Chapter Text
The battlefield was eerily quiet, the echoes of the violent struggle still resonating in the air. Qianshou Jinshi stood over the dissipating remains of the demon that had brought so much devastation. His chest heaved with each breath, not from exhaustion, but from the overwhelming tide of emotions threatening to break through his carefully maintained stoicism. The InuYokai’s hand, still gripping his bloodied blade, trembled as he looked down at the lifeless form of his younger brother, the one who had given his life to protect the young hanyou, Inuyasha.
The battle had been fierce, the demon—a monstrous creature driven by primal rage—had targeted Inuyasha with a ferocity that only a true predator could muster. Jinshi’s brother, barely more than a child himself, had intervened without hesitation, using his body as a shield against the demon’s deadly attack. By the time Qianshou Jinshi had managed to slay the beast, it was too late. His brother was gone.
The young hanyou, Inuyasha, stood a few paces away, his face pale and eyes wide with shock and sorrow. He wasn't too young to fully comprehend the weight of what had happened, he understood enough to feel the heavy burden of guilt. He stared at Jinshi, his eyes pleading for forgiveness, for understanding.
Qianshou Jinshi couldn’t bring himself to look at the boy. His heart was a maelstrom of grief and anger, the loss of his brother cutting deeper than any wound he had ever sustained in battle. He had failed. He had failed to protect his brother, failed to fulfill the duty that had been entrusted to him by their clan, by their blood.
His brother’s body lay crumpled on the ground, his eyes closed as if he were merely sleeping. The sight of him, so small and vulnerable, was too much to bear. Jinshi sheathed his sword, his movements slow and deliberate, as he forced himself to face the reality of what had happened.
He knelt beside his brother, his hand trembling as he gently brushed the boy’s hair away from his face. The warmth had already left his body, replaced by the cold stillness of death. Jinshi’s breath hitched in his throat, the tears that he had been holding back threatening to spill over.
“You shouldn’t have had to do this,” Jinshi whispered, his voice thick with grief. “You were too young... too young to be a warrior, too young to die.”
But his brother had always been brave, always eager to prove himself. He had idolized Jinshi, had wanted to be just like him—a warrior of the InuYokai clan, strong and fearless. And in the end, he had lived up to that ideal, sacrificing himself to protect another.
Inuyasha took a hesitant step forward, his voice small and shaky. “I... I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for this to happen. If I hadn't gotten in the way—”
Jinshi silenced him with a sharp look. “This is not your fault,” he said, his voice cold and unyielding. “My brother made his choice. He chose to protect you, and that is something you must honor, not question.”
Inuyasha nodded, his eyes glistening with unshed tears and puppy ears wilted. He wanted to say more, to offer some form of comfort, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, he stood in silence, watching as Jinshi gathered his brother’s body into his arms.
Jinshi cradled his brother against his chest, holding him as if he could somehow shield him from the reality of his death. His eyes, once so fierce and determined, were now filled with a profound sadness that seemed to age him in an instant. He stood slowly, his movements heavy with the weight of his grief.
“I must bury him,” Jinshi said quietly, more to himself than to Inuyasha. “He deserves a proper burial... a place where he can rest in peace.”
Inuyasha watched as Jinshi began to walk away, his brother’s body held close. The young hanyou wanted to follow, to offer his help, but something in Jinshi’s demeanor stopped him. This was a moment of private sorrow, a duty that Jinshi needed to fulfill on his own.
As Jinshi disappeared into the forest, Inuyasha was left standing alone on the battlefield, the silence around him deafening. He clenched his fists, his heart heavy with the realization that he had been the cause of another’s death—a death that he could never atone for.
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The forest was dense and silent as Qianshou Jinshi carried his brother’s body through the shadows. The sun had begun its descent, casting long, dark streaks across the ground, as if the world itself was mourning the loss of his brother. Jinshi’s steps were slow, deliberate, each one a painful reminder of the duty he had yet to fulfill.
His thoughts were a storm of emotions—grief, anger, guilt—all warring within him as he tried to make sense of what had happened. His brother, so young and full of life, had been taken from him in an instant. The weight of that loss was almost too much to bear, and yet he bore it, because he had to. Because it was his responsibility.
He moved with purpose, driven by the need to find a suitable resting place for his brother. As the eldest, it was his duty to ensure that his brother was given the proper rites, that his soul would find peace in the afterlife. It was the least he could do, after failing to protect him in life.
The forest began to thin as Jinshi reached the base of a hill, the trees giving way to rocky terrain. He paused for a moment, taking in the sight of the land before him—a place of quiet solitude, far from the chaos and bloodshed of the battlefield. It was here that he would lay his brother to rest.
With great care, Jinshi began to dig a grave, his hands working steadily through the hard earth. Each movement was methodical, a ritual of sorts, as he prepared the ground for his brother’s final resting place. The work was physically demanding, but Jinshi welcomed the exertion. It gave him something to focus on, something to distract him from the ache in his heart.
Once the grave was deep enough, Jinshi carefully laid his brother’s body within, arranging the cloth that covered him with the same care that he had shown in life. He stepped back, his eyes fixed on his brother’s face, now peaceful in death. The tears that he had held back for so long finally began to fall, streaking down his cheeks as he whispered a final goodbye.
“You were always so brave,” Jinshi murmured, his voice trembling with emotion. “Braver than I ever was. You gave your life to protect someone else... and I couldn’t save you.”
His fists clenched at his sides, the anger and frustration bubbling to the surface. He wanted to scream, to lash out at the unfairness of it all, but he knew that it would change nothing. His brother was gone, and no amount of rage or sorrow could bring him back.
Jinshi reached into his robes and pulled out a small, intricately carved amulet—a talisman of protection that his brother had always worn. It was a family heirloom, passed down through generations, and it was said to ward off evil spirits. Jinshi had given it to his brother on the day he had left to join Jinshi on his journey, as a symbol of his love and protection.
He placed the amulet on his brother’s chest, tucking it beneath the folds of the cloth. “May this protect you in the afterlife,” he said softly, his voice barely audible over the rustling of the wind. “And may you find peace, wherever you are.”
With a final, lingering look, Jinshi began to cover the grave with earth, each handful of dirt feeling like another weight being added to his heart. The task was slow and grueling, but he did not stop until the grave was filled, and a small mound of earth marked the spot where his brother now rested.
Jinshi knelt beside the grave, his hand resting on the cool earth. “I will make sure your sacrifice was not in vain,” he vowed, his voice strong despite the tears that continued to fall. “I will protect Inuyasha, just as you did. I will honor your memory.”
As the last light of day faded into darkness and the rain started to sprinkle, Jinshi stood and turned away, leaving his brother to rest in peace. The world around him was quiet, save for the soft patter of the wet droplets hitting the earth, a gentle reminder that life went on, even in the face of death.
But for Jinshi, life would never be the same.
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