Chapter 11

Inuyasha looked at the plate of food in front of him silently. He wasn't really that hungry at all. His appetite was coming back slowly, strawberries his main diet. But even they had become less appetizing. Dai had urged him to eat more though, Inuyasha pushing the plate away with a look of disinterest. Sesshomaru looked to him, frowning in disapproval.

"Try to eat some Inuyasha," he suggested, Inuyasha looking to him. He looked back to it, getting up from his seat. Sesshomaru watched him go, sighing.

"Should I bring him some strawberries?" The maid asked, Sesshomaru shaking his head. He picked up Inuyasha's untouched plate, following his scent. It led him to their room, Sesshomaru entering and closing the door behind him. Inuyasha laid in bed, his body turned away from him.

"Inuyasha," he called softly, Inuyasha raising his head and looking to him. He looked to the plate of food, laying his head back down.

"I'm not hungry," he grumbled, Sesshomaru walking over. He placed the plate on the bed, Inuyasha turning his nose up to it.

"Eat, you'll feel better," Sesshomaru told him, Inuyasha not moving a muscle. He stayed quiet, his eyes closed. Sesshomaru picked up a piece of bacon, nudging Inuyasha's neck with his nose. Inuyasha ignored him.

"Please Inuyasha," he whispered, Inuyasha opening his eyes at his plead. He shifted, Sesshomaru pulling away as he rose up into a sitting position. Sesshomaru offered him the piece of bacon, Inuyasha taking it. He nibbled on it, looking to Sesshomaru. He raised an eyebrow. Inuyasha sighed, lowering the piece of bacon from his lips.

"Do I have to eat? I feel sick," he told him, Sesshomaru crossing his arms over his chest.

"You didn't eat yesterday Inuyasha. Starving yourself will harm you and my pup," Sesshomaru told him, Inuyasha frowning. He wasn't hungry at all, pushing the blankets off himself. His usually muscular stomach was now flat, his ribs extending out a little more than usual. He didn't really looked pregnant yet, his pink nipples a tad more swollen but either than that he looked normal.

He nibbled on the bacon till it was gone, eating the other one just as slow. Sesshomaru watched him expectantly, Inuyasha picking up a piece of raw fish. He ate all of his meat, leaving the okayu and toast there. Sesshomaru wanted him to eat everything, breaking off a piece of toast. Inuyasha shook his head, Sesshomaru poking his mouth with it, getting butter on his lips. Inuyasha licked it away.

"I'll spoon feed you if I have to," Sesshomaru warned, Inuyasha sighing and taking the toast.

"Your irritating," he grumbled, nibbling on it. Sesshomaru didn't care, he would sooner be an irritating asshole than let his mate starve himself. Inuyasha took longer with it but finally finished it. He laid down, the okayu left untouched. Sesshomaru guessed he would leave him alone for now, taking the plate back to the dining room. He could have had a maid do it but he felt Inuyasha needed some alone time.

"Lord Sesshomaru," a maid greeted with a bow, taking the plate. He nodded, getting a cup of water so Inuyasha could wash it all down, heading over to the hot springs. He took a vial from his kimono, taking off the cork and pouring in a few drops. The smell of lavender filled the room, Sesshomaru leaving to go get Inuyasha so he could bathe and relax.

:::+:::

Inuyasha felt sick, sitting up with a groan. He got out of bed, stumbling over to the pail. He fell to his knees in front of it and gagged, vomiting up everything he just ate. He whimpered at the pain in his stomach and throat, his ear twitching when he heard the shoji open. He couldn't smell who it was, gagging before throwing up again. Tears fell down his face, fingers wiping them away.

Sesshomaru.

Inuyasha leaned against him with a whimper, the worst seeming over for now. Sesshomaru handed him a cup of water, Inuyasha's hand shaking as he took it. He rinsed before drinking the rest, Sesshomaru taking the cup and placing it on the floor. Inuyasha fisted a hand in Sesshomaru's kimono, shivering against him. Sesshomaru frowned, putting an arm around him and pulling him closer.

"Are you cold?" He asked, running his fingers through his hair. Inuyasha nodded, Sesshomaru shifting. He put an arm beneath his legs, the other against his back. He lifted him up with a grunt, Inuyasha pressing close against him.

"Why are you doing this?" He whispered as Sesshomaru left the room and headed down a hallway. Inuyasha tried to suck up as much of his warmth as he could muster, shivering again. Sesshomaru held onto him tighter, entering into the hot spring he had prepared for smell of lavender relaxed them both.

"You are my mate Inuyasha," was all Sesshomaru said, like it was supposed to mean more than the universe, walking into the hot spring fully dressed up to his sash. Inuyasha's comfort came before his, Sesshomaru placing him down in the warm water. Inuyasha stood in it, his hakama still on. Sesshomaru took it off, Inuyasha feeling a tad awkward as he did so.

Sesshomaru noticed his shyness, pecking his lips before putting the wet clothing on the edge.

"No need to be shy Inuyasha. I've seen you naked more times than I can count," Sesshomaru told him, Inuyasha glaring at him. Sesshomaru went over to edge, sitting down on it. He undressed, Inuyasha looking away. He went over to a rock, the warm surface doing wonders for his aching back. He sat down, sinking down a little more. His eyes were lidded with fatigue and content, Inuyasha looking to the side when he heard Sesshomaru slip into the water. Sesshomaru walked over to him, two vials in one hand and a comb in the other.

"Have another planned meeting you didn't tell me about?" Inuyasha asked rudely, Sesshomaru shaking his head. He stood in front of him, Inuyasha feeling his heat like he was a furnace in a blizzard.

"No, we just haven't washed properly lately," Sesshomaru told him, putting the pink vile and the comb down. He held the purple vile only, lightly grasping Inuyasha's hand. He took the cork out, pouring some into his hand. It smelled like lavender, Inuyasha wondering what he was supposed to do with it. He saw Sesshomaru rub it onto his body so did the same, the substance cold.

Inuyasha hissed, working it all over his body in small circles. It warmed quickly, Inuyasha rubbing it all over his body.

He ducked under just like Sesshomaru did but kept his ears just above the surface, shivering at the waters warmth. He rose back up with a gasp, Sesshomaru looking to him with an amused smirk. He lifted up the pink vile, giving Inuyasha some first before giving himself some. It smelled like cherry blossoms, Inuyasha knowing what to do with it. He rubbed his hands together before running them through his hair, Sesshomaru doing the same.

"I smell like a girl," Inuyasha grumbled, Sesshomaru raising an eyebrow.

"So do I."

They both ducked under, Inuyasha opening his eyes. Sesshomaru opened his and saw Inuyasha was staring at him, moving closer. Inuyasha closed his eyes when he kissed him, wrapping his arms around his neck. Sesshomaru grabbed his thighs, rising up out of the water. Inuyasha was held against him, water dripping from both their bodies. Inuyasha tilted his head, Sesshomaru groaning into his mouth when he deepened the kiss. Inuyasha gasped when he felt him harden against his stomach, pulling away from the kiss.

"We're not done yet," he panted, Sesshomaru nodding. He let him go slowly, making sure both his feet were on the ground before he got the comb. He sat down on the edge, having Inuyasha sit between legs in the water.

"Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha called softly as Sesshomaru brushed out his hair, Sesshomaru humming in response. He had started from the bottom and worked his way up, halfway through his jungle of knots.

"If you hate half breeds, especially me, why did you take me as your mate?" Inuyasha asked, Sesshomaru stopping for a second. He continued slowly, almost done.

"Father told me to," he told him as he got to his ears, Inuyasha shifting away from it.

"So you're just following orders?" he asked, Sesshomaru frowning.

"No. It was not a direct order," he told him unsure of how to explain to him what tensagia had done, Inuyasha rising up and facing him. Sesshomaru could see the sadness in his eyes, Inuyasha hiding it with a scowl.

"If you didn't want me, why did you do this?" Inuyasha asked, Sesshomaru frowning.

"I want you Inu-"

"You don't want me, you only want what I can give you!" Inuyasha punched him in the face, anger coursing through him like lava. He was tired of being used, Sesshomaru wiping the blood from his lip. Inuyasha growled at him, stepping away from him. Sesshomaru reached for him, Inuyasha slapping his hand away.

"If I aborted it I wouldn't be of much use then would I?" Inuyasha growled, Sesshomaru moving towards him cautiously. Inuyasha threw a punch, Sesshomaru catching his wrist. He wasn't expecting the kick though, stumbling back as the air was knocked out of him. Inuyasha punched him again, Sesshomaru grabbing him and pinning him against a rock. Inuyasha fought against him, Sesshomaru holding onto him tighter.

"I love you Inuyasha!" Inuyasha stopped struggling, panting as he looked to him with narrowed eyes. Sesshomaru let go of his wrists, cupping his cheeks with both hands. Silent tears fell down Inuyasha's face, Sesshomaru panting as he stared into his eyes.

"I love you. More than anything Inuyasha." Sesshomaru waited for Inuyasha's response, his eyes searching his. Sesshomaru felt like his heart was being torn out, never before had he felt such raw emotion, hoping to the very gods he wouldn't be rejected.

"I..."

Inuyasha was speechless, his heart aching in his chest. He swallowed thickly, unsure of what he had heard.

"Tell me again," he whispered, his tongue feeling fat in his mouth. Sesshomaru touched his forehead to his, looking into his eyes.

"I love you." Inuyasha cursed pregnancy hormones when he felt a lump in his throat, his voice a croak when he spoke.

"I-I love you too."

:::+:::

They laid in bed together, both their bodies naked and covered in each others essence. Inuyasha was pressed against Sesshomaru, a fur pulled over their bodies. Sesshomaru ran a hand down Inuyasha's back, Inuyasha shivering.

"You cold?" Sesshomaru whispered, Inuyasha shaking his head. He opened his eyes, kissing Sesshomaru's side. He snorted, lifting his chin. Inuyasha gasped when he felt a finger push into his body, Sesshomaru kissing him. There was no anger in this moment, no hurt feelings or tears. It was a moment the two couldn't really comprehend, but the two knew it was a moment they would secretly cherish.

Inuyasha moaned into the kiss when Sesshomaru pressed into that spot deep inside, arching against him. His stomach growled, Inuyasha pulling away from the kiss. Sesshomaru took his finger out, sighing when Inuyasha sat up.

"I'm hungry," Inuyasha said, stating the obvious. Sesshomaru didn't care though, just glad he wouldn't starve himself.

Author's note: Love will do that to you. Make you do everything you tell yourself you would never do.