InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Waning Moon ❯ Rivalry ( Chapter 5 )

5. Rivalry

Inuyasha eyes his brother as he seats himself at the base of a thick tree. The little human girl that has been traveling with him, and subsequently with them, has taken a seat beside him, grinning as her head is buried in the fluffy pelt now resting about Sesshomaru's form. His toad is quickly by his side also, rambling about one thing or another, squawking over the child's behaviour.

Inuyasha can't stand the sight.

They have been traveling as one large group for a month now, and Inuyasha can't stand her. He hasn't since the first night they camped together, when she'd settled herself by Sesshomaru's side and fallen asleep. She'd snuggled into him, damn it!

He watches with narrowed, burning gold eyes, his mouth set into a frown, one that looks far too much like Sesshomaru's. The little wrench, Rin, is laughing and smiling and he swears Sesshomaru's face isn't as expressionless as it usually is. She is brushing - braiding - his long, shining hair. Sesshomaru hasn't stopped her, in fact, Inuyasha is sure he'd turned just the slightest bit, almost as if supporting her actions…

How did this pathetic, little human child manage to worm her way into Sesshomaru's stony, cold, nonexhistant heart? How come Inuyasha wasn't allowed inside of it? These are questions Inuyasha hasn't managed to find answers for, and he isn't nearly as stupid as some perceive him to be as to ask the ice Lord himself. He'd much sooner face Naraku without his Tessaiga, while hopping on one foot, than do that.

By the time Kagome is calling them all to gather around the campfire for dinner, less than half of Sesshomaru's hair has been braided into thin, loose plaits. Inuyasha has to hide a snarl at the affectionate way Sesshomaru gently ushers the girl to go and eat. Inuyasha scowls and stabs at the ramen in his cup, damn the bastard and his `I don't eat human food'.

He comments roughly on his brother's answer, earning a 'sit' from Kagome over his crude language in front of the children. His eyes travel to Sesshomaru from where he lays plastered to the ground, and he dares him to laugh, to smirk, to do something, because they were related and - at least he acted as though Inuyasha existed when they were battling! But all the hanyou receives is a bored, emotionless stare that is broken when Rin lowers herself beside the Lord and she calls for his attention.

Later that night, Inuyasha finds that he needs to get away. He needs to have space, away from Kagome and her stupid 'sit' commands and Miroku's humiliating groping and Sango's mothering and Shippo and the Brat's games and - He needs out for a few hours.

He runs off, glaring heatedly at the sight of the Brat curled up beside the toad and Sesshomaru's leg, far too close to the cold Lord for Inuyasha's liking. He turns away with a huff, and races towards a nearby stream, hoping to find a thick branch to rest on when there.

Inuyasha doesn't find a branch, and instead settles himself onto the ground by a large rock formation. He hopes that the slow running stream will help calm him, like his mother's singing did long ago. His ears are still ringing from Kagome's last command.

He sits in silence, allowing the wind to flow freely around him. His ears flatten themselves against his head when it glides and tickles their fleshy insides. Inuyasha growls with frustration when the wind continues to tease them. His ears flick, trying to make the annoying tingling feeling dissipate, and they do so again, before they stand to attention, alert, when he hears the slightest of steps.

The hanyou is on his feet instantly, his ears rotating slowly from atop his head, trying to pinpoint the origin of the noise. He needn't concentrate for long; Sesshomaru soon reveals himself.

Inuyasha quickly looks him over and sniffs the air curiously, making sure it is Sesshomaru; Shippo has tried to trick him on more than one occasion, as well as to help him work out why his brother's reasons for being there are.

Sesshomaru is without his fur pelt as he gracefully walks towards the rock Inuyasha had been leaning against. He is without his armour and his feet are bare. Inuyasha stares at them; they are as pale and elegant as the rest of him.

“Little brother,” Inuyasha's eyes rise to meet a gaze identical, and yet very different, to his own, “You should be asleep.”

He snorts, earning a raised brow from Sesshomaru, “Why are you here? Shouldn't you be protecting your little brat? You better watch out, I heard there's a group of bandits wandering around stealing children.” He says unkindly, his words spat out. Really, Inuyasha wouldn't mind if the kid was stolen…

Sesshomaru barely blinks, “Rin is safe.”

“Keh!”

It is silent for a moment, the stream and rustling leaves the only noise surrounding the two brothers. Sesshomaru moves slowly, “Inuyasha,” He calls again, softly. As if mimicking his actions a few minutes before, Inuyasha raises his eyes, “I wish to bathe, braid my hair.”

Inuyasha blinks, his eyes wide, “What?” He asks incredulously.

“I will not repeat myself, little brother.”

“Braid your own damn hair!”

Inuyasha turns back to the stream, his eyebrows drawn together, his temples pulsing as he glares at the innocent water, reflecting the bright half moon above them. How dare that arrogant bastard tell him to braid his hair? He isn't anyone's servant! He can kick Sesshomaru's ass any day! The least he can do is ask!

“That is impossible.”

Inuyasha stares for a moment, his eyes narrowed suspiciously, before they grow wider. His realization causes Inuyasha to swear quietly; this is what he gets for cutting off his brother's left arm. He turns away again, a low growl thrumming lowly in his chest. After a moment, he has decided and he turns, ready to bad mouth his brother before he does anything else. The sight awaiting him makes Inuyasha's eyes widen: Sesshomaru is sitting on the ground, his back turned to him, his head turned slightly as he looks up at the hanyou. His hand is resting in his lap. The breeze that was tickling Inuyasha's ears is now playing with his brother's hair and kimono. Inuyasha doesn't think Sesshomaru should look so feminine for such an emotionless and deadly, demon Lord.

He shuts his mouth hurriedly, and huffs at the raised eyebrow he receives from Sesshomaru. Determinedly, he strides over to Sesshomaru. If it means so much to the bastard, he will do it.

Inuyasha stares in wonder as he crouches behind his taller brother, carefully examining the white, shining, silky strands his claws are combing through with ease. Sesshomaru has now turned completely in the direction Inuyasha is facing, seemingly calm with Inuyasha behind him. Inuyasha would have scowled as his brother's ease, if he were not so captured by the feeling of Sesshomaru's hair.

He spends a while doing this, simply allowing his claws to work out non-existing knots in the long, far too long strands. Inuyasha simply enjoys the feel of Sesshomaru's hair. Even his ears, covered in the softest of fur, do not compare to it. He remembers stupidly how he used to fall asleep petting his own ears; it was a small comfort of sorts, especially after his mother passed. But his concentration is turned back to Sesshomaru as he begins to imagine that the low rumbling reaching his ears is coming from his older brother, though he knows that is impossible.

Eventually, Inuyasha has to complete his task. As he divides the silken strands into equal groups, Inuyasha jealously examines his brother's ears, so smooth and elegant on each side of his head; he thinks life would have been easier if he'd owned ears such as Sesshomaru's; he would have had a chance to fit in if he did; it is a lot easier to hide the pointed tips of Sesshomaru's ears to the annoying, trouble makers on top of his own.

Slowly, Inuyasha gently tugs the three groups of long hair over one another, pulling them tight, falling into a rhythm almost instantly. It is startled only when Inuyasha's claws finds themselves entrapped in a few strands of his brother's silken mane. Inuyasha almost thinks the experience is over far too soon, as he ties his brother's hair with the small, blue ribbon Sesshomaru provides.

His brother stands, leaving Inuyasha with a whispering of thanks, slowly heading towards the still gurgling stream. The braid swings and bounces against the back of his brother's thighs, before Sesshomaru carefully wraps it around itself so it holds itself up, to hang around his shoulders. Inuyasha turns and runs back to the camp a moment later, his cheeks aflame at the sight of his brother's kimono sliding from his pale shoulders. He angrily swears at his brother's nerve.

He falls asleep with that image burned into his mind, only to wake with it there again.

Sesshomaru and his group are awake too, not too surprisingly, they seem to wake at dawn everyday.

Inuyasha glares at the girl that holds Sesshomaru's attention firmly as she presents a small plate of fish and berries to him. He's surprised when he notices his brother's hair is still tied up in the braid he'd created the night before, no longer around his shoulders, but around his thighs, still neat and perfect and hiding the tips of his pointed ears.

“Lord Sesshomaru, can Rin comb your hair?” Inuyasha hears the girl ask. He frowns despite himself, managing to stop himself from providing an answer he knows will cause him great pain. The little Brat is at it again, charming her way deeper into Sesshomaru's softening (but only towards her) heart...

“No, Rin. Not today.”

The answer causes Inuyasha's gaze to focus on his brother, his golden eyes wider. Then he smirks, as he relaxes back against the tree behind him smugly; at least he's earned one victory over the Brat.