As Death Gives Life

Chapter 6 – Power Play

Sesshomaru spent the morning purging his borders of ‘unsavory’ youkai and humans. None had proven to be worthy of his skill. A true disappointment. The ones that chose not to run were mindless renegades that were dispatched with practiced ease. Not one true opponent in the whole lot of them.

What had Sesshomaru in such a frustrated state was his newly regenerated appendage. His arm had been missing so many years that he had actually grown used to not using it. Now that he had it back, he found that he still had no real need of it. The fools he killed this morning had been child’s play and one arm was more than adequate to destroy them. What a pity. He really wanted to try it out.

As he made his way back to the castle, Sesshomaru had a brilliant idea. He wanted to test his new arm, and he needed a worthy opponent to do it. What better target than Inuyasha? Not that the hanyou was actually worthy. The only reason he took his arm in that battle was from shear dumb luck. That and the fact that he, Sesshomaru, had failed to pull the Tetsusaiga from the barrier. His mind was distracted while pondering on why Inuyasha’s wench had been successful in doing so. He could also blame the fact that he never really expected the whelp to figure out how to use his father’s fang so quickly. That slight miscalculation had cost him dearly.

That lesson was a well learned one. One that he would never repeat. He had let Inuyasha best him once, and that would never ever happen again.

A wicked smirk played on the handsome face of the great taiyoukai. Yes, he would seek out Inuyasha, and have a little fun. He wished for the hanyou to know that he was back to his full strength, and what better way than to beat it into him?

Sesshomaru did an about face, and took to the air in search of Inuyasha. As he traveled he sniffed the air, searching for his brother’s scent. After a short while he caught wind of it. The hanyou was in the Eastern territories. The domain of the wolf prince, Kouga. Sesshomaru detoured over the Eastern ookami tribe, flying low and rather slowly. When he spotted Lord Kouga, he nodded to the wolf in silent understanding. The wolf acknowledged the nod with one of his own. A shared understanding that Sesshomaru was passing through his lands.

Further East the demon lord came upon his baka (stupid/idiot) half-brother and his rag tag group of companions. The same bunch that Inuyasha always traveled with... humans. It was rather disheartening that his brother only chose to associate with humans, but considering the source it wasn’t at all surprising.

He found it interesting that the female miko was still traveling with the group. Even from this height he could smell her innocence. Her body was ripe, yet untouched. It was somewhat enticing to his inner beast. It called for him to take her and destroy the virginal barrier. He easily pushed the primal urges away. He would never mate with a human female.

What he found so interesting was that his brother had not mated her either. Why in his father’s great name would the boy carry her around with him for years and not mate her? Inuyasha was always a perplexing creature. Perhaps it was a defect in his hanyou blood? Whatever the reason, Sesshomaru meant to take advantage of the entire situation. This little venture was going to prove to be very entertaining indeed.

Sesshomaru descended on the group in a flurry of billowing white silk. As soon as his feet hit the dirt, Inuyasha drew his sword. The hanyou rounded on him, immediately jumping before the human female protectively. Whatever their relation, the boy thought highly of her. This could be easily exploited.

“What the fuck do you want Sesshomaru? I’ve had a bad day, and I ain’t in the mood for your shit!” Inuyasha shouted angrily. Of all the fucking days for his bastard brother to show up. This day was just becoming more and more rotten. First Kouga, then Anubis, and now Sesshomaru! By the Gods, he could not figure out what the hell he’d done to deserve this bullshit all in one day.

“Ah little brother. That is no way to greet your only kin, now is it?” Sesshomaru chided, as he narrowed his eyes on the hanyou. He wished to engage the boy in battle, but wanted him to take the first strike. He thought over his options and made up his mind. His trained mask of indifference never slipped, but if it had, he would have been caught chuckling at his own clever plan.

With the speed of his great demonic heritage, Sesshomaru swept past Inuyasha and made his move. He grabbed the girl, and retreated to a safe distance to play his game. The girl squealed when he grabbed her, but surprisingly did not break down crying in fright. She stiffened in his arms, and he could smell her anxiety coupled with a slight hint of fear. It always un-nerved him that this particular mortal woman did not overly fear him. It was simply unnatural.

“SESSHOMARU! You bastard! Let Kagome go ...NOW!” Inuyasha shouted as he made ready to attack his brother.

“Inuyasha no! Sango and Miroku screamed from behind him. “You’ll hit Kagome!”

“I know that you idiots! I ain’t gonna hit her. What do you want me to do? Say please? He wants a fight, and he’s gonna get one,” Inuyasha growled.

Sesshomaru could not contain the rising smirk that played across his lips. The half-wit was in a frenzy about his miko. Perhaps he could goad him a bit further?

Sesshomaru leaned into the girl’s neck. He could not see her expression, but he knew very well that Inuyasha could. He placed his lips close to her neck, so that she could feel his hot breath, then he flicked his tongue out to taste her skin. She cringed, and began shaking in his arms. Perfect.

He inhaled deeply of her scent, and surprisingly found it rather intoxicating. That was an unexpected turn of events. He really had not expected her to smell so... enticing. He pushed the distasteful thought from his mind, and focused on his plan. He made a bit of a show out of scenting the female, while keeping his eyes trained on the hanyou. The boy was absolutely rabid with frustration. A delightful sight to behold.

“Inuyasha, one would wonder if your manhood were intact for keeping such a delicious morsel around and not savoring her flavor.” Sesshomaru teased snidely. The girls breathing had become rather quick and shallow from his ministrations, and he was rather loath to admit that he actually found his cock twitching in awareness of her body against his own.

Inuyasha watched his brother pawing Kagome and it infuriated him to no end. He could think of nothing better than to rip his face off, and make him eat it. With Kagome being held as Sesshomaru’s hostage, he couldn’t make a move against him or he would risk harming her. No way was he going to hurt Kagome. He had to figure something else out.

Sesshomaru was enjoying making Inuyasha squirm, but the runt still had not noticed that he had both his arms. Time to get his attention.

The hanyou was beside himself with worry for his friend, and barely containing the rage that threatened to break free. He could not allow Sesshomaru to goad him into losing his temper. If he did, then he could very well put Kagome’s life in danger. Remaining calm was just not his forte’, and Inuyasha was struggling just to maintain control, but when Sesshomaru moved one of his arms to sensually rub down Kagome’s side, then further down to the curve of her hip... Wait a minute. Arms? Suddenly it all became clear.

Kagome knew immediately that Sesshomaru had his arm back. It didn’t take her long to figure it out at all. Especially when said arm began rubbing her body in the most intimate way she could have ever imagined. No man had ever touched her like that, and even though this one was threatening her, she couldn’t stop the flood of warmth that pooled deep in her pelvis. Sesshomaru was nothing, if not beautifully masculine, and her untouched body reacted whether she wanted it to or not!

Her arousal hit him like a ton of boulders. The aroma actually made him falter momentarily as his mind became a bit clouded with pleasure. This was not supposed to happen. This infuriating woman seemed to always get the upper hand on him! It was maddening! Just as he was about to fling her away, Inuyasha broke through with his abusive voice.

“I see ya finally got your other arm back, Sesshomaru! Why don’t you just let Kagome go so I can hack it off again for ya?!” Inuyasha sneered with a sarcastic grin.

That was the queue that he had been waiting for, and not a moment too soon. Any more time pressed against this woman, and he may have abandoned the fight in favor of a rut. Rutting with a mortal? Certainly a loathsome thought.

Sesshomaru gave the girl a push, and her feet took care of the rest. In mere seconds she was in the protective embrace of the demon slayer, who seemed intent on consoling the girl.

Sesshomaru smiled wickedly at his little brother. He wanted to get the best out of him today. One more little comment should do it. “Your female found my touch arousing, Inuyasha. Perhaps I should bed her in your stead?”

“You FUCKING PRICK!” Inuyasha screamed furiously as he lunged at Sesshomaru.

Sesshomaru ducked and swiped, leaving a large gash across Inuyasha’s waist. His red firerat haori protected him from the worst of his brothers razor sharp claws, but the wound was painful, and immediately began pouring blood.

As much as he hated to admit it, Inuyasha knew damn well that he wouldn’t be able to beat Sesshomaru in a claw to claw fight. Besides, it wouldn’t be too long before Sesshomaru started playing dirty. His energy whip could tear him in half, and the poison from his claws could do some pretty nasty things to his skin. It was time to draw Tetsusaiga.

Sesshomaru scoffed at Inuyasha when the hanyou went for his sword, “Are you frightened little brother? Can you not fight without your blade?”

Inuyasha just growled and lunged as the blade in his hand transformed to the glistening metal fang. Sesshomaru dodged easily, and landed a punch to Inuyasha’s face. Inuyasha recovered quickly then clashed once again with his full demon brother, who barely dodged Tetsusaiga’s next lethal swipe.

Sesshomaru called forth his whips, using both hands to overwhelm Inuyasha with deadly slashes of jaki. Inuyasha blocked using his bade, but Sesshomaru kept coming. It seemed nothing would stop his quest to take down the unfortunate hanyou.

Kagome was so worried over her friend that she panicked and screamed out his name, “Inu...YASHA!” She ran forward, but Miroku made a grab for her, holding her back. Kagome struggled and finally reached for her bow. As soon as she shook Miroku off she notched her arrow, and the purifying flame burst to life.

Sesshomaru halted his advance as soon as the miko’s energy filled the air. He turned to her with a dangerous glare. How dare she draw her weapon against him in battle? Had she not yet learned her lesson? He turned back to Inuyasha just in time to block a right hook. He grabbed the hanyou’s fist in his own and narrowed his eyes, “You fight like a woman Inuyasha. Is that, perhaps, why you let your bitch do your fighting for you?”

Inuyasha growled and struggled, but Sesshomaru grew tired of his game. The miko was not to be taken lightly. Her aim had grown rather deadly these last years, and her power had strengthened. He could not focus fully on Inuyasha, knowing that she my attempt to purify him if he turned his back to her. Sesshomaru sighed in frustration, “We will continue this on another day, little brother.” Then the demon lord brought up his other fist hard, punching Inuyasha under the chin. The boy flew back a few meters and landed heavily on the ground, plowing the earth up beneath him from the impact.

Sesshomaru huffed, and turned to the miko with another heated glare before he casually walked away, gradually disappearing into the forest.

Kagome flung her bow over her shoulder and took off for Inuyasha, who was groaning and propping himself up on one arm with a pained expression. “Inuyasha! Are you alright? Are you hurt badly?”

Inuyasha shook his head swiftly from side to side as if trying to shake the hazy feeling away. Then he looked up to Kagome angrily, “If you ever interfere when I’m fighting Sesshomaru again, I will personally spank your stubborn little ass when we’re done!” He wanted to beat her ass right then, but he wasn’t really mad enough at the moment. Not to mention he hurt all over.

Miroku, standing just behind Sango, listened to the hanyou. His hentai mind completely warped Inuyasha’s threat of a beating into a rather steamy image of a bright shining red rump bent over his knee’s. A huge smile crept over his face as his eyes closed for a moment to savor the dreamy scene, but the look on his face was all too revealing to his two female companions who rounded on him and yelled, “HENTAI!!”

Shippo rolled his eyes muttering, “The lecher will never learn.” Kirara mewed in agreement.

Sesshomaru made his way through the forest. He felt exhilarated from the adrenaline rush of the fight. One day he would have no interruptions, and on that day he would enjoy beating the hanyou into the dust. Thoughts of the miko brought about a low angry growl. Her persistence in choosing to interfere in his battles with Inuyasha would cost her dearly one day. The ignorant little twit obviously had no idea who she was playing with.