Disclaimer: These characters are from the manga/anime Inuyasha, and they belong to Rumiko Takahashi, I get no money for writing this. Chapter title is from Aqua's song

Chie: No taiyoukais were harmed while writing this fic.

Chapter 8 - Good morning sunshine

He was partly awake. He didn't want to let go of the sweet sleep, for he could sense that in the distance, his head was throbbing with pain. He still wanted to linger a few more minutes in this sweet world between the sleep and awakening, especially when this sweet scent, calming scent was nicely wrapped all around him. A slightly familiar scent. A scent that belonged to a human female. The miko's scent.

Sesshoumaru's eyes shot open. Instantly he felt a throbbing headache. Yes. He had gone drinking last night. He remembered being in a bar and ordering a new drink... But he had no idea how he had managed to get back home.

But that wasn't the most disturbing question. The most disturbing question was that why the hell was his whole bedroom full of the miko's scent? Why was her scent all over him?

And that scent wasn't exactly normal either. It had a certain edge to it, a certain hint of...

Sesshoumaru's eyes widened in recognition.

A certain hint of a female in heat.

Just what had he done last night? It couldn't be that he... that she... that they...

Good morning! his inner demon wished brightly.

Sesshoumaru growled aloud.

YOU! This is all your doing!

My my, aren't you grumpy this morning...

Sesshoumaru couldn't believe this. He had happily gone to drink, in order to forget everything for one night... And what had his inner demon done? He had taken over the control and mated a human miko! The same wench that once had been following his cursed half-brother! It had been centuries since he had last been so furious as he was now. It was a disgusting thought. Even touching his late brother's wench was vile, yet alone mating her...!

Who are you to make decisions for me! Sesshoumaru grumbled, mentally strangling his inner demon.

And who are you to make decisions for me? his demonself replied his question with a question. After all, I have already told you this: She is my mate-to-be.

The hell she is! Sesshoumaru snarled.

When have I really given you the permission to make decisions for me? I want her.

But I do not

I honestly can't understand why you are fighting against me in this matter. It was very enjoyable.

I did not allow you to...

Actually, you did. His demonself calmly replied. You were so drunk that you gladly let me take control.

I'm never drinking again, Sesshoumaru decided with a furious huff. What a start to a day! He had mated a human. Due to his drinking last night he had a devilish headache. And now he was tired as hell - and pissed off to no end.

He wanted to kill something... Maybe he would start off from the miko. She was the one to be blamed. She was the cause to this all. She was the cause to his infamy. It was all her fault. With her gone, the problem would be solved. No one would ever find out what they had done...

The more he thought over it, the more he liked the idea.

Only there were a few problems. Would his inner demon allow him to hurt his chosen mate? Not likely. And if what the flea had said was true, the miko was carrying the Shikon no tama inside her. What would happen to the jewel if its protector would die? How would the other taiyoukais react to the news of him killing the miko, without any clear reason? Rin was really attached to the miko, and Hitachi would without a doubt take his mate's site. Kouga and Ayame both were fond of the human as well, so in the 'ideal' situation killing her could very well start a taiyoukai war.

Damned. There were too many reasons why not to kill the miko.

Maybe he'd just go and kill someone else.

Calmed down a bit, are we?

Go away, Sesshoumaru snapped.

His inner demon just laughed.

Not that I would care... But how did you manage to get her here?

You can't remember? She came willingly.

What!

Yes, she wanted to help you. You know, in that condition it had been a miracle if you had found your way back home by yourself. So she brought you back here.

She wanted to help me? Sesshoumaru couldn't believe that. Why should she have wanted to help him?

Yes.

Why?

I honestly do not know, his demonself replied.

Sesshoumaru frowned.

"Mew."

It was then when he paid attention to the little cat, who was happily curled up on his pillow. On his pillow that reeked of the miko.

"Not you too," Sesshoumaru snarled and walked out of his bedroom, searching for his lost clothes.

"Good morning, Sesshoumaru-sama," her monotonous voice greeted.

"Good morning, Kanna."

He made room in the doorway so that the young pale demoness could step in.

After they had been sitting in silence in his living room for some time, she opened her mouth again.

"I see."

Sesshoumaru didn't answer.

"Was last night pleasant to you?"

"Not exactly. It was my demon self who was in control."

"Ah."

Silence occurred once more.

"She was a human," Kanna observed.

"I wasn't myself then," Sesshoumaru reminded stiffly.

"Hmmm."

After few more minutes spent in total silence, Sesshoumaru suddenly couldn't keep it inside anymore.

"He wants her to be my mate," he blurted suddenly out.

"Oh?"

"I don't need such a useless thing as a mate. It would only be in my way."

"Would it?" the young demoness said, a questioning gaze in her usually emotion-free eyes.

"Today will be the day," she declared passionately

Kanna's expression remained as blank as ever

"Today Sesshy-darling will finally confess his true feelings for me," Kagura cooed.

"I doubt that."

"Why wouldn't he? It's obvious! Even if he insists saying that he never wants to see me again, it's clearly really just because he's afraid of me."

"Afraid?"

"Yes. He must be confused by all the feelings I awake in him."

"You think he's all head over heels for you?"

"Obviously!"

"Then why did he mate Inuyasha's miko last night?"

Kagura froze.

"What!" she hissed, her red eyes glowing full of rage.

"You still don't look you'd be all right," Kayade observed.

"I... I had a rough night," Kagome replied.

Yeah, rough night cheating on your fiancé and sleeping with an emotionless bastard. Way to go, Kagome!

"Oh?" Mischievous grin appeared on Kayade´s face. "Rough night with whom?"

"Kayade!" Kagome squealed, blushing brightly.

"Ah-ha!"

I thought I sensed something was different with her, Kayade noted in her mind.

"So... You finally slept with Hojo?" Kayade asked innocently.

The little bell rang.

Both girls turned their heads to see a customer who had just walked in.

I'm saved! Kagome triumphed.

"You little whore!" The black haired, red-eyed woman screamed.

Kayade and Kagome blinked. What the - ?

The furious, elegantly dressed woman walked over to Kagome, her high heels clicking on the wooden floor.

"I'm gonna send you to deepest hell. You've done your dirty trick seducing my Sesshy!" She stopped to inhale sharply. Her eyes narrowed.

"I'm going to kill you!"

Kagome blinked.

The life in the little restaurant had suddenly stopped. All the customers were gawking at the scene. Kagome and Kayade were standing rooted to their spots as the black-haired woman reached inside her design jacket with her hand.

She was... going to pull out a gun?

She is really going to kill me? Kagome gulped.

With a triumphant grin she pulled out something white. A fan.

Huh? Kagome blinked.

Kayade then made her move. The blond girl took a step towards the psychotic lady and grabbed her arm into a firm grip.

"Now now, you need clearly some fresh air. Please, follow me."

Then Kayade dragged the tricky customer after her out of the little restaurant.

Kagome turned to look at the remaining customers.

"I'm terribly sorry you had to experience that," she apologized with a bow. "My second cousin. It appears she forgot to take her meds."

"Take your filthy hands off me!" she shrieked.

Kayade smirked.

They were standing on the backyard of the restaurant, on a little asphalt field where no one could see them.

"As you wish, wind witch. You really have to be out of your damned mind! Making such a scene in the middle of the day, in a public place... What if you had been exposed? Idiot."

"That bitch seduced Sesshy! She forced him to sleep with her!"

What? Hojo hadn't been the one Kagome had been with last night? Then who? Oh wait -

"By 'Sesshy' you mean Hisakata-sama?"

"Yes!"

Woah. Kagome, just what have you done?

"He isn't a one to be tricked or seduced. If he truly mated with her, he must have done it out of his free will."

"As he's so deeply in love with me, there is no way – " the rest of Kagura's sentence faded away.

The blond girl had doubled over. She was laughing.

"That's it, you bitch," the youkai shrieked, raising her fan.

"You got that one right," Kayade said raising her head. She was grinning.

And then she unmasked her scent and let the sealing spell drop.

Kagura gasped.

"You! How? Why?"

Kayade smirked and swished her white tail.

"Still wanna fight me, wind witch?"

Kagura glared daggers at the wolf princess.

"My power exceeds yours. After all, I will once inherit the lands of my father and become the taiyoukai of the northern lands."

"You're nothing but a spoiled brat of a wolf!"

A dangerous spark flashed in Kayade's bright green eyes.

"You know, maybe I should kill you. My father still has not avenged his pack which you killed. And I should make you pay for hurting my friend... Do you have any pride, you puppet of Naraku?"

Kagura paled.

"I have my pride, that's why I want to kill that seducing miko! And I was freed of Naraku long before you were born. He was killed centuries ago."

"Indeed you were freed of him! And do you recall who it was that freed you of his grip? What a lovely way to repay that debt, killing her over an icy bastard who's unable to love!"

"Do not talk like that of my Sesshy...!"

"He is not yours. He will never be. And you know it very well. Wouldn't it be about a damn time to stop fooling yourself? You will never have him."

Kagura paled even more as she heard her words. For a while she just stared at the wolf demon, her eyes wide, a hurt expression on her face. Then she turned on her heels and stomped away.

Kayade watched her go and sighed.

Those were cold, evil words that I spilled over you. I'm sorry. But you'll understand, Kagura. You'll understand that I had to it.

"Kayade-chan? Is everything all right?"

"Sure," the youkai answered, calming the worried miko with a smile.

"What happened to her?"

"I told her a few facts of life and she left."

"Just like that?" Kagome frowned.

"I told her that she had better not mess with me."

Kagome blinked. She found it rather hard to believe that the rich, Sesshoumaru-obsessive woman would leave just because of hearing a few facts. She could sense Kayade wasn't quite telling the truth... But if she was lying, then she had her reasons. And it was not Kagome's business.

"I see," the miko replied with a little smile.

Kagome was staring at the phone on the table beside her. It troubled her. It troubled her very much. She was a very bad person. She felt so guilty! She glanced the phone again.

What would Hojo say? Would he leave her? Could she get enough courage to tell him?

Kagome glanced at her cat. It was unfair how calmly he was sleeping. Kagome sighed. She wouldn't get a peace of mind before she'd do it...

She stretched out her hand and grabbed the phone. She dialled Hojo's number.

"Hello?"

"Hey Hojo.."

"Kagome, my love!"

"Ehh, listen, I.. I have to tell you something."

"Yes?"

"I... I... Last night I.." Kagome swallowed. "I'm really really sorry about last night."

"You don't need to feel sorry. It's me, who should apologize," Hojo insisted.

"Huh?"

"I was too eager. Sorry. You were just so beautiful last night.."

"Oh no, no! Really, I'm apologizing."

"Well fine then. I forgive you, of course I will, my heart."

"I... I have to go now.. Bye."

"Bye, sweetie!"

It's you who should apologize, huh? Not exactly, Hojo...I doubt that. If you just knew.. What I did..

Kagome felt low. She felt ashamed. She felt guilty.

But though she was feeling all these feelings of shame, she still couldn't make herself to regret what she had done.

She huffed. She was fed up with sitting home alone, her cat being her only company. That was all Kagome had been doing these past few weeks. Besides, she desperately needed something to do. If she stayed at home, her thoughts would wander to some things she rather would not think about.

A girls' night out would do it. But who she'd ask to keep her company?

Ayumi, Yuka or Eri couldn't come to a question. Kagome just didn't want to see them. Not now. They'd just be prying how did the date with Hojo go.

Rin-chan...? Surely but...

Oh yeah, by the way, last night I slept with your boss! Nuh-uh.

And Ayame was already back in Hokkaido... A pity.

Then who..?

Kagome grabbed her phone again.

"Ka-chan."

"Hey, it's me, Kagome."

"Hi, Kagome-chan!"

"I was thinking if you haven't got anything better to do tonight.. Then maybe we could go somewhere together."

"Ooh, sounds fun! Sure I could come with you. Where should we go? What should we do?"

"No idea.. I just need to do something, you know.."

"I know the feeling... Well, get ready. I'll be there in 30 minutes, is that okay with you?"

"It's fine. See ya then!"

"Bye!"

They were sitting on high chairs, in the side of the club. A mass of people was moving along the music on the dance floor.

Their drinks were on the counter in front of them. Kayade was gazing the club, checking out cute guys. Kagome was staring at the shiny wood on the counter.

"So, what is it?"

"Huh?"

"Something is troubling you," Kayade reckoned. She knew exactly what it was, but she also knew that Kagome would have to let it out in order to ease her mind.

"Uh..."

"It's okay. I understand if you don't want to talk about it."

For a while they sat listening to the music the dj played.

"Thanks," Kagome said then.

Kayade took a sip of her drink. She watched the glass in her hand.

"So... things are not going so well with Hojo anymore, are they?"

Kagome flinched.

"What do you mean?"

"The tricky customer today. The guy you were with last night... It was not Hojo, was it?"

Kagome first paled and then she blushed.

"No, it wasn't Hojo. It was Hisakata Sesshoumaru-sama."

"With Hisakata-sama!"

"You know him?"

"Well, more by his reputation, really... I mean, my parents have known him for ages. I wouldn't say they're exactly friends, but they get along... So.. yeah.."

"I see..."

"You want to talk about it?"

"No.. I... I don't really know."

"Why did you do it?" Kayade asked quietly. She set her had glass back onto the counter and then patted Kagome's shoulder comfortingly.

"I... I had a date with Hojo. I don't know, I still like him but somehow things are not how they used to be anymore. Uhh.. I don't like him like I used to. I... I didn't want to see him last night, but I went anyway. When he kissed me, I suddenly felt embarrassed and.. I don't know, I just wanted to get out. So I left and went to a bar, I had a crappy week and wanted to forget about it, you know... Anyway, I had had a couple of drinks when I saw Sesshoumaru was there too. And that he had already drank a LOT, so.."

"Hisakata-sama? Drinking?" Kayade interrupted.
"Yeah."

"From what I've heard of him from my parents, he really doesn't drink that often. Well, he probably had his reasons too. Go on."

"Well, I couldn't just leave him there. So I escorted him to his home and there.. well... Then things just got a little bit out of control."

"So it really doesn't mean anything?"

"No... it's nothing, really. He's just good-looking.." .. and a damn good kisser, Kagome added in her thoughts.

"That one I don't deny," Kayade giggled.

Kagome took a little sip of her drink.

"Don't worry about it," Kayade said suddenly. "I know you must feel uneasy and guilty and ashamed and all. I mean, it must feel awful. But honestly, Kagome-chan, you're not a bad person. Everyone makes mistakes. You were a little drunk.."

Silence fell again.

"Now.. forget it all just for a while! Let's go to the dance floor."

Kagome allowed Kayade to drag her over to the dancing people. And indeed, soon the worries were left behind. The song they were playing was a little slower one and one that Kagome liked very much. Soon for her there was nothing else than the dim darkness of the room, the dance floor and the music.

He could see her. She was standing on a little forest-clearing, the kitsune pup was sitting on her shoulder, the monk and taijiya were standing next to her - but there was no sign of his idiot half-brother.

"He's after Kikyo, isn't he?" the miko asked.

Sesshoumaru was standing fifteen yards away and he could clearly smell her usual sweet scent turning saltier, she was close to tears.

"Kagome, you know he's a jerk..."

"It's okay, Shippo."

Sesshoumaru then realised that this scene he saw was not a dream image. It was one of her sealed memories broken free.

"I'm sorry, I forgot my bag," the miko said, putting the kitsune pup down. "I have to go and get it."

Kagome turned and walked away. The kitsune tried to follow her, but he was stopped.

"No, Shippo, don't go after her. Kagome-sama needs some time alone."

The taijiya sighed.

"When will Inuyasha see how much pain he is causing to her?"

"Not until it is too late, I'm afraid," the monk reckoned.

Sesshoumaru followed the miko. He found her sitting on the ground on another clearing. She was leaning against an old well. One silent tear rolled down her cheek.

"Kagome, you're nothing but a shard-detector to him. Why do you deceive yourself? Why do you cling to a false hope? All he cares about is killing Naraku, getting the Shikon jewel and being with his brought-back-from-death-girlfriend. And guess what, Kagome? You're not on his 'I care about' - list."

Sesshoumaru stood quietly among the trees, watching her.

Even though he did not care about the miko, he felt angered by the way his worthless half-brother treated her. After all, Sesshoumaru had been there himself when Inuyasha had told her that he'd protect her. Didn't the hanyou have any honour? He had made a promise.

Kagome raised her head and looked straight back at Sesshoumaru.

"You're not supposed to be here," she told him.

"If it had been my choice, I wouldn't be here," he replied.

"I see."

Sesshoumaru walked over to her and lowered himself so that he was on the same level with the sitting girl. He couldn't no longer control his movements and he knew this was no longer a memory. Now he was in her dream.

Sesshoumaru traced with his clawed finger the moist path that her teardrop had left behind.

"I don't want you to cry," he said.

"I'm not crying anymore," she whispered back softly. Kagome turned and closed their distance, placing a soft kiss on his lips. He soon deepened the kiss.

The taiyoukai wrapped his arms around her and pulled the girl into his lap. After the kiss was broken she leant her head against his shoulder. Here she was safe. Kagome closed her eyes. He would protect her.


Chie: Okay, I want to make one thing clear here. When Sess is visiting Kagome in Kagome's dreams and when the dream is memory-dream, Sesshy has some control over his actions. Except, of course, if he IS in the memory, then he acts like he has acted before.

BUT when the memory-dream changes into Kagome's own dream, Sess can't control himself anymore, and so abides Kagome's will... mwahahaha.