Adult-FanFiction.org : Inuyasha / Yashahime

A Heat to Overcome	By : Sparrowhawk Category: InuYasha > Yaoi - Male/Male > InuYasha/Sessh?maru > InuYasha/Sessh?maru Views: 31291 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 8
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or the associated characters, nor do I make any profit from this fanfic. All other characters not associated with the original manga or anime, however, are mine.

Chapter List
- 19
- 20
- 21
So sorry this is late! We had a HUGE windstorm blow through, knocked out our internet for a few days. So here's the new chapter. Finally! But reviews first!
Midnightsscream: Yeah, seriously not cool. So happy you like the "dog-like affections" I added in. Sorry I couldn't update Saturday, internet troubles, like I said ): But I'm updating now, and I hope you enjoy this chapter! Gives you a better look at Suzu and why he is the way he is. Thanks for leaving a review! Makes me so Happy (: (:
Moonlight Vampiress: Thanks! I'll definitely be using it then! It'll be tweaked a little to fit the situation and I doubt it's going to be very soon, but you'll definitely recognize it when it comes! Lol, sorry, but Kagome's not going to be dying (: That would definitely be hilarious. Just have to see what happens, though. Even I'm not completely positive about where everything's going to go. I know the main points, but not necessarily how I'm getting there. Yes! I love jealous Sesshomaru, it's so much Fun! *evil grin* Yeah, sorry, Suzu's personality kind of dictated at that point. I kept saying "No, Suzu, No! You can't do that!! The readers will HATE me! NOOOOO!!!" but he kept saying "Nope, this is the way I am. Too bad, poor little author! You're just going to have to deal. Bwahahahaha!" *Seriously evil laughter* I don't think Suzu likes me very much ): Well, here's the next chapter for you! Sorry it's late, not much I could do, though. Please enjoy and thanks for putting up with my quirkiness and giving me suggestions and encouragement (;
Totally almost forgot the warning, so here we go: profanity (given), lots and lots of angst, self-harm, lovely affection between our two favorite inu, and LOTS of Suzu interaction!! Woo hoo!

Chapter Twenty
Third Night: A Slave Too Long
At that proclamation, though quiet, the entire room fell into a tense silence, as if every person in the room had stopped breathing.
“He’s … dead?” Inuyasha repeated disbelievingly.
“Sire …” Bishamon started, and then hesitated.
“Ask,” Sesshomaru commanded, resting his chin atop that of his brother’s head in a comforting gesture.
Swallowing, the tiger demon obeyed. “You can save him, can’t you Sire?”
“Fool,” Saniiro sneered over at the peacock demon, upper lip curling in distaste.
“Indisputably,” Sesshomaru agreed stoicly, though his gaze was fierce. “Suzu, though foolish, has unshakable faith in my word and great loyalty to the House of Inu no Taisho. Can you say the same of yourself, Saniiro? Would you give up your life to ensure the protection of this House?”
Frowning in discontent, Saniiro looked away. “To die in battle is one thing. To commit suicide is an entirely different matter.”
“If he was commiting suicide, then yes, it would be an entirely different matter,” Sesshomaru nodded. “If Suzu was commiting suicide for no other reason than to escape, then I would not save him. However, you know as well as this Sesshomaru does that Suzu is not a coward.”
Just then, Yuudai returned with Tenseiga held fast in his grip. Bowing, barely winded, the marten handed Sesshomaru the sword and then returned to stand against the wall beside the daiyoukai’s second bodyguard, Kaito, a kamoshika youkai.
Sesshomaru drew the blade with a quiet snick of metal and held it aloft before him. “Observe,” he commanded, sweeping the room with eyes like twin burning fires. He gracefully rose, depositing Inuyasha back into his seat as he strode around the table toward Suzu’s immobile form. “Observe the power of the Lord of the West, created from the fang of the great Inu no Taisho, and handed down from father to son. The blade cuts naught but the dead.” He halted before his most trusted general and once against swept the room with an unreadable gaze. “Watch and do not forget, this Sesshomaru does not break his word.”
Inuyasha had never seen his aniki wield the fabled second blade of their father and he watched in avid interest as Sesshomaru swept the blade down in a diagonal arc. It seemed to impact something he couldn’t see, pausing for an infintesimal moment before continuing along the same path. Sesshomaru returned it to its sheath and strode back to his seat at the head of the table, face as emotionless as ever. He watched his brother go, frowning in confusion. Was that it?
And then, to his and everyone else’s shock and amazement, Suzu blinked open his eyes and sat up in his chair. “Ah,” he said as he looked himself over, “I’m back.”
“Be grateful that you are, indeed, back among the living,” Sesshomaru said coldly, retaking his seat, “and that you are of too much use to be discarded as of yet. Should you try something so foolish again, this Sesshomaru will not be the one to rectify your stupidity and it will be you and your men who will pay for your foolishness.”
Suzu bowed from where he sat, brown eyes solemn. “As always, I am infinitely grateful for my Lord and Master’s generosity and mercy toward one such as I.”
“As you should be. Now, if you are finished being melodramatic, I suggest you remember the oaths you have given in my service and obey.”
“As you command, Lord, so shall I do.”
“You will train him also in stealth and assassination.”
“Stealth he already has, all I need teach him is when it is prudent to use such stealth and when it is more prudent to run or fight.” Shifting in discomfort for the reaction he knew his Lord would have to his refusal, Suzu continued quietly, “Assassination, though … that I am unwilling to teach him.”
Inuyasha tilted his head, curious as to what would put that pained, close to panicked gleam in the peacock youkai’s face and eyes. He understood why Sesshomaru wanted him to learn the ways of assassination. By doing so, he would be far more deadly, far more dangerous, even without Tessaiga. He already knew several ways to kill youkai, but that was only by experience and only in the most rudimentary of ways—a thrust through the heart with a blade or his claws, total decapitation or tearing out someone’s throat. All three methods were highly effective, though not always possible, especially if he was to be pitted up against a demon like Sesshomaru, whose skills in battle severely outmatched his own. He needed a better way to kill. Suzu, as a former assassin, could teach him that.
“You have defied this Sesshomaru enough for one afternoon, Suzu,” Sesshomaru growled, powerful youki flowing from him in heavy, dominating waves. “You are pushing your luck and this one’s patience. Must I remind you that you are bound to this Sesshomaru? Your life is mine to do with as I will. Do you dispute my right?”
“I do not wish to teach him assassination, Lord,” Suzu protested, even quieter than before. “Do not ask this of me.”
“Do you dispute my right, Suzu?” Sesshomaru asked again.
Though that tone was not directed at him, Inuyasha shrunk away from it. Sesshomaru would not be taking no for an answer.
What was between him and Suzu, he wondered? The bird youkai seemed to Inuyasha to be one of the daiyoukai’s most trusted. He had seemed almost like … like a friend, strange as that thought was. Why was Sesshomaru forcing him? You did not force those you trusted, those you counted as friends, or almost friends, to do something they didn’t want to do. What was Suzu to Sesshomaru?
From Sesshomaru’s words, the hanyou could surmise that the smaller youkai was in the Lord of the West’s debt for something. For what, though, Inuyasha didn’t know, nor could he guess. Sesshomaru wasn’t the type to save someone out of the goodness of his heart. Or, at least, he hadn’t been. Now, he wasn’t so sure. What he did know was that the demon lord expected to be obeyed, whether or not Suzu wanted to. And Suzu …
Inuyasha’s eyes narrowed as he watched the colorful bird demon tremble where he sat, all the charm and confidence that made him so undeniably attractive suddenly absent.
Suzu was afraid.
Of Sesshomaru?
Partially, he decided.
Whatever Sesshomaru decided to do concerning the bird demon, Suzu would not oppose him. Sesshomaru could kill him and the general would not raise a hand to stop him. Was it loyalty … or something else? Were there slaves in the West? Suzu had called Sesshomaru his Lord and Master. Was Suzu a slave? Did Sesshomaru buy slaves from demons like Michio?
Finally, Suzu let his eyes drop, shoulders slumping in defeat. “No, my Lord, I do not dispute your right. My life is yours; I submit to your will.”
Feeling as if the floor had dropped out from under him, Inuyasha lowered his eyes to his lap and kept his silence. Watching his older sibling’s confrontation with Suzu had unnerved him. He didn’t want to think of Sesshomaru as a man who would keep slaves. Could he stay with a man who would buy slaves, who would support the same kind of men who had captured, raped, tortured, and tried to break him?
He flinched when Sesshomaru’s hand touched his arm, turning confused and disturbed eyes on the daiyoukai, unsure exactly what he should be feeling. Sesshomaru’s eyes were full of concern and a hint of puzzlement at his behavior. And it was no wonder since he hadn’t flinched when the demon lord had touched him that morning, not even once, and now he was back to the skin-crawling feeling that made him recoil from the older inu’s admittedly gentle hand.
Inuyasha smiled a small, tremulous smile in apology and grasped the demon lord’s hand as his sibling drew it away. He liked being touched by Sesshomaru. He wanted to be touched by him.
“Inuyasha,” Sesshomaru said, his voice lowered to a murmur, “are you all right?”
“I’m …” He paused, staring at their clasped hands as he searched for words in the contrast between Sesshomaru’s snowy skin and his own sun-kissed flesh . After a short length of time, he frowned and looked up into his sibling’s worried eyes. “I’m not sure.”
Sensing that whatever was bothering the hanyou was not something he would want to discuss in front of their current audience, he rose and inclined his head to Inuyasha’s pack and the gathered generals, plus Jaken. “Please excuse this Sesshomaru. I find I am in need of fresh air. Would you care to accompany me, ototo?”
Nodding, Inuyasha set his chopsticks across his plate to signal he was done eating and stood, following Sesshomaru to the door where the demon lord halted and looked back over his shoulder.
“Suzu,” he called.
“Yes, my Lord?” the bird demon inquired, his voice smaller than Inuyasha had ever heard it.
“You will find my Lord Father’s fang bears a second blessing to compliment the first of bringing back the deceased. Be sure to enjoy it thoroughly.”
Suzu’s brows furrowed in confusion, but Sesshomaru was ushering his younger brother through the door and into the adjoining hallway, obviously intent on letting Suzu discover exactly what that gift was for himself.
Inuyasha had no time to contemplate his aniki’s cryptic words to his general, though, as he pondered the alpha inu’s relationship with the smaller youkai. He noticed their bodyguards following at a distance as they navigated the hallways, but ignored them when the daiyoukai assured him they would give them their privacy.
Sesshomaru reached out for him once during their mostly silent walk, but withdrew considerately when he again reacted negatively. Inuyasha hated it—hated that he was once again recoiling from his elder brother. But he couldn’t help it. Just the thought of the daiyoukai using those same hands to buy slaves, to discipline them and control them against their will, disturbed and disgusted him. He had to know what the demon lord’s relationship was with Suzu, what Suzu’s position was in Sesshomaru’s household.
The daiyoukai led him outside into their father’s garden where he sat upon a bench. Rather than sit beside him, Inuyasha sat against the trunk of a nearby tree, hands folded into his hitoe. The ground was cold, but he ignored it as he tried to gather his thoughts.
“You are distressed,” Sesshomaru commented.
“Is Suzu a slave?” Inuyasha asked, getting straight to the point, head cocked in question.
Sesshomaru looked genuinely taken aback by the query, but his eyes soon softened in understanding. “He is.”
Inuyasha felt his stomach drop. “Did you buy him from someone like that bastard slave trader and his band?”
“I do not deal in slavery in the way you are thinking, ototo. Suzu is a slave by choice.”
Odd as that sounded, Inuyasha raised his head hopefully. “By choice?”
Sighing, Sesshomaru patted the space beside him. “Come sit with me, little one, and I will tell you of it.”
Inuyasha hesitated only a moment before scrambling to his feet and sliding onto the stone bench beside his elder sibling with a sigh. He didn’t like being away from him, he realized. He didn’t like it at all. Whether that was because of his heat—suppressed as it was—or something else, he didn’t know, nor did he think it wise to dwell on it at this point.
Once Inuyasha was settled and leaning against his side, his head pillowed on his arm, Sesshomaru began. “You are aware Suzu was once an assassin.” At the hanyou’s nod of confirmation, he continued, “He came to me in that capacity.”
“You mean … to kill you?”
“Yes, to kill me. Another noble, of lower rank than myself, who was thereafter beheaded for his betrayal of the West, sent Suzu and a band of assassins trained by him to kill me and seize control. Times were turbulent. Our father had only died a week prior. Had I given them the chance, there were many that would have taken pleasure in destroying our father’s kingdom.”
“Sensing weakness, the East had risen against the West. The North, too, thought to take some of the land our father had claimed and carved out into a prosperous kingdom. The noble had thought it an ideal time to attack as most of the West’s forces were spread out along the borders, including most of the guards of the palace as well as our father’s bodyguards, who had only just been appointed to guard me as the new Lord of the West. Had it not been for the mortal wound inflicted upon my person in the battle with the East, I would have yet been on the battlefield. However, I was wounded—gravely so—and returned home at the insistence of General Saniiro. Suzu, professional that he was and terror stricken by the thought of returning to his Master unsuccessful saw that I was weakened, and attacked.”
“Let me guess, you kicked their asses?”
“I did,” Sesshomaru answered smugly. “His subordinates went down easily. Suzu was a different matter. He killed many of my remaining guards, injured nearly a dozen others, and even managed to plunge a blade into my side before I succeeded in getting hold of him. Even back then, he was a wickedly fast, slippery creature with a talent for escaping. I was impressed by his skill. He would be an asset if I could bring him to my side. Knowing the ways of assassins, though, I had thought it impossible. I fully intended to slaughter him and his men for the wounds inflicted upon me and the slaying of my men.”
“Until, that is, Suzu pleaded for the lives of his comrades. In exchange, he pledged his life, skills, and will to my service. I accepted on the condition that he and his men never leave the West except under orders, that they never betray me, and that he obey me without question. During that time, I could do little else. I could not have an assassin of his skill running free, to be employed by any demon with their eye upon our father’s throne and land. Such was too risky.”
“Suzu is a slave, but he is also one of my most trusted men. If he were to ask it of me now, I would not begrudge him leaving. He has earned his place and title many times over.”
“Then why are you forcing him to teach me assassination? Can’t you teach me? Or someone else?”
Sesshomaru smiled fondly down at his little brother, chuckling deeply. “Contrary to popular belief little one, I am not all-knowing. My skills are the skills of battle, not of assassination. I have no need of that particular skill, having the strength, speed, and power inherent in daiyoukai. There are very few assassins that could succeed in killing a daiyoukai, especially one of our father’s lineage. As for having someone else teach you, there is no one else I trust to teach you such a dangerous art. Training for battle, in itself, is dangerous. Training to become an assassin is even more so. There would be many opportunities in which to kill you, ototo, and I am unwilling to risk your life in such a manner by hiring someone whom I cannot trust not to betray you to someone who wishes you harm.”
“But—”
Sesshomaru raised his hand, halting his objection before he could voice it. “He protests because his training as an assassin was cruel and that is the way his men were trained at his unwilling hand. He does not wish to see you trained in the same way, to take away your will and your sense of compassion and to twist it into something dark and bloodthirsty. It has taken much for Suzu to overcome that training. I imagine, besides his unwillingness to turn you into the same mindless killing entity he was, he does not wish to relive what his Master inflicted on him.”
“Oh … are you sure it’s gonna be okay to do this then? To make him relive it?”
“Suzu is strong, Inuyasha. Much stronger than he was when he was made a slave and assassin. He will be fine.”
***Ӂ***
Suzu watched Lord Sesshomaru and his younger brother as they exited the dining hall, jumping slightly when Bishamon reached over and placed an inquisitive hand on his arm.
“Suzu? What did Lord Sesshomaru mean by a second blessing?” the tiger demon asked in concern.
Smiling winningly, though still shaken on the inside, Suzu grabbed his fellow general’s hand before he could withdraw it and drew it to his lips, kissing his palm. “Whatever it is, I am certain it is nothing to worry over. Why don’t you finish your meal? Fuyuki must be missing you quite badly by now.”
At the reminder of the small leopard child waiting for him back in his rooms, Bishamon frowned and resumed eating.
Suzu picked up his wine glass, surreptitiously peering around at those remaining at the table. Saniiro seemed to be deep in thought, his old raven’s eyes pensive as he stared at the wall across from him. Jaken had left the table soon after the two inu Lords. Lord Inuyasha’s pack were chatting quietly amongst themselves. The monk shot him looks now and then, which gave him no doubts as to what their conversation was about. Roka, on the other hand, looked completely bored. Naturally, Suzu didn’t trust that expression. Not when it concerned the turtle youkai. He was always planning something. Whether or not that planning was for the good of the kingdom or not he had yet to determine. At that moment, though, he could care less, as long as the other general’s attention was not on him.
He lifted the wine glass to his lips, but did not drink, his eyes sweeping the occupants of the dining hall a second time, taking note of the absence of his Lords’ bodyguards and the attention of the two fox demon bodyguards, which was—rightfully—upon their charge, Lord Inuyasha’s ward, Lord Shippo.
Judging the time to be right, he set the wine glass back upon the table and rose, making no noise and drawing no attention as he walked casually from the room. Using the shadows to his advantage, few though they were during the day, he strolled through the corridors unnoticed, his scent and youki suppressed until he made it to his own quarters. Once inside, he carefully and methodically checked every inch of his room, plugging up every hole in which sound might escape, before collapsing upon his bed, letting a single tear escape down his cheek. His throat squeezed itself shut and he swallowed thickly, willing further tears away.
Tears are for the weak, little slave, he remembered his Master chiding him once, laughing while he beat him mercilessly, the spiked metal tails of the whip biting into his flesh painfully.
He shuddered upon his bed, wrapping his arms protectively around himself, fingers digging into flesh, fingernails leaving crescent moon shaped marks in his skin. “Yes, Master,” he whispered, reining in the tears that threatened to fall until his eyes were once again dry. He immediately felt ashamed of his words. He had been a slave too long.
Breathing deeply, he straightened and ran his fingers through his hair. Then, blinking, did it again. He frowned to himself as he ran his fingers across his scalp for a third time, more slowly. Maybe he needed to change the angle? No … this was the way he always did it. Where had that scar gone? It was a raised type of scar, one he had acquired during one of the missions his Master had set him, to kill a certain youkai that turned out to be a little more powerful and a little more aware of his surroundings than Suzu had first thought. The youkai had put up one hell of a fight and had gouged a deep furrow in Suzu’s skull before he managed to dispatch the demon. For a fourth time he ran his fingers along his scalp, deliberately slow, and felt nothing. The scar was gone.
Eyes wide, he leapt to his feet and brushed away the jewels that adorned his upper body, disguising the scars he had amassed over his years as an assassin and sex slave. In shock, he gazed down at himself, at the lightly tanned, flawless skin of his abdomen and chest. The scars were gone. He passed trembling fingers over his stomach, tracing the memory of scars that were no longer there. Pulling down the blanket he had draped across the body length mirror in the corner of his room, Suzu stared at himself in the dusty, reflective surface. His body … his damaged body … had been healed.
“You will find my Lord Father’s fang bears a second blessing to compliment the first of bringing back the deceased. Be sure to enjoy it thoroughly.”
Is this what his Lord had meant? Had his Lord’s fabled sword, the Tenseiga, wiped away his scars? Had it done more than that? He set his hands to the ties of his obi, hesitated, and then slowly began to untie it. He wouldn’t be disappointed if nothing had changed, he told himself. He wouldn’t be disappointed if that organ, that one piece of himself that made him a man wasn’t there. It had been gone for hundreds of years. There was nothing to be disappointed about if it still wasn’t there.
And yet …
“Be sure to enjoy it thoroughly.”
Yet he knew his Lord would never be so cruel as to raise his hopes only to have them squashed at the last moment. So with new determination he tossed his obi away and divested himself of his hakama. He stared. And stared some more. And continued to stare as he thought how odd it looked in the place where only burns and a lump of flesh had once been. He stretched his hand toward it as if in a trance. Then, realizing what he was doing, jerked it back, grabbed his pants and refastened them, retied his obi and sat back down on the edge of his bed.
What did this mean? Obviously being brought back from the dead by his Lord’s sword meant any wounds he had previously had, whether old or otherwise, injected poisons, toxins, or venom were dispelled. His body was, for lack of a better term, perfect. But what did that mean for him? Did it change anything? He would’ve liked to think that it did, that having his manhood back would wash away all the filthy feelings of being a slave, of being used and fucked and discarded over and over again. He would’ve liked to think that having his manhood back would mean he could just leave everything behind him—his shame, his humiliation, his broken pride—that he could simply start anew. He would’ve liked to think he could now go and find himself a lover and not be ashamed if they saw what lay below his waistline. He would’ve liked it. But it didn’t change anything. It changed absolutely nothing! He was still a slave, in mind and in body. Oh, he knew Lord Sesshomaru would let him go if ever he asked to leave. He knew the Lord didn’t truly think of him as a slave. That wasn’t the issue. He thought of himself as a slave. In his thoughts, he was still bound. His body still betrayed him, taking pleasure in things that ought not to give him pleasure—craving the domination of another, the overwhelming strength holding him down, the humiliating and demeaning words used to crush his pride, the brutal fullness … and the pain.
Breathing out heavily, he lowered his head into his hands. He was so fucked up. So, so fucked up … and he had no one. No one that might help him. No one he’d be willing to tell. He could not lower his defenses in such a way. Not again. For him, it had to be forced. Yet such was impossible.
When he glanced up from his hands and saw himself in the dusty mirror, he leapt up without thought and slammed his fist into the reflection of his face. Then he did it again. And again. And continued to smash the mirror even as glass bit into his hands and he bled all the while screaming soundlessly, the agonized sound somehow caught inside his chest.
Panting with exertion, he stopped only when the mirror was in pieces and slowly sank to the floor, heedless of the glass shards that embedded themselves in his feet and legs.
Watashi no utsukushii koroshiya, his Master’s voice seemed to whisper in his ear. He shivered in revulsion for that pet name. That’s what his last Master had made him into. An assassin. A killer. A beast looking only to shed blood. He hadn’t thought on those years of training for a long time. He knew that beast was still inside him, that youkai, that man that still desired to kill, to spill blood and bathe in the crimson liquid. The training methods were brutal, humiliating, and everything in-between. He never wanted another to suffer such atrocities. But Lord Sesshomaru needed him to teach Lord Inuyasha. And you will teach him, won’t you my killer? You will teach him everything. You will teach him the joy of the kill …
No.
You will teach him how to not only endure, but enjoy the pain you give him …
No.
You will teach him to revel in the taste of spilled blood …
No.
And you will teach him the reward he will gain when he succeeds. How good you can make it. How much pleasure your body can give him. He will learn to love it, just as you did. He will learn to crave it.
NO!
Hissing at the pain in his legs, Suzu stumbled to his feet and leaned against the wall. Those were memories. Only memories. Memories of the first time his Master had commanded him to train another in the ways of assassination. The slave he was to train was little more than a child. Younger even than Lord Inuyasha. The boy knew nothing of pain—what little he did know was as a scraped knee compared the pain Suzu had learned to endure, to enjoy—and he knew nothing of what men like Suzu’s Master would do to him when the darkness of night fell and he was alone in his bed. The boy wouldn’t even know enough of what was going on to struggle against it.
Suzu had learned not to fight against those men who crawled into his bed in the dead of night. He had even learned to crave their touch. He had learned that long ago, long before he had come to be owned by the monster of a man whom he currently called Master. Sometimes it wasn’t even his Master who did it, though his Master was certainly the most brutal of them. He knew when the boy came to him that he would have to do something to protect him. At least until he was of an appropriate age to properly understand what was happening to him.
It was at that time that he had gone to his Master’s bed, seduced him, initiating the intimacy he loathed yet craved at the same time, and made him swear in blood in the heat of passion that he would not touch the boy as long as Suzu kept him satisfied. In the following months and years, Suzu had trained the boy under his Master’s direction. It was difficult work. He was forced to be cruel, brutal in punishment, only slightly easing up in his daily round of punishment if the boy did well. And during those nights when he was confined to the slaves’ quarters along with half a dozen others, he talked to the boy, prepared him, guided him as best he could in the ways of the flesh to prepare his innocent young mind and unprepared body to understand the nature of what would far too soon be expected of him.
When the time came, he had been the first to bed him. Gently. Tenderly. Ever so delicately he had shown the boy the meaning of making love, showed him what he had experienced only once a very long time ago. After the boy reached the age of heat, Suzu knew he would not be able to protect him anymore. At least, not as fully as he once did. He knew immediately when the boy was taken, for the expression in his eyes changed. The boy didn’t cry. Suzu had taught him how to hold in his tears, for they would be used against him. His eyes, however, grew to hold a bitterness and anguish Suzu knew only too well. As many as he seduced and tempted into his bed, there were always more who would just as readily slip into the bed of any slave in the household and, more often than not, they went for the younger ones first. It was all he could do to make certain the worst of them found what they sought in him so they would not attempt to play out their twisted fantasies on the younger slaves. He had been used so many times—beaten, sexually tortured, humiliated, and much worse—he no longer cared who did it or what they did to him as long as he could continue to protect his much too young charge.
The boy, Kannon, had been the first among many others to be trained by him under the supervision of his Master. It was a time he didn’t like to recall, a time he had thought he had put behind him for good. But, he realized now, it would never be behind him. It was a part of him. A part he would rather not be there, but a part all the same. All he could do was keep moving forward, push past it, and eventually … eventually he might be able to put it to rest.
If that meant training Lord Sesshomaru’s younger brother in the way of assassins, then so be it.
Taking a deep breath, he pushed himself away from the wall, retrieved a broom from his bedside cupboard and began to sweep up the broken shards of the mirror. Once that was done, he deposited the pieces into the basket by his bedside and sat down to dress the wounds on his hands, legs, and feet. Before he could start, though, there was a knock on the door. Frowning at it, he set the metal tweezers he had raised to remove the glass from his skin aside and got up, unlatching the door, but only enough to peek through the crack he made. “My Lord,” he said in surprise, opening the door wider and backing away. “Is there something you require of me?”
“My ototo was concerned for your wellbeing.”
Suzu blinked and cocked his head. “As you can see, I am perfectly well.”
“Well, my ass!” Inuyasha growled, pushing past his brother and grabbing Suzu’s bleeding hand. “What the hell do you call this then?!”
“A cut, my Lord. Nothing I cannot handle.”
Scoffing, Inuyasha dragged the smaller bird youkai back to his bed and pushed him down onto it, taking up the metal tweezers he had been about to use.
“Lord Inuyasha, I am perfectly capable of—”
“Be quiet and stay still,” the hanyou hissed as he pulled the general’s hand up to eye level and extracted one of the larger glass shards from between his knuckles.
Speechless with shock that his Lord’s younger brother was tending to him, Suzu looked up at the daiyoukai with a helpless expression. The larger inu youkai smirked slightly and shook his head. “I did not bring you back from the dead and heal your scars only to have you create more, Suzu. You reek of blood.”
“I ended up picking a fight with the mirror, my Lord.”
“So I see. You won, I presume?”
“Of course, my Lord,” Suzu responded, gesturing toward his waste basket. “I’m not the one in pieces.”
Inuyasha snorted as he extracted another piece of glass. “You gave it your best fuckin’ shot, though. Next time pick a fight with somethin’ that’s not sharp enough to fight back.”
Suzu inclined his head, grateful that neither of his Lords were inclined to ask why he had picked a fight with his mirror. He watched passively as the younger Lord of the West finished extracting the shards from his hand, washed away the blood, dabbed the wounds with antiseptic, and then wrapped it expertly in a clean, white bandage. “You have some healer’s skills,” he observed curiously.
The young inu hanyou glanced up at him before returning to picking glass out of his other hand. “Comes from experience. You don’t get to be a hanyou of my age without learnin’ a thing or two about how to patch yerself up. Of course, I never had much in the way o’ clean bandages or tweezers. Usually used my claws to pick out debris and whatever else was in the wound, and then mud and leaves to slow the flow of blood and cover the smell until I could heal. It’s suicide to wander through a demon infested forest reeking of fresh blood. Of course, most of those bastards would go after anythin’ that crossed their path, whether human, animal, demon, or young hanyou. You wouldn’t believe how many nights I spent lying prone in the filth and waste left by the forest animals so nothin’ that hunted by scent or by sight would be able to find me. Until I learned how to travel in the trees, anyway. It’s amazing how many predators there are that don’t think to look up, even of the demon variety.”
“That is only natural,” Sesshomaru murmured, one side of his lips quirking upward. “You are an inu hanyou. Inu youkai are not known to climb trees, therefore, I expect they would not think to look for you where usually only cat, bird, and rodent youkai might go.”
Wrapping the peacock’s other hand and securing it expertly, Inuyasha then lifted the general’s foot and inspected the cuts that littered the bottom of it. He grimaced, knowing how much it must have hurt to walk on them, and walk the fool had, as evidenced by the bloody footprints from the broken mirror to the closet and back, and then from the bed to the door and back. As delicate as the bird demon looked, though, Sesshomaru had been right when he had said Suzu was strong. The man had obviously learned how to ignore such wounds and the pain they brought. With careful precision, he started to pick out the glass from the many cuts, ignoring the blood that dripped down onto his hands and hakama where he held the youkai’s foot over his thigh.
“Lord Inuyasha, you realize you could have simply called Tamae to tend to my wounds.”
Eyebrows knitted in confusion and concentration, Inuyasha’s eyes flicked up and then back down. “Why would I do that? You’re a part o’ my pack.”
Suzu blinked at him and then looked over at Lord Sesshomaru who seemed to be just as surprised and bewildered as he felt, frowned, and looked back at the younger inu. “What do you mean?”
“You’re a part of Sesshomaru’s pack, like Kagome’s a part o’ my pack.” He grinned cheekily when he heard his older sibling give a possessive snarl—he was starting to really enjoy that sound. “I realized it just now. My youki identified you as a threat to my claim on Sesshomaru at lunch because you’re close to him as one of his submissive packmates. But, like Kagome, Shippo, Kirara, Miroku and Sango are a part of Sesshomaru’s pack through my connection to them, you’re also a part o’ my pack. This is what we do as packmates—we take care of eachother.”
“Bird youkai aren’t pack demons, though, my Lord, we’re flock demons.”
“Pack, flock,” Inuyasha shrugged. “What’s the difference?”
“For one, we do not have alphas. There are the strong and then there are the weak, that is all,” Suzu answered patiently.
Inuyasha grinned. “Well then, since you’re weaker than Sesshomaru it shouldn’t matter what our group is called. You’re still submissive to him.”
Shaking his head at the younger inu’s logic, Suzu let it go with a small, indulgent shake of his head. The younger Lord was just too cute. He sighed when the hanyou finished extracting the glass from his feet and had them cleaned and bandaged.
“Hey, Sessh,” Inuyasha called to his elder brother who had been, for the most part, silent as he finished bandaging the former assassin. “Would you mind gettin’ someone to clean the blood outta the bed and carpet? It’ll stain if it’s left there too long.”
“Of course, ototo. I should probably also call Taree to bring you a change of attire.”
Looking down at himself, Inuyasha smiled wryly and nodded. “That’s probably a good idea.”
With an affectionate brush of his fingers against Inuyasha’s cheek, the elder inu youkai left the room.
“So … are you gonna be okay?” Inuyasha asked, not looking up as he cleaned the blood from his hands with a damp cloth where he knelt on the floor at the general’s feet. “I mean … you don’t hafta teach me assassination techniques if you don’t want to. Sessh just thought it would help if I was attacked by a daiyoukai and didn’t have Tessaiga or couldn’t reach it in time if I knew better ways to defend and attack. You’re the best … least that’s what he implied … and he trusts you not to let me get hurt too badly.” He looked up, meeting the peacock youkai’s brown eyes boldly. “He respects you a lot.” He saw Suzu’s mouth curve up into a slight smile at that, and he laughed. “That’s really something, comin’ from him.” Sighing as he dried his hands and re-rolled the bandages he had unrolled to patch up the bird youkai, Inuyasha sobered. “Look, I don’t know what you’ve been through and, frankly, me and Sessh both don’t really care what may have happened in your past. I mean, not that we don’t care, ya know, we just … it won’t affect how we see you or the respect my aniki has for you. I mean, hell, look at me! I’m a half-breed and I’ve been … tainted, but Sessh … he still brought me back, and he says what those bastards … did to me … doesn’t affect the way he sees me now … the way he treats me—though I think it does, just not in a bad way—and he wants us to be mates. I accepted cause, well … cause he’s my alpha … and he’s nice. Maybe not that nice, but nice to me … and I’m gonna be going into heat and …. Anyway! What I mean to say is that … that …. Shit, I don’t even know what I’m tryin’ to say anymore!”
Laughing softly at his Lord’s attempt to comfort him, Suzu touched the hanyou’s mouth to stop him from rambling some more and, moving his fingers down to grasp his chin, lightly pressed their lips together in a chaste kiss. “Thank you, Lord Inuyasha.”
Inuyasha spluttered, his cheeks flushing bright red as he took a hasty step back, raising his hand to his lips in shock. “F-For what?”
“For reminding me why I stay here and work under your brother.”
“Suzu.”
Inuyasha yelped in surprise at the sound of his brother’s voice and whirled to face the demon lord, almost losing his balance and face planting in his haste. The blush in his cheeks spread to his whole face and his stomach twisted into a huge knot as he wondered just how long his sibling had been standing there. Did he see? Oh gods, what would he think? Was he angry?
But rather than seeming angry, Sesshomaru looked amused. “I thought I warned you that Inuyasha was mine, that you were not to attempt to seduce him.”
Suzu feigned surprise and looked at Inuyasha. “Was I seducing you? You don’t look very seduced. I guess I should try a little harder.”
Again, Suzu grabbed his chin, but this time Inuyasha sprang to his feet and backed away, walking backward until he bumped into Sesshomaru. A supportive and reassuring hand came down gently on his shoulder. He looked up, saw the concern in his aniki’s golden gaze, and smiled a little. He knew Suzu was only joking. The first kiss had caught him off guard, but since it hadn’t been sexual, more an expression of gratitude than anything, it hadn’t frightened him. The second time the bird youkai made a move for him, whether in jest or not, Inuyasha was—rather illogically—afraid the smaller male would take it too far. He was not ready to be kissed the way Sesshomaru had kissed him in his bath chamber the other night, and especially by someone who was not Sesshomaru.
Suzu smiled, eyes surprisingly warm. “Fear not, Lord Inuyasha, that was simply a thank you kiss. Common enough, I should think.”
“You would,” Sesshomaru responded, his hand burying itself in his sibling’s silky hair. “Are you satisfied, ototo?”
Inuyasha blinked, confused by the question. Then, remembering he had come to the peacock youkai’s chambers—or rather, forced the daiyoukai to lead him there—in order to see for himself that the general was all right, he nodded.
“Lessons will begin after Lord Inuyasha’s heat has finished,” Sesshomaru told his general. “Make certain you are adequately prepared by then.”
Suzu bowed. “Yes, my Lord.”
***Ӂ***
Inuyasha had never imagined there were so many people involved in Sesshomaru’s rule as Lord of the West. He had met his four generals, as well as Sasaki who, Sesshomaru explained, was one of his advisors. Sasaki also held position as a sorcerer along with his mates, Tamae and Taree, though Taree Sesshomaru admitted he’d never seen use her powers in any significant manner. They made up the trio of Royal Mages that would protect the capital from those who might use magic in their attacks. Along with those he’d already met, there were three other official advisors and their families, the Minister of Defense, Minister of Finance, Minister of Civil Affairs, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Communication, Minister of Human Affairs, Minister of Demon Heritage and Cultures, and a few dozen other Ministers he couldn’t begin to remember as well as their mates, or soon-to-be mates, and offspring. Inuyasha was suddenly glad Sesshomaru had not called this as a formal dinner even though they were eating in the formal dining hall. Sesshomaru pointed out each official for him and related the demon’s name and duty in the court, but—much to his relief—he wasn’t required to remember all their names or positions just yet.
Tonight, it seemed, was to get them used to having Inuyasha back “home.” He had been touched that the daiyoukai had referred to the palace that way in conjunction with him. He had never truly had a place to call home. Even when his mother was alive, the places they lived were never home.
Secure at the righthand side of his brother, Inuyasha didn’t feel threatened by the hostile looks he was garnering from some of the Ministers and even a couple of Sesshomaru’s advisors. Even so, he made note of who gave him those looks, memorizing the feel of their youki, their scent, and their faces, though he didn’t remember all of their names. Within Sesshomaru’s territory or not, he was not naïve enough to believe none of them wouldn’t attempt to kill him. He was a hanyou, after all, and the majority of the demons he’d crossed paths with hated hanyou. Even here, he couldn’t let his guard down.
“Hey, Sessh?”
“Yes, ototo?” Sesshomaru responded immediately, his attention already having been on the young inu hanyou.
“When are you officially announcing my ascension as the Second Lord of the West?”
Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow. “When would you like me to announce it? If you would like it to be sooner rather than later it would not be a problem to call over the Master of Ceremonies so that he can arrange it.”
“Why do we need him to arrange it? Aren’t you just gonna tell all the people here anyway?”
“It is not only them that need to hear it, little brother, though they are certainly the most important as officials to our rule of the West—they and the lesser nobility. The Master of Ceremonies will send out invitations throughout the entire kingdom, to nobles and peasants, demons and humans alike. Public announcements such as these serve to present a unified front to both our enemies and allies and will solidify your place at my side.”
“And … uh … when do ya think is the soonest we could … do the announcement?”
“Within this next moon cycle, if that pleases you.”
“Yeah … okay, but … won’t it take longer for everyone we invite to get here? I mean … a lot of ‘em will have to travel days t’get here from all across the West.”
“Not all of the people we invite will be coming for the announcement. It is merely a courtesy to extend an invitation. The ones who are able will come, while those who are not will not feel left out since they, too, were sent an invitation. I must warn you, though, ototo, once the announcement is made you will be expected to attend the ball that night.”
“B-Ball? But I … I can’t dance!” Inuyasha exclaimed, panicked.
“It is customary when announcing the ascension of a new ruler to hold a ball the evening of the announcement,” Sesshomaru replied evenly. “If you would like, I will hire a dance instructor to teach you so that you may dance.”
“Do I have to?”
“It is expected of every noble who is not yet mated. Of course, it is only the females and male submissives you would be required to dance with. As you are dominant when not in my company, you have the choice to reject any male dominants who wish to dance with you. The ball is considered a chance for nobles to socialize and for parents to locate potential mates for their children. You will likely be the focus of many that night.”
“A-A-Ano … I don’t … I mean, won’t we … by then …? We won’t be …?”
Sesshomaru felt a smile twitching at the corners of his lips, but carefully controlled the expression. It was one thing to let his stoic mask drop in front of Inuyasha, his pack, and his generals. It was another to let his guard down among the rest of his court. Nevertheless, he couldn’t keep the wickedly amused glint from his eyes as he leaned close to his sibling’s cute puppy dog ears and lowered his voice to a husky murmur. “You’re incredibly attractive when you’re flustered, ototo.”
“Nn! Bastard!” the younger inu gasped, reaching up and crushing his ear to his head. “Don’t whisper in my ear like that!”
Gently, but firmly, the demon lord took the hanyou’s hand and moved it away. “Why not? You are to be my mate, are you not? Or have I misunderstood the question you were trying, but failing to ask?”
Blushing, Inuyasha pulled his hand away, rubbing the spot where his aniki’s hand had touched him. “Then … you do intend to … mate me?”
Sighing, Sesshomaru straightened, the glint of mischief in his eyes disappearing. “I had not, but—”
“O-Oh … I see. I guess I was getting ahead of myself.” Swallowing the hurt that formed in his chest, Inuyasha picked up the chopsticks he had discarded before his conversation with the older inu began. “Um … g-gomen.” Mechanically, he started eating again.
Frowning, Sesshomaru reached out and took hold of the younger inu’s wrist, stopping him from eating, as he was clearly doing it with the intention to avoid conversation. “Ototo, you mistake me. I did not plan to make you my mate when I brought you back.” Releasing the hanyou’s wrist when he had the audacity to turn his head away, he took hold of the pup’s chin and brought his face back around until the young one finally, though reluctantly, met his eyes. “Did not, being the key words, little one. Now, however, I fully intend to not only seduce you into my bed and fill your belly with my pups, but to also bind you to me for all time as my mate, if you will have me.”
“Are you … proposin’ to me?” Inuyasha asked in a whisper, cheeks flushed with embarrassment and something very much like pleasure.
“Not yet,” the daiyoukai said with with something close to a smile. “When I propose to you, little one, it will be in a more private setting.” Releasing Inuyasha’s chin now that he was sure the pup wouldn’t turn away from him again, he brushed the backs of his fingers along his sibling’s jaw and then gently brushed his hair back from his face. “To return to our original topic, though, if we are mated by the time we are to announce your ascension as a secondary ruler of the West, you will be expected to dance with me for at least the first and last dance of that evening and, if I might be so selfish, nearly every dance in-between. I do not relish the thought of you dancing with another, be that person male or female.”
“Could you teach me t’dance, aniki?” Inuyasha wondered, knowing how busy his older brother already was if the stacks of paperwork waiting back in their room was any indication, but feeling the need to ask anyway.
“I can teach you how to follow, if you would like, but I do not know that I would be able to teach you how to lead if you wish to dance with a submissive.”
Lowering his head, Inuyasha admitted quietly, “You’re the only one I would want t’dance with, aniki.”
This time Sesshomaru couldn’t stop the gentle smile that curled at the corners of his lips. The hanyou didn’t want to learn to dance with a submissive or with a female; he didn’t want to learn to lead so that he may dance with the miko. It didn’t sound like the miko was in his thoughts at all. He wanted to dance with his older brother. He wanted to dance with Sesshomaru. “You stroke my ego exceedingly well, little brother,” he rumbled, chuckling when the inu hanyou looked at him in clear confusion. “It will be my pleasure to teach you how to dance.”
“You’re not too busy?”
“I am busy,” Sesshomaru agreed readily, “but I will never be too busy to spend time with you, little one.”
Smiling a little, Inuyasha went back to eating, this time actually tasting and enjoying his food. Sesshomaru also returned to his meal, stopping every now and then when one of the Ministers decided to talk to him. He listened with little interest in their conversation—something about the rice crop and the price of labor—and wondered how the hell his older brother managed to eat with all the interruptions and how he could remain so fucking calm when it was clear more than half of the so-called Ministers were annoying the heck out of him.
After a short time of nearly being driven insane with boredom, he let his attention wander. As this was an unofficial meeting of the Ministers and their soon-to-be Second Lord, his human pack wasn’t there, though Shippo was, as he was Inuyasha’s ward. Fuyuki was also present as a “friend” of Bishamon, and that was where he found his attention caught as the little neko youkai leaned over to whisper something in Bishamon’s ear, laying a possessive and almost suggestive hand on the other demon’s thigh, though a moment later the tiger youkai had removed it.
Inuyasha saw Fuyuki’s disappointed pout before the kid looked over, met his eyes and, with a short word to Bishamon, got up and made his way over to where the hanyou sat. “Inuyasha … can I talk to you?”
“Do you need something, Fuyuki?” Sesshomaru inquired before Inuyasha could answer.
“S-Sesshomaru-sama,” the snow leopard demon greeted hesitantly. “I was … uh … hoping I could talk with Lord Inuyasha … if that’s okay?”
“Are you finished, Inuyasha?”
Eating one last bite of the sweet bread that had been made for the meal that evening, Inuyasha nodded and set both his rice bowl and chopsticks atop his empty plate. “Un, I’m finished, aniki.”
“Inuyasha,” Sesshomaru called as the hanyou got up to leave. He crooked his finger, beckoning the younger inu closer. With a slightly furrowed brow, Inuyasha complied and Sesshomaru tenderly cupped the side of his face, stroking his thumb over his sibling’s cheek. “Do you wish me to accompany you, little one?”
Biting his lip nervously, Inuyasha glanced down the long table at the daiyoukai’s guests. “Shouldn’t you stay?”
“I called an informal dinner for this reason, ototo, that I may leave with you whenever you might require it. Do not be concerned with the Ministers. Suzu will keep them amply entertained while we are away.”
“Fuyuki, do ya mind if Sessh comes with us?” Inuyasha asked, sensing that Fuyuki’s desire to talk to him was out of personal reasons that he may not wish to share with anyone else.
But the neko child shook his head with a nervous grin. “No, I don’t mind.”
Standing, Sesshomaru beckoned his and Inuyasha’s bodyguards over to them. “Two of you are to remain here. I would not put it past a couple of the Ministers to try to slip poison into Lord Inuyasha’s food or drink. The other two will come with Lord Inuyasha and this Sesshomaru to my Lord Father’s garden.”
The bodyguards each bowed, right fist clapped to their hearts. Yuudai and Sho remained behind while Kaito and Shiro waited to follow their little group as Sesshomaru excused himself and Inuyasha from the dining hall.
Once outside and deep in the garden, Fuyuki sat down at the base of one of the large sycamore trees, drawing his knees up to his chest. Laying the parasitic youkai upon one of the decorative stone benches to use as cushioning, Sesshomaru drew Inuyasha to sit down beside him.
“So, what’s up, kid? What d’ya need to talk about?” Inuyasha asked, getting straight to the point.
“Bishamon’s in heat,” the boy said slowly, his sky blue eyes intent on the grass he plucked carelessly from the ground beside him.
“Yeah … so?”
“So, why hasn’t he fucked me yet?”
Face lighting up in embarrassment, Inuyasha choked out a strangled, “W-W-What?”
Oblivious to the shock on the hanyou’s face, Fuyuki continued morosely, “I thought when dominants went into heat they’d immediately seek out a submissive to rut with. I mean, isn’t that how it works? That’s what you’re going to be doing with Sesshomaru-sama when your heat comes back, right?”
“W-Well—” Inuyasha began, but was saved from answering as the neko went on.
“What should I do to make him want me?”
“You want him … to touch you that way?” Inuyasha asked, trying not to shudder. “After …?”
“Of course I want him to touch me that way,” Fuyuki answered, giving him a strange look. “Why wouldn’t I? I just don’t understand why he won’t or what I should do to make him want me. I’ve tried everything to let him know I want him, but he just doesn’t seem to get it. All he’ll let me do is kiss him, and then only a little. You’ve rutted with Sesshomaru-sama, haven’t you? How did you get him to do it?”
“I—”
“I am afraid I was the one who went after Inuyasha when he was in heat, Fuyuki,” Sesshomaru interjected, quite amused by the brilliant shade of red his younger brother’s face had become with the topic. “It is generally a matter of instinct for dominants to seek out a submissive when they, or the submissive in question, are in heat.”
“Then why won’t he …?”
“I cannot tell you the reason,” Sesshomaru responded neutrally. “Whatever reason he might have for avoiding rutting with you is between you and him. Should you wish to know what that reason is, I would suggest speaking with him about it.”
Face falling in disappointment, Fuyuki nodded, and got up. “M’kay … sorry for taking up your time, Sesshomaru-sama.”
Sesshomaru tone softened slightly as he noticed the way his little brother reacted to the neko’s abrupt desire to leave. “That is quite all right, Fuyuki. I will admit I was beginning to feel quite suffocated in there. The fresh air has been beneficial. Will you go back inside? Bishamon will be worried if you do not return shortly.”
“Yeah,” Fuyuki mumbled.
“Hey, kid,” Inuyasha said, ruffling the neko’s white hair now that he was over his embarrassment. “If ya like him that much, things’ll work out.”
Fuyuki raised his head, looking up at the half demon from lowered eyelashes, doubtful. “Really?”
“O’ course they will,” the inu hanyou replied gruffly. “‘Sides, seems to me he just needs a little encouragement, that’s all.”
“You think so?”
Inuyasha shrugged. “Sure. He likes ya enough. If that’s what ya really want, go for it.”
Smiling widely, Fuyuki dashed over and seized Inuyasha around the waist in a fierce hug. “Thank you! I really do want that. Really, really, really want it. I like him a lot, Inuyasha-san. I really do.”
“Yeah, kid, sure,” Inuyasha grumbled, trying and failing to dislodge the demon from his midriff. He gasped when the brat squeezed even harder. “Come on, kid, can’t breathe here!”
“Oh, um … sorry,” he said with a sheepish grin, releasing the older inu hanyou and moving back a few paces. “Thanks for talking with me, Inuyasha-san. I’ll come and see you later and tell you how it went!” And with that promise, he skipped away back toward the palace.
“Ototo … that may not have been the best form of encouragement,” Sesshomaru warned, not for the child’s sake, but because he didn’t want to see the guilt his ototo would undoubtedly display should things go awry. “I do not believe Bishamon intends to take him to bed with him yet, not until the boy is past his first heat. He is not one to bed children.”
“Yeah … that’s probably gonna bite me in the ass later,” the younger inu agreed, grimacing. “He just looked so miserable, you know? I couldn’t let him keep lookin’ like that. Looked like he could use some encouragement. He’s a smart kid, though. I doubt he’ll do anything too stupid. And Bishamon seems like a good guy. Maybe this’ll turn out t’be a good thing.”
“Perhaps,” Sesshomaru murmured, nodding. His general’s love lives really were none of his concern. “If you are ready, shall we head back in?” Standing, he held out his hand for his brother and helped him to his feet. Then, once he had replaced the parasitic youkai over his shoulder, he reclaimed his sibling’s hand and led him back inside where their guests waited for them to put an end to the informal dinner, which he did with little ado.
Inuyasha stuck close to his older brother’s side as the demon lord spoke with those Ministers that hadn’t been sitting close enough during the meal for them to speak with him comfortably. Sesshomaru kept one large hand on his hip throughout each exchange, keeping him close and protected from the hostile glances of his subjects, the action also serving to keep him calm when a male demon of one of the races that had captured and violated him approached. As before, he was able to let his attention wander after a time and sought out Fuyuki, wondering if the encouragement he had given the boy really was a mistake. Oh well, he shrugged to himself, couldn’t change it now. He’d just have to see how things panned out.
“Has Minister Montaro’s daughter attempted to slip Bishamon more catnip yet?” Suzu asked, slipping silently to Inuyasha’s side and almost making him jump out of his skin with fright.
“Damn it, Suzu!” the hanyou hissed, voice low so as to not interrupt his aniki’s conversation with the Minister of Foreign Trade, one hand clasped over his heart. “Are ya tryin’ to give me a heart attack?”
Smiling lazily, completely recovered from his trying afternoon, Suzu inclined his head in apology. “Forgive me, Lord Inuyasha, I did not mean to startle you so, I simply noticed you have been watching General Bishamon and little Fuyuki for a while now and wondered what you may have seen.”
“I haven’t seen anything. Why would someone want t’slip Bishamon catnip?”
“It is a well-known and often talked about rumor that Lady Saika, the Minister’s eldest daughter, has been attempting to seduce our dear general into her bed for quite some time. She is quite smitten with him. The rumors also state that the last time he came to me with catnip in his system, she was the cause.”
Inuyasha raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Yeah, but … they’re only rumors, right? It’s not like a noblewoman’s daughter would actually do somethin’ like that.”
“On the contrary, Lord Inuyasha, I know for a fact that the rumors are true.”
“Oh? And how do you know that?”
“Because,” Suzu answered simply, “I am the one who started those rumors.”
“Why would you do that?”
“To give a certain oblivious, pigheaded general the push he needs to give Fuyuki the help he’s going to be asking for very soon.”
“Help?”
“Sex,” Suzu said, nodding affirmatively.
“What?!” Inuyasha almost shrieked and then ducked his head in apology when Sesshomaru and the Minister of Foreign Trade both turned to look at him. He absently squeezed the hand resting on his hip in answer to the worry the inu youkai had in his eyes.
The bird demon looked at him, eyebrow raised. “Why do you think I suggested to Lord Sesshomaru that he be placed with a tiger demon who is in heat? He needs the contact. I only hope I can trust my stubborn kitten to do what needs to be done. I placed them together for that purpose.”
“Well then … I guess my encouragement wasn’t such a bad idea after all,” Inuyasha muttered, still in shock about what the peacock youkai had revealed about the former slave. “If he needs it.”
“Oh,” Suzu exclaimed, grasping the inu hanyou’s upper arm. “There’s Lady Saika now. I am surprised she didn’t approach him just after he was drugged the last time. Must be because he’s spent all the time thereafter with Fuyuki. Excuse me, Lord Inuyasha, I think I will go deter her from interrupting their night.” And with a deep bow, he left.
“What was that about, ototo?” Sesshomaru wondered as he dismissed the Minister of Foreign Trade with a polite inclination of his head.
“Nothing really,” Inuyasha answered with a somewhat quizzical expression. He glanced around, noticing that all the demons who had attended the dinner were filing slowly out of the dining hall. “Are we done?”
“Indeed.”
The hanyou let out a long, relieved sigh. “Good. Can we go back to the room now?”
“You are going to need to accustom yourself to such dinners, ototo,” Sesshomaru warned mildly, even as he led the younger inu toward the exit. “They are not an uncommon occurrence. I hold such dinners with the Ministers at least twice a week. Often in a more formal setting. Balls are also held on a semi-regular basis.”
“Keh,” Inuyasha grunted. “Long as you’re with me, I’m sure I won’t fuck things up too bad.”
“You are doing well, little one. I have only heard one curse word cross your lips this night.”
Flushing a little in pleasure for the compliment, Inuyasha averted his eyes, suddenly finding the floor extremely interesting. “I try.” He yawned, drawing the demon lord to a stop in the middle of the corridor as his eyes watered and he swayed slightly on his feet.
“Tired?” Inuyasha huffed, but didn’t answer. With a fond smile for his ototo’s stubbornness, Sesshomaru reached out and pulled him up into his arm.
“Hey!” the inu hanyou squawked, pushing against the demon lord’s firm chest in a half-hearted attempt to be put down.
“Relax,” Sesshomaru admonished him gently, unperturbed by his struggles. “You are dead on your feet. Let me carry you.”
“But … a bath …”
“I will take care of you. Rest now.”
He yawned again, eyes watering, jaw cracking, and then snuggled down against his sibling’s warmth, looping both arms up around the demon lord’s neck as his eyelids fell closed. “Fine … but nex’time … I getta carry you.”
Peering down at his baby brother’s adorable, sleep-slackened face with amusement, Sesshomaru chuckled. “Indeed.”
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Definition of Terms
Kamoshika - Japanese serow, also known in Japan as the Nihon kamoshika, a goat-antelope found in dense woodland on Honshu, Japan
Watashi no utsukushii koroshiya - my beautiful killer (koroshiya technically refers to a professional killer, like an assassin)
Yuudai - one who is a great hero
Kaito - ocean; sake dipper (lol)
Kannon - a form of Kuan-yin who was a Chinese Buddhist deity of mercy
Saika - a flower full of color

A/N: Thanks for reading! Hope everyone was satisfied with it, it's one of my favorite chapters involving Suzu. If you have the time please leave a review! Ja ne!
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A Heat to Overcome