Theories

Theories- chapter 3

Sesshomaru and Miroku quickly distanced themselves from the encampment; piercing eyes watched their forms fade into the night. As soon as they were totally out of sight, InuYasha jumped down from the upper branches of a tree which he fled to just minutes earlier. His blood was burning as it coursed through his body, and although his eyes were now returning to their normal golden color, he was still showing signs of demonic anger. His fangs had yet to fully retract to their usual size, and his claws were extended, like some fierce animal ready to slice its prey. Low growls were emanating from his throat as he made his way back to site where the encounter with the monk and the demon lord had taken place. The closer he got to that location, the more he reverted to the InuYasha everyone expected to see; and when he finally entered the camping grounds, he appeared normal- eyes golden, canine teeth slightly elongated and nails just a bit longer than a normal human would keep.

Although his return was eminent, it wasn't exactly the kind he expected. Perhaps he thought the others would be as shocked and angry at the announcement of Miroku's pending mating to his brother as he was, or maybe he was just being self-centered. All he knew is not happy and felt betrayed. Kirara was the first to indicate the return of the half-demon to their ranks, her low growl making the announcement. All heads turned in his direction, and the first words he heard were from Kagome, "SIT BOY!" That got InuYasha's attention as he crashed face first into the cold, hard ground.

"Damnit, Kagome! What'd ya do that for?" Words and dirt sputtered from the half-demon's mouth. "I didn't do nothin' to you."

Kagome stomped over to the prone form, stood with hands on hips and glared at him. "SIT! SIT! SIT! HE'S GONE AND IT'S YOUR FAULT!" Then she turned and walked back over and plopped her green-skirted butt down next to Shippo on the blanket they shared.

After he was able to climb his way from the small crater that the additional "Sit" commands caused his body to create under him, he stood and stared at the teenage girl. Screaming at the top of his lungs, "DON'T YOU DARE TO THAT AGAIN, OR SO HELP ME..."

Just as she opened her mouth to issue the command again, a bushy tail shoved its way in and silenced her. Placing his small pawed hands over his ears Shippo begged, "I think he's had enough Kagome. He knows we're mad at him. Please, don't do it again, it hurts my ears too much when he gets up and starts yelling." The hyper little kitsune had put an end to the assault. All Kagome did was sit, glared at InuYasha with pursed lips and slowly seethed.

Sango was the only one who remained calm during the incident. She looked at the scuffed up face and dirt-covered clothes of her friend. "InuYasha, you have to understand, we think what you did was unreasonable. Miroku came to deliver good news to us, and we all reacted poorly; you worst of all." She stood and walked towards the angry male, and glanced towards her female friend. "We want to know why you reacted the way you did, that's all. Miroku was so hurt when you pulled away and fled, demanding he leave us. What else could he do, but obey you?"

Having a voice of reason explain to him why the miko-reincarnate had issued that godforsaken command over and over, calmed the half-demon's anger to a mere boil. He wanted to get his feelings out, but was unable to voice them. Hell, he didn't even know exactly why he reacted the way he did. Was it shock that Miroku was getting mated, or that he knew all along why Sesshomaru kept trailing them, or was it something else? He didn't really know. Speaking only to Sango, but still loud enough for the rest to hear, "I don't know why I acted that way. I'm still trying to figure that out myself. All I know is that something inside me snapped when Sesshomaru so coldly stated that he was taking Miroku for his mate, and the ceremony would be at the castle the first day of summer."

The young demon slayer moved closer. "Are you jealous, InuYasha?"

Golden eyes opened wide, mouth gaped open and gasping was heard coming from the half-demon. "Jealous? What do I have to be jealous about?"

"Well, you and Miroku have become best friends, and this mating will take him away from you. Plus, it's your older brother he's mating, and you don't exactly like Sesshomaru." Sango was trying to find just the right way of wording the next possible answer to her question. "Or do you have feelings for one of them, feelings that maybe they now share that you wished you had with one of them? It wasn't the look you gave Miroku that I question, but the one you gave Sesshomaru. It was like you lost something. I don't think the others noticed it, but I did."

InuYasha jumped back. Could that be it, was he jealous of Miroku? But why would he be jealous if his friend was happy? And why would he give a rat's ass if Sesshomaru was going to mate someone, even if it was Miroku? His mind was foggy and as he stumbled back a bit, he tripped over the log that Sesshomaru had been sitting on earlier, falling on his butt. For now, he just sat there, thinking through the questions that Sango put to him.


Meanwhile, Sesshomaru and Miroku approached the side of the cliff, on top of which was the current camping place in which Rin and Jaken rested. The cliff was straight up and down, few if any hand or footholds apparent. Sesshomaru knew there was only one way to reach the summit, the same way he got down. He turned to face Miroku, who had been silent the entire journey from the campsite. His ebony eyes showed no light or recognition as to where he was or who he was with. He merely followed, like a zombie puppet. A calm and quiet “I give you one last chance to change your mind and return to the others” was whispered.

The offer to return to the estranged group of friends he just left brought the monk’s head up to meet Sesshomaru’s face. Although still no emotion was evident, the tone of voice is what caught his attention. It was there, that caring for his well-being, emotional this time, not physical. That brought a small smile to Miroku’s otherwise dismal features. “No, I choose to be with you, My Lord. The decision was made, and I don’t wish to change it.”

“Very well.” Sesshomaru took the ringed hand of his future mate, and in an instant, turned into a white ball of energy, transporting them to the apex of the cliff. Once there, they reappeared as they had moments before, hand in hand, facing one another. “From this time forward, you are with me. Anyone who tries to separate us, for any reason, by force or word, will pay with their lives.”

Sesshomaru turned, looked down on the encampment far below in the valley. A dim light was emanating from the waning campfire, and he could see that his younger brother had returned. He thought it was good that his eyesight was so keen, and Miroku’s not so, for he didn’t want the monk to know about InuYasha’s return. Instead, he returned his attention back to Miroku. “It’s late. The others here will be sleeping; I suggest that you get rest as well.” He started to walk towards the place he knew his haphazard group would be, when Miroku placed his hand against Sesshomaru’s sleeve, for the second time that night. This time, Sesshomaru did look at the hand touching him, then at the face of the holder, as he stopped his movement. “What?”

Miroku quickly removed his hand, realizing that he was treading lightly on ground he didn’t know was yet steady. “Thank you.”

Sesshomaru continued his stare. “For what?”

“For not harming InuYasha; and for making the announcement for me. I…” Miroku didn’t know exactly what else he wanted to say. He just knew that right now, even though Sesshomaru would not understand his frail human emotional need, he needed to be with Sesshomaru. “I want to stay with you tonight.”

Sesshomaru did understand, somehow. He pulled Miroku to his chest, and wrapped his arm around him. He guided them to the ground, and allowed Miroku to lay his head upon his lap. Mokomoko wrapped around the monk, like a comforting blanket; and soon, Miroku was sleeping soundly. Sesshomaru sat there, overlooking the valley the rest of the night, knowing in the morning, it would be his turn to deliver the ‘good news’ to his entourage. All the while, as Miroku slept, a clawed hand gently stroked his black hair. There may be no emotion, but there was something.

Dawn came a few short hours later, and all the world seemed to come alive. As the mercurochrome colored sun peaked over the horizon, birds began their early morning hunt for worms and small insects. The cool night air warmed, blowing gently against the leaves and dewy grass on the mount where Sesshomaru and his company stayed. The demon lord still sat, as he had most of the night, with the monk’s head on his lap. Miroku had only turned slightly, adjusting to a more comfortable position once or twice the entire time.

With eyes closed, Sesshomaru raised his head to bathe in the first rays of the sun. His silvery-white hair wind blew in the wind; looked like the finest silkworm’s strands. He took a deep, cleansing breath and exhaled slowly; performed this act several times, until it seemed that the crisp morning air had totally refreshed him body, mind and soul. The demon lord moved his head from side to side, a slight cracking sound indicating a minor troublesome creak in his neck was now gone. A glorious “Ah” escaped his lips. This was the closest to being happy the demon lord felt, other than when he was in the arms of his lover. He could not admit, nor actually recognize, that he truly was happy. Emotion was something that was foreign to him; however there was a certain peace that he now felt that he never had before.

He opened his eyes and gazed at the sleeping human lying across his lap. It felt right. His keen hearing caught the rustling of his young female ward and his minion nearby. It was time to make his intentions known to them, and listen to the incessant ranting that would ensue, at least from Jaken. Instinctively, mokomoko uncurled from around the sleeping monk and repositioned itself along Sesshomaru’s right side and curled over his shoulder. Sesshomaru moved his hand down and gently stroked Miroku’s raven hair, knowing his touch would awaken the human- it always did.

The sudden loss of that warmth encasing his body, and the caress of Sesshomaru did awaken the monk. He opened his eyes and laid there. It took a few moments for him to remember where he was, and the events of the night before. Feeling the clawed fingers grazing along his head brought comfort to him. He knew he could leave the others behind, although he would miss them. His place was now with his lord, and he was content.

Sesshomaru was not oblivious to the monk’s sleepless state. “You rested well.” It was as much a question as an already known fact.

“Yes, My Lord.” Miroku hated moving. He relished anything that came close to a loving moment he could share with his unemotional future mate. Knowing that Sesshomaru seldom slept, except after a long battle, he still asked, “And you?”

No answer to the rhetorical question was given. He sat up and looked at the demon lord’s face. The sunlight cast a brilliant aura all around Sesshomaru’s face and hair that caused a hitch in the monk’s breath. It was the most breathtaking sight he ever beheld. He was in awe of the magnificence of it, and it brought a strange reaction. His body seemed to have a mind of its own, and in moments, the human male was feeling the effects in the depths of his being; a hard-on evident beneath his robes. He moaned.

The sudden scent of an aroused Miroku met Sesshomaru like a slap in the face. His reaction was just as intense and Miroku’s. He wrapped his arms around the human and pulled him close, a clawed hand inching under the front of his robes. Just as contact was made with the heated fleshy shaft, a shrill child’s voice cried out a few feet behind the pair.

“Lord Sesshomaru! Good morning, are you feeling better today?”

Sesshomaru quickly withdrew his hand from the shriveling erection, his own now deflated by the sound of the young human child’s voice. “Rin, what have you been told about yelling?”

The child stopped all movement and hung her head. In a sorrowful voice, she replied, “I’m sorry, My Lord. I was just so happy to see you. You didn’t seem well yesterday, and I just…” She was cut off by a stern look from her protector.

Miroku noticed the look Sesshomaru was giving the child and the near-fear look on her face. Although he was far from happy about the interruption, it was not worth anyone getting angry at the little girl. He cautiously moved a hand towards the demon lord’s arm and touched the hand that had just been touching him in a most intimate way. A whispered “Sesshomaru” quieted the stoic lord’s look towards Rin.

Rin tilted her head in confused at the way Miroku was able to influence the great demon lord. A toothy grin appeared and it seemed to light up her entire face.

Sesshomaru relented, and sighed. For some reason, these two humans had a profound effect on him, and he could not stay angry at either for more than a few moments. “Come Rin.”

The little girl ran over and threw her arms around Sesshomaru’s neck, planting a wet kiss on his cheek. Another “Good morning!” slipped out as he pulled away and looked at Miroku. “Houshi, it’s nice to see you again.” That child’s enthusiasm was contagious. Miroku held out his arms and she ran into them, wrapping her arms around his neck in a generous hug.

Sesshomaru observed the exchange, and then, like night to day, he became his stoic self again. “Rin, leave the monk alone. Where is Jaken?”

“Master Jaken is over there.” She pointed to the area that had been their sleeping area during the night.

Sesshomaru rose to his feet, Miroku following suit and they started walking toward the camp, Rin walking right beside her lord. It was a relatively short distance to the camp, and Ah-Un announced their returned with a dual “ohm” from its two heads.

Jaken stopped his fiddling with the blankets and turned to see the party enter the area. Grabbing the staff of two heads, he ran over and cow-towed before Sesshomaru. “My Lord, I am so glad to see you.” He glared at Rin, and quickly added, “I hope the girl didn’t disturb you.” Then he realized that standing directly behind Sesshomaru was Miroku. His toady eyes went to slits and he pointed the staff toward the monk. “What is HE doing here?”

Sesshomaru didn’t answer. Miroku stayed in his place. Rin, however, chimed in, “Houshi spent the night with Lord Sesshomaru.”

Jaken’s mouth dropped open and he was speechless. He suspected Lord Sesshomaru had been seeing someone from InuYasha’s group, but assumed it was actually InuYasha he was involved with. In the demon world, male demons often would take to one another, and even relatives. It never occurred to him that it was in fact the human monk that had caught the demon lord’s eye.

“Jaken, close your mouth.” The command from Sesshomaru easily obeyed. “You and Rin sit down; I have something to tell you.”

Once both were seated Sesshomaru wasted no time in saying, “On the first day of summer, I am taking the monk as my mate.”

Jaken fell over in a faint. Rin jumped up and ran over to Miroku, throwing her arms around him. “Houshi is going to me my new daddy! YAY”

TBC