A/N: I love me some Sesshy. Things are really going to start picking up from here, hence why it's the longest chapter so far :) Let me know what ya think!
The days pressed on with Inuyasha's pack waiting for his return. They kept their current position, likely due to the miko. He could sense the guilt coming off her in waves. She seemed to blame herself for why he was gone. At night, she would toss and turn, unable to sleep. I watched her, now, the moon casting a glow on her blue black hair and reflected off her dark blue eyes which were staring blankly at the night sky. I wondered about the miko, about her strange attire, about what her world was like. I had been able to sneak a few glances at her "books" and was surprised at the level of education required for humans. Not once, though, did I see mention of youkai. This had disturbed me. Did youkai not have a presence in the future?
The young woman rolled on her side, her gaze meeting mine. A pretty blush crept onto her pale cheeks. She chewed on her bottom lip for a moment. I watched the way she worked her teeth around the flesh. It was mesmerizing. Suddenly, she stood, slipping on her shoes. She was in her "pajamas" still, but started to walk. She slowed her pace down after a few moments and glanced slightly toward my direction. So, she wished for me to follow? Nonsense, I would not allow a human to guide my actions. But my curiosity got the better of me. She started moving again, walking into the dense foliage. Before I could stop myself, I followed.
I followed at a distance, watching as she slipped through the trees and brush. I watched her hand reach out and slide its' way around a large tree trunk. Much of the clumsy teen he had witnessed on occasion had grown into an elegant young woman. She came upon a clearing, a small meadow with a pond at the center. She stood still and stared out at the serene setting. I came up behind her, eying her petite form. She was so fragile. So...human.
"Sesshomaru." She breathed out. It should have bothered him that she hardly ever used his proper title.
I said nothing. She knew I was present.
"Where do I go from here? What do I do? Will Inuyasha return to us and lead our group again?" Her voice wavered, the sorrow and guilt mingling with her natural scent.
"That is for you to decide. You are the alpha bitch." I responded.
"You know, I understand the term "bitch" in these days has a totally different meaning but it really irks me. In my time, it's derogatory, and would totally warrant a slap in the face. N-Not that I would slap you, or anything like that." She rambled, barely taking a breath.
"Miko."
"Yeah?"
"Your point?"
"Oh, right, sorry. So, I was thinking. I'm not really cut out for this whole pack leader stuff. And since you seem to know what you're doing, why don't you take over?" She asked, turning to face me.
Her large blue eyes looked up at me, hopeful. She was busying her lip with her teeth again. I made sure to ignore it.
"You would willingly submit to my leadership?" I asked, cocking my head to the side, watching her mull it over. She nodded her head finally.
Lord Sesshomaru of the Western Lands, pack leader of humans. It would certainly tarnish his name. I moved to dismiss her, to tell her she was foolish to even request such a thing from me. She must have sensed it, and her face fell. Her eyes left mine and stared down at her feet, looking lost. I opened my mouth.
"I will accept your promotion to alpha on one condition." What am I doing? I had thought to myself. "You and your travelers will do exactly as this Sesshomaru requests. You will follow my word and demands and if you do not, you will either be expelled from the pack or reprimanded in the way that I choose. Is this clear, miko?" I asked, my voice low and full of authority.
"I will accept these terms, as long as my word does have some weight. I am, after all, the alpha bitch." She crinkled her nose at the sound.
"I will take your thoughts into consideration." I inclined my head, to which she bowed slightly.
"Thank you, Lord Sesshomaru." She whispered.
That pleased me. More than it should have. I pushed the thoughts away and turned to walk back toward the camp site. The monk was awake when we returned. He bowed his head respectfully. I inclined my head in return. The miko followed shortly after. She sat down on her bedding and explained the change of plans to the monk. He seemed surprised at first, but agreed that it was a sound plan.
"I know this was a difficult choice for you, Kagome. It was a good decision, though." The monk said, patting the miko's shoulder.
"I know, Miroku, but if Inuyasha comes back..." She stopped and shook her head.
"What about it?" A gruff voice said from behind the group.
I had seen him arrive just seconds before. He reeked of the dead miko. He had obviously spent all of the time he was away with her. The miko froze, closing her eyes. What would she do, now, that the half-breed had returned? I huffed a bit to myself. It was obvious. She would go back on her decision and roll over for him.
"Inuyasha, you've been gone for some time. Where were you?" She asked softly.
"That aint any of your business." He growled, obviously thirsting for confrontation.
The miko stood slowly, taking a deep breath and facing the half-breed. She squared her shoulders and puffed her chest out. Her next words took me by surprise.
"In your absence, I was forced to make a decision for the food of the pack. Because you are obviously incapable of leading our group, I have decided to appoint Sesshomaru as alpha of our...pack." She said, her knees trembling a bit.
Impressive. This mere slip of a human is standing up to a youkai, albeit a half-breed, but still it was something to be commended. I looked at her in a new light as the half-breed sputtered and growled.
"That's not your place! It's not YOUR decision!" He snarled. At this point, the rest of the pack had woken up, and were watching wearily.
"It is my decision. I founded this group, and you wouldn't be here if I hadn't listened to Kaede and placed those subjugation beads around your neck." She said calmly.
"I'm the alpha, you bitch." He stepped toward her, grabbing her wrist violently. Her knees buckled, and I could hear the bones crunch.
"Inuyasha!" The demon slayer yelled,
A growl erupted from my throat. That filthy half-breed would not touch what was mine. I quickly intervened, scooping him up by his throat and lifting him in the air. He dropped the miko and growled at me, thrashing his arms out and clawing at my hand.
"You are mistaken, little brother. I am alpha of this pack." I tightened my grip on his neck. "Submit or remove your person from my sight." I snarled at him, throwing him onto his back.
"Submit to you, you bastard? Never." He growled, his eyes starting to bleed red. My eyebrow twitched, looking for his sword which he would normally be swinging around recklessly at this point. It was gone. Interesting.
"Inuyasha! What have you done with Tetsusaiga?" The monk yelled, standing in front of the fallen miko.
"None of your business you fucking traitor!" He growled, crouching low.
"If you will not submit to this Sesshomaru's leadership you will leave this pack in peace or be forcibly removed." I said, smelling the demon blood rising in his veins.
"I aint submitting to shit, you prick." His voice came out gravelly, his eyes fully red.
With out further ado, I grabbed the half-breed by the chest and hoisted him up off of his feet. I heard the miko grasp before I felt the sting of his claw gouge my stomach. My youki flared around me and I snarled in his face. Though his demon blood had taken over, it was aware of superiority. I forced my youki around him, strangling him with it. His youki died down in response to mine, his eyes slowly clearing.
"You bastard." He spit out, the angst and hurt clear on his face.
"You are no longer welcome in my pack, half-breed. Get out of my sight before I sever your head from your neck." I said as I threw him.
"Kagome." He whined, sitting up. He looked at her holding her wrist carefully in her hand. Her eyes were full of pain and anger. "I...Did...Did I do that?" He asked, the color draining from his face.
The miko turned her head away, the scent of tears filling the air. The monk walked toward him, hands up in a peaceful manner.
"Yes, Inuyasha, you did. We're aware Tetsusaiga isn't with you. What have you done with your sword?" He asked with a soothing voice.
"I don't know. I was with Kikyo, and then I woke up tonight and she was gone with my sword." He looked away, pitifully.
"Pathetic." I spit out and turned, walking back to my spot near the tree.
"Please, Kagome, I-I'm sorry." He whimpered, on his hands and knees now.
"How can you ask me to trust you? You broke my wrist!" She yelled, tears streaming down her face.
"We will have to devise a plan. You obviously aren't in any condition to be near us, Inuyasha, you know that. Just look at Kagome-"
"I know, monk. I know." He shook is head and met my gaze, his eyes hardened. "Watch over them."
This surprised me. I nodded my head once. He turned to Kagome and stood, then. She looked up at him, her anguish and pain from her broken wrist warring in her aura.
"Kagome, please seal me." He asked, his eyes starting to bleed red again. "Before it takes over again. Seal me."