AN: I was asked if Sesshomaru has both arms and yes he does… he even has Bakusaiga and Tenseiga.

Chapter 26

InuYasha was pissed why was it that his brother got to help in bathing Kagome. If it was anyone, it should have been him. He needed to get them apart. He wanted Kagome for his mate. He really needed to get rid of Kikyou.

"I told you she's whore." Kikyou stated, sneering as she watched Sesshomaru carry her reincarnation off into the woods.

"Shut up, Kikyou. Kagome is no whore." Sango snapped, at the inu female.

"Then explain why is it that a male is bathing her."

"It doesn't make her a whore. If I know Kagome she'll make him leave, so she can bathe herself."

"We'll see." Kikyou said, smirking triumphantly. She was still pissed that the monk yelled at her and her own mate didn't say anything to defend her. She was so sick of everyone paying attention to the pathetic girl. She needed to get rid of her soon.

Sesshomaru was finding it very difficult to bathe Kagome. He sorely wanted to bury his nose into her neck. He had washed her back, finding the same beautiful swirling marks trailing her spine, disappearing under the covering of her backside, going all the way up to the base of her skull. He had also noted that they were just as sensitive as those on her legs, arms and sides. That pleased him. Though what didn't please him was the fading scars that marred her flesh. They stood as a testament of the torture she survived at the hands of the vile construct of a hanyou.

"May I ask, why you do not like your markings?" Sesshomaru asked. "Are they not a part of who you are?"

Kagome blushed madly. She was having a hard time with Sesshomaru being so close to her. She had never been in this position before, let alone the way her body was reacting to him. His scent was driving her crazy and to feel his strong body against hers was doing things to her, let alone the fact that he had washed her back. Touching her markings with gentle claws, that kept sending pleasurable shivers up and down her spin as he traced some of her markings, causing her to press her back into his hand. She tried hard not to be effected, but he was making it impossible. She was also fighting the urge to moan, that so wanted to escape her.

She knew that he would have to help her with her hair, as it was she couldn't think, her mind was foggy and she couldn't seem to form coherent thoughts. She was glad that he had kept his hakama on, though she wondered why.

"Where I come from it is common that you see people marking their bodies with tattoos, and body piercings and other physical alterations, but shortly after going home mine started to appear, while I was in the hospital, a place of healing. I was asked how I got them and when I couldn't answer them, the healers their started doing tests on me. They took blood and skin samples. Some of things they did were painful. When the tests on my blood and skin samples came back with anomalies. They called others and tried to send me to a research lab. I refused and left the hospital hiding my markings. I didn't want anyone to see them. They had sent the authorities to collect me for testing. I didn't want to be a test rat. That was one of the reasons I left home." She confided. Only her family knew the full reasons why she really left and now Sesshomaru did.

"What is a lab rat?" Sesshomaru asked curiously, at the strange word.

"A form of torture. They would take hair, skin, blood, bone and they inject things like poisons and other things into the body, they would cut you open, to see what was inside, and put one through different things to see how one would react to different stimuli. They lock their test subjects in small rooms and tied down onto tables to keep them from fighting back." Sesshomaru growled. He didn't like that no matter where she went, she was being tortured.

"Here you would not need to hide your markings." He stated.

"Maybe not, but I would be questioned. Human females don't generally have markings like I do. As it is, I get strange looks just from the marking on my forehead."

"Indeed. I find your markings intriguing, as well as beautifully designed. They seem to fit you." He said, leaning down to breath in her ear, noticing the shiver and pebbling of her skin.

"I need to wash my hair." Kagome said, swallowing the lump now caught in her throat.

"Very well." Sesshomaru said, temporarily allowing Kagome to divert his attentions. "Tell me then, about your latest visitor." He questioned, as he assisted her in unraveling her hair.

"It was your father again. I don't understand why, they keep sending him to me. Anyway, he finally told me what Asuna is doing."

"That would be?" He asked, as he ran his fingers through her long, silky, black tresses, enjoying the feel as the shiny, silky strands slipped through his claws.

"She's trying to open the Gates of Hell." Kagome replied, trying hard not to be putty in his claws, it was so hard to fight what he was doing to her, never before had anyone ever effected her in his way. She wasn't sure if she liked it or not.

He leaned her back gently to wet her hair. Regretting it immediately, as it brought her chest into clear view of his now red rimmed eyes. He couldn't take his eyes off of her chest. His mouth watered, while his member twitched at seeing her hard nipples through the thin cloth covering. He had to force his eyes away from her chest, they then landed on her exposed throat, he felt as his fangs started to grow and throb within his mouth.

He couldn't believe how much he had to fight with his ironclad self control, she was making things very… hard.

They still had so much to discuss.

Kikyou smirked triumphantly, as Sesshomaru returned carrying her reincarnation. His hakama were wet, along with his hair. giving her a good view at his strong legs. She wanted to growl that she couldn't see more of him, but his long sash blocked her view, as well as his wet hair was blocking the view of his ass.

She so badly wanted to say something caustic, about her copy, but knew that if she did, she would most likely lose her head or be brought down by the damn beads that adorned her neck. When she got Sesshomaru to rut with her, she would insist on him removing the beads and placing them over the wenches neck instead.

She was jealous of the way Sesshomaru handled her reincarnation, as she watched him place her gently down on the blankets that the servant set out for the girl.

She looked over at her mate and saw that he looked on with covetous eyes, which inflamed her own anger, he should be paying attention to her, not some pathetic wench, that was only a copy of her.

When she looked over at the monk and slayer they were talking quietly between themselves. Most likely discussing what the monk had spouted, before Sesshomaru took the pathetic wench to bathe.

"Momma?" Shippo asked as Sesshomaru settled her on her blanket. He along with everyone else had noticed that Sesshomaru's hakama were wet, he wasn't worried, since Sesshomaru did ask for courting rights and he knew that he wouldn't force his mother to do anything.

"Yes, sweetie."

"Um.. do you have any Ramen?" Shippo asked shyly. It had been so long since he had any, and InuYasha always stole it from him, but now that he was bigger and he could fight for the yummy food.

"Yes, I do, but I would like some meat to go with it. Ramen is good, but we need the meat. I wish I would have known that a long time ago. You needed more meat in your diet. Saito will need some fruit as well, being a horse youkai." Kagome stated absently as she tried to stand wanting to hunt and forage, like she normally did, when a restraining hand on her shoulder stopped her.

"Miko." Sesshomaru stated flatly. "You are to remain sitting or laying down. I will not have you harming your back further."

"But.." Kagome tried to argue, but was shot down by her new friends and son.

"He's right momma. Just tell us what you need and we will get it for you."

Kagome sighed in frustration, she hated feeling weak and useless, but also knowing that she still hurt, kept her from fighting. "Fine. I will do the cooking though." She stated adamantly, daring any to argue with her.

"Miko." Sesshomaru really didn't want her to hurt herself, though he wanted her cooking.

"I can sit next to the fire. If I need help, then I will ask, besides I am the only one that can cook the Ramen."

"Hn. Very well. The kit and I will hunt, Rin assist the miko. Jaken tend to Ah-Un." Sesshomaru stated, before turning to his brother. "You will hunt for your group." With that Sesshomaru turned and walked away into the forest with Shippo trailing behind him.

Rin went to Kagome asking what she needed, while her entire family and Saito pitched in to help, gathering wood for the fire, water for cooking and drinking and anything else that may be needed.

Saito didn't say a word about not wanting to trouble anyone about not having the fruit, but what Kagome usually got him was good and he had become spoiled, with her treats and the fact that someone remembered him, it made him feel special, made him feel wanted and cared for.

Kagome was sitting near the fire poking at it, while waiting for Sesshomaru and Shippo to return with meat, she let her mind wander and found that she was having a hard time getting rid of her blush. She hadn't blushed this much in her life. She couldn't believe what Sesshomaru had done and said. Her mind kept replaying it over and over again.

*Flashback*

Sesshomaru helped her take her hair down. She couldn't help but blush as he ran his claws through her hair, gently messaging her scalp. She tried and failed to hold in the moan that he had induced from her.

The next thing she knew was that he was rubbing her arms softly, nuzzling her neck. She almost feinted when she not only felt his lips on her, but his tongue as well.

The moans she let out, she couldn't stop, or how her body reacted to him. She couldn't clear her mind of the fog he caused. She was only grateful that she was in water, which would hide most of her scent.

When she felt his arms wrap around her, one arm below her breasts and the other above holding her to his hard, bare chest, she knew she was melting and couldn't find it in her stop him. It felt nice to be wanted.

She had not let a male touch her in so long, other than family and trainers though with the way Sesshomaru was acting, was sending her mind and body into overwhelming desires she had never felt before and didn't totally understand. She knew that she had to get her mind back into the here and now, before they did something that they both would regret.

"Sess.. mmm… Sesshomaru..." She moaned. "We have to stop… Please..." She begged breathlessly.

"Why." He replied nibbling on the juncture of her neck and shoulder.

"This isn't right." She stated as she pulled away gently. She looked down at her folded hands, feeling lost and alone.

"Kagome." He started only to be interrupted.

"I can't do this. I can't be your lover."

"Kagome, I wish to court you." He got out before she rejected him completely.

"What?" She asked stunned turning as much as she could in her current position.

"I do like to repeat myself, but for this I will. I, Sesshomaru, Lord of the Western Lands wishes to court you, Kagome, the Shikon Miko, the destroyer of the hanyou Naraku and savior of my world, with the intent to become my mate. Will you do me this honor?"

"But..." She stammered. She couldn't believe he was asking her this. She was damaged goods, not nearly good enough for someone like Sesshomaru.

"Kagome, you are everything and more than I could wish or hope for in a mate."

"I don't understand." Kagome stated, clearly confused. How could someone like Sesshomaru, want someone like her.

"You are perfect."

"I am far from perfect." Kagome voiced even more quiet than she normally spoke.

"In my eyes, you are."

"But, if we do mate, I could never give you full youkai offspring, they would be hanyou. I know for a fact that you think they are abominations."

"I have nothing against hanyou, only InuYasha. If you know my past, then you know that my father abandoned my mother and I for his human mistress and her pup, over his prior family. He died saving them, not caring what he was leaving behind. Any offspring I have with you would not only be powerful, but they would be of you. I could never hate them. I will not pretend to know what love is. I have never been in love or have felt love, not even from my parents. My own mother left my father and I after she found out about Izayoi. So when father left and died, he left a mess for me to clean up. I was three hundred at the time. I was still too young to be placed in such a position. I am still considered young for a Lord. I have also found that I need and want a mate." She was floored with the amount of talking he was doing. She had never heard him talk with such pain or passion before. He had left himself totally open and unguarded. He was also forgetting his love and care for Rin and how she had loved him.

"I was interested in you over fifty years ago, but my pride and arrogance stood in my way. Rin helped me to understand humans more and you taught me that not all humans were the same. You have always been kind, loyal, stubborn, powerful, gentle, patient, understanding, caring, intelligent and so many more things. That is what I want in a mate. I would never ask you to change who you are. I would never let your light die. I would gladly lay my life down to protect you. I would be most honored to have you as my mate, not below me as most lords would do, but I would have you as my equal in all things. I would make sure that you were forever happy. Please do not reject me, on some misguided thought of not being good enough or that you are damaged goods. I would have you no other way. I must also inform you, that while you were unconscious, I had to give you some of my blood to aid you in your healing." He placed a finger over her lips, to prevent her from speaking, he needed to tell her without her interrupting. "My blood has caused a bond between us. It can be removed if you so desire. The bond will allow me to know of your well being. A bond such as this is generally done during mating. I do apologize, that it had to be done without your consent, but I am hopeful that you will allow it to remain."

Kagome was shocked. She didn't know what to say. She looked into his unguarded eyes, seeing the truth laid before her in his deep golden eyes. How could she refuse him with what she had just heard. She knew that she had liked him before, but he was so hard and cold, now he was so warm and caring, he had saved her and protected her even back fifty years ago.

"I know what courting means in human terms, what would it entail in youkai terms?"

"We would spend more time together, to get to know each other. I would scent mark you. It allows other youkai to know that you are courting and whom. The blood that you were given will also act as marker, as your scent has slightly changed. I will allow you to choose when you are ready for the mating. I will not force you. I would also include you into the happenings of the West as you would be its Lady, but until we mate you would not be able to speak, unless given permission. After we return to the palace, I will be calling an assembly of Lords. We will need further information and at that time I will announce our impending mating." She found herself incapable of hiding her blush.

"I'm honored, but I must ask. What other effects would your blood might have on me?"

"I am unsure. I know it will create a bond, but other effects, I am unsure. I do know that when mating the sharing of blood, will allow both partners to know the well being of one another and it will lend strength. I know not what the effects it will have on a miko as there has never been a mating between our species. No that I will have no other. You have been the only female that has ever captured my interest."

She didn't know what to think. He had said so much. Much more than she knew him to speak. He was always so quiet and reserved. She knew that he was honest and honorable. He knew the pain as much as she did, when someone you cared about abandoned you for another. She knew that she would try. She wanted to know him and by his own unknown admission that he cared for her, even loved her. Looking into his open golden eyes, she spoke with heart.

"I, Higurashi Kagome the Shikon no Miko, give consent for Sesshomaru, Lord of the West to Court me." She stated formally, there was no way she could refuse such an offer.

She watched as Sesshomaru grinned slightly then nuzzled her cheek, before kissing her with as much passion as he could.

Oh Kami that kiss she had never felt anything so incredible in all her life.

End flashback

Sesshomaru watched as Kagome jumped slightly when he dropped his kill at her feet and new that she was thinking of what had happened at the springs, he himself couldn't keep the smirk off his face. He was more than pleased with how things were going. He had asked her sooner than he had planned, though it worked out better than he had hoped.

Now he would be able to get closer to her and learn some of her secrets, though they were not as important, he still had lots of questions to ask her. He wanted to know everything about her. He wanted no secrets between them. He knew secrets could ruin lives, he had seen it happen.

He sat near his intended watching her closely as she and Rin went about preparing the evening meal. He didn't know what this Ramen was, but he was willing to trying it. Besides Kagome wouldn't feed him anything that would harm him. He had to admit that he enjoyed watching her work, though he frowned when he noticed that her hands were still gloved. He quickly moved to her, taking one of her hands in his.

"Sess.." Kagome choked out. She wasn't expecting him to grab her hand. She had been in the middle of cutting up meat for their dinner.

"Why do you persist on wearing these, when there is no need." Sesshomaru stated looking into her blue eyes as he went to remove the glove covering her hand.

"You know why." She said lowly, a scowl on her face as she struggled to take her hand back. "Besides they are more than just gloves, they are also weapons."

"There is no need to wear them at this moment, as you will not be able to fight until your spine is fully healed." Sesshomaru stated as he forcefully removed the glove covering her hand. "There is no shame in your markings, Kagome." He whispered, so only she could hear, rubbing his thumb over the top of her hand in the same direction as the swirling pattern. He watched pleased as she blushed at the contact of flesh on flesh.

Gently he took her other hand removing that glove as well. "Sess..."

"There is no need to hide. I have also stated that you will not be fighting for a few days, therefore there is no need for you to wear them." Sesshomaru stated, seeing the scowl on her face deepen. "I will not have my intended hiding herself." He smirked. The glint in his eyes was downright devilish with his whispered words.

Kagome watched as Sesshomaru tucked her gloves into his sash at his waist and sat at the tree closest to her, a slight growl escaped her, at having her gloves taken from her. "I will be getting those back." She promised.

"Hn." Sesshomaru stated, smirking at his miko. Sesshomaru noticed that Rin had a smile on her face at witnessing her father's actions. She couldn't believe how playful her father was being with Kagome, that she didn't even notice the markings on the tops of Kagome's hands.

"You summoned me." A male asked, looking at three females of varying ages. One young, a child most would say, the Second, a young woman, looking no older than twenty, looking for all the world to be in her prime and the Third, old and wrinkled, gnarled hands looking almost crippled with age. The three Sister of Fate.

All three were looking in a pool of water. The male couldn't see what was being shown, but the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. These three had more power than all the Kami.

"Yes." The three females spoke as one, never taking there eyes off the pool before them.

"You are needed once again, in the realm of the living." The crone stated.

"Why? For what purpose?" The males deep voice reverberated. He had also wondered why he hadn't be reincarnated, it had been more than two hundred years after all.

"To protect that which is selfless and has sacrificed much." The child answered.

"Why? Is this person not capable of protecting themselves or is their protector not fit." He had a feeling he knew whom these three were talking about, but he had to make sure.

"Anger, rage, jealousy is ripe in the air. One will betray. One seeks to possess that which doesn't belong, One seeks to open the Gates." The Second female spoke.

"You must make amends. You must heal that which has been torn. Souls full of rage. Desires, that will harm. Death and lust is sought." The Crone spoke, sorrow evident in her tone.

"Souls crying in pain and grief, Souls of sorrow, seeking redemption. Souls tied by a single thread, longing to be one." The Second Sister spoke

"The Gates must never open. It falls on you and your line to protect that which has been set in motion. You must not fail." The three spoke as one.

"What would happen, if we fail?"

"You must not fail!" The three hollowed, in pain and rage.

Until Next Time… if anyone needs me I will be reading more Rlmpcc110511 stories, as she is one of my favorite writers...(FYI – I have read all of her stories… :) )

keotaka1:I would have sent you a pm but you have blocked it… Thank you for your review… Sesshomaru does have both arms… but Bakusaiga isn't much good right now but it will be later :) Kikyou will get what is coming to her in due time… she is still very important to the story… Shippo is awesome… he had had a lot of good role models… (Kagome, Rin, Kohaku, Sesshomaru)

Dru: I am glad that you are enjoying the story so much :)

Diva: thank you :) I have tried really hard to keep all characters within character…:) :) I am glad that you are enjoying the story… :)

D.Q. 17: hopefully there will be favorite chapters as we go along :)...I guess everyone is getting sick of Kikyou :)… a brothel is to good for her… agreed… Kikyou's skeletons will come out soon…. Is all I can say :)… Did InuYasha ever get it… he always thought of himself…

StormieLikeWeath: thank you :) I am glad that you are enjoying the story :)

gome: a lot will happen before the end of Kikyou…

animefan: blushing… well bath time will make you blush more...it's a thought, I will keep in mind :)

Guest Yerlyn: I am really glad that you are enjoying the story… hopefully you enjoyed bath time… :) :)

Guest: thank you :) posting once a week allows me the time I need to write and research… sorry