The Snow Angel by SunsetMiko

The Attempt

Chapter 34 -  The Attempt *demonstration* (Skye's Weekly Challenges)

It was just past noon when the group reached the Western border, and Inuyasha stopped in his tracks. "Well, we're here," he announced.

"Just in time for lunch!" Kagome exclaimed excitedly.

The hanyou glanced at her in confusion. "Since when do you care about food so much, wench?"

"When it's not ramen or meat cooked over a campfire!" The inn had sent them off with a rather extravagant packed lunch, and Kagome had been thinking about it for the last hour, her mouth watering.

"Let me get this over with first, huh? Then we can find a nice place to sit down and eat," Inuyasha replied. Kagome pouted a little, but the hanyou ignored her. He walked forward; crossing over where he knew the border lay, before turning around and looking at the taiyoukai. "So, where's this fucking barrier?" He was eager to demonstrate his strength, like he always was. This time was special, however, because he was going to do something Sesshoumaru was unable to do himself. That made this moment very special indeed.

Sesshoumaru flicked his wrist, hitting the barrier with his youki whip. It sizzled and dissolved, the barrier shimmering into view for a moment, reflecting light like a soap bubble. "There," the taiyoukai replied.

Inuyasha crossed out of the West and headed back to his original position, pulling his sword, which instantly transformed into a giant fang. He concentrated, trying to form the red Tetsusaiga, which he used to break barriers, and frowned when nothing happened. "I can't focus on it if I can't even sense it! Keep hitting it."

Sesshoumaru obliged, continuously attacking the barrier with his whip, forcing it to stay visible. He watched with interest as Inuyasha stared at the shimmering wall, a look of extreme concentration on his face. After several minutes, the hanyou lifted and swung his sword in frustration, forming the Windscar. The waves of energy barely missed Sesshoumaru, who jumped back out of the way at the last second. He shot a glare at his younger brother, who was muttering curses of his own.

"Well, it ain't gonna work. I can't attack something I can't even sense. Why did you think I'd be able to sense it enough to use the red Tetsaiga if no one else could sense it to do anything, either?"

"I was hoping that our shared blood might cause it to affect you in some way as well," Sesshoumaru answered.

"Did it affect your mother?" the hanyou asked, wanting to know why he had just wasted two days on this useless trip.

"No."

"When did you get so fucking stupid?" Inuyasha hollered in frustration. "I just led my pack through the snow for two days for nothing!"

"Inuyasha!" Kagome yelled before stomping to his side. "It didn't hurt anything for you to try! Don't be such a jerk. It's not like you haven't led us through the snow for nothing before. You're just cranky because you couldn't do it. And why did you use the Windscar? You nearly hit your brother, and you tore up the ground just to make yourself feel better."

"Not my problem," the hanyou muttered. "You want your lunch? I just melted a bunch of snow, so go make yourself comfortable, wench."

"In the mud? No thank you!"