As the door opened Kagome saw her group whispering to each other, they hadn't seemed to notice them enter. Kagome cleared her throat to get their attention. She tried to look calm and collected like the demon lord who's arm was linked with hers, but she could still feel her body shaking from fear of what they would say to her. The group turned and was floored to see Kagome on the arm of Sesshomaru. Sango rushed towards Kagome to grab her into a hug when Sesshomaru's arm and side were suddenly in her path. She glared at Sesshomaru and looked back at Kagome.
"The Mi-" He started and Kagome cleared her throat once more and he sighed. "Ka-gome is injured, it would be best not to throw your weight at her." He then moved out of Sango's way. As she move slowly up next to her. Carefully Sango reached out and touch Kagome's face in the same place Sesshomaru did.
"What are these? You didn't have these before." Sango asked Kagome. Before Kagome could reply InuYasha was up in Sesshomaru's face, yelling.
"You prick, what the hell gives you the right to steal someone!?" Sesshomaru just stared at InuYasha while he continued to blather on about killing Sesshomaru for stealing away what was "HIS". Kagome felt a vein pulsing in her temple as she started to get annoyed at the mere sound of InuYasha's voice. 'And here I thought this would be hard', she thought to herself.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" She yelled as she yanked violently down on InuYasha's ear, who finally had the sense to shut up. She could feel herself practically vibrating with anger.
"He didn't steal me! I left, you arrogant, selfish, child!" She yelled angrily before she released his ear and tried to regain her composure he just stared at the ground. "I couldn't take it anymore, the more I loved you the more Kikyo was on your mind. Tell me honestly, when you look at me, do you see me or her? Am I just a poor copy of her to you? You couldn't have her so you decided I would do because I contain her soul. Because that exactly what I feel every time you look at me, it's like you see right through me!" She could still feel herself vibrating angrily and Sesshomaru pulled her back slightly until her back touched his chest. As before he began growling quietly, low in his chest, the vibrations she was making were eased by the calming vibrations from his chest. Finally she took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and let body her relax. When she felt she could continue without exploding she spoke again.
"InuYasha, look at me," She waited until he looked up, his eyes widened slightly as his hand began to reach towards the marks on her face. "I'm not going back with you." His hand dropped he opened his mouth to speak but Kagome just put her hand up in a motion to not speak. "The marks on me are pack marks, I have been made a part of Sesshomaru's pack and myself and Shippo will be staying is my home now and nothing will change my mind."
InuYasha's ears were pressed to his head and his eyes looked to the floor, she hurt for him, she could see the tears forming in his eyes, not that he'd ever let them spill in front of his brother. Kagome sighed softly and walked past InuYasha, giving him the space she knew he'd need. Kagome pulled Sango into her arms.
"Sango, why are you crying?" Slowly Sango's hand reached towards her own face, she felt moisture on her fingertips, before trying to wipe the tears away.
"I-" She started to say, but it came out as a raspy squeak, clearing her throat she tried again. "I feel like I'm losing my sister." Kagome stroked Sango's hair muttering how she'd never lose her. Sango wrapped her arms around Kagome's waist and cried.
Sesshomaru stood there silently as he watched his new packmate interact with her previous pack. He had known this would be difficult on Kagome but he never would have guessed how hard they would take her leaving. Their sadness seemed to fill the room, and their sadness fueled Kagome's. Sesshomaru cleared his throat calling all attention to him.
"As the Mi-, Kagome said you shall not lose her, the demon slayer and monk may visit her when they see fit." Kagome's eyes grew wide in amazement before they softened into a loving and thankful gaze.
"I better see my nieces and nephew next time you come though." Kagome scolded Sango in mock anger, before she grabbed her in another hug. This time Kagome winced and the smell of blood filled the room InuYasha's head bolted up and Sesshomaru was by her side in the blink of an eye. Quickly he grabbed her hand and saw were one of the stitches had popped leaving a bloody mark on the sleeve of her kimono. Sesshomaru just gathered the rest of her sleeve and pressed it to the palm of her hand.
The blood pooled slowly in her hand, she was so mortified that she'd popped a stitch hugging her friend, worse she had ruined the kimono Sesshomaru had prepare for her. Though he didn't seem to care as he gathered the sleeve and used it to slow the bleeding.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ruin the kimono." She said sadly to Sesshomaru. Who just looked at her like she'd grown another head.
"The kimono is not important, another can be commissioned, let us head to the infirmary to have this looked at. If the Demon slayer would follow, the monk and mutt can stay here until we return." Kagome saw Sango look to her husband before he nodded and she followed them down the hallway towards the infirmary.
"The demon slayer is welcome to bring her family on their next visit, Rin and the Cub would enjoy that." Sesshomaru said. Kagome smiled at him sweetly and Sango just stared in amazement. Once they made it to the door Sesshomaru used his foot to push open the door, the old bird was sitting at her table mixing herbs. She looked up and sighed.
"What did the clumsy miko do this time Whelp-sama?" She asked as she stood from her seat. Carefully he pulled the sleeve back and showed the small bleeding opening.
"Nanari do this, Nanari do that, Nanari I did something stupid and just popped a stitch after you told me to be careful." The bird youkai sighed again. Kagome felt her features fall, she seemed to be causing problems for everyone lately. Why was it every time she tried to be happy something went wrong.
"I'm sorry Nanari-san." She spoke sadly, her sadness angered Sesshomaru, but he could tell Nanari felt guilty for making her sad as well.
"Doesn't matter miko, let's just get that wound closed up again before you get and infection. With her hand finally stitched closed again they made their way back to Sesshomaru's study. When they opened the door they found InuYasha by the window muttering sounds to himself trying to sound out words as he tried to read a scroll he had in his hands, which seemed to be keeping him from moping at the moment. Miroku was also reading a scroll, Sango cleared her throat before either realized they had entered. Miroku stashed his scroll in his bag and InuYasha dramatically threw his scroll at Miroku.
"Why would I want to read children's stories!? Didn't you have anything better for me to read?" InuYasha tried to act all tough in front of Sesshomaru and the girls but everyone in the old group already knew he loved learning to read them. He'd even forced Miroku into teaching him how to sound out each hiragana. Kagome sighed as those thoughts assaulted her. It wasn't his fault he was born with no tact and the emotional stability of a toddler. A knock at the door startled Kagome from her thought, and a servant walked in and bowed.
"It is growing late, my Lord, will your guests be requiring rooms?" Sesshomaru looked towards Kagome then slightly nodded to the servant.
"Make sure you room Sango and Miroku together." Kagome called after the servant who turned and bowed to her. Kagome yawned and stretched her arms sleepily. "I think it's a good time to sleep, we'll talk more in the morning. A new servant came in to tell the group their rooms were ready. Kagome and Sesshomaru followed them to her friend's rooms so she could find them, before being scooped up by Sesshomaru and carried back to the family wing. Sesshomaru walked into the den and found the children sleeping in the pillows, quietly he took Kagome into his room and sat her on his bed,
"Don't move, we still need to get you cleaned." he left the door open while he carried Rin into her room and Shippo to his. When he came back to his he closed the door and saw Kagome fiddling with her obi trying to untie it. Sesshomaru reached over with his skillful hands and helped her remove it before assisting in removing her soiled kimono and sitting it aside. Sesshomaru walked into his bathing room grabbed a rag and a bowl of warm water. He made his way back to Kagome and began to clean the blood from her hand and arm, before tucking her safely under the covers. Stripping down he climbed into the bed and pressed up against her. Kagome was a bit surprised as Sesshomaru once again shared his bed with her. And though he was nude and pressed up to her it didn't feel sexual, it was just comforting. Soon she felt her eyelids growing heavy and she slipped into slumber.
