Remember Me

Chapter 15

When Inutaisho awakened his head was throbbing and he felt very groggy. The first thing
Inutaisho realized when he became conscious was that he was lying
down. The second thing was that he was no longer in the dungeon. He could no longer
smell the stench of the bull demon. Neither was his senses being overwhelmed by the scent
of dried blood, urine
or semen. He felt fresh air fill his clogged lungs. He could feel his wounds starting to
heal. Some of them burned as he felt a sticky substance over his skin. He winched in pain
as a sharp ache made itself known to the silver hair demon. He could feel that disgusting
worm boring beneath the flesh of his right leg. Suddenly the dog lord stiffened as he smelt
the scent of three cat demons and a . . . No, it can't be. Is it a dog demon? Wait, it's
a hanyou but the scent of this dog demon was so familiar to him. His mind was so tired and
battered until he did not know who this person was but the familiar scent tickled the back
of his memory. Slowly opening his one eye, he stared into a campfire. He noticed three
strange looking cat demons sitting around the fire. They were speaking in a language he did
not understand. That was strange. He could have sworn that he smelt a dog demon. Maybe
his mind was playing tricks on him.

He tried not to draw their attention to him but the pain fill groaned that slipped from his
lips when the worm began moving in his leg drew their attention. The female
demon got up with a cup and brought it over to him. She smiled at him and slipped
an arm under his shoulders helping him to sit up. She put the cup to his dry
cracked lips and he drank the cool water greedily. Pulling the cup away she laid
him back on the ground.

Then the two males began to say something. Inutaisho frowned as he began to wish he could
understand what they were saying. The girl tied a piece of rope around his right
thigh just above the squirming worm. Then she touched the red stone in her choker. "There
is something in your leg preventing it from healing." She frowned down at him. "Do you
understand what I am saying?"

Inutaisho nodded his head. The young female smiled. "Good. Now we are going to remove it
but it will be painful. So try to be as still as you possible can."

The dog lord nodded. Then she nodded to the other two. The red hair demon went to the fire
and took out a red hot poker. He said something to the other and the boy held him
down. "Ready?" asked the girl. Inutaisho nodded.

The demon raised the poker and jabbed it through the dog demons leg into the worm. Inutaisho
released a blood curdling howl that sent the birds and other animals scurrying away in the
forest. The other male demon threw all his weight onto the elder demon to keep him from
moving. The female took one of her claws and slit opened his leg revealing the large slimy
black worm that was clinging to the bones inside the dog lord. She picked up a brown pouch
and took out a small green sack. Opening it and pouring the
gray powder onto the worm. The thing released an awful screech and began to dissolve
away. Removing the poker from his leg she took out a black pouch and poured a red powder
into his wound to keep out infection. His own demon power of healing took care of the
rest. As he laid there panting and sweating, the young boy removed himself from over the
elderly dog demon. The girl said something and began to gently stroke his hair. His need
for sleep was overpowering his throbbing tired body as he paid no attention to what the
girl was saying. Sighing in contentment, he closed his eye and went back to sleep.

When Inutaisho opened his eye again he felt better. He couldn't figure out what
happened. The last thing he remembered was being in terrible pain and being tortured
by one of Ryuukotsusei’s minions. Sighing, he closed his eye and was about to drift off to
sleep when he remembered the three strange cat demons. His eye snapped opened wide and
there they sat. Except, there was someone else with them. It was that scent again. The
scent of a dog demon. It was driving him crazy. The scent was on the tip of his tongue but
it just would not fall. Who could this young man be? And why does his scent seem so
familiar?

Inutaisho struggled to sit up and hissed as a shooting pain went up his right leg. The
conversation in the cave died as the three cat demons turned their attention to him. The
young demon with his back to him stiffened. Maybe . . . "I see I am no longer in the
dungeon of the palace." He began to gently massage his throbbing leg until the pain was
just a dull ache. He turned his attention back to the strangers. Although it was obvious
he was no longer a prisoner Inutaisho did no what else to say to these four young people
who risked their lives to save him. No one said anything. "I take it you four rescued
me." Still no one said a word. The three cats stared at the other which he guessed was the
dog demon. "I thank you. What do they call you so I might thank you properly?" He heard the
demon with his back to him tell the other three something in that strange language. Then
the female touched a red stone in the silver choker again. It flared bright red and she
said, "I am Ashanta." Now that the fog has cleared from his mind he could see that she was
very pretty. "This is my mate, Sethos. And my two brothers Zaine and Kumo."

"But you know me as," he stood up and turned to face his father removing his haiks and
letting his long silver hair fall down his back. Inutaisho gasped when he saw
the two dog ears sitting on top of his head. As he turned to face him, the dog demon
paled as though he had seen a ghost. "Inuyasha."

Father and son stared at each other for a long time. "My," the dog lord began to say
hoarsely, "my son. My Inuyasha. . . You're alive." He held his arms opened to his
son. Inuyasha went to him and hugged his father tightly.

"Yes it's me father."

The elderly demon gently caressed the soft face of his youngest afraid that he might
awaken and realize that it was all a dream. Raking his claws lovingly through the long
silver locks, he pulled the young demon to him and fiercely kissed him on both cheeks. And
then pulled his son into a desperate hug. Tears flowed from both Inutaisho and Inuyasha's
eyes. After eleven long years, he was finally home.

So, for the next five hours, Inuyasha told his father about everything that happened
to him since Yin took him from his home. He began with how the dragon had killed a
wild boar and splashed its blood all over the trees and ground. It was a spell the
dragon had used to make it seem like the blood they smelled was his. Then how
he met Shirow and Usagi on board the ship. He was sold as a slave to a disgusting
human. He looked away in shame when he told his father how after being beaten he
accepted the slave name. Then what happened on the ship.

"Strange thing about that, I don't remember what happened after that human tried
to force himself on me," said Inuyasha scratching the side of nose. "When I woke
up, I was sinking into the ocean and then these merboys saved me."

"Merboys?" Inutaisho asked cocking a brow.

"They live in the ocean. Half fish and half human." He went over to the carcass
of a deer he and Zaine had caught. He tore a hip from it and handed
it to his father. "Please eat father. You need to gain your strength." He hated
seeing his father like this. He remembered his father as always being a strong and
powerful demon. But this creature before him was nothing like he used to be. What
Inuyasha saw was nothing but skin and bones.

He looked up at his son and smiled. He took the leg and sunk his fangs into
the fresh meat. Meat always tastes better if it’s uncooked and fresh. Once he
was finished Inuyasha gently pushed his father back to lay down. "You should rest and heal
some more. The healing balm Ashanta put on you will help. Besides. . .”
Inuyasha smiled and leaned down to kiss his father on the forehead. “We have all the
time in the world to get to know each other.”

"Okay son," he said holding on to his youngest hand tightly. Inuyasha let him hold
his hand until his father fell asleep.

xxxxx

Ryuukotsusei began to destroy the inside of the palace in a fit of rage. His toy
had been taken out from under his nose by a couple of dirty cats and a worthless
human. Which according to his men was no mere human after digging their comrades out
of the earth.

While the dragon raged Naraku stood in the background smirking. This could all work
out in his favor. The fool was filled with so much rage he could make a mistake and get
himself killed. That pleased the demon to no ends.

The dragon turned to face Naraku. His gray eyes were like a raging storm. "And you!
That worthless bitch you have couldn't stop one little cat demon that looks like she
just stop wearing diapers two days ago!" He stomped towards Naraku and grabbed him by the
collar of his haori. "Well Naraku, what do you have to say for yourself."

The dark hair demon pried the hands off of him. Smoothing out the wrinkled
material, Naraku turned his gaze upon the dragon. "We have scouts out looking for
them but it is like they never existed. Plus Kanna can't even find them with her
mirror."

Ryuukotsusei snorted. "I wouldn't trust anything your people do."

Naraku narrowed his eyes dangerously at the dragon. "I would trust Kanna's mirror if
my life depended on it."

The dragon suddenly stepped into Naraku's personal space and leaned very close to him.
"Believe me when I say. Your life does depend on it." He raised a finger and jabbed it
into Naraku's chest. "Find Inutaisho and those bastards Naraku or you just may find
yourself in the dog lord's place." Ryuukotsusei turned, slammed the door opened and
stormed out of the room.

"Hmph," grunted Naraku. "Oh someone will suffer dragon, but it won't be me." He
turned to his left slightly. "Kanna."

The small girl with white hair holding a mirror stepped out of the shadows.

"Have you found them?"

"No Lord Naraku," she said in her deadpan voice. "The spell that is being used to
hide them is strong. Not even my mirror can find them."

"Well, it doesn't matter," Naraku said smiling. "This works perfectly into my plan
anyway."

xxxxx

Sesshomaru stood out front in the courtyard before Yoko and the others. "Well, have you
found them?"

"I'm afraid not, my lord," said Yoko.

"It's as though they have disappeared from the face of the earth," said Shirow.

"My wolves were able to pick up their scent for only a short distance before it
disappeared completely," said Koga. "Whoever these demons are. They are very
skilled at hiding their scent."

"It's been over three days since they took my father away from Ryuukotsusei,"
said Sesshomaru sighing. "I wonder what it is they want from him? If they are
people we can trust. Why haven't they contacted us?"

'I don't know Sesshomaru," said Master Rei. "Until they show themselves, all we can
do is wait and hope that they are taking proper care of your father."

Sesshomaru sighed and turned away. "You should get some rest. Soon, we shall be
going to war."

They bowed to the demon lord and left. Rin remained behind. "Lord Sesshomaru, you
are so stressed. Is there anything I can get for you?"

He turned to face the human female. /Little Rin. How you have grown from a small
child to a beautiful young woman./ He sighed. "Rin. You have been with me for ten
years. Lin gave you to me to be my translator and you have served me well."

"It has been an honor to travel and to serve you, my lord," said Rin.

"Rin, I give you your freedom. You do not need to be here when the battle begins."

Rin smiled. "And where would I go? My parents are dead and I know no one else. I
can only guess you do not want me to get hurt in this battle but you have asked
for help to defeat the dragon. Since you have given me my freedom. Then I choose
to stay here and fight by your side."

"Such loyalty," said Sesshomaru. "You may stay but first, I wish to ask you something."

"By all means."

"Once this is over and the west is back in my hands and we have found my father. I
would like you to be my mate."

Rin stepped back gasping in shock. "Why?"

"You are strong and loyal. You would be a good mate."

"Is that all, my lord?" asked Rin frowning. "Is there no other reason why you want
me to be your mate."

"No," he said in his emotionless tone. "What other reason is there?"

Rin arched a brow at his answer. Then she smiled while shaking her head. "I would
be honored to be your mate but . . . You should wait, my lord. Think about this and
after the battle if you still want me to be your mate. I shall give you my answer
then." She bowed and left him standing in the court yard alone.

xxxxx

It had been a little over a week since Inuyasha rescued his father and the two have been
getting to know each other. The tall demon was leaning on his son shoulder limping around
around the cave.

"So, how are you feeling dad?"

"You're here and alive," he smiled at his son. Ashanta had wrapped a blanket around his
body like the women in their Pride wore their dresses. "I'm feeling much better." He
pulled his youngest into his arms holding him tight.

"What about your leg?" asked Inuyasha. “Not only was it broken but it had that disgusting
thing clinging to your bones preventing you from healing properly."

“Well, it was causing me great pain,” he said. “But thanks to whatever it was Ashanta
did. It had killed the repulsive thing. Now, my own demon powers will heal me. My leg
should be fine by this evening."

"That's good." Inuyasha continued to help his father walk around the cave
getting the feeling back into his numb legs.

"Does your brother and mother know you are alive?"

"Not yet," said the hanyou. Seeing that his father was getting tired. Inuyasha guided him
back to the blanket and sat him down. Inuyasha sat next to him. "When
we arrived here in Japan. It was from some of the villagers that I had learned what
had happened to you. I'm so sorry dad." He leaned his head against his father's
shoulder.

Inutaisho frowned. "Why would you be sorry?"

"If I hadn't gone with Yin. You, mother and Sess wouldn't have had to suffer the
way you all did."

"Don't you dare blame yourself." He pulled the young half demon into his strong
embrace. "Ryuukotsusei and I have been enemies for years. Even if you weren't
tricked into following Yin into the forest. I'm pretty sure that bastard would have
found some other way to get a hold of you. Although I would never have stooped so low
as to hurt my enemy’s young child but then, Ryuukotsusei has always been a worthless
excuse for a demon." He kissed the top of his son head. "I'm just so happy to see
you are alive and very strong from what I can see." He smiled. "I can't wait to
see your brother and mother faces when they see you are alive."


"So, where are your friends?"

"Sethos and Zaine went hunting. While Ashanta went out to try and find you something to
wear," said Inuyasha smiling. "Although I think they went to give us
some time together."

"Do you think its wise for them to be out in the opening?"

"You need not worry about those three. They can take care of themselves. Besides, the
spell Ashanta cast over them will make them look like any
ordinary demon."

Inutaisho raked his claws through his son's long silver tresses. "I can see you care
for them very much."

"Yes. When I had no memory they were the only family I had along with the Ethiopian
dragons. The dragons accepted me into their clan and taught me their language and
magic." Inuyasha felt his father stiffen. "Don't worry father. These dragons were
nothing like Ryuukotsusei or Yin. They were very nice and loving. Even after my
dragon mother was killed, they still called me one of their own. Dragons are very
intelligent, loyal, wonderful singers and great poets."

"Well, if you consider them to be friends. Then I shall call them friends as well."

"I think you would really like the Dragon Father," said Inuyasha laughing. "He tends
to prattle on about nothing like you would do."

"Hey, is that anyway to treat your old man." He tighten his grip around his son. "What
say, we leave out tonight to go see your mother and brother."

"Do you know where they are?"

"Only one place they could be," said Inutaisho. "The Forest of Lost Souls."

"Okay, as soon as the others get back." After Inuyasha said that the three cat
demons walked into the cave carrying several rabbits. Ashanta had a handful of cloth in
her hands.

xxxxx

It was night as Sesshomaru stood out in the courtyard looking up at the moon. He
sighed as a cool breeze picked up and blew his long silver hair behind him. Just
then his mother walked out. She was wrapped in a white fur. He sniffed as he
turned to face his stepmother.

"Is that father I smell?" he asked her.

She smiled at him and took it from over her shoulders and wrapped it around
him. "Yes, it is. It was after you had left to begin your journey. I asked
Yoko to take me to the place where your father fought Ryuukotsusei."

The young lord tensed. "When I left you in Yoko's care. I didn't mean for him
to take you out into danger like that."

"Please don't be angry with him." Izayoi wrapped her arms around her stepson. "I
just wanted to be close to him. Anyway, when we got there. His fur was everywhere.
So we gathered up as much as we could and brought it back here. With the help of
the servants we stitched his fur into this boa. And a witch place a spell over it
so it would remain like this for centuries to come. I have slept with this for eleven
years. It was like having your father beside me. Now, I want you to have it."

"Are you sure?" he asked stroking the soft fluffy fur.

"I'm very sure," Izayoi said smiling. "Besides, it looks wonderful on you. It will
make you even more attractive to the female demons." She giggled, and kissed him on the
cheek. “Anyway, I no longer need it. Your father will be home soon and we will be a family
once again.” She turned and left him alone. The fact that his stepmother was happy made him
want to smile but of course, he didn't.

He sighed. /A family. No mother, we will never be a complete family again. Not without
Inuyasha./

Sesshomaru slowly made his way through the gates and walked into the forest. A second later
he heard the shuffling of tiny feet following him. Turning, he saw Jaken running
out after him. "What is it Jaken?"

"Nothing my lord, I just thought you might like a little company," said the toad
demon in a meek voice.

Sesshomaru turned and walked away neither accepting or refusing the toad's
company. Taking it as a yes. Jaken followed his silent lord.

xxxxx

Hours later Sesshomaru came to a stop beneath a tall tree. While the young demon
settled on a branch in the tree. Jaken had made a fire beneath the tree and sat
quietly waiting. With one leg dangling off the branch, Sesshomaru leaned against
the tree and stared up at the moon. He continued to stroke the fur. He sighed
as he let his thoughts run rampant in his head. Every since his father was rescued
over a week ago. For some strange reason, he has been dreaming about his little
brother. He has been trying hard to seal up the cracks that kept appearing
every time he dreamed of his brother. But every time he sealed one crack two more
would appear. /Why? After all this time am I thinking about Inuyasha. He is lost
to me./ He sighed and stared down into the flickering flame of the campfire. He smirked.
/Is this your way of letting me know that I shouldn't close my heart off, otouto? Do
you still love me so much that you are trying to tell me I should live and be happy./

Suddenly the breeze blew a familiar scent to his nose. Sesshomaru bolted upright and
sniffed the air quickly.

"Is something the matter, Lord Sesshomaru?" asked Jaken staring at his lord worried.

"That smell . . .By the seventh level of hell could it be." He jumped down and took
off into the woods.

"Wait for me, my lord!" Jaken yelled and began to put out the fire.

Some time later Sesshomaru stepped out of the forest into a clearing. There were
five cloaked figures sitting around a fire. One of the figures looked up when he
stepped out of the shadows. Then the cloaked figure stood up and walked over to
stand facing him.

Sesshomaru silently prayed that the scent he smelt was not the boa and that this
person really was his . . . "Father?"

The person raised his hands and pulled the hood down. Sesshomaru felt his body
tremble. "Father!"

"Hello son," said Inutaisho smiling. He grabbed his eldest son in a huge hug crushing
his tall frame. But the younger demon did not care one bit. He had his father back. He
wrapped his one arm around his father and held him tight.

They stayed locked in each other's embrace for a while before Inutaisho pulled his son
back to look at him. "What happened son?" He raised a hand and traced the scar that
broke the moon on his forehead. "Did that bastard Ryuukotsusei do this to you?" He
stared down at his son's missing arm. "I know about your arm, but . .."

"No father," said Sesshomaru trying hard not to let his emotion cloud his voice but
it was no good. His voice cracked with emotions. "This wound happened after I left
Japan."

Suddenly he noticed the other figures standing up. He narrowed his eyes as he could
smelt the scent of cats and a . . .hanyou But this was no ordinary hanyou. It was
a dog demon. He almost smelled like . . .No, I shouldn't hope. It would only tear
my heart out if I am wrong.

"I owe you all thanks for rescuing my father," Sesshomaru said bowing to the strangers.
Then three of the figures removed the cloth from their faces. It was like what was
reported to him. Three strange cat demons. He had never seen demons like these
before. What he found strange was that he was told that one of them was a human.
Unless. .. of course, the hanyou. He would have a period of weakness where he would be
human. /So, this is the 'human' that rescued my father and buried the wind witch
beneath the earth./

Then the female touched a red stone in the collar around her neck. "If you want to
thank me, how about a kiss." She smiled. Then she was struck across the head by the
red head cat and the hanyou. "Why did you do that."

"Stop flirting with him," said Sethos.

"He's already taken," roared the hanyou. Sesshomaru cocked a delicate brow at hearing that
statement.

"I am Sethos, prince of Egypt. This little minx here is my mate, Ashanta and this is
her brother Zaine." Sesshomaru bowed in respect to the foreign prince. Then he turned
to the hanyou that still remained hidden behind the cloth.

"And you hanyou. What do they call you?"

"Well, in Africa I am called Kumo, but here in Japan .. . " He raised his hand and
removed his haiks and face cloth. Sesshomaru gasped as he stared at the long silver
hair and the silky dog ears sitting on top of his head. He has to be dreaming. There
was no way that this could be . . .

"Inu . . . Inu-Yasha." Just then the wall around his heart shattered into a million
pieces. Sesshomaru felt his heart pounding in his ears. "My . . .otouto."

"Yes, it's me niisan. I'm glad to see you remember me."

Then the young demon lord did something he thought he would never do in a million, no, a
billion years. He fainted.