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Yuudai no Keikoku	By : ashlin86 Category: InuYasha > Yaoi - Male/Male > InuYasha/Sessh?maru > InuYasha/Sessh?maru Views: 15517 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 4
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, nor make money from this story.

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Yuudai no Keikoku – Chapter Three

Inuyasha awoke stiff and groggy, but blessedly pain-free. Wrapped in a soft cocoon of warmth, he almost drifted off again...until his mind translated what his nose was telling him, and his memory the previous night's events returned in a rush. No sooner had he begun to struggle, than the warm-soft thing released him and he tumbled to the ground in a graceless heap. He fought his way to rights, and glared up at his older brother.

“I have been waiting for you to regain consciousness. It took longer than expected for your body to heal,” Sesshoumaru said emotionlessly.

“Fuck you, asshole! Where the hell are we?”

“The northern mountain range. Near--”

“And what gives you the right to knock me out and cart me gods' know where just 'cause you feel like it?”

“I am your elder brother--”

“Don't give me that crap! You've never been anything like a big brother to me. Don't start pretending now. I don't need you or anyone else suddenly telling me what to do and where to go!”

“Are you finished?”

“Yes! I mean no! I told you I ain't going anywhere with you!”

“It is a too late--”

“Because you--!”

“Be silent!” Inuyasha's jaw snapped shut at the uncharacteristic sharpness of tone. “You would do well to respect your betters, hanyou. If you interrupt me again, I shall take great pleasure in cutting out your tongue! Are you prepared to listen to what I have to say?”

“Fine!” and even to his own sensitive hearing, he sounded petulant. He crossed his arms and waited.

Sesshoumaru looked like he really really wanted to roll his eyes or make some other expression of exasperation—it was a credit to his self-control that he refrained, and Inuyasha was grudgingly impressed. If he’d been talking to Kagome he’d already be face-first in the dirt, but almost as soon as he thought that he shied away from it. Kagome was a sore spot at the moment. In any case, he had to admit Sesshoumaru was being far more accommodating than usual—why, that threat had been almost benign compared to some of the others that had left his brothers mouth in the past hundred and fifty years. More scolding than menacing, actually.

“I will inform you that I do not intend to cause you harm...unless I am given reason. The manner in which I gained your cooperation--” he ignored Inuyasha's snort, “--is regrettable, yet I felt it necessary. I believe I am correct in assuming you would not have followed me otherwise.”

“You got that right,” Inuyasha grumbled.

“This matter involves your inheritance. I...wanted you to see it without the company you travel with. Once you have laid eyes on it I expect you will feel the same.”

“What inheritance? All the the old man's shit went to you, didn't it? Except Tetsusaiga,” Inuyasha said slyly, knowing he was poking the proverbial dragon.

Sesshoumaru did not react visibly to the barb. “Correct. When Father was killed I gained the entirety of his lands and possessions.” He nodded, “Except Tetsusaiga and Sounga.”

“Then what's this 'inheritance'? I thought…Shit. Where's my sword?”

Sesshoumaru’s eyes flickered and Inuyasha looked down. At his feet lay Tetsusaiga. As he picked it up and brushed it off, Sesshoumaru resumed speaking. “This particular thing did not truly belong to father, though it is located in the Western Lands. We are quite close, if you care to continue.”

“Y-yeah. Sure.” Inuyasha was curious, despite himself. He waited for Sesshoumaru to start walking and followed half a pace behind. “So if this wasn't the old—our father’s, then why do I get it? What is 'it' anyway? And why am I only hearing about it now?”

“It was your mother's—a castle in a valley of these mountains, which father built for her as a gift before you were born. She was to live here with father from your birth until her eventual death. Then, theoretically, it would have passed to you. Its main function was and is defense—it is rather thoroughly protected. None who wished to harm either of you would have succeeded once she entered the outer pass. As to your last question, I assume your mother knew nothing of it. Father was fond of surprises. It was completed just before our father was summoned to deal with Ryuukotsusei.

“Then why didn't you ever tell me about it?”

“I did not see the point. I didn't intend for it to exist long after Father's death.”

“Wh—Oh. You were going to destroy it. You didn't want any reminders of me or my mother, right?” From Sesshoumaru's silence Inuyasha guessed he was indeed right. He'd always known how his brother felt about him and his mother, but that didn't stop it from stinging every time the reality slapped him across the face. “So—what? You want me to get you in so you can finally trash it or something?”

“If it was as simple as that I would have retrieved you long ago. I am telling you about it now because I do not wish to damage the castle any longer.”

“Oh. Why the change of heart?”

Sesshoumaru gave him an unreadable look, then returned his attention to the path. “You will see for yourself soon. We have arrived.”

Kagome sighed as she heaved her pack over the edge of the well. Maybe she shouldn't have brought so much ramen, but she knew from experience that the quickest way to Inuyasha's heart was through his stomach. And she felt really bad. The noodles might soften Inuyasha up a little before she apologized. She had no excuse for doing...what she'd done, and she knew she wouldn't find one.

She was just so frustrated! Her grades were more horrible than ever, and now the school had a social worker sniffing around the shrine, questioning her mom, Souta, and Grandpa. She realized that it wasn't Inuyasha's fault—not really. Sure he was obnoxious, and he didn't really understand why she had to spend time in the future, but...if she truly wanted to stay at home more often, she knew he wouldn't stop her. He might grouse and posture, but he'd give in if he saw how much it meant to her.

It was just hard to remember that when the last expression she saw on her mother’s face before she went down the well, lately was a forced smile over features pinched with worry. The last time had been even worse. She had so much school work piled up, she didn't think she could finish it, even if she managed to swing a month at home. Then the social worker lady had shown up, making thinly veiled accusations when she saw that Kagome was obviously well. She'd left with the quiet sound of her mother’s soft crying in the upstairs bathroom ringing in her ears.

And there had been Inuyasha, pouting, making caustic comments as usual, and she'd snapped. Her head knew he wasn't responsible for any of this, but her heart...As much as she hated to admit it, her heart resented him almost as much as it loved him. And that had been the driving force behind her worsening temper, which fed off Inuyasha's growing irritation, which was caused by her bad mood, and so on in a vicious cycle.

But she was better now. She'd talked things out with her mom and together they'd come up with a plan of action. As a result, she felt lighter than she had in weeks. And she had faith that Inuyasha would forgive her, then everything could go back to normal.

Speaking of which... Where was Inuyasha? Usually he'd have met her by now. “He must be angrier than I thought,” she murmured to herself. Squaring her shoulders, she shook off the disappointment. It would just take more ramen, that was all. “Inuyasha! Are you there? I got this new flavor of ramen I thought you might like, so I brought--”

“He's not here,”

Kagome squeaked. “Miroku?”

The monk stepped out from the foliage, followed by Sango, Shippou, and Kirara.

“Kagome!” the little kitsune cried, flying into her arms.

“Shippou! I told you I'd be back in a few days. Where's Inuyasha?”

“Perhaps we should go to the village.”

“What? Why? Guys? What's wrong?” Kagome was beginning to get a very bad feeling. “Where is Inuyasha?” She asked again, very slowly. She was not moving one inch until they told her what was going on.

“He... That is...”

“Sesshoumaru abducted him!” Shippou burst out, then slapped both hands over his mouth. “Oops!”

Kagome's knees buckled, and she sat heavily on the edge of the well. “Is this true?” she whispered. Horrible scenarios, all ending with Sesshoumaru presenting them with Inuyasha’s head, coursed through her mind.

“It is.” Miroku confirmed.

“But Kaede seems to think he isn't in any danger,” Sango rushed to reassure her. In this crisis, she didn't have time or heart to spare harboring anger toward Kagome. They had to band together now to bring back their leader.

Not one of their motley group could fool his or herself into thinking the quest stood a chance without Inuyasha.

“Of course he's in danger! It's Sesshoumaru! Why didn't you try to follow them? They could be hundreds of miles away by now! When did this happen?”

“It happened the same night you left. And he teleported away, so there was no scent for Kirara to track.” Sango was a bit irked at what sounded an awful lot like an accusation.

“We do have one clue,” Miroku interjected smoothly as a mostly diversionary tactic. “Sesshoumaru's light was heading northwest, so at least we have a direction to begin with. We thought it best to wait for you,”

Kagome took a deep breath. “I'm sorry. I'm just worried, that's all,”

“It's alright. We're all a little on edge.”

Sango nodded in agreement, and offered a half smile in return.

“Right. We should set out as soon as possible. There's no telling how far--” Kagome was already struggling into her backpack.

“Actually, we thought there might be an easier way to go about this.”

“How?”

The three looked at one another before chorusing, “Kouga.”

Sesshoumaru observed his brother, who was staring at the stone arches in much the same way he himself had the week before. It was interesting how that familiar face transformed when the hanyou wasn't spitting and snarling. It was almost...pleasant.

He was readying to force his brother from where ever he had disappeared to inside his head, when a stray current of air brought him a scent that should not be there. 'Impossible. It is far too soon for...”

“Sesshoumaru-sama?” From the outcropping perpendicular to the way they had come stepped a familiar figure, garbed in the pale blues and grays of the healer class. “Oh! It is you. Good afternoon, my lord. Now, perhaps you can tell me—to what do I owe the honor of your summons?”

“Shinmaru,” Sesshoumaru greeted. “You are unexpectedly early,”

“Ah, but when I received the summons from your retainer, I was so curious I used my sister's sky dragon to bring me.”

“Who the hell are you?”

It seemed Inuyasha had returned to his senses on his own. Pity. Sesshoumaru had been counting on having a few more days for the hanyou to acclimate before introducing any strangers to the mix

“Oh dear! You must be Inuyasha!” the other demon looked positively delighted. Behind the friendly grin and deceptively mellow gray eyes, Sesshoumaru could see him calculating, facts together, and coming to conclusions that were most likely correct.

Inuyasha looked to be slightly off balance, which was the way Shinmaru liked to keep those he conversed with. It was especially easy to do with someone new, and Sesshoumaru was reluctantly entertained.

Sweeping a lock of chin-length hair behind his ear, Shinmaru widened his smile a few notches and began, “I am Shinmaru, senior healer of the Inuyoukai clan. I currently reside at the North Keep, but I like to spend summers at the Keep by the Sea—the wind off the water is much cooler, you see. I have three older sisters, who are constantly pushing nubile young youkai on me, pressuring me to settle down with a mate, even though I keep insisting I am a happily confirmed bachelor. They think that I simply haven’t found the right one yet, which is possible I suppose.”

“Wait a second!” Inuyasha said, wide-eyed, “Why are you telling me all this?”

“You asked me who I was,” Shinmaru responded innocently.

“Yeah, but I didn't want your whole life story!”

“Then next time you had better be more specific. And cursing at someone you have just met is terribly rude, by the way. You are lucky I did not take offense.” Shinmaru looked sideways at the youkai lord who was monitoring the conversation closely. “I am surprised your brother allows you to get away with such behavior.”

“It is in the process of being corrected, I assure you,” Sesshoumaru answered drily.

“Yes, yes, I glimpsed the twins' names on that scroll your little toad was clutching. The situation must be dire indeed to request their…tutelage.”

“I decided it was better to err on the side of caution, in his case.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?!” exploded the very irritated hanyou.

Shinmaru tutted. “Such language from one so young. Perhaps you were right to summon them.”

Inuyasha looked ready to start attacking, so Sesshoumaru thought it wise to move the proceedings forward. “Come Inuyasha.” He passed through the barrier before a likely impertinent answer was forthcoming. He heard the other two following him, and released a slow breath. A discreet look back revealed Inuyasha obviously lost in thought again, and Shinmaru studying him thoughtfully. He caught Sesshoumaru's look and grinned.

“How long do you estimate before the first wave of servants arrives, Shinmaru?”

“Oh, a day or so. I've been lingering about for a bit. I thought I would do well to wait for you. Rumor has it there is some sort of spiritual barrier around this place. I did not want to have my skin melted from my bones or something equally disfiguring.”

“The barrier is at the arches over the entrance to the pass.”

“Indeed? How interesting. I passed the test, then?”

“You would not be here if you did not. We approach the inner arches.”

Inuyasha had apparently been paying attention to their short conversation. His footsteps quickened perceptibly, and a poorly disguised look of anticipation appeared on his too-expressive face. Sesshoumaru slowed, allowing his brother to pass ahead. He was expecting the awed gasps when the other two looked inside, and even permitted a very tiny smile to escape at their reactions.

What Sesshoumaru did not expect was the look of wonder on Inuyasha's face when he had looked his fill and peeled his eyes away from the grand sight to look up at him. Nor was he expecting his sibling to speak to him.

“This is mine?” the hanyou queried, hushed, as if afraid to talk too loudly.

“Yes.” 'Or it will be soon, in any case.'

“You were right,”

Sesshoumaru waited for him to elaborate, and when he did not, encouraged, “About...?”

“This place... I don't want to share it with them yet. This is mine! Thank--”

“Do not say it. It is beyond unnecessary. I had no part in this. Any of this,”

“You brought me here,” Inuyasha argued, but thankfully did not say anything further.

“I hate to break up such a touching moment, but this is quite the most brilliant thing I have ever seen. I would like to explore, if neither of you mind?” Shinmaru didn't even wait for a reply before he took off down the stone path.

“What's it called?” Inuyasha asked finally, as they followed Shinmaru at a much more sedate pace. Inuyasha seemed to be savoring all the sites.

“The castle? Father called it Yuudai no Keikoku, but this area is collectively known as 'the Valley.'”

“Yuudai no Keikoku huh? Are there any other ways in?”

“The Valley is enclosed on all sides and the mountain pass we just took is the only entrance.”

“Can things get in by flying?”

“No. From above there appears to be no valley at all—only mountains. I believe it is an illusion, created by the goddess who provided the barrier to disguise said barrier. There are no weaknesses, no alternate routes, and it cannot be dug under. I searched thoroughly. For all intents and purposes The Valley is impenetrable.”

“Hmm. It...it would have been perfect, wouldn't it?” Inuyasha mused wistfully, tone obviously rhetorical.

Sesshoumaru told himself that was why he didn't answer. “Do you wish to view it more closely?” he asked after a rather uncomfortable silence—at least it seemed so from his side.

Inuyasha started, as if the thought had not even occurred to him yet. “It just doesn't seem quite real, y'know? I never thought something like this could ever belong to me.” The hanyou’s eyes made one last wide pass over the Valley, as if taking it all in at once. “Yeah. Yeah, I wanna explore this place. You staying?”

“Yes,” Sesshoumaru answered simply.

Inuyasha shrugged. “Okay.” With that, he bounded off in the direction of the castle.

Sesshoumaru wondered how large a fit his brother would throw when he found out he wouldn't be leaving any time soon, either. But that news could wait a bit longer. For the moment he had a ward to find.
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Yuudai no Keikoku