Inuyasha: The Curse of the Orange Lantern

Note:
Hi, it’s been a while, I know. I’m aiming to get this done as soon as I can!


Chapter 6
Cloaked in the Dread of Fright

Sesshoumaru pulled back from his kneeling position and rolled upward on the backs of his feet to his toes onto his soles. One foot placed on either side of Inuyasha’s hips. The hanyou was left splayed on the soil beneath him looking up in annoyance. Unable to get up with the same amount of grace without kicking his brother in the jewels, Inuyasha rolled over and crawled out from between the white clad legs and hopped to his own bare feet. He placed his palm over the hilt of his father’s massive fang while Sesshoumaru loomed behind him, his arm at rest by his side. “Now what do we do?”

“…”

“Figured.” Inuyasha growled, crouched low as the sound of hooves grew closer and the trees pulled aside to give the phantom safe passage. What the point of that was he had no idea. Not like they could touch ‘im either. Could they? In thoughtful annoyance he yanked a splinter out of his hand by his blade. “Hey, can the trees touch ‘im?”

“Why you believe I know all the answers to your daft questions, I will never fathom.” Sesshoumaru drawled as he reached over and tore a branch from a rather incensed tree. Blood poured from the wound of the tree and dropped onto the white of his silks and fingers. Forming a dark streak of sinister warning like the marks which adorned his body. A sound beyond even the youkai’s hearing but that could be felt as a ripple over the skin and hair came from the tree. A silent scream of violation in the dark.

Normally Sesshoumaru was respectful to his land. For the territory of a daiyoukai was a part of the daiyoukai. If one was ill the illness would be felt by the other. This perverse mutation of the woods’ balance was a direct assault on him. The land in this area was reacting in anger due to a great wrong in its heart. It must be soothed and corrected with the removal of this phantom stalker.

If it was required Sesshoumaru would sever this part to preserve the rest of his territory. A wounded and infected toe amputated to save the healthy body from the spread of the disease. Of course he would do his best to save the part first. But if all else failed it would be done. He had no qualms of so briskly removing the branch if it lead to a solution. As he held the limb his eyes briefly landed on his half-brother, noting the slight shiver of his shoulders and the way his distracting ears trembled at the soundless distress of the tree. A foreign warmth in the center of his chest had formed as he considered his half-brother. He felt slightly lighter after their unwanted conversation, and far more conflicted. There was much to contemplate and mull over. But such mulling could not be done in the present advancing circumstance.

Inuyasha unsheathed Tetsusaiga and it transformed instantly into the massive fang that could shield his entire body. Although he already knew it to be useless against the headless wonder, maybe there was something he’d missed. Hell, if they were so desperate Sesshoumaru was considering doing something he’d suggested to him it was worth trying anything.

They stood in silence as the hoof beats echoed through the stagnant still of the strangled wood. No noise save their own breath was there to distract from the ever encroaching rhythm of ruin. Though their noses and eyes could sense nothing the sound was drumming now in the clearing made by the trees. Inuyasha clutching his giant blade and Sesshoumaru standing idly holding the severed branch. Blood with the consistency of sap still oozed from the jagged tear while the twigs on the tapered end continued to twitch and contract as the limb slowly died in the clawed, deadly hand.

Still they waited. The thought to run never even touching their minds. ‘If it exists there was a way to bring it down,’ being the stubborn gospel of their lives. Tetsusaiga hummed in greeting to Tenseiga at Sesshoumaru’s waist as they watched the darkness between the shadows. Tenseiga whispered back in worried warning to the larger fang which absorbed and learned from its enemies. The dark lidded eyes of Sesshoumaru slanted a gaze briefly to the sword that couldn’t cut at his hip. It would seem his blade worried over the fate of the wielder of its brother fang. Knowing the previous attacks had been useless. Hn. It was strange how close the blades were at times. The swords were able to sense the other’s proximity and distress. The daiyoukai switched his gaze over the tense line of his little brother’s back and twitching ears, to pierce beyond, looking through the darkness. It was indeed curious how the trees reacted to the phantom. Perhaps the branches could induce harm. Yet, it would not explain why they avoided it. Perhaps it was he who could harm them. No matter, it was worth exploration.

The draining fog increased its goal of leaching the warmth from their living bodies as the trees shuddered. The pounding of the hooves were directly upon them and the shadows were nipping at their senses.

Inuyasha’s eyes darted around the clearing and he took a step back to stand next to his disgustingly reserved brother. The fur hanging from Sesshoumaru’s shoulder quivered and touched his red-clad leg as he did.

Where was this fucker? And how could he get around? No head. Maybe the horse was all that directed him. Hell where did the phantom horse come from? If they could find a way to kill the horse maybe they could get to the rider. If he only knew how the hell Yoku controlled it.

Both brothers froze in anticipation and uncertainty as the pounding of the horse stopped abruptly. Silence encased them like a cold, sightless shroud as the still of the rotting wood threatened to devour their sanity. Timeless moments passed as they searched the area with their senses in unease.

Behind them, a vast, vacant shadow parted from its sisters which was a little darker than they. The trees shuddered and the brothers spun to see the horse land without a sound at their backs, the rider encased in his black, tarnished armour and his tattered black silks with one arm raised. The double-edged blade gripped in the long, shadow born vice of his fingers. The spikes of his armour sharp and menacing as they cut through the fog. The horse’s eyes churned a blood-red mingled with orange fire casting an eerie glow upon the Inus’ bone pale hair. The four regarded one another for a time. The horse turned the soil up with its keen edged hoof while the brothers stood shoulder to shoulder, assessing.

The horse charged and the brothers leapt to either side as the apparition barrelled down on them. Sesshoumaru used the branch like a staff and spun it in his hand as he turned his shoulders to face the creature. In the air, mid-leap he swung one side of the branch into the horse and warrior while the other side rested against the length of his arm.

The branch passed through just as their swords and fists had done. So much for that then.

Sesshoumaru cast the branch aside as he spun to land neatly on his toes facing the creature. Inuyasha was foolishly slashing at the horse. First he tried the head, the legs, then the body, then sent a wind scar through the entire damn thing. Sesshoumaru breezed to the side of the attack and the horse ignored the younger’s flailings. It would seem the black Samurai was focused on the Lord.

The trees on the other hand were right pissed at having a wind scar up their boughs.

Next Inuyasha tried an adamant barrage which made his brother do a flip off an incoming trunk to avoid the spread of diamond spears and dodged above the two coloured blade. The rider was quite obviously coming after Sesshoumaru’s head by the angle of its attacks.

“What the fuck?! What am I? C’mere and fight me you cheating airhead!” The hanyou roared as he attempted to see if he could use a backlash wave on the blighter. Unfortunately there was no aura either. The red Tetsusaiga? He tried swinging his blade in its pulsing red form as he chased after the horse which was going after Sesshoumaru’s ass like Miroku trying to get in a whorehouse. The sword did nothing and the spectre didn’t even twitch in his direction. “Hey! Leave him alone and fight me dick face! I bet you were so fuckin’ ugly yer mom cut off yer head so she didn’t have to see your hideous face!”

Sesshoumaru was dancing elegantly between the rider and the trees avoiding the blade, the horses’ hooves and the branches which were trying to either skewer him or tangle him up. There was really no other choice for the daiyoukai. He could not strike the creature but it could certainly strike him. He could not leap easily through the boughs for they had intertwined above and around them, fencing them in. They hardly offered him an obstacle but they may slow him enough for the warrior to reach him by fluke. He was nearly as swift as Sesshoumaru in movement. The two spun and veered, dodged and thrust in a way that made it look like a well practiced event. The Lord did note how the trees thwarted him but assisted the rider. Curious. His eyes narrowed slightly as the blade came dangerously close to his chest and mokomoko. The rider was clumsier than Inuyasha with his blade. But it hardly mattered since he was this swift and could not be touched.

As such, the daiyoukai would avoid its strikes until he could find a place it would not follow. Preferably, his little brother would cease in his attempts to draw its attention to his less than capable self. The slighter hanyou was no match in speed for this phantom. If it focused on him, Sesshoumaru may not be able to get him into the air before he was injured, the fool.

Inuyasha’s eyes widened as that sword got a little too close to his brother for his comfort. The damn trees were slashing at him and kept trying to get between him and the other two. They were helping the headless wonder, the traitors. He jammed his beloved blade back in its sheath and charged with determination. He would not let his bastard get his head taken by this freak! Not after all they’d just agreed on! He growled in anger as Sesshoumaru was forced to change direction in the midst of a backward bounce since one of the trees moved and attempted to grab him. Sesshoumaru managed to slip away but not before the spikes on the back rider’s gloved hand tore off a bit of his hair that he passed through. That was way too close for Inuyasha. This shit wasn’t fighting remotely fair, granted Inuyasha was accustomed to cheaters in battles, but still this was overkill for being at a disadvantage. He viciously hoped Sango had beaten Yoku purple by the time he got back.

The ethereal untouchable beauty of white ice drifted between the trees and the sword in the stark forest. The solid ebony-clad phantom pursued after, weaving his horse around and between the trees as though he was one of them. Behind the two a fiery red and hot white haired blur charged through anything in his way to stay close to his brother.

The horseman was forced to pause and turn as Sesshoumaru sailed over him in another direction. Inuyasha lunged right into the creature and slashed away at the bitter cold that surrounded him as he stood in the body of the horse and man. The samurai paid him no attention and continued its pursuit of the daiyoukai. As the horse moved around Inuyasha and he exited the back, it made a piercing noise and kicked backwards. Inuyasha managed to dodge one hoof but the second slammed most painfully into his shoulder. He was tossed into a tree, the collar bone broken and blood seeping through his fire-rat. “Fuck!”

“Inuyasha.” Sesshoumaru’s voice held a note of concern which the hanyou had never heard before in his life. “Return to the village.” He boomed.

“No way. I am not leaving you with that thing!” Said hanyou hollered back as he staggered to his feet to be immediately seized by the tree’s limbs. He quickly found himself struggling to free himself and to keep the branches from his throat. Not again. This was getting old. He growled and slashed at the overzealous arboreal predators.

He was slammed against the rough cold trunk as the branches and roots fought with him, tangling in his hair and around his limbs. More trees leaned in adding to the effort. The branches were clutching at any part of the hanyou they could as he danced about like mad trying to keep out of their grasp. Kicking and clawing sending splinters deep into his skin and spattering himself with the thick reeking fluids. The damp, slick roots were moving over his red-fire rat hungrily until one at last wormed its way along his arm into his sleeve. Inuyasha was caught up in the branches, they had his shoulders immobilized, but his bottom half was still twisting about for freedom. His golden eyes ever aware of the increasing amount of bark between him and his brother. The fuckers were trying to separate them! He could see the horseman following the flash of deadly white through the grey of the tree limbs. Sesshoumaru was attempting to double back for him and remain out of the headless shit’s reach.

Inuyasha felt a growing amount of frustration and dread. He did not need help. An’ he would not let his half-brother lose his head to that thing. There was no telling what Yoku would do to his body! The thought gave him an extra burst of angry strength as he nearly wrenched one side of his body free.

The next instant he was shouting out in surprised pain. A multiple of blunt, writhing fingers broke through his flesh on the arm and shoulder of his wounded side. The root had just penetrated his skin with dozens of miniature absorbing root tendrils. He tried to yank the arm away and cringed with the pain of it. He yanked out desperately again. He could feel it leeching the blood from his body. Shit! The fucker was feeding off ‘im! The branches formed their finger-like limbs and grasped his body, puncturing his robe and skin as he struggled to tear himself from the root. A second wrapped around his foot and began to latch onto it. A third slimy bugger managed to slither through a tear in the cloth made by a branch. It snaked up his leg despite his frantic thrashing and kicking. The wet appendage wound tight around the limb until it reached his hip and had no where to go but out. He once again snarled in pain as the fucker shot out the feeders into his skin. One in particular was extremely painful on his inner thigh.

But he didn’t have time to worry. Sesshoumaru was close. He was frustrated if the slight red to his eyes was anything to go by. He was also being hemmed in by the trees. Soon he would have no where to flit to. Inuyasha struggled madly. He would not let them hurt his brother! He tore his shoulders free of the tree, using his good arm he severed the root attached to the broken and tore his foot free. “Blades of blood!” he roared as he sent a circle of glowing red scythes crashing through the branches from his bloodied claws. He dropped to his ass on the ground, momentarily held back by only the one root wrapped around his leg. Fuck it hurt.

He turned his large eyes to check quickly on Sesshoumaru and gaped in terror.

Sesshoumaru was distracted by the scent of Inuyasha’s flowing blood. He had heard the two exclamations of pain and was attempting to return to his hopeless brother to aide him. Yet, to his profound irritation, he found it to be more difficult to reach his brother than he believed. The trees were attempting to hold him so that the phantom could strike. This Sesshoumaru could not stand for such and he was forced to step and leap around dodging the grove and remain just out of reach of the blade. He had a need to put a bit of distance between himself and the black samurai so that he could have the required time to assist Inuyasha. Unfortunately, it was not working and he was becoming seriously annoyed. His temper was reeling as he could scent more of Inuyasha’s blood and caught the slight body’s abrupt fall to the ground from the corner of his eye. The fool required him, but he could not reach him as he wished.

The brothers were parted now only by a short distance and a few clutching trees. Sesshoumaru wafted to the right, angling his body so that he might slide between two of the wretched things. A wayward, low hanging branch by a chance of ill gotten fate was moving at the same moment in that opposing direction. Sesshoumaru could not adjust his body’s trajectory in time and his feet caught on the clutching limb. It sent him off balance to turn and his back collided against an old, withered trunk. Before he could move the black samurai had swung his sword in an arc toward the daiyoukai. Once more it was only luck for the phantom that it was aimed level with the stoic Lord’s long and vulnerable throat.

Sesshoumaru could feel the silver edge contact his throat. A brief tingle of cold followed by numbness around the wound as the blade sliced with ease through his hide, muscle and bone. No pain and the feeling of his body remained unaffected. Strange. If not utterly humiliating and irksome that one would manage to defeat him by sheer luck. Ridiculous.

He blinked at the sound that reached his ears as the sword began its journey.

Inuyasha screamed. An honest to goodness full out terrified desperate scream. As the rider’s sword came toward Sesshoumaru Inuyasha was in motion. He launched himself forward, eyes frantic, heart frozen in his chest. He tore his body from the last clinging roots with a spray of his own blood as he shot like a white and red bullet through the trees in a powerful single leap. He didn’t know what he was doing. He could only act. He would not see Sesshoumaru in danger like this.

Granted, if he had been more rational he would have remembered that his brother would be alive, just headless like the bodies in the village. But he had no idea if they could have their heads replaced or what would come of Sesshoumaru. What would Yoku do to him? Just seeing the blade make contact and threaten the injury to Sesshoumaru was enough to cause Inuyasha pure panic. He couldn’t let his brother get hurt. Not now. Not while he was here and could stop it.

On impulse he yanked up Tetsusaiga, still encased in its scabbard, and flung it out in his hand as he crashed between the horse and his brother. He just had to stop the samurai’s blade!

Sesshoumaru watched as his little brother recklessly hurled his damaged body toward them. He parted his lips to shout to the fool to stay back, he could handle this. Inuyasha would be harmed if he came between them. This was not the half-breed’s fight. The rider had been sent for Sesshoumaru’s head, not the hanyou’s. Unfortunately things moved faster than the daiyoukai’s vocal chords and he was watching helplessly as the wild creature fell into them with his sheathed sword held out like a shield. He found himself unable to breathe with the thought he might not be able to intervene and push the moron away in time considering his current delicate position.

It was debatable who was more surprised when Tetsusaiga’s sheath of Bokusen-oh’s wood made contact with the phantom’s dual coloured sword. Inuyasha continued in his momentum and pushed the blade out of Sesshoumaru’s neck with the force of his oncoming body. He landed sprawled onto the ground between the two larger youkai. Sesshoumaru blinked in surprise that the barrier of the old tree had worked against the blade. The headless horseman seemed to be momentarily puzzled by this outcome as well.

Inuyasha rolled over on the ground and stared up at his brother, his eyes going large and his mouth slipping open. “Oh fuck…it worked…I can’t believe…you…but oh fuck, Sesshoumaru?” he croaked out.

Sesshoumaru’s eyes had narrowed; his brother was bleeding excessively, though he seemed to always be. The sheath had stopped the attack. The wood of its parent tree and the power of the barrier no doubt was the reason for it. Strange it would affect a spiritual thing. Perhaps…

The horseman lifted his arm and brought the silver side of the blade back down on the daiyoukai. Only to have the blade meet and spark against Tenseiga which was held expertly in Sesshoumaru’s hand. The two blades hummed and glowed with a spiritual warmth as they remained locked together.

The Lord of the West smiled a small, chilling turn of the lips and a dead certainty in his icy gaze. The forest shivered and pulled back slightly at the smile.

Things had changed. He had an effective weapon.

The sound of swords clashing with a spiritual resonance now permeated the sound of the slithering of the bark in the woods. Sesshoumaru danced amid the clutching trees avoiding their grasp while driving back the black spectre. As he had surmised earlier, the rider was swift but his skill and force with the blade was severely lacking.

Behind them Inuyasha ran, trying to keep pace while battling with the trees that yearned to devour him. He was finding himself growing colder and slightly numb where he had been pained before. Glancing down he briefly noted the large amount of dark blood staining his hakama. Keh. Just another wound. He’d heal in a minute.

What was truly bothering him right now was the fact Sesshoumaru was running around with only half his neck attached. There was a fucking seam where the sword had gone halfway through it! It was damn nerve wracking and making Inuyasha worry far more than he thought he should. He needed to keep up with them, in case…his brother’s head came off or something. Shit. What would he do? What if Sesshoumaru spun around too damn fast and it flew right off? Fuck! Could he put it back on? He’d better not die! The bastard was all the family he had! And he’d just promised to try not to hate Inuyasha anymore! The hanyou would not allow the daiyoukai to die. Plain and simple. He ran doggedly after the pair, avoiding the trees and debris they were sending up in their phantom death dance.

As the black Samurai swung down in a defensive wide arc, Sesshoumaru neatly met the blade and twisted his own, sending the two-toned one flying to the ground. The rider seemed uncertain for a moment before the horse swivelled and ran. The trees pulling back from the attack and swallowing the rider into their concealing shadows. The Daiyoukai prepared to follow but paused, scenting the air. “Hn.” Slowly he slid Tenseiga into its place at his hip and walked over to stand above the discarded blade.

Around them the trees groaned and settled back uneasily, watching them and curled to strike should they feel a need.

“Sesshoumaru! Fuck! Would you stay still!” Inuyasha shouted as he finally caught up to his brother. He ripped off the blood-stained fire-rat sleeve from his wounded arm in desperation, stood on his tip toes and started to tie it around his brother’s neck with difficulty. His broken shoulder not wanting to co-operate.

“What are you doing, Inuyasha?” Sesshoumaru asked disregarding the hanyou. His narrowed eyes were resting on the blade on the ground instead.

“Haven’t you noticed?! Your fucking neck is nearly cut in two!” Inuyasha bellowed as he finished tying his sleeve around the throat. “I don’t want to see it come off.” For the first time Inuyasha was glad of the bastard’s pompous habit of moving his eyes and not his head around too much.

“This Sesshoumaru is fine. There is neither pain nor difference to my abilities.” His nostrils flared slightly as his piercing eyes moved to the smaller male. So much intoxicating blood spilling fresh from the hanyou’s body. Was he not healing?

“Keh. I always knew ya never used all yer head, but I still don’t wanna see it.” Inuyasha growled out. He was getting so damn cold and feeling light-headed. Maybe he should sit down for a minute. Nah, not in front of Sesshoumaru. He’d never let him and he had pride. Weak half-breed and all that crap. Even if they both knew it wasn’t true. But he doubted Sesshoumaru would admit it yet.

Sesshoumaru snorted in a very dog like fashion, as though trying to eject a scent from his delicate nose. His dark lidded eyes staring bluntly at his little half-brother’s pale, emotional features. The hanyou had been genuinely frightened of seeing him incapacitated. Perhaps, he did as he claimed and cared. It was…uncomfortable. “Even with half my mind I am half a mind wiser than you. What was your intent, leaping without thought between my prey and myself? What would you have done if your luck had not held and you were cleaved in two, little brother?”

Inuyasha flushed in annoyance, though to his pale face it looked more of a normal colour than its usual pink. “Shut up! I wasn’t thinking! I acted like I always do an’ it worked ‘cause it had too. You should try thinking about someone other than yourself sometime and see what happens,” he growled in worried frustration. Sesshoumaru had just about…and he was lecturing him? He really was a bastard.

“Inuyasha…”

“What?” He snapped.

The glacier gaze fell to the ground beneath them. “You are bleeding. It will attract the remaining scavengers of this wood. Cease at once.”

“No shit. I got speared by a tree, and if I could stop it I would! Not everything does what you command oh…oh fuck.” Inuyasha saw the blasted trees swim before his eyes in a haze of dark and Sesshoumaru’s white. He forced himself to steady. That was not good. His gaze fell down to his feet. Well crap. His pants were soaked deeper red and it was actually running down his leg onto the ground at his feet. Obviously, he was a little numb to have not noticed that. He felt a second wave of nauseated dizziness and tried to hide it but Sesshoumaru was all predator and knew weakness when he smelled it.

“Sit,” the deep voice boomed over his quivering ears. He hit the ground faster than Shippo hit a comeback at the word out of instinct.

“Damn it Sesshoumaru!” The daiyoukai smoothly lunged to a kneeling position still looming beside Inuyasha. He looked stupid with the bloody fire-rat sleeve around his neck. Keh. Serves him right for almost getting decapitated. The hanyou sat on his ass, legs sprawled out in front of him and holding his broken arm uncomfortably with his good one. Sitting down in his own blood wasn’t so great. But, it did stop the nauseated feeling a bit. The spinning was more manageable too.

“Remove your hakama.” Sesshoumaru demanded.

“What?!” Inuyasha barked in confusion, gripping the tie of the red garment in his good hand for security. There was no way he was stripping in front of the pervert. Yeah…there was last night, but that was different and not something he planned on repeating. He glared defiantly at the bastard leaning in beside him.

“Inuyasha, refrain from embarrassing yourself. Remove your hakama so that we can see the extent of your foolish behaviour and staunch the bleeding. Remove them now.” The Daiyoukai’s gaze narrowed into slits of menacing ice. Completely ignoring the bloody piece of material around his pale half attached neck. This annoyed Inuyasha to no end. Sesshoumaru gets half his neck cut and doesn’t even bleed then he could move around with a sleeve around his neck as though it was perfectly normal. Stupid stoic, perfect, graceful, regal, imposing, dominating…jackass.

“No, there’s no way I’m takin’ em off so you can get an eyeful. I’m fine.” Inuyasha growled.

The piercing eyes not an arm’s length from him narrowed marginally. “There is less than an eyeful there. Do not make this difficult. Remove them, hanyou.”

“No.” He growled. He was feeling woozy and cold while the red on the ground beneath him seemed to be spreading at an alarming rate. He kept one hand firmly on the ties around his hips stubbornly refusing Sesshoumaru access. There was a blur of white and the feeling of damp air on his bare flesh. Inuyasha blinked in surprise and looked down to find Sesshoumaru’s clawed hand retreating and his red hakama bottoms ripped open from the slit in the side down to his knee. “Hey! You cut them, you crane-beak sucker.”

“They will repair themselves.” Sesshoumaru peeled back the slick red fabric from the lean flesh and watched as the dark blood spurted from his inner thigh in time with the hanyou’s erratic heart-beat. “You severed your artery.”

“Not the first time. I’ve had worse, and it’s not the point that they’ll repair…you ripped ‘em!” Inuyasha growled, ignoring his disturbing blood loss.

Sesshoumaru gave him a bland look before glancing back at the dark blood emerging. He moved again, before the hanyou could react. The sound of ripping fabric once more drowned out by the outraged curses. “Hey! Wh- Hey! What are you doing?!” Inuyasha demanded in panic as his fundoshi appeared in the bastard’s hand. He was utterly mortified. How the hall had Sesshoumaru gotten that off of ‘im and had he no shame?! There as no response from his half-brother as the piece of fabric was used to tie around the wound tightly. If Inuyasha could feel anything but cold and tingling in his limbs, he wouldn’t be able to after the pressure that the blasted thing was bound to him with. How could he tie so fast with one friggin’ hand? The white linen turned red instantly and the blood continued to spread around him. Inuyasha growled, “Cut that out!”

Sesshoumaru frowned. He was at a loss to make the bleeding stop. If the hanyou couldn’t cease on his own and the added pressure did not help. “Inuyasha. Cease your struggling and remain still.” The usually flushed features were turning a pallid shade the daiyoukai did not like.

“I would but you keep takin’ off my clothes ya pervert!” Inuyasha growled wiggling away a bit from his brother and trying to stand. Of course, he felt a rush of light-headedness to match his numb cold and ended up back on his ass for all his efforts. Huffing he sat with his legs sprawled out and his arms folded across his chest. The broken one throbbing in time with the bleeding of his leg. “It’ll stop on its own…” he growled. Though, truth be told he was a little unnerved that he was still gushing blood.

The unwavering slanted golden eyes remained impassive as they regarded the hanyou’s face. “You are shaking.”

“Huh? No…I’m not…” Inuyasha mumbled, knowing he was lying. His limbs were trembling with the numbing cold. Like he was drowning in ice water, slowly drifting now. Little sparks of light appeared in his vision as he pressed his own hand over the wound. Shit. Why was a little poke by a tree doing this to him?

“Inuyasha….” The voice seemed to be getting farther away from him. Warmth. The backs of fingers in a fist ghosted over his skin. Slowly the long digests extended to rest against him. A large palm cradling his cheek. Long clawed fingers resting softly against his chilled flesh. He leaned against the gentle touch. Trying to hold onto the warmth. Gentle, who knew his brother could touch someone softly?

“…what?” he mumbled. Why was he so tired? So cold…cold and heavy. He closed his eyes and rubbed his cheek against the warm hand. If only he could be all warm again. Fuck. He opened his eyes and clenched his jaw.

Sesshoumaru’s thumb gently rubbed against the flesh beneath his eye, the deadly claw retracted and safe. “Inuyasha, you broke your promise so soon.” The deep voice sounded quiet and subdued while the dark lidded eyes never left the hanyou’s face.

“Promise?” Inuyasha asked numbly, it was so hard to think anymore, sitting up was taking everything he had.

Sesshoumaru spared a glance at his side. Tenseiga was silent and still. His eyes moved back to his brash brother’s features as he continued to gently caress his cooling cheek. “You promised this Sesshoumaru you would not perish.”

Inuyasha struggled against the encroaching darkness eating at his peripheral vision and tried to focus on his brother. “I…” who was he kidding? He was bleeding to death on the forest floor because of a stick. How lame. “I couldn’t let him hurt you.” He muttered. “Wouldn’t be worth…it.”

“It would not be worth what?” Sesshoumaru demanded.

“Living…if I let you get hurt when I could….stop it.” Inuyasha slurred.

“You foolish creature.”

“That’s what carin’ is about…” Inuyasha felt himself slouching more. He really didn’t want to die like this. Why was his life so fucking unfair? He just about had Sesshoumaru open up a bit and now he gets killed. This will close the dysfunctional pooch up for good. “Urgh…”

Sesshoumaru felt lost. He had no control over this, his brother was being taken from him and he could do nothing. He noted the erratic breathing and pulse in the younger one’s throat. The stench of his blood coated and overwhelmed everything else in the area. The red of his clothes now darkened by his life’s essence. It stained his pale hair and skin, even smeared on his cheek by Sesshoumaru’s fingers. What could he do, but watch. Helpless once more to protect someone from being stolen from him.

Inuyasha leaned forward against the comforting warmth of the body near his. He rested his forehead on Sesshoumaru’s collar bone, feeling the familiar texture of the fire-rat bound around his brother’s neck. He focused groggily on the deep scent of the youkai against him. Feeling a mixture of anger and regret. “Stupid trees…you need to kill that human….and you damn well better fix yer head…if it falls off, dad’ll never let you live that down in the after life...”

He chose to allow that comment to slide. Just this once, though the dark lidded eyes did narrow slightly before he made his response. “Indeed,” Sesshoumaru rested his chin on the hanyou’s scalp, his hand running over the thick main to shift it aside and rest his bare palm against the back of Inuyasha’s neck. Their skin touching gently as he cupped the pillar of flesh. He could feel the threaded struggle of the hanyou’s heart in his fingers. The shallow breath deafened his keen ears.

Sesshoumaru would not be left to watch again. He would not helplessly stand by and see his control and choice removed. The hanyou would die by his hand as it should be. That crack in his heart’s walls his brother, the hanyou, had been working so hard to make would be sealed. He would erase this day of foolishness brought on by this corrupted forest. It could be no other way.

His cold golden gaze hardened into impenetrable adamant resolve as his fingers began to curl. Around them, their pale hair and the white of Sesshoumaru’s clothing absorbed the crimson flow of Inuyasha’s life. His long fingers, tenderly, began to close over Inuyasha’s throat. The fragile heart-beat still fading and struggling. This was proof; the idea of allowing oneself to open up even for a moment would result in nothing but anguish and was not worth the pain.

“Sesshoumaru…I’m sorry I fucked this up too…” The gravely voice slurred. Inuyasha rarely apologized but this seemed to be as good a time as any. He just wanted to close his eyes. He knew Sesshoumaru would put him down now. His friends would be without him. His brother would revert straight back to an even worse ice prick. Naraku wouldn’t get the ass-kicking he deserved from Inuyasha. He had too much to do to die, too many who relied on him now! He just wanted to do something right. He wanted his brother to love him, to see his friends happy, to be happy. But honestly, Inuyasha was almost out of blood and he didn’t see a solution. How much did fate fuckin’ hate him? Seriously? Why couldn’t he get a break this time?

The daiyoukai made no response, his face a blank slate, even his eyes were becoming empty as he prepared to contract the muscles in his hand. To end this annoyance. But…

“Lord Sesshoumaru, I advise that you step back and keep your gaze forward for but a moment,” The voice which had spoken was soft yet deep for a woman. It had a husky quality to it that came naturally and was not intoned. Though the voice was soft it was not weak. It conferred the sense that that speaker was sure and confident as well as feminine and demure.

Inuyasha’s ear twitched toward the unfamiliar aura as he felt the plains of the body he was against stiffen ever so slightly. “Who the fuck is out here?” he slurred, lifting his head from his brother’s chest in an attempt to bring himself further from the need to sleep. Sesshoumaru began to pull away from him and he struggled to get upright. He didn’t want Sesshoumaru to stand back, not right now, he needed him. He didn’t want some chick watching him croak either. What right did she have telling Sesshoumaru what to do? Furthermore, why was the asshole listening? He never listened to anyone, what was happening? He struggled to move his body, but it wouldn’t comply. His thoughts were clouding swiftly. His legs were folded beneath his body slightly to the side and his palms were firmly pressed into the earth to try and keep his body upright as the daiyoukai stepped back. The pain of his shoulder now numb. Inuyasha found he did not have the strength to lift his head any longer and it hung towards the ground. All thoughts bled away except the cold and tired and the fear of being left. “Where are you going?” he rasped out to his brother. “You promised too…”

Sesshoumaru’s eyes flickered.

“Young hanyou, look into my eyes, if you dare.” The strange unfamiliar voice challenged him.

Although he could barely move and his thoughts were muddled, his stubborn core remained and he would not back from a challenge. Sesshoumaru was staring at him, a foot away. Why had he backed off? Why was he being challenged? He was so damn cold, if he could just sleep…

“I see, you are too cowardly to look.” The voice teased.

Naturally, Inuyasha used all his remaining energy to lift his head to glare with grim loathing at the woman. His face was the same shade as death’s spectre, a shadowed grey. The insult forming on his white lips died before the sound broke the sound of the reaper’s approach. The golden eyes went wide, his lips parted in a silent cry as his pupils contracted violently, the expressive ears flattening against his skull. Sesshoumaru watched his brother’s face contort into a reflection of pure terror. An expression that caused the daiyoukai’s eyes to narrow. The expression of such fear was not one he was comfortable seeing on Inuyasha’s youthful features. Inuyasha’s breath and heart rates increased dramatically as he lifted one hand out in desperation to his brother, his hand reaching out for comfort or protection or perhaps merely support. The daiyoukai wasn’t certain. The hanyou’s eyes remained locked on the figure behind him. His pale lips parted and a desperate call slipped out, “Sessho-” was all that escaped before a most unpleasant sound of shifting stone filled the inu’s ears and his brother’s mouth froze. The flesh of the hanyou crystallizing and hardening into granite. After a mere moment the entire hanyou’s body had been turned to stone. A perfect, colourless inanimate statue beneath the bright red torn fabric of his fire-rat robe. The blood that had spilled from his body becoming a dark sandy dust.

Tetsusaiga keened softly at the hanyou’s hip in its sheath. Tenseiga echoed the mournful cry from the yellow obi at his own waist.

Sesshoumaru glanced down at his clawed fingers, brushing the tips together he watched expressionlessly as the dust drifted off them. His rigid back straightened unperceivable and his jaw clenched while his eyes locked on the still, petrified body of his brother. Forever frozen in fear reaching for him on the forest floor. He was aware of the shift of fabric behind him and stated sharply, “I suggest you explain your actions, swiftly.” His knuckles cracked as he extended his claws at his side.

Most believed that Medusa’s gaze was simply a curse which turned any to stone who were unlucky enough to encounter her hideous face. This was not entirely true.

In truth, the Medusa was beautiful, her facial features as appealing as her limbs. Her strange eyes could also be considered attractive to one who could withstand their gaze. It was not her features but the reflection that shone in her eyes that was her bane. Those who looked into Medusa’s eyes saw their own reflection at first, and then they saw and felt their worst fears in one moment deep into their heart. The terror of this reflected right into their very soul and they were frozen in that moment of time. In this moment of unparallel fear their bodies simply shut down and petrified into solid stone. It was said they still lived inside their hard prison of flesh, but were frozen for time in that fear in their heart.

What had frightened Inuyasha that he had succumbed to her gaze? Sesshoumaru frowned slightly. What nightmare was his brother frozen in, what fear was strong enough to hold him prisoner? The daiyoukai closed his eyes, trying to shut out the sight of the face before him. But he knew the look on his brother’s death-kissed face and the way the hanyou was reaching for him would remain lodged in his mind forever.

“I did it to save him,” the demoness murmured as she drifted to stand just out of reach by his side. A piece of black ribbon was bound securely over her eyes hiding them from the world. She could obviously see through the fabric though it hid her eyes. Her pale features, small rounded nose and plump red lips remained perfectly visible. Swirls of iridescent green and gold decorated her skin. The patterns swirled from her temples around her pointed ears to curl down her long slender throat and disappear into her kimono. The kimono she wore was a gradient of white at her throat to dark green at her feet. Lotus blossoms in golds and reds decorated her sleeve hem and shoulder. A white sash bound around her trim waist accentuated the curve of her hips and chest. Her long fingers were tipped with green claws and the swirls of her intricate shimmering markings could be seen on the inside of each wrist. Her scent was warm, dry and spicy. Like a curry beneath hot sand.

An attractive female. The only point of her appearance which would be a deterrent was her long, thick, writhing tresses. From a distance it may pass as abnormally braided hair, but anyone who got closer could not mistake it for such. Her hair was a shimmering cascade of greens, blacks and touches of red. It entwined and writhed over her shoulders and back, tangling and gliding with the constant sound of dry scale rubbing against scale.

For each of Medusa’s hairs was a miniscule serpent, alive and moving on its own accord. Sesshoumaru was aware of the strands on this side of her head snapping and hissing at him in agitation. He took quick stock of her. Not a fighter, but she was deadly. Her markings indicated a poison, not an issue for him. Her eyes could slow him down but it would be easy to remove her head from her body from behind. Her claws were no match for his own. The way she deliberately slowed her movements indicated that she was quite swift. The only thing which he was uncertain of was her retained form. He felt she possessed one, but the size and strength was not something he wished to expend energy and time upon if it was unnecessary. He would defeat her, or course. But such a battle would truly be a waste of his time. “Explain,” he ordered not at all phased by the snakes snapping at him. This creature thought she could save his brother? He felt a weight against his chest. If she spoke falsely he would simply end her.

“My husband’s lantern, he can use it to show the truth. The truth can break the seal of fear I posses,” she responded with equal calm.

“He is bleeding to death. The wound is too deep for him to heal before he does so. Should you succeed in freeing him, he will still die.” Sesshoumaru’s eyes narrowed.

“My husband has the gift of healing plants. It is more a way to speed the growing than a true mending. We know his ability does work on other living things, though it takes great focus, care and can be unpleasant. I believe he could speed the growth of the skin and artery to heal the wound swiftly once the light frees the hanyou. If of course, you wish him freed.”

Sesshoumaru cast a venomous glance from the corner of his eyes. Inuyasha silent and still was unnatural. “You believe?”

“Yes, we have not tried it to this extent before. But, I think it will work.”

“If you are wrong in your presumptions I will not hesitate to take your life.” The hard gaze fastened back on the still, silent figure before him. He had a chance to control this. He might be able to save the annoyance. But was it worth it? He obviously was unable to keep his promise and would only harm Sesshoumaru more. There was no point in affection or trust as the hanyou so adamantly believed. This proved it. Allowing oneself to feel only brought pain. If his father had planned to give him Inuyasha as an example to be cared for, it was a failure. Perhaps it was best to leave him as such and just walk away.

He frowned. He could not, he had promised not to leave him. It was settled then, he would save Inuyasha and since the hanyou had been so foolish they would end their association once more. Their deal would be off. A spark of anger blazed in the daiyoukai‘s blood. The fool, how dare he sacrifice himself so stupidly? “Where is your husband?”

“I know not where his body is now that you have driven him off, but I have a good notion as to where his head is located.”

Sesshoumaru’s sharp frozen amber gaze pivoted to her. Even with her eyes bound it was easy to feel his undivided attention.

“Naoki, is not a creature like you or I, Sesshoumaru. He is a spirit guardian of this forest and land. Strong enough to take on a physical form and be seen by humans.”

Sesshoumaru absorbed this and his keen mind neatly placed some of the missing pieces into this shattered forest. A forest spirit was a creature which protected and was one with the forest which they came from. A creature made from the collective soul of the forest. It could not leave this place for it was one with it. A relationship which was similar but not identical to his own with the Western Lands and its people. Sesshoumaru could feel the land, as it felt him; they were connected and shared strength. But if one died the other would survive, damaged, until a replacement lord was found or the land recovered. The relationship was not as dramatic as and far more subtle than the one shared between the forest and its spirit. While Sesshoumaru and his kingdom were connected, the spirit and the forest were one.

The forest spirit, Naoki was the headless rider who plagued them. His neglect of the forest and sudden disrespect of the life in it was the cause of the trees’ rage. They were angry a part of them was being used. The anger and betrayal had turned to death and the youkai lust for blood. The energies the spirit controlled were being replaced by the life that had thrived here. That feeling of unease was true, the forest displaced from its spirit was in fact wavering between the worlds. Which explained much yet there were still questions. “How did this come about?”

“Yoku,” Medusa hissed, her hair rising around her tightened features revealing millions of needle thin fangs in response to her anger. The sound was unpleasant to his ears. “He was unhappy with his lot in life. Instead of improving himself, as is the noble way, he chose to manipulate his chances. He learned of the powers of my husband’s blade and chose to abuse them.” Her elegant hand lifted to point a clawed finger at the sword feet away from Inuyasha’s frozen form. “A double-edged blade in the truest sense. One side severs with no pain or ill effect, the other side of the blade can reattach what the other removed without so much as a scar. It was not meant to be a weapon. Instead it is used as a healing device. It was a means to repair blighted wood or to move cuttings with no ill to a damaged limb. It was a way to reach deep into a tree, and remove an irritant from inside the trunk, then to simply reseal the great plant. To flora it is harmless. Unfortunately, to fauna it can be used in a much less benign fashion. Yoku exploited this.” Her hand clenched. “He mislead my gentle Naoki, stole the blade from my mate and then took his head. Enslaving my mate to his will.” Her face turned to Sesshoumaru, beneath the ribbon her heated gaze could still be felt against his aura. “The one who holds the head controls the body. With the head in his hands, he can command the body to do anything he wishes and the body can do nothing but comply while the head remains in a catatonic state. Both are fully alive and can be reattached with the blade. So long as neither is destroyed, obviously.”

The daiyoukai’s eyes narrowed marginally. “To save Inuyasha, you require me to retrieve and reattach your mate’s head.”

“Yes.” Medusa smirked slightly.

“Why not do so yourself.”

She gave a rather unlady-like snort. “I am angry, but I am not foolish. I can not breach the barrier nor do I wish to put my own head in danger. Could you image what Yoku would do with my curse at his disposal? For my gaze works even though my head is no longer attached. My grand-mother‘s worked long after her death in the hands of a mortal. This is something I should like to avoid the embarrassment of in my own fate. The sword is also an issue.”

Sesshoumaru had no interest in her family matters nor her honour. He could agree that the human having use of her curse would make him more bothersome than he was currently. “If the human dies, will it affect the forest.”

“No, my Naoki is the reason for that. So long as he is recovered, the wood will return to be as it should. Can you not hear it crying for what it has lost? The sword can attach a head to its body no matter in whose hands the heads are held. My only concern is the sword will reject you. It requires a great deal of energy to wield. I can not use it, myself. It gets too… excited in my hands to function as it should. ” She stated vaguely.

Sesshoumaru’s eyes fell to the sword at his brother’s side and the sword that was too excited to allow him to use it. The symbol of failure and rejection in his life. He walked forward and stood once more over Naoki’s blade. He could indeed hear what she spoke of in the trees. Under the silence there was a cold whisper and mourning that stifled the senses. He squatted beside the blade and stretched out his arm, his lean clawed fingers curling around the hilt with no hesitation. He rose and stared into the blade with his uncompromising gaze. He felt the weapon reach into him, glowing and ringing as it searched his strength, seeking a bond with the land. For a moment the two felt one another out, the blade testing the power in the hand which now held it. The daiyoukai demanding its subservience to him. The introduction lasted no more than a few moments before the sword fell into content silence and Sesshoumaru smirked internally. It had been easy to subdue. Tokijin hummed in annoyance while Tenseiga continued its soft keening of worry for his brother.

“Well…that was…irritatingly efficient. But can you wield it?” Medusa inquired.

Sesshoumaru had no doubt he could. He stabbed the tip of the blade into the earth, reached up and removed the fire-rat sleeve from his neck. Without thought he tucked the sleeve into his armour before lifting the sword once more. With a confident swipe he passed the golden edge through the hole in his neck and pulled it away. A moment of warmth before the numbness in the area vanished. He turned his head before once more inserting the blade into the earth.

Medusa’s face regarded him with clear annoyance, the little serpents around her face glared at him. “You mastered it, in one strike, on yourself. It took Naoki months to…how vexing you must be to those around you.”

“I will bring your husband’s head here.” He stooped down and gently removed the scabbard containing Tetsusaiga from his brother’s hip. Slipping the sword into his own obi, his eyes falling on the face of the frozen, silent hanyou once more.

“It is in his lantern. The one Yoku keeps over his house. My husband’s strength has been reversed so that he is draining those with spiritual energy near by, instead of strengthening it.”

Sesshoumaru continued to study the stone features below him in silence before pulling back. He left Naoki’s sword in the ground in front of his brother, as he would not require it until he had the spirit. “Watch them. If my brother is damaged in any manner before I return, I will destroy this wood and you with it.” He drifted past her, a few strands of his long pale hair being nipped at by her snakes.

“Just bring back my husband. You have no idea how difficult it is for someone like me to find a suitable partner. I would gladly give you my life for his if it comes to that. Being alone in this world without someone to protect and to love, is not a life worth living.” She murmured quietly as he disappeared into the trees with a slight twitch. Those words going straight to the heart he fought so hard to ignore.

Inuyasha…

The stone figure behind him remained reaching after his back as he vanished into the mutilated wood.