A/N: Okay guys, longest chapter still, hopefully one of the few to come. because I don't want to jumble too many ideas in one chapter and I frankly have little time to write new long chapters. As a fellow reader I too wish for updates as soon as possible, so I'd rather read bit by bit every few days than strain my brain waiting for a BIG update every few weeks...

Hope I don't bore you with this long note, and I certainly do not mean to offend anyone as I don't take offense (just to be safe) and truthfully I've been meaning to explain this situation for some time. Anyway, thank you all for: 1. reading, 2. all those favorites and followers, 3. for sharing your opinions

Please enjoy!

Chapter 38: Back strain

He looked around the house and made up his mind to inquire latter of the extent of damage suffered. Going back he was met by her patience filled eyes. He stepped inside and handed the spoon to her. A smile in thanks graced her lips. She turned and made about the kitchen without uttering another word. He noted in silence as she prepared their dinner. Souta had came inside and took over the task of distracting the kids once he was clean. He watched attentively on the steps taken in her preparation and stored them in his mind. He complied to her requests on chopping the vegetables while she beat the eggs. Then she quickly cooked each portion and handed it to him to place the finishing touches. Spreading ketchup and placing the plates on the table. Once done he had called the other occupants of the house to eat. They waited for Kagome to sit in her chair and then expressed their thanks. Her gentle smile widened in pride at their content and delighted expressions. Halfway through dinner Souta's eyes shot up and searched for hers.

"Kagome-nee, did you call Yoichi-san?" she stilled her hand and placed the spoon back on her plate. She sighed and shook her head no.

"I can't impose on him tonight." she leaned her head in the palm of her hand, elbow on the table. She played with the spoon's tail. "He already had his nights full with his three months old son." she chuckled staring at her plate. "He's got one hell of a pair of lungs."

"Then what are you going to do?" Sesshomaru watched the exchange in silence. He too had thought along those lines.

"I'll have Hatsuyo sleep inside for the time being..." Souta shot her a look and she shook her head. "I will not intrude on Sesshomaru." at this his eyes turned to her.

"What would be necessary?" she let a sigh pass her lips.

"Watching the house, and sitting among debris and dirt." she finished her food and stood. "But, I will not let you help with this, you have been really tired as of late." she said in a tone stopping any other comment that could have been made. Few minutes later Souta left for the dorms since he had an early exam. The kids retreated to the couch enjoying some cartoons. Sesshomaru used this time to clear his mind.

"The house can be watched from here, should the dog reside inside during the night." she shook her head still and was about to keep her point as she turned to face him. Her protests died on her lips and breath caught in her throat. He had trapped her against the counter she had been cleaning. He loomed over her, eyes narrowed. "I'll correct myself. The house shall be watched from here, and the dog will reside on his own for tonight. I will not lose sleep hours in concern for your health, rest and safety." her mouth opened but just as quickly closed. She wouldn't want to trouble him so, with the things enumerated above.

"Alright, I give in." she sighed and he stood pleased with the achievement as she was quite stubborn sometimes.

"Good."

He went and ushered the kids upstairs to sleep. She followed in quiet compliance. Fortunately after the crash in incident she had two weeks ago, he had made a point to buy a few futons, for good measures... He placed one in Rin's room for Shippo and Kagome kissed the two good night. Then lifting the other in his arms from the closet, he stepped out into the hallway. Kagome followed him along with curious eyes. "Chose your bed." he said turning to her and gesturing to the futon he had in his arms and his bedroom. She crossed her arms.

"I don't think I can watch the house from here..." eyes looked about the room a bit. She shook her head. "It'd probably be better if I sleep on the couch if you don't mind much." he gave her a nod before carefully descending the stairs. Upon entering the living room he set the futon down and spread it in front of the couch. He reverted his steps and brought the two pillows from his room along with a few sheets. Spread one on the couch and then placed the other on each sleeping area for whoever was to use it. Kagome had followed him a bit uneasy. "Aren't you going to sleep in your bed?" she finally asked. He straightened and studied her for a moment.

"Is my company unwelcome?" she grew silent. "Perhaps because you'd be slipping out of the house to keep your dog company?" her jaw tightened. He sighed and stepped out of her view of the door. "Do as you want." he strolled up the stairs and she followed him. Her hand caught his. He stopped and looked at her over the shoulder.

"Sorry..." she whispered. "Your company is always welcomed." she shook her head. "Perhaps too much sometimes and I'll most likely come to depend on you." she let go of his hand and smiled. "I promise not to sneak out." he turned and faced her urging her to continue. "and honestly I'd love your company for a few hours more." she said descending. Her foot grazed the step's edge and in the action her body inclined backwards. Sesshomau grabbed her shoulder and pulled her to him. Kagome blinked dumbfounded.

"Are you alright?" his voice vibrated with worry. Slowly she nodded in his chest.

"And you?" she asked quickly. Not out of politeness but because she had heard a most disturbing sound.

"I am." he replied sure of himself, though she was little convinced. Her hand moved from his chest out of the tight embrace, to his waist and around to his back. He grunted low in his throat.

"Liar, you are not!" she reprimanded in a hushed voice. She shot a glare to his stubborn eyes.

"It shall pass in a few days." he glared back when she thieved another grunt from him. She shook her head and got out of his embrace.

"The work you have done lately paved the way." he would dare contradict her, had he not done as she pointed out. "It won't get better left untreated, Sesshomaru." she took his hand again. She pulled slowly and as much as his back let him, he complied.

They entered the living room and with a blush she dimmed the lights. "Can you strip on your own?" Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow at that. Her blush darkened. "I need to see the damage..." she begun and he sighed. He obliged as much as the pain in his back allowed. When it proved insufficient she stepped forward and helped him take the T-shirt off. She get around him and examined his back. It wasn't in the best of shape but not worse either. "Okay, lie down, face forward on the futon and I'll be right back." she instructed and then left the house.

Sesshomaru lied down as she desired and waited a few minutes till she came back. He moved not for the pain in his strained back barely allowed him to breathe. Truly he had ignored the constant stiffness of his back for the last few days and now it came back to bite him

'Fortunately... she is safe.' he thought back thankfully. It would have been a serious fall for her. His eyes moved to meet her as she entered the room, one arm holding various things and the other a phone to her ear.

"Yes, thank you for your services." she ended the call and at his questioning gaze elaborated. "I hired a security firm to watch the house for a few days."

"I see." she kneeled next to him. She spread the things she brought within reach. There was an ice bag, some cream, body oil and a roll of paper towels. Out of her pocket she pulled out and inflated a U shaped pillow. She then raised his head and placed it under his forehead. She moved his hair out of the way exposing all back and neck to her. She drew his arms along his body.

"Tell me where it hurts the most okay?" she moved her hand over his back in light pressure at his nod. She remembered each place where he had sketched discomfort and even pain. She then took the ice bag and applied it to those spots. She let it sit for 5 to 10 seconds before moving to the next. With that Sesshomaru let a sigh of relief pass as the ice numbed the pain. She repeated the process for a few minutes. "Is it better now?"

"Yes." he confirmed turning his head to the side. As strange as the position he found himself in was, he still managed to frown at her blush. She cleared her throat.

"Would you mind taking off your pants? I'm not done yet." his eyes widened and she looked to the side embarrassed. He sighed and turning on one side unbuckled his pants and somehow managed to take them off while she looked away.

"I am done." he informed and she breathed again.

"Ever had a massage done before?" at his nod she continued. "Since you're so large I'll have to straddle you at some point, is that okay?" again he nodded and placed his forehead on the pillow once more. His back was less painful but ice cold, he could feel a tremor creeping its way in rapidly. He followed her movements by sound. She pulled a sheet folded in half over his lower half. Soon her cream covered hands swept over his skin in light touches. The cream had a warming effect. He felt his back relaxing a bit under her fingers. She worked from the neck to his shoulders and then down along the spine. She insisted on the most painful points for a moment more.

Time ticked away and he counted ten to fifteen minutes of this light massage she performed. She then informed his she'll be straddling his lower half for balance. She placed some oil in her palm and then spread it evenly. Compared to the previous phase the new movements were well aimed on every muscle, kneading out knots and elongating every fiber. He named in his mind each of the muscles she worked on and he could vividly draw out the map she made of each one. Twenty minutes stretched as she missed none. Next she moved to a deep tissue massage as he could remember getting one at some point. Still it was far different than he recalled it to be. That one had been painful and had left him bruised and sore for the week to come. Hers, on that note, used enough pressure to get the effect she desired. She would often vary the intensity and rhythm and never insisted more than necessary. At some point she had finished with his back and bottom, one he could barely remember being worked on for he had dozed off, as well as his tights and calfs. She shook him to attentiveness once any remaining oil was wiped from his body with paper towels. He looked to the side and blinked at her closeness. She stood much like him on her abdomen, torso supported on her forearms.

"If you're done dozing off, please turn around so that I might finish?" he nodded and did as requested. He marveled at the ease he could move and almost flip over in one motion. She smiled at his obedience and moved at the top of his head. She proceeded to work with the same order as before without overlooking one muscle or pressure point. She worked from his face, down the neck to shoulders and chest. Changing her spot around his body she moved to his torso, flanks, abdomen and hips, arms and then taking care of the legs and feet. Once she was satisfied with her work she made sure he was oil free before giving him permission to stand. "Okay, I'm done." she announced and stood to her feet, then walked to wash her hands in the toilet and change for the night.

Sesshomaru stood to a sitting position with ease. He felt his every fiber thoroughly relaxed and pain-free, reinvigorated and toned to the best possible. The sheet was laid about his waist and hips, probably to spare him of any embarrassment if needed. But he felt no such thing. There had been no feeling in the massage he had just received. Only pure and well learned technique. No sensuality or stimulating moves made it had been all cold and calculated professionalism. He stood and dressed. He collected discarded things and changed the sheet on the futon. His eyes rouse to meet hers when she returned. She looked exhausted and a bit pale but happy and contempt at the service she performed. His eyes widened minutely.

"Did you also give a massage to that guy earlier?" the question rushed pass his lips in his quest for an answer and hopefully for confirmation. Her eyes frowned in confusion.

"Of course. He's my patient and it's my job to do so. Why?" her eyes bore into his. "What... did... you... think... I... did?" she whispered each word slowly, lips into a straight line, tired arms crossing over her chest. When no other sound came from his mouth she whispered venomously. "Well, lucky me you got a back strain!" she marched up to him. Had he not possessed that height above hers he would have shrunk. "You're sleeping on the floor." she ordered and plopped on the couch, drew the sheet over her frame, back to him. He watched her still form for a minute then she twisted, reached for the other pillow and placed it under her head. "And good night to you." she mumbled into his pillow.

He sat down, back against the couch. He would have fought over her claim on his pillow but the subtile note of hurt in her voice stilled any thought of doing so... he sighed at his own foolishness and ruffled his hair in annoyance. He spread on the futon on his back, arms crossed under his head. He looked at her again and whispered her 'good night' along with a sincere 'sorry'. He dared not utter more of his remorse tonight.