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
- 24
- 25
- 26
Chapter 25: To Ascertain Worth

Previously:

“What I need to know,” Kagome brought her fierce eyes up to Sesshomaru’s, her timid voice turning hard with conviction, “did you only pick me because I’m half Tenshi? If I were fully human, would you still want me?” She would not be just his breeder, not on her life.

He wasn’t sure how to respond, her lineage was the concluding factor to make him begin pursuit, for it settled the issue of an heir being inferior, but even before he learned of her kind… he could find no fault besides her blood. He knew what she wanted to hear, that her blood didn’t matter, but it did, and he would not lie. He needed to find a truth that would settle her irrational accusations. What could he possibly say?

---

“There is no benefit to speculating if you were anything other than what you are,” Sesshomaru diverted her question.

Kagome easily picked up on his evasion. “I knew it,” Kagome’s head tilted forward and her bangs covered her eyes, “you only want me for what I am, not who I am.” Her constricted voice preceded the tears he knew were about to show.

“They are one in the same,” he stated with knowledge beyond her years. “What you are shapes who you are.” His heritage shaped who he became; it was the same for her.

“I didn’t even know what I was before yesterday, how could it have shaped me?” she countered, her sadness morphing into aggression.

“Are you a different person now that you know?” his words partially diffused her confrontational urge. He was right; the simple knowledge wouldn’t change her.

“Fine then,” she relented, but approached the subject from a different angle. “Who am I? How do you see me?” ‘To you, I’m probably just an incompetent little girl that can’t even draw a sword properly,’ she recalled her embarrassing attempt, ‘that gets kidnapped every time you look away,’ the two times now he had to come to her rescue, ‘so you’ll want me to just will sit around and have pups for the rest of my life under your command.’ How could he see her as anything else? ‘Prove that you can actually see me!’ her intense gaze challenged.

“You are loyal, to the point that you do not even consider your own life when defending your pack,” her glare faded instantly. “You are fierce in your beliefs and do not allow anyone to compromise your honor.” Each word struck a chord deep in her soul. “You are powerful, and wield it with blinding conviction.” The memories flooded back; she recalled how she stood against him many times, against all odds, and came out alive. “You possess a distinctive beauty unlike any I have seen before.” Her cheeks reddened, unbelieving of what he was telling her. He possessed an unearthly beauty, yet he saw her as unique? “Your intelligence, and not just your knowledge of the future, is remarkable.” His observations piled up in her mind, things no one had ever told her, things she had no idea how to respond to. “And despite all of these redeeming qualities, you remain caring to even the most undeserving.” By the time he was done, her jaw was agape with awe. He stepped closer, gripped her chin in his hand and manually closed her mouth. He moved close enough that she could feel his breath on her face. “Satisfied?” he asked with a slight smirk at the huge impact his words had on her. “I can find no flaw.” She could not find her tongue, not after all his praise and now the very little space between them. “You expressed a desire to love; you do not expect such in a mere blink of an eye, do you?” He let go of her and she found her breath again, barely registering as his graceful form disappeared back into the woods he looked so very at home in.

Her mind raced to catch up to the events that just transpired, the only thought that came to mind being, ‘He had been listening, really listening to me all along.’

---

A few strides away, far too close, Sesshomaru saw his beta blocking the way. From this distance, even a half-breed would have been able to hear every word of his conversation with Kagome. He wondered how long he had been listening, “Retrieve your charge.” The area was relatively safe, but it was still the whelp’s job to shadow her and keep her safe from even the most harmless of threats.

Inuyasha didn’t move as Sesshomaru walked past him, “You honestly think this will work to make her love you? She will not fall into such a one-sided trap.”

So, he had heard that part. “Are you sure about that Inuyasha?” the elder brother spoke as if he knew something the younger failed to grasp. He gave no denial of trying to capture her heart, but not give her his in response.

“She deserves someone who will love her,” Inuyasha continued unconvinced, “someone who doesn't only see her as the most suitable fit or conquest.”

“And you think you could fit that role?” Sesshomaru tossed back, making the boy’s ears droop. “Pathetic.”

Inuyasha had made no move for her, careful not to overstep his bounds, but that did not mean he didn’t care about her. She was his alpha, his “sister” as he told her, and if Sesshomaru had not been in the picture, he would undoubtedly make her more. Despite all that, Sesshomaru still managed to see through his transparent sibling. If the pup had paid more attention to his forced lessons, perhaps he would have been able to keep his restrained desires hidden, but he had not.

“She deserves better than you,” he retorted judgmentally at the increasingly distant figure.

“There are none better than myself,” Sesshomaru was barely within hearing distance now, not having slowed his steps for “conversation.” It was not worth his time.

‘Arrogant asshole,’ Inuyasha growled to himself. He would watch out for Kagome, not just protecting her physically, but would safeguard her emotions in any way he could as well. Sesshomaru was bad news for her, and he didn’t want to see her heart broken by one without.

---

Approximately four centuries ago.

-650: (0)
-600: (5/50)
-500: (9/150)
-400: (12/250) here
-300: (15/350)
-200: Inuyasha born/Father dies (17/450)
-100: (18/550)
0: (19/650)

Young Sesshomaru heard them long before they could be seen, the heavy-footed march of soldiers approaching his castle. The scent on the wind identified them as his father’s troops, and the feeling in the air was significantly lighter than when they had returned from many a bloody battle. They were not drenched in the metallic liquid as had been a constant for the last century of his life. This excursion, which he had been told was with the intention of negotiating with the formidable dragon, Ryukotsusei, seemed to have been without bloodshed. Judging by the lack of fatalities it must have been successful.

Sesshomaru appeared a mere 12 years in human terms, but was actually about 250 years due to the much slower aging process of demons. He had yet to come into his full potential; no easy target for sure, but far from what he could be. Standing at the castle gates to greet the great Dog General was the adolescent on the cusp of maturity, a time about a hundred years or so away.

“Father?” one word was all that was needed for the inquiry to be communicated.

“Ever talkative my son?” the younger’s eyes narrowed in response. Even being no match for his sire, he behaved as if he was the most powerful being around; a future alpha through and through. But not yet, “Do not make me remind you of your place, Pup.” Sesshomaru’s features resumed his disinterested, bored expression; never submissive, but no longer authoritarian. Inu No Taisho just sighed at the mannerism Sesshomaru most obviously learned from his dam; that was as good a response as he was likely to get without forcing him to the ground in battered submission. His son just wanted to know what was going on with their war with the dragons; couldn’t blame him for that, “Truce.” The word drew the “uninterested” pup’s gaze. “The war is over, and the terms will be carried out within the next century.”

It was not uncommon for demon political affairs to take many years to conclude, since time was of little consequences to those who could live for thousands or years, but a full century was longer than typical. There was more to this than his father was telling him. If it were goods that needed exchanged, it would not take such an extended amount of time. Trading information took only slightly longer than physical goods, as he recalled from his many studies. And displacing people, via an exchange of subjects or altering borderlines, could extend into a decade easily. But a century, he did not want to speculate on what this meant.

“What have you agreed to father?” the scathing attitude was back immediately.

“It is what is best for the kingdom,” his father interjected, letting the insolence slide in light of what would now be required of the youth. “Combining kingdoms in such a way will ensure that war will no longer ravage our lands and kill our people.” He didn’t want to admit it, but he was losing men faster than they could kill the robust dragons. Choosing what he had was the lesser of the Dragon Lord’s demands, while neither was preferable, his hand was forced and he chose the one of lesser impact. “You will meet your intended within a month.”

“Our blood is not meant to mix with such filth,” an Inu breeding with a dragon, his father could not be serious. The very thought was disgusting. He was the purest heir in many generations and his father was fixing to pollute that!

“You think I didn’t thoroughly exhaust every other possibility first?” he finally raised his own voice in response. “This is your obligation to your people, Sesshomaru. It has already been decided.”

Young Sesshomaru remained in a foul mood for the full lunar cycle, expending his frustrations on any challenger foolish enough to enter the dojo. He couldn’t help but think about how if he could come into his power he could turn the very tide of the war and prevent this disgusting match he’d been forced into. His mother had been nearly as confrontational about the news of her highbred blood to be dirtied by a she-dragon, but she stopped fighting over the matter far too quickly for his tastes. How could she possibly agree with his father’s decision; what had he said to convince her? She was known to be extremely stubborn, not even submitting to her own mate unless she deemed it of greater benefit. He was missing a detail.

“My Prince,” a skittish sounding servant addressed the youth as he ran through a training regimen. “Your intended’s entourage has arrived.” His angry growl nearly had the messenger running away with tail tucked, but punishment for not completing his orders would be more severe than the young lord’s wrath. “You have been summoned to the tea room for introductions.” The diminutive presence was gone as soon as the words left his mouth.

Sesshomaru’s parents sat on one side of the short table, and sitting on the other side was the dragon that had been the cause on many Inu deaths, Ryukotsusei. His white skin was actually smooth, reptilian scales decorated with vertical, dark blue stripes and matching blue lips. He retained the flared horns he exhibited in his true form; thick columns that flared laterally and connected to where his ears would be, making it a single structure. It was a face that had been driven into Sesshomaru’s memory to be that of his enemy, and not an honorable one either. For all he knew, this could be a trap; he would be ready. Beside him, a female with similarly pale “skin” and slender green, curving stripes on her face. She had the same violet eyes that Ryukotsusei had, and he could only assume this was the female he was expected to defile his line with.

“Sesshomaru,” his mother addressed, “so nice of you to join us.” Like he had a choice? “This is Suseira; your intended.” The she-dragon’s eyes met his and very openly roved over his body as she absentmindedly picked at her talon-like claws.

She looked at him with disappointment, “This is the dog you expect me to lay with father? He’s so small.” She was older than him, already having gone through her maturation stage, and was the oldest of Ryukotsusei’s daughters that had yet to be mated off. She was rather unfazed with the whole situation after having seen her sisters, both full and half, go through it.

“Worry not, Dear,” Ryukotsusei snickered amusedly at the disgruntled pup. “He will grow. I’ve heard that these dogs develop faster than we do,” he directed his insulting words towards the elder dog, “how long until he reaches maturity.” He intentionally spoke over the one his inquiry was about, just to push him further. Sesshomaru was harmless to a daiyoukai like himself; since he had not access to what lie within.

Sesshomaru withheld a growl at this impetuous demon who fancied thinking of him as nothing but a means to perpetuate this alliance and breed his callous spawn. He silently, not letting his disdain show, took his seat between his parents and the dragons. The meeting dragged out far longer than he would have liked, but he succeeded in keeping his expression schooled into his blank mask. As much as he did not like this, he had not the power to usurp the proceedings.

It was decided that the betrothed pair should spend time together at least once a year, until such time that Sesshomaru came of age, to foster goodwill and continued resolution between the lands. He was not pleased by this; wanting to waste none of his time on the unworthy female. Just from first impressions, he could tell she was the type to easily switch sides if it proved to be beneficial to herself, making her not even slightly loyal. Her strength was minimal and her spirit subdued; her offspring, even with him as sire, would never surpass him. Her appearance, although probably coveted in her own kind, he could find no appeal in her. Her mind was dull beyond belief, lacking a drive to learn and only a desire to lounge about in luxury. In short, he hated her at first sight.

---

Feudal era

Around midday, they were greeted by the bellow of a cow just before lightning struck and the elderly sword smith appeared in front of them. Totosai said he came to check up on the Tessaiga and sharpen it up, but Kagome had a suspicion he had more motive than just that. He might pretend to be senile, but it only seemed to strike when it was convenient to him, suspicious to say the least.

Not long after he supposedly finished his task, Sesshomaru made his presence known as well, this time carrying a small doe over his shoulder. Kagome instantly blushed from remembering his words to her last time, Inuyasha growled lowly, so only his brother would hear, and Totosai tried to blend into the background and not be noticed. A futile attempt, since Sesshomaru’s golden eyes slid to him knowingly before returning to the reason he came here.

Lifting the fresh carcass, he silently laid it before Kagome, who in turn tried not to look into its vacant eyes. She understood the gesture. ‘This section of the ritual was fairly tame,’ she recalled, ‘compared to the rest.’ Ability to Provide. It was simply hunting for her and giving her stuff. The thought of accepting expensive gifts made her a little uncomfortable; she wasn’t the material-oriented type, but the book had said that rejecting a gift was rejecting him. She was glad that this time he was just offering her his kill. They could use the food; she had nearly run out of provisions already and the extra meat could be smoked and eaten during their travels.

“An offering to sate your hunger,” he recited the required words.

Taking on a formal tone, she gave a bow and kept a smile in place, “I accept your quarry, Lord Sesshomaru.” That book made sure she knew what to say, and sometimes it was easier to simply recite those words than improvise her own. He nodded in turn and moved to leave.

She lost her formal act quicker that it had been placed, returning to the familiar way she preferred, “Hey, Sesshomaru, if you truly could find no flaw with me, as you said, then why did you try to kill me before?”

“To avoid a repeat of the past,” he replied obscurely.

“Huh?” she cocked her head; that didn’t answer anything for her.

“Mhmm, mhmm,” Totosai hummed to himself, agreeing with what Sesshomaru said, but shut right up as Sesshomaru’s harsh gaze fell on him. “I didn’t say anything!” The sword smith defended and simultaneously ran to hide behind the only member of the group he knew Sesshomaru would not hurt; Kagome. It was quite clear as to the progress the dog was making in the courtship, and if he knew the young lord as he did, Totosai could only guess he would be seeing him soon. The decision of whether or not to run and hide, or acquiesce was already running in his head.

The daunting demon lord turned back to the trees and Kagome counted down backwards from ten, slowly, waiting for him to be out of hearing range, or so she estimated. Turning sharply to the old demon using her as a shield, “You know something, don’t you? Tell me!”

“Uh,” he looked up at the sky and poked at his head with a clawed finger feigning senility, “what were we talking about again?”

“Ugh!” Kagome practically growled out of frustration. ‘Why won’t anyone tell me anything about Sesshomaru’s past?! What is everyone hiding?’

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To Protect the Alpha Female