InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Dubious Relations ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: Inuyasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi, Yomuri TV, Viz, Sunrise, and its other affiliates; it does not belong to me. I'm only borrowing the characters in order to amuse myself.

 

Warnings: Swearing, violence, slight angst, yaoi, incest…

 

 

Dubious Relations

 

Chapter 3

 

The day wasn't perfect. There wasn't any sign of a blue sky from beneath the heavy blanket of morbidly grey clouds. There wasn't any sign that there was a sky to begin with. There weren't any birds singing, though Sesshomaru could hear his small charge's humming as he neared the fields leading to his home, just as he could hear his servants' and guards' laughter and joking around. The ground was soggy, like mush where there wasn't vegetation. But, despite the depressing backdrop to the Lord's return home, Sesshomaru was feeling light, good, better than he had in a long while.

 

There wasn't any burning, there wasn't any aching at all, bar the slight pain of his backside, but that was to be expected. Sesshomaru found that there wasn't a single feeling in him that foretold him of his supposed heat and his desire to mate as there would have been. Sesshomaru felt content.

 

If he'd known that a long, tiring round of sex before the peak of his heat would make him feel so relieved Sesshomaru would have set himself to finding a partner long ago. There wouldn't have been the need for him to humiliate himself and be tied to the walls of his chambers and have a spell cast over him to prevent his demon strength from tearing the said wall down or the chains and ropes apart.

 

The demon Lord's eyes rose to the sight of his castle's large, sturdy gates as he walked up from the village beneath the hill his home was built on. On each side of the grand gates stood two tall, black haired guards. They were panther demons, loyal to him because of Sesshomaru's display of strength as he'd passed through their territory in the mountains. They were present as a part of a truce and as an ally, much like the majority of the panther demons amongst Sesshomaru's military ranks.

 

The guards, much to Sesshomaru's annoyance and curiosity, didn't jump and yell as they usually would for the gates to be opened as soon as they'd spied him walking down the pathway towards the gates. Instead, Sesshomaru was met with huge, dark, round eyes and gaping mouths. Sesshomaru frowned.

 

"Is there a reason as to why you are not allowing me inside my own home?" Sesshomaru asked monotonously, his mask firmly in place.

 

The guards jumped into action, shaking their heads frantically while still gaping and blinking up at their Lord. Sesshomaru brushed their behaviour off; they were probably amazed by his calm state; every being living in or in the small village outside of his castle knew of when his heats struck and how violent they made him, they had been surprised to see that Sesshomaru was in complete and utter control. He acknowledged their opening of the gates with a nod.

 

The Lord of the Western Plains' castle was spacious and large. It consisted of two main buildings, the larger of the two housing the Lord and his family. The smaller was for his servants and for the demons who served him from different lands who had no home in this village. Both buildings consisted of white plaster walls and black, slanted, tiled roofs.

 

Sesshomaru entered the gargantuan building he knew as home, his eyes scanning the entrance hall for a working servant in which to ask for Jaken's whereabouts. He didn't have to look far for the small imp as he turned into one of the many long hallways within the castle and literally kicked his annoying retainer into the wall ahead of him. Sesshomaru watched with uncaring eyes as Jaken clambered to his feet and rubbed his head, all the while grumbling to himself.

 

The toad demon flew into his usual greeting once he'd looked up, "Ah, my Lord! You are back! Your rooms have been prepared, just as you asked them!" Jaken's rant paused, his eyes growing wider and wider still as his rambling started again, "M-M'Lord you are not suffering! I mean you are not in heat! How is this possible? Did you-" Jaken leant forward slightly, leaning heavily on his precious staff of the two heads, "Ah! M'lord! Who is the lucky demon who has ensnared his highnesses perfect heart? Who is the lucky demon you have taken as a mate?"

 

Sesshomaru's golden gaze narrowed, "I have mated no one, Jaken."

 

"B-But m'lord! You are not in heat and-" Jaken squawked loudly as one of Sesshomaru's boot laden feet landed mercilessly on his head. Jaken whimpered, "O-Of course my Lord isn't mated. No one could measure up or deserve your brilliance!" He said whilst rubbing his head.

 

"Will Rin be returning shortly?" Sesshomaru asked.

 

Jaken nodded and waddled along side Sesshomaru as they headed towards the demon Lord's study, "She is supposed to be back by sun down, m'lord. The little wench wished to pick some flowers. I told her-"

 

Sesshomaru allowed his cold eyes to meet the golden ball outside of his window, gracefully seating himself behind a small table, ignoring Jaken's rambling. "She will be eating with me tonight, Jaken, make sure she knows."

 

The toad squawked and nodded, hurriedly waddling from the room and towards the front gates, his staff grasped between both him hands. Sesshomaru watched him go, his mind tuned into his retainer's impossible assumption and the toad's nerve in suggesting that he was mated. He was not and wouldn't be for some time. He appreciated his freedom, with no mate to hold him back or to nag him. He was still young, barely an adult by demon standards, he had an eternity to bear and raise pups.

 

Distractedly, Sesshomaru allowed his hand to his stroke the armour that protected his stomach. This one would be dead within the next month.

 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

 

Inuyasha traipsed back towards the setting sun. The air around him choking on the feelings of guilt and rage that emanated from Inuyasha in waves. Inuyasha watched his feet as he wandered, not caring in the slightest about how muddy they were or how leaves and twigs stuck to them uncomfortably.

 

The half breed was angry. He was angry that he'd allowed himself to be used as he had, knowing full well Kagome wouldn't understand his intentions and the tiny chance of Sesshomaru keeping his end of their bargain. She was far too sensitive and when it came to love she was very much blind. Much like himself most days, Inuyasha admitted grudgingly. But damn it! Sesshomaru was such a bastard! How could he have given in at all?

 

“Do you wish for your friends to die?”

 

That had been a low blow; of course Inuyasha didn't want his friends dead! Sure Miroku was too perverted all the time, sure Kagome was a sadistic wench who humiliated him daily, of course Shippo was annoying as all hell and Kilala and Sango… Well… They'd both attempted to kill him when they'd first met him. But even so, Inuyasha didn't want them dead!

 

He wanted to keep every one of them safe, and Sesshomaru, Sesshomaru had exploited his wants and used them against him! Again! Just like the bastard had done when he'd used Inuyasha's mother to lure him into his trap. Inuaysha wanted him dead! Or, in the least, beaten into a bloodied pulp. The sooner the better.

 

Inuyasha growled lowly and glared at an innocent hare that stood, petrified by the base of a weak looking tree. Sadistically he surged his torso forward, barely moving from his place as he growled ferociously and bared his teeth. The hare to raced off instantly. Inuyasha grinned cruelly. It was too bad he'd never possess the ability to frighten Sesshomaru like that. He'd cherish the day he made that bastard run away with his tail between his long legs.

 

The thought made Inuyasha remember the night before vividly. He remembered how hesitant he'd been as Sesshomaru straddled his waist and explained to him how everything worked whilst he rubbed against him in a way that was very, very distracting. Inuyasha remembered how he couldn't help but ogle Sesshomaru as he'd arched back erotically, showing off his toned torso as Inuyasha slid deeper and deeper inside him. Inuyasha felt shame bubble in his chest as he recalled the almost unbearable pleasure he'd felt once he was inside Sesshomaru and how it felt even better once he'd started thrusting, in, out, in, fast then faster and deeper. Inuyasha's ears drooped slightly as he was flooded with a persistent guilt; he remembered how much he'd liked seeing Sesshomaru's face flushed and his bitten red lips parted as he gasped and clung to him, his claws ripping at the skin on his back. He'd felt more superior that he'd ever had when the Lord had (almost whimpered) ordered him to finish things.

 

Inuyasha had expected to find Sesshomaru beside him that morning; they'd both worn themselves out pretty thoroughly. Inuyasha had, at the very least, expected to find Sesshomaru sitting at the back of the cave, waiting for him to wake up so he could criticise his performance. But Sesshomaru hadn't been there when he'd awoken that morning. The rain hadn't stopped, but the bastard was gone.

 

He wasn't going to keep his half of the bargain. Inuyasha had known he wouldn't and he hadn't listened to reason. He had helped the asshole out and now he was paying for it. Now he was being consumed by guilt stronger and more unbearable than what he'd felt when he'd learnt that he'd been the cause of Kikyo's death. Kagome wasn't going to ever forgive him if she found out, she was just too sensitive and she wouldn't listen to his excuses. Even if she did forgive him, Inuyasha would be too guilt ridden to look her in the eye again. Either way he was royally screwed.

 

Distractedly, as Inuyasha entered a small clearing, he blinked frantically as his eyes adjusted to the sudden onslaught of sunlight, before his golden eyes lifted to the still cloudy sky. He wasn't at all pleased when he spotted a floating, pink 'monster' just above the trees amongst muted, grey clouds, its yellow hands waving with the breeze. The others would be able to tell that something was bothering him as soon as they saw him. Inuyasha didn't want to deal with their questions yet, not until he'd justified his actions to himself.

 

"Inuyasha!" The half-demon almost cringed at the sound of Sango's voice as Kilala dived into the clearing, landing gracefully before the half breed as the demon slayer swung herself off the fire cat. He stood tall, his expression and body language (hopefully) hiding his guilt, "It's good to see you're alright. Kagome said she hadn't seen you since you both had run into Naraku."

 

When he'd heard Kagome's name, Inuyasha's eyes widened and fixed onto Sango's slender form immediately, "Kagome's alright?"

 

Sango nodded, "She returned to the village the night she was taken."

 

"How? Did she escape? Did one of you kill it?"

 

"She said it let her go."

 

Inuyasha scowled, his ears flicking in annoyance on top of his head, "What do you mean, 'it let her go?' Naraku wouldn't just 'let her go,' what's in it for him?"

 

Sango shrugged and shook her head, "Miroku and I couldn't come up with anything. Perhaps you and Kagome could talk and figure it out. She's been worried about you, Inuyasha."

 

Inuyasha felt his stomach fill with moths, before they died as his previous night's actions bounding in front of his eyes, his stomach twisting. He glared into the distance opposite Sango, "Keh, whatever."

 

The half-breed eyed Sango as she slung her leg over Kilala, calling for him to return to their new camp with her. He sniffed, his stomach gurgled unhappily and his brows furrowed as he called after Sango, leaping along side Kilala, "Oi, you got any food?"

 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

 

It had been a few days since Inuyasha had once again caught up with the group of Naraku trackers. He'd been hugged, yelled at, then hugged again and now it seemed as though Kagome was doing her best to ignore him. She had barely spoken three words in concession to him since he'd returned.

 

Inuyasha scowled as he leapt, the priestess from the future balanced carefully on his back - and almost choking him as she clung to him for dear life, though Inuyasha hadn't a clue why; they'd done this dozens of times before and she'd been more than relaxed!

 

They'd been told of an eerie purple mist coming from a cave somewhere in the North. It seemed as though the villagers that had spotted it were too afraid to investigate it for themselves. The cowards. It would have saved them a lot of time if even one of those mortals had walked there and just taken a peek.

 

“Hey, Kagome! Do you sense any jewel shards?” Inuyasha called over the air rushing over and into his ears.

 

He almost didn't hear Kagome's stuttered reply, “N-Not really!” Inuyasha winced as her arms tightened around his neck.

 

“Oi, wench! Loosen your grip!”

 

“Slow down!”

 

“We've always travelled at this pace.” Inuyasha heard Sango comment to his left, his golden eyes following her voice. She was sitting on Kilala with Miroku behind her and Shippo resting on his shoulder.

 

The monk nodded, “Perhaps Kagome isn't feeling well. She was in Naraku's grasp. Perhaps she inhaled some of Naraku's miasma while captured.” Shippo nodded in agreement, clinging to he monks robes tightly.

 

Inuyasha scowled, “Kagome! Is that what's wrong? You're sick because of Naraku?” The half breed winced as the bounded down a hill top, leaves, branches and twigs whizzing past his and Kagome's head as Inuyasha bounded over curling roots and fallen trunks. Kagome's arms tightened and then tightened some more as her legs crushed his hands where they were hooked under her thighs.

 

“Slow down, Inuyasha!” She screeched into Inuyasha's fluffy ear, causing both triangular appendages to ring.

 

“For fuck's sake, we'll set up camp soon! You're just feeling ill from Naraku's fucking poison, ignore it!” His words didn't ease the human girl's grip.

 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

 

Inuyasha grumbled lowly as he massaged his sore neck and cheek. Their running had caused Kagome to leave a bright red mark around his neck, almost as though it were a collar. It stung from her shirt's rubbing and from her grip, just as his cheek throbbed bitterly from the slap she'd given him as soon as he'd put her down.

 

Kagome had since moved so she was sitting down by the river they'd settled beside, her gaze on her reflection. She kept toying with her hair, curling and brushing her thin fingers through it. And she kept staring at it as though she were confused or discovering something new thing about it. Inuyasha wondered sulkily if she was thinking about girl things or just being moody.

 

“Inuyasha,” The half demon turned from the tree he'd been glaring a hole through, so that he was looking up at Miroku, “Kagome has been acting strange since her return from Naraku's trap.”

 

Inuyasha stared heatedly at the girl from the corner of his golden eyes, still playing with her hair and gazing into the calmly moving stream. He snorted, “Yeah, so what? You know how she is. She's just pissed off `cause I wouldn't slow down when she asked.”

 

Miroku sighed and slowly sat down beside Inuyasha, laying his staff beside him. He sighed again, “I think… It's more than you annoying her this time, Inuyasha. Sango is worried about Kagome. She seems to think that maybe Naraku's done something to her.”

 

“Like what?”

 

“Well… Kagome is a pretty young lady.” Inuyasha's eyes narrowed dangerously, radiant with murderous intent as he glared heatedly, Tessaiga poised by his side. Miroku held his hands up in his defence, “I don't mean that as I usually do, Inuyasha! Please calm down!”

 

Inuyasha snorted, “Yeah? So what did you mean then?”

 

Miroku became very serious, his sheepish smile morphing into a frown, “Sango and I are worried that Naraku may have - may have defiled Kagome. He's been very bold as of late and Kagome seemed very ruffled when she stumbled back into the village that night.”

 

Inuyasha mulled over the thought, his blood freezing when he realised the extent Naraku could have gone to. He clenched his teeth, “You said she was ruffled. How?”

 

“Her shirt looked as though it had just been put on.” Inuyasha's eyes travelled to Kagome yet again. Miroku called him as he stood, “Inuyasha, I don't think simply confronting her is going to help this time! It will just make things worse.”

 

“Well I ain't sitting around waiting until she decides she's okay. We need to defeat Naraku, even if that means I have to throw her down the well and seal it!”

 

Inuyasha's determined strides petered into small, careful steps as he neared the girl. He wasn't that insensitive, if Naraku had violated Kagome, he wasn't going to simply ask her and order her to be okay, he knew that wasn't how a victim's mind worked.

 

The half breed crouched down beside the girl, his eyes flickering between her reflection and Kagome's real face. Inuyasha swallowed thickly and steeled his nerves. “Sango's preparing some fish. Keeping up your energy will help flush Naraku's miasma from your system.” Kagome didn't react. Inuyasha scowled, “You aren't going to look any better. You might as well stop looking at your reflection.” He muttered quietly.

 

Kagome's eyes pierced through him, “That's not how you talk to a person, Inuyasha!”

 

“You're the one ignoring me!”

 

“Humph.”

Inuyasha watched as Kagome stuck her nose into the air. He glared, “You know, I was attempting to be polite about this all, but your behaviour stinks.” He swallowed, then blurted, “Did Naraku do anything to you?”

 

Kagome turned a questioning gaze on him, “Do anything?”

 

“Yeah,” Inuyasha answered in a softer tone, “Miroku and Sango are worried he might have raped you or something.”

 

They were surrounded by a heavy, worry-filled silence, one that made Inuyasha feel sick to his stomach. A moment later, after a deep breath, Kagome answered, her voice quieter and sombre also, “No. Naraku didn't do anything like that. Why would they think that?”

 

“Well, you have been quieter than usual and you didn't burn our lunch yesterday-”

 

Kagome glared, “What's that supposed to mean, Inuyasha?”

 

“Your cooking's improved! It's a compliment!”

 

“What do you mean it's improved? It was good the way it was!”

 

Inuyasha snorted, “Please, you've nearly killed us with your concoctions. The only good thing you make is your bento box and that's because your mother helps you make them. But that weird, miso shit you attempted to feed us practically poisoned Shippo.”

 

The next moment, Inuyasha was staring up at Kagome with wide eyes and his mouth agape. She was standing rigidly, her arms straight and by her sides, whilst her feet were planted a shoulder width apart. Inuyasha could have sworn he could hear her teeth cracking as she grounded them together. He cursed silently as she let out a frustrated near growl. She was going to sit him! Inuyasha considered lying down and making it easier for her; there was no way he was getting out of this one!

 

“Inuyasha…” The girl ground out her eyes clenched shut, “Inuyasha, you're such a jerk!”

 

Inuyasha watched with confusion as Kagome spun on her heel and stalked off, her arms swinging stiffly by her sides. The half breed could only blink. He examined his self and found that he wasn't dreaming and that he really wasn't plastered to the ground. He blinked again, several times in concession before he idly scratched his head.

 

Had he missed something important?

 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

 

The shoji slid shut quietly.

 

“I see you have mated, my Lord.” An elderly demon remarked politely as she came to a halt beside Sesshomaru. She wore a modest dark purple and blue kimono, whilst her grey, stringy hair was tied at the back of her head in a bun. She bowed respectfully, “Who is the lucky demon?”

 

Sesshomaru regarded his healer's form with a look of disapproval, “I am mated to no one, Chiyo.”

 

The demon chuckled, “You have done something stupid then, my Lord?”

 

Sesshomaru glared lightly, unappreciative of his healer's humour. She'd always been far to bold, even his father had thought so. He didn't respond and simply turned his attention to the darkened sky outside his rooms.

 

He'd called for her as soon as he felt the pup inside of him create its own life force, as tiny as it was. It was a week and a bit after Sesshomaru's escapade with Inuyasha and he'd been bombarded with headaches and a stuffy nose. It was time to end it. Sesshomaru found himself hoping that the child was rotten, that its body was ridden with imperfections. It seemed logical in Sesshomaru's mind, its sire was a half breed.

 

The demon Lord was sitting on his futon, his legs spread out in front of him, under the thin blankets. His light brown yukata was hanging off his left shoulder, giving the elderly healer a good view of his stump of a left arm. Sesshomaru turned back to her.

 

Chiyo chuckled again. “Your mother didn't appreciate being mated to your father either. You're so much like her, Sesshomaru.” Chiyo's age roughened voice rasped. “But you are carrying a child. Does your mate know?”

 

Sesshomaru regarded her with a levelled stare, “He is not my mate.”

 

“You may wish to think that, my Lord, but you are mated. Everyone within the castle can feel it, just as we can see it clearly.” She motioned for him to lie down, all the while tugging the blankets down so they rested on Sesshomaru's knees. The elderly healer then gingerly pulled his yukata apart, revealing the Lord's stomach. “This may feel bizarre, my Lord, but please do not be alarmed.”

 

The demon remained silent as Chiyo held her hands, palms down, over his stomach. Just as she'd warned, Sesshomaru felt a fuzzy sort of heat settle over his stomach.

 

Sesshomaru ignored her; his curiosity getting the better of him. Sesshomaru's right hand rose to his neck, rubbing lightly. The pale column was sensitive, but he couldn't feel any sign of a mark: no rough scars or puncture marks. He hadn't felt any pain at all to signify a mark had been made in the first place. Inuyasha couldn't have - he hadn't mated him. Sesshomaru was sure of it.

 

He heard Chiyo laugh and his golden eyes flickered up to her wrinkled face, “Nearly five hundred and still a child. I forget how young you are, my Lord.” Sesshomaru remained silent as the healer withdrew, “There seem to be no irregularities thus far. There seems to be no reason to exterminate it.”

 

Sesshomaru scowled minutely and allowed his head to tip forward in acknowledgement. The pup's good health made destroying it difficult; there wasn't anyway he could kill it and not be confronted by an enraged healer and the council. Sesshomaru's mind whirled into life, he could make it look like an accident…

 

“How would you have killed it, should it have been spoilt?”

 

Chiyo's wise emerald green eyes settled curiously on Sesshomaru's pale face. She answered softly and slowly “There is an herb that is poisonous to demons. You are strong, my Lord, you would have lived, but the pup would not.”

 

“Is there a reason for you not telling me the name of this herb?”

 

Chiyo's smile was laced with a morbidity that made Sesshomaru's skin crawl uncomfortably. He had not seen such a look on the elderly demon's face since he'd asked about his mother's passing while still a young pup.

 

The elderly healer rasped quietly, “You are like your mother, my Lord.”

 

 

Woffy: Okay, some important notes for this chapter: Sesshomaru's castle is based off Himeji Castle in Japan. I researched said castle at their official website. Why? Because it's a pretty castle and I know little about Japanese architecture. :P

 

Anyway... Thank you for your compliments Strawberry_Chaos and for reviewing! It's appreciated! And yes! Another uke!Sesshomaru fan! -dances-

 

Review? Make an authoress happy? Even if you don't like it I'll be grateful! Just tell me why you feel that way. If you like it, tell me how I could improve it or why you like it. It shows me what I'm doing right/wrong.