Alright, so according to the poll results on my FF profile, this is one of two stories that you guys most wanted to see updated, so here you go.

Thank you to Nychelle21, lil joker 1989 and chinadoll1980 for reviewing chapter 5 and a special shoutout to lil joker 1989 for their insightful comments on all of the chapters.

Chapter 6

The heat of the day was proving once again to be a pain in the ass for the soldiers who were once again forced to give their all to the training under the watchful eye of not only their leader, but also the prince of the Western lands.

Occasionally, one of them would glance up resentfully at the indolent youkai lord sitting comfortably in the shade, sipping a cool beverage.

Kouga could feel the dissatisfaction buzzing between them, and knew that if something didn't change soon, he may have a revolt on his hands, and he really didn't want there to be a scene in front of the demon Lord.

"Alright, listen up," he called when the training drew to a close that evening. "I know you all mangy mutts – " he slid a glance to Sesshoumaru's men "-and our respected guests-" there were snickers from the soldiers, quickly smothered. "-have all been workin' really hard and I think that calls for a treat. I'm calling a day off from training tomorrow and drinks and music in the town hall tonight!"

Cheers went up from among the men and Kouga grinned as he watched the tension slide off their faces. It had been a while since they had had a night of fun and they would get a chance to show the mainlanders how they unwound up here in the mountains.

"Does that mean the imminent threat the Yoro clan has been preparing for so diligently will wait a day as well?" came Sesshoumaru's drawling voice, and an immediate hush fell over the by now dark clearing.

The soldiers all once again regained their tension as they looked at each other in bewilderment and worry. Inuyasha also lost his ease of posture as he took in the panicked look in the soldier's eyes, and dark gold eyes slowly assessed the scene for the best course of action in case things got ugly.

"What threat do you speak of, Sesshoumaru-sama?" one of the dignitaries whom they had seen in the town hall with the elders, asked carefully. She had waited for Kouga to speak, but the wolf leader had gone pale and said nothing.

The youkai prince didn't look at her. His eyes were on Kouga as a mocking smile appeared on his lips. "Don't play dumb," he said bluntly. "There is some threat that the Yoru clan is expecting to fight, one which, I would assume, you are ill-prepared to defeat, despite best efforts." Light gold eyes roved over the soldiers, reading their reaction in a glance. "A threat from the sky?" he asked softly.

The soldiers sucked in sharp breath, and Kouga's shoulders visibly slumped.

"Sesshoumaru-sama, why don't you and I discuss this in private?" Kouga asked in a low voice, glancing carefully at Satsumi who was watching him like a hawk.

"I gave you every opportunity to do just that, Kouga-san," Sesshoumaru rejoindered. "And yet, you failed to so much as mention this to me. I can only assume that was so to give me the advantage of drawing my own conclusions."

Kouga gritted his teeth at this veiled, but nevertheless unmistakable barbed taunt. He longed to tell him exactly where to stick his conclusions, but he was in the wrong here. He had failed on both counts - not only had he been unable to keep the clan's secret, he had also failed to be open and honest with his liege lord.

"Let your men have their revelry," Sesshoumaru continued. "You and I have things to discuss, wolf leader."

Kouga jerked his stiff neck slightly forward in response. The soldiers slowly began to file out of the arena, now no longer in the mood to celebrate.

That night when Kouga arrived in the demon Lord's chambers, it was not to kneel at his feet. The demon Lord was standing by the fireplace and he stomped over to the youkai, bristling with anger. Dimly, it registered that Inuyasha made no move to stop him from approaching his 'Master', instead, quite obligingly stepping out of his way.

"Ya had to do that," he shouted at the youkai lord who had his back to the wolf leader. "Ya had to insult me in front of my men like that. You could have told me what you knew in private, any of these days, but nooo, you had to make a fool out of me like that in front of my men!"

When the demon Lord turned to face him, he looked, not somber and stern as Kouga had expected, but amused. And there was a glass of whiskey in his hand.

"You should know better than to keep things like that from your lord, Kouga," the taiyoukai murmured, and despite his ire, Kouga felt a faint blush rise to his cheeks at the deep, suggestive voice. He wasn't only speaking of their relationship as liege lord and vassal, but also the other roles Kouga had willingly conferred upon them.

"I didn't have a choice," Kouga mumbled, eyes lowering of their own accord to stare at the shadows dancing on the rug by the fire. "The clan elders, my father… we were supposed to be over this danger by now."

Sesshoumaru gestured lightly with the drink in his hand. "Sit down and tell me everything," he ordered.

"Yeah, you expect me to be in a chatty mood after the way you purposely humiliated me today?" Kouga snarled, put out by the other's high-handed attitude.

The next second, his back was hitting a cold rock wall and the demon Lord's lips were on his. Kouga's eyes widened in surprise and he struggled but a clawed hand on his chest pinned him back against the wall, and he felt the bitter taste of strong alcohol as Sesshoumaru's tongue invaded his mouth.

Eyes screwed shut tightly, Kouga struggled, but the demon Lord's scent was once again all around him and he was held immobile in his grip and Kouga relaxed against his will.

When the demon Lord pulled back, looking down at him with amused, dark eyes, Kouga could do nothing more than gape at him in surprise.

"You do not speak to me that way, wolfling," Sesshoumaru told him lightly, hovering too close still, making Kouga feel trapped against the wall even though he was no longer pinned in place. Clawed hands gripped his chin and tilted his face up. "Do you understand?"

A shiver ran down Kouga's spine at the razor sharp claws on his chin and the demon Lord's dark, mellifluous voice. The demon Lord's polite and proper behaviour all these days in his home had made Kouga forget just for a while how dangerous the other youkai really was. The claws on his skin were enough to remind him.

"Y-yes, I'm sorry," he muttered in a daze.

Sesshoumaru hmmed.

"Yes what?" he murmured to Kouga, looked down at him sternly.

Kouga gulped down the saliva gathered in his mouth nervously. "Y-yes, my lord," he muttered softly, lowering his eyes.

The demon lord looked amused, and Kouga blinked dazedly at him as he was suddenly released. Sesshoumaru stepped back and Kouga took in relieved breaths now that his oppressive presence was gone from his immediate space.

The demon Lord was looking at him oddly and Kouga didn't know what it was he saw in his face, but his next words were unexpected:

"I would take you tonight, Kouga," Sesshoumaru murmured almost casually, swirling the drink in his hand slightly before taking a sip.

Kouga's eyes widened in surprise and he flinched back a little instinctively.

He had been fantasizing about this moment ever since that day in the forest, but this wasn't what he had expected tonight, given the way the day had ended. He was stressed and worried and his entire life may fall apart tomorrow right before his eyes.

Besides, despite all that he thought in the privacy of a dark bedroom and his own head, he was an alpha, and the prospect of submitting to another male was daunting. Notwithstanding what enjoyment he had found with the hanyou, this was not Inuyasha. This was the taiyoukai who had tortured him without so much as laying a hand on him. He remembered what it felt like to be overwhelmed by his insurmountable youki, and he knew and feared that if he gave himself up to him, he would find himself not only physically but also mentally irredeemably dominated.

He glanced at Inuyasha who was standing quietly to the side, watching the whole exchange without a word. Kouga couldn't read the expression on his face.

"I – but what about – what about the threat?" Kouga protested weakly. "You wanted to know and -"

"You did not look to be in a forthcoming mood," Sesshoumaru said, tilting his head to the side lightly. "Talking can wait till the morning, I suppose."

"Well… that isn't exactly the alternative to talking I had in mind," Kouga burst out, staring resolutely at the floor and ignoring the dark blush rising to his cheeks.

There was nothing else he could think of to distract from the topic at hand, and he was still unsure if it would bode well for him if he were to directly express misgivings about what the demon prince wanted to do.

The two inuyoukai brothers didn't miss his apprehension. Inuyasha tried pointedly to meet his brother's eyes, but the elder didn't look at him.

"Are you certain you want to do this?" Sesshoumaru asked the wolf instead. Kouga's eyes swivelled to him in surprise. "If you want to leave, come tomorrow, it will be as though nothing happened. And whatever transpired will not leave this room."

It was Sesshoumaru's turn to be surprised as Kouga looked up and smiled at him suddenly, a quick, happy look on his face along with something the demon Lord could not understand.

In reply to his question, Kouga walked calmly to the bed, climbed on, and knelt there, hands together in front of him, waiting.

The demon lord raised an eyebrow.

"Y-your wish is my command," Kouga whispered, looking away from him after a moment when he couldn't stand to continue looking in the demon Lord's eyes.

"You were uncertain a moment ago, wolf," he reminded Kouga.

The little colour that had left Kouga's cheeks returned, but there was no hesitation in his smile. "I – I changed my mind," he said lightly.

"Kouga," Inuyasha cut in, and Kouga turned around to look at him. The hanyou had a peculiar expression on his face; the worry in his eyes did not match the studiously blank look on his face. "Have you given this any thought?" Inuyasha asked.

"Whaddyou mean?" Kouga asked him.

"Yes," Sesshoumaru chimed in, taking another sip of the drink in his hand, knowing Inuyasha's apprehensive eyes were on him. "What is it that you are trying to warn him of, Inuyasha? Be plain if you cannot hold your tongue."

Inuyasha swallowed, knowing the spike of fear he felt at Sesshoumaru's amused derision would certainly not go unnoticed by his brother, maybe not even the wolf. He knew he was inviting his brother's punishment, but at this point, he was more concerned for Kouga than for himself, and if he couldn't make him see the light now, it would be too late.

"I-" Inuyasha swallowed, glancing once surreptitiously at his brother before looking down at Kouga meaningfully. "He is a taiyoukai," he said slowly, willing Kouga to understand.

The wolf demon looked up at him blankly and Inuyasha resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "And you are not," he continued pointedly.

"So?" Kouga countered, scathing retort ready on his lips. "You and he are… together and you are -" his words stuttered to a stop before the word 'hanyou' could leave his lips, and he glanced at Sesshoumaru worriedly. "-and you are not even a full demon," Kouga finished tactfully.

Inuyasha stared down at him helplessly, unable to explain what he and his brother had.

"That is different," was all he said instead, and he knew instantly Kouga did not understand.

"I don't care," Kouga said. "It is what I want."

Inuyasha looked up at his brother who was smiling that smile of his that only Inuyasha knew for the evil behind its apparent innocence. "You see, brother? Your trepidations are misplaced. Kouga… is aware of what he is doing."

The words mocked him, and Inuyasha was helpless to explain to the wolf how.

But he had tried, and the wolf had dug his own grave, jumping into lava without having a clue how hot it was.

Sesshoumaru read his younger brother's resignation in the slump of his shoulders. He left the glass of drink on the mantle, and walked over to the bed.

"Inuyasha," he said, and the hanyou looked at him inquiringly. "Disrobe him."

A/N: I don't know if you all have already guessed the secret, but … well, you won't have to wait long now.

Let me know what you think of the chapter and what you think will happen ^_^

The poll is still up on my FF profile, so you can still vote for which story you'd like to see updated next.

Thanks for reading!