The next morning, the sunrise still a crescent of silver brightness on the eastern horizon and the land still cloaked in night's shadows, Kagome jerked upright from her sleep with a very bad uneasy feeling.
"Move not" Was heard from behind her. "Remain unmoved and yourself and Rin remain silent." With the sound of moving silk, Kagome slowly moved her head to look behind her to see that Sesshoumaru was no where to be seen. Carefully as she could, she grabbed her bow and quiver.
"Mmmm, Kago..." Rin's voice was cut off by Kagome's hand going over her mouth.
"We must remain silent. There is something not right and Sesshoumaru wants us to remain not moving and silent. Alright!" Rin slowly nodded.
A good half hour later Kagome was still sitting the same way she had been as Rin continued in her laid down position with a sign of Sesshoumaru anywhere. The wait was becoming unbearable.
"Kagome, I'm hungry and need to go relieve myself." Rin whispered.
"Same here Rin, same here." She faintly smiled as she whispered. "If Sesshoumaru does not come back soon I'll take my chances because I've got to go to the bathroom really bad." Kagome voiced in her mind as she looked at Rin.
"Clear to move." The sound of another voice suddenly in the area made both Rin and Kagome jump.
"You jerk!" She quickly go to her feet. “I would say more, but I don't have the time to do so." With that she ran out of camp. Coming back into camp with a somewhat relaxed air about her, she glared at Sesshoumaru.
"Did you not want to be informed when I come back?"
"Yes, but thanks to you doing so the way you did almost made it to where I almost did not make it far enough away from camp to be able to relieve myself in private. I'm sure Rin feels the same way." She nodded to Rin as she came back into camp.
"Sesshoumaru-sama, I'm hungry. Are we to eat before we go or get munchies as we travel?"
"Search for as we go." Kagome could tell he was keeping his senses checking the area around them.
"What was the cause to have us silent and not moving?"
"Another youkai, but lower came close to this camp. The scent disappeared."
"Do you think it is still close by?"
"Uncertain. Ready to leave."
"Rin help me fold these." Kagome handed Rin the blanket while she quickly folded the pelt and placed it in her bag then took the blanket when Rin was done. Taking her bag she placed it on her back as Rin picked up her bow and quiver then handed it to her. "Thank you Rin."
"Rin remain close to Kagome." The western lord looked at Kagome. "Remain with weapon ready." With that said, they began walking towards the north.
Following closely behind Sesshoumaru, both Rin and Kagome remained silent. They followed for sometime when all of a sudden he stopped and Kagome felt a big spike of energy come from Sesshoumaru.
"Quickly stand beside me!" When they has done so Kagome looked and saw red in his eyes as a white light appeared surrounding all three then they were in the air quickly heading east then turned suddenly back towards the north.
"Why did you go east then turn back towards the north?" Kagome looked up at the western lord's face.
"The one that came close brought friends which to try to surround. They began to advance. Heading east was to lead them into another direction from where we travel." He answered as ground once again was felt under foot.
"How far did you travel from back there?"
"Two days journey if done by walking."
"So where we are right now would have took us two days to get to if we had to walk!" He gave a nod. "So why not of kept flying as we were and get to Kouga's faster? Or can I say that you sill don't want others know that you are somewhat nice and not like that which they know of or about you?"
"Would you not want food?"
"Guess that would be best since they eat theirs raw. It would not bother me because I've seen the way they eat but as for Rin, I'm not sure. Because you probably eat your kill the same way do to the fact you always had said you don't eat human food. Well I should go see if I can find Rin and I something to eat." Turning away she began to walk past Rin.
"Let me go with you Kagome."
"No, stay here. I am going to look for something to cook for both of us." She took her bow off her shoulder and notched an arrow. "I wonder what Kouga will say when they see me with Rin and Sesshoumaru? More than likely ask if I'm going back to the domain again like they asked me as they brought me back to the village." Coming out of her thought, she kept eyes alert for any game.
Back in camp Rin sat by the fire looking at Sesshoumaru and twitting her fingers. Where Sesshoumaru was, he could tell that his ward was thinking about something and wanted to ask a question.
"Rin what bothers you?"
"Why would Kagome be nervous around you Sesshoumaru-sama? Rin's not nervous. Did you kick her and hurt her? Is that why? Is that what she was going to say when she said 'ki...'? What did Kagome do to have you kick her?"
"Rin, he did not kick me." Came from behind the trees. Looking around Rin finally saw Kagome walk out into the camp.
"But you started to say a word that started with 'ki' and did not say nothing else. The word kick starts with those two."
"If he kicked me, I would be seriously hurt or even dead," she thought to herself. "It would mean something that you would not know right now about, but will a little later when you're a bit older." She finished speaking while placing something that was skinned and gutted over the fire then sat down next to the girl.
The rest of the night went by without anymore questions, but rather was replaced with Kagome sitting on the pelt telling a story that lead to Rin falling asleep with her head on Kagome's lap as she sat leaning against a tree asleep herself. The next morning as dawn graced the sky Kagome opened her eyes to see she was no longer sitting up with Rin's head on her lap, but rather she was laying down with Rin snuggled up against her.
"Hmm, how did I get like this? The last thing I remember was sitting by the tree telling Rin a story." Gently moving Rin away, Kagome sat up to see that she and Rin were the only ones in camp. Reaching over to her bag, she unzipped the front pocket taking out her brush. "Wow this brush sure has seen better days." Raising it up, she began brushing her hair. When she was done she laid it on her lap. "Rin, sweetie. It is time to get up and get ready."
"Mmmm ok." It took a bit before Rin opened her fudge brown eyes.
"If you would like, I could brush your hair." Smiling, Rin gave her a tired nod of the head as she scooted over to Kagome. Getting up on her knees, Kagome gently took out the tie that made the tiny ponytail then picked up the brush and began to brush Rin's hair. Getting all the tangles out she began gathering the hair together once more and remade the ponytail. The way she had done so made a little bit longer ponytail. By the time Sesshoumaru came back to camp everything was put away in the bag and both Rin and Kagome were talking.
"Morning Sesshoumaru-sama. We are both ready to leave. Kagome even brushed my hair. See!"
"Was there danger and that was why you were gone?" Kagome asked as she stood. "Did those who crossed our path find us?"
"None has threatened this camp. Hunting was merely done."
"Which will we be traveling today? Will it be walking or what?"
"Your desire to get to the wolf den still remain?" He looked down at her.
"Yes and no. Yes in I want to hurry to get there, but no because when they see me with...with you and Rin they will start asking questions. Like they did when Kouga, Ginta, Hakkaku took me back to the village when Ginta and Hakkaku came to get me."
"What kind of questions Kagome?"
"Really annoying ones."
"Tell us Kagome." Kagome looked at Sesshoumaru but then turned to pick up her bag and putting it on her back then picked up her weapon. "Should we be going?" Without warning mist formed under their feet then were lifted into the sky.
By mid-morning the sky was a cobalt-blue as the sun shone overhead in an orb of golden glory. Off in the short distance she noticed the mountain that held the wolf den as they began to lower to the ground.
"When you get there don't listen to the questions. Think of something else," she told herself as they began walking towards the area of the waterfall.
As they began to get closer she began to hear wolves howling signaling that something was getting close to their den. As the howling began to get louder and louder she was waiting for members of the wolf tribe to come out of the brush, but nothing ever did. Coming out into the opening facing the waterfall she could see members of the tribe standing guard on the green ledge over looking the cool blue water at the base of the waterfall. A signal was sounded when the guard spotted the western lord. Within a matter of second more members were seen. A few made their way over to where the three of them stood.
"Greetings miko Kagome. Come follow us." The warriors turned and began leading them up the path to the entrance of the den. Crossing through the water Rin instincts were to take a hold of Kagome's hand.
"Kagome! It's nice to see you again and...with the Western Lord and his ward, I see." Kouga greeted before his warrior had a chance to say anything. Kouga looked from her to Sesshoumaru. "What brings you here?"
"I wanted to speak with you and since lord Sesshoumaru and Rin stopped at the village, I found out they were coming here so I came along." Feeling a tug on her arm, she looked down to see Rin waving her hand for her to come closer. "What is it Rin?" Rin brought Kagome's ear close.
"Where's...you know?"
"Not sure. She was wondering where Ayame and your son are at."
"They will be back soon. Come and rest."
"So where are the boys?"
"I sent them with Ayame and my son. So how is your miko life? It is going to take a while to get used to seeing you dressed as one of them instead of the clothes you wore for so long."
"Yep, I know, but..." Just then her stomach rumbled. She acted as if she did not hear it.
"Did you not eat anything this morning?"
"No. Rin and I got up and readied our selves and things to leave when lord Sesshoumaru came back to the camp. When he did came back we headed this way." She watched Kouga summon a warrior. She watched as he spoke to the warrior then the warrior left heading to the entrance of the cave taking seven other warriors with him.
"So your still calling the western lord by his title and not his name, I see."
"It is the right way to speak of him or about him in my position."
"Don't give me that speech that it is not right to address or speak of him like so! I am sure you do not use such titles when speaking about me with the elder miko or address me that way when greeting me do you? We both know why you started and it does not have anything to do with right or wrong. Or should I remind you what you told me on why you started using lord Sesshoumaru's title when you were here last time." Kouga looked from Kagome over to Sesshoumaru.
"Don't you even Dare! Because I would have to kick your tail." She changed from sitting on her butt to sitting on her knees.
"You would have to catch me first." He went to get up but stopped in a crotched position then looked towards the entrance of the den and taking his eyes off of Kagome. He quickly leapt back when the colors red, white, and black caught his eye sight. Looking at the spot where he had been crouching was now Kagome on her hands and knees. "If I was not mated for life Kagome that position that you are in would be quiet alluring not to mention it is very enjoyable." He made eye contact with her causing her to quickly move to sit back on her legs as the sound of yipping of wolves filled the den.
"Why are they doing that"
"Informing me that my mate and son are back." He smiled once more as he looked at the entrance. Kagome turned to look and saw Ayame carrying their son in her arms, then both Ginta and Hakkaku come through the water and into the cave.
"Kagome! What a wonderful surprise to see you so soon." Ayame made eye contact with Sesshoumaru. "Greetings to you lord Sesshoumaru." She voiced as she stopped by her mate.
"Good to see you sis." Both Ginta and Hakkaku gave her hugs. Sesshoumaru watched how they treated her and she them.
"Kagome, I am getting hungry, but I want to see her son." Rin tugged on Kagome's sleeve.
"Our son is asleep right now, but I can show you his face." Ayame moved the fur wrap enough to show Rin the baby's face.
"Come along Rin, we will find something for you to eat." Kagome said.
"No need Kagome. I sent out my men to gather food for the both of you and something that the western lord would be able to eat. Along with food for us. They should be back soon."
"Ok, thanks."
"So sis have you come to terms with yourself about not being nervous over being close to the western lord because of him kissing and touching you?" Hakkaku asked.
"Don't look at me, Kagome! I did not say it or had him say it." Kouga raised his hands up in front of himself. Kagome's face blushed a bright red before she quickly go to her feet and ran to the entrance of the den and ran through the water.
"You blockheads!"
"What did I say?"
"You opened your mouth and revealed out in the open in front of lord Sesshoumaru what she wanted to keep hidden from him." Kouga loudly voiced.
"Oh!"
"Here take our son. She is going to need someone to talk to, someone who is not a male." Ayame handed their son to Kouga then stood up.
"Could I come to?"
"Sure. Hold out your hand." Ayame knelt down. "Wrap your arms around my neck and hold on, but not tight." Making sure Rin's arms were right, she stood back up and quickly headed out of the den with her white underlings.
Back Inside The Den
"Way to go Hakkaku. Making sis upset."
"Lord Sesshoumaru, I know that you are one not to keep secrets from. Though I can see where she is coming from on being nervous around you after what she had shyly told us. Put yourself in her place for a time and see where her thoughts come from." Kouga laid his son on the straw next to him then looked back at Sesshoumaru. "How much did she tell you or did you know about her life with the group she had traveled with?"
"She had informed me some. I had known they tried to protect her."
"Had you ever seen or heard how Inuyasha had treated her?"
"Few times our paths had crossed. When we cut paths the Hanyou was my point to attack. Though the Hanyou yelled to move to safety behind him or elsewhere."
"Did you ever hear him tell her to shut up? I have seen and had heard much. Every time I and these two were around, he would call her stupid, would tell her that she was ugly and that the woman who was the walking dead was more beautiful, that she can't fight, that she was only a jewel shard detector, reminding her every day she told me that he would remind her that it was her fault that the jewel was broken. He did not want her as a mate, but would not let any males around her other than the ones in the group. She had to subdue him many times when we or I would come around or he was prepared to fight." He stopped then looked at his son when he felt him moved then looked back. "Did she tell you any of that?" Sesshoumaru didn't answer. "During all of their travels when coming across you, they had to keep their guard up because many times you came after them to fight Inuyasha to where she was afraid of you. Did you not try to kill her many times as well?"
"Indeed. Though this Sesshoumaru had saved her a few times."
"But most or all the times she had to fear for her life around you. Am I correct?" Kouga got a nod. "So she goes from a place of fear and knowing you as an enemy, to having you save her life from bleeding to death, to allowing her within the walls of your domain as a guest, to having you kiss as well as touch her. That alone would confuse her being as you made it very clear many times your feelings on humans and hanyou's. Can you not see why she is nervous around you? Not to mention she's nervous about it because she is still pure and untouched by a male."
~ Outside The Den ~
Smelling the air Ayame was able to pick up Kagome's scent and began heading in the direction. As she followed the scent, she was hoping that Kagome would talk with her when she caught up with Kagome. She saw Kagome stand on one of the two ledges over looking the water.
"Kagome!" Rin softly said as she and Ayame walked out to where she was standing.
"Kagome would you like to come and sit down then talk? Only the two of us came. The males stayied inside the den." Turning slightly Kagome looked at both Ayame and Rin before she walked over to them.
"You have tears in your eyes."
"Don't let what Hakkaku blurted out make you too upset Kagome. Sure lord Sesshoumaru knows why you feel the way you do. It would some how or some way got to him or he found out a different way. Secrets are not good for anyone to hide. How would that make anyone be able to trust that person who was hiding secrets?"
"My mind throws warning signs up about him. Warning that he was an enemy and that what he had done was not what was normal. Always making a point that humans were beneath him. Kissing or touching one as he did. Or let them wear kimono's that were his mother's as well as stay at his domain."
"Warning signs are good to protect, but sometimes you have to ignore them. Many things have changed. You had learned to think of the western lord as an enemy, but you can learn to trust him now."
"Sesshoumaru-sama saved you when you were bleeding very badly, then he saved you when you were very sick, when you took care of me."
"It is still hard to picture him anything but uncaring, heartless, ready to kill anything, cold hearted towards us and Inuyasha."
"Who is to say he did not just hate his brother and not you and your friends?" The heads of the white wolves rose from the ground, they stood up. "The warriors are back with the hunt. Let us go back to the den so we could eat though yours will have to be done the way you both eat."
"Go on ahead, we will be up in a while."
"Alright I will see you both there." Ayame turned and headed to the den leaving Kagome and Rin.
"Sorry you are not happy." Rin wrapped her arms around Kagome's waist.
"Thanks, but some how it will be ok. Ayame is right about Sesshoumaru finding out sooner than later. When he did...well I don't have to worry now that it is in the open. Shall we head back?" Nodding Rin let go of Kagome, then they began walking.
Back inside the den everyone sat eating the kill as they talked among themselves. While they ate Kouga put the portion of the kill over the flames to cook knowing both Kagome and the child could not eat it raw.
"How was Kagome?"
"It really bothers her that lord Sesshoumaru knows her secret, but she will get over it."
"I do not think it was just that she remembers how lord Sesshoumaru was an enemy for so long. I think it was a part of the reason. The other part is because she has never been kissed or touched willing by a male."
"Um Kouga, she said that her and Inuyasha kissed."
"Yes, but she is the one who done it to him and not a male doing it to her freely. None of her body hads been touched by a male just by her scent alone can tell that. So she is nervous because..." Kouga watched as Ayame raised her hand and motioned towards the entrance.
"This will have to wait for some other time, because she and the child is almost to the entrance." Not that much later they watched as both Kagome and Rin walked into the den.
"Sis, sorry I told your secret."
"Don't worry about it Hakkaku. What's said is said. There is no hard feelings." She patted him on the shoulder before heading closer to the others.
"The portion of the kill over the fire should be almost done enough for you both to eat if you would want to grab some." Kouga said.
"Thanks Kouga. Rin why don't you take a seat and I will get some for you."
"What will be your plans when you leave? Will you be returning to the village?"
"I will be returning and learning more."
"No Kagome! You were coming to the domain." Rin spoke as she chewed her meat.
"Is this true? Your going back to the western domain Kagome?" Ayame asked.
"The elder miko spoke that she needs to better her learning to protect herself with weapon as well as protect herself with her miko abilities." Sesshoumaru spoke.
"Lord Sesshoumaru, how are you to teach her to improve her miko abilities?" Ginta asked.
"He won't be, he's to help improve my bow skills. Which I don't see how that will help since he only uses swords."
"Your training will be done. Forget not that I have many within my domain."
"Yet to be seen! Only a few do not fear me being there. Only a few. I would like to see if you can find someone who would not be afraid to train a miko."
"Sis are you trying to make the western lord angry?"
"It sounds more to me as a challenge." Kouga spoke up.
Rin looked from adult to adult wondering what it was that everyone was talking about. While sitting there bored she began yawning and began to hum.
"What are your challenging rights sis? What prize are you in hopes of getting from the western lord?"
"Does she even know what challenging youkai in this manner means? Is she challenging him to prove herself or to just fight, or is it for a mating challenge?" Hakkaku leaned close to Ginta and whispered. At hearing the last part she started coughing and trying to breath as the meat that she was chewing went down her throat wrong.
"Wh..." she struggled. "What are you talking about? I was simple stating that there is no one at that domain that is not afraid of me because I am a miko. That is all." She covered her mouth when Kouga and Ayame's son started crying. "Ooops! Sorry."
"That's alright Kagome, because he likes you, you get to get him to stop crying." Ayame picked her son up, kissed him on the forehead then held him out to Kagome.
Seeing that Ayame was serious Kagome held out her arms. Bring her arms back towards her body, she moved the fur wrap away from the baby's face. The baby cried a bit longer before looking at Kagome then began to quiet down. Little smiles appeared on his face as Kagome brought her face close and gently rubbing her nose to his then taking her face away then
repeating.
"Could I hold him?" Rin looked at Ayame.
"Let me have my son first then you may hold him." Kouga reached out and Kagome handed the baby to him. Kouga then unwrapped the fur from around his son. "Lord Sesshoumaru this is my son and heir to the northern territory. His name is Hiromasa." Kouga held his son up so Sesshoumaru could see the heir of the north. Kouga watched as Sesshoumaru nodded his response. Taking and wrapping his son back up, he handed his son gently to Rin. "Let him not put your fingers in his mouth. For his fangs are very sharp."
"Boy don't I know that." Kagome answered.
"He is so cute." Giggled Rin.
Many hours later as the sun had set, Kagome laid out the pelt so Rin could lay down. When she did a few of the wolves came close and laid down. Kagome and the others remained awake for a little while longer before Kagome moved the other pelt that Ayame had laid over Rin. Moving the pelt, Kagome laid close to Rin closing her eyes.
Towards midnight Kagome was woke up by strange sounds. Rising quietly onto her elbows and slowly looked around. Though there was barely any light left from the fires, she could make out bodies of the tribe here and there. As her eyes came to the spot where the pile of straw was, she made out a big lump moving back and forth, as growls and moans were heard. Realizing what the moans were she slowly slid out from under the pelt and quietly made her way to the entrance of the den then through the waterfall. Outside the full moon, hung heavy and yellow in the black sky. Slowly she began making her way down the path feeling the rocky wall of the path as she went stumbling here and there. As the path began to level out, she felt grass between her toes signaling she had reached the small meadow that was surrounded by trees.
There was enough light that she could see the bushes gently swaying around her, while she thought what to do while time passed for the action that was being played out by Kouga and Ayame ended and hoping Rin would not wake up to witness it as well as finding her gone.
"Should you be asleep within the den with Rin?" Came a smooth voice that had the air of ice to it from behind her.
"I would, but I was awakened by strange noises. Looking around the den I noticed that the noises were coming from Ayame and Kouga. Not wanting to hear them in the middle of what they were... um doing I quietly left the den."
"Though Rin still remains within."
"She was wrapped up in the pelt with her head against a wolf still deep in sleep." She began to walk to the water's edge. "Why did you agree to my weapon training when I could of learned from lady Kaede? Why have me brought back to your domain? Was it to have me close by to find out the reason to why I was acting like when you got around me? If so, then you do not need me to be close and at your domain since you found out earlier today." Stopping at the waterline and hearing the roaring sound of the water as it cascaded over the top of the cliff and fell crashing at the rock base.
"The elder miko is beyond the years to train another in defending one's self, though she is well trained herself. For one such as yourself to get fully trained to matter ones weapon would be best to be trained from one who's well trained for war. Reason to bring to my domain will not be spoken here. Though words from these wolves bother me not, the questions you care not to answer."
"There is no one close other than in the den. We are standing here by ourselves." She turned to look at Sesshoumaru.
"Your miko abilities detects youkai not animals. The wolf leader's wolves are just behind those trees.†He motioned to the trees. Kagome watched as two wolves darted out from behind the trees heading back up the rock embankment heading back to Kouga. Kagome looked back at Sesshoumaru.
"Guess that means that I should head back. Hopefully by the time I get back up there Kouga and Ayame are finished with all that they were doing. Will you be staying out here or heading up as well?"
Turning away from mister "I don't need to answer", she began walking over to the path that would lead to the entrance. As she began walking up the hill her legs were letting her know that they disagreed with the treatment of having to head up the steep incline. Reaching the top and walking through the water covering the entrance, she noted that the little fires here and there had fresh wood burning in them. Coming into view of the pile of straw signaling the place were Kouga addressed his men and was also his and his mate's bed, Kagome noticed that he was sitting up. She also noticed that Rin was still asleep.
"My scouts informed me that you had left the safety of the den. They also informed that you were not alone."
"Did they inform why I left? I left when I was awakened from my sleep by umm-strange noises. Though there was not much light in here I looked around to only come to look in your direction to see you and Ayame moving and the noises were coming from both of you. So I quietly left the den. I thought that I was alone until Sesshoumaru spoke up behind me."
"With the others asleep, tell me why you would challenge the western lord like you did? Was it to see if he would react like Inuyasha had done, or was it to see just what his reaction would be? Or again was it what Hakkaku stated? Was it a challenge for mating rights with him?"
"What do you and Hakkaku mean by that?"
"You see in youkai society a female and a male can challenge in different ways. Though females and males challenge differ. One way for a female to challenge is to challenge in some other way or in same way like you had. Another would be to fight off all other females that threatened her chances of catching the favor of the chosen male for mating. There are many other ways. The males are like the females in some ways. For instance when we first met, when I had taken you from your group. I challenged Inuyasha's protection of you and won that round when I took you away. I had even challenged my men when I brought you here. I challenged that if anyone tried to take a bite of you or harm you, that they would die. We males even fight to the death for a chosen female. The females fight as well to the death at times when it calls for it. Though none of this was told to you by anyone. Though I can see why. You are not like any of the other miko's because if you were we would not be sitting here as friends and talking." He watched her for a bit. "You should get some sleep before dawn comes."
"Guess you're right, because I have a feeling we will be heading out come dawn." Moving over to the pelt to which Rin was still fast asleep, Kagome climbed in beside her and covered up then closed her eyes