(Welcome To) My Fraternal Romance
By Shigure-san
Heyo People *Waves* For those of you that know me you'll know that this is a re-post but I've done some fine-tuning now and I will Upload a new chapter once every 3 days so please enjoy the new version if you've read it before or enjoy the story for the first time if not :) Please Leave a review if you have the time! Any little word would be appreciated ^_^
Please Read: WARNING! – Rated 'X' for Yaoi (shounen-ai/boyxboy relationships), graphic lemon and lime scenes, Inucest, Anal (obviously), Oral, Angst, Extremely Foul language (courtesy of Inuyasha), Violence, (maybe MPREG – if I get that far and if I have enough supporters of this fic ^_^).
Oh, and if there are Japanese references made, check the end author's note for translations.
Dedicated to
The Lovely Serenity_Baby, who introduced me to anime – the wonderful Yuki-Kiba-Chan, who draws me smutty pictures and is always looking out for me –and the one and only Pretty-Crazed-Doll, who loves Sesshomaru. I love you all and hope you all enjoy this fan fiction.
Please Enjoy!
(And don't forget to review – I live off reviews XD)
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Chapter One
Shackles of Fear
The cool night air swept through loose silver hair as he sat, back relaxed against the bark of the tree, clawed toes pawing thoughtfully at the branch below him, gazing through the darkness, waiting, waiting for something he knew would never come. Hoping he supposed the word would be. Hoping, for something, someone, he knew he'd never see again.
Two months. Two long, cold, miserable, eventless months since the Well was sealed, since he'd seen Kagome. Sometimes he'd see her climbing through the well, looking up at him in this very tree with those deep, dark eyes, so expressive and worldly. He supposed that's where he got that, from her. With pride, Inuyasha could say that his resolutely rough exterior shielded his secretly very vulnerable heart, feelings and emotions from others' view. A flaw to this talent of his, were his eyes. Look almost identical to his deceased father's and estranged brother's as they might on the surface, if you got the opportunity to look closer, you would see a wilful rage of emotions battling in them. No one would ever have the opportunity to look in his eyes again. Those eyes, Kagome, Kikyo, his mother, they'd each fancied them as some form of blessing, but to Inuyasha they were a curse. If ever anybody caught even a glimpse of emotion in his eyes, they were guaranteed to leave him, one way or another.
"Geez, Kagome," Inuyasha sighed, resting his head back against the tree, letting the coarse bark scratch his scalp softly. He supposed it was a good thing, she was home, where he knew she belonged, and she was safe from all the horrors of his world. It'd be wrong to wish her back, he thought, I'd just be being selfish, only wishing her back because I'm lonely…
Moralise and justify everything though he did, it didn't stop him missing her, and obviously, it didn't stop him staring at the Bone Eater's Well. He'd barely moved since she left. Miroku and Sango were settled down together somewhere in the village, getting on with their own lives with Kohaku, Kaede, Shippo and Kilala, sure they'd offered him a place, they'd asked him to stay with them, but Inuyasha wouldn't do that. He wouldn't bring them down with his self-pity and mistrust; he wouldn't ruin their well deserved happiness. Naraku, their greatest foe was now nothing more than a bad memory, which left the humans (along with the cat-demon and the kitsune) to their happy ever after, and then with the little half-demon, alone once more. Above all the terrible things he'd faced in his two-hundred-years of life, loneliness was the thing he feared most.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" the demon lord winced at the sound of the aggravating little toad demon's voice, grating at his senses. "H-Here Sire, there are more announcements of neighbouring demons' acceptance to the annual gathering for midsummer's eve!" Sesshomaru sighed, sifting his long slender fingers through silky strands of hair.
"I often ponder the reason for continuing to host that bothersome festivity," he growled quietly to himself, releasing his hold on his hair in favour of signing the parchment in front of him.
"My Lord, you know that this meeting is for-"
"-I am well aware of what it is for, Jaken. And I do not wish to be reminded."
"Y-Yes Milord," the dwarfed demon squeaked, scuttling out of his lord's sight.
Inane demons and their bitches dallying about my father's house, parading their children and grandchildren about on the night before mating season's commencement, Sesshomaru mentally sneered. They come here year after year to try and pawn off their heirs to others in higher places. They come here for their own selfish reasons, one of the main ones being the start of mating season, and the other, that they each hope to get one of their frivolous feet in my door, and try and force their way into some form of claim on my lands. He scoffed at the notion that he'd allow himself to be tied to one of the selfish underdeveloped daughters of his neighbours. Jaken's creeping and Rin's childish games were one thing, but a young bitch's fawning and selfish affection might just drive him insane.
"My Lord?" Sesshomaru sighed, sitting up in his chair at the return of the irritating voice.
"What is it now, Jaken?"
"F-Forgive me Milord, but…the evening's patrol has returned and asked that I give word to you."
The Demon lord raised his head, almost hopefully. There'd not been an enemy, a fight nor scuffle since Naraku's demise; he could feel his slowly regenerated arm itching at the prospect of battle.
"Yes? And what is this word?" he was getting impatient, a trait the demon could proudly say was not a typical one of him – of Inuyasha's most definitely, but not him.
"They say they'd heard word, and seen evidence of…" Jaken's voice stuttered to a pause, fearing his lord's wrath.
"Well?" No response. "Don't test my patience Jaken, you will tell me this news or I'll rip it from your loathsome throat myself."
Jaken squeaked at the threat, stumbling back slightly. "Y-Yes Milord! F-Forgive my disobedience! T-They say to tell you that a band of demons have gathered in the northernmost corner of your lands, seeking out and tearing down…mixed breeds…" The last part came out an almost inaudible peep – but Sesshomaru heard it, and it made him turn in his chair to look upon his servant.
"Jaken. Repeat yourself."
"S-Some mixed breed despising demons have grouped together and are storming the villages, exterminating those with both human and demon blood in them." The silence fell stagnant as Jaken stood, awaiting his lord's dismissal, Sesshomaru falling prey to pensiveness.
He honestly couldn't say how he felt about the news. Sesshomaru had always pushed Inuyasha to one side, always lingered in the shadows during the boy's very miserable childhood, eagerly awaiting his downfall and yet merely witnessing his cruel trials, bound only to life by his fear of dying. The weight of the bindings of fear are usually far stronger than any other, Sesshomaru thought, unconsciously getting to his feet, and moving to silently dress himself in his inherited armour, which he neglected to wear inside the castle walls. Jaken watched his lord, still deep in thought as he clothed himself with the spiked armour, awaiting his next command. No, Inuyasha is to die by my hand and my hand alone, no upstart little group of low-level demons will take his last breath from me…
"Jaken." The said demon jumped at the sudden sounding of his name, bulbous eyes watching Sesshomaru dutifully, awaiting his orders. "You will leave Takara in charge of everything while I'm gone, and you are to reserve yourself to Rin's servitude until further notice, am I understood?"
Jaken swallowed hard, nodding meekly, and despite himself, Sesshomaru felt a smirk twitch at his lips. He knew well the embarrassing girly games his young ward insisted on the toad demon playing with her, and while Jaken's humiliation was amusement enough to turn his lips into a smirk, it made Rin happy to have someone to play with, so it would be done. The lord couldn't ever recall a time or place when he'd wished for someone's happiness so strongly, nor could he ever imagine he'd do so in the future.
"I will return shortly, and Midsummer's eve is long enough away is it not?" To this Jaken nodded swiftly in his determinedness to oblige.
"Yes Milord, err…four months or so I believe."
"Indeed. Well you may handle the necessaries of the festivities; I will not bother myself with such a trifle." Turning swiftly through the doorway, Sesshomaru paused, realising the loophole he'd left Jaken in. "And Jaken?"
"Y-Yes…Milord…?"
"This new duty is in no way to take you away from your duty to Rin, she's priority. Do you comprehend me?"
"Yes, Milord…" Another smirk tweaked at the corners of his mouth, at the sound of the defeat in the small demon's voice. He could practically see the glee on young Rin's face when she heard that Jaken had been ordered to do as she told him.
As the demon lord descended the stairs, he slowly felt the smirk drop from his face. Sesshomaru recalled the reason why he was heading out his own door, and the occasion didn't call for delight, or maybe it did, he wasn't sure, all he was sure of was that he didn't know exactly what he felt about this whole situation right now. "I wonder Half-breed, how you'll pull yourself out of this one..." he wondered to himself aloud.
The moon still shone brightly in the dark sky, peeking occasionally in and out of the heavy clouds overhead, each time rousing Inuyasha from his thoughtfulness. It bothered him that he hadn't left this branch for so long, not to eat, sleep drink or other things his living body demanded. This feeling, of time frozen over, just for him, it reminded him painfully of those long fifty years of life he'd lost, and yet he still hadn't moved, not since Kagome had disappeared through the Bone Eater's Well for the last time.
"So you intend to stay out here alone forever? What will that achieve?" The Demon slayer's angry words still rang in his ears. She was right, of course she was, but Inuyasha didn't care, he'd weather the storms of this life alone, face his limitless lifetime alone, that was the way it would be from now on, and that was that. The monk and the others had called it 'sulking' or 'brooding'. "That isn't what this is," he mumbled aloud to himself. "This is called solitude, it's how demons are meant to work…" But that's not exactly true now, is it? His mind reasoned with him, and he realised its truth.
Young demons lived under their parent/guardian's protection until they were old enough to strike out on their own, but in demon years, Inuyasha would be still considered nothing more than a teenager, as Kagome had called that age group once, and even then, (if he'd been full demon) Inuyasha would remain under his father's (or he supposed, in his case Sesshomaru's care until a suitable opportunity to pair-off arose. As if I'd ever go back to that ass-hole, even if I was full demon, he'd never have the pleasure of gloating – of being my protector. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction.
Suddenly, the half-demon's silver puppy ears pricked, swivelling slightly to meet the sound that came from his left. What's that?
"It's coming from over here, Sir!" Inuyasha didn't move from his spot; still acknowledging the voice he'd never heard before, and the other voices that followed it, raised in apprehension and enthusiasm as they drew closer and closer. Taking a light sniff, Inuyasha rested his head back against the bark, the calloused pads of his fingers scraping lightly over Tetsusaiga's hilt unconsciously. They were demons. Without realising they'd done it, the group of demons had marched themselves to the clearing of the well, right below Inuyasha's feet.
"It's here somewhere Sir, I can sense it!" Inuyasha smirked. So they were looking for him were they? They can look all they like, not sure they'll like what they find though…
"Scour the undergrowth, the entire forest do you hear me? It has to be here somewhere!" Inuyasha could have laughed at the cock-sure tone of the new voice. In the old days, the half-demon would've leapt down to ward the demons away from the village, but they weren't looking for the village, he knew that. They're looking for me… He'd heard tell of a band of demons hunting down and slaughtering part-demons throughout feudal Japan. Alone, they wouldn't have posed a problem to Inuyasha, but together…
"Here! Here Sir!" Inuyasha watched them group together underneath him. "I can sense the dirt in his blood, Sir! He's close now!" Inuyasha would have sniggered, had he not been so busy trying not to be spotted. Long dark hair bound elegantly back in a loose tie, hung into the dangerous eyes of the demon whom everybody seemed to be addressing. So he's the one in charge, huh? Guess I can see why…That aura…it's…it makes my blood run cold it's so powerful! Inuyasha's brow creased as he noted the quirk to the demon's lips, as they rose into an ominous smirk.
"Yes…" the quiet, cool voice whispered into the night air, practically a purr. "If we eliminate this one, 'The Great Inuyasha' that seems to have part-demons clinging to some form of futile hope, then the others will most certainly fall into despair…" Leaning deftly onto his toes, ready to take off at a moment's notice, Inuyasha watched them closely, golden eyes widening in panic as he heard that chilly, purring tone once more. "And this one is young as well," he cooed, "very young, barely two-hundred by the smell of that innocent fear…" Inuyasha swallowed hard. This demon was reading him like a book, just by his smell! Shit, he thought frantically, I have to get out of here.
Inuyasha raked his claws silently into the tree's bark, scraping a handful of the rough matter in his hand. Swiftly he arched his arm, hurling the wood somewhere into the forest in front of him. Like a hair-triggered mechanism, the demons spun in response, darting off into the welcoming dark, searching for the source of the noise.
Hooking his legs around the branch, Inuyasha gripped it with them, swinging round until he was upside down, releasing his hold on the tree and dropping skilfully onto all fours. Looking almost cat-like, the half-demon's head tipped to either side rapidly, before he shot off in the opposite to the direction of the demons.
What are they doing? What the hell do they want with me? Part-demons? What have they ever done to them? Oh yeah, that's right – they existed! Rage and fear were battling inside his body, both fighting to the surface. He couldn't recall the last time he'd ran so hard, so fast! That is, not since he was small, in any case… Sharp, brutal flashes of that torturous time assaulted his mind, where constant loneliness and terror roamed his fragile heart.
Suddenly, he ground to a halt, his breath leaping from his body at the sight of the demon standing before him in the dimness, his hair and clothing barely distinguishable from the cloak of darkness that hung beneath the forest's trees. "Quite well, little one, you look far better than I'd imagined…"
Inuyasha froze, his blood feeling as if it'd even stopped flowing through his veins. He'd not felt like this for decades. Fear. Pure, unadulterated fear; and it shook him to the core. The anonymous demon approached slowly, not walking, almost floating towards him, like some spirit. "You are aware I presume, that not all part-demons are born as..." he paused, as if for dramatic effect, stopping right before him, barely a hairs-breadth away, so that if Inuyasha breathed in, their chests would touch. But Inuyasha didn't breathe. He couldn't move. He was paralysed, not aware why his disobedient limbs were so determined to ignore the signals from his mind to flee for his life. Something was wrong. Seriously wrong. "...striking as you," he finished at last, a note of foreboding in the seemingly complementary remark.
Inuyasha's insides screamed, twisting in to coils as that slender hand rose to touch his cheek in a barely-there gesture, tilting his head to look down on him with intoxicating fiery eyes, dark tresses forming a curtain around their faces as the claws on those fingers tilted his chin to force his stationary form to meet his. "When the blood in demons and humans mix, they create a powerful wrong to the world, and that wrong, can go either way… Create something unbearably disgusting, a mutilated impersonation of a humanoid form… Or something just as powerfully beautiful…"
As those words spilled from those lips as easily as water, strangely warm breath tumbled from cool, parted lips, steaming over his face, and it felt like death. A disembodying fire gathered in Inuyasha's seemingly frozen blood, and it frightened him, perhaps almost as much as this nameless demon.
Ghostly fingers shifted Inuyasha's silver hair from his eyes, as that purring voice continued to whisper into his puppy ears. "I have killed more 'ill-favoured' part-demons than beautiful ones…and that, my little one, is down to the fact that there are very few, who are as blessed as you are… The further along the line the mixed blood goes, the more distorted and bizarre the children that come from it become…"
Inuyasha's ears leant back against his head, meeting the demon's eyes with shameful terror, and that smirk that lingered on those lips told Inuyasha that the demon knew it. A shiver quivered through Inuyasha's spine. "In other words, little one, if you were to mate, any children your mate brings forth will be not only distorted in their appearance, but their souls and minds as well…"
Tears pricked at Inuyasha's eyes, both of the childish fear, and of the thought of the things that this information meant would have happened, if Kagome had stayed with him. "But, you are luckier than others, little one, do you know what I mean?"
Inuyasha would've shook his head in confusion, were he not transfixed with such terror. It didn't matter; the look he received told him this demon already knew his answer. "Of course not, such a young one left alone, without proper demonic care would not understand the fortune you hold within your seemingly cursed blood. I suppose, as you are, mortals and demons alike have always named you dirty-blooded, have they not?"
Inuyasha worried his suddenly trembling lip between his fangs.
"Yes, of course they have. But can you not see, with this unseen blessing, your blood, is not dirty at all, on the contrary, it is quite…desirable."
The Half-demon felt like his bones had turned to jelly, that they were to crumble beneath him at any minute – he was straining them to keep himself standing. Who was this guy? What was he doing to him?
"To mate with a woman, would be unwise, as she would give you nothing but deformities for offspring, that most-likely would not survive to adolescence…But you, little one, are meant for men…"
Inuyasha growled, making those fiery eyes widen with surprise, quite shocked at seeing such aggression after such submissive terror.
"Bullshit, I'm not meant for guys! I can assure you I'm very much into females! Had the whole broken-hearted crap over two of them in fact!" Inuyasha snarled, shoving himself away from the Demon.
"Please do not presume you can fool me," the Demon smirked again, still moving towards him. "I could tell your whole being and past by your smell, even your name. I have…a gift for it, you might say, have been able to do so since birth – that was countless centuries ago."
Inuyasha smirked this time, but mostly to cover up his unease. "Pretty well preserved for an old coot ain't ya?"
"And I can tell that your jest is merely to cover up your fear."
To this Inuyasha's eyes widened.
"Yes, little one, I can tell. So do not put on any more acts. I can tell that when you stood with me just then, terrified you were, yes, and rightly so, for that hand that touched your skin has ripped apart millions upon millions of your kind. And yet, even through the fear, I could see those scared eyes admiring me…"
"Admiring you? Screw you! I wasn't admiring shit!"
"Indeed, and I could tell that that uninstructed virgin body of yours was just slightly aroused as well."
Inuyasha's face flushed with anger. "I don't like men you decrepit old geezer! And I sure as hell weren't aroused by that ugly face of yours!"
Before Inuyasha could blink, the demon leapt towards him, seizing him by his throat.
"I have killed women, and children for making such accusations, I can tell very easily by your scent that you are pleased with what you see. And I know that I'm not 'ugly' as you say, so I suggest you stop lying, you may get blisters on that tongue."
Inuyasha would've scowled, were he currently not terrified again. It was true, this demon – whoever he was, wasn't ugly at all, but he sure as hell wasn't aroused by him! No way!
"And as for your stage of denial, your body was destined to be used by other men, understand? Do you desire to know how I can tell?"
Inuyasha didn't move, didn't blink, save for his ears, which had once again crushed back against his skull. Those lips leaned forwards, demon breath trickling into his ears. "Your blood…"
"You can't tell something stupid like that from my blood!" Exclaimed Inuyasha. "That I'm a half-demon, and a male, and how old I am, maybe even my name, but you can't tell my damn sexual preferences by it you prick!"
A clawed thumb came up to press gently into his lip, threatening to push harder and draw blood if he tried to speak again. "Foolish little boy…"
Inuyasha yelped loudly, feeling his legs swept out beneath him, so that he landed on his backside. "Ah! That hurt you – Get your hands offa me!" Inuyasha's currently weak legs kicked out desperately as a clawed hand pressed hard down on his chest, holding him in place, while the other pulled at the ties on his hakama. "You bastard!" He screamed out, a desperation he loathed with a passion in his own voice. "Don't touch it!" Blood rushed to his cheeks in furious embarrassment, and Inuyasha felt his lower half exposed to the cool night air as his hakama bunched at his knees.
"You were the one who needed proof, well here it is, Inuyasha."
Inuyasha winced at the touch.
"Open your eyes, Inuyasha." The dangerous voice ordered, and Inuyasha complied, only to avoid being killed or seriously injured. "This is how I know."
Inuyasha slammed his eyes shut again. "No! Stop it! Don't look at that!" The Demon smirked at Inuyasha's humiliated reaction to the blood on his fingers, the half-demon's scent reeking of shame.
"Has no one ever told you, why you bleed, Inuyasha?" the creature asked. Inuyasha bit his lower lip, trying to force the tears out of his voice.
"I don't know! It's happened since I stopped being a kid! I didn't have anyone to ask about it! I thought it was normal! I can't help it!"
"I never said you could, but do you not know the consequences to it happening?"
"I don't care! Just stop it!" Inuyasha shuddered.
"You're acting like a scared little child."
"Like hell I am! Stop touching me in weird places you pervert! Why are you telling me anyway? Who the hell are you?"
A menacing smiled played across those lips once more. "Ah, how rude of me…My name is Hikireimaru…"
"Right, well now that's straight," Inuyasha spat sarcastically, "get your hands away from me!"
"Is this the part where you tell me you'd rather die than allow me to rape you? Or maybe…you are just too afraid to die…"
Inuyasha couldn't help the quivering fear in his eyes at those words, despite how brave his body felt. At this time, he always dreaded conflict, death more than he would normally. Just instincts, he had guessed, since he felt weaker at times like these.
"How pitiful, the Great Inuyasha, afraid of death, how ironic…after you have come so close to it so many times." Hikireimaru leaned forwards, the Half-demon's menstrual blood still staining his fingers, his lips barely a hairsbreadth from Inuyasha's nervously twitching ear.
"How interesting, this means you'll be all too happy to accept what I offer, providing it doesn't bring death, am I right?"
"Get the hell off me!"
"If I was going to oblige you in that request, do you not think I would have done so by now? You should just give up saying it, save your voice for…more worth while causes…"
"I won't be accepting sod all from you! If you think I'm just gonna lie back and let you do what the hell you want, you got another thing coming!"
Hikireimaru hissed at the stinging pain as Inuyasha wrenched a hand free, swiping across the demon's face with his claws, four thin gashes lying across his cheek. Turning quickly round, Inuyasha crawled out from under him, scrambling through the dirt. A surprised cry tore from his throat as he felt something slam hard down onto his back, trapping him against the hard, cruel ground.
"You say that little one, but then you arrange that gifted body of yours in such a way," he purred, though much louder than it had been before, as he dragged Inuyasha's hakama down leisurely, exposing his backside.
"GET OFF ME! DON'T TOUCH ME YOU PRISSY PRICK!" The Demon looked quite amused, and to Inuyasha, that was bad. That meant that he knew Inuyasha had no way of escaping, not alive anyway…
"What a fine predicament I find you in, Little Brother."
Inuyasha's eyes widened, currently drowning under his own silvery hair, he couldn't see the voice's owner, but he didn't need to in order to know who it was.
"Se-Sesshomaru?" That's all he needed, Lord high-and-mighty seeing his downfall and humiliation. Heck, why not damn well resurrect Naraku and let him have a good giggle over it! He thought bitterly, all the while feeling that treacherous terror rise up in him again.
"Indeed," the Demon lord inclined his head, gazing expressionlessly at the demon currently crouched on all fours over his half-brother. "And you, you are Hikireimaru, I presume?"
Said Demon's lips (already creased with a smirk) broadened into a grin. "That's correct, Lord Sesshomaru. Is there something I can help you with?" Hikireimaru asked courteously, not moving from his position.
"I heard your assemblage was in this territory, and stumbling across this scene…well, I want to ensure Inuyasha is not disgracing his blood any further."
"YOU ASSHOLE SESSHOMARU! GET THIS BASTARD OFF ME!" The Demon lord arched his eyebrow slightly.
"And why would I do such a thing for you, Little Brother?"
"BECAUSE IF THIS GUY FUCKING RAPES ME THEY'LL BE LESS OF MY EGO TO SQUASH IF YOU EVER MANAGE TO KILL ME!"
If Sesshomaru laughed – which he didn't – he would've done so at Inuyasha's words just then.
"True I suppose," he replied carelessly, "Hikireimaru, I am afraid this is one half-demon you and your company will have to ignore, Inuyasha was my Lord father's mistake, and as his son and heir, that makes it my responsibility to rectify that error."
"Ah, well, you see," Hikireimaru said softly, "I did not intend on killing him…gifted half-demons are far more valuable than others…Or perhaps, you were unaware of Inuyasha's condition, Lord Sesshomaru?"
Sesshomaru remained impassive.
"I will step aside graciously, My Lord." The Demon regarded Sesshomaru closely, patting Inuyasha's exposed bottom condescendingly as he got to his feet. "But I cannot promise that if left alone, I will not try again."
Inuyasha practically leapt to his feet, yanking his hakama up and tying it swiftly, trying to retain at least some of his shattered dignity.
"I'll be seeing you again, little one," Hikireimaru cooed, lustful eyes gazing over Inuyasha. The Half-demon sneered, watching the dark haired demon turn; the darkness swallowed his form as he disappeared into the trees.
Without so much as a second glance at Sesshomaru, Inuyasha shot off in the opposite direction. What the hell was that? Why do I bleed? It's always happened, how am I supposed to know what it means? Just something he'd have to ask Myoga next time he decided to swing by. The last time he saw the flea it was a month ago, and he'd only stopped by briefly to tell Inuyasha of the demons gathering and slaughtering part-demons wherever they went. Naturally, realising Inuyasha was bound to be a target, the flea demon departed immediately, like the coward he was. Why'd Father leave me such a crappy 'guardian'? Feh! Guardian my ass! But his thoughts on the subject stopped, on realising what reasons his father might've had. Because Inuyasha knew the reason, the late Demon Lord more than likely had hoped that Sesshomaru would have owned up to his obligation to both himself and Inuyasha, and took Inuyasha in, along with Izayoi, after he was dead. But of evidently his expectations of his heir's sense of honour was far too high.
His fear had quite disintegrated beneath the raging confusion in his mind; in any case, he had something to take care of. The Half-demon stopped, wincing at the look of the cold water of the stream. Still, he hurriedly stripped off his kimono, wading swiftly into the predictably freezing water. Shuddering as the water touched his naked flesh, Inuyasha stopped as it reached his waist, letting it wash the blood away from his body. He always had to wash more at this time. There wasn't that much blood at any one time, but it was noticeable, and thankfully the durable white fundoshi under his baggy red hakama took it, preventing it from showing through.
The Half-demon's face enflamed with crimson embarrassment as he recalled Hikireimaru blatantly looking at the blood; he hated it. He was disgusted with himself enough that it happened, but for someone else to see it as well…it made him feel dirty. Whilst travelling with the others, he'd secretly noticed that Miroku hadn't suffered from such things, and so he'd thought that perhaps it was something only half-demons got, but that didn't help him feel any better about it.
"Geez, I'm so screwed up," he growled under his breath, snatching up his stained white fundoshi and scrubbing away the blood easily. His clothing may not be the most elegant of things, but they were durable, in every possible way – they even cleaned and fixed themselves, and Inuyasha wouldn't trade them for any amount of fine clothing that Sesshomaru wore, attractive though they looked…
"Indeed, Little brother, you always seem to manage to mess something up, do you not?"
Inuyasha's eyes widened and his head shot up. "What the hell are you doing? Y-You peeping pervert! Get lost!"
"Don't be ridiculous, we're both male you imbecile. I simply wish to discuss with you what Hikireimaru was implying earlier, so I – what are you looking at me like that for?"
"I ain't talking to you while I'm naked!"
Sesshomaru would've rolled his eyes, if it were within his character, which it wasn't. "As much as it pains me to admit it, we are brothers, both male, and have the same distinguishing features however much they may…differ…"
Inuyasha scowled. "Turn away you bastard."
"And if I were to do so, would you answer my inquiries truthfully?" Sesshomaru asked, sounding rather bored – as usual.
"Whatever! Just look away already! Its cold in here you idiot! If I'm in here much longer our features will definitely differ – 'cause mine will shrink back up into me!"
Sesshomaru sneered at Inuyasha's crude comment, turning away, simply to get him to stop talking.
Hearing Inuyasha stumbling into his clothes, he turned slowly, catching the Half-demon tying the sash around his waist, securing his hakama up, his chest still bare. "Now will you focus your abnormally small attention span to my questions?"
"Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, whatever, just get asking and get gone, Jackass," Inuyasha grumbled, and Sesshomaru refrained from rolling his eyes yet again.
"What was Hikireimaru referring to when he called you, 'gifted'?" At that question, Inuyasha flushed darker, reminded of that painful humiliation.
"I…I don't know myself…I just…" Inuyasha bit his lip nervously, trying to find words, "I…Look. I hate you." To this, Sesshomaru looked amused
"Really, I would never have guessed. But believe when I say, the feeling is mutual, Little Brother."
"Yeah…but…you want to know something, I want to know something…If I ask you a question, and you answer it, I will tell you what you want to know."
"I do not think that was part of the arrangement," Sesshomaru said expressionlessly, "I think the deal was that I do not watch you putting your clothes on, you do as you are told."
Inuyasha scowled again, it was times like this he was reminded why he hated his half-brother so passionately. Only, the two of them had never spoken so long without trying to rip each other apart before.
"Listen, fuck-wipe, that's all you're getting; take it or leave it."
A silence fell over the two of them, and Inuyasha took that as Sesshomaru's consent. Only now, he was faced with divulging his secrets to his half-brother, an activity he wasn't keen on doing…
"Is it…I…" Inuyasha growled impatiently, his tongue tied, struggling to form words while his gut screamed not to do it. "Ever since I reached the demon equivalent of adolescence, I've…I've had short phases where I…I…bleed…" he whispered the last word, so quietly Sesshomaru almost didn't catch it.
"Bleed? What do you mean, bleed?"
"I…from…" Again, the half-demon growled in impatient anger. "BLOOD COMES FROM MY DAMN ASS, ALRIGHT!"
Sesshomaru looked almost shocked at the outburst, but more so intrigued with what Inuyasha had actually said – well, screamed. Inuyasha lowered his head, his hair hanging into his eyes, hiding the mortification visible within them. "And I know it's not normal for humans so I…I was wondering if you knew if other half-demons experienced it…I don't even know why it happens…" The full demon watched his brother, regarding him for what was probably the longest time without trying to kill him.
"No, it is very rare, I have only ever heard of a handful of half-demons that have experienced such things…However, human and demon females experience something very similar."
Inuyasha's eyes shot up, bulging as he looked at his brother in horror. "Wha-What the hell does that mean? Are you saying that-"
"-Your bleeding is very similar to the female menstrual cycle, and you experience it because-"
"-Don't say it!"
"Because your body, it appears, to avoid the atrocious children born of further mixed breeding with human or demon women, has adapted in the way that you yourself can carry young – for other men."
"Shut up! I'm not gonna be a wife to some lecherous, butt-stuffing guy! That's disgusting!"
"Your mother's kind have engrained their foolish human views on life in you. You are part demon as well, Inuyasha, and in demon society, relationships between two males is not taboo."
"I don't care! I love Kagome, you here me? A WOMAN!"
"Despite your base-line feelings, Inuyasha, your instinct and inner demon are pre-destined to be with a males, which is probably why all your relationships with females have ended in disaster…"
"Screw you, asshole!" Inuyasha growled, leaping forwards and swiping for Sesshomaru with his claws. The Half-demon yelped as Sesshomaru seized his arm, locking both his wrists in his hands, his face barely inches from his brother's enraged one.
"Look at it this way then, you can finally stop running scared."
"What're you-"
"-Let us face it, we both know the only thing tying you to life are the shackles of your fear of death. Being a male demon's bitch will ensure your protection, will it not?" Sesshomaru growled sarcastically, becoming enraged with his brother's human view on the world. "Do not so easily cast aside the traditions you should understand!"
"Well whose fault is that? YOURS! Father asked you to take me in and teach me what it was to be a demon, but you DIDN'T! SO HOWEVER I TURN OUT IT'S YOUR FAULT! AND ALL BECAUSE OUR FATHER LOVED MY MOTHER MORE THAN YOU!"
"Silence!"
Inuyasha choked on his breath as Sesshomaru's clawed hands seized Inuyasha's throat, cutting off his air supply.
"HOW can ANYONE expect somebody in my position at that young age to act like a responsible adult? I was not at fault - Father was for leaving me to clear up his mess!" But as these words registered in Inuyasha's mind, his vision faded, mind going blank, as he passed into unconsciousness.
TBC
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A/N: YIKES! 18 Microsoft word pages? I'm not sure what happened there ^_^ I got carried away... So, Chapter one, what did you think? I LOVE this pairing, and though I'm DEFINATELY no beginner when it comes to yaoi fics this is my first attempt at this pairing because I've read so many ones which were honestly too good to rival with my poor efforts *sighs* But I've finally plucked up courage to try ^.^ Can people please review so I know how many are interested in me posting further chapters.
Translations :-
Haori – The red top half of Inuyasha's outfit
Kosode – White undershirt beneath Inuyasha's kimono, as far as I've been told, since I know some people just call it an "under haori", but I'll go with this one.
Hakama – basically the trouser part of Inuyasha's fire-rat kimono
Fundoshi – In Inuyasha's case, white, goes underneath his hakama
Inuyasha – essentially means Dog Demon.
Sesshomaru – has a lot of meanings, the one I tend to go with though is "the killing perfection" there are seruously LOADS though lol well it IS a fairly long name ^_^ And I'm not fond of calling him 'sesshy' in fics, *shudders* I only do it in authors notes when i cant be bothered to type his full name lol.
Takara – I believe it means Treasure/Treasured. This guy'll be in this fic alot so get used to seeing him ^_^
Hikireimaru – I made it up, not sure what I've decided it means, but it has 'Kirei' in it, which is Japanese for 'pretty', and one of my lovely reviewers called midnightscream said that the -maru at the end is kinda almost like a honorific, but not. It means he was very beloved/cherished by the father/family. So lets just say it means pretty, K? - Oh, and ask if you want to borrow this name, K?
Thanks for reading, please review!
Shigure-san
x chuu x