Chapter 38: Third Brother, I Am Your Second Brother, Inuyasha

Facing Hojo Akitoki’s question, the scene descended into an awkward silence. This was something even Hojo Akitoki himself had not anticipated. In his view, it wouldn't have been strange if Sesshomaru had simply remarked that the Great Dog General was a powerful demon, or at the very least, vented his frustration by labeling him an irresponsible father. Regardless of how Sesshomaru might have responded, Hojo Akitoki had already prepared a script—one guaranteed to move Sesshomaru, bring Inuyasha to tears, and leave Kagome deeply touched.

Yet, Sesshomaru remained silent, refusing to comment on the matter. Hojo Akitoki felt a sense of bewildered helplessness; he could hardly start performing a one-man show. While Hojo Akitoki silently grumbled about Sesshomaru’s lack of cooperation, Sesshomaru himself was suffering in silence. How was he supposed to evaluate his father, the Great Dog General? To call him a powerful demon—was that not common knowledge? As for the fact that he abandoned his faithful wife and his own son for a newly met human mistress, and ultimately sacrificed his life for her... was that something glorious or worth discussing?

Though he was a demon with a moral compass vastly different from a human’s, in this particular matter, Sesshomaru’s expression shifted. He fixed his gaze on Hojo Akitoki, a person he had only just begun to acknowledge today. For some reason, Sesshomaru felt that this man either had a death wish or was simply itching for a beating. How dare he tease him with such a question? In a moment of impulse, Sesshomaru felt an uncontrollable itch in his claws—a desperate urge to tear something apart, specifically the Hojo Akitoki standing right in front of him.

*Oh no!*

Observing Sesshomaru’s every move with intense focus, Hojo Akitoki noticed the demon’s twitching hands. Suddenly, it dawned on him—he realized where the problem lay. He had been careless. He had thought that in this era, a man having multiple wives and concubines was commonplace, but he had failed to consider that the Great Dog General was a man who sacrificed himself for love. As a demon, he had given his life for a human woman. While a human might be moved to tears by such sincere affection, from a demon's perspective, nine out of ten would likely think he had lost his mind. Furthermore, Sesshomaru had suffered a crushing defeat on the battlefield of the Panther Demon tribe precisely because he was left cleaning up the mess left behind by that love-struck father.

Hojo Akitoki quickly shifted his strategy, pretending to be curious as he bypassed his previous question. He reached out and placed his hand on the hilt of the Tessaiga.

"What?"

Inuyasha, who had been listening intently, hoping to hear some gossip about his late father, felt his eyes nearly pop out of their sockets when he saw the blade—which neither he nor Sesshomaru could move—now being grasped by Hojo Akitoki without the slightest resistance. Inuyasha felt as if he had just lost something else of great importance.

At the same time, Sesshomaru, witnessing this scene, felt his very being turn green with rage. Was it not enough that his father, the Great Dog General, had fallen for a human woman while alive? Did he have to continue favoring outsiders even after death? Was he going to hand over his own legacy to a human? Though dogs are known as man’s best friend, they were demons—demons! Did he truly think of them as mere house pets?

"This? That?"

Kagome was not a slow-witted person, and regardless of how dense one might be, the current atmosphere made it impossible not to feel the ominous and infuriating energy surging in the air. At a loss, Kagome’s mind raced. She looked at the two distraught victims, then at Hojo Akitoki, who was feigning nervousness. She was terrified that the situation, which had only just shown signs of a peaceful conclusion, would once again devolve into a savage brawl.

*Click.*

The very thing she feared most happened. In Kagome’s despairing eyes, it appeared as though Hojo Akitoki had been startled, causing him to sway while holding the Tessaiga, which was embedded in the platform. And then, the most desperate outcome occurred: the demonic sword that neither of the Great Dog General’s sons could unsheathe was pulled out by Hojo Akitoki with effortless ease.

"You’ve got to be kidding me, right? This is fake, right?"

Unable to accept such an absurd result, Kagome couldn't fathom what the sword’s former master, the Great Dog General, had been thinking. Did this mean the sword wasn't left for his two sons, but for Hojo Akitoki, who had arrived by mere coincidence? She grabbed the stunned Inuyasha, who was equally unable to process reality, and shook him violently. Her tongue nearly tripped over itself in shock.

"What is going on?"

Inuyasha, dizzy from being shaken, had no words. He stared at the blade, which remained eerily calm in Hojo Akitoki’s hand.

"Are you my brother?"

Aside from that, Inuyasha couldn't think of a more logical explanation. Otherwise, how could it be? Could the Great Dog General really have been so biased as to leave his family treasure not to his own sons, but to a total stranger?

"He is a pure human."

In truth, Sesshomaru had briefly entertained the same thought as Inuyasha’s wild speculation. He compared Hojo Akitoki to himself and was stunned to find that if this were true, it might not be entirely unacceptable. But soon, Sesshomaru used his senses to probe Hojo Akitoki repeatedly, and with deep regret, he dismissed the possibility that the man was his brother. In his perception, Hojo Akitoki, holding the Tessaiga, was undeniably a human through and through, devoid of even a shred of demonic aura.

Then!

Sesshomaru’s eyes flashed red. When you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth. His foolish father had truly treated them like house dogs kept by humans! He had left his legacy to a stranger rather than his own kin!

The more he thought, the angrier he became. With old grievances and new ones combined, Sesshomaru could no longer contain himself. He released the last of the demonic power within his body. To ensure he could definitively kill Hojo Akitoki and the others, Sesshomaru, already weakened by repeated battles, even revealed his true demonic form. Suddenly, a colossal white dog, two or three stories tall, stood upon the earth, roaring toward the heavens with fury.

"Inuyasha!"

Feeling that he had played with fire a bit too much, Hojo Akitoki saw Sesshomaru’s rage reaching such a peak that he hurriedly tossed the Tessaiga toward Inuyasha and swiftly drew his own blade, the Muramasa Sirius.

"I can't use this sword."

Seeing Sesshomaru’s state and staring at the Tessaiga that had landed before him, Inuyasha still had his reservations and dared not reach out to draw it. If he were to be struck by lightning again, he would rather fight Sesshomaru to the death with his bare claws!

"I am not your brother! Think about why your father died in the end!"

Holding his blade, Hojo Akitoki dodged a vengeful strike from Sesshomaru, feeling the tremors in the ground formed by the bones beneath his feet. He spoke rapidly, intended for both Inuyasha and Sesshomaru to hear.

"It was for love, for protection, and to fulfill his responsibilities as a man. To protect your mother and to protect you before you were even born, the Great Dog General dragged his severely wounded body to the rescue, knowing full well he might not return. And the reason you cannot draw this sword, I believe, is because you have not yet grasped the meaning of protection and love. You have not found the people or the things you are truly meant to protect! Simply wielding power recklessly is not enough—that will never make you a true man. The Great Dog General realized this before he died, which is why he set such a harsh test for you both!"

"Love and protection?"

Inuyasha muttered to himself, Hojo Akitoki’s words lighting a spark within his heart. A word of truth had awakened him from his dream. He thought of Kikyo, looked at Kagome—Kikyo’s reincarnation—standing beside him, and recalled the culprit responsible for all the misunderstandings and tragedies fifty years ago. He then looked at Hojo Akitoki, who was still maneuvering to avoid Sesshomaru.