They had been sparring for more than 5 hours now -- fora human, that would have meant it was almost time to stop. For demons, however, that meant that they were only now getting warmed up.
Pillows were s prawled out across the floor surrounding their training circle, so that should he be thrown back -- as had just happened -- he wouldn't be harmed overly much, and could spring back up to his feet. That had happened repeatedly over the past couple of hours.
Now, he simply reclined in the pillows, watching as his brother slowly smiled and began a fluid series of motions, meant to cool down the demonic blood now boiling for a fright, and to work off any excess tension that may have existed.
Never become angry, or tense, or frightened, durring a battle. Battle was not mean tto be governed by emotions -- it was survival, plain and simple. That was what Sesshomaru had always taught him. Strength was everything, and emotions were to be held within, let out only on the most rare of occassions.
He'd let Kagome in. He'd let her see him, he'd let her see his EMOTIONS on a daily basis. True, many times that emotion had been anger, but thee were others that she had seen, as well. Sadness. Love, And now, she truly believed that he would turn on her? Turn his back on one of the only women he had ever cared about enough to share those precious things with?
She didn't understand. She lived in a world, and a time, when people shared themselves so freely, when you didn't have to fight everyd ay just to survive , when the smallest mistake could cost you your life. Even after living so long here, with their merry little band, she still didn't understand. He doubted that she ever would.
Maybe Sesshomaru was right. Maybe you couldn't share yourself like that, at least not here and now. Maybe, even with those you loved and cared about, you still had to be careful, still had to guard yourself from being hurt.
Sesshomaru had been hurt, once. He didn't know much about it, only that it had been a half-demon woman who had hurt him deeply -- thus spawning his hatred of all things human. He had insisted that it had been her human side, that had caused her to act the way that she had. That was when he would still talk about her -- he wouldn't even do that, not anymore.
Not that he had even spoken of her to Inuyasha -- they'd never really talked when they were younger. More like avoided each other like the black plague, until their father had died and Sesshomaru had been forced to take a more active role in Inuyasha' life.
Closing his eyes, Inuyasha let loose a soft sigh, wincing slightly as he heard his brother's movements slow to a halt, aware of the penetrating gaze now boring a hole in his head.
Sesshomaru frowned darkly, continuing to stare at his younger brother for a moment or two before sliding down to take a place on the pillows beside the younger half-demon. He slid his hand through thick, coarse white hair, pulling the half-demon toward him in a comfortable embrace.
They didn't talk -- they still didn't do a lot of that, truth be told. But now, words weren't needed, as Sesshomaru allowed this contact that was usually held away, reserved for only the most dire of circumstances.
Apparently, this counted. He wasn's ure if that was a good thin g-- the comfort DID feel nice -- or a bad thing -- things had to be truly bad in order for his brother to show physical affection.
---- ----
Sesshomaru smirked slightly as Inuyasha leaned in to his touch, turning to stare down at that white head, the smirk fading and his eyes turning serious.
That girl's betrayal had touched Inuyasha deeply -- deeper than he would have expected, from such a small girl. It shouldn't be hurting him quite that much, no matter what he might had felt for the girl. He could smell that sadness, wafting off the half-demon in waves as he sat there.
Usually, Sesshomaru was not one to endure any sort of elf-pity, either directed at himself or the people around him. But this wasn't exactly self-pity, now was it? This was Inuyasha ... mourning, almost, as if something great and precious to him had died.
Had the girl truly meant that much to him? Or was it just the whole circumstances? Twice, he had been betrayed by those he was closest to, twice he had lost a love of his heart, and twice it had been because of Naraku. Kagome and Kikyou.
It was almost like he was fated to be alone.
And if Sesshomaru could see all this, he could only assume that Inuyasha had, as well. He wasn't as supid as he made himself out to be -- just a bit slow when it came to matters of the world. He just didn't use his head enough -- get him to actually think before taking action, and you found that Inuyasha was actually quite intelligent.
Sesshomaru dropped a soft kiss on to his brother's head, resting his cheek on the coarse strands.
That was another thing about Inuyasha -- he never really had taken much pride in his appearance. Not caring for the opinions of others was one thingi -- albeit a sometimes dangerous habit. But it was almost like he didn't want to be clean, didn't think he was worthy of the finery that Sesshomaru took for granted.
There were some out there who would agree with this line of thinking, and for a long time Sesshomaru had been one of them ... until he had been forced to watch after his brother, the half-breed that he was. But things were different now. He was different.
Oh, he still hated humans as a species. But every once in a while ... there was a special one. Like Rin, and Inuyasha. Every once in a while, some one came a long who made the species seem worthwhile, who stopped him just short of going off on a genocidal rampage.
They stayed like that for what seemed like an eternity, resting comfortably upon the soft pillows, until the sound of footsteps reached his ears, and Sesshomaru forced himself to rise to his feet, leaving the warmth of his younger brother's body for another ti me. He glanced over his shoulder as he straightened his clothes, however, and found Inuyasha smiling up at him, eyes heavy lidded and sleepy.
He returned the smile with one of his own, before turning on his heel and sweeping out to meet whoever had been about tointrude on his anctuary.
---- ----
Sesshomaru flung the useless human to the side, growling softly at his choice of servants. Of all the times for that useless wench to show up ...
Kikyou stood just outside of the gates, her spirit orbs floating around her restlessly. They had always brought a chill to his spine, although he would never admit that to her. He had a hard enough time admitting it to himself.
Face a cool mask of indifference, Sesshomaru made his way across the expansive lawn, eyes narrowing as he drew closer. Kikyou stood alone, as always, besides her ever-present spirit companions, floating eerily about her.
Her visits were few and far between, and always a secret. Usually, she came in the dead of night -- something im portant must have happened for her to risk so much, comming here in the middle of the day like this.
Inuyasha and his merry little gorup had waged a battle against Naraku out in theopen. His battle was ... slightly more discreet. His was one of subtleties, and knowledge.
Stopping before the resurrected priestess, Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow in question, crossing his arms over his broad chest. He found himself faltering, however, a frown passing over his face at her next words.
"We have a problem."
Kikyou didn't exactly hate Inuyasha -- not anymore. Oh, she certaintly didn't feel any kind of affection for him, and there was a certain amount of animosity she felt toward him, but that was more from the magics that held her to this world than anything else.
She hadn't been lying when she had told him that she could never forgive him, as long as she remained on this plane. It was the truth, both now and forever. The magics that held her here would not let her forgive the man she had died hating, had spent the last breaths of her life killing.
But her mind knew better than her heart, for once. Her heart had been captured by magics beyond her control, forcing upon her a hate that should not have rightfully existed there -- and she knew it. So she tempered herself, reminded herself in times of trouble that Inuyasha was not the one whom she should truly hate. Naraku was.
And now Naraku had done the unthinkable -- he had turned Unuyasha lady on him for the second time. The first time it had been her, convinced that he wished only for power and full demonic status. Now, it was her reincarnation from another time, Kagome.
Perhaps if he had stopped there, she could have simply settled for feeling sorry for the half-demon she had once loved. But this was too important, especially as it concerned their plans. Inuyasha had to fight Naraku -- all of their plans were obsolete if Inuyasha himself became obsolete.
---- ----
Sesshomaru watched silently as Kikyou took a seat, praying silently to whomever might be listening that Inuyasha did not discover this meeting, that he did not discover that Kikyou had ever been here at all, on any occassion. The last thing his younger brother needed right now was more information about Naraku -- the source of all his grief.
He knew better than to ask questions -- Kikyou would simply give him one of her stares, and would only speak when she wanted to, and about what she deemed worthy. So, he waited.
He didn't have very long to wait.
"Naraku has hurt your brother. We are both aware of this, no?" Sesshomaru started in surprise, unable to keep the surprise off his face, or from showing in his movements. Kikyou knew Inuyasha?
Kikyou's lips curled in to a small smile, and she nodded her head. "Yes, I know your younger brother, Sesshomaru. I also know that he is here with you, is he not? He spoke often of his home, durring our time togeather. There is som ething you need to know."
Here Kikyou hesitated, glancing away and biting down on her bottom lip, the first sign of weakness she had shown since her arrival here. When she glanced back up at her demonic companion, there was a glistening of tears upon her cheeks.
Sesshomaru slowly took a seat next tot his priestess companion, eyes narrowed in concern as he waited for her to continue, now truly worried. Before, he had thought he was dealing with Naraku planning mor emovements, or perhaps gaining new allies that would pose a threat to their plans. Now, he was dealing with a direct threrat to his younger brother. And that worried him -- especially now, when Inuyasha was at his weakest.
"I don't know how to counter what he has done to your brother, Sesshomaru. I don't know how to help Inuyasha, even if he would allow me. This magick ... it is beyond me, beyond my capabilities, beyond my knowledge. It worries me, that he could do this, that he has these resources at his disposal ..." Here Kikyou hesitated for a moment more, before continuing on.
"He has found a way to tap in to the spiritual powers that bind Inuyasha to the necklace he wears around his neck, placed there by my sister some time ago. He has somehow altered these magicks, bending them to his will, binding them to the will and feelings of the human girl who controls the necklace -- Kagome. As long as Kagome remains hateful of her friend, Inuyasha will slowly fade away in to death."