Alls Fair in Love and War

Chapter 23

Neither of them knew how long they sat there staring at him. He hadn't moved since the incident in the Master Gardens yesterday morning. His slender form just lied motionless. His once glowing pinkest gray skin was now a dimmed pink. Those long red locks were scattered around his crown in a crimson halo. The Youko's body was concealed from neck to tail with a thick blanket. The aura spasm left him weakened including dampening the strength of his body temperature.

When Inuyasha and Koga awoke this morning they had expected Fiorello to at least be awake after that scare in the garden. But the healers explained to them that it was common for the Youko Prince to be in a state of unconsciousness for at least a day or so. Most of the time he regains his strength after the first day of his episodes, one of them promised.

During his entire state of unconciousness, not once had his father left his side nor had he removed his son's hand from his lips. "I hate to see him suffer so." He mumbled placing possibly the hundredth kiss on his palm. "The boy deserves to leave a life without fear of anticipating the next attack."

Koga stood up brushing aside the sweaty red hair on the prince's brow. "I hate seeing the poor guy this way." He commented thumbing a stride of the silky trends.

Inuyasha maintained his silence motion as he studied the ashen face lying in bed. It's amazing how just yesterday the overly exertive fox was speaking in his native tongue calling them rude and what not. But now seeing them in bed looking so helpless and fragile…It was uncomforting to see.

He discreetly looked up to see Ryuukotsesui's green eyes still trained on his child. Inuyasha couldn't imagine what the dragon was going through every single time this happened to Fiorello. And he had to endure each moment all alone. How sad.

"Dammit can't we go ahead and get this treatment over with?" Koga said angrily.

Ryuu muffled his answer around the hand at his mouth. "I wish we could young wolf but we need my son to be able to handle such an agonizing transfer. In the state he's in now, he'd surely die within moments."

"But is there anything we can do to at least ease his pain?" Inuyasha finally spoke.

Ryuu shook his head. "All I'm able to do is to feed him my youki to dull his aches. Only when the transfer is complete will he be free of this."

Sitting back in his seat, Inuyasha balled his hands together in a fisted prayer position and rested his forehead against it. Tomorrow they'll be able to help Fiorello get back to his feet and then they'll able to go home to be with their family. But would everything be back to normal? With all that has happened in the past few days could things actually get better from here? He could only pray that after Fiorello's recovery that his days will be brighter than what they seem now.

Hours later the sun had long since fell behind the horizon, waving it's final rays through the young men's chamber windows.

Inuyasha stared out the window for a long while, not blinking or speaking a word. His thoughts were full of what ifs and hopefuls. But at the end of each scenario he thought of, the results didn't speak highly in his friend's favor. He'd only known the Fox for a moment and yet he's grown on him. And that was saying a lot since the only people he trusted were those he was raised around.

Koga laid as quiet as friend pondering over the same things. A part of him felt guilty for making the deal with the dragon but the other half was glad to have the beast pay for his crimes. It might seem cruel for him to think that but he wanted justice for the countless innocent lives loss in the invasion. But would that make him any different than the dragon if he took away his son's only means of happiness?

"Hey? " Inuyasha finally called walking from the window. "If you think any harder you'll be the one who needs treatments."

The wolf scoffed giving the hanyou his back. "Teh, yea and you weren't just torturing your brain with petty thoughts?"

Taking a sit on the edge, Inuyasha reached over to stroke the wolf's tail like he'd seen his God father do when he was upset. "Soooo you ever planned on telling me about the Message Vine God father sent you?"

At Koga's stiffened back, he chuckled giving his explanation. "Don't play coy with me. Kurama taught me long ago how to distinguish disguised plants in case of an emergency. I just can't read them like you can."

Sighing, Koga twisted his head around. "I would've told ya but I just didn't think it was important."

"I think it is important." Inuyasha crawled over behind Koga wrapping his arm around his waist. "What did you tell them?"

"That…they needed to wait on coming to our rescue. I told him we weren't harmed but I haven't received word from him since."

"They won't wait Koga. We need to explain to them that this is all a big misunderstanding before lives are taken senselessly."

Koga turned around fully to face his best friend. "And by lives you're taking about our families' right?" He asked expectedly.

"No I mean all of us Koga. That includes Ryuukotsesui and Fiorello."

"Are you crazy? Who cares if that dragon loses his life? He needs to pay for what he's done."

"He's paid for it Koga with watching his son suffer for all of these years. Don't you remember when he said he didn't know that his soldiers had killed your people?"

"Oh Inari!" Koga sat up fast. "And you believed that crock of bull?"

Inuyasha sat up too. "Yes—I mean no— I don't know! All I'm saying is that we probably misunderstood the guy!"

"That fucking beast slaughtered innocent lives for the sake of one person Mutt! How can you just sit there and defend him?"

"Because I know that if I were in his shoes I'd do the same thing!"

After realizing what he'd blurted out, Inuyasha jumped from the bed heading for the window. The words he said were true. If the tables were turned he'd stop at nothing to make sure his family would live. Especially for Sesshomaru. If he had to kill a whole field of people just to keep him in his life, he'd do it in a heartbeat.

So caught up in thoughts of romanced death, he started when Koga's arms wrapped around his waist pulling him to his chest. The feel of a hand pushing his hair to the side calmed his nerves a little. But they jumped to full alert when a pair of soft lips caressed the side of his neck. "Koga…don't…" He whispered softly.

"We need this Inuyasha..." He kissed him a little lower. "We've been tense since we got here." Koga eased the shoulder sleeve of the hanyou's kimono off to press another kiss to the exposed skin. "We need to relieve this tension."

"But mm…" Inuyasha felt the tie on his hakama being undone as he mewled from the feathery touches. "Koga…we can't. We need to wait for permission—Ahh please…" He buckled over when Koga's hand slide from his hip to cup the front of his erection through his clothes.

"You need this Inuyasha…" Sharp fangs reached up to pull one puppy ear in their depths.

The hanyou's knees weakened in their strength from the sensual nip on his sensitive ear. "Koga s-stop it." He moaned when the wolf's erection was begging to pressing into his behind.

"Mmm…Inuyasha…"

"Excusez-Moi?"

The two suddenly jumped a part for three reasons. One because they knew they would've been punished if they'd continued on without their Alpha's permission. Two because they didn't give a damn and knew if they didn't stop they were only to finish anyway. But the main reason of all was when they turned around they saw Fiorello standing right behind them looking at them with those big green eyes.

"Pardon my intrusion mon amis. Was I interrupting your fluffy moment?" he teased playfully.

Inuyasha was stunned to see the young fox up and about as if he were fine. "What the hell are you doing out of bed?"

"Yea we thought you were—uh sick." Koga kept his back to them since his throbbing sex still hadn't settled down yet.

Fiorello lifted up his wrist, pressed two fingers to his lifeline and then glanced down to check out something below.

"What are you doing?" Inuyasha asked curious at the demon's behavior.

"Well mon ami, I was checking to see if I still had a pulse and my legs are still attached so," He giggled happily clamping his hands behind his back. "I must not be too sick."

"Wise ass." Koga snorted snickering.

Fiorello smiled sneakily peeking around to see Koga's erection still tenting the front of his hakama. "Je crois que c'était le cul du hanyou, vous ont été sur le point de prendre le loup." With a cocky bounce of his eyebrows, Fio danced away dodging the swing of Koga's fist.

"Go to hell you creep!" He growled at the laughing Youko.

Inuyasha looked between the two in confusion. "Hey what did he say?"

"Huh?"

"You heard me stupid."

"...Oh nothing. He didn't say anything important."

"You're lying little wolfy. It's not polite to lie!" Fio sung gleefully hopping on their bed.

"Shut up!"

Inuyasha shoved him. "Come on Koga what did he say?"

Koga blushed as his right eyes twitched. His forefinger and thumb from each hand met in the middle as he twiddled them together. "Well he said—He pretty much said I was trying to get your ass— so to speak."

Inuyasha rammed his hands into his sleeves regarding both a bashful demon and the one currently jumping and landing on their bed. "Both of you are some nasty perverts." He grunted walking back over to the bed. "I'm going to sleep."

This announcement was followed with him kicking Fio mid jump off of the bed.

"How dare you treat me like that hanyou! I shall cause you great pain for this!" Fio jumped back in the bed only to be kicked off again by Koga. "You—You despicable marmots!"

"Yea yea yea your mother asshole!" Inuyasha pull his haori over his head tossing to the side.

Koga mimicked him taking off his top but leaving on his bottoms.

"Hn," Fio grumbled incoherent Youko words as he— surprising to both young males— began to remove his clothing until he was naked and crawled under the sheets next to them. When he fixed the pillow to his liking he snuggled up against the plush material, yawned and closed his eyes. "Bonna Nuit mon amis." Then he snapped his fingers and the candles all swished out.

"Good night my ass!" Koga shouted. "Get the hell out!"

Inuyasha joined in. "Yea this bed isn't that big you fool!"

"Then I suggest you make room mon amis because I shall not be moved." He yawned again turning to face them. The two could see the green glow of his eyes blinking at them innocently.

"You're not cute ya jerk!"

"Yea get the hell—"

"S'il vous plait…" His harsh whisper cut through their ranting as the scent of tears filled their noses. "I don't want to be alone tonight…I am afraid…about tomorrow."

Inuyasha and Koga shared a look in the dark equally understanding the fox's predicament. Koga being the closest switch places with him so that he was now sandwiched between them. Fio sat up wrapping his arms around his pulled up knees. "I am afraid mon amis. I do not wish for anything bad to go wrong tomorrow."

Koga placed a hand on his shoulder. "Hey don't worry about it. We'll all be there when it happens anyway."

Fio shook his head. "I am worried about your welfares of course but I am more concerned for my Père."

"Why are you worried about him?" Inuyasha questioned still lying down.

"Because I don't want to leave him alone…should anything go wrong with the operation."

"But things will be fine. Everything will work out you'll see."

"I know...but I can't help feeling as if I will lose him. My heart keeps making this thump, thump when I am near him now. I get this sick feeling in my stomach like something bad will happen." He flopped back on his pillow covering his face. "I don't why I feel this way. My Père would never abandon me. So why do I doubt him now?" He cried helplessly.

Inuyasha watched the fox's shoulders bounce with each quiet peep as he cried softly in his hands. Guilt strings tugged at both his and Koga's hearts watching their poor friend's situation. Instincts guided them to the center of the bed to hold the weeping Youko between them. Inuyasha stroked his ears and hair licking the side of his face to calm his sorrow. Koga nuzzled his nose into his neck while running his red mane gently through his fingers.

Before long Fio's whimpers became small hiccups until the soothing touches lured him into a comfortable sleep. The two licked over his tear streaked face until the scent was gone.

Inuyasha snuggled closer to him laying his head on his shoulder taking a hold of one of his hands. Koga grabbed the other one as they shared a sad glance at the other. They knew now if they told Fiorello about the deal they made with his father, all hell would break loose. Things were not looking so well in their or his favor. All they could hope for was that things would be fine tomorrow…And that everyone would come out of it alive.

---

"I grow tired of this waiting Taisho! I want my kits and I want them now!"

"Calm down. We still have to recuperate our health. It's still not up to form yet."

"No!" Kazo slammed his hands on his friend's desk top angrily. "Do not tell me to calm now when my boys in that damned dragon's lair! Inari knows what that beast is doing to them now!"

Taisho stood up daringly meeting the icy blue glare. "Do you think I'm not worried about them Kazo? They're my sons as much as yours!"

"Getting angry won't help us with our current situation." Kurama mumbled coolly.

Sesshomaru stuffed his hands in his long sleeves. "Indeed. Your mindless rage will do nothing towards their well-beings."

"We all need to remain as elusive as that dragon now."

Although they spoke calmly their auras were sprouting erratically all around the large work chambers. Servants or any other workers were not permitted inside lest they wanted an early death.

"You asking me to remain calm is no easy task my sons." Kazo said removing his hands. "I am not myself when either of you are not in your proper place. I…I cannot bear to lose another son." He collapsed in a chair covering his face with his hands. "It will kill me if something were to happen to any of you…I...I would sooner die than to live through that again." The resurfaced pain of his little rose torn inside of him all over again as if it had happened only moments ago.

The terrible imagine of seeing any one of his son's lying face down in their own pool of blood was his greatest fear. Seeing another kit taken away from viciously? The sheer monstrous pain of such torture could not truly exist in more than one lifetime.

"Father." Kurama kneeled before his father grabbing his hands. "Do not think so ill wise of Inuyasha nor Koga. They are fine I assure you."

Kazo sighed. "I know. But I can't help feeling so…loss. I feel that they are fine but for how long is the question we don't know—"

A sudden loud crash startled three sets of eyes toward the far wall where Sesshomaru stood. Where he stood was a large sized hole in the wall without a single expression marred on his face. The ever cool amber eyes now glow a fierce red. "You are not assisting in our worries God father with your constant wailing." He said quietly pulling his fist from the indented wall. "Inuyasha is alive. Koga is alive. Your doubt only hastens my rage in wanting to lay waste to this entire land." Sesshomaru turned those eyes over to his fathers and brother. "If I hear another cursed word spoken upon their lives I won't hesitate in killing you all where you stand."

After making the harsh threat, Sesshomaru gracefully departed the room leaving the mark of his angry imprinted in his father's wall.

Taisho stood up to follow him but Kurama stepped up. "I'll speak with him. You stay and comfort my father." With that said he walked out after his brother closing the door shut behind him.

Making sure they were indeed left alone, Taisho locked the door shut than proceeded over to kneel before his friend. Without thinking he lends forward pressing his lips together with the Youko king. It's been such a long time since their last kiss at their secret grove. So very long since their lips touched that the gentle kiss deepened into a more.

Taisho tangled his fingers into his long silver hair to shove his tongue deep inside of his fox's mouth. Kazo whimpered in need latching on to the dog's shoulders to keep from falling from his chair. His mewls set a flame inside the general's groin which communicated to his hand to ease up Kazo's thigh searching for…

"Hmm Taisho no." Kazo breathed ripping his mouth away. "Now is not the time for that. Besides you should remember that…" He shamefully looked down between his legs for the lack of substance underneath.

Stunned for a moment, Taisho stood up cupping the fox's face in his hand. "You're safe for now my friend. But be assured when this is over," He lend down pressing his mouth to the furred ear and whispered. "I intend to make you mine."

Kazo blinked and blushed punching Taisho in the jaw. "Ow! What the—what was that for?" Growled the surprised Inuyoukai.

"For being possessive." Kazo snickered delicately with a wink. "But we shall see how this works out Dog."

Taisho rubbed his swelling jaw. "Well at least I was able to get you to stop worrying so much about the boys."

Immediately he regretted those words when Kazo's eyes gained a far off dimness inside. He mentally kicked himself for speaking without thinking. "Kazo I…I'm sorry."

"No it's quite alright. I am being a bit of a downer thinking only the worst." He cupped his fingers together pressing them to his mouth. "It'll take me awhile to stop being so protective of my children."

"Kazo," Taisho began while placing an arm around his shoulders. "You're to have to learn to let them live their own lives. Once we save Inuyasha and Koga we'll both have to turn them over to Kurama and Sesshomaru. Once they're mated they will no longer be our responsibility." He pulled the fox from the seat, sat down and placed him on his lap. Kazo was stiff for a minute but relaxed enough to lay his head on his dog's shoulder. "Besides once this is all over, we'll start a family of our own."

Kazo gasped sitting up quickly. "You mean…you want…more children?"

"Yes." Taisho casually put his hand on Kazo's flat stomach. "I lost the chance to raise Kurama with you. I want to have another chance at the two of us raising our own pups together. Someday I hope to see you swollen with our next child. And I will be there every step of the way."

"Taisho…you sniveling old dog!" The Youko choked shoving his face into the dog demon's neck. "Of course we'll have more children… but what about… umm." He looked down between his legs again flattening his ears to his head.

Seeing the apprehension, Taisho slide his hand from the flat stomach down the crotch section between his legs. "I don't care about that. Besides there are tons of other ways to find pleasure my friend… and believe me…the main one is still working properly is it not?"

A ruptured red blush spread over Kazo's entire body. "You depraved fool." He chuckled snuggling into his warmth.

Taisho wrapped his arms around the laughing fox relieved that he was able to make him forget, even for a moment, about his worries. Now all he had to do was to find a way stop his own terrified worries for the two missing princes.

---

For each and every second that passed it brought Sesshomaru that much closer to losing his self-control and taking flight to the dragon's lair. Every breathing moment could be Inuyasha's last and they were all sitting about worrying about a death that wasn't confirmed. His precious little brother was in the deranged clutches of that…that…mad man. That abominable animal!

Sizzling sparks tingled in Kurama's ears and nose as he crept onto the balcony where he knew Sesshomaru would be. "Melting away God father's railing will solve nothing Sesshomaru."

Said demon lifted his glowing claws as if studying their ominous light. "It brings relief to my nerves." He commented dropping his hand and turning back to the stars. "What do you want here fox? I have no reason to speak with you."

Ignoring the obvious decline for conversation, Kurama walked around hopping on the other half of the stone rail still intact. "I can tell that you're worried little brother."

He didn't reply to that keeping focus on the night sky.

"It's hard on all of us. I miss having our brother's here as well. But you and I both know a frontal attack would be fruitless. Ryuukotsesui—"

"Reframe from speaking that beast's name in my presence." Sesshomaru cut off smoothly.

"—Is a very cunning creature. You know as well as I how powerful he is compared to us. It'll take our full strength to take him down. We're beginning into the levels of daiyoukai while he and our fathers have maintained that level for centuries. So of course it only makes tactical sense to wait until tomorrow when our health is full restored to go and save our mates."

Sesshomaru stayed quiet for a long moment before replying dully. "I fail to see your point."

Kurama was waiting for him to say that and snickered. " How silly of me. I guess there was no purpose in telling you what you already know. Oh well forget what I said." He hopped off the rail heading back inside.

"Yoko?" Came the stern call.

Kurama turned around.

"Are you not worried?" Sesshomaru asked quietly keeping his back to the fox.

"Yes…truthfully I'm terrified of what could possible greet us when we go there tomorrow."

And…if they are dead?"

A brief silence passed over when Kurama answered. "Then I will join them." With that said he continued on back inside of the castle.

Sesshomaru remained where he stood for the remainder of the time the moon was high in the sky. So many thoughts race in his mind but his face couldn't reveal what he too was feeling. If Inuyasha was truly dead… there would be no point in him living either…Because Inuyasha was his life…

TBC: Well the aura treatment will begin tomorrow and so will the intense battle. It's going to be a very messy fight. Will there be misunderstandings? Will someone get hurt or killed? Will Kazo finally see his long lost Little Rose? ^_^ Stay tuned to find out!