A/N: Ok I'm very sorry for being a couple days late but I spent the last two nights watching meteors and not writing so I'm very sorry and it won't happen again. Please read and review.

Disclaimer: Nope! Still don't own anything.

Ch. 9 Realization

Kagome held onto Sesshomaru's arm as they flew through the air on his youkai cloud. She periodically looked down to see the land far below then but she would straighten back up quickly after looking.

'Why doesn't he travel with his orb? Wouldn't it be faster?'

"Sesshomaru-sama?"

"Yes?"

"Why are we traveling this way?"

"We are trying to find your ally Koga of the wolves."

"No I mean on your…um…cloud?" She said pointing down.

He looked at his feet then to her, "I can use my senses better this way and it still is faster than walking."

"Oh." She looked off the side again before shooting upright once again.

"Why do you look if it scares you to see?"

"I'm not afraid of heights."

"As you shouldn't be, but yet you become ridged after looking down which suggests you are afraid of falling."

"Well I am. Clouds aren't supposed to be stable to stand on them like this."

"So you afraid that I would let you fall?"

Kagome thought a second and realized that he would catch her if that did happen, "No I am not."

"Then don't be afraid, it is affecting my ability to smell the wolf and his pack."

Kagome nodded and decided she would stop looking over the edge.

"Sesshomaru–sama, I am correct in assuming you would not let me fall?"

"Yes, you have yet to let me fall so why would I allow you to do so?"

Kagome smiled, "Thank you."

He nodded and with the motion caught the scent of the wolf tribe. "They are over in those mountains."

"You found him?"

"I believe so. Now we shall travel faster."

He then made the blue orb surround them like the last time and soon they were traveling through the mountains. When they stopped Sesshomaru stood protectively in front of Kagome just in case he was wrong as a few wolves and demons approached.

Koga, Ginta, Hakkaku and their wolves soon came around the corner. Hakkaku and Ginta once seeing Kagome were about to approach her and welcome her back when Koga stopped them.

"Why do you have Kagome? Where is Inuyasha?"

"She is in my services now and the hanyou is as he always was."

Koga then looked at Kagome, "So you're with him now?"

"I am helping him with what has befallen his lands."

Koga was interested, "What happened?"

"Surely since your tribe occupies the south you are aware of the attack?"

"No I am not aware of anything probably because what happens in the west is of no consequence to us since we are just a tribe here. That snake who thinks he is our lord might know something though."

"Yes, he might."

Kagome then walked from behind Sesshomaru and to Koga's side, "So how have things been for you and the tribe? Has Naraku attacked you recently?"

Koga smiled, "No we have been doing real well and haven't seen him or that wind witch lately."

"I am glad to hear that."

"So what has happened exactly and how are you helping him?"

"He was attacked by the Southern lord and Naraku and they have taken his lands. I have helped by offering my miko powers to assist in battle as well as in healing."

Koga nodded, "So you're here to ask for help?"

Kagome nodded worried that he might actually say no.

Koga then smiled, "Well of course I would help my woman! And I'm sure the tribe would assist us."

Kagome smiled and hugged him, "Thank you Koga!"

He was a bit surprised but accepted the hug wrapping his own arms around her, "Anything for you."

They then parted and Kagome turned to Sesshomaru, "Well we have more allies now. Should we go back to the Eastern lands tonight?"

But Koga interrupted looking at Sesshomaru, "You are both welcome of course to stay with us for the night instead. It would be better for Kagome since she is still human after all."

Kagome smiled and looked from the two men.

Sesshomaru agreed with Koga's reasoning, "That would be best."

Kagome then turned to walk along side Koga as Ginta and Hakkaku talked about everything that had happened since the last time she saw them.

Sesshomaru couldn't help but feel annoyed as Kagome walked so close to Koga and seemed much more open and relaxed with him than she had been since she had joined him.

It wasn't long until they reached the caves and Koga stopped as Hakkaku and Ginta entered.

"Is there anything that either of you want or need before I show you to where you may sleep? We have plenty of food and water to spare."

Kagome shook her head," Thank you Koga but I have eaten I'm just tired and cold now."

She turned to Sesshomaru to see if he had any needs as did Koga rather reluctantly.

He merely shook his head, "I do not need anything."

Koga then continued into the caves, "Well I think the best and warmest place for you to sleep would be my bed since I have thicker furs and more."

Kagome blushed, "But what about you Koga?"

He smiled, "Don't worry I'm not planning on sleeping with you Kagome I have more honor than that, but I will be nearby if you need anything."

Sesshomaru inwardly growled at the idea of the wolf sleeping next to Kagome but then taken aback wondered why he suddenly felt this way about the miko.

Kagome nodded and Koga then turned to Sesshomaru, "There are extra furs along the wall behind you if you need any and you can basically sleep anywhere there is room."

Sesshomaru looked around quickly deciding that staying in the cave was not an option.

Koga didn't wait for him to choose though as he lead Kagome away toward the back of the cave.

Kagome looked around as she carefully walked with Koga deeper into the cave past members of his tribe.

"Do you think he will be ok?"

"Who? Sesshomaru? Ya the guys a dog demon lord, he'll be fine."

Kagome nodded as she continued to follow Koga around a corner. Once around she found that it was more of an alcove and must be where Koga slept.

"Here you go, if you need anything I'll be near your feet."

Kagome nodded climbing onto the furs and wrapping herself up. "Thank you for everything Koga."

"Like I said no problem Kagome, I would do anything for my woman. Do you need any more furs?"

"No this is fine thank you. Well good night Koga." She said lying down.

"Good night Kagome." He said as he sat down watching over her.

~*~*~*~

Sesshomaru walked out of the cave into the cold evening air, 'Why do I have these feeling all of a sudden for a human?'

He then growled remembering what Arisugawa said earlier that afternoon.

'This is his fault again, if it were not for what he said I would not be thinking this way nor having these idiotic ideas.'

As he continued to walk an image of Kagome curled up and clinging to Koga as she did with him the one time he was forced to sleep with her popped into his head gaining another growl before he stopped himself.

'Why should it matter to me if she sleeps with him? It is of no consequence to me.'

Thoughts of her radiant smile then filled his head and he started to wish she would smile like that for him and that she would be as open and caring towards him.

He shook himself of the creeping thoughts of her.

'What am I thinking? It is preposterous that I could ever feel these emotions for a woman especially one who is human, a miko, and was once my half brothers wench.'

Arisugawa's words about him not being able to not fall in love and that it could not be helped who the person was started to ring through his head.

'These feelings…are they just a delusion made from what he said or could I feel this way for her? Could this be lust and not love since she has been so close to me recently? Or can it be love?'

He considered it for a moment before interrupting his own thoughts.

'No! I, Lord Sesshomaru of the west, do not believe in love and refuse that I could fall to such a pathetic emotion! These feelings are an illusion created by the words of that damned cat.'

He then pictured her that morning quietly content and asleep in his arms, 'Are these emotions… no… but… perhaps I can feel these things.'

He then walked up the mountains side towards the top as he continued to think about whether he truly felt that way for Kagome and if she could feel the same.

'It is not possible that even if I have feeling for her that she would return them with that wolf around and the memory of Inuyasha still fresh.'

He remembered how she first acted towards his brother when she first left in comparison to earlier and figured that she wasn't too affected by him.

Then he remembered her blush for the wolf and figured that he was the bigger problem if he were to pursue the girl. Then with that thought he could feel his inner beasts want of the pursuit for her and to defeat the other male.

He reached the top of the mountain and looked around into the sky. The moon was a crescent like his family's symbol yet slightly covered with clouds as the stars shone brightly all around. Together they illuminated the night sky and made it seem peaceful.

'But this battle… I cannot allow these emotions, not until I am sure that there is not a chance of losing her. If I allow these feelings now it will only make her more of a target and vulnerability for me interfering with my choices. My enemies must be eliminated if I am to have the comfort of these feelings.'

With that decided he looked off into the distance considering what lay in the future for both his lands and himself.

~*~*~*~

The next morning Kagome was awoken by a gentle nudge at her side. She slowly started to awaken as she remembered where she was. She then opened her eyes to see no one and sat up immediately finding the source of the nudging. She patted the wolf cub that was curled up next to her on the head as she rose out of bed. Looking around she realized it was already morning and so she started to walk out of the cave.

"Good morning Kagome. We found a rabbit this morning so we cooked it since you don't eat raw meat. We hope you like it." Ginta said running over to her as she exited the cave.

Hakkaku was at the fire turning the hare on a spit when he noticed her and smiled waving good morning.

"Where is Koga?"

"Oh the boss went with the others at dawn to show them the way to the eastern lands castle." Ginta answered.

"Oh."

"Ya, he should be back soon for us. He didn't want to wake you."

Kagome nodded, "Where is Sesshomaru-sama?"

"We haven't seen him since last night." ,Hakkaku answered as her took the hare away from the fire, "Your food is done."

Kagome sat and he handed her the spit so she could peel off some of the meat, "So you don't know then?"

"Nope."

"Hmm… I wonder where he could have gone then."

"Eh he's a dog demon he probably needed a walk." Hakkaku said with a shrug and Ginta started to laugh.

Kagome shrugged it off and ate her meal not realizing just how hungry she was. Ginta and Hakkaku then went into the cave probably to get the remaining furs she figured as she took another bite.

Then she felt a demonic presence approaching but upon further inspection it was Sesshomaru she sensed and that made her happy. When he first landed in the clearing he didn't say anything as she sat there but after a moment he looked her way and sniffed.

"Your scent is laced with the wolfs, I thought you did not sleep with men?"

"I didn't sleep with him, I slept in his bed."

"Of course."

"Where were you?"

"I went to tell Lord Arisugawa of their arrival."

"Oh. So are we going now?"

"Yes once you are done, your kit is there now they arrived before I left."

Kagome perked up at the mention of Shippo and she finished her rabbit before standing and saying she was ready.

Sesshomaru was about to pick her up and orb back to the Eastern castle when Koga showed up.

"Hey! I can take my own woman there!"

"I also can take her there, it does not matter."

"Well ask her then if she wants to go with me or you."

The two men then looked at Kagome and she stopped, "Well it doesn't matter I just wanted to get there soon to be back with Shippo."

"Then I'll take you."Koga said walking over to Sesshomaru to take her from him.

Sesshomaru just let her go and the wolf demon picked her up and held her securely in his arms before taking off. Sesshomaru watched them disappear then and realized that he did possibly love the girl and then he realized just how much of an inconvenience this would present.

~*~*~*~

Jaken approached the one who would give him his answers and bowed low to the ground, "Oh mighty lord I ask of you how a mortal human miko can become immortal?"

After minutes of silence a voice filled the area, "It is possible but it will take time to verify that the method will work."

"Thank you oh wise one, this may save the lives of my king and the lady."

~*~*~*~

A/N: Thank you all and I am sorry, please review!