Chapter 2

Kagome felt the moment she was summoned. That one heartfelt plea had speared through her heart, forcing itself inside until she couldn't refuse. Even if she had wanted to ignore the call, Touga's plea had made it so her heart hadn't allowed it. A male so strong and powerful was begging her to save his wife and child, and she damn well would.

Because he used her flower to summon her, she was able to read what he needed through the link. When he touched that flower, called on her, it created a sort of bond. Nothing severe, just enough for her to read his need and understand the situation without wasting time explaining. A babe was stuck and the mother was getting exhausted with each passing second.

"Kagome?" Something flashed in Touga's eyes for a moment, but then it disappeared, determination taking its place. "Please. Name your price, and I will pay it. My mate she is-"

"I know everything. I heard it when you called. I also work for free. I will never name a price, Lord Touga. After all, what kind of person would I be if I only healed those that could pay." Kagome gave him a bright smile, and then her face morphed into a stern seriousness. "Now. I will treat your wife." Calling on her power, Kagome disappeared from view, appearing in the birthing chambers.

The maid servants all yelped in surprise, staring at Kagome with a nervousness she had grown used to. She was a strong female, one with power that wasn't heard of in anything outside of legend. Many people weren't sure if they should trust her or try and kill her.

"Izayoi." Kagome turned to the woman laying on the futon. She was panting, barely able to catch her breath. Her face would contort with pain with each back to back contraction. She really didn't have much longer before her body couldn't keep up anymore.

Kagome had seen this before. When a baby got turned the wrong way, it was impossible for them to slide through the birthing canal. There was only one option, and that was physically turning the baby. She would have to be quick if she was going to save both of them.

"Can you help her?" Touga was standing behind Kagome, arriving a few seconds after she did. Ignoring him, Kagome started towards Izayoi, stopping when a woman was brave enough to stand in her way.

"Unless you want your lady to die, I suggest you move." Kagome's eyes flashed white, a show of her power. The woman nearly jumped out of the way. She had only attempted to protect Izayoi from a stranger, so Kagome let it go, moving to kneel between Izayoi's legs. "Izayoi. I am Kagome."

"Kagome?" Izayoi questioned, voice weak. "Sesshomaru's Kagome?"

"I don't know the heir to the West." Kagome's heart pounded in her chest, but she ignored it. Her soul bonded's name was Sesshomaru. She had been looking for him for almost two hundred years. She had run across several Sesshomaru's, but none of them held that spark that was rumored to be between those who shared a soul. "For now, I am more worried about you. I am going to help you and your son, Izayoi, but it will be uncomfortable."

"Son?" Izayoi smiled largely, the biggest smile Touga had seen since all of this started.

"Yes. Son. I can feel him." Kagome patted Izayoi's belly tenderly, soothingly. "In cases like these, the baby has turned in the womb. He is not head or bottom down, but instead on his side. He cannot pass through the birthing canal. I will have to reach inside and turn him. It will be painful."

"Do it." Izayoi grabbed Kagome's hand, giving a weak squeeze. "Please save my son."

"I'm going to save both of you." Kagome reassured, then sat back on her heels. Luckily the room was already prepared for birth, so she didn't have to give out orders. When Touga was by Izayoi's side, holding one of her hands in both of his, and a maid servant at each of Izayoi's legs, Kagome got to work.

Kagome hadn't been lying about the pain. Izayoi somehow managed to scream despite her exhaustion. Touga's eyes bled red, and Kagome knew he was holding himself back. His instinct called to hurt any that hurt his mate, but Kagome was trying to help.

After a few minutes of gently working the baby around, Kagome pulled her arm free of Izayoi, grabbed a towel and set it on her lap. "On the next contraction, you need to push Izayoi. I am going to lend you my strength. It will feel uncomfortable to you because you are not used to power but bear with it."

"What about my son? Won't your reiki hurt him?" Touga questioned, worried.

"No. I have complete control. My reiki hurts no one that I don't want it to. I will be giving him some of my strength as well." Kagome answered, and then prepared herself. Gripping Izayoi's thighs, Kagome pushed her power into Izayoi, eyes flashing white. Izayoi gasped, color returning to her cheeks, and then she was pushing, the contraction barely bothering her anymore.

Three contractions later, and Kagome was catching the newest son of the West, smiling down at the baby as he let out a loud and pitiful cry. She ran her hand over the pup, a pink glow under her palm. She was reading him, making sure he was healthy and strong. When she felt nothing abnormal, she placed the child on Izayoi's chest, letting the parents meet their son for the first time.

"InuYasha." Touga whispered, Izayoi looking up at him before nodding in agreement.

Kagome stood, walking over to a wash basin. She began to rinse off her arms. She would need a bath later, but it would do until she could find a place to settle for the night. When she pushed to her feet again, Touga was there, staring down at her. "You're soul bonded."

He pointed to her wrist, which was visible from her tying her sleeves back before she started working on Izayoi and InuYasha. Kagome shrugged, thinking nothing of it. "I have run into my fair share of Sesshomaru's. Just because the names match, does not mean your son is my soul bonded."

"I know. He has come across many Kagome's." Touga kept his gaze on her wrist, then finally looked up at her eyes. "For your sake, I hope my son is not your other half." Kagome opened her mouth to reply but stopped. She had no idea what to say to that. Touga continued for her. "My son and my mate are healthy and strong. Just a bit tired. I have you to thank for that. Without your knowledge and your energy, they would not have made it. You will not accept any form of payment, but perhaps you will accept a room, with a warm bath, and breakfast in the morning. You can continue your travels well rested with a full belly."

"I thank you, Lord Touga. I accept your offer." Kagome gave him a grateful smile. A warm bath and a comfortable bed sounded amazing. Maybe in that time she could meet Sesshomaru as well. Touga may not want Kagome to be bonded to his son, but she was going to see for herself and make her own decisions. She was too old to be bossed around by anyone.

Kagome yawned, covering her mouth as she walked down the halls. She was starving. Touga had given her supper the night before, but she hadn't eaten much. Instead she snuck around the shiro, looking for Sesshomaru. She hadn't found him, which had been disappointing. When she arrived at breakfast, she planned to ask Touga to point her in the right direction.

She had no hope or expectation that this Sesshomaru was the one for her. In the past, she had learned not to get her hopes up. There were too many with that name for her to come across the one for her. Still, she would regret it if she didn't.

Casting out her aura, she found Touga easily. He was with Izayoi in their rooms. Deciding to give one last check on Izayoi and InuYasha, Kagome teleported herself to just outside the bedroom door. She knocked lightly, knowing Touga would hear. The door opened a second later, and Touga let her in immediately. "I thought I would come by and check on you two. How did things go through the night?"

"He ate wonderfully." Izayoi was sitting up in bed, InuYasha on her breast. "He seems to always be hungry. I hope I can produce enough for him."

"Eat lots of oats." Kagome knelt over, making sure InuYasha was breathing as he should while he ate. She checked over Izayoi as well, and when she was sure they were both good to go, she smiled at them. "Take an easy for a while, and no sex for a few weeks. Other than that, you two will be perfect." Kagome brushed her finger over a little white fuzzy ear. "This one already is."

"Father." A new voice called, and Kagome jumped, surprised to be caught off guard. She hadn't felt the newcomer at all. When she turned around, she met amber eyes and her heart seized in her chest. It was as if she was breathing for the first time, seeing her world with new eyes. Her entire body sizzled with the lightning surging through her. This was Sesshomaru, the one she was meant to spend her life with.

"You're him." Kagome gasped, her lungs still not working properly. He was gorgeous, long white hair, purple markings adorning his face. His eyes were intense, his body lean with muscles, and tall. So damn tall. But then she registered something she was surprised to see. When he looked at her, she saw the shocked surprise. He felt the bond between them as much as she did. And then she saw something else, something that should be there. Disgust.

"A human?" Sesshomaru snarled, fangs barred in hostility. "The gods must have a dull sense of humor."

One sentence, one look, and Kagome knew. Sesshomaru was not happy with what he saw. He was disappointed in her with just a single glance. "Yea? What of it?"

"Disgusting filth, that's all humans are. I will not have a human as a mate." Sesshomaru growled, flicking his eyes to Izayoi, who was holding on to InuYasha protectively. "So you live? How unfortunate. You and that hanyou should have perished like m-"

"Shut up!" Kagome snapped, storming up to Sesshomaru. "I don't know what the hell your problem is, but to wish harm on her and that innocent and defenseless baby is just downright cruel." He didn't say anything, stunned at her outburst. Taking a deep breath, she calmed herself, then met his cold eyes once more. "Our soul bond? Does it mean nothing to you?"

"There is no soul bond, Kagome. Because I reject you." Sesshomaru reached out, gripping her chin harshly in his fingers. "You are nothing but a mortal, greedy, vile, human. There is nothing in you that I would ever desire. You, along with the entire human race would be better off dead."

Kagome felt as if something inside of her snapped. It was as if he had reached inside of her, gripped her heart, and crushed it. It was white hot agony, but she didn't let it show on her face. She refused to. He didn't deserve to know he had hurt her so badly. He deserved nothing.

"So be it." Kagome yanked her chin from his hand, stepping back and putting distance between them. He stared at her for a moment longer, then turned and left the room.

"Kagome. I am so sorry." Touga reached out to grab her, but Kagome stepped out of his reach.

Looking up at him, she forced a smile. "It is what it is, Lord Touga. Here, this is to be used in emergencies. If you need me, call." Kagome produced a flower in her palm made of her reiki. It was identical to the one Touga had used to call her original. "I wish you, Lady Izayoi, and InuYasha the best, Lord Touga." Kagome vanished the second the flower was in his hand, not able to stay a moment longer. After years of searching and she was rejected in a matter of minutes. Was this her fate? Had she done something wrong to anger the gods? She wasn't sure how she was going to continue on with the agony in her heart. It surged through her with every single damned heartbeat.

...

And so it begins. Fair warning, this story is also a way for me to work on my angst. It will get worse before it gets better, but I promise that it will eventually get better. Because I got so many reviews and followers, I felt like I should give you all another chapter. So here it is. Sesshomaru is a jerk, but he won't stay that way. His character growth in this story is astronomical, but it's a slow progression. Thanks to Didithereaper for editing. As always, your reviews mean everything to me. I hope you enjoy this chapter, despite Sesshomaru being a jerk. lol.