SURVIVE

Hey glad everyone is enjoying this. 9 days to go – official word count as of this chapter 38037 – arrgghhh . Dont worry will make it. :D

This is dedicated to Caitriona who wanted a more Inu perspective. Thanks for you support ad insights.

Chapter 14 : Brother?

"Brave and beautiful, Inuyasha." Sesshoumaru's eyes never left the Hanyou's as he repeated the name. Smug was probably the best word to describe his feelings, as the youth flushed, paled and flushed again. A permanent crack in Inuyasha's barrier to his emotions appeared and a tiny light - that looked like wonder – began to shine in the golden eyes. Sesshoumaru wanted to see those eyes blaze with life, to see the brightness he had seen in Pup and Yasha reflected in the depths of the Hanyou. He suspected strongly, that the Hanyou's light when allowed to shine forth would rival the light of Lady Kaede and other spiritual beings. Why Sesshoumaru suspected this- was uncertain – it was only certain that Sesshoumaru planned to make sure the day would come when all would see the brightness within the youth's soul.

And he Lord Sesshoumaru would bring it out. Yes, the Demon Lord was smug. Jinenji could heal his Hanyou's body but it was he, who was going to heal everything else. Lord Sesshoumaru, called the Ice Prince, called the Killing Perfection, was for the first time a healer. Most interesting indeed.

The timid knock he had been expecting sounded on the door. Sesshoumaru did not resent the intrusion, it was welcome. His Hanyou was definitely overwhelmed, the presence of the healer would be a good buffer. Jinenji had told Lord Sesshoumaru of the human version's whisper, and Inuyasha definitely needed to see that the one who had saved him was safe and respected.

"The healer is here to see to your wounds, Inuyasha. I will be in attendance." Sesshoumaru whispered with a last caress, before he glided towards the door.

OOO

Those golden eyes no longer holding him captive, Inuyasha breathed out a sigh of relief. He felt as if his emotions had been dragged out, spun a hundred eights degrees, tossed up and down a couple of times, and than just before they hit the floor with a resounding splat, he had be caught, held and somehow made lighter. His head ached, the Lord Sesshoumaru, his Lord, his owner – No, not his owner – his leader. His pack leader. Every word Lord Sesshoumaru said had slammed into him, every word was etched into his mind. He was not owned, not a slave, he could not quite believe it, he did not dare. What if it was a trick, what if they tore it away from him later. That had been his first thoughts when Sesshoumaru had said those words.

Then Sesshoumaru had made him say his name, had forced him to claim, what had always been his. How could he have not realized that, his name was his. It was not a label – it was a name- and somehow he began to believe. Just a little he began to believe. Lord Sesshoumaru had said his name, not once but three times. Each time the Demon Lord had said his name, his voice had been full of warmth, and each time Lord Sesshoumaru said his name a soothing balm seemed to wash through him. The name soothed the many cuts, wounds, scars and aberrations in his mind and his heart, flowing into the sanctuary bringing added warmth to those within.

Still it was too much to absorb at once, and when Lord Sesshoumaru had moved away, he felt able to breathe a little better. He was tired, exhausted physically, emotionally totally wrung out, but he did not want to sleep. His mind was awake and jumping. He had been sleeping for too long as it was. His ears flicked at the odd clomping steps, and his eyes widened as he looked towards the door and saw the half breed healer walking towards him. The healer had been real and not an illusion created by his starving mind.

The healer approached him, and Lord Sesshoumaru went to sit on the sofa, and finally sip at his patiently waiting glass of rice wine. The wait had allowed the wine to mature nicely, and Sesshoumaru sat back to enjoy the drink and the show.

Inuyasha watched silent and impassive as the healer bustled around him. He responded immediately to all the healers requests opening his mouth, lifting his limbs and flexing various muscles. He did not ask questions, in fact he said nothing at all though the check, his face gave nothing away of his emotions. He seemed serene and content. He did not seem to stare, kept his eyes neutral, but his ears twitched and scanned, monitoring everything.

Finally the Horse Hanyou had completed his check, and was packing his equipment, commenting on how happy he was that his fellow Hanyou was safe and well cared for. Finally, the quiet yet rough voice said softly, "Thank you, Mo.. I.. I am sorry that I gave you so much trouble, I will repay you in any way I can."

"Repay me by getting better That is enough. You should never have been allowed to get so sick in the Palace in the first place." Jinenji said with a sad shake of his head.

Inuyasha simply shrugged, those kinds of things he did not waste time worrying about. He stood up, a little shakily, he needed to stand for this. "Healer?" He said his voice getting quieter. Sesshoumaru's ears picked up, he pretended to be focusing on something out of the window, but all his attention had swiveled to the conversation.

"Little brother, You may call me Jeninji, please, and ask me anything." Jinenji said when the youth was silent.

"Are... are you a slave?" The question was whispered and urgent. Inuyasha did not know why but he simply had to ask the question. The Demon Lord had said that they did not keep slaves, but this was a fellow Hanyou, he had to ask.

Jinenji reached out and placed a warm hand on Inuyasha's shoulder, "Little brother, there are some Demons from provincial areas that may keep slaves, but in the Western Demon Lands, in the capital, indeed in all the Lands directly under the rule of the Demon King, there are no slaves. All, demons, seraphim, humans and yes, Hanyou are free. There are not many of us, but we are all free. And so are you."

The Gentle brown eyes, met Inuyasha's with open honesty and gentle understanding. Inuyasha searched those eyes, and another shackle crumbled to dust, he nodded. "My name is Inuyasha." He said his eyes darting to the Demon Lord who was had stopped pretending that he wasn't listening. Sesshoumaru impeccable in expression was watching the two, his cool golden eyes kept being drawn to the hand resting on his Hanyou's shoulder.

Inuyasha looked back at Jinenji, who snorted in pleasure.

"Inuyasha, huh? The name suits you. But Inuyasha, if you do not mind however,.." Jinenji said growing a little red, he inhaled deeply and gathered his courage, "If you don't mind however" he repeated, "except for the healers,I have had no real family since my mother died. I know that you are a Shiro Inu Hanyou, and I am only a Horse Hanyou, so please do not be insulted. But maybe you would consider... I mean I would be really honored, if you consider me your family. I really, really like calling you, little brother." Jinenji said the last words in a rush, he felt unaccountably close to the youth he had saved. The youth who was now looking unblinking and unemotionally at him, for a long time.

Jinenji's shoulders dropped and he released Inuyasha's shoulders. "Its okay, I will just call you In..."

"Hush." Inuyasha said cutting the Horse Hanyou's words off. His face still did not give any of his emotions away, but there was an almost glowing brightness in golden eyes. "It is I who would be honored. That you would consider a mon..." A low growl of annoyance from the Demon Lord had Inuyasha biting back the word he had used as a force of habit. "That you would consider one such as me as your brother, is more that I could hope for." Inuyasha finished instead. He barely had time to brace himself.

"Little Brother!" The horse Hanyou yelled, bursting into tears he glopped the shocked Inuyasha, picking him up off his feet and sobbing into Inuyasha's chest. "I am so happy Little Brother."

"Um ok, great.. stop crying, put me down and stop crying please!" Inuyasha said his calm exterior finally breaking, as embarrassment and a slight feeling of panic set in, when the Horse did neither and cried even harder.

Sesshoumaru was initially amused, but his amusement died abruptly when Jinenji picked up Inuyasha and began rubbing his face into Inuyasha's chest. Brother or not, none were allowed that level of privilege.

One second Inuyasha was getting seriously flustered, being hugged to death by the Horse Hanyou, and the next his torso was wrapped completely in the fur of the Demon Lord, and he was being held a foot off the ground. The Demon Lord stood between him and the healer.

Sesshoumaru's eyes were narrowed and ice hard as he glared at Jinenji, "As Lord of the West, I endorse your claim f brother hood with the Shiro Inu Hanyou," Sesshoumaru said, he ignored Jeninji's gasp of pleasure and continued, "However, as a dominant Shiro Inu Youkai, I warn you, do not over step in your physical handling of MY Beta." Sesshoumaru growled out challengingly, gentle healer or not, Sesshoumaru's instincts would in no way be denied. Jinenji's eyes widened and he bowed submissively. There were many layers of pack law, some obvious and some subtle. Sesshoumaru was warning him clearly that as Lord he accepted the Hanyou as a respected pack member, but on a personal level he was claiming the young one as his. Demons had very little patience for others interfering while they were courting, and were quick to challenge any action that they deemed as a potential barrier to their success.

The horse Hanyou's quick submission placated Sesshoumaru, He turned and brought the still Hanyou, wrapped securely in his tail, down in front of him. "And you!" Sesshoumaru said when they were nose to nose, "Did I not warn you that I would be irritated if you even thought of yourself in such terms?"

Inuyasha had been startled by the Demon Lord's actions, and did not comprehend the import of the Lord's words to the healer. The fur wrapped around his chest, holding him off the ground; should have felt restrictive, but it did not. Instead being held in the fur, felt warm, comfortable and little bit ticklish. Then Sesshoumaru faced him, and there was a sense of inevitability when he realized that the Lord had caught his disobedience. He was no longer a slave, but he had disappointed his Lord, and that there would be consequences was only natural.

"Yes my Lord, punish me as you see fit." Inuyasha said without inflection, well versed in how to respond to authority for his crimes.

"Punish you? Hmn... This is not punishment – this is simple logic. It is you who irritated me, so take responsibly, it is you who must sooth me."

Inuyasha's brows drew together – he did not understand. Before he could say anything Sesshoumaru caught his chin, tilted his face, and claimed his lips in a kiss. Inuyasha should have been horrified, been swept away into dark memories. He was not. In truth the Demon Lord's lips on his, reminded him of nothing from his past. It was new, and unprecedented.

The lips were insistent, dominating, and demanding, he felt his lips part in response. The Demon Lord's tongue swept into his mouth, tasting him, claiming him. Inuyasha's whole being shuddered in response. The lips took him, took his warmth, his breath – but at the same time – they gave. They gave him heat, gave him sensations and filled him with something he could not name, he wanted it – but it was too much. He could not hold back a tiny whimper.

Immediately, the kiss was broken, and Sesshoumaru drew away. Inuyasha looked up worried that he had made the matters worst, he should have just been silent. But Sesshoumaru's eyes were warm, and he leaned forward again and licked Inuyasha's cheek and nose comfortingly. "You did an amazing job of soothing me Inuyasha. Hmn.. now I have to consider a suitable reward." Sesshoumaru said satisfaction dripping from his voice. Inuyasha was throughly confused, his world thrown off kilter as his Lord once again played the maid, and tucked his Hanyou into the bed. "Rest, tomorrow you will be allowed to leave the bed, and meet the court. For now rest." Sesshoumaru leaned forward and pressed a possessive kiss to Inuyasha's forehead.

Utterly discombobulated, Inuyasha obeyed, closed his eyes, and gave in to sleep.

Jinenji, smiled. He had been a little worried by the Lord's claim, but as he watched the two together, he realized that Lord Sesshoumaru while he would claim his younger brother utterly, he would do so gently. Responding to the youth's needs, as he fanned the flames of desire. Inuyasha would be safe in his Lord's care.

Sesshoumaru straightened, and nodded. The two walked out to the corridor. Jinenji gave the Lord a quick summary of the youth's state of health. Than he hesitated. Sesshoumaru saw the hesitation and raised a royal brow.

"Ummm.. Lord Sesshoumaru I am not sure if you just want my speculation, mayhap its best if.."

"You will speak now Jinenji. There is nothing about Inuyasha that I will allow hidden from me." Sesshoumaru said.

Jinenji sighed, he had been afraid of that, "My Lord, according to the reports he hid the fact that he was a Hanyou until he was 9 years old. For one with his levels of Youki, that should have been impossible. And if he had hid his Youki, what drew the attention of the Temple of Light to him? From Myouga's latest report, the Priestess of the Temple literally picked him out of a thick crowd of people. What was it that drew the temple's attention to him? I have treated him as a human and as a Hanyou, it should not have happened, my Lord. As a human, none should have been able to guess he was a Hanyou.

"And there is more. Your Lord Sister has sent the reports from the families of Shiro Inus none of the males of an age to be this one's father was anywhere near the City of the West at he time my little brother was conceived. All have denied copulating with a human female in that period. I thought we had his age wrong but his physical age is definitely accurate. I cannot explain it." Jinenji said shaking his head.

"And I doubt, that Inuyasha himself could explain it. This just gets more and more interesting." Sesshoumaru's tone was contemplative as he walked with the healer to dinner.

-tbc-

Hahaha now many though I meant Sesshy was his brother? Sorry this is really not Inucest – they are not closely related at all. Hmmm so what is it about InuYasha? I had to have Jinenji cry again – just could not resist. Please review.