Mid-week update! Yeah! Loved last chapter's reviews. Many of you are eager to see Inu no Taisho's reaction to Inuyasha as well as the one on one time between Inuyasha and Sesshomaru. I also appreciated all the comments on Kouga's little "chat" with Sesshomaru. Unfortunately we will be without Kouga's company for much of the remainder of this fic. (he'll show up again towards the end). We'll meet other characters though, and Miroku's antics are there throughout. Also, remember that I told you this sucker is about 30 chapters long? Well, you can't really expect things between the Inu's to go completely smooth sailing in that time, can you ;-)

Well, as promised, this chapter is all Inuyasha and Sesshomaru discovering a little more about each other. I have to say, I really enjoyed writing Sesshomaru in this fic. He's just so . . . I don't know . . . maybe foolishly naive in his own way. He's so sure of himself that he just can't seem to figure out what's really going on.

Well, anyways, that's enough of my rambling for tonight.

Chapter 10 . . .

Inuyasha had been staring at that white furry thing hanging off Sesshomaru's shoulder for the past few hours. And in that time, not a word had been spoken. In fact, besides a quick, "Come, Inuyasha," the InuYoukai had been damn silent, not that Inuyasha really minded. In point of fact, the hanyou had been alone for so much of his life that he found solitude and the silence it offered peaceful. But being alone by choice was a much different kettle of fish than being forced to be alone.

Fascinated by the gentle sway of Sesshomaru's fluffy thing as well as those pristine white robes, Inuyasha had been relatively content to pass the time as they had. After spending the last few days surrounded by the overwhelming scents and youkai of so many different beings, it was good to get back into the woods. And with each and every step they took, the hanyou found his nose clearing as the fresh scents of nature took over. Of course, being this close to his intended mate, the most prominent thing he still smelled was Sesshomaru.

Amber eyes finally looking away from the powerful InuYoukai walking in front of him, Inuyasha began pondering just how Sesshomaru knew where he was going. As far as he knew, Sesshomaru didn't know where Kaede's village was located and yet, he seemed to be following the exact same path Inuyasha and Kouga had taken to get to the Gathering.

Twitching an ear to get rid of a pesky fly, Inuyasha found he didn't really mind following behind Sesshomaru. Had it been Kouga, he would have already pushed the mangy wolf's face into the earth, but this seemed different. Plus, if he wasn't walking behind Sesshomaru, then he'd either be at his side or in front and he wasn't comfortable thinking of his intended mate having the same type of view he now had of Sesshomaru. Nor did he like the idea of the InuYoukai having this much spare time to think about all the things about him that Inuyasha was thinking about Sesshomaru.

Picking one foot up in front of another, Inuyasha pushed the exhaustion fighting his body. He'd been way more tired than this in his life and kept going, so this was really nothing more than an irritation. Still, he wondered if Sesshomaru intended to walk non-stop to Kaede's village. Given his still healing injuries and overall lack of nutrients these past few days, Inuyasha had to wonder if he would physically be able to do it. With a quick shake of his head, he pushed such thoughts away. Of course he could and would do it. Chances were he'd look like hell by the time they got there, but there was no way he was passing out and showing that kind of weakness to the dominant he'd just agreed to mate.

As for Sesshomaru, he was more than content to pass the time as they were and ever so pleased that the hanyou did not seem to feel the need to fill all the blissful silence with idle chatter. Far from thoughtless, Sesshomaru spent his time thinking over the ensuing days and months to come. Inuyasha's integration into the Western Lands and court life, seeing to the hanyou's protection and comfort, as well as going through a mental list of those suitable to the task of improving his mate's education and tactical abilities. Inuyasha had proven himself very capable and although Sesshomaru hoped to always be there to keep his mate safe, the notion that he would always be present at such times was foolish as well as reckless. In fact, Sesshomaru saw it as his duty to make Inuyasha as strong as possible in order to protect him to the fullest. In his mind, to do less was a failure as a dominant mate.

Sniffing the air again, Sesshomaru noted the hot spring he'd scented long ago had grown stronger. Veering ever so slightly from his path, the InuYoukai moved closer, deciding this would be a good spot to pass the evening. After spending the past few days in the presence of so many disgusting youkai, Sesshomaru thought both he and Inuyasha would enjoy a soak.

Curious when Sesshomaru moved off the path to Kaede's village, Inuyasha quickly figured out where the InuYoukai was headed and gave a silent sigh of relief. Kitanya had used the water from one of her waterskins to wash Jakotem's blood from his hands, but he still felt like he could scent the bastard's crimson fluid and it was irritating.

"We will spend the night here."

Finally coming up to Sesshomaru's side, Inuyasha stared out at the hot springs and couldn't find it in himself to do more than give a slight grimace at the order. But chances were pretty good that that shit was going to get really old really quick.

Rubbing a finger under his nose, Inuyasha gave a quiet sigh. "'Kay."

Hearing the slight hint of exhaustion that somehow managed to leak through Inuyasha's voice, Sesshomaru finally turned and felt the corners of his lips turn down ever so slightly. Now that he was looking, it was clear to see the hanyou was tired. And yet, Inuyasha had said nothing. He had not stumbled or broken stride for even an instant. Had the hanyou even breathed heavier, Sesshomaru would have noted it and investigated further. Displeased that he had failed to notice his submissive's health, Sesshomaru simply stared before stating, "You are not well."

Head snapping up, Inuyasha looked surprised before scowling. "-Keh, I'm fine."

"No, you are not. You're skin is pale and your body is tired."

But Inuyasha only waved a hand in dismissal. "This ain't nothin'."

"It is my duty – "

"No, it ain't!" Ears twitching with his irritation, Inuyasha shook his head. "I'm not gonna stand here and say I understand what it's like to be a dominant mate, but you gotta get it through your head that you're gonna be my dominant mate."

Taken aback that he had been interrupted, Sesshomaru felt mokomoko fluff out in annoyance. "I do not understand what difference you are trying to convey."

Inuyasha took a deep breath that he soon regretted. It seemed like his ribs still weren't completely healed. "I'm a half-breed, and – "

"I have already stated that this is of little consequence."

No matter how many times he heard Sesshomaru say that, Inuyasha still found it unbelievable. Still, that wasn't the point he was trying to make. "I . . . I get what you're sayin' and as crazy as I think you are, I do believe you mean it. But, it does make me different and you gotta be able to deal with those differences and know that the quickest way to piss me off is to go makin' a fuss about it. The fact is, I'm gonna get tired quicker, heal slower, and need to eat more often but that don't mean I can't keep up. And I won't have you fussin' and worryin' over stupid shit. I won't be a burden."

Silently contemplative, Sesshomaru stared down at the burning amber eyes glaring up at him and realized that he had managed to highly offend the hanyou. "You expect me to ignore the state of your health?"

Inuyasha gave a sigh and shrugged. "No. I don't know . . . maybe not ignore it, but . . . trust that I'll be okay."

Sesshomaru really didn't know how that was going to work but he could see the hanyou's point. Youkai (and especially InuYoukai) were proud and being a half-breed had not curbed that inclination within his mate. Most likely Inuyasha's dual heritage had only fueled it.

Moving closer, Sesshomaru took a deep breath, inhaling Inuyasha's scent and as he'd suspected, felt it's calming affect reach deep into his soul. "I shall agree but you must also agree to inform me if there is anything going on within your body that is in need of immediate attention or threatening to your life. Should you fail to do this, I will have no choice but to, as you say, make a fuss, regarding more simple ailments."

Inuyasha still didn't like it, but he could concede that he would at least try. "Fine."

Hearing nothing further, Sesshomaru raised a single eyebrow. "Then I shall assume that you are currently well enough."

"Yup."

"Then I shall leave you while I hunt for food." Seeing the hanyou's mouth open to protest, Sesshomaru let his youkai flare just a little. "You may hunt for us later. We shall share the duty while traveling."

Giving a huff, Inuyasha looked off to the side and gave another, "Fine."

Before turning to leave, Sesshomaru asked, "Do you have any dietary needs I should be aware of?"

Head immediately going down, Inuyasha hid his eyes with his bangs. He'd already gone through all this with Kitanya and didn't like the idea of telling Sesshomaru. But, seeing as how he was going to be living with the InuYoukai for probably the rest of his life . . . "I can't eat raw meat. Well, I mean, I can but it can make me really sick."

"You require it cooked?"

"Yeah."

Sesshomaru gave no comment, whether good or bad and simply turned. "I shall return shortly."

Looking up, Inuyasha's eyes just caught the edge of Sesshomaru's white robes as he vanished into the surrounding foliage. Head tilted up, Inuyasha stared at the stars peaking through the canopy of trees and wondered just how many more hits his pride was going to have to take. Of course, the stars offered no answers, but he felt like he probably already knew the answer anyway and didn't like it.

Alone once more, Inuyasha looked to the warm water and began stripping down, hoping to get done before Sesshomaru returned. Blushing a deep crimson, he briefly contemplated the thought that eventually, assuming the InuYoukai really did want pups, Sesshomaru was going to have to see him in nothing but his skin. Snorting while stepping into the soothing waters, Inuyasha thought just how dumb it was to be worried about being seen naked when there'd need to be a lot more intimate and embarrassing things going on if he was going to bear pups.

Clawed toes dancing along the rocks below, Inuyasha walked toward a deeper end of the spring, easing his body down and taking a moment to simply relax. He'd told Sesshomaru that his injuries and exhaustion were nothing to worry about and that was true because none of it was life threatening. That still didn't mean his body wasn't in need of rest and time to heal. Head tilted back, Inuyasha muttered a quiet, "Fuck, that feels good," before forcing himself into action. If he was going to get done before Sesshomaru came back, then he needed to get a move on.

With that thought in mind, Inuyasha moved to a different part of the spring, a place where it was shallower and the bottom was more silt than rock. Taking some of the silt, he began scrubbing his body down, finally getting the filth of the Gathering off him. Glancing off to his clothes, Inuyasha frowned. His firerat had already cleaned itself – a process that seemed continual, but his underclothes were still dirty.

Eyes scanning the surrounding area, ears perked for even the slightest noise, and nose twitching as it scented the air; Inuyasha couldn't find any hint that Sesshomaru was near and decided it was worth the risk if it meant cleaning his underclothes.

Quick as he could, Inuyasha darted back up on dry land, grabbed the necessary garments and jumped back in the water. Pleased at his success, Inuyasha was totally ignorant of the golden eyes tinged crimson that stared at him from just beyond the wooded edge.

With three rabbits in hand, Sesshomaru's tongue flicked out, tasting the faint hint of metallic blood. In the short time he'd been gone, the InuYoukai had taken down a deer and eaten the warm carcass on the spot. He'd thought of bringing back some for the hanyou, but thought the rabbits would most likely cook faster.

The whole hunting expedition had taken but a few minutes and he'd come back in time to see his intended mate shoot out of the water, grab some of his clothes and dash back in. In that short instant, Sesshomaru had taken the opportunity to visually examine the hanyou he intended to mate.

Slightly thinner than he'd like to see, Inuyasha was lean but did not appear emaciated. What he'd assumed to be a tanned hue to the hanyou's flesh seemed more doubtful now as the color remained the same even where clothes would normally cover. And, given Inuyasha's apparent modesty, Sesshomaru doubted it was due to lying in the sun naked. The injuries he'd seen Inuyasha take while fighting Jakotem did indeed seem to have been minor or well on the mend as the bruising across his chest was a mottled yellow/green, clearly pointing towards a fading wound.

Sesshomaru had known the hanyou to be slight of height and was unsure if this was due to his human heritage or if malnutrition had had a hand in Inuyasha's overall stature when he was young and in his formative years. Whatever the reason, given the fact that his intended mate had reached his maturity, it seemed unlikely the hanyou would grow further. Not that this bothered Sesshomaru. Size was rarely an indicator of a youkai's true strength and therefore he'd long ago learned to pay it little heed.

Pleased Inuyasha truly seemed minimally damaged, Sesshomaru moved into the small clearing around the spring, his presence immediately catching the attention of the still bathing hanyou.

Ears flicking to attention, Inuyasha's nose twitched as he both heard and smelled the InuYoukai's approach. Silently cursing his desire for clean clothes, the hanyou turned his body and sunk deeper into the water.

Cheeks painted crimson and ears flattened down into the strands of his hair, Inuyasha's wide amber eyes stared up at Sesshomaru. "I, uh . . . thought I'd try and rinse these out too."

Eyes as cold as ever, Sesshomaru gazed at his intended mate, or at least what he could see of him. Underclothes gripped tightly in front of his chest, the only parts of Inuyasha vaguely visible were located above the hanyou's chin. Modesty was not a trait most youkai had, especially Sesshomaru, but he was not unversed in the trait. "Given that you have agreed to be my mate, it is pointless to hide your body from my eyes."

Grip tightening upon the soaked clothes in his hands, Inuyasha wanted to feel angry but the nauseating pull threatening his empty stomach was too powerful. "We ain't fully mated yet." Even to the hanyou, that seemed like a lame excuse.

"As you wish." Thinking no more of the matter, Sesshomaru raised the hand holding the rabbits and asked, "I assume this will suite?"

Finally seeing what Sesshomaru had caught, the nauseous feeling in his belly began to fade. Pushing out of the water a little further, Inuyasha couldn't help but lick his lips. Sesshomaru didn't know it, but rabbit was just about his favorite. "Yeah." Seeing only the three, Inuyasha felt a little disappointed. He was hungry enough to devour all of them but most likely only one was intended for him. Well, he'd certainly survived on less.

Nodding once, Sesshomaru reached up to begin divesting himself of his clothes only to stop. It was their first night together and he had no desire to make the hanyou any more uncomfortable than he was. As it was not a matter of his intended mate's safety, he could indulge Inuyasha a bit. "I will collect firewood. It will take a few minutes to do so."

Opening his mouth, Inuyasha was about to protest that he was more than capable of collecting his own damn wood, but shut it quickly. Sesshomaru leaving would give him a good chance to get out of the water and put on his firerat. Quick to act, no more had the white of Sesshomaru's robes passed into the woods than Inuyasha was out of the water and scurrying to put on his clean firerat.

With all the important bits covered, Inuyasha let out a deep breath, his muscles finally relaxing. Going back to the edge of the hotspring, he quickly collected his soaking underclothes and draped them over nearby rocks and low hanging branches. Once the fire was started, he'd try and move them closer to dry overnight. With that done, the hanyou prepped a spot for the fire and then grabbed the rabbits and began cleaning them of their fur.

Inuyasha had just started on the last rabbit when Sesshomaru returned with an armful of various sized kindling. Without a word, the InuYoukai placed the wood beside the spot Inuyasha had prepped and began walking toward the water while simultaneously stripping his body of his clothes.

Unaware of Sesshomaru's naked state, Inuyasha turned his head to ask the InuYoukai something only to suck in a deep breath of admiration and awe. Back to him, Inuyasha was left with a vision of Sesshomaru's silvery-white strands of silky hair as it cascaded down a pristine, alabaster body. Blinking once, Inuyasha stared at the magenta stripes slashed not only along Sesshomaru's face and wrists, but along his thighs, calves, and upper arms. Chances were probably fairly good that they were also along the Western heir's torso as well, but Sesshomaru's hair and fur were blocking that view.

Swallowing past the dryness in his throat, Inuyasha couldn't believe the amount of rock-hard muscle the ice-prick was covered in. Given Sesshomaru's slender nature, no one would have ever guessed he looked like that under all that flowing white fabric.

Halfway immersed in the soothing, warm water, Sesshomaru turned his head slightly, catching the guilty eyes of one caught staring. As soon as their eyes connected, his hanyou lowered his head, a fresh blush of pink staining his cheeks. "As I do not share your same sense of modesty, I am not offended by your curious stares." But as those words left his mouth, Sesshomaru had to wonder at them. Although it was true that nudity (whether it be his or another youkai) mattered very little to him, had it been any other so blatantly staring, he would have been just as likely to pluck their eyes from their skulls as give a growl of warning.

Completely mortified, Inuyasha tucked his head down low while muttering a quiet, "-Keh, you're not that impressive, jackass."

Despite the lowered tone, Sesshomaru had no trouble hearing the words and might have been offended were it not for the subtle scent of desire wafting off the hanyou. Choosing to ignore the comment, Sesshomaru's eyes traveled over his hanyou, Inuyasha's calves and wrists peaking out from under the firerat he wore. Seeing those rarely exposed bits of flesh, Sesshomaru thought of others seeing the same thing and frowned. He had seen many youkai in not but their gods given skin and yet the thought of others seeing his hanyou thus exposed did not sit well with him at all. In fact, the more he thought on it, the angrier he became at the idea. "Inuyasha, you will not allow any other to see you unclothed."

Trying with all his might to concentrate of skinning the last of the rabbits, Inuyasha missed the possessive nature of the comment and only grunted a, "Yeah, I think that's somethin' we can both agree on. Besides, I don't think they'll be a lot of youkai out there linin' up to stare at my naked hanyou ass."

The thought of that alone turned Sesshomaru's vision crimson. "Not if they value their insignificant lives."

Finally catching the growl lacing Sesshomaru's voice, Inuyasha allowed his eyes to drift up, peaking through the strands of his bangs. But by the time he did so, the InuYoukai had turned his body just enough to hide his face. Confused, Inuyasha stared for a minute longer before shrugging his shoulders and returning to his task. Even if he'd been able to see Sesshomaru's face, he doubted he'd be able to make much out of it. The hanyou was fast learning that the Prince of the West was damn difficult to read, what with that permanent icy gaze the bastard seemed to have mastered straight out of the womb.

Final skin removed, Inuyasha placed the dry wood within his prepared space. A quick flick of one of his claws across a sharp rock soon ignited a spark and soon enough, a small blaze lit up their area. Pleased by the instant warmth, Inuyasha quickly speared the smallest of the rabbits and set it to cook. Without looking at the water, he asked, "You want anything else done to yours?"

Sufficiently soaked, Sesshomaru's graceful body glided out of the water, drops of fluid streaming from his body with efficient ease. "You may do with the rabbits as you like. They are all for you."

Surprised enough to forget Sesshomaru was most likely naked, Inuyasha's head shot up as he asked, "But what about you?" before quickly realizing his mistake and lowering his gaze to the safety of the fire.

As quickly as Inuyasha looked away, he missed the rare, quirked smirk lifting the right side of Sesshomaru's lips. "While hunting, I took down a deer and ate my fill. I would have brought the remainder of the carcass back, but assumed it would take longer to cook."

Walking to where his clothes lay, Sesshomaru wrapped his body in only the lightest of the fabric, leaving his outer robes and armor lying on the ground. Had the hanyou not been so embarrassed, he would have sat naked by the fire and thought nothing of it. In the end, it was a minor concession. "Was I wrong to assume you would desire more than one?"

Quickly skewering the other two rabbits and setting them over the fire to cook, Inuyasha shook his head. "No . . . no, I'll eat 'em. No use lettin' good food go to waste." Looking up, he was relieved to see Sesshomaru had at least partially covered himself. "You sure you don't want any?"

"I am quite full."

"Okay then." Reaching over, Inuyasha grabbed the waterskin Kitanya had given him and took a long drink before sheepishly asking, "You want any?"

"While hunting I drank from a nearby stream."

"I'll take that as a no then." Capping the waterskin, Inuyasha reached forward and rotated the rabbits. It wouldn't take long for them to cook enough to be safe for him to eat.

Golden eyes fixed, Sesshomaru stared through the fire at his hanyou's actions. Inuyasha was a master of efficiency at his task and soon the smell of roasting rabbit filled the area. Content to watch, Sesshomaru marveled at his own responses to every little thing Inuyasha did. Oddly amused, he inwardly smirked when his InuHanyou took his first bite, the meat still too hot and burning his tongue – the ensuing curses both colorful and imaginative.

Within no time at all, the rabbits were down to nothing but bone – something Sesshomaru and most other youkai would have eaten as well, but Inuyasha merely took the remaining carcasses and threw them into the fire to burn. And even that was interesting. Spending this kind of time alone together and observing his hanyou's actions was the most expedient way for him to learn how to care for his new submissive.

With that thought in mind, Sesshomaru decided they would continue walking, at least to this village his hanyou's miko lived in. The leisurely pace would be a good teaching tool. "Inuyasha, how far is it to your village?"

Blissfully sedate from his meal, Inuyasha yawned, the action showing off his fangs. "Eh? I thought you knew."

"Why would I know such a thing?"

Sitting up, Inuyasha used a back foot to scratch behind an ear, missing the slightly widened eyes of his intended mate as he was lost to the pleasure of subduing an unruly itch. "Well, you seemed to know where you were goin' earlier so I just assumed Kouga told ya or somethin'."

"The wolf prince had much to say, but the exact location of the miko, Kaede's village was not among them."

Inuyasha couldn't help but squirm. He didn't like the thought of Kouga telling Sesshomaru anything and had liked it even less when the two of them had gone off earlier to 'talk'. "Well, for not knowin', you sure as hell are goin' the right way."

"I was simply following the scent you left behind on your journey to the Gathering."

Mouth parting slightly, Inuyasha stared. "No shit? But, it was days ago that dogbreath and I came this way. And when we did, we were runnin' full steam." Running quickly through an area tended to decrease ones scent signature. Walking at a leisurely pace was the surest way to have your scent stick around for as long as possible.

"The bite of intention that I placed upon your wrist has sealed me as your dominant, as such, my senses have become much more attuned to you, especially your scent. It is another way for me to assure your safety for I can better track you than any other creature – youkai or otherwise."

"Oh." Inuyasha wasn't sure if that made him feel comforted or freaked out. He supposed it was meant to do the former, but when you had someone as powerful as Sesshomaru was that could always track your ass . . . well, it gave a half-breed pause.

Clearing his throat, Inuyasha pushed the unease from his mind. "Well, if we keep with the current pace, it'll probably take about five days or so. I can't say for sure since Kouga and I raced each other before."

Although he desired the time, five days would be a bit long. Miroku and Kitanya would be at the Western Palace by tomorrow and his father would not appreciate him lingering out in the wilds, especially without their mating being finalized. "We shall hasten our pace. Father will likely send out guards to locate us if we are not back within the palace walls within three days."

"Three days?" Inuyasha just shook his head. "I ain't exactly sure where the Western Palace is, but I can tell ya right here and now that there ain't no way. Even if I run full out in that time . . . it's just not possible." Running his hands through his drying hair, Inuyasha looked across the dancing flames to Sesshomaru. "If that's the case, then you better just head back first without me."

Sesshomaru was quick to calm his infuriated youkai. The mere thought of leaving his intended mate was . . . well, it was unthinkable. "Do not concern yourself with such matters. We have more than enough time to visit your miko and return to Lord Inu no Taisho."

"But – "

"You will see when the time comes."

Irritated but too tired to quibble, Inuyasha stood and began rearranging his wet clothes so they were closer to the fire. He was about to ask Sesshomaru if he wanted the same done with his clothes, but then Inuyasha remembered the InuYoukai hadn't cleaned them. Eyes suddenly fixed on the pristine white fabric; the hanyou wondered how anyone could keep clothes that spotless. "I guess you don't need your clothes cleaned."

"No. My robes are made from spider youkai silk and much like your firerat are self cleaning."

"Spider youkai silk? I never heard of anything like it."

"Indeed, it is exceedingly rare and my traveling clothes are the only ones made of it." Eyes still staring into the fiery flames, Sesshomaru's red tinged orbs were briefly obscure from Inuyasha. "Spider youkai are deceptive and irritating creatures. If you have never met one, then you are fortunate."

Inuyasha had met many different types of youkai during his days of wandering alone, almost all of them hostile. Consequently, it was easy for him to believe every word Sesshomaru said. "Well, if they're that bad, then I guess it ain't no great loss that I haven't seen one."

Eyes burning a deeper shade of crimson, Sesshomaru's voice was little more than a growl. "One shall not be allowed in your presence, especially without this Sesshomaru present."

Ears perking up at the hostility raging through Sesshomaru, Inuyasha wondered what exactly had happened in the past for his intended mate to be so adamant. Whatever the reason, he didn't much care and simply shrugged his shoulders. "Whatever." With his clothes now moved so they'd be dry by morning, Inuyasha stretched while looking around at the available trees. Thankfully there was a larger one close to the hotspring. Glancing in Sesshomaru's direction, Inuyasha scratched behind an ear in mild indecision before beginning to scale his newest sleeping quarters.

Curious about the odd sounds he was hearing, Sesshomaru turned his gaze towards his hanyou, his silvery-white eyebrows lifting slightly at the odd sight of Inuyasha settling down upon a sturdy limb. Quietly observing, it wasn't until his hanyou settled back against the trunk of the tree that Sesshomaru began to understand. "You intend to sleep within that tree?"

With a wide yawn, Inuyasha nodded. "You got a problem with that?"

Taking a moment to contemplate Inuyasha's actions, Sesshomaru questioned, "This is a normal activity for you?"

"Yeah. Again, you got a problem or what?"

At first, Sesshomaru had seen Inuyasha's actions as an insult to his abilities to protect his intended mate. But as with most issues concerning his hanyou, things were not entirely as they appeared. If Inuyasha had truly been on his own for much of his formative life, then learning to sleep high up within the towering canopy of a tree had most likely been the difference between death and survival. In truth, it was a useful skill. "In time, you will see there is no longer a need for such, but if it pleases you, then I have no objections."

"-Keh, as if it'd mattered if ya did," Inuyasha groused before shifting his weight and getting a little more comfortable. "Don't know what the big deal is anyway."

Face impassive, Sesshomaru wondered at such a statement. Did Inuyasha truly not understand how odd it was for a canine youkai to find comfort so high from the ground? Regardless, the Heir of the West let his magenta striped eyelids drop, the edges never meeting but allowing his eyes to rest as the remainder of his senses stayed on alert – forever searching the surrounding area for any and all serious threats. Always aware of his surroundings, Sesshomaru found his youkai even more attentive now that he had a claimed submissive.

With the immediate area clear, Sesshomaru's attention focused in on his hanyou, noting Inuyasha was not yet asleep. "You require rest, Inuyasha. I shall keep watch through the night."

"As if I need you to do that," Inuyasha huffed. In truth, he found it difficult to actually trust another with his safety. Hell he didn't even trust Kouga that much, let alone a youkai he'd just met. Dominant mate or no, Inuyasha wasn't about to just zone out and trust his life to anyone else.

Instead of calming, Sesshomaru's words had only seemed to increase his hanyou's anxiety. Confused, the InuYoukai remained where he was, silent and observant. As the minutes turned into hours, Inuyasha finally calmed, but his heart rate and tenseness of his body indicated that his rest would not be as replenishing as it should be. Unsettled by Inuyasha's unease, Sesshomaru did what he'd done just two nights ago and released a small amount of his youkai, its power used to soothe instead of intimidate. Thankfully, his hanyou responded once more and soon Inuyasha's body settled into a deep, peaceful slumber – the kind that would rejuvenate and heal.

Pleased that his intended mate was finally well, Sesshomaru allowed his own eyelids to fully close, but throughout the night, his youkai remained ever watchful of their charge.

::::::::::

Waking early, Inuyasha felt refreshed and quickly realized he'd slept much deeper than he'd intended, similar to just a couple of nights ago. The thought of allowing his body to be so vulnerable frightened him, but he didn't have much time to dwell on things as Sesshomaru was already up and fully dressed.

Jumping down from his high perch, Inuyasha landed gracefully upon the ground and was pleased when the action wasn't accompanied by a jolt of pain through his ribs.

"Are your injuries fully healed?"

Ears perking up, Inuyasha grinned while patting his chest. "Seems that way."

"Good. If you are at full capacity, we shall travel at a much quicker pace today."

Nodding, Inuyasha went about collecting his clothes, a light blush dusting his cheeks as his amber eyes shifted in Sesshomaru's direction. "I, uh . . . I'm just gonna go back behind those rocks and take care of some things."

Seeing no reason to answer, Sesshomaru simply watched his hanyou dart out of sight, but remaining close by. Soon, the sound of Inuyasha relieving himself touched the InuYoukai's ears and once more, he wondered at his hanyou's seemingly odd sense of modesty. Excreting waste from one's body was a natural process, hardly something to be ashamed of. Perhaps this was another one of the half-breed's human characteristics.

Finished urinating and dressing, Inuyasha left the safety of his rocky privacy screen; hands stuffed deep into the sleeves of his firerat and head bent so his bangs covered his eyes and cheeks.

"You are ready then?"

In answer, all Sesshomaru received was a nod and ear twitch.

"Then we shall proceed at the pace you and the wolf took. I believe that shall get us to your human village by tomorrow."

"-Keh, we can get there by mornin' if we keep goin' all night."

"There is no need. Arriving tomorrow afternoon is acceptable. We shall stop tonight so that we may both rest."

Inuyasha only shook his head. "I still don't see how you plan on gettin' back to the Western Palace in three days, but whatever."

Turning in the direction of the village, Sesshomaru waited for Inuyasha to come up level with his location. "I am uncertain as to your capabilities."

"Huh?"

"You're speed."

"Oh. Well, I can more than keep up with dogbreath and he's always boastin' about how damn fast he is but I guess I don't know for sure."

"Then today, you shall lead and I will adjust my speed to match."

Head tilted, Inuyasha's lip curled up into a smirk. "Just try and keep up, bastard."

And with that, Inuyasha sprinted off into the forest, never turning to see the ever so slight upturn of lips gracing Sesshomaru's face. In a blur of motion, the InuYoukai launched his body forward, pleased that he had to push his body to catch up to his hanyou. Indeed, Inuyasha was fast. The question was; how long could he keep it up?

To Sesshomaru's pleasure, Inuyasha turned out to have a large degree of stamina when it came to dashing through the forest. Oscillating between running full out on the ground and leaping through tree canopy, Inuyasha was at one time graceful and efficient – each foot placement picked for maximum output.

Eating up both time and ground, the two inu's passed the day and evening in silence, but the lack of words was anything but awkward. Much to Inu no Taisho's bafflement, Sesshomaru had always had a bit of wanderlust lurking in his blood. The Heir of the Western Lands often taking off for days at a time with only a vague knowledge of the path he had taken. And almost every time, Sesshomaru had spent those endless hours thankfully alone. Never before had he imagined he'd enjoy the company of another and yet now, as he glanced over at the flowing strands of silvery-white hair billowing in Inuyasha's wake, he couldn't help but feel a burst of warmth flood his chest. Walking yesterday and now going at their rapid pace, Sesshomaru enjoyed knowing his hanyou was so close by. Surprisingly, he found Inuyasha's presence more comforting than irritating.

And if the pleasant grin that seemed permanently affixed to Inuyasha's face was any indication, it appeared as if his hanyou felt the same. Then again, if Inuyasha really had spent most of his years out in the wilds as Kouga had described, it stood to reason his hanyou would see the surrounding wilderness as his home, much more so than any structure built of wood or stone.

But as evening turned into the darkness of night, Sesshomaru pushed his body just that much harder so that he was running beside his submissive. Voice clear and far from strained by the activity of running full out all day, Sesshomaru stated, "I smell a stream close by. We will stop for the night."

Annoyed at how damn perfect the jackass's voice still sounded, Inuyasha's eyes narrowed. "I . . . I c-can keep on go-goin' longer."

"Unnecessary. We shall stop."

Pace dropping off, Inuyasha was silently happy they were stopping, but didn't want the reason to be because Sesshomaru thought he needed a break. Stride now more at a trot than full on gallop, Inuyasha hopped from branch to branch as they made their way to the stream. Now on the ground, the hanyou kept on going just a little further until he was standing by the same outcropping of rocks he'd met Kouga at just a few short days ago. Finally stopped and staring at a rather large boulder, Inuyasha couldn't believe such a brief period of time had actually passed. Claws scraping the edge of the rock, he shook his head and whispered. "Gods, it feels like a lifetime ago."

The heavy stench of wolf littering the area made Sesshomaru's nose twitch. "This is where you met up with the wolf prince?"

"Yeah. It's a decent spot to stop. We're probably about three hours walk outside the village." Looking up at the stars, Inuyasha was amazed at the distance they'd covered. He'd run faster than when he'd been racing the mangy wolf. Then again, it was pretty late into the night. Had they kept running, they could have easily made it to the village in no time, but it would be in the wee hours of the morning and he hated the thought of waking Kaede. Given her miko skills, she'd sense their approach and would haul her ancient body out to the edge of the forest to greet them. Powerful or not, in Inuyasha's mind, Kaede had no business being out by the forest edge at that time. Death was quickly marching to claim his miko and the hanyou saw no need to hasten its pace.

Staring at the stream, Inuyasha began rolling up his pants before removing his firerat and laying it across a nearby rock. "Fish okay with you?"

Quickly catching on to his hanyou's intentions, Sesshomaru shook his head. "The deer I consumed last night more than filled my needs."

Now ankle deep in water, Inuyasha's head swiveled as his eyes went wide. "Really? You only need to eat every few days? You ain't even hungry?"

"Eating such a large quantity can sustain me for several days. Typically at the palace, I take a meal daily, but each one is of a much smaller quantity."

Blinking once, Inuyasha realized that when Sesshomaru said he'd eaten a deer, he'd meant that he'd eaten the whole damn thing, or at least, most of it. Eyes drifting down the InuYoukai's slim figure, he had to wonder where on earth something like that had gone. The bastard's stomach hadn't even been distended last night when Inuyasha had seen him naked and climbing out of the hotspring.

Face flushed anew at the thought of Sesshomaru's naked body, Inuyasha promptly turned his head away and mumbled a, "Whatever" before cocking his ears forward, his amber eyes poised in concentration as he began fishing for his dinner.

Curious, Sesshomaru watched Inuyasha's puppydog ears swivel quickly, only to stop just as abruptly as his hanyou concentrated on the task at hand. Almost quicker than even his eye could follow, Inuyasha's clawed hand darted into the water and came back out with one wiggling fish. Tossing the creature over onto dry land, his hanyou repeated the process again and again until there were a good five fish flopping about on shore.

Satisfied, Inuyasha held the long strands of his hair back as he bent over and took a long drink from the stream. Once he'd taken his fill, he easily climbed back up only to find that Sesshomaru had already assembled a decent size collection of kindling and more substantial branches for a cooking fire. And, just like Kitanya, the InuYoukai had no need of a rock to rake his claws across, only flicking them against each other and sparking flame.

With his fire already made, Inuyasha quickly cleaned and gutted his fish and soon enough had them roasting. In the background, Inuyasha watched as Sesshomaru went to the stream to quench his own thirst before removing his outer armor and setting by the fire.

Downing three of the fish quickly, Inuyasha slowed down by the fourth and found his mind wandering, his eyes focusing on the bite on his wrist. Sesshomaru had propositioned him and placed his mark of intention a day and a half ago. Right after it had happened, Sesshomaru had touched him with that fluffy thing but had done little else since then. Not that Inuyasha really wanted the ice-prick to touch him . . . did he?

When Sesshomaru had stood before him on the field, Inuyasha had questioned why the perfect InuYoukai wanted to mate him – a half-breed, and Sesshomaru hadn't given an answer, at least, not really. He had to wonder, did the bastard even find him attractive? And why the fuck was it so important to Inuyasha that he did?

Ever observant of his new submissive, Sesshomaru watched his hanyou's eating pace slow to barely a crawl. He'd been amazed at how quickly the first few fish had been consumed, but now it appeared as if Inuyasha's mind was far from focused on the task of nutrition. As Inuyasha's dominant, it was important for him to know just how much sustenance his hanyou required. "Are you no longer hungry?"

Eyes shooting up, Inuyasha stared. "What?"

"You devoured the first three fish quickly and now seem to have little interest in the remaining two."

Instantly, Inuyasha's ears flattened into his hair. "You makin' fun of the way I eat?"

"No. I am simply curious as to how much food you require."

"Oh, sorry," Inuyasha mumbled while scratching behind an ear. "I'll eat 'em. I'm still hungry and I don't let food go to waste." Plucking another piece of fish and plopping it in his mouth, Inuyasha barely chewed and swallowed before adding, "Just thinkin' about things."

Momentarily quiet, Sesshomaru waited for his hanyou to say more but soon found no words forthcoming. Still, he didn't like the look now etched across Inuyasha's face. "There is something that you wish to ask this Sesshomaru?"

Glancing up, Inuyasha felt his ears twitch in nervousness. "I . . . maybe."

"You may ask your questions."

With a harsh swallow, Inuyasha stared at Sesshomaru's stone-cold face and thought that probably wasn't an offer too many youkai got. And, although he was nervous, Inuyasha knew that if he didn't ask, he'd just dwell on things and wind up doing something stupid sooner or later. Decision made, he took a deep breath and asked, "Do you like me?"

Not fully understanding the question, Sesshomaru answered, "You are tolerable."

Tolerable? What the fuck did that mean? "That's it? That's enough for you to ask me to be your mate?"

Given his hanyou's tone, Sesshomaru quickly realized his answer was not what Inuyasha wished to hear. "I am not sure I understand exactly what you are asking, Inuyasha."

"We . . . I mean, you asked me to be your mate and we even talked about pups, but . . . do you, uh . . . do you want me in that way?"

"If you are questioning this Sesshomaru's ability to perform and sire pups, then ease your mind. I have rutted both males and females and am capable of gaining an erection with both. Gender is of little consequence."

Face flaming red, Inuyasha could only stare as he contemplated the cold indifference Sesshomaru had just spoken with. "You act like it was a job or somethin'. Didn't doin' those kinds of things mean anything to you?"

"Rutting and producing an heir to the Western Lands is my responsibility and thus could be looked at as a job. However, I did not previously rut with the desire or intent to sire pups. The incidents were little more than a way to satisfy the needs of my body."

"Oh." Looking down at the last of his fish, Inuyasha felt his appetite all but wane. Although he hadn't been around a lot of youkai to fully understand mating practices, he'd thought there would at least be some type of attraction and desire. Kouga seemed to like Ayame an awful lot anyways.

Seeing the somewhat dejected look on his hanyou, Sesshomaru felt unsettled. "Was it not the same for you?"

Eyes glancing back up, Inuyasha was confused. "Me? Was what the same?"

"Although young, you are old enough to have felt the desire to rut. Was it not just a way to satisfy a need?"

Inuyasha just shook his head. "No, I ain't never done anything like that. Most humans are scared of me and youkai generally wanna gut me, not . . . well, you know, they ain't really interested in doin' that with me."

Inside, Sesshomaru's youkai growled with nothing short of pure pleasure at the idea that their hanyou had yet to be taken by another. Overall Inuyasha's confession pleased the InuYoukai to no end and yet his hanyou's inexperience would need to be taken into account when they finally did consummate their mating. "You need not fear the act of consummation."

"What? Who the fuck said I was afraid?"

"Having no experience in this matter, trepidation of the unknown combined with the necessity to allow your body to be so vulnerable for breeding would naturally make one wary. Fear of such an event would be expected."

Eyes wide and staring, Inuyasha just couldn't seem to get over how mater of fact Sesshomaru spoke of mating. Practical and forthright, Inuyasha had never considered himself a romantic and yet the way his intended mate spoke about what would be their most intimate of moments bothered him. It was, in a word, disappointing. Shaking his head of such frivolous thoughts, Inuyasha pushed such feelings deep down. Just having a mate like Sesshomaru was more than he'd ever expected from life. He should be happy with what he had and not get greedy. If this was all he could expect from the Iceprince of the West, then so be it. It was enough. It had to be.

Watching, Sesshomaru was disappointed to find Inuyasha had once again lowered his head and hidden his expressive eyes behind thick silvery-white strands of hair. Still sensing his hanyou's discomfort, the InuYoukai thought to alleviate what he erroneously thought was the problem. "Although mature and capable of breeding, you are still far too young for such things. We will need to consummate our actual mating, but rutting for procreation sake will not occur until you are older and your body is both healthy and strong enough to carry."

Fists clenching, Inuyasha's heart squeezed painfully within his chest. It was true that rutting frightened him and yet, if what he'd observed over the years between both humans and youkai were true, most mated pairs rutted often simply for the pleasure of the activity – because they desired to be close to each other in such a way. But that didn't appear to be the case with Sesshomaru. In fact, in his own way, the Prince of the West had just answered his question, and no, Sesshomaru didn't really find him attractive or desirable.

Eyes closing, Inuyasha fought back the futile sting of tears. Sesshomaru hadn't lied to him when he'd asked the hanyou to be his mate. In the end, Inuyasha would have true mate status. When pups came, he'd have a part in their upbringing and life. Sesshomaru would protect him because he was the intended bearer of the next heir to the Western Lands. Inuyasha would be fed, sheltered and on some level respected, but he would not be loved or cherished simply for who he was. His mate would always have a reason or agenda with each and every one of their interactions. He would be needed but not necessarily wanted.

Heart heavy, Inuyasha forced the rest of the now cold fish into his mouth and swallowed the nauseating substance into his stomach. Keeping his head down and voice as steady as possible, he stood and began heading for one of the larger trees. "Whatever. Just let me know when I'm needed for somethin'." Fearing his emotions would seep through, Inuyasha leapt into the nearby canopy and quickly moved to a branch facing away from Sesshomaru. Pulling his firerat close around his body, he brought his knees up and tightly sat while staring up into the star filled sky. In Inuyasha's mind, he could see the blue, lust filled eyes of his friend as Kouga stared longingly at Ayame, her coy grin his reward. It was a look he was certain would never be reflected back to him by his own mate.

Quietly sitting by the fire, Sesshomaru watched his hanyou rise and move from his line of sight. Unclear as to what Inuyasha's exact concerns were the InuYoukai remained silent as he monitored his intended mate's condition. Heart rate too rapid to imply sleep, Inuyasha's irregular breathing was testament to the fact that he was not sleeping well. Seeking to aid his submissive's health, Sesshomaru sent his soothing youkai out once more, only to have it metaphorically shoved back in his face. Golden eyes flying wide before narrowing, Sesshomaru quickly noted that unlike the two previous times he had attempted such a thing, this night brought no comfort to his hanyou. If anything, Inuyasha was becoming more agitated and the low whine that emitted from within the canopy his hanyou had chosen made Sesshomaru pull back.

Confused and . . . upset, Sesshomaru remained where he was, his youkai pacing deep within his soul. Throughout the night, the Prince of the West tried to imagine what could have changed and yet he could not conceive of a single action that would have elicited such rejection from his intended mate.

That night, but a precious few hours outside Kaede's village, both InuHanyou and InuYoukai rested fitfully.

Yes, poor Inuyasha, but I kind of feel even more sorry for Sesshomaru. When I think of trying to have "the sex talk," with Sesshomaru, I kind of envisioned it going down like that - very practical, without feeling or emotion, and to the point.

Next chapter we get to see Kaede again. I haven't reviewed that one yet so I'm not sure if they make it back to the Western Palace in the next chapter or if it is the one after, but either way it will be soon. Oh, one last thing. I had a reviewer comment about Inuyasha's human night coming up and well . . . he sort of doesn't have one in this fic. I thought about it, but didn't think it fit well into this story, so for this one, he remain's a hanyou throughout. Hope that doesn't disappoint anyone. I wrote about his human night in the Bakusen'O fic and again in the Chaos one and couldn't figure out how to do it with a new twist so I just did as Elsa did and "Let it go". Now you all hate me because you're singing the song! Ha!

Until Sunday, lunamist