"Now, Miko listen very carefully, for this is important," Inukimi took her arm away once she felt they were far enough away. Inukimi knew Inuyasha was gone, and she also knew her son drew close. She was also aware the Miko had her guard down and was blind to all of that.

"It is time for my son to take his place; mark is mate and produces sons,"

Kagome blushed. She still failed to see how she could help.

"He has long refused the call but can refuse no longer; he must abide by the ritual,"

"This is where I come in?" God, she hoped it wasn't something weird.

"For many nights, he will become vulnerable; many demonesses will seek his favor and his seed,"

Kagome blushed even more,

"Goodness Miko, you are well beyond the age of marriage and birth; why does this turn you pink?"

She definitely wasn't telling her she was from a whole other time. Time to change the subject.

"Why doesn't he just, you know, pick one? It seems to me he would choose the strongest."

Sesshomaru was now listening.

"But now that I think about that he doesn't seem shallow and vain, and he is smarter than that now,"

Sesshoamru raised an eyebrow; what did she mean now?

"The strongest at one time would be the wisest as he would need someone who could fight along side him, protect their young thought she would never really need to, he would protect them without fail."

Kagome listened,

"But times are not the same as when I was young; the strongest isn't always the strongest, vile gain clutters their minds, and trickery is often at play,"?

"But isn't he in it for gain?"

His mother smiles. "What he says or doesn't say is the key, isn't it? He says he wishes not to be his father, to surpass him, yet in this, in choosing a mate, I believe he wishes to bond with someone he actually likes." It was weird to say and even weirder to hear.

"I guess he does need someone he can trust; he does have Rin an all."

His mother had not even considered that.

"Im not sure Sesshomaru can like anyone," Kagome added, not to insult the man. "Tolerate, perhaps?" She was asking herself more than asking his mother,

"Trust is key, and in this he is not wrong,"

"Can he trust anyone other than Jaken?"

They giggled at the thought, which did not amuse him.

"What happens if none of them gain his trust,"

"Yours,"

"Hu?"

"Your trust, he will be relying on you and your trust,"

That was a huge deal, a big ask; Kagome was shocked. "I don't think that's a good idea,"

"Just saying that confirms that it is; you are trustworthy, I trust you, he trusts you,"

"Are you sure about that and you didn't answer my question,"

"If you both do not agree on a female, he will suffer greatly; though I think he would be fine in the end, it would just make him weaker each summer till he could no longer stand it and blindly choose which he does not want, this will be his first ritual, though really it should be his hundredth yet every summer since he has been of age he has declined to join,"

"Wow," She breathed, "That's a big ask and a lot of faith in me?"

Was she asking? His mother tilted her head. "Why do you doubt yourself when he does not?"

"He often tells me my emotions block my judgment," Of course, Inuyasha often told her the same, not that he had room to talk. "And if he trusts me and has no doubt, then why doesn't he ask, he is- afraid?"

He could not stand by any longer. "Would you not find this one a hypocrite as they half breed so call me"

Kagome turns to look at him. "No, just because your judgment has changed and your bother has little room to talk, a hypocrite does the very thing he speaks against, you simply aren't against it anymore, or are you still against humans?'

"I am not your ememy Miko,"

"So just me?"

"You are simply the correct choice in this matter; however, before my mother paints a romantic scene in your mind, this is anything but romantic Miko."

"Wait, so you are asing me?"

"Think very carefully before you answer" His eyes became darker to her.

"There will be blood, and lust and death and ludeness,"

"In other words, little one, you will be blushing a lot if you dont woman up, and you are indeed a woman," His mother spoke.

Kagome looked between them. "Ok, wait, what am I supposed to do?"

He moved closed to impose his height on her. "Take control,"

Kagome felt heat rolling off him and stepped back. "Control," She said with a swallow.

"Do not let him sink his teeth into the wrong one, Miko, make him fight, make them fight fairly,"

"Fight," She repeated,

"You also may need to fight for him. Can you do that? Can you protect my son from himself and others?"

"Protect," She repeated and looked back at him. "You need protection?" This was, this was, amazing.

"I need someone I can trust in the face of this ritual foolishness,"

"Why do it then if it's foolish?" She asked, "Why not meet someone, fall in love?"

He was losing faith in her, but at the same time, those thoughts would make her strong; she would hope this for him and not allow any tricky bitches by her.

"It is a thousand-year-old rite, it is written in my blood, my honor part of my very being,"

"But your father fell in love," She said quietly; she didn't want to hurt his mother's feelings. "After my mother," Sesshoamru stated,

Kagome looks back at her with sadness,

"Do not look at me so; I loved the great Inu Lord, and he held great affection for me, and we shall meet again; I have no sadness in this,"

Kagome looks back at Sesshomaru. "Love is a human thing Kagome," He states,

"You love Rin,"

"That is different,"

"Yes and no, you are capable,"

"Perhaps," He admitted, "But it is also a weakness that I do not choose to tangle myself in,"

"Your father is not weak," Kagome stated,

"My father is dead,"

"Love may come to him in time, Miko; you are aware most marriages are of benefit or arrangement correct you seem educated enough."

Kagome sighed; sometimes, the time difference was a pain.

"Those who acquire love first Miko are often alone, own nothing, or have nothing to offer, and many of those marriages end for it is blind lust in a moment of throws of passion; I hear them say it often, that love is blind but Miko, that is far from the truth, it is instincts yet human lack the basics to trust and lean into it. They fight with their heads and heart when only one thing can truly lead you to the one mate you have for life,"

Kagome knew in an instant that Iunkimi loved her mate.

"Then why all this? You have all the time in the world,"

"We were not made from love Miko; while capable and simple as far as instincts go, it is not embedded into our bloodline in the same way it is yours; this ritual is, that's why I was first, and Inuyasha's mother came after." Kagome wondered, is that why she wasn't angry because she knew he found love and that was almost impossible for them, was she truly happy for her mate. That was selfless and also love. It was so complicated, and Kagome was sure there was more there; maybe another day, she could ask her,

"But dont you mate for life?"

"Indeed" His mother sounded just like him,

"Is so confusing, if it's so simple-" Her prior thoughts were about to jump out, and Inukimi didnt wants this to be about her or to be more complicated than it already was.

"It is, and it's not though I can not explain, but if Sesshoamru does not lay his seed soon, it will start to water down, weaken, he will not produce strong children; his blood calls for it to keep his seed strong, he must impregnate and soon, so as you can see, time is not on his side through it is his fault, though he won't admit-" She looks at her son "He does wish for some form of emotion, and now it may be too late for that hence why he seeks you.

Kagome looks at him again, waiting for him to correct his mother, another pink blush on her face. "You should probably run," he stated while circling her. "Tell me, Miko, when the sun goes down, do you think you can take control of this one?"

Heat rushed in places she didn't know could heat.

"Are you asking?" She asked bravely; she was sick of riddles when it came to these brothers,

Inukimi watched with great intensity. Would her son speak truthfully and to the point as his father would?

"Indeed, Miko," He said, stopping in front of her.

Any and all childish immature vanished from Kagome, and she stood there as a woman, and it was like a film had been shredded; it was amazing to see so much, so Inukimi herself blushed, and pride swelled in her that woman to women she witnesses this. In her eyes, Kagome would always be safe, she would not eat this human, but the same could not be said of the den she was fixing to walk into. Inukimi hid the biting of her lip behind her sleeve.

"Run Miko, last chance," Sesshomaru stated,

But how could she run when he was standing there, not at all putting fear into his words? His mouth was saying one thing, but his eyes burned with another. He did need help; he wanted help. He asked her, but above all, he was giving her his trust. That was worth more than all the gold in Japan, at least when it came to him. So without so much as a question about her own protection, she said, "I'll help,"

Part of him wanted to call her foolish; her control him? But for the first time in his life, he hoped she would rely on her hopes of love for him in keeping these sneaky bitches away. Perhaps this little human could be useful. Now he if could just trust her not to get herself killed; knowing his luck, he would be the one protecting her and mated to the one trying to kill her in a fight for submission.

So like her, she had been around Inuyasha far too long. Swing first and ask questions later. She asked all the wrong questions. Of course, she would say without so much as to ask what was in it for her.

That's who she was, selfless beyond her own good. How was this woman still alive. He wanted her to have her heart, but he also wanted her to stop throwing it about to whoever would abuse it, which was just about everyone save her few friends. Even at this moment, he was aware that he was using it, but in his defense, he did ask first. She knew what she was getting herself into, well, sort of, because she forgot to ask the right questions. It was going to be a long night and an even longer summer. Why did he get the feeling he would be spending much of it saving her from trying to save him?

Whatever so long as he didnt bite into the wrong one. But his mother was right, he did need release and soon, so this could not be all amusement. Just as she melted away her childishness, he would have to man up now. Take his place, pick his woman and fill her many times over.

"Sesshomaru, are you ok?" Kagome asked,

Nope, he felt heath rush down to his cock, and he knew blood was seeping into his eyes.

"Your eyes are turning red," She pointed out, and they were locked with hers.

"That's his blood calling to his male pride, miko; isn't it wonderful to witness? No human has been graced to see it."

Kagome gulped but watched with relief as he looked away and launched into the sky.

The power that rushed through their hair was enough to take her breath away. "I'm supposed to control that?" Suddenly Kagome wished she had asked more questions.