Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from Inuyasha.

Healing

Kagome sat in front of Sesshoumaru with her legs curled under her. The candlelight illuminated a small blush across her cheeks. Sesshoumaru's eyes followed her hand as she tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm going to use reiki to heal you, so please don't get angry." Kagome said softly.

"Hm."

Kagome reached out and gently touched the scorched skin around his right collar bone. Her feather soft fingertips lingered on his skin as reiki flowed outward from her fingers, and his pain faded. His flesh melded back together, and blisters from burns disappeared to leave soft pink skin before her eyes. His natural ability to heal was astounding, and really all she had to do was remove the residual reiki that prevented him from using his youkai abilities to heal. She watched as Sesshoumaru visibly relaxed, and his eyes slid closed.

Her power on his skin was intoxicating. Why was it so pleasurable to him?

Sesshoumaru let out a low rumble from his chest, not unlike one her old house cat, Buyo, would make.

Kagome immediately pulled her hand away, afraid that she was hurting him.

His amber eyes opened half-mast to look at her. The look on her face spoke of concern and worry. For him.

"Kagome-dono." He spoke softly.

It was not often that others expressed such consideration for his well-being. Having thought about it for years, he considered Rin's selfless acts of concern for him the reason that drove him to revive her. Many of his vassals simply follow him because they were loyal to his father. Even fewer of these demons would care about his personal wellbeing; much less sacrifice themselves in any way for him. He knew that Rin would die for him, and that changed everything.

He took her hand and placed it back on his chest, holding his large hand over hers.

"It still hurts?" She asked confusion clear in her voice.

"Hm." He was fully healed, but he was not one to deny himself such a simple pleasure.

Kagome began to feel exhausted. She had used a great deal of her energy the day before, and she needed to recoup. Her eyes drooped wearily.

Sesshoumaru was not surprised when he could feel her energy diminishing. Kagome let out a small gasp of alarm when she was suddenly pulled into his lap. He looked down at her, admiring how beautiful she was, and how her heart raced because of his forward actions.

"Sesshoumaru-sama?" Her voice squeaked out nervously. She was definitely not an innocent, naive, virgin. They were being inappropriately intimate. What was she thinking, when she crawled across his bed? Did she lose her mind? He might not be fond of humans, but he was still a male. Would she even mind if he wanted something more between them?

"Relax, we have much to discuss." His warm voice rumbled between them.

Kagome's heart was hammering in her chest. How in the hell was she supposed to relax when she was laid across his lap?!

Not knowing what else to do, she tentatively rested her cheek against the fur on his shoulder. His fur was softer than any fur pelt that she has ever felt. Without thinking about what she was doing, Kagome rubbed her face in the fur. It reminded her of pressing her face against a fresh pillow or satin sheets. She thought it might have smelt of dog, but really it carried the smell of the forest; a scent of earth and pine needles.

Sesshoumaru immediately froze. Was she... scent marking him? He knew he was being rather forward with her, given she was in his lap, in his bed, and wearing very little; but her move was much more intimate.

Kagome pushed herself away from him, eyes glancing away. "Oh my, I am so sorry. I...uh...look its soft and...I did not mean to rub my face all over your lovely pelt there..." She rambled. He relaxed. She had no idea what she had been implicating. Tortuga had been right. She is ignorant of demon...everything.

He tugged her back to him. "It is of no consequence."

She laid her head back on his pelt once more. Why was she still sitting here? His youki surrounded them, strong and solid. Her limbs felt heavy, and lethargic.

"Tortuga has brought it to my attention that you lack certain knowledge of demon mannerisms and etiquette."

Kagome smiled weakly. "Yes, I admit I am really lost around here. Rin has tried very hard to help me to understand, but really I have no idea."

"Hm. It is a serious issue that we must address. How else will you raise a demon child?"

"You're right."

"Did your husband not teach you our ways?"

Sesshoumaru immediately regretted mentioning the dead idiot.

Sadness weighed down on Kagome at the thought of Inuyasha. The emotion poisoned the atmosphere around them.

"He strived to be accepted among humans, and lived his life accordingly. He almost never explained anything about demon behavior. I kind of wondered if he even knew about those things himself." Kagome said softly.

"He was raised by his human mother, so it is not surprising."

Their conversation lulled into a comfortable silence. Kagome's thoughts centered on what her dead husband would think of her in this situation. She had no doubt that if Inuyasha had ever seen her in his brother's lap, blood would be shed. But...Inuyasha was not here, and she had to stop living in the past.

Kagome's yukata had ridden up to reveal a generous amount of her legs. Sesshoumaru's eyes wandered to her exposed flesh; perhaps if he shifted her he could see more of her beautiful ivory skin.

He yearned to run his hand up one of her smooth legs. She felt so warm and soft against him. Her power hummed against him, comforting his body. Why did he feel these urges? Why did he care about her at all?

"Sesshoumaru-sama, what did I do to upset you this morning?"

He had no answer. She challenged him, and he felt threatened? His instincts had moved him to make her submit? She refused to submit? His mind raced with possible answers.

Kagome pulled on the lapels of his haori to help her sit up to look him square in the eyes.

"We have a serious issue with communication. We are terrible at it. I know it is not in your nature to speak much, but I need you to communicate with me. We are like two generals fighting in the same army, yet we do not speak. We will lose the war because we have no idea what the other is doing, thinking, or planning. Please work with me, not against me."

"This Sesshoumaru will try to...speak with you more often."

Kagome graced him with an beautiful, illuminating smile. Her gaze turned more expectant. "Well? Tell me what I did! I really do not want a repeat of this morning."

"You would not submit. Whether you realized it or not, you were presenting a challenge to this Sesshoumaru."

Kagome's demeanor wilted, and she laid back against him. "Rin mentioned something about that. How are we going to accomplish this when I have to have my power on par with yours? There is no submission allowed in this."

Sesshoumaru felt ill considering what he was needed to say.

"Kagome-dono," He placed his hand against her cheek. "This Sesshoumaru apologizes for his actions this morning."

Kagome marveled at his words, and the sincerity pouring from him. Since when did Sesshoumaru apologize for anything? If she didn't know better, she would think that he had taken a romantic liking to her. But she knew better, his hatred of his brother and human mother ran very deep. He cared for Rin, but she was somehow the exception, maybe because she had been a child.

"Apology accepted." She placed her hand over his, leaning into his touch. "Thank you for everything." Kagome closed her eyes and sank into his fur. Sleep was threatening her. He was so solid, and warmth surrounded her. For the first time in ages, she felt completely safe and protected. Her body relaxed. What would anyone think if they came in and saw her in his lap like this?

"Why are you being so nice to me?" She wondered out loud.

Sesshoumaru didn't want to answer honestly, either for her or himself.

"You are a part of my pack, and it is my duty to care for you."

She offered no reply, and remained quiet until he could tell that her breathing had evened out.

Kagome slept soundly against him, snuggled into his fur. What was he going to do about her? Marriage held no appeal to him, and it was highly unlikely she would agree to it anyway. Too many women had tried their best to seduce their way into his life, and he had no patience for it. Anyone interested in bedding him, also had aspirations to his wealth and title. He had slept with his fair share of women, but none of them held any significance to him. All relationships had to be held at arm's length, for he knew they all had ulterior motives. Would time reveal Kagome's hidden motives as well?

Looking down at her, he thought it strange how relaxed her body had become. Was she so trusting of him or just exhausted? Whether or not he could trust her or not seemed irrelevant, when the problem still remained. Given enough time, some other lord would take her as a wife. She would be an invaluable asset in the coming war, and he was not willing to give her up without a fight. His chest hurt at the thought of another lord taking Kagome from him.

The corners of his mouth turned downward in a frown. Did he unknowingly set himself on the path to marriage by agreeing to adopt Katsurou?

He pulled her up into his arms and eased off the bed.

Kagome was fast asleep as he carried her down the hallway. Maiko stepped into the hall, mouth agape in shock as she watched Sesshoumaru carry Kagome from his chambers back to her own. Her lord shot her a rather silencing glare as he stepped into the Kagome's bedroom, the door sliding closed behind him.

A/N- Woo! It seems like it has been forever since I last updated. I have to say that this chapter would not be possible without the help of my friend Saruwarui. I was really dragging my feet on this chapter. Not only did she act as beta for me, but at one point she literally pushed me out of the way and began typing for me haha!

As always please review! I love to read your opinions!