The Snow Angel by SunsetMiko

The Implications

Chapter 30 - The Implications *Trust* (Skye's Weekly Challenges)

They had traveled all morning before stopping for lunch. After slurping down his ramen, Inuyasha turned to study his older half-brother. He still didn't trust him. Sesshoumaru wasn't one to ask for help from anyone, especially not from the hanyou whose tainted blood had dirtied his family line. He couldn't help but be suspicious. The taiyoukai had treated him like garbage all his life, and now, all of a sudden, he came to him for help? It didn't make sense, which led him to believe that something else was going on.

"So, why can't you bring down this barrier yourself? I mean, I've seen you take out Naraku's barrier. Why is this so different?"

Sesshoumaru turned to study the hanyou's face before answering. "This barrier was designed to affect only this Sesshoumaru. I do not know how Tsukiko managed to erect such a powerful barrier, but I cannot cross it and I cannot destroy it."

"And you think I can?" Inuyasha asked skeptically.

"If it can be done, the Tetsusaiga can do it."

"Man, it must really suck, being trapped outside your lands. I mean, can you even be Lord if you can't  step foot in the West? You certainly can't do your people much good."

"Inuyasha," Kagome hissed. She didn't know why her friend was purposely antagonizing the taiyoukai, but she did know that it wasn't a good idea.

The hanyou ignored her completely, opting to continue his interrogation. "You're a man without a country. What would happen if the other Lords found out? You're a sitting duck, and if they wanted to, they could go right on in and claim the West for themselves."

"The West has alliances with the other lands, though I do not doubt that they would abandon them in a moment if they were to decide to attempt to take advantage of this perceived weakness. My lands are well protected. The West has a well-trained and well-equipped army that will hold off any attacking forces." Sesshoumaru refused to allow Inuyasha to instigate a fight, which was the only explanation for the hanyou's comments, and the attitude that went with them.

"So if I can't bring down the barrier, will you even be the Lord? I mean, what's the point?"

"Inuyasha," Kagome said in a threatening tone. "Stop trying to pick a fight with your brother."

"Half-brother," Inuyasha corrected, mostly out of habit.

"Actually, Inuyasha, the miko was correct. I have acknowledged you. You are now my brother, the differences in our blood no longer matter."

"But I haven't even done anything yet!"

"You have agreed to try. That is enough for me. You are honorable, and I trust you."

Inuyasha's jaw dropped open in surprise, only to have Kagome tap his chin, reminding him to close his mouth. "Wait, so if something happens to you, then I'd have to run the West?" Inuyasha asked, not liking that thought in the least.

"I have no intention of going anywhere. You would only be second in line until I produce an heir. If I were to die before that heir is old enough to rule, you will rule in his stead until he is."

"But what if I can't break the barrier? What if you can't ever enter the West? Would that leave me to take over? I wouldn't have a clue what to do with the West, and you know that no one would listen to me anyway." The hanyou was close to panicking now. He hadn't thought things through, and now that he was, he didn't like the possibilities.

"If you cannot destroy the barrier, I will find another way. Do not worry yourself, Inuyasha. You will not have to lead the West. They would, however, be forced to listen to you if you were to become the Western Lord. You could easily bring down any opponents and prove yourself." Sesshoumaru fought down the desire to smirk at the shock on Inuyasha's face. The hanyou had obviously not expected him to compliment his fighting abilities. Though untrained, Inuyasha was, indeed, quite a powerful opponent. The taiyoukai had not exaggerated. Their father's blood flowed strongly through his veins, and very few could best the hanyou.

Kagome smiled her first genuine smile in days. She had known all along that Inuyasha was strong just the way he was, but no matter how many times she told him so, he would never believe that he was good enough as a hanyou. To hear his brother acknowledge his strength was something he had never expected to hear, but it was just what he needed. All his life he had aspired to be like Sesshoumaru, at least in terms of physical ability. To hear that he was good enough meant the world to him. She had the urge to hug the taiyoukai in thanks, as she knew her friend never would, but she restrained herself, knowing that it would be unwelcome and, more likely than not, cost her her head.

Seeing that Inuyasha was stunned into silence, Kagome decided to redirect the conversation. "So, if the red Tetsusaiga doesn't work, do you have any other ideas?"

Butterflies took flight in Sesshoumaru's stomach when the miko spoke to him willingly. "Every miko and witch in the West is working towards defeating the barrier. Research is being done, and Seiko is questioning the traitor, Tsukiko. If anyone can get information out of him, it will be Seiko."

So," the miko continued hesitantly, "he's being tortured?"

The taiyoukai was hesitant to reply, concerned about how Kagome would feel about his answer, but he found he did not want to lie to her. He was already hiding enough from the miko, and his guilt grew by the moment. He knew that he could relieve her of her worry and grief in an instant, but to do so would be to reveal his shame. He did not want her to look at him as a pet. He wanted her to grow to love him as him, not as Prince, and so he could not tell her the truth.

"Yes, Seiko is the dungeon-master, and he is very skilled at the art of extracting information."

When the miko burst into a fit of giggles, everyone looked at her like she had lost her mind. Seeing their concerned expressions, Kagome tried to calm her laughter to explain herself. "It just... Seiko, it sounds like an English word, psycho. A psycho is a crazy person. It's what they call murderers, and serial killers. There's even a movie called 'Psycho'. The fact that your dungeon-master, the guy whose main job is torturing people, is named Seiko..." She finally managed to gain control of herself and realized just how insane she sounded. "It's just struck me as funny, ironic, you know?"

"Movie?" Sesshoumaru repeated the unfamiliar word slowly.

Kagome's eyes widened, and her hand rose to cover her mouth. She hadn't meant to give away her secret, but she never had been good at remembering not to mention things from her time in front of others. It was bad enough that he had seen her supplies from the future. She didn't need him to ask questions she couldn't answer.