Quote: "Trust is very fragile, and the less you know of the person you are to trust, the more fragile it is." -Unknown.

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"How dare you?" Ayumi trembled with rage and hurt. "How dare you come to my home after what you did?"

Takehiko frowned and looked at his father. "What did you do to her? Who is she? She looks familiar."

Sesshomaru kept his eyes on Aumi. 'How does she even know?' "She is a relative, pups." He replied softly, hoping to satisfy them for now.

"Oh." The three pups nodded at the gained information.

Ayumi glared, fingers curling into fists. "I asked you a question that I suggest you answer!" When no answer came, her hand acted of it's own accord and slapped the Taiyoukai across the face. "Answer me!"

Takako growled. "How dare you hit my father?! Just who do you think you are?!" Her hand snapped out to catch that of her grandmother's.

The woman's eyes softened as they turned to the pup. "I slap him because he's deserving of it." Her voice was firm. "He is the reason that my only daughter, my baby, Kagome is dead." She dropped to her knees, sobbing into her hands.

The siblings stared down at her in shock. "M-mom's mom?"

Sota was at his mother's side instantly, comforting her as best he could, with his grandfather just behind hi,. "It'll be okay, mom. I miss sis too, but if you keep this up...you'll only hurt yourself. Calm down, please."

"Kagome always was to trusting with you demons." Grandpa Higurashi pointed a trembling finger at Sesshomaru. "And to think, we foolishly allowed her to live in that dangerous era of yours."

Eyes narrowed and slanted, Sesshomaru snapped, "She had pups to take care of." He felt his children move closer to him, Takehiko snuggling deep into his back.

"As well as a mate to care for? You are a full grown youkai. Dearest Kagome was merely human, mortal."

"I did not ask for her protection. In fact, Higurashi-san, I argued like hell against her assistance. But my ever defiant mate used the youkai blood I gave to her to push This Sesshomaru out of the way at the last instant. I did not come to your home simply to argue with you. I came for you to meet your family members, my pups. I came with information."

Ayumi rubbed her red eyes and sniffed. "Very well, Sesshoamru. To the living room, then. Would you like some tea?"

"We are fine."

"Okay. Come then." She let them to the living room, sat on a couch, and stared at Sesshomaru. "So..."

Sesshomaru stared at his offspring, a silent command to stand and introduce themselves.

A little reluctant, Takako rose. "My name is Takako. I am the eldest, though we are triplets."

"I am Takara, the middle child of our trio."

Takehiko looked at his father for assurance, then with a shy blush, muttered, "I'm Takehiko, the youngest."

Ayumi smiled warmly at them. "I can see traces of Kagome in you all. " She moved to Takara and touched her face. "And you, you've grown so much, and you look so much better."

"You knew me?" Her granddaughter questioned, eyes twinkling with curiosly.

"Oh, yes. I met you all, but I knew you the best. When you were very young, you got ill. Kagome brought you to this time."

She smiled prettily, showing her pearly white fangs. "And how'd I get better?"

Ayumi's smile melted into a much more melancholy one. "Medicine and your mothers love." She hugged the girl. "Did you know that you mother didn't sleep a wink while you were sick. Nor did she eat much, for two weeks straight."

"B-but mom was sick then, wasn't she?"

"Yes, sweetheart. But she was terrified to leave your side, even when I swore to remain at your side. Her fear nearly drove her insane. It took your father's soothing words to get her to sleep for fifteen minutes and eat a few riceballs."

"Higurashi-san."

She shot him a stern look. "I'm basically your mother-in-law, Sesshomaru. Call me Ayumi or mother."

Sesshomaru nodded a bit. "Ayumi, then, how did you know about Kagome predicament?"

Sota noticed his mother cringe and spoke instead, his eyes, as well as his voice, vacant. "She came to us, told us, even showed up the gaping hole in her stomach. I'd never hated my sister before. But then..." He trailed off and looked away. He glanced up when he felt Takako sit beside him.

"Uncle...just before my mom died, I told her that I hated her. I was so mad because I was afraid she'd die, leaving us all alone and miserable without her. I never got the chance to tell her that I didn't mean it, that I loved her more than anything."

He huffed and looked away. "She was being insensitive, selfish. She knew how many people loved her, needed her. Especially me. She could have at least thought about me, Sota, the brother who adored her and looked up to her."

Takako nodded, understanding the way he felt. "But she felt, or at least I think, that she knew that things would be bad without her...but even harder without my dad here to protect us. She worked hard to protect us when father was gone, but she could only handle so many." She flinched inwardly as she recalled the many times her mother had protected her and her siblings.

"She abandoned me."

She laid her head on her uncle's shoulder. "She's sorry, Uncle Sota. I just know she is."

He sent her a mock glare. "Hey, I'm the uncle, even if you're older. I give the advice."

A soft giggled. "Okay. What is your advice?"

"Cherish your brother and sister always."

"I do. I love them very much." She grinned at him.

Sota couldn't help but smile back. "You're just like Kagome. I swear, her smiles were contagious. Kami, i miss my big sister. You're all alot like her. But Kagome was beyond immature. And if she'd heard that, I'd be getting choked or punched right about now." He laughed.

Ayumi jumped up with a squeal. "I've really got to show you some of her baby pictures." Rushing from the room, she returned almost as quickly, a large box in hand. "These are only a few. Wasn't she simply adorable."

'Simply adorable.' Sesshomaru repeated to himself as he observed a picture of Kagome, Sota, and their father.

Takehiko looked over his father at the picture. "Grandpa Ken!"

Grandpa Higurashi froze, as did the rest of the Higurashi's. "How do you know Ken?"

"I just saw him?"

"A ghost? Because Ken is dead, has been since Kagome was about seven." Ayumi whispered softly.

"Nope, someone brought him back to life, just like mom."

She shook her head. "That isn't true. Sesshomaru, your son has quite the active imagination."

"It is not his imagination. Kagome and Ken are well alive."

Tears slid down her face. "Sesshomaru, it isn't good to screw with an old woman's heart. I wan tthe truth." She whimpered as she wept, towering over his sitting form.

Sesshomaru eased off the couch and wrapped hi arms around her lightly as she sobbed into his chest. 'Just like my Kagome would.' "I speak the truth, mother."

"Then why hasn't my daughter come to me?"

"Her memory was not revived with her."

"And my Ken? My husband?"

He hesitated, recalling the short time he and Ken had spoken of it the night before.

*FLASHBACK*

"Ken."

"Yes, son?" He took a sip of his sake.

Sesshomaru tilted his head to the side. "Why do you not return to your wife, Kagome mother?"

Ken stiffened and closed his eyes before answering.

*END OF FLASHBACK*

"Fear that you would not welcome a once dead man with open arms."

Ayumi scowled. 'That old fool. As much as I loved that idiot. Ugh, you tell that man to get his rump down here as soon as possible."

He smirked at her choice of words. "Alright. Would you like for me to call Kagome over?"

"Oh, would you?"

Snapping out his cellphone, he dialed "1", Kagome's speed dial number. But a moment later, he closed the phone and stared at it. "She did not answer as she always does."

Takehiko growled furiously. "Do you think she's with Tsubasa?"

"Who is Tsubasa?" Sota asked.

"Her fiance." The family snarled.

"Wow. She lost her memory and got engaged. And I assume you are winning her back, onii."

A cold smirk. "Of course."

Takara reached for her purse when her cell rang. "Hello?"

"Hello, Takara."

"Mom!" Sticking her tongue out at her father, she jumped out of his reach when he reached for the phone.

"Your father just called, correct?"

Takara moved once again to avoid her father. "Yes. He called. He wanted to invite you somewhere."

"I can not."

"Why not? We have some people who'd really like to see you, mom."

"I'm busy."

Her face fell. "Oh, with Tsubasa, right?"

"No."

"Oh, with what then?"

"Forgive me, pup. I must go." Kagoem dropped her phone to the floor and closed her eyes again.

Takara frowned and closed phone. "Something's wrong."

Sesshomaru glared. "I would assume so. You've got much too much of your mother's defiant spirit for your own good."

She rolled her eyes and snorted. "No, that's not what I meant. I meant with mom. She sounded lifeless, sorta. And she didn't hang up the phone, she just dropped it."

"So you mean that she is in danger?"

"No. Perhaps she was sleeping. When she woke up the other morning, she seemed a little off too. It could jsut be that. We'll know when we see her nect." Her skin crawled at the memory of her mother's tone. "It creeped me ot to hear some one as happy and excited as mom to sound so...empty."

Sesshomaru frowned and crossed his arms. "I doubt there is anything wrong. Tsubasa may be an utter idiot, but he would never allow harm to come to her." But his own words did nothing to convince.

********XXXXXXXXXXX***********

Tsubasa groaned and hung the phone. 'Loyalty is costing me too much.' "Kagome, baby, get down here, please!"

"Coming!" Kagome zipped up her tank top and smiled into the mirror. 'I knew this would look good.' Winking at ehr reflection, she snatched her purse and hurried down the steps to her fiance. "I'm ready! On to the bowling alley!"

"Actually, as much as I'd love to take you, I- Kami, did you leave the oven on again, woman?" He faked, pinching her neck and knocking her unconcious the second she turned around. He caught her and scooped an arm under her legs to carry her bridal style. "Sorry, love."

She only moaned, her head rolling to the side. Tsubasa carried her out to the car, driving quickly as to not upset his master, who always claimed he took too long when it came to Kagome. Once her reached the hidden mansion, he slid out, taking Kagome inside to the basement and lying her on the queen sized bed that was there. "Master, I can't bring myself to knock her out again."

The male looked up lap with a smile. 'Don't worry. I can't bring myself to ask you to." He got up and strolled over to Kagome, his feet light, never truly touching the ground. "Hello, beautiful."

"Why am I bringing her here? We had a date."

A cold stare. "You seem to have forgotten, Tsubasa, that this relationship is false, faux, pseudo. I want you to stay off of her. No more kissing her. no more hugging her. And definitely no more sex. I hate to even consider the fact that you've laid your hands on her. And before you take her home, we will remove that accursed mark from her neck."

Tsubasa glared in return. "Won't she think something is wrong if I don't touch her." He smiled, thinking he'd won.

"Simply tell her that it is bad luck to touch the bride this close to the wedding. Now, she seems tired. Why?"

"She doesn't sleep as often as she should. She hasn't slept for the past week and a half."

"Toss me that blanket." He caught the thick comforter with ease. "I'll let her sleep before we begin to interrogate her. Go, prepare something for her to eat when she wakes up." He covered Kagome with the blanket as Tsubasa left before sliding in behind her and holding her to watch her sleep. But eventually, he too drifted off.

********XXXXXXXXXXX***********

"Good for nothing bastard of a master. "Tsubasa hissed, dropping the bags to the floor. "'Go prepare something' he says. Could've mentioned that there was no *beep*'in food in the fridge. How the *beep* do you live without food anyway?!" He tossed some rice into a pot and some fish into the oven. "*Beep*'ing son of a *Beep*. And now Kagome's *beep* phone keeps ringing!" Snatching up the phone, he trekked downstairs and tossed it at his master, who snapped awake. "Sesshomaru's calling." He noticed Kagome stirring at the name and growled. When her eyes snapped open, he blinked. "Why are her eyes blank and open?"

"I don't know." He rubbed his eyes. "Must have done it in my sleep. We can't have her hear Sesshomaru's voice though." He yawned. "I'll handle it." WHen the phone stopped beeping, he handed it to Kagome. "Call one of your pups, but do not say much."

Kagome nodded, dialing Takara's number, seeing as she was listed first.

"Hello."

"Hello, Takara."

"Mom!"

"Your father jsut called, correct?"

"Yes, he called. He wanted to invite you somwhere."

Kagome sighed silently. "I can not."

"Why not? We have some peeople who'd really like to see you, mom."

"I'm busy." She replied simply.

Takara's face fell. "Oh, with Tsubasa, right?"

"No."

"Oh, with what then?"

Kagome cast her eyes to her master. "Forgive, pup. I must go." She released her phone, watching as it shattered before closing her eyes, before lying back down.

Tsubasa narrowed his eyes at his master. "You do know that what you are planning will only make her hate you-" He glared down the arm that was connected to the hand that held him in the air by his neck. "What?"

"Three things punk. One, I never asked you, my lowly servant. Two, in time, she'll be fine. And three, don't you dare defile her character. She could never despise. She didn't even despise my father, the most low and evil of them all. I-"

"Master."

Surprised, both sets of eyes darted to Kagome. "Yes?"

She kicked her legs over the side of the bed and stood, stalking toward them. "The girl, master, who you had me speak to. Who did you say she was, if I may ask?"

"That was Takara. She is not important at the immediate moment?"

"She sounded upset that I could not be with her. What is our relationship?"

"You'll know soon enough, dearest." He turned back to Tsubasa, freezing when Kagome took his hand. "Yes?"

She gave him a ghost of a smile. "Please, tell me."

"She is your daughter."

"My daughter?" Her face showed no change in expression as she turned her back to him and began to move slowly around in the dark basement that was only lit by a few small candles.

He smiled at her. "You're being rather inquisitive tonight, love. Any reason?" He didn't expect an answer, so he wasn't dissappointed when he didn't get one. "Tap into your memories of the past week. Did you see Sesshomaru?"

She looked over her shoulder at him. "We went on a date."

Tsubasa cringed. 'They did?'

"And what happened?"

"He took me to a feudal festival, told me that once I remembered, I'd understand why. Did you know he was the Western lord?"

"Hai, dear. What next?"

"Afterwards, he led me to the forest we'd been to before, where we converted. One thing led to another, much like the last time, and we-"

"You had sex?" He asked calmly. If it were not for her being here, he would have been furious. Right now, he was thinking of ways to kill Tsubasa for not looking over better."

Kagome shook her head. "Oh no. According to him, we made love."

"Do you even know the difference?"

"Yes. Sex is something any two people may have. To make love, is to have intercourse while staring into your lovers soul, feeling them deep within you, far past anything truly physical. Sex is physical. Making love is emotional, mental, spiritual." She touched a candle, glaring at it when her finger was burned by the hot wax.

"Do you love him?"

Kagome chuckled softly. "Love. He claims to love me. He claims that I am his everything, and that he is mine." She frowned in confusion. "When he says those things, my heart skips a beat and my head aches terribly. He gives me many reasons to hate him. But I can not seem to. As for whether it is love or not...I do not know. It is certainly possible."

"And after you made love."

"We fought, as usual."

"About what?"

She looked at him. "Tsubasa."

The kumayoukai blinked a few times. "Me? You fought about me?"

"He wants me to leave you, to be with him. But I don't know what to do. I like Sesshomaru. But I like you as well. Sesshomaru's annoying habit of comparing me to his past mate hurts me. I do not think-"

"You are." Her master cut in.

Kagome smirked. "Intriguing. And I will not remember that when I awaken, will I?"

"No."

"Do you mind if I lie down again?"

"If you wish."

"Thank you, master."

He grimaced at the name. "Don't call me master. Call me by my name."

She looked at him boredly from the bed. "And what is it?"

He smiled at her. "My name is...

********XXXXXXXXXXX***********

"Sesshomaru, stop being such an idiot and call her up. Ain't no hiding the fact that you miss her."

"If I needed your advice, I would have asked, halfbreed." Sesshomaru snapped at his younger brother.

Inutaisho shook his head. "Do not take your anger at yourself out on your brother. You made the mistake of angering her. Now, fix it."

His lip curled in a snarl. "What could he possibly teach me about my mate, except perhaps how to properly break her heart."

Inuyasha shouted, "Hey, you don't need my help with that! I mean, that's the whole reason she ain't talkin' to ya! Cause of that fight you started! Now, call her, or I will!"

"She does not speak to me because she is a surgeon. A very busy one at that."

"Come off it! Call her already!"

Sesshomaru looked away. "She refuses to accept my calls."

Inutaisho cut in. "And that is why you must call again."

"And when she denies again?"

"You call again, and again, and again."

"This Sesshomaru will not behave so desperately for a mere-"

He smiled. "Not a, Sesshomaru. THE human that you adore and can't properly function without. Besides, your pups wish to see their mother."

Sesshomaru caught the phone Inuyasha had thrown to him with a growl, but dialed Kagome's number. When he heard the click that signaled an answer, he smiled despite himself. "Kagome."

"Sesshomaru." An off female voice answered back.

Oh, that was not his Kagome. "Tsubasa, " he tried to remain calm, "give the phone to mate mate."

"She is not your mate." Tsubasa shot back.

"Fool, I do not wish to raise my voice. I will repeat this once and only once. Give the phone to my mate."

"She is not your mate!" He yelled back, clutching Kagome's hand. When the woman whimpered in her sleep, he murmured, "Sorry, Kagome."

Sesshomaru saw his vision going red. "Why are you apologizing?! Have you harmed her?!"

Tsubasa hissed. "I did not mean to! You're pissing me off!"

"Stop yelling in my sleep when I'm trying to rest!" Kagome shrieked, silencing Sesshomaru and frightening Tsubasa into a corner. She picked up a remote and threw it at him. "I have four surgeries to do tomorrow, and I need to sleep while I can!"

"I didn't mean to, Kag! Baby, I swear, it's Sesshomaru's fault!"

"I'll deal with Sesshomaru tomorrow!" She sighed, left the room, and came back with a pillow and a sheet. "Now you, you sleep on the couch tonight. Tell Sesshomaru I said hi. Goodnight." Slamming the bedroom door, she plopped onto the bed and smiled. "Finally some peace."

Sesshomaru smirked. "Goodnight, Tsubasa. Sleep well on the couch."

"You son of a b-" But the click that sounded in his ear told him that the call was over. "Damn him." He punched his pillow and threw it on the couch, dropping down onto it. "Stupid, Sesshomaru. Grumpy Kagome placing me on this uncomfortable couch. It was only for show, not to be sleeping on." Cutting off the light, he growled. "I will kill that dog."