Chapter 37

Punishment

Sesshomaru stood in the town square, his tense mate beside him. She was completely against what he was about to do, but he would not budge in his decision. Kagome had been injured because of his sons' childishness, and they would learn, on this day, that he would no longer tolerate it.

He refused to look at her as she held Natsuki, knowing that, if she gave him a certain look, he would call everything off. This needed to happen. He respected her wishes enough not to harm the pup and kit, but a blow to their egos would work just as well.

"Sesshomaru, you really don't have to do this. If I was stronger–" Kagome started before stopping at the low growl.

"If you finish that sentence, Miko, I will have you join them." Sesshomaru stated, narrowing his eyes as he looked at her briefly, all without moving his head.

"But I'm not strong unless I'm going against a yokai… If I was, I never would have gotten hurt in the first place." Kagome argued, bouncing the child in her arms.

Sesshomaru closed his eyes and lifted his head to the sky, taking a deep breath to calm himself. He hated when she had these bouts of self-doubt. They were unnecessary, and wrong. She was the strongest person he knew, other than himself. Putting herself down because she was injured while in her weaker form was demeaning.

She may be slightly weaker as an inu, but she was a human who could change what she was. She was the Shikon Miko who carries the Shikon no Tama inside of her, protecting it. She was chosen by the Kami to be powerful, and she was. One slip up and she was forgetting all of that.

"Kagome, you were injured. All, at one point in their lives, receive an injury in battle. It is only natural." Sesshomaru attempted to soothe, pushing his aura out and letting it coat and comfort her.

"When was the last time you were hurt?" Kagome asked sarcastically. Sesshomaru's lips thinned at the question. He really couldn't recall the last time blood had been drawn from him.

"That is beside the point, My Love. You are strong, powerful. I would not have made you the Lady of the West otherwise, so you will have to trust my judgement." He replied, hating his own answer. He really hated soothing females. He wasn't any good at it, mate or not.

"Maybe you made a mistake." Kagome mumbled, looking away from her lord.

She never saw just how much he tensed, or the way his eyes flashed red, then gold again. If she had, she may not have been so startled by the reaction she got from him.

"Are you regretting your mating to me, Miko? Do you feel as if you are not worthy, and that this one is a fool for taking one such as you? Or perhaps you wish to return to that wolf you once laid down for?" Sesshomaru snarled, instantly regretting it when he noticed the way his mate jumped in surprise and how her eyes continued to widen as he spoke.

"I never said I regretted mating you, nor have I ever called you a fool. I love you, and only you, but I want to make sure I can be the best I can be, for you. However, from your words, it is clear to see you think me nothing more than a whore who lays for anyone. Rest assured, these legs will not be opened for anyone again, including you." Kagome snapped, tears filling her eyes and threatening to fall.

She turned to leave, only stopping long enough to shock Sesshomaru as he grabbed her wrist, forcing him to let go. He could only look at his slightly burned hand in horror. She had never hurt him and wished for him to leave her alone, and now, she was walking away.

His head and shoulders slumped as he realized what he said had been out of jealousy and anger, and he had to make sure she understood that he didn't mean it the way it sounded. There was no way she could be a whore. After all, he had taken many more females than she had males, and he was no whore.

Just as he was about to follow after his upset female, a guard stopped him, announcing the boys were ready for their punishment. Inwardly, Sesshomaru groaned, knowing that he couldn't leave, and he could only hope Kagome would listen to him once he found her.

Ordering the guard to bring out his children, he turned and faced the podium in front of him. He had chosen a simple punishment. It would be quick and easy, just enough to get the point across, which now worked in his favor since he needed to get to Kagome.

Shippo and Youta were brought out together, their hands tied behind their backs. They could have broken out easily but knew this was what they deserved. It wasn't until they were standing in front of the growing crowd that Sesshomaru gave the first order.

"Remove their clothing."

"What?! You can't be serious, Dad!" Youta yelled, fighting a bit at the ropes. One glare from his father and he ceased his actions. He just hoped Rin wouldn't hold this against him.

Scanning the crowd, he spotted her and noticed the encouraging look she gave him. He could tell she just wanted him to comply so that it would be over with. Then he could get his woman back in his arms. He briefly wondered why he hadn't mated her yet but was pulled from his thoughts when the guard's claws ripped through his clothing, leaving him bare for all to see.

Shippo had no problem being unclothed and, in fact, shook his hips a bit, giving all of the females a view, and a view they got. He couldn't help but smile as a few females just about fought, trying to get a better look at him, and he winked at the ladies, silently promising a wonderful night…for all of them…at the same time.

Both were brought out of their thoughts, whether about mating, or a quick, but fantastic, rut, by freezing cold water being dumped over their heads. Cold air didn't really affect them, but water…there was no escaping the cold from that.

It was apparent their father had ordered water from the frozen lake to be dumped over their heads, and the moment it happened, they could only gasp and shiver at the shock of it. Suddenly, Shippo, nor Youta, had anything to show off anymore.

The very females that had been ogling the kitsune only moments before were now laughing hysterically and pinching their fingers as if measuring his size. There wasn't much space at all between their appendages.

To Youta's horror, even Rin was finding their predicament funny, and he glared at her, promising punishment the moment he became male again. Hopefully, that wouldn't be too long.

Sesshomaru, pleased with the humility his sons had received, nodded for them to be released. The moment they were, they darted inside, not stopping until they reached a hot spring, both diving in together in the hopes of warming up.

Sesshomaru turned from the laughing crowd, determination set in his eyes. It was time he found his mate and fixed his careless words.

-sSs-

Kagome sat leaning against a tree, shivering slightly. When she ran, she had forgotten just how cold it was, and she now only had the small throw from her shoulders. She had quickly given it up, though, when she had seen Natsuki beginning to get just as cold as she.

Now, her pup was warm and sleeping soundly, but she was freezing. She refused to go back inside, though, knowing that her mate was most likely there looking for her. Eventually, she would go back, but his words had hurt.

She was already feeling inferior, and now, she was feeling like a slut. The next time she saw him, she should make a comment about going to work in a brothel. I bet Sesshomaru would love to hear that coming from me. I guess he can't hide from the truth now…neither can I. Does he really think that low of me, or did he simply make a mistake with his wording?

"Kagome?" A voice called, startling her.

She looked up to see Kouga standing a few feet from her, his eyes filled with worry. She smiled at him for a second but then turned back to look at her pup once more.

"Hey, Kouga." She acknowledged.

He took one look at her shivering form and her slightly blue lips and knew her stubbornness was getting the best of her. He quickly took off his winter pelt from his shoulders and draped it over her.

She may have broken his heart long ago, but that didn't mean his heart was gone. It was devoted to Ayame, but he wouldn't be much of a male if he let a female, and the Lady of the West, freeze to death. Plus, she would always be his friend.

"What happened?" He asked, sitting down beside her but making sure not to touch.

He knew she didn't want the lord to find her, but this was something that needed to be dealt with, no matter what the problem was. So, keeping it away from her, he shot out his aura, calling the lord. It wouldn't be long before he showed up, and he didn't want to die because he was too close to his friend.

"Sesshomaru said something that hurt." Kagome answered, looking up at the cloud-covered sky. It seemed as if it was going to snow soon, and it was cold enough to stick this time.

"Let me guess, you overreacted again?" Kouga guessed, chuckling at Kagome's glare.

"What makes you think I overreacted?" She snapped, her voice playfully angry.

"You were my alpha female for seventy years, Kagome. I know how temperamental and stubborn you can be. Let me see if I can guess what happened." Kouga started, leaning back as he thought for a moment. "I bet you put him in an awkward situation, maybe not on purpose, but still awkward for him. He reacted the only way he knew how, and it ended up being worse than what he meant. Am I close?"

"Yea…" Kagome softly agreed.

"Hey, the guy you mated is scary as fuck. Seriously, you're damn brave, you know that? I know I wouldn't have the balls to even approach him if I was female, yet you did the impossible and made the guy fall in love with you. While he may still be the Killing Perfection to everyone else, to you, he is just Sesshomaru. That is amazing, Kagome. You broke down his walls and showed him what love is."

"You just need to remember that, while he has changed towards you, he still isn't used to it. I knew him before you met him, and I never wanted to cross paths with him again. It was why we came up with a truce. He would leave me the hell alone, and my wolves, nor myself, would step foot on his lands. And I wish it was still like that. I feel like I have to sleep with one eye open, especially since he knows about our past."

"You may see yourself as weak, but you're not. You forced your way into the heart of the Killing Perfection, the most feared demon on these lands, and didn't even get a scratch. Sure, you have your weaknesses, but who doesn't? I have my wolves. They are just mortal, ya know? Sesshomaru even has a weakness…you. I can tell, just by the way he looks at you, that if anything were to happen to his mate, he would be devastated."

"You can be strong and have weaknesses, Kagome. It's natural. You just need to remember that."

Kouga looked towards the woman beside him and smiled as she smiled in return. He knew she had taken his words to heart. He also knew the lord had been there the entire time, listening to the conversation, so he could only hope that he would now be in Sesshomaru's good graces. After all, he did just get the lord out of a bind.

"I've missed you, Kouga. I'm glad Ayame finally got you to look at her. I'm sure you make her happy." Kagome said, nudging him slightly.

"I'm glad you found somebody that could break down your own walls. Those things were a bitch." Kouga countered, looking up as Sesshomaru stepped into the tiny clearing with them. Kagome noticed the lord and smiled at him before looking towards Kouga, silently asking for alone time.

"Yea, yea. I know when I'm not welcome anymore." Kouga said, standing up. Kagome took his pelt from her shoulders and handed it to him, knowing it was going to be bad enough for Sesshomaru to smell another male on her. He didn't need to actually see the pelt as well.

Kouga took it from her and began to walk away. He received a small nod from Sesshomaru and just about passed out right there. That one, simple, tiny, almost nonexistent, nod was a thank-you, and probably the only one he would ever receive from the lord.

When they were finally alone, Sesshomaru took off his own heavy cloak and placed it over his mate's shoulders. It would keep her warm while drowning out the scent of the wolf. He sat down beside her and pulled her and their pup into his lap, instantly burying his nose in her neck. He couldn't even say how happy he was that she didn't pull away.

"I know you heard our conversation, Sesshomaru. Kouga was right. I overreacted and I'm sorry." She started, surprising the male behind her.

It seemed Kouga's brutally honest tactic worked. He just didn't think he could bring himself to speak that way to his mate.

"This one…I am your mate, Kagome. It is my job to provide you with everything you need, including emotional support. I am trying, yet I am still failing." Sesshomaru admitted, watching as Kagome turned in his lap slightly.

She placed a small, cold hand on his cheek and he instantly grabbed it in his, trying to warm it up.

"You are a perfect mate, Sesshomaru. You keep me safe and protected. You make sure I have all that I need and want. And, for the most part, you keep my emotions and heart safe so you never really need to comfort me like that. It is only natural that you struggle with it because you never have to do it. Honestly, if you never get used to having to comfort me, then you are doing your job better than you ever thought." Kagome soothed, making Sesshomaru close his eyes slowly before opening them again to look at her.

"I came to find you to apologize for my words, and, somehow, that got turned into you apologizing to me. How did this happen?" He asked, a small smile on his face.

"It happened because we love each other and can both see our own faults when we disagree. This is why we will never fall apart. Because we understand that we have to do this together. Through every fight, tear, laugh, and love, we will be together." Kagome stated, her voice clear and promising.

"Indeed, we will, My Heart." He agreed, pulling the woman into his chest and standing to his feet. It was time to take his family inside to put them both to bed, just for two, very different, reasons.

-sSs-

So I know I said we would find out what was happening with Kouga and why he wanted to be a part of this war, but this chapter was getting too long. Plus, I really didn't have anywhere good to put it. We will find out next chapter what his motives are. The punishment for the boys was kinda sucky, but I figured that Sesshomaru wouldn't be too hard on his sons, and I can only imagine how that would feel for a male. Lol. I did ask my husband to demonstrate for me, but he quickly denied me and said I was crazy. I thought it was a good idea…wasn't it? lol. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this.

Shout outs:

Sleepy26: I am glad that you like this fic. Thank you for your review.

Tsubaki87: I'm glad that you find my story amusing. I laughed a little as I pictured your own little outburst. I would have paid to see it.

Redrake323: I hope you liked this chapter. I did a good bit of research on wolves before I wrote that story. I try to get my facts straight as much as possible when needed. Of an off note, I noticed it has been awhile since I posted a lemon. I'm going to have to change that.

Slvrphoenx: The punishment wasn't that great, but I imagine for a guy it would be worse than for a female. Especially one like Shippo. Lol.

Krazimaurice: Don't die. You need to read more chapters of my story. Lol

DarkAngel8605: Yep, he will continue to make appearances for a few chapters. He won't actually return home till after the war, which is coming up soon.

Wren210: Of course he was livid, who wouldn't be. They will mature up for the next few chapters, but they will always be themselves. Lol. While he doesn't necessarily like Kouga, he tolerates him, and in the next two chapters, you will understand why.

I do not own InuYasha.