XXXV: Alpha and Beta
When the tears fell
And when the eyes closed
When I fell into the lake
When I was caught and held
When I was kissed
When I looked dead
When I yelled
When I questioned myself
And when—when I questioned 'us'
Everything was sincere
So why can't you believe
I am sincere in my need—my love for you?
Flower twelve
Sango and Miroku walked into Inuyasha and Kagome's temporary hut with their children and Shippo sometime before dusk. After the baby had been born Inuyasha had moved Kagome into their own hut where they had been left to bond with the child for two hours or so at the insistence of Sesshoumaru. He had stressed the importance of the parents bonding with the child before anyone saw her.
Sango had agreed with him, telling the others what she had learned about humanized demons from her father: the first couple of hours after birth causes imprinting, both the parent and the child imprint each other's scent allowing them to form an unbreakable connection that was vital to demon survival.
With this in mind they had held back until now but, seeing as two hours had passed Sesshoumaru and Sango both agreed it would be okay for them to go ahead and see the new parents in groups. The first being Sango and Miroku with the children and the second being Rin and Sesshoumaru.
"Inuyasha, is Kagome awake?" Sango asked in a soft voice as she looked into the hut.
Inuyasha had built a fire which he was sitting by with his arms in his lap, the wide sleeves hiding his form. Behind him in a futon was the form of Kagome. "No, she's out." He said.
Shippo came over to Inuyasha hurriedly. He, unlike the others could smell the pup and knew it was in Inuyasha's sleeves. Inuyasha smiled as the kit neared him.
"You smell her?"
"You can't hide something from a kitsune nose." Shippo said as he tapped his nose and smiled at the dog-demon. "Can I see her?"
With a nod Inuyasha moved his hands to his sides revealing a little bundle with silver hair and mix-matched silver and black dark ears. Sango and Miroku, each caring a sleepy twin, came into to sit around the fire with Inuyasha and Shippo.
"She's so cute." Shippo said with a beautiful smile on his normally mischievous face. He reached out a hand and touched her little cheek. The ears on her head twitched at the contact but she didn't stir otherwise.
Inuyasha smiled at the kit, watching him with happy eyes. "You better help me watch after her." He said pointedly. "You're going to be the closest thing she has to a nii-chan."
Shippo looked up at the older demon with wide eyes. Although it had never been officially said, he looked to the demon as an older brother and father, just as he looked to Kagome as an older sister or mother. The very fact that Inuyasha was telling him now that it was his responsibility to help him protect his daughter spoke volumes to the kitsune. With a puffed out chest the teenager nodded his head firmly as he held back happy tears. "I will guard her with my life, Inuyasha-Otou-san."
Inuyasha didn't even flinch at the horrific but instead reached out and ruffled the kitsune's hair. "Okaa-san will be glad to hear that when she wakes up."
Seeing that the private moment was gone Sango scouted next to the Hanyou, little Shokuro sleeping soundly in her arms.
"Why don't you lay them down with Kagome?" He suggested as he took in the sleeping form as his nephew and the sleeping form of his niece.
"Is there room on the futon?" Miroku asked as he looked back at Kagome's peaceful form.
"Yeah, she's on the double."
Standing Miroku walked across the room and smiled at the peaceful face of the sleeping Kagome. The girl was out cold, as was to be expected after such a long and difficult birth. Gently he laid Mika down next to her and then after taking Shokuro from his wife, laid him down as well. The two children snuggled into each other and, unconsciously, Kagome snuggled into them.
He walked back over to his best friend and taking a seat next to his wife looked at the sleeping pup.
"She has Kagome's cheek bones." He said in a matter of fact way.
"Ah, but she has Inuyasha's nose." Sango pointed out as she touched the little nose. The girl scrunched up her face and sneezed. With a giggle Sango reached up to touch one of the little ears on top of her head. "What a strange coloration."
"Yeah." Inuyasha agreed as he watched Sango gently touch one little ear. "Kagome's glad she got my hair color for the most part but she thinks the black patched ears are cute."
"They are." Miroku supplied from his place beside Sango.
"I agree." Shippo said as he too reached out and touched the girls other ear. "Are yours as soft as hers?"
"No." Sango said in Inuyasha's place. "She's got baby fur."
Shippo frowned and reached up to touch Inuyasha's head. The hanyou gave him a mild glare and a little growl but otherwise allowed the touch. Shippo rubbed the ear for a second and moved back with a shrug. "Sango's right, yours are nowhere near as soft as hers."
Inuyasha growled but stopped abruptly when he felt another, very unfamiliar, hand on his ears. He turned quickly to see Miroku leaning over Sango so he could touch the furry appendage.
"Miroku!" He whispered harshly but the monk only laughed in return.
"I just wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Unlike everybody else I've never touched your ears."
"For good reason." Inuyasha huffed as he pulled away. "It's kind of weird when you do it."
"I miss when your demon blood was out of control." Miroku said as he backed away fraying hurt. "You were so much nicer then."
"I'm still nice." Inuyasha retorted with a snort.
Miroku gave him a dry look. "Yeah, to baby's and women, but what about me?"
"I'll show you nice." Inuyasha said as he prepared to pop the monk in the head. Sango's hand coming up to halt his fist stopped him and he turned to look at her laughing eyes.
"That's enough, you'll wake Kagome and the baby if you keep it up."
Both men smiled but obeyed.
"Now, let me hold her." She said as she reached into Inuyasha's lap not waiting for permission. Much to their surprise the little girl did not stir as Sango took her into her arms and brought her to her chest. She looked at the girl with such love that Inuyasha felt his heart twinge. Sango was looking at that pup the same way he and Kagome did, with all the love in her heart.
Miroku leaned over Sango's shoulder and took in the sight of the sleeping girl. "She is precious." He said as he reached forward to touch a little puppy ear. The ear twitched and the little girl's mouth started to make the telltale sign of suckling.
Inuyasha grinned as he felt Shippo lean his head on his shoulder. He looked over at the small boy and ruffled his hair before wrapping a hand around the small shoulders in a half hug. Shippo smiled. He was so much bigger than the little kistune kit they had saved all those years ago. He now stood to just above Inuyasha's waist and was starting to show signs of some muscle. His hair was long now but still held in the trademark ponytail.
For a moment Inuyasha felt a wave a guilt hit him. This kit that he loved like a son had been so neglected by him and Kagome over the course of the past two or three years. They had been so caught up in their own problems that they hadn't even thought of the growing kits needs. Luckily Sango and Miroku, as his other set of surrogate parents had done well to take him in.
Inuyasha smiled. They really were a pack like any demon pack would have been. Even if they all had children and wives, they still made sure to raise all their children as a giant brood. It was better for the children, Inuyasha thought, to have multiple people to look up to and to have more than one person to run to if they needed help or guidance.
He was positive that in the upcoming years Seika would be able to look to Sango and Miroku, and even Sesshoumaru and Rin, in much the same way Mika and Shokuro looked to him and Kagome.
"Awe." Sango said, starling him out of his thoughts. "Look at those little eyes."
Sure enough Seika was awake and looking at the woman with her big gold and blue eyes. The pup yawned before sniffling the air.
"I think she really did get my nose." Inuyasha said as he looked at the little girl scent. "She's trying to find the packs scents."
"If she got the demon nose then why didn't she wake up when we came in?" Shippo asked as he continued to lean on Inuyasha. "I wake up right away when I smell people I've never met."
"She probably recognized your scent on our cloths." Inuyasha supplied as Seika began to whimper out alpha, over and over again.
Sango looked surprised when the little whimpers turned into a soft growl. "Inuyasha?"
"She's asking for me." He said as he reached for the pup. Taking her from Sango he looked into her small eyes and let out a soft growl. "Pup."
From his spot Shippo let out the same growl. "Pup!"
The little girl turned to Shippo and repeated the word.
"That's right," He said as he smiled widely. "I'm a pack pup too, just like you." He reached for her and touched one of her little doggie ears. The girl growled delighted at the attention and snuggled into her father.
"Food." She growled now and began to rout into Inuyasha's chest. "Food."
"Sango can you wake Kagome? She's hungry."
"Sure." Sango moved away from the fire and woke the woman up slowly. "Kagome-chan? It's time to feed the baby."
"Sango-chan?" Kagome said in a sleepy voice as she set up and took in the hut around her. She looked at the two sleeping twins and a fond smile lite her face before she felt a pain in her lower body. "Ow."
"Are you okay?" Inuyasha said as he handed the pup to Miroku and went to her side.
Miroku held the little baby to his chest and watched them with concern as Inuyasha knelt beside Kagome and took her hand.
"Yeah, just a little bit more pain than I thought there would be."
"I smell blood." Inuyasha stated, he had smelt it for quite a while but that blood had smelled similar to woman's blood, this smelt like regular blood.
"That's to be expected."
"Kagome, it smells different than it has been."
"She tore." Sango said in a small voice as she helped Inuyasha pick up Kagome. He moved her to the fire and set her down. "She probably will have some residual bleeding for a while."
"I tore?"
"Just a little."
Kagome nodded and took Seika from Miroku when he offered. Without any embarrassment she lowered her yukata and let the little girl begin to nurse. Out of Respect Miroku looked away and at Sango who was tending to their own children.
"We better wake them soon. If not they won't sleep tonight." He said to her as she gently rubbed Shokuro's back to wake him. The little boy yawned and looked up at her with his ever present happy smile. His sister stirred beside him, her own eyes opening slowly.
"Okaa-san?" The little girl questioned as she stretched away her sleep. Inuyasha walked towards them, the red of his pants leg catching her eyes. "Inu-Ojiisan!" She called out before rushing towards him. Her small arms wrapped around his leg hugging him before he reached down and pulled her into a hug.
Shokuro took saw him and with a large smile reached up towards him. Inuyasha bent down and grabbed his nephew pulling both children into a tight hug. He smelled their hair, delighting in their familiar scents.
"Baby?" Shokuro asked when Inuyasha pulled back.
"Yes. Do you want to meet the pup?" He asked as he nuzzled the little boy before nuzzling Mika.
"Puppy?" The girl questioned and Inuyasha only laughed as he brought the two over to the fire.
The twins looked at the small baby in their aunt's arms in awe as their uncle set down next to her. The baby was still actively nursing but Kagome was sure it would only be a few more minutes. Quietly the hut watched as the two small children gazed with curiosity at the nursing infant.
"Doggie ears like Ojii-san." Mika said as she touched Inuyasha's ears before pointing at the little girl.
"Yeah. I'm her Otou-san. Like," He pointed at Miroku. "He's your Otou-san. So she has the same ears as me."
The little girl nodded as she watched the baby finish. Kagome brought her yukata back up with the pup secure in her lap. She looked at the two twins and motioned them over. Both children moved off of Inuyasha's lap and over to Kagome with awe in their eyes as they studied their cousin.
Shokuro touched one of her ears and the puppy let out something out that sounded very close to a giggle. It was love at first sight.
The little boy was grinning from ear to ear as he studied her, he was fascinated and already in love with this little girl. Inuyasha and Miroku exchanged looks as Shokuro kissed her little cheek and declared she was very pretty.
"You keep your son away from my daughter." The Inu said with a smirk.
"You keep your daughter away from my son." Miroku retorted with a laugh as he watched his son play with the little girls ears.
"Give it fifteen years." Sango said with a smile as she one arm around Kagome's shoulders. "And we might be related for real."
The adults laughed and then watched as Mika's old eyes watched the baby with fascination. She touched the little cheek and for a second the world around them seemed to freeze. Both girls were quiet as their eyes locked; it was as if they knew each other without having to be introduced. Seika let out a soft whine that Inuyasha didn't recognize.
"Seika." Mikaren said in a happy voice as the spell was broken and she looked at Kagome with a smile. "Obaa-san, she has a pretty name!"
-break-
Kagome and Inuyasha set in the hut all alone with the exception of a sleeping Shippo. The kit had decided that he wanted to stay with them for the night and after much reassurance that he didn't mind if the pup wailed all night, they had agreed that they would enjoy the kit's company. In the hut next door Kaede was asleep with Rin and Sesshoumaru.
Sesshoumaru had popped his head in briefly earlier that evening saying they would see the pup tomorrow so Rin would get some rest. After a long day with her own pup Rin had decided for the good of herself, as well as the good of Kagome it was better for them to wait for tomorrow.
Inuyasha had thanked him, knowing that Kagome needed all the rest she could get. Now, they were laying in their futon, both sleeping with the baby between them. Shippo was curled up next to Inuyasha, allowing them to have the child in the middle.
"Do you think it's weird that she knew Seika's name without ever having heard it?" Kagome asked as she laid her eyes focused on her child in the darkened room.
"It was strange but, if she has such an old Miko soul inside of her then isn't it plausible?"
Kagome thought about it for a moment and then nodded. "I guess."
"I mean, you were able to use your Miko powers without thought."
"But I was so much older. I was fifteen, she's two and a half."
Inuyasha nodded, taking in her point. After Mika had said the girl's name, the adults in the hut had decided to just let the moment pass not knowing what to even make of Mika's strange psychic moment.
They had stayed an hour or so more after the incident, cooking dinner for the new parents and overall just chatting. After Sango had promised to take Kagome to a spring tomorrow so she could clean up some more, they had left to their own hut, leaving Shippo with them.
"This is so strange, Kagome." Inuyasha said as he rolled to his back. Shippo muttered in his sleep and Inuyasha smiled slightly at the boy. "I mean, Mika knew without asking. Not even Miko's are telepathic."
"How do you think she knew then?" Kagome asked as she shifted uncomfortably. The numbing tea Sango had given her was wearing off; without having to ask, Inuyasha with all his grace moved from the futon, not even stirring Shippo or Seika.
Kagome marveled at his gracefulness. Sometimes she forgot just how flexible he really was and just how quietly he could move when he wanted. Most of the time he was loud and very lively but Kagome knew that underneath that loud nature was a person with the ability to kill a man before he could even scream.
"I don't know how she knew, Kagome. I just think it's strange."
Kagome nodded as she watched him make the tea. "Maybe we should ask Kaede-baa-chan."
"In the morning." He agreed as he took some hot water that had been waiting on the ashes and poured it into a simple mug. He mixed the herbs in it was a stirring stick and then walked back to the futon. She took it thankfully as she set up and drank.
They were silent as she drank the tea, the discomfort she had been feeling going away easily. After several moments she finished it, he took it from her and laid it next to the fire before snuggling back into the futon with her, Seika, and Shippo.
"Inuyasha." She whispered as she took his hand into her own over their child's head. "I—," she paused. "I wanted to say thank you, for staying with me. I know it's not the custom of this time but it is—."
"Kagome." He interrupted as he placed a kiss to the palm of her hand. "I'm not one to uphold tradition but if something is important to you; then it is important to me."
She nodded, knowing he was able to see the action clearly. "I really missed Mama today." She admitted as she watched his eyes that slightly glowed in the dark.
"I understand." He said as he pushed a stray bit of hair out of her face. "I missed her too."
Kagome was surprised. "Inuyasha?"
"Even though I've never really talked to her for more than a minute or two, I still remember how nice she always was to me. She never denied me anything. If I wanted a snack she made it, if I wanted to eat dinner with you guys she made more, sometimes she even made me eat with you."
Kagome giggled and nodded. "She did like you."
"She always encouraged me." Inuyasha went on. "We went shopping together once."
Kagome looked up surprised. "When?"
"After your entrance exams," He said. "When I dropped you and she came to give you your card." He stuttered overcome of the modern terms but continued. "After you went inside the building we went shopping. She said if I came she could get some bigger stuff."
"You never told me."
"I didn't think it was that important."
She could make out the fond smile on his face as he thought of her mother.
"She was a great woman."
"Do you think we'll live long enough to see her again?" Kagome asked softly. He reached out and touched the mark on her shoulder, it caused her to shudder with pleasure.
"I don't know how long I'll live Kagome." He said sadly. "Demons can live for thousands of years but, I'm a half demon, I don't think one has ever made it to adulthood to find out our lifespan capabilities."
She frowned. "Well you're over two hundred years old and you look about twenty." She said and thought really hard, Math was not her favorite subject. "So for every two hundred years you look twenty human years. The average human lives sixty years or so. So I bet you could make it another six hundred years at least."
"I don't think it works that way." He said with a smile.
"What do you mean?" She frowned confused.
"Demon's reach their physical maturity fast, once they reach it they slow down again and maintain it as long as they can." He touched her shoulder again with a smile. "I just reached physical maturity right when I met you almost nine year ago. In that time have I changed at all."
"No." She answered with a frown.
"A demon like Sesshoumaru can live a good ten thousand years Kagome." He supplied. "I bet I will make it at least four or five."
"Wow." She said with wide eyes. "You mean I might be alive for five thousand years?"
"Maybe. We'll have to see."
The thought was unbelievable to here. She might live for five thousand years? All the things that would change in her life time, the people she would see grow old and die. It scared her to think about but then the feeling of Inuyasha touching his mark brought her back to him and she looked into his face. Inuyasha was a constant in her life and she knew that even when everything changed around them, even when the world became a rapidly developing industrialized world, he would still be there by her side and that was all she really needed to stay alive.
-break-
The next day came and bright and early Inuyasha and Kagome were awakened by the sound of their little daughter. With a groan they both awoke, along with Shippo, and tried to convince themselves that parenthood was worth being awoken at six in the morning.
Without much thought Shippo simply mumbled something about going to Kaede's before leaving the hut and disappearing next door. A few moments later Kaede entered the hut, fully dressed and smiled at the still bed mused parents. With her help they were able to calm the baby down, feed her, and then eat breakfast. Not an hour later Sango showed up at the hut, offering to take Kagome to clean up at one of the nearby hot springs.
The younger practically cried with happiness. Even after years of living permanently in the Feudal Era she still maintained the hygienic standards of her own world. With the promise of returning in less than an hour Inuyasha had let the two women, plus Kaede leave.
Kaede was going simply so she could help instruct Kagome on doctoring her wounds from birth once she was clean, as well as getting a good soak in after her long day yesterday.
Thus, Inuyasha was left in the hut alone with his infant daughter. The little girl was wide awake her eyes studying the hut with curiosity. Inuyasha watched her and smiled, everything was so new to the little girl, which was to be expected, but still it was fun for him to watch her curious eyes take in the new things.
Before long her gaze turned to her father, her fingers reaching up to grab for the bit of hair that was laying over his shoulder. Inuyasha smiled and took the bit of hair, putting it in her face like he had once done to Mika. The girl went cross eyed trying to look at the offending object before she sneezed and Inuyasha brought his hair away.
She reached again and Inuyasha obliged this time putting the bit of hair over her eyes. The girl giggled and then took a fist full of his hair and pulled, hard.
"Ow, ow, ow, ow. Seika, let go." He stuttered as the pain in his hair became too much.
"Would you like some help?" The smart ass remark of Sesshoumaru filled his ears.
He glanced up to take in the sight of his older brother smiling smugly. "Jackass." He muttered before nodding his head for assistance.
Sesshoumaru strolled over slowly, having to bend down so he wouldn't hit his head on the door frame. With ease he let out a small growl, distracting the girl before he moved her fingers out of Inuyasha's hair.
Seika blinked multiple times at the older male and took a deep sniff of the air before taking a sniff of her father. She looked absolutely confused. Carefully she growled the word for alpha at Inuyasha while giving Sesshoumaru a strange look.
Both men looked at each other confused as well. The little girl let out another growl directed at Sesshoumaru for Beta. It was then that both men caught on to her problem.
"She doesn't understand." Inuyasha said in a small voice. "I mean technically you are alpha but—."
"Normally only the alpha sirs pups in tight knit packs." Sesshoumaru finished. "How did she react to Miroku and Sango?"
"She didn't really label them, she was asleep for most of the visit until she got hungry."
"I see." Sesshoumaru knelt down next to his brother and watched as the confusion in the girls eyes intensified. "Well, what do you want her to call you?"
"I would prefer alpha." He said with a snort. "but won't that just confuse her?"
"We can come up with a new term."
"You can do that?"
"Human's do it all the time." Sesshoumaru said as he crossed his legs and growled fondly at the girl. She was falling asleep as Inuyasha rocked her.
"True." Inuyasha said with a smile his eyes focused on her. "I really just want to be Otou-san, Alpha and all that shit doesn't matter to me. It's just ceremony."
Sesshoumaru let out a small growl, one that Inuyasha didn't recognize. It seemed like an odd combination of alpha and a word he had never heard.
"What does that mean?" He asked as he focused on his brother.
"It means Alpha father."
"I've never heard it before."
Sesshoumaru took a deep breath and leaned back as if he was preparing for something that was hard for him to say. "You have never heard it because you never knew our father. Pups are born knowing their alpha but they are not born knowing their father. They have to be taught that."
"Kuroikeme doesn't call you that. He calls you alpha."
"That's by my choice." Sesshoumaru said, "It is what I called father, so it is what I want my son to call me. As for you and your daughter I think Alpha-father would be a good choice." Sesshoumaru huffed as he added, "Besides, I know I am the head of our family but Inuyasha, I think you need to be the head of yours."
Inuyasha didn't take his eyes off of Sesshoumaru as he watched his brother take the little girl out of his lap with his one arm. The pup didn't stir but let herself be cuddled by her uncle.
"What do you mean?"
"Inuyasha, there was once a time when we hated each other and now that we have—reconciled I have taken the typical role of older brother but," Sesshoumaru looked up at Inuyasha and Inuyasha gasped for the little emotion he saw cross Sesshoumaru's eyes if only for a second. "Due to that separation we have grown up as individuals, not pack. Because of this I think it is more fitting for you to carry on your role as alpha instead of bending to the role of beta. Inuyasha you are more of an alpha than a beta, it is your personality."
"Sesshoumaru?"
"When we are together in a family setting I will be alpha but among your own pack, this human family you have created, I think you should assume your proper role as alpha male. You are their leader and I am just your supporter."
"You're my beta?"
The death glare Inuyasha remembered so fondly hit him then as his brother let out a low growl telling Inuyasha to submit as the 'lesser' male in the room. Smugly Inuyasha bared his throat to his brother which placated Sesshoumaru if only for a second. "This Sesshoumaru is no bodies Beta."
"Glad to know some things will never change." Inuyasha laughed outright in his brother's face. Sesshoumaru only growled in disgust.
Both men grew quiet for a moment as they lost themselves in their own thoughts. The silence stayed until finally Sesshoumaru broke it. "Rin and I need to return to the west. I have neglected my duties far too long."
"Has Jaken contacted you?"
"Last week he sent a letter, telling me that all was well but I still think it is best for us to return home. I haven't really lived in father's kingdom since father died."
"That's been over two hundred years."
Sesshoumaru nodded but then looked at his brother with knowing eyes. "You have lived with human's far too long brother. Two hundred years to our kind is the equivalent to a human's week."
"When will you leave?"
"I'll go on a trip by myself to the castle in about a week, that is if you can guard Rin and Kruoikeme for me."
"No problem there, they can continue to stay with us."
Sesshoumaru nodded his thanks before he continued. "I'll stay for a few days and head back if I can, then after Akkanka is defeated Rin and I will live there permanently."
Inuyasha nodded his head as he watched his brother snuggle his daughter. It was an interesting sight that made Inuyasha wonder if Sesshoumaru had ever held him, he shook his head letting the thought pass before he stretched.
"Hey Sesshoumaru, how old are you?"
The man thought for a minute and then shrugged. "I was about four hundred or so when you were born, so six hundred something."
"How long do you think you'll live?"
Sesshoumaru let out a very Inuyasha like snort. "Do you know nothing. Our own father was two thousand years old when he died and he didn't look a day older than I do right now. For all I know I have the potential to live forever if I don't die in battle."
"How long do you think I'll live?"
They made eye contact as Inuyasha asked the question. Outside he could hear Sango, Kagome, Kaede, and what sounded like Rin and Yutara coming towards the hut, they sounded happy, refreshed even.
"Brother." Sesshoumaru said quietly so the women had no chance of hearing. "I don't think it matters but know this, you will live a good long time and with any luck, you might even outlive me."
"Inuyasha?" Kagome entered the hut and stopped when she saw Sesshoumaru. "So that's why Rin-chan met us."
"Yes," He answered shortly as he stood and handed the pup back to Inuyasha. He walked out the door passed the four women. With a motion towards Rin who was holding Kuroikeme he mumbled briefly. "Have fun with your visit, mine is done."
Rin nodded and entered the hut with everyone else with a smile on her face. "I'll trade you." She said to Inuyasha as she took a seat and passed him his nephew. The little boy growled out beta quickly and began to make little sounds for welcome when he saw the new addition to the group.
Inuyasha looked to the door to see if Sesshoumaru was watching the two cousins met but he was already gone.
End of Chapter
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