InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Pride (In the Name of Love) ❯ Chapter 37

Pride (In the Name of Love) 37 / ??
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 - Again, thank you to my reviewers.

No one seems to have seen the Toga / Sesshy thing coming...well, neither did I. Seriously, this story writes itself and I just hang on. I'm not tryin' to scare anyone away or squick anyone, either...(though I'm as yet unsure why inucest is okay with some inus and not others? hehe)...but the story will go where it will. Anyone that knows my writing from my olden days will know I've never been a fan of the common pairing and I try to forge ahead into less explored territory...it's just how I am. I almost never feature any series' main character as my own main character, nor do I often cater to the common pairing audience. I delight in either opening people's eyes to new possibilities or taking unexpected twists. I just can't be part of the crowd.

Now, I also want to point out to all you die-hard Inuyasha fans out there...I've not forgotten him, I'm not trying to ignore him, and I've never said that he won't end up more seriously with Sesshy. However...he won't feature in every chapter cause the story, big as it's becoming, is still Sesshoumaru-centric. Inuyasha is a support character and thus will be in and out as I deem necessary. Sesshy's my baby, Sesshy's the star, and as such the things that involve him will be more focused on. I'm not trying to make it seem like poor Inuyasha is getting the short end of the stick and forgotten, it's not the case...its just...he's been more in the background is all because he hasn't really...had a lot of things to do lately that would affect the plotline in any significant fashion.
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Dinner was a pleasant affair, in general. Inuyasha was thrilled to be able to chat with his father in the flesh - for some reason it was more meaningful than chatting to his ghost. Toga was more than happy to chat back, and happier still to have something to focus on so he wouldn't have to think too much right now. He was still shocked at his own behavior and really didn't know how to deal with it. He couldn't ignore it forever, no...but he COULD let it lie for now and not look at it and pretend like it didn't exist.

"Inuyasha, your brother and I..." Toga cleared his throat. "Ahem, your brother and I have had a discussion of late. What would be your opinion on myself retaking the throne?""That you can't do it soon enough. I'm so not cut out for this."Toga grinned. "You've done well, though. If you wish it, I would be pleased to have you continue to run border patrols. You seem to like them and it'd be a great help to me."Inuyasha grinned wider - he DID enjoy traveling the land's boundaries and keeping it clear of renegade demons. He always felt as if he was accomplishing something. "That'd be great!"

Sesshoumaru was silent and incredibly fascinated by his food, trying very hard to NOT look in his father's direction during his discussion with Inuyasha. After a time, much to everyone's surprise, he actually began a hesitant conversation with Miroku.

"You have done surprisingly well tending to political matters. I was reviewing some of the documents you completed."

Miroku blinked. A compliment, from Sesshoumaru? Surely the world was ending. "Well, thank you. I haven't really had much experience officially, but I've done plenty of unofficial diplomatic work, meeting with village chiefs and whatnot over the years. It wasn't too much of a stretch to take what I knew and modify it."

Sesshoumaru nodded. "You have done well, and you have the thanks of this Sesshoumaru."

Sairex grinned and then leaned in, propping his chin up on his hands. "Vell, dis places me in an awkward position.""How so?" Sesshoumaru asked.

"Vell...I svore my fealty to da zons of da Inu no Taizho." Here he cast a glance at Toga. "Rather didn't expect da...er... complication.""You always were so very flattering, Sairex," Toga responded flatly, causing the raven to snicker.

"Your vow of course extends to my Lord Father, and if it does not, it should."

"Of course. Loyal to da House, den." Sairex nodded.

Toga thought for a moment then flashed Inuyasha a conspiratorial grin. "Now that I am less, ah...how did you put it...'ghosty'...you and I have a trip to make."

Inuyasha blinked, then nodded. "Yeah, I suppose so." He glanced sidelong at Sesshoumaru. Toga followed his gaze and honestly wondered if it would be alright to leave his pup alone for a day. He still didn't trust him, especially after this morning. Sairex's sharp gaze picked up on Toga's brief but carefully veiled look of worry and the raven came to the rescue.

"Lord Zezzhoumaru, it occurs to me dat I've been here a vhile, but I have not yet had a proper tour of da castle grounds, nor have we discussed vhat my duties zhould be. I vas hoping tomorrow perhaps I could have you zhow me around?"Sesshoumaru blinked and then nodded. "Yes, I can do that. It will take a good deal of time, however. The grounds are extensive."

Toga shot Sairex a silent look of thanks before nodding to Inuyasha. "We leave in the morning, then."

The rest of the evening passed fairly uneventfully. Eventually, good nights were said and everyone began drifting off to their respective chambers. Toga twitched inwardly, regretting having swept his issues to the side, but he was not about to let them interfere. "My Sesshoumaru?"Sesshoumaru paused - he had been heading for the door to go to his bed. He was inordinately tired, despite having slept half the day. He arched an eyebrow. "Yes, my Lord Father?""I would have you stay with me in my chambers, if you have no objections."

Sesshoumaru's mouth opened and then shut again, a dozen responses and twice as many questions coming to mind but none forming properly. He finally simply nodded in response and followed Toga to his room.

Toga busied himself dressing in a pair of loose sleeping pants before pulling his hair free of it's ponytail and beginning to brush it out. He cringed a bit at the snarls - he NEVER should have went to bed with it wet earlier. Sesshoumaru had discovered the same problem and was likewise moving to correct it.

Eventually, however, both of them considered themselves properly groomed for sleeping. Sesshoumaru crawled into the bed and couldn't help a grin. He DID love it. The bed was huge and square, the mattress incredibly thick and heavenly soft. The mounds of furs, silks and pillows only added to its almost sinful comfort. His own bed was extravagant but not quite like this.

Toga chuckled as he settled himself in comfortably. "I always had a hard time keeping you out of here when you were a puppy. It seems you still see the allure."

"Hn. I desire comfort as much as any creature, and it seems an inordinate amount of the comfort alloted to this castle has been gathered into this spot."

Toga smiled and then leaned forward, brushing his lips to the crescent mark on Sesshoumaru's forehead before pulling his pup into his arms. "Goodnight, my Sesshoumaru."

The younger taiyoukai was glad the embrace hid his blush. "Goodnight."

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

Morning came and Sesshoumaru's eyes opened as the first feeble rays of dawn attempted and failed to penetrate the thick draperies on the window. A lazy smile graced his lips - he hated the bright morning sunshine that always found a way to shine in his eyes in his own room.

He yawned and then blinked, realizing with a belated start that he wasn't in his own room. Toga's eyes slid open when he felt Sesshoumaru stir and he yawned himself. "Good morning...I trust you slept well?"

"Your bed will make this Sesshoumaru lazy."

Toga grinned. "Well, it is rather good at inducing such thoughts." // And other thoughts...// Toga released Sesshoumaru and sat up, savagely beating down the sudden images springing to his mind of the LAST time he woke up like this, in this position.

Sesshoumaru may have been thinking along the same lines because he abruptly sat up and clambered to his feet as fast as was seemly, fumbling for his brush. "I must return to my chambers and prepare myself. I have to give m...our advisor a proper tour of the grounds and must be presentable to do so."

"Very well. I should be back by this evening. Will you join me for dinner?"

"Of course, my Lord Father." Sesshoumaru nodded and made his exit.

Toga smiled as he got himself ready. He was unsurprised to find his clothing all still hanging perfectly in his closet, exactly how he had always liked it. Every tiny detail had been preserved as if he had never left.

It wasn't long before he met up with Inuyasha. The hanyou had a small pack on his shoulder. Tetsusaiga was mysteriously absent. "Er...you really should leave the armor and the weapons and such here. It'll save some time."

Toga's eyebrow shot up. "Why would I travel unarmed and unarmored?"

"It's a really long story and I'll explain on the way. Please, trust me...?"

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

Kagome blinked sleepily at the knock on her door. With a start, she hopped to her feet. She hadn't intended to doze off in her chair!

She was pleasantly surprised when she found none other than Inuyasha on the other side of the portal. "Inuyasha! I didn't expect you back so soon!"

Inuyasha edged his way into the room and took her by the shoulders. "Kagome, I brought someone for you to meet. You are NOT going to believe me, either, when I tell you who. It's a long and confusing story."

"You brought your brother here, how could this possibly be any more confusing?"

Toga strode into the room a moment later, glancing around warily. The sights, scents, and sounds of this world were wreaking havoc on his senses and he felt far jumpier than he liked. Kagome stared at him in surprise.

"Inuyasha, he looks just like you! Well, not exactly, but..."

Toga smiled and took her hand, kissing it and giving her a smile. "You must be Kagome. Inuyasha speaks very highly of you."

"Kagome, this is the Inu no Taisho...my father."

Kagome blinked, then stared. "B...but....how?"

"It is a long and confusing story, but your monk friend and his lover found a way to use Tenseiga's power and resurrect me, in effect."

"I s-- Miroku has a lover?" Kagome's gaze shot to Inuyasha.

Inuyasha grinned. "Aw, yeah. You'd like him, too."

"Him? Miroku, the will-you-bear-my-child Miroku, is with a HIM?" Kagome didn't have a problem with the concept of a same sex relationship - it was more simple shock that Miroku, the womanizer, would end up in one.

"Heh, yeah...anyway, my father needs to talk to Rin. That's the real reason we're here."

As if on cue, Rin came around the corner, rubbing her eyes sleepily. The two girls had been up late watching movies the night before. "Kagome, Rin is..." She blinked and beamed at Inuyasha, then her gaze swiveled to Toga and she stared, unsure of what to make of him.

Toga walked over to her and examined her critically. "You must be the girl that has so captivated my Sesshoumaru."

"Sesshoumaru-sama?" Rin perked up at the name.

"I am his father. I came to meet you."

Rin's confusion melted and she flashed Toga her sunniest smile. "Oh! Rin is happy to meet you too, my Lord!"

Toga blinked and then smiled in return - he couldn't help it, it was automatic. The girl's beaming was infectious. How such a bright, happy human ended up in his son's care was a mystery he hoped to solve soon.

"Is this your first time through the well, my Lord?"

Toga nodded. "Yes, Rin."

Inuyasha grinned and leaned back against the wall next to Kagome - he could see Rin was dominating Toga's affections already. It was amusing to see how quickly the girl could wrap some of the most powerful youkai in all the world around her finger - hell, he'd do anything for her too and he knew it.

"Rin has something to show you then!" Beaming, she led the way to the kitchen. "Sesshoumaru-sama really liked this..." Her voice was muffled as she dug into the strange, cold white box in front of her and presented a carton and a metal utensil of some sort to Toga with a flourish.

Inuyasha's ears drooped at his father's surprised and pleased exclamation as he discovered the joy of 'iced cream'. "Dammit..."

Kagome chuckled and patted her friend on the shoulder. "Don't worry. I bought extra."