Title: By the Light of Mars
Parings: Inuyasha/Sesshomaru and Sango/Miroku
Chapter 10 of ?
Summary: After Naraku is killed Inuyasha's world is settling in to a normality he hadn't expected but when his brother appears bringing with him Rin and royal intrigues can Inuyasha prevail over the new obstacles in his life, including this strange affinity his brother seems to have for him?
Disclaimer: I do not own the Inuyasha franchise, anime, manga or characters. I play with them for fun not for profit.
Inuyasha woke to the light of the sun streaming through his windows. I'm back in my room. He noticed sitting up and stretching his underused muscles. He was sore, his claves and thighs ached as he stood and padded over to his armoire, pulling a silk kimono and hakama along with a new set of under garments from its depths. The hanyou was headed towards his bathing chamber when a slight knock on his sitting rooms outer door caught his ears.
He padded back across the fur lined floor, opened the door to his sitting room and finally opened the sliding doors to the outer hallway.
Sango, Rin and Shippo were waiting outside of his door their faces filled with nervous energy.
"Inuyasha! You're okay!" Shippo exclaimed throwing himself in to the arms of the large half demon.
"Yeah brat of course I am, you think a little poison is going to stop me?" He replied holding the kit close and motioning the women in to his rooms.
Sango smiled and ushered Rin in to the room, sitting on one of the heavily embroidered cushions in the seating area " Shippo, wait with Sango while I go put on some clothes." Inuyasha sat the kit on the slayers lap.
Walking back in to his bedchamber he walked to his armoire again, pulling his fire rat kimono and hakama's from its depths, slipping them on and turning to meet with his friends. At least I don't have to worry about wearing this before bathing. He thought running his hands over the delicate silk lying on his bed before turning and entering the sitting room once more.
Sango sat watching the two children converse happily. Inuyasha watched Rin giggle as Shippo did a trick with his spinning top. She acts so grown up sometimes; it's hard to remember she's only eleven. Her beautiful silk kimono pooled around her in waves of sapphire silk and embroidered red petals, dark brown locks falling in curls around her face, the rest of it pulled in to a bun at the top of her head, held in place by golden bejeweled flowers. She is going to be my daughter. He contemplated smiling as she gasped in excitement when Shippo turned his top in to a beautiful red rose for her.
And he is my son, he looked at Shippo as the kit laughed at Rin's surprise. I suppose I never considered what he was to me, but he is my kit… weird. The hanyou scoffed silently at his own profundity before kneeling next to Sango watching as the children started playing with another of Shippo's tricks.
"They are becoming fast friends Inuyasha." Sango remarked smiling at the children's antics.
"Well good, they are going to be siblings. They might as well get along." He replied shifting to look at his friend. "How's the Hoshi doing? You two ready to tie the knot yet?" He asked reclining on his out stretched arms.
"Inuyasha, do you really think we have been talking about anything but you for the last three days?" She asked placing her hand on his shoulder. "We were all so worried my friend." Her deep brown eyes stared earnestly at him. "There was a time when we were not sure you would wake." Her voice caught and she brought her billowing sleeve to cover watering eyes.
"Sango…" Inuyasha sat up then putting a clawed hand on to her delicate shoulder. "You should know some old bat couldn't do me in. If I can survive Sesshomaru's hatred for a few centuries I can deal with one attack from a baabaa." He scoffed but his eyes met her own trying to comfort his friend.
She smiled a watery smile at him wiping her eyes with a small handkerchief. "Yes we should have known you would be fine, you are the undefeatable Inuyasha after all." She remarked giggling as he preened.
"I am aren't I." He smiled widely.
"My Lord, will you come outside with us and play in the gardens?" Rin asked suddenly from across the room. She and Shippo were standing eyes wide staring at the two adults.
"Well…." He looked to Sango not knowing the young girls schedule.
"Inuyasha can play with you after lunch My Lady, you know you have history, music and calligraphy lessons this morning." She chastised giving the girl a knowing look. "Shippo you have training in the dojo and then calligraphy lessons with Rin." She finished looking at the sheepish kit. "Oh my! Is that really the time?" She exclaimed standing, as she noticed Inuyasha's water clock sitting on the low table. "Come on now you two, Inuyasha, we will speak more after lunch?" She turned to the hanyou as she pushed the children from the room.
"Sure, I'll see you guys later." He responded watching as Sango ushered the children from his chambers.
"Feh now I think I need a bath." He commented to himself walking back in to his bedroom, grabbing his clothing and heading to the bathing chamber.
An hour later found Inuyasha, bathed, dressed and walking towards Sesshomaru's private study. The Lord had sent word via Jakken that he needed to see Inuyasha as soon as possible. The younger brother was given no other information and thus felt quite wary as the sentries pulled open the doors to his brothers study. Jakken stepped out calling the sentries to the front hall as he had the day Sesshomaru asked Inuyasha to bond with him.
His brother sat at the large, strange desk signing his name to various parchments with long strokes of a black tipped brush.
"You wanted to see me?" Inuyasha asked sitting in one of the chairs before the large desk. He felt markedly out of place.
"Yes… Rin's fiancé has been killed by a group of ruffians from the East. As such it is our duty to secure for her a suitable replacement." He handed a scroll to Inuyasha without a word. The hanyou took it studying the ruff calligraphy. "It seems the Lord of the North wishes to engage his youngest son, Koga to my daughter." Inuyasha looked up at his brother in doubt when he said the wolf prince's name.
"That wolf is in the habit of not going through with his engagements." He commented remembering the Princess Ayame.
"Yes so I have heard." His brother replied his long graceful hand rising in distress. "But it seems I have no choice, we must have this treaty with the North and as any pups we may have will have to wait decades for their maturation Rin's marriage to this youngest son is the obvious solution."
"The wolf is a brute, how can we be sure he will treat her well?" Inuyasha asked worried about his adoptive daughter. How can we possibly trust Koga with such a precious child?
"We will keep them here with us, under our care we can make sure the prince treats Rin as she deserves. I know you have had run ins with this ookami before but you must remember that his is young, younger even than you brother." Sesshomaru sighed. "He has just three years past come in to his own maturity." Inuyasha watched his brother lean on one of his hands.
Wait… he has two hands! "Uh when did you get another arm?" He asked leaning forward and poking at his brother's new appendage.
"I awoke with it this morning… my healers are baffled but they believe it has something to do with the strange energy that had been blocking all previous healing attempts. It has dissipated now; in its wake I have regenerated this limb." He looked annoyed at having to explain his new appendage.
"Don't look so irritated Kami it was just a question, am I not supposed to notice a new limb?" He groused glaring at his brother. The demon Lord growled in irritation before closing his eyes. Inuyasha watched his brother warily wondering if he was going to be attacked over a question.
"You are right of course my Intended, it was not my intention to upset you." Inuyasha stared at his brother for a moment after the unexpected apology.
"You can be really weird… I guess Koga wouldn't be the worst person Rin could marry, he's a pretty okay guy sometimes." Inuyasha decided guiding them back to the original topic.
"Well then I shall send for him directly." Sesshomaru shuffled his parchments signing his name to one, rolling it and placing it in an ornately carved wooden canister. "There are several other matters that need you attention, if you can spend the morning with me?" Sesshomaru commented pulling a large rope to the right of his desk.
"Uh yeah okay I can stick around until lunch, I promised the kid's I'd come play with them after though." He consented getting comfortable in his chair.
The doors behind them opened allowing Jakken in to the room. "You called for me my lord?" He asked bowing low.
"Yes Jakken take this scroll to our fastest runner I want the Himes fiancé here by the end of the week." With those words the kappa bowed himself from the room.
"I wish to speak with you on a matter of some importance Intended." Inuyasha started at once again being addressed thusly but concluded that it must be traditional.
"Okay…" Inuyasha stated wondering what the matter of importance could be.
"Our wedding must be held before mating season starts with the rise of the new moon in two weeks time. I wish for you to see to the arrangement, you will of course have the treasury and any assistance at your disposal." Inuyasha stared dumbstruck at his brother. What the hell do I know about weddings I've never even been to one.
"I have no idea what a wedding even entails brother, I'm not sure where to start." Inuyasha explained feeling helpless.
"I will assign a wise woman from our tribe, it would normally be the Mother of the intended or an Obaasan, but seeing as neither or those are options we shall call upon our fraternal Aunt Sanika, she is the elder sister of our father and the first child of our grandfather and his first wife. She is the wife of the Southern Lord but surely he can be without her for a short time. I have sent Ah Un with one of our messengers to her this very day she should arrive in the next three days to help you prepare. In the meantime I am sure the Slayer can help you with the basics." Inuyasha watched as Sesshomaru glanced towards the southern sky. "They should be arriving in her kingdom any moment now." The idea of planning a wedding still seemed foreign but Inuyasha was happy his brother had anticipated he would not know what was expected of him.
"Well then I supposed I can plan it... you said there was more than one subject you wished to speak to me about?" He asked remembering that his brother had stated several matters needed his attention.
"Yes, this matter is… important, more so even than the first two. We need to decide what punishment befits the traitor Akiko. Truly this decision is yours Intended as it was your life she attempted to take from this earth." Sesshomaru pulled a long piece of parchment from the desk handing it to the stunned hanyou. "I have taken the liberty of writing up some punishments I feel fit the crime."
Inuyasha looked down at the rather long document, the first lines read:
Flaying alive
Buried alive
Public shaming and stoning
Inuyasha stared at the list all of the options seemed to have to do with some terrible hurt inflicted upon the woman. Finally scribbled at the bottom of the page were these words.
Exiled from court and sent to live as a human in the southern territories.
Inuyasha thought for a moment before pointing to the bottom one. "That is the only one of your 'suggestions' I will take under advisement. I don't think her actions should merit her death; she is the mother of our father." Inuyasha decided finally placing the parchment back on the desk and sliding it towards his brother. Sesshomaru's eyes flashed in annoyance before his usual mask of indifference settled back over his fine features.
"Of course Intended as you wish." He replied shuffling his papers again. "Lunch will be ready soon," Sesshomaru commented standing. "If you would be so kind as to allow me to escort you to the dining hall you would make this Lord quite content." Sesshomaru stated his mask of polite decorum up once more.
Inuyasha sighed and stood taking nodding in consent. "I didn't mean to upset you Sesshomaru, but you can't just hide behind this mask every time I say something you don't like." Inuyasha said staring at his brother.
They stood there for several minutes as Inuyasha waited for a response from the stoic Lord.
"Forgive me… I believe the stress of the past days has made my temper shorter than normal; I will endeavor to show you only my true self while we are in private Intended. You must understand old habits do not die easily." The older man stepped forward taking Inuyasha in his arms. The hanyou accepted the hug trying to get used to the very physical nature of his new relationship with his brother.
"Sesshomaru since we are truly alone here… I just wanted to know about our wedding night, are we expected to… consummate it directly?" Inuyasha waited with baited breath for his brothers answer. The body holding his own stiffened for a moment before his elder brother replied.
"Is that not something you are ready for?" His voice was soft, coaxing. Inuyasha lifted his head to look in to his brothers amber eyes.
"I… well I've never been with a man, hell I've never been with a woman. I don't think I'm adverse to the idea but… I always hate not knowing what's expected that's all." He finished toeing the ground uncomfortably.
"We will have to consummate the marriage for the bonding to be complete Intended but I will endeavor to make it as easy on both of us as I can." Inuyasha smiled at his brother enjoying the elder man's candor.
"That's all I can ask I guess." He replied taking Sesshomaru's arm. "Well let's go get some lunch I'm sure the rest of the court is starving by now." He commented pulling his betrothed from the room and towards the waiting meal.
Rin, Sango, Shippo and Miroku met the brothers outside of the dining hall. Both Shippo and Rin were wearing new clothing, their hair still damp from a bath.
"What happened to the kids?" Inuyasha asked coming to walk beside Sango as they entered the Hall.
"Shippo and Rin decided to see if his foxfire could light ink on fire… it can by the way." She told him mirth tingeing her disapproving tone.
Inuyasha laughed quietly shaking his head. "I feel sorry for you." He whispered watching the children walking ahead of them, heads bowed in conversation.
"I feel bad for the prince that marries Rin, Shippo is going to terrorize the poor man." She remarked smiling.
"Oh I need to talk to you about that when the meal is over." He commented leaving her side to take his seat next to his intended.
The nobles shuffled in moments later as was usual and the tiring ritual was performed with the same rigidity as always. Several of the council members were granted seats at their table including the tiger from the first meal Inuyasha had ever attended in the court.
By the time the noon meal had ended Inuyasha was ready to be outside, he had never liked being indoors for any length of time. After three days of healing sleep and now a morning spent in council with his brother he was happy to lead the children, Sango and Miroku to the field of flowers the youngest part of their group had become so fond of.
Rin immediately ran in to the flowers gathering multitudes to craft cornets out of, Shippo followed behind dutifully, carrying the basket that would hold their collection.
Sango laid a soft cotton blanket on the ground for the adults to sit on and watch the children. Inuyasha watched the group happily Miroku stood beside him as their makeshift family readied for a relaxing afternoon under the sun.
"You had something you wanted to speak about earlier Inuyasha?" Sango asked after she had settled on to the large blanket arranging her kimono so the purple silk did not touch the ground proper.
"Yeah so Sesshomaru had Rin betrothed to the second son of the northern wolf tribe but I guess he died in some strange attack out of the East. So the Northern Lord is sending his youngest son to take his place." Inuyasha explained keeping his voice low so as not to inform Rin of the change until it was finalized.
"That seems reasonable." Sango nodded picking up a sewing round and passing her needle through it, embroidering a large red rose on to the fabric.
"Yeah but we know her fiancé, we are betrothing her to Koga!" He explained leaning closer.
Sango dropped her embroidery in surprise. "You must be joking." She exclaimed glancing to make sure the children hadn't heard. "He is so much older than she is."
Inuyasha stared at her, "Well yeah but he's younger than the last guy so that's got to count for something. Anyway he is supposed to be here in a week, get this he is going to live here indefinitely. Since he's not his father's heir he is going to live in the West so Sesshomaru and I can keep an eye on him." Inuyasha chuckled brightly at the thought of being above the cocky ookami.
"I do not see this being a peaceful union my friend." Miroku commented sitting next to the hanyou. Inuyasha looked at his friend in doubt.
"You think he is going to be mean to Rin? Because he would have to die if that's the case." Inuyasha growled his eyes flashing red briefly.
"It's not that Inuyasha, I think it is your own animosity with Koga that will make Rin's marriage to him stressful." Miroku explained patting Inuyasha on the back.
"I believe you vastly under estimate Rin's ability to manipulate the men in her life Hoshi." Sango told him giggling and fanning herself with the large painted fan she had around her wrist. "I do not think Rin is in any danger of being mistreated, the threat of Sesshomaru's wrath hanging over Koga's head should be enough to ensure that." She finished flipping her fan closed and taking up her embroidery again.
"Yeah well we'll see." Inuyasha groused laying back and closing his eyes. He soon fell in to a deep sleep in the warmth of the spring afternoon.
End chapter Ten
A/N: Next chapter will bring Koga, his older brother, Sesshomaru and Inuyasha's Aunt and the preparations for the inus vows! I think Miroku and Sango will get married in there sometime too! I hope this chapter wasn't too disappointing. As for those of you who want some hit inu brother action, well you are going to have to wait. This is the feudal era they are so getting married before anything remotely sexy happens. I am so excited to hear from you guys! All of your reviews make me soooo happy! Just wanted you to know.
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