Chapter 5

Forcing One to Believe What Should be Impossible

"Kagome, are you okay?" Sango cried out at the sight of her sister being carried by the hanyou. Kagome nodded sleepily before finally answering.

"Yea, I fell and hurt my ankle."

Sango immediately jumped into action, Shippo following behind. The two quickly pulled out the futon called a sleeping bag and got it situated for the miko. They glared at InuYasha when he set down their friend none too gently, and it took everything they had not to say something.

However, it wasn't their place. Sango, being a demon slayer, had been trained on pack rules, just as Shippo knew from instinct. InuYasha was their alpha, just as Kagome was their alpha female. What happened between the two was none of their business.

Shippo curled up in Kagome's lap after she settled herself and relaxed as she began to run her fingers through his tail. He could always count on his mother figure to calm him, even when she was the one who was hurt.

This time, though, he knew that running her fingers through his tail was calming her, and he had no problem allowing her to continue. So, he sat back and relaxed, allowing her to do as she pleased.

"Well, Lady Kagome, while I prepare our dinner, perhaps you can introduce us to your new friend?" Miroku stated, standing from his seat and making all eyes fall on the large dog sitting away from everyone, the yellow pack close to his side.

"Oh! That is Titan. I told him he could travel with us." Kagome answered before looking towards the dog who was paying no attention to anyone but her. "Would you be willing to bring me the bag? It has some supplies that Sango can use to bandage my ankle."

Without so much as a reply, Sesshomaru stood and clamped his jaw on the oversized monstrosity, dragging it the rest of the way towards the miko, all the while telling himself that he only did as she asked because she had asked.

She didn't demand it of him as if he was some trained house mutt. She made sure to word it as if she was giving him the option to say no, and honestly, she was. It was as if she knew that he wasn't used to being ordered around and was trying to make this easier on him.

If she continued doing this, his curiosity would never falter.

He didn't want that.

"She's got this stupid idea that he can understand her." InuYasha scoffed, sitting back against a tree. It was clear to everyone that InuYasha didn't want the new member around.

"He's a really smart dog," Shippo started, leaning forward in Kagome's lap. "He brought 'Gome her bag when she asked. Even you can't do that, Inubaka."

"Oi! Shut it, Runt!" InuYasha barked, glaring at the dog that almost seemed to be smirking at the kit's words.

"Stop calling him names, InuYasha. He's just a child." Kagome reprimanded, pulling Shippo closer to her chest. She looked towards Sesshomaru and sighed, knowing he wasn't going to like what she had planned. "He can understand me, and I can prove it."

"How, Kagome?" Sango asked, looking up from her post at wrapping the miko's ankle.

"I'm sorry, but if he is going to believe me, this is the only way. I hope you won't be too mad at me." Kagome whispered to the dog who only blinked at her.

Sesshomaru was curious as to what she had planned. Yes, Sesshomaru could easily dispel the hanyou's beliefs. Even though InuYasha was a half-breed, he was still inu. He would be able to understand the language of his ancestors just by instinct.

However, Sesshomaru wasn't willing to admit that to the hanyou. If he did, InuYasha may be able to discover who he, Sesshomaru, was. That wasn't an option. In this form, he had no way to fight off an attack, and he would not die by his half-brother's claws.

So, he simply nodded at the miko, telling her that he would follow along with whatever she had planned.

"Okay, InuYasha, stand up and go over there." Kagome ordered, pointing to a post across the camp and directly in front of her.

InuYasha huffed but played along, stomping his way to the desired location. Kagome turned to Sesshomaru and the look she gave him told him he wasn't going to like what she had planned, but it was the only option.

"Titan, do you think you can stand behind InuYasha for me?" She asked, her voice soft and pleading.

"You owe me, Woman." Was his reply as he stood and padded his way towards the assigned spot.

"Okay, just like he can understand me, I can understand him." Kagome started, trying not to smile at the way Sesshomaru had agreed to this. Of course, he would want something in return. "I don't know how, but I can hear him in my mind."

"Did you hit your head when you fell?" InuYasha scoffed, rolling his eyes and crossing his arms.

"No. It's true, and I'll prove it. Hold up any amount of fingers behind your back that you want to, and Titan will tell me what you are holding up." Kagome explained, ignoring the shocked eyes of the hanyou, and the angered ones of the lord-turned-mortal-dog.

"A child's game? You wish for this one to partake in a game made for children?" Sesshomaru scolded, making Kagome sigh.

"It's the only way. Please?" She pleaded, her eyes going big and round, and Sesshomaru cursed the woman. Only Rin has ever had that kind of power of him, and now, one look from the miko and her begging eyes, and he was agreeing to something he normally never would.

He nodded, and Kagome smiled before looking to InuYasha. Sango was now sitting beside her sister and watching the interaction between everyone, her curious mind taking everything in. This was definitely weird. Miroku was still heating the water he had fetched earlier in preparation for dinner, but his eyes followed everyone as well.

"Fine, let's do this so we can get rid of the mutt." InuYasha snapped, placing his hands behind his back. "Go ahead. How many am I holding up?"

Kagome looked towards Sesshomaru who was glaring at her, but he answered anyway. "Three." She chirped, loving the look of surprise that crossed InuYasha's face.

"Keh, lucky guess, Wench. Try again."

Again, blue eyes met gold, and she smiled at the dog in thanks before turning back towards InuYasha who looked smug, as if he expected her to fail. "Six"

InuYasha's eyes widened and he spun around, looking to see if anyone was behind him, but, instead, was met with amused golden eyes. Only the dog was behind him. InuYasha growled and turned back around, smirking as he thought of the next number he would use. She would never guess this.

Sesshomaru turned his attention from the hanyou's hands to the woman looking at him and grinned inwardly. He would get something out of this. "I am calling in my favor, Woman. For playing these childish games, I desire fresh meat for dinner tonight."

Kagome giggled before turning to InuYasha. She had to word this so her friend would do what Sesshomaru wanted without really knowing that he was doing it. "Let's make this fun, InuYasha. If I guess correctly, you have to go hunting. It's been a while since we've had a decent meal, and venison sounds really good right now."

"Stupid wench." InuYasha mumbled before grinning back at her. "Fine, I accept. But if you're wrong, the dog goes. I don't give a shit what happens to him as long as he is out of my sight."

"Agreed." She nodded before turning eyes back towards Sesshomaru who also looked amused. In but a few moments, he would have his hated half-brother hunting for him. How he will love rubbing that in the hanyou's face once this curse was lifted.

He quickly told Kagome of InuYasha's trick, and she glared at the hanyou.

"Did you think tricking me would work? I wasn't lying when I said I could understand him. You're not holding up any fingers." Kagome announced. InuYasha's hands dropped down to his sides, and he stared, mouth agape, at Kagome before turning to look at the dog.

"I believe I shall make tea with this boiled water. It would go well with deer, don't you think, Sango?" Miroku chuckled, looking towards the woman he loved as she giggled behind her hand.

"I do agree. Thank-you, Kagome, for getting us a decent meal." The slayer added, looking towards the smiling woman.

InuYasha turned and left the group, intent on holding up his end of the deal, his mumbling left behind as the rest of the group laughed. Sesshomaru stood from his spot and made his way to the end of the weird futon the miko kept, planning on sleeping at the end of her feet. It was the best way to protect her without touching her.

He laid down, listening and watching the group interact. They all joked and laughed as a large family would, and he found himself thinking of Rin. He wondered how she was doing at this moment and hoped that she was safe.

It had been some time since he last saw her, and he worried for her. He would never admit that, of course, but that didn't mean the feeling wasn't there. She was his ward, his daughter, and he wasn't there to protect her.

There had to be a way to get the miko to accept his ward into her pack, without revealing who he was. He couldn't come right out and ask her for it would be too obvious. He would have to spend some time on this subject, and hope that it wouldn't be too late by the time he found a solution.

"Titan, I plan on going home in a few days and getting more supplies. I was wondering…" Kagome paused, watching as Sesshomaru lifted his head and blinked in her direction. Who was she kidding? This was Sesshomaru. He would never allow that. "Oh, never mind."

"Speak, Miko. This one will not anger."

"Um, well…I was going to see about bringing you back some things to bathe you. Your fur is matted and dirty, and I imagine you would feel better if you were cleaned and brushed." She whispered, looking down at her fidgeting hands.

Sesshomaru's eyes widened momentarily before closing completely. He had to remind himself that she wasn't suggesting what he originally thought. She simply wanted to help him, not mate with him.

Yes, one requirement before a mating was grooming one another, but she had no idea who he was, nor that he was even yokai, at this moment. There would be no harm in allowing her to clean him, and he really could use a bath.

"I will allow this." Sesshomaru replied, lowering his head to his feet again and closing his eyes.

Kagome sighed in relief, glad that she hadn't angered the lord. She knew that he wouldn't want to be touched by her, but she also knew that having his fur matted was probably painful. So, she wanted to make the offer anyway and let him decide for himself.

She couldn't deny that she was glad he had agreed. The first time she saw his true form, she had thought his fur looked soft, though she would never admit it. InuYasha would have a hissy fit. She was excited to be able to touch his fur, and she absentmindedly wondered if his hair would be soft as well.

She was brought out of her thoughts as a still-mumbling InuYasha returned, carrying a few pounds of meat that he had carved from a deer. He threw most to Sango, leaving one out for the dog which was thrown into the dirt for the creature.

"InuYasha, that was just rude." Kagome scolded, reaching for the meat. Sesshomaru watched as she pulled out the same crinkly water holder she had before and rinsed the dirt from the meat provided. She then looked around her and smiled once she spotted a large leaf.

After asking the kit to retrieve it for her, she placed the meat on the leaf and presented it to Sesshomaru. He nodded his thanks and began to eat, loving the warm feel of the blood running down his throat and over his tongue. Plus, he could always pretend it was his half-brother's head he was gnawing on.

After some time, the entire group was fed and beginning to lay down to camp. Sesshomaru watched over Kagome, making sure she didn't hurt herself further. He eyed the kit as he climbed into the bag, snuggling up to Kagome.

It wasn't until a strangely quiet neko jumped from the slayer and started to walk in circles in front of him that he looked away. Kirara continued to purr as she finally settled herself over his two front paws, blinking red eyes up at him before closing them and relaxing.

Sesshomaru growled as he received the message loud and clear. The damn cat knew who he was, and she was blackmailing him. She found his fur to be comfortable, and unless he wanted her to tell the kit, who would then tell everyone else, he would be her new bed.

So be it. If she wished to play this game, then she would play with fire. He laid his giant head down, right on top of the feline, and smirked at the tiny squeak it caused. He could feel Kirara struggling underneath him and, finally, she squeezed herself out with a hiss.

They glared at each other for a moment before the cat smirked again and jumped on his back, kneading her claws into his skin to get comfortable. His eye twitched in irritation before he quickly rolled over, squishing the damn annoying female.

When he rolled back over, the cat's tails twitched as she watched him get comfortable. Finally, she agreed that they had played enough and curled up under his chin, rubbing her cheek against it and purring. She was apologizing for being rude and asking to sleep upon him.

He sighed before closing his eyes, allowing the cat to do as she pleased.

He was going soft.

-sSs-

I couldn't not add a tiff between Kirara and Sesshomaru. After all, they are cats and dogs so they will fight like them. Lol. There will be one more set-up chapter, then the story will begin going as it will. I believe the next chapter will surprise you a bit, and I look forward to you reading it. I hope you enjoyed this chapter though.

Shout outs:

Lakeya2700: I hope this was updated soon enough, and I am glad that you like my story.

Windbreaking: Kagome had always been kind, and eventually Sesshomaru will realize that.

Wren210: Yea, it will make things easier for him, but harder for her. But Kagome doesn't mind. However, he will eventually learn that she knows and he will begin to see her in a new light because of it. I agree with the whole InuYasha thing. It is why I am having so much trouble redoing the one InuYasha and Kagome pairing I have. I want to fix it because it was horrible written, but I really don't like InuYasha and Kagome pairings. Yes, Kagome will eventually be trained, and Sesshomaru will be the one to help her. You'll find out soon though.

Llebreknit: I will write about the bath, but it's probably going to be at least two chapters before that happens.

Redrake323: I contemplatedon having InuYasha continue to be a dick, but he has his moments. Lol.

I do not own InuYasha.