Chapter 2
Kagome woke warm and comfortable against a now human Sesshomaru mewling lightly she stretched not really wanting to move turning in Sesshomaru arms she looked shyly at him with wide sapphire eyes full of question and hesitant desire she nuzzled against his chest enjoying his closeness. Her thigh brushed against something hard instead of making her uncomfortable it sent a burst of heat through her body.
Smelling the burst of arousal from her Sesshomaru moved over her kissing her softly with a chuffing pleasured growl. Feeling her hesitance he moved his mouth gently over hers until she began to respond. His hands began to wander her beautiful body loving how she moved against him mewling in response. Smiling against her lips "I think we have you wrong miko it seems that we have more than one neko in the group."
She blushed hotly not quite knowing what to do with that comment, before she had too much time to think he was kissing her hotly again. Her eyes closed opening to him her hands slipping over his shoulders only now realizing that the gorgeous creature above her was naked. Running her nails over his back arching into him she felt like begging him never to stop. She was startled when he snarled savagely pushing her behind him.
"What's wrong?" She asked concerned at the sudden change in his behavior.
Tears came to her eyes when she managed to look past Sesshomaru to see Jaken. She suddenly realized what she must look like still half dressed in yesterday's clothing in the bed of a naked youkai lord. She was brought back to the attention of Jaken when he began to shriek about the stupid human who thought she had the right to be in his glorious lords bed. Not giving Sesshomaru time to react after hiding her from Jaken she stumbled from the bed fleeing the room. After Inuyasha she knew better than to think she was good enough for someone like Sesshomaru.
She asked a servant for her things and the bath house and quickly took a bath and redressed. Wandering into the gardens she found her friends. It did not take Shippo long to notice her and fly into her arms knocking her to the ground. "Mama I was worried about you last night! I don't like to sleep without you."
"I'm sorry baby some silly dog decided I made a good snuggle toy and wouldn't let me go." Kagome muttered.
Shippo giggled. "Sesshomaru decided he wanted to go to bed early huh?"
Kagome turned blood red looking around she spotted a familiar adorable little girl to help her avoid the situation. "Rin you have gotten so big!"
"Kagome nee chan!" The little girl flung herself at her. Kagome caught the little girl into her arms laughing and happy she was already on the ground.
"You know you two are getting too big to hurdle into me like that. Fragile human woman remember!" Kagome laughed.
"Tell us a story mama!" Shippo begged pretending not to have heard her earning himself a nuggie.
Kagome laughed and with a child in each arm went to sit under the shade of a tree near a small koi pond. Motioning her other friends over she asked what kind of story everyone wanted. She loved having her friends close and did not mind telling a story to entertain them for a while.
"Nothing girlie!" Shippo sneered.
"Something with a princess," Rin begged.
"Hmmm well how about a compromise? My favorite story when I was a child was about a princess under a curse by an evil witch and the charming handsome prince that must fight the wicked sorceress to save her from her curse." Kagome asked.
The kids cuddled close while Sango, and Miroku found their respective spots to relax and listen to the story. "It all began with a beautiful kingdom.." Kagome got lost in the story telling it in an animated way that held her little audience captive. She smiled when the children protested loudly when the curse over took the young princess and she fell into a deep sleep. When the story was over the children yawned loudly and before they knew it everyone was sleeping peacefully for an afternoon nap.
Kagome woke suddenly when she felt someone trying to shift one of the children away from her. Without thought she blasted them away from her group erecting a barrier to keep them out. "Who is there?"
"Miko this Sesshomaru only meant to take his pack in doors where it is comfortable. It will rain soon and I do not want anyone to be ill under my care." He growled obviously annoyed.
The barrier instantly dropped. "I am so sorry I should have made sure what was going on before I attacked I panicked. Are you alright my lord?"
"I am fine. Minor burns that I more than deserved. You are surrounded by pack I should have alerted you to my presence before I tried to move those you unconsciously guard. We do need to work on the fact that you did not sense me until I went to move them though." He smirked. "I heard a bit of your story miko this one believes that you have the gift of bard within you."
Kagome blushed shaking her head. "I was just helping my friends to pass the time on a warm afternoon."
"You had all those around you enraptured even myself until I was called away." He said simply.
"What happened this morning?" She asked suddenly before she could lose her nerve.
"Were you really that ashamed to be found with me? I know that I should have gotten up when I woke, but.."
"Hush miko" He laid a finger against her lips to stop her rambling. "I understand how you could have seen it that way especially given my idiot brothers treatment of you. You are new to the ways of pack behavior though so much of it seems to come naturally to you that I forget that. I was beginning to lose control when Jaken came in it set off protective instincts. Much like what just happened when I went to move the child and you instinctively protected them. It is a miracle that I did not kill him when he burst in." Sesshomaru chuckled.
Kagome sighed. "I don't think I will ever understand."
"You will learn in time little miko."
At dinner that night Kagome was seated at Sesshomaru's right side with Shippo to her side while at his left sat Rin. Sesshomaru filled Kagome's plate, then the children, and finally his own. It seemed a bit ceremonial to Kagome, but she shrugged it off. Once their plates had been filled he motioned to the rest of the pack to take their fill from the table.
"Lord Sesshomaru this is more than I could ever manage to eat." Kagome protested.
"It is the way things are done Miko, you need to gain some weight anyway it is not seemly for someone in my pack to be so slender." He answered chuckling internally at her bright blush.
Kagome's eyes narrowed. "By now I know that you have to be aware of the fact that I prefer to be called by name and not my title."
"Then perhaps you should call this Sesshomaru by his own name."
"I am merely trying to show the respect due a lord." She stammered.
"You are alpha female and therefore exempt." He stated simply.
The adults conversed while eating and before she knew it Shippo had crawled into her lap drifting to sleep. "What are the sleeping arrangements to be now that we are here Sesshomaru?" Kagome asked not knowing if last night had been a fluke or not.
"Your arrangement will not change the children have their own rooms on each side of us."
"Would you not prefer your privacy at this point since we are safe here? I don't mind sleeping in with Shippo." She stammered trying to figure out why she would still be sleeping in the same bed.
"This Sesshomaru sleeps rarely, but alphas sleep together at all times. I want you in the same room because I work at my desk there at night and want to be able to watch over you." He fibbed slightly earning an odd glance from Sango.
"Where will Sango and I be able to continue my training during our stay?" She asked ignoring the groan she heard from over the table.
Sesshomaru chuckled at the slayer. "It has been a long journey and you worked hard on your way here. I think you both could use at least a few days of rest and pampering."
"I never would have thought to hear the word pamper from your mouth Sesshomaru." Kagome blushed lightly.
"It is not something easily earned with me Kagome." Sesshomaru smirked.
"Yes you deserve a break you work so hard to help us all of the time Kagome. Let someone take care of you for a while." Sango smiled at Kagome's shocked face. "Not everyone thinks like Inuyasha. Why don't we go to the bath house tonight?"
"Sango can you tell me more about pack behavior and dog demons? I am just so confused right now." Kagome begged while they relaxed in the bath house.
"A certain dog demon has your attention does he?" Sango teased.
Kagome blushed red hot. "I can admit he has caught my eye but I don't know what's going on or what to do."
Sango laughed. "Well he already treats you as alpha female as well as family pack, and has called you as such in the presence of the pack and the servants. He is possessive and even more protective over you than any of us. I would say whether you realize it or not you have his attention at the very least."
"What do you mean?" Kagome stuttered out.
"Even if you fall asleep elsewhere he moves you to sleep in his lap touching him along with what he considers your kit. He fills you plate first and hunted for you while we were on the road he is technically proving his worth as a mate. It is how dog demons court their females."
Kagome laughed and related the story from that morning when Sesshomaru had acted so odd. "He said he had nearly lost control whatever that means."
Sango was shocked. "Kagome you know what happens when Inuyasha would lose control right? Well it's not quite the same all the time with demons. There are varying degrees and reasons. Their beast... well think of it as a primal version of themselves within the same body. They go into a rage when they need to protect but they can also lose control to their beast if they find their mate and for some reason fight the impulse."
"Mate? Wait you cannot mean..."
"Yes it looks as if you are being courted by the lord of the west Kagome!" Sango chuckled.
"Well my mother always did want me to marry well." Kagome snickered turning red yet again. "I honestly can't say I mind though. I have feelings for him already, but I was honestly afraid I was falling into the same trap as I did with Inuyasha, you know falling for someone that could never love me." Which reminded Kagome of her wound reaching up her fingers lightly traced the wound that had been re-bandaged last night after Sesshomaru had clean the blood from her face. "Will you help me clean it?" She asked hesitantly wondering how she could have forgotten it was there.
Sango suddenly quiet moved forward removing the large bandage. "K...Kagome it's already healed." Sango exclaimed.
"That's not possible!"
"Believe me I know but it is." Sango muttered.
"How bad is the scaring?" Kagome cringed.
"Not bad actually it's just thin white lines where his claws struck."
Kagome scrambled for a mirror from her pack. "I just don't understand.
"You said Sesshomaru cleaned the blood before he transformed to rest. I assumed you meant with a cloth, but if he used his tongue the saliva has very strong healing agents in it." Sango murmured.
"Well he did use his tongue, I tried to stop him but he snarled at me."
Sango laughed. "It looks like even his beast is possessive. I knew when the guard touched you that it pushed him close, but I had no idea how close."
"You didn't get that clue when he literally cut someone's head off." Kagome asked pointedly.
Sango blushed. "I had already figured out at that point that he was courting you to be his mate. It made sense that he made an example of the guard at that point."
"You... You already knew! Why didn't you tell me?" Kagome shouted.
"I saw that you liked him and didn't want you to back off because of everything that had happened with Inuyasha." Sango said quietly.
"You are probably right if I had known at first I would have fought a lot of what happened and tried to avoid him." Kagome admitted.
"Sesshomaru I want to know if you are trying to court me." Kagome asked that night as they lay down for bed. He had decided he would lie down even if he did not sleep.
"I keep forgetting that you have no idea." He chuckled. "Yes I am courting you little Miko."
She punched him playfully. "What have I told you about calling me that?" She snuggled into him falling asleep quickly with a smile on her face.
The next day found everyone in the garden listening to another story from Kagome when the guards called out the alarm. Inuyasha was approaching. Kagome began to tremble getting very quiet. Sesshomaru pulled her into his arms. "We knew he would come. It will be alright I will not allow my pack to be hurt." Leaning down he whispered into her ear "I will not allow him to hurt my future mate."
Taking his hand Kagome stood at his side trembling but there. "Let's go meet the fool."
They found a full scale battle in front of the gates when they arrived. Kagome set her aura free allowing her power to be felt her hair dancing slightly in the air currents created by her own power. "Inuyasha! That is enough! What brings you here to your brother's doorstep?"
"I am here to take my pack back stupid wench. You and those stupid humans are mine to do with as I please. He can keep the kit he is more trouble that he is worth." Inuyasha snarled.
"I think you have forgotten something Inuyasha that kit is my son and will NOT be separated from me. You do not own us. We were a part of your pack, but that is no longer true. If you abuse those you care for they will leave." Kagome said furiously.
"Stupid wench he will use you and throw you away then where will you be? A useless courtesan to be passed around by his guests." Inuyasha snarled
Sesshomaru moved almost faster that her eyes could follow and had Inuyasha by the throat poison dripping from his claws burning his throat slowly. "You will not speak to the future lady of the west in that way; you will not look at her, or come near her. If you do I will finish what I have started here today." Sesshomaru tossed him to the ground motioning his soldiers into the castle he turned to leave the whelp on the ground.
Inuyasha lunged at his brother the instant his back was turned only to be caught mid air by a pink bubble. "That does it you stupid bastard how dare you attempt to hurt my future husband when his back is turned you worthless pitiful excuse for a hanyou! I will not allow you to attack my pack any longer." The bubble began to spark from the inside the purifying energy striking him as if it were lightning dancing inside a glass bottle continually bouncing around and back into him. After a few minutes she dropped him to the ground nearly dead turning her back to go back into the palace.
A long time later Inuyasha weakly dragged himself into the forest away from his brothers home. Laughter echoed through the forest as Kagura and Naraku watched him struggle. "What the hell do you two want? Just finish me off and leave."
"Poor pathetic little hanyou, did the little miko finally show you her power? What do you intend to do about it?" Naraku laughed.
"Shut up Naraku!" Inuyasha snarled barely recognizable from his burns.
"I can help you, you know. With the shikon no tama we can take that wenches soul and use it to bring Kikyo back to flesh so that you can mate the real thing instead of a worthless copy." Naraku lied smoothly looking at Kagura he laid his hand on her shoulder and Kagura's image distorted to make her an exact copy of Kikyo.
"Do you hear that Inuyasha he will help us to be together this body is failing me and I no longer have my powers. Please allow him to help us." Kikyo's voice came from Kagura's disguised body.
"I can make you whole again hanyou, do you accept the partnership? Will you help me to destroy your brother and your former pack to get the shikon?" Naraku fairly purred.
"Wait we will need Kagome for a while Naraku to find the shards then we can get rid of her." Kagura said.
"Fine I agree to help you Naraku." Inuyasha muttered. Immediately he felt his body fill with strength as a shard of the shikon was shoved into his chest healing him nearly instantly. Getting up he went to Kagura taking her into his arms kissing her hard. "We will be together as mates as soon as we can get this over with I promise my love."
Naraku laughed as mist encircled all of them and they flew to his latest hide out. 'That was entirely too easy. Soon we will have the jewel and I can kill them all and keep the miko for myself.' He laughed internally.
"Do you think he will live Sesshomaru?" Kagome asked a bit later back at the palace.
"I don't know Kagome you did what needed to be done, and we will do so again if he shows up later." Sesshomaru dragged her closer drying her tears.
"What happened to him? He was not like this when we began this journey." Kagome sobbed.
"He is a hanyou Kagome. There is a reason as harsh as it may be that they are generally killed at birth. Unlike full demons they do not have a demon side to control their beast... Their demon side is their beast which is controlled by their human blood. As they age the human blood is burned away by their demon blood and there is nothing left to control their beast eventually. The sword my father left for him helps to control it further but even with it he now begins to lose control. Eventually there will be a primitive killing machine in his place that with father's sword will still have the ability to plan and scheme. He has the possibility of becoming an enemy even more dangerous than Naraku." Sesshomaru explained quietly trying to soothe her.
"All this fighting then, the search for the shikon shards we have been pushing him closer to losing himself all this time. Dear goddess if I had only known." Kagome stuttered out.
"What could you have done if you had known? When you arrived here you were from a place that did not have this violence, you were lost, and alone. It speaks to your character that you survived at all." Sesshomaru held her close comforting her for the friend she had already lost in the scheme of things.