"How is Kagome?" Shippō asks.
Sesshōmaru glances behind him at the closed bedroom door. "She is finally asleep," he tells the kit. He joins them in the main room, leaving his intended to rest while he deals with the aftermath of their evening.
"Did you know he had a kirpan?" Sōten questions.
"No."
"This is bad," the demoness remarks. "It's going to be like before— targeted attacks and raids, orphans in the streets, living in caves, losing friends…" she trails off, shaking her head, before saying, "We have to prepare."
Shippō stands next to her, wrapping an arm around his mate. "There hasn't been a large group of hunters in over a century but the last time they banded together, we lost Inuyasha," he tells Sesshōmaru.
"How do you suggest we proceed?" the demon lord inquires. He does not wish to linger on the topic of his brother's demise. If Sesshōmaru thinks on it for too long, he will never cease asking himself if he could have prevented the loss.
"We continue our relocation efforts," Sōten declares. "Our priority has to be everyone's safety. Once the families are secure, we can take an offensive approach."
Sesshōmaru nods. "How long will you need?"
"A couple of weeks. We have a few safe houses in the neighboring provinces but it's risky to move more than one family at a time. I think we need to be cautious and keep a low profile," she explains.
"I'll take half and Sōten can take the other. You and Kagome should stay here with her family," Shippō advises. "That way, if something does happen you have each other. Besides, as long as Kagome can nullify their weapons, they won't stand a chance."
Sesshōmaru approves of their plan. Given the circumstances, he doubts Kagome would be comfortable leaving her family. She is concerned about their well-being just as she is worried about the safety of demon-kind.
He has never seen her so shaken. Taking a life is a heavy burden, one that Sesshōmaru has learned to live with. He does not expect Kagome to carry such a weight. If he could remove it from her, Sesshōmaru would.
"We should start tonight. There isn't any time to spare. Shippō can take the Nishimura's and I'll escort the Matsuda's," Sōten states. "Will you two be okay?"
"Yes," Sesshōmaru confirms.
"Kagome's a survivor. She'll get through this," Shippō says.
"She needs time," Sesshōmaru tells them. "This is not the Feudal Era. The methods in this age are different."
"War is war," Sōten insists. "The weapons may change but the effects are always the same. Kagome has lived in both worlds long enough to know that."
Sesshōmaru scowls. He does not appreciate the Thunder demoness candid assessment.
"Here," Sōten says, handing him a cellular device. "I picked one up for you. Keep it charged and turned on."
He turns it over, inspecting the strange transparent packaging it is encased in. Perhaps, it is some form of a chrysalis. "How do I use this?"
"Kagome will know how to work it," Shippō assures him.
"We will call you once we deliver the first batch," Sōten informs Sesshōmaru. "If all goes well, we will have everyone placed before the shrine fundraiser."
"I can watch over your domain until you return," Sesshōmaru offers.
"You'll have to open and close the gym daily for the humans," Sōten reminds him. "The spare keys are on the kitchen counter. There won't be any underground events for you to worry about."
"Clearly," he replies.
"What else?" Shippō ponders out loud, tapping his chin thoughtfully. His green eyes light up. "Oh yeah! Don't forget to make sure Kagome eats. When she gets like this, she tends to forget."
"I will care for her," Sesshōmaru vows.
"Good."
"Alright, we're off," Sōten decides, urging her mate out the door. "Behave," she instructs Sesshōmaru, then with a mischievous wink, adds, "Or don't."
Sesshōmaru frowns. As pleased as he was to hear Kagome's confession, there is no time to dwell on it. He needs to keep his intended, her family, and all the demons hiding here safe.
He underestimated Gaku— a mistake Sesshōmaru does not take lightly. It was his oversight that caused Kagome to take the man's life and it is that act that troubles her.
Quietly, Sesshōmaru slips into their bed-chamber. Kagome has not moved since he left. She is curled up, clutching one of the pillows to her chest. Her chest rises and falls in rhythmic pulses.
Sesshōmaru sits on the edge of the mattress close to her. He will never forget how she defended him. Despite her earlier misgivings about using force, there was no hesitation. Their foe drew his weapon and she acted. If Sesshōmaru had any lingering doubts about Kagome's feelings for him, they have been displaced.
The past few days have been difficult. They have gone through revelations, loss, and love. It is a tumultuous experience that has challenged him at every turn. Yet, Sesshōmaru finds he would not alter a single moment. The obstacles they have faced have been weathered together and serve to strengthen their relationship.
He knows his devotion to Kagome runs deep. His intended is the one whom his heart and soul are bound to. Mated or not, she is a part of him. Sesshōmaru will never have another.
Careful not to jostle the bed, he curls around her form. Kagome sighs sleepily. She does not wake as he wraps his arms around her. He almost wishes she had. He wants her to hear his admission— the words he can no longer deny saying.
"I love you."
In the morning, Kagome stirs but does not get up. Sesshōmaru recalls Shippō's warning and nudges her. "You have school."
"Five more minutes," she mumbles, turning over.
Sesshōmaru grabs the sheets and rips them off the bed.
Kagome jolts upright. Her gaze goes from surprise to murderous as she glares at him. "What was that for?"
He smirks. "School."
With an indignant huff, she stomps to the bathroom and slams the door. Sesshōmaru waits until he hears the sound of running water to head to the kitchen.
He has allowed her time to lament the death of their enemy. No good will come of dwelling on the past. Now, it is time for Kagome to focus on moving forward. She has an event to throw and a mystery to solve.
While she showers, Sesshōmaru prepares a breakfast of eggs and furikake. A balanced dish will keep her energized throughout her day. He hopes the gesture will also improve her mood.
Shippō and Sōten's kitchen is set up similarly to Kagome's home. Sesshōmaru locates the necessary tools and follows the steps Mayumi took when she cooked in the Higurashi household. The concept is simpler than the execution but by the time Kagome emerges from the bathroom, he has two plates ready.
Her blue eyes flicker from the meal to him and back to the food. "You cooked." It isn't a question, merely a startled observation.
"You require sustenance," Sesshōmaru informs her.
Kagome nods mutely before taking a seat across from him. He watches as she takes a bite. His sense of taste is far superior to hers but mortal food has never held any value for him so he waits for her assessment.
"It's good," she says with a small smile. "Thank you."
"You are welcome."
"Where are Shippō and Sōten?" she asks.
Sesshōmaru explains their relocation plan. The news seems to calm her. She visibly relaxes as he informs her about the two-week timeline and the cellphone Sōten provided him with. Kagome opens up the plastic and plugs the device into the wall outlet, explaining that he has to leave it charging until the light turns green.
Once she has finished her breakfast, he offers her his portion. Kagome declines. Instead, she packs the leftovers for her lunch. Sesshōmaru does not know how it will taste cold but his intended does not appear to mind. At least the food will not be wasted.
"I must open the gym on our way," he tells her as they exit the apartment.
Kagome follows him down the street to their friends' business.
A couple of men are waiting by the door. They greet him with muttered 'hello's' and stand off to the side as he unlocks the facility. After they are permitted entry, he and Kagome climb up to the office to check on things. Once they are sure everything is as it should be, Sesshōmaru escorts Kagome to the metro station.
"I'm fine to go ahead on my own," she tries.
Sesshōmaru takes her hand and leads her onto the platform. Her expression is annoyed but her scent is blooming with comfort.
"I will return this afternoon to collect you," he reminds her.
"And then?" Kagome prompts.
"I will help you prepare for the fundraiser," Sesshōmaru decides.
She chews on her lower lip. "We also need to figure out what to do about the well."
"We can discuss our options while we work on the fundraiser," he suggests. "Where do you plan on starting?"
"I was thinking of creating a shift chart for all the volunteers, that way no one person has to run an activity alone. Ayumi has the entire choir, so she should be okay but Eri and Yuka want to help. I think I could put them on bake sale duty with Mama. Hōjō is athletic. He can do the 5k with Sōta," Kagome explains.
"You are with me," he states.
"Yes," she confirms, blushing.
"Good." Her cheeks darken and the reaction spurs him on. "I do not wish to be parted from my heart for too long."
"Your heart?" Kagome repeats.
"My intended, my mate, my love ."
" Sesshōmaru—."
"Do not misunderstand," he interrupts. "I may not have said the words in front of our companions but that does not mean I do not feel for you what you feel for me."
Joy overwhelms her scent. She drops his hand to embrace him. Sesshōmaru tucks her head under his chin, enjoying how easily they fit together.
"The kit and his mate will not be returning tonight," he mentions.
Kagome gazes up at him. Sesshōmaru catches a grace of arousal in her scent. "Oh," she says, her cheeks coloring again. "Okay."
The metro slows as it arrives at their station. Sesshōmaru says no more in regards to the empty apartment. He will not pressure her into the act. Kagome will come to him when she is ready.
As they arrive at the school's entrance, Sesshōmaru pauses. "Have a good day."
"I'll see you later," she replies, rising to her tiptoes to brush a chaste kiss along his cheek.
He wears a smug grin the entire way to the gym.
During the hours Kagome attends school, Sesshōmaru patrols the gym and the apartment complex.
Several of the families living there approach him, expressing concern for their safety. He reassures each one that Shippō and Sōten will find them alternative housing. Until the threat has passed, he and his intended will be watching over them.
A few express interest in his chosen mate but Sesshōmaru merely tells them that she is exceptional. He will not put undue pressure on Kagome to be their hero. She has already fulfilled that role.
In the early afternoon, after the light has turned green, Sesshōmaru receives calls from both Shippō and Sōten telling him they will return in the morning to take the next batch of families away. They didn't run into any monks on their travels.
Sesshōmaru is relieved to hear the news. He hopes that Gaku was lying but his instincts tell him otherwise. He resolves to stay alert.
The hours pass slowly as he waits for Kagome to be released. Sesshōmaru adds Sōta's school to his rotation, passing the building twice throughout the day. Everything is as it should be.
He also manages to stop by the shrine. The location is still roped off while the police continue their investigation. As he passes by, Sesshōmaru hears one mention the use of a highly flammable accelerant. They know the fire was man-made and targeted against the Higurashi family.
Sesshōmaru lingers a few moments longer, eavesdropping on their plan to keep a close eye on Mayumi and the elder. They believe the oldest members of the family are the intended targets. They may be wrong but Sesshōmaru takes comfort in knowing he will not be the only one watching over Kagome's relatives.
By the time the bell rings to signal the end of her day, he is already waiting for his future mate. She exits the building flanked by her friends and the brown-haired boy he despises. Sesshōmaru watches them approach with a critical eye. The boy makes no advances and when he spots Sesshōmaru, he says farewell to the girls.
"Hey," Kagome greets him with a smile.
"Hi, Sesshōmaru," her three friends chorus.
"Good afternoon," he responds. "Allow me." He takes Kagome's backpack from her.
"Thanks."
"We'll see you tomorrow, Kagome," Yuka says, waving goodbye.
She waves back. "See you!"
"How was your day?" Sesshōmaru inquires.
"Interesting."
"How so?"
"In class, we discussed the concept of cause and effect and root causes," she shares.
Sesshōmaru listens closely. Her tone is serious and he can scent her worry.
"It made me think of Naraku and his incarnations," Kagome continues. "Kagura, Kanna, Goshinki...all of them. No matter how many times we fought them or destroyed them, the real problem was Naraku."
He nods in understanding. "You have to cut out the infection to keep it from spreading."
"Right," she agrees, "which made me think of the demon hunters and our inability to cross-through the well. What if they are connected?"
"How?"
"The legend of Midoriko is that she cut out her own heart, sacrificing herself to keep the balance but that's not really the truth," Kagome says. "All she did was prolong the conflict between the species. She became a martyr to humans and an enemy to demons. Hanyou's were stuck in between not belonging to either world."
"What are you saying?" Sesshōmaru questions.
"I'm saying that she was wrong," Kagome insists. "Midoriko was a product of the war but the real issue wasn't the demons she was fighting, it was the division itself. What if we weren't opposed to one another, but united?"
He pauses on the sidewalk, considering her words until her intention becomes clear. "You mean to go back," Sesshōmaru surmises.
"Yes, if we return, we can stop this before it destroys demon-kind. Don't you see? If we go back and put a stop to this, the raids would have never happened. Inuyasha would be alive. Shippō and Sōten wouldn't need to build the underground and my family wouldn't be targeted."
"You wish to stop Unagi?"
"Yes and no. Unagi is part of the problem but he isn't the root cause. People fear what they don't understand. If we can show people not to be afraid of each other, no one will listen to him or his hunting monks. Their campaign will be over before it causes any long-term damage," Kagome explains.
Sesshōmaru considers her analysis. Demon-human relations were indeed strained long before Midoriko's fight. He never gave the disconnect much thought. Having been raised with a mother who found mortals useless, Sesshōmaru spent little time studying the divide.
His intended makes a fair point. The segregation has only worsened with time. Compounded by fear and loss of territory, it has driven demons into hiding. To combat this, they must return to a time when the cause of the problem was still taking root. They need to cut it out and stop it from tainting the future.
"I agree with you but how will we manage such a trip? The well is inactive," he reminds her.
"I thought about that too," Kagome replies. "What did you think about when we tried to go back?"
"Rin, Kohaku, and A-Un."
Her brow furrows. "What about Jaken?"
"I might have considered him."
She laughs before her face turns somber. "I thought about my friends too. I think...I believe that's why it didn't work. We planned on going back for our own selfish desires. We wanted to be reunited with our friends."
"And now?" he prompts.
"We have a reason to return— a selfless one. If Midoriko could use her powers to create the Shikon no Tama through her sacrifice, who's to say I can't reactivate the well?" Kagome replies.
Sesshōmaru has never been more impressed with the miko. He understands her logic and finds himself admiring her more, if that is possible. Her dedication to what is right outshines all others. Sesshōmaru agrees. If Midoriko possessed the power to create a powerful jewel, it is within Kagome's abilities to open the portal.
Returning will eliminate the threat of demon hunters forever. The future will forever be changed— no hiding, no raids, and no attacks. The well will be open and they will be able to ensure their loved ones are safe.
She has thought of everything, except one side of the equation which remains unaccounted for.
"What of your family?" Sesshōmaru questions.
Her face falls. "Mama will understand. She always did."
"Kagome, they are your blood."
"Sango, Miroku, Kirara, Kaede, and Inuyasha have become my family too. They've given just as much as my family has. They deserve peace too," she argues.
"And what will become of the kit and his mate?"
"They live," Kagome answers. "They live for themselves instead of living for others."
"Which is what you're about to do," he observes.
"I know you'd make the same choice."
Sesshōmaru nods. "For Rin, yes, I would."
"So, we're doing this then?" she asks.
He holds out his hand for hers. "Together."
"Together," she says, lacing her fingers through his.
They stroll to the metro station, bound in purpose and touch.
The overwhelming scent and noise of the city hardly bother Sesshōmaru. He does not take notice of the annoying whistles and whirls of the steel beast. He is unbothered by the stench of the overpopulated car. He does not growl when a businessman bumps into him. His entire focus is on the feel of Kagome's hand in his.
He can sense their entwined power thrumming. The pulse is steady like a heartbeat and just as unique— as though their combined power has a life of its own.
Sesshōmaru wonders if it will be enough to return them to the Feudal Era and back home again.
His preference to remain may seem unexpected but the truth of his vagabond existence is telling. The quest for power has ended. A search for belonging has taken its place. Inuyasha may have been the one born of both worlds but Sesshōmaru is the one without a home.
The Western Palace feels too formal, too restrictive. His mother's ancestral home in the clouds is like its ruler— unwelcoming. Sesshōmaru has spent his centuries wandering the countryside looking for a place where he can exist on his own terms. He does not wish to be defined by his birthright nor does he want to be limited by the rules of the court.
Finding Rin, taking in Kohaku, and tolerating Jaken gave him a purpose but it is temporary. The children will grow old. Jaken will tire of his demands. Even A-Un will seek freedom elsewhere. Had it not been for the miko, Sesshōmaru knows he would be alone.
He is grateful the Meido trapped him here.
This strange world, so unlike the age he grew up in, has become familiar. It is where he found his mate, where they fell in love, and where they built a life together. They live in this time surrounded by their friends and family. They enjoy meals with each other, play games, and provide for one another. It has been many centuries since Sesshōmaru had a family. He does not wish to lose it again.
Their stop is announced. Both he and Kagome rise, shifting through the fray to the doors.
They walk in silence to the gym. Sesshōmaru announces that they need to close early and waits by the doors until the last fighter has left. As they did in the morning, they both complete a cursory check of the establishment before locking up. Kagome adds wards to the entryways as an added precaution.
They continue to the apartment complex. The one question he has not posed hangs in the air between them. As they near unit 689, Sesshōmaru feels Kagome stiffen.
"What troubles you?" he asks.
"What if it doesn't work? What if we go back and we fail or we somehow make things worse? What if we can't come back?"
"Kagome—."
"What if—," her voice wavers and she takes a moment to collect herself. "What if I can't save them, Sesshōmaru?"
"You can and you will," he says encouragingly, cupping her face with one hand. "I will be at your side every step of the way."
"Promise?"
"I promise."'
She throws her arms around him, hugging him tighter than she ever has before.
Sesshōmaru wraps himself around her, inhaling her sweet scent, and relishing her warmth. He feels the thrumming of their combined power intensify until it drowns out the beating of their hearts.
Kagome shuffles backward so she can gaze up at him. He feels trapped by her stare. Those blue eyes he has carefully memorized are dark. The change is accompanied by a hint of citrus.
"Let's go inside," she suggests.
He follows her without hesitation. Kagome enters the apartment, slipping past him to the bedroom while he locks the door. Sesshōmaru leaves her backpack on the floor. She will not be needing it tonight.
Sesshōmaru finds her standing in the middle of the room, her hands twisting nervously in front of her. Her expression is a mixture of conviction and uncertainty. Before he can say anything, Kagome crosses the room.
When she kisses him, it is different than before. There is a desperation to the gentle caress of her lips across his. He can feel it in the slight tremble of her lower lip, smell it in the nervous tint of her scent, and hear it in the offbeat rhythm of her heart.
Sesshōmaru strokes her cheek with his thumb.
As her eyes flutter closed, she leans into his touch.
Kagome wraps her hand around his, lowering it from her cheek to her blouse. Sesshōmaru waits until she has turned around to help her remove the top. There is the sound of a zipper and then Kagome discards her skirt.
Her undergarments are unlike anything he has ever seen but it does not alter his reaction. Seeing so much of her pale skin laid bare for him is a test of his willpower.
Kagome glances over her shoulder at him, misreading his hesitation.
"Is everything okay?"
He gives her the only answer he can. "You are perfect."
Sesshōmaru guides her slowly to the bed, taking care not to push her quicker than she is willing to go.
"We do not have to do this tonight," he tells her.
"I want to," Kagome insists, locking eyes with him.
Her confidence soothes him. He does not need to fear pressuring her to follow a course of action she may later regret. She is confident in her decision, just as he is confident in his.
"I want you," Sesshōmaru replies.
He feels like he is burning. A heat builds within him, consuming him from the inside out. It is not the agonizing sensation Sesshōmaru felt when Naraku's replacement arm burned away. This fire is alive. It makes him feel alive, powerful, invincible.
Kagome tugs at the hem of his shirt. Sesshōmaru yanks it over his head and flings it away.
He presses his lips to her throat. One hand cups the back of her head, while the other positions her beneath him. He is certain she can feel him straining against his pants. The thin material of her undergarments is not enough to hide his desire.
They work in tandem to remove the final layers separating them. Sesshōmaru gazes upon her, his eyes trailing up her form with increased interest. Kagome is similarly affected by the sight of him. She transforms from a blushing schoolgirl to a passionate partner.
Hands touch. Lips kiss. Speech is unnecessary. The language they speak now is an ancient one. They are tangled together in a primal dance that needs no instruction. Their hips move in rhythm to the pulsing of their power bond, perfectly in sync.
It starts slowly with lingering looks and tentative touches. When he claims her, everything becomes heightened. Sesshōmaru loses all sense of reality, completely immersed in his mate. Nothing exists outside of her tender embrace. He groans into her neck, unable to release his jaw from around the pulse point until she screams his name in ecstasy. He rocks into her a few more times before following.
In the aftermath of their mating, Sesshōmaru rests his head on top of Kagome's breathing in her floral scent. It now has notes of fresh spring water and the forest, traits he knows come from his own scent.
She nestles into his chest, content to stay in this moment that exists only for them. Sesshōmaru approves of her choice.
He draws a blanket around them and drifts off.
A deep sense of foreboding wakes him. It's thick in the air, like thunder breaking over the mountains before a storm.
Sesshōmaru tucks the sheets around Kagome and presses a kiss to her forehead before he dresses. While existing the bedroom, he hears hasty footsteps coming from outside. Sesshōmaru flings the apartment door open, scenting anxiety, hatred, and gasoline in the air.
His nostrils flare and he growls.
Immediately, he turns around and returns to the bedroom.
"Mate."
The sheets rustle as she rolls over. "Mmm? What is it?"
"We have to leave. Now."
His tone jolts her awake. Kagome throws the blankets aside and pulls on clothes. Grabbing her bow, she follows him out of the apartment.
The pungent odor of chemicals fills the air. His mate becomes anxious.
"We have to warn everyone," she tells him.
Sesshōmaru nods. Without having to speak, they break apart, each taking separate floors. She races along the corridor, knocking on doors and alerting the occupants to the danger. He leaps up to the next floor to do the same.
Before he reaches the first door, an alarm sounds. Sesshōmaru ignores it, focusing on saving as many as he can. He helps the families with pups and kits get to the ground floor.
Somewhere between the seventh and eighth floors, the fire breaks out. Sesshōmaru pauses merely long enough to latch onto the monks' positions before he gathers up the remainder of the demon families and takes them down.
An arrow fires off from the fourth floor, exploding the sidewalk in a bloom of brilliant white light. When the glow dissipates, the flames have been nullified. His mate has reduced them to smoldering ash.
Smirking, he presses on.
There are still several more floors to go. While he rescues the families one by one, Kagome is perched in the stairwell, shooting arrows at the monks and extinguishing each new flame they ignite. She holds them off long enough for Sesshōmaru to finish.
Once all the families are safely on the street, he signals her. Kagome begins her descent on the steps, giving him leave to charge at their attackers.
The monks scatter. They recognize their plan has failed. What they fail to realize is that Sesshōmaru is faster than they are.
He grabs the first by the neck of his robes and propels him into the second, knocking both unconscious. Sesshōmaru trips the third before leaping onto the rooftops to track down the fourth and final one. He corners the man in an alleyway and drags him back to the others.
His mate is with the crowd of displaced demon families, speaking calmly and consoling the youngest among them. She does not see him unsheathe Bakusaiga but she must feel it's power because suddenly their connection is pulled taut.
Sesshōmaru glances over his shoulder to see her watching him. He can sense the conflict within her. She does not want him to kill these men but she fears what they will do if they are not eliminated. Kagome is still trying to see the good in others. Sesshōmaru decided long ago that not everyone was deserving of mercy.
He swings the blade once. That is all it takes to render the hunting monks to dust. Sesshōmaru snuffs out their lives as easily as his mate extinguished their fire.
For a moment, he glares at the place where they huddled. Then, with a sigh, he returns to Kagome's side.
"It is done," he tells her.
"It shouldn't have come to this," she replies ruefully.
"I will call Shippō and Sōten. They should be made aware of the situation."
He moves to head upstairs when Kagome grabs onto his arm. "Sesshōmaru?"
Instantly, he is on high-alert, searching her face for the reason of her distress. Before he can identify it, she speaks.
"We need to go back. Tonight."
He swallows thickly, then nods. "I will make the call."
Kagome slips her hand down his forearm to wrap her fingers around his.
When they move forward, it is together.