Two Weeks To Go Until The InuSess Event Starts! We Are All Very Excited To See What Everyone Is Working

If The Other One/Megatron X returned in Cyberverse, what kind of evil schemes would he pull off?

jumping on the memewagon...go for it megatron!!

His Villain. ⚘️

I FINALLY finished my part of the arttrade with @pastelpaperplanes​!

She wanted me to draw these two as character’s from Phantom of the Opera.

This took my forever to finished because sketching these two was a god damn nightmare and work was just draining me.

Pastel’s part of the arttrade

Can you draw shigraki grabing dekus butt please?

The Way of The Sword (Chapter 1)

18+. 3.5k, half-sibling incest, age difference, trust issues, self-steem issues, heavy flirting, relationship negotiation, making out, unresolved sexual tension, canon-typical violence. part 1/?. AO3 link, part 2, part 3. Let me know if you want to be tagged!

The search for Naraku might be over, but Inuyasha hasn't escaped his past. He drags it around like a ball and chain. Then he crosses paths with his half-brother again, and learns how to let go.

In which Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru go training together, and reach an arrangement of sorts.

Although suitably scenic, the walk to the designated place felt like the longest Inuyasha had taken in his life.

He could feel neither youkai nor humans around. For the first time in quite some time, he was surrounded by nothing but nature and the occasional critter. Once, he would have welcomed the solitude. Inuyasha had never been much of a social creature, despite Kagome's adamant attempts to change that aspect of his nature. Now that she was gone, he found the silence terribly aggravating.

The clearing was difficult to spot. It was far from the roads and secluded in a way that seemed deliberate. The privacy of the setting added to his unease. Complex social situations had never been his forte, and in his book, this was the strangest he'd come across in quite some time. Perhaps ever.

Sesshoumaru's arrival was announced by a shift in the atmosphere. A distinctive electrical smell flooded the clearing as if a storm were approaching. Inuyasha's hair stood on end. He took a deep breath, fighting down the instinctive responses that his half-brother never failed to awaken in him. Daiyoukai could smell that sort of thing, and he didn't feel like making a fool out of himself today.

Inuyasha took a seat on a nearby rock and waited.

Eventually, Sesshoumaru walked out of the foliage, nonchalance painting his every move. Inuyasha stood up and put his hands in his pockets, trying to match his half-brother's energy. Internally, he was trying not to fidget. It still wasn't entirely clear to him what this meeting was about. He thought he had an idea. Double guessing himself was one of Inuyasha's bad habits, though, and one never knew when it came to the Lord of the West.

There was the chance that this would end in broken bones and unnecessary bloodshed, the way it did back in the day. It could also very well be another of Sesshoumaru's psychotic mind games. Although in recent times they'd seemed to reach some type of understanding, Inuyasha knew better than anyone how unpredictable his half-brother could be.

Sesshoumaru showed no outward signs of aggressiveness. Of course, to say that his expression was amiable or welcoming in any way would have been a gross exaggeration. There was, however, an obvious absence of glaring, which was already an improvement from previous interactions.

“This is unexpected,” Sesshoumaru said. “I did not think you'd be so punctual.”

Inuyasha felt his face heat up at the remark. Some of the tension left his body, though.

With time, he had learned to identify the subtle signs that gave away his half-brother's unstable moods. Although teasing, Sesshoumaru's voice betrayed no anger. There was that softness around his eyes that meant he was pleased.

“Khe, y’know me. Always full of surprises,” Inuyasha replied. “‘sides, I like to keep you on your toes.”

“Mmm, you certainly try.”

“So, are we doing this? Or did you make me walk all the way down here just for a chit-chat?” Inuyasha asked, casually unsheathing his sword.

Sesshoumaru was usually not affronted by his bluntness. That was something Inuyasha liked about him. Of course, he was a snob in every sense of the word, but more often than not Sesshoumaru was willing to indulge his boorish behaviors if only to maintain a semblance of peace between the two. Why ever his former nemesis would want to keep things civil between them when they'd always been anything but, Inuyasha wasn't sure. He figured he'd find out if he stuck around long enough.

“I see we are off to a bad start,” Sesshoumaru pointed out.

He didn't draw out his sword, as Inuyasha expected him to. Instead, Sesshoumaru stepped closer, seemingly unconcerned by Tessaiga's proximity. He reached towards the handle of the weapon, covering Inuyasha's hands with his own. The touch was light but insistent. After a moment's hesitation, Inuyasha slacked his grip, allowing his wrists to be maneuvered so that the sword was parallel to the ground. Sesshoumaru placed Inuyasha's right hand firmly on top of the handle, then moved the left one to the bottom.

“That's how you properly hold a sword,” he said. Inuyasha could feel a faint heat spreading down his throat. He was very aware of Sesshoumaru's eyes trained on his face, but couldn't make himself look up. “Keep a grip that's firm enough so that it doesn't slip, but loose enough so you can easily maneuver it.”

“Right. Sounds like a no-brainer.”

“And yet you've been getting it wrong all this time.”

“Oh, fuck off. I knew you'd be an asshole about this.”

When Sesshoumaru first offered to help him polish his technique with the sword, Inuyasha hadn't been sure whether or not it was a joke. The invitation had been quite rude and nothing short of condescending, which gave room to doubt. Yet here they were, and a part of Inuyasha was still expecting his brother to burst out laughing and call it a day. If Sesshoumaru was amused by the situation in any way, he was quite adept at not showing it, though. He seemed neither anxious nor unsure, as if this were just something they did every day.

“Your posture is wrong,” Sesshoumaru said. Without warning, he used his leg to push Inuyasha's feet further apart. “A wide stance makes keeping your balance easier.”

Inuyasha felt a shiver run through him. He was first and foremost a creature of instinct, and being this close to his half-brother had never brought him anything but pain. His gut reaction was to back away. There was something more to it, though. A nagging feeling at the back of his head told him that these touches were not casual. This blatant disregard for personal space was intentional and increasing.

Behind Sesshoumaru’s steady gaze laid an invitation, yet to be spoken. As if he were testing the waters, so to speak, while hiding his intentions behind elaborate excuses. It frustrated Inuyasha to no end. He almost felt like kicking him back. Reluctant as he was to start a physical confrontation today, he went for his next best weapon.

“Hey, hey, careful now,” he said, side-eyeing his brother. “I know I'm quite the catch, but let's not get handsy.”

Sesshoumaru gave him the most unimpressed look he'd ever witnessed in his life.

“Why, I would never,” he replied.

Rationally, Inuyasha knew that nowadays his half-brother had little to no reason to hurt him. Still, there were times he couldn't quite shake off the feeling that he wasn't safe around Sesshoumaru. That there were, perhaps, ulterior motives to this unexpected offer of camaraderie. For the most part, he tried not to let it show. It seemed petty, in a way. As if he were hanging onto resentment while Sesshoumaru, of all people, kept holding his hand out to him.

The whole thing turned out to be a tedious affair. Part of him had hoped for nothing more than a friendly match. It didn't seem like Sesshoumaru was about to entertain that idea, though. He was clearly much more preoccupied with Inuyasha's pitiful stance and the sorry state of his blade. Inuyasha couldn't help but feel a bit affronted.

He thought he'd learned the way of the sword remarkably well, for someone who'd never had a mentor. 

Afterward, they sat together by the banks of a nearby river. The day had morphed into a breezy afternoon, and the sound of rustling leaves and water flowing filled the air.

“Ah. A tengu spirit?”

“Yeah, one of those ugly fuckers.”

Inuyasha shifted to lie on his side, pulling out a piece of grass that had gotten into his ear.

“Is that how you spend your time now?” Sesshoumaru asked, looking down at him from the large stone he'd claimed by the riverside. “Guarding little human villages against filthy critters? How pitiful.”

“Whatever. Keeps me in shape and it's not like it's hard,” Inuyasha replied. “And who are you to trash on my past times? Only thing you do when I'm not around is brood and hang out with an eight-year-old. If anyone's lame here, I can assure you it's not me.”

“I stand corrected, then.”

“Sure you do, asshole. Anyway, it was a big ol' fucker,” Inuyasha continued, unbothered by the interruption. “And I knew they were ugly, yaknow, but goddamn, this one was on a whole other level. Really gave me the creeps. It was just for show, though. Didn’t give too much of a fight.”

“Tengu rarely make for worthy opponents,” Sesshoumaru conceded. “Not all enemies are so easily defeated, though.”

Something in Sesshoumaru's voice made Inuyasha look up.

Not too long ago, he wouldn't have been able to tell that anything was amiss. His half-brother was hard to read as a general rule, and Inuyasha was admittedly quite slow on the uptake when people didn't speak straight to him. Subtlety wasn't a virtue of his. They'd been spending quite some time together as of late, though, and the shift in Sesshoumaru’s demeanor was evident to him.

“What will happen when it's not a filthy crow chasing after you, but a proper Daiyoukai?”

Sesshoumaru was clearly not smiling. There was certainly a quiet, predatory edge to his expression though, and Inuyasha wasn't sure what to make of it. He suddenly got the impression that there was something he was missing.

“What you mean?”

Sesshoumaru seemed to carefully consider his next words.

“I mean to say that, for a hanyou, you are a fairly decent warrior." Sesshoumaru managed not to sound condescending, just barely. “But if you are ever to face off a true Daiyoukai, that will not help you. Some levels cannot be reached without proper training.”

“The fuck is that supposed to mean?” Inuyasha said, hackles rising.

It occurred to him, for a moment, that Sesshoumaru was trying to pick up a fight. His brother did not rise to the challenge, though. He merely looked down at Inuyasha’s thunderous expression and chuckled. He looked irritated, but almost in a fond way. As if he wanted to be mad at Inuyasha, but couldn't quite manage.

“You've never had a proper mentor,” Sesshoumaru said. It was not a question. “One can tell from miles away.”

“Well, duh,” Inuyasha replied, crunching his nose. “Who would I ask, dumbass?”

“That is quite unusual, for youkai your age.”

“Yeah, well, you said it.” Inuyasha shrugged, settling back down on the grass. “For youkai.”

Sesshoumaru did not reply. Whatever he'd been trying to convey, he seemingly decided it was not worth the trouble. 

Despite Inuyasha's initial worries, practicing sword fighting with his half-brother hadn't turned into a deadly encounter. It had all been quite dull, actually. His hands and lower back still hurt from all the times Sesshoumaru had smacked him with the sheath to correct his standing. At least they'd eventually progressed to using targets, even if the bamboo sticks did come across as rather underwhelming opponents.

As vicious as Sesshoumaru's scolding was, Inuyasha couldn't complain. He knew better than anyone that his technique was sloppy, and they were far from the worst injuries he’d sustained after an encounter with Sesshoumaru. He'd be as good as new in the morning, anyway.

“Better to get going, I think. My camp is kinda far,” Inuyasha said, squinting at the horizon. It was already late in the afternoon and the sun was setting. Sesshoumaru only nodded.

As Inuyasha made a move to stand, Sesshoumaru reached out. Inuyasha found himself staring blankly at the hand hanging before him. He hesitated for a moment, although he knew it was silly.

Once he thought he'd never see the day his brother would be able to take his hand without feeling disgusted. Just a couple of years ago, Sesshoumaru could barely stand the sight of him. Somewhere along the line things had changed, though. It felt like a big deal, for some reason. As if they'd reached a milestone together.

Inuyasha shook his head and took the offered hand.

Sesshoumaru pulled him up but didn’t release him immediately. As Inuyasha made to move away, he tightened his grip and pulled him forwards. Inuyasha went rigid. Being this close to Sesshoumaru was a peculiar experience. The old familiar scent of electricity was suddenly surrounding him, making his senses tingle. He forced himself to look up and meet his brother's gaze.

“You should know I don't make a habit of it. The chasing, I mean,” Sesshoumaru said. “It's not in my nature. Playing games does not interest me, and I’m straightforward when seeking this type of arrangement. If you tell me you are not interested, don't expect me to insist.”

Inuyasha stared.

He had not thought Sesshoumaru would actually say it out loud.

A number of things became clear to Inuyasha, all at once. He understood now why Sesshoumaru had invited him to practice sword fighting together when they'd never done such a thing in the past. Why he’d chosen this secluded clearing for their meeting, away from interruptions and prying eyes. His half-brother had spoken about proper training and a mentor because he'd been making an offering. Inuyasha wasn't sure what to think. He'd never had a master before, although it was a fairly common practice between youkai warriors. He'd figured it came with the package of being a hanyou.

Despite his mild understanding of it, Inuyasha also knew this type of arrangement went far beyond training. Mentorship had to be traded in for something, and he didn't know if he was ready or willing to give it. Especially to Sesshoumaru.

“I wasn't,” he forced himself to say. “Playing games, that is.”

“Ah, you weren't?”

“No, I just didn't think… didn't think you actually meant it. Like, you were just - I dunno, fooling around,” Inuyasha said, almost dragging out the words. His face felt very hot. “I mean, we ain't got a nice baggage.”

“That doesn't bother me.”

“Oh.”

Inuyasha was very aware of Sesshoumaru still holding his hand. His grip was firm yet careful. He kept rubbing circles on the palm with the pad of his thumb. It'd been a very long time since anyone had touched Inuyasha with such gentleness. He wouldn't have thought Sesshoumaru was capable of it.

“Does it bother you?”

“No, I'm not saying that, it's just-” Inuyasha cut himself off.

He knew what he wanted to say. Knowing it and actually getting it out there seemed like two very different things at the moment, though. This is why he avoided direct confrontations whenever possible.

“Ah. Perhaps this is your way of letting this Sesshoumaru down gently?”

“No, that's not what this is.”

Inuyasha’s eyes were trained on the ground.

“I just… don't get it,” he said. “I'm still me, yaknow? It's not like anything's changed.”

“What hasn't changed?”

“Who I am.  What I am,” Inuyasha replied. He was trying very hard not to sound bitter. “Why would you want this?”

At first, Sesshoumaru kept quiet. Inuyasha wondered if he was pondering what to say, or if he simply had no answer to give. Perhaps Sesshoumaru himself didn't understand the reasoning behind his proposal. It could very well be that he wanted him while still resenting his true nature. Inuyasha knew that sometimes desire and aversion came hand in hand.

It wouldn't be the first time he found himself entangled in that web.

“I thought we had agreed that was in the past,” Sesshoumaru said.

“I… yeah, I guess we did.”

Inuyasha grimaced. He wasn't sure why he felt the need to bring it up again, and now of all times.

In the past, even people who'd genuinely cared about him had found his heritage to be something of an inconvenience. Whether it was the demonic or the human one, they felt the need to choose a side - to pick him apart and build with the pieces something easier to call their own. Kikyo had been the only one powerful enough to make it a reality, but really most people in his life had had the same pretensions, to different extents.

All of them, except Kagome.

Ever since the human girl had gone back to her timeline, Inuyasha hadn't entertained the idea of pursuing anyone else. Building something worthwhile hadn’t seemed possible, with neither humans nor youkai. What right did Sesshoumaru have to ask that trust from him now, after everything they'd done to each other? It didn't seem fair, or rational in any way.

“You said your camp was far away,” Sesshoumaru said, out of the blue.

“Uh… yeah, I said that,” Inuyasha replied.

His brother let go of him, then. Inuyasha frowned as he saw him silently widen the distance between them.

“You should be in your way, then.”

Inuyasha felt his stomach sink. He hadn't meant for his silence to be interpreted as a refusal. For a being over 500 years old, Sesshoumaru did have a rather juvenile habit of reacting poorly whenever he felt rejected. He could see it now in his tight lips, in the barely there frown grazing his forehead.

“Hey, come on, don't get your panties in a twist,” Inuyasha said. He took his brother by the sleeve to keep him from moving further away. “It's not like I’m saying no.”

Sesshoumaru's only response was to raise his eyebrows at him. Inuyasha shifted where he stood.

“Can you just… I dunno, give me some time?”

Sesshoumaru stared at him for a moment, as if sizing him up.

"That would be agreeable," he said.

Inuyasha signed, only then realizing how tense he'd become. Neither of them tried to move away. Inuyasha picked at his brother's robe, fishing for something to break the ice.

“Your pickup lines are super lame, by the way,” he said, eventually. “Not to be a hater, but they are totally getting banned.”

Sesshoumaru didn't quite smile at his attempt at banter. For once, Inuyasha was able to identify the ghost of a smirk playing on his lips, though.

“I'm glad to know I was able to amuse you so.”

Sesshoumaru stepped back into his personal space, hand resting just to the side of Inuyasha’s waist. As intimidating as it could be to have his brother stand so close, Inuyasha couldn't deny there was also a thrill to it. Underneath that primal instinct to flee, there also ran a need to stay and tempt the danger. To bare his neck and submit to the tremendous power Sesshoumaru held.

Inuyasha still wasn't sure how much of those impulses were a result of attraction, and how much of it was nothing but raw instinct. Even now, he didn't think he entirely understood his demonic side. It occurred to him for the first time that if he accepted, this was one of the many things that would become clearer to him, eventually. He wasn't sure whether the way his stomach flipped was due to fear or excitement.

Inuyasha's awareness tunneled as he saw Sesshoumaru leaning forwards. Fingers were curling around his neck, and the scent of rain filled his senses. Inuyasha barely registered their noses awkwardly bumping together as their lips met.

Due to both naivety and lack of privacy, Inuyasha's past relationships distinctly lacked any carnal component. Making out had never felt like the preamble of something else. This was different. Exponentially different. Not at all sure what to do with his hands, Inuyasha found himself gripping the yellow obi surrounding Sesshoumaru's waist. Heat was steadily spreading through him.

Even with the armor on, Sesshoumaru's body felt warm and welcoming around him. As soon as the kiss began, though, Inuyasha could feel him pulling away. He took him by the shoulder, forcing him to stay. To prolong it for just a little longer. Sesshoumaru smiled against his chin and bit playfully into his lower lip. It felt right, in a way. As if Inuyasha were saying, however indirectly, that he did want him back.

As they pulled apart, there was a glint in Sesshoumaru's eyes that hadn't been there before.

“Same place and time, three days from now,” he said, voice unusually low. “If you do not come, I'll know what your answer is.”

Inuyasha nodded, not feeling up to the task of speaking just yet.

That day they bid their goodbyes and parted ways. Inuyasha still wasn't sure what to make of what had been said, or what his answer would be next time they crossed paths. His misgivings, as usual, would not leave him. It was only as he was making his way back to the village that realization dawned on him. During their training, Sesshoumaru laid hands on Tessaiga. Not once, but many times. 

The sword had not burned him.

shockwave from my new transformers AU i made up completely unprompted with no outside influence i’m calling it “shattered ass”