The night proved as absurdly humid as the day. Even the birds and cascades couldn't find it in them to sing.

Inuyasha laid sprawled on the grass under the stars. The twinkling lights seemed to mock him from their chilly position in space, and he glared at them before rolling over. It didn't help that the hanyou was already in a piss poor mood. In fact, the summer heat was just icing on the cake. His true crankiness was due to his brother's absence. Sesshomaru had been gone for nearly three days — four days when midnight came around. The yokai had never been away this long, leaving the hanyou restless and fretful.

Inuyasha chewed at his claws as insomnia and angst plagued him for the night. Despite the fact that Sesshomaru always returned, he worried of being left behind. Being alone— or worse, abandoned —terrified him. It was on his mind every waking moment Sesshomaru wasn't present. He could hardly sleep or keep his grumpiness at bay.

Unfortunately that left Jaken to pacify the child. It was a task he despised but knew if Sesshomaru returned to such bitter attitudes he'd be the one who suffered. Hence why the green imp now shuffled toward the hanyou and whacked him upside the head.

Inuyasha rubbed his skull with one hand and threw out the other in attempt to smack Jaken. The imp deftly dodged the attack, which further enraged the half-breed.

"You insolent wretch," the lizard-like demon chided. He returned the child's stare with perfected displeasure. "Sulking isn't going to bring Lord Sesshomaru back any sooner."

"Then tell me where he went! I'll find him." Inuyasha snapped, fists balled. "I can't stand alone being with you."

"Likewise," Jaken murmured. "Alas, I'm not privy to his whereabouts. He doesn't tell me such things."

"You're lying." Inuyasha growled, sniffing the wind. "I can smell him. He's here."

Jaken narrowed his eyes. "If you've got a nose like that why are you asking me? I told you I don't know." And why are you still here? He wanted to ask. He'd much rather the kid wander out of his hair than bicker with him.

Inuyasha took one final whiff of the air before darting into the trees. This was his first lead of his brother's whereabouts. He couldn't let it slip past him. Not to mention he had a few choice words for Sesshomaru for being gone so long.

Jaken struggled to chase after the boy once he realized he'd actually left. He waved his staff, trying again to knock some sense into the kid, but failed miserably. Inuyasha flashed him a wolfish grin before jumping into the trees. The branches ruffled under his weight, but held firm and concealed him well as he made his escape.

Panicked, Jaken craned his neck, but the hanyou had disappeared.

Sesshomaru's scent ended a few paces from a clearing, and the smell was embarrassingly intoxicating. Inuyasha's heart thudded hard in his chest, knowing he was mere moments away from seeing his brother. He turned in circles, his topaz eyes flickering in every direction.

Then he heard it.

The sound of metal hitting metal, followed by a sickening thump that sounded much too wet.

Crouched and ears low, Inuyasha cautiously crawled toward the noise. It wasn't a safe idea, but there was nothing to fear if his brother were nearby.

Leafs and twigs crunched under his knees as he pushed through bushes. The wind carried Sesshomaru's smell, leading Inuyasha as he travelled in the dark. At the end of the passage dim rays of moonshine poured through the gaps in the leaves. He pushed them aside and froze, his body instantly cold.

Bodies littered the field. How had he not smelled their corpses? Had he been too distracted to hear their cries? There had to be dozens of them, human and demon alike. Decapitated, slit throats, separated limbs, innards covered the spaces between bodies, their faces frozen in rage or panic. The scene was straight from a nightmare.

Shaking, Inuyasha gulped and looked toward the center. There, a tall figure stood among the dead. Under the shadow of the clouds, nothing but his yellow eyes glowed.

"Sesshoma—" Inuyasha's voice caught in his throat, choked by terror and shock.

At the sound of his voice, Sesshomaru turned as the younger brother stumbled back. The yokai's eyes flashed darkly under the shade of the trees. Both his claws and fangs glinted a stark white in the gloom, dripping with a red substance that left the hanyou quaking with horror.

Blood.

There was so much of it that covered the yokai head to toe. When he turned to walk toward Inuyasha, red footprints blended with the bloodshed grass beneath.

Granted, Inuyasha had seen death before, but never had he witnessed outright murder. Yes, murder, for what other reason would Sesshomaru have to slaughter these people?

One of the bodies the hanyou presumed dead actually released a distressed sigh. The mangled creature looked pleadingly at the half-breed, then rested a hand on the boy's knee. The touch, seemingly innocent, turned searing. It was a white hot pain that lit the child's entire body on fire.

Inuyasha screamed, struggling to shake off the demon's hand.

The pain quickly faded.

When he opened his eyes next he found the hand disconnected from its arm. He watched in further dismay as Sesshomaru ran his blade through the demon's skull.

Silence hung between the brothers as Sesshomaru sheathed his sword. He looked down impassively at his young sibling, watching him quake like some bird in the cold. Perhaps he should have held sympathy for the child, but there was only fury. Inuyasha should stayed put as ordered and minded his business. Now the hanyou was splattered in blood and guaranteed to be haunted by what he'd seen.

"A-are you okay?" Inuyasha managed to croak. His teeth clattered together as he spoke. He'd never been scared of his brother before, but in that moment Sesshomaru looked as if he'd kill him, too.

The yokai narrowed his eyes. Out of all the things to say, he did not except that. His brother was full of surprises though, so maybe he should have anticipated his foolishness, but it only further angered him. Inuyasha was too soft. Too caring. Too weak-minded. Having been raised by humans would do that to a demon, even to a mere half breed like Inuyasha.

Sesshomaru had desire to continue such coddling. It was a waste of time and a hindrance to the kid's growth. "Of course," he said. Then he walked past Inuyasha, excepting the child to follow.

He did, stumbling to his feet and running to catch up on shaky legs.

"But there's so much bl-blood. How are you okay? Why did you kill them?"

After all Inuyasha had seen tonight, Sesshomaru doubted the kid wanted an answer. Or at least he would regret knowing it afterwards. So the yokai held his tongue and led them through the wilderness. Inuyasha clutched onto his brother's pant leg. His stomach lurched at the squishiness of it but remained quiet until they reached another opening.

It was a hot spring. Filled with clear water and smooth rock. Inuyasha got the idea that Sesshomaru wanted to clean up, but a bath was the furthest thing from his mind. He wanted answers. Though the answers he wanted were unlikely to come. The hardened look on Sesshomaru's face had yet to fade, and whether that was because of the battled he'd just fought or Inuyasha's noisiness didn't change the fact that he wasn't in a chatty mood.

So Inuyasha walked quietly with his brother to the edge of the spring. The hanyou broke away from Sesshomaru to dip his finger inside the water and hastily jerked back. It was nearly scalding!

"I don't think you should—"

But the yokai's bare legs were already striding past him and into the spring. Sesshomaru slid effortlessly into it, like the extreme temperature didn't matter, and even sank underneath. Inuyasha suspiciously observed him wash beneath the water, but the other demon moved like he would in any lukewarm bath.

Sometimes Inuyasha wondered if his brother were beyond demon. Near boiling water bothered anyone, right? Sesshomaru, however, surfaced without complain, his skin just slightly pink.

"Don't think about riding Ah-Un if you're not going to wash off." He said to Inuyasha, who still perched on the edge of the spring.

The hanyou looked at his attire and touched his hands to find dried blood. It crusted in different places, chipping off with each movement. He swallowed a gag.

"It's hot though. I don't want it to burn me." Inuyasha said, his eyes wandering toward the sound of a nearby river.

Sesshomaru sighed. If Inuyasha rather bathe in the cold stream and risk getting carried away, fine. He wouldn't hinder the child's wish for death; he hoped to grant it at some point anyway, but he couldn't just yet. The obligation to his father still clung too strongly to his conscious.

"It's not hot." Sesshomaru finally yielded.

"Bull crap, I felt it!" Inuyasha fired back.

"Get in," the yokai demanded. These childish arguments had to cease. They were going to end up with Sesshomaru losing his temper or actually striking the child.

The brothers regarded each other with fierce glares. Both of were stubborn and prideful to a fault, but the difference was their size. Sesshomaru came to the edge of the pool, his towering figure casting a shadow over the boy's blood splattered face. "Don't make me repeat myself." His voice was icy.

Inuyasha held his gaze a heartbeat longer before breaking away. He mumbled threats under his breath as he reluctantly stood. Sesshomaru himself wanted to hold those bold words against the child but instead waited patiently for Inuyasha to obey his commands.

Thankfully, the hanyou obediently shed his clothes and kicked them to the side. He stood bare before his brother and blushed. It wasn't because he was naked; the hanyou was a lot of things but modest he was not. The embarrassment came from having to do as ordered. He hated being so docile.

He stared at the water expectantly. Steam rose from the murky depths, promising warmth and relaxation, but he something kept him back.

Sesshomaru, sensing the his hesitation, grabbed the child's wrist and pulled him into the spring. Before the hanyou could rise, he swiftly placed his palm on Inuyasha's head, holding him under. The half-breed flailed violently underneath, trying to free himself from his brother's grasp, but it was no use. Sesshomaru held firm until he was sure Inuyasha had had a enough.

"You bastard!" Inuyasha rasped between coughs. Sesshomaru guided him by the elbow toward the shallow end of the pool and watched his brother struggle to breathe. "You got water in my ears." Besides the fact that he nearly drowned him, did Sesshomaru have any idea how difficult that'd be to get out?

"You had blood on your face." Sesshomaru explained simply, which was true, though really he just wanted to put Inuyasha in his place. He didn't want to boy to forget how easy it'd be to kill him.

Inuyasha shot him a glare, splashing water at Sesshomaru's face. If he didn't know better he'd say that he caught a smile on the yokai's face. It was small and satisfactory but gone too quickly for him to make sure. So Inuyasha settled against the smooth rock behind him, steadying his breathing.

It was quiet again. A weird kind of quiet. Inuyasha had never been naked with his brother before. Even though the hanyou wasn't shy, he felt vulnerable at being so exposed. They were never so open with one another — emotionally or physically.

That being said there was also a sense of contentment at Sesshomaru's unwavering willingness to be nude. Almost like he trusted Inuyasha to be completely transparent.

Inuyasha nearly smiled at the thought, but he suddenly remembered why they were there. The dark event from earlier haunted his thoughts, and his body began to tremble.

Sesshomaru eyed him warily. He knew what was coming and sank further into the pool, shutting his eyes.

"Can we talk, brother?" Inuyasha said quietly.

There it was. The yokai leaned on his elbow, resting his chin inside his palm. "You always want to talk."

"I know, but just hear me out."

"I don't really have a choice." He couldn't not hear what was said unless he left, and the yokai had no desire to leave the hot spring yet. It was the most relaxing spot he'd had in days.

"Why were you gone for so long?"

"I don't see how that's your business."

"It's not, but…" The hanyou chewed his lower lip. "I thought you abandoned me."

Sesshomaru opened his eyes. He stared at the half-breed with a calculating gaze. Traveling with Inuyasha was much different than it had been without him. Sesshomaru always seemed to be talking about and doing things he otherwise wouldn't have. The subject Inuyasha brought up now was one of those things. Jaken never expressed such concerns — at least not seriously.

"I can't leave you behind." The yokai admitted. There was no warmth behind these words; it was simply matter of fact. "I made a promise to Father, and I intend to keep it."

"That's the only reason you keep me around?"

"Yes."

There was no getting around this truth. Jaken had explained this to Inuyasha many times, yet hearing it from Sesshomaru stung in a way it hadn't before. Perhaps because the hanyou always hoped Sesshomaru's devotion went beyond obligation. He hoped the demon actually cared for him.

But he didn't.

Sesshomaru watched his brother's lip quiver and the tears spill over his cheeks. For once, he'd let the child cry without complaint, hoping it would toughen him up. Comforting his wounded heart would only feed into his frail persona, which meant more crying and sensitivity Sesshomaru had no patience to deal with.

The yokai stood, wanting Inuyasha to console himself, and returned to the deeper part of the spring. After that brief exchange he'd had enough of this place and was ready to leave. Through his teary vision, Inuyasha watched him finish rinsing the blood from his body. The hanyou hated the admiration he still felt for his brother. In that moment, stripped away from his usual impressive facade, Sesshomaru's raw nature was on display. His lean muscles contracted with each moment, and Inuyasha stared in awe as his hair returned to its brilliant silver color. He hardly believed that this creature had just killed dozens of enemies. How could something so majestic and perfect be such a vile man?

The hanyou snapped out of his daze when Sesshomaru beckoned with his hand, motioning him forward, and Inuyasha noticed the red tint of his nails.

The hanyou cringed and shook his head. He didn't want to be near him. Not because he was scared but because he was still upset.

Sesshomaru gave him a look. The look that said not to test him. Remembering how the yokai almost drowned him earlier, Inuyasha reluctantly stood. He took Sesshomaru's outstretched hand when he got to the place where the deep and shallow end met.

"Do you not know how to swim?" Sesshomaru asked as he guided him back across the water.

"I can doggy paddle."

The yokai shot him a dry look, not finding the joke funny, and helped the boy onto dry land. The brother's both rung their silver manes dry before settling in the grass to do the same. They didn't have towels, but the night was hot enough, so it didn't take long for their bodies to dry. However, their clothes, Sesshomaru's especially, were still stained with blood.

"How did you manage to keep this clean?" Inuyasha fumbled with Sesshomaru's boa. It was so large and fluffy the child ended up tangled in it.

Sesshomaru went to snatch the thing from his grasp, but Inuyasha held firm, so the yokai shook it until he fell back.

"You're so mean." The hanyou said as Sesshomaru took the spot next to him. He spread the boa across his lap, but snapped it out of reach when Inuyasha leaned toward it.

The smaller dog demon relented with a huff. He laid down on the grass, curling into a ball, and crossed his arms.

After a moment of quiet, he said. "I feel bad for you, Sesshomaru."

The yokai nearly scoffed. He didn't need anyone's pity. What was a mighty lord like him to do with something like that?

"You don't let anyone care for you, and you don't care for anyone." Inuyasha went on. He yawned and brushed his hair away from his face as he shut his eyes. "Maybe that's why Dad wanted you to keep me."

Sesshomaru sat quietly and stared at the child long after the hanyou had fallen asleep. He didn't understand Inuyasha's need to love or hate everything. It wasn't like Sesshomaru didn't have his share of things he enjoyed, but it never went to the emotion level Inuyasha took it to. The kid was on a constant emotional roller coaster. It sounded exhausting.

Sesshomaru stared at the sky, lost in thought. Although as the night progressed, the wind picked up and the clouds threatened to rain. Grudgingly, Sesshomaru dragged Inuyasha in his arms, securing the boa around his little body, and stood. He may despise his younger brother, but he wasn't completely heartless. He had a promise to live up to after all — plus it'd be a quiet walk if he left him asleep. It was time to get back to Jaken and Ah-Un anyway.

"Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha suddenly said.

The demon looked at the kid stuffed comfortably in his grasp.

"Were those people killed bad?" The hanyou asked, half asleep.

"Yes."

"Would you kill someone who was good?"

The yokai thought about it. His and Inuyasha's definition of good were undoubtedly different, but, "no," he said. Unless they did something deliberate against him, he wouldn't kill because he could.

"Will you kill me then?"

So it appeared Inuyasha wasn't as clueless as Sesshomaru believed. He wasn't sure how he knew of the yokai's plots— or maybe he didn't and this was pure coincidence —but it stunned him to silence nonetheless. Was Inuyasha the exception to Sesshomaru's 'morals'— for lack of a better word? Sesshomaru didn't know, and honestly it wasn't a question he wanted to face. He'd had enough of the child's curiosity.

"Go to sleep, Inuyasha."

And so the hanyou did.


a/n: thanks so much for the support for this drabble series. :] i made the chapter quite a bit longer as my token of appreciation. hopefully i'll have the next chapter out asap! if you have anything you'd like to see from these too please leave a review or send a pm letting me know. until next time! see you soon ~