A/N: Here is a new installment for my devoted readers.

Disclaimer: I still don't own anything.

Chapter 7 Advice

Kumiko walked into the room looking for the miko. Once she saw that Kagome wasn't there Kumiko was about to leave when she heard something.

"Oh it's you Kumiko." Kagome said stepping out the closet. She had been changing but when she heard the door she jumped in to the closet.

Kumiko giggled as Kagome's kimono got caught on something and she nearly fell on her face.

Kagome caught herself and got unstuck before sticking her tongue out at her friend.

"Thank you, for earlier Kagome."

Kagome looked at her confused, "For what? I was so worried that you got hurt because I didn't do anything soon enough."

Kumiko shook her head, "For saving Arisugawa-sama."

Kagome smiled, "I did it for everyone's sake. What would we do if something happen to him?"

Kumiko looked at her feet and said sadly, "I don't know."

Kagome then realized something, "Kumiko how do you feel about Arisugawa?"

Kumiko looked at Kagome surprised and blushed, "Why do you ask Kagome?"

Kagome smiled, "You like him!"

Kumiko shook her head, "He is my lord and he is a cat demon. It would never work and I knew his last mate also so I would feel as if I was betraying the Lady."

Kagome then asked, "How did his last mate die?"

Kumiko continued as she looked at her feet, "I was still very young when it happened. He and the Lady had gone to a village on the outskirts of the lands, because there was disease and sickness running through the village and many humans were dying. The lady wished to bring the orphaned children here to see they were taken care of and to help the people in any way they could. But there were two miko's in the village already trying to cure the people and they didn't take well to seeing my lord and lady. They both then came back but she was a kind woman and still wanted to help."

Kagome nodded at Kumiko reassuringly when she looked up before finishing the tale.

"She went back one more time after with some supplies and medicine. But she couldn't stand up to the mikos and they killed her. The lady was pregnant when she died and he can't forgive himself for letting them both die that day. He feels that he should have been here to stop her."

Kagome then nodded in understanding, ""That's why Sesshomaru said that Arisugawa doesn't like miko's. He won't always live in the past though Kumiko. That was his second mate and she didn't mean to part from him. Perhaps he just needs one more chance, where I come from they say the third time's the charm."

"But did you go through three men before you figured you liked Lord Sesshomaru?"

Kagome was confused, "But I don't like him, not that way at least."

Kumiko looked at Kagome, "I can tell that you do Kagome. You just haven't realized it yet."

"No, I'm still getting over being in love with Inuyasha and I can't… I don't feel that way for him."

Kumiko then asked, "Why are you not with this Inuyasha then?"

Kagome looked down, "He is mates now with a woman who he loved before and who I look like. That's all he ever saw in me, just her copy. He was my first love and I still can't let go yet."

"He is a fool and you should forget about him. Lord Sesshomaru will only see you when he looks at you. I know you have some feelings for him and he respects you and considers your opinion of things. What more can you ask?"

Kagome smiled sadly looking up at Kumiko, "Love. Without love there is no point, I cannot ever be with someone who can never love me for me."

"Then there is no point in my attempts. Arisugawa-sama could never love me, a servant girl."

Kagome couldn't look at Kumiko. She had nothing left to say so she sat there just thinking.

Then there was a knock at the door.

Kagome wiped her face of the few tears that came with remembering and walked to open it.

Outside stood Jaken, "Miko you are needed by me lord."

Kagome nodded and followed Jaken down the hall.

~*~*~*~

Sesshomaru sat in Arisugawa's study reading one of the cats many beloved books. Arisugawa watched as the Taiyoukai turned the pages reading, waiting for the Inu demon to accidentally tear a page or do something to the poor book.

Sesshomaru then spoke, "What do you think will become of this after the battle?"

"Do you mean will we go back to normal and dislike each other, yet still respect one another or do you mean if we shall all survive this?"

Sesshomaru thought for a moment, "I believe that Kazuki should leave his mate in his lands where she will be protected."

Arisugawa laughed, "She is a dragon! She will never settle for any less than being at her mate side in battle. She seems to be a good fighter anyways."

"Or perhaps it is because she is a woman and neither of you could ever say no to one."

Arisugawa shook his head with a wry grin, "You are right about me Lord Sesshomaru. I should have been here to protect her and never had let her go to that village. I knew that there could be a risk but I trusted and believed her when she said everything would be fine and she would not go."

"There was the mistake. You should have set precautions just in case she could not be trusted."

Arisugawa laughed, "Pup don't lecture me on mistakes made because you love someone, not until you yourself have been in love."

Sesshomaru lightly chuckled, "This Sesshomaru will never fall to such a pathetic human emotion."

It was Arisugawa's turn to laugh, "Yes, we all believe that until you get to where I am and realize that all of your regrets are because of missed chances or wrong choices made out of reason and not love."

Sesshomaru ran a nail across the bottom of the page he was on making a slight ripping sound.

"I shall never allow myself to have any regrets either, Lord Arisugawa."

He shook his head, "Your father was the same. He loved your mother but after she had you and left, he told me he would not love again."

"But he mated with that human filth."

"He found love again and since your mother never loved him like Izayoi could he was able to be happy with her for a short time. He truly had no regrets when he died and got to experience love that was not unrequited."

"So you're implying what cat?"

"I am not implying anything. But you have to try and be more open with others or else you will never be happy in this lifetime or have a mate, Sesshomaru."

Sesshomaru stood to leave, "You should take your own advice and procure an heir for your Lands."

"I have been happy twice now and there are others who can inherit my lands. Anyways it would be too much to ask for another chance."

Sesshomaru then turned towards the door about to cross the threshold when he heard Arisugawa say, "You too need a pup to rule those lands after you are gone."

Sesshomaru shook his head. He still had a few more centuries before it became a bigger concern to have an heir.

~*~*~*~

Kagome followed Jaken out into the gardens when he suddenly stopped and turned to face her.

"Lady Kagome…"

"It's just Kagome for you Jaken. So where is he?"

"Kagome me lord has not been the same since you have healed him. I am worried about how he has been acting."

"What do you mean exactly?"

Jaken looked around before deciding to just say it, "My lord was overthrown because of his involvement with humans. I do not wish to see what happened to his father befall him. Rin has already been killed there is no need for others to die."

Kagome was confused, "What are you talking about?"

"I don't want me lord to feel obligated to accompany you or care for you like he did Rin."

Kagome nodded in understanding, "There is nothing for you to worry about Jaken. I do not feel that way nor do I intend to lead Sesshomaru to believe I feel that way. I know you admire your lord and I am only here to help him in retrieving his lands then I will go to my own home."

Jaken nodded, "Miko-sama, I have nothing against you it's quite the opposite but you have to understand that…"

"Jaken I understand. Do not worry everything will be fine and I will leave once everything is done."

Jaken nodded and Kagome started to walk back to the castle.

'Me lord deserves a woman like Kagome-sama but she is human and they both would run out of time too quickly. That is Inutaisho's curse he has left for his sons. They cannot be with a human for fear of weakness but that doesn't stop them from being near them or feeling connected with them.'

Jaken then continued to walk through the castle gardens before going back in. Once he was inside though he was hit with a realization and ran to go talk to the person who could help him.

~*~*~*~

Sesshomaru walked down the halls and toward the dojo he was hoping someone would be there for him to take some frustration out on.

When he arrived though there was no one or so he thought until he heard something crash and a saw a demoness cursing a fighting dummy. He recognized her as the servant that Arisugawa kept around him the most and as the one who had recently been spending a lot of her time with Kagome.

She turned to look at him sensing his presence and bowed, "I'm sorry Lord Sesshomaru for disturbing you I was just cleaning the dojo. I will go now."

"That is a lie servant and either you're a fool for it or there is a worse punishment for you practicing to fight in here."

She fell to the ground in a deeper bow than before, "Please Lord Sesshomaru, do not tell my lord that I was practicing to fight."

"Why does he not want you to?"

"He doesn't like letting the women learn much more than some defensive moves. He says it's not a woman's place to be fighting in battle."

"So why are you learning then?"

She looked up at him briefly, "I want to be able to do all I can the next time my lord is in danger. If it were not for Kagome he could have been seriously hurt."

Sesshomaru inwardly smiled at such a foolish notion that the cat could be hurt just so easily. Even Kazuki earlier knew that he didn't have Arisugawa in a defenseless position where harm could be inflicted easily.

"How much do you know?"

"Excuse me Sesshomaru-sama?"

"How well do you know how to fight?"

"I am best with a dagger and at hand to hand but I would like to learn the sword."

"You are a fox youkai. Do you not know those skills?"

"Yes I do."

"Then you have my permission to train Kagome in what you know and in exchange she will teach you the bow."

"But Arisugawa-sama will…"

"I ask you as a barely trained woman to teach another woman. Any of the male soldiers would be too difficult to fight against for her and they need their own training now in preparation for battle, Lord Arisugawa will agree with me."

"Thank you Lord Sesshomaru." She then bowed again and when she looked up he had gone.

~ *~*~*~

A/N: So I hope this somewhat makes up for me not posting new chapters fast enough. Thank you to everyone who reviews and to those of you who are reading the story. But still as always please review even if you only ask for more or say cool.

-Vamp