Stir-Fried Inu

A/N- As always thanks to everyone who has been reading this story, it is highly appreciated. I hope you all continue to enjoy my work.

Disclaimer- Don't own InuYasha, never did, never will. I'm merely a fan with an overactive imagination!

'Thoughts'

'Youkai Thoughts/Talking'

Alrighty, now onto the next chapter, enjoy!

Chapter 5:

Reunited

It had been before the sun had even fully risen when InuYasha and Shippou had set out for their meeting with Sesshoumaru. Both were determined to get there as fast as possible and reunite with the others quickly.

For the better part of the morning and into the afternoon they traveled. They searched far and wide for Sesshoumaru but it seemed that luck wasn't with them. Feeling tired, InuYasha stopped for a breather and that is when he sensed it. His brother was nearby and was coming to him.

Happy about that, InuYasha sat down with his back against a tree and let himself doze while waiting for his brother to arrive. Shippou remained alert, determined to protect InuYasha and his baby. This made InuYasha glad that he wasn't alone.

It was Rin who reached them first. She came tearing through the trees and slid to a stop when she saw InuYasha and Shippou. Excitedly she ran towards them, her arms were full of mangled flowers and she was losing several petals as she ran. InuYasha smiled at this even as he moved to stand, he held out his hand and after a moment of looking up at him Rin placed a flower in his palm.

Kneeling down at that, InuYasha patted her head speaking softly. "Thank you Rin. They are lovely; I think Shippou would like one too." Rin brightened at that before she handed all the flowers to the stunned Kitsune. Then a voice filled the clearing, "Rin." At that Rin turned and flushed guiltily as Sesshoumaru strode into the area, he was followed soon after by Jaken and Ah-Un.

InuYasha sighed as he stood his voice annoyed, "don't be mad at the girl Sesshoumaru. She's a good child, besides it was me who came to you. I need to speak with you Sesshoumaru, it is very important."

Sesshoumaru just glared at him and InuYasha shook his head. It seemed his brother was going to be just as grouchy as he always was. Lifting his arms, InuYasha held them wide asking, "smell me Sesshoumaru. That should tell you exactly why I came." It was almost imperceptible but InuYasha could see his brother's nose twitch and his form tense.

InuYasha closed his eyes and waited. He didn't have to wait long.

One moment he was standing there, the next his back hit a tree while his brother's claws tightened about his throat. He could hear Shippou shouting at Sesshoumaru to let him go, but he knew it wouldn't change the outcome. Slowly InuYasha opened his eyes, locking his gaze with that of his brothers.

"You bastard mutt! You dare to taint our bloodline further by allowing some pathetic Ookami to pup you; can you sink no lower InuYasha?" Sesshoumaru's voice was all steel and venom but InuYasha just shook his head before he replied. "I see you didn't scent everything, do so again, brother."

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes even further before he pressed his nose against InuYasha's neck and inhaled deeply. In a split second InuYasha was released and Sesshoumaru had stepped back, he was currently giving InuYasha look he could only interpret as confusion. Deciding to help his brother along, InuYasha exposed his mating mark and spoke softly.

"Your nose isn't lying to you, I am mated brother. At least one part of me is and yes I carry a pup, but its father is the leader of the Ookami clans. I am sealed to another noble clan and my pup will be raised as the next leader, so you see brother I bring no shame to our family."

Reaching out Sesshoumaru placed a hand on InuYasha's belly and growled softly, "you carry more than one...brother." InuYasha froze at that his eyes wide; he didn't deny his brother's statement, for he knew it was nothing but the truth. He was just surprised.

"H..how many?" InuYasha's voice cracked as he spoke. Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow and stepped back, his voice was still rather soft as he replied. "I smell five separate scents and hear only five heartbeats, as to their sex you aren't far enough into your pregnancy to have it determined."

Stunned once more, InuYasha placed his hands upon his still somewhat flat belly and sighed. 'How am I ever going to be able to bare so many on my frame, I hope none of them are weakened by the others.' Shippou danced happily about his legs and InuYasha couldn't help but smile.

Remembering his brother's presence, InuYasha bowed to him respectfully. "Thank you brother, you have given me exactly what I needed. I hope these pups are the beginning of our reconciliation...I would love for them to know their uncle after all." InuYasha ended on a bittersweet laugh before he turned to leave.

He continued in a more serious tone, "I hope you will still help us to get rid of Naraku and let's hope his end comes before my pups. Until next time then, farewell brother." InuYasha began walking and heard an almost inaudible, "may you remain safe until such a time...brother." Smiling he picked up his pace, calling for Shippou to follow him.

Although he had wished Sesshoumaru had fully accepted him, he knew that his brother had started to see him in a different light and after his brothers words he knew that it was only a matter of time. 'I hope you can see this from the afterlife...mother, father.'

Shippou jumped around him while singing about how many pups InuYasha was going to have and InuYasha just shook his head. Looking up at the sky he sighed, he couldn't believe it. Once, that was all it had taken and now he carried so many pups, he couldn't wait to see what the other's thought. Not to mention Kouga, he just hoped he would have the courage to see this all through to the end.

Placing his hands upon his belly once more he couldn't stop another smile from crossing his lips, things were definitely going to change and soon. All he had to do now was tell Kouga the truth. Sighing at that thought InuYasha was worried how he could approach Kouga about all this, because his body was going to start changing and there was nothing he could do about it.

It took them much less time to return to the village than it had when they had left; it was after all a straight shot back from where they'd met with Sesshoumaru. So just after nightfall they reached the outskirts of the village and were greeted by Miroku. He told them that Kagome had returned home to pack for their upcoming trip and would be back in the morning.

When they had finally reached the hut which Kaede had provided for them during their stays in the village, they found that Sango had taken it upon herself to cook them all dinner. She brightened when she saw them all and Kilala mewed a greeting, her voice was cheerful as she asked, "So how did it go?"

InuYasha opened his mouth to speak and Shippou beat him to it. "We found Sesshoumaru! He told us something awesome, InuYasha's going to have Five pups! Not one, but five!" His voice echoed through the hut and InuYasha just rolled his eyes at Shippou's behavior.

Sango and Miroku just stared at InuYasha with wide eyes and letting out a sigh he nodded his head and spoke softly. "Shippou is right, Sesshoumaru wouldn't lie. I am carrying five pups and soon it will start to show, we must seek out Kouga before that happens. I want the chance to tell him before I am unable to hide the truth. I just hope he gives me that chance."

Bending his head at that, InuYasha placed both his hands upon his belly suddenly feeling quite depressed. "InuYasha...I've been wondering something and you don't have to answer if you don't want to. But...do you love Kouga?" Sango had spoken as delicately as she could to not upset InuYasha, she just couldn't control her curiosity anymore.

Lifting his head InuYasha looked at all four of his companions and smiled as he replied, "Kouga first knocked me out before he took me to a cave, where he propositioned me...I thought it over and found I wanted what he offered. I realized that I did love him...so yes Sango, I do love Kouga."

Smiling Sango moved over and gave InuYasha a hug, "I am glad for you then and I will help you however you need to win Kouga over. I promise." InuYasha laughed at that and gave Sango's shoulder a good squeeze in thanks before replying; "now we just need to wait for Kagome to return and then we can set out. I am honored to have you all with me right now, thank you all."

Feeling decidedly sentimental and knowing it has everything to do with being pregnant, InuYasha took a deep breath and said, "In fact, you guys are my family and I love you all."

A/N- I hope I kept Sesshoumaru in character. I really love his part in the InuYasha series.

Until next time...

May the Fluff Be With You!

=^..^=