TITLE: Cursed Twins

AUTHOR: InuYoukaiAki

DISCLAIMER: I do not own InuYasha and Co.

Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. And because I had a lot of reviews immediately, I decided to post this earlier. And it was also to make up for the long wait of the previous chapter. Well, hope you like this! R&R!

Chapter 18: Tokens

Sesshoumaru slowly opened his eyes to the gentle probing of sunlight. He looked up at the unfamiliar ceiling. Confusion overtook him at the absence of the painting of a huge white dog on the moon that usually greeted his waking moments. He decided to get up but a weight on his shoulders and torso prevented him from moving.

He looked down cautiously and memory flooded him when he saw the curtain of raven black hair that was draped across his torso. Sesshoumaru almost smiled as he felt Kagome snuggled closer to him and sighed. Sesshoumaru lowered himself back carefully. He did not want to wake up the girl sleeping peacefully against him. He was flooded with unfamiliar warmth as he thought of how right it felt. Truth be told, it was actually pleasant. He decided to remain lying down, relishing the feel of Kagome sleeping against him.

A gasp from the door caused Sesshoumaru's head to snap to that direction. This in turn caused Kagome to stir. His gaze turned away from Sango who was blushing by the door. Sesshoumaru fastened his attention on the girl who was half-sprawled on top of him.

"Is it morning already?" Kagome asked sleepily. She looked up at him with a soft smile, her eyes clouded by sleep.

Sesshoumaru waited until Kagome's eyes focused. He almost laughed out loud when her eyes widened as she realized their compromising position. If it were not for the taijiya, Sesshoumaru would have given in to the urge to smile. Kagome looked horrified as she realized that she was not only lying on top of him but also Sango was there to witness it. She gave a tiny squeak and clambered off him, her cheeks aflame with embarrassment.

"I-uh-we-uhm…" Kagome stammered, trying hard to explain to Sango that they were not doing anything.

Sango bowed down to Sesshoumaru, blushing furiously before she exited the room.

"Oh, no," Kagome groaned. "Now, I'll never hear the end of this."

Sesshoumaru was amused at her frustration. She was brushing her hair repeatedly using her fingers as she tried to hold the neckline of the sleeping kimono. She looked tempting in her rumpled state and Sesshoumaru's body was reacting to her. He suppressed the feeling and stood up casually.

Her eyes looked up at him and her blush deepened as she realized that his sleeping kimono was loosened at the top, revealing his bare chest. He smirked at the reaction and did not bother to make himself more decent.

"We must make our appearance," he said casually. "The others will be wondering where we have gone."

"Oh," Kagome whispered as she realized that it was already late.

He walked out the door and went straight to his chambers, leaving a very embarrassed miko behind.

- - -

Kagome walked into the dining area to see everyone seated including Sesshoumaru. Sango threw her a knowing look before her eyes strayed suggestively towards Sesshoumaru's direction.

She looked around the table and noticed that the seating arrangements had changed. The only available spot was the one on Sesshoumaru's right. She made her way slowly to the spot and primly sat. Opposite Kagome sat InuTaisho who had a knowing twinkle in his eyes. Kagome could not help but think that he knew Sesshoumaru had spent the night in her room. Well, she would not be surprised since nothing seemed to get pass the old demon. She blushed at the thought and peeked at Sesshoumaru who had not taken his gaze off the window.

She had waited for the moment when someone would mention about this morning. They were already in the middle of their breakfast and still nobody was mentioning about anything. Kagome relaxed. Maybe she was lucky and nobody knew.

"So, how was your sleep, Kagome?" InuTaisho asked casually.

Kagome had been munching a piece of bread. She choked on her bread which caused everyone's attention to focus on her.

"Are you all right, Kagome?" Kenji asked innocently.

Kagome took the tea offered to her by Yoji who was sitting beside her. "Thank you," she said hoarsely. She placed the tea back on the table and smiled at Kenji and Yoji. "I'm fine." She stole a glance at Sesshoumaru. He was looking at her. Kagome was taken aback by the slight tinge of red in his eyes but it disappeared immediately. It must have just been her imagination, or a trick of the light.

"So, did you sleep well?" InuTaisho asked again.

Her eyes swung back to the older demon and she could swear there was some underlying meaning in those innocent words. There was a glint in his eyes accompanied by a smirk. Kagome composed herself. "Actually, I had a good sleep," she said casually.

InuTaisho nodded. "Of course," he said. "And how about you, Sesshoumaru?"

There! InuTaisho really knew something.

"Good," Sesshoumaru said smoothly.

"I was just wondering since the two of you slept in late," InuTaisho said innocently.

Kagome almost choked on her tea at that comment. "Uh, I had a rough day," she managed to get out.

"Yes, understandable," InuTaisho said. "I hope you will be totally recovered by tomorrow."

"For what?" Kagome asked.

"Well, for the pre-mating ritual," InuTaisho said. "The three other lords would be here. You will have to make an appearance."

Kagome nodded. "I think I'd be fine by then," she said tentatively. Her mind raced at the possibilities. Her heart hammered as she became nervous.

- - -

"So, what will happen tomorrow?" Kagome asked Sango. "With the pre-mating ritual stuff." She had asked Kikyou and Sango to bathe with her in the spring.

"I'll tell you if you tell me what Sesshoumaru was doing in your chambers," Sango teased. "Sleeping on your futon with you draped all over him."

Kikyou gasped audibly. Her eyes were round.

Kagome blushed a deep crimson. "We were just sleeping," she said defensively. "I sort of felt the spirit in me, the rage building. And I was scared." It was the first time she told them of the rages she had felt beginning. Instantly, Sango's teasing expression and Kikyou's horrified one was replaced by worry.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Kikyou asked gently.

Kagome smiled at them. "You would worry about me," she said. "But last night, I felt it getting stronger. And I was afraid it would overtake me while I was asleep."

"Don't you think Sesshoumaru would be in danger since he is one of the spirit's targets?" Sango asked curiously.

She sighed. "Well, to tell you guys honestly, the rages seemed to disappear when I think of Sesshoumaru," she said shyly. "And he was the one who was able to get me to calm down completely before. So I figured he'd be able to keep it away. And I was right. I've had the most peaceful sleep."

"You love him," Kikyou whispered in awe.

Her face burned and she averted her eyes. But it was there for the two girls to see. Kagome was deeply in love with Sesshoumaru.

Sango's face softened. "Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, a bit hurt.

A tear fell from Kagome's eye. "I was scared," she whispered. "I don't want to get hurt again. By keeping it to myself, I thought I'd be able to suppress it. But I can't. Kami knows I tried so hard. And now I've trapped him into mating me. What if he hates me for it?"

Sango went to her friend and hugged her. "He doesn't hate you," she said. "I saw his face this morning. He looked content with you next to him."

Kikyou smiled at Kagome. "You'll be all right," she said. "You're a strong girl."

Kagome smiled. "Yeah, well," she said. "At least I have the two of you."

"Of course," Sango said. "Now, back to the topic at hand. Tomorrow, at the pre-mating ritual, you will be presented to the youkai court. Normally, there is no pre-mating ritual but since Sesshoumaru is one of the ruling taiyoukai, it's different."

Kikyou looked worried. "There are three parts to the pre-mating ritual," she said. "The first part is the presentation to the taiyoukai. This is a simple banquet with the strongest taiyoukai in attendance. The second part would include you and Sesshoumaru exchanging something symbolic. And the third…" Kikyou hesitated.

"And the third?" Kagome asked, her heart hammering.

"Well, the third would include you and Sesshoumaru bathing each other," Sango said with a blush.

Kagome gasped. "Bathe each other?" she asked incredulously. "B-b-but t-that would mean we'd see each other n-n-naked! And I would have t-to t-touch him!"

"And don't forget that he would touch you," Sango teased.

Her face burned even more. "Do we really have to?" she pleaded.

Kikyou nodded slowly. "The females in the party would prepare you before they escort you to the springs and the males would do the same to Sesshoumaru," she explained. "So there really is no way out."

"Besides, you would do much more on the day of the mating ritual," Sango said, her face burning up.

"Oh!" Kagome buried her face in her hands in horror. "I'm not sure I'm prepared for this thing."

"You'll be okay, Kagome," Kikyou consoled.

Kagome nodded. "I guess," she sighed. "Now, I have another problem. I need to think of something I would give him."

- - -

Sesshoumaru walked down the hall. He was passing by Kagome's bedroom when he heard muttering from inside the room. He stopped just behind the door, trying to make out Kagome's muttering.

"What to give, what to give," she chanted. There was rummaging heard from inside. "Darn, this is hard."

More rummaging was heard from inside. "This is getting me nowhere," Kagome said in frustration.

Sesshoumaru heard her footsteps nearing the door. He immediately disappeared around the corner. He could not let Kagome see him lurking outside her door.

He wondered what she was so busy about. Then he remembered where he was headed and made his way back to the deepest part of the Palace of the moon.

- - -

Inuyasha was quietly sitting on the huge tree at the gardens when he saw Kagome shoot pass. Then she stopped abruptly and ran back to him. He watched curiously as she panted heavily below the tree.

"Inuyasha, have you seen, Totousai?" she asked in between gulps of air.

He jumped down from the tree and stood a foot away from Kagome. Her face was flushed from her exertion. "How long have you been running around?" he asked cautiously. Inuyasha could not help but worry about her health.

Kagome had finally caught her breath. She sighed. "Half a day," she mumbled.

"Half a day!" Inuyasha exclaimed incredulously. He looked at Kagome who was smiling sheepishly at him. "And why are you running about after just a few days of your injury?"

"I need something for tomorrow's pre-mating ritual," Kagome said, sighing. "The one I will give Sesshoumaru."

Inuyasha's eyes clouded. "I see," he said in a deadpan voice.

"Oh, Inuyasha," Kagome said sadly. "Don't be that way. I really missed you, Inuyasha. You're my best friend and I… I can't bear it if you're like this."

"Keh!" Inuyasha said as he saw Kagome's sad face. "C'mon, I'll take you to Totousai."

Kagome's face brightened. "Thank you, Inuyasha!" she said happily as she hugged the embarrassed hanyou.

Soon, they were on their way to Totousai's cave.

- - -

Inside the castle, InuTaisho and the twins were busy preparing everything for tomorrow. But InuTaisho was not busy enough to observe the other occupants of the castle, particularly the mates-to-be.

He had watched with amusement as Kagome zoomed passed him a couple of times the whole day. Obviously, the taijiya and Kagome's twin had told her about the mating ritual. He knew that Kagome would ask the two so he did not bother to explain to her what exactly would happen in tomorrow's ritual. Besides, it would be quite awkward to tell her that she and Sesshoumaru would bathe each other.

Then he had seen Sesshoumaru walking placidly to the chambers at the deepest part of the palace. He knew that his eldest son was also preparing for tomorrow's ritual. He wondered what Sesshoumaru would give Kagome.

- - -

Kagome skipped happily beside Inuyasha. She was grinning widely as they arrived back at the castle. It was late and everybody had been looking for them.

"Where have you two been?" Miroku asked.

"Nowhere," Kagome said innocently and smiled. "Well, I'd better get to my room. Thanks, Inuyasha." She ran to her room, oblivious to the fact that Sesshoumaru was watching her from the library window.

The demon lord turned from the window, a momentary frown creasing his forehead before he was able to get his unreadable mask back on. Despite the fact that Kagome had chosen him, he could not shake the feeling that Kagome really cared for the hanyou. After all, she had loved him for so long. It is possible that she could still have feelings for him. He mentally shook himself. He should not really think of these things. It is of no consequence.

Sesshoumaru had not noticed that he had clenched his fist until he had scented his blood. He stared into his bleeding palms and watched as the wounds healed instantly. A bloodied object was the only evidence that he had spilled his own blood. He watched, fascinated as the blood was slowly absorbed by the object, leaving no more trace of the incident.

End chapter