She had no idea how he did it, but Miroku came through just as he promised.
Somehow, he'd managed to use his skills of diplomacy to convince Inuyasha that Sesshoumaru sleeping in her hut with her was a necessary evil in ensuring her protection.
Hmm. Maybe she should just get the amiable monk to tell him her little secret, and end this whole debacle. With how clever Miroku was, he could probably even get him to demand it.
'I don't like this anymore than you do, Kagome, but for your own protection, you're going to have to mate with Sesshoumaru...'
But it didn't come without concessions. The hanyou agreed to the cohabitation, but he insisted on installing a curtain to run through the middle of the hut to help preserve her modesty.
And of course, he had a – relatively – short list of commands for his half-brother to follow.
"...on a probationary basis. You're there for her protection, but if you start bugging her or making her uncomfortable, I'm kicking you out. This is her hut; you do what she tells you. If she wants privacy, or space, or she's just sick of looking at your face, you're outta there. Understood?"
Sesshoumaru was struggling to maintain his passive façade throughout the half-breed's tirade, but not for the indignity of being ordered about by his little brother. No, it was his decree that the powerful demon lord obey Kagome's every command, adhere to her every desire, while within her dwelling that got his blood boiling in a way which was uncomfortable to endure in mixed company.
It summoned not-so-distant memories of how beautifully she'd handled herself – handled him – last night in the woods.
Oh yes, this would work out just fine.
Besides, who would ever get sick of looking at his face?
Sesshoumaru helped install the barrier, even though it was pointless. Then again, maybe that was why he felt a twinge of guilt watching the determined hanyou take on the useless chore alone.
They made quick work of it between the two of them.
"How are things with your priestess?" Sesshoumaru tried to ask casually, but any inquiry into his brother's personal life was glaringly unnatural on its own. The look he received from his brother only confirmed it.
"Feh, like you care."
Actually, he did. He suddenly had a vested interest in Inuyasha's love life.
"I asked, did I not?"
Kagome wished for the hanyou's contentment in his own relationship before declaring theirs. Therefore, any aid he could supply in speeding that process along would be instantly bestowed. What that could possibly be, he had no idea.
"Fine, I guess," he finally offered after a moment's consideration. He didn't appear willing to elaborate, so the daiyoukai pried further.
"What for is your hesitation? Do you not wish to take a mate?"
Kami, this was so uncomfortable. Likely, for the both of them.
Inuyasha scoffed. "Yeah, look who's talking. What about you?"
Unprepared for the turnaround, Sesshoumaru considered his answer carefully.
He opted for stalling. "What?"
"You're older," Inuyasha accused. "Much older. And what's more, you're a lord. Isn't it your duty, or something? It doesn't matter what I do."
He wasn't wrong. As Lord of the West, Sesshoumaru was burdened with several obligations to his lands, and demon kind in general. But he always did as he pleased, and claiming a female had never interested him. Until now.
"Perhaps not, but what of your own desires? What of hers?" He artfully side-stepped the question, and returned it to its original target.
He'd never been so interested in Inuyasha's pending reply.
He scratched his head, and to his credit, seemed to give the question some honest thought.
"Are you not pleased with her? Is she not the one for whom you've always pined?"
"I am, and she is," he insisted, getting progressively creeped out by his brother's sudden interest.
"Then why tarry? I would have thought you'd have learned your lesson, after last time."
Inuyasha froze. True, Naraku's meddling had foiled he and Kikyo's plans to spend their lives together. Had they acted sooner; the whole mess could have been avoided.
Even now, his impending demise took precedent over their happiness.
Naraku had to die first. Then, they could start planning a future. But even if not for that, there were still gaping wounds that needed tending in that regard, before they could proceed with confidence.
"You have been blessed with a second chance. You would do well not to squander it."
Weird as it was to be getting romantic advice from the famously dispassionate lord, it was also laughable. So that's what Inuyasha did.
"What do you know? And why should I listen to you anyway?" Sesshoumaru sneered at his brother's mockery. "I've never even seen you with a female."
"I wasn't sure you'd ever been with one. Can you even remember the last time you have?"
'Quite clearly, you petulant whelp,' he seethed, and longed to enlighten him. 'If you only knew.'
But Inuyasha took his silence as a 'no,' and smirked.
"I'd assume you swung from the other end of the battlefield, but I ain't seen you with a male, either. Unless Jaken-"
"Inuyasha..." he intoned menacingly, forcing himself to remain civil. It seemed to suffice.
"Keh, whatever. Thanks for your concern, but why don't you stick to subjects you know about, and mind your own damn business?"
His hostility wasn't surprising, or even unwarranted. The dog demon had never expressed an interest in anything pertaining to his brother, save for a sword. And now, much more recently, a certain miko under his protection. But he refused to be deterred.
"I am not completely ignorant in the matter."
The admission stopped Inuyasha cold.
"My pursuit of a female has been met with nothing but strife and challenges," he continued, "yet only serves to make me more relentless. Should the unthinkable occur, I could only rest well knowing I did everything I could to get her by my side."
"You should know more than most how precious your time together is. And you have even been fortunate enough to get a second attempt. That is more than most receive. Do not be a fool."
This was all too weird; the interest, the helpfulness... the cordiality!
But the most bizarre proved to be the fact that Sesshoumaru – Lord Ice Prince, himself – admitted to pursuing a female. To have it not go perfectly for him was another shocker, and something the hanyou would enjoy later on his own.
"So, what are you saying I should do?"
"Go to her. At once."
"Make her yours," he pushed further, goading by way of command. "You have both waited long enough."
'As have I.'
Inuyasha slowly nodded his head, and his hopes began to rise. If he could get his brother mated, all his troubles would be over.
...and, he supposed, the whelp would be happy. There was also that.
"I guess you're right."
"Of course I am." Now they were getting somewhere. Sesshoumaru contained his elation as his brother prepared to leave.
"So, are you going to tell me who this female is? Who has you collared?"
Sesshoumaru stared back intently.
"Soon enough."