Title: By the Light of Mars
Parings: Inuyasha/Sesshomaru and Sango/Miroku
Chapter 16 of ?
Summary: After Naraku is killed Inuyasha's world is settling in to a normality he hadn't expected but when his brother appears bringing with him Rin and royal intrigues can Inuyasha prevail over the new obstacles in his life, including this strange affinity his brother seems to have for him?
Disclaimer: I do not own the Inuyasha franchise, anime, manga or characters. I play with them for fun not for profit.
The forest sang as he flitted effortlessly through the tree tops. His hair whipped in the cool evening wind dancing around his body in a whirl of honey and silk. He felt alive. Somehow more free than he had ever felt before. Everything was pushed from his mind in one rush of emotion all that remained was the need to be one with nature.
This need had been his for as long as he could remember. The smell of fresh earth, the feel of the sun on bare skin was more a home than any palace could ever hope to be. Even the silken trappings of his formal clothing did not hinder the wild independence that hastened through his very being.
His ears twitched as the call of his husbands howl reached out to his yokai, just as primal as his need for freedom, yet so much more profound. He slowed, digging his feet in to the damp soil beneath him. He wondered for the briefest moment where his shoes had gone to. Then he was tilting his head back. His long silver hair brushing his thighs, ears perking in anticipation. A long low howl alerted the party to his location.
Inuyasha allowed himself a heaving sigh as he jumped lightly in to the largest tree in the vicinity and rested his body. The Hanyou was restless his need for battle, for the hunt, still warring beneath his calm exterior.
Kaede Ba-Ba Please be okay, we are coming old lady. Just hang in there. His mind whirred with the possible outcomes of his journey.
Kaede was his last tentative hold on his past, his last connection to the woman he had loved with so much passion. She was both his sister and in some ways a replacement for the mother he barely remembered.
The old woman cared for him. Truly, deeply, with no addendums or obligations she had given him her affection. There were very few people who had ever done such a thing for him. He could count them on his fingers. Shippo, Miroku, Sango, his Mother, is Father and Kaede.
Sesshomaru's affection came only when his elder needed him. Inuyasha understood that all too well. Most demon's would think nothing of him if not for his strength. If not for his ability to bear pups.
He shifted uncomfortably running his hand across his muscled abdomen. He wasn't sure he was ready for children yet. Not while he and Sesshomaru still couldn't be counted upon to be civil to one another. Not while there was still so much hostility towards him at court.
His brother's yokai enveloped him as his alpha neared his resting place. He stretched his arms high above his head before dropping lightly from his perch to meet the racing party.
"Took you long enough." He barked watching as Sesshomaru led a trail of around fifty men and the palette carrying the women.
"This Sesshomaru felt it was prudent to stay with the men." His husband bit out throwing him a rather cold look.
"Yeah well out here there isn't any court rules to adhere to so I thought I might go for a run. I've been cooped up way too long in that stuffy pretentious palace." He explained smiling brightly at his still tense mate. The Hanyou cocked his head to one side and chucked an acorn at the other man.
"Must you turn in to a child as soon as we leave the castle grounds?" The biting tone to Sesshomaru's voice gave Inuyasha pause. He wanted to lighten the mood not have his mate upset with him.
"Whatever." He growled turning so as not to see the flawless alabaster of his brother's face. It reminded him, more so than even his attitude, that for all his proclamations to the contrary Sesshomaru did not see him as an equal.
"The Monk needs to be carried, the rest of our number can move at great speed but he is hindering our progress." His brother's biting tone made Inuyasha's blood boil.
"Yeah well have Kirara carry him!" Inuyasha growled, he had said as much before he left. Fucking bastard never listened to him.
"I'm going, come if you're coming." He bit out, bounding away from the group once more.
The world blurred past him in steaks of green and brown. The group kept up mostly lagging no more than a few hundred feet behind him at any given moment. He knew they were hampered by the palette carrying the women but he could care less. He would have made them use their own damn legs, or in Sango's case Kirara's. It made no sense to go in to battle with two silk swathed ladies hiding behind modesty panels.
The more the thought about his brothers fucked up sense of right and wrong the hotter Inuyasha became. This wasn't some diplomatic mission or leisurely stroll. People's lives were in danger. He knew Sesshomaru could care less about humans but Kaede meant a lot to him and that should mean something.
It was becoming apparent that what he wanted didn't mean a whole hell of a lot. He was trying to change for Sesshomaru, or at least look like he had changed in front of the courtiers and yet his brother didn't seem to care or hell even notice. All he got were glares when he tried to give his honest to fucking Kami opinion. The only time Sesshomaru seemed to care how he felt was while he was trying to get in to his pants! Low and behold he got him bedded and now things were going right back to how they were before his little foray in to palace life.
He growled as the sun sank behind the mountains in the distance. He stopped and waited for his companions to catch up to him. It took moments before he was surrounded by soldiers.
"We aren't going to get any farther tonight." He called out trying not to look at his husband. "Let's make camp. It's only another six hours from here we should make it by evening tomorrow." He finished walking over to Miroku.
His friend smiled and dismounted Kirara jingling his staff at him. "It has been much too long since we last rode in to battle together my friend." He cried throwing an enthusiastic arm around Inuyasha's shoulder.
"Yeah well I scented a hot spring around here. Let's go bathe before the hordes descend." He replied grabbing the other man's wrist and dragging him towards the smell of steaming water.
He noticed his brothers eyes following him angrily but he ignored the stuck up Lord in favor of leading Miroku out of the rather crowded clearing he had chosen to camp in.
The hot spring was beautiful, the flowers growing around it glowed lighting the area in a strange bluish light.
"Oh man this is great." Inuyasha exclaimed hurriedly untying his obi and slipping out of the layers of clothing he had been wearing.
The water felt divine against his sweat cooled skin the smell of the glowing flowers filling his head and relaxing his muscles.
"This is surely what heaven would feel like." Miroku commented from somewhere to his left.
"Yeah." He groaned floating on his back.
"Inuyasha… may I ask, is there anything bothering you?" Again Miroku's voice broke his dazed pleasure.
"Feh, just Sesshomaru being a bastard. I shouldn't have really expected anything to change I guess." He explained wondering why he was telling his friend this.
"Yes well I believe Lord Sesshomaru may just be worried about your current condition being harmed by this journey." Miroku's voice sounded rather far away and it took Inuyasha a moment to comprehend what his friend was telling him.
"What condition?" He asked sleepily, laying his head on one of the large boulders peeking out from the waters depths.
"Inuyasha, you're with child. Did your brother not tell you?"
Miroku sounded, startled? Inuyasha could not for the life of him understand why his friend sounded like that. He was only pregnant. Wait, pregnant?
He shot up from his prone position to stare uncomprehendingly at his friend. "I'm what?"
INY
Thirty minutes and one hyperventilating Hanyou later Inuyasha and Miroku were sitting side by side next to the beautiful hot spring.
"So are we going to go back to camp?" The question was one Inuyasha had been contemplating for neatly ten minutes. He glared at his companion in irritation.
"I guess we need to. Don' fucking want to but when do I get what I want." He grumbled knowing how petulant he sounded.
Miroku's laughter made his ears perk. "My friend in life there are many times you cannot get what it is you desire. Take this from me, while you carry Sesshomaru's child yours is the only want he will care about. Just talk to him Inuyasha. If I'm wrong I'll eat my staff."
Inuyasha snorted glancing up at his still smiling friend. "Yeah but that thing's the only weapon you got left old man how are you gonna fight once it's shit?" He asked laughing at the look of shock on his friends face.
INY
(POV Change)
Kaede kneeled before the ancient tree that had once held her hanyou friend. Behind her guards kept watch. She had talked them in to letting her pray by the old tree for the souls of the villagers they had taken thus far. She touched the rough weathered bark with one withered hand and called out in anguish to the only person who could save them from the tyranny the village now found themselves facing.
"Come quickly Inuyasha, not for this old woman, it is almost my time. Come for the children who hold you above all others as their savior." She prayed her voice barely above a whisper.
Kami had failed them, she felt no need to call out to spirits or gods, for the only being truly powerful enough to help them was coming. He had to be.
INY
(POV Change)
Rin walked the halls of the main palace. It had been years since she had been in the large building at night without her father. The soft footsteps of her Ladies in Waiting followed her as she drifted aimlessly through the massive main building.
She passed works of art, spoils of war and tales of great warriors. Yet her eyes didn't stray to the treasures as they once had. This night her mind wandered to another more mysterious subject than any abstract painting could hope to be.
Kouga, just the name of her intended sent shivers down her spine. A week ago she would have sworn that her reaction was purely fear. Now though… she was unsure. He was handsome, she could not argue with her own eyes. He could be quite charming; he seemed to be attempting to lull her guard with sweet words and present of flowers.
She enjoyed him. They had not yet been able to speak at length. Yet the occasions they had met left her with an impression of a well read, highly intelligent man.
He was in all ways the man she had always assumed her father would choose to be her husband.
Still there was one fact that she could not change. He had ordered her death. Getting past that seemed impossible no matter what she said aloud to Inuyasha or even Kouga himself.
She wished she could be that all forgiving child she had once been, the one that had followed her father unconditionally. But in following her father she had become, even if it was only the slightest bit, jaded. Koga claimed the control of tainted jewel shards when he killed her. She was not so sure it could be that easy. She did not have enough knowledge of the sacred jewel to make her decision.
With that realization she turned, this time with purpose and headed in the direction of her father's library. She had some reading to do.
INY
(POV Change)
Inuyasha jumped lightly in to a tree near the fire the women, Shippo and Miroku gathered around. He had no wish to interact with his husband but he had his duty to protect his pack. He glanced around at the numerous fires burning, each with a group of ten soldiers huddled around it. He caught site of his brother speaking with one of the more decorated men.
He felt a flare of jealously burn his heart. "Feh, stupid fucker." He muttered trying to ignore the ache he was feeling. Sesshomaru can talk to whoever the hell he wants to. I'm just his brood bitch, he's made that pretty clear. He crossed his arms shoving them in to the silk sleeves. I wonder where the hell my fire rat robes went, I could really use the warmth right now. His ears plastered to his head trying to keep warm.
He closed his eyes suddenly feeling very fatigued and before he knew what was happening he fell in to a light sleep.
INY
Inuyasha woke to the smell of cooking meat. He sat up slowly hating how his back creaked. HE was getting too used to sleeping in a bed. He opened his eyes slowly taking in the world around him. Sesshomaru sat underneath him the other demon staring at the women who were busy cooking a few rabbits over their fire, Inuyasha grunted and started to drop from his perch before noticing the red fabric that lay heavily atop of him.
My fire rat robes? How did they get here? He blinked stupidly for a moment before glancing down at his husband. Feh, I don't care if that bastard did bring them, he's not buttering me up.
He nodded and jumped from the tree carrying his robes with him.
"Yo Monk, I'm gonna go change in to these. If we are fighting they might come in handy." He called over to his friend.
Miroku raised his hand in acknowledgment and Sango waved. "Good morning Inuyasha!" She called smiling brightly at him.
He waved back and continued in to the woods to find some privacy in which to change. It took him less than five minutes to slip out of the stuffy formal outfit he wore the night before and in to his robes.
It felt like coming home. In a moment his mood improved drastically he smiled and jumped from limb to limb as he made his way back to camp. The improved mobility making him laugh as he bounded along.
"Are you enjoying being back in those robes husband?" Inuyasha paused landing before his mates impressive form.
"Yeah thanks for bringing them I guess." He grumbled rubbing the back of his head awkwardly.
"You need not thank me Inuyasha. I wish for you to be… comfortable." Inuyasha let his eyes meet his brothers. Is he… Nervous? Inuyasha reached one clawed hand up and tucked a strand of silver hair behind a pointed ear.
"Well yeah but thanks anyway." He mumbled walking past his brother and brushing his arm against his. That arm was caught suddenly in a firm but carful grip.
"I missed your presence in my arms last night husband." Inuyasha shivered as the words were breathed in to his sensitive ears.
"Yeah well I needed some space." He whispered pulling away from the other demon and taking off towards his friends at a jog.
INY
Once again Inuyasha ran along the forest floor his feet barely hitting the ground as he soared along.
His husband was close beside him this time, his scent mixing with the scent of the forest. Inuyasha felt calmer somehow having him close as the rushed towards people who in all likelihood wanted to kill him. He still wasn't sure that Sesshomaru didn't just want him for a brood mare but he supposed he could take advantage of his state and pretend that his brother really cared about his comfort, about his life.
It was difficult to think about what would happen after the pups were born. Once Sesshomaru had heirs Inuyasha was sure he would be sent away from court. Most likely to a small castle not favored by his husband, as his own mother had been sent away after his father death. He knew that was deemed acceptable by the court.
He felt himself fatigue as the morning dragged on. The sun beat down on his head making his skin break out in a light sheen of sweat.
He slowed as the sun climbed to its peak in the sky.
"Do you require rest husband?" Inuyasha paused as his brother's quiet question hit his ears.
He shook his head wiping his brow. "No we need to keep going." He pushed forward speeding back up. Don't worry Ba-ba I'm coming, just hold on.
End Chapter Sixteen!
A/N: Thank you all for the lovely reviews! You are the reason I write! This chapter was fairly easy to get out. I find the ones that deal with the plot flow more freely. I hope this has translated to my work.
I would like to take a moment now to address a review I received for the last chapter. It was overall a pleasant review and I am thankful to them for taking the time to voice an opinion on my writing. It was however brought to my attention that I may be over using the word "Endeavor". This is a word I use in my everyday life. I find that it comes much easier to me to say I will endeavor to do something rather than to try. This is most likely caused by the enormity speaking proper English has always held in my family. Now the reason I am addressing it here rather than in a PM, although I am sure I will respond to them as I attempt to do to all reviews; is that I would like to know if the majority of my readers feel that I am being repetitious. I did a word search and found only seven instances of endeavor in this 44,000+ word story so personally I feel it is a matter of literary taste rather than true repetition but I would like to get your view on the issue.
Thank you all for reading and dealing with that small novel up there. I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
My love as always
CBT
P.S. Don't forget to feed the author!
