It was morning; it was a new day, it would be a long day.

"The fox child and Rin shall stay behind" Sesshomaru stated, which caused the two kids to wine. Though shippo had grown, he was still small. "Shippo you need to stay and protect Rin," Kagome said coming down to his level, he always did what she said "Ok Kagome! I'll do my best."

"Inuyasha" Kikyo's voice came "Why do you pout like a child?"

More than one person in the group knew why Kouga. He now had no right to tell Kouga off; he was a mated demon.

"The half breed is worried that the wolf will lay claim on the Miko."

Sessho turned quickly to his father "The wolf has no claim unless the Mikoko allows it." Sesshomaru finished. Sessho turns to his mother; she didn't seem interested in the wolf. Sessho would soon see, as they would run into Kouga very soon.

Sessho noted that Kagome had fallen into the back of the group, his father was behind her. She walked along with her head down; he knew she was thinking too much, things she should not think. He knew she was thinking about his uncle, Inuyasha. Sessho cut his eyes back to the front; he felt the wind shift, he knew the wolf was near.

Inuyasha stopped, he smelt him, everyone stopped with him. Kagome looked, and in a second Kouga was holding her tight. Sessho turned quickly and pulled out his sword, but his father's eyes told him that it was not needed, so he put it back on his side.

Kouga held Kagome tight, so tight that she herself could not lift her arms to hug him back.

"Kagome" He whispered, he had been worried about her, "The half breed told me you had gone missing, back to your time."

"Oh, Kouga" She could hear the hurt in his voice, he had missed her. Kouga let go and stepped back "But you're here now," He said with a smile, she smiles back, and he once again hugged her "Don't worry Kagome, I'm going to come with you and protect you" Kouga declared.

"Uh, that really not necessary," Kagome said with nerves laugh "But I want to come with you Kagome," Kouga said, holding her but looking at her face "Well if you want to" Kagome replied, besides they would need all the help they could get.

Inuyasha stepped forward "Kagome" He said into the wind, Sessho cut his eyes to his uncle and stepped in front of him "Do not speak her name, as if you love her" Sessho, of course, knew his uncle loved Kagome, but not enough, not like he should have, not to where he could speak her name as such. Inuyasha growled, he found he could say nothing back, and hearing his nephew speak was very rare.

"Hey, Kouga I'm gonna need your shards."

Kagome had not heard what her son had told Inuyasha her and Kouga had been talking, but everyone else did. "You need them now?"

"Yes, please," Kagome said holding her hand out, Kouga handed them over.

That night Inuyasha followed Sessho when he walked away from camp. Sesshomaru soon followed after seeing his brother follow his son; he would stay back.

Inuyasha found Sessho standing by a lake, looking at the water where the moon's reflection hit it.

"Say, who do you think you are," Inuyasha asked, Sesshomaru stayed behind the tree line, and hid his aura.

"She is not meant for you" Sessho spoke, not even turning around,

"Yeah, says who" Inuyasha was stupid, speaking without thinking.

"You are mated, are you not" His voice was so calm and smooth, not deep like his father.

Inuyasha growled, again he found that he could say nothing.

"She was never meant for you."

"Yeah, and how do you know!" Inuyasha hated his nephew at this moment,

"I know."

"And who do you think she is supposed to be with, that mange wolf!" Inuyasha fist was held tight,

"No" calm and simple was his answer,

"Then who Sesshomaru! Ha, if you think your dad is gonna get with Kagome your wrong! That's what your thinking isn't it!"

Sessho turned around and looked dead in Inuyasha eyes.

Sesshomaru was listening to it all; he was shocked to hear his son speak so much and even more shocked by the look his was giving Inuyasha. It was like the last thing Inuyasha said had hit a nerve.

Sessho walked past Inuyasha leaving him there to his own thoughts, he walked into the forest but stopped. He slowly turned and looked into the darkness, and he looked dead in his father's eyes, Sessho walked on leaving him behind to.

He joined his mother, his father soon came back as well, he found a tree and leaned against it, Inuyasha did not return, but he would be back in the morning.

"So you married hu monk," Kouga asked Miroku,

"Yep"

The night ended and another new day began.

The group was trying to find Naraku "Yeah; soon Kagome will mate me" Kouga said smiling,

Kouga fell back and grabbed Kagome's hands "Then you will have me a son!" Kouga said as if she were already carrying him one. Sessho sword came down, making Kouga move away from Kagome "What's your problem kid" Kouga asked looking at Sessho,

"She will not bear a son."

"One day she will bear a child," Miroku said with a big smile, Sango gave him a flat look,

"She will not bear a son" Sessho again spoke, he did not speak much, and it annoyed him that he had to repeat himself, much like his father.

"You keep saying she will not bear a son, do you mean she will not bare him one?" Miroku asked,

They all knew he did not speak much; they didn't question when he did.

"She will bear the wolf no child, nor will she bare a son."

The Sessho walked on, leaving everyone behind.

Kagome looked back at Sesshomaru, but Kouga's hands found hers again "Don't listen to him Kagome" Kouga started,

"Wolf"

Kouga looked back at Sesshomaru "Perhaps you should assume the lead."

"Yeah ok."

All demon males wanted to lead the pack, and Sesshomaru knew Kagome wanted to be left alone.

That night it was Kagome who walked away, and it was not Sessho who followed her, but Sesshomaru.

She wanted to take a bath, but she knew he was following her, so she waited.

"Sesshomaru"

She turned and looked at him "Take your bath Miko I shall keep watch."

"Are you worried."

He said nothing but kept his eyes on hers; she sighed, she knew he had to have a good reason for watching over her. Sesshomaru turned around and let Kagome have her bath.

Kagome went under and let the water run over her face and her, she came up and felt refreshed, but then something grabbed her leg.

"Sesshomaru!" She screamed and went under.

It was some type of demon, and he was dragging her down. Kagome closed her eyes, she tried to call her power out, but she was underwater and losing air, but soon she felt something tug her, and the hand let her foot go. Kagome opened her eyes to see Sesshomaru holding her close, his sword in his other hand.

He took her back to the surface where she took in the air "Are you alright Miko" He asked as she choked on water "I'm, alright, thank you" She said between chokes. He was still holding her, and she was naked, and he was wet.

Sessho, Inuyasha, and Kouga all burst out of the woods, Kikyo. Miroku and Sango behind them.

Sesshomaru turn quick hiding Kagome's naked body "Sesshomaru!" Inuyasha spat,

"What the!" Kouga called, Sessho held them both back.

"Leave us!" Sesshomaru demanded.

"Like hell, I'm leaving" Inuyasha yelled,

"Yeah me either" Kouga said,

"Go, go now!" Kagome screamed, how embarrassing she was naked and being held by Sesshomaru; she wished everyone would go away.

"Kagome?" Both Inuyasha and Kouga asked,

"Let's go Inuyasha" Kikyo grabbed his hand and led him away, Sessho made Kouga leave, and the rest followed.

Kagome had her hands in her face "I'm sorry."

Sesshomaru looked down, her hair stuck to her back and her small shoulders were creamy and her breast poking out of the water. Sesshomaru took his outer layer off and wrapped it around her.

Kagome looked up; their eyes met, Kagome threw her arm around his neck "Thank you" she said again, this time crying. Sesshomaru stood frozen, even though she had his outer layer on, her body was pressed up against him. He knew all the emotions she had kept inside were now coming out; this was not just about him saving her. This was about her son being grown, and Inuyasha being mated and Kouga annoying her.

Sesshomaru picked her up bridal style; she kept her arms around his neck. Sesshomaru got out of the water and started to walk, he could feel her body getting tired, and he could see the bruise forming on her leg "Sesshomaru" She spoke faint "Where did Sessho get his sword."

An odd question at an odd time "It came from my fang."

Kagome smiled and fell asleep in his arms.

He returned to camp, his outer layer covering her "Slayer."

Sango and everyone stood up "Uh, yes?"

"Retrieve the Miko's clothing."

Sango nodded and ran off, Sesshomaru sat at the base of the tree still holding her, daring anyone one of them to say a word. She was tired, hurt and for some reason it annoyed him, he wanted her to get over it and get Naraku defeated, and she was of no use tired and worn out and no use to him dead, he would put a stop to it, he would protect her, even if he himself did not know it yet.