Kagome: Goddess of Japan
Chapter 5: Sesshomaru and Rin
Kagome's mouth twitches up in a smile. She bends over and kisses him on the mouth.
He grabs her, squeezing her and kisses her back.
'Do you still love me?' she telepathically asks.
'Yes, I just wish . . . '
'I know.'
They break their kiss.
Whispers sweep the people observing them.
"Go on to breakfast, Kagome." Inu-yasha orders, "I'll be along as soon as I've made some new orders."
Kagome nods, smiling.
She, Kiyoko, Hoshi and the others follow her as she heads for her breakfast.
A few minutes later.
The door in front of Kagome slides up automatically. She enters the room.
Two people are standing in the room.
The room is a simple, if large, room. Instead of the small group in it, the room could comfortably accommodate twenty people. The walls are covered with art. The theme is such that it makes the room seem to be transformed into a flowery meadow. Any doors, of course, are hidden by the art.
Sesshomaru, the Lord of the Western Lands, turns, and bows to Kagome.
The years have not changed him. His white hair, his expression, his eyes and the lines around them have remained the same. He is wearing his traditional clothes, and he is wearing Tenseiga and Tokijin, both are at his side.
Rin, the Lady of the Western lands, bows to her best friend.
Rin appears to be a beautiful young woman in her late twenties. Like Kagome, her black hair is long, straight and brushes the floor when it is let down. This morning, however, her hair is already made up into a complex, traditional hairstyle. (She slept in it overnight, and then her servants this morning fixed her hair, which is fairly common for such a hairstyle. It does take hours to create.)
Her kimono appears to be a heavier weave than the one that Kagome is where. It is decorated with cats, of various sizes and types. (Rin's kimono has, like Kagome's, has a spell on it that changes the patterns on a daily basis. The theme of Rin's kimono is animals, not plants like Kagome's however.)
In the center of the room, is a low table, with some silk cushions placed around it. The table is oak, with a gorgeous lacquer finish.
The door closes behind Kagome, allowing only Hoshi and Kiyoko to enter. Kagome's eyes flick to the cameras. They have been turned off by Sesshomaru. Of all her companions he is the one that least liked them, and in deference to him, she allows him to control the cameras around him.
"Sesshomaru." Kagome says, with a smile, as she walks to him and gives him a kiss on his nose. "I'm glad to see you."
He nods. A smile twitches on his lips. "Kagome."
She then moves to Rin and hugs Rin. Rin hugs her back. "Is something up?" Rin whispers.
"Yes." Kagome whispers back, "but, it can wait."
Hoshi and Kiyoko stand next to the door after they entered. The rest of the aides and servants that were following Kagome wait outside the room.
Kagome releases Rin, glances at Sesshomaru, who raises an eyebrow, but doesn't do anything else.
She turns to Kiyoko and waves her forward. "It has been awhile since you've met your uncle, Sesshomaru, Kiyoko."
Kiyoko steps forward and bows, "lord of the western lands." She says in a serious voice, with just the hint of nervousness.
He nods. "Kiyoko, daughter of Kagome, possessor of the soul of Sango."
Kiyoko grimaces at that but stands up straight.
Rin walks over and hugs Kiyoko. "It has been a couple of months."
Kiyoko smiles and hugs Rin back. "Yes, it has." Kiyoko has a good relationship with Rin. When Kagome is gone, traveling, which she is a good portion of the time, Rin, will arrive and take Kagome's place in many ceremonies. So, the two of them have a good relationship.
"How much blood is Inu-yasha showing?" Sesshomaru asks.
Kagome replies, "not too much, he agreed that I can protect myself."
His eyebrow raises, "even with the forbidden ammo?"
"Even from the forbidden ammo."
Rin grimaces, "so, the rumor of a strike team was real."
Kagome nods. "The ghosts of the city, and Inu-yasha spies both confirm it."
Rin grimaces, "unless they are caught before they can harm anyone, this will probably force a war."
Everyone in the room nods, although Kagome and Sesshomaru share a glance at each other as they do.
"Although, I wonder why they choose now," Rin continues, "I know that the talks with Europe and the Ottoman empires about stopping their pollution and population growth have gone nowhere for years, and you have warned them that your patience is running out. Still." She pauses and she looks at Kagome. "And, ever since you destroyed that mountain near Vienna, they haven't been working on forbidden technologies."
"They do have forbidden ammunition." Sesshomaru replies. "That would imply that they have been working on it, my dear."
Kagome says, drily, "They are working on those technologies. They've just spread the labs out, and buried them deeper. But, that attack did kill their best scientists, so they are going slower than before."
Rin frowns, "Ah, I see. I was thinking that the ammo might be leftovers from before we struck. Still, I wonder why today."
"Its mom's parade today." Kiyoko says, trying to show that she has been paying attention to world events.(She is Kagome's daughter, and no matter how much she might dislike her mother, in the future, she will in all likelihood have an important position within her mother's empire, so she should show that she can do an important job.)
Kiyoko continues, as everyone looks at her. "There are how many extra millions of people in the city this week, especially today? This would be the best and easiest chance to get someone close. How many legitimate visitors from Europe and the ottoman empire are in the city today, especially compared to normal?"
Kagome, Rin and Sesshomaru share a look.
Hoshi, after a glance at her hand-held computer, says, "there are a little more than one hundred thousand from Europe and the Ottoman empire, directly. If you add in people from our nearby provinces, the number increases even more."
Rin nods to Hoshi, politely accepting the technical knowledge, and then she smiles at Kiyoko, "I know that, my dear, I should have phrased my question differently. An attack, successful or non-successful today, means that Kagome," She nod to Kagome and continues, "Has the opening she needs to declare war, now."
Kagome nods. "Not that I really needed an excuse to declare war." She says. "They are in violation of the treaty of Paris that Europe and I signed close to two hundred years ago. That treaty placed limits on how much pollution that they can make, and they are breaking it, and have been for decades."
The door opens and Inu-yasha enters the room. He sweeps the room with a glance, grunts, and announces, "Where's breakfast?"
As if that was a signal, which it was, one of the wall sections slides back and a couple of servants enter and begin to place bowls and plates of food on the table.
Sesshomaru, as everyone is sitting down, remarks, "Where will you be during the parade, little brother. Waiting and watching at the end of the parade as planned?"
"With her." Inu-yasha replies. He looks at Sesshomaru and Rin. "Do you want me to add you two? There is room."
Sesshomaru and Rin exchange a glance, as he says, "no. we will remain at the receiving end of the parade. There are a large number of dignitaries there, and some of us need to be there."
Rin nods.
Once everyone is sitting down, and ready, there is a pause, then Kagome says the traditional Japanese word "Itadakimasu" before they begin to eat.
As she says it, Rin, Hoshi and Kiyoko share an amused glance between them. Kagome's personal breakfast, or any meal she attends, really, is always strange, when compared to normal meals. A recent addition to the traditional custom is to add to that word, a few another short sentence/prayer thanking Kagome. (It's by no means common throughout the empire, but it has been gaining in popularity.) And it's something that Kagome, personally, can't do.
As they eat, Kagome activities her personal telepathic link with Sesshomaru.
'Sesshomaru?' She mentally says to him, 'is there anything?'
A pause, then he replies. 'A genie has informed me that there might be two teams. But, since genies are known for twisting knowledge and information to fit their desires, not the truth, I am hesitant to fully trust him.'
Kagome pauses. 'Yes. I see. I can see him making something up, as well. Ever since that incident with that lawyer genie, they haven't liked me.'
'The law you made was vague. And he took advantage of it's wording.'
'The substance and meaning of the law is plain. I left the wording vague so it could be adapted as best fits the specific situation. He twisted the words around, into something that I did not like or nor intend to happen.'
Sesshomaru doesn't reply.
Kagome sighs, 'Please, Sesshomaru. Do not be like this. Not today, please. Be my consort, not, the lord of the western lands.'
A pause.
Sesshomaru flicks his eyes to Inu-yasha and Kiyoko, who are talking animatedly about a scheduled extended (three month) schooling trip for Kiyoko to the plains of the Serengeti in Africa.
"The first time I saw those plains and the herds of animals that cover them was," Inu-yasha says as he quickly begins to dominate the conversation around the table, as he tells old stories.
Rin, and occasionally Hoshi, will interject real-life facts and history, when Inu-yasha's enthusiasm gets the best of him, and he, to be polite, 'gets the facts fuzzy.'
'Even if it means changing your plans to be with Inu-yasha, alone, later this evening?' Sesshomaru asks.
'Of course.' Kagome replies, instantly. 'He won't like it, of course, but once I explain to him, why, he'll understand.'
A pause. 'Do I tell him that I will be, alone, with you?' she asks.
Another pause.
'Sesshomaru?'
More silence from the telepathic link.
'Please, Sesshomaru, let me change my schedule. Let me be with you.' kagome asks in a begging tone. 'I don't remember the last time I had to beg, please.'
'I'll decide later.' Sesshomaru finally says, as he breaks the link.
Kagome conceals a sigh, as she thinks, 'I had hopes. But, now, I don't know. I made sure that he knew that Inu-yasha and I had plans to be alone tonight, and I thought that he would want to force me to change my schedule. He's always gotten some pleasure from knowing that I've chosen him above Inu-yasha.'
She purses her lips, 'perhaps, a suggestion to inu-yasha? If he asks Sesshomaru to be with me tonight that might do it. I know that he will not like it, but, he knows that Sesshomaru and I need more to spend more time together.'
She mentally nods her head, 'yes, during the parade, I'll mention it. And, then, during this evening's ball, Inu-yasha can tell Sesshomaru.'
Kagome, due to her thoughts, is slowly picking at and eating her food. Her breakfast is, today, a fairly traditional Japanese breakfast, then only major exception is a few, non-traditional, crackers. The amount of food before her, though, is very small, compared to traditional amounts.
Rin, who has noticed that Kagome and Sesshomaru, are both more subdued than normal, asks, "Kagome? Is there something?" (Both of them would have added jumped in, correcting Inu-yasha, especially Sesshomaru, but neither has done so.)
Kagome smiles, "Oh, not really, Rin." She quickly replies in an upbeat tone. "I was just thinking about the algae crackers." She picks up one of them.
"I've had factories built, that grows this bio-modified algae and process it into crackers." Kagome begins as she turns her cracker over and over.
The conversation between Kiyoko and Inu-yasha stops as everyone listens to Kagome.
"These crackers, with some added vitamins and flavoring, can give a person all the nutrition that is needed. I've tried to make them part of the daily meal for the empire." She pauses.
"You also built those factories underground, so the surface can be given back to nature." Hoshi remarks. "The more algae crackers that people eat, the less land that needs to used for growing food."
Kagome nods. "And, in parts of the world, I've succeeded." She smiles, "even some of the very traditional Chinese will eat them. Not as much as I would like, but they do." She sighs, "but, here in japan, in the very heartland, I've had the least success."
Kiyoko jumps in with, "They're boring, mom. Even with the flavoring."
Kagome's eyes narrow, she smiles, "yes, they are, I suppose."
"You bet!" Kiyoko exclaims. "Just a few days ago, Sanura and I were talking about them."
"You know." Kagome says in a musing tone, interrupting her daughter, "I do want more people to eat them. And, Kiyoko, since you have, occasionally, complained that I've not told you want I plan for you in the future."
Everyone looks at Kagome in surprise.
Kagome's smile grows. She holds up the cracker, looking over it, at Kiyoko, as she says in a super-serious tone. "Perhaps, I should have you become, say, a creative advisor to the council that controls the distribution and sale of the crackers."
Kiyoko stares at her mother, an expression of horror appearing on her face at the thought of being forced to go to very boring bureaucratic meetings, in which the highpoint of the day is listening to hours long presentations of dry facts and figures . . .
Inu-yasha slaps his thigh as he begins to laugh, "She got you!" He says between the laughs.
Kiyoko turns to face Inu-yasha.
Kagome allows a giggle to escape her.
Kiyoko turns to face her mother. "You!" she exclaims.
"I won't," Kagome says, between her giggles.
Kiyoko breathes a sigh of relief. Hoshi reaches over and gives her a pat on her back.
"Although, I should." Kagome says.
Kiyoko jerks as if she was stung by a wasp.
"You do need to have some hands on experience dealing with bureaucrats, whose purpose in existence, is to keep everything the same. Bureaucrats hate change, and so even if a good plan comes up, they will delay and obstruct it, if for no other reason then they didn't come up with it, and if it succeeds, someone else will get the credit."
the horrified expression on Kiyoko's face grows . . .
Inu-yasha, Sesshomaru, Rin and Hoshi all nod at that statement.
Kagome sighs, "Of all the battles that I've fought." She looks around at others. They all nod. "Of all battles that we've fought, that is the one in which we've succeeded at the least."
"You mean lost." Inu-yasha grumbles.
Kagome nods. "Yes, I mean lost. That is one battle that cannot be won."
The end of the chapter 5
Authors' note: crackers
Developed for the space station/travel. Massive underground factories have been set up under most major cities where the algae are grown and processed.
It's not the most cost-effective food to make, but Kagome wants to return part of the earth's surface to nature.
All of her temples have it and give it away, free, to pilgrims, tourists, and people in need.
Also: Kagome's meal's.
Since people like to know what she is doing, her meals and the recipes are also known. And since she knows that people will imitate her, she and her dietary scientists use that to help people maintain a good diet. Her meals are well-rounded and nutritious.
However, the serving sizes are smaller than needed, so that people can add in their own personal touches. (Basically traditional cultural foods for the area that they live in, etc.)
Also, to reflect the large number of cultures within the empire, her meals change each week, highlighting a different culture. This week, since it is her anniversary week, traditional Japanese meals are eaten.
Authors' note: I had a reviewer asked why I emphasize the sexual side of the characters, and especially the non-traditional types of sex.
1. Because sex is what is different about their lives. Kagome, Inu-yasha, Sesshomaru, Rin, Shippo and others, spend hours upon hours in meetings, doing paperwork, as they run/control most of the world. They don't have a lot of time for entertainment, especially when they are together, so, once the 'official' business is over . . .
They do have public balls, go to the Kabuki/Noh or other types of theaters, and other entertainment, but, when they do, they are on stage, as much as the entertainers are.
They can't let down their hair and relax all that often . . .
2. Kagome has a different view on sex then is standard in the real world. To her sex is part of the life and is to be enjoyed. (Yes, there are limits, orgies can be fun, but you can't do that all the time. You have to other duties, jobs, etc., and that has to be done.)
Sex is part of life, and in the proper place/time it will be done. How much? That depends on the person/couple. For some people that is maybe, once a month, for others it is, at least, once a day.
Kagome and Inu-yasha have about the same sex drive, and they both try to have sex on a daily basis, Sesshomaru and Rin, don't have that strong of a sex drive, so they do it about once a month. (You put Kagome with Sesshomaru, and her sex drive will feed his, and that will increase the number of times he has sex.)
Although, if you read the Christian/Islamic anti-kagome stories, she has hourly orgies.
To Kagome, if a young woman was about to be married, and her only knowledge about sex, is, say, a five minute lecture from her mother, as she was putting on the wedding gown, then, That mother is a failure as a parent.
Sex is a part, and in most marriages a major part, of the couples life together, so learning only after you get married about problems as a couple in bed, is NOT a good thing. And that can be easily solved before marriage, and even before a couple gets engaged.
Sex is part of life. The human body's primary purpose in existence is to reproduce. That means sex. To Kagome, if you don't teach children/young adults about it, you are failing in your duty as a parent. Sex is something that you will do in life, you should be able to learn about beforehand, so you don't make mistakes and more mistakes . . .
Does this mean that there are daily orgies in the street, etc. No. Life includes more things than sex. But, unlike in the real world, she does not suppress it.
Does this openness lead to problems? Yes, of course. But so does the real life policy of suppressing sex. Kagome prefers to deal with the problems associated with openness, then with the problems associated with suppression.
Do orgies in the street happen? Rarely, but yes. (During Kagome's celebration week, the highlight is a major party, like Mardi Gras, and some towns take that party even further.) Kagome is a fertility goddess. And sex can be how you worship a fertility goddess. (It depends on the city/priest, etc.)
Authors' note: Sesshomaru and Rin
Rin born 1540-1543? Still living. Age 455 and more
Wife of the Sesshomaru, the Lord of the Western lands. (That is the first of her titles, she has a massive list of others.) And like Inu-yasha, she does prefer to be called simply, Rin.
She is publically very popular. She's even made recent trips to Europe and the Ottoman empire, where crowds came out to view her and cheer her. They accept Shippo's presence, since he is the official ambassador, but like him? No. Not really. Kagome and Inu-yasha are hated in Europe/ottoman. Sesshomaru frightens people (all of over the world . . . )
Privately, she is a master assassin/ninja (she learned that from Sesshomaru during their first trip to Europe. Nowadays, her skills may not be what they once were, due to lack of use.)
History: late in 1553, Sesshomaru left japan. He went to Europe to change European history to help Kagome. (His presence at Kagome's side was NOT helpful. Too many people felt that HE was controlling Kagome, and the HE was ruling through Kagome. That made them refuse to help her.)
He left Jakken and Rin behind, even left a note to Kagome that he wished Rin and Shippo to marry.
But.
Rin, dragging Jakken, behind her, ran away and followed Sesshomaru. She caught up with him at the Korea/China border. During this trip she and Jakken had many magical adventures. She has never gone into detail about those adventures. Jakken's story changed with each retelling.
During it, however, is when she gained Immortality.
Sess. & Kagome has determined that part of her soul is sealed, somewhere. Where and in what object that her soul is sealed in, they don't know. Both assume her soul is in a mirror. Because of that, she can't be killed, her body will regenerate. And she can alter her body's shape from anything from a little girl to an old woman, at will.
On the other hand, it has frozen part of her soul. Part of her will, no matter how wise/knowledgeable she has gotten, she will always be the little girl that loves and follows Sesshomaru. (As she grew older/experienced adding sex to that love, was, to her, a natural outgrowth of her love.)
Sesshomaru did start to drag them back to Kagome, but at the Korean shoreline about to board the ship back to Japan, Rin's crying finally overcame his resistance, and he brought them with him on his trip.
Sesshomaru and Rin spent from 1554 to 1580 on his trip to Europe and his plan to change Europe.
(Sesshomaru, although there were the occasional lapses, during this trip did not give Rin much encouragement in her quest for his love. His plan was for her to marry Shippo.)
When they returned to japan, after a few years, Rin and Shippo were married. Rin did have a child by Shippo. But, the marriage was more a formal friendship, then a love match. (Rin, no matter what, never loved Shippo more than she loved Sess.) After a while the marriage was only a formality and Shippo and Rin began to look for love elsewhere. (I'll handle Shippo later.)
Rin, of course, always looked at Sesshomaru, and she began another campaign too win his love.
This time, though, she was successful.
Why? The same reason that Kagome pressed other women onto Inu-yasha. Kagome knew that she could not, due to her duties give Sesshomaru the love and companionship that he needed. And, unlike Inu-yasha, Sesshomaru is/was a lot more picky about his companions. Rin stepped up, with Kagome's full knowledge and approval, and gave him that. At first it was just companionship, then love.
She, formally, divorced Shippo and married Sesshomaru in 1658.
For two centuries 1650 to 1850 Kagome/Inu-yasha/Rin/Sesshomaru was a very stable foursome. Given their duties, especially, military duties during this time, whenever possible, Rin loved Sesshomaru (and in few occasions' Inu-yasha.) Kagome loved Sesshomaru and Inu-yasha. (And, yes, her friendship with Rin grew as well.) In case a reader in wondering . . . Sesshomaru/Inu-yasha never occurred, and threesomes (of any variety) were very rare.
Since 1850 or so, Kagome and Sesshomaru's relationship (detailed below) has become strained. Rin, who loves both of them, has/is trying her best to repair/strengthen the relationship.
Unlike Kagome, Rin has had very few children over the centuries. 1 by Shippo (boy), 1 by Inu-yasha (girl), 3 by Sesshomaru (2 boys, 1 girl). Currently she has no children, nor is she playing any for at least the next 20 years.
Does she have sex with anyone beside Sesshomaru, especially like Inu-yasha and his mistresses/wives? No, not really.
Sometimes, on special occasions/encounters, yes, but, if so, it is just a one-night stand. Her love is reserved for Sesshomaru, and since he doesn't want her to sleep with anyone but himself, she obeys him. (Masturbation is something that she is very familiar with . . . )
Rin's daily duties?
She, of the five major figures (Kagome, Inu-yasha, Sesshomaru, Shippo and herself), travels the least. She, normally, remains at Sesshomaru's castle in the mountains west of Kyoto. She, to a large degree, runs the bureaucracy that Sesshomaru has sent up to handle the demon/magical creatures that exist within the Japanese empire.
(She, also, when Kagome is traveling, tends to help out in Edo. She'll move to Edo, and take Kagome's place in many ceremonies. Kagome has delegated tremendous powers to Rin. Ie. If Rin says that 2 2 5, the government will change the text books, unless Kagome stops them. Should something happen to Kagome, Rin would the popular choice to replace her.)
Sesshomaru: a biography
Born unknown. Still alive. Age 600 or more
He is called Lord of the Western Lands, or Lord of the Demons. (And unlike Inu-yasha, he does care about his titles. He accepts that not everyone will use them, but, very few people call him Sesshomaru, ever.)
His formal duties include both military and civilian functions. Kagome, generally, pays attention to the human side of the empire. Sesshomaru, generally, runs the demonic/magical side of the empire. (That is his civilian function.)
He is also a general on the military side, and he controls the military units that are manned by demons. He is considered the empire's best strategic general. (Ie his best abilities are not with the combat troops, but determining their use/placement at a higher level. Ie pentagon staff general, not someone with the troops being shoot at.) He has in the past been given traditional
Army command. (He has been uniformly successful, but some the tactics/plans his uses are extreme.)
History:
As mentioned above, he spent years in Europe trying to change European history. (Somewhat successfully, but he did not achieve all of his goals.)
Once he returned to Japan that ignited a civil war against Kagome. Samurai feared him that, combined with the question of who will rule japan, The traditional Shogun/emperor or Kagome, that fueled the war. The shogun fought against Kagome and lost.
Kagome placed at semi-puppet on the shogun throne, and created the post 'Shogun of the outer lands', for the army outside the home islands. That post was given to Inu-yasha, and with it, he has conquered most of the world.
From approx. 1600 to 1725 Sesshomaru spent organizing the various demonic tribes of Japan. (A much harder task than the Kagome's human side. She, combined with her friends, had overwhelming power at her disposal to succeed.) Sesshomaru, although powerful, does not have that overwhelming power to back him up. Kagome will/would help him more, but his pride limits the number of times that he asks for help. And Kagome, as positive person and trusting Sesshomaru, doesn't press him about things, as much as she should.
(His marriage to Rin didn't help, but, by that time, the fact the Rin wasn't a true human anymore was well-known, so it didn't hurt him either.)
Beginning in 1725 he began to organize the races of the non-Japanese demons/magical creatures that the expanding Japanese empire was absorbing. It has not been as easy a task absorbing cultures on the human side.
Even to the present, there are a large number of demonic/magical races that, at best, only acknowledge Sesshomaru's rule lightly. Ie his leadership is very symbolic. 'Yes, you rule, but you'd better not ask for anything, you know, concrete to prove it.' Type leadership.
During the years 1750 to 1850, the empire was militarily taxed to the limits. He did have occasional field (combat) commands.
To give an idea about his actions: during the war with the ottoman empire (1805-1808), his command marched across the northern middle east. For a fifty mile across strip of land from Kabul to Istanbul, buzzards flew around that strip. Why? Because nothing remained in that strip that even the buzzards could eat.
Since 1850 or so, he has remained, generally, in the background, trying to rule the demonic/magical side of the empire. And as his daily interaction has lessened the legends about his behavior have grown.
Example: tobacco isn't as popular in Kagome's world as in the real world. While Kagome has placed massive checks on production that is not the reason that tobacco isn't popular. (She only allows a certain, small, amount of the tobacco to be professionally grown, mainly in Cuba and parts of the NA provinces, and most of this is shipped to Europe/ottoman empire.)
Why isn't it? Neither Inu-yasha or Sesshomaru's sensitive noses like it. So, smoking around them, is not a way to get on their good side. And, of course, since Kagome doesn't like smoking, and doesn't like Sesshomaru or Inu-yasha to get upset, the people around her don't smoke. This does limit the popularity, but, there is also the following urban legend.
The legend:
That Sesshomaru and Inu-yasha have killed people just for smoking in their presence.
The truth: Inu-yasha has shattered noses, and massively verbally abused people. Sesshomaru? He has killed people/demons for disobeying his orders. One of the orders that this has happened with is to stop smoking.
Sesshomaru, as was his habit, travels extensively. Of the five major figures, he travels the most.
His relationship with Rin? He does love her.
Does he have a mistress/wives like Inu-yasha? Yes and no. Yes, there other official wives, even concubines. But, these are strictly political. Except for the wedding ceremony, he rarely, if ever, sees them again.
As far as sex with people other than Kagome and/or Rin goes? Sesshomaru only rarely engages in that type of sex. Although, there are some demons that require sex to function (ie succubus-types) and when dealing with them, he does do it.
His feelings toward Kagome? Ah, that is complex.
They still enjoy each other company. She is, if he would allow her to be, the one person that would fully understand him. Even Rin, will normally, bows and accept his orders.
But, they have been growing apart.
Kagome, Inu-yasha, Rin, Shippo and a few others are aware of it. And everyone is trying to keep things together. (Publicly, the foursome of Kagome/inu-yasha/rin/Sesshomru is firm and stable.)
Why?
Some of it is simply the fact the duties of trying to run the world places tremendous stresses on any relationship.
Some of it is Rin.
While Inu-yasha has other women in his life, they all age and die, so, he always has returns to Kagome.
Sesshomaru, though, has Rin. She is with him, so, as he spends more and more time with Rin, instead of Kagome, his feelings for Rin strengthen, and for Kagome weakens.
Some of it is envy. Kagome has been, basically, successful in her human empire. (Yes, there are problems, of course, but, she can/has solved/defeated them) Sesshomaru, as he tries to organize the demons/magical beings, has not had that level of success. And he wishes that he was more successful.
Some of it is from the fact that Kagome is loved, throughout the world. Her troops will go into battle, and die, out of their love for her. Sesshomaru's troops, though, hate and fear him. Sesshomaru is feared throughout the empire, and hated in Europe and the ottoman empire.
And after centuries of that, he is finding out that where once he was proud of that fact, now, he is hating it. He has discovered that there is nothing in hate/fear, where Kagome has something in love/respect. Changing his behavior would admit that he was wrong for centuries. His pride won't let him do that.
Officially his problems with Kagome are twofold.
Demons/magical creatures are part of the empire and deserve more power. And he wants more power for them. (Ie when a problem comes up between humans and demons, Kagome, generally, will side with the humans.)
Kagome's population control laws, includes demons/magical beings. And, they are, in general, more restrictive for demons/magical beings than for humans. (These laws cause problems for Kagome from the human side as well.) And he wants those laws changed to increase the number of demons/magical beings.
If Kagome will allow these changes, it will make it easier for him to organize/rule the demon/magical beings.
Why doesn't Kagome change? Because many demons/magical creatures evolved from humans, so, to her, human claims are the base to be judged from. She does try to be fair and even handed, but, a lot of the demons/magical creatures refuse to see anything but what they want to see. And they want to see that she is not treating them the way that they think that she should.
(Humans, by the way, have a similar problem. But, Kagome's solution for humans. Teach the children about her way and wait, the people that disagree with her will die. This pattern doesn't work all that well with creatures that, in many cases, age very slowly, so generations are measured in centuries, not years.)
But . . . none of the above is what really drove the wedge between Sesshomaru and Kagome.
The following did that.
In 1847, as the Japanese empire was expanding up the Mississippi. (The conquest of new Orleans occurred in 1845) Jakken was killed a suicide attack by Christians in St. Louis.
Kagome prevented Sesshomaru from raising Jakken from the dead.
"When we were younger, we did things, even the wrong things on occasion. Death is a natural part of life, Sesshomaru." Kagome said. "Jakken is dead, and he will remain so. He lived a long and meaningful life, and I will praise him for that."
And when Sesshomaru objected, pointing out the Jakken is an important servant whose experience would be hard to replace.
"When the archangel Michael killed my eldest son, Sesshomaru. (In 1805)" Kagome said. "I did not raise him from the dead. Even though Inu-yasha and I came come up with reasons to do so. If I had raised my son from the dead and then prevented you from raising Jakken, then, yes, I would be unfair. But, I have not raised my son. You will not raise Jakken." She paused, then, said. "Death is part of nature, I will not interfere with it, like I did when I was younger and more foolish."
(Did inu-yasha like her decision about his eldest son? Hell, no. that fight was long and loud. Kagome won, by summoning the ghost of her son, and he, the ghost, convinced Inu-yasha that his mother was right. She tried a similar tactic with Jakken, but it did not succeed as well as she thinks.)
Since then, well, the relationship between Kagome and Sesshomaru have suffered.
On the surface, most of the time, not even Rin or Inu-yasha can detect any real problems between them. (The arguments about how powerful the demon races should be compared to humans, and the arguments about population control pedate the death of Jakken, and they dismiss them as simply a difference of opinion between Kagome and Sesshomaru.)
But, beneath the surface. Things are happening.
Kagome is aware of the problems. But, she is, basically, a positive person and she does still care/love him, so she is willing to ignore a lot. And, she is not aware of everything.
thank you for reading
jeff shelton