Alpha by Lyra
Heartless
Drabble Collection Alpha
CXXI
Prompt From Priestess Skye’s Bi-Weekly Challenge
Heartless
Naraku’s voice grew thick with pleasure at the thought of Inuyasha’s potential pain.
“Have you not guessed, Inuyasha? I am here to show you the things you have always suspected and have never been free of; I am your personal nightmare, the Hell you lived. Did you think I would be anything different here?”
For the second time there was low and terrible laughter, and Inuyasha constrained himself from leaping forward with a jerk of will that set all his muscles trembling.
“You saw Sesshomaru, the Inu Daiyoukai, inheritor of power - your brother, in his youth. You saw his training, the molding that would have made him a most terrible scion of the Inu no Taisho; you saw the events that changed it all. Now, watch, Inuyasha!”
Around them the darkness cracked, splintered, shattered, and then resolved into the now-familiar shiro, with one significant difference from the last time Inuyasha had seen it.
Guards and banners were scattered everywhere, as they had been on the day of his brother’s birth. Youkai in armor lounged in ranks or circles, talking quietly amongst themselves – but all their armor was battered, and many were licking fresh wounds.
Naraku prowled among them, smiling viciously at those who were near death.
“It has been a little more than six years; your brother has grown in power, in presence...but not in control. He is deadly to be near, and there are few who dare face him – now, for the first time in his memory, he will meet the one who sired him.”
Following reluctantly behind Naraku, Inuyasha came suddenly into an unexpected courtyard, and stumbled in the presence of his father. He was surprised to see his brother doing exactly the same thing on the other side of the courtyard.
“My son; so, you have come to greet your father!”
For a single heart-stopping moment Inuyasha felt a warmth blossoming in his chest; a warmth that was instantly crushed when the Inu no Taisho turned to stare down at Sesshomaru.
A memory, it’s only a memory; it’s not real, he can’t see me, he doesn’t know...I’m here. I’m here, father.
Many long buried feelings welled up at that thought, but the presence of Naraku loomed over Inuyasha’s shoulder, his red eyes fat with glee, and Inuyasha clamped down on his emotions, suppressed grief and anger and unfulfilled wishes...unfulfilled dreams.
“Pay attention, Inuyasha; are you watching closely? You will enjoy this, I am sure.”
Inuyasha growled, but managed to grind out a question.
“What? What is going on?”
Naraku strolled around from behind him, stood smirking and pointed at the image-figure of Sesshomaru’s youthful self.
“Today, your father has returned after many years to his own fortress; he will not yet stay here, but he has stopped to rest his warriors and meet the son he left behind. Foolish sentimentality; he thinks your brother will be pleased to see him, but nothing could be further from the truth.”
Inuyasha frowned, and took a few steps forward, stared at the expression on Sesshomaru’s face: cold, a complete mask, an emptiness...
And it did not change, even when their father spoke again.
“Well, my son? Have you nothing to say?”
Inuyasha watched Sesshomaru’s face, saw shifting there..but the expression did not complete itself.
“Is there something I should say, father? I do not know you.”
If Sesshomaru was surprised to see something like sadness on his father’s face, he did not show it. The Inu no Taisho reached out one hand to grasp the shoulder of his eldest son, and stared down at him.
“I hear many things about you, Sesshomaru; your mother’s displeasure, your great and terrible strength, the schedule of training you keep for yourself. You conduct yourself well in my absence; it was never my intention to be gone for so long, and I had hoped your mother...”
But he shrugged, and stepped back from his son. Inuyasha turned a little and studied his father, the concern so easily visible, and then looked again to the stillness of Sesshomaru’s face.
“But I am told you no longer speak of her, or permit her presence.”
There was wariness now in Sesshomaru’s gaze.
“This is true. After what she caused – no. She is not welcome near me.”
Inuyasha heard the words not welcome, and heard death. It was obvious that the Inu no Taisho, too, heard death, and in that moment he seemed to reevaluate his son.
“Well, Sesshomaru. I returned here expecting a child; I see that is not what I have found. You will come with me, my son. You will fight beside me, and I will continue your training myself. I will show you -”
“No. No.”
~~~~
A/N: 800 words, yay...and oh my! No, Sesshomaru says! Why would he say no? Well...onward, of course! :D Oh – and here’s a thought for those wondering why Naraku of all people: Inuyasha hates Sesshomaru; he does, he really does. But he hates Naraku more – more than his brother, more than anyone - and that means that Naraku is perhaps the only person in the world to whom Inuyasha might defend his brother...which is what daddy wanted all along :p
Revisions complete!
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