When we arrive, the wolf demon is already there and his countenance is a perfect mixture of agitation and worry.
"Where have you been all day?"
"Hanging out with Miroku," he replies and I see a minor twitch in the facial expression of the wolf demon.
"Since noon?" Kouga questions causing Inuyasha's brows to knit together.
This is perfect. If Kouga continues with that line of questioning I won't have to get rid of him, he will get rid of himself.
"Yeah, since noon, what's your point?"
"Nothing I just find it out of character for you, that's all," the wolf demon finishes, desperately trying to save face.
"From what I can tell he's a nice guy, he even let me care for his horses," Inuyasha says and the smile on his face is a wide one. I now know that to be as big a winning point with him as I suspected it to be. I'm definitely asking him to come with me when I buy more livestock.
"Did you spend the whole time talking to them?"
"Most of it," Inuyasha admits happily. "He has seven horses, one is pregnant and another one is ill. I let him know."
"And how did you explain how you knew any of this?"
"He knows I can hear them, Kouga."
"WHAT!?" the wolf demon shouts as he jumps to his feet, "You told some stranger you've only known for a couple of days one of your biggest secrets!"
"Calm down it's no big deal. Besides aren't you always going on about how I need to trust more?"
"Yes trust ME more, not some random guy whose intentions we're not sure of," Kouga says as his arms fold across his chest.
"We, you say," Inuyasha replies, the tone of his voice changing to match the look in his eyes. He approaches the wolf demon and the wolf almost looks nervous, "scared his intentions are along the same line as yours?"
Excellent question, one I don't have an answer to yet myself. I almost feel sorry for Kouga as he starts to stutter, but before he can make a fool of himself Inuyasha silences him with a kiss. This is not a chaste kiss but a lingering one. When he pulls back, I can see his eyes dancing from here.
Breathtaking, well and truly breathtaking.
Kouga wraps his arms around the delectable creature in front of him and pulls him into an embrace, "What if that's exactly what I'm afraid of?" Kouga admits.
A chuckle from Inuyasha catches the wolf off guard, "I don't think you have to worry about competition Kouga. I believe you are the only one crazy enough to have anything to do with me."
Kouga grabs Inuyasha by his shoulders and holds him out at arm's length. The look on his face is one of sorrowful disbelief, "You know I hate it when you say things like that."
"But it's true and you know it. Demons and humans alike keep their distance from me. It's as if they think being a Hanyou is catching like some plague," Inuyasha says as his gaze drops to the forest floor. "Hell, even my own brother has as little to do with me as possible."
"Your brother's an asshole," Kouga replies with more than a little anger in his tone.
"That may be, but that doesn't change anything," Inuyasha says and his exasperation is clear.
"Well if that Seer's suspicions are true then he'll be singing a different tune soon enough and quite possibly kissing that lovely behind of yours."
The smirk on the wolf's face is infectious. I don't even know what they are referring to but I'm grinning from ear to ear and mentally pulling for Inuyasha to come out on top. No words pass between the two for a while but their expressions and body language speak volumes. I'm not much of a psychic but even I can tell Kouga is and has been in love with Inuyasha for quite some time.
The proof of that is in every look the wolf sends in the half demons direction. The longing is his eyes when Inuyasha looks away is undeniable. Inuyasha, on the other hand, is harder to read. He's so practiced at keeping his guard up that even in situations like this it's hard to say with any certainty what he feels. However, I'd bet the shops till that he feels close to, if not exactly, the same.
They meet here in front of this pond like star-crossed lovers that fear what they feel for each other almost as much as they fear the reactions of those around them. The moonlight dances across the water and the image they make standing before its reflective surface is like nothing I've ever seen. Demons like these two are truly stunning creatures.
Most people would realize this if they didn't panic the moment they saw one. They usually have much less interest in us humans than the majority of people would like to think. I have learned if a demon of this standing makes its presence known to you then it means you no harm. If it had its eye on you, the average human would never see it coming.
The two have been slowly edging closer to each other as they look out into the still waters before them. When their shoulders touch, they turn and face each other again. Kouga says something I can't hear just before he pulls Inuyasha into his arms. He moves their bodies in a slow rhythmic pattern akin to a dance as he runs his fingers through those silver tresses. When Inuyasha pulls back this time, his arms wind around Kouga's neck, the kiss that follows is open-mouthed, deep and passionate in a way that makes me believe this exchange is not going to stop with mere kissing.
This goes on for a while and by the time they part both of them are breathing heavy. When Kouga leans in he starts to nibble on Inuyasha's neck and the half demon doesn't stop him. His reaction is to have clawed hands clutch the back of the wolf's head and hold him there. The expressions crossing Inuyasha's face as well as the little noises that are escaping his throat cause an unexpected stirring in the pit of my stomach.
Perhaps pursuing Inuyasha in this fashion will have multiple rewards.
Tanned hands shift around until they find the knot of Inuyasha's obi. Nimble fingers are working on untying the fabric when both of their heads shoot up as if startled by a loud noise. A mumbled shit from Inuyasha has me wondering what has happened to cause this reaction. He buries his face in the crook of the wolf demons neck and hugs him tightly.
"As much as I know this sucks but…"
"You have to go."
Inuyasha nods and Kouga says, "Hell, let him come to us he can say what he wants to say with me standing right here beside you."
"I appreciate the offer but not only do I not want to get you any more involved in this than you need to be, I really don't want him here. As sappy as it sounds this has been kinda our spot for years and I really don't want the bastard bringing his attitude here mucking up our oasis."
Kouga regards him with questioning eyes as he sighs loudly and says, "Anything for you Puppy, but you'd better let me know if he starts his shit again."
"I can handle him, Kouga."
"That's not the point. You know as well as I do the way he treats you, is wrong."
"I can handle it. Besides you have no idea how dangerous Sesshoumaru is."
"I don't care, I want…"
"Just head back to the den Kouga if I don't start moving toward him soon he will come find me."
Kouga snorts but moves away from the Inu demon. When he hesitates at the edge of the clearing Inuyasha waves at him and moves in the opposite direction. He takes off at a speed that puts my newest magic spell to the test. I was nearly exhausted when he thankfully came to a stop. Before I could get my bearings straight, a being, more visually striking and reeking of more power than I've encountered in years, comes into view.
He looks down his regal nose until his eyes settle on Inuyasha's midsection. When he doesn't say anything Inuyasha looks down and notes how his clothing is in disarray. With a low grumble, he fixes his haori and looks up at the other male with defiant eyes. As I watch the pair stare each other down I notice how similar in appearance the two are.
This must be the older brother, the asshole, as Kouga put it.
It is hard to believe that a being so ethereal could be the bastard the other two demons claimed him to be. Only one way to find out, I decide as I strengthen the magic masking my scent and settle in for another long round of eavesdropping.
"It is not within your means to conform is it? You simply must be a misfit in all things," the older demon says.
"What are you babbling about now?"
"I scent another male all over you, a wolf demon am I correct?'
"Yes you are, and what difference does it make to you? I figured you'd be delighted that he was a full demon."
"While that is surprising to say the least since I always assumed you would grow old alone or take some desperate human as a mate."
"I still don't see where you care either way."
"I suppose I shouldn't since nothing can come from the union."
I'm not sure what the older demon saw in his siblings behavior but it causes him to narrow his eye's at the half demon. Inuyasha went uncharacteristically still right before the other demon growled low in the back of his throat. Inuyasha's ears flattened to his head as he began backing away. He doesn't get three steps before a hand wraps around his neck hoisting him into the air.
"What are you not telling me, Inuyasha? Speak now before I end your miserable existence."
Well this sort of reaction must be how Kouga formed his less than flattering opinion of Inuyasha's brother. How shocking, you truly can't judge a book by its cover. This otherworldly beauty had a nasty side as well as a short temper it seems.
"For Kami's sake Sesshoumaru, let me go!" Inuyasha gasps out as well as he can.
"Speak of what you are hiding, now!"
"Only if you get your hands off me so I can breathe," he demands even though he is in no position to do so. I can't say I blame him; the other demons callous reaction was unprovoked. His brother regards him with cold eyes before gracelessly dropping him on the ground.
Once Inuyasha picks himself up and clears his throat he says, "First things first, I can talk to animals."
Those frigid eyes are glaring murder at him. I am stunned this was something I found out about him before his sibling was made aware. If he's kept it from him all this time, I wonder what has made him speak of it now.
"Before you decide to take my head off for being crazy give me a chance to prove it."
His brother gives him a slight nod in the affirmative and Inuyasha kneels down. In moments, two squirrels come into view excitedly flicking their tails. Both seemingly clamoring for Inuyasha's attention, he smiles at them and soon they calm down. I can only assume it's because he asked them too. The other demon didn't look like he was impressed thus far and I have already bared witness to his short fuse… I hope Inuyasha doesn't keep him waiting long.
"You have to give me your word you won't hurt them."
"You have my word now get on with it."
"I'm going to ask them to climb the tree beside you, run across your shoulders, leap onto mine, climb down my leg and sit at my feet."
His brother looks at him as if he's lost his mind and is beyond any possible help. I can't say I blame him, if I didn't know his gift to be true already I would be looking at him the same way.
"Even if you can speak to them, I highly doubt they would put on such a show because you asked it of them."
"Just watch," Inuyasha says as he takes in a deep breath.
The two woodland creatures hesitate for just a moment before both of the brown and gray squirrels do as he said they would. The older demon tries not to show his surprise but I saw it before that cool mask of indifference he wears falls back into place. Inuyasha is smirking at him obviously waiting for some sort of response.
When one doesn't come he says, "I bet I could even talk to you when you're in your true form."
That got the demon's attention.
"This I doubt," is the vocal response but the look of disbelief and scorn says much more.
"I don't see why not. I can talk to Kouga in his full demon form."
"Do not attempt to compare me to any of the lot associated with you."
The smirk slides from Inuyasha's face. A flicker of hurt passes through his eyes before those brows knit back together and he says, "My mistake your highness, I've only been able to talk to any creature I've come across all of my miserable life. I suppose it was stupid of me not to realize you'd be different."
Silence reigns between the two and you could cut the tension with a knife. Neither one wants to back down. It is here I can see the family resemblance. Inuyasha not challenging him to transform to prove himself right nor is the other offering to do so just to prove him wrong.
"Why hasn't this come to my attention before?"
"And risk getting my ass stomped into the ground for being a further embarrassment to you? No thanks, I'll pass."
"Fine I do not have time to waste with you, now tell what else you are hiding so I can be on my way."
A loud snort sounds from the Hanyou, "Don't let me stop you. Far as I'm concerned you can leave now."
"Do not test my limited patience with you half breed. Speak now."
"It always comes back to that with you doesn't it? Me and my unworthy human mother, well worry no longer fate has seen to it that she not live much longer and once she passes from this life I plan on disappearing from yours. Once you hear of her passing feel free to tell everyone that knows of my existence I've died if that will make your life easier."
"Where will you go?" is the question asked by the older brother. Even as his features remain impassive, the slightest edge of genuine curiosity leaks into his tone.
"I might be Dáire," is the answer and it means nothing to me but it makes his brother's eyes go wide and remain that way. I was beginning to think true lasting expression was beyond him. "If that's the case we will… at the very least I will, be as far from this damnable place as possible."
"If that is the case you will do no such thing. I demand that you return with me and…"
"Fuck you and your demands. You will have to kill me first. I won't become your pawn or bargaining chip because of this… like I said, tell everyone I died."
"The first time you could be of value and this is what you chose to do? You are truly an imbecile."
"See this is exactly why I'm leaving. For everyone else the simple fact they exist makes them valuable, but not me, never for me." Inuyasha says as he pets the heads of the little forest creatures that have yet to leave his side. "I had to go as far out as being hit with a once in a millennia gift to be valuable," I see him suck in his bottom lip, square his shoulders before looking up into the face of his brother and saying, "so in all sincerity Sesshoumaru, fuck you."
"I could take you by force if need be."
"And I could fight you to my death too. I've never been afraid of dying you know this. I always figured you'd be the one to kill me anyway."
"Why are you so eager to toss your life away?"
"I'm not, but an honorable death is better than what you have to offer."
"Do you realize how sought after you would be? You could pick from some of the most powerful demons in this land."
"Yeah and all of whom don't give two flying shits about me, only what I could give them or tie them to. Again, I'll pass on that."
"You would toss away a life with an actual future as well as an easier living than you've ever had for some wolf cur?"
"Do you even hear yourself? I don't know why I'm debating with you. You are making my argument for me."
The taller demon growls low and deadly but the Hanyou doesn't so much as flinch. He does the opposite; once again, he chuckles and shakes his head.
"You're a real piece of work you know that? You're standing there on your royal pedestal all but blatantly telling me this is the only thing making my life worth my creation. Then you confirm the fact you have shunned me my whole life and left me to live hard simply because I'm a Hanyou. Now last, but certainly not least, you insult the only person other than my mother who's always thought I was worth something regardless of the mixed blood in my veins."
After saying what was not only quite the mouthful but from what I can gather it was the cold hard truth as well, Inuyasha tips his ear-topped head to the side and asks, "Now tell me again why I should jump for joy over your offer?"
"You should mind your tone, mongrel."
"Why? No matter how much respect I give you, you still treat me like dirt. So I think I'll use whatever tone I damn well please."
The demon moved so fast I didn't even realize he'd struck Inuyasha until his body hit the ground. Inuyasha didn't cry out even though I know that blow had to hurt. The sound alone made me cringe. I watch as he sits up and rubbing his visibly reddened cheek. He looks into the icy eyes of his sibling and lets out another mirthless chuckle.
"Tell me again why I'm not racing off to pack my bags and follow you?"
Fury flashes in those cold eyes but Inuyasha doesn't move. This lack of reaction tells me this sort of exchange is apparently nothing new to either of them. Even to one such as me that is a sad realization. Such unwarranted mistreatment of such an exotic and kindhearted creature is almost hard to watch.
Inuyasha is the first to look away ending the stare down. He rises, dusts himself off and leaps onto a low-lying tree branch. When he stretches out on the limb his brother snarls, "I am not done with you half breed."
"What, one hit not enough for you this time?"
"We were discussing your situation."
"What do you want from me Sesshoumaru? You've had your say, made me feel like the worthless sack of shit you always call me and you got to physically hurt me. Isn't that enough for one day?"
"You brought this on yourself."
"Yeah, yeah I'm sure you always strike everyone that doesn't agree with you," he quips but I hear the hitch in his voice.
"If you know how I am going to react why provoke me?"
"Because I know no matter what I do or don't do this game will play out the same," he answers as he stares up through the tree branches at the night sky. "Can you tell me the last time we spoke that you didn't belittle and then hurt me in some way? I'll kiss your leather clad feet if you can."
The older demon grows quiet and I assume he's thinking. The silence envelopes the clearing for so long I fear the show is over. Just as I contemplate leaving, Inuyasha speaks.
"Didn't figure you could, it's always been that way Sesshoumaru and I spent the first thirty years of my life trying to figure out why. After that I just accepted it as another thing in my existence I couldn't change or didn't have control over."
"You are sounding rather somber today. Why is that? You usually do not care how I treat you."
At those words, Inuyasha's head snaps around and the look on his face is one of complete indignation and shock.
"I always knew you were an asshole Sesshoumaru but I didn't think you were an oblivious one."
The growl is back and angrier than before. The sound has every hair on my body standing on its end.
"I've always cared Sesshoumaru. I've simply learned not to show it. I got tired of giving you yet another thing to mock me with. Do you know how hard it is to have someone you only want the slightest bit of concern from go out of their way to hurt you and make you suffer then laugh at you because you cry?"
His eyes are more serious and scornful in this moment than they've been during the entire exchange. The look he's giving his brother would make any other man turn in shame. Not this demon, no he doesn't waiver.
"Of course you wouldn't, how ridiculous of me to ask, but on to why I am so somber. My mother is dying and all I can do is watch. I am helpless to save her. Once she is gone I am alone in this world."
"What about that cur that I scent all over you?"
"That is a private matter. But so you don't blow a gasket I'll tell you I'm still deciding on that. The world despises creatures like me and his clan is no different. He would be giving up his life, position and family for me and I don't know if I can live with myself if I let him."
"You should be grateful someone cares enough to even consider it," is the sneer and by this point, even I am fed up with this pompous ass.
"By the gods you're a prick, you know that?" Inuyasha shouts and I have to agree, "Do you get off on kicking me when I'm already as far down as…"
A flash of light ripples through the clearing we are in. Along with it comes a crackling sound, followed by a pained hiss and a thud. When my eyes focus once more, I see a glowing tendril of energy flowing from the full demons fingertips. When I look at Inuyasha, he is picking himself up off the forest floor. Once he stands, I see where the energy caught him across his right side. It cut clean through both layers of his clothing and telltale streams of crimson are leaking out and soaking the tattered fabric.
"Y…you know," Inuyasha begins his words coming out in stressed pants, "every time you do something like that I hope that just once I will look in those steely eyes of… of yours and see a little remorse."
When his sibling doesn't respond he starts to walk away.
"I didn't dismiss you half breed."
"I'm leaving anyway, because if I don't get moving now I'll never make it home before I pass out."
Slight confusion flits across that beautifully passive face.
"Your energy whip... is glowing green. In your anger, you let out that lethal poison of yours. So unless part of your plan was to watch me writhe in… in pain until I'm unconscious I need to go."
No response is given but I think that was because there wasn't one to give. What does a person say to that? Nothing that's what, silence is definitely best.
His brother disappears in the blink of an eye and even I am stunned by his complete lack of concern. Not that I expected him to be remorseful but this show of complete crassness was hard to take in. He truly didn't care for his sibling at all and that realization made everything that is Inuyasha's twisted life just a bit more sad. He was truly a luckless creature.
The moment his brother's aura of power fades, Inuyasha drops to one knee. Panting and sweating his expression changes revealing just how much pain he was in from his sibling's attack. It takes a lot for me to remain hidden and not help him. This sort of reaction is out of character for me and I'm not sure if I like it.
From what I could tell, Inuyasha grows on a person rather quickly if you get close to him. In just the few days I've known him it seems those that could get over him being Hanyou care about and adore him. It is truly a shame that list of people is so short, but then again, that fact will make everything I'm planning that much easier. Knowing I won't have his temperamental powerhouse of a brother after my hide if I'm found out is a comfort indeed.
I am brought out of my musings when he grunts. I watch as he struggles to his feet and the urge to help him is there once more but I fight it down. I wouldn't do for me to get too attached especially so early in the game. He starts running back toward the pond at a much slower rate and when he gets there, he peels out of his undershirt and haori. This action allows me to see the extent of the damage done by his sibling.
The angry gash on his side is painful to look at. As he strips completely I think it is such a shame that a form that perfect is now going to be marred by quite the scar. As I eye him up and down before he slips in the water, I notice the absence of any scars and that makes me wonder if demons scar. I know they heal quickly and live for centuries but I am not sure about much else.
It seems I have some research to do. I already know I must find out what Dáire means so I might as well make myself well versed on them as a whole.
When he climbs out of the water he uses his undershirt as a bandage, redresses and heads toward his home.
It seems I have much to do before me and my Hanyou friend meet again.