InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Pride (In the Name of Love) ❯ Chapter 61

Pride (In the Name of Love) 61 / ??
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
Update List - If you wish for new chapters of this story to be e-mailed to you directly, please send me an email and I'll add you to my update list! Chapters will be mailed as soon as they're ready to go! If you are on my update list, I still appreciate reviews at any of the usual sites I post to!

// blah // indicates thoughts.

A/N - If I had some great and wonderful note to put here, I'm sure I would. Nothing really, though...work's hell with it being Memorial weekend, and I'm more and more exhausted every day. That's about it.

The crux of the biscuit is the apostrophe.
----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------

"So...this Sesshoumaru is curious. How is it you are back to your original form? Not that I am in any way complaining, despite the fact that you made a most...fetching female."

Toga rolled his eyes, inwardly pleased that his pup had calmed enough to make an attempt at humor. "It seems that Sairex went to examine the kitsune and then talk to young Lady Rin to see if he could learn anything. Rin informed him that the kitsune had a spare vial of the brew that switched me in the first place. So Sairex found it and brought it to me. While it was certainly an...enlightening...experience, I've no wish to remain female."

Sesshoumaru nodded, making a mental note to inform Inuyasha to take better care of his own ward. His gaze shifted to the gathering of various demon dignitaries. Almost all eyes were still riveted on his father in various stages of disbelief, but none of them were confident enough to step forward and voice any form of doubt or challenge.

He could not fail to notice, however, that those that were not staring at his father - who was reclined in his throne with a look of bored disdain - were looking at him. Several snatches of conversation drifted to his sharp ears, related to the ultimatum delivered by Jormandar's emissary. His eyes flicked to the spot where the body had been - the servants had been very quick to clean up the mess.

Sesshoumaru's attention was immediately diverted, however, when the Lady of the North approached his father, nodding her head respectfully. "It is a pleasure to have you returned to us...the Legendary Inu no Taisho, in the flesh once more.""Indeed. I trust you have been well, Lady Shirizu?""Quite." The demoness nodded politely. "I have spoken with the other two...Lord Kanjiro and Lord Shimaku. They have agreed that we should hold council, now that you are returned....especially in light of the...events of earlier."

Toga's eyes narrowed and a growl rumbled low in his chest. "I will tend to my own affairs."

"We hardly think anyone would go through the trouble to take your lands and not come for parts or all of ours as well. Besides...you have always been a strict but fair ruler, and we have never had to fear you sporadically going off the handle in some crazed power-trip to expand your kingdom. Our borders are comfortably stable under the rule of your House." Here Shirizu nodded in Sesshoumaru's direction, indicating that he was included in her compliment. Sesshoumaru returned the nod politely - of the other three cardinal lords, Shirizu had always been the easiest to get along with and had remained a steadfast ally at best or neutral at worst in any conflict over the years.

Toga sighed inwardly - it was a logical fear and he knew that it would only be sensible to discuss it with his peers. "The meeting...would you be opposed to holding it here?"

Shirizu frowned slightly. "While I have no opinion in the matter, meetings are traditionally held on ground neutral to us all. Kanjiro would protest and Shimaku may side with him."

Toga flicked his eyes briefly to Sesshoumaru before sighing inwardly. He knew he was stuck. "Very well. When is this meeting and for how long?"

"Three days, and we would like to convene on the morrow."

Toga nodded stiffly. "As you will. I will be there."

"Thank you, Inu no Taisho." Shirizu bowed politely and took her leave. Toga's eyes slid over to Sesshoumaru, not entirely sure if he should say anything or not. Sesshoumaru slowly arched an eyebrow, reading his silence as loudly as any words.

"My Lord Father, I am quite capable of caring for myself for a mere three days."

"I know...I simply do not like leaving you here as much for my sake as your own. I have grown used to your company."

Sesshoumaru felt his cheeks flush slightly. "It is only three days. I can look after things in your stead, and there will be plenty of time to enjoy my companionship when you return."

Toga smiled and stood. "True enough." He turned towards the assembled guests and thanked them for coming and politely but firmly dismissed them. "If you will excuse me, I need to speak to your brother and his wolf general."

Sesshoumaru nodded and stood himself. "I believe I will...lay down for a while. Perhaps read a book. I am not feeling terribly well."

Toga nodded. "I shall come to you when I have finished my errands then." With that, the two parted ways.

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

Inuyasha blinked when there was a sharp rap on his door. "Eh? Come in."

Toga slid into the room. "Inuyasha, I need to ask you a favor. It is of the utmost importance."

Inuyasha blinked then grinned. "Sure, whatever ya need. What's up?""Ah. I have an inescapable diplomatic council to attend over the course of the next three days. I need..." Toga frowned but continued. "I need you to swear to me that you will keep close watch over your brother. He would be offended that I ask this, so you need not make it obvious. Do not let him leave this castle under any circumstance."

"Er...you do know that Sessh could kick my ass if he really wanted to and wouldn't let me stop him from anything?"

Toga sighed heavily. "I am deeply worried. He is better than he was, but things have again happened and I worry he will either sacrifice himself to the enemy or...take matters into his own hands and end his life. I have not allowed him enough space of late for him to even consider acting on such impulses, but..."

"Relax, I'll take care of him. And if worse comes to worst, all I have to do is give him a good solid dose of Rin and he'll forget all about being suicidal."

Toga smiled slightly. "Thank you."

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

Miroku groaned softly in his sleep and rolled over. Unbidden, a nightmare rose from the depths of his consciousness. It was an old, dusty nightmare, one he hadn't been visited by in half a decade, but still familiar. All around him, wind swirled viciously, drawn into the abyss in his palm.

Dear Buddha, but even the nightmare was making his hand itch and ache. Fuzzily Miroku opened his eyes, alarmed when the sensation didn't fade and instead seemed to intensify.

With a strangled gasp of horror, he watched as the center of his palm seemed to warp and ripple, a small black dot opening in the center and slowly widening.

"No!" he yelped, clenching his hand shut tightly and scrambling backward so hastily that he fell off the side of the bed. The vortex continue to grow, the familiar hungry ache burning through his arm.

Sairex peered over the side of the bed, blinking owlishly but looking alarmed at Miroku's panic. "Vhat is going on?"

"The...the wind tunnel...it...its back!" Miroku couldn't remember the last time he felt so ill, felt so much dread. It had been such a relief when the void had vanished, the curse ending with Naraku's demise. "Naraku..."

"Damn it..." Sairex scrambled to help Miroku contain the void. He hurled aside various items until he found Miroku's beads. He carefully but hurriedly scooped them up and brought them to Miroku, taking care not to touch them directly. "Good ting you didn't get rid of dese."

"I wouldn't, they're holy..." Miroku sighed as the angry void was contained, it's presence still there and weighing on the back of his mind like a momentarily dormant cancer. "How can this happen...Naraku has to be alive again, its the only way..."
"Den ve kill him again."

"If I last that long."

Sairex frowned and hooked his arms around Miroku, resting his head against the monk's chest. "Kaa, don't talk like dat."

"Why can't we all just have one day where nothing exciting, crazy, or terrible happens? A normal, boring day?"

"Mm...because it'd be boring?"

Miroku rolled his eyes. "Sounds like a nice vacation to me..." He sighed, staring at the all-too-familiar sight of beads wrapped around his wrist. "I suppose we should tell the others about this..."

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

Naraku was almost purring with contentment. Karalichala had delivered, far above and beyond his expectations. Hundreds of demons, ranging from minor imps to far more powerful creatures ripped from the depths of hell had been brought to him. He had absorbed them all, bit by bit, and discarded the unnecessary trash. With the ease of long practice, he painstakingly built himself a new body.

The only damper on his enthusiasm was the fact that Karalichala held his heart as he had once held Kagura's. She could crush the life from him easily, at any time.

However, Naraku found he was not terribly concerned. The raven demoness was a patient creature, he had learned, and not one to squander any source of power or any powerful ally. She was not prone to fits of petty rage, nor was she about to use him for any minor revenge. And despite her control over him, her respect for him was apparent as well. She had chosen to resurrect him not only for his knowledge of Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru, but because he was strong. Their relationship was more a twisted partnership than that of a master and servant. She held his heart more as a security measure than a threat.

Besides, it looked as though his tasks at the hands of her master were things he would have gladly done if left to his own devices anyhow. Revenge against Sesshoumaru? Nothing to complain about there.

Naraku had learned that her primary concern was avoiding the claws of another raven demon that had apparently taken up residence with Inuyasha and his family. She had been more than a little bent out of shape when she learned the the raven's human lover had been resurrected, although Naraku assured her Miroku's life would be useful.

Indeed, it amused the kumo terribly to think that the monk whose line he had long ago cursed still lived. It had been horribly draining for him to reinstate the curse from this distance...but he did not fear his weakness would result in his demise. Karalichala had worked far too hard to bring him back to let him be damaged now. He knew that reopening the void in the monk's hand would send a sure signal that he was alive again, as well. He had debated whether or not he wished to announce his presence, and in the end elected to do so. Let them worry and wonder. He would give them no further signs, not for a while. His body still needed perfecting, after all.

Plenty of time to play with them in the future.