Title: Light of My Life
Author: kazeko
Series: Inuyasha
Rating: M-15 or so
Archive: Sesshoumaru/Kagome
Characters: Sesshoumaru/Kagome, Inuyasha/Koyama, Sango/Miroku
Summary: A powerful prophecy brings mortal enemies together, but prejudice may well tear them apart and spell the end of all inuyoukai.
Disclaimer: No ownership.

Chapter 11: To Claim a Mate
Hours later, after the waning moon set, Sesshoumaru returned to his tree, sleeping miko safe in his arms. Youkai marked their mates but not their lovers, so Kagome's entire experience had been filled with pleasure only and no pain or blood. She had been a virgin, but her violent experiences in the past had weakened and eventually broken her hymen. She had explained that anatomical oddity to her lover earlier that evening, correctly guessing that virgin inuyoukai had no such barrier. Exhausted from their lovemaking, Kagome had fallen asleep in the safety of his furry tail, which was still wrapped safely around her. Settling back into the branches of his chosen tree, Sesshoumaru prepared to fall asleep.

"So you chose to follow in his footsteps. Will you die for your human, too?"

"I am not my father," Sesshoumaru returned, his voice so low that the humans could not hear him. His mother's retort from her perch across the clearing was equally quiet.

"I fear that you will die before your pups are grown."

"I do not fear such a thing. Mother, I will take a Lady as soon as the hunt for Naraku is concluded. I will even let you choose her. But I will keep Kagome."

"Do not breed a hanyou, son."

"As if this Sesshoumaru could not control himself," Sesshoumaru scoffed. "From what I know of miko, they are incapable of procreating with youkai."

"Kaori seems to think that Kagome is different than most miko, that she is special. Just be careful."

Inuyasha yawned widely, his fangs shining in the morning sun. From her branch below, Koyama watched the hanyou, her eyes glowing in the light, her tail twitching in the faint breeze. She watched him straighten his hitoe and obi, running his claws through his silvery hair, and her heart skipped a beat. Heat filled her slim frame and she buried her claws in the branch beside her, a low growl vibrating her throat. Inuyasha's puppy ears twitched at the sound, the hanyou turning to the female. He growled a question, gold eyes curious, and she twitched her tail in response.

Inuyasha growled, eyes narrowed as he carefully removed the Tetsusaiga and tied it to a tree, flattening his ears to his skull. He moved into a kneeling position on his branch, gold eyes tinted red as magenta stripes began to appear on his cheeks. Koyama sat up, growling as she jumped to the ground, tail swishing wildly. From his perch in a nearby tree, Sesshoumaru growl-barked a command, and the female froze. She whined, glancing at the small human sleeping wrapped in his fluffy tail, and he relented. With a huff, he settled back into his perch, pulling Kagome closer as he pretended not to notice the inu. Koyama silently thanked him as she headed into the forest, Inuyasha hot on her heels. Satori, for once, remained blissfully unaware.

Satori jerked awake for the second time as another bestial howl of satisfaction filled the forest and woke the humans and youkai in the clearing. She rolled over and landed on the ground, wondering which kami hated her enough to prevent her from getting a decent night's sleep. She looked up at the sun and sighed, deciding that she must at last rise. Seven excited pups surrounded the female, one fox kit and a nekomata adding their dance to her grandchildren's. Sighing in annoyance, the alpha female set about to scrounge up a meal for the children, knowing that they would be hungry more often now that they were weaned. As soon as the children and cat were eating quietly, Satori looked for the humans and her son, wondering why no one else was awake to feed the children.

On cue, the three servants entered the clearing, carrying small rabbits and large birds with them, bowing to the alpha before setting about to prepare breakfast for the rest of the pack. One of them also carried a bag filled with berries and edible plants for the humans who could not live on meat. Senmei stoked the fire and began to cook a portion of the meat for the humans, humming commands at her sisters as they handed the pups more meat. Satori stepped to the base of the tree her son was sleeping in and growled up at him, nodding when his golden eyes glowed from the darkness of the branches.

"Plan on waking up today? It's not like you to sleep in."

"She is still tired from last night."

Satori growled, tail thumping angrily. "She is a lover, Sesshoumaru, not a mate. She is a pet to be commanded not an equal to be catered to. Wake her and join your pups for the morning meal." Satori left the tree, scenting for Inuyasha, freezing when she realized that her mate's hanyou son was nowhere to be found. Come to think of it, Koyama was also missing.

Sesshoumaru landed on the ground beside his mother, human still sleeping in his arms. "What troubles you, mother?" His voice was cold and mirthless, a faint bite in his tone. He knew what bothered her and he knew exactly what was going on.

"Where are Inuyasha and Koyama?"

"I hadn't noticed they were missing. Perhaps they wandered into the woods together to escape such harassment."

Satori growled and grabbed Sesshoumaru's arm. "Koyama is in heat today! She went off into the woods and you did not follow! Your hanyou brother will mate her and she will be forced to birth weakling pups! As Alpha you are the only one who should have followed her! She would have been a fine mate, but you let that brother of yours take her, and claim her for sure!"

"It is no business of yours if I chose not to claim a member of my pack. Perhaps I was too tired from my activities last night to bother chasing her this morning."

"Sesshoumaru, it is your duty . . ."

"Mother I tire of your nonsense." Sesshoumaru's sharp voice silenced the older inu, and she waited for him to explain his actions. "When I acquired her as a nursemaid, her sister placed the condition that Koyama be allowed to choose her own mate when the time came. I woke as she jumped down this morning, and I asked her what she wanted. If she wanted to be Alpha, I would have taken her as my Mate. She said she wanted Inuyasha. She had the right to choose."

Satori growled, sighing as she looked at the human sleeping in her son's arms. "Because of Kagome, you had no interest in Koyama. She probably had no interest in you due to her friendship with the miko."

"Probably true. You would do well to remember that this Sesshoumaru is Alpha of this pack. You should devote your attentions to the pups and new servants."

Without hesitation, Satori nodded and walked away, knowing better than to cross her son when he was in such a mood. She lived her life of luxury at his behest, and she was not eager to fall out of his good graces. Inu Alpha males were not known for showing a great deal of kindness to their dams once their sires died.

In his arms, Kagome finally stirred. Sesshoumaru began to growl reassuringly, the sound vibrating through the small human as her blue eyes opened. "Good morning, Kagome."

"Good morning, Sesshoumaru," she whispered, blushing slightly. He carefully placed her on her feet, nuzzling her gently as she stretched sore muscles. Memories of the previous night filled her, and Kagome blushed again, stepping away from her lover. "I'm a little sore today."

"I would hope so, or I failed in my duty to you, lover." Sesshoumaru grinned mentally as the female blushed for a third time at the word, apparently not used to hearing that word or being in an intimate relationship. Sesshoumaru would not have taken her as a lover if she had ever been with another male, and her innocence the night before had excited him. Now, seeing her blushing in the morning light, covered in his scent, he was tempted to take her again, preferably in front of the rest of the pack in order to solidify his claim. He had not let himself spill his seed within her the night before, and that act was the final step in claiming her as a permanent lover and a member of his pack so that his future youkai mate would not be able to eject her from the palace. He had informed Kagome of the last requirement, especially of the necessity of mating in front of the pack, and she had seemed reluctant to be so sexually open in front of her friends. In respect for her shy nature, Sesshoumaru had agreed to wait, but he could not wait too much longer. Now that his beast had claimed her as a permanent lover, it would be satisfied soon.

Sensing the direction of Sesshoumaru's thoughts, Kagome glanced toward the fire where the children and Satori were eating their morning meal. Sango and Miroku, sleeping curled in each other's arms, were beginning to awake with the sun. Miroku stretched, his hand managing to stay clear of Sango as he stood, straightening his robes as he glanced around the camp. As his eyes fell on Kagome standing close to Sesshoumaru, he froze, hentai mind already jumping to the first obvious conclusion. Kagome's fourth blush of the morning confirmed his suspicion.

"Good morning, sweet lady. I see your night was productive."

Sango grumbled something and reached out to punch the houshi, freezing when she caught sight of Sesshoumaru's tiny smirk. "Kami," the tajiya breathed, sitting up and leaning closer to her friend and staring into her eyes. Kagome turned away, unable to hold the glance, and Sango chuckled. "Well! It looks like you've grown up."

"I just . . . I was by the lake . . . we've been spending a lot of time together while I was helping with the pups . . . he asked me to . . ."

"He took her for a lover." Satori's sharp voice ended the miko's stuttering explanation, handing Akihiko another slice of meat. Placing her food aside, Kaori stood and faced Kagome, bowing deeply.

"I eagerly await the completion of the Lover's Rights so that I may welcome you into my pack, Mother Kagome. Your union with our father brings the six of us great joy."

"Thank you, Kaori." Kagome squeezed Sesshoumaru's hand as she walked away to join the pups for a meal, Shippo jumping into her lap to offer some of the berries Senmei had picked for them. Sango and Miroku joined the group, Sesshoumaru sitting between his mother and Kagome to prevent any arguments. They ate silently for a while, all of them waiting for a certain hanyou to return.

It was Sango who finally broke the silence. "What does Kaori mean by 'Lover's Rights'? And what's the difference between a lover and a mate?"

Sesshoumaru growled before his mother could answer, knowing that she would make a comment about the human's lack of knowledge on matters of youkai life, and he was not interested in mediating such a dispute. Jaken took Rin and the pups away to play in the flowers, knowing that such young ears should not hear such delicate matters. For once, Sesshoumaru applauded the toad's intelligence in removing the children. Kagome kissed Shippo on the head and pushed him after the others, Kirara and Ah-Uh following the group. Satisfied that everyone was ready, Sesshoumaru opened his mouth to explain.

He closed it just as quickly when a familiar pair returned from the forest, rolling his eyes as his half-brother settled into the circle as if nothing had happened, the scent of a recent mating filling the clearing. Inuyasha grinned as he first reclaimed his sword and then grabbed a large chunk of fresh meat, eating it quickly and messily in his usual manner. Koyama ate just as quickly, though she had better manners, and she managed to pack more away than her hanyou mate.

At some point during the short and silent meal, Kagome realized what had happened that morning, and she squealed in delight. "Koyama! You and Inuyasha . . ."

"When I joined this pack, Sesshoumaru-sama granted me the right to choose my own mate when my time came. I chose."

Inuyasha puffed his chest out at Satori's expression, somehow finding great joy in the fact that Koyama had angered her with her choice of mates. "I'm gonna be a dad!"

Satori growled and turned to her son. "I cannot believe the hanyou has been allowed to breed. Such oversight is not welcome from the Lord of the West."

In an instant, Sesshoumaru had his mother pinned against a tree, holding her dangling above the ground by her throat, his eyes red and his claws glowing green. The pressure of his furious youki flattened the rest of the pack, even his pups. "I will not hear any more from you. You may be Lady of the West until I choose a mate, but I am still lord and matings within the pack are my concern. I upheld my honor by respecting my promise, and my half-brother has more power inside him than you have ever known. You will cease your attacks on his character and the issue of his human mother, and I will spare your life. I require your assistance to help raise and protect these pups, but you will hold your tongue or you will lose it." He smirked, the motion dark and evil, and only Jaken had ever seen that look before. Satori was in a great deal of trouble. "I believe it took you thirty years to grow it back last time."

Satori hung her head, scent signaling her defeat. "Forgive me, son. Such disrespect will not happen again."

"See that it does not." Sesshoumaru returned to his seat and calmed his beast, watching his mother's subdued expression for any sign of resistance. Since Inuyasha and Koyama were finished eating, he began his explanation. "A mate is a female marked and taken as a permanent, title-bearing member of the pack. Mates birth heirs, and sometimes only care for pups born before. Mates of a full-blooded youkai are usually youkai, or at least a powerful hanyou, and in the royal circles only youkai will do. A mate must be powerful enough to fight off all opposition in order to ensure that her children will have the full rights and protection granted to them by youkai society. Mates have title and position, but in the highest circles, they are usually for alliance. Lovers are completely different. Since mates are for power and position, males usually only bed them when they are fertile and pups are required. They spend the rest of their time with their lover or lovers. It is common for the male and female in a mating bond to have lovers. Izayoi was my father's lover, and he cared for her deeply. Humans are common in this position, for they are more emotional than youkai and evoke our protective instincts."

"And you want Kagome to be your lover?"

"Yes, tajiya, that is the plan. I have . . . feelings for the miko that I have only begun to understand. When this mission is over, she will return with me and my pack to live in my palace for the rest of her life, if she so chooses. In time, for the sake of my lands and my pups, I must take a Mate and form a strong alliance. I do not plan to procreate with her, as I already have six pups to look after, and I will not share her bed as long as Kagome is by my side. As my chosen lover, her lifespan will be extended slightly, and she will have a high status in my household."

Sango grinned and hugged her friend, watching Kagome's blush spread. "Wow! Congratulations!"

"You said the rights were not completed yet," Miroku pointed out. "What do you still have to do?"

Inuyasha leaned over and sniffed Kagome, keeping his ears lowered in submission when Sesshoumaru growled. "He has to rut with her in front of his pack to solidify his claim. And he has to let himself . . . finish."

Sango's eyes widened, and Miroku nodded, one side of his mouth lifting in a smirk. His wayward hand found the tajiya's backside, and her fist found the back of his head in the normal amount of time.

Glancing at the unconscious houshi, Sesshoumaru cleared his throat. "It is during this Right that the male is least capable on controlling the creation of children. However, Kagome is a miko and this Sesshoumaru is certain that her powers will prevent her from conceiving a hanyou child."

"Still, it would be better to time your rights with the lowest point of Kagome's fertility cycle," Koyama pointed out. "I believe that she nears that point in the next few days."

All eyes turned to Kagome, who blushed at the sudden attention and looked away. The three coyote sisters, smiling at the new relationship between Sesshoumaru and Kagome, finished packing the remainder of the cooked food and plants for the trip, leaving to join the children in the clearing near the stream.

"Sesshoumaru . . . who has to witness the rights? There are certain members of this group that probably should not." Kagome sent a meaningful glance at the unconscious houshi, and Sesshoumaru nodded.

"You are perceptive. Only adult youkai and hanyou members of the pack are allowed to witness the Rights. The children, servants, and humans will leave that night, but they will stay close enough for us to hear of any trouble that may occur. That means that Inuyasha, Koyama, and my mother will be the witnesses. All other youkai will be slaughtered by my beast that night in order to protect you."

"Oh." Kagome glanced at Sesshoumaru's mother and felt a chill run through her, despite the youkai's previous kindness. She would not welcome a human into her family, and Kagome hoped that Satori would not ruin their lover's rights.

To be continued . . .