Ever Us -- Reflections

Chapter 11 Tell me about Father

After getting a relative’s permission to start courting, you have to prove your worth as a potential mate. It could have been anything, food for the table, jewels, anything.

Sesshomaru stared at the scroll.  He was conflicted.  Why couldn’t Inuyasha want gold or riches.   His mind drifted to the last time he had seen Inuyasha.

“Tell me stories of our father and those before him.”

How many times had he evaded that subject?

“Tell me tales of Father.”  Inuyasha would ask. 

“Maybe later,” Sesshomaru would say and then he would fly away. 

‘Can’t get away this time,’ Sesshomaru ran his fingers through this hair.  ‘I could start with something simple.  Something, something,…’    Sesshomaru fingered the scroll.   ‘I could show him this scroll.  It was written by our ancestors.’

So, the following day when Sesshomaru visited Inuyasha he showed Inuyasha the scroll and explained that he had asked Uncle Jaken for permission to court Inuyasha.

As soon as Inuyasha heard “Uncle Jaken” His knees buckled taking him to the ground and he started laughing.

The hanyou could not contain his mirth.   He crossed his arms over his stomach in an attempt to catch his breath, but as soon as he got his breath he’d started laughing again.   Tears ran down his face and his smile completely enveloped his face.

As Sesshomaru looked on he couldn’t help but smile.  His brother’s laughter was light and carefree and filled the air with joy.   Soon Sesshomaru knelt next to him.  He began to chuckle.

When Inuyasha heard Sesshomaru laugh he was spellbound.  The great dog demon’s laughter tripped something in his brain.  It lightened his heart, soul and mind.  It was addictive.  He wanted to hear it the rest of his life.

When they had regained some of their composure Sesshomaru explained how Jaken became his uncle.  That only served to restart the inuhanyou’s giggling and soon they were entwined patting each other’s backs and shoulders as peals of laughter burst from deep within.

There is nothing quite like laughter.  It brings people together.  It lightens their burdens.  It builds bridges.

When the laughter died down the two lay on their backs and watched the clouds.  Intermittently, Inuyasha would chuckle and point to a cloud.

“Look—it’s Uncle Jaken,” and he would recommence laughing.

Sesshomaru lay on his side with his elbow propping him up, watching his brother laugh. ‘So beautiful.’ Cautiously he reached out to touch a lock of Inuyasha’s hair.

Inuyasha turned toward him and smiled.

“Thank you for talking to Uncle Jaken on my behalf.  How is the old imp, anyway?”

Sesshomaru gazed tenderly at Inuyasha. “Well, he claims to be your compatriot, your kindred spirit.”

“Yeh?” Inuyasha watched Sesshomaru twirl his hair in his fingers with fascination.  ‘Who would have ever imagined this tender moment.’  Smiling he nodded, “I suppose we are—kindred spirits.   We are both fond of you.”   Inuyasha’s eyes softened as he focused on his brother’s lips, that looked like juicy slices of fruit.

“Inuyasha?”

“Hum?” Inuyasha was hypnotized by his brother’s lips.

“May I kiss you?”  Sesshomaru gazed at Inuyasha’s glazed expression.  It was so soft and caring, like a lover.

“Uh-huh,” Inuyasha nodded, pursed his lips and closed his eyes in anticipation.

Sesshomaru closed the gap and pressed his lips to his brothers. The taste of sweet fruit, power and electricity raced through them. 

There in the grass field, after a good belly laugh, the brothers shared their first kiss.  Later they would think of it as an electric moment, that moment when brothers fell in love.

When they had to stop to take a breath of air Inuyasha pulled back a little from his brother and lifted a hand to feel his face.

“I have always wanted to touch your face.   You are so handsome.”  Inuyasha whispered softly as his fingers moved from the demon’s jaw to his cheek.

Sesshomaru leaned into the touch and panted lightly.

“That feels so good,” his eyelids fluttered.

“Your face is so smooth,” Inuyasha cooed.  “You steal my breath.” Then he moved closer and placed small butterfly kisses along Sesshomaru’s markings.   

Sesshomaru directed Inuyasha’s kisses back to his lips.   Their lips met. They could taste each other. Sesshomaru’s hand caressed Inuyasha’s cheek. When they broke apart Sesshomaru spoke.

“Your face is smooth also.  And Inuyasha, you are beautiful.”  Sesshomaru leaned and lightly kissed Inuyasha. 

More touching and kissing followed.  But Inuyasha was not prepared to proceed further than kissing at this time, so he pushed back a little to take a deep breath.  His face was flushed and his expression soft.

Sesshomaru was charmed.

When Inuyasha regained his ability to breath, he asked, “Tell me about our Father, please, Sesshomaru.  Was he tall?  Was he nice?  Was he funny?”

Sesshomaru paused.  He was relaxed and his guard was down.  If they were to be mates he needed to be truthful…

“Inuyasha, I haven’t talked about Father with you or anyone because it hurts.  I’m saddened when I think about how much I miss him.  It’s like a huge hole in my heart.   Also I’m not proud of the last conversation we had.  I have been so foolish.”

Inuyasha watched his brother’s body language. He grabbed Sesshomaru’s hand and brought it to his heart.  Caressing the smooth back of Sesshomaru’s hand and wrist he offered strength to his brother.

“Sometimes it helps to talk.  I never had a conversation or met him until we fought together to silenced Sounga.   I can’t judge your last conversation.  Let me help you.   Tell me about Father.”

So Sesshomaru told Inuyasha tales of their Father.  Sometimes they cried together and sometimes Inuyasha cradled his big brother as he cried.  And both were healed.

And the day turned into night and the two dogs slept together under the stars, curled in each other’s arms.

The following day Sesshomaru appeared standoffish. Inuyasha stood behind him and hugged him.

“Thank you Sesshomaru.”

“I am uncertain what you are thanking me for.”

“When you shared the stories of Father you gave me a piece of your heart.  You gave me a gift of trust.  I feel so much closer to you now than ever in my life.  I can barely catch my breath when I think of what that cost you in faith.”  Inuyasha squeezed his chest into Sesshomaru’s back.  Tears welled in his eyes.

Sesshomaru had been feeling “uncovered” or naked from exposing his feelings the night before.  That morning he wasn’t sure what he felt and was tempted to run away to the castle to think about it.   It seemed that would have been a grievous error.   His mate-to-be had just soothed his soul with a hug and some kind words.  He turned around in Inuyasha’s arms.

Placing his arms on Inuyasha’s waist he gazed into his future mate’s eyes.

“I need you.  I want to be with you as soon as you allow me.   I am going back to the castle to pick up something and then I would like to give it to you tonight.  Will you welcome me into your home?”

“With open arms!”  Inuyasha smiled and reached up on tip toes to give his future mate a kiss.

The kiss secured on his lips Sesshomaru smiled and phased off to the castle.

‘I’ve got to clean that cabin!’   The hanyou dashed off.