Chapter 29

Kagome let out a laugh as Touga and Izayoi danced around the fire, their hands clasped together. Sesshomaru was beside her, his flute to his lips as he played a lively toon for them all to enjoy. Kagome hadn't realized he could even play the flute. Not once had he mentioned it, and she hadn't known to ask.

Today was Touga's birthday. With as old as he was, it was surprising he still remembered it. He didn't want anything special, just a little get together for the family to enjoy. After they had eaten dinner and InuYasha went to bed, Touga had asked for Sesshomaru to play a happy song for him, and Sesshomaru obliged.

At first, all she could do was stare at Sesshomaru. When he played that first note, their eyes had met, and she could have sworn she saw him blush. He hadn't been embarrassed, she could feel that. He had been nervous and anxious. He wanted her to like the music he played.

She did. The music had her dancing while sitting beside him, clapping her hands in beat with it. Knowing she was enjoying herself, he played that much better, and she noticed it. It was hard for her to think back on the way things used to be. Before Nakoa had ended up pregnant, Sesshomaru was a very different person to Kagome.

They for sure wouldn't be sitting here like this. Her reaction wouldn't mean so much to him, wouldn't motivate him into playing better. He hadn't wanted anything to do with her. He had only wanted her to stay far far away.

Sometimes it was hard for her to piece it together. The old Sesshomaru didn't seem like the same person as the new Sesshomaru, but she knew it was. This was the same person who rejected her, hurt her, scared her. And yet… what she was feeling for him?

Blushing, she couldn't help but to pan over his facial features. He was looking out at his father and stepmother, watching the dance. Sango and Miroku had joined in, just as happy as Touga and Izayoi. Sesshomaru's sharp eyes took it all in. Amber eyes. She got lost in them often. They were lined by the darkest lashes she had ever seen. It was a contrast to his silvery, white hair, but it made his eyes pop, made them more alive than normal.

Reaching out, she ran her fingers through his hair. There were times when all she wanted to do was comb through the silky strands. She had never asked him if she could. She didn't know if that would be considered too much for him or not. She knew he had personal boundaries, knew there were things that even he wouldn't do. Still, she hoped one day he would let her.

Her fingers moved from his hair to his arm. His sleeves had fallen to his elbow's while he played, and she traced the tattoo's over his skin. There were so many. They covered his arm completely and she found herself leaning closer to inspect them all.

When she heard the missed note in the music, her eyes snapped towards Sesshomaru. His gaze was boring into hers, his eyes molten. She had seen that look before and knew what it was. While she had been exploring him, he had been getting aroused. Looking down, she noticed the tent in his hakama, knew he wasn't going to be able to cover that for long.

Smirking, she unwrapped the boa from around her neck, setting it in his lap. She made sure to brush her hand against his erection, hiding her smile as Sesshomaru once more messed up a note. His eyes promised retribution, and she shivered at the thought. They still hadn't gone all the way. She hadn't even let him touch her, but she enjoyed pleasing him. Having so much control over him, making someone as strong and powerful as him squirm beneath her was a satisfaction in itself.

Deciding to push her luck, Kagome leaned up into his space, pushed his hair away from his neck and opened her mouth. Her teeth pressed against his skin, pulling at the flesh slightly. His flute was dropped into his lap, his hand coming up to grip a fistful of her hair. Before she could register what was happening, he yanked her away from his neck, and pulled her down until he was kissing her.

One hand gripped her chin, holding her in place with the other held her hair, not letting her move at all. He thrust his tongue in her mouth, stealing away her breath and all she could do was hold on and let him. Hands coming up, she gripped onto him, arching into him as he sucked on her tongue.

Faintly she heard the catcalls of her family, but she ignored them, concentrating on Sesshomaru only. He demanded that she did, and she submitted to him faster than ever before. Her body thrummed with the passion that he invoked in her, and she let it heat, let it fill her until she felt as if she was going to combust.

Just when she thought Sesshomaru was going to take her away to his room, it was as if a basin of cold water had been thrown on her. One minute she was being kissed senseless, the next, she was being snatched away.

She knew it wasn't Sesshomaru that held her from the enraged roar that sounded behind her. Looking back over the shoulder that she had been thrown on, she saw Touga wrestling with a red eyed Sesshomaru, his fangs elongated. His beast was coming out and Kagome knew that whoever snatched her away was in serious trouble.

Turning back around, she knew exactly who it was with a single glance. "Kouga! What the hell are you doing? Do you have a death wish?"

"Duh. I'm fucking saving you. I didn't think Touga would ever let that dick face touch you like that." Kouga snapped back in fury, getting further and further away from the shiro. "I got the letter that you're courting the bastard. How did they force you into that?

"You want answers, then you come talk to me like a normal person." Kagome snapped, and then disappeared, teleporting away from Kouga, and back to Sesshomaru. The moment Sesshomaru spotted her, he threw his father away, grabbing her roughly and pulling her into his arms. His breathing was harsh, his fangs so long his mouth couldn't close. His eyes were the color of blood, his irises bright blue. She had heard what happened when she had been attacked by the demon and knocked unconscious. Now she was seeing Sesshomaru in all of his glory.

"Shhh." She shushed him, speaking calmly. He continued to paw at her, pulling her closer and closer until it started to become painful. He wasn't in his right mind, she knew it. She had to get him calmed down. "I came back. I'm here."

"Kill. Him." Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed as he looked behind her. She knew Kouga was there, watching the entire thing.

"No." Kagome ran her hands over his arm, kissing his jaw. She let her touch soothe his blood, let her words reassure him. "He's just an idiot. Killing him will solve nothing. I don't want you to leave me. Stay with me."

Sesshomaru nuzzled her neck. She could feel his razor sharp fangs against her skin, but not once did she worry they would cut her. Even Sesshomaru's beast did not want to bring her pain. Gripping her hair, he pulled her back up, and she saw that he was beginning to calm down. "I want to kiss you again, but I can't do that with your beast out. You have to take control, Sesshomaru."

She watched as Sesshomaru struggled before his features began to pull back, his eyes returning to normal, his fangs and claws retreating. When he was back to normal, he stepped forward, almost falling from the amount of energy it took to control his beast. Before they both crashed to the ground, Touga was there, catching Sesshomaru. Kagome grabbed his cheeks, kissing him like she had wanted. He was weak and exhausted, but he kissed her back. "Now, go rest. I'll handle him."

"If he touches you…" Sesshomaru growled, and Kagome rubbed the base of his ears, causing his eyes to close as he slumped more against Touga. She didn't say anything else, watching as Touga helped Sesshomaru walk back to the tree he had been sitting at.

Turning on her heel, she put her hands on her hips, glaring at her best friend. "Explain yourself."

"After everything he fucking did to you and you're going to mate him?" Kouga had seen everything that had just happened. Kagome knew he couldn't deny that she was there willingly. She could see the worry for her, the confusion towards her choices.

"I've forgiven him, Kouga. He-"

"How? At one point you told me you would never be able to forgive him as long as that scar remained on your face. Do you remember that night, Kagome? We were laying in bed, curled around each other, and I asked about it. You told me that every time you saw your reflection, you felt his claws all over again. Now you're kissing him, letting him hold you?" Kouga stepped towards her, ignoring Sesshomaru's warning growl. "Is this because of Ayame? Because I left you the way I did? It's been years and we've been friends all this time. I thought… I thought you were okay with me being with Ayame, but now I'm not so sure."

"Kouga." Kagome gave him a small smile, remembering the night Kouga spoke of clearly. It was the night she lost her virginity. "Everyone deserves another chance, Kouga. Things happened, and he changed. He proved himself to me. I didn't make it easy. I was cruel, said things to him that hurt him just as much as he hurt me. But he stuck by me. He left at one point thinking it's what I wanted. He was willing to throw himself into isolation if it gave me what I wanted. He is so tender, and kind. It's only for me, but it's there. I promise you that he would never hurt me again. I know that he won't."

Stepping up to him, she grabbed his cheeks, forcing him to look down at her. "Thank you. You are my closest friend. You have been there for me in a way that now one else has. You wanted to keep me safe, so you rushed over here to do just that. I can't thank you enough for being by my side even after all of these years. But Kouga, you don't have to worry." Leaning up on her tippy toes, she pressed her lips against Kouga's ear. She heard the snarl from Sesshomaru, knew she was pushing the limits. But she had to say this or Kouga wouldn't stop, and she wasn't ready for anyone else to hear. Speaking low enough so just he heard, she gave her heart a voice. "I'm in love with him."

When she backed away, she met Kouga's eyes. She could see the stunned silence in them. He let out a harsh breath, rubbing the back of his neck as she stepped back, putting distance between them. "Fine. But if he hurts you…"

"You will be the first to know. You can whisk me so far away he won't ever be able to find me again. I promise." Kagome gave him a beaming smile, and he huffed, looking away.

"Guess I wasted my time coming here then." When he looked back at Sesshomaru, he narrowed his eyes. Pointing a clawed finger at him, Kouga tsked. "You better fucking take care of her. I still think she can do better than a dick face like you, but I'm giving you a chance because she asked me to. Don't fuck it up."

"She is my mate." Sesshomaru felt no need to say anything more than that.

"You can stay, Kouga." Touga offered, hand held out towards the fire. "As long as you don't touch Kagome again, I think things will be fine."

"Nah. I only came to steal Kagome away. Since she is choosing to stay, I'll head back. Ayame is expecting and I don't want to be away for too long." Kouga blushed as Kagome squealed, launching herself at him and hugging him tightly. He hugged her back, not caring about Sesshomaru or any of the others.

When Kagome let him go, she kissed his cheek. "Give Ayame my congratulations. I'll come and visit soon, okay." He gave a nod, then said his farewells to everyone but Sesshomaru. When he was gone, Kagome turned back to Sesshomaru, smiling at him.

He seemed to be getting his energy back steadily. He was able to sit up on his own now. Kneeling in front of him, she grabbed his face, smashing his cheeks inward. "My big guard puppy!" He growled, and she laughed as he yanked her into his lap, nipping at her neck. The others chuckled as well, and the tension that had formed from Kouga's impromptu visit was gone. They could once again enjoy the night.

...

Sorry it's a little late. We went on vacation over the weekend, and everyone ended up getting a stomach bug. It was fun, but we ended up leaving early. Then this morning, I got the new Pokémon snap game that I Preordered(It ended up getting delivered late) so I have been playing that for awhile. As far as the chapter, a lot of you expressed the hope that Sesshomaru would play the flute for Kagome, and now he has. His beast is also something he will not call on often, if at all He can't control it and it leaves him weak and vulnerable. He is the type that would rather rely on his own strength. Of course Kouga had to be dramatic, but he was only worried about his friends well being. We will see him again.

For the challenge, because I am posting so late, I will lower the reviews needed to twenty. Twenty reviews from different people and you will get the next chapter. Chapter 30 teaser: Nakoa has the baby.

Now, last week I posted a random chapter in celebration of me completing this story. I offered a separate challenge if anyone could guess what is up with Kagome's powers. No one got it right, and 98% claimed it had something to do with the jewel. It has absolutely nothing to do with the jewel. The jewel doesn't even exist in this story. So, I will give you all one more chance to guess. Think deeper. Think of the things she has already done with her reiki, and go from there.

I hope you all enjoy!