Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha

Pairing: Inuyasha/Sesshomaru

Warnings: Rated M, Inucest, YAOI


oOoOo

Recap

With his mother's death, Inuyasha became cold and aloof, seldom remaining in the same region for more than a week. Also, he would mysteriously disappear every time mating season came around. When the youkai lord questioned him about his whereabouts during mating season, the hanyou would go strangely silent and refuse to answer, afraid to reveal anything even accidentally. The daiyoukai would search high and low with his link to the Western Lands, but no where would the hanyou be found.

It was almost as if the boy was no longer in this realm…

oOoOo


Hidden in Plain Sight
Arc 01 – Journey to the Palace of the West

oStilloDreamingo

Chapter 6


Inuyasha shook his head, getting rid of the last vestiges of sleep, and judging by the rapidly brightening sky visible outside the window, it was almost sunrise.

"Window? ... "

Inuyasha sat up quickly, and looked around, finding himself on the couch inside the living room of what seemed like part of a mansion

"-or more like a guest house", Inuyasha decided because of the presence of many varieties of saigen.

"Where am I?"

Inuyasha took a few tentative sniffs, and noted his half-brothers scent.

"Quite recent… He must have stepped out for a bit…" Inuyasha murmured to himself.

"I see you are awake, Inuyasha." came a familiar voice from the doorway.

Inuyasha swivelled his head to look at his daiyoukai sibling as he came sauntering through the door. He remembered the events of the previous night and the accompanying goodnight kiss and turned his head away as a blush lit up his face.

"Or was it last night? Could have been longer…" Inuyasha wondered.

"How long have I been out?" Inuyasha asked aloud, a bit of anger leaking into his voice at being forcefully put to sleep like a child. He knew his brother was a control freak, but this was really going overboard.

"You slept through most of the last two days, Inuyasha, attempting to awaken a few times in between. Tonight will be the night of the new moon." said Sesshomaru blandly, clearly unaffected by Inuyasha's ire.

Inuyasha growled softly in his throat.

"The bastard." Inuyasha thought. "How am I supposed to discuss anything with him if he keeps pulling stunts like this."

Inuyasha picked up the scent of blood, and looked at the tray Sesshomaru was carrying and now placed on the table before the hanyou.

"Breakfast." The youkai stated simply.

Inuyasha studied the meal before him that consisted of two baby rabbits and two ptarmigan chicks, cleaned, de-boned and slivered.

"Fresh kills… " Inuyasha noted.

Inuyasha felt his ire at Sesshomaru melting away, feeling rather touched by the youkai's show of goodwill. He tossed a grateful nod towards the youkai, and began eating the meat, taking a sip from the fruity refreshing drink accompanying the meal.

Inuyasha knew that generally a youkai lord's underlings were required to bring in a set number of deer or other large ruminant would be brought in and prepared for the youkai lord's guests. These animals would typically be past their prime, thereby guaranteeing that the killing of these animals would not affect the herd's fertility, hence ensuring the preservation of the herds in the forest.

However, in the meal before him, there was no scent of the kitsune youkai from Sesshomaru's staff, but only the inu-youkai's scent, indicating that the hunting and preparation of the meal had been done by the daiyoukai exclusively.

It was not everyday that a youkai lord would lower himself to hunting fledgling creatures simply to provide a hanyou with a delicacy. Under the circumstances, Inuyasha found it difficult to remain angry with his half-brother.

Sesshomaru nodded approvingly as Inuyasha began to eat the meat using the provided chopsticks at a sedate pace. There was no one around, except for the daiyoukai, and the hanyou did not feel the need to pretend to have no table manners as he would do usually, shovelling his food into his mouth as if it would run away from him any second.

"Ne, Aniki…" Inuyasha murmured between bites looking at his half-brother who had seated himself across from the hanyou.

"Hmm…?" Sesshomaru responded.

"Where are we? Will we be at the palace by nightfall?" Inuyasha asked, voicing his concerns. He watched as the daiyoukai carefully leaned forward, retrieving a sliver of ptarmigan flesh with his claws, and popping it into his mouth.

"It will take a mere two hours walking to reach the palace from this point, Otouto. Do not worry; we will be there well before your transformation takes place, and the mating season begins officially." Sesshomaru murmured back comfortably.

Inuyasha realized that since they had met, Sesshomaru and him had been conversing entirely in whispers and murmurs. Not because there was any danger of being overheard, but simply because with their sharp hearing, speaking any louder was unnecessary.

Inuyasha was beginning to enjoy the youkai's smooth baritone. It was a welcome change from the squeaks and shrieks his sensitive ears had lately been subjected to on a daily basis.

"We are currently at the way-station on the North border outside the mist barrier, Inuyasha. Outside the gates of the station are the palace stables. I have left Ah-Un and the chariot in the stable-master's capable hands."

Inuyasha nodded. He had briefly wondered what had happened to the dragon-familiar.

"I thought we are inside a mansion." Inuyasha said thoughtfully.

"You are correct Inuyasha. The way-station is a complex mansion with living accommodations for as many as a hundred youkai families. And should it happen that we have fallen short of rooms, there is another estate on the East border which is a smaller replica of this estate. Together, the estate is formally known as the Shiyuuchi."

Inuyasha started in surprise.

"Why would you want to house that many youkai families at a simple rest stop? How could you possibly fall short of space? Do people actually live here?"

Sesshomaru's eyes shone amusement at the hanyou's flurry of questions.

"The estate staff and their families do live here on a permanent basis, Lord Inuyasha." came a voice from the doorway.

The inu siblings turned to face an aged female golden kitsune youkai. She did not appear any older than twenty five year old ningen on the outside, due to the eternal youth of youkai, but her eyes spoke of wisdom that can only be earned through experience. There was a certain glint in her cerulean eyes that made Inuyasha a trifle uncomfortable.

"This is Lady Kyoushou Inuyasha. She tends to the needs of the royal inu clan of the Western Lands, and cares for the way-stations, guest and staff. She reports directly to me and the golden kitsune alpha pair for any requests, disputes or changes to be made to the estates or otherwise."

Inuyasha inclined his head towards the kitsune politely, aware that he ranked far higher than the youkai.

Lady Kyoushou respectfully bowed low before the inu-hanyou as befitted Inuyasha's station.

"It is an honour to welcome the younger son of the Inu no Taisho amongst us at Shiyuuchi. It is our fervent hope that you will enjoy your stay at Koukyo." She said using the formal name for the imperial palace.

Inuyasha started, and turned to the daiyoukai with questioning eyes.

"As you yourself have said Inuyasha; the ruling youkai have been expecting your arrival at the Gathering. You have earned a lot of notoriety as the Halfling Protector of the Western Lands in your quest to defeat Naraku and your victories against several high level youkai. My staff is carefully chosen, Inuyasha. They are all willing to accept you as the prince and heir apparent of the Western Lands for the time before I sire an heir."

Inuyasha grew thoughtful as he mulled over this discovery. He had lived through a lot, and knew better than to expect instant acceptance from the palace youkai despite Sesshomaru's reassurance. What Sesshomaru had not said, but implied was that the ruling youkai had a divided opinion regarding the hanyou. While they had agreed to admitting a hanyou child to the circle of ruling youkai should he reach adulthood, it was also true that they had not truly expected such a child to live for so long, or even ever be powerful. There were those amongst the youkai who saw in him a creature worthy of admiration, hence suitable mate material, and those who saw him as a threat to the purity of youkai blood, or as a source of insubordination from lesser youkai and ningen.

"and there are those who see me only as a possible alliance. Mate me off to a barren female, and I will never sire pups, ensuring that my bloodline is terminated, and gaining a powerful alliance with the Western Lands at the same time." Inuyasha thought sardonically.

Inuyasha's head snapped back when the daiyoukai continued, "Although the mating season starts with the setting of the sun on the night of the new moon, the visiting youkai attending the Gathering arrive a few days later. They are housed here in this estate until the morning of the waxing half-moon. At noon, the members of the royal clan of the Western Lands will then escort the visitors through the mist, and into the palace."

Inuyasha nodded thoughtfully.

"So this mist barrier is a security measure? It makes certain that no one without your express permission can enter or leave the palace, right?"

"Precisely so." Sesshomaru concurred. "I am aware of the identity of every youkai that resides within the palace and the palace grounds, as will you soon. The palace of the West is the most secure place in the entire continent, and none may enter or leave without my knowledge. For this reason, and the fact that the Western Lands are the most fertile of the four nations, the annual Gathering has always been held at Koukyo." Sesshomaru looked back into the hanyou's eyes squarely and said, "As is tradition, you Inuyasha, as a member of the royal clan of the West will be shown the path that leads through the barrier. When the time comes, you will be here with me, escorting our guests to the palace."

Inuyasha nodded quietly, squirming under the uncompromising gaze.

He had been hoping that Sesshomaru would not have him play the host with the visiting youkai, but there seemed to be no way out of it. Sesshomaru was apparently set on presenting his Halfling brother with full pomp at the initiation ceremony, regardless of the reactions he may get from his guests.

Inuyasha looked back and paid attention as Lady Kyoushou began speaking again.

"My Lord Inuyasha, a bath and several set of clothes has been prepared for you in the bathing house you will find on the left at the end of the hallway outside. It is the lord's request that you clean yourself and make a selection of clothing pertaining to your taste before you trek towards the palace to make the best possible impression upon your arrival."

Inuyasha nodded in acquiesce, agreeing with the logic.

"Inuyasha, be prepared within the hour. Meanwhile, I will speak with Lady Kyoushou to ensure that Shiyuuchi is ready to accept our guests. You and I will speak in private during our trek. I sense there is much you wish to discuss with me, and you will have your chance then."

Saying these words, Sesshomaru rose from the couch, and left, followed by Lady Kyoushou.

As Inuyasha finished the last of his meal, and swallowed the drink, he blushed scarlet as realization hit him.

His entire being was covered in Sesshomaru's scent, laced with arousal.

"Well…" Inuyasha thought numbly, "That explains the speculative look."

Inuyasha got up hurriedly, and made his way to the bathing house, glad to encounter none of the estate staff as he was unable to will the flush off his face.

oOoOo


Author's Note:

Special thanks to my reviewers: BS, urbeautifulsunshine, fluffys-sidekick, petpeeves12, Onyxlight, Russanya, darkangel36, Tryst/Punishment of the Inu, pixy, RKInu241, War-chan, thr3e, Demitria Miriam, IvyLady and Ice Demon Allysandra.

I'm glad you guys like my portrayal of Kagome! I know there are many Kagome fans out there. As it happens I am not a Kagome fan although I do like Kikyo a bit. Hope this doesn't offend anyone! (Thanks BS, urbeautifulsunshine, Onyxlight)

Also, I'm glad you guys like my portrayal of Sesshomaru. (Thanks urbeautifulsunshine)

The fic will have several flashbacks as I continue with the story. Hopefully there will not be any confusion, as I do not like using bars to mark off flashbacks. I prefer integrating them into my story. (Glad you enjoyed the flashback petpeeves12)

Russanya:
Thank you sooooo much. I was wondering if my "smart" Inuyasha was becoming a little hard to take in. Glad to see the plotline is working! And I don't do threesomes. Sorry! Definitely InuSess! Count on it!

Tryst/Punishment of the Inu:
Thanks! I really appreciate your advice. Its alright though, I have the entire fic written out in a bullet format timeline, so there isn't any danger of writers block. I do however make changes as I go along to the plotline as reviewers make their requests. You will find out where Inuyasha disappears within the next three chapters if all goes well.

RKInu241:
Thanks for the heads-up. I haven't made the correction yet, but that bit got truncated from the bottom of the previous chapter, so it wasn't really a recap. Sorry for the confusion!

War-chan:
LOL! Still not certain who is gonna be dominant, but I'm with you. I rather like the idea of a submissive Sesshomaru under certain circumstances. Tehe. As for lemons? I haven't decided yet if I will be including any. There will however be some very heavy insinuations. And as I said before: don't worry! This is definitely an Inusess fic.

thr3e:
As always love your reviews. I do hope you are enjoying the fics, as opposed to them simply attracting your interest! Thanks for the translation correction! I never knew Yasha meant forest spirit. The name makes more sense now. Changes made!

Demitria Miriam:
LOL! You'll find out where Inuyasha disappears to soon enough! Keep reading and reviewing!

IvyLady:
I always love reading your reviews! They are so insightful. I'm glad you liked my flashback attempt and interpretations of the characters. As for your question, I meant that Sesshomaru will kill Inuyasha when he deems Inuyasha to be a worthy opponent. It may be before or after his 200th year. But when he is 200, he will be mate material, so Sesshomaru will help him find a mate as is his responsibility. You make very good guesses as to where Inuyasha may be going during mating season, but you will have to keep reading to find out!

oOoOo


To all my readers:

Everyone, I apologize for the delayed update. It is exam time, and I have been busy. But now I'm back!

I am sure that everyone has noticed that I give places their literal name in Japanese, like the mist barrier, estate and the imperial palace. I hope you don't mind my naming conventions! I would rather not have to hunt for cool names, which may turn out to be clichéd in the end!

Anyways, that's all for today! Keep reading and reviewing!