Giving Up

Chapter 3: Trying To Cope


Sesshoumaru, as if afraid to hurt the strapped down boy, walked slowly over to him. His clawed hand reached out, caressing the baby like softness of Inuyasha's cheek. In one quick movement, Inuyasha's limbs were free from the binds he was once struggling against. The youkai above Inuyasha carefully picked him up, holding his naked body against his chest. Taking off his own robe he wrapped the bruised and bleeding figure in its softness, concealing the pale skin of his brother.

"Inuyasha..hold on.." Sesshoumaru murmered, moving quickly to get out of the castle. As he ran, Inuyasha seemed to get lighter in his arms, the fragile body tossed and turned, small incoherant noises falling out of the lips of its owner. Glancing down, Sesshoumaru watched him as he ran, knowing the woods by heart as he moved towards a place he knew Inuyasha would be safe at. Moving faster the forest dissapeared as lush grass and baby blue sky beamed around them. Pace quickened as golden orbs caught sight of a small hut, and a lake off to the side. Inuyasha stirred, is eyes opening to slits.

Sesshoumaru? But..why? Is he going to laugh at me..taunt me more.. oh, god..

Inuyasha leaned against the others firm chest still as the approached the lake. Sesshoumaru smelt the air, concealing the fact that there were no other demons around and looked down at his younger brother.

"So..your awake.." Sesshoumaru murmered in his cold tone, he hated using it with Inuyasha right now, but he couldn't talk to him any other way without taking him for his own.

"Sesshoumaru...." Inuyasha whispered dazedly, and felt hiself being put down on the soft blades of grass.

"You need to be cleaned up, Inuyasha." Sesshoumaru stated, turning to walk into the hut. Inuyasha watched him, and noticed the silk robe around him as Sesshoumaru's possession.

The young hanyou was suprised to see the fabric, he had always thought Sesshoumaru was one of those who hated sharing.

"Wait..Sesshoumaru.." Inuyasha spoke softly, trying not to throw up as he moved to see more of his elder brother.

"What is it, otouto.." Sesshoumaru replied turning in his grace to look at the bloodied boy.

"Could..could.." Inuyasha gulped, "Could you help me..I.."
Before finishing Inuyasha found himself in the arms of his brother, and the fabric that once layed on his body gone.

"I will help you.." Sesshoumaru muttered, restraining from swooping down and clasping his lips to the others. Walking to the spring he kneeled down, setting Inuyasha slowly into the water. Feeling the discomfort of the hanyou he sighed heavily, and removed his own clothes. Before Inuyasha noticed, Sesshoumaru was in with him lightly rubbing the blood off of his tattered body. He couldn't help but add a pink tinge to his cheeks as Sesshoumaru's hands delicatly worked off the blood, muk, and smell of Naraku.

"Sesshoumaru..why did you save me..." Inuyasha muttered, relaxing his muscles for the first time in what seemed like years. Sesshoumaru didn't answer, though inside he was screaming to take his brother. His. No one elses. He clawed through Inuyasha's hair, blood flaking off the snow-white locks.

"Go under water, brother.." Sesshoumaru murmered, making Inuyasha do exactly that. After he came back up, Inuyasha looked around, his brother still close by.

"Sesshoumaru, where are we?" Inuyasha asked, turning to his brother.

"A safe place where no one can touch you.." Sesshoumaru whispered, watching Inuyasha move, muscles flexing and unflexing. The youkai reframed himself from touching the hanyou and swiftly got out, putting his clothes on.

"I have a kimono for you..once you are done.." Sesshoumar murmered.

"Sesshoumaru..thank you.." Inuyasha whispered.

Sesshoumaru looked into the others golden orbs, but said nothing as he turned and walked into the small hut with the graceness of a god. Inuyasha went under water, letting the clear liquad ingulf his entire worn body. He continplated over Sesshoumaru helping him, over why he was treating him so differently. Is it because he lost everything..no..Sesshoumaru didn't know about Kagome and the others. Thinking back to the battle, tears started to well in his eyes as he came up for gasps of air.

Flash~back

Naraku had attacked another village with one of his reincarnation, blood melted into the air as if it was a natural part of the atmosphere, attracting Inuyasha to the scene. The hanyou raced towards the demon, but Naraku had other plans. Inuyasha's friends soon appeared, and fought with the demon, as Naraku attacked Inuyasha out of no where. They brought there battle else where, and fought till Inuyasha was sprawled on the ground, panting and groaning in pain.

The others hadn't noticed his absence, for they were too involved in killing the demon that took so many innocent lives. After the battle, the group looked for Inuyasha. Searched and searched, but no sign. Finally Naraku appeared telling them that if they had ever wanted to see the snowy haired boy again, they had to go with him. Kagome knew it was some kind of trick, but she was desperate to find Inuyasha.

So they accepted, following him. Mistake. Huge mistake. The group saw a tattered body, that resembled Inuyasha's, so they ran for him, only to find thereselves in a barred cage. The body was of a different demon's, desguised as Inuyasha's. As they tried getting out, Inuyasha witnessed all of their deaths. The torment. Sickness.

His body shook as he thought about it, trying to hold back a huge sob that threatened to leave his chest. Circling his arms around his own sides, he leaned in the water, gasping for air that he thought he needed.

"Otouto..are you allright?" Came a soft and soothing voice from the shadows.

"Sesshoumaru.." Inuyasha whimpered, looking into the golden orbs that seemed to care so much for him.