Inuyasha: The Curse of the Orange Lantern

Note:
Thank you all for your reviews *hugs* once more!
I know there’s a lot crammed into this chapter, but Sesshoumaru’s interpersonal skills have taken a life of their own. I did not intend to have this be so involved, it’s supposed to be a nice, SHORT, simple spooky tale. Now I find myself trying to fit a lot into small spaces since the chapter titles were made before I wrote the story. I’m running out of story space. I will do what I can though.
Extra Warnings: Hmm…just the regular language, annoying villain, nudity, punches, disclaimers, yaoi hints and stunned halibuts as the rest.

---

Chapter 5
It Lurks Beyond the Lantern’s Light


Inuyasha awoke after a contented, if short, sleep. He had felt strangely safe and welcomed in the night. Safe in a way he had not felt since he was a pup in his mother’s embrace. The filtered sun warmed his flesh in the morning air as he cracked his jaw in a large yawn. He tiles of the roof causing delicious warmth to bath his curled body. He rolled to his feet on the titled roof and stretched with a second yawn. His arms arched over his head and his head tilted back to greet the morning with a soft, pleased smile. Why was he so relaxed and content again?

There were cries of shock and insult from below. Along with one stunned, frantic voice which instantly caught his attention above all else. “Inuyasha! Sit!”

“Huh? Wh-!?” His eyes snapped open to make several realizations at once.

He was still on the roof. He was alone. He and Sesshoumaru had a meaningful conversation last night. Sesshoumaru had hugged him. Well he’d forced Sesshoumaru to hug him. For the first time in their lives Inuyasha had felt safe and like he actually had a brother. He had learned the reasons why he thought Sesshoumaru acted as he did toward him and why he was such a bastard in general. He had been molested and he kinda liked it. He was being sat by a flustered Kagome. Tetsusaiga was gone, as were his clothes. He was stark naked on a roof alone in front of a few shocked villagers and his friends. This all came together to the realization that he was now plummeting bright red and headlong along the roof, over the edge behind the building and through a shrubbery into the moist earth with a wet thud. Ouch.

The worms seemed surprised to see him there.

Inuyasha lay still for a moment and relocated his sternum before leaping out of the crater in anger. “Kagome! Why did ya do that?! Crap! Where are my clothes?!” He was still bright red as he squatted into the bush and tried to cover himself while his eyes darted around. “That bastard…he left me without my clothes…”

“Inuyasha! Why are you naked on the roof?!” Kagome yelled from the other side of the building.

“Because Sesshoumaru stole my clothes, the fucking bastard!” He screamed back. How could he humiliate and abandon him like that after they had a decent conversation last night? Then again…Inuyasha had forced him to hug him, kinda. If Sesshoumaru really didn’t want to his brother would have decapitated him. But he hadn’t. Then again, maybe he thought it would be dishonourable somehow or something and this was how Moodymaru was getting back at him. Still, it hurt. Inuyasha had no desire for all those villagers to be mocking him now.

“What are you talking about, Inuyasha? Your clothes are on the roof beside where you were standing!” Kagome shouted back.

“What?” Inuyasha blinked in stunned surprise. He ripped off a branch and held it over his body as he slunk away from the side of the building to peer quickly up at the roof. Sure enough, the splash of red of his clothes were there, folded neatly beside where he had been lying. “Shit…he didn’t take my clothes…” Inuyasha murmured in awe. Maybe Sesshoumaru hadn’t intended to humiliate him after all. But he still had left and…his eyes narrowed. Tetsusaiga was gone. That fucker. Probably waited until he fell asleep then made off with the sword!

“Inuyasha! Are you going to get them or what?” Kagome yelled.

“I would but then everyone will be starin’ at me!” He shouted back.

“Like we would want to look at your half-breed hide, you heathen!” Came an elderly voice. “You’ve frightened the children!”

“Keh. Lady, if I disgusted ya so, why were you starin’?” Inuyasha barked to the group on the other side of the building as he crouched modestly in the bush again. He was still bright red with his hair covering as much of his skin as it could. Seriously, how was he going to get his clothes other than jump up there? This was stupid. Havin’ his brother see him naked was one thing, a village was another completely. Wait. Why the hell had he let Sesshoumaru see him naked? What the hell had he been thinkin’?

“Hmph! I never stared!”

“Grandma, what was that floppy white-furry thing between the puppy’s legs?” A small female voice inquired.

Inuyasha nearly turned purple he was so red with horror.

“Inuyasha, give me a moment and I shall retrieve your clothing!” Miroku’s voice came from the crowd. “I simply must rest a moment first.”

“Yeah…it is hard to stay standing isn’t it?” Kagome agreed. “I’m glad Rin, Shippo and Jaken are still inside…”

So was Inuyasha.

A deep sigh reached his ears before the familiar sound of moving fabric and a grip on the fastens of a giant bone boomerang followed. “HIRAIKOTSU!” Sango cried out in warning as the great weapon sailed over the roof, catching the fire-rat and white underclothes and scattering them behind the house in its pass before returning to the demon slayer’s hand.

“Thanks Sango!” Inuyasha shouted as he darted away from his bush to grab the articles of his clothing then darted back. Quickly he dressed in them amid a flurry of mumbled curses. He came around the house tying up his bottoms and trying to make the last of the red on his cheeks vanish a moment later. “Guys, we need to talk about stuff, and then I need to catch up with Sesshoumaru and be-”

There was a flare of wind behind him as his hair swept forward over his shoulder and his friends stepped back. The villagers made noises of fear and awe huddling away from what had landed behind him. His back went tense as his nose filled with his brother’s scent and he could feel goose bumps on his arms at the sudden close proximity of his power.

Shit. The bastard had to fly in behind him, didn’t he. As Inuyasha spun about to shout he caught the scent of fresh fish. He blinked in surprise to see Sesshoumaru standing there holding several very large fish. Still dripping with water in a line from his clawed hand.

The daiyoukai walked non-pulsed past Inuyasha and dropped the fish at Kagome’s feet. “Make yourself useful Miko, and prepare these for Rin. The leftovers can go to yourselves and my hanyou brother whose stomach did not permit me to rest last night.”

Kagome just stared at him for a moment before stuttering a stunned thank you. Sesshoumaru never did anything this thoughtful for them. It was a first and very awkward to all involved. Kagome stared down at the food and wondered about how best to divide it between them and the hungry villagers. She gathered up the fish and headed into the hut they had spent the night. Sango at her heels. The villagers seemed uncertain whether to follow after the women or stare in fear at the Daiyoukai.

“Keh. Make sure he didn’t poison it. Hey, Sesshoumaru! Where’s my -” Once again before he could finish Tetsusaiga was thrown at him. He caught the blade in its sheath looking down at his hands then back up at Sesshoumaru in open-mouthed wonder. He gave it back. Why? Confusion was plain on Inuyasha’s open features. “Why?”

“I did not wish to leave my Father’s fang disrespectfully on a roof where it could have been lost.” Sesshoumaru’s cold silken voice stated.

“Keh. The only one I ever need to fear to lose it to is your greedy ass.” Inuyasha shoved the sheath snug into the string that hung over his chest. The weight of the sword at his hip was familiar and comfortable as he fingered the hilt briefly in greeting. He tucked his hands in his sleeves and stood with his feet spread trying to ignore the looks the villagers were giving him. “When are we leavin’ to talk to that youkai?”

“I leave once Rin has eaten.” The daiyoukai was airborne to land neatly on the roof of the building which Kagome had entered. He stood on the point looking out to the forest without expression. Inuyasha realized he was guarding the food so the hungry villagers didn’t mob them. Already many were gazing lustily at the hut where Kagome and Sango were preparing the fish. The poor blighters were half starved after all. But none got too close, their eyes kept traveling between the white statue on the roof and the door.

What was with Sesshoumaru bein’ nice all of a sudden? He could have run off with the sword, but he gave it back. An’ he brought them food. Inuyasha didn’t understand. He looked down with a furrowed brow at his father’s fang and his stomach rumbled painfully.

“Youkai?” Miroku asked from his side curiously.

“Yeah, we talked last night, there’s a youkai who might know what’s going on around here he wants ta talk to. I’m goin’ with ‘em. I need to talk ta ya all about that.” Inuyasha muttered.

The two turned and walked into the hut where the girls were working on breakfast. Shippo and Rin were trying to help eagerly and Jaken was supervising. “I am interested to hear what it was you discussed. In particular, why you were naked on the roof with Sesshoumaru over the night?” Miroku questioned.

Inuyasha froze in the doorway and turned a warm shade of mortification. Everyone else stopped to look at him. Except Jaken who was having a melt down, “What did you say!? What? Lord Sesshoumaru was naked on the roof?!” The green turd looked like he might run out and hump the roof at that second.

“No, Sesshoumaru wasn’t, just me.” Inuyasha snapped. The turd looked relieved, disappointed and ill at the thought.

“Yeah…why were you naked on the roof Inuyasha?” Kagome questioned as she gutted a fish with a yawn. Sango was more skilled in this department, but Kagome was getting the hang of it over the years.

“Er…well…I…I took a bath an’ I got leeches all over me and Sesshoumaru helped get ‘em off on the roof while we were talkin’ and I fell asleep before I got dressed. Because I was fuckin’ tired after keeping yer asses safe.” He said lamely. It sounded really dumb like that. Really, nothing he could say would make any sense to them unless he explained every painstaking detail of why he was trying to get Sesshoumaru to hug him. An’ he didn’t really want to explain to them what his brother had told him just yet. It was private. Hell, it wouldn’t make sense even if he did tell him. Why had he not put his clothes on first? Why had Sesshoumaru not tossed him into the trees? Must be this place. In all honesty last night had been weird. Letting himself be naked and Sesshoumaru touching his body like that. He felt his cheeks getting warm at the memory of a clawed hand caressing behind his balls. Damnit. Seriously, he’d been naked on Sesshoumaru’s lap and he’d slept and he felt safe? What had he been thinking? He’d be safer in a sea monster’s mouth!

They were all staring incredulously at him.

“Lord Sesshoumaru took leeches off you? Ew.”

“He…helped you?’

“How could you not put your clothes on?”

“Why would my pure, most perfect Lord sully his claws by putting them near your filthy hide?!”

“Lord Sesshoumaru can be very kind.”

“Kind in a chopping off your head after he poisons your guts sort of way.”

“Did he hurt you? When he cut off the leeches?”

“Did he poison you and leave you up there naked?”

“Lord Sesshoumaru would never do something so underhanded! I think the hanyou was dreaming. The only explanation.”

Those were some of the confused comments on the situation. Inuyasha turned his face away from them and blushed at the wall. Maybe the last comment was right. That might be the most sense really. Maybe it was just best ta forget last night happened. Ever. “Yeah, well, it happened. An’ it won’t again. Anyway, there’s shit I need to tell you so listen won’t ya?”

They were putting the first of the fish onto the hearth. “What is it Inuyasha?” Sango asked.

“We know the trees ‘ave been eating all the people an’ animals an’ stuff. Well, Sesshoumaru wants ta talk to one of the strong youkai who lives here. She was close to the one who disappeared who got the trees all juiced up. He thinks she might know what happened to ‘im, so I’m going with him and make sure he gets his answers.” Inuyasha said grimly. “Then I’m comin’ right back here. You hafta be careful an’ keep a close eye on Yoku. He’s been doing nasty things to the bodies he’s watchin’.” He gave Miroku a grave, meaningful look. The monk, who had seated himself by the fire next to Sango, looked startled. “We think he’s been controllin’ the headless ghost too.”

“What do you mean by nasty things?” Kagome asked, putting on another fish to cook.

“He means the bodies have been desecrated in a way not suitable to mention, Lady Kagome.” Miroku supplied. Glancing over at the children before looking back at Kagome.

Kagome gasped and Sango turned pale. Rin was completely unaware but Shippo looked a bit wary.

“We must make sure he doesn’t hurt them anymore than he has!” Kagome blurted out in horror.

“Yeah. I wanted to kill ‘im but Sesshoumaru said I hafta wait or the humans’ll be pissed. Not that they won‘t anyway.” Inuyasha grumbled. “An’ I don’t do what he thinks, but I know the bastard is right. We think he’s controlling the ghost but we don’t know how. My cat-ass licking brother wants at leave him alive ‘till he’s certain the ghost and trees won’t go more crazy or sumthin if we do. But, if he doesn’t get his answers from this youkai this morning I will kill the pervert anyway.” His golden eyes flashed dangerously. “I want you to stay away from ‘im Kagome. Especially since you‘re not as alert as normal. You too Miroku, don’t know what hold he‘s got on the spiritual stuff. You all need Sango to watch over you while I’m with Sesshoumaru.”

“This is terrible; we need to find a way to keep him away from them until you get back.” Sango said placing another fish up to cook after a few moments as the group absorbed what Inuyasha had told them. The smell was drifting tantalizingly out the door to the villagers clustered, just beyond.

“A way to keep who away from whom?” A haughty voice declared as Yoku wormed his way into the hut. He stood just behind Inuyasha, looking at the fish hungrily.

The hanyou swivelled and flashed his teeth. “No one invited you in here.”

The man looked affronted. He was not strong; he was tall and gawky really with lanky dark hair, a narrow overhanging brow, and small dark eyes which were set too close together to be appealing. Inuyasha never put any judgment behind looks when it came to personality, but this creep was ugly inside and out. “This is not your home, it belongs to one of our villagers. Is that any way to react to the kindness we have shown you?”

“The villagers have been very kind, there is no disputing such. We had merely wished to converse in quiet of the monster who roams these forests without upsetting the good people further.” Miroku replied.

Inuyasha growled at Yoku and remained standing between him and his friends. “What do you want?”

“The others pushed me inside really, to ask if you would be sharing your catch. We have not seen fish like that in months…”

Inuyasha’s eyes narrowed. “It ain’t ours to share, Sesshoumaru caught it. He said it was for the kid and we could have the leftovers. So bugger off you greedy pervert.”

“I’m certain we can share the leftovers with the villagers, once Rin has had her fill. We will make sure to distribute it evenly.” Kagome said curtly as she put on another of the fish.

“Well, I’m glad someone here has manners. Then again, what else to expect from a half-breed dog who flaunts himself naked on the roof-top? No decency. Displaying your… unnatural body like that.” Yoku said with venom as his eyes swept over Inuyasha in distaste. Sneering slightly as his gaze hovered over the hanyou’s fully clothed groin.

At first Inuyasha wished to react with anger, but as the last comment was made he could not hold back the blush and the horrified shame in his wide expressive eyes. The little shit had nailed him right where it hurt the most with that comment. He had always been afraid that he was a hideous thing. What with his ears and nose and hair and claws and shit. He didn’t look demon or human and everyone tended to tell him how filthy and ugly he was. His lips trembled slightly as he began to recover and form a scathing reply. He could feel his friends’ anger rising behind him.

A startled gasp from the villagers outside.

“Inuyasha’s body is far more natural and decent than you. If you believed him to be flaunting himself, and it offends your delicate sensibilities, you should look elsewhere rather than staring at him.” The deep velvety dulcets of Sesshoumaru’s voice caressed Inuyasha’s ears as he saw his brother now towering behind Yoku.

The human looked decidedly uncomfortable. “I was not looking, nor have I ever!”

“...” Sesshoumaru walked smoothly past him without comment to stand next to Kagome near the fire. Inuyasha’s friends were stunned and awkward. Rin was happy and Jaken was grovelling. Inuyasha’s lips were still parted, his ears askew as he stared at his brother in confusion. He had efficiently cut any access to Kagome off from Yoku. While Miroku was next to Sango and the kids, the pets and Jaken held the space between the two girls. Sesshoumaru had just defended him…what the hell?

Yoku seemed to recover himself. “I heard that the demon and the half-breed would be leaving today?”

“Yeah…but just for a bit, we’ll be right back so don’t get too comfortable.” Inuyasha snapped.

Sesshoumaru’s gaze shifted to Inuyasha sharply while his features remained focused on the fire. “This Sesshoumaru has business to attend. I do not recall inviting you to join me.”

Inuyasha glared. “I ain’t lettin’ you go out there and get eaten by a tree. I wanna talk to that youkai too. How will I know what’s going on if I don’t? You’d never tell us! So I‘m coming with you to find out for myself.”

Kagome was shifting away nervously from the towering figure beside her. She kept almost burning or cutting her fingers while she worked on the fish she was so distracted. Sesshoumaru never stood this close. It was highly unnerving and she could hardly breathe. She blinked and started. The daiyoukai was now casually sitting at her side. Not close enough to touch, but still far too close for her. “Do not get your blood in Rin’s food, human.” Sesshoumaru’s voice rumbled in her ear. Looking down she saw that she had nearly sliced her finger on the gutting knife. Right. Pay attention to the fish. Just relax.

The narrowed morning frosted gaze never left Inuyasha. “I believe it is you who ended up in distress in the forest, not I little brother. If you insist I will not stop your foolishness. But do not expect me to wait for you.”

“Keh.” Inuyasha folded his arms across his chest. “You walk so fuckin’ slow, I’ll be there before you.” He grumbled. “And stop harassin’ Kagome.”

“What demon are you looking for? I can guarantee there is nothing left alive out in those trees. I’ve been out myself to get the lantern if you recall.” Yoku’s chin jutted up and forward in his boast. His shoulders squared and his entire posture screaming arrogance.

Inuyasha growled at him softly. “You mean you went out there and hid behind everyone else as they got beheaded, stole the lantern and ran.” The coward was worse in his physical displays of dominance and conceited stupidity than Sesshoumaru was. This human was far worse. The difference being Sesshoumaru could back up his dominance because he was fuckin’ the strongest shit around. An’ his arrogance came mostly from the fact he was usually right. Bastard. He wasn’t bloody perfect though and needed some humility. Inuyasha twitched an ear and his gaze became thoughtful. He didn’t really know now, how much of it was the fake protective distance his brother put on to cover how hurt he got before. Or how much was just pure bastard. He wanted to find out.

The human on the other hand was weak, manipulative and just plain needed a punch through the face. There was no reason he should be so damned cocksure. Especially in front of the two Inu. Hell, Shippo had more dominant strength and resilience than this Yoku. But the bugger must be all certain of himself because he controlled the ghost and didn’t see anyone as a threat anymore. Keh. How wrong could he be?

“It is none of your concern.” Was Sesshoumaru’s only response. The tone of voice stating quite clearly it wasn’t going to be spoken of again.

“Here Rin, the first fish is done. Be careful, it’s still very hot.” Kagome placed the fish on a plate and set it in front of the human girl. Having given in a few minutes to cool.

Rin’s warm brown eyes sparkled and she clapped her hands in glee. “It looks wonderful! Thank you Lord Sesshoumaru, thank you Lady Kagome! Shippo, will you take half? It is far too much for Rin to eat alone.”

“You’re welcome Rin,” Kagome smiled.

“No, no, it’s yours. But if you insist!” Shippo danced.

“What? Why does he get half? What about me?” Jaken squawked in pure annoyance. That delicious fish, caught by his Lord’s perfect hand! Why should the nasty kit get to have it when he, Jaken, would savour each succulent bite?

“Here Jaken. You can have a bit of Kagome, Kirara, Miroku and mine.” Sango was slicing up the fish, placing equal portions on worn dishes. The fish truly were massive. The one could feed the five of them well.

“Mew!” Kirara purred as she dug into the fish piece set in her dish with euphoric delight.

“Thank you, Sango.” Miroku also purred as he took his dish.

“Thanks just set it there beside me for now. Did you want anything, Lord Sesshoumaru?” Kagome asked.

“No. I do not require it.”

“Ok…”

“Ah, fish, brought by my Lord Sesshoumaru for us!” Jaken’s eyes were watering. “I…I can’t eat it! It’s too precious a gift!” The kappa hugged his plate and the fish to himself reverently.

“Well, if you don’t want it, there are lots out there who do.” Shippo said around a mouthful.

“Hands off! It’s mine!” Jaken snapped.

“Disrespectful, mongrel. I did not steal it and I didn’t hide!” Yoku sneered. “And it is my concern, Lord Sesshoumaru. This is my village and I won‘t have you bringing any more of your kind to prey upon its people.” The way Yoku said Lord was a definite insult. The whole group just stared at him, both in utter awe of his stupidity and in expectation of his grisly demise soon to follow.

Inuyasha glanced from Yoku to Sesshoumaru and back. His brother didn’t even blink. His interest seemed to be consumed by the embers of the fire and Rin’s cheerful praise of the fish. How the icicle could sit so close to the fire and not melt away he didn’t know. Inuyasha narrowed his eyes and flexed his claws at the human. “I bet you did hide and waited ‘till it was safe to come out. Or ran screaming and tripped over the fuckin’ lantern. I swear, I’m gonna -” his threat was cut off as he was slapped in the face by a smouldering hot fish.

The fish flopped to the ground and Inuyasha blinked down at it in surprised shock. The thing was still extremely hot and smoking. Where it had come into contact with his flesh was slightly red. It also smelled divinely wonderful. The scent beckoning to his empty belly with sinful promises of the aching cavern being filled by the tender, warm, juicy flesh. When he looked up he saw Kagome’s eyes looking from him to Sesshoumaru in wide amazement. His brother hadn’t moved a muscle from the position he had been in. While Sango, Miroku and Shippo were looking rather confused at where the fish came from.

“I…guess that one’s for you Inuyasha.” Kagome tentatively said.

Unable to completely register what had just happened without requiring medical aide. Inuyasha opted to ignore the event and take the fish up on its promise to his pained tummy. Squatting down he picked up his meal with his claws. This was his fish now. No one else would touch it! He growled and switched hands quickly. Tossing the scalding fish from one to the other until he got to the hearth and Miroku handed him a plate. His fish landed with a flop on it and Inuyasha squatted with his hands and feet together on the ground. Butt nearly touching the hut floor and ears perked forward eagerly. He inhaled deeply, licking his lips in anticipation.

“Inuyasha, it’s still too hot.” Kagome warned.

“I don’t care.” He growled as he kept trying to grab it and jerking his hand back. Fuck. Not fair. It was teasing him damnit. The only place he had to occupy to sit was next to his brother. Frankly, he didn’t care so long as he got his fish into his stomach. He was starving. Having the food in front of him but too hot to eat was just reminding him how hungry he was and it was torture.

“You’ll burn your tongue, like last time.” Kagome scolded.

“I will not.” He held the large fish in his claws, careful not to touch it with the skin of his fingers and took a bite from it. Only to yelp, drop his fish and hop around a bit before swallowing hastily and whimpering to haunch back down. That hurt. The inside of his mouth was utterly pained. But it would heal in a bit.

“I told you.” Kagome sighed and handed him a cup of water.

“Keh.” Inuyasha took the water and drank it, the coolness instantly relieving the ache of his tongue.

Yoku cleared his throat as he sat down between Inuyasha and Miroku. It seemed like the man was upset he was being ignored. Really, didn’t he get the message that they didn’t want him anywhere near them? Jackass. The hanyou wiggled a little closer to his brother, their legs a hair’s width apart to get away from the human he was ignoring. Inuyasha stared, practically drooling, at his fish. Willing it to cool down.

“You seem to be keeping a great deal for yourselves.” Yoku accused. “Surely the hanyou doesn’t require that much. And why bother to cook it for him? He is a half demon. He should like eating bloodied and rotten meat.”

Inuyasha’s ears went back and his stomach lurched. What the hell?

“That is incorrect. Not all demons eat meat, Master Yoku. There are quite a few who can’t. Inuyasha has as much a human stomach as a demon one, nor are inu natural carrion eaters. True, raw fish is normal among demon and human…but we don’t know where these fish lived. They could very well carry worms or worse.” Sango snapped in irritation. “Why would we put our friend through that?”

“We youkai need lots of food! A lot more than you do,” Shippo input around a pawful more of fish.

“If you hadn’t noticed, we have three fish, the rest are going to the villagers! There’s a lot more going out and we’re entitled to some.” Kagome snapped. “And I don’t like how you talk to Inuyasha! Excuse me.” Kagome stood up and took a heaping plate of fish outside to the people there to split up. Too annoyed to be tired at the moment.

Miroku yawned behind his hand. “You tend to make bold assumptions and speak with ignorance, Master Yoku. For the benefit of your health, I would suggest you learn more tact, and respect.” The last word was said with a hard, unforgiving and disgusted stare from the monk’s passionate gaze.

Inuyasha saw Miroku’s hand tighten and the way Sango was gutting her last few fish. He wondered if Yoku would still be alive when he came back to kill him today. Kami he loved his friends. Using his claws he sliced off a bit of his fish and nipped it. Still too hot, but almost there. His poor tongue, it was pretty numb now. To ease the pain he lapped more water on it.

“I do speak from experience, monk. I also see why you wouldn’t want him with worms. Too much of a waste.” Every point in the human’s posture was displaying his cocky sense of supreme dominance and superiority to the group. Every motion and even the tone of voice were conveying it. It was making Sango twitch, annoying the crap out of Kagome and Inuyasha’s ears kept flicking. His muscles tensed as he tried to control his urge to take up the puny dipshit on his challenge. The only thing holding him back really was the fact he was sitting beside Sesshoumaru. All his weird dog instincts knew his bastard of a brother was alpha-asshole. Despite he needed to give the bastard a regular beating because of it and he chose never to acknowledge it. But he did know it. If there was a dominance showdown, let Sesshoumaru wipe the human across the floor with his boot or whatever. He was the King of Dipshits after all. He’d earned the title fair and fiercely.

Inuyasha had his fish to be focused on. The human had a rather short life expectancy after all. At least it might provide some mealtime entertainment he thought toothily.

He noticed Sesshoumaru’s eyes had narrowed a bit more than normal as they ignored the human. Sango stood briskly with a second plate of fish and took it out to help Kagome split up the shares to the eager villagers. One more plate, the last fish cooking lightly on the hot hearth, and they would be done. Yoku kept babbling about how wonderful he was and how the villagers all relied on him now to take care of them. He took a whole frigging fish for himself. Sango took it back and gave him a tail piece before whisking the rest out while he was busy yammering on. How important he was to the village now, when they didn’t give him the time of day before. Because he had that stupid lamp with the barrier and took care of the bodies. Keh. If hey only knew how he took care of the bodies, their opinions would change fast enough. Inuyasha took another small nibble of fish before his youthful eyes lit up with joy. At last! He picked up his prize and was about to dig into it heartily. To ease that burning tear of hunger in his stomach he loathed so much. He plopped down on his bum with his legs crossed. His ears were high and his knees bounced in anticipation. He licked his lips and opened his mouth wide, displaying his sharp canines.

“I must say, your group is unusual. A monk, a priestess, a demon slayer and a little girl is strange enough. But two demon steeds, a kappa and a fox kit with you is even more extraordinary. Though, not unheard of for ones of high spiritual powers - as you must be to stay awake in the lantern’s barrier - to take a demon servant. The ‘Lord’ dog demon I suppose would be useful.” Yoku gave Sesshoumaru one of his creepy hungry looks. “What powers can he muster? Do other demons pay attention to him? Do you use him to subdue them? I suppose his looks gain admiration and could be useful in other ways.” He laughed. “Do the markings indicate a warning of some type? I suppose it only fitting that you have a strong, pretty hanyou for muscle and perhaps a decoy as well. Send him out to lure the more dangerous demons in to destroy. Easily controlled with subjugation beads I see. Whose pet is he? The priestess’ or did you pick him up for the demon ‘Lord’ to play with? I know canines like to touch and have company of their own.”

Jaken was screaming. Miroku had fallen over. Kagome and Sango who had been preparing the last plate just stood frozen. Shippo and Rin were staring with their eyes wide.

Inuyasha also sat frozen, his mouth poised over his fish. What. The. Fuck. Did he seriously just hear all that? And what the hell was with that look he was giving Sesshoumaru? It made his heckles rise in anger.

“You know, I would be interested in acquiring them both. The Demon ‘Lord’ in particular as he might be able to help protect our village. As well as feed us since you have him so well trained to hunt. For him to find fish here is a miracle. I could make it worth your while, I have the village’s wealth at my disposal. If you don’t wish to part with such a fine creature, understandably, I would be more than happy to just take the pet off your hands. If he eats as much as you say…would it not be good to be rid of him?” Yoku placed his hand, in a possessive gesture, on the small of Inuyasha’s back. Inuyasha‘s eyes went as wide as Jaken’s and his ears folded. “He would also help guard my people. What would you like for him? The beads as well, worth more than the mutt, no doubt.”

“What the hell is wrong with you, you pervert! Inuyasha isn’t a pet! He’s not for sale! Stop touching him!” Kagome screamed.

“You go too far…” Sango growled.

“Never have I seen such stupidity,” Miroku shook his head.

“He’s going to die.” Shippo announced. “Oh well, are you going to finish that Miroku?”

“Lord Sesshoumaru is not a plaything you fool! He is the Lord of the West! Most powerful youkai to walk the lands! The hanyou is unworthy of his touch! He’ll rip you to smithereens you puny, wretched mortal! How dare you!” Jaken screeched.

“What the hell do you mean by his looks being useful, you moron?!“ Inuyasha was first struck by the urge to get away from that revolting touch and how fucking uncomfortable and soiled he felt because of it. So much so that he actually leaned closer to his homicidal moody brother until their legs were touching. Then he was briefly torn between punching a hole in the human fucktard’s face and letting go of his fish. How dare he look at Sesshoumaru like that! How smug and stupid was he to say all that bullshit about them? A pet? Inuyasha would show him pet alright! The hanyou’s eye twitched in suppressed rage. So what if he controlled the headless rider and messed up the trees. Yeah, so killin’ ‘im might unleash dead meat-eating trees and an untouchable killer on the world…he needed to die.

But he was so hungry. He hadn’t eaten in more than a day. He just wanted to eat his food and fill his angry belly but the moron beside him needed a beating too. Damnit. He was about to set down his fish when the decision was made for him. Quickly he flattened himself over his knees to the ground as the pale, Herculean body beside him made a whisper of a shift. No sooner had Inuyasha gone flat with a grunt than a fist flashed above him followed by a billowing red and white sleeve.

There was a gross sound of cracking bone and a massive crash and splintering of breaking wood before the soggy smell of the outside wafted over him. This was followed by the cries of villagers and a muffled howl of pain.

Inuyasha sat back up, not bothering to look over at where Yoku had been punched through the wall and broken his ugly face. Was probably an improvement. Keh. No point in looking. There was something more important for him to deal with. His ears perked back up and he wiggled in delight. Happily, Inuyasha tore a large bite out of his fish. Oh yeah. His stomach gurgled in appreciation as he ravenously devoured the thing. Let the bastard deal with this. His tummy took priority.

All he needed was some of Kagome’s ramen and some fresh veggies and life would be perfect.

A bit of silky fabric caressed his cheek as the warmth beside him moved in a swish of air. Sesshoumaru went from sitting calmly to looming over his prey at the hole in the wall in a movement that couldn’t be followed by the human eye. People were screaming in panic. Shippo was hiding behind Rin. Sango was telling people to stay back and be calm while Kagome was yelling at Sesshoumaru not to kill the freak. She did say freak. Jaken was cackling away in depraved glee at seeing his master after someone else. Miroku just leaned back and made himself comfortable by the hearth, hands pillowing the back of his head with a yawn. Inuyasha enjoyed his fish, chewing the tender meat, savouring the oily juices that coated his tongue, crunching the small bones and gnawing out the beneficial marrow while his ears splayed out in ecstasy.

He helped himself to a second fish, discarding the icky bits of the first and took a happy gnaw of the new flesh. Theses were damn good. Figures asshat would get the best fish. It wasn’t as if the villagers had shared with him, he deserved two fish damnit. Plus, it might be the only time in his life his brother gave him something other than a critical injury.

Inuyasha was aware of the loud voices, dashing of feet, quivering of kit fear and the snoring of the monk as he chewed in blissful peace. This was nice. He could hear Yoku cursing Sesshoumaru in a slurred disconnected way. Saying how sorry his bastard would be and such. Still all king-of-the world despite being under a fucking wall. Inuyasha rolled his eyes, Sesshoumaru’s fist had obviously broken the man’s jaw with that wussy punch - and it had been a light punch. He’d been on the receiving end of hits with a lot more force than that. Still, the man was still yapping. Sheesh. Take the jaw off damnit. His brother was obviously using a lot of restraint to not kill the slimy monster. The human had no damned idea how much he was courting oblivion with his words.

His soft white ear quivered and turned in Sesshoumaru’s direction as his brother’s unconcerned voice responded with something just as arrogant and biting. Yup. Sesshoumaru was playing with him. He could feel him towering over the human, glaring.

As he leaned back on his red-clad elbows and licked each of his fingers to remove the last traces of fish he could detect the scent of human urine. Did Inuyasha not say Sesshoumaru was the Alpha dominant Asshole? There was a clumsy sound. Did Yoku just try to swing his fist at Sesshoumaru? Seriously, if he connected it might tickle the fucking daiyoukai. There was a crack of bone and a nasty cry of pain. Heh. Sesshoumaru obviously caught the fist. Dumbass human. Though, Inuyasha had to give Yoku credit. He’d never thought he’d ever meet someone more arrogant and with a bigger dominance complex than his big brother. Here’s to being proven wrong. Keh.

“Rin.”

“Yes my Lord?”

“Remain here with Jaken and Inuyasha’s humans until I return.”

“Yes, my Lord!”

Inuyasha arched up his full and bloated tummy so only his shoulders and feet touched the ground. He rolled up and flipped on his hands to bounce over to stand next to Sesshoumaru’s elegant figure. “We goin’ now?”

“…” Sesshoumaru glanced at him from the corner of his eye before turning and walking away down the village path with no sound to his steps. Honestly, he often wondered how someone so big and hit like a mountain could be so willowy and light and silent.

Inuyasha began to follow him, pausing to glare witheringly at Yoku who was holding his shattered hand to his chest as two elderly men helped him up from the rubble. “Yeah…he barely touched ya. Stop your cryin’ you should taste his fuckin’ poison sometime. Stay the fuck away from my friends while I’m gone you lying piece of watery shit. I bet you shoved it in goats before ya had your bodies ta get off.”

“Get out of my village you demons!” He shrieked practically foaming at the mouth. “How dare you do this to me!? You will pay out there in the woods! Worthless dogs! Not even a goat would get off on you!”

“This ain’t your village. It belongs to these poor bastards you’ve tortured. And I‘d slice a goat in half if it tried at get on me or my brother.” Inuyasha growled as he flexed his claws and followed after his disappearing brother. His humans could handle themselves for a couple hours, he hoped.

Kagome was yawning as the villagers around them talked with upset and indignation. “Be careful Inuyasha…sorry everyone. We’ll help rebuild it, I promise. Lord Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha get a bit carried away sometimes. I’m sorry, Miroku?”

Miroku’s sleepy voice came from within. “Of course, we wouldn’t dream of leaving it as such, my good people. Sango, start reconstruction, Kagome and I will help after our much needed naps. It takes a great deal of energy to feed the barrier and keep it strong for you good people.”

The villagers seemed to consider this. It was a valid veiled threat. The monk and the priestess were indeed feeding their spiritual energy to the lantern which kept the barrier up. It had been weakening and on the verge of collapse just before they arrived. Their own miko being in a coma due to the drain she had taken. Now the newcomers were here the barrier had strengthened again. If they left, they might not have much protection left. Best to let them get away with this for now. As they considered their options, Sango twitched in their midst. She knew coming here was a bad idea.

Inuyasha caught up to Moodymaru’s familiar turgid, lean back just as he reached the covered bridge and the barrier’s end. A small rip appeared for them to exit. The daiyoukai paused, lifted his angular features and nose to the air. The smaller hanyou stopped as well, his own nose wiggling in distaste. Another step and he’d be back overwhelmed by the thick, wet rotting smell of the forest. His belly was full and he was rested which generally put him in a good mood but he knew it would be over the second he walked past the lantern’s light into those mutant clotted black trees.

“It is a waste of time for you to follow,” Sesshoumaru stated, his eyes slits of gold surrounded by thick dark lashes and the magenta of his lids. Exotic and perfect were his marked features. The waning moon on his brow seeming to stand out more than normal in the encroaching dark of the trees and the slashes at his cheeks looking more like bloodied wounds. Inuyasha wondered why, but for some reason the bastard’s scent seemed to be a bit stronger than normal. His nose was still lifted to the air as he searched, paying little regard to Inuyasha’s presence beside him. His body relaxed and poised and perfectly pristine as always. Jerk. How come he was taller anyway?

“Keh. Not if I wanna know what’s going on, miss out on our continued bonding, and make certain yer lily white ass gets back without a tree taking half of it off,” Inuyasha grumbled beside him. Close enough to get away if a fist was sent in his direction and on the left so the bastard would have to turn to hit him.

“…” Sesshoumaru glanced at him sharply.

“What?” Inuyasha demanded glaring up challengingly. Seriously, he had a good head taller than Inuyasha, how was that fair? Maybe he should chop off his legs to his knees so they could glare at each other at eye level damnit.

“You seem to posses an unhealthy obsession with bizarre sexual acts, little brother. Especially when it comes to This Sesshoumaru’s body and what is done to it. I find it…perplexing. As well as disturbing to think one of our great father’s blood participates in such acts.” Sesshoumaru slanted his gaze to study Inuyasha. “It is also not the first time you have expressed concern over someone else’s possible injury to my person. Yet you claim to loathe me and wish my death as strongly as I do yours. Explain this as well.”

“I never said I wanted ya dead, I just defend myself fuck.” Inuyasha squirmed slightly, averting his gaze. “And I haven’t participated in anything, so don’t get your damn pride all riled up. I ain’t obsessed with that crap. They’re just good insults and you react as much as anyone else does. Keh. And…I don’t want anyone to hurt ya…’cause that’s my job.” He said quickly. “What about you? Why are you, who want me dead so bad, helping me, savin’ me even and being all nice?” He snapped his ears posed questioningly. One perked up and forward while the other faced slightly down and to the side.

“This Sesshoumaru need not explain his actions to you, a meagre half-breed.” Sesshoumaru stated blandly as he stepped through the barrier, through the bridge and began to turn at its end into the over-eager trees. “It is strange you are a virgin at this age.”

Inuyasha was stalking right behind him. Briefly aware of the seam in the barrier sealing as they passed. “Keh. Why? No one wants to have sex with a filthy half-breed. And the few who do I didn’t want to touch me. I want it to be good for me and mean some shit and not just have someone force me for kicks you jackass. I know all I need to about sex. And all your half-breed crap don’t mean a thing.” Especially now I know you loved a mixed demon, he thought with a frown.

Inuyasha had to be the bigger man…or youkai…or whatever here. His brother was an emotional disaster and in some weird twist of fate the hanyou found himself more matured with his feelings than his bastard. The only reason he was an ice prick was because dad had hurt him so bad.

If his dad had killed Kikyo or Kagome an’ said it was ‘cause they were a filthy human and not worthy of ‘im and they would hurt ‘im he’d never forgive the mangy lapdog. But then, if they had looked like they’d been planning to betray him and only had pretended to love him…would he shut down too? Maybe. He and Kikyo had issues and all yeah, but they had really had feelings for each other, that wasn’t false. But then fucking Naraku had to kill Kikyo and make her think it was him. Obviously they had more trust issues than they thought to be fooled like that. Kagome, she cared and he cared about her and she’d never really betray him. But they really did act too much alike sometimes as they bitched one another out.

Yeah, a bit off topic again.

Sesshoumaru blamed his own ass for not being able to protect his woman. Which wasn’t right either, how could he fight off dad? Inuyasha could now see how some of his comments to him about not being strong enough to protect his friends and save them made sense now. Though they hurt like a blister on a bruise and weren’t right. He could kinda understand ’cause that’s how Sesshoumaru felt about himself. Maybe too he wanted to make sure Inuyasha was stronger so he wouldn’t feel that shit if he wasn’t able to save his friends too? Then again, Sesshoumaru didn’t think about Inuyasha other than when they were fighting and he was feeling betrayed and shit.

Hey, maybe he revived the kid ‘cause he was reminded of his girlfriend? What with their old man tearing the throat open and Rin having her neck bit off and all. But why would he revive her if she reminded him of someone who betrayed him and he lost. Never mind.

Inuyasha thought dad gave him the Tetsusaiga ’cause it would protect him from himself and help him realize his potential in strength and he knew Sesshoumaru didn’t need the sword. Even though bastard thought it was his right as first born. But maybe there was a bit of hurt, guilt and mistrust still between them in the end?

Dad would have loved ’em both. He knew. He wanted them to get along and work together and stuff, setting up all this stuff after he died. But, dad knew he had made Sesshoumaru the icy bastard who had no ability to feel and hated hanyous too. He wanted to undo that…now that he had a hanyou of his own. Had his dad hated mixed breeds or had he just said that crap to try and protect Sesshoumaru from her plans? Inuyasha just didn’t know. He knew he had to help his brother though. He had to help him feel again. He’d just shut himself off and that wasn’t right. He blamed himself for shit that wasn’t his fault and spewed it on everyone else. Inuyasha could understand hurt like that…but would Sesshoumaru heal like he had? Because Inuyasha had his friends. They had saved him emotionally in many ways. They had helped heal wound he never knew he had. Even his messed up encounters with Kikyo were helping them both to heal. Despite having fifty years pass, they woke up with the pain and love fresh in their memories and hearts. It was a hard thing to work out and fix. He knew they would eventually. His brother had made himself alone except for the toad and the girl. Anyone who could help him was dead and he had no friends. Sad really.

Inuyasha felt his head throb from the overpowering stench taking out his nose. Great. The fun pleasant smell of dead blood and rotting wood and too wet soil and smoggy air clogged his senses.

“Why did you not attack the human for his insults? I have seen you bare your fangs for far less,” Sesshoumaru droned as he ducked beneath a branch.

Inuyasha nearly walked into it as it stretched his way. He dodged at the last second and felt the blighter try to grab at his ear. Stupid tree. “Huh? Oh. I was hungry. Didn’t care, not like I haven’t heard all that type of stuff before. ’Sides I figured you’d want him since he insulted your touchy ego and challenged your mighty position.” He snorted.

Sesshoumaru blinked, “…you deferred to me?” he tilted his head to the side slightly in disbelief.

“Kinda.” Inuyasha shrugged a shoulder. “I was comfortable and hungry and I knew you’d take offence to his attitude and challenge to your dominance and stuff. So I let ya.”

Sesshoumaru stopped and swivelled on the spot to stare back at his little brother, his eyes the only part of him showing his surprise. “You felt comfortable beside me, and chose to submit to my position over you?”

Inuyasha snarled. “I didn’t submit, I don’t submit to no one, bastard!”

“Hn.” Sesshoumaru turned and continued his walk with his brother behind him. He could feel Inuyasha’s eyes following the gentle sway of his hair with slight amusement. Most would be trembling in fear or awe to be allowed to travel behind him. Except for Rin who was merely happy. While all Inuyasha wished was to tackle or tear off his hair.

He was internally baffled by Inuyasha’s submission. He had willingly backed down and waited for his alpha brother to take charge and remove the challenge to his position. As it should be. Though such a proper display never had occurred before, Inuyasha never relinquished to Sesshoumaru’s rank. Granted, for the most part they ignored one another and when they did interact it was in an effort to knock some sense into Inuyasha. Honestly, his father had been correct about the mental faults of a half-blooded creature.

The challenge had been most ridiculous and not worth the attention but it had been made and momentarily subdued. Until Sesshoumaru had his answers, then perhaps he would end the miscreant’s undeserved existence. It was curious and strange the hanyou had seen it as Sesshoumaru’s place to take up the unnecessary challenge as the most dominant in the room. Perhaps he had begun to learn his place at last, or perhaps his instincts weren’t as watered down by that ningen’s blood as he had assumed.

Strange indeed.

Sesshoumaru’s face remained stoic and unrevealing as always as he walked. He had planned to fly, but the hanyou would not be able to keep up leaping through the carnivorous conifers if he had. Why this concerned him was a bother. He had never concerned himself before with the hanyou’s wasted well-being. The little nuisance had proven he was more than capable of caring for himself. It was best to simply let the plebeian be. Over the last few years as his brother truly grew into an almost respectable creature, and he had taken Rin in and learned more of human frailties, perhaps the hanyou had begun to prove he was worth being spared. He could not explain why he had assisted his little brother more than once. There was no true reason for the aide. The further they stayed from one another the better. Yet, they continued to cross-paths and require interaction on a regular basis. It was most infuriating.

Why had his father made and died for this whelp? He didn’t understand. Nor could he understand why his great father had left the Sou’unga for them to destroy together. Why had his father made this creature and desired his first born to…work with him? Wouldn’t his father have known it was Sesshoumaru who was the stronger and would be required to keep Inuyasha from killing himself? Or had his father indeed thought his first born weak…giving his Tetsusaiga to the pup.

Nonsense. The Tetsusaiga was required by the half-breed to stop himself from losing control and to protect the weaker creature.

Why, why would his father wish to protect the half-blood? Inuyasha was strong enough after all and not worthy. Sesshoumaru frowned. Why had his father loved that ningen and confused him so? He had learned there was no use in love. Yet is father had loved them all…why?

He also pondered what had possessed him to remove the leeches from the hanyou’s body and speak to him of private matters last night. He had not felt the urge to hurt him as was the norm. He had indeed returned the blade because he had no desire for Inuyasha to revert back to his demon form. No being deserved to die a mindless thing.

Tearing his eyes away from the tempting sway of platinum white hair, Inuyasha scratched at the small of his back where Yoku had touched him. He wrinkled his nose in disgust. “I feel all…contaminated by that creep.”

“You should.”

“Yeah, no knowing where his hands have been.” Inuyasha shuddered.

“Correct. But there is more to it than hygiene.” Sesshoumaru commented as he moved around a tree.

“Whaddya mean?” Inuyasha asked curiously, tilting his ears and speeding up to walk at the bastard’s fluffy shoulder.

“He touched you in such a manner.”

Inuyasha blinked. “Could you at least try to explain something sometime.”

Sesshoumaru inhaled deeply though his nose. Of course the mongrel would be ignorant of such a simple matter. A thing he did each day as his instincts dictated. The daiyoukai stopped causing his little brother to do so as well and turn to look up at him. “Touch is an important communication tool for an Inu youkai. Surely even you have come to such a rudimentary realization.”

“What are you babbling about? I touch stuff all the time, just like everyone else.” Inuyasha grunted.

“Do you, as much as your ningens. What is it that you touch?” Sesshoumaru inquired pointedly.

“Well, not as much as them, but humans are touchy. I still touch lots though. Like my sword and my clothes, my food, my trees, Kagome when she needs help and my friends and…” He balked. Okay, maybe he didn’t touch a lot of things. But that didn’t mean anything. Hell, he never saw Sesshoumaru touch anything but himself, his damn swords and what he was about to kill. Oh yeah, and Inuyasha’s neck.

Sesshoumaru regarded him without expression. “All things you own or consider your responsibility.”

“Well yeah. Not like I’m going to go around poking other people’s stuff.” Inuyasha snorted.

“For the most part you initiate the contact I presume. How do you feel when another touches you first?” Sesshoumaru stated.

Inuyasha frowned. That was a weird question, he never really thought about it. “…uncomfortable, I guess.”

Sesshoumaru inclined his head in a slight nod. “Precisely. Inu Youkai only touch what is theirs, by ownership or responsibility or a claimed kill. The one who initiates the touching is instinctively in control of the situation. Never does a lesser individual touch one of higher status first, Inuyasha. Unless they have intimate intentions and are given permission. I believe it to be the same with ningens, only for us it is a strong instinct more than a learned custom. The manner and length of time of the touch dictates the intention. A pat on the shoulder a compliment, a pat on the head is degrading in most ways. A brief caress to the head or neck and upper shoulders is a means to calm. For one to leave a lingering touch, on the back or waist is a dominant partner‘s claim of ownership. A submissive partner will often hug to their partner‘s hand, or arm. If you are the dominant partner, it is unlikely you would feel comfortable with a touch such as the one you received. If you are submissive, you would feel just as soiled if it is not your partner. I am certain you are aware of this half-breed.”

Inuyasha scowled. “What does grabbin’ someone by the throat mean, asshole?” Inuyasha realized he did know what Sesshoumaru was talking about. He just never really thought about it. So, the reason he felt so violated was ‘cause Yoku was making a statement that Inuyasha was his with that touch. Shit. He needed a bath when they got out of this hole. No leeches and no mud that was still sticking to his body in places. A real bath.

“I believe that would be obvious. Silence.” Sesshoumaru’s eyes smirked as he began to walk again.

“Someone should tell Miroku about the touching making folks uncomfortable. Maybe he’d stop leering at every girl he meets.” Inuyasha mumbled to himself after a few moments of silence. The shifting of the trees the only sound in the dead forest. Their clawed branches weaving and stretching for warmth in the unnatural cold.

“That creature’s eyes roved over me on more than one occasion. If I spied him gazing with such a look upon Rin, I would end him.”

“Yeah, wouldn’t put it past him lookin’ at your girly face, though it’s more his wandering ‘cursed’ hand you need to watch.” Inuyasha smirked.

“If that hand hovers in my or Rin’s direction, I shall wrench it from his body and use his own wind tunnel to absorb him.” Pause. “Has that soiled hand come into contact with your flesh, little brother?” Sesshoumaru was loathe to think of what was on that monk’s hand considering where it liked to travel. He was less than pleased to think it might have encountered Inuyasha in its unwelcome journey. The monk was not Inuyasha’s superior after all.

“I’m sure you’d try, but I’d take your other arm off before you got close enough to hurt the lecher.” Inuyasha growled. “Pfft. Hell no, Miroku only gropes stuff with boobs. I’d introduce him to a world of hurt he never knew existed if he tried.” Well, there was that once in the hot springs Miroku’s hand had kinda touched his ass, and then the time they were asleep and Miroku had rolled over and goosed him. But they were purely accidental.

“You delude yourself into believing you could inflict more pain upon me than you already do. Only women, yet he is obsessed with touching their rumps. Why do you defend such a perverse creature?”

“Because he’s my friend an’ he’d stick up for me. I know he’s a manipulative pervert, but he’d die to protect us and he can be considerate too. That’s what friends do. They give and share and care about each other despite their flaws. You should try getting a friend - if anyone could stand being around your ego for more than a minute. They might get the stick out of yer ass. I think the toad’s too short to reach in deep enough where you’ve wedged it up there. Though, I’m damn sure he’d get off trying to trawl it out.” Inuyasha snidely retorted.

Sesshoumaru shot the hanyou his narrowed eyed glare of imminent doom which often caused the recipient physical pain with the fear it invoked. Inuyasha just snarled back in rabid annoyance, his hair going frizzy and the delicate fur on his ears rising. “This Sesshoumaru does not require the weakness of frien-”

“Bullshit!” Inuyasha shouted. His molten gold eyes flashing with sparks of white flame. He would get through to Sesshoumaru, he’d break that wall of ice so his bastard of a brother would feel and stop being so fucked up. “And you know it! Anytime you use that haughty tone of voice it’s to tell yourself a fucking lie ain’t it? All these years of bein’ hurt and blaming yourself and not trusting anyone. All these years of cutting yourself off you don’t have a clue how to take care of anyone. Do ya? And you’re fucking afraid they’ll die and you’ll get hurt…that’s why you’re such a cold bastard isn’t it? You’re afraid to let anyone get close so you pretend to not have a heart, even though you do. You want to scare everyone away so you don’t get hurt. Coward!”

Perhaps he had pushed a little hard, but Inuyasha didn’t understand the concept of subtle. He watched as his brother didn’t explode so much as implode. The air and energy just seemed to pull inside the daiyoukai, his pupils becoming a black hole of hatred just sucking what little life was here right away. His jaw clenching so tight that Inuyasha could hear teeth crack and his fist curled until the knuckles of the hand were white and droplets of dark blood ran down between the curled long, dextrous pale fingers to drip lightly on the lifeless ground below. The vein along the side of his neck actually bulged as muscles stood out in tension along his sleek body. Everything pulled inside. Then fell outward in a spectacular fireworks display of energized rage and flowing hair that incinerated and broke down everything that was near to him like a tornado of frozen razor fire.

The sheer power release caused a few nearby trees to quite literally burst into splinters and Inuyasha threw his sleeves over his head to protect himself as the wooden missiles launched in every direction. He was actually pushed back by the force of air and pulsing aura around his brother. Needing to dig is claws into the murky saturated ground to stop from being knocked over.

Inuyasha never did know when to quit. “It’s not your fault she died. It was dad who murdered her! Maybe to protect you, yeah. But it still had to hurt that he’d do it. How could you know she was going to betray you like that? Even if you did you might still love her and seeing dad kill her was a fucking kick in the ‘gnads. As stupid as that is! You fucking lie saying ya don’t have any bad feelings, dad fuckin’ betrayed you, and you said it an’ it hurt ya and I bet it still does! You don‘t get over somethin’ like that by locking it away. An’ screw him if he thought you unworthy! That’s bullshit! You’re more worthy than him! He had me, didn’t he? It was hypocritical of ‘im. And I don‘t understand it either. But it has to hurt you, and that ain’t right. He hurt you! Not me, not a lesson, him!” Inuyasha kept on screaming over the sound of wind tearing at the dead trees, black clotting blood splattered all over him while Sesshoumaru stood growling with not a drop on him. Figures.

The flailing energy ceased. The growling stopped and the silence in the rotting woods could have swallowed an Oni in its void. Despite it being mid morning, the smog that seemed to cause great lapses in intelligent decisions and made everyone dreary was thick enough around them to make it seem like evening. A false evening for there was no stars or crisp air to admire. This smog was taunting them with curls of its cold tendrils, leeching the warmth from the flesh. Inuyasha put down his arm that had protected his face and peered at his brother warily.

Sesshoumaru looked up, opened his blood-red eyes and Inuyasha knew he was screwed. “Filthy half-breed! This Sesshoumaru never lies and you should never speak with such disrespect of our revered father! Die!” His voice was lower than normal, more bestial and curt in his rage and Inuyasha noted the claws had extended and so had the teeth. Oh crap. Inuyasha didn’t really want to cut off another paw to survive. Plus, now the trees were waking up around them. Great.

Inuyasha braced his body for a fight, extending his own claws but he kept his sword sheathed. “No. I won’t die. ‘Cause if I do there won’t be anyone left who’ll help you.” Inuyasha growled. “Besides, none of this is my fault. It’s dad’s and you know it! You might not lie to others, but you’re damned good at lying to yourself, big brother!”

Sesshoumaru knew nothing but misdirected, painful rage as his body half transformed. Thick, white fur the colour of clouds covered his flesh, raised in spiky bristles. His fingers and claws had lengthened out far more than would be considered comfortable. His pale features had twisted and extended, the jaw and nose protruding out in a hideous combination of canine and man. Though he still stood on two legs, the muscles and joints of his body bulged in abnormal directions. While his eyes blazed bloody red. Miasmic froth formed at the pulled thin lips as he growled. Deep in his chest, a sound that caused Inuyasha’s ears to tremble. Sesshoumaru’s jagged, serrated teeth jutting out of his mouth where they no longer fit. The beautiful markings pulled and stretched taut over his strained skin. It was terrifying to see. His scent had doubled in potency while the air around him exploded with bursts of unfocused power. “My fault for not seeing, not being strong enough, disappointing Father!” He growled between his mouth of teeth and poison. A green haze forming at the tips of his disturbingly long claws. The long arm rose upward and the claws were pointed in Inuyasha’s direction as the Daiyoukai prepared to strike.

Inuyasha’s ears were twitching about quickly as he swallowed. He’d never seen Sesshoumaru so volatile. It was frightening. Not that he’d ever admit that out loud though. He stubbornly stood his ground and glared back at his brother. How long had Sesshoumaru lived like this? Locking up the hurt and betrayal and blaming himself? He was aware of tree debris bouncing off his body as it was caught up in the maelstrom of Sesshoumaru‘s power, splintered and flung out. “No! It wasn’t your fault!” Inuyasha shouted his voice thick with the emotional need to get his asshole of a brother to figure that out. “It. Was. Not. Your. Fault! You were strong to love! Strong to stand against dad! Strong to forgive what was his wrong! Strong to survive all this time alone! He’s the one who killed her when he could have done something else! He’s the one who said that stuff and twisted you so much! I know he was protecting you but he coulda done it different! He’s the one who made you hate yourself and be so cold…and hate…me.” Inuyasha’s bravado died on his lips as he stumbled on the last words. Could it be…had his father made a hanyou child simply to undo what he had mistakenly done to his eldest? Had he realized his mistake and wanted to give Sesshoumaru another hanyou to watch over? To show his son he hadn’t meant to hurt him and the words had been wrong? A way to open the frozen heart along with the lessons he learned with Tenseiga? Surely not. Surely he had loved his mother and that he was just a result of that. But when had the Inu no Tashio ever done something without having more than one reason behind it? Inuyasha sank to his knees, his wide eyes falling to his brother’s feet.

Well fuck. That backfired on the old man. Inuyasha began to laugh. A sad sort of chuckle that held no humour. Had…had Sesshoumaru’s pain been what had caused the great Inu no Tashio to care?

The Daiyoukai was about to end the taint’s life with his claws, the words no longer reaching the emotion muddled rage of his mind, when this strange change in behaviour caught him off-guard. Sesshoumaru froze, tilted his head to the side in a very canine-like pose and scowled as best he could with a partially transformed face. Inuyasha had ceased his challenging posture and vocal level and fallen to a submissive one. His eyes and body lowered from the dominant display to one of apologetic humility. Then he began to laugh. A strange, mirthless laugh that gave the daiyoukai pause. He was uncertain as to what had just occurred. What would make the stubborn creature bow to him for a second time this day? Pulling back he assessed the surrounds. His fur, bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments readjusting uncomfortably to his human appearance. Fangs and nails sliding back into his bone, his form cracking and rippling into its normal humanoid appearance. The green mist disappointing from his finger tips and he swallowed the miasmic froth on his lips. Before bringing up his hand and smoothing back his hair. Noting the trees were writhing in anger but had yet to strike them. “What of this situation brings you mirth, hanyou?” His voice and face regaining stoic indifference despite the buzz of feeling in his chest. He buried it quickly. He must cease these embarrassing lapses in control. Inuyasha was a blight to his efforts it seemed.

Inuyasha did not lift his eyes. “I think…the old man made me so you’d have somethin’ ta play with.” He said gruffly, a hint of sadness in his tone.

Sesshoumaru blinked and roved his eyes quickly over the twitching wood. Had something in this place caused the hanyou to lose his limited faculties completely? His current ramblings and his behaviour last night seemed to be directing Sesshoumaru’s assumptions to a affirmative conclusion. “What are you blathering on in regards to now, half-breed?”

Inuyasha looked up, his expressive eyes sad and annoyed. “Just think about it will ya? Did dad…did he hate mixed breeds or just her because she was going to hurt you?”

Sesshoumaru moved his gaze to focus on the reaching branches. The trees were uncertain if they should attack or not. Let them ponder. He was growing tired of Inuyasha’s obsession with that past. It was making him…uncomfortable. “He expressed neither hatred nor care. Until her. I fail to see what these questions you continuously ask bring you.”

“Just humour me for a bit, will ya. So dad was neutral. That’s good, I guess.” Somehow it did help ease the pain in his own chest. Maybe dad would have loved him then like he‘d always thought. “After he killed her, did he feel bad?”

“Father had no regrets of removing the threat.”

“No, but did he feel bad about how it upset you?” Inuyasha pressed. Though Sesshoumaru’s face was turned from him he felt the calculating, hard gaze fall sharply in his direction.

“He removed the threat to his power and offspring, I fail to see -”

“Would you give me a straight answer and not one out of your ass? Yeah, no lies but think back asshole. Did he feel bad?” Inuyasha demanded.

The daiyoukai’s lips were pressed in a firm line before he responded, shifting his gaze away from the hanyou and back to the encroaching flora. “He had tried to warn me of her, forbad me, but I did not listen. After he exterminated her, he allowed me the privacy to mourn as he explained the reasons behind his actions once more. This time he brought irrefutable truth…” Sesshoumaru looked into the shadows of memory. “Perhaps. He allowed me to dispose of her body and remained near.”

“So, he felt bad about having to hurt you, but not that he saved ya, right.” Inuyasha had no desire to know how the body was disposed of. “And you turned to an ice queen right after, I’m guessing.” He was dealt a quick glare of warning. “Yeah, yeah, and you said he loved your mom…did he ever cheat on her before?”

“There were some interactions; our great Father was an inuyoukai. But none like the care and time he took with your mother.” Sesshoumaru’s voice was clipped.

“Are you sure?” Inuyasha asked.

“Yes, he cared for my Mother; she would have killed any who caught his attention beyond a brief encounter. I presumed your mother survived because Father died before Mother became fully aware of the nature of his…feelings to that ningen.” Sesshoumaru’s eyes narrowed.

Inuyasha growled. “Don’t refer to my mom as ‘that ningen!’ and…sheesh, yer mom does sound like you. Is she as cold and unfeeling?”

Sesshoumaru paused. “She is a complicated creature. Why do you pester This Sesshoumaru with such pointless questions?”

Inuyasha was wondering why he was answering so far and had actually stopped and not killed him just minutes before. Maybe, he brother was looking for a way to escape that pain he had buried. “I’ll take that as a no. So, your mom and dad both had feelings, loved each other, shit, we don’t have any siblings do we?” Inuyasha’s ears shot up as he realized that his dad had been with others.

“Don’t be ridiculous. Mother would have eliminated any competition to her pup.”

Inuyasha stared at his brother. Shit. He really didn’t want to meet his mom. She sounded crazy. And wasn’t he competition? Why wasn’t he dead? Wait…yeah, not a time to get his pride involved here. “So…did it ever cross your mind that the only reason I’m here is ‘cause Dad felt bad?”

Sesshoumaru turned his face to Inuyasha and looked at him with a glint in his golden gaze like the hanyou had grown a set of glowing antlers and Naraku was dancing on them naked with Ryukotsusei while humping Sou’unga. Inuyasha sighed. He wasn’t so good at explaining things. “Look, he killed someone and it hurt his kid. He obviously felt bad about that, and how it turned ya into such an ass. He knew he couldn’t get to ya nor would you let anyone else in. So…he made a hanyou, not to piss you off and hurt you, but ta show you that it wasn’t a bad thing, and that ya could care for a little brother. He even gave me Tetsusaiga and you Tenseiga so we wouldn’t kill each other, an’ would be forced to interact. He knew you didn’t need his fang ‘cause you were strong enough without it and I did to keep me sane and alive. He knew you needed Tenseiga to help open you up a bit I guess. He made sure Sou’unga was left so we’d work together…” He shrugged. “I’m guessing he wanted you to know me and see that hanyous weren’t all the things he said. He knew you thought the sun shone out his wily and the moon was his ass so he made a hanyou to show you that if he had one, obviously they weren’t all bad. He tried to give you someone you could like. Backfired though, didn’t it? He took everything from ya and left you a defective brother.” Inuyasha chuckled again. That sad chuckle. “I’m only here because of you, aren’t I? Here I thought I was made ‘cause of love…”

Sesshoumaru stared at his little brother, the set of his shoulders and sagging ears as he stared at the ground. He rolled the gist of what the hanyou had said over in his thoughts and looked back in his memory in quiet contemplation. His first instinct was denial of the words. But as he considered certain aspects of truth he could not dismiss the hanyou’s strange conclusion so readily. What he said of the fangs was true. The rest did sound like something his Father would set in motion. Unfortunately, if it was so it meant he was fundamentally wrong about many things. That he could be allowed to feel. He could not. To open his heart was to experience pain and betrayal. He would not live through that again. He could not. “Get to your feet hanyou, and cease your conjecture, least you wish to invoke my wraith once more. This time I may not be able to control myself.” He turned his back on the hanyou and stepped forward. Aware of the eagerness in the branches of the trees to lash out.

Inuyasha’s head snapped up. Had Sesshoumaru listened at all? What the fuck!? He couldn’t ignore that! He couldn’t turn his back on him and walk away to leave him alone with his hurt. Not this time. Inuyasha forbid it. He would not be cast aside anymore. Especially not now. He sprang to his feet and darted in front of his brother before the regal Daiyoukai could get three paces away. He stood with his chest against the hard breastplate and glared up at Sesshoumaru’s chin growling. “You will not walk away from me! I’m sick of seeing your back when I need to see your face!”

Sesshoumaru looked down at Inuyasha’s bright eyes. “You make little sense. It is illogical of me to walk backwards to our destination when I must scent the path.”

The red-clad male didn’t know whether to claw off his brother’s face or his own at this point. He grabbed the front of the breast-plate roughly and violently shook his elder sibling. “Did you not hear anything I’ve said to you in the last two days? Do you not understand?!” he bellowed.

A slender hand formed into an unyielding fist attached to a striped wrist collided with his stomach sending him flying. He utterly refused to release his hold on the plate though, and took the body attached to the hand with him in a pile of white silk and fur. Inuyasha found himself flattened beneath the substantial weight of his brother on the ground, unable to breath. How could someone so lithe be this fucking heavy? Shit, he never noticed how big Sesshoumaru was before, his brother completely covered him with his body, the fur was just overkill. He was drowning in hair and his nose was wedged against the smooth throat. Not that it mattered at the moment. A deep soundless rumble from Sesshoumaru vibrated against his cheek.

“I have the misfortune of hearing every word you have spoken for the last two days, little brother. I also understand perfectly.” He hissed out around the soft, triangular ear smushed against his nose.

Inuyasha forced air into his lungs despite being crushed to the earth. “Then why are you ignoring the truth?” He yelled into his brother’s shoulder. The words as crushed and struggling as him.

“I am not -” He narrowed his eyes at the ear and blew it out of the way. The ear flapped about like a dying sparrow with a broken wing and irritated his nose. “ - Ignoring the truth. Would you get that offensive appendage out of my nose before I am forced to remove it.” He snapped flashing a bit of fang despite the fact Inuyasha could not see.

Inuyasha shivered at the breath on his ear and flattened it to his skull obligingly. “You are so! Bastard.”

“Did it occur to your grand thoughts that I may not wish to feel as you demand I do?”

“You don’t have a choice, you feel no matter what. That’s your fucking problem. You’ve hidden all yer other feelings as anger, and the anger you have is being directed at the wrong people! You can’t not feel! You can’t be alone forever, you’re a bloody dog. You need some kinda pack…right?” Inuyasha spat out some hair.

“I believe you to be the angry one, Inuyasha. I do not require a -” He began in a low snarl.

“You really are a coward aren’t ya? Too scared to let yourself get close to anyone in case widdle Sesshoumaru gets his heart broken. You call me pathetic! I’m stronger because I have friends! I don’t hide from what I feel though it might be unpleasant like you do!” Inuyasha snarled back, spitting out and inhaling more hair.

“Silence Fool!” Sesshoumaru howled feeling the slight jump of the muscles in the smaller body below him at having that much volume directed to an ear. Not that he cared. “Cease your insufferable barking for an instant, Inuyasha. Why would this Sesshoumaru wish to have his heart shredded once more? Why would this Sesshoumaru wish to care and put trust in another when they will only use him for their own ends? Why would I do this to myself, why ‘love’ when it will only result in my pain when that one is killed? Tell me, little brother. What sense in there in that? Who would this Sesshoumaru love, who would love him in turn and not betray him or be killed? Tell me, who will not get me hurt more than I can stand?” His voice wavered from its normal calm depths to something a little higher, a little more unstable. Something Inuyasha thought he would never hear. The eyes above him were also brighter than the hanyou had ever seen as he wiggled and craned his head to the side to see his brother’s face. It was…strange.

Silence.

Even the hungry trees with their scraping branches and hostility could not penetrate the silence that fell between the brothers. Two pairs of golden eyes similar in colour but so different in temperament, experience and being continued to search out the other opposite pair. Two heartbeats at different but similar rhythms audible in the chests pressed together. How could Inuyasha explain that there was no sense in love and loss? That feelings got hurt and nothing would protect you all the time. But that having someone to share those feelings, even for a little while, even if it was taken away, was worth any pain. That being needed, being cared for, and putting yourself after someone else’s needs could make you the strongest creature on the planet if need be. He couldn’t reassure his brother. He couldn’t ease his buried pain and anger. But maybe, he could help heal it. This was what he wanted after all. A way to help Sesshoumaru, to be needed by his brother, to be acknowledged. To do something right. But why was he starting to feel pain in his chest too? Why was this so hard on him?

The answer that came to his lips to his brother’s query surprised both pairs of golden eyes. “Me.”

“You?” Sesshoumaru murmured studying Inuyasha’s rounded features below him uncertainly.

“You could lo-…not hate…me.” Inuyasha whispered quietly.

“Why would I…not hate…you?”

“Because you’re my brother. I have nothing to gain from you, other than that. I will not betray you. I will not get myself killed unless you kill me. So many have already tried and you and Naraku are the only ones who’ve gotten close. There’s no way he’s going to end me. I assure you that. Keh.” Inuyasha looked up at his brother’s unreadable expression and sighed. “An’ I…care about you.” His voice so low barely a sound came out and he looked away at the dark blood spotted ground beside his face. Wrinkling his nose and trying to arch his neck a bit because the way it was craned was damn uncomfortable.

“You care for me, but do not trust me.” Was Sesshoumaru’s response after a moment of thoughtful silence. His gaze traveling over the tan neck barred to him, the line of the hanyou’s jaw and the hesitant and vulnerable expression on his features. The svelte body beneath him was still.

Inuyasha shrugged one shoulder, still looking away. “Well, you do keep tryin’ to kill me and beat me regularly. But…if you gave me reason to, I think I could learn to trust you. Might take a while though. Just like it might take a while for you to stop punching me on impulse.” He growled darkly.

There was a further stretch of silence. Each brother mulling over possibilities and thoughts. At last Sesshoumaru spoke again. “I no longer know how to…not hate.”

Inuyasha bit his lip. “You don’t hate the kid.”

“Hn. Perhaps. But I do not know how to stop the anger toward you.”

The hanyou furrowed his eyebrows before glancing up at his brother. “I’ll help you figure it out. At least I’ll try.”

“Indeed. You swear to This Sesshoumaru that you will not be killed by another? Nor betray me?” Golden ice met the intense warmth.

“I swear…just…promise me you won’t walk away from me anymore…” Inuyasha’s voice was soft and hopeful in its plea.

A pause. “I swear.”

Inuyasha began to smile, but it faltered. “Er, Sesshoumaru?”

“…?”

“What’s wrong with the trees?” he asked glancing through the curtain of white hair at the silence beyond.

Sesshoumaru sat up, straddling Inuyasha’s trim hips and narrowed his eyes. The trees had withdrawn from them in a circle. Silent and still as though waiting. He looked forward and his fingers twitched in anticipation. The hanyou placed one of his hands on the hard corded thigh clothed in silk that sandwiched him in to the right and looked around in confusion. Arching his head so that his ears were splayed flat on the dirt and he could tilt his head back and stare upside-down he noticed a path forming between the gnarled barked corpses. The cold fingers of the fog seemed to increase their chill caresses and the feeling of pressure around them heightened. “…Oh crap. I thought he only came out during the night?!”

“Apparently, you thought wrong.” Was the monotone reply.

The heartbeat of hooves echoing the ebbing life of the bleeding forest could already be heard approaching.

---

A/N - yay! 3 more chapters and this is done. *happy dance*