….

Eighteen

Sesshomaru had had sleepless nights before but then it was just because his demon wouldn't settle it seemed time just passed. Tonight it crept by slowly, almost feeling as though it halted completely when her fever spiked again. He had Jaken get the healer, they had a few of them men and women just in case he wouldn't have any men looking over her he supposed that was ridiculous but it didn't matter the woman was in quickly he was already sitting back and out of her way. She was a different one than before but a long term employee he knew her well enough. She looked over her before nodding.

"What?" Naraku started he was a little tired but hardly so.

"She is alright, you see while these germs must be in a wound, drink consumed quickly or passed through sex there is something else about it's change."

"Get on with it."

She shook her head, though there was a light smile on her aging face she was a much larger imp and Jaken was rather fond of her, Imoga she was called.

"This is more like an infection which seems even worse because it should have broken already and she should be recovering fine. However, that means it was done faster than it appeared, as her body used the rest of the blood first."

"Used it for what...?"

She reached to expose her side and undo the red bandages, there was a scar, but it was fairly light as if it had years to fade.

"She can turn blood into a healing agent..?"

She shook her head moving to clean the dried blood from the bandage off.

"No your blood together made that happen, she's just warm as mating season is getting closer and she's here with you."

"I don't understand."

"Can you really not tell Mi'lord? You have mated with her."

"No we did not."

"Oh yes you very well did, can you not sense a change in her presence, how you feel around her?"

"That doesn't mean anything, her aura has had an effect since we met her, it's harder to hide things from her because she always senses a few steps a head it seems." Naraku exclaimed, frustrated.

She tapped her chin.

"Well have you tasted her blood recently?"

"Only when we put our marks on her for safety." Sesshomaru said.

"And did you taste her blood?"

"No."

"Did your demon taste it for you?"

Sesshomaru sighed heavily as she nodded.

"That's that then, there are many demons, countless in fact that can no longer make a good temporary mark for basic traditions. However for those that are stronger like you two, it should have been noted that you didn't have to break skin for the mark to work a scratch would have been enough. Saliva and blood is oh so powerful, even at it's weakest."

Sesshomaru pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Of course...father suggested it was possible she was a true mate I thought he was crazy...but if nothing changed how could she not be.."

She smiled a bit wider.

"That must be it, I saw her fight even sick she came back, then of course the stories of he fighting you so easily. I thought she was a special but to have two mates there's a demoness worth holding on to, I'm sure if you just take things slow she'll be fine with it but as you know a blood ritual is one thing but mates cannot be separated you'll always pine and she slept with you did she not. That should add to it."

He tried to think of what little history was passed down though most were sure no one had mates to find and all could pick their own. It was one thing to just find them with sex, after the exchange of blood casual wasn't really an option. Though now he felt guilty at the thought, she was promised freedom to walk away but he didn't really want her to.

She stood.

"See she sleeps evenly, she should cool down soon enough but she'll relax a lot more if you do." she bowed before moving to leave.

"Wait, don't let this out."

She glanced over.

"Really?"

"We can hide her scent no one needs to know, she still values her freedom we'll keep it."

She eyed him it was genuinely the most emotion she'd seen from him since he was much younger she bowed, a silent agreement before turning to leave.

It wasn't an ability exactly more like a perk between mates and many thought it wasn't possible anymore though he was taught about it.

Sesshomaru sighed heavily, it wasn't some fairy tale it didn't mean that that was it and they were in love that came naturally when it was meant to come. But the pull was cemented and if possible even stronger.

"What the hell are we supposed to do now...?" Naraku said.

"What, disappointed?"

"Not in the least and that's the problem I know she's going to be angry I think I've had enough of people in my life that don't want me I won't put up with it with her." he stood and moved to take a walk.

Sesshomaru sighed touching her forehead feeling the fever go down as she shifted.

"He'll be back or I'll drag him kicking and screaming." she smiled slightly...or perhaps her demon.

…..

Kagome pushed herself up slowly feeling the heaviness in her chest fade, she coughed and rubbed her temples she looked around confused seeing that Sesshomaru finally seemed to have dozed off she turned as Naraku opened the door. He swallowed slightly looking at her. He really didn't want to run into another wall with someone who should care in some way but this was just about work.

Duties as an alpha, he didn't think it would ever be more.

It left him feeling a bit bitter.

"So you're awake...how are you feeling?"

She frowned feeling a bit different though not too much between the two he moved to sit down and gave her some water they kept near the futon.

"Fine...if a little confused, what happened?"

"What do you remember?"

"Kagura pushing me in the hole..."

"Right I should punish her, feel any different?"

"Should I?"

"Well I'll fill in the blanks then you tell me."

…..

Sesshomaru woke up slowly he looked at Kagome she was sitting in front of him her head on her knees they would know but who else really needed to. Naraku just sat near the door staring into space.

"Sleep okay?"

"I should be asking you that, everything alright?"

"Yeah..."

"I guess he told you."

She nodded.

"I..am sorry Kagome."

Naraku frowned but didn't say anything she shook her head as she demon prodded her head in her mind.

"You didn't do anything wrong, I should properly thank both of you for helping me."

"Wasn't like we couldn't the sense was there the exhange in blood just cemented it."

"Still."

He nodded.

"The healer that came I told her not to say anything so you can still have what you would have had with our original agreement."

She frowned.

"What about you?"

"We're fine to go back as we were..well I am I can't really speak for Naraku."

She wasn't sure what to think about it sure it wasn't like it was only them but it was a little more obvious for her now. She knew well enough why Naraku was frustrated and she didn't know how to approach it. Sure there was that feeling that she should just comfort her mate but this was all over the place one second this the next that...and then out of nowhere this, it was unbelievable. She didn't want to lead him on and really things could change she didn't have to have a pull they got along fine things could come but now she knew he wouldn't see it as much more than trying to please him.

Which he had no use for.

"Whatever works, I don't really care."

"That's not true."

"So? I'll believe it eventually."

She looked down.

"We can make the best of this like we planned to and whatever happens happens...I mean we can only go back and forth and fight over it. Which would be pointless since you can't take back this sort of thing, or we can continue taking it slow as we would have."

They looked at her surprised, things weren't awkward sure it was a lot to take suddenly, even by demon standards but then that was it. Mate, his demon seemed to chant it both did it was the same as it been expect now he registered a stronger bit of jealousy, desires were slowly growing as it was.

"We thought you might be more worked up." Sesshomaru said lowly...that was something that had changed it seemed to have done so even more as he waited for her to wake.

She could already sense everything as it was with limited chance for him to hide, now it was pointless.

"What like you did it on purpose..?"

"Well I suppose, since we met it seems we've gone through so many steps already next you'll be pregnant...Wait are you?"

She laughed and shook her head.

"No I'm not hiding a pregnancy from you."

Truth be told she was at least worked up a little as the servant came to bring breakfast, but she couldn't focus on that. She wanted them to be soothed, simple as that her this was partly the reality of something that technically wasn't that bad that they couldn't do anything about and mostly the fact that they were alphas. A beta or omega probably couldn't handle so much excitement granted some time passed between first meeting and such it didn't change anything it was quick and things would settle eventually though they were already mated and the season was coming.

She really could end up pregnant if she stayed around them.

Not that she wanted to leave and that didn't bother her, her demon adapted it was a surprise...a lot to take in but it wasn't unpleasant. There was a sense of security that started to rise she guessed some time alone would help even more but for now.

She was really just glad for peace, she looked at Naraku thinking she wanted to keep it that way.

He sighed but nodded slowly they had to start somewhere and this connection that was now clear was pulsing it wasn't just a guess. It was no longer this feels right just because but this feels right because I know why.

She turned to Sesshomaru who nodded, there was no telling where it was really going to end but it was just as well they were comfortable around one another because they were really stuck now even if she chose to walk away she'd always want to at least see them.

…..

(Yeah I went there alright...:D)