The Tale of the Brother Blades

Yeah yeah, Inu Yasha characters, etc, not mine. Original characters : Mine. Story : Mine. My sanity : Help yourself. ( Fred A Schiedenhelm )



Tale of the Brother Blades

The Aftermath


"Did you have to hit him so hard Inu Yasha?! I mean, look at that mark! It's a wonder you didn't kill him!" Kagome shouted at the warrior as he came into the hut. The others were scattered in various positions around them talking amongst themselves. Kagome was sitting on her knees near the sleeping boy on the floor, occausionally wiping his face with a cool rag in a hope it'd wake him up. He looked young even to her, like he should be in school laughing and growing with the rest of the class instead of laying in tattered clothes with wounds on his body. She'd long since bandaged them them and given him some medicine but through the night he'd yet to wake up. "Hey! He wasn't trying to cut you down with that damned sword of his!" Kagome prompty hmphed and straightened out her back a moment before relaxing again. "Did you get the water?" "Take it." Inu Yasha said shoving a pail over at her, some of the contents spilling across the boy's face which caused him to groan and stir slightly. "Yes.. I can see what you mean Inu Yasha.. He appears to be very ferocious. It's a wonder we weren't all killed.. Thank you."


"See? Not so bad was it?" She beamed at him and put the bottle away, gesturing around the room. "This is Inu Yasha." She watched as his head turned and he immediatly noticed the sword, ears, and his bright red kimono and immediately scooted away some from him. "Don't worry. Inu Yasha may look tough, but he's actually a really nice guy." She heard him grunt and watched as he walked out of the hut. "I'll be out here. Making sure no one comes in uninvited." "His personality alone should be enough to insure that." Kagome turned to gesture to the monk sitting by Sango. "And this is Miroku.. Another nice guy and a good priest." "Pleased to meet you." He gave a short bow of his head to the boy, who turned his gaze to Sango. "Thats Sango.. Demon Slayer, and a great friend. The ball of fur in her lap is Kirara." She took one look at the boy and gave a small smile and a nod of the head before going back to stroking her furry companion. "And finally.. Theres Shippo, over there on the pillow. He's a Kitsune, and a cute little guy." The fox boy that was sitting rapt with attention on his pillow Kagome had given him hurried over, looking up at the other boy in the eyes curiously before breaking into a smile. "I don't get what Inu Yasha is worried about! He's a good person, I know it!" Kagome smiled broadly at the Kitsune and reached over, scritching behind one of his ears fondly as the stranger watched with a touch of amazement in his eyes.

"Alright.. Just don't expect me to eat much." She smiled big as life then turned to start digging in her bright yellow bag again much to the disappointment of the Kitsune. "Here. Eat these, I'll make something better later." She openned a bag of potatoe chips with a pop sound which startled him slightly, his shoulders jumping. "Just a bag." She said and passed it over towards him. "See?" Makoto started to lift his hands and she heard his breath catch in his throat, the young man was swift to turn his head and stared as the sword made a soft thud, hitting the ground. He wasn't even aware he'd been holding it.. "Theres... Theres blood.. On the sword. My sword.." "Of course theres blood on your sword, you did use it to kill those demons. Suprised you dropped it. You had a death grip on it while you were sleeping." Inu Yasha spoke as he walked back in taking a seat and folding his arms. "I.. I killed?" Makoto asked in a shakey voice lifting the hand that had been gripping the sword to his face to see it better. It was white as death, even Miroku could see it from across the room. Before Inu Yasha could speak again the monk spoke in a thoughtful voice. "Yes.. You did. And I'm sure the villagers whom's lives you saved by slaying the demons are very grateful. Don't you remember?"

"No.. I don't.." "I'm going for a walk." Sango stated and stood taking her weapon in hand then walking out without another word. 'He reminds her of her brother.. No wonder she's upset..' Kagome thought as she watched her go and let out a small sigh before partly smiling again and turning to Makoto. "Hey.. Don't worry.. You did a good thing. We might have been in trouble if it weren't for you.." "But how did I.. Do it?" "Thats a good question. Judging by the descriptions Inu Yasha gave of seeing what he could when you moved and fought.. Little as it may be, your speed and strength is astonishing considering.. You hardly seem capable of it. You are human.. Right?" The boy nodded his head with a moment of hesistation. "Hmm.. I don't like this.. Maybe he is a half breed and he doesn't know it. Kagome, are you sure he has no shards in him?" Kagome turned and nodded to Miroku as her arms wrapped around the Kitsune in her lap. "And he doesn't have any demon scent on him.. Just the blood." "This does not bode well.." "My sword.. My other sword.. I need to get it." Makoto finally said after a few minutes of silence passed.

"You have another one? Why isn't it on you?" Kagome looked at him and blinked, her curiousity raised further still. "It's at home. Please.." He started to get up and grimaced, falling back down into a slumping sit. "Listen, just tell Shippo where your home is, and where the sword is. He'll find it and bring it back, no problem! Besides, you are more hurt then I thought.. You shouldn't move." "Alright.. Just find the well, theres a house with a broken cart wheel outside of it and a couple farm tools. Go forward from there a few huts down, it's the one with a dark red cloth hanging in the entrance.." The boy smiled and hopped from Kagome's lap, running up to Makoto's side. "I'll be right back. Trust me." "It's under the pallat-" He just got out before the fox poofed into thin air. ".. I hope he finds it." "He will. He finds everything else.. Even the things he's not supposed to. Trust me." Kagome murmured to him before standing and dusting herself off. "We've just got to wait for him now.. Has your headache gone yet?" Makoto nodded again then looked at Miroku whom still was looking at him with a studying gaze. "Yes.. Thank you.. I'm sorry for being such a trouble. You don't really need to worry about me so much.." "Shh."

'I guess the time I spent taking care of Sota has gotten my maternal side up over the years.. Caring for children can do that, after all. Or maybe it's the fact I've been traveling with Miroku and Inu Yasha for so long.' An amused smile came to her face as she watched Inu Yasha, whom met her gaze and asked. "Something funny?" "No." She bit back a giggle and looked down at the floor waiting in silence for Shippo to return. "Back!" He chirped and ran in looking quite awkward with the sword craddled in his arms but hardly showing much et int in lifting it. All gazes turned to him as he walked over to Makoto and held up the sword for him with a smile bright as the sunlight dancing across the blade. "I was worried I wouldn't be able to bring it back, but it's really light! I'm glad it's not like Inu Yasha's sword, that weighs a ton most of the time." Kagome reached over and gave the almost rambling Kitsune a light pat on the head for thanks and to silence him as Makoto took the sword into his other hand and lifted, setting it at his side. "Interesting.. Shippo, you say it was so light but it does not seem so. May I?" Miroku asked, he walked over to the trio, offering his hand for a sword as Inu Yasha watched from side pretending not to be interested. Makoto hesistantly gave him the clean sword hilt - first, reluctant to part with it even for a moment. Miroku took it and lifted it, studying the features, shape, and weight of the weapon carefully.

"Interesting.. Are you sure it isn't hollow? It's incredably light, it's almost like I'm moving my hand without anything in it at all." Kagome watched Inu Yasha's ears twitch then perk up, subtly swiveling them to point at two. Makoto shook his head at the question and raised his hands for the blade to be returned to him. "Odd.. But I can't find anything really wrong with it. It's yours, I suppose I can't hold onto it." Makoto took the weapon from Miroku and placed it on his lap. "Thank you." He murmured with his head lowered. "How long we going to spend with this kid? We need to get going." Kagome looked up at Inu Yasha, her brow a little furrowed. She knew he was right, but she didn't want to leave him there.. Something told her that would be a bad idea.. As though on cue, Inu Yasha looked to the entrance, his ears twitching and turning to catch subtle sounds. Listening closer, Kagome heard it too : The shuffling march and clatter of armed men on the move headed towards them it seemed. Just as she and her party rose to their feet with Makoto still sat on the floor a man getting on in age with five lightly armored men with spears in hand entered. His eyes looked over them, one by one, pausing on Makoto then to Kagome.

"Strange attire you have.. No matter. We'd prefer you to leave our village. Now, perhaps?" The man's face was perhaps once handsome, but no more, age had taken it's toll. Despite the Kitsune and Inu Yasha's glower, the man seemed to take no heed, showed no fear. Either he was confident.. Or senile. "But we just got here!" Kagome half shouted looking quite flustered already though she didn't know it. "Yes. And we'd prefer you were just leaving." "Perhaps, if you were to render some form of payment, we'd be more eager to be on our way.." "Payment? I think not, you probably drew them here after all." "Damned old man, lets just leave this little town and it's wrinkled leader. We have better things to do." Inu Yasha practically spit with a growl bordering his voice. "Fine. Lets just find Sango and get on our way!" Her hands had unconsciously grown into tightly drawn fist. "Nice to see you two agree on something.." Miroku murmured. "And as for you.." The man ticked his eyes to Makoto. "To possess weapons, let alone use them in this village is a crime. Give them here, or go." Kagome blinked, then returned to her most flustered state. "Hey! He helped us and he made sure the village was safe, and you want to kick him out!?" "If he gives up the swords, he won't have to go." There was a moment of silence before the boy actually managed to get on his feet, one of the blades held in each hand.

With a sudden resolve in his voice that suprised Kagome, he spoke. "These are my swords." For a moment he looked like he might have cried, but his face was firm and his eyes looked right back into the old man's. Makoto didn't even wait for the man to speak, instead pushing past him and his guards with a strong stride out of the hut. The old man seemed to smile briefly and he too and his guards left, leaving them alone. "Problems solved. Kagome, I'll get your bike. Get the pack. Miroku, go find-" "I'm here." Sango said with a repressed voice from outside. "Lets go." Inu Yasha said, stepping outside. Miroku simply shrugged his shoulders and left, followed by a confused Kagome, snagging her pack on the way out. Sango was walking off to the side of the group and though he kept an eye on her, even Miroku let her be. Kagome glanced around and saw the boy walking not too far away towards the forest, his shoulders set and he was even managing to walk without a limp. 'The power of pride.. Everyone has some..' She thought to herself, then looked at Inu Yasha whom was walking the other way. After a moment she turned and sprinted over to the boy, causing Inu Yasha to groan while the others continued on.

"Hey!" She called after him, then finally managed to catch up. "Makoto!" He turned his head to look over at her, waiting quietly for her to speak. "You don't have to be alone you know, you can come with us, until we get to the next village or something!" His shoulders seemed to relax a little as he looked at Inu Yasha over Kagome's shoulder. "Great.. Just what we need, another kid.." Kagome turned and looked up at Inu Yasha, stepping closer to him. "Inu Yasha, please.. ? Just be nice for a change.. Or at least quiet? He won't be with us long.." She murmured, he seemed to be thinking about it until she lifted a hand and placed it on his covered chest, hidden by her own body from Makoto. "Everyone needs someone, sometime.. You know that.." Inu Yasha looked into her eyes deeply as he had done so few, too few times.. Kagome felt her heart slow as he lifted his hand and held her's for a moment, his hands were so strong yet suprisingly soft.. And after just a second that seemed like ten, he broke the gaze and let go of her hand, turning and heading off back towards the group with her bicycle still on his back, held in one hand.

Kagome stared at him as he walked, then looked over at Makoto and forced a quick smile. Something in Inu Yasha's gaze seemed so sad just then.. She pushed the thoughts from her mind for the moment, then started heading off towards the group. "Come on! We need to make some distance before we camp tonight!" She took off at a sprint to catch up to Inu Yasha, leaving Makoto behind. Thinking for a few minutes he shouted. "Hey, wait up!" And took off after the group.


Somewhere in the trees, there was a lurking smile.


( Hope you enjoyed. Sorry for the late update. )