Flashback

Pain. So much pain. And he knew it would only get worse from here on. He put up a brave face for everyone, but deep inside he was screaming. Now he was alone, and no one could see the once proud Sesshomaru burst into tears. Quiet sobs and heartfelt apologies to people he's hurt. He knew they would never hear him. No one would. Maybe Naraku would, if he wasn't just waiting for Sesshomaru to die. How did he let himself be captured? He asked himself that many times. Why do the gods hate me? He wanted to whisper to himself, but he refused to make a sound. He heard footsteps, and started to panic a little. Would someone save him? Or was that death calling for him? The door swung open and blinding light penetrated the darkness. When his eyes adjusted to the light, he could make out Naraku's form perfectly. The spider hanyou smirked and came close to Sesshomaru's face.

"Ready to play, bitch?" He whispered huskily. Sesshomaru shivered, Please…please just let me die…Sesshomaru thought to himself. But, he was defiant to the end.

"Not with the likes of you, filth," he said with a tone that was like the smack to the face to the spider hanyou. In return, Naraku grabbed the demon lord by this long silver hair and broke the chains binding him to the damp dungeon walls.

"You are mine now," he muttered as he dragged Sesshomaru to his chamber. Sesshomaru tried to kick and fight to get himself out of the situation he was in. He somehow dreaded what was to happen, though at that time he wasn't exactly sure what the spider hanyou was going to do to him….

Present

Sesshomaru refused to remember anymore. Not now, anyway. He knew shying away from what happened is only going to cause an onslaught of unwanted memories. His mind is going to make him remember; make him relive the pain and humiliation. Now, he waited in the damned dungeon to die. The pain that had been inflicted to the outside of his body had somehow seeped into his form. His emotions were permanently changed, his mental state permanently scarred. He was no longer the cold, unemotional inuyoukai; that mask has been shattered so now his true feelings show. As surprising as that is, he doesn't really care. He could care less, now he only wants someone to save him. Someone to care, someone he doesn't deserve. He could hear noises from above him, but he couldn't make them out. Maybe he was dying of hypothermia. He was in a damp, cold dungeon with only rags for clothing. He closed his eyes, welcoming the blur of death. Little did he know, he was only overly exhausted.

Inuyasha cursed at Naraku as he fled his own castle. Fucking coward! He thought to himself. He sniffed the air and finally acknowledged the out-of-place scent he noticed earlier.

"Yo Shippo," he turned to his small, kitusine punching bag. "Do 'ya smell that?" The little fox shrugged at the older male. Hm, smells like it's downstairs… Inuyasha followed the scent and came to a very dark dungeon cell. He broke the lock with ease and stepped in. He looked around, trying to make his eyes adjust faster. When he first saw the shocking sprawl of white against the stony floor, he thought it was a bright spot in his vision. Until it twitched. Inuyasha almost screamed, but got a hold of himself as he kneeled next to it. He discovered that most of the white was hair, and despite his mind logically telling him that he knew this scent, he refused to believe it. He refused to believe that his brother was lying crumpled in Naraku's dungeon. He brushed the hair back and gasped at what he saw. Instead of the expressionless mask Sesshomaru always heard, his face was contorted in pain. He was curled into a tight ball and he was whimpering in his sleep. Inuyasha scoffed. He debated leaving him there, until his brother's body pulled on his heart. Sesshomaru's clothing was in tatters and he was covered in a mix of dark purple and black bruises as well as unhealing cuts and gashes. Inuyasha felt like crying. He gently lifted his brother, wincing each time his body convulsed in pain, and wrapped his red haori around him. He cradled the inuyoukai in his arms and stood, surprised at how light his brother was. Inuyasha ignored his friends shocked gasps and disbelieving stares as he hurried to get out of the castle.

"Go to Kaede's village," he said over his shoulder to his companions. "Wait for me there, I have to take care of him,"

Flashback

Sesshomaru was thrown onto a bed forcefully. He scrambled once again to get away, but Naraku had pinned him down.

"Why don't you just be a good boy and be still?" The spider hanyou asked mockingly. Sesshomaru clawed at his face, desperately trying to get away. The dark haired half-demon dodged the attack and smirked. He pinned the inuyoukai's hands above his head. He continued to struggle, he wouldn't give up. Naraku tore into Sesshomaru's clothes, leaving bloody claw marks all over the inu.

"Now you're going to be punished." The spider hanyou whispered, his voice darkened with lust. The inuyoukai's hands were chained to the headboard behind him. Then, Naraku proceeded to take his clothes off.

Present

Inuyasha watched Sesshomaru fidget and whimper for long enough. He had to wake his brother from his nightmare. Inuyasha had stopped running with Sesshomaru when it started to rain. Now, the two brothers were camped out in a cave far far away from Naraku's old castle.

"Sesshomaru…" He whispered as he shook the inuyoukai. Nothing happened. "Bro, wake up. Sesshomaru!" Inuyasha was becoming more worried as his brother became more panicked. He shook the shaking youkai harder.

"SESSHOMARU!" The hanyou cried, finally waking his brother. Sesshomaru was still shaking, his eyes not focused on the present. Wait, his eyes…With a jolt, Inuyasha noticed Sesshomaru was crying. He hated seeing those beautiful amber eyes in pain-Wait! He sooo did not just think that…. He was wondering why he was thinking such a weird thing when he had another tug to his heart.

"Inu…Inuyasha…" Sesshomaru sniffed brokenly. Inuyasha looked his brother in the eyes for only a moment when the inuyoukai threw himself at his younger brother. Inuyasha would have normally thrown him off, but…he couldn't force himself to throw the beautiful, sobbing, hurt male off him. For a moment, Inuyasha forgot his past prejudices and held his brother tightly. He let the odd thoughts fill his mind. I feel so bad for him…something really bad must've happened to him…Naraku will pay for hurting him…Sesshomaru's Mine! He couldn't believe what he was thinking. Sesshomaru wasn't his…but he wanted him to be…Snap out of it Inu! He's an evil bastard! He could never care about you! L-like I'd want him to anyway… He didn't notice that his brother had stopped sobbing and was now watching his face change with each thought he was having. There was anger, embarrassment, some sadness, and a strange possessive look. Sesshomaru really didn't care that his brother was having a mental breakdown or battle or whatever, all he cared about was that he was now safe. He snuggled into Inuyasha's chest, loving the musky, woodsy scent that came from him. Wha-!? What the hell was he thinking!? Inuyasha is his brother! But in that moment, looking at Inuyasha's handsome face, he didn't care what was right of wrong. All he cared about was that he's safe. Or was he? Sesshomaru started to hyperventilate, causing Inuyasha snap out of his mental tirade and look down at his brother. He did the one thing he thought would help. He cradled his older brother's face in his hands and looked right into his panicked eyes.

"Don't worry Sesshomaru; you're safe with me,"