The next morning Sesshoumaru's vigil was interrupted by a knock on his door of course he knew who the visitor was, and was not exactly too eager to let him in. But, at the insistent pounding he relented. "Enter," he barked.
Inuyasha took a quick look at Sesshoumaru's room before speaking up. "You trying to be the prince of darkness," he mocked.
"Black and silver are fine colors," Sesshoumaru retorted. "But I am sure that you did not come here to discus my choice in decor."
"Yeah," Inuyasha meekly replied. "I actually came to talk to Kagome."
"Well, as you can see she is not actually up to conversation at the moment," Sesshoumaru growled.
"Look," Inuyasha angrily exclaimed. "You are not the only one who cares about her. And well I need to talk to her. I am sure that you have something to do around this place, go be a Lord or something. I will take care of her for now."
Sesshoumaru felt an instinctual need to protect Kagome. "I do not want her left alone," he declared.
"No worries," Inuyasha said in his usual haughty tone "there is a whole line of us out there waiting to have our time with her."
Finally feeling no reason to not relent Sesshoumaru left him with one parting order "She is mine, do not dare touch her."
"Feh, whatever you ass," Inuyasha muttered as Sesshoumaru closed the door.
Once he was alone with her Inuyasha approached the bed. "First I need to tell you I am sorry. I know that I hurt you and drove you away. You were right to not trust me with the jewel. I would have wished for the same thing that you did, but it would have been selfish coming from me. You figured out a way to do it without destroying everything that we worked for so thanks. Oh by the way I heard what that ass said to you, and for what it is worth he doesn't lie. He really loves you Kagome. So hurry and come back so that I can have a reason to mock him."
When Inuyasha was finished talking to her he ignored Sesshoumaru's order and placed a chaste kiss on her head. This was the woman that he had once loved, but he knew that even when she awoke she was now forever beyond his reach. It was just as well though because he now felt a purer love for her, no matter what happened she would be his sister. And he vowed to himself that he would be sure she would never suffer again. It was the one promise that he had ever made to himself that he would not allow to be broken.
Finally Inuyasha left Sesshoumaru's chambers and found Sango waiting in the hall. "Any change," she asked?
"No," he told her, "but you should go on in. She would want to see you."
Sesshoumaru was bombarded as soon as he entered his study. His advisors had apparently been eagerly awaiting his arrival. There was apparently panic in the East as his ward in her altered state had decimated the Lord's entire blood line in her rage. Technically the lands would now be hers' so he sent a few of the advisors to oversee the east until Kagome could awaken and decide what she wanted to do with what was rightfully now her kingdom. With that handled he turned his attention to the governing of his own land.
"Thank you," Sango cried as soon as she was by her friend. "I had braced myself for the worst, because we all knew there was no way to save him. Not to mention I was not sure that I would be able to do it even if there was a way. I couldn't make myself force him to live with what Naraku forced him to do. I should have known that my sister would once again find a way to save the day."
With that said Sango took her leave. She would wait to have any further talks with her friend until she could talk back to her. When left the room Kaugra and Kanna were waiting to take their turn with Kagome. Leave it to her friend Sango mused, only she could have a demoness of the void eagerly waiting to give her thanks.
Kaugra slowly walked to the woman who had been her savior. "I always knew you could do it kiddo," she said to her "I will admit that you had me a little worried there at the end. But you went even further than saving us. Even in my wildest dreams I didn't think that you would give me back my heart. That is why my sister and I are here. We would both like to pledge our services to you. We are yours as long as you have use for us. And I am about to go start my duties right now." With that said Kaugra practically stormed from the room. From the moment that she had entered the room something had been bothering her, and while everyone else might cower to him that arrogant dog Lord was about to hear a piece of her mind. Kagome was her Lady and no way was she going to let this go.
Sesshoumaru was slightly annoyed when the wind witch flung his door open, and even more so when he could smell the stench of her anger. He was actually shocked when he heard her first words to him. "You bastard," she declared. "How could you treat her like this?"
"You dare to question me?" He growled.
"You are damn right I do," she shot back. "Why wouldn't I when you force my Lady to live in such circumstances?"
"And what circumstances would that be?" He demanded of her.
"Your damn stench," she dared. "That room reeks with the stench of your last rut, and it was not with my mistress. You really think that she will ever have the will to awaken while a constant reminder of your betrayal surrounds her at all times? She has no escape from it."
Sesshoumaru had been prepared to strike the wench for her insolence, but her words gave him pause. She was right the sense of smell was heightened in all demons, but even more so in dog demons. He knew from experience that not only did smells tell a story, but they could also evoke powerful memories. He graced the wind demon with a nod before ordering her to summon Inuyasha and Rin for him. He would need their assistance to carry out the plan that was quickly forming in his mind.