Chapter Four

"What exactly requires all lords and ladies of great Japan to assemble in one place? Particularly here, in the Great East Kingdom, which my little brother commands."

All eyes were on Sesshomaru after he had, as casually as he believed he did, asked why he was required to be here, to a place he would rather not be visiting. One of the debatable reasons as to why he didn't want to be here was sitting directly in front of him, looking much too old in his important role as Lord of the East and most assuredly too different than what he remembered of his otouto. Since the moment he arrived he had carefully looked over his brother with something akin to intense curiosity. He had indeed grown into an adult youkai, his boyish figure and visage all but gone. This adult version of his brother, however, was just as mesmerizing to Sesshomaru as his younger self had been. But something was off...

Inuyasha's hair was held up in a topknot as was customary for youkai lords, his battle gear on, as if he had just returned from war. The bone armor he adorned was quite similar to their late ojiisama's, who had, on his death bed, passed it down to a then young Inu no Taishou, who had obviously now passed it down to Inuyasha.

The armor itself was rather impressive; long, steel-like bicep plates with two fangs protruding vertically from either of his shoulders and three, smaller ones aligned down either of his arms. A thick hide encompassed his narrow torso, taken from, more than likely, Inuyasha's first victory kill when he had initially taken charge of the Eastern lands. His haori and kimono were white, three red stripes running down his left shoulder to the point where his deep amethyst and beige obi was tied intricately. The Inu Clan's signature pelt half over his right shoulder, emerging from the back of his armor, in a position much like their father's was.

The pelt itself was more than just a stationary item, however, it was also an emotional one; for when the eldest of the clan died (in their true demon form) the remaining family members would do special rituals, clean the hide of the deceased and then skin their kin of their fur. From this they made long, flowing pelts to pass down to younger generations as a sign of their deepest and highest respects, not to mention parade around their higher breeding, the strongest of the strong in demon society, as it were.

And then there was Inuyasha's facial markings. When they were younger those markings were mere lines, but now that he had matured fully they were long and jagged, utterly breathtaking in their beauty. Indeed... he was breathtaking.

Sesshomaru finally caught up with himself.

Damn this peculiar predicament which unsettled the stillness his emotions had once been! He had only come because of an urgent letter, formally addressed to him by Inuyasha himself, which had requested his immediate presence, yet refrained from conveying exactly what was so imperative as to attend. That was why he was somewhat taken aback by all the guests and servants running around the magnificent castle when he arrived. He had thought, for a mere moment, that maybe Inuyasha had reconsidered them...

"You mean he doesn't know!" came Inuyasha's booming voice. His eyes seemed to almost pop out of his skull while stating the obvious in utter astonishment.

"I may have forgotten to mention that little detail..." the Inu no Taishou mumbled, calling for a few cups of strong sake. The Lord of the West had a feeling he'd need some as well, especially since all these two fools seemed to do was argue how he, eldest son of the Inu no Taishou, knew not of what was transpiring in the castle or why he was attending, and continued to keep the highly sought-after information from him.

"Forgot to mention what to me, Chichi-ue," he strained to say softly. By now, Sesshomaru's fur had definitely been ruffled to the point of omniscient disaster. He wished to know what it was that his father and brother seemed to be conspiring about together. It obviously had to be something of great magnitude if even his father, a trusted advisor of his since he came to power as Lord of the West so many years ago, would even refrain from confiding in him, his own son.

"I cannot believe you opted to withhold such vital information from your own kin, Father. You're worse than a pup, you know that? Mother will be outraged to hear this, you realize."

"Well I really didn't think he'd come if he knew!" was the old man's quick reply. Sesshomaru scrutinized the slightly widening of his father's eyes, as if his own words had startled him somehow.

"Why wouldn't he? He is required by law! Even he isn't as dense as not to abide by law," Inuyasha retorted angrily.

Sesshomaru took measures to slow his breathing. He'd had enough of this banter.

"Chichi-ue, Otouto," the West's daiyoukai said tightly. "Even now, you neglect to specify any details as to what this momentous occasion calls forth."

Inuyasha seemed to relent after a bit of thought. Standing he walked over to his balcony, his back to both his father and he as he opted to begin with, "Brother, you, as well as all of the ladies and lords in attendance, are here for a celebration."

Sesshomaru's gaze was momentarily taken from his younger brother's visage to that of his father's form, which was slinking off to the other side of the room. He was seeking refuge near a wall of admittedly beautiful momiji wall hangings, consciously or unconsciously preserving himself for something he more than likely felt Sesshomaru would take out on either him or Inuyasha. How curious for his father to act as such. He would have to corner the old dog later and inquire about it. But for now...

Sesshomaru remained silent as his eyes narrowed before turning to Inuyasha again. He waited with a strength of patience he'd never needed to wield before, tapping impatient fingers against his patient-looking face as the Inu no Taishou held a breath while scratching a claw across the silken image of a maple, and Inuyasha turned around, a smug expression aligning his fine, mature features.

"The celebration being that of my mate's and my joining, that is."

Sesshomaru's jaw tightened immediately, molten eyes darkening, claws pinching his crossed forearms, slowly registering what he had just heard.


"What?" came Sesshomaru's clipped tone, causing Inuyasha to flinch out of his earlier, smug expression.

"I-," the Lord of the East stammered. Inuyasha, for the first time since he had been parted from his elder brother all those decades ago, had succumbed to his old habits of acting like a child, stammering... Great. Now he just needed to wait until he'd turn brash and impulsive. But that couldn't happen. If it did his long-resolve of being like his father would diminish and his feelings, which were not worth the pain they always caused, would come to the forefront, crushing him, which was something he absolutely could not handle right now.

"The reason you're here is to commemorate the announcement of my mating. The engagement itself will be held in one week from tonight," Inuyasha said with dignity, turning his back to his brother again. He did not want to see Sesshomaru's expression at that moment. For if he did he feared he might see a flicker of what he hoped yet dreaded to see, and that was whether or not Sesshomaru still cared.

Silence ensued, swallowing the entire castle into a never ending void of awkwardness.

"I see," came the low reply. So low that'd it have to be close enough to...

Inuyasha turned around to regard his sibling-

He was. Right. There!

Not more than half a foot away, Sesshomaru stood, an unreadable look holding firm to his face.

He wouldn't, Inuyasha thought suddenly. He wouldn't... do that, not while Father's still in the room! No! Please...

"Ah, Sesshomaru!" the Inu no Taishou called suddenly. No answer came, his sons still staring the other down it seemed, at least to an outsider that knew not of what had transpired between them when they were younger, that is.

"So, you are to be mated," Sesshomaru repeated. I am to lose you again, otouto? But this time for eternity?

"Yes, that's right," Inuyasha said, the gruffness that had been in his voice when he was a brash, outspoken teenager coming back to him; a gruffness that he had worked so hard to hide behind his usually sultry, deep voice which he had become accustomed to since his reign in the East. Damn his brother for bringing out what he used to be, what he ought not to be anymore!

"I have finally chosen a suitable, reliable, trustworthy, loving mate. She's perfect for me." Yes, he was definitely turning into his old self. A self he had shown only to his father, clan, brother and soon-to-be mate.

Sesshomaru made a disgusted noise through his nose, his upper lip curling as he took a step forward with every word he said, ending up backing his little brother into a corner, literally.

"Trustworthy, reliable, loving, suitable, you say? One which seeks trustworthiness yet is untrustworthy themselves does not deserve such a trait in a potential life partner. Reliable; you cannot expect to return that favor to her, surely? Love; you care for nothing but yourself, impudent whelp. As for suitable..." Sesshomaru had the decency to look off to the side for a brief moment. "Suitable is what is right for the one in question, not what the public deems proper. You are making the mistake of your life; you always were too brash and impulsive for your own good, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha bristled, automatically falling for the bait. "The same could be said for you, asshole!"

Sesshomaru smirked as he finally found that he had broken through his brother's barrier; he had finally found his brother, not some replica of their father, that, for reasons unknown to him, Inuyasha seemed to strive to be like.

At Sesshomaru's smug expression, Inuyasha knew that he had played right into his elder brother's hands. Damn him! He'd-!

But before Inuyasha could curse out the Lord of the West more a familiar scent filled his nostrils. Unbeknownst to his father or brother, Inuyasha had just found his way out.

The Lord of the East smirked in retaliation, which seemed to take his estranged brother off guard for a moment. And that's when he struck.

"Did I forget to mention?" Inuyasha began as the sliding door opened, a form filling the entryway. Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow, believing the person entering was merely a servant and kept his eyes trained on his sibling.

"My mate is from the Clan of Komori, which is conveniently located in your territory, Lord Sesshomaru," Inuyasha said, inclining his head to the right, near the entrance to his study room.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, my lords. Inuyasha has told me much about your great tribe," came a soft voice from the doorway.

Sesshomaru froze not daring to turn around as Inuyasha continued to smirk in satisfaction while the Inu no Taishou could only stare in horror at both predicaments he now had to deal with; the rekindling feelings of his only two children, and his youngest son being engaged to a... a half-breed!?


Chapter end.

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