Adult-FanFiction.org : Inuyasha / Yashahime

The Emperor and his Champion	By : Lady_of_the_Squirrels Category: InuYasha AU/AR > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 944 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha nor do I profit from any characters or plots within Rumiko Takahashi's wonderful work. I make no profit from this work.

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
- 8
                It had lasted a week, the heat driving them both crazy until one night it was just suddenly gone. Sess seemed himself, though exhausted. Two more days of resting and Helaku found muscles he didn’t even know he had ached. He had bites all along his body, reminders of who was in charge when he got too bold in their long days of unbridled passion. He rather liked them after the first one, these ones not deep or harmful, but little bruises where he had bit just hard enough to tell him to stop.
                He felt loved, he felt appreciated, and he felt battered. No amount of combat training could have prepared him for the bruising escapades all around his home. Sesshomaru had been so absolutely tender the past two days, apologizing, snuggling him. He had told him about the significance of that second bite. Helaku felt himself smile.
                He was lucid for another moment, warm puffs of breath against Helaku’s chest. Helaku had been on top this time, riding so as to control how hard and deep Sesshomaru could go. He found his lover did not enjoy this in this state, but he’d be damned if he’d let him take him a fourth time with his thrusts that gave him rug burn down his back. He had slumped down, absolutely drained on top of Sesshomaru.
                “I claimed you, I’m sorry,” His fingers brushed against the deep bite wound, before stroking his hair.
                “I can’t form sentences, fuck off for a minute,” Helaku sighed, trying to regain use of his body.
                “Don’t you feel it?” Sesshomaru’s fingers slid gently against the mark, he felt his body calm.
                “What are you doing?” Helaku sighed.
                “It’s a mate mark, Helaku. I claimed you. I’m so sorry, my fox,” He dropped the little. This was important, he didn’t need to tease him.
                “I don’t know what that fucking is,” Helaku huffed, sitting up, pulling himself off Sesshomaru to lay beside him. He was hot, exhausted and confusion was making him angry. Helaku listened as Sesshomaru explained it. How he had tied them together, how in his youth this mark would mean no one would dare touch him unless they wanted Sesshomaru at their throat. He explained how it would allow them to communicate deeper. He explained how much that mark meant he loved him.
                It seemed like so much at the time, and now Helaku had come to realize it was the ultimate expression of love. Sesshomaru couldn’t say why he had done it or answer why he’d never taken a mate in the past during his time of the year, just that his body had told him to do it. He hadn’t even marked Katherine. He could feel Sesshomaru’s beast as if it was a part of him, possessive of him and tender. All of his love poured into his mind.
                This is how he knew he regretted being so rough, so out of control. This is why he nuzzled him day and night after the whole ordeal, he knew he didn’t know how to apologize but now he didn’t have to explain it, Helaku just knew. He made himself some coffee, the first rays of sunshine pouring into his window. His house was currently a mess of blankets and shed clothes he hadn’t had the time to pick up.
                He heard Sesshomaru come out, felt those arms wrap around him in a lazy embrace. The man had completely forgot about going stir crazy for work. Kisses pressed down his neck and gently against that spot on his neck. It made him tingle when he did that, but he wouldn’t tell Sesshomaru that. He felt he most likely didn’t have to.
                “Do you want breakfast?” His voice was a soft rumble.
                “If you are thinking you’re going to come out here and seduce me, you are dead wrong. I’ve had enough sex to last me the year, thanks,” Helaku put sugar in his cup of coffee.
                “I only want to feed you,” Sess laughed warmly against his skin. His hands sought Helaku’s hips. He felt that possessiveness creep over him. ‘Mine.’
                He wished he could hear that laugh forever, he knew once he went back to the palace it would be different. This was like a honeymoon for him, their bond like a Vegas wedding at a drive-thru chapel. Drunk on sex causing him to make one poor decision, but they loved each other and he knew they would be okay.
                “You’re making me feel like a maiden, can you stop?” Helaku shrugged him away, smiling.
                “I cannot help it, it’s like… being in a field of nice smelling flowers, taking a lazy nap with the sun on your face. I am happy. My soul’s priority is you,” Sesshomaru let him go. Helaku felt every bit of truth in those words, setting his coffee down. He pulled out a pan.
                “I will make you breakfast today, go sit down,” He pulled eggs and sausages out to cook.
                “Do you wish for me to call someone to fix your door today?” Sesshomaru mused from his stool at the counter. He wished he hadn’t been so possessed as to break the poor thing to splinters.
                “No, it reminds me that you’re a psycho,” Helaku looked at him over his shoulder.
                “Well, that is just hurtful,” Sess smiled to him.
                “You think you’re hurt, I’m going to need you to talk to my body about hurting,” Helaku snorted. He felt the regret roll through Sesshomaru, the need to apologize and coddle him rising. He briefly thought ‘it’s fine’ and he felt Sess’s regret fade.
                “I am sorry, Helaku, I did not mean for this. I don’t know why, after all these years it came back,” Sess said it quietly but did not move from his place at the counter.
                “Shut up. I liked it after the first round. You don’t need to apologize for anything. It’s probably that stupid gift Lucifer gave. He let you get all sex crazy,” Helaku nodded.
                “Ha, I doubt that is the full gift if it was him. I am sure there will be more coming,” Sess mused, watching Helaku. Helaku didn’t respond, hoping that more old demon customs would not be coming. He didn’t think he could handle another heat any time soon. The sounds and smell of breakfast filled the room and Sesshomaru found himself at true peace.
                “Sesshomaru,” Helaku turned to him, his voice soft, “What… what happens when we go back to emperor and commander now?”
                Sesshomaru bristled a little, he knew it’d go back to how it had been. The past few days, even the last days of his heat had been magnificent. He felt a freedom he’d not felt in a long time, the responsibilities of his life were on a back burner. Lazy mornings with a little romp or two during his heat, lazy kisses as he held Helaku close, the need to touch him, kiss him, feel him. He did not have the heart to say his affections would be less up front, but then he knew he didn’t have to say it when he saw Helaku’s face. “We do not have to be hidden, but I will not be as open unless fully alone with you.”
                “You’ve become so open, it’s actually very nice,” Helaku commented as he started shifting breakfast to plates.
                “I understand, I cannot stay this way though, Helaku. Smiles, laughs, kisses, they are for you alone, I do not wish to share them with anyone else,” Sesshomaru tried to put it in the best words he could.
                “You could though, no one would think differently,” Helaku pressed as he sat a plate in front of him.
                “They would, little fox. They would. What happens when the cold emperor comes back soft and in love?” Sess picked up his fork, locking his eyes with Helaku’s.
                “The world rejoices for its emperor is so completely happy,” Helaku came around the corner of the counter and kissed his forehead, taking his spot next to him. He sat so their shoulders touched and began eating.
                Sesshomaru was quiet and his eyes glanced to Helaku, “And if I am not ready to let the world see me so happy?”
                “Then I will not force you to kiss me in public, or smile at me in the halls, or laugh where everyone can hear it,” Helaku rolled his eyes. He felt a small nudge to his shoulder from Sess and they ate the rest of their meal quietly. The only noise the scrapes of forks and when Sesshomaru got up to pour himself coffee.
                At the end, Helaku sighed and looked to him. His eyes studied him, the way his frown lines weren’t present at all, the way his eyes seemed less narrow and his skin almost aglow. The way his hair was slightly mussed from not sleeping with a braid in, sitting in Helaku’s sweatpants that were slightly too big for his slimmer hips. His eyes drawled across those toned shoulders and chest before realizing Sesshomaru was looking at him from the sides of his eyes, coffee mug pressed against his lips.
                “You’re pretty, that’s all,” He grinned.
                “What was this about me seducing you? I think you have forgotten your own words,” Sess snickered.
                “No, I was serious about you not getting any for a while. I just wanted to admire you a moment,” Helaku grabbed their plates and started with the dishes. Sesshomaru came to help, this work was well beneath him but he found he enjoyed helping Helaku with these things. It made him feel helpful and like he was not a burden on his lover.
                The men went to the bedroom afterwards, peeling off their sleeping clothes and going to the bathroom. Sesshomaru stepped into the shower and Helaku watched then started the tub. He was not normally a bath person, but the soaks had felt so good on his skin after all the abuse he had taken. He watched Sesshomaru shower through the glass panels in the shower, he was not as upset about the turn of events as he’d previously thought he would be.
                In all demon male couples there was a dominate and submissive. It was uncommon for the demon males to consistently fight for dominance as this was the only way to birth children between them. When the female population had waned centuries ago, they had evolved to carry on life. The female population was healthy now and it was still a blessing from the gods.
                Not to say they wouldn’t switch from time to time, but if one’s body did not recognize its role it would not grow the proper equipment. It had all been explained in biology to him all his many years ago in school. He sighed, he had not ever seen himself as being in this role. He was happy though, he stared as his strong mate washed himself, gently rubbing the mark on his neck. He relaxed back and groaned, he needed to call his mama about this.
                “Are you alright?” The question cut through the steam building in the bathroom.
                “How am I supposed to tell my mom about this mark? It’s such an old custom no one would understand anymore,” He let the hot water ease his body aches, shutting his eyes.
                “Do you wish me to explain it to her?” Sesshomaru peered at him through the glass, hands frozen on his chest with suds dripping out from between his fingers.
                Helaku cracked one eye open, “No, I’m afraid she’d pummel you if she saw the bruises you left all over me.”
                “They were all out of love,” Sesshomaru scoffed, resuming washing his body.
                “They were all because you were a sex-crazed psycho for a whole week. I swear you took me seven times one day,” He winced at just remembering the hard thrusts that pushed his back across the floor.
                “Mm, impressive but not my highest number in one day in a heat,” he laughed as Helaku’s eyes shot open. He couldn’t imagine having taken on Sesshomaru way back.
                “You’re incorrigible. Where is my emperor? He would never talk to anyone this way,” he huffed in mock anger, his eyes shutting again to relax. The shower shut off and he heard Sesshomaru drying himself off and that smell of his soap wafted closer until he felt lips gently on his cheeks.
                “Your emperor is here and your emperor loves you dearly,” He left the bathroom to ready himself for the day. Some of his suits had been brought for him and his eyes lingered on Helaku’s clothing before he pulled one of his out and dressed himself. It felt good to be in his own clothes again. He was so thankful his undergarments had been brought too.
                Helaku came out 15 minutes later, dressing himself in something comfortable before he left his bedroom. He found Sesshomaru in his suit, cleaning the house up. He smiled a little, another surprise: Sesshomaru was decent at chores for someone who never had to do them. He leaned in the door, just watching him. That week had done something with his mind, and he knew the changes were in effect. He heard the soft voice in his mind whispering to him about pups and such a strong father.
                Sesshomaru seemed to freeze, looking back at Helaku. Helaku furrowed his brow, “What?”
                He pursed his lips together thoughtfully, dropping a blanket into the laundry basket he’d placed in the middle of the floor. He didn’t say anything making Helaku agitated but he waited. “I already have 18.”
                Helaku blushed hard, spluttering a second before managing to choke out, “Did I say anything about wanting children?”
                Sess resumed picking up the mess, “Didn’t have to.”
                Helaku rolled his eyes and joined him, “You’re leaping to conclusions.”
                “I am listening to what your beast is saying. Do you not hear it?”
                “I’ve never heard this voice like this before, is that what it is?” Helaku looked to him. His lover nodded.
                “Every demon has one, I think over time they became less necessary and more docile. The beast used to be like second nature in demons. I haven’t felt a demon project its beast in a long time,” He picked up the last item from their Olympic worthy escapades and hoisted the laundry basket to his hip.
                “You woke it up then? Do you think… the heat woke it up? Or the bite?” Helaku absentmindedly ran his fingers along the mark again.
                “When did you hear it first?” Silver hair disappeared into the laundry room.
                “When you bit my shoulder to make me stop fighting you,” Ginger followed, brushing the lost man out of the way. He didn’t know how to do laundry based on the confused look on his face as he looked at the machine. Helaku expertly put the clothes in the wash. ‘Useless if our pups need their clothes washed.’
                “I don’t have to do laundry, please tell your beast that. Zander does the laundry,” he pointed it out and smirked, leaving the room.
                “Stop! Stop it! I don’t like this mark anymore, take it back!” He followed him.
                “I cannot take it back, it is for life unless a priest dissolves it. Do you wish to dissolve our bond?” Sesshomaru sat on the couch, trying to look prim and proper.
                “It is embarrassing me and it knows it,” Helaku ground out, pointing his finger angrily at his head. ‘You are embarrassing us, he won’t want pups with you now.’
                Sesshomaru laughed richly, “You have to learn to control it.” ‘Little fox, stop harassing him, I do not desire more pups.’
                Helaku gasped slightly at hearing the deep voice of Sesshomaru’s beast. It hadn’t spoken this whole time. Sess was looking at him with a grin, showing him he had control over what was being shared from him. ‘What if we are budding a little pup right now?’
                “A-are you?” Sesshomaru squeaked, his eyes getting wide, that smug ‘look what I can do’ look gone.
                “I think we would know if the lies this fiend told were true,” Helaku’s face was red. He was reveling in the fear of his mate’s eyes but all together flushed at the idea of growing a life in his body.
                Sesshomaru was visibly relieved. He loved having babies, clearly. He never felt they got all the attention they deserved, but when they did have his attention, he doted on them hand and foot. He did not however feel now was the correct time, and he did not feel the need to add to his already very large collection of offspring.
                “I lack the equipment as of current. I do imagine though, your highness, your antics may cause the change soon. I will be sure to let you know when my guts are twisting to allow you to breed,” Helaku tried to be snide.
                All he got in return came from their link, ‘And I will be happy to oblige to your body’s demands.’ Helaku looked at Sess who dipped his head in defeat, soft Japanese curse words coming from his lips as his beast had slipped around the careful blockades in his mind. Helaku’s face and ears turned red, their souls were making plans for the future and they were no longer involved.
                They both looked at a video call request that popped up on the tablet Helaku had placed by the television. They had ignored every single call while Sesshomaru was ‘sick’ and while they recuperated. Sesshomaru got up and accepted the call and Helaku turned the tv on, connecting it back to the tablet so all the Taisho children graced its screen. He helped Sess place the tablet where they could see the two of them and there were a few gasps.
                “Yeah, yeah, take it in. We’re fine,” Helaku wished he could cover the bruises his clothing couldn’t hide.
                “You fared better than I expected,” InuYasha was in the room, still amazed at the technology his nieces and nephews had shown him.
                “What’s that supposed to mean?” Helaku folded his arms.
                “Well, you’re still standing. I can’t say the same for …what was his name? Tantin? Oof, or Mei,” InuYasha’s facial expressions were enough to tell Helaku he’d held his own.
                Sesshomaru cleared his throat, “I miss you all, shall we meet for dinner tonight? We can go to a restaurant?”
                “I’m very glad to see you’re, uh, feeling better, father. I think we’d all really like that,” Shika smiled, a knowing twinkle in his eye. Sesshomaru’s eyes narrowed, not liking the amusement that danced around his son’s face.
                Akiko was also looking at him particularly odd, as if he were the butt of a joke he did not understand. His narrowed gaze flitted between them, unable to voice the question that played in his mind.
                “I called Shika when you uh, started acting like a maniac. Akiko portaled him in right away and InuYasha had to explain your ailment to us all,” Helaku filled in the blanks.
                “I don’t understand what is so funny about this. I was very ill,” Sesshomaru emphasized it.
                “I don’t think wanting to plow someone is being very ill, father. I think that is called being very horny,” Shika giggled.
                “You broke a door! Your arm was through the door, trying to get to where we were, that is some kind of witchcraft I’ve never seen before,” Akiko’s giggles joined his.
                “Wait, what?” One of the boys shrieked with laughter.
                “Okay, okay, it’s not funny, please,” Sesshomaru’s face was flushing.
                “Dad broke down a door because he was horny??” Another son. They were all howling with laughter. Sess rubbed the bridge of his nose.
                “C’mon now. Your dad really was sick,” Helaku tried to calm them down, “He literally could not stop and he had a fever for a week straight. Horny is one thing but… dear god this was something else.”
                “So you had a good time then?” A third son, the laughter rose again.
                “No! It hurt! Look at me,” Helaku opened his shirt, showing all the bites and scratches. The laughter died down as they looked at him. He felt the guilt rush over him from Sess and he looked at his mate, immediately trying to send soothing thoughts to him. The kids went quiet as they watched their dad hold an intense stare with Helaku, a silent conversation between them before Helaku gently moved closer and pressed his forehead to Sesshomaru’s.
                They were all worried as they watched, InuYasha’s head tilting. He’d seen this display only in very strong demon couples in the past. The beta always tends to the alpha, “You submitted.”
                Helaku’s cheeks tinged pink and he looked to the screen. He gave a soft nod, worrying the children even more. This was not the brash commander they had left with their father. Sess sighed and looked at the tv, his arm protectively around Helaku’s waist. “Brother, it’d be best if we keep our customs quieter. They’ve not been in practice for a very long time.”
                “If you don’t want to talk about it, we won’t talk about it,” InuYasha tried to tuck his hands into the foreign clothing he’d been given but found the sleeves weren’t baggy enough to accommodate his usual arm placement like his fire rat clothing had. He rested his hands on his thighs awkwardly.
                “Are you okay?” Shika finally broke the strange tension that had built.
                “I’m perfectly fine, prince,” Helaku dislodged himself from Sess and buttoned his shirt back up.
                “You sure?” Keiko’s voice floated to his ears.
                “Yes, your father didn’t break me or anything. My body just hurts is all, we are both very fine,” His fingers worked quickly, covering himself up again.
                “More than fine,” Sesshomaru urged. This made Helaku’s cheeks burn brighter.
                “So, dinner then? Steakhouse?” Shika offered.
                “Yes, that would be perfect. Do we all agree or does someone want something else?” Sess looked between all his kids. Their nods confirmed it and he made sure their expressions did too.
                “I’ll make sure they can seat us, I’ll call now,” Shika pulled his cell phone out and stepped out of the room.
                They all began talking as they usually did at breakfast as if a floodgate had burst, telling them all about what their days had been like and all their problems. Helaku listened with Sesshomaru, comforted by his hand intwined with his. This would be part of his role now, he thought. He would sit beside his love, be a bonus parent to his children. He was contented with this, even if his beast grumbled about wanting pups of its own. Sesshomaru reassured him with a small squeeze of his hand and a thumb gently rubbing against his at this intrusion of his thoughts.
                He could feel the doting father through their new bond. The care in which he listened to them each, the way he carefully tailored his response depending on the child. Keiko was sensitive, he needed softer words for her. Lua was his baby and he was wrapped around her fingers, his words were always tender towards her. Izumi was hardheaded, he used the smallest air of authority with him and always urged him to reconsider things he didn’t agree with, with a perfectly placed hint of ‘I won’t be mad, I’ll just be disappointed.’ Helaku was in awe.
                He spent the morning warming up to the fact that with their bonding, he was now like their stepfather. He was older than them all, so that worked perfectly. In his prime at 247 years old, his oldest step kid would be Shika at 152. He smiled and the kids all paused as Sesshomaru took his lips swiftly.
                “What?” Helaku pulled away from him in surprise.
                “You,” was all Sesshomaru said. He turned back to his kids and motioned them to continue. Slowly they continued.
                The call ended and Sesshomaru looked to Helaku. “I think it’s time we do at least a little work. I need to get the palace put back together at some point. I’d like to be back in my home… maybe… our home?”
                Helaku froze a little, he really liked his house. Sesshomaru wasn’t sad, he understood.
                “Maybe we go, half? Split between the two?” Sesshomaru offered.
                “Yeah… yeah like before except you’ll actually come here half the time? Not just me going home?” Helaku asked hopefully.
                “Of course,” Helaku was drawn close by his hips, Sess’s forehead resting on his. “This is our safe space, away from that. It will be good for both of us.”
                They took a few moments to shift back into their professional roles. Helaku donned his uniform, Sesshomaru making sure his suit was pristine before they walked up to the wreckage of the palace. Guards were around the wreckage, having been rotating responsibilities as their orders from Helaku had stated. This was the first they’d seen him since the incident and he seemed rested and ready to take on the world.
                Sesshomaru was greeted by reporters trying to get an interview with him. He held his hand up in a decline, making the guard make sure none got through. The neutral face Helaku had not seen in a hot minute was in place and he followed obediently behind Sesshomaru holding his composure as he nodded pleasantly to the crowd.
                He followed him up stairs that had been deemed stable and they patrolled the areas they could. The found his room was safe along with his hidden terrace and bath. The secret room at the top of the home had been destroyed and Helaku felt how he hurt at losing things that had been important to his late wife. Portraits were destroyed and the emotion held in those eyes as he picked up fragments of images of his family hurt Helaku’s soul.
                He sighed as he placed all the pieces he could find of the portrait against the rubble of a wall and then turned, the head architect and a mage approaching from the opposite end of the hall. Helaku folded his hands behind his back, standing tall next to Sesshomaru as they bowed their heads to him.
                “Your highness, my name is Max and this is the mage Hope. We were called to help with your rebuild,” The male demon extended his hand and Sesshomaru shook it graciously.
                “I really don’t know that I want to change anything other than this is a great opportunity to update some of the light fixtures and furnishings. The palace itself was well designed,” Sesshomaru looked around his home.
                Max nodded, making some notes and then smiled, “Do you want to follow me and we can look at the blueprint?”
                Sess nodded and looked to Helaku, “I am not saying you have to go, I would welcome your company but if you need to take care of any business now would be perfect to do so.”
                He hesitated, thinking a moment before nodding, “I will see you for dinner this evening then.”
                Sess watched Helaku walk away, noting the way he strode across the hall until he disappeared and then followed Max to an office set aside for him to work within the stable parts the palace. They sat at a large table pulled from a meeting room and he rolled the blueprints out. He listened patiently as Max led him through things that could be changed if he wished it, Hope explaining how they could do it and still complete a magical restoration to speed the process.
                After hours of negotiation, Sess agreed to some changes and finalized the plans. He arranged the payments and arranged for his interior designer to join the team. Helaku in the meantime had gone to the barracks.
                The ginger commander was a welcome sight amongst his troops, they rallied and whooped as he stepped into the training fields. He graciously accepted all the attention, unsure why they would be cheering him. It wasn’t as if he’d done much in the means of defending anyone or anything from InuYasha, but then again, he had been the only one there to know it.
                He noticed most of the generals were on the grounds, unusual for any normal day. They all had their own countries to protect and for a lot to be in one spot something important had to be happening. Holden, a fox demon himself, was the first to approach Helaku and shake his hand. “Welcome back Commander, we had a scare there! You hadn’t come back and it felt like a long time just to be nursing the emperor back to good health. We thought you’d been hurt too!”
                Helaku chuckled a little, shaking his hand and patting his shoulder, “Well, you know Sesshomaru. He struggled a little not having his suits and he can be a bit of a handful.”
                “Most certainly he can,” Holden laughed with him. They had all known Sesshomaru a very long time. Helaku rubbed his neck, not as well as him though.
                “Oh, is that a wound?” Cruxilius came to him next, his arm sliding around Holden’s side to hold his husband.
                “Oh, it’s nothing. I can uh, tell you more about it in private if that’s okay,” Helaku glanced around, everyone seeming to want to speak with him.
                “Friendly secret, I get it,” Cruxilius stated bluntly, folding his arms over his barreled chest. General Cruxilius was over Russia and then man was an ox, literally. He looked like a body builder, big and burly with short white hair. Holden was lithe, long brown hair and had an extremely friendly smile. They were almost completely opposites, but they had been so in love for as long as Helaku could remember.
                He remembered how long ago they had told him in confidence that they were trying to have a child. They shared their struggles and heartbreak with him. He allowed his generals the time they needed to grieve each loss and supported their family from the sidelines. Holden still struggled to conceive and had yet to carry a child to term. Helaku felt the man had adopted him as his own child in some ways, always mothering him discreetly.
                Crux had done so in a way too, always winking at him when he did something that made his chest swell with pride. Almost as if always saying ‘that’s my boy!’ Helaku listened to his friends, taking all the greetings from the other generals as they caught up. Many asked about the battle with InuYasha and leaving out the detail of Sesshomaru dying he relayed the tale as best he could.
                Helaku was slowly herded into the barracks bar hall, looking around when he ended up at the door. He smiled and walked in, joining his men for a drink or two. They hadn’t much to do here over the past few weeks, less things needing guarded. It appeared they had taken his orders to heart when he’d told them to clean things up since they had time. The bar sparkled, and he was more than pleased.
                The afternoon drifted by lazily for him. They told battle stories and drank merrily until things settled down. When less people were around and he could speak to Holden and Crux in private, he began telling them about the mark on his neck. His face flushed with his brief description of Sesshomaru’s ailment leading to the mark and he found Crux’s laugh booming across the hall all the more embarrassing. Holden held his hand supportively, elbowing his husband in the ribs and grinned. “We are so happy you could find a love like ours!”
                Crux barely felt the jab to his side but acknowledged Holden’s way of telling him to stop embarrassing their commander. His bulky arm found its way around Holden’s shoulders giving him a light squeeze. “Yes, very, very happy!”
                “I didn’t even know what happened to me was a thing! It was the most intense and crazy experience. I’d show you but that would involve undressing and we all know how that would go,” he laughed.
                Holden shook his head a little, “Every feminine in here would swoon.”
                “I mean, how does that work if I’ve submitted to him?” Helaku tilted his head a little.
                “You’re still you. Do you want to take a feminine?” Holden motioned around the room. Helaku found he was still very much attracted to other males. He nodded slowly.
                “See? You’re just HIS submissive. If he opened your relationship you’d be dominant as you like to be and only submit to him. Being the ‘bottom’ as it were doesn’t change you,” Holden was supportive, aware of these things himself.
                “The important question, is will you make me a granddaddy?” Crux smirked and received another jab to his ribs.
                Helaku’s face turned as red as his hair, “Well, if my ‘inner beast’ --as his highness describes it— gets its way, eventually. His highness doesn’t want more though.”
                “If there is anything I know about my long-time friend, any child you give him he will love unconditionally. You do what makes your heart happy, and make sure to tell him what that is when you discover it,” Holden grinned, his hand moving to hold Crux’s giant one in his fingers.
                “Well, right now he is what makes my heart happy. I will continue to stand at his side and what happens in the future is the future,” Helaku finished his drink and looked at the time.
                “Got an important date,” Crux’s eyebrows waggled at him, his thick Russian accent filled with amusement.
                “Actually, yes. I have a family dinner to attend,” Helaku rolled his eyes and slid his half drank beverage to Crux, standing up.
                “Have fun!” Holden waved to him as he left.
                Helaku hustled to his house, changing into going out clothes. A nice button up shirt with a nice pair of slacks to match what his lover would wear. They didn’t fit like his clothes, they weren’t tailored to fit his body perfectly but they still looked good on him. He brushed his teeth, doing his best to remove the smell of alcohol from his breath, brushed his hair and pulled it into a nice bun.
                He sighed and looked at himself before grinning and getting in his medicine cabinet, pulling out some rings and putting them on his ear. He was surprised to find his piercings still open as he hadn’t worn the earrings in a long time. 6 silver rings along his long pointed ear. He then dug a little more and found a matching cuff to slide over the shell of his other ear. He stared at himself again, thoughtfully tapping his lip.
                “Are you ready for dinner?” He heard Sesshomaru’s voice from the living room. He came into the bedroom, turning towards the bathroom. He grinned as he saw Helaku standing before the mirror, fiddling with his shirt and gently shaking his head to hear his earrings clink.
                “Yeah, pretty much ready,” Helaku opened a drawer and sprayed a light smelling cologne on, taking one last look in the mirror before popping a few buttons open at the top of his shirt, hating the way his shirt looked with all the buttons done up.
                “You look very handsome,” Sess grinned, greeting him with a gentle kiss.
                Helaku’s cheeks turned pink, returning the kiss eagerly, “Thanks. I tried.”
                Sess laughed softly, taking a second to look in the mirror to make sure he was still perfect. He took Helaku’s hand and led him out front to his town car parked on the dirt path in front of his house. He was suddenly nervous and Sesshomaru looked at him with apprehension.
                “If you don’t want to do this, Helaku, you do not have to come. I understand that this is like saying ‘this is your new dad’ and there’s 18 stepkids just suddenly in your lap,” Sesshomaru nodded, his hand reaching for the handle on the back door.
                “No, of course I want to come to dinner. It’s just, they are my friends and it’s going to be weird,” the door opened and Helaku climbed in. He’d been in the town car plenty of times but this time he felt interested in the décor.
                Sesshomaru got in the other side and motioned for the driver to drive. He placed his hand gently on Helaku’s knee, “I know, which is why I gave you an out. It’ll be fine, you know they like you already, right? You don’t have to parent them at all, they’re all adults, so that makes it easier.”
                “Yeah, I suppose,” Helaku smiled. He scooted slightly closer, their shoulders touching. Sess’s hand slid off his knee and his arm curled around his shoulders instead. He used his fingers to gently massage Helaku’s shoulder.
                “How’d your day go?” He got the smallest smile as Helaku hummed at the fingers working the muscles in his shoulder.
                “It went well. Had some drinks with Holden and Crux, told them about the mark and everything,” Helaku felt the fingers pause a second before they continued.
                “I’m glad you got to catch up with them, I need to have a dinner or something for the generals. I don’t get to talk to them much,” He nodded.
                “You don’t like that I told them,” Helaku looked to him.
                “I didn’t say that. I’m just surprised you did tell them is all,” Sesshomaru reassured him.
                Helaku smiled and just enjoyed his company as they rode into the city. The city was bustling, comparable to New York or Tokyo. Lights everywhere with large screened billboards and advertisements. They pulled up to a restaurant where Sesshomaru was let out. He turned and offered his hand to Helaku, the commander stepping out with him.
                People on the street stared in wonderment, their mouths agape upon seeing the emperor. It seemed as if it got crazier as Helaku got out and stood beside him. Helaku waved, smiling at the crowd that slowly gathered. Cameras flashed and some people started trying to get his attention. Helaku knew his attention was on him just in the way Sesshomaru didn’t let go of his hand. A gentle squeeze as they endured the attention, that possessive feeling coming through their mark.
                Sesshomaru led him inside after a moment, gently pulling him by the hand. So many pictures were taken, Helaku just smiling and following. He let his adoration shine, walking beside his handsome mate. The world would be alight with pictures of them, so he did his best to represent the crown well.
                The restaurant was busy, his kids already at the restaurant and waiting. They were led to a private party room, joining the family. Sesshomaru sat at the head of the table, Helaku peacefully at his side. Normally he sat on the opposite end, so far away from the man so he could be with family. The thought that he was now officially part of the family made his heart hammer. Sesshomaru slid his arm around the back of his chair.
                The dinner started as normal, the kids all chatting away as they enjoyed their dad’s company, Sesshomaru humming and listening to them as he scanned the menu. He ordered himself wine when the waitress came, Helaku getting himself a beer. Sesshomaru listened just a little longer, sipping his wine when it came before he gently clinked his glass lightly with a spoon. The room went quiet.
                “I have something very important I want to discuss,” he started. Helaku looked to him, watching as he crossed his legs thoughtfully, his hands pressing together to make a little tent as he tried to put the words together.
                The kids silenced immediately, looking to him in anticipation. They looked between Helaku and Sesshomaru, trying to guess what may be happening. “Is Helaku pregnant? Do you have another kid on the way?”
                Sess looked to Shikamaru who shrugged, “No, at least I’m pretty sure not. Something happened that has not happened in many years last week. As we discussed this morning, I got ‘sick’ and Helaku and me had some time together. In that time, a very, very old ritual took place and I have taken him as my mate.”
                The kids all stared at him, unaware of the gravity of this revelation. InuYasha knew though, silently sitting at the end of the table. He gave a soft snort making heads turn towards him before they all looked back at Sesshomaru.
                “Essentially I have taken him as a husband, he will be bonded to me for his lifetime,” Sesshomaru finished, looking at them all in turn.
                “So, you just like… remarried and didn’t ask us?” Izumi questioned.
                “It wasn’t my intention to mark him, it just happened. This is what happens when demons heat, be glad it doesn’t happen anymore,” Sesshomaru shrugged.
                “He’s right. Your body just… connects with someone and you can’t explain it. You just do what your instincts tell you,” InuYasha backed his brother up.
                Sesshomaru looked at him surprised, but grateful. The kids slowly took this in, the quiet drawing out as they looked to each other. The acceptance of the situation grew and then they all looked at Shika as the oldest. Shika nodded and looked to Helaku. “We accept you as our parent.”
                Helaku laughed, the oddity of the situation hitting him, “Thank you, Shikamaru and siblings.”
                “Will you have a wedding?” Keiko grinned. The questions began flooding in until the waiters came and took their orders.
                It was decided they’d have a small, private wedding to celebrate their unexpected union. Mostly to appease Helaku’s new stepdaughters who seemed dead set on planning a wedding for their father. The rest of the dinner was filled with good company and food. Helaku fell gracefully into the role of parent, the kids near him talking to him about their issues just like they did with their father. Sesshomaru kept his arm around him, nothing but pride and happiness rolling through to Helaku.
                Sesshomaru took Helaku home after dinner, them both riding a cloud of happiness and slightly tipsy – the fox more than the dog. He tipped his town car driver, proceeding through the door. He kicked his shoes off, Helaku following suit. They went carefully to their bedroom, Sesshomaru supporting Helaku. He began to strip out of his suit as soon as he was sure Helaku had enough balance to stand on his own. Helaku just watched, his fingers fumbling with his own buttons.
                Sesshomaru tucked his shirt away nice and neat, his eyes shifting to Helaku. “What is it?”
                “You’re so pretty,” Helaku snickered. Sesshomaru rolled his eyes, removing his slacks.
                “You’re very handsome too, my Fox,” Sesshomaru smirked as he took a seat on the bed in his boxers. Helaku peeled his own clothes off now, straddling Sesshomaru’s lap afterwards.
                Helaku’s hands roamed over Sess’s chest, “I know what I said, but I’m afraid the alcohol may be affecting my judgement on how much I’d like to sex you tonight.”
                Sesshomaru laughed richly, kissing him. “Mm, I do believe we discussed that I owe you? Do you maybe wish to… take me tonight?”
                Helaku felt how alarmed Sess’s beast was at this idea. All those emotions in his facial expressions the first time he’d taken Sesshomaru now made sense. His body was full of warning bells against this. Helaku trailed his fingers along Sesshomaru’s neck, gently running a finger tip along his mark.
                “You don’t have to do that,” Helaku said it softly.
                “Don’t listen to him, I will give you what you desire. You certainly earned it,” Sesshomaru kissed him.
                “If you insist my emperor,” Helaku grinned, leaning forward to kiss along his neck. He made sure to do that thing he liked, the stubble rubbing against his neck. Sesshomaru practically purred, his head tilting as Helaku sucked, kissed and nipped along his neck. He was just tipsy enough to ignore his beast as it threw a fit while Helaku tipped him back onto the bed.
- 6
- 7
- 8
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

The Emperor and his Champion