"Honestly Junko, I can feed myself." Kagome sighed in mock exasperation as Junko continued to try to force feed her.
"Maybe so but I know for a fact that you would ignore the food until you found lord Sesshomaru." Junko said thrusting another piece of pickled daikon radish into Kagome's mouth.
"Besides, lord Sesshomaru would have my head if I let you leave this bed." She said with a small smile.
"What was so important that Sesshomaru had to leave so early? I didn't even see hi when I got up." Kagome grumbled. Junko looked at Kagome's pout and gave a quiet laugh.
"He's having a 'word' with Inuyasha. He's still a little upset about Inuyasha taking you." Kagome's eyes shot up to Junko's looking worried.
"It's not serious is it?" she asked. Suddenly a loud crashing could be heard from outside followed by a grunt of pain.
"No, not at all." Junko said completely nonchalant. Another crash came, this one even louder than the last.
"Junko! We have to go stop them; Inuyasha is going to get hurt!" She cried jumping up from the futon.
"Nonsense, lord Sesshomaru is just teaching the young lord a lesson on respecting his alpha." She said taking a bit of radish for herself. Another loud crash was accompanied by the sound of splintering wood sounded and Kagome rushed out the door.
Kagome followed the noises into the garden and found Sesshomaru literally throwing Inuyasha around. Judging from the amount of splintered wood and crushed flowers Sesshomaru had been throwing Inuyasha into the cherry blossom trees.
"God dammit, I already said I was sorry!" Inuyasha shouted from amidst the pile of wood. "How many more times do I have to say it?"
"At least a thousand more." Sesshomaru growled as he reached for him again.
"Come on Sesshomaru, he's had enough." Kagome said rushing in front of Inuyasha. He looked startled for a second; slowly he rose from his attacking pose and gave Inuyasha a cold glare as he spoke to his mate.
"Very well, but if the half-breed touches what is mine again I will not hesitate to kill him."
"Quit talking about me like I'm not here!"
"Inuyasha, your not helping." She said with a pointed glare.
"Like you even care what happens to me anymore, why would you, when you have fluffy over there to keep you safe." He said with a glare of his own. Sesshomaru gave a low warning growl.
"Inuyasha, you know that's not true. Just because I'm mated to Sesshomaru doesn't mean I'll stop being your friend or caring about you."
"Like Mr. Sword-up-his-ass is gonna let you see me anyways!" He yelled. Sesshomaru started to step forward but stopped –much to Daisuke's amusement, who was calmly sitting in the background- when Kagome shot him a glare.
"First of all," Kagome started raising her voice to match his. "Stop it with the name calling! Whether you like it or not Sesshomaru is my mate and you will give him the respect he deserves. I'm not expecting you guys to suddenly start braiding flowers in each others hair or anything, don't look at me like that! I'm saying you guys could at least act civilized to each other." She said giving each of the silver-haired brothers pointed looks.
"And Sesshomaru wouldn't dare try to lock me in the castle, in fact if he even thought about it I'd purify his ass!" Sesshomaru raised a brow and gave a small smirk as if he found her little outburst to be cute instead of the fierce threat she intended it to be. Kagome ignored it and continued on with her rant.
"Besides, I still have a job to do. We still need to gather the sacred jewel shards, so whether you like it or not you're stuck with me buddy, for life!" she exclaimed crossing her arms.
Inuyasha was shocked, he honestly hadn't expected Kagome to stand up for him and he certainly hadn't expected her to continue her travels with him. He reached out toward her and pulled her in so suddenly that she gasped and held her in a fierce embrace. He smiled as her arms immediately went around his neck. He ignored the possessive growls his brother was giving him and buried his nose in her hair.
"Thank you." He whispered quietly. He felt stupid now for ever thinking that Kagome would abandon him. She loved him, maybe not in the same way he loved her, but he would take whatever she gave to keep her in his life.
He pulled back and gave her a kiss on the brow before letting go of her all together. His heart glowed when she gave him a beaming smile. He made some excuse about needing to make sure Miroku wasn't harassing any of the females and left; content with the fact that Kagome would always be there for him.
Kagome turned toward Sesshomaru and pointed at him.
"Now it's our turn to talk." She said. Sesshomaru smirked and raised an eyebrow suggestively, making Kagome blush.
"Not, that kind of talk!" she near growled. She pointed a finger at the chuckling kitsune in the background.
"You, come here now." She demanded imperiously, making both males smile at her.
"How may I be of service to you, my lady?" Daisuke said bowing while continuing to grin.
"You could start by telling me about what this amulet really does." She said looking determined, but Sesshomaru wondered about the slight fear that shone in her eyes.
"Why it instills desire of course." He said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Sesshomaru narrowed his citrine eyes at the other male. He did not like where this conversation was going.
"You mean everything that we feel," she said gesturing between herself and her mate, "is all a lie?" she said quietly. Sesshomaru scented the salty tears that had begun to fall and positioned himself closer to her, hoping that his presence might be enough to hold the impending tears at bay.
"Of course not, my pet, and you are asking all the wrong questions."
"And what, pray tell, might that be?" Sesshomaru cut in sounding annoyed.
"You should be asking me why I put the charms on you two." He said smiling. He continued when neither said anything.
"You two are soul mates." He said simply. "Your goddess Benzaiten was frustrated with you to and sent me to bring you together." Daisuke had expected the tears and tension to stop then; evidently it wasn't going to happen. He sighed internally thinking how difficult mortals and there damned feelings were.
Sesshomaru thought over the information that the kitsune had provided him with. He didn't particularly like being a pawn in anyone's plans but he couldn't picture a life with out the small women at his side. Could he swallow his pride and continue with her as he had been. Sensing Kagome's gaze on him he looked down to find her looking up at him fearfully as if she had her the thoughts that had just past through his head.
Yes, he decided giving Kagome a reassuring smile. He would stay with her no matter what.
Put at ease with Sesshomaru's silent promise Kagome turned toward Daisuke.
"So does the charm ever come off?" she asked. "Because honestly being deathly ill every time I'm away from Sesshomaru isn't exactly ideal."
"You don't need me for that," he said smiling fondly at them both. "just say exactly how you feel to each other." With that he walked away.
Kagome's heart fluttered in her chest as she turned her whole body toward her mate. She looked into his honeyed eyes. Sesshomaru saw her nervousness and smiled warmly at her before pulling her into his chest.
His arms circled her waist as her went up to his neck. Sesshomaru leaned down toward her ear, gently nuzzling his nose against her hair as he went. Kagome shivered as his warm breath brushed against her skin.
"Aishiteru" he whispered.
"Aishiteru" she whispered tearfully pulling back to plant a passionate kiss on his lips.
Neither noticed the jewels as they begun to glow brighter and brighter. So lost in their passion they didn't notice when the light burning white enveloping them both in its caressing light before it faded away twinkling their last goodbyes at the two lovers.
The Miawaku no Hoseki and the Bara Medo both fell back into a deep slumber, awaiting the time they would next be needed.
A/N: I'm sad to say that this story is nearing its end. I might put up an epilogue though.
I want to thank all of you who supported me through my first story and I'm glad that it has gotten as much attention as it has. Thank you all again!
