InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Purity 5: Phantasm ❯ Overworked ( Chapter 55 )

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There is no clean version of this chapter. You've been warned.

 

-OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO-

 

~~Chapter 55~~

~Overworked~

 

Sydnie lingered in the doorway with a thoughtful frown on her face as she gazed at Bas. Sitting behind the wide oak desk, he was scowling at the papers in his left hand, propping his temple on his fingertips.

 

He'd been like this ever since they'd returned from their honeymoon. Even before they'd moved out of the Zelig mansion, it had been the same. Sitting at his desk for hours on end—at least he'd taken the time out to find a house that she liked—he'd shuffle through file after file with that same scowl marring his features.

 

“Are you hungry? Your mother brought over some clam chowder,” she said, finally breaking the silence.

 

Bas grunted something unintelligible without looking up from the papers.

 

“Come again?” she asked, tilting her head in an effort to better discern his words.

 

He sighed and glanced up at her, smiling in a rather distracted sort of way that made Sydnie wonder if he really saw her at all. “What's that?”

 

“Dinner, Sebastian. Are you hungry?”

 

He shook his head and let his gaze return to the papers in his hand. “Not really,” he murmured. “Ate a late lunch at Mom and Dad's.”

 

Sydnie nodded and shuffled over to perch on the edge of the desk. He'd been doing that a lot lately, too . . . “My test is next week . . . you'll be there, right?”

 

Bas peered up at her and nodded. “Of course I will. I told you I would.”

 

She chose not to argue that. Yes, he'd told her that, and she was certain that he meant to keep his promise. More and more often of late, though . . .

 

She'd thought it'd be better once they moved out of the mansion. Thinking that he was just too accessible there had been a mistake on her part. No, even after they'd moved into the little cottage that he'd found for her, he'd continued to be busy all the time, and while Sydnie could understand that he really couldn't drop everything all the time for her, she couldn't help but wish that he would do exactly that; at least once in awhile . . .

 

“What are you working on?” she asked, knowing the answer but forcing herself to question Bas anyway.

 

“Nothing,” he told her—he always said that. His smile was fake, too, and he still seemed distracted. “Just some stuff I told Dad I'd look at for him . . . I told you that already.”

 

“Can't you leave that alone for one night?” she wondered, her tone unnaturally bright.

 

Bas sighed. “No . . . I have to have the presentation ready for the quarterly generals' meeting. It's just this one case. It won't take long.”

 

Sydnie tried again. “Maybe I could help you.”

 

“No, it's okay.”

 

Stifling a sigh, Sydnie scooted off the desk and shuffled over to the sofa, curling up with her GED study materials as Bas turned his attention back to the files.

 

Gin had taken Sydnie up to the school so that she could ask about the GED test. Bas, at least, had asked his mother to take her when a meeting with his father had run over. Telling herself that Bas was bound to be busy sometimes, Sydnie had smiled at Gin and hadn't complained. Come to think of it, she hadn't complained about Bas' preoccupation at all. She'd been a very good kitty, indeed . . .

 

Glancing up when the soft chime of the doorbell sounded, Sydnie stole a questioning glance at her mate. He didn't appear to have heard it, so completely engrossed in his work, he seemed. Uncurling her legs, she stood up slowly, sauntering from the room to answer the door.

 

“Hey, kitty . . . how's it going?”

 

Sydnie blinked, staring at Evan Zelig. Etched against the darkness of the night, he grinned roguishly, lazily. Leaning against the porch railing with his ankles crossed and the God-awful Hawaiian print shirt hanging open, he held up a small bag of . . . something . . . as his smile widened. “What's that?” she asked rather pointedly.

 

Evan chuckled and tossed the bag into the air, catching it neatly and repeating the process a couple times. “What do you think it is?” he countered.

 

She narrowed her eyes, trying to figure out just what was going on behind those deep blue eyes. “It looks like catnip, puppy.”

 

“Hmm,” he drawled. “So it does.”

 

“Are you going to give it to me?” she asked, arching one eyebrow.

 

Evan's grin widened. “That was the plan, pussy,” he teased.

 

Sydnie reached for the bag.

 

He whipped it over his head, out of her reach. “I was just curious about how this worked on you.”

 

“Give me the bag, and Sebastian and I'll let you know,” she countered.

 

Evan chuckled. “I'd rather see for myself, Sydnie.”

 

“Would you really.”

 

He nodded. “Come on, pussykins. Surely you can think of a better way to convince me?”

 

Bracing her weight against his shoulder, Sydnie tugged on Evan's arm, to no avail. “Hand it over, puppy.”

 

“All in good time . . . all in good time.”

 

She swatted at the bag once more. Her claw caught in the plastic, ripping the corner. The scent of the catnip invaded her senses, and she couldn't help the slight purr that rumbled in her throat. “You're a cute little puppy,” she allowed, her voice dropping to a husky timbre. “Too bad you're just a baby . . . now give Sydnie the catnip, won't you?”

 

Evan laughed outright at that, making a face of exaggerated upset. “Only works for Bubby, huh? I figured as much . . . Can't blame a pup for trying, can you?”

 

Sydnie leaned toward him, licking his cheek as she tried to grab the bag again.

 

“Damn,” he groaned. “You do have a textured tongue!”

 

Wrinkling her nose as she swatted at the bag, she didn't spare him a second glance. “I am a cat-youkai,” she pointed out.

 

“Holy damn, I want a pussy, too!”

 

“Give me the bag, puppy,” she nearly purred.

 

Evan snorted. “So you can use it on my brother? Oh, hell, no!”

 

Sydnie couldn't help the slight flinch inspired by his words. “Just let me have it . . . please?”

 

Evan didn't miss the expression. Shaking his head as a sudden thought occurred to him, he licked his lips and pinned her with a serious look. “Tch! He's been too busy for you, hasn't he?” he asked in an uncharacteristically soft tone.

 

Sydnie blinked at the hint of compassion evident in his somber gaze. For some reason, it irritated her even more. “It's not like that. He's been busy,” she grumbled, all too aware of just how lame her excuse sounded.

 

He shook his head in disbelief. “That fucking bastard . . .”

 

“He's not,” she insisted, swiping at the bag again.

 

If anything, that seemed to annoy the young man even more. His darkened glower shifted over her head, and he narrowed his gaze. “Speak of the goddamn devil . . .”

 

“What the fuck do you think you're doing, Evan?” Bas' cold voice cut in behind her.

 

Sydnie whined as he pulled her away from Evan, pushing her behind his back. “Pup-py,” she whined in protest.

 

He ignored her. “Answer me, you little fucker. What do you think you're doing?”

 

Evan rolled his eyes, leaning forward to tuck the bag in Bas' shirt pocket. “Relax, Bubby. I got your back.”

 

“What the hell are you talking about?” Bas growled.

 

“Look, man, I was just testing out the theory, I swear. Don't blow an ass gasket over it, all right?”

 

Bas shot forward, grabbing Evan by the throat and squeezing just enough to impair Evan's breathing. “I've told you, haven't I? Stay the fuck away from her.”

 

Sydnie grabbed Bas' arm and pulled, to no avail. “Sebastian! Stop!”

 

“Back off, you tank,” Evan growled, shoving Bas away and twisting his head from side to side. “You were bellyaching about the catnip, so I figured I'd test it for you. Not a big deal.”

 

Bas shook Sydnie off and advanced on his brother. Sydnie darted between the two, planting her hands in the center of Bas' chest to hold him back. “Get out of here, Evan. Now.”

 

Evan shoved himself away from the railing and shot his brother an insincere grin. “Thank me later, bubby,” he said before running down the steps and into the night, heading for the trees to take the shortest route to the Zelig estate.

 

Only after his scent had faded did Bas bother to look at Sydnie.

 

“You could have hurt him, Sebastian,” she pointed out quietly.

 

Bas sighed, dragging a weary hand over his face as he struggled for a calm that he obviously wasn't feeling. “Sydnie . . .”

 

Trying to ignore the unrelenting lure of the herb, Sydnie shook her head and crossed her arms over her chest. “He's your brother.”

 

“I know he's my brother,” Bas grouched, raking his hands through his hair in a completely exasperated sort of way.

 

“I didn't want him,” she informed him with a marked scowl.

 

Bas ground his teeth together. “I can't believe he—” Cutting himself off with a loud sigh, he shook his head. “Yeah, I can . . . damn him . . . damn him!”

 

He moved so quickly that Sydnie barely had time to react. Darting into his path, she threw herself against his chest, wrapping her arms around his neck as she pulled herself up to nip his chin. “Forget him, puppy. Deal with me.”

 

“Kitty . . .”

 

Inhaling deeply, she couldn't help the little purr that welled up in her throat. The catnip tingled in her nose as a stifling heat suffused her body. He groaned softly, realizing that it was too late to stop her. Sucking on the roughened skin of his throat, she hopped up, wrapping her legs around his waist.

 

“Wait, Sydnie,” he told her, his hands cradling her bottom so that she wouldn't fall. Her answer was a scorching kiss filled with all the desire that she couldn't fight. Shoving her hands under his shirt, she ran her claws up and down his chest. “Let me . . . take you . . . inside,” he mumbled between kisses.

 

“Fuck me, puppy,” she demanded as she writhed against him.

 

Bas groaned louder but managed to carry her inside, kicking the door closed as Sydnie mewled quietly. He shuddered under her touch and let go of her long enough to whip his shirt over his head before doing the same to her. She shoved her skirt and panties down over her hips and kicked them aside before reaching for Bas once more. Fangs scraping over the newly bared flesh of Bas' wide shoulder, she whimpered as he lifted her off her feet, heading for the stairs.

 

“Now, Sebastian,” she begged, twisting her body to press her breasts against his chest.

 

He kept moving straight through their bedroom into the master bathroom. Reaching out to smack his hand against the shower controls, he kicked that door closed, too. The ripple of air created by the shower taps suspended over the far right corner of the open bathroom hit her instantly, sending a delicious tremor racing down Sydnie's spine. He set her down long enough to discard his jeans in a careless heap before picking her up once more, moaning viciously as she wrapped her legs around his waist once more. Striding across the room before veering sharply to the side, he pushed her up against the wall. The warm water flowed down over them as she wrapped her legs around his waist again. With a predatory growl, he thrust into her.

 

Over-sensitized body reacting, Sydnie could feel the first tremors of her orgasm reverberating through her body. Reaching over her head, she hung onto the shallow lip above the tile, bracing herself as she used her legs to draw him deeper and deeper. Bas' hands closed over hers, knitting his fingers together with hers. Kissing her deeply, swallowing her impassioned cries in a torrent of ragged breathing and the thunder of two heartbeats that sounded as one, Bas met her desire with a strength, a power, that could barely be contained. She met his thrusts with her own, quivering as absolute pleasure coursed through her time and again.

 

He moved against her, his body surging over her like a constant caress. Sensation became emotion, and the emotion became a tactile thing that lived and breathed in the air around them, surrounding them in a vortex of passion tempered by the tenderness of an overwhelming desire to shelter. Bas drove into her, filling her with body with his as he filled her mind with the need to be cosseted; to be loved and to show her love in return. The electricity in their youkis blended and merged to create a single aura that pulsed with the beats of their hearts.

 

His abbreviated growls flowed over her like rain. The water that showered down on them releasing a steam that permeated her soul. Washing her clean in the tide of his passion, he took what he needed even as he gave her everything. Muscles contracting in an unsteady rhythm, she locked her ankles and arched her back, tearing her mouth away from his as she leaned back, as she cried out his name. Bas' answer was a few deep thrusts; a shudder, a shiver, a groan as he slammed her against the tile wall. He thickened, pulsed, throbbed inside her. The unrelenting burn exploded again; a stream of white light that set her free.

 

She pitched forward, clinging to him, helpless to do more than hold on. He struggled to breathe, bracing his weight against his hands as he supported her weight and his. It seemed like a long time before she could think; before she could form words. Turning her head, resting her temple on his shoulder, she gazed up at him, traced his cheek with her fingertips. “My puppy,” she murmured, the barest trace of a tender smile turning up the corners of her lips.

 

Bas stared at her with a solemn expression, his eyes sparkling softly as he clenched his jaw tight. “I love you, kitty,” he rasped, his voice barely above a whisper.

 

Sydnie's smile widened, and she kissed him. “Forever, right?”

 

He nodded, a slow grin finally edging his sober façade aside, withdrawing from her despite her little whimper of protest. “That's right.”

 

She sighed contently and let her legs drop. He carefully set her on her feet but didn't let go of her as he reached for her bottle of body wash. Taking his time while he lathered her, he chuckled softly, kissing every part of her as the water rinsed the bubbles away.

 

Striding over to grab a towel from the high shelf beside the sink, Bas stopped long enough to hit the shower panel to stop the flow of water. He held out the towel, and Sydnie padded over to him. He wrapped her in the towel and scooped her up, not bothering to dry himself off as he carried her out of the bathroom and over to the hulking bed. She giggled and squealed when he stepped back, shaking vigorously and sending crystalline droplets flying. He grinned unrepentantly and winked at her before turning on his heel and striding out of the bedroom.

 

Shivering slightly, she kicked the clovers down and cuddled down in the bed. It didn't take long for Bas to stroll back into the room with a glass of milk in his hand and the smile still lighting his eyes. “Here, baby,” he said, sinking on the edge of the bed and extending the glass to her.

 

She sat up long enough to drink the milk. He took the empty glass and set it on the nightstand. “Thank you,” she told him, scooting over to crawl into his lap.

 

Bas chuckled again, smoothing her hair and kissing the top of her head. “You're welcome.”

 

“I've missed this,” she admitted quietly, savoring the feel of Bas' arms around her.

 

“I know,” he placated, a hint of resignation in his tone. “It's just for a little while longer.”

 

Sydnie nodded but didn't reply. It was the closest she'd felt to him since they'd returned from their honeymoon, and she was loathe to disrupt that.

 

“I swear to God, I'm going to maim Evan, though,” he grumbled, leaning back against the headboard and cuddling Sydnie against his chest.

 

She sighed. “He's your brother, Sebastian . . . and he's harmless.”

 

“Harmless or not, I'm still going to lay the smackdown on him.”

 

“No, you will not,” Sydnie argued, leaning up to pin him with a no-nonsense scowl. “He's just a puppy.”

 

Bas grunted. “Yeah, well, that `puppy' has done nothing but antagonize me from the start,” he pointed out.

 

Sydnie shook her head. “That's not true, is it? I mean, really . . .”

 

He sighed but shrugged, conceding her point. “Okay, so that's a little bit of an exaggeration. I'm just not sure . . . I don't know when everything changed.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

Bas smiled a little sadly, his gaze glossing over as though he were seeing things long past. “He was really cute, you know, as a baby. I had to wait in the waiting room with the old man and my grandmother . . . and everyone else. We'd gone back to Japan for it. Dad said that's where Mom belonged when she was pregnant—with her family. Anyway, Morio, Gunnar, Mikio, and I had gone down to the cafeteria for sodas—well, sodas for Morio and me. Gunnar never has liked it, and Mikio preferred tea . . . Dad came down, looking for me. He looked tired but happy . . . He said I had a new brother.”

 

“And he was cute, right?” she added, smiling despite the seriousness on Bas' features.

 

He nodded. “Yeah, he was . . . all wrinkly and red . . . kind of like a lobster, come to think of it . . .”

 

“That's cute?” she asked pointedly, arching her eyebrow in question.

 

He chuckled. “Sure . . . and . . . and he smelled nice . . . that baby smell, I guess. He sure as hell doesn't smell nice anymore, but back then . . . well, I thought he was all right.”

 

“You were ten?”

 

He nodded. “Well, close enough. I was about nine and a half when he was born.” He smiled. “I used to sit on the floor and watch him while Mom was cleaning and Dad was busy. They'd ask me to watch him for a few minutes, and I'd sort of lean over him and try not to blink. I was a very literal child, I guess.”

 

She giggled, snuggling closer against his chest. “I suppose you were.”

 

Bas sighed. “Sure . . . It was weird, though . . . when Dad brought Jillian home, Evan was three months old. I don't think he knew what to make of her. I mean, she was smaller than he was, of course, and she cried a lot at first. Dad thought it was because she knew that Mom and Dad weren't really her mom and dad. Anyway, she'd cry if we put her down, so someone was always holding her. When Dad was working and Mom was trying to get things done, I'd hold her.” He shrugged. “Evan started crying more. For awhile, Mom thought he had colic. I don't know . . .”

 

“Sounds like he was a little jealous of Jillian.”

 

Bas snorted. “Evan's always been babied. He didn't have a reason to be jealous of Jillian.”

 

“That doesn't mean he wasn't,” she pointed out.

 

Bas shrugged. “Maybe.”

 

“So you two just weren't really close?”

 

“No . . . it wasn't that, exactly. He used to follow me around all the time. Pain in the ass, really . . . He slept with Mom and Dad until he was nearly five, I guess. One night, Dad made him stay in his own room, and Evan . . . Evan cried all night, sobbing for Mom . . . That's one of the few times I remember Mom and Dad arguing. She didn't want to leave him like that. Dad said that he was just doing it to get to her. Thing was . . . I couldn't stand hearing it, either. After Dad got Mom to go back to their bedroom, I went and got him and brought him in with me.” He sighed, an embarrassed sort of smile tugging at his lips. “How cool was that? Fifteen year old me with Evan and Jillian dog-piling me all night . . .”

 

The mental image of what that had to look like made her smile, and Sydnie giggled softly. “Sounds like you were a good brother . . . so what happened to the two of you?”

 

Bas shook his head, his smile fading. “I don't know, kitty . . . I told you. Somewhere along the way, he changed . . . or I did . . . He was always tagging along after my friends and me when we would go play football or stuff . . .” The faraway look returned to his eyes, and Sydnie couldn't help but smile at the little grin that seemed so very nostalgic. “One time—I guess he was around six or so—he was running around, trying to snatch my football . . . Some friends of mine were over, and they . . . they didn't seem to like having Evan underfoot, so I ditched him . . . I grabbed a stick on the ground and heaved it into the forest. He ran off after it, and we took off, too . . . He was too little to know how to track me, and when he came back with the stick, I was gone.”

 

“Sebastian!” Sydnie chided.

 

He winced. “I could hear him crying. Hell, I think the entire eastern seaboard heard him crying . . .”

 

“And what did you do?”

 

Bas made a face then chuckled, tightening his arms around Sydnie. “What do you think I did?” he countered. “I went back and got him . . . He was sitting on a tree stump, covering his face with his hands. He just kept sobbing, even after I'd picked him up and started home. He just sort of . . . hung on to me . . . and he begged me not to leave him again . . .”

 

Sydnie didn't know what to say to that, and Bas didn't, either, for that matter. How long had it been since he'd remembered that day? She had a feeling that it had been awhile.

 

Bas sighed and kissed her forehead.

 

Closing her eyes, she sighed, too. She was entirely too comfortable, snuggled against Bas' broad chest.

 

He waited until she was asleep, holding her close in the darkened room. Funny how he'd forgotten about that autumn afternoon. Sydnie had a way of reminding him of things, didn't she? A vicious pang shot through him, and he winced. He wouldn't trade Sydnie for the world, and yet . . . and yet the memories of those days gone by seemed so far away. Evan, who couldn't say `Sebastian' or even `brother' . . . Evan, who had tried so hard not to cry when Bas had opened his door to get him . . . the myriad of times that Evan would come creeping into his room late at night, his little face full of self-disgust as he mumbled something about his puppy, Ralph, being afraid . . . Bas always grumbled—always told Evan to be still or he'd kick him out of his bed. Bas smiled wanly, taking comfort in the sound of Sydnie's content purring. He never had kicked Evan out of his bed, though, no matter how much the pup had fussed in his sleep . . .

 

With a sigh, Bas kissed Sydnie's forehead again before carefully rolling to the side and moving her onto the mattress. He should go to sleep, himself, but . . .

 

Sparing a moment to smooth her hair and kiss her cheek, he grabbed he empty milk glass and shuffled out of the room. He still had a bunch of files to sift through, and he didn't have much time to do it. The quarterly meeting with the generals was in less than a week. He had to have the presentation ready by then . . .

 

 

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A/N:

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Final Thought fromSydnie:

So Sebastian and Evan used to be … close …?

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Blanket disclaimer for this fanfic (will apply to this and all other chapters in Phantasm): I do not claim any rights to InuYasha or the characters associated with the anime/manga. Those rights belong to Rumiko Takahashi, et al. I do offer my thanks to her for creating such vivid characters for me to terrorize.

 

~Sue~