InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Pride (In the Name of Love) ❯ Chapter 124

Pride (In the Name of Love) 124 / ??
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.
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// blah // indicates thoughts.

A/N - Meh. Moving entire rooms full of furniture, books, and random stuff...sucks? LOL. It seems my schedule gets all screwed up when I have a few days off in a row and I can never manage to update properly...Heh. Oh well. I try.
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Sesshoumaru refrained from letting any expression cross his features as he sipped at his tea, sitting ramrod straight in his parlor. His mother sat across from him and was giving him a dark look over the rim of her own cup.

"Do tell me, Sesshoumaru...how is it that all the humans, your brother, and your chief advisor all happen to be out of the castle? Not to mention that Naraku character...oh, and the wolf king."

"A strange coincidence, is it not?"

"Well played, pup. But do not think it will make things easier on you."

Sesshoumaru smirked slightly and countered. "Where is your pet dragon? I would have assumed you would have brought him here in an effort to put me in my place by having the beast forcibly mount me, thus hurting me but more importantly, my Lord Father..."

"Transparent as that motive may seem, we both know it would have been plenty effective."

"Fair enough."

Kimi glared into her cup, however, not appreciating Sesshoumaru's on-the-mark needling about Tsetsukosei's unexpected absence. The dragon had intended to be here almost as soon as she claimed the throne...but now, days later, still had yet to make an appearance or any form of contact.

"You do understand, mother, that it would be foolish for such an event to occur regardless." Sesshoumaru finally stated. Kimi snapped a glare to him.

"Why would THAT be?"

"You and I both know that this Sesshoumaru would not easily allow such a thing to transpire, and even were I perfectly willing, the dragon is a base, brutish fiend. He would damage me near to the point of death in his twisted enjoyment. Now, while I am sure you care naught for my personal wellbeing...as both my brother and father are absent, I am the only one capable of defending this throne. I cannot do so if I am too damaged to stand upright on my own."

Kimi scowled darkly. "Crafty, aren't you..."

"Realistic. The dragon might be able to defend your throne but it would be extraordinarily difficult to explain politically. The attacks and challenges to your throne would grow far greater. There is also the vast turmoil occurring in the south with the passing of Lord Shimaku that has yet to be dealt with....and various other political nightmares. While you may not think you need me...without someone that wholly understands all the workings of this kingdom, it would fall. The West is successful for more than my Lord Father's strength of hand, or my own."

"I suppose you are correct, whether or not I choose to admit it. You have removed every other player from the game that might otherwise have assisted me. So it would seem I do need you after all."

"Make no mistake, mother. I will follow your orders and I will assure that these lands are properly run and not overthrown...but I do not do these things for you. I follow orders for the safety of my Lord Father, and care for these lands because they belong to the same. I do nothing for you."

"Well, aren't you so sweet and devoted. He certainly has YOU trained..."

"Call it what you will. I belong to him, and out of concern for his safety and that which is also his I act. The moment he is no longer in your grasp, no matter the circumstances...nor am I."

"I doubt he appreciates such complete disregard for your own existence..." Kimi said with a dark smirk.

Sesshoumaru shrugged. "All beings have their reasons for which they live and the causes for which they fight and act. He happens to be my own. And thus, you and I are at a stalemate. I can not act against you for fear for him, and you cannot remove him and lose me, else you lose it all."

"Shut up. I deeply dislike you being right."

Sesshoumaru smirked and sipped at his tea. It was not a clear-cut victory by any means...but it was something, at least.

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

Kagome frowned deeply as they neared their destination. Enriki had bowed politely and wished them well before vanishing into the forest once the well was in sight. She was incredibly nervous about bringing Naraku to her world. She fully understood why it was so stupid to leave him behind..but even still...

Rin seemed to have forgiven Naraku his past wholeheartedly - after all, he HAD been nice and good the entire time she'd seen him of late and it wasn't in the girl's heart to hold a grudge - and the two of them had chatted happily most of the trip. Rin frequently was distracted by things...and so was Naraku. // God, it's like having two kids with ADD running around... the ACTUAL kids are calmer than those two. //

Sairex had kept his eyes on Naraku for most of their journey and said very, very little. Miroku had fretted about his broken arm and the raven had allowed it to be treated. It was healing nicely, and the pain had lessened a great deal. It was blatantly obvious that Sairex was not comfortable with their current situation.

"You don't think he'll be able to contain him, do you?" Miroku finally murmured, eyeing Naraku but referring to Tsetsukosei.

Sairex frowned. "I'm not zure. Zetsukosei is old and powerful. But even if he does manage to keep Zetsukosei down, dere is ztill trouble."

"Oh?"

"Da reason dis Naraku is not evil is because a part of his mind vas destroyed. It has hindered his decision making process and his reasoning. Vhile it could have vorked either vay, it zeems to have rendered him zomevhat incapable of zuch tings, of doing tings dat are vicked. Instead of being evil, da vorst dat he can manage is immoral."

"Yes...but...what's this got to do with the other?"

"Zetsukosei might be able to bridge dat gap. Or vorse, overpower him entirely."

Miroku nodded in sudden understanding. "Oh, I see...then we would all be in serious trouble. Naraku's a terrible opponent."

"Yes."

"He seems to be holding him okay for now, though. And much as I don't like having him around, it's better yhan wondering where he could be and what he might be up to."

"I'm also vorried about vhat dat damn lich can ztill zee and learn. Ve know for zure dat Zetsukosei is an enemy. Keeping him in our midst...taking him to da Lady Kagome's home...dis could prove disastrous. And yet...dere is not much ve can do about it. Naraku can't be killed unless he is zeperated from Zetsukosei or da phylactery is destroyed."

Miroku frowned more deeply. "This certainly DOES complicate things, doesn't it..."

"Yes. I..truly do owe him my life. I do not...vish for dis to end in his destruction. I know vhat pain he has caused you in da past, but quite zimply, he is not da zame as he vas once...nor can he ever be again. Unless he is fixed or Zetsukosei does zometing to him...Naraku has changed permanently into da person he's become in da past few years."

"I know. It's .. very hard for me to accept. Truly, it is."

"I can only imagine..."

Kagome turned around as they approached the well. "Well...we're here. Now...I only have a one bedroom apartment, guys. I don't...I mean, I don't know how we're all gonna fit...or how long we need to stay out of the way."

Rin blinked. "Oh. Lord Sesshoumaru gave me this to give to you." The girl beamed and pulled a sack heavy with coin and a smaller sack of gemstones out of her bag and gave them to Kagome.

Kagome stared at the sudden fortune thrust into her hands. "Never mind...I'll just...buy a place. Alright...um...Miroku, Sairex...Inuyasha...you've all been to my home before. You'll have to keep an eye on your respective kids. Most human children don't have pointy ears, wings, or tails...or yellow eyes...so...er...yeah. It'd be a little suspicious if they started running around and someone noticed them."

Miroku grinned. "Gotcha."Inuyasha flattened his ears back. "That scrawny wolf ain't my kid, and I'd have drowned him at birth if he was."

Kagome smirked a bit. "Eh, well, you're the one watching him for now, so just grit your teeth and bear it. As for you..." Kagome turned her gaze to Naraku and sighed. "I can't say I trust you and I'm not very comfortable bringing you home."

Naraku waved a hand dismissively. "Yes, I'm aware, I'm the raincloud on the parade. I won't cause any trouble, and won't run amok outside and draw attention to myself. I'd much rather follow Inuyasha around, anyway."

Inuyasha twitched and then whirled on Naraku, storming over to him "I've had about enough of this. You KNOW I have a mate and I'm not at ALL interested in you, right?"

Naraku slowly peered around Inuyasha to look at Kouga, who was chasing - or being chased by, it was impossible to tell - Aliana in circles in some sort of game of tag. Kouga was much faster, but Ali delighted in leaping over his head and landing a good distance away. Her wings weren't strong enough for flight or even gliding, really, but they were enough to give her some serious added distance on jumps. All in all, the two were pretty evenly matched.

"I didn't realize you were quite THAT twisted, my pretty little hanyou..."

Inuyasha twitched. "You damn well know Kouga's not supposed to be like that. I'm TAKEN. I'm not INTERESTED in another mate, even if I DIDN'T hate you."

"You say the cruelest things, love."

"WHY ME?!"

"I can't help it. Your ears are adorable."

Inuyasha twitched. "It's always the damn ears. Always. Of all the fuckin'...I'd cut em off if I didn't need em...HEY! Wait!" Inuyasha jabbed a finger accusingly into Naraku's chest. "If it's all about the ears, then why were you after me when I was human?!"

Naraku purred. "I didn't say it was ALL about the ears..." Glowing crimson eyes raked down Inuyasha's body. The hanyou suddenly felt as if he had been stripped, fondled, and ultimately violated and left in a heap on the ground. "Shall I enumerate the reasons?"

"You ..y-you...just stay away from me!" Inuyasha barely refrained from the urge to cover himself with his hands and scurried towards the well.

Sairex squinted at the chuckling kumo before leaning over towards him. "Are you...REALLY interested in Lord Inuyazha that way?"

Naraku smirked. "He makes it so much fun, it doesn't matter anymore if I am or not." Naraku leaned over and nudged Rin. "Can I have some of those...?"

Rin smiled and handed over some of the flowers she had gathered. "Sure!"

Naraku immediately headed towards Inuyasha. "Inu-darling, I have something for youuuu!""GAAAAAAAH!!!"