She couldn't breath. Bed. Together. A warm liquid feeling washed over her along with the feral feeling she'd felt before and her head suddenly buzzed with a soft powerful song that seemed to constrict around her heart, the melody seeming to play Sesshomaru's name through her. Bed. Together.

"Now?" She choked.

He looked down at her as they ascended the stairs and his eyebrow went up. "You seem particularly fond of that word."

Sesshomaru's castle, she'd found, had a fairly large number of floors. The lowest floor, she'd found from the demon women she'd met in the stables, was an entire dungeon with a torture chamber and an unnumbered about of cells. In her opinion...the place would have to go but she'd broach that subject at another time. The first level was the floor you entered into from the courtyard, which opened up to a wide hall that disappeared into darkness where doors led to the kitchen. Towards the front of the hall on either side of it were the doors to the dinning room and spacious sitting room. Near the hall's right side was a huge staircase of white marble and green crystal.

The second level, Kagome observed, was apparently the servants' and warriors' quarters. There were rooms lining the corridor where the servants did as they wished. They past the third floor as well, which was home to six of the twelve guest rooms, three bathing rooms, two hot bath rooms, and one of the three pleasure rooms so visitors could have during their stay.

It was the third floor they finally halted at. The hall way was long and the floor was dark black marble shot through with thin hairline veins of green crystal and thin gold. There were only 3 doors on this level. One door you met as soon as you came up the steps and the other two further down the hall that sectored of away from the stairwell. Sesshomaru turned down the hall and led her to the last door on the end, a huge imposing double door of polished oak wood carved with a huge dog descending from the sky. Sesshomaru perhaps? Or maybe his and Inuyasha's father?

Sesshomaru opened the door with a flick of his wrist and carried her in, setting her down to turn and close the door. Kagome folded her hand and studied the room while she waited. The floor was bare but instead of stone it was hard wood. There were two windows that over looked the courtyard below, and beyond it, the mountain base. Wall scrolls had been hung, nor people or demons but simple soothing landscapes. A huge dark wood dresser stood against the far wall and across from it was a wardrobe. At the edge of the room sat a huge bed draped in black satin with sheets the dark red brown color of blood.

Kagome felt her pulse quicken and she took a deep breath and nearly jumped out of her skin when Sesshomaru called her name. She turned and took and involuntary step backwards then stopped herself and bite down on her lip.

"You should know I'm dreading this. I don't want to hurt your feelings but I must be honest with you. I don't think you'd want to force you attentions on an unwilling- Now what are you doing?" Didn't the man ever stop to listen to her at all? Even for the briefest of seconds?

"I'm taking your bag from you."

"I'd rather you left me alone." She countered.

"You're trying my patience."

Didn't he understand? "I don't have any experience!" Her cheeks turned red with a blush.

"I do." He said lightly and Kagome wondered why that surprised her. She frowned and chewed her lip as she fought the light prick of jealousy.

"That's it? I'm supposed to be comforted by the fact that you have experience?"

"You want me to comfort you?" He sounded appalled by the very idea and his reaction didn't sit very well with her. Her frustration mounted until she wanted to scream. She took a slow deep breath to calm herself.

It didn't help. "Yes! I most certainly do want you to comfort me

He had been afraid she was going to say that. For the first time in a very long while he was at a loss for words. No other female had ever made the request of him. They'd usually come to him willing and if he had been in the mood he'd taken them. What the hell should she need comfort? She was his bride. The female who would bear his children and carry his name despite her filthy heritage. It should be enough for her. Not to mention he admittedly had no experience in the emotional needs of women.

What then? Did he just tell her she was out of luck? That wouldn't be a logical idea. She would most likely start crying then and he had no idea how he would get her to stop if she did that. There was only one option. He was going to have to help her get over this foolish worry of her. He prayed for the unthinkable- understanding.

"I have decided to help you."

"You have?" She looked placated.

"Yes I have. You will have to explain this duty to me first however. You may begin."

She blinked at him. "This isn't any time for jokes!" He lifted and eyebrow and she winced. "You're not joking." She fell silent for along while and he felt his patience pricking him.

"Kagome..."

"I'm thinking about it!"

He stopped the growl just in time and watched her. He hadn't asked her to solve an impossible riddle so what was taking her so long. He honestly didn't think he'd be able to stand there much long no more then an arms length from her and not touch her. Of course the girl was blissfully unaware of her effect on him, else she would by on the other side of the room. But of course she was completely engrossed in these thoughts of comfort, of all things.

"You still haven't explained." He prompted.

She frowned. "When you were younger, didn't your mother-"

"She's dead."

"I'm sorry. What about your father? Didn't he ever comfort you?"

"No."

"Sesshomaru. Wasn't there ever anyone around when you were little?"

"No."

Kagome was shocked and she felt a little tug at her heart for the youkai. No one around to comfort him when he was little. No one to hold him and tell him he was safe or he was all right. She looked away and pushed back a lock of hair at a loss for words now.

"Does comforting take very long?"

She looked up at him. "I don't think so." She decided after a moment. "Some husbands pat their wife's shoulder but I think that's more a show of affection then comfort. Some husbands put their arms around their wives I think but-"

"Which do you prefer?"

"Excuse me?"

He repeated his question in a brisk, impatient tone. "Do you want me to pat you or put my arms around you?"

He was hopeless! "You can't plan it out! It has to be spontaneous." She fell silent. She had no idea what to do anymore.

"Is there something I can do to get rid of this fear of yours?"

Kagome thought for a moment then glanced away as a blush heated her cheeks but spoke anyway. "You could tell me some of the better points."

Sesshomaru was quiet for a long while before saying slowly. "It won't kill you."