Adult-FanFiction.org : Inuyasha / Yashahime

To Protect the Alpha Female	By : Sylean Category: InuYasha > General Views: 10682 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. I do not make a profit from this story.

Chapter List
- 18
- 19
- 20
Chapter 19: To Value Life

“Are you still reading that thing?” Inuyasha ragged on Kagome, still sitting up in her sleeping bag just as she had been last night when he told her to go to sleep. “Did you get any sleep at all last night?” The sun was just starting to shine through the trees meaning morning had arrived.

“Uhh, I couldn’t just put it down,” Kagome gave her excuse. “Inuyasha, look, this part talks about your father’s battle with Ryukotsusei.”

“I already know about that,” he disregarded. What point was there in reading about an adversary he already killed?

“It says here,” she read aloud, “that after the battle ended in a draw, with many losses on both sides, a political alliance was formed on the condition of an arranged mating to unite the kingdoms.”

“I thought my old man sealed Ryukotsusei,” Inuyasha corrected.

“Hmmm, that battle was what ended up injuring your father and happened just before you were born,” Kagome recalled. “But this book, Sesshomaru said it was his when he was just a pup. This battle, that ended with an alliance, must have happened prior.”

“So, there was once an alliance between Inuyasha’s father and the dragons, I wonder what happened to break it,” Miroku inquired.

“I don’t know,” Kagome flipped a page ahead, and then back, seeing nothing more on the subject, “it doesn’t say anything about that.”

“Keh, well put it away already,” Inuyasha scoffed. “We have shards to find, Kagome.”

She sighed dejectedly, “Fine.” She reluctantly closed the tome after bookmarking the page she was on with a leaf. Once closed she noticed she was only about half-way through it. So far, it had told her about much of Seshomaru’s family history. How Sesshomaru’s mother was high bred, basically royalty among demons, and whereas his father had been a pure bred inu, he had not been of royal lineage. He amassed his own power, complete with followers, all on his own strength. When the royal family took note of his potential, a political mating was arranged and Sesshomaru was born as the new heir. She studied the paintings included in the book and could easily see the resemblance between Sesshomaru and his mother, as well as between Inuyasha and their father. Just before Inuyasha and the others woke up, she had just read over the battle between their father and the panther demon tribe that again, occurred prior to Sesshomaru being of fighting age. She couldn’t wait to figure out what else was in this book. It seemed like it was leading up to something important and the suspense was killing her to put it down. This would be a long day.

Continuing to follow in the direction of the Ox-Tiger, Northeast, in pursuit of Naraku’s demonic aura, they ran into Ayame as her and the other wolves of the northern mountains fled a specter, “Did someone mention Kouga?”

“Ayame, it’s you again,” Kagome announced.

“Oh, it’s you; the priestess who wants to take my Kouga,” she said saucily.

“It’s the wolf-demon girl who is jealous of you, Kagome,” Sango whispered, not like she could forget so quickly.

“No, no, no, you got it all wrong, Ayame,” Kagome defended herself. “I have no interest in mating Kouga. He’s nice and all, but so not my type.”

“Then who do you want?” she asked curiously.

“I- No one,” even though that darned picture Shippo drew popped into her head again. “I don’t really like anyone like that right now.”

“I can tell you are only trying to convince yourself; who are you thinking of ‘not liking’ when you say that?” she challenged. She had tried to lie like that before too; it was a very familiar mannerism.

“What are you doing here anyways?” Kagome changed the topic. “I thought you went back to the northern mountains.”

“I did, but then we fled when the beast attacked,” she explained, and continued relaying information on what was going around. They quickly figured out the specter was likely connected to Naraku, but how?

“Kagome, if you’re really not interested in Kouga, then you wouldn’t mind teaching me how you sense the jewel shards,” Ayame backtracked to a topic she wanted.

“I, I can’t,” Kagome stuttered out.

“So you do want Kouga to want you,” she accused.

“No, its just that, I was born with the ability,” Kagome placated. “I don’t know how to teach you.”

“Oh, I see,” Ayame’s mistrust evaporated. “Just forget about it then. I must leave now and take the elder and the rest of the wolf demon clan to safety.”

They parted ways, but Ayame’s words continued to resound in her mind, ‘Who are you thinking about ‘not liking’ when you say that?’ Absentmindedly, she felt the tome in the top of her bag, ensuring it was still there. Where else would it be? ‘I don’t like Sesshomaru, I mean he’s, well… Okay, I guess I don’t know him that well and he’s been altering any opinion I had lately too.’ If she never took the time to know him, the time to give him a chance, how would she ever know if she liked him or not? How does she know she doesn’t like him if she never spends time with him?

The scent on the wind was changing the further Sesshomaru traveled towards the Ox-Tiger. He was routinely catching the scent of the boy servant to Naraku, named Kohaku, along with the stench of corpses and graveyard soil that did not stay in one place like the dead should. There was something odd going on in this region. It wasn’t until the scent of poison, mixed with Kagome’s clean, sweet scent, drifted to his keen nose did he turn to investigate. What he found thoroughly disgusted him; an undead corpse, one of the very creatures he had been catching scent of, was preparing to defile what was his! Her small kimono was raised to reveal her backside as she lay on her belly, and the cretin was partially undressed himself. Repulsive! Stopping the vile act from occurring, he sliced his toxic claws straight through the wretch’s heart, causing him to collapse to the floor of the hut he was hiding in.

She lay there mostly catatonic, barely able to lift her head; he could detect the poison in her system. He was too late. Inuyasha failed his duties, “Tell me, is Inuyasha here?” He did not let on to the true disappointment he felt at his pathetic sibling’s lack of vigilance.

“And who are you?” Mukotsu, the vile little man who had been brought back from the dead asked shakily.

“I was just about to ask you that?” Sesshomaru turned his hardened gaze on the fallen figure.

“You, tried to kill me and you don’t even know me?” Mukotsu sounded outraged, not at all comprehending the connection between this new demon and the girl he nearly victimized. Snatching up his tray of poisons, Mukotsu inadvertently gave the dog demon a chase. The sight of his prey running all but insured his fate.

“You felt the pain of my toxic claws, and yet you’re still able to run?” Sesshomaru turned to follow his fleeing quarry, but before he stepped out of the hut, he let his Moko-moko slide over Kagome’s back and move her clothes to cover her rear. She had lapsed into unconsciousness at this point, completely unaware of his gesture, but he would not have another look at her.

“Hehehe, take this,” the fool aimed two canisters towards Sesshomaru, “taste my poison.” Sesshomaru blocked the hut with his body, protecting Kagome inside. It had no effect on him and the sniveling fool began whimpering pathetically. “Wait, please wait, I was too hasty, please spare me, don’t kill me. Don’t kill me!” He grabbed a large canister from the bushes where he was crouched. “To show you my sincerity,” he tried again to kill Sesshomaru, “here is a little present. Good bye my friend, this poison even kills demons like you. It’s not working, yet it’s my very finest poison.”

Without even a flinch, he slashed Tokijin at the vermin, killing him in one strike, “Your primitive concoctions are no match for my superior powers.”

“Sesshomaru?” Inuyasha asked surprised as he finally made it there. He turned towards the hut and found all of them collapsed. “Kagome! Sango, Miroku!”

“Ah, they all look like they’re dead,” Shippo added frantically.

“What did you do to them, Sesshomaru?” Inuyasha turned his aggression on the only possible cause he could see.

“No,” Kagome wheezed out as she regained consciousness from hearing the fight about to start. “It’s not what it looks like. Sesshomaru saved us.”

“No, I didn’t save you,” he corrected, not looking in her direction. ‘I did not get here in time to prevent you from being poisoned. It will take your life and not even Tenseiga can heal you from the poison in your system. Succumbing to a human weakness; you will die.’ He was angry, fuming, livid, but at what specifically? At Inuyasha for failing to protect her, at the scum he already dispatched, at the spider hanyou who revived him, or… was he angry at himself, again? Diverting his train of thought from the troubling line it was on, he gave his excuse, “He couldn’t answer my question, so I got rid of him. It’s as simple as that.” He could always revive her after she passed, it would not be the first time such an option made itself known to him, but for some reason, it troubled him this time around. When she was held by the panther demons, he easily accepted the possible outcome of her death, why couldn’t he now?

“What questions?” Inuyasha asked back.

“I caught the boy Kohaku’s scent. Does that mean Naraku is nearby?” He needed a target to take this out on, now! Inuyasha thought it over, taking too long. “Answer me, Inuyasha! Where is Naraku?” Sesshomaru just barely withheld his fury and rage. If he wasn’t given a direction or a target, Inuyasha would pay instead for failing to protect her. Naraku must be behind these walking corpses, seeing as they had jewel shards and the boy was nearby. Naraku would die a painful death on his claws; he would get revenge for setting this event into motion.

“We haven’t been able to find him yet either,” Inuyasha relented without argument. He could imagine how little patience Sesshomaru had at this point. “But now, we’ve got these phantoms possessing sacred jewel shards coming after us. I’m sure Naraku’s close by.”

“That’s all I need to know,” Sesshomaru walked off in the direction he last smelled Kohaku.

“Sesshomaru!” Inuyasha called, but got no answer. Wasn’t he going to help? Bastard.

“Please say something, Sango. Miroku, wake up, Miroku. It’s the poison; the poison’s got to them,” Shippo tried to wake them up.

“Kagome,” Inuyasha cradled her.

“I’m alright,” she struggled to get out. “Miroku, and Sango, protected me. Now hurry, the antidote, in my, bag.” She passed out at the last word.

“Kagome,” Inuyasha growled to himself in regret. “I knew it; I should have stayed with her.”

‘Naraku, you are to blame for this and I will ensure you perish for your actions,’ Sesshomaru fumed to himself. Narku had not expected Sesshomaru to be hunting him. Why the half-demon thought Sesshomaru would just ignore his insult, he had no idea, but he learned as much when the phantom, a servant of Naraku, that had been sent to hunt down Inuyasha, had been unaware of his identity.

He wanted to sink his claws, even his true-form’s fangs into the vile half-demon that caused him such uncertainty within his own mind. His instincts were pulling him in two directions. He wanted to kill Naraku; shred him to ribbons and watch him suffer, but he also wanted to rush back to Kagome’s side and fix her ailment, despite not having the ability to do so. He could do neither. Naraku was hidden, and he could not purge her of the poison in her veins. The only thing he could do, was remain close by, and if her life should extinguish, use the Tenseiga to revive her. He did not miss that her body was fighting it off, slowly. She might just pull through.

Circling the area, ensuring any possible threat would be dealt with; he came across Inuyasha throwing a tantrum. It was his fault too, and Sesshomaru would not hesitate to remind the whelp of such, “So, only now you realize how weak you are.”

“Shut-up,” he barked back, not needing this right now.

“After all, you are only a half-demon. You can barely take care of yourself, and yet you wield the Tessaiga, which was forged to protect others. Your friends never stood a chance.”

“Then maybe I should kill you Sesshomaru and take your Tenseiga,” Inuyasha speculated a way to save them. “Then I could resurrect Kagome and the other two.”

“Hmph, as if you could ever master my Tenseiga,” Sesshomaru scoffed, goading the already unstable pup.

“Well we won’t know unless I try,” Inuyasha turned and loosed a Windscar, but Sesshomaru was not there. “He’s gone.” ‘Or maybe, he was never there. Am I starting to seeing things now?’

After this encounter, both brothers returned to their companions. Sesshomaru’s time had been spent hunting down the boy, finding his scent trail and deigning a direction to hunt. After Kagome either lived or died, he would rid the world of Naraku’s influence. His claws twitched at the thought.

Inuyasha returned back to his friends’ side, under the assumption they had perished, gathering Kagome in his arms and cursing himself, professing how sorry he was.

“Inuyasha, I can’t,” her soft voice pulled him out of his self-loathing, “I can’t breathe. I’m kind of, dizzy.”

“Kagome? But you were…” he whispered unbelievingly.

“That’s to be expected,” Myoga spoke up, drawing attention to just what he was doing. “I sucked out a lot of blood with the poison.” Myoga was just finishing up with cleansing Miroku’s system. “Boy I gotta tell ya,” Myoga sounded drunk, “even for me this poison packs quite a wallop.”

“Are you telling me, that, that… you…” Inuyasha couldn’t finish the thought.

“Well, well, so you’ll bear my child then,” Miroku came to, caressing Myoga. Soon followed by Sango opening her eyes.

“That means, that everyone’s still alive,” Kagome breathed out softly. “I’m so glad.”

“I was only able to revive you, because the poison had not completely gone through your bodies,” a bloated Myoga explained. “Had I been any later, it would have been too late.”

“I’m sorry, Inuyasha,” Kagome’s shaky breathe sounded, “for making you worry.”

“Stop-it, don’t apologize,” Inuyasha set her down gently and turned away abruptly. Hiding the feelings that threatened to pour out of his eyes.

“Inuyasha?” Kagome asked. Shippo ran over and announced that Inuyasha was crying. Not believing, Myoga joined him, the both of them telling everyone what they saw.

“Why should I cry? Everyone’s alive now, aren’t they?” but try as he might, they bubbled up anyways.

‘Thank you, Inuyasha,’ Kagome smiled, feeling so very loved and appreciated by her closest friend.
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To Protect the Alpha Female