to Inu-Yasha that couldn't easily be forgotten. "I'll amend myself" he thought. He would repay him for everything he had done wrong. They would learn to know each other again, just like before. They would start over. Sesshomaru was ready to give it a try, and he knew that Inu-Yasha was ready too. They would work together. "Prepare yourself Naraku !" he thought with a smirk.

Yes, it would all change. From now on, Sesshomaru would be a good big brother, like he should've always been. He would be Inu-Yasha's family, something to hold on to, something strong and reliable... He would be... a protector.

THE END