AN: Hey guys! Those of you who follow me on Tumblr already got a taste of this chapter. Depending on the response, I might write one more Kagome POV but as of right now, it's all Inu from here on out.

I'm going to post the first chapter here but also start a new story. But so you don't miss it, here's the next chapter of Running with Dogs.

It is much better to walk alone, in the right direction, than to follow the herd, walking in the wrong direction. -Unknown

Inuyasha: Age Eight

Both his mother and father were out in the 'yard' training other wolves. While he was stuck inside, bored out of his mind. Even Sesshomaru got to go out and train, but no, he was stuck here, twiddling his stupid thumbs.

Inuyasha's 'nanny' was a joke, sleeping in the corner and snoring loudly. But it made it easier for him to walk out and sneak to the training yard. He watched as his father, Toga, explained the transformation to a few young wolves. They were older than Inuyasha, and yet, he already had control of his shift. "These guys… what a bunch of losers," Inuyasha thought to himself, watching them struggle.

"You all have fear; that's not good. You need to lose that hesitation, or your wolf will forsake you forever."

Inuyasha had never feared his wolf; it was his best friend. Why would anyone worry about something inside them? The wolf was part of him, it was in his blood, and he dreamed of nothing more than running freely through the woods every night. That was what he wanted and planned to do when he was old enough. Inuyasha wanted to scout the pack to run wild as his wolf and never be home! The walls were so oppressive, as was his human body. Who would want to live in this form when they could be so much more?

Toga stepped back, looking at his group but then sighing loudly at something else. "Inuyasha, why don't you stop hiding and come on out?"

Dammit. Inuyasha should have known better than to try and hide so close, stepping out from behind the tall stand that held robes for the others after they were done training for the day. Instead, they stared at him, stared at his ears, and he twitched them involuntarily from the attention. Inuyasha was pretty sure this was why his parents hid him so much, his lesser blood showing as soon as anyone looked at him.

But then again, all the ones before him had less wolf blood than he did.

Except for Koga, who stood off to the side with another elder, getting his training already, only Inuyasha was left out, and it pissed him off more. "You guys are scared?" He growled at the male teens before him. "That's just weak!"

In a second, Inuyasha was his wolf. He looked like a large dog at his age, but he still had the lush white fur of his father, the Alpha. And he was big enough to intimidate the 'pups' before him. They backed up at the sight of Inuyasha snarling, his fur standing on edge. It was all made worse when his father reached over and petted him.

"See? Inuyasha is only eight, and he has no fear. Take him as an example of how to shift. But not of how to behave."

They laughed while Toga grabbed Inuyasha's ear and dragged him away. Whining got him nothing, and shifting back got him tugged harder as he stood naked to the side. Now far enough away that the low breeds couldn't hear, Toga released his son and squared up. "What are you doing here, Inu? You're supposed to be in bed?!"

"I wanna train!" He growled, and Toga sighed heavily. "I'm the only pup my age sitting on my heels inside! I need to train!"

"Why? So you can fight?"

"YEAH!"

Toga shook his head at his child and frowned. "There is no fight to be had, son. If all you want to do is fight, then I'm afraid there's no need to train you…."

"I want to be a part of the pack. Someday, I could be the Alpha. But, if I can't even keep up with my subordinates, then what kind of leader will I be?"

At that, a smile tugged at Toga's lips. "You want to be a good leader? Then you can start by showing more respect to all wolves no matter how much or little blood they have in them."

With that, Toga led the way back to the pups he had under his wing and Inuyasha followed without another word. If showing respect to all wolves was what got him out of the house and on the field, then he would take it and run. Showing respect was one thing he could manage, he thought, but it didn't mean he felt it. Especially when the lower percentage wolves before him still struggled with a simple shift.

"Inuyasha, help them."

His father was testing him. It was a moment to show Toga he would make a good Alpha, so Inuyasha had to do well. Regardless of blood amount, Inuyasha wasn't good in crowds… or one on one. He didn't have a lot of experience, kept away from most and only a handful around his age in the pack as it was; Inuyasha didn't do well at 'getting along' or connecting. He was attached to his parents, and that was enough for him. But it didn't help him now as he faced a group of five, looking at him with hope in their eyes.

He closed his eyes and thought about his process to shift. "Close your eyes." He didn't look to see if they listened. "And see your wolf. It's big and strong. It wants to protect you; it's your friend. It is a part of you, so don't you dare fear it! Show it the respect it deserves and bow down."

When Inuyasha opened his eyes again, he was met with five wolves instead of boys. Toga clapped a hand around his shoulders, pride clear on his face. The look swept away when Rolo leaned into Toga's ear. He whispered, and Inuyasha made out bits over the other noise. His hearing wasn't the strongest; it was his speed that Inuyasha had in spades. It was why he kept up with his father without struggle as he paced away from the training grounds, leaving Rolo to take over.

"Dad?"

"Go back to the other pups, Inu."

"Dad!"

"This isn't a game or a training session. This is dangerous."

"Who's Naraku?!"

It was the one thing he had heard loud and clear, so Inuyasha had no doubts. And if he had, those doubts would have been crushed with how Toga stopped and faced him. "He's a very bad wolf."

"What's going on?"

Toga sighed and returned to his fleeing. "He's been spotted in an area that… I'd rather he never be near. We need to find him and stop him immediately."

"I'm coming with you." Toga stopped again and put a hand on Inuyasha's chest, but he pushed against his father hard. "Come on, Dad! I need to learn!"

"Not this!"

"An Alpha needs to know all! The good and the bad! You told me that!"

Toga flinched and slowly lowered his hand. Inuyasha brushed past, racing to his room in a flash and back at his father's side (dressed) to go. The ones with them now were the ones Inuyasha respected more than anyone. The fighters of the pack bared the scars of their battles like tattoos. Inuyasha stood closer to Otso -strongest of their pack- and tried not to look like too much of a nerd.

"Is the Runt coming along?"

Inuyasha snarled at the man, Lyall (Koga's father), but he smirked back. No one respected Inuyasha in the slightest. It would be a long path to the Alpha at this rate.

"Yes, Inu is coming with to observe, nothing more." Toga's words were pointed at his son instead of his men.

Inuyasha said nothing, not even when his father handed him the robes for the wolves later, shifted, and forced him onto his back instead of allowing him to change with them. It was how Toga kept Inuyasha in check during all of this; if he was human, then he couldn't run or fight. Riding on his father's back was more than humiliating, but no one showed Inuyasha any disrespect. Not to his face that is but it was easy to hide your feelings when in your wolf.

They were flying far from the compound—from one side of the city's outskirts to the other. Inuyasha huffed because he could have gotten there in half the time if he were allowed to shift. But, if time was of the essence, then his father was wasting it, making him sit it out on his back. There had been a time when Inuyasha would have begged his father to let him ride on his back like this, but that time had passed when he was able to shift himself. Inuyasha had aged out of piggyback rides and found all of this annoying as hell.

Sesshomaru wasn't with them, so he didn't have to deal with his older brother giving him crap later.

Otso was nearby, raving at his father's side. Inuyasha liked looking between the two of them; the difference in their fur was startling. Inuyasha wanted any hair different from his own, feeling like the white of his dog form was lacking. It only made him look more like a house pet, perfectly white and shiny, where Otso's black fur made him look intimidating.

They all halted to a stop, and Inuyasha slipped off his father's back. Toga growled at Inuyasha, telling him to stay close without words. Otso and Lyall continued ahead. It didn't need explaining because Inuyasha could smell it in the air as soon as they stopped. There was a lot of fresh blood somewhere close. Toga stayed back, and Inuyasha didn't understand until he took his attention from anything other than the fight.

A little girl was standing a few feet from them. Inuyasha was so taken back by the small girl that he tripped on his way to hand over his father's robe. She had blood on her, but it wasn't hers. The girl wasn't hurt physically. Had she faced a wolf head-on and survived?

Otso tumbled with the wolf the girl had battled, and there was no doubt, the human girl that trembled before them. Toga was on his knees before the girl, and Inuyasha took one glimpse at her eyes and felt the need to do the same. Which only pissed him off, kneeling before some human girl? It was bad enough his father -the alpha- was doing it.

She carried a squirming bundle that his father reached for, but in a daring show, she pulled away. It only made Inuyasha burn more with his anger while his father felt none. "You've been through a lot tonight." His father soothed the girl, and she looked up at them with her bright eyes, making Inuyasha feel crippled. "But it's over now. You're safe."

Toga was soothing her, lying. No way was this girl safe. A human getting attacked by a wolf wouldn't have been random; there had to be a reason. She had escaped by luck; the other wolf would be back, and if he didn't, then their pack would need to do something about all this girl had seen.

"Father," he could feel her eyes on him, and it angered him. A mixture of their effect on him and the danger she had faced. Inuyasha understood neither reason, but it was what he felt all the same. "She's a human. And she's seen too much."

"She's a child, Inu. I understand your trepidation but… I would ask you not to speak of this night to anyone."

"My… my mommy and daddy…."

Her bravery was slipping, and Inuyasha's rage was at a peak. He was close to shifting from it. He had never experienced this, feeling a lack of control over himself like this. It scared him.

"I'm so sorry." Toga offered, and it felt so weak and meaningless to Inuyasha. "You want justice. You deserve it. But nothing will come of it if you try to seek it out on your own."

"No one… will believe me. And no one will help me."

Inuyasha was sure his eyes were glowing in the dark as they felt on fire. He could feel the changes to his body. Yet, he understood none of it, not the length of his fangs and nails as they lengthened while still in his human form. "We'll take care of it. You take care of your family… what's left of it."

"Inu. Get back to the pack!"

He couldn't take her eyes off her. The Alpha's commands were absolute, and he followed them simply because it was his father's command. But it hurt leaving her behind and Inuyasha liked that even less than any other feelings he had.

The boy kept his eyes on her, amber eyes that burned like a fire. Just like the monster that killed her family but not in hatred. More like a warm blaze on a cold night. The same kind of eyes on the man as he turned Kagome around and guided her back towards her house.

He couldn't put his finger on it, the need to be close to that girl. She was small and weak, but she had faced a wolf and survived? Saved her sibling? That was more than Inuyasha could ever imagine having to do, even if he liked Sesshomaru.

For some reason, Inuyasha couldn't leave completely. Not like his father had commanded. He had never gone against his father's commands like this. Toga had been clear; Inuyasha was to leave and go home. And still, he lingered in the trees, watching as the girl and his father walked back towards what was once her home. The family lived far from civilization, and it instantly had Inuyasha wondering if there was more to them than he thought? The only people that lived this close yet so far from others were wolves.

He didn't know how much of what he smelled from the girl was her blood or her father's since she did shed a single drop of her own (another amazing feat). The scent was dizzying, and it had his head and heart spinning. It was what had him so pissed—pissed at how she made him feel, how she was unprotected and alone, and how this Naraku had gotten so close to killing her. That was what angered him the most, but all of it had him terrified.

It was as if there was a fire that was burning holes inside his brain, making it impossible to think correctly. And it had him acting out against his alpha, not taking his eyes off the girl even as she broke. All her bravery couldn't keep her from mourning her loss, and although Inuyasha couldn't relate, he felt her pain regardless.

He had to get out of there, assuring himself repeatedly that she was safe even as his heart dropped to his toes. Even as his wolf, his worry choked him as he ran. Distance didn't make a difference, her eyes haunting him as he sprinted home. It had him reckless, since laying eyes on her…smelling her and hearing her tears. There was no escaping her…or his older brother, Sess standing between him and his room.

Sesshomaru had always been indifferent towards Inuyasha, so why he was blocking him from his room now, Inuyasha could only guess. "You went with Toga tonight? Was Naraku there?"

"How do you…."

"I'm older. And my mother told me."

Figures. Sess's mom was determined to have him be the alpha. This meant telling Sesshomaru everything while Inuyasha was left in the dark all the time. "He was there, supposedly. I didn't see him, but he attacked a family. Killed them all save for the kids."

"That doesn't sound right," Sesshomaru whispered, "Naraku doesn't leave survivors. So how did kids survive?"

Inuyasha wasn't feeling up for sharing, not about the girl, but he would need to learn to work with Sess (his future Beta). "The girl…she ran like hell and got lucky."

Sesshomaru looked like his brain was chewing on the words, nodding his head slightly as he considered something or everything. "So…a human girl outruns a full-blooded wolf? In wolf form? Doesn't that sound ridiculous to you, Inuyasha?!"

"Look, dick, I'm telling you what I saw and heard."

He tried to go around his brother, but Sess stepped in his way. "Something's not right. There's more to it, more to that girl. Tell me where she is; I'm going to check her out."

That had Inuyasha struggling again, so he took a deep breath and pushed Sess back. "Even if I did tell you, she won't be there. They're moving her. I'll check on her. I know her scent," it was ingrained in his mind permanently, "you just be a good boy and cover for me."

Inuyasha woke the following day, and his mind still tumbled over the girl from last night. He had considered blowing off Sess's 'orders' to follow her and find out more about her. But when Inuyasha's heart raced at the thought of her in any kind of trouble, he decided to use Sess as an excuse to go check up on her.

He could find and follow her scent, but it would be easier if he knew her name at least. Or her new home. No way would Toga just tell him; Inuyasha would have to work it out of his father somehow. That would take too long, though.

Maybe all of this was in his head? Fate wouldn't make this so hard if there were any point to it. But, instead, it had Inuyasha questioning his choices again when voices came readily to his ears. They belonged to his mother and father, the two having a heated conversation in one of the many small sitting rooms within the compound. He wouldn't have listened if it weren't for their current topic of choice.

"What about the children?" His mother asked.

"I took them to stay with family…Seann Chu."

"Seann Chu?!" His mother roared, "he hates us! He will never…."

"He is their family!" Toga cried loudly, "The only family they have left!"

They were silent, but Inuyasha continued to listen for more. He needed more information so he could find the girl. "They could stay with us? We could raise them?"

No surprise there, Inuyasha's mother always wanted more children. The idea of the girl living here with them had Inuyasha's heart racing with hopeful excitement. "No," his heart dropped to his toes, "as much as you or I want that, it goes against pack laws. So we have to leave them alone."

"That poor girl. Kagome will suffer."

Kagome, his mind breathed out the name and purred it over and over. He could work with that, but it would still be faster if he had... "It's what her parents wanted. The Higurashi Shrine will be a good place for her. Better she's far away from this life with Naraku gunning for her."

"Toga…" Inuyasha paused, planning on leaving the rest of the conversation behind, but the tenor of his mother's voice had him worried, "Naraku let Kagome live. He has to have a reason for that."

"I know."

It was all Toga said or all that Inuyasha heard, but it was more than enough. What the hell was his father doing, leaving Kagome all alone when her life was clearly at stake? What pack law allowed for that to happen?!

Inuyasha didn't understand, but like hell, he was going to let Kagome be another victim. He would die before he allowed that to happen.

oOo

So maybe Inuyasha had been a little dramatic? Well over a month of watching, and Kagome's greatest threat was herself. It pained him to see her cry, but it was all par for the course. She had just lost her parents. So, of course, she was going to cry. It would be easier on Inuyasha if that were the reason for her breakdown that he could understand.

But Kagome had done her best to move on from that loss already. It would haunt her as it would anyone. However, Inuyasha was shocked by her willpower and courage as she bravely faced the entire funeral. He had spent the whole procession as close as he could. If Seann Chu was once a wolf, old man or not, his senses would still be strong. Inuyasha had to be careful with how close he got to Kagome if he wanted to keep watching her like this.

That said, he was struggling when she came home from her strange school yet again in tears. He couldn't watch her all the time, but he had to assume that she was safe in the large building with so many other eyes. But he was starting to reassess that; Kagome now sobbing at the bottom of the shrine's steps the third time in a row.

Inuyasha couldn't take it anymore, somehow finding himself standing before her and listening to every strained breath. It made him ache all over to the point of anger. It was good he wore his beads (just in case), or he would be struggling with his transformation right now. It all made him so…angry. "Oh jeez, what is it this time?!"

Her head popped up, bright eyes hitting him hard as they had the first time. "Who are you?"

The tears that shimmered in her eyes had him pissed. So Inuyasha frowned and shoved his hands deep into the front pockets of his jeans to hide his claws. "Inuyasha. Don't you remember me? I saved your life!"

Kagome shook her head at him, "no, you didn't. You were there, but you didn't save me. Where's Toga?"

He swallowed his huff at how Kagome, upset and balling, still managed to point out small details of the worst night of her life. "The old man sends his regards."

Kagome looked at him, and his palms began to sweat with the intensity of her stare. "No, he didn't. Does he even know you're here?"

He didn't know how she knew, but she did, and it made him all the more nervous. "How do you know that?" She shrugged, and Inuyasha started to worry this was all a terrible idea…but it was too late to turn back now. "Why are you sitting here crying?"

"Some…kids… I don't like my new school, that's all. But, I'll get used to it."

"That's the lamest thing I've ever heard; you're crying because you don't like your school?!" Inuyasha was trying to play it off as something stupid while imagining finding all those that hurt Kagome and ripping their heads off.

"Do you know what it's like to be an orphan, Inuyasha?" Kagome looked up at him and his breath caught in his throat. "You're treated poorly. Everyone thinks you're cursed or that you did something to deserve losing your parents. I'm lucky that my Gramps was willing to take Souta and me in because no one else would. Not even Toga wanted us…."

"Shut your damn mouth! My father, he…." Inuyasha only knew that it went against pack law somehow. It didn't make sense to him either, and since he desperately wanted Kagome near (for whatever reason), he hated it as much as Kagome did. But the law was finite. "It's not like he had a say or choice in the matter. He would have taken you and your brother in if he could." Kagome silently nodded while brushing a stray tear off her cheek that he'd been struggling not to do for her. "So… some dumb kids are giving you a hard time? Why don't you fight back?!"

"It doesn't work like that…."

"The hell it doesn't! If they give you shit, give them shit back! Don't just take it like a spineless loser!"

He'd been thinking about his issues, how he wanted to protect Kagome from everything without knowing why, how he wanted to stand up to Toga. Inuyasha went against the law for Kagome, but he'd never felt this strongly about anything in his life before.

It was what Inuyasha was thinking about when Kagome's voice cracked over her words. "Is that how you see me? As spineless? Since I didn't stand up for my parents?"

"Wha…" He was taken aback; he hadn't meant or thought that at all. "NO! You're just a little kid against a pack of wolves… I mean… yeah, wolves. Random wild wolf attack. No one expected you to fight back to that!"

Crap, he'd said more than he meant to, but Kagome had that effect on him. Inuyasha hoped he'd covered, but the tilt to Kagome's head told him he failed, "you and I both know those weren't wolves…."

"Yes, they were."

Kagome didn't press it, and Inuyasha was thankful. He wanted to tell her everything, and that wasn't good. "There's nothing I can do; these guys weren't saying anything that isn't true."

Anger swelled in him again. So it was boys messing with her? Were they saying bad things about her? Inuyasha's anger made it hard to breathe, and he feared a full transformation at this rate, beads be damned. "What are they saying?!"

Inuyasha was sure his rage was apparent, but Kagome showed no fear towards him. How much of that was her ignorance, he didn't know. "That I'm an orphan, that no one wants me. That I'm a curse."

The ache in his soul made him fall to his knees. Here he was, Inuyasha Cu Tashio, the next alpha, bowing to some girl he barely knew. When he touched her, she didn't flinch or pull away as she should for a stranger—just like he should, having known Kagome from a distance. But he couldn't stop himself, needing to protect and comfort her as if his life depended on it. "It's true that you're an orphan, but the rest isn't. You're wanted, and you're not cursed."

She didn't look away either, and he felt like he would drown in her eyes soon. "Alright… tomorrow, I'll try. I'll… stand up for myself."

"And you'll do great, I know it," he smiled without control.

When Kagome giggled, he had to get up and put some distance. Which didn't make sense; she couldn't hear his heart as he could hers. But the way it danced with her laugh had Inuyasha struggling to think. "Do you want to come in? Meet Gramps and see Souta?"

His heart leapt with that, Kagome inviting him inside. But he couldn't; her grandfather hated his family and would know him in a second—before he reached the door, most likely. "Not supposed to be here, remember?"

"Like anyone is gonna tell? Gramps would? He knows Toga?!"

She was reading him like a book and would have him spilling all his secrets soon, "I gotta go. Good luck, Kagome."

Inuyasha kept close, watching Kagome leave her school instead of waiting for her to get home. A small clump of boys hanging around that she slipped past a little too fast to be normal. His eyes trained on them; he opened up his ears when they first called out to Kagome.

"Hey, Higurashi!" Kagome was going to ignore them this time, continuing on her path until someone grabbed her arm hard. Inuyasha's beads were in place, but he still felt his claws stretch out. "I'm talking to you! Did your parents not teach you any manners? Or was it your rudeness that killed them?!"

She didn't tell him it was three against one or that they were boys! Kagome stood tall and faced them like Inuyasha had prescribed while he left his perch and pulled off his beads. "You're one to talk. How is it your family hasn't died of shame yet?"

Inuyasha paused, standing in the shadows and waiting. If Kagome could handle this on her own, he would let her, waiting on a trigger if she needed him. "What did you say?!"

The boy grabbed Kagome's arm again, and Inuyasha's pulse matched Kagome's—thundering. But his was out of anger while she was in pain. "I said, bullies like you always get what's coming to them. So I don't need to do anything but wait until Karma slaps you in the face."

The bastard shoved her and Inuyasha didn't wait any longer. Kagome was brave, more than anyone he had ever met before. She wouldn't ask for help even when she needed it. So he would help her save face, instantly switching from his human form to his wolf. He would look like a giant dog, but that would work in his favor today. For the first time, he was glad for his size. If Inuyasha were any larger, he wouldn't be able to come to Kagome's side like this.

Kagome was still on the ground when the asshole pulled back his foot, planning to kick her while she was down. Inuyasha saw red, grabbing the jerk's ankle and ripping him back. The kid was lucky Inuyasha didn't sever his tendons with his fangs.

The boys were confused, so Inuyasha clarified, standing over Kagome's prone body and growling. She was his, and he would protect her.

They gaped like fish for a long second, the time ticking away and getting on Inuyasha's nerves. Then, finally, the one on the ground got back to his feet, and the one that tossed her stammered. "Is..it that… your dog?"

He didn't know if Kagome had caught on; Inuyasha hadn't thought that far ahead, only thinking about getting to her. "He's my friend."

Kagome was petting him. He couldn't help it; he leaned into her touch. The future alpha of a pack of wolves but Inuyasha was very much Kagome's dog. Inuyasha was embarrassed, allowing himself to get carried away like this. And Kagome was still on the ground so he pulled her up as best he could and directed her away. Then, making sure his message was sent, Inuyasha growled heavily at the bullies again before strolling away with Kagome at his side. He was hurrying them, wanting to get back to his human form soon before he made even more of an ass of himself for her. Inuyasha definitely couldn't go up the shrine steps like this. If Seann Chu had weaker senses, this form would still be like a foghorn in the middle of the night.

Kagome waited like he would keep going, but he stayed firm, waiting for her to get on her way. "I was… scared. But I faced them as you said. It didn't go well, but I don't feel any shame." He couldn't look at her, mortified beyond reason. But then she fell to her knees for him, wrapping her arms around his neck. He was stunned. "Thank you, Inuyasha. You saved me."

He tried to huff, to make it a joke while his heart went wild in his chest. Inuyasha didn't like this; this feeling he had towards Kagome was damn near suffocating. It terrified him. He was scared because he couldn't explain it or understand it. But it was overwhelming, his need to be near and dear to Kagome was a tremendous urge in his life. It surpassed his desire to strengthen his wolf and his pack.

It was why he turned his snout into her and breathed her in deeply. It calmed him, all his embarrassment and fear evaporating with every breath of her. What the hell was this? Inuyasha didn't know, but it only scared him when he was away from her, pulling gently out of her hold and running as fast as possible. He was home in less than five minutes (which was why no one noticed him being gone so often). The only one who knew was Sesshomaru, his older brother waiting for a report on Inuyasha's bed.

"I got nothin', alright? This is…stupid. There's nothin' special about Kagome."

Inuyasha wasn't saying that for Sess; he was saying it for himself, desperately trying to believe it. Sess had his arms folded over his chest and growled. "Naraku left her alive, Inuyasha. Don't you get it?"

"No, I really don't!"

"We may not know the why, but Naraku wants Kagome…."

"He can't have her!" Inuyasha screamed out of nowhere.

He bit his lip, but it was too late; Sesshomaru's wide eyes were the most emotion his brother had ever shown Inuyasha. "Perhaps…you've been tasked with too much, brother."

"Yeah," Inuyasha huffed, forcing a laugh, "I got a shit ton of other more important things to do."

Sesshomaru rose from his bed and looked Inuyasha over. "Then stay away from her. Kagome Higurashi should be left alone. Father was right, and it goes against pack law."

"How? What law does it break, protecting her?!"

He didn't want to keep going to see Kagome; it was messing with his mind. But at the same time, Inuyasha felt like a vice was tightening around his heart at the thought. Not seeing Kagome? It would hurt…a lot.

But he wanted Sess to tell him 'no', to forbid it like their father had. "Her family wanted nothing to do with us. It was their wish."

"Wait…" he stumbled, struggling to breathe, "Kagome is a wolf too?!"

"Apparently. Although Kagome's blood is weak and low." Nothing about Kagome was weak or low, but Inuyasha bit his tongue to stay silent about it. "And her parents left the pack to have a normal life. The law is on their side, so Kagome can't know anything about us or her blood."

Sesshomaru knew more about Kagome than he did, and it made Inuyasha seeth. "How did you find all this out?"

"Father. I asked him about her. He came clean when I mentioned a protection detail."

"She should be protected. Naraku wants her? Then we fight like hell to keep her from him!"

Sesshomaru nodded, but Inuyasha could tell they meant two different things. "Naraku has gone into hiding. He won't be going after Kagome or anyone else on his list."

"List?!"

Sess clammed up after that, pissing Inuyasha off even more. It was why he stormed out and straight to Toga. "Dad!" He was training pups, but Inuyasha didn't give a shit. "What the hell is all this about, Kagome?!"

His father looked shocked; Inuyasha -in his rage- forgot that he wasn't supposed to know her name. Toga pushed his pups away and grabbed Inuyasha hard, dragging him far from the others and into the woods that surrounded the compound. "I ordered you to stay away. You disobeyed me?!"

"Sesshomaru told me," Inuyasha spat out, hoping to cover his lie with his fury, "Naraku is after her, and you're leaving her alone?!"

"Inuyasha…" his father sighed deeply, "there's nothing we can do. Naraku's gone, and Kagome is where she belongs. So we have to leave her alone and let her grow in peace. It's for the best." Inuyasha was far from satisfied. No way Kagome was safe, and even if she was, she was a wolf! She was supposed to be here with them, with him! He'd never been this pissed with his dad, unable to look at Toga as he stormed past and away with nothing more to say. "Stay away from her, Inuyasha. That's an order."

Inuyasha felt the command as it burned his veins. The power of his alpha and it was the first time his father ever used it on him. Inuyasha still knew what was being done to him and how it should travel up to his heart and brain, making refusing it next to impossible. But for some reason, it stopped in his belly, dying as quickly as it started.

His alpha gave him a command, but it was against his well-being to stay away from Kagome. He wouldn't be happy if he never saw Kagome again.