Chapter Twenty One
"What do you mean?" Kagome asked him.
"He touched you. I hated it." Sesshomaru explained to her.
"Oh... I'm sorry." Kagome lowered her head again. Sesshomaru glared at her, thinking back to what Lady Ai had said to him. He decided that it was time to take another chance and wrapped his arms around her back. He pulled her into him and held her close. Kagome's eyes widened and she tensed up out of nervousness.
"Do not be sorry." He said rubbing one of his hands along the back of her head, "It wasn't your fault. There was a reason Jakishiro and I wanted to avoid running into the Lord of the Northern Lands. I'm just glad I got to you before anything big happened."
"Big?" was all she said, her voice shaking slightly.
"Your innocence... I didn't want him to take it from you." Sesshomaru explained.
"My innocence? You mean my virginity?" She asked and he nodded. Her voice was low, like she was unsure of what to say. She still was scared about what had happened, but never expressed it because she wanted to show him that she was strong. "He didn't take it..."
"Why do you keep holding it all in?" Sesshomaru asked her.
"I... I don't want to be weak." Kagome explained to him, trying to hold back her crying.
"After what happened to you today..." Sesshomaru hugged her a little tighter, "You have every right to cry..."
Kagome couldn't take it anymore. She let it all go. Her tears soaked his shirt and she just kept going. Her sobs echoed through the halls of the house that they were staying in. Everyone could hear her crying at this point. Rin and Shippo began crying with her, while AhUn and Kirara tried to comfort the two. Sango couldn't help, but cry, so Miroku pulled her into a tight hug. Kikyo and Inuyasha both fought tears, holding onto one another for dear life. Hikari was being comforted by Jakishiro, while Lady Ai kept to herself in her quarters. They had all been through so much the past few days, even Lady Ai. None of them ever had the chance to just let out their emotions. Sesshomaru lost his home from the attack, Jakishiro almost died, Hikari almost did too. Shippo dying, Rin falling, almost losing Sango when she tried to save Rin, Kagome disappearing in the water and now almost being raped. It was all too much for them. Then in the back of all of their minds... Doom for all humans.
A good ten minutes went by before Kagome was finally able to calm down. She was sitting between Sesshomaru's legs and laying her head on his chest. She wiped her tears away and finally a small smile appeared. Sesshomaru looked down to her and kissed her forehead, which shocked her a bit more. She looked up to him and stared for a moment.
"Are you still in pain?" Sesshomaru asked.
"They hurt... If that is what you are talking about." Kagome said.
"Yes. Heal them." He pretty much commanded her.
"You know... Talking about my breasts with you is a little odd for some reason." Kagome said, holding her hands over her own chest, which made her feel even more shy and awkward. She began healing her chest, which soon made them feel MUCH better.
"Why is it odd?" Sesshomaru asked.
"I've never talked to a man about my body before." Kagome said, her cheeks turning red, "I mean... I talk to Sango about things like that all the time, but never a man. And a while ago, I never thought that I would be sleeping in the same house as you, let alone in the same room."
"I don't trust anyone around here. I will not let that happen to you again." Sesshomaru said, trying to explain his reasons for keeping her there with him.
"I understand that, baby." Kagome said, her own eyes widening. It was honestly a slip of the tongue. She had just said exactly what she had been thinking. She hoped that he had not caught what she just called him. She stopped healing herself since they were better and waited.
"Baby?" Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow at her.
"I.. Uh... Shit." Kagome mentally smacked herself and sighed, "Sorry... I should think before I speak."
"I did not say I had a problem with that." Sesshomaru stared at her. "Although... With my age, being called a baby isn't what I had in mind." She looked back to him and blinked a couple times. She glanced him up and down, as if checking him out.
"Kiss me." She suddenly said, making Sesshomaru get nervous.
"Huh?" He said, for the first time in his life. He blinked, shocked and felt the butterflies in his stomach begin to really act up.
"I want you to kiss me." She said. She also was nervous, not knowing whether he would do it or not. They had kissed once before, but that was when she had the guts to do it herself. She had caught him off guard and even had him backed against a tree. Receiving a kiss from him was going to be a different story. In her mind, it would mean something a bit more official.
Sesshomaru was shocked at what she had asked. He felt his heart pound in his chest. He tried his best to control his breathing. Did she really want him to kiss her? He remembered the first kiss they shared and he had truly enjoyed it, but this time she asked... well demanded one. Was he to do as she asked? He didn't know. He let out a nervous breath.
"Please..." was the last thing she said before he leaned in. His soft lips met her own. Her heart raced and so did his. The kiss was sweet, gentle, and new for the both of them. They both seemed to be holding their breath, not realizing that it IS okay to breathe during a kiss. After a few seconds, which seemed like an eternity, Sesshomaru pulled back slightly, breaking the kiss between the two. They opened their eyes and looked at each other. Kagome's breathing was heavy from excitement. Sesshomaru still did his best to keep calm, but she could tell he was excited as well.
"Wow..." Kagome didn't know what else to say.
"Yeah..." Sesshomaru stared down at her, also not knowing what else to say.
"Oh my god! He kissed me. It was.. Oh my god that was so great!"Kagome thought to herself. Her mind was obviously racing with thoughts, "Do it again... Kagome lean in and kiss him!"
"What is she thinking?" Sesshomaru couldn't break eye contact, "She hasn't said anything else! Did she like it? I don't think she did. She won't say anything. Just ask her damn it."
Kagome suddenly shifted in his lap. Sesshomaru snapped out of his thoughts and looked down to see her completely facing him. Her legs were now wrapped around his waist and she pulled herself into him by wrapping her arms around him and hugging him tightly. Sesshomaru felt more at ease when she did this and then lifted her up slightly, stretching his legs out under her. She laid her head down on his shoulder and began running her fingers through his hair.
"I love him..." Kagome thought to herself. For once she no longer felt like she had to constantly question the way she felt. It was certain. "It's really the truth... I love him."
"This feeling..." Sesshomaru closed his eyes and just held her, loving how it felt for her to run her fingers through his hair, "What is this I feel... I don't ever want to let her go. She's mine." Sesshomaru began to feel possessive over Kagome. He didn't want anyone else to have her. She was his. He wanted her to become a part of him. Something in his mind began to repeat, "Mate with her..." Was it possible? Would she become his mate? His wife? He didn't know and frankly he was too afraid to ask so soon, so he kept it to himself until the right time.
After an hour of cuddling one another, Kagome and Sesshomaru fell asleep under the same blanket, even though she was still half naked. The next morning Kagome woke up to the sound of someone clearing their throat. Her eyes fluttered open and both her and Sesshomaru looked up to see everyone. Sango, Hikari, Shippo, Jakishiro, Kikyo, Rin, Miroku, Inuyasha, and even Lady Ai were smiling down at the two of them. Kagome blushed a deep red, quickly sliding under the blanket, and then glanced back to Sesshomaru who just raised an eyebrow. He didn't care whether they saw. If anything it was like an 'in your face she's mine' to him.
"You two have a nice sleep?" Jakishiro asked and Sesshomaru stood up, making sure the blanket kept Kagome covered at all times.
"I slept quite well, and all of you?" Sesshomaru fixed his clothing and then Ai walked up to him.
"Here you go, Lord Sesshomaru." Lady Ai handed him a white kimono that was decorated with a large crescent moon on the back.
"Thank you." Sesshomaru nodded to her and handed it to Kagome, "This is for you. Since your clothes were ruined."
"Oh, so you're buying her clothes now?" Inuyasha smirked, nudging his brother. "Oh.. and can I talk to you for a minute."
"Fine." Sesshomaru thought he was going to have to deal with his brother yelling at him over Kagome, but decided to walk out with him anyway. Everyone watched with concern as they left, but then looked to Kagome.
"SO! Tell me what happened?" Sango said kneeling down by her, "We all heard you crying last night. I actually ended up crying too..."
"You, why?" Kagome asked.
"Well... you aren't the only one who's gone through some shit lately." Sango sighed, "I mean, you got the worst, but I thought I was going to die... I thought I lost Kirara."
"I cried too, but that was because of everything..." Shippo explained, "I thought Rin was going to die, and then when that happened to Mommy... I was so scared..."
"Me too..." Rin agreed, "I don't want Kagome to get hurt anymore."
"Kagome, I think you crying let us all release the sadness that we felt, because even Inuyasha and I had been crying..." Kikyo explained.
"Wow..." Kagome sighed.
"BUT OFF THAT SUBJECT, cause I was crying too..." Hikari said and sat down next to Kagome and Sango, "What happened between you and Sesshomaru? You mate yet?"
"What? Mate? No! Not ye-.. We haven't done anything like that." Kagome said.
"Oh! Not YET, huh?" Kikyo smirked and made Kagome blush.
"Can I ask a question...? It is going to sound very rude, but I need to ask." Sango said to Kikyo.
"Uh... sure. I guess." Kikyo nodded.
"Why are you being so nice?" Sango asked, making Kikyo actually feel a bit bad.
"Well um... I honestly don't know." Kikyo said and then looked to Kagome, "You haven't seemed to hate me and Inuyasha so much, so I was hoping to try and be all of your friend... We have to go on this long trip together, so I was doing my best to not start anything."
"Kikyo... You are our friend." Kagome said. "You've helped us this entire way. Because of you Rin is still okay. I thank you for that."
"Thanks... Thank you Kagome." Kikyo smiled really big.
"DAMN IT! I wanna know!" Hikari whined.
"I wanna know too! Did you and Daddy kiss yet?" Rin asked excitedly.
"Yeah... Yeah we did, Rin." Kagome smiled sweetly to her.
"So are you gonna be my Mommy too and Shippo and be my big brother?" Rin asked even more excited.
"Whoa, whoa! Honey, Sesshomaru and I are not married. We are just... potential mates? And actually that isn't even completely official! He has to ask me first! Take me a few places... I want him to actually tell me what he wants!" Kagome giggled and then kissed the child, "But maybe one day."
"Cool! Hurry it up. I want to be Rin's big brother soon." Shippo crossed his arms.
"I'll return shortly." Jakishiro chuckled and walked out of the room, allowing them to talk among themselves. "Congratulations, Kagome."
Outside of the village, Inuyasha had taken Sesshomaru all the way to a small valley, so no one could hear what he had to say. Sesshomaru stared at his brother intensely, while shockingly, Inuyasha seemed quite relaxed. Once they had stopped walking, Inuyasha turned towards his brother with a blank face, as if trying to think on what he was going to say.
"Well?" Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow.
"Do you... still hate me?" Inuyasha asked, sincerely wanting to know.
"Hm?" Sesshomaru was taken aback by his question.
"I heard what you said to Kazuo when you killed him." Inuyasha explained and then looked away, "I heard you tell him that I was even a better man than he could ever be... So I was wondering if you still hated me... I know that saying that about a guy who tried to rape someone we all care about is probably not the greatest way of hoping for a compliment, bu-"
"No." Sesshomaru said without hesitation.
"Huh? Wait... S-So, you really don't hate me?" Inuyasha felt relieved and this boyish look came on his face. He knew that he couldn't be like his brother, but he didn't like the fact that his brother hated him before.
"No. I do not hate you anymore." Sesshomaru said, "And lately I have been wondering if I ever did."
"I don't understand." Inuyasha said.
"I don't know how to explain it." Sesshomaru just stared blankly at Inuyasha.
"May I give it a try?" Jakishiro suddenly came and stepped between the brothers, looking at Sesshomaru. He was given a nod and then looked to Inuyasha, "This is my theory. Sesshomaru can correct me if I am wrong."
"Okay." Inuyasha glanced from his brother to Jakishiro.
"Sesshomaru was quite young when your Father betrayed his Mother. Then, sometime later you were born." Jakishiro began to explain, "Your father had this habit of not showing Sesshomaru any mercy, love, or compassion as a child, but when you came along, it seemed very different. Your Father seemed to actually love you. He treated you differently, like you mattered and Sesshomaru did not. So like a child would he began to hate you. He asked himself why? When he was a child did his Father seem to hate him, but when you came around, why was it so different?"
"That's... what happened?" Inuyasha glanced to Sesshomaru.
"That is what I believe is what happened. I am not sure if it is fact." Jakishiro and Inuyasha looked to Sesshomaru for some kind of confirmation, but he stayed silent. He thought deeply about what Jakishiro had explained and thought that maybe that was it. He himself didn't understand where the hate for his younger brother had come from, but that for some reason does put a few things together for the both of them.
Flashback...
"Hey Dad!" a young and extremely cute Sesshomaru came running through the halls of an extremely busy Western Castle.
"Sesshomaru! What are you doing? You are covered in dirt!" His father yelled to him, "Maid, bathe him now!"
"But Dad, I wanted to show you something!" Sesshomaru said excitedly. Only seven years old, and he had been training out in the courtyard for some time. His father constantly told him that he needed him to be strong, so he decided training was the best bet.
"No! Get to your bath! Now!" His father demanded, "We have a huge meeting that is going to be taking place, and the future heir to my lands is covered in mud! You will not embarrass me and your mother the way you did last time. Now go!"
"But Dad!" Sesshomaru practically begged him, "I... I just wanna show yo-"
"NOW!" His father yelled and Sesshomaru ran off. Tripping over one of the maids cleaning the floor, he caused it to get dirty once more. The maid hit him and yelled, telling him to go bathe. Sadly, he walked to his room and did as he was told.
A few years later...
"What the hell are you talking about?" An older Sesshomaru, much like the one we all know and love, glared fiercely at his father. "A brother? And not with my Mother."
"Yes! He's the cutest thing you'd ever see! Come. You can see him." An excited father led his son down a hall, "He is to be born very soon!"
"Were you this excited when I was born?" Sesshomaru asked and his father just looked at him.
"No, I can't say he was." A young looking woman with white hair, very similar to Sesshomaru came down the hallway, "Sesshomaru, you stay here. You're father can go protect his human whore."
"Now, listen here you selfish bitch." his father said, "If you would have allowed me to bring another child by you, this would not have happened. I told you when we met I wanted two, and you refused. This is YOUR fault."
"You're never around to try and bring another." She hissed at him, "You're always off with your whore." She sighed and then turned away, "It doesn't matter... She will die today. Along with that wretched child."
"Excuse me?" his father stepped towards her, but she just moved away.
"An army is already on their way to terrorize that entire place. She will die." his mother smirked.
"YOU'RE BANNISHED FROM THESE LANDS! LEAVE! NOW!" He unsheathed his sword and threatened her, but she seemed to vanished in thin air, giving a last smile to her son. "STUPID BITCH!"
"It's a shame you couldn't show this much compassion towards me..." Sesshomaru stepped to the side and allowed his father passage, "I hope you fail." Sesshomaru's words hit more than he had known. His father's mind was slightly clouded, but he knew he had to save his newly born son and lover. He ran off, leaving his son behind, only to have Sesshomaru follow to see the outcome of this event.
End of Flashback...
"Yes." Sesshomaru said.
"Well I guess I was right." Jakishiro held his hands behind his back and then walked off, "You two talk it over now, but remember we still have things we need to do."
"So..." Inuyasha waited for Jakishiro to be a bit farther before speaking, "You don't know why he treated me so differently than you?"
"No. I do not." Sesshomaru shook his head. "I never understood our father's motives."
"In all honesty, I am just glad you don't hate me." Inuyasha said, lowering his head.
"I thought you hated me as well."
"I did." Inuyasha nodded and looked back to his brother, "But that was me not understanding what I did to make you hate me so much. I'm not a full demon, I'll never be as powerful as you, and I won't ever have your status. All of that made me... jealous."
"If you can agree, I can put it behind me." Sesshomaru stared at him still keeping a blank face.
"I can." Inuyasha smiled and then sighed, "But first..." He walked over to his brother and grabbed onto his hair, pulling it, "You hurt Kagome the way I did... I will kill you."
"Let. Go." Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow at his brother.
"Okay." Inuyasha smiled and quickly let go. Sesshomaru shook his head slightly and they walked back to the village.
"It seems I have a younger brother..." Sesshomaru mentally smiled, not showing it on his face, "I'll do what I can to keep it that way. After all... It was my fault."
Everyone was ready to go. They all felt like they had spent way too much time here. They were told it was only half a day to the mountain, so they had two and a half days to get the Crest. Lady Ai wished them good luck and handed a bow to Kagome. It wasn't as beautiful as the one Hikari had made for her, but it would do for the battle ahead. Waving to Ai, the group took off. They flew over the mountain range and looked around in awe. Junseikon Mountain was in sight. It must be absolutely gigantic for them to be able to see it from that distance.
"Well at least we know where to go..." Sango said.
"Yes, but... What do we do when we get there?" Miroku asked.
"Yeah, and there is something I was wondering about..." Kagome said and they all turned towards her, "If this mountain is as pure of a mountain as you say... How is Naraku able to find a way to get the Crest in the first place?"
"That... I do not know, Kagome..." Jakishiro said. Lately, there was something in the back of his mind telling him that they should not do this, but he knew he had to keep going. If Naraku was able to get the Crest, then they would be doomed.
End Chapter Twenty One
Remember that reviews are loved! I would really like people to tell me what they liked about this story, so I know what I can maybe add/change/use in other stories I may write!