Tender and Soft

InuYasha looked up at the sky. It was well into the night, and by the small sliver of moon showing, InuYasha would be mortal again by the next night. Sesshoumaru's scent had changed and had a strange lilt to it. It was almost as if he was going into heat. By the scent, InuYasha knew he had a few days to get Sesshoumaru into a protected place. Thought Sesshoumaru's strange actions worried him.

He looked down at his sleeping brother, laying next to him. He reached over and tenderly brushed away a few strands of silver hair that had drifted across the sleeping demon lord's face. His fever had broken earlier, though his hair was still damp in places. InuYasha had bathed and changed his brother's clothing earlier. He took care not to brush the markings, but still the gentle touch woke Sesshoumaru. His golden eyes opened and he looked up at his half brother.

"Inuyasha? How long have I been asleep?" He moved to sit up. "It's night?"

InuYasha carefully moved his hand as Sesshoumaru sat up. Then the next thing his brother did baffled him beyond reason. Sesshoumaru moved to lean against InuYasha. The speechless Hanyou had no choice but to carefully wrap his arms around him.

"You slept off and on for the past few days. You've been very sick. How do you feel"

Sesshoumaru made a face, and settled into a more comfortable position. He pulled the blankets tighter around him. His eyes closed slightly, and he sighed. His own behavior was startling him. He tried to make sure no one was around when he went into heat. He had tendancies to be like this. He didn't like to appear weak. Just as he got comfortable, a groan escaped his lips. He stood up quickly, then swayed as a sharp wave of dizzynes overtook him. InuYasha lept up and steadied his brother. Impatiently, Sesshoumaru swatted him away.

"Get Away! Can I not have a moment's privacy?" Sesshoumaru spat out coldly. His knees buckled and again InuYasha moved to steady him.

"Look, I know. Okay. I need the same, so let me help you walk okay?"

Sesshoumaru shot InuYasha an icy glare, but leaned on his brother. The whole idea of having anyone around him while he tended to the most personal things annoyed him. Then he realized he wasn't wearing his clothes. Then, just as belatedly, he noticed that he wasn't even wearing what those cursed girls put on him just the day before.

"Where are my clothes, my armour?" Sesshoumaru's voice sounded weary. He noticed that InuYasha had walked him a short distance way from where they were camped. The only thing right now he was grateful for was he had both arms. At least, now he could tend to his needs in semi-privacy.

"We took them off so if you got any sicker, they wouldn't be ruined. I knew you wouldn't want that." InuYasha let Sesshoumaru go, and watched carefully as his brother swayed, but not as dizzily as before. Remember the lesson from just moments before, Sesshoumaru turned and carefully walked away.


InuYasha was standing back in the small clearing waiting when Sesshoumaru came back. They didn't speak, but InuYasha turned.

"Get on my back and I'll carry you back."

Sesshoumaru allowed InuYasha to carry him on his back. It wasn't as bad as he thought it could be. He lightly dozed as InuYasha made the slow walk to camp. He woke up when InuYasha gently lowered to the ground. Sesshoumaru laid back on the blankets and sighed. For as little as he walked, he was exausted. And now he was hungery. He dozed as he listened to InuYasha tend to the fire, then soon a mug of a strange, but delicious smelling liquid was pushed against his lips. He took a tenative sip.

"What is this?" Sesshoumaru carefully drank the liquid. He knew it was human food, but it was better than nothing.

"Onion soup. It's the easiest thing I have for you. I don't think I could easily whip you up some soup of what you normally eat, nor do I think you could stomach it."

Sesshoumaru sighed, slowly drinking the soup. It wasn't too bad, but some of the things he saw mortals consume was absolutely foul. How could they eat things like they did? The foods he smelled that girl, Kagome fix smelled halfway decent. He silently vowed to atleast try Rin's foods. It might draw the girl closer to him.

He'd been so lost in thought, that a sudden loud noise nearly made him drop the mug. He looked up at InuYasha, who was holding a strange looking object. He brought it to the older demon and held it to his lips.

"You need fluids, and don't argue with me." One look at InuYasha's face, and Sesshoumaru obediantly drank. "This is a soda from Kagome's time. It's supposed to settle your stomach. It's all you could keep down yesterday."

The sun was just beginning to rise above the horizon. InuYasha knew he had little time, and at the same time, he couldnt leave Sesshoumaru defenseless.

"Look, it's time you knew something about me. Seeing as I now know a secret you keep, you need to know mine."

"What, that you turn mortal on the night of the new moon. InuYasha, I've known for years. There's a cave not too far from here. I won't kill you when night falls. I made that promise to father. The night of the new moon, I stand near, to protect you. The cave will keep both of us safe, and insure that the only one I'll desire is you."

InuYasha looked away, a heavy blush staining his cheeks. If only Sesshoumaru knew the extent of his secrets, his life would surely be over. Then again, the last thing Sesshoumaru said made his breath catch in his chest. Could it be that while they are stuck together, Sesshoumaru would indeed need a mate?

"Sesshoumaru? What do you mean?" InuYasha gasped in shock as Sesshoumaru's face came closer, then without him meaning to, leaned in. Sesshoumaru felt his lips meet his younger brother's in a tenative kiss. He gently slid his tounge along InuYasha's lips, seeking entrance. InuYasha's mouth opened slightly, allowing the intrusion. Then suddenly Sesshoumaru pulled back. His younger brother turned away, tears in his eyes. His whole body had reacted to the lightening quick touch.

"I think we've been keeping something away from each other for way too long, InuYasha. I am tired, and we have a long journey ahead of us. Rest now, for when night falls, I plan to make sure you know how I feel."

Sesshoumaru laid back down, then smiled as he felt InuYasha snuggle against him. They only had scant hours to rest. Soon the sun would be on them, shoving sleep to the last corners of thier minds. Their journy wouldn't be long, but the next few days would be.

"Sleep now, dear brother. Soon you will fully understand how I know your secret."