Complete

Kagome stepped into the dojo with her head held high. Maiko had done a wonderful job setting her clothing straight, so she didn't embarrass herself. Her maid had retied her obi into an intricate knot, leaving her polished and put together. The even hem of her multi-layered kimono swept across the wooden floorboards. One would not suspect that she had had certain adventures in her lord's study.

As she slid open the door to her left, she was greeted to a sly look from Lady Manako. Kagome's confidence dimmed with the brutal knowledge that her affair was under no circumstances secret. No amount of righting her clothing would cover up what youkai could sense naturally.

There was no getting around the fact that it embarrassed her. She had never been in such a situation where her intimacies were aired so publicly. It had been easy for her to pretend that their new found closeness didn't have to mean anything, but now she was faced with the hard truth. Their actions were definitely not secret and everyone would assume they were a courting couple. She was forced to accept the reality of her changing relationship to Sesshoumaru. She could no longer steal a kiss from him, and expect it to be meaningless. She still had a choice though; Kagome could either allow it to bother her, or just accept it and move on.

Just past her, Sesshoumaru stood waiting. As she approached him, his golden eyes slid to her. She hated that her cheeks flushed under his stare.

"Took you long enough." Manako sneered.

Sesshoumaru glared at his mother. "We are still waiting on Tortuga."

His mother raised her chin in the air, "Oh, that's right. He's off running the kingdom for you." She couldn't help taking a jab at him.

The tension in the air became thick with the threat of violence.

"You forget your place, mother." Sesshoumaru growled.

The two daiyoukai continued to stare each other down as loud stomping could be heard coming from the next room.

"Mama!" Katsurou shouted as he rounded the corner and gleefully ran into the room. Tortuga came in behind him a moment later.

Kagome smiled seeing her rambunctious son clad in his red haori. His black hair was shaggy and wild, a sign that he had been ushered in from his playing outside. His cute hanyou dog ears twitched with excitement. Unable to help herself, she pinched one of his velvety soft ears.

He growled and swatted playfully at her hand. "Heeeyy!" He whined.

"Why is Katsurou here?" She asked, turning her attention to the other adults in the room.

"He's here to remind you why you are to continue to practice merging your energies. Katsurou has to learn how to control himself, or he will get more unstable as he gets older." Lady Manako said.

Kagome took a deep breath. She hated it when his mother was right. "Okay. Let's begin."

Sesshoumaru followed her lead, sitting on the floor facing her like they had numerous times before. He took her small hands in his, feeling the tension in her body.

"We have done this before." He reminded her.

"Let's just get this over with." She said, rolling her shoulders. Manako's intense stare was starting to get to her. She had not forgotten the last time his mother had tried to "help."

Kagome closed her eyes as she felt his youki rise up and creep across her body. She stiffened as goose bumps rose across her skin along with his energy, which felt…hot. She had gotten used to the pleasant warm touch of his youki, but this sensation was completely different. It felt wrong and violating. It felt as if her skin were burning, like a sunburn. Kagome couldn't help but feel a sense of deja vu; harkening back to their first attempts at getting to know each other.

"Stop it! You're hurting her!" Katsurou shouted as he stomped over to them. Kagome's eyes shot open in time to see her son smack Sesshoumaru's hand. To his credit, the daiyoukai looked completely bewildered by the child's actions.

Sesshoumaru slowly let go of her hands. "What?"

Kagome rubbed her hands over her arms, trying her best to dispel the awful gross feeling.

His brows furrowed as he took in her actions. "This one is hurting you?"

Kagome ran her fingers through her hair, frustrated. "Yes. It's just like...when we started this. It hasn't felt like that in a long time."

Sesshoumaru stared at his hands. What were they doing differently?

Katsurou sat down between them with a scowl on his face.

"Do it again." Her child demanded.

Kagome was tempted to laugh if it weren't for the serious look on his face. Closing her eyes, she took a deep cleansing breath, and took Sesshoumaru's hands again. This time she would lead.

Her reiki rose up and spilled over to him. Sesshoumaru wasted no time meeting her energy half way. Their energies clashed and warred with each other. Once again, she felt the ick of his youki as it pushed against her senses.

"No!" Katsurou barked, slapping his uncle's hand.

The energy between them dissipated.

Sesshoumaru scowled deeply. The miko holding his hands sighed with an air of defeat. Her attitude infuriated him. His own inadequacy pissed him off. Why didn't it work?! Gritting his teeth, he shoved his youki on her.

Her eyes flew open as she gasped for air. Sesshoumaru's energy bore down on her making it difficult to breathe. His punishing energy scorched a path across her skin, cracking the skin as it went.

"Stop!" Katsurou cried out in a panic, gripping his uncle's forearm.

She dropped his hands as if he were on fire. A growl of frustration erupted from him at her abandonment.

A sob escaped her mouth. It was so painful! Her hands trembled as she tried to cope with lingering sting of his youki.

Kagome staggered to her feet. "Damn it! I will not stand for this. I know it doesn't have to feel that way. I will not sit here and allow you to hurt me."

Sesshoumaru's eyes widened in shock as Kagome pulled back the sleeves of her kimono, wincing as the fabric moved away. Her skin looked as if she had been badly burned, the skin cracked and oozing.

It was a horrendous stab to his pride, that she could easily control whether her energy injured him or not, and yet he had no control over his own. He could only stare at her in disbelief. She had been completely exposed; her reiki did nothing to protect her from his unbridled youki. Her trust in him had directly caused her pain. He couldn't stand the thought that he had injured her because of carelessness. It made him ill watching her try to brush off his youki like some kind of disease.

Since he offered her no answer or apology, she spun on her heel. Kagome was too tired from using so much energy already. She did not have the patience for this. His hand shot out and caught her wrist before she could storm off. Her head whipped around to stare down at him with fury in her blue eyes.

Warm youki slid up her arm, and flowed down her body, making her body ache in an entirely different way, soothing the burns caused by his energy.

"Oh..." She breathed out.

She pulled her wrist from his grip, and intertwined her fingers with his. She sank to her knees beside him.

Sesshoumaru was elated. If the child had not been sitting a foot from them, he would have kissed her.

He closed his eyes as he felt the familiar rush of her reiki against his skin. Their energies mingled together for a moment before solidifying into one.

Tortuga and Lady Manako shared a knowing glance at one another.

Sesshoumaru tugged on her reiki, calling it to him. In his mind's eye, he bent it to his will. Healing reiki washed over her, healing the damage done by him.

Lady Manako could hardly believe her eyes. Her son had just used reiki to heal a miko. If she had not witnessed it, she would have laughed at the very notion.

"Amazing…" She whispered.

"Katsurou, can you feel their energy?" Tortuga asked, garnering the boy's attention.

The small boy tilted his head in concentration. "No...yes. I don't know."

"How did you know that he was doing it wrong?" His grandmother asked.

Katsurou furrowed his brows. "Mama was hurting." After a moment, he clarified. "It was hurting me."

Lady Manako clapped her hands together with glee. "Oh my, he's already in touch with his reiki. He will be a powerful healer. Isn't that wonderful?"

Tortuga looked skeptical, pulling at his long white beard in thought.

"He has empathic powers. Isn't that right, Kagome?" Manako asked.

Kagome studied her son for a moment. He looked lost in his thoughts.

"Earlier with Rin, did you feel her hurt too?" His mother asked softly.

His amber eyes searched hers for a moment before he nodded.

Sesshoumaru's eyebrows rose. "Ah, that explains your behavior. Rin's injury was causing you pain..."

Katsurou's mouth formed a hard line. His youki whipped around him in unsettling waves. Every muscle in his body was tense. Kagome's heart lurched in her chest. He was so young, so small to be dealing with these complicated issues. He will have to learn to shield himself from feeling other's pain.

She reached over and placed her free hand on his shoulder, drawing him closer.

Katsurou's eyes flew open. An odd, yet familiar energy settled over him. His heart pounded with excitement. A sense of completeness filled him.

His mother looked at him expectantly, but he didn't know how to put what he was feeling into words. How was he supposed to explain to her that he didn't realize how feel like a whole person until he felt both energies. He had always felt one, but not the other.

Was this what everyone had been talking about? For months, his mother, uncle, grandmother, and teachers had all spoken about him learning to control his energies, but he didn't understand why or how.

"Katsurou." His mother's voice cut through his thoughts. Her watery blue eyes were so concerned for him. Would she ever stop worrying about him? He hated seeing her sad.

Her son's amber eyes focused on her once more. "I feel it." He said simply.

"You can feel our energy." His uncle tried to clarify.

Katsurou shook his head. That was a gross understatement. It in no way described the way he felt.

Sesshoumaru reached over and took hold his small hand that his mother was not holding. His clawed thumb ran down the middle of his palm.

"You are balanced." His deep voice rumbled across the room.

Such simple words caused such raw emotion to erupt in him. He didn't know what to do with it. His face crumpled under the pressure, and large, fat tears fell from his eyes.

Kagome's heart broke at the sight of her small boy sobbing as he held their hands.

His youki ceased to be erratic, now a steady hum of energy. Reiki curled around his form, mingling freely with his youki.

Sesshoumaru marveled at how powerful this small boy would be. A kind of pride he had never experienced before filled his heart: pride for another. He was proud that this boy was his heir. Proud that he lived despite his enemies intentions. Proud that he was living up to his true potential.

Slowly the drain on their combined energy began too much, and the connection between them died. Katsurou gripped their hands in panic as he felt his control slipping away.

"No! Please!" He cried as he felt his reiki dwindling away until the feeling was gone.

Kagome let of Sesshoumaru's hand so that she may gather her child into her lap. Katsurou threw his arms around her neck and cried against her shoulder. His small body shook with his gasping breaths. His mother rubbed his back, trying to calm him.

She looked at Sesshoumaru as he watched them both. He had no idea the suffering the child was going through. Even as a small child he had control of his abilities. He of course learned how to harness his youki in different ways, but he had always been whole. Sesshoumaru could not help but feel pity for the small boy.

Kagome felt so helpless. She should feel happy that her son had finally managed to do the impossible, even if for a few moments. Yet, the grief he felt was crushing. As his mother, she wanted to make everything alright for him. She wanted him to be happy and healthy, and a part of her couldn't help but feel like a failure in that moment. When she had married Inuyasha, she was excited for children. Even knowing her husband's own struggles to control himself, she never suspected that their children would also struggle too.

At least Inuyasha had Tetsusaiga and his enchanted beads to keep him under control.

Kagome sat up abruptly; an idea stuck her.

Perhaps if she could construct something that would help him feel in tune with his energies, then he would be able to learn to control his power.

Sesshoumaru's eyebrow at her sudden movement, her eyes alight with determination.

"Sesshoumaru-sama, may I ask a favor?" She asked sweetly.

The daiyoukai tilted his head to the side but said nothing.

"Can I have a fang of yours? I have an idea that might help him." She explained.

Lady Manako growled. "No. You ask too much of him. Do you realize what you are asking for?"

Kagome scowled. "Of course I do!" She snapped. "A tooth would contain your youki. It could be used to make a weapon, however that is not what I intend to do with it."

Tortuga smiled broadly. "What else do you require?"

Lady Manako frowned at him. The turtle was old but not stupid; he wouldn't condone this, would he?

"I need a small crystal. It has to be free of youki. I will purify it, and fill it with my reiki."

Tortuga bowed, and left the dojo to retrieve what she wanted.

Sesshoumaru folded his arms into his sleeves. She planned to make some kind of amulet that he could wear to help bring balance to his energy. It wasn't a terrible idea. His mother was right though, a fang of his would be very valuable, and dangerous in the wrong hands.

Good thing for Kagome, he found that there was very little he wouldn't do for her or his heir.

Kagome's eyes followed his movements, as he put his fingers in his mouth. He braced himself, as he tugged on his fang. He hated doing this. It wouldn't be the first time he tried to replicate his father's sword.

She closed her eyes as Sesshoumaru yanked his fang out, and held the bloody tooth out to her.

"Sesshoumaru." His mother hissed in a fury.

Kagome gave him a smile full of gratitude and admiration. He wished to kiss her, but he doubted she'd appreciate his bloody mouth.

She must have known because her cheeks flushed under his gaze, and she uttered a small, "Thank you, Sesshoumaru-sama."

Tortuga returned a moment later; his robes swishing about as he hurried across the room to hand Kagome a small clear crystal.

"Thank you, Tortuga-sama."

Lady Manako looked between them all, and threw her hands up. "What am I missing? I'm a sorceress, but I fail to see what you plan to do."

"Inuyasha had trouble controlling his demonic side. There were times were it…consumed him. He was mindless and a threat. We came to find that Tetsusaiga is what helps keep his youki in balance. I think if we could make something similar, that it may help Katsurou find balance too." Kagome explained.

Lady Manako raised an eyebrow. "I had no idea…Is this true, Sesshoumaru?"

The daiyoukai nodded. "I fought him before. He was a mindless animal."

Kagome frowned at his description, but he wouldn't feel bad for speaking the truth.

Lady Manako bit her lip, a fang showing. "Do you think he will become like his father?"

"No." Sesshoumaru said forcefully. "Katsurou does not need his youki sealed. He has the power to control it. He just has to learn how."

Kagome's heart swelled with love for him. His confidence in her son gave her hope for the future.

Lady Manako remained uncertain, but resigned. "Very well. When you are done, I will fashion it into something he can wear."

Kagome stood holding her son against her chest. "Thank you, Gobodo-sama. If it's alright, I believe it's time for dinner."

"Hn." Sesshoumaru agreed, and stood up from the floor.

His miko carried her son out of the dojo, sliding the door shut behind her.

After she had left, he turned his attention to Tortuga.

"What was different that time? Why did it not work before?" Sesshoumaru demanded.

His mother laughed softly behind her hand. His eyes slid in her direction.

"What is it?"

"My son, you were trying to make her submit to you."

Tortuga nodded his head. "You hold your prejudices close, my lord."

"It worked because you stopped trying to make it work, and simply wanted to comfort her. That's why it worked the last time." His mother explained.

"Allow yourself to love her, and it will work." Tortuga said.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Katsurou sat with his mother in the den after eating dinner. The eerie green fire warmed the room against the cooling fall weather night. Kagome held him tightly in her lap as she hummed, rubbing a pattern into his back. It was cozy, and with his stomach full and his eyes swollen from crying, he felt his head beginning to droop.

"Oh, Katsurou!" Kagome whispered suddenly, pulling Katsurou out of his dreamlike state. "Sesshoumaru and I got a gift for you while we were at the wedding."

"Really? What is it?"

"Just a second. Let me go get it."

Katsurou carefully climbed out of his mother's lap, eagerly awaiting his surprise. Kagome hurried to where the servants had piled the gifts she had brought back from the wedding. She found the box with Katsurou's toy and hurried back to his side, handing it to her son.

He quickly opened the box, pulling the small ball out and staring at it in his hands.

"There's a secret to it." She said in a whisper against his dark hair, a smile curving on her lips.

Katsurou's mouth formed an "O". "What secret? Will you show me?" He asked, his gaze turning to hers.

"I can't unlock its secrets, but you can. This ball can change into whatever shape you want it to be, but you have to use your youki to do it." His mother explained.

His face lost a touch of its excitement. "Oh..." He said staring at the ball. "I can't do that. I'll have to wait until the new moon.

Kagome wrapped an arm around her small son. "Katsurou, you can do anything you want to do." She tapped his chest. "You have the energy of both reiki and youki at your command. It just takes time to learn to control it. You did it today, and you will do it again."

He looked at her startled. "Is that what I felt?"

Kagome sighed, she felt so bad because she hadn't had any time to explain to him. "Yes. You are one of a kind." She said softly. "You inherited youki from your father, and your holy energy from me."

His golden eyes stared down at the ball in his hands. "Do you think…I'll be come a monster like dad?"

Kagome grasped his chin, and tilted his head up to look her in her eyes.

"Your father was never a monster, no matter what your uncle says. Don't listen to what he says about your father anyway. They didn't exactly like each other. Your father was strong and very brave. It's true there were times that your father lost himself to his youki, but he learned to control himself. You will also learn to control your powers. There is no shame in that."

Kagome wrapped an arm around his shoulder and pulled him close.

"Did you know that I have no use of my own reiki when I first came here?" She asked.

His eyes shined with interest. "When you met dad?"

She ruffled his hair. "Yes. I had no clue what I was doing." She laughed. "Oh, it frustrated your dad that I was so clueless! See in the time I was born in, the world had lost most of its knowledge of magic and the forces that are inside you and me. I was Rin's age but I had no control over my powers. I learned to use my powers out of necessity, but later I was able to train."

"Do you really think I'll be able to?" He asked worrying his lower lip.

"You already have some control over it. You healed Rin. That takes a tremendous amount of power to do."

His eyes widened. "I did? I didn't think it worked. Her bone wouldn't heal."

Kagome smiled. "Healing people is often a tricky and unpredictable business. Human bones won't heal right away, but we set the wheels in motion, if you will. See when we place our reiki in others to heal them, it speeds up their own bodies healing capabilities. This means that when you heal a youkai, it is almost instant, while humans take another day or two to fully recover."

He looked at her with renewed hope. "Did I really help her?"

Kagome tweaked a soft puppy ear. "Yes. She'll be up and running around in no time."

He sighed with obvious relief.

"Sesshoumaru and I are going to leave out in the morning to find Shippo. I don't know how long we'll be gone, but when I get back I want to see what you can do with your new toy."

He squeezed the ball in his hands. "I'll try."

"I'm sure your grandmother can show you how to make it work." Kagome said smiling. As much as Manako had been a thorn in her side, she had to admit that she had been very loving towards her son.

They sat in silence, listening to the crackle and snap of the fireplace. It wasn't long before her small son had dozed off.

She picked him up, kissed his forehead, and took him to bed.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Author's Note: Hey everyone! Thank you for all the reviews. I love reading your reactions so much. I hope you enjoy the extra long chapter. You can thank Saruwarui because I almost split it up into a few chapters, and she told me no. I admit though, I am pretty eager to get the next story arc, which begins once they leave the castle. I should have another chapter up within the next couple days, but I'll see how the holidays go.
Happy Holidays!