Adult-FanFiction.org : Inuyasha / Yashahime

Reassembled
By : Macx
Category: InuYasha > Yaoi - Male/Male
Views: 3401 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, nor make money from this story.
Chapter List
- 1
- 2
- 3
II. Nikimi Tama � Friendship

Kagome had been gone for a day and while it had happened before, right
now everyone was worried about her. Her safety rested with the servant
Sesshoumaru had entrusted her with. Inuyasha hadn't liked it, but there
had been no other choice. She had to go back, be with her family, then
return. She had promised to bring medical things and some of the favorite
food of each team member. They had grown used to the fast food and canned
drinks of her time.

For the rest, life at the palace continued as usual. Sango in particular
had started to train.

Her face was an expression of concentration as she swung her boomerang
at her opponent, shattering the illusions with ease. More youkai opponents
came her way and Sango whirled around in a graceful arc, disposing of them
with professional and trained ease. She described a flip-flop and held
out one hand, the boomerang returning to her. Ducking slightly, she tensed
and took in the next attack, a horde of demons coming at her with ferocious
and single-minded speed. She smiled darkly and let loose her most terrible
weapons once again.

And then her eyes widened.

"No!"

Sesshoumaru had been drawn to the battle court, watching first his brother's
mate as he took on his opponents. For a human he wasn't bad. He moved with
grace and speed, he was agile and very lethal. His staff was a blur of
motion as he wielded it to decapitate, incapacitate and destroy whoever
was foolish enough to come too close. His seals were painful and easily
stopped the lesser youkai, slowed down the more powerful, and pained the
stronger ones.

All were servants of Sesshoumaru and none was very bright. All very
disposable and demon slayers never cared what they exterminated as long
as it meant one youkai less to worry about.

In a last scenario, Inuyasha did a mock battle with his mate and Sesshoumaru
was impressed by both the resilience of the monk and Inuyasha's control
over his strength. As the two men cleared the court, the human woman Sango
took their place, going through a series of warm-ups. He was fascinated
by the mortal, how she moved, how she smelled, how�

Sesshoumaru gritted his teeth and bit down on the thoughts. About a
human!

And then she started in earnest. She was good, like her friends, and
a worthy opponent for any high level youkai. Suddenly he frowned. There
had been a movement to the left and it looked like someone was coming into
the battle court. His eyes widened as he discovered who it was.

The boomerang flew, heading the way of the new arrival who just happened
to be right next to a puppet opponent.

"NO!" he yelled, already in motion. "Rin!"

Sango had no time to so much as take a few steps toward the little girl
who was right in the line of her boomerang. Horrified, she had to watch
as the deadly weapon aimed straight for her �

-- and suddenly there was a blur of motion, of someone stepping between
Rin and Sango's weapon, and the sick sound of the bone weapon impacting
with living flesh.

And the dry crack of a bone breaking.

Not her boomerang though.

She ran toward where the dust was just settling, where a gray-clad
figure lay hunched over on the ground, curled around something.

"Rin!" she called.

There was a muffled cry and the gray figure moved. Long, silvery white
hair and the graceful feature of a youkai; amber eyes, underlined by the
stripes given to him by his father's side. But clad in non-descript, rather
simple robes that accentuated the slender figure.

"Sesshoumaru?" she gasped.

The demon lord sat back, revealing Rin inside the circle of his arms.
The girl appeared unharmed, but her wide eyes showed her confusion and
fear.

"What are you doing here?" Sesshoumaru asked the child. "I told you
to stay away from the battle court!"

"I wanted to see Sango fight," Rin answered, bottom lip quivering with
the shock just settling in.

"This is dangerous, Rin. She could have hurt you."

And he sounded so worried, Sango thought, a part of her touched by
the care the youkai showed for this human child. Another part was wary.

"Go to your room."

The child made two steps away, then suddenly hugged her adopted 'father'.
Sango saw the wince of pain, how Sesshoumaru was even more pale than usual,
but it was quickly wiped away.

"Are you hurt?" Rin asked.

"No, I'm fine. Go."

The girl looked at Sango, who gave her a nod and a smile, then hurried
off.

"Liar," Sango said calmly.

Amber eyes flashed at her and the formerly tender expression was wiped
off, replaced by one of arrogance coupled with annoyance.

"What are you talking about, slayer?"

"Hiraikotsu hit you. It's designed to kill or cripple youkai. You're
hurt."

He drew himself up and for a split second she thought he would topple.
There was another flash of pain and he held his right arm to his body.

"I'm a demon lord," Sesshoumaru growled. "Your pitiful weapon cannot
hurt me!"

"Sure."

Sango sighed and shook her head.

Sesshoumaru started to walk back into the castle and she followed,
watching his every step. He kept his right arm close to his body and his
face showed no emotions, but his eyes tightened now and then and his lips
were a thin line.

As they arrived at the door to his room, he looked at her over his
shoulder.

"What do you want?"

"Treat your wound."

"I said I'm fine, slayer."

The youkai pushed the door open with his left hand and walked inside,
uncaring whether she followed or not. Sango did, glancing around the rather
sparse quarters. Sesshoumaru undid his robes and slid the fabric off his
right shoulder. Sango grimaced.

She knew she had hit him bad and not even Sesshoumaru's cold expression
could hide the fact that her boomerang had done some extensive damage.
The bruise was running down his back, almost to the waist, and he was in
a lot of pain � despite his attempts to hide it.

"Why are you still here?" he asked.

"Because you need help with that. You probably broke something."

"It will heal."

"Don't be such a baby!" Sango growled. "Let me help!"

"I don't need your help, slayer!"

"Well, if it had been up to me, I'd have left you in the dust on the
battle court grounds! But we still need you, youkai, so at least let me
help!"

He looked at her, most of his face hidden by the long hair, and Sango
held the silent gaze, jutting her chin out.

"There is nothing you can do."

"Superior asshole," she snarled. "You think just because you're youkai
means you can heal in no time? Well, I know you can't!"

"My brother is no comparison to me."

"Who says I was talking about Inuyasha?"

Sesshoumaru slid off the top of his robes and let them fall to the
floor. Sango was treated to a very nice and aesthetic view of the muscular
back. Her eyes almost immediately went to the left arm, the arm of another
youkai, and she found no scars where it had been attached to his stump.

"I nearly got your cocky youkai ass with my boomerang!"

"It's no more than a bruise, slayer, so leave me alone!"

Sango stepped around his back and glared up into the amber eyes, which
held more emotions than before. Eyes without the colorful additions Sesshoumaru
insisted belonged to his outfit. Eyes that spoke of his heritage and his
relation to Inuyasha. Eyes that barely hid the agony the man was going
through. True, he would heal quickly, but he experienced pain just like
anyone.

"You are a vain, self-important, presumptuous, pompous snob!"

"You're not worth the breath I'd need to describe you, slayer!" Sesshoumaru
replied tightly.

Sango stabbed her finger at the exposed chest. A well-defined chest,
she noticed almost absent-mindedly. Smooth and hairless and muscular and�
She forced herself away from that train of thought.

"And you're not worth my time, youkai! Maybe Naraku will do us all
a favor and take you with him when he dies!"

With that blow she whirled around, feeling a part of her constrict
in fear at the thought of Sesshoumaru's death. The rest of her was just
too pissed to think much about it.

Sesshoumaru rocked back under the last barrage, eyes widening, and pain
that wasn't physical shooting through him. He watched the demon slayer
go, shutting the door of his chamber behind her with a resounding boom,
and then he was alone.

He sank onto his bed and rolled on his stomach to lessen the pressure
on his back. Her words hurt. More than the blow of her formidable weapon.
A lot more.

And he had lost control again. More so than before. He had raised his
voice, had felt the anger pound through him� and it had made him feel more
alive than he could ever remember.
* * *
It shouldn't bother her.

She was a youkai slayer, her whole village had been demon exterminators,
and she shouldn't be worried about hurting one. Well, except Inuyasha and
some special youkai that had become allies or even friends.

Not Sesshoumaru.

Not the most arrogant son-of-a-bitch she had ever met; the most dangerous
too.

But Sango was worried. The Hiraikotsu was a demon killer and even though
it only tore apart the lesser ones, the stronger opponents were still hurt
by it, and Sesshoumaru had been intent on protecting Rin, not himself.

With a sigh, Sango left her room after getting dressed, and walked
down the lit-up but empty halls.

Breakfast consisted of a large meal, already served on the tables,
with no servants in sight. She was still wondering where they were, if
there even were servants, but who else would be cooking the food then?
She soon excused herself to start her training, taking Kirara with her.
She needed to get her mind off Sesshoumaru, and the best way to do that
was to work out.

To her surprise she found Sesshoumaru sitting on one of the wooden
benches outside the battle court, eyes closed, meditating. She stopped,
then called her self a fool and approached him.

Golden eyes opened and not for the first time did she try not to get
lost in them.

"How's your back?" Sango asked quietly.

For a full minute there was no reply as those canine eyes seemed to
pierce right through her and look into her soul.

"Healing."

"Well, youkai mend quickly."

"Just one of the many superior aspects to a mere human."

She shot him a warning look. "I can repeat that blow, youkai. Don't
tempt me!"

Okay, so she hadn't planned on falling for his barbs again, but her
temper flared unbidden.

"Had we been in real battle, you wouldn't have even come close!"

She looked into the golden eyes, anger rising inside, but then the
memory of just why she had injured him returned.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly. "I nearly would have injured or killed
Rin."

His expression was priceless. She didn't believe she had ever seen
Sesshoumaru honestly surprised. And it made him all the more approachable,
less the arrogant bastard he played.

"She was where she shouldn't have been."

"Children always are. And in a battle, innocents get in the way. I
should have seen her."

His brows drew down a little and suddenly a calculating smile twisted
his lips. "True. A real warrior knows his surroundings."

Anger and pride coursed through her, making her bristle. "Are you implying
I'm not a warrior?!"

One eyebrow now arched cynically. "You're a human, a mortal. None of
you are warriors. You are no more than worms, and you think you can take
on the gods of this world."

Now the fury hit her. She jumped up, glaring at the youkai. "This worm
will show you what she does with an emotionally retarded youkai!" Sango
fumed. "I'll wipe the floor with your bastard ass!"

Sesshoumaru had the guts to chuckle. "You'd die before you could even
lift that petty weapon of yours."

"That petty weapon can break more than just a shoulder, demon! It'll
take your self-important head off!"

He rose slowly, still favoring his right side, his arm curled against
his stomach. "You wish."

And she saw the lines of lingering pain and discomfort around his eyes
and mouth. For some reason, it took the wind out of her, dissolved the
wounded pride and the anger at the arrogant son of a bitch. Sango looked
at the demon lord, clad in such simple robes, such a far cry from the dressed
up, showy youkai she had met in so many encounters.

It made her do something she never would have believed possible.

She stepped closer, grabbed his head and pulled him down to her level.
Her lips collided with his with an almost bruising force. The kiss was
truly electric and it shocked her more than any assault could have, and
one of her hands came up unwillingly to card into his hair. Soft hair.
And then his lips moved, answering the contact.

Sango pulled back, pushed him away and stepped back from him, their
eyes meeting. Sesshoumaru looked confused, shocked, almost a little terrified,
and he didn't move.

The slayer turned and walked away, back stiff, each step measured,
as her heart thundered in her chest and her mind whirled.

What had she done?

And much more important: why?
* * *
Kagome's return had been a great event, everyone coming to greet her
in person, relieved to find her safe and sound. Inuyasha in particular.
He might be mated to Miroku, but she still held a special place in his
heart. She was his best friend, his first real friend, and he relied on
her in these times a lot.

Two days later, the new moon forced him to change and like all those
nights before, he was hard pressed to find any sleep. Miroku had held him
for a while until the monk had dozed off, and Inuyasha had slipped out
of the room, restless and feeling even more vulnerable now that he was
in this closed off environment.

He sat on the thick walls of the palace's outer defenses, gazing into
the sky. The stars were clear and bright tonight.

'They're not this bright in my time', Kagome had once told him. He
hadn't been able to believe it, had never even given them much thought,
but she had changed that. He had been in her time, had seen her world,
and it was as strange to him as his was to her.

There was a soft noise behind him, almost inaudible, and he reached
for Tetsuseiga, even though the blade was of no use to him in this form.
It wouldn't transform.

Golden eyes met his currently very much brown ones and Sesshoumaru's
impassive features showed no kind of reaction to the sight of a human Inuyasha,
black hair shifting slightly in the night breeze. Inuyasha tensed. He had
no idea what to expect from his brother. Like all youkai he knew a hanyou
had times where his power left him, but Inuyasha had made sure he kept
that particular secret.

"What do you want?" he finally snarled when Sesshoumaru didn't make
a move or speak.

The youkai's expression didn't change and Inuyasha felt something inside
of him boil up. He squashed it down.

Sesshoumaru regarded the human in front of him. He had picked up on
the change of smell of his brother and when he had noticed him leaving
the shared quarters he had with the monk, he had followed. He wasn't surprised
to see this human form, the black hair and dark eyes, the missing dog ears
and blunt nails. The fire in the unfamiliar eyes was still the same, the
challenge quite clear, and should Sesshoumaru decide to try something now,
Inuyasha would fight him.

It was a trait he had grudgingly started to admire throughout their
past encounters, he mused. Even when outmatched, weakened by injuries or
poison, at his brother's mercy, Inuyasha wouldn't give up. He would face
an opponent until his last breath; he would never run away.

"The night of the new moon," he said, almost to himself.

His brother's weakest time. All hanyou had such times, some more often
than others. Inuyasha had one night.

The dark head ducked a little, the muscles tensed. "What's it to you?"
he growled.

"It's a weakness in our fight."

"You think one of Naraku's wimpy little youkai can take me out?"

"They did before."

Muscles tightened around the clenched jaw. "They got lucky."

Sesshoumaru gave him long, hard look, then turned around and
left. Somewhere deep down inside he hoped that their final fight against
Naraku wouldn't coincide with another moonless night.

Inuyasha fell back against the wall, his fist connecting with the rough
stone as his anger boiled to the surface.

"Shit!" he whispered.

It had been bad enough that his brother had saved him after some low-life
youkai had taken him out in his human form; now he had to face the demon
lord in this weak shape again.

He returned to their room and found Miroku awake and sitting up on
the futon. Violet eyes met dark brown ones and he tried to school his features,
which failed. There was a sympathetic expression in his lover's eyes and
Inuyasha sighed deeply. Wordlessly he crawled onto the futon and let Miroku
take him into his arms.
* * *
Inuyasha looked down from the balcony into the almost dark garden. There,
on the stairs to the small porch on the other side, sat a figure, scratching
the ears of a little two-tailed cat. Sango had behaved oddly in the last
few days, which mainly showed itself in her ongoing arguments with Sesshoumaru
whenever the two met. Sometimes it was just a look, sometimes a snide remark,
and to Inuyasha's surprise, his older brother actually lost his distant
cool with the slayer. Even he hadn't managed that!

Something was going on and he had started to watch the two unlikely
allies. Kagome liked to call him thick and emotionally a wreck, but he
had learned and he had learned fast. The air between the two fighters was
thick with tension and while there was no hostility he could pin down,
there was� friction. When he had remarked on that to Miroku, his lover
had looked thoughtful. He had noticed it, too. Then again, who hadn't?

Miroku had wondered if it was because of Sango's position as a demon
exterminator, but she had managed to curb that instinct long ago. She worked
side by side with youkai in battle, she accepted there was more than just
one form of demons out there, that there were peaceful and good ones, and
Sesshoumaru was an ally.

So why the tension? Why the arguments?

Suddenly there was a movement, a shadow in the darkness of the room
behind her, the flash of canine eyes - and Inuyasha�s eyes widened
when he realized what he was a silent witness to.

His brother, normally not one for mingling even though he now had six
constant guests, was approaching the woman he couldn't seem to talk civilly
to.
*
He stood still, eyes fastened on the slender woman sitting on the stairs,
sipping her tea. He didn�t know what had drawn him out here in the night,
all he knew was that he was feeling � confused. And that was something
he wasn�t accustomed to � he was never confused. But ever since he had
brought this unlikely group here Sesshoumaru�s life had changed � and he
had changed with it.

It wasn't because there were now humans around him, creatures he had
despised for so long. Rin had opened his eyes to the differences in humans,
just like they needed to learn that not all demons were alike. Rin's smile,
her joy filled nature, her unconditional acceptance of him� her love for
the stranger who had brought her back to life� it had all left its marks.
He had never been particularly parental with Rin. She had just followed
him, obeyed his commands, brought such� life into his existence, that he
couldn't think of leaving her somewhere in a human's care. She loved him
in a very special way and even though he had never wanted it, he had become
something of a father to her.

Now his brother and his friends had arrived, and with them, life had
changed again. Sesshoumaru had never spent much time in this place he called
his own. It was taken care of by servants and he didn't even know who they
were. Now he had been here for the longest time in his life, for weeks,
and things were shifting.

�Are you going to stand there all night and stare at me, youkai?� her
quiet voice pulled him out of his thoughts � which he hadn�t even realized.
So she had known he was here?

�I do whatever I wish, slayer,� he replied haughtily.

Lame, Sesshoumaru, very lame. And why was he answering her anyway?
Because whenever she addressed him, something inside of him snapped. His
control went out the window and he wanted nothing more than to� well, what?

He had no idea.

�Of course.�

She didn�t even look up, just continued to scratch the little feline.
Somehow Sesshoumaru felt jealous � of a cat?

�Sesshoumaru?�

�What?�

�Stop standing there like a peeping tom and come to where I can
see you.�

That aggravating, little� but somehow he found himself stepping
closer to her, to her side. Sango shot him a short glance and finished
her tea.

�Do you really think you can defeat Naraku?�

�No.�

�Huh?�

So that surprised her, hm?

�I know I will defeat him.�

�Snotty youkai.�

�Bitch.�

For a brief second he thought he had her, saw something flash in her
huge brown eyes � and then she started to laugh.

�What are you laughing at, slayer?�

�You, of course. You think you're so tough and above us mere humans�
it's amusing.�

Sesshoumaru felt the by now familiar feeling rise inside of him, the
not-anger, the not-fury. It was something� not negative, something that
got his blood going, his emotions boiling, and he wanted it again and again.

�I could crush your neck and wouldn't think twice about it.�

�So could I. Makes us even, don�t you think? Now sit, I�m straining
my neck here!�

"I'm not a dog."

But to his utter surprise he found himself sitting next to her. Inhaling
deeply, he took in her scent. He had noticed it before, on different occasions,
and he enjoyed it � she smelled a lot like Rin and yet utterly different.
Intoxicatingly different, making his lips prickle with the memory of her
kiss� whoa! Wait a minute �

�I�d do it again. Isn�t that ridiculous?� Sango said softly, almost
thoughtfully.

�You�d do what again?�

Why by all seven hells did he ask? What did he care about a human woman?

Brown eyes looked at him sincerely and he was fascinated by their dark
color, by their emotions, by their strength.

�I am a youkai slayer, a demon�s sworn enemy � yet I kissed one. I�d
do it again.�

Her words launched a myriad of emotions he had never acknowledged of
having, and suddenly her scent was all over him. Her hair felt like raven
feathers under his fingers as he carded them through it, her lips met his,
oh so soft and� why should he care at all? But it felt so incredible, the
taste, the scent, the feeling of her against him, her hands touching him.
Pulling back he watched those deep brown pools, those eyes he felt like
drowning in, something he had never felt before in his entire life.

Standing slowly Sesshoumaru held out his hand � an invitation, a question.
And after another eternal heartbeat she took it.
*
Inuyasha had witnessed the encounter, watched as Sesshoumaru prickled
under the words spoken to him by a human, watched as he actually lowered
himself onto the steps and talked, witnessed the kiss.

He was surprised.

He was shocked.

And he was wondering�

�I�ll be back in a minute, Miroku.�

His lover shot him a questioning look but nodded. Miroku knew him well
enough by now; if there was something he wanted to share he would do so.
*
Sango wasn't a blushing virgin, though she had felt the color rise to
her cheeks whenever Miroku had made one of his advances � for whole different
reasons, though. She knew about men and women, about sex, but she had never
slept with a youkai. They had been the enemy, however good-looking they
were. And Sesshoumaru beat them all in that department. He was the most
dangerous.

Her eyes traveled over the body she had seen mostly naked before, but
back then he had been covered in terrible wounds, blood and dust, feverish
and out of his mind. Now there were no signs of injuries, no scars from
previous battles, and her hands encountered nothing but smooth skin and
hard muscles. The only surprise came in form of the white tail he kept
hidden under his clothes.

Golden eyes met hers as she smiled slightly at the discovery, then
her mouth was taken in a hard, demanding kiss. Sango forgot all about tails
and pointed ears as she dug her hands into his long hair, gave as good
as she got, both dueling for dominance in the battle of tongues.
*
Wandering through the silent halls of Sesshoumaru�s palace all Inuyasha
had to do was follow his nose. And his instinct.

There, in front of a closed door, sat Kirara. The little feline demon
meowed plaintively as she spotted him, scratching at the wood as if asking
him to let her in. The hanyou pricked his ears and sniffed, then shook
his head.

�Sorry, Kirara, no can do. Looks like she doesn�t want you right now.
Come,� he picked the little cat up, �you'll stay with us tonight.�

With one final thoughtful look at the closed door he turned, scratching
the unhappy cat behind her ears.

I hope you�ve made the right decision, Inuyasha thought.

He didn�t even know which person behind that door he meant.
*
A silver-haired head turned, golden eyes flashed at the door.

�Something wrong, Fluffy?� Sango asked, one hand idly playing with
a strand of long hair.

He glowered back at her. �Don�t call me Fluffy!�

Sango just laughed and weaved her hands into his hair, pulling Sesshoumaru
back down and sealed his lips with a kiss.
* * *
Inuyasha came back into their room and found his lover sitting on the
bed, eyes closed, hands folded on his lap. As the door opened, the violet
eyes opened and a smile crossed his features.

"Kirara is staying with us?" he queried softly.

Inuyasha dropped the cat onto the floor and she scurried over to the
balcony, hopped onto the stone railing and gazed into the night.

"If she chooses so."

Miroku just nodded, accepting the fact.

The hanyou pulled off his robes as he walked over to where his lover
still sat fully clothed, and sank to his knees. A soft light illuminated
the golden eyes as they studied the human so close to him. Inuyasha could
smell Miroku's scent, felt his warmth, could almost hear the beating of
his heart, and he leaned forward to bring their lips together. Hands carded
into his hair as Miroku pulled him closer, sinking back onto the futon.

Inuyasha hadn't smelled much of what was happening behind the closed
doors, but even the whiff of pheromones had him wanting and needing. Together
with the sounds he had most definitely picked up, he felt his need grow.
With a soft growl he began to strip Miroku, who didn't protest the least,
his hands caressing and stroking and teasing their way over the naked skin.
When he lightly grazed a nipple with his teeth, his lover bucked under
him with a moan.

He growled softly as he took in the growing arousal and almost shredded
the robes to get deeper, to see more, to feel skin against skin.

Inuyasha didn't care who smelled what on them tomorrow as his mouth
followed the path of his hands. He didn't care who heard them as Miroku
cried out in pleasure and need, as he himself added his rough gasps and
groans.

Right now, there were only them. The world be damned.

Miroku's fingers were playing with the soft, white ears as Inuyasha
snuggled against his lover, feeling sated and warm. One ear twitched slightly
and the other was getting a gentle caress that went all the way down into
his soul.

"You really are obsessed," he murmured, running his claws over the
curve of his lover's ribs.

"Hm?"

"My ears. First Kagome and her mother, now you."

"Kagome's mother?" Miroku asked, amusement in his voice.

"Keh, not what you think." He snorted slightly.

"Of course not. And I like your ears."

Miroku leaned down and teethed the tip of one tenderly. Inuyasha froze
with the pleasant sensation, sighing softly. His lover had done it before,
but each time was a new experience. He had never known his ears to be that
sensitive.

"I like playing with them," the human added, his caress never faltering.

"Hmpf. Suit yourself."

"I don't hear you complaining."

"I don't want to spoil your fun."

"Sure."

Miroku tugged slightly at the left ear and Inuyasha turned his head
a little. Soft lips met his and he answered the light kiss. Both men settled
in a comfortable position once more and Inuyasha started to doze off under
the ministrations.

It really did feel good.
* * *
Sango woke to the softness of a mattress underneath her, a blanket covering
her nude form, and the slow realization and memories of the night before.

She had�

She had slept with�

Sango turned slowly, that strange feeling of being watched unabated.

Sesshoumaru.

The most arrogant, self-centered, cocky, pompous�

The youkai lay on his side, propped up on his elbow, the silvery white
hair more tousled than even after the worst fight. He looked downright
edible. She had an unobstructed view of the naked, well-defined chest she
had explored last night in detail. Those fascinating, golden-amber eyes
were close to unreadable, but he seemed slightly puzzled, and as she looked
at the markings on his face, she recalled running feather light fingers
over the crescent on his forehead, as well as the stripes on his cheeks.

As for the rest of his body, which was underneath the blanket she shared
with him, that she knew perfectly well, too. Right down to the unexpected
tail he featured. Well, he was a dog demon. What had she expected?

Except for the hottest sex she had had in a while.

Sango bit down on that thought and concentrated on the here and now.
The morning after.

Shit.

"What are you staring at?!" she snarled, using her only weapon � anger.

Sango looked for her robes or any kind of cover for her nudity. Finally
she used the blanket, drawing it up and around her body. It resulted in
uncovering the athletic, slender form of the youkai though. Sango's body
and mind remembered his body pressed against her, those powerful claws
that had teased and tormented her before burying into the mattress as he
came inside her, his moan of completion. And they hadn't left it at that.
Her body tingled pleasantly at the recollection of the long night of sheer
bliss.

"Shy all of a sudden?" he asked, voice taunting.

She glared. "No!"

"It's not like I didn't see every inch of your body last night, woman."

Sango's eyes spat fire and lightning at him. "And it'll be the last
time you see it, youkai! What did you use to lure me here? Drugs? Spells?"

"I recall you coming with me quite willingly," he answered.

"I'd never voluntarily sleep with a� a� creature like you!"

Sesshoumaru's eyes flashed a little. "You think I enjoyed it, bitch?"

Sango's mind froze and she stiffened. "Well, compared to your other
bitches, this one was probably the best you'll ever get!" she snarled.

With that she stalked toward the door, ripped it open and slammed it
shut after her.

Sesshoumaru stared at the shut door with a bemused expression, then
got up and walked into his bathing chamber where servants had already drawn
up a bath. It was a morning ritual and they performed it, whether he used
the bath or not.

Sinking into the hot water, his thoughts were involuntarily drawn to
the demon slayer again.

She was unlike any of the other women he had ever had in this bed before;
or somewhere else, for that matter. Those had been servants, mindless
little bitches who had spread their legs at his command. He had taken his
pleasure from them and then left � or made them leave if they hadn't scurried
out on their own. But this woman, this human, was so very different.

She had fire, she had energy, she had strength, and she had her own
will. She knew what she wanted and she took it; she had surprised him with
that. His usual way of pleasuring his nether instincts had been thrown
over board the moment she had kissed him.

No one had ever kissed him like that before.

Some youkai had tried to seduce him with their kisses, but there had
never been this drive behind it, this raw energy and lust and need.

And she had used her hands on his body in ways no servant had ever
dared either. He still felt the ghost of her touch on his skin, inflaming
him, driving him on.

She had passion. His little firecracker.

Sesshoumaru startled himself with that thought.

His. His�

No one would touch her like that after what had happened last night.
He would kill whoever dared to be so intimate with someone who had touched
him so deeply, who had taken from him like he had taken from her. She was
such a fiery, independent spirit, so lively and refreshing� a perfect mother
for his children.

The youkai slayed that thought immediately, completely shocked.

She was human. She would dirty the blood line�

And why sounded those arguments suddenly weak and so wrong? Why did
he suddenly feel like this?
* * *
Each of her moves was a powerful strike against the hapless puppets
that took their beating stoically. Her hands hurt, her muscles protested,
but Sango delivered the brutal beating for several more rounds before letting
up. She stood there, breathing hard, feeling her body hurt in places that
hadn't hurt in a long time. Not all of them physical.

How could she have been so stupid?!

Picking up a bo staff, she continued her training, sweat freely running
down her face, neck and back.

She had slept with that man!

Turn, slash, duck, kick.

She had slept with a youkai of all people!

Kick, flip back, kick again.

She! A demon slayer! Mortal enemy of all youkai!

That arrogant son of a bitch!

With a ferocious last kick she decapitated her opponent and stood down,
panting. Her hair clung to her face and neck, she was completely soaked
in sweat, but something inside her burned with the need to hit something
else. To turn her anger at herself into a force worthy of a slayer.

But try as she might, she couldn't seem to mentally pin Sesshoumaru's
face onto the still puppets she was decimating.

Sango dropped the bo staff and walked over to the stairs that led from
the gallery level into the battle court. She sank down and rested her arms
on her knees, head hanging between her shoulders.

Soft steps announced a visitor and a cup of water was held out to her.
She looked up and gave Miroku a weak smile.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome. Looks like you needed a break."

The monk joined her on the steps, looking out over the battle court
he had used himself many times in the past weeks. She glanced at him out
of the corner of her eyes, noting the faint smile around his lips, the
serene expression in his face, all the things she had noticed ever since
his relationship with Inuyasha had been known to her. He had found something
he had missed, something like his other half. It had grounded him in many
ways, changed him in others. Sango missed the flirting now and then, his
constant attempts to grope her, but only a little.

"Miroku?"

"Hm?"

He looked at her and Sango avoided his eyes, choosing to look at the
stone steps instead.

"I think I made a mistake."

"Your moves looked quite okay to me."

She shot him a long-suffering look. "That's not what I meant!"

"Oh?" Miroku gave her an encouraging smile and she wondered if he knew
or suspected. "Then what?"

Sango sighed and raised her eyes to the sky. "Have you ever done something
which you regretted the very next day?"

"Sure. Many times."

"Something that felt so right when you did it and is now making you
feel so incredibly sick?"

He frowned slightly. "On a few occasions."

"But how can something right feel so terribly wrong?"

Miroku gave her a long look, eyes serious. "Sometimes, you leap before
you think, Sango. You let your emotions take you somewhere your mind never
dared to go. And sometimes, that little step can be wonderful, even if
it feels wrong afterwards."

She smiled humorlessly. "Doing the wrong thing is called a mistake."

"Yes, but feeling good about it� doesn't that nullify the mistake?"

"No! It was wrong! Completely and utterly wrong! I never should have
done it! I never would have if not� oh damn!"

Sango let her head fall against his shoulder and Miroku automatically
embraced her. Months ago he wouldn't have been able to do that, but things
had changed. Miroku had changed, and it was 'safe' to be that close to
the formerly lecherous man.

"If not what?" he inquired softly.

"I began to care, Miroku. Before I met you guys� I only wanted to do
what my family and village had done for a long time � exterminate youkai.
I never saw them as something other than things to be killed."

"Until Inuyasha?" he asked with a smile.

"Yes."

"And now you can see them as different beings with different motivations?
Some good, some bad, some evil?"

Another nod.

"That's not a mistake, Sango."

"Maybe. But I made one because I changed my view of them."

She closed her eyes and let herself fall into his embrace completely,
suddenly feeling so alone and in need of comfort. His comfort.

"Miroku?" she whispered.

"Hm?"

"Thank you."

He smiled a little. "You're welcome, Sango. Always."

From his spot at the second floor window, Sesshoumaru watched the human
woman fight, taking out the puppets with single-minded ferocity. How she
moved so lithely, so fluidly � like she had moved with him in bed. How
she arched and jumped and pirouetted � like she had arched underneath him.
How she delivered fatal blows with her weapon of choice � like she had
touched him, so strongly and had taken charge. It was an aesthetic display
of superior training� in battle as well as in bed.

And he recalled how she had left him so confused of everything. It
wasn't a feeling he was used to. Like he wasn't used to pondering about
humans, about human women, about a slayer� He dreamed of her, she occupied
his mind, and it left him in a free fall he was unaccustomed to.

As she sat down and began to talk to the monk, something else crept
up inside him, and when that other man touched her, wrapped an arm around
her, he started to bristle.

How dare he!

How dare he touch what was his!

Sesshoumaru whirled around, kimono billowing, and began to stalk toward
the steps, but was suddenly caught and unexpectedly stopped. He snarled
and turned on his opponent � only to arrest his first blow in mid-movement.

Inuyasha gazed up at him, face set, eyes slightly aglow.

"Leave them!" the hanyou commanded.

"What?" Sesshoumaru hissed.

"I said leave them alone! She doesn't need you right now."

Sesshoumaru drew back, growling slightly. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about the two of you last night and this morning, brother.
I know what happened. Her scent is all over you, so don't deny it!" Inuyasha
smirked a little. "And she probably reeks of you."

He drew himself up to his full height. "That's none of your business,
hanyou!"

"No, it isn't, if the great demon lord sleeps with a human woman, but
it is when that woman is my friend."

"I'd care more about that man you call your mate moving in on her,"
Sesshoumaru sneered.

"Actually, it's called 'being a friend'. Miroku's interests are different
from what you imply." Another smirk.

His features froze and Sesshoumaru rallied for control.

"Just leave them alone. Let her deal with whatever you made her deal
with."

With that Inuyasha walked away. Sesshoumaru watched his younger brother
disappear inside the castle and stepped closer to the window again. Sango
was still leaning into the monk's embrace, but there was nothing sexual
about them. Nothing at all.

And why should he care anyway?
* * *
The question as to how they would be able to find Naraku, the real one,
not one of his puppets, had been puzzling everyone ever since the alliance
had started. Sesshoumaru had used the youkai under his control and those
loyal to him � those he actually trusted that much � to find any trace
of the evil darkness they were about to fight, but as before, there was
no trace of him. His minions destroyed the land and killed whoever got
in their way, but Naraku was in hiding.

Until one of the tiny, winged youkai returned with a message.

"Kagura wants to meet us," Inuyasha told the others.

"We can't trust her," Sango immediately decided.

The hanyou frowned slightly. "She isn't exactly loyal to Naraku. She
defied him in the past, too. Some of her attacks were downright� staged."

"So you think we can trust her enough to meet her?" Miroku asked.

"No, but it's the only lead we have."

Kagome snorted. "What if it's a trap?"

"That is why you will stay here."

They turned and looked at Sesshoumaru, clad in his battle armor, his
features as cold and distant as usual.

"I'm going, too," Inuyasha growled.

The golden eyes looked down on him. "No."

The hanyou bristled slightly. "Now listen here, Sesshoumaru�"

Miroku placed a hand on his arm as if to stop him. He wouldn't stand
a chance against the superior strength, but the simple gesture worked.

"What if it is a trap?" he asked quietly.

"She is nothing against my powers," Sesshoumaru said emotionlessly.

Sango muttered something uncomplimentary under her breath that only
two pairs of sensitive ears picked up. Sesshoumaru scowled at her, but
he refrained from commenting.

"I thought we were working together!" Inuyasha argued.

"We are."

And with that he turned, walking away.

Inuyasha snarled and seethed, claws flexing, but instead of charging
after the departing figure, he finally just huffed and sat down, arms crossed
in front of his chest.

The others traded looks, then settled down as well. There was nothing
else they could do but wait.
* * *
Sesshoumaru's gaze swept over the desolate landscape. There wasn't a
single sign of life, just bare rock and black sand. The ancient volcano
had quieted down centuries ago, but nothing grew in its vicinity. The village
people believed it were demon and ghosts that kept the grass from growing,
and they weren't that far off, he mused. The mountain was filled with lesser
youkai, all mean-spirited, but none a danger to him. Since Naraku's return,
the youkai had gone into hiding again anyway. The few still roaming the
earth were either too stupid or hoped to gain something from the evil presence.

The wind picked up, tugging at his clothes, and his hair lifted in
the stronger growing breeze. He turned as the Wind User appeared, her red
eyes fixed on him.

"You came alone? I am surprised."

His features didn't shift for a moment and he studied the woman who
was nothing but a detachment from Naraku himself. Though her own person,
she was bound to the evil and had tried to use Sesshoumaru to buy her freedom
before.

"What do you want?" he asked levelly.

"You're looking for Naraku, right?"

His gaze didn't leave her porcelain features, those perfect lines and
the inhuman red eyes.

"I know where he is, but I want your promise in exchange that you will
kill him."

"Because you haven't been able to so far?" he asked coolly.

Her lips became a thin line.

"You offered me Shikon shards in the past for my� services. You tried
to buy me. I told you then that I would not be the messenger."

Kagura's face twisted in anger. "You want him dead, so do I! You will
never find him on your own, Sesshoumaru."

He looked down on her, face still a mask.

"Naraku will kill you before you get even close!" Kagura argued.

"How can I trust you?"

"Because we have the same goal."

The youkai raised an eyebrow. "Where is he?"

"Promise me on your life that you will kill him and grant me my freedom!"

There was a long silence, then he nodded almost imperceptibly. Kagura
seemed to relax and there was relief visible in her eyes, though only for
a second.

"Naraku is hiding in a lost valley, in a place before time, licking
his wounds. He's protected by a barrier."

Sesshoumaru listened as she described how to find the place, then he
turned and simply walked away.

"Don't forget your promise," Kagura called after him.

He had never forgotten anything. He would honor their pact.
* * *
Inuyasha looked down at his sleeping lover; his mate. The man who meant
more to him than anyone else before. Miroku's features were smoothed in
sleep and he smelled strongly of their shared loving. It had been slow
and gentle, possessive and intense, and both men had known it as for what
it was � their last night together before the final confrontation with
Naraku.

He might lose him tomorrow.

He might die himself.

Inuyasha ran feather-light fingers through the tousled, black hair,
enjoying the silky feel of it. He traced one defined cheekbone down to
the chin and then over the lips. Miroku sighed softly and moved sleepily.

"Koishii?" he whispered.

For a moment Inuyasha thought his mate was dreaming, but then the violet
eyes cracked open and regarded him sleepily.

"Sorry. I didn't want to wake you," he murmured.

Miroku pulled him down, kissing him gently. "You can't sleep?"

Inuyasha sighed and buried his head against the other man's neck. "No."

"You're thinking about tomorrow."

"It might soon be over. Tomorrow� might be the final day."

Strong hands stroked his back. "Yes, I pray it is."

"I might lose you."

The caresses never faltered. "As I might lose you, koishii."

He raised himself and golden eyes looked into dark violet ones. Inuyasha's
fear doubled at the evenly spoken words. He couldn't lose his lover! Miroku
was everything to him.

"Inuyasha," the monk whispered and framed his face with his hands.
"I love you. I will fight to live, I will never give in to any opponent
as long as there is breath left in me. We will be together."

The hanyou inhaled sharply, then claimed the familiar lips in an almost
desperate kiss. Miroku held on to him, clinging to him as Inuyasha clung
to his lover.
* * *
The whole landscape seemed to consist more of canyons than anything
else. From where Inuyasha stood he saw a desolate vista of bare rocks and
jagged hills, through which a savage wind that tugged at him whistled.
Dark clouds churned overhead threatening rain, but the ground beneath him
was deeply dry. Only dust rode the wind, sometimes thick enough to envelop
him and obscure his vision, sometimes just creeping along the ground to
wrap around his ankles like smoke. Occasionally it hid the distant horizon.
The valley that lay spread out beyond him was huge and staggeringly rough,
as if a long-ago river had churned violently along the plain, eating it
away in huge gulps.

"What a place," Sango muttered.

They started to descend toward the bottom of the valley, each step
careful, their eyes scanning the surrounding area in case there was an
attack.

But there was nothing.

"Looks like you bit off more than you can chew," a voice called and
Inuyasha whirled around.

There, on top of a boulder, stood the figure of Kouga, the wolf youkai.
He was grinning insolently, but something about his expression was off.
While the smile was the same infuriating one as ever, the eyes seemed�
dead.

"What do you want here?" Inuyasha demanded, readily falling into their
old game.

"I'm here to protect Kagome, since you always do such an abysmal job,
dogface."

Inuyasha sneered. "As if you're better, wimpy wolf. You run at the
first sign of trouble."

"Guys!" Kagome interrupted. "Stop it! It's not what we're here for."
She turned to Kouga. "How did you find this place?"

"I followed your scent, of course. I'd find it anywhere. You're my
woman after all."

Sesshoumaru's brows rose a fraction, otherwise he was silently witnessing
the encounter.

Kagome blushed slightly.

"You were gone so long," Kouga added. "I thought you had left for good."

"So you think you can just come here and join our battle?" Inuyasha
challenged.

"I've got something to pick with Naraku," the wolf replied, his features
suddenly turning more stony.

It was an expression Inuyasha had never seen on him before, at least
not in that extreme version.

"Who doesn't?" the hanyou replied.

Kouga's eyes narrowed. "I'm here to finish him off, with you or without
you. Kagura killed off my pack long before, but now he has wiped every
wolf youkai he could find off the face of this earth. I'm the last one
left and I'll have revenge for my pack and Ayame's too!"

Kagome blanched at the words. "All dead? Ayame� too?"

"Yes."

Inuyasha looked at his long-time rival, someone he considered a good
warrior and an even better sparring partner. Their eyes met and he simply
nodded, accepting the addition of a new fighter.

"Watch your back," was all he said.

"You better watch yours, dog face, because I'll be the one up front,
ridding this world of Naraku."

Sesshoumaru smiled coldly, but he didn't comment.

"The barrier," Miroku suddenly said. "It's here."

They looked at him and the monk pointed toward the open valley.

"I can feel its presence."

Like the others, he had grown in their fights against Naraku and his
powers had developed. It wasn't easy for him to sense such barriers, but
he had learned how to.

Inuyasha unsheathed Tetsuseiga. "Well, then let's undo it."

The sword grew to its battle size and the blade colored in a blood
red. Inuyasha swung the deadly sword, using the Kaze no Kizu. Sesshoumaru's
eyes narrowed as the incredible force of the unleashed power clashed with
the invisible barrier, immediately reacting with it, destabilizing its
structure, and the sight before them wavered. Where before only an empty
valley had been there was now the shifting image of a castle, a fortress.

"Go!" Miroku yelled and they started to run through the crack that
was wavering around them.

Inuyasha grinned, satisfied with his handiwork, and followed.

They had been expected.

By numerous youkai.

Inuyasha's grin spread. "Now the fun begins! Bring it on!"
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Reassembled	By : Macx Category: InuYasha > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 3401 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, nor make money from this story.

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