A Sister's Gift

Chapter 17 – Hello Dear Brother

“Inuyasha.” The normally smooth tone of his voice had suddenly taken on a quiet, sinister, sound. Kagome was frozen in the spot as she stared at the young demon male sitting at the far side of the room. She barely noticed the miko sitting just next to him, as she took in his handsome features. He had the cutest furry ears atop his head full of silver hair. Except for the low growl that was now thrumming from his chest, the young demon male sat perfectly still, as he glared back at her Protector.

“Sesshomaru.” Inuyasha said in disgust.

Kagome turned to look at Sesshomaru. “You know him, Sesshomaru?”

“Unfortunately I do.” Sesshomaru replied. His face now held the emotionless mask of indifference, but his eyes told her that he was hard pressed to contain his anger.

Kagome turned back to the young man, that Sesshomaru called ‘Inuyasha’. Then she noticed that the woman sitting next to him had risen to gesture her to join them. She looked back to Sesshomaru, “Shall we?”

In a restrained voice he answered, “You are the mistress. I am only here to serve you.”

Kagome seen immediately that he was not going to be much help with her decision, and her curiosity now had a firm grasp. So she made her way toward the young woman.

“Konnichiwa, I am the miko Kagome,” she said as she bowed slightly to her fellow miko. She turned slightly and said, “This is my Protector, Sesshomaru.”

“Not going by Lord Sesshomaru anymore?” Inuyasha said with a sarcastic laugh.

“Be quiet Inuyasha.” The pretty miko snapped at her companion. “Konnichiwa, I am the miko Kikyo.” She turned to her companion. “This is my Protector, Inuyasha. Please, want you join us?”

“Arigato. Your hospitality is most welcome.” Kagome replied as she took a seat across from the miko Kikyo. Sesshomaru sat next to, but just behind, Kagome. Both males continued to glare at each other with vehemence.

“Permission to speak Mistress?” Sesshomaru asked.

“Permission granted, Sesshomaru,” Kagome replied.

“Well little brother, it appears that you are in no position to pass judgement on this Sesshomaru.”

Kagome caught her breath. “Your brother?”

“Half brother,” Sesshomaru growled.

Kagome looked to Kikyo, who appeared to be just as surprised as herself. They were briefly interrupted by the appearance of several steaming bowls of food, and tea. The tension in the air was broken slightly as the young woman placed the various items out for her patrons. Kagome nodded her pleasure, and the woman scurried off to tend to her other guests.

Kagome had a chance to get a better look at Kikyo as she enjoyed her first real meal in over a week. She was somewhat taken aback at the similarities to her own features. Her hairstyle and length was the main difference, and her eyes were not quiet as big, but the similarities were somewhat uncanny.

As she ate she and Kikyo exchanged pleasant conversation, choosing to ignore the disgruntled males at their sides. Kagome learned that Kikyo and Inuyasha were also on their way to the Emperor’s palace.

“Miko Kikyo, do you know why we are being called together?” Kagome asked.

“I can not say for sure, miko Kagome, but I have heard it rumored that it concerns an object of unlimited power.” Kikyo replied.

“The mystery is driving me mad. I do wish that we could have been informed of our purpose, but I am honored to have been recognized by the high priestess.” Kagome said just before taking another bite of steamed rice.

“Yes, the mysteriousness surrounding our call has weighed on me as well. I have also heard that one hundred of this countries most powerful miko’s have been called together, though no one seems to know of the reason.” Kikyo relayed to her newfound friend.

After everyone had eaten their fill, Sesshomaru rose and held his hand out to Kagome. She took it and allowed his strength to help her to stand. She caught the strange look from his younger brother, but dismissed it just as quickly.

She and Kikyo had such a nice talk finding out that they had much in common, and Kagome was delighted when she asked if they would join her and Inuyasha on the remainder of the journey. Having someone new to talk to for the next two days would be a welcome change.

The annoyed grunts from the miko Protector’s was proof of their displeasure with the new traveling arrangements. Sesshomaru refused to acknowledge Inuyasha further, and held his tongue as he followed his mistress from the tavern.

Forced to serve a human female was degrading, but forced to travel with his irritating, ignorant, and brash half-breed brother was going to be absolute torment. A lifetime of serving the miko Kagome would in no way compare to even two days with Inuyasha.

Dreaded torment...

Inuyasha carried himself with rough arrogance. His red haori and hakama’s were not as fine as those worn by Sesshomaru, but he was nothing like his brother. Where Sesshomaru has sleek deadly elegance, Inuyasha has rough, callused, rudeness.

Sesshomaru watched carefully as he followed the miko Kikyo. He briefly wondered how his brother had come into her possession. Could that be the reason for his absence? At one time Sesshomaru would have called him a weakling for being captured by a human, but after his own carelessness there was no room for accusation.

Following the little miko was not really that bad of a job, Sesshomaru mused briefly, it could be a whole lot worse. He discretely lowered his gaze to focus on the gentle swaying of her rounded derriere. No not that bad of a job at all.

Kagome stepped aside for Sesshomaru to open the door to the rented room they shared. Once inside, she took a seat, with the intention of doing a little meditation until time to turn in for the night. Her companion thwarted her attempt, however.

“Mistress, may I speak freely?” Sesshomaru questioned.

“Yes.” Kagome answered. She had a good idea that this had something to do with their new traveling companions, but she would not allow him to sway her on her decision to travel with Kikyo.

“Mistress, with all due respect, I must request that we do not travel with the priestess Kikyo.” There, I said it, Sesshomaru eyed his mistress for her reaction to his request.

“And why is that, Sesshomaru?” Kagome asked, as she let out a sigh of frustration. It figured. She finally had a chance to spend the remaining miles with someone to talk to, and he wants to protest.

Sesshomaru did not want to go into this with her. It really was none of her business, damn it. “I don’t trust the miko.” ‘Can she tell if I’m lying? Hmm, maybe not.’

“Sesshomaru... stop lying to me.” Kagome chastised.

‘Damn, damn, damn! This wench continues to be more and more trouble!’ Sesshomaru sunk to the floor, placing his arms in the sleeves of his haori, as he prepared to tell the woman the truth. A deep sigh proceeded his tale, of memories that he would prefer to leave in the dark recesses of his mind.

“Miko, this Sesshomaru would rather not go into this, but since you insist... As you could probably tell, my half brother Inuyasha and I, are not close.” He ignored the miko’s look of false incredulity, and continued. “Many years after my mother’s death, a human lord of a neighboring providence offered his daughter to my father as to bring together the strengths of the two lands. My father accepted the human woman, since the borders to the South had been in dire unrest for some twenty years. The combined forces of both lands would crush the uprising and bring peace to all of our people.”

“What father had not counted on was the beauty and kind nature of the human princess. My father lost his heart to her, and she soon became ripe with a pup. At Inuyasha’s fourth year things went awry. Unbeknownst to my father, Lord Inutaisho, his mate’s father was conspiring to take over my father’s lands. His plan was to use his own daughter to poison Lord Inutaisho. When he approached his daughter with his plan, she became irate, as she loved my father deeply. The human lord called her a traitor to her race, and promised the death of her son should she not agree to his devious plan. The lady went straight to my father with this terrible news, and a war was spawned between the two houses. Two years later the human lord acquired the aid of a kuromiko to bring forth attacks by several of the most powerful demons of that time. These youkai were to attack father during a raging battle between the two lands. My father fought long and hard. He was the powerful Dog General, Lord Inutaisho, after all. He slew the first two demons, and soon faced a formidable dragon foe, Ryuukotsusei. Though he won the battle, my father was mortally wounded, and knew that the only way to save his mate and hanyou son was to kill the human lord. He attacked the lord with all the rage of a wounded animal, and only fell to his death after the human lords blood ran from his claws. The warring was ended.”

Sesshomaru ran his claws through his long hair in frustrated remembrance, and continued his tale. “The wife of the human lord, longed for her only daughter after the death of her hated husband, and called the girl home. The hime left the safety of our castle, taking her half-breed son with her. She found solace for only a short time as a sickness took her mother and some weeks later took the hime to her death as well. The new lord ruled the land with an iron fist, but had no interest in the Crescent lands, as I made it very clear that I had no love of humans and would make no treaties with them. I warned him quite thoroughly that I would decimate everything he held dear if he dared to draw out the war. That seemed to deter him, as I never had a minute’s problem from them afterwards.”

“Many years later, when my house fell, I was taken by complete surprise. The blackhearted coward had joined with the Emperor’s forces and attacked in the dead of night. I sent a call to my hanyou brother for aid, as much as I hated to admit my need. The attack devastated the Crescent House, and we would not hold against the attack without aid. None came. I fell victim to shear exhaustion after days of fighting with no rest. I barely survived, and I lost everything, except the tattered, bloody clothes on my back.” Sesshomaru shook his head, as he stared at the floor. “The hanyou never came to my call for aid. He is a traitor to our house. I can not forgive him.”

Kagome sat in complete silence, taking in the story of Sesshomaru’s past. How horrible for him, it must have been. To lose his father in such a way, and then lose his lands and home. His story never made mention of his own strife, during the tragedy, but it had to have been terrible for him. Before she knew what she was doing she leaned up to wrap her arms around him gently. Her strong protector. Her taiyoukai. She held him close, and he did not pull away. Instead, he returned her embrace, and wrapped his strong arms around her tiny waist, and accepted her small comfort.

Sesshomaru felt the tear she shed for him, as it struck his cheek. The miko’s heart was just too big for her tiny body. To shed tears for his loss, was so typical of her, yet it never ceased to baffle him. For a short time he allowed the embrace. Accepted it, and perhaps enjoyed it. Her soothing scent danced into his mind and once more played havoc with his thoughts, until he was forced to separate himself from her, least he get carried away.

Kagome sat back onto her mat, and regarded her companion with a new light, and not for the first time, was faced with the thoughts that he should not be a slave. He was meant for higher things. She vowed, at that moment, to find a way to set him free.

“Domo Arigato, Lord Sesshomaru, for sharing that with me. I know it was hard for you.” Kagome softly soothed. “I now understand somewhat your feelings on the matter. I would ask you, though, have you ever confronted Inuyasha as to why he failed to come to your aid?”

Sesshomaru huffed angrily. “What reason could be more important than the fall of our father’s house?”

Kagome patted his leg gently, before she said, “Perhaps you should ask him, Sesshomaru. Perhaps, he has suffered, as well.”

Sesshomaru growled in frustration. “He could not know the same suffering that was wrought on this Sesshomaru.”

“Maybe you are right, but I think you owe it to your father’s memory to find out.” Kagome said sweetly. “I still wish to travel with Kikyo, and I will not force you to interact, with either of them, but I do hope that you will not fight me on this.”

Sesshomaru growled again. All that talk, and for naught. He still had to bear the company of that filthy hanyou.

Kagome knew he was angry with her, but she hoped this might help him to confront these issues with his brother. “Why don’t we both get some rest. We need to get an early start.” She slid into the futon and Sesshomaru lay down beside her.

Thoughts of the past plagued his mind as he lay there listening to his little miko’s even breathing. Images of his great and terrible father. Images of his lovely, powerful mother. Images of a pretty human hime, and a little white haired toddler. Images of blood. Finally sleep came.