I do not own Inuyasha!
It's been two weeks exactly since the demise of lady Harumi and so much has happened since then. Kagome lie awake in the big bed of the master bedroom reflecting on the events.
The woman's downfall had been due to her own arrogance, she was a leader brave and cunning, but lacked one essential ingredient to make her a great role model, and that was compassion, without it she was a tyrant, a dictator who ruled with an iron fist, and most if not all of her followers did so out of fear.
A lone figure stood in the doorway as she drew the silken sheets up to her chin and sighed. "Do you require something to eat?" Sesshomaru asked, previously drowning in the beauty that was his mate while she had been unaware.
He was up from the crack of dawn while she slumbered; there was an issue that needed his attention and he'd used the time away from her to address it.
A single nod was her only response. Sesshomau left shortly afterwards while Kagome continued with her musings. Four days after the battle with the elder demoness she was almost completely rested and healed, Sesshomaru had appointed five new minor lords who replaced the ones that were killed and who were also accomplices of his dam.
The council convened the following day to a new dawn. The past was decimated and a new future and a new beginning were at hand. The slate was wiped clean; the future was theirs to decide with guidance from the kamis.
Two, it was the number of days that she had become Sesshomaru's official mate in a grand coronation. Kagome smiled at the memory still basking in the afterglow of their honeymoon. It was a wonderful feeling in spite of all the hardships.
They both had been through many ordeals together and had never gotten the chance to really celebrate their joining up until now. It's better late than never at all, Kagome thought as she remembered the monumental event.
Sesshomaru had insisted that she should accompany him along with Akiyoshi to the council meetings. It was déjà vu all over again, for how could she ever forget the first time that she had gone?
The memories were still painful; however, it was a time when she and Sesshomaru's feelings for each other had grown exponentially, because each had realized that they had a common purpose in mind, and that they wanted to be together no matter what the odds were.
I can't she had said then, fearful of the past and unwilling to venture forward because she was just so tired mentally to endure the scrutiny, something she was sure would happen again.
Physically her strength was fine but still nowhere near to what it should be if she had not fought that devious woman.
She recalled Sesshomaru's gaze at her sleep tousled hair and face, and sensed that he knew what she feared by the vacant look in her eyes, and also by the way her form shifted uneasily on the bed while she nibbled on her thumb.
"You are making fear overrule reason…Kagome."
The nervous actions stopped immediately, she looked at him fixedly seeing a rare smile, recalling the first time that he had said those same words to her.
It was the time after she'd left the west and went back to Edo, after assisting him at the summit where she was ridiculed and attacked. She and Sesshomaru had parted on uncertain terms then. She remembered waiting in anxiety for two weeks for his return, it was hellish and she didn't think that she could have endured another day without him, when suddenly he had appeared.
They'd talked about their lives and relationship and where they wanted it to go. She was unyielding, refusing to be another notch on his belt; she would never become one of his concubines. He'd made some changes but for her it still wasn't enough and she had objected, and it was then that he'd said those words to her.
Kagome moved closer to him and rested her head on his lap, from this position she was staring up at him and he was looking down on her. Gentle fingers raked through her hair as he sought to quell the anxieties that afflicted her thoughts.
"Kagome put your fears aside…We have won and a new day has dawned."
Sesshomaru couldn't blame her for being apprehensive. Who could successfully discount what she felt, when the evidence of the sorrow and hardships she'd endured was engraved in her blue eyes.
Gone was the childish innocence of her blue gaze, and instead was a profound sadness that deepened them, the loss of a child and taking a life took away the magnificent sparkle and leaving behind a dim glow. He was truly saddened by that fact, because her eyes and dramatic expressions had always brought a smile to his heart even in the darkest times of his life.
The hand that touched them lingered briefly and she closed them quickly because she too was aware of the sadness in them. They understood that they'd both sacrificed a lot and would never be the same again. But for Kagome it was different, she had ventured deep inside her soul, seeking vengeance for herself and daughter, and had taken a life in defense of that conviction.
Who could say if what she did was right or wrong? She only knew what she felt, and it felt right ridding the world of that woman. The hand on her face moved to the base of her skull and tugged her closer to a face that wanted to kiss the hurt away. Kagome leaned in closer as warm firm lips touched hers, pressing mildly and doing nothing more than just staying there.
"Yes I will come with you to the meeting!"
She muttered onto his lips, and she felt as he smiled into the kiss before pulling away and leaving.
The rest she could say was history. Sesshomaru appointed Kouga as lord of one of the regions which he gladly accepted after Sesshomaru agreed that he could relocate his tribe to the west.
Inuyasha was finally acknowledged as a prince of the west and was established as a member; however, he declined an offer to rule as lord of one of the regions, saying instead that he was comfortable serving under his brother. Sesshomaru had stood at that point and had corrected him saying. "Brother we will rule this kingdom together as father would have wanted."
Inuyasha had blushed and then nodded his agreement shyly.
In the same breath Sesshomaru announced his mated status to Kagome and declared her lady of the west. In the ensuing days preparations were being made for her coronation and subsequent introductions to the people of the west. It was long overdue. Everything was happening so fast that it made her dizzy thinking about it.
The event came and went and she and her mate spent every moment in bed together enjoying the solitude and love. A knock at the door took her away from her thoughts and she answered.
"Enter," two maids came in, one with a tray and the other with bathing supplies.
The food was eaten as the servants waited, and when she was done a bath was drawn; she stripped and entered the tepid water. It was a soothing soak as the maids washed and massaged her body, she almost fell asleep, but soon the task was over. She was dried and feeling relaxed as she re-entered the king sized bed with the soft silken sheets.
Sighing in bliss as the servants left, she wondered where Sesshomaru was, no sooner than she had that thought he entered the room and came to lie beside her, wearing only a black robe which highlighted his pale skin beautifully giving the impression that he glowed.
Breathing deeply she turning on her side, a position that he was already in, they came face to face. He had lightness about him, he was happy she observed with a playful glint in his eyes, but there was something else that troubled her mind.
"Sesshomaru is there something you are keeping from me?" She asked quietly while holding his gaze.
His features softened even more as he considered something. His mate had a very discerning eye, or is it that she knew him to a fault? He was not trying to mask his emotions. He was contented and it showed, not many could say that he was nice or pleasant even, but when it came to this woman he could not hide what he felt, and for his children, they too knew him very well.
Kagome raised her brows at him while she waited on his answer. His mate's intuitive deduction and subtle probing deepened his smile. And as she opened her mouth to ask again he silenced her with a swift kiss and pulled away.
"Shippo is back, he is with Inuyasha as we speak."
She studied every inch of his face and found no lies, it was the truth. She had grown concerned about him when he did not return in the week that he said he would. A grin slowly spread across her cheeks by the welcomed news.
"When did he return?" She asked giving him a quizzical glance, because she had always known ahead of time by messenger upon his impending return.
"He returned three days ago," he explained briskly as he could see the incomprehension in her eyes. "Soldiers were strategically placed around the borders of the west, and when he tried to enter the domain he was apprehended by them."
Kagome groaned, "What! Did they hurt him, I want to know?"
Sesshomaru wanted to tell her that the details were unimportant, then hesitated, caught by the spark of warning in her eyes.
Kagome watched as he turned on his back and his jaws tightened slightly before he spoke.
"The kitsune was detained and interrogated for two and a half days by overzealous guards who assaulted him, when he announced that he was your son."
Her mouth opened to speak but no words formed on her lips. The male beside her had an unsurpassed ability to stun her into gaping silence even when he was not trying to, but he'd definitely made his point.
She finally found the wherewithal to choke out a few words.
"Oh my god!" She mumbled terrified. "Why must so much sadness rule ou lives?"
She moved closer and placed her head on his chest, he inhaled sharply and closed his eyes before speaking.
"It is an unfortunate situation, but I can assure you that the guards that were responsible will have to give an account for such barbaric actions."
His statement caused her pulse to race, and closing her eyes tightly she tried to hold in the anger that she felt.
With time she calmed down and asked a question of her own.
"Is he hurt badly?"
He knew that Kagome would be disappointed by his answer, but he would not lie. Her silky black locks were smooth around his fingers as he caressed the strands, hopefully lessening the blow as he did so.
"Yes," he answered.
His reply had her sitting up suddenly, causing his claws to cut through the tresses that were entwined with his fingers. She didn't seem to react to the action as her head was jerked back painfully before sharp claws cut her loose snapping her head forward. However, the smell of tears assaulted his nose and he sat up quickly and held her by the shoulders, feeling her entire body shaking slightly with stress.
"I want to see him now!" Kagome demanded through her sobs, Sesshomaru only held her tighter as she cried.
"I am afraid that is impossible," he replied after awhile.
Kagome removed herself from his embrace and gazed at him coolly. He noted the frown that turned her mouth down angrily, and the light of curiosity burning like a flame in her eyes.
"And why is that so?" She asked harshly.
He wanted to touch her. In truth he wanted to do nothing else than to love her, he'd thought of nothing else as he'd made his way back from his brother's home after visiting with the fox. The honeyed skin of her form was like a magnet to his fingers, the soft lushness of her lips like a potent wine that he craved. Her dark mane of hair seemed to cry out for his hands to caress, or wrap it around his fist as he drew her to him.
In time he focused his attention back on the situation at hand, and off the carnal thoughts that filled him up just now. Too many times he'd forgotten that Kagome was a woman and tend to dramatize some things that he could assess logically. Her children were one aspect that brought out the most emotional of expression from her.
Kagome stabbed him a look with glaring eyes when he was slow to answer.
"He does not want to see you," he replied dryly.
Kagome gasped aloud by the unpleasant response. He watched as the look of incredulity set in her eyes before focusing them on him.
"Why?" she whispered on a moan. "I am his mother."
He could feel the hurt she felt as it rippled through him like a tidal wave. Kagome was reacting to the pain she felt from rejection. He had to say something to make her feel better, Yuki's death was still too fresh and it triggered sensations of doubt and guilt in her being.
"Mate do not take this the wrong way. The kitsune is an adult now and he does not want to bring you unnecessary pain. If you go to him now he would not appreciate it, and you will be hurt more in the process."
Yes, she understood perfectly, but still it was so hard to sit by and do nothing. Regardless of what she was feeling she would do as he'd asked of her; when he was better she would go to him.
Calm down Kagome she told herself, over reacting was not helping the situation; Sesshomaru was still in a pleasant mood in spite of the gloom about. She could help to make things better between them, or continue to indulge in self pity and spoil their long overdue honeymoon. She conceded to the former.
They made love long into the night, and each time that they climaxed Sesshomaru emptied his seeds inside her passage and knotted within. She was conscious of what he was trying to accomplish, he was trying to impregnate her again and she welcomed the idea.
They understood each other very well, and the simplicity of knowing and sharing each other completely only stood to strengthen their love.
Before she slept she thought of Shippo, and placing her hand over her middle she wondered if she was pregnant, because after Aiko was born they had never conceived again even though they were not always careful.
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