Title: By the Light of Mars
Parings: Inuyasha/Sesshomaru and Sango/Miroku
Chapter 18 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.
As the sun broke over the horizon Inuyasha caught the first sight of the Western palace. He paused to take in the beauty of the towering palace before him.
"Let us go home Husband."
Inuyasha flicked his ears as Sesshomaru's large hand rested on his shoulder. He turned slightly to glance out of the corner of his eye. "Yeah…" He pulled away from the confusing emotions that came with his brother's presence. Shifting his sleeping charge in his back he took off ahead of the group, bounding through the outer fields and then through the town that bordered the northern side of the Palace.
The large cast iron gates opened slowly as he approached allowing him through. He was met by Rin and Sanika, both dressed in court finery.
"My Lord!" Rin exclaimed running to him and motioning for one of her Ladies to take the slumbering child from his grasp. "Lady Sango arrived with Kaede last evening; we have prepared rooms for any survivors."
Inuyasha nodded, gracing his daughter with a small smile. "Thank you Rin, we have a few children with us, they will need to be assigned a governess." He watched as the young girl bowed low to him.
"I will assign one of my own ladies to the task." Inuyasha nodded.
The hanyou glanced back at his brother. The demon looked more haggard than Inuyasha ever remembered seeing. Still looks better than I do on my best day. He grumbled internally.
A wind blew through the courtyard ruffling long silver tresses.
"Come now my Lord let's get you cleaned." Rin's delicate voice startled Inuyasha from his contemplation. He smiled and took her small outstretched hand. "I believe the new clothing Lord Sesshomaru had commissioned for you had arrived." She told him as they entered the main hall, leaving the chaos of the courtyard behind them. "I heard from your chamber maids they are quite striking."
Inuyasha nodded and smiled at the brunette young woman. "I am thankful that my Husband chose such garments that the women are talking of them." He replied softly. Internally he felt unease. It's so strange to go on as if we were just out for a leisurely stroll rather than saving the last few survivors of an entire town. He nodded to several courtiers as they passed them watching as the now familiar niceties of courtly life went on without pause or interruption. How am I ever going to survive here? It' as if these people have no concept of what is going on in the rest of the world.
"You seem lost in thought My Lord. Is there anything I can do to alleviate your discontent?" Rin's pretty voice broke his internal musings.
He glanced sown at the slight figure beside him. She radiated kindness and innocence. It was no wonder Sesshomaru had taken her in. He remembered briefly the resentment he had felt towards her in his first days in the castle. It now seemed so petty, so unnecessary. She was still such a child in so many ways. "I'm just trying to wrap my head around some of what happened in the last days Rin. And you don't need to call me My Lord… In fact if you would like to you may call me Papa." Her face lit up like the sun at his words and he knew immediately he had said the correct thing.
"Oh yes! I would like that very much!" She exclaimed hugging him tightly for a moment. From behind them he heard the quiet aww's of Rin's ladies. He felt a light flush color his cheeks but he held her back for a moment none the less.
"As would I." He whispered dropping a small barley there kiss on to the top of her head. She turned her head up at him smile still firmly planted on her face.
"Come then, Papa the faster you are refreshed the more time we will have to spend with Lord Sesshomaru." Inuyasha smiled noting the formality with which the girl referred to his husband had not changed. I guess she might always call him that. He considered, allowing her to pull him slightly faster than was entirely proper, towards his rooms.
INY
POV Change
Sesshomaru watched as the small humans were lead away by one of Rin's Ladies in waiting. They were very small and very dirty, but he supposed if they made Inuyasha happy he would allow for their presence.
His daughters intended stood twitching nervously to his right, the wolves blue eyes shifted from his own person to Sanika's. After a moment of irritating silence from the obviously nervous ookami Sesshomaru decided to pull the information from him.
"Is there some reason you feel the need to stare at This Sesshomaru as though you were simple? This Sesshomaru understands that ookami are not known for their intelligence but surely you can speak." He raised one eyebrow, mentally congratulating himself for not harming this new addition to his household.
"What the hell?" The strange beast seemed intent on earning his ire. "I was gonna offer to help you with the bastard who did that to Kaede but never mind." He stomped his foot petulantly. The action reminded Sesshomaru that the man before him was still such a child. It was for that reason that he did not rip the still beating heart from the wretched creature.
He felt satisfaction as his hand crushed the offending wolves wind pipe beneath his fingers, relishing the gurgling noises spewing from the vulgar tongue.
"This is your only warning Prince, now that the contract is signed you are mine to command. You will not speak to This Sesshomaru in such a way ever again lest you wish to part with your troublesome tongue." He smirked at the small nod from the younger demon. He dropped the other man on to his ass watching as he hurriedly stood and backed away from him.
"Gomen." He whispered bowing and backing towards the hall that would lead him towards the training facilities.
Sesshomaru nodded and turned then to his Aunt. Her eyes shone with what Sesshomaru understood as amusement. He nodded to her, motioning towards the inner gardens.
He turned, eyes sweeping over the ornate gates that lead to his home. They opened before him allowing his eyes to rest on the beauty of the gardens. They had been his mother's pride. She loved to walk among the flowers and listen to nature. He was fond of the roses in particular their fragrance and soft beauty reminded him unfailingly of her.
The rest of the palace reeked of his father and Lady Izayoi, while he deeply loved his father and had come to a mental truce with the departed Lady he wished there were more remnants of his own mother.
"She would be very proud of you." He stopped and turned quickly to glare at the offending demoness. Her long hair blew in the softly blowing breeze, the white silk of her kimono rustled caressing the flowers that lined the walk.
"What she would have thought is no concern of This Sesshomaru." He snapped clenching his hand. The snap the accompanied his quick movement was unexpected, he glanced down at his hand surprised to notice the red rose broken and wilting in his grasp.
"Your actions speak louder than your words Nephew. My sister is obviously on your mind." Her sweet reprimand elicited a growl.
"You forget yourself, The Southern Lady you may be but this is my kingdom. You will show This Sesshomaru proper respect." He glared at the woman who had never liked his mother.
"You forget yourself Nephew I am the elder of our clan now that you have rightfully banished mother, it is my place to guide you and yours to listen." He glared a moment more at the woman. She was correct of course, he had spoken out of turn.
"Yes Aunt, it is as you say." He agreed refusing to apologize. "I find myself in turmoil, Rokuyu should not be in this territory, his father would never allow it." He grimaced at his own weakness and turned away from Sanika. His fingers found the petals of another rose, their silken skin soothing his ire.
"Is that what has incited your anger Nephew? That kitten has always been a handful. Perhaps Lord Leikudo does not know of his son's treachery." Her voice was soothing yet it grated on his frayed nerves as though she had screamed.
"He should keep a better eye on his wayward offspring lest I take their lives." He hissed poison seeping from his claws unbidden.
"And you should learn to better contain your anger Nephew. It would not do to have the court see you in such a state." Her small soft hand rested over his, gripping his fingers in a vice like hold.
He grunted in pain and reigned in his anger soothing his inner beast. "He threatened my Mate," He tuned looking in to her green eyes. "threatened to take him from me, to defile him that Cat deserves to die." He kept his voice low glancing around to make certain there were no others in the vicinity.
"Killing one of the Eastern Lords children will being war, avenging a slight to your Mates honor is not worth fighting with the East." He glared petulantly at the ground.
"He is my world." He hissed through clenched teeth.
"If you wish to keep his world intact you will send a missive to the east outlining what has transpired and requesting proper punishment. It is for his good as well." Sesshomaru nodded and listened to her soft footfalls as she retreated.
INY
Change POV
Inuyasha smiled as he watched Rin hurry around Sesshomaru's office arranging bouquets of flowers in porcelain vases. She was so excited to see her father again, it made Inuyasha's heart ache. He wondered if would have been as excited to see his own sire had things been different.
Jakken stood a few feet away carrying an abundance of roses for Rin to arrange. The young woman had explained as they plucked them from her private garden that this particular flower made Sesshomaru happy.
Inuyasha didn't think Sesshomaru would be happy to have his office filled with flowers, no matter the type. Still he couldn't tell the exuberant girl no, she was just too adorable.
He walked to the large windows that looked out on to the gardens below and smiled. Shippo was walking with a young tiger demoness. He looked so happy that Inuyasha couldn't bring himself to open the window and call out as he wished to.
It was strange to think soon the little kit would hit a growth spurt and be for all purposes a man in his own right. Still the signs were beginning to show. He had grown extraordinarily over the past fortnight. Although he was still quite small in stature he had gained at least half a foot.
He sighed and backed away from the glittering scene below. He relaxed in to one of the plush chairs placed near the window and idly played with a piece from a game board sitting out on a small table. The piece, a sad facsimile of a castles tower, was made of the most beautiful wood the hanyou had ever laid eyes on. He caressed the smooth surface and used it to knock over another less ornate piece.
"I did not know you played chess Papa." Inuyasha turned towards the sound of Rin's giggles to find the girl leaning in over his shoulder.
He smiled at her waving the strange little castle in the air flippantly.
"That's because I don't. I just thought these were cool looking." He explained handing her the dark wooden piece.
"Oh! I'm sorry, I was hoping I would have someone to play with other than Lord Sesshomaru! He is quite good and I can never win." She explained, setting the castle in its place and righting the toppled piece.
"Well maybe you can teach me. I mean I guess I'm not going anywhere seeing as I'm pregnant." He commented.
He winced as his hasty words reminded him of the one thing he had been trying not to dwell on all day.
"Yes Lady Sanika informed me of your delicate situation. I am so excited to have a brother or sister!" A small puff of air left her as Inuyasha watched her sink in to the chair opposite him.
"What would you like done with these Rin?" Jakken croaked stumbling under the pile of multicolored flowers.
"Oh place them around the room Jakken, I need to speak with my Papa." Rin waved her hand dismissively.
Inuyasha snorted, Sesshomaru had defiantly worn off on her. She sat looking both relaxed and elegant at the same time. Her long dark hair piled atop her head in an elegant coif, small curls escaped around her face and neck caressing her porcelain skin. Inuyasha met her eyes, the bright amber swirled with deepest ebony shone at him, sparking in the morning light.
"I missed you Papa, this place is so dreary without you, Hoshi-san and Lady Sango." She glanced out the window, her face fell slightly. "Shippo doesn't like me anymore, I think." Her voice took a note of melancholy that broke his heart.
"Shippo is changing right now, he'll be better in a few weeks." Inuyasha tried his best to assuage her fears. He hoped she didn't ask for more information, he really didn't know much about it himself. She sighed and rested her chin on one perfectly manicured hand.
"Oh yes that is what Lady Sanika told me as well. I just worry about him, other than Lord Sesshomaru Shippo was my first real friend." She explained looking down in to the gardens once more.
Inuyasha smiled and joined her staring down and the couple whispering to one another below. "You have both grown up a lot since the first time you met." He offered glancing at her from the corner of his eye.
"Yes I suppose we have. You know I had this silly notion that one day I would marry Shippo. Oh I drove Jakken crazy talking about it." Her voice hitched. "But now I'm over it, I thought it over while you and Lord Sesshomaru were gone, I am going to be very happy with Prince Koga he is a good man." She paused closing her eyes and then turning to smile at Inuyasha. "And he is very handsome."
Inuyasha wished there was something he could do to wipe away the sadness he saw still lurking beneath her happy façade.
He stood and walked around the small table, kneeling next to Rin. HE pulled her awkwardly in to her arms and stroked her hair.
"You are so much braver than I could have ever been at your age." He whispered. "And Koga will be good to you, I promise." He tightened his grip for a moment. A small sniffling wafted to his ears but he ignored it knowing she didn't want him to see her cry. He held her for a moment longer before pulling back and surveying the room.
"Sesshomaru will love this Rin." He told her smiling as she beamed at him.
"Oh I hope so." She touched her fingers to her lips lightly in worry.
The massive doors creaked open then allowing a rather frantic looking Jakken in. "Lord Sesshomaru is coming! Lord Sesshomaru is coming! Get up you Lazy girl and greet your Lord properly!" He screeched running towards them.
Inuyasha leveled a dangerous glare that the small green kappa. "Hime Rin will stand only when and if she pleases toad, keep your tongue in your mouth," He bit out wishing he could just kill the annoying thing.
The door opened together this time admitting his husband in to the room. The demon looked as perfect as ever. He raised one elegant eyebrow as he surveyed the room.
"Jakken you are excused." His voice was as commanding as ever and within seconds the kappa had scampered from the room, closing the doors behind him. "Thank you for the flowers Daughter." The soft word brightened the girls face to the point Inuyasha thought she might explode.
"Oh it was no problem Fa-father." She stumbled on the word and this small slip brought a smile to the normally stoic demons face.
"I wish for you to always call me that Rin." He spoke with no hesitation kneeling next to the small girl. "I am aware I have not always been the best father, nor am I the most affectionate but I feel greatly for you. You are as much my child as any biological one will be."
Inuyasha stared awed by the touching words that had come from his husband. Never did he think the cold man would ever say something of that nature to the little girl who meant so much to him.
Sesshomaru nodded and stood, Inuyasha met his eyes and nodded.
"Rin please leave us to speak. Find Hime Mikata, she will be in the music room I believe."
Rin nodded and skipped happily from the room. Inuyasha snorted in amusement, she was very easy to please one kind word from Sesshomaru had her back in a good mood.
"I spoke with our Aunt husband. She has suggested I send a missive to the eastern territory that Rokuyu's father rules illuminating him to this slight upon our imperial person. He will not wish to start a war over something as petty as a mate."
Inuyasha stared at his brother, the demons words hitting him like ice water. Am I so insignificant then? I suppose I should have known he wouldn't expand much effort in my defense as long as he has me here with his pups.
Inuyasha blinked away tears and stalked back to the window. "Yeah of course husband. A missive seems the best course of action. It's not as if he succeeded in taking me this time." He bit out. His words seemed petulant and hurt to his ears. He winced he was trying to go for nonchalant.
Suddenly he was engulfed in his husband's strong warm arms. "It is not my wish to be so… gentle. I wish to eviscerate the slime that would take you from me." His arms tightened crushing the hanyou's slight form. "Yet our Aunt has made a valid point war would be, difficult with you in such a delicate state."
Inuyasha's ears flattened to his skull and he pulled harshly away from his brothers comforting embrace. "Of course my Lord, if you will excuse me I have to be somewhere." He turned to storm from the room but was once again caught in his brother's arms.
"I will not excuse you husband. Why do you run from me now? I thought we had moved past this." His words inflamed Inuyasha's anger; he turned to stare in to the confused amber eyes.
"I'm pupped, you don't need to keep pretending you feel anything but revulsion for me." He whispered the words so as not to be over heard by the guards.
His brother's arms slackened around him allowing him to escape. His silence was all the answer Inuyasha needed as he fled from the room.
A/N Well there you go chapter eighteen. I am fairly sure this is never going to end because we haven't even gotten to the all-important conversation between Mikata and Sesshomaru, or Shippo's coming of age (which may or may not change something's… hehe). So stay tuned for the next installment of By the Light of Mars!
Oh and remember to feed the Author!
