The Sacred Trees

Oh wow you guys really were waiting for Sessy weren't you. So how do you like him so far? Thanks so much for the reviews they are wonderful. To all PLEASE do ask questions if you have any – they kindda of tell me what I need to expand on or details that you need, though I generally will respond with 'wait till next chappies' they do help a lot woth story and plot development.
That said this is a LONGER chapter cause stopping anywhere else would have been too cruel.
Aslan : Currently I am in a off-peak period at work – which is why I choose to write this now. I actually do have a life, and next month is going to get busier. So I really do need to post fast or I'll have to slow down before the main story is done.
Merely Truth : Lets say I have no liking for one sided rape, or breaking Inuyasha: Forced seduction is another story. Thanks for reading – other questions you will have to read more. Mercii, and arigato.
DaichiChiru13, synergy08 and kmoatan, Thank you!

As always read and review and ENJOY - SunHawk
**

Chapter 8 : Confusion, shocks and jaw drops.

Still in a dream state, Inuyaha felt a familiar ache all over his body, the pain had finally left him. Well he wasn't dead. His senses feeling the connections around him as he slowly rose to consciousness. Wait a second, the only time he woke so slowly was at the shrine, and he was not there. His eyes snapped open, instantly fully awake. He jerked up and met cool golden eyes. Inuyasha immediately rolled and landed standing on the balls of his feet, his position defensive, he stood in his boxers, prepared for anything.

Brother looked at brother.

Sesshoumaru never breaking eye contact, gave his younger brother a shallow bow. “Forgive me Inuyahsa, I mistook you for an impersonator, and attacked in anger. I never meant to hurt you.”

“Keh, Mr. pansy ass don't be so fucking arrogant you didn't hurt me, but what he fuck is an impersonator?” Inuyahsa growled suspiciously eyeing his brother.. this was weird, Sessoumaru was being polite, and was looking at him funnily.

Sessoumare walked to Inuyasha, who had to stop himself from backing away. Sesshoumare stopped a foot away from his brother, and reached a hand towards Inuyasha. He had initially meant to touch his brother's cheek, but seeing Inuyasha's growing tension, he changed his mind, and the hand rested casually and gently on Inuyahsa's shoulder.

“An impersonator little brother, is a Youkai who pretends to be you, in order to get close and betray the Canines. This has happened 3 times in the last 350 years. After the second time a torture and death penalty was issued for the offense of impersonating this Sesshoumaru's otouto.” Sesshoumaru said seriously.

Inuyasha's jaw dropped open and his eyes went wide. “You're lying who the fuck would want to IMITATE ME!!!” Inuyasha yelled in anger. Losing his temper was a mistake, he had not eaten in over 2 days, and the burst of anger burned quickly through his last reserves. He staggered as his legs felt rubbery. Immediately he was lifted off the ground and cradled in Sesshoumaru's arms. To say Inuyasha was shocked would have been the understatement on the century, his mouth moved but no sound emerged as he stared at the Dai-Youkai carrying him.

“At a loss for words? Good!!” Sesshoumaru said with a resigned but strange smile on his face, he walked to the bathing area. “No one has dared call me a liar in centuries. Only you can drive me to fury in one second, and then to .. well, for now lets just say make me reevaluate my emotions in the next.”

“I'm sorry Sesshoumaru, you may be a fucking bastard but you are not a liar, I was just surprised.” Inuyasha muttered wanting to maintain the peace by giving his brother his due. “Now more to the point, PUT ME THE HELL DOWN!!!” the hanyou finished beginning to struggle.

Sesshoumarue smiled coolly, and something in the hanyou went 'ooh oh!'
“As you wish little brother” Sesshoumaru said and released the hanyou, boxers and all into the warm small pool-sized bath.
Inuyasha broke the surface spluttering and cursing.

“500 years, I think your language has gone worse. Bathe little brother, frankly you stink, we will talk over breakfast when you come out.” Sesshoumaru seeing his contrary brother preparing to jump out of the bath said warningly, “Inuyahsa if you do not wash the lingering oder of the sewers off you, I will take it as an invitation to bathe you myself.”

There was something in his brother's voice and eyes that froze, and confused the hanyou. But his own scent hit him, and he admitted to himself that he was well 'ripe' or more accurately 'rotten'. He needed the bathe, and silently reached for the soap, turning his back to his brother he began to wash.

Seshoumare stood watching for a second, when had his brother become so graceful, so damn beautiful? Sesshoumaru had literally lost his breath when his brother had in rolled and stood before him. There was a definition to Inuyasha's muscles that had not been there before, his fluid grace had matched Sesshoumaru's. The Shogun thanked his ancestors that the fire in Inuyasha's eyes still burned bright, only now there was an added vulnerability, a gentleness and something deep that escaped the Shogun. Sesshoumaru found it both intriguing and infuriating. He hungered to drag all his brother's secrets to the light. Though the hanyou had no inclining, Sesshoumaru knew that Inuyasha was now his; his to kill, his to save, his to hold and his to own.

Sesshoumaru silently left the bath area, his smile almost snapped Aidon's nerves as he brought the breakfast cart to the room, Aidon left rather quickly.

The Shogun was amused, and satisfied, he had time, his little brother was not in heat yet. He would use the time to build a solid relationship with Inuyasha, build trust between them. Let the hanyou get used to the idea before claiming him as mate. For the first time in longer then then Sesshoumarue could remember, in spite of the height of power he had risen to, Sesshoumaru felt anticipation for the future.

Inuyasha got out of the bath, sniffing the air to make sure the err.. 'scent' was truly gone. He was not really surprised to see his weapons, as well as his travel bag from the motel on a chair. His firerat robe would need to be burned clean, seriously when Inuyasha found him, he was gonna kick the so called shogun's ass for declaring that ridiculous hunt. Still it was doubtful his brother would actually approve of him stomping on his allies. On principle, he would have to get Sesshoumaru to at least give him the Shogun's address, so that Inuyasha could send him the laundry bill.

Inuyasha grinned at that thought as he pulled out his clothes. A bright red, loose cotton shirt, black slacks made for movement, and a white and red embroidered bolero completing his look. His shoes were red, made of lightweight material that gave the feel that he was barefoot. He pulled on his clothes feeling a more in control. He smirked as he picked up the cloth wrapped Tessaiga and put it in place on his belt, then strapped the crossbow on his forearm. Feeling good he strode out, his nose telling him that breakfast was served.

His own eyebrows rose at the sight of his brother. It was almost 4 years since Inuyasha had seen someone decked out in full Samurai outfit. The style was more modern, and there were rich gold markings on the Armour. Tenseiga and Bakusaiga strapped on his lean waist. Sesshoumaru was a picture of power and control. Even seated Inuyasha knew his brother had gotten a great deal more powerful, and to the hanyou's disgust, the arrogant Daiyoukai carried that power with ease and style that Inuyasha knew he would never be able to achieve. His brother looked older, there was a hardness about him that had been not there before, the ruthlessness if anything seemed to have increased, but there was also a depth to his brother that had been missing before. Inuyasha realized that the past 500 years had not been easy on his brother.

Inuyasha held his silence, this was not the time for such conversations.

Since his brother was already seated, Inuyasha slid into the empty seat. They were both silent for a time, casual conversation was not something that they engaged in, in the past. Inuyasha began eating.

“What?!” Inuyasha demanded when he saw his brother was staring at him with that irritating brow raised.

Sesshoumaru smirked, “It is good to see that you have at least learned to eat like a civilized Youkai.”

“Keh!” Inuyasha grumped deciding that food was more important than answering the bastard.

Sesshoumaru looked at the clock 9.15am, “We have to be going soon Otouto, you will have to face the Youkai council soon.”

“No.” inuyasha said softly.

“Did I hear you say say No?” Sesshoumaru's tone was dangerous and soft.

“You did.” Inuyasha answered calmly, then he looked at his brother, the rare maturity in his eyes. “I have no wish to meet the Youkai Council, there have nothing to do with me anymore. I will be leaving after breakfast brother. I.. I.. am really glad to see you are alive, but I can have nothing to do with the Youkai anymore. I have no place amongst them.”

Rage such as he rarely felt surged through the Shogun, his brother sought to leave him, never! But the look in Inuyasha's eyes had the Shogun treading a little carefully, there was something unknown here. He needed information, before he acted. Sesshoumare had not rose to his position without planning and strategizing, he coolly played a trump card “Inuyasha, you may have as little to do with other Youkai as you desire after the Council meeting, but make no mistake you will be attending the Council meeting with me today, there is no choice in this matter. If you seek to avoid this meeting I mayhap will have to track down the ningen I scent on you and seek their assistance in convincing you to attend.”

'Touch them bastard and I will rip you apart.” Inuyasha growled. “Fine I do this and you never fucking use that threat again.”

“It was no threat, and do not fear, I am not so caress as to repeat myself.” Sesshoumaru having won, smiled fondly at his brother, who studiously ate without looking at him. He had many questions to ask his brother, most would be explained at the Council, one question however trembled at the tip of his tongue.

“You obviously know of the modern world, How long have you been in here?” Sesshouaru asked

“Here as in Japan? Just less then two years, in this era 4 years.”

“2 years! Inuyasha, what did you do when you entered heat? There is no way you could have hidden from the Youkai of Tokyo when you entered heat.”

Inuyahsa squirmed but answered honestly “I didn't!”

“You didn't what?” Sesshoumaru said a bit confused when his brother didn't expand on the statement.

“I didn't enter heat, haven't my whole life. Must be some fucked up thing of being a hanyou, nature's way to make sure stupid-ass-half-breed-runts don't procreate, I guess.” There was no anger in Inuyasha as he said this, only a painful resigned acceptance, puppy ears and shoulders dropped, as a small sad smile touched his full lips.

Sesshoumaru frowned, there was something really wrong here, he was going to say something when a polite knock was heard. It was time for them to leave.

***


Aidon was the only one privileged to watch the two brothers walk out of the house, his imposing and fully decked out Shogun, was a sharp contrast to the hanyou in modern garb. Yet there was a rightness to them, a Majesty and power that overwhelmed the Youkai, in a natural reaction the assistant sank to his knees, the Limo door opened to them. Inuyasha frowned and was going to address this when he felt Sesshoumaru's hand on his back urging him into the car. The hanyou hesitated and got in, there were more pressing matters to talk about.

The car was in motion before Inuyasha broke the silence. “So how come I can't avoid this council meeting?”

Sesshoumaru watched his brother carefully, “Because there was a spike in energy inside the club, an unexplained spike. Any such energy fluctuations is deemed an anomaly, and MUST be presented to the council. There are no exemptions. You were at the location of the anomaly, were in fact deemed its cause so your presence has been demanded. Fear not little brother, the investigations usually amount to nothing, they ask questions and make a decision. You are under my protection now, so they will have no real say in your future.”

Inuyasha frowned “You sure you're Sesshoumaru? That sure as hell was a lot of words. You used to act like a word from you was worth gold, hoarding them. You've said more today than I think you said to me in a good decade back then.”

Sesshoumaru smile nostalgically, “Yes, those were good times. (He ignored his brother's skeptical 'keh') however in the past 500 years, I have learned hard lessons, little brother. There is a bitter taste to words left unsaid and I now need to ensure I am clearly comprehended by those around me, that has led to this particular verbosity. However little brother, what were you doing in the club, it is best that I know before we meet the council.”

Inuyasha could not lie worth a damn to people who knew him, so he stuck to what little he knew as the truth. “The energy spike did not come from me, I was in the club looking at the trees, that is all.”
Though Sesshoumaru sensed some truth in this, his eyes narrowed, his brother was hiding things from him, he did not like it, not one bit.

The Limo pulled up to an ancient estate. The building was heavily fortified with technology and magic. Sesshoumaru again had the shelve his questions for later. He led his brother to his private chambers, he hid a smile as he sensed his generals, sub-generals and lieutenants inside, he was going to enjoy watching this. A guard saluted and opened the door, Sesshoumaru gestured for Inuyasha to walk in ahead of him, as he held back a little to watch.

The lieutenants were on their knees, the General and sub-generals bowing in greeting.

“Keh, this some bad fuedal area flick or something? Hell even then we were never this formal.” Inuyasha blurted out, a bit tired of the bowing, and kneeling to his stuck up brother. The short (Tall for his kind) red headed kitsune straightened up from his bow so fast, he almost gave himself a concussion. Bright green eyes widened, his jaw unhinged and he blinked in disbelief. “I..I..Inuyahsa?” the voice was a squeak.

Inuyasha felt a staggering relief, the 4 and a half feet increase in height and loss of baby features did not matter, Inuyasha knew the identity of the kitsune standing before him. His kit was alive. “Shippo.” Inuyasha said softly a hand reaching out.

Shippo ignored the hand, and the next second Inuyasha had to brace himself as the kitsune yelling “father” tackled him in a hug. Shippo's head came just up to Inuyasha's neck, the hanyou's arms closed gently around the kitsune as the Shippo sobbed into Inuyahsa shirt. The arms around the hanyou were surprisingly strong, and sharp claws dug into Inuyasha's back. Unnoticed by everyone, Sesshoumaru silently put up a thin barrier between the kitsune's claws and his brother's skin.

“Inuyasha, Inuyasha!! I'm sorry, I was so scared we had done the wrong thing! I waited and waited, but we never found you, then the impersonators... Inuyasha!!! Its really you right! Please be you! I missed you, so much! I gave up hope! I'm sorry! Please be real! Please be you! Please!” The kitsune wailed uncontrollably, the lieutenants were shocked by what seemed to them as uncharacteristic behavior from their second general.

Inuyasha tried to gently convince Shippo he was real, but when the kitsune seemed to get more and more hysterical, eyes almost popped out in the room as a loud sound of “WHAM” filled the air. “OUCH!! That hurt.” The kitsune head his abused head, he had not felt that in 500 years. “What did you do that for Inuyasha.” He whined.

Shippo found himself staring at a crocked head, wide and beautiful gold eyes met his, white puppy ears twitched, and lips relaxed into a familiar teasing smile, “How else was I supposed to convince you it was me? Thanks Shippo, doing what you did saved my life, but I have missed you too.”

More in control, Shippo sank into Inuyahsa embrace once again, learning his scent.

“Inuyasha I believed you were dead, but I am glad, more glad then you know, to see you are alive.” A familiar voice said as a warm hand rested on Inuyasha's shoulder.

Inuyasha's head rose as his jaw dropped. “Koga?” He looked at his old rival, and his eyes softened with understanding. Looking at Kouga, Inuyasha could see a deep pain in him, the years had treated Kouga far worst then it had Sesshoumaru or Shippo. Inuyasha could feel the deep loss of connection in the wolf-demon. Though the demon had them buried deep, hidden from every other creature alive, Inuyahsa could see heart and spirit damage in Koga, deep festering wounds. Instinctively, he shifted Shippo to one side, reached out with his left hand, slipping it around Kouga's neck.

To both their surprise Koga did not resist as Inuyasha pulled his head down to rest on Inuyasha's left shoulder. The hanyou was radiating a gentle warmth, his arms were protectively around the two full Youkai. Old bonds were reforged, and new connections made, and the two Youkai though technically older, were soothed by the hanyous's embrace.

Sesshoumaru was at first amused by the greetings, then an uncomfortable feeling of began to bloom. He was self aware enough to name a part of the emotion as jealousy, the other part bothered him more. His brother had changed, the growing feeling of ignorance was intolerable. Before the jealously could take full root, the 3 way embrace ended, Koga obviously collecting himself before stepping back.
Now things were a little awkward. Good Sesshoumaru preferred that strange emotions around his brother were not limited to him.

“So Shippo what the hell are you doing hanging around with the mangy wolf and my idiot brother, where are Kilala, Ginta and Hakkaku?” Inuyasha asked.

Silence echoed in the room, finally Shippo answered in a whisper, “They are dead, Kilala, Ginta, Hakkaku, Ayame, Myoga, Totosai, even Hachi are dead.” Shippo straightened up, he finally showed his 500 years of maturity, the glint in his eyes, indicating that their deaths had not been of natural causes.

“We will not talk of that now.” Sesshoumaru said from behind, immediately Koga and Shippo nodded.

“Father, after you left the feudal era, Sesshoumaru-domo accepted me as his nephew, and he took me in to train me. In fox form I now have 5 full tails, I am now a General of the Kitsune,.. are.. are you proud of me?” Inuyasha's brows rose and he finally looked at the kneeling group, noticing wolf demons, black and brown dog demons, fox demons, and even 2 humans standing to the side.

“Very proud Shippo. Though that you stayed with my arrogant, jack-ass of a brother without getting yourself killed for 500 years is much more impressive.” Inuyasha said with a grin.

“You young punk!!! How dare you speak of our Lorrr...euhnph!” One of the Lieutenants, unable to stand the insult to his leader jumped up drawing a dagger. Before anyone including Sesshoumaru could react, Inuyasha had the dog demon by the throat choking his words.

Inuyasha answered coldly, “In experience I am centuries older then you, pup! And there is nothing wrong with calling an arrogant bastard, arrogant.” Inuyasha dropped the choking dog.

“Do not interfere between my otouto and I, and if any of you seek to attack him again, you will seek your own death.” Sesshoumaru said with a deadly calm that had the lieutenant whimpering and pressing his face to the ground.

Inuyasha looked around, “Let me guess you are the 'Canines”, Shippo is the General of the Kitsune, Koga the General of the Ookami and Sesshoumaru the General of the Inu? You all serve the Shogun who is the head Youkai of Tokyo?”

Again pin-drop silence filled the room, the Shogun, once again amused leaned against pillar to let the scene play out.

“Father!” Shippo gulped “Err.. Sesshoumaru-domo serves none, HE IS the Shogun.”

Inuyasha's eyes narrowed, he turned to him amused brother.

'You.. you..” Inuyasha's clenched his fist, when his brother smirked. The hanyou lost it. Stalking up to Sesshoumaru, he sucker punched the Shogun in the stomach. Seshoumaru flinched his breathe leaving him. He caught his brother's hands to stop another blow.

“YOU called that Idiotic hunt on me! YOU forced my to hide in the stinking sewers! And you Bastard!! WHY the hell are you persecuting hanyous?” Inuyahsa yelled in his brother's face.

Holding both Inuyahsa's hands in one of his, the Shogun shocked the audience, by gently cupping his brother's face. “Inuyasha I have already apologized for the mix-up with the impersonators., and since I had to go in the sewers myself, we both suffered, yes?” The hanyou nodded grudgingly. “And what on earth do you mean by persecuting hanyou?”

“I have never even scented a hanyou in Tokyo, AND I have heard of how not only Hanyou – but the human families they are with disappear by YOUR fucking order.”

Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed how did his brother know this? “Inuyasha, Hanyou are rare, not all human bloodlines can birth a live hanyou. Hanyou born in Japan are directly under my protection as are the ningen capable for birthing a strong hanyou. Though ningen can only carry a half demon once in their lives, they are still protected as any other human children they have are the best bets for producing more hanyou.” Sesshoumaru explain patiently.

“What! Why the hell are you of all people protecting hanyou?”

“Because little brother, contrary to what you believe about nature retarding hanyou procreativity, with the reduction of magic, the opposite is true. When they have strong Youkai blood, both male and female hanyou, when mated with youkai, produce more full blooded Youkai pups that a pair of mated Youkai. Hanyou go into heat more often then Youkai, and their heat is a pure aphrodisiac to Youkai. The stronger the hanyou the stronger the heat. But only one or 2 hanyou strong in Youkai blood are born a century, and they are considered treasures, protected by their mates and by the Canines.”

Inuyasha's jaw dropped in shock again.

Then to Sesshoumaru's displeasure, the golden eyes clouded with sadness and resignation, a whisper of a whine escaped his brother's chest. Inuyasha looked at his brother with stricken eyes.

“So its just me then?” Inuyasha whispered so softly, Sesshoumaru dropped a hand to Inuyasha's waist and drew him closer to hear the words. “So it is just me that cannot go into heat? Just me... who cannot have a mate? I mean, I thought.. I was like others.. we all could not.. but no.. its just me.”
Inuyasha's eyes fluttered close, he did not belong here, he had his mission – that was all that mattered, all that could matter. He was just too different. When his eyes opened there was no hint on the internal hurt in his eyes, Inuyasha had locked it away. He pushed away from his brother and said in a normal voice.

“Keh! Well I am glad hanyou are getting their due. So lets get this fricking Council meeting over with, so we can catch up over Sake or something.” He said looking at Shippo and Koga.

Just as he said it a gong sounded summoning them to the council. Sesshoumaru hiding his frustration at all the unanswered questions, left to go into the council first. Shippo and Koga would be escorting Inuyasha in when the gong rang the second time. The three waited, Shippo and Koga exchanged worried glances as the hanyou had gone quiet and still, waiting with a patience that to them was very alien to their friend.

Then after about 10 minutes the gong sounded a second time.


--- tbc--

a/n : See what I mean about stopping earlier I could have you know at the Limo – or when he met Koga and Shippo, but thought better of it. Lol. So have I cleared up some stuff or made it worse? :) Now do you like Shippo and Koga? How about Sesshy.. am I keeping to him? Also at some point would you actually like a time line of this story?