A/N: I'm back with another story regarding both handsome brothers. I'm terribly sorry for not updating, please forgive me. Anyways, I hope you enjoy and feel free to review.
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. Rumiko Takahashi, VIZ, and Sunrise are the owners of Inuyasha. I am only writing this for entertainment purposes and for my own amusement.
By the Blood of My Heart
Prologue:
The hanyou ran through the dead of night, he couldn't afford to stop without facing certain death. He wasn't afraid to die; he just didn't fancy the idea on how he was going to die.
His steps were anything but graceful, he tripped over a root and swore under his breath when he picked himself up and continued. He didn't know how much longer his long legs would carry him forth, he just had to hurry.
His life depended on his abilities to cheat certain death that had been inflicted upon him when he had accidentally killed his friends in cold blood.
Sesshomaru had been the only one to stand besides his brother, but not even the Lord of the Western Lands could save his brother the legal way, but he had never said anything about the illegal way…
As he trotted forward without looking back he knew those of the Council were closing the gulf between them. Inuyasha felt panic course through his body, they were going to capture him and kill him like a dog if they were to get their hands on him this very night.
Inuyasha's body gave out on him, he collapsed to the floor on all four; saliva and blood merged together and came out from his open mouth. That was not the only thing that came out from his mouth; he threw up what little food he had eaten that afternoon before running.
His weak system threw up the little food he had managed to collect before continuing to run, but now it did him no go. He couldn't move he was going to die where he lay on the wet forest floor like the dog he was.
Instinctively, his youkai blood told him to get up and to at least die on his feet, but the hanyou could not command his body to move. He had to; he had to bring honor to his father's name and to make Sesshomaru proud.
They came, three members of the Council stood besides him, (but one was missing) they were ready to kill the half breed for slaughtering the humans he had once called his friends. Inuyasha kept his eyes open; his orbs of sad gold studied each youkai, these youkais even surpassed Sesshomaru's ranking of Lord which was truly high.
All three youkais glared hatefully at Inuyasha, their eyes were a blood piercing red, they were about to make the final blow, when blood was spilled and Inuyasha was bathed in warm blood.
He shielded his eyes from the blood; there were hush screams that echoed through the forest one moment before all fell inert. Three bodies fell to the floor dead. Inuyasha removed the back of his hand from his eyes and saw the dead bodies.
He did not know what to make out of the scene displayed before him, but all he could tell was that someone had saved him. A stoic figure as well bathed in blood stood with his silver mane and claws dripping blood.
It was Inuyasha's older brother, Sesshomaru who had saved him. The demon lord stared at the limp bodies he had just slain with disdain. He wiped the blood from his hands of the grass and directed his attention to the hanyou.
Inuyasha shivered, he feared those golden eyes that were aloof and sometimes possibly evil. Sesshomaru walked over to Inuyasha and picked him up by the front side of his haori. The demon lord glared intensely at the young hanyou. His eyes quickly survived the body he held in his iron grasp and simply threw the hanyou to the side like a rag doll.
The weary hanyou slammed to the floor whimpering slightly, Sesshomaru gaped at the hanyou silencing him with a malevolent gaze that made Inuyasha feel worst. The demon lord of the West was irked beyond words, but he wasn't angry with his younger brother, but at those who had dared try to kill him.
Although Sesshomaru knew the high price he would pay for the slaying of just three of the council members, he didn't care. What more could they do to him if they had already slaughtered the little girl he had loved like a daughter? He couldn't afford to lose the insolent hanyou as well.
Inuyasha painfully picked up himself up from the wet floor and stood up. Sesshomaru wasn't looking at the hanyou; he was too busy thinking of ways to get the hell out of there and fast. Inuyasha wiped the blood away from his face and stared at his impassive brother.
The demon lord was not displaying any emotions, he was blank. Why had he come and saved him? He knew the risk that if anyone were to help him, they would face the same faith as him: death was the punishment and it would not be anything else.
Inuyasha's hands formed tight fists at his side. He was trembling from ire, sadness, depression, guilt, panic and hated for himself.
With a soft voice he asked to his older brother, "Why did you come, Sesshomaru? You were told that day at the hearing that if you or anyone else helped me, they would be killed. You shouldn't have killed them; you should have let them finish me-"
"They are no one to take your life insolent half breed. I killed them because they opposed me and threatened you. I've lost Rin to them; do you think I am foolish enough to lose you to them as well?" Sesshomaru wasn't looking at the hanyou, he was glancing somewhere else.
The hanyou was stupefied, he wanted to say something, but words would not form. He took a step forward and reached out his hand. Sesshomaru swatted his brother's hand from his person.
"Touch me not half breed. I saved you because you are my responsibilities and for other reason that I cannot get into too much detail at the time being. Since you stand, we leave before they hunt us down like dogs we are, but of royal blood and elegance that we may be." Sesshomaru took Inuyasha by the wrist and fled through the night.
Inuyasha ran besides his brother allowing his youkai blood to emerge from its confinements within him and fled. It would not be long before they were hunted down and possibly put up for vile humans and youkais to try to kill them. A thought occurred to the hanyou, there had only been three council members; he had heard that there were four.
Each member was a Demon Lord, but where was the fourth member? Inuyasha looked to his left where his brother ran besides him.
"Where was he? Where the hell was the fourth demon lord tonight Sesshomaru?" Sesshomaru gave his brother an indifferent look; surely the hanyou had more intelligence to not figure it out?
With a frown he replied, "He was there, but he was not killed because he was the one killing the others. Does it make sense now Inuyasha? I am the fourth demon lord, I killed them." The half breed held his breath, of course now it made sense, but why?
"Sesshomaru I don't understand your motives, why did you kill them?" Inuyasha asked.
"I killed them because they were going to kill you if I didn't. They bribed me to stay out of your case, but I couldn't do that. They gave the order to have you killed because you were a threat and still are considered a threat to them because you and I have unsettled scores to finish." He said it dryly.
Inuyasha still didn't understand why he had done it. Before Inuyasha could utter a word, Sesshomaru sighed and said, "I couldn't have them kill you because you are my promised. In other words, Inu no Taishou willed that both his sons be future mates."
It still didn't make sense, from what Inuyasha had heard, Sesshomaru had planned to take Rin as his mate when she came to age, but now that the little girl was no longer alive, was Sesshomaru settling for second best?
"Don't break your head half breed, you and I can discus this once we leave this part of the forest and escape to the northern isles. They'll surely look for us in the Western Lands." Of course that would be the first place where they would search for them.
From behind them, they could already hear the commotion over the death of the three demon lords, a smirk spread across Sesshomaru's lips. He seemed proud of what he had done, why wouldn't he though? That was what he was born to do; he was born to kill mercilessly. Sometimes Sesshomaru scared Inuyasha with just those scarce smiles and twinkle of emotion in his eyes.
"How long will we have to run Sesshomaru? This is not what father would consider honorable." Inuyasha ducked from been hit by a branch, Sesshomaru was already ahead of him, the half breed forced himself to run faster.
"Soon Inuyasha once you and I are able to fight. You are weak physically whilst I am weak from mind and soul. Neither of us is in decent conditions to pick up a sword and kill. We will wait." That was the hardest thing Sesshomaru had ever had to say in his life. He had never been in such a futile state like he was now and he detesting himself for it.
"I don't like this Sesshomaru. We should turn around and fight, not flee. We weren't raised to flee, we were taught to defend ourselves, our honor and those we cared for." Inuyasha matched his older brother's pace with some struggles, but he remained there.
"Don't you think I am aware of that Inuyasha? But it did us no good; all those we cared for are dead. Those bastards killed my companions whilst you were framed for the deaths of your friends. Someone is behind this and we must determine who it is before we're accused of other things." Inuyasha was surprised, his brother believed him, he actually believed him that he had been framed for Kagome and the other's deaths.
"How long have you known that I wasn't the one who killed them?" Sesshomaru snatched Inuyasha by the wrist and lead him forward so they could cover more distance.
"I've always known hanyou, I knew from the first day you were dragged to face the demon lords that you had nothing to do with their deaths." They remained silent for the rest of their trip to the northern isles; it would take them three nights before they reached their destination.
But for now they were going to have to rely on what little strength they could muster to make it through the long night. There was no moon or stars, only the darkness of the cold night that threatened them with rain. If it did rain, it would be both an advantage and a problem.
The rain would wash away their scents and allow them to get away faster, but it would also mean they would have to be careful because the rain would limit their yokai and vision. If they made it half way this night, then they could be at the isles in no time.
Once they arrived there, they would go into hiding for a few days until their strength returned and then they would go in search for it that was causing all this turmoil for them. As they had suspected, the rain came and with it came thunder and an icy cold wind that cut through to their bones.
Inuyasha's teeth clattered from the cold, he rubbed his arms trying to stay warm, but it was like lightening a fire under water. Sesshomaru was somewhat unaffected by the weather, but he was still legible become weaker then he already was. If they were going to get to the isles faster, they were going to have to do something.
And something was exactly what Sesshomaru did, he stopped and said dryly, "Get on half breed, you're slowly down this escape and we can't have that." Inuyasha blinked and hesitated for a moment. The demon lord glared coldly at his younger brother and surprised the hanyou even more when he removed his Mokomoko-sama from his right shoulder and wrapped it around Inuyasha.
The soft fur rubbed against Inuyasha's cold skin immediately warming and protecting the hanyou from the harsh weather. He clenched onto the pelt and smiled weakly. He had always wanted to try on his brother's fur, but never thought to ask thinking the answer would be a good right punch across his face or being scared to death by that murderous gleam in his golden eyes.
Sesshomaru arched his eyebrow and said, "Get on Inuyasha; we haven't the time of day to wait." Inuyasha took a weary step and leaped onto the demon lord's back gracefully. Sesshomaru held onto Inuyasha and began to run. Inuyasha rested his head on his brother's shoulder and asked sleepily, "Why did you lend me your Mokomoko-sama Sesshomaru when you need it more then-"
"I can withstand this insolent weather Inuyasha, but you can't because of your human blood. Just wear it and stay silent." Inuyasha sighed and closed his eyes, sleep was overwhelming him. The rain and wind were blocked out from his mind; the only thing he forced himself to focus on was his brother's soothing breaths. The hanyou was aware his brother was tired, but he wouldn't stop, he couldn't if they wanted to escape death.
Inuyasha grasped tightly onto the pelt and onto his brother as he fell asleep, he deserved to rest from all the running he had done these last few months. He had somehow managed to live on only four hours of sleep every week that passed him by. The only thing he was grateful for was having his brother with him when he needed someone the most, he didn't want to be alone, he didn't want to die like a stray dog on the streets where no one cared if he lived or died.
With what Sesshomaru had done this night proved that he really did care for him even if he didn't say it out loud, but with other things he had proven it…
-End Chapter-