Brotherly Love
Chapter Ten
The Alternative Affections
Sesshomaru sighed. It was so hard to think since his father died. It had been a few months. Sesshomaru was more determined than ever to solve this mystery, but he had nothing. Besides, he didn't have time to scribble anymore in his notebook. He had responsibilities now.
He would carry out his father's wishes. He had to fufill his duties as a king. Since he was the king now. There was so much to do, Sesshomaru didn't have time for himself anymore.
Inuyasha seemed scared now. Scared and alone. Since Sesshomaru didn't have time for the runt anymore, he'd spend most of his time with his friends Miroku and Sango. Or those peasent friends of his, Kagome and Kouga. But the most time he spent his with was with Kikyou.
Sesshomaru had misjudged Kikyou. Maybe she'd be a good wife for him after all. But what if a friendship cannot turn into a love? Sesshomaru shrugged it off. Ten years. That was a good amount of time to wait until he could tell Inuyasha. A lot of time to think.
But even though he had so many friends to spend time with, when he came home, his expression was always sad and depressed. Sesshomaru had tried to make time to spend with Inuyasha, but it was hardly possible. Besides, the kid was seven. He could take care of himself.
Sesshomaru looked down and concentrated on the paper he was to work on. But he couldn't help himself but to think just a little about this mystery. His biggest suspect was still Ogata. But why would Ogata kill Inutaisho if the marriage had already been planned and agreed to?
Sesshomaru couldn't help but suspect Naraku. At first he had tried to think of ideas to put Naraku in the spotlight, but it couldn't be helped. Now, it might have come a little more clearly.
Naraku came by the castle everyday. Sometimes he even spent the night there, which irritated Sesshomaru a lot. He'd keep the door locked and made as little noise as possible. Naraku was like a swarm of mosquitoes. They kept biting and would never go away. He didn't like Naraku hanging around. Not one bit.
But Naraku was their godfather. The word made Sesshomaru sick. He couldn't believe father had made friends with such a bastard. It could have been impossible. But at least Naraku wasn't causing any real trouble towards him and Inuyasha. That was the only pro.
But Sesshomaru was fifteen at this point. He would be ripe for marriage soon. But he never got out, he never communicated with the real world. The real truth was that he was afraid. Afraid of getting hurt, afraid of losing someone close to him. To be left alone. Just like when his parents left him alone in this world. Alone with his little brother.
It wasn't like Sesshomaru to feel this way. He was almost emotionless towards Inuyasha. He felt guilty about it. But so much damage had been enflicted on his life. On both of their lives. How could you feel happy?
He sighed and rubbed his temple. He had a headache that hurt like hell. But he continued to ignore it. After all, there were bigger and.....not exactly better things, but other things he needed to concentrate on.
Should I just give up on this mystery? He asked himself. No way. There was too much at stake to just forget about it all. To forget all about the suffering and pain that Inuyasha and I were put through.
He agreed to himself and decided that the mystery wouldn't be left alone. Not ever.
He looked around on his desk, then lifted his eyes to his wall and saw a picture of a younger version of Sesshomaru with an older woman with thin features, black hair tied into a bun and red eyes. He sighed.
I haven't seen Kagura since mother died. She was too upset to stay around. I guess I miss her. She went to visit her little sister, Kanna, I believe to help her. Who knows what Kanna needs help with. I haven't seen the girl yet.
Sesshomaru's head snapped up. Does Kagura have something to do with this? Since he hadn't seen her since Yuki had died?
Obviously she didn't kill mother. They were friends since childhood. But maybe she is connected in this somehow. Maybe she knows something that can lead to the truth.
He remembered that she always was shy around Naraku. Not shy, afraid of Naraku. Yet almost being cold towards him. Does Naraku hold something against her and was that another reason for her to leave?
The youkai shook his head as he continued scanning his eyes over the paper.
Inuyasha sighed as he sat on his bed - his usual routine. But today should have been different. Today he should be having fun. He was just waiting for the fun to come to him.
Any minute. He thought with just a little bit of depression. His friends had remembered his special day, Sango, Miroku, Kikyou, Kagome, Kouga....in fact, he was waiting for Sango, Miroku and Kikyou to come there ways now.
But one person forgot.
He didn't want to believe it, but the person he really cared for the most had forgotten about his birthday.Did Sesshomaru not care for Inuyasha?
He shook the thoughts from his head. Of course Sesshomaru loved him. It's just that....he was too busy being king. Inuyasha wanted to feel proud for his brother. But it was hard when he had been neglecting him....
He had just realized that today would be Kikyou's first time meeting Sango and Miroku. He had a feeling that they would get along just fine. And if not, Kikyou can play with Kagome and Kouga. There were absalutely no problems with those three together.
Kikyou's helped me. Inuyasha thought happily. She's helping me get over my father's death. All his friends had helped him too - with a tiny exception to Kouga - but no one could comfort him like Kikyou.
Kikyou understood him. She almost lived a part of his life. Losing her mother. Just like he did. But other's could relate to him. Sango also popped into his brain.
She lost her brother and mother. Shouldn't he feel pity for her?
He had made up his mind today. He was going to take Sango and Miroku to see Kagome and Kouga. It's not like Sesshomaru cared. No one else would no. No one else would dare crash his birthday.
He waited at the front entrance, supressed by the gloomy features of that day. The weather was okay, but inside it made him feel unsafe.
Kikyou was the first to arrive. He wasn't surprised. It was as if Kikyou had been his best friend since he had met her. But it couldn't be. She was a girl. She had cooties. How embarassing would it be for him for someone to know that his best friend was a girl?!
Inuyasha would bring them into the woods today. After all, he wanted to invite all of his friends to his so-called-party.
It took a while for the houshi and taijiya to arrive. Inuyasha and Kikyou found themselves in a deep conversation. It was again about their mothers.
"She was beautiful." Inuyasha recalled. "The name meaning snow. And when she held me close, I remember that her hair smelled like...sakura pedals."
Kikyou smiled. "My mama had a nice voice. She used to sing me lullibyes."
A heavy silence hung over the two children. As if time had stopped in the process.
They both turned to face eathother and stopped stiff as their faces were right in front of eachothers, both of them feeling their faces grow red.
They stared at eachother, blushing, wide eyed.
"How long do you think they'll be hesitating?" Sango whispered in Miroku's ear.
"Not long before Inuyasha makes a move on her." Miroku responded.
"MAKE WHAT MOVE?!" Sango shrieked.
Inuyasha and Kikyou automatically faced away at eachother, still blushing.
"How long have you been there?!" Inuyasha shouted.
Sango and Miroku smiled. "Not too long, don't worry Inuyasha. We didn't see anything." Sango assured.
"But we are still waiting." Miroku said, grinning. Sango glared at him.
"We didn't do anything!" Kikyou said in a shrill voice, still blushing.
"Souka." Inuyasha murmured. "I guess I forgot to--" he was interupted by Miroku.
"So who are you?" the young houshi asked.
Kikyou smiled, the red on her face fading a slight bit. "Atashi wa Hirotaka Kikyou."
"Very nice to meet you Kikyou." Miroku said, bowing, reaching his hands out. And that was when Sango jumped onto his back.
"Bia de houshi-sama!" she shouted, kicking him aside. "You can just call me Sango."
"Since when do you call him houshi-sama?" Inuyasha asked.
Sango stuck out her tongue. "Houshi-sama doesn't need to be called his name."
"Which is Miroku." the houshi sighed.
"Konnichiwa Sango." Kikyou greeted and bowed.
"How long have you known her for?" Miroku whispered in Inuyasha's ear. He shrugged.
"A while."
"Good job." Miroku said, giving Inuyasha the thumbs up. Inuyasha turned to Miroku.
"Good job for what?!' he yelled. Miroku grinned.
Inuyasha sighed. "Since everyone's here, why don't we go outside into the forest?" Kikyou nodded happily, but Sango and Miroku seeemed to hesitate.
"Doush tanda?" Inuyasha asked.
"Demo....." Sango said quietly. "There are youkai in the forest." Miroku nodded.
Inuyasha laughed. "Sango, aren't you to be a taijiya when you grow up?"
"And how long is that from now?" Sango snapped.
Inuyasha shrugged. "They won't harm us. They never did before. Ekei." he said, gesturing out the large gates. Sango and Miroku sighed before following Kikyou and Inuyasha out.
"Inuyasha!"
The hanyou lifted his head up, turned around to see who was calling him.
No one.
"Doush tou Inuyasha?" Sango asked.
Inuyasha shook his head sadly. "Nothing." the voice sounded like Sesshomaru's, but it was only his imagination. "Let's go."
The four children journied deep into the forest. Miroku's head jerked up.
"Houshi-sama?" Sango whispered. "Doush tou?"
"Did you.....?" Miroku paused. "Never mind." and they continued walking down the forest. "Say Inuyasha."
"Hai?"
"Why did you decide to lead us deep into the forest?"
Inuyasha grinned. "You'll see!"
Miroku nodded, but narrowed his eyes. He did feel just a bit awkward, being the oldest of the group.
"We're here!" Inuyasha called, they stopped in a big opening of the forest. He waited for people to show up.
"What took so long inu-koro?" Kouga growled. He stopped when he saw Kikyou. "Konnichiwa Kikyou." he said quietly.
"Konnichiwa Kouga-kun." Kikyou greated back.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome called. She stopped in front of them and looked over at Sango and Miroku. She blushed. "Who are they?"
"These are my friends Sango and Miroku." Inuyasha said, pointing to them. Miroku rushed over to Kagome and held her hands in his.
"My fair lady." he whispered. "Would you consider to bear my child....in a few years?"
Everyone was silent.
Sango sighed and shook her head as Miroku was thrown back with two bumps on his head left by Inuyasha and Kouga. Kikyou giggled.
"Happy Birthday Inuyasha!" Kagome and Kikyou yelled happily.
Inuyasha gave a small smile. If Kagome remembered, then how could Sesshomaru not remember?
The hanyou scowled once Kouga made his way towards him. They both remained silent. Then Kouga burst out laughing and pointed at him.
"Grow as old as you want inu-koro! I'll always be a year older than you!"
"Why you...."
"Yushi, yushi!" Kagome and Kikyou yelled as Kagome pulled Kouga away and Kikyou pulled Inuyasha away.
Kagome went up to Sango. "Atashi wa Higurashi Kagome."
Sango bowed. "You can just call me Sango."
Kagome scratched her chin. "How 'bout Sango-chan?"
The future taijiya smiled. "Then I will call you Kagome-chan, yushi?"
"Odaiou!" Kagome smiled.
It was a while after getting to know eachother. Then, the six children went off to play numerous games. They played for hours on end, getting to know each other more and more. Kagome, Sango, and Kikyou ended up being very good friends in the end.
Miroku started running behind Inuyasha. He stopped.
"Doush tanda Miroku?" he asked.
"Do you get the feeling?" he whispered hoarsly. "That someone else is here?"
Inuyasha shrugged. "Keh. It's probably someone else in a good hiding spot. WE should find a good hiding spot too." he murmured as he dragged the houshi behind him.
"Demo, Inuyasha." Miroku whispered.
"Oh come on!" he muttered. "Or else I'll leave you behind, it's not a rule to be partners." he shook his head. "I can't believe it. And he's nine."
Miroku sighed. "You're right. Kouga and Kagome will find us any moment now."
"Finally." the hanyou rolled his eyes as he grabbed the houshi by his cloak and jumped high into a tree, Miroku trying not to pee his pants.
"I found you Sango-chan!" they could hear Kagome exclaim, not to far from they were.
There was playful laughter coming from Sango and Kagome.
"Where's inu-koro?" they heard could ask. Inuyasha clenched his fist, but Miroku slapped a hand over his mouth as Inuyasha sweatdropped.
Inuyasha leaned forward to try and see them, but there were too many tree branches and bushes blocking the way.
He almost fell out of the tree when he heard a blood-curtling scream, then a battle cry, then they both saw Sango being thrown back into the bushes. Inuyasha and Miroku jumped down.
"Sango!" Miroku called, giving her a hand up. "Dai jou veu?"
Sango ran past him. "Kagome-chan! BIAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!" Miroku sweatdropped, but then went to see what was happening,
The three kids gasped, dead in their tracks as they looked up ahead and saw tall, muscular men, holding tightly Kagome and Kouga to them. They tried to squirm away, but the men proved too strong for them.
"Let us go!" Kagome shrieked as she wiggled more.
"Kagome!"
They looked yonder and saw Kikyou running towards them. "Kouga-kun!"
Kouga reached his hand out. "Kikyou!"
She ran forward, but the guard kicked her back, and Inuyasha caught her.
Inuyasha widdened his eyes. He had reconized those men.
They were the castle guards.
What were they doing out here?
He snarled as Naraku appeared from behind a tree. He shook his head.
"Tisk tisk Inuyasha." he whispered. "You know as well as I do that you are a prince. A prince only deserves the best. You aren't allowed to be playing with peasents." Kagome winced in pain. "You were warned before." he said coldly.
He snapped his fingers. "Take them away." The guards nodded as they dragged Kouga and Kagome with them, out of the forest.
"BIA!" Inuyasha yelled as he ran forward, but Naraku kicked him back.
"Eskitei Inuyashaaaaaaaaa!!!!!" Kagome screamed as she stretched her hand out.
"Listen." Naraku 's mouth curled into an ugly sneer. "Those kids are going back to where they came from. If they come back, they will die. If you go to them, they will die."
Sango hugged Kikyou as tears both dripped out of their eyes.
"Then." Inuyasha murmured. "That means....."
Naraku smirked.
"That's right Inuyasha. You'll never see those kids ever again."
Me: Okay guys, I am SOOOOOO sorry I haven't updated in FOREVER!! I was so busy with school and all, but here it is after a while of writing. I'll have to gowith a new condition, I'll need two reviews to write another chapter. I need some kind of motivation to keep going. Anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. Please R&R!!