Sheer Cruelty part deux by Hairann

My little brother

Title: Sheer Cruelty part deux

Subtitle: My little brother

Author: Hairann

Theme: 2nd annual 50 Ways to Torture a Taiyoukai

Genre: Humor

Rating: T

Warnings: Not to be taken seriously, sequel to Shatei. A curse word and implied nudity, though it's in a completely innocent manner.

Word Count: 1218

***

Sesshoumaru found himself jerked out of his mental wanderings late that night by a strange sensation in his lap. Confused, he opened his golden eyes and raised the young Inuyasha into the air so he could see just what it was that had gotten his attention. Once he had, he wished he hadn't. Growling, Sesshoumaru closed his eyes as he fought against the urge to strangle the tiny half-demon in his arms. The noise woke the small child, who stared up at him with confusion filled eyes as he began chewing on the older demon's hair.

Instead of answering his unasked questioned, Sesshoumaru rose to his feet, which was difficult to manage as his only arm was currently occupied with his half-brother, and began following the path he had watched the strange woman head in earlier that night. Inuyasha clapped his hands excitedly, yanking on the still held lock of hair with each movement, as Sesshoumaru's long strides created a rather bumpy ride.

“This Sesshoumaru will be slaughtering the two of you when this is over with,” he informed him, only to be met with a giggle in response. Fighting the urge to roll his golden eyes at the fact that his little brother had no idea what he was saying, Sesshoumaru kept his attention on where he was going, taking a few quick sniffs of the air whenever he lost the girl's trail. Remembering that she had mentioned being long overdue for a bath, not that he had been unable to smell that for himself, Sesshoumaru was not surprised when the trail led him to a hot springs.

Silently, Sesshoumaru made his way over to the warm, inviting steamy water, stepping in fully dressed with Inuyasha still in his arm. The moment Inuyasha felt the water, he took off out of his arm, doggy paddling across the water before Sesshoumaru could stop him. Shrugging, Sesshoumaru removed his sword and weapons, setting them outside of the springs to prevent them from getting wet and began undressing.

Still unaware of her company, Kagome sighed as she relaxed back in the water. As much as she loved her friend, she really needed this break from him, even if it meant leaving him with Sesshoumaru. She knew he wouldn't harm a defenseless child, no matter how much of a bastard he was, so she knew her friend would be safe at least until he had returned to normal. Which meant she could have a few moments of peace and quiet that she was long overdue for.

Sighing happily as the hot water worked to loosen the kinks in her muscles, Kagome opened her eyes to find herself staring into large, curious golden orbs, their owner mere inches from her face. “Ah!” she yelled, startled as she scooted back against the rocks surrounding the springs, trying to calm down her pounding heart. “Inuyasha? What are you doing here?” she questioned once she got back control of her voice.

He responded with a giggle before swimming away again. Confused, Kagome simply watched him until he swam over to Sesshoumaru and she finally noticed his presence. Seeing his naked chest above the water, Kagome blushed until she remembered she herself was topless and sunk as deep under the water as she could, crossing her arms in front of her chest to make sure she was completely covered. “What are you doing here?” she demanded, this time directed at Sesshoumaru as she forgot her about her embarrassment and glared at him.

“You were not the only one in need of a bath,” he informed her, refraining from explaining further as he relaxed back in the hot springs, either not caring about or not noticing her current state of undress. Kagome continued to glare at him, not daring to move in case he reopened his golden eyes and saw something he had no business seeing, as she grumbled under her breath about her interrupted bath. Hearing a giggle, Kagome glanced over to find Inuyasha chasing his hair in the water.

Unable to stop herself, Kagome chuckled at the sight, regaining Inuyasha's attention as he quickly dog paddled over to her, still giggling. “Want me to wash your hair?” she offered, deciding to take advantage of the opportunity to give him a real bath and to keep her mind on other things besides the demon lord across from her. Not really sure what she way saying, Inuyasha simply giggled in response.

Rolling her umber eyes at him, Kagome grabbed her shampoo, making sure to keep her back to Sesshoumaru as she rose out of the water and began thoroughly washing his long, white hair. “Stop moving,” she instructed as he began to wiggle beneath her hands, finally understanding what she was doing. “It's long overdue, so just deal with it,” she told him as she finished up as quickly as she could and began rinsing out his hair.

The moment she had completed her task, Inuyasha had took off away from her to hide near Sesshoumaru in case she decided to try something like that to him again. “Wuss,” she called after him before turning back around, all the while making sure nothing showed in case their silent companion opened his eyes, and began washing her own hair. Becoming unnerved by the silence that had settled around them, Kagome prompted, “Okay I can understand Inuyasha needing a bath, but why did you stick around instead of just dropping him off?”

Though it was obvious she was speaking to him, Sesshoumaru remained silent for a long while and it wasn't until she had washed out her hair and turned back to check on him, wondering if he had fallen asleep, that he finally answered. “It was not just Inuyasha, this Sesshoumaru was referring to,” he told her before falling into silence once again, his golden eyes never opening. Kagome stared at him for a long moment, wondering how Sesshoumaru could ever need a bath, as he always seemed completely perfect even right after a battle.

And even more confused as to why he would admit such a thing. Hearing Inuyasha giggle, no doubt back to chasing his hair, Kagome began to wonder if it may have been something he had done which had caused the usually spotless demon lord to require a bath. Groaning, she ventured, “What did he do this time? Throw mud at you? Get jam in your hair? Throw his juice at you during a tantrum?” For a long while, Sesshoumaru remained silent and Kagome began to think he wasn't going to answer her and had just about given up when he began speaking.

“He had an accident during the night,” he explained opening his golden eyes to glare at her, a clear warning that she was to speak of what happened to no one upon the threat of death. Kagome nodded her head, fighting against the overwhelming urge to laugh at his expense. After a moment, she lost the battle as she began laughing uncontrollably. Sesshoumaru's glare darkened and, as Inuyasha began to giggle unsure of what was going on but knowing it was something funny, he growled at them, reclosing his eyes, deciding at least for now that it was not worth the time to slaughter them. There was always later.