InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Pride (In the Name of Love) ❯ Chapter 34

Pride (In the Name of Love) 34 / ??
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 - I'm taking extreme liberties with Toga's character cause I really don't have much to base him off of. So yeah. And yes, he is going to unconsciously do a LOT of the things he used to do when he was chief...sitting at the head of the table is just the tip of the iceberg. It's just...loooooong habit.
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Two figures stood alone in the sinking sunlight on the top of a rocky outcropping. One was a short, spindly youkai, a weak but fast and loyal thing. The other was tall and thin, his features concealed beneath a thick hooded cloak. After a long moment, the hooded figure addressed the small demon.

"That is it?"

"Yes, my lord. This is the castle of the lords of the West, ancestral home of the royal inuyoukai and current home of the Lord Sessho--ack!" The small demon struggled as long, ashen-skinned fingers tightened around it's throat, hoisting it off the ground. It was lifted to stare into the night-black eyes of its master as it struggled, panicked, to breathe. At such close range, his master's hideously disfigured face was visible under the hood of his cloak. His master's voice - with a permanent if slight lisp from a savagely torn lip, sent ice through his veins as his vision faded.

"I told you to not speak his name in my presence, wretch." With casual ease, he snapped the small demon's neck and hurled the twitching corpse aside. His gaze returned to the massive, elegant building and he nodded to himself. The preparations were almost complete.

With a thought, the tall cloaked figure turned away and melted into the shadows as if he never was.

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

"Greetings, my Sesshoumaru."Sesshoumaru bowed slightly, dipping his head. "Greetings, my Lord Father...brother."

"Er. Yeah, hey, Sessh."

Sesshoumaru allowed himself the slightest of scowls at his brother's lack of decorum before taking his seat. Toga felt a smirk twitching his lips. Sometimes, his elder son was entirely too formal and proper...and it seemed his younger was the opposite. The same was true about many things - they complimented each other in a strange, often violently clashing way. // No wonder they fight so much, if they are so opposite in all things! //

"My Sesshoumaru, it has come to my attention that there is a brief but important matter I shall need to attend, and your brother will have to come with me."Sesshoumaru arched an eyebrow, phrasing his words carefully. "This Sesshoumaru is capable of being alone without disastrous consequences, but...I do not mean to offend or question, my Lord Father, but how is it you have a business matter troubling you already whilst you are still in such a...transient state?"

Inuyasha cocked his head slightly to one side, squinting at his brother. Toga chuckled softly and patted his younger son's arm. "Do not worry, my boy, I speak fluent Sesshoumaru." He turned his attention to his elder son. "Translation, what am I involved in already when I'm still dead and shouldn't have my fingers in anybody's pies just yet?" Sesshoumaru blushed slightly and ducked his head.

"Er...actually, since I'm going too, I'd like to know what exactly you're involved in that involves me. And it involves pie?"Toga blinked and then laughed outright. "Ah...well, I'll fill you in later. First, I have other matters to attend. My Sesshoumaru, how are the affairs of state?"

The younger taiyoukai was studying the tabletop intently. "I would not know, my Lord Father."

Whatever answer he had been expecting, that wasn't it. Toga's eyebrows shot up. "Explain yourself."

Inuyasha saw the slight flinch that hit Sesshoumaru - Toga DID have a way with commanding people. He'd never seen Sesshoumaru so meek and mild. However, he moved to save his brother the explanation, figuring Sesshoumaru would give it a more complicated spin than necessary. "While he was gone, I've been in charge. He hasn't been back long."

Toga's gaze softened as he looked at Sesshoumaru. "Forgive me, my son. It is hard to avoid certain uncomfortable remarks when I am so removed from what has been happening. I do not mean to be callous.""You need not apologize, my Lord Father."

"Yes, I do. I'm bound by all the same rules you are, pup. Just because I am your elder it does not give me right to upset you, nor would I wish to do so. I'm capable of making mistakes and social blunders, just as anyone."

Sesshoumaru nodded slightly. Before their conversation could continue further, dinner arrived. Toga politely refused - considering he was still technically dead, food would be an utterly pointless effort. Sesshoumaru accepted his meal and was soon rearranging everything on his plate slowly but eating very little. Inuyasha, on the other hand, attacked his dinner ferociously, enjoying every brief moment of it's existence.

Toga talked amiably with Inuyasha throughout most of the meal. He attempted several times to lure Sesshoumaru into the conversation, but his elder son was obviously not very talkative at the moment. He talked with Inuyasha to get a feel of his hanyou son's life and personality. In the back of his mind, however, part of him was both raging and wailing. Sesshoumaru's eyes were devoid of any spark of life, empty of the fiery flash of intelligence or temper or simple enjoyment. Yes, things were very, very wrong with his elder pup. The truth was, he had asked Sesshoumaru if he minded being alone out of a growing fear that to leave his elder pup alone for any length of time may well mean his death. It tore at his heart to think that his precious, brilliant, beautiful Sesshoumaru could possibly be suicidal, but he was not fool enough to deny the possibility.

Sesshoumaru stood abruptly and bowed his head. "If you both will excuse me, I am going to retire for the evening. I am weary."

Inuyasha frowned. The sun hadn't even gone down just yet. "But Sessh, its not..."

Toga interrupted smoothly. "That is fine, Sesshoumaru. I wish you a good evening and hope you rest well."Inuyasha glanced at his father and then took the cue. "Night, Sessh."

Sesshoumaru nodded and then padded silently out of the room. Inuyasha watched him go, watched the door shut, then turned to peer at his sire. "Alright, what's going on? Where are we going?"

"I would meet with this human girl, and I need you to take me to her."

"Whoa, whoa...that's not a good idea...and I can't.""Why not?"

"Er...well, it has to do with WHERE she is...really don't know if I can bring you there if you're all...ghosty."

"I see." Toga sighed heavily. "Very well, I will wait on that then. I shall have to speak with Sairex and see if he knows any ways I might regain my physical body. As for my Sesshoumaru...how close are you two now?"Inuyasha blushed darkly and ducked his head, mumbling something. Toga arched an eyebrow.

"What's that look for? You are...getting along?""Oh...well...um..you could put it that way..."

"...Exactly how well are you getting along? Judging from the fact that you're as red as your haori, I'm beginning to get a little suspicious."

"Ummm...Well, we...I mean...er..."

Toga smirked in sudden understanding. "Ahhh. I'm assuming you've been a bit more friendly than what is generally accepted as...brotherly." Inuyasha proved, in response, that he could indeed blush even more fiercely. Toga appeared to be considering this for a moment before nodding. "I see. Perhaps...this could be a good thing. Are you mated?""No! We just...just...well there was this one time..and...fuck, I didn't want his only time to be with that fucking THING...and...I don't know. Can we not have this conversation?"// His only...!... // Toga frowned deeply. // So he never took a mate after all... // "Forgive me, I didn't mean to embarrass you. Hmm.""Hmm? What 'hmm'? What are you thinking?" Inuyasha was suddenly wary.

"Perhaps it is not a bad idea for those that care for him to acclimate him to positive feelings. He is too repressed, physically and emotionally, and if he doesn't begin working through some of that, it will only get worse and it will consume him. My Sesshoumaru can be...obsessive. And I would not see him turn that obsession into one of self-destruction."

Inuyasha nodded. "Yeah, I hear ya. But what's the plan? You and I take turns pouncing on him?" The hanyou snorted. Toga blinked, and Inuyasha's jaw dropped when he saw his father sit back, lost in thought. "You can't POSSIBLY be serious..."

Toga eyed his younger son. "I have no such intentions. And I am not saying to do anything that makes either of you uncomfortable. Merely that your brother could benefit from positive emotional reinforcement. If you have a physical relationship as well, that may prove beneficial as well." His words were murmured softly, as if he was still lost in thought. After finishing, he stood.

"I suppose I shall speak with Sairex and the monk. I believe it would be advantageous if I were alive sooner rather than later. Our trip to visit the human will have to be postponed."

"What are you thinking?" Inuyasha squinted a bit. Toga chuckled. "Nothing to worry you, my dear pup. I shall see you on the morrow. Good evening."

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

Sairex blinked fuzzily at the sharp rap on the door. He groaned in negation and folded his wing over his head, shutting out the light and muffling the noise as he mumbled and curled up tighter against Miroku's chest.

Miroku, however, got a mouth and nose full of feathers and sneezed as he woke up. The sight of his lover hiding under his wing amused him, but his attention was diverted as the knock sounded again.

"Sairex! Monk! I would speak with you both."

"Ack!" Miroku quickly but gently shook his lover. "Sairex, wake up...the Inu no Taisho is at the door for us.""Da....oh!" Sairex sat bolt upright and then scrambled for clothing. "One moment, m'lord!"

When both of them were decent - even if still largely disheveled - Sairex went to answer the door. Toga looked him slowly up and down and smirked. The raven blushed brightly. "I would speak to you both if you have a few moments, although I am sorry if I interrupted anything."

"No, no...ve vere just...napping."

"Ah, of course.""Please, have a seat." Miroku gestured to one of the chairs nearby and pulled one up himself, quickly tugging his hair back into a ponytail to keep it out of his face.

"Thank you. I do not know by what manner you have brought my sprit here, but I have no intentions of returning to the realm of the dead. In fact, I need to be rendered physical and alive again, preferably sooner than later. I am hoping you know a way to do this?" Here the demon lord peered at Sairex.

"Kaaa..." Sairex sat for a long moment, lost in thought. "Dis is zometing I've not tried before, m'lord. Mrrr...perhaps ve could use and...modify...Tenzeiga's powers...but I do not know. I vill look into it."

"Thank you. I trust you will succeed. Whether or not you do, however, I wish you to make me a promise.""Of course.""My Sesshoumaru must be cared for. My son has been damaged by my own lack of foresight in dealing with Tsetsukosei when I should have. He must not be allowed to sink too deeply into this despair. Should I be unable to remain or the revival fail, promise me you will look after my pups.""It vould be an honor, my lord."

"I'll do anything I can to help," Miroku added with a faint smile. "Now...I suppose you may wish to be kept abreast of the current affairs of state?"Toga's eyebrows shot up but he nodded slowly - this human was certainly full of surprises!