Blinding the Consequences

A big thanks to my beta for making sense of my ramblings, and to all of you who have reviewed- I hope you enjoy this little update-

I don't own these characters and I don't make any money off of this, it's just for fun-


Sesshomaru didn't question the ravens sudden attachment to his brother. He would have chosen the raven youkai to watch over his brother in any case. InuYasha was a little more relaxed around the raven than any of the guards that were always within sight all about the castle.
His brother had not had another lapse back into an old memory of his capture since the first. He was quite pleased with InuYasha's progress thus far. His brother had grown more confident of his surroundings and his place in the castle life. Even not remembering Sesshomaru or coming to live at the castle when he was younger, though Sesshomaru felt this also might just be his instinct taking over where his memories where blank. At a young age a pup would be looking for a secure environment that, offered him safety, warmth and food. He had all these here in his home so he didn't question it.
InuYasha listened to the raven as he spoke the poetry. He enjoyed reading but he enjoyed listening even more. He was distracted briefly by the fox rushing past the opening to the garden they where currently in. He could smell that garden on the fox when he was near. He had no idea why the fox would spend so much time in a place he personally didn't want to go near. He liked most of the garden here at his new home, but that one made him uneasy.
He looked up at a window high above him he could see his brother, sitting looking at something beyond his vision. he smiled and then brought his attention back to the raven who had continued reading even though he knew the hanyou was distracted.
"Have you and Santus known each other long?"
The Kohame stopped reading and looked up a the young prince.
The raven wondered briefly if the hanyou realized those ears made it hard to resist his request. Where at this moment pointed towards him, the gentle curiosity that the raven had grown used to, was plain on his face.
"Well, it is not a very complicated tale Prince InuYasha, to be frank, I am with the young fox because I owed his father my life."
InuYasha leaned back against the trunk of the tree.
"So you are taking care of Santus?"
The raven smiled gently.
"You might say that, you are young so falling in love is a somewhat foreign design to you. It is only recently that our historians have been looking to our past, how we were in the beginning. Youkai were primal, thinking only of survival and passing on strong genes. Love for youkai is a relatively new thing at least for us to think on. And amongst most royal youkai it is still often dismissed. Each generation that comes and goes it becomes something that can not be ignored. Though it is often considered a luxury for the lower class youkai."
InuYasha nodded.
"Now young Santus, knows loves high and it's tragic low."
The raven looked saddened by a memory of the time.
"I am afraid I can not tell you of whom he loved and how it nearly brought an end to his life, this is his story to tell. But, as young Santus lay dying, his father called upon me, and begged me to find a away to keep his youngest son from perishing."
"You saved him?"
The raven chuckled.
"After a fashion yes, you see those of my tribe are often between here and another world. Neither world appeals to us more than the other, we would be happy living completely in one or the other. My father often told me that is why raven's fear death less than others do. To save the young Santus, I gave up my place in the other world, so that he may live. The consequence is that I can not go there while I live this life, and for young Aoi is that he can not leave this life if I am still in it."
InuYasha looked down at his bare feet.
"Isn't that sort of cruel to keep him here if he wants to go?"
Raven smiled a little at the hanyou understanding of cruelty, he felt a little sad that he understood that word all too well.
"Yet, another example of how love can rule us young prince. He did not want to see his father pained by his death so he accepted my offer of his own free will, just as I gave it. I had to leave my people, he decided that in turn he would leave his. I think it has pained him more than it has harmed myself. I will rejoin my tribe after this life is done, so my ache is less. He wishes to be with his now, so his pain stings more. But he is young still and stubborn so it will take him a while to admit this."
InuYasha looked up at the window, this time Sesshomaru was looking down at him in that impassive way that he gazed at anything, so the hanyou had noticed. He felt the sudden need to wave at him or be near him, to be acknowledged by him in some fashion.
He turned his head to the raven, eye lowered to the ground.
"I want to go back to my room."
The raven looked to the window, he could feel his lords eyes narrow at the change in the atmosphere in the garden.
"Of course young lord, let us head in, it is about time for lunch anyhow."
He helped the hanyou up and began to lead him back in to the castle.
"Thank you for sharing your story with me." InuYasha said in a small voice.
"I am pleased that you found it to your liking young lord."
They entered the castle and Sesshomaru was standing there waiting for his brother.
The hanyou clung to his brother the moment he was within reach. The elder youkai caught the ravens eyes as he held his brother close. The raven shook his head to indicate he did not know what came over the hanyou.
"I shall go and check on Santus, perhaps he has found something in the garden.”
The high-lord nodded before leading his brother back to his room.
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There were undeniable feelings that the healer did not ignore, one was passion he found many things could be missed if he didn't find an outlet for his physical needs. Another was that his lord was in need of something, there were a few times that he had ignored that feeling and was riddled with a guilt he could not explain. The last was when a family member was near, this was an annoying feeling that nettled at him until he would get irritated with the smallest annoyances he would normally laugh at.
Thus he lived far from his family.
But, his brother had arrived at the castle. It was a formal visit or he was sure he would have been forced to receive him right away. His brother giving him a disapproving frown the entire time. Yet another power he had inherited from their father. It was his luck that he had inherited the immunity to such a look from his mother, or he would have throttled his brother long ago.
With this being a formal visit his brother would have to seek out Lord Sesshomaru and find out his need before coming and speaking to the healer.
Santus arrived outside his door, and gave him a curious look.
"Tokai wanted me to let you know your brother has arrived to speak to Lord Sesshomaru."
He smiled in a lighthearted way at Aoi, which made the fox look at him with more suspicion.
He stood and walked over to a shelf where he kept several artifacts that the raven had sent out had returned with.
"Please, deliver these to our lord for me."
Santus's eyebrows shot up.
"And what are you going to be doing?"
He patted the young foxes shoulder.
"I must go see to our young prince, I have been side tracked all morning by so many duties this is the first I've had a chance to breathe."
He wasn't completely lying, as a physician if Sesshomaru or InuYasha had been in need they would have come first. But wen they were not, he handled many of the physical ills of those who attended the house of inuyoukai. He was overjoyed to deliver a baby to one of the kitchen staff this morning, but also had to tend to a broken limb of one of cleaning staff's children. Not to mention tend to a few of the new journeyman healers whom had come to the castle to learn some new herb and techniques. But he'd on purposely wanted to tend to InuYasha when his brother arrived.
He made his way in a leisurely fashion to the young lords room.
He knocked and the door was opened by the raven who paused to look him over for moment before letting him in.
The Kohame sat down in a chair across from the bed were the sleeping hanyou lay.
"How long has he been napping?" the healer asked quietly.
The raven was still giving him that speculative look.
"A little over an hour now." the raven paused "How is it that you are not greeting your brother?”
"Our young lord has had lunch then."
The Kohame raised an eyebrow at the avoidance but nodded.
"He is like a pup still, eats an enormous amount and then sleeps it off."
The healer chuckled as he examined the prince laying bundled up under furs and surround by pillows. He looked so comfortable he loathed to wake him.
"I just delivered a new cub this morning to Akoi from the kitchen.'
The raven even smiled, he was always happy to hear of a new birth in the castle.
“Very small cub, she will not be returning to the kitchen for a while, they require so much attention for the first year."
The raven cocked his head.
"She will really be gone that long?"
The healer shook her head.
"Wolf youkai, tend to be very communal in taking care the young, though she will be the primary provider of milk and affection for the first five months. The young always need more attention the first year."
He sighed and shook InuYasha gently, InuYasha opened his eyes a little then squeezed them shut and nuzzled deeper into the pillows. He smiled gently down at the sleeping hanyou and gently shook him again.
"You must wake young lord, I need to see to your health."
This time the hanyou sat up but did not look all that happy about it.
"Tired." InuYasha said.
"I understand" the healer returned "But today I must check your bone structure and your teeth. Neither one is very safe to be poking at with you sound asleep."
The Raven gave a short laugh at that.
"No kidding."
InuYasha nodded and got up to relieve himself.
"Even as puppies they try to bite you if you go digging about near their mouths with them asleep. Except with a puppy you get nipped, with a grown inuyoukai, you are likely to lose fingers."
Raven laughed.
"I have never in my life tried to put my fingers in the mouth of a sleeping inuyoukai and I have no intention of trying."
The healer nodded.
"Foxes and wolves are much the same.'
Raven nodded as the prince came back into the room, a little more awake.
"Noted."
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The sage had been before many royalty in his lifetime since the day it was discovered that he inherited his father's powers. He'd been taught in the strictest form how to act and what not to say to royalty.
But he'd never met such a stone face Lord as the Ruler of the western lands.
His adviser had lead him to the Youkai Ruler, the man seemed to be looking him over trying to decide if he was worth the time. He wondered briefly how his brother was able to stand this yet could not be bother to deal with their father and grandfather.
"I have come at your beckoning my lord." he said bowing low.
He didn't see the inuyoukai eyes slide to Tokai.
The adviser brought about a scarf tied to hold items inside.
"Please, tell my lord what you can make of these items."
He hadn't untied the scarf as of yet and he could feel the emotions from the items inside.
He set it delicately on his lap and opened it.
He was confused by the items inside. He picked the first of the items up and held it in his hands and closed his eyes waiting.
There was an explosion of colors and shapes behind his eyes, he almost dropped the comb from the strength of the feelings.
He put it back down on his lap, his fingers throbbing.
"She was frightened of leaving someone very important to her behind, she was fighting with all that was in her to hang on so she could protect her little one. She couldn't see his future and she feared that she wouldn't be able to protect him from the painful parts."
He looked at a small piece of fabric, it was of fine royal colors, he felt a strong pull to the fabric this time when he picked it up he did drop it.
He gave the Lord a strange look.
"Anger and Peace, the anger and rage begins in his thoughts but his last thoughts are over whelming in knowing all will be well. He has a stronger belief that a future he can not see is being taken care of. He has one he knows he can trust it to." He frowned down at the other items in the cloth, none of them called to him.
"None of these others have anything to do with the other two, nothing connects them."
Sesshomaru nodded.
Tokai came forward to retrieve the cloth and item from the sage.
Sesshomaru seemed to consider what he would say.
He held the sage with his golden eyes,
"As I am sure you are aware my brother has been returned to me. "
The sage nodded.
"He was not kept in the best of conditions, there is much that concerns me about the circumstances of my brother going missing especially for such a long time. We are in the hope you will be able to divine who decided to take my brother, and what his purpose was in keeping my brother."
The sage bowed.
"I am honored that you have chosen me for such an endeavor my lord. I will begin to prepare for this immediately."
Tokai looked between the two.
"You must rest of course, after such a long journey." The inuyoukai said.
The sage felt this was often a given but he felt as if the Lord was giving him warning not to make any mistake on this. Sesshomaru looked at Tokai again and Tokai moved around the desk.
"This way if you please, Sage."
The sage stood bowing to Sesshomaru once more then followed his adviser out.
Tokai had found it odd that the healer had not tried to be there to greet his brother once he had arrived, but as he guessed what tension was once between the two brother still lingered. He was not one to get involved with sibling rivalry of any kind, unless it brought disruption to this household. So he kept quiet about it. He lead the sage to his room he slid open the door. Stood at the door as the sage examined the room.
"I pray all is to your liking."
The sage nodded trying not to look too impressed with his lodgings. "It is. might I inquire about my brother, and where I might find him."
Tokai knew the healer would be doing his best to avoid his brother, so he would not be in his office. He smiled gently.
"I might indeed, you would like to wash up first."
The sage smiled.
"Not really I was rather looking forward to seeing him, if we could find him, I would be grateful."
Tokai bowed and motioned for them to be on their way.
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The healer was making his way down a hallway from the gardens where the hanyou now slept. The sleeping was s bit of a warning sign he'd recognized that the prince was beginning his maturation, it was hard to believe it had been two month since he had returned and he was finally getting to the point that his body could consider acting normally.
He would have to suggest that Sesshomaru place his mark on his brother soon, because if they were right about the capture trying to force a mating on the young prince they needed to be able to have something on their side to keep the hanyou from becoming someones puppet.
"Luken"
He turned at the sound of his name, and somehow kept from growling at sight of his brother following Tokai.
"I knew we would be able to find you here, you are so very attentive of our lord and his brother."
He looked between the two brothers.
"You would not mind showing your brother back to his room would you?"
The healer managed to keep from glaring at the adviser. Who claimed to always mind his own business when it came to issues such a fighting brothers.
"Not at all it would be my pleasure.'
Tokai gave a small bow and walked away giving the healer a small smirk as he walked away.
They stood for a moment longer looking at each other.
"How was your journey?" He said leading his brother away from the royal wing of the castle.
He did miss the odd look from his brother but not the feeling of it boring into the side of his head.
"It was long without any excitement. I was met with an escort to the western lands by Lord Kouga's Guard."
The healer nodded "And the family how are they?"
He could almost hear what his brother wanted to say as opposed to what he would say.
"They are well, Noka misses you, but greatly appreciates the presents you send, we all treasure them. But we do wish you would come home."
The healer nodded. "Once. I am able to train a proper apprentices to tend to all that is needed here, I will come for a visit I think.”
He felt his brothers eye narrow. "I was rather hoping that you would come home to stay."
He looked at his brother. "You choose not to have a permanent station, I wish other wise, I am quiet happy with my place here."
His recognized the the look on his brothers face one of grim determination.
The healer sighed.
"You might want to remember who our parents are, and that you are not the only one graced with their stubborn attitude."
His brother glanced at him his jaw clenched.
He stopped, causing the healer to turn to look at his brother who was looking quiet angry.
The healer motioned gently to the door way.
"Your room, brother." The healer face softened. "You will be meeting InuYasha soon, please be careful.”
His brother nodded curtly before entering his room.
He turned away as the door shut, he'd hoped his brother would not couple this with a fools errand. Much like their father he didn't know when to quit. He'd heard from their mother many times how father tried to coax her home at first and then tried, to order, then tried threats she knew he would not carry out.
He'd thought several times on giving his father the information that these methods would make her stay away rather than bring her back. He longed for his brother to realized the same.
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Sesshomaru had spent many days going in and out of the family vault, trying to find a document that would give him the proper way of marking his brother, with out making him as his mate. He had a strong urge even now to keep his sibling under lock and key and he had a feeling that the hanyou would not mind. For the moment, but in time as he matured properly and gained his memories back. He might resent being bonded to his brother in a way that did not allow him release.
This night much like many others he sat reading the ancient scrolls that held many descriptions of rituals, some know only to the inuyoukai and other know only to his family. He grew slightly anxious to find the description of the ritual needed. Since his brother began to show signs of his body maturing. Though his little brother had long since lost whatever baby fat he might have had as a puppy, he still had the body of a preadolescence.
He looked up from the scroll as InuYasha sat up and pushed the furs off of him. He had to smile a little as his sibling struggled with ties and buttons to get his top off. He remembered coming of age and how his father had sat with him during that torturous time. His body temperature seemed to rise, he was embarrassed to recall that he had stripped himself to his skin and his father had to keep him from running away to a mountain fed lake not far from here to cool off. It had been miserable.
He also remembered wanting his father close but being irritated at his presence.
In the beginning with his body feverish, he looked up from his bed and saw his father patient face looking down at him.
InuYasha sat up. "Why is it so hot?” The hanyou demanded.
Since he had been eating better more regularly and right. His hair was growing at an unusual rate, it now brushed his ears and the nape of his neck. There was a knock at the door.
Sesshomaru stood and answered the door it was the healer, he looked at the hanyou on the bed.
"I thought this would be the case, he's been sleeping a little too much lately."
Sesshomaru nodded as he watched his brother suddenly fixate on the doorway leading to the balcony. InuYasha was nearly panting as he crawled off the bed and onto the balcony to lay down on the cool stone.
"This is one time I never envy the young, it so miserable to mature." The healer looked at his lord. "We will soon have to figure out whether he is dominate."
Sesshomaru handed the healer the scroll he'd been reading before his brother had his little pseudo fit. The healer read through the scroll. His brow furrowed.
"The raven will have greater knowledge, of this." he put the scroll on the desk rolling the old paper out so he could read more.
"This is a spiritual marking."He looked up at his lord.
"I am well versed in healing the body. The raven's people know about the spirit and they are most likely on better terms with such a power.”
The healer opened the door and let a servant carrying the makings for tea in. The healer shooed him out and began to prepare tea for the three of them.
"Young master InuYasha, I offer you some respite from the heat and the uncomfortable sensations your body is taunting you with at this moment."
The hanyou looked up from where he lay on the balcony floor. "It's hot."
Sesshomaru smiled down at his little brother.
"No you are hot, your body is readying itself for a change that will be quiet dramatic. You must suffer it."
He held out his hand to his brother.
"But, I have brought something that will make you much less miserable at least for the time being."
InuYasha looked at his brother's hand, the hanyou looked as if even lifting his arm was more energy than he had to expend. But he finally reached up and was pulled to his feet. The healer prepared the tea for the three of them, once the hanyou was set in Sesshomaru's lap the healer finished preparing a special tea for InuYasha. But, InuYasha push weakly against his older brother. A deep growl vibrated from the throat of the Daiyoukai and InuYasha ceased his struggle.
The healer looked at the two brothers, one leaning against the chest of the other who was looking surprised to learn. His brother was a beta.
He remembered being in a similar position with their father also a dominate when it came to mating. His father holding him through some of the more miserable times. Sesshomaru was out of his mind with his changing body. His father was trying to calm him in the fashion he normally would by drowning him in the sense of a dominate male. That only aggravated him, he was too weak to do any damage, but he'd tried biting him more than a few times.
He looked down at the hanyou as the healer handed over a cup to the subdued pup.
"My father knew that soon." Sesshomaru said aloud.
"Usually how it happens." The healer said.
He took a sip of his own tea watching InuYasha drink his rather quickly, most likely hoping whatever relief the healer offered would come quickly.
"I am going to send the Raven up right away, we need to protect your brother from unwanted mates."
The healer left quietly and quickly.
Sesshomaru closed his eyes caressing his brothers hair and ears as he already felt exhaustion for the day come. It had been many ages since his family had an unmated young one under the roof. Many would be clamoring to win his hand. Many would be bringing offerings in hopes of winning either InuYasha's or Sesshomaru's favor. He'd hopped that the demon hierarchy would have given up this farce since he'd rejected it since first exposed. But a new adult meant a new chance.
"I don't supposed that you would let me lock you up?" he said lowly.
The hanyou hadn't heard him finally gaining some relief due to the healer herbs.
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The sage had been in his room for two days, the shutters where closed and the door hadn't been opened once. The healer sighed as he stopped outside the door once more as he walked past.
He always was drawn to worry for his brother's health when he did long fasts like this. He never really understood why he had to close himself off from all around him just to see clearly. But then he wasn't a sage, his father had never explained anything to any of them other than his blessed brother. Being a sage was more a mystery to those who had grown up around it than those who had never been too near for too long.
He'd only known about the items that helped his brother focus in on the kidnapper because he'd often been sent to pick up such thing to bring it home to his father and brother.
He felt that old jealously boiling in him again, as his father took the satchel and closed him out of the private room where they worked their powers in secret. He would sit outside hoping to hear something. That would reveal what was happening in there. He grew to resent that room and the fact he was sent running to take satchels to and fro.
Luken walked away from his brother's room and to his office, where he calmed himself making an herb mix for InuYasha. The fox walked in and stopped cold once he got a look at the healer.
"My father once told me you had to have peace of mind and heart to make well working medicines."
The healer looked up at Santus.
"I always figured he just meant you had to pay attention to what you were doing or you could make a mess of things."
The healer smiled at the dry way the fox viewed and spoke of the world.
"I am paying attention Santus, I was just reliving past envy's."
The fox sat at the table where the healer worked.
"I need a break from sitting in that garden."
He nodded, he knew it could get old sitting in one place.
"When my father began training my brother how to sharpen his skills, I was sent on errands. People would send satchels and I would return satchels. I never knew what was in them and it drove me insane." He looked at the mixture in the bowl and then continued to crush and mix.
"When I finally asked my father what it was I was carrying back and forth, he patted me on the head and told me it was a world I would never understand." He chuckled.
"It drove me mad, I was a hot headed child with too much energy. After that my mother took me aside and began to teach the art of healing. It was the first time I ever witnessed a fight between my parents. My father wanted me to continue to serve my brother and my mother could see it was eating me alive."
He began to fold small squares of paper to hold the herbs he'd mixed.
"My uncle had been that to my father, whenever I think of his serene face , I feel like I overreacted in some fashion."
Santus shook his head.
"You just decided that you didn't want to follow your brother around and be his runner, there is nothing wrong with that."
"That is true, but I knew I was acting in jealousy."
They sat in silence as he placed the packet on a self and began to work on something else.
"Are you going back with your brother?"
The healer raised his eyebrows.
"No, I thought about it a few times since he has arrived, but each time I do, I keep picturing myself sitting outside that door." He took a deep breath.
"And I can feel the anger coming back. So, I think that it would be foolish for me to go back."
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The Raven looked through the scroll,he recognized the ritual after a fashion.
"This is a very good way to keep him from being marked, but it can be removed by someone other than yourself."
Sesshomaru had his back to the Raven as he watched his little brother out in the garden. The guard that was tending to him was not far away from him. Which made Sesshomaru pleased to some extent, but at the same time with his brother so close to this change in his life, he had an urge to snap and growl at any one who got too close to his sibling.
"And depending on what you propose this thief is wanting from the prince, he may or may not care that it will do permanent damage to him."
Sesshomaru took his eyes off his brother, and looked over his shoulder at the raven.
"What kind of damage are you speaking of?"
"Breaking this without consent means tearing part of him spiritually away, you two will be connected much in the way mates are, but it is not permanent at least not meant to be. If one where to mate with him without the proper ritual to release him from his bond to you. It would be the equivalent of tearing part of his soul out." He looked at the ritual instructions again.
"It was most likely why the use was stopped, it would only take a few examples of foolish offspring wanting to mate someone their sires had not approved and the children get damaged. Not only have you lost an heir, you lose a child. I think my tribe had a record of one that needed to be executed to save him from himself."
Sesshomaru felt like sighing long and hard.
His brother was standing and walking towards them, the Daiyoukai knew that a trip outside was not going to salve the feeling of unease for him but he let the hanyou have his whim. He'd already decided that he would go through with it. He'd failed to keep his brother safe for good the majority of his life. InuYasha deserved find out who he was either on his own, of course under the watchful eye of his brother, or with a loving mate that would woo him properly.
The raven watched the elder inuyoukai, knowing that he would go through with this. Sesshomaru offered all under his rule safety, that includes his baby brother.
He watched his brother shakily go toward their room the guard not far behind.
"No one is to disturb us tonight." He said before walking away from the raven.
Following his brother back to the room, the raven shook his head as he watched the guard settle back once Sesshomaru caught up with them pulling his brother close.
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Sesshomaru understood why many of the rituals that were once considered mandatory were no longer in use. But there were a few that he did not understand how they became something of the past. Looking for a way to keep InuYasha safe had lead him through many rituals and spells that had been left behind that he was in the mind to bring back into use in his own home.
Many of the seals and wards that had been placed on the castle many years ago had not been renewed since they had been first placed. He was sure that the raven would be able to help him with this and if he could not the sage would be able to offer him service in this.
He leaned back in the tub relaxing a bit and centering his mind for what must happen once he left the tub. He had to speculate that when this ritual was a regular occurrence, this was a more intimate way to bond with your child, though under the wrong circumstances it would be harmful to one party or the other. But the tradition of scenting welcoming a new child or adopted a child into the pack by releasing the child from their old life. Would spend day permeating the new pack member with the pack scent. That way there was no question who this newcomer belonged to.
The inuyoukai like many other youkai races had rituals that were old and would not be ignored. But so much had been lost over the years, that he had to wonder how many had not been noted and kept in the vault, how many would never be seen again.
He stood and stepped up out of the bath, wrapping a cloth around his waist, drying his hair with another.
This was a very private affair and where he dressed and prepared himself for this ritual. He had the healer in his brothers room making his brother ready for his return. He picked up a brush and began on his hair, a part of him both his mother and his father had taught him was very important to groom properly everyday. If all went well with InuYasha in few month he would be able to receive the one item his father had always wanted him to have. He let a small smile settle on his mouth at the thought of being able to pull the sword out with his brother standing strong beside him.
He dressed himself for the ritual it felt a little strange since every ceremony he'd every had to attend he'd been dressed by servants. But the first words on the scroll echoed in his mind, that this is an intimate time. He left his room and walked slowly to his brothers, it had been strange in itself being in his room at all. He'd been spending so much of his time with his brother, and in his room.
The healer and the raven where standing outside the room. They said nothing as the raven opened the door to his siblings room. The ritual had called for the marking to be preformed in a place that the youth felt safe and secure. Sesshomaru examined the room candle lit and in misted glass to keep the mood subdued and and relaxed. Incense was placed throughout the room burning, sending out a pleasing scent. InuYasha sat on the bed looking at him. His golden eye seemed to catch whatever light was in the room, the gold looked warm and calm. He smiled at his brother. They had explained several time what was going to happen. Both Sesshomaru and the Raven had taken the time to make sure he understood, the ritual and why it must be done.
Though, Sesshomaru understood that InuYasha more than anything else wished to be safe from the life he'd been living.
 
Sesshomaru sensed trust but a little to no fear from the hanyou.
He sat on the bed, and cupped his brother's smooth cheek in the palm of his hand.
"InuYasha, theres nothing to fear from me."
InuYasha blushed and looked down at the bed covering.
The Daiyoukai moved to the middle of the bed and held out his hand to the maturing hanyou. InuYasha took his hand and let the elder youkai pull him between his legs. Where he wrapped his arms around InuYasha, pulling him closer to his chest. They rested like this until InuYasha had been drowned in the comforting scent of his brother. He liked this scent he found himself unconsciously rubbing his cheek against his older brother clothed chest. Sesshomaru felt the instinct kick in his eyelid lowered as he gazed down at his little brother trying to seek an voiceless approval from his brother. He couldn't take his eyes from the tender young thing in his embrace at this moment.
InuYasha let out a little whine when he couldn't stretch his neck enough to nuzzle his brothers chin.
"Do you trust me little brother?"
InuYasha was gripping the sleeve of his top tight.
"Yes." he rubbed up against Sesshomaru chest again. “Yes." he answered eagerly.
Sesshomaru moved slowly so as not frighten his brother, guiding him onto his back as he pushed him on to the bed. He met no resistance as his brother laid back stretching his neck. He smiled down at his little hanyou, who was laying there looking lucid from his carefully conducted actions. He began sniffing his little brother trying to find a scent from anything he disapproved of, he planned to erase any remnant of the one who had soiled his bother from his body, and his mind. He wanted this sweet little morsel to think only of him and his actions. If that one was ever to get near his brother again he would be beaten down with Sesshomaru's own mark on his brother.
He rubbed himself all along the length of his body as he moved up, he loved that the hanyou grew anxious. Showing his impatience with the whines and yips that was wordless communication to their kind. Showing he was eager to be shown he was excepted and would be taken care of by this family.
Sesshomaru was surprised at how eager he was to take care his little brother, his brother was maturing which made him smell delicious. Doing this when a youkai was just a child made much more sense, you would only have the need to protect them as an innocent, not as a potential mate. He had to pull back for a moment and steady himself. It didn't help that the need to be protected and the beginning of his new instincts to find a strong alpha where bleeding together perfectly.
He needed to separate the need to mate from the need to protect a vulnerable part of his pack.
The mark he needed to make would not touch the body only the soul, such a thing could only happen amongst blood relatives.
He began to call on his youkai, not the youkai in his blood but the one that was one with his spirit, he felt it rise with him. He looked down at the youth below him, drunk with his presence. He drove his energy through his little brother and felt it come in to contact with the spirit inside of his sibling.
Something was off about this, the spirit that lay in his brother was confined and caged. He felt the rage build in him that this creature whomever he was had not only violated his brother physically but in the spirit also. He caged the hanyou's natural self, no wonder InuYasha was subdued. He couldn't even touch his own youkai.
He felt a sinister smile grace his features. Yes, it was easy perhaps to take a pup and trap them and take them away from themselves. But, this would not hold up against a full blooded inuyoukai. He took hold of the cage confining his brother's youkai and ripped and tore at it making short work of it. InuYasha's youkai uncurled from it confines. But stayed in a submissive position.
Sesshomaru understood, his brother needed protection from what had been torturing him his whole life. With a show of submission by the youkai within his brother, his own youkai struck marking the young hanyou. Within moments he was back to himself. Looking down at his brother, who was laying on his stomach breathing hard, his eyes barely open. Upon seeing his little brothers exhaustion, he realized how much this had taken out of him. He pulled his brother to him and pulled the furs and silks over him self and the hanyou.
He let his senses spread and sense the raven and the healer at the door and the guard below the balcony and outside the wall that separated the hot spring from the from the gardens outside of it.
Knowing all was well he curled around his brother and fell asleep.
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The sage walked into the main dining room expecting to see the lord of the house present. He was surprised when he was not but was please to see his brother was sitting with many other waiting for the evening meal to begin. He went to stand beside his brother who was listening to a female youkai talking about something excitedly.
His brother looked up at him, giving him a quick once over. As their mother used to do whenever they finished with something when he was little and his father was teaching him to hone in his powers.
"You've emerged."
The sage smiled "I am in one piece."
The healer nodded and motioned to the chair beside him.
"I have not seen Lord Sesshomaru, is he well?
The healer nodded. "He is well, he tends to devote a lot of his time to InuYasha." He said.
They all went silent out of ritual if nothing else when the food was delivered, and placed before each person sitting at the table.
The sage was not used to such formality, true he'd been commissioned by nobles before, but usually he had no interest in staying longer than it took to give them the information needed. But he'd decided that he would bring his brother back.
His brother leaving home had always bothered him. It wasn't unusual for those in the family to travel, but to take a practice so far from home. And never even give the idea that he might be returning, which left them all with the impression that he would not be. He'd heard of the western Lord castle but to live so far away to this end of the kingdom that they rarely came here. What most considered a lower class affair was top of the line from where they were raised. Even the room he'd been placed in was well above what he was used to. He could grow used to such luxury, and he could see that his brother had.
They all began to eat, he enjoyed that the conversation was low and easy. He knew all seated here were responsible for certain duties in the castle, but also responsible for the those under them.
"I'm surprised that you are not eating at the main table with his lordship." He said picking up his chopsticks.
The healer shrugged.
"I do at times, Lord Sesshomaru has not eaten at the table much unless there are dignitaries or other princes present. He eats his meals with Prince InuYasha."
He nodded as he tasted some of the food, he frowned as the flavor of the noodles danced across his tongue. This was going to be more difficult than he thought, even the food was nothing to scoff at. The healer looked at his brother.
"Is there something a miss with your noodles?"
He looked over at the healer. "No,not at all, I just remembered something, I need to address as soon as we return home."
The healer gave his brother a patient smile. "I do not wish to discuss this at this time, and it is considered rude to bring up family matters in such a public setting."
The sage was a little taken aback by the fact his brother, his younger brother had just reprimanded him about proper manners. Though he had spoken in a low voice, he still looked about to make sure none of the others at the table had heard.
His brother continued to eat as if nothing had happened and nothing had been said. It was then that the sage realized why his brother had bothered to come down into such a place to eat. He could imagine much like himself the healer took most of his meals in his work room or even in his chambers. But, to be in a public place where not even he would make a scene in was a perfect way to avoid the discussion the sage wanted to have with him.
His eyes narrowed on his brother's relaxed smile, another lesson he'd learned from this place no doubt.
'We will talk about this little brother.' he thought eating his noodles.
The fox walked down the walk listening to the quiet of the royal wing. He rolled his eyes as he spotted the Raven outside the prince's chambers. He knew he would be here, he'd been down to get food and found out much to the worry of one of the kitchen maidens he hadn't been down for dinner yet.
He set the tray down on the bench he'd practically taken up residence on. He uncovered his own soup and gave the raven a glare.
"I didn't ask you to get it."
The fox snorted.
"I know as well as you do how long you can go without food, but starving yourself to watch this door is ridiculous."
The Raven gave gentle laugh. "So says the fox that has done the same sitting in a garden."
Said fox decided to snort at that also. "That sage finally finished looking at the item from that place."
The raven shipped his tea and nodded.
"What little they where able to find, the trap was gone the entire clearing was littered with stones. There was not any indication that there ever was a hold there at all."
The fox stopped eating. "Nothing?"
The raven nodded. "They claimed it still held the stench."
Fox took a bite of his meat. "It will for some time."
The raven picked up his spoon, "True especially with the suffering that one place has witnessed. Soon not even thieves and outlaw will be able to stay in that clearing."
They both looked up as a server walked with a large tray laden with items to feast on. The Raven stood and knocked on the door waiting for his lord's word to enter. He opened the door for the servant who had his hands more than full with the tray and bottle of wine. He was stopped by the serene feel of the room.
Sesshomaru was sitting at the table looking over papers looking absolutely pleased with himself. He nodded to the raven as the server set down the tray and placed the bottle and two glasses on the table and then began to set out the food. The servant bowed.
"I will ring when if we need more food."
The servant left the room and the raven gave a bow and left the room closing the door behind him. He sat down across from the door again, hands on his lap. The fox watched him as stared at nothing.
"It felt like a temple in there."
The fox continues to chew his meat. "That good right." He said after swallowing.
"It is amazing."
The fox looked down the hall.
"Make you homesick?"
He asked stiffly.
The raven gave the fox a gentle look.
"I was traveling long before I came upon you, and even if I hadn't had a promise to your father I would have continued to travel. And I will always stumble upon places, things, and scent that will remind me of home."
The fox put down his plate. "But at least back then you had the choice to return home."
The Raven sipped his tea. "Yet, I did not."
He turned to the fox. "Do you miss home?"
The fox nodded.
"But, more I am ashamed that I did something so selfish and so rash, for nothing."
He looked at his food.
"I don't even miss her or think about her, yet I was so wound up with her. I am ashamed that I brought harm to my father."
Raven watched the fox, he had matured so much since they left his home.
"He lives with joy now knowing you are alive and doing well."
The fox frowned at him.
"Though I do lie about how much you smile."
The fox picked up his tea.
"He'd smiled less too if he had to look after a crazy old raven." he muttered.
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Sesshomaru had pulled the curtains on his brother bed since he felt for the first time in ages his brother was sleeping not to heal but because he truly could. InuYasha was still going through the beginning stages of maturation, and he was enjoying the peace for once he got to the middle and head for the final stretch it would be hell for all in the castle.
Soon the medicines that the healer made for him would no longer work to ease his discomfort.
He thought back to his coming of age ceremony, it would serve a double purpose. One to show the west and all the princes and lords that his brother was alive and well, and would be ruling at his side, and to lure out the kidnapper.
If InuYasha had really been kidnapped to force him into being a mate. The kidnapper would want to try to lay claim on the hanyou or give some farce at least to courting him.
He looked at the food laid out, he was surprised that the hanyou didn't wake already. He stood and walked to the covered bed, he pulled back the curtains and stood admiring his little brother for a moment. He honestly never grew tired of watching his brother in peaceful slumber.
"InuYasha." he said softly watching his ear move towards his voice.
He slowly woke, stretching and yawning wide.
Golden eyes looked lazily at Sesshomaru. "I had a dream, you where a big inu,"
Sesshomaru tied back the curtains and sat on the bed next to his content little brother.
"Really, how did you know it was me?"
InuYasha reached up and touched the crescent moon on his forehead. "You had that, and I just knew."
He turned on his side and looked at his big brother, he felt a connection to him since the marking, he could feel his presence filling the room even with out him trying to be a comfort.
"You need to eat, InuYasha, your body is changing and it needs energy to do so."
He crawled from beneath the furs, and walked over to the table sitting waiting for his brother to join him.
At that moment watching his brother walk to the table, he decided his baby brother would not be left alone with one suitor ever.
'Time to dust off the old courting rules.' He thought as he sat down with his brother to eat the meal, he wasn't surprised but his brother need to gorge himself on the food before him, and he rang to make sure a good amount was being prepared for his brother second helping.
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Sesshomaru had never really understood his healer, but he never created problems and did his part to keep his house healthy. So he never questioned his odd habits.
Sitting in front of him where two brothers one a healer on his staff the other a sage temporarily on his staff. They were brothers but at this point he had the impression that they were on two islands with an ocean between them. The sage had glanced at his brother countless times, and appeared set to do so many more times. Tokai cleared his throat at the healer.
"Have you found anything significant from the item we recovered?"
The sage looked at the Sesshomaru and the adviser.
"The one you seek for this crime is not a demon, per say."
All three where a little amazed by his words.
"Per say?" The healer repeated.
"Yes, per say, he has powers that could match most youkai but it is not a natural thing."
"You saw this."
The Sage shook his head.
"I receive glimpses, sometimes just slivers of thought, emotion and if all this is strong I can sometimes get an image."
He pulled out the cloth holding the items.
"All you brought me, had remnants of loathsome feelings, but mostly I felt terror not just from one but from many. Many youkai died in that keep. This thing that is the kidnapper of your brother, he uses the deaths of other youkai to maintain his power."
He looked down at the scarf made bag.
"I don't think any of those youkai, left that place alive the feeling of horror is too fresh, unlike the items you tested me with."
They all went quiet in the room, thinking about this new information.
"You could sense him could you not?" Tokai asked.
The sage looked unsure.
"I would like to say yes, but you must consider. He knew about the prince and personal things to lure a child out of his safe home. He may have been in and out of this castle several times, and the most dull in this castle would sense the torment this creature has caused."
"Unless he where able to hide it" Sesshomaru finished.
He felt himself getting angry at the thought, that that creature might have been eating at his own table. He had many princes and dignitaries in and out of his castle to festivals and celebrations. He found himself reexamining every look, every smile to see if one looked too smug for no reason, or said anything that had set him of event he slightest bit.
He took a deep breath and noticed the raised eyebrow of his adviser and his healer amused smile.
His eyes switched to the sage, who was ready to faint from fright.
"Is there anything else you can tell us." Sesshomaru asked.
The Sage lost his voice and shook his head no.
"Very good."
He looked at the adviser who lead the healer and the sage out of the room.
"He certainly has a presence when he is angry." the sage said once they were down the hall.
"That was not really anger it was more of contemplating, Our Lord will not waste anger on a moment standing still." The healer said to his brother looking back.
The adviser chuckled.
"I remember once he was so enraged, that he sunk his claws in to a wall, melted it clean away. They never did rebuild it."
The sage shook his head as they reached his brother office.
The adviser pulled a good sized pouch and handed it to the sage.
"Lord Sesshomaru, offers you a room for a long as you see fit to stay. and he thanks you for this, you really did give our lord valuable information. "
He bowed and walked away.
He followed his brother into his office.
"Aren't you ever frightened?"
The healer looked at the sage not understanding for a moment what he spoke of.
"Oh, you mean our Lords temper, no not really, I have never seen him take out his frustration on anyone. It is usually objects not youkai or humans. He is a very powerful Youkai, he has to learn to restrain himself at an early age."
The Sage sighed. "All this is not what we where raised with innuendos and back biting, all powerful lords."
He sat down.
"I don't feel safe leaving you here."
He smiled seeing where this was going.
"Brother, I know what to expect from Lord Sesshomaru, even the part of him that I can not share with you. And I have some idea what to expect from home."
He looked at his brother seriously for the first time.
"I have some control over who I am here, I had very little and close to none when I was at home."
He walked over to the kettle he always had on, and poured some hot water into the tea pot then brought it over on a tray with all the the makings.
"Which life would you rather live, one where you saw your future as your own or one where your future could be decided by generations for someone else's satisfaction."
He watched his brothers jaw work, he was angry.
"Uncle Kohmae said you would do the right thing in the end." the sage said
"I am, I am doing what is right for me, if I allow you to guilt me back to home, I will try to be like uncle and I will stand by your side, but I will slowly begin to resent that I have no place but behind you."
The sage watched his brother make the tea.
"You stand behind Lord Sesshomaru."
The healer chuckled.
"We all stand in his shadow, he is the Lord of all the Western lands."
He sighed at his brothers dark expression.
"I will not be swayed to change my mind brother."
He held the tea under his noise savoring the scent.
"You might not want dis count those around you who have shown their importance. Your focus has been solely on me but do not forget brother and sister are also excellent healers and are more than willing to be by your side. Until you take them for granted."
The sage stood. "I must think on this."
He walked out of the office. His brother watched him go and then turned to prepares herbs to help with the new stages InuYasha would have to deal with in this time of maturation.
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The heat of his body had become unbearable, he was wearing next to nothing. Yet he felt like he was going to burst into flames. He was sweating profusely, the only relief he had gotten was from a tub Sesshomaru had brought into his room. It was filled with well cooled water, he would lay in the tub and for a little while get respite from the heat. But once the heat was gone there were still uncomfortable changes his body was going through.
One was tight skin, which the cold water made him more aware of. He felt like he was going to burst from his skin, so the healer or Sesshomaru would rub oils to make his skin feel less fitting and he would get hot again. He wanted to cry for the lack of any sort of comfort. The hungry was also driving him mad, he couldn't eat enough, and when he finally did eat his fill he couldn't get comfortable because of the heat or his skin.
The healer was giving him the herbs and medicines, but they only helped enough to annoy him.
Discomfort had always been present in his life, something told him that was true. Ever since he'd met his brother a small voice spoke up and told him he'd known endless comfort before living in that place. But from what he could tell he'd never had another home. Think back, there was a warm lovely place.'
The bed and floor were littered with the furs and silks he was accustomed to being wrapped in. He stretched and groaned in annoyance. Where did that stupid voice come from, why was it bugging him now.
"Not now." He said causing Sesshomaru to look up from his work.
'And him you remember him.'
InuYasha turned his head to look at his brother. He felt since that ritual that his brother was constantly in his mind. Sesshomaru is a calming force that stood solidly behind him at all times, it made him feel he would be alright even if he wasn't in the room. Before the ritual he'd just felt that as long as he was within these walls he was safe because this was his powerful brother's castle. Now he felt closer to him.
He turned over on his side his back was feeling too hot against the futon, his arms flopped over like wet noodles.
Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow at the action, it was almost cute, coupled with the angry little pout that he was sporting.
InuYasha was really trying not to be an annoyance. He'd never been handled this well ever, not even in the beginning as a confused pup. He remembered a door opening and his first introduction to the crop, the man just began beating him. He didn't understand, there was no place to run, so he'd just curled up as small as he could trying to protect his soft parts. It was something he knew he needed to do protect that part of him that could be easily damaged.
"I felt like it was going to last forever."
Sesshomaru put down his papers, he was not liking the tone that was spoken in or the feeling he was getting from his brother.
"Felt like what was going to last forever?" he asked standing.
InuYasha sat up.
"I was in the dark, and then a door opened and someone came in and they started hitting me with the crop. I still don't understand what I did wrong."
He sat on the bed careful not to touch his brother.
"What did I do?" InuYasha looked up at him with pleading eyes.
Sesshomaru reached his hand out gingerly to see it InuYasha would tolerate his touch. InuYasha pressed his cheek against his open palm. He felt his body relax, this was different from before when this whole maturing mess started. Where nothing offered him respite from all of this suddenly he felt he could relax and sleep.
The healer entered the room, and he stopped short. He looked at Sesshomaru sitting on the bed his hand being held to the chest of his younger brother as the hanyou slept peacefully.
The healer held up the small folded packet of herbs he had brought to help the hanyou find relief if only a little the Daiyoukai shook his head.
He backed out and stood out side the door for a moment. 'That has to mean something.'
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The youkai looked out into the garden, he looked back at his cousin. Who nodded he should go forward and introduce himself to the prince. He moved into the garden and watched the prince for a moment as he looked like he was sharpening his claws on a fallen log.
He smiled as he realized what the hanyou was actually doing.
"Good afternoon Prince InuYasha."
InuYasha had been so involved with relieving the aching and itching claws that he hadn't heard the other inu enter the garden.
"Hello." InuYasha said continuing his assault on the log. He looked past the adviser standing with the raven.
"Your new claws are coming in?"
InuYasha nodded.
"They are irritating,."
The youkai nodded remembering when his did the same.
"But not as bad as that first few weeks of the beginning."
InuYasha hunched his shoulders upon remembering how miserable he was not even four days previous.
"I hope I never have to go through that again."
The Raven yawned as he and the adviser watch the two boys interact.
"He can not stay at the monastery any longer?"
Tokai gave slight nod.
"He hasn't the inclination to become a monk, we all knew that but they helped him center himself after he escaped from those who took him."
Tokai looked sideways at the raven.
"Yuki is his only son, and he nearly didn't make it out of the womb, my cousin didn't care whether he was going to grow to be warrior. But he was overjoyed to have his little son. When Yuki disappeared he was panicked, if it had just been wandering in the woods Yuki would have been fine. But there was evidence of a struggle where Yuki had least been seen."
He smiled as Yuki sat down near the prince as the hanyou talked about something.
"It was the first time I have ever left Lord Sesshomaru's side, to help search for the boy."
"How long before he returned home." the raven asked.
Tokai looked saddened by the memory.
"Two weeks, he didn't return home he went out to the middle of the woods, he was hiding in this hollowed out tree. He was begging his father's forgiveness, they had told him that if he escaped they would find his family and kill them all. Yuki believed them and wanted to save his family but it became too much after while. He'd run away but he hoped that if he just went out into the forest they wouldn't know who his family was."
Tokai sighed
"He was young and didn't understand that they didn't know the land they where in. He lived in fear of that for the longest time it had been imprinted into his mind that these men were going to kill his family. Since Yuki was the youngest and the last to leave the home. My cousin and his wife made a decision that his mental well being was paramount and took him to a monastery where it was said they could cure all ills."
"And they helped him."
Tokai smiled.
"Yes, they helped him and to be honest he would have been happy there forever, but they monks said that was not his path. When I contacted my cousin about the methods they used to bring Yuki out of his shell. He contacted me to see if there was some service he might be able to do for Lord Sesshomaru. Yuki was excellent with gardens, and so I figured he could be put under one of our master gardeners and he would be near by if Prince InuYasha need a someone to speak to."
The raven nodded. "It will be good for him to have a friend."
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Sesshomaru looked up from his work as another servant brought in a gift that was meant for his brother. His brother coming of age had spread like wild fire. The Daiyoukai had not said how he would be choosing a mate for his baby brother or if would be choosing at all. But the gifts to the hanyou had been arriving regularly since two days earlier. The sage was looking at each gift in turn trying to see if anyone who had sent a gift had constructed that dungeon. But so far he'd gotten nothing that he felt worth mentioning.
The healer walked in and checked at the gifts piling up.
"It would seem that Prince InuYasha has many prospective mates."
Sesshomaru didn't feel the need to bother with a response to that.
"It has become known that I will only be responding to possible mates that know the proper way to court a beta."
The healer sat watching his brother.
"These will be royal courtship techniques?"
"Of course " Sesshomaru said writing out some orders.
The healer laughed.
"It will be a month before they are even able to gain permission to speak with him."
Sesshomaru smirked.
"Yes."
"Brilliant my lord, Is the young prince excited for his celebration?"
Sesshomaru sighed.
"Excited is not a word I would use for that expression I have seen on his face, truth is he would be happy not to ever be seen again. Even as he knows it is unrealistic, and if he didn't I unfortunately had to enlighten him on this."
The healer nodded.
"I didn't figure he would be happy, his youth spent in a dungeon and now he must begin to realized his duties as one of the son of Inu no Taisho."
Sesshomaru sat back in his chair.
"He will not be faced with as much responsibility as I was but he does need to know that there are duties he must perform, it would be doing him an injustice to make him a doll that sits in the gardens and is shown to other nobles on occasions. I feel there is much he is capable of learning, and knowing, I will not fall short on my responsibility for InuYasha."
The healer found this declaration a strange thing, since Sesshomaru rarely spoke that much on anything.
"When shall Prince InuYasha's coming of age celebration be?" the healer asked.
Tokai had been making arrangement since the hanyou began to show his first sign of maturing, Sesshomaru was thankful that he didn't have to think on such things and could devote his time to matters of state and InuYasha.
"Within the week."
A servant appeared at the door of the study.
"Lord Sesshomaru, the clothing maker has arrived to take master InuYasha's measurements."
He nodded and stood, the healer followed.
"I am hoping he will be receptive to the seamstress tending to him now, I felt it wouldn't be wise to expose him after we'd brought him back."
The healer nodded at his lords words.
"I think that was wise, he could barely stand anyone but you touching him. With your presence in the room he might be able to tolerate the measurements."
Sesshomaru nodded.
"And the cloth maker."
The healer asked.
"Yes, with some of his finest wares."
"Well, my lord you have had to drop a bit of bad news on him, but he can't help but be excited about new clothing."
Sesshomaru stopped in front of his brothers door.
"I do hope so."
He knocked, they heard a muffled come in answer them back.
InuYasha had asked the raven for scrolls on what to do and not to do at parties and gathering of the nature his brother talked about. He'd been reading what the scribes had written about years of such gathering that happened in the castle. He was not looking forward to all that he would be required to do, it felt like so much to do for so few people he wanted to know. He was quite happy with those who surrounded him now.
He had the fox and the raven to guard him and teach him, the healer if he got sick and all the food he could eat. Though he was happy that he truly wasn't as hungry all the time as he had been since he first arrived. But, he understood that he was a prince and certain things where expected of him. He just didn't completely understand what was expected of him, he found himself hoping someone would explain soon.
He wanted to keep his brother happy. He understood all too well what happened when someone wasn't happy with him.
He looked up at his brother as he entered. He felt his thrill of excitement at the little smile that his brother had on his face.
"Is it time for lunch?" He asked looking as if he had forgotten something.
Sesshomaru sat in his usual chair.
"No InuYasha the seamstress is here and being brought up, so she can measure you for some new clothing."
He looked down at the clothing he had on, he had a wardrobe of clothing he'd been wearing since the day he arrived.
"These will be clothing made just for you InuYasha and from colors and fabrics you choose." Sesshomaru said gently.
The healer stood by the doorway watching the interaction between the two brothers, it made him feel joyful to see them interacting. Where one who ignore the presence of the other, while the other watched for distance hoping his brother would call for him to be near. The healer had come to under stand InuYasha's mother was very affectionate with the little hanyou. So it was imagined that coming into a household where the only family you had couldn't be bothered to look at you. Was quite a shock to the young hanyou.
"I am hoping they are laying out the fabrics right now in one of the sitting rooms."
InuYasha looked unsure again, he'd been not further than the royal wings since returning home.
"It is the same cloth maker you have do you own garments, my lord." The healer said.
"Indeed." Sesshomaru answered.
InuYasha looked back at the scroll that was open before him, and then up at his brother. He nodded though he didn't want much to do with any of this. Sesshomaru had explained that if this were a perfect world they would never have attend dull function ever. They would never have to plan for a festival or negotiate treaties. But, this is what their position required and there was no escaping.
Another knock sounded and the seamstress was lead in, and she had the prince in the middle of the room to measure him for the clothing he would require. Sesshomaru had requested that a female youkai be the one to measure his brother. Hoping that his brother would feel less threatened by a woman, he had a feeling that there hadn't been many women in that keep. And the more gentle nature of the seamstress would calm him.
He felt a certain amount of pride for his brother as he didn't try to hinder her work in anyway, though he could see InuYasha was not completely happy with being touched even in the slightest by a stranger. When she finished Sesshomaru made it known to her that the fabric would be delivered by this evening. He'd already had the kimono that InuYasha would wear during the celebration being made. To finish the seamstress needed the measurements she took today. He knew that the shop he had make his clothing was more than happy to have the prince back for no other reason than all the clothing he would require.
InuYasha looked at his brother as the seamstress packed her things. Sesshomaru found he smiled more at his brother than he had for anyone in his life. The little smiles he gave the hanyou were easy to come when he required approval of some sort.
As soon as the seamstress was out of the room, Sesshomaru pulled InuYasha into his embrace. The prince settled easily onto his lap and lay his head on his brother's chest. Sesshomaru couldn't think that if he had held InuYasha as a child this way there might be memories that would burst forth. He knew though there was no good dwelling on a lost past.
"Now, we must go to the sitting room and view the cloth."
He felt InuYasha tense.
"Not to mention the kitchen will be sending up some sample of dishes for you to try. You have not yet indicated a favorite."
He looked up at his brother.
"Why, do they need to know my favorite, I like all food."
The healer smiled at InuYasha's simple way of seeing things, food that filled the belly was good.
"Because" Sesshomaru patted his brother so they could get up "this celebration is all about you InuYasha, though I know you'd rather not have it, I want you to find comfort in it. I had to endure the same once I came into my maturity. Father told me that it was necessary though very rarely enjoyable. So he would have times for me to look forward to during it all."
InuYasha allowed himself to lead down the hall, Sesshomaru's hand at his back. He did this to comfort his little brother but also to keep contact with him. To be honest, he knew that you often didn't get all the information on how InuYasha was doing.
Unless you had some physical contact with him, he was very good at hiding what appealed to him from you. Having blood connection made Sesshomaru a little more aware than others. Even so,InuYasha had become a master I hiding his wants and needs.
His brother at the moment was tense, this part of the castle was unfamiliar to him and therefore might hold dangers he couldn't perceive. His ear where flattened against his head, they would pop up and angle to wards any sound made, but they would always return to the lowered position once the noise had been identified.
They entered the sitting room the youkai cloth maker and his apprentice bowed low to both brothers, as they where seated. The cloth maker moved quickly explaining each sample of cloth where the colors and silk had come from and it's quality.
InuYasha felt like there was a canyon between himself and his brother right now. He couldn't concentrate on the cloth the youkai before him was showing him. He looked at his brother who as looking at the cloth, with and eye he didn't have. And then back at the cloth maker, who was holding the cloth sample up to InuYasha. He examined the cloth, he didn't want to seem ungrateful for what his brother was doing for him.
It was flurry of activity as cloth was set before him, he had to choose which he liked. He was thankful that Sesshomaru knew what clothing each item was to be made. He just had to choose to his liking. Then the kitchen had prepared samples of many dishes for InuYasha to try. All the while a woman sat at the table between them and served tea.
The Tokai came in to the room, a stern look on his face.
"My lord we must speak."
Sesshomaru nodded and stood.
"InuYasha I will be right out here if you are in need."
The Daiyoukai lead the Advisor out of the sitting room.
"What is it." Sesshomaru said.
He been able to smell the spike of fear from his brother as he left the room, this discouraged him a bit. This was InuYasha's home he should not feel fear.
"There is a young youkai, wishing to speak to you."
Sesshomaru felt he should raise and eyebrow at this.
"What is his purpose?"
Tokai looked towards the door to the sitting room.
"He would not say, he came to the front gate, he horribly wounded."
The Advisor paused.
“He has the stink of that place on him, and he resembles the guide who came with Kouga.”