I do not own Inuyasha

Chapter Seven

That night at dinner Kagome and Youko chatted non-stop about what had been going on in one another's lives. Kagome assured her father that her mother and brother were doing great and that there was no need for him to worry. She told him that soon they would be able to come home. They had decided that after Kagome's training that she would go and retrieve the rest of her family and bring them home before the battle took place. She and her father didn't want to take the chance that one or both of them could die in battle without having seen their other family members before it happened. Sesshoumaru stayed quiet throughout the entire dinner. Kagome kept looking at him out the corner of her eye. Youko noticed it but Sesshouomaru never looked up from his food he seemed to be completely lost in thought. Which he was. Sesshoumaru was a wreck inside. He did not want Kagome to go but knew that her father would most likely take her away with him and that he would never see her again because of the way that she had been treated by him by being locked up. He was beginning to doubt that it was the smartest thing to do. He had only wanted to keep her safe. She was so important to Japan and people wanted her dead. With her confined to a limited amount of space she was easier to watch and make sure that no one harmed her at night. But by locking her up he had threatened her health and the relationship that he wanted to have with her. Sesshoumaru liked her. He had admitted it to himself two days ago. He wanted to make her understand that he only thought that he had been doing what was best for her. She would understand he knew but he would have to get past her father in order to get her to understand. He didn't know why but he had a very strong almost unnatural need to protect her and make sure that no one hurt her. That was why he had spent so much time and energy on her training and kept her locked up. He just hoped that she and her father understood.

"SESSHOUMARU" Sesshoumaru shot up and his claws were glowing and ready to attack. Youko laughed and Kagome Blushed. "Sorry Sesshoumaru-sama I have been trying to get your attention for some time now. I did not mean to startle you but I was worried." Kagome blushed deeper and ducked her head. Sesshoumaru composed himself and sat back down.

"what is it that you wish to ask this Sesshoumaru?" Sesshoumaru started to eat his forgotten food. Kagome looked at Sesshoumaru and almost didn't ask him.

" Are you still going to train me like you have been?" Sesshoumaru was startled he expected her to try and stay away from him. "I will continue to train for as long as you are here. For I am sure that your father will be taking you away soon." He stopped eating and stood up. "I will be in my study when you are ready to speak with me Lord Youko. Our training will remain at it's regular times as will your miko training." Sesshoumaru turned and left the room and went to his study to work on signing papers until Youko showed up.

Youko looked at Kagome. "Daughter I will remove the spell that was cast on you now. I am the only one that is able to remove it since I am the one that put it on you. Now you will always appear in your normal form." Kagome nodded and closed her eyes waiting for the removal of the spell. Youko concentrated and soon the spell was gone. He looked at his daughter. She had long blue hair with black streaks through it. She had pink stripes much like Sesshoumaru's on her cheeks. And the same markings on her wrists. He was sure that they would also be on her hips and ankles. She was taller and more filled out. When she opened her eyes startlingly beautiful ice blue with black streaks like lightning shined out. She smiled at her father and he could see her fangs and also her claws when she raised her hand to push her hair out of her face. Youko looked on proudly when the mark that symbolized her as the Northern heir appeared on her forehead. It was a pink five pointed star with a blue tear drop in the middle of it. His daughter was a beauty. "what is it Father.?" Kagome asked as she self consciously looked at what she could see of herself.

"Nothing Kagome. You are beautiful. Now go to bed sweetheart. I will see you tomorrow. I Must go speak with Sesshoumaru now." Kagome panicked and grabbed his arm before he could leave.

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"Please Father. Go easy on him. He was only doing what he thought was best. I understand why he did what he did. He even tried to talk with me whenever possible. I just ignored him. Please father he is the protector from the prophecy. I think that I like him too. Please father be gentle with him." Kagome pleaded with her father. She more than liked Sesshoumaru. She was in love with him. Kagome really did understand the reasons behind what Sesshoumaru had done. Youko smiled at his worried pup. He pulled her in for a hug and then kissed her on her forehead.

"Don't worry Kagome I won't be to hard on him. I know who he is to the prophecy. Now go to bed." Youko turned and left. He headed for Sesshoumaru's study. Kagome left soon after and headed to her room. First she checked on the children and then went to bed. She stayed awake for a little while thinking about what her father and Sesshoumaru would talk about. She soon fell asleep and dreamt about Sesshoumaru like she had been for the past week.

"Enter" Sesshoumaru sensed when Youko approached and before he could just barge in Sesshoumaru called him in. He was prepared for a very angry youkai. He was shocked when Youko walked in calmly and sat down in front of him. "What is it that you wished to talk about Lord Youko?"

"You know why I am here Sesshoumaru. Why was Kagome in the state that she was in when I arrived here." Youko got straight to the point. He had waited long to see his daughter and when he did she was close to breaking he wanted to know why. Sesshoumaru sighed.

" I put Kagome in her room and placed a barrier around it. She was not aloud to leave unless escorted by myself. I took her meals to her in her room. I did it so that I could make sure that she was safe. I know how important she is and thought to keep her safe from even my own guards if the need had arisen. I did not want to chance there being a spy in my castle and them finding out about her. Though I think I did more harm then good. She probably hates me. You probably hate me. When will you be taking her home?" Sesshoumaru finally stopped when he realized that for the first time in his life he was explaining himself and that he had been babbling.

Youko smiled. So the young taiyoukai loved his daughter that was good considering that he was to be her mate. "Sesshoumaru I understand why you did what you did. More than you know. Which I will explain in a moment. You did not do as much harm as you think. She does not hate you. She defended you against me and she pleaded with me not to be harsh on you when I came to talk to you. I do not hate you either . I understand your logic. Though you could have just told her to be careful and allowed her free run of the palace. She would have stayed with you willingly and there would have been no problems. I will be leaving in two days. But Kagome will be staying her with you to finish her training." Youko held up his hand when Sesshoumaru would have interrupted him. "Wait and I will tell you why. You are the protector that the prophecy tells of. That is the only reason that I am leaving her in your care. I know that you will take care of her."

"She will not like being separated from you so soon after finding you." Sesshoumaru argued even though he was happy that he would have a chance to redeem himself to her. Youko shrugged. "Does Kagome know that she will be staying here when you leave.?"

"Yes Sesshoumaru she knows that she will be staying and that I will come back to visit so that I can watch her progress. I have taken the seal off of her powers. Now you can train her youkai. Well that is all that needs to be said I will see you on the morrow. Good night pup." Youko left Sesshoumaru to finish his paper work. Sesshoumaru could not concentrate so he left to try and go to sleep. He kept thinking of all the ways that he could redeem himself to her. He was her protector! He was stunned and very happy. That explained everything. Why he acted so irrationally about her safety and everything. He stopped at the door to her room and listened. She was sleeping. He cracked the door and peeked in at her. He closed her door and then went to his room. Sesshoumaru got ready for bed and then just laid there thinking everything over. Finally he fell asleep and once again he dreamt of Kagome.

Kagome woke up the next morning to very excited chatter. When she looked she saw a pair of green eyes and a pair of brown eyes. She smiled. "Hey guys how are ya'll this morning. I have missed ya'll so much. Let me get dressed and I will meet you in the dinning room ok." Shippou and Rin nodded but didn't get off the bed just yet. They had a question to ask their mother.

"Okaa-san why do you smell and look like a demon now. You are not a demon are you?" Shippou asked and Rin sat beside him nodding her agreement. Kagome sighed and sat up. She pulled the children to sit on either side of her.

"I have always been a demon. My father put a spell on me to make sure that no one knew so that I would be safe. There are a lot of demons and humans alike that wish to see me dead. But now I am training with Sesshoumaru and I am not weak anymore. My father the Northern Lord released the spell and this is my true form. You guys are the first to see it. Sesshoumaru has not even seen me yet." Kagome giggled with the children.

"Okaa-san does that mean that you are a princess? Since Rin is your daughter and Sesshoumaru-samas does that make Rin a double princess and Shippou is a prince." Rin asked excitedly. Kagome nodded. Shippou and Rin squealed and then they darted out of the room so that Kagome could get ready for breakfast. It was still early. It was earlier than she normally got up. She got dressed in her training kimono much like Sangos except it was purple instead of pink. Kagome loved it. She left and was sitting in the dinning room for the second time in since she had been there. She was so happy that she wasn't a prisoner anymore. When they were done and no one else had shown up for breakfast she sent the children to the gardens to play and then left for the dojo. She was expecting to be in there alone but when she walked in she gasped in shock. In front of her was a very sexy taiyoukai. He was shirtless and his bare chest glistened with sweat. His long hair was pulled back in a high pony tail. Sesshoumaru had not noticed Kagome's entrance yet and was still performing a very impressive attack on his general who was sparing with him. But Kagome did not even give the handsome general a second glance. She backed into the shadows and hid her scent and aura so that she could watch Sesshoumaru. She had never seen him like this and she thought that he was just the sexiest beings that she had ever laid her eyes on.

Sesshoumaru had awoken way before the sun from a very erotic dream about a certain miko-inuyoukai. He had not been able to go back to sleep so he had woken up his general and they had gone down to spar so that he could try and get the woman out of his head. They had been at it for hours. His general was the only one that could keep up with him when he did not hold back. His general was the person closest to him and they had known each other since they were pups. The kitsune Isamu's father had served as general to Sesshoumaru's father. Isamu was the only one that had picked up on the feelings that Sesshoumaru had for Kagome. Sesshoumaru had needed to train to get his mind off of other things and Isamu had been there to help him do it. Isamu knew the moment that Kagome had walked in and had heard her gasp. He had turned Sesshoumaru so that he could get a look at the one that had stolen his friend's heart even though he would never admit to the fact. He saw that she had only glanced at him once and then returned her attention back to Sesshoumaru and her eyes had not left him sense. He smiled on the inside. She was very good she had hidden her scent and aura as soon as she had seen them. He couldn't wait to actually meet her. Isamu was also surprised that Sesshoumaru had not sensed her as soon as she had entered.

Sesshoumaru had not picked up on her presence because he was concentrating so hard on keeping her out of his mind and fighting with Isamu. Sesshoumaru had picked up on Isamu's sudden distraction and took advantage of it. Soon he had his best friend flat on his back with tokijin(sp?) at his throat. Isamu started to laugh and soon Sesshoumaru joined him. This was the only person who he did not keep his emotionless façade up around. Kagome was so surprised that Sesshoumaru had laughed. She had never even seen him smile before. She gasped before she could stop herself and Sesshoumaru was instantly aware of someone or something in the room that he could not since or smell. He followed were the sound had come from and saw the beautiful but unknown demoness in the shadows. Before Kagome knew what had happened Sesshoumaru had her pinned by her throat up against the wall. "Who are you and what are you doing in my castle." Sesshoumaru said venomously. Kagome squirmed and then let down her barriers. Sesshoumaru actually looked startled before he composed himself and let Kagome go. Kagome sank to the ground and held her neck. Sesshoumaru had pierced the skin and some of his poison had unintentionally seeped into the wound. Kagome gasped for air and from the pain. Sesshoumaru immediately turned back to her and was kneeling next to her with his hands on her waist. He pulled her to her feet and inspected her neck. Sesshoumaru was alarmed when he saw the puncture marks and the burn marks were his poison was hurting her. He held her closer and then leaned his head down and nuzzled her before he began to like the marks. Sesshoumaru did not pull back until he was sure that he had rid her of all of his poison. When he looked down at Kagome she had fainted and was limp in his arms. He lifted her bridal style and left the dojo. He had completely forgotten about Isamu as soon as he had heard Kagome's pained gasp. He took her up to her room and laid her on her bed and then sat in a chair in the room to make sure that when she came to the first thing that she heard was an apology from him. He wanted to start over with her and show her that he was not heartless or the 'ice prince' that she was fond of calling him.

Isamu had watched the whole transaction and his suspicions about his friends love for the demoness was confirmed. He was overjoyed. It was about time that someone melted the ice around his friends heart. Isamu was determined to do everything in his power to make sure that the demoness returned his feelings. He smiled when Sesshoumaru had been so concerned and gentle with the woman. He knew that if anyone tried to harm that woman Sesshoumaru and himself would kill them. No questions asked.

Kagome finally awoke around supper time. Sesshoumaru was instantly at her side as soon as he heard her heart beat quicken. Kagome saw the concern and guilt in the demon lords eyes and she felt warm and tingly inside. She reached up her hand to him and he took it. She was shocked. Kagome was shocked beyond belief when the Ice Prince leaned down and whispered in her ear. "I am sorry Kagome." Then her world spun when moved forward only enough so that their lips were touching. "Please forgive me. I did not know that it was you." Then he claimed her lips for her first real kiss.

So what do you think. Thanks for the reviews everyone, please keep them coming. Well until next time. Please don't hate me I just couldn't resist a cliffy like that sorry.