Chapter 4

An Angry Hanyou and a Resigned Lord

Sesshomaru inwardly winced as he heard the yell from his half-brother. He would never understand how anyone so brash could have such a loyal pack, especially with the way he treated his alpha female.

Taking a glance at the silent miko beside him, he took notice of her saddened expression, and he was tempted to sigh. Surely the female knew that the hanyou trysted with the dead one. Even now, Sesshomaru could already smell the stench of sex, clay, and graveyard soil.

It was revolting.

Eyeing the female beside him, he realized that she knew. She smelled of dried tears and an overwhelming abundance of sadness. Sesshomaru wondered how someone that sad could still smile at those that needed it.

It was…endearing.

It was not often that Sesshomaru met someone who was like the miko, and when he did, his respect for that person rose, human or not. While he still detested humans, at least one or two of them had redeeming qualities. They were still below one such as him, and that would never change.

He wondered just how much it would take to break the female, and honestly, he hoped he never saw. Already, he could tell that she carried a purity to her, one that shouldn't be tainted. However, it seemed that InuYasha didn't see it.

Kagome jumped as InuYasha burst through the heavy brush and it took everything Sesshomaru had not to roll his eyes. The filthy hanyou was panting hard, eyes wide and wild. For a moment, Sesshomaru thought him to be worried for his female. Then the overwhelming stench of the clay miko hit him, and he couldn't contain his scoff.

InuYasha turned his head to the noise, glaring at the dog that seemed to be looking down upon him, before turning angry eyes on the reason he had been panicking, not that he would ever admit that. "Oi, Wench! What the fuck were you thinking?"

"What?" Kagome stuttered, surprised by his outburst.

"I told you to stay. Are you so stupid that you can't even follow one command?" InuYasha shouted, grabbing Kagome by the arm and roughly pulling her to her feet. "Let's go. We need to find the others."

Kagome stumbled along after InuYasha, attempting to get the male to stop so she could at least put her shoe back on her injured foot. "InuYasha, please, I twisted my ankle!"

"Keh, Kikyou wouldn't have done something so dumb." InuYasha muttered, letting go of Kagome and cursing himself for being so cruel.

Truth was, he had been terrified when he had returned and found her missing. He thought something had happened to her, and his mind had no problem supplying images of all of the possibilities.

He had been so relieved when he found her that it startled him, and he did the thing he normally did when he became uncomfortable. He became mean and insulting, not letting her see that he had been truly worried about her.

Sesshomaru glared at the hanyou as Kagome limped back towards her belongings. Sure, he had known that his half-brother was cruel, but what he just witnessed was borderline abuse. Smelling the silent tears, and hearing the hiss the female let out as she walked, confirmed that InuYasha had caused more damage than helped.

Needless to say, Sesshomaru was shocked and disgusted by the filth's actions, and he realized the promise he made but a few minutes earlier ran deeper than he thought. It seemed he would have to protect the miko from her own alpha.

After all, she was to be the one to ensure his survival until he broke this curse. It was only right. He stepped forward, his eyes turning from the red-clad male and focusing on the miko. He inwardly growled when he saw her holding her arm.

No female deserved the treatment she had just received. For once, it didn't matter if they were human or not. Laying a hand on a female was dishonorable. It was disappointing, yet his brother didn't even understand that. Another fact that proved InuYasha diluted their father's blood.

Sesshomaru approached the female, feeling the eyes of his brother, and used his paw to scoot over her strange tabi and the white fabric that had gone with it. She smiled at him and he blinked in surprise. After everything he just witnessed, she was still being kind.

"Lean on me, Woman. This one will lead you to the others." Sesshomaru ordered, shocking Kagome.

"Are you sure?" She asked, blinking her blue eyes in surprise. However, he could still see the gratitude and hope in her eyes so he simply nodded curtly, finalizing his decision.

"Who the fuck is the dog?" InuYasha asked, his tone alerting Kagome to the fight she was about to have with the hanyou. She sighed as she placed her sock back on her foot, attempting to provide some protection to the soft skin.

"His name is Titan, and I'm keeping him." Kagome stated, not looking up from her task of cleaning up after herself, picking up the jerky and water and placing it back in her bag with her discarded shoe.

"Not happening. I already have to protect your ass all the time. The last thing I need is a mutt slowing me down." InuYasha snapped, crossing his arms.

It took all Sesshomaru had not to attack the half-breed. The only thing stopping him was the silent reminder that he was now a mortal dog. He didn't realize just how much of a blow to his ego it would be, to understand that his abomination of a half-brother could now kill him.

Kagome stood, balancing on one foot as she placed the large yellow bag on her back, not looking at her friend. If she did, she would lay into him, and right now, she just wanted to find the rest of the group and sleep.

"We made a deal, InuYasha, and I won't go back on that." Kagome mumbled, turning towards Titan who stood to his full height.

Standing on all fours, his head came to just below Kagome's chest. He was a large dog, and while walking wasn't ideal for Kagome, at least she wouldn't have to lean over too much to support herself on her new friend.

Small hands fisted into rough and dirty fur, and she absentmindedly wondered how his fur would feel if it was cleaned. The next time she returned home, she would look into getting some supplies for him.

Someone such as him didn't deserve to be dirty.

She didn't know much about him, but it was clear that he was a prideful creature. It was also apparent that he had been having a hard few days, and she always said a good bath and a long soak could cure anything.

Yep, she needed to return home, if only for a day to get new supplies.

"You act like he can understand you. He's a fucking dog." InuYasha barked as Kagome and Sesshomaru began to walk towards the others. Kagome watched as the dog stuck his nose in the air, sniffing for the other three members of the group.

"He can understand me. Look, InuYasha, I'll prove it when we get back to the others. Right now, I just want to focus on getting back." Kagome pleaded, wincing as pain shot through her leg.

Sesshomaru looked up to the female, noticing the facial expression, and he, once again, cursed his mother for his predicament. Had he been whole as he once was, he could have helped the miko properly. Then again, had he been himself, he most likely would have left her to fend for herself.

Realizing that she could have done that to him but, instead, shared her own supplies, her own means of survival, was, once again, forcing him to look at the female. He couldn't deny she was spiking his curiosity, but only a little. Give it an hour, and he would be back to ignoring her.

InuYasha grumbled but didn't say anything else. He knew that when Kagome got in one of these moods, she was impossible to talk to. She wouldn't calm down until she got back to the others and was laying in her weird futon with Shippo curled to her chest.

He wondered if the dog would be curling up to her as well but quickly pushed that thought away. Flicking his eyes towards the white mutt in front of him, they narrowed. He didn't know why, but he didn't trust the dog.

Something was telling him that he would be no good for their group and needed to be disposed of. Not to mention the damn scent that thing carried. It was familiar, but he couldn't place where he had smelled it before. It also smelled diluted, as if it was being suppressed, and that was never a good thing.

A sharp hiss caught InuYasha's attention, and he turned his attention to Kagome. The duo had stopped walking, and Kagome was now holding her shin up while biting her lip. It was clear to see she was in pain and, with each step, it would get worse.

Realizing that, if she continued this way, her injury would eventually make her bedridden, InuYasha contemplated on what he should do. Normally, he could carry Kagome on his back, but this time, she wouldn't have the strength in her leg to hold on. Plus, she wouldn't leave that dog behind.

Looking at said animal, and seeing the way he was looking at his miko, InuYasha's hackles rose. It wasn't concern, or even anything remotely close, but it was something. And it was too much. So, without a thought, InuYasha ripped the backpack from Kagome's shoulders and picked her up in his arms.

She yelped in surprise, then immediately blushed once she realized what was happening which, in return, caused InuYasha to blush. In an attempt to hide it, he turned to the dog and growled at him. "Oi, Mutt. If you're going to stay with us, you're going to pull your own weight. Carry her bag."

Not another word was said as InuYasha turned back around and walked away.

Sesshomaru seriously contemplated turning and going in the other direction, but the moment he began to, his eyes caught blue. He could see the hope swirling in those depths, but he could also see the understanding deep within them.

In other words, she wanted him to stay, to stick to his promise, but she wouldn't be angry if he left. She knew, more than anyone else, how hard it was to handle InuYasha, and wouldn't blame Sesshomaru in the slightest.

This knowledge made Sesshomaru slump his shoulders in defeat, knowing only she would see. He couldn't go back on his word. Not when it was her. He cursed his honor, and her heart that forced him to act on that honor, while snapping his jaw on a strap of the bag.

The sheer joy in her eyes lessened the blow to his pride and ego…slightly.

Kagome let a soft smile hit her lips before she placed her forehead on InuYasha's shoulder and relaxed. She knew Titan had his own secrets, but so did she. Ones that concerned him. She wasn't sure how she knew, and she would never tell, but she knew exactly who Titan was.

He was Sesshomaru.

She knew the moment he spoke and that decadent baritone voice hit her ears…mind. She wasn't sure what it would be called since she heard his thoughts in her head. All she knew was that the dog who was now grudgingly following her, made a promise to her, and agreed to even be in the same vicinity as his half-brother was the Western Lord.

She also knew that he didn't want anyone to know. She had been worried about InuYasha's nose, but the hanyou hadn't picked up on anything so, for now, she would keep quiet about it. Sesshomaru was an important male and, should his enemies figure out the position he was in…it just wouldn't be good.

So, she would keep his secret and help him get back to normal.

-sSs-

That's it for Chapter 4. So, Kagome knows who Titan is, and that will eventually play a part, just as InuYasha's treatment of Kagome. And before anyone tells me that I portrayed InuYasha as cruel, let's not forget that he was cruel to Kagome when he was embarrassed or feeling something he wasn't used to. Granted, he wasn't used to such emotions, and he needed to learn, but it still happened. Just as Sesshomaru and Kagome have things to learn, so does InuYasha. Everyone will have a part to play in this story.

Shout outs:

Llebreknit: I hope this answers any of your questions about InuYasha and Sesshomaru. I had planned on addressing this issue, your questioning just beat me to it. lol. And yes, both Sesshomaru and InuYasha speak Inu, however, I will explain that situation in perhaps two chapters or so. I will not answer your last question, at least not yet.

S-chan08: Thank you for your review, sorry I'm late with updating but hopefully you will still enjoy this chapter.

Maybb: Thank you for your review. Hopefully you will continue to enjoy it.

Wolfgirl09: So far, I am enjoying writing this story, and I believe I will like it just as much as the others. We will see.

Redrake323: I actually hard a hard time coming up with a name for him. lol

Wren210: Yea, I tend to always try to think of new ways to make an idea different from others. It seems like a few of my readers forget that though since I keep getting accused of plagiarism when I start a new story. Hopefully that will stop soon. Lol. It does get annoying. I do have a chapter planned coming up quickly that will probably be very interesting, and definitely different from what others are used to with this idea.

I do not own InuYasha.