Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy!

Chapter 23

Kagome blushed, looking away from her mother to a smirking Sesshomaru. "Um, well..." She swallowed, unsure of where to start. She really didn't think she was going to have to talk to her mother about Sesshomaru in front of Sesshomaru.

"Well, get to it." Hatomi smirked, setting up the kit on the counter. She began to clean and bandage Kagome's hand. She was a mother, and sometimes teasing your children was the highlight of the day. At least for her it was.

"Well, you remember me talking about InuYasha's brother-"

"Half." Sesshomaru would never be more than half. He detested the blood he shared with InuYasha, and he would make sure everyone knew that. Especially with his treatment of Kagome. That alone created a new hate for the half breed.

"Anyway." Kagome drawled, rolling her eyes. "This is Sesshomaru. He's not normally human. I'm not exactly sure why he is, to be honest."

"This one suspects it has something to do with the curse. Perhaps it could not handle the time difference." It was the only thing he could come up with. Not many spells were known to span over hundreds of years, and this one had accidently been forced to do so. He could only hope there wasn't any negative effects of being thrust into the future.

"Curse? You mean the one where he was turned into a dog?" Hatomi glanced up to Sesshomaru. He was as impassive as ever, but his eyes were glued to Kagome's hand. He was worried for her daughter, and Hatomi could only smile. She already liked him.

"Yea. We know his mom had someone cast the spell, but that's all she would tell me. I might go to the library and see if there is any way to break the spell." Kagome didn't think there would be. After all, the magic in the feudal era was nonexistent. She didn't even know it was real until she fell back in time. So why would a library have information on something nothing else did.

"Okay. Tell me Sesshomaru, what are your plans with my daughter?" Hatomi kept her smile hidden as Kagome squeaked and blushed as red as a tomato. Sesshomaru didn't miss the young women's reaction either and Hatomi could have sworn she saw him smirk.

"I plan to mate her. The moment this curse is lifted, she will belong to this Sesshomaru." Again, Kagome squeaked, but Sesshomaru didn't care. He was in the middle of a stare down with Hatomi. The woman was challenging him, and he would not be beaten. Even by his female's mother.

"Kagome, do you have a problem with being his?" Hatomi didn't even blink. She didn't like the way Sesshomaru claimed her daughter. She was worried that the male would control Kagome, not letting her have any free will.

"It's not what you think, mom. He's a demon. I would be his, but he would be mine too. Mating is like a marriage, but deeper. It cannot be undone. We would be equals." Kagome moved to stand between her mother and Sesshomaru. She met the eyes of Hatomi, pleading with her mother to understand. The truth was, Kagome cared for Sesshomaru far more than she ever thought possible. She didn't think she could ever be happy without him beside her. She didn't know when it had happened, or if he felt the same way, but it was undeniable.

"To think Kagome less than anyone is an insult on your part. I am the strongest in my land, and this one would not take a mate that is not equal to him. A weaker female would be a folly on my part. I am a lord, and she will rule alongside me." Sesshomaru chose that moment to look down, grabbing Kagome's chin and making her look up to him. "Although, if she continues to be careless with her life and health, this one may have to tie her up."

Kagome blushed, snatching her chin out of Sesshomaru's hand. Hatomi laughed, knowing exactly how her daughter could be. Sesshomaru would protect Kagome and he cared for her. She even suspected that their relationship was well on the way to love. She believed Sesshomaru would be far better for Kagome than InuYasha and she had just met the more subdued male.

"Well then. I hope you enjoy your stay, Sesshomaru. How long will you be here for?" Hatomi looked to Kagome who slumped in relief. It was clear Kagome had been worried about what her mother would think.

"A few days probably. Just to restock." Kagome looked up to Sesshomaru and grabbed his hand. "You can meet the rest of my family. Grandpa is probably in the shrine, and Souta will be home after soccer practice."

"Perhaps I can learn more of this world and its advances?" He was looking around once again, and Kagome pulled him, smirking.

"As long as you remember your promise." She nearly dragged him outside, and he rolled his eyes when no one could see him. Of course, he would keep his promise. He had too much honor not to. Although, a part of him still wish to rule the world, but that part was fading.

A few hours later, and Sesshomaru had met both Kagome's grandfather and Souta. The grandfather was eccentric, and unlike anything Sesshomaru had ever met before. His age alone was unheard of. Humans did not live that long in his world. It made him think of Kagome and the short lifespan she would have. Of course, that thought didn't last long, because he wouldn't let anything take Kagome from him. Not even age.

He sat on her plush bed, looking out the small window she had. His leg was bent, with his elbow resting on his knee. Kagome. An enigma. A curiosity that he seemed to never figure out. And the one woman he needed. The thought left him unsettled, but he didn't push it away like he normally would. Kagome was his weakness. That was saying much more than any other words he could say.

The great Sesshomaru Taisho had no weaknesses. It was how he became the strongest. And then he took in Rin. He cared for her as a father would a child. Kagome had pegged that before he even could. But now there was no denying that. She was his ward, his daughter. He would protect her with everything he had, and she would only know death when age took her. He knew her death would upset him. He would grieve, but soon he would move on.

Kagome. His Little Koneko. That was not a death he would allow. The thought alone filled him with a deep rage that he hasn't felt since his father died pathetically for a woman that didn't deserve it. Humans called it love, but the word didn't properly describe what it is that Sesshomaru felt for the little woman currently reading. The human's definition of love was pitiful. They threw the word around with very little meaning. Sesshomaru's thoughts and emotions regarding Kagome were far deeper.

All encompassing.

He knew he had fulfilled the requirements of the curse on his side. Kagome was his weakness. The one thing that penetrated his heart, changing him in ways that he could never come back from. He didn't even regret it. He never would.

Slowly he panned over to look at the woman. She laid on the floor, her legs bent and feet resting on her backside. Occasionally they would kick as she concentrated on her book. She bit at her lip or stuck her tongue out absentmindedly. All quirks that the great Sesshomaru found adorable.

Adorable.

That had not been a word in Sesshomaru's vocabulary before Kagome had barged into his life. Then again, there were many things he would have never thought or done before her. Part of it was the curse. As a mortal dog and now a human, he was unable to control his emotions to the extent that he had once before. But now he knew he would never be able to return to what he once was. At least not with Kagome. She would always see a side of him that no others would.

That was the definition of a mate.

He trusted her with his life. He trusted her to see who he really was and not to use it against him. She didn't have it in her to be cruel. She was his opposite. A human that was kind, detested killing, and preferred to help than to hinder. And yet, he still desired her like no other.

"What are you thinking about so hard?" Kagome looked up to him, her blue eyes meeting amber. He didn't answer, instead narrowing his eyes. He loved her, if he were to put it in human terms. And yet, the curse was not broken. That meant she did not love him.

That just wouldn't do.

Sesshomaru didn't worry about it too much. She had already agreed to be his mate. He had no worries about making her fall in love with him. He wouldn't have it any other way, and Sesshomaru never failed. Soon enough, she would love him, and the curse would be broken. Then he would mate the woman and punish his mother and that obnoxious Wakanda.

"Sesshomaru?" Kagome sat up, looking at him with worry on her face. He moved as quickly as his human body would allow, grabbing her wrist, and pushing her to her back. He was careful not to hurt her injured hand as he hovered over her.

He ran a nose down her cheek and neck, breathing her in. "I can still smell you, though not as strongly." His tongue ran out, licking her neck, and she turned her head giving him more access. He growled pitifully humanlike, biting down on the crook of her neck. He knew it would leave a mark, but he didn't care. "This is where I will mark you. With my mark, all will know you belong to this Sesshomaru."

"Do I get to mark you?" Kagome was breathless, but he could see the fire in her eyes. She was in a playful mood. She smirked and then licked his cheek quickly. She didn't know how she felt about it, but he seemed to like licking since he always found an opportunity to lick her.

"If you wish. Though you do lack the fangs required." His lips trailed along the skin he could reach, his body shifting until he fell between her spread legs. He had no problem rubbing his engorged cock against her and showing her exactly what she did to him.

Kagome threw he head back with a moan, and then bit her lip. The walls here were thin, and she would die of embarrassment if her mother heard. She would die if anyone heard. But still, she couldn't help but to thrust up against Sesshomaru, her body begging him for more.

They had only had sex the one time in the dream world. Now they were both awake, and both very willing. She could feel his breath on her as he kissed her skin. Her blood heating, her stomach clenching in need.

"I can always find a way, Sesshomaru. I want everyone to know you belong to me." He pulled back, looking down at her with glazed amber eyes. What she saw there had her gasping. Tenderness, and even… no. She refused to get her hopes up.

"Perhaps. When the curse is lifted, we can search for a way." He had no problems carrying her mark. He preferred it actually. If he remained unmarked, it will tell all females that he was still available. He didn't want that. Kagome was the only female he wanted. No others would be able to get a reaction out of him like she did. They were far too boring, and nowhere near feisty enough. It would only ever be his little Koneko.

"Undress, Kagome." He released her hands, moving them down to her waist so he could squeeze the soft flesh of her hips. She moaned again, and then winced as she looked at her door. She smiled suddenly, looking back over to him.

"Have I explained what a shower is yet?"