Disclaimer: I own nothing but my plot and my new created figures
A/N: Thank you, thank you, thank you! I´ve got so many great feedback and I´m so happy about it!
A/N: Here is the next part of my story, again this is done with my beta Firehauke, she´s doing a great job!
A/N: I´m sorry it took so long to update, but with christmas ahead and my little one I couldn´t make it sooner.
The afternoon faded as Jaken finally returned to the camp. He knew he was late; he should have hurried instead of loitering. A low growl from the stoic creature sitting with closed eyes at the base of an ancient tree, right next to his newest pack member, was his warning.
Before he could say a word, golden eyes opened and sent a ice cold shiver down his spine. Dropping his packages the toad fall in a deep bow at the ground, not daring to look up. He didn´t feel his master rise and tower above him.
Squeaking he stammered excuses; his voice climbing higher and higher. As he finally dared to peek at his lord he nearly jolted away in fear from the deadly stare. For a second, gold flashed to red; making him shiver.
Before he could voice out any more both of them heard a low, pain filled moan. Turning around Sesshōmaru saw how the miko sat up, using one hand to support her while the other was draped over her hurting front. Suddenly Jaken found himself flying into the next tree. The world went black for the toad.
"Miko?" Squatting beside her the demon lord laid his hand on her forehead. His face expressionless he bent down, inhaling her scent deeply. "Your wounds have reopened, but your fever is nearly gone. You will bathe now, I´ll tend your wounds and you will dress appropriately."
"The children?" the small female asked, pulling herself to her knees.
"You will learn to refer them as pups, and they are still with Ah-Un in another clearing." Grabbing her arm, he rose and pulled her up with him. "There is a hot spring just behind the trees. Can you walk?"
"Yes, I think I can handle it." She made a move to grab her bag, but his hand stopped her. The tall inu shook his head and grabbed the packages that Jaken had brought with him. Motioning her to follow him he went to the right and vanished between the trees.
Kagome followed, stumbling behind. When she neared the tree line she could hear the children, no the pups she thought, laughing. She stepped through the trees and sighed happily. In front of her was a small clearing with a little hot spring along one side. It was edged with boulders and had a soft bed of moss surrounding it.
Her alpha stood next to it, the packages at his feet. He pointed at a medium boulder, waiting patiently till she had made her way over to him and sat down. Bending down he picked up the smallest package and dropped it gently in her lap.
"What..." she made an attempt to ask, but was stopped by his large hand that fell on her so much smaller one.
"Inus communicate mostly without sounds," the daiyōkai said quietly. "In your case as a human that would mean learning not to use words for everything. But try not to show your emotions so openly."
"But how should I do this?" the miko frowned in confusion but was curious. "Excuse me, my Lord, but you, for example are unreadable to me."
"You will learn how to do so." He gave her a slight, encouraging nod. "Within our pack you will notice that I become easier to read, but you have to learn it in order to survive in the world of yōkai. I will teach you." His chin motioned at the package.
Carefully she untied the knot in the string, opened and tugged the fabric aside. Her eyes widened slightly and her breath hitched in her throat. In her lap was a small, long box made from dark, shiny wood, the lid was covered with bright inlays of his house symbol. Next to it lay a dark leather pouch.
Opening the box, she found an indigo comb and three very long silk ribbons in black, red and white. There were four simple yet expensive wooden hair sticks, two in white and two in black. The white ones had five tiny butterflies in red, with a white ribbon and a silver bell at the end. The black ones had red blossoms, with rosy pearl centers.
Opening the pouch she found a small bottle of oil and two bars of something that seemed to be soap. Lifting it to her nose she found much to her surprise that none of it held any scent. At her questioning look the inu at her side shook his head.
"These are special yōkai products made for inus." he answered her unspoken question. "None of these hold any scent would be unpleasant for our noses."
"I understand." She nodded, opening her mouth to say more, but another, bigger, package was placed in her lap. A look from Sesshōmaru signaled her to open it. Carefully she unpacked it to find silk clothing. Gasping she began to unfold them.
The first items were two black Hakamas, not as wide as usual, but with more tapered cuffs. They more closely resembled modern pants. Next came two sets of sleeping jinbei, both undyed. She couldn´t resist and rubbed one against her cheek, the silk felt wonderfully soft.
Under the jinbei laid two black obi with white tips. Unfolding the next two pieces she was slightly startled. Holding one up she examined it. She knew this kind of clothing, but it was not Japanese. It was highly unusual for this time. Turning her head she looked questioningly at the lord by her side.
"It was especially made for you." Leaning forward he took the clothing from her. "It is Chinese. I saw it when last I visited there. Wear it with the hakamas and obi, so that it will offer proper coverage, and freedom of movement. I am aware that you are not used to wearing kimono of this time. Also the higher collar will hide your mark from the nosey."
"It is brilliant!" Her smile radiated over her features. She took the appearance of the ensemble in. It was a knee length, form fitting dress, with a high, straight collar. It was called a qipao if she remembered correctly.
The dress was made from white silk, the seams trimmed with red and on the collar and the right shoulder were three red knot-buttons to held it closed. Along the hems was the tiny red pattern of the House of the West. Like the one on Tanshin´s collar, you would have to get very close to identify them. Two slits left and right up the sides made it easy to move around in.
Last in the package were five sets of white, silk tabi, a pair of black zori and a small package. Looking at all this wonderful things Kagome was fighting with herself. There was no way she could accept these generous presents, but also there was no way not to do so without offending her new alpha.
"Why?" She lifted her head again and looked at him.
"You are pack now." Seeing that it was not enough to explain he went on. "As the alpha it is my duty to provide for my pack members in the best way I can afford. There," he pointed at a third parcel. "is some new clothing for the kit as well as soap and a fitting tie for his hair. A male his age should not wear a bow." Raising a brow he looked at the softly giggling female.
"How do I thank you in your way?" she asked, stifling her giggles and looking at him.
For a moment he held her gaze and thought about her request. There were different ways to show gratitude, but he knew she meant a direct sign, something she could do right now. Showing her one of there signs would mean allowing her body to be in contact with his. It went against his training and he wasn´t at all sure if he trusted her enough to allow this just now.
He preferred not to have any kind of bodily contact, yet inside of a pack it was normal to communicate this way and his instincts were already telling him to accept that from her, to show it to her. Examining the miko once more he knew he would show her. She may have been taken into the pack only to ensure her powers were solely for his use, but she was still a member.
"Gratitude is shown in different ways," he began. "One way is to push yourself against me and lick my jaw. Also you will show me your gratitude via respect, following my instructions and looking to fulfill my needs."
"I see." Nodding she rose slightly, pressed herself against his lean body. She blushed and felt him stiffen slightly. Inhaling deeply she steeled herself and licked carefully with the tip of her tongue over his firm jaw. His eyes closed for a short moment, then he turned his head to her and nudged her softly with his nose.
"That is how to show acceptance." His cold voice was so soft she nearly missed it. "And while we are at our lessons, to submit you have to push your nose under my chin, keeping your hands down or behind your back. Doing this, you are showing me your throat and not raising your hands shows me that you won´t try to harm me."
"I understand." She nodded and looked down. She felt him pushing her collar to the side and bent her neck to give him better access.
"That is right..." His claws were ghosting over her cheek for the blink of an eye and he examined her mark closely.
"How far has it developed?" She blushed deeply at his closeness, but remained still.
"It is already complete, unusual..." He murmured. "It is very strong... It is possible that it hurts when you make use of your powers." Without any further explanations he rose to his feet and turned to leave. "Bathe, when you are ready you will cover yourself so I can tend your wounds. Afterwards you will help the pups."
The moment he had left the clearing he spread his senses assuring that she and the pups were safe. He looked at Jaken who was still out cold and turned finally around to look in the shadows on the other side of the camp.
"Speak!" he demanded, growling.
"A big problem at the eastern border, my lord." A dark inu stepped out of shadows and bent down to his knees.
"Miko," the Western Lord began while he softly dabbed the salve on her back, making her hiss at the stinging sensation of the healing cream. "There are problems at the borders that I have to put in order. I will send the pups back to my keep with Ah-Un and Jaken, but you will go back to your family for this time."
"I can´t." Gritting her teeth together she tried to prevent whimpering in pain.
"You can, this is not a request." He growled at her and his movements became more firm. "It is unsafe for you to go with the pups. You are female, young and unmated. As long as I have not introduced you correctly to my court it is far to dangerous for you."
"Sesshōmaru-sama, please listen to me." Kagome turned slightly to look at him over her shoulder. "It´s not that I don´t wish to go to home. I can´t go to my family, don´t you think that if I were able to go to them that I would have stayed? For the last six weeks, the passage has been blocked and I´m no longer able to go back."
"How?" A slight frown appeared on his face and he looked at the small female.
"I don´t know," she admitted and shrugged slightly, wincing from the pain it gave her. "When I got to the well, I found it closed. No matter what I tried I wasn´t able to get through. Something or someone must have blocked it."
"Hn," Her alpha growled. Tending the last wounds on her back he turned her. On her upper chest and on her soft stomach were some older and some newer wounds. Unexpectedly gentle he began to tend them too. "But I cannot take you with me... What about the elder miko?"
"That would be an option, but the chance that Inuyasha," the name earned her a soft growl. "Would return to Edo first to search for me is very high."
"Then you will go to the keep and you will have to stay within my rooms the entire time I am gone." Bending forward the inu scented her to check if he had tended all her wounds.
"Please don´t do this." She whispered, leaning her head slightly back she bared her throat for him. "The thought of being enclosed for even a few days is unbearable to me. Also if you say you can´t assure my safety in your keep, what makes you sure that it would help to have me there in your rooms?"
"Hn." Looking at her, he pondered her words, only to find she was right. He couldn´t be sure that it was enough to just lock her in his suite. Another high ranking member of the court would always be able to enter the room in his absence. He had to remind himself again that he had taken her for her power, not because he cared for her. Having her in his pack was for prestige, nothing more.
"Maybe I have a solution." She interrupted carefully his thoughts. He quirked a brow at her, curiosity in that simple action. "I could go back to Sango and Miro..."
"No!" He snarled at her, making her wince. Grabbing her wrists he pulled her close to him to emphasize his point. "You are mine now! You will not go back to this disgrace!"
"Sesshōmaru-sama, please listen to me." Baring her throat again she leaned forward and pushed her nose under his chin. Not moving she went on, her warm breath fanning over his throat. "He doesn´t know yet that I´m part of your pack now. Sango and Miroku will be on their way back now, but will arrive at the spot you found me until tomorrow morning."
"There would be enough time to meet them and tell them everything." Pinching her wrist he signaled her to go on. "I´m sure they will protect me with their lives once they know what happened. I am sure that it will only be for a few days and I would know this time that Shippo is safe. Plus I would have Tanshin with me."
"You already smell like me." He growled, still holding her in place.
"But he wouldn´t notice that." a soft voice suddenly said from behind them. Turning his head and releasing the female´s wrists the inu saw the little kitsune standing and twitching with nervousness at the edge of the clearing. "I´m sorry I listened, but I could hear you from the other clearing and I needed to know why Momma is injured."
"Shippo!" Frantically Kagome tried to cover her wounds, but the boy was faster. He pounced into her lap and looked at her with sad eyes.
"He did that, didn´t he?" the small pup whispered wide eyed. Nodding she looked down at him. "I thought something like that, but I wasn´t sure. I couldn´t protect you! I´m so sorry, Momma!" Tears streamed down his little face.
The stoic inu watched as she wrapped her arms around her son and cradled him softly. She made soft noises, whispered comforting words at his ears. He couldn´t help but notice what a good mother she was, even in her young age.
"I do think she is right," whispered the kit finally. "The safest place for her, if not with you Sesshōmaru-sama, is back with Sango and Miroku."
A/N: Here you go, next part ready. Please read and review. Feedback is my fuel to write. Thank you all!
A/N: Please no flames, I know what I´m doing. It will all be allright. Thank you! Next chapter is already in work and I try to update soon.
