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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
- 8
- 9
- 10
Chapter 9: To Converse with Death

Well, her mind was certainly cleared of her argument with Inuyasha, but now she had a whole new set of worries, namely, ‘Is that the silhouette of a tree, or a demon.’ Everywhere she looked, all she could make out in the pitch black forest was more and more suspicious looking trees. Or maybe they were normal looking trees, but her human eyesight could not discern the difference and her overactive imagination was taking over.

Only a short while ago, Inuyasha had started an argument with her, “Kagome, why’d you let Kouga take those shards again?”

“We will collect them eventually,” she tried to reassure him.

“You always let Kouga run away with those two shards. Aren’t you supposed to protect them from demons?” he just kept digging himself deeper and deeper, not thinking about his words before they spewed forth. “Not a very good priestess if you ask me. Kikyo would never have allowed that.”

That had been the last straw, comparing Kagome to her, and she stormed off into the woods to clear her head. She hadn’t even taken time to bathe off in the stream, the frustration too persistent. She threatened a ton of ‘sits’ if he followed, but now, she was regretting that decision.

Sighing to herself, she admitted, ‘I know I’ll need to collect his shards eventually, but he is quite helpful, and they don’t seem to be too tainted. It shouldn’t hurt anything to let him keep them long enough to help us beat Naraku would it?’ She was completely disoriented now, after wandering far enough away from camp that she could no longer see the camp fire, she turned around and began walking back, but she should have covered the same ground by now. It looked so much different after the sun had set and darkness crept in. She did go in a straight line, right? ‘Oh no, I think I’m lost. I should be able to see the camp fire by now but…’ She stopped and looked around in every direction. Relief flooded her when she suddenly spotted the glow of what must be a fire. ‘There they are!’ she took off running in the direction, eager to feel its warmth on her bare legs.

Bursting into camp, she announced happily, “Guys, I’m bac-” Stopping dead in her tracks, she scanned the faces that did not belong to her companions. ‘Oh shit,’ she silently chastised her rotten luck. She froze in place, like a deer in the headlights as all eyes were on her, well, all except one pair. Golden eyes did not even give her a second’s glance. Sesshomaru knew she was approaching for quite some time. Her blinding purity was hard to miss. Finally finding her tongue, she sputtered out, “Oops, sorry, I uh, I just got a little lost, and saw the fire, and I’ll be going now, sorry.” She turned to flee before he could get angry at her. Kagome was not really fearful, but extremely wary. The memory of his poison claws was all too pungent in her mind.

“Stay,” Sesshomaru’s deep voice commanded without even looking at her. “You were being followed, and those same demons are waiting for you to flee the safety of my presence.” Jaken could not believe what he was hearing, his lord was actually offering protection to some human woman, but then, he also let that child follow him around.

“I was followed?” she repeated. ‘No wonder that forest felt so creepy. I’d really better be getting back, but I guess I’m stuck here until Inuyasha comes for me,’ she sighed to herself. “I see…” she wandered over to the fire, eager for its warmth, but keeping Sesshomaru in her peripheral vision.

“Show some gratitude you worthless human,” Jaken squawked, causing enough commotion to rouse Rin from her sleep. “Milord does not have to protect the likes of-“

“Jaken!” the small toad froze midsentence at the harsh tone his name was spoken in. Turning slowly, he saw Sesshomaru holding a rock only seconds before the stone went flying fast enough to knock him unconscious.

Kagome watched, unsure if she should be cautious of Sesshomaru’s temper or grateful for him punishing the imp. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Rin focused in on the new arrival, “Kagome!” She jumped up from her spot on the ground and leapt into the older girl’s lap.

“Oh, hey there, Rin,” Kagome smiled back at the cheerful child. ‘I’m glad to see she is doing well, but I am quite surprised that she has stayed with him. Does he take care of her? Does that mean he’s not as human-hating as we thought? I’m impressed.’ Rin proceeded to show off the strings of flowers she has strung together today. “That is very nice, Rin. You’re getting much better.”

“Why are you here anyways, Kagome?” Rin asked innocently.

Blushing, Kagome admitted, “I got a little lost when I went for a walk. I ended up here and Sesshomaru told me to stay where it’s safe until Inuyasha comes for me.” Rin’s eyes widened, understanding right away what was going on. Looking back and forth between Kagome and Sesshomaru, she knew that her lord must have some kind of connection with the woman if he was letting her stay. That rare spark was in his eyes again as he watched them. Kagome was part of Sesshomaru’s brother’s group, and last time he saw them, he started acting strange. Rin was sure it was because of Kagome, but kept her discovery to herself. The two talked until Rin fell asleep in Kagome’s arms. Kagome set her down in the same place she had been earlier, and sat on her knees near the fire.

Audience nullified, Sesshomaru inquired as to the unsavory smell clinging to Kagome’s person, “For what reason do you smell of a wolf demon?” He gave nothing away, but inside he was discontent. Had his incompetent beta allowed another male near her? His piercing gaze held her as he waited for an answer.

“Wolf demon?” she thought about it. “Oh, you probably mean Kouga. I tended his wounds last night, and then we all went after Kagura to retrieve the jewel shards she stole from him.”

“You have allied with a pack of wolves,” his question not sounding like one. It was an odd arrangement. Wolves don't associate well with other species. They may be pack animals, but they only keep company with their own kind. They don’t even get along well with other canines, such as dogs or foxes.

“We have a common enemy,” she began, just grateful to be talking. Constant silence would weigh on her mind far too heavily. Even if it was predominately one-sided and with someone she wasn’t terribly comfortable with, some conversation was better than none. “Naraku tricked them. Kagura slaughtered much of his tribe and we arrived just in time so that Kouga thought Inuyasha did it. After that, we've all been hunting down Naraku, so we cross paths every now and then.” Sesshomaru noted no light in her eyes or spark in her scent when she would talk of this wolf, settling his possessiveness. Kagome left out that Kouga thinks she is his woman. She didn’t agree with his claim and had no reason to belay such minor and inconsequential details to the stoic and methodical Sesshomaru. It would probably bore him, or so she thought. “Last night, he had a run-in with Kagura and got beat pretty badly.”

‘So that is why Kagura smelled of wolf blood so far from their territories,’ Sesshomaru identified as Kagome continued talking.

“The barrier around Naraku’s castle must have weakened, but we couldn't go after him because Inuyasha… oh, I uh, I mean because...” Kagome was kicking herself for her near slip, hoping Sesshomaru would not connect the pieces of the puzzle together, 'Shoot, I nearly told Sesshomaru about Inuyasha’s night of weakness,’ she scolded herself.

“I am well aware of what occurs with the half-breed in the absence of moonlight,” he surprised her with his pre-existing knowledge.

“You, you know?” she stuttered back. If he knew, why didn’t he go after him then, when it would have been so much easier to take Tessaiga?

“How do you think he survived this long?” he stated, implying just how weak the whelp was.

No matter how hard she tried, she could not hide the absolute astonishment on her expression, ‘Is he saying, he protects Inuyasha? Not sure if I believe that, but I’m not about to dispute it audibly.’

Silence settled in just as the chill of the night breeze ruffled her skirt and making her shiver. She refused to go to sleep, waiting for Inuyasha to come for her. What was taking so long? She wanted to be back in her own camp, wrapped in her nice, warm sleeping bag and surrounded by friends she trusted. ‘Wait, if I’m cold, Rin is probably cold too,’ she thought guiltily at having been thinking about herself. Glancing towards the girl, she saw what looked like a small demon standing on her tiny body. “Hey, get off of her,” she hollered under her breath and rushed over to Rin. Sesshomaru took notice of her swiping at nothing, until Tenseiga began rattling furiously. Resting his hand on its hilt revealed the offending creature to his eyes, a smaller version of the underworld demons he slew when reviving her. This one, was likely a cause of sickness. It kept evading her reach and jumping all over a still sleeping Rin. Kagome finally landed a blow and the tiny imp dissolved under her purifying touch. She sat down, relieved that Rin had not been harmed.

“You have the sight,” he remarked, only slightly revealing his awe.

“The sight?” she echoed, having no idea what he meant.

“That demon was from the underworld,” his explanation did not cause the surprise in her that it should. Going from everything being normal in her time, to fighting demons in the past, being informed that a tiny demon was from the underworld barely fazed her. It was only one more abnormality that she lacked the proper perspective to appreciate her abilities.

“It was? But what was it doing here?” she didn’t get any answer as a voice rang in the darkness.

“Kagome! Where are you?” Inuyasha dashed through the forest, picking up the scent of Kagome and several demons that had been trailing her. “Kagome!”

“Finally,” she stood, eager to return. Before stepping into the dark ring surrounding the alit camp, she turned and smiled over her shoulder. “Thank you, Sesshomaru, for letting me wait here where it is safe.” He gave a barely noticeable nod. “Inuyasha, I’m here,” she called as she followed his voice into the forest, bumping into his form shortly after.

“Where the hell were you?” he accused, expressing anger since it was easier than worry. “You could have been killed.”

‘Here we go again,’ she sighed to herself, willing her temper not to flare up again. Last thing she needed was another walk to clear her head.
- 8
- 9
- 10
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To Protect the Alpha Female