InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Waning Moon ❯ Posture ( Chapter 12 )

12. Posture

Perhaps this was not one of his brightest ideas, Inuyasha ponders as Jaken lectures him for the umpteenth time that day on manners, rules and his station in the castle because of his blood. He is amazed he hasn't thrown the toad out of the closest window, or created a new one.

His chest rumbles with an oncoming growl, one that is low, dangerous and a warning of things to come. Jaken doesn't seem to realise this and continues to prattle, as he paces the length of his Lord's study and waves his staff as though it were a wand and not twice his height. Inuyasha snatches the first item he can reach from the small table he is sitting beside and hurls it, with less than perfect aim, at his brother's aid.

Jaken squawks and lurches forward, as the figurine implants itself temporarily in his stomach. Inuyasha grins with satisfaction, while Jaken groans and remains on the ground.

“I prefer that you would not injure my staff, Inuyasha.” The half-breed turns, finding Sesshomaru seemingly gliding across the room, to sit behind his low desk. He drops an assortment of scrolls on it, before his eyes glimmer enticingly from the setting sun's last few moments of light and flicker up to Inuyasha's. The half breed swallows thickly, wondering if Sesshomaru had made his eyes do that on purpose, just to fluster him. Even in his slightly shaken state, his eyes don't leave his brother's.

After a moment to gathering his bearings, Inuyasha huffs, “He was asking for it.”

“Even so, Jaken is teaching you the ways of demon nobles. I do not have the time.”

Again Inuyasha snorts, but is silent. He eyes the green toad still lying on his stomach, murmuring his qualms quietly. Inuyasha doesn't doubt that Sesshomaru can hear him.

The room remains like this for a while, with Inuyasha and his brother silent and Jaken gurgles worriedly from where he lay. Inuyasha almost jumps when Sesshomaru's smooth voice carries around the room, unsettling the silence, “Jaken, remove yourself from my study. I must speak with Inuyasha alone.” Inuyasha watches as the toad shakily returns to his feet and limps heavily, using his staff in order to remain upright, “Visit Sai, he will treat your stomach.” He received an awkward, but thankful squawk for his noticing Jaken's discomfort.

After a moment of staring at the now closed door and listening to the lack of noise within the room, Inuyasha turns back to Sesshomaru, watching curiously as the demon Lord carefully signed and read through the documents that had accumulated on his desk over the past day. Sesshomaru seems far too wrapped up in his work to notice Inuyasha's staring.

Inuyasha allows his eyes to stray and his stare turn into a scrutinizing examination. Sesshomaru hasn't aged at all, from what Inuyasha can remember of his brother from his days as a fumbling pup. The only major difference is his brother's lack of a left arm. The demon's hair is shining gold in the candle's light, and hands over Sesshomaru's shoulders and ears. It is nearly completely dark outside, and the candle in front of Sesshomaru flickers with the soothing breeze, making his skin appear soft and edible.

Again Inuyasha swallows at his realisation, and orders his eyes to leave his brother's skin and focus on something else, anything else, just so long as it doesn't cause him to think weird thoughts. He fails, as his eyes study the molten gold one now narrowed at the scroll in front of their owner.

Inuyasha doesn't flinch as his brother's eyes raise to meet his. He is confused about Sesshomaru's reason to stand as his brother makes his way over to him. Again, Inuyasha notices the silence blanketing them. Sesshomaru breaks it, and Inuyasha's ears flick forward in order to hear him better, “Sit by that wall.” He orders and lets his eyes flicker to the wall to their left.

Inuyasha's face reverts to its default displeased look and he grumbles quietly as he does as his brother said. He sits with the small of his back against the wall and his shoulders hunched forward slightly. Inuyasha's ears flick again as Sesshomaru steps in front of him and - much to Inuyasha's surprise - he kneels in front of him, his knees brushing Inuyasha's shins. His back is immediately flat against the wall as his brother's face appears a mere inch before his own, and he can feel Sesshomaru's warm breath puffing over his moist nose.

“You are to sit with your back straight, Inuyasha. You are a noble dog demon, heir to the Western Lands and you should act like it.”

Inuyasha manages a rude snort with little movement, “Keh! They're your lands!”

“Yes,” Sesshomaru's lips seem oddly close to his own, Inuaysha realises distractedly, “But should I be killed you will take my place.”

Inuyasha doesn't dare nod, he doesn't dare move at all as his brother shifts and he most definitely does feel Sesshomaru's lips brush over his own. After a moment, Sesshomaru speaks again, his tone almost confused, “You do not miss the priestess, little brother?”

Inuyasha nods, his mind more on his lips and finding ways to make Sesshomaru's brush his without him moving, than on Kagome and her not coming back to visit him or his friends. The sacred jewel shards have been collected and are now in her possession again, but Inuyasha doesn't care about her… Not now. Maybe later...

“Why?” His brother's questions startles Inuyasha back into the realm of the breathing and he's surprised to find Sesshomaru's hand holding his shoulder. It is then, with some surprise that Inuyasha realises that they are almost equal in height, except Sesshomaru is still taller.

“What?” He asks rudely.

“Why do you not miss your human?”

“She was from the future, she - she didn't belong here anyway.” Inuyasha meets Sesshomaru's eyes and growls, “Now stop asking about her! It's enough that Miroku and Sango give me pity stares, I don't need yours either!”

Inuyasha doesn't expect a reaction and he doesn't get one, just a bored, blank stare. He winces as his shoulder's start to sink down again, and he forces himself upright as his cheek brushes Sesshomaru's and he feels Sesshomaru's hand fall to his chest. He hears his brother gasp, and his amber eyes are immediately focussed on Sesshomaru.

Surprisingly, Sesshomaru's face has gained a pink tinge and Inuyasha tries to not focus on his parted lips and the tongue darting out and licking them. His eyes are closed, but he hasn't moved. Curious, Inuyasha lifts a clawed hand and traces one side of the magenta stripes lining Sesshomaru's right cheek, and is delighted to see a shiver run up his brother's spine and another gasp burst from his lips.

Why hadn't he tried this before? Inuyasha asks himself. He could have beaten Sesshomaru long ago if he'd known his stripes created such a delicious reaction. He smirked as he did so again, and quickly again, only making his brother pant harder and harder until Inuyasha finds his left hand incapacitated.

Sesshomaru is glaring and panting, “Enough. You will not humiliate this Sesshomaru.”

A smirk cannot stay from Inuyasha's face and he almost grins at his brother's reaction, “You forget, I have two arms.” As if to prove his point, Inuyasha's right lashes out, tenderly rubbing the twin stripes on Sesshomaru's left cheek.

He feels Sesshomaru's grip loosen and gladly regains the use of his left arm and attacks both of Sesshomaru's cheeks at once. The reaction from Sesshomaru is immediate and Inuyasha can't help the sadistic glee he feels course through him like a rapid as he continues to mercilessly rub his brother's stripes. It is the first time in his long life he's had power over his perfect brother. And it feels invigorating.

But then, surprisingly, Sesshomaru slumps forward, his bones and muscles seemingly turning to goo and Inuyasha finds himself pressed against the wall, his posture perfect. Sesshomaru has fallen unconscious from Inuyasha's ministrations, and Inuyasha feels a strong urge to survive and flee from his brother's study before he wakes up and seeks him out. Inuyasha fears for his ears; the things Sesshomaru often threatens to cut off should he annoy him enough.

After an hour, Inuyasha's back is aching from sitting up straight for too long. Yet he doesn't move; he doesn't want to wake the unconscious demon laying against his chest, looking innocent and harmless, the complete opposite of his attitude when he was awake. Inuyasha mutters quietly, about how lazy his brother is, about how heavy Sesshomaru seems, and smiles tenderly down at his brother, stoking his claws through the demon's silky hair.

He doesn't mind having perfect posture, if he gets to hold Sesshomaru like this every night.