The Twisted Humor Of St. Nick

Click.

The sound echoed throughout the home as the sealed room opened.

To figures slowly moved through the doorway and down the hall towards the kitchens. The smaller figure yawned widely, prompting a chuckle from her larger companion.

“Tired, baby?”

She nodded, eyes half closed. She didn’t see the oddly tender look the male gave her, nor did she make a sound as he suddenly swung her up into his arms, only cuddled into him as he continued on.

The inu moved silently down the corridor, musing about the outcome of this night.

He was mated.

It was something he’d rarely thought about, and a state even more rarely sought.

Damn, who was he kidding? He hadn’t been able to think of another female except this one since he could remember.

He’d finally had it out with his beast. The furry bastard had full-on admitted to curtailing his involvement with other females. At the time, he’d been furious. Now…he found himself grateful. He couldn’t imagine another female that would have suited him better.

He’d thought back on all the females he’d known. All of them, demon, hanyou, human and just a few other…not a one could have really compared to her. And now she was his.

She pressed her soft mouth against his throat with contented murmur and he shivered. Fought back the reaction.

She needed a bit of rest. And food.

He shouldered open the door, for once grateful of his stepmother’s penchant for overly comfortable furniture as he let Kagome down into an overstuffed chair in the corner. Watching as she curled into a ball, the soft black knit of his shirt hugging her to her thighs.

He gently tucked a stray lock of hair behind a delicately rounded ear, before turning towards the refrigerator.

Thank god for leftovers, he thought. He wouldn’t have to cook.

A soft snore reached his ears, and he chuckled softly.

It was a good thing that school didn’t start up again for her until after the holidays. He expected he’d need that long just to get enough of her before he had to return to England for the semester.

He wasn’t sure what was worse. Wanting her for as long as he had, and thinking that he’d never have her…all the while unable to even respond to another female. Or, having had her, and knowing what he would be missing until he returned.

Suddenly, he scowled.

Like Hell, he was leaving her. He snorted. Not likely.

Decision made, he set about warming up some of the leftover Christmas dinner.

He suspected that his father would allow him to keep her at the family home until he found them a place to live. The only trouble he might encounter would be Kagome’s mother and stepfather.

He winced. Kagome was barely of age. She’d turn eighteen in a couple of months. He’d already turned twenty one a few months ago and while the difference was not vast, at their ages, it was not looked upon in approval.

He sighed. There was nothing for it. He’d have to face whatever may come, and take responsibility for it. Because despite his brother’s hand in it, he’d been fully lucid the entire time. He had consciously allowed himself to lose control and had participated quite eagerly in his beasts ravishment of her. In fact, it was only fair to call him the instigator.

Her power spike and her rather strong heat was not an excuse.

A wry smile crossed his lips. It had definitely been enjoyable, however. It had made taking her even more of a pleasure, as her hormones had driven her to demand as much of him as he could give.

And he’d given plenty.

He smirked. He’d love to see his father’s face when he figured out what had caused the crack in the wall. The old man had always been oddly prudish when it came to sex, despite having been mated twice.

However, he did have a score to settle with the hanyou, no matter how much he owed him for current circumstances. He’d put Kagome in danger and if he’d been any other youkai, he might have been unable to see to her well-being. It was not to be tolerated, nor forgotten.

A sleepy sigh came from his female, and he sped up, wanting to get her to bed for a proper sleep.

Kagome was dimly aware of being lifted off the chair, a full plate resting in her lap as she was carried up a flight of stairs, then gently placed under the covers of an enormous bed. She ate the meal provided, but barely registered how delicious it tasted. The sun was just scarcely beginning to peak over the horizon, casting shadows across the room, when Sesshomaru silently closed the heavy drapes to block out the light.

She smiled when she felt him press his lip to hers, before he straightened and backed away.

“I’ll be back in a bit. Sleep well, baby.”

She nodded, the world fading away.

He watched her, cuddled into a small lump under his covers. In his bed.

Where she’d always belonged.

Then he turned away. His face was wiped of all expression as he closed the door behind himself. The was a muffled popping sound as the youkai flexed his fists, cracking his knuckles. It was time his brother learned not to play with the lives of others.


~@~


Inuyasha was having a rather pleasant dream.

It was graduation day from his high school and he and his pack were coming home after receiving their diplomas. His father was smiling happily from his favored chair in the corner of the family room while the rest of them discussed their plans for after graduation.

Abruptly, he found himself choked up as his father made a small speech about how proud he was of his extended family.

Inuyasha’s eyes widened as he realized that in fact, he couldn’t breath. No one seemed to notice as he gasped uselessly for air. His eyes teared up and he clasped his throat.

A growl reached his ears as he suddenly shot from the ground, hanging.

He was shaken, like a predator shakes it’s prey as it seeks to break it’s neck before devouring it.

“Wake. Up.”

Suddenly, he realized that he was asleep, and his eyes shot open.

He rather wished they hadn’t, because it was not a pleasant sight.

His brother’s eyes were so dark, they were almost black, his upper lip curled away from his fangs. His markings had gone jagged as he snarled, his hand tightening further against Inuyasha’s larynx.

“Welcome to the land of the living,” he growled. “It’s going to be a bumpy ride.”

Oh, Crap…


~@~


The rest of the group woke to the clatter of sharp curses and painful sounding cracks as two figures wrestled in the middle of the room. Snarls and growls would emerge as one or the other took a hit from the other’s fists.

Though, Inuyasha was quite obviously taking the worst of it.

“I didn’t know that would happen,” he gasped as Sesshomaru pounded his head against the marble floor with a violent crack.

“Ignorance is never an excuse for stupidity, little brother.”

“I was just trying to help you two!” Inuyasha buried his fist in his brother’s belly. He actually winced at the impact, shaking his hand as if he’d attempted to punch his was through concrete.

Sesshomaru only growled at the blow that failed to bring him to his knees. “How? By getting her raped? By your own admission, you were unknowledgeable about the nature of our connection!”

“But-” A heavy fist to the jaw shut him up.

“No buts, Fool!” He sat down on Inuyasha’s stomach, pinning his flailing arms to the ground. “You will apologize to my mate!”

“MATE??!!” The hanyou goggled at him in shock. As did the rest of them.

Sango and Miroku had had to restrain Kikyo from coming to her boyfriend’s aid as he’d taken his beating.

The look of betrayal on the girl’s face had been painful, but she was too emotional to react properly. “No, Kikyo! He would only turn on you.”

Kikyo had sputtered. ‘But- But he’s Inuyasha’s brother!”

“You are not yet Inuyasha’s mate and so not recognizable to Sesshomaru’s Beast! If he was strong enough to refrain from killing Kagome in an attempt to dominate her, do you really think you could take him? You, who will have no power spike?”

When Kikyo had opened her mouth in outrage, Sango had continued. “He’s not going to kill him! And would you really interfere in the natural dynamic of an Inu pack? He’s only punishing him as he sees fit for putting his mate in danger. Inuyasha would not thank you!”

The miko had sagged in their grip then, her sad eyes following the proceedings.

By now, the hanyou lay sprawled in a rather bruised and bloody heap on the floor. One eyes was swollen shut, as he raised a hand to signal that he was giving up.

One last blow impacted against his ribs, and he felt them crack.

“You will apologize.”

It was not a request, but even so, Inuyasha was in no shape to argue. He could only nod as his head throbbed uncomfortably.

He was unexpectedly jerked to his feet. His eyes widened at the odd glint of wickedness in his brother’s eyes.

Then he was yanked forward. A loud, smacking kiss was pressed to his lips. Then Sesshomaru shoved him away.

The hanyou sputtered indignantly as he wiped his mouth against the back of his arm. “What the hell did you do that for, you asshole!”

His brother’s eyes had faded back to gold as his markings smoothed out. A deceptively serene smile curved his lips.

“My thanks for the Christmas present.”

“GAH!” Inuyasha shivered in disgust. He shook his head as his brother left the room.

His brother was a twisted bastard…


~@~


It was hours later, and the pack was once again waking up. Though, a bit more gently, this time.

Well, it started off well enough.

They were lazily piled in the center of the floor, watching Aliens vs. Predator.

“That is one amazing woman,” Naraku said admiringly, his head propped on Rin’s hip as she brushed out his hair.

Indeed, the woman was quite something as she took on K-Y jelly coated aliens and behemoth Predators.

They smiled, amused by the hanyou. He always did have a liking for strong women.

The newly mated pair was in the kitchen, Kagome insisting on making breakfast and Sesshomaru, unwilling to let his female leave him behind, had followed her.

Though, he’d looked awfully lovely, sprawled on his back against the black bedding and lusciously nude. It had felt nothing less than criminal asking him to cover that body up.

She looked up. His eyes glowed with the knowledge of her arousal, his tongue sliding over his upper lip. She shivered, but determinedly returned to her omelets.

His low laughter followed her as a blush crept up her bared throat.

The front door was suddenly thrown open, and a harried youkai lord dove through the opening, slamming it shut behind himself.

“Inuyasha! Sesshomaru! Get out here, now!”

The was a shared groan as all parties settled in to watch the confrontation.


~@~


Sugimi watched the two males with unconcealed exasperation. He supposed he was lucky to still have a house to come home to.

He was still unable to believe the tale he’d just been told.

Though, the fresh scent of blood told it’s own tale. His eldest stood, arms crossed over his broad chest, completely unrepentant. His golden eyes were like ice as he watched his father pace.

But the scent came from behind the male, emanating from the small female with huge blue eyes who peeked at him from behind his son. Sesshomaru shifted slightly to the side and he caught a glimpse of the multiple fang marks on her slender throat. The eyes were wide and nervous as they awaited his verdict.

He suddenly felt uncomfortable.

In reality, there was not a thing he could do, now. Sesshomaru had already been baited and hooked. Kagome had, by the lingering smell in the other room, been thoroughly mated.

He forced himself to stop fidgeting in embarrassment at the thought.

And Inuyasha had already been well and truly punished.

He sighed. The girl winced, as if awaiting her doom.

“Kagome.”

She jumped.

“Come here.”

His eldest son’s eyes softened just a just a bit, a faint smile curving his lips.

The small girl slowly walked around Sesshomaru, coming to stand before Sugimi. She tilted her head back to look him in the eyes.

“Yes?”

The faint waiver in her voice suddenly took away all of his ire.

“Welcome to the family.”

Kagome was stunned when the youkai embraced her. Her own stepfather was not very demonstrative and so she was not used to fatherly affection.

But she smiled and let her arms curl tightly around his neck. “Thank you, sir.”

The lord suddenly laughed, outright. “You will call me ‘Father’, little girl.”

Kagome giggled as she pulled back. “Yes, Father.”

She bussed his cheek, then moved back to stand with her mate, who had growled in annoyance at her show of affection towards another male. Even if it was his own father.

His brother laughed at him and he narrowed his eyes in irritation. Kagome wrapped her arms around him and he buried his face in her throat, calming himself with her scent. His eyes suddenly widened.

Inuyasha watched in confusion as his brother suddenly went still. Then a smile unlike any he’d ever seen crossed his face.

“What?” he mouthed.

His brother smirked. Then his hand lowered to possessively cover Kagome’s stomach.

Inuyasha gaped. Then he groaned.

Oh, crap…not another Ice Prince...


~@~


Later that afternoon, as Sugimi finished cleaning up the family room and piling up the gifts for the youngsters, he noticed an odd dent in the wall. It was just over two feet long and about a foot wide.

“Boys? What happened to the wall?”

His eldest son laughed, the sound wickedly amused. Sugimi went still.

“Sorry, dad. It was an…accident.” Sesshomaru stood in the doorway. There wasn’t an ounce of remorse in his voice or smile.

The youkai lord felt the most embarrassing blush creep across his face.

“Oh, dear lord…”


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