Past Pain, Future Vengance

Hmmm, well here’s the next chapter everyone! Please enjoy and don’t forget to review.

ATTENTION!: Hey everyone. I need all of your help for a major part of this story. Okay, so the way I have this planned out in my head it goes one of two ways, each has the potential to be very different in the way that this story turns out. Now I could just go with my first inclination but I ultimately want to do what pleases my readers so they can have a pleasant time reading. Right, so the big question is: Who gets to be Seme and Uke? It would be really helpful if you guys would let me know what you thought and the reasons behind it. In the end I’ll see who wants what the most and how well their ideas would work with my story. Thank you ahead of time for all of your help!


My birthday present to myself is a chapter for all of you! Enjoy!

Chapter 16


Doubts


The delicate porcelain tea-cup shattered under the heavy force as it was slammed onto the table. Naraku seethed with rage as he glared across the room at his ever defiant incarnation. “What do you mean you lost them?” He demanded.

Wincing at the scathing tone, Kagura nonchalantly waved her fan as she spoke. “I meant just what I said. Don’t know where they went.” Technically, it was the truth. She didn’t know. The part she left out however, was that she didn’t really follow them as she was directed. With all the commotion that was going on Naraku had demanded that she tail them, but he neglected to send his pests after her to make sure she did her job. Long story short, she had taken herself a nice day off instead of chasing the retreating group.


“You will find them.” The kumo bit out, he waved his hand in dismissal, watching as the wind sorceress left with a slight bow. He would have to watch her more closely than ever, everything was tilting on a very delicate balance for him right now. He knew how lucky he had been to escape Sesshomaru and he wouldn’t fritter away the chance to start anew. One way or the other, he would get what he wanted. And that was Inuyasha.


oOo


Over the next few days, Inuyasha had woken a number of times, each time the reaction was similar. No one in the little camp knew what to do to help their friend. Kagome had tried many times, as had they all, to get him to talk to them. Not about what happened but about anything in general and each time their hearts broke a little more as their hanyou friend refused, not only to speak to them but, he also seemed unable to bring himself to look at them.


At all times someone could find Sesshomaru in the same spot, leaning against the hut wall, his expression unreadable. No matter how much they tried to coerce him out he stayed put, growling lowly if they approach to closely. It was sure to say that they were truly at a loss of what to do.

oOo

Staring at the wooden wall Sesshomaru mulled over everything that had happen as of late. Never would he have guessed that this is were he would be if someone had asked a week ago. So much had happened that had yet to be explained. Why were these old feelings of protectiveness being dredged up? How long would it be before Inuyasha recovered, physically at least? Where was Naraku? And, how did it come to be that Inuyasha was captured in the first place?


That last question was the one most plaguing the demon lord’s mind. He would have to be sure to ask his brother once he awoke the next time.


Growling to himself, Sesshomaru stood after giving his appearance a once-over. He was uncharacteristically filthy, he had been so….concerned….with his brother these last few days, he hadn’t noticed until now that he was still covered with blood and grime. He would bathe for now, Inuyasha hadn’t been giving off any signals that he anywhere near the land of the living and aware so he didn’t figure that his absence would be missed.

After a glance at the hanyou on the sleeping mat Sesshomaru stepped outside. He was moderately thankful that the humans seemed to be to engrossed in whatever it was that they were doing so they never noticed when he slipped out.


A little while away he found a perfect little hot spring. It was surrounded by low hanging trees, green grass. Soft moss lined half of the rocks around the small pool, the clear water reflecting the dim sun light that filtered through the trees. It was a peaceful place.


First Sesshomaru opted to slip out of his soiled clothing a scrubbing it clean with a stone as he dipped it in the water. Once satisfied that the worst of the mess was gone Sesshomaru set them out on a sunny rock to dry. Then Taiyoukai slid into the warm water, not bothering to hold back the sigh that came with the feeling of the water surrounding him. After relaxing briefly, Sesshomaru set about washing out his silvery-blue hair until it had a satisfactory shine to it. Without something to wash himself with, scrubbing the clinging filth off his skin proved to be a bit more tedious than it should have been but the ever resourceful inu managed well enough.


Sinking back against the moss cover rocks, the inu lord tried to come up with a way to snap Inuyasha out of this cycle of his. Waking up angrily, hyperventilating in tears, and then falling back a sleep. He was never going to get any better if this continued. Inuyasha had to be reminded that there were people that still counted on him. That didn’t care what had happened. That was something that Sesshomaru himself had not had, when he was young his Father was the only one in his life, and that had been snatched away also. He could not let Inuyasha end up like he did. There had to be a way.


After awhile he came to a conclusion, one he hoped would begin the process of getting better.


Lifting out of the hot spring Sesshomaru pulled his, thankfully now dry, cloths on before strolling back into the small village.


“Lord Sesshomau!”


The monks voice calling to him made Sesshomaru stop just short of walking back into the hut that housed his brother. Turning to face the human he raised an eyebrow in question.


Blinking once or twice Miroku had to remember what he was going to say. In all honesty, he hadn’t expected the demon lord to even notice him. After a brief moment of pondering, “Would you like to join us outside, perhaps we could offer you something to eat, as you have been by Inuyasha’s side for awhile now?” A long shot.


About to respond, Sesshomaru was cut off when a loud yelp came from inside.


Immediately Sesshomaru was through the door already on guard in case something had slithered it’s way past the humans while he was away. The moment was short-lived however, when the source of the problem was discovered.


Shongi was attempting to remove Inuyasha’s bandages, he was almost fully physically healed, but apperantly one of them snagged. Of coarse this caused said hanyou to jolt out of his sleeping state and trying to stand up, which in turn startled Shongi as she leaned over him and almost bowling her over. Resulting in the otter healer lying on her back with Inuyasha splayed over her in a tangle of bandages, blankets, and clothes.


Both froze however, when they noticed the other person in the room.


Inuyasha quickly untangled himself from….himself and was on his feet, growling. “Sesshomaru, what are you doing here---” The hanyou trailed off, sinking back to the floor.


Recognizing the sudden mood change, Sesshomaru stepped up to Inuyasha and, in a surprising gesture, held out his hand and helped the half-inu up. “I wish for you to come outside, your humans are waiting.”


Inuyasha’s eyes snapped to his brothers as he yanked his hand away, shaking his head quickly. “No.” Was all he said.


“Inuyasha?” The soft voice of the miko caught everyones attention.


Looking towards the door Inuyasha felt like shrinking back into the shadows and disappearing. How could he be expected to face all his friends? He was nothing now. Just some submissive weakling that had tried to pass himself off as a leader. No one would follow him now. But, how could he expect them to rely on him for protection, when he couldn’t even protect himself?


Kagome put on her brightest smile and reached for Inuyasha’s hand, gently but firmly she led the hesitant hanyou out in to the open as Sesshomaru silently followed.


Feeling almost naked in just his long plain white under shirt, Inuyasha sat near his brother. Which just happened to be as far away from his friends as he could get. Ears pressed to his skull, the hanyou waited for them to let him know that he should leave. That he disgusted them. That the couldn’t believe that they had had let a weak half-breed travel with them for this long.


He swallowed. All of it would be true, he would leave if they told him to, he had no right to stay.


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Yay! Another chapter for you all to (hopefully) enjoy. If you didn’t read the top part of the authors note please do, it’s very important.

Til’ next time!


See Ya!