The warmth of the dawn light gently woke Seshsomaru up. With a sigh, he rose from bed and proceeded to dress himself. His shoulder was very sore, he noticed. He tied his yukata with one hand leaving his left sleeve loose. He would need Rin's help with the rest of it. Shrugging his outer layers on, he made his way down the hall to her room. He nodded to the servants that bustled around in the early morning. They bowed respectfully in return.

Sesshomaru had sent his best general to do the routine patrol in his absence. Rin was safe, and there were no follow-up threats against him. Things were orderly, just the way he liked it.

Arriving at the end of the hall, four guards at the door stepped aside to let him through. Inside there was another set of two.

"Sesshomaru-sama!" Rin greeted him. "Ohayou gozaimasu!" and promptly gave his right side a hug. She had grown so much lately, her height now reaching his elbow.

"Ohayou." Sesshomaru replied.

"Don't hug him so hard, Rin! G-good morning, m'lord!" Jaken bowed deeply.

Rin gave Jaken a look and rolled her eyes. She started tying Sesshomaru's numerous obi sashes and made it look pretty.

"What is the report today, Jaken?" Sesshomaru stood patiently as Rin finished the elaborate knots.

"There have been some attacks on the most Eastern borders...mostly to human villages though." Jaken fumbled with the small scrolls. "Also someone from the Yoro clan is here to see you."

Sesshomaru looked down at his ward. He would have to occupy her during that meeting.

"Very well." he said. Turning to Rin, "Do not leave this room until I return. I will have breakfast brought to you."

Rin perked up at the thought of breakfast in bed. "Hai, Sesshomaru-sama!"

"Jaken." he commanded, and turned towards the door. His assistant scrambled after him.

"Ah, Sesshomaru-sama!" Jaken added as they walked down to the formal tea room. "The Yoro clan member also brought a guest, so I'm told."

Sesshomaru seemingly ignored the last comment. He would find out who they were in a moment. "Bring them in once tea is ready." He entered the room through the back door, leaving Jaken outside.

"Yes, m'lord!" Jaken went to the nearest servant and ordered them to get the proper tea, and also breakfast for Rin.

The tatami-lined room was decorated with the finest red cedar pillars and beams. He made himself comfortable on a cushion across from the main guest doors. He felt the familiarity of the guests' auras, and patiently waited. The one side of the room was open to the gardens. It was a nice day, he pondered. He hoped this would not take long. Rin would probably want a stroll outside. He noted that the security throughout the halls was doubled, as requested.

His thoughts were interrupted when Jaken peeked his head through the door. "Tea is here, m'lord."

"Send them in." he stated. He watched as the doors opened to reveal Koga, head of the newly allianced Yoro clan, and Lord of the East. They bowed to each other in the way of equals. The door promptly shut behind Koga.

"I was told you had a guest." Sesshomaru politely said.

"Ah, yes." Koga said, "She's waiting outside." he settled himself on an opposite cushion and tried not to stare at Sesshomaru's obvious missing arm. Hadn't he recovered it?

Sesshomaru nodded to the servant as she entered the room and served them tea. Koga thanked her as he received a cup. After she exited the room, Sesshomaru set up a barrier with his youkai so no ears would listen to their conversation.

"What news from the north, Koga?" Sesshomaru sipped at his tea.

"The Golden Inu send their regards." Koga recalled.

"Hn." Sesshomaru put his cup down. They hardly send any good will.

"General Ishikari is demanding that you take a mate, Sesshomaru. They question your authority." Koga growled, disgusted, "One of the his daughters will be sent over as your bride within a month's time."

Sesshomaru could hardly conceal his distaste. The General of the Golden Inu was notorious for overstepping boundaries. "Tell them I will find my own mate. That girl will be dead if they dare send her."

"With pleasure." Koga agreed.

"Is that all?" Sesshomaru asked.

"From the north, yes." Koga hesitated, "I have a favour to ask."

"Speak." Sesshomaru gave a nod.

"My guest is here to seek refuge under your care. She believes she is the reason behind the attacks on the Eastern human villages. They seem to be searching for something they think she has." Koga tried to explain formally.

"Who is she?" Sesshomaru wondered why the girl's aura felt so familiar.

"Kagome, the Shikon Miko who travelled with Inuyasha." Koga said. "He recently took Kikyo as his mate."

Sesshomaru resisted the urge to scoff. Of course his brother would.

"Send her in. I wish to speak with her alone." Sesshomaru saw Koga refuse to get up. "Unless there is something else."

Koga tried to word this as delicately as he could, "She's...changed quickly since the attack. Even just from yesterday. She's not sure what happened."

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes, unsure of the implications. "I give no promises."

Koga nodded and bowed before getting up. At the door, he barely had a chance to say anything to Kagome before she was ushered in.

Confused, she stepped into the room and immediately felt Sesshomaru's youkai envelop around her. She gave a low bow and settled on the cushion across from the Daiyoukai. They were alone in the room.

"Miko." he greeted. He hadn't seen her since Naraku was killed some years ago.

"Sesshomaru-sama." Kagome returned. She sat across from him and watched as he played host and poured her tea with his right hand. He saw her glance at his left shoulder.

"An accident yesterday." he stated blandly.

She flushed, "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to be rude." She trained her eyes on the cup of tea being handed to her. The maroon stripes were such contrast on his pale wrist.

"Hn." Sesshomaru said. He discreetly sampled her scent. Koga was right, she had changed. She didn't smell like the usual lavender and vanilla that he remembered and liked. It was laced with another smell; distinctly youkai, and incredibly alluring.

He suddenly recognized what it was, "Where is your husband, Miko?"

"I have no husband." she said, confused.

He sternly rephrased the question, "Where is the father of your pups?" Any youkai leaving his mate was shameful and cowardly. It did not matter what race they were. The scent of a newly impregnated female called to all other males to challenge them to do better - to be the alpha male.

"My pups...?" Kagome was shocked.

Sesshomaru watched as she tried to make sense of it, "Koga mentioned you were under attack. What can you tell me?"

Kagome pieced together words, "It was about a month ago..." she hadn't had her period since then, she thought. "We were attacked in the middle of the night."

He listened carefully as she told her story.

"Inuyasha said they were fire salamander youkai." her voice wavered, "The one that attacked me was looking for the Shikon no Tama. It almost felt like Naraku."

She looked down at her hands and said quietly. "I killed it before passing out. Sango told me there was a lot of blood."

"What were your injuries?" Sesshomaru asked.

Kagome began to list, "Broken arm, a lot of bruises...one of its claws was embedded here." she folded her hands over her stomach and thought aloud, "I guess that would explain it." She thought back to the old priest's sister at the salamander shrine. She said the fertility festival was about a month ago...right? Kami, would they be hanyou?

"Yet you are fully healed." he broke her train of thought.

"Kaede-sama started to teach me reiki healing, but Koga was saying that it shouldn't be this fast." Kagome fidgeted as she recalled last night. What would be the best way to explain this? "Can I show you something?"

Sesshomaru nodded and watched as she reached into her obi to take out a small handkerchief. Cupping it to the back of her hand, she offered her palm to him. "I need you to cut me." She didn't want to make a mess on the tatami mats with her blood.

He gave her a sharp glance. She stared back into his eyes. "Just do it, before I back out."

Reaching over, he took a claw and sliced deeply across her hand. She winced and used the cloth to catch the blood. Suddenly the sharp pain was back in her abdomen. She gasped and felt that aura again. The pain was stronger than it was before.

She began to tell him, "I was attacked by a boar youkai last night, and my leg healed in a few minutes. But the pain..." she bent over slightly to recover, "It felt like Naraku was close by. Koga said my blood didn't taste human."

They both watched as the blood stopped flowing. Dabbing most of it, Kagome was surprised when Sesshomaru took her hand and examined it.

Remarkable, he pondered. Salamanders were known for their regeneration of lost limbs. Perhaps she was the answer to his problem. Without thinking he started cleaning the non-existent wound by licking it. At first taste, he realized his mistake. He was an unmated male, tasting the blood of a newly pregnant woman. His body reacted.

Kagome watched as he promptly let go of her hand and tried to blink away his reaction. She thought she saw red seep into his eyes.

"Sesshomaru-sama?" Kagome breathed concern, finally rid of the pain in her stomach.

"I will let you stay. On one condition." he stated, "You will help restore my arm."

"Only if you protect me." Kagome countered. "They could be Naraku's spawns, for all I know."

"Agreed." Sesshomaru finalized. This would be a challenge.