InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Pride (In the Name of Love) ❯ Chapter 87

Pride (In the Name of Love) 87 / ??
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 - Working on another sidestory for y'all when I'm done with this chapter, but I don't know if I'll get it out to you before I run out of time. As I am PROBABALY going away this weekend, this might be your last post until Monday. I'm uncertain as to whether or not I'll get one out for Friday because for some reason my boss felt the need to schedule me on 1st shift (7a-3p) and I have to leave that evening. (Jess is going downstate to visit her father for father's day weekend if all goes according to plan.) I should return Sunday evening, although there is no guarantee I will get a post out that night. Monday is a pretty safe bet, though, depending on if/ when I work that night...or day...or whatever.
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Sesshoumaru bit back a huff of annoyance when he felt Inuyasha staring at his back. He didn't bother to say anything, though. He simply remained where he was, watching his Sounga-possessed father angrily destroying random objects since he couldn't get past Miroku and Kagome's wards.

"Sessh?"

Sesshoumaru remained silent, which Inuyasha translated to mean 'Why yes, dear brother, please, what is it?'

"Sessh, will you...come with me for a minute? I...want to talk to you. 'Sides, you shouldn't stay so close, where that damn sword can see you. It's almost like you're taunting it, and the extra strain on fighting it off isn't something father needs."

The taiyoukai growled low in his throat but didn't argue the point. "Very well." He made a small gesture with his hand, indicating for Inuyasha to go wherever it was that he was going. Inuyasha took off down the hallway, and Sesshoumaru followed him. It wasn't like he had any real doubt as to what the hanyou wanted to talk about, even if he couldn't claim to be overly eager to discuss it himself.

Inuyasha took him to a nearby sitting room and flopped onto his back onto a divan. Sesshoumaru settled much more gracefully on a matching piece of furniture opposite his brother and eyed him wordlessly.

The hanyou was silent for a long moment, simply returning his gaze. Sesshoumaru finally broke the silence.

"Generally, when one wishes to speak to another, words are involved."

Inuyasha's ears flattened back and he gave Sesshoumaru a not-very-heartfelt glare. "Keh...and you call ME impatient. I just...I wanted to thank you for saving me."

"Hn. Your gratitude is unnecessary but duly noted."

"You risked your own life...or at least some pretty nasty injuries...to save me."

Sesshoumaru resisted the urge to squirm. The truth was, he had been almost as surprised as Inuyasha had when he found himself flying across the room to protect his younger brother, even if it meant damage to himself. He had tried to rationalize it in his uneasy mind that his father would have been very upset, when he got free of Sounga, if Sesshoumaru had let him kill his younger son.

Then, of course, there was always the fact that Inuyasha had saved his life. More than once, it would seem. So he owed the hanyou, he couldn't very well run around indebted to him...!

But that wasn't the whole truth, was it?... No, try as he might to come up with some excuse, Sesshoumaru knew the heart of the matter. // I did not wish to see you die, little brother. Somewhere along the line you got past my defenses and worked your way into my heart. //

Of course, Sesshoumaru wasn't about to say these things...dear gods, no.

"You could have let him kill me. Then you would have been rid of my half-demon taint without having actually done a thing yourself, so you couldn't have really been blamed."

Sesshoumaru scowled darkly, speaking before he could think to stop himself. "What sort of monster do you think this Sesshoumaru is? I do not desire your death any longer, Inuyasha. The blood of my Lord Father flows through your veins, and no matter how I despise your human ancestry or how frustrating your human morals and conventions can be at times, that fact alone makes you worthy of this House. I am no better. Only half of my blood is my Lord Father's.The other, while still the blood of a demoness of noble birth, is foul and disgraceful. We are not so different."

Inuyasha practically fell off the divan in shock, sitting up to stare at Sesshoumaru, uncertain that he had heard him correctly. He could accept that Sesshoumaru really didn't want to see him dead. After all, the two of them had reconciled most of their differences and had even grown to enjoy each other's company. That he could understand. But to hear Sesshoumaru say that they were no different? Wasn't the difference between them the biggest argument Sesshoumaru had ever held over him? A shame to the family line because of his mother?

Inuyasha jerked his mental train of thought to a screeching halt. Come to think of it...he had never heard Sesshoumaru mention his own mother. Ever. In fact, he had never even given it much thought...although he did now. His mother had to have been an inu demoness...and would have been under his father's protection. Toga had been dead for a couple hundred years, but still...Sesshoumaru's mother wouldn't have died of age and was likely strong enough not to fall prey to most demons.

And yet....there was no trace that there had ever been such a female in this castle. Inuyasha had learned that some of the rooms - in fact, one that Rin currently inhabited - were redecorated as they were specifically for his mother and had not been changed. So why would Sesshoumaru's mother have no trace remaining of her in the castle? // She had to have died...else why would the old man have taken another mate in the first place? I never even thought about it. But what's with Sessh's attitude about her? // Inuyasha spoke before he could think about what he was saying. "So was there some bad blood between you and your mother before she died?"

Sesshoumaru froze and then slowly turned to look at Inuyasha, his expression unreadable. "My mother is alive."

Inuyasha blinked. // Alive? But...then why... I can't say I know the guy all that well, but our father doesn't seem the sort to cheat or...well, NOT stick with a mate. It'd be a matter of honor, and he has a shitload of THAT... // "I don't understand."

Sesshoumaru's expression was guarded, but his tone was bitter and threatening to crack. "She was a conniving, wretched whore that was using my Lord Father for his wealth, lands, and power. He loved her and thought she loved him, else he may have seen it sooner. When he discovered her treachery, he threw her out after I was born."

Inuyasha frowned - he hadn't meant to bring up such a sensitive subject. "I...I'm sorry, I didn't know..."

Sesshoumaru smiled, but there was no humor in it. "We are not so different, little brother. You had no father, I had no mother. Both of us with tainted blood, no matter the species."

"Stop. Don't...I know things didn't work out good for you, and I'm sorry, but my mother took care of me. I loved her. I don't consider my blood to be 'tainted' because of her. After all, she's a big part of why I am who I am. So...I mean...I know you don't like humans and stuff, but please...at least don't say things about her like that to my face."

Sesshoumaru paused, and then nodded slightly. It seemed the taiyoukai was just full of surprises. "My apologies. I did not...actually intend it as an insult. It is more...habit than anything. I will not pretend a fondness for your mother...but I will respect your own."

"What's gotten into YOU?"

"I do not understand what you mean."

"This isn't like you....you're being...nice and emotional and...and..."

Sesshoumaru frowned. // Well, this is what happens when you try to let people past the front you put up...disbelief and ridicule. How can the mighty Lord Sesshoumaru have emotions or things that trouble him and eat at his heart? // "Shut up." Abruptly he stood and headed towards the door.

Inuyasha leapt to his feet to intercept him. "Sessh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you, I just...it's nice to be able to talk to you and have you be so...honest. I've had the feeling for a long time that there is a lot more to you than what people see and I'd like to know more."

Sesshoumaru stared at his brother, trying to decide how to proceed. He finally settled on a disdainful look. "Hn. No, this Sesshoumaru is quite transparent. Nothing matters but power and I care for no one but myself. The fact that my lands have prospered in my Lord Father's absence is a complete fluke. Nothing bothers me, nothing upsets me, I have no skeletons in my closet. I have no feelings and my heart is frozen. I am cold, ruthless, and uncaring."

"Sessh..." Inuyasha frowned, feeling rather guilty. Well, yeah, he had pretty much assumed that all of those things were true for a long time. But damn it, he didn't think that way anymore! "You damn well know that's unfair. Everyone else might think like that, and I used to...but ever since I pulled you out of that damn dungeon and we got the chance to spend time together, I changed my opinion."

"Hn. You are in my way. Move."

"No."

Sesshoumaru growled softly. "Inuyasha, hear you this. Even if I accept your apology and even if I desire to allow you to get to know me better, now is not the time. I am not growing angry at you solely for your words or your current decisions. I am very stressed, as there is a grave issue with my Lord Father. This could very well be the death of him, and that is not something I can...that is not something I desire to face again. Something must be done, and sitting in here talking with you, no matter the topic, is not accomplishing a thing. I have much to do and have to try to figure this out... so ... MOVE."

Inuyasha blinked and then nodded slowly, sliding out of the way. He watched Sesshoumaru stalk out of the room with a heavy sigh. He had heard his near-slip. // Not something he can take, is it...I'd imagine not. I know how much the old man means to him, their new relationship aside. Fuck, it must have tore him to pieces when he died the first time. To think he might have to go through that again...but fuck that. I won't let it happen. We've beaten that damn sword before, we'll do it again. //

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

Miroku glanced out the window and saw the sun cresting the horizon. // Morning already. Hm. // He made his way towards the dungeon. Yes, he was exhausted...but that didn't change anything. He would sleep better if he checked in on Sairex first.

To his surprise, Sairex was sprawled out on his bed, limbs and wings askew. His arm had been healed from its break. // Probably from the heron demoness... // The simple fact that Sairex was sleeping, however, alarmed the monk. The raven had told him before that he couldn't rest until he beat Karalichala once and for all, else she would be able to overpower him.

"Sairex!" the monk yelled in alarm, rather more loudly than he intended. Sleepy yellow eyes blinked open and Sairex turned to peer fuzzily at him.

"Miroku? Vhat is it?"

"You're alright...thank Buddha for that...You...said you couldn't sleep or...or she'd get to take you over."

Sairex smiled and sat up, making his way over to the bars and taking Miroku's hand with a smile. "Mm. Da fight is over and I have von. Vhenever Toga zees fit, you can let me out of 'ere."

Miroku's eyes lit up. "Really? You're sure?"

"Yes. Zhe has been zubdued and absorbed."

Miroku grinned and leaned forward, giving Sairex a quick kiss. "Mm...well, I'll go get some keys and get you out of here. Lord Toga is...er... a bit incapacitated at the moment, I'll explain in a few. I'm...eager to hold you and get some proper rest myself. It's been quite lonely."

Sairex nodded. "Of course."

Miroku hurried off and came back with the keys. "There's a lot I need to fill you in on. Oh...and I talked to your daughter and she didn't protest me adopting her as my own, so things are all good on that front, too."

Sairex blinked, then chuckled. "Aliana."

Miroku arched an eyebrow and peered at the raven as he finished unlocking the door. "Mm?""Her name. My...our...daughter. Aliana."

"It's beautiful. I love it. Now come on...I'll fill you in on all you've missed."