Chapter 8: Humiliation

Last time: And poor Inuyasha walked right into a tree...

Miroku shook his head. Inuyasha was thinking too much. Odd...but yes. Inuyasha was thinking of some strategy to have Sesshomaru 'get gone' from their group.

Lady Nefertiti: okay I know Sesshomaru doesn't talk this much in the anime or fics but even he has the right to be amused and speak his mind sometimes...

enjoy reading everyone.

-Inu-tachi-

He was currently sitting on the ground nursing his face as everyone sat around, some looking sympathetic, some amused and some damnright pissed that Inuyasha had been reduced to being hurt and treated like rubbish. The tension in the group was thick and no one dared to say a word to another, well the living people anyway.

"I hope your happy Kagome. This is your fault you know? Inuyasha always protects you and here you go and make him walk into a tree. And you are all warm and snug, and cozy up with his brother and act like his..." Kikyo started.

"Shut-up! Are you blind as well as dead too? Sesshomaru healed her bloody ankle when our incapable leader thought she was just fine! I will knock you back to where you came from! and kill you properly this time! What hole did you crawl out from this time?! go back into it!" Sango said giving her a murderous look and raised her boomerang in emphasis.

'...'

Kagome who was usually a calm person seethed angrily. That idiotic dead wench...she was going down...and today. She rolled up her sleeves and was about to attack Kikyo head on, who wasn't expecting it at all...but was stopped by Sesshomaru. She turned around and looked confused. Why was he holding her by the back of her shirt?

Sesshomaru shook his head at her and said, "Although it would be quite a sight to see the both of you duke it out, it is not wise especially when Inuyasha is injured. He is willing to do anything to protect the dead miko even if it is protecting her from you. Seeing as he is injured it only raises his demon instincts to protect what is his even further." Kagome huffed and sat down next to him as he let her shirt go.

"But how can he protect her when he's the one who is hurt?" Kagome asked him.

"It does not matter to him. Such a minor injury it is...it only angers him that he was unable to protect himself. It makes him look weak and in front of his comrades. They will question and judge his position as thier leader and he knows this." Sesshomaru said calmly.

'Yeah...especially now that his brother is part of the group, it endangers the fact that the others will look to Sesshomaru rather than follow Inuyasha.' Kagome thought mildly amused. But Inuyasha had no idea that Sesshomaru had no desire to be leader to their group and would leave once...' Kagome choked on her thoughts then. He would leave them. Panic seized Kagome then as she stared at him. She had no hold on him though and no real reason to keep him here. Why would he...should he listen to a mere human miko and her plea to stay? She could threaten to purify his arse to hell...hmm...it was a thought.

Sesshomaru sensed Kagome's distress, her sorrow and the panic in her heart but didn't say anything to her and pretended he hadn't noticed.

"I can hear you...you idiotic baka big half-brother of mine." Inuyasha said and threw a stone at him which Sesshomaru caught, of course.

"AND might I add: Don't talk to Kagome like your her mate or her keeper or something!" Inuyasha said rubbing another bruise on his face.

"And what if I was?" Sesshomaru said.

"Grr...If I wasn't hurt like this I'd..." Inuyasha said.

"You'd what? try and kill this Sesshomaru? how many times have you tried that one? let alone say that and failed to do the job?" Sesshomaru shook his head and talked to Inuyasha like he was a pup.

"Why the hell do you always annoy me?!" Inuyasha said.

"Why do you always amuse me so little brother?" Sesshomaru said and Inuyasha glared at him.

"Who invited you here anyway? you just bloody walked into our group without so much as a by-your-..." but Inuyasha shut his mouth when Kagome said, (in letters) "S...I.."

"And of course there's the fact that you seem incapable of being leader of your group so..." Sesshomaru started and threw the stone back at his brother.

"OWW!!" Inuyasha said rubbing his head.

"Sesshomaru! don't egg him on like that! you're just asking for trouble." Kagome said.

"This Sesshomaru supposes that he has to stay here with the group until you're not hurt anymore. At least Kagome has healed somewhat and can walk properly."

"And you were supposed to be GONE when Kagome was alright! What don't tell me you want to still carry her in your arms?" Inuyasha smirked at his brother. Oooh how was he going to get out of this one?

"Unlike yourself, Inuyasha this Sesshomaru tends to care for the group, even though it is not his... and to see to their well being and need. What have you done for the group? Your group? Make them walk them to the ends of the earth, exhaust them until they're too tired to walk let alone, fight the enemy? You might as well hand Kagome over to the hanyou Naraku."

"You...Even that Hojo guy would make a better mate than you to Kagome." Inuyasha said. Kagome glared at him. Why must everyone choose things for her? Was she not old enough to make her own decisions? especially when it regarded someone she had to marry/mate...whatever.

"Who's Hojo?" Sesshomaru said in a cool voice. Kagome grimaced. Miroku sighed. Sango...well Sango was the one who answered him. Better not to make him angry.

"He's just a guy in Kagome's school who...who...'wants to date her.' " No Sango couldn't say that. The feudal era wouldn't get it. Hmm...how to put it... "Kagome does not like him but he wants to court her...to be with her." Well she guessed that's how she could say it.

"Hn."

"Jealous? Finally! there is something that you cannot have because it belongs to another, that's just out of your reach...will never be something that you can possess and call yours..." Inuyasha taunted Sesshomaru then coughed violently and fell on his back. and it wasn't because of Kagome's 'sits.'

"Always incapable of doing the job huh aren't you little brother?" he said smoothly.

"You really know how to humiliate someone you know?" Inuyasha said lying on his back and stared at the sky.

"Indeed." Sesshomaru said and had he been anyone else...he could've smiled when he heard Kagome's sigh of relief...

Lady Nefertiti: please read and review.