Affliction

There had been something oddly amusing about the portrait of a couple canoodling during a sunset; seeing such display of two men was considered taboo. To see he and Inuyasha embraced in that manner...ludicrous. Drumming a pencil absently against the hanyou's picture, Sesshomaru blankly stared at the nearby wall. All required of the youkai was some catch-phrase for the product as some vocalist was hired for the jingle itself. One stipulation remained, both individuals must co-create to ensure both aspects of the advertisement flowed together. Sesshomaru would rather organize a glass of water. Thumping taps against the oaken door ceased the daydreaming; an urge to lash out at the sequenced clatter, also for whomever to simply go away, was clipped by the clenching of the youkai's jaw.

"Enter."

Powers-that-be, Sesshomaru must have really pissed karma off this time. For standing in the doorway had been that nuisance Inuyasha; he wanted to say it surprised him when actually it hadn't. Rolling his eyes, the youkai extended a hand outward to a chair, a less than enthused look submerging upon his features. Unmoved by the corporation's decision, Sesshomaru leaned forward as amber eyes narrowed with hinted aggravation...

"I write. You sing. We get paid. I never see you again."

"Hell no!"

"Oh..."

"I write whatever I sing, got it!"

"You're talentless."

Growling in protest as hands shoved the edge of the desk, Inuyasha sneered at his brother who remained undisturbed by the outburst. Aroused by the forcefulness on display by the hanyou, Sesshomaru ambled from his lolled position to where the younger demon sat. Jerking him from the chair by his collar, the pure-blood pinned his nose to that of Inuyasha. Piqued with curiosity, amber orbs scanned over the golden pair reflecting back as if searching for some unseen answer. Continuing with an indifferent visod, Sesshomaru backed into the desk rocking Inuyasha hard into his body. The hanyou trembled against his brother as he began a tirade of struggling against the grip upon his collar still. Sesshomaru ignored his sibling's attempts for freedom, instead gripping tighter upon the cloth. For all the anguish the younger one had caused him through the decades, the youkai wanted to be sure to relay those feelings in any possible fashion. Huffing with a shimmer of disgust, Sesshomaru shoved Inuyasha back into the chair and took his place once again behind his desk.

Horrific shock washed over the hanyou in breaking swells as golden eyes widened in disbelief. Shaking his head as teeth clenched, downy locks brushed the porcelain cheeks while Inuyasha fought to remain calm; that was just as hopeless as attempting to convince Sesshomaru that he was ever wrong. Bouncing from the furniture, Inuyasha bound for his brother, balling his fists to the lapels of Sesshomaru's dress-jacket; snowy ears perked as the hanyou almost swore he heard that bastard laugh. A blanket of anger shrouded the face of the young demon as golden orbs burned into the amber pair staring back.

"You're a bastard, Sesshomaru. A...Bas...tard!"

"I actually knew our father. Unlike, well, you."

Gripping tightly upon Inuyasha's hips, the youkai wrestled his sibling into his lap as glossed lips forced themselves upon those of the other male. Inuyasha shoved at Sesshomaru's chest, shoving his feet to the legs of the desk to push himself off his brother's lap...anything to get away from the sick game he was trying to play. Instead of entertaining Inuyasha's struggle, the youkai heaved his chest unto his while casting a tongue out to lap at the lips he intruded. Removing himself from the intimate gesture, Sesshomaru gave his brother a quizzical look, hocking out a snarl as Inuyasha continued to worm within his grasp.

"Curious. Not too long ago you were begging for me and now you fight against me."

"You will never change! I hate you."

Again, the "hate" word was put into play alarming Sesshomaru as a malicious growl thundered from his chest to the back of his throat. Tossing Inuyasha unto the carpet as though he were merely a ragdoll, the youkai stood astride his fallen body. Pathetic. That was the only thought he could muster as he examined the crumpled mass before him. Thoughts of how a love could be born from such hatred puzzled him, enraged him...it made him question himself which was completely unacceptable. Pivoting away from the mass of body, Sesshomaru began staring at that wall again as if it held the answer to all. Saltwater swelled at the corners of golden orbs as Inuyasha reared up on his forearms glancing over his shoulder to his brother. Crawling on all fours, the hanyou ensnared his arms around Sesshomaru's legs as he buried his face into the bend of his knee. Sesshomaru had been the only one who understood him, loved him -unlike Kikyo or Kagome-. It had been breaking Sesshomaru's heart to be so cruel to Inuyasha, especially after proclaiming, as well as accepting, his love for the younger one. But, he would do what he must.

"I loved you, Inuyasha. I honestly did."

As the pain had become too great for even Sesshomaru to endure, the youkai knelt before Inuyasha. Drawing the younger one into his arms, the demon twirled his fingers within the mounds of ivory mane as he nuzzled the tip of his nose to a fluffed ear. Tears streamed down tender cheeks like the melting snow during the new spring, Inuyasha choking out sobs mixed with gurgled mewls as he held tightly to his counterpart. Hoisting Inuyasha's chin upwards so he could look him into those sad eyes, Sesshomaru pinned his nose to his brother's, a seriousness overcoming any other emotion present.

"I..."

The velvety voice was clamped off by the knocking upon the door, which earned an annoyed huff from Sesshomaru. Lofting both he and Inuyasha from the flooring, the youkai sauntered to the door and opened it with casual ease. Sneering at the sight of Kouga and Miroku, Sesshomaru turned from the entourage, strolling leisurely back to his own seat. He should have known - Inuyasha was practically glued to them. In honesty it pissed Sesshomaru off.

"We've thought about this whole jingle thing and we think we got somethin' catchy!"

Rolling his eyes with sheer annoyance, Sesshomaru swivelled his chair to face Kouga offering him a look of disinterest. A hand waved among the air, dismissing the idea altogether. Having taken the liberty upon himself, the catch-phrase and jingle were already prepared. Sesshomaru wasn't interested in anyone else's ideas and whatnot. That simply wasn't his style.

"No need. It's been taken care of. All your group needs to do is perform."

"Ha! So, what's your brilliant idea?"

" || It's got the extra special something to make even Larry Flynt and Heidi Fleiss blush.|| It's simple, uncomplicated, and relatable."

Neither of them spoke, Miroku snickering amongst himself as Kouga crinkled a nostril in confusion and a crimson hue splashing across Inuyasha's cheeks. One night when he and Sesshomaru had been fondling, playing, acting like teenagers boys in heat, the youkai had said the something similar to him. Lofting a brow in interest, amber eyes cascaded a glance over the hanyou as the traces of a faint smiled pricked Sesshomaru's lips. No one else had noticed.

Finalization was accomplished, all parties in agreement -which had surprised the troop-, and the band had begun to leave with Inuyasha lethargically strolling behind. Stopping in the doorway, the hanyou pivoted around as his head bobbed to the side while he scratched the back of his neck. It plagued him, the sentence Sesshomaru never finished. "I" could be used to start any number of sentences - "I hate you." "I want you to die." "I never want to see you again." "I want you to leave." It was endless.

"Hey, Sesshie?"

"Hm?"

"What were you gonna say? Ya know...before Kouga and Miroku came by."

"I think you already know."

"You were gonna say...that!?"

"No, Inuyasha. It was something else."

"Then what?"

"It's not important at this time."

Shoulders slouched in defeat as Inuyasha headed out of the office, perked ears now laying flat against the snowy mountain underneath. Sesshomaru inwardly sighed as he watched until the shadow of his adored was out of sight; it had been important, but the atmosphere had change and the time was no longer right. Drawing his eyes closed, words traced along moist lips. Words that made Sesshomaru shudder as he spoke them so softly.