Chapter 7 - Relina's question & Sesshoumaru's contract

When Kagome woke in the morning, she was thankful that her sleep had been blank. She did not look forward to having another dream like the other night, especially with Sesshoumaru not being here. Getting dressed, she tried to figure out where that thought had come from, but images of the dream they had shared came back to her mind. She got rid of the images as quickly as she could, she did not want the side effects of that dream to surface. She went out to the forge to check on it and found it still decently warm. She added some coal to it and after stirring it up, she made her way inside to begin breakfast. When breakfast was over, the children asked if they could keep working on the garden. Kagome told them that they could keep working on it until it was finished. They were very excited to have been given a job by her, and she shook her head with a smile at their willingness to impress her. Kagome decided to go back out to the forge and saw that Rio was sitting on the porch of the servant's quarters when she exited the building. Knowing now that he had been awake during breakfast, Kagome wondered why he had not come into the main house. Unsure what his motive last night had been, Kagome decided not to bring it up. She needed to get into her memories to search out typical demon behavior when they were attempting to impress someone.

He stood when she left the porch, and with the sword box in hand he made his way to her. Kagome took the box and began to make her way to the forge. She checked the temperature one more time before taking the box to her table and laid it out. There were no shards missing, and thankfully they were all large pieces. As she ran through the process in her mind, she realized there was one thing they had not done yesterday. She turned and began to make her way to the well, she had not filled up the water troth. Once she stood in front of the well, she let out a short high-pitched bark that called the children to her. There were three buckets at the well now, and Kagome began filling them while the children began running up to her. She instructed them to take the buckets to the troth and dump them. Ecstatic that she had asked them to do something else, they began carrying the buckets back and forth. After they had taken several, Kagome picked up two and decided to see how full the troth was. She had guessed correctly as she poured the last two buckets into the troth and gave them back to the children to take to the well before going back to the garden. Kagome went back to the table and began to study the blade again. There was something off about the sword, she placed her hand near the largest piece and began to read the aura of its energy.

"You're blade was cursed, Rio. That's why it broke." Kagome informed him.

"Can the curse be removed?" He questioned.

"Yes, I can remove it, but in doing so it might decrease it's strength. I'll know if it did once it's back in one piece." Kagome answered.

Kagome removed the curse with a small incantation that she was able to say silently and then began the process of removing the hilt. Once done, she began heating the pieces and tapping them back in place and then cooling the new piece. She repeated the process for over half an hour until finally the blade was in one piece. Within another half hour the blade was smooth and sharp, and Kagome turned to give the blade to Rio.

"Fortunately, it didn't lose any strength." Kagome informed him.

Rio took the blade from her and looked over it. He pushed his aura into sword and looked over the blade again. "It would seem as if it grew stronger." He stated as he looked over the blade.

"Only because it was your claws that were put into it. You were quite a bit younger when it was made and since it was reforged your aura just reactivated it with the strength you have now." Kagome explained.

"Is that why they say it is better to reforge a blade then to make a new one?" Rio questioned.

"Yes." Kagome answered.

While the two of them had been talking, a messenger from the mansion entered the gate and made their way towards the two of them. When Rio saw them enter the estate, he turned and waited for them to speak. Instead, he walked up to Kagome before talking.

"Taisho-sama has called for your presence within the mansion, Hasan-sama. You are to go to his study as soon as possible." He told her before bowing and leaving the grounds.

"You will remain with the children?" Kagome questioned, already standing.

"Yes." Rio answered.

Kagome thanked him in a nod and began to run to the bathhouse. She quickly washed up and made her way into the house. She wasn't sure what the reason behind the summons was, but she knew there was a reason for it. Politics demanded that she was only allowed in his presence if he had a reason for it, since he had not requested courting rights. Netali had been forced to obey the same rules during her life, only coming to the western mansion when invited by Relina, who could send a personal request, or if she had official business with House Taisho. Relina on many occasions had invited Netali to visit her in the west only to disappear most of the time of her visit, allowing her and Taisho to be around each other. Kagome could only hope that Relina would do the same now. With her clothes changed, Kagome made her way out the back door and yipped for the children. Once present, she informed them that she was leaving for a short time. Both of them begged her to let them go with her, but she had to remind them that the summons had been for her alone. With the children semi-satisfied, Kagome left to go to the mansion.

The guard standing outside the study informed Kagome that she was already expected. Kagome walked into the study to find Sesshoumaru and Relina the only two present. She walked halfway through the room and kneeled, which was common in Netali's homeland. Sesshoumaru nodded and pointed to a chair near Relina. Once she was sitting, Relina was the first to speak.

"Kagome, my son has explained a few things to me, and I wish to ask you a question." Relina stated.

"I can only hope that I have an answer." Kagome responded.

"Why is it that you so strongly insist on changing the future of my son?" She questioned.

"That answer isn't easy to put into words, but I will try my best. Sesshoumaru was the first person to ever do anything nice for me." Kagome began.

"What are you referring to?" Relina questioned.

"These clothes for one." Kagome answered

"He gave you those after you restored his arm and after you became pack." Relina stated.

"As far as I'm concerned, I had a part in him losing his arm to begin with. With us becoming allies, it was only right that I do what I could to give it back to him. As far as pack goes, he did that before I knew Netali, I had little sense of what pack meant. I don't understand youkai ways, with Netali's knowledge I'm just beginning to. What he's done has meant a lot to me, if you knew Inuyasha you would understand better. For three years I've listened to him gripe because I wanted to stop for the night, because I was just a weak copy of Kikyo, because I wanted to go home to see my family, because I wanted to try to finish going to school, because I wanted Shippo to stay with us, because I helped Sesshoumaru when Rin was captured by Naraku." Kagome caught herself getting emotional and held her hand up while she took a deep breath and collected herself. "Your son, shortly after merging with us, would talk to me, even though I'm sure he doesn't remember half of what I said he acted like he was listening and let me ramble about anything I wanted to. He defended me against someone I've had trouble with for three years. Because of him, Inuyasha doesn't throw his fits toward me anymore. He told me what I needed to know so that I could adopt Shippo and make him really mine, and even let me adopt Rin, who means a lot to him, even though he won't say it." Kagome stated, directing it at him. "Taking all of that into consideration, when I went home and saw him five hundred years older then he is now, and saw the pain the past five hundred years caused him, I felt like I should do something to change it. I knew I had the ability to take it away, and I chose to act on it."

"Looking at it from your point of view, I guess it would make more sense why you feel it so necessary to help him. For what it is worth, thank you. As a mother, you would understand what it means when someone steps in to protect your child." Relina stated.

"When I went home last week, the Sesshoumaru I saw there nearly died to protect my children. I know that has nothing to do with this Sesshoumaru, but if the circumstance were to come up now, I know he'd do the same. So, yes, I do understand what you mean." Kagome stated.

"Would you have me stay or go, my son? I know you wished to speak with her while she was here." Relina stated, turning to Sesshoumaru.

"I would prefer to speak alone." Sesshoumaru stated.

"Very well, I will buy you what time I can." Relina stated as she stood up.

Once the door had closed, Sesshoumaru spoke, "You are correct on one idea, and wrong on another."

"Okay?" Kagome questioned, waiting for an elaboration.

"You are correct in the fact that I would risk myself to protect you and your children; however, you are wrong in the fact that you thought I wasn't listening to you when you rambled. My mother's question was only part of why I called you here. Rio informed me that you are willing to work at the forge half the day, I wish to contract this time. Also, I will be meeting with the advisors later today and I wished to know if you would accept a place among them?" Sesshoumaru questioned.

"I would accept it, though I would only be able to handle one of the other right now." Kagome answered.

"I will inform you of the position I find, and you will tell me when you are capable of accepting it. While you are here at the forge, you have leave to bring the children with you. During this time, Rio will not be with you, I will be using this time for him to continue his tasks here." Sesshoumaru informed her.

"They will stay near me, I will make sure of it." Kagome told him.

"How are they adjusting?" He questioned.

"They begged to come here with me. Other then that, they're doing great. They've been staying busy working in the garden when I'm not with them. They don't really like Rio all that much." Kagome answered.

"If he acts out of line in any way you are to come here immediately." Sesshoumaru stated.

"Is there something I should know or expect?" Kagome questioned.

"Only the obvious, you are of the same title, you are strong and unmated, and he is male." Sesshoumaru commented.

"Yes, my uncle warned me of all that already." Kagome stated.

"With Netali's knowledge, you should have already known that." He responded.

"I have to stop and think about what I want to know. All of her knowledge isn't second nature to me, not yet anyway. That's why merging takes time to complete. I have to consciously want the information or to be reminded of it before I remember anything." She informed him.

Sesshoumaru nodded, allowing the information to sink in, "I will keep this in mind. What part of the day would you prefer to be here?"

"In the morning would be easiest." She answered.

"I will see the three of you in the morning then." He responded with a slight smile.

"You still practice in the morning then?" Kagome questioned.

"Have I ever broken my schedule while I'm home?" He questioned back.

"What ever happened to answering a question with a question is not an answer?" Kagome stated with a smile, reminding him of his own words.

"You are treading on dangerous ground, Kagome." Sesshoumaru responded with a lifted brow and a smirk.

"I'll see you in the morning then." Kagome stated as she stood up.

"Perhaps I will see you later today." Sesshoumaru commented.

"Perhaps." Kagome responded.

Kagome left the study and resumed her stern face. She was dancing on the inside. Sesshoumaru's final statement had been an invitation to call him into the dream world. Kagome had more then half the day to wait, but she was already anticipating the chance to see him with no formality attached. When she arrived at the estate, Kagome was surprised to see the seamstress waiting just within the gate for her.

"The patterns you gave me were more simple then I thought they would be, since I finished early I wished to bring the clothing to you." The seamstress stated with a bow, holding out the clothes.

"Let me see the shirts that I drew out for you." Kagome stated. The woman took one of each and handed them to Kagome for her inspection. Kagome was impressed, the seamstress had done a very good job. Kagome had the woman follow her into the house and gave her the same amount the woman had requested the day before.

"Hasan-sama, you have already given me the money for the work." The woman stated.

"Consider it a thanks for completing the task so quickly, and for delivering it to me." Kagome told her.

The woman reluctantly took the extra money and thanked her several times before leaving the house. That would spread like wild fire and Kagome knew it. It may have cost her a few coins, but Kagome considered it worth it since the clothes were delivered to her. She also knew that anything else she had done by her or any other shop would be done quickly and more then likely delivered to her in hopes of receiving a tip again. After putting the clothes away, Kagome made her way to the back of the house. As expected she found Rio sitting off to the side watching the children as they worked in the garden.

"Momma!" They both shrieked as they ran towards her.

Kagome knelt and braced for impact, but found herself flat on her back anyway. She immediately began to laugh and looked over the children to make sure the fall had not hurt either one of them. Once she was sure they were unharmed, she began to tickle their sides. They fought off the assault as best they could, but ended up falling over laughing instead of putting up much of a defense. As soon as Kagome had stopped tickling them, they each stood up and looked at her playfully.

Kagome looked at them with a lifted eyebrow and a smirk, "Come on." She challenged them.

They looked at each other with a smile and both pounced at her. She pushed them both away and the game was on. They were both trying to tackle her and she continued to deflect them. It was the same game she had seen the older Sesshoumaru playing with them. After a short time, the three of them made their way inside the house. Kagome had cleaning she wanted done within the house. The three of them started with the children's room. Next they went to the sitting room. Shortly after the room was complete, it was time to make dinner. Kagome went outside to inform Rio that it was dinner time. She walked around the side of the house, between the servant quarters and the storehouse and found Rio practicing with his newly repaired katana.

"Rio," She called to gain his attention. "we're starting dinner a little early. You can report to Taisho-sama when you are ready."

"I will be leaving now then." He stated with a bow as he put his katana back in place.

Kagome returned to the kitchen and had Rin stay close to her to watch her as she cooked. With dinner finished, she took the children to get their bath. She decided to start the fire beneath the stones herself this time. Tonight she bathed with them, and they stayed in the bath for nearly an hour, splashing each other once they had finished washing. When they left the bathhouse, Kagome was surprised to see Rio standing against the post of the house.

"I wished to inform you that I returned, Kagome-sama." He stated with a bow.

"Thank you, Rio, good night." She replied with a nod.

"A good night to you as well." He returned with a slight bow and then walked towards the front of the house.

Kagome noticed immediately that the children were glaring at him as he walked away. She decided to say nothing to them at the moment, and guided them towards the back of the house. Once she had them in their room she decided to tell them about tomorrow. Both of them were excited to be going to the mansion tomorrow, and they both started talking about seeing Sesshoumaru. She let them continue talking while she laid out their clothes for tomorrow. Once she got them to lie quietly, she left their room to go to her own. She too was excited to be going tomorrow, but she did everything she could to hold her composure while she was with the children. She removed her robe and set it to the side of the futon, deciding that she too was ready to go to sleep. While she drifted to sleep, she focused on the dream world, and on Sesshoumaru being there.

When she opened her eyes, Kagome found herself in the pavilion of the southwest estate. She scanned the area and found that Sesshoumaru was not far away. Soon he was walking up to the pavilion, shirtless as usual, but this was the first time Kagome had called him into the dream world without having a reason besides the fact that she wished to see him. She smiled up at him as he entered the pavilion and sat down next to her. Calm came over her, something she had only found while in his presence. She looked out over the garden, and with a contented smile she leaned her shoulder against him. As Sesshoumaru looked out over the garden with her, he wrapped an arm around her. The two of them sat there as they were and enjoyed the peace of the garden and the calm of each others presence. As Kagome drifted into dreamless sleep, she felt Sesshoumaru turn and kiss her temple.