A/N- if you see more spelling errors than usual, it's cuz my editior isn't speaking to me at the moment, so i sorta tried to do it myself, lost interest and ate some pizza.

Awake. He was entirely, and very much awake.

It had been about a week now, lying in Sesshoumaru's embrace, dining with Sesshoumaru, slowly healing his wounds, and he was finally beginning to regain the strength that the war had drawn from him.

Quietly slipping out of Sesshoumaru's arms, he padded quietly over to the window. He stared longingly out at the stretch of bare land that met the tempting, mysterious forest. He pressed his face closer, watching as a hare burst out soundlessly from behind a shrub and began hopping along the outskirts of the forest. Juuroumaru glanced back at Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru was seemingly still asleep. He eased the window open, wincing when it caught on something. With an upward shove, he managed to open it all the way. He perched himself on the ledge, his eyes falling closed as the cool air hit his face and the early morning birds sung their instinctive song.

He glanced back at Sesshoumaru who was still fast asleep. He found it hard to tear his eyes away from the divine youkai. He found himself wondering if he had really been in the arms of such a god only moments before. He looked away blushing, forcing his eyes back towards freedom. Without another backward glance, he jumped.

Sesshoumaru sat up when he heard the plunge, like the thrust of a knife, as Juuroumaru descended.

So that was it. Juuroumaru was gone. And that was the end. …So why did he feel like running after the silent youkai?

Maybe he would come back on his own…? Came an almost meek thought. He could've scoffed, yet he longed for it so much that he didn't want to dismiss the thought- he wanted it to come true. He sighed, getting up, feeling almost sluggish as he went through his daily routine.

He ate silently, not really thinking about what it was he was eating. He went about, doing his duties with little thought. (Sesshoumaru! Duties, okay so, I don't really know what exactly Sesshoumaru does... kill things? practice looking emotionless? whatever. he's doing his duties!)

The servants were quickly learning to avoid him, skirting around him so as not to get in the way of his wrath. He unknowingly had a fierce demeanor about him which he didn't realize until one of the servant's daughters ran away from him. After that little episode, he went back to his room where he could brood without bothering anyone. (considerate huh?)

By the time it was dark, Sesshoumaru found his hope that Juuroumaru would come back, waning. Almost unconsciously, in a last hope, he went to window. He had left it open for a reason unknown to him. He looked out, his eyes begging for sight of Juuroumaru but there was none.

"Umm… Sesshoumaru-sama?" Kyo. It had to be Kyo; Kyo was the only one who dared approach him after all.

"What?" he said softly.

"Do you… will you be eating dinner?"

"No."

"Ok… umm… will he- is he coming back?" Kyo's voice was meeker than ever for he knew he was treading on very dangerous ground.

For a while, Sesshoumaru didn't answer. He looked out over his land, searching for the stir of a tree, the sudden disturbance of a flock of birds, but his forests were dead silent.

"No."

Juuroumaru was in pure bliss. Trees flew past in a whirl of color. Birds, rabbits, deer(?), they fled from his path as he ran, his hair whipping about in a wind created by his own speed.

He climbed trees, jumping from limb to limb, disturbing bird nest after bird nest and laughing wildly as he hopped from one tree to the next. His clothes snagged on branches but he didn't care, small cuts were forming along his arms and face but he took no notice.

When his clothes were drenched with sweat and his throat dry, he followed his nose (huh… isn't that a cereal slogan?) he splashed into a lazy stream and dazzled by the crystalline water, suddenly flung into the air by the shattering of the water's placid surface.

He ducked under; opening his mouth to allow a heavy flow of water in. He opened his eyes to the sight of dozens of fresh water fish, darting about to avoid them. He propelled himself forward, straight into a school of them, watching, amazed as they all turned simultaneously, there scales reflecting off of the sun blindingly. He reached out to catch one, but his hand only grasped air. And oh, his hands! They were green! They glowed, just like the fish.

He broke the surface again, grinning broadly and panting in exhaustion. As soon as he regained his breathe, he plunged back down, his eyes traveling along the riverbed. There were colorful rocks, plants that swayed lazily but one rock stood out in particular. Juuroumaru reached out, firmly curling his fist around it. He swam up to the light and opened his fist to regard his treasure. It was not a rock at all, he realized. Its shape was far sharper and its color more beautiful than any rock. It had a hollow filled with sand that Juuroumaru quickly washed out. The strange thing gleamed in the light, its creamy, pale texture reminding him of Sesshoumaru. He tucked it away safely in his haori and then hopped out of the water. (lots of hopping this chapter)

The shoreline was a broad stretch of undisturbed sand, which he quickly settled into, the coarse, hot sand, making a nice contrast to the water. He slept for an indefinite amount of time, but when he woke the afternoon sun was already beginning to sink in the east. Sighing, he stood and stretched; testing the wind to decide where he would go next. Making sure that the pretty, creamy thing was still in his clothing, he began his journey back, relying on his instincts to get him home.

It was almost midnight when Sesshoumaru woke to a rustling sound. He didn't open his eyes for there didn't seem to be any immediate danger. He waited, listening as the sound drew closer and closer.

He was shocked when the rustling paused and he was suddenly pounced upon. His eyes flew open and he raised his arms to defend himself, only to find that it was Juuroumaru, sitting atop him, pinning his arms down with his knees. Juuroumaru grinned broadly, with an expression much like that of a happy puppy. He rolled off of the shocked Sesshoumaru and lay beside him, nuzzling his shoulder and humming happily.

Sesshoumaru sat up quickly, preventing Juuroumaru from further cuddling against him as Juuroumaru had obviously intended.

"You came back," he breathed, his voice filled with wonder, staring down at Juuroumaru. Juuroumaru was surprised by how much emotion crossed Sesshoumaru normally blank face.

"You- you came back- I thought that…" Juuroumaru's blank look put a halt to Sesshoumaru pointless words. He pursed his lips, his face suddenly changing into a blank, emotionless mask. He stared out the window, a façade of indifference to Juuroumaru's sudden, and admittedly relieving re-appearance. Juuroumaru sat up beside Sesshoumaru, worried and hurt that Sesshoumaru and so quickly blocked him out.

Suddenly, a thought came to mind. Reaching into his haori, he searched for the pearly little rock-like thing. When he found it, he grabbed Sesshoumaru's unresponsive hand and curled his fist around it, eagerly awaiting Sesshoumaru's response.

This seemed to surprise Sesshoumaru out of his self-imposed cocoon and he looked down blankly at the little thing in his hand. A shell? His eyes traveled from the white shell to Juuroumaru, who was looking at him expectantly.

Juuroumaru's eager looks dimmed a little at Sesshoumaru's reaction to his gift. His shoulders slumped. Sesshoumaru hadn't liked it… Just as he moved to get up, trying to force down the feeling of sadness welling in his throat, Sesshoumaru's hand caught his wrist. He looked up startled.

Sesshoumaru's gold eyes seemed to burn, with an intenseness that made Juuroumaru stagger back a little. He was forcefully pulled back into Sesshoumaru's arms and kissed possessively. The kiss was forceful, and hot and wonderful, all at the same time. It made Juuroumaru dizzy and thrilled. He wasn't afraid of his lack on control- no not at all; in fact, it felt wonderful, exciting, giving himself entirely to Sesshoumaru. Tentatively, Juuroumaru began to kiss back, his lips guided by Sesshoumaru's sure ones. (That sounds so retarded)

When it ended they both pulled away panting and Sesshoumaru found himself staring into pools of lust. "Thank you…" he breathed seductively, his lips curling into a feral grin against Juuroumaru's. He leaned in and kissed Juuroumaru again, instincts screaming at him to claim the other youkai his. His, his and always his. As his hands began roaming, he felt Juuroumaru recoil a little when his hands brushed the scar across Juuroumaru's belly.

"Sesshoumaru..." he trailed off in an unsteady voice.

"What's wrong?" breathed Sesshoumaru gently.

"Scared." he murmered. "Hurts... still." he shivered and looked away, hating the weakness in his voice.

"Tonight," Sesshoumaru whispered, easing Juuroumaru's shirt off of his narrow shoulders and kissing the pale, exposed skin…

"We celebrate the fall of Naraku's reign…" he felt Juuroumaru shiver in his arms but moan when he began nibbling on his pointed ear.

"And we shall see…" he whispered, licking the narrow shell, "if his last heir, will be ruled tonight."

Lemon? no lemon? kinky smut? whatever you want. review and tell me if you want smut or not. i can't decide whether i should skip it, or go ahead change the rating and write it... oh, and the whole 'rock-like thing', it's really just a shell, but Juuroumaru doesn't know that. he's a little pathetic... oh well. yay! dinner's ready.