Legacy of Loss

Extra Warning for Chapter:



A very graphic dead Sesshoumaru in this chapter.



Response to Reviewers:



I didn’t expect a review, thank you three! *hugs!*



Yes, there’s a lot of angst in this story, but it does end on a good note, and there will be incest between Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha at the end as well. How? You should have your suspicions by the end of chapter 5 if not sooner. *wink*

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Legacy of Loss

Chapter 2

Fluffy vs. The Body







Inuyasha froze. His mind stopped and his body forgot to even take in air. Sango and Kagome both gasped and Miroku took a step back in surprise.



“Dead?” asked Shippo, “But Lord Sesshoumaru is one of the most powerful youkai out there, are you sure he’s really dead?”



“Yes Shippo, Lord Sesshoumaru is dead now. He gave Rin the Mokomoko and told her to take care of it when he lay in the field. He also told Rin to go find Lady Kagome because she would know what to do with Rin. He told master Jaken he was responsible for my care. But, Master Jaken wouldn’t come right away; he’s still with Lord Sesshoumaru’s body.” The small girl was looking at Kagome, her large eyes trusting and slightly moist.



“Oh Rin, what happened?” Kagome asked as she once again pulled the girl into a hug. “It’s ok, we’ll take care of you, like Lord Sesshoumaru asked.”



“What could have possibly killed Lord Sesshoumaru?” murmured Miroku in wonder, “He is exceptionally powerful and cautious.”



Sango remained silent, her eyes however spoke volumes as her gaze remained fixed on the rigid back of the unmoving hanyou. Inuyasha had made no comment or movement since Rin had uttered the words that his nemesis half-brother was dead. Sango knew they didn’t get along - alright, that was an understatement. The two brought sibling rivalry to a whole new lethal level.



But, she herself had been nearly killed by her own brother so oddly she could relate to Inuyasha. Her relationship with Kohaku let the two of them understand each other on some level. Despite their situations not being quite the same. Kohaku was being controlled by their enemy Naraku. His memory was wiped and he served only his new master. Sango felt her fist clench at her side. One day, she would free her baby brother, either through his returned memory or by death from her own hand. If she was forced to kill him…she would die herself after.



Inuyasha claimed to hate his remote half-brother. While Sesshoumaru had made it abundantly clear, by attempting to violently hack Inuyasha to small pieces with his claws and his words as a greeting each time they encountered one another, that his feelings were apparently the same. Despite this fact, they were still brothers if only by their father’s blood and the experiences they had shared. Sango knew Inuyasha was a deeply caring person beneath his gruff exterior. She knew despite saying he hated Sesshoumaru, that Inuyasha still respected and cared for the youkai Lord. Over the last while they seemed to be understanding one another better. She knew he longed for the other’s acceptance. He would not handle his death well.



Sango had often wondered about Sesshoumaru’s true feelings for Inuyasha as well. For, despite saying such cruel things and beating up Inuyasha regularly, the demon had yet to kill him. Sometimes, the Lord even seemed to help them out in his own distant and harsh way.



“Rin doesn’t know. Lord Sesshoumaru told Rin to go find her breakfast, and for Master Jaken to watch her. We heard a loud roar and there was a bright flash of light from where my Lord was. We both waited for a while, because Lord Sesshoumaru doesn’t like us to get in the way, especially Master Jaken. When it was quiet for a long time we went back to the field of pretty flowers that we were supposed to wait at. That is when we saw Lord Sesshoumaru. He was lying on the grass, his armour was broken and be was pinned to the ground by many spikes. It was horrible! He called Rin and Jaken to him. He had his eyes closed and had Rin take the Mokomoko from him to care for it, and to go to Lady Kagome. He told Jaken to take care of Rin and be silent. Then he went quiet…Rin came to find Lady Kagome at once.” The little girl explained.



“Rin, that’s horrible, you poor thing.” Kagome gushed picking the girl up into her arms into a hug. “Are you alright? Is there anything I can do for you?”



“Rin is fine Lady Kagome, Rin knows Lord Sesshoumaru will be back,” she smiled brightly. “He is too noble and strong to stay down long.”



Miroku, Sango and Kagome exchanged worried expressions.



“Er…Rin…being dead is kind of permanent. I know because my father was killed…and…”Shippo started softly.



“Rin has been dead once, but Lord Sesshoumaru brought her back with his pretty sword.” The girl announced brightly. Everyone around her started in shock.



Inuyasha who had been staring ahead deathly still into space suddenly jerked his head upward and spun about to face them. “Where is the body?” he demanded harshly. His hands clenched into fists at his sides and a familiar look of rugged determination plastered across his features.



Rin looked up at him pleasantly, “Ah and Un brought me here, and he knows the way back.”



Inuyasha sprinted over to the dragon and hopped onto its back wearily. “How do I get it to go there?” he demanded suspiciously.



“Ah and Un, take Inuyasha to our Lord please,” Rin chirped.



Without much warning the dragon sprang into the air and took off at an alarming speed. Inuyasha yelped and grabbed at the closest neck, hanging on for dear life. His golden eyes huge as the dragon moved with surprising speed and fluid grace through the air.



“Kirara!” Sango cried out, on cue the nekomata transformed into its larger fiery form. Sango leaped onto her back with her weapon in toe, Miroku mounted but a second later wrapping his staff around her waist to hold on.



“Shippo, can you carry Rin and me? We need to be with Inuyasha when he gets there.” Kagome asked worriedly.



“I can try…but we have to leave the backpack here, it’s too heavy!” Shippo complained as he transformed into a bird.



“Alright, we’ll get it and the rest of our stuff later, let’s go Rin!” Both girls climbed onto Shippo as he took to the air behind Kirara.



It would certainly have been a strange procession to see for anyone looking up at the time. A two headed dragon with a swearing man dressed in red clutching to one of its necks. This was promptly followed by a giant two-tailed cat on fire with a woman yelling at a leering monk on her back. A little ways after a young woman in a rather revealing outfit holding a large fluffy boa with human feet on a struggling creature that looked like some very odd breed of fox-bird.



The procession streaked through the skies for a time, Shippo faltering and Inuyasha growling at bugs. Abruptly a beautiful meadow came into view filled with grasses and fragrant flowers. But spoiling the ideal beauty was a vast area of charred and bloodied vegetation. In the center of which lay something startlingly white and red, as well as a hysterical green blob flailing a staff around madly at its side. Its shrill agonized cries causing Inuyasha’s ears to ache and even Kagome to cringe.



The dragon just dropped in the field next to where the body lay. Much like Totosai’s three-eyed bull. The impact caused Inuyasha’s teeth to jar as well as a few more tender bits. He fell off the dragon onto the burnt ground in a sprawled heap. “Thanks,” he muttered crustily.



Ah and Un grunted and shuffled off to munch on some tasty looking flowers.



As Inuyasha got to his feet, untangling the white mass of hair from his face, he felt Kirara land softly near by. A few minutes later Shippo plopped down depositing Rin and Kagome before popping back to his natural shape breathing heavily.



Golden eyes fixed on the tangle of white and dark crimson that lay in the midst of the charred land. Bare feet padded quietly forward, ears drooped and shoulders hunched nervously. Inuyasha placed a clawed hand over his stomach as he felt like he might vomit. He was aware of the sharp gasp behind him, of Miroku saying something and Sango replying quietly in a very worried tone. He was also aware of Jaken bawling his small brains out on the ground next to his beloved Lord, not even bothering to insult Inuyasha’s breeding as he approached.



Yes, the hanyou felt like he was going to be ill. Never had he imagined he would see his proud, aloof, invincible brother in such a state.



The immaculate white of Sesshoumaru’s clothing and hair was stained with his own crimson blood. His alabaster skin looked like it belonged to a shade and not a living being. Its normally flawless countenance was marred with burns and bloody scratches. The silver-white hair was tangled in disarray, several pieces falling over his face. The calculating eyes were closed revealing the dark markings over the eye lids. One delicately pointed ear was nearly removed and a cut lay deep over the side of his stoic face. His single arm seemed to broken by the angle in which it lay to his body.



As Rin had said, the armour was shattered and cracked in several places across body, the most notable his chest where a mortal wound pierced his heart. There was not a place Inuyasha could see that was not covered in wounds and burns over Sesshoumaru. Even his marking seemed to be torn.



There were also the spikes.



They were about the height of Inuyasha and the width of his wrist. They had pierced his brother and held his unmoving body to the charred earth in several places, as well as littered the ground around him. It seemed to form a prison of death. The great, invincible Lord Sesshoumaru was broken and caged.



Blood, thick, and overpowering in scent covered the ground beneath him and assaulted Inuyasha’s senses. He was standing beside Sesshoumaru now, staring down at the obviously dead shell of his brother. Pain as strong as the scent of blood wrenched his heart. But, he could not look away. His unbeatable elder brother. So cold, so aloof, so strong, so perfect. Torn and discarded amid the ruined meadow. The fluid grace of his limbs stilled. The toxic velvet of his voice silenced. His brother…was…dead. He wouldn’t allow it damnit.



“Whatever did this…will pay…I swear it Sesshoumaru, I‘ll fucking avenge you.” He hissed in a whisper barely loud enough for his friends to hear.



His eyes fell to his brother’s side as the determination shone from his features. Yeah, Sesshoumaru would probably kick his ass and spout hurtful insults at him as soon as he was up, but Inuyasha would take the abuse and use his brother’s own Tenseiga to resurrect the asshole. Then, he would hunt down whatever had done this and hack it to small bits to make it suffer the pain Inuyasha was currently feeling.



He would not allow his brother to be killed like this and leave him!



Inuyasha’s eyes froze at his half-brother’s hip and widened. Desperately he looked around the area, with each visual seep the dread increased. Stepping around Sesshoumaru he reached down and yanked up the hysterical kappa. “Hey, toad, where the fuck are Sesshoumaru’s swords?!’



“Unhand…me…you…you! Oh, Lord Sessshhhoouuumaruuuu!” Jaken wailed miserably kicking his little feet in the air. “My wonderful, godly Lord is gone! It just can’t be!” he howled.



Inuyasha’s ears were backed as he roughly shook the imp. “Jaken!” He roared, “Where are the swords!?”



Behind him Miroku gasped, “Of course, he wants Tenseiga to bring Sesshoumaru back…”



“Can Inuyasha use the sword?” Kagome murmured worriedly.



“It won’t stop him from trying…” Sango stated hopefully.



“Damn right it won’t!” Inuyasha snapped. “I know the fucker will try to kill me when he gets up, but I’m not letting him die this easy. Now, where’s the damn sword?” He demanded shaking Jaken again.



Jaken blubbered, his large yellow eyes focused on Inuyasha in utter desolation, “You…would bring my Lord back? You, the hated miserable half-breed?”



Inuyasha bristled. “I know, it’s stupid, but the asshole IS my brother and I won’t sit by and let someone else kill ‘im. I’m gonna hunt down this bastard and get revenge after Sesshoumaru’s back too. He can help me if he wants.” Inuyasha sneered, “Now, the swords you spineless twerp!”



Rin gently pet the mokomoko, which seemed to be slightly irritated. “It’s alright, Mokomoko, Inuyasha and Jaken are always loud, remember? It’s just because they care. Though, Lord Sesshoumaru and Rin often wished Master Jaken cared a little more quietly.”



Beside her by the clearing’s edge, away from the grisly scene but not out of ear-shot, Shippo smirked.



“Hmph, Lord Sesshoumaru, would never allow help from the likes of you!” Jaken spouted defiantly.



“He doesn’t have a fucking choice, now where are those swords!?” Inuyasha roared bringing the snot-nosed twerp right up to his face and growling savagely.



Jaken shook in sudden fear, “…gone.” He squeaked.



“What?!” Inuyasha screamed. “What do you mean gone!?”



Fresh tears were rolling from the kappa’s eyes, “Gone…they were missing when we got here, I asked and My Lord said they were taken by his killer. I told him I’d get them back! He just stated that I would never touch Tokijin…and spat up blood…and wouldn’t open his enthralling eyes…and told me to take care of Rin…and…Lord Sesshooouummaarrruuuuuu!” Jaken was inconsolably crying and screaming.



Miroku started, “The one who killed Lord Sesshoumaru could handle Tokijin? This does not bode well; it must indeed have been a very powerful demon.”



Both Inuyasha and Jaken shot a glare at Miroku. Who promptly stepped back.



“You insolent human! Of course it was a powerful demon who defeated Lord Sesshoumaru! Not some lowly human or lesser creature, maybe it was even a God! Yes, a God who was jealous of my Lord’s strength and beauty!” Jaken snapped.



Inuyasha dropped Jaken as he sank down to his knees and studied his half-brother’s mauled face quietly. There was no scorn or disgust or anger or dark amusement there. Just relaxed quiet. Hesitantly, Inuyasha reached up a hand.



“I meant no disrespect, Jaken, I had assumed Lord Sesshoumaru may have been deceived in this battle. Perhaps by Naraku. It was the only way I could see him having being felled by an enemy. But, if this demon could handle Tokijin…” Miroku began.



“Deceived? Never! My Lord would not fall for any tricks! He was far too clever! But it would not be below some to try and fool my Lord.” Jaken snapped.



“It wasn’t Naraku, I don’t smell him or his incarnations anywhere…’sides, Naraku‘d try and absorb him first. The Ant fucker.” Muttered Inuyasha. His hand hovered over his brother’s face for a time. Almost afraid to touch him. He had never touched him except to land a blow. Part of him hoped that the youkai would snap open his eyes and take a swipe at him as his hand jerkily descended over Sesshoumaru’s face.



No reaction came however as Inuyasha tenderly pushed the stray locks of hair away from his brother’s features. It bothered the hanyou to see him unkempt like this. It was unnatural to him. Slowly, Inuyasha moved his hand a few centimetres over his brother’s bloodied lips. No breath. He gently touched the vulnerable jugular with the pads of his fingers. No heart-beat. Moving his hand onward he placed his fingers against the unsliced cheek of his brother and frowned. He was frigid and oddly dry to the touch, hollow. Even the dark blood that had dried in places was cold now. Could he still use the sword? Was there a time limit?



He barely noticed the fact his fingers were shaking against his brother‘s cheek.



“Not Naraku…a more powerful enemy perhaps…Inuyasha, do you recognize the scent at all?” Miroku gazed into space, focusing his spiritual powers to try and take up any trace of who had done this.



Kirara and Sango were circling the area, Kirara scenting around the body. She seemed to pick up the trail of the battle as she darted back and forth with a comment to Sango. Eventually she ran out toward the edge of the clearing and whined, looking upwards.



Sango could make out some of what had gone on with her own tracking ability. She followed her familiar to the edge and sighed. “Whatever it was, it took to the air in this direction. We should follow, it’s the best lead we have.”



Miroku frowned, “It was a very powerful demon…I do not know its aura though. Yes, Sango, we should. Then we can retrieve the swords.”



The two turned to watch Inuyasha uncertainly.



“I don’t know the scent…” his hand still lightly on his brother’s face. At some point Kagome had come to stand behind him and had her small hands on his shoulders. He just now registered their caring warmth and sighed, pulling his hand away from Sesshoumaru. Once again his eyes focused with determination and resolve. “But I do now. I’ve got that fucker’s scent memorized and I’ll know it anywhere.” His hands clenched into fists as he dropped to all fours and sniffed around on the ground. Taking in the lingering smell that did not belong to his brother or Jaken. Letting it seep into every pour of his body so he would never forget it. It was startlingly mild and a bit floral. Like a water lily under water or something. There was also a slight mineral component to the smell…a water lily under salt water. Yeah. It was also…very… “It’s a female demon.” He stated matter of factly as he came to stand near Kirara. “A flying, water, female demon?” he looked at the nekomata for confirmation.



She growled in agreement.



Miroku frowned thoughtfully, “A female demon you say?”



“A flying water demon? That is rare…” Mused Sango.



“Hmm,” Kagome pondered. “At least this will narrow down our search, if a water demon that can fly is rare. How many really powerful female ones can there be?”



“Right.” Stated Inuyasha flexing his claws. “We’ll have the sword by dinner and Sesshoumaru will be fighten’ me by nightfall.” He couldn’t help it; his friends were giving him hope.



“Figures.” Jaken stated from their feet. All looked down at him in confusion.



“What figures Jaken?” Kagome asked.



“It was a female demon, humph. She was probably angry that my most perfect Lord did not return her affections!” he spoke proudly.



“Quite possibly correct, I am certain Lord Sesshoumaru had many powerful female suitors, some may not have taken rejection well.” Miroku mused. “I wonder how many he did reject? And how many he didn’t?”



“Enough talking, this is stupid, I’m going to go get Tenseiga back!” Inuyasha had turned and was about to spring in the direction the demon had vanished. He had no desire to hear about Miroku’s ponderings of his brother’s love-life.



“Wait!” Kagome, Jaken, Miroku and Sango all shouted.



“Shippo and Rin, we can’t leave them unattended,” Kagome pointed out.



“Plus, all our things are still by the river,” Sango looked worried. She wanted to go with Inuyasha right away but, she had weapons and poisons there she didn’t want in the wrong hands.



“And, we should do something about Lord Sesshoumaru; he needs to be placed in safety until we return should an enemy decide to harm the body.” Miroku pointed out. “Well, harm it more. This will not take long Inuyasha, we can move it and place a barrier around it quickly.”



“Kirara and I will rush back to the camp and gather our things while you do. Kagome’s medical supplies might be needed. When the barrier is finished go ahead. We will catch up.” Sango was gone in a blink of a fiery tail.



A deep sigh came from their feet, “I will mind the children. It was my Lord’s last request I take care of Rin after all. But, if that kitsune gets left behind, I will not wait for him!” Jaken snapped.



“I’m not coming with you?” Shippo’s voice asked from near Ah and Un.



“Not this time Shippo, we need you to stay with Rin and Jaken and make sure Sesshoumaru is kept safe!” Kagome exclaimed as she walked over to the children. “Are you two alright?”



“I can stay and protect them. No worry Kagome, I will keep it together!” Shippo stated proudly.



“I know we can count on you Shippo.” Kagome smiled and gave him a hug.



Rin giggled. “Rin is fine Lady Kagome, she thinks Lord Sesshoumaru would be pleased to know his brother cares so much about him to go to all this trouble.”



Kagome looked thoughtfully at the little girl. Somehow, she doubted the Sesshoumaru she knew would care or be particularly pleased that Inuyasha was trying to help him. “Maybe. But it might be a good idea for all of us to stay away when he wakes up for a while.”



Inuyasha walked with Miroku back to his brother’s body in irritation. “Fast, eh Miroku, I want to get that sword back as soon as possible. I dunno if there’s a limit or some shit on how long it works.”



“I know Inuyasha, but we can’t leave him like this.” Miroku said gently as he assessed the spikes.



“I know…er…right…let’s do this then.” He grabbed at one and quickly yanked it out of his brother’s leg. He didn’t want to think about what he was doing.



Miroku removed one that was in his chest. Noticing how Inuyasha had to close his eyes and look away as they freed the body from the ground. They worked quickly and soon had the white figure unpinned. Inuyasha knelt beside him and worried his bottom lip with his fangs as he looked over the holes in his brother. He reached down and with a surprising amount of care, placed his brother’s arm over his chest so it wouldn’t drag as they moved him. “Maybe we should…I dunno…clean him up a bit? He’ll be right pissed if he wakes up like this.”



The monk could see how seeing Sesshoumaru like this was upsetting his friend. It was understandable; the youkai could take down two-hundred demons and not have an eyelash out of place. Yet, here he was an absolute torn mess. Miroku sighed, “Inuyasha, I’m not sure we have…”



“I’ll do it!” Jaken squeaked. “I will clean my Lord’s perfect form for him! There is no need to soil him with your human hands!” he spat.



Inuyasha frowned, he had an odd feeling that Sesshoumaru would be less pleased to learn that Jaken had washed him than he would to wake up like this. Hell, he wasn‘t sure if Sesshoumaru would be more pissed to find out Jaken helped him or Inuyasha. The bastard would probably prefer the toad over his own brother. But the thought of Jaken tending him was rather unappealing to the hanyou. “Er…let’s just put the barrier around him like this then.”



“A wise choice, I believe,” Miroku agreed. Together they lifted the tall form of Lord Sesshoumaru and carried him to a more sheltered area. Inuyasha was supporting his shoulders while Miroku carried his feet. Jaken screeching at them the entire way.



“What will you do if the sword doesn’t work, Inuyasha?” Miroku asked quietly.



Inuyasha swallowed hard. He really didn’t want to think about that. “Find a way to get his body to the old man’s grave, I guess. I think he’d want to be buried near him. I still gotta get the swords, and kill the fucker that did this to him.”



Miroku nodded, “Yes, taking him to rest with your great father would seem appropriate. Inuyasha, know whatever happens here, that we, your friends are here for you. Alright? If you want to talk, or kill, you can rely on us to support you.”



Inuyasha grunted. But it was a grunt of thanks. He did appreciate those words right now. He really didn’t want to think of failing. He had to get the sword. “Tenseiga will work. I’ll get it.”



“Yes, you will,” Miroku agreed before opting to change the subject. “He certainly is heavy.”



“You would be too if you were as big as him in his natural form,” snorted Inuyasha.



“Truly, no wonder he hits so hard. Tell me Inuyasha, I have never seen Lord Sesshoumaru’s natural form. He is a giant, white dog correct? How large is he?” Miroku asked curiously.



Inuyasha shrugged, “I can sit on his paw.”



Miroku blinked, “Indeed. He must be…quite attractive to the more aggressive female demons then.”



The hanyou blinked his large golden eyes in confusion at his friend, “What the hell is that supposed to mean, Miroku?”



“Oh, nothing nothing!” He smiled innocently.



“Get your filthy perverted hands off my Lord you lecherous monk!” Jaken whacked Miroku’s ankles with the staff of two heads. Causing Miroku to drop Sesshoumaru and hobble about.



“Miroku! Don’t drop my fucking brother like that!” Inuyasha shouted.



“What is it Rin?” Kagome asked, mentally wishing Inuyasha wouldn’t swear so damn much in front of the kids. She would sit him for it, but considering how upset he was, now was not the time. She had noticed the girl petting the pelt though in an odd way.



“Oh, nothing Lady Kagome, the Mokomoko was upset though. It was shaking again and got all tight. Rin is just making sure it’s ok.” Rin chirped back.



Kagome blinked, “It shook?”



“Yes, the Mokomoko has feelings too, that’s why Lord Sesshoumaru wanted me to take care of it for him. Until he can come back to Rin.” The girl smiled brightly.



“It’s…alive?” Shippo asked peering at the fluffy appendage.



“Mmmhmm,” Rin agreed.



“Neat! Can it do any tricks?!” Shippo exclaimed in excitement.



This caused Rin to look thoughtful, “Rin does not know, we should teach it some! Lord Sesshoumaru would be impressed with us when he returns!”



The Mokomoko was actively twitching now.



Kagome just wasn’t sure about all that. “Er….right.”



Somewhere behind her there were three screams and a flash of light. She jumped up and looked back to where the boys were carrying Sesshoumaru away and her eyes went large in shock. “Oh…my…”



“W-what is t-that?!” Shippo asked from her shoulder. Rin was standing pressed against her legs wide-eyed.



“That is Sesshoumaru’s demon form…”



Just after Miroku had dropped Sesshoumaru, Jaken had thrown himself over his beloved Lord’s body. Well, half of it as Miroku had been carrying his legs and Inuyasha still supported his shoulders. This brought about a large amount of swearing for the creepy kappa to stop molesting his brother and for Miroku to be more careful. He didn’t think Sesshoumaru needed any more bruises or reasons to kill him then he already had.



Jaken was latched onto Sesshoumaru with his face pressed against the demon’s stomach, crying openly. Miroku was attempting to pry him off the body with force.



“Both of you knock it the fuck off! Leave Sesshoumaru the hell alone alright?!” Inuyasha bellowed spastically.



Jaken froze and Miroku ripped him off. Tearing a bit more into the already mangled dead flesh. Inuyasha who was still holding his brother’s shoulders threw his head back and howled. “I said STOP IT!! You’re hurting him!!! I don‘t want him to have any more reasons to kill me!”



“Inuyasha, I’m sorry…but…he is dead for the time being, and it was an accident.” Miroku said sheepishly. He hadn’t meant to drop Sesshoumaru, he wasn’t that disrespectful. “Let me start on the barrier.”



“Oh, my beloved Lord! Forgive me! I will take whatever punishment you deem me worthy of!” Jaken grovelled.



“I’ll fucking pu - what the?!” Inuyasha clutched Sesshoumaru’s shoulders desperately as there was a flare of light. Without warning, Sesshoumaru’s body began to stretch oddly, blur and distort and fill out. Inuyasha found himself being buried beneath a mound of soft, bloodied white fur as the demon lord transformed into his canine state.



Where the elfin man had once lay, a massive dog lay in his stead. Jaken and Miroku climbed out from under its suffocating tail.



“Inuyasha? Where are you?” Miroku called out.



A few moments later something red with white hair wriggled out from under the great dog demon. “What the hell just happened? Why’d he transform like that? It wasn‘t like the way he went before. What‘s going on?”



“I have no idea,” Miroku mused walking over to Inuyasha. “This will be more challenging to get a barrier around…”



“My Lord has reverted to his natural form! This is not good!” Jaken fell to his knees.



Inuyasha just looked perplexed as he crawled over a massive paw and up Sesshoumaru’s leg to crouch on his shoulder and regard the face. There was still no sign of life, and Inuyasha was struck by another wave of nausea which he held in desperately. He peered at the closed eyes hopefully. Even if it meant he’d probably be eaten alive if they opened.



The body was still. The wounds remained the same. Inuyasha felt his ears droop in disappointment. For a second there he had thought…no matter. He would get the sword. He would fix this. Straightening he was about to hop down when he felt the body shift under him. His eyes shone with hope and he dropped down amid the thick fur, pressing his ear awkwardly to the mammoth body below him. Would he feel breath or a heart-beat there? He knew his brother did have a heart; the poor thing was just underused was all. He held his breath and waited.



Nothing.



But the body began to shift again. Jaken screamed high pitched and horrible. Miroku’s eyes went wide in shock. “Inuyasha! The body is disintegrating!” he began to rummage for suturas. Anything to stop what was happening.



Inuyasha panicked. He remained pressed to the dog’s fur, clinging to it as below him the body was dissolving into silver dust. He clutched desperately at the fur, trying to hold Sesshoumaru together by sheer force of will. “No! No! NO! You can’t do this to me! Stop it you fucking bastard! Stop! Don’t you dare leave me! STOP!!” he was screaming and he couldn’t give a damn what was coming out of him.



If there was no body, their father’s sword wouldn’t work. He couldn’t bring Sesshoumaru back.



Despite their screams, the body soon vanished in a spray of silver dust motes. Inuyasha found himself on the ground clutching at it futilely. The silver particles spun around him, flitting through his hair and ghosting across his skin, sliding through his fingers like living fairies dancing away. The dust spun upward and hung in the air for a time, and then it just drifted away in glittering rain and ceased to be.



Jaken began a fresh triad of wails.



Kagome, Shippo and Rin stared, stunned and open mouthed.



“That was beautiful Lord Sesshoumaru, like moonbeams…” Rin sighed.



Miroku watched Inuyasha, slowly he approached and knelt beside his dear friend. Placing the cursed hand on the hanyou’s shoulder. “Inuyasha…I -”



“Inuyasha…” Kagome breathed.



He had struggled to his knees and was staring numbly at his empty hands which lay face up on his thighs. His white hair covered his face. “Doesn’t matter.” He whispered, staggering to his feet. A hand briefly reached up to rub his eyes before he turned to his friends. “The asshole’s gone, probably had some spell on himself so his body’d not get touched by unworthy hands or somthin’ nothing’ I can do, not anyone‘s fault but his…” he squared his shoulders and tried to look as though he was unphased. The deep rending sorrow in his golden eyes wasn’t fooling anyone. His brother was gone, and it hurt so fucking much. He had yet to shrug off Miroku’s hand.



Kagome had run over to him and was holding one of his clawed hands. “Inuyasha, you’re not alone. You have us.” Her eyes were bright with unshed tears as she watched her best friend’s face. Miroku squeezed his shoulder gently.



“Yeah, I fuckin’ know that.” He stepped away and shoved his hands in his sleeves and huffed. “…but thanks,” he muttered.



“What do we do now?” Shippo’s small voice inquired from Kagome’s shoulder.



Inuyasha shifted and his gaze fell in the direction his brother’s killer had gone, “Might as well get some rest and wait for Sango to bring our stuff. Tomorrow, we fucking hunt that bitch that did this down.” His eyes turned to slits as he glared skyward. The demoness would die for this. Inuyasha would show her no mercy. “Get back the swords…and take them to Totosai I guess. He‘ll know where they‘d best be. Then, we‘ll find a place for the kid, and then we‘ll hunt down and finish Naraku.”



Kagome and Miroku exchanged glances. “Kaede would best know a good home for Rin and Jaken and Ah Un.” The monk nodded in agreement.



“But Rin wants to stay with Lord Inuyasha, until Lord Sesshoumaru comes back.” The girl said brightly.



Kagome and Shippo blanched and Inuyasha cringed. “Rin, he ain’t coming back now.”



“Yes, he said he would, and Lord Sesshoumaru never goes back on his word.” She skipped over to look at a rather pretty yellow flower hiding in the grass.



Kagome pressed her lips together unhappily, “It will take some time for her to understand, she’s had a very strange life after all.”



“Agreed. I believe staying with Kaede might just be her best option. She needs someone who will understand her less than normal tendencies,” the monk mused. “Plus, she could probably tolerate Jaken and may even like having Ah and Un around. Jinenji’s would be another good foster home for them. If his mother doesn‘t scare them.”



“Lord…Inuyasha,” Jaken looked like he had just swallowed a ball of rusty nails with that statement. Two humans, a kitsune and a hanyou all stared at him in morbid surprise.



“Heh. Lord? I’m no fucking Lord, get that word away from my name, are you making an insult or something’?” Inuyasha sneered in annoyance.



“Sadly, no. Most humiliating and degrading! That the lands and title of my most beautiful, noble, intelligent, brave and pure-bred Lord must come to such a shameful state! You, Lord - “ he spat, “Inuyasha, are now Lord of the Western Lands. You are responsible for the castle and the empire your brother had begun to form, as well as the ties that still remained to your Great Father. What indignity! How cruel to my perfect Lord‘s memory! That all his father‘s, and all his work…wasted to land in the hands of a filthy half-breed!”



Inuyasha’s jaw was in the dirt as he stared at Jaken.



Kagome’s eyes went wide, “Inuyasha is Lord of the Western Lands? You have got to be kidding me.”



“This is most fortuitous; we now have a Lord on our side in our fight against Naraku. Though, it will take some time to properly acclimatize Inuyasha to demon and human court, I’m certain he will do well at the job,” Miroku paused as a thought came to him and he asked Jaken conspiratorially. “Tell me, are their any Princesses looking to form a bond with our Lord’s land?”



Shippo was perked up in excitement, “Inuyasha has a castle now? No way!”



“Mmmhmm, it is a very beautiful castle. Rin visited there once with Lord Sesshoumaru.” She said as she carried a bunch of yellow flowers over. The Mokomoko seemed to be bristling.



Inuyasha looked at each of them, his mouth still hanging open as this new shock settled in. No, this couldn’t be happening. His brother was dead. There as no way he could be a demon Lord. They’d fucking kill him rather than let him rule. He wasn’t a ruler by any means either. Shit. This must be Sesshoumaru’s last dig at him. “There’s no fucking way I’m taking over as Lord of Sesshoumaru’s land!”



“You don’t have a choice, it already happened when he died, and it became impossible to bring him back,” Jaken mourned miserably. “My beautiful Lord, what an insult to you…”



Inuyasha sat down hard on the ground and rubbed his face miserably, “This can’t be happening to me…”



Rin walked over and handed him the bouquet of flowers beaming. “For you, Lord Inuyasha, they match your eyes. Just like Lord Sesshoumaru’s!”



“Er…thanks.” He stared at the bunch of flowers that were shoved in his hand miserably. Too much had happened today. He just…couldn’t think or feel anymore. He was aware of his friends looking at him worriedly, and he couldn’t deal with that either.



He just wanted to sleep really. Sleep would be good. Where’s a vengeful Priestess with a sealing arrow when you need one?

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A/N - I take far too long to type x.x; and for some reason I had this image of Sesshoumaru as the Grinch who stole Christmas when Inuyasha was looking for his heartbeat, lol.