Stature

Stature
By Dawn A. Dyer.
I do not own Inuyasha or any of the gang. They all belong to Rumiko Takehashi


Chapter Two: Kazoku

Inuyasha found Miroku and woke him.

“I’m going away for a little while.” Inuyasha informed him. Seeing the question in the houshi’s eyes, Inuyasha reassured him.

“Don’t worry.” Inuyasha said. “I’m not rushing off to do anything stupid. There’s just something I have to do.”

“What about the house?” Miroku asked.

He saw Inuyasha grin in the near darkness.

“You didn’t really need my help.” Inuyasha said. “But thanks for keeping my mind off of Kagome. I’ll see you in ten days.” Inuyasha went to the door and paused.

“Don’t tell Kagome about the house yet.” Inuyasha asked. “I want to be there.”

“Of course,” Miroku agreed, “are you sure you’ll be okay?”

“Yes.” Inuyasha said, sliding the door closed.

Inuyasha bounded into the night, moving swiftly through the lands of Musashi, and going farther into the wilds of the Western Lands. He was traveling in the general direction in which he had last seen his youkai half-brother, Sesshoumaru, and his small retinue. Inuyasha believed he had worked out the puzzle of his demon blood, and the only one who could help him was the current Lord of the Western Lands.

If he stopped to think about what he was doing, he probably would have turned around and gone back to Kaede’s village. Sesshoumaru was still quite cold towards his hanyou half-brother. It was likely that he wouldn’t help Inuyasha at all, and would heap him with insults instead.

By first light, Inuyasha had picked up his brother’s trail. By mid-morning he could tell he was close, for his brother’s scent grew stronger. It was vital that he did everything according to Sesshoumaru’s rules if he was to get what he wanted from his half-brother. Sesshoumaru recognized respect, and though they had once been bitter enemies, Inuyasha did respect the older youkai. Sesshoumaru was strong, cool-headed, and not necessarily evil.

Inuyasha approached Sesshoumaru from upwind so that his brother would smell him before he saw him. The toad-demon, Jaken bristled in anger as his Lord’s half-brother came into view.

“You there,” Jaken yelled in his grating, whiny voice. “Clear the way! My Lord does not want your stench near him today, hanyou.”

His mouth snapped shut when he saw Sesshoumaru glaring down at him.

“Jaken.” Sesshoumaru said calmly.

“Y,yes Lord?” Jaken answered meekly, knowing he’d done something wrong.

“Who was Inuyasha’s father?” The youkai asked pointedly.

“The great Inutaisho, m’lord.” Jaken replied, bowing as he said the words.

“Precisely,” Sesshoumaru said, “and as the Inutaisho’s son, he is deserving of your respect, hanyou or not.”

“Yes, Lord.” Jaken said, inwardly disagreeing with his master.

“As punishment, you will go ahead with Rin to our lodgings in the south.” Sesshoumaru ordered. “There you will practice kanji with Rin until I arrive.

“Rin, come here.”

“Sesshoumaru-sama?” The little girl asked as she came running up to the tall youkai.

“You will behave yourself, won’t you?” Sesshoumaru asked her, his tone somehow kinder as he addressed the child.

“Hai, Lord Sesshoumaru.” Rin replied. “I will do as Jaken says.”

“Very good.” Sesshoumaru said. Inuyasha thought he saw the barest hint of a smile on his brother’s face. “I will see you soon.”

“Yes, Lord Sesshoumaru.” The child said obediently as she scampered away to follow the small toad demon.

“Jaken.” Sesshoumaru said over his shoulder.

“Yes, Lord?”

“If I find out you’ve lost your temper with Rin again, there shall be consequences.” The youkai Lord warned.

He left his ward and the toad demon upon the road and walked to where his half-brother waited. He was mildly curious as to why the boy had sought him out, but then he smelled it – the near imperceptible scent that his brother’s blood had recently changed. He noticed with no outward surprise that his brother was bowing. What was he up to? His face betrayed none of his thoughts as he addressed his half-brother.

“Inuyasha.” Sesshoumaru said in a cold tone. “You have news of Naraku?”

“Not exactly.” Inuyasha said, swallowing hard. “I need a favor.”

“I have no remedy for your transformation, Inuyasha, so do not ask me.” Sesshoumaru said, keeping his tone icy. “Besides, Father has already given you the solution.” The youkai’s golden eyes strayed to the Tetsusaiga at Inuyasha’s side.

“That’s not why I’m here.” Inuyasha replied, wondering how his brother knew about the change. “I need your advice, or at least, your experience.”

Now Sesshoumaru really was surprised, and even slightly amused. He held his features and decided to find out exactly what Inuyasha wanted. He gestured for Inuyasha to join him as he walked leisurely in the direction Jaken had taken Rin and Ah-Un. Inuyasha obediently fell in step beside him. They walked in silence for a long time until Sesshoumaru grew bored.

“Tell me why you have come, or leave me.” Sesshoumaru ordered. “I have little time to waste on you.”

A half-hour later, Sesshoumaru wished he hadn’t said anything at all. His little brother had poured out a list of questions, ignorances, worries, and other angst, which only confirmed what a boor the lad was. However, the heart of what he wanted was to improve himself for his woman. He wanted Sesshoumaru to be his teacher. Sesshoumaru pondered for a while as they walked and came to the conclusion that it could only be of a benefit to improve his little brother. If he taught Inuyasha how to act like the son of the Inutaisho, then perhaps Sesshoumaru wouldn’t have to be embarrassed about him any longer. Well, at least not as much.

“I will do as you ask.” Sesshoumaru finally agreed. In his first actual kindness, he added; “We will not do this with Jaken around. He does not know how to hold his tongue, and even my patience has its limits.”

It took only a moment for Inuyasha’s initial shock to fade. He’d taken a chance asking Sesshoumaru for his aid, and hadn’t really expected his help at all. He bowed low in deep respect.

“Thank you.” Inuyasha said to his brother for the first time in his life.

So began the schooling of Inuyasha. Sesshoumaru led Inuyasha to one of the smaller residences he kept in the area, and began to discover exactly how poor in experience Inuyasha truly was. Sesshoumaru was glad the boy at least knew how to properly bathe, though it seemed he hadn’t had his hair combed since Izayoi had died. His table manners were nearly nonexistent, but he was a quick study, eager to please his miko, and perhaps, even Sesshoumaru. At their first meal, Sesshoumaru wondered if Inuyasha’s woman ever fed him, and asked him so.

“Of course.” Inuyasha responded. “Kagome feeds me really well.”

“Then why are you so thin?” Sesshoumaru pressed. “Why do you eat so fast?”

Inuyasha did not answer for a long while.

“Before I was under Kikyo’s spell, sometimes I did not eat.” Inuyasha confessed. “Sometimes it was not for days on end.” Inuyasha fell silent, ashamed of the life he had led after his mother had passed.

Sesshoumaru understood. Inuyasha had gone hungry in the past. It gave him insight into the life of the brother he had chosen to ignore until just recently. Part of this ordeal was his fault. If he had taken the boy when Izayoi had died, he wouldn’t be so confused now.

“You are half youkai.” Sesshoumaru said. “I know that other youkai would have hunted you, for hanyou are despised amongst our nobility. However, even with only half demon blood, you are of more nobility than the mortal Emperor of these lands. If you assert yourself, and show yourself to be equal to your youkai blood, you will find that the other youkai will leave you alone.” Sesshoumaru gave a little cough of embarrassment. “I had heard that you were earning a grudging respect amongst my peers. You should be proud that you have gotten that far with no one’s help.”

Inuyasha blushed at the compliment.

“I think that the first lesson you should learn is how to control your emotions.” Sesshoumaru noted. “The world should not see what you think simply by looking at your face.”

Sesshoumaru brought the art of meditation to Inuyasha’s life, and in doing so, gave a calmness of soul to the young hanyou. Inuyasha fell to his studies with zeal, impressing Sesshoumaru with his dedication. It was on the third night of his schooling that Inuyasha began to shyly ask Sesshoumaru about sex. Sesshoumaru was horrified to learn what the lad had been taught by his mother’s clan. How dare they do this to the son of the Inutaisho! The boy truly had no idea how he had been belittled by Izayoi’s people. They had instilled the typical human shame in his brother so deeply that Sesshoumaru wondered if he could actually help him overcome it. Inuyasha’s body was lean and fit, and as beautiful as Sesshoumaru’s. There was no reason for shame.

Each successive night of the tenday that Inuyasha spent in his company, Sesshoumaru taught Inuyasha about his body, and about female bodies as well. He suggested on the first night that he summon a woman from a nearby village, but Inuyasha grew so red, that Sesshoumaru thought Inuyasha’s blood might actually come through his skin. Thanks to the meditation that the boy was learning, each of his lessons caused less embarrassment. In the end, Sesshoumaru could not completely wipe away his brother’s previous conditioning, but at least he would not hurt his woman with his ignorance.

In a way, Sesshoumaru gave Inuyasha back some of what Kikyo had taught him so long ago. He instilled a sense of pride in the lad, and a feeling that his life was worth more than he believed it to be. Inuyasha’s tone was softer now, his features more controlled, and his manners, almost perfect. He was even beginning to learn a tiny bit of calligraphy when his time drew to a close.

Inuyasha was preparing to leave, and Sesshoumaru watched him from a comfortable chair near the fire. Inuyasha came to stand before him, and for the second time in his life, he bowed to his brother in great respect.

“Thank you, Sesshoumaru.” Inuyasha said. “You have taught me a great deal, and I am grateful.”

“You must love this miko very much.” Sesshoumaru observed. “Will she be your mate?”

“About that, I don’t know.” Inuyasha admitted, “but yes, I love Kagome.”

“Before you go, I’ve something for you.”

Sesshoumaru handed Inuyasha a rather large package wrapped in red silk that matched the color of his fire-rat robes.

“Go on,” Sesshoumaru urged, “open it.”

What Inuyasha found inside the fine red silk astounded him. After all of the rage and hatred that Sesshoumaru had thrown at him; the jibes, the sword fights, the raking claws – after the cold truce, none of it spoke of how generous Sesshoumaru could be when befriended.

The black silk was so fine that Inuyasha could barely feel the weight of the haori in his hands. An abstract pattern of red was worked into the sleeves and collar. The pattern was repeated down the left leg of the black hakama. The youkata was red, like his normal attire, but now the pattern was in black, and mirrored the way it was on the haori. There was also a pair of black half-boots near to what Sesshoumaru wore. Inuyasha didn’t know what to say.

“Inuyasha. Our Father was a great demon.” Sesshoumaru said in a tone that made Inuyasha pay attention. “As the Eldest, I am his heir. You are the younger son, but you too have a potential for greatness that I had dismissed. No longer. You are the son of the Great Dog Demon, and brother to the Lord of the Western Lands.” Sesshoumaru paused.

“I understand that the fire-rat robes are both legacy, and armor. However, you should dress in a manner more befitting your station." Sesshoumaru cleared his throat. “At least once in a while.”

Inuyasha dropped to his knees and touched his forehead to the floor. Sitting up to face his brother, he found the right words to give Sesshoumaru.

“You have shamed me.” Inuyasha said softly. “I have a gift for you as well, but it pales in comparison to this. I am embarrassed to give it.”

“Let me be the judge of that.” Sesshoumaru said, holding out his hand.

Inuyasha reached into the opening of his haori and placed a scroll of calligraphy paper in the youkai Lord’s outstretched hand. Sesshoumaru unrolled it and astonishment marked his features for the first time, Inuyasha had ever seen.

Written on the scroll was one character in a passably neat hand. Brother.

It was not a fine carving, or spider-silk clothing. It was not the sword that Sesshoumaru craved - it was only a word. Brother.

For one hundred and fifty years, that word had only brought anger, disgust, or embarrassment. In two years it had modulated into cold acceptance spiced with lingering disdain. In a tenday, a boy had changed the meaning of that word for Sesshoumaru.

The Lord of the Western Lands held a word in his hand and came to the realization that it was a powerful word, for it had changed him. He carefully re-rolled the scroll. A sweet smile spread over Sesshoumaru’s face to touch his eyes. Their color altered from the cold, hard, glint of bright gold, to the warm, mellow, gold that usually graced Inuyasha’s face.

“It is beautiful.” Sesshoumaru said, the honey in his tone matching his sweet smile. His beauty was enhanced tenfold by the expression.

Inuyasha returned the smile with one of his own.

“So are these clothes!” He said. “I’ve never owned anything but what you see on me now.”

“Go now, Inuyasha, son of the Inutaisho.” Sesshoumaru commanded. “Go and make Kagome look upon you with new eyes.”

With that, Sesshoumaru rose from his chair, and before Inuyasha could guess his intent, he hugged his brother to him in a warm embrace.

“Make me proud.”

Startled, Inuyasha hesitated only a second before fiercely hugging Sesshoumaru back.

“I will.”

With that, Inuyasha carefully wrapped his new clothing in the red obi, and tied it securely to his back. He left Sesshoumaru then, wondering what he had done to change his brother’s attitude toward him. I didn’t matter. The word brother meant something entirely different to him now too.