Sesshomaru woke up in a daze. Not only did he have no clue where he was or how he'd managed to fall asleep so deeply but there were voices all around him.
"So this Ryuuichi guy has been following Sesshomaru around for a week and you didn't even tell him?" An aggravated voice shouted. It sounded like Inuyasha but that couldn't be right.
"How could I tell him? More importantly, what would I say?" This time it was Jaken shouting, his voice, shrill to Sesshomaru's ears. "'Oh, by the way, my lord, some man has been following you, embracing you and the like while you sleep.' I had to chase him away once when he tried to strip my lord naked like some common wench." Jaken whined. Sesshomaru sat up and looked toward the sound.
"He did what, Jaken?" Sesshomaru shouted. Well, it was as close to shouting that Sesshomaru could do. It was only said slightly louder than his usual tone. Everyone turned to him. Inuyasha and his companions sat beside Sesshomaru's like they were all friends. Rin got up and ran to Sesshomaru.
"My lord, you're awake!" She cried, embracing him. She pushed her face into the fur that hung over his shoulder. "I thought you might have been hurt. I was so worried."
Sesshomaru said nothing. He had nothing to say. He could barely recall what had happened before. Instead, he put his arm around his ward and held her close to his chest. He looked down at the young girl as she started to relax against him. Assuming she had fallen asleep, Sesshomaru lifted his head to the others around him. He'd honestly forgotten about them.
"It never ceases to amaze me how you treat that young girl, lord Sesshomaru." The monk commented. Sesshomaru glared at the man.
"That is none of your concern, monk. Mind it." He warned. He turned to his servant. "Jaken, explain to me why I'm here." The little imp flinched under his master's glare but Sesshomaru didn't care anymore. He never really did.
"Well, my lord, you and Inuyasha tried to fight Ryuuichi." Jaken stated, watching his master freeze at the man's name. "My lord fought valiantly but-"
"Valiantly?" Inuyasha interrupted, sarcasm dripping off his words excessively. "This guy froze up. Twice! Plus, I was the one fighting. That red haired bastard only had to say a few words and Sesshomaru here would just stand there as I fought." Everyone looked at the one in question.
Sesshomaru said nothing. There was nothing to say. All of what his brother had said was completely true. Jaken started to shout out defenses for him. It was appreciated but unnecessary at this point. It shamed him to say it but he did so anyway.
"Jaken!" Sesshomaru interjected. The imp stopped to look at his master. "Inuyasha?" Sesshomaru addressed his silver haired little brother. Inuyasha still looked pissed but turned to Sesshomaru as well. "You are correct. I was weak in this battle." These words were a surprise to everyone. It burned in Sesshomaru's mouth like fire. To relieve himself of that pain he added. "There is nothing worse than having to rely on some weak half breed like you." Inuyasha stilled. "Plus, imagine I was carried here by you right?" Everyone nodded. Sesshomaru made his I'm-disgusted-but-still-dignified expression. "That means I must smell like you. How terrible. I smell like my lowly half demon brother." Sesshomaru was very satisfied with the result of his quips.
"Oh yeah?" Inuyasha barked, rage bubbling off him like smoke. "I didn't enjoy carrying your fat ass here either. You should feel grateful to me. Without me, you would have been killed by that red haired bastard. You should thank me!" This rant continued even as his priestess friend tried to calm down. As those two argued, Sesshomaru looked around.
To be honest, pissing Inuyasha off was sometimes fun. It was fun to make people angry, to see how other react to things. Sometimes it backfired but it never failed to work with Inuyasha. He was easy. It was one of those things he'd never understood before he'd met Rin. When you're as serious as Sesshomaru, you need something interesting now and gain, to entertain you.
"Uh, lord Sesshomaru?" Sesshomaru turned to see the demon slayer woman speak.
"What is it?" he replied, trying to be polite. Normally, he'd never do that but he did owe them, at the very least, his attention.
"Inuyasha told us what happened after we all split up. About you and this Ryuuichi man." She started. Sesshomaru said nothing. "Plus, with what he said about you being his. I was wondering… what is your relationship with this man?" Everyone was silent, waiting to hear what Sesshomaru would say.
"He's nothing to me." He responded, again looking away.
"He, not only, claimed you to be his possession but he kissed you, Sesshomaru." Inuyasha argued. "Everyone else might have missed it but you guys were doing some weird things. Right after he kicked my ass, he ran up behind you, locked your arm behind your back and star-"
"Stop!" Sesshomaru commanded his face red. He didn't need Inuyasha to retell the story. Sesshomaru remembered every detail. Every kiss, every touch was burned into Sesshomaru's mind. It still set his blood on fire. Everyone's eyes were on him.
"Why don't you tell us how this all started? How did you meet Ryuuichi?" The priestess urged, earning a glare from Sesshomaru. She glared back. "Well, we're all involved now, so you might as well tell us everything." The girl retorted. Sesshomaru knew she had a point so he conceded.
"I met him several days ago. Rin found him lying on the floor of the forest and called me." He started. He recited the tale, cutting off the sexual parts and his feeling toward those sexual acts out of the story. By the end of his story, the group's comments were flowing.
"So in a battle of strength, you lost? We must be careful of this man." The monk stated, obviously thinking of some way to defeat Ryuuichi.
"I don't understand this man. Why go after you? Did he want something from you?" the demon slayer asked, still eating her meal.
"I can't believe this guy likes you at all. Your personality sucks. You're arrogant, selfish and a pain in the ass." From Inuyasha.
"That's the pot calling the kettle black, Inuyasha." The priestess claimed, pulling on Inuyasha ear. The two soon started argue over the point. The monk and the demon slayer held their head down close together, talking over something. The little fox demon was curled in ball, sleeping peacefully.
The group, despite their differences, got along well. They were… interesting to watch. Sesshomaru nearly smiled as he watched them.
"Lord Sesshomaru?" The monk interrupted his thought. He turned his gaze to the human. From the look on his face, he'd figured something out. "You said that Ryuuichi had said something strange to you before, right? You said he wanted some information from you?" Sesshomaru thought back.
"…I should ask you what I need to know." Ryuuichi had asked the day they had first met
"And, he didn't kill that today when you attacked him. Not only because he likes you but he needed you." The monk continued. A memory from today came up.
"I definitely need you alive, since I need you for various reasons…" These words were growled into Sesshomaru's ear as Ryuuichi held him, threatening to kill him if he fought. Sesshomaru hadn't noticed before but he didn't think Ryuuichi meant sex when he referred to those 'various reasons'. So it begged the question, what did Ryuuichi really want besides Sesshomaru's body?
"My lord?" a quiet voice quavered. Sesshomaru looked down to the child lying down on his lap. It was Rin who had spoken.
"What is it, Rin?" Sesshomaru asked. He had wanted to think about Ryuuichi's motives but Rin was important to him, so he waited for her to response.
"I'm sorry, Lord Sesshomaru." She squeaked. She seemed scared for some reason. This confused him.
"What's wrong, Rin." The priestess asked before he could. Rin looked up at Sesshomaru with a guilty look on her face.
"I'm sorry, my lord. I lied to you!" She cried. "It's all my fault. I lied to my lord. L-lord Ryuuichi… I met him before!" she confessed