Midnight Interlude

Chapter Four

Kouga growled as he ran through the vast plains with incredible speed.

'Damn that Sesshoumaru and his powerful blood! Kiyoshi is nothing like the sweet, beautiful, warm Inuyasha! He is a fucking iceberg!'

The wolf demon was angry. Very angry. Kouga had gone east for handling an important matter. His councilors had told him that there was a large demon village that was situated between the northern and eastern borders. They suggested that if they negotiated a pact between that village and their tribe then their power and influence would grow. He never thought that the village would have Inuyasha as their prime protector and Lord. If that had not been shocking enough, the hanyou becoming a father had definitely been one!

Initially, he was very happy to see Inuyasha. All thought had left his mind as soon as he caught Inuyasha's scent. The happiness then gave way to anger. He could remember how depressed all of Inuyasha's pack had become when he'd abandoned them. Shippo had cried for days as he lost his fatherly figure. Miroku had lost a dear friend and Sango, another brother, and Kagome . . . poor Kagome had lost her first love. Even Kouga had lost something that day. He had lost a worthy rival, a friend and a role model. However, now that he knew the whole story behind Inuyasha's disappearance, could he blame him? He didn't think so. Kouga couldn't even bring himself to get angry at Inuyasha now

'Of all the things he suffered in his life, this just takes the cake!' he thought as he increased his speed. His midnight black hair was flowing behind him from his high pony-tail and a vicious scowl marred his beautiful features. All of his bad mood was attributed to the eight year old smart ass son of Inuyasha. He remembered it in very clear detail and would be something he'd not be forgetting any time soon.

Kouga was staring in fascination at Kiyoshi. The kid was sitting facing him with a frown between two silken brows. He looked nothing like his former rival, and so much like the lord of the west. He should have at least inherited Inuyasha's cute canine ears. Kouga reached out and ran his dull claws through the pup's hair saying, "You do not look anything like Inuyasha."

He got no response from the kid. Kouga's fingers traced the faint crescent moon on his forehead as he said, "But I am certain the Inuyasha in you will come out soon enough."

The pup raised one eyebrow and asked, "Are you done?"

Red tinged eyelids were low over golden alert eyes as he said, "'cause I don't want to bathe myself two times in one day."

Kouga snatched his hand back and growled at the insolent kid. Kiyoshi's expression was blank, not even a flicker in his eyes but Kouga knew he just had to be amused.

He growled again.

"Sesshoumaru would have been fucking proud of that little runt! He doesn't even realize he's the prince of the west, and he's acting high and mighty."

Not for the first time, he cursed the lord of the west. Inuyasha had been just fine and dandy until the taiyoukai took it upon himself to mate him and discard him, that also with an ass of a son. He reached his destination and slid into a halt in front of the bewildered group.

"Hey guys!" he grinned as the humans came out of their shock. He had left soon after Inuyasha had fallen unconscious so that he could come and inform Inuyasha's pack about his whereabouts. It did not take him that long. The group had camped only an hour away from Inuyasha's village. It is an hour away for him and nearly a three hour journey for humans. He had invited Kagome and the others to visit his territory after one of the elders demanded to see her. They wanted to know what was so special in the ningen girl.

'Of course, Kagome needs to know how her future home will be like. Elders will also get a chance to meet her then.' Kouga grinned at that thought, 'I wonder what Inuyasha would say about me claiming Kagome as my woman now.'

Therefore they were closer to Inuyasha's territory than they would have been. 'Looks like Inuyasha is having a streak of bad luck. Everybody he tried to hard to avoid suddenly descended upon him. No wonder he fainted!' he snickered remembering the horrified look on his face. He would be even more horrified when Kagome would show up.

He couldn't wait to see their reaction when they find out that Inuyasha got pregnant and that also with Sesshoumaru's son. Boy, that would be one sight to behold.

However, he was going to leave the son and Sesshoumaru parts of out of his conversations. They would find that out on their own when they went and met him.

"Kouga, I thought you have gone east for council work?" Miroku asked calmly as he rubbed his chin in thoughtfulness. Kouga wondered how Miroku always managed to stay calm, even after he received a nice slap from Sango. Sango smiled at him but said nothing as she patiently watched Kirara and Shippo train to improve Shippo's skills.

All Kouga could think at that was, 'It's 'bout time, the little runt was becoming too lazy after Inuyasha left.'

Kagome, who had been reading a book on modern medicine before Kouga arrived, smiled at him and asked, "Glad to see you Kouga, how did your work go?" Kouga smiled back at her. She had explained to him once what modern medicine was and he had been impressed. 'She would be a very good mate and also a fantastic healer! I am sure the elders would like her!'

"Forget about the work! I have some great news!" Kouga exclaimed at them excitedly.

The whole group looked surprised at Kouga new behavior. Curiosity got the better of them as they huddled around him. Waiting in anticipation to know what could get Kouga so excited. Miroku sipped his tea and asked, "So Kouga, what this great news?"

"I know where Inuyasha is!"

xxx

Kiyoshi smiled as he walked through the peaceful woods. His father always worried he would get himself in trouble here. He never listened, 'Why doesn't dad realize that other youkai are absolutely terrified of him? They would never enter his marked territory and much less harm his own son!'

He wasn't that far away from the village yet he wanted out for a while. Everything was going too fast for him. When he felt so breathless after the sudden turn of events, he could imagine how his father felt. Their peaceful and happy, well almost happy lives, were turning upside down. He was happy with his father and his friends in this village. He never felt anything had been missing from his life until Sesshoumaru came along. Ignorance truly had been bliss.

And now that things had gotten complicated, his main concern was his father. Everything had finally caught up to him, causing him to slip into a terrible fever that refused to leave him. His body was reacting to its mate's proximity.

But who could blame him? He and Sesshoumaru were mates, the beautiful mark on his father's collarbone clearly said so. Mates could not survive without each other for long so it was a wonder his father was still alive and kicking. Yet he knew his father had not been taking much care of himself. All he did was train, mediate and fight to protect the village. His father never smiled without a shadow of sadness lurking about in the darkness of those brilliant eyes. It was not healthy to keep all sadness and pain bottled up inside. No matter how hard Kiyoshi tried, that darkness lingered. However, Kiyoshi was very much aware that he was the only reason his father survived separation from his mate.

'And now, when the almighty Lord of the west shows up, father falls ill. He should have minded his own business and left . . . instead of causing more pain to father.'

However, he couldn't deny that a part of him was awed by his other parent. His father had described him to perfect accuracy. Sesshoumaru may not be an ideal father but he was a father to be proud of.

'Keh! Like I could ever be proud of Him! He did not even remember father! What excuse can he possibly have for that?'

He dejectedly sat down under an old tree and played with small stones, his mind wandering in different directions. Lord Sesshoumaru was deadly. Kiyoshi was aware of that. He also knew what kind of relationship existed between them before they mated. He had overheard his father describing everything to Midori. It only served to increase his anger towards the taiyoukai.

"Your father does not like you to wander in these woods alone." Kiyoshi turned to see his other father sit beside him, poised and regal even when he sat on the forest floor. Kiyoshi felt a slight smirk form on his lips as he turned his head away.

"He underestimates me." he said calmly, not a least bit intimidated by the taiyoukai.

"You overestimate yourself.." came a chilling reply. Yes, his father had told him that no one could win a verbal battle, or a physical one, for that matter, with the great Lord Sesshoumaru. He wanted so much to get to know his other parent, just to know what it was in him that attracted his dad so much.

Kiyoshi sighed and leaned back, deceptively relaxed and asked, "Ummm.. Lord Sesshoumaru?" From the corner of his eyes he could see his father's eyes falling shut and a sort of sad smile hinting his lips.

"Yes pup?"

Kiyoshi turned fully to his father and asked, "Why did you come here? Your presence here only causes father more pain. You should leave before father awakes."

Sesshoumaru felt a small pang of hurt at Kiyoshi's vehement words. Someone had played with their lives, tampered with his memory. Now his son was paying for it, and Inuyasha paid as well.

'Inuyasha . . . is this why I felt so hollow and alone after you left my gaze? Is this why I was so compelled to seek you out? Koi, find heart to forgive me . . . please . . .'

"What an odd twist of fate . . ." he mused with a small smile, gazing at the canopy with half lidded, cold eyes. "I know now how Inuyasha used to feel. It is as if I am in his shoes, wouldn't you say . . . Kiyoshi?"

His son was an eternal source of wonder to him, so wise, so poised, and so very strong. Others did not see it but Sesshoumaru could see it clearly. A measure of kindness that Sesshoumaru never had was in abundance in his son, just like Inuyasha. The fire that burned beneath the ice was just like that which flowed through Inuyasha's veins. The innocence that had forever possessed Inuyasha's golden eyes lingered in Kiyoshi's gaze and would stay there for all eternity. So much like Inuyasha. In all outward appearances, Kiyoshi was Sesshoumaru's son, but deep down, inside his heart, he was Inuyasha's little pup.

Sesshoumaru wanted to remember that night. He wanted to know every detail. How did he come to mark Inuyasha? How did he come to make love to him? He wanted to know. Not remembering such an important occasion of his life pained him. Anger flowed through him. He was certain there was someone else involved in this mess. Such a vital memory would just not slip his mind, especially when it involved a marked mate. His body remembered Inuyasha, his youkai recognized the taste of its mate's blood and the mark, that intricate mark on Inuyasha's collarbone, could only have been made by Sesshoumaru's fangs.

'When I looked into his eyes, there was so much pain, so much anger. His eyes screamed at me. They were calling me a liar, a traitor. Underneath it all, there was so much love . . . never had anyone held so much love for me. Not from mother or father . . . only him.'

"I do not remember. Nothing at all of that one night comes to me," he murmured, half to himself.

Kiyoshi again turned away from him and said firmly, "No use trying to convince me lord Sesshoumaru. I shall never forgive nor accept you. It's because of you that my dad is in such a state of weakness. He loves you more than he loves me."

The taiyoukai stilled, shocked at his son's words.

'How can such a small pup say such a thing?'

He looked at his son with narrowed eyes and said, "Do not underestimate your father's ability to love, little one. That would be nothing but a grave mistake."

Kiyoshi growled deep in his throat and looked at Sesshoumaru with pained, anger filled eyes, "Stop thinking of me as a child damn you! I know dad raised me with utmost care but do not confuse me for a spoiled whiney kid. He loves you. He's cried for you. The mere sight of you eats at his soul. Is that not enough for you? How much more do you wish to torment him? Why . . ." his son's voice cracked, tears filled the once bold eyes as he asked, "Why . . . why won't you love him as he loves you!"

Sesshoumaru found himself at a loss. He could not help himself. Reaching out, he grasped Kiyoshi's chin and turned his face towards him.

"Kiyoshi . . ."

The pup pulled away from his hold and hastily got to his feet and ran saying, "I hate you!"

Sesshoumaru could not move from his position as his son ran out of sight. He found it difficult to breathe as the full force of those words hit him. Now he knew the true meaning of pain.

xxx

Kiyoshi collapsed on his knees as tears flowed freely from his eyes.

"I hate you . . ." he murmured again and again to no one in particular. His tears soaked the ground and salt tinged the air. "You shouldn't have come! Damn you!"

His claws dug into the mud and his body shook with the force of his sobs. A wickedly sharp fang dug in his soft bottom lip as he tried to stop his tears and sobs.

'I hate you! You should not have come. You should have left us alone. Dad is in pain because of you.'

"Hey what's wrong? Why are you crying?"

Kiyoshi jerked in shock and swiftly got into his fighting stance, growling low as he asked, "Who are you?"

His natural reflexes sharp and smooth. He would have killed them before they could even blink if he had wished, but his father had thought him patience. So he waited for the person to introduce herself.

A group of ningen appeared before him much to his dissatisfaction. He did not have the patience to deal with that cowardly race. In a flash his eyes were clean and cold, his body poised for attack. In a flash he no longer looked like a helpless little boy.

"My name is Sango. Don't worry, we won't hurt you. These are my friends, Kagome, Miroku and Shippo."

Kiyoshi looked at them with assessing eyes for a few silent moments. Judging them with his shrewd gaze. He straightened from his defensive pose and said, "Very well."

Cold eyes stared at the odd group and then settled on the girl named Sango and asked, "Traveling in a youkai infested forest this late in the evening?"

That was truly foolish of this group of humans. He observed each one of them. All of them seemed very powerful, possibly could defeat any low level demon and even some of the high level ones.

"A taijiya, a monk, a kitsune demon and a strange girl with miko powers . . . how very interesting." he murmured in a bored sort of tone. His lazy half lidded eyes did not reveal the sharp alertness. He never let his guard down, even in the company of useless ningen whom he could easily decapitate.

The monk raised an eyebrow at him and asked, "What is your name, little one?"

Kiyoshi crossed his arms and said, "My name is Kiyoshi and I am the son of the local demon lord. I can see that you are going to camp in the forest at night?"

Sango smiled and nodded, "Are you lost? You can stay with us for the night and we can drop you off at your village in the morning."

The little demon shook his head, "I know these woods inside out. I also know they are not safe for humans, no matter how powerful they are." He gazed meaningfully at their weapons silently acknowledging their strength. Yet letting them know it would not at all be handy when it came to demons of this forest. "So, I request you come with me. I am sure father won't mind having you stay for the night. That is, if you're comfortable with being in a demon's house." He smirked slightly and raised an eyebrow at the little kitsune who was much older than him.

'Growing up with humans, I see. A weakling from head to toe. I guess he was pampered all his life. Wouldn't survive a day on his own. Stupid kitsune.'

"You don't have to worry, though. Father has a soft spot for humans." he said offhandedly. He could see their nervousness and uncertainty and sighed inwardly, 'Bunch of cowards..'

Miroku, Sango and Kagome looked at each other doubtfully then back at Kiyoshi. Shippo, still being the naïve little kitsune he was eight years ago, said with a suspicious glint in his eyes, "How can we be sure that you are not leading us into a trap?"

"Shippo! That is not the way to speak to someone who is offering help!" Kagome scolded softly.

Kiyoshi looked at the girl with shrilly annoying voice and smiled saying, "I understand your concern, but it is your choice. All I can do is assure you that father or I would not harm you. Our village is a peaceful village. We don't mind giving shelter to weary travelers, be it humans or youkai." He did not want to do this. But he knew his father would disapprove of his actions if he left them alone only to find their bloodied bodies next morning.

There was nothing but sincerity in his tone so the others agreed.

Miroku looked down at him as they started walking in the direction of the village and said, "You know, you remind me of someone I used to know." Kiyoshi just nodded, lost in his thoughts. He did not even pay attention to what Miroku said.

'He looks like Sesshoumaru . . . I wonder why? He was crying but he doesn't look like a kid who would cry about silly things . . . like Shippo does.' Miroku smiled as he looked ahead, 'One night at the demon village would not hurt, then we can leave and go meet Inuyasha . . . My friend, we finally caught hold of you.'

xxx

Inuyasha moaned softly as he opened his eyes. His head was hurting and his whole body seemed to ache. Slowly all of the recent events played in his mind, getting him acquainted with his current situation. His eyes again fell shut as a soft sigh escaped his lips.

'There's no way I can escape this mess now . . .'

So much had changed in a matter of hours. Everything seemed catch up to him all of a sudden. Unfinished business was now waiting to be finished. He had been wrong. Inuyasha was very well aware that he was wrong, that he should have informed Sesshoumaru of his offspring. His brother had equal rights over Kiyoshi.

'But I'm afraid . . . I don't want to lose Kiyoshi to Sesshoumaru. He's the only person I have in this world.'

Inuyasha groaned when his headache increased, slight shivers making their way through his body. He was feeling so cold yet his entire body was covered in sweat. It was coming back . . . his body was reacting to its mate's presence. All these years he trained rigorously and meditated intensely only to survive for his son and now with his mate's presence all of his efforts went to waste. If Sesshoumaru chose to abandon him once again, Inuyasha would surely die. He moaned as pain worked its way through his body. No amount of shifting and moving made the pain leave. A pitiful whimper went past his lips, "Sess . . .Sesshy . . ."

Soft and cool fingers caressed his face, claws barely scratching the surface his smooth cheek. His brother's earthly and masculine scent reached his nose and he smiled sadly, "Sesshoumaru, you're still here?"

His brother chose not to answer. An odd yet acceptable silence fell like a blanket over them. Both males lost in their own thoughts of each other. Inuyasha let himself relax a little, trying to settle his wildly beating heart and his frantic nerves.

A part of him wanted his mate to speak, another part of him dreaded it. So many questions were unanswered, on his part and on Sesshoumaru's. He wanted to know why Sesshoumaru's left him that night, he wanted to know why he mated him, marked him. He was sure Sesshoumaru wanted some answers as well. He was uncertain whether he had the strength to face his cold brother's equally cold interrogation. He knew that his brother would be angry at him, now that he overcame the initial shock of his discovery. He would demand to know why Inuyasha had not informed him of his son. He did not want to face his brother's anger right now.

So it was a surprise when he felt Sesshoumaru sliding underneath the covers with him. He panicked, his eyes snapping open.

"Sesshoumaru . . . what are you doing?"

He again got no answer from his mate, only warm arms surrounding him, only soft lips pressing against his skin, and those whispered words he thought he would never hear from Sesshoumaru. "Forgive me."

Inuyasha felt Sesshoumaru tuck his head under his chin, cuddling him. At that moment, his mate looked strangely vulnerable, he did not look like the distant, all too powerful youkai lord he usually was. As if on their own accord Inuyasha's hands went into his brother's soft hair and he whispered, "Aniki?"

He could feel Sesshoumaru's arms tighten about him and his lips placing soft kisses on the mating mark on his collarbone.

"Inu . . . I don't remember. I don't remember anything!"

Inuyasha froze at that and after a few moments Sesshoumaru shifted so he was above him. Long, silver hair fell about them, making Inuyasha's fingers ache to be buried in them. He looked into his brother's narrowed golden eyes, searching for even a thread of sincerity, something that would indicate that Sesshoumaru was telling the truth. The taiyoukai shifted his weight to one hand while the other hand that had grown back a few years ago came up to Inuyasha's face.

His eyes became half lidded as his mate tenderly caressed the soft skin of his cheeks. Long, pale fingers whispered over his lips causing Inuyasha's eyes to fill with dark longing. He wanted so much to give himself up, to slip into his mate's arms without a care for what would happen after the bond was reforged, what would happen if Sesshoumaru would choose to leave again.

It would have been so easy, unfortunately; Inuyasha never took the easy way out. He lightly pushed at Sesshoumaru. His hard eyes looked straight into the frigid gold above him and he whispered, "I just can't . . . It hurts too much. Ses . . ."

He was silenced by Sesshoumaru's fingers.

"Shhh, otouto . . . only when you are ready . . . only when you want to."

The fingers were replaced by a pair of coaxing lips and Inuyasha's resistance seemed to ebb away. He moaned into the kiss, lifting his body to press against the hard one above him. Lips parted on their own accord as he submitted to his mate, knowing Sesshoumaru would not go beyond this heavenly kiss. His mate's tongue, hot and slick, slipped past his lips to seemingly memorize his taste.

All too soon the kiss ended and the warmth left him. He stared up at his mate's eyes and whimpered at the weakness that started to take over him. He pressed his forehead against his mate's shoulder and fisting his hand in the front of Sesshoumaru's haori, whimpering once again, silently begging for the pain to go away. Sesshoumaru ran his fingers through his hair and cooed in his ear, trying to comfort him as much as he could.

Inuyasha tried to concentrate on his mate's soothing voice and touch. Working to distract himself from the numbing pain that was starting to overtake his over. He did not want to show his weakness to Sesshoumaru. He did not want to be vulnerable to Sesshoumaru. He couldn't help it, his only solace was his mate. Only his mate could offer that level of comfort, which would ease his pain away. He clung onto Sesshoumaru for dear life as the pain started to intensify. He knew it would end soon enough. It was always the worst when it was about to end.

As the waves of pain passed away, Inuyasha's tense body began to relax and he laid back, sighing in relief. Sesshoumaru's brushed his lips against his forehead and got off the bed saying, "Kiyoshi is coming back from the forest." His nose crinkled as the scent of humans reached him, "And with him he has brought some ningen."

'What are you up to now Kiyoshi?' Inuyasha thought warily. He was concerned about his son. He did not know how Kiyoshi would handle this situation. He desperately hoped that his son would try to accept Sesshoumaru, for Sesshoumaru's sake and his own. He sighed and got to his feet, leaning on Sesshoumaru for support he walked out to his room to the vast courtyard.

He felt Sesshoumaru go stiff against him and turned to him with questioning eyes. The taiyoukai's gaze was trained on the entrance to the courtyard. Inuyasha frowned in confusion and asked, "What is it Sesshoumaru?" Sesshoumaru did not answer making Inuyasha even more confused as he turned to look at the same direction as his brother.

The moment his son and his companions entered his home, Inuyasha froze, his golden eyes going wide as he whispered, "Kagome . . ."

His friends turned to him and gasped in surprise. Kagome stepped forward, her hand lifting to reach out to him, "Inuyasha . . ."

For a moment, it seemed absolutely unreal to him . . . until she said the words that had cursed his life for almost two years.

"SIT BOY!"