Taming the Heart

By: Brown-eyed-girl

Chapter: 3

Rating: M

Disclaimers: Again I must say that I don't own Inuyasha. It belongs to Rumiko. Next I would like to thank all of the people who have taken the time to read my story and then leave a review. It makes my day knowing that you are enjoying what you are reading. Thank you again.

I would like to thank my editor, GrlWthAThrnNHrSd.

Scratches and soft whining could be heard at the old door. Sango slowly opened the door and was greeted by a small black wolf. Letting the wolf inside, Sango watched as the sleek lupine shook off the chill. She shut the door quickly so no one could see as the animal began to change.

"Kagome, I told you not to be gone long." Sango shook her head as she watched the wolf's form start to shift. The wolf walked into the small bedroom and nudged the door closed.

"Anything could have happened to you since you were alone." Sango spoke louder so she could be heard from behind the closed door.

"I am sorry. It was just such a beautiful night and I lost track of time." The door opened up minutes later to reveal a raven haired beauty. She was about 5'6 in height with long, luxurious locks which came down past her shoulders. She came out wearing a pair of denim cutoffs and a long white t-shirt hanging below her knees. The shirt hung loosely on her with one side of the neckline showing off her bare shoulder. Kagome looked at her sister and saw how deeply worried she had been. Kagome felt awful about the whole situation, but she needed to be out. Sometimes she needed time to herself, to just run free. It was the only way she felt free in the world she now lived in.

"I just worry so much about you both. I don't want to lose you." Sango flopped down on the old blue sofa. She picked up her book and found where she left off. Kagome grabbed an apple and book, then proceed to sit with Sango.

"I know you're unhappy with me and I'm really sorry." Kagome looked at her sister, hoping things would be okay between them. It was only the three of them so it was kind of useless to stay angry. Sango knew she couldn't stay mad with her, so she smiled and went back to her book.

"Where's Sota?"

"He's asleep. It is his first day at the local high school tomorrow." Sango reminded her. She tried to focus on the page she was reading, but concern blurred the words together. All she could do was worry about Sota's first day tomorrow.

"Do you think he will be okay there?" Kagome knew he needed to be around kids his age, but they had been running for so long. She didn't know if either of them knew how to act around others. It was so hard to make friends and keep them when you were never sure when you would up and leave again. It was easier in some ways and harder in others. They just never knew which one was better for them, to make friends and lose them or to never make friends and to feel the loss when you are gone. Life had been a constant reminder things were this way and how life was without their parents or the pack.

"It should be fine. We need to start making a life for us. We can't keep running." Sango stated the fact they all knew too well. They needed to stop running, to put roots down for them to build from. It was time. It also helped a lot they hadn't come close to Naraku in quite a while. Hopefully it meant he had finally given up on them. It was always something they had hoped for and just maybe it could be possible. This city might be home.

Home. It was such a foreign word to them all, but all they could do was hope.

It had been five years since the monster had killed her parents and their pack, leaving them completely alone in the world. Sango had to learn to be father and mother to her younger siblings. One of the hardest thing she had to do was be responsible for someone else. She had to take care of them and herself.

She loved her siblings, but she lost herself in the process. She forgot what it meant to be who she was and what she could possibly be one day. The day her parents died was the day she died too, but she had to be strong. She had to keep going for her siblings, for they now needed her even more; ready or not, she was all they had. And she took the challenge willingly. She wouldn't have done it any other way. They were her only family left and she would do anything to protect them.

She was eighteen when her life had changed forever because of one psychotic beast. She had just finished high school and had hopes to go to college. Then maybe one day find her true mate, like her mother had always told her she would. No, the moment had been forever altered because of one man's hate. One man's deadly desire, his need to be the one in control. He wanted something and that was all that mattered to him. He didn't care about who he destroyed on the way to get it.

Could one man be so cruel? Yes, because he was not a man, but a true monster. A monster which could kill with no guilt or regret. No care for what he destroyed as long as it served a purpose in his mind. Naraku was definitely one beast she didn't ever want to meet and she would keep her siblings from ever meeting him also.

It taught them life could be easily taken away and it had. It left them struggling to breath, struggling to find a reason not to give up and let despair engulf their broken hearts. Sango knew she couldn't let Naraku get away with what he did. That her parents' death could not be for nothing. It was up to them to continue on, to show him they were going to keep fighting and he was not going to stop them.

He wanted one thing and because he couldn't have it. He felt it was his duty to destroy whatever was in his way to get it. However, she saw it first hand, when they had returned to their home at daybreak, only to find destruction and death left in his wake.

It was the day everything had change for them. It was time for them to move, to take care of themselves. They had to leave because they weren't sure if Naruka would be back to finish what he had started and they wouldn't stay to find out. Sango shook her head of those awful thoughts.

"Don't worry. When I registered him the other day, I checked out the school and it seems just fine." Sango smiled as she placed her book on her lap. "It does surprise me to find a city made up of a lot of shape shifters. I mean I can smell the humans, but to see them next to so many wolves and other worldly creatures. It just simply amazes me. They trust them and there's not hint of fear."

"I know what you mean. I just hope this is a good place for us to hide." Kagome turned to stare out the window. The city seem quite peaceful, everyone lived together in harmony. They figured this was how the city was. It was one of the reasons they picked Birch Bay. It seemed to be run by a powerful clan.

"So do I." Sango stood up and stretched. "I am going to try and get some sleep."

"Night." Kagome smiled. Sleep sounded like a good idea.

"Don't forget, we have interviews tomorrow at the casino." Sango reminded as she walked into another small bedroom looking back at Kagome one last time and shut the door.

"Yeah, I remember." Kagome yawned and laid down on the couch. Hopefully everything would work out for them, because she would really hate to up and leave again. She closed her eyes and listened to the peace which suddenly occupied the room. 'Yes. This place could really be home.' It was the last thought for Kagome as sleep finally took a hold of her.

"Kouga. How long are we suppose to watch him?" Ginta asked when Hakudoshi went into the bathroom. He lounged lazily in the dark blue recliner which sat in front of the wall across from the bed. He was told his assignment for the evening was to keep an eye on Hakudoshi, but hell all this was is a babysitting job. He thought he was better than that. He had been apart of Inuyasha's pack for a few years now and he expect a more challenging assignment, but here he was in a room under the casino babysitting.

"We are suppose to bring him up to Inuyasha sometime in the morning." Kouga yawned as he stretched out on the bed. He closed his eyes as he listened to the water running in the bathroom. "Until then I think I want to take a quick little nap." He turned to look at the clock on the nightstand, it read two thirty. 'Yes, a nap would be perfect.'

Ginta watched as Kouga went to sleep leaving him to take over for the night. He grab the remote and sat back down. He turned on the TV to see what was on. Hakudoshi was still in the bathroom. 'What the hell is he doing in there?'

Hakudoshi dialed his phone and waited patiently until the other line picked up. He couldn't believe this is where he was. He knew Inuyasha had to know what he was doing, but he didn't know how Inuyasha would handle it. Kouga and Ginta had stopped him from going into the casino a few hours ago, saying he needed to come with them. Now he was here in a room under the casino being watched.

"Yes." The voice said tiredly into the phone.

"Sir. I wanted to let you know Inuyasha has me under watchful eye of his men. They stated Inuyasha would deal with me in the morning." Hakudoshi spoke quietly and rapidly in the phone. He looked over his shoulder and listened. He could hear light snoring and the TV going.

"Good. Keep doing what you are doing. And make sure you don't say my name. This will keep him busy. He won't see it coming until it is too late." He laughed wickedly as he thought about how his plan was working perfectly.

"Ah….yes." Hakudoshi was unsure if what he was doing was really what he wanted. But now he was stuck and there was nothing he could do to save himself. He heard the phone line go dead and thought maybe death was the best thing. If he did betray his boss, he was sure he wouldn't live to see the sunrise.

Inuyasha rolled over slowly in his bed and looked up at the ceiling. There was a light coming from the open window. The stars shined brightly in the sky outside. It was the fourth time he'd woken up since he'd come to bed, hours ago. It seemed sleep was evading him. Every time he was almost fully asleep, he would suddenly be up again.

Sleep was just teasing him, showing him what he needed and then taking it away. He turned his head and looked at the big red numbers flashing on his nightstand. It read four, forty-two. He shook his head. He needed sleep, but it didn't look like he would actually sleep this evening especially now that he was wide awake.

He didn't know if it had to do with the clan meeting in less than three days or was it the beautiful scent he found earlier. It was such a lovely scent. It was the only way he could describe it. There was just something about it which told him, this is what he had been waiting for. He could remember the scent attacking him earlier this evening.

He could still feel it surround him with such warmth and love. It was as if it had claimed him, showing him what he had been missing his whole life. It made him feel complete. And now he couldn't get enough of it. It was so inviting, like a welcoming hug. It also seem to calm the animal inside him. They both had finally found what they longed for.

No woman, no other scent could compare. He knew he needed that scent, whatever it was. He would find it and he was sure he would find the woman who would be his mate. He was not going to let it go.

Inuyasha laid there knowing he was not going to get back to sleep any time soon. He thought about all that was happening in his life right now. He had the casino to deal with, now Hakudoshi was stealing from him, the clan meeting in less than three days in which he knew they would question his leadership because he couldn't find his mate, and last he may have found what he has been looking for, but only reason he knew that was because of the beautiful scent he had found earlier. Talk about his life being crazy. Why couldn't things just be easy for him. Why was destiny having fun at his expense? He really didn't know what do, but do what he had been doing and dealing with it.

He needed something right now and he knew what he needed to do. He got out of bed and threw on some clothes to wear. He looked at himself in the mirror, his white hair long and flowing with amber eyes glowing bright. He wasn't bad looking, but all the women he had ever dealt with only knew one thing. They wanted him as a trophy and nothing else. He was tired and now he had hope that maybe he would finally find his mate. He grabbed his jacket and walked out the door. Yes. He would finally find his mate, he was sure of it.

Miroku walked into the casino that morning feeling well rested, even though rest was the last thing he did last night. He smirked as he remember the red head from the bar. She had been seen earlier in the evening with another gentleman in the casino, but once he started losing his money, he lost the girl. 'Too bad for the guy, but great luck for me.' He grinned wickedly as he remembered the passion they had shared last night. He knew he wouldn't hear from the woman again, but that is how he wanted it.

No ties means no one gets hurt. They wouldn't want any more from him than the sex they both wanted, which was fine by him. He didn't want to be tied down. He couldn't imagine being with one woman for the rest of his life. He maybe wolf, but he never thought he would find his true mate. None of the women he fooled around with ever seem to make him want to settle down. They were just a piece of ass and a good time. They satisfied a need he had because he was male and a wolf. It was all he worried about when he was younger, but he still needed that release and those women were just a way for him to relieve himself; the good time was just a plus.

He was sure he'd never find his mate. He was going to be a bachelor for the rest of his existence, a very long existence considering wolves live a very long time. He smiled at the cocktail waitresses walking around offering drinks to the clients. How could anyone want to drink this early? He took a quick glance at his watch and saw it was only nine fifteen. Who would want to drink this early in the morning, but as he looked around there was plenty of people drinking. Gambling sure gave the people the thirst. He shook his head and walked through Inuyasha's door.

He saw that his boss was busy as usual with casino business. It was a surprise Inuyasha didn't just sleep in his office with as much time he spent there. Inuyasha was hunched over his desk looking over yesterday's revenues.

"So how long have you been here?" Miroku shut the door and walked over to the chair in front of the desk. He looked at Inuyasha and noticed he did go home. He had changed his clothes. He wore a pair tan kakis and a nice white dress shirt. However the shirt was now unbuttoned and his sleeves were rolled up.

"Fuck. I don't know. A couple of hours I guess." Inuyasha grunted and took a quick glance up to see Miroku. He then went back to the paperwork he was going over.

"A couple of hours?" Miroku persisted trying to see what Inuyasha would say. He had a feeling he had been there for quite a few hours, but that was the way Inuyasha was.

"Ok. What do you want me to say? I've been here since about five or five thirty, is that fucking alright with you?" Inuyasha growled finally agitated enough with all Miroku's questions.

What did it matter to Miroku. It was him who was doing all the paperwork, but if he didn't do the work, he would be left to think about that damn scent again. It seemed to keep haunting him, teasing him. All he wanted to do was find the owner of the scent and go from there. Although he was pretty sure what he would do next, once he found the scent. It had to be a woman and that woman would be his future mate. He knew it for sure.

"Jeez. Don't bite my head off. I was just asking." Miroku smiled and raised his hands up defensively. He knew Inuyasha was angry, but his bark was worse than his bite. Although he would have to admit, he had never been bit by Inuyasha and he would never want to. The Tetsusaiga clan seemed to be very ferocious when they were messed with.

Inuyasha grunted and continued on with what he was doing. Miroku sat there for a moment considering what he would say next. "What are the plans for today?"

Inuyasha stopped what he was doing and looked Miroku in the eye. "Well, later on this morning, I want to deal with Hakudoshi. After that I really don't care too much." Inuyasha grabbed the coffee on his desk and gulped down the remaining cold, black liquid.

"Later on this afternoon, I have few interviews for the new cocktail waitress and the card dealer, but that is really all I have to do." Miroku winked at Inuyasha.

Inuyasha knew what that wink meant. He was looking forward to meeting new women he had a chance at sleeping with. He shook his head. He couldn't believe what a pervert his beta was.

"Pervert. You leave those women alone. I don't want you chasing them off. We really need to hire a few more girls."

"Don't worry. I will take good care of them." Inuyasha grunted and went back to work.

"I also want you here when they bring Hakodoshi to me. Do you understand?" Inuyasha stated before Miroku left the room.

"You got it boss. See you in a bit." Miroku was out the door and on to business as usual. Inuyasha stopped a moment and watched as Miroku walk out the door. He was such a pervert, but he was a good beta. That he would never say anything bad about.

Inuyasha felt strange. He wasn't sure what it was, but something about today told him, it would be different. Then suddenly he thought again about the lovely scent from last night. Yes, things were definitely changing.