A/N : Hi, me again !

I just wanted to make you know something because I realized I haven't mentioned it before. It's kind of important to know, so here : in this story, Sesshomaru has both of his arms. I just think it's better this way, so let's just say that his left arm grew back or something... After all, it makes a lot of sense when you've seen everything else he can do...

So yeah, that's about it. Now on with the fic !

Chapter five : Hard reconciliation
Normal POV

The moment their lips brushed together was the moment the world lost its balance ; Inu-Yasha forgot his worries and Sesshomaru forgot his resolutions. Nothing mattered anymore but their need for each other and the taste of the other's mouth. Inu-Yasha passed his arms around Sesshomaru's neck, bringing him closer, while the older demon placed his hand in the small of the hanyou's back. They kissed passionately, clinging to each other, starving for more... The need was visceral, and they couldn't seem to stop touching, caressing, tasting, rediscovering... Not that they wanted to stop, anyway...

But everyone has to breathe sometime, and they parted reluctantly. They were panting heavily and their hearts were beating fast. Feeling a bit dizzy, Inu-Yasha rested his head on Sesshomaru's shoulder, trying to make his brain work again. His brother just hold him, apparently in the same predicament.

Inu-Yasha was in utter delight ; he had longed for this so much, hoped for it to happen for so long... He had thought he would never feel like this again... Like when you got a taste of Heaven and that you thought you would never have the chance to taste it again, but then life is kind enough to give it to you a second time. Inu-Yasha sure had thought that four months was long, but now it seemed like an eternity...

But sadly, that's when his brain decided to reconnect with reality. He realized what he was doing and let out a startled gasp. He quickly escaped Sesshomaru's arms and took a step back. The loss of his brother's touch was almost unbearable but the hanyou stood his ground. As much as he wanted Sesshomaru, there was no way he was going to be used a second time !

Sesshomaru looked at him confusedly, but Inu-Yasha just glared. With a voice full of hurt and anger, he told him :

"How DARE you ! You think you can just come here and take me once again ? What am I, your doll ? You think that just because you had me one time that makes me yours ? I'm sorry but I have more pride than that, and I'm nobody's puppet !"

Sesshomaru almost winced. He knew Inu-Yasha would hate him. Well, maybe he wanted him but that was just lust, there was no possible way the hanyou could love him. He had been foolish to think otherwise. But still... what about what Inu-Yasha had said when he thought nobody was listening ? 'I want you to love me back...' There was pain in those words, there was hope. There was truth.

For the first time in his life, Sesshomaru was at a loss. Did Inu-Yasha love him or not ? How could he know for sure ? Why not just ask ?

Because the answer was too important, that was why. Add to that, Sesshomaru wasn't in a good position right now, since he had already confessed his feelings. But then again, Inu-Yasha seemed to have forgotten that. Maybe kissing him senseless just after telling him hadn't been such a good idea... No wonder he had forgotten...

Inu-Yasha's voice brought him back to the present :

"I'm not yours for the taking, Sesshomaru, and I won't be used a second time ! I can see it already : you'll just take your pleasure with me and then you'll leave, just like that last time ! Well if that's what you're looking for then just go away and d... don't come back...!"

Sesshomaru immediately noticed how his brother had hesitated on his last words. Suddenly Inu-Yasha didn't sound so angry anymore, he sounded more like... sad. And that's when Sesshomaru understood.

Inu-Yasha did have feelings for him. Was it love ? Hopefully yes, but that could be settled later. The fact was that Inu-Yasha cared about him. He had good memories of that night, four months ago... He hadn't wanted Sesshomaru to leave... He had wanted him to stay, as incredible as it sounded... He felt used and betrayed. Unwanted. It was a feeling the hanyou knew too well, and had felt way too often. A part of it was Sesshomaru's own fault. And he had did it again, by leaving him after that famous night. He should have stayed. But how could he have known, back then ? It was so unreal...

Correcting himself, Sesshomaru decided that this whole situation was unreal. Unpredicted. And confusing. Or so it was, because now that he knew why his little brother was acting like he was, Sesshomaru felt back in control. He could react consequently now, and convince Inu-Yasha, one way or another, that he did care. That he wasn't toying with him, or using him. That he was sincere.

With his usual assurance back, Sesshomaru looked toward his brother and asked calmly :

"Is that really what you want me to do, Inu-Yasha ? Do you want me to leave and never come back ?"

Inu-Yasha stayed mute, refusing to meet his brother's eyes. Sesshomaru pursued :

"If it is truly your desire, then I will do it. You'll never hear from me ever again. Is that what you want, little brother ?"

"I... I..." Inu-Yasha stuttered, unable to answer.

He was so confused. He wanted Sesshomaru to stay more than anything, but not if it was to be used again. And there his brother was, saying that he would leave forever if Inu-Yasha was asking him to. The hanyou knew it was true, since Sesshomaru never lied. But... to never see him again ? Never until the end of his life ? Inu-Yasha just couldn't ask him that... It was too hard...

It was so difficult ! He didn't know what to do anymore ! Didn't know what he should do... And he also had his pup to think of ! That was changing a lot of things... Inu-Yasha was feeling so lost... Not only was he overly emotional right now, because of his condition, but Sesshomaru's presence was also making him lose his focus on everything... Suddenly he was in unknown territory and he didn't how to survive in there...

Bitting his bottom lip almost hard enough to draw blood, Inu-Yasha tried hard not to break down right in front of his older sibling. What would Sesshomaru think of him if he did such a pitiful thing...?

It's then that his brother did something Inu-Yasha didn't expect : the older demon approached him again and took him back in his arms. He embraced him gently, not trying anything else, just holding him in a comforting way. Inu-Yasha was in shock, but while his mind still couldn't believe it, his body immediately relaxed in the reassuring hold. It was feeling so good in here, warm and safe, so appeasing...

He thought about pushing Sesshomaru away, but he didn't have the strength anymore... So he just stayed there, immobile, waiting for his brother to speak.

"I've made an interesting discovery recently" Sesshomaru started with a deep and calming voice. "I've discovered that even I can be confused and take the wrong decision sometimes. I made mistakes in the past, but I blamed it on my young age and lack of experience. Now I know that I can still make them, and that my judgement isn't absolute. I am all but perfect, and my reactions may often be taken the wrong way"

Inu-Yasha was listening intently, something telling him that what his brother was saying was very important, and that he couldn't allow himself to miss one single word. Sesshomaru moved back a little but kept his arms around Inu-Yasha. He looked down and stared right in the hanyou's eyes, then he continued :

"I left because I thought you wanted me to. I was sure you would hate me for what I had done, I mean hate me even more than you used to. It wasn't meant to be, after all, and there was at the moment no romantic feelings involved. It was only our instincts that brought us together so I logically assumed that when it would pass you would despise what we had done. I left because I thought it would be better for the both of us"

By now Inu-Yasha was holding to each of Sesshomaru's words, a forbidden but beautiful hope starting to bloom in his heart. Not daring to interrupt him, he simply listened as his brother spoke again :

"If you still want me to leave, I will. But I will not hide to you that I would prefer to stay, this time"

"Are you serious...?" Inu-Yasha asked in a breath, his gaze still locked with his brother's.

"Always" Sesshomaru simply answered.

Inu-Yasha lowered his head and leaned against him, no longer defensive. A smile was slowly making its way to his lips and his heart was warming up with love ; Sesshomaru wanted to stay with him ! Willingly ! He hadn't abandoned him those four months ago ! He hadn't wanted to leave ! Inu-Yasha had got it all wrong...!

The hanyou couldn't remember the last time he had felt so happy ! He wondered if Sesshomaru loved him...? Well, at least he cared about him and that was already more than what Inu-Yasha was asking for. He raised his arms and passed them around his brother's waist to return the embrace. Then he said somewhat timidly :

"I... I want you to stay..."

Sesshomaru almost smiled. There it was again, that feeling that only Inu-Yasha could give him. It was flowing through his veins like quicksilver, making him feel more alive than ever and so wonderfully complete. Sesshomaru was once again amazed by how strong it was... Never again did he want that feeling to disappear... Taking his little brother's chin in his hand another time, he gently raised his face toward him and said softly :

"Then stay I will"

After what he claimed Inu-Yasha's mouth a second time, relishing this unique sugary taste that was his brother's only... He met absolutly no resistance as the hanyou kissed him back, willingly allowing Sesshomaru to be the dominant one. The young demon Lord inwardly smirked at this and was about to think that everything was perfect when suddenly... Inu-Yasha froze in his hold.

Sesshomaru moved back to look at his... what? mate? lover?... and saw that Inu-Yasha had a worried expression on his face.

"Inu-Yasha ? What's wrong ?" he asked with concern.

This one just lowered his gaze and moved away from him. The loss of contact made Sesshomaru's inner demon growl in rage, but he controlled himself and asked calmly :

"What is it Inu-Yasha ? Do you not want to do this anymore ?"

The hanyou's head instantly lifted as he quickly answered :

"No no ! It's not that ! It's..."

He stopped a moment and sighed. Then he looked at Sesshomaru fearfully and said :

"There's... something you don't know... Something I have to tell you... before we go any further... Because... maybe you won't want me anymore..."

Sesshomaru was getting suspicious and... well, yes, jealous. Had Inu-Yasha been with another person ? Maybe that miko who was travelling with him ? He really didn't see what else it could be.

"Little brother, have you been with someone else ?" he asked accusingly.

"What !" Inu-Yasha exclamed, his eyes widening. "No ! Of course not ! How could I have gone with someone else when... when..."

"When what, Inu-Yasha ?"

"...when... you were the only one in my thoughts..." the hanyou finished quietly.

Sesshomaru immediately softened at this. He observed Inu-Yasha who seemed somewhat ashamed and was fidgeting nervously with the sleeve of his kimono. He raised his hand and gently placed it on his younger brother's cheek. Inu-Yasha reluctantly looked at him, a slight blush colouring his features... He was so angelic right now...

"If you haven't been with someone else" Sesshomaru told him, "then I don't see what could be so terrible"

Inu-Yasha lowered his head again.

"You say that because you don't know..."

Sesshomaru just let go of his brother's cheek and took his hands. He brought him closer and said :

"Just tell me"

Inu-Yasha hesitated. He looked away, took a deep breath and let it out :

"Sesshomaru... I'm pregnant"