Disclaimer: I do not own any of the following characters.

Chapter 10

"Thank you, Shippo." Kagome's voice was shallow and small in the black tinted Rolls-Royce.

The kitsune demon looked up and into the rearview mirror. His green eyes caught Kagome's brown and he glanced at the large mansion they were parked in front of.

"Miss Higurashi," he started tentatively and then shifted in his seat to face her.

Kagome smiled delicately to him and shook her head, "It's Kagome, Shippo."

Shippo's frown upturned the slightest at the corner and he nodded, "Kagome," and then his shield shattered. He didn't look at her as an adoring employee. He looked at her with something else entirely in his eyes. Something she had only seen one other person look at her in such a way. But her brother rarely saw her enough now to give her such a devoted glimpse of loyalty and love.

"Yes, Ship-?"

"You can't go in there." He interrupted in an outburst. Green eyes flamed up to a vibrancy that exploded in the darkness of the vehicle and she leaned back further into her seat out of shock.

Shippo cleared his throat and closed his eyes to calm himself. "I'm sorry, I just –Look, you just can't go in there. I remember what he was like. The dogs may be pricks, but he's entirely-"

"I know what he is, Shippo," Kagome returned the interruption and glanced back to the mansion.

It was gorgeous. An off white with balconies gracing nearly every window. And the lights of the front porch sparkled in the windows in brilliant reflections. Like twinkling stars.

The entire drive there, she had sat in silence, wondering why his name had so easily rolled off her tongue. Why did she want to see him? Now? Of all times...what compelled her to see him?

"Then you know you can't go in there, Kagome. Please. He's destructive and he's dangerous." The concern in his voice was so heartwarming. She knew Shippo cared for her, but to this extent?

He's a good friend. Kagome smiled to herself and then shook her head, getting back to the conversation.

"The guards already let us in. I'm sure he's already sensed us. We can't just drive back out," pausing, she glanced again at the mansion, her right hand lifting to grip the door handle in anticipation. "I would feel like such a damn coward. And, Shippo, I am not running away from this."

The young youkai looked at her with furrowed brows and a gapping mouth. "But why? Why now, Kagome?"

He didn't want to bring up the past. He really didn't. But if Kagome wasn't going to listen to reason, then he was planning to use her secrets against her. To hell with employee respect.

Kagome sighed heavily, shoulders sinking low. "I don't expect you to understand. But I need something from him right now."

Shippo's eyes blazed a furious green. And he slammed his hand hard onto the leather seat. "Goddamnit, Kagome. He abused you!"

The miko, depleted of her power, snapped her eyes to the demon. Her attention fully locked on the young man glaring at her with watering eyes.

"He fucking hurt you. I don't care what you say. I know it was him. You did a great damn job hiding it from everyone else. You did an even better job in being quiet about the separation. But you couldn't hide that shit from me. I'm a kitsune. You know what my abilities are, Kagome. You know I can see through any disguise - demon, miko or the human kind." His voice softened as an angry tear slipped down his cheek. "Whatever it is you think you need from him, it's not worth it. He's stronger. And it's the new moon – you're powerless."

Eyes wide, Kagome stared at him as if seeing him for the first time. Finally, her gaze shifting back to the overbearing door she was itching to walk through. With a sigh, she said under her breath, "I guess nothing is sacred in a car." Then louder, "Shippo. I'm really flattered that you care about me so much." Her hands slid to the handle and she smoothly exited the vehicle.

The kitsune opened his own door and hesitated as he looked at her over the roof of the vehicle. "Kag-"

"I'm doing this, Shippo. And you can't stop me." Her voice took a thick underlying coat of danger to it. She was miko. She was powerful. Not at that moment, but her energy always returned to her. "I expect you to drive off, drop off the car, and go home. I expect you to respect my decisions. And I expect you to trust me." Her voice was law in that instant and the demon's ears flattened on his head in submission.

Shippo nodded curtly and slipped back into the car, shutting the door with a thud before speeding off and leaving her behind.

I may not be a match for you, Kagome, but I know who is. And his foot pressed harder onto the accelerator, not noticing the heavy purple fog clouding around the home that Kagome was left standing before.

But the miko noticed. And she knew. The man she despised waited for her.

Squaring her shoulders she mentally prepared herself and took a giant step forward. As she did it, the door slowly crept open and she saw the man that had once been her friend. Her lover. Her everything.

His chest was bare, a white towel over his broad shoulders. The wavy long black hair of his cascaded over his neck and swept to the side of his eyes, framing the sharp and narrow face of his.

His eyes were bloody red, and had an iridescent effect that made them look as if they were glowing with a fire beneath.

"Kagome," his slithering voice carried to her as she closed the space between them.

Kagome eyed him and nodded, the opposing man took the queue and stepped to the side, allowing her to pass. Her shoulder brushed against his arm and she peaked at him through her bangs. Voice terse and throat dry, she finally said the name that plagued her after three years, "Naraku."

Twin expressions of perfect understanding graced both youkai and hanyou. They sat across from each other, a large desk separating them. It was a familiar scene, but neither was measuring the other over. Neither one was apprehensive.

What they had just discussed made so much sense to both of them there was nothing else to go over. Instincts would guide them. As inu-demon descendants, they had come to a conclusion that neither of them had anticipated. After such vicious deliberation, it was evident as to who was alpha in the threesome of miko, hanyou and youkai. And nothing in their life had ever unified them in such a way.

"I told her we'd meet her at her house tonight." Inuyasha stretched his arms up above his head. He was so...content. It made it easier doing this in his human state - the human in him could present it to his inner demon, making it understand before the demon came pulsing through his veins.

Sesshomaru's eyes flickered to the clock and he nodded, "We should go now." Then, with slight hesitation, he asked, "Should we take dinner?"

Inuyasha's eyes widened and a loopy grin splashed across the human's face. "Wow. You're really taking this role seriously."

The older Takagi narrowed his eyes and averted his gaze, a slight pink shade flittering on his cheeks which went unnoticed from the human. "It's like I'm compelled to." He shook his head and looked at his brother now with amusement, realizing something. "I imagine you'll feel it as soon as your demon blood takes over again."

That wiped the grin from the younger brother and he gulped audibly. It was Sesshomaru's turn to smile.

"Hurry. Let's -"

But the youkai was interrupted by someone slamming the doors of his office hard against the inside walls. They ricocheted back but it didn't matter, as the kitsune was already inside, with green eyes frenzied.

The youkai was faster. Before Shippo could get a breath out, Sesshomaru had flown from his seat, closing his long and deadly claws around the young demon's throat. At that moment it didn't matter that the kitsune was someone he knew. Inuyasha was human and vulnerable. Being the strongest at the moment, Sesshomaru wasn't taking a chance with anything.

"You better have a good reason to barge in here like that," Inuyasha said almost lazily as he stood to make his way to his brother's side.

Shippo's eyes were glowing green, his expression twisted in anger and determination. But Inuyasha noticed right away that the look wasn't directed towards them.

The calculated human set a hand on his brother's shoulder, and squeezed gently. The gesture was enough to relax the youkai's grip on the young demon. And slowly but surely he removed his hold from Shippo's throat.

The kitsune sucked in air and growled out. "Kagome." And he turned, leading them out if they would follow.

Without a second thought, or any hesitation, both brothers followed the fox. Their steps seconds behind Shippo's as they burst through the stairway doors. The elevator was faster for humans, but they were demons. Shippo lunged and threw himself down the staircase, angling his plummet so that he shot straight through and down until reaching the garage level.

Sesshomaru bent his knees, offering Inuyasha his back. If it had been any other time, the hanyou would have objected and slid down the stairwell. But Kagome was in danger. And they weren't about to waste time bitching. They were going to fall in line.

Inuyasha hopped on and Sesshomaru leaped down to follow Shippo's trajectory.

The dog demons had the same narrowed eyes and taught lips, while a single thought rang true in both minds: We need to get to our Alpha.

A/N: DUN DUN DUUUUUUN! Kagome is in trouble. And did you see it coming? The complex I lined out? It makes sense to me, you know? Kagome is so powerful in this universe I created, that nothing short of the jewel could control her. So...you know...Alpha material. Anyways! Please send me some love! My creative juices are finally flowing. I'm on spring break and I have time to actually think this time around. Let me know how you like it, let me know how you hate it, let me know if you think I should just have nothing but hot sex between everyone. JUST LET ME KNOW! Peace and love to you all!