Affliction

***Disclaimer*** I do not own Inuyasha or Sesshomaru, or anything/anyone else in conjunction with that series. All lyrics are property of the electro-goth band, The Cruxshadows. Nor do I stake any claim on Sears, Heidi Fleiss, or Larry Flint. O.o -- There's a reference to Iron Maiden somewhere too; nope don't own them either.


Billboards lined the edges of the highway, giving a comedical accompaniment to the fields of corn surrounding the country scenery. Most depicted some sex stores claiming to "having that little extra something to make Heidi Fleiss and Larry Flynt blush", one for Sears wanting people to come see their softer side, some diner advertisings, and then one among the mix that caught Sesshomaru's eye. Those honey eyes, that porcelain skin and fluff of white hair...attributes he could never forget in this lifetime or the next. The figure was graced by some other male members, all clad in punkish garb - including Inuyasha. Scoffing at such a ridiculous scene, the youkai always mocked his brother for wanting to pursue his fanatical dream of becoming a rock star. Golden orbs focused harder upon the image, Sesshomaru losing his concentration and almost side swiping a car coming from the opposing direction.

Years ago, too many for the daiyoukai to recall or even care, there had been a weighing point which defined the relationship the brothers would have. Sesshomaru, though viewed as a heartless bastard, wanted a more in-depth relationship with the hanyou...wanted him for his domestic partner. Inuyasha was ever reluctant and brash, wanting to pursue his childhood dream and not risk throwing what may be away for a relationship with someone who had abused him on every level, including having attempted to murder him. Not like he was one to talk having tried the same feat. Not wanting to be bothered with such childish dreams which rarely materialized into some form of reality, Sesshomaru had discarded his brother just as his sibling had given into to his affection. For the youkai, love was a double-edge sword and either way, he'd end up slitting his own wrists. It was the simple scenario of you're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't.

Sucking the corner of his lower lip into his mouth, Sesshomaru clicked the radio on to focus on something other than the downward spiral he had been sent on. Hope shattered, flaking into nothing, as a familiar voice cracked through the noises of the great outdoors. He was convinced that the powers-that-be were working against him and he must have done something to piss them off. What else would be new. There hadn't been anyone that Sesshomaru wasn't responsible for rubbing the wrong way.

"You said that we could last forever. Forever and a day. You said that we could last forever. If only I would stay."


An acrid taste welled at the back of the youkai's throat as those words struck him like the dull blade of a knife. Nails burrowed within the leather binds of the steering wheel as memories of that last encounter came washing back to him in blurred waves. The screams, the tears, the broken glass. The mess left behind that could never be cleansed. He didn't understand why love had to be so difficult, let alone why he had to ever care for someone that unconditional.

"But now a promise of forever won't take away the pain."

A growl forged from the back of Sesshomaru's throat as the last lyric swirled around in his ears. He took it personally. He took as mocking. It wouldn't come to surprise him if Inuyasha had purposely written it as an attack. Flicking the radio off, his exit came sooner than expected. Now, it was only a matter of time until he saw his adored after so long.