The Love of Brothers

Warning, threesome alert for chapter 13. Woohoo my luck number, to all the great reviewers. You make me so happy. Anon, thanks for the encouragement. Guys 13 will be extra juicy for you, I promise!

Chapter Eleven
Naraku leaned back against the wall, a slow smile spreading across his face. The seeds of discord had been sown in the western palace. In time they would ripen and the miko would fall, and the dogs with her. He really should have taken this route sooner and his troubles would have long been over. Still, victory was in his grasp and he could be patient for just a little longer.

Kanna stood before him, her mirror glowing softly. In it's depths, the image of the mightiest demon was clear. Sesshoumaru, patrolling on silent feet through the border of his lands and Inuyasha's forest. He was so damnably perfect and Naraku hated him for it. He was a pure blood, the perfect ruler and fighter. His one mistake had cost him an arm, but the miko had returned it to him. He was a complicated opponent, much like his brother. Strange that they should share the weakness, a small human woman. No matter. Naraku would see her suffer before she died and her mates would suffer just as greatly.
"Kanna," he said softly to the gate of the void and the blank eyes lifted to him, "Send Ryomanku to Inuyasha's forest. We shall leave a gift for the miko and the lords of the west.". With that said, he rose and left her. Kanna walked on her small pale feet to see his bidding done.

Sesshoumaru had found nothing to raise his concern and made his way back to the palace. Kagome would rise in an hour and begin her training with him. He hoped that her upset from the night before was over. Had he not been patrolling he would have made his way to her room and demand she cease being angry with them. Perhaps he had been mistaken in confiding to her in the past…. He had warned her that it would not always be so. Men did not have to explain themselves to women and certainly as a demon lord this applied doubly.

Once inside of his rooms, he shrugged into his training robes and tied his hair up in a high pony tail. Satisfied that his appearance was in order, he opened the adjoining door. His golden eyes fell on the bed where Inuyasha lay in a tangled heap. Kagome was not there. A quick sniff told him she had abandoned the room only moments before.

He stalked to the dojo, the smaller katana held loosely in his grip. She was there, the doors thrown wide to let in the faint morning light and crisp scent of snow. She was dressed in dove gray training robes, like he was. Her hair caught into a tucked tail at the top of her head. She felt him approach but kept her back to him. Turning her head she peered at him over her shoulder. "Your patrol was quiet I take it." She stated.

He bowed his head in acknowledgment. She was still angry. He tossed the katana to her and she caught it easily. "That is to be your weapon while your train. You will sharpen it and care for it." He instructed. He was here to train her and marital affairs could come later.

Taking his place beside her, he drew his own training blade. "We will learn the positions first." She watched him slide gracefully into the first stance and followed suit. She was tense and her movements stiff. "That will not do Kagome." He said softly. He stepped behind her and pressed his chest to her back, his hands covering hers as he moved her arms to the correct position. "You must relax, breathe deeply and feel the sword in your hand, feel it become an extension of yourself. A part of your heart, your very soul." His breath fanned against her ear and she fought concentrate, his words shooting to her mind.

Sesshoumaru bit back the urge to make love to her on the floor. She had asked to learn and he had more discipline that this. Allowing himself one last sniff of her fragrant hair, he focused himself. He sensed Inuyasha above him in the balconies. Watching Kagome begin her lessons. She had not noticed him and trained her energies solely on this lesson. Sesshoumaru leaned close again, "Now…close your eyes."

Her eyes slid shut and her body relaxed against his as he took her through the motions. His nearness made her body burn, his wisdom made her soul long for equal status. She moved fluidly, her heart and mind centering on the ribbon of steel. Sesshoumaru stepped back, watching her continue to move. Her face was relaxed, peaceful. A slight pink glow danced along her blade and he knew her miko energies were rising.

When he was certain that she had learned the motions, he called her name. Her eyes snapped open focusing on him intently. With a gaze that direct Kami help her opponent he thought. "Now use them to defend against me Kagome." He said. Slowly he moved against her, his sword sweeping gently and she reacted. Inuyasha thought it strange to see his brother move so slowly, but then, Kagome couldn't learn if she couldn't follow him.

He leaned against the rail and propped his chin in his hand. She was a fast learner it seemed. Sesshoumaru had steadily increased his speed and called instructions to her. She had matched him so far and followed his every order. This must be the abridged version of teaching Inuyasha thought, he knew that Sess had spent decades perfecting his skill. Kagome was nowhere near their equal but she was going to be good when they were through.

Sesshoumaru swiped at her with his claws, a move that he hadn't yet taught her to counter. Inuyasha watched with interest as Kagome leapt into the air, curving her body to land behind the tall demon. "Is he testing her?" he wondered aloud. Kagome's power swirled pink around her, adding to her speed, her strength and her endurance. She had watched the two demons fight enough to pick up a few tricks, she was just glad she had managed to do it.

Sesshoumaru spun to face her, her blade leveled at him. She stood perfectly still, no fear, nothing in her eyes. Her energies snapping around her. Then she lowered the sword, and Sesshoumaru pounced on her. Kagome found herself pinned to the ground with frightening speed. She stared up into narrow gold eyes. "Very good Kagome." He growled.

She gasped as he slammed his lips to hers, ravishing her with his lips and tongue. The katana clattered to the floor at her side and she buried her hands in his cloud of hair. Inuyasha groaned and headed for the kitchens. He didn't need to see that this morning, he had things to do. He grumbled as he adjusted himself in his hakamas and dismissed the others.

Sesshoumaru felt her anger move in her, warring with her passions. Her body lifted against his, her moans sounding in his ears. Her leg slipped up to twine at the back of his knee drawing him closer and he groaned. Not here, not in the dojo. She whimpered when he hefted her over his shoulder and made his way back to his chambers. She pushed against his back to lift herself up a bit and gritted her teeth when he rubbed his hand in lazy circles over her bottom.

He heard the moan she bit back and smirked. She was upset, and in inu culture when the female was upset it was the male's duty to reassure her. He'd be sure to do that. He kicked the door closed behind him and set her on her feet. She stared up at him and he growled. He shrugged out of his haori and stood topless before her.

She let her eyes trail over the perfection before her. Why did they have to be so damn appealing? She reached out to touch him but he caught her wrist and twisted her arm behind her. Kagome yelped at the suddenness of the action. Finding herself held against his chest. She felt his rumble behind her, and kept still. He ran his nose along her shoulder, into the curve of her neck and then under her jaw. He inhaled her scent, catching arousal, uncertainty.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and nuzzled her, drawing a shaky breath from her parted lips. He slid his smooth palm into her haori, pushing it from one shoulder. It pooled at her elbow and she shivered as she felt his lips caress her flesh softly. "Do not be angry anymore." He murmured and she let her head fall back. "You can't keep things from me like that. That's not the way we do things."

He licked along her exposed neck, nipping. "The way humans do you mean." he growled softly. She nodded and he bit down lightly on her ear lobe. " I am not human." He reminded her and he shredded her clothing with his claws. Kagome stiffened as the cool air hit her heated body. "No." she agreed, becoming breathless as his hands cupped her breasts. "But you made me your mate and if you feel….". He cut her off spinning her around and walking her back to the bed.

He didn't want to think about his feelings for her at the moment. He cared, maybe even loved her, but he was a demon and that would make him weak wouldn’t it? It was fine to care for a mate, she was property after all. She fell against the silks and he leaned over her. He silenced her with hot kisses and gentle tracings of his claws over her flesh. She writhed against him. He was always so aggressive.

With a wicked smirk she shoved him from her. He stood up growling, eyes pinpricking red. His youkai wanted it's mate and now. She shushed him and climbed over to the edge of the bed. He watched her intently as she coaxed him closer. She knew that submission was what he wanted, but she didn't feel like giving up all the control this time… not yet anyway.

"You are a lord." She cooed softly to him and he waited. She stood before him now, her innocent eyes locked on his. "Is it not the way of things that I should bow before my lord and mate?" she asked. She dropped gracefully to her knees before him and he growled as she licked at him. His length hard and hot against her breasts as she flicked her tongue across his stomach.

He hissed when she finally took him into her mouth. His hands tangled in her hair as he moved her head on him a little faster. Kagome suckled him and his hips jerked in controlled thrusts against her mouth. She moaned and clutched his backside holding him closer as she devoured him. Sesshoumaru felt his body flame. His eyes slid shut, his head rolling back as he let her pleasure him. She was incredible.

Abruptly he pulled away, not wanting to spill himself just yet. She stared up at him in confusion. He smiled gently as he cupped her cheek. "Your lord is most pleased." He told her, lifting her up, "Now your mate wishes to love you.". She said nothing as he laid her back against the bed and he curled beside her. Her back was to his chest and she wondered what was going on. Then she felt his leg move between hers, spreading her as his fingers found her.

Giving him pleasure had aroused her. Her folds soaked with desire. He slipped a finger into the welcoming warmth and flicked his thumb against the hidden bundle. She arched and cried at his movements. His tongue caressed her neck, her ear, all the while his hand working it's magic on her. His other pressed against her stomach. "Please, " she whimpered, "Please come to me."

Sesshoumaru pressed his tip against her. Slowly, so slowly she thought she might die, he slid into her. When at last he had seated himself in the confines of her body, he clasped her hip in one hand and moved against her. His other found her again and stroked in time with his gentle thrusts. It was slower, sweeter joining than they had shared before and Kagome was rocked with sensation. Pinpricks of light appeared before her, and she squeezed her eyes shut as he threw her over the edge, following on her heels.

Sesshoumaru kept his hand against her, even as he pulled out. An occasional flick of his thumb prolonged her pleasure and that made him content to stay there. Her breathing slowly returned to normal and she dozed lightly against him. He closed his eyes, hugging her closer.

Over the next few weeks, Kagome's skill improved greatly. Sesshoumaru was most pleased with her grasp of fighting skills. She had tried more than once to bring Naraku into the discussions they'd had, but he had effectively squashed that. Her days were filled with training, the shrine workings and Rin. Her nights were filled with passion from the inu brothers. Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha had yet to come to her at the same time, and she wondered vaguely if they ever would. The thought frightened her as much as it aroused her.

Inuyasha patrolled with Sesshoumaru, each taking turns. So far the west was quiet, and Sesshoumaru's messengers had returned with no word on the miserable half breed Naraku. They knew, however that he would come and they would be ready when he did.

It was on one such patrol that Inuyasha wandered to the sacred tree. He rarely came here anymore, he knew Kagome didn't. Too many memories of she had lost he supposed. A familiar scent caught his attention and his eyes widened at it. "Naraku!". Inuyasha raced through the forest towards the remains of the old well. He smelled the bastard.

When he arrived however, there was no sign of Naraku. There was a well. The old well had been repaired and stood as though it had never met a tragic end. Inuyasha growled as he stalked toward it. It reeked of Naraku, and the old magic. Why would he put the well back up? What was he after? Inuyasha sniffed carefully at the well, it smelled like it always had except for the lingering stench of his enemy. This was not good. He hurried to the palace to relay the news to Sesshoumaru.

Sessh was in his library flipping through some of the older texts when his brother rushed in. He glanced up at his brother's disheveled appearance, "What is the matter Inuyasha?" he asked flatly. Inuyasha shook his head, "We got trouble." Sessh set his reading aside and met his brother's gaze head on, "Explain yourself.". Inuyasha took a deep breath, "I smelled Naraku in the village." He told him.

Sessh was on his feet in an instant, heading for the doors. "Wait, that isn't the bad part." Inuyasha called after him. Sess stopped and waited. "I tracked him but he was gone. Sess, he put the well back up. There is something different about it.". Sessh turned wide eyes to Inuyasha. "She must not know. I will go and see for myself." He said simply. Kagome would not listen to reason, he knew. She missed her family and this was her shot to get home. This had to be a trap and they had to keep her from falling into it.

Weeks of secrecy began to weigh on Inuyasha. Sesshoumaru agreed that the well was dangerous. Naraku had a plan and he suspected it was to trap Kagome inside. They had checked the well everyday, thought of sealing it themselves, but that would expend enough energy that Kagome would feel it. So they guarded it. If she found out about this one, she might sit him until he died, Inuyasha thought, or leave them. He voiced his fear to Sessh, but the elder shrugged it off, "Mates don't just leave." He had said, but Inuyasha knew that in Kagome's world….sometimes they did.

It was a cold afternoon in the shrine when Kagome met the stranger. An old man, who smiled a half toothed smile and asked for a dipper of water. "What are you doing wandering around on such a cold day?" Kagome asked kindly. The old man smiled again and drank his water, "I hear tell of a magical well in this village. I came to see it for myself, maybe it will make me young again.". Kagome's eyes widened, he didn't mean her well did he? She smiled, a soft, sad smile, "There is no magic well here. Not anymore. I fear that your journey was wasted."

The old man looked crestfallen. "But a woman just returned from this village, and she was young again." He protested. Kagome shook her head. "There is no well here that can make you young, I'm sorry.". The old man patted her hand in a comforting gesture. "Well then I wonder what the two lords of the west find so interesting in the forest." He mused innocently.

Kagome shook her head, old people could be so hard to convince sometimes. "Won't you stay in the shrine tonight?" she asked, it was getting late and she doubted he moved very fast. The old man held up his hand and smiled again, "No priestess, I have a lot of ground to cover if I am going to make it home in good time. I want to at least begin today. Had I known there was no well, I would not have come at all, but you have been most kind."

Kagome watched the old man toddle off towards the forest. She hoped he would be alright. A chill wind whipped past her and she shivered. Her chores were done and it was early enough. She had been growing increasingly homesick of late. So much had happened in her life, things a girl should have been able to share with her mother, but that was not the case for her. No, she had Sango and two men who didn't fully understand human emotions. They did try and for that she was grateful.

With a shrug and a tightening tug of her obi and a tilt of her katana, she wandered into the heart of Inuyasha's forest. She had avoided the great tree and the remains of the well of nearly a year, she didn't think her heart could take the reminder of all that she had lost…not yet. "I have to say goodbye," she whispered, "I can't go back, I have to make peace with that."

Kagome didn't see the old man change in the dimness of the woods, his bent stature straigtened, his toothy grin became fanged. He was a young demon, with a face both handsome and cruel. "Well now, the miko will find your little gift Naraku and that damn dog will suffer." he muttered and then in a swirl of wind he was gone.

She paused before the great tree, running her fingertips over the smooth area where her hanyou had lain dormant for fifty years. Much like Kikyo had done. This tree, it meant to much to her family and to her. It had brought her to where she was now, and she wondered if perhaps her mother was there on the other side of time gazing up into it's comforting branches as she was.

A sudden strum of power ran through her and her eyes widened. She had felt that before, but not for a very long time. It was like the magic of the well! That couldn't be, could it? She raced through the trees, swiping at stray branches that snagged at her long hair and slapped at her face, scratching. Her heart held the forbidden hope that she was right but her mind told her it was not possible.

She came to a skidding halt when her eyes fell on it. The reconstructed well sat in the watery light of the winter sun. Kagome stopped breathing and her world seemed to explode. "Mom! Oh mom!" she cried as she ran to the well. A hard arm caught her from behind before she could touch it, dragging her back.
She fought viciously to be freed, turning in the arms of her captor to find Inuyasha looking down at her. "The well… Inuyasha the well.." His golden eyes held no surprise, only dark guilt and sadness. Kagome sucked in her breath, her eyes brimming and spilling tears across her cheeks. She shook her head slowly at him. "You..you knew?" she demanded in a whisper.

Inuyasha's ears flattened but he said nothing, his silence damning him more than any words. What could he say? He wasn't about to lie to her, not about this. Kagome pushed away from him, shaking in her hurt and fury. "How long?" she demanded in a harsh breath. He held her gaze. Pain ripped through her and connected as they were he felt it too. In the palace, it nearly brought Sesshoumaru to his knees.