Adult-FanFiction.org : Inuyasha / Yashahime

Spiel Mit Mir	By : botticelliangel Category: InuYasha > Yaoi - Male/Male > InuYasha/Sessh?maru > InuYasha/Sessh?maru Views: 15039 -:- Recommendations : 5 -:- Currently Reading : 4
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, and make no profit from writing.

Chapter List
- 14
- 15
- 16
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They were two weeks further north, and only a week of steady traveling away from the large village that was said to have a shard. Only a week, Inuyasha thought, and then they’d be able to travel south again. Unless they got stuck because of the snow, and that seemed like it might turn into a very real possibility.
It was unseasonably cold, and from almost the start of the day they had been seeing snowflakes dropping down from the sky. Nothing stuck, but Inuyasha could smell a storm on the air. The village that held the jewel shards was further into the mountains, which meant further into the storm.
The only saving grace was that the roads here were well packed, making it easier to travel. The horse drawn cart that they had at the beginning of their journey had fallen to misfortune at some point when Inuyasha had been stuck in his demon form. The horse had died of a wasting sickness, and the wagon wheel snapped in half when Inuyasha tried to bring it along with them after.
Kagome insisted it was alright though. They had already gone through most of her supplies, so it wasn’t too bad to walk now. He was grateful that his friends were strong for humans.
And Inuyasha tried not to be irritated, because walking meant stopping more often. With the wagon if any of the humans got tired they could just jump in and take a nap, which greatly increased their speed because the horse didn’t get tired as fast as they did.
But damnit, traveling at their pace was getting on his nerves.
Traveling slow meant the possibility of more time out in the snow, which lead to the possibility of his pack getting sick.
Ever since they left the coast for the mountain passes this possibility was getting worse. For some reason the humans in the mountain villages were extraordinarily terrified of Sesshomaru.
The first time they walked into one of the villages the residents pointed at the demon made all sorts of inane ruckus with shouts of ‘It’s him!’ or ‘the demon’s back!’ and the normal crowd of pitchfork wielding humans chased them out.
After the second time that happened, Inuyasha worried that it was a sign that Naraku was causing problems for the villagers in the area using Sesshomaru’s form. But Miroku gently said that he doubted it, because Naraku wouldn’t have left a village so unscathed. The people were terrified of Sesshomaru, and did seem to recognize him, but did not appear to really be harmed. There were no suspicious deaths, no crops afoul, and no wasting sicknesses.
Whatever the case was, here they were. It was getting dark, a frost was sure to come tonight, and they had no shelter.
“ACHOOO!!!”
And Shippo was sneezing.
Inuyasha cracked his knuckles. He couldn’t do a damn thing, and that always made him edgy.
"Hey. We are going to stop. It’s going to freeze tonight, so I’m going to give you guys some time to build a hut.” Inuyasha said abruptly as he dug his heels into the cold ground. There were plenty of trees around, mostly evergreens. They should be able to make a small hut fairly quick if they didn’t dally.
“Isn’t there a village nearby?” Kagome asked with a yawn. She hadn’t been sleeping too well, and Inuyasha felt bad that she was waking up sore from the cold ground when he knew she was used to having comfort in her time.
“I’ll get some pine needles to cushion your bed, Kagome.” Kouga interjected in his most serious love voice. Inuyasha growled. That damn wolf was just another reason why he was that much edgier. Kouga was still sniffing around their group like a fucking scavenger trying to beg for table scraps.
Inuyasha was annoyed that Kagome hadn’t suggested that he leave yet, not even subtly.
As jealous as he was Inuyasha gritted his teeth and put up with the wolf’s presence for a number of reasons. One was that the wolf actually helped his pack without being told, and with two full demons in their midst the number of lesser youkai that attacked them was drastically smaller. Another reason was that Kouga still had jewel shards, and had promised Kagome to hand them over after they killed Naraku. And the biggest reason why Inuyasha put up with that stinking wolf was that he respected Kagome.
Even though it hurt Inuyasha’s heart he knew he couldn’t demand her attentions with everything that was going on. It would be wrong of him to not let her make her own choices, and he had told her that while trying to choke down emotion.
He wanted her to know that he loved her enough to respect whatever decision she made, whether to be with him or not.
Kagome had given him the most beautiful smile at his words. Then she leaned over and kissed his cheek telling him that his respect for her meant the world to her.
But damnit, she had better choose him! The jealous, possessive, and doggish side of him screamed. He knew if Kagome did choose to be with another man he’d have to work really hard at not killing the guy. Cockily, he reminded himself that he had one up on Kouga in the race for Kagome’s love. Inuyasha knew that there was no mating bond, not even a hint of one between Kagome and Kouga.
“Thanks, Kouga.” Kagome said with a smile and a yawn, and then waved the wolf off. Inuyasha frowned, hating that she even acknowledged the wolf. “Inuyasha, I’ll make some dinner for us. Can you get me some water for tea?”
Nodding Inuyasha shot off in the direction of the river, and when he returned with the water he saw his mismatched pack all working together to pull felled logs together into a house. Sesshomaru must have cut down the trees, and Kouga’s pack mates were cheerfully helping Sango and Miroku by cutting groves at the end so that the logs could be fitted to one another like puzzle pieces to make a house.
Now that was his pack. Tell them to build a hut and they make a house!
Inuyasha left the water with Kagome, and by the time they made a roof out of pine boughs and leaves the food was done. They all sat down for a meal of boiled bear meat, and winterberries that Shippo and Rin picked.
Sesshomaru refused to eat, and spent the whole meal felling more logs for a fire to heat their quickly constructed shelter.
The little house was technically big enough for all of them, but Inuyasha felt cramped inside. When his friends all took to sleep he went outside and sat with his back against the wall. He relaxed enough to loosen his muscles, and looked around. Sesshomaru was standing a few feet away looking up to the sky from the road into the mountains. Inuyasha couldn’t tell what he was looking at, and shifted his eyes to his right where he could see a glimpse of Kouga, Ginta, and Hakkaku talking in a huddle on the other side of the road. They were crouched down and Kouga was drawing with his finger in the dirt.
Inuyasha knew that the wolf prince could read, but that his friends couldn’t, so he figured that Kouga was trying to illustrate a hunting plan with them by drawing it out on the ground. Hakkaku yawned, and Inuyasha doubted the wolf would get very far with those two. They were about as effective as Shippo was, and ages younger then their alpha.
Inuyasha had discovered, through the chit-chat that Kagome employed to make their traveling less tedious, that Ginta and Hakkaku were littermates and that they had only been born 80 years ago. They were still very young, and Sesshomaru had scoffed at the two and told them that pups should stay in the den with their mothers. But Kouga, who was probably at least a century older than his followers, defended their presence. The wolf prince opened his smart ass mouth to take a jab at Sesshomaru for his so-called ‘maternal’ instincts.
It was actually impressive that Sesshomaru had the restraint enough not to disembowel Kouga.
A breeze made the chill in the air permeate his clothes, and Inuyasha wanted for something to do. His mind ticked back to impatience at having to rest again. His youki finally seemed to be leveling out a little, and he found that with Sesshomaru’s contributions he really didn’t require very much rest at all. That made the nights of waiting a little bit harder to handle.
He shivered as the wind blew a little harsher, and stood up. Inuyasha contemplated attempting to sleep before his mind ran away with him, and Sesshomaru’s scent reached him on the wind. He veered onto the road towards his brother.
“What the hell did you do to the people up here, Sesshomaru?” Inuyasha grumbled at his brother. He rubbed his hands together to chase away the cold. The barb caught his brother off guard, and the only reason he could tell was because whatever fucking cloud had been the object of Sesshomaru’s lackluster gaze suddenly became entirely boring to the demon.
“Your lack of intelligence is disappointing, Inuyasha. I haven’t been in these parts for two hundred years. Those humans are obviously mistaking me for someone else.” Sesshomaru drawled shooting him a terrible gaze. There was a hint of a challenge in his voice. Internally Inuyasha did a victory dance. Oh yeah! Sesshomaru took the bait!
“Bastard! I aint stupid!” Inuyasha exclaimed trying to sound offended and not excited.
Since the incident with the fake Sesshomaru, Inuyasha’s demon blood had leveled into a perceptible hum in the background of his thoughts. But the brothers had been closer. They had taken up the hobby of arguing with each other, verbally besmirching one another, and then grappling which always ultimately lead to them having passionate and sometimes rough sex.
“Your speech is uncultured.” Sesshomaru fired back.
“Yeah, and you like it that way.” Inuyasha growled not even attempting to keep the lusty depth from creeping into his voice.
“Gross.” A voice said behind them, and Inuyasha turned to glare at the intruder. Kouga was looking at them with a grimace. “I was going to tell you stupid dogs that something smells wrong here, but now I know it’s just your freaky foreplay.”
“Kitsune,” Sesshomaru said suddenly, apparently ignoring the wolf and his insults. Inuyasha looked at Sesshomaru when he stopped talking and sniffed the air once again, “Kitsune that I know.”
And then the forest around them was alight with little flames of foxfire, and giggling demons. Inuyasha stiffened when a figure in white walked out of the forest, and faced them.
It was obviously a kitsune, but the trickster had taken on a form that seemed to be the favorite of shape shifters these days.
The kitsune grinning at them looked like a very young Sesshomaru, one who was possibly shorter than Inuyasha.
“Ah, the villagers were right! The great general has returned. What do we owe this visit to Touga-sama?” The doppelganger of Sesshomaru asked.
For a moment Inuyasha was really confused. Very, very confused he looked to Sesshomaru only to find that his brother was wearing the same damn expression he always wore when talking to people. Just as Inuyasha was about to open his mouth and ask his brother why the kitsune thought he was their father Sesshomaru smiled.
“It has been a long time, Tamamo. I trust the villagers have not bothered you since you have scared them off with my image.” Sesshomaru said lightly, comfortably.
“A few hunters come now and again, but the threat of the inuyoukai wrath always keeps them back from my children.” The kitsune said, and then Inuyasha was overwhelmed by the scent of magnolias. Then before him was a woman instead of the image of his brother. She had a pretty face with dark eyes and pouting lips. She wore fine silk the color of the southern ocean that sparkled as if it had been shot through with adamant. Her hair was long and the color of fine steal woven together into a headdress that made her short stature seem less so. And most remarkably was the nine tails that curled around her; moon colored and pristine.
She was old, but didn’t look it.
“As well it should.” Sesshomaru remarked.
The kitsune woman named Tamamo smiled brightly, and reminded Inuyasha of Shippo.
“Well since you are here, you might as well visit the den. Rouse your companions. I am sure you have not found a welcome stay in days if you have been traveling along my territory.” There was a pause and Inuyasha wasn’t sure if his brother was going to do as this woman said or not. But he knew that she wasn’t an enemy. Sesshomaru was comfortable around her, and Inuyasha knew that was a rarity. “My generosity has not waned over the centuries, pup. Come on.”
Inuyasha was still staring at the very old, very powerful kitsune when Sesshomaru brushed by him having turned back to the hastily built house to get their companions.

*Spiel Mit Mir*

“Inuyasha. Come play Uno with us!” Shippo exclaimed holding up a game Kagome had brought along to lessen the monotony of traveling. Kagome always had interesting games from her home, and there was no doubt that her modern conveniences brought some luxury to their traveling.
And luxury was something that everyone was getting quite used to. Inuyasha glanced out the window of their host’s splendid mountain castle to the heavy snow outside. There would be no traveling for a while. This did not settle with Inuyasha too well. He was still impatient to move on.
“Come on, Inuyasha. You don’t want to miss out on a game.” Miroku beckoned him next. Inuyasha felt his ears flick and sighed going over to his friends.
“You’re all a rowdy bunch for having just woken up.” He grumbled taking a seat in the circle that his friends made. Miroku smiled knowingly at him and kept shuffling the set of well worn paper cards.
“Do not be such a poor sport, my friend. We clearly can not travel in these conditions. There is no need to spoil a day of relaxation with impatience.” The monk said wisely. Inuyasha just stayed quiet and listened as Kagome explained the rules of the game to Sesshomaru.
“And what does this ‘wild’ mean?” Sesshomaru asked pointing to one of the paper cards on the floor. Inuyasha moved his attention on to see that Ginta and Hakkaku were sleeping piled up on the same futon in the overly large room of the Kitsune palace. Kouga was sitting cross legged in front of them with his head tilted down and his bangs over his eyes. Inuyasha doubted the wolf was asleep. For all the times he liked to get on Sesshomaru’s nerves by twisting everything the inuyoukai did into a feminine action, the prince of the wolves acted very much like a den mother when his pack was sleeping.
Maybe this was good, Inuyasha thought with a yawn.
The old kitsune, Tamamo had only required his friends to wake up long enough to transport them to her home. She had mostly only spoken to Sesshomaru, but Inuyasha caught her eyes traveling to him a few times.
Once they were alone in the kitsune’s wonderful warm palace Sesshomaru had very briefly explained some things to Inuyasha. Tamamo was a friend of their father’s, and the same youkai who Sesshomaru had been sent north to do business with in the short months before Inuyasha’s birth.
“Tamamo is a very powerful woman, Inuyasha.” Sesshomaru had whispered to him while their companions slept comfortably in their new location. “Long before I was born she had disguised herself to live among humans, and protect them. She married a human emperor who she believed loved her, but when their child was discovered to be hanyou the emperor hired demon slayers to kill her and her child.
The slayers killed her kit, and were going to rend its flesh apart to prove it more beast than human. She used her fox magic to make her child’s corpse into a cursed stone to the south: the sesshoseki. It is said that anyone who touches the stone dies.” Sesshomaru said calmly, “Father sent me to see her in the moons before you were born, because he feared hunters going after you. It was his intention to send you to Tamamo for safekeeping if anything should befall him, but I did not follow those wishes.”
“Why?” Inuyasha had asked.
“My mother and Tamamo do not get along. You know that Mother sees you as her pup. She threatened to battle Tamamo if the kitsune took you and raised you. She said she would have no fox stealing her pups in the night. I kept you to keep them from warring with each other.”
“Hey, Inuyasha!” Kagome giggled making him refocus onto the game. “Are you going to play or not?”
With a grin Inuyasha picked up the cards that had been placed down in front of him, and decided this wasn’t so bad after all.
“Heck yeah, woman! I’m going to win this game.” Inuyasha enthused checking to the right and left of him. Sesshomaru to his left, and Sango to his right: this was going to be a fun game.
Inuyasha put a card down. He was feeling happy, happy because he had friends, happy because he had family. It was morning, and Kagome had instilled in him a sense of excitement about snow since the first time they had a snowball fight with each other at the shrine her house was built on.
Yep, Inuyasha decided, not so bad at all.
They were almost at the end of a playfully tense game in which Inuyasha had given up on trying to win. Instead the devious hanyou was focusing entirely on trying to hand extra points to Sesshomaru, so that at least his brother would get a worse score than him. Gritting his teeth, Inuyasha looked towards the pile of cards Sesshomaru held onto with a frown. It was hard to tell who had more, but between the two of them almost half the deck was missing.
“I believe you deserve four more cards, little brother.” Sesshomaru said, and maneuvered his cards so that they were face down on the ground before dropping a card onto the playing pile. Grumbling Inuyasha went to pluck his four cards from the deck when he felt a familiar sting. Narrowing his eyes in annoyance, Inuyasha pulled his hand away and smacked the side of his neck.
A deflated sound of pain called out from under his palm.
“Well, well, look who came to join us.” Inuyasha said sarcastically holding up his perfect for squishing sized retainer. He did a quick glance over of the flee demon just to make sure he hadn’t actually hurt him, but the old bug was popping back to his normal shape and resiliency.
“Ah! Master Inuyasha! It’s been a long time! I did not expect to see you this far north.” Myoga exclaimed nervously. The flee demon looked particularly frazzled.
“Yeah, and what are you doing here? Running from more trouble?” Inuyasha asked dully. He wasn’t unhappy to see Myoga, just with his manners. Inuyasha was not the little parasite’s personal blood supply.
“Running from trouble is the only thing that Myoga can do.” Sesshomaru stated leaning in to have a better look at the wiggling old man. The frazzled look on Myoga’s tiny face increased to downright terror at Sesshomaru’s attention. In fact Inuyasha was sure that Myoga very seldom spoke to Sesshomaru at all. All of the times that Inuyasha knew of were when he was safely tucked away behind someone else, usually Inuyasha himself.
“I resent that. I have many good uses I will have you know, Sesshomaru-sama!”
“Oh?” Sesshomaru mocked interest. Inuyasha sneered but didn’t interrupt the teasing. He knew Sesshomaru missed Jakin, and Myoga was almost as entertaining.
“In fact I news to deliver right now!” Myoga’s face was turning a bright red as he squirmed between Inuyasha’s claws.
“Will you two stop picking on him!” Kagome exclaimed. “Let him go Inuyasha.” With a shrug Inuyasha dropped Myoga to the floor. The flee demon tumbled backwards hitting a stack of cards. Inuyasha watched with a little satisfaction as Myoga slumped woozily against the deck.
Miroku cleared his throat.
“Excuse me, Myoga, can you move for a moment?” Myoga looked confused but did as he was asked allowing Miroku to place his card and win the first round of the game.
“Ah damn. I had a wild card in my hand.” Inuyasha whined almost completely forgetting Myoga was there. “150 points.”
“Courtesy of this Sesshomaru.” Sesshomaru stated arrogantly. “I only have 115.”
“Oh yeah record of the year, dumbass! You are supposed to try to loose points not gain them, idiot!” Inuyasha retorted ignoring Myoga who jumped around biding for attention like a house pet.
“Master Inuyasha. I beg you. Listen to me!” Myoga exclaimed all four of his tiny arms failing about in the air. Inuyasha heard him, but decided to tease him for a bit longer.
“I still beat you.” Sesshomaru said evenly as if he had accomplished a significant feat with the card game.
“Yeah and all the humans here beat the both of us!” Inuyasha huffed back, pointing to the tiny piles that their companions accrued.
“So?”
“Sesshomaru! Inuyasha!” Myoga exclaimed, sounding more like an exasperated parent than a servant. Inuyasha rolled his eyes and supposed he could listen since the flee demon was desperate enough to address them without any title. He got the impression that Sesshomaru had rolled his eyes too, because when they both turned to look at the diminutive bugger he had cocked a bushy eyebrow in surprise.
“Alright peon, you have our attention.” Sesshomaru stated haughtily.
“I came to Tamamo’s castle to see if she had heard of the events to the north, and thankfully found you two. There are rumors spreading through demon clans and human villages alike, of a great evil bringing catastrophe to the lands and people.”
“Rumors?” Sesshomaru asked uninterested, and a little disappointed. Sesshomaru really disliked rumors. Actually he disliked anything that wasn’t concrete. Myoga paled slightly.
“Several demons have sworn they have seen your honored father come back from the grave! Just a week north of here an entire village was destroyed, and the survivors say it was the great general who did it!” Myoga exclaimed, and then stuttered. Inuyasha looked at him dimly knowing now that Sesshomaru had traveled to the north in their father’s place, and that he had been instructed to impersonate their sire while on business. That could only mean that the village north of here was destroyed by Naraku masquerading around as Sesshomaru. And Inuyasha didn’t doubt that the unfortunate village was the one that was rumored to be holding jewel shards.
“Myoga, I doubt you believe these rumors. Father was not the kind of man to destroy lands or people. He was not dishonorable.” Sesshomaru huffed a little, and inside Inuyasha’s mind he disagreed with Sesshomaru’s words. Their father was undoubtedly dead, but what he had done to Sesshomaru was the epitome of dishonor.
“Why would a great demon come back from the dead to destroy a few villages anyways?” Rin asked jumping into the conversation, “I think he would have better things to do in the afterlife.”
“There are rumors he came back to…” Myoga choked and started sweating profusely. He pulled at the neck of his tiny kimono uncomfortably, “punish his sons for their unorthodox behavior.”
The discomfort the flee demon must have felt upon retelling the last bit of information was not lost on the brothers. Inuyasha could suddenly taste the tension in the air around him. It was ripe and sour on his tongue
“Unorthodox behavior?” Miroku asked raising an eyebrow. “Humans call it incest.” Miroku found himself well acquainted with Inuyasha’s fist, then with the floor.
“Demons all over the area are talking about it. They say that the dog general’s sons have mated. I figured it was just insults to challenge you two, as you seem to be working together now.” Myoga spoke putting one flee hand to his chin while the others crossed over his chest. “Come to think of it why are you two traveling together?”
“Do you always question your lord?” Sesshomaru asked raising an eyebrow. Inuyasha knew that Sesshomaru asked it to try to protect his feelings. Inuyasha wasn’t really embarrassed to be with Sesshomaru in that way, but he wasn’t stupid. Their mating was… unconventional. Myoga stuttered a bit cowering at Sesshomaru’s face.
Inuyasha shut his mouth. He felt like he was choking, drowning in ice cold water, and strangely gaining satisfaction from watching Sesshomaru scare the life out of Myoga. He was pretty sure Sesshomaru could be talking about very non threatening things, like flowers, and Myoga would still be loosing years off of his life.
“Myoga.” The flee demon looked back to him expectedly, and Inuyasha suddenly felt like he was confessing a secret to his retainer. There weren’t many who really knew about him and Sesshomaru, and with his friends there hadn’t been the need for explanations. “Sesshomaru and I are mates.” The flee nodded as if expecting the answer before what Inuyasha said really hit and he jumped up bug eyed.
“No wonder your father rolled over in his grave! Oh! How terrible!” Myoga went on and on with his shocked whining. The aging and cowardly flee demon was outraged and could only express it through whining. “Sesshomaru, does your mother know about this!” On and on the tirade went, until Sesshomaru plucked Myoga from before them and squeezed him. Inuyasha could barely hear the wind escape his lungs.
“Shut up, and listen Myoga.” The coldness to Sesshomaru’s voice held no room for argument. “Inuyasha and I have mated, and that is final. We have no plans to be separated. My mother does know, and no she does not approve. We don’t care. As for father, he is dead. We are certain that Naraku has obtained a way to take my appearance. He probably attacked that village because it had shards of the Shikon Jewel. You know as well as I do that the humans here think that I am my father, because Tamamo has used the threat of his name to keep them off of her lands.”
Stunned by how much Sesshomaru spoke of the issues at hand, and how efficiently he did it with Inuyasha listened to the silence that followed. Everyone in the room was looking at them now, waiting for the next thing to be said.
“Master Inuyasha,” Myoga started seriously, “Do you agree with your brother on this?”
His heart suddenly rose to his throat, and Inuyasha realized that now was the time that they were going to say it. Now was the time that they would confirm to the world, at least the small world of their friends and loved ones, that they loved each other.
“Yes.” Inuyasha said and felt his mouth go dry. It was good enough to say the one word of agreement. But inside his voice was straining to say it, I love Sesshomaru.
Myoga sighed and then looked tired.
“You have sex with each other.” The bland colorless way that the old retainer said it was off putting. The word ‘sex’ barely touched upon their actions, and held no candle to Inuyasha’s feelings. Irritated Inuyasha growled.
"That’s a stupid question.”
“Inuyasha, I think he’s just shocked.” Kagome tried to interject, “Don’t be mad at him.”
“Kagome has a point, Inuyasha.” Miroku said seriously, even though it looked like he might have a black eye from being punched for his earlier words. “You two went from impaling each other on swords and claws to,” Miroku paused and smiled devilishly, “well I guess it really hasn’t changed.”
“Miroku, you had better stop.” Sango warned clamping her hand over her love’s mouth, and Inuyasha rolled his eyes at the monk.
There was a slightly tense silence, before Sesshomaru placed the parasite onto the floor with far more gentleness then he deserved. His brother unfolded himself from the ground to his tall beautiful self.
“Inuyasha. I need to talk with you.” Sesshomaru said ignoring the rest of the group. He didn’t sound mad, or irritated at all, just thoughtful.
Inuyasha huffed and stood up after his brother.
“Sesshomaru-sama!” Myoga called out. Sesshomaru didn’t turn around, but Inuyasha knew he acknowledged the flee demon because his older brother paused to listen to his words, “You will die.”
Inuyasha felt cold with the words, spoken so truthfully from one who was too cowardly to face death. And he realized he heard them before, because Inukimi had said the same thing.
Sesshomaru just gave a short humorless laugh and grabbed Inuyasha’s hand.
“We all die someday.” His brother said, and then pulled him into the hallway.

*Spiel Mit Mir*

Kagome was sitting unsettled with the words, and wondering why no one else seemed to be concerned with them. Her friends had adopted a very nonchalant attitude when the brothers left completely disregarding Myoga’s words of death. Words that Kagome heard before, and was starting to become suspicious of played back in her head over and over.
There was something going on, and Kagome was determined to get to the bottom of this.
Sango, Miroku, Rin, and Shippo were playing another round of the card game. Kouga and his men were nowhere to be seen, and she suspected that he had taken them out to run around in the snow. Ginta and Hakkaku had been restlessly looking out the window for the few hours that they had been awake for, and she knew that Kouga was sensitive to the needs of his pack.
Therefore Kagome sat with Myoga, pretending to enjoy a cup of tea while she tried to divine her way past the algorithms in her pre-calculus textbook. She hated math so much, but part of her wondered if she would understand it more if she was in school all the time. Part of her wondered if it would be such a struggle if she wasn’t set and determined to read through each damned chapter by herself until it made sense or her brain fizzled out. It was made a little difficult by the familiar and unwelcome feeling of the bond she shared with Inuyasha calling out to her. It was almost taunting her with the knowledge that somewhere within this great castle he and Sesshomaru were having sex; again.
They weren’t fooling anyone, especially not her. But Kagome was grateful that the bond wasn’t overwhelming to her anymore. The old tree demon, Bokusenoh had graciously put her mind at ease only in that one area, saying that the only reason the bonds were so intrusive happened to be because Inuyasha and Sesshomaru were creating multiple bonds simultaneously. Their youki was confused, she supposed. Apparently, although it was normal for inuyoukai to have multiple mates, it was rare for multiple bonds to be created at once. Bokusenoh said it would ease over time, and she supposed she was already seeing that.
Her eyes blurred and the formulas in the book made no sense to her. Instead of math, her head swam with other questions. Like why the hell was everyone warning Sesshomaru about impending doom, and not Inuyasha? It seemed to her that their mating would be ill received no matter where they went, and she didn’t understand why that would be causing people to caution Sesshomaru and ignore the danger it posed to Inuyasha.
“Myoga?” Kagome questioned and put her book aside unsettled that she couldn’t figure out the answer for herself. The flee demon acknowledged her with a little hum, and continued drinking his tea. He seemed to be in an ill mood since finding them, and Kagome did not doubt that he was still reeling over the news the brother’s abrupt switch in attitude towards each other, “Why did you say that Sesshomaru would die and not Inuyasha?”
The parasitic servant choked on his tea for a moment. Kagome tried to tap his little back with her index finger to get the liquid up out of his tiny lungs.
“Despite Master Inuyasha’s excellent breeding, he has no title or claim to the lands,” Myoga began, “Demons of stature wouldn’t care about who he mates with. But Sesshomaru-sama is in danger. Other demons will presume that he is weak for being a bitch, and seek to destroy him so that his claim to the lands is severed.”
“Oh.” Kagome said, but kept her suspicions. It still didn’t add up correctly, “Well, why wouldn’t they try to kill Inuyasha and take his place as Sesshomaru’s mate then? It would lead to a more legitimate claim on the lands. And why would everyone assume that Sesshomaru was a bitch anyways?”
Myoga faltered in his explanation and gave a sidelong glance at Kagome. For a moment she had the feeling that he was intensely displeased that she saw the loophole in his explanation.
“Because of Inukimi-ko. She is the actual holder of the titles, other demons would seek to destroy Sesshomaru-sama to cut her ties and force her into a political marriage. If Sesshomaru-sama had mated a good female youkai the strength of three leaders would hold off demons entirely. As for your other question, that would be because of the bosatsu’s curse.”
“But instead he mated a human girl, and let his brother mark him.” Kagome said dryly, and then pressed on. “Was he in this kind of danger when he was mated to his father?”
“How did…” Myoga started and sounded somewhat affronted that Kagome had even said the words.
“Bokusenoh told us.” Kagome interrupted.
“Yes, he was in danger then, but not as much. Touga-sama was a wise man, and knew how to keep his son safe.” Myoga stuttered, and Kagome could tell that he was uncomfortable with the conversation. But she wasn’t satisfied yet. There was something still nagging at her, reminding her of Inukimi’s plea to save her sons.
“Why did Touga mark Sesshomaru? I mean, that’s gross. Sesshomaru was his son.” Kagome said distastefully.
“Despite Sesshomaru-sama’s misgivings about the situation, Touga-sama was only doing what was best for his son.” Myoga said with a little huff. The flee demon seemed ruffled by the questions, his balding little head was shining with sweat. “Touga-sama agonized over his decision for many nights before marking Sesshomaru-sama, and then for many nights after wished it could have been different.”
“That’s not how I heard the story.” Rin interjected plopping down in front of them. Kagome didn’t realize that she had been listening. The petite teenager leaned over to look at Myoga. She had an intimidating look on her face, “I was told that Touga never intended on marking Sesshomaru, but that it was the bosatsu’s curse and he was too weak to stop himself.”
“That’s not true!” Myoga sputtered and waved his hands about. “Touga-sama was untouched by the bosatsu’s curse! He did it to save Sesshomaru-sama from being forced into a mating with a lesser demon. He consulted many mystics and priests and discovered that the only way to stop the hoard of lusty youkai from attacking his lands and trying to steal his son was by marking him so that the bosatsu’s blessing would come true.”
Rin leaned back and seemed to consider this.
“If that is so why did Inukimi-ko start a war with Touga-sama? She of all people wishes for her son’s safety.” Rin asked wisely. “If Touga-sama really marked Sesshomaru out of a pure desire to see him safe, Inukimi-ko would have welcomed it.”
The flee youkai stuttered and then sipped more of his tea.
“Maybe his desire was not so pure.” Miroku chimed in, and it felt weird hearing those words come from a monk who chased after women day and night.
“She was wishing for a solution that was not available.” Myoga said upset that they would question the intentions of his former lord.
“How old was Sesshomaru when all of this occurred, in human terms?” Sango asked joining them. She sat down next to Rin and reached over to grab a few empty cups before starting to pour the tea.
Myoga blanched and looked down into the cup of tea he gripped onto tightly with all four hands.
“No older than the age of your dear brother, Lady Sango.” Myoga finally admitted. Kagome felt her stomach churn. No older than Kohaku? She tried to imagine Sesshomaru at the demonic age of thirteen, and already forced into a mating.
“So he was a child.” Sango said slowly as if trying to make a point, and Kagome thought she was starting to get it.
“In many ways, yes.” Myoga replied.
“He was a child,” Sango repeated and let that knowledge sink into everyone’s brains.
"He must have been scared.” Kagome whispered, and then felt bad about complaining over the way the bond made her feel at first. No wonder Sesshomaru blew her off and said it was her problem if she couldn’t handle the feelings. He had to learn that lesson younger. Myoga didn’t say anything that time, but nodded to acknowledge the truth of the words.
“I get it.” Rin said, “It didn’t matter what Touga’s intentions were. Sesshomaru couldn’t understand his father’s actions because he was too young, and Inukimi tried to protect him because of that.”
“So it was a lot of misunderstanding the last time,” Miroku mused, “And this time there is worry because of politics.”
“I don’t care about the politics,” Rin said boldly, “Anyone who is fool enough to go after Sesshomaru will not only have to deal with him, but with Inuyasha as well. Why do you think Naraku only tries to attack us when we area separated? Inuyasha and Sesshomaru are strong together. I care more about the fact that Sesshomaru is getting better with Inuyasha.”
“What do you mean, Rin?” Sango asked. Rin stared at her hands for a moment.
“You all knew what Sesshomaru was like before I met him.” Rin said thoughtfully, “He had poison in his heart.”
That was undisputable. Kagome shivered remembering the first fearful encounter she had with Inuyasha’s older brother. At the time she hadn’t understood just how much danger she was in, but time had a way of making the memory something of nightmares.
“He was rather ruthless.” Miroku agreed.
“He was ruthless because he was hurt.” Rin said and looked like the picture of stillness while doing so. “He was hurt when he was a child, obsessed with the power that his father had – the power his father used over him – and Inuyasha was not only the last living reminder of his father, who was given the ultimate symbol of Touga’s power, but of that time. Sesshomaru was marked while Izayoi was pregnant, and was introduced to her as a lower mate.”
“Those are lies. My Lord did not do those things like that.” Myoga was seething at Rin’s words, but the petite teenager glared at him.
“Explain that to Sesshomaru then, that is the way he felt about it. That is the way he feels about it.” She amended her words to include now. Then she turned to Kagome and smiled, “Kagome, I was told that when you met Inuyasha he had been betrayed by someone he loved. You healed his heart by showing him compassion and trust. I think that Inuyasha is healing Sesshomaru like you healed Inuyasha.”
A million little thoughts bubbled up inside of Kagome’s mind, but she clamped them inside of her and continued drinking her tea.
Maybe she was wrong… her brain whispered. Maybe she was wrong for wishing that Inuyasha and Sesshomaru would stop this strange relationship.
Kagome had no knowledge of psychology, didn’t even know if it would apply to demons at all, but she knew Inuyasha very well and she was starting to know Sesshomaru better too. And now the things that she knew about Sesshomaru were piling up, and crashing into the things she knew about Inuyasha.
Rin’s words made complete sense. There was no denying that there was a change in Sesshomaru since this began. He was still stuck up, arrogant, and cold. But that seemed to be less severe. Kagome was positive that he’d protect any of them, that he’d protect Inuyasha. And that was a far cry away from the days when he tried to kill them.
“Maybe this is how they have to learn how to be brothers.” Kagome whispered and with those words tried to let go of her feelings about their relationship.

*Spiel Mit Mir*

“Oh, so I see I have another guest in my house.” The clear voice of a woman rang across the courtyard. Snow was still falling heavily, a curtain of white from the sky. Naraku grinned in his disguise and looked to the lady who came to greet him. “A spider hanyou?” She mused out loud and held amusement in her eyes. “Those of the spider clans always seek to make their transformations better then ours. I could see right through your little magic.”
“Tamamo-no-mai, lady of the kitsune, what good will your truthful sight be when you cannot fight?” Naraku asked and stepped forward regally wearing another’s skin. The old and powerful kitsune drew a sword from her side, and placed it in a guard position.
They waited in the falling snow for a moment, before Naraku drew the sword he tucked into his sash. The sword made of his own flesh; Tokijin. It was easy enough for him to steal it back from Sesshomaru, by having his incarnation Byakuya melt the metal into his sorcerer pot. Within a few hours of being submerged in Naraku’s festering blood the sword had regained its life, and proclaimed a new master.
And that was better anyways, Naraku believed. Tokijin was supposed to feed off the hatred for Inuyasha, and was displeased with the change of heart that Sesshomaru made for his brother. It had grown weaker and weaker under Sesshomaru’s grip, deprived of the food that made its soul ripe.
Now Naraku nourished the blade.
The Kitsune rushed him and brought her blade down swiftly crushing the bone armor over his stolen left arm. Naraku smiled and felt the armor shatter into pieces that fell into the snow.
He slashed with Tokijin and hit flesh. Kitsune blood filled his nose, and he found it was very complimentary to the snow.
Tamamo jumped back and glanced to her hand, now severed from her body, still gripping the sword on the ground. Her face had a scowl of irritation. Naraku watched interested when she lifted her uninjured hand and a ball of blue foxfire formed. The little ball of foxfire zoomed off around her detached hand and brought it back to her flesh.
Naraku could see her tendons reattaching under the skin.
“Hurts, doesn’t it?” He asked. “I know. Attaching Sesshomaru’s arm to my body was quite beautiful and painful.”
“I do not care for your trashy tricks, spider.” Tamamo said tossing the silver line of the sword she held to her other hand. “You are a fool to challenge me in my own house.”
“And why do you think that is? Do you really believe that anyone will notice my presence?” Naraku laughed, dark and dangerous. “I am going to eat you, Tamamo. I’ll eat your body and take your gift of truthful sight, and lasting transformation.”
He let her see part of him then, allowed his earthen tentacles to emerge from between his shoulder blades and slink towards her. The kitsune sliced at them, and pieces of him dropped at her feet wiggling in joy for her help in spreading their path.
Once Naraku had her body no one would be able to tell the difference in his transformation. And she was unwittingly giving herself right over.
She was playing so well into his plans, but he didn’t expect her to be obedient the whole time.
Naraku hissed when she charged him, and slashed her sword down to the bone of his stolen arm. Blood dripped into the snow so warm that it melted it.
“It is borrowed flesh, I feel no pain.” Naraku huffed and raised his sword to parry another strike.
“You may not, but the true owner will.” Tamamo grinned down to him.

I hope you all enjoy! Spiel Mit Mir is coming to a close soon. Please review I love to read your thoughts.
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