InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Pride (In the Name of Love) ❯ Chapter 8

Pride (In the Name of Love) 8 / ??
Written by Jezz-Ra
Warnings - Not all warnings apply to all chapters. Yaoi, Het, Rape, Lemon, Violence, Language, Torture, Angst, Incest, Dark (at times). It's a massive story, folks, it's got a little bit of everything.
Disclaimer - I don't own Inuyasha, don't make money off it. Wish I did.

Sidestories can be found under my author profile at any of my archive sites.
Archived at - inu.adultfanfiction.net, fanfiction.net, and mediaminer.org ::: Anywhere else, ask!
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// blah // indicates thoughts.

A/N - In case you were wondering - yes, the name of this story is from the U2 song of the same name. The song in no way inspired or has anything to do with the story. I just...tend to name all my stories after songs or lines from songs. =D
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"Put my brother down, you bastard, and back off!" Inuyasha growled, yanking out Tetsusaiga. Tsetsukosei chuckled and made no move to put Sesshoumaru down, back off, or otherwise acquiesce to Inuyasha's demands.

"You come to my domain to steal from me and then expect me to let you get away with it?""I came to rescue my brother, asshole! Now leave him alone! Haven't you done enough?!"

"It doesn't matter what you think or what you intended. The simple fact of the matter is that Sesshoumaru belongs to me."

"The fuck he does! You can't j--""Actually, by the terms of our contract, he does. He traded himself to me in exchange for the soul of his human girl-child. He came willingly. Therefore, he is mine. Should he leave, our contract becomes void and I will take the girl-child instead, as is my right."

Inuyasha stared, flabbergasted. The thought that Sesshoumaru would willingly sacrifice himself, willingly undergo THIS for the sake of Rin, a HUMAN, was beyond belief. However, all the little questions were answered and everything made sense. This is why Sesshoumaru had left Rin with Inuyasha..left his mokomoko with Rin. This is why he seemed to have just vanished with no trace of a struggle.

"And now, what to do with YOU..."

Inuyasha glared viciously. "I'm not under any fucking contract with you, and I'm not going to stick around and let you capture me!"

"I suppose that is true. For now. And yet here you are, in my domain..." Tsetsukosei took a step forward, halting abruptly when Inuyasha slashed viciously at him with Tetsusaiga. The draconic beast's eyes narrowed. "You think a toy like that could harm me...? Ah, I see...it is more powerful than it appears, but you do not wish to risk harming this..." Tsetsukosei shook Sesshoumaru's limp form for a moment to indicate what he referred to. "I have no need of two pets, but you would probably fetch an excellent price on the market."

"Market? Quit talkin' like you already have me prisoner, bastard! I'm still free!""So you think."

"Oh, fuck you. Cocky son of a bitch...just because you tricked my brother doesn't mean you've won anything over me! I'll be back, and when I am, I will fucking DESTROY you!"

Before Tsetsukosei could react, Inuyasha leapt the wall and fled.

// Fuck, I hate to leave Sesshoumaru there...but until I find a way to kill that thing without risking his life...or Rin's... dammit! I need a plan! //

Inuyasha retreated deep into the unfamiliar countryside before pulling himself up into a black, twisted tree to think. He had no idea where he was, really. Everything was dark and twisted, like a diabolical shadow-version of the world he knew. He had no idea where he was, where home was, or how to get between the two.

However, he had no intention of leaving without his brother. It had stunned him to see the proud, mighty Sesshoumaru laying bleeding, broken, and starved. Just...discarded in a heap on the floor. Worse had been his glimpse into his brother's golden eyes, however. He looked completely devoid of life or hope.

// He seemed so surprised to see me, too...shit. I can't imagine having all that done to me and not think in the back of my mind, even for a moment, that someone would be looking for me. Even if they sometimes drive me to distraction...I have friends. Even when they can't help, they try. No matter what happens, I know they care. And all he has is Rin. He gave up everything for her...//

Inuyasha sighed and played with the hem of one of his sleeves. // What happened to you, Sesshoumaru? When did you stop being the cold, supercilious bastard that wouldn't spit on someone if they were on fire? Could one human girl have so changed you? Are you really as icy as you pretend to be? When I get you out of here, we're gonna have a long talk. If...I ever find out where here is. And how to get you out. //

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

He slowly opened his eyes and stared vacantly at the ceiling, not bothering to move his head for a long while. His eyes were a dull amber, devoid of their usual intense sunfire spark. His arms were back in place and his hamstrings, at least, had healed - he was no longer paralyzed. Sesshoumaru simply lay where he was, and knew despair.

He had been stunned that his brother had come for him. After all the negativity between the two of them, he still came. Sesshoumaru was filled with grief and regret, now. How terribly Inuyasha must think of him. He had always been so harsh and judgmental because of his hanyou status. It was true, he had despised the human blood that 'tainted' their family, and taken it out on Inuyasha.

Regret brought a low, keening whine to his throat. He was stripped enough of his pride that he didn't make the effort to hide it. Some of his last words to his beloved father had been so cruel and harsh. He had told him how he would never forgive him...how he had lost all sense of his principles, tainted their family line...and so many more enraged, hurtful things.

And he had meant them, at the time. He had promised to kill his hanyou brother, and been brutally shocked with his father's response. "If you kill your brother, than I will have no son, Sesshoumaru."

Sesshoumaru closed his eyes against the tears that came anyway, their salt stinging some of his wounds. Sesshoumaru had never been able to apologize to his father for the things he HADNT meant. He had been so angry, he had simply lashed out in every attempt to wound his sire...and then he had been killed.

He had never forgotten his father's threat to disown him, and so his relationship with his brother had changed. He still despised his human blood, but his threats were...empty. He tried to blame Inuyasha for his their father's death. He took his rage out on Inuyasha, surely, and said horrible things...but what Inuyasha did not know was that he would never strike him mortally.

He grudgingly had grown to respect the hanyou's strength as Inuyasha had gotten older, and his assaults became less of an attempt to lash out at his brother and more...tests. He had found it impossible to believe that a mere hanyou could ever contend with a youkai. But every time they fought, Inuyasha proved his mettle over and over.

Sesshoumaru had been downright cruel to his brother in the words he chose. His tests wouldn't have worked if Inuyasha had realized he was being tried, of course...

And despite all the beatings, the insults, the pains and wrongs and dark thoughts he had visited upon his hanyou brother, he had still come to rescue him. He had risked his life and maybe more to rescue someone he thought despised him and wanted to kill him.

// Have I truly become such a terrible creature as this? I've treated the lowliest wretch of my kingdom a thousand times better than the only other son of my Lord Father. Perhaps this is what I deserve. At least in saving Rin, I get some small bit of redemption, although it does not begin to atone for my sins. //

Slowly the taiyoukai turned his head to examine himself. He could scarcely move, and his regenerative powers seemed to have either stopped functioning entirely or nearly entirely. His gaze lingered on the blunt, fleshy tips of his slender fingers. They had stopped bleeding, but the flesh was horribly tender. He couldn't stop staring at them, feeling as if some vital element of himself had been torn away.

// Oh, what a wretched thing I have become. I have failed you in almost every way...oh my Lord Father, please forgive your son. I have been prejudiced and judgmental. I deliberately hurt my brother when he only sought to be near me. And now I'm nothing. A clawless, defenseless plaything, good for nothing but that beast's amusement. I deserve no better. Inuyasha was right to change his mind and abandon me to this fate. Forgive me, my brother. I have wronged you. And through it all, I was so sure that I was RIGHT... //

Sesshoumaru laughed softly, though it was a strained, self-derisive sound and not one of any genuine humor. He had no will to live, but death would offer him no reprieve or change. // I do not deserve such an escape from my punishment. //

The taiyoukai took a deep breath and slowly relaxed, allowing his body to sink limply against the floor.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Tsetsukosei stalked into Sesshoumaru's room with a smirk, noting that the taiyoukai's eyes were open. Sesshoumaru's expression was blank - somewhat sad, his stare rather vacuous. "Aww, poor puppy...your brother abandoned you to me. What a shame."

Sesshoumaru did not respond in any way.

The demon-beast narrowed his eyes. "Get up."

Sesshoumaru slowly climbed to his feet and stood where he was, head bowed.

"What, has all the fight left you, my dear little puppy?" Tsetsukosei asked, grabbing Sesshoumaru roughly by the chin. Sesshoumaru spoke, finally, but his voice was heavy and lifeless.

"Do as you want. I do not care any more."

Tsetsukosei's grin widened as he eyed the taiyoukai, searching for any sign of trickery. Without warning, he delivered a powerful backhanded smack to Sesshoumaru's face. The taiyoukai jerked and stumbled from the force of the blow, but then was still. Tsetsukosei crowed in wicked triumph.

Sesshoumaru had been broken.