Author: Angelicatt

Theme: Beginner's Luck

Genre: Romance/Family

Rating: K+

Word Count: 1,946

Summary: Continued from #81 Blue: Sesshoumaru's thoughts on the differences of human and youkai mating.

A/N: Originally posted on LJ 4/8/2010

Disclaimer: I don't own anything but my cracked imagination

Dawn was fast approaching and the morning sun's rays were stretching across the horizon in the glorious Land of the Rising Sun. As if on cue, flora and fauna awoke to a brand new day, all except for the sleeping pair who had spent the night secluded within a plum tree's massive roots.

From afar, only a cascade of white was visible but with closer inspection, hidden behind the furry wrap was the petite miko from the future, as she slept atop the mighty Lord of the West; whose arms encased her with such love and tenderness that neither being felt the least desire to awaken from what truly must have been a dream.

Sesshoumaru had roused from slumber with the day's first light but had chosen to remain still, as his most prized possession remained asleep against his unarmored chest. He could not suppress the feeling of completeness he had, having her in his arms, knowing that she loved him and had accepted his proposal of courtship and eventual mating. She was his, just as he was hers. His golden eyes gleamed over her resting form and he could not help but draw her in closer. The increased pressure caused Kagome to shift her arms with one moving to wrap around his waist, while the other rested over his pounding heart.

'How something so small could possess a heart so big is beyond this Sesshoumaru.' He idly thought to himself. 'Oh Father, this Sesshoumaru understands now, for I promise to protect this onna with my life 'til the end of time. For too long I have battled alone, thinking only power and conquest were important to be strong but love is far more potent than anything else I have ever known. It is through our love that I will truly achieve the greatness I have searched for all these centuries and she will always be at my side.' His silent vows were heard by the Kami and the Inu-no-Taisho, to whom they had been addressed. The deceased general could only smile at the current turn of events and at the fact that his eldest had finally learned the final lesson he had ever imparted to him in life. It had only taken about two hundred and three years or so.

~*~*~*~*~

Even though Kagome had agreed, Sesshoumaru was left with much to think on. After months of conversations with the time-traveling miko and her other non-youkai companions, the daiyoukai understood that human courtship was very different to that of youkai. In order to win the hand of the desirable maiden, there was no battle involved. Only in higher society were there prearranged betrothals from birth; and as with the general populous, most marriages that were set up were based on class, skill and the kami-forsaken dowry. In this warring time, there were very few unions based on love – the monk and taijiya, if they survived, would be an exception. Youkai never mated for love, if anything, the emotion was absent throughout the lifespan of the couple, few actually getting that intimately involved with their mate. It was a matter of honor, of responsibility and the desire to continue a strong bloodline through the creation of heirs.

He also remembered hearing that it was a futuristic human custom for the male to present his chosen onna with a ring, as a sign of commitment, the closest thing youkai had was their courtship mark. Sesshoumaru saw no problem in giving her something of the sort, if it would make her happy; but he would also ask her about placing the mark, as a signal to all other youkai that she was his chosen and that she was to be left alone under penalty of death.

It was his discussion with the miko's kitsune the morning prior, that lead to his current train of thought. The other substantial difference in human courtship was that it was customary for the male to ask the onna parents; her father in particular, for the right to court and wed. Kagome's father had long been deceased but there was still her mother, grandfather and brother to contend with. The daiyoukai had taken it upon himself to divulge his intentions to Shippou, seeing as he viewed the miko as a 'substitute mother'. The kit had been elated at the thought of his mama mating the Inu Lord, in favor of anyone else; because he knew that Sesshoumaru would protect and respect her and would never cheat on her like InuYasha had, and because it meant that she would have to stay in the Feudal era instead of returning to the future, once Naraku had been taken care of. It was more than he could have ever wished for.

There was also the matter of whereas youkai 'mated', humans 'married' – a religious ceremony presided over by a holy leader, which not only sealed the couple spiritually but legally. It was a ceremony that preceded much pomp and frivolity and that there was always crying and tears involved. 'Oh how I detest the smell of tears. These humans cry for everything, when they are sad, when they are angry and yes, even when they are happy' he sighed, having experienced this very phenomenon with both his ward and the miko numerous times already. Being that Kagome was a true shrine maiden, he was lead to the conclusion that she would want to seal their union with this wedding and that it would only be fair to say that she would also want her family to be involved; which lead to a big problem.

The Higurashi family was 500 years in the future on the other side of the Bone Eater's well. The well that currently only allowed Kagome and that damn mutt, InuYasha to pass through. How was he, the strongest youkai in all of Japan going to outmaneuver all the magic of the well to get to the future?

~*~*~*~*~

"Hnnn, if the half-breed can do it, I will find a way too." he announced a little louder than he expected; because in seconds, he was greeted with Kagome's stirring and the day's first view of her doe-colored orbs.

"Ahh, good morning Sess'maru." she slurred out, while rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

He knew she wasn't a morning person and that it usually took her a while before she regained full control of her faculties. He had no intention on rushing her, curious to see her reaction to their current seating arrangement.

Kagome was awake, for the most part; especially after opening her eyes to see Sesshoumaru's golden gaze on her, a small smile gracing his perfect face. Memories of last night rushed through her mind – he loved her, she loved him, he wanted her to be his mate…

'Mate…as in married, forever and ever. I can't get married without my mom or jiji or Souta. Mom would kill me. I have to tell her, she'll know what to do.' Kagome fussed internally, or so she thought. Her aura was radiating her nervousness and bewilderment and poor Sesshoumaru was put on edge again.

"Kagome, what seems to be the problem? We are not moving too fast for you, are we?" he inquired hesitantly.

She looked up at him and saw the glimmer of pain and rejection etched onto his brow. 'He thinks that I've changed my mind.' The thought made her feel guilty. How could she have forgotten that the dai could read her emotions by scent alone?

"No, yes, well I need to go tell my mom about all this. I am her only daughter and she would be most upset if I kept something as important as this from her. She's been dreaming of my wedding ever since I was a little girl. I hope you weren't planning on us mating right away or anything like that. I love you but I don't think we're ready to take that next step; I know I'm not yet." she exclaimed, hoping courageously that he would understand her hesitations, especially after their heartfelt discussions the day before.

He pulled her up so that they were face to face, inches apart; so close that she could feel his warm breath waft against her cheeks as he sighed in relief.

"This Sesshoumaru would never rush you into making any life-altering decisions before your time. It is more than enough that we have admitted our feelings for each other and that we are together. You alone will dictate the pace of this relationship; but I remind you that I am the one who is all but immortal." he informed her with a smirk before closing in for a quick kiss. Oh how he loved the taste of her precious pink lips.

~*~*~*~*~

She giggled at him and kissed him back willingly. But now that she was fully awake, there were some things that she needed to take care of, so she extricated herself from his loving embrace, earning a low growl and a pout from the daiyoukai. It didn't take long to take care of her needs but what she really wanted was a bath and her bathing supplies and clean clothes were back at camp.

"Oh Kami, InuYasha!" she remarked, slapping a palm to her forehead.

The hanyou was not going to take the news very well. In fact, she wished that she could avoid having that conversation with him for a while yet; at least until after she went back home and spoke to her mother. 'I wish I could take Sesshoumaru with me'.

As if he was reading her mind, the Inu stood up and walked up to her, taking her in his arms again.

"Come, it is time that we returned to the camp before your kit and my ward send out a search party, even though he is well aware of my intent" he intoned.

"Shippou knows about this?" she questioned, arms going all akimbo from her shock.

"Yes, this Sesshoumaru informed him of my goal of asking you to be my mate; although, the confession of feelings was left out. I do have a reputation to retain. Was I wrong to speak of such things? He is very astute for one so young and you do consider him your own pup." he responded, confident that he had not erred in his judgment of including the kitsune in his plans to woo the miko.

The kit's knowledge and understanding of Kagome was quite insightful and helpful in formulating what was now his first and only successful attempt at making the miko his own. 'Beginner's luck perchance but the Kamis were on my side' he mused.

"No, I don't mind. My decision will affect him as much as it does me. Are you prepared to act as a second father to him? You know I have no problem with Rin, I love her as if she was my own already" she entreated. There was no way she could marry…mate anyone who would not accept Shippou completely.

"Yet another reason why I love you so. Youkai onna barely fuss over their own offspring, yet you, a human miko, adopt a kitsune and protect him as fiercely as a real mother would. This Sesshoumaru looks forward to when we have our own pups; for they will be strong, full of heart and well loved." he stated before nuzzling the top of her head.

Before she could comment, his youki cloud formed under their feet and he took off in the direction of the camp. Once they returned, he would escort her back to well and tell her of his aim of getting to the future, alongside her.