Quick Note- I am soooo sorry it took this long to get this chapter out. I had it finished near the end of Thanksgiving, but then my harddrive died, taking TT11 and my 20 page term paper on the Origins of Modern Numerology with it. So, I had to rewrite both of those. And when I finished, I sent it out to Dembo, who was really really busy and I WILL NOT POST WITHOUT HER!!!! Anyways, she's had it for a few weeks now, so here it is, finally finished.

Because I hate having to go between updates and having shit happen that delays me and NOT being able to tell you guys, I have started keeping a livejournal for myself as well as my fiction. I update what happens in there.

This is the url, just remove the spaces and change the x's to t's and you should get there.

hxxp // vixenofargentum . livejournal . com /

And besides, I did some special special RyuuK/InuT art with my new Photoshop.

hxxp // www . deviantart . com / deviation /45258019/

Oh and even more wonderful news. Topsy Turvy was just nominated for best yaoi fiction in the Feudal Association's quarterly competition. If you really like this piece, please vote for it. I believe the link to get to it is here:

hxxp // feudalassociation . cadkitten . com / homepage . htm

Synopsis- What really happened the time that Inuyasha saw Sesshomaru lose control of his youki, what planted the mating idea in InuT's head, and plot/character development...via a wonderful citrusy lime! Whoohoo!

Beta- The most splendiferous Demetria Miriam, whose brain is nowhere near as bald as her tires. I heart you!

Disclaimer- Ummm Happy Holidays? If you think I make money off of this...you are stupid and there is no excuse for you.

From the Memories of Sesshomaru

10 years ago

Sesshomaru looked around him. He was in a field of waving grasses in the northern most part of the castle grounds. Where the hell had that hanyou gone? It was bad enough that he had wandered off somewhere, but making their father worry like this was ridiculous. Inuyasha had never been the timeliest creature on the face of the earth, but being two hours late for dinner was excessive, even for him.

Inuyasha's scent was strong here; it even thickened as it approached the edge of their castle grounds. Sesshomaru smirked. He couldn't wait until Inutaisho found out that Inuyasha had left the area without permission, not to mention not showing up for the family dinner. If there was one thing that Inutaisho was ever serious about, it was an excellent meal.

The youkai ventured into the thick woods that bordered the meadows. His brother had only passed through this portion of the forest a few minutes ago. But, there was another scent that was heavy here, too. Sesshomaru furrowed his eyebrows, perplexed at the origin of the scent. It smelled slightly holy…and very human. This was a very interesting development indeed.

Creeping steadily, so as not to make a sound, Sesshomaru followed the trail. This other scent, though holy, did not sit well with him. It made the side of his upper lip curl up in an involuntarily snarl. Sesshomaru was unused to an emotion having such a strong grip over him. Especially a petty emotion, like wrath.

While the inu youkai certainly felt angry, he didn't necessarily think he could call this emotion wrath. In fact, he didn't know what to call it; he had never felt this agitated before.

"You should tell them about us, Inuyasha! You can't just leave them like that," a female voice sounded from nearby. Sesshomaru halted in mid step, his balance perfect and precise, focusing his mind on her words.

Between the trunks of the trees, he could see his brother pacing wildly, the red of his fire rat robes flashing brightly between the dark trunks.

"Sure I can," he spat. "I'm just a burden to them, anyway. You don't understand."

The woman stepped out from behind a tree that had been concealing her from Sesshomaru's sight. She was dressed in the red hakama traditional of human mikos. Her hair was a shiny black stream down her back, only interrupted once by an ornate white tie. By human standards, she could be considered beautiful. As for youkai standards, well, Sesshomaru had no idea. He just didn't see humans in that light.

"You're right, I don't," she whispered. "But I can't understand unless you explain it to me."

The woman reached for Inuyasha, taking the hanyou's right hand between her own delicate hands. Sesshomaru felt his gut wretch. Why was that woman touching his brother? And most of all, why was he so…angry about it? This wasn't making any sense.

Inuyasha bowed his head. "Fine. My mom's dead. My father loves me, but I know that I am a liability to him. And my brother – err, my half-brother – well, he just hates me."

The woman laughed, throwing her head back so that he could see her throat bob in the motion. Sesshomaru wanted to tear his claws into the soft pale flesh and let her lifeblood run down his fingers. He wanted to feel the warmth drain from her body as the color left her skin.

Why did he feel this way?

"I'm sure he doesn't hate you. All siblings fight from time to time. I mean, my sister and I get along most of the time, but we really used to fight when we were younger," she said.

Inuyasha's dog ears faced backwards in annoyance. "Wanna bet? Keh, that asshole wished I was dead from the moment I was born."

"It gets better, Inuyasha. It works that way with everyone when maturity finally sets in. I'm sure that you both care for each other, sometimes it just takes a little bit of time to see that your siblings are people, too."

"My brother, mature?" The hanyou sighed and crossed his hands over his chest. "I suppose you're right."

The priestess smiled and wrapped an arm around his brother's back. With every inch she pulled him closer to her chest, more hairs on Sesshomaru's neck stood at attention.

"Besides, don't you think that they would be happy for us?"

Happy for you? What on earth would I be happy for? Sesshomaru wondered.

"I know my father probably had somebody already in mind for me, but I'm sure my brother will be thrilled to see me gone," the hanyou mused.

"And why would you be leaving, Inuyasha?" Sesshomaru growled. He hadn't meant to make his presence known, but for whatever reason, he couldn't stand to watch the scene unfold any longer. His nerves were incensed. "You certainly have some nerve to blow off dinner with Father, not to mention leaving castle grounds."

"Go to hell. It's not like you don't sneak out every once and a while and go to that one cliff near the ocean. You can't deny it. I've seen you."

"Father knows where I am going and does not try to stop me," Sesshomaru fumed. "That has absolutely nothing to do with this. You couldn't even begin to understand about that."

"Oh yeah? Well, I know about something that you wouldn't understand either. Father would, though."

"Oh, I see, the poor girl. Would that be how to dilute a bloodline?"

"No, you conceited jerk. How to love somebody other than yourself!"

What?! Love?! Exactly who was this woman to Inuyasha? Of course, with Inuyasha being hanyou, Sesshomaru could see his brother feeling a stronger-than-youkai urge to rut with human females, but love?

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "Fine. Formalities, formalities." He stood between his brother and the miko.

"Kikyo, this is my older brother, Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru, this is Kikyo."

Sesshomaru glared at Kikyo. "What is the meaning of this?"

"I have been sneaking out to see her for the past year now, and we are in love. I will marry her and leave the castle. See, Sesshomaru, you always wanted me gone, and now I will be. Father will understand. It's not like I'm the heir to his titles."

"But she's human."

"And I'm half, in case you forgot, dipshit."

Inuyasha drew the woman into his arms and bent his head down over her lips. Sesshomaru was horrified as the couple joined their lips together in a deep kiss. He felt as if he was drowning; the air evaded all attempts to breathe it in.

Sesshomaru felt the red wisps of his youki fly free from his body. Kami-sama! What am I doing? He fought to regain control of his energies, but his feral demon self struggled even harder.

Huh? Inuyasha jumped as he saw his brother's youki aura swirling around him. The youkai's eyes were as red as blood and his teeth grew longer and sharper.

Sesshomaru lunged forward, wrenching the girl from his brother's arms. The tips of his razor-sharp claws sunk into the skin of Kikyo's shoulders, leaking toxins into her body. With the youki fully possessing his mind, Sesshomaru slashed at the girl with his half transformed claws and fangs.

Sesshomaru! Control yourself! Emotion does not call for action on impulse!

Finally, the red receded from the whites of his eyes, leaving him with only the aftermath of gore draped across his chest. The body of the girl was no longer recognizable; his venom had eaten away the flesh marked by each claw. Sesshomaru released her from his hold, the body hitting the ground with a dull thud. He sucked in air, trying to regain his composure as best he could.

Inuyasha stared at him, his mouth agape with an anguished mixture of confusion, loathing, and surprise.

"You killed her!" Inuyasha lunged at Sesshomaru, claws narrowly missing the youkai's flesh.

The taiyoukai caught his wrist in one fluid moment, threatening the hanyou's palm with his venomous thumb. "She's mortal. She was going to die anyway."

Inuyasha shook his head. "What the fuck is wrong with you?!"

"I ask you the same question." Sesshomaru could still feel the anger boiling in his veins. "Humans," he spat. "Why protect them? Why miss them? Why love them?"

Inuyasha tore his arm from his brother's grasp, a low growl resounding in his throat. "Wait until Father hears you killed a human in cold blood."

Sesshomaru pointed his noble nose to the sky in answer. "No, no, otouto. Wait until Father hears that you have been leaving the grounds without permission to see a human woman he would never mate you with."

"I love Kikyo. You would never understand love. It would be completely lost on your tiny, charcoaled heart."

"I do know love. I know the love capable of the youkai races. I know what it is to feel duty and loyalty to another without reason, expecting nothing in return. It is your type of love, which should aptly be called madness, that is nothing but selfishness. You say that you are selfless in love, but you are wrong."

Inuyasha chewed on a claw. This was such a strange oratorio for his brother to make.

"If one with already dirtied blood such as you were to mate with a human, at least choose one from a good bloodline. Show some pride in your own noble heritage. Do you hold no respect for Father?"

Inuyasha narrowed his eyes. Bastard. Always twisting his words so that he's always right. Ambiguously moral asshole.

"I hate you!" Inuyasha seethed.

Sesshomaru smiled.

Now that Kikyo lay dead, Inuyasha knew Inutaisho had to find out what happened anyway. Nothing would be lost, as long as the Tenseiga was in the hands of the Western Lord. He just had to get the body to the Lord before the soul reapers came. The hanyou sprinted as fast as he could back to the castle.

Sesshomaru pulled his youki around him for flight. Just as long as he reached Inutaisho first, he had a chance in proving his innocence. Not for the death of the priestess, but in killing for a purely personal motive. A motive he himself had yet to identify.

xXx

Inutaisho winced as he saw the maimed body sprawled out on the ground. She was just an average looking human miko. She didn't even have her bow and arrows with her. Whatever her exact business was with Inuyasha, she did not mean for there to be any violence at all. Damn it, Sesshomaru. What the hell made you lose control?

The inu taiyoukai paused to think of what could have possibly set off so many alarms in Sesshomaru's head. He had suspected something about his eldest son for quite a long time, a connection a little deeper than that of blood, that bound him to Inuyasha. But, that didn't explain everything.

Did you do what I think you did?

He bent over the corpse to examine her wounds a little more. She was littered with deep gouges caused by Sesshomaru's claws, which were now beginning to ooze from the poison, but there was something curious around her neck. Besides the bruises of being poisoned and throttled to death at the same time, two very deep puncture marks that were messily ripped. This type of wound could only be left by the fangs of a transformed youkai, or at least one who was in the process of tranformation.

Inutaisho was taken aback. Sesshomaru had transformed his fangs when he had ripped into her. The beast that had killed her could hardly be called Sesshomaru at all. He had been overcome by his own youki, and in his passionate anger, slain the priestess.

He had heard Inuyasha's explanation of the situation. He had announced to his brother that he wished to marry this ningen woman, and when they kissed, Sesshomaru just ripped her from his hands and killed her. Sesshomaru on the other hand said that he killed the girl in order to punish Inuyasha for disobeying Inutaisho and for choosing a mate far below his social stature.

Out of all of us, Sesshomaru, your skills at lying are the worst.

Inutaisho smirked. What a rational answer for an obviously irrational response. He had pretended to believe his eldest son, but he knew better than to accept his answer as verbatim. He had to check out the carnage himself before coming to any conclusion.

Inutaisho could smell the emotion left by the traces of youki on the young woman's body. He knew exactly what had happened now. In fact, it made his heart flutter in happiness. Sesshomaru had killed her out of jealousy. Not jealousy that his brother wished to claim her, but jealousy that she would claim him.

You're welcome, Sesshomaru. Good ole dad's on your side! But now... It's judgment day!

Holding the Tenseiga over her body, it pulsed against his palm. Six grotesque pallbearers swarmed all over the carcass, happily chattering to one another about their newest acquisition. He cut through their spindly bodies, making them vanish in a puff of blue smoke.

Kikyo's wounds closed up and healed instantly. The next moment she clasped a single hand to her chest and coughed up blood to her surprise. Dazedly, she glanced around her, waiting for the world to stop spinning. She had been in the spirit world for a few hours now, it was so jarring to come back from the haze of the dead.

Finally, she noticed the stunning white dog demon who towered over her crumpled form. Inutaisho sank to one knee, offering the disoriented miko his hand.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"I believe so." Kikyo rubbed her head as she spoke. How long had she been dead? The demon with her appeared to have some sort of enchanted sword that could recall spirits into the living. "May I ask you for your name?"

"I am Inutaisho, the Lord of the Western Lands." He sheathed the blade back in its scabbard.

Oh. So this is Inuyasha's father. Kikyo chewed on her bottom lip. How to explain her current situation...? "I told your oldest son, Sesshomaru, that—"

"You must never see my son again. Either of them." The dog lord tried as hard as he could to give the sentence a gentler tone, but if it was gentle he was going for, perhaps he should have gone with a different choice of words.

"Oh," Kikyo intoned. I see he has already heard what happened here. "I understand. With having a human mate, I just thought you would be more understanding of his situation."

"Situation?" Inutaisho looked at her intently.

"Yes." The priestess took a deep breath. "Inuyasha deserves a mate who will love and care for him, for the hanyou that he is. I can do all of these things, my lord."

Inutaisho shook his head. "That will not be necessary. Though neither of them know it yet, this is already being provided."

What?!? Kikyo's head was already spinning from returning from the afterlife, but this was sacrilege.

The youkai nodded his head, flashing the pearliest smile he could manage. "Thank you for your concern. He is lucky to have a friend like you."

Kikyo's hands balled into fists at her side. I understand why Inuyasha is so anxious to get out of this family. Who the hell is this man? Who does he think he is?

"You can't just say that," she spat. "You of all people should know that love sometimes bridges boundaries you would not cross otherwise. Inuyasha was conceived in love, was he not?"

"Yes, I loved his human mother, but she was not the one for me, nor could she have ever been."

Ah, he was born of a mistress. That might explain a few of the difficulties in his relationship with his brother. So, Sesshomaru's mother is still alive?

Inutaisho straightened himself up to his full height. "If you ever come here again, you will not see Inuyasha. I am not liable for my eldest son's actions, should he come upon the two of you again. And I do not give you permission to marry him. Like I said, I have a suitable person in mind."

"Yes, my lord."

"Then that is all I must say."

Kikyo turned away from the taiyoukai, ready to venture back to her village. Her clothing was in bloodstained shambles that had been ripped by the other dog demon's claws. Once she returned to the cottage where she lived with her young sister, she could have a warm bath and change into a new set of clothing.

When she had ventured into the world of the dead, she had noticed something strange around the figure of Sesshomaru. In her own shadowy death form she could see the flaming aura of his youki but underneath of it, she could see the vestiges of other emotions. While when she had looked upon Inuyasha, she had seen hints of red anger and purple passion, she did not see any anger when she looked at his full youkai sibling. Sesshomaru had been bathed in an eerie emerald green. This puzzled the priestess.

Why would Sesshomaru be feeling jealous?

Kikyo would never again return to the portion of the forest where she had been killed. Now that Inuyasha's family knew of their love, she was sure that the hanyou would never be left under such a loose watch for a long time. After all, Inutaisho had said that he had somebody in mind for his son, somebody who would love and care for him, just as he was. If she was ever caught with Inuyasha again, and Sesshomaru was in tow, she doubted that she would be revived the next time. Though the Lord of the West seemed innocuous enough, there was still something a little creepy in his smile. She also knew that though she posessed immense spiritual power, against Inutaisho, she stood no chance.

Besides, she had heard the rumors of a strange jewel in the east, one that needed the purifying spirit of a miko such as herself. After all, she was the most powerful priestess in the area, and with such powers she was selfish to afford herself the ability to love. The strength of her heart was better spent on the lives of many rather than the life of one.

It was decided then. Kikyo and her sister would set out to collect the gem and protect it from evil. That should provide her a noble life of service…away from a certain inu hanyou, and other youkai who ruled the west.

xXx

Back in Chronological Story Time

Sesshomaru stretched, shaking the crick from his neck. The sky was dark outside; he must have slept clear into the night, if indeed he had slept for less than twenty four hours. Stepping away from his bed, he padded over to the window, searching for the moon. No such luck. The lunar orb had been eaten away into a mere crescent. The nerve damage due to Ryuukotsusei's electricity must have been much more extreme than he had thought. Hopefully his mate had been smart enough to avoid the dragon while he was incapacitated.

Sesshomaru massaged the previously injured area of his arm, rotating the joint in a slow and shaky circle. No more pain emanated from his shoulder but he would still treat it gently, just to be sure. Damn it, after all of that healing he needed something to eat to get his strength back up. He was sure something would be small enough in the area for him to catch and kill without any fear of damage to himself.

The taiyoukai sighed. Why was it that no matter what he did, nothing ever went according to his plans? He swore that he lived in a giant bubble of conspiracy. Perhaps once he warmed Ryuukotsusei to the idea of Inuyasha as his mate, they could burst through it together.

All of the sudden, a weird image of Ryuukotsusei and Inuyasha together playing a game of shogi floated into his head. Sesshomaru couldn't even begin to count how many times he had lost to his sire in what he knew was the dragon's most favorite game. In his little fantasy Ryuukotsusei, of course, won the game. The great dragon then went on to rub Inuyasha's ears good naturedly, brushing the heel of his purple clawed hand in a mocking, triumphant motion; a gesture that the hanyou endured while stubbornly growling his distaste with the situation. His brother always had been a sore loser, Sesshomaru supposed.

Ah, perhaps that particular scene might never happen, but he did need to find a way that his sire and his mate could coexist peacefully within ranges under fifty feet of one another.

In the mean time…food. Sesshomaru settled his armor about his chest, and opened the door, which at the same time pushed back at him. He pushed a little bit harder. God damn fucking door.

"Hey, do you want your dinner or not?" came a voice from behind the hard oak panel. Sesshomaru frowned. Who said he wanted room service with a smile?

"You know, I can do this myself. I'm fine now," Sesshomaru barked.

"I know, but I thought it would be a nice gesture on my part," Inuyasha huffed. "But then again, if you don't want your portion, I guess I could eat enough for the two of us."

The taiyoukai opened the door slowly and turned away from it. Unrolling the dining mats he kept behind a chair, he sat down. In fact, he was surprised that he even had two mats. It wasn't like he ever had any guests, at least ones that he'd want in his personal chambers.

Inuyasha sat across from him, eyeing him curiously. Sesshomaru took a bite of his food, but he could still feel those eyes on his body even when he stared down at his plate on the floor. He felt slightly awkward and somehow violated by the staring.

"What do you want?" he growled.

Inuyasha smiled. "That's up to you."

Ugh! Please say that was not an innuendo. Please. Sesshomaru picked up a bone from his plate and threw it at his brother. Inuyasha seemed nonplussed by the chicken bone that came whirling through the air at him and simply caught it between two fingers, setting it down.

Inuyasha continued staring at his brother with curious eyes, while the other pretended not to notice him. As the food on the hanyou's plate grew colder, Sesshomaru became more and more annoyed.

"What!?"

Inuyasha could see the veins pulsing on the sides of the youkai's face. He might as well ask.

"Did you mean what you said?"

How did I know he was going to ask about that? Perhaps if I ignore it, it shall go away. "What did I say? For everything that happened, do not harass me in a hunt for trivial words."

Trivial words, my ass. You know what you said and are now trying to cover it up. Tricky bastard. Inuyasha picked up the bone Sesshomaru had launched at him earlier and flung it right back at him.

"I just want to know, and I don't need you to be all gushy and sappy about it, okay? Did you say that you loved me in order to keep that dragon out of complete blood lust or because you actually do love me," he asked quietly.

I want to be close to him, and I don't want to ask his permission any more. Inuyasha slid closer to Sesshomaru, sliding off the mat onto the floor to rest on his knees.

Sesshomaru glanced at his brother coolly, trying to hide the anxiety that built with every inch closed between them. He should be angry, or leery at the least, not anxious. I can tell you saw through my words, but now that you know, what more do you want from me?

Inuyasha raised a hand to his brother's face, stroking the stripes that framed his cheekbone gently. At the touch, Sesshomaru raised his eyes to meet his mate's gaze, his body going rigid at the same time. The hanyou placed his other hand upon the youkai's newly healed shoulder.

"Aniki, I have no idea how to express my gratitude to you. I never expected that one day I would owe you for my life. Will you let me show you in this way?" Inuyasha whispered into the other inu's pointed ear.

The warm, moist air and smooth voice pleased Sesshomaru; he could feel the rush of blood heating his body. These actions were not unpleasurable. However any pleasure he might have felt was dissipated, a phantom thought that had been lurking in his mind finally surfacing.

I have the charisma and the passion to make love to another. But do I know how to let another make love to me?

Sesshomaru's body loosened slightly under his mate's touch, but he still made no move of affection towards Inuyasha. I don't know how to do this. I was never supposed to, but there's nothing I can do about it.

Inuyasha snaked his arms around the youkai's shoulders and pulled his brother to him so that their chests rested against one another. Tipping Sesshomaru's head towards his lips, Inuyasha dusted a light kiss on his crescent mooned forehead. "I love you, aniki. I always will," he breathed.

Inuyasha cradled the back of Sesshomaru's head in the palm of his hand. I know you feel awkward, but you don't have to do anything. For once, just let me.

Closing his eyes, the hanyou grasped his brother's lips between his own. The taste of his mate's mouth reminded him of spice and cinnamon, although it most definitely was not. The demon had not eaten these things in quite a long time. The taste was warm and had a bittersweet edge to it. Involuntarily, Inuyasha unleashed his tongue from behind the domain of his fangs, probing it deeper into Sesshomaru, trying to find the source of the unique flavor that defined his kiss.

With eyes half lidded, Inuyasha pulled out of the kiss.

While allowing Inuyasha to breach into his personal space, Sesshomaru did not, however, reciprocate any of his ministrations. Yet the hanyou could tell that his elder brother was not the least bit angry. No, this was a completely different form of unresponsiveness.

Inuyasha straddled his brother's kneeling thighs. "It's ok. You don't have to be something that you're not."

"That is something that you will never have to worry about, Inuyasha. Why would I change now?" Sesshomaru whispered, using his voice for the first time in a long while.

Inuyasha smiled. "I knew you wouldn't. I just wanted you to know that I don't expect it of you. Just let me love you."

Otouto, don't you understand? I don't know how.

This time, as Inuyasha bent in to join with his brother's lips, Sesshomaru rested his hands on both sides of the hanyou's waist. When Inuyasha's tongue plunged deep into his mouth, he returned each parry. As his younger brother's fingers found the edge of his kimono and slipped it off to expose the bright skin of his shoulders, he clawed at the obi that held his brother's fire rat kimono together.

Inuyasha caressed the round shapes of the youkai's shoulder muscles, finally rolling his mate onto his back. The silver hair surrounded the older demon's head like a star burst, the weary glimmer of his half trusting eyes the bright centerpiece of this pale beauty.

Sesshomaru marveled at the strange coldness that fell upon his skin as each article of his clothing was removed. Perhaps it was the giver that felt more excitement than the one receiving it, as the wrapping papers were torn off of its true and naked form. Inuyasha licked his nipples which stood immediately at attention. The soft trace of claws, the sweet brush of hair, and the intimacy of skin lying flush against his skin was strangely exhilarating. Unbidden, he felt a sigh of pleasure escape his lips and his body arched into Inuyasha's hands, which were rubbing in circles on his upper torso.

The younger inu was flabbergasted. He actually responded! Quickly, he tried to think of new ideas. It's so strange that even as he lies on his back beneath me, he still holds such power over me.

The hanyou licked a trail of moisture from the top of Sesshomaru's hakama to the cleft between his collarbones. "I'm glad that you allow yourself to feel any kind of pleasure from me."

Sesshomaru folded his arms behind his head, so that he could look at his brother directly in the eyes. "Believe me, otouto, this does not come easily to me."

The youkai reached a hand up towards Inuyasha, but he let it fall to the ground; Inuyasha had already moved to lavish a different part of his brother's body, so Sesshomaru had run his hands through thin air. With his brother playing up and down his entire body, he had no idea what the hanyou was going to do to him next. He was always so used to taking and touching whatever he wished, but if he reached the wrong way when Inuyasha made a move elsewhere, say accidentally grazing his claws against the hanyou's cheek, or bonking heads if he propped himself on his elbows, they would get in one another's way.

In fact, he had never thought about the choreography involved in being beta. For one who had been so dominant his entire life, this was a very daunting task! There were so many unspoken rules that he took for granted!

A flash of warmth disrupted his brain as Inuyasha nipped hungrily at the lowest part of his abdomen that peeked out from his hakama. With a faint snarl, he began to fight with the garment, taking the waistband in his teeth and pulling it down with his clenched jaws.

Sesshomaru smiled. Inuyasha's cheeks were growing red and he was panting. He was working so hard in his quest to unclothe him. Finally, the half demon just ripped through the clothing with his claws, throwing the fabric off to the side.

So eager just to please me. Perhaps I shall throw myself in front of lightning bolts more often.

The hanyou was smiling as he looked down at Sesshomaru's swollen cock below him. He licked his lips before smoothing them over the youkai's length, sliding down until the tip reached the flesh of his throat. Sesshomaru gasped, his torso rising upward just a tiny bit. A pair of strong hands grabbed his hips and pushed them down firmly to the ground while still languishing his tongue all over his captive prize.

Sesshomaru's eyes fluttered open in surprise at the impact of his butt with the ground and the strength behind the way he was held in that exact spot. What was he supposed to do now? He had allowed himself to show a little bit of the pleasure he felt.

What do I do? he wondered. At last, a different question came to him. If I were Inuyasha, what would I want my mate to do?

Sesshomaru spread his legs a little wider, letting Inuyasha in for a little better access. The hanyou sensed the change in his brother's position, and now began massaging the soft skin that covered the crease of his groin and inner thigh with his left hand. The right firmly gripped Sesshomaru by the base of his shaft while he began to lap his tongue around the head, circling the crease with the tip of his tongue.

The long silver hair of the hanyou slunk from behind his shoulder to breeze against his brother's bare skin. Sesshomaru reached a hand down to run his fingers through the silver threads that pooled on the floor beside him. He followed the trail upward to the soft white ears, which he rubbed with his palms. Inuyasha gave a happy growl and twitched his ears appreciatively.

Hmmm...I wonder if I can do this.

Sesshomaru continued stroking his brother's hair, the tips of his claws stimulating the scalp below. Bit by bit, the youkai pushed Inuyasha's head down further, so that the top of his cock also hit the last few ridges on the roof of the hanyou's mouth.

Interesting. I wonder if he even knows what I did.

Sesshomaru chuckled inwardly as he tried new variations, seeing what he alone was smart enough to find. Inuyasha, still lathing his tongue over his lover's erection, lifted his head, and gazed directly into the youkai's eyes. Sesshomaru's shock as their stares met made him harden even further.

"Inuyasha," Sesshomaru moaned. The hanyou's hand had moved now to cup his balls and he ran the back side of a claw across the sensitive skin that existed closest to the back. Finally, he began to suck the taiyoukai harder and faster than before, pressing his knuckle upward against the hidden gland that lay only a few millimeters below the surface of the taut skin.

Sesshomaru arched his back and gently squeezed Inuyasha's shoulders in between his muscular legs. As he came, he opened his mouth to make a sound, but nothing sprang to his lips. There was no more breath to lend to his voice.

Inuyasha rested his head against his mate's inner thigh and traced the magenta stripes that crowned his hips. He nipped the creamy inside of Sesshomaru's leg before kissing it with velvety lips. He couldn't help but stare at how delicate and beautiful Sesshomaru looked as he fell from climax. His pale skin glistened with his sweat, and it flashed slightly with every restorative breath he took. A very slight flush covered his chest, neck and cheeks reminding Inuyasha of a china doll.

He enjoyed it. He seriously, willingly, wholeheartedly enjoyed it. The hanyou couldn't even begin to hide the grin that was plastered over his face.

Inuyasha felt his own neglected cock pulse at the memory of Sesshomaru's face as he came. So strange. Why do I feel such arousal at his satisfaction?

Sesshomaru was still floating from the high of his climax. He found himself reaching for the hanyou's hand. He wanted to pull him in close, to savor the last remnants of that passionate flash of fire. The youkai closed his eyes to ponder the event that had just happened.

Suddenly Sesshomaru's memory paged back to an earlier time. He had felt this way before, but when? The hands that held him steady, the mouth that searched every square inch of his skin. No. They could not be from that horrible night, when he was forced against his will. This feeling was not displeasing. It made him belong.

Why did I enjoy this so much? This stands against every purpose of my existence. I will not lie like this forever, I do not have to. But I reaped a greater reward than I have any other time. Why do I feel such release in a situation so distasteful...so topsy turvy?

The hanyou stared down at the resting youkai, admiring the flashes of color that adorned his eyelids. He has no idea what he is doing to me right now. Perhaps if he liked that... Inuyasha finally undid his hakama and fundoshi, his own erection now fully free. Eagerly, he licked his fingers and massaged the tight ring of muscle that was Sesshomaru's anus. Inserting his index finger, he slid his digit in and out, allowing each joint to hitch on the protesting band of flesh.

Oh Kami! Sesshomaru jolted straight up and backed straightaway into the wall, completely taken off guard. Reflexively, he raised his claws in front of his chest in a defensive posture. What the hell is he trying to do?

Fuck! I am so stupid. I can't just expect him to change like that overnight. Inuyasha cursed at himself. "Sesshomaru, I didn't mean to...I just-"

"You just what? Forgot that these past two weeks existed?" Getting over his shock, he let his hand fall to his side. It's just a habit, Inuyasha. Just like it's a habit that I can't apologize to you.

Inuyasha crawled over to his mate again. "Sesshomaru, I'm sorry. I love you."

Sesshomaru's head roiled with unsaid thought. See, he just did it so easily. You can, too. The words clustered on his tongue but he just couldn't say it. If you can't say them both, try for one.

"I'm-" Sesshomaru paused before continuing. "I'm sorry, too." The taiyoukai stared into the floor, glaring at the cracks in the wood with narrowed eyes. Why was this always so hard?

The hanyou put a tentative arm about his mate's shoulders. He turned his head towards the youkai and nuzzled into his brother's cheek. Forgive me again.

"I will not try again, until you allow it," Inuyasha whispered.

"I know," Sesshomaru demurred. "There are some things that I should tell you first."

"What? I mean if you have any requests or anything, I would be more than happy to at least try." The hanyou was absolutely baffled as to what his brother was talking about. What could it be?

"No, it has nothing to do with that." The taiyoukai scowled. Get your head out of the gutter, you pervert.

"Does it have something to do with what life is going to be like for us, with everybody finally home? I mean, I'll stay as far away from your dad-"

Sesshomaru interjected dryly. "Sire."

"As far away from your Sire as possible," Inuyasha corrected himself. I'm willing to put up with a little bit of hell until things get worked out. Don't worry about me, aniki.

"It doesn't have anything to do with that either."

"Well then what?"

You can do this. You are a better man than your father. "It's about that pup I used to have."

Oh. I understand. Inuyasha berated himself for not even thinking about the lost pup.

Sesshomaru laid out on the floor once more. Yes, his skin would entirely heal from his self surgery, and the entrance wound from the sword was almost completely invisible now, but Tetsusaiga was a sword forged with a power far older than he. He would bear its mark for a month before it fully faded from his body, even though it was a fine white line on a slightly paler stretch of skin.

"Do you see this scar?" Sesshomaru growled.

Inuyasha squinted. "Yeah, I think so. I mean, I didn't think you scarred."

"I don't."

"Well then, what is that?"

"It will go away in a month," he snipped. Sesshomaru bit down his rage. "That is the wound Tetsuseiga leaves when it pierces flesh."

The hanyou's eyes grew wide. "Tetsuseiga?! Who the hell stabbed you with Tetsuseiga? I mean-" Inuyasha panicked.

"Me."

"What?!"

"I did. I woke up pregnant, could not bear it, and killed it. In cold blood."

Inuyasha crossed his arms across his chest and stared off into space. He said it was an accident... He said it was a fucking accident!

"But how could you?"

Sesshomaru shrugged. "I suppose I could ask you the same question. And then, after we both examine why we did what we did, we can go ask Father."

The taiyoukai sighed. I'm in pain, you're in pain. I am sure that my parents are in pain. We're all even now, aren't we?

Inuyasha stood up on shaky feet. "Regardless of how I feel, I understand."

Sesshomaru glanced up at his brother. "You do?"

"We are from the same blood, you and I. Just because I understand does not mean that I forgive you." The hanyou gathered up his clothing that had piled up on the floor, and began to dress again. "Not yet, anyways."

"I do not expect you to," Sesshomaru stated plainly. After an awkward silence, he added "You are dismissed."

He pulled his mokomoko-sama around his form, giving him slight decency. Inuyasha felt his heart lurch as he viewed his brother's near perfect body, only now the scar stood out in the dip between his hips, marring the magical beauty he had seen only moments before.

Inuyasha returned to his brother's side, who gazed nonchalantly out his window into the inky sky. "Good night," he said. He wanted to look at his brother in the eyes one last time.

"Good night," Sesshomaru answered, not turning a fraction from the sill.

The hanyou leaned forward, giving his mate a chaste peck on the cheek before leaving him alone to contemplate the darkness of the night and his heart.

xXx

And the plot thickens... The next update will be sometime...I have half of 12 already written. It really depends on when Dembo has free time, and when I can write the other half. But do not despair...it is my holiday break...which means a lot more free time for me. Yay!

And for those of you who read other fandoms...I will shamelessly promote my Oriya/Hisoka fic that I am writing for the Yami no Matsuei portion of the site, with a little bit of help from SilenceOfTheHeart.

And I'm serious...friend me on livejournal. I can actually tell you guys what is going on so that I don't end up just annoying you if things just happen. And don't forget, if you like Topsy Turvy, please vote for it!