Chapter 51: Growing Pains

As Sesshomaru finished up, Kagome's anxiety rose higher and higher. She had no idea what or even where the demon wanted to put her tattoos. Praying it wasn't anywhere embarrassing, the demoness watched as Azacca rubbed a slave on her alpha's ribs, causing his new markings to shine under the lamps. Getting permission to get up, the demon went over to a nearby mirror and observed his ink. Seeing a pattern he bent his fingers and placed them just in reach of his ribcage noting that his markings matched where flesh wounds would have been if he were to scratch himself in that area. Not bad. Nodding his approval, he smiled evilly and gazed at Kagome who stood wavering behind him in the mirror.

The demoness who had been looking at his body from the back squeaked when she looked up and saw his expression. "Wha...what?" she asked stupidly, his bizarre grin making her scared.

"Kagome…" he called softly.

"What?"

"Your turn…"

"Oh hell no!" Tossing his shirt to the ground, she turned tail, intending to bolt out of the parlor. Her escape was halted however when a hand gripping the back of her collar stopping her in her tracks.

"Kagome you promised, we agreed."

"Yea but.."

"Nobody here is doing anything to hurt you. Didn't you say you always wanted markings of your own?"

"Yea….but I never…"

"Well how about this, if you don't do as you said I will," pulling her close he whispered something in her ear causing the bird demon to tilt her head as though it would help her hear what he said. No such luck, but she did note Kagome appeared aghast at his words. Pushing lightly on his chest, the demoness stomped over to the padded table and sat down roughly, snorting in indignation. Azacca arched an eyebrow in amusement, they were certainly an interesting couple.

"What am I supposed to be getting?" Kagome asked impatiently.

The bird demoness glanced at Sesshomaru awaiting his answer. Reaching into his pocket he withdrew two folded pieces of paper. Handing them to the artist, she quickly unfolded and read what he had written down on the pages. Chuckling she nodded, "Oh yes I can definitely do all of these."

The demoness abruptly stood up from the table, "All? These!" She hadn't agreed to more than one! Turning back towards the exit, she paused when Sesshomaru casually ran his claws down the center of his body, appearing to scratch his stomach. Remembering what was at stake, she grudgingly sat back down and crossed her arms defensively.

"Okay, now than Kagome after I get Sesshomaru all bandaged up, tell me where do you prefer we start? Face, leg, or shoulder? It's all up to you!"

Kagome squeaked.


"Oh stop it you, big baby."

"Sesshomaru you leave me alone!"

"You had zero markings this morning, now you have three, and might I add tribal and benefiting your heritage."

"Screw my heritage! I take back everything I ever said about being jealous of others!"

Arriving at the front door of Kagome's apartment, she quickly unlocked the door, purposely slamming it in Sesshomaru's face just as she crossed the threshold. Groaning he hooked the plastic carrier containing their dinner over his wrist and opened the door, quietly closing it back behind him. He heard the demoness in the bathroom and setting down their Italian food on the end table shifted through the bags until he found the box containing the freshly boiled scallops he had gotten for Socrates.

The cat already knew what it was. Hopping up on the opposite end of the low table, he meowed his impatience at receiving his food. He had really calmed down during the week and a half the feline had been in a pet hotel. Kagome cried day and night about not being able to take him with her to Croatia until Shin'ichi had found the pet hotel he could stay at on the old man's dime. Sighing he remembered the first place they had gone as soon as they landed back in Tokyo was to the at the time closed kennel where Kagome had raised hell until someone finally opened the door and gave her her cat.

Dropping the scallops into his food dish, Sesshomaru placed a bowl of water next to it and gave the feline a simple pat on the head before sitting down to wait for Kagome. Turning on her television, he surfed through the channels and sighed when he still saw the news stations showing him in his transformed state. A newscaster went on to announce his upcoming attendance at tomorrow's opening dinner for the great gathering. In disgust he shut the television off when a picture of Miyako popped up on the screen, a leak having recently gotten out that she was to be his companion for the entire affair. Kagome had seen that same broadcast yesterday right when they were about to be intimate.

Talk about a mood killer, he had spent the night on the couch, the demoness having locked her bedroom door before going to bed, not that he checked to see if it was truly locked or anything.

Deciding it would be better if she didn't see it again he angrily tossed the remote control to the side and grabbed two beers out of the fridge. Placing them on the table, he snagged his own food container of spinach manicotti and dug in without Kagome. He was taking a sip of ale when she finally came out of the bathroom, her overshirt missing, leaving her only in her silk tank top. Joining him on the couch she winced slightly and prodded gently at the bandage that covered her left shoulder.

"Quit poking at it and eat. After we're done we need to take these off to let the tattoos breath."

"But it's itchy…." she whined.

"Here," he handed her a beer, "Drink this, you'll forget all about it after you start stuffing your face."

Rolling her eyes, Kagome got her own individual box of spinach alfredo pizza and took a bite of the pasta dish on bread. Glancing over at Sesshomaru's own plate, she quickly stole a bite of his food when he was taking a sip of beer, the demon glaring at her seeing his fork in her mouth.

"Woman you should know better than to eat off another man's plate."

"It was just one bite."

"I don't care. It's mine." He snatched his fork back and growled for effect.

"Well damn, if it's that important you can have a bite of mine."

"No. If I wanted that I would have ordered it, and the same goes for you."

"It's called sharing! Didn't you learn that in kindergarten?"

"Hn. Kagome eat."

Huffing she did so. The two ate in comfortable silence. Kagome put her food to the side for a moment so she could turn on the television he had just flicked off. The minute it was on she saw it was turned to the news station he had been watching earlier. Currently, it was talking about a grand art exhibit that had been temporarily imported from central China. Sesshomaru exhaled hard at the picture box. He had been planning on being with Kagome tonight since it was probably going to be their last for a few weeks. The last thing he needed was her mood getting ruined because of this idiot box. Wanting to steer her attention away from the news he quickly snatched up the last piece of her pizza and exaggeratedly took a bite in front of her.

"Hey, that was my last piece!"

"Andyoupointis," he said through his mouth full of food.

"Give me that back!" she growled.

"Oh so you see now, to mess with a person's food is like messing with their money, it ends badly!"

He raised his hand with her slice high above Kagome's head, the demoness playfully growling while making fake attempts to get it back. Moving the plates to the table, the demoness finally fully went for her pizza, tackling Sesshomaru to the couch. The two struggled for a moment, Kagome making sure to keep weight off of his ribcage area while he made sure to keep his leg from rubbing against hers. Kagome sat up on her knees and began to lean forward attempting to grab the half eaten triangle from his hand. Her efforts were futile, however. Before either could act a furry blur whizzed past Sesshomaru's hand, the pizza disappearing as it landed. Both stopped their playful fight to gaze at the furball which held her food tightly in its mouth.

Socrates held the Italian food only to cutely roll onto his stomach, the pizza still gripped in his jaws. Kagome giggled at his behavior. She had missed her cat so much in the time they had been gone, now it was almost like he had never left her life. Sesshomaru seemed amused too because he snorted and gazed back to the demoness only to make her scream when he suddenly snatched the bandage that covered her face.

"Sesshomaru that fucking hurt!"

"You need to give your tattoo's air, and so do I, get up."

Pushing her off him gently, the demon sat both of them up and then scooted back slightly so that Kagome's full body was in his view. He continued to look at her patiently, making her confused.

"Uh...what?"

"Take off your bandages of course."

"What about you?"

"I will take them off in due time. First you show me yours."

Seeing the way he was eyeing her, Kagome had a feeling where this was most likely going to lead. Suddenly shy she tried to delay the inevitable, "I can't they're on some really private areas…."

"I'm well aware of it, which is exactly why I wish to see."

"What about Socrates?" She gazed at the cat lovingly who was finishing up her dinner for her.

"He is a cat, he will have no idea what you're doing."

"Yea but he's my baby and…"

"Weren't you the one who claimed babies found comfort in their parents fornicating while they were in the room?"

"Huh?" Kagome blushed hard. Damn him for using her own words against her!

"Well?" he looked her up and down slowly, returning his expression to her face.

"How about we go into the bedroom first, without Socrates, then I'll let them breathe."

Kagome almost went to touch her now marked cheek but Sesshomaru's slight growl made her reluctantly put her hand down.

"Okay, go in the bedroom and wait for me, I'll clean up." he offered.

Blushing she nodded. Turning around she was about to leave when Sesshomaru suddenly stopped her, "What?" she asked carefully.

"Shut the door and undress fully, then lay down and relax on the bed."

"What!"

"You need to give all your markings air and I need to check to make sure you suffered no ill effects from the ink and branding."

"Anubis….I…." his growling made her stop.

'Why not just do it, I wanna see what he does…"

Sighing hard, the defeated Kagome went to the bedroom and shut the door, beginning to do as asked.

"Oh and Koji, leave the bandages on. I will remove them myself."

"Fine…"

"Don't worry, though, you were good today, I will not keep you from my body and you will have the chance to return the favor after I show you what to do."

A/N: There we go, next chapter is a lemon at the beginning, then hell fire! Also, if anyone has reread over chapter 2 you will see Miyako was mentioned long before this point in time. Kagome and Sesshomaru are in for a damnable two weeks. I might as well mention this now, after the gathering arc is over, only three more chapters will be left that will cover the last of this story. Thanks to all who have stuck by me throughout this experience. It has really helped me artistically and emotionally. Love you all, and in honor of all of you the chapters are starting to get longer, and sooner updates than before! -Theores