InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Divergence ❯ Chapter 13

Divergence

 

Canto XIII

 

The system of government that directed the noble youkai population was as simple as it was complicated. A millennia of laws, rules and traditions twisted in on themselves to make traversing within it almost completely impossible. No matter what you did you were breaking some tradition. People were insulted on a common basis and heirs were grown up to manipulate this deranged system. They were raised to continue it and add their own laws to it making it even more tangled.

 

In it's simplicity it was perilous and its underhanded strikes could leave the unwary with nothing. It was the most basic form of a vassal and lord system, but with so many different fractions none could hope to sort them out into any sibilance of order in their lifetime, and depending on who one was thinking of a lifetime could last forever. There was a High Lord who ruled over everyone and everything. Under the High Lord were a number of vassals that he kept close to himself to help him rule everything. Then there were the lesser vassals who led the other races and tribes of the many demons under the High Lord. Depending on how much land was given the vassals or lesser vassals could employ vassals of their own. Each tribe had an ambassador except the ruling tribe. Numerous bloodlines could be within each tribe and the strongest was usually the one recognized as the leader of that tribe by the High Lord or the Lesser Lords. It was when the bloodlines begin to mix and the tribes merge and spilt when things start becoming perilous. By allying yourself with one family, you become the enemy of three. By joining bloodlines through mating you negate a truce with another that had been in affect for centuries.

 

The Inu-youkai were currently the head tribe, the bloodline of the Inu no Tashio being in control. Sesshoumaru's grandfather had gained control when he had defeated the Panther tribe, which had been in control for centuries. With military might and political influences Sesshoumaru's Grandfather had gained control for their tribe and family and kept it, a tradition that Sesshoumaru was continuing now.

 

And Inuyasha sat back and watched it, amused by it all. With hooded eyes he watched as truces were made and broken with no more then wane smiles, waved hands and narrowed eyes. Fake laughter and muted whispers all under the disguise of a formal get together to view Sesshoumaru's newest toy. Sometimes a lesser vassal would come over and speak to him but Inuyasha understood the Game well enough to tiptoe around questions. For a party designed for his viewing, not many people even looked his way, but Inuyasha loved it.

 

He stalked the shadows, listening and learning. It was like watching a pack of wolves fight over territory. Ground was gained and lost in a bat of an eyelash and Inuyasha watched.

 

Sesshoumaru was in the throng of things. He answered questions calmly and stepped around most metaphorical nets as they were cast at him. He kept one eye on his brother as the hanyou seemed to join with the shadows of the room. His dark golden gaze hooded and glowing. It was then Sesshoumaru realized that his brother was ill used in his household but pushed the revelation away as he was assailed again. He quickly met his brother's glowing eyes over the heads of all the influential vassals and they locked for a moment. Inuyasha bowed his head slightly before melting back into the shadows and Sesshoumaru turned his attention to the Lord of one of the prominent Inu-youkai bloodlines, turning down an arranged mating to his daughter.

 

 

 

When Sesshoumaru finally made it to his rooms as the sun was beginning to rise, there was no sign of his brother. He had briefed Inuyasha on the fact that they would have to share chambers and had expected more of a climatic reaction than the one he got. Inuyasha had just shrugged and had continued to chew on the claw of his little finger, looking preoccupied. Sesshoumaru had been slightly disappointed. He'd been hoping Inuyasha would hate this and had been looking forward to taunting the hanyou into a rage. That plan had gone out the window when Inuyasha had quietly agreed with anything he said. That wasn't fun at all. A brief scan of the room showed no Inuyasha and deep inhale told him that Inuyasha hadn't been this way since he'd moved his clothes in that morning.

 

Sesshoumaru felt himself relax and shrugged out of the heavy overcoat he'd been wearing leaving him in his thin yukata. He reached down and loosened the cord that kept his hakama gathered at his ankles and let the material pool at his feet, much like Inuyasha's hakama did. With a soft huff he collapsed rather ungracefully onto the thick rug in front of the fireplace that had been lit before he'd walked into his chambers. The flames managed to beat back the chill that was beginning to invade the stone rooms of the keep with the coming winter and Sesshoumaru breathed an almost silent sigh of contentment as he leaned back against the cushions behind him. He was startled when the door slid open and Inuyasha wandered in. The hanyou was shirtless, dripping all over the floor and ruffling his wet bangs. Sesshoumaru tipped his head back in order to watch the hanyou wander out of the sitting room and into the second bedroom that had been set up. After the paper screen had been slid shut Sesshoumaru allowed himself to blink as his head fell forward again.

 

He thought silently for a moment before his head whipped around again to take in the large puddles of water on his floor. He seethed silently for a moment before forcing himself to calm down. A few minutes later Inuyasha wandered back out of his bedchamber, tugging his hands through his wet hair. He glanced fleetingly at Sesshoumaru before continuing his careful examination of the room. When he seemed not to find what he was looking for he turned to his half-brother and allowed his eyes to rest on him.

 

“Do you have a comb I can borrow?”

 

Sesshoumaru scowled at him and turned back to the fire. “Why are you dripping all over my floor?” he drawled, his face carefully blank.

 

Inuyasha glanced at the puddles like he'd just realized that they were there, which was very likely. He shrugged, looking at his brother, his gaze slightly apologetic.

 

“Sorry.”

 

“Why are you wet?”

 

“I took a bath.”

 

Sesshoumaru frowned in confusion and gestured Inuyasha closer. The hanyou stopped just shy of the rug Sesshoumaru was resting on. The light from the fire made his skin glow pale gold and made the water still in his hair glisten. Sesshoumaru's hands twitched, but he restrained himself.

 

“What possessed you to take a bath at this hour?” he asked instead, his voice casually disdainful.

 

Inuyasha ignored his brother's tone and answered honestly. “I smelt like too many other people. It was bothering me. How can you bare it?”

 

“You become accustomed to it I suppose.”

 

They both fell silent and studied each other for a few moments before Inuyasha became uncomfortable and reasked his initial question.

 

“So, do you have a comb?”

 

“Not one that you can use.”

 

Inuyasha tugged his fingers through his hair again suddenly looking sheepish. “Where can I find one?”

 

Sesshoumaru looked over the rat's nest that his brother's hair had become and remembered vividly the screaming that had echoed through the keep a few short days ago. He fought with himself for a long moment before rolling to his feet and walking over to a small chest that sat in the corner of the room. He pulled out the first drawer and searched through it before finding what he was looking for. A metal comb, with twisting ivy-like designs winding their way down the teeth. He returned to Inuyasha, who hadn't moved and sat back down on the rug. He motioned for Inuyasha to sit down in front of him. The hanyou looked nervous but a sharp look from the dai-youkai convinced him easily enough. He sat down in front of his brother, his muscles rock hard and tense. But when Sesshoumaru began to pull the comb through Inuyasha's long hair the hanyou couldn't help his reaction. He relaxed gradually until he was half asleep. Long after all of the tangles were gone, Sesshoumaru pulled the comb through his brother's hair unable to stop himself. He combed his long bangs back but was careful around his ears. As his hair dried it gained the quality of fine silk, smooth and cool as he slipped his hands through it. He didn't realize that he had begun to run his free hand through Inuyasha's hair as he ran the comb through it with the other. His fingers found the brother's ears and brushed the soft hair that covered them. They flicked in his hand and Sesshoumaru couldn't resist the urge to softly rub the base of them until they drooped limply to either side. A gentle humming growl began to vibrate softly in Inuyasha's chest and Sesshoumaru paused suddenly, feeling slightly horrified.

 

What the hell had just happened?

 

He couldn't feel ashamed of his actions however and waited with baited breath for Inuyasha to rouse himself and begin to yell at him. This didn't happen however. Inuyasha continued to give off those contented little rumbles and Sesshoumaru put a hand on his shoulder, drawing him closer. The hanyou didn't protest and allowed his brother to shift them until his head was pillowed comfortably on his brother's shoulder. Kagura's words came back to Sesshoumaru now and he winced internally at the accusation that he finally detected in her tone. Yes he could see it easily. Inuyasha did need to rest, and hadn't been doing so.

 

The hanyou's breath ghosted against the sensitive skin of Sesshoumaru's neck and he sighed, unconsciously wrapping his arms around the smaller form of his brother. He didn't understand why this was happening now. He didn't know when he had stopped thinking half-breed and starting thinking about how his brother's eyes glowed, how small he looked but how powerful he was. Sesshoumaru didn't understand but when he turned his head in order to breathe in Inuyasha's scent he found his eyes closing against his will. Inuyasha smelt like a field after it had rained. Sharp. Strong. But soothing. As he breathed in that curious scent he lost himself to sleep.

 

 

Inuyasha was not one to lay in. One moment he was asleep and the next he was awake. For many there was a hazy middle ground. That had been pounded out of Inuyasha long ago. The difference of a few seconds could save your life.

 

No…Inuyasha came awake instantly.

 

So he didn't understand the heaviness in his limbs as he clawed his way to consciousness. He'd never felt it before. His eyes wouldn't open. He felt warm and comfortable. The urge to just stay here was overwhelming. Inuyasha shifted and blinked his eyes open, staring fuzzily at the expanse of pale skin in front of him. He wrinkled his nose in confusion even as his eyes closed again and began to doze lightly.

 

Sesshoumaru watched this with unease and slight amusement. A few moments later Inuyasha's eyes snapped open and he tried to sit up. He over balanced and Sesshoumaru's embrace was the only thing keeping him from falling on his face. The hanyou turned wide eyes to Sesshoumaru, then down at the arms wrapped around them and then at the surrounding items. The cushion, the rug, a small desk in the corner. As he did this he continued to breathe heavily. Finally he turned back to his brother looking as uneasy as Sesshoumaru had felt.

 

“Sorry,” he said roughly, his eyes averted.

 

In the face of his brother's nervousness Sesshoumaru's seemed to disappear and a small smile curled his lips upward. He pulled his brother's unresisting body closer to his.

 

“For what?”

 

“For falling asleep on you.”

 

“The same could be said of me. I don't mind it.” And Sesshoumaru was surprised that he meant it. He really didn't mind.

 

The two of them sat there in silence for a few moments. Surprisingly it wasn't strained at all and eventually Inuyasha relaxed in his brother's embrace and leaned back against him. Sesshoumaru thought long and hard on Inuyasha's place in his household and found that his position, although helpful, was a waste of ability. Sesshoumaru sucked in a breath to share his thoughts with Inuyasha but hesitated.

 

“Spit it out.”

 

Sesshoumaru snorted in amusement.

 

“I had a revelation last night.”

 

“Don't you mean this morning?” Inuyasha asked, his tone laughing.

 

Sesshoumaru found himself smiling softly. “I suppose.” He paused for a moment before continuing. “You are aware that your scent is indiscernible unless you are in closer quarters with someone.” The question was more of a statement, but Inuyasha hummed an affirmative anyway. “This is a product of your awakening?” Inuyasha grunted a yes, beginning to doze off. Sesshoumaru frowned in annoyance and shook him awake. “Would you be willing to spy for me Inuyasha?”

 

The hanyou became a little more lively and blinked a few times in surprise. “Okay,” he finally agreed.

 

He closed his eyes again and turned his face into Sesshoumaru's neck. Within moments his breathing deepened and he became still. Sesshoumaru deadpanned, more than a little annoyed at the situation. Just because he's allowed the hanyou to sleep on him once did not mean that he was a pillow. He pondered over waking Inuyasha up and forcing him to move, but when he looked down at his brother's face he fell over the same spell that had enchanted him in Inuyasha's chambers. He couldn't do it and he sighed in frustration. He sat there in silence for a few more minutes before gathering Inuyasha in his arms and getting to his feet. He briefly thought of just dumping Inuyasha on his bed and leaving but something within him rebelled against the idea. So he nudged open the door to his own bed-chamber. He laid Inuyasha on his bed and cocked to his head to the side curiously as the hanyou instantly turned on his side and curled up. If Sesshoumaru had been anyone else he would have thought that it was cute.

 

He left Inuyasha to sleep in his bed and mused over the fact that not once on the last few hours had either brother said anything scathing to each other.