Summary: Kagome has been hesitating on what to do. Naraku is dead, the jewel is gone, and the well is still open. There are worse problems than just that, though. These new problems about the man that she truly loves. Getting around to realize the emotions is tougher than anything else...

Rating: T (Oh my gosh! My lowest rating ever!)

This is the new chapter seven. The one (Repetition) has been deleted from my list. It was boring.

So was the original chapter nine. I'll tell you about that one later.

OoOoO

Jammed
Chapter Seven: Tender

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So, why was he being kind to her? She deserved none of it. She had burdened him with her human weaknesses. The weaknesses that he had often complained of in humans. The weakness that she was unable to deny having.

Kagome wasn't worthy of this kind of attention. She didn't deserve to be cared for so much.

A sudden jolt made Kagome jerk as well. She tried to figure out what the jolt was, but it didn't matter. She already knew.

Kagome woke up, moaning in the comfort of the bed. She didn't want to leave this soft bed. It was even softer than the first two times she had fallen asleep in it.

Why was it that much more comfortable, though? It was the same bed, wasn't it? She looked around, noticing much more artwork. The Tetsaiga was in the room too. She didn't remember that being there, either.

Kagome tried to sit up, but her neck instantly hurt. She let her head fall back against the pillow and looked at one of the pieces of artwork. She recognized it. It was a picture of Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru's father in his true form.

She studied the colors of the painting then looked around for something else to stare at. The last two times she had awoken in Sesshoumaru's palace, someone had come in the instant she was awake. Now there was no one.

Kagome stared at a green and white mound. She spent who-knows-how-long trying to figure out what it was. Then it clicked. That was the kimono that she had been wearing last night!

Kagome reached out a stiff arm to retrieve the clothes. If they weren't on her, then she had to put them on. She stared at her arm before she reached the pile of cloth.

She had on a thin, white garment. It appeared to be a normal shirt, since it didn't hang a foot or more off her arm. She slowly lifted her blankets up to see that she had a thin, white dress on.

Whoever dressed her had to have been stupid. She had bled, she could tell by the crusty-blood feeling on the back of her neck. Who would dress a bleeding woman in white? That was just strange. Then again, she was in the medieval times. They couldn't expect to be the brightest of people.

Kagome tried to sit up once more. Her back hurt, but her neck hurt even more. She reached back to touch it, but quickly changed her mind. If it had bled so easily just from last night, then touching it would make it bleed again.

Worse than that, she'd bleed all over the white garment. The white, silk garment. She looked around, discovering more familiar artwork that related to Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru's family.

What room was she in? Who's room was she in?

Kagome tried to push the questions away and stood up. She began to explore the room, and found a closet. She looked inside to discover the largest piece of proof on who's room this was.

On a chair a large, fluffy, and soft pelt was placed. Sesshoumaru. She had to have been in his room if his stuff was in the closet. She walked around more, snooping around to see exactly what the demon lord would keep in his room.

She grinned when she saw a brown journal. Who would have thought? The big, mighty, demon lord had a journal. She snickered as she attempted to open the book. It was no use. It wouldn't open no matter how hard she tried.

Of course. It had been locked. There was no place to put the key, though. She turned it over and read the bottom of the book's cover. It said something about the poison content level being the key.

Sesshoumaru's claws were the only way to get in. She groaned and whined as she put the book back where she had gotten it from. She had hopes of seeing what went on in the life of the demon lord. His feelings, what he thought of her… Wait… What was that last one?

Kagome went back to the bed. As she slipped in, she registered something else. She was in Sesshoumaru's actual bed. This wasn't just a guest bed or a servant's bed. He actually deemed her worthy of sleeping in his bed!

Butterflies suddenly filled Kagome's stomach as she let herself rest again. She would have to make the feelings go away soon. There were footprints coming down the hall. Could that be the demon lord coming to see her?

Kagome pretended to be asleep. She slowed down her breathing, so it would be more likely that she was asleep. She lifted the blanket up to her mouth so, if she started smiling, she would be able to hide it.

"Rin, you must be quiet or you will wake up Mistress Kagome." Sesshoumaru whispered. Kagome didn't hear a response, so Rin must have listened to him.

"Will she be okay, Lord Sesshoumaru?" Rin asked.

"Rin… Please do not ask me such questions. Get one of the servants to bring a pale of cold water and a cloth." Sesshoumaru ordered.

"Please answer me, Lord Sesshoumaru." Rin pleaded. Kagome felt bad for the little girl. Sesshoumaru wouldn't tell her, she was sure of it.

"I am hopeful that she will regain her health. However, I do not know for sure if she will or not." Sesshoumaru said. Rin's footsteps slowly faded away, indicating that she had left. Kagome began straining not to move as a piece of hair rested over her eye. She felt the urge to move it. It was just… there.

Sesshoumaru's hand reached her forehead and brushed the strand away. Kagome started blushing madly, and she tried to hold it back. It was no good.

"How do you get so ill from a laceration? It appears you have a fever." Sesshoumaru mused. Kagome thanked him for being stupid and made pathetic coughing sounds. It hurt the blood crust on her neck to do it, but it was just for show.

Sesshoumaru pressed his wrist against her forehead. Probably checking her for a fever. He let out a confused sound then drew his hand back. Kagome figured that she didn't have a fever, and it baffled him.

Or he was just wondering how long it would be until she woke up. Either of the things could be running though his mind.

"Lord Sesshoumaru." A deep male voice came along with the sounds of splashing water. Kagome figured that the perfect time to awaken would be when the cloth was on her head. The water silenced and the footsteps faded.

Then the cloth rested on her forehead. Kagome opened her eyes and looked at the concerned demon lord.

"Why do you… look worried?" Kagome asked. Her voice was weaker than she had anticipated.

"You collapsed in the middle of dinner. I hadn't even served it, and you had fallen out of your chair. Your neck was bleeding… When the neck's blood is drained, the life is drained with it." He told her.

Kagome sat up, pretending that the slight sting wasn't there. Sesshoumaru grinned, knowing that she was pretending to be tough.

"Do not continue with a façade on my sake. I know that you are in anguish." He said. Kagome smiled slightly then shook her head. That hurt, too, but she acted as if the pain didn't exist.

"No, I can't feel it." Kagome lied. Sesshoumaru got very close to her, a sly grin on his face. He was very close to Kagome, which made shivers run up and down her spine several times.

"I can smell your lies." He whispered. Kagome grinned and poked his nose.

"You must be smelling something else because I'm not lying… Hey, I'm hungry." Kagome said.

"I will take you to the dining room and you may eat there." Sesshoumaru offered Kagome a hand to help her up. Kagome took it and slowly pulled herself up. Her sock hit the waxed floor.

She slipped and her head went strait towards the wall. Sesshoumaru caught her in time so her head wouldn't snap. Kagome let out a screech of pain as the wound opened up and began to bleed.

Sesshoumaru kicked himself as he let her down against the bed. He got a pile of bandages from his dresser and began to wrap the horrible wound.

"I apologize, Mistress Kagome. I did not intend to bring further harm unto you." Sesshoumaru hastily apologized. Kagome moaned as the wound stopped bleeding. Sesshoumaru sat down next to her and stroked her head to comfort her.

"Why do you care, Sesshoumaru? I'm just a human." Kagome whined.

"You are a strong one. You have the powers of a priestess, which is rare among these times. You also put up with my brother for several years." Sesshoumaru said. Kagome smiled then looked at him.

"That's really nice of you to say, Sesshoumaru." She complimented. He smiled then leaned forward and kissed her head.

"You must rest, Mistress Kagome. I will be back later with food." He said. He stood up but Kagome grabbed protested. She grabbed the cloth on his pants and held on with a weak grip.

"Please don't leave…" She begged. He wouldn't stay, she knew that. Still, she desired for him to remain by her side.

To her surprise, Sesshoumaru sat back down. He scooted the chair closer to her bedside and stroked her head. The look Kagome saw on his face made butterflies fill her entire body. He looked like he had fallen in love; the way Sango and Miroku often looked at each other.

"Sesshoumaru… Do you care for me?" She asked cautiously. That was an odd question for her to bring up, but she didn't care. She wanted to know if the demon lord had feelings for her or not.

"Yes, I do, Mistress Kagome." Sesshoumaru said.

"Why do you call me a mistress?"

"It is the appropriate title for an unmarried woman." Sesshoumaru told her. She smiled faintly.

"Why do you give me a title? I'm just a human."

"I won't repeat myself. You're a strong human. Exceptions can be made."

"You did repeat yourself." Kagome said tiredly. Sesshoumaru flushed red with embarrassment then sighed.

"So I have."

"Sesshoumaru…" Kagome beckoned once again.

"What is it, Mistress Kagome?" He replied.

"Do you love me?" She asked. She wanted to gasp or do something to show that she hadn't intended to ask that. But she was too tired and too weak to do such a thing. Sesshoumaru was right. When your neck's blood drains, so does your life.

"Yes, I do, Mistress Kagome. May I inquire upon you now?" He asked.

"Sure, but you already did by asking my permission." Kagome grinned at her thought of outsmarting the demon.

"Do you love me?" He asked softly.

"Yes, I do, Lord Sesshoumaru." She said jokingly. He smiled then kissed her lips softly. Kagome grinned as she slipped into the word of darkness. The demon lord she had discovered feelings loved her back. He had felt the same way about her.

She would have to tell Sango as soon as she could.

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Next Chapter...
Kagome has finally gone back to the village with a head full of stories. That's not the only thing she's thinking of, though. Something else is on her mind, and she has to tell Sango. Sango and Miroku both seem shocked at the new information, but, they only have good things to say in response.

XxXxX

This was much better than the original idea I had for chapter seven. How sweet! I didn't expect it to turn out that good. I have butterflies in my stomach just from writing this chapter!

Cartoon Shakespeare- Thanks for the cookie! Just what I wanted to eat while I typed up this chapter!

Jessica Lyn- Just for those wonderful compliments, I'm going to post this chapter that I was too lazy to work on right away! Well, actually, I wasn't too lazy. I just wanted to try to work on my homework (which I didn't do).

Wretched-Cursed- I'm glad you liked my story so much! I really appreciate the review, as well. People who like my reviews make me smile and make me happy. (Obviously I'm happy if I'm smiling.)

Mikokitty159- I was crying as I was typing it. Sometimes, I wish that my loved ones would visit me in dreams to tell me to forget the crap that I remember about them. Oh wait. Am I babbling again?

- Lonely Bird