Youkai Triangle

Youkai Triangle


By: ~Goku the Paladin~ aka God of Insanity

Author’s NEW Notes: This is one of my earliest fanfics! o.o I just reread it…and its been a long time since I read it and I think even at that time, it was well-written and still is, in my opinion. ^^ I did make a few corrections, though. So enjoy!

Author's Old Notes: I think I promised a nice Nara/Sess fic some time ago. I don’t know if this one is exactly nice, but it isn’t rape, which is good, I believe. I like the Naraku/Sesshoumaru pairing and I think they look and are good together. I prefer to make Naraku the seme since I dunno, he just seems to be the seme and Sesshoumaru the uke. There’s not many Nara/Sess fics out there (although there should be, damn it), but I really believe this is a good pairing and stuffies.

This fic is considered a non-con since at the beginning, you’re not sure if Sess wants it or not, but later on, you’ll see what he really wants. This fic is actually based off of some Inu-yasha episodes, but remember, I said BASED, so it will not be word-for-word and action-for-action of exactly what happened in those episodes.

BTW, Rin is much older in this than the actual episodes. And technically, there is no het pairing since all Sesshoumaru did was give her a chaste kiss and nothing more.

Summary: Inu-yasha loves Sesshoumaru, Sesshoumaru loves Rin, and Naraku loves Sesshoumaru. A love triangle among demons...

Warnings: Spoilers, NC-17, BDSM, Non-Con, Yaoi, Slight Het, and Angst

‘…’ Indicates Thoughts
EX: ‘…He looks better with his shirt off…’

Pairing(s): Naraku/Sesshoumaru

Dedication: I dedicate this fic to my koibito. Kristen, your life right now is full of darkness and despair and I hope that very soon that said darkness fades away into oblivion and that your parents will finally ease off and understand you. I believe you in every way and I understand you. I shall always love you, no matter what, just remember that, my lovely elf with the long obsidian braid. You are my Naraku and I am your Sesshoumaru. Aishiteru anata.

Disclaimers: One, two, three, Disclaimers after me! Four, five, six, they keep on throwin' flamey sticks! Seven, eight, nine, they miss every time! ^_^ ((In others words, I don’t own Rumiko’s InuYasha characters or anything like that! So no suing or anything like that…))

Sakura blossoms danced in the breeze, their sweet scent lingering in the air. It was early spring when the blossoms had bloomed. Their enchanting fragrance was welcomed by most, as it was rare for someone to deny it. A scent not even a youkai could pass by. Sesshoumaru was no exception.

The youkai lord closed his eyes as he stood under a particular Sakura tree. Thoughts overwhelmed him. Thoughts of the past festered at him until a female voice full of life stole him away from his tormenting thoughts.

"Sesshoumaru-sama! What are you thinking about?" A small girl, who was bubbling with life, asked.

His eyelids slowly fluttered open and he looked down at the human girl, his visage unreadable as usual.

"I have to go now, Rin. I may or may not return. Stay in the mansion until I return." He instructed simply, void of any emotion.

Rin cocked her head to the side like a puppy and watched him leave. Her brown eyes were wide and curious, but she knew better than to follow him. She longed to be with him always, but he usually went away for various, often long periods of time. Jaken usually went along with Sesshoumaru, which left her all alone in a big mansion with seemingly endless space. The servants paid her no mind at all. They often shunned her and only took care of her simple needs. Even the toad of a youkai Jaken usually paid attention to her and she loved to annoy him on a regular daily basis.

She also remembered how her surrogate father would always say the same words to her every time he meant to leave. They were:

/...I have to go now, Rin...I may or may not return...stay in the mansion until I return.../

Always Sesshoumaru would tell her this. Always would he leave her. And always would he return.

Rin was around the ripe age of thirteen. She had started experiencing the major changes of life as a female human. These changes overwhelmed her almost entirely, both physical and emotional. She still looked at her father with respect, loyalty, fascination, and love, but she also looked at him with admiration...followed by another strange attraction. Love. Love that was unnatural for a daughter to love her father in that kind of way. True, Sesshoumaru was not her blood father, but some old part in her still called him Otousan...Daddy...Papa...sama and any other titles that would be natural for her to call her lord and father.

It wasn't very long this time until Sesshoumaru returned. He was unscathed this time and Rin was glad that he was not hurt.

"Rin." He said quietly, standing five feet away.

"Sesshoumaru-sama!" Rin cried and skipped over to him and flung her arms around his waist.

Jaken muttered something incoherent, obviously he did not agree with Rin touching his master. Sesshoumaru obviously seemed to have heard what he muttered, because he glanced at Jaken sharply. Sesshoumaru's one arm remained wrapped around his daughter protectively.

"Rin, I have to go again...but you are coming with me this time." Sesshoumaru said.

"Yay!" Rin exclaimed, burying her face into his clothed abdomen. She would probably never get anywhere near as tall as Sesshoumaru, which was fine with her, of course.

"Come Rin." Sesshoumaru said quietly and released his arm from her body. His one arm rested at his side as he led his servant and human daughter away. They walked for hours; occasionally stopping to allow the girl to rest, but most of the time, her bubbling energy never required her to stop. Ultimately, they finally stopped at a battle sight. Before them lay the ruins and decaying wastes of a demon that suspiciously reeked too much of Naraku.

Sesshoumaru wrinkled his nose when he registered another scent. Inu-yasha.

Rin ran over to meet her father with Jaken close behind.

"I beat you!" Rin exclaimed, giggling. Jaken fumed.

"I was not racing you, girl!" Jaken chided, clutching his double-headed staff as he panted.
The youkai lord strode over to a purple demon head the size of Rin when she had once been a mere child.

"This is the demon who's own teeth shattered Tetseiga." Sesshoumaru murmured mostly to himself. He blinked slowly a few times when he noticed that Inu-yasha's scent...seemed a little different than it usually was. He tried to ponder why Inu-yasha's scent seemed almost fully demon...

Rin noticed the demon head and screamed shrilly, but with no real fear evident in her voice.

"Rin. Stop that. Stop that now." Sesshoumaru ordered indifferently with no real pressure or feeling to it. Rin immediately stopped screaming.

"Yes, my lord Sesshoumaru!" Rin replied obediently, with a big smile. It was as if she just had screamed for the thrill of it. Jaken rolled his eyes.

Sesshoumaru picked the demon head up by one of it's horns and walked away in the direction where a sword smith dwelled. Jaken and Rin followed on his heels and he didn't seem to mind nor notice this at all. They came upon a small hut shortly. Sesshoumaru pulled the flap aside and walked in, having to stoop somewhat, since he was so tall. Rin bounded in with Jaken. Before them lay someone who seemed to be a man. The man wore a necklace of skeletons and seemed very swarthy in every way. Rin, despite her positive outlook of things, didn't trust this man at all.

"What do you want?" Croaked the swarthy man.

"I want you to make a sword out of the teeth of this demon." Sesshoumaru said calmly and one could tell that this was no suggestion. He dropped the demon head on the ground and the man stared at it.

"I can't make a sword out of a dead thing." The man refused.

Sesshoumaru unsheathed his Tensaiga. The man's eyes widened and he believed this youkai lord was about to kill him. Before anyone could move, Sesshoumaru slashed the sword in the air above the head of the demon. Light flared, the demons of the dead died and thus, brought the demon's head back to life.

"These are the fangs of the demon who shattered Tetseiga." Sesshoumaru informed, knowing that this sword smith had a bad history with the one who crafted Tetseiga.

"I see. This is good. Come back in a few days." The sword smith said excitedly, brushing Sesshoumaru off as if he were a mere human.

Rin watched with wide eyes, staring at the demon's head, which was alive now.

"I believe Inu-yasha may be attempting to fix the Tetseiga." Sesshoumaru added, not missing the look of utter contempt and malice in the sword smith's eyes. The demon lord left before the sword crafter could say another word.


~*~*~*~*~


Elsewhere, inside of Naraku's castle...

"Naraku-sama."

"Yes, Kagura?"

"Toukijin is being forged as we speak."

"Tell me, who gave the order for this sword to be forged from your brother's own teeth?"
Naraku's voice held amusement, although he already knew the answer to his own question.

"Sesshoumaru."

Naraku closed his eyes. A delightful shiver ran down his spine from the sound of that name.

"What do you wish me to do?" Kagura asked, shielding her face, save her eyes, with her fan.

"I want you to watch him." Naraku replied. His slightly curly, but long black hair hid his face like a curtain. He brushed his hair away from his eyes with his fingers.

"Anything else?" Kagura asked.

"If Inu-yasha poses any sort of threat to Sesshoumaru, I want you to dispose of the hanyou."

"Hai, Naraku-sama." Kagura turned away and left to pursue the silver-haired youkai.

An almost pleasant smile formed on Naraku's lips. He closed his red eyes and whispered to himself, although mostly, he spoke these soft-spoken words to the one he longed for, who was not present.

"Soon, my love, soon..."


~*~*~*~*~


Inu-yasha was sitting near the sword Toukijin, which was embedded halfway in the earth. His dog-like ears twitched in annoyance as he heard his own companions plot and scheme on how to tear him away from it. He wasn't about to listen to them or follow through with their desires. Something inside of himself told him to wait. It told him to wait until the true bearer of the sword Toukijin appeared.

Inu-yasha growled and tried to ignore the frantic whispering voices of his companions. Idly, he wondered who had ordered the forging of the sword Toukijin. A part of him vividly hoped that Sesshoumaru had ordered the forging of the hateful sword. The hanyou desperately missed his brother and longed to see him again. His encounters with Sesshoumaru weren’t very frequent and they usually resulted in battle. Despite all the hatred and malice that Sesshoumaru flung at him, Inu-yasha still cherished the moments he had with his older brother.

‘…Sesshoumaru…why do you hate me so much? Is it because of what I am? Was it because I was unable to help you save father? Why Sesshoumaru? Why do you hate me so much? All I want is to love you…’ Inu-yasha thought with misery.

His golden eyes never strayed away from the evil sword that was now the present source of mystery. He blocked out his friends, completely. They didn’t understand. Nor would they ever. Especially if he told them all his deep, dark, and terrible secrets. They wouldn’t understand at all. They especially wouldn’t understand his deepest and darkest secret. That secret he tried to even hide from himself. He hated feeling this way, but he couldn’t help it. This was how he felt. How he felt for his own brother ran deeper then just mere brotherly love, in fact, it was the kind of love that bound two together as soul mates.

He had thought that Kikyo would have been a great distraction, but she was not. He had loved her, but he had not loved her as deeply as he loved his own brother. He would have thought that Kagome would be the right one, also, but it would seem Kagome and Sesshoumaru had switched roles in a way. Kagome, who was supposed to be his soul mate, turned out to be his sister. Sesshoumaru, who was supposed to be his brother, turned out to his soul mate.

An impatient sigh escaped his lips and he could feel his anxiousness mount a hundred fold. He continued to gaze at the sword, which was always covered by an evil red aura. His ears twitched when he heard the angry roar of thunder. He glanced up at the sky and noticed how dark the clouds were. Lightning flashed violently against the swarthy sky, but it did not rain. The wind blew fiercely and violently. Inu-yasha leaped up onto his feet. Something was coming, he could tell.

Something large emerged from the black clouds. It was a two-headed beast called Ah-Un with three riders mounted on its back. A flash of silver hair caught Inu-yasha’s eyes and before he knew it, Sesshoumaru had jumped from the beast and was falling fast to the ground. A few seconds later, the elder brother of the hanyou landed gracefully and cat-like on the lush grass. Cold golden eyes rested on that of the sword Toukijin. As usual, the dog Youkai’s expression was unreadable, but Inu-yasha could tell Sesshoumaru wanted the sword.

Inu-yasha’s breath hitched in his throat as his brother strode over to the sword. He could hear his friends chattering about something, but he couldn’t tell what exactly, nor did he give a damn. He could tell that his brother was ignoring them, too. Sesshoumaru reached over and gingerly grasped the hilt of the sword without any fear. The red aura instantly disappeared, which meant that the sword had chosen him to bear it. He easily pulled the sword forth from the ground and held it to the side in the air. Inu-yasha quivered inwardly as he felt the power of his brother and Toukijin combined. This fight was definitely going to be different today.

Sesshoumaru’s golden eyes met Inu-yasha’s eyes. He could see through the hanyou’s obnoxious and defiant mask. He saw something he had not seen before. He saw both anticipation and zealousness. He saw that his brother was looking much too eager for this upcoming fight, but something disturbed Sesshoumaru even more. When he had descended from the sky and looked at Inu-yasha, his brother had looked very delighted to see the dog youkai. Inu-yasha was happy to see Sesshoumaru, almost as if he had been longing to see him. Sesshoumaru shook his head and denied this. He didn’t believe Inu-yasha would actually want to see him, let alone be near him. Perhaps Inu-yasha’s full demon transformation had rattled both their minds. Hai, that was it. Or, was it?

"So it was you who wanted this damn sword to be made!" Inu-yasha spat.

"Very perceptive of you for once, Inu-yasha." Sesshoumaru said indifferently, but everyone knew that to be an insult. Inu-yasha growled like a primitive beast and unsheathed his Tetseiga, but had a lot of trouble holding it. Sesshoumaru did not fail to notice how heavy it seemed to be for Inu-yasha. He noted this and lunged forward and Inu-yasha lunged forward, both clashing their swords together fiercely.

‘…I must witness Inu-yasha’s transformation with my own eyes…’ Sesshoumaru thought to himself as he fought his brother. He was very determined to see the monster that his hanyou of a brother had been just recently. He wasn’t going to leave until he saw it.

Neither of them drew any blood, but it was hard to tell who would win, especially since they had never seen Sesshoumaru fight with Toukijin and especially since Inu-yasha’s sword was deemed too heavy for him to handle.

Ultimately, with one powerful thrust, Sesshoumaru knocked Tetseiga from Inu-yasha’s hands. The sword was flung into the air and half of the sword was buried in the earth, just like Toukijin was.

"Inu-yasha! Get the sword back, quick!" Inu-yasha heard his friends cry this out to him, but he ignored them and lunged at his brother, bearing his claws. He knew he was going to have to fight his brother with just his claws and strength, since Tetseiga was too heavy to wield in battle.

Sesshoumaru slashed a wide wound across Inu-yasha’s chest, but fortunately, it wasn’t very deep. Inu-yasha hissed in pain, but continued to attack his brother. Something was happening inside the hanyou. Something very wrong. Something he had felt just once before.

The dog youkai sent the hanyou flying into the ground. Inu-yasha sat on his haunches and stared at his brother, whom was standing there, ready to attack once more.

"SESSHOUMARU! GET AWAY!" Inu-yasha shouted, trying to warn his brother. His eyes were flashing red, his irises blue-green. Markings similar to Sesshoumaru’s appeared on Inu-yasha’s cheeks and his fangs grew. Inu-yasha sat on his haunches, growling at Sesshoumaru.

"Die!" Sesshoumaru declared, lunging forth like the wind to kill his brother.

‘…Yes, this is it. This is his demon form…’ Sesshoumaru thought, his excitement and thrill mounting. Strangely, fear and dread was mounting dangerously inside Sesshoumaru. He never feared anything in his life, but at the moment, he feared his brother’s murderous demon transformation. Despite the fear, he kept dashing forward, nearly flying, towards his brother. His observant eyes could see the sick and twisted lust in Inu-yasha’s eyes. Lust?

Sesshoumaru was so close now. The full demon scent of Inu-yasha hung heavily in the air and even worse, so did Inu-yasha lust. Which sort of lust Inu-yasha craved, Sesshoumaru could not fathom, nor did he wish to know, either. Sesshoumaru could tell that Inu-yasha was about to lunge at him, but all of a sudden, fire separated them. Sesshoumaru stopped. He watched the humans drag Inu-yasha away, although Inu-yasha was fighting violently to get back to Sesshoumaru. The dog youkai just stood there and watched. He didn’t move until Jaken started talking.

"Sesshoumaru-sama, why didn’t you go after Inu-yasha?" Jaken asked, looking up at his master.

Sesshoumaru stared after the retreating forms. His voice was very quiet.

"I was afraid. I was terrified at what he had become. I do not understand why…" Sesshoumaru trailed off.

Rin bounced on the balls of her feet, staring at Sesshoumaru. She sighed. She walked over to him and stood as close, but not too close to the youkai. She knew he needed and preferred his space.

"Is my Sesshoumaru-sama all right?" Rin asked, staring up at her protector. Her height came up to his chest, which wasn’t too bad. She liked him being taller.

"I am fine, Rin." He answered reluctantly, glancing down at her. Rin blushed when he looked at her. He did not appear fazed by her reaction, but inside he pondered this. "You are a woman now, Rin." He added, his eyes holding hers.

Her body felt strange sensations that she could not even begin to describe in mere words. She had never once been nervous around Sesshoumaru, but all of a sudden, she was anxious and nervous whenever he looked at her.

"Sesshoumaru-sama?" Jaken croaked, not liking the way the human and dog youkai were interacting. He was ignored by them both. All he could do was watch his master and the child he usually baby-sat stare at each other.

Sesshoumaru had never noticed Rin as a woman until now. She was a beautiful woman with long black hair (although she still had some hair sticking up as usual), a perfect pale face, and big brown eyes. She now had perfect curves, ample thighs and bosom. It seemed to him just yesterday that she was a happy, cute, and rambunctious young child. A child who picked flowers and braided them into her own hair. A child that always made him feel better when he had had a particularly bad day. But now, she was different, although she was still innocent in every way. It seemed that only her body had changed, but she was still the very same Rin.

The human girl tried to hold his gaze as best as she could, but every part of her wanted to look away. His eyes were always so intimidating, so lovely, and so cold. But now that he looked at her, his eyes did not seem so cold at all. Nervously, she twisted her freshly picked flowers. She remembered that whenever they had come to human villages, she and Jaken would go to get supplies and etc. She had remembered the way human boys and men had leered and jeered at her and that had made her feel downright uncomfortable. She had been outside the human society for so long, that she was very uncomfortable around her own race. There was a small part of her that itched to live amongst humans, naturally, but she never wanted to leave her Sesshoumaru-sama. She remembered when he had always told her not to trust human males. She was not sure why he had told her that, but she trusted him with every fiber of her being and would never disobey him. He had always been there for her since he had revived her. He had always protected her. He had always punished Jaken whenever the toad had insulted or abused her. He had never once hit her or harmed her in any way. Despite his aloofness, his unemotional visage and gestures, she knew he really cared. That was all she needed to know.

"Sesshoumaru-sama." Rin said quietly, for the first time in her life.

"Yes, Rin."

"Can I…may I touch you?" Rin asked, blushing a deep crimson.

"Hn." He didn’t deny nor did he confirm her question. His visage did not betray him, either.

Taking that as a yes, she stepped forward and touched his face. He watched her as her fingers caressed his cheekbones, his forehead, his nose, his chin, and his lips. Her fingers traced his satin lips while her other hand brushed through the silver silk of his lovely hair. He allowed this for a few minutes until he grasped both her hands into his one hand, pulling her closer to his body. Overwhelmed and confused, she stared at him as his arm wrapped around her gently. This embrace felt very strange to her, but she liked it. She encircled both her arms around his waist almost hesitantly, but she decided she felt more complete in his embrace.

Sesshoumaru leaned forward slowly, his face merely inches away from her own, but he stopped, as if uncertain of something. To encourage him, she nodded and smiled. This seemed to satisfy him for the moment, for he closed in the distance and brushed his lips against her own. The kiss was light and chaste, but it felt nice. She felt as if an angel was embracing and kissing her. To everyone else, he was a youkai, but to her, he was an angel. Her angel.

Jaken shrieked and ran into the bushes and shielded his eyes from this scene. Sesshoumaru broke away and glanced around.

"My Rin, it appears we have someplace to go."

"Where, Sesshoumaru-sama?" Rin asked, her face flushed.

"To visit an old friend of my father’s." Sesshoumaru replied. "Jaken. It’s time we paid a visit to the tree demon…"

"Yes, Lord Sesshoumaru!" Jaken answered, scrambling from the bushes.

Sesshoumaru started to walk away, back into the forest. Rin and Jaken followed on his heels. He two-headed beast Ah-Un followed as well. The dog youkai intended to find out more about Inu-yasha’s sudden, demonic transformation. He wasn’t about to go fight Inu-yasha unprepared again. This time he would be prepared and this time he would win. Or else.


~*~*~*~*~


Sesshoumaru sniffed the air and halted all movement. He looked at Rin.

"Rin. Freeze. Don’t move." He ordered blandly.

Obediently, Rin stopped walking and stood frozen on one foot like a statue. Jaken watched alertly, but curiously at the same time as the regal dog youkai glided past them both. He stopped near some trees.

"Reveal yourself." That was not a suggestion to the impostor. He also noted that the scent was similar to Naraku’s, but he knew it was not Naraku at all. He just knew.

"I was wondering when you would notice me, Sesshoumaru." A female voice purred. A female youkai emerged from the shelter of the trees. She was shielding her face with her fan, except for her ruby, pupil-less eyes. Sesshoumaru regarded her with a cold gaze. He idly wondered what Naraku looked like for a split second. He had never had the ‘pleasure’ of seeing what lay beneath the mask of the baboon. He didn’t really care to, either. He assumed that this woman was Naraku’s reincarnation, since she smelled just like him. He could be wrong, though.
Jaken gasped and gawked at the female youkai as he gripped his own staff. Rin still did not move or make a single sound at all.

"The sword called Toukijin that you now possess was made from my brother’s own teeth, as you know. My Master Naraku meant for you to carry that sword. You and no other can even wield such a powerful blade. No doubt about that…" The female youkai known as Kagura informed.
Sesshoumaru faintly heard Jaken blabbering something about Naraku, but the dog youkai ignored him completely. His gaze was stayed locked on the demon woman.

"You came here for something. What is it?" Sesshoumaru asked, lost of any emotion.

"I acquired what I needed. But if you must know, I came to see how well you would wield Toukijin. I am satisfied…" Kagura replied and before they all knew it, she was flying away on a giant feather.

‘…He’s strong, very strong. He may be too strong. I have to be very careful or else Sesshoumaru might kill Naraku. I can’t live if he dies, unfortunately. I plan to get away from him soon…’ Kagura thought to herself as she flew away.

The impassive dog demon glanced at Rin and a flicker of amusement crossed his amber eyes. His Rin was still standing there ‘frozen’.

"You may move now, Rin." He spoke softly, passing her. Rin smiled and trod after him. She was still a child at heart and the youkai hoped she would always remain one. Of course, he knew someday she would die of old age, but he would not try to bring her back to life. It would be senseless to bring her back to life because she would most likely die right after he revived her. Humans were such fragile beings and lived such short life spans.


~*~*~*~*~


A rather demonic, murderous Inu-yasha sniffed the air suddenly and stopped advancing on his friends, whom he did not recognize in his current state. He turned towards the tall, regal figure that stood twenty yards away, a sword grasped in the one arm of the figure. The figure stood stock-still, nonchalant, as if waiting for Inu-yasha to attack first.

Inu-yasha narrowed his demonic eyes, which were red with blue-green irises.

"Oh great, as if we didn’t have enough problems already…" Miroku grumbled, but watched eagerly as did everyone else.

"I smell your lust and I can clearly see that you are nothing more but a murderous demon. A demon half-breed that does not even recognize itself at all…" Sesshoumaru said.

It was doubtful that Inu-yasha had understood what Sesshoumaru had said, since he was apparently mindless right now. The demented hanyou lunged forth and attacked the older youkai, but to no avail. Wild lunges and slashes were made, but missed Sesshoumaru each time while Inu-yasha was sporting many wounds made by his brother.

"You are nothing but a murderous demon. You will kill and kill until you end your own life…" Sesshoumaru said while he fought his younger brother. It was plain that Sesshoumaru would win this fight. No doubt about that.

What disturbed Sesshoumaru, though, was the fact that his own brother kept leering at him as if he were a piece of meat. He quickly dismissed it, since he knew his brother was not in his right mind. He had had enough of this. This fight was pointless.

"If you are a hanyou, then act like a hanyou!" Sesshoumaru shouted, sending Inu-yasha crashing into the ground. Inu-yasha groaned, but did not move from the ground. Sesshoumaru landed on the ground and walked over to Inu-yasha, but stopped when Kagome threw herself over the hanyou. Sesshoumaru wrinkled his nose in disgust. Humans were truly revolting to him, well, except for his Rin, though. Rin was of course, a diamond in the rough.

"You stay away! Get away from Inu-yasha! I won’t let you kill him!" Kagome wailed.
Sesshoumaru wrinkled his noise again. ‘…Stupid ningen girl…’

"Tetseiga is the key to keeping him as his hanyou self. He must never be separated from his sword or else he will turn into this even worse disgrace of a demon." Sesshoumaru replied, although he didn’t seem so cold now, somehow.

They all stared at him as if he had just declared his own unbridled, passionate love for Inu-yasha.

"Wha?" Kagome stared up at Sesshoumaru.

"Why didn’t you kill him? You had the chance…" Miroku asked.

Sesshoumaru turned away and started to depart. He had left Rin in Jaken’s care without informing any of them where he was going before he had left them. He didn’t feel the need to answer their questions. It wasn’t his style to leave things unresolved, but he just didn’t feel like himself when he fought Inu-yasha’s mindless demonic form. Perhaps that is why he didn’t kill him or maybe he didn’t kill Inu-yasha because deep down inside his grinch heart of his, he cares.
Inu-yasha groaned. "N-naraku…I smell…his scent…he’s here…"

Kagome stood up and armed herself with her bow and an arrow. Miroku looked grim as he fingered his rosary, expecting an attack. Sango had her hand on her boomerang as she, too, anticipated an attack. Shippou was near Inu-yasha, glancing around warily.

Sesshoumaru was still visible walking through the grassland of the dead bandits that Inu-yasha had slain earlier when something slammed into him, forcing him against a tree. The attack was unexpected, which caused him to drop Toukijin. A rich, thick scent of another hanyou filled his nostrils and he tried to move, but something was pining him to the tree. He growled in frustration and struggled to get free, but to no avail. He was aggravated that he found the scent to be strangely familiar and intoxicating.

"Sesshoumaru…" A rich voice murmured loud enough to capture his attention. He jerked his head to get his golden orbs ensnared by crimson orbs.

"Naraku." Sesshoumaru muttered calmly, still with his grace.

"I came for you, Sesshoumaru…" Naraku whispered huskily into Sesshoumaru’s sensitive, left elven ear. The demon could feel hot breath roll against his neck, sending shivers down his spine. The dog youkai closed his eyes and tried to think his way out of this. He felt a hand slip under the waistband of his pants and travel under. A surprisingly warm and cool hand caressed up and down his thigh. A hot mouth erotically kissed and licked at his neck while the hand in his pants caressed his inner thighs. The said hand decided to move to it’s final destination by traveling right between his legs and stroking him in one of his most private areas.

Sesshoumaru’s head lolled back as he bit down on his bottom lip to keep from emitting any sorts of noises. He knew that if he moaned or made any sort of sound, it would make him seem even weaker. He tried to push the hanyou away, but Naraku’s body was pressed against the youkai’s body. Naraku’s idle arm had pinned Sesshoumaru’s one arm to the tree. Naraku seemed so much stronger now than he had seemed back then. He couldn’t believe that a hanyou was stronger than a youkai, but then again, he did sense that Naraku has nearly all of the Shikon No Tama.

He didn’t understand this at all. He did understand what was happening to him, but he didn’t understand why. He didn’t understand why Naraku was doing this to him. He thought that maybe Naraku was trying to humiliate him or even worse. It just seemed so strange since this dark- haired hanyou had never really shown the slightest interest in him until now. Once or twice they had met on business, but that was about it.

Around 50 feet away, Inu-yasha’s comrades stood, watching in awe. They had not expected Naraku to attack Sesshoumaru, for they had expected him to attack them. But then again, Naraku was very unpredictable, most of the time.

Inu-yasha used his sword to help him stand and he glared in the direction of Naraku and Sesshoumaru.

"What is Naraku doing to Inu-yasha’s brother?" Shippou asked innocently.

"I don’t know. From here, it looks like he is torturing him." Miroku replied, leaning on his monk staff.

"Why would he attack Sesshoumaru? Those two always seemed pretty neutral with each other." Sango asked, her eyes narrowed.

"Who knows? Maybe Naraku is angry at him for not finishing off Inu-yasha or something?" Miroku suggested.

Sango didn’t believe that. Something seemed very wrong here.

"Sesshoumaru isn’t fighting back." Sango observed.

"I think he’s either paralyzed or pinned by Naraku." Miroku guessed since obviously it seemed so.

"Who cares?" Kagome half shouted. She aimed her arrow in Naraku’s direction.

"Kagome, what are you doing?!" Miroku asked, purposely forcing her to aim her arrow in another direction.

"I’m going to help Sesshoumaru! He helped Inu-yasha! If he had not come and stopped Inu-yasha, who knows what would have happened? And even better…he did not kill Inu-yasha…" Kagome trailed off.

"I know, but your arrows may harm Sesshoumaru in the process." Miroku warned.

Kagome sighed and lowered her bow. "What are we going to do?"

"I don’t know." Miroku replied, looking very grim.

Everyone’s attention, except Naraku and Sesshoumaru’s, turned towards Inu-yasha. He was growling fiercely and he looked like a wrathful demon god. The hanyou was standing there rigid, his teeth and claws bared, his hair and ears bristled, his eyes dangerous enraged slits, and his fists were clenched.

"GET THE HELL AWAY FROM HIM, NARAKU!" Inu-yasha shouted. He seemed to have forgotten his own wounds and pain, as usual. His need to protect others usually blocked out the pain.

Naraku did not seem to notice Inu-yasha at all. Or did he?

"LEAVE MY BROTHER ALONE, BASTARD! YOU ARE DEAD, BAKEMONO!" Inu-yasha threatened and then he lunged forth, his Tetseiga high above his head.

Strong winds blew Inu-yasha back, but they did not manage to make him fall ungracefully this time. Kagura stood, her arm held out, holding her fan. Her crimson, pupil-less eyes gleamed with malice. She laughed. She laughed at Inu-yasha. A shrill, lifeless, mocking laugh.

"Kagura, get out of MY way!" Inu-yasha warned.

"Show me your Wind Scar, Inu-yasha, but I will not move. You will have to kill me first and I doubt you can even manage that!" Kagura replied.

"So be it, wind wench!" Inu-yasha barked as he leaped high in the air to attack Kagura.

"Kagura, retreat. We are to take our leave now. I do not wish to stay out here any longer. Come now." Naraku ordered. The dark-haired hanyou gathered the silver-haired youkai into his arms. Kagura, Naraku, and Sesshoumaru were gone in a heartbeat.

Inu-yasha landed without grace. In anger and despair, he flung his sword away. He crumpled to the ground on his hands and knees, the physical pain returning to him. But the physical pain was nothing compared to the pain he felt etched deeply in his scarred heart. The pain he felt in his heart now was worse then the pain of Kikyo’s betrayal and his mother’s death compared.

"NO!" Inu-yasha howled.

"No…" Inu-yasha whimpered, tears streaming wildly, but silently down his face. His friends stood frozen in place as they watched him. They didn’t know what to do. They had done nothing at all.


~*~*~*~*~


Sesshoumaru awoke to the pleasant, sensual caresses of a hand tenderly stroking his face. His eyes still closed; he unconsciously leaned into the soft touch. His eyes bolted open when he heard someone chuckle near him. Immediately, he quickly sat up in the futon and studied the dark hanyou who was sitting on his haunches beside him, much like he does whenever he wears his albino baboon pelt, which he wasn’t wearing now. Sesshoumaru noticed Naraku only wore pants.

‘…He looks better with his shirt off…’ Sesshoumaru unconsciously observed, not fully aware of even what his own thoughts meant. Even so, many questions buzzed in his brain, but the hanyou seemed to be two or three steps ahead of him.

"You are in my castle, Sesshoumaru. Safe and sound as any youkai could ever be." Naraku murmured quietly. He reached over and stroked the dog youkai’s face again. Sesshoumaru did not deny nor did he confirm the permission to touch him. He did nothing but stare impassively at the hanyou, expecting more answers to his numerous questions.

Another chuckle. "No, I have done nothing to you…yet." Naraku paused and then continued, "Be rest-assured that before the bitter cold morning, tonight we will accomplish something."

Sesshoumaru looked away. He was not as naïve as the hanyou Inu-yasha obviously was. He knew Naraku lusted for him, but he still wondered why. It was true that Onigumo lusted for Kikyo, but Naraku’s lust for Sesshoumaru was a hundred-fold stronger than Onigumo’s own lust.

"Leave all doubt behind, Sesshoumaru. You worry about the human girl and of the girl’s youkai caretaker…hmmm…what were their names? Oh hai, I remember now. Jaken and Rin."

Sesshoumaru looked back at Naraku hastily. He hid the surprise well in his moonlit visage, but he did so in vain. Naraku could see right though him, unlike most others. It was as if Naraku could read his mind like a book and breathe his history like air itself. He was afraid now. The dog youkai was rarely scared, but a part of him involuntarily feared Naraku.

"They both are safe and sound, as you are, right here in my palace. You may see them tomorrow, if that’s your whim." Naraku explained, his voice quiet, but the more Sesshoumaru looked and listened to him, the more he saw a brooding lord. An unhappy, brooding lord at that.

Golden eyes continued to watch the dark hanyou, clearly not satisfied.

"From these shadows, I sit and I watch. From these shadows, I listen. That is why I know so much. I know more about you than you believe I do, Sesshoumaru." Naraku whispered into the youkai’s curved ear. A shiver, both of fright and of delight ran down the dog demon’s spine.

"Why?" Sesshoumaru finally asked. Both of them knew exactly what he was asking. Sesshoumaru was asking why do you want me.

"You will find out soon enough…"

"You will not tell me now?" Sesshoumaru questioned, one of his thin, fine eyebrows arched.

"Yessss." Naraku purred, crawling over to Sesshoumaru on all fours like a seductive, predatory cat. Sesshoumaru didn’t move a muscle while the hanyou advanced on him. Before Sesshoumaru knew it, Naraku had straddled his waist and had him lying vulnerably on his back. Already Naraku was busy undoing the ties and other annoying obstacles of Sesshoumaru’s clothes.

"You will be responsive before long, Sesshoumaru."

Sesshoumaru doubted that, but for some reason he couldn’t help but feel nervous and anxious. Inwardly, he cursed himself for falling prey to a mere hanyou. Yet, even worse, he found it thrilling to be the hanyou’s prey. This was what disturbed him the most, aside from Naraku himself.

All of Sesshoumaru’s articles of clothing were hastily removed and discarded. Naraku sat on his haunches between the youkai’s legs, watching Sesshoumaru, his visage clouded, as usual. The hanyou trailed one hand down the youkai’s thigh, once more feeling how unbelievably smooth and silky his skin was.

"You are even more lovelier then I expected, my lord of the western lands…" Naraku murmured as he produced some rope out of no where. Obviously, his intention was bondage, but Sesshoumaru had only seen rope used for restraints, torture, and death. Still, the youkai laid still, not feeling compelled to stop the hanyou whom had caught him.

He watched Naraku anxiously and warily, his amber eyes never straying from the hanyou. Naraku, using the rope, tied Sesshoumaru’s wrist to the futon. He then tied the youkai’s ankles to the futon, but he ingeniously made sure that the youkai’s legs were generously spread wide open. With a wildcat-like growl, the hanyou straddled the dog youkai once more. Sesshoumaru felt lips and teeth lightly graze one of his nipples. The youkai gasped and instinctively arched his lithe back.

‘…Just what I thought. Very good. He is trying his best to remain unresponsive, but I severely doubt he will be able to fight me much longer. Yes, fight me, my bishounen Sesshoumaru, your struggle is in vain, for I will win this, no doubt about that…’ Naraku thought, but his thoughts quickly returned to voluptuous lust in a heartbeat.

Sesshoumaru struggled against his bonds, but found them to be very strong. It looked like mere rope, but knowing Naraku, there was probably a spell on them. Despite the rope’s strength, the bondage excited the dog demon. That also disturbed Sesshoumaru. He was finding out more strange things about himself that he had never known until previously.

His deprived body ached for Naraku’s touch, although he did his best not to show it. No one had ever touched him in any way before now; save his own mother who had only touched him in a motherly way. But that had been a long time ago. Now, despite his own will of much desired solitude, someone had sought him out and touched him in a way a lover would.

Naraku ultimately crushed his mouth to Sesshoumaru’s; forcing his tongue into the youkai’s mouth while his hands explored the body of his lover-to-be. Despite the youkai’s much rendered innocence, he was catching up quite quickly. With a growl, their tongues battled for dominance, but it seemed Naraku was pent up on winning either way. The hanyou rocked their hips together in an effort to arouse them both. The friction Naraku caused between them spurred and drove them both to the brink of madness. The dark-haired half-demon’s hands caressed the full demon’s body roughly in the way only a demon would enjoy. Delighting in the touch, Sesshoumaru tried to press against the hands, but he found it hard to since they always moved away teasingly.

Struggling once more against the bonds, despite his ignorance in sexual activities, he yearned to just throw Naraku to the ground and take him right then and there. Of course, they both knew that Naraku wasn’t having that. These rope bonds both aggravated and aroused Sesshoumaru to an extent that he forgot that he was supposed to be unyielding. Panting slightly, his eyes were mere slits while a hot mouth trailed from the column of his throat to his navel. The tip of the hanyou’s tongue dipped into his navel. Sesshoumaru groaned. Naraku chuckled and with a sly smirk, he licked the head of the dog demon’s painfully aroused member.

Instantly, Sesshoumaru hissed at this unexpected contact and arched his agile back even more.

"Is my lovely Sesshoumaru a virgin?" Naraku purred huskily into Sesshoumaru’s pointy ear.

"Does…it…matter?" Sesshoumaru groaned, finding it hard to even speak. He felt the cloth of Naraku’s pants and growled. The hanyou took the dog youkai’s cock in hand and started to pump him almost gently. Sesshoumaru moaned loudly, glaring daggers at the hanyou.

Naraku chuckled and watched him, his crimson eyes half-lidded.

"Take…off…those…pants! They are…aggravating." Sesshoumaru managed to speak.

Another chuckle. "Don’t worry. I intend to." The hanyou eased him, his voice a husky whisper.

Sesshoumaru laid still, his eyes always watching the dark hanyou. No more words needed to be said for the night, since they both knew what they needed at the moment. Fulfilling Sesshoumaru’s wish, Naraku stood up and rid himself of his pants. The hanyou’s pants were tossed to the side to be reunited with the other articles of clothing recently strewn. The black-haired-hanyou straddled the silver-haired youkai once more. Two mouths clashed together in a frenzy of mad, demonic lust. A pair of hands returned to roughly touching Sesshoumaru’s restrained body. Naraku bit into Sesshoumaru’s bottom lip, drawing blood that he greedily licked and suckled. He kissed Sesshoumaru again; the youkai tasted his own blood and the blood drove them both wilder. While sensual blood, lips, and a hand distracted the painfully aroused youkai, the hanyou prepared himself and Sesshoumaru with some oil that made them both tingle.

Without any warning, Naraku shoved himself into Sesshoumaru’s tight, virgin opening. The dog demon groaned, arching his back and Naraku hissed, allowing them both to adjust for a moment.
Sesshoumaru wriggled and bucked his hips, letting Naraku know he was ready. Without further delay, Naraku began to thrust in and out of him at a steady pace, but within minutes, he started getting faster and rougher with him. Sesshoumaru visibly writhed and violently bucked beneath Naraku, urging his lover to fuck his brains out. Still restrained, Sesshoumaru squirmed and struggled from the restraints. The violent sex was driving him wild and enhancing senses he never knew he had. Only demons were capable of reveling in such rough lovemaking.

"Mine." Naraku growled possessively, sinking his teeth into the junction of Sesshoumaru’s neck. "Yours." Sesshoumaru responded without thinking. Almost immediately, Sesshoumaru returned the gesture, but he did it unconsciously. They both licked and suckled at the neck wounds they had made to each other. Sesshoumaru’s body wanted to be freed, so he struggled violently with the bonds and they finally broke, leaving him to freely thrash under Naraku.

Naraku chuckled. He pulled out almost all the way, but then he slammed back into Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru spasmed with intense pleasure and raked his claws down Naraku’s back as the hanyou continued pulling out and slamming back into him. The room was heavy with the scent of the hanyou’s blood. Naraku took delight in the sounds that his lover emitted and even sadistically relished in the claws that dug jaggedly down his own back.

Naraku reached between them and grasped the youkai’s member, stroking it roughly in time with the hard thrusts. All too soon, they both reached their peaks and the hanyou stood up. Naraku waited a few minutes until his lover recovered and then he held out a hand and helped Sesshoumaru up.

"How does a bath in the hot springs sound?" Naraku asked quietly, absentmindedly examining his new lover to check if the demon had been injured during their rough encounter. He noticed that the dog demon was still experiencing the aftermath, but a nice bath would solve it, he knew.

Sesshoumaru tried his best to walk with dignity, despite his sore hips, but his legs were weak and gave out. He fell against the hanyou’s chest and the said half breed’s arms wrapped around him to support him. Sesshoumaru closed his eyes and allowed himself to be led to the hot springs.


~*~*~*~*~


"I don’t need your help, you useless hanyou!" Jaken said stubbornly, clutching his staff.

"Feh! We’re both looking for the same person, baka! You need my help! Do you honestly think you even have a chance to rescue Sesshoumaru on your own?" Inu-yasha argued.

"That’s Sesshoumaru-sama to you, you insolent hanyou!" Jaken corrected, although he knew Inu-yasha was right. He couldn’t rescue Sesshoumaru on his own, since Naraku was a very dangerous and powerful demon.

"Well, toad? Are you going to join me or not?" Inu-yasha asked, his eyes dangerous slits.

"I will only do this for the sake of Sesshoumaru-sama." Jaken gave in.

"You guys stay here. I’m going to get my brother by myself and Jaken is only coming to show me where Naraku is." Inu-yasha said to his companions, who all protested in return.

"I’m going too, nii-chan. I want to help my papa, too." Rin said, clinging to Inu-yasha. Her eyes were wide and puppy-dog-like. No one could refuse such eyes. Well, maybe Naraku could.

"Fine! Just both of you get on my back and hold on tight!" Inu-yasha instructed. Rin climbed onto his back, wrapping one arm around his neck loosely. The human girl seized reluctant Jaken with her other hand.

Inu-yasha’s companions wanted to help him, although they knew how stubborn he could be. Before they could move, Inu-yasha beat them to it.

"Feh, let’s go!" Inu-yasha said impatiently. He dashed off, half-flying and half-running.
‘…He’s my brother, Naraku! You are not going to have him! If you hurt him in any way, I will make you pay for it. I will make you pay…for everything…’ Inu-yasha vowed silently.

Jaken screamed the whole way, to Inu-yasha’s ultimate displeasure. Rin squealed with delight, like a happy child who was on one of those wild theme park rides. Inu-yasha sighed and proceeded in the direction that Jaken had told him to go. He just hoped he wasn’t too late.


~*~*~*~*~


Sesshoumaru was sitting in the water with his back against Naraku, whose arms were wrapped around the dog demon both protectively and possessively. Earlier, the hanyou had scrubbed himself and his lover squeaky clean, but now they both relaxed in the Hot Springs.

Sesshoumaru’s eyes slowly fluttered open. "My brother approaches."

"He does not like to accept defeat." Naraku observed with amusement, but at the same time, he was annoyed.

"He is a stubborn baka." Sesshoumaru agreed.

"Come, let’s get dressed." Naraku said softly. The dog youkai agreed and then was helped out by his hanyou lover. Naraku dried his lover off and handed him some clean silk clothes. He then proceeded to dry and dress himself in his usual black and purple garb. He was careful not to watch his lover dress. He never liked to fight baka hanyous when he was aroused.

Naraku walked slowly, still supporting his youkai lover. Despite Naraku’s obvious lust for Sesshoumaru, it seemed that he actually did care for his lover. Sesshoumaru did not fail to notice that.

"I will set my brother straight. I don’t want him dead. He still has his uses, I admit."

Naraku regarded him with once more misty crimson eyes. Sesshoumaru met his gaze and shivered. He unconsciously touched the mark on his neck that Naraku had given him. Sesshoumaru knew that he belonged to the hanyou now, but he didn’t care. For the first time in his life, he had a true ally. One he knew he could lean against when it was necessary.

"Inu-yasha is quite lovely, but your beauty obviously surpasses his." Naraku replied and watched Sesshoumaru carefully. It was a test. He smiled cruelly when he saw his lover’s response.

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes and stared at Naraku sternly and dangerously.
"Do not even consider my hanyou brother."

"If I had, he would be in your place right now." Naraku said cleverly.

Sesshoumaru did not reply to that, but Naraku could sense that his lover was satisfied with his reply. They stood in a room of the castle, waiting for Inu-yasha’s arrival. Kagura walked in and stood before Naraku as if she had something to report to him.

"Yes, Kagura?" Naraku asked.

"Inu-yasha is here, Naraku-sama." Kagura said, void of any emotion. Her crimson eyes glanced at Sesshoumaru, but they were unreadable.

"Let him come. You and your sister may retire for the night, Kagura." Naraku dismissed.

"Yes, Naraku-sama." Kagura turned away and left.

It wasn’t long before the wall exploded and in jumped Inu-yasha, his eyes an intense angry yellow. His teeth were bared and his claws extended. Rin hopped off his back and Jaken tumbled off, landing flat on his face.

"Give me back my brother, NOW!" Inu-yasha demanded.

"Sesshoumaru-sama!" Jaken and Rin exclaimed at the same time, but Rin beat him to Sesshoumaru. She clung to the dog demon and smiled up at him. Sesshoumaru smiled softly down at her.

"Hello Rin." Sesshoumaru replied. Jaken stood near his lord. He glanced at everyone in the room, puzzled. He shook his head and gripped his two-headed staff.

Naraku snickered. "I don’t think he wants to leave…"

"You probably brainwashed my brother, you sadistic pig!" Inu-yasha accused.

The dark-haired hanyou merely stared at him with a knowing look. Inu-yasha shuddered. He really hated this half-demon Naraku person. Most did, actually. Except for Sesshoumaru.

"Why did you come, Inu-yasha?" Sesshoumaru asked quietly.

"That bakemono kidnapped you! He even has Kohaku, an innocent boy!" Inu-yasha replied, gripping the hilt of his Tetseiga, his knuckles white.

"That is not what I asked. I asked why. Why did you come?" Sesshoumaru asked again. For the first time in his life, he felt tipsy and tired. His eyes were half-lidded and almost drooped.

Inu-yasha looked away and grumbled. "For you. I came for you."

There was an eerie silence. No one spoke and no one blinked. Inu-yasha closed his eyes.

"Why did you come for me?" Sesshoumaru asked finally, breaking the uncanny silence.

Inu-yasha grew angry. He glared at Sesshoumaru. "I don’t have to tell you that!"

"I think you should leave and that is not a suggestion, either." Sesshoumaru said.

"If that is what you really want." Inu-yasha worded lowly, his eyes narrowed.

"That is what I want." Sesshoumaru confirmed.

"For the first and last time, I will honor your wish, brother, but do not expect any more favors from here." Inu-yasha glowered, keeping in all his pent up feelings and emotions. He itched to kill Naraku, but he would not risk his brother’s life. He turned his angry eyes towards Naraku.

"The next time we meet, your head will be impaled on my sword for all to see," Inu-yasha warned, hatred sizzling in his voice, "You have my sworn word on that, Naraku…"

Without another word, Inu-yasha deliberately made another crater in Naraku’s castle as he left. He was fuming with anger and resentment, but it was mostly aimed at Naraku. Inu-yasha was hurting deeply on the inside, but he did not give up. He would never give up. He loved his brother too much to give up on him. If it had been anyone else but Naraku (or Kouga), Inu-yasha would leave his brother be with his ‘lover’. Unfortunately, Sesshoumaru’s lover was Naraku. Inu-yasha’s enemy. The demon who has terrorized, killed, tortured, and cursed many a human, hanyou, and youkai. Inu-yasha would never let Naraku get away with everything that he had done and he especially would not let the evil hanyou get away with Sesshoumaru.

Inu-yasha growled possessively as he dashed through the forest, in search of the village where his comrades took hospitality in. They had been fighting Naraku for as long as he could remember. He would not back down now. He could not back down now.

He darted through the trees briskly, ignoring everything around him, save his own thoughts. He loved his brother, he knew. He loved Sesshoumaru more then just a mere brother. It was maddening and even incestuous, but he didn’t care anymore. What made it a little better was that they were half-brothers and when he changed fully human, they weren’t related at all. That probably wasn’t the best excuse, but Inu-yasha simply did not care any longer. He had tried to place his blasphemous love for Sesshoumaru in Kikyo and Kagome, but it had always felt wrong with either of them. The two women he had loved once had not filled his emptiness. When he was with or near his brother, he felt whole or complete.

Inu-yasha vowed that he would have Sesshoumaru as his, willingly or not. He craved for love from his brother, or at least his presence. He wanted to have a family; he wanted Sesshoumaru to be part of his family. In the past, they had been nothing but rivals. The only one Inu-yasha had felt close and related to had been his own mother. His mother was dead now and all he had left was Sesshoumaru. He would never let Sesshoumaru go now. This would be a fight to the very death. Inu-yasha only hoped that they would all come out of this alive and victorious (except for Naraku, of course) and he hoped that the family he always dreamt of would come true.


~*~*~*~*~


Sesshoumaru lay on the futon, the moonlight illuminating his celestial features. Naraku held Sesshoumaru once more in his arms possessively and comfortingly. The dog demon did not mind at all and even had Rin snuggled up behind him, her arms wrapped around him. The human girl was fast asleep, her breaths small and barely audible. Naraku had allowed him to keep Rin and Jaken in the castle.

The youkai knew that Naraku was awake. He knew Naraku was always awake. He nuzzled the hanyou’s neck to stir Naraku from his brooding thoughts.

"You said you would tell me later why. This is later." Sesshoumaru murmured, his golden orbs gazing into crimson ones.

"You want to know why I chose you." Naraku stated, his hand stroking Sesshoumaru’s cheek tenderly.

"Yes."

"My lovely demon, before I tell you, you must swear yourself to me. You are mine. You will always be mine. You will belong to no other. Mine. You are forever mine. Promise me that." Naraku murmured, his brooding face studying Sesshoumaru.

Sesshoumaru watched him for a few minutes before he promised. "I am yours."

"Do you wish to know now why I chose you to be my mate?"

"Yes."

"You are a very powerful demon. One that even rivals me. You are a threat."

"And?"

"And, it was either kill you…or claim you."


~Owari

End Notes: Heh, I don’t really know about this story. It sort of came out how I wanted it to, but then it went into another direction, lol. What do you think? Any thoughts, comments, criticism, ideas, anything at all? Unfortunately, this fic leaves an open door to a sequel, which I did not intend at all…