Somber Sweetness

Sesshomaru masked his scent and found a tree near the edge of the clearing the hot spring was in. He sat on a high branch, watching as Inuyasha undressed.



The hanyou was beauty itself, all supple skin and fluid muscles. He wasn’t slender, by any stretch of the imagination, but he didn’t need to be. His lean muscles rippled gently as he waded into the heated water, sighing softly.



Sesshomaru closed his eyes to replay the sound in his head, savoring it, dreaming of the day that he would wring those sounds and more from the hanyou’s lithe body.



Inuyasha was alone, or thought he was, at least, and it was obvious that he had let down most—not all, never ALL—of his barriers. He’d never be able to TRULY relax until he was home, and had learned that Sesshomaru meant him no harm. Someday, hopefully soon, he’d be able to rest, laze about, and sleep deeply, secure in the knowledge that his mate and their servants would protect him if any threat were bold enough to intrude on his home.



Sesshomaru watched as Inuyasha ducked under the water, then came back up, shaking his head to get water out of his perked ears. The Youkai smiled, finding the trait endearing. It was one of the habits that made Inuyasha who he was, and therefore Sesshomaru was unable to do anything but find it mildly amusing. Cute, even.



‘Inuyasha would surely attempt to KILL me for thinking of him as cute, however.’ Sesshomaru thought wryly. ‘Unless he killed me for being a voyeur first.’



Sesshomaru settled down and kept an eye on the hanyou while he finished bathing, making sure that no enemies accosted him while he was busy. Inuyasha washed quickly, sparing no time to enjoy the water past the first sigh. Once he was done, Sesshomaru left, letting the hanyou get dressed alone, so that he would be back at camp before him.



The Miko and Taijiya were already up. The Miko looked up as he approached and her eyes narrowed.



“Sesshomaru.” She spoke boldly, staring him down with intensity.



Sesshomaru raised a mocking eye at her. “Oh, so you know my name. Fascinating. What do you want, Miko?” He asked, bored.



She pressed her lips together. “I want to talk to you. Alone. Would you promise not to hurt me if we walk a little ways away so that I can say what I want to say?”



Sesshomaru sighed. “I will not harm you, nor allow you to come to harm. It would cause Inuyasha great pain if you were to be harmed.” He said.



The Miko nodded. “Good. Follow me.”



Sesshomaru gritted his teeth at her assuming tone, but followed her nonetheless.



After they had moved far enough away for not even Inuyasha to hear them from camp, she spoke. “I want to know why you want Inuyasha to move in with you. I love him, but I don’t belong here, and nothing can change that. I have to go home, but I can’t help but worry about WHY you suddenly want him home with you. I don’t trust your motives.”



Sesshomaru frowned. “How dare you question my reasons, ningen?! Do you value your life so little? My reasons are my own. Or do you swear on your short life to keep my words to yourself?”



Kagome scowled at him. “If I was planning on telling Inuyasha, I would have asked you in front of him. I won’t spread it around. You can trust me.” She said firmly.



Sesshomaru sniffed, warily. Truth. “Very well, ningen. I want him home with me because he is mine. He is my mate, and I have waited long enough. He is strong and beautiful, and now he is mature. It is time.” He stated.



Kagome frowned. “But... I thought Youkai took mates for the purpose of keeping their line going?” She asked, confused.



Sesshomaru nodded. “So we do.” He said coolly. “And Inuyasha will give me children unequaled in beauty and unmatched in battle. It is a good match for us both. I believe in time, that I may even bring him to love me. However, I will settle for his affection if I can’t have his love.”



Kagome pursed her lips. “I hate to tell you, but Inuyasha is a MALE, therefore, he can’t have children with YOU.”



Sesshomaru shook his head wryly. “Silly little Miko. He is a hanyou. Don’t speak of that which you don’t understand.”



Kagome’s eyes widened at the revelation. “Oh. Okay, then. I guess there’s just one last thing I need to know. Do you love him?”



Sesshomaru’s eyes flared crimson. “Why do you all think I would go to so much trouble for him if I did not?!” He snarled, taking an angry step toward her before he caught himself, gritting his teeth, but holding himself in check. “I would let ningens into my family’s ancestral home for none other but him. Of COURSE I love him.” He said, then turned and strode back to camp.



Inuyasha looked up as Sesshomaru walked into the clearing. Alone. And angry.



“Where is Kagome? What do you DO to her?!” He asked, angry and distressed at once.



Sesshomaru sighed. “She is safe, hanyou. She will be back soon. Give her a moment.”



Inuyasha breathed a sigh of relief that sent a spear of pain through Sesshomaru as Kagome reentered the clearing.



“Okay, Sesshomaru. I understand.” She said.



Sesshomaru nodded, not looking at her.



Inuyasha frowned. “You understand WHAT?!” He yelled. “What did you SAY, Sesshomaru?!”



Sesshomaru looked at Inuyasha coolly. “What I discussed with the Miko is not your concern. She is unharmed, and I did not make a move to injure her by word or deed. You should not think so low of me, Inuyasha.” He said, his tone letting through none of the pain he felt as, again, their past created a wall between them. Soon enough, he would work to heal the breach between them. However, there was nothing he could do at the moment.



~*~*~*~*~*~



Kagome set her backpack next to the well and walked back to the group. She hugged Shippo, then Sango, then Miroku, groaning in resignation when he grabbed her butt in both hands for one last grope. Lastly, she walked slowly up to Inuyasha, searching his face carefully. She took the beads from around his neck, a single tear slipping down her cheek at the look of pain on Inuyasha’s uncomprehending face. She took his face in both of her hands and drew it down, kissing him deeply.



Sesshomaru turned his head, unable to watch the kiss that seemed to last forever. Did the Miko not know what she was doing?! Her departure would hurt Inuyasha even more after that kiss! It was easy to get over something you had never had, but once you had sampled it, it was not that easy to let go of.



Kagome drew back from the sweet kiss, whispering to Inuyasha, “Trust Sesshomaru. He won’t hurt you. I swear.” Then she turned, tucking the beads into Inuyasha’s pocket surreptitiously as she moved, and grabbed her backpack from where it had been set down. She looked over the group once more. “I’ll miss you all, but it isn’t my place to stay. Good-bye.” She said, and was gone.



Sesshomaru sighed. The hardest part was over. Inuyasha would heal, in time.

 

*****

 

“Inuyasha.”



Inuyasha looked up at the sound of Sesshomaru’s voice next to him. “Yeah?” He asked, trying to keep the tremor out of his voice.



Sesshomaru sighed. “Do you wish to talk? I can smell the scent of your pain everywhere. I can listen. It may help.” He offered.



Inuyasha huffed, turning his face away. “Nah. I’ll be fine.”



Sesshomaru sighed, sitting next to Inuyasha. “I once had a friend that I cared for very deeply.” He told Inuyasha softly. “Her parents hoped that we would one day become mates. She was kind, gentle, and sweet. I came to love her, and she loved me in return. On the eve of her fifteenth birthday, I went to see her. We were going to watch the last sunset of her childhood together. When I got to her parents’ home, they told me that she had already left, and was going to set up a surprise for me. I walked to the spot we had planned to watch the sunset, and there was a blanket spread out, with an unopened picnic basket next to it.” He paused, closing his eyes as the scene he had found flashed before his mind’s eye again, as it had many times over the years. “On the blanket was her naked, ravaged body. She had been raped, and then she had been killed. Whatever it was that had killed her had partially consumed her body, but had left her face untouched, so that it was recognizable. I know the pain of losing someone you care for, Inuyasha. However, I have also learned that you will heal afterwards, however long and painful the process may be. When you are ready to talk, just know that I am here.” Sesshomaru said, rising.



Before he could walk away, Inuyasha’s hand shot out and grabbed his wrist. Sesshomaru smelled tears, and felt his heart break when Inuyasha raised his head, looking at Sesshomaru. “No.” The hanyou whispered. “Stay.”



Sesshomaru sat back down. “Take as long as you need, Inuyasha. The ningens are asleep, and I am in no hurry.”



Inuyasha nodded. “I...” He sobbed. “I DID love her, Sess. I know it wasn’t right, but I wanted her to stay. Just once, I wanted something that was just MINE. Something that no one else could take from me. Something that I didn’t have to fight for, that would always be there, you know? Waiting for me, no matter what. Something...” His voice dropped to a whisper. “Something I could COME HOME to.” He said, forlornly. “You don’t know what it’s like, Sess, never having a family. I wanted one, so bad. And just when it seemed like I had found love, it was snatched away again. It’s just... It’s just CRUEL.” He said, tears falling freely.



Sesshomaru sighed, reaching out to brush Inuyasha’s tears away. “Little Brother, I swear to you, you DO have love. You need only to reach out and grasp it.” He said, then stood and turned away, taking a few steps toward a tree where he could guard the group as they slept, then added, in a whisper Inuyasha would just barely be able to hear, “I will always be waiting for you. Until you feel ready to come home to me.” He said, and leapt up, settling himself on a high branch to keep vigil over the two ningens, the kitsune and one VERY confused and slightly bewildered hanyou.



Inuyasha shook his head. ‘Okay, so freaky older brother has now added psycho to his qualifications. I can live with that. Not like he was sane to begin with, anyway.’



~*~*~*~*~*~*



‘You definitely handled that well.’ Sesshomaru mentally berated himself. ‘Wonderful work. It takes a certain skill to scare your mate off even before using the word mate. He’ll never be yours now. Imbecile.’



He sighed, scenting the air silently. ‘Well, he’s confused, and a little embarrassed, but he’s not afraid. There may yet be hope.’



“Sess... Sesshomaru?” Inuyasha called quietly, from where he stood at the base of the tree Sesshomaru was in.



Sesshomaru gritted his teeth, feeling his cheeks grow warm. ‘Impossible.’ He thought. ‘I do NOT blush!’ “Sleep, Inuyasha. I will watch. Rest.” He said firmly. Then added, “Please.”



Inuyasha sighed. “So, you just want me to IGNORE that last remark, is that how it is?!” He shouted.



Sesshomaru looked down, snarling at him. “YES!” He snapped, mentally adding, ‘You impertinent brat!’



Inuyasha threw his hands up in frustration. “FINE! You know what? You’re a real ASSHOLE, Sesshomaru!”



Sesshomaru smirked coldly. “I never claimed otherwise, Hanyou.” He growled.



Inuyasha huffed, resuming his seat next to the other tree, fuming.



Sesshomaru resumed brooding.



Miroku closed his eyes, having heard the end of the conversation. ‘They’ll kill each other by next week, at the rate they’re going.’ His only consolation was that if Inuyasha killed Sesshomaru, Sesshomaru couldn’t kill HIM. ‘And isn’t that a happy thought?’ He thought sarcastically, drifting back to sleep.