Just for the record, Sesshoumaru has two hands in this story. I suppose he regenerated it. (or however you'd like to imagine him getting his arm back) For those who question the meanings of the words I use, I used an English-Japanese translator so I think I used the right words. Thanks for the concern though! And to the reviewer who asked why Kouga didn't smell Sesshoumaru and Kagome on Haruko, it's because of the rain in chapter 13: Frailty. And just for the info, all the scenes in My Daughter are taken from my wild imagination so please don't think that the coincidently similar scenes from other anime's are connected in any way. And if you're wondering why I'm posting this up here and I'm not putting the Review Responses down there, it's thanks to Yuki Asao who warned me that there's a rumor that those stories with review responses were taken off. And of course, I don't want to take the risk and have my story taken off. So sorry but no more Review Responses segment. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO GAVE ME THEIR CONSTANT SUPPORT! ARIGATOU!

Chapter 21: Spicy

Clash! Their weapons clashed violently but neither of them moved away. Their forces were equal, the sun gleamed on both weapons; Sesshoumaru' toukijin and Omoi's scythe. Their faces were close enough to whisper anything and hear it as if casually speaking. Their clothes were tattered from the battle that ensued. Omoi's mental and physical powers nearly equaled those of Sesshoumaru's.

Even through her struggles, she managed to flash him a sly smirk fit only for a fox. "You know it's a pity." Sesshoumaru gave one powerful push, making her fall back. In mid air, Omoi spun, swinging her scythe along with her so that its blade would stab Sesshoumaru's back. But Sesshoumaru was quick to block it with Testusaiga inside its sheath. He slashed his sword diagonally, aiming to slash the woman merely a few inches from her. But Omoi jumped away just in time.

She landed with her feet against the wall of the hut; it creaked under the high pressure. She pushed herself off, lunging towards him. Sesshoumaru was ready for her, "To think that a girl like her could subjugate a man like you." His eyes narrowed angrily. He slashed at her but she used her mental powers to stop the sword from being brought down upon her. Sesshoumaru was mildly surprised. Her mental abilities were stronger than he thought.

She speared him into a wall, quickly curling into a ball, setting her feet on his person and pushing herself away. She somersaulted and landed on her feet. His body made a whole on the wall but he was still standing. Sesshoumaru brought his eyes up to her, revealing blazing icy glares. "Ah-ah-ah!" she said. Suddenly, there was a force holding Sesshoumaru's limbs back to what remained of the wall. She smiled confidently and winked, "But I understand, lord Sesshoumaru."

She walked towards him seductively, her hips swaying and showing off her shapely long legs. "I can sense it too. The power of the Shikon no Tama."

Sesshoumaru gritted his teeth at her, not very pleased with what she was trying to do. "I wouldn't let that power go either." She stopped in front of him, positioning her scythe beside her in a way only a model in a magazine would do. "But you know, we can work together to get that Shikon. You won't have to stick with such a weak little human anymore. What do you say, lord Sesshoumaru?"

Sesshoumaru simply glared at her. "The illusion you entertain in your mind that a filthy wench like you could ever come to my favor offends me."

"So, that's that then?" she asked, coming so close that they were practically nose to nose.

"Your stench disgusts this Sesshoumaru." He all but spat in her face.

"Aw…" she whined. But then a sadistic smile came upon her peerless face. "That's fine with me. I have more ways than one." With that, she put both hands on both sides of his beautiful, flawless face and did something Sesshoumaru considered completely disgusting! She pushed her mouth onto his! Suddenly memories flashed throughout his mind. Past. His past. The darkness. The blood. The loneliness. The horror only stopped when she finally pulled away.

He glared angrily at her, feeling defiled, shaking away the memories. She winked at him with a giggle and jumped just in time to evade a swift arrow glowing a hot pink. Sesshoumaru's eyes widened a fraction; it embedded itself right beside his head. He looked to the door and found an angry looking Kagome aiming threateningly at the she-youkai on the other side of the hut.

"You shouldn't push yourself on someone who doesn't like you. It's not fitting for a lady." She said through gritted teeth, having enough self control as to not let the arrow fly so soon.

Omoi giggled again, this time with a mischievous glint in her bright purple eyes. "I'll see you soon, Sesshoumaru-sama." She blew him a kiss and looked up to the ceiling. Her eyes darkened and there soon became a whole in the roof.

"No, you don't!" Kagome yelled, letting the arrow fly. She jumped out of the hut just in time and whistled in the air. Upon hearing this, every one of the Amazon youkai women looked up at her and quickly ran away, escaping with their master.

Inu-yasha watched them all run away and cried out, "Oi! Where're you going!" he set the sword down and scratched his head. What just happened there?

Sesshoumaru rubbed his wrists, still feeling the aftereffects of Omoi's mental bond. It was then that he looked at Kagome, who was looking at her feet with angry eyes. She turned to him with those angry eyes and said, "The village chief is safe." In an icy manner. He raised a brow and smirked knowingly at her. She was jealous. Little miss pure of heart, innocent, nurturing Kagome was jealous.

"What are you smiling at?" she pouted. She turned away testily. The knowing smirk still played upon his lips. Somehow, the thought of making Kagome jealous was quite satisfying.

Haruko watched from beneath her long, black lashes as Kouga was just starting to settle in for the night. He had already put a mat on the floor and was taking off his armor. She was pretending to be asleep, regulating her every breath and watching him warily. Just because he was kind to her didn't mean she should trust him completely.

After discarding his armor, revealing a well toned, lean torso, he took off his boots and let down his hair. That was when she noticed the darkness of those long ebony locks. It was as black as onyx, flowing like waterfalls, shining as if polished. So it seemed he wasn't as unattractive as she thought he was. Her eyes drooped sleepily. Well, he didn't have Touya's body, nor did he have Akito's intellect. He didn't have Shippou-sama's smile, nor did he have her father's grace. So what was it that made him, Kouga of the wolf clan…unique? She closed her eyes to rest them. Speaking of her father, she wondered what they were doing at that moment.

She wondered how Shippou-sama was doing. She hoped he was alright. The last time she saw him, he was knocked unconscious. She hoped he wasn't hurt too much. And her father, he must be so worried. She didn't want him to worry. She didn't want to cause him trouble. But perhaps that was a task she had already accomplished by coming to the past in the first place. But before her train of thoughts could continue, she unknowingly fell into a silent slumber.

Kouga turned; about to walk to the mat he set right beside the bed he gave her, when he laid eyes on the person he gave his bed to. And at the sight of her, any regret that he may get for giving her his bed would be completely squashed. She slept peacefully on her side, the blanket reaching the midsection of her forearm. The kimono was accidentally loose, showing a bit of her shoulder off. Just when he thought he was being rude, she moaned in her sleep and shrugged to put her shoulder closer to her jaw, leading his eyes to her luscious lips. Oh Kami.

And the most ironic part was that it wasn't actually supposed to be so…enticing. He's seen more flesh from other women before. But the sight of her left much for his imagination to roam. The thought of peeling that expensive silk fabric from her unexplored body entered his mind. He quickly shoved it away. But then the thought of getting under those covers replaced the very thought he shoved away. Whoever thought modesty could be so…enticing?

It was a wonder why no one's taken her yet. If she was always this way, men of all races from one-hundred feet away must be hounding her by now. This was bad. What if she suddenly wakes up and smells him? Arousal had a spicy scent and was quick to be recognized. Especially with the inus since their olfactory sense was one of the most sensitive. Next to the wolves' of course.

He slapped himself silly and went out of the hut. There was a waterfall nearby and it was a freezing cold night outside. He planned to take a bath before going to bed. He'll just take a bath in the freezing cold water in the freezing cold night to forget all about his perverted thoughts. He planned to get some rope for later too. For what? To tie himself down until he can't break out of it, of course. Who knows what he might do in his sleep? Better safe than sorry.

Kagome lay comfortably on the grassy hill, her hands resting on her stomach, comfortably staring at the stars. She thought of many things, but one of them dominated everything else. That smirk on Sesshoumaru's face as he witnessed her uncovered jealousy. Hmph! He was probably just happy that a sexy, big boobed, long legged, beautiful woman kissed him! Hmph! That womanizer! And to think that he didn't even bother to explain or apologize or make any excuse that told her that he didn't like it! That womanizer! Well, he'll just see who's not gonna kiss him tonight or any other night for that matter! As long as he won't apologize, she won't go anywhere near him!

"Do you not realize the danger you are in alone in the dark?" came a low velvety voice.

"Sesshoumaru!" she yelled out of surprise, jolting to sit up right. He stood right beside her form and looked as regal as always. It was then that she remembered her composure and her former thoughts. She started pouting and crossed her arms, looking away sulkily.

The smirk still remained on Sesshoumaru's lips. It was quite uncharacteristic. "I didn't realize you were one to sulk."

She just pouted further, "Did you like it?"

He raised a curious brow at her and she looked at him with impatience. "When she kissed you!" she blushed and looked away, "did you like it?"

She heard him sitting down beside her and was surprised when he answered, "Do you not trust me enough to answer no?" he lied down onto the grass and closed his eyes, feeling the cool breeze of the night. But he soon opened them to look up at her, hovering over him with a warm smile on her face.

"I like that. That smile on your face. I like it a lot. You should smile like that more often." Slowly, his clawed hand rose to her face, tracing her every feature. The smile vanished from his face, melting into a frown.

"If what Haruko predicted is true…" he already knew it was true but he wished it wasn't so. "then you will die before this Sesshoumaru's own death."

The smile didn't vanish from her soft lips. He traced those very lips with his fingers delicately as if she would break upon heavy pressure. "Yes, it'll be that way." She answered.

He wanted to imbed the memory of her in his mind so that he may never forget. The way she talked, the way she dressed, the way she smiled and the way she laughed; the way she cried, the way she kissed, the way she blushed and the way she looked. He never wanted to forget her.

"When I die, you have my permission to take another mate. Just make sure she makes you and Haruko happy, okay?" she smiled cheerfully. She didn't want him to be lonely like the way Haruko described it to her. She didn't want him to be alone at night, calling for her in his sleep. She wanted him to be happy. She wanted that smile to always be on him. Always. "I'm sure you can find an easy replacement for me."

His fingers stopped just beneath her sapphire blue eye and he slowly moved his hand to the back of her head. The other hand went to her back. "I can, but I won't." he then pulled her down into a sweet, soft kiss.

She was quick to surrender. So much for not going near him. He pulled her closer until their bodies were practically molded as one. She moaned as his slick tongue entered her mouth and tasted her insatiably. She pulled away for air but when she finally caught her breath, he had already pulled her down for another.

When he finally let her free, she looked at him and blushed. What was that that was sticking out of him? It was hard and she felt it against the spot in between her legs. "S-Sesshoumaru, what—"

But before she could ask, Sesshoumaru had already turned them over, being the one on top now. Kagome blushed furiously. She wasn't sure if she was ready for something like this. Maybe they were taking it a bit too fast. But he just looked down at her and said, "I will wait for the moment when you are…ready. Until then, I give you my word that this Sesshoumaru will abstain from any sexual contact with any woman other than yourself." She blushed even more at that. Talking about it that way, out in the open, was even more embarrassing.

But she smiled and laughed nonetheless. It was adorable the way he said it. "Thanks, Sesshoumaru. But what's the catch?" she said, raising her brow at him playfully. He smirked down at her.

"You will stay with me forever." Her eyebrows furrowed with worry.

"But, Sesshoumaru, I—"

"No. Forever. This Sesshoumaru will not settle for anything less."

"But—" before she could speak any more, he already captured her lips. Sesshoumaru was rarely this childish. But Kagome was worth relinquishing his pride. He wanted her to stay with him forever and he will find a way to make that happen. She became the door to escape the dark confines of his past. And he will not let that door be replaced by a mere window. He will never let her go.

Inu-yasha looked up at the starry night sky in deep thought. He tried to think rationally but was failing because of the many emotions bubbling up inside. Being a person of, though denied many times, a kind heart, he didn't want to break Kagome and his half-brother up. They had too much of a good thing, even he can't be blind about that. But then again, love makes a man selfish and jealous. He didn't want Kagome to be with anyone else but him. Yet he knew what he felt was wrong.

So then there was only one option for him now. Challenge Sesshoumaru to a duel. It was how the noble inu-youkais of the past settled everything. The strongest shall win and the weak shall accept any punishment the winner sees fit for him. He knew Sesshoumaru was far stronger than him. But it was worth a try.

"Inu-yasha." He turned to the one that put a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"Shippou." He acknowledged.

Shippou sat beside him on the rock, watching the stars twinkle up in the sky. "Don't hurt Kagome anymore."

He froze at that, his eyes widening and his blood running cold. Hurt Kagome? Since when did he hurt Kagome? He would never! "S-Shippou—I…"

"Kagome is a happy person, Inu-yasha. She always smiles at us. But we all know that those smiles were incomplete, half empty. When Haruko and Sesshoumaru came, those smiles became brighter, fuller. I've never seen her smile that way before. I like that smile. And if you go on with your selfishness, you'll rip her apart. She loves you, Inu-yasha. But she's in love with her family. Don't make her choose between you and the future she wants to have." Shippou never looked away from the stars throughout his whole speech.

Inu-yasha turned away, feeling his heart clench painfully. "I don't—"

"I don't know what you've been through, Inu-yasha, so I have no right to tell you how you should act. But…when Haruko came, she gave us a glimpse of the future. A lot of people were at peace in that future. There were only a few tears in that future. I liked that future. A future where there were less killing and wars…I'm not saying this because I'm alive in that future. I'm saying this because…I love Kagome. She's like a mother to me. And I'll do anything for her." That was when Shippou looked at him with a soft smile, the childish smile he possessed

"I understand." Inu-yasha said simply and softly, as if a child reprimanded by a father.

Shippou patted his hand twice and gently cooed, "It's gonna be alright, Inu-yasha. I know it's all gonna work out fine."