DISCLAIMERS: I DO NOT OWN 'INUYASHA'! THAT HONOR IS HELD BY RUMIKO TAKAHASHI!
"The Right Choice"
Warnings: Language, mild violence, Inucest, YAOI (boyxboy) Don't like boy-love? Don't read :)
Some ooc, on purpose!
THIS IS RATED M FOR A REASON!
A/N This is the first fic I ever wrote, and it is the first I've ever tried to post. Please be patient, I'm trying to figure out the process :) For what it's worth, I have written the whole 7-chapter story in my notebook, so I will not leave you hanging.
I may have to split this chapter, it's longer than I thought :)
Chapter 3: The Pack's Decision
Previously, on "the Right Choice" *Inuyasha's pack had found them.*
Inuyasha was glad his pack had arrived. As their Alpha, he usually felt better with them close by. He got to his feet, ready to greet them...and explain a few things. He glanced down when he felt a tug on his sleeve. Sesshomaru was looking up at him with an unsettling amount of fear and alarm in his honey-amber eyes. "They hate me, Inuyasha. I..I don't have the energy to run or defend myself." Inuyasha sensed the bone-deep shame the youkai felt at admitting this. "They won't attack you. I won't let anyone hurt you."
What? Why had he said that?
Yet he could feel the truth in his words. He would defend the youkai, even against the rest of his rather formidable pack. "Stay here." he said softly before walking away to greet his friends on the other side of the small clearing.
Kilala landed smoothly, staying in her large form. Everyone dismounted and started firing questions at Inuyasha, oblivious to the youkai sitting silently by the waterfall. Kilala rolled her eyes. She had noticed the canine demon right away, but the others?
No such luck.
"Why did you take off like that?" Kagome demanded. "You had us worried!" Inuyasha shrugged as he replied. "Just following an...interesting scent." Shippo came up in front of the hanyou. He almost reached his Alpha's waist now. "Did you find the source of it?" The young fox demon's emerald eyes shone with hope.
Inuyasha hesitated, then sighed. " I found the source, but you might not like what it is. Actually, none of you are gonna like this. But, none of you are to attack him, ok?" The determined look the half-demon gave them gained their agreement, and their curiosity.
Who could their leader have discovered that he intended to protect?
xxxx
Inuyasha stepped aside, revealing a wary-looking Sesshomaru, still sitting exactly where Inuyasha had told him to stay.
The gasps were clearly heard. Sango started to step forward, only to be stopped by a slightly growling hanyou.
"Inuyasha, I swear I'm not going to harm him." He stopped growling and let her pass, only to follow her closely as she approached his brother.
Sango's mind was racing. She knew demons like the back of her hand. Sesshomaru was in heat. Not that she would've ever pegged him for a submissive...and this was certainly a submissive heat. The lethal youkai sat in his spot, docile and subdued. She saw a flicker of fear in the golden eyes, and she stopped to lay Hiraikotsu and her katana against a tree, pleased when the fear faded some. She slowly came closer, then crouched a couple of feet from the Killing Perfection, noticing how the amber eyes tracked her every move. She gave a little smile and spoke in a soft, coaxing voice. "Hey there, Sesshomaru."
The demon's eyes widened at her non-aggressive behavior and tone, and he tilted his head as if he wasn't sure what to make of her. After a moment, he nodded at her greeting. Sango continued in her coaxing tone. "You're not gonna hurt or attack us, are you?" Immediately, Sesshomaru gave a frantic shake of his head like he desperately needed the demon-slayer to know he wasn't a threat.
Sango's eyes narrowed as she got a glimpse of the right side of his face. "What happened there?" she asked, gesturing to the still-red mark on the demon lord's cheek and the slightly darker than normal marking there. She had hit Miroku often enough to know a slap when she saw it. Somebody had hit the demon.
Sesshomaru didn't answer. His hand rose to cover his cheek and his eyes darted up to his brother, still standing behind the slayer. So, Inuyasha had done that? Sango whirled on the hanyou who was her leader. "How DARE you?! How could you strike him when he's like this?!"
xxx
Inuyasha stepped back, startled. Usually, Kagome was the one yelling at him. Sesshomaru's voice stopped the feisty slayer from doing physical harm, the first time he'd spoken since their arrival. "Please, Lady Sango. He...he deserved to strike me. It was his anger for things I have done. Please don't fight your Alpha because of this...because of me."
xx
Sesshomaru's eyes had been trained on the ground the whole time, missing the shocked looks he was getting from everyone present. He didn't realize the rest of the pack was moving closer, especially Shippo. He raised his eyes to see everyone closer than before and setting up camp. He was surprised; weren't they angry at him for all the times he'd hurt their Alpha?
Yet, other than a few curious, slightly confused glances, the entire group was acting like it was normal for him to be in their midst. The young fox demon had come rather close and was watching him, shifting nervously from paw to paw as though he wanted to ask something, but was afraid of the answer.
Sesshomaru asked, "Are you well?" The kitsune looked surprised that the older demon had addressed him at all, much less to inquire after his well-being.
"Umm..I was wondering..are you still dangerous?" the fox-child blurted, then looked mortified that he'd asked so bluntly.
Sesshomaru allowed a small smile to curve his lips. "Not to you, and not to your pack, Shippo."
The younger demon's eyes became huge. "You..you know my name?" He shrugged. "I know everyone in my brother's pack. He protects all of you, and I have witnessed all of you protect him...even from me."
Emerald eyes met gold, and Shippo took a deep breath. "Is it ok if I sit by you?" Sesshomaru hid his shock at this request. "Yes, you may sit by me, if you tell me why you wish to do so." The demon-child came close and sat at his side, not quite touching, but pretty damn close to the youkai who normally scared the piss out of him.
"You smell really safe, like if something came, you would protect me." Shippo's eyes slid closed in contentment, leaving Sesshomaru to contemplate the fox's words.
Just then, Kagome's voice called out."Hey Sesshomaru, are you hungry?" Normally, he would not be, but it had been an extremely long day. "Yes, but I can fend for myself. I prefer raw meat." A snort drew his attention to his brother. "I'll go get you something. You don't need to leave."
With a bound, Inuyasha disappeared into the woods.
Sesshomaru didn't realize he was frowning until he heard the monk's voice. "Not to worry, Inuyasha can be pretty hard-headed, especially when one of us is hurt or sick." Taken aback by the fact that this formidable human had basically just referred to him as one of them, the demon lord blinked at the monk that was getting comfortable nearby.
"There is much I do not know about my brother." he murmered, receiving a tiny nod and smile that acknowledged his admission. He asked quietly."Miroku, what is it like not having the Wind Tunnel anymore?"
Miroku looked at his bare right hand. "It was difficult at first, as it was my main weapon. I've wished I still had it a couple of times since we all defeated Naraku. It would have been useful, but...it was going to consume me." Miroku tilted his head to the side thoughtfully. "So...I miss it's power, but I'm more glad it's threat is gone. Besides, I've been training in hand-to-hand combat, and working on my spiritual powers, so I'm stronger than I used to be. Why do you ask?"
Sesshomaru frowned. "I have lost most of the strength I possessed due to being in heat. I do not care for the feeling."
Miroku looked skeptical, and Sesshomaru demanded. "Are you calling me a liar?" Immediately, the monk shook his head. "No, I just have trouble believing anything could diminish your strength." he answered honestly.
Sesshomaru sighed, deciding his new pack deserved to know. "Miroku, take my hand and be ready to pull. Lady Kagome, Lady Sango, could you come here?" The two women approached, Kagome asking "What's up?"
"Ok, Miroku, pull." Miroku did as he was told, and even though they could all see Sesshomaru's lean muscles straining under his haori, his body was starting to lean towards the human. Finally, Sesshomaru put down his other hand to keep himself from falling. "That's enough. I told you I've lost my strength, and you all deserved to know how pathetic I've become."
He raised his eyes to the others', and did not see what he had been dreading, pity or contempt. Instead, he saw understanding and compassion.
"Well, this should be temporary, but no matter how long it lasts, you are welcome to stay with us. We will keep you safe." Sango declared, and the others nodded in agreement.
End of Chapter 3: The Pack's Decision
Ok due to some technical difficulties, I had to split my original ch 3 into 2 parts! Sorry! *hides under table and keeps typing* This means the "good stuff" originally meant to start in ch 4 will now be in 5.
The next ch will be them eating. Yes I know that sounds insignificant, but the inu boys will need to eat, cause they WILL need energy for chapters 5-7. Trust me ;) Plus, Sesshomaru will start...reacting..to the closest Alpha-dominant, who just so happens to be...oh yeah.