Sesshomaru POV

As soon as we found Astrid, Ayaki was in Kagome's arms. She bounced the happy toddler and greeted Astrid with a grin. "Well, I guess you could say that I didn't exactly win." Kagome chuckled with the nursemaid.

I could feel a relaxed grin take over my face. I watched them chat for a few more minutes until I recalled the vision Gandalf had shown me. We needed to get moving. And Ayaki really shouldn't come, we would be training day and night for the next week or so. "Kagome, I need to speak with you for a moment." She looked up at me with a breath-taking smile.

"I'll be right back Astrid." The nursemaid nodded at her.

Kagome joined me in the hallway with Ayaki balanced on her hip. "Kagome, this Sesshomaru regrets to inform you that we cannot bring a baby with us. We will come back for him once the battle is over."

She looked slightly shocked but after she thought it over for a moment she responded, "You're right, I will ask Astrid to take care of him while we are gone."

I inclined my head in acceptance. "I need to speak with King Theoden," I pulled her close and gave her a light kiss, ruffling Ayaki's soft hair. "I will be back shortly Kagome."

Kagome nodded her head and sighed, "I'm sure Astrid won't mind. When do you want to leave?"

"As soon as possible," but when she sighed I revised it, "but we can wait until morning." She smiled at me and kissed my cheek before going back in the room to talk to Astrid.

Then it was my turn to sigh, she had me wrapped around her little fingers. Oh well, if she's happy then that's all that matters. I turned on my heel and began walking towards the main hall that I could sense the King was in. I needed to have a little chat with Theoden about honoring our alliance.

Kagome POV

I wasn't all that surprised with what Sesshomaru had told me, it made sense that we wouldn't take a child into the fray. I wasn't worried that Astrid would say no, she was a good person. I am confident that Theoden's son was an amazing young man since she was the one who had raised him. I was mostly worried about this battle and not being able to come back for him. I could sense the evil hovering just beyond the horizon.

"That was a short chat." Astrid commented, an unspoken question in her voice.

"Well Sesshomaru is as straight forward as ever." We chuckled together for a moment. "Astrid, I have a pretty big favor to ask of you. You can say no if you don't want to, don't feel honor bound to do this. I cannot bring Ayaki with me tomorrow morning when we leave to train for the upcoming battles. I do not wish for him to come into harm's way. Would you watch over him for me until all of this is over?"

"Of course Kagome. Ayaki is a joyful little boy, it would be an absolute pleasure to watch over him for no matter how long you are gone." Her response was nearly instantaneous.

"That isn't exactly the hard part of my request. If something is to happen to me and Sesshomaru, I want you to raise him to be a good man. Just like you did with the King's son. I want Ayaki to have a place here as a man of Rohan." I wanted him to have a good life even if I wasn't in it.

Astrid was silent for a moment. "If you and Lord Sesshomaru do not come back from this war, I will raise him as my own. He will grow to be a strong and loving man. He will grow up knowing that you two were the heroes of Rohan and that he was yours. I will raise him to be an honorable and just man."

Her words brought tears to my eyes, "Thank you Astrid, you have no idea what that means to me." I embraced her for a moment. "Please don't tell Sesshomaru that I asked this of you. I don't mean to die; I will come back from this battle so I can defeat Kikyo in my own time and so I can live with Sesshomaru as long as he will have me. I just want to make provisions for him if the worst is to happen."

"Of course Kagome, I understand."

They waited in companionable silence for Sesshomaru to return.

Sesshomaru POV

When I walked into the main hall the air was tense with unspoken words between Aragorn and Theoden. I cared not for their argument. Instead I walked straight up to Theoden.

"King Theoden, this Sesshomaru has a favor to ask of you."

Theoden looked at my face and seemed to see something there, "Leave us." He ordered his servants and guards. Aragorn stayed. "I will give you anything that it is in my power to give Lord Sesshomaru."

"I only ask for your word, a promise."

"Ask and it shall be done."

"If Kagome and I are not to return, you are to give Ayaki a place in your kingdom. You are to make him into a more honorable man than the man he was in a previous life. Make me proud to have given him his name."

Aragorn's eyes were wide, and Theoden took in a deep breath. "Lord Sesshomaru, I would be honored to take in Ayaki should anything befall you and Kagome in this war. However, that said, do you know something we do not?"

"Do not misinterpret this one. I have no plans of Kagome or me dying. But she loves this child, it is hers as it is mine and I will provide the best I can for it. I refuse to leave here without having some insurance on the child's future." I stated plainly. I had nothing to hide from them.

"I give my word to provide for him if you are unable. He will be welcomed heartily and raised as a warrior like his father. His old life is forgotten; he will only be known for what he does in this life."

"You have this Sesshomaru's thanks."

"None is needed, I am in your debt Lord Sesshomaru."

I regarded him for a moment. "Kagome and I will be leaving at dawn. We will train until Gandalf summons me."

"Very well, if you have need of anything just ask. My kitchens can provide you with provisions. Just ask for anything and they will give it to you. If you want a horse, you are welcome to my best."

"This Sesshomaru has no need of a horse but provisions are welcome."

"Let it be done."

Before I left to go back to Kagome I realized that I needed to speak to Aragorn about what kind of game I could expect in these areas. He warned me against a few types of poisonous plants, and he also told me of a few plants Kagome would probably enjoy. He said that most forested areas other than Fangorn Forest would have a plentiful amount of game like deer, bear, and wild boar along with other small game. It sounded similar to what I was used to in my time. I thanked him and made my way back to Kagome.

She was telling Astrid about how we got here but she paused for a moment to smile at me when she sensed my presence. After she finished her story Kagome hoisted Ayaki onto her hip. "I'll drop him off with you tomorrow morning." She told her and they said their goodnights.

We wandered through the halls until we found ourselves outside, we walked the streets and Kagome greeted everyone she met with the same bright attitude. Every one she met was delighted with her and Ayaki. They regarded me with respectful gazes. I was pleased that these people were so kind to Kagome and Ayaki. If he should have to remain here and grow up among these people he would live a happy life and find a good wife.

I let out a pleased rumble when we finally left the crowd of people behind and went outside of the walls that contained Theoden's castle. Kagome let out a delighted giggle and handed Ayaki to me. I held him awkwardly at first, away from myself. Then I carefully brought Ayaki closer to myself. Cradling him gently. Suddenly I was overcome with gratitude. I would have been unable to do this with only my one hand.

I looked up to see Kagome picking flowers, I felt a pang in my heart as she reminded me of Rin. She was smiling serenely and I couldn't take my eyes off of her. The pup in my arms squirmed to be put down so I gently knelt and let his small not shoed feet touch the grass. He let out a delighted squeal and when I put him down completely he stumbled a bit before falling onto his butt. He didn't let that stop him though as he toddled towards where Kagome was watching us. Her eyes were sparkling and I could smell her happiness rolling off of her in waves.

I couldn't take my eyes off of her. Seeing her this happy lifted my heart in ways I didn't know were possible. I kept pace with Ayaki as he crawled to her. When Ayaki's slow crawl finally reached her, she lifted him up into the air and above her head, planting kisses on the laughing child's face. As she played with Ayaki I wrapped my arms around her waist and put my nose into her hair. She smelled divine, and when she laughed I couldn't help but place a kiss on her neck where my mark would be one day.

I pulled her down to sit in my lap among the flowers. "Kagome, you are amazing."

She looked at me with a bit of surprise in her eyes but leaned over and kissed my cheek. I would have been content to sit there for the foreseeable future but a while later Kagome's stomach growled. She giggled a bit embarrassed, and blushed when I lifted her up to carry both her and Ayaki in my grasp. She let me carry her to the gates then she demanded to be let down. I wanted to growl at her for ordering her alpha but I knew she didn't mean any harm. She seemed to realize what she had done and placated me with a quick kiss.

When we found ourselves in the kitchen the head chef shooed us out to wait for dinner since it was almost done. I was surprised to find that they were having another large feast. Theoden explained that it was to thank us for all we had done for his kingdom. While I was talking with Theoden, Kagome handed me Ayaki who I immediately cradled in a gentle embrace. She left with a quick, "I'll be right back."

I subconsciously bounced Ayaki while I discussed battle strategy with the king. The affection I showed the pup didn't escape his notice. "If I didn't know any better I would say you have done this everyday of your life." He commented.

"This Sesshomaru used to bounce Rin back to sleep when she had nightmares." I said nonchalantly.

"May I ask who this Rin is?"

"Rin is my ward back home, Kagome has - well had - a son in our time as well."

"Ah, I am sorry for your loss."

When Kagome returned, we changed the subject to lighter things and I held onto Ayaki until he reached for Kagome. The rest of the night went by smoothly and I found out that Kagome had gone to tell the chef that as a demon I rarely ate cooked food, I found my plate full of fresh boar meat. God, I loved this woman.

After a night filled with festivities we retired to our room to see that someone had placed a crib along the wall. Kagome sang a nonsensical song to the already sleepy pup, something about twinkling stars, Ayaki fell asleep in her arms with a small yawn. I stood over the crib looking down on the pup with her as she put him down.

I wanted the world to know that he was mine, I let Kagome twine her right hand with my left as I reached down to cup his small head in my seemingly large hand. I carefully brushed his soft short hair aside as I allowed a small bit of my youki to seep into him. No one would mistake him for anyone else's child as the mark of my household formed on his neck where the pad of my fingers had begun to brush. A small purple crescent moon. Everyone would know he was mine. Kagome took in a small gasp of air but I felt her approval rolling off of her. She abandoned my hand to hug my side to her, she kissed me so passionately that I was the one who had to break us apart for air.

I tried to quiet my labored breathing so as not to awake Ayaki. She led me to the bed where we both collapsed. She kissed me murmuring, "Sesshomaru." And "I love you." I held her to me possessively, my beast was practically purring with this turn of events. Soon later the kisses slowed and she settled for just holding me at she drifted off to sleep. Her calm heartbeat lulled me to sleep as well.

Hey Guys I want to apologize for being gone so long, almost a year goodness me. But to try to make up for it I made a SUPER long chapter(at least in my book lol) I am determined to finish this story sooner or later. Hope you guys like it, leave me a comment if you want!

Until Next Time,

~Miketsukami-kun