Chapter 4: I Promise

"It warms my spirit to see such a sight."

Inuyasha turned to face the priestess lingering at the border where the flowers ended. He knew that the elderly priestess could not see him and yet her eyes warmed in a way that made it seem as though she could. Perhaps the priestess was just happy to see Sesshoumaru so comfortable.

Despite knowing that the priestess could not hear him Inuyasha replied, "I understand what you mean."

Kaede stared into the center of flowers that she had never before seen. She assumed that its appearance was due to Sesshoumaru and the spirit of the forest. It was interesting indeed to find that the spirit of the forest was so taken with the demon heir. Although, it was just as curious to find that the young heir felt the same.

"It is unlike the young heir to be so comfortable in the open. I hope ye are watching over him as he sleeps."

Inuyasha's gaze flickered from Kaede and Sesshoumaru, "I will always watch over him."

Kaede stayed a bit longer. She knew, though she could not see, that the spirit of the forest lay there with the prince. It truly warmed her heart to know that the spirit was no longer alone. Her elder sister, Kikyo, often told her that the spirit though a source of great comfort to humans, seemed just a bit lonely, as if alone, but waiting for something. Her sister spoke great things about the spirit, but always worried that he was alone. Perhaps now, he would not need to be.

Kaede faced Goshinboku, the home of the spirit, at least she assumed it was.

After so many years of the young prince coming and going, she simply welcomed him. She did not question and did not pry. She did not ask why he ordered carts of produce to be delivered to their village, nor why carts of fabrics and other essential goods were sent to the shrine. Neither did she ask if he was behind the decrease in demon attacks. But she did thank him and welcome him. She let him keep his privacy too, she did not tell the villagers why he came, though they always tried to pry the information out of her. She did not tell them that the young prince came to keep two lonely spirits happy.

As she moved to leave the two alone, she let her gaze settle to the prince's form. The young heir did not speak much about the spirit, but once he mentioned that the spirit was quite fond of priestesses. He also once mentioned the spirit's name.

As Kaede smiled, at the direction she hope the spirit was at, she bowed her head, "I thank ye, Inuyasha."

When Sesshomaru woke up it was late into the night. He had been comfortable laying on the ground, but he was a tad bit disappointed to see the Inuyasha was no longer beside him. It was to be expected though.

As Sesshoumaru rose from the ground he stared into the flowers that surrounded him, his father had been right, Hanamaru should be rewarded for his services. He must ask what the sorcerer wanted in return for his services.

Before Sesshomaru left, he lept onto the roots and placed his clawed hands or Goshinboku's trunk. "I will see you soon Inuyasha."

Visible only to those close enough, the area where Sesshoumaru placed his hands had glowed. Sesshomaru smiled. Perhaps one of the things that he loved about Inuyasha was his ability to just make him feel.

It wasn't long before he found himself home. The sun wasn't due to rise for a few more hours, so Sesshoumaru decided to catch up sleep. He had been spending so much time with Inuyasha lately that it seemed he had not had time to really spend time with anyone else. His mother had been pestering about seeing Kouga as of late, perhaps he would visit the wolf prince. He needed a good sparring session anyway. He didn't want to become rusty.

The swirl of wind was expected, so was the wet dog smell that seemed to follow the demon he was facing, he even expected the one arm that now slung across his shoulders, but the two demons flanked behind the prince was a new accessory. "Dog Boy! Long time no see."

"Kouga, I see you still do not practice the fine art of bathing."

Kouga laughed as he punched the heir on the arm, "This is what a man smells like Dog Boy! Not some fruity soap!"

The two bantered for a while before Kouga, "whispered" that the two behind him were bodyguards that his old man had attached to him. It seemed there's been an increase in demons slaughtering other demons around their territory. His father didn't want his heir to get injured unnecessarily. However, Kouga had scoffed at that, he knew what it was really about, mating season was upon them and it wasn't unusual that Kouga could become a target of some demon or demoness.

Sesshoumaru nodded his head, "This season is always a cause for worry."

Kouga stared at the young heir, more than him, it was Sesshoumaru that needed to be worried during this time. It was normal for the wolf prince to be given bodyguards during this time and when he was younger he would just be kept at home, in fear that he would be forcefully mated or get hurt by some aggressive mating couples that wanted privacy. But for Sesshoumaru, he knew it was different.

Sesshoumaru was kept hidden and locked away. It was during this season that Sesshoumaru acted like and let himself be treated as a teenager.

Sesshomaru was only older than him by a few decades, not even an entire century, but even still they were still both children, just teenagers in their world. They've lived hundreds of years, but they technically weren't fully developed yet. Hell, even if they wanted to they couldn't bear heirs yet. They hadn't reached full maturity, but that's exactly why it was dangerous for them to be out during mating season.

Demons and Demonesses could take advantage of the situation, they could force a mating, mark and they could get away with getting their fortunes, at the very least half of it. A true bond couldn't occur from a forceful mating, but a mating mark was still a mark of ownership. It could be removed unlike a true mating bond, but it was still acknowledge in society as as having had a mate that needed to be cared and provided for.

Kouga looked at the prince, it was worse for Sesshomaru because the wolf prince only had a small land in the northern lands, just the wolf tribe. But Sesshoumaru, he was the heir to the entire Western Lands, just in comparison there were at least five wolf tribes, even bigger than his tribe, in the Western Lands. There's a lot of demons out there that would love to corner the heir. If Sesshomaru was a little older, if he had reached his first heat, it would be different. The season wouldn't be about surviving, it would be about choosing who was worthy enough to bed him or be bedded by him. Neighboring lands and countries would try to make mating offers and negotiations, there would be a lot more political jargon instead of underhanded trickery, but Sesshomaru being the higher "prize" would get to choose.

Kouga stared at up at the sky, they had sparred some already and were now resting by a nearby creek after getting water.

"Hey "Dog Boy" aren't you just about old enough to go into your first heat? Ya think it'll be this season?"

Sesshoumaru looked to his companion, he talked very rarely to people, but in some ways he had grown up with Kouga. Their parents knew each other and met each other on an almost monthly basis. It was more often as a child too. So, Sesshomaru was quite used to Kouga, but despite that they rarely talked. If he had to name a friend it would be this wolf boy.

"I'm not certain. It's possible that it would be this season."

Kouga eyed the heir, "I would think you would be more happy, haven't you got that demon you've been courtin'? I would think you'd wanna enter your first heat so you could mate with the guy. Three years is a long time to be courting someone and not be doing something about it."

Kouga threw a pebble beside him as he looked for the two bodyguards that had been ordered to watch him. He had known about those almost daily visits in the human village. He had heard from the Lady and Lord and had teased him endlessly about it. If Kouga could he would have visited the demon that had so captured the heir's attention, but not only was it so far from his own lands; it also wasn't proper demon etiquette to introduce yourself to your friend's intended without your friend doing the introductions.

"Tell me 'bout him." Kouga declared as he threw another pebble in the water. Every so often Kouga would ask the same question and every single time, Sesshomaru didn't know how to answer.

Sesshomaru stared at the skipping rock, he picked up a smoother and flatter rock and followed suit. His went farther.

"He's...my friend."

Kouga scoffed, "Okay, let's make one thing clear. You and I, we are friends. You and him, aren't just friends. You don't see my ass trying to see you almost every day and I certainly don't expect you to come see me everyday. Oh and your dad told me about what you had Hanamura-san create for him you know. Neither of us would do that for each other. He ain't your friend, he's someone you're courting, someone with a potential to be your mate."

Sesshoumaru stared at the heated wolf as he ranted, Sesshoumaru knew that. His relationship with Inuyasha wasn't as simple as being friends. It was something else entirely, but Inuyasha couldn't be his intended, because in some ways, he didn't really exist. Something in his heart clenched at the thought. He could hear him, see him, talk to him, and they spent time like a mated couple, but Sesshomaru's never held his hand, never kissed him, never just embraced him. In some ways it wasn't real, because aside from what they had now, what more could they have? Inuyasha couldn't leave the forest, couldn't keep his form, couldn't be touched, couldn't leave the village, hell Inuyasha was a spirit! He wasn't even in the same world, technically!

Kouga turned his attention to the heir, the frown that was increasingly deepening in Sesshomaru's features wasn't what he had expected. He had thought the heir would begrudgingly agree, but then grin and tell him that he was right. As Kouga contemplated his words and how they could have caused the frown on his friend's face he made the connection.

"We're still young Sesshomaru, he's probably just playing hard to get. Doesn't wanna be tied down yet, you know."

Sesshomaru knew what Kouga was trying to do, trying to tell him that what he had been thinking was wrong, that he and Inuyasha could one day be together, but instead of explaining clearly the special circumstance that was Inuyasha he instead supplied, "He's older than us. Inuyasha has at least a few centuries on the both of us."

Kouga turned his full attention on Sesshomaru then, that was news. The Lord and Lady never mentioned anything, but maybe they too assumed that this Inuyasha was their age. This could be a problem. What if this Inuyasha forced himself on Sesshoumaru during mating season. If he's centuries older than them that means he's a fully matured adult. He could have multiple mates and is just looking to add Sesshoumaru to the list. What a great addition would that be, an heir!

"During mating season, you're staying at home right?"

Sesshomaru looked to his friend, that was an odd transition. He had thought they had moved away from the mating conversation. "Yes, of course I am."

"Alright I'm just making sure… So, how old exactly is he? Like Hanamura-san or something?"

Sesshomaru contemplated the question, Inuyasha took the form of his younger self, based on appearances and Inuyasha's mortal death, Inuyasha was definitely younger than him, younger than Kouga even. But his actual age assuming he counted the years that Inuyasha was both alive as a half demon and as a spirit, he would… Sesshomaru calculated…

"I'm not sure, but I'm guessing he is as old as father."

The wolf choked on his own saliva, "That has got to be illegal!"

Sesshomaru's quirked eyebrow and smirk did not ease Kouga's worries.

"Sesshomaru, does Lord Inutaisho know that you're courting someone his age? He can't have approved that!

"It seems so, they have been supportive of me whenever I seek Inuyasha out."

"Did you ever tell them that you're dating a perverted old geezer?"

Sesshomaru laughed outright, the idea that Inuyasha could ever be a perverted old geezer was out of the question! It was impossible to imagine. Inuyasha was as innocent as they came. He had died quite young, he had never been corrupted by the things adults are tainted by. As Sesshomaru kept laughing, Kouga failed to see what was so amusing. Sesshomaru though made the connection, technically speaking when Inuyasha died, he was, but a pup, so in actuality, if ever anything did happen between them, Sesshomaru would be the perverted old geezer.

Sesshoumaru never explained anything after that. He left Kouga to think what he would and didn't bother correcting him. The heir wasn't sure he could explain what Inuyasha was anyway, after all as far as anyone in this world knew, Inuyasha had died centuries ago. No else could see him, or hear him, he was a ghost, a ghost that only Sesshomaru could see.

He let Kouga assume and eventually Kouga had let it go.

After Sesshomaru's visit with the wolf prince, he had felt a strong need to go see Inuyasha, it was possible that it would be his last visit for a while. With mating season fast approaching his parents worried for his safety during his travels. He had agreed. In anycase it was likely, that he would be entering his first heat. Their healer had even agreed that this season could be his time.

When Sesshomaru entered the forest he had smiled at the sight of the flowers, Hanamura had truly outdone himself. He had been very thankful and he had made sure that Hanamura knew. He had gotten a book for the sorcerer, one that his mother had told him the sorcerer had wanted but was hard to come by. His mother had a copy of it and had gladly parted with it after Sesshoumaru had told her about how Inuyasha had been so enamored by his gift. Sesshoumaru promised to look for another to give to his mother too of course.

Sesshoumaru stepped forward and leaped onto the roots. He touched the trunk of Goshinboku's roots and whispered Inuyasha's name.

Slowly a warm glow of light started to appear beside him, sitting on the the upturned roots. Maybe it was all this talk about mating, or maybe it was the knowledge that he would not be able to visit for awhile, but Inuyasha looked more beautiful that he could ever remember him being.

Sesshoumaru smiled at him and took a sit beside the spirit. "I visited Kouga today."

Inuyasha smiled, "I'm sure you enjoyed your sparring match?"

"We did. It was as refreshing as always. We talked for a while, he can be quite humorous. I wish you two could meet…"

Inuyasha smiled a sad smile, this wasn't the first time that Sesshomaru mentioned this. As the years passed by and they spent more time with one another. Sesshoumaru had felt a need to introduce Inuyasha to his loved ones. Particularly his parents and then overtime Kouga.

Inuyasha always felt horrible for not being able to make this possible, but it would be almost fruitless. They'd just think the heir crazy. Inuyasha tried to sheer the prince up and just like before, he was able to. He truly wished, at times like these, that he was still alive…

He'd never asked before and he'd never tried. Hadn't ever just went for it like most demons his age, and maybe it was Kouga's influence or maybe it was just because he knew on some level that this would be his mating season and whether he liked it or not, he would have to be with someone other than Inuyasha. But with Inuyasha sitting so close and his heart fluttering, he just did it. Threw caution to the wind.

Sesshoumaru tentatively scooted closer and closer to the half demon. Just as he was about a centimeter away from touching shoulders he lifted his clawed hand and as gently as he could placed it over Inuyasha's own hand.

The spirit looked towards him with a small smile. It was just the idea of it, they couldn't feel each other's skin, each other's warmth. Couldn't feel how soft or how calloused each other's hands were, but they could see it, see that on some level Sesshomaru's hands were on top of Inuyasha's.

When Inuyasha had turned to him with a bright smile, and when, despite knowing it would not change how it felt, Inuyasha turned his own hands around and interlaced their fingers Sesshomaru knew that there was nothing else he wished more than to keep Inuyasha beside him.

"Inuyasha, if you were able… would you be my mate?"

The words hung in the air for what seemed like a lifetime and Sesshomaru's pounding heart and screaming thoughts told him that he did not know which answer he wished to hear more. If Inuyasha said no it would break his heart, but he'd be able to move on with time. He would find someone that he could actually be with, have a family with and he was sure he'd still have Inuyasha as his best friend. If Inuyasha said yes, he would be overjoyed, but he'd gradually break too. Because how could they ever be together?

Sesshomaru waited with bated breath. Inuyasha inhaled.

"Sesshomaru, if I were able I would be your mate. If it meant having you beside me for as long as life let's us, I would do anything."

Sesshomaru's pounding heart didn't settle, it didn't calm, instead it sky rocketed and for the first time in his young life he thought he knew what love was. Sesshoumaru wanted to embrace the half demon, wanted to hold him, but both knowing it was impossible he simply scooted closer, placed his own hands on his lap with Inuyasha's own hand following despite the fact they weren't actually holding hands. He turned his upper torso to face the half demon, and leaned in.

His lips never felt Inuyasha's own, never felt how soft or how plump, but Sesshomaru's cheeks flushed pink, Inuyasha's warm glow burned just a bit hotter, just a bit brighter and Sesshomaru felt a warm burning sensation in the pits of his stomach. The butterflies were gone from his tummy, replaced instead by a phoenix aflamed in passion.

At that moment neither needed the sensation of touch to know that the other beside them was real, that what they felt was real, that just for that night they were sure that nothing else could compare.

That night Sesshomaru didn't go home. Inuyasha didn't return to the spirit world either. That night they held each other.

The next morning came too quickly and as the sun left the horizon Sesshoumaru knew that despite him wanting so desperately to stay, he could not. It wouldn't be safe for him.

They had talked about this season before and Inuyasha had been expecting Sesshomaru to come by to tell him that he would not be seeing him for awhile. It was just perfect timing that after such a wonderful night, they would not be able to see each other.

Sesshomaru let out a frustrated sigh. He wished he had already gone into heat. If he had he would have been able to stay… wouldn't need to be protected and he'd be able to stay with Inuyasha.

The half demon could see the heir's frustration. Could see that he wanted to stay as much Inuyasha wanted him to stay. But while he had never been through mating season quite like Sesshoumaru has, he remembered stories about it from long ago.

"I will wait for you right here, Sesshomaru. I promise."