Chapter Title: Tending for a Sakara

As promised, he returned later that evening to play. There he taught Kagome how to play tag and hide and seek. He'd never had so much fun and laughed until the sun's light once again lit the sky. This routine went on for many moons until the weather began to change. As the days grew shorter, so did Kagome's time in staying awake. When the leaves began to fall he'd been shocked when she began to lose her hair. He could tell she was embarrassed at not having hair upon her head, but it didn't bother him.

No matter what she looked like, she would always be his beautiful sakura. Not wanting her to be uncomfortable however, he asked his step mother to craft her a special hat. To his delight she used some of his white pelt to line the inside. It stirred his inner beast with pride knowing she wore a piece of himself upon her body and that it was him keeping her warm and safe. It made him feel like he had claim over her as a friend. Only when he was older would he comprehend the meaning of these feelings.

As she slept through the cold winter months, he missed not being able to speak with her. He'd heard of trees limbs breaking from ice and stunting their growth. He often worried for her wellbeing knowing their was a risk of her getting sick or injured from the elements. She was such a delicate creature and he worried the winter's chill might be too harsh on her. Thankfully when the days grew longer and the weather grew warmer she awoke from her hibernation with a cheerful smile and an equally welcomed hug.

Just like the spring before, they played in the late hours of the night and grew closer as friends. They kept no secrets from each other. They shared and talked about everything; even Sesshomaru's jealousy towards his younger brother Inuyasha and Kagome's fear of one day dying alone. Were it not for Kagome being stuck in the meadow and having to revert back and forth between her two forms they would have been inseparable. As most things go they grew from young children into budding pre-teens.

Everything was fine until Kagome went into her first heat. Had Sesshomaru not arrived to fight off the wild badger demon Kagome would have been defiled. Not wanting to risk that happening again Kagome agreed to try and leave the meadow. She was afraid her roots would struggle to adapt in Sesshomaru's garden but she no longer had a choice. Her life was at risk either way. Once Kagome was safely in her tree form, he quickly raced home to speak with his father. At first Inu no Taisho was hesitant about bringing a poor orphan girl into their home but after hearing her story he quickly came around.

After speaking with the gardener they made arrangements for her to be planted near the koi pond. There she would be protected from savage demons during her vulnerable time and close to the water so she could stay hydrated. He'd hoped having the pond nearby would bring her comfort. Once everything was ready and the sun was beginning to set in the sky the trio ventured into the forest. When they arrived in the meadow the sun just sank bellow the horizon. To their amazement the sakura tree in the center began to glow a soft baby pink color and slowly transformed into a young demon girl.

"Kagome, I'd like you to meet my great and terrible father Lord Inu no Taisho of the Western Lands and his gardener Jinengi." Sesshomaru said as they approached the bashful tree demoness.

"Hi…" Kagome blushed as she shyly looked up at them through her lashes and dug her toe into the dirt.

It made her nervous being around strangers. No one besides Sesshomaru and a few hunters passed through her side of the wood. Being so close to a demon of his caliber was definitely intimidating. Growing anxious she looked at Sesshomaru for reassurance and fiddled with her tattered skirt.

"It is a pleasure to finally meet you Kagome." Inu no Taisho smiled as he stared down at the charming girl. "Seeing how you will be living with us you may call me Toga."

"Hn." Kagome nodded with a shy smile.

"What a lovely meadow." Jinengi said as he looked around the open space.

It was vibrant with colorful wild flowers at the moment and the woods framing the land were bursting with vibrant greenery. It was obvious the meadow was well nourished and thriving with life. He could understand her hesitancy in wanting to leave. Had he been a tree demon he would have wanted to stay there too. Considering the circumstances however, that was no longer an option for the girl. Thankfully with the wood nearby she could always venture out into the night for a quick visit.

"Oh, thank you!" Kagome smiled as she looked up at the deformed demon.

Although he was intimidating with the head of a horse and the hight of a large hut, his bright blue eyes were warm and inviting. It was evident by the layers of dirt and green stains coating his skin and castle uniform that he diligently worked outside. Only someone who enjoyed the outdoors would look and smell like he did. Knowing he would be her caretaker during her stay at the castle gave her the strength to move on. If there was anyone who could make her transfer to the castle successful, it would be him. Speaking of which...

"Thank you for offering your protection Lord Inu... I mean Toga." Kagome blushed as she looked at the handsome demon. "Being out here in the wilderness is nice but I'm not safe anymore."

"Indeed." Inu no Taisho agreed as he reflected over the near tragic event that had happened the day before.

"If it's alright with you Kagome, I'd like to dig up some of your soil to take back with us." Jinengi said as he motioned to the shovel and burlap sack in his arms. "I'll fertilize the castle dirt with yours so your roots won't go into shock."

"That's fine. Take as much as you need." Kagome nodded as she stepped out of her hole in the ground and shook off her feet.

"I have a feeling Inuyasha will enjoy showing you around the gardens." Inu no Taisho teased causing Sesshomaru to roll his eyes in disgust.

"Why?" Kagome asked in confusion.

"He likes to avoid doing his homework by spending his time resting in the treetops." Inu no Taisho chuckled.

"Oh, well that's fine I guess." Kagame nodded. "As long as he doesn't break any of my branches, he is welcome to sit in them anytime he wants."

"Enough about him. Let's be off before the sun rises." Sesshomaru grumped as he took hold of Kagome's hand and pulled her towards the forest. Having been upset in the moment he didn't realize what he did until it was already too late. Feeling her fingers shyly tighten around his however he was not about to let her hand go.

"Home?" Kagome blushed as she looked down at their hands. He'd never taken such liberties before and the foreign gesture caught her by surprise. Not wanting to embarrass him or wanting him to stop she continued to hold his hand.

"Indeed." Inu no Taisho chuckled as he noticed the foreign color adorning his son's cheeks.

It made him happy seeing his normally stoic son come out of his shell. He could already see the tiny threads of fate beginning to tie them together. He wasn't sure if it was love rooting itself into Sesshomaru's heart but whatever it was, it was definitely a good thing. He remembered being surprised at how passionate Sesshomaru had been when sharing the tragic tale of Kagome nearly being raped by the badger demon. The desperation in his son's eyes and the need to protect this orphan child stirred him to the bone. It was very rare for Sesshomaru to get worked up about anything, let alone a girl.

After learning what almost happened to her, there was no question in his heart about bringing her home. Even if the girl were a nasty spider or venomous snake demon they would have brought her home. Kagome's presence brought his stoic son to life in ways he'd never known were possible. Seeing them walking hand in hand down the path brought a peace to his soul he'd never felt before. For the first time in his life he felt reassured in his son's future. He often worried that Sesshomaru would grow up cold and reserved like his x-wife Kastuki.

Now seeing him acting like a normal thirteen year old demon with life glimmering in his amber eyes gave him hope that he'd come around. Perhaps bringing this orphan girl into their home was a blessing in more ways than one? Of course the future was still unwritten and many things could happen to prevent their relationship from developing into anything more than friends. He had a feeling their relationship would continue to bloom and grow but there was still a chance it might not. Nonetheless, Kagome was now a part of their family.

She would be renamed his daughter no matter if she mated with Sesshomaru down the road or not. That being said, if she did not mate with Sesshomaru, perhaps she could be matched up with Inuyasha? He could already tell her warm and inviting spirit would be sure to win over his second son. Inuyasha won't be able to resist her kind nature and tender smile. He didn't doubt that they'd become the closest of friends just like she and Sesshomaru. Whose to say they couldn't fall in love as well? Either way, Kagome would be taken care of and he would be sure she'd find the right match.

Speaking of matches... with Sesshomaru being the heir to the western kingdom, he was sure to receive suitors of all shapes and sizes in the coming years. He was only five years away from his coming of age ceremony. A lot could happen in those five years. Whose to say he doesn't find a pure blooded inu demoness to match up with? Having been arranged to marry with Sesshomaru's mother however, he knew the sting of being force to wed out of love. He would not damn his sons to that fate. When the time came for them to mate he would give them both the choice of who they would spend their life with.

Once they were happily settled down with maybe a pup or two he'd step down from the thrown. Only when he knew his line was secure would he pass the torch over to Sesshomaru. His son was strong but had a long road a head of him before he was assured he'd be able to properly lead. He knew he had dreams of conquering the greatest of demons to achieve recognition. He admired his son's honor and determination but he now hoped his new conquest would be towards Kagome instead of bloodshed.

In his defense, he only achieved his great demon status after fighting countless battles during the last war. Had they not been victorious he would have likely died with nothing to show for it. The reason he'd continued to risk his life was that Kastuki was a constant thorn in his side. After they'd mated she became a nasty, selfish, demanding, bigoted, pigheaded bitch. Just the nagging sound of her voice gave him a headache and he gave every excuse he could think of to stay away from home. It was only after seeing Sesshomaru starting to become like her that he returned home for good and had her packing her bags. To his relief, it was only a year later that he met his beloved Izayoi.

He'd been visiting the eastern Lord when a local human chief and his family arrived to pay his village's yearly taxes. Being the eldest daughter of the chief Izayoi was required to be in attendance and boy was he grateful she'd come. They instantly hit it off and were married three months later. Being human however, he knew their marriage would be short. It saddened him that there was no way to extend her life but he was not about to let time stop him from being with her. She was his everything and he would cherish their time together until her dying breath. It was this deep understanding of love that he hoped his son's would one day come to known.

When they arrived at the castle Sesshomaru avoided the main gates and escorted Kagome through the back gardens. When Kagome saw the beautiful gardens and the exotic koi pond she gasp in surprise and grinned from ear to ear. Upon seeing her overjoyed expression and seeing the warmth glimmering in her eyes he knew she'd be ok. Once her soil was mixed in the hole, Kagome dipped her toes into the dirt and sighed with content. He inwardly grinned when he noticed Sesshomaru's lip tilt up into a brief smile. Oh yes, his son was definitely smitten.

"How does it feel?" Jinengi asked as he raked the lose dirt on top of her feet.

"Really nice." Kagome giggled as she wiggled her toes under the soil. "All it's missing is some water and I'll be set for the night!"

"Here." Sesshomaru said as he grabbed the watering can and began to pour it over her feet.

"AH!" Kagome squealed as the cool water splashed on her legs.

"What?!" Sesshomaru panicked as he quickly pulled back the watering can.

"It's cold!" Kagome shivered making Inu no Taisho chuckle.

"Here young master, let me show you how to water her." Jinengi instructed as he helped Sesshomaru pour the water along the outer edges of the hole. "Don't water too close to her legs. As she settles in, her roots will eventually grow outwards. By pouring the water out here, it will give her time to warm the water up before it reaches her main system."

"Hn." Sesshomaru nodded as he began to water the dirt more carefully. "What else do you need Kagome?"

"Nothing right now." Kagome said as her feet sank deeper into the dampening earth. "I'm actually pretty low maintenance. My body feeds itself when the sun comes up and I'll take in water from the pond and rain."

"Speaking of the sun," Inu no Taisho said just as the dawn's light began to peak over the horizon. "Here she comes now."

"I guess this is goodnight then?" Kagome said as her skin once again began to stiffen and her legs slowly fused together.

"You mean good morning." Sesshomaru teased.

"Whatever." Kagome giggled before transforming back into her true form.

Over the years they'd known each other they'd made a little game out of their banter. It made him sad knowing he'd have to wait until the sun sank to speak with her again. Thankfully hearing her laughter and seeing her smile helped to eased the pain.

"Lovely." Jinengi nodded in approval as he stepped back to look at Kagome's natural beauty amongst the garden. "She was just what this garden needed."

"Indeed." Inu no Taisho agreed as he and Sesshomaru stepped back to admire the colorful landscape. Looking down at his son he noticed the pride reflecting in his eyes.

"Yes…" he thought to himself as Sesshomaru posture straightened and glowed with inner strength. "She's just what this castle needed and more..."

As the morning's rays brought the castle to life, the demons and humans inside ventured into the garden throughout the day to inspect the new addition. Everyone agreed that Kagome was the perfect add on to the intricately designed garden. Even Inuyasha gave the tree a thumbs up. By the time Kagome awoke with the setting sun, the castle staff had fallen in love with her and accepted her as one of their own. As the days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months, she quickly gained new friends and became known as, Princess Sakura.

Inuyasha, to Sesshomaru's annoyance and Inu no Taisho's amusement, instantly bonded with Kagome. He refused to part from her when she was in her humanoid form and followed her around wherever she went like a lost puppy. That of course meant Sesshomaru rarely had her to himself. Thankfully, Kagome never shied away from him and often held his hand when they walked around the grounds. They did everything together and when she was in her tree form he would relax against her trunk and read to her. To his delight, as the years passed their friendship only grew stronger.

Her body like his own went through another metamorphosis and just like the finest of wines it aged better with time. No longer did she look like a scrawny teenager with skinny legs but a woman with delicate curves and poised grace. Soon holding hands meant something else and time alone was no longer acceptable. Only with Inuyasha as their escort or one of the castle servants were they allowed to be together. She caused his body to feel things it had never felt before and a deep yearning to join his body intimately with hers.

When five years had passed and it came time for his coming of age ceremony however, his time with Kagome grew shorter and shorter. His mother to his annoyance was bound and determined to marry him off to one of her little puppets. It was during this time from Kagome that he realized the extent of his feelings. No matter the female his mother tried to force upon him or what the females tried to do to sway his cause, he couldn't see past her. No one stirred his soul with longing like Kagome did. His inner beast had chosen her to be their life partner long ago and he was more than willing to agree.

Kagome was everything he could want in a mate and more. She was kind, loyal, beautiful and witty. She made him laugh, gave him joy in his stressful life and made him feel like a man. He'd humor his mother by escorting her minions around the castle and finish his lordly studies as asked. When it came time to choose a mate however, he'd do as he pleased. He would not accept anyone else but her. Until that day came, he would study hard and perform his duties as prince to perfection. He wanted no reason or excuse for anyone one to question his ability in making the right choice.

Once his mother was gone he'd ask Kagome to be his. Even years later she was still his bashful butterfly. He would need to approach her delicately. She needed to be wooed with subtle compliments and tender touches. If he straight up asked her or whisked her off her feet she'd panic. She didn't deserve to be rushed into anything. She deserved to be properly pursued like any other lady in waiting. She didn't deserve anything less than the best; especially from him. While they courted he would shower her with the utmost respect and insure she wanted for nothing. If she said no, he'd spend the rest of his life convincing her otherwise.

No one was going to take her away from him. He'd cut them down before they even stood the chance to challenge him. Not even his own brother would get in his way. He wasn't a fool. He'd seen the kindling desire starting to spark between Kagome and his brother. He wasn't sure where Kagome stood on the matters but he knew his brother was definitely interested. Having recently come out of puberty Inuyasha was a flirty, hormonal man slut. He lost count of how many of the servant girls he'd rutted within the past year. Besides, the only reason Inuyasha was after Kagome was because he was jealous of him and always wanted what he couldn't have.

Seeing how Kagome belonged to him he instantly wanted to claim her for himself. Of course Kagome could easily win the devotion and affection of anyone with a brain. You'd have to be blind and stupid to not recognize her value as a female. That being said, Inuyasha wasn't mature enough to commit and settle down. Right now he only thought from the head in his pants and Kagome was on his to do list. Kagome deserved better than a one night stand. She was pure of heart and body and loyal to a fault. She was the perfect slate to mark as a mate and he was not about to let his horny brother ruin it.

If Inuyasha gained Kagome's loyalty he knew the fool would likely cheat on her. She'd be heart broken and never trust again. Kagome needed to be protected in everyway. He knew Inuyasha wouldn't purposefully hurt her but he was only thinking about the present, not the consequences of what his actions brought until it was too late. He needed to keep his brother away from her. That being said, he was leaving for the front lines in a few months. With him away from the castle Inuyasha would have the freedom to do as he pleased. He could put measures in place to keep him away from her but he knew his Inuyasha would find away to get to her.

He swore if his brother ruined Kagome while he was away at war he'd kill him. Related by blood or not Kagome was his to protect. Anyone who dared to touch what was his they would quickly find themselves in the darkest corners of hell. With that in mind he continued his studies in the solitude of his room and listened to his beautiful sakara tree singing by the koi pond bellow. Hearing her voice blowing upon the breeze gave him the strength to push on. His dream of becoming the greatest demon of all time was no longer a selfish goal. He would become the ultimate ruler for her. He would make her proud by achieving the impossible. With this power, she wouldn't need to fear about anything.

Their future would be secure and her delicate heart would forever be surrounded by his love. He'd finally understood what it meant to protect another and he'd be damned if anyone hurt her. Hearing the sad longing in her song as she sang, he quickly scribbled down a haiku poem on a scrap piece of parchment. It had been nearly a week since he'd been able to speak with her. Being too busy preparing for the ceremony with his mother and seemingly endless school work, they'd been kept apart. He knew she was sad that they couldn't spend time together but there was nothing he could do.

For them to be together he had to finish strong. Satisfied with his encouraging note he folded it into a small ball before chucking it out the window. To his relief, it landed close to her side where she would see it. He waited on baited breath near the window's edge as he watched her read his note. When she looked up at his window and send him a warm smile he couldn't help but smirk. They knew each other in and out and it pleased him to ease her discomfort. Mission accomplished he took one last glance of her beauty before returning to his books. He had a lot to get done before his ceremony. Then she would be his. After all, don't all good things come to those who wait?

[End of Chapter 2]