Kagome set a plate of food in front of her son, Taisho. "Eat all of your food. You can't play with Shippo if you don't finish you lunch."
"Okay, mommy," he said.
She smiled at her son and turned to do the dishes. She had tried contacting Sesshoumaru that morning but his secretary answered saying that he had important business he was attending to. Kagome was actually slightly relieved that he didn't answer the phone. It meant that she didn't have to speak to him just yet.
"So are you looking forward to playing with Shippo today," Kagome asked her son.
"Yep! Mr. Kouga said he's going to let us play with real swords today," he beamed.
"Really," she asked excitedly. "Make sure you guys are careful."
"You don't have to worry," he took a drink of his juice. "Me and Shippo are pros."
"Is that right," Kagome laughed. "But I don't know how I feel about you two going at it with real swords. That sounds a bit dangerous to me."
"It's fine," Taisho reassured. "We know what we're doing mommy."
"I'm sure you do. But I think I will have a talk with Kouga first."
"Okay I'm done eating," Taisho said getting off his chair. "I'm going to go change." He sped off and ran upstairs to his room.
"I can practically feel the grey hairs popping up," she said picking up his plate. She placed them back on the table when she heard the doorbell ring. She dried her hands on her apron and went to see who it was. "Must be Shippo."
She opened the front door with a warm smile. "Hey super cute guy," she looked down assuming it was Shippo.
Looking down all she saw were black leather shoes and a very nice looking pair of pants. She slowly moved her eyes upward and her smile faded when she saw who it was.
"Sesshoumaru," she said less the enthusiastically.
"You look well. You must've been doing well these past 6 years," he said coldly.
A short little boy with red hair came in from behind Sesshoumaru and pushed past him. He looked up at Sesshoumaru and gave him a puzzled look and then smiled at Kagome. "Is Taisho able to come over?"
She tore her eyes away from Sesshoumaru's and smiled down at Shippo. "Yeah, he should be coming down any moment."
As if on cue, Taisho came hopping down the stairs. He first saw Sesshoumaru and acknowledged his presence. "Ah. It's you."
Shippo looked at Taisho, Kagome, Sesshoumaru, and then back at Taisho. He ran over to stand beside his friend. "Hey who's that guy?"
"He's my dad," Taisho answered.
Shippo looked up at Sesshoumaru. "Whoa," he then leaned in close to Taisho and whispered. "I don't think your mom likes him too much."
Kagome laughed nervously. "Okay, you two. Go play, have fun, and stay safe." She started to push them towards the door but stopped. "Actually wait." She ran to the closet and grabbed Taisho's bicycle helmet. She knelt down and started to strap it on Taisho.
Shippo started to giggle. "Haha! You have to wear a helmet."
"Seriously mom! This is embarrassing. I'm a man," Taisho whined. "I don't need a helmet."
"Taisho, real swords can cause real wounds. Do you want me to kill Kouga for having you injured," Kagome asked.
"No mommy," Touga said reluctantly.
"Okay then," she kissed him on the cheek. "Okay now you two go play and have fun."
She watched them leave and she could hear Shippo say something to Taisho. "Your mom sure can be scary."
"You're telling me," Taisho agreed.
She closed the front door and took a deep breath before turning to face Sesshoumaru.
When she turned around, Sesshoumaru took in her appearance. 6 years ago he wouldn't have thought it possible, but she's even more beautiful than before.
"Every day for 6 years, I imagined what I would do when I came across you. I thought about killing you, beating you, selling you to a Russian mob just for the satisfaction," he watched Kagome's eyes narrow. "But I think I will just take Taisho away from you and never let you see him again."
"Oh Sesshoumaru," she said cynically. "How sweet of you to think of me every day. But how exactly do you plan to take MY son away from me?"
He scoffed. "I'm Sesshoumaru Takahashi. I manipulate the business world, I've been voted most powerful man, I'm ruler of the Western lands and your son is my heir. The question you should be asking is how you will spend your last few days with Taisho."
"I had thought we could have a civil relationship for Taisho's sake. But if you want nothing more than to be a tyrant asshole butt head, than please leave. Oh, and your threat means nothing to me."
"Custody papers are already being drawn up. Whether you like it or not, Taisho will be at my residence in Tokyo by next week," Sesshoumaru warned.
"Get out of my house," Kagome bit out. She watched Sesshoumaru stand there with a smirk on his face. "Fine then. You can stay. I'll leave." She walked passed him and walked outside, slamming the door behind her.
Sesshoumaru casually looked at the pictures of Taisho and Kagome that were on her bookshelf. He picked up a photo album and started to flip through it. He came across a picture of Taisho and Kagome at a park. She was wearing a white dress and had a younger version of Taisho on her shoulders. She was holding his hands and they were both smiling happily at the camera. He took the picture out, folded it and placed it in his pocket.
Kagome walked next door and watched Taisho and Shippo practice their forms with their swords. She went and stood next to Kouga and Ayame. "I knew he'd take off his helmet," she said looking at his discarded helmet next to a tree.
"He'll be fine Kagome," Ayame laughed. "Shippo said that Taisho's very scary father came over."
"Yeah," she said. "I'm still hoping he drops dead but I doubt that would happen."
Ayame laughed again.
"Very good, Taisho and Shippo." Kouga praised.
Taisho beamed and looked over to his smiling mother. "Would you like to try mommy?"
"Oh, no. I'm not talented like you," she chuckled.
"Oh come on Kagome. I practiced with them last time. It's really easy," Ayame said.
"Yeah Kagome don't be a big baby," Kouga laughed.
"Hey, whose side are you two on? It's supposed to be us against the kids," Kagome said at the two adults standing next to her.
"So says the big baby," Kouga retorted.
"Fine whatever," Kagome huffed.
"Mission accomplished," Kouga said with a fist in the air. The two boys exclaimed, 'yeah' and Ayame was just laughing at the scene.
Kagome then put a hand to her head. "Oh no," she feigned weakness. "I feel so weak. Can't stand. Must lay down." She slowly dropped herself to the ground and laid there.
"Seriously," Kouga looked at her in disbelief.
"Haha mom," Taisho said looking at his mom lying down on the ground.
"Too weak. The light. I see the light," Kagome said dramatically.
Shippo leaned in and whispered into Taisho's ear.
"Yeah, that would be funny," Taisho lit up at his friend.
Taisho ran up next to his mom and effortlessly picked her up and put her over both shoulders.
Kouga nearly fell from the sight. "Ahahahahaha! That's freakin' hilarious!"
Taisho than started to run around. "Taisho, put me down," Kagome yelled. "Put me down right now!"
"Come on it's funny," Taisho said laughing.
"I am twice your size; I could crush you Taisho," Kagome said. "Put me down. Put me down. Put! Me! Down!"
Sesshoumaru had come out of her house and walked towards their general direction. When Taisho ran past him he grabbed the back of Kagome's shirt and pulled her off.
Kagome put a hand to her heart and leaned over. "Oh my gosh. Thought I was going to die." She looked up and saw the four of them laughing. "Yeah, let's laugh at the poor human girl."
"Sorry Kaggy," Kouga said between bouts of laughter. "But that was freakin' hilarious."
Ayame noticed who was standing next to Kagome and stopped laughing. She started to hit Kouga until she got his attention.
"Wha—," he saw why she was hitting him. He straightened himself. "Lord Sesshoumaru," he greeted.
"Hn," he said and then turned to Kagome. "Have Taisho's things packed by next week and say your goodbyes." He turned to leave but then Taisho spoke up.
"What are you talking about," Taisho asked.
Sesshoumaru turned and looked down at Taisho. "You'll be living with me starting Monday. Say your goodbyes to your mother. You won't be seeing her after that," he said.
"Over my dead body," Taisho challenged. Kouga and Ayame's mouth dropped at how he was speaking to him.
"You'll learn how to speak to those superior to you," Sesshoumaru said and then turned and walked away.
Taisho looked over to his mother who although was smiling at him, he could see she was trying not to cry. She didn't like to show it and she would never admit it, but Taisho knew that his mom was a big cry baby. He felt anger start to seethe from him and growled a warning to Sesshoumaru.
Sesshoumaru hesitated in a step before continuing on.
Taisho then whipped a long string of toxic light at Sesshoumaru.
Sesshoumaru calmly tilted his head a fraction to avoid being hit. He then turned around and looked down at the young boy. "You're a little too early to be challenging me, boy," he said calmly.
Little Taisho narrowed his eyes. He was beyond angry. He threatened to take him away from his mother and made her sad. No one made his mommy sad.
"And you're a whole lot of ugly to be with my mommy," he shouted.
Taisho charged after him. Sesshoumaru raised a brow and had to admit he was mildly interested. Taisho leaped to attack Sesshoumaru, but Sesshoumaru simply raised a hand and knocked him down.
He was passed angry, and currently lethal. Taisho was rarely angry. He rarely felt threatened and he knew that was because his mommy took such good care of him and because she loved him. And she loved him the best and in the right way. But when he reached the point, bad things happened. Bad things that he couldn't remember. All he saw and all he remembered was red and his rage.
The last time he reached this 'point', was when a full blooded cat demon said his mom was a dirty old rag lady that was thrown out by his dad. All he remembered from it was the aftermath. A pathetic mess of a poo-poo head cat demon. He never insulted, never even spoke to him again.
"Taisho," he heard someone vaguely shout. "Taisho, come on," he know felt someone shake him. "Snap out of it."
Taisho blinked a couple of times and saw that it was Kouga. He looked around and saw that Ayame and Shippo were no longer outside. He looked passed Kouga and saw his mommy on the ground. She had a scratch on her arm and she was rubbing her head.
Tears immediately came to his eyes. "It's okay sport," he heard Kouga reassure. "That wasn't your fault. You went to attack daddy dearest and your mommy temporarily lost her mind and jumped in front of him."
Taisho ran passed Kouga and to his mom.
"Hey kid," Kagome said smiling. "Aww don't cry, mommy's okay." She pulled her son in and hugged him. "It's okay. It doesn't even hurt. I actually thought that this would be the perfect opportunity to practice your healing."
Taisho sniffled. "I'm sorry mommy."
"I know," she said. "Now come on, heal mommy's boo-boo." She reached out her arm and waited for Taisho.
Taisho sniffled once more and then reached out and healed the scratch on her arm. Kagome watched him and then smiled proudly. "Nice job," she praised.
Kagome smiled at her son and then looked over to Sesshoumaru who was watching. "You look like a creepy uncle just staring like that."
"That was stupid of you," he said curt. "I wouldn't have gotten hurt. There was no reason to do that."
Kagome rolled her eyes. "Whatever. I'm fine."
"Really? Then stand up," Sesshoumaru said. "I can tell from here that you sprained your ankle pretty bad."
Taisho looked at his moms ankle horrified and saw that her ankle had gotten fat and swollen. He couldn't heal it and it would take her a couple of hours to heal it herself.
Taisho started to cry. Kouga came over and looked at her ankle. "I'll carry you home."
"Do not touch her," Sesshoumaru demanded before Kouga had the chance to even move. "Take the pup and feed him."
Kouga wanted to argue, but he couldn't so he acquiesced. He picked up Taisho and told him it would be okay. Taisho didn't want to go but his mom nodded her head yes and motioned for him to go on.
Sesshoumaru waited until both of them were in the house before walking towards Kagome. He could smell her pain wash over her in waves. Her heart was beating erratically and he didn't even have to be a demon to tell that she didn't want him to touch her.
"Can you stand," he asked looking down at her with mild arrogance.
"Yes," she bit out.
'Pretty little liar,' he thought to himself. He reached down and picked her up in both arms. "Lying doesn't suit you," he said and then walked to her house.
"Put me down," she demanded. "Chivalry doesn't suit you."
He ignored her and walked through her front door. "Bedroom?" When he got no answer he sniffed around and then walked upstairs. "I don't need you to find the bedroom, miko. But an answer would've been helpful."
Sure enough Sesshoumaru found her bedroom rather quickly. He placed her on her bed and then took of her shoes, being careful with her ankle. He gently held her ankle in his hand and examined her ankle.
"You can calm your heart down; your ankle's going to be fine," he said coldly.
"I'm sorry, I was actually wondering when you were going to rip my clothes off and forcibly screw me," she said almost too casually.
"Is that what you want," he questioned.
"Isn't it what you want?"
Sesshoumaru raised a brow.
"If I remember correctly you're the guy who takes what he wants if it isn't willingly given."
Ignoring her comment he sat down and placed her injured ankle on his lap. "Your little secret is going to spread. Kouga is one of the leaders and it'll only be a matter of time before every demon knows your relation to me."
"And," Kagome scoffed.
"A war is coming. My enemies will see you and Taisho as an easy target to get to me. Like it or not, Taisho will be placed in my residence under my protection. Whether you come along or not is up to you."
"Taisho and I can take care of ourselves. We're not helpless."
Sesshoumaru looked down and noticed that her ankle was already looking much better. "Surviving 6 years alone with no one finding you makes that obvious," he said keeping a passive tone. "However, I do not care. Pack your things along with the pup's or pack his alone."
Kagome silently started to hit the back of her head against the headboard. 'This is not happening,' she said to herself.
She let out a long breath and then faced Sesshoumaru. "It'll be a cold day in hell before I allow any of that to happen. Why would I live with you? Are you sane right now?"
"You can visit Taisho but don't expect much more," Kagome added.
Sesshoumaru lifted her leg and lightly kissed the inside of her ankle, causing Kagome to tense. "Taisho would be easy to manipulate; easy to kill depending on the person."
Kagome narrowed her eyes at him.
"My enemies would love nothing more to kidnap, humiliate, and torture the woman who captivated The Killing Perfection; Lord of the West. The fact that Kouga is your neighbor works in your favor, but you're a sitting duck begging to be made a victim."
He slowly moved over Kagome. She was more beautiful than he remembered.
Unexpectedly, Kagome lightly ran her fingers through his silver hair. "You seem nicer than before," she said thoughtfully.
"And you seem older," he responded.
Kagome laughed lightly. "Of course, I'm 25 now. You should see my car insurance premium; it's amazing."
"I've decided to keep you Kagome, regardless of what method I have to use."
He reached down and kissed her. And although he would never admit it, he felt 'right' in that moment.