Summary: Inuyasha has a brief lapse in judgment and has to be reminded of his place within their pack.
AN: I'm sure you're all noticing a pattern in my drabbles, but what can I say? I love a good sibling squabble.
'Thoughts' "Dialogue"
Inuyasha grumbled under his breath, hating fancy events such as this. He vaguely noticed his brother do a diplomatic circle through the crowd, greeting associates and clients with ease before someone else caught his eye.
Kagome wore a shimmering blue dress that matched her eyes as she sat under the moonlight. Dark hair flowed loosely around her sweet face and he couldn't stop himself from approaching.
"Dance with me," he begged, and knowing how uncomfortable crowds made him, she obliged. They glided around the room and he drowned out the others to focus only on her. With her scent teasing his nose, he closed his eyes, drew her in closer, and lost himself in what could have been. He unthinkingly nuzzled into her neck and felt her stiffen before a voice brought him back to reality.
"Don't take such inappropriate liberties with your sister, Inuyasha." Sesshoumaru sneered, reasserting his dominance and his claim as he pulled Kagome to his side.
Inuyasha was instantly horrified by the word. Sputtering as anger and humiliation rose within him, he flexed his claws and prepared to pounce but Kagome's intervention gave him pause.
"Sister-in-law," she corrected, looking up at her mate fondly. "And he knows better, so stop teasing him."
Sesshoumaru's dissatisfied frown turned into a smirk as he stared down Inuyasha over her head. As he pulled her closer, his expression clearly read: 'It doesn't matter, I have already won.'
Inuyasha riled again, ready to pick a fight, itching to take out his self-loathing, but Kagome flashed him a brilliant and contented smile from her mate's arms. He stilled, losing his nerve, and made a hasty retreat before he could ruin her night with brash actions.
'Damn that smile.'
As he ran from his pain, a string of curses fell from his mouth. He cursed himself for losing his head in front of so many witnesses, but also for being stupid enough to lose her all those years ago.
Written for Dokuga's Prompt#187 - Nerve