Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi
Warning: I'm serious when I said this is an Inucest story. It means this story has incestuous relationship in the House of Inu. So please kindly use the BACK button if it sickens you at the thought after you have done finding out what Inucest means by clicking on this story instead of using google.
Opening Authoress' Note: (no, not trying to act professional here, I'm just being talkative)
I'm around again with another story (I know, I'm hopeless.) You can think this story is sequel of my other Sengoku Era stories or a stand alone, doesn't matter. Because it is in the modern time universe. I just simply can't resist the idea when one nice day I want a dark, childishly mature Inuyasha.
In this chapter, I use a song from Japanese children game, the famous Circle Game, Kagome Kagome. There will be an end story note to further elaborate the use of this song by its lyric's meaning.
かごめ かごめ (Kagome kagome)
籠の中の鳥は (Kago no naka no tori wa / The bird in the cage)
いついつ出やる (Itsu itsu deyaru / When, when will you come out)
夜明けの晩に (Yoake no ban ni / In the evening of the dawn)
鶴と亀が滑った (Tsuru to kame ga subetta / The crane and turtle slipped)
後ろの正面だあれ？(Ushiro no shoumen dare? / Who stands right behind you now?)
1. Inuyasha's Day Off
"Sesshoumaru-sama?"
Said demon looked up at the call of his name, and frowned. There peaking his head curiously in the office was Shippo.
"What is it?" Sesshoumaru inquired. Come in, was left unsaid.
Shippo grinned sheepishly and nudged the heavy wooden door open with his shoulder, wide enough for himself and his massive paper bundle to slip in and kicked it close with the ball of his foot.
Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow.
The Fox demon deposited everything on the desk before Sesshoumaru, neatly in four stacks that almost hid the older demon from view, with a relief sigh. Some of them even had strong scent of perfumes. "These," Shippo drummed his blunt nails on two where his hands rested, the combination of various olfaction-poisoning perfumes got stronger by his action, "Are fan-mails and love-letters. Address to you." Before Sesshoumaru could demand them all to be burned by Fox Fire on the spot as usual, the younger demon continued, "Kohaku and Jaken will bring in the rest soon. When I leave they are already at the last box."
Apparently, the speed of a daiyoukai was too great that he had no paperwork left to do (more likely got stolen by a certain someone just so he had to spend most of his work hours looking at nothing in particular on the other side of the glass wall behind his executive chair). That was why his properties decided he should read something else more productive (in their opinion) than boring reports (according to Inuyasha, the aforementioned certain someone).
Two knocks on the door signalized Kohaku and Jaken arrival, each carried a bundle as hideous as Shippo's.
Sesshoumaru already prepared to melt them all with his poison.
"Um… Sesshoumaru-sama," Kohaku started hesitantly, putting a small package on top one random stack because there was no space left after they tried to fit everything on the poor desk without upsetting other items, "This is from the Lady. I found it buried in one of your mailboxes…"
Now, that was a bad omen.
They were living under one roof, so what was the point in sending him anything this way? She even wrote a bright red warning 'I recommend you view this alone' for him.
Definitely bad omen.
"Wait outside, you three." Sesshoumaru ordered. The only reason he listened to her was, no one should ignore her words. None. She never bothered with punishing disobedience. It was just you would regret not doing as she said and, she would rub it in your face whenever the chance was given to her on silver platter.
The three left their Lord alone. Shippo and Kohaku silently prayed in their head for his sanity. Because the state of his mind connected with world peace and living population.
"I feel like I've just done something my survival instinct told me not to." Shippo remarked when they were at a safe distance away from Sesshoumaru's office, draping himself face down on one of the long sofas in the lounge area often used to dissuade guests, who generally thought they were too important to be in the same space as the mob flocking the ground floor. Somewhere in the back of his mind suggested he remove the camouflage of the whole building to help lesser demons inside looked relatively like everyday humans (who were generally unable to change their appearance at will) to reserve his strength in preparation for the worst case. He was confident in himself to finish off Naraku's Byakuya within a blink time right now, no bragging. That was why Sesshoumaru was an entirely different matter altogether. League matter.
"It's not our place to see into his personal things." Kohaku breathed out in defeat, sitting stiffly on an armchair beside the Fox demon while Jaken hopped on another armchair across him without a word. The male slayer had stopped aging when he barely reached nineteen. According to the Lady, his life had been abnormally prolonged by Kikyo's will through the light of Shikon no Tama. And so, he had become neither a human or a demon.
It wasn't long until they heard a low growl.
Facts about their Sesshoumaru-sama. He was the current Inu no Taisho, the Great Dog General of their generation. There had been one description about him like this, "Beautifully chilling. The strongest demon in the Warring States era." Actually, he kept the crown of "strongest demon" for longer, much longer than that. Here was proof, he was still the strongest after their five centuries living under his wings. He mated with Inuyasha not long after Kagome returned. Got embarrassingly discovered how he had been spoiling his half-sibling rotten since forever (in his own way) via his own Mother's point of view while she blatantly hush-hushed about her son with Inuyasha (who was her all-in-one indirect-son, blood relate nephew, step-son and son-in-law). He looked two years older in human standard during those last five centuries. Despite his state of unavailable (though not many knew he had already mated), persistent suitors still swarming him hourly as time passed by.
He was cold,
He was aloof,
He was calm in most cases,
He snarled,
He hissed,
He roared,
But he very, very seldomly growled.
Defined growl. Growl was a human word his properties decided to make use of to describe the kind of ancient language was leaving his lips that they had no general idea about (his fellow canine demons Kouga and Shippo admitted the sound was purely un-decode-able; Inuyasha had never given any straight answer; no one dared to ask the Lady whenever they were lucky enough to be in the same area as her, more fearing for their lives at the mercy of those two total Hellhounds by her sides). His growl had no comical effect like Inuyasha's during his youth. It was a siren telling whatever had ears, that he was pissed. No. He was fucking pissed.
Still sitting where they were, Shippo and Kohaku stared at each other, then at the other demons as they scurried around finding shelter in fright, obviously also catching The Growl (as they dubbed it). What was the point? It was not like Sesshoumaru would spare anything if he ever decided today was the last day of Earth (better not test that theory, seriously).
Now, why other demons associated with Sesshoumaru on a professional level via the relationship of he-who-gives-you-paychecks and you-who-he-gives-paychecks. Simple, he was the boss and leader one could only dream to find, aside from his wonderful paychecks. Besides, no one could ignore the temptation to hog a permanent contract to work under the strongest demon, since it was unable to resist his allure of power. Excepted his allies, and enemies. So far that "permanent" only applied to the obvious three. Inuyasha and the Lady didn't work under him. They worked with him.
Ironically, on contrary to how Inuyasha had traveled in packs during his youth for several decades, he relapsed to operate like a lone wolf not long after. That was the explanation for why Shippo was put in Sesshoumaru's care by the end of his childhood months after the human number of their original pack died off due to old age (much, much to the younger's charging once upon a time). To Sesshoumaru, the Fox demon was a nice change of environment where he didn't have to feel bitter grief over watching his charge die as her time ran out before he was fully prepared for it. Kohaku's case was more or less self-explained.
Now, the Lady was somewhere doing something only she knew what. And Inuyasha, since he had decided a day off all to himself, also wandered off or still sleeping off his boredom somewhere in the middle of nowhere, plotting something to torture someone.
These two were mentioned to express the next fact, that no one nearby could put a leash on their Sesshoumaru-sama at the moment if thing was about to take an ugly turn.
A half-naked Inuyasha was lounging on his side amidst the familiar sea of white fur. That loose black leather belt riding low around his hips did a good job in exposing the undone button of his form fitting dark red leather pants, left the start of silver happy trail on display, giving free rein for imagination. Folded arms with different purposes, one cushioning his temple and hid most of his obviously smirking lips, the other dangled a wine glass of red liquid in between two nimble claw fingers beside his head. Knee-length silver hair draped about him like the most delicate see-through silken material, falling over the purple demonic markings on his cheeks, his forearms, his wrists and most of all, those sinful jagged twin strips started from the small of his back, rounding his hips and drawing attention to the package between his scrotum. Half-masted slit golden eyes beckoning, seducing, commanding all the attentions toward himself under the thinner trips along his lids.
The first second Sesshoumaru was close to drooling all over the forgotten mess on his desk.
The next his fury was mounting at an alarming rate.
This thing looked no different from a normal palm-size mirror was called Per Un Piacere Diabolica. A product of an underground organization composed of paparazzi demons, who took pleasure in publishing something akin to human's trippleX-rate materials. Their primary targets were demons of high statuses within Demon Society. This organization worked for the mob. They broadcasted the image of many sought-after demons by imprinting a part of the poor victim's shadow in this demonic mirror, and distributed their products to the consumers by various means. Only a small number of higher-ups knew exactly how it was born and why they let it be. And he was one of those.
But he had never got caught half-undressed!
Neither Inuyasha.
This could only mean consensual.
He growled.
Every living being within range squeaked fearfully in the darkness of their hiding places when the double-doors parted from their hinges and lay on the white marble floor miserably after a loud crash. Sesshoumaru emerged from the dust, marching forward menacingly undisturbed in his path. His wide population of properties watched him depart like hawks, none dared to make a noise.
When the elevator door closed after him with a sound of final…
"What's in his hand? It looks terribly familiar." Shippo whispered, peeking up from the backrest of his sofa.
"It… is melting." Kohaku remarked, relaxed his tense muscles a little now that he was no longer in immediate danger.
Jaken and most of the onlookers swallowed, eyes glued to the droplets of green goo on the floor their Lord and Master had left in his wake. Unlike those two, they immediately realized what the item actually was from being loyal customers of the providers themselves. As long as Sesshoumaru-sama never got to know his and his sibling's faces were everywhere on their bedroom walls…
Instead of testing out his brand new fastest car (its description said so) or shooting across the sky like a fallen comet, Sesshoumaru teleported home. And when he did—
"INUYASHA!" The thunderous Demon Lord roared.
However, instead of waiting for any answer, he let his olfaction lead him to their Playground Vicinity where his suicidal other half was. And he found said creature in the same position he had seen earlier.
There was one second of almost drooling like déjà vu.
And then Bakusaiga lodged itself in the exact place where Inuyasha's pretty face had been the instant earlier.
"Wow," Inuyasha smirked easily, stood beside the nightstand to leave his unfinished wine glass there, eyes never strayed from the raging demon across him, the fur bedding was only thing separating them, "Is it love I feel in the air?"
"Love?" Sesshoumaru repeated the word like acid, his answering smirk slowly manifested on the corner of his lips, "I am seeing death closing in on you."
Only Inuyasha knew,
That Sesshoumaru was a very jealous possessive creature.
Well, he had a whole day off to taste him to the fullest after all. It had taken him quite long to realize and get used to the fact that whatever he wanted, he always got. Every time.
"Too bad," Inuyasha licked his sibling's exposing throat before nipping on the sensitive spot below his ear, "That one she gave you is the original. I didn't have enough patience to wait for them making any copy."
That didn't explain the scent of blood from the glass.
The only reason Inuyasha hadn't moved from his spot was because he felt too lazy to do so while being quite comfortable. Most of all, he knew exactly who was indirectly looking. Not because of something he shouldn't drink prior.
Before his shadow was demonically imprinted on the mirror, Inuyasha had gotten drugged.
Before the drug dissolved in his system, Inuyasha had guided his offenders to a very, very dark place. With a flick of his wrist. The outsiders had two chances to fully appreciate death, because life was their current greatest enemy for not leaving them as fast as they begged it in the second time.
Before he sent them off, he had a good laugh after they told him that drug was a toxin from the combination of their blood. Its purpose was to render him incapable of defending himself, caused him to be completely vulnerable against what they had in store for him and his godly body.
Before that, he wondered how pitiful this poison was in comparison with his lovely Sesshoumaru's.
When he was offered a nice imported liquor from the West by these nobodies as they released their allure all over him, his mind had yet finished recalling the feel of Sesshoumaru against him when they became one during their most recent physical contact hours earlier. Absentmindedly he brought the glass to his mouth to humor them.
His Sesshoumaru was not pleased.
"They saw you!" Sesshoumaru snarled, easily finding his way inside his grinning sibling from familiarity. Inuyasha reminded him they had been revived by Tenseiga once to beg for death again, and flipped their positions, this time he was inside his older brother.
"You let them!" Sesshoumaru hissed in Inuyasha's ear before biting the highly sensitive appendage almost painfully, taking control again when Inuyasha was momentarily paralyzed. All Inuyasha did was mouthing "I miss you" against Sesshoumaru's lips before sealing them, and he was dominating his sibling once more.
"You are mine!" Sesshoumaru growled, renewed his marks of possession on Inuyasha's flesh. Inuyasha let his sibling claim him as he pleased, threading his fingers in long silver hair, urging his older half on, letting loose music in Sesshoumaru's ears.
"Only you hear me." Inuyasha kissed Sesshoumaru's forehead as he carried his sleeping brother to their Forbidden Region. "Only you see all of me." His lips moved downward along the bridge of Sesshoumaru's nose, lowered his significant other to the clean mattress. "Only you can touch me like this." His lips closed around his mate's, coaxing them to open for him, as they always did even when their owner was incoherent of his surroundings.
"You are mine."
Five centuries later, Inuyasha had fully embraced manipulation as one of his nature to crush Sesshoumaru's dormant negative emotions whenever they foolishly seized the chance to surface, mostly because Inuyasha provoked them; and turned cruel beyond the late Kagome's imagination to protect this creature who had chosen him over his own Mother since the moment he was conceived.
Inuyasha of Western Royal, wickedly exotic, the most dangerous demon of their generation.
He felt her presence before she put her hand over his eyes from behind.
"Feel like being alone?" She whispered low in his ear, letting amusement carry in her voice.
Inuyasha hummed in acknowledgment, his head leaned back to cushion in her lap, not moving from where he submerged in warm water. "I am waiting for you." He replied softly with a half-smile, angled his head a little to nuzzle back when she brushed her nose against his, taking in her scent. "Who else had you been with?"
"You sound like I am being unfaithful behind your back." She nipped the tip of his ear playfully before running her tongue along the pointy shape.
"I'm not going to presume," Faster than the eyes could see, Inuyasha was hovering over her, his forefinger trailing her jawline, stopped under her chin to raise her face, their eyes locked, "But I will make sure it dies in the most painful productive way for being unworthy of you."
Sliding her hands from his biceps to the back of his shoulders, she sighed dramatically, "I am never going to find someone to warm my bed if you two keep killing off all the poor candidates."
Low chuckled resounded in Inuyasha's chest, he pressed his mouth on the side of her neck and smirked, "Then don't." He lifted his hand, the one not busy supporting her head on the marble stone, slithered under her upper Mokomoko and loosened it from around her bosom.
"You are getting my clothes wet." She murmured above his head, weaving her fingers in his hair and running them in random circles on his scalp.
"I'm going to hunt that other scent on it before properly disposing it later. You don't have to worry about clothes anymore once I've got everything off your body." He opened her neckline and nuzzled her velvet cleavage with a pleased hum, "He and I will be very upset if someone else manages to get a hold of our royal treasure when we are not looking."
"How selfish." She wrapped her hands around his neck and bent down to kiss his forehead when he helped her sit up so he could remove her kimono.
"As all children are about their Mother." He humored her airily, lifted her in his arms and descended until water covered to her collarbones where he situated her in his lap. He ran a soft fur ball along her skin to rid her of the scent of outside world while recoating her in his own aura as he cleaned her at his own idle pace.
"How do you feel?" She asked, resting her head on his shoulder, eyes closed in repose.
"I hardly feel anything with that sorry excuse of a toxin even in this night." He answered her indulgently, continued his motions undisrupted. "Apparently their purpose was pleasure from a high class demon. Too bad." He paused his musing in contemplation, pressing the back of her hand against his lips, "I had been rather paranoid for expecting more. But it's all good that I decided you should be absent. I did get a little carried away because I was bored."
She tilted her head so that her lips brushed his cheek and readjusted her loosely captivated hand to caress the other, "Tell me immediately the moment you feel something different. You know it, right?"
This time his mouth found her temple as he embraced her in companionable silence.
Sesshoumaru instantly drew her closer until he had her trapped in his limbs the moment Inuyasha lowered her on the mattress beside him, letting out a pleased growl when his lungs got their fill of her scent and Inuyasha's on her combine. Inuyasha brushed aside a lock of slightly damp hair across her cheek, pressed a goodbye kiss on her lips and did the same with Sesshoumaru. Then he straightened up and left them to get dressed.
"Going somewhere?" Sesshoumaru slurred sleepily, his voice almost muffled by how he was burying his face in the back of her neck.
"Mm, somewhere." Inuyasha responded vaguely, opted to drape the black jacket of his suit around his shoulders instead of wearing it formal way, giving the world free fan-service of his abs behind thin russet dress shirt.
Sesshoumaru grunted almost sulkily, only slightly placated because of her petting along his nape.
"Inuyasha," She called when the youngest was about to leave, "Don't bully him for too long."
There was a less than friendly curl of his lips when Inuyasha said, "I only plan to reeducate him a little." And he disappeared where he stood.
"Who are you talking about?" Sesshoumaru mumbled in her ear, tightened his hand around her waist, his other hand found her wrist and skimmed down, entwined their fingers.
"The Lord of his friendly Wolf pack."
Sesshoumaru opened one of his lids at her mention of Wolf, "The one has been demanding his attention lately?"
"That one." She confirmed.
"Why would that one always bother with something outside his domain." Sesshoumaru huffed.
"The most recent nominated member of the Council is his old acquaintance. He finds it necessary to provide assistance when needed."
"And he requests Inuyasha because?"
"Obviously it is something only Inuyasha can do."
Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow, "World domination?"
She chuckled at his poor sense of humor.
"Can I kill him?" Inuyasha jerked his chin in the direction of the elder Wolf demon, leaning back on the lounge, his arms stretched along the backrest. Ayame sat beside him, hiding her smile behind a sleeve, obviously assumed he was joking.
"This is our first official meeting, Inuyasha-sama." The elder Wolf bowed on one knee, held Inuyasha's ankle with his hand and kissed his foot. "I am Mikage."
Moved his foot under the demon's chin, Inuyasha raised the bowing head with his toes, "Head up," He ordered, a smirk forming on the corner of his lips, "What a humiliation for one pureblood demon such as yourself to kowtow before a half-breed, hm?"
"No pureblood can compare with the purity of those belong to the Royal families." The elder demon replied without missing a beat.
"Even if?" Inuyasha stared down, an edge of challenging in his icy tone. Ayame's breath hitched at the tense atmosphere after his prompt and tried coming up with something to avert his attention. Before she could say anything, his arm subtly around her shoulder tightened in his silent way of telling her not to interfere. "Well?"
"Even if My Highness is the only one in our history born belonged to two Royal bloodlines."
Inuyasha's amused laughter filled the grand hall, sent chills down the spines of everyone presented. "Ayame," He regarded the female beside him when his mirth subsided, "I like this one. Sweet tongue. Can I kill him still?"
"Hmph!" She pouted and turned her eyes from him to hide her anxiety, "You have to be always so mean!"
"It's not my fault your mate ran off when I finally pay him a visit." If Inuyasha noticed her fear, more likely he did, he let it slide.
"He couldn't have expected you to come so soon after your Mother—the Lady left before long." Ayame corrected herself a little too late, though Inuyasha didn't seem to mind her slip.
"He would be expecting my appearance once I catch scent of something that shouldn't be on her. Turn out it is you, sweet tongue." Inuyasha tapped his foot on the side of the demon's cheek, knowing the other caught the hidden meaning in his casual tone. He drew a thin line of blood on the skin with his claw toe, golden eyes flashed of something darker than his smile was giving away at the sight, before pulling back and crossed his legs.
"Please forgive my insolence, My Highness. I have never been graced with one of great magnificence as Her Majesty and before I know it…" Mikage trailed off and left it at that, mindless of the dripping wound Inuyasha left on his cheek.
Inuyasha leaned down, propped his elbow atop his knee and supported his chin with the back of his hand, smirk still in place, "Are you now asking for permission to pursue our Treasure?"
"If My Highness would allo—"
"INUYASHA!" A familiar obnoxious voice interrupted them.
Inuyasha slapped the punch aiming his way without looking, gripped Kouga's head with the same hand once the Wolf was off-balance and slammed him to the ground, which cracked under the force of his demonic pressure spread over the Wolf territory. The whole Wolf pack dropped what they had been doing and themselves to the ground, clutching their heads in terror, some weaker ones gripped their chests in a pitiful attempt to gain back air in their frozen lungs. All saved for Mikage, who was still on his knee and tried not to do anything he would regret. Because even though being an Elder, he was not allowed in individual business unless requested. But, he stared at the Dog Demon from the shadow of his fringe, What a terrified display of power...
"Dearest!" Ayame gasped in horror at the situation, not knowing how had it come to this. It was not unusual for Kouga and Inuyasha to exchange blows, but this was first in a century time without any justified reason.
"You've got a lot of nerve." Inuyasha sneered, pressing his claws down harder when Kouga attempted to budge his head.
"Inuyasha-sama, Mikage-sama only greeted the Lady!" Ayame touched his forearm to get his attention, glancing between the two worriedly.
"I know." Inuyasha assured her. "I smelt him strongest on her hand."
Ayame relaxed a little at that. But then she was rigid again when she sensed his killing intent. "Inuyasha-sama—!"
"Remember your lesson yet, Wolf." Inuyasha questioned Kouga instead.
Kouga lifted his trembling hands in surrender.
Inuyasha blinked in boredom and sat up properly like nothing happened. His threatening aura also disappeared without a trace. "Come see me tomorrow, Wolf. I'm leaving this to you for now."
"But you only just come." Ayame protested. Against her better judgment, she preferred going to the end of this than doubting her friend. "It's been so long since the last time you were here."
"Next time won't be that long," Inuyasha leaned over to kiss her cheek chastely, "Promise," When the nuisances are not around, He hushed in her ear only.
Ayame nodded in acceptance. "We'll see you off. Come on, Dearest." She pulled her mate up, who had decided to sit where he was released with a thoughtful expression on his face.
"What happened?" Kouga asked when the three of them were alone.
"You are a fool." Inuyasha said lightly. "If you haven't figured it out yet, then keep an eye open for that acquaintance of yours."
Kouga frowned, not understand where this came from. "Mikage?"
"Inuyasha-sama, Mikage-sama is a good friend of my grandpa. I don't think he has any hidden agenda." Ayame told him.
"The scent of his blood puts me on edge."
"Ha?!" Kouga snapped at him irritatingly, "Is that it?!"
Inuyasha ignored the outburst, "Ayame."
"Yes, Inuyasha-sama?" She looked up at him, flushed right away when he put his hand on her cheek and brushed her hair back.
"Take care." He turned his back to them and disappeared after throwing a two-fingers salute over his shoulder.
Kouga scratched the back of his head in confusion. "What was that about?"
"Aahh, he is so powerful and a gentleman…" Ayame sighed dreamily. Despite what happened, his actions spoke of the reassurance that nothing had changed in their friendship and that was all she needed to know.
"I agree with you on the powerful part but gentleman? Excuse me?! Did you see him almost open my head in front of your eyes!?" Kouga grilled, crossing his arms sulkily.
"At least he didn't kill you." Ayame teased, her eyes shone again, "So protective, so possessive, so handsome, so beautiful…"
"Yeah yeah… Too bad you are stuck with me!" Kouga snorted at her fangirl-mode.
"I am fine with you. Because on the other side of his affection have to be someone like the Lady and Sesshoumaru-sama." Ayame leaned her head sideway on Kouga's shoulder, "Sometimes I cower in fear just thinking about how much he loves them."
"He changes." Kouga said solemnly, wrapped his arm around her shoulders and looked up at the moonless sky, "We all do."
"I wonder if Kagome was born again in this present time, would he turn back to the Inuyasha we knew."
"Don't be silly. He is still our Inuyasha." Kouga smiled with unshakable conviction.
"Right… I'm sorry. I don't know what comes over me…" Ayame whispered bashfully.
"When I saw him, I almost mistook him for his Father." A voice said behind them.
Ayame perked up and looked over her shoulder, smiling when she saw who, "Mikage-sama!"
More than worrying about how much the other demon had heard them, Kouga narrowed his eyes at that remark. There had been rumors about the council supporting Inuyasha over Sesshoumaru for the Taisho position. Because, once Inuyasha entered his first phase of maturity, he indeed looked like his late Sire more than Sesshoumaru, who was told to be the male version of his elusive Mother by those who got their chance of a lifetime to be in the presence of the Lady.
How funny, only several centuries ago Inuyasha's existence was foretold to be the fallen of the Western Royal, just because he was a hanyou. That was something never heard of or happened throughout the history of Royal bloodlines. Look at now, when everything with brain worshipped Inuyasha like a living God. And the Western Royal was still the strongest among Four Great Royals of Demon Society. While other three Royal bloodlines had taken in outsiders to reserve their existence and protect their territory at the cost of weakening their purity, the Western Royal still had the same three identities remained at its core.
The birth of mixed-blood offsprings always resulted in bloods and tears for various reasons. Prejudges, fears, helter-skelters, consequences when one blood canceled or worse, dominated the other, and worst of all, mutations. But the fact that a mixed-blood could surpass those of pureblood had been acknowledged with Inuyasha as solid proof. It was too bad they took so long to realize how dangerous a hanyou could evolve under the right environment. More like, as some put it, Sesshoumaru had done something he shouldn't. Like humans, demons also feared change. The longer they lived, the greater their fear became.
Kouga couldn't help comparing Inuyasha with Naraku on how they were offered a collection of characteristics and powers to keep and discard what they had no need for. The biggest difference between those two were, Inuyasha had a wider range of selection because he was born purely natural whereas Naraku had to resort to absorb strong demons to make up for it. But only Lord knew why Inuyasha never lost his demonic power on the night of New Moon during these recent centuries when the greatest secret of hanyou became a common knowledge. This led to some certain suspicions about the truth of his hanyou upbringing. Kouga would, too, if he hadn't seen that black hair, human Inuyasha once upon a time.
The greatest change within Demon Society in these five hundred years was the acceptance of hanyou. The wariness and distrust were still there, but as Sesshoumaru had put it, "If you can't adapt to the change of time, then accept your uselessness for living under your own delusion of power for too long and perish with it". The Western Royal had refused to partake in the fight against humans once the "weak ones" had grown beyond expectation. They created more and more disastrous things to make up for their weak physical strength from the objects surrounding them. They could easily replace and enhance their creations to do their deeds as they sat back and waited for fruitions without ever harming themselves doing fatal jobs. They evolved. Not their body, but their mind, and their life.
Together with Inuyasha and his own Mother, Sesshoumaru leaded his properties and allies to their peaceful life this day where they walked alongside humans without ever being exposed as what they truly were. While other Royals dwindled to the point they forced themselves to break the unspoken ancient rule of inbreeding in order to live on. Thus resulted in the stain of their purity with no turning back, because they had fought against the impossible and lost.
"I only say this because I know him." Kouga lifted his chin, glancing at the Elder from the corner of his eyes, "Inuyasha doesn't care about being Inu no Taisho. Not in the least."
"Maybe that is why there has never been any disturbance within the Western Royal?" Mikage tilted his head courteously, "Rumors have it that Inuyasha-sama and Sesshoumaru-sama are even in strength. And the only reason Sesshoumaru-sama is still considered the strongest is because Inuyasha-sama refuses to raise his weapon against his sibling."
"Well," Kouga stretched and folded his hands behind his head, "Whenever those rumors come true, we will start worrying about them. As far as I know, neither of them is unaware of the other."
"You seem quite fond of their brotherhood." Mikage observed, smiling in amusement.
"It's not like that, Mikage-sama," Ayame giggled behind her hand, "I'm pretty sure I and Kouga are more like siblings to Inuyasha-sama than Sesshoumaru-sama."
"Oh?" The elder prompted with interest.
"They have always been like… yes, that." Ayame turned to Kouga, her eyes danced with mirth, "Right, Dearest?"
"Yeah, that." Kouga grinned lecherously back.
"That?" The elder echoed them in perplexity.
"Just old joke." Kouga waved his hand dismissively and led his mate back inside, "We are retiring for tonight. See you tomorrow, Mikage!"
"Have a good rest, young ones." Mikage smiled at them gently.
She was roused from sleep by his familiar presence above her. Her golden eyes opened to the sight of midnight hair fall over his shoulders as he unbent from kissing Sesshoumaru's temple. "You are home." She greeted with a small smile.
"Mm," Inuyasha caressed her cheek, brushing a stray silver lock behind her ear, "I'm back."
"You met him." She stated.
"I don't trust him." He straightened up and walked away from the bed. "I'm going to freshen up."
"Sesshoumaru will be awaken soon. Don't you want to wait for him?"
"I'd rather get myself clean before that. He is like an adorable hopeless lover when he knows I can't fight him in this form." Inuyasha grinned and moved out.
"Adorable hopeless lover?" Sesshoumaru hissed behind her when Inuyasha was out of earshot.
"Eavesdropping is a bad habit, Sesshoumaru."
There was a dismissive grunt. "How is this my fault because he doesn't know if I am awake or not?"
"How long have you been listening?"
"Since my power returned."
"It is almost time for Royals Gathering." She sighed, moved to other topic, leaned back more into his embrace, tilting her head a little when he pressed soothing kisses down her neck.
"By almost time, you can say two days away." He reminded her. There was no secret about her dislike of merry places. The loud noises always put her in bad mood. "As always, we won't let any living things get too close to you. Worry not."
She was silent for a while, "Sesshoumaru, do you remember Mikage?"
Sesshoumaru turned her around to face him, "Is there any reason I should?"
"He is the new Council member."
"So someone failed to win your heart from how long ago has come back for a second chance?" His brow raised in feign disbelief.
"He sounded like that was the first time he met her to me." Inuyasha grunted mockingly, slipping under the first layer of fur covering them from behind her. "Do I still look like an idiot? I sincerely hope he doesn't already think I am one."
"How is that a bad thing?" Sesshoumaru asked his sibling easily, "As long his guard is not high enough around you, it will not be too troublesome to take care of him."
"I'm trying to look forward to a challenge here, you lazy old hound." Inuyasha stuck his tongue out at Sesshoumaru.
"Don't hold your breath, Inuyasha. Or you can't bear the disappointment."
"But he has become quite a looker after all those centuries. I almost unable to recall him when I saw him." She wondered aloud thoughtfully.
…
"Sesshoumaru, I'm getting his face first."
"No. He is my prey."
"You two…"
"Why did you let him kiss your hand?" Inuyasha frowned unhappily.
She blinked, "Have you ever heard of greeting?"
"He could have bowed before you on his hands and knees if he thought you are a Divinity!" The demon-turned-human huffed moodily.
Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes, "What did Kouga do about that?"
"Mostly nothing. He's not helping any in this situation." Inuyasha waved his hand dismissively, "I've already left them a foolproof."
Sesshoumaru decided to humor his sibling, "Are you certain your so called foolproof is reliable?"
Inuyasha's expression was one that said he didn't care. "Maybe?" He went to snuggle her from behind. "It's been a long boring day…" Whined youngest miserably.
"I left in the middle of my work hour to entertain you!" Sesshoumaru groused.
Inuyasha pursed his lips, "It's not like you have anything left to do."
"As a matter of fact, I do." There was a bunch of useless things still littered his desk because he forgot all about them at the sight of…
"Really?" Inuyasha raised a mock eyebrow, "I'll be nice and help you with that tomorrow then."
"Burn everything and don't bother reading them." Sesshoumaru recommended him.
"Your son is too popular, you see." Inuyasha put his chin on her shoulder, pressing their cheeks together, "Why would you ever need to look for anyone better?" He waggled his brows suggestively.
"He is taken." She sighed mournfully.
"Is that so? Too bad. I will take his place then."
"You are also taken." She drawled dramatically.
"But we can't let anyone take you." Inuyasha announced.
She reached up to caress Inuyasha's cheek, smiling indulgently, "You will have to let me go when the time comes."
"We will not have that." Sesshoumaru told her, wrapped one hand around her hips casually, other hand stretched below them, touching Inuyasha on the small of his back.
"Agree."
There was silent as she contemplated them before their playful farce gave way to another, darker one. "You two have no sense of humor, neither common sense."
Low chuckle raised from Inuyasha's throat, twin irises of darkness flashed golden as he leaned closer until his nose touched hers, "We have no use for those here."
"At least try learning to be charming, like your Father."
"No, thank you." The two males declined simultaneously.
"I have enough fanbase without acting like him." Inuyasha scoffed.
"I refuse to change how I am." Sesshoumaru lifted his chin haughtily.
"Oh my, you two used to be much cuter when you were younger."
Playful laughter filled the room before long after her remark.
"I'm bored." Inuyasha droned in his phone as he stared at the fidgeting trio before him.
"You don't need to say it in my ears each ten seconds just to keep me on line!" Kouga snapped, trying to control his lost temper while swiveling passed a black cat jumped in the middle of the road out of nowhere. A black cat out of nowhere?! Seriously?!
"Relax, you three. I call you here to dispose of these—" He threw the last love-letter back to the stack he had done reading (everything) just to kill time, "—very resourceful suggestions before anyone else got the same ideas."
Truth to be told, it was million times worse to be in the presence of Inuyasha-sama, who would most likely send you to do all kinds of odd jobs ever crossed his mind, range from humiliation to downright brain damage. With Sesshoumaru-sama, they only needed to worry about losing their life, mostly ended before anyone knew what happened. That was why good pets shouldn't bother Inuyasha-sama with reading whatever flooded his brother's mailboxes!
"Hang up so I can finally hang up if you have someone else to torture!" Kouga screeched on the other side, stomped on the brake none too gently because he almost ran over a red light.
"Pet number one, come closer." Inuyasha beckoned with his forefinger at Shippo, hung up in the middle of Kouga's cursing the same moment he addressed the Fox demon.
Cold sweats soaked his back profusely, but Shippo didn't dare to not do as he was told. With a mental squeak, he approached Inuyasha timidly, now understood what his survival instinct had tried telling him yesterday. That he should beg Sesshoumaru-sama to let him burn those before Inuyasha-sama got his hands on them today! Yeeeeeooooorrrr!
Kohaku tensed when his companion in misery made to move toward Inuyasha-sama. There was no need for sympathy toward each other because his turn would come soon enough.
"Do you remember Kouga's handwriting?" Inuyasha asked out of the blue.
"Eh? Um..." Actually his answer was obviously positive. The stuttering was only because his nerves were standing on all ends! "Y... yes. Of c—course, Inuyasha-sama!" Shippo forced out with a strained smile.
"Excellent." Inuyasha smiled kindly at the younger demon, which was fooling no one in the office. "Would you please copy these using his handwriting in plain papers for me? And make sure everything addresses me."
Noted, that was not a request. Inuyasha-sama had demanded it to be done right away. He ordered the mountain of highschool girl style love-letters to be copied and pasted manually as if Kouga was his secret admirer with a big fat crush on him! I want to die! Shippo screamed in his head. "Yes, sir." He could feel his face start hurting from keeping the smile already.
Kohaku gulped when Inuyasha painstakingly turned his head so he was now in full view. And so it comes...
"Pet number two." The endearment address somehow felt like a death sentence to him.
"Yes, Inuyasha-sama." Kohaku replied steadily despite wanting no more than diving himself behind the curtain on the far side of the glass wall behind his master.
"I trust you have fully mastered one of my own handwritings. So please help me write these down under my name, to Kouga." Inuyasha motioned at the stack beside the one he assigned to Shippo. "Do you think you can do it?"
"Of course, Inuyasha-sama." Kohaku replied dutifully, accepting his fate.
Shippo glanced at his companion in misery from the corner of his eyes. So he and Kohaku would be cosplaying as Inuyasha and Kouga, exchanging highschool girl style love-letters? Well, at least it could have been worse—
"When you two are done, give everything to Jaken. Now Jaken, you will infiltrate the Kouga and put them somewhere only Ayame can find." Inuyasha threw two bundles at the shortest of the three, "Wrap them in those until they get mine and his scent respectively before going. Understood?"
What. The. Hell?
"Eepp!" Jaken tried to balance the items with his tiny limbs, sighing in relief when he felt they wouldn't bury him alive where he stood, he looked up at Inuyasha in confusion, "May I ask what are you doing with the—YES! Right away, My Lord!" He screeched fearfully at the look Inuyasha gave him mid-speech.
Inuyasha contemplated them for a while, taking in their fear of him (on Jaken's part) and silent pleas like kicked puppies (on Shippo and Kohaku's). Well, too bad they were his most trusted individuals for the jobs because of their tight mouths and efficient in finishing everything without having him gone cleaning after them. And he enjoyed their expressions a little too much.
Inuyasha stood from his chair to dismiss them but he froze, catching the trio's attention. A soft smile broke out on his face as his eyes closed. "Actually I am planning to send you off but Sesshoumaru is coming. So go greet him first."
At the mention of Sesshoumaru, the three immediately brightened up. If they were lucky, Sesshoumaru-sama would catch up with his sibling's mindscape and saved them from—
"Remember, don't bother him with your own problems if you can solve them yourselves." Re, shut up before you slipped.
"Yes, Inuyasha-sama." They sobbed miserably.
"Don't worry. If this goes well, Kouga will be in your debt. After all, you are helping him out of his own mess." Inuyasha elaborated vaguely.
Are you trying to horn Ayame?! How is that even helping Kouga! Shippo shrieked in his head, unable to shake off the bad feeling in his stomach. He looked behind himself when he heard the door opened. Inuyasha was already there. When has he even moved?!
"It's rude to stare. Come." Inuyasha raised an amused eyebrow at their startled expressions before they scurried after him.
Kouga jumped out of his car through the window to get in Inuyasha's face faster than using the door. But when he made to straighten up, his face was planted into the passenger door because Inuyasha opened it without noticing him.
"Hey." Inuyasha greeted with a smile when Sesshoumaru stepped out.
"Hey yourself." Sesshoumaru told him with a slight curl on the corner of his lips.
"You... fucking... dog... breath...!" Kouga gritted through his fangs, holding his nose to stop the bleeding all the while glaring heatedly at the younger sibling.
Inuyasha threw a side glance at the Wolf demon. "I am so happy seeing you have not kicked the bucket yet." He drawled with one whole year worth of his boredom, then raised a demanding eyebrow at his silent brother, "No reunion hug?"
As if on auto-pilot (most likely), Sesshoumaru gave him a one hand embrace wordlessly with a neutral face (what's new?) and patted his head like he was a child (on purpose). That got the elder Dog Demon a scowl from his younger, but Sesshoumaru released Inuyasha before his offending hand was swatted away with his ever nonplus expression one would have to doubt if he was indeed fooling around or not. You could never tell when the older of the siblings was in question.
But this was a common knowledge. Only Sesshoumaru could make the modern time fearsome Inuyasha act like five years old from the bottom of his heart. Literally.
Inuyasha tilted his head when he noticed Sesshoumaru had that daze look again, "Are you sure you should be going out instead of sleeping the day away? I will feel better if you don't know that I am enslaving your minions when you are not around."
He is not even being secretive about it! Shippo and Kohaku were close to cry on each other's shoulder and shrieked about their misery until they were spent.
"What have you done?" Sesshoumaru asked his brother without a hint of emotion.
"Prevent them from begging you to kill them because they prefer that over doing their jobs."
Another common knowledge. Inuyasha couldn't keep a single thing when Sesshoumaru asked. That didn't mean he would get to the point about what his brother questioned him.
Inuyasha turned to stare blankly at Shippo and Kohaku, "In case you are wondering if I read your mind, no, it is written on your faces, quite clearly."
The two shook their heads profusely in denial of what, they had no idea. Just this was the only thing they could do to keep their sanity intact.
"Are we done saying hello finally?" Inuyasha clapped his hands, looking pointedly at the trio minions, "Now off with you three."
"Good morning, Sesshoumaru-sama! See you later!" They chorused and scampered back to the building, dared not to look behind them.
"Tyrant." Kouga snorted at the sight.
"Because you are too slow that I have to take the matter in my own hands. So I don't want to hear it from you." Inuyasha went around Sesshoumaru and hopped on his brother's back, pointing at a guarding demon had been trying and failing to look as if he was not looking at them. The poor thing dropped to his hands and knees for not knowing what else he could do under his gaze. "Wolf, give your car key to that one and follow us."
Kouga followed the direction of Inuyasha's finger and huffed, "I think that one is done for. His face is turning purple the longer you look at him."
Inuyasha opened his mouth, a nasty comeback was at the tip of his tongue, but he tensed and jumped off his brother, stood back to back in a fighting stance. Sesshoumaru was the one sensing exactly where the attacks were coming at them first. Before Kouga could do so much as blinking at their behaviors, the older Dog demon already grabbed his head and shoved him none too gently to the ground and opened the car door where immediately, some projectiles stabbed it and stopped in their tracks for being unable to break through the enhanced glass. Needles. The place conveniently was where Kouga's throat had been in clear view.
"Whoa—!" Instinct kicked in combined with adrenaline rush, Kouga dashed away from his spot where another set shot at him, blue eyes darted around, trying to locate where they came from.
He was careless. The busy street had vacated before he arrived. Sesshoumaru calculated his options, because he had many in this situation. No innocence involved. Closed to their building. Inuyasha by his side. He didn't have to worry about Kouga, this one'd better die if he couldn't defend himself. What could go wrong?
"So this is indeed something worthwhile after all." Inuyasha remarked, slightly crouching, eyes hidden behind his bang.
Sesshoumaru stilled. Inuyasha.
"I can't move." Inuyasha's voice answered in his mind.
Sesshoumaru closed his eyes, poison flowed to the tip of his claws and released his whips when the next attack wave came, deflected everything at ease before any could get pass his circle of defense at the same time his demonic aura spread out, covered the entire area.
"Kagome Kagome…" Inuyasha started singing.
Kouga twitched at the soft voice and turned around to where Inuyasha stood alone in the middle of the street. Sesshoumaru was nowhere in sight.
"Kago no naka no tori wa." The next attack came from all directions toward the motionless Inuyasha.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Wide pale blue eyes stared at the younger Dog demon sibling in disbelief. He would be jumping his dog-breath and beat some sanity back in that head if he was not busy deflecting the annoying needles flying his way. "DODGE! INUYASHA!" Kouga shouted at the top of his lungs.
Lids fell over his eyes, darkness poured down from the top of his head, dying his silver hair black. "Itsu itsu deyaru." Holy light surrounded Inuyasha like a barrier, purified everything was about to harm him.
The last time he checked, no demon or half-demon or normal human could spill holy light from their body like mikos or monks! -What. The. Hell?!- was an outdated understatement. Besides, he was already speechless. Maybe he should stop staring at Inuyasha and worried about himself instead, Kouga decided. This was seriously sending him toward a premature brain dead with more questions kept raising around Inuyasha. But one thing for sure, later he had to tell Inuyasha to never sing again. He sounded so damn creepy! And where the hell was Sesshoumaru? His scent just evaporated! He couldn't have gotten himself purified by his own sibling, could he?!
"Yoake no ban ni." Demonic markings reappeared on Inuyasha's face. The holy light stirred, being penetrated by his awakening demonic power from the inside in black waves. Light and darkness entwined around Inuyasha like whirlwind, fluttering his hair in its silver glory.
"Tsuru to kame ga subetta." Pure aura in crescent shape of black and white blades cut in the directions where the next attack came at Inuyasha, purifying the needles in its wake and pierced through the hiding demons somewhere in the long row of parked cars, on top of buildings, behind the wall of street shops, amidst the messy situated coffee tables… The enchanted wind screamed like raging souls of Hell trying to escape their prisons, leaving none left alive in its path.
Everything descended into stillness when Inuyasha's aura calmed down.
"Ushiro no shoumen…" Inuyasha turned his head, demoniac golden eyes staring straight at the bewildered Kouga, "Dare?"
Kouga instantly looked over his shoulder.
Sesshoumaru stood amidst the fragments of glasses suspending in the air, Bakusaiga's deadly aura sizzled menacingly in his hand.
A disembodied voice resounded in the area, "We don't know about that, Sesshoumaru-sama." The fragments further multiplied themselves around Sesshoumaru and shot at him at the same time.
"Shit!" Kouga made to punch a shockwave in Sesshoumaru's direction to create an opening for the older demon—
"How irritating." Inuyasha said monotonously behind him, Sesshoumaru by his side, arms crossed with a blank expression.
Kouga had to blink several times to make sure his eyesight was working just fine, looking back and forth between Sesshoumaru and the spot the older Dog demon previously got trapped in now littered with broken crystalized ammos could have caused him serious harm earlier. When did he…
"We don't have enough proof against him." Sesshoumaru turned around and walked in the direction of their building. Inuyasha would follow him after he was done sulking over escaped prey. He stopped short in his track when he caught a flash from the corner of his eyes. It had already gotten too close to Inuyasha. Even when his younger also noticed, Inuyasha's slower movement was proof that he had yet fully recovered.
"Don't—!"
The next thing Inuyasha knew was Sesshoumaru had ignored his plea to not protect him and took it where it should have hit him. He felt himself being burned alive under his brother's weight as he caught his motionless sibling in his arms.
And then…
She is going to be mad.
… there was darkness.
To be continued. (I like this one more than "I got hit by a block so I'm ending this here". That being said, doesn't mean I get hit by a block, really.)
And so, after 21 pages of Word documents of the chapter alone and if you are still with me, here is our promised end story note.
First thing first, I don't know Italian. So where is that "Per Un Piacere Diabolica" come from? I use Google translate and some Italian online checkers to make sure it relatively understandable(?) if there will be Italian(s) reading this story and wonder if I am insane. The meaning is "For a Diabolical Pleasure".
Now, we are breaking in the Kagome Kagome song.
- Kago no naka no tori wa (The bird in the cage): Inuyasha referred to himself. First, in the middle of an attack that he couldn't escape because somehow, he was paralyzed. Second,
- Itsu itsu deyaru (When, when will you come out): Also referred to himself, but to address his human side only appeared on the night of New Moon which was usually "caged" by his half-demon appearance.
- Yoake no ban ni (In the evening of the dawn): This is a wordplay. "Yoake" means sunrise/dawn, the end of night; and "ban" means night. So literally we get "the night of the end of night". This kind of time does not exist, to make him be a half-demon or human or demon, so Inuyasha could be whatever he wanted to be (human, demon, half-demon) that were all himself.
- Tsuru to kame ga subetta (The crane and turtle slipped): Crane symbolized good fortune and Turtle symbolized long life, when "slipped", they became bad luck and death. This one is mostly self-explained, Inuyasha mocked his enemies that their life ended here for their bad luck in crossing him.
- Ushiro no shoumen dare? (Who stands right behind you now?): Also self-explained.
I hope you enjoy the reading. As for me, I always like what I write for myself. Now I'm off to bed. Good day, good morning, good afternoon, good evening and good night to you all!
Ciao,
Asuka K.