Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, nor do I own its characters. I do own the ideas of this story and the characters I have created for this story (i.e. Saphira). Please respect patent laws. Comments and reviews are appreciated.
Chapter 3: A New Companion
Sesshoumaru released an annoyed huff when he caught the sight of Saphira, leaping from tree to tree to keep up with them. It amazed him how a halfblood, and a female at that, could keep up with two full-blooded youkai. She wasn't even showing signs of exertion.
"Keh!" Came Inuyasha's voice as he observed the same thing.
Sesshoumaru glanced at him raising a questioning brow.
Inuyasha grinned, evilly, and nodded. They dramatically picked up the pace.
Hours later they sat, quietly laughing to themselves.
"I can't...believe we...lost her!" Inuyasha said choking on his laughter.
Sesshoumaru smiled quietly, but it died on his lips when he heard the thud of someone softly dropping from the trees.
"Thought you could give me the slip, huh?" Came her voice, laughing wickedly. "You forget what I am."
Inuyasha almost felt guilty treating Kagome's daughter like a whelp, but quickly changed his mind when he saw her in the light of the fire.
She showed no sign of running all day, her cheeks were't flushed with fatigue and her eyes danced like the flames of the fire.
"We forget nothing," Sesshoumaru said coldly. "Sleep, we will keep watch until morning."
Saphira laughed out loud. "Me, sleep? I can smell your fatigue from here! Why don't you sleep and I'll keep watch?"
She laughed again and jumped into the trees.
"How...dare...she..." Sesshoumaru gowled his eyes flashing red.
"She is right, you know," reasoned Inuyasha. "We did just have a long battle."
He received nothing but a growl in reply. "We will continue to expand the borders of our land. With or without this...worm."
Sesshoumaru got up and walked out of the light of the fire to rest. He could hear Saphira's laughter floating down through the trees.
Inuyasha sensed rather than felt her dropping onto the ground next him.
"He's cute, but grumpy," she chirped settling down next to him.
Although Inuyasha was now a full-blooded youkai, his soul still had human qualities.
"You remind me of your mother," he said softly. A long silence followed his comment.
"Why did you betray her?" Saphira asked suddenly.
There was a long stretch of silence before the answer came.
"It...it was a terrible accident," came his confession. "I didn't even have to wish it aloud. It reached into my heart and granted my wish. I never meant to betray Kagome's trust."
Saphira chewed on her thoughts for a few moments before saying anything else.
"Who is your father?" Inuyasha asked suddenly.
Saphira's eyes hardened with youkai intensity. "I already told you that it was none of your concern."
Inuyasha blinked at the hardness in her voice. "Did he die?"
He studied her face but nothing passed over it.
Her stone cold expression remained. "I've already told you all that I am about him." She growled menacingly. "Drop it."
Sesshoumaru laughed inwardly from where he was sitting. He could hear everything that was said perfectly. He knew that Inuyasha would not be able to sweet talk any information out of her. Sesshoumaru had already figured out that whoever her father was, he was strong. Strong enough to make Sesshoumaru think that Saphira was more than just a halfblood. However, the miko mother did have strong powers when she had been running around with his brother...
"So, what are you doing?" Asked Saphira switching the conversation to a safer topic. "I heard Sesshoumaru say something about land...?"
Inuyasha leaned back against the tree. "Yeah, he wants more land for his inheritance."
"Doesn't he already have his inheritance?" Saphira asked looking in Sesshoumaru's direction.
"Yes, but he wants to add to it," explained Inuyasha, then shrugged. "Who am I to argue? If he dies before he has any pups, I'll inherit his estate."
"Hm." Was all the reply he got.
The next morning they made their way to the lands bordering Sesshoumaru's land in south. They lost sight of Saphira every now and then, but she always caught up, breathless and smiling. They stopped around noon next to a large river.
"This river is the border between my family's lands and the wolf pack's lands," explained Inuyasha to Saphira.
"It will not belong to them much longer," said Sesshoumaru coldly.
"Are we going to start a war?" Asked Saphira with excitement eying the other side of the river.
"You are not accompanying us into a fight, pup," Sesshoumaru said.
"What do you mean 'not accompanying' you?" Asked Saphira getting puffed up. "I can do whatever the hell I want!"
Without a second thought she started towards the river. Like a flash of lightening Sesshoumaru had her by the throat.
"If you are in MY company," Sesshoumaru began, his eyes flaring red, "you will obey my commands."
Just as fast as he had caught her, he suddenly smelled her dragon blood. A blue scaled tail coiled around his throat before he could blink.
"And if YOU are in my company," hissed Saphira, her own eyes flashing red, "you will respect me as a comrade and not treat me as a child. For I have seen far worse things then a wolf pack, or puffed up inuyoukai."
"Uh, we have company," Inuyasha said nodding to the other side of the river where the wolf pack stood.
"Truce for now," growled Sesshoumaru and released her, Saphira quickly followed suit.