Chapter Twenty-Six: The Wonderful World of Goo

'Must kill rat! Must kill rat! Must kill rat! Must kill...'

There wasn't a single youkai in all four kingdoms that could not say that Sesshoumaru was anything but determined. Whenever the Inu decided on a course of action, come hell or high water he would see it through. If an annoying lesser demon annoyed him, he would have it executed. If a fellow lord of the four kingdoms's pissed him off, he wouldn't so much as kill him as make his life a living hell.

Sesshoumaru was a headstrong demon that would follow through on his every threat…

Unless of course there was one hanyou turned human standing in his way. The youkai's mantra of mental thought didn't as much as stop as much as change direction.

'Protect mate! Kill rat!' So when the moon fully rose and the strange powers of his youki were released the Inu Taishou couldn't help a toothy grin. The reaction to his enlarged presence was immediate.

"Sesshoumaru! Stop drooling! You'll ruin the rushes!"

The great dog froze in utter shock at both the ferociousness and the complete absurdness of the shout.

Hell, even the rat stopped gnawing on the kitsune's collar and gave Inuyasha an odd look at the explosion.

Too bad for Sesshoumaru, however, that the human wasn't done with his tirade. "Watch your tail! I don't want any of the furniture broken- SESSHOUMARU YOUR TAIL!

Sesshoumaru froze as a familiar pungent odor filled his nostrils. One of smoke and burning hair… 'Oh FUCK!'

Kitsune and rat went flying as Inuyasha rushed forward determined to put out the youkai's flaming tail. Grabbing the tea kettle that hand been simmering over the flames, Inuyasha used all of his limited human strength to fling the hot water.

Sesshoumaru had never before had tears in his eyes as a full Youkai Inu, but the scalding water had practically thrown him from the fire into the pot! His fur had at least kept the flame from reaching his most tender flesh while the water just drenched it.

Letting out a painful yelp, Sesshoumaru instinctively moved away from the source of the …ahem… trauma, much to Inuyasha's irritation, and immediately started to lick his wounded pride as well as his tail.

"Oh for crying out loud," Inuyasha rolled his eyes at the large animal's antics. "It's just water!"

Sesshoumaru whimpered in response.

Rin started crying in dismay as she rushed forward towards the youkai with only the thoughts of offering comfort to her beloved lord.

Inuyasha was slower as a full human; however he was quick when it counted. He darted forward and grabbed the girl, quickly pulling her away. It was just in time too as sharp fangs and deadly drool pierced the area where the girl had been standing.

"SESSHOUMARU! BEHAVE!" Inuyasha shouted angrily as he eyed the bubbling puddle of melting rock and sizzling rushes.

Sesshoumaru actually managed to pull an apologetic look and brought his head down letting out a mournful woof.

Inuyasha sighed in relief that Sesshoumaru had been able to regain his senses as he turned to the distraught little girl and motioned for Shippo to come over to join the conversation.

"Rin, I'm sure that Sesshoumaru or Jakken… wait, scratch that, just Sesshoumaru has told you before that you are never, never, never to approach a wounded youkai. No matter if they are the closest person to you."

"Yeah," Shippo piped up. "Survival Instincts take over and if you're not careful, you become lunch."

Inuyasha stared at the little Kitsune before brought down his fist over the foxes head. Shippo yelped in surprise and dartted in little running circles as he began rubbing at the now forming bruise. While the kit's antics were normal, Inuyasha's were not at the human just froze up after hitting the small kit.

Sesshoumaru and Rin looked curiously at the boy before Inuyasha seemed to snap out of whatever daze he had been in, cleared his throat and turned back to the little girl. "Do you understand?" he asked gently. "Sesshoumaru didn't mean it."

And to affirm Inuyasha's announcement Sesshoumaru leaned forward and gave another gentle woof.

"But…But… Sesshoumaru-Sama is in pain." Rin whimpered. "Rin just wanted to help."

"And I'm sure that you did, and I'm sure that Sesshoumaru is grateful that you are concerned about him," Inuyasha said soothingly completely ignoring the slight huff from behind him. "But you have to remember Rin," he continued, "Youkai heal a whole lot faster because they have their youki to help fix everything quickly." Inuyasha cringed again but forced a smile. "Do you understand now?"

Rin hiccupped but nodded.

"Okay then," Inuyasha stood up. "Then why don't you two go fetch your futons and you two sleep in the back caverns tonight?"

"What? Why?" Shippo demanded irritably. "Why can't we sleep out here in the main cave like always? Why do we have to sleep in the back?"

Inuyasha narrowed his eyes at the boy. "I'm Human dork. If anything gets past Sesshoumaru, I won't be able to stop them so I want you two safe, alright?"

Shippo puzzled over that logic but shrugged as Rin had already gathered her pillow and covers and started to head towards the "Human's Only Club Cave" as Inuyasha had named it after the little girl had gone in to explore a while back. Shippo had been very upset that there way a place that he couldn't go but some dumb girl could.

Inuyasha watched as the two children and rat disappeared into the darkness and stood silent for a moment or two until he was sure that the children had traveled far enough into the back tunnels that they wouldn't hear him. Then flood gates opened.

"FUCKING HELL! OW! OW! OW! OW! OH DAMN IT HURTS! WATER! WATER! WATER!"

Inuyasha dashed forward so quickly that Sesshoumaru wondered briefly if he had regained his youki in the two point six seconds he blinked.

The dark haired human had raced forward and shoved his arms all the way to the elbow into the barrel of reserved water they kept for cooking and such. His disturbingly flat teethe were gritted and bared as he stood completely still for a moment before his body went completely limp and Inuyasha collapsed to the floor.

Sesshoumaru wasn't worried about his younger brother. He didn't care for the brat at all. Not a bit. Youkai never "worry" about anyone but themselves.

They just become curious.

'WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?' Sesshoumaru dashed forward and began to obsessively nose at the limp human. 'Inuyasha! You better not be dead!' Sesshoumaru continued his "inquisitive" demands. 'Or I'll be having Kitsune for breakfast!'

"I'm not dead…" Inuyasha moaned as he pushed against the large wet nose from his side. "And don't underestimate Shippo… he's a right pain in the ass." The human sat up. "Besides, I would think that Kuufuku would be your top priority if I kick the bucket."

'Midnight snack.'

Inuyasha smirked as he allowed Sesshoumaru's prodding demnads and rolled onto his back, both hands now shoved between his knees. "Oh god," he groaned. "Tell me you have the all powerful Goo."

'Why do you need the blasted Goo?' Sesshoumaru demanded. 'What did you do now? What the hell is wrong? And why do you insist on using my Goo? I only have a little bit left you know.'

"Ungrateful mongrel," Inuyasha growled as he rolled to his feet and belly crawled towards Sesshoumau's pack. He shook his head at the demon's attitude as he rolled his eyes. 'Damn, it's going to be a long winter,' he thought irritably.

'Where do you think you are going?' Sesshoumaru demanded as he tried to pick his way across the now completely furnished cave with out setting his tail or any other needed appendages alight.

"Where do you think? I'm getting The Goo."

'Yes, I see that,' Sesshoumaru drawled. 'WHY are you getting The Goo?'

Inuyasha gave Sesshoumaru a piercing glare. "That kettle was over the fire you know."

Sesshoumaru paused as he thought about it. Inuyasha had grabbed the closest thing to put out his tail. The closest thing had been the simmering kettle of water. Inuyasha had not stopped to pick up a potholder.

Sesshoumaru growled as he finally reached his human companion and peered at the damage with his piercing red eyes.

'Stupid human.'

"I heard that!"

'What were you thinking you stupid little creature? Why did you have to grab the kettle?'

Inuyasha scowled as he continued searching through Sesshoumaru's possessions for the all-powerful Goo. "There wasn't really much time to stop and smell the roses let a lone think, ya know?"

Sesshoumaru scowled as he nudged the red clad figure. 'That's your problem,' he scolded,'you don't think.'

Inuyasha turned his back pointedly towards the youkai and ignored him for all of two seconds. "Should have let you burn to a crisp."

'I heard that!' Sesshoumaru snapped.

"Well be a little grateful you jerk!" Inuyasha whirled back around. "You could at least say 'thanks' you self centered-"

'Yes, yes,' Sesshoumaru interrupted. 'I do understand that you did… save me…' Sesshoumaru immediately began smacking his lips as if there was a foul taste in his mouth. 'And I do owe you a… oh Kami…' Inuyasha waited patiently. He knew that this was hard for the older youkai but damn it he wanted to hear it from the Inu's own mind.

'… … … … thanks. There I said it.'

"Technically, you thought it," Inuyasha smirked.

'What? You snotty little-'

"Just kidding."

Sesshoumaru frowned as much as a Demon Dog could frown and watched as Inuyasha methodically tore through all his non-chewed possessions. 'Must you toss my things around in such a careless manor?' he asked as he watched yet another of his prized combs thrown gracefully across the cave. 'It's not like the rat left me with much.'

"You know," Inuyasha huffed irritably, "you could help me find it a lot faster if you just tell me where the stupid thing is!"

Sesshoumaru had the decency to duck his head in a somewhat contrite manor. 'I forgot where I put it,' he admitted.

Inuyasha started in disbelief. "How could you not remember where you put a whole pot?" he asked in amazement.

Sesshoumaru frowned. 'I never have to remember where I put things,' the Inu snuffed haughtily, 'that's what servants are for.'

Inuyasha paused as the sudden image of Sesshoumaru sprawled out in a winged back chair decked out in a pink-feathered robe and red painted toenails as Jakken brought him his fuzzy bunny slippers and a martini popped into his head.

Sesshoumaru cast a curious look at the sudden burst of laughter but Inuyasha waved him off. 'I have got to stop looking at those damn fashion magazines that Kagome leaves everywhere.'

He moved one of Sesshoumaru's now Kuufuku's robes out of the way and shouted in triumph as he spotted the earthen jar of wonderful, glorious Goo. Sesshoumaru watched as a look of pure enrapture stole over Inuyasha's features and wished wistfully that it was because of him that such an expression on his beloved's face and not some mixture of sticky leaves and Kami knew what else.

'Are you just going to sit there fondling the thing or are you actually going to put any on it on?' he asked after a long stretch of silence.

Inuyasha huffed as he pulled out the stopper and rubbed the precious Goo into his acing hands.

Sesshoumaru began an intense inspecting his scorched tail but in truth it was just a ruse for watching Inuyasha with out it being known he was watching Inuyasha who was inspecting the red lines across his palms.

'I do wish you wouldn't act so stupidly,' he sent to the human quietly.

Inuyasha jumped after having his blissful peace interrupted and whirled around to face the Youkai. He had had enough! Enough of all the glaring and the snarling and insults when he had done nothing at all to deserve them!

"God DAMN it! What the hell is your problem? You leave for days on end and why you finally do come back you have to criticize and dictate every little thing that I do! Well fuck you!"

Sesshoumaru ducked as an unidentifiable knick-knack flew towards him and he cringed as he heard it shatter against the wall. "This is MY cave!" Inuyasha shouted. "I live here! I'm the one who allowed you to live here!"

'Now see here-'

"Oh no!" Inuyasha interrupted Sesshoumaru's protests. "I could have made a huge fuss when you declared you were going to live here, hell, before Shippo came I could have just booked it but I have been nothing but courteous and have listened to all you sneers and insults and I'm not talking about the ones about my heritage but of the way I live my life!"

Sesshoumaru stared in shock at the gasping human before him in shock. He hadn't realized just how upset those comments he made in passing almost with out though had hurt the boy. He wasn't about to interrupt however as Inuyasha whirled away from him and continued his tirade as he made a wide sweeping gesture towards the accommodations. "I'm so sorry if my standard of living is below par to your royal senses but I'll have you knew that this cave has been the most elegant and first stable place I've ever lived."

He turned and sharp bronze eyes glared at him and Sesshoumaru felt any words he would have said die in his throat as he stormed towards him. "I am not going to stand here and listen to any of this anymore criticize the way I live when all I've ever live in were trees while sleeping while I can when every demon and crazy human wants me dead!"

Inuyasha's eyes turned to pure ice as he stared directly into the crimson eyes. "And it's you who wants me dead most of all!" he shouted at the top of his lungs. "I've done what was needed to survive and if you think that living in a such a sacrifice you can very well GWT OUT!"

The two stared at each other; Inuyasha's chest heaving and Sesshoumaru had actually managed to squeeze his massive girth into the smallest corner of the cave in an attempt to retread from the angry ningen.

"Um…"

The two turned towards the antechamber's entrance and at the two wide eyed children standing there.

"Dose this mean I can have the bigger futon?" Shippo asked while Rin simply held Kuufuku like some odd stuffed animal with large tears running down her cheeks.

Inuyasha cursed under his breath and Sesshoumaru felt himself sag in releife at the interruption.

Something told him the conversation was far from over and the Inu wondered how in the world he was suppose make the hanyou fall in love with him when it seemed that he was the last person in Inuyasha's life who deserved it.