Fading away

I'll start with chapter 4 right away...

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“Do you want tea or anything?”

 

Sesshomaru stood in the middle of a traditional tatami room and looked outside at the magnificent view on the sea. The slightly muffled voice of his half-brother that carried from a nearby room still reached his ears and he answered calmly:

 

“Tea is fine, thank you.”

 

A few minutes later Inuyasha came back with trail, a tea pot and two glasses and gave his brother a sign to take a cushion to sit down. For a while they said nothing and only sipped at their hot tea until Sesshomaru began:

 

“Thank you for the photos.”

 

“Oh… I didn’t expect the mighty Sesshomaru, director of the Tsuki Company, to be able to say thank you…”

 

“One has to fit in with society to survive nowadays, Mister Loner.”

 

“I’m a writer; it’s expected of me to be eccentric.”

 

“That’s just an excuse… though, I read a bit of your works.”

 

“So? You did?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Another few minutes of silence clothed the space between the brothers that had never been this close and calm together. Inuyasha almost startled him when he asked back, the hint of a soft smile on his lips.

 

“Which one did you read?”

 

“< Summer Evening>, <A Butterfly’s Death>, the first volume of the <Ouya Family>, <Paradise left behind> and I’m on the play <Princess Tsukiko>.”

 

“Oh, you’ve read quite a few, I’m honored.”

 

“I do have to say I was surprised at your level of writing.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

“Congratulation on winning the last prize.”

 

“Oh, that one... personally, I didn’t think it deserved it but it seems that the judges like it very much.”

 

“But it’s rather unfair that the public has to wait for one month until they will publish it.”

 

“Haha, the publishing house is really pent up on putting in pictures of the locations and they haven’t yet all of the photos. What was distributed, were some picture-less books.”

 

“Oh.”

 

Inuyasha smiled again as he seemed to read something in Sesshomaru’s tone.

 

“Do you want a copy?”

 

“I won’t say no if you have one.”

 

His half-brother stood up elegantly, smoothing the kimono folds elegantly and just before he left the room, he said without looking back:

 

“You know, you can lift the spell on your appearance. It’s not like a human will pop out any minute.”

 

When Inuyasha came back with a book in his hands, the youkai had already changed and his long moon hair almost touched the ground while the eyes that had been of a sparkling green color had changed back to the good old golden irises decorated by the silvery lashes.

 

“I suppose you have no use for a dedication.”

 

“Don’t be a fool, Inuyasha.”

 

“I still did write you one.”

 

Sesshomaru opened the book, careful not to tear the paper with his claws and read on the first blank page: To my idiot brother Sesshomaru.

 

“You little…”

 

Inuyasha laughed softly.

 

“Don’t tell me you didn’t expect something like this.”

 

“I didn’t. Honestly, I had thought you had matured.”

 

“Aaah, some things will never change, no matter how old we will become.”

 

“Guess so. Speaking of things changing; how is Tessaiga?”

 

“Why would you be interested in that?”

 

“It is father’s heirloom after all. It would a shame to let it become rusty or anything.”

 

“It’s fine except that it has always been rusty. Tensaiga couldn’t be repaired, right?”

 

“No, not completely; Totosai did a fine job to fit the pieces into one again but it lost its powers mostly.”

 

“Sorry…”

 

“It had to be done, back then. Else Naraku would still be roaming around and we both have better to do than chase that monster around.”

 

“True. But my offer to give it to you still stands.”

 

“Why would you give it to me now?”

 

“Look at me; I’m no leader, no warrior anymore. It’s almost a shame for such a fine sword to be confined as a mere decorative piece of memory in a room instead of being at the side of power.”

 

“It was given to you because of another reason.”

 

“You mean to prevent me transforming into a full youkai? That isn’t very likely to happen nowadays…”

 

“Still, it was father’s present to you, just as I won’t ask for the fire rat robe that was a present to your mother.”

 

“Oh, that one… It’s with Tessaiga, still fine as well.”

 

Silence came in between the two brothers, not really knowing on which theme to continue to conversation. Suddenly, a phone ringing disturbed the atmosphere and Inuyasha looked apologetically at Sesshomaru.

 

“Sorry, it’s the editing house.”

 

He took out the mobile phone of his large sleeves and held it against his cheek, hearing his partner just fine even though his ears were on top of his head.

 

“Shirayuki.”

 

“...”

 

“Oh, Yamakawa-san. Thank you, I’m fine. You are?”

 

“…”

 

“Yes, I have finished chapter 7 and I’m working on chapter 8, didn’t you receive my mail?”

 

“…”

 

“I’ll send it again right away. How is it going with the pictures?”

 

“…”

 

“Haha, please, do tell Tanaka-sensei to take his time and make the most marvelous pictures. I’m sure it’ll be allright.”

 

“…”

 

“Well then, I shall send it to you right now. Have a pleasant evening, Yamakawa-san.”

 

“…”

 

Inuyasha ended the call and looked at his brother.

 

“I’m sorry, I’ll have to send a mail right now. I hope you don’t mind waiting for a bit.”

 

“Sure. I might check my phone as well; I bet it’s crammed with messages by now.”

 

Inuyasha laughed softly and stood up, followed by his elder brother.

 

“Why are you following me?”

 

“I’m curious at how a writer’s workplace looks like.”

 

“Suit yourself.”

 

The room the entered was rather spacious and even though a bookshelf occupied the longest wall, the ground was covered with various piles of books. Lots of post-its and various notes on small pieces of paper were scattered around, on and under the books while little markers with numbers seemed to indicate important passages. While Inuyasha started up his laptop on a low table equally covered with piles of paper and books Sesshomaru tried to find a way without knocking over anything.

 

“Sorry… my novel right now needs a bit research so it’s still a bit messy…”

 

“You call this a bit of research?”

 

“Most of it isn’t mentioned in my novel but I need to know it to create the right atmosphere.”

 

“Ah. Looks like a lot of work.”

 

“Oh, it’s tolerable. Being able to live with only three hours of sleep every day helps.”

 

“Three hours?”

 

“Normal for most hanyous.”

 

“Oh. I pretty much don’t need any.”

 

“How nice… though I would miss sleep.”

 

“I never said I didn’t sleep as well. I just don’t need it.”

 

“Ah, a luxury, right?”

 

“Hmm.”

 

“I never thought that there were things you would consider as a luxury.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yeah. So, mail sent again! You done with the messages?”

 

“Pretty much.”

 

“Must be tough to be a director.”

 

“It’s harder to stand all those incompetent humans.”

 

“Not everybody can match the greatness of Sesshomaru, Lord of the Western Lands.”

 

“Former lord, mind you.”

 

“Oh, I think it’s still engraved in your mind… and in those of all the surviving youkais and hanyous.”

 

“Maybe…”

 

“Oh well, does the Lord wish to leave or will he stay for dinner?”

 

“If you’re inviting me… I won’t say no.”

 

“I have to warn you that there will be no meat.”

 

“No meat?”

 

“I forgot to buy some and I don’t mind eating only rice and vegetables.”

 

“For once I will be able to stand it.”

 

“Oooh, really? Well then… I might have some smoked fish left.”

 

“That’s fine as well…”

 

*sigh* “Nothing I’ll say will make you go, right?”

 

“If I can bother you by staying here, then I’ll stay here.”

 

“Tche.”

 

“You shouldn’t have written that dedication…”

 

“Oh well, it was worth it. Will you help me cook?”

 

“Nope.”

 

“I knew it.”

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