Rose Number Eleven
She returned to the temple when the dawn was about to break. He had kept himself alert for her presence but still had not though that she would stay as far from him as she had. The temple was her home and for some reason she didn't seem all that inclined to go back into it like she had normally. He wanted to know what was going on with her but knew better than to try to talk to her. Instead he moved in his puppy form to her side hoping that she would see him there. He wanted to be close to her and if this was the only way that he could be then he would be. He watched as she changed her gaze to look at him. What was she thinking he wondered but knew that he couldn't risk looking into there thoughts to find out that would tell her that he was near her. He had to find out the old fashion way, he had to whine to find out what was going on with his mate.
Mmm,mmm,mmm
"What is wrong little one?" asked Kagome as she bent down to reach out to him
Mmm,mmmm,mmmmmmm,
"All right I am a little rusty on the whole puppy language thing let me see, you are asking me the same thing I am asking you?" asked Kagome
Ruff, ruff
"Confusion is my problem why are you here? Where is your mother?"
Mmm, mmmmm.
"I see not here gone." Answered Kagome to the whining puppy
Ruff ruff
"What do you want me to do?" asked Kagome
Ruff ruff woof ruff woof
"Let you stay here with me?" asked Kagome, "Are you nuts I have enough to deal with on my own I can't handle a pup too."
Mmmmmmmmm
"I have a son."
Mmmmmmmmmmm
"I don't need another."
Mmmmm
With that Sesshoumaru turned to walk away from her. He knew that it was something that would make her stop and think about what it was that she was doing. She would take pity on him were her heart not changed all that much and she would take care of him as she thought that she should.
"Wait, I didn't mean it like that. There is no reason for you to say that you are sorry. I should be. I know that I should help you but I am just so confused right now that I don't know what I should do. I know that there are things that I want to do but to do them I have to have faith in someone that I don't think that I can now. Any way enough about what is going on with me it can wait it normally does. Come on I don't want to go back in there tonight I have been interrogated enough to night. We will camp out here then we will figure out what it is that you and I shall do about you." She smiled slightly but Sesshoumaru knew in his heart that it wasn't the one that he wanted to see. He had a feeling that the miko that he loved was lost somewhere inside and that he had to find a way to pull her out of the mess that she was in before she forgot who it was that she was not just to him but the world.
He needed to make sure that he found a way to stay with her. Once he did that he would have all the time that he needed to make sure that his mate didn't harm herself or the others that cared about her. He could also make sure that the assholes that she had traveled with in the past didn't even get close to her and that she would be all right. There were other reasons for him to stay at her side but to tell the truth if he were around her perhaps he could get her to talk to him about what was going on with her so that he could find a way to save her even if it was against her will at first.
He could feel her power as she moved through the woods with him at her side but he knew that most of it was locked up. The crystal around her neck held most of it at bay so that she could function. She needed a new one that would hold more than what it was that the one that she wore did. He could do that for her but he would have to get away from her to get it. That wouldn't be all that hard she was tired and wanted to rest. All he had to do was make sure that she would be all right long enough to make it to the cave of mages and he could have the crystal that she needed.
He watched with awe as the vegetation moved out of her way as she walked through the forest. Trees embraced her with their leaves and their branches. Caressing her skin letting her know that no matter what happened to her that they were still aware of who she was. He watched as the animals moved to walk around her as she moved like a swan through the water. There was something magical about her right now as she walked out through the woods he didn't know what to think of what it was that he was seeing but at that moment he didn't care he was with her and that was all that mattered.
"Dark one I know that you do not like the fact that he is with me. I can not allow him to be out on his own." Sighed Kagome to nothing at all that Sesshoumaru could see. His mother a goddess might be but his father only spoke to the gods other than his mother so he couldn't see them unless they decided to show themselves to him as his mother did from time to time.
"Leave it my master and know that I will study what it is that you have taught me tonight sometime."
"I am sorry that I failed the lesson earlier I will not fail you again."
Ruff ruff woof mmmmmm
"What do you want little one?" asked Kagome turning around to look at him.
Mmmmm ruff ruff woof woof woof
"You want to know what is going on?" asked Kagome
Ruff
"My master is having issues with you being here. I will not let you be out here on your own tonight. To tell the truth I could use someone with me tonight. I think my friends might try to interrogate me tonight and I don't want to go through that again."
Woof woof ruff mmmmm woof ruff
"I see, well that is all well and good that you wont do that to me but you have to know that I don't know how long I will be around." He heard the pain in her voice as she sat down on the ground in the first clearing that they had found. He knew that this wasn't in the least a safe place snakes frequented the area and he didn't want her to be harmed.
Ruff ruff woof mmmm
"Snakes I have nothing to fear from them."
She placed her hand on the ground right beside one. He moved like the wind to her side so that he could make sure that she wasn't the one bit. He felt the fangs as they pierced his thick fur; well at least it wasn't a demonic bite. It was venomous though not something that he wanted to have to deal with. He was powerful enough to not have to worry about it too much it was just that he was going to be in pain for a while. Why had she not listened to him?
"What have you gone and done now?" she asked as she moved so that she could look at the paw that he had been bitten on. He didn't know what was better to him the fact that she was worried about him or the fact that she was touching him. It didn't matter to him that she didn't know that it was him that she was doing this too. He just wanted to feel her touch and compassion so that he knew that there was still something in her worth fighting for.
"I am an anbu ichiko, venomous snakes are my friends." She answered as she looked at his paw closer. The snake in question moved to her hand and stayed there silent and unmoving as if to reassure him that her words were true, "not only that but I used to be a miko so I don't think that he would harm me any way. He just wants warmth."
Ruff woof ahhhhrrooooo
She had pushed out the poison of bite wound. What was he thinking that was right she was a miko there fore no poison would kill her well other than his own that was. He didn't even think about that at the time that he had put himself in the way. He had wanted to protect her from all harm and not thought about himself in the process. That was what he knew love to be to him. That and the fact that he couldn't stand to live without her. He wanted her in his life at every moment that he could have her there. He had to find a way to show her that he wanted her there. What could he do to show her that there was more to him than what it was that she thought that there was?
"You know you could die from this?" she asked him
He nodded
"What were you thinking little one to take such a risk for one that you don't know?" she shook her head moving her hand along the wound pulling out the poison as she did so. He knew that he might limp for a day or so but other than that there would be no problems with that hand or paw as it were when she was finished.
"It would be different if there weren't so much on my mind. I don't want to have to burden you with it though I know that you are just a pup."
Ruff ruff ruff ruff
"You sure that you want me to talk to you about what is going on?" asked Kagome of the pup as she watched him move closer to her. There had to be a reason that the same night that Sesshoumaru had tried to talk to her and get her to listen to him that this pup had made his way into her life.
"Were you sent here by Sesshoumaru?" asked Kagome
Ruff
"How come I don't believe you?" asked Kagome
Mmmmmm
"You know I don't care if he did send you. He tried to night and I didn't even think about that until it was too late. There are times that I don't like what it is that I have become but I have to do this so that if he cant mate with me that I have a life to live."
Ruff ruff whoof whoof
"I understand what you are talking about. There is a chance that he would come back but I don't know what to think of that idea right now. I want him here with me. I want to know that he loves me but I don't know how I want him to show me. I want him to but I am not sure how he could right now you know?" asked Kagome as she thought about the ways that Sesshoumaru could show her that what he had told her was true.
Mmmmm whoof
"The link, you are a demon pup aren't you? Well I am sure that if I tried hard enough that I could look into his heart but I shouldn't have to do that."
WHOOFFF
"All right I know that I am the one with the doubts but I know that there are reasons that I wanted him to learn lessons. I have to know that he understands that I can take care of my self I don't need him to protect me I need him to love me."
"To love is to protect." A female voice speaks from the trees that surround them.
Sesshoumaru the puppy looks to the edge of the trees and sees the one person that he had thought that he would never see again, his mother. He wanted to run to her knowing how rare it was for her to visit the human realm but didn't know if he should. He wanted to have her hands on him no matter what it took to get it. He left Kagome and ran to the woman who stood there holding her hands out to him.
"Oh little one how big you have grown."
"He is small what do you mean?"
"Sorry I know him."
"How well?"
"Well enough, I see you are once again putting yourself in danger for another little one. Have I not taught you that there are times that they must face the risk on their own."
Ruff
"Very well then, I know why you are here little one but I have to tell you that things might not work out the way you want them to."
"Why is he here?"
"To be with you of course."
"Huh?" asked Kagome
"Oh my bad, I thought that you knew who he was. Oh well that cat isn't out yet. Do you mind if I borrow your puppy to talk to him in private?"
"Hell he isn't mine."
"How little you know." Sighed Kuan-Yin as she walked away from the miko so that she could talk to her son the way that she should.
She didn't go far knowing that he would want to return to her but at the same time far enough away and with a strong enough barrier that Kagome wouldn't be able to hear or see what was going on inside of it. Kuan-Yin wanted to talk to her son as she should not as a stranger. She loved Sesshoumaru no matter what happened to him he was still her son.
"My son you are safe now." Said Kuan-Yin
"Mother I know that you don't like the way that I am doing this but I have no choice. She has not talked to me in a long time and when I tried to tonight she just walked away from me. You have to understand that I want to be with her as she wants me to be."
"I know this my son and I know that there is something that you are missing out on. She has turned to the Dark One so that she can gain the power that she thinks that she needs to live here after you leave her."
"I will do no such thing."
"You haven't told her that yet. You know Sesshoumaru your father had a way with women why have you not seen that all that you have to do is tell her." Asked his mother as she watched him shift from the dog form that he was using with Kagome into his normal form.
"Tell her what? That my life without her is nothing? Tell her that I want her beside me so that I know that I am no longer alone? Tell her that I ache for her so much that I am in pain every time that I see her? Come on mother that isn't what it is that she wants from me. Granted I don't know what all that she does want but words aren't going to be enough for her."
"How do you know that?"
"I do because that is something that I have figured out. She might want me to tell her that I love her but she wants something more from me and I don't want to tell her how I feel until I make sure that I have done all that she wants me to."
"My son life for her is nothing more than a whisper, it is time that you told her."
"Why do you say that mother I still have a chance right?" asked Sesshoumaru his voice showing his fear.
"You have what one rose." Answered Kuan-Yin
"Why? I have not received another?"
"You will, tonight she will go to your room to finish this. She wants you but wants to set you free. She doesn't think it is right for her to have to tell you that you have to bite her."
"I would now if I thought that she would accept it!"
"She would."
"How? Tell me mother so that I can make sure that she doesn't leave me as you had to. I love her mother and it is time that I had someone in my life so that I am no longer alone."
"Then my son when she goes to the palace tonight make sure that you are there. If you must lay her down and tell he what it is that you have told me. Should you not, you will lose her, there is nothing that I myself or the Tenseiga can do to bring her back from the spell that she has cast. "
"Is she lost to the dark side as I have fears of?" asked Sesshoumaru
"No she has found a way to balance her power against that of the dark for now. You have to do something tonight if you do not she will be lost."
"Very well then mother, I will do all that I can to make sure that Kagome is still here in the dawn. I love her there is nothing else for me to do now other than to tell her all that I have hidden from even my self."
"That is good to hear my son, let us return to her and make sure that the path that she has set becomes reset. The crystal that you want to give her will be in your room when you return there. It is a good idea it will show her that you have noticed more than she had thought that you had. Remember this female is not from our time and you should not expect her to change. That change that the two of you start now, will be the reason that the other times change."
"All right mother." Sighed Sesshoumaru changing once again into the pup that Kagome expected him to be. He would do this tonight no matter what it took to make sure that she saw that he was true in his love for her.
"My son you will see that she is worth all that you are doing to keep her."
"She is worth that and so much more mother." Answered the pup Sesshoumaru as he turned to walk out of the area where he and his mother had talked. It was time to return to Kagome and pray that she would do as his mother had said. Only once before had she left him two roses in a single night. He prayed that he would be swift enough to make it to the palace so that she wouldn't know that he was the pup even if he couldn't be there when she awakened. He would make sure that there would be one there regardless if it was him or not.
"That was a long talk with a simple pup." Called Kagome as they walked into the area where she had made their camp.
"You know not who I am." Stated Kuan-Yin
"No I don't know who you are. I know that you are not here to harm me that is enough for now."
"Have you not thought that your prayers were answered but in a way that you should think about as well?" asked Kuan-Yin of Kagome.
"No who are you to talk about my prayers?" asked Kagome
"I am one that you prayed to." Answered Kuan-Yin as she shifted her white fox demon form for her true form.
Kagome watched as the white hair grew longer to the ground that the female stood on. Her body once clothed in white silk was now clothed in something that Kagome had not seen before. It reminded her of cloth that she had seen in her time but seemed to have a life of its own as she watched the goddess take her own form. The material of the clothing shimmered in the moonlight and didn't appear to cover her form all that well but Kagome could tell that it did. The once demon face of the woman changed into that of a motherly figure. Kagome knew in that moment that she was talking to the goddess Kuan-Yin the mother of the man that she loved and the goddess that she had turned from in her search for a way to stay here. She wanted to get on her knees and pray for forgiveness gut knew that the goddess liked the strength that she had dhow in the times that she had talked to her. Kagome wondered if there was a reason for the appearance of Kuan-Yin but was almost too scared to ask her.
There had to be a reason that the goddess had come to see her but at the same time Kagome knew that it must have something to do with the son that she loved so much. She held her tongue until the change to Kuan-Yin was finished then she bowed to her and prayed that she would be given mercy for doubting the Moon Goddess.
"Kagome there is no reason to fear me."
"I don't know about that. There are things that I have done that make me think that you aren't too happy with me right now."
"Kagome go to my son and know that tonight you will know if you have a reason to doubt me."
"My lady I have to tell you this your son told me that his heart was mine, is there a reason that I should think that there is more in that statement than what it was that I heard."
"My son loves you."
"That is what I thought that that meant but I wanted to know for sure."
"The only way that you will know is to ask him. Kagome he will not turn from your heart as others have give him a chance. I know that he is waiting for you now go to him I will stay with the pup have no fears."
"Thank you my lady I am sorry for doubting you."
"No you aren't, it is understandable with all that is going on in your life but you must know that were it not my son you would be punished."
"I understand I am going to see him now."
"That would be a good idea."
With that she watched as Kagome and her son took off in a race to the palace. Granted the pup of snow white still was there, Sesshoumaru had found a way to make sure that she still had the pup no matter where it was that he was. She smiled as she sat down and held the pup knowing that her son would do all that he could to make sure that Kagome was his mate tonight.
With Kagome and Sesshoumaru at the palace
'Damn she is fast,' thought Sesshoumaru as he sat down on the bed and looked at the vase beside him. He knew that she wanted his love and she would have it. The problem with this whole thing was that she didn't believe him. She would have to now because he wasn't going to allow her to leave him until she did. It was his life that she was playing with as well and it was time that she knew that he wanted her in it.
"Sesshoumaru?" asked her voice from the balcony.
"Kagome," he answered her looking to the balcony hoping that she would listen to him.
"I have come to talk to you. We left a lot in the air earlier." She was tired of fighting what it was that she felt for him. He had not forgotten about her only wanted to make sure that what he felt for her was pure in all ways she could see that now. It didn't mean that it didn't hurt her but at the same time she didn't want to change I not what it was that she was becoming. She wanted to be loved and she wanted that before she died. She would have to take the chance on him that he had been telling her that she needed to take on him.
"We did but will you talk to me this time? Will you stay with me and work this out?" he asked her. He wanted to be reassured that she was serious about this. He knew that she didn't know what it was that he had talked to her about while they had been together when he had been the pup but right now he needed to know that she wanted this as much as he did. She had to tell him that she was serious about this; this time.
"I am going to make sure that one way or the other that what is between us is taken care of tonight. I am tired. I can't do this any more. I want you in my life I want you in my heart and the only way that I can do that is to tell you and hope that you don't turn me away."
"Kagome I have waited for you to tell me that what you wanted was the same as what I did. I don't know how many times I have wanted to pull you to me and drown in you but still I stayed here because you ran from me Will you run from me now?" he asked her
"No I am here no matter what it is that happens. I can't take the pain of thinking about you all the time and still knowing that you are right here."
"You have been here often enough that you know where to find me but what causes me wonder is that you never once touched me while you were here."
"I didn't want you to awaken as I watched you sleep." She turned her face away from him.
"Why turn from me when that is something that I wanted from you?" he asked her
"Because I didn't think that you would allow me to do that knowing what it was that we felt for each other."
"Granted tonight isn't the best time to watch me sleep but Kagome I have to tell you now that I have you here and I am awake I don't feel like letting you walk out of here with out my mark on your neck. You are mine and you are my heart I will not let you leave me again. I cant you are too much a part of me to allow you to do that."
"You mean what by that?" she asked her hope shining through in her eyes and her voice
"I love you Kagome and I will not allow you to leave me again you are here and I am going to keep you here."
He moved like the wind to the balcony so that he could grab her and pull her into his room. There was nothing more that he wanted than to have her in his arms. Tonight was the night that he would make sure that she was a part of him as she should be and no longer would either of them be alone. Time had past for games and now all he wanted was to have her in his arms so that he knew that he wasn't dreaming again. He wanted this so much that there was nothing that she could do to stop him. Life was going to start moving again and with her in it he knew that it would never be boring.
The moment that his arms moved around her he knew that this was right. She was the tone that he wanted in his life. No matter what it was that she said he would have her. He wouldn't let her leave tonight he meant that this was his life as it should be not as it was for so long. His heart belonged to her and he had to find a way to let her know what it was that he felt for her.
"Open the link to me know what it is that I do and allow me inside of you so that I know what it is that your beautiful heart feels for me. Start the process of making us one and you will know that you will never be alone again. Kagome I am asking you to allow me where no other has been in more ways than one, let me there and I promise you that you will never regret that choice." He pleaded with her he had to know that she would allow this no matter what ti was that he had to do to get her to do so.
"To allow you where no other has been is my desire. To be to you what I have been to no other is what I want. However I have to know that where I allow you none has been in you."
"None has been where you are Kagome. Use my name call out to my heart and know that you are the only one there." Answered Sesshoumaru
"Sesshoumaru there is no other place that I would rather be allow me there and no other will you want there." Kagome answered as she opened the link to him allowing him where not one had been.
As she opened the link to him in the fullest ways he did the same for her. Warmth flooded him as he felt her heart opened to him. This was one way of joining them but he planned on joining them as only he could. This would be the night that they mated fuck the spell that she had cast on them he wanted to make sure that life would be full with her at his side. He felt her arms move around his body. For the first time in his life he was being embraced by the female that he wanted in his life. There was nothing more in the world that he wanted just her and this right now. He would mate them tonight there was no reason to delay.
"Together we are, together we stay, my mate, my life
As one there is no longer any strife
Joined in perfect union
No more confusion
You and I linked to the core
Heart and soul alone no more."
Those were the words to the joining. This mating would be unique because though she was human in heart and soul she was demonic in the flesh. He would be easy with her but still the same he wanted her to be his in all ways. This would be nothing like what happened to his mother and father. They would be together no matter what happened when one died the other would as well. That was all that mattered to him.
"Together we two now one become
No longer alone like some
United in all ways
From now to the end of days
Love freely given
Together driven
By hope and desire
Uplifted beyond the mire."
Kagome finished the words of bonding just as he had hoped that she would. Now they were joined in all ways. The flesh would come next but right now he wanted to treasure the pure tortured soul that he had in his hands. He wrapped her in his love as he tried to help her heal from the wounds that had been inflicted on iher in the time that she had been alive. He held her close as sshe wiped from him the loneliness that he had faced for so long. They were one and that was all that mattered.
Hours later still in the palace
Kagome turned and looked at the man that had rocked her to the core. She had never thought that being with him as she was now would be so fulfilling. She wanted to watch him sleep but it would seem to her that there was no way that he was going to sleep now that he had her at his side. He wanted to stay awake and keep an eye on her. She wanted to show him how much this meant to her. She closed her eyes and called two roses to her side. One the raven roses and the other the pearl rose one that eh ad not seen since before the raven were killed off. This was to be her gift to him. He had given her his bite in the midst of coitus in doing so had given her; her life. It was only right that she should do this for him. She wanted him to know that there was nothing in the world that she wouldn't do for him because of what he had given her.
"Kagome why are there roses here?" he asked her looking at the two roses that lay on the pillow.
"One for my death and one for my life, both belong to you. I gave them to you the moment that I knew that I loved you."
"Rest now my love there will be no need for the other rose you are the one that I want."
"Sesshoumaru you have to know that though we have done this I still have to give you the last rose tomorrow."
"You mean to tell me that I could still lose you."
"Yes."
"Then stay with me for the night and know that I will do all that I can to make sure that you are with me after this is all over."
"You are sure that you are willing to go through with this?" she asked him tears in her voice and in her heart.
"yes Kagome I will fight and die for you. Lay down listen to my heart and know that you are the one that it beats for."
"I love you Sesshoumaru."
"I love you too Kagome now rest and know that no matter what tomorrow brings we will be together when it is over."