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I don't know if people are still reading my little fanfiction, but to whoever does, thank you very much. Please let me know what you think. This is a pretty important chapter. I was somewhat happy with how it turned out, but I'm never sufficiently satisfied with the things I write, but anyway I hope you'll enjoy.

 

Chapter 9: My Lesson





“Now that you both are sufficiently fed,” Maeko announced dropping a bone to the ground and licking her fingers, “I think I’d like an answer now.”



Sesshoumaru was staring at the fire unmoving. “Sesshoumaru,” Maeko said with an edge to her voice, “Tell me why you’re here.”



Sesshoumaru glanced over at Inyasha then stared back at the fire. “I see. Inuyasha, tend to the fire while Sesshoumaru and I take a walk.” Inuyasha stared at them glumly as they walked into the forest. “Tell me what this is all about, nephew,” Maeko said as they continued to walk.



“I have…” Sesshoumaru’s voice sputtered to a halt, “I have had strange dreams as of late. I wish you to rid me of them.”



“Do you believe these dreams to be some sort of curse?”



“Perhaps, but I had hoped you would know better than I what these dreams mean.”



“Describe them to me.”



Sesshoumaru stopped walking. She stared at him curiously as he turned away from her.



“I see,” she mumbled as she grabbed his shoulder and wrenched him around, “If you cannot tell me, then show me your dreams.”



Sesshoumaru froze as warm, soft fingers slid to either side of his neck. Emerald eyes bore into honey colored irises. His heart clenched as he could almost feel fingers scratching at the surface of his mind tearing his thoughts and memories loose. Maeko slid her fingers off his neck. “I understand why you would be so disturbed.” She said, “It cannot be easy seeing such things.”



“Is it a curse?”



Maeko shook her head, “It is far more special than that.” She began to walk toward the camp.



“Are you going to explain further, Aunt?” He asked grabbing her arm. She gently pulled out of his grasp and turned to stare at him.



“It appears that you were never told of this. Demons of our species form a certain bond. It comes from birth and grows steadily stronger as we age. It is why many of us travel in packs. The bonds between family members, specifically siblings, are stronger than any others. If a bond is broken or never allowed to develop, this is what results.”



“I do not understand.”



“Your bond is attacking you, Sesshoumaru.”



“Can you stop these dreams?”



“Why should I?” Maeko said nonchalantly as she turned to walk away.



“Maeko,” Sesshoumaru said anger permeating his voice, “You cannot…”



“Why should I help you?” Maeko yelled furiously, “You brought this on yourself. You ignored your obligation as a son and a brother. Why do you deserve my assistance?” She turned to stare at him. Her aquamarine eyes had turned dark with rage “This is your punishment Sesshoumaru. Learn your lesson well.”



“You have no right…”



“I know I don’t.” she said as she began to walk toward the campsite, “I’m just as bad as you.”



Sesshoumaru stared after her. His lips curled into a snarl. His claws bit into the flesh of his palms as he clenched his fingers. He released a growl of anger and frustration as he racked his claws across the bark of a nearby tree. Twigs and splinters clung to the blood that coated his palms and fingers. He took a shuttering breath as he stared at the wounded tree. “No,” he told himself, “This is something the hanyou would do. I won’t give in to such base and futile emotions. I cannot allow myself to be clouded now.” He breathed deeply and with each breath the emotions seemed to drain from his body. He followed Maeko back to the campsite.



Maeko’s eyes stalked Sesshoumaru as he walked into the campsite. His mask of coldness and indifference was back in place, but she could smell his blood. Her eyes traveled to his stained fingers. She could see small rivulets of blood dripping from his hands. “And so it begins,” she thought to herself.



Inuyasha stared at Sesshoumaru quizzically as, he too, could smell the blood. He turned his attention over to Maeko to see if she had wounds as well. A breeze drifted over the campsite. Inuyasha could only detect Sesshoumaru’s blood. Inuyasha shook his head in annoyance. “Why do I even care?” he asked himself.



“So,” he said standing up at stretching his arms above him, “would someone like to explain to me what the hell is going on here?”



Maeko chuckled, “Quite impatient, aren’t you?” Her eyes swiveled to Sesshoumaru. “Well, dear nephew, shall I explain things to him or were you planning to keep him ignorant forever?”



“I fail to see the point of such an explanation. It is quite plain to me that you have refused to aid me. What difference would it make if he were to know?”



“You brought him with you Sesshoumaru, not I. Do you not think it wise to tell him? I’m sure you realize this concerns him, as well.”



“Do as you wish, Maeko. It’s not as if my words would stop you.” Sesshoumaru pushed himself onto his feet and disappeared into the woods.



“Well, I suppose that’s as much of an approval as we’re going to get from him.” She smirked at Inuyasha as she walked over to sit next to him. “Have you noticed anything strange about you brother, Inuyasha?”



“Strange?” Inuyasha questioned, “No, he seems to be the same asshole he’s always been.”



Maeko stared at him in annoyance. “We both know that’s not true. Would he have brought you here if he was acting normally?”



“I guess that is a little strange.” Inuyasha replied as he tugged a blade of grass out of the ground, “What does that have to do with me?”



“Quite a lot actually, you’re the cause of your brother’s discomfort, or, would it be more correct to say, your memories are.”



“My memories,” Inuyasha echoed questioningly.



“Quite pesky things, memories are.” She replied, “You can try to run and hide from them, or bury them deeply, but they never really go away.”



“What are you talking about?” he asked in exasperation, “What do my memories have to do with that bastard?”



“He’s seeing your memories, Inuyasha. That is why he brought you here. He wants me to seal off those dreams.”



“Then seal them,” Inuyasha cried out, “he has no right to invade my memories.”



“I won’t seal them Inuyasha.”



“Why?”

“Simply because this is something that must be done, your brother abandoned you when he was supposed to take care of you. There are consequences to the decisions you make. Sesshoumaru is simply experiencing that now.”



“I don’t want him to see my memories. What right does he have to know about my life?”



“He’s still your brother.”



“No,” Inuyasha ground out, “That bastard is not my brother.”



“You should be careful with your words.” Maeko said staring at him pityingly, “Words can also cause harm.”



Inuyasha crossed his arm angrily. “Will I see Sesshoumaru’s memories?”



“No,” Maeko said, “If that were the case, you would see them already. I suspect it’s because you’re half-human, so demon bonds don’t have as much of a hold on you as it does on Sesshoumaru.”



“Demon bonds?”



“That right, I didn’t explain that, did I? Demons all have a connection, like shackles that tie us together. Some shackles are thicker than others; the strength of the bond is measured by its importance. It seems Sesshoumaru’s demon has classified his connection with you as important. Sesshoumaru turned away from the connection. The bond has now become strained, and it is starting to defend itself.”



Inuyasha was silent for a moment as he let her words sink in. It was unnerving knowing that Sesshoumaru would see all of his memories. Things he had been trying to hide and suppress, and there was nothing he could do about it.



“It doesn’t seem fair,” Inuyasha mumbled as he rested his elbows on his knees and stared into the fire.



“No, I suppose it isn’t,” She said with a smirk, “but I have a way of evening the odds, if you wish it.”



“What way?”



“I have a very unique power. Every being that crawls the earth has an uncanny tendency to revel in their memories. Smells, texture, and even sounds can trigger memories. I don’t know if you realized this, but as we sat here talking, you replayed memories of Sesshoumaru in your head. Memories of why your hatred of him is so profound. It is nothing to be ashamed of, it is in our nature to remember and to learn. The only difference, in my case, is that I am able to see those memories. They are as clear in my mind as they would be in yours.”



“The hell, you can see my memories too. Don’t I get any privacy?”



“Of course, I am able to control my power and I would never invade your mind for selfish reasons. I only tell you this because I am Sesshoumaru’s aunt. I have watched him grow. His mind is as open to me as the night sky.”



Inuyasha’s eyes widened in surprise, “are you saying…”



“I’m saying you need only to ask, Inuyasha. Just keep that in mind.” She rose to her feet, “I think I’ll go see where my nephew ran off to.”



She smiled softly at Inuyasha as a look of unease and bewilderment slid across his features. “You refused before, why are you so willing now.”



“Because now, I’m aware.”

 

Thanks ever so much for reading.