InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Pride (In the Name of Love) ❯ Chapter 29

Pride (In the Name of Love) 29 / ??
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.

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// blah // indicates thoughts.

A/N - *sigh* Mmm, you guys'll either love me or hate me for this one...probably both. XD I apologize in advance for the terrible cliffhanger I shall leave you on - I ran short of time when writing. Hehe...consider it a teaser.
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Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru slowly entered the courtyard. They walked over to greet Sairex, who was leaning casually against the wall, his eyes following Miroku as the monk jogged around the rather extensive outer circle.

"What part of spiritual training involves wearing grooves in my courtyard?" Sesshoumaru finally asked.

"Oh, no part, really," Sairex responded with a grin, flipping a couple of his braids back over his shoulder.

"Whatever he did, I'm sure he deserved it," Inuyasha snickered.

Sairex raised an eyebrow as he glanced at Sesshoumaru. "Is dere a reason you zmell of blood, m'lord?" Sesshoumaru smirked and held up his re-clawed fingers, wiggling them slightly.

"Impromptu surgery. I am on my way to the baths as we speak."

"It was fucking gory, man...he was all cutting open his fingers and cramming claws in." Inuyasha looked vaguely green.

Sairex paused to wave as Miroku passed them before calling out cheerily. "Only zeventy-two more to go! You might make it in time for dinner!" The raven turned his attention to Inuyasha, arching one eyebrow. "Zo...the zight of your brother slicing countless demons to ribbons does not phase you, but cutting open his fingers does?"

Inuyasha stuck his tongue out. "Eh, it's different..."

Sesshoumaru stared at Sairex until the raven paid him full attention. "Sairex. The monk is in your care and is no longer to attempt to run any facet of my castle's affairs. This Sesshoumaru thanks him for his effort, but I shall be assuming control of diplomatic functions again personally. He is to concentrate fully on his training. It would be...useful...to have a worthwhile monk at my disposal." Sairex bowed slightly in understanding, and Sesshoumaru turned on his heel, striding out to go find his bath.

Sairex chuckled and nodded to Inuyasha. "He ztill zpeaks like da Lord of da Vest, doesn't he..."

"Eh. He still is, he just is being a stubborn ass about the whole thing. The only thing stopping him from playing king again is himself and his paranoia."

"Mm...his reaction is...underztandable, given da circumztances, Lord Inuyazha.""Keh, I know. I just think it'd do him some good to get back into what he's familiar with."

"Baby zteps and all dat."

"Yeah. So...why ARE you making Miroku run laps? Not that it isn't amusing to watch..."

Sairex snickered. "Mm. Da monk and I...ve got fairly close in da time ve spent together. I know today vas da first time ve met face to face, but.." Sairex shrugged slightly. "Vhat ve zhared, it vas closer dan most people ever have da chance to be. You can't hide much of yourzelf vhen you are so intimately ztuck together."

"So what, he try to grope you or somethin'? Miroku usually goes for chicks, but I suppose you're not too hard on the eyes."

Sairex blinked a few times, attempting to properly digest the latter half of Inuyasha's statement. "Er...tank you? I tink...And...er..." The raven inwardly cursed how easily it was to detect a blush with skin as fair as his own. "You...could say he...did zometing...inappropriate."

Inuyasha blinked, ears flicking forward in interest. "So he didn't just grab your ass? That's usually his favorite move."

"Er...it's actually zomevhat complicated." The raven cleared his throat, praying he wouldn't have to explain himself. Inuyasha gave him a squint.

"HOW inappropriate?""Extremely. Before ve met in perzon."

Inuyasha scratched at his head. "How'd he grab you before you were able to touch each other?""Ztory I'd rather not zhare. Ultimately, dis is my vay of getting back at him for...mm... making me lose our bet before its even begun."

The hanyou snorted. "What'd ya bet?""That he couldn't zeduce me." Sairex chuckled softly.

"So you guys are together, eh?" Inuyasha couldn't help but grin at this unexpected development.

"Technically? No." A faint frown flickered across the raven's features. "I had...hoped to avoid zuch involvement. It vill be...painful. You are hanyou, you underztand." Sairex noted the injured look Inuyasha gave him at the reminder.

"Everyone judges me because of that."

Sairex was quiet for a moment before speaking. "Humans...exist in our lives for zuch a zhort vhile. And even if I so readily accept zuch a guaranteed, painful loss...vhat of him? How vould it be to age, to be eaten avay by old age and know dat da one you love looks da zame as dey did fifty years ago...vill look da same as they do long after you die..." Sairex sighed. "Dere are reasons dat youkai and humans do not often mate. I do not hold you in contempt for da circumztances of your birth, Lord Inuyazha. Indeed, I respect you for dem. Your parents vere very brave to face zuch inevitable pain. Love is...a powerful ting..."

Inuyasha nodded after a moment. He'd never quite heard an opinion like THAT one on his being a hanyou. Sairex looked somewhat saddened but ...resigned. "Yeah, well...an occasionally wise but usually lecherous monk once told me somethin'. 'You can't choose the ones you love. Love happens.'"

Sairex nodded slowly, a smile flicking across his lips. "Oh, do not vorry...I've no intentions of driving him avay. I'm already in too deep. I just...do not vant to ruin his life."

"Eh, I don't think you have much to worry about. Despite his flaws, Miroku's actually ... eh. Smarter than most humans. He ...y'know, sees the big picture instead of just what's in front of him."

The raven nodded with a slight smirk. "True. However...I'll make him vork to vin his bet, if only for amusement's zake." Sairex chuckled as the weary monk passed them again, a smile plastered on his face.

"Well, let me know when its ok to congratulate you two. I have to go find my brother."

Sairex nodded and settled back against the wall. "Of course. Oh, Lord Inuyazha...?""Yeah?" Inuyasha paused in the doorway. Sairex smiled.

"Tank you. I do appreciate all you have done for me and all you ztill do for me."

"No problem. It's gonna be great having you around. Don't work the monk too hard." Inuyasha grinned and waved before heading into the halls to track down his brother.

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

Finding Sesshoumaru wasn't overly difficult. Inuyasha slid soundlessly into the bathroom and just paused there in the doorway, ears twitching forward as he looked at his brother.

Sesshoumaru was reclined against the wall of the large in-ground tub. His hair slithered across the marble floor behind him, his head resting on the cool surface. His arms were stretched out to either side and he was idly drumming his claws along the edge of the tub, the sound pleasing to him judging from the slight smirk twitching his lips.

Inuyasha's eyes slowly drank in the sight of him. His eyes trailed down the exposed line of his brother's throat to his bare chest, down to the line where his body disappeared into the water. Save for the permanent red scar of Tsetsukosei's bite, Sesshoumaru was flawless. Inuyasha found himself fascinated as he looked at his brother's markings, idly wondering how many markings HE had when his demon took over. He was startled out of his thoughts when he heard his brother speak.

"You may join me or leave, but you should not stand and stare."

"I wasn't starin'!" Inuyasha demanded, but he quickly squirmed out of his clothes and slid into the water up to his nose, ears flattening as he tried to hide his blush with the water. Sesshoumaru sat up straighter, arching an eyebrow. "Well shit, it's not like I wandered in on you doing something bad!"

"Such as?" It took a concentrated effort to keep his other eyebrow from hiking up to join the first.

Inuyasha's blush deepened and he scowled, folding his arms across his chest. "You know.""What would I possibly be doing in the bath that would embarrass you so, dear brother? I am most curious."

Inuyasha stared at Sesshoumaru. "You're just trying to embarrass me, you ain't that dense."

Sesshoumaru frowned slightly. "You are not making sense. What is it you are insinuating?"

The hanyou blinked very slowly as it dawned on him that Sesshoumaru actually WASN'T teasing him. "Oh, come on, you can't tell me you never...errr...pleasure yourself." Inuyasha contemplated drowning and wondered if it would be less painful than the fire in his cheeks.

The taiyoukai snorted in sudden understanding and leaned back, closing his eyes. "Oh. No. This Sesshoumaru does not bother with such things."

Inuyasha gaped, his amazement forgotten for a moment. "Oh, come on. Everyone does."

One golden eye reopened to glance at him. "This Sesshoumaru does not."

Inuyasha suddenly nodded in understanding. "Oh. I get it. It's beneath you. You probably have some massive harem somewhere that takes care of your needs." He snorted.

Sesshoumaru stared hard at his brother. "No. This Sesshoumaru has no...needs."

Inuyasha squinted. "Come off it. You aren't so unfeeling as you pretend to be. You're hundreds of years old, in a position of power, and too damn good looking for anyone else's good. You can't possibly expect me to sit here and believe you're untouched by everyone, including yourself. Stop fucking with me."

Sesshoumaru frowned deeply. "I...was." Whether or not the taiyoukai realized it, his fingers had moved to unconsciously trail over the hated scar at his throat.

"See, I kn--...oh." Realization dawned. " Oh, fuck me. You...you're serious, aren't you?"

It was Sesshoumaru's turn to sink down into the water a bit, muttering darkly. "This Sesshoumaru found physical desire to be a distracting, senseless thing and thus did not indulge. Eventually I...got used to it and figured I'd take a mate and deal with it...then."

"But...Sessh, that's like...not healthy.""Hn... I am perfectly healthy, thank you.""But...you're denying yourself something that feels great for no reason other than to keep your focus? Maybe this job WAS getting to you."

"Physical pleasures are unnecessary," Sesshoumaru muttered.

"How do you know, since you never tried? You can't form a fair opinion with no experience." Inuyasha had gotten over the embarrassment of the subject material now that it was turning into something of a battle, be it only one of words.

That set Sesshoumaru back a few mental paces and he frowned. Inuyasha had just hit a sore spot - the taiyoukai had always been very careful to make sure all his opinions and decisions were based firmly in fact, generally after thorough research. It would not do to make a stance on something he had no clue about. He couldn't very well sit here and say sex - all aspects of it - was completely pointless and not worthwhile when he had not experienced it. Sesshoumaru was smart enough to realize that no matter how dreadful it made him feel, what had happened with Tsetsukosei really didn't count.

Inuyasha could almost hear the wheels turning in his brother's mind. His head cocked to one side in amusement as he watched the tiny emotions flickering across his expression - obviously, Sesshoumaru was waging a sudden mental debate with himself.

Sesshoumaru finally spoke up, very slowly and carefully. "This Sesshoumaru does not have a mate so I ... I retract my judgment on the situation pending further experience."

Inuyasha almost burst out laughing, unused to seeing Sesshoumaru so hesitant and...was that a blush?...No...It COULDN'T be...Could it...? "Sessh, you're blushing!""This Sesshoumaru does NOT blush!" the taiyoukai hissed forcefully, sinking down in the water some.

"Aww, poor Sesshy...did I embarrass you?" Inuyasha slid over and patted his brother's back in a mock attempt to soothe him. Sesshoumaru bared his fangs and growled softly, but the hanyou obviously wasn't terribly afraid that he may be attacked. "Seriously, though, Sessh...there's nothing wrong with taking some time to enjoy yourself. By yourself or not. Its better with the not."

Sesshoumaru slowly turned his gaze to his brother's and paused. His counter-argument crashed around inside his mind and refused to settle down and come out properly, so he said nothing.

Inuyasha saw the somewhat vulnerable look flicker in his brother's eyes, and was suddenly acutely aware of the conversation they had just had and exactly how close to the taiyoukai he was. The thought that his older brother...lord of the land and harbinger of so much destruction...was innocent in a way that he wasn't... The mere idea sent an abrupt coil of lust into his stomach. Before he realized what he was doing, he had slid forward, curling his arms around Sesshoumaru's neck and pulling the somewhat startled taiyoukai into a heated kiss.