InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Dear brother ❯ Shopping? ( Chapter 4 )

Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha.

A/N: I don't think the last chapter got many reviews. Neither did the other fan fiction I had. Oh well. No big deal. Thanks for the reviews anyways.

Dear brother

Chapter 4: Shopping?

InuYasha could feel his brother's large hand at his lower back. They were heading down the hall to where the bathing house was. There they would find the springs so they could soak their cramped bodies.

Maybe since they were together the painful cramps would recede. It wasn't likely though. As InuYasha had discovered, the closer they were, the more painful the cramps got. It wasn't likely they'd stop anytime soon.

“When are these going to stop?” InuYasha asked his older brother, who looked down at him as he continued at a steady pace. The hanyou wondered if he even knew as he watched him in silence as he turned his gaze away from his older brother.

Sesshomaru gave an elegant shrug. “Perhaps after mating?” he suggested.

“I've had these before in previous heats. They were not as bad. Nor were they constant. They were rather off and on. Not to mention that I became hungrier. I was also sicker with need.”

Sesshomaru nodded thoughtfully but said nothing until they reached the springs. There they undressed. Sesshomaru couldn't help but glance at InuYasha's luscious body which was well toned. InuYasha's muscles were well defined and sculpted. He had muscles that the full youkai wished to trace with his tongue.

InuYasha looked up at his brother's wandering eyes. They were wandering all over him. It made him uncomfortable and caused him to blush. Even as he tried to look away, his eyes couldn't help but to fall on his own brother's elegant body. It was decorated with full demon's markings. Twin maroon lavender stripes were on his hips, thighs, ankles, cheeks and wrists; followed by a cobalt crescent moon on his forehead. Sesshomaru's body was lean and well toned as well as his own. But his was long. Slender. Regal. Well endowed like his own body.

Blushing, he watched his brother dive shallowly into the spring and pop up to the surface. His powerful kicks kept him afloat. “Come in, InuYasha. Do not be shy,” he called silkily as he made his way over to the shallow area where he could touch bottom.

InuYasha climbed into the spring. It was nice and hot, just the way he liked it. InuYasha took a quick dunk under the water before coming to sit on the sandy shallow bottom. There Sesshomaru met him.

“I am glad you came.”

InuYasha looked over at him. “Yeah?”

Sesshomaru nodded.

“I am too, in an odd way.” InuYasha paused, thinking. “Why were you leaving? Better yet where were you going to go if I had said I was not going to forgive you and could care less?”

Sesshomaru shrugged. “To the mountains I suppose. I have a small place there in the northern parts of my lands. I planned on waiting out this heat. I had figured you were out of my reach for being a mate; especially after what I had done to you.”

There was an awkward silence where they didn't say anything. Sesshomaru's youkai urged him to wrap his arm around his mate's shoulder. Listening to it, Sesshomaru did as he was urged.

InuYasha stiffened as he felt his brother's one arm wrap around him. He was feeling extremely vulnerable to an attack should his brother turn on him right there and then. InuYasha relaxed after a moment. Sesshomaru wouldn't attack him -- would he?

“What is on your mind little brother?”

InuYasha really wasn't thinking much. The past week had gone by in a blur, from the letter, to the sits, Kagome's lectures, the cramps and then to meeting his brother. It was an insane week. “Nothing really, just thinking about all that has happened so far in my worthless life of living,” was his short mumbled reply.

Sesshomaru gave an undignified snort. “You're not worthless. You are important; just as I am to this land and the people. You're my mate, InuYasha.”

“Keh. I am not your mate yet. Even if I was, Sesshomaru, I couldn't produce a worthy heir. I am not even sure if I can! I'm a male!” InuYasha said, throwing his hands in the air.

The DaiYoukai shrugged. “It does not matter to me. I have the right to choose my mate; I chose you because I could and wanted to. No one told me that it had to be you. My youkai tells me and chooses. My youkai knows best.”

InuYasha laid back in the shallows, allowing his brother's arm to slip away. His head lying in the water, the water just reached past his jaw line. He felt his older brother's gaze on him as he sighed. “I guess so,” InuYasha sighed.

Sesshomaru pursed his lips. “I am ready to eat. What do you wish to have?” Sesshomaru asked as he combed his hand through his wet hair. They were both hungry. Sesshomaru had a meal previously the day before. Demons didn't need to eat all the time. It was more of a luxury to do so. No. It was a burden to.

“Well…” InuYasha trailed off, recalling the vender in the market he had passed earlier on the way to the castle. The food was so delicious looking. “I had seen some really delicious food in the market place on the way up here. Maybe we could go have some of the food there?” he suggested.

Sesshomaru lifted an elegant gray eyebrow. Was his mate ever to be serious? The greasy human food, that shouldn't even be called human food? Disgusting,' he thought. But whatever pleases his mate-to-be, he shall have. “Alright, we shall go to the market to see this food of yours. Though I do not think I approve of such unhealthy food. If it suits you, you will have it.”

InuYasha grinned.

There was another awkward silence where neither of them spoke. Sesshomaru realized that neither of them were up for much conversation, as neither of them liked to speak much. Compelled to socialize with his brother further he popped random questions. “So how did you manage to free yourself from that wench of a human you are always told to sit'. She seems to be all over you from what I had seen in our random encounters.”

“I just told her that I had things to do. That it was mating season and such and such. Got a few sits in the process of telling her,” he growled. “I'm glad to be away from her.”

Sesshomaru couldn't help but give a small growl. How dare that human tell his baby brother to sit! The dirty human girl! Sesshomaru really shouldn't be angry about this, as he had never before. Well, truthfully he had been bothered by the fact that his brother was told to sit, and crater into the earth by a measly human. Such humans should never hold such power. Sesshomaru looked down at the beads around his brother's neck. They looked more like a slave trader's necklace. He could not help but hiss at it.

“That is good to hear. I'm surprise she actually let you go,” he commented looking down at his brother's form that lay in the water. Deliciously wet.

“Yeah, me too. It must have been the fact that the monk and slayer told her to let me go, as demon mating season could get dangerous. Feh, I had the wolf demon watch after them. I had crossed paths with him when I had been waiting for your pack of messengers.”

“Is that so? I hope you did not mention that you were going to meet me?” Sesshomaru questioned.

“Hai,” he nodded. “He's trustful, he knows how Kagome gets. Kouga, on the other hand, just wants her to himself. He would not tell her. Of course it is canine mating season and he, is of course understanding of it all.”

“Ah yes. It is his mating season as well. Perhaps he will take her as a mate?”

InuYasha shrugged. “Can't say for sure; he has that Ayame which wants him for a mate. I believe that she would be a more suitable mate.”

“Yes, most possibly so, as both of them are wolf demons.”

Well this is an odd conversation. We're not even shooting venomous words at each other. We're almost civilized,' InuYasha thought smiling. Perhaps this may work?'

Sesshomaru looked up smiling. At least they were not fighting as they had been all the time when they had encountered each other before. What really drove them to fighting anyways? Because he is a half breed, filthy and disgraceful to your family's reputation,' his conscious spat at him. He is my mate,' he told himself silently.

“I think I am finished bathing. Let's get going. I'm starved.”

“That is agreeable. Come, InuYasha. I will give you some clean clothes.”

Silks?' InuYasha thought. The outcast of a hanyou had not worn such since his father's reign and since his mother died. InuYasha loved silk. It was like water to him, so silky and light. Such luxury was never allowed to him. They were just for royals like his eldest brother, Sesshomaru. InuYasha, however, loved his fire rat clothing. They had grown on him throughout the years. It had been all that he had left of this mother and father. He had the castle now to remember them by. It was enough for him to shed out of the clothes into something new. Perhaps he would brush his hair.

Nah, it was too matted to do a thing to.

“They may not fit, but tonight if possible, I will have you sized and you will receive your own personal silks of your own liking. For now, you may wear mine.” Sesshomaru dried off with one of the towels and wrapped one of them around the lean hips that InuYasha wished to hold on to so he could take him right there.

InuYasha gave himself a mental shake. What was he thinking?

Sesshomaru handed him the other towel which the hanyou took graciously to wrap around his own desirable hips. “You clothes will do I believe. If you want you can have my haori and hakama's washed.”

“Of course,” Sesshomaru smiled as he led the way to his chambers.

Sesshomaru couldn't help but smile at his brother's face as it lit up as he bought him his meal. It did indeed smelt good. It was quality meat for a market. Not to mention it was most delicious after Sesshomaru had sampled the offer that InuYasha held out. Sesshomaru had to admit it was some good food. It was not the usual castle food that was normally prepared and served. It was something off the streets, new to his taste buds. They burst with the flavor.

“Good?” asked InuYasha watching his brother chew the food thoughtfully.

Sesshomaru nodded, swallowing. “Very.” He looked at the vender. An elderly man looked at his lord smiling proudly. “Can you make a few more of these for us?” Sesshomaru asked.

“Hai! Of course, my lords!”

They watched him skillfully prepare the meal again. The meat was delicious looking. Not to mention the smell of the added spices.

“Here my lords.” He had finished the meal quickly and handed them a bowl filled with meat and fried rice. The man had never thought his lords of the west would visit, save the least the lord's younger brother. He had thought the hanyou had been banished from the land of the west for sometime now. What was he doing back now?

InuYasha and Sesshomaru finished their meals before handing the bowls back to the man who took them with sight bow. Sesshomaru pulled out his purse (wallet or what ever you want to call it) and handed the man a few gold coins. It was more then enough for him. The meal really had a price of a few bronze coins.

“How are you feeling now, Yasha?” Sesshomaru asked as they walked away to look at other booths and merchants. The youkai within was eager to please his mate. It pleased his youkai to know that it had done its job at satisfying his mate-to-be.

“I am good. My stomach is full. What are we up to now?”

“Well, I thought about shopping for some things.”

“Oh.” InuYasha had not really shopped in ages. He had no money to spend. The things he had were either stolen or found.

“What? Do you not like to shop?” Sesshomaru asked, puzzled.

InuYasha shook his head. “No, no. Don't get me wrong, I love it, I just haven't done it in a long time. Since I was kicked out of these lands, I've had no money. I was more of a scavenger.”

Sesshomaru felt the pain that he had caused his brother. He had turned him into a scavenger! It was further down the ladder of lowliness. Worse than a hanyou, who would fight to stay alive. “Gomen, little brother.”

“It is fine. It is in the past now.” InuYasha waved his hands.

Sesshomaru ran his hand through his hair. Looking around he eyed shops full of books and many other trinkets that caught his eye. The lord of the western lands would love to investigate. Looking down at his sibling he smiled as he caught his eyes wandering to some weapons and accessories for them. But in the moment of wandering he caught onto many objects. Clothes. Food. Incense sticks. Smelly objects.

Sesshomaru reached inside his kimono where he kept his spear bag of money. “Here Yasha, go. Shop for what ever it is you need or want. Spend it all if you will it is your choice. It's your money now.”

InuYasha's golden eyes widened. “Sesshomaru!” the dog hanyou gasped. “I cannot take this!”

Sesshomaru gave a nonchalant shrug. “It is yours now. I have too much to spend. Do not worry. Take it.”

“All right.” InuYasha tucked it in his large white kimono.

“Go off and spend it. We shall meet here in 4 hours.”

They nodded and hugged awkwardly before going their own ways. It was unnatural to them both as they parted for their separate ways with nothing but a hug. Their partings use to consist of vile words and a chase before one of them grew tired of the games they had played together. Sesshomaru was usually the first to leave.

Sesshomaru watched as his brother dashed off to spend the money that he had been given. What he would buy with it was a mystery to Sesshomaru as he turned around to the merchant cook. “How would you like to work in the castle? Your services would be appreciated,” he asked the hanyou merchant. Sesshomaru had gotten a whiff of his scent while he had been standing there. His senses had been blinded by the scent of the food and had not registered that the hanyou was really a hanyou of a wolf demon. The brown hair that reached past his shoulders covered the pointed ears. This half demon was no older than 90 years of age. He looked about 23 in human years though. Sesshomaru could smell that he was half way in years to changing into a full demon as his human blood would soon die of old age, and the dominate demon blood would take over. He would guess maybe a half a century more.

Hanyou blood usually died out about 130 or so years. 150 years at the most, before becoming a full demon for the rest of their lives. In rare cases, however, the human blood would die out between the ages of 80-100.

“Oh, my lord! You could not possibly hire me?” he gasped flabbergasted.

“Oh but I must insist.” Why was he doing this anyways? Sesshomaru really didn't know. But it would please his mate to know that he had the cook that could make him an unlimited amount if the food that he desired. “If you want, you will have free room and bored and will be paid two silver coins a day. You will have a week's worth of clothing and any supplies you need to do your job.”

The hanyou couldn't refuse such offer. A lowly merchant as himself could not possibly dream of working in the castle, nor could he dream of living there. “Yes, my lord! I shall take your offer.”

“Tell me your name.”

“Kisumi.”

“Alright, Kisumi, I shall expect you to take what you want to the castle and tell them you're the new cook and servant.” Sesshomaru paused. “Give me your hand. I must mark you so they will know that you're not lying.”

Kisumi held out his left hand. He watched as his lord marked him on his forearm using his index fingernail with a perfect crest overlapping an S. It did not hurt. It just bled and became heated.

“Do not worry; it will fade sooner or later. Now I must be off. Show them your arm and they will know. I must be off though.”

Sesshomaru made his way through the parting crowds. The DaiYoukai was drawn to the shop that InuYasha had been eyeing earlier. It was a smelly shop full of incense sticks and candles among other senses invigorating objects.

Perhaps he would love these. It just may help please him more. It may not make up for what has happened in the past, but it will make him happy. Hopefully,' Sesshomaru thought as he looked around.

The shop had a variety of things to choose from. Sesshomaru wasn't the type for shopping for others. He really had no idea whatsoever of what he should be buying to please his desired mate. Yet his youkai seemed to know as he picked out some things and paid for them. He would visit the bathhouse stores to have other shampoos and oils picked out. Sesshomaru was sure that his mate might like some of them.

Perhaps later he would drop buy the jewels shop and have something crafted for InuYasha, though Sesshomaru wasn't sure if his mate liked rings and shiny objects like he did. It was worth a shot at any rate.

InuYasha maneuvered his way through the crowds. Apparently no one recognized him to be Sesshomaru's younger brother; son of the great TaiYoukai, InuTaisho who left his sons many years ago. The hanyou thought surely that the people of the town would recognize Sesshomaru's kimono, as he had been wearing it. Yet they continued on their ways not even glancing at him as he made his way into a bookstand.

“Why am I even here?” he asked himself as he entered the small shop. InuYasha had never taken a liking to books. Sesshomaru however did. That the hanyou knew as he skimmed through the titles and subjects.

Picking out a few books he paid for them and had them wrapped in brown parchment. InuYasha wasn't sure what his brother exactly wanted or liked so he went with his instincts on the books' subjects. He had only hoped that his brother would enjoy them later. As he left the shop something caught his eye. It was a large book. Picking it up, he then opened it. Instantly his golden eyes grew large. It was a book titled: Kama sutra for Male/Male Intercourse.

Closing the book instantly, InuYasha blushed so much that his face could have matched his fire rat cloths. It wasn't what he had expected. All those many positions! It surprised the hanyou that they were even possible! However, the book intrigued him enough to pick it up again and quickly flipped through it. It might be good if he were to give it to Sesshomaru, especially when they were planning to mate.

Wait! Had he just thought that? Of course it was so. He had thought it and agreed to it subconsciously when he had come to Saigoku (The western lands.) “Might as well accept it,” InuYasha muttered to himself as he picked up the book and went back to the owner of the shop. “I'll buy this one too.”

The shop keeper picked up the book and looked at his costumer skeptically. “Alright, that'll be 3 silvers and one gold.”

InuYasha dug around in his pouch for the coins needed. Handing it to the older demon he watched the shop keeper wrap it up as he had done with the previous books. “You look awfully familiar. Do I know you?” the bookseller asked as he finished binding the book with brown paper.

“I'm not sure. But I am InuYasha, son of InuTaisho.”

“Kami!”

InuYasha was sure that the man was praising in both a good way and not a good way as he watched the demon smile widely. The gray blue eyes sparkled. InuYasha was sure that he didn't know the demon, but he was sure that everyone had heard of the lost son who was banished from the lands.

“Why are you here prince? Weren't you banished?” he was asked.

“Sesshomaru invited me back. Please do not say anything; I am sure he does not wish to have rumors spread.” InuYasha didn't need anymore banishment.

Looking down at the book the shop keeper looked up as he began putting things together. “Kami! I will not! But I cannot help but wonder are you two mated?” The demon's eyes flew to InuYasha's neck to see if there was a mating mark.

InuYasha shook his head. “No, not yet. I am working on putting the past behind me now. We're learning to love still. I have not decided fully on what is really going to happen.”

The demon nodded. “I see. Well I wish you the best of luck. Hopefully he will let us know that he has mated.” Smiling he turned around to tidy up around his shop. “Lord InuYasha, you see: Sesshomaru has been restless for some time now. I know it is not the canine mating season that is doing this, because it has been going on for well over a year. He has been unhappy and everyone would love to see him happy again. I really hope you make his life a bit more pleasing, as I see you're his reason of sadness.”

Puzzled, InuYasha cocked his head. “How do you know?”

“Just a feeling I have. But right now you should be off. I am sure you have many things to do.”

InuYasha nodded. “Thanks.”

Bowing, he left the shop to continue on his way to his next shop. It was almost time to go meet his brother Sesshomaru back in the market where they had ate earlier. InuYasha would have to shop quickly if he were to buy his eldest something. Walking quickly he was drawn to a jeweler's shop. They made rings.

“Perfect. He would love one of these! If only if I knew his size.”

“Whose size?” asked the lady as she watched him approach.

“Sesshomaru's ring size. You would not happen to know by any chance would you?”

“Ah, possibly, he has come here off and on. Why?”

“I wish to make him a ring, or at least have one crafted for him. I am InuYasha his younger sibling.”

“Ah! Welcome back! I knew you would be back some day.” Again, another person who seemed to know him. “I know what he wears. What do you have in mind?”

Shrugging, the hanyou really had nothing specific in mind. “A gold band with a pair of diamonds in it, then with a ruby in the middle of the diamonds. But I do not wish for them to be bulging out. I want them set in there. I want the words: “I love you always and forever, Sesshomaru” engraved inside.”

InuYasha couldn't believe what he had just said. Did he really love his brother yet? What was he thinking? No… he wouldn't be giving this to his brother anytime soon. Not until he did love him. InuYasha would wait to give this to him.

Turning his attention back to the jeweler she had scribbled it down and designed him the ring. It was a band with the gems set into it. Perfect for his brother, “There you go. It will be done within the next week. For now, you will not need to pay me. Come back next Wednesday.” It was funny how she had not really reacted to what he had told her to make, as the other store keepers had been surprised that he had come to their shop and that he was buying for Sesshomaru.

Taking a whiff of the air around him he could distinguish a faint scent of his brother who must have been here just a few hours ago. Why was he here anyways? Perhaps he had just passed through?

Shrugging off the feeling, he said his thanks and left.

Sesshomaru was surely waiting for him as he rushed through the market to meet him. It might surprise his brother that he had only bought items for him and not himself. InuYasha could only hope that he would love them.

Taking a short cut through one of the alley ways InuYasha was suddenly pained as his stomach suddenly gave him the worse cramp ever. Doubling over he dropped the items he had chosen for Sesshomaru. InuYasha's knees buckled as he clutched his stomach with his clawed hand while the other one kept him supported.

Footsteps approached behind him slowly. If he were going to be attacked, he would be weakened. InuYasha figured he would not last long if he were attacked by a full demon. He was aware of the fact that there were still demons in Saigoku that hated him for being a hanyou.

Snarling as the pain doubled he hoped he wouldn't black out. Sesshomaru was his only hope if this lasted any further…

A/n: Sorry it took so long to put this up. I'm going on vacation so I will not be working on anything for the next week or so. Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Review please

I also found out the Western lands are known as Saigoku so I'll be putting that down more. Anyways that's all for now.