Formalities

Sesshoumaru opened the door to his chambers, calculating his thoughts from his recent meeting with Tortuga. His eyes widened when he found not just his heir sleeping in his bed, but Kagome as well. The sight of them together filled him with a sense of satisfaction. His child and his intended sleeping among his scent and furs was a sight he welcomed.

A few hours earlier, he had tried to leave Katsurou in his own room, but the child had clung to him, his fists tightly curled into his fur. Not knowing what else to do, he took to his own room, where he had hoped his scent would calm him enough to leave him.

He did not imagine that Kagome would stay with the child as well. A small smirk graced his face. She was very bold. She might have not liked his attentions in front of the maid, but her sleeping in his bed with her child equally spoke of possession of him. Of course, it is not as if he minded.

He leaned over her, placing a hand on her shoulder, sliding his thumb along the flesh of her bare neck.

"Kagome." He said in a firm tone as he tried to wake her.

To his utter surprise, she bolted up right, throwing a protective arm around her son. Sesshoumaru sat back, his youki humming against the shield of reiki that now separated them. He could smell the sharp acrid smell of her fear.

"Kagome!"

Her head jerked, and she raised it to look at him. She wore a dazed expression as she slowly woke from her deep nap."Sesshoumaru-sama?"

"Drop your barrier."

"Oh!"

She closed her eyes once more and her barrier disappeared. Kagome had no idea what had happened. For a moment, she had thought that she was back in their small home in the village. Guilt and shame coursed through her, as she stared at the concerned look on his face.

Not knowing what else to do, she offered her hand to him, wordlessly inviting him to join them.

"I'm...I'm sorry I didn't realize." She placed her head in her hand, contemplating everything that could have gone wrong if she hadn't woken up in time.

Sesshoumaru leaned into her, wanting to touch her and sooth her fears.

"I should know better than to wake a sleeping warrior." He said quietly, glad that they had been lucky enough to have not woken Katsurou.

Kagome choked on a laugh. "Hardly." She scooted closer to him. "Just Kagome now?" She asked teasing. It was not often that he dropped his formal speech.

Amber eyes narrowed and focused on her lips. He trailed the back of his hand across her soft cheek, and back around to her neck, where he tugged gently on her hair. She tilted her head up to him, as he knelt over her. "For someone in my bed, I find it past time for formalities."

Her cheeks flushed beautifully in response, and he leaned in to taste her.

"Mama?" A groggy voice asked, muffled by the fur blankets.

Sesshoumaru paused, a breath away from her lips. His eyes slid in the direction of the shirring child.

Kagome let out a soft sigh, and pulled out of his grasp. Disappointment crossed his face a moment before his neutral facade slid back into place.

"I'm right here, sweetie." She pulled the furs away from him, helping him escape from the blankets tangled around his body.

Katsurou rubbed his eyes before blinking them open. "Where are we?" He asked looking around.

"You've been in my chamber sleeping for a few hours." His uncle informed him.

Kagome whipped around to him surprised. "Hours?! I'm sorry. I didn't even mean to fall asleep."

Sesshoumaru placed a hand on her shoulder, stilling her. "It is alright. You both needed rest, but now there is much to do. I'll be leaving out with the army at dawn and there are preparations to be made."

Kagome balked at him. "What about Shippo?"

He helped her off the bed. "I will find him."

Dread filled her. What if he was injured? She would never live with herself if Shippo died and she wasn't there to do something about it. Sesshoumaru did have Tenseiga right? He would bring him back to life, but...

She gripped his bicep suddenly. "You would bring him back to life, right? If...if he..." She had to know if he would do it.

His eyes softened. "Tenseiga does not always have the power to grant life. If too much time has passed then I am unable to bring them back. Sometimes, it is their time to go, and this one has no say in it."
Kagura's death was still fresh in his mind as a reminder of how limited his abilities truly were.

Kagome's eyes widened at this realization. Her heart pounded in her chest. "I cannot take that risk. I will go with you."

Sesshoumaru's eyebrows furrowed. "No. You will stay here with Katsurou, where it is safe."

Katsurou sat on the bed, watching them argue back and forth with a groggy look on his face.

"Did you just not call me a warrior? I believe I can handle myself. I just want to bring Shippo home, and then you can continue on your killing rampage."

"A few days ago, you insisted that you would not leave Katsurou alone for even a night. This could be weeks." Sesshoumaru insisted.

"Excuse me for not wanting to leave my son alone just to go off to a wedding! This is very different! Shippo could be hurt!"

"No, I forbid-" Sesshoumaru stopped when he felt a small tug on his sleeve. Katsurou looked up at him with a serious stark gaze in his eyes.

"Mama needs to go." He insisted.

Sesshoumaru turned away from them. "We will discuss it later." In a few strides he made it to the door, before turning to look at Kagome, his eyes dark and unreadable. "Join this one in the study."

Kagome cringed when the door snapped shut. She looked down at her young son. "I'm sorry, Katsurou. We shouldn't argue like that."

He held his arms out to her. She smiled and picked him up on her hip. He wrapped his arms around her neck, rubbing his face in her hair.

"You're going to go, aren't you?" He asked.

She rubbed his back. "Would it upset you if I went?"

"I will miss you." He said laying his cheek on her shoulder.

"I will miss you too." She replied, filling with dread so heavy a knot formed in her throat.

"Is big brother in trouble?"

"Yes. He is missing and his teacher cannot find him."

Katsurou sat up to look at her face. "You have to find him!"

"I will." She promised.

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Happy Thanksgiving!