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Thoughts-Bold
Flashbacks-Italics
Chapter 2
Rin helped Kagome get cleaned up so she could go to bed. Kagome was going to be sleeping in Rin's room that night. Kagome told Rin she didn't have anything to wear to sleep in. Rin smiled brightly at her, "It's okay Kagome. Father brought one of his shirts for you to wear, and I have some underclothes that are new that I can't wear. I'm sure you'll be able to." Kagome nodded her head while telling Rin thank you. Giving her a hug, Rin told her there was no need for thanks. Once she released her, Rin went into her room to get the clothes for Kagome. Once Kagome was dressed and ready for bed, there was a knock at the door. Rin called out, "Come in."
Sesshomaru walked in and spoke to Rin first, "Rin, I need to speak with Kagome for a moment." Rin nodded her understanding and left the room, closing the door behind her. Sesshomaru made sure Rin was out of hearing range before he spoke. "Inuyasha's punishment will be carried out tomorrow. You will be required to be there. Do you think you will be able to handle it?"
Kagome nodded her head while saying, "Yes, I can handle it. What will be his punishment?"
Sesshomaru answered, "He will be turned into a human woman."
With a nod, Kagome asked, "Sesshomaru, what's going to happen to me?"
Sesshomaru sat down on the bed, then began to explain, "If a male abuses his mate and another male finds out, one who will treat the female better and protect her, he simply has to tell the Alpha male of the family. Once the Alpha male sees the evidence of the abuse and gives his consent, the other male can mate the female for himself, but it will only work if the Alpha male puts some of his power in the mark after it's done. The Alpha male can hand down punishment on the abusive male or he will allow the male that will be taking the female as his mate to hand down the punishment."
Sesshomaru waited after explaining to answer any questions she might have. Kagome was taking everything he said in stride. After a few moments, she asked her first question. "So, that means I'll become your mate?" Sesshomaru nodded that she was correct. Curiously, cocking her head to the side, Kagome asked, "What if you find someone you want as a mate though?"
With a shake of his head, Sesshomaru told her, "I have no desire to take a mate."
Head still cocked curiously, Kagome asked another question. "If you don't want a mate, then why do this?"
Sesshomaru answered, "It is what must be done for your protection."
Kagome sighed, "I don't think it's right – you doing this just for my protection. It sounds to me like it's something being forced on you."
Sesshomaru wrapped his arms around her in a hug, and told her, "I never do anything I do not wish to do. If I didn't want to do this for you, I would not. Do you understand, Kagome, that this is something I WANT to do?"
Looking at him with wide eyes, Kagome could only nod her head. Releasing her, Sesshomaru decided to finish explaining some things to her. "I would only need to bed you once to remove the mark. After that, I would not do it again unless you wished it. However, we will have to share a room, a male Inu does not like to be far away from his mate at night."
He waited a few moments to let her take in that little bit of information. Kagome nodded her head in understanding while saying, "I understand that and have no problem with it. I know you would never take advantage of me. I want to be sure that this is what YOU want though."
With an internal sigh, Sesshomaru stated, "Kagome you should know well enough by now that I do not repeat myself." Smiling, knowing for sure that he did want to do this, Kagome nodded her head.
Standing from the bed, Sesshomaru kissed her forehead and stated, "Now, I need the keys to your apartment so I can go get your things and let the landlord know that you won't be living there anymore." Kagome gave Sesshomaru the keys. He told her goodnight and left the room.
Once downstairs, he began thinking, "I've been in contact with her family and they told me why they disowned her. Inuyasha had threatened them that if they didn't, he would kill them and her. I need to call them and let them know that she is to become my mate. They also need to be here for Inuyasha's punishment. I'll call them when I get back from her apartment." After that thought, he made his way out of the house.
When Sesshomaru returned home, he decided to call Kagome's family. Sesshomaru heard a female voice answer the phone and he knew he was speaking to Mrs. Higurashi. "Hello Mrs. Higurashi, it's Sesshomaru."
Mrs. Higurashi greeted him, then asked worriedly, "Oh Sesshomaru, hello dear. Has something happened? You don't normally call this late."
Sesshomaru explained before she could panic, "Yes, something has happened. We discovered that Inuyasha has been abusing Kagome. His punishment will be handed down tomorrow."
Hope now in her voice, Mrs. Higurashi stated, "So, that means we will be able to see Kagome again and tell her we're sorry for what happened? We'll be able to have her back in our lives. What about the mating mark though?"
With a smirk, Sesshomaru answered, "Yes, you will be able to have her back in your lives. The mating mark will be replaced with mine. She will become my mate."
With a sigh, Mrs. Higurashi asked if that was the only way. Sesshomaru, being as gentle as possible, told her, "I'm afraid so. If she doesn't become my mate, then she will continue to be Inuyasha's. She has already agreed to become my mate though, so there is no problem there. The reason I called is because it is customary for the abused female's family to be present at the punishment of the male. Besides, Kagome will need you now more than ever."
Mrs. Higurashi told him in a stern voice, "We'll be there. It's been far too long that I've been away from my daughter."
Nodding his head, even though she couldn't see it, he said, "Very well, I will send a car for you in the morning. Sleep well, Mrs. Higurashi."
Relieved that she would be able to see her daughter again, Mrs. Higurashi said, "You too Sesshomaru and thank you." With that, they both hung up to get some well deserved rest.
The next morning Sesshomaru went to tell Kagome that her family would be there soon. He knocked on the door and waited to be let in. He heard Kagome call 'come in' and entered, closing the door behind him and looking around the room. "Where is Rin?" He asked.
Smiling at him, Kagome told him she had already went down to breakfast. With a nod, he told her that her family would arrive soon. Kagome paled, "But they disowned me, why would they come?"
Sesshomaru told her in a reassuring voice, "Just give them time to explain. I know what happened, but it is not my place to tell you. Just know that they really want to see you."
Kagome agreed with a nod while telling him that she trusted him. Pleased with how she was taking everything, Sesshomaru said, "Well, shall we go down for breakfast? Inuyasha's punishment will take place once your family arrives."
Kagome nodded her head and took Sesshomaru's arm, letting him lead her down for breakfast. When they were finished with breakfast, a servant came in and said that Kagome's family was there.
Kagome followed Sesshomaru out to meet her family for the first time in three years. As soon as Mrs. Higurashi saw her, she burst into tears crying out whilst embracing her, "Oh, my baby!"
A little in shock, Kagome hugged her mother back. "Kagome, I'm so sorry dear. Inuyasha threatened that if we didn't disown you, he would kill all of us."
Eyes wide, now understanding what had happened, Kagome told her mother, "It's okay mom, I understand. You're all here now and that's what matters."
Taking his turn hugging her, Gramps told her it was good to see her again. Kagome smiled at him and said the same. Pouncing on her while crying at the same time, Sota spoke right into her ear, "I missed you so much, sis. If only I was bigger, I would've been able to protect you."
Patting his back to comfort and reassure him, she said, "It's okay Sota you guys did what you needed to protect me and yourselves."
After the greetings and explanations were out of the way, Sesshomaru announced, "The punishment is about to be handed down." Kagome took Sesshomaru's arm again. He lead them all to a huge room. Inuyasha was in chains in the middle of the room with a woman standing in front of him. Once they were all seated, Touga stood up. "Inuyasha is charged with the crime of abusing his mate Kagome. His punishment will be being turned into a human woman. His elder brother, Sesshomaru, is the one who handed down this punishment. Sesshomaru will also become the new mate to Kagome. Carry out the punishment."
The woman in the center of the room with Inuyasha bowed her head to Touga. When she turned back to Inuyasha, she began to chant and put her hands on each side of Inuyasha's head. Once she was done, she backed away to reveal a human woman. Inuyasha was now human and a female.
His once silver hair was now black as night. His dog ears were now human ears. His claws were now gone, and his golden eyes were now brown. Granted, he had a beautiful body to be turned from male to female. He had curves in all the right places. Standing once again, Touga announced, "Your punishment has been done Inuyasha. Now go, and never return."
Kagome quickly grasped his arm, when he turned to look at her, he saw the question in her eyes. "Speak your mind, Kagome."
Meekly, she asked, "She can no longer hurt me correct?" At Touga's nod, she continued, "I know he hurt me a lot when he was a male, but I can't see putting him out to let him suffer the same fate I did now that he is a female.[This sentence sounds awkward. I can't really figure out what you're trying to say. Is she trying to say: I can't stand seeing him suffer the same fate I did now that he is a female? Or I can't see putting him out to suffer the same fate I did, now that he is female, being justifiable. After all, he is still your family."
Touga looked to Sesshomaru to see what he thought about this. With a sigh, Sesshomaru said, "You are too kind for your own good, Kagome." Then, he nodded his head in agreement with her and for his father to continue.
Looking back at Inuyasha, Touga stated, "You are lucky Kagome doesn't hate you. Otherwise. family or not, you would be cast out." Once everything was said and done, Sesshomaru stood, turning and holding a hand out to Kagome. She took it and he led her out of the room.
Thanks Smortz you're an awesome beta! :)
