Thank you all for leaving me such wonderful reviews! I know that as of lately I have been doing a lot of cliffhangers and for that I'm deeply sorry. This one doesn't have much of a cliffy and leaves you feeling nice and warm. tehe. But since I have updated The Beast a lot, I am going to start back up on my other story, Brothers Bliss, since it's only ten chapters long and I have it all planned out. ;)

Leave me comments about what you would like to see in the future of this story, I like reading some ideas you have and taking it and running with it. You all have been so dedicated and for that I'm grateful. :)

Onward with the story:

Chapter Thirteen

"Changing"

Not being able to understand what his emotions were, the Lord paced his most favored room: his study. He brought up a clawed hand and brushed it gently through his silver hair then let it drop to graze gently over the patch on his neck. He knew he was almost fully healed but the girl insisted that he kept it covered until it was healed to her human standards.

He let out a scoff as he thought of her actions from the incident two days ago. He found Miroku out of breath and tried to explain that Kagome had left. He didn't let the poor servant finish as he ran out of the castle. He knew she was in danger; the air was filled with the smell of a hunt. The thrill, the excitement and the blood thirst had filled his nostrils and his lungs. He didn't waste time and had changed into his beast form and saved the girl. She was so pale when he approached her in back in his half human half beastly form. But he never smelt fear when he approached her, she had smelled of relief and just a little of irritation.

It was unexpected of her to take charge as they reached back to his castle. She had taken care of him and that took him off guard. She tried to clean his raw wound with an old rag that scraped against it and made him admit to his pain. But she never cooed him nor treated him differently by much. She was only irritated and fixed on helping him. It had given him such an odd feeling in his chest and stomach and he wasn't sure if he liked it or not.

And oh Kami, when she straddled him and made moves on this Sesshomaru, he was thrown way off. He couldn't help but to respond to her gentle kisses and made her aware of his growing need of her. He and his beast had purred at that delicious moment; his inner beast thought that she was rewarding him for them saving her. But in the end she was only teasing him and numbed him from the pain with her tea, and for that he was also grateful. He knew he was slowly giving into her and he was becoming more and more okay with it. But he wasn't fully ready to accept that he was starting to grow fond of this little human girl. He was shocked of himself for being in control when she seduced him although his beast was on the sidelines, urging him on but stayed far back enough to let him decide how he reacted.

A tiny smile graced the Lord's lips as he thought his beastly side was starting to become a bad influence.

Two days had passed and the girl was sick, Miroku claiming it was because of her being out in the cold without proper attire. Sesshomaru thought it was something larger, that she was going to die. He really thought he was going to lose the girl and he thanked all the stars for her not reaching the border or else he wouldn't have helped her. That beast would have followed her and killed her. He was relieved that he made it to her on time. Her reaction to him being in his full beast form had shocked him the most. Not once had she screamed when she saw him but she had rather called his name. When he turned his head to look at the scared girl, her eyes were wide and her heart was pounding but her scent came off of her and she was happy and very relieved. Just this once and never again will he think this: The girl was too good for this Sesshomaru.

He had stopped pacing the room and stood in the middle staring into nothingness as his thoughts echoed in his head. The girl was too good for this Sesshomaru. His lips formed a sad smile and he hung his head down and stared at the wooden floors. She was kind, loving, excepting and innocent. He would corrupt her one day and he didn't want that for her.

She is perfect for us, his beast spoke in.

He lifted his head and stared at the wall and listened to each tick of the clock that was the only sound that broke the silence. He stood there for a while and eventually started to walk out of the room, made his way up the long staircase then to Kagome's wing. He stood outside of her door for a split second then quietly opened it. He saw the dark haired beauty lying on the bed under the numerous amounts of blankets; only her dark hair could be seen.

He approached the bed and looked down at the sleeping beauty and felt something odd flip in his stomach and his heart started to pound just a little. What were these feelings that were overcoming him? His beast stirred more and longed to touch her. He sat down on the end of the bed and smoothed a blanket that was over her and watched her sleep.

After almost losing her, he knew he didn't want to risk losing her again. The aura of the castle had changed when she arrived and the people that lived in it had changed as well. Slowly, he himself was changing as well.

xXx

Kagome's eyes opened slowly and knew automatically that she felt much better. She sat up and stretched her limbs, testing them to see just how limp and sore they were from her sickness. She groaned as a few joints popped then settled. She looked over to her window and saw that it must be mid-morning. The sun was rising and there was no snow falling, but from the lighting of outside, snow was still on the ground. She looked around her room and took notice that her fireplace was lit and new logs were set the side to keep the fire going.

Someone had been looking after her.

A blush rose up from her neck then to her cheeks and ears at the thought of someone taking care of her. She had always been the one to take care of others, so it was new that she was the one being taken care of. She pushed the blankets to the side and scooted off the bed and made her way around the room. She gathered a dress and went into the bathing room and set it down. She undressed from her chemise and saw that a hot bath had already been prepared for her. She stepped into it and groaned as the water lapped at her soft skin.

She remembered that she had taken care of Sesshomaru and stitched his neck then bandaged it. He looked exhausted and had the help of Miroku to bring him to his wing and into his chambers for him to rest. When she left the room she went back to clean the area they were at before and started to sway. Miroku had scolded her for leaving without much protection in the cold and took her to her room and made her lay down. She remembered falling asleep and occasionally waking up feeling worse and sweaty. She remembered seeing a new face, an older woman with an eye patch in her room and she was taking her temperature. The woman would look over her shoulder and say something but Kagome was too out of it to make out what she was saying. Quickly she fell back asleep.

While in her state, she did remember feeling Sesshomaru's presence, although he never spoke. But she knew he was there with her most of the time and the pressure of someone stroking her blankets could be felt. A warm would occasionally touch her forehead and the zap of electricity would go between her head and the hand. It had to of been Sesshomaru since he was the only one to make her feel that way.

She got out of the bathtub when she was finished cleansing herself, she then wrapped a soft towel around herself and dried off. She dressed for the day and fought with the top to prevent her breasts from being pushed up so much, but as before, she gave up when it didn't give in. She went back into the bedroom and slipped on some comfortable brown slips then left the room and made her way down to the kitchen.

"Ah, Kagome, just in time for breakfast. How are you feeling?" Miroku asked as he balanced a tray of food on his hand.

She smiled gently at him, "Much better thank you. Sorry for worrying you."

He winked at her and headed to the dining room. "You did worry us for a minute but Kaede said you will be fine. Kaede is our healer." They both walked into the dining room as he explained.

Kagome held her breath when she saw Sesshomaru already seated at the table waiting for his breakfast. He looked over at her with his amber eyes and locked onto her blue ones.

"Lord Sesshomaru." She greeted softly.

He stood up slowly and made his way toward her; he never allowed his eyes to break contact with hers. Miroku walked away from her and went to the table and set up the food and left the room. It felt like a long time before Sesshomaru finally approached her, he reached up and ran his claws gently through her wet hair.

"Are you feeling better?" he whispered. Even if he spoke softly, it sent chills right down her back and raised goose pimples along her arms and neck.

She nodded gently and smiled up at him, "I should be asking you the same." She looked away from his eyes then down his neck and saw he still had the bandage on. She smiled and reached forward and started to gently remove it.

No blood, no stiches and no scaring.

Her eyes widened and she looked back up to his face then back down to where the stiches once used to be.

"H-how?" she mumbled.

Sesshomaru's claw reached up and grabbed onto her hand gently and pulled it to his lips and he softly planted a kiss. Her eyes widened at his changed behavior and didn't know if she was dreaming or not. She blushed and watched as his soft lips pulled away from her hand and he gently led her to the table.

"Sit." He softly commanded.

There is the Sesshomaru she knew very well.

She took her seat and sat down and watched as he walked away then sat back in his place and he stared at her and she just stared right back, but only in shock.

He tilted his head to the side just a fraction and he raised an eyebrow, "Why are you staring at me like I have grown horns?" he questioned, sounding just a little irritated.

She smiled and shook her head, so he was trying to be sweet to her but he wasn't all too comfortable with it. "Just be yourself, my Lord." She looked down at the table that was full of food and she started to place different things on her plate.

Miroku entered the room once again but had tea on his tray. He set a cup down in front of Kagome then in front of Sesshomaru and he filled them with the special blended tea. "I remembered you like this tea." Miroku said to her softly.

She looked up at him and smiled, "Thank you. In our small town we don't get anything as great as this." She lifted the tea cup and took a sip and smiled as the flavor overtook her tongue. It was sweet and very relaxing. It had some cinnamon in it that made her want to puddle on the ground.

"We have received this tea from the far west, across the ocean. What kind of tea do you all have in your town?" Miroku asked, ignoring Sesshomaru's steady glare of him hanging around.

Kagome took another sip and glanced at Sesshomaru then back at Miroku, she smiled and shrugged, "Pretty standard really. Not much flavor unless you add your own herbs or spices to it. We don't have much of a luxury there than what you have here." She explained softly.

"What all does your small town need?" Sesshomaru's voice broke through, his voice deep but at the same time very soft.

Both Kagome and Miroku looked at him with their eyebrows raised. He stared back at only her and waited for her answer. She set down her cup and cleared her throat, "I-I'm not sure now that I'm put on the spot about it." She stuttered.

Sesshomaru's claw came up to his face and he leaned on his hand and his elbow rested against the table, the look telling her he wasn't going to change the subject and was waiting for her answer.

She looked down and played with her fingers nervously and shook her head, "We have very little food, especially during the winter time. We have crops but sometimes they die out. We have no healer of our own in our town, which is why my brother Souta had left on his travel to the next town to get medicines for my grandpa. On his way back that's when he was-"she stopped and cleared her throat. "We live on so very little but yet we are comfortable." She smiled and looked back up at Sesshomaru who was still watching her.

"Miroku, tell some of my men to gather food, clothing and anything else that town might need and send them to Kagome's town to help them." Sesshomaru ordered, not breaking eye contact with Kagome.

She gasped and looked at Miroku then at Sesshomaru and shook her head, "No, you don't have to do this." She waved her hands.

Sesshomaru removed his hand from his face and a tiny smile graced his lips, "I don't have to but I will. Go, Miroku."

Miroku bowed to Lord Sesshomaru then turned to Kagome and he smirked then winked, "My lady." He finished then left.

She blushed and watched as Miroku left the room, "Why is he calling me that?" she asked aloud.

Sesshomaru didn't answer her question and he started to eat his food. Kagome looked down at her plate and felt her stomach turn from her nerves. She couldn't believe that Sesshomaru had ordered for his men to go out there and help her town. She blushed more and picked at her food then started to slowly eat her cold food.

"Thank you." She whispered to him.