Marks of Maturity

A/N: Yeah, yeah, yeah, a cliche hot springs, hot sex ensues, I am aware of the originality but... oh well. I'm honestly wanting a jacuzzi at the moment, so... my stories spring from my the same place that my wishes do, so there's not much I can do.

As to reviews for this story, Thank You All!!! I love each and every one of you who reviewed. It's a really good feeling to read them- especially the people whose stories I have read here on AFF, and just... to see them review my humble fic is a great feeling. You make my week.
Sorry for the wait, there's a new baby in the family and... well, I'm sure I don't need to elaborate.


--------------------------------------
PART II
---------------------------

Sesshomaru's palace was much fancier than Inuyasha had remembered. He only had the vaguest recollection of the place, but he didn't remember it being so... cold. The furnishings were mostly white, with a few splashes of black, blue, or silver. Every once in a while he would note a small amount of lavender or maroon, but it was mostly decorated to bring a frozen palace to mind.
"I guess they don't call you the Ice Prince for nothing..." Inuyasha remarked as they moved through the main rooms to the rooms. His brother smirked slightly.
"I was not aware of that nickname," he replied.
"The hell you didn't, you know everything that's going on if it concerns you in the slightest!"
"That is impossible. This Sesshomaru is not a god, although he is much like one."
Inuyasha stopped and stared at the inuyoukai upon hearing this statement. Was he actually serious? Or... was this a sad, pathetic excuse for a joke?
"Never mind, little brother. Come this way, to my personal section of the palace." With this, the youkai pressed a hand to a seemingly empty part of the wall and a panel slid to the side, revealing a large room lavished with silk and rich colors. It looked inviting and comfortable, a striking contrast to the rest of the building that Inuyasha had seen.
"Whoa, what's with the sudden change?" Inuyasha asked.
"Change? You only saw the exterior rooms. The more public ones that I use for visitors. This is the entry hall for my own personal dwelling."

While Inuyasha was overwhelmed with the strange transformation of the different areas and trying to look at everything at once, Sesshomaru found a servant in the vicinity and gave her orders. After the girl had walked away, he observed his little brother.
"Inuyasha," he called, "we will take a bath now. Come with me." He led the hanyou through a few more rooms to, until they reached one that seemed surprisingly bare except for a relatively small, calm pool.
"This is it?" Inuyasha asked, thinking that it was extremely spartan. Why didn't his brother create a pool that was more luxurious, more comfortable?
"No, little brother. This is just a small tub of mineral water. We will use my personal bath, which is the most private place within the walls." With this, the youkai hooked his claws into a crack in the far wall and dragged a jagged piece of stone out of the wall. Once Inuyasha stepped through the hidden entrance, the rock was rolled back into place.
"Sesshomaru, what is the point of all the secrecy just to get to this? If you wanted to be alone, you could just order everyone away from you, right? I don't get it."
"Hn. You say that now, but in time you will find that it is nearly impossible to truly escape the servants and diplomats and advisors... they are always following, always nagging, always wanting something. I find it difficult to get away from their presence. I had a foreigner design this place, and trust me, he won't tell a soul of its existence."
"I bet he wouldn't..." murmured the smaller boy. He knew that when Sesshomaru wanted something kept silent, it was kept silent. No exceptions. The poor builder was probably exiled in a snowy mountain cage far, far, far away. "So... you mean absolutely no one else knows about this?" he continued, eager to have his older sibling continue speaking. It was unlike Sesshomaru to talk so much.
"Correct. You and I are the only living souls within this land, or any of the neighboring lands, to know of it. I like having a place where no one knows where I am," a small smirk touched the youkai's expression as he added, "and, it amuses me to find the servants rushing about when I return, simply because no one knows where I am."

The tall, silver-haired Sesshomaru then elegantly divested himself of his clothing and stepped into a steaming bath. Inuyasha watched him relax, his head thrown backwards in joy, as he fumbled out of his own trappings and splashing into the warm water.
"Mmmmmmm, this really does feel good," the smaller one said. He looked around the room. "These are some pretty exotic plants. Where'd you get them?"
"Places."

A long silence stretched between them, as the two let the warm water rid their bodies of tension. Finally, Sesshomaru spoke again.
"Now. Tell me about these marks and anything else that is going on."

Inuyasha paused for a moment to run his sharpened nails over the discolored skin in question. "They just... started showing up one day. I don't know why. My nails and fangs have been getting longer and sharper, too... and... ever since it all started, I haven't been able to think much. It's like my concentration is getting weak, too; I just can't focus on anything."
"Hmm."
Minutes passed, with no sound or movement from either person. The quiet, unobtrusive sound of the water became deafeningly loud in the silence. Inuyasha fought to keep himself under control as he awaited a reply. When his brother seemed to have no response, he whispered, "It's as if my demon blood is taking over. I don't... I don't want to lose my soul, but..."

Sesshomaru stopped his monologue by swimming over to him. Inuyasha froze as his godlike relative moved until their chests were nearly touching. Sesshomaru, his legs between Inuyasha's thighs, supported himself with one hand on the ledge that Inuyasha sat on. He used the other hand to trace the markings. Inuyasha had no idea what the man was up to, but he wished he could back off, wished he could reclaim some of his personal space. The side of Sesshomaru's one hand was placed right by Inuyasha's hip, and he was acutely aware of the tiny distance between that hand and his thigh.

"You have no marks on your chest?" Sesshomaru asked, dropping downwards slightly to examine the hanyou's chest muscles.
"N-no..." replied Inuyasha, confused as to why Sesshomaru even asked. Besides, Sesshomaru could easily have seen for himself from much farther away. The youkai's eyesight was incredible... there was no need for them to be this close. What was the noble doing?
The smaller boy's breath caught in his throat for a second when he realized that the lord of the western lands' proximity to his body was causing an unwelcome response. He blushed bright red, and reminded himself that the water was cloudy from being saturated with minerals. Still, Sesshomaru's lean body was so close to him that if once he had a hard-on, it would brush against the lord's sculpted abs. He tried to fix the situation by sliding away, but Sesshomaru kept him in place.
"Ummmm..." he started, trying to think of an excuse to get away, but Sesshomaru suddenly pressed their lips together in a teasing kiss, and slid one hand between the small of Inuyasha's back and the wall of the pool. The recipient of these gestures moaned softly and pulled their bodies together and fisted one hand in the long silver hair. His chest ached when Sesshomaru briefly broke the kiss and began to speak against Inuyasha's slick skin.
"Inuyasha, I do not believe you will lose your soul. I see the lust in your eyes, and I can smell your arousal. The soulless do not have such feelings. They feel only hatred and a desire to kill. They are not sensual creatures. I do not know for sure what is happening with you, but I do not think your soul is being devoured."
"Then what do you think is happening?" the hanyou questioned. The two pairs of golden eyes caught each other.
"As far as I can tell, your demon blood is taking over. But, don't worry... your human side has become stronger and more mature, and should be able to handle being pushed out of the way. I know nothing of the details, but the general idea is that you will become a full-fledged demon. Like me and Father. Unlike previously, though, you will retain your soul. It's part of growing up. Your Youkai blood is so strong that it cannot stay balanced with weak human genes."
"It's just a part of growing up," Inuyasha repeated dumbly.
"Yes. You probably won't change much in size, but your claws and fangs will be permanently stronger and sharper, as you have noticed. Once your markings finish fading, the aging process will slow to a crawl, and you will age at roughly the same rate as me. Until this phase of growth is complete, you'll probably get headaches or something of the sort... I'm not sure; this is purely based on speculation and a few conversations with Father. Now, based on my own personal experience... the best way to relieve headaches and such... is to start with easing your raging arousal that you have pressed against my leg."

Inuyasha reddened even more and had a feeling of awkwardness wash over him. He tried to distract them both by asking for clarification on what had just been explained to him, but Sesshomaru ignored his weak attempt and slid down the muscular body, showering the muscles on his torso with kisses and slipping his tongue over the smooth skin. He dipped his hands beneath the water and kneaded Inuyasha's hardness. The hanyou gasped at the alternating feelings of intense, almost painful pressure and lighter, sensual caresses. He suddenly remembered himself and wrapped his arms around Sesshomaru, massaging and rubbing. He ran his claws up the spine, causing the supple back to arch. He bent his neck to the older brother's next and nipped gently.
"If we get out of... the pool, we can..." words failed Inuyasha and he resorted to action instead, pulling himself and his brother out of the water and rolling the both of them onto a mat.

He pushed Sesshomaru onto his back and straddled his hips. He was positioned over the youkai's erection when the seme grabbed his hips and prevented him from impaling his body.
"I do not know how much experience you have had, Inuyasha, but usually you would want to prepare yourself..." The normally composed lord's voice was slightly ragged and breathy.
"I'll be fine. The warm water is a muscle relaxant, and we're both already wet from the water. Besides, I like it rough," was the reply. Inuyasha loosened his half-brother's grip and lowered himself onto the hard length beneath him. He went slowly, adjusting the size. Discomfort must have shown on his face, because Sesshomaru told him to do whatever he needed to do, and that he had warned Inuyasha about skipping preparation.
"Shut up," Inuyasha said, putting one hand on the floor next to Sesshomaru's chest to steady himself, and the other behind him to reach for Sesshomaru's balls. He fondled the youkai's sack in time with his rhythm as he rode the one person he had always ached to have. Sesshomaru was breathing erratically and his eyes, darkened with lust and half-closed in ecstasy, met Inuyasha's as he used one wet hand to toy with Inuyasha's cock.

Inuyasha howled at the amazing sensation of having the Western Lord's length in him, and being tantalized with a skilled hand. He gyrated and repositioned himself until each thrust brushed his prostate and his muscles tightened in response to the additional rush of pleasure.
Growling, he rode the youkai harder and faster, until he felt warm liquid fill his insides and heard the long-haired demon's yip of pleasure as he came. Just seconds later, he climaxed over the Inuyoukai's flat stomach. He dismounted and stared at the evidence of their tryst.

"Looks like we'll need another bath..."