Chapter 14

Sesshoumaru is following the little miko while she makes her way to the hot springs. The slayer is hurt and he knew that his miko is feeling guilty. He admires the slayer for protecting the village and her alpha when she is injured. It is the sign of a true pack member that will do anything to protect the pack.

Sesshoumaru slowly floats through the air and makes sure to keep his presence hidden from the little miko. He wants to make sure that the monk did not follow the females.

Sesshoumaru watches when his little miko heals the slayer. The slayers injuries are numerous and observes his little miko using her tears of healing. He notices when the females undress and go into the water. He hears when the slayer asks her questions about him.

Sesshoumaru is not prepared to hear the hurt in his mate's voice when she said that he rejected her as a female. That is far from the truth but he cannot do anything to protect her from other males if they decide to pursue their suit with his female. Plus, he could not give her a proper courting mark.

Sesshoumaru is devastated to learn that he has hurt her this bad. Yes, he is angry but not at the little miko. He is angry with Naraku for putting him through all of this. If Naraku had not put this curse on him then he would be free to tell the miko his feelings. Now she thought that he has rejected her as a potential mate and this did not please him at all.

At that moment Sesshoumaru caught movement off to the right when his eyes turn red. He will not be able to hear the rest of the miko's conversation with the slayer because the lecherous monk decided to make himself known. He jumps and lands right in front of the monk that is trying to peep on the females.

-oOo-

Miroku wants to watch the girls as they bathe. He thought that he would be cleaver and devises a devious plan. He leaves the village in the opposite direction that the girls are traveling. He made sure that they notice where he is going so all suspicion will be diverted from him.

He circles the village and is coming in from the back side of the hot springs. He is moving slowly so he will not make any noise, following the voices of his favorite females. He finally makes it to the bushes that conceal the hot springs, and lays down on his stomach, being as quiet as possible. He is about to part the bush in front of him when he sees Sesshoumaru land right in front of him.

The red of his eyes told Miroku everything he needs to know as Sesshoumaru's beast came forth. He is not happy to see him there and bares his fangs at him. Miroku made the most intelligent decision of his life when he gets up and runs back to the village. He notices that Sesshoumaru is following closely behind him, when he makes it back to Kaede's hut he sits down by the fire.

Miroku didn't dare move because it will set off the Youkai Lord. He has made the biggest mistake of his life and now Sesshoumaru is keeping a close eye on him. If he moves, he knew that he will be dead before the girls came back.

Miroku hears a noise and looks up, he notices that the girls were finally returning. He thought that now he will be free to move, but when he went to stand up he hears the Youkai Lord growling in his direction. Miroku quickly sits back down and doesn't move. Now he knew he was in trouble, once the girls find out what he did.

It did not take long for Kagome to figure out what was wrong when she asks Miroku her question.

Miroku is scared to answer Kagome. He knew that the girl's wrath will be worse than the Youkai Lord could ever give him. He hears a growl coming from behind that told him he better confess or it will be his death. Miroku sighs and hopes that the girls will understand that his hand is cursed and it is not his fault if he is lecherous. "Lord Sesshoumaru caught me by the hot springs and brought me back here. Now he refuses to let me get up or move."

Sango hears the monk and turns red with anger. "You mean to tell me that you went to peep on us when we have told you repeatedly not to follow us. Miroku I'm going to kill you!"

Kagome grabs Sango by the arm and holds on to her angry friend. "Sango calm yourself it is not your place to punish Miroku. That task belongs to me." Sango calms when she hears Kagome's words. She is right, if Miroku is going to be punished then it is her right to do it.

Kagome turns toward Sesshoumaru, bowing deeply to him in respect, "Lord Sesshoumaru, I thank you for seeing to my privacy. I will see to the monk's punishment."

Sesshoumaru's eyes return to its normal color and watches his little female. He wants to see how she is going to punish the monk.

Kagome turns her attention to Miroku and he is very nervous about his punishment. Then she gets an idea on what type of punishment he should receive, "Miroku since you like watching women in the water so much then I have the perfect punishment for you. Tomorrow you will help the village women wash their garments in the river as your punishment.

"I don't mean, that you will go down there and observe them in what they are doing. You will be helping them wash their garments as punishment. And if I hear that your lecherous hand goes to forbidden territory then your punishment will be worse. Am I making myself clear on this?"

Miroku pales when he is told what his punishment is going to be. He did not relish the idea of helping the village women wash dirty garments. He sighs, he knows he is not going to be getting out of this, "Yes Lady Kagome, I understand fully. I will do my duty."

Kagome smiles then she turns and goes into the hut. She puts her bag away, grabs her bow and quiver, then turns to go toward the center of the village. She needs to talk to the head female that will be down at the river tomorrow. She wants to make sure that Miroku gets his punishment and she has just the right female in mind that will keep him on his toes.

Once Kagome finishes with her business she then heads into the forest. She needs some time alone and she is hoping to get it. She walks to the sacred tree, sits down and rests her tired body.

She closes her eyes and lets her powers spread through the area to make sure that no one is sneaking up on her. Imagine her surprise when she feels that Sesshoumaru is approaching her.

-oOo-

Sesshoumaru watches his little miko dish out the punishment to the monk. He thinks that it is a fitting punishment for a male who likes to observe females in the water. Though these females will be dressed, performing the task of a female, is degrading for a male, no matter if they are ningen or Youkai.

Sesshoumaru is amused to say the least and continues to watch his female deal with the monk. He watches when she goes inside the hut and puts her bag away. She then she walks out with her bow and quiver. He is wondering where she is going and follows.

Sesshoumaru follows his miko to the center of the village. He finds her talking to an older female and she is explaining to her Miroku's punishment. The elder female laughs, then she tells his mate that she will make sure that Miroku works his little hands off come morning.

His little miko seems to be happy with that answer, then she makes her way into the forest. He follows her to make sure that she stays safe while she is heading towards the sacred tree.

Once she is settled against the tree he goes towards her so they could have some time together. He misses being next to her and floats down to her knee. He looks up and asks, "Miko are you feeling all right?"

Kagome opens her eyes. She smiles at Sesshoumaru for showing his concern for her well-being, "Yes I'm doing fine Sesshoumaru. I just have a headache."

Sesshoumaru sits down on her knee. He did something that is totally out of character for him and let his curiosity get the better of him. He starts a conversation with her, "Miko why did you choose that particular punishment for the monk?"

Kagome gets a mischievous grin on her face, then asks, "Sesshoumaru have you ever observed a female washing her family's garments?"

Sesshoumaru is confused on why she would ask him this question, while he shook his head no.

"Well when a female goes to wash her family's garments she goes down to the river. They take their kimono and bring it through their legs, then tie that piece of fabric to their obi to keep it from getting wet. Then they must squat down to wash their garments.

"That means that their ass is sticking up in the air as they do the task at hand. Miroku, on numerous occasions, has been caught watching these ladies doing their work. They have voiced their anger at him for watching them but he never stops what he is doing.

"In the morning, he will get to feel what that is like. The village females have agreed that they will do to him what he has done to them on numerous occasions. They will all sit there and watch him wash the garments with his ass in the air. All of the females can see him doing their work and giving him the same harassment that he will normally give them." Kagome finishes her reasoning while she watches the Youkai Lord with interest. He seems to have a small grin on his lips when she explains her actions.

Sesshoumaru was very amused when his little female dishes out her kind of justice. She is making the monk know what it is like to be constantly watched. He thought that it is a fitting punishment to the lecher and gives a chuckle. "Miko you are very mischievous. It is a fitting punishment for the lecher. Remind me to never get you mad at me."

Kagome laughs when she hears Sesshoumaru's assessment. He likes her idea as well. His last comment threw her for a loop, "You do not have to worry about me being angry with you. You will be the first to know. Even my pack has learned to get out of my way when my temper goes up. They have felt firsthand what it's like to feel my wrath."

They sit there and talk for a good portion of the night when Kagome hears, "Miko what is a prom?"

Kagome's eyebrows go up at his question, "Why do you want to know what a prom is?"

Sesshoumaru huffs, he is clearly irritated at having to explain why he wants to know. "This Sesshoumaru heard that male ask you to a prom. I would like to know what it is he asked you to do."

Kagome thought about how best to answer that question, when she came up with an idea, "Well a Prom is like a celebration that the young adults have to show that they are nearing the end of their initial schooling. It is a time for celebrating what we have accomplished.

"The students get dressed in formal attire and attend this event. The males will usually ask a female to go with them and they spend the night dancing. There is a meal that is offered during the night and the celebration usually last until the next morning.

"There is only one Prom in a life time so many go to the celebration. Unfortunately, this year I am not able to attend the celebration. I will not be graduating with the rest of my classmates since I have left my school to study combat training. The hunt for the jewel is taking a lot of my time so that's why I declined Hojo's offer to go to the Prom."

Sesshoumaru knew there was more to this but he will not press the issue with his little miko. "Is this the way that males court their females in your era?"

Kagome has no idea what he is thinking about but she answers his question. "In a way yes, if a male is interested in a female they will approach the female and ask them to go out on a date. This is when the male takes a female somewhere and tries to woo her. If the female is interested they continue to see each other.

"The ningen courtship is long compared to the Youkai one. The ningens will be courting for many seasons before the male will get the nerve to ask the female to mate with them. But the males in my era cannot be trusted. There are many that want to court a female just so they can mate them. Once he gets what he wants they leave the female.

"The values that are here in your era do not exist in mine. There are many males that will not stay true in their mating and will pursue other females while mated to another. So, the females of my era are more cautious around the males.

"The male that approached me, though handsome by my era's standards, wants me to court him. He has been interested for years now but I never felt that way about him. This is the first opportunity I had to tell him that I am not interested in courting him. It is time that he took interest in someone else."

Sesshoumaru now has a better understanding of what was going on when that male wanted to take his miko to the Prom. He also knew a little about how a ningen male goes about courting the female.

Youkai are different, they will pick their female based on instincts, their inner beast being the main reason that they have chosen said female. When they approach a female, they know that this is the female that they want to mate. When the courting starts, the male will do everything in his power to make the female feel special, they will take care of her, bring her food, provide her with kimono's, and give her a home to call her own. When the female is satisfied that the male is a good provider then they will mate.

This process does not take long, not like the seasons that his miko talks about. His guess is that that ningens cannot decide on a female because of their inferior senses. But he is curious about something and turns his attention back to his female. "Miko, what do you look for in a male?"

Now this question caught Kagome by surprise. "You know Sesshoumaru I have never really thought about that before. I guess I will want a male that is gentle with me. He must understand that I'm different from the rest of the females and treat me with respect. I must be able to trust him to stay true to me and not seek another female to warm his futon. I don't care what they look like. I don't care if they are rich or if they are poor, if they love me and I return that affection that is all that matters."

Then Kagome decided to turn the question back on Sesshoumaru, "What do you look for in a female Sesshoumaru?"

Sesshoumaru thought about the miko's question, "This Sesshoumaru looks for a female that will be a wonderful mother to Rin. Rin is getting to the age that she will need female guidance.

"This Sesshoumaru also looks for a female that is loyal, powerful, independent, and caring. She must be able to stand on her own and if challenged she must be willing to fight to stay by this Sesshoumaru's side.

"This Sesshoumaru also looks for a female that can provide him with an heir. My lands need an heir for it to stay in my family. Plus, the female must be Youkai to provide me with such. Youkai law dictates that the heir must be Youkai or I will risk losing my father's lands. Any other offspring of this Sesshoumaru will not be accepted by the other Youkai Lords of the lands if it is not full blooded."

This caught Kagome by surprise. She now has her answer, there is no way she will be able to be his mate. She is ningen and any children she has will be hanyou if she mated him. This news hit her hard as the pain in her heart grew even more.

Kagome looks at Sesshoumaru and the expression on his features caught her off guard. She saw the regret in his eyes and there was also pain in them. He did not want to tell her this but since she asked he answered her question truthfully. It may be law that he must have a Youkai heir but that is not the way his heart feels. She took in a deep breath as she let it out slowly to calm herself.

When she was sure that she has her control back she reaches over and picks Sesshoumaru up. She brings him under her chin as she holds him close to her. Her fingers were going around in circles on his back trying to comfort him. She knew that he is trying to find the answer to his problems so he could have what he wants.

She rocks back and forth as she states in a low and breaking voice, "I'm sure that you will find the female that you are looking for. She is bound to be out there for you. All you must do is look for her. Your laws may be outdated but you are Lord to your lands and as a Lord you should be able to amend any law to suit your needs. If your heart yearns for someone go after them because when everything is said and done she might not be there for you.

"But I do understand that you are having issues because you are this size. It's preventing you from acting on your feelings. When we complete the jewel, I will return you to normal so you can find your female. Let Maru guide you in your search, I know that he is very smart and he will pick the best female for you."

Sesshoumaru is surprised that his miko is showing him affection. It is the first time that he has ever felt her touching him in this manner. Yes, she has shown his inner Inu affection but he has never received anything from her. He likes this feeling that she is instilling in his body.

Sesshoumaru hears everything that the miko is saying. She did have a point. He is Lord of the lands and he can change any law that he deems unreasonable. He can take his female once he is normal again. He could not wait for that day to come.

His tail comes up as it encircles the little miko's neck nuzzling her. It is a feeling that he could not describe and he has a feeling that she knows of his dilemma.

Kagome looks up to the sky as she looks at the moon. It is almost the new moon and it is time that they leave to find the rest of the jewel shards. "Come let us go back. The new moon is tomorrow night and we leave in the morning to continue hunting the shards of the jewel. It will give us a day's head start on Inuyasha and we can be a long distance away from the village before he is back to normal again."

Sesshoumaru understands what the little miko is saying. He knows that Inuyasha time of vulnerability is on the night of the new moon and it would be the perfect opportunity for them to get a head start on the hanyou. He agrees, he moves to her shoulder and sits close to her neck.

Kagome gets up and goes back to the village. She knew that Sango will be worried about her, she has been gone for a while now and needs to return. When she got back to Kaede's hut she sees Sango sitting outside waiting for her.

Miroku is on the other side of the fire behaving himself for once. He has no hand prints on his face so he is not being lecherous. She gave an internal chuckle. All it took for Miroku to behave is to have a very angry Daiyoukai after him.

When Kagome finally reaches the hut, she sits down by the fire. Sango immediately gets her some stew to eat. She thanks Sango for the food when she notices that she gives Sesshoumaru some food as well. She is happy to see that Sango is learning how to behave around the Youkai Lord. She must be taking some lessons from Shippou.

Thinking about her kit Kagome looks around the area for him, when she did not see him she asks, "Sango where is Shippou?"

Sango is wiping her hands on a cloth when she hears Kagome's question, "Shippou went to bed. He was so tired that he fell asleep out here in my arms. I put him inside in your sleeping bag. I hope you don't mind. But he has been sleeping in it since you have been gone. It gives him some comfort since it does have your scent on it."

Kagome smiles when she hears that her son will sleep in her sleeping bag, to receive comfort from her scent, "No I don't mind. I was just worried about him that's all. Thank you for taking care of him.

"Tomorrow after Miroku finishes his punishment we will be moving again. It's the night of the new moon and we can use the extra time to get a head start on Inuyasha. I want you all to be aware that he will be following us while we travel. Kikyou can't sense the shards as well as I can so they will be close. Be prepared for anything and we must ensure that Shippou stays safe. I don't want him getting hurt by Inuyasha again."

Everyone understands when Miroku asks, "In which direction will we be heading when we leave?"

Kagome looks towards the west, she is sensing a shard in that direction. "We will be heading west. There is at least one shard there and we need to get it before Naraku."

Everyone now knew where they were going and what they need to do. They will have to get everything ready in the morning and then leave before noon. This way they will be far enough away from the village before they must stop for the night.

Kaede came back as they are all talking. She notices right away that Kagome is in pain, she walks into her hut and gets some herbs for a tea. She grabs a pot and then fills it with some water, putting the herbs in the water. When they were done cooking, she took some of the tea and gives it to Kagome.

Kagome's eyebrow furrows together in confusion, "Kaede why are you giving me this tea?"

Kaede turns her attention to the young miko and states, "You are in pain child, the knife that sister Kikyou embedded in your shoulder had a powerful spell on it and it wanted to kill you. You still have some residual left from that spell and this tea will help you to recover. I know for a fact that you have a big headache because I can tell that you are not focusing on what is being said."

Kagome rubs her forehead. Kaede is right she has this tremendous headache and she is not focusing on anything. She takes the tea from Kaede and drinks it. Her head starts to feel better but she is also getting very sleepy. She excuses herself from everyone while she goes to lay down.

Kagome slowly gets up and stumbles. She catches herself, straightens up once more and then starts walking towards the hut. She is walking like she is drunk and staggers from side to side. Finally, her hand makes contact with the hut, she uses the hut as something to lean on and walks in. She finally makes it to the mat that she was laying on earlier in the day, she lays down and immediately falls asleep.

Sesshoumaru notices the way his miko is acting, he knows that the old one did something to his little miko, his beast is upset at this turn of events, he turns towards the old one and asks with a snarl, "Old one what did you give the miko? Why is she acting this way?"

Kaede turns her only eye towards the Youkai Lord and explains what she did, "The tea I gave Kagome will take away her pain but it will also put her to sleep. She needs sleep to help her heal. I know Kagome well enough that she will never rest on her own. Sometimes we must force her to rest. It's the only thing that we can do to take care of her since she won't do it on her own."

Sesshoumaru calms down when he hears the old miko speak. She is only looking after his miko's health and he is grateful that they paid so much attention to her. He did notice this about his miko. She never took care of herself the way she took care of everyone else. He must pay closer attention to her and make sure that she stays healthy.

Sesshoumaru gets up from his place and follows the miko inside the hut. He finds her sleeping on her mat and goes over to her. Looking at his miko, eyes softening, he gazes upon her sleeping form. His hand moves to her cheek while he gently caresses her. Then he moves closer to her and rubs his cheek against hers, his beast finally having a chance growls gently and let's just one word escape his lips, "Mine."

Sesshoumaru pulls away from his miko when he notices that she is moving. He thought that she is waking up but she just continues to sleep. The next thing he feels is a small hand going around his waist while he is pulled closer to the sleeping miko.

Kagome is sleeping on her mat when her subconscious mind reacts to Sesshoumaru's claim. She reaches out with her hand and brings him closer to her neck. She sets him down next to her when her arm comes up to cover him from view. She continues sleeping as a low growl comes out of her throat to sooth the Youkai Lord. Then he hears her whisper, "Yours," under her breath while she sleeps.

Sesshoumaru is completely taken by surprise by the miko's movement. He never thought that she would grab him like she did, then to be placed on the pillow that is under her head. At that moment, she did something that is unexpected, she growls low and gentle. She is acting like an Inu bitch that knows her mate is worried about her.

When he hears her whisper that she belongs to him, his beast is jumping for joy. She has acknowledged that she is theirs and now he will never give up his claim on her. She belongs to him and he will protect what is his.

Sesshoumaru shifts and rolls over on his side. He moves closer to his miko while his head is nestled against her neck. Her scent surrounded his body as Sesshoumaru begins to relax. Soon he falls asleep in the miko's arms while he is hidden from view.

-oOo-

Sango and Miroku finish cleaning the outside when they decide to go to bed. The next day is going to be busy as they will start their journey once again. They both enter Kaede's hut then look around. They notice that Kagome is sleeping in a corner of the hut, but they did not see the Youkai Lord.

This is strange since they both observe when Sesshoumaru went after their friend but they never see him leave the hut. They both thought that maybe they have just missed his departure since he is so small. He could go anywhere he wants and no one will see him.

They both yawn and go to bed. Sango is lying down near Kagome with Kirara right next to her and Miroku thought that he should take his place across from the girls just in case Sesshoumaru shows up. He did not want to anger the Youkai Lord any more than he has already.

They all fall asleep as the night is a quiet one. Sometime in the middle of the night Kagome's aura starts to get stronger. You could see ribbons of pink and blue going around her body as it moves with grace and beauty. Then red and gold ribbons join them as they are twisting and going around each other.

Sesshoumaru's aura starts to react to the little miko's aura as it came forth in all its glory. It moves with ease as it gently caresses that of the miko. When Kagome aura increases it also causes Sesshoumaru aura to match hers. So, they are both surrounded by the others aura as it is slowly merging together.

No one else in the hut notices what is going on because they were all sleeping.

- DREAM -

Sesshoumaru wakes up in the middle of a clearing. He opens his eyes to see that the sun is already out and it is high in the sky. He has no idea how he got here. The last thing he remembers is that he goes to sleep with the miko on her mat. He notices right away that the miko is gone from his side when he quickly sits up and looks for her.

His eyebrows furrow together when he notices that he is in his normal form. He stands, his impressive height towers above everything, while he is looking around the clearing. The first thing he notices is all the flowers that are there. His Rin would enjoy this place while he walks and looks around area. He needs to find his miko while he sniffs the air.

Then the wind shifts as it brings the wonderful scent of Lavender with a hint of a powerful storm. He follows the alluring scent when he finds his female in the middle of a clearing picking flowers.

He notices the joy in her eyes when she brings a blossom close to her nose to smell its fragrance. She didn't seem to notice him, so he decides to walk over to her location. He is almost there when she turns and looks at him.

-oOo-

Kagome wakes up in the middle of this field of flowers. She has never seen this place before while she is slowly getting up from the ground. She looks around the area and notices that she is alone. She is wondering where everyone else is located.

She thought that she fell asleep in Kaede's hut and when she woke up she found herself here, among the flowers. She shrugs her shoulders; she will pick flowers for a little while and then try to find her pack.

She walks around for a little while observing this beautiful place, it is perfect in her eyes. The wind blew gently through the area; the birds were singing their song while they search for food to feed their family. Then she comes upon these wonderful flowers, she couldn't help but stop. They smell heavenly to her senses then she bends down to pick some.

She has a few flowers in her hands when she picks a red one. She closes her eyes and takes in its wonderful scent. It smells sweet to her, a mix of many flowers in one, the fragrance it gives off relaxes her mind. Then she senses that a Youkai is coming near her, she gets up and searches for the intruder. Imagine her surprise when she sees Sesshoumaru walking towards her. A big smile comes to her features when she notices that he is back to normal once more, she drops the flowers from her hands and then rushes to his side.

Sesshoumaru sees the biggest smile he has ever seen on the miko's face when she starts running towards his person. He opens his arms and she crashes into his body. Lowering his arms to embrace her he brings her closer to his chest.

Sesshoumaru's eyes closes when he feels her body against his. This is the most amazing feeling he has ever had and he never wants to let go. Her scent is still as soothing as it was before. He rubs his nose on the top of her head and growls gently.

At this moment in time he didn't care where he was, the only thing that matters to him is the little female that he has in his arms. He is feeling happy for the first time in his life while his arms continue to hold her and his hand is gently rubbing her back.

They stand there for the longest time, just enjoying each other's embrace. The warmth of their body is soothing to each of them. Soon they both pull apart from each other as they look into each other's eyes.

Sesshoumaru could not believe the joy he is seeing in the miko's eyes. They are a bright blue and hold much love in them. He brings his hand up and caresses her cheek. Seeing her eyes close at his touch, he enjoys this moment of silence with her. He growls and states, "This Sesshoumaru has been waiting to return to his normal size. He wishes to ask you a question miko."

Kagome opens her eyes and looks at Sesshoumaru. He is finally back to normal and she did not know how this is even possible. She is happy to see him this way while she listens to his words. She nods her head to indicate that he could ask his question. She could not speak at the moment; she is too afraid to say something to spoil the moment that she was sharing with him.

"This Sesshoumaru humbly request permission to court you miko. You have proven yourself to be a powerful female, and you will honor me if you were to accept my offer."

Kagome's eyes open wide. She never thought in a million years that he will ask her to be his mate. She is shocked out of her mind and nods her consent to be his mate. She smiles beautifully saying, "I would be honored to be your mate Sesshoumaru."

At that moment in time nothing seems to matter to Sesshoumaru. He could care less about the Youkai laws that states he needs a pure-blooded heir. He did not care what the other Youkai Lords thought about his mate. All he knows is that she is his match and he will have her for a mate.

Sesshoumaru leans down and gently kisses her neck. He pulls her kimono off to the side while he is gently caressing the spot between the neck and shoulder. He numbs the area as much as he can, so she will not be in too much pain. Taking a deep breath, he then bites into Kagome's neck.

A rush of power overcame both their beings as their auras encircle their bodies. The wind is blowing fiercely as it whips around them. He tastes blood, pure, sweet, and innocent that is laced with power. Powerful blood that he craves… no yearns for. He embeds a small part of his youki into her body and releases a small amount of poison to make the mark scar. When he is done, he pulls his fangs away from her skin and licks her wounds clean. Within minutes the wound is healed then he pulls the miko into his arms and sits down with her in his lap.

They stayed there for hours, just cuddling with each other. He is content just holding his soon to be little mate, while rocking his body back and forth, soothing her as she sleeps in his arms.

-END OF DREAM-

The next morning Kagome is the first to stir. Her mind starts to wake and the first thing that she notices is that she is lying down. She thought that she fell asleep in Sesshoumaru's arms cuddled into his chest. The warmth of his body is gone from hers, so she moves to see if she could find it.

She finds nothing while her breathing increases indicating that she is waking quickly. She slowly opens her eyes as they come into focus. She notices that she is back in Kaede's hut. Her eyebrows furrow together in confusion. 'I thought that Sesshoumaru was back to normal? Where is he? Did he just bring me back here and then leave?'

Kagome is confused. She didn't know what is real and what is not. She moves her hand to her neck to see if she has a mark there. She finds… nothing. 'It…it… it was… a dream?'

Kagome is clearly upset; it was only a dream and it's not real. Sesshoumaru is not back to normal and he did not ask her to be his mate. Tears start forming in her eyes when she feels something moving near her neck. She hears a gentle growl and knows that it is Sesshoumaru. She did not want to talk to him right now, she gets herself back together and starts to get up.

Sesshoumaru stirs when he feels his miko moving. He could smell her upset and is wondering why she is almost in tears. He opens his eyes when he notices that he is back in his small form. He thought that he was back to his normal size. He asked his miko to let him court her and she consented. He remembers marking her and he can still taste her blood on his lips. He didn't know what is going on but he is bound and determined to find out.

He moves away from the miko when she sits up on the mat she is sleeping on. He notices that the others that are in the hut were still sleeping. He forms his cloud under his feet and floats up to face the miko. He sees the unshed tears in her eyes and asks, "Miko are you all right? Is something wrong?"

Kagome could not look at Sesshoumaru. She needs time to herself when she grabs her bag and gets up, dodging Sesshoumaru's form that is floating in front of her. She hears his questions while she answers, "I'm fine Sesshoumaru. I just need some time alone. I need to think about some things and come to terms with what is happening. Please allow me the time that I need."

Sesshoumaru hears her words and agrees to give her the time she needs to recover.

Kagome is going to the hot springs. It is the only place where she could go and think, while she tries to relax. Too many things have happened to her and she is so confused. She looks up at the sky and notices that the sun will soon rise. It is the perfect time for her to think and mediate.

She finally makes it to the hot springs, it is so peaceful here. She starts to relax while she spreads her aura around the area to make sure that she is alone. She did not need anything to come and attack her when she is feeling like this. She finds that the area is clear and puts her barrier around the hot springs. This will ensure her safety while she starts to take off her clothes.

Kagome gathers her bathing supplies and puts them down near the edge of the spring. She slowly walks into the water then she sighs in contentment. The water is unusually warm this morning but to her it feels like heaven. She goes under the water to get herself wet, then she surfaces and wipes the water away from her face. She decides to take her bath first, that way when she is done she can just relax for as long as she wants.

She washes her hair and then her body. She goes under the water to get the soap off her. Once she is satisfied that she is soap free she goes near the edge of the spring to relax.

Kagome thinks about the dream she had. It was so real to her that she thought that Sesshoumaru was back to normal. It was the happiest she has ever felt when he asked her to let him court her. When he marked her, it sent her arousal through the roof and she unleashed her passion for him.

But more importantly she was enjoying herself for the first time in years while he held her in his arms. He allowed her to cuddle into his chest while he growls to soothe her. She has never felt like this before and she liked it.

Kagome has a thought, she reaches for her things and finds her hand-held mirror. She opens it as she points it towards her neck so she could look at it. There is no mark. Her skin was normal and she did not see any fang marks.

Kagome is falling into a deep depression. She remembers Sesshoumaru's strong arms around her body when he held her. He loves to cuddle it seems because he held her close to his body.

Then Kagome snaps out of her depressing thoughts, 'It is only a dream, a dream of what could happen when the jewel is finally complete. It is the first time since I have been coming here to the feudal era that I felt happy. It felt wonderful to be held in his arms and feeling the love that he has for me. Even though he is small I can still have my time with him. Yes, he can't hold me the way I want him to but within time he will, I just know he will.'

Kagome's mood lightens a lot after she has some time to think things through. Yes, she is disappointed but it gives her heart hope, then she gets out of the water and starts to dry herself.

-oOo-

Sesshoumaru watches when his miko leaves the hut. He knew where she is going. She usually bathes when she wants to think and that is where she is heading. He must admit that he is confused as well. He thought everything he experienced last night was real.

He forms his youki cloud under his feet and leaves the hut. He is going after his miko to make sure that she stays safe. He is always worried that another Youkai will attack her when she is indisposed.

Sesshoumaru floats through the air while he follows his miko. When she reaches the hot springs, he perches himself on a high branch that will give him a clear view of the surrounding area along with his miko.

He observes when she spreads her aura throughout the area, being satisfied that there is no threat in the area she puts her barrier up. He then watches while she disrobes and goes into the springs.

She is beautiful in his eyes. Her shapely body and well-toned muscles make her look like a celestial being. Sesshoumaru watches her while she bathes and when she is done she sits in the water thinking. He catches the scent of her tears while she is crying. He did not understand why she is crying. Until he sees her pull what he knows is a mirror out of her things and looks at her shoulder.

Sesshoumaru notices when she inspects every inch of her shoulders. He did not understand why she was doing this. 'Did she have the same dream as this Sesshoumaru? Is this why she is looking for something on her shoulder? Could she be looking for the mark I placed there last night?' There are so many questions that he cannot answer and he knew that the little miko will not tell him why she is so upset.

When she is done, her anger grows. Now she is angry and throws the mirror on the ground. She turns and wraps her arms around her knees while she sits and thinks about what is bothering her. Slowly her demeanor changes when she grows sadder and sadder. He thought that she will never snap out of her depression when he notices that she shakes her head and calms down.

His little miko must have come to a decision because her attitude changes and she seems happier for some reason. He is elated that she is not crying anymore while she sits and relaxes in the water.

Sesshoumaru sits back in his tree and thinks about what happened last night. It must have been a dream but it seems so real to him. He held his miko in his arms last night while he hugs her to his body. He asked her to let him court her and she agreed right away. His little miko did not even hesitate in her answer.

He was holding her in his arms while he got the area ready for his mark. When it was prepared, he bit into her neck and marked her. The strange thing is that he still tasted her blood on his pallet. If it was just a dream how could he have the miko's blood in his mouth? He noticed when she checked her neck and even he did not see any marks on her. Plus, he couldn't detect his youki that he imbedded into her body to let another Youkai know that she is being courted by him. He is just as confused as his female.

But as Sesshoumaru thought about that dream, that's when he realizes that the miko will accept him as a mate. Her actions down below, if she had the same dream as him, proves to him that she is receptive to the idea of being his mate. Clearly, she will not be this upset if she dreamed of something else. This gave him a certain measure of hope that she will accept his suit and become his.

Sesshoumaru looks back at his female and observes what she is doing. He watches when she dries every inch of her body. Her perky breasts were beautiful. They were the right size for his hands and the nipples were puckered and extended. The light cool breeze that was blowing through the area made them that way while he watches with heated eyes.

Sesshoumaru's arousal went through the roof when he observes his little miko bending down. Her lovely rump was sticking up in the air while she looks for something in her bag.

Sesshoumaru's beast starts to give him images of what they could be doing to that wonderful body. He sees himself approaching her from behind, he grabs her by the hips, and takes her to new heights of ecstasy. He could just hear his little mate screaming his name for everyone to hear.

Sesshoumaru shook his head to get rid of that image. His beast wants a mating but there is nothing he can do to mate her at this point. He needs to get back to his normal size before he could even take her. His manhood is not big enough to give her pleasure. He growls, who would have thought that he Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands, would not have a member big enough to satisfy a female. That thought did not sit well with him.

Sesshoumaru continues to watch his little miko while his beast just shows him images of what he wants to do to her. By the time his beast is done he is breathing hard and couldn't believe he did that.

-oOo-

Finally, after a few minutes Sesshoumaru's breathing evens out. He shook his hand and slowly sits up. He did not want to get his kimono all dirty when he stands on his feet. He ties his hakama back up and fixes them. It will not do for anyone to know what he was been doing.

He leaps away from the tree and goes to the other side of the spring to get cleaned up. His hand was rather sticky when he bends down and washes them. He notices when the miko drops her barrier and gets up from his spot. He forms his Youkai cloud under his feet and takes off to where his miko is located.

He is making his way out of the forest when he spots his female. She is standing there looking at him with a huge smile on her face.

-oOo-

So now we know what Miroku did and his punishment for his actions. Kagome can be very creative when she is planning a punishment for the monk. Sesshoumaru was being naughty with his thoughts while he watches Kagome bathe.

Sorry everyone but yes there was a lime in this chapter and it was removed. FF does not allow such things on their sites anymore so I removed it. I really don't want this story to be taken down because someone complained about it. If you want to read the chapter in full then you can go to:

www. dokuga fanfiction/ story/ 10454/1

They have a MA rating and if you are under 18 don't go there. Just remember to remove the spaces. And Dokuga will be the only place you will be able to read the full mating of Kagome and Sesshoumaru. But that won't be for a while yet.

Join me in the next chapter when Sesshoumaru almost gets himself into trouble for what he was doing when Kagome notices some stains on his hakama's, and Miroku becomes inventive while he is doing laundry.

Until the next time!

Ja ni!