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The Taming of the Stubborn Inuyoukai


It's been one week since you looked at me

Threw your arms in the air

and said "You're crazy"

Five days since you tackled me

I've still got the rug burns on both my knees

It's been three days since the afternoon

You realized it's not my fault

not a moment too soon

Yesterday you'd forgiven me

And now I sit back and wait til you say you're sorry.

One Week - Barenaked Ladies


Chapter Nine|Dog Fight!

Bright blue eyes opened with the dawn; they drew careful patterns in the flat white of her ceiling as her body bathed in the warmth it was wrapped in—as it bathed in the comfort of bare skin against another's. She sighed and stretched her arms upward, careful not to knock her knuckles against the headboard. At the same time she wiggled her toes and her whole body shifted just so. Her bedmate growled a purr against her throat and she had to stifle a laugh, not wanting to wake him just yet. Though, it occurred to Kagome that if she wanted to get up then she wouldn't have much say in the matter.

With a mindful yawn she reached over and grabbed her cellphone from the nightstand and pulled up the main screen. Text messages… there. She opened the first and only one. Huh, it was from Kimi-san.

Can't make it for noon. Is dinner alright instead? An emergency came up. Let me know if seven is alright.

Kagome blinked a few times, considering. What did she have to do today aside from go to the mall? Some training, she supposed. That she'd planned to do in the back yard… but… if Kimi-san wanted to do dinner instead…

And new idea began to form in her head; something a little different that she hadn't done in at least six months. Granted, it was cold as all hell outside but… Her gaze shifted to a sleeping Sesshoumaru. She considered the night before, the conflict, and all of the pent up aggression. Not just hers, but his own.

Kagome looked back at her phone and began to type a message.

Dinner sounds perfect. Where would you like to meet?

She waited a few moments. It would likely be silly to think Kimi-san had time on her hands to text if she were busy with an emergency, but Kagome figured she'd stare at it for a bit longer before shutting off the screen and putting her phone down.

But, sure enough, the device beeped a tune and she read the reply.

I'll send a car to pick you up at 6:30. I hope that's not a problem?

Kagome replied, telling her it wasn't. But, she needed to know what dress attire would be required. When Kimi-san told her formal kimono Kagome told her that would be great and that she'd be sure to be ready on time. Goodbyes were given and the miko finally put her phone back down. She wondered just what the emergency had been, hoping that—perhaps later—she could find out.

Ah man, this did mean she'd have to beg her mother to pull out some of spring kimono from storage. Or perhaps she bribe Souta with the promise of bringing back goodies. Maybe. It was a good thing her grandfather liked to keep traditional items for festivals and the like or she would have been hard pressed to inform Kimi-san she didn't have anything that nice.

Speaking of which, wasn't the old man planning one soon? It was another thing she'd have to ask her mother about. But, in the meantime, she had a daiyoukai to wake up.

He was coiled around her in such a way that she found no real trouble in shifting her legs so they would straddle him she rolled them over—him onto his back with her atop. She grinned as she blankets and sheet slid down her bare back and he groaned with a half yawn. She earnestly laughed when he put his wrist over his eyes and yawned again—well enough for her to see into his mouth, to get a good view of his canines.

"What time is it?" he murmured.

"About seven," she told him sweetly, bending down to press a kiss to the corner of his mouth.

"You don't have to work today," he reminded her, surprising her when both arms were wrapped solidly around her well enough to pull her chest flat down onto his. She grinned when he forced her face to rest in the bend of his neck, when his own went to hers and he inhaled the tussle of back strands that muffled his feature from her.

"Yes, that's true," she agreed, smiling. "But, I do have other things. And I have a few plans that involve you. Unless you're too tired…?" She didn't laugh, forcing herself not to before she said, "Did you wear yourself out last night, Lord of The Western Lands? Or did I?"

And then he rolled her over and placed himself between her legs; the length of him slid along her core once—pressing and hardening as honey-amber met her gaze with electric promises. "Is the miko challenging This Sesshoumaru? I assure you nothing will get done today if she is."

It was hard to take him seriously right then, but it was equally difficult not to when he was looking at her like that.

So, she did the only thing she really could. Kagome leaned up and pressed a kiss to his mouth, one that had them both opening to one another. And when she pulled away his body was languid enough that she could manage slipping out of bed. Grinning with her back to him, she made her way to the shower. "I'm going to get cleaned up, alright? We've got a ton to do today since Kimi-san canceled lunch."

"Are you not seeing her at all then?"

"I am, but for dinner. So, I'm going to take you shopping first. The rest is kind of a surprise." And before he could ask her anything else she slipped into the bathroom. She didn't think he would; it wasn't exactly a surprise, but she kind of wanted it to be.

Today needs to be a good day, she told herself. It has to be.


By the time Kagome knocked on Souta's door, tray of food and drink held precariously in one hand, she was sure Sesshoumaru had started dressing. Unfortunately, her mother had shopping to do today; groceries mostly. There was no way she could count on her to pull a few kimonos from storage to air out and spray lightly to get rid of the musty smell. Her only hope, short of asking her grandfather, was her little brother. And given her feelings about the old man—the ones that weren't exactly ebbing very quickly—her only real hope was Souta if she wanted to go forward with her plans.

He didn't have classes today, thankfully. He wouldn't for a few more days with the break in full swing. Kagome, having chosen to take spring semester off for her job, didn't have worry about her own until at least August. She supposed, all considered, it wasn't bad thing. She had enough to consider with Sesshoumaru without university studies on top of it. Though… it did make her think about adamant her grandfather had been in support of taking time off for work…

She blinked out of her thoughts when she heard a thump from Souta's room. He still hadn't answered… With a frown she reached for the knob.

"I'm coming in," she said loudly before entering. But, it appeared the oldest Higurashi really didn't have much to worry about. Her brat of a brother was snoring loudly, lying on his side. The noise, she realized, was a book that had fallen off his bed and onto the floor.

Kagome rolled her eyes as she stepped into the room and shut the door with her butt. Both hands held the tray as she came to side of his bed and sat down. Once she placed it on his nightstand she reached over and shoved him lightly. "Wake up, Souta…" she sing-songed. He grumbled, but didn't move. With a grin, Kagome began to poke at his cheek. "Time to rise, imp," she said next, only laughing when he swatted her hand.

"Why… what…?" he finally opened his eyes and blinked at her. "What time is it…?" he asked next, looking for his alarm clock.

"Eightish," she told him.

He moaned a protest and rolled over, giving her his back. "Why did you wake me up? Go away."

"I made you breakfast," she offered sweetly.

He was silent for a moment; it was long enough that Kagome began to wonder if he went back to sleep. But soon enough he rolled over and sat up, looking at the platter of eggs and juice with toast on his nightstand. Groggy eyes turned to her, leveling a telling look. "What do you want?"

She pouted just so and looked upward. Her mouth twisted as she leaned back with her hands on her knee. "Well… Kim-sam changed our meal plans. I'm having dinner with her instead and wanted to get a few things done today… But, the dinner is a little formal and I need you to air some kimonos…"

"Why doesn't mom just do it?" he asked, scratching his bed head.

Kagome reached for the tray of food and held it for him as he adjusted himself to sit up better. "She's got her own stuff today. Grocery shopping, mostly."

"And gramps?" He pulled the legs out on the tray before he took it from her and set down.

"Still mad at him."

"Figured." With a yawn Souta grabbed a spoon and began scooping at his eggs and shoveling them into his mouth. "Yeah… I guess I can. You know which ones you want pull from storage?"

"Something for spring. No yukata and make sure it's formal attire."

"I think we've still got a few furisode."

She nodded. "That'll work. Nothing red though."

"Sure." He took another bite or two and then washed it all down with his juice after swallowing. "How's your boyfriend?"

Kagome frowned at the term, not entirely sure if she should scold him for it. Then again, there wasn't really a word for what Sesshoumaru was to her other than slave. And he hated that word more. So, she decided to let it go, even if the word boyfriend implied he had a say in their connection. "Good, I guess. He wasn't in a bad mood this morning."

"He has moods?" Souta's brow rose.

Kagome stuck her tongue out at him, wishing instead she could grab a pillow and smack him with it. "Yes, Souta, Sesshoumaru has moods. He's just very... internal. And really, I don't blame him."

"Where you taking him today? Said you had plans, right?"

"Well… the cherry blossoms are blooming right now… but, I was thinking of going to my spot."

"Better him than me."

Kagome laughed at that.

"Gonna be a hike though. I can see why you wanna leave early." He then began to munch on his toast.

"Sorta. Once we get to a certain point I think I can get him to fly us the rest of the way." When she didn't go with Souta Kagome would usually cut her time in half by using her miko energy. "I still have to go shopping first."

"That should be interesting. If I didn't have to air out kimonos I might go with you. Actually… knowing you and knowing he's a youkai… it would be worth it." He frowned, body slumping a bit.

Kagome could only smile, leaning in his direction with one hand placed on the mattress. She reached over and ruffled his hair, chuckling when he grumbled and swatted her hand away. "We'll take you another time. I promise. Maybe next week. Sound good?"

"I'm not a kid, you know." At this he took a large bite, looking a little too much like a chipmunk.

"Getting there." She stood up then. "Thanks though. I'll bring you something back from dinner later. Just make sure the kimonos are ready by four. She'll be sending a car to pick me up around six-thirty." When he waved her off, too busy with food in his mouth, she just rolled her eyes and slipped out of the room.

Shopping first and then she'd come back home and grab a few things; then, to the spot; and finally come home to clean up and get ready. Sesshoumaru was probably already downstairs, eating; maybe even finished. She'd taken her breakfast while making Souta's. So, when she got to the bottom, she grabbed her bag and peaked in the kitchen. "Ready?" she asked, spying him on a bar stool as he took a swallow from a glass of water.

"I am," he told her once he set it down.

"Cool let's go. Did mom already leave?" She turned and went to the door to put her shoes on.

"Yes. And your grandfather went to tend to some matters in his office."

"It'll be a quiet day for Souta then I guess." With a grunt, she stood and only waited long enough for him put his own shoes on. After that, she went out into the morning air. She inhaled once the chill hit, and tightened the scarf around her neck before digging her hands into her coat pockets. Maybe she should have grabbed a hat…

"Where is This Sesshoumaru going?"

"The mall. We'll have a lot of options there; which helps… since I'm not entirely sure on your style. Do you have one?" She looked over at him then as they came to the bottom of the shrine steps and made their way out onto the sidewalk. He'd been wearing Souta's clothes the whole time; while her brother's sense of what looked good was ok by modern teen standards, she didn't know how Sasshoumaru felt about it. Overall, he seemed mostly indifferent.

"I have not contemplated it," he admitted once they came to a stop at the sign for the bus and began to wait.

"Why not?" Even if he didn't have much of say in what he wore before she couldn't imagine not having a preference.

He shrugged and the action felt out place on someone who was usually so… regal? "I did not have a reason to consider it."

"Well, you do today. Are there any colors you really like? Materials?"

"I am, admittedly, not fond of the jeans your brother wears. They are impractical were there a need to protect you."

Kagome smirked as she looked at him. "Well, most people don't wear hakama anymore. If you really wanted to though, you could. It's not entirely out of place since we live in a shrine."

He blinked a few times at that, meeting her gaze, perhaps not entirely sure if she was serious.

"What? My grandfather wears them all the time. He even goes into the city in them. No one bats a lash. How about we get a few and some modern cloths as well? Sound good?"

"That would be most acceptable."

"Awesome." She pulled her gaze away from his as the bus showed up and she got on, making sure to pay for the both of them before grabbing a seat in the back.

The ride was made in almost silence, giving Kagome some time to think. She wondered how long it had been since he'd worn a hakama or haori, much less an obi. Japan hadn't been westernized for too long; surely not by the standards of his life. And really, there was no telling how his other masters dressed him. Kagome, in truth, didn't have the heart to ask. Maybe one day, when he was free of it all. But, right now she just didn't want him thinking about the past—especially not when today was going to be good day.

By the time they arrived at the mall they'd switched busses once. It was at least nine and she was losing daylight. Also, it didn't really help that with spring break still in full swing, and with it being a Friday, that the mall was busy. She was happy when Sesshoumaru let her take his hand so she could lead him to the shops she knew would be best.

The first one had modern cloths; she wanted to get the hard stuff out of the way. It would be easy to lead him around and make suggestions, but it felt better to just let him wander and choose for himself. "I can hold things if you want to try them on," she told him when he stopped at another rack and flipped through a few shirts.

He stopped, stilling a moment. "They don't have anything I want."

"Well… what do you want?" She began. "We know you're not into jeans. Do you like t-shirts?"

"They are comfortable."

"So… you want comfortable stuff?" She let herself think, tapping her chin as her brow furrowed. "Did you like the dress shirts he had?" Kagome didn't have enough money to buy him nice suits. Slacks would be too restrictive if he didn't like jeans. And really, he couldn't run around in sweats; that would be too much.

But then, something hit her and she snapped her fingers before he could answer. "C'mon. I think I know a place." She wasn't sure it would be his style, per se… and, she had to admit it might look odd on someone like Sesshoumaru—someone who's branded image in her mind included Japanese silk kimono, hakama, and haori, but, well… maybe it would work. If he didn't like it they could always try again somewhere else.

She'd gone nearly across the whole strip of the mall when they finally made it. When she looked over to gauge his reaction she wasn't sure if he was hesitant or curious. With a smile, she just tugged him in.

The floor of the shop was painted concrete, shined into some rusted array of coppers and brass tones. High on the walls her were surfboards and decorative masks. On the tops of tables, walls racks, on sitting on the top of clothing racks were shell necklaces with shark's teeth, woven ones with beads, and stones statues with zen words on them. Most of it was all a novelty, but they hadn't come here for the junk.

When she followed him she noted the hesitance still; though, eventually curiosity won out and before long Kagome found her arms piled with thermal tees, loose fitting pants made of gauze, and a few other odds and ends. When he grabbed a pair of sandals and eyeballed them she said, "Get them, but you'd probably be better off wearing them in the summer." A few of the pants were a thick that looked to be made from kimono silk—thick enough for winter. So, she didn't say anything about the gauze ones or the ones made of a thinner material that were probably imported from India.

"You know," she told him, "There's a store here I think that sells jeans that are more comfortable than Souta's. People my brother's age like them tighter than I used to growing up. Did you want to give them a shot?"

"Do we have enough time?" he asked as they made way to the dressing room.

"Should. And I think you should have at least one suit for formal occasions. Then we'll get some traditional Japanese clothing and head back to the house." This was said as she hung his stuff up and just before he nodded and closed the curtain. Kagome waited in the main shop area.

The process wasn't long, but she found herself laughing every once in a while at the options he'd chosen. "No, just no," she told him after the third time because of clashing patterns. "Are you doing this on purpose? I thought you had a better eye than that."

"Do you want to come in here and help me?"

She stuck her tongue out at him as he raised his brows in question. "No. I'd rather not get kicked out before we buy it all." She put her hands on her hips. "Are you making a joke?"

And then he just smirked before shutting the curtain back.

Kagome shook her head, but the smile remained. It was another fifteen minutes before they finished. Next they purchased four pairs of jeans he liked; ones that weren't too tight and had been made for martial arts. Then they picked up a few hakama, haori, and obi. And finally, she had just enough money to buy him an inexpensive dress shirt, black slacks, and matching suit jacket. They had enough time to get back home, eat lunch, and then get on their way to the next destination.

Round two, she told herself as they got on the bus.


Surprisingly, Sesshoumaru didn't ask where they were going when they got on their way towards the outskirts of Tokyo. But, he did keep an eye on the world just outside the train window as it got greener and greener—as more of the forest and the natural wilderness of Japan took over. He remained ever silent as they got off and began the long walk. But, the miko had to break the silence once they were a good mile into the brush.

She stopped and turned to look at him on her right. "You think you can fly us the rest of the way?" She pointed up the mostly overgrown path. "About twenty miles that way?"

He looked in the direction she motioned to, pupils dilating and then narrowing. She watched as he inhaled deeply before shutting them and then eventually turned to look at her. "Are you certain we won't be seen?"

"There's really no one around for miles. I promise."

"Very well." Without much else, he took the long black back from her and slung it with the other over his shoulder. His hands came under her knees and back, lifting her as she wrapped one arm around his neck. And without any real warning, he leapt up through the tree and took to the air, careful to keep below the top boughs and avoid branches.

"Thank you," she told him over the noise of motion. "It would have taken a lot longer on foot."

He was silent again, just as silent as on the train. But, she could tell he was thinking this time; trying to form words from thoughts before he spoke them. "…Thank you."

"For?" Now she was confused.

"It has been some time since This Sesshoumaru has been outside the city."

It wasn't something she expected, but made her happy all the same. She could feel a touch of heat paint her cheeks and didn't feel worse for it. "I told Souta I would bring him next weekend with us if he wanted."

"We still need to make a trip to the country," he reminded her.

"I'll figure it out. Maybe just take him along for that too and kill two birds with one stone. It'll… Oh! Here! Land here," she told him, pointing below.

The space they dropped into was wide open, revealing a waterfall some hundred yards or so ahead breaking free from the mountainside. There was forest all around them, but the green space was open and a little overgrown with grass that was just starting to grow back. Up here it was cooler, crisper, and muffled away from the busy bustling life of Edo. She took it in, putting her hands behind her back to clasp as Sesshoumaru set down the bags. Her eyes closed, like his before, and she inhaled deeply. Birds chirped in the distance and a wind stirred her hair—it rustled leaves.

Her spot.

"It took me about a year to find it," she told him.

"This place?"

"Yeah…" she opened her eyes. "I wanted a place to come and let myself go, to not have to worry about holding back and scaring people. When I first started really working on my miko training with grandfather I couldn't do much. But, eventually, I got better. I learned how to control and manipulate it—my aura and power. It became easier to imbue more than just arrows with the energy. So, he told me to find a more suitable place other than the shrine. He used to come here with me, but after a while I did it a lot on my own between studies." Talking about it made her heart ache a little. She and Souta joked about how senile the old man was all the time, but… he knew a lot more than most people gave him credit for when it came to the old ways. Without him, it might have taken her twelve years to get to where she was instead of six. Maybe that's why it hurt so much, his betrayal… the closeness they'd shared as student a teacher had somehow been breached and she just didn't understand why he'd done it. But, she also didn't understand why any of it had happened at all—why Inuyasha had run from her.

When Sesshoumaru touched her shoulder she realized she'd been holding her hand to her chest, clenched, and looking down. How long had she been quiet in her own memories? "Sorry," she murmured, meeting his gaze.

"What did you have in mind?" he asked instead.

And then she smiled brightly at him before turning to the bags. She knelt and zipped them open one at a time, revealing sheathed swords and appropriate clothing. She caught he gaze against as he looked at it all. "I think we both need to let loose a little. It's been rough since we were saddled together."

"…Are you certain?"

She smirked. "Are you afraid I'll hurt you, old man?"

"I could argue as much in your regard, miko."

"Is that a yes?" A brow rose. "I mean, when was the last time you really got to fight anyone? You know, in the last century? Swords aren't exactly legal in this country without a license and people tend to frown on bloodshed."

He sighed.

"You game or what?" she prompted. "I didn't come all the way out here to meditate."

"I do not want to hurt you," he said honestly.

She rolled her eyes and stood. Her hand went to her hips. "You won't. Believe me, I know what I'm doing. I need a good fight; I haven't had one since the feudal era and my skills were a joke at best then. Fighting a daiyoukai would be good for me—a challenge." Another smirk. "You sure you're not afraid I'll just wipe the floor with you. It's had to have been a while for you."

At that, he flicked her forehead, causing Kagome to yelp and cover the worried skin. "This Sesshoumaru thinks you are foolhardy, but he will acquiesce."

"Awesome!" She began to dig about for some clothes. "I'll go change in the brush. Pick something out and do the same." Without waiting for a response she jogged to the forest's edge. Some part of her realized it was silly only after she began to take off her clothes; he'd seen her naked plenty of times. But, maybe it was for the best; seeing him in his birthday suit might lead to other activities.

It took her five or so minutes to put on the black sweatpants, sweatshirt, sports bra, and to tie her hair back tightly. When she returned, it was to Sesshoumaru dressed similarly—picking at his clothes. If she'd seen him like this for the first time since she'd left the feudal era it would be difficult not the laugh. But it wasn't so bad now. Aside from the face markings and long silver hair, he looked like any other Japanese man getting ready for a jog in the cooler months.

"Something wrong?" she asked anyway.

He eyed the sweat shirt, tugging at the chest portion. "No. It will do." And the he dropped his hand.

She shrugged, thinking perhaps he'd never quite feel like himself until he got into the traditional clothes later. She bent towards the second bag and pulled out the sheathed blade Kimi-san had gifted her with for her birthday.

And suddenly, Sesshoumaru asked in a rather stiff tone, "Where did you get that?"

Kagome blinked as she stood and pulled the katana out of its sheath. Her brow furrowed at his expression: partially opened mouth and eyes just slightly wider than usual. He appeared surprised. "I had it the night you appeared. Don't you remember?"

"I do not."

She supposed he wouldn't with what they'd gotten up to. "Kimi-san gave it to me for my birthday. Why? Is something wrong?"

His eyes narrowed and his mouth shut. His jaw visibly flexed. In some way, Kagome could see the wheels turning in his head. "Sesshoumaru?" she asked again, a little worried.

"How did she come by it?" he asked next, ignoring her question.

"Kimi-san?"

"Yes."

Kagome shrugged. "As far I know it was a collected piece. I've met her on a few occasions to date and identify weapons."

"How exactly did you meet this woman to begin with?"

This was starting to get weird… "Well… about two years ago I found out she had an impressive sword collection that had been compiled over generations of her family. I made a few calls, pulled a few strings with other people that I knew, and arranged to see her. I wanted to know if she had tessaiga and tenseiga…" Kagome narrowed her eyes. "What's this about? You're acting strange even for you."

He met her gaze then, pulling it away from the weapon in her hand, away from the pearl gleaming in the sunlight overhead. She watched as he swallowed. "It was a family heirloom," he told her, "given by my father to my mother upon their engagement, and every bride before her."

Kagome's eyes went wide before the flicked to focus on the blade. The irony, in a way, was not lost on her. "I'm… wow… I'm sorry." She looked back at him. "Do you want me to use a different one?"

"No," he told her. "It is fine. I was just…"

"Taken off guard?" he offered when he trailed off.

"Indeed." Her shook his head, causing silvered bangs to sway just so, tickling his brow. "What do you want me to use?"

Kagome could sense the intensity leave him; he wasn't lying to her, she knew. But, she was still worried all the same. "Um… just pick one from the bag and we'll start, I guess. I don't think I need to make any rules, do I?"

"I am fairly certain we are both clear on trying not to injure one another."

"Just making sure," she told him when he finally chose a blade. It was another from her collection. The sheath was a dark abyssal color, wooden and carved with various designs in a painstaking clarity. The hilt had a traditional black and white wrapping. But, when he pulled it from its casing, the kanji on the weapon reflected.

"This is a youkai weapon," he told her.

"I could tell that yes."

"You would be able to, being a miko." He set down the sheath and turned the blade over in his hands. "It will do."

"Good." She set her own aside and began to walk to an appropriate place in the middle of the field. "Toss a rock. When it hits the ground it'll be the signal to go." Anticipation ran a rapid fire through her veins, pricking her skin and causing goosebumps. She couldn't help the way her muscles flexed, making her wonder why she hadn't thought of this sooner.

Once she was happy with the distance she turned to face him. And wasting no time, she allowed her aura to bloom around her; it was strong enough to be seen. Bits danced around like otherworldly flower petals, falling and rejoining before separating again. She could feel it in the center of her, suffusing and pouring forth into every crevice of her body. She could sense when his youki exploded. At this distance it was hard to see the red of his eyes or the elongation of his claws, but there was no mistaking his own aura—crimson red and radiating raw youki.

She was drawn to it, thinking that despite all of the natural, intimidating, and raw malice it gave off… that it was beautiful in its own way. She remembered this—this explosion of not just aggression, of power, of everything he'd somehow forgotten about when was on the cusp of a battle; no, it was more than that. She remembered the way he once was; that first meeting and the time after. The way he always stood proudly, profoundly, and in his own way having the same tenacity Inuyasha possessed. Inuyasha had always been loud and crass—speaking his mind in a hundred different ways and never willing to back down. But she realized Sesshoumaru had that too; it had been beaten out of him. And now… like this… she could see it again—a drive, an unspoken refusal to bend and break.

Maybe it was hidden… all this time…

She was so enthralled in him, in her own revelation, that she almost missed the stone toss. But when it hit the ground she kicked off the ground, body dashing the distance in a streak of electric magenta. Perhaps some part of her expected him not to move at all, to wait and do something else entirely. But instead, he kicked off at the same time, blade swinging in a controlled arc. A flare of red followed the stroke and the brilliant humming pink of her own weapon met his. When he drew back and struck again she moved to the side, counterattacking. He leapt back, barely missing the tip. And then he dove again. But this time when he struck she pulled her forearm up. Hesitation showed in his eyes and she smirked as the edge smacked against a barrier. The brief pause was enough for her slip past his defenses and strike. She stopped just short of piercing the material of his sweatshirt and they both halted. Pink and red, their auras, intermingled and mixed as she held the pose.

"Point," she told him, smirking. And the she jumped back, creating enough space to go after him again. They clashed weapons repeatedly, striking over and over—weaving and feeling each other's styles out. Kagome changed up as she needed to, not wanting him to get too used it her motions. Still, she couldn't help but laugh when he moved a little too quickly for her and she felt the heat of his blade on her back.

"Point," was all he said before she turned and swung, grinning and parrying his blade away. She pushed on, ignoring the way her lungs burned for air, the way her muscles screamed in beautiful agony, and the way her joints cried in protest. Blue depths caught his, wondering if he felt the same ferocity she did. She couldn't stop, she didn't want to. And she couldn't help but be satisfied every time his jaw flexed when she pressed her sword against his, using her power to force him back.

In that instance she pulled back, striking the same time he did. The shear momentum and raw pulse of energy broke the grip from her hand, his, and she held his gaze in surprise as the two blades twisted in the air before hitting ground, tip first.

For a moment, she wondered what to do; and then something snapped in his eyes—electric and all-consuming. She stepped back once, bracing herself as he cut the distance between them—wrapping her in an embrace and pressing his mouth to hers. She inhaled deeply though her nose at that, eyes shutting. Everything burned and coursed a blaze of liquid heat through her. His mouth took possession of her, branding all that he was into her. She couldn't quite describe it; it was so different—not just passion. She'd sensed youkis before, felt them, understood that signature of power and energy that was unique to each youkai. But this… she'd never felt it this way before. Some part of her felt like he was touching her soul. And suddenly she couldn't get enough. Her hands fisted in his top; she pulled at the neck, moaning into his mouth in a half cry as she ripped it in two down the center.

He growled, but it didn't sound angry to her. No, she could feel that it wasn't. Satisfied, that's that it was. He was happy. She could feel him ripping into the back of her clothes, pulling them asunder—bra and all. Kagome lost her footing, falling flat on her back. And yet it didn't stop her—him. She felt her bottoms come off, slipping past bare feet as her hands caressed over his chest, up around his neck, and then down and towards his back. He bit her neck a she drew her nails down his back. In tandem, he moaned into her throat as she cried out. The sounds intermingled and bounced off one another.

There was no preparation when he jerked her hips up and slid home. Kagome didn't need it, not with that glorious fire and cataclysm of feelings shooting through her. She rose to meet him. And after that, it was a blur of sweat, heat, and blissful release. She couldn't figure out where his touch began and hers ended. His mouth was on hers, her neck, and both breasts as he bit, nipped, suckled and kissed. And when tears of neither joy nor pain prickled at her eyes, he licked them away.

After she came she rolled them over, forcing him to relent even as her body shook with fervor—aftershocks. There were no words; only actions. She was submerged in want, desire, and euphoria. She was high on the rush of the fight, of this. Boldly, she took him in her mouth and satisfaction bloomed when he cried out loudly, half growling, and dug his fingers into her scalp and the long waves of ebony. Her tongue painted a path from base to tip; her teeth scraped and bit just enough to get a rise out of him; and it wasn't until she took him entirely in her mouth that he ripped her away.

She let him roll her into onto her stomach, let him jerk her hips upward, and the sounds that escaped her once he entered again—she was sure—were not sounds she'd ever made before. When he came this time she her muscles clamped harder than before, so much harder. She could feel her aura expand further—take root in a new way. In that moment his whole body stilled and the cry he released rang in her ears. In the end, Kagome was left panting as she listened to Sesshoumaru try to catch his breath as well. Her aura retreated, pulling away from his. Any strength remaining went with it and she collapsed to the grass. In the process he slid out of her and dropped onto her back, his cheek pressing into the space between her shoulder blades.

She was glad she didn't have the energy to speak; Kagome wasn't at all certain what she would say even if she did. It would be easy—too easy—to fall asleep there. And she seriously contemplated the pros and cons of doing as much for a good twenty minutes. But, eventually, she felt like could move again. The air was no longer comfortable but cold, and, it dawned on her that she was going to have to put her other clothes back on not only sweaty—but beyond dirty.

"What in the hell was that?" she asked as she shifted to move, as Sesshoumaru pulled away from her. When she sat up she rubbed her temples, trying to rid herself of a progressing headache.

"Something I had not expected," he admitted before attempting to stand. "Something I should have."

"You're being vague again," she told him, groaning as she stood up as well. God… she needed a bath.

He sighed. "It is nothing to worry about. Our auras intermingled and set off a chain reaction."

"A chain reaction of what?" she asked as she moved to pull her blade out of the ground.

His gaze followed her, watching the way her legs shook with each step. "It is a glimpse of what being a bonded pair would be like at its most intense. Sometimes youkis do not mix well; both parties will do what you would call a trial run before committing to one another."

"And have sex?" she asked him, brows high. "Isn't that jumping the gun a little even for youkai?"

He offered her with an impatient look. "It was not customary to couple."

"Then why did we—."

"Because, auras—your miko and my youki—became overwhelming due to our combat. Inadvertently, those auras interacted and reacted to one another, causing our coupling."

Kagome grabbed the katana she'd loaned him next, moving towards the bags. "Well, I guess that makes sense…" When she wobbled a little, almost tripped, she felt hands on her shoulders steadying her. "Thanks," she murmured.

"I'll put them away," he offered as he took both blades from her.

"Aren't you tired?" she asked.

"Extremely. But your needs are greater than my own."

She frowned, but followed him anyway and opted not to argue. "I wonder if I have enough time to grab a nap before I get ready. Crap… what time is it?" She knelt then, digging in the bag with clothes for her cellphone. Once she retrieved it and turned the screen on she sighed a little in relief. They still had enough left to make the last train home. She'd be able to get a shower, get dressed, and be well on her way to where Kimi-san wanted to eat.

But god, she couldn't lie to herself. She felt better… so much better. Even thinking about her grandfather then didn't quite make her as angry. She felt too good to be angry at anyone. Being with him, like that, it felt good…

"Is it always like that?" she asked as she got dressed slowly, as she snapped her bra straps into place and adjusted the bust. Ah man… no undies… Well, at least she'd been wearing pants, right? Too cold for a skirt. She slipped into a long sleeve shirt and then tugged her knit sweater on.

"The coupling between mates?"

She nodded as she sat down and put her socks on.

"Not always; that kind of intensity all the time would leave you unable to do much of anything. However, during the heat it is always that way."

"Mating season?"

"Yes." By then he'd gotten most of his clothes on. All that was left were his shoes and socks.

Kagome smiled and she slipped her jeans on and buttoned them up. "What? Do you guys just stay inside for a few days?"

"A week, but yes. The heat comes at different times for each youkai; it's not seasonal but biological." He paused. "I once considered it bothersome."

"Really?" She was shocked, not entirely sure if that was because he'd admitted it or because some part of her had thought him to be a sex god even in the past. But that had probably been too many romance mangas talking to a fifteen year-old her.

"Very much so," he said as they both stood and grabbed a bag after they were zipped closed. Sesshoumaru took hers and then picked her up in his arms, leaving the same way they had come.

"Is it bothersome with me?"

He smiled and looked down at her. "Why would you ask that?"

She shrugged. "I dunno. I guess I'm still trying to figure out if you want this."

"I have yet to do anything I would not enjoy doing with you, Kagome."

Her cheeked pinked a touch and she smiled. "Good. If it ever is, I want you to tell me."

"I shall."

"Promise?"

"This Sesshoumaru promises to tell you if ever a time comes where making love to you is bothersome, miko."

Kagome curled into him and closed her eyes, enjoying the way the air swept over them both and tousled her hair. She pressed a kiss to her neck and let her cheek rest on his collarbone and shoulder. "Was is bothersome before… when…?" she asked softly, knowing he would hear her. She swallowed once. "I want it to be better, you know…"

"You have said as much before," he agreed gently, quiet in thought. She could feel it even if she couldn't hear what he was thinking. The emotions that passed between them gave her a glimpse. "It was not always bothersome, but it was rarely ever good." Another pause. "And it was never before as it is with you."

Vague again, not entirely earth-shattering insofar as giving her an idea of what he meant. But, she understood what he wasn't saying either. And that warmed her. She wondered if it would really be wrong to fall in love with him, to commit to becoming his mate… Would he want that?

"Sesshoumaru?" she asked softly.

"Hm?"

Kagome licked her lips and stared at the pale skin of his neck. "Would you want to mate with someone?" She exhaled deeply, poignantly. "…with me?"

"Are you asking if I would want to, not have to?"

She nodded.

He didn't say anything right away, thinking that happened a lot to him when they had these kinds of discussions. But it wasn't an easy question to answer, especially when it was one he'd not been asked earnestly before that he could remember. "I would do almost anything for my freedom, Kagome," felt to him to be the most honest reply.

"But would you want to?"

"…I do not know." He looked down at her as they landed finally and he gently set her on her feet. Blue met amber as she took a step back, hands on his chest. "However… if it had to be with someone of my choosing, someone from the list of those who have possessed me, it would be you.

"Does that answer your question?"

Not quite, she wanted to say. But what in the hell was she looking for? For him to say he loved her? She'd done things with him she'd never done with another man, things she'd never even considered doing with Inuyasha. The things they'd shared too, the nights together where they talked about her day and his… it all blended together into something she couldn't help but want that all the time—want the way he curled into her in the middle of the night and purred—of all things—into the back of her neck.

"I think…" she started, voice a little broken and full of something as she stared at his chest. "Maybe I'm asking because I'm falling in love with you," she admitted, willfully pushing the words out. Her hand reached for his, taking it in her two. She pressed his palm between her breasts and looked up into his eyes—at the way they widened, at the way his lips parted just so at her verbal revelation.

She felt a heat prickling at her cheeks, her throat and behind her eyes. But it didn't hurt. She was happy, really happy. The rawness of that feeling flooded her and she couldn't help how it poured into him from their connection. "Can you feel that?" she asked. "Maybe that's why I don't want it to end. But, because of that, because of how I feel, I don't want you to do it because you feel like it's the only way out, Sesshoumaru.

"I have no idea what you've been through, you know?" she released him so that she could wipe away a tear. "I don't know how many people hurt you before you got to me. And it's hard. I worry… I worry that you're right. I worry that it can't be broken, the curse." Kagome let him embrace her, allowed him to soothe away the ache she felt on his behalf, and allowed her frame to swallowed by his larger one. She exhaled, ridding herself of the tears and winding down in her exhaustion. It overcame her and all was dark and warm.


Kagome didn't wake up until they were home and crossing the threshold of her front door. Sesshoumaru was glad for that. He could rest while on her body as the tattoo during the dinner. But, Kagome would have not been able to get much if she wanted to be ready.

"Is that you, Kagome?" he heard her brother call from another part of the house.

"In here," Sesshoumaru called back as Kagome wiped sleep from her eyes and stood groggily.

"What… happened?" she asked, blinking a few times as her blue eyes focused on him.

"You passed out," he explained. "But we are home now. Your brother is calling for you."

"I'm sorry," she said at once. "I didn't meant to."

"It is fine." He squeezed her shoulder for reassurance.

"There you are," Souta said, coming into the room from a door across the room Sesshoumaru had not yet explored. "I've got the kimonos ready. You up to picking one out before you get a shower?" His eyes narrowed as he looked her over. "…Maybe two?"

"Shut up, imp," she grouched. "Where are they?"

"In the shrine." He jutted a thumb behind him. "I also found something else pretty interesting, if you want to look."

"Like what?" she asked as she followed behind him when he started in that direction.

Sesshoumaru adjusted the bags on his shoulder. "I'm going to put these away," he told her.

Kagome stopped and turned to look at him over her shoulder. "Just leave on the floor. I'll put them away later." And then she waved for him to join her.

He thought to argue with her, but with the need for his own rest dangerously close there wasn't much heart to be had in the action. Thus, he but the bags back down and followed the two siblings. As he passed through the shrine entrance from the main part of the home Sesshoumaru realized he'd never actually been inside of it before. But, like other shrines, it had a wide open space with hard wood floors, scrolls on the walls with various expressions or images, and an alter at the foremost center back wall. Incense was burning faintly; the scent made his nose wrinkle. As he looked towards the center he could see that Souta had a few kimonos hanging out on racks with obis.

"Oh, you grabbed the good ones," Kagome told Souta as she looked at each one. "I like them all, honestly." She turned to Sesshoumaru. "Which one do you think I should wear?"

The inuyoukai took a moment to gaze at each one, equally admiring all of their colors and patterns. They would all look lovely on her, but… the one with the cherry blossoms painted in a blue with white as the primary color and black along part of the sleeves and the bottom edges reach out to him the most. He pointed to it. "The color will match your eyes."

She nodded. "I think you're right. I might have a hair piece to match it."

"So, did you want to see what else I found?" Souta asked from the side, hands on his hips. "Or are you just gonna ogle your pretty dresses?"

"You're being an asshole, you know," The miko told her brother.

"Yeah, so what? You wanna see or not?"

"Fine, whatever. You're going to drive me crazy until I do anyway." She waved her hand dismissively. "Show me."

Souta then turned to a crate on the floor. The lid had already been pried open with a crowbar, so he lifted it with ease. "Look, it's really cool. Usually we just have ceremonial stuff, you know? Nothing with armor like this." He smirked. "Not since mom made gramps get rid of those broken chestplates."

"We still have the samurai armor," she argued with a frown. "I thought you liked that one."

"I do, but this is different. Looks too new to be an antique. Maybe a cosplay. Do you think the old man would buy a cosplay on accident?"

"What? No…" Well, maybe… But she doubted it. "Quit being a moron," she huffed as she came over to the box. "He's a little weird, I'll give you that, but he knows his… an… tiques…" Kagome's hands settled on the lips of the crate and she frowned at the contents. "Sesshoumaru…?" she asked.

"Yes?"

She waved him over, not once looking away from the folded silk in blues, whites, reds, and golds. The dark armor looked shined and clean. The silver of what she considered shoulder guards gleamed in what lighting they had in the main hall of the shrine.

Kagome, unable to stop herself, leaned down and ran her fingers over the thick steel and swallowed. Was this supposed to be some kind of weird omen? First the sword and now this? Just where had it come from?

"Have we always had this…?" she asked, pulling her hand away as she felt Sesshoumaru move to stand next to her.

"I don't think so," Souta said with a shrug. "It was way in the back though. I kinda got bored after I got the kimonos out and went digging since mom didn't need me today and gramps is MIA."

Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed as the siblings spoke to one another. Golden hues focused on the clothing, a mixture of memories filling him—good and bad. His gaze rolled over it, features impassive. He took in the colors, the newness of it, and asked himself… was someone trying to toy with him? With Kagome?

The last time he recalled wearing this item was the day before the evening his mother set the curse upon him. The binding gave him new attire, the clothes Kagome had initially found him in. At the time he'd been sleeping in a yukata. The clothing in the box… it had been set aside for the following day, cleaned and ready for the morning. He'd always kept several of this same style hakama and haori for when he went out, for when he journeyed. They were family colors… the red and white were more than any other. Wearing them announced his pack affiliation. His mother rarely ever donned the red, especially after his father's infidelity…

He hadn't even realized he'd picked up the haori, the armor slipping away from it, until Kagome asked him if he was alright. He didn't look at her then; didn't say anything. Instead, he just stared at the fabric in his hands… rubbed the soft silk between his thumbs and thought on all the time he'd missed with Rin—Rin who had spent more time with him while he wore this than any other individual.

"You can have it," Kagome told him. "If you want. I mean, it's yours. I don't know how it got here, but if grandfather has a fit over it I don't care."

Part of him wanted to tell her no; a very large part of him wanted to toss it back into the box and forget it existed. And yet… another part of him wanted the exact opposite. And in the end, the good memories won out. He nodded.

"You should wear it tonight," she told him. "Well, probably not the armor." Out of the corner of his eye he watched her smile. "I'll wear the red and blue furisode with the geometric shapes instead and we'll match."

He looked at her fully then.

She sighed and put her hands behind her back. "I know you said you didn't want to eat with us. You don't have to. But, it'll make me feel better if I know you're wearing it, even if you aren't there."

"How much time do we have?" he asked softly.

"'Bout three and half hours," Souta told him.

Sesshoumaru repressed the urge to sigh as he held Kagome's gaze—one that was filled with all the love she'd admitted to earlier. Cracking… everything he'd build up over the years… hundreds of years… was cracking. Crumbling and falling—all the walls and iron-barred windows. And the longer he went on with her, without force on her part or orders, or punishment… without that spot… without hate, malice, without pain…

When had anyone other than Rin told him that they loved him? He could remember the girls in court, a few soft confessions when he'd been younger behind a veiled balcony or hidden alcove… Ages ago… they hadn't known what they were saying. He hadn't really known what they felt, what he felt. But Kagome… he could feel that. He could see it in her eyes. Every smile, every touch, every laugh was filled with her unconditional love.

"I will accompany you," he told her. "But, I will need time to rest. Two hours in my tattoo form in your body will give me enough sleep."

Kagome's eyes widened—brightened even. Everything about her lit up, and that poured into him too. He wondered if there would ever be too much of that feeling, if he would overfill like a goblet with too much wine.

"If you're sure," she said.

He nodded once.

Kagome clapped her hands together and turned to Souta. "Help me get this stuff upstairs."

"Man… all this manual labor better get me something good—that's all I'm sayin'."

The miko ignored her brother and gave Sesshoumaru a hug. "Thank you," she whispered, "really. You don't know what this means to me. All of it."

He did, but he didn't think he needed to voice it.


Kagome was ready by six-fifteen sharp and waiting at the bottom of the stairs with a white faux fur stole around her shoulders and small silk bag in her hands. Her hair bad been pulled back and her bangs pulled to the side—straight and loose. The rest of it was held by a comb given to her by her mother; blue flower petals blinked in the light. The kimono itself had long sleeves; the material nearly draped to the floor when her arms were resting at her sides. Red and blue honeycomb shapes dotted the sleeves and bottom of the garment; flowers in gold and off-white made up the rest; however, white became the prominent tone. The underkimono had a red collar that bore a stark contrast to the white while also tying in with furisode itself. Her obi contrasted appropriately with little gold and a more blacks.

Her mother had been happy to assist her while Sesshoumaru dressed in Souta's room. For that she was glad, knowing full well that the costume change would not have been possible without the older Higurashi. It had also been a while since she'd seen her mother so happy; even if it was all too much, she was glad for that. But it wasn't entirely shocking. Kimi-san liked to eat in top-dollar restaurants. At least, that was Kagome's impression thus far.

Blue eyes darted down toward the wall clock, half wondering if Sesshoumaru was ready. She turned to go up towards the stairs and check on him, but it was at that moment that he appeared from around the corner and stepped into the room, geta shoes in hand.

Nothing had changed, she mused to herself as she took him in. The armor wasn't there, his hakama weren't tucked into the boots he once wore, and his hair was tied back a few inches below the base of his neck from what she could tell; however, in some way it felt good to see him like this. It made her believe that for a moment he really could be free of it all. And she wouldn't pretend it was the clothes, but there was something in his eyes.

"You look amazing," she told him, voice surprisingly strong.

"As do you."

"Thank you. Are you ready?" When he nodded she turned to the door and slipped her shoes on and stepped out into the closely approaching evening air. She warmed when he tucked her arm into his after shutting the door so that she could get down the stairs. "I won't trip, you know," she told him.

"I know."

"Did you get enough sleep?"

"More will be required, but this evening's activities should not be so terribly taxing that This Sesshoumaru will succumb and embarrass you."

Kagome chuckled as they made it to the shrine entrance and waited for the car. "I don't know… that might be pretty funny."

"For you, perhaps," he admitted with a small smirk.

She leaned her head onto his upper arm and part of his shoulder. "You have a very subtle sense of humor, you know."

"Rin once said as much."

Kagome laughed softly. "I guess she would know better than anyone. You did spend most of your time with her, didn't you? And Jakken?"

"When they were not both wandering off together, yes."

"I used to wonder why you took her in—back then, you know. It went against everything I once saw in you."

He remembered asking himself the same question once; he also recalled telling himself it was because she'd helped him when no one else would have. His one act of kindness, however often he had tried to tell himself it had merely been a test, had given him a daughter he might not have otherwise had. But, he could see now how Kagome would have viewed a girl like Rin following him around—the one called The Killing Perfection—as beyond abnormal if not a little strange. It had went against all that he had been, all the distaste he had for human beings. And yet, one little girl had somehow become an exception.

"I believe my only in regret in regards to her is never being able to tell her that she was the key to my compassion… humility."

Kagome looked at him then, curious about the open admission. She watched his features soften just so, barely noticeable to anyone who hadn't spent a considerable amount of time with him. But she could see it in the way his eyelids dropped just a hint, the way the corners of his mouth slightly tugged down, and in the way his head tucked lower only a little.

Kagome squeezed his arm. When he met her gaze she smiled gently. "Then you mother was wrong; she just never took the time to really see you. Rin did though, didn't she?"

He smiled back, closing his eyes once before their gazes connected again. "And you as well," he told her quietly, only barely distinguishable over the hum of the car that pulled up and the voice of the driver calling to them. Before she utter another word he stepped forward and opened the door for her. Only when she was settled did he step around and get in himself.

"How far is it?" Kagome asked the driver as soon as they were off.

"Fifteen or twenty minutes," the man replied.

Kagome nodded, thanking him before she adjusted the way she sat forward to avoid ruining the bow in her obi. She wanted to slide it to the front so she could sit back, but didn't want to risk damaging all the work her mother had done.

Instead, knowing that Sesshoumaru wouldn't mind the silence, she turned to watch the scenery—what was left of the sunset drifting away completely—and waited. She wasn't sure if it was the lack of sleep or her own jumble of thoughts about her afternoon admission, but time swept by and before long the car came to a stop in front of a demure-looking restaurant. She moved to open her door, but Sesshoumaru placed a hand on her knee.

"I'll get it," he said before exiting the car himself.

It took a beat of a moment for him to come around. Kagome took his offered hand and got out the car, thankful for the assistance. She didn't want to admit it, but she wasn't accustomed to walking around in kimono; hakama, yes, but nothing that required her to take agonizingly small steps.

Again, once the car door closed, Sesshoumaru took her arm in his and led them up the stairs and opened the door for her. She laughed softly once they were inside and he took her arm again. "You don't have to keep doing that, you know. Really. I mean, I needed help getting out of the car, but I can manage fine on the stairs—I promise."

He gave her a stoic look, only serving to make her smile more.

"I do appreciate it though. I promise."

"Can I help you?" A woman standing before a podium asked. Her attire was black tie and her dark hair pulled back tightly.

"We're expected," Kagome told her. "The name should be under Tanaka Kim."

Without looking at her reservation book the hostess smiled and said, "She only just arrived. Come, I'll show you to your table." When she stepped away and moved deeper in the dimly lit restaurant they followed a few steps behind.

And it wasn't until they got further in that Kagome understood why Kimi-san has requested she wear formal kimono. It was traditional in the sense that all of the servers were dressed in kimono as well, some of the performing simple tea ceremonies before guests in the open eating space. Customers, in turn, were either in kimono as well, well dressed for a night out, or in their business clothes for an after work dinner. It wasn't one-hundred percent what she would really compare to something like a Ryokan, but, it was a wonderful atmosphere either way.

The hostess led them away from that area though and down a short hall. She stopped before a sliding door and pulled it open with a smile. "Enjoy. Someone will be by to take your orders shortly."

Kagome bowed barely, thanking her before going in with Sesshoumaru and letting her shut the door behind them.

"Kagome, it's good to see you," Kimi-san said as soon as she laid eyes on her, as Kagome met her gaze.

"You too," she replied as the older woman stood and came to envelop her in a hug. "I'm glad you could make time for me despite the emergency," she said when Kimi-san pulled back and released her.

"Yes, that is a different matter altogether. Let me look at you." Her hands had remained on Kagome's elbows, but she pulled away further to gaze at her chosen attire for the evening. "Beautiful. Does it belong to the shrine?"

"Yes, but I can't promise it always did." She grinned. "Not everything is as romantic as you make our history out to be, I promise." And then Kagome's eyes scanned her own kimono; it had shorter sleeves, but that wasn't entirely unexpected given that Kimi-san was likely in her late twenties to early thirties. "I think you outshine me a little in that though." It really was lovely; all black, blue, and soft violet with blooming lotus flowers.

"Thank you." And then her emerald gaze shifted to Sesshoumaru. "Oh, but you've brought a guest. How rude of me. Tanaka Kim," she introduced as she held out a hand. "And you are?"

"Sesshoumaru-san," Kagome told her. "He's a family friend who's been staying at the shrine for a while." She was glad Kimi-san was too kind to be put off by his facial markings; she was also glad the hairstyle he's chosen hid his ear points.

"Really?" she asked as he took her hand, smiling. "So very nice to meet you. Usually Kagome comes by herself or with her mother. A new face is refreshing."

"…Thank you." Sesshoumaru was glad that she was meeting his gaze head-on. It would have been odd for him to stare at her so intensely. And yet… the moment her hand had gripped his…

…Something was off. Not wrong, but off.

"Come then, let's sit. It would be rude of me to keep you standing near the door." She waved a hand in the direction of the table low to the floor with cushioned seating. "I ordered some sake. I hope that's alright?"

"Perfectly fine," Kagome answered as she slipped off her geta and moved to take her seat. Sesshoumaru moved to take his next to her and Kimi-san across from her.

"How has the university been treating you?" she asked as she poured glass for them all.

"Well enough—thank you," Kagome told her as she took the small cup from the other woman's hands. "My boss is a little agonizing, but nothing I can't handle."

"Himura, right?"

Kagome nodded before taking a sip. "Yeah, part of me wonders is he's trying to drive me insane, or just off the job."

"Have you tried standing up to him?"

"I have suggested much the same, but she will not listen," offered Sesshoumaru finally, taking the glass Kimi-san passed to him with a nod of thanks.

"I just don't want to lose my job."

"Well, I can understand that, knowing how much you care about your position. Still, you might consider it an option." She brought the drink to her lips and partook gingerly of it.

"How have you been?" Kagome asked.

"Busy, mostly. My husband, as you well know, spend a lot of him time taking care of the business. And I manage the family and a few other smaller tasks." She sighed and smiled a little lopsidedly. "There's always something amiss, some kind of world-ending matter to attend to. Diplomacy might be useful in politics, but with family it's almost entirely useless."

Kagome chuckled at that. "If your family is anything like mine, I know how you feel."

"You would like them. Perhaps you should come over for our next visit."

"I would love to."

Conversation was momentarily halted when a finely dressed server entered and asked about their orders. Kagome felt taken off guard, not even having looked at the menu. "I don't want to impose," she told Kimi-san. "I always love what you get. Would you mind a suggestion?"

"Not at all." She leaned forward at that, pointing to her favorites. "All of these are lovely. Very aromatic and great for spring."

"Sesshoumaru?" Kagome asked, looking over at him.

"I shall order whatever it is you decide on."

She nodded and listed her choice to the server, adding a glass of water in as well. Sake was all good and well, but she hadn't had much real hydration since before their training session in the woods.

"So, what about you, Sesshoumaru-san? How do you occupy your time?" The brunette asked once the woman was gone.

"…I am between professions," he admitted, not knowing what else to say. "But, I am considering taking a position as the shrine."

Kagome blinked at him. "I didn't know that." As soon as she said it she realized how stupid it was. Of course he would tell Kimi-san that. It was the easiest cover story without making a mountain out of a molehill.

Even so, she smiled sheepishly when he looked at her out of the corner of his eye.

"You must like it there very much then," Kimi-san replied. "What does Kagome's mother think?"

What Sesshoumaru wanted to say was, 'You ask a lot of questions.' What he said instead was, "I imagine she does not have a problem with it."

"Wonderful." She smiled and then engaged Kagome in conversation once more, leaving him to half listen while he thought for a while.

Sesshoumaru had not met many of Kagome's friends. In fact, aside from the girl at the café, Kimi-san was the only other one he'd interacted with in person. And Sesshoumaru chalked that up to Kagome being too busy to really do anything but go to work, school, and spend time at home with her family when she wasn't practicing her sword forms. But, he had seen a number of them. At work he overheard a lot while hidden on Kagome's skin. And of all the people he'd come across thus far who were involved in her life, Kimi-san bothered him the most. Why would a woman with too much money spend thousands of dollars renovating a stranger's shrine, why bestow her with gifts, and why take an active interest in her life?

As dinner was served, he continued wondering. Was he being over cautious of Kagome? Had the life he'd lived caused him to see things that simply weren't there? It didn't make sense. Logically, it wasn't entirely out of place for someone of Kimi-san's standing to take someone like Kagome and her family under her wing. For all he knew it could be a hobby of hers, or, perhaps she really did have a soft spot for the legend surrounding the holy temple.

He must have been quiet for a little too long, because when Kimi-san excused herself to use the restroom, Kagome nudged him and asked, "Are you alright? You haven't said a word for at least forty-five minutes."

He nodded as he took a bite. It wasn't until he swallowed that he said, "I have some things on my mind."

"Should we leave early? You're not still tired are you?"

"No." He offered her a small smile to reassure her. "You should know by now I have very little to say most of the time."

"Not true at all," she argued with a snort. "There's always a lot you could say; you just don't always want to.

"What's bothering you?"

"Can I talk about it later?"

She paused to think about that. If it was anyone else should have assumed it was placating tactic. But, she could sense he wasn't lying. Then, it only stood to reason that whatever was on his mind needed to wait until they were alone together. "Yeah."

He nodded and went back to eating and not saying much of anything when the shrine's sponsor returned. And instead of submerging himself into thought once more though, he listened completely as they conversed.

He watched the way Kimi-san reacted to Kagome. And no matter how much he tried to find some kind of flaw, some kind of hidden agenda, some ulterior motive… there was nothing but kindness and honesty in her. Nothing about her body language, facial expressions, or manner of speech indicated she was anything but.

He was wrong, seeing something that wasn't there. Whatever Kimi-san was, she wasn't a danger to Kagome. He was just too jaded to know the difference anymore. Had to be.

A server came in to remove their dishes and refill their cups. It was the last place he expected a threat to encroach. And despite his generally quick reflexes, he couldn't help but hesitate and the sheer stupidity of it all.

As the server gathered the utensils and placed them on the tray she held in one hand, hovering over them in a partial crouch while she reached for others, a knife slipped. He watched in slow motion as it fell, point down, towards Kagome. Maybe he expected her to notice it, not at all thinking that she would have been reaching for her cup of water as the server also bumped the table—not all thinking she was trying to keep it from spilling right into her lap and onto her beautiful furisode.

He couldn't help the way his aura beat once with the thump of his heart as he reached out. However, what took him entirely by surprise was the other youki that briefly expanded once in the room as well—making itself known….known.

Gold met green as Kimi-san's hand brushed his own, as they held the knife mere inches from the top of Kagome's head.

All at once, Kagome let out a breath and the server apologized profusely, bowing and fussing. But all he could see was green—green that shouldn't be green. And they remained that way until she released the knife first.

"It's alright!" Kagome told the waitress, smiling and laughing a little. "No harm done. Don't worry about it. Please."

"Are you sure?" she asked, looking as if she'd just shattered a precious vase from the Ming dynasty.

"Positive. Just bring us a little more sake."

She nodded, bowed a few more times, and then left the room.

"Goodness…" Kagome said. "That was close. So…" And the she noticed, finally, that something wasn't quite right. Kimi-san and Sesshoumaru were standing up. Both of them had this stiffness about them—an intensity without words as they stared at one another across the table. The miko blinked several times and looked at the inuyoukai. And then something else hit her; her eyes widened and she stood up as well.

Rage.

Her fingers grazed the sleeve of his kimono and he flew across the room. Kagome watched, in horror, as he wrapped clawed digits around Kimi-san's neck and shoved her into the solid wall. Briefly, she was thankful they hadn't been sitting on the other side of the table. Otherwise the two of them would have gone through a thin layer mostly paper constructed doors. That thought was brief though.

She let her aura expand, creating a bubble of silence within the room and then shouted, "Sesshoumaru! What are you doing? Have you lost your mind?" She stepped forward.

"Stop," he snapped.

"You're going to kill her," she argued. "What do you mean, stop? You stop. This is crazy."

And then he smirked, eyes red and radiating malice. Kagome could feel it in every fiber of her being. "Tell her," he said as he stared into green eyes, "Tell Kagome," he went on, voice snapping with rage, "do you think I should stop…

"Mother?"

Kagome stilled, cobalt depths immediately shifting from Sesshoumaru to Kimi-san. "What…? How… how do you know?"

But Sesshoumaru didn't answer her. "Do you know the hell you have put me through?" he went on coolly. "Do you know how long I waited? Do comprehend the years you have robbed me of?" with each question his voice grew louder and louder.

Kagome had seen his quiet anger—always stoic, calm, collected. But this… this was something entirely different. There was no stoicism in this, no control. The hate that flooded her heart, making it ache, was unlike anything she had ever felt before. And some part of her was terrified. This… this visceral version of him was terrifying. And yet, she could do nothing but watch, torn between stopping him and doing nothing at all.

"Say something!" he snapped next.

But Kimi-san remained silent.

"I should have trusted my gut," he bit off next. "The family sword, the donation to the shrine…" He laughed, the sound bitter and soaked in grief. "After all these years… nothing?"

Kagome watched as Kimi-san looked away from him, eyes shutting against tears. Why wasn't she fighting him? Why? Kagome watched as his grip tightened further.

"Speak!" he cried, his aura flaring, arcing now.

Kagome stepped forward then and reached for his arm. "Stop it, Sesshoumaru!" she whispered loudly. "Please." But he ignored her. And she knew, in some way, he couldn't hear her anymore. If she let this go on, he was going to kill his own mother. "You're going to kill her!" she said next, trying one more time.

"Good."

She wasn't going to get him off her unless she used her abilities. But, in the state he was in… that could make it worse; he might end up attacking her and... Oh god no…

No.

As his grip became tighter she realized there was no other option, not if the only other one turned the entire city block into war scene. And if she engaged him, forced him off his mother, that's exactly what would happen. She could feel it her bones, in the raw rage and youki and rolled off of him. In that moment, she knew some part of her was breaking as she released him and took a step back.

"Daiyoukai," she whispered… ordered, with a hanging head. "Take your hands off her. Stop."

Today… she told herself once she realized what was breaking was her heart… was supposed to be a good day


AN :: So…. that was a long ass chapter. I felt bad about not having any lemony goodness at the top of the chapter considering the ending of my last chapter. So, I decided to roll with it in the fight and add some. I doubt I'll hear any complaints.

Anyway, this could have been split into two chapters. Buuuuuut… I was really adamant about this ending being at the end of this damn chapter. I needed to next one to be fall a part one. I know a lot of you already suspected Kimi-san. And not to be a barrel of clichés, but I didn't feel like changing my plotz. Also, I suck at know Japanese seasons. When I originally started writing this I figured they were in August. But, then I established it was freezing ass cold. Turns out, spring is cold as balls—for me at least—in Japan. And August is like swealtering... So… I never actually said it was early fall and changed it all up. In case you all are confused, that's why. Blade sucks at knowing other countries weather patterns.

Also, I really didn't want to give Sesshoumaru's mom a surname. It's fake; totally fake. They don't have one. She just has one because modern times and personal documents. Also, I don't give a damn when Kagome's birthday is. Apparently Rumiko sucks as dates, ages, and timelines. So… we fanfic authors just have to make shit up.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the long ass chapter. I worked all day long on it. And if you notice a few errors, please give me a heads up—a quote. It's like, six thirty in the morning here and I did my best to edit. I figured you guys would rather have something to read over me withholding for another day or two because 'the' was spelled 'teh'. Much love~!

Blade