InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ By the Light of Mars ❯ Chapter three ( Chapter 3 )

Title: By the Light of Mars

Parings: Inuyasha/Sesshomaru and Sango/Miroku

Chapter 3 of ?

Summary: After Naraku is killed Inuyasha's world is settling in to normality he hadn't expected but when his brother appears bringing with him Rin and royal intrigues can Inuyasha prevail over the new obstacles in his life, including this strange affinity his brother seems to have for him?

Disclaimer: I do not own the Inuyasha franchise, anime, manga or characters. I play with them for fun not for profit.

The familial dining room was cavernous, easily holding the ornately carved expansive table which displayed scenes of the royal family from eons past. The table sat low to the ground as tradition demanded and was lined on all sides by intricately embroidered red cushioned seats.

Sesshomaru was the first person Inuyasha noticed as he stepped in to the room it's décor unchanged since he had last eaten there. His brother sat stoically at the far end of the room presiding over the table as their father once had. To his left Rin kneeled dressed in a formal kimono its flowing layers pillowed about her delicately. To her left sat Sango dressed in the same style of finery looking uncomfortable in the constricting silks. Finally his eyes landed on Miroku and Shippo, they sat to the right of Sesshomaru leaving the right most place empty for Inuyasha.

The hanyou glared mulling over the implications of this seating arrangement. That seat was traditionally where the mate of the western lord supped or in her absence the most trusted advisor. As far as the silver haired man knew he was neither to his brother.

“Are you to grace us with your presence brother? Our lesser cousins will arrive shortly with their own families and it is traditional for the imperial house to be seated before the lesser lords.” Sesshomaru's voice startled Inuyasha and caused his ears to twitch in discomfort but none the less he moved to take the empty seat beside his brother.

“I feel ridiculous next to the rest of you.” He muttered glancing at the finery his friends all wore and then down at his own fire rat garb.

“This Sesshomaru felt our great fathers' garb signified the unity of our family once more, This Sesshomaru has also donned our lord fathers' clothes for this one night.”

Inuyasha raised an eyebrow and then truly took in what his brother was wearing, the fine silks he so favored had been replaced by an outfit of fire rat cloth in imperial red, although his was ornately embroidered and boasted a formal obi it was in essence a match to Inuyasha's own.

“Well yeah okay. So how many `family' members are we expecting to show?” He asked leaning his elbow on the table.

Sesshomaru stared at him strangely, then sighed and pushed at his shoulders forcing the younger man to straighten. “Quite a few, This Sesshomaru hopes we can empress upon them your oneness with this family. To further that end member the manners Lady Izayoi attempted to ingrain in to your brash self.” His brother glared as Rin giggled at the reproach and turned to stair once more at the door.

Inuyasha thought to argue but it was at that moment his nose picked up the scent of approaching demons. There had to be at least fifty of them, he glanced to Sesshomaru but his brother looked unworried at the approaching hoard leaving Inuyasha to surmise that this was the family Sesshomaru had spoken of.

Can there really be this many of us? He wondered astounded. He had never come across another dog demon in all of his travels leading him to believe he and Sesshomaru were the last. That was obviously a false assumption and he made a mental note to ask Sesshomaru just how many of their kind were out there.

The great double doors were opened by sentries and in stepped a lavishly appointed woman at the head of a line of nobles. Her hair was white, pulled back in to a formal headdress, her skin shone alabaster in the light of the many candles scattered on the table. She is astoundingly beautiful. Inuyasha noted watching as she strode to the end of the table and bowed to his brother.

“My Lord.” Her voice was melodious as it rang through the cavernous room. “I was unaware we had guests, you should have informed me.” She looked sharply at Sango her venom evident. Inuyasha felt his hackles rise in fury wishing he could jump from his seat and protect his pack. Sesshomaru will take care of this. He reminded his demon as it slipped closer to their surface of his consciousness. And if he does not, we will be here to protect the pack. The demon whispered to him assenting to his wishes and drifting back in to his subconscious.

“This Sesshomaru does not see why this is of your concern.” The great demon spoke face unchanging. “You are not the Lady of this realm Obaasan.”

Inuyasha glanced at his brother in shock. This is Sesshomaru's Obaasan? She looks so young. His ears flattened in discomfort as the gleaming purple eyes turned to him.

“Welcoming this cur in to the palace again is an affront to my son's memory.” She spat, the courtiers behind her stood in shocked silence waiting for the outcome of this verbal sparring match.

“That is, as This Sesshomaru has already stated none of your concern. You are dismissed from dinner, retire to your rooms until you can keep a civil tong in the imperial presence.” Sesshomaru snarled at her power flushing the room in a wave of anger.

She stood then unmoving as Inuyasha watched this brother snarl fiercely. “Do you disobey your Lord and Alpha?” his brother asked his voice filled with a deadly calm.

There was another short pause in which Inuyasha lost the ability to breath. Is this woman going to contest Sesshomaru's rule because of …me? His eyes darted to his pack the elder two looked wary and ready for a fight; Shippo on the other hand looked terrified Inuyasha yearned to scoop the cub in to his grasp so as to protect it from the wrath of the elder demons.

Then she turned and strode from the room without another word.

The lords and ladies that were Inuyasha's relatives allowed the fuming royal past and then with a wave from Sesshomaru sat themselves at the table. Inuyasha looked around that the silent faces, the room was now awash in a litany of colors from the finery adorning the nobles. Gems sparkled at neck lines and dangled from the ears of the ladies glimmering in the candle light. Sesshomaru stood, his body close at Inuyasha's side gave off a radiating heat. He is magnificent. The hanyous' demon half hissed in delight. Inuyasha growled internally and again hushed his instincts. His brothers voice bright him from the internal struggle.

“Welcome my lords and ladies to the opening of season here at the palace of Kirei Teien. This season brings to us Lord Inuyasha's presence at court. As well as the betrothal of our daughter the Lady Rin to Lord Kikatsu of the North. As such we will be hosting nobility of rank from the northern lands until the winter season. Lord Kikatsu is a second son as you all well know, as such he will be with us until Rin is fit to marry him in four years. The kingdom will need your support in this time of great change and upheaval This Sesshomaru sincerely hopes we can come together to work towards a common goal.” The Lords and Ladies nodded their assent and many lords took to their feet so they could prostrate themselves in adoration of their Monarch.

“Now with your assent let us not speak of politics tonight but instead celebrate our gathering together in this familial room with gaiety and feasting.” Sesshomaru sat then and clapped his hands twice.

This was obviously a signal as the panels of the walls opened allowing servant over laden with patters to enter and begin to fill the table with the feast. Inuyasha watched in astounded silence as the room filled with talk and laughter. Goblets were filled buy silent serving girls the wine rich and sweet. Inuyasha took his own glass, sipping thoughtfully as his first course was placed before him.

Next to him his brother did something incredible, he laughed out loud. Inuyasha's head whipped towards the sound unbelieving. Yet there was his usually stoic brother head thrown back and peals of laughter reverberating from him. A beautiful demoness kneeled slightly behind him leaning on his remaining arm. Her bright eyes shown with mirth and she pushed her bosom in to the sinew of his brothers form. Her long blond hair hung in curls around her face and tumbled from an intricate headdress to brush her décolletage.

For the first time in his life Inuyasha was not hungry.

The Hanyou excused himself from the gathering as soon as the table was cleared away for dancing. Stalking for the room he hurried through the inner corridors of the main palace coming to the doors to the outer gardens he burst through them and started running towards his own pavilion palace. He burst through the solid wooden doors and clambered up the grand staircase to the second floor where his personal chambers were.

Once firmly ensconced in his rooms Inuyasha fell to the ground in distress. What is wrong with me he thought pulling at the tendrils of hair falling in to his face. I feel like I'm dying.

He curled in to himself whining in distress. I've not felt like this since mother died. His mind worked over time trying to make sense of the over bearing sadness that permeated him. In the back of his mind a slow guttural growl started to make its way in to his conscious. That harlot wants what is not hers. His demon growled closer to the surface now than it had ever been. Why do I care? He asked it feeling stupid for not knowing his own mind, Sesshomaru is ours. His instincts hissed at him, stunned Inuyasha stopped struggling to keep the demon from the surface.

He stood and walked to his window confused and despairing. No Sesshomaru is my brother he argued with himself looking up at the slowly waning moon. He could never accept all of me. He must he is mate! His inner demon roared and suddenly Inuyasha realized the sound was no longer just in his mind. He stood on his balcony staring at the low hanging moon roaring his hurt for all the palace to hear.

Clamping his mouth closed the disgruntled Hanyou attempted to calm the chaotic tides of his mind. I hate him!

We do not, we love him. His demon stated for the first time in Inuyasha's memory not roaring information at him.

The hanyou closed his eyes and collapsed on his bed wondering what kind of sick joke the fates were playing on him. Sesshomaru can't be my mate, he just can't. Inuyasha thought staring at the ornately painted ceiling above him. I always wanted to have what mother had. Father loved her more than his own life… how can I ever be happy with a mate that hates me? The hanyou felt tears leak from his eyes leaving wet tracks in their wake, his body shook in controlled sobs and he bit his lip to keep is agony from ripping from him in a wail.

Mating season starts on the new moon. I am going to lose him to some insipid female, maybe the insipid female that was thrusting herself upon him tonight.

A knock upon his door ended his internal lament.

“Go away!” he yelled chucking one of the decorative pillows from his bed at his chamber door.

The large door opened, heedless of his ire and Sango stepped through arching her eye brow at his bad behavior.

“You left the feast before we could dance.” She said lightly standing before him in her volumus kimono.

“Yeah…so?” he replied awkwardly looking out the still open window.

“What troubles you so Inuyasha? I have never thought you to be flighty or overtly emotional and yet here we are.” She motioned to his prone form. “What has brought this great warrior to his knees?” Her voice was soft as she knelt next to his bed hands clasped before her..

“My own instincts.” Inuyasha told her sitting up and sighing. “I'll be fine after seasons over.” He explained giving her a sharp look.

“Mating season then?” her dark eyes were knowing.

“Yeah something like that.” He sighed. Fuck my demon Sesshomaru can fuck whoever he wants to I just don't care.

Sango stayed with Inuyasha for another hour speaking in length about what kind of regiment she should use to best tutor Rin. She was worried were she too tuff on the girl she would find herself on the wrong end of Sesshomaru's wrath.

They decided to go to Sesshomaru the next morning and get his input on the training thus limiting the potential for blood shed.

After Sango left the hanyou laid on his bed drifting in and out of consciousness, caught somewhere between dreams and reality he let go of his bodies over bearing urges as the sun started to light the sky and slept.

End chapter three

A/N thank you all for the amazing response once again the reviews are just amazing and I have to say I was astounded with how much positivity this story has garnered! I am a sporadic writer and it is for this reason I must warn you not to expect updates on any sort of schedule although no matter what I do try and update once a month or so.

Once again thank you to everyone who is reviewing I hope you know you are my loveliest of muses. To my AFF readers: I will be responding to reviews at my live journal which you can access through my profile page. They will always be in the same journal entry I will edit it every time I update. Thank you for your time.

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