Chapter Nine

Family

Kagome woke up the next morning and smiled contently at the scene that greeted her: Shippo still asleep, nestled snugly into her warm chest and Rin with one hand resting on his little side as she too slept. The embarrassing events of yesterday didn't seem as foreboding at the moment; Kagome instead felt fulfilled. She could finally see herself happy here. With these two, they made a sort of family. She could picture herself and Rin raising Shippo as if he were their own son. A smile touched her lips.

Kagome stroked his baby-fine, red ponytail and decided she really would like it very much if Shippo would be her son. Inside, she was always felt a longing for a child. Some motherly instinct seemed to strongly reside within her. The thought was calming, to think this was her family now. As her eyes drooped a little, in preparation to fall back asleep, a loud knock startled the threesome. Kagome sat up in bed, Shippo squeaked and Rin rolled over lazily and yawned loudly.

"Come in." Rin called over her shoulder.

Kohana stepped in and bowed. "My lady and Mistress are wanted for an audience."

Rin sat up and took Shippo in her lap; cuddling him fondly. "Very well, send in the ladies in waiting, please."

"What audience? It is still so early." Kagome asked Rin after Kohana left.

"Lord Sesshomaru had the immediate arrival of a priestess in response to yesterday's... incident." Rin worded carefully.

"Oh." Kagome sat up in bed as well, gnawing at her bottom lip.

"Hey, what's with the long face? He isn't sending you away." Rin spoke Kagome's fears.

"How do you know that? I don't know why he would keep me."

Shippo crawled into Kagome's lap and smiled up at her. "I am happy you used your powers."

Kagome and Rin smiled at the charmingly cute kit.

"For one thing, Lord Sesshomaru knows I wouldn't forgive him if he ever sent you away." When Kagome didn't say anything Rin continued, "He brought in a priestess; that's a good sign."

Kagome looked at Rin. "Why do you think that?"

"I just do." Her lady put a hand on her shoulder and smiled encouragingly.

Something didn't feel right to Kagome. Maybe it was the eerie silence on the walk to the conference, or the solemn faces of the passing servants, she wasn't sure. The feeling was sinister though and she tried to shake it off. She hugged Shippo closer to her chest, he didn't seem to sense her unease.

Kohana reached the double doors and quite suddenly whirled around.

"Kohana?" Rin asked surprised.

The little flower demon flung herself on the floor. "Please forgive this horrid slave! But please listen! This priestess isn't right! Do not trust her! Mistress please don't see her!" She bowed, knocking her head to the floor.

Kagome watched to see what Rin did; her lady seemed a little tense in her reaction.

"We must make our appearance now, Kohana. We do not want Lord Sesshomaru to become cross." Rin said gently.

Kohana bowed once more and opened the shoji. Rin walked in front of Kagome, who followed hesitatingly. Rin made her way across the empty room and gracefully took a seat on the cushion slightly behind and to the right of Sesshomaru's. Kagome sat on the one next to Rin's. Inuyasha sat next to Sesshomaru. In front of them was a single cushion for the visitor. Shippo squirmed in Kagome's lap; she silently hugged him.

Everyone was sitting in prefect silence. Almost as quietly, a figure glided noiselessly into the room and to the awaiting cushion.

Kagome saw Inuyasha's body tense; she peered over his shoulder. Her eyes grew round and Shippo gasped. Kagome turned to Rin, who much like Inuyasha was tense. Rin's face however, looked hard and angry instead of confused.

The visitor bowed. "I am priestess Kikyou." Her voice was cool, lifeless even.

The conference was uneventful and short. Sesshomaru went over details for a training program and discussed Kikyou's room and board arrangement. Not once during the entire meeting did Kikyou look at Kagome. Nor were they ever formally introduced. There was something about the stoic woman that chilled Kagome's blood.

"She looks a lot like you." Shippo commented after they left the room. "She doesn't smell as nice though."

Kagome didn't answer immediately but chewed her lower lip. "She seems very composed and professional."

"Yeah, she does." Rin agreed, her tone only thinly concealing her anger.

Kagome set Shippo down in the grass. He ran ahead to chase some butterflies in the inner palace garden.

Rin turned to Kagome. "Lord Sesshomaru wouldn't ever put us in danger."

Kagome nodded in silent agreement. It seemed to her that Rin said those words more for herself than for Kagome's benefit. They were quiet for a long time.

"Oh! I forgot to tell you!" Rin faced her again, a sly smile replacing her earlier grimace. "I know where to find Sango!"

Kagome smiled, happy for a distraction. "Where?"

Rin giggled sweetly. "She works in the defense department here. She is posted at the Southern Gate. Come on, let's go see her!"

The newly arrived priestess walked deep into the wooden forest just inside the Western Domain's gates. She was quiet, but completely aware of the red-clad body that was stealthily stalking her overhead in the coverage of the shadows.

Kikyou stopped suddenly and fell to her knees dropping her bow so she could cup her head in a futile attempt to block out a searing, hot pain. A smooth voice in her head was demanding her obedience. She tried to fight against it. The harder she tried the worse the pain got.

'Obey, Kikyou. Obey and all the pain will cease.'

She groaned. 'I will not!'

'You will…'

Just as suddenly as the pain appeared it was gone. She released her head and reached for her fallen bow. Kikyou's hand trembled as she took a firm grip of it. As she started to stand she felt overwhelmingly dizzy. She steadied herself by leaning on her bow.

'I am safe from him here. I should be able to block him out better. I have to. I will not do his bidding. No one controls me…'

She took a tentative step forward. Lightheaded, she began falling forward. Kikyou felt even too weak to prepare for the impact. She just closed her eyes. However, impact never came, instead she was eased to a kneeling position by a pair of secure hands supporting her by her upper arms.

Kikyou looked up into the face of her stalker. His cheeks were sprinkled with a modest blush; his eyes betrayed him, they held concern.

"Thank you." Her cold, emotionless voice said to the young master.

"Keh." He held out his hand and offered to help her up.

She looked at it for a brief moment. 'I can't allow my old feelings to resurface. It would get in the way of my mission. I should keep my distance from him.'

In the end, Kikyou couldn't help herself from accepting his aid though. Suddenly, she became aware of how late it was becoming; the sun was already ascending behind the palace. Inuyasha seemed to realize the same thing.

"Come on, I'll show you to your quarters. It's not much or even a shrine really, but Sesshomaru is having it worked on."

She nodded and bowed. "I appreciate it; thank you."

They walked in silence the rest of the way; Inuyasha occasionally sending her sideways glances.

'She looks so much like Kagome…'

"Here we are! The Southern Gates! Somewhere around here we will find Sango..." Rin looked about her as Kagome did the same.

Shippo jumped to Rin's shoulder and sniffed the air. He made a disgusted face.

"Ew, I smell something musty." He waved his hand in front of his nose.

Rin put him back on the ground in front of her. "Shippo! What a thing to say!" She mildly scolded.

Kagome gasped and pointed, gaining Rin's attention. There, a few yards from them, was Sango. However, she was not alone. In fact, she was pinned to a tree by a man in purple monk robes. Rin immediately covered Shippo's eyes.

As Sango was on patrol at the Southern Gates, she moved her giant battle weapon to a more comfortable spot on her back. It had been another long morning and her mind was occupied with a lot of different things. She hadn't made it over to see Kagome yet and she was still mad at Miroku for his womanizing back at the Eastern Domain.

She sighed as her patrol route hit the edge of a bunch of trees. It was already getting dark but that damn sun was still very brutal. Her skin-tight body armor wasn't helping her agitation either. Sango was thinking how nice a bath would be when she head someone calling her name.

Sango turned around to see the man she had constantly thought of since her return back to the Western Domain. He smiled and waved his golden monk's staff. He approached her like a lion to his prey. Her heart raced and immediately she put up a strong front.

"Houshi." She greeted him formally when he was within hearing distance.

The young man sighed and with his free hand, ran it through his brown bangs. "Sango, my butterfly, I know 'Houshi' can only mean one thing." He gently put his hand on her shoulder.

Sango turned her gaze away. Miroku had hoped after their last passionate encounter that she would have forgiven him. By the way she was playing this game now, he knew he was long from forgiven. She hadn't called him Houshi for many, many years.

"It's been pretty boring here without you, Sango. I've missed you terribly." He said trying to angle his face in front of hers.

Sango felt his hot breath on her cheek and felt his hand slid up to rest just behind her neck, urging her to look at him.

'What's wrong with me? Why all of a sudden have I lost my confidence in myself? Why is it that when I'm so mad at him, he can lower my defenses so easily?'

She allowed her face to turn his way. "Thank you; it is very kind of you to think of me."

'Why have I lost all resolve to push him away? Instead of feeding him my fist, I am only feeding into his desires. I want to know that he really has been faithful these long years apart. Right?' Her thoughts helped harden her flimsy resolve.

"Did you even think of me? I was gone almost 6 years. I only saw you a handful of times... we only... a couple of times..." She ventured bravely.

She held the straps of her boomerang tightly to her heaving chest. She couldn't breathe; he was too close. Just the intimacy in his voice and eyes was enough to make her mind foggy. Curse being in love. Her knees felt weak. If he didn't answer soon she was going to clubber him and then run away.

"I-I... I missed you so much. I am still so scared." Sango began as Miroku took her strap out of her hands and lifted it over her head, letting her weapon fall to the grass with his staff. His hands traveled to her hips. She kept her hands close to her chest. "Houshi." She added in an attempt to remind him of her hesitance.

Sango physically felt Miroku flinch this time when she called him that.

"How can you ask me these things? Sango, we are husband and wife. I have loved you unconditionally for centuries. Nothing will change that. I'm hurt deeply that you would ever suspect me of being unfaithful to you. Come back to me, my love. You haven't come home once in the week since your arrival. You are convincing yourself the worst. It has to stop, Sango. I love you and always will."

She sighed, there was genuine truth in his words; she closed her eyes, her hands went to his shoulders for extra support for what was sure to ensue. "I love you so much, Miroku. I'm so sorry to have doubted you."

He smiled sweetly as he backed her up against a tree. "Just never doubt me again, my love. That is all I ask." His body pressed against hers, keeping her in place.

It still amazed her how tone his body was under all those robes. His lazy and airy demeanor was all a lie. Miroku was actually quite deadly.

Miroku trailed lingering kisses up her neck and along her chin, making his way to an ear. "I missed you more than just a little, Slayer." He pointedly called her by her position.

Sango pushed herself against him. "No, its Sango." Her hands tugged at his neck.

He continued his torture; his moist tongue escaped his lips to traced her ear. Miroku's hips began to move into hers on his own. Sango's head fell back, a smile on her face and an encouraging moan slipped from her.

One hand went between her and the tree, resting on her tone rear. Centuries ago, that action would have caused a violent outburst from her but as she already discovered, all her resolve was gone.

"Tell me, Slayer. Will you ever doubt me again?" He was kissing her neck again, all this torturing her was beginning to torture him.

"No, never. Call me. Sango." She breathed brokenly into his kisses. "Please, Miroku."

Finally his lips left her neck and sought the attention of her mouth. His kiss made her lips tingle and instinctively she parted for him. In a smooth pattern, his mouth would come and go, his tongue just barely teasing hers in each sweet descend.

"Things are looking pretty.. uh intimate... shouldn't we leave Rin?" Kagome looked over at Rin.

"If you think we should. We did walk all the way over here to see her..." Rin smiled, still watching Sango unabashedly.

"Rin! See her yes! Not watch her with a man!" Kagome blushed.

Shippo broke away and what he saw made his innocent eyes go wide. "What is that man doing to that girl? He is going to chew her neck off if he doesn't stop!"

The girls flushed and decided to leave immediately before Shippo was exposed to anything else. However, before they could successfully retreat they head a loud cry.

They had been found.

The man looked back at what had intruded on them and he sighed. Sango grabbed her weapon and dashed toward them bright red in the face.

"Uh, hi Sango." Kagome said feeling her own mortification at being caught spying.

Sango bowed clumsily to the two ladies. "How are you?" Her voice was breathless and low when she spoke to Kagome.

"I'm good. You?"

"Good, thanks." Sango murmured a little quietly. After an awkward pause, she added, "You like the palace?"

"Yeah-"

Shippo jumped into Kagome's arms. "He didn't hurt you, did he? You have red marks on your neck where he bit-" Kagome clamped his mouth shut with her hand.

"Sango, how about we bathe together tonight? We can catch up then. It is late and we must be going now." Rin interjected.

Sango bowed thankfully. "Yes, a bath would be nice."

The demon-slayer watched as her lady and mistress headed back to the palace. She glanced over her shoulder and saw that Miroku was still there, leaning against the trunk of the tree where we assaulted her.

She scrunched her eyebrows and sighed. There really was no point in denying herself of Miroku any longer. They were married and he had vowed fidelity for the rest of eternity. She supposed old habits died hard and that was why her insecurities still lingered and why he couldn't stop smooth-talking other women.

When she remained eyeing him lost in thought, he sauntered over to her.

"You look defeated, love." His violet eyes traced her face with concern and hesitance but he made no move to touch her.

"I feel defeated. I feel so powerless, with you, with Kagome." She met his beautiful eyes.

"I can not say I am not happy to hear you are powerless against me…" He smirked roguishly and Sango rolled her eyes. "But I am sad to hear you feel powerless with Kagome." He held out his hand covered in purple cloth and prayer beads; Sango accepted it and they started heading into the palace as well.

"Kikyou arrived today." She answered after a moment.

"I know. I am in charge of settling her in. She hasn't changed at all these 200 years."

"I hope Sesshomaru knows what he is doing-"

Miroku stopped walking abruptly, cutting her off. "Sango, he knows what he is doing. Do you not remember last time? Kikyou is on our side." He reminded her gently.

She turned away and searched the faraway landscapes around the palace. "I wouldn't say she was completely loyal to us last time."

"She was, Sango. It was Naraku who suffered her disloyalty."

Her anger was rising and she wasn't sure she could contain it. "She was loyal only to herself! She wanted to see Kagome suffer. All those times she came between Inuyasha and Kagome!"

Miroku's hands gently turned her face toward him. "Maybe you are right, my love. Maybe she wasn't loyal to us…" Sango's eyes snapped up. "But she was loyal to Inuyasha. Therefore, she was loyal to our cause. Nothing has changed."

"Except that she has been held prisoner by Naraku for the better part of 200 years." Sango reminded him. "Who knows what kind of brain washing he has done to her."

"But you are forgetting one very important thing. Affections are not changed by the passing of time. She loved Inuyasha once, she will love him always."

Bitterness crept into Sango's eyes. "Then she was only sabotage Inuyasha and Kagome again. I won't see Kagome hurt and pine over him again. She doesn't have a home to escape to this time if he hurts her by being with Kikyou."

Miroku pressed a kiss very softly against Sango's forehead. "I will not allow her to hurt Kagome either. This time however, Kikyou knows she is not to interfere if she truly wants to be rid of Naraku once and for all."

The demon-slayer closed her watery brown eyes in an attempt to collect herself. After a moment, Miroku released her face and found her hand once more leading her to their chamber.

"Think of only the good Kikyou will do for Kagome, not the bad. She will train her so she will not be as inexperienced this time. Her powers will be more refined and that will help protect her. Besides, Kikyou will serve as a catalyze for Kagome and Inuyasha's relationship. The sooner they come together the sooner Inuyasha's full potential will be realized."

Defeated once more, Sango nodded and remained silent the rest of the way to her rooms.

Naraku woke with a scowl. 'Such impudence. I now know what I must do.' He threw back the covers and roughly pushed off the whore he had hired last night. She hissed in pain as her frail and beaten body was shoved off the futon.

"Naraku-sama, come back to bed." The whore tried to entice, regardless of the abuse she had already taken.

He snickered in disgust. "I am finished with you." His body shrugged into a black robe.

As he left the room, a horde of demons entered from the side room. Naraku smiled as the whore screamed in cold blood.

'I should have taken care of this long ago.' His mind going back to that wench of a princess. 'If not for this damn human heart, I would have had the jewel long ago.' His thick footsteps could be heard descending down the hall. 'One more year…'

The three ladies plus one fox demon, all lowered their bodies into the heavenly waters of the hot springs. Each, in unison, sighed in contentment. Kagome cupped her hand in the water and poured its warmth over Shippo's head. He shrieked and swam into the safety of Rin's chest. They all laughed.

"Sango, you never told me how you got your job here." Kagome smiled sinking lower. "And you never told me you knew Rin!" She accused teasingly.

Sango shot a look at Rin; Kagome wasn't sure its meaning. Rin smiled slyly at Sango and then laughed.

"I spilled the beans, sorry Sango. I told her about our childhood together and how much I'm indebted to you." Rin filled Sango in.

Sango nodded slowly and then smiled. "I see. Yeah, I owe this job to Rin actually. She thought it was more fitting for me. She knows me pretty well. I miss being a slayer."

Kagome bit her lip. "I'm sorry I kept you from that for so long."

"Don't be. I'm sorry for being gone from you for so long."

Kagome smiled. "Its quite alright. Rin has been a real comfort to me. And it looks like you have found a new companionship too."

Sango blush and began stammering. "I-I-"

Rin laughed with Kagome. "Yeah, tell us all about this boy! When did you meet him?"

Sango smiled coyly. "A long time ago, actually."