Chapter 14: A kiss too far.

Milo was happily skipping along next to Sesshomaru's side joyfully humming a random tune, now you could understand this quite well if you saw the weather was sunny and warm however it was raining put that didn't put a damper on Milo's parade.

"Will you cease your skipping." Sesshomaru ordered.

Looking back Milo smiled and replied. "But why, if I am happy why can I not show my emotion through my actions? Just because you're a Grumpy Gus doesn't mean I have to be."

Sesshomaru growled at her smart words, true there was nothing wrong with her showing happiness through her actions and true she didn't have to be like him. But he was getting wet with the rain and her constant bouncing was drawing his eyes from the road, the wetness of her kimono plus how tight it was, was showing everything to the Lord, she might as well have been naked.

Hearing his growl Milo walked calmly back up to him and laced her fingers through his, raising her arm she made a strange hand movement and Sesshomaru stopped getting wet. Looking up he saw why, Milo with her commandment over water had produced a little shield of sorts made out the falling rain water so both of them no longer got wet.

"Better?" Milo sarcastically asked. Sesshomaru nodded.

After a while of walking the rain surly came to a stop and the fresh scent of a bathed world met the two demons and one half demons noses, however there was a another smell lingering in the air, fresh blood. Milo shivered uncomfortably remembering the last time she smelt blood this bad it was her own, seeing her distress Sesshomaru lightly squeezed her hand to calm her.

She let go and ran towards the smell as fast as her legs would let her, in spite of that Sesshomaru ran faster and blocked her path. When Milo tried to get around him he simply stepped to the same side blocking her again. "What are you doing?" Milo huffed.

"Where are you going?" Sesshomaru asked.

"Hey somebody needs help and I for one don't back down if someone needs help which I can provide! I could never live with myself if I passed someone heartlessly who were helpless." Milo answered. "Now are you going to be help or hindrance?"

Deciding it would be better not to argue with Milo as he would most defiantly lose although he would never say that out loud, helping some humans wouldn't be that bad, not as bad as travelling with a hanyou anyway. Nodding Sesshomaru agreed to help and Milo smiled, grasping his hand in her own once again he ran towards the strong scent of blood was coming from with Sesshomaru quickly following.

Once arriving they were met with the bloody scene of battle between wolf demons and a village of humans, and the humans were losing, badly. Most of their houses had been ripped to shreds by the sharp fangs and deadly claws of the wolves, the ground was mixed with the different blood of children and adults making Milo's blood boil. Her eyes for a few seconds turned crimson but she quickly gained control.

"Sesshomaru can you deal the wolves while I find survivors?" Milo asked while Sesshomaru nodded wasting no time in killing the cubs. Milo used a technique that her tribe once taught her that you can find people by feeling their heart vibrations through your feet as her nose couldn't shift through the scent of blood. Focusing she found only a few people, possibly a young mother with a few kids.

Rushing over to them they seemed almost relived to see anyone apart from a wolf, "Come with me, I'll keep you safe I promise." As her word was the only thing to go on the mother agreed begging for Milo to take her children first, seeing the logic Milo hurriedly agreed and scooped the three children up with ease. As she leaped to a safe and secure spot she heard the faint scream of the mother with her excellent hearing. These children where now orphans. Hugging them close to her she ordered for them to stay on her back while she tried to find anymore humans.

She found one faint scent now she was away from most of the blood, the scent of a young human female. Dashing over all Milo found where trees and wolves but the wolves seemed interested in the trees for some odd reason. After eventually hording the wolves away she saw what they were interested in, in the hollow tree they were biting at lay a small girl holding herself, she had dark black tresses with it partly held in a ponytail on the top of her head.

"Hey it's ok the bad wolves are gone now." Milo whispered. "You can come out, I promise nothing will hurt you."

The girl looked up tears staining her face to which Milo didn't know how to respond so she let her voice take over.

"Come stop your crying, it will be alright." Milo sang.

"Just take my hand, hold it tight." Reaching down into the trunk of the tree Milo held her clawed hand out for the child to grab while the rest of the children retreated to the ground instead of clambering over Milo's back.

"I will protect you from all around you." Milo promised while singing, she lifted the child out of the tree and held her close.

"I will be hear don't you cry." Sesshomaru had finished with the wolf demons and their leader an cocky arrogant fellow that reminded him much of Inuyasha with long brown hair tied in a ponytail, blue eyes and tanned skin called Koga, he could hear Milo's sweet voice, without hesitation he followed it. Milo stroked the girl's hair with one hand and swiped away her tears with the other.

"For one so small, you seem to strong. My arms will hold you keep you safe and warm." The rest of the children liked Milo's voice and hugged her as well she held them all as Sesshomaru came into the clearing.

"This bond between us can't be broken, I will be here don't you cry." The bond meant a motherly bond, after all the children didn't have anyone and Milo couldn't and wouldn't just leave them. She would look after them now.

Looking up Milo spotted Sesshomaru and smiled. "Can I keep em'?" She asked, the children looked up hopefully all fully knowing that Milo could care for them out of child's trust. Not scared of the full demon towering above them.

Sesshomaru nodded to which all the children ran up and tackled him, effectively knocking him to the ground by sheer shock. "Everyone!" Milo hollered to get the children's attention. "Please come here." They followed her without hesitation and sat beside her.

"I wish to know your names." Milo spoke.

"I'm Kaiya!" One piped up, she was a girl with short brown hair and green eyes dressed in a pink kimono.

"I'm Botan!" The next announced, he was a boy with short brown hair and blue eyes.

"I'm Haru!" Another said, he was a boy with short black hair and green eyes.

"And what about you?" Milo asked the last child.

The child shook her head while her fist was held to her mouth. 'I see, I used to do that as a child when I couldn't speak.' Milo realized. "It's ok you don't have to tell me, but would you like to travel with me?" The girl nodded enthusiastically. Milo smiled and hugged the children.

Sesshomaru after regaining his composer and had stood up looked at the scene before him and could help but think that Milo would be a great mother.

"We better get going." Milo spoke this time to Sesshomaru who merely nodded.

After a few days the young child which hadn't given her name was slowly learning to talk, they found that she didn't have a name so Milo offered to call her Rin which she liked. Milo had taken to sleeping on Sesshomaru's lap after complaining that his scent was soothing and now because of him she couldn't sleep without it while the children slept comfortable on his mokomoko. And soon Milo arrived home at the entrance to the forest of the Nekita.

"You'd better stay here as soon as you enter the forest my tribe will detect you and well, your people and my people aren't exactly on the best terms, Kaiya, Botan, Haru you're coming with me. Rin I want you to stay with Sesshomaru."

"WHAT!" Jaken squawked. "This human child is your responsibility not *Thwack*" Milo knocked him out with her fist which the children giggled at.

"Everyone can you leave us for a minute." Milo ushered the children who obeyed and ran off to play not so far away. Turning her gaze to Sesshomaru Milo spoke. "I'm leaving you with Rin because you need someone to warm your heart which I can no longer do, Rin though, Rin has a huge and happy heart and sees you as her father. I would be most happy if you continued to care for her."

"I will, I will have to admit she has grown on me too." Sesshomaru confessed staring lovingly at the child.

"I will take the others to care for them in my village, I'm sure there are plenty of humans their willing to take them in." Milo spoke. "I hope to see you again soon Lord Sesshomaru." Standing on her tippy toes Milo placed a soft yet chaste kiss to his cheek and turned.

As Milo went to walk over to the children a large hand around her wrist, looking back Sesshomaru pulled her against him, before Milo could ask what he was doing a warm pair of lips crashed down onto hers. Milo must have blushed ten different shades of red by the amount of heat she could feel in her cheeks, her stomach pooled with a odd sensation that she had never felt before also. Melting into the kiss just by the feel of Sesshomaru's minty tasting lips Milo kissed back with equal force, the kiss was purely innocent, a quick spur of the moment thing before Milo broke it. She ran over to Kaiya, Botan and Haru and ran into her forest leaving a confused youkai behind her.

Sesshomaru couldn't believe he was doing this, of his own free will! Lord Sesshomaru mighty Lord of the Western lands and son of the Great Warlord Inutashio and deep loather of humans and worse hanyou's and yet he was kissing one! She had done something to him when she lightly pressed her lips to his cheek, it felt like electricity was running through is veins just begging him to make her do it again. He wanted more, he wanted to smell more of her, he wanted to drink in more of her with his eyes, he wanted to greedily run his hands all over her body, he wanted to hear her moan for him, he wanted to taste more of her. To him she tasted like something sweet yet spicy at the same time and he defiantly wanted more however before he could she pulled away, with him missing her already. Why did she pull away? Sesshomaru didn't know but he could smell a faint trace of fear in her scent and frowned.

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Keeping a firm hold on the children's hands Milo's thoughts wandered. 'I can't believe he kissed me! I thought he still hated half demons, but ... wow that was some kiss and my first. True I was due to be mated but it was arranged and I didn't really love him the way he did me. I still can't believe it though, his lips were so warm and soft unlike the usual cold and hard exterior he puts on.' Milo's thoughts wandered more until she began to blush.

Milo looked down when she felt a tugging on her sleeve. "Mommy are you sick?" Botan asked concern filling his and the rest of the children's eyes.

"Mommy's fine Botan don't worry." Milo replied. A while ago all the children including Rin had started to call her Mommy and she couldn't have been more humbled.

"Mommy where are we going?" Kaiya asked.

"Home." Milo answered breaking through to her villages clearing, it was a lot better than the last time she saw it covered in her depression fog. The random ponds had bloomed with lily pads breaking away to the mini waterfalls, the houses where being re-built after the mildew had caused them to rot while the blossoms from the trees danced in the air before gracefully falling to the ground.

"Lady NekitaKariba!" Everyone yelled once they acknowledged her presence all stopping any form of work to welcome her home.

Bowing humbly Milo spoke. "Everyone I have returned with need of some help, these children have no family and I would like for them to be cared for in my house, with such privileges as combat, healing and education."

"But Lady Nekita..."

"I have made my decision and anyone who does not abide by it can leave my land now." Milo cut off. "I love these children as if they are my own, and you will help them."

"Hai, of course, children please follow me." One of the court royals who served under Milo ordered softly.

"Mommy is it ok?" All the children simultaneously asked.

"Of course it is. I'll follow you soon and Onna will take good care of you." Milo assured smiling warmly. Once the children had gone Milo called for the Elders.

Bowing respectfully towards the Elders, there were five in total, one of which was Milo's grandfather Puipu, the others were Odin, Mufasa, Nala and Kovu. Odin spoke. "Why is that you have summoned us Lady NekitaKariba?"

Odin was by far the most powerful of the Elders a deep grey coat covered his body while his eyes were the same colour of the thunder clouds. "I have summoned you as I wish for a request." Milo stated.

"And what request would that be?" Nala asked, the only female Elder amongst them, she was a golden colour with eyes as gentle as lapping waves.

"I wish to be given the book of Sha Mund Ra." Milo answered while shocked gasps ran through and out of the Elders mouths.

"No you must not read from the book!" Puipu almost yelled.

"And why not grandfather? I know you have heard the news of my recent demise which is why I was greeted by such an audience today." The Elders gasped once again they didn't think she knew. "And furthermore, I wish to destroy the one who dared kill the Queen of the Nekita's however I need the book of Sha Mund Ra to do so."

"We do not even know if the book would accept you being half demon. It might not even open." Kovu argued, he was a misty deep red colour with eyes as old as the grass itself with the perfect hue to match.

"And I am willing to try." Milo spoke.

"But NekitaKariba surly you must know if you dare touch the book and it deems you unworthy it will kill you!" Puipu stated his eyes in a evident state of shock at his granddaughters words.

"Grandfather I have seen death and it is nothing to be feared, if I die I will simply torment my killer until he slips into madness. I am willing to sacrifice everything for this." Milo confidently spoke.

Mufasa had been deathly quiet throughout this as he was the wisest as would decide if Milo could have the book, his fur was almost pure black glinting as the sun hit him from high above on his rock, his eyes showed pride and were a soft ruby red. Until finally he spoke with a loud and authoritative voice. "Lady NekitaKariba, Queen of the Nekita's and Empress of the Kariba, I deem your request ... granted."

"I humbly thank you Lord Mufasa." Milo bowed as they summoned the book, looking on in awe as the Elders summoned the ancient book. A few moments later Milo was holding the solid gold book in her paws, affectionately running her hands over the cover. Taking a deep breath she unclasped the buckle and opened the book... she was fine, the book had accepted her.

Bowing again Milo thanked the Elders again and returned home with the book securely held to her chest.