Hey we are back, thanks for the encouragement.

Chapter 2 : Fork in the Road
(Title inspired by Robert Frost's great poem)

Sesshoumaru squeezed them to reassure his brother that he was there. "You are not alone, little brother," he murmured and bent down to nuzzle Inuyasha's cheek. It was a monumental sacrifice, but it had to be done.

Inuyasha's eyes widened impossibly as he stared at Sesshoumaru's hand resting comfortingly on his. In his time with the humans, he had gotten used to touch, but he knew Sesshoumaru kept his distance from everyone. Jaken and Rin touched Moko Moko, but rarely did they touch Sesshoumaru's skin. Rarer still were situations that required the DaiYoukai to touch them. To see his brother's hand resting on his, so gentle and warm, sent his heart racing, and his eyes burnt with an unfamiliar fire.

He was playing with a live explosive. Inuyasha knew it. He knew he was going to push the DaiYoukai. But... but he could not seem to stop himself. His skin ached for contact, for warmth. Inuyasha ignored all his instincts of self-preservation, lifted a slightly trembling hand, and gently stroked Sesshoumaru's temple, running his fingers through the silky fall of silvery hair.

Even though Sesshoumaru had seen the hand moving in his direction, he flinched at the uninvited touch, so close to his eyes. He'd fought enough with Inuyasha to find his skin familiar, but to have those claws so near to such a vulnerable part of his body...no one had ever been allowed, not even a bitch that he'd rutted. It hadn't been invited, but the look in Inuyasha's eyes, well, he couldn't deny his brother, even while instinct was demanding he wrap his hand around his brother's throat. However, with the needy look in his brother's eyes, he allowed it. In his current condition, Inuyasha couldn't be left to his own devices.

Rather than the conditioned expectation of attack, gentle warmth slid along his temple. Though Inuyasha's fingers were battle worn, the tenderness in the touch was something that Sesshoumaru had never experienced. If his mother had done such a thing, he couldn't remember. Though he was loathe to admit it, the soothing gesture felt 'nice'. He balked at the thought, but it didn't change things. Well, he'd gotten himself into this and had to see it through, so he surrendered to Inuyasha's actions and closed his eyes, finding enjoyment where there should be none.

A part of Inuyasha registered that Sesshoumaru's eyes had fluttered closed and that the DaiYoukai had not chopped him to itty bitty pieces. But, he was predominantly focused on the feel of the fall of silver on his fingers. It was amazing. Warm, yet strangely cool; silky and divinely smooth. Addictive as hell. Inuyasha felt lost. He had no idea what he was doing. The only thing his body was registering was the heat of a body next to him. He did not want the feeling to disappear, like everything else had. Since young, Inuyasha had always grabbed what he could and stuffed himself before his treasures could be stolen. He saw no reason to change that pattern of behaviour now.

He wanted to touch some more. So, while he had this rare opportunity, he allowed his human heart to usurp his demon heritage. His fingertips skimmed the edges of the elfin ear, so deceptively delicate.

To the far distance, thunder rolled in the sky. It snapped Inuyasha out of his self-imposed trance like state. WHAT the FUCK was he doing? He had never been this suicidal before. He snatched his hand away as if it had been burned by fire.

"Keh! Get off me!" He wanted to apologize. It was reflected in his eyes, but the words would not come. He needed this to end now.

Sesshoumaru's eyes drifted open to half mast. He'd been enjoying his brother's attentions. Weird, uncomfortable, unbefitting of his station, but true nonetheless. Confused by his own actions and feelings, the corners of his lips turned in a downward tilt and his stare at Inuyasha became hard. What was Inuyasha doing? It almost felt like...teasing. Offering something then snatching it away. His acquiescence hadn't helped Inuyasha in the least and the fickle Hanyou had done new and strange things to him. Regardless, something had to be done about Inuyasha's current disposition.

Refusing to allow his brother to rise and retreat, Sesshoumaru held his position. "I will not move until I am assured that your survival is secured." Sesshoumaru paused. He wasn't certain how to get that reassurance, but knew it was imperative.

"My survival is secured?.." Inuyasha blinked in shock, parroting the words. "Of course my survival is secured, I have taken care of mySELF ever since my Mother died. What is with this fake concern? You suddenly need to play big brother? Keh! You are two hundred and forty three years too late." Inuyasha snarled, his teeth showing as the fire blazed in his eyes. "I don't need anything from you, except what you have always done. If you aren't gonna fight me, leave me the fuck alone and stop messing with my heart...HEAD, I mean stop messing with my Fucking Head!"

Inuyasha's hands came up to cover his eyes. He wanted Sesshoumaru to go away already so things could go back to the way they always had been. He wanted to be alone, so that he could carry on. He did not want to have to stand or lie there and watch as he was left alone again. "Just go, you freaking girly bastard!" Inuyasha snarled hoping the insult would hurry Sesshoumaru along.

It took everything in him to refrain from punching Inuyasha squarely in the jaw, but Sesshoumaru knew that would simply escalate into another fight. As long as they were using words, he might be able to find a solution to the problem. Then again, Inuyasha was a stubborn ass. His efforts could turn out to be an exercise in futility. Too bad. The DaiYoukai never backed down from a challenge, and if there ever was one, it was Inuyasha.

"Humph. Girly? You were the one touching me so intimately." Turning his nose up, Sesshoumaru flicked a stray strand of hair, one that Inuyasha had displaced, behind his ear. He wouldn't allow the Hanyou to distract him so easily, though. "You do not heed my words, Hanyou. I choose when you die, and your current lack of determination will lead to your demise."

Sesshoumaru now knew that using the term 'weak' would only exacerbate the situation. That didn't mean he wasn't dying to use it. Inuyasha seemed to enjoy royally pissing him off. But, back to the matter at hand. He still couldn't figure out what would take that crushed look off of Inuyasha's face. It made him want to punch Inuyasha all the more. His strongest rival was acting like a defeated pup.

"Demise." Inuyasha chuckled dryly, "What kindda of stuck up person uses words like that? And if I 'demised'... what kind of difference would it make anyway? It's not like I have anyone left to protect." Inuyasha sighed and leaned back, deciding to ignore his brother's position for the moment, since the confusing bastard was apparently not moving.

"Hey Sesshoumaru... do you miss it? Those days? Having a purpose, chasing after that stupid coward Naraku? Having a reason to rush around... having a..a..family?" Inuyasha blew at the bangs on his forehead.

"Oh ya, you still have a family. Rin and her three brats still flutter around you when ever you visit. She married the village headman or something, they have a good village. Oh! You don't have to worry, I never go into the village, no point bugging 'em. I watch from the forest sometimes, make sure the more dangerous Demons don't attack them. Lots of humans and Youkai living together, nice place that. No Hanyou, though. No place for Hanyou. Not anywhere."

Inuyasha shook his head violently. Damn it to Hell, Sesshoumaru was right, he was acting like a girl. He had to pull himself together. He forced a smile. "Hey, look, get off me. I hear the mountains are a good place to visit. I've never seen Mount Fuji. Once you move your heavy ass butt, I think maybe I will just go there, get out of your way. Sound good?"

Inuyasha made a futile attempt to wiggle and push Sesshoumaru off, but the bastard was like a boulder - immovable. He was well aware that he had rambled and gave away too much. He needed to get away before he exposed even more.

"My aren't we talkative today," Sesshoumaru nearly sneered, buying time to formulate a response.

The idiot had brought up so many topics that Sesshoumaru hated, mostly because they were confusing. The one thing he did glean from all of that was that Inuyasha desperately needed a place to belong. That could be saved for last. He didn't want the Hanyou to have any illusions concerning his opinions.

"I have no family. My father died...the night you were born. My mother does not bother with the prodigal son. Rin belongs to the humans. There never has been, and never will be, something to protect. As for Naraku, no one misses his filth."

Sesshoumaru ignored the slight twinge at the realization that he was just as alone as Inuyasha. Well, he did still have Jaken and Ah Uhn, but they were not of much consequence. At least, Jaken's entertainment value was enough to keep the kappa alive. Once again, Inuyasha had attempted to throw him off track. He wasn't that easily distracted.

"Cease your distractions, Inuyasha. It is my opinion that you are seeking a...place to belong, or someone to belong to. You will not find that in the forests surrounding Mt. Fuji. There is no wildlife to feed from and is home only to random youkai that aren't worth your time to fight. It is simply a place to...fade away."

Sesshoumaru stalled when he realized the implications of Inuyasha's words. In that particular forest, where the trees were as thick as hair on a dog, where no wind could penetrate, no sound was heard, youkai tended to disappear. Was that what Inuyasha was planning? Oh, hell no! This time, Sesshoumaru did backhand his little brother.

"Bastard!" Sesshoumaru snarled. "If I am forced to lock you in a dungeon, you are not going to the forests of Mt. Fuji!"

Inuyasha blinked in shock. The backhand hit was not physically painful, but a part of the Hanyou hurt more then he believed possible. "You fucking Ass, you have never appreciated what you had. Try to lock me up and I'll tear your stupid palace to the ground, stone by stone."

The Hanyou's claws began to grow, he was getting tired of this. "Nobody tells me where I can and cant go! Now GET OFF ME!" He swiped at Sesshoumaru, better to start a fight and have their relationship return to normal, rather than continue this strange exchange.

Sesshoumaru wasted no time pinning the Hanyou's wrists to the ground. "Youkai have only one reason to go to that forest. Your life is mine! You will not give it up to the fate that would await you there," Sesshoumaru growled, red entering his vision. "If not a dungeon, then anything else. I'll tie you down and mate you to the first youkai we encounter and you will have no choice but to stay and 'protect' your mate! At the very least, you will not make the mistake of pining after some worthless human female that will eventually abandon you," he spat.

There were only so many ways to keep Inuyasha from fading away, and those were the first two obvious solutions. Had the Hanyou's misery been so complete? Maybe a mate was what he needed. Youkai did tend to fade when they had no purpose, but not DaiYoukai. He would think that humans were incapable of such, and Inuyasha was half human. He was not about to take that risk, though. Inuyasha always did seem to be the exception to every rule.

This feeling of shock was something Inuyasha was getting used to. What did Sesshoumaru just say? The Hanyou froze. His mind racing. His struggles ceased. And he lay still.

He had never denied that Sesshoumaru was his older brother, at the beginning he would not have claimed Tessaiga if the blasted sword had accepted Sesshoumaru. More then the sword, he had wanted his older brother to acknowledge him. But, the sword had rejected the DaiYoukai, things had gotten out of hand, and he had needed the Sword to protect Kagome from Sesshoumaru. Since he'd had no choice, he had accepted the sword, and with it, accepted the relationship as his brother had crafted it. One of rivalry and battle, a battle the Hanyou had no intention of losing.

Now it seemed that Sesshoumaru was redefining their relationship once again. Inuyasha was shocked into silence.

Sesshoumaru waited for the blustering tirade of his little brother. When no answer came, Sesshoumaru wondered just what was going through Inuyasha's mind. Had he really been planning to go to that doorway to hell? Or...was he considering taking up the offer of a mating? Somehow, that thought didn't sit well. His brother should be stronger than this. A test then.

"So, by your silence, I take it that you agree to a mating?" Sesshoumaru taunted.

Inuyasha wrestled a hand free of the claws pinning him down. He was a little surprised when the hand was released; one hand at least. The other was held tight. Inuyasha's free hand reached up and he caught hold of the cloth of Sesshoumaru's collar. "You bastard, if you're are finally going to behave like a proper big brother, hell ya. If you are going to make the effort to find 'suitable' candidates for me, I'll do it. I'll agree to the mating. BUT, you have to do it properly, to the wedding and everything. No backing away, you have to be a proper big brother, and I will agree to the mating."

Inuyasha's head felt light. He did not really think Sesshoumaru would do this. He would call the DaiYoukai's bluff, and if Sesshoumaru was not bluffing, Inuyasha would have a new 'family' at the end of this. He would not reject the offer. It was what he wanted after all.

Sesshoumaru was stunned, and that was putting it mildly. What the hell had he gotten himself into? Was his little brother that desperate? He couldn't believe that Inuyasha would give in so easily, just as much as he couldn't believe that finding Inuyasha a mate was a bit repugnant. Even the few female youkai that flitted through his mind were no match for Inuyasha's strength and power. None of them were worthy of such a strong and beautiful creature.

"You...agree?" Sesshoumaru asked, managing to prevent a stutter.

Inuyasha grinned cheekily. "Sure, why not?" He laughed openly "Hell, the look on your face right now is reason enough to mate." The tension that had built in the Hanyou disappeared and he relaxed. His eyes twinkled as he looked at Sesshoumaru with renewed life. "It's not like I have anything better to do, ne? Having you find me a mate is gonna be fun."

Inuyasha cocked his head to the side. "So, big brother, whom do you have in mind? Those panther demonesses were rather hot."

Sesshoumaru could have groaned. Why, in all the seven hells, did Inuyasha choose this very moment to submit to a higher authority? Was this some punishment from the kami? All Sesshoumaru wanted to do was beat his brother to a bloody pulp. In order to prevent that very thing, he quickly rose and stalked a few feet away from Inuyasha. Someone needed to die.

Inuyasha saw the look on his brother's, no, on Lord Sesshoumaru's face. He got to his feet slowly, and allowed the messy bangs of his hair to hide his voice was dry and controlled once more. A bluff, he knew it, it was only what he expected after all. Ah well.

"Keh! I knew that would get you fat ass off me, fast. You contrary bastard. Don't worry, I know that was just you talking shit. I won't be around to be a burden to your pristine self. So long Sesshoumaru, have a good life or whatever." Inuyasha, not looking up at all, slowly turned around to walk away.

Oh no. Inuyasha would not get off that easy. If the boy was willing to forgo his pride in order to submit, Sesshoumaru was honor bound to find him a suitable mate. Besides, there was still the issue of Inuyasha's survival. If a mate was what it would take, a mate he would get.

"Cats," Sesshoumaru snorted and turned back toward Inuyasha. "I'm not surprised, though wolves would be a much better choice. At least their stench is tolerable."

Inuyasha's jaw dropped and he slowly turned. A huge grin spreading across his face. Sesshoumaru had not been bluffing. "Keh! You obviously have not met Kouga! His stench makes my eyes water." If Inuyasha had a tail it would have been wagging. This was going to be so much FUN!

-end chapter -

Lol hope you enjoy this. If any of you think we are scripting this - we aren't. That is why what we thought was a one or two shot is suddenly longer. And as for where this is going... we will tell you as we write the next chapter. *groan... perhaps we should plan it better, or not. It's too much fun surprising each other.

**ajj7sunhawk is great. She keeps throwing curve balls and keeping me on my toes. Such fun! There's no telling where this will lead. Inuyasha wants a mate? Oh crap! ^_^ Snow

lol And that says who writes Sesshy, Kudos to RyoTigerGirl for the correct guess.. *gives tiger snacks.

Anyway thanks so much for reading, and please share your thoughts in a review. Cheers. Sparklinng Snowfall and ajj7sunhawk