Salvation

Disclaimer~ don’t own any Inuyasha characters. Only those who are new to the story are mine. If you would like to use them at any time, please email me for permission.


Sesshomaru held this silent battle within himself for a short time. He had to make a decision, NOW. He looked up at Inutaisho with no emotion reflecting in his young golden eyes. He held no regret or remorse at he opened him mouth to give his answer.

“Yes, he took me .” he said calmly. “But I also was in the process of claiming him in the same manner, that is what started this whole incident father.” He watched as his father’s eyes surveyed him and his younger brother, but couldn’t read what they said. The young Prince knew that no good was to come out of this at all.

“I see...” Inutaisho said calmly. “Has he given you the mark?”
“No,” Sesshomaru replied. “I was able to fend him off as he was about to.” The Lord’s gaze lost some of its intensity. He was clearly relieved to see his eldest son untainted in at least one manner.

Sesshomaru watched his father calmly with the look of a child being lightly scolded, though this was definently a more serious matter.

His father’s gaze returned to settle on him. He gave a great sigh. “In this situation, Sesshomaru, I am called upon to castrate both of you and banish you and Inuyasha to the dungeons for at least a fortnight,” he explained. The great dog demon took in a deep breath and closed his eyes, rubbing them carefully with his clawed fingers. “But you are the future heir to all the Western Lands and I cannot produce a replacement because you mother is dead.”

Sesshomaru breathed a silent sigh of relief. He was curious to see how his little brother would fare though, would Inuyasha once again get off on the excuse that he’s just a boy and won’t do it again? Or would his father see this as the serious matter that it was and punish him?

“Inuyasha, on the other hand...he has almost no future place among the Palace responsibilities,” the great dog demon said, almost regretfully. “Though I do not wish to take away his future breeding rights. He has so much potential and he could do so many great things, if he chooses the right woman his children could be even greater than him.”

Sesshomaru listened to all of this with growing envy. His father was always praising Inuyasha, he never took into account all of the great things that he did. He always left in the dark while his brother was in the shining light of his father’s appraisal. Usually, Sesshomaru didn’t care but this, though, was really pushing him the wrong way. He father was telling him that he would rather castrate his eldest and pure demon son than his half-breed, younger son.

“This though,” he father said with a hint of sadness. “Is too serious to let either of you go unpunished. Sesshomaru,” The eldest Prince gazed at his father. “You will not be given Tetsaiga, as you wished. You will receive Tensaiga, the Sword of Healing. Inuyasha will receive Tetsaiga instead. You will go on patrol with the samurai warriors for a fortnight. I wish that this could have all been avoided, but you leave me no choice. I have to treat you as I would anybody else.”

Sesshomaru gazed at his father steadily as if they were discussing the weather idly. Inside, he was screaming. How could his father expect him to perform his duties with a sword that only healed and could not cut?! How had he messed up so bad as to let his future sword to fall into the hands of his worthless mutt brother?! Why were the Gods always favoring this half breed nobody instead of the future Lord of the Western Lands? What the FUCK is going on?

Sesshomaru didn’t voice any of his thoughts, though. He was too sophisticated for that kind of outburst, if any outburst. He listened patiently to his father without a hint of emotion.

“As for Inuyasha,” Inutaisho took a great sigh, “He will be banished from the palace. He will not be allowed to return and you are forbidden from seeing him until you take over my position as Lord of these lands. Is that understood?”

“Yes father,” he said in a monotone voice, “I understand. I will begin my service when you command.” This was going to be a tedious task, samurai had strong wills and no strength. They were simply arrogant humans with a metal stick to swing in Sesshomaru’s mind. He was going to be under their command though, as his father would later explain, and being as stupid as they were he was sure to see a lot of battles before the fortnight was up.

Inutaisho looked as his youngest son, mourning for him silently. It broke his heart to do this to either of his sons, but he did have duties to uphold and neither was exempt from it. His eldest would return unharmed, he was sure of it, but perhaps a little harder in emotion but nothing major would change. As for Inuyasha, the other half of his heart, he could only hope that he was strong enough to make it on his own at this age. Inutaisho knew he was playing a dangerous game, but the pieces had been set and the first play made, there was no turning back.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Presently with Inuyasha and Sesshomaru~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Inuyasha flinched and convulsed and the infected tissue and muscle was scraped from his back in generous portions. Thoughts began to creep into his head as he lay motionless under his brother.

‘Why is he helpin’ me? Even if it does hurt like a bitch, why’s he helpin’ me? He ain’t never gave a damn in these eighty years, what the fuck changed his OUCH! mind?’ Inuyasha thought heatedly as more of the infected flesh was detached from his body. He felt the side of his brother’s hands scrape from the tip of his shoulder to his lower back in a final sweeping motion.

Inuyasha let out a breath as he realized his excruciating ordeal had reached its end. “Finally.”
His sensitive ears picked up the sound of a sword being drawn and for a fleeting second, he thought Sesshomaru was going to challenge him. But this thought was quickly washed away as his felt a warm and almost pleasuring sensation on his wounded back.

“Tensaiga,” he breathed in recognition.

“Yes,” came that cold voice. “Your wounds will be gone momentarily. I believe I’ve removed enough of the area to let your body heal it by itself.” Inuyasha turned his head to look up at his brother, who was still kneeling on him.

“Why?” he asked finally, “Why are you doin’ this? I thought you wanted me dead.”

“As I said, you worthless half breed, I shall be the one to take your life. Not some bothersome sickness.”

“Hm...thought as much...”the younger murmured distantly.

“As I told you, Inuyasha, those days have long gone and so has my way of thinking in that manner. You mean nothing to me, only an obstacle to overcome so I may have my trophy, Tetsaiga.” Sesshomaru watched Inuyasha’s face become more and more hopeless as he spoke. He was once again caught off guard, which was angering him to no end, as his brother’s amber eyes looked into his identical ones. They were filled with a grief and sense of hopelessness that the Lord of the Western Lands simply could not fathom. Why was the mutt affecting him so much?

“Why did ya come back, other n’ for my sword?” he asked in the softest of voices, though he was sure to emphasize ‘my’. “You haven’t seen me in nearly eighty years, why now? What’s goin’ on?”

Sesshomaru watched him as he gently dismounted off his back. Inuyasha rolled over gingerly, looking at his sibling, no emotion on his face or in his eyes. Sesshomaru knelt down by his side and unconsciously brushed some of his unruly strands of liquid silver out of his brother’s eyes. Inuyasha almost shied away from the touch, but the warmth from his hand was too inviting.

“I came to see who it was that my son was sleeping with and I must say that I’m not entirely surprised,” he replied simply. Inuyasha’s eyes widened. His brother had a son as well?! That must be who Roko was, Sesshomaru’s son. “It seems that he resides here, I can smell him everywhere. Especially on him.” His gaze traveled over to Kaichi’s form. Inuyasha’s son was still out, he lay under the tree in a heap. It was clear that he would remain that way for a couple of hours, after seeing how hard the dog demon had kicked him.

“That’s my son, Kaichi,” Inuyasha explained. “He’s been seein’ someone for about three years he told me, guess that means yer son. Can’t say I’ve ever met him though.”

“Likewise,” the elder replied. He watched as Inuyasha sat up, observing his back to make sure the new skin didn’t rip. A gasp and grimace told him that he’d come close. He quickly put his arms around his little brother’s back to help support him.

Inuyasha looked up at his brother but didn’t protest. His silver hair obscured his vision, but he could see that Sesshomaru’s composer hadn’t changed, he still wore that emotionless mask over his face.
“It will take a while for the skin to grow back completely, so in the meantime I suggest you be more careful, mutt.” he warned.

“Yes your Highness,” Inuyasha retorted. He had never liked being told what to do and this was no different. He was no longer a puppy and could think for himself, he didn’t need any help.

All thoughts were chased from his head, though, as he suddenly found himself up close and personal with Sesshomaru’s figure. The warm arms had tightened around him, bringing him very close and a delicious warmth.

“Don’t mock me, I just saved your worthless life hanyou.”the Lord growled. Inuyasha’s only response to that was to close his eyes and rest his head against the great demon’s shoulder. He was drained physically and emotionally from the events that had taken place and his body desperately cried for sleep.

“So tired Sesh...”he sighed out. He was mildly surprised when Sesshomaru didn’t push him away or leave. Instead he merely sat there with him, almost cradling his body.

“I won’t hurt you Inuyasha, not tonight anyways.”

Inuyasha’s only response was a yawn, at the moment...he really didn’t care.