more to come


Rin had seen a sign for the zoo on the way back to the palace and gave a convincing argument on why they needed to go. Impressed with her debating skills, the two adults obliged. Time passed and they were having a great time at the zoo. Sesshomaru and Kagome was literally running after Rin to keep up with her excitement. She wanted to see everything, touch everything and get into everything. You would think after running around for hours she would be tiring down but it seemed the more she played the more energy she gained.

Kagome couldn't breathe, she was leaning against the gate trying to catch her breath, she just finished chasing the little girl down the walkway trying to stop her and her determination to pluck one of the peacock feathers off they seen behind a short gate. She looked up at Sesshomaru who seemed amused by her position, she frowned at him, knowing he was laughing at her in his head, " Shut up."

Sesshomaru smirked, " You ready to go?"

Kagome leaned forward, hands on her knees, getting her breathing under control, " No I'm good."

Sesshomaru chuckled, touching his wife's back, "Let's get some ice cream."

She stood up straight, smiling, her eyes glancing over, watching the little treasure in the petting zoo with other kids and the instructor, feeding some of the animals. She was paying attention attentively to the instructor, copying his exact method on how to feed the animals.

Kagome smiled at the adorable scene as she carefully feed a baby sheep, wishing she would have grabbed her camera. She rubbed her nose, the hay surrounding the petting zoo tickling her nostrils, making her sneeze. Taking a quick breath, with a sudden frown she looked around, everything seemed normal, people walking around with their children enjoying the zoo. Blue eyes fell on a teen goth sitting on a bench not too far away, reading a book with purple headphones over her ears.

Her eyes narrowed for a moment before she turned back to her husband, " Yeah, lets get some ice cream."

He nodded, " I'll get Rin." stepping forward towards the petting zoo gate.

A soft beep caught her attention, she touched her ear, " Yeah."

It was Gruff, " Mini me, bad news, a contact of mines claims a woman fitting the description was on the sunset cruise. I think your dark priestess is here."

She nodded with a frown, her eyes glancing back over to the bench but the teen was already gone. " You got any new leads."

" The wind demoness hasn't stopped moving yet, I'll let you know as soon as she does. Go home and stay out of trouble."

" Got it."

" Good."

Sesshomaru was walking back towards her as she disconnected, Rin on his shoulders. He saw the look on her face and already knew something happened, " What's wrong?"

She frowned, stepping closer to him to whisper, " Not in front of Rin."

Rin frowned from on top of the demon lord shoulders, " I'm not a baby."

Kagome smiled, walking towards the parking lot with them, " Sure you are kid."

She shook her head from her high perch, " Am not!"

Sesshomaru nodded, holding the girl's legs so she won't fall, " You're both babies."

Kagome laughed at the cute argument, seeing the car coming into view, " Oh shut up you." Opening the door with a smile as Sesshomaru took Rin off his shoulders. Kagome picked up the giggling girl and strapped her in as well. Soon they was driving out the parking lot and back onto the main road.

They rode in silence, Rin silently enjoying Spongebob on the built in portable tv's in the headrests of the driver and passenger seats, sipping juice out of a carton. Sesshomaru noticed Kagome's eyes continually glance into her side mirror. His hand slipped over the one that was drumming her leg. " You okay?"

She didn't look at him, he would have known she was lying. " I'm good." Her mumbling voice hinting him off anyways.

He rubbed her soft skin with his thumb, hoping to calm her, " What is it Kagome?"

Blue eyes glanced behind her, seeing Rin so absorbed in her show, she frowned, mumbling, " Did I tell you about my vision?"

He glanced at her, blinking for a moment, trying to remember, " Something about a dark priestess." He paused for a moment, his voice lowering to a whisper, " Why do you ask?"

Her forehead pressed against the cool glass, watching scenery pass by in a blur, " I think we were being followed earlier."

He immediately got into over protective alpha mood, " When? Where?"

Kagome frowned, thinking for a moment, " When we went to pick up Rin, this older lady, early 40's maybe, stopped me. She asked some personal questions, I asked her why but she left. I knew something was off about her."

Blue eyes glanced over, " Then at the zoo, there was this goth teen sitting on the bench. I just thought it was weird."

Sesshomaru blinked, " Weird how?"

Kagome raised a brow, staring at her lover, " What's the odds that old woman and teenager just happen to be wearing the same perfume?"

Sesshomaru frowned, seeing what Kagome was getting at, " You think it was the priestess." he stated more than asked.

Kagome shrugged a shoulder, " I don't know, that shit was strong, different." she made a face, " smelled like banana oatmeal and bath salt. How many people can be wearing something that stink like that? Especially an older woman picking up kids at an elementary school and a 17 year old hardcore goth high schooler."

She frowned to herself, " Maybe I'm just being paranoid."

Sesshomaru smirked, " You were born paranoid."

Kagome agreed, " Exactly, I'm suspicious of everything, maybe I'm just over thinking it. Gruff said that she was here but why would she be following me."

Sesshomaru shook his head, " You have good instincts Kagome, you can never be too suspicious of that."

She smiled, looking her husband, loving his support. Sesshomaru felt a hand reach over and touch his hand that was on the stick. Kagome settled back in her seat with a soft sigh, the inu could feel her aura surrounding him, calming him, relaxing his shoulders, he glanced over, " Why do you do that?" it was not the first time she coated him in a cocoon of her powers before.

Kagome just smiled, she liked the pulse of his powerful aura, the strength she could feel emitting from him always energized, like his aura was always moving, ready for anything, it excited her. It made her feel safe, as if nothing could ever go wrong in his presence. She liked the effort it took to calm it, tame it, loved the challenge it always gave her.

" I like to." she finally answered.

Sesshomaru just smirked softly, looking back to road, " Sure."

She just grinned, glancing in the mirror, " Shut up."

His smirk widened a smidge, feeling her hand tighten on his for a moment, " I need to go to the office."

Kagome glanced over, " Do you have to? We're pose to be playing hooky."

Sesshomaru just shrugged, " Paperwork I need to retrieve to work from home for a while."

A thought made her smile, " Can I come with?" Blue eyes glanced out the window, " I'll do that thing you like."

Sesshomaru smirked, pulling off the highway, " No, you and Rin are going home." he had to change anyways, he couldn't show up to his building in sneakers and shorts. They would probably think he was an impostor.

Kagome shook her head, " Oh come on, let me come. I'm good at being quiet and getting the job done. How was that meeting by the way?"

Sesshomaru chuckled softly, taking a right at a red light, being honest, " I can't remember what they were saying."

Kagome laughed, " See, I got skills."

A voice came from the back seat, " I feel like I should know what happened at that meeting."

Both adults glanced back for a second before looking at each other, Kagome burst out laughing as Sesshomaru simply shook his head, continuing to drive. Blue eyes turned to the child in the back, " I'll tell you when you're older."

Pulling up to the palace Kagome raised a brow at the pink Porsche parked in front of the main entrance to her home. She felt the green aura of her lover grow heavy with tension making her glance to him, " Another one of your girls?"

Sesshomaru simply frowned with a slight nod, " Barbara." he mumbled, pulling up behind the attention needing car and parking.

Kagome undid her seat belt, " Want me to handle this?"

He let out a soft breath, " Let me talk to her first."

A half smirk crossed the miko's face as she turned to him, " Oh, you like this one huh?"

Amber eyes glanced to her, " 5 minutes then you can handle it anyway you want."

Kagome thought about it for a moment, then nodded, " Okay, we'll try this your way."

Sesshomaru nodded his thanks for understanding and opened the car door. As he got out, the door to the porshe opened as well. The two females in the sports car watched a woman step out. Her long blonde hair almost platinum in a french braid over her shoulder. Eyes the color of dark tea, warm and deep. She was dressed in a pair of off pink stretch pants hugged her curves like a second skin. Her white blouse hanging off her shoulders, tying around her neck dipping low in the back. Pink seude pumps encasing small feet.

Kagome gave a low whistle as her husband walked over to her, " She's cute." Rin snickered but didn't say anything as the two adults outside of the car began switching words.

Sesshomaru tried his best not to frown as he saw Barbara step closer to him, " What are you doing here?"

Brown eyes looked him over slowly, she never seen him dressed so laid back before, and she damn sure never seen him in a pair of sneakers, " What are you wearing?"

Sesshomaru ignored the question, " Barbara you need to leave."

She shook her head, " No, not without talking to you first."

" Then what do you want?"

Her painted lips frowned, " How can you truly be happy with this human? How can you choice her over me. I did everything to be perfect for you."

" I wasn't looking for perfection."

She stepped forward, touching his arm, " I can be whatever you want me to be, just tell me and I'll do it."

He sighed softly, " Barbara, you are a lovely woman and I am sure you will find someone one day that is everything you deserve."

She crossed her arms. " Are you saying I don't deserve you?"

He raised a brow at the hostility after trying to be nice, " I'm saying I don't want you."

She stepped closer to him, " Just give me a chance, I can make you forget all about you wife." Her hands touched his arms, sliding them over his muscles, " Remember that weekend in Madrid." she whispered.

She stepped closer, her arms going around his neck, " Remember everything we did together."

She leaned in, pressing herself against the strong body of her lord, " Didn't you have a good time?"

A throat cleared, " Your 5 minutes is up my love."

Barbara looked over as Sesshomaru stepped out of the embrace, looking to his wife then back to the female in front of him, " Barbara, just leave."

She again shook her head, " How could you not want me. I'm twice the woman she will ever be. My father is the leader of the silk industry in all of Japan."

Kagome raised a brow, " Damn, I just kill people for a living."

Sesshomaru smirked at his silly wife, then looked to Barbara, " You don't know me like she does."

The young woman glanced up to her former lover, " That's not true, I know everything about you."

Sesshomaru crossed his arms, then glanced to his wife, " Kagome what's my net worth?"

She raised a brow, " Your what?"

Barbara grinned, " $115.6 billion."

Sesshomaru looked to the female, " What's my favorite basketball team?"

" You like basketball?"

Kagome raised a brow, " The Detroit Pistons."

Sesshomaru smirked slightly, that was correct and he knew he never told her that. " Kagome knows me. You only know how much my title is worth."

Kagome stepped forward, " If you want sweetheart, I know a tiger that would love to show you his most worthy assets."

Sesshomaru raised a brow, knowing she was talking about her teammate, " What are you, his wingman?"

Kagome giggled, " For the next 3 weeks, me and Ayame usually switch every 6 months."

Barbara shook her head at the couple, " My lord just give me a chance."

Kagome stepped forward, " Girl, you don't need to throw yourself at a man to prove you're worth something."

Tears touched those brown eyes, " What would you know about my life, Lord Sesshomaru was my way out."

Kagome raised a brow, " From age 8 to 18 I was locked up in max security prison, I experienced things no child nor teen should have ever been exposed to. I had to find out the hard way, your only way out is what you choose to do next." She stepped closer, " No man is going to save you from your own life. You have to be strong and fight."

Barbara blinked, wiping a few specks of tears from her eyes, her voice a whisper. All her life she has been groomed to be the perfect debutante. Told to conform to whatever a man wanted to please them. Taught that she had to please them if she wanted anything good to come out of her life. She didn't know how to work, she didn't know how to be independent, she didn't know how to be anything but a pleaser. " I don't know how to fight."

Kagome touched her shoulder, " Then you learn. You learn how to be the strongest woman you can be. You learn how to make your own choices because only your choice matters."

Barbara blinked, " My choice matters?" she was never told she had a choice, she was never once offered a choice. Slowly she nodded, " My choice matters."

Kagome grinned, " Damn right. And you work that shit."

Barbara laughed, shaking her head, " Work that shit." She grinned, looking to Sesshomaru, " I always thought you were too pale anyways."

Kagome burst out laughing, Sesshomaru raised a brow, " Excuse me."

Barbara just turned, looking to the miko, " Can we go out for coffee sometimes?"

Kagome raised a brow with a smirk, " Sure Cutie."

She smiled with a nod before turning, heading back to her car without another word. Sesshomaru and Kagome watched her go, Kagome crossed her arms, " I like her."

Sesshomaru glanced to his wife, then just shook his head, " I need to get going."

Rin was helped out of the car by one of the valet demons, " Can I go call Shippo?"

Kagome turned to the little girl, " Homework first."

Brown eyes rolled, " Fine." she frowned, heading inside the palace.

Sesshomaru watched the little girl, " You know she's going to do it anyways right?"

Kagome giggled, crossing her arms, " I know, I'll have to take her phone away." she turned to her hubby, a smile on her pretty face, " But there's something I wanted to show you in the gardens first."

A small smirk played on his face at the suggestion, " You know I have to go."

She bit her lip cutely before her smile widen, her eyes betraying the intent of her thoughts, " It will only take a second."

He glanced to the steps of his home, he really needed to change and head to his office for the paperwork he needed. But what he planned to do to Kagome was going to happened first. It excited him how she always wanted to try something new. And he definitely knew what she wanted to try now he thought as Kagome pulled on his hand, making him follow her to the back of the palace. Besides, he can always have Evyonne just drop the paperwork off here anyways.

" I left my bag in the car, is the door unlocked?" came the sweet voice of Rin as she hopped down the steps two at a time.

Kagome stopped as Sesshomaru pulled out his keys, pressing the unlock button. Rin shaded her eyes looking through the window, seeing her bookbag on the backseat on the driver side. The ten-year-old was all smiles as she rounded the car, once she finishes her homework, she can call the love of her life.

Kagome smiled, " She's so damn cute."

Sesshomaru nodded in agreement, " She is." he looked to his wife, " Bet we can make cuter."

Kagome gushed, smiling wide, did he just mention children... with her. Kagome laughed, she must be hearing things she thought, glancing to the window on the first floor of the palace, the tinted reflection showed a shadow move. Her eyes went wide as she pivoted, a man in a leather jacket was right behind Rin as she was pulling her bag out the car. She dashed forward, " Rin!"

The young girl blinked, screaming as an arm wrapped around her waist and lifted her off the ground. Brown eyes locked with blue for a moment, wide and scared just as the man leaped into a moving van.

Immediately Kagome took off after the van on foot, adrenaline and training taking over at this point. The van was roaring out of the long driveway, she was never going to catch up at this speed. Hearing a honk, she glanced over seeing Sesshomaru had gotten into his sports car, instead of slowing down or opening the passenger door, he simply rolled down the window.

Kagome nodded in determination, changing her direction, she ran up the trunk of a tree before leaping onto the roof of Sesshomaru's car, sliding into the window with ease. Blue eyes glanced over to him, " Catch them."

He nodded, shifting gears and speeding up, her eyes were on the black van as they closed the distance between them. Sesshomaru expertly maneuvered his sports car through the traffic as if the other cars were standing still. He drifted around a corner as the van tried to shake him off their tail and sped up even more. Kagome leaned out the window, ruger in hand, her aim was true when she shot at the tires of the van.

The back tire blew on contact with the bullet and swerved the van off the road. The driver lost control and ran into a light pole about 30 meters ahead of them. The back doors of the van suddenly burst open and assault rifles were fired. Sesshomaru curved his car to a professional stop and ducked on top of Kagome, this car was not bullet proof.

She frowned underneath her husband, as they lit the car up with bullets, she could feel the purity from here, " They're using modified weapons."

Sesshomaru frowned, " Naraku." he hissed.

She frowned, " Stay down." she mumbled, opening the car door and pulling herself forward.

Sesshomaru tried to stop her, " Wait!" But she was already out the car, using the door as a shield, firing back at the kidnappers.

Kagome saw Rin bite the man that was holding her, before kicking him between his legs to get him to let go. She smacked him with her back pack before taking off down the nearest alley. She glanced over to Sesshomaru, " She's running!" she screamed, tossing her cell phone into the car, " Call Gruff!" she demanded as she rolled to her feet, still firing, going after the men chasing the small child.

Sesshomaru frowned, reaching for the phone, his skin was tingling with the purity the bullets possessed, " She never listens."

Rin was on the move as she took off down the alley, heart pumping fast, brown eyes wide, she looked for an escape route. Immediately she tried the door to the right of her, but it was locked. She ran further down and tried the one on the left but it didn't give either, she can hear the gun shots behind her. Knowing they were coming for her, but it was a dead end, blocked off by a brick wall. She turned quickly, looking around, she had to get away from these people. Eyes landed on an fire escape later.

" There she is!"

She turned, seeing more men in biker jackets running towards her. She took off her back pack and threw it at one of the men, then knocked over a trash can to slow them down. Taking a step back, she braced herself as she leaped up, rebounding off the dumpster lid and reached for all she was worth for the last rung of the broken fire escape. Her small hands gripped it and held on tight before she struggled for a moment, pulling herself up. Reaching the second one, she quickened her speed and climbed faster up the ladder.

Reaching the top, she pulled herself over the ledge before looking in all directions, trying to find an escape. She saw the roof access door and ran over immediately, pulling on the handle, trying to get inside of the building. She frowned, it was locked, brown eyes glanced behind her, seeing a man was making his way onto the roof. Turning, she ran in the opposite direction but reached the other end a little too quickly for her liking. Carefully she backed away from the edge and focused on the building next to her. They were close enough to jump but she would definitely need a running start first.

She took a few strides back, bent in a sprinters crouch, wished she didn't have to do this and took off. She got good height on the jump and crossed the gap easily but her landing needed some work as she clumsily landed on her hip. She stood and rubbed her side, sure she would have a bruise later. Dusting herself off, she turned, seeing the man turn and spot her before heading her way. Again bending in her sprinters pose and took off, leaping to the next building.

Kagome was hot on their tails, she close lined the man in front of her and superman punched the next one before sliding on one knee, shooting at another. She ran into the alley, scanning all corners with her eyes not seeing anything. She looked up just in time to see Rin leaping over her head to the next building and seen a man following her a few moments later. Kagome shook her head and started free climbing her way up the side of the building.

By the time Rin reached the fourth roof top her butt was so sore she would need a donut cushion just to sit down. Still she stood up and looked for a place to hide, save the pain for later she thought, that's what Kagome would say, get what needs to be done, done. She had to get away from these people until Kagome could find her. She knew the cop was coming for her, she saw how she ran after the car. She knew she cared about her and was going to come and get her.

She turned and saw a large air vent, quickly she ran over, it was big enough to easily fit her inside. She pulled at the cover for a moment before it finally gave and the bottom lifted. She pushed it up and raised a leg to climb in when a hand suddenly grabbed the collar of her shirt and yanked her backwards. She screamed as she was lifted off the floor by another man in a leather jacket. He smirked at the screaming girl, " Your pretty fast kid, I give you that."

Rin kicked at the man, knowing her hands wouldn't reach his face, " Let go you dickhead!"

The man grunted as one of those kicks hit him in the side, he shook Rin like a rag doll, " Little bitch!"

" Let her go!" a voice yelled from behind them. The man was quick, pressing Rin to his body like a shield, turning around, an arm around her neck in a choke hold.

Kagome was before them, 9mm in her hand, pointing it at his head, lips frowning, eyes narrowed. Everyone tensed, the man slowly backed up towards the edge of the roof as Kagome crept forward.

He was grinning and that was pissing her off, just adding to her fucking headache. The brown eyes she saw on the biker's face was taunting and egotistic, " Come any closer and I'll snap her neck. Back off and she lives. We can do this the easy way or the hard way."

Kagome frowned, " I choose my way." she hissed, her finger was quick. Rin screamed, the man holding her dropping to the floor. The dead body locked when it fell backwards, making her slap the ground hard and slid her across the floor, unfortunately for her, the roof was on a slant... and she was too close to the edge. Kagome ran forward, watching Rin spinning head over foot, right off the side of the building.

She dived, catching her hand as her body went airborne. The sudden jolt of gravity had Kagome falling off the building as well. She gripped the edge with her free hand, holding Rin with the other, struggling to keep a grip, " I got you Rin, I got you."

She tried to pull herself up to only slip farther. Her grip tightening on the girl's hand, the other loosening on the edge.

Rin looked up, " Kagome I'm scared!"

She looked down, " It's okay sweetie,I got you!" She slipped more, she heard a struggle of some sort on the roof top, but couldn't see what was going on. Her palm was sweating as she struggled to hold on.

Rin looked up at the adult. " I'm slipping!"

" No Rin, I got you, I got you!"

Brown eyes looked up, tears shining on her face, " I wish you were my mom." she whispered.

Kagome shook her head, feeling the little girl slipping, tears touched her eyes, " Rin!" She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to hold on to her fingers, " NO!" she suddenly screamed, " I won't let you go!" and with a ferocious screamed, Kagome tossed Rin in the air like an omelet, gripping her shirt as she came closer, she heaved her over her head and back onto the roof. Unfortunately it made her lose the grip she had on the edge. Rin screamed, " Kagome!" watching as she fell backwards.

An arm suddenly reached over with lightening speed, grabbing Kagome by the wrist just before she was fully out of range. Blue eyes glanced up, her smile wide seeing Sesshomaru laying on the roof, saving her in the nick of time. He simple raised a brow, " Where you think you going?"

Kagome laughed with a shake of her head, " I love you."

Both of his brows went up at the statement, but he didn't have time to react. He saw those beautiful blue eyes suddenly go wide. She abruptly planted her feet on the side of the building and kicked off, pulling out her gun as she fell back, firing 4 shots before gravity took over. A swirling black portal opened up a few stories below her, swallowing her whole before flashing and disappearing.

Sesshomaru blinked slowly at what just happened, he shook his head before turning at the sudden intake of breath by the small girl beside him. There were four bodies laid on the ground behind them, guns in their hands, all suffering from head shots. Rin shook her head, tears in her brown eyes, " She saved us." her voice whispered.

Sesshomaru stood slowly with a frown, he could feel the purity in the weapons the dead men held. He didn't know if he would have died but he knew it would have hurt like a bitch being shot with one. Kagome just risked her life to save his without even a second thought. She was willing to die for him. He turned to the edge of the roof, glancing down to where she disappeared, he had to get her back, " Let's go." Rin nodded, stepping forward and grabbing Sesshomaru's hand. He scooped her up in one motion, placing her on his hip as he took off into the sky in a ball of green light.


more to come