Affliction

Buildings shadowed the wooden boundaries of oak and maple, the once neverending cornfields fading into pavement. Simplicity had once again returned back to complication and confusion - not that Sesshomaru had minded either way, he wanted to see for himself if the rumours had been true. He wouldn't have even made the travel and lodging arrangements had it not been for a phone call by that blasted Kagome. The youkai had no desire to converse on any level with any of Inuyasha's 'friends', especially that female. She had managed to track him down at the firm and praddled on about the hanyou's band performing...she even dared suggest that it would be for the best interest of the party involved if he attended. Of course, he wouldn't just agree. Certainly not. It was her confession of Inuyasha's personal conflicts that finally persuaded him. What disgusted him most was Miroku and Kouga ,being involved in this ridiculous band shindig, had not even bothered to watch out for their bandmate. Not like their females did any better of a job; they were just as worthless in his opinion.

Rolling his eyes at the sheer thought, Sesshomaru decided to turn the radio on again, praying against all odds that he didn't hear his brother's voice. Some advertisement cut in during one of his favorite Iron Maiden songs trying to sell something to enlarge one's penis; he had to laugh. Any fool even willing to try that ludicrous device was even more ignorant than the drone who created it. Not that the youkai had anything to worry about in that area. He was well endowed enough. Other commercials played and he was convinced that this wasn't his day to hear music. When he did, it would obviously be ruined. Alas, Sesshomaru pivoted the knob in the off position and decided to just rely on silence.

Silence isn't necessarily a good thing; when one is alone they begin to think. Think of the person driving next to them and how they received their license from a quarter machine, think that maybe they shouldn't have eaten that extra candybar, but the worst thing that tends to happen amid the placid time is when you begin to think of everything you've done wrong. Even if you swear and protest that it wasn't your fault. The burden of what happens when one cares too much when they shouldn't.

"The sounds of yesterday still echo in my head. Distant conflicts still unresolved."

When is enough actually enough. That's what Sesshomaru desired to know. Nothing he could do would cure his ailement, could heal the suffering he hid behind his emotionless visod. Torture...he was being tortured by the poor excuse of a half-breed and what called his bluff the most had been the adoration he had for Inuyasha. His love for his brother grew, but he had nothing to show for it and it pissed him off. He had it so easy. Fame, fortune, any sexual partner he could ever dream up in some lecherous vision. The youkai had been fairing as well, being a 'big fish in a big pond' though it didn't amount to the pampering his aloof brother was served. But, that was only Sesshomaru's perception and you can't believe everything you hear or see.

A galling migraine had begun to encroach upon Sesshomaru's forehead causing a disgruntled growl to shape. Thinking about Inuyasha and the hellacious memories caused such a pain for him not only emotionally, but now physically. He had been willing to sacrifice everything for his blood and the audacity the hanyou had shown did nothing other than erupted those feelings of disgust once again in the demon. He had never broken-down to say that L-word he loathed so much, but his actions told more than any word could define. Even had he said such a revolting word he doubt it would have weighed the situation in his favor.

"I stood here waiting for so long. I stood here praying that I was wrong."

Parking in the lot of the reserved section behind the hotel, Sesshomaru drew in a deep breath as his honey drenched orbs found themselves mindlessly staring at the sky. Clouds pasted against the sunlight, bits of light playing hide-and-seek through the fluff. He was lost again in his thoughts, a dangerous playground his memories were. Images of Inuyasha phased through his daydream and a scent so real filled his nostrils until he couldn't breathe. That wasn't part of the illusion; breaking the wall his mind had quilted, the youkai's gaze darted curiously around only to find the tail end of a person who appeared like Inuyasha.