A Conflict of Interest

Inuyasha crashed through the undergrowth, drawing Tetsusaiga just before his bare feet alighted on the thick ground covering. The owner to the scent that had been following him for the last few miles was revealed in the small clearing. The female youkai watched him with hard eyes, the left the bluish-purple of an iris and the right a shocking forest-blue.



She was crouched back on her right foot, her left extended fully in front, a naginata (glaive) angled over the head and in front of the body. The position was difficult to hold for long periods, but very effective both defensively and offensively, the hanyou knew. Blocking and parrying could be accomplished in a flash, as long as one didn’t cramp holding it.



“Inuyasha-sama.” The stranger murmured, voice carefully neutral. Inuyasha winced inwardly, never having gotten used to being referred to with that particular honorific.



She looked familiar and it took a breath for the hanyou to remember. The thick, layered strands were pure white along the roots and frosted copper, black, and brown on the last two inches and barely brushed her shoulders. Her bangs were uneven spikes that refused to lie over the steel plated forehead protector.



“Muhyou-san.” Inuyasha replied, recalling her bizarre hair from the last scroll. She barely looked anything like the demure image. She was a head shorter than he, an uwagi (kimono like jacket) barely brushing her bare thighs and covering the haramaki (chest armour with a divided skirt), shin guards and a sugegasa (sedge-woven bamboo conical hat) tied so it rested against her back. Gauntlets were revealed beneath the sleeves and her feet were wrapped with dark bandages along the arch and heel. Anger still buzzed in his blood from the fight with Sesshomaru, bringing his patience to an all-time low. “I would say it’s good to see you, but I’d be lying. Why the fuck were you following me?”



“I’m honored that Inuyasha-sama knows me.” Muhyou replied slowly, not budging an inch from her crouch, the blade tip not wavering from the finger length it was held from the ground because of the wicked spiked ball ishizuki (metal end-cap, counterweight). “You’ve entered the area I patrol, Inuyasha-sama. I must challenge you. Regulations and all, I’m sure you understand.”



The hanyou flushed slightly, baring his teeth to show his irritation. He shifted from the offensive stance, allowing Tetsusaiga to fall to his side so he was no longer a threat. He did know the regulations. He’s the one who helped Sesshomaru write them up, damn it. He watched her rise slowly, mimicking his position, holding the naginata horizontal in both hands in front of her body.



I didn’t know that she was a part of the pack. Fuck, I’ve been slipping lately. I should know everyone by smell, if not by sight. Inuyasha thought sourly, sheathing Tetsusaiga.



“Carry on. You’ve identified me so continue with your rounds. I’m leaving the area anyway.” The hanyou informed the sentry tiredly. He still had a lot of ground to cover yet. He turned and started to trot towards the border.



The female quirked a brow; her area of responsibility ran along the eastern border. It was surprising to see the hanyou without the lord, also. There were tales running through the ranks of them being inseparable. If one was giving orders, than the other was close by with some excuse. In battle they fought back to back. They never strayed from the lands without the other.



“Should I report this to Sesshomaru-sama.” Muhyou said loudly, acting as if she were musing. The hanyou halted, shoulders twitching. “I mean…it’s in the regs that I should report the movements of all youkai…”



“I’m a hanyou, so you don’t need to.” Inuyasha turned his head to throw an angry look at the youkai bitch. She twisted her long, full lips into a feral grin.



“You’re correct! Thank you for clearing that up. Why would the right hand of Sesshomaru-sama NEED to keep his movements secret in any case? It’s not as if Inuyasha-sama were RUNNING AWAY.”



Impatience made his shoulders tense and his hackles rise. Damn if she weren’t annoying as hell! His brother didn’t dance around words and prod; he got to the damn point.



No wonder I don’t care for females anymore. Inuyasha groused, pinching the bridge of his nose. Sneaky fucken’ animals. If it wasn’t for their childbearing abilities, I could care less about the whole fucken’ lot of them.



“Look. Do whatever the regs say. Just stop playing around whatever you’re trying to fucken’ say.” Inuyasha turned and faced the female, expression set in a scowl.



“I’ll take that as ‘permission to speak freely granted.’” She said with a nod. She placed the naginata in the holder that kept it across her back, twelve inch, curved blade peeking over her shoulder. “A request for a youkai willing to bear and give up her child is spread throughout the Western lands. That seems pretty pointless now that you’re slipping through the cracks of your own lands. The brings to the conclusion that something happened between the two of you…a disagreement strong enough to drive away a hanyou that’s so enamored with his partner, he can’t bother to remember the scents of those who work for him. Don’t look so surprised. You called me by my personal name instead of rank. I take it you’ve seen the portrait I submitted to bear Sesshomaru’s pups.”



“Why would you be willing to give up any pups to begin with?” Inuyasha asked, trying to change the subject. Anything other than his love life was better. “I thought all mothers were pretty protective of their own.”



“I wouldn’t just ‘give them up’. I’d be receiving something in compensation. You’d know what it is if you’d looked into the profile.” Muhyou replied bluntly, combing her fingers through her short, multi-hued hair in a nervous gesture. Her instincts were clamoring that she wouldn’t like what the hanyou was doing as far from the gosho that he was.



“Why don’t you just tell me what’s on your profile?”



“The females on both sides of my family have a tendency to birth to actual litters. Ranging from five to ten. Keeping that in mind, that means we have to remain in our youkai form through most of the pregnancy to sustain all puppies. If I were to birth such a litter, I’d want to keep at least one.” The sentry admitted in a matter of fact manner. “Sesshomaru-sama would also bring a certain amount of protection for that child I choose….”



Inuyasha quirked a brow when she faded off. Why would her child need protection? It would still be a full youkai. No different from most of the others residing in the realm.



“I’m an inu-okami mix. My mom was only able to save me from the litter when the two packs found out about my father’s and her…indiscretion.” She supplied a shrug, bi-colored eyes not meeting the gold ones. It explained the strange mix in her features and scent. Inuyasha felt an annoying tug of empathy. Half-breeds of any kind weren’t always accepted. Some were lucky and others weren’t. Inu and Okami packs rarely found middle ground and were always rivaling one another. “My pup would be spared most of the crap I had to grow up with if Sesshomaru-sama sired it. Now that I’ve shared my tale of woe, I think I’m owed an explanation before Sesshomaru-sama kills me for reporting your departure.”



Inuyasha’s scowl deepened and he tucked his arms in the hitoe’s sleeves. He didn’t and did want to talk about it with someone. There was a better chance of the female sympathizing with his reasons then a male. “I want pups and Sesshomaru doesn’t.”



The sentry nodded, as if she had already anticipated this. Feeling encouraged, the hanyou sighed softly and continued.



“He doesn’t want to breed with a female and forbids me to while I’m with him. He’s just jerken’ me around right now, saying he will but finding excuses not to. I can’t fucken’ stand it. I can’t deny my instincts forever.” Inuyasha dragged a hand through his milky hair, fisting and pulling at the tresses halfway through. He couldn’t stay with his brother like this. He was unhappy and making his lover unhappy in the process. It was asking too much to have the hanyou deny both natures that warred within him, both demanding offspring. Love could only sustain him for so long.



“So, you’re what?”



“I’m going to find a mate. One that I can produce pups with. I’ll be damned if Sesshomaru thinks he can stop me.” Inuyasha growled softly, jerking his hand from his hair roughly.



“Sesshomaru-sama won’t stand for that, you must know that.” Muhyou said slowly, worry creasing her face. It would, in fact, bring forth a wrath she knew that many wouldn’t survive, let alone whatever mate Inuyasha managed to procure. It made her nervous. When the hanyou was at the youkai’s side, he was far more predictable and stable. When the youkai lord found out he was ditched for a woman… “Whoever you chose wouldn’t live to give birth.”



She could smell the fury the hanyou exuded, giving testament to how Inuyasha would react to anyone threatening the female he selected. The youkai female ignored the urge to pull the naginata, not wanting to provoke the hanyou further. The younger brother had an impressive battle record. One didn’t engage with him on a whim.



“Let him TRY.” He hissed, gold eyes gaining an amber taint as his youkai powers threatened to overflow. She gave a careful bow to appease and show her respect, eyes never leaving the hanyou.



“Have you tried talking it out with him? Finding out why he doesn’t want to mount a female? I mean…it can’t be to piss you off. Why would he build something so intricate and time consuming with you, just to drive you off over pups?” She attempted to reason, struggling not to hold up her hands in a placating gesture. The sentry had a feeling the hanyou would relieve her of them if she did.



“I don’t fucken’ care anymore. All I did was ever worry about what the hell he thought or if he was working too hard or whatever. Why the fuck do I have to be the one who always bends? Compromise works both fucken’ ways and he hasn’t bowed to my whims in a long fucken’ time.”



That wasn’t necessarily true, but it might as well have been. Sesshomaru listened seriously to anything related to their empire when the hanyou spoke. Anything with their personal lives he disregarded and stubbornly held ground.



I’m gonna die over a damn lover’s spat. Muhyou thought miserably. Sesshomaru-sama will know I intercepted him, so I can’t pretend I never saw him. Seven hells learn mercy; I don’t want to have to try to drag Inuyasha-sama back, either. What if I lose my life just because I injured the damn hanyou? Damn it all to the furthest bowels of hell!



Inuyasha ended the conversation with a curt nod, trying to put to rest the unease the bitch youkai’s words created. He couldn’t sense his brother on his trail as of yet, but he knew that it wouldn’t last forever. With Sesshomaru on his scent, it’d be hell to lose the persistent youkai. Better to cover as much distance as possible and choose the venue that he and his brother would clash.



There would be a fight, no mistaking that. Yet, for once, Inuyasha wasn’t so sure he would fail in defeating the old youkai.



“Just remember something, Inuyasha-sama.”



He paused at the iron tone the youkai female used. He angled his ears back towards her, giving her proof that she had his attention.



“You’re not just playing with your life here. Your decisions impact a lot of youkai and humans that’ll be between you two. You’ll throw this empire into turmoil in the process. You’ve got a reputation for having a relatively compassionate and fair manner. You’re Sesshomaru-sama’s counterbalance. Life isn’t going to improve for anyone when you leave and yours will just get even rougher.”



Inuyasha sighed, scratching the back of his neck in mild agitation. He’d be damned if he didn’t understand what she was talking about. It was a bleak picture she presented and one that he couldn’t escape easily. He was not going to crawl back to the damn youkai, though.



“You do know if you’d been chosen to bear the pups…it would’ve been a nasty conception. I would have participated.” The hanyou pointed out, stalling for a moment as his mind raced.



“Sesshomaru-sama’s tastes are not so eccentric in the youkai world. I knew what I was getting myself into. I was concerned I would be passed over because of my mixed heritage. You and I aren’t so different in a way. ” Muhyou answered honestly, hoping against hope.



There was a thoughtful silence and the youkai bitch wished she could see the hanyou's face. His ears twitched restlessly from whatever thoughts rushed between them. The heartbeats added up and it became increasingly difficult for the female to contain her fidgets. She nearly jumped out of her skin when Inuyasha spoke once more.



“When you report to Sesshomaru, tell him this…”



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I hate to disappoint everyone who's rooting for a MPreg...but it won't be happening. It's not like I haven't tried! I just can't see a feasible way to make a male pregnant. I thought about Tensaiga's ability of bringing someone back to life and maybe having it able to CREATE life...but Inuyasha's body still isn't equipped to sustain a living, growing being within him. So, it's at the fault of the author's imagination that there is no MPreg.



BUT! I will put other worries at ease. Muhyou (means rime, hoarfrost, or silver frost) will just be a breeder.



I'm surprised I got as many reviews as I did! I won't be able to address everyone...but no, I haven't read Lian Hearn. If you are recommending it, I will look into her books.



His mother won't be pleased with their choice of a surrogate mother, I will admit that. Silly bitch. ^-^;;;



I'll try to keep the updates as steady as my last story. I'm defiantly pumped from all the positive reviews! I will work on hurrying with the smut!



Please be patient with me! ^-^