Please note:

I do not in any way own Inuyasha or any of the wonderful characters created in that delightful Anime. They are all the sole property of Rumiko Takahashi. I am merely expressing my imagination on her wonderful tale. There are a few characters I have created that do not belong in InuYasha- they are mine, as is the imagination and story line I have superimposed.

Please do not make this a legal issue.

Note:

Well- no excuses. I shall not go into why chapters are not yet fixed- nor why I have not updated.

This is the next chapter for this tale. We are entering part 3 in this work- and things will pick up in a couple chapters…..

The story does go on……

And I thank all of you who reviewed in the interim. It was those reviews that had me return to finish this story as promised.

Thank you.- Seshaddict

Chapter 36: The Days of Jaken

"I'm not going to kill him." Kagome chanted in her mind, as she mentally counted to 10. No that was hardly enough…. Perhaps till 90, but she was not convinced counting into the thousands would cool her hatred for Sesshoumaru's loyal retainer. Finally after several minutes of conscious contemplation, Kagome felt some degree of control over her ire.

Kagome eyed the despicable toad demon- giving him an evil glare. He simply stared back bugged eye back at her. She had repetitively thought of vengeful ways to extract justice since the day he had bitten her- for Jaken had spent the rest of his time from that point onwards belittling her, jeering her, lying to her, tricking her, and going out of his way- showing a surprising keen intelligence- to cause strife between her and Sesshoumaru.

Did she have no proper training to sit like a proper female in a Kimono?- She hadn't even realized she had been doing it wrong. Did she have no grace while fighting, no manners while speaking, no posture while walking… on and on he went.

Was she unable to even start a fire, cook upon a fire- had Sesshoumaru not said he did not need cooked food???! Then when Sesshoumaru had interrupted the loathsome toad's tirade to inform him he was to work- Jaken had cooked some demon meat- which they had all consumed. It was gross- but she had not wanted to complain when the food had been prepared and she had not helped. Well- She had found out the hard but expected way that humans were not meant to eat demon meat. Gross. She had puked her stomach out- and Sesshoumaru's keen sense of smell had been tormented. Jaken had seemed genuinely surprised- but she suspected he had known all along. From then on- she prepared their meals of regular meats Sesshoumaru provided- and did it to the background litany by the toad demon as he pointed out her mistakes and weaknesses cooking in the feudal era…….. Boiled Toad de vre was sounding like a great breakfast- if only Naraku was dining with them. Or Kagura- the witch. Kagome no longer doubted why Kagura had returned Jaken………….

He had informed her Sesshouamru need help and handed her the staff of two heads which she had found she was unable to hold. Blasted backwards with its power of rejection- her butt had hit the ground hard. Ouch!- and it was done the day Sesshoumaru had decided she should ride Ah-Un for speed on their trip towards the forest of InuYasha. Needless to say- sore bums did not enjoy riding on anything- and she had nearly cried - biting her cheek to not complain. Sesshoumaru – who was usually so keen to note things had not seemed to sense anything wrong- and she would be damned if a small fall of her rump delayed his journey….. especially since it was the toad who had initiated the human needs a ride or we'll be delayed for Rin issue.

Then there was the day Sesshoumaru had asked him to watch her as he had scouted ahead- and Jaken on leading her forward towards his lord- had conveniently led her through a thorny patch, and then something akin to poison ivy. No nothing to kill her- just enough to make her miserable and itchy and UGLY for about 72 hours! Of course the patch affected not his ugly green slime skin- so the toad was unaffected. She knew it was done on purpose- yet he vehemently denied it- saying with sincere voice and glistening eyes, that he was used to traveling those ways and had not realized she was so weak a being that a mild short cut would end up delaying their progress 3 days- while he sighed out that it was a good thing no demon chased them- for her presence would lead to their downfall.

Could she not sense the youkai?, could she not carry the sword? – oh yeah- she'd show him just how well she could carry a sword- if his neck could come off in the process. When she finally lost a bit of her temper- in front of the Inu Lord no less- he had jeered- could she not control her temper- was she so human that some bit of irritation would have her behave so poor for a female- before he had with a humph of satisfaction turned to Sesshoumaru to state how she would not last in the courts. IT had stunned her that Sesshoumaru though not saying a word- had seemed to agree. It was that feeling he was in agreement with Jaken that held her tongue. That had her working over time to get along with the toad and control her murderous thoughts.

Yep- Jaken was that close to his grave- Kagome thought darkly. The only thing that kept his life intact, was that by some absolute unexplainable fate- Sesshoumaru had subtly made clear she was to get along with the dreadful toad – of course a similar subtle hint had been given to the toad- not that he was listening .

That and that Kagome had thought about what he had said- once she cooled down of course…… and he was right. This was very much akin to Sesshoumaru joining her friends- and Sango would probably not take too well to him- even try to kill him- and if he would kill her or not understand, Kagome could see where that very intolerance would be unacceptable to her. Jaken was Sesshoumaru's Sango or Miroku, or Shippo……… she would have to learn to put up with him- be friends or at least inspire his tolerance of her presence here at her lords side.

"You stupid woman- what are you doing- staring into the night while we set up the camp. Already think you are the Queen of the west?- Humph…….."

Ok- Maybe Sesshoumaru would have failed and tried to kill Sango- so that allowed her the same, right?………….. OH if only.

Sesshoumaru watched silently the happenings about him. It was not of his person to ignore so blatantly such obvious disobedience from Jaken- but for all of Jaken's failings, this was not one of them. Kagome was floundering- and in no small way. For the life of him, he could not find a way she could deal with the situation that would be appropriate and protective for her , yet allowing him to be uninvolved.

In a day or two they would have to collect Rin- and perhaps he could delay his return to the Western Courts by a month- but no more. Time was closing in upon them, and Kagome was just learning how to deal with Jaken's milder forms of treachery. Her kind and tender heart was unable to find it acceptable that Jaken would do such things to her- and in such indirect ways. She knew now they were likely intentional- regardless of whether she had done something to deserve it or not….. but her approach was too open, and too direct. She had to develop that understanding of subtle retaliation and control which would not allow Jaken to make her look like a screaming angry harpy and at the same time let him know she was in charge and his actions punishable…

He hoped he was doing the right thing in his decision that she would return and be at his side when he returned to the Western Court. If anything, his father's liaison with Izayoi had only taught him that no place would be safe for the Western Lord's mate- and Sesshoumaru would rather have Kagome at his side- and spend what moments fate granted them together- than lose precious time in the false sense of keeping her safe while away from him.

It was such foolishness that had led to the events of his father's death- and he knew in his heart of hearts that the snatched moments of their intense love for one another were hardly enough- yet they had decided to live separated for Izaiyoi's safety- which had been a fools' dream from the day his father had decided to mate with her………..

Sesshoumaru closed his eyes to the images of that fateful day as they burned behind his eyes………………..

"Do you have someone to protect?" the voice in his nightmare asked.

"I do now father……….." his heart unwillingly answered back as his gaze took in the lovely porcelain beauty at his side…….-

It was at this exact moment in time- when with that answer, his heart shook with love and fear- that Sesshoumaru came to feel- came to realize what true loss could possibly mean. What true love could possibly mean. What having someone to protect………….. what that question asked so long long ago………..could possibly have meant.