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Midnight interlude

Chapter Two

There was a very thoughtful look on his fine visage as he walked through the forest to the demon village were Inuyasha lived. He just could not get the hanyou out of his mind. The look in his eyes had been of utter horror when his son indicated the truth of his birth would not leave his mind. What was Inuyasha afraid of? Surely he did not think that Sesshoumaru would harm the child?

He shook his head, 'No, he is wise enough to know that I would not lower myself to do that. In addition to that, Kiyoshi is the first born of our clan, he shall be the heir to the western lands and the lord after my demise.' The fact still remained that Sesshoumaru did not know of Kiyoshi's other parent. he was still mildly angered that Inuyasha did not inform him of this development. Sesshoumaru had every right to know, even if their relationship was only for namesake.

Something about this whole situation clawed at his mind, some distant memory teased him yet refused to show its face. In his long life, many memories slipped away if they were not important. However, this one seemed very vital and he felt as though forgetting it caused a lot of trouble.

Inuyasha held his interest more than his son. When their gazes had met, there was so much written in those enchanting golden eyes that Sesshoumaru found himself startled. Fear and caution were the most prominent, but what disturbed him was what lay beneath, what Inuyasha tried desperately to hide yet failed. There was pain, and sadness. So much sadness that it seemed unfair even to Sesshoumaru, and deep within the holds of those emotions was love, deep, powerful, beautiful love. He had never seen that particular emotion in such a magnitude in the hanyou's eyes before, never before, not with the undead miko, nor with the strange ningen girl he traveled with.

No, someone held the heart of the hanyou in a tight grasp and tortured Inuyasha with it. Someone seemed to take full advantage of the hanyou's love and caused him pain and deep sadness. This thought somehow managed to spike the taiyoukai's anger, it radiated in waves around him, 'With Naraku over and done with, Inuyasha rightfully should be happy, he of all people should be at peace.'

When Sesshoumaru had started to seek his brother out, it was out of sheer boredom. A few days into the journey he had come to a certain realization. He realized that Inuyasha was a major part of his life, even with all their fights he could not keep the hanyou off his mind for long. He always thought of Inuyasha and the fact that Inuyasha fought the formidable Naraku while he was pregnant with Kiyoshi sent an involuntary shiver down his spine. 'How foolish can my brother be? Taking such a enormous risk was the height of stupidity, even for him.'

But did Inuyasha have a choice? Naraku had to be defeated no matter what, or his son would not have had the peaceful life he seemed to have now. Inuyasha should have told his friends, but he told no one. If Sesshoumaru would have known Inuyasha would not have been allowed to step out of his castle, Naraku or not.

May be, that was the reason why Inuyasha ran away. Was the thought of staying with him in his castle so daunting to the hanyou? Or is it that he feared rejection?

He reached the parameter of the demon village, the demons eyed him and then went about their business. His sharp ears picked some whispers saying, 'Lord Inuyasha's brother..'

Sesshoumaru walked towards the home where Inuyasha's scent was strongest and he found a generously built house. It seemed Inuyasha was doing very good for himself. Kiyoshi and a female demon were sitting in the front yard of the house. Alert gold eyes looked at him and frowned, "Uncle Sesshoumaru... it seems you do as you wish regardless of other's opinion, if father wanted to meet you he would have invited you. Nevertheless, welcome to our home, have a seat." He said as he invited the taiyoukai in.

Sesshoumaru saw the female demon looking at him intently. Her eyes assessing him a scowl gracing her fine features. Inuyasha's scent was faint, indicating that he was not in the home, "Where is my brother?" he asked quietly, his cold eyes focusing on the boy.

"Father is out, he will be back soon. Have to come here to speak to him personally, all the way from western lands? Father should be flattered." Kiyoshi asked just as quietly and coldly. Sesshoumaru glared at the boy, but stopped when he heard the female demon chuckle, "Like father, like son." she muttered and walked away, leaving the taiyoukai with the boy.

She was absolutely wrong, the boy that stood before him was nothing like Inuyasha, his brother was fiery and passionate, he had this energy surrounding him that pulled everyone to him. His eyes were always full of life, warm and inviting. But Kiyoshi, he was calm, silent and cold, his eyes narrowed in alertness and wisdom that was far beyond his age. The beginnings of the markings on the side of his face pronounced his demon heritage, the markings would take a few years more to fully develop. What baffled him was the faint but noticeable crescent moon on his forehead, that particular mark was unique to Sesshoumaru. So Kiyoshi bearing his mark made him wonder about the reason for it.

Suddenly Sesshoumaru stood up and said, "I am going to meet your father, stay here."

Sesshoumaru glided past the fields to where he sensed his brother was. He wanted answers to some very baffling questions and he wanted them right now. When he reached his destination he froze. The definite scent of tears in the air made him frown, Inuyasha's tears. Something he was not used to, his brother never cried. He had known that for a long time, not even the deadliest of wounds made tears fall from those fascinating eyes, nor emotional wounds which he had suffered so many times had broken him enough. So why would he cry now?

He walked over to the bundle of white silk laying on the grass looking at the sky with silent tears at the corner of his eyes. A sight that Sesshoumaru never thought he would see and never wanted to either. "Inuyasha?" Inuyasha did not look a him, he just gaze at the sky silently and said, "Why won't you leave me be? I want nothing of my past! I hated it. I have everything I want now. I have a beautiful strong son of whom I am very proud. I am respected. They call me Lord Inuyasha here and they mean it, and I have almost no enemies here." Sesshoumaru looked at him and asked one simple question, "Then why at all cry?"

Inuyasha seemed to still at that question, he got to his feet and withdrew the Tetsusaiga, "Come Aniki, lets fight, as always, that is the only thing that suites us." Sesshoumaru looked at the hurt and pained eyes of his brother and frowned again, "Who is Kiyoshi's father Inuyasha? Why does he have only one scent on him, who is the other parent?" Inuyasha growled and attacked, not answering him but Sesshoumaru could see renewed tears in his eyes. The pain deepened leaving Sesshoumaru confused.

Sesshoumaru blocked and evaded almost all attacks and studied his brother as they fought. The ill placed attacks did not need much to avoid. Yet Sesshoumaru knew that Inuyasha had no intention of hurting him, or killing him. He was attacking almost clumsily and had little interest in the fight. Sesshoumaru growled, "Tell me Inuyasha! This man you had a son with, where is he? Why is he not raising his son with you?" Inuyasha brought his claws out and dove for Sesshoumaru saying, "For him I was just a fuck toy for one night. And in that one night he managed to turn my life around!"

The taiyoukai looked at somewhat startled and said, "Who was he?" the hanyou looked at him in disbelief and shook his head, bitting his lips to hold back more tears. He launched himself carelessly at Sesshoumaru and started attacking head on without much care for himself. Sesshoumaru was growing more and more frustrated by the lack of answers and useful blows. He growled as he grabbed one of Inuyasha's wrist and said, "Imbecile! Answer your brother Now!" Inuyasha shook his head wildly and snatched his hand away and brought the Tetsusaiga to clash with the Tokojin. Sesshoumaru wanted their father's fang out of Inuyasha's grasp so he could pin Inuyasha and demand some answers.

Using he superior strength he forced the sword out of his brother's hands only to get his skin impaled by his brother's claws. He just shrugged off the wound and said, "Get a hold of your self Inuyasha, you are being far too emotional to win this fight against me." he easily avoided another attack and heard his brother say in a husky voice, "You have no right to come here and shatter my peace! I was just fine until you came along, you fucking bastard!"

Sesshoumaru felt his hackles rise. Inuyasha refused to explain anything to him and yet was accusing him of destroying his peace, when it was he who attacked not Sesshoumaru. How could he have known that he would find his brother with a son and abandoned by the son's father? Sesshoumaru was not planning to leave this matter and walk away. Something about this whole situation told him that he was needed here, and he did not waste a year and a half searching for his brother just to turn back. He had come to take Inuyasha back to his home and he was going to do it whether that hanyou liked it or not.

Utilizing all his youkai speed he grabbed the hanyou by the neck and forced his back against a huge tree. "You will stop this idiocy now." he said calmly but his brother continued to struggle. Sesshoumaru gave a warning growl and pressed his whole body against the hanyou's struggling one. Inuyasha stilled immediately, his eyes wide.

Sesshoumaru chose to ignore the tingle of pleasure that ran down his spine when his body came in contact with Inuyasha's and asked again, "Who was he?" Inuyasha turned his head away and closed his eyes, being at his mercy Inuyasha did not move nor speak a word. The lack of response once again managed to baffle Sesshoumaru. Inuyasha was not struggling, nor was he throwing obscenities at his face. He was still, eyes closed and head turned away as though he was ashamed.

Long pale fingers grasped Inuyasha's chin and forced him to face Sesshoumaru. The taiyoukai allowed himself the luxury of running his fingertips along that fine baby soft skin. Watching in some sort of fascination the easy glide of his fingers to against the long column of Inuyasha's throat. The hanyou shuddered at his touch, causing the taiyoukai to drown in confusion. As he watched his fingers trail the alluring skin, he was lost in thought, 'His skin feels so familiar to touch, my fingers are aware of every curve and crevice of my brother's features, how can that be?' he leaned in and dug his face into Inuyasha's neck, breathing in his scent, closing his eyes at the feeling it gave. 'His scent... why does it have my mark on it?' he did not even know why he did it, when he brought his tongue out to taste his brother's honeyed skin. He heard a soft moan and Inuyasha let his head fall back to give him more access. Sesshoumaru found himself unable to resist and ran his tongue along the expanse cherishing the taste, 'Why? Why does his skin call me? Why does Inuyasha submit to me without question? Without struggle?'

He pressed his body more firmly against the hanyou's and the sense of deja vu hit him from all sides. His eyes burned red for a moment. He dug his fangs into the creamy skin of his neck as though the body in front of him belonged to him. Inuyasha arched in his arms, wrapping his hands around Sesshoumaru's shoulders, "Sess..." came the familiar whisper. His youkai recognized its mate immediately at the taste of his blood, but Sesshoumaru mind was clouded in confusion. He did not even hear his youkai's call for its mate. He lifted his head to look into Inuyasha's eyes, what he saw there cleared all of his confusion.

His wide innocent eyes purified by tears seem to look into his very soul. The molten gold depths held so much love, so much longing and pain that his inner demon roared in anger, it would not have pain in its mate. Cold gold eyes stared helpless and mesmerized by the power his brother's gaze held over him. He soon realized, that love, that longing, that sadness and pain was all for him, all because of him.

Inuyasha loved him.