Serpents and Dog Demons

Thanks for the review all, glad I surprised you. Long Chappie offered as a thank you. Hehehehe! However its not an original concept some other writers have written good Sesshy as Inu’s dad stories. Its fun! Ne?

Chapter 12 : Explanations

Inuyasha was traumatized, this, after the bout as a child brought all the pain that he suffered, all the abuse and all the neglect that he ever felt back in one crushing blow. Literally it seemed as if his brain was going to tear itself apart. He was alone, in need and the being that should have protected him was tormenting him again. Hurting him AGAIN!

Inuyasha's Youki went mad, the sword did not work, because this time Inuyasha wanted it, he wanted to stop thinking, to stop feeling. He wanted to tear the lying bastard to pieces. He burned with pain. No one ever cared for the Hanyou's pain, he was always their punching bag, hitting him, cutting him, crushing him, sitting him... always they hurt him. Inuyasha did not want to hurt anymore, he would tear the DaiYoukai apart and damn his own soul in the process.

He saw nothing but the bloody bastard in front of him, he prepared to attack. Something suddenly stood in his way. He was going to tear the barrier and get to his prey. Then the song filled his ears, the song..., compelling. His mother,... only his mother had ever, ... no there had been another, .. one that had never, never hurt him. Inuyasha rushed forward, his Youki trying to crush the barrier infront of him, instead of being repelled, instead of being burned, rejected by the Youki of the one in front of him, the Youki of the other softened, welcomed him, and trusted him. Inuyasha would not betray that trust.

His arms closed around the whip cord slim body, and his claws retracted. Arms closed around him, a now familiar Youki engulfed him, he was..... safe. The song soothed him, and he held tight. He was going to break – to fly apart into a million pieces, only the warm strength around him kept him in place. Strong aggressive Youki suddenly pressed against him, Inuyasha felt the pressure and he could not take it, not at this time. As fast as the Youki rose it was gone., Inuyasha took solace in unconsciousness. He did not what to think for a while.

**

When he woke, there was warmth all around him. Familiar fingers played with his ears. Inuyasha felt a smile tug at his lips, BanMidou was a fake. Behind his mask he was such a softy. “You sang for me.” Inuyasha said opening his eyes and was delighted to see the pale features of his friend flush bright red.

“Shut up!” Ban said gruffly, tugging at the ear. Inuyasha grinned in reaction, and slowly sat up. He had been sleeping with his head on Ban's lap. “I don't suppose what happened with Sesshoumaru was a Jagan?” Inuyasha asked almost beseechingly.

Ban his eyes unreadable, shook his head. He wished it had been. Hugging his knees Inuyasha buried his face in his lap. Ban sat back, stuck a piece of grass into his mouth and waited. Inuyasha needed some time on his own to process, Ban would not interfere with Inuyasha's private thoughts. The two stayed as they were, in deep thought. Inuyasha his back to Ban, stared at the forest, memories chased through his brain, the look in his eyes becoming more and more haunted.

After more then two hours of the strange but comforting silence, Inuyasha finally spoke. “I have to see him don't I? The Bastard is the only one who can explain this shit.” Ban didn't say anything he just rested a hand on the Hanyou's back, silently giving his message of support. They lapsed back into silence. It was a number of hours before Inuyasha felt ready to face the rest of the pack. Quietly both men stood and headed to the camp site.

“Inuyasha are you all right?” Shippo cried out as soon as he saw them, scampering up Inuyasha's shoulder.

“I can't believe Sesshoumaru! How could he do that to you! Do you believe his story? He must have been lying?” Kagome said in a rush. The sudden change from silence to noise was expected but not exactly welcome. Still it was nice that they cared. Kagome had prepared ninja food for him, and Inuyasha allowed them to drag him to the fire and feed him.

They spoke for a while of thing in general, finally Miroku asked Inuyasha directly. “Inuyasha do you believe Lord Sesshoumaru lied to you?”

The silence that followed the question spoke volumes. No one said anything for a very long time, finally Inuyasha said softly, “No, as soon as he said it, I knew, I fucking knew he was not lying. And somehow that made it worst.”

“So what are you going to do?” Sango said softly, “What ever you decide we will support it.”

Inuyasha looked up in surprise “Huh? You will, all of you? I mean you wont try to sit me and convince me to do what you think is the 'right ' thing to do.”

Kagome opened her mouth to say something, feeling an intense gaze on her, she quickly snapped shut her mouth and looked away from Inuyasha. Miroku chuckled dryly, “Inuyasha, you are too stubborn to do anything we wanted that a part of you did not believe is right. I doubt any of us to convince you to do something you really did not want in this matter.”

“Sides'” Shippo added with a smirk, “Even if these three try to gang up on you like they used to, BanMidou-san would spank em.” Shippo ducked as a red faced Kagome tried to hit him. Inuyasha went a little pink , but smiled at the fire.

“So what do you want to do now, Inuyasha.” Ban said softly.

“I'll go see him. Will you all come with me?” Inuyasha said he did not move the position of his head but his eyes sought out blue ones, the others agreed quickly. Good that would irritate Sesshoumaru, but when he saw Ban finally nod, relief that he did not quite understand washed though him. Then Inuyasha's smirk got a little nasty, “But seriously, you told him to wait right, BanMidou? I see no reason to rush. Lets all go to a hot spring tomorrow and go see that bloody dog the day after. I hear waiting is good for the soul.”

The group smiled, and slowly they started chuckling.

**

It was a relaxed and refreshed group that made their way to see Sesshoumaru two days later. The Demon Lord looked none the happier to have been kept waiting. Sesshoumaru glared at Ban clearly blaming him for the wait. Ban smirked back.. more then happy to irritate the DaiYoukai.

“Okay, you Bastard! We are here. Care to explain what you fucking said the other day!” Inuyasha demanded.

Sesshoumaru glared at the Hanyou, not happy with the disrespect, and definitely unhappy that he had to explain himself to a bunch of ningens. He would let it go for now. He knew that he had a lot to make up for, if Inuyasha were to ever acknowledge him. He gestured for the group to sit around the campfire. Inuyasha sat directly opposite Sesshoumaru. Ban immediately moved forward and before Kagome could sit beside Inuyasha as she did at their campfire, Ban sat next to the Hanyou. He gesture for Kagome to get back and Shippo to sit with her. Miroku suddenly understanding sat on the other side of Inuyasha and gestured for Sango to sit in a position where her weapon could be easily accessed. This was a 'friendly' meet but they best be prepared for the worst.

Once they were seated Sesshoumaru still standing, opened his hand, on it was a silver bead. He stretched his hand over the fire, the bead began to glow and grow. Once it was the size of a large melon, the DaiYoukai began the story, images formed in the glowing circuit, mirroring the DaiYoukai's words.

Sesshoumaru spoke as if he were telling a story about some one else. His tone for the most part was even and cool. “231 years ago, this Sesshoumaru was a young Youkai, barely out of his teenage years. Even so young this Sesshoumaru had already fought and won many battles. This Sesshoumaru had just won one of his greatest victories, leading my father's guards against some rouge black Inu Demons. We had been outnumbered but we still won with no casualties on our side. On the way back from the battle, we stopped at a castle of a human who had been constantly attacked by the Kuro Inus. They were ecstatic at the victory, and had a huge celebration in our name. The young Sesshoumaru, felt it was a well deserved celebration and indulged in good food and wine.” The globe showed a younger somehow less cynical Sesshoumaru getting drunk, the older version looked at himself in disgust, mingled with a bit of sadness.

“The young Sesshoumaru returned to his chambers, and the Lord followed him, outside the chamber he told the slightly drunk young Youkai to enjoy the presents arranged for him. The young Sesshoumaru was unsure of what that meant until he entered his room, and there was a beautiful woman waiting for him. She was beautiful, refined and smelled like the sweetest of flowers. After many weeks at war, the Young fool of a Lord, assumed that she was a courtesan and was more then happy to indulge. It was only in the morning when the Young Sesshoumaru understood his mistake, far from a courtesan, the young woman was an innocent, a pawn. She was obedient to her Lord father and had allowed herself to be given to this Sesshoumaru at her father's request. As planned the father stormed into the room early in the morning, accused this Sesshoumaru of having defiled his daughter and demanded that we get married to redeem her daughter's honor.” Sesshoumaru paused, his anger at the demand apparent in his voice.

“No one, blackmails or forces this Sesshoumaru's hand. I would have killed the Lord if not for the Princess's pleas. As it was I stormed out, and we left on that day. The whole incident felt wrong, my anger at the human’s insolence was great. As soon as I returned to the Western Lands, I demanded that father give me another mission. I went to the lands in the far South, and when my father sent me a missive saying that there were urgent matters regarding humans that I needed to deal with. I went back a curt message saying that the only way this Sesshoumaru needed to deal with humans, was to kill them, and father could kill humans without me. I ignored all other missives. I returned to the lands of the West 6 months later, and found my father married to the human Princess I had spent the night with. She was pregnant, I assumed obviously she had gone from my bed to my fathers'. My anger and disgust knew no bounds, especially since this Sesshoumaru had actually been considering ... well that does not matter.” Sesshoumaru sighed.

“I let the anger grow and that brought me to challenge my father rather then stand beside him when the dragon attacked. While the babe was in the Princesses belly, its true lineage was hidden even from me, but after you were born, when I first scented you, I knew, I KNEW! Izayoi who had fallen in love with my father, tried to deny it, she insisted that we were brothers, but I knew. She kept insisting, and anger like nothing else grew inside me. At that time I hated everything, I could not accept that father would lie to me, I was angry that he had died over a human and so I decided that there was no benefit in challenging Izayoi's claim. I walked away, and then because I could not have you, because I could not claim my son, a part of me began to hate. The first time we met, you were just 3 years old.” Sesshoumaru said suddenly his voice softened.

“You were playing by yourself near a pond. You were tiny but you moved with the promise of strength and grace. Then you slipped and I flashed forward and caught you before you could fall in the pond. You looked at me with golden eyes, and then you called me “big brother”. Something exploded inside me and I lashed out at you! I was young and stupid, and I lashed out because somehow I had convinced myself that in spite of father's magic, when you sniffed me as a pup you would know I was your father. But you didn't and this Sesshoumaru punished you for it.” Sesshoumaru said looking conflicted, for this first time in telling the story the DaiYoukai was showing emotions.

“I could not bear to be in your presence, I was so angry that I would have killed Izayoi. So I left. Then this Sesshoumaru had to deal with many issues that rose following Father's death, and intentionally I ignored your existence. It was 10 years before I decided to check on you. By then it was too late, your mother had been dead for years and you, because of my negligence had been alone for a long time, and you wanted nothing to do with me. All I could do, was insure that you had skills in battle, so I fought you and trained you as best I could. I claimed your life as mine, and many Youkai especially when you were younger avoided you because of that claim. I allowed my pride to stand in the way, and thus lost what I should have treasured.” Sesshoumaru looked at Inuyasha his face impassive.

“I would have tried to find a way to reinforce the spell on your maturity, but I saw you as a child. And the sight almost crushed me, it exposed all that I had lost, that we had lost and all that we would lose if I still allowed my pride to stand in my way. So this Sesshoumaru fought Naraku and maintained a perimeter of safety around your village, until you returned to your self.” Sesshoumaru said his eyes never leaving Inuyasha.

Slowly to everyone's shock, Sesshoumaru bowed just a little, “Know, you are my son Inuyasha. You were stolen from me, because in my own false pride and childish stupidity I allowed it. Know also you were stolen not because you were not loved, but because you were loved over much by all involved.” That was all the apology that Inuyasha was ever likely to get from the DaiYoukai.

Silence followed the DaiYoukai's telling, it was profound. Inuyasha almost could not stand the implications on his mother, but then she had been young as well, a victim in a world of politics. Still the story was confounding and Inuyasha did not honestly know how he felt about it.

After a long while Inuyasha finally responded, he was not sure how he felt about the whole thing and would deal with that later. “Okay, great. What ever, I know you Sesshoumaru! For you to tell me now and not allow me to find out for myself must be because of something. What do you want?”

Sesshoumaru looked at the Hanyou, funnily enough he felt a little pleased, his son did know him. “This Sesshoumaru wishes to reconcile before your maturity and I require that you acknowledge me as your alpha. Also because maturity is a dangerous time for you to be roaming around this Sesshoumaru requires that you return with me, until arrangements can be made.”

“WHAT!!! You just expect me to up and follow you because you suddenly reveal that you are my blood father?” Inuyasha exclaimed incredulous. Sesshoumaru’s arrogant face said just that. Now that the Hanyou knew his place, Sesshoumaru Lord of the West expected, no demanded compliance. Inuyasha’s eyes widened in shock. “What the hell arrangements are you talking about!!” He yelled his irritation rising.

“Arrangements for your mating of course. Now that it is know that you are my son, you will be targeted for mating by numerous Youki. I cannot allow you to make stupid decisions. You have show as poor a sense of judgement in women as your Father. As a Hanyou your emotions are in a worst state then mine. You are no doubt an Alpha, but you are a secondary Alpha – you have a need for a mate that is stronger then you. On maturity, your scent will reveal that you are in need of a stronger Alpha to mate with, and you will draw the strongest of Alpha’s to you. And they WILL want to take you. Without protection, they will succeed.” Sesshoumaru said evenly. The pack of Canines is always led by a pair of mated Alpha’s - the male and the female Alpha. It was a rare thing for an Alpha to allow another to dominate it, unfortunately Inuyasha had been dominated by the Kotodama beads.

By not killing the one who put the beads on him, the first time he had the chance, Inuyasha had placed himself in the position of a secondary Alpha. A rare leader, who could be dominated and still be strong enough to lead, fight and take command. It was a rare thing indeed, and Sesshoumaru knew that in Youkai terms, that would make his son a prime target to other Alpha males. Strength cried to strength after all.

Sesshoumaru saw the look of horror on his son’s face, and said comfortingly. “Do not fear Inuyasha, I will find a suitable mate for you. One that will make the Shiro Inus proud.”

Inuyasha’s jaw fell open and he jumped up. “You fucking bastard!! I will find my own mate! There is no way in hell I am going anywhere with you!”

“Inuyasha,” Sesshoumaru growled. “I am your father, make no mistake I am also the LORD of the West, I have acknowledged you, YOU fall under my dominion. You know this. You may not acknowledge me as your father, that is irrelevant. I am your Lord, In this you will obey me. You may be Alpha of this small pack, but I am your Alpha, and by our laws, even you know you cannot defy me.” Sesshoumaru’s Youki was crushing. The father and son glared at each other, old patterns are impossible to break immediately.

“Inuyasha!” Ban’s soft voice suddenly cut the tension between the two. “Sit down!” Ban said with a smile meeting confused gold eyes, “I want to touch your ears.”

It was so out of the blue the Hanyou blinked in confusion, unthinkingly, abruptly sat again even as he growled at Ban. “What the Fuck! BanMidou! This is hardly the time!”

Ban smiled back, one finger gently stroking the Inu ears as he stood gracefully to look Sesshoumaru who was now fuming in the eye. “You seem to be under a misimpression, Lord Stripy, Inuyasha is indeed Alpha of this pack, but you see, since he turned into a kid, I have been his Alpha. And as you just saw, that role is accepted and acknowledged by the both of us. Since as you rightly pointed out, Inuyasha has not hit maturity yet, you are addressing the wrong person in your little speech. I do NOT give you the permission to take Inuyasha anywhere he does not want to go. I DO NOT concede my role as his Alpha to you. AND I SURE AS HELL WILL NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO FORCE INUYASHA INTO MATING!!” Truthfully Ban had no idea what a Secondary alpha was, nor did he know what the maturity business actually meant, he just knew that the bloody striped cross-dresser was not going to cause Inuyasha more pain then he had already put him through.

“You will fight this Sesshoumaru for the role?” Sesshoumaru growled his Youki challenging Ban’s.

“Gladly!” Ban said raising his Youki as well. “One on one.”

The two started at each other.

---lol --- tbc

No way in hell Sesshy is winning the fight, but you can request for Sesshy losing or a draw, and also how badly the Lord Stripy gets hurt. Heheheehe!!!