InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Pride (In the Name of Love) ❯ Chapter 126

Pride (In the Name of Love) 126 / ??
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 - Jess still wants to make a new website. Jess is willing to pay fees for the privilege of having said website, but Jess does NOT know any html. I had a website before that was all geocities drag-and-drop editing, which I can handle... so I want something that is simple enough to make and edit all by myself. Having someone make a site for me is all well and good, except for the fact that I want to be able to update things on my own. Since Geocities is going away... does anyone know any alternatives for someone like me?
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Inuyasha was more than a little miffed. Not only was he pissed off, he was pissed off at the simple fact that he was pissed off. In fact, the more he thought about it, the angrier he got. It truly was a vicious cycle.

It shouldn't be this way. Gods, no, he should be celebrating and leaping about, throwing flowers in the streets.

But he wasn't. He was sitting, glaring at the serene waters of the pool in Kagome's yard, ears flat and a growl in his throat as he tried to validate his current situation, make it anything other than what it would look like the the casual observer.

What had caused this nasty little scenario?

Naraku had dropped him flat. The kumo had been hounding him at every moment, flirting and going completely over the top in efforts of seduction, saying things that ranged from being so horrifically sappy Inuyasha was sure his teeth would rot to things that would make even the most veteran hooker blush and cover her ears. And then, within the span of a few hours, Naraku had lost all interest in him. Completely.

It wasn't that Inuyasha was sad to lose the crazy kumo's attention - never that. Ugh. Gods, no....but some part of him was suddenly, inexplicably jealous. He had gone from being the seeming central focus of Naraku's world to not even being a consideration, and that in and of itself was bothering the poor hanyou. He caught himself wondering what had happened to suddenly make him so undesirable, who else had caught Naraku's glowing red eye, and what made THEM so much more special.

Inuyasha leveled his glare at Naraku. The kumo was dressed in a pair of black shorts and shades and laying on a chair-shaped raft, idly sunning himself as he drifted around the pool and looking quite content. He had taken to this new world and its marvels with great pleasure. He had a pair of headphones in his ears, listening to some music Kagome had shown him, and a couple wine coolers in the drink-holders on his raft. Yes, the kumo was livin' it up. Inuyasha growled low in his throat, trying to form his hatred and malice into a tangible ball to hurl across the water at this horribly frustrating creature.

With none of his usual duties to tend to, Sairex too was taking advantage of the warm sunny day, stretched out on a chair with wings skewed out, a blissful smile on his face. Miroku apparently found his mate's enjoyment of the sun to be amusing - either that or he liked the chance to ogle the pretty raven's exotic features in between keeping an eye on the kids.

Kouga and Aliana were playing some sort of game that only the two of them seemed to fully understand the rules of, although it seemed largely based on the premise that Aliana was a great and powerful monk that was going to exorcize Kouga...and Kouga was the dashing and powerful wolf king and was going to exorcize her right back. It apparently involved a lot of splashing.

Inuyasha couldn't help but feel a bit guilty, as well. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves...but really, that was half the problem. Gods only knew what sort of torments his brother was going through right now back home while everyone here was playing and enjoying the nice summer day. // I know there's nothing we can do regardless, but still.//

Naraku cracked open one eye to regard Inuyasha, the contented smirk never leaving his lips. His plan was working perfectly...which amused him to no end. // I never suspected that the hanyou would REALLY get jealous at the lack of my attentions. Perhaps I should evaluate the raven's question more carefully. AM I genuinely interested in him or is it merely a game?... I suppose I wouldn't mind a romp or three, if it came to that. // Naraku peered over his shades at Inuyasha for a moment before flashing a big, white grin and settling back down to enjoy his sunbathing. // Regardless of that...maybe I should woo the priestess instead and live here in THIS world...I so could get used to this.... //

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

Sesshoumaru let his first genuine smile in days slip when Enriki finally showed back up at the Western Castle. "This Sesshoumaru is pleased that your mission was successful. I thank you."

"Think nothing of it, my lord."

"They all reached their destination safely?"
"Yes, my lord. We picked up Naraku and Lord Sairex on the way as well, as you assumed we would."

"Good. I thank you for the risks you have taken. It was above and beyond what could be considered your duty."

Enriki grinned. "I owe my life to you and your Lord Father, Lord Sesshoumaru. Assisting you is not only my job, but my pleasure. Besides...it was good to get out of the castle. My duties as an attendant are not quite so demanding as my former duties as a military official and I rather miss the action."

"Miss the action? I've seen you dress down more than one of my guards in your current role..."

The coyote chuckled. "Ah, well. Old habits die hard, as they say."

Sesshoumaru was silent for a long moment before getting down to business. "It is unfortunate that Sairex is absent. The raven is good with trinkets and things of a mystical nature, and I would dearly love to know if my Lord Father's life is truly bound to my mother's, as well as the limits of what I can do without risk to him."

"Of course, simply testing the theory would be foolish, but I am not sure how much information we have on the subject of binding demons. Binding and sealing demons is not generally an art that demons practice."

"Ironically, my Lord Father was fairly skilled at sealing demons and would know where we would need to look."

"So what is our course of action? Do we attempt to steal this gem he is bound in?"

Sesshoumaru shook his head vehemently. "No. We will do absolutely nothing at all that may bring risk to my Lord Father. If it comes to it, I am prepared to make any personal sacrifice necessary."

"Ah. That is why you wanted those close to you out of here where you could not reach them..."

Sesshoumaru nodded. "Yes."

"The Inu no Taisho would not be pleased were you to give your life for his. Your absence was very hard on him, Lord Sesshoumaru. He was the walking dead and cared for naught."

Sesshoumaru frowned. "If it comes to it, Enriki, as a last resort. I have no desire to throw away my life for those very reasons. But if it becomes a choice of one of us or the other...there is no contest for me, no decision that need be made."

"Let's try and focus on a less...ah...grim solution, shall we, my Lord?"

"Yes, of course. Have you any thoughts?"

"I am sure you have gone over this extensively in your own mind, sire. However, the noted lack of your mother's dragon minion is...a point of interest in which I can enlighten you."

"Oh? Please, go on..."

"I learned, whilst escorting the party to Edo, that the kumo Naraku has consumed the dragon."

Sesshoumaru's eyes flew wide, his shock great enough to slip the impassive mask he had let slip back into place. "What?!"

"I speak truth, my lord. It seems the raven and the dragon were in some fashion of combat. In order to save the life of Lord Sairex, Naraku fought off and absorbed the dracolich. Sairex voiced some concerns over whether or not the kumo will be able to contain him fully...but for now, at least, this Tsetsukosei has been removed from play."

A grin flickered across Sesshoumaru's lips. "This is very good news. Mother will not be pleased...although I am not sure if it benefits me to keep this information to myself for now or if I should use it....I suppose I will wait at least a short while."

Enriki nodded. "Ah. Yes. Also, my lord...I have acquired your mokomoko and the sword Tenseiga, courtesy of the same kumo. I left them in a secure location just outside the castle gates, as I was not sure you would wish such things in the presence of your mother."

Sesshoumaru mulled it over for a moment. "Surely, I shall reclaim my mokomoko. As for the sword...I do not believe my mother will make the effort to strip me of weapons, as I need to defend these grounds against all comers. It may therefore be safe for me to retrieve. While the blade is worthless to fight with...the protection it will offer me personally should she attempt to harm me will prove beneficial. Escort me to this place."

"Yes, my lord."

"Enriki...a word of advice."

The coyote inclined his head, arching an eyebrow. "My lord?"

"Stay away from my office unless I contact you, and make a point of publically offering opinions that hint at disloyalty and dislike. I shall overlook them, of course. It is best, however, that my mother not think we are close or that you are a particularly agreeable or important minion, for your own safety."

Enriki nodded. "Very good, my Lord. I will make a point of being overheard grousing about something or other, have no fear."

"Yes. Now, I wish for you to summon the wolf pack's lieutenants, Ginta and Hakkaku, to my office immediately."

Enriki wrinkled his nose slightly in distaste - the coyote and wolf tribes were long-standing enemies. "With all due respect, my lord, Ginta and Hakkaku are bumbling fools."

Sesshoumaru nodded slightly. "It seems so on the surface...but when it comes down to it they are intelligent enough to hold their tongues and not quite the idiots they seem. But their intelligence aside, their loyalty to Kouga is unquestionable and unshakeable. On pain of death, neither of them would betray him. It is long since time that the wolf pack was informed of their leader's...unfortunate accident. While I have no desire to cause any power struggles outright, the two of them can act as though under Kouga's direct orders without causing much suspicion and have the pack obey until a better solution can be found."

"Very good, my lord, I shall see to it that they are summoned henceforth. Is there anything else you wish of me?"

"Not at this time. Let us go to retrieve my things." With that, Sesshoumaru and Enriki headed for the castle gates.