Disclaimer: This one doesn't own Inuyasha. Rumiko Takahashi does.

Author's notes:

I keep forgetting to mention. I have a warning for anyone reading this fic. These answers are strictly interpretation, possible answers. This is first and foremost a fan fiction, do not use this as a factual resource, most of this is just stuff I imagined. I'm sure you know this, but just in case.

Oh, and any soap, shampoo or other such products mentioned is without exception a mixture of natural ingredients. I have no idea whether that was done back then, but for the purposes of this story, Sesshoumaru does.

Thank you reviewers!

Wow. Even without responding to reviewers, last chapter's notes were lengthy. Hopefully I don't ramble quite so much this time.

Ch. 7 Pups and Parents

Inuyasha was in shock, but recovered quickly.

That arrogant bastard! Who does he think he is?

Sesshoumaru continued to walk past the servants.

"Inuyasha. Do not dawdle. If you are going to come, then come. Otherwise, go."

Inuyasha growled, but followed. He caught up to Sesshoumaru just as he reached another set of doors in the room. Two of the servants rushed forward and opened the doors, revealing what appeared to be an ornate bathroom.

"Sheesh, Sesshoumaru, what, are you not capable of opening a door for yourself?"

"That is not my job."

In the center of the room, carved into the floor somehow, there was an ornate bath, with steam rising out of it.

Hang on! Kagome's always talking about hot water running indoors, but I thought that was just in her time.

Sesshoumaru glanced at Inuyasha, whose saucer like eyes were fixed on the bath.

So easily impressed, Little Brother. "It uses the same basic technique as Totosai's, but less crude."

He walked over to the bath, and turned to stare at Inuyasha.

What the hell is he staring at? Well I'm not gonna give him the satisfaction of knowing he's getting to me, I'm gonna stay cool and- "What the hell are you staring at!"

"Can't sit still for a second, can you?"

"Feh." Sesshoumaru continued to stare. "Are you gonna just stand there staring all day or what?"

Sesshoumaru shrugged, "Suit yourself." And started to remove his armor.

"Hey!" Inuyasha spun around with enough force to nearly knock him off balance. It was all the elder brother could do not to chuckle.

Having removed his armor and clothing with far more ceremony than was necessary, Sesshoumaru sunk into the bath, suppressing a traitorous sigh that nearly slipped as the steamy water started to relax his tense muscles.

Hmn. The hanyou is silent. How-

"What was he like?"

"Whom?"

"Father."

"Before he met that human, he was strong, dignified, regal, courageous, affectionate, loyal, misleadingly carefree-"

"Huh? Misleadingly?" Inuyasha turned around as he asked this, forgetting momentarily why he was looking away in the first place. Fortunately, nothing embarrassing was showing. Why would that bother me, anyway? I've bathed with Miroku plenty of times.

"When not in battle, he seemed very relaxed, even playful at times, it made him seem like his guard was down, but it never was. He was always alert, always careful."

"Oh."

Neither brother said a word, both seemingly lost in thought. It was Inuyasha that first noticed this. "What are you thinking?"

"What?"

"What were you thinking about? A moment ago you were all quiet and thoughtful. What were you thinking about?"

"When I was younger, I used to try and sneak up on him. It never worked, not once. Even then I was faster than him, I should have been able to sneak up on him, but it never worked. He'd always pounce on me the second I was within reach."

"Wow. This all sounds so… So playful. I can't imagine you ever playing."

Sesshoumaru's mouth opened fractionally, and then snapped back shut.

"What were you going to say?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You're avoiding the question."

Damn. "I was going to say that I was a pup once."

"Oh."

"What was it like?"

"What was what like?" Sesshoumaru asked, before dipping his head under water, getting his hair wet.

"What was it like playing with him?" Sesshoumaru resurfaced.

"Hand me that bottle. The glass one." Inuyasha walked over to where he pointed, and got the bottle. Once it was in Sesshoumaru's hands, he pored half the bottle onto his head, and put it down on the floor next to the tub. He then proceeded to scrub.

"Uh, Sesshoumaru?"

"Yes?"

"You didn't answer my question."

"I didn't hear it. I was underwater."

"Oh. What was it like playing with Father?"

Sesshoumaru looked at Inuyasha, his head tilted slightly.

"It wasn't playing so much as playful training. We'd spar, or I'd practice stalking, using him as my target, or hiding, using him as my opponent, or debating, and other such things."

"Oh. Was it fun?"

Sesshoumaru was quiet.

"Sesshoumaru?"

"Very much so."

Inuyasha didn't ask more questions while Sesshoumaru scrubbed imaginary dirt from his hair. He got half way down, and took his hair and flung it across the ground, so it was trailing on the floor from his scalp to nearly Inuyasha's feet. He grabbed the bottle, and poured the rest of the contents onto his hair, spilling over the floor. He then put the bottle down, pulled his hair back in, and started massaging the ends into a lather.

"Let me get this straight. You won't open a door for yourself, but you'll wash all that hair one handed."

"…"

"Well?"

"That wasn't a question, it was a statement. I had no reason to respond."

Grrr….

Sesshoumaru, seemingly satisfied that his hair was thoroughly scrubbed, dunked his head under water once more and proceeded to rinse out the shampoo.

"Here." He held the glass bottle out to Inuyasha, "Put that back, and get the other like it, and the clay jar." Inuyasha was feeling uncharacteristically cooperative, and did as he was told. He had to make too trips, because the jar more than kept his hand full.

"Get in."

"What? No."

"Inuyasha, you're hair is a mess, and you reek. Get in." Inuyasha still looked doubtful. "Look, hanyou, I have no interest in molesting a male, especially a half breed even if you could bear me a child, it could not be my heir, so there would be no purpose. If you'd like to bath separately, fine, but don't expect me to stand by the door and listen for you to ask me a question." Decision made, Inuyasha undressed. "There's a thin robe over there. You can wear it in here if you'd rather not be fully undressed." Inuyasha put it on, and got in on the far end of the tub. "Come here." Inuyasha did, reluctantly. "Turn." He did, and Sesshoumaru grabbed his shoulder and forced him to sit on a stool Inuyasha hadn't known was there. "What the-"

Sesshoumaru dumped half the contents of the glass bottle on Inuyasha's head, and promptly began scrubbing. Hard.

"Ow! Watch your claws!"

"Then sit still." Inuyasha did, and Sesshoumaru scrubbed more gently. It wasn't long before Inuyasha found himself quite comfortable.

Why am I enjoying this?

He's enjoying this. How strange. Perhaps he was not taken care of like this as a pup. I suppose he wouldn't have, he was still young when his mother died. I have heard of situations like this, where an adult will enjoy being treated like a pup, if they were not while they were young.

"I have a question for you, Little Brother."

"Hmn?"

"Who washed your hair when you were little."

"Before my mother died, she did."

"You were young when she died. Who washed it after?" Inuyasha blushed.

"I was always being hunted by someone, grooming never seemed all that important. I'd take baths, but I never really worried about scrubbing my hair."

No, I suppose you wouldn't have. Hm. You won't enjoy this nearly as much.

Like everything he did, Sesshoumaru's next move was without warning. He very suddenly grabbed Inuyasha's head, and forced it under the water, before roughly rubbing the mixture out of his hair. Inuyasha struggled the entire time, and when he was finally let up he gasped for air.

"Bastard! What was that for?"

"To rinse your hair."

"Was that really necessary?" Sesshoumaru smirked.

"Probably not."

"Why did you do that?"

"It is how father used to rinse my hair. He said it was for training, but I think he just liked to catch me off guard. I don't blame him. That was quite amusing."

"Why you- Hang on, so father used to wash your hair when you were little?"

"Sometimes, but it was usually a servant."

"Did the servant-"

"No servant would dare."

"Oh." Beautiful silence. "Sesshoumaru?"

"Hmn?"

"What about your mother?"

"Too vague."

"Did she wash your hair like that?"

"I doubt it, I was quite young when she died, if she had done that I might have drowned."

"Oh. How did she die?"

"She was ill. You don't have to sit there now, I'm done washing your hair."

Inuyasha started to move from the opposite end of the tub.

"Inuyasha, if you are going to continue asking questions, you shouldn't sit all the way over there, it is no polite conversation distance."

"Oh." Inuyasha looked around uncertainly.

What IS polite conversation distance?

He really is like an awkward pup. A shame he didn't get a proper up bringing.

"Inuyasha." Sesshoumaru gestured to the end of the bench he was sitting on. Close enough to shake hands, but still not so close. They were bathing, after all. Inuyasha sat down.

The end of Sesshoumaru's fur slid over to Sesshoumaru, who took a handful of a grainy, pasty substance from the clay jar, and began to rub it into the fur. It wasn't as bubbly as the stuff he used on his head. He continued rubbing, and massaging the furry limb until it was thoroughly covered and scrubbed, and looked utterly ridiculous. He then dropped it into the water, and started to rinse it out. Once he was satisfied that it was completely clear of the substance, he lifted his fur from the water. The end that was wet looked puny. It was very thin, with long hairs hanging down, heavy with water. He moved to a new section, and started again.

"Doesn't that take a long time?"

"Indeed."

"Would you like some help?"

"No."

"Did father wash that as well?"

"Perhaps, when I was an infant, but as soon as I was old enough to understand how, I washed it myself."

"But that looks harder. Surely if you were old enough to do that you could wash your own hair?"

"I asked him that once."

"What did he say?"

"It was an excuse to spend time with me."

"Why not just take you out to play?"

"Because, he was very busy, and that was the only way he could spend time with me without his advisors hovering over him asking questions, reminding him of "important matters" that need tending and other such things."

"Wow. Was he always that busy?"

"Always." Sesshoumaru moved on to another section. So far, he had only managed a very small fraction of the fur, and at this rate, it would take ages. Inuyasha didn't mind though, it was very relaxing for his muscles.

"So, were you two close?"

"When I was very little, yes. But, as I grew older, he became even busier, and I to had much to do, so we did not see each other as much."

"Oh. So even if he hadn't died, I probably wouldn't have known much about him."

"You would know a great deal about him. You just wouldn't know him personally."

"Huh?"

"Inuyasha, what do you know about me?"

"What?"

"I won't repeat it."

"Well, I know you're a bastard."

"Wrong, my parents were officially united. I am legitimate. Stop trying to insult me and tell me what you know."

"Uh… You're much older than me, and you grew up in this castle, and you have a lot of respect for father, but you're relationship was kinda tense towards the end, and-"

"Why do you say that?"

"Because, well, you said you guys stopped being close, and besides, you get all quiet and thoughtful whenever it gets mentioned, and you even bowed to his portrait and were very stiff and tense."

"Very well. Continue."

"And… You hate humans…"

"Wrong, I don't hate them, I look down on them. Continue."

"And… You were brought up knowing that you would be his heir, and you had a lot of training, and had trouble spending time with him because he was always busy, and you want the tetsuiga, even though you don't really need it, and-"

"Explain."

"Well, I've seen you fight, and from what Myoga tells me, you're pretty damn formidable with that whip, even taken out hundreds of soldiers in one sweep. So, Tetsuiga might make things a little more convenient, like, you wouldn't have to jump up to attack something in the air, but aside from that, besides, you can fly. It would only make it so you don't really have to move to attack."

"True. Anything else?"

"Uh, your mom died when you were young, you disapproved of our father's second marriage, you fought the panther demons fifty years ago, you were mad at me for not helping, you feel bad that you were not able to protect men serving you, you keep Rin around but your confused about exactly why, you avoid being expressive at all times, uh"

"So, you have a great store of knowledge of my strategies and behaviors, in spite of not spending much time with me. How much do you know of my personality?"

"Now, what do you know of my personality?"

"You're cold, ruthless, ambitious-"

"Inuyasha, that is my strategy, my behavior. What is my personality?"

"Umm…"

"Am I truly apathetic, or curious? What motivates me? What do I value above all else?" Inuyasha opened his mouth to speak, "careful, Little Brother, there is a difference between what I value, and what I chase." Inuyasha's mouth closed.

He chases power, but that doesn't necessarily mean he values it more than anything else. And is he curious? He usually seems bored, but sometimes there seems to be no other possible motive for his actions. And what does motivate him? I really don't know much about his personality.

"You see? It is possible to know someone well enough to even predict their next movement, but not really know them at all. Strange, is it not, Little Brother? It would be the same with father, but to a greater extent. He was far more active, and far better known, so you would know a great deal more about his strategies, behaviors and goals, but you would rarely spend time with him, and therefore know very little of him personally."

"Oh. Did you know him personally?"

"To an extent. Certainly not as well as my mother."

"If you were born at the time I was, in stead of me, and he lived, would you know him as well?"

"Probably. I was his heir, I would still have been brought up in the same society, have received the same training. You would not have been accepted by most demons, it would not have been safe for you to grow up in the palace, so you would rarely have seen him at all. Most of his time with you would probably be spent in your sleep, and even that would be a rare occurrence."

"Oh. Why was I born?"

"I ask myself that often."

"No, seriously. He was a full-blooded demon too, why did he accept me? Did he accept me? How did he react when he found out about me?" Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed almost undetectably, and he looked away.

"He was thrilled. More proud than I had ever seen him. He cancelled all his meetings that day in order to celebrate with your mother."

"Wow. Why?"

"I don't know." Sesshoumaru was nearly done with his fur, and was straightening the part that usually curled over his shoulder, making a popping noise with each joint. He then proceeded to wash it like the rest of it. Inuyasha got up. "You can dry off with those." Sesshoumaru said, pointing to some fabric. Inuyasha got out of the water, and shook most of the excess water off of himself. He then started to pat his hair dry with a cloth. The water had sprinkled all over the place, and Sesshoumaru had to duck under water to keep from getting hit. Inuyasha asked a question the second he resurfaced.

Hmn. You call that a splash?

"What is the point of ducking under water to avoid getting splashed?"

"Principle."

"Whatever."

By the time Inuyasha was completely dry, and redressed, Sesshoumaru was ready to get out. Inuyasha turned around, to allow him some privacy. Sesshoumaru wrung the excess water from his hair, then started to pat it dry as Inuyasha had. Once it was merely damp, he wrapped it up in a cloth and piled it on top o his head, tucking the end inside to keep it from falling. He then straightened out his fur, having it stick out clear across the room, and shook it. Hard. For a few minutes straight. So that soon the only thing in the room that was dry was the fur. The fur was now comically fluffy, and Inuyasha's hair and robes were just as damp as Sesshoumaru's hair. Sesshoumaru dried off, then retrieved a fresh set of clothes very similar to the ones he traveled in, but with a simple blue flower design where the red honey combs usually were. Something was missing though.

"Sesshoumaru? Where is your armor?"

"Put away."

"When did you do that?"

"I didn't, a servant took it."

"I didn't see them."

"Then she is doing a good job. My servants are not meant to disturb my guests."

Sesshoumaru walked out without waiting for a response. Inuyasha followed him out. He was getting used to doing that.

…End Chapter…

Wow! Two stories updated! Woot! And this chapter was long! Well, long, for one of mine, at any rate. This right here is about a third of the way down on the 11th page. Yay! Kinda weak ending though (pout). Oh well. Anyway, it may be a while before I post the next chapter. I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review.

Oh, and this chapter was so much fun to write.