Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi owns Inu Yasha. I do not.
Author's notes: For some reason, I'm having trouble getting work done on my other Sesshoumaru and Inu Yasha forced into bonding type story, Beyond Golden Eyes. I got some work done on it, but nothing ready to post. Hopefully I'll be back in the right mind set for it soon. The plots may be similar, but the tones are different, and right now this one is coming more naturally.
Thank you for the wonderful reviews, I really appreciate it.
Oh, and for the record, I realize sitting still is not Inu's strong point (goodness knows I've played that angle every chapter) but also, based on the episode where Sesshoumaru gets that demon to impersonate his mother, I believe there are circumstances in which Inu's desire to be cared for overpower his inability to sit still.
Ch. 9- Everything and Nothing
Mmmm… Inu Yasha was kneeling on the ground, eyes closed, perfectly content. Long, gentle fingers were combing through his hair, sliding through his now tangle free hair, and it felt wonderful.Foolish pup. We've been sitting here for nearly an hour and yet you have not asked a single question. I have seen the looks on your face this nigh; you have been strategizing. I do not know what you want from me, but you are not going to get it. I said I wouldn't avoid answering the questions. That doesn't mean I can't avoid you asking them in the first place.
A single claw slid across Inu Yasha's scalp, too gently even to sting; but it was enough.
Sesshoumaru! What am I doing, he'd sooner kill me then pet me. Sesshoumaru doesn't do affection, what is he up to?
"What are you doing?" Inu Yasha crouched defensively on the opposite end of the room.
"I was enjoying the silence."
"You were stalling!" Sesshoumaru smirked.
"Perhaps."
Inu Yasha glared at his brother, whose gaze would have seemed disinterested, if it didn't remain on Inu Yasha for so long.
Gah! He could probably sit like this all night! Doesn't he have something better to do? Wait; shouldn't he have something better to do? I mean, he's supposed to be the new dog general, right? Doesn't he have responsibilities or something?
"Sesshoumaru?" the older demon tilted his head ever so slightly. "Don't you have work to do or something?"
"Nothing urgent."
"Why not?" Sesshoumaru's gaze drifted to look out the window.
"The world has grown too small."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Sesshoumaru's gaze returned, to lock with his brother's.
"Throughout this family's rule, each Inu no taisho has had something important to accomplish, expanding the borders, establishing order, gathering allies, raising an heir, fighting great wars, leading the troops to victory… building a legacy."
It had to be my imagination. Sesshoumaru did not just sigh.
"The only land left that has not been allied or conquered is the mainland, and I simply do not have enough followers for a campaign of that magitude. No one cares anymore how far the borders stretch. Lesser demons want food, sex, and a little bit of land, they could care less about the mainland. And there are so few great demons left. The death of Ryuukotsu marked the last of the truly powerful demons."
"What about you?"
"Me?" Sesshoumaru's brow knit together. "You said it yourself- I am nothing compared to our father."
"Well… that still doesn't explain why you don't have anything important to do. I understand why you have no huge 'campaigns' or whatever, but what about order, raising an heir and all that-"
"Inu Yasha… There's no one left. Centuries of preparation, and he died. I will never reach my full potential because I have to rule instead of training. I am the last full blooded dog demon, so the only options for an heir is either dilute the blood, or inbreed, until there is nothing but full blooded insane cripples left. The aristocracy is all but gone, and the lesser demons due not tract history- even if I could create a legacy, it would be forgotten quickly. As for restoring order, I have a sword, a retainer, a handful of weak servants and a few incompetent loyalist followers, all of whom do whatever I tell them, so there order takes care of itself. All those centuries of training, and fighting, and isolation, and he dies, leaving me with nothing." Sesshoumaru stopped speaking, as he started to seal away his emotions once more, praying the half breed hadn't noticed the slight bitterness in his tone.
Fool. Look at you, trying to bury your emotions, pretend to be everything I've said you are. You actually believe that even after everything I've seen tonight, you can hide it.
…End Chapter…
OH MY GOODNESS! That's the shortest chapter I've written in a very long time. But, the chapter just sort of ended of its own accord. Oh well. Hope you like it.
