The heat cycle will start soon. Sesshomaru knew it. He dreaded this part of the year. It always brought him to his most vulnerable.
They neared a forest. Unknown to Sesshomaru, they weren't far from the Wishing Well, which in turn brought him close to Inuyasha and his pack. If he had known this then Sesshomaru would have turned around and found another area to hide himself in.
"Rin. I will be back in a weeks time." Sesshomaru warned her and Kohaku before leaving them in the clearing. The daiyokai disappeared before Jaken could say anything.
All Sesshomaru had to do was search for anywhere he could use as a hideout and bear through his heat cycle alone. Again. Although he dreaded these heat cycles, he was rather picky on who to mate with.
This of course would have been solved long ago if he agreed to the arranged marriage his dear mother set for him. Hence why Sesshomaru was always wandering, never fully settling to avoid the ones his supposed mate sent after.
It had been a while since Sesshomaru thought of the demon. He recalled meeting him once. And he wasn't impressed. However he must have left a lasting impression of the other lord had an interest in the offer Sesshomaru's mother set.
He still somewhat felt betrayed by that. It stung his chest and left a sour taste in his mouth. It didn't help matters that the arrangement was sprung upon him shortly after father's passing.
"He's not here to make the arrangements. Therefore the responsibility falls upon me." His mother countered his argument that father would never have settled for that lord.
And so Sesshomaru left.
He had been wandering since. His inner demon never found anyone of interest.
Actually, Sesshomaru was lying to himself.
There was one. But Sesshomaru refused to accept that a hanyou could be the one. And yet his brother proved him wrong each time he sent him away with his tail between his legs.
That one instance where Inuyasha lost control of his inner demon almost had Sesshomaru weak in his knees. If his heat cycle had been close then, the Lord of the West would certainly have given into his more primal desires.
That was the first instance Sesshomaru became wary of his brother. And afterwards he regarded him with further disgust as he remained confused with his own inner demon. After all, that couldn't be the one he desired.
A memory resurfaced.
Sesshomaru was wandering on his own. He didn't realize he was so close to his heat cycle when he found himself near a human settlement and collapsed. How stupid he had been.
He couldn't move when he heard movement. Then out of the bushes came the runt. He must be about eight years old. So tiny and helpless that Sesshomaru could end him if he wanted to.
If only he wasn't in the middle of his heat cycle.
"Who are you? You look like me. And, why do you smell so nice?" Inuyasha asked, not at all afraid as he stepped closer.
"Shouldn't you be playing with the humans, runt?" Sesshomaru snarled.
"They don't wanna play with me. They call me a monster." The younger boy sat down beside him.
Sesshomaru blinked. Honestly he shouldn't be surprised they considered him as such. Even so he didn't feel sorry for the boy's life.
"I'm Inuyasha." The boy introduced.
"...Sesshomaru." Might as well let him learn about his existence.
"The Sesshomaru? You mean my brother?" Inuyasha leaned closer, and he had half a mind to shove the boy away.
"So your mother does know of me." Sesshomaru knew their father was behind that.
"What was father like? What did he look like? What took you so long to come here?" Inuyasha climbed onto his lap and Sesshomaru whined. He turned away. Anything to not see the same face but younger.
"Hey, are you okay?" Inuyasha realized the state he was in. "You're hot to the touch. And you're sweaty. Do you need to be seen?"
"I'm not sick! Now get away from me!" Sesshomaru snarled. His eyes burned crimson red. Inuyasha jumped away scared. But he didn't immediately leave.
"Then I'll help you!" Inuyasha promised before leaving.
He came back sometime later with food and water. Sesshomaru accepted the water. And despite himself he relaxed enough to sleep as Inuyasha stayed by his side. He hadn't slept for four whole days before Inuyasha found him.
He awoke the evening of the next day. Curled up next to him was Inuyasha. Who was unknowingly sending out his scent to cover Sesshomaru's. His eyes widened at that prospect. The boy wasn't even at the age to mate, and yet his body was already acting out to protect him.
Sesshomaru was confused with this fact. And Inuyasha was still naive and concerned when he woke up next. He still had no idea about Sesshomaru's condition, or that his own body was reacting in its own way.
He refused to give answers. The boy will learn when he's old enough. At the end of the week and Sesshomaru's strength returned he left in the middle of the night. Before he did however, he brought back a blanket to cover the boy. He told himself that he didn't care.
Sesshomaru shook the memory from his mind. This wasn't the best time to remember something he tried so hard to forget. He took in his surroundings of the forest. He wondered why it seemed a little familiar.
Suddenly he felt a familiar demonic aura overtake the whole forest. Sesshomaru couldn't hold back the whine as he was reduced to his knees. His whole body shuddered as the force of his heat came forth tenfold.
Damn it all.
He hadn't found his new hideout yet. Sesshomaru opened his eyes at the sounds of battle not far off. So that was the reason for the release of demonic aura that forced his heat.
Sesshomaru glanced down on his legs. He needed to move. But his body wouldn't obey his commands. He knew his body was releasing hormones rapidly. There was only a matter of time before other demons took notice.
The bushes rustled. Sesshomaru tensed as four demons approached. In a panic his inner demon took control and ran. The demons laughed as they gave chase.
Inuyasha and his group had just finished taking care of another demon sent their way from Naraku. This time it had been a close call with Kaede's village. Kagome had ventured into the well the day before, so it was just Inuyasha, Miroku and Sango.
The fight was over in a matter of minutes. Inuyasha grinned in his victory as he and the others regrouped. This time around no buildings were damaged and no one was injured.
"Naraku is getting sloppy!" Inuyasha smirked as he sheathed his sword.
"We beat him to a pulp!" Shippo grinned.
"All in a days work." Miroku smiled, hand reaching. A second later a loud smack sounded in the air.
Suddenly the winds changed direction. Inuyasha felt his body stiffen. He turned, surveying the forest not far off. That scent, it couldn't be, could it? It had been years since he smelled it. And damn it was making his body react in ways he never felt before.
"What's the matter Inuyasha?" Sango asked, noticing his behavior as well as Kiarara stiffening underneath her.
"What's that smell? Isn't that Sesshomaru? It smells funny." Shippo climbed onto the monk's shoulder.
"What's he doing so close to humans?" Inuyasha didn't like this.
Suddenly Sesshomaru leaped out of the treeline. Eyes crimson red as he ran full speed. Because of the state he was in Inuyasha leaped down to intervene. As he did so he felt his own inner demon fight for control. It threw him off and Inuyasha landed without drawing his sword.
When their eyes met Sesshomaru whined.
And Inuyasha knew now what the mystery scent was. Sesshomaru was an omega in heat. He watched his brother stop to avoid colliding into him. Those crimson eyes burning with rage and something else.
Sesshomaru was an omega? That was surprising. He carried himself like an alpha. This was a strange means of finding out about this detail.
A feral howl interrupted any words Inuyasha meant to say. They both turned to see four demons charge out of the forest. Their eyes only on Sesshomaru. With a snarl a poison whip sent two of them back.
With a twirl he avoided one of the demons. As he did so his claws dug deep into the demon's back. Chunks of flesh splattered around them as the demon howled in pain as he collapsed onto the ground.
The final demon grabbed him from behind. And suddenly Inuyasha leaped forward to claw at the demon's face. It was enough incentive for Sesshomaru to elbow his captor. The arms let go and the daiyokai grasped the armor before sending the filth that dared touch him flying.
The two that had been held back by the poison whip leaped towards the brothers. Sango unleashed her weapon and it hit both of them. Their bodies collapsed onto the ground unmoving.
Sesshomaru leaped away from Inuyasha, snarling. Behind his brother his human friends landed. But all Sesshomaru saw was Inuyasha. He was fighting against his inner demon not to make a fool of himself.
"Where's Rin? Is she safe?" Sango asked, drawing his attention.
All Sesshomaru could manage was a growl.
"I don't get it. He's not injured. Usually Sesshomaru has a better hold over his inner demon." Miroku pondered. "I would say he's the best at controlling that side of him."
"Wait, it's spring! Some demons go into heat at this time!" Sango recalled the habits of demons. "I never would have figured him for an omega, though. They're usually..."
"I am not weak!" Sesshomaru snarled.
"I wasn't saying you were." She defended. "You act like an alpha."
"No filth will ever touch me!"
"Then why are you crying?" Inuyasha asked gently. The only reason he hadn't given into his body's wants was because of his friends. And then the sight of tears streaming down Sesshomaru's face awoken something in him.
Sesshomaru blinked, at first confused. Then he felt the wetness on his face. He weakly took a few steps back. His legs didn't want to obey so he focused on keeping balance instead.
"Admit it, you don't find anyone worthy as a mate and it's making you feel lonely. No matter what you find faults that make you turn a blind eye at everyone. That's no way to live, Sesshomaru." Inuyasha continued.
A warm scent of fire and spice that was only Inuyasha's enveloped him. Sesshomaru whined, his knees almost giving out on him. His inner demon wanted so badly to give in. Instead the panic swept through and he turned and ran.
"Sesshomaru!" Inuyasha's yell was enough to tell him that he followed.