Chapter 17

Sesshomaru sat beside his mate mentally preparing himself for her reaction and any physical punishment she may have in store for him.

"Koi, do not be angry with them, it was me who forced them to keep their distance and identities from you. But even then we've been with you every step of the way to watch over you. we were unaware of what all you went through inside the jewel and we…I didn't want to put your body into more shock and risk it hurting you and our children" he laid his hand on her stomach over the pups. "I just wasn't aware at the time how much more pain I was actually putting you through. It was selfish of me, thoughtless really. Please kagome forgive me."

She stared at him quietly while she thought about his words, she watched his body language and could see his words were true. He did regret it but she had this nagging feeling that she shouldn't let this go…was this actually how she felt? Was this just the pregnancy hormones? Was it both working hand in hand? She let out a breath before she spoke.

"Sesshomaru, I love you and I know you're telling me the truth but the hurt that you abandoned me when I needed you the most is still here. I think it's best if i just have a bit of time to myself for a while"

Surprised this is all she said, no screaming, no physical violence he took it as a win and silently agreed with her wishes. She called for shippo to come help her up and together without sesshomaru they left the room, he let out some pain filled whines longing to hold his mate again.

Days have passed since he was allowed to sleep in his bed, be around his mate or even be allowed to see her at all. Her aura seemed like she was fine, just angry with him. He thought Kagome understood but her cruel treatment of him made it seem like she wasn't going to be forgiving this time. He searched once again for her aura, out in the garden with the grandpups.

*-Of course our mate is out there with the pups, she's always loved the children. Back home she normally stayed in our gardens with our pups and the pups of the castle…i want her back. Don't fuck this up bakka-*

his beast growled at him. This alone made him smile, both his irrational and rational parts of him loved this human girl, he ignored his own beast insulting him and moved towards the garden this guessing game was going to end. Today.

He walked up the hill that overlooked the garden and immediately his eyes fell on the woman who held his heart, the only one that ever could. She sat a smile on her face watching as the grandpups ran, froliced and played in the gardens and around the pond. A single hand resting on her stomach, he could see that one of the pups she was carrying was kicking hard but she showed no pain on her face. Her other hand rested behind her, the sun shone beautifully through her hair and on her face, once again he could feel the ice that built around his heart melt just at the sight of his beloved.

He walked down to her and spoke softly.

"Koi, may we speak. Please?"

There was a distinct whine and desperate pleading in his voice that pulled at the angry woman's heart, she let out a sigh, rearranged herself and nodded.

Without a moment's hesitation he sat beside her, fighting to find the right words to use that would get his point across without angering her.

"Koi, are you happy here? If you aren't then i'll take you back to your mothers until you're ready to come back"

When he saw her face contour and shape he mentally hand palmed his face, she was not happy about his choice in words.

She stood quickly, using every muscle not to purify the arrogant bastard right where he sat

"First you took my family from me when I needed you most, now that I finally have my children back, my friends back. Have you back you're wanting to take all of that away from me and"

She poked a finger inside his chest, unintentionally leaving a small burn mark on his skin.

"Your children I might add."

Before he had a chance to speak, the loud sound of a splash echoed through the castle grounds, next was the deafening sound of a puppy's desperate yelp….. then silence.

The two turned around when two other of Rin's pups came running, tears streaming down their faces showing fear.

"Grandma! Grandpa! Yua! She fell into the pond" they started pulling on the two before what the pups had said finally registered in their brains.

Sesshomaru ran quickly towards the water when his eyes saw the pups body beginning to sink to the bottom, without missing a beat he jumped into the water to pull the pup out.

Kagome and the other pups stood at the end of the ground before it became water.

"You two go get your parents. Now, quickly!"

Listening to their grandmother and fear for their littlest sister the pups ran as quickly as possible.

Kagome helped pull the child from the pond, quickly she began working with the child to get her to cough up the water. She felt sesshomaru beside her, his aura just as scared as her own. Footsteps approaching quickly behind her than the cries of her daughter as she screamed for her own daughter, fear unmistakable in her voice. Moments passed before the child began coughing, quickly she pulled her to her side to allow her to cough the water that had been trapped in her lungs.

Yua opened her eyes and began crying, the tension around the air lightened as kagome pulled the child into her lap and too began to cry tears of fear, relief, self hatred. Her emotions all together in a knot inside her throat.

The young girl reached for her mother, whom reached back and held her frightened little girl. Her mind raced back to when she herself almost died from her citrus allergy, feeling the tears drop on her skin that fell from Kagome's eyes.

. *-This must be what mom felt that day.-*

She looked to her mother who was crying and as angry as she was that this happened on her watch she also knew how mischievous her children were and how protective her mother was. She knew deep in her mind that her mother wouldn't purposely let the children be in danger, she remembered her mothers protective energy..how could she forget? She loved Rin and Shippo no differently than if they were her biological children. She remembered the lectures, the way they used to play together every day, the way she would brush and play with Rin's hair to comfort her and put her to sleep. A smirk grew on Rin's face when she remembered the day Kagome almost killed Jakken for hitting Rin.

choosing to not say a word she walked away still holding her smallest child the other two following behind. Kagome looked too Sesshomaru.

"If you want me out. Fine." she rose from her spot and began to walk away.

Sesshomaru grabbed her wrist and pulled her close to his body unwilling to let her go, afraid that if he did he would never see her or their children again. He already had to go five hundred years without them now that they were home, he didn't want to spend one more day without them by his side. It was now or never.

"Kagome. Stop for a minute and listen to me."

His harsh voice caught her attention, it has been so long since he has spoken to her like that. She stopped in place, slowly she turned her head to listen to what he had to say.

"I did not once tell you I wanted you out. I have waited five hundred years for you. I have been through countless battles and fought hard over the years to protect our family so we all had the chance to be together. here . in your time, don't you understand that?

Yes. Maybe the choice to not come right away was the wrong one but I did what I thought was best for you, not only for you but for the safety of our pups. I want you here, i want you to be happy, i want you safe, i want you sleeping peacefully in our bed wrapped up in my arms, i wanted nothing more than to run to you that day and bring you here. There are a lot of things I want but I was attempting to not put my wants above your needs. I understand i fucked up, ok? But how long are you going to punish me?"

His eyes pleaded for her to understand, she watched his body language as she listened to his words finally she let out yet another sigh as she shifted her body weight.

She closed the distance between them and wrapped her arms around him tightly.

"What took you so long stupid?"

All he managed was a half hearted chuckle, wrapping his arms in turn around her waist and embracing her tightly.