Alpha by Lyra

Inconvenient

Drabble Collection Alpha

CXXV

Prompt From Priestess Skye’s Bi-Weekly Challenge

Inconvenient

Sensing weakness, Naraku came to stand in front of Inuyasha and gestured at Sesshomaru, who stood still now, silent, breathing deeply, moment by moment banishing the red-eyed glare of the Inu to some dark corner of his soul.

“Well, Inuyasha? What do you think now of your chances?”

Naraku was not prepared for the answer he received...or the smile that accompanied it.

“My chances? Not so good, if you mean...to get Kagome. To get Kagome, now I have to get through that...”

He shook his head. All Naraku’s question had done was put in perspective a thought that had been at the back of his mind. He was unable to defeat his brother now; really, he had never been able to defeat his brother. Tetsusaiga alone had saved him, and even Tetsusaiga wouldn’t be enough, without...her.

Still – if even I can’t get at her, she’s safe...safe. From everything but Sesshomaru, and she doesn’t – she wants -

A flash of anger rose in him and then burned out quickly, left him tight-eyed and almost breathless. More and more, he was beginning to grieve his loss – to see just what had been taken from him, and how permanently.

But Naraku was enraged. Something had happened, something he had not intended – but because Inuyasha did not speak, because his feelings had turned from wrath to grief, Naraku could not understand. What was it that had occurred beyond his control? How was it that tormenting his enemy could go wrong? This was Hell!

Before he had ever entered here, he had mastered the many arts of torture.

“Inuyasha! Why are you smiling, Inuyasha?”

But the hanyou ignored him and instead fixed his attention on his brother. A tall Inu had appeared at the blasted edge of the woodlands, and was swiftly approaching Sesshomaru, picking his way carefully over the melted ground.

An unpleasant vapor with which Inuyasha had once become intimately familiar drifted about still, but thankfully the wind was strong enough that it caused no problems. Having been immersed in a power so strong it had held him still even in this unreality, Inuyasha had no desire to test the strength of dokkasou on his not-quite-body.

“Inuyasha!”

For the second time, he ignored Naraku’s attempt to gain his attention, and strode forward quickly at the sound of other speech. He was just in time to hear the tail end of the new-comer’s words to his brother, and then his brother’s response.

“- and I have never seen anything like that. My lord...how...what method is this, that you are using to control your power?”

“It is a summoning.”

Inuyasha stepped closer still.

“May I confide in you, Shizuka?”

Sesshomaru’s companion stood up straighter, and Inuyasha finally recognized one of the guardsmen that had protected his brother – years ago, for them.

“Of course, my lord. It is my duty.”

“Duty...yes. But would you keep my secrets even from my father, Shizuka? What would duty tell you then?”

There was a long moment of silence – but in the flickering vulnerability which was audible in his brother’s exhausted voice, Inuyasha heard, for the first time, a person. Not a menace, or something to be hated, or an echo of a haunting and painful memory. Just...someone, who would grow to be someone else –

Or maybe...

But Shizuka spoke then, and Inuyasha broke off his train of thought to listen.

“My lord, the oath I took to your father was an oath for your protection, nothing more. The oath I took to you – that was not only the oath of a guard, but an oath to a friend. You made friends of all of us who valued the life of Yuugao, and you have proved your own worth many times since. I will keep your confidence.”

Barely, Sesshomaru smiled, and Inuyasha peered at the expression; it was like nothing he had seen on his brother’s face before.

“I am afraid, Shizuka. That is my secret.”

Silence stretched on into the night. And then:

“I am afraid...of myself.”

The image faded. Thoughtful, Inuyasha narrowed his eyes at the wavering and vanishing image of Sesshomaru. The things that he was thinking hurt, but he could not deny them. He heard an echo and wondered if it was just in his head – his mother’s voice, soft but penetrating.

“You have more in common with your brother than you suspect, my son. You do not want to hear it, but it is true!”

The truth was inconvenient, when more than anything else he wanted to hold onto hate for his brother – but he could not deny it.

Not when he was also afraid.

Not when even his secret was the same.

~~~~

A/N: 800 words! Mmm....and one more chapter of Naraku, before we go back to Kagome and Sesshomaru. Because I decided he needs to...well..something. I have not decided if I should let Inuyasha whup him, or if he should just be pwned by Inupapa....hehe. Pwned. Anyway, I’m taking suggestions....and Ihereby dedicate this chapter to the destruction of my upstairs neighbors, who have been louder than a truck stop full of motorcycle-riding wrestlers for....six hours now. Ahem. :D

Revisions Complete!

Please Review!