A little note: As seen on Dokuga. Originally this was a interconnected drabble collection created with the prompts from dokuga_contest. However, since dokuga_contest is no longer running, I'll update as I see fit with prompts I select myself.

Disclaimer: I am not, in any way, affiliated with the creators or producers of Inuyasha. No profit is made from this writing.

Choices

Sesshomaru, for the first time in many years, felt flustered. He had not felt like such an emotional mess since he was thirteen, and just like back then, it was all because of a woman.

Kagome's courting gestures were becoming bold. At first, she had simply shown her respect and submission, which he thought was just his mother's way of messing with him. But it progressed, and Kagome had now moved to touching him in very sensitive places – like the markings on his cheeks. He had been sitting in his office, focused on a scroll, when she came in to serve him tea. She did the usual bow, exposure of her neck and quiet growl, just as she had done when she first started this whole courting thing. But then, when he had ignored her, she had reached out to caress his cheek, and consequently brushed her fingers over the marking. The shiver that had run down his spine was beyond natural, and had left him breathless. And when he had made eye contact with her, she smiled warmly.

That smile convinced him that this wasn't just his mother fooling with him. Kagome was aware of what she was doing, and was consenting to it. The question was, what would he do in response? His train of though was interrupted when the door slid open and his mother stepped inside.

"You called for me?" Tsukiko asked.

He nodded and motioned for her to sit. Tsukiko did as told. When Sesshomaru did not say anything, she cocked her head to the side.

"Well?" she asked.

"Why have you been teaching Kagome the ways of courting a male inu-youkai?" he asked.

Tsukiko smirked. "Oh honey, I should be asking you the same question. The pups have told me everything."

Sesshomaru sighed. So that's how his mother had discovered that he had indeed initiated a mating with Kagome, even though originally he hadn't planned to mate with her, he just wanted to please his pups. Kagome, however, had truly etched her way into his heart. She was an impressive woman, especially for a human.

"Do you plan to accept Kagome's claim?" Tsukiko asked, even though she had a feeling she already knew the answer. Sesshomaru had not reacted to Kagome's gestures, but he hadn't flatly rejected her either, which means he was considering it.

"If I say 'yes', what will your reaction be?" Sesshomaru challenged.

Tsukiko shrugged. "I like her. But before you can take Kagome as your mate, you should get rid of Nohime. Why haven't you done so, already?"

Sesshomaru did not reply, instead he simply stared at his mother in silence, just as she stared back. Finally Tsukiko sighed.

"It's because of Yuuki, isn't it?"

"No."

"Don't deny it, son. You cannot kill Nohime because you feel that would be insulting her mother, the very first woman you ever loved."

"I did not love her."

"Don't lie to your mother, sweetie. I can read you like a book, and as a thirteen year-old boy, the Demoness Yuuki was your big crush. It was quite obvious."

Sesshomaru growled.

"Sesshomaru, it is not something to be ashamed of. We all love someone we shouldn't. In fact, I was infatuated with my father's advisor as a pup. He was many centuries my senior...and mated. Nothing would come of it, but I could dream," Tsukiko hummed. "I suppose I was lucky though, I was mated to his son much later. Handsome dog, he was. Gave me an equally as handsome pup. Although you already knew that."

"I am not ashamed. And I will deal with Nohime," Sesshomaru barked.

"Alright, but it better be soon," Tsukiko said. "Should I warn Kagome what happens when a male accepts a claim, so she is prepared?"

Sesshomaru wasn't sure if he should blush like a silly human boy, or throw something at his mother's head. He chose to growl instead.

"Do whatever pleases you. Just don't scare the human off."

"Oh, I don't think anything scares that girl."