Chapter 8:
As Kagome stood there, staring down at her sleeping son, she couldn't help but notice just how peaceful he looked. His eye lids fluttered slightly in his sleep as he dreamed about something only he could see, his lips were parted slightly; the edges turned up just enough to look like an involuntary smile.
She finally understood why her mother, and so many others, referred to them as angels when they were sleeping; they really were. Watching him like this, she could forget about the crying, the late night feedings and the inability to lull him to sleep. At a moment like this, she didn't have to worry if she would be a good mother or not.
He was fed, warm and dry, and sleeping peacefully; she was off to a good start. Now if only she could find the time to take care of herself; she couldn't remember the last time she had the chance to bath. And if she could smell had bad it was, she really felt sorry for Sesshoumaru and his superior sense of smell.
Setting he son down gently, careful not to wake him, Kagome decided she was way over due for some mommy time and grabbed her bathing supplies before heading out of the room. Informing Inuyasha, who just happened to be the first person she saw, to watch her son, Kagome made her way out without waiting for him to answer.
She knew there was no reason for her to worry, even of Inuyasha couldn't watch him or had to leave before she returned, she knew her son would still be well taken care of. As she was walking toward the hot springs, her mind wrapped up in thoughts of her son and realizing she was already starting to miss the little guy, it took Kagome a full minute to realize she was being followed.
"Sesshoumaru, why are you following me?" Kagome called over her shoulder; not needing to turn around to know who was there. She didn't even need to sense his aura to know it was him, only two people ever followed her and she had instructed the other to watch her son.
"You should not be wandering around by yourself; you are still weak from giving birth and are susceptible to attacks," Sesshoumaru insisted as he stepped up his pace slightly and began walking beside her.
"Sesshoumaru I was susceptible to attacks, as you put it, before I had a child and I am sure I will continue to be even now. You of all people should know by now that trouble seems to follow me around," she told him, laughing a moment later when she realized what she said had a double meaning; he could have been the trouble following her that she was referring to.
Either not catching the joke or deciding to ignore it, Sesshoumaru just continued to walk beside her in silence for a moment. Though he did not openly stare at her, Sesshoumaru was careful not to take his eyes off of her as she got undressed in case anything was stupid enough to attack even with him there.
Once she was submerge in the water, he began undressing himself prompting Kagome to inquire, "What are you doing?" before quickly turning away with a blush as he began to remove his pants. For a few moments he remained silent as he quickly wrapped his hair up and stepped into the hot water.
When he was finally submerged as well, he answered, "I might as well bathe while I am here and there is no need to be shy, Kagome. This is not the first time we have seen each other without our clothing."
"Speak for yourself, Sesshoumaru. I can not see in the dark, remember?" Kagome questioned as she turned around to face him now that he had enough time to cover himself. Noticing his hair, Kagome tilted her head to the side as she studied him. "What's with the hairdo?"
"It would take far too long to dry my hair if it was to get wet," Sesshoumaru explained; ignoring the way her aura spiked slightly with envy. It wasn't hard to figure out it was only about his hair and he was used to it. The few beings he actually allowed to get closed to him had mentioned his hair more than once; especially when it came to Rin. She always had a small amount of jealousy in her aura whenever she was close to his hair.
But right now, Rin was not the human girl he wanted on his mind. The first time he went through this time, he had made sure she was well cared for; she was loved. Even if he couldn't be the one to raise her and provide for her, he knew they would. He knew he had wronged her slightly by not being near her after dropping her off, but even that would be fixed this time around. This time he would be there for her.
So it was not her, but Kagome that he wished to concentrate on. Turning his attention back to her, he found she was already picking up a heavily scented bottle of soap and took it from her before she could pour any out. His nose twitching from the strong smell, Sesshoumaru poured a little into his hand and began rubbing it into her shoulders.
Running his fingers down her back, as he gently rubbed in the suds, he smirked to himself when he felt her shiver beneath his touch. Letting his hand slid down to her lower back, he pulled her closer to him even as he captured her lips with his own. As she moaned into his lips, he slipped his tongue passed hers and deepened the kiss.
Feeling Kagome responding, Sesshoumaru moved to take it further by running his hand down her backside and caressing her inner thigh. The startled squeak that came from her as she jumped back quickly cooled him down. "I do not understand. You agreed to be my mate," Sesshoumaru reminded her confused and a bit hurt by her rejection.
"It's not that I don't want to do what that would have led to, Sesshoumaru, but I can't. I'm still too sore," Kagome explained slightly embarrassed. She knew there was no reason for her to be, it wouldn't have been their first time, but still the thought of sleeping with him made her feel like the inexperienced school girl she used to be.
As her watched her in silence, her earlier words came to mind and it dawned on Sesshoumaru that was what she had meant before. Chuckling softly to himself, he explained, "Before I had thought you did not wish to consummate our mating because there were others in the next room."
"That too," Kagome agreed, her cheeks reddening at the thought of her entire family in the past knowing what she was doing, when she was doing it. "But mainly it is just too soon after giving birth. It will be some time before I will be able to consummate our relationship."
It was only at that moment that Sesshoumaru finally understood exactly what that meant; they would be unable to join as one before his time was up. The him that knows the loneliness of 500 years without her will never know her touch again. After giving himself a few moments to grieve for this knowledge, Sesshoumaru reminded himself that in the end it would not matter.
Once his time was over and he left his younger self's body, history would be changed and he wouldn't remember never being with her again. His new self would have many chances during her lifetime. Unable to hear the thought process going on in his mind during his prolonged silence, Kagome began to worry he was upset with her.
Seeing the look of concern on her face, Sesshoumaru gave her a gentle smile of reassurance. "As long as we do not actually try to consummate our relationship, simply kissing my mate would be alright, would it not?" Sesshoumaru inquired and once she had nodded her head, he pulled her into his lap as he sat down on the edge of the springs and pressed his lips against hers once more.
TV:JTR (Day six)
Just before dawn the next morning, Sesshoumaru rose silently from bed and made his way outside; unknowingly waking Inuyasha as he passed. Not sure what was going on, Inuyasha glanced around to make sure no one else was awake and followed after him. From a little ways back, he watched as Sesshoumaru walked up to the top of the hill overlooking the village and glanced back down at the hut everyone was sleeping in silently.
Confused by his brother's actions, Inuyasha stepped up beside him and waited for him to speak. "This is the original spot," Sesshoumaru informed him, only serving to confuse him further. Not sure how to respond to such a comment, Inuyasha opted instead to just look at him silently with a blank stare.
"The first time my son was born, I stood at this very spot, staring down at the hut while Kagome was in labor. I knew both of you would be aware of my presence and fear for your safety," Sesshoumaru explained and, though he was not surprised to hear this about the other Sesshoumaru, it didn't clear up his confusion any.
"I still do not understand what is going on," he admitted after almost a full minute of silence had passed between them.
"Tomorrow will be my last day here. Before dawn of the eighth day, my younger self will be back in this body and I am not sure how he will react. I know he will not hurt them, I made double sure that I would not make the same mistakes again. We our mating ritual already initiated, he will have to complete it."
Upon seeing Inuyasha's disapproving expression, he quickly assured, "It was not the only reason why I mated her; not even one of the main ones. I simply wish it was me that she would be spending her life with, instead of my younger, prideful self."
"Is there any way for you to be the one to stay in your body? I'd rather it be you too instead of your younger self. No offense, but you were a bastard," Inuyasha insisted, shrugging at his brother's slight glare.
"Sadly, no. I was only given a week and my time is almost up. I wish I could be here to explain it to my younger self, but two of the same person can not exist at the same time. I'm sure I would take things easier if I was able to explain them to myself; if that makes sense."
"Why don't you write everything down that you want yourself to know. It would be in your own handwriting so he will know it is from you," Inuyasha suggested, a bit confused why his brother didn't already think of such a thing. It was the most logical way to keep his 'other' brother calm; or at least calmer than he would normally be.
"Like the book she wrote me," Sesshoumaru whispered to himself, wondering too why he did not think of such a thing himself. Seeing the confused expression Inuyasha was giving him once more, he explained, "The day Kagome died, she gave me a book she had written about her and my son's lives.
"Some of her last words to me were to tell me to read it. I eventually did after a couple centuries, but it did not make any difference. I was just to stubborn."
"Sounds about right," Inuyasha agreed, ignoring the glare his brother sent him. "But it would be a good idea. Write your younger self and explain what has happened. And anything that will happen you wish him to know; like when Kagome will die. Not so that he could try to stop anything, just so he will be prepared. Something that would make him have to deal with his emotions, would be better coming direct from himself."
