After they both lightly washed up and dabbed the bulk of the blood off of their clothes, she picked up their son and handed him to his father to hold for the first time. It was like all of the pain and suffering he had endured in the last year had melted away as he held him. He saw the life he could now have, and refused to let dwelling on the past rob him of his future. He had brought Inuyasha to his lands to gain his advice on how to succeed in improving relations between demons and humans, and so he would do as Inuyasha said; swallow his pride, and be with his new family.
His son could only look up at his father in awe, just as Sesshoumaru was doing down to him. He couldn't believe that he had ever had such hatred for a creature as perfect as this. He loved that he was a half breed. He clearly got the best of both worlds. It would make him stronger.
"He's perfect," he informed her.
"He is," she fawned. "He is also very strong. Try to push your youki on him."
"He is only an infant!"
"Do you trust me?" History would tell him that perhaps he shouldn't, but his heart refused to listen. It would take some time before she would earn back his trust in full; but time, they had. In the meantime, he could at least be certain that she would allow no harm to come to their son.
He started by releasing a small amount of his youki across his son's senses, only to have it rebuffed with the reiki he harbored. He tested this out by pressing even more of his youki towards the hanyou, only to have a stronger wave of reiki flare up at him to sizzle his skin lightly. It wasn't enough to burn him, but was perhaps more than he was used to from Kagome when they were intimate.
"Don't go too crazy, I don't want him to hurt you." His son was strong. It filled him with pride.
"Watch this," she demanded, as she now pushed a moderate amount of her reiki toward the infant. This time, he used the strong youki he harbored to repel it, causing a startling jolt through his mother.
"This may prove dangerous. We must begin his training soon."
"I know. I don't know how you can discipline a kid like that one."
"We mustn't make him angry," he suggested with a smirk. Just the thought of having a son who could intimidate him with his power filled him with a pride he had never known.
Kagome watched Sesshoumaru react to his son with a smile. 'He will change his tune when the pup starts rebelling with that.'
"What is his name?" he asked when he suddenly realized she had never told him.
"He hasn't got one. I wanted to leave the honor to his father." When he remained silent for a moment, she offered a suggestion.
"I was thinking about Touga-"
"No." His response was immediate, and perplexing. He revered his great father. She thought it would be complimentary. At her confused look, he elaborated.
"That is a lot for a young demon to live up to. I do not want that for my son." She immediately understood.
"Well, I'm afraid he is going to have a lot to live up to regardless. His own father's boots are pretty large ones to fill. Besides, every demon who has had to live up to Touga has turned out pretty damned impressive, if you ask me."
She leaned down to place a kiss on his cheek, before planting one on her son's head.
"How about Sesshoumaru junior?" she offered with a grin. He scoffed.
"It is not an appropriate name for a child. We will be sealing his fate with that one."
"Don't you want him to grow up to become a great warrior? Shouldn't he have a fitting name?"
"Given his lineage, it is hard to imagine that he will not. However, I would like to leave the choice to him. If he wishes to rule over The Western Lands, or The Southern Lands, or both, or neither, I want it to be his decision. Perhaps he will wish for something entirely different; or even simple. His destiny will be his to decide." She smiled lovingly at the admission.
He didn't want to burden him with the towering expectations he himself had been forced to live up to. Sesshoumaru had always envied the freedom of those without duties. No matter what, his son would be happy.
"I do not wish him to have a name that will frighten humans off before he has the pleasure of meeting them. Perhaps a human girl will steal his heart. We cannot have her frightened off right away."
She stroked her son's hair and ears, grazing against Sesshoumaru's cheek with her arm purposely as he sat in his seat.
"Oh, I don't think he will have any trouble in that regard. Look at him. The girls won't be able to keep away."
They admired their creation silently; just soaking him in together.
"What have you been calling him all this time, then?"
"Hansamu."
He had to smile at that. "It suits him. I am certain he had earned that name the second you laid eyes on him."
"Actually, it was way before that. I thought it was a pretty safe bet, considering his father."
She leaned down to take his lips this time, and warmed him further with her kiss.
"Are you certain you wish to leave your lands? You have done well here. Your subjects adore you, and I know what it is to have duties to them."
He by no means wanted her to remain, but truly wanted the choice to be hers. She smiled down at him, and the sight they made.
"I'm sure. My place is in The Western Lands. With you. I got them off to a pretty good start here, but my heart just isn't in it anymore. Besides. I died. That means that my heir can have my title. Since he is quite young," she pinched his toe, "I will leave them to you."
"I shall speak to Inuyasha regarding the position. He has come a long way this past year, and if he wishes it, I feel he is more than ready."
"Just make sure nothing happens to you. Your new heir won't be ready to take over for some time yet."
"I do not plan on going anywhere. However if I do, I believe The West would be quite safe in your most capable hands until he is ready."
It was a flattering concession. He had not appreciated her willingness to rule. That he now would, it gave her hope that he had faith she would not be reckless with the responsibility.
"Thank you. But Lady of the West will be good enough for me. I finally know what I want to do. I want to be your loving, loyal partner, and a doting mother. That is the future I want."
He couldn't help but think to the night they had wished on the star. It took some time, but it appeared that the silly superstition may have finally come through for him.
"I thought you had told This One that you wanted to wait for motherhood," he all but asked, twisting his neck to take in her hovering profile. "You have roughly 9 years remaining, if I am not mistaken. Did you not wish to be selfish with your husband's time?"
"I think I've been selfish enough for one lifetime. I am ready to be selfless again."
"I am pleased to hear it." He continued to admire his now sleeping son, and couldn't help the regret that washed over him.
"I wish I could have been there for you both." She knew what he was referring to.
Through the pregnancy, and the birth, and everything after...
The guilt at his admission was almost too much for her to bear.
"I am sorry that I robbed you of that. But I promise, you won't miss a second of the next one."
He turned to her hopefully at the suggestion.
"When can start the next one?"
"Whenever you're ready"
Things hadn't gone exactly as he had planned. But they ended up far better than he could have hoped.
With the love of his life back with him in The West, one would think he would have wanted to enjoy having Kagome to himself in the fortress. Make no mistake. He would be having her all over that fortress. But there was plenty of time for that later.
All he had ever wanted to do was show her what The West- what he- had to offer her. But duty bound, as he so often was, he had been forced to put those urges on hold. Not anymore. Not for now, at least.
True, they weren't mated or even married yet. But that wasn't going to stop him from taking her on their own honeymoon of sorts.
They had relinquished Hansamu into Inuyasha and Kikyo's trustworthy and capable hands so that they might enjoy a much-needed vacation. They had spent the past few weeks traveling to all of his favorite spots. He had taken her to the most impressive villages he saw over. But she, like him, seemed to prefer the natural beauty of his lands.
They slept under star-covered skies. They flew to the highest peaks to enjoy views as far and vast as they had ever known. He took her everywhere. Showed her everything. Made everything available to her. He wanted her painfully aware of what she could have, should she simply desire it.
He encouraged her to ask questions. For he had every answer. What is this? Why is that? Who are they? He wanted her to know everything. To see everything. So that she could make the choices for herself that would fulfill her the most.
Her duties to the Shikon and to The South were done. And though he had an empire to re-forge, along with Inuyasha and his pack, to see the peaceful coexistence he envisioned come to fruition; they appeared to already be entering a peaceful time between lands. Between species.
She had suggested that they travel to the new territories of The West. The lands he had acquired from the other lords to accommodate his ever-growing population. But that would be for another time. It felt too akin to work. And this was a time for play.
They had spent the night on the coast, because she had wanted to visit a beach. The modest hut he'd had made near the water's edge offered cover, but the whole point of the location was to enjoy the scenery. They swam in the ocean, made love in the grass, and had fallen asleep in the sand. When the sun's rays reached striped cheekbones, he left her to get her rest as he found purchase on a high, nearby tree branch.
His original motive was to watch the sun rise into his lands, to see the beginning of a new day with the woman he loved. But once it made its ascent, his gaze quickly drew to the very woman in question. He watched her stir, and rise, and search for him. But he remained silent, and still. She ventured below, just behind the hut. Very unaware of the predator clocking her every move, and waiting for his moment to pounce.
As she scanned the horizon, and strained her eyes for hopes of a glimpse, she turned her back on him. And he moved.
Before the yelp left her throat, she was in his arms; back pressed against the rear wall of the hut. He was kissing her passionately, as he grabbed a thigh in each hand. She made to wrap them around his waist for support, but he held them apart. He would support her. She needn't worry on it.
His lips never left hers as he took her against the wall as he stood. Hands gripped his shoulders and roamed up into his hair, and he held her to him effortlessly with his devastating strength. She would break the kiss to press her forehead against his; to look into red tinged eyes that allowed things to now be known. She arched into him as he filled her completely; pressing her breasts against his chest as he penetrated her perfectly with his thick, heavy cock.
He lightly dragged his fangs over her throat as she curled her toes, and the sweat he produced from his pleasurable work coated her palms as she allowed them to roam over his taut, muscled shoulders.
As they both reached their peak, he decided it wouldn't be enough. And without a break in pace, saw to starting over again to the same wonderful result.
They now sat against the hut's side, staring off into the distance as they had together so many times. Touching each other's arms, and hands, and whatever struck them to touch.
"We should probably get back one of these days," she suggested with a smile as he played with her hands. Their legs weaved together as they sat in a tangled heap against the wall.
"Mmmmm," was his protest, nuzzling his head into her.
"There is still work to do. You didn't think when I moved in it was going to be all blowjobs and dancing, did you?"
"I had kind of hoped," he confessed with a mischievous smirk.
She ran blunt nails down his arms in reprimand, causing him to pin her own arms to her sides.
"I suppose we can do without the dancing," he informed her, before trying to kiss her. She turned her head in a playful means of escape, but to no avail.
"I guess you probably want to get mated soon, huh?" she asked him. He looked at her lovingly, but surprised her with his answer.
"Actually, I do not." She thought he was playing with her, so she mocked offense.
"Oh, no?" He shook his head in lieu of repeating himself. But he wasn't kidding.
"But don't you want to link my lifespan to yours?"
"You think that would be accomplished with a mating?"
"That's what I heard."
"This One is afraid that is simply a rumor." At her downcast expression, he continued.
"I have already made strides in increasing your longevity. Releasing my youki into you accomplishes this, not simply a mating. There are more pleasurable means than fangs to achieve this, miko."
"Oh, yeah?" She smiled saucily as she leaned nearer to bump him with her shoulder. He took the opportunity to encase her in his powerful arms, and squeeze her tighter to him.
"Indeed. In fact, the more I attempt it, the longer your life shall be..."
"In that case, I guess I'm gonna be a very old woman, ne?" He answered by grabbing her hips and kissing her yet again. When they broke, she asked,
"So then you really aren't interested in mating me?"
When they had made amends, she had worried that he might be apprehensive about sleeping with her; afraid that giving her more youki would once again stir malicious behavior from her. She really wouldn't have blamed him... She had been somewhat worried herself. But she quickly found that he would not be deterred. She didn't think it would be possible to be even more physical with him then they had been at the start, but they had found a way.
She could handle his youki now. She had learned to use her powers to keep the effects at bay. But he had not even mentioned becoming mates since she had returned to him. And she wondered if it was because he was worried about what the effects of his youki would be... Or if he didn't want to any longer, after the way she had acted. Perhaps he didn't want to be tied to her in such a way.
"A mating would bind you to me, and vice versa. Seeing as we already consider one another as ours, it is unnecessary." She was still uncertain of his motives, but he quickly allayed her fears.
"This Sesshoumaru does not want you bound to him by force. Or out of duty. I would prefer if you awoke every single day, to simply choose me again. Your destiny will be yours alone to dictate, miko. I shall see to it."
She leaned forward for a kiss this time, and he would make no move to resist.
"You must be pretty confident that I will."
A serious expression replaced his playful one.
"You have my word; I shall spend every day ensuring that you do."
She looked into his eyes shyly as she voiced her concern.
"Well, how do I know you will wake up every day and choose me?"
There was no need to drop his mask. He hadn't worn it in weeks.
He simply took her cheek in his palm gently, and looked back into her eyes as he answered;
"How do you not?"
A/N: Only one chapter left! I will probably have it up tomorrow.
Also, I've been working on a oneshot that turned out wayyyy longer than I expected. I'm editing now, and trying to clean it up. So keep an eye out for my new work. Sorry, I havent decided on a name yet.