InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Pride (In the Name of Love) ❯ Chapter 45

Pride (In the Name of Love) 45 / ??
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 - Time to check in and see what the baddies are up to....surely they aren't simply sitting on their laurels waiting patiently. Bwahahaha!

Over 100,000 words now. o.O...and the next chapter will put me over 200 pages (10pt font) in my MS Word clone. I think this may be the longest story I've ever written by myself. I'm fairly pleased.

I feel vaguely guilty to all my reviewers on mediaminer and AFF! I enjoy personally responding to reviews but don't like clogging up lots of story-posting-space to do so. I can personally respond to my FFnet peoples. So...this is just a note to let you know that I *DO* read all your reviews and I absolutely love them. They are what make me keep writing. I wake up every night all excited to read my new ones. I DO consider questions, I will consider suggestions if made, etc.

I love you all, and you make this project worth my while.

I want you all to know I tried reeeeeally hard to make the end of this chapter...good? But is sleepy time, I'm late (I'm sure some of my earlier readers have noticed) and I was drifting off...when I drift off, I tend to repeat words. So I apologize if I did so. Lol...I'm too tired to do a thorough beta.

So without further ado...
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"My lord...she has arrived."

"Good, bring her in." Jormandar sat forward eagerly as the doors opened to admit the female youkai. She gave him her usual disdainful look, her eyes frigid shards of pale yellow ice. "Ah, my Lady...I am pleased to see you. I trust things are well underway and you received the necessary supplies?"

She nodded once in response.

"Very good. Do you have any idea how many innocents it takes to fill a pool that size?"

Her pale eyes narrowed into a suspicious glare. Jormandar hastily held up his bony hands in a placating gesture.

"I assure you, the ritual testing was performed before a single drop of blood was spilled from any. It is too important to me that this succeeds, and there can be no second chance. I will not allow something so foolish as impatience to damage your spellcasting, Lady."

The sorceress relaxed minutely, apparently satisfied with his response.

"Are you sure, Lady, that you do not wish to renegotiate your price? It seems such a trivial thing. You know as well as I that performing this task for me forces your hand. You will not be able to remain hidden."

She shook her head once in negation - no, she was uninterested in re-negotiating.

Jormandar shrugged. "Very well. Then I shall answer the question you posed me. The answer is yes."

Her lips slowly curved up in a cold smile. She was pleased.

"Everything else will remain at status quo. You will continue to receive your tribute of slaves every week, and will continue to receive my assistance in gathering the things you need. Let me know when the ritual is complete. I am most impatient."

The sorceress nodded once.

"Have you considered my proposal? Please, do not look at me so coldly, Lady...we would be a good match and produce a powerful heir. You are coming out of the shadows and thus keeping you hidden is no longer necessary."

Finally, the sorceress spoke. She formed her words slowly and carefully, her accent thick and heavy - this was not a tongue she spoke often and the words came awkwardly to her perfect, sensual lips. "I am prepared for one and one only. It is not you and I will not ruin all my effort."

Jormandar sighed. She was so cold and brutal, so wicked and evil and damned beautiful...she was perfect. "Very well, my dear Karalichala...inform me of your progress."

The sorceress nodded and then turned, striding from the room without another word.

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

The sorceress eyed the pool, pleased. It was a massive bowl carved into the rock, carefully lined and sealed. The pool was filled with blood, the blood of pure-hearted innocents. Submerged in the pool were the remains of a massive beast, the bones still covered with rotted, putrescent bits of flesh.

Karalichala walked to the edge of the pool, withdrawing a small, hooked dagger from one of her voluminous sleeves. She murmured softly in her native tongue and then slashed the blade across her palm, making a tiny cut and continuing her chant. She allowed a single drop of her blood to fall to the pool at her feet.

A heaving ripple went through the thick crimson liquid and soon it began to bubble. She stepped back, closing her palm and smirking. The pool was at a rapid boil a few moments later.

Karalichala nodded and set to making other plans. Soon, she would make the move that would destroy her or set her free of the only enemy that knew how to oppose her. Perhaps as early as tomorrow. She had waited so long, prepared herself so carefully...and her window of opportunity was shrinking. Not that it had been very large to begin with. She would have to work fast.

Yes, tomorrow night...

Her cold, pale eyes glanced back towards the pool. They settled on the horribly toothy skull bobbing near the surface, buoyed up from the force of the rapidly boiling blood. She did not know what it was Jormandar wanted with Tsetsukosei, but she really didn't care. Her role in that was nearly finished.

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

Sesshoumaru was feeling rather pleased with himself. He had had an eventful day and taken care of several issues, even dealt with the wolf prince. If Kouga did as he said come morning, then, depending on Rin's reaction, he would either be at peace with the wolves' presence or be forced to take more drastic measures. However, as long as it was portrayed to Rin in a positive light...things should go fairly smoothly.

Then there was that whole scene with his brother...Inuyasha had an interesting way of looking at life, that was for sure. Sesshoumaru liked to think he had come out on top of that conversation - no way had Inuyasha expected to be kissed, judging by the abruptly dazed look he had left the hanyou with.

In fact, despite what he had said, Sesshoumaru couldn't really deny that he had thoroughly enjoyed his experiences with Inuyasha of late. Admittedly, a lot of it confused his senses and was simply outside of the scope of the world he usually operated in, but that didn't make it BAD. He knew without a shadow of a doubt that he'd never again be able to completely keep physical lust and desire from his life now that he had experienced it. He assumed it was probably a good thing, although he did wonder where his brother had learned so much. Perhaps there was more to his relationship with the wolf than he had first suspected. It would be interesting to find out. Interesting, too, to find out what other things his brother might be able to show him...

That still left the biggest question, though. What to do about the other, infinitely more confusing male in his life?

He respected his father more than any other creature, alive or dead. He downright revered him. He was everything Sesshoumaru had ever aspired to be and then some. He was the epitome of grace, power, and intelligence.

Further, he had Sesshoumaru's trust, which was a thing virtually no other could claim. His father would lay down his life for his own in a heartbeat. Sesshoumaru was used to being strong and capable on his own...but he could relax and let down his guard around Toga and still feel safe, protected. At least part of that stemmed, he knew, from the fact that his father was the alpha male of the family, the only alpha male that would ever be part of Sesshoumaru's life. He knew beyond doubt he would never concede his own alpha status to any other. It was strange to submit to anyone, but in his father's case, it felt...right.

And with his father, he did not have to be anyone he was not, he did not have to put on airs. He was simply Sesshoumaru. His father knew all there was to know about him. He knew what had motivated him in almost every facet of his life. He could simply be Sesshoumaru, with no pressures or consequences, and his father would still love him unconditionally. No matter what he was to anyone else, he would always be Toga's pup.

Of course, this newly forming facet of their relationship was difficult for Sesshoumaru to deal with. He wasn't sure how he felt about it. He was, even if he'd never admit it, terribly flattered that someone he idolized and practically worshiped would take such a strong interest in him. And he also knew, too, that any interest Toga took in him was bereft of any of the ties and hidden traps that came with almost all others. Toga was interested in HIM, not anything he had or could do. In fact, with as much insight as Toga had had in his life, it was fairly safe to say that he was more interested in the real Sesshoumaru without any of the trappings than anyone else ever could be. Even Inuyasha, who cared about him for himself, couldn't know him quite so deeply. Their relationship was too new.

And he could admit that his father was incredibly attractive. The incestual aspect of it really didn't bother Sesshoumaru too much. Sure, more than a few eligible maidens might lament the fact that two of the world's most desirable males had been removed from the running, but...Sesshoumaru couldn't possibly care less and he doubted Toga did either.

So what was the problem?

Sesshoumaru sighed heavily. He knew that HE was the problem in many ways. Any time he tried to think very far along the lines of romance, something in his mind balked and the nightmares of his torture sprang back to the fore. Logically he knew THAT was foolish - his father loved him and would never do anything to hurt him. However, logic rarely played a role in emotion.

Then there was the simple fact that...well. He had never been in a relationship on that sort of level, and one of the things Sesshoumaru had feared all his life was failure. What if he was terrible at it? It certainly wouldn't do to be terrible at it with someone whose opinion he valued so much... Sesshoumaru couldn't stomach even the thought of his father looking down on him for any reason, being disappointed in any way.

Sesshoumaru sighed. No, there was no easy answer to this. However, he would have to deal with things regardless. After all, his father had no intention of allowing him out of his sight during the night. The thought made Sesshoumaru slightly guilty...but then again, if he had a nightmare when he was alone, who knew what he could end up doing to himself or someone else? It was probably better to be safe than sorry.

Besides, Toga was good at calming him down, he had already proven that much. He always had been.

Hesitantly, Sesshoumaru opened the door and peeked into the room. Toga was already stretched out in bed, although he had propped himself up with his mokomokos and was idly flipping through a book instead of sleeping. He glanced up and smiled when he saw Sesshoumaru enter. "Ah. I was wondering when you would arrive."

"I had matters to attend to.""Of course."Sesshoumaru changed into his sleeping pants before laying down with a yawn. "I spoke with the wolf."

"Oh? How did that go?"

"He will be apologizing to Rin in the morning."

"Very good. Will you be going on the quest? I believe I may join your brother and his wolf friend.""Quest?" Sesshoumaru propped himself up on his elbow to peer at his father.

"Ah. Yes, it seems our advisor needs a dragon-youkai's heart for his antidote. Your brother and Prince Kouga are going tomorrow, I was invited."

"Mm..." Sesshoumaru considered it for a few moments. "This Sesshoumaru has other things to do. I must make sure Rin is adapting to having the wolves here. Between the three of you, you will surely be more than a match for any dragon anyways, you'd hardly need me."

Toga chuckled. "Fair enough. I need to spend some more time with your brother anyways. He has a very...er...interesting outlook on life."Sesshoumaru flushed slightly. "Ah. You spoke with him too then..."

"Indeed. And it made me think a good deal. I have exhibited a surprising lack of control of late.""It is alright.""No, my Sesshoumaru, it is not." Toga sighed and curled his arms around Sesshoumaru, pulling him close and resting his chin on Sesshoumaru's head. "I want you to know that you do not have to worry. I will not take advantage of you. I do not wish for you to be uncomfortable in any way, and will in no way be upset if you refuse me anything."

"This...leads me to believe that you do indeed intend to pursue me," Sesshoumaru murmured softly, aware that he was blushing and that his heart was beating a bit faster.

"Even if it is wrong of me, I will not lie to myself nor deny my attraction to you. If you wish for me to stop, I will, but otherwise...I wish to be closer to y ou than I am even now."Sesshoumaru pulled back enough to look Toga in the eyes, swallowing at the intense but loving gaze directed his way.

Toga's voice was soft as he spoke, idly brushing a few rogue strands of silvery hair from Sesshoumaru's face, trailing his thumb lightly over the crimson slashes on his cheek. "May I kiss you?"

Sesshoumaru found he couldn't speak but managed a small nod. Toga smiled and leaned in, capturing Sesshoumaru's lips with his own. The kiss was soft and gentle, never pushing, but still deliciously deliberate and thorough. Sesshoumaru's eyelashes fluttered shut and he felt a warm heat pouring into his belly. He felt arms slowly slip more tightly around him as Toga gently sucked on his lower lip, teasing it with his tongue. It took very little coaxing for Sesshoumaru to open to him.

Toga purred his contentment despite the guilty little voice in the back of his head. // Oh, his mother would kill me... // The thought was fleeting, however...thinking was not coming easily to him right now. He was slightly surprised - but didn't protest and was far from displeased - when Sesshoumaru's fingers slid through his hair and pulled him in tighter, deepening the kiss. The younger taiyoukai's tongue slid out to wage a small war with his own as Sesshoumaru moved to do a little of his own exploring.

Sesshoumaru had never known something so simple as a kiss could feel so overwhelming. It was intoxicating, spellbinding... the warmth that spread through him and flooded his veins was comforting and earth-shaking all at once. Sesshoumaru felt as if he had been shattered ever so slowly and then put back together in a more perfect way, that somehow through this he had been remade into something destined for a bliss to make nirvana pale. It was definitely an intimate act...he could feel the coils of lust deep in the recesses of his soul...but they were content to remain where they were. This was so much more than a prelude to something sexual. It was far beyond mere words, a binding, an expression of deep love.

The kiss seemed endless and too short all at the same time. They only paused after several minutes, when the need for air finally intruded over the need to continue the warm and wholly wondrous kiss. Sesshoumaru's eyes half opened, although his expression was dazed. His lips were reddened and slightly swollen, his cheeks flushed. Toga imagined he couldn't look much different at the moment himself.

With a rumbling, blissful purr he snuggled his pup against his chest. "Goodnight, my Sesshoumaru."

Sesshoumaru managed a small 'Mm..' of agreement, a faint smile twitching his lips.

There were no nightmares this night.