Misconceptions and Misunderstandings
Chapter 36
Sesshoumaru couldn't get over how she'd gone from unreasonable anger, to tearful regret, to her bright cheerful self. The speed at which she accomplished this still had his head spinning. After proclaiming that her stomach would revolt if she even attempted breakfast, she began to talk about the pup.
She reminded him that he had told her they would do whatever she wanted today. He groaned when he found out it would be shopping. After all, she did have a nursery to furnish and decorate. And then there were all the other necessities that they couldn't do without. He took his life in his hands when he casually commented that none of this was necessary five hundred years ago. And pups grew up just fine without any of it. He had intended to add to the statement until he heard her growl. Perhaps now was not the time to regale her with his 'I remember when' stories.
"Sesshoumaru? Which room do you want to give our pup? I want him close to us."
" I had thought to turn the room next door into a nursery. Is that acceptable?"
"That will work. Can we get someone to move the furniture out while we're gone? In case I find something I like while we're shopping?"
"If you compromise. We don't stay out too long. And I get to call the doctor and schedule an exam for you today."
She frowned. He really wanted her to see the doctor. To make sure everything was alright with the pup. She supposed he was right. Most women went to the doctor between their fourth and sixth week. Of course most women didn't have a demon with a sensitive nose to tell them they were pregnant. They had to find out on their own. Since this would be a demon pregnancy, then she would need to do things sooner than normal.
"Ok. I can do that."
"Good. Let me call him and set up the appointment and we'll be on our way."
While Sesshoumaru made his phone call, Kagome gave Hideki the instructions for the nursery. He was pleased to hear his lord would have an heir and promised the nursery would be ready to receive any purchases she made. He also asked her permission to share the news with the rest of the staff.
"Of course you can, Hideki san. We aren't keeping it a secret."
"Congratulations, my lady. It is indeed good news."
"Thank you. And please pass on my thanks to the staff for yesterday. Everyone did a great job. Everything was perfect."
"I will, my lady. I am glad that the task was completed to your satisfaction. Are there any cravings that I should pass on to the cook for this evening?"
Kagome's eyes lit up.
"Yes. As a matter of fact, I've been dreaming of her strawberry angel food cake."
"I will see that she provides it for you with dinner this evening."
She squealed and hugged him.
"You are the absolute best butler in the whole world!"
Hideki was stunned. He didn't know how to respond to his mistress hugging him. It had never happened before. In all of his centuries, he had never been subjected to the emotional displays of his employers. But then, this is the first time he had a human for a mistress.
Before Hideki could recover his composure, he heard a growl from behind him. Sweat drops appeared on his forehead. His fear was palpable. Mates had killed for far less.
Kagome heard the growl and stepped back to see what was going on. She could see Sesshoumaru standing with his fists clenched and his eyes a bright red. What could be wrong?
The moment she let him go, Hideki bowed low in submission to his lord.
"Forgive me, my lord."
Kagome looked from her mate to the butler. What was he apologizing for?
"Sesshoumaru? What's wrong?"
There was more growling. And Hideki was still bowed.
Kagome walked over to him and laid her hand on his arm.
"Please answer me. Sesshoumaru?"
She reached for his hand. In her haste to calm whatever was the matter, she hadn't noticed his claws were extended. She flinched in pain as her hand scraped one of the claws. Sesshoumaru seemed to snap out of whatever had sent him into his fit of anger when he smelled her blood. Mixed with his poison.
"Kagome! Are you alright? Let me see."
He took her hand in his. The cut wasn't deep. Thank the gods. But it was festering with his poison. While she was now immune to the worst effects of his poison as his mate, it would hinder the healing of the wound. It would also make her sick. In the past, poison was used to punish a disobedient mate. He had always held the practice in disdain and would never think of using it on Kagome. No matter how she might defy him.
He brought her hand to his lips and slowly licked the cut. She only stared at him. She knew that the saliva of an inu held amazing curative properties, but she never envisioned Sesshoumaru doing such a thing. The cut began to seal, a combination of his saliva and her miko healing power. He watched the process until he was satisfied he had successfully neutralized the poison.
Hideki was still bowed in submission when Sesshoumaru finally turned his attention back to him. Now that he was once again in possession of his normal mental faculties, he realized that there had been no offense. He had overreacted and his bestial instincts had taken over.
"I'm sure you have other duties to attend to. You are dismissed."
Hideki breathed a sigh of relief and quickly disappeared.
"Would you please tell me what that was all about?"
"I am sorry."
He struggled with his embarrassment. She wanted to know. He would have to tell her so she could avoid it in the future. Perhaps in time he would have more control, but for now… she would have to curb her exuberant tendencies. He could not trust himself to be as understanding of her human nature as he normally would be.
"I am afraid that in your present condition, I am more susceptible to bouts of extreme possessiveness. It is, as you would say, an inu thing."
Her eyes were wide with shock as she realized that her hugging Hideki had been the catalyst for that episode. Then she began to laugh. He quirked a brow at her, unable to find the humor in the situation. If it were not for his supreme control, they would have been short one butler. And Hideki was quite efficient. He'd been with him for centuries.
She finally calmed down, but the mirth was still shining in her eyes.
"And I thought I had the mood swings from hell."
He frowned.
"I fail to see the comparison. Your earlier outburst was completely unjustified. My possessiveness is at least based on a real infraction."
"Um hm. Whatever helps you sleep at night."
He opened his mouth for a retort, but closed it when she tugged on his hand.
"Come on. The stores are waiting. And you said I had limited time. So I won't let you keep me here arguing to appease your male pride."
He smiled and shook his head. He had long been accustomed to the fact that his mate would never understand him. Of course, he was quite sure he would never understand her either. But he was also reasonably sure that he would never give up trying, regardless of the futility of the effort.
The car was already out front waiting for them. He had decided on the limo and driver. Christmas was only three days away and he didn't want to spend the day looking for parking spaces. The driver opened the door and helped Kagome in. Sesshoumaru had to take deep calming breaths as he watched Kagome put her hand in the driver's as he helped her into the car. This was going to be a very long six months. He just hoped he didn't have to replace any staff before it was over.
Sesshoumaru basked in the blissful silence of the ride home. Silent, because his mate was sound asleep on his shoulder. His lips curved in an amused smile as he thought about all the things she had bought for their pup. He'd had to call the driver twice to relieve himself of his burdens when the amount of packages was more than even he could carry. He was glad that she enjoyed herself. But he was also glad to call a halt to it all. The crowds of humans quickly got on his nerves with their pushing and shoving, trying to make sure they got what they wanted before someone else beat them to it. He wouldn't mind taking her shopping again, but it would wait until after Christmas, when there were no crowds.
It was snowing again by the time they arrived home. He gently shook his mate to awaken her. She sat up and rubbed sleep from her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Sesshoumaru. I didn't mean to fall asleep. Why didn't you wake me?"
"You obviously needed the sleep. It's good for you and the pup."
He helped her out of the car, not waiting for the driver to do so. His control had been tested far too much already today. He had thought he could overcome his natural instincts. He had several centuries of experience with controlling himself. But in those several centuries of experience, he had nothing that prepared him for the possessive feelings he was now faced with.
Kagome took the hand he offered. When she looked up at him, she saw a contemplative look in his eyes. He was lost in thought. He let her hand drop once she was standing beside him, then turned to enter the house without a glance in her direction. She knew that his earlier behavior was bothering him. She was not about to let him descend into a bout of melancholy over it. An evil grin flashed across her face just before she bent and scooped up a handful of snow.
Sesshoumaru carefully examined the unfamiliar feelings of possessiveness. Describing it to Kagome as an inu thing had been a gross understatement. He knew enough to know it would only get worse as her pregnancy progressed. Some inus had gone as far as to completely isolate themselves and their mates until after the birth of the pup. But those inus were not from the ruling class. He was supposed to be able to control those primitive instincts. His need for control bordered on the obsessive. It was what set him apart from others.
He needed to redirect his thoughts. He had finally gotten Kagome back. His attention should be on her, not on his lack of control. He realized she was not beside him. Where…
Splat.
His head whipped around at the impact. Snow was now dripping from his hair and seeping into his collar. Kagome stood up, another handful of snow being shaped into a ball in her hands. Had his mate just thrown a snowball at his head? Of course not. She wouldn't indulge in such a childish act. She was an adult. She wouldn't…
Splat.
He blinked as the snow clung to his bangs and his eyelashes. The rest slowly dripping down his face. It took a moment to register that his mate had indeed stooped to such a childish act. He began to growl.
The low growl he emitted wiped the grin off of Kagome's face. She was in for it now. She decided that a hasty retreat was in order and took off around the car in the hope that she could out maneuver him and make it into the house. Somehow in her calculations, she neglected to factor in his demonic speed. He was on her before she cleared the car.
He wrapped an arm around her waist to halt her flight. She had not seen him scoop up the handful of snow. She shrieked as the snow was rubbed in her face and dumped down the front of her sweater. Satisfied with his payback, he let her go. Only to find supreme amusement in her futile efforts to get it all out of her sweater. It was such an odd little dance, but entertaining nonetheless.
Kagome was happy she had managed to distract him from whatever he had been thinking about. Even if she was now freezing. Once she had gotten the snow out of her sweater, or most of it anyway, she held out her hands.
"Truce?"
He smirked and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Yield?"
She huffed.
"Hey! I didn't lose. Why do I have to yield?"
"Truce is unacceptable in battle. Nothing short of complete capitulation will suffice."
She planted her hands on her hips.
"Ok. Well, I'm one up on you. What do you think about that?"
She ran when he bent to scoop up more snow.
By the time they made it inside, they were both soaked to the bone, and laughing.
"You cheated."
He looked down his nose at her with a scowl.
"This Sesshoumaru does not cheat."
She laughed harder at his arrogance.
"Did too. It's not fair to use your demon speed against me."
An elegant brow lifted at her declaration.
"Using your skills in battle is hardly cheating. If your skills happen to be better than your opponent's, then an easy victory is assured."
She huffed.
"It wasn't a battle. It was a game."
"Then why is it called a snowball fight?"
He had her there.
"Ok. I concede. This time. Next time, just remember, you set the rules."
Her shiver didn't escape his notice.
"I think we both need to take a hot bath and get into some dry clothes."
"At the same time?"
Her smile was mischievous.
So was his answering smirk.
"I think that can be arranged."
She was already warmer.
The bath had been very relaxing. She could barely keep her eyes open. After their lovemaking, Sesshoumaru had insisted on pampering her. He washed her hair, her back, and then massaged her shoulders until any stress she may have felt was a thing of the past.
She sat on the bed as instructed while Sesshoumaru gently combed through the tangles in her hair and dried it.
"Shouldn't I be doing this for you?"
He pulled her back into his arms and placed a kiss on her head while he inhaled the scent of her hair.
"Are you enjoying it?"
She sighed.
"Oh yeah. It feels heavenly."
"Then cease your objections. It pleases me to indulge my mate. Besides, the doctor will be here any minute and I want you relaxed for your examination."
She closed her eyes. She had forgotten that he had made her appointment for today.
"Will I be seeing your doctor?"
"Yes."
"Um… Won't that be a problem? I mean… He's male."
Sesshoumaru's arms tightened around her at the reminder.
"Yes. I will be leaving the room while he examines you. Your maid will attend you during the examination."
Sesshoumaru knew he would not be able to control himself while another male touched his mate intimately. Although he trusted his doctor and knew that his touch would be nothing more than what was required, he had yet to learn to control these feelings of extreme possessiveness. Five hundred years ago, this would have been handled by a demon midwife. While medicine had made significant advances in that time, it seemed that inu instincts had not. It was better for the safety of all concerned if he left the room.
There was a discreet knock on the door. Sesshoumaru opened it. Hideki bowed and announced the doctor. He stood back to allow the doctor and Kagome's maid to enter. After a brief greeting and questions about Sesshoumaru's health since regaining his memory, he closed the door and followed Hideki downstairs.
Sesshoumaru went to his study to attempt a little work. Unable to keep his mind on the file in front of him, he began to pace. He had to get these feelings under control. And quickly. He didn't intend to miss any of his pup's development. And he most certainly intended to be present for the birth. If he couldn't get it under control, he would either have to absent himself from all examinations as well as the birth, or replace his trusted physician with a female. That, he did not want to do. He wanted his mate and pup to have the best available.
When the doctor had finished the exam, Hideki led him to Sesshoumaru's study. Not surprising, Sesshoumaru had demanded a report as soon as he was finished.
Sesshoumaru was seated once again behind his desk. He waved the doctor to a seat in front of the desk.
"How are they?"
"Quite well. Both mother and pup. She is approximately three to four weeks along based on the size of her uterus and the probable conception date she gave me."
Sesshoumaru suppressed a growl at the intimate details being presented to him by another male.
"Were you able to tell the sex of the pup?"
"Yes. Your first pup is a male. I have told your mate this as well. She was quite happy."
So was Sesshoumaru. His heir was a male. A son. He thanked the doctor and had Hideki show him out. Sesshoumaru wasted no time climbing the stairs to their room. Kagome had redressed by the time he got there, so he didn't have visions of her naked with the doctor.
As soon as he opened the door, she pounced.
"Did he tell you? A son. We're having a son. Well, actually, I'm having him. But you helped create him. Are you happy? I am. Our first pup is a son."
Sesshoumaru touched a finger to her lips to silence her.
"You're babbling. Yes, he told me. Yes, I am happy. But I would have been happy with a daughter as well. As long as you and the pup are healthy, that is all that matters."
She pulled on his hand and headed for the door.
"Where are we going?"
She flashed him an, 'I can't believe you asked me that' look, as if that explained it all.
"I'm starved. And the cook is making strawberry angel food cake."
"Ah. I see."
He bowed and held out his arm to escort her to the dining room.
"Far be it from me, to get between a pregnant miko and her cravings."
She punched his arm before wrapping hers around it. She wondered if anyone would say anything if she skipped dinner in favor of the dessert. Maybe not, people were pretty understanding of a pregnant woman and her cravings. But she was pretty sure someone would have something to say if she ate the whole thing by herself.
To be continued….