Somber Sweetness

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Sesshomaru sighed, looking out his window at Rin and Shippo. They were getting along royally.







If only he and Inuyasha could work out their differences, as well.







He left his room and headed toward the gardens, where Shippo and Rin were playing.







He heard Rin screaming once he was outside and his blood froze. Sesshomaru, the mighty Daiyoukai of the Western lands, took off at a run, not even bothering to change into his dog form in his state of near-panic.







He rounded the corner of the building and stopped dead, hardly believing what he was seeing.







Inuyasha was on all fours, growling and clumsily chasing after her as she screamed and ran away, occasionally letting a small giggle escape through her screams.







Shippo was watching as he ate a sugary treat he had no doubt charmed out of one of Sesshomaru’s cooks.







Rin was screaming in play? She had never before sounded so like a normal, carefree ningen child in all the time Sesshomaru had known her. Sesshomaru hid behind the corner of the wall to watch without being seen. Luckily, he was downwind of the group.







He watched in amazement as Inuyasha caught Rin, knocking her to the ground without letting her head hit it by cradling it and cushioning the blow with his own hand. He then proceeded to “eat” Rin, growling and making the same snuffling, snorting noises that most low-class Youkai made when feasting upon a fresh kill as he shook his head, tickling her belly with it.







Sesshomaru’s breath caught in his throat as she screamed again, and started giggling madly.







Inuyasha had done the one thing he had not been able to accomplish: He had broken through Rin’s shell and helped her regain her stolen childhood. She was finally TRULY healing from the ordeals she had faced at the hands of Koga and his wolf demon tribe.







“Inuyasha.” He whispered in astonishment.







Inuyasha straightened as his ears perked up. He stiffened. “Sesshomaru?” He called out, looking around.







Sesshomaru stepped out from his hiding spot, acting like he had been making his way toward them the whole time. “Inuyasha, Shippo, Rin. Is all going well?”







Rin nodded, beaming at him. “Inuyasha-sama was just playing ‘demon on the loose’ with me, Sesshomaru-sama! You should play with us, too!”







Inuyasha stood. “Actually, Rin, I’m getting tired.” He said apologetically.







“Ohh.” Rin pouted dejectedly.







Shippo had finished his treat by now and ran over to grab her hand. “Come on, let’s go pick some flowers for our room! Inuyasha will play with us again later.” He assured her.







Rin brightened and left with him, chattering happily.







“How did you do it?” Sesshomaru asked Inuyasha once the children had left.







“Huh? Do what?” Inuyasha asked.







Sesshomaru smiled. “I have never seen Rin acting so… Childlike.” He said.







Inuyasha rolled his eyes. “Well, she IS a kid, you know.” He said sarcastically.







Sesshomaru shook his head. “You have no idea how she was when I first met her. She didn’t speak for a very long time. Koga and his wolf tribe attacked her village and slaughtered her parents. She was haunted for so long by the memories.” He smiled, gazing in the direction Rin and Shippo had gone, then turned a grateful smile on Inuyasha. “Thank you.”







Inuyasha flushed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I didn’t do anything THAT special.”







Sesshomaru stepped closer to him and took his hand. “You did the one thing I could not for her. That is more than enough, in my eyes, to count as ‘special,’ indeed. Not many people are willing to reach out to a child they hardly know and offer them entertainment, and for one as reserved as her to be the recipient of such an offer is highly unusual. Tell me, did she ask to play with you?” Sesshomaru asked, wondering if, had he been more approachable when they met, she might have opened up to him more easily.







“Um, no.” Inuyasha said with a small smile, flushing as he freed his hand. “Not at first. I was out here, sitting in one of the trees, and her and Shippo came out. They were both eating sweets then, but she finished hers a lot faster, and then she wanted to play. Since Shippo was still occupied, I was the lucky winner that got to amuse her for a while.” He finished with a chuckle.







Sesshomaru stepped closer to Inuyasha again, putting him far closer to Inuyasha than the hanyou was comfortable with, if his wary gaze and nervous shifting were any indication. “Inuyasha.” He breathed, and the hanyou’s eyes widened at the tone, and the faint scent of arousal he could smell on his brother.







“Sesshomaru, what are you do-“







The Daiyoukai leaned in before Inuyasha could finish the sentence and kissed him, briefly, the action resulting in nothing more than a chaste press of lips before Sesshomaru raised his head.







Inuyasha stared up at him for a few moments, his eyes wide in both confusion and arousal.







Then, the hanyou fled.







“Kuso.” The Daiyoukai muttered, turning to walk back inside, cursing his loss of control and hoping Inuyasha did not stray too far before he came back.







Hoping, indeed, that Inuyasha WOULD come back.







*****







Inuyasha pressed his fingers to his lips for the fifth time in as many minutes, imagining that he could still feel Sesshomaru’s lips against his own, though he knew that was crazy.







Why had he run away? Even he was at a loss to answer that question. He’d known that his brother was going to try to woo him, so the kiss should not have come as any surprise. Regardless of that fact, however, it HAD surprised him. He was rather shocked about it, and more than a little bit confused over his own feelings.







He had… ENJOYED the kiss!







‘Can I trust him?’ He questioned himself desperately. No answer was forthcoming. If Sesshomaru DID end up trying to hurt him once he had the Hanyou mated to him, bound forever to his side, would Inuyasha have the strength of will to leave his mate? Or would he stay in a bad situation simply because it was comfortable?







“Damn. What should I DO now?!” He muttered, glowering out into the growing twilight.







“Hello? Who are you? I don’t recognize you, though your scent is slightly familiar.” A young female wolf demon was looking up at him from the ground, one hand resting on her katana, ready to draw it at a moment’s notice.







Inuyasha jumped down with a smile. “I’m Sesshomaru’s brother.” He said lightly. “Who are you?”







She smiled brightly. “Oh, Inuyasha-sama! I’d heard that Sesshomaru-sama was leaving to retrieve his mate. Pleased to meet you. I’m Reiko.” She said, holding out a hand.







Inuyasha took it, flushing. Did EVERYONE here know he was Sesshomaru’s supposed mate? It was rather disconcerting, considering he wasn’t even sure if he was going to accept Sesshomaru’s offer yet.







“I’m not his mate. I haven’t even decided if I’m going to stay here yet.” He explained.







“But you are! Sesshomaru-sama has felt it.” She said, as if that settled the matter. “You are indeed his mate. The dominant partner is the only one to feel the call to mate, and must pursue their destined. The fact that he felt the call to retrieve you once you reached your maturity proves it beyond any doubts, My Lord.” She explained.







Inuyasha frowned. “Do you mean that I can’t mate unless it’s with him?” He asked.







Reiko cocked her head. “Not… Not QUITE. You could choose to mate with a human, though they would perish when your heat overtook you. Or you could mate with a female demon, and simply be a barren couple. Or, you could choose the hardest path of life to handle, and mate with another dominant male that has rejected their mate. You’d be able to conceive, but any offspring you managed to carry all the way to term would still be born lifeless. If you wish to have any children, only your true mate can provide them for you, and you for him. He cannot sire children that will live, but by your body.” She told him. “Did your mother never tell you this?” She asked curiously.







Inuyasha sneered. “My mother was human, as Sesshomaru likes to remind me. She never knew anything of this, I’m sure.” He told her. “Does he HAVE to be the Sire? Can’t I make him pregnant, too?”







Reiko laughed. “No, no, Inuyasha-sama. Only the submissive can carry young. He must Sire the children upon you, if you are to have any of your own. Only your body has the capability to carry them, as you are made for him and him alone.”







Inuyasha frowned. “Well, damn. Thank you for telling me all this. I must seem stupid to you.” He grinned, blushing as his lack of knowledge.







“Not at all, no.” Reiko shook her head. “Sesshomaru-sama said that you had grown up around ningens, and how would THEY be able to tell you these things? You don’t know our ways, but you soon will.” She stated surely.







“Right.” Inuyasha sighed. “I’m going to head back now. Thanks again!” He told her, heading back towards the castle, and Sesshomaru.







*****







Sesshomaru paused in his writing, then smiled, resuming it.







Inuyasha’s scent was drawing closer. His brother had come back.







Suddenly, the door was thrown open, the hanyou framed in the doorway.







“I’ll be your mate.”







All the breath left Sesshomaru’s body in a rush. “What?” He breathed.







Inuyasha stepped into the room, pulling the door shut behind him and blushing. “I said I’ll be your mate. That’s what you want, isn’t it?”







“Inuyasha, I…” Sesshomaru shook his head, looking down at the document he had been working on. “You have no idea what you are agreeing to, it is too soon.”







Inuyasha’s scent drew closer still. “I have SOME idea.” His hand slammed onto the paper before Sesshomaru. “Dammit, Sesshomaru, LOOK at me!”







Sesshomaru raised his eyes to meet Inuyasha’s.







“I may not know much about yo- OUR ways, but I can LEARN. I’ll do it.” He said softly, his eyes flashing with determination. “You can teach me, right?”







Sesshomaru smiled. “Truly? You wish to learn? To rule by my side?” He asked, still not quite able to believe it.







What had come over Inuyasha, to cause such a change in his mind, in his heart? Whatever had happened, Sesshomaru was thankful for it.







“I suppose, yeah. Just don’t make me regret it.” Inuyasha mumbled, seeming to lose his conviction.







Sesshomaru stood and rounded his desk, wrapping his arms around Inuyasha. “Never, Inuyasha. I will never let you regret this.” He vowed. “We may fight, but I will never hurt you again, not now that you are mine.”







“Is there anything we need to do now, or is just saying it enough to make us mates?” Inuyasha asked, feeling very foolish and unsure.







Sesshomaru’s fingertips brushed over Inuyasha’s neck gently. “There is a mark, but you will bear it in time, there is no rush. First, you will need to learn how to read the accounts and grievances, and how to write to other Daiyoukai when they have written and require a response. When I bite you it will begin your first heat cycle, and I want no distractions when that time comes.” He said with a smile.







Inuyasha nodded. “Alright, so let’s get started.”







Sesshomaru rounded the desk and sat down again. “The castle is mostly self-sufficient, and our largest source of money comes from the men who sell fruits from the orchards at market every few months…”