Salvation

Disclaimer~ don’t own original Inuyasha characters, do own others.

Hours later, near dawn~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Inuyasha awoke slowly, feeling like he was coming out of a murky sleep. He groaned softly and opened his eyes. The fire had gone low and Kaichi was asleep with Roko beside him. Inuyasha smiled gently, but quickly looked around for his older brother.
Noticing that he wasn’t in the camp area, he slowly sat up and took another look. In the dim light, his still human eyesight was poor and unreliable.
‘Damn, I need sun-up to happen soon,’ he thought anxiously. He scanned the area once again before slowly climbing to his feet. ‘I also need to wash. I don’t even have my demon nose and I can still smell the blood and stink on me.’ With that thought, he stood and set out to a nearby river.
“Maybe I’m lucky and that sadistic bastard took a long walk off a short cliff,” he muttered darkly. It took him nearly twenty minutes to reach the tranquil river. The sinking moonlight danced across the calm surface and helped light the surrounding shores. Inuyasha gave a quick glance before beginning to remove his fire-rat haori.
A nearby splash abruptly made him stop and he snapped his head towards the sound. A dark figure erupted out of the center of the small river and tossed back a torrent of glistening hair, arching his back as he flipped it. The figure was facing upriver and was directly in front of him, but Inuyasha could not tell if he had seen him. The water stopped right at his naked waist and, even in the dim lighting, Inuyasha instantly recognized the form of his brother. The human froze.
Sesshomaru’s head turned to look at the form on the river bank. His demon eyesight instantly let him see his now human half-brother.
“Inuyasha,” he said quietly, just loud enough for his brother to hear. The man froze once again and turned to face the figure in the river.
“Yeah, it’s me,” he admitted. His haori was still half off, but he made no attempt to cover up the exposed skin. “Came to bathe, but I guess I’ll wait until morning.”
“You may do as you wish, I am finished.” he stated as he advanced towards the bank. As the water level on his body lessened, Inuyasha could pick out that he was indeed completely naked. He averted his eyes to look at a nearby boulder, where he saw the outline of silken garments.
‘So that’s where he put ‘em,’ he thought absently. ‘He came here to get my scent off of him, I guess.’ He sighed as he resumed undressing, not caring that Sesshomaru was still naked in the river. He kept his eyes down and began his descent into the river. He gasped at the cold, but did not slow. His black hair lifted and flowed on the surface of the water, pointing in the direction of the current. He stopped for a moment and closed his eyes, listening to the soft gurgling of the water against the rocks and the birds and insects of the night. He stood there for a moment, completely still and silent. Not a single sound was out of place. He finally lifted his head and opened his deep brown eyes.
Sesshomaru had stopped on his way out of the water. He stood just before the human, watching him; merely observing. Inuyasha blushed at the realization that Sesshomaru had seen him undress and walk into the river. His human emotions had completely replaced his harsher demonic ones, so he was more inclined towards softer actions.
“Uh! I thought you’d left!” he stammered out. Sesshomaru simply watched him, looking him over, it seemed.
“No, I have not.” he replied quietly. He took a step closer and drew him into the water by his waist. Inuyasha was too surprised to resist. He could see every muscle contour on his brother’s body, thanks to the moonlight that was left. He was, in every sense of the word, a God. Everything about him was sculpted for power and perfection.
“What are you...?” He trailed off as the powerful demon bent him back so he full head of hair was submerged in the water, his right arm supporting his back. The perplexed human stared up at his brother’s face. Wet bangs dripped water down in front of his beautiful features, his golden eyes seemed to glow with a light of their own in the darkness.
“What does it look like mutt? I’m washing you,” he whispered back. “See if I can’t get the filthy stench of human and sickness off of you.” In an act of boldness, Inuyasha reached up and cupped his brother’s neck to gently stroke the smooth skin there. Sesshomaru combed his claws through the mass of inky hair, gently massaging and cleaning it. The tired human let his eyes flutter close and sighed in pleasure. He felt Sesshomaru shift and press his cheek marked against his own.
“Are you enjoying this, half-breed?” he murmured directly into his now humanoid ear. Inuyasha held in a shudder and nodded. He turned his face toward the voice and felt his lips come in direct contact with his brother’s pointed ear.
“Yeah, I am,” he breathed into it. He felt that mouth gently nip at his earlobe, extracting a soft whimper from him. Sesshomaru growled softly and tensed his claws, gently digging them into Inuyasha’s back. It only caused the younger youkai to press up to him.
“Why...?” he whispered with a shudder he could now no longer hold in. “Why are you doing this?” Sesshomaru stopped moving. In fact, he held perfectly still. Inuyasha dared to open his eyes to see what had happened. A curtain of silver obstructed his view as he gazed into the mass of hair before his eyes. Sesshomaru didn’t move a muscle. “Sesh?” he murmured in his ear. At that instant, he felt the claws holding him dig deeply into his back. His demonic tolerance for pain had also vanished. He let out a pained gasped and arched into his half-brother’s chest to try and escape them.
“Ah! Stop! Please!” he gasped out. The demonic Lord seemed to realize what he was doing when the smell of human blood reached his sensitive nose. He retracted he claws from the soft flesh and pulled his head back to look at the human in his arms. Inuyasha’s soft brown eyes gazed at him with a look of confusion and want at the same instant. His own held a look of utter and complete disgust. He snorted and shoved the warm body away instantly.
Inuyasha cried out in mild surprise and fell into the cold water. He quickly stood and coughed up the small amount of water he had managed to inhale.
“What...gives?!” he choked out. Sesshomaru began his ascent onto the shore once again as he answered.
“You wanted me to let go, so I did.” he stated coldly. As he passed by the coughing form, a breath of wind carried a sickly rotten smell to his nose. He froze with the waterline right above his waist.
‘Why is it still there? Tensaiga has failed. How could this be?’ he thought with shock. The powerful demon spun around and gazed at the floundering human. The blood from his back darkened the water, making streams of its own in the current. It took all of two steps to reach Inuyasha again and drag him close. The surprised man had no choice but to be hauled, once again, against his brother.
“What do you want now?” he asked with a hint of anger. He didn’t resist as he was pulled close to the powerful Lord once again. Sesshomaru’s figure seemed tense from what he could see in the moonlight. He could hear him inhale deeply, an act that confused him.
‘I thought he hated my scent,’ Inuyasha thought in confusion. He became further confused when that beautiful head snapped back from him and a look of anger and surprise passed over him. ‘Something’s wrong.’ he thought instantly.
“Sesh, what’s going on?” he asked quickly. A stab of pain pierced his back when he felt Sesshomaru’s hand touch one of the wounds. He clamped his eyes shut and arched forward against him as he cried out. “Ah! Don’t!”
“It should be gone..” he heard him mutter. ‘What’s he talking about? My wounds are gone, aren’t they?’ he thought uncertainly. He shuddered lightly as that same hand that had touched his back now stroked his side lightly. He halfway opened his eyes to gaze up at Sesshomaru. His beautiful face was graced with a slight frown as he gazed down at the human in his arms.
“What’s going on?” Inuyasha asked again. “What should be gone?” Sesshomaru’s hand combed through his wet silky hair as he continued to look at him.
“The poison, Tensaiga should have healed you. I can still smell it in your blood. What else did you think I was talking about hanyou?” he asked with evident disgust and annoyance. Inuyasha’s soft eyes gazed at him for a moment before turning to look off down stream with a resigned look.
“So I’m still sick huh?” he asked quietly. His head was gently pulled against the God-like body and was rested against his chest. “Heh, I knew it was too good to be true.” he said quietly. His brother’s hand gently entangled into his mass of hair, cradling it where it rested.
“You can be cured, at least the ill part of you can.” he murmured into his ear. “As for the rest of you, there is no hope.” Inuyasha smiled and nestled against the warm body. Normally a comment like that would have sent him flying with anger at the speaker, but since he was human he was a lot more docile. His emotions were going crazy. One minute he was so mad he couldn’t see straight, the next he was cuddling up to the source of his anger.
‘I guess this is what being in heat is like,’ he thought. He chuckled at the notion that he was comparing himself to a female inuyoukai. Sesshomaru shifted and placed his mouth beside his half-brother’s ear once again.
“You think this is funny?” he murmured into the sensitive appendage. The young human shook his head slightly and his chuckling ceased.
“No, just thinking.” He felt his brother nip at the edge of his ear lightly. He turned and placed a soft kiss between the collar bones on his damp chest. He heard the soft growl come from within his brother and smiled. “So how sick am I bro?”
“Your youkai blood is not stopping the disease, not that you have any at the moment. It is ravaging your body more than you realize mutt.” he muttered against the shell of his ear. Inuyasha pressed further against him and gazed down river at the water that was rapidly fleeing.
“Why do you care?” he asked curiously. “You’ve never even sought me out in all these years, why have you suddenly appeared?” Sesshomaru snorted softly against his ear.
“Our sons are lovers, in case you’ve missed that.” he retorted. “But knowing how slow you’ve always been, I wouldn’t be surprised.” He blinked when he felt what seemed to be a flinch from the human in his arms. He had never known Inuyasha to have his feelings hurt, it must have been because he was in a human state. His golden eyes traveled down to gaze at the ward in his arms. Inuyasha’s soft brown eyes showed the hurt and rejection he felt. Without even realizing it, he tightened his arms ever so slightly.
“No,” he replied softly. “I noticed. I just don’t care. If they’re happy, I’m not gonna interfere. But that still doesn’t explain why you wanted to find me.” He paused to gaze up at the demon holding him. “I thought I was gonna die without seeing you again.” he admitted softly. His eyes softly quivered at the notion. Sesshomaru reached up and clasped his chin. He didn’t resist or show any signs of alarm.
“Well now you have seen me, and you are still alive to tell about it.” he said quietly. “For now. I did not know your son was Roko’s lover. I thought he was seeing some noble demon’s daughter, not some trashy mutt like yourself. I wanted to see who this person was that he refused to introduce me to, now I know why he didn’t: he was ashamed.” Before he could utter another word, Inuyasha shot up and covered his lips with his own.
‘Hm, so he still has feelings for me.’ he thought absently. ‘I wonder if he still thinks he’s good enough for me.’ Sesshomaru allowed him the kiss, but did not return it. He kept his cold composure as Inuyasha pulled away gently.
“You can say whatever you want about me Sesh, I don’t really care anymore. But leave my son out of you insults.” he warned. He began to pull away until he was abruptly snatched back against the strong body. “Huh?!” he blurted out in alarm. Inuyasha knew he stood no chance of fighting his brother in his weakened state, and he was desperately hoping to keep Kaichi out of the mix.
“I shall say what I want about who I want hanyou,” he warned back. “No one dictates to me what to do or say, especially not you.” With that said, he snapped Inuyasha back and slammed their lips together with bruising force. The weaker human inhaled sharply at the force used and the pain that ricocheted across his mouth, but he quickly gave in so as not to be further hurt.
He wrapped his arms around Sesshomaru’s neck and pressed forward against him. He felt the strong arms go around his back and waist as he was held closer. Stars flashed behind his eyelids from all of the sensations he was feeling. Their lips were welded together it seemed, which was just fine to him. He shuddered when he felt one of the clawed hands begin to rake up and down his injured back. He pressed against him, trying to get away from them, but to no avail. He broke their kiss for a moment to hiss between his teeth as a claw scraped a puncture wound directly.
“Ow! Sesshomaru, that hurts.” he begged softly. Sesshomaru either didn’t care or didn’t hear him, for he seized his lips once again. His tongue flicked out and Inuyasha gave him access. Their tongues met and danced for dominance until Inuyasha gave in at last. Sesshomaru explored the hot cavern as one of his claw entwined itself once again into the pitch black hair.
‘God it’s been so long,’ he thought longingly. ‘Feh, what do I care if he hates me? I’m gonna live up the moment while I have it.’ What Inuyasha didn’t realize was that the ‘moment’ was nearly over. He noticed his hearing was drastically improving and his sense of smell was almost back to normal. The wounds on his back were all but healed. Sesshomaru seemed to freeze at that moment. He pulled away to look down at his younger brother.
“I see, so dawn brings about the change.” he observed. Inuyasha blinked open his eyes and squinted at the sun that had now risen. He looked up at the demon still holding him and gave a tired yet defiant smile.
“Yeah, so I’m back to the same pain in the ass I always am.” he replied with a small smirk. Sesshomaru watched him for a moment before releasing him altogether.
“Then your body will have an easier time slowing the effects of the poison.” His eyes held the same cold look and annoyance as they did earlier. The younger youkai’s smirk slowly faded as he continued to watch him. That indifferent, cold composure that he was practically famous for came back over him the longer he look at the half-breed in front of him.
“Inuyasha, the only reason I have spared your life tonight is because killing you while you are such a weak and pathetic state would be dishonorable.” he stated bluntly. As much as he didn’t want to admit it, the injured hanyou felt a prang go through his heart at the lack of care in that statement. “I would have you healthy and able to fight when I kill you.”
“Then why all of this...?” he asked dejectedly. “It was all just for lust, wasn’t it?” The Lord of the Western Lands smirked.
“So, your intelligence isn’t as low as it was the last time we met.” he remarked with a hint of impressment. “I guess you can teach a dumb dog new tricks.”
“Stop with the insults Sesshomaru! I don’t wanna hear it!” he burst out with a snarl. The act seemed to only widen the smirk on his face. Inuyasha’s face flushed hot and red with anger. He clenched his fists and curled his upper lip back in a soft snarl as he glared at the demon lord before him. Sesshomaru merely gazed down at him with what could be considered the closest thing to an amused look he would ever have. His smugness only served to fuel Inuyasha’s rage further.
“God dammit Sesh! Why the fuck do you have to be such a dick to everyone and their fucking brother?!” he shouted. He chose to ignore the pun he had accidentally installed in his outburst. “I promise it wouldn’t kill ya to show a little kindness!” With that, he stormed past the silent and still demon to head toward the embankment. He was never allowed to get that far though, for his arm was roughly grabbed and he was practically whipped around to face his brother once again. He was too angry to be surprised though, so he opted to shout in his face, now that he had the opportunity.
“What?! Haven’t you done-” He was cut off by Sesshomaru’s hand clamping over his mouth. He reached up to remove the offending hand, but both of his claws were quickly grabbed and relocated to behind his own back as he was, yet again, pressed up against the powerful body. His muffled cry of protest went unnoticed by the powerful demon.
“You think I am incapable of kindness?” he asked coldly. His face portrayed no emotion at all, save the usual coldness. Inuyasha’s only response was to glare harder at him. Sesshomaru leaned forward until their faces were just centimeters apart. “You think I feel nothing? You think you mean nothing to me?” His emotionless state was gone. It was replaced by a seething look of hatred and anger as he leaned in even closer. They were close enough that Inuyasha would have said they were sharing the same breathing space, except for the fact that his mouth was clamped firmly shut.
As if reading his thoughts, his elder brother released his mouth to lay his hand upon his jaw gently. He sucked in a deep gulp of air and panted softly as he continued to glare at him.
“Yeah...that’s exactly what I think...you’re a heartless bastard who doesn’t give a shit about anyone but yourself.” he growled out. He felt the grip on his wrists tighten and they pressed chests as he was brought even closer to his captor. The intoxicating scent was overwhelming and his anger ebbed slightly as they continued to share each breath. Sesshomaru’s eyes seemed to penetrate all the way to his soul as they filled his entire world.
“Well I have news for you mutt,” he replied quietly as he stroked his cheek softly with his thumb. Inuyasha couldn’t help as his eyes fluttered close from the multitude of sensations he was feeling. He practically felt Sesshomaru’s lips brush his own with the next words he spoke.“You’re right.”