The Snow Angel by SunsetMiko

The Altercation

Chapter 38 - The Altercation *Let Go* (Stella's Soundtrack Challenge)

When the taiyoukai stood, his eyes locked with the hanyou's, and he knew he was going to hear it. "Do not scream, little brother," Sesshoumaru said softly. "She just fell back to sleep and does not need to be awoken by your yelling."

"What the fuck is your problem?" the hanyou hissed. "You have no place touching her!" Absolutely aching to scream his head off, Inuyasha growled dangerously. "You and me need to get some things straight. Come on. Let's go talk about this somewhere else."

"I do not wish to leave the miko and your other companions unguarded," Sesshoumaru replied calmly, knowing that the less he let Inuyasha affect him, the more it would upset the hanyou. He wasn't against teaching the whelp a lesson and kicking his ass, just so long as Kagome wasn't around to see it. He was incredibly frustrated at the moment at his situation, though it was lessened greatly by his time holding the miko, and he wouldn't mind working out a little aggression on Inuyasha's face.

"They'll be fine," Inuyasha said through gritted teeth, trying very hard to keep his voice down.

"Inuyasha, this is not necessary. Sesshoumaru was merely helping Kagome to calm after a nightmare. He meant no harm," Miroku said in a placating tone.

"Fuck that. That bastard has no place touching Kagome."

"I spent a great deal of the afternoon with her hand in mine," Sesshoumaru taunted. "She did not seem to mind." Realizing that beating on the hanyou could possibly come back to bite him in the ass with Kagome, he decided to put a stop to this confrontation. "I will not leave the miko's side, in case her nightmares return. I am surprised that you would propose such a thing. You are supposed to be her protector, are you not?"

"Fuck. You."

"I do not understand your anger, brother. If she is not your intended mate, why do you guard her as if she were?"

Inuyasha's eyes widened as it dawned on him what was going on. The jerk wanted Kagome! That explained the strange hint in his voice from time to time, the way he seemed to always be looking at her, walking or sitting too close. It certainly accounted for the feeling he'd had about the whole situation, that Sesshoumaru had an ulterior motive.

"You cannot have her," the hanyou said slowly, his tone dark and threatening.

"What are you talking about, Inuyasha?" Sango asked, tugging the hanyou away from the taiyoukai, hoping to put an end to this issue. It was late and she wanted to get back to sleep. "You're imagining things. You know very well that if you wake Kagome up with this nonsense, she's going to sit you into the ground."

"Keep him away from her!" he growled, only for the slayer to roll her eyes.

"Just sit down and stop. It's the middle of the night and we're exhausted." She glared at the hanyou until he did as she asked, only to snarl when he saw Sesshoumaru sit down directly beside the miko. "He handled her just fine, and if she wakes up screaming again, he'll be there. Let it go." Sure, she might have given it more thought if she weren't so tired, but as it was, she just wanted to be able to lie back down and close her eyes. She stared the hanyou down until she was sure he wouldn't be making a fuss again before returning to her spot beside Kirara. Miroku soon joined her, while Shippo snuggled against Kagome, hoping that she would feel his presence while she slept.

Sesshoumaru smirked, his face turned away from the hanyou. Now that the slayer had managed to calm him, he had no intention of riling him back up. It had just become his responsibility to stay beside Kagome and soothe her once again, if necessary. Her own friend and companion had made it so, and he was not going to complain, nor was he going to budge from her side. He subtly moved his hand to lay it on hers, and leaned his head back to look at the sky, thanking the gods for this opportunity.

He had gotten to hold her, to touch her hair, to console her, and she not only allowed it, but she held him back. He knew it was unlikely that she had known it was him, but he was going to pretend she had. Maybe some part of her recognized him, the him she had gotten to know when he was Prince. Maybe that's why she was so easily calmed in his arms. He could only hope.