Inuyasha: The Curse of the Orange Lantern

Note:
I had three whole days off! Whoot! Today the last 10 pages of this came out of me in a wad…my apologies for destroying the progression of a perfectly good plot. It was fun to write though :o)


Chapter 4
Around this Cursed and Wretched Home

The lithe, lean body lay across the roof. Bare, clawed toes pointed along the downward slope to the ground crossed at the ankle. The baggy hakama pants puffing out to hide the strong legs tapering up to a trim muscled waist. The wing-like sleeves were pushed back to the shoulders where defined but not bulky muscled arms emerged. They were bent at the elbow and the clawed fingers were locked together pillowing Inuyasha’s head from the hard tile. Thick white hair was haloing his red-clad body over the darkness of the roof. The tender pink inner skin of his ears was exposed upward as they perked to the secrets of the night sky. Starlight and the thick wavering beams of moonlight which permeated the life absorbing shadows here highlighted the hills and valleys of his young, smooth body. His large, bright starburst eyes were slightly dulled and veiled in fatigue.

One downy ear twitched reflexively to a stirring in the air. He sighed deeply, stretching his body and feeling the tensed muscles extend then contract into as close as a relaxed state as he could get out here. There were no grabby trees in the village and the barrier kept the weird smog away so he could breathe and actually use his senses again. His nose was still a bit messed up, but not near as bas as it was in the blood saturated wood.

He wiggled his nose and his toes before his mouth gaped into a massive yawn that swallowed most of his face and displayed his fine sharp canines and lolling tongue. He smacked his lips and sniffed as the yawn ended. His mind running over their recent arrival here at the village.

A guy had held the barrier open for them with a lamp, thanks to Kagome’s demanding. After Inuyasha had ensured his jaw was still in tact from Moodymaru’s displaced anger session there had been a group reunion where everyone had fussed over him. Kagome had insisted on hugging him and shoving her boobs in his face while trying to get him to undress and let her see his wounds so she could hurt him more. Then she had screamed at him about being a pervert and sat him. There were the usual snide comments, a bit of shouting, concerned questions and a few good smacks. The toad was left unconscious in the road again due to an unfortunate run in with Sesshoumaru’s boot. While Shippo was sporting a few new lumps on his nosey head. Kagome, Miroku and Inuyasha all wore matching red face bruises. Hell, he couldn’t even remember what he had last called Sesshoumaru. It was good whatever it had been, probably something to do with a gerbil. He knew it was good because of the death glare level orange warning he’d received. Not as good as getting a level red from him, but far more satisfying than a normal level yellow warning glare. In all, it had been the usual laid-back reunion for the group.

Sango introduced them to the small cluster humans who remained in one piece in the village. They were just thrilled to find out another demon and perhaps worse, a hanyou were planning on staying the night. As thrilled as a virgin picked to appease a treaty with an old lecher by her shogun. And yeah, Sesshoumaru planned to spend the night. Great. Bastard never was considerate and did what Inuyasha wanted him to, which in this case was to bugger off like he usually did.

Despite all the griping about demons, they were permitted to stay on the outskirts of the cluster of houses on the small island which the river surrounded. One human gave them their hut, which was bigger than Kaede’s and was really decent. The girls even got a bath from the women left. All the villagers that were left slept at a shrine in the middle of town. They stayed there together at night and only went to their homes during the day now. They were too scared to sleep in their separate houses with the headless horseman on the loose even with the barrier’s protection.

The group was given a share of the meagre portions left to the villagers. Most their crops couldn’t be harvested this year and what was left was gone rotten ‘cause of the weird magic that infested the trees seemed to effect the food as well. Well, the humans in the group were given a share of food anyway. Sango and Miroku split theirs with Shippo and Kagome gave half hers to Inuyasha. The food was barely a mouthful to the hanyou, but it was all these people had and he was grateful. He knew what it was like to be hungry. Well, more hungry than his empty roaring stomach was now. Kirara managed to catch a mouse for herself and Rin shared her food with the ungrateful Jaken. Ah and Un seemed to be fine on the grass. Then there was Sesshoumaru who seemed to eat air.

Inuyasha guessed he probably had some kinda jerky hidden away under his breastplate somewhere that he’d snack on when no one was looking. Even a daiyoukai had to eat sometime. Keh.

As the hanyou ignored the grumbles of his belly; a thing he had been accustomed to growing up over the years he gazed lazily up at the winking stars. He was knackered but the unease of being watched by the blood-thirsty trees and that phantom headless guy kept him awake. How could they kill it what they couldn’t touch it? And Miroku and Kagome kept falling asleep?

Instead of bothering to try and sleep he concentrated instead on what they had learned from the few remaining villagers.

The place had been wealthy with a very abundant forest. Full of animals, spirits, youkai, happy foresty stuff and that. The reason was ‘cause there was this strong youkai Nao someone or other that was part tree and could make stuff grow. So everything around him was healthy and fertile and crap. He had a lot of pet will-o-wisps that helped guide lost people from danger. They also protected him since he was the peaceful sort that didn’t like to be bothered. He carried a lamp around that also had power. It could show people visions, enhance power and it could expose the truth or something like that. No one really understood that bit but it was shiny and special just the same.

It was that lamp that was also maintaining the barrier over the village and protecting it now. It would seem that a side effect of the barrier was that everyone with spiritual powers were drained in the area. The local priestess, Riko had been sleeping and being spiritually sucked dry since the barrier went up. Miroku and Kagome said they would keep the barrier up until they could figure out how to deal with the Horseman.

Anyway, the tree youkai went missing and everything went to hell right after. The trees were all enchanted because of him and when he disappeared they went berserk and started attacking anything that looked at ‘em funny. Their weird behaviour made the soul-sucking smog around them too.

Then the Headless Horsemen showed up and things really got messed up. He came in one night and killed a young man who was a carpenter. The guy was out in the woods getting some wood and they found the body a couple days after he didn’t come back. It seemed that the black Samurai could cut off a person’s head…but the person didn’t die. They just remained like they were asleep, you could hear the lungs going and feel the heart but nothing came out the neck…it was real creepy to see. Sango had turned white and Shippo had run off. Kagome screamed and even Inuyasha and Miroku had to look away. Anyway, they brought back the guy, Yuuto. Who was still in the headless house with all the other bodies. Next an old couple and their grown daughter turned up the same way, the Samurai burst into their house on his horse and took their heads at evening meal. Seemed the girl was a bit of a gossip around town and was saying that Yuuto had been having an affair or something before she died. At this point a group of villagers went out to find out what they could. Only one came back, he had the lantern from the youkai and said he found it on the forest floor. When they were attacked by the phantom it left him alone because he was carrying it. Naturally, the villagers thought the coward was great.

Inuyasha didn’t like that Yoku guy. He kept the lantern and put it up over his house, and figured out how to get the barrier to work. A little too convenient for Miroku’s liking. The weird guy also was responsible for watching over the bodies of everyone who lost their head. Not the best way to get prestige.

No matter, people kept getting beheaded who went out of the village after that and the trees got worse. The last devastating blow to the village was when a beautiful young woman was caught. She had helped the Priestess set the wards for the path to the village before Miko Riko became too drained to leave the bed. She left one day to make sure one of the wards was altered to form an invisible loop in the path so that no one else would suffer the fate of the villagers. For any outsiders who came ended up without their heads.

Kontone had been found by the path the next morning. Her head missing like the others. It was said no one was more broken by this than Yoku, because he loved Kontone. Even though she had never returned his affections, he had lived in hope that someday she would.

There weren’t many people left. Most were too old or too young to do much but breathe.

What it came down to was that there was a lantern that ate spiritual power, a missing youkai, a crazy tree line, and a phantom Inuyasha couldn’t touch on a decapitation spree.

He sighed and blinked up at the sky. Suddenly aware of a presence a roof away. Tilting his head back he peered upside-down at the perfect outline of his brother. Sesshoumaru was standing on the next roof, the moon’s rays shinning around his statuesque figure. A slight breeze ruffling the length of his mokomoko and teasing his silken platinum strands as he gazed impassively at the village in silence.

Showy bastard.

“Hey, Sesshoumaru, I was thinkin’ about what you said earlier and I want to know. Who hurt you so bad that you shut everyone out and became such a cold bastard set on beatin’ everything in sight?” Judging by the swivel of his brother’s red tinged eyes Inuyasha knew he had not only hit a nerve, but tackled and kicked it in the ‘nads as well.

“You would not comprehend, half-breed,” Sesshoumaru hissed in anger, his hand was balled into a fist and his jaw was clenched with fangs cutting into his lip. He struggled to control his rage. Inuyasha had no right to ask such a thing!

“Keh. I wouldn’t understand hurt? Like being mocked, hunted and having murder attempts made on me on a regular basis? Havin’ no one but my mom able to look at me without disgust and hate? Like being attacked by humans and demons for just breathing and havin‘ no one want to look at me or even listen to me. Just hating me on principle. Like the pain of losing my mom, the only one who gave a damn about me, then thinking I was betrayed and sealed to a tree by Kikyo…the only other person since my mom to give a damn at all. And find out later that she thought I killed her when it was Naraku all along? Or how about having my only fucking family say how stupid, useless and weak and unworthy of life I am before beating the shit out of me on a regular basis? Yeah, I don’t know a thing about pain.” Inuyasha glared angrily at his brother, holding his gaze before turning to stare in the opposite direction. “Just try me. An‘ if ya attack me now it‘ll just show how much of a coward you are, you know. Too afraid to say how you feel. Who the fuck hurt ya and what did they do to make ya such a bastard? Demons have hearts, so that‘s a load of bull. No one is born with so much arrogant anger in ‘em either. So, I know you had to come by it somehow, I was just wonderin’. ”

Sesshoumaru stood in silence for a time before relaxing his muscles and glancing side-long at his infernal brother. This Sesshoumaru had no need to speak of emotions he no longer had to another. But, he confessed, it could be seen as cowardly to provoke a useless attack on the half-breed instead of answering his far too personal question. He did not share his thoughts or experiences with any. What he did and knew were for himself.

But, perhaps Inuyasha deserved one answer after all this time. He was proving himself to be a formidable opponent and decent allay after all. Not that Sesshoumaru would ever allow himself to think of Inuyasha as anything other than a distant acquaintance. “Father,” his simple answer would have to satisfy the half-breed. The answer did not have the affect Sesshoumaru had desired.

Inuyasha threw his hands into the air, stood on the roof and swivelled to glare at him in anger. “I fucking give up. I’ve tried everything to appease you, you know, tried to just do something right over the years, even stay away from ya. But you’re a waste of effort, always have been. Just ‘cause dad fell in love with a human and had me, you‘re betrayed enough to stop giving a fuck? What the hell! I guess you were born a prick.”

Sesshoumaru twitched internally as he met his brother’s fiery glare with his icy one. “Fool, Father taught this Sesshoumaru a lesson long before he took your mother to bed. That act was a hypocrisy that merely compounded the original betrayal to me.”

Inuyasha blinked in surprise. His dad had betrayed Sesshoumaru somehow before he died for Inuyasha’s mom? What? Did he forget to complement the killing perfection’s latest battle stance or something’? From what Inuyasha knew of his father was that he was a smart old man. Smart and had a lot of passion and cared about people and stuff. He couldn’t believe he’d do anything to hurt Sesshoumaru unless the bastard really deserved it. Plus, Sesshoumaru loved their dad, he doubted he would if he’d hurt him enough to turn into the cold fucker he was now. “Huh? Whad he do? Step on your fluff or something‘?”

“He killed my mate.” Sesshoumaru snapped before he could control himself it had come out of him. His eyes flashed with pain at the memory but before it could go any further he closed his eyes and centered himself. It had been a most disappointing lapse in his control. One he should not have made, he was far more disciplined than this. He wished that he had remained silent; Inuyasha need not know such things. It was none of the hanyou’s concern. Sesshoumaru vowed to never slip again. He would control himself; such bursts of emotion that no longer affected him other than rage were not permitted in his mind. These events were far in the past and he had dealt with them. When he reopened his eyes he was greeted by the sight of Inuyasha’s pale, confused, pained features.

Inuyasha was stunned, his eyes were wide and his ears were backed to his skull. Firstly, Sesshoumaru had practically yelled, something he never did. Secondly, he had seen the pain that had flashed over his brother’s face and for some reason it really bothered him. Sesshoumaru did not have pain. Inuyasha hoped he would never see that expression again on his brother’s stoic features. It made his stomach knot with care he shouldn‘t have. Thirdly, the words that had come out of Sesshoumaru’s mouth just then. Their dad, the great demon Lord who loved his human mom, who died protecting him, who was so strong, wise and proud, passionate and honourable and who would have loved Inuyasha had he known him. The demon who left his fang to protect his son when he could not…that demon had killed his eldest son’s mate? “But…why…how?” Inuyasha stuttered as felt like his world had just suffered one of Kagome’s sits on his head. Fourthly, Sesshoumaru had a mate? The prick had liked someone more than his narcissistic self to mate?

Lord Sesshoumaru was standing directly in front of the hanyou looking down at him slightly. “It is of no matter now. Should you require further prying into This Sesshoumaru’s private affairs, ask your retainer. He should be useful for some task.” He turned away from the expressions on his brother’s open and oddly vulnerable face and leapt gracefully from the roof to land with a soft thud of booted feet on the grass below. He began to walk away toward the far edge of town. He required a moment to clear his thoughts of those old memories.

At least that had been the plan.

Inuyasha stood in confusion on the roof top with his ears a skew for all of a second before he barrelled off the roof and leapt in front of his elder brother. One hand coming up to press its palm against his breastplate and stop him in his tracks as the hanyou skidded to the halt. “Ya can’t just say something like that and walk away. How did father…why?” he demanded harshly, his large golden eyes boring into his brother. He just couldn’t understand that statement. Why would Inu no Tashio kill his son’s mate? It musta been an accident or maybe she was as much of a prick as Sesshoumaru and attacked him first.

Sesshoumaru blinked in honest surprise. Inuyasha had referred to their great Lord father as such, and not the degrading old man he usually used. Perhaps the hanyou was capable of respect after all. Perhaps, he even cared about their great father. Perhaps.

Currently his gaze was analysing the younger hanyou. The ridiculous ears were slightly back showing his anxiety, and his muscles were tensed. There was a slight flush to his dark skin that had nothing to do with activity or fatigue. The large, soulful eyes so alike and so unlike his own were searching Sesshoumaru’s face for something. Inuyasha was obviously unnerved by this truth. The reasons behind his unease the daiyoukai could only guess. The line of his lips twisted in disdain and he removed his gaze from his slighter sibling to stare over his head, between those distracting furry appendages and into the distance that only he could discern.

Not entirely certain why he chose to, Sesshoumaru decided to gift the unruly creature with an answer. If only to reward him for the brief respect he displayed in referring to their father. “This Sesshoumaru was once ignorant and irrational in allowing myself to be concerned with the actions, opinions and desires of others. I once thought of love as being an important and worthy pursuit. I have learned the truth of such foolishness over time, little brother. Those who love you will destroy you in their own selfish desires or with the desire to aid you. I know now that nothing is important save for my own needs and that which adds to my desire of supreme conquest. This Sesshoumaru does not require anyone to care for or to protect, nor to have any feel such towards me.”

“Bullshit,” Inuyasha snarled. “Having someone to protect and care for gives you strength and purpose!”

“This Sesshoumaru has a purpose, and requires only the strength gained from within,” was the deadpanned response.

“Must be really empty, being you,” Inuyasha muttered. “I can’t actually believe you loved someone other than yourself at any point.”

“Believe what you desire, Inuyasha, but the truth is that I did ‘fall in love’ with a female youkai at one time. A mistake I shall never repeat.” Sesshoumaru said flatly, the note of disdain curled around love when he said it nearly drawing fangs.

Inuyasha continued to search his brother’s fine ethereal features in the moonlight expressing his mild shock. The bastard had loved? He just couldn’t grasp it, and why would father have killed her? The confusion swam about in his head like a piranha. “Who…was she? Why…did father…kill her?”

The daiyoukai frowned slightly at the expression in his brother’s overly revealing eyes. The slighter hanyou was doubting father. It would not do to have the half-breed think their Lord father was anything less than the great being he was. Sesshoumaru would need to clarify and strangle off any of that doubt in Inuyasha’s gaze. He met the warm gold gaze with his frigid unyielding one. “I was young, and Father disapproved of her. He thought her weak, hideous, and her tainted blood was unworthy to be bound to This Sesshoumaru’s pure and noble lineage.”

“Huh? What do you mean he thought she was tainted?” Inuyasha demanded, the confusion growing in his heart as he took a step back from his brother. His arm falling down from the locked stance pressed against Sesshoumaru’s breastplate to fall limply at his side. His father thought someone was a taint? Why?

“She was of mixed blood.”

Inuyasha paled and took another step away from Sesshoumaru. His mouth open and moving silently as his eyes went impossibly wide. He felt his heart shatter in his chest and fought desperately to catch the pieces before he bled out. His father had hated a mixed breed? His father…no…no it couldn’t be! How could he! The Inu no Tashio would have loved him if he had lived, he would have, he was his father! “No!” he shouted out in desperation, hoping to prove his brother false with sheer volume.

“Calm yourself, little brother, if you continue to question This Sesshoumaru’s validity I will be forced to defend my honour.” His eyes narrowed slightly as he flexed his claws. He would not admit it, but seeing Inuyasha in such distress did not please him. But, he wished for the truth, and truth was as deadly and beautiful as the daiyoukai that did not lie. He had no need for them. “Father was correct. Though I was blind to his wisdom at the time. As those who are weak enough to allow themselves to love become.”

“But…” Inuyasha just shook his head as he clutched his chest. His father could not have said that. Sesshoumaru was just saying this shit to hurt him! But…his brother, though an asshole, he was honourable and did not lie…there was no way under the sun he’d love a hanyou though. Never.

“She was a youkai hanyou.” Sesshoumaru gazed over his little brother into the welcome shadows once more. “Her mother a panther demon, her father a rabbit demon. She was weak, despite this I did teach her to fight. Her speed was her greatest asset in battle; she could easily outrun This Sesshoumaru, an admiral feat. Her demeanour was calm and reserved. She was highly intelligent, which made up for any lack of physical strength in her combat, and made her a fitting companion. She was not beautiful in the eyes of many for her combined blood gave her a unique look. I was not concerned with such frivolousness. It would have been a poor match for any offspring we would have conceived with the mingling of three bloodlines. Such was our only concern of our union.”

Inuyasha just stared at Sesshoumaru’s distant expression and mechanical description in mingled hurt and denial. “How…?”

“Father forbade our union. He believed she was manipulating me for her panther mother’s end and insisted her mixed blood was not worthy of his firstborn. Mother believed her to be a peasant and unable to obtain the grace of nobility and power required in the mate of a daiyoukai. I chose to disregard their concerns and prepared to make her my mate. Father learned of this and was enraged. As well he should for the disobedience I showed. He interrupted us, and engaged her in combat when she refused to leave me. This Sesshoumaru was not strong enough to save her. Thus it was my own failure that ended her life. I fought Father by her side but we were no match for our great father. Eventually he cast me aside and destroyed her with his fangs to her throat. I later learned that her mother had indeed been planning to use her to move against Father.”

“Sesshoumaru…why did you still love Father so…if he…” Inuyasha just couldn’t think right now. His heart was in pieces. He could taste bile in his throat as he swallowed against the physical pain of hearing this. “…and she…was she… was she using you?”

Sesshoumaru’s gaze remained in the distant shadows. “I was blind and took her love at face value. I know not if she would have used my affections or not, though the evidence was most convincing to her intended betrayal of my trust. I love and respect Father because he was a great daiyoukai. I bear no ill feelings regarding the past event because I would have done the same in his place for a pup of mine. He chose to remove a threat which I had been blind to. A mistake I vowed never to repeat. This Sesshoumaru was made to understand how manipulative, fleeting and hurtful love and contact are. As well as the fault of not being strong enough to keep what you desired that day. It was a most valuable lesson.” His eyebrows furrowed slightly as a thought crossed the shadows of his eyes. “I am not certain I ever managed to regain Father‘s trust in me. Though I believe I had, my doubts returned when I learned he left Tetsusaiga to you. I wondered if it was a punishment to my failures.”

“He killed an unworthy hanyou…then died saving the one he had made…” whispered Inuyasha as he sank to his knees in the grass. Pain etched over his entire being. No wonder Sesshoumaru hated him. No wonder he had shut himself away. It was still cowardly to do…but now Inuyasha understood. His brother had been hurt bad and he had decided not to be hurt again by not letting himself get attached.

Feet paused on the ground in front of the desolate kneeling hanyou. Sesshoumaru’s gaze fell onto the dropping ears of his little brother and he frowned. Seeing Inuyasha with such shattered ideals was not satisfying in the least to the daiyoukai. A part of him wished to ease the pain held in the lines of the younger Inu’s being. “Do not compare the situations. My Lord Father’s dalliance with your human mother was not the same.”

“How is it not?” Inuyasha whispered to the grass. “Is this not why ya hate me so much? ‘cause dad killed a youkai hanyou you loved and said she wasn’t good enough…then went and died saving me and mom? You can’t say it isn’t…I kinda understand why you‘re an asshole…now. An‘ why you hate me so much. It ain‘t right…but it makes sense. ”

“Father was already dying that night. Do not claim all the responsibility for his death. I would have been the one to rightfully finish him had he not thrown himself at that human’s blade.”

“Keh. Figures…had to be even better than dad by defeating him too?” Inuyasha muttered, though, somehow he doubted Sesshoumaru could have lain the killing blow on their father. Perhaps, the old man had known this and out of some weird act of compassion chose to die that night by a human hand and saved Sesshoumaru the choice. Though, that insight in Inuyasha’s mind was still overshadowed by the hurt at learning his father had been partially responsible for making his brother such a bastard to begin with. His dad was trying to protect his eldest. Yeah, understandable…but did he have to kill her and say she was weak? Maybe he had been different before…maybe he had grown more compassionate over the years? Or maybe he just didn’t like that one hanyou because she was going to hurt his son. So many questions now that he didn’t have before. So much uncertainty. A large part of him wondered how he could make Sesshoumaru realize that not everyone he loved was going to betray him or die? His bastard needed a bit of warmth in his heart or he’d never be happy. Then again, what did Inuyasha care of his brother’s well-being?

Yeah…he did care…but only a bit. Maybe a little more now that he knew how he’d turned into such an icy shell and that it really wasn’t healthy for him.

“Yes.” The daiyoukai responded curtly before his feet disappeared from Inuyasha’s line of sight.

Inuyasha remained lost in thought staring at the dark grass under his knees. His furry ears followed Sesshoumaru’s departure as his mind mulled over his options. He needed to make Sesshoumaru stop running away from himself, or surely he’d self-implode after all these years of locking shit up. No wonder he always went all feral when he was pissed, he couldn’t deal with his emotions and exploded in the only angry way he knew how now. Keh. His brother really was more fucked up than he was. Who’d a thought?

His ears dropped and his shoulders slumped. Fuck, he was tired. First he was tired from the messed up day and worry over his friends, now more so from the encounter with his brother. And he really needed a bath. He stunk and was covered in sticky, crusty, itchy dead bloody tree bits. Too bad the humans here weren’t nice enough to offer him a bath like the others got. Keh. Figures. His brain hurt too. And his heart was still aching with the revelation his dad wasn’t such an all-loving guy after all. Plus, the biggest shocker, maybe his bastard wasn’t as much as all-loathing youkai either…

Inuyasha’s brow furrowed as he continued to stare at his knees and the grass. Would his dad have loved him? He always thought he would…but what if his hanyou son had done something to disappoint him…like his perfect full-blooded son seemed to have? What would his dad have done then? What had his dad thought or been trying to teach them? It was so confusing. It seemed like he loved them even though he was dead…both his sons and wanted them to work together and protect them and crap. That’s why he gave Inuyasha Tetsusaiga, a sword that cut and learned and made his physically slightly weaker son able to battle anything, including his own demon blood. And he gave Sesshoumaru Tenseiga, a sword that could save lives and had control over the after life so his emotionally fucked up son had to have compassion. The swords were made to be brothers and worked together and could counter act one another so neither of his sons could off the other while wearing the blade. He left obstacles for them to work out…together…trying to get them to co-operate even if neither really wanted to. Both of ‘em were independent. Inuyasha wanted to prove his strength over Sesshoumaru and have him actually respect him…he had always thought Sesshoumaru just didn’t want to have anything to do with him period. Now, he kinda wondered if Sesshoumaru didn’t want anything to do with him ‘cause he felt too hurt by their dad. That still hurt.

Inuyasha frowned. Sesshoumaru still felt that dad was punishing him. Not that he was trying to teach him or something. He was still hurt under all that ice. He was afraid to touch anyone….whoa. His mighty brother was afraid. Inuyasha never would have thought there’d be a day he thought that. But there it was and he was certain it was true.

He rubbed his face. With determination he dragged his tired ass up and stood on his feet. He needed a dunk in the river and then he needed to think of how to help his brother. Yeah, he knew Sesshoumaru wouldn’t appreciate the help. But he needed it and Inuyasha wasn’t going to let his brother rot from the inside any more now that he knew it was happening. Not even the bastard deserved that kind of shit. Inuyasha knew how consuming a lost love could be, considering his own issues with Kikyo. Oi.

He had to think of a way to help Sesshoumaru let some affection into himself. Rin was probably the best bet since his brother did have an odd attachment to the kid. He didn’t have to be all mushy and touchy feely or anything…Sesshoumaru wasn’t that kind of demon. Neither was Inuyasha. But, just a bit of affection. Like patting the kid on the head or something. But…if Sesshoumaru was afraid he’d lose Rin, and he would some day ‘cause she was human and all that. That was another issue. Inuyasha’s ears drooped as he walked toward the river. He didn’t want to hurt Sesshoumaru more like that. But, his brother couldn’t be locked away inside himself either. Inuyasha had already learned that lesson and now he had friends whom he cared for dearly, it was easy to show a bit of his real feeling in his own way. And they got it. Tough, he knew they might not last as long as him…it was more of a reason to be close to them now and enjoy what they had, right? Right.

How to explain that to his brother in a way that wouldn’t get him decapitated by a whip was the question. Maybe he could tie him up or something and force him to listen at the end of Tetsusaiga’s blade?

Man he was tired.

He blinked as he stared at his starlit reflection in the dark, cold water at his feet. He looked more like shit than usual. The barrier began about 5 feet away from the bank so the villagers could still fish and get water in relative safety. Well, what few fish still swam here. It was rather shallow for the first four feet, but good enough. Inuyasha glanced surreptitiously around the area to make sure there were no humans, demons, perverted toads or creepy trees watching him. Hastily he removed Tetsusaiga and set it by the bank before he stripped off his clothes at inhuman speed and squatted modestly by the bank, his pale hair cascading over his honeyed flesh hiding it from the stars. His ears swivelled and his nose was on hyper alert as he briskly washed the crap out of his beloved fire-rat clothing and white undergarment. Satisfied they weren’t gooey anymore and could clean themselves the rest of the way he tip-toed into the water. Yelping and leaping out a second later. “Fuck! That’s frigid!” he growled before glancing around again in embarrassment.

Sucking it up he danced in and out a few times until his lean flesh adjusted to the cold and he sank down to a level in the water that was just below his unhappy nipcicles. The poor things were pointy and angry in the cold and damned sensitive. He swore he was chewing on his ‘nads as well considering they had sucked unto his body so damn fast for protection. His damn ears were shaking too and his fangs were gnashed together to stop their rattling. He’d had way worse than a little cold water. But shit, this sucked. Why couldn’t they let him have a kettle heated bath like Sango and Kagome? Fucking villagers. Here he was trying to help ‘em and they treat him like crap. But he had to step away or his friends wouldn’t relax here and they needed to more than him. He was used to the insults, suspicion and rocks after all.

He scrubbed at his now reddened skin viscously, attempting to warm it as he got off the sticky sappy blood. Urgh. It was all through his damn hair too and taking way to long to get out. He could barely feel his clawed toes in the bank. Hell, Jaken could come along and bite them off and he wouldn’t even feel it! Suspiciously he glared into the dark water in search of shadows to see nothing but his torso disappearing beneath the surface. While still yanking at his hair he had a moment of paranoia and lifted up each foot and wiggled the toes in turn to check to see if they were still there. Yup. Relief was his as he then tried to see what that black thing on his ankle was. He squinted at it in the poor light and guessed it was a smudge of mud. At least that’s what he presumed since before he could get a proper look his other foot slipped on something slimy and he went under with a flail of lean limbs and spray of white hair.

He was sure something was after his feet, damnit! He cursed and thrashed around under the dark water, momentarily lost as to which way was up. He slashed his claws at his legs and accidentally cut into himself. He would have cursed but as his mouth was too full of water it proved ineffective. Still, the intention was there. Kicking into the mud, which now covered his entire body he charged to the surface, only to collide with the barrier which shot him maliciously back into the river to skid onto the bank in a heap of mud, hair, frozen skin and his balls lodged somewhere in his throat making him feel rather nauseated. His ass was in the air and his arms were pinned under him, how his legs had ended up in the position they were in was a true mystery to physics.

One golden eye glared balefully from under the fringe of hair at the river. His claws twitched and his gaze shifted to his sword. The villagers really didn’t need the river, did they? His left ear kept twitching in irritation, there seemed to be something weighing on it. Inuyasha presumed it was more mud and water since he was now half-deaf from it. He flicked them in annoyance, still considering the possibility of a wind scar landscaping job.

“I thought the purpose of bathing was to become clean.” Sesshoumaru’s deep voiced murmured from a few feet away.

Ah, humiliation, how else could this day go? Inuyasha thought as he lay frozen for a moment in position. His cheeks were flushing on both sides of his body at the sheer blow to what was left of his frail ego. He shot up off the ground and swivelled in a curtain of wet hair to meet his brother’s amused, condescending gaze. “Like you’d know, I doubt you’ve ever had one.” He spat in annoyance. Just because he was going to help his brother, didn’t mean he had to be nice to him. Just ‘cause his brother didn’t get enough hugs as a kid…wait…maybe…yeah. Perfect! Inuyasha suddenly had an idea. This was what Kagome would do in this situation was it not? She would listen, and offer her support and, yeah. This was what he needed to do to help his brother know that he could feel something other than hate and it wouldn‘t kill him.

Sesshoumaru had left Inuyasha not long before intent on his solitude. The memories were stirring emotions and doubts he did not wish to stir. He required some time to clam himself and regain his control. He confessed that seeing the hurt and confusion on Inuyasha had caused him discomfort as well. For what reason he was not certain.

He had not been gone long from the hanyou when he had heard the soft yelp. Curious, the daiyoukai had come silently to observe what the whelp had done only to witness the most bizarre spectacle of bathing he had ever the chance to observe. The water was certainly too chill for Inuyasha yet he had gone in anyway after much dramatics. All the while apparently fearful he would be observed. Why his brother was fearful of his nudity was beyond him. He was a hanyou, attractive and bestial, there was nothing to be ashamed of or care for. Then for some unknown reason he had to look at his feet and growl at the water as though it were attacking him. Sesshoumaru had briefly placed his hand on Tokijin wondering if there was a water youkai that he could not see, but his strange half-brother had then fallen into the water to then bounce off the barrier to land in a heap nearly at his feet. He could tell be the way Inuyasha was looking at his blade that he was considering a wind scar. Such a waste of a noble attack. The whole scene was beyond his comprehension.

Then again, the hanyou often was. The position his brother had landed in could not go without a comment. Now the hanyou was facing him, wet, muddy and flushed seemingly uncaring of his nudity where he had been so conscious of before. How strange. Sesshoumaru was about to respond to the curt insult but instead found himself staring wide-eyed ahead in utter shock.

Inuyasha had thrown himself forward and hugged him.

“Inuyasha, what are you doing?”

“Proving a point.” Inuyasha growled into Sesshoumaru’s shoulder. His arms were wrapped tightly around the daiyoukai’s armoured back and he could feel the spikes on the breastplate jabbing into him. As well as the fact the metal was fucking cold on his already cold skin and he shivered despite himself. This was what Sesshoumaru needed, he was sure of it. He just hoped his brother wouldn’t hurt him too much for it.

“And what is this point?” Sesshoumaru ground out. His body remained rigid in the warm, plaint hold of Inuyasha. It was taking most of his self-restraint to not snap the pup’s head off his shoulders. Instead, he forced his arm to remain straight and still at his side.

Inuyasha thought that hugging Sesshoumaru like this wasn’t as awful as he thought it would be. He was wrapped in his smell and the fur was really warm and soft, and his head was still attached. “I’m provin’ to you that you can touch someone, other than to punch ‘em, in a nice way and it won’t hut ya and that the person won’t betray ya. That point.”

Sesshoumaru tensed further, if that was possible. “And what makes you believe I wish to touch you?”

“Nothin’ but someone needed to do it, and it might as well be me. ‘Cause I ain’t goin’ anywhere unless you kill me, keh. And out of everyone around I think I understand you the most. Next to the kid and toad you drag around. Granted I don’t understand you much, but that’s more than a lot of others. And they would never touch you unless you let ‘em. And you should pat the kid on the head and tell her she does a good job or something sometime. Havin‘ to live without contact and a bit of positive compliment is torture for a human, you know.” Inuyasha grumbled as he continued his hold. Kinda afraid now that as soon as he lets go Sesshoumaru will skewer him. It was a justifiable fear.

Something in what Inuyasha babbled touched a nerve in Sesshoumaru. He blinked ahead quite glad there were none to see his momentarily stunned facial expression that revealed the jab of pain in his chest before he quickly recovered his mask of stoic indifference. “Rin, is developing well without human over indulgence. I am certain you are aware, a human I am not. Thus, I do not feel as you and your companions do Inuyasha. Now cease this foolishness before I make a further spectacle of you than you already have made of yourself.”

“No.” Inuyasha continued to cling stubbornly to his wall of a brother. “You might not feel like a human does, I know, they can be over-emotional basket-cases, keh. But, you do feel. Just as intensely….but different kinda. An’ I think you need at recognize that or you’re going to combust. You can like people ya know…it’s worth it. Even if they die.”

“If they die, it would be a waste of effort. This Sesshoumaru is better off alone. Release me.”

“I ain’t letting you go until you hug me back and see it ain’t that bad.” Inuyasha growled stubbornly. He refused to back down now. “And…uh…how’s your nose?” Inuyasha asked quietly.

“My nose?” Sesshoumaru responded in bafflement. Now what was the pest onto?

“Yeah…it was bleedin’ earlier from that lucky shot and well…it bugged me.” He muttered into his brother’s armour.

“I healed immediately. My nose is fine.”

“Oh…good.” Inuyasha remained silent for a moment as Sesshoumaru stared blankly forward still resisting the urge to decapitate his obviously insane brother. Perhaps it was best to avoid the water. “What is it you want from life anyway?”

“Supreme conquest.” Sesshoumaru responded instantly as he began to walk toward the river bank. Expertly ignoring the hanyou’s wiggling and ever changing scent.

Inuyasha, refusing to release him, scrambled around before wrapping his arms around Sesshoumaru shoulders and hoisting himself upward to link his knees around the daiyoukai’s waist. He used the obi knot to cushion his chilly dick from the air and armour. It felt kinda nice actually. When Sesshoumaru moved with his long even stride the soft silk was rubbing against him in just the right way…ack. Inuyasha was blushing again. This was wrong, he was supposed to be showing Sesshoumaru he could be nice, not getting hard from being against him. He had to stop…what was he thinking before? Oh yeah… “Supreme Conquest? Of what and who will benefit? You just going to make sure you’re the strongest ass around for some shallow self pride? Yeah, well, does pride fucking hold you tight when you need it and challenge ya and offer you support? Who’s gunna respect you if you have no friends and no one to care about? Nothin’ to fight for? Proving that you’re strong is all right, and you are, but the strength would be awful shallow and unsatisfying for you if you have no one to prove yerself for. What’s the point of supreme conquest if you don’t have anyone to protect and keep you striving to be better and who will question yer motiv- gah! What the fuck are you doin‘?! ” Inuyasha had to cling tighter to his brother as the daiyoukai bent down.

Sesshoumaru had been successfully ignoring Inuyasha’s existence. The svelte body surprisingly light and soft against his and easily overlooked. He considered himself well adept at ignoring unnecessary vocalization. Living with Jaken for a century was proof of his mastery. But when Inuyasha spoke of having no one to protect he had frozen where he stood bent at the waist. The hanyou still clinging desperately to him with his legs clenched tightly against his hips shouting.

Why did everyone believe this Sesshoumaru required someone to protect and feel affection for? The last thing his father had asked was if there was someone for him to protect. When his father knew well that Sesshoumaru required no one as he himself had taught that lesson! Now, here was Inuyasha saying much the same thing when the conversation came to his desires in life. Why was this? Why did they all believe he was in need of someone to share with? Someone who would dare question and challenge him and he would feel the need to protect and not eliminate them for their insolence? He could not understand. A thoughtful frown etched across his features.

Yet, some distant part of him did wonder at these things. Someone to protect…someone to care for…how ridiculous.

He reached down and shook out Inuyasha’s fire-rat robe and stuffed the various layers under his breastplate beneath the cursing hanyou.

“Hey asshole! What are you doing with my clothes!?”

“I am presuming at some point you will wish to wear them again and cover your tainted hide. As I have no desire to remain here all evening, I thought to take them with me.” Sesshoumaru droned in response. He next reached down and gingerly lifted Tetsusaiga by the sheath. Inuyasha tensed against him.

“Put down my sword!”

“I will release our father’s fang when you release me,” Sesshoumaru murmured into a desperately flicking ear with a smirk.

Inuyasha growled. “I ain’t letting you go until you hug me back!” Yes, he knew this was at the point of being stupidly pointless, but, he had started this and he would damn well finish it.

“How long do you believe you will be able to remain clinging to me, little brother, before your muscles give out?” His cool golden gaze was fixed on the irritated, reddened ear before him. He was mildly amused Inuyasha had not noted the state of his body as yet.

“As long as it takes!” the hanyou growled in response glaring chillingly at his elder sibling’s chin.

“As you wish. Until that time you shall remain in absence of your clothing and fang.” With that Sesshoumaru slid Tetsusaiga alongside Tenseiga at his hip. The two swords hummed in warm greeting to one another while Tokijin seemed to hiss.

Inuyasha was blushing in both embarrassment and frustration. He would be stuck naked to his brother until the fucker relented? Honestly, why couldn’t Sesshoumaru just pat his back or something? They’d both be free! But no, asshole had to make it more difficult by being an asshole! And Inuyasha was not going to back down, damnit! Even if he had to freeze to him to prove it! It was for Sesshoumaru’s own good! “Then I guess yer stuck with a naked hanyou frozen to yer chest for eternity! How’s that feel to yer pride?”

Sesshoumaru actually snorted. “I am not the one clinging to my brother’s chest naked, now am I?” With that he turned elegantly on one foot and began to walk back towards the sleeping village’s outskirts. Aware of the triangular ears falling closer to Inuyasha’s skull with every step. He stopped by an uninhabited house before his strong legs tensed slightly. He leapt fluidly onto the roof and stood for a moment surveying his perch. “Though, before I settle down for the evening I will need to do something about these.”

Inuyasha tightened his grip on his brother as he was momentarily airborne. The leap was very smooth and the landing soft. Bastard. As they stood on the roof his irritated ear twitching, Inuyasha frowned. What did he mean by settling down for the night and those? He glanced sharply at his brother’s face. “What are you talking about?” His ear continued to flip and he wished he could free a hand because he was getting itchy on several spots of his body due to the mud. He also wished Sesshoumaru would stop moving just in that certain way and rubbing his obi against his crotch. Inuyasha was certain the bastard was doing it on purpose, to test his resolve. Well, test away, Inuyasha was not letting go until he got his fucking hug!

A clawed hand with a marked wrist reached up to hover over the highly irritated furry dog ear. The delicate sweet acidic floral sent of Sesshoumaru’s poison bombarded Inuyasha’s nose and he paled. “Wait…what are you doing?! Sesshoumaru!?” his voice rose to an embarrassing note in his desperation. Sword, he could get back, clothes, he could deal without for a while, and utter humiliation he had been through enough of to cope…the loss of his ears? No fucking way.

Inuyasha nearly vaulted from his brother as the calculating winter sun gaze remained unmoving beneath the magenta lidded eyes and those deadly claws descended to his hair. Instead of the instant, painful burn of the poison which Inuyasha knew well melting away his ears, there was a sense of relief as the irritant that had been laying heavily on the sensitive appendage was removed. He blinked his large eyes in surprise and attempted to twist up his neck to see what it was his brother had done. His ear flicked and perked up gratefully toward Sesshoumaru showing its appreciation to the tender ministration. “Huh?”

Sesshoumaru moved his hand into the hanyou’s visual range so that Inuyasha could inspect what lay shrivelled between his thumb and index claws. “Leeches. You are covered in them,” he stated blandly. The hanyou’s panic as he believed he was about to be parted with his ears had made this whole evening’s tribulations worth while.

Inuyasha blinked at the leech deteriorating in his bother’s claws then craned his neck to look at himself. More specifically the places that itched. Sure enough, those spots had plump black slimy leeches attached to him. His first instinct was to leap off his brother and rip the blood-suckers off on ‘im. But, no, he needed his hug first. Fuck. “Keh. Afraid they’ll snack on yer superior blood in the night?”

“No. The poison in my blood would kill them. But having them gorge themselves on you and on burst on me would be revolting,” he responded as he reached down and removed another painlessly from Inuyasha’s shoulder.

“Keh, figures you’d be nice at me to avoid getting messy.” The hanyou snorted

“We all make sacrifices.”

Sesshoumaru remained standing with Inuyasha hanging off his front bathed in the moon’s soft light. The pair was reflecting the gentle beams from their hair and eyes but were blind to the mystical image they made. Since Inuyasha was focused mostly on staying put and making Sesshoumaru fucking just hug him already. While Sesshoumaru was systematically removing the revolting leeches from his brother’s flesh. He noted as he finished with the hanyou’s arms and swept the hair aside that his wounds from earlier had nearly healed.

“Are ya done yet?” Inuyasha muttered into his brother’s hair. After the activities of earlier, how was it Sesshoumaru always came out without a smudge of dirt? It was infuriating, really. Inuyasha yawned largely and wrinkled his nose. Man, he was tired. And his back was cold.

“I just started.”

Inuyasha also found the gentle touch of his brother’s fingers extremely unnerving. How could Sesshoumaru be so soft when all he did was put holes in people? Seriously? He felt the hands travel over most his available skin and it was lulling him. His previous arousal was fading ‘cause he was getting damn sleepy and starting to hang more on his brother than hold. He felt Sesshoumaru’s hand pause at his ankle…guess that smudge wasn’t mud after all. He’d been right…something was after his feet! The hands gently ghosted over arms, back, legs, thighs and pried him off enough to inspect his front before Inuyasha settled back with another yawn. Sesshoumaru was currently working on his right leg. “So…what were ya planning for tomorrow? I thought I saw something cross your mind when we were talkin’ to that creepy guy taking care of the bodies.” A slight shiver rolled over his spine at the memory. What was his name? Oh yeah…Yoku. He’d been real helpful with information and stuff, let them look up at the lantern he kept for the tree youkai, but he was creepy. He’d looked at Sango and Kagome like he might jump ‘em, both he and Miroku had set his mind straight on that. Hell, he’d even eyed Sesshoumaru funny. Granted, Sesshoumaru was extremely good lookin’ for a guy or girl but…yeah…it was a weird look and made Inuyasha really antsy.

Sesshoumaru glanced sharply at Inuyasha. “What did you scent in that room where he held the headless humans, Inuyasha?” His fingers caressed the soft inside of the hanyou’s knee pausing to remove and flick yet another leech over the roof to corrode with his poison.

Inuyasha wriggled his nose. “It was really clean. Like he cleaned there all the time. A lot of harsh crap that burned my nose. Even the bodies were like that…I figured he wanted to make sure they didn’t have anything on ‘em ‘cause they were stationary and missing their heads and all.” He shrugged.

“Hn. That was all?” Sesshoumaru asked quietly as his fingers trailed along the thigh in a path that was unnecessary for his task.

“Yeah. What? Did I miss somthin’?” Inuyasha demanded gruffly.

“Yes.”

“Well, what did I miss? There was so much burning shit in there it was hard at smell anything, all I know was the guy was creepy. I thought he might jump Kagome and Sango an’ I was glad to get out a there. Though, I guess dealin‘ with dead people can make ya lonely.”

Sesshoumaru snorted, his fingers caressing the underside of the hanyou’s thigh. “Inuyasha, beneath that purposefully harsh scent, the bodies and room reeked of sex.”

“What?!” Inuyasha nearly flung himself away from Sesshoumaru in his disgust. “What are ya sayin’?”

“Must I say it for you under developed mind? Yoku has been, as far as I can tell, raping the bodies he watches so diligently. At least two of the females.”

Inuyasha was flabbergasted and felt like he would hurl. “That’s…that’s…”

“Dishonourable? Revolting? Despicable? Indeed.” Sesshoumaru murmured.

“Whoa…we agree on somthin’” Inuyasha blinked in surprise.

“Hn.”

“Why didn’t you do anything? I need to go back and get rid of the pervert!” Inuyasha’s eyes flashed in anger.

“The villagers would never believe you, and it would not answer the question of what has become of the forest and the spectre who rides within.” Sesshoumaru cast a look at his brother.

“Yeah…but…”

“This Sesshoumaru believes Yoku is behind the ghost, but I must learn of the nature of his control before I recklessly kill the human. Should I release this wood’s affliction onto more of the land. Once my questions are answered, you may do as you wish to the worthless human.”

“But he could be hurtin’ those bodies right now! How long will I need at wait for you at get your answers?” Inuyasha barked angrily.

“Tomorrow. This Sesshoumaru will have his answers then.” The voice held such arrogant certainty that Inuyasha believed it.

“Er…how?”

“I will visit the other youkai who held sway over these forests. Powerful in her own right, but not near to my strength. She and Naoki were companions, as I recall. If any know what occurred here, it will be her.”

“Who?”

“Lady Medusa.”

“Medusa? What kinda weird name is that?” Inuyasha demanded.

“Hn. Greek, I believe, she said something about being named after her grand-mother who lived there. This Sesshoumaru did not pay attention to the details, for when last we met I was merely passing through. Such trivial conversation holds no importance.”

“I’m amazed she got a word in edgewise around your ego,” Inuyasha snarled as he slumped against Sesshoumaru. Fuck, when had they ever talked this much? He couldn’t think of a time…and hell they weren’t even bleeding. This had to be a first. Though, he really wanted to go beat the shit out of the creep in the village. It was the right thing to do. He had no desire to have a nearly helpless Kagome around the same zip code as that freak. Sango…well…he’d have to rely on her to keep Kagome and Miroku safe for now.

Sesshoumaru too was in mild wonderment over the fact he had yet to separate the yapping puppy’s head from his body. A testament to his tolerance. He gently sniffed the hanyou’s ear, which seemed to be most grateful from his earlier removal of the leech. The soft appendage kept fluttering teasingly against his cheek in a gentle caress.

The daiyoukai supposed his hanyou was not as repulsive as first thought. He was pleasant to look upon and his scent was endearing. The boy was determined, proud, and strong…despite being naive, overly vocal and quite crude at times. Though those last three qualities could be changed in time. Tenderly he ran his hand down the seam of Inuyasha’s spine over the muscular, firm, plump curve of his tan ass; which fit perfectly against his large hand. He smirked a moment before the dangerous elegant hand glided underneath the length of puckered skin to search with a gentle caress behind the heavy sac of the hanyou’s heated, downy white-furred scrotum.

Inuyasha gasped as clawed fingers that he was accustomed to having put holes in his body were flitting about his privates. Never mind they belonged to his half-brother. His entire body went tense, his legs clamping around the armoured body and his large golden eyes nearly flying from their sockets. “Er…what are you doing?” he rasped.

“Searching,” was Sesshoumaru’s emotionless response.

“Searching for what? A way to castrate me?!” Inuyasha howled in tension as he felt the hand moving around down there. Pressing along a fold of skin here that made him tremble to…oh shit! What ever Sesshoumaru’s knuckle hit on the back of his sac made his toes curl and a most embarrassing whine to slide from his lips. What kinda shit was this? All he wanted was for Sesshoumaru to give him a hug! Was that so damn hard? No, he had to keep him naked and flaunt around the village with him, get him all relaxed with conversation and then fucking molest him?! Why? “Oh….kami! Se-Sesshoumaruuu stop that!” he growl-moaned as that damn finger slid tantalizingly over the very soft piece of skin behind his balls he had no idea was THAT sensitive. Hell, no one had ever touched him like this before, and now Sesshoumaru, his arch rival, bastard of an uncaring brother, was getting him off on the fucking roof in front of blood-thirsty trees wh-

“There, the last.” Sesshoumaru’s hand slid back and brought yet another very fat leech up to Inuyasha’s flushed, aroused features to view.

The hanyou turned an even brighter crimson in self-loathing. “Oh. Thanks.” He muttered into the daiyoukai’s hair. Honestly, he had no desire to think of where that thing had been feasting. The little rapist. He should pop its head open. There was also the most disturbing thought that he rather liked what Sesshoumaru had been doing to him. Was that fucked up or what? He had to calm down.

Fortunately, for he leech it was out of Inuyasha’s vengeful grasp and was already sizzling with poison as Sesshoumaru discarded it over the roof. With no warning he sat down against a post which supported the small roof over the main roof where the smoke escaped from the hearth below. Inuyasha was forced to adjust himself since his ass was now in Sesshoumaru’s lap. The daiyoukai closed his eyes, and Inuyasha huffed trying to get comfortable on his brother. He was cold. And overly tired. And really confused.

“You are quite responsive to touch as well as to words, little brother.” Sesshoumaru’s voice seemed slightly husky in the hanyou’s ear.

“Fuck you,” Inuyasha yawned, nuzzling into the long neck.

“You do seem to desire that.”

“Keh. See? You think everything is about you…stop being such a selfish prick”

“It is about me, for This Sesshoumaru is all that matters.”

“To Sesshoumaru, don’t you want someone else for this Sesshoumaru to matter to other than a stalker toad and a kid that’ll grow up angry? You need at give what ya want…and all that crap…Bastard.”

“I am father’s recognized heir and son, you were not.”

“Keh. My mom loved me more than your mom loved you.”

“Hn. Perhaps, as my mother is a full blooded, noble Lady youkai, whom I take after greatly. Though, she would certainly argue that saying your mother loved you more than she loves me as an insult to her pride.”

“Great,” Inuyasha murmured with his eyes closed, he snuggled against the cool metal and warm fluff. “There’s two of…wait…” his eyes opened groggily. “Your mom’s alive?”

“You sound surprised.”

Inuyasha peered up at his brother’s facial stripes. “I am…I thought she was dead like mine…”

“You are wrong, she is quite well, last we spoke.”

“When was that?” Inuyasha asked, genuinely curious.

“About 150 years ago.”

“You haven’t talked to your mom in 150 years?! Sheesh, you’re a horrible son! Now I know she doesn’t love you as much as mine loved me. She’s your mom!” Inuyasha had a soft spot for his own mother and was appalled that Sesshoumaru could ignore his like that.

“She is my Lady Mother, independent and proud. I would not disturb her unless there was a good reason to do so.”

“Oh…there are two of you…shit.” Inuyasha cursed to himself, flopping back with the dull slapping sound of flesh against metal. “Did she know my mom?”

“No. She felt betrayed by father’s indiscretion, but she forgave him. She and our Lord Father loved, but preferred to travel alone at times. He could not control her entertainment any more than she could control his…passions.” Sesshoumaru said quietly.

“Oh…” Inuyasha felt small again. True, many lords took many wives, but still. It felt like someone had just kicked him in the gut. So not only had dad killed the hanyou Sesshoumaru had loved, he’d cheated on his mom too to make one. Really, why shouldn’t Sesshoumaru have hard feelings? Stupid that he blamed Inuyasha for shit that wasn’t his fault…but understandable.

“Go to sleep, half-breed, your mind is making too much noise for me to rest.”

“I’ll sleep when you stop yackin’”

“Agreed.” With that Sesshoumaru closed his eyes and did not utter a single word more. With Inuyasha’s warm body snugly wrapped around him and the hanyou’s grateful ear touching his lips.

Inuyasha’s eyes grew dull as he snuggled back in with a quiver, he rested his cheek against Sesshoumaru’s neck and could feel the strong steady pulse there. Weird, they were both so vulnerable to the other but neither was acting on it. Must be this place. He shoved his nose into his brother’s shoulder, all the weird blood smells were drowned out by his powerful musk. It was kinda nice…

Just as he was dozing off, he felt a long, powerful arm wrap around his hips. The slender fingers curling against his flat belly, and fur shifting to cover his cold back. He smirked into the broad shoulder at his lips. For once, he seemed to have gotten something right.

“I win. See? It ain‘t that bad.”

“…” Was the daiyoukai’s silent accord.

The last sound Inuyasha heard was the growl of his own stomach.

---

A/N Yeah, I know…I’ll get this one done before next Halloween, and I swear I’ll finish typing up the next couple chapters of legacy as soon as I can! But every time I give an exact date of update I get further off track. So, no more guesses, I'll update when I can.