A/N: I AM SO PUMPED FOR THIS CHAPTER. I was so beyond friggen' excited to write this and was blessed with a night of being on call (and not getting called in). I am high key excited also even higher key nervous for everyone's reactions!

Stay safe, clean, and distant!

~Sploosh

"Ten, nine, eight," Sesshou could hear his guests shouting from the grand hall. There were only twenty-three non resident demons still visiting since the gala had ended. Most were parents of delegates that stayed year round, spending the Christmas holiday and New Year together before heading back to their own personal estates. "Seven, six, five," It was 11:59 PM. He had hoped to spend the new year with Kagome and her family, knowing his mother could handle the visitors by herself. "Four, three, two," And now Kagome was separated from her family, in hiding, and he still has no leads to go on. "One!"

"Happy New Year!" A chorus of voices rang down the empty halls. He was well aware that Shippou and Ami were amongst the crowd, both playing a charismatic con to pull information out of drunks, while Genko routinely searched her looking glass for odd behavior.

Sesshou smoothed his dress shirt as he sat straight at his desk. The stress of the past few weeks was getting to him. Day after day he thought of Kagome. Plagued by the memories of their coupling, he knew his feelings were undeniable now. He would have her, if she would take him.

She could have been his mate. Had he given in to his instincts, and the wine, he would have his mate and bride waiting for him. Waiting to announce their engagement, to come out of hiding and tell her family, and plan a wedding. The social aspect wasn't appealing to him, but pleasing her family and marking her fully certainly was.

He would do anything to make her happy, which is why he felt such shame over his behavior. He was well aware how humans felt about oral fixation to one's throat and in Kagome's case, as a shrine maiden, premarital intercourse. Her family would be displeased. He realized if he had mated her that night, he would have done so without asking her family for their permission.

Frowning, Sesshou knew he had to fix this. There was nothing to be done at the moment concerning her assailant, but he could remedy an error in his behavior. Deciding now was a good time, with a snow storm blowing through, he could use his ability to streak across the sky as a ball of light. His speed was so great in that form, he could make it to the Sunset Shrine in minutes.

Bracing himself for the cold, Sesshou went to the window in his office overlooking the expanse of his lands. This trip wouldn't take more than an hour of his time, and decided against informing anyone of his errand.

Flipping the lock on the window, he opened the two panels inwards, letting the wind and snow sweep in fiercely, blowing his hair back from his face and his button up against his chest. The wind whipped right through his clothes, chilling him immediately, but he ignored the sensation. He would only be exposed to the elements for mere minutes. The night sky was clouded, but the small flecks of moonlight shining through caught his eye and he admired the moon's crescent shape, mirroring the marking on his brow.

Sesshou crouched into the open window and jumped, letting himself fall straight down, his arms at his side. It only took a moment to call forth his energy, his whole body alight with an inner glow, consuming his entire person, and shrinking down to a small sphere, no larger than a golf ball. He shot up into the sky, and soon was gone from his ancestral home.

In no more than a few minutes, he had located the shrine and began his descent. Just as he suspected, the bad weather had kept visitors away mostly. The snow fall was milder in the city, so despite the midnight chill, a handful of guests still came through the shrine for a final prayer before heading home. Sesshou landed in the back of the plot, behind their family home. Thankfully his position allowed for privacy in landing. His orb of energy touched ground and his form expanded in an instant, reverting back to his humanoid body. Securing his concealment anchor to his wrist just in case a human wandered this far back on the plot, he came around the residence and knocked on the door.

Sesshou knew the occupants of Kagome's home were still awake. From sound alone, he knew her little brother was still awake, likely having stayed up for the countdown. Even her grandfather was up. He could hear the two bickering about what to do the following evening.

Ms. Higurashi frowned when she heard a knock at the door. The whole family had taken part in the festival and all day vendors and such were parading around the shrine grounds. As shrine keepers, they had been kept busy all day, and on days like this, she was grateful to have Kagome. Spending a holiday without her whole family together had taken a toll on her. Either way, maybe a straggler was seeking respite from the cold. She couldn't turn her back on someone in need.

"Welcome, how can I help-" Ms. Higurashi stuttered, surprised when she recognized her daughter's demonic friend. "Lord Sesshomaru, what are you doing here?" She had been visited by a couple of Kagome's friends since she was forced into hiding. Both Shippou and a monk named Jiyu had come to retrieve some belongings for her, and in the process, passing along messages to her mother that she was fine, and that she missed being home.

"Happy new year," Sesshou bowed to Kagome's mother, well aware of tradition, "May I visit with you, Ms. Higurashi?"

"Happy new year," She bowed back before stepping aside to let the young man inside. "Come in, let me put some tea on for us." The two entered the house and slipped off their shoes. Sesshou removed his concealment anchor and pocketed the wristwatch. He remembered that Kagome's mother preferred to see his natural features.

"I told you, I don't feel tired yet!" Sota whined, passing by the pair in the hallway. After nearly three years, Sota was much taller now, and in middle school. The stocky boy sagged his shoulders, a handheld video game system in one hand.

"Boy I tell ya!" His grandfather followed at a slower pace, "It is midnight! We have a lot to do tomorrow for the shrine, Sota." Realizing they had a guest, he turned to Sesshou, "Ah! You again! Demon!" And pointed a gnarled finger at the silver headed demon accusingly.

"Grandfather," Kagome's mother cut in between the two, "It's Kagome's friend, remember? Inuyasha's older brother, Sesshomaru." Sota peered over his grandfather in awe.

"Inuyasha's brother?" The young teen weaved between his parental units, "So you're Sesshomaru…" His eyes softened when he inspected the many differences between the brothers.

"You may call me Sesshou," He reached for the boy's hand, "It is my human name."

"But you're not human." Sota shook his hand, "I'm Sota, Kagome's brother."

"I know." Sesshou wanted to pat the boy on the head, much like he had Rin when she was small. He could remember her being this tall, and slowly fawning over the slayer she would eventually marry. "She is very fond of you."

"Blegh, you make it sound like she loves me!" Sota laughed, waving away the idea that his sister missed him when she was gone. "What are you doing here anyway? Is sis with you?"

"I've come to speak with your mother." Sesshou eyed the middle aged woman behind the teen. "It is important." When he noticed her eyes widen in fear, he added, "She is safe."

"Why don't I start the tea?" Ms. Higurashi led him into the kitchen and welcomed him to sit while she put water on to boil. "I'm just going to make sure Sota and Grandfather make it to bed alright."

She left him to his own devices for a moment. He could hear her conversing with them both, urging both males to get rest so they could clean the shrine in the morning. By the time her feet were padding down the stairs, the tea was beginning to whistle, and Sesshou took it upon himself to finish making their tea.

"I'm sorry I didn't realize I was gone long," Ms. Higurashi accepted the warm cup from the demon man in her kitchen. They both sat at the table awkwardly. Whatever was on his mind was eating her up inside.

"You were not," Sesshou took a sip, "But you have done enough today." He noted the tired look in her eyes and that both males were dreading another long day of working the shrine. "I will be sending servants to assist your family in shrine duties tomorrow morning." She cocked her head in the same way Kagome did, and it warmed him to know it was a shared trait, "Without Kagome, the holiday is harder to work. My staff will assist you until she can return safely."

"Thank you, Lord Sesshomaru, but that isn't necessary." Her mother reached for his clawed hand, grasping it gently. "Use your resources to help keep Kagome safe."

"I have plenty to spare, Ms. Higurashi," He refused to take no for an answer, "But this is not why I have come to visit." Sesshou wasn't sure how to word his request. He had never asked for someone's hand before. After a brief pause he said, "I wish to marry Kagome."

"Marry her?" Ms. Higurashi gasped, happily surprised. Her loose grip on his hand tightened in excitement. "Oh, I knew it!" Letting go, she clapped her hands together and grinned to herself. "I knew you loved her."

"You knew?" He inquired.

"Of course I knew," Her grin refused to rescind, "A mother always knows!"

"May I have your permission to propose?" Even his own mother had called him on it. Perhaps he had been too strict on his feelings; in denial too long. This human would be his pack soon, and his mother as well. Respecting the intimacy that came with such standing, he turned his lips up in a gentle smile. He would show her the peace he felt with her daughter's affections.

"You have my blessing, Lord Sesshomaru." She was tearing up, looking into the golden eyes of her soon to be son-in-law. Silver hair, honey colored eyes, and tattoo-like markings adorned his face and wrists. Elven ears and clawed fingers...She cooed, "Oh when you have a child, will it have puppy ears just like Inuyasha?"

"Possibly." Sesshou chuckled. "It is late, Ms. Higurashi." He stood, bowing again, "I will let you get your rest. I thank you for welcoming me into your family."

"And thank you," She stood with him, "For loving and protecting Kagome. Just get her home safe, okay?"

"Hn." He agreed, following her out to the entryway.

Leaving the household, Sesshou slipped his wristwatch back into place. While he wasn't necessarily religious, he wished to follow a human tradition regardless, as it was Kagome's home shrine. He planned to say his first prayer of the year, and headed towards the torii gates at the front end of the shrine.

Passing by the Goshinboku, Sesshou stopped to view the tree. Even today, the mark where his brother had been shot through with an arrow was still scarred. He wasn't surprised. The priestess Kikyo had been one of the strongest to ever exist, and likely the most trained, second to Midoriko. He knew if Kagome had been in training since childhood, she would likely surpass both women in spiritual ability. Just in the past few months of being part of her life, he had seen her evolve. What was strange to him was that with every new skill, she was exposed to the past.

Sesshou still wasn't entirely sure what occurred with the elder from the wolf tribe. She had called to them, taken them, and shown Kagome the past. Whatever it was she saw specifically, it had taken all night. By morning, the elder was gone, and Kagome had been possessed. From that moment on, she could communicate with ghosts from her past.

Inuyasha had been next. She had admitted to him that touching his brother's Tessaiga had been purely an accident, trying to catch her fall, just like how she had first grabbed the sword inside his father's tomb. There was no denying the sword was fond of her. This occurrence was strange to him as well. Inuyasha had died before him. There was no way he could have planned a message to connect with his sword at her touch. He hadn't seen the priestess in five years, and while his brother had proven his strength to surpass that of any ordinary half-demon, he still wasn't as strong as their father. Sesshomaru himself wasn't even as strong as their father. So how could it be that he appeared? Did his love know no bounds that he could reach her, even now?

Then her sight came. Kagome had already been able to sense intent and proximity, knowing demonic auras and the reiki of other priestesses. Somehow Inuyasha had gifted her another sight; her ability to read emotion, see it surround a person, and feel it herself. He knew what she meant at the temple in Sakai, when she said she could feel what he felt. She could feel his desire to be together. That's why Kagome had caved so easily with a mild influence of lowered inhibitions: She was assaulted by his strong feelings for her too.

It was at the temple where she came across her long dead friends, Sango and Miroku. They had come to borrow their kin in order to say goodbye to Kagome. He recalled the younger boy, Yuuki, struggling in his grasp, thrashing, and fighting the soul invading himself, until Kagome had reached through him, and allowed passage for Miroku's soul. She had helped him regain control of the body. Then when they were leaving the next morning, she wondered when she would see them again. Did she know that ghosts don't routinely come back to the land of the living?

All of this was disturbing and odd, but these kinds of revelations seemed normal to Kagome. At fifteen she had awoken to her natural reiki, fending off the centipede demon that dragged her down the well. She could cleanse the jewel of evil on contact, counter curses, dispel possession, form barriers, and purify demons by the hundreds with a single arrow. All of this she discovered in just under a year of her time in the past. He knew she was more powerful, but to what extent? Would her powers continue to grow?

He could recall perfectly how she levitated back at the wolf camp. She was glowing with the reach of her reiki, sensing and reading all around her. Yet, it wasn't Kagome that spoke, but the elder wolf demoness.

"Who knew? The girl is strong."

Ever since then, she has kept changing. If nothing else, the Elder, wise and powerful, unlocked something inside her. He wondered if something was keeping her from reaching her potential. If maybe her shattered memories of her time in the jewel held the answers.

It all circled back to the Shikon No Tama, and the four souls it contained, the war inside the jewel, Midoriko, and the demons she fought for all eternity. Kagome had been the guardian. She must have held the balance of each soul, and understood the circumstances, which gave her the right wish to achieve total annihilation of Naraku and the jewel itself.

Sesshou dismissed his earlier intention to pray at the temple and marched towards the well house. He slid into the building and closed the door behind him, less chilly without the wind and snow pelting him at odd angles. He walked down the steps and stood before the dead portal, boarded up since Kagome had given up trying to go back. He could sense the aged power from within, but why?

The jewel of four souls: Aramitama (Courage), Nigimitama (Friendship), Kushimitama (Wisdom), and Sakimitama (Love). With the right balance, a person could harness a great power or strength to benefit the world with greatness and purpose, or infectious harm. He was familiar with the Shinto philosophy.

Wait.

Sesshou's eyes widened, focused on the well. Like a brewing thunderstorm, he could sense the build up inside the dry well.

Balance. The wise Elder from the tribe that claimed her, sight gifted to evoke courage, soul transcendence to say goodbye to her friends, and...

Love. A proposal.

He was next. A mark of love, whether a mate's bite, or a wedding ring, would complete her balance once more. If he mated her, she could make a wish.

Just like that, the well awoke. Blue light streamed through cracks in the boards nailed down over the opening, casting flashes of glowing energy across Sesshou's face, frozen in awe.

He hadn't marked or married her, so how?

Then it hit him. A mark of love.

Carried in her womb.