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The Tale of the Demon Lord	By : Arianawray Category: InuYasha > Yaoi - Male/Male > InuYasha/Sessh?maru > InuYasha/Sessh?maru Views: 56279 -:- Recommendations : 4 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters, and I do not make any money from these writings.

Chapter List
- 46
- 47
- 48
XLVII: Looking To The Future
The castle staff who had fallen in the battle with Naraku and his puppets were resurrected by Tenseiga wherever the sword would bring them back. Some remained dead – those soldiers who had died at once when Naraku had first emerged in the gallery, and some the sword did not resurrect, for its own reasons.
Walls, doors and windows shattered in the chaos were repaired, and the parts of the boundary walls affected by the fiercest of the Tetsusaiga's blows during the fight with the real Naraku had to be rebuilt stone by stone.
The children, Jaken and the gardener were found safe in the forest, while non-combat staff who had scattered in terror returned to their posts, many to be treated for injuries.
After all the reports had been made and accounts of the incident put on record, all that remained was to deal with the person who had opened the portal for the monster.
Kazuki knelt before Lord Sesshomaru, Inuyasha, Lady Shirakumo, the ministers and officials gathered in the throne room, knowing that the laws dictated severe punishment for bringing harm to the people of the castle. Natsumi had submitted her plea for mercy, offering to take some of the blame because the mistake had been made for her sake.
The raccoon demon made his formal statement before the assembly, from the place on the floor where he knelt: "Nothing can ever undo my mistake. The ones who remain dead can never come back, and their families have lost those precious to them. I can only ask forgiveness from my lord, from the souls of the lost soldiers, and from those who loved them, without daring to hope that forgiveness will be given. I dare not ask for mercy, but I wish it to be known that I acted not out of wickedness, but because I was deceived. If I have any power to do for the soldiers' families what little I can do to relieve their suffering, I will gladly do it, and more."
The Minister for Law and the head of security also presented their findings and their statement: "Although the investigation has found to its satisfaction that no malice was intended by the demon who opened the portal for Naraku, the law still considers such an act and its effects treasonous, and punishable by death."
Natsumi, standing to one side with the other attendants, started to cry quietly. Inuyasha and everyone else scented her tears, although she did not make a sound.
Kazuki bowed his forehead to the ground, then stated: "I accept the sentence."
Sesshomaru looked coolly at the figure crouched on the floor before the dais of the throne, and considered the matter carefully. Lives had been lost that need not have been taken. If they had only contained Naraku in the portal, no one in this castle would have died. Still…
"Inuyasha, what do you think?" Sesshomaru asked, to the surprise of everyone present.
"I know what I think, but I'm not sure you want to hear it," Inuyasha replied boldly. "So before I say it, I should ask if you're asking just for the sake of it, or if you're going to act on it."
Sesshomaru rose from his throne and stood beside Inuyasha before addressing the assembly: "When I allowed myself to be seized by Naraku, I was lost to this land. A king who does what I did then has in effect given up his right to rule. At that moment, I surrendered authority to my brother Inuyasha to rule this kingdom, and told him so. I have not yet taken back that authority. So my brother and mate-to-be is the one whose word will be law in this matter, and in all other matters until he chooses to yield that authority to me, if he chooses."
A surprised murmur erupted around the room. Inuyasha gaped at his brother until he realised that gaping like a fool was not very prince-like behaviour, nor would it inspire confidence in onlookers.
So he closed his mouth, straightened his shoulders, took in the painfully hopeful look Natsumi was giving him, and cleared his throat before addressing the ministers and officials.
"Ahem… while it is true that Sesshomaru told me to rule these lands well, I have not for one second regarded that as anything other than a statement made in temporary madness. I therefore return all authority to him."
Natsumi's face fell, but Inuyasha had not finished speaking yet.
"I do, however, want to say – as someone my lord, brother and mate-to-be considers sensible enough to rule these lands – that it is good wherever possible to carry out the spirit of the law within reason, and not to always rigidly follow the letter of the law. The lives of those lost are precious, but so is the life of the one before us. Kazuki acted out of concern and love, not treasonous intent. And wouldn't you say, my chosen mate, that more than one among us has recently done some genuinely stupid things for love?"
As an undercurrent of approval spread around the room, Inuyasha eyed Sesshomaru keenly, daring him to contradict him, or to deny that his sacrificing himself to Naraku had not been an act of the greatest love and also the greatest foolish impulsiveness.
Sesshomaru gazed back at him for many seconds, then turned to the assembly and pronounced his verdict: "While the assistant chef's act may superficially have been punishable by death, I am more than satisfied that no treason was intended. Acts of love – even foolish ones – should not be punished with death. Nonetheless, demons loyal to us have died for that mistake, and my sentence for Kazuki is that he should personally beg forgiveness from and make recompense to each of the families who have forever lost their children, mates and parents in these battles. He will be guarded on these visits so that he will not be harmed by them in their anger, but he will have to give them the time, the payment, a humble listening ear whether they choose to abuse him or pour out their unhappiness to him, or any other help they may demand, for as long as they demand it. In addition, the soldiers will be given the same honours as those who give their lives to defend our land in wars. My own treasury will ensure that the families of the demons lost will continue to receive the salary they have been drawing. This will continue until their children mature, or until their mates find new mates, or until their younger siblings have made their way in the world and are able to take over from their lost older siblings in providing for the elders of their family."
Natsumi was crying again, but in gratitude and happiness this time, and Kazuki could only touch his forehead to the ground again and thank his lord and his prince.
"'Genuinely stupid'?" Sesshomaru asked Inuyasha under his breath as they strode out of the throne room.
"Try telling me you weren't," Inuyasha shot back in a whisper.
"I'll tell you exactly that when we are back in our bedroom, but of course you will refuse to believe me."
"At least you're not too stupid to know that."
~ - ~
The weeks that followed were so busy that each day seemed to merge into the next, and the next.
First, they ensured that all was well with the village, and personally thanked Kaede, Kagome and the rest of the villagers for their help and hospitality. A special thanks was said to the great tree for the part it had played in saving Inuyasha, healing Bokusen'o and destroying Naraku.
Then Inuyasha travelled north to visit his mother's grave with Sesshomaru by his side, to pay his respects and whisper to her that he was happy and well now. The human descendants of his mother's sisters, brothers and cousins watched the demons curiously and fearfully from afar, wondering why the king of these lands, the prince, and their intimidating guards were at the grave of some long-dead, obscure relative of theirs who, as far as they knew, had left no children, and of whom nothing was ever spoken in their family.
Two entire human generations had come and gone since Inuyasha had last lived in this area. He recognised none of these relations of his, and they did not know him.
"Do you wish to speak with them?" Sesshomaru asked him.
"No," he said quietly. "Let them live in peace for now, without having to remember unhappy old stories from their grandparents' past. Maybe in another generation's time, I can tell them who I am."
The week after that, they received and officially recognised a small delegation sent by the Lady Kagura, carefully hand-picked by her from among respectable spider-demon families and clans which had opposed Naraku. Border troubles had ceased for the bird-demon kingdom and Sesshomaru's southern lands since Kagura had restored order in the princedom through her fair and capable but steely rule. She had also sent a private letter for Sesshomaru and Inuyasha to say that Hakudoshi was coming along well and looking very promising. Byakuya still needed to be watched carefully, but now that their father was gone for good, he appeared resigned to working in harmony with his remaining siblings.
The delegation brought with them Sesshomaru's two-headed dragon and its stable mate, which had carried the rescue party into the spider-demon territories. The dragons bore the four sculptures Minister Atsushi had given Naraku, which Kagura wished to return to him. Kagura's letter also stated that she had decided to give her town house to Natsumi so that the racoon demoness and her mate-to-be would have a place to call their own. In a coda at the very end of the letter, the new ruler of the spider-demon lands added this line, written in a much less formal manner than the foregoing sentences: "Ah, Sesshomaru, one of your subjects has just made his way across the border into my lands, begging to see me – and it is none other than the obedient Mamoru. He is asking to remain with me as my servant, my slave, my footstool, my whatever. If you have no need of him in your lands, I could do with a new piece of furniture, as the rest was wrecked in the battle!"
Other delegations from tribes who had heard of the troubles caused by Naraku arrived, bearing their leaders' renewed vows of friendship and loyalty to Sesshomaru, a mark of their confidence in him.
Celebrations were held to mark the upcoming mating ceremony between the demon lord and the prince, and the castle was filled with laughter, music, endless swirls of bright garments, visitors bearing precious gifts along with goodwill and curiosity about the prince, and more good food and drink than Inuyasha had seen in his entire life.
At last, the day came for Sesshomaru to officially take Inuyasha as his first, highest-ranking mate. Among demons, mating arrangements were normally done with little fuss, and privately acknowledged within the family or small tribe. They were usually quite unlike the rituals for human weddings. But for royal demons, the arrangements were far more elaborate.
The day began with the public ceremonies, to which many guests were invited, for much feasting and drinking. Not much was required of Sesshomaru and Inuyasha other than to sit at the heart of the celebrations, look grandly dressed and flawlessly groomed, receive the congratulations and best wishes of all who approached them, and eat and drink along with their guests, who included the Lady Kagura, Queen Abi, Ambassador Tsubasa, Prince Koga and many other tribe leaders friendly to the dog demons.
All who had never met Inuyasha were curious to see for themselves the half-demon whose fame had spread far and wide as the beautiful and courageous prince who had rescued his brother and mate-to-be at the risk of his own life, when he could simply have abandoned him and taken the throne for himself.
Not only demons were present. Kaede, Kagome, the village headman, and a few of the villagers Inuyasha was closer to were also there, well looked after by Yuno and Jaken.
At noon, while the majority of the guests continued to be entertained by food, music, spectacular dancing and acrobatics, visits to the nearby town, or tours of the gardens and repaired art galleries, the main players quietly moved on to the next part of the mating ceremony. This was a semi-private affair, with the ministers, elders and chieftains of the dog demon tribe, family members and close friends witnessing the formalities involved in sealing a mating agreement.
Inuyasha had been calm and at ease during the public part of the celebrations, but he was starting to get a little nervous now. He truly began to feel the seriousness of the ceremony when he walked out to the edge of the forest patch where a large arbour of trees and flowering plants had been carefully transplanted and coaxed into shape by the gardeners over the past weeks, so that they were sheltered by intertwining branches, twigs and tendrils above them. Flowering plants lent their brightness and colour to the open-sided structure.
Natsumi and several assistant attendants had changed Inuyasha's robes to a splendid formal set of such brilliant whiteness, with discreet deep-gold embroidery on it, that it dazzled the eyes under the noon sun and matched Sesshomaru's predominantly gold robe with its cloudy, silver-white patterns.
Sesshomaru's breath caught as Inuyasha walked into the arbour, his perfect attire bringing out all his natural beauty and making his golden eyes look brighter and wider than they had ever looked. The hair on the top and sides of his head had been swept back and bound, and his sidelocks braided and drawn back to join the bound portion, their remaining length braided with gold thread to rest over the perfectly combed, silky mane falling loose to his waist. He looked like a warrior, prince and beauty all in one. Peeking out from under his neatly combed fringe, encircling his forehead, was a decorative, light gold chain which held a gold crescent moon to the middle of his brow, a mark of his union with a mate who had such a marking.
Inuyasha, for his part, thought his heart had stopped when he looked upon Sesshomaru's regal bearing. The demon lord was a living sculpture of pure snow clad in flowing threads of gold and clouds of flawless whiteness, with the face of a god. Images flashed in Inuyasha's mind of how far they had come since the time they had hated each other, and showed him just how well things had turned out for both of them.
The couple bowed to Lady Shirakumo, a properly dressed Totosai, Bokusen'o – who had actually uprooted himself and walked out to the edge of the forest patch to witness the ceremony – and to the ministers, dog-demon chieftains and their friends, and received their synchronised bows in return. Then all except Bokusen'o knelt on mats positioned on the grass.
At the end of the arbour nearest to Bokusen'o were Lady Shirakumo, Totosai and Kaede, facing inwards. Sesshomaru and Inuyasha knelt before them, also looking inward. In front of the couple, facing them, were the ministers, dog-demon chieftains and close friends, including Kagura, Kagome, Jaken, and Prince Koga, whom Inuyasha did not know well, but who was a faithful old ally of Sesshomaru's. Their most trusted attendants, Isshin and Natsumi, knelt to one side of the arbour.
Lady Shirakumo, as Sesshomaru's mother, had the honour of addressing this more intimate gathering.
"From days of old," she began, in her clear, calm voice. "The strongest and most powerful demons have had the privilege of choosing mates for their offspring from within the family, because they have never needed external mating alliances to obtain power or security. But that is not the only reason for showing off a sibling-mate, because even commoners practise such arrangements when they are content with their lot and seek few ties beyond their immediate circles. I am instead pleased to say that my son, Sesshomaru, has chosen his half-brother Inuyasha as his mate not to display the power of our family, or its insularity, but for love, and because he is the best mate he could possibly have. I am equally pleased to say that Inuyasha has accepted Sesshomaru not because he needs any greater strength or power, but also for love, and because he too believes that Sesshomaru is the best mate he could have.
"I have often thought that the ability to freely and unselfishly give love was a quality lacking in many demons, including myself, and that we would do well to learn this instinct from humans. But over the past two hundred years, ever since my former mate gave his life for his human mate and their child, I have seen how demons can love truly, and love well, and I am more satisfied than I know how to express in words that my son and his brother have learnt to love from their deepest hearts and souls.
"I have also thought, over these two hundred years, that we demons have too often failed to regard our human… friends… as just that – friends, and we have frequently failed to do right by those who blend demon and human blood within them. I must confess with regret that I have in the past consumed humans while in my animal form. It is my hope that this union between my son Sesshomaru and his half-demon brother will be among the developments that change things in our societies."
Kagome's eyes had widened till they were about the size of saucers when the lady made her admission about eating humans, but she calmed herself and listened quietly as the queen continued with her speech.
"…I wish to observe that when demons of our dog tribe choose as first mates those of the same sex as themselves, they are declaring that they have chosen them not for the purpose of getting heirs, but because they deeply wish to be bonded with them," Lady Shirakumo spoke on. "My son desires to take a step beyond than that. He wants to state that by taking his brother as his first mate, he is declaring that his rights are Inuyasha's rights too, and that if he himself does not have children through a female, any children Inuyasha may have with a female will be fully entitled to succeed to the throne. All that and more makes this mating union a very significant one in my eyes, and I believe, in the eyes of others. That it promises too to be a most interesting and possibly temperamental union – but most of all a happy one – only adds more blessings to what is already an excellent choice that these two before us have made.
"Demons have far fewer rites and rituals associated with mating than humans do, but because my new son-in-law wishes to honour his human heritage as well, we would be most honoured if the priestess Kaede, one of his dearest friends, would also bless this ceremony for them, and for us."
So your mother can make sensible speeches when she wants to! was the message conveyed by the sideway look Inuyasha shot Sesshomaru.
Apparently. Now be still – you and I are not supposed to talk during this ceremony, was the message that Sesshomaru's eyes returned.
Kaede had risen and was now kneeling in front of them, facing them, and speaking some rites which made little sense to Sesshomaru but which Inuyasha found familiar, having heard human priests, monks, priestesses and village chiefs recite such lines before to bless the marriages of newlyweds.
Kaede then turned to the assembled ministers, chieftains and friends, and said wisely: "The rites of human and demon societies are necessarily different, but the spirit behind them is the same for all happy occasions – we offer good wishes, hopes for the longevity of the couple and their union, blessings so that the union will be a smooth and harmonious one, and we ask the gods that the union may be completed with children. Some demon unions may create children differently from the way humans do, but the wishes are the same good ones for those children, and for the generations to come."
She bowed to the couple and to all present, and they echoed her wishes for Sesshomaru and Inuyasha and their long future together.
They rejoined the remainder of the guests for further public celebrations which spilled out across the castle grounds and even into the town, where the townsfolk were marking the special occasion with festive decorations, gatherings and much feasting and drinking. Sesshomaru and Inuyasha, and the representatives from the village, were quietly pleased to think that the village of the tree sacred to the gods was enjoying its own celebrations too, for a vast quantity of excellent food and wine had been sent over by dragon, along with generous gifts in return for the humble but thoughtful wedding presents the villagers had put together for them.
When night fell, the guests continued with their entertainment while the family repaired first to the forest patch, and then to the royal wing for the final and most private part of the ceremony. It was also the simplest part, where Lady Shirakumo as the mother of Sesshomaru, and Bokusen'o and Totosai as the godfathers of the brothers, declared their acknowledgement of the union.
In the forest patch, Bokusen'o said: "I acknowledge that my godsons have taken each other as mates," and his words were echoed by Totosai.
Lady Shirakumo then returned to the royal wing with the brothers, and said at the door of the chamber that had once been their father's bedroom: "I acknowledge that my son has taken a first mate, and I recognise Inuyasha as his first mate."
With that, the official seal on their union was stamped, and Lady Shirakumo returned to the party downstairs to play hostess, leaving the new mates to be helped out of their formal outer wear by their attendants, and then to be left alone together.
~ - ~
"Do you think Father would be happy to see us here together, as mates, in his old room?" Inuyasha asked Sesshomaru when they were by themselves in the large chamber at the end of the corridor, which they had decided to take over as their new, shared bedroom.
"I think he would be very happy," Sesshomaru said, caressing Inuyasha's hair, which was now hanging loose, but still slightly wavy from the braids and threads it had been held in for so much of the day. "Look at the swords."
They glanced over at the fine teakwood table on one side of the room, upon which rested Tetsusaiga, Tenseiga and Sesshomaru's own sword. Totosai had declared that his eldest godson's sword was to be named Bakusaiga, the "Crushing Fang" – to match the other two weapons – even though this newest addition to the family of dog-demon blades had not been forged from a tooth.
"Father blessed us by allowing you to wield the sword he left me, and allowing me to wield the sword he left you. I think he would be very pleased to see us here together as mates, and equals," Sesshomaru explained, as they sat side by side at the foot of the bed.
"I think you're right."
"I know I am."
"About that 'equals' bit, you actually told your mother to declare in public that your rights are my rights, and that my children will have the throne if you don't have any? I thought that would just be a private understanding between us," Inuyasha remarked.
"You don't mind, do you?" Sesshomaru asked.
"No. I was just surprised that you'd say so in front of all the ministers and chieftains," Inuyasha replied, playing with the sleeve of Sesshomaru's under-robe.
"I want everyone to know that you are not only my mate, but my joint ruler, and that as my father's son, you and your descendants should be my heirs, if I have none of my own. In fact, what I most want to see is the children I have with a female of our choosing growing up to mate with the children you have with the same female, so that our lines will become one."
"I'd like that," Inuyasha smiled. "I wouldn't force it on them, but I hope at least some of our daughters from one father grow up to find at least some of our sons from the other father the best mates they could have. I just hope the fact that I have human blood doesn't make it hard for them to mate their own siblings – you know human blood doesn't do well in offspring of unions between close relatives, unlike demon blood."
"I have no doubt that our children, and their children, even if they mate humans in the future, will have the sense and learning to know what they can and cannot safely do. While I agree that some of our behaviour in recent times, as well as further back in the past, has been quite stupid, I trust that our children will be cleverer."
"Hey, speak for yourself," Inuyasha teased, rocking his body to nudge Sesshomaru with the whole side of his body. "I think most of the stupidity came from you, y'know?"
Sesshomaru's response was to tackle Inuyasha to the mattress and tickle him, leaving Inuyasha breathless from the delightful agony of those merciless fingers sending him into paroxysms of near-silent laughter.
But he fought back until he was on top of Sesshomaru, and they were grappling hand-to-hand, nipping at each other's lips and jaws in a blend of foreplay and play-fighting. Robes were tugged off and fierce, hungry kisses exchanged. Inuyasha raked his fangs lightly over Sesshomaru's pale throat in a play at dominance, and to his surprise, Sesshomaru yielded to him. The demon lord turned his head to his right, allowing Inuyasha to press his teeth and lips against his jugular vein, and nibble at his shoulder.
Inuyasha growled with pleasure as Sesshomaru's hand slipped round the back of his head, encouraging him to continue along this path. As Inuyasha traced his claws and teeth over his shoulder and along his left arm, Sesshomaru turned over until he was lying on his belly, and looking seductively back at his mate. Inuyasha ran his fingers slowly down the length of Sesshomaru's spine and over the curve of his buttocks, hesitating.
"Well? What are you waiting for?" Sesshomaru purred deeply, seductively. "You know what to do – you must have learnt something from me all this while..."
Inuyasha grinned and pounced, seizing the nape of Sesshomaru's neck between his teeth and pushing his hard, throbbing member against his mate's flawlessly formed, muscular bottom.
"Have I unleashed a wild little beast?" the demon lord murmured playfully, before melting under the demanding attentions of Inuyasha's teeth, lips and tongue. The skin over each bone of his spine was kissed and licked, and his back lightly massaged by strong thumbs and knuckles.
When Inuyasha reached the sensitive flesh over the small of his back, Sesshomaru drew in his breath sharply as his skin and muscles jumped involuntarily from the pleasurable sensations they were receiving. The next moment, he was gasping lightly as Inuyasha kneaded his flesh firmly before drizzling oil over him – oil which the younger of the two had assumed would be used by his brother on him, and not the other way around.
"You needn't prepare me any more than that," Sesshomaru whispered to his mate. "I can take whatever you give me."
"Are you sure?" Inuyasha asked, gliding up his body and kissing his ear, his cheek and what he could reach of his mouth.
"Yes, I'm sure," the demon lord replied, reaching a hand back to caress the prince's face and hold him there for a second, for just another kiss.
The erotic novelty of being on top, given free rein on the night of their mating ceremony to take the dominant part with this lord and older brother of his who had always led the way in the bedroom, gave Inuyasha a thrill. He mounted Sesshomaru and carefully, slowly, penetrated him, longing to rush ahead but having learnt from his mate's example that he must be patient and take his time.
It felt intriguing, wrapping his arms around Sesshomaru from behind as he pushed in slowly, ever so slowly, feeling his mate admit one inch of him, and another, then clench his muscles so that he was gripped tightly enough to make him moan into that maddeningly silky length of hair.
"Sess…" he groaned, feeling his partner release him a little so he could push in further, then grip him again. He slipped more oil on, moved in a bit more, out a bit, and in again, until he could hold back no longer. He began thrusting freely while feeling the most heavenly tautness enclosing him, channeling pure bliss from that key point of contact throughout his entire body.
"Yes… you're doing it perfectly," Sesshomaru whispered, turning his head to kiss one of Inuyasha's hands, which was clutching his arm firmly, holding him in place as he worked in and out of him.
"You're trying to squeeze the life out of me, aren't you?" Inuyasha grunted, tightening his embrace of Sesshomaru while nibbling on his shoulder, coming deliciously close to climaxing.
"Oh, Inuyasha," Sesshomaru growled back. "I haven't started squeezing yet…"
Then Inuyasha found himself wrapped so tightly inside Sesshomaru that his breath caught, and he held that breath seemingly endlessly as he came hard, shooting his seed into Sesshomaru, raptured by wave after wave of heady pleasure, till at last he exhaled with a cry and melted into Sesshomaru's muscular back.
There they lay, as one, for long seconds that seemed to drift into an infinity of peace and contentment in which time did not exist. The spell broke only when Inuyasha stirred, and the demon lord reached over his shoulder, smiling when one of his mate's furry ears twitched as his fingers brushed it. Inuyasha rested there for a minute more before slipping off his back onto the mattress, cracking his eyes open to look into his brother's face.
"How come you're in charge even when I'm on top of you?" the younger one murmured a little sulkily to the elder.
"It wasn't my intention to take charge," Sesshomaru replied, shifting closer to him. "I said you were my equal – and I mean that to be true in private, not only in front of others. Are you annoyed with me?"
"What will you do if I am?"
"I'll let you chain me to the bed and do with me whatever you please."
"You're such a kink."
"Regretting going through the ceremony already, are you?"
"Ha," Inuyasha chuckled. " I guess all this is just typical of the way we are with each other."
"Do you think so?"
"It's nice playing at dominating you and all that, but I think I have a lot more fun when you're top dog," Inuyasha grinned.
"Hmm…" Sesshomaru rolled out a throaty growl as he covered Inuyasha with his body and pinned him to the sheets. "Good thing then that it's my turn now…"
~ - ~
Sesshomaru awoke in the darkness before the dawn, Inuyasha's scent all over him, imparting to him a feeling of cosiness and warmth. But his mate was not in the bed they were to share for the rest of their lives – their father's bed – in a room recently redecorated to reflect both their personalities.
He looked towards the nearest open window and saw that well-loved head, with its distinctive puppy ears, silhouetted against the deep-purple, starlit sky. He rose, drew along with him one of the light sheets covering the bed, and went over to the window to stand behind Inuyasha, wrapping himself and his mate in the sheet.
"Why aren't you in bed?" he whispered into one furry ear. "You're not thinking of leaping out the window and running away from me, are you?"
"Hmm… would you run after me if I did?" Inuyasha whispered back, kissing his hand.
"To the ends of the earth, and into the world beyond."
"You wouldn't let me get away, would you?"
"No. Do you regret taking me as a mate while you're still so young? You aren't even officially mature yet, in demon terms."
"Hey, I think we've established that I'm plenty mature," Inuyasha returned, nudging Sesshomaru with his elbow.
"Oh, that's really mature of you," Sesshomaru teased.
"You're so silly – of course I don't regret mating you, and I'm not thinking of running away. I'm happy. Really happy. I'm just looking out into the night."
"What do you see out there?"
"Nothing at all that compares with what's in here with me," Inuyasha answered, turning his head for a kiss, which Sesshomaru lovingly gave him.
Then they stood by the window, scenting the nature of the night, watching the world of darkness with their keen demon eyes, each enjoying the closeness of the other – so close they almost felt they could merge into one. It seemed like no time at all before the sun rose over the horizon and saw them into a fresh new day, the first of many, many more they would spend together in the thousands of precious years that waited patiently to welcome them.
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Note: I am trying to craft one more chapter – an epilogue – for this tale. But apart from that, this latest chapter is really the last one for this very long story. I can hardly believe that all of you are still reading it after so many instalments! Thank you for sticking with me all the way!
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The Tale of the Demon Lord