Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, Sesshomaru or any of the original characters from the Anime/Manga series. They are the property of Rumiko Takahashi, who is probably one of the most amazing Manga writers I have ever known.
This story is for entertainment purposes only and will not be used for profit or financial gain in any way. It is just here for fans to enjoy.
Summary: All right, we get a little tension here, and strangely it has nothing to do with Naraku, yet. I just figured some Youkai would just not really tolerate a Hanyo's presence among such "distinguished" company. Also, I had a lot of fun with the formal language here. I know Sesshomaru is often translated using phrases like "This Sesshomaru," "This one," "This Lord," which I assume is the closest English can get to translating the formal speech that he often makes use of. However, he does get rude when he uses an informal form of "you" to those he sees as inferior to himself. In this exchange, you will note how hard he tries to maintain the formal address, even when he is boiling mad. I also figure, that when he actually gives his name, he is according an extra measure of respect to the one who he is addressing, and naturally that would only be one who he deems worthy of such respect. I have absolutely no idea how accurate a translation I am making, as I have never heard or experienced the formal Japanese speech at all, so I hope that I am not offending anyone. This is definitely not my intent, so I beg for your indulgence.
There will be a brief glossary at the end of this chapter as well, even though there are no made up words in this chapter. The names are just names. If they mean anything, I am not aware of it. They just sounded right to me.
Chapter Nine: An Insult Delivered
The second incident was not so good. It occurred during the heat of the afternoon, when several of the male visitors, including Koga, were practicing Katas in the public training court. Most of the gang was there watching the many handsome Youkai practice their art. Inuyasha was also practicing. Sesshomaru had already put him on a regime of practicing a kata with his sword. Morning and evening the brothers practiced together, but Sesshomaru's greater skill and fluidity was painfully obvious, so during their joint practice, Sesshomaru spent most of the time guiding and helping his little brother through the surprisingly complex series of movements, and in the afternoon, Inuyasha got to practice the series alone.
The weather was quite hot, so many of the young men, Inuyasha included, had removed their Shitakes to cool their heated skin. Kagome could not help, but gaze at her young mate in awe, despite the blush that reddened her cheeks. His muscles were so well-developed and beautifully sculpted, his skin was pale and creamy, like vanilla ice-cream, and the long silver hair streamed down his back and blew in the slight breeze, adding the final breath-taking touch. "He's one of the most gorgeous men out there!" She realized rapturously. "And he's mine; he's all Mine!" A more primal thought inserted itself. Unfortunately, someone else had the same thought.
"Kami, but you are a beauty, aren't you?" A deep voice purred. Inuyasha froze, shocked, as two large tanned hands slid around his bare chest and over his nipples, pinching them seductively. "That Hanyo blood adds a real sweet spice to you; you're like a wild animal aren't you?"
It was the Lord of the East, a huge and powerful Bear Daiyoukai. He put his broad, handsome face close to one white, fuzzy ear. "I bet I could tame you real good, Boy."
Inuyasha's heart pounded as the large, strong hands slid slowly down towards the waist-band of his red kobekama. He knew nothing of the etiquette here, but he doubted that his first instinct: to chop off the Bear's hand and stuff it down his throat, was the best choice. The large hand dipped beneath the red cloth, and Inuyasha was as close to panic as he had ever been in his life.
Koga saw what was going on and stopped his own exercise to let out a low, warning growl. Others were stopping as well, staring in dismay.
"Wh-what is he doing?" Even the wise Miroku, could find no explanation for this unexpected development.
Inuyasha fought to keep from trembling. "Kami! What the Hell am I supposed to do?" He nearly fainted with relief when the tall, white form of Sesshomaru strode in, accompanied by Kirara and Kikyo, and leading a small contingent of Hawk Demons. The Western Lord instantly noticed the drama taking place on the courtyard sand, and his golden eyes narrowed dangerously. No one stopped him as he strode forward to face the Eastern Lord full on.
"Does the Lord of the East presume to lay hands on This Lord's sibling?" The address was completely formal, but all heard the warning in the polite tone.
The Bear Lord smirked, but much to Inuyasha's relief, he removed the offending hand before turning to face his host. "Surely there is no other reason to have a Hanyo so brazenly displayed at My Lord's side? My Lord must surely realize that such strong, young property provides ample opportunity for mating treaties."
"Sessh, what the Hell?" Inuyasha exclaimed, his shock causing his training on formality and etiquette to fly out the window.
Amazingly, Sesshomaru did not berate him on his rather serious slip, rather he lay one reassuring hand warmly on his younger brother's shoulder, and continued to face the Eastern Lord, his eyes going colder still. "The second son of Inu No Taishou, is no bargaining chip, Lord of the East, nor is he property of these lands to be traded away, like chattel. It is strongly recommended that such inquiries cease immediately."
The Bear Lord leaned closer, sharp, white fangs slowly baring in a silent snarl. His response was still formal, but the words came out like attacks from a sword. "A free Hanyo is a disgrace to the Daiyoukai bloodline. If he is not to have a purpose a Half-breed is to be enslaved, or disposed of."
Sesshomaru's calm face changed slowly to a snarl as well, as Inuyasha looked on in terrified and confused silence. "Those edicts were eliminated from the Lords' Agreement generations ago."
The Bear Lord moved closer. "Not in this Lord's eye, Inu Prince."
This time Sesshomaru did snarl, his hand going automatically to the hilt of Tenseiga. "Are you challenging, Lord of the East?"
The Bear Lord faced him dead on. "I am challenging, White Prince!"
Instantly, Sesshomaru withdrew, becoming cold and forbidding once more, but his eyes burned as he replied. "The first day of the Arena Battles arrives with dawn tomorrow. This Lord will meet the Eastern Lord's challenge at Ama Terasu's rising. Is it agreed?"
"It is agreed; the challange is taken up at Ama Terasu's rising. The Hanyo is the prize."
"ARE YOU FRIGGIN' NUTS !!" Inuyasha yelled, breaking etiquette yet again.
Once again Sesshomaru simply laid one hand on his infuriated brother's shoulder, calming and reassuring him. His eyes never left his enemy's as he replied. "The Sons of Inu No Taishou stand together. The Prince will wield his own sword in the defense of his person and his honour. The Lords of the West suggest that The Lord of the East find his own second to stand at his side against them."
Once again the Bear Lord smirked, but he replied. "The challenge is accepted once again. The Lord Oushiyokama of the Eastern Territories will stand with his ally at This Lord's side." Said lion demon paled noticeably at the declaration, but he did not dare disobey his Liege Lord.
For a moment Sesshomaru stood glaring at the Bear Lord. Then he moved gracefully over to the nearby racks where numerous other Shitakes were draped. Without taking his eyes off his enemy once, he snagged Inuyasha's top from the pile and returned to his side pressing it into his arms. "Cover up that beautiful body of yours, Koi." He told Inuyasha quietly, "And follow my lead."
Astonished to hear his brother call him beautiful, Inuyasha took the robe without a sound. He felt unbelievably violated, as he quickly covered up and bound the shitake tightly around his waist, following his brother quietly towards the group that he had entered with. He felt his friends eyes shifting from him to the Bear Lord, and he felt their righteous fury at the insult he had just been delivered, burn through him. It helped ease the ache in his chest just a little, but no strangers in this courtyard would know how humiliated he felt right now.
He kept his posture straight and tall as Sesshomaru bowed his head to the Hawk Lord and his party. "This Sesshomaru apologizes for the disruption." He told the guests, "But I must leave them now in the capable hands of my Lady and the Lady Kikyo. My Onii-san and I must prepare for the challenge ahead."
The Hawk Lord deferred in return. "It is understood, My Lord, and know that this Karikatora and his party believe the dishonour shown to the Prince by The Lord of the East, to be despicable."
Sesshomaru returned the concession with a grim, but grateful smile. Then leaned close to speak quietly into his brother's ear. "To the private baths, Koi."
The two brothers departed side by side; graceful proud figures in red and white, still the picture of unity and honour. They made their exit perfectly, leaving an awed and admiring silence in their wake, but as they vanished into the first shojii-protected hall, the tears were already sliding rapidly down Inuyasha's cheeks, and a raging anger burned in his wounded heart.
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It took but moments for the two brothers to enter the private quarters, but instead of leaving him in the family baths, Sesshomaru led Inuyasha to his own private bath in the Lord's Suite. There he surprised his younger brother once again, by sitting down and drawing him into a warm, comforting embrace. More memories rushed through Inuyasha as his brother's so familiar scent enfolded him; of other times when Sesshomaru had protected and comforted his "Koi," so long ago. He instantly felt himself relax, it was almost instinctual.
"I am sorry, Koi. " Sesshomaru spoke, his usual cool voice, as soft as gentle water running over the skin. "I should have foreseen such an attack, but I did not. You should never have been subjected to such a humiliation."
Being away from the guests and knowing that Sesshomaru did not blame him for what had occurred, Inuyasha managed to get hold of himself. "But why?" He asked. "Because of those damn edicts that bastard mentioned?"
Sesshomaru growled, in spite of himself, but he knew that his little brother deserved to know all. "No." He replied. "The edicts that stated that Hanyos as disgraced creatures of their pure bloodlines were bound to their families as property to do with as they wished, were eliminated from the Lord's Agreement during the time of our grandfather, when father was still training in politics himself. They were voted out by an overwhelming majority. Urue No Yukinshuro's /oo-roo-eh-noh-you-keen-shoo-roh/ family were among the minority."
"Is Urue Yukinshu...?" Inuyasha began.
His brother growled again, reading his younger brother's question without any further words. "Yes, he is of our father's generation. It was why addressing me as 'Prince' indicated challenge. He was reminding me of my youth and inexperience in leadership."
"But if it wasn't about those edicts, what was it?" Inuyasha asked.
A grim, sardonic smile touched his brother's lips. It made Inuyasha nervous. "I would have thought that it was obvious, Koi."
It only took a moment for Inuyasha to understand, and his disgrace came rushing back to him. His face turned crimson and the tears pricked in his eyes once more. He wanted to say something, but somehow he could not; instead he just turned his face away to hide his shame.
It was then that his brother surprised Inuyasha again by gripping his face gently, but firmly by the chin and turning his eyes to look into his own once again. "No, Koi!" And now the words were angry. "You will not crumble with shame and despair! You did nothing to encourage his lecherous attentions, but be beautiful. Anger is what must drive you now! He demeaned and disrespected you! You are the second son of Inu No Taishou, the equal and superior of all! You are no plaything or object of lust; you are an Alpha in your own right! Never suffer such an insult to be given to you again! Use that anger to power your sword, for it is righteous. We fight for your honour and mine; we fight for the honour of our father and our lands and we fight for the honour of our family! We protect them with our strength! If we fail tomorrow, he will take you; more than likely right upon the field and then repeatedly in his chambers, until he is sated. And there is nothing that I can do to stop him. If we do not concede his victory in that way, our family will forever be subjugated to his, and that is unacceptable!"
Once again, Sesshomaru had surprised Inuyasha with his passionate words of warning. It also occurred to him that his brother was not treating him like a idiot, but for once, was telling it like it was. He was talking to him like a fellow Lord and someone responsible for his family honour; someone who deserved to be responsible for his family honour!
The realization, the trust and the passion, stirred something long chained and hurting deep inside the young Hanyo's soul, and it roared forth, fully healed and ready, hungry for vindication, like an angry beast just emerging furiously from a long hibernation. Sesshomaru felt a surge of victory, when he saw his brother's defeated eyes start to burn with his old brashness and vigor; the defiant anger that Sesshomaru had seen so many times in their confrontations over Tetsusaiga or who had the right to kill Naraku. "There you are, Little Brother. I was right to keep faith in you."
"You're right Aniki!" Inuyasha growled. "That bastard insulted us, he thought he could put his filthy paws all over me, like I was some kind of Uke Kun!" And now his eyes burned even more brightly and one powerful, young fist clenched in emphasis. "Well, I ain't uke, and I ain't a disgrace, and I ain't gonna let that creep get away with this! Show me how to help, Onii-Sama and I'll wield Tetsusaiga at your side, until I can shove the blade up that arrogant bastard's ass!"
And Sesshomaru, Lord of the Western Lands, simply smiled.
There you go, short but sweet, and yes that smile at the end was Sesshomaru's usual, "Doom is coming to you all." smile. I hope you enjoyed this latest installment, because you are going to see more of Urue No Yukinshura soon enough.
Thank you again and hugs and kisses to my faithful reviewers NightStar28 and KazunaPikachu, both excellent writers in their own right. You guys really keep me going. The rest of you should check out their home pages. They are both regularily posting authors and really neat people.
Glossary:
Kata: This is a series of exercises that combines either Kempo or Kendo moves into one smooth routine that is done to limber and stretch the muscles and keep the Bushido arts sharp and the body fit. Tai Chi is one of the most popular forms of this Kata, but elevated into a martial art form in itself.
Bushido: The Japanese word for Martial arts.
Kendo: Hand to hand martial arts, meaning not sword work.
uke: This translates roughly into "submissive" and evidently refers to the submissive position in a sexual relationship, and in a mated relationship too. I like to distinguish when we are talking about the adjective or verb and the actual submissive person by using lower and upper case letters. The opposite of this term is "seme" / seh-meh/. Uke is pronounced /oo-keh/ I believe.
Uke Kun: This is somewhat of a risk, so I guess it would qualify as a made up word, because I am not sure that it would be used this way in Japanese. I use it to refer to a male consort, a submissive male partner to use for sexual pleasure, like a courtesan. (a prostitute)
Onii-sama: A respectful term for an older brother.
Onii-san: A formal term for brother. Sesshomaru chose to use that term instead of the more common "Onii-chan" which would be an affectionate term for a younger brother (in this case "chan" is used instead of "kun," though I'm not really sure why) to accord his brother proper respect in the presence of the guests. However affectionate, the term was too much of a belittlement to be used in this case, when Inuyasha had just been so rudely insulted.
Ama Terasu: The Japanese Sun Goddess, the Shinto equivalent to Zeus in Greek Mythology, or Odin in Norse Mythology.
Thank you all for reading. Please continue to enjoy. DoS