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Change of Heart	By : PrincessAurora Category: InuYasha > Yaoi - Male/Male > InuYasha/Sessh?maru > InuYasha/Sessh?maru Views: 24279 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 8
Disclaimer: I don't own this. All characters from the Inuyasha, or Inuyasha: The Final Act Series, are owned by Rumiko Takahashi and VIZ. No money is made from this.

Chapter List
- 7
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Disclaimer: I think it’s obvious that I don’t own this. Any original characters that you find, yes, those are mine. However, all characters from Inuyasha, or Inuyasha: The Final Act…those are all owned by Rumiko Takahashi and VIZ; as are any ‘story lines’ from the episodes that I used to set the scenes at the beginning.
I WISH I was making money off of this. Sadly, I am not.
Honestly, I’d be happy if I could just have them enacting my later chapters on my hdtv. Better than money. ;) Ha.
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THIS IS YAOI-INSCEST! IF YOU DON’T LIKE THIS KIND OF THING, THEN DON’T READ IT. FLAMES WILL BE HAPPILY IGNORED.
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MAJOR SPOILERS for Inuyasha AND Inuyasha: The Final Act.

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Chapter 8 – Finding Answers

It had been some hours since Jaken left. Sesshoumaru had closed his eyes but he was not asleep. Now more than ever, he was determined to watch over Inuyasha. He could tell that the elderly miko was sleeping; her heartbeat was slower and calm. Inuyasha was also sleeping, but his heartbeat had not changed.
‘Is this due to the extra demon blood? Or is there some other reason? Hmmm, I wonder if this is normal for him. Yet another question… I would like some answers instead of more questions.’
His thoughts were interrupted by his scenting of Masahiro, A-Un, and Jaken. He could also scent another dragon from the Royal Stables following A-Un. He looked up to see them fly towards the old campsite, and then quickly turn as they noticed Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha a short distance away. A few moments later, they landed at the new camp. Before Jaken could shriek and state the obvious, Sesshoumaru gave him a look that silenced him. He would not have Inuyasha disturbed any more than was necessary.
Masahiro approached them slowly, respectfully dropping to his knees and bowing his head before his Lords.
“My Lord, I apologize for taking so long to get here. I needed to bring quite a few supplies, and so I brought another dragon. I am ready to begin if you will allow it,” Masahiro said quietly.
“Yes, quickly.”
Masahiro waved and the second dragon moved instantly to him, then dropped to lie down beside him and the two Inu Princes.
“My Lord, if you will but shift him slightly, I can examine him quite well while he is in your arms,” Masahiro stated. As Sesshoumaru did as requested, the ancient Water-Dragon Youkai reached his hands out to the InuHanyou.
“Sire, I can feel from here that the Young Prince’s condition is…well…very strange, if I may say so. I will need to sample his blood,” Masahiro explained.
Jaken shrieked this time, “’Young Prince’ you say! How dare you insult our Lord in that fashion! Sesshoumaru-sama may be tolerating the half-breed for now, but he is not a prince!”
Sesshoumaru only shifted slightly, just enough to free his right hand from Inuyasha’s hair. His Whip of Light then snapped out, catching Jaken’s little hat and vaporizing it; all done too quickly for the eye to follow.
“If you do not wish to have that repeated on your insolent neck, then you will cease assuming you know what my thoughts or intentions are. You will never utter the words ‘half-breed’ in my presence again,” Sesshoumaru stated very quietly.
Jaken could only freeze in shocked terror. He then dropped to his knees and plastered his face to the ground. He stayed there as Sesshoumaru turned his attention back to what was important.
“My Lord,” Masahiro continued, “I already have some theories about what may be happening, but I will need that blood sample, and the next day or so to observe the Young Prince before I can say with any certainty. I can give you only ideas and guesses for now.”
“Masahiro, I will want to hear your ideas while any tests are being done. You should also know… I already know your feelings about Inuyasha and what I have done and have not done. Know that I am in the process of trying to change things; to make things right,” Sesshoumaru said.
Sesshoumaru then used the tip of his claw once again to get a sample of Inuyasha’s blood. He did it so gently that the boy never stirred. Masahiro collected the sample carefully, instantly rising to be able to use the equipment the dragon had brought.
Kaede had woken up with Jaken’s shriek, and had come to sit a respectful distance away from the two Inu and the Dragon. She had remained silent while Masahiro had spoken, but she was worried. Why had Inuyasha not awakened when she did? That shriek from the imp was very loud.
As she moved a little closer, and was in front of them now, she could see that Moko-moko was wrapped as a pillow for the boy, and his ears were covered completely.
Sesshoumaru saw her glance. He could practically read her mind when concern for Inuyasha was the cause for her actions. He was pleased with her sincerity when it came to his brother.
“Yes, Miko, he would have woken up as you did. However, my fur is quite thick,” Sesshoumaru smirked.
Kaede’s eyes widened slightly, and then she smiled. “I think I would give nearly anything for part of your beautiful fur to cover my own ears with, especially when I return to the village.”
Sesshoumaru actually smiled this time, enjoying the old woman’s sense of humor.
Kaede continued, “May I ask one favor of you?”
“Yes, Miko-sama, you may ask.”
“Will you promise to keep me informed of Inuyasha’s condition? I must go back to the village now that I know Inuyasha is being cared for by your healer. I want to catch the traitor who caused all this in the first place, and I fear that the longer I am gone, the more opportunity it will give her to get away.”
“Yes, I will give you my word. You will know all we discover. Before you leave, will you go to Masahiro and be certain he knows what you know, and what you have already done? You may then take A-Un. It will make the journey easier for you,” Sesshoumaru offered.
“Of course, My Lord. Thank you. I will return as soon as I can.”
She rose, walked to Masahiro, and the two spoke for a short time. Then she bowed, mounted A-Un carefully, and left for the village.
Masahiro then walked back to Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha.
“My Lord, I have begun the tests on his blood. For now, I will tell you what I think. But first, will you taste his blood for yourself again? Jaken explained that you had done so once already, and stated at that time that the boy’s blood was ‘ninety percent demon and ten percent human.’ Let me know if you notice the same thing now, please,” Masahiro requested.
Sesshoumaru’s eyes narrowed slightly. ‘Why? Does he expect that anything has changed?’
“Masahiro, his outer scent is still much more demon than human, in fact, his human scent is almost subtle, nearly non-existent, compared to his demon scent.” Sesshoumaru used his claw yet again, and tasted the small drop of blood on his claw. This time, his eyes widened considerably in surprise. ‘What is this?!’
“His blood has changed again! His human blood now seems to be getting stronger! But how has his outer scent not changed? Did you expect this?” the Youkai Lord demanded.
“Yes, My Lord, I was expecting part of it. I was not certain, but I had a theory, and now my belief in it is stronger.”
Masahiro continued, “My Lord, while not many others know this, you know that Lord Inuyasha’s mother was not only a great Princess, but also one of the most powerful miko to ever walk the Earth. So powerful that she retained all of her power even after mating.
“When his human blood has been described as ‘weak’, you know I have never agreed with that. Of any human blood, hers was the strongest I have ever known. Only she could have given birth to a strong hanyou child such as Lord Inuyasha.
“Losing nearly all of his blood, and then being given yours to heal… For a short time, his blood was not half as it always has been, and you said yourself that he had more demon than human blood. Now you say the taste of his human blood seems to be coming back, as if his blood is trying to return to its previous balance.
“I believe this is the power of his mother’s blood. However, I don’t know that this would be necessary if not for that necklace he wears. Kaede-sama explained that it has a binding spell on it, which binds his Youki to this other miko.
“I can see where the necklace has burned his skin. I believe that if his human blood were not fighting back, that necklace would kill him because he is more demon than human now. It would, quite literally, incinerate his body and annihilate him.
“Put simply, Izayoi’s blood is fighting to save his life from that necklace. It should be removed immediately,” Masahiro finished urgently.
Sesshoumaru sighed, “The necklace cannot be removed. It was placed upon him by a miko who is now gone. It is far too powerful to allow any other miko or houshi to remove it. Inuyasha, it seems, will remain a prisoner of that necklace, unless I can find some other way to remove it.”
Masahiro could only stare at his Lord in shock for a moment, then he nodded sadly and continued, “It subdues his Youki completely. I know not how, but it does. If he were any more demon than half, it would force an even stronger hold. The more demon blood he has, the more damage it will do, hence the burns to his flesh. Therefore, I believe his powerful human blood is fighting now to save him from that necklace.
“You must realize that without that necklace, with the blood loss suffered, and then being given so much of yours…he would be much more than half-youkai by now, just in this short time. Kaede-sama even told me his size when human had changed. He should have been smaller than he was.”
“But how is that possible?” Sesshoumaru demanded. “One cannot simply transfer blood and change another. You stay what you are born. How can you think this?”
“My Lord, remember, he has immense spiritual power from his Mother, although he has never been trained to use it… He has always been spiritually powerful, have you not noticed? You think he would have survived being alone for centuries as a child without an immensely strong spirit?” Masahiro was accusing in his tone, but his Lord knew how he felt.
“Powerful blood from both sides, yet both sides always fighting within him. His human side literally kicking his Youki out once each month…yes, I know of his time at the New Moon…then his Youki fighting to have the boy hear its voice. The necklace has somehow suppressed all of his Youki. I do not believe he has ever heard its voice, and yet he has survived. How else to explain it?
“Also, My Lord, you giving him your blood should not change him, you are correct. However, you are also wrong. You are both InuYoukai, so you are not ‘changing him’ into something different. You also know of another time when two demons exchange blood, and it can change them both. Maybe not as drastically as this has, but when I factor in the power and magic of his blood? Both halves? I cannot rule anything out.
“He surprised me even when he was still in his Mother’s womb. I could feel his life force then, and anytime I made assumptions, he would turn them upside down. I learned before his birth not to underestimate him.
“I hope to be able to confirm this with his blood,” Masahiro finished. He bowed his head, then rose and returned to his equipment.
Sesshoumaru felt overwhelmed. It was all too much to try to think about at once. ‘My baby brother would become a near-full youkai if this necklace were removed?’ And then….’Do I want him to change that way? While before this I may have answered ‘yes’ to that question, I have begun to admire him as he is, and I would miss many things about him if he were to change too drastically.’
Then another, more shocking thought as his brain was catching up on all that had been said, ‘Wait, he implied another way to change him. The only other way is through a full, true mating bond. He cannot mean….mate Inuyasha? Hmmmm, why didn’t I think of that before?’

***

The next day Masahiro confirmed his theory and he believed he was correct. He had tested the boy’s blood. He had had Sesshoumaru taste his blood at intervals throughout the night. Moreover, by sunrise, right before the boy awoke, when he last tasted his blood, it was once again half human and half youkai. His scent was close to normal, but not quite: his demon blood was scented more easily, while his human blood was more subtle. His jagged purple stripes now sat in full color on his face as well. Masahiro did not have any answer for any of that, or any ideas. He was as confounded as Sesshoumaru by this scent change and his markings.
When Inuyasha finally awoke, it was with a start. Sesshoumaru still held him securely. “Calm yourself brother. You have been sleeping this entire time, and we think it was your body focusing on healing as long as it knew you were protected.
“How are you feeling?” Sesshoumaru asked.
“I… I feel okay actually. Uh…but what happened? I don’t remember much. I have small patches of memories from the last couple of days, but… Oh, shit… I had my human-night, didn’t I?” and with that, his ears drooped into his hair. Sesshoumaru could nearly smell the despair coming from the boy.
“Yes, Inuyasha, you had your human-night; and I stayed with you. Why are you upset?”
Inuyasha looked down. “Uh, it’s nothing. Could I maybe take a bath? My skin feels awful, like I want to scrub it off,” he replied.
Sesshoumaru noticed the obvious topic-change, but let it go for now. He could understand the boy being desperate for a bath, and he would find out later why he was upset.
“Yes brother. I will take you to the hot spring here, and you will not argue about wanting to bathe alone. I understand your feelings, but you only just awoke from what were near-fatal injuries. I will stay near, and will not look unless you call for help.”
Inuyasha nodded. Anything for a bath at this point.

***

Sesshoumaru was currently damning himself for his promise.
He heard Inuyasha removing his clothes. Tempting, but he could restrain himself. But then he heard him enter the water, and hearing him move around in it was taking all of his control not to turn around. Trying not to imagine water lapping at the boy’s skin... ‘What is this?! This attraction I am feeling? If I am honest with myself, I have felt this since that night we first talked as brothers. Well, no, I have found him beautiful before that, but it was nothing I considered. But now…Kami. I must not give in to this. I promised him a brother. I am sure he wishes for nothing else.’
Sesshoumaru’s internal debate saved him. He had missed the boy leaving the water and putting on the black silk kimono and hakama Jaken had brought. Inuyasha moving close to him was what brought him out of his thoughts.
He turned around to greet the boy.
‘Oh, my…’
“Ah, Little Brother, black is a very good color for you,” was all he said before turning and walking with Inuyasha back to their camp, mentally strangling his Youki before it could make him say or do anything more.
Masahiro was there waiting with food for Inuyasha. Turning back towards the hot spring, Sesshoumaru said, “Inuyasha, I will go bathe now while you eat. I will not be long.”
Masahiro waved for him to sit down, “Lord Inuyasha, please sit. I would like for you to eat. It’s important after such an injury and you haven’t eaten in days.”
“Ya’ don’t need to ask me twice,” Inuyasha smiled. “I never turn down food, ‘specially when I’m starvin’ like I am now.”
Masahiro smiled as the boy began eating. He was happy to see him eat so heartily, as he seemed terribly underweight. As Inuyasha finished, Masahiro felt he needed to ask one thing.
“Lord Inuyasha. May I ask why you seemed so upset about Lord Sesshoumaru knowing about your human-night now?”
The Hanyou’s ears drooped again. “It’s not him knowing. It’s that he saw me that way. He saw me as a human. I always knew he knew I had a time of weakness, but him seeing it, he must feel disgust for me now. At least disgust that he had to touch a human. Or that I would be human in his presence. I dunno. I can’t explain it well.”
Masahiro sighed. Sesshoumaru had done much damage in his youthful anger. If he had not been so stubborn and prideful, even that anger would not have done so much damage. That he allowed himself to feel it for so long, sustaining it for centuries…
Well, it was Sesshoumaru’s mess to clean up, and Masahiro was proud that he was finally trying to fix it. He only wished he could help. He would try to watch for times he could be of assistance.
“Young Lord, I do not feel Lord Sesshoumaru feels any different now than he did before you were injured. Give him a chance. Do not assume he thinks anything bad about you.
“You should know, he has asked me to continue to look in on you and be your personal physician as I am his. So I will travel here whenever you wish to see me, or you may come to the Tsuki no Kyūden,” Masahiro explained.
Inuyasha was shocked. He would agree, but he’d wait for Sesshoumaru to say something about coming to the castle or he wouldn’t really believe it. He’d just be happy if they could go back to meeting once a month. Maybe at least that could still happen.

***

Inuyasha was reclining against a large tree, waiting for Sesshoumaru to return, when Kaede arrived. To Inuyasha’s surprise, she had a girl he recognized from the village, bound up in rope and sutras, gagged, and draped over the back of A-Un.
Sesshoumaru was just returning from the hot spring. He had scented Kaede returning as well as the new scent of a defiant human female.
Inuyasha watched as Sesshoumaru stalked over to A-Un, listened to Kaede for a moment as she dismounted, and then used one clawed finger to lift the girl’s face up to meet his from her awkward position tied to the dragon’s back. He spoke a few words to her, and Inuyasha could see his disdainful expression. Jaken then mounted A-Un, and the dragon lifted off with both the imp and the girl, heading west.
“Sesshoumaru, Kaede, what was that all about?” Inuyasha asked as they both headed to the fire he was sitting near.
Kaede glanced at Sesshoumaru. Getting a nod, she explained, “Lord Inuyasha, that young woman I brought back was Kasumi. It was she who was responsible for you being hurt.”
She continued, telling him of her jealousy and anger, and how she had used the rosary while he was in battle in a deliberate attempt on his life. “She is gagged because I don’t trust that she can’t still control the rosary with the word of power, and I won’t have her use it.”
Inuyasha was stunned. He knew the villagers didn’t like him, but for all this to happen because of jealousy? “Sesshoumaru, what will happen to her?” he asked.
“As is my right, as the Head of our Royal Shiro-Inu Clan, I have decided her fate. She will be imprisoned in our dungeons until she dies. I could have her executed, but I did not believe you would want that. I also believe she deserves to live out her life in solitude and suffering as punishment,” Sesshoumaru proclaimed.
“Inuyasha, I fully support him. I wanted to kill her myself, especially after witnessing the agony you have gone through because of her,” Kaede explained. “I was also hoping that charm would give her the ability to remove the rosary, but it seems she has disposed of it already; a search of her home and all her possessions has proved fruitless. I don’t know if it could have worked for that, and she says it was only for the word of power, but I had hoped.”
Inuyasha could only nod sadly. He may not know as much about InuYoukai as he’d like, but he knew some of the ancient laws of his Clan, and knew Sesshoumaru had the final word on this. Sesshoumaru was quite proud of the boy, accepting his authority in this matter.
“Inuyasha, you seem to be fully recovered. I would enjoy your company for longer, but I must return to my duties in the West. I extend an open invitation to the Tsuki no Kyūden, if you would like to come. If not, I will meet you again in a month, as we have been doing before this, if that is still acceptable to you?”
Inuyasha was saddened at first by his brother’s cold tone, but hearing his actual words warmed his heart. He smiled up at his brother. “I should probably hang around here for a while. For now, let’s plan on our next meeting.”
Sesshoumaru smiled slightly, but Inuyasha, who knew how rare any change in that stoic face was, accepted it in the spirit it was offered. He smiled up at him again.
“Then I will see you in a month, Inuyasha. In the meantime, do not forget that Masahiro is now your healer also,” Sesshoumaru finished. “Goodbye for now, Otouto.”
Nodding to the miko, Sesshoumaru lifted off into the air on his cloud of youki, followed closely by Masahiro on the second dragon. Masahiro waved at Inuyasha as they left, and Inuyasha smiled and waved back.
“Well, Kaede. Whaddya say we get back and start helping with rebuilding the village? I probably won’t help the assholes who were turning on me before the attack, but I’ll help you. ‘Kay?”
The miko smiled, happier than she could remember being in a long time. “Yes Inuyasha, let’s go.”
“Gosh, took ya’ long enough to drop that ‘Lord’ from my name,” Inuyasha added with a smirk as he and Kaede packed up everything, including the things Masahiro had left with her as well as his new clothes. He then lifted Kaede up onto his back and began to run back to the village.

***

To Inuyasha’s continued happiness, the monthly visits continued. They would even spend more than a night, at times going away for a few days to enjoy each other’s company. It never became romantic in any way (to Sesshoumaru’s mild displeasure when he would admit to it), but their relationship as brothers improved dramatically.
So much so that Sesshoumaru granted Rin’s request to spend time with her “Inuyasha-Ojisan.”
Kaede offered to begin her spiritual training while she was in the village, and this solved a problem for Sesshoumaru. He knew Rin had strong spiritual powers, and he had been wondering how to have her trained.
It was decided she would live in the village for the duration of her training with Kaede, and the miko would suggest a much stronger spiritual guide when Rin was ready. It would also give Rin a chance to live with humans. He didn’t often show it, but Sesshoumaru was greatly relieved at this solution.
He also trusted Inuyasha enough to allow Rin to see Kohaku under his supervision. And so, Inuyasha would visit the Slayer’s Village, running the entire way with Rin on his back, with her screaming with joy into the wind. He would even jump along the tops of trees with her, something that used to terrify Kagome unless she was distracted by fighting. But not Rin, she loved it as much as Inuyasha did.

***

On one visit shortly after Inuyasha was hurt, Sesshoumaru arrived with two dragons of a type Inuyasha had ever seen before. Sesshoumaru explained they were ‘Western Dragons’ from an island far beyond the western continent, and were not youkai in any way.
Each had four legs, huge bat-like wings, and longer heads with twisting horns. The male was a beautiful purple, with different shades and hues of that color on different parts of its body. The female was a stunning red, again with different shades and hues. He explained they could be bred, as they were a ‘mating pair’.
Sesshoumaru had also included bridles and saddles, as well as all the other things necessary for them.
The bridles and saddles had carvings in the black leather. With the exception of the smooth seat, beautiful Celtic knot-work covered the entire visible surface. Sesshoumaru explained that this design was native to the island they had come from, and would bring him good luck.
Inuyasha was stunned. He’d never received a gift like this. He could only stare at his brother, with his mouth hanging open in shock, trying to stutter out a ‘thank you’. Sesshoumaru was very pleased with his reaction.
Knowing he’d never need more than one dragon, he’d asked Sesshoumaru if he could give one to Kaede. Sesshoumaru agreed readily, but asked that when she died, that the dragon return to Inuyasha. It was agreed.
Wanting something different than red, Inuyasha chose to keep the purple male dragon, giving the red female to Kaede. She was thrilled with the gift.
Rin enjoyed the dragons too, since they were so different from A-Un. They would take the dragon sometimes, when they went to the Slayer’s Village; although Rin’s preference was always to have Inuyasha carry her.
It took those first few years after Naraku’s death, but Inuyasha finally knew for sure… He had a family.

~tbc

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Japanese terms used in this chapter:
Masahiro: (正博) (まさひろ) 正,masa: correct, the justice, righteous; 博, hiro: Dr., to gamble, wide. Sesshoumaru’s personal physician.
Tsuki no Kyūden: (月の宮殿) (The) Palace of the Moon = The name I have given Sesshoumaru’s castle in my story.
Kasumi: mist, fog (霞) (かすみ) the mist, the fog. The village girl mentioned in this chapter.
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Change of Heart