InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Pride (In the Name of Love) ❯ Chapter 36

Pride (In the Name of Love) 36 / ??
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!
Questions or Comments? - Email me at megami_no_remon@hotmail.com
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// blah // indicates thoughts.

A/N - Thank you to all my loverly reviewers, as always. And yes, there is a new evil afoot, secrets hinted at, and all sorts of good junk. Keep in mind - if there is no bad guy, there's not much of a plot, and the story would get old. o.O

And I want to say that the story has a life of its own - a few things have been and are going in directions I never intended nor planned in any way...
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"He yet lives, my lord," the minion whispered, cringing before his dark master. The cold black eyes glared mercilessly at him from under the thick hood, but he was not struck dead.

"Surprising. I had assumed his mental state less stable. No matter. We can take him alive."

The minion licked his lips nervously. "But...master, Tsetsukosei...""Tsetsukosei was a fool! Granted, a powerful fool...and I envy the magic he had. I intend to learn it myself. Imagine what he could have been if so much of his power was not devoted to sustaining his half-life."

"How will you learn, Master?" the minion asked, cringing. At the dark glare he received, he clarified his question hastily. "Sairexannaras was very thorough in his destruction. He left nothing."

"Hn. He knows far too much to be allowed to live and yet is far too valuable to kill. I don't even know if he can be killed...who knows what secrets he took from his clan? No matter. You will observe the castle for now and report to me any changes. If that damnable wretch survives, we will have to take him alive. No matter what happens, do NOT let that bloody bird catch wind of you. I will cut ties with you and you will be at his mercies. And you were just informing me of exactly how merciful he was."

The minion shuddered and bowed, scraping his belly on the floor. "Yes, Master...I understand, master...I will observe and report." The dark creature turned and scurried away, leaving his brooding master to his thoughts."

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

Sesshoumaru slowly drifted a step closer to waking. He was so warm and content that he didn't really wish to come back to consciousness just yet. He felt so...safe and comfortable. The soothing scent of his father, the one being he trusted always to protect him, seemed to surround him. He had a fuzzy thought on how strange that was - even on those nights where he had slipped into his father's room and curled up in the midst of the massive bed, well...his father's scent had faded so many years after his death.

With a tiny murmur of protest against waking, he attempted to bury himself further into the warmth beside him and around him. Again, something didn't seem quite right. Yes, the massive bed was soft and warm, a veritable mountain of silks and furs and thick and elaborate quilted blankets ...more pillows than any ten people could find use for...but he couldn't remember it ever wrapping around him so warmly and comfortingly.

// Wrapped...around me...? // Sesshoumaru thought and slowly cracked open one eye. The room was dark, the heavy drapes allowing almost no light into the chamber no matter what time of day it was. However, the pale, dark gray light was more than enough for Sesshoumaru's excellent vision to sift through. The first thing he noticed was the fact that he wasn't alone. The second was that the warmth was not a blanket, but rather his father's mokomoko.

His father!

Sesshoumaru's eyes widened as shock hit him. His living, breathing, very much ALIVE - if sleeping - father! He attempted to pull back out of his father's tight embrace and blinked as the arms around him tightened in an effort to hold him closer, a soft but deep and rumbling growl of protest coming from his father's chest.

Reality hit him like a sledgehammer to the face. He abruptly recalled the events of the morning, remembered with perfect clarity the damning missives piled high on the desk. A low, keening whine came from his throat and he made a much more concerted effort to escape his father's grasp. He had to get away before his father woke up! All he had to do was slip free of his father's arms, gently untangle the mokomokos and he'd be gone...

That proved to be a far more difficult plan to execute than it had originally seemed, and Sesshoumaru froze in place when he saw Toga's sleepy golden eyes flicker open. Said eyes opened wider and a frown settled across the elder inu's face as he noted Sesshoumaru's distress. "Do not look so, my Sesshoumaru..."

Sesshoumaru closed his eyes and bit his lip hard enough to draw blood. He knew he had to admit his shame, had to admit to his father before his father found out anyways. "M-my Lord Father, I...oh, I am so sorry..." he finally managed to choke out. He heard a slight growl from his father but was not expecting to suddenly be clutched up in a tight embrace.

Toga held his pup tightly, lightly running his claws through the silvery hair. "My Sesshoumaru, I saw the letters when I came home this morning. Pay them no mind. You and I both know that someone lied, and I WILL find out who. This matter will be dealt with. You have never done a thing to shame me or my House, quite the opposite. I am so very, very proud of you. I always have been."

A stormcloud of conflicting emotions drifted through Sesshoumaru's eyes, but oh, he was relieved. "I...I will...try to restore my honor and do better by you."

Toga scowled. "Oh, my Sesshoumaru...I do not care what the other demons say. They are a fickle lot, almost all of them. If today I were to send them out a letter that directly contradicts the entire lie that was told them, the majority of them would smoothly apologize and jump on the new bandwagon without question. They respect my House and they fear it. It is easy for them to insult you because they think you gone from the picture, but very few are the youkai that would dare insult you to your face."Sesshoumaru knew well the fickle nature his father spoke of and so he nodded slightly. Toga looked thoughtful for a while before speaking again.

"I will need rest to recover my strength, but I am alive, as I'm sure you've noticed.""Yes, my Lord Father...your scent is restored and your body is warm."

Toga smiled. "Indeed...and my bedchamber smells strongly like my eldest puppy, is there a reason for that?" He arched an eyebrow, his tone lightly teasing. Sesshoumaru blinked in surprise and then ducked his gaze, his cheeks pinking. Oh, he was growing to hate the emotional instability that was making it so hard to keep his expression blank and making him susceptible to blushing and whatnot!

"I would...come in here to sleep at nights when it came with difficulty. It helped...comfort me," he finally admitted.

Toga's smile grew wider and more affectionate, though sadder too. "Ah, my precious Sesshoumaru...I am so sorry for all you have gone through.""It is of no con--" Sesshoumaru blinked when a pair of fingers touched his lips, cutting him off."Hush. Everything you do and ever have done and ever will do is my direct concern. You are my son, and I love you. I was admittedly rash and a bit foolish on the night of my death. I was not thinking clearly and paid for it with my life. I died and all my burdens were thrust upon you. You have done so well...never has there been a youkai lord near as young as you that has ruled such a kingdom. But you never should have had to, not at your age. You were still a pup. In my opinion you still are...no, don't get all bristly, my dear. Should I live to be twice my age and you are the age I am now, you'll always be my puppy. The point is, my death caused you much pain and so much trouble. Even your recent troubles are related to my own time as Lord, and for that I can never forgive myself."

Sesshoumaru blinked. "My Lord Father..."Toga smiled slightly and brushed a few stray strands of hair from Sesshoumaru's face. "You have done so much more than you should have had to in your life and succeeded when everyone waited for you to fail. My heart bursts with pride for you, my precious Sesshoumaru."Sesshoumaru sniffled, then had a moment to be horrified at the action, before simply giving in and burying his face against his father's chest. His voice was somewhat muffled but understandable. "Will you...now that you are alive again...be reclaiming your throne?"

Toga sighed inwardly, not wanting to disturb the warm and fuzzy embrace, but he needed to look at his son when he said this. After he had Sesshoumaru's gaze locked with his own, he continued. "If you wish the throne, my Sesshoumaru, it is yours and I readily submit to you. You have held it for a long while and it would be unfair for me to expect to just reclaim it due to my unexpected return."Sesshoumaru's eyes widened in shock and incredulity at the sheer absurdity of his Lord Father submitting to him. The taiyoukai never willingly submitted to another individual save his sire - for some reason, it was warm and comforting to admit his father's dominance and superiority. The simple thought of his father being anything but his alpha was almost disturbing. "I...I could never rule over you, my Lord Father...I could rule in your abcense, but never in your place. Even if I have tended affairs, these lands are yours. I am not...in charge of affairs right now regardless."

Toga smiled. "Ah, yes, your brother. He has done well, but his time as leader grows short." At Sesshoumaru's questioning look, Toga continued. "You see, he obtained the rule of these lands under uncertain, questionable circumstances. The other demon lords feared or respected you for a variety of reasons, the basest of which being the simple fact that you could defeat them readily. However, there was doubt as to how Inuyasha received the throne. It was possible something had happened to you, but it was equally possible that he perhaps defeated you and claimed it. Therefore, the stronger and wiser demon lords sat back to observe. The rasher fools tested his strength by attacking. Their defeat confirmed that your brother was indeed strong, and did not lessen the mysteriousness of his ascension. The older lords are careful. Eventually, they would have moved against your brother. Now that someone has spread this pack of lies, their doubts will be removed and their plans sped up. So your brother's rule is to be short from this point. He is strong, but some of them are stronger. If you do not wish to rule, I will reclaim my throne when I am strong enough to defend it...but it would please me if you would stay by my side and grant me your council. I would value it highly."

Sesshoumaru had been nodding his agreement at his father's logic and reasoning, but he stopped cold at the last. The thought that his father valued and desired his council sent a warm and fuzzy rush through him, and he felt a faint smile twitching his lips despite himself. "I would be honored, my Lord Father."

"Very good." Toga grinned heartily at seeing the tiny ghost of a smile flit across his son's face. It wasn't much, but it was a start. "There is none I would rather have at my side to assist me with this. You've proven your worth a thousand times over."

"My brother has done an admirable job as well, given the circumstances..."

"This is true, however..." Toga looked vaguely guilty for a moment, and Sesshoumaru had to do a double take to see if the expression remained on his father's face. It was wholly unfamiliar and unexpected. Toga's voice lowered as if speaking a deep secret. "I do love your brother, he is my son. I am proud of what he has done, and will be honored to get to know him...but Sesshoumaru, that does not change the fact that you...you are special to me. You are not my only, but you were my first. As such, you are very precious to me and I love you terribly."

Sesshoumaru couldn't help but smile, aware that his cheeks had flushed a bit but he couldn't bring himself to care. Being thought of so very highly and being held so dearly by this being that had been almost a god-figure to him all his life, the epitome of all he desired to ever be...it felt wonderful. "Oh, my Lord Father... I am...so very glad you are returned."

Toga paused to consider that as he held Sesshoumaru's gaze, still lightly threading his claws through his son's hair. Boldly declaring his emotions or even admitting he had them was something Sesshoumaru was not prone to.

A sudden rush of intense, fierce love gripped the elder taiyoukai. All he had said, he had meant. Sesshoumaru had gone through so much, and done so many amazing things at his age...he was fiercely proud of his eldest son, and he loved him deeply. And right now, his golden eyes were heavy with hurts and fears, but complete trust that Toga would protect him and make it all right. Such loyalty, such love and devotion from such a proud and beautiful, admirable creature...

Toga wasn't even aware that he had moved until he heard Sesshoumaru's tiny, startled gasp as their lips met. Toga was almost if not more surprised than Sesshoumaru. He was absolutely shocked at his own behavior. This was his SON, his puppy! And he was so damaged right now, so fragile despite all his strength..and so gods-be-damned beautiful and trusting and...mm, delicious, too...

Sesshoumaru's eyes could not possibly have grown any larger. He froze in shock when Toga's lips brushed against his own, and he sensed the wave of tense surprise that had shot through his father. Toga pulled free, his eyes locking with Sesshoumaru's. His gaze was intense and searching.

Toga could see plainly the stunned look on his son's face, easily feel his heart fluttering in his chest like a crazed, wounded bird. A slow, warm smile spread across his lips. He had never, until a moment ago that was, looked at how terribly attractive his son was. Every quality he found to be desirable in a potential mate, Sesshoumaru possessed in abundance. // He is my puppy...I cannot possibly be thinking along these lines. Dear gods, what am I DOING?! This must stop immediately. This absolutely can NOT continue! //

Apparently, Toga's mind and his body were not exactly on speaking terms at the moment. Sesshoumaru felt his eyes flutter closed as his lips were claimed in a very warm, thorough kiss. He felt the arms that had been holding him shift and then tighten, pulling him in tighter against Toga's warm, powerful frame. A sudden wave of heat spiked through Sesshoumaru as Toga's teeth nipped lightly at his lower lip, his tongue then moving to lick at the injury in apology before idly slipping into his mouth to continue its explorations.

Sesshoumaru was dimly aware of how amazing a kisser his father was, although he figured he shouldn't be. His father was amazing at everything he did, why should this be an exception? With a soft noise, his mind shut down and he slowly snaked his arms around the elder inu's neck, feeling vaguely sure he must be melting. Toga had shifted and, rather than feeling trapped, the weight over him was comforting even if it dizzied all his senses. Desire suddenly surged through him as Toga's hands ran down his sides, pulling a small and breathless moan from him.

He wasn't the only one that was suddenly overwhelmed with a heady sense of arousal. Toga broke the kiss when it threatened to kill the both of them from lack of air, and it took all his self control to force himself to calm down a few notches. One look at Sesshoumaru...his golden eyes hooded, his lips kiss-swollen and his cheeks flushed, panting a bit...oh, he almost flew apart at the sight. // Oh, fuck, what am I doing... //

It was only with an extreme amount of effort that he withdrew and sat up before taking to his feet. Sesshoumaru shook himself free of his daze, instantly flushing, and Toga smiled at him and offered his hand. "We should get something to eat and check in with your brother."

Sesshoumaru swallowed thickly but nodded, accepting the hand and standing himself. For a long instant, their eyes locked again, but both understood that this was not something they would speak of. Not yet.