Passions, Chapter 21

If Kagome was going to bear his heir, it was best that he found a stable environment for her to live in. More than likely, she'd want to remain in the human village with her friends, though Sesshomaru wasn't particularly interested in keeping her around Inuyasha.

Their child would inherit his and his father's territory, and it was imperative that he grew up around royalty, despite being a half-breed.

Sesshomaru's upper lip curled.

He was sitting on top of the old woman's hut and Kagome was asleep inside. He planned to let her rest there; there was no reason to awaken her simply because could not sleep. He remembered how afraid she was when she broke the news to him, how she trembled and shed tears. She was terrified, and taking her was the only way he knew how to calm her.

He had never seen her so alarmed.

"…Inuyasha, how long do you intend to hide from me?"

The half-breed's growl was heard as he moved from his position from behind the hut's chimney, "I wasn't hiding, you bastard…" He slowly paced his way towards his older brother, despite the fact that Sesshomaru had yet to turn around to face him, "You know why I'm here…" He wearily took a seat beside him, his arms folded inside of his haori sleeves. He didn't trust Sesshomaru, not enough to sit close to him, but he didn't necessarily have a choice. He didn't want to awaken anyone by yelling.

"Do I?" Sesshomaru asked, never once casting Inuyasha a glance. This close, he could smell the human blood that flowed through Inuyasha's veins. He could smell the mortality tainting his demonic heritage.

It was sickening, though his child would smell the same way.

"You do. The kid." Inuyasha snapped, his ears falling flat against his head, "You and Kagome's kid…" He muttered, "What are you gonna do about it?"

"Are you worried for my sake? I had no idea you had such feelings for me, Inuyasha."

A low, guttural growl sounded in Inuyasha's chest, "Listen, I'll slit you in half! I just want to know what your plan is for taking care of Kagome! She needs you!"

Those primal, golden eyes sharply flickered to Inuyasha, "Just as I should ask you. How will you keep Kikyo out of my grasp? Our business isn't over yet." Of course, killing her was momentarily put off by Kagome's pregnancy. He wasn't done. Kikyo would not get away so lightly.

"Fine, have it your way!" He spat, "But I promise, if you come after Kikyo, you'll have to deal with me, and I'll do more than just take off your arm!" With that, he left, leaping from the roof.

Inuyasha wasn't worth pursuing, not that night, not while Kagome was finally at rest. Not only that, but Sesshomaru had to give him credit. He was only making sure that Kagome was going to be well taken care of, though even Sesshomaru wasn't sure as to how he was going to do so.

Kagome was going to be made a target by all of his enemies. She was mortal, weak to them, easy to kill. The only option he truly had was to send her to his mother's palace in the sky- the same palace his father once resided over. He'd ascend to the throne and establish his own territory. It was the only way to ensure his mate's safety.

Kagome wouldn't be fond of the idea. She wouldn't want to be apart from her family and friends, though it was necessary. She wouldn't like it, but he wasn't going to give her an option.

This had to be done.

Xx

Kagome blinked her bleary eyes in order to clear her vision. The moment she sat up, she was hit by a killer headache that made her lay back down. With a groan, she turned over. She expected to see Sesshomaru beside her, but he wasn't there, and his swords and armor were gone.

He was probably out clearing his head, she figured. Her being pregnant was…heavy news, heavy for the both of them. Their child was going to radically change things between them, and she initially thought that things would change for the worst.

Sesshomaru despised half-breeds as his birthright, and their child was going to be just that. She didn't think he'd want any part of her, or their baby, but…last night, he proceed that she could trust him. He wasn't going to leave them.

A smile touched her lips at the thought of him.

They were going to have a family.

She'd truly belong somewhere now. She'd be at his side, always protected, and he'd watch over her…and she'd always have her friends.

They were going to get a home in the village, she gathered. It was the only proper way to raise the baby. By the way Inuyasha explained his childhood, it was best to raise their pup in an environment around their friends. She or he wouldn't be discriminated against simply because of the demonic blood within them.

She looked forward to it. They'd have to choose a name, she'd have a baby shower, and she'd get to go shopping for baby clothes. She had to tell her family as well about their approaching bundle.

She couldn't wait.

Abruptly, the hut's flap was tugged aside and Kikyo proceeded inside. "..How are you feeling?" Kikyo asked, her brows furrowing.

"Uh..I'm alright. A bit of a headache is all…" She responded awkwardly, slowly pressing her way to sit up. For the first time, she noticed that she was draped in Sesshomaru's haori, his scent still lingering in the silken fabric. Her cheeks tinted red before she managed to close it with his discarded obi. "What are you doing up so early?"

"I've been awake. I couldn't sleep..." The older girl admitted, pacing her way around the hut until she sat across from Kagome. "..We heard the news yesterday." Kikyo continued on, "I wanted to tell you that if I had known that…you were with child, I wouldn't ha-"

"No, really its fine! Everything's…back to normal…" Kagome forced a smile then, "…We're alright, honestly." But she knew they weren't. Sesshomaru wanted Kikyo's blood, but it was best if they dealt with it when the time came. For now, she was curious of why Kikyo even bothered to enter their hut. It couldn't have been to simply apologize. She had ample opportunity to do that.

"I want to help you train." Her large, brown orbs drifted off to the side, away from Kagome's face, "…If you're going to give birth to his child, you'll need to be stronger…so that you can defend yourself if needed be."

Kikyo wanted…to help her train? She bit her lower lip.

She did have a point. Now that she was Sesshomaru's mate, she had to prove herself worthy, in a sense. She had to learn to be a better priestess, for her, and for her child's sake.

"You're good already, and you've not unlocked your fullest potential. Kaede and I can teach you some more things, if you're up for it…"

A grin touched Kagome's lips as she nodded, "A peace offering, huh Kikyo? I never thought I'd see the day, but I do need the help. You've got a deal…"

Xx

"It has been sometime since you last visited your mother. I never expected you to wallow with human slaves. I suppose you are just like your father…" Inukimi's red lips slipped into a smirk, but she knew she wouldn't get a rise out of her son.

He was too smart for that.

Kagome's scent was all over him, but he wasn't surprised when she picked up on her smell. She was as sharp as ever, "I've come back to claim what is owed to me…"

Her fine brow slowly arched, "The throne, I take it…but why? Why now after so many centuries. What has changed?"

"The scent you've acquired is not that of a mere human slave." He couldn't stress that enough.

Her brow slowly arched, "…Not a mere human slave?" Her lips pursed before she frowned. "Sesshomaru, I never figured you to be the type…" Just as his father, her son seemed to have an affinity for mortal women. It was indeed a strange quality that she did not particularly understand. He was mated to this mortal, as it seemed, and it was hard to believe that Sesshomaru would mate her willingly.

"The Sky Palace will suit my needs well…" He was raised behind the protection those walls provided. When he was old enough, his father allowed him to participate on his rounds to hone his abilities further. His and Kagome's pup would be no different. Half-breed though he might have been, it was no excuse to not live up to his blood line's reputation.

There, Kagome would be free of Naraku's grasp. He wouldn't be able to reach her, and she'd have all the servants she desired. She'd be tended to always, and at the end of the day, he'd return to her.

"This mortal is extraordinary, I gather…to have caught your attention…" Sesshomaru had never truly been too interested in taking a mate, demon or not. To have captured his eye, this woman must've been different, at least Inukimi thought so. Since he was a pup, her son was always more so interested in conquest than settling down with a family. "With child, I assume…."

"Your point is?"

"How do you expect to keep a half-breed and mortal safe here?"

Their child would be ridiculed, disrespected, and not taken seriously, but that was also the same reason why Sesshomaru wanted to hone the pup's skills. Despite being a half-breed, he or she had to push passed those limitations. They had to be stronger, and Sesshomaru expected his seed to surpass any demon in power.

He'd not have anything less.

"Allow me to worry about that, mother. Simply get the preparations in order…" He casted his golden eyes upon her a last, lingering time before proceeding down the vast stair system he ascended.

His mother didn't like the idea of having mortals around, he could tell already. Of course, his father left her for a human mate, and he supposed that a bit of bitterness lingered within her. It was expected, since she was a vengeful woman by nature.

However, she'd like Kagome, at least a part of him hoped she did.

The last thing he needed was to two women being at each other's throats.

Xx

"Kagome left her books, did she?" Miroku asked, approaching Sango from behind. They were both at the well, gazing into the dark abyss.

"Yeah. She went back home to tell her mother of the…news." Her voice trailed off before she adjusted the books in her arms, "I figured she'd need them. She says that' she'll be done with her schooling in a little while though…"

"I bet she'll be thrilled then. She misses so many days when she's on this side of the well…" Miroku nodded his head, folding his arms across his chest.

"Kagome has gone home?" Sesshomaru's frame easily landed upon one of the well's arms as he peered down at the two mortals.

Sango visibly shrunk back before Miroku stood in front of her. They were still weary of Sesshomaru, and after yesterday's battle, they had a right to be.

If Sesshomaru was after Kikyo, then Inuyasha was going to get involved. If Inuyasha was involved, they were going to side with him. They took an oath to stand with him as friends, no matter what. They also both knew that Sesshomaru didn't particularly mind killing them. He'd do so as an afterthought, if truly necessary. That was what bothered them the most, the knowing that if Sesshomaru did go rogue, no one could truly stop him.

If he had an inkling to slaughter everyone in the village, he'd so, despite Kagome.

She was happy with him, and that was what truly mattered, but he was a demon- above emotions, or so he claimed.

A moment of silence lingered between them before Sango stepped around Miroku, a small smile plastered on her features, "Yeah, she went home to inform her mother of the news. She left her books behind though…Do you mind taking them to her?" She wasn't sure if the well would accept Sesshomaru. Supposedly, Inuyasha was allowed to pass through the well because he and Kagome were destined to be. Fate proved otherwise…and it was an interesting idea to test. If Sesshomaru couldn't pass through the well, then there was always a place where Kagome would be safe. It was best to figure out if he'd be able to do so while everyone was on good terms.

"Uh, Sango, I don't think that's a good idea…" Miroku murmured under his breath, only loud enough for her to hear. Despite that, a part of him told him that Sesshomaru heard him anyway.

"Well Kagome needs them. There's no sense in her coming all the way back here…" She offered the books to Sesshomaru, and to her surprise, he took them wordlessly, "I haven't been there myself, but Inuyasha says that when he passes through, he just follows her scent."

He turned away from the demon slayer so that he could peer into the dark abyss of the well. If Inuyasha, a mere half-breed, passed through the well effortlessly, then there was no reason why he, Sesshomaru wouldn't be able to. Besides, he wasn't simply returning Kagome's books. He had been curious of her world since she first told him about the future. Without another thought, he descended into the dark bowels, doing so until a bright light swallowed him.

He passed through.

Xx

"Koga, are you sure you want to face this guy again?!" Ginta asked panting heavily as he and Hakakku attempted to keep up with their leader. All day, they seemed to be heading in one direction, the human village where Inuyasha and Kagome resided. Ever since Koga's alleged defeat to Inuyasha's older brother's hands, he had been on edge.

He was jealous, they could tell.

He was in love with Kagome, and Sesshomaru defeated him, almost too easily. He wouldn't let it go. He was too stubborn to do so.

"Ginta's right Koga. Come on, turn back! He's not worth it!" Hakakku added, slowing down to a stop so that he could catch his breath.

"You two losers can stay back here, I'm going on ahead!" Koga spat, immediately taking off into a whirlwind. He'd be damned if he allowed Kagome to be taken from him, especially by a two bit mutt that snuck him unfairly.

Sesshomaru would pay for humiliating him.

He swore it on his dead kin.