Hope on the Horizon

Chapter Four

"I took your heart and made it mine. Do my best to justify, yeah. Call it pleasure but it feels like pain." - 'Paper Thin - Headhunterz Remix' ~ ILLENIUM, Tom Delonge, Angels & Airwaves, Headhunterz

x . . . . x

Because he was the Western Lord… he did nothing unless he wanted to.

The taiyoukai looked into the sunset, the wind caressing his long hair, the crimson on his hands black in the fading light.

Somewhere, his father was laughing at him. He was sure of it.

.

Inuyasha growled as he stood, not bothering to brush the dirt from his clothing as he stalked toward Kagome. Kagome felt his anger press against her, a heavy, fiery weight. She had not had to deal with the full weight of his anger in a long while, even before they had gone West so she was surprised when his jaw clenched and his fingers curled into angry fists. Although she knew Inuyasha would never harm her, his anger was a physical weight bearing down upon her.

He stopped in front of her, fangs barred, brows drawn down, "He ain't my fucking alpha and he sure as shit ain't yours." Kagome turned to him, her smile placating as she reached out and grabbed his hand. He was unwilling to unclench it and she brought it to her lips, brushing them over his pale knuckles, "And what do you mean he's sleeping with us? We don't even sleep together!"

Despite the very rational anger coursing through his veins, his golden orbs were locked on her lips touching his skin and she understood his stance without a doubt. Her lips curled downward, "I know that's how you feel right now, Inuyasha - I know. But trust me! This is for the best!"

He yanked his hand from her angrily, no matter how much it bothered him to do so, "I know that you know what happens in the future and you're not my Kagome anymore, but dammit." He swore stepping away from her, "You can't manipulate me - us. Just tell me what you're gonna do. I don't give a shit if you tell the asshole but don't I at least deserve that much?"

She blinked slowly, processing his words,and then her eyes softened, "You're right, Inuyasha, I'm sorry." She shook her head as she took a step back, "I didn't consider how you might feel. I honestly didn't. I'm just doing what I think is best. But I won't do that anymore. You're my partner, and my best friend. You always have been and I should keep you aware of my plans." There was a pain in her voice when she quietly murmured, "And I'm always your Kagome…"

He looked away from her earnest eyes and crossed his arms, ignoring her whispered remark pointedly, "We didn't get this far for nothing, y'know." He looked back at her and tilted his head in Sesshoumaru's direction, "You gonna explain? Because I ain't happy." Inuyasha looked around the camp at everyone that had stilled what they were doing, lips curling his snarled, "You just standing around or you gonna set up?"

As everyone began to move around, Inuyasha moved forward and gathered her in his arms easily. He was looking for a good spot to oversee things and when he found it, he leapt into the boughs and settled her in front of him, face to face a foot or so apart. She grinned at him and touched the back of his hand, "Thanks."

He rolled his eyes and pulled away, "Talk."

Kagome fought to not let it hurt her feelings and so she clasped her hands and began, "No offense, Inuyasha but you're easier than your brother." As he was about to interrupt she frowned, "If you interrupt, I'm jumping off." he closed his mouth with an audible click and she continued, "We care for each other. We always have. Sesshoumaru barely likes me and now we're going to be mates?"

She sighed and looked into the distance where Sessoumaru disappeared, watching as birds flew from the trees, scattering in fear. "I have to make this normal. I have to make us - " she gestured to herself and Inuyasha, " - normal. Or he'll fight. It's hard to fight instincts and I'll test them. Every. Day. Until he breaks. Sesshoumaru did not love me in the beginning and he doesn't need to love me now." She looked down at her hands as they clenched into her skirt, "It'll hurt. But that's okay. It's easier when we become mates, because it's hard not to want them."

"And that alpha shit?" Inuyasha asked, tentatively reaching out to unfurl her fists.

"Deal with it. You have to. He is. If you have to fight it out, then do so but you end up giving up the mantle eventually." she shrugged her shoulders lightly, entwining their fingers together easily, enjoying the small intimacy. "Your brother holds back his instincts. He always has. If I appeal to them, I'll appeal to him. If I appeal to him, then life will be easier on all of us."

Inuyasha looked down at the camp, his eyes moving over each of their friends, "What did you… what did you like about us?" He looked back just as she blinked and then blushed crimson. "Oh come on! Really? That? We did that?"

Kagome shushed him as her blush deepened, "Keep your voice down! You're so damn loud!"

He pushed her hand away as his own blush flowed across his cheeks, "Well what do you fucking expect? I ask what you liked and your mind goes there?"

She shook her head and slapped his thigh, "I didn't mean to! It just happened! And for your information, I liked bonding! Sleeping, eating, grooming, bathing!" She sighed as her blush was getting under control, "I just liked us." She took a deep shuddered breath and when she looked at him, Inuyasha had to remind himself that in her world… he had died. "I had Sesshoumaru to myself in the end but my soul ached for you. When it was just you and me… it was hard to miss what I didn't even have but with you… I missed you. Now that I have my chance again… I want us all back. It won't be the same, there are things we all experienced that won't happen this time. A million little shared moments are gone now. I recognize that… I do. And when you meet Zankoku and you feel that power, you'll understand why solidifying our base is so important."

Inuyasha looked off into the distance and frowned, "He's coming back."

Kagome nodded her head, "I feel him. I'll get our spot ready."

He stiffened and his jaw clenched in irritation but he nodded.

.

His instincts were still riled when he made it back to camp.

The worst had been placed back into the cage they had been in, but a little of what he really was lingered under his flesh.

The part that was the dog held the boar in its hands and tossed it at the mikos feet.

He watched her as she offered her neck.

In return, he didn't rip out her throat.

His lips curled over his teeth, his beast simmering, simmering, simmering.

Instincts screamed at the incomplete bond and he was doing all he could to hold himself back. It was a painful ache that reverberated in his soul but a manageable ache. Sesshoumaru was accustomed to pain and an ache was not the worst he had experienced, not even close. The boar at the miko's feet was an unwilling offering but he could not bring it in him to give it to anyone else.

You feed your mate after all.

His bright eyes swam with shades of crimson and they moved along her form and around her, taking in the place where she would lay her head that night - where he and his brother would join her. Rationally, he hated the idea - the part that was the Western Lord balked at sharing any space with a miko and hanyou but the starved beast was howling it's eagerness.

Angry, he stared at her unsurprised when she met his gaze instead of looking away.

Not the same bitch.

A completely different woman then the girl from before.

Her voice broke into his silent, soft but firm, "Thank you." She was moving her hands to the boar and taking it to the fire where she would skewer the meat and feed the pack, as was her role as an alpha bitch. Which is what she was silently telling him with every look and every action. Human she may be but she could be his alpha bitch just as good as any youkai bitch. He went to Rin and the little girl met him halfway with a smile on her small face. He felt some of that jittery energy fade as he looked to her.

"Sesshoumaru-sama!" she cried happily.

He met her dark brown eyes and he could see the moment she saw something was off. Her little hand was reaching for his pants and he allowed her to make contact, "Come. You and Ah-Un will stay closer to the others with the kit. Jaken will watch over you both."

Although she nibbled her bottom lip in concern, she nodded her head once, "If you're sure."

He in turn spoke, "Gather your things and go to the kit."

Sesshoumaru heard the patter of paws on the ground and the kit was launching himself toward Rin, "Kagome says it's called a sleepover, Rin! She even said we could have a piece of chocolate after dinner for it! We can tell stories by the fire!"

Rin forgot her hesitation and began to laugh with the kitsune child, her eyes bright, "That sounds fun!"

He watched her go and turned to Jaken, "Pack."

And then he took his place, watching over the camp as they joked, ate, and readied themselves for the night.

His shifting hues met bright amber through the leaves of another tree.

For once, the hanyou's face was oddly unreadable while he could feel his visibly showing his displeasure. He could not help but wonder what it was his brother thought of the arrangement. After all, the miko was someone he cared for. He had little doubt that the hanyou had ever put thought into something so far fetched as to having to share the miko with his detested brother.

As the stars littered the sky, Sesshoumaru felt suddenly very tired. Almost as though the day filled with so many unpleasant truths and realizations were too much. There was no irritation, no simmering beast, just nothing. A numbness had already settled, his usual chill filtering through him. When she came for him, it was after everyone had already settled down and fallen asleep as though she knew he would not want anyone to witness his disgrace. Her footsteps were soft, barely detectable and she was already in her sleeping clothes.

He did not acknowledge her when she stopped before him, he did not give her a moment's glance. She made a sound that bordered on a sigh, "Come when you are ready, Sesshoumaru."

When the miko turned from him and padded back to her space, he watched her walk away. She had made a bed of her blankets at the base of the tree where Inuyasha had sat and watched over camp. His gaze flickered to the branches where Inuyasha's bright eyes still observed him. They met for a moment before the hanyou slipped from the tree and landed in a crouch next to the miko who was settling into her blankets.

Her lips parted and he listened as they spoke in soft tones, "Will you sleep tonight?"

Inuyasha's ears twitched, "Nah, not tonight. Especially not with the bastard so close."

The miko's lips twitched upward, "I understand. Try not to stay up all night and bicker with him alright?"

Inuyasha rolled his eyes and snorted, "No promises, wench." She was still sitting upright and she brought a hand to the hanyou's cheek, her thumb brushing under his eye gently. He could see the red that doused his cheeks from where he was sitting and he was reminded of the inexperienced nature of his brother. "What is it?"

Her fingers moved to a forelock and she was pulling him to her, their foreheads pressed together, "I love you, Inuyasha." Her words were soft, thick with old pain and new wonder. The hanyou was silent, eyes wide and she pushed forward, "I know you can't say that to me now, but it doesn't change my feelings for you." Their lips were close and he watched as she whispered, "Can I kiss you?"

There was a struggle that passed across Inuyasha's face but whatever he was feeling, Kagome must have won out over all because instead of answering verbally, he surged forward and kissed her. Sesshoumaru never did fancy himself a voyeur, always an active participant, but the miko tugged on the thin string that held them together and he was suddenly interested in watching the proceedings, uncaring of the fact it was a hanyou and miko, only concerned it was his future mate.

Inuyasha's hands cradled the miko's head in his claws as he kissed her slowly.

She made a sound and Sesshoumaru felt a flutter that made him frown.

It was just a kiss and it should not affect him but it did and he sent his displeasure down that string just as she sent her lust and she pulled from the hanyou feeling that anger. Despite the feeling he had sent her, her quiet voice reached him with amusement, "If you wanted a kiss, you only had to ask."

He wanted to bare his fangs and openly defy her.

Instead he ignored her and watched as she pecked Inuyasha once more before settling into her bed for the night. When her breathing evened, he stood and walked toward the main camp, eyes lingering over Rin and the kitsune, ensuring she was safe. Ah-Un, lifted their heads as they acknowledged him passing. He made no sound, not even a whisper of clothing as he walked toward the miko and hanyou.

Inuyasha was seated next to the miko, one leg stretched out and the other brought to his chest, a hand tossed over the upright leg. Her head was curled against his upper thigh, while she slept. Inuyasha watched him walk, his body stiff but his gaze never wavering. He stopped at their feet, his eyes burning a path along the miko sleeping peacefully.

"We could kill her." Sesshoumaru spoke easily. "It would likely work."

Inuyasha's voice was deadly calm as his eyes narrowed, "You try, and you will follow."

"I could kill you first."

Inuyasha did not doubt his brother. No matter how calmly the words were said, the cold rage was there and enough of it to pursue the threat. In knowing what he did now, knowing that his world was going to be Kagome one day there was nothing he wouldn't do for her. She said she loved him and the words settled into his heart and soul like brand. She was right, he couldn't tell her those words back even if they were mostly true. He had unfinished business. He had been willing to die for her from day one and with her love driving him, he would compromise everything for her. Heart, soul, morals. All of it. So when he said the next words, he knew that he meant them with all he had.

"If you really try and somehow fucking succeed, I'll go for your girl."

Sesshoumaru blinked slowly almost as though he wasn't sure he had heard the younger partial youkai. Bright, empty amber met cold, unyielding citrine.

"Did you threaten my ward?"

Inuyasha's hands were clenched, "Don't act like you didn't threaten me and our mate."

Our mate.

"Do not threaten Rin again, little brother or I'll take more than what you can offer." he intoned as he began to walk to the other side of the miko, sitting against the tree, the moment passing between them as easily as wind. He had taken a second to contemplate it. He was fast, faster than Inuyasha but he would never reach both her and the miko at the same time. At the moment he would slash her throat, Inuyasha would be at Rin's. As he settled beside the miko, the quiet beast roused itself and purred in contentment.

Inuyasha grunted, "Stop being a dick about everything."

With his beast purring in contentment, the animal starved for pack appeased, he closed his eyes, "She proves to me she is worthy, Inuyasha and I will stop being a 'dick' as you say."

"And when will that be? What exactly does one need to do to be considered worthy, oh great and mighty one?" he asked sarcastically.

Sesshoumaru hummed, lips parting of their own volition, "We will see what happens with the dragons won't we? Even an above average human will face bitter defeat. Our father died after all." he paused as he mulled his next words over, the fire cackling into the evening. When he spoke it was matter of fact, "I feel the bond and do not doubt her story but for this me to truly follow through… I must see it. My future self may have taken on you two but just because he did, does not mean I will do so immediately myself."

Which was true.

Just because a future Sesshoumaru did something, it did not mean he could not be certain in his own decision to follow his future self's steps. Until that day, he would resist her. He would fight her tugs on their bond. Ignore the flutter of lust that pushed through when she was with Inuyasha.

The deed was done, yes, but should she prove unworthy then he would fight her every step of the way.

.

.

.

Because Sesshoumaru would never do anything because a future self did it. But the bond in place forces him to feel jealousy, lust, and overall need. A fact that will be continuously tested while they travel. Inuyasha has no problem in falling into Kagome, because he does care. His hang up will be Kikyo eventually but right now, she offers him everything and in return he knows that he will do the same. He just can't say anything back to her until everything is settled.

I did feel it important for Kagome to be put in her place by Inuyasha though. She might know how everything ends but she can't manipulate them either. She can't just make decisions for them all without discussion. I'm trying to balance it out but Sesshoumaru can't just give in, I won't have it and it doesn't align with his character~ sorrrry. I hope you enjoyed! Please review! Thank you for your support!

Happy Holidays everyone!

P.S. I foyu're not listening to my chapter music, you're MISSING OUT.