Coming Together

While Kagome was pumping and Sesshomaru was visiting with their son, Kimiko had two large pillows brought into the study so the Western couple could have some space while still being close during this. She went around and tidied up her son's study a bit and had a maid rush in to make it perfect. It wasn't necessary, but she figured it couldn't hurt. Plus, it would be one less thing for them to worry about when they were going to sleep. If they were in a fresh, clean area as they went into the dream land, maybe they'd have a clear head.

Kagome didn't want things to start off tense, if they went into this on edge, then they'd be in the wrong mindset to learn anything from one another. "Thank you so much for all your help. This is an amazing opportunity to reach each other on a personal level and come to a compromise."

"Of course. I'm always here to help you two whenever it's in my power."

"Mother, could you assist Rin? Hideyoshi can be difficult at times." Sesshomaru needed to know his pup was safe and there was nothing to fear.

"You have nothing to worry about, my son. I've taken care of everything. All you must focus on is your mate. Now, are you both ready?"

Kagome and Sesshomaru nodded before they took each other's hand and laid down on their mats. As Kimiko chanted her spell a wave of exhaustion rushed over them. When their eyes finally opened, they were in a large luscious, green field. They seemed to be standing in the same position they were in before they laid down. They could feel the awkward tension starting to grow quickly. Kagome felt she should start the conversation since she asked for them to come here.

"I'm not sure if there's a right or wrong way to start this conversation, but we seem to feel like we're both in the right so what if we start there? Do you want to explain your upbringing so I can see it from your point of view and then I'll show you mine?"

"Hn. No one will know what you see, correct?"

"Of course. I'd never betray your trust like that. Fighting or not, I'll always protect you and our family as you do."

Sesshomaru let them walk through his childhood. There was a century worth of moments with his father. None of them were what Kagome expected. It was all lessons on being an Alpha, making others submit to him, and understand how to be a Lord. No one was more important than his father, yet all that was being thrown on him were lessons pertaining to being a Lord. Never once was it about how to treat others, how to handle having a mate, how to treat pack members when they challenge you. Worse of all, none of his memories showed any love towards young Sesshomaru.

Kagome watched her mate be pushed to his limits in every single training session. She watched a little pup who had to raise himself due to his family being distracted, and each accomplishment that he shared with his father was ignored. Once he was older, she saw what it looked like from his point of view to lose his mother.

The moments he needed his mother's support, she was locked away in her room and unwilling to see him broke her heart. She could understand why he had no idea what a relationship looked like. The last thing she saw was dark... It seemed like he was in a closet or maybe a hallway late at night. Kagome could vaguely hear Kimiko speaking.

"You are my mate. I will not share you with a human of all females. What of our son? Will you throw him aside too? You already ignore him-"

There was a slapping sound from her being hit. "You will not speak to me in such a way. You will do as I say and so will our son. If either of you can't, they you will both lose all I have given you."

A moment later Kagome was back in the field they started in. It almost felt like Sesshomaru panicked after showing that little piece of information. She dropped his hand to hug him. She felt the need to hold him and show him he was loved.

Sesshomaru for his part wasn't sure why Kagome was hugging him, but he wasn't about to push her away. He pulled her close and rubbed his nose in her hair to take in her calming scent. "Mate, why are you sad?" With slight prying he could feel sorrow, but there wasn't any reason for her to be upset. Unless she thought they had no way to fix their relationship now.

"I'm sad because you never had a childhood. I know you don't understand because it's who you are, and I love you for the good and bad, but you never had a chance to make mistakes. Did you ever play games? Build relationships that weren't political? It was always about building your strength and power or showing your father that you're the rightful heir. I can see where you'd be coming from, with my vision that is. I want you to know that as much as I love you, and I truly do, I will never allow our son to grow up the way you did. I want him to know we love him, that he can have bad days and we will be there to lift him up. Be there for his good days. I also want him to see it's okay for his parents to fight because we'll make up by communication and being able to take time to work with each other.

"That would be agreeable." Sesshomaru still loved his mother and wanted her approval, it was something he didn't think he'd ever get over due to his upbringing and he didn't want any pup of his to feel the same.

Kagome stood on her tip toes to give him a quick kiss. "Would you like to talk about what you showed me, or do you want to see somethings from my past?" She didn't want to rush him, but she didn't want to force him to talk either.

"This One wishes to see your view of things."

"Okay," Kagome thought about what she wanted to show him. She figured it would be best to show him some of her sex education classes she had to take, she had him see ever book, movie, or show that described any sort of domestic violence, sexual assault, or rape. She showed him how her time was dangerous, just not in the same way. Here there were demons trying to kill her, but there she could be assaulted or worse just by getting on public transportation. Lastly, she showed Sesshomaru the fear she had. She was terrified of Rin being taken advantage of, terrified of Sesshomaru growing tired of her, their son having to mate for political reasons.

When they were pulled back to the inner world, Kagome was surprised to see Sesshomaru was looking back at her with glowing red eyes.

His beast couldn't handle the thought of her being harmed or their pup being treated as such. He took a few steps away from his mate so he could transform into his true form. Sesshomaru was shaking with rage like he's never felt before. He gave Kagome a tiny nuzzle so she knew he'd be back. He left to burn off a quick burst of energy to help calm his mind. With the newborn pup, and all this confusion, he needed to be ready to speak if they were going to figure out a plan.

Kagome understood his beast needed to let some of his hostile emotions out since he couldn't fight the actual people responsible for these discussions Kagome had with her family and others. This would be good for Sesshomaru and his beast. They would be ready to compromise; not only for themselves, but Rin as well. Luckily it didn't take long for her silver haired lover to return.

"Mate. Kagome, I will not allow any harm to come to our pups. None of what you were warned about will ever happen to you. You have This One to protect you if you were ever in need."

"Thank you, and I know you'd never allow anything to happen to us, but you have to treat these things like you do your duty as a Lord. Being a parent is different, it hurts us when they grow up in a bittersweet way. We as a mated couple will grow and change, which isn't bad, we just need to grow together."

"Hn." Sesshomaru looked away from the young woman to gather his thoughts. "Can you see why This On- why I was angry? I found out Rin, my only daughter, had started the first stage of courting. Akio betrayed me as a Lord and father. There was no reason for them to be alone. By doing so Akio broke pack law."

"Pack law? Isn't he... I thought only your family was considered pack." She was working hard to understand inu culture, but there was always something new.

"There are... layers, or levels to pack. Family is the inner circle and what we call 'true' pack. From there we add in friends or trusted members around us. They will never come close to our family, but they are still someone we'd trust to protect us if the need came were to arise. We would also protect them. If Akio wanted to spend time with Rin, then pack law demands he get permission from Rin's Alpha. Which he did not."

"So, you're most upset he was alone with Rin without asking you first?" Kagome needed to clarify this before moving on. It would do no good to try working on something that wasn't even an issue.

"Hn. I do not want them together. No one will be good enough for Rin and he has already shown he cares not for This One's decisions."

"Sesshomaru, I can see where you're coming from. If he grew up the same way as you did and knew he had to speak with you before Rin, then Akio does need to answer for that. There is something else to think about... she's an adult in this time. Before you get upset with me, I- I may say this wrong so please hear me out. As Rin's Alpha, isn't it your job to care for and look for the best life possible for her? Think about it, who is a good match for Rin? Who could protect her better? Care for her?"

He was glad Kagome told him to think over her words before reacting. Bringing up his role as Alpha was enough to start another fight between them; however, she was correct.

Damn woman.

Mate is correct.

"Akio might be a decent mate." Sesshomaru agreed.

"Well, let's come up with rules. We don't have to hand her over right away. What if I offer the requirements for Rin since I'm also human, but from a time where women have more power."

"That is reasonable."

"Well, I think she needs to finish her training. She started working on her healing abilities and made that agreement with Kaede for taking her under her wing. There is no reason for her to walk away from that. At least in my opinion. With two years left of training I think it'd be fair for them to only speak through letters and supervised visits. When she's completed that and home for good, we could demand they have a year-long courtship."

"I agree. Rin will finish her agreement, that is her top priority. For the year-long courtship they should stay here. This would give them three years before they mate." What he wouldn't voice was it would give Rin three years to decide if she wanted to stay with Akio or not, Akio wouldn't have an option in the matter. He made his bed as far as Sesshomaru was concerned. He'd also make it his own personal task to make sure Akio was up for the task of being Rin's mate. That last thought had a smirk grace his face. He'd enjoy "training" Akio to be even stronger. Yes, lots and lots of "training."

Kagome moved forward to hold her mate while he took a few deep breaths. This was going to be difficult to let Rin grow up, but he'd do his best so she could start the next stage of her life.

"It's going to be alright. We can do anything together." She mumbled into his chest.

"Hn." Sesshomaru pulled back to glare at his giggling mate.

With Rin and Akio figured out and a plan set in motion, it was time to discuss their own person issue and how to handle their dynamic moving forward. Kagome wasn't sure how to move forward though, she didn't know Sesshomaru had spoken to his mother.

"Mate, This Sesshomaru has more to explain to you. Mother discussed... This One's father forced intimacy on her after physical fights. Similar to the one we had earlier... I would never want you to feel such disrespect or pain. Know if you ever feel uncomfortable with my touch, all you need to do is tell me."

"Sesshomaru? Next time you're in the middle of something like you were today and I need to get your attention and it can't wait, I did have an idea..." She was a little hesitant after having him open up so much already.

"Hn?"

"What if I called you by your title and grabbed you from behind. Like wrapped my arms around your middle so I wasn't in the dominant role, and I wasn't being disrespectful per say. It would still get me close enough that I could whisper to you or use our bond, but the touch will grant me your full attention that I'd need."

"Call me mate. Not Lord Sesshomaru, not from you. We must both work towards being equals. As your mate, I do not speak the words you desire enough, but I do love you. You are my mate, my everything Kagome."

Kagome allowed a small number of tears to fall. "I love you too. More than you'll ever know." She stood on her tip toes to kiss him. She was stunned. Not only did he use mostly first person to show how connected they were, but he also opened himself up and expressed his feelings for her. Kagome had this gut feeling that everything would be okay between them. While they came from different worlds, they weren't even the same species, yet they did share love and respect for each other.

Neither of them realized how much they missed the other. Having a pup changes things in a way that you can never prepare for. While it was still new to them, they both silently decided in their own minds to make a serious effort to keep their relationship strong and not fall into the sole role of parent.

There would be ups and downs, struggles, and fights, but in the end they would be together. If they kept communication flowing between hem, noting could get between them. They were the Western Lord and Lady of Japan. While impressive titles, the title that meant the most to them was the title of being mated and parents, their family would always come first and while Kagome's vision hurt them, it was also a blessing. They were able to stop something from happening to them, which was the best gift they never asked for. It wouldn't be perfect, but nothing is ever perfect.

Well, besides Sesshomaru.

Next Chapter: What happens when Sesshomaru is left alone with Hideyoshi? Will the Western Lord be outsmarted? We shall see...