Kagome was far too interested in her not being in her room last night, but it was InuYasha's nosiness that really pushed her over the edge, "he had some interesting reads in his bedroom. I lost track of time-,"

"And never returned to your own room?" Kagome followed her, wearing a charming blue kimono. There were robust red roses on her sleeves and a red obi to keep it together. She wasn't sure when she'd finally ditched her school uniform.

"It was a really good read!"

Sango was walking faster than the other girl, determined to leave her and her intrusive questions behind. It was no one's business what she was up to. She was an adult and fully capable of making her own choices. She would not let Kagome tease her for trying to tolerate the man she would marry when she chose someone impossible.

As if thinking of him could summon him, InuYasha popped up to her left. He looked wildly uncomfortable in his new kimono. It was as red as the other, but the sleeves were as dramatic as his brother's and the inverted crest on the collar was on the right side instead of the left. Unlike Sesshomaru's yellow and blue obi, InuYasha's colors bled, from orange to red, like sunset. His feet were wrapped securely in the same type of boots that his brother wore, and his puffy, untamed mane now fell in silver sheets.

"Oh ho! You're interrogating me when InuYasha looks like he was raised? I think your priorities are out of whack."

Kagome steepled her fingers and beamed at her boyfriend, "will you please tell him how handsome he looks? I never knew his hair could lie so straight."

Sango shrugged, "it's true InuYasha. You look absolutely darling."

He huffed, crossing his arms over his chest, "you're only saying that because I look like your stupid boyfriend." A wicked smile crossed his face, "speaking of which, I heard that you didn't return to your bedroom last night. What was this about?"

"Do you really want to consider the implications?" She patted his cheek, heading into the kitchen for lunch. She'd slept way past breakfast. While Sesshomaru had told her many times that he didn't sleep much, when she woke in his arms, he was facing her, bangs sticking straight up.

While asleep he looked so perfect, like one of Rin's dolls. If not for the gentle breaths that fanned against her forehead, she'd wonder if he were a puppet. The only word she could use to describe him was beautiful.

She noticed far too slowly that one of his clawed hands still cupped her face.

Sango shook the memory from her mind. He'd disarmed her with his surprising humanity and now she was more on guard than ever.

Kagome held her arm within her grip, "it's not a bad thing to like him. Moving on is a part of grief and Sesshomaru is insanely handsome. He's not the worst candidate that you could find." While her words held merit, Sango couldn't accept them. Sure, he was rich and powerful, but all of that meant nothing in the end.

He detested one of her bestfriends so intensely that he could not bear to walk side by side for a few minutes. Unprovoked, she found him glaring daggers at InuYasha, as if he wished he would drop dead at the dinner table. InuYasha wasn't much better, but he was at least capable of living his life without emitting cancerous rays whenever they were within ten feet.

She would not consider him until he made an effort to reconcile with her friend and she would not explain this to him. She wanted him to want to be better, not for him to decide to do so for her.

They took their places by the chairs and Sesshomaru, well raised as he was, made sure she was comfortably seated before taking his own place. Again, his narrowed eyes landed a foot away on InuYasha.

She pinched his thigh, shooting him a reproachful glance, before catching the attention of the table, "I'm sorry I missed breakfast. Was there anything interesting to fill me on." By the way their eyes darted around she was sure that the answer was her. They'd discussed her until they could consider no other possibilities and then went on about their days. Typical.

"Oh nothing, dear, but do settle a score for me." Oh dear, "why were both you and my darling son missing? I can't help but hope you've gotten over his stupidity and gotten started on heirs. The first may not do the trick for it needs to be a perfect balance of-,"

"Excuse me," Sango choked a bit, "I'm sorry to say that is not what we were up to. I only stayed up too late reading. That's all."

His mother looked put out, "must have been a good book."

Sango nodded, finding interest in the tuna before her, "just fascinating."

There was a long silence, so long that even Sesshomaru squirmed, "mother, you said you would get back to Sango about the duties of a princess. I know she's asked several times, but I don't believe you've answered."

His mother made a small noise, "I'm sorry Sango, it has once again slipped my mind. Please don't worry too much, if something comes up, I'll let you know."

Sango pouted a bit, "I feel like a freeloader. Oh. There must be orphaned children. Where are they kept? Is there something I can do to help them?"

She noticed the small frown that flitted across the Lady's face, but paid it no mind.

"There is a small orphanage on the edge of town, there aren't very many children within it, though."

Sango continued to push, "can we head down after lunch? I'd like to feel like I'm helping in some way. When it comes to orphans we've all got some connection to that."

"The only thing the Kingdom needs from you, dear Sango, is for you to birth an heir. Please don't worry yourself with foolishness."

"Mother," Sesshomaru's voice was stern, his gaze leaving no room for argument, "when she wishes to bear children, she will. You will not rush her or I will personally refuse to comply."

Kagome was nudging Inuyasha, obnoxious as she swallowed her fan girlish squeals.

Sesshomaru's mother glared at him, challenging him in a way that only a mother could, "you'd doom your only mother to a cursed fate for a mortal?" InuYasha was now nudging Kagome. How many years had he been a half breed? A waste of Father's blood?

Sango, all the while, stared on in dismay, "I never meant to cause an argument, I'll figure out a way to occupy myself-," but her input wasn't welcome. The Lady of the castle held up her hand.

"Silence, mortal, this does not concern you."

Sango glared, shoving away from the table, "we are immortal so long as this curse still stands."

The demoness rolled her eyes and waved her hands in an enchanting motion. Sesshomaru's gaze went blank, his shoulders going slack, "Sesshomaru, go and do what needs to be done. I'm tired of waiting." She settled back into her chair, watching the hypnosis claim her only son's mind. Sesshomaru stood slowly, his mind shrouded in fog. His grip on Sango's wrist was unbreakable and her cries did not reach him.

She was frantic in her fighting against him, she dug her heels into the stone, cried for him to hear her, but nothing seemed to work.

One by one her friends' eyes went foggy, the fight in their stances had gone away and their hands hung by their sides. There was no one to aid her, the castle help had turned deaf ears to her cries.

"Sesshomaru, please, please, wait," his steady march down the hall was drawing closer and closer to her bedroom. This couldn't be happening, "she's using you. Please," she used her free hand to beat his arm, "don't hurt me Sesshomaru." His foot hovered over the next tile.

"I-," it seemed to physically pain him to speak, to exist beyond the ideas she'd implanted in his mind, "I don't-."

"She's hypnotized you, please."

His grip slackened and she stumbled back. He frowned, blinking against the worsening suggestion. It coiled around his brain like a python, echoing and screaming and demanding. She could see him losing the fight for control, his shoulders lost their tension, but his lips were still twisted in a frown.

She watched him approach the stone wall, his chest heaving under the labor of his disobedience. He pulled back and -without anymore warning- slammed his forehead into the stone wall. The foundation seemed to shake under the force of his actions and he crumpled.

Sango rushed to his side, holding his torso in her arms. Blood spilled down his forehead and she prayed that he hadn't gone anymore stupid.

"Are you alright?"

His head lolled into her chest as his eyes fluttered open. He was confused, but his clawed hand reached upwards to cup her tear stained cheek, "are you?" She stared at him in disbelief as he hoisted himself upwards, leaning on the cracked stone. He looked green.

"I'm fine, you-,"

He fell back to his knees, hand clamped over his mouth like a seal. She grabbed a vase, dumped the flowers onto the stone floor, and passed it over just in time. He clutched the vase, relaxing under Sango's soothing touch. He pulled silken strands from his face, whispering sweet words of praise and appreciation.

When his stomach flexed and claimed itself empty, he sagged against the cool stone.

Disgusted, he kicked the vase far away from himself, "how dare she?" The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. For his mother to stare into the eyes of the boy she sent into the pit to suffer and fight and search for what felt like an eternity, for her to stare at him and force her ideas upon him. He tried to stomp down his betrayal, tried to close his eyes against the truth of what she'd been content to force him to do.

She didn't care about him. All she ever cared about was her freedom. He clambered back to his feet, still a bit green from the concussion he gave himself, "she hypnotized me." He said it outloud, forcing it to be real. His indignation was contagious, "and what of your friends? Did I," he looked a bit apprehensive, but it may have been the flashbacks that his burp inspired, "did I hurt them?"

Sango shook her head, "no. I think she got them too."

"That may prove a problem." Normally he'd be delighted to see multiples of his beloved Sango, but today was not the day for double vision, "I don't think I can fight anyone like this." He shook it off, releasing the wall with a kind of finality, "we'll pack any kimonos that you're fond of and I'll have Jaken prepare a new home for us."

"Us?"

"Rin, you, me," he rolled his eyes at the next bit, "and your precious posse." She found herself beaming up at him, helpless against the soft look he offered her in return.

As if summoned, Jaken came racing around the bend, "milord! You needed me?" She wondered how Sesshomaru managed to summon the imp without a word.

Sesshomaru nodded, brushing off his servant's concern over her bloodied forehead. He gave him his instructions and pointed to the vase as an afterthought, "destroy that. I wouldn't advise looking within it either."

They moved as quickly as they dared. Sango followed behind him, trying to quell the feelings that had made a home within her chest. Fondness for her captor bloomed like the petals of a rose, vibrant and unashamed.

He took a seat on her bed, closing his eyes against the migraine that was surely blossoming behind his eyes. Sango sat beside him, shielding him from the sunlight that flowed through her window. Her gentle fingers stroked his hair, watching as the lines between his eyebrows evened out. His breathing slowed as she played with the perfect strands.

She would wake him when Jaken approached her with the finalized plan.

A.N./ When you finish this you should read Soledad by Thunk. It's so FREAKING GOOD