"Half-Hearted Scars"

By: Shi-chan

Rating: PG-13

Warnings: Fluffiness and stuff... not much for this chapter since it will be mostly fluff with Fluffy & Kagome, and then the funny stuffs with Nadeshiko and Rin

Author's Corner!!

Shi-chan: Hello everyone! Guess who's back? Back again? Shi-chan's back! Tell a friend! (Guess who's back, guess who's back, guess who's back...) *takes off headphones* Gomen ^^ Eminem was on the radio LOL

Sesshoumaru: You mean the imbecilic man who speaks in profane language at an ungodly speed?

Shi-chan: ^.^;; There's ONE way to describe him... O_o;;

Sesshoumaru: Don't tell me that even YOU would stoop to listen to such idiocy?

Shi-chan: *whistles innocently*

Sesshoumaru: Moronic creature...

Shi-chan: HEY WATCH WHAT YOU SAY!! I'm writing this... I can make you go fall in love with Miroku or something if you're mean to me...

Sesshoumaru :X *shuts up*

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Kagome finally turned to face her mate and the other mortal whom was unbeknownst to her at the moment and blushed slightly, realizing the intent and confused stare she was being giving for her queer entrance with Nadeshiko. Sesshoumaru shook his head and stood up, pulling the chair next to him out for the Princess of the Western Lands.

When the girl took her seat in the chair and thanked her mate, she noticed the other human. Her eyes went wide, discovering none other than a small girl grinning at her.

"Hello Kagome nee-chan! Are you Sesshoumaru-sama's wife? That means you're almost like Rin's mommy! But that's because Sesshoumaru-sama's almost like Rin's daddy... He took Rin in!! Rin tried to help him when he was hurt, and he was mean at first, but then he became nice! So now Rin lives here with him and Jaken. But Rin doesn't like Jaken... He's mean and smells nasty. Sesshoumaru-sama says it's because he's a toad and they're disgusting creatures hailing from the foulest bowels of the earth. Rin doesn't know what that means, but it sounds funny! You know what else sounds funny? When Sesshoumaru-sama yells at Jaken for being mean to Rin, and lets Rin hit him! He makes a weird noise like he's got something in his throat. It..."

Kagome inferred the child was Rin, despite her talking in third person, and looked to Sesshoumaru with her eyes wide and mouth agape. The youkai stared back at her a moment, then shrugged and turned his attention back to the girl, who was STILL babbling on and on. Now, however, she was talking something about Jaken attempting to make dinner. The priestess didn't hear it all, but she started listening again when the child mentioned an explosion and them having no more flour.

Rin finally stopped talking long enough to shove an abnormally large bite of potatoes in her mouth, and Sesshoumaru ceased the opportunity to speak. "Rin, from now on, Kagome is going to live with us. She's... a bit like a wife to me, so yes, she is like your mother now."

The child's mouth moved into a wide, happy grin, revealing all the food within it. Sesshoumaru's mate held her napkin to her mouth, suddenly feeling a bit ill. "Ano... It's nice to meet you Rin-chan..." Kagome stuttered, trying not to regurgitate. The little girl knit her eyebrows in confusion, demanding, "What wrong with Kagome nee-chan?" Once again, her mouth was wide open to show the 'seafood' (Okay, so that was corny... Sue me!! Sheesh!), causing the miko's eyes to go wide. With that, she dashed from the room.

The futuristic girl ran back to her room and lay on her bed until the nauseating thoughts of Rin eating subsided. Just as she was about to get back up and return to the room where she thought Sesshoumaru and Rin awaited her, she noticed the inu youkai sitting on a chair by the entrance. "Oh, Sesshoumaru-sama... I wasn't aware you followed me..."

The prince got up from his seat and moved so he could sit next to the reincarnate. "I have sent Rin out with Jaken and several servants to the sauna, so they'll not be back for awhile. And... the others know better than to enter one of our rooms without knocking first." He informed her, tracing the wound on her neck gently with his talons.

The priestess nodded, hoping she wasn't letting on that she was scared as to what his previous statement's inference could've been. When no one spoke for a full moment, and she was getting uncomfortable under her mate's silent gaze, Kagome started a new conversation. "So we each have our own rooms?" She asked, clutching the sheets beneath her in her hand. The Lord of the Western Lands nodded. "You're only in your teenage years, and we know not each other very well. I am aware that you are not ready to share a room with me."

Kagome locked eyes with him and could barely see hurt in those shining sun-like orbs. Despite his words, she could tell that he was pained, to know she didn't want to share a room with him, without even asking. Her eyebrows falling with sadness, and her mouth moving into a frown, the girl subconsciously threw her arms around the elder youkai. "Gomen nasai, Sesshoumaru-sama! It's not that I wouldn't want to or anything, I'm just not... used to this yet..." She muttered, burrowing her face in his silver tail. Sesshoumaru smiled slightly and wrapped his arms around her waist in return, laying his head across her raven coloured hair. "I know," he replied gently, stroking her back.

They stayed in that position for several moments, until the Lord of the Western Lands pulled the girl apart from him so that they were eye level. "I know that you are unsure as of yet, but please, know that I love you," he whispered softly, actual emotion and pure love showing on his face for the first time since he was a child with his little brother.

Kagome smiled and tears of happiness welled up in her eyes as Sesshoumaru's lips captured hers in a passionate lock. They kissed until the mortal came up for breath, but quickly returned to continue. She could feel the prince smile in the midst of the second kiss, and warmth engulfed her body.

It was unlike anything she had ever felt before. It was somewhat similar to the feeling she got when she was around Inuyasha, but more secure. More... loving... She then pulled herself away from her mate and moved her head next to his. In a nearly inaudible voice she murmured, "I love you, too."

"SESSHOUMARU-SAMAAAAAAAA!! KAGOME NEE-CHAAAAAAAAN!!"

The pair jumped away from one another upon hearing frantic footsteps enter the room, and then their voices being yelled in a shrill, childish voice. Sesshoumaru and Kagome turned around to see Rin standing in the doorway with Nadeshiko and another small kitsune youkai. The miko's eyes went wide and she dashed to the trio. "Shippou-chan," she squealed, glomping the kid youkai. Shippou returned her tackling hug and cried, "Kagome nee-chan! I was so worried when you left us, but then I saw my cousin in the forest and she smelled like you, and then I met Rin and we were talking and they told me how nice it is here and how happy you are,"-- he then paused for breath after his run-on sentence, but quickly continued-- "I MISSED YOU SO MUCH KAGOME NEE-CHAN!!"

After a bit of protest from the Lord Prince Youkai of the Western Lands, it was agreed that Shippou could reside in the castle with him, Kagome, Nadeshiko, Jaken, Rin, and all the other servants.

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Author's Corner!!

Shi-chan: Okies I hope that was happy and good... I'm in a bit of an angsty mood since two people I know just died in a car crash. :( For those who haven't heard, there was an accident in Texas and two 13 year-old boys were allegedly driving... They sped, hit a curb, rolled 3 times, and struck a tree. They're both dead and gone... They went to my school... I miss them. T_T

SO SORRY IF THIS CHAPTER WASN'T AS HAPPY AS IT WAS INTENDED TO BE

~Shi-chan Meows~

=^o^=