Inside the carriage

Kagome was sitting there looking down at the floor of the carriage in a saddened state of mind.

"Lady, cheer up you'll see the village again." Lord Toru tried to cheer her up.

"That was kind of you of the pouch you gave Kaede?" Kagome asked.

"Should you take rest lady?" Lord Toru asked.

"No, I want to be awake when we arrive at the western lord's castle." Kagome answered.

"You also need to think of your health and the health of the pup that you are carrying. You can tell you've not been sleeping that much. You can tell it in your face as well as your body and that is not good for either of your healths." Lord Toru was trying sound that she need to rest. Even though Kagome did not willing want to fall asleep her body had a mind of it's own because about ten minutes out of the village after the fact that Toru said she needed to think about her health and that of the unborn pup her head fell forward with her chin on her chest and her eyes drooped closed and she fell asleep. Toru just sat across from the now sleeping Kagome and the sleeping Rin who was laying next to Kagome with her head on Kagome's lap. He was smiling at the picture before him before he looked out of the window to see the landscape to determine where they were and how much farther from the western castle that they were. The time soon passed to where Toru leaned across the carriage to where Kagome was asleep and gently shook her.

"Lady Suki ,wake up we are coming upon the western castle." Lord Toru spoke.

"Hmm... What?" Kagome sat blinking her eyes.

"Look out the window, lady, we are coming upon the gates of the western castle." He watched Kagome look out the window and smiled. Then she looked at Rin.

"Chika, wake up, dear." Then she bent down close to her ear. "We are coming to the western lands and to Sesshoumaru-sama." Kagome said.

"We're at Sesshoumaru-sama's castle." Rin sat up and yawned.

"Yes, but we must be careful." Kagome voiced. Then the carriage came to a hault. As they heard voices.

"Stop, who approaches the western lord's castle? What business you have here!" A guard asked.

"Stay in the carriage, I'll handle this." Lord Toru said before stepping out of the carriage. "Our business here is between your Lord and the lord of the south. Though the western lord is not expecting me but it is extremely important that I speak to Lord Sesshoumaru." Lord Toru spoke out to the western guards.

"Who else is within the carriage?" The guard spoke.

"That is something, I'm not at liberty to pass onto you but only to the western lord. Now would you hold another lord from the council of your own lord or will you let myself and this carriage to pass through this gate?" Lord Toru asked.

"You may pass but we will inform the lord's retainer to await you." The guard left to get the retainer Jaken while Toru got back into the carriage and the carriage came to the front of the castle that lead to the front door of the castle. Then Toru stepped out of the carriage to be greeted by Jaken.

"Welcome Lord Toru to the western lord's castle, but I'm afraid, M'Lord is not seeing anyone at this time." Jaken tried to make a speech.

"I must speak to your lord for it is of great importance!" Lord Toru motioned Jaken closer and Toru bent to Jaken's ear. "I bring something of some importance that lord Sesshoumaru would want to see. Meaning his mate and ward. But we must not announce it do to the danger that lurks to harm them. So you must announce just me and I'll bring them into the study with me." Then lord Toru stood back up. When he did he saw Jaken smile.

"Come this way, lord Toru but be warned, I don't know if my lord will see you or not." Jaken said as he watched Toru turn towards the carriage and held out his hand and a young child took ahold of it and stepped out of the carriage. Then he held out his hand again and Kagome took ahold of his hand and stepped out. When they were ready Jaken proceeded into the castle and they followed. Jaken walked up the stairs and into the study.

"Lord Sesshoumaru! Lord Toru is here and is needing to speak with you. He said it is of some extreme importance." Jaken said.

"Show him in, Jaken." Sesshoumaru was read a scroll. Jaken turned and walked towards the door and motioned for lord Toru in and the others to come in. When they were in Sesshoumaru did not look up.

"Greetings lord, Sesshoumaru. Your retainer does speak the truth when he said I have some extreme information and it is concerning your mate and ward!" Lord Toru said. At the mention of his mate and ward Sesshoumaru's head shot up.

"What about my mate?" Sesshoumaru said as he watched lord Toru step to the side as well as his guards to reveal Kagome and Rin. Then Toru looked at his guards "You may leave now and return to the carriage." He watched as his guards bowed and left.

"Greetings, Sesshoumaru-sama!" Rin spoke. Sesshoumaru came out from behind his desk. When he did Rin ran over to Sesshoumaru and wrapped her arms around his leg Sesshoumaru reached down and picked his ward up and hugged her.

"This Sesshoumaru has missed Rin." Sesshoumaru said.

"I"ve missed Sesshoumaru-sama, very much. So has Kagome!" Rin said. Sesshoumaru looked over to his mate and put Rin down and walked over to his mate. When He got in front of her, he saw tears streaming down her face. He reached out and wiped the tears from her cheeks and pulled Kagome into his arms and kissed the top of her head. Then brought her chin up and kissed her on the lips; but broke apart.

"What are you doing here, my mate? Why did you come out of hiding?" Sesshoumaru questioned.

"I just had to see you, so I could see that you were ok!" Kagome cried into his chest.

"Lord Sesshoumaru, if I may speak." Toru spoke up and he watched as Sesshoumaru nodded. "Your mate has not been sleeping well. Due to dreams and also your unborn pup." He watched as Sesshoumaru looked from Toru to his mate. Then Toru looked at Rin. "Rin, how about you take me and show me your favorite part of the gardens and let these two be alone for a while shall we?" Toru took Rin's hand and walked out of the study shutting the door.

"What does he mean by dreams and our pup?" Sesshoumaru pulled Kagome away from him to look her over and his eyes got wide.

"From the day you left us at the southern lord's castle, our pup has not moved around that much and me not knowing anything about being pregnant with a inu-pup don't know if it is normal or not. Also why am I this large for only being a month and a few days pregnant?" She took his hand and slid it over her heavily swollen belly. She watched as his eyes grew large when at the touch of his hand on her belly the pup moved as though it knew that it's father touched the belly and not it's mother's hand. "Oh now, you decide to act up now." Kagome said.

"Our pup is fine and growing fast. I might have to do with both my youkai blood that's running through your vain that's turned you into a inu-youkai along with your miko blood that is making our pup grow faster for the way it feels our pup shall be born real soon! Now mate, tell me of these dreams." Sesshoumaru lead Kagome out the door and down to their bed chamber. After closing the door they walked over to the futon and sat down upon it.

"It is always the same. It's of you fighting Naraku and I was to one side and your half brother and the group across from me watching who would win the battle. Your brother yelled out beat Naraku already and you have gotten weak in your fighting since you had gotten me pregnant. Then you yelled back telling him to shut up or he will be next. When you were off guard Naraku shot a tentacle out and it went through your shoulder and out the other side. Naraku asked if that is all you had in fighting. You shot back with 'About filthy hanyou's and if he honestly thinks he could beat you.' Then you stood up and rushed towards Naraku with tokijin drawn and ready to strike. Then the dream flashes to where Naraku managed to restrain you with a tentacle and had another hovering over your heart and he said 'Well, well western lord it seems you lost the edge to you that made you fight extremely well since you have mated. I thought this would of been a hard battle but I guess wrong. Know this before you die that I'll enjoy the western lands, I have just won and know your mate, unborn, and your ward will soon join you." Then Naraku plunged the tentacle through your chest through your heart and out your back. Your eyes going wide as it did. As you whispered something towards me which was 'I'm sorry, my mate!' As you slumped forward and then I screamed 'Sesshoumaru, no, don't leave me!' But then then picture changes in a flash of white light and a figure appeared. Her skin and hair were a pale white and her eyes's were a violet. She wore a royal blue kimono with carriages and plum flowers on it and a yellow obi with a phoenix on it. Her height I would say is she would stand just passed your shoulder and her hair was almost touching the ground. She told me to fear not and that everything will be fine and I'll see you again. But she never told me her name! So I have no clue who she was." Kagome finished saying then she looked at her mate. To see the shocked look showing in his eyes. "Do you have any idea who it was? From what Lord Toru said is that he said it sounded like your mother!"

"Yes, my mate you described my mother. The figure that showed up in your dream was indeed my mother's spirit. To let you know everything will be fine but rest now and be rest assured that things will be fine." Sesshoumaru kissed her fully on the mouth then broke the kiss and laid Kagome's head on his chest. When she was sound asleep he lay her flat on the futon and slipped off the other side and walked out of the room to find Jaken. When he did he ordered rooms to be made for lord Toru and his guards and had dinner for them and Rin but to have dinner brought up for himself and his mate to the bed chamber. Then after dinner have Rin in her own chamber and dressed for bed. She is to remain in her room and not running around outside alone do to Naraku or his spies. Then he found lord Toru and invited him to stay at the castle over night and upon entering the chamber he walked over and got a night yukata for Kagome to change into then walked over to the futon and sat down next to his mate. When he sat down Kagome woke up.

"Sorry, I did not mean to wake you since you were sleeping so peacefully but I got this out so you could change into it so you could get more comfy since the long travel today and for not sleeping so well." Sesshoumaru reached and got the night yukata from the foot of the futon and handed it to her. "You and my ward as well as lord Toru will sleep here tonight and head to the southern lands in the morning before dawn." Sesshoumaru put a strand of hair behind Kagome's ear.

"Thank you and it's alright that I was awakened since I'll be able to sleep well tonight since I'll be next to you. That is if I'm sleeping next to you tonight that is?" Kagome said.

"Yes all of us meaning you and my and our unborn will sleep well this night. You and this Sesshoumaru will be in each other's arms. Now mate, I picked this sleeping yukata so you may change into it so do so." Sesshoumaru said.

"What about dinner?" Kagome asked.

"I instructed that it to be brought here. For this Sesshoumaru has missed being with his mate, as well as your curves, the softness of your lips." He unclasped the obi and loosened up the front of the kimono and slid it off her shoulders as he leaned close to Kagome and brought his lips onto hers flicking his tongue across her lips seeking entrance. When she opened her mouth to moan due to his soft hot lips, Sesshoumaru took full advantage of it as he leaned her back against the futon and trailed his kisses down her neck and kissing his mating mark then continued down to her stomach. He stopped at her stomach and drew away so he could look at the sight and take in the smell. As he looked and trailed over the spot were their unborn was he smiled.

"Hello my pup." He said and then kissed Kagome's stomach.

"Oooh did you feel that? A strong movement when you spoke!" Kagome looked at Sesshoumaru and smiled as he nodded. Just then a knock came at the door. Sesshoumaru moved to her side as Kagome slowly sat up and put on the yukata. Sesshoumaru sighed.

"Enter!" Sesshoumaru growled as the door opened and his general walked in.

"Sorry, M'Lord for disturbing you with your concubine since your mate is not here!" The general said. Sesshoumaru heard a gasp and turned and looked at Kagome and saw that she now had tears in her eyes. He went to touch her and she moved away and Sesshoumaru growled. Then shot his red eyes back to his general.

"What is so important that you intrude?" Sesshoumaru growled.

"The report of whom you sent us to find out about is just came back and there is no sign of any where about." The general said.

"That will be all!" Sesshoumaru sounded frustrated. The general bowed and left the chamber. After the general left Sesshoumaru tried once again to touch Kagome but each time she moved away.

"So your wanting or looking for concubines to be able to warm your bed while I am in the southern lands? So how many other females have you rutted with while your ward and I have been gone to the southern lands these past days? So that is another reason you asked why we had come is it not!" She was now yelling. He tried to go to her to comfort her. She stood up and moved close to the door and placed her hand on the handle "If you need other women to warm your bed then you can do so without me! For I will no longer warm your bed!" With that she opened the door and ran out of the chamber slamming the door as she ran down the hall and around the corner. She did not watch where she was going and ran into someone but did not stop but kept on running till she was outside and in the gardens.

Lord Toru watched as Kagome ran down the stairs crying and walked to the door she had came out of and knocked.

"Enter!" The voice growled out. Then Toru opened the door and walked in. Upon entering Toru saw Sesshoumaru sitting on his futon.

"Lord Sesshoumaru, I just saw your mate run out crying. May I inquire if there is anything wrong that you would need any help?" asked Toru.

"Just a big mess up in understanding is what happened. My general came in and thought I was with a concubine and mentioned it that he did not mean to disturb me with my concubine since my mate was gone. She now thinks that I've been with other females since she and my ward have been at your castle as well as the reason I asked why she and my ward had show up at my castle and now won't let me touch her and she refuses to warm my bed. I do have that right to take concubines if I so choose but I don't." Sesshoumaru let a heart rendering sigh come out.

"Let me handle this, my friend and when I finish talking to her and she's calm I'll bring her back to you." Lord Toru spoke. He watched as Sesshoumaru nodded. Then Toru turned and left the chamber and headed to look for Kagome.