First – I want to express my regret for what Demonlordlover had to go through recently. It's unfair when things like that happen to exceptional writers. I have a thing or two to say to that author but I'm currently refraining from any further comments.

Second – apparently this fic has been taken down from Best One Shot Fic (no hard feelings or anything as this isn't really a one shot anymore!) and instead nominated for Best Lemon/Lime scene. (Salutes) I'll do my best to at least compete for this category. Lots of cookies go to the person who was sweet enough to nominate me for that too! (Grins)

Warning: A little surprise for you guys – as thanks to those who review and comment on this. Love you guys!

Silk and Blood IV
By Royal blueKitsune

1644 – Northern Fortress
Progressive Metamorphosis

"My Lord, forgive my unannounced intrusion." a demure smile, a graceful bow accompanied by a flourish of satin, as was commonly worn in the Northern ancestral estate, a not at all clumsy bow and their personal maid stood before them quietly.

She was a pretty little thing – shapely body hidden beneath an elegant kimono, long, pale hair and wide blue eyes – but not very stealthy in her intentions. While she could pretend to keep her eyes strictly on the ground, she couldn't hide the fluttering of her eyelashes and the blush staining her cheeks as she looked at her Lord.

"Yes, Ayaka…what is it?" Kioshi, ever the observant one, didn't even bother to look up to see what was going on. Completely bypassing the hopeful looks the youkai woman was throwing him, in favor of signing an important document or some such nonsense.

Now Sango wasn't a spiteful person. She didn't like to consider herself jealous, nor did she attribute childishness to her normal behavior…still, she couldn't stop the stirrings of satisfaction from blooming deep in her chest, when she pressed her chin into his shoulder, arms coming from behind to wrap around his neck, and Kioshi didn't stop her.

From the corner of her eyes, the former slayer noticed how the youkai's lips pursed in obvious displeasure.

Life was like that sometimes. Sango wasn't fond of this particular servant either – not matter how sweet or saccharine she could pretend to be to her.

"Lord Shippou requests an audience with both your Lordship and the…Lady."

Court rules be damned, but Sango really wanted to rip this girl's pretty hair and mop the floors with her. It wouldn't help her status at all, but Sango was already convinced that she definitely didn't possess Kagome's inborn negotiation skills or her exceptional ability to forgive anyone and everyone.

Why try?

"Very well." She blinked, brought of out her thoughts abruptly, at her mate's suddenly frigid tone. "Escort them in my study and leave us."

The way he said it. What could've possibly gotten him so mad all of a sudden? The servant seemed to ask herself the same question, but unable to do anything more than to bite her tongue against what would've been a disrespectful comment, bowed once more and practically fled out of the room. With little presence of mind to gently close the door behind her.

Sango played with the sleeve of her kimono, absently admiring the dark red color, before closing her eyes with a resigned sigh, and coughing softly to get his attention. This whole mating thing was pretty much foreign to her still, but she struggled to sort through the bond she shared with her beloved enough to understand what went through his mind.

Some days…it was harder than it appeared. An incredibly stubborn woman against a sly and cunning man with a finely polished temper that allowed little to no fault in anyone else but him or her…not that you could tell from first sight. Not with that congenial smile always plastered upon his face.

What a humorous thought.

"Are you going to say it, or should I?" She poked him in the ribs, doe eyes curious, and snuggled under his arm forcefully, to have a better look at that document.

At least she tried to see, until Kioshi let out a long, suffering sigh and snapped the large book shut with a flick of his wrist. Sango frowned – part in being denied the information she wanted and part at the disturbing rapidity with which he had closed that…monstrosity.

So damn easy. It had taken her years to wield heavy weights with a proud tilt of her chin and he managed it in minutes.

Unfair!

She couldn't say that she hadn't seen the following kiss coming, did nothing to fight against it – if you didn't count the squeak that followed being picked up, as a leaf, and dragged into his lap – and let him paint stars beneath her eyelids with the greatest pleasure. Kioshi was a wonderful kisser, not that she had material to compare other than a few shy tries before him, and also a person who liked to be touched and stroked.

It was an action dictated by the restless youkai inside him. His species seemed to appreciate the affectionate touches and the not so fleeting caresses of their life partners – though Sango couldn't hope to comprehend.

A scratch behind the pointed ear, sliding her hand through his hair fleetingly…admiring and at the same time envying the soft quality of the thick, ebony mane.

"Aw, you're purring!"

Sango smiled happily and allowed him to press his cheek in the hollow of her neck, if only to keep the contact he craved so much. Times like these, she was positive that it was a love to last a lifetime and perhaps beyond. He wouldn't leave her like Miroku had…and that gave her the power to let her feelings slip through more and more often.

Kioshi curved his lips upwards and purred louder for her. Well, only for her. To hear that rare laughter of absolute, childish giddiness, such an effortless gesture of his part was freely given. Many times he had seen her pet her little companion with a smile and…it hadn't been difficult to get the secret out of the small feline.

Kirara and himself, while not necessarily belonging to the same race, were family and thus shared their secrets well. As a pantera demon, persuasion was his specialty anytime.

"I should take it that you have decided to spare my father's faithful servant," once best concubine, but best not mention that tidbit to her since he had already disbanded his harem for her, "this time, Northern Lady?"

She rolled her eyes and playfully brushed her fingers against the red symbols curled gracefully around his neck. "So that's why you couldn't keep your hands off of me out of the blue. Should've known – leech!"

That argument had been done and redone so many times.

"Well, my Lady," his touch was barely there, on the side of her face, but his voice was warm with barely restrained amusement, "Unless you desire your former ward to find us in the compromising position I currently have in mind, I will continue this later."

As soon as he tells me what he wants and steps out of that door…you're mine.

Sango flushed a bright red, almost as if sensing his intentions – not completely without grounds considering their bond – and looked caught between wanting to slap him or taking up on his offer now. Kioshi quirked a brow at her and had the pleasure of seeing more color suffuse her cheeks.

Doesn't matter. The outcome will be the same just as well.

He couldn't help the satisfied expression that settled on his features, was unable to hide it even as the doors opened to reveal his guests. His very amused guests with keen scenting abilities and sharp hearing…

Kagome was this close to having a nervous breakdown…or teetering on the edge anyway. She really wanted to kill something with her bare hands and that said something about the 'Sesshoumaru-ish' mood she was currently in. Jaken was of no help; the servants were unusually helpful but, even so, clueless. No one wanted to explain what was actually happening!

All the fretting and the fussing over her hair and clothes…and keeping her occupied – she wasn't mentally challenged – were going to drive her up the walls any moment now. It was the disaster waiting to happen.

She hadn't seen her mate all day…it could be handled with a little exercise in patience and a 'from time to time' reminder that he was a busy Lord with duties to attend to and things/people/demons to kill. That didn't make her any happier, but she could force herself to pretend she was immersed in her own royal duties and hopefully pass the hours faster.

Her personal maid – honestly, she had tried to tell herself that she could live with someone trying to take care of her constantly but it was stressing her nerves that Minako pampered her like a child – had been, obviously, trying to distract her attention all day…from something!

Asking her if she needed anything once every half an hour, trying to coax her to sit down and take care of her health and the pups, feeding her forcefully and following her around like a lost creature that needed its mistress to make the day better.

Frustration had just gotten a new meaning. It was what Kagome was currently feeling.

"Minako, I appreciate you offering to comb my hair, but it's not necessary. Really!" Not that it wasn't pleasant. The sensation of having someone brush your hair and playing with it was what Kagome liked to call divine. She was half asleep and feeling entirely too cozy to entertain the thought of ordering her friend to spill everything.

"Nonsense, princess!" Minako chided with a wide smile, "I don't mind brushing your hair before bedtime. Yours is so thick, long and glossy…and so very strong! I've never seen a human woman with hair so well kept."

Like she was the one to talk. Minako with her violet eyes and just as long, if not even more so, amber hair with pale, natural highlights. Stupid pretty demons with their stupid pretty hair.

"This wouldn't happen to have anything to do with you fretting over me all day long, would it?"

The phoenix youkai was faithful, friendly, a rare jewel between the prejudiced demons otherwise working for Sesshoumaru, but she was horrible when it came to lying. Even now, with that bright, sunny smile, Minako couldn't keep eye contact in the mirror or keep the look or utter guilt from her eyes.

How strange, Kagome mused with a quirked eyebrow. Youkai were all hardened creatures who – well, mostly – considered themselves above humans, power wise and lifespan, and yet they could display emotions so freely when amongst themselves and those associated with them.

"What would I be keeping from you Lady Kagome?"

"Hah!" Kagome swung around, almost tripping on the folds of her kimono and finding success to be difficultly achieved when kneeling on the floor, and triumphantly pointed a finger at her maid, "I have you now. You always revert to calling me Lady Kagome when you're lying…"

Pause.

"And don't you dare deny it! I can count on my fingers all the times I wasn't right about it."

Kagome could almost swear that Minako had twitched for a moment. A minor quivering of her eyes that she would've missed had she not been so intent on catching her servant/friend with the cat in the bag. It seemed so farfetched to see that foreign expression on Minako's face that Kagome almost smiled and ruined all her hard work.

"Lord Sesshoumaru will have my head if I reveal anything he specifically ordered to be kept a secret. I could lose my position as a waiting lady in the House of the Moon." One last desperate effort of trying to convince her stubborn mistress that the matter would be better off put aside. The phoenix wasn't as much weary of the reasons she had just given, as she was of what could happen if – when – Kagome would want to go to her mate…to help.

Now that could turn ugly. Especially on this particular night – when the full moon was almost upon them.

"Since when have you ever worried about that? You can just say that I annoyed you into answering," the former miko smiled with a hint of mischievousness, "and no one would be surprised too much. My mother always said that a pregnant woman is a force to be reckoned with. Now…start talking."

Her mother had been definitely right.

Kagome, with her bluer than blue eyes brightened by the spark of stubbornness, looked as unmovable as the man she had fallen in love with. Minako knew without a doubt what her Lord had found in the tiny woman also something that her former Lady had somewhat lacked, even when she had made up in cheerfulness and friendliness.

Speaking of…

Lady Rin could've handled this delicate matter so much better. Minako sighed. Pity that the girl and her lover were gone on business. The general Kohaku was unmovable when it came to visiting the graveyard that had been his former village yearly.

It wasn't that Minako felt embarrassed about talking about such business. Not at all. Usually, it was her young mistress – a mere hatchling if one thought about the time Kagome had spent on this Earth – that blushed hotly when it came to mating problems…youkai had no such problems.

"Very well, I suppose that you don't leave me a choice," thank Kami! Minako hated lying under orders. Hated listening to orders all in all! "Have you, by any chance, heard of the changing process, specific only to Inuyoukai, called Progressive Metamorphosis?"

Kagome grumbled to herself a no, feeling not at all surprised that she hadn't. Oh, she knew what the terms meant and was aware of their meaning – school was that wonderful and all those books she had busied herself to study during the shard hunt had done her a world of good.

It was just that Sesshoumaru insisted on keeping her in the dark on many matters until the last possible moment. Matters that the entire youkai population and even some humans were well aware of.

Sigh.

What was the purpose of making her read so many scrolls, of teaching her the extensive history of his house if he kept some of the most important facts, the ones that happened right now, from her?

"But I'm willing to be enlightened." And have a very nice talk with her husband after this!

Minako smiled and made her turn to her former position, to glide the ivory comb through her hair. "Don't be too hard on him because he hasn't explained…try not to purify our Lord either or we'll really be out of jobs. All of us. He probably didn't know a better way to tell you about this, stubborn pup."

Kagome giggled. Sesshoumaru and puppy in the same sentence was almost enough to make her forgive him. One had to wonder how old Minako was.

"Progressive Metamorphosis is a change that only the most powerful Inuyoukai undergo once in their lifetime." She paused and Kagome had to bite down the urge to tell her to continue. This, she definitely hadn't known. "It is a painful process that takes many hours to fully complete, as it is both in physical and power wise aspect. The moon is the symbol of this house and thus the most opportune moment to encourage the change to happen."

"Sesshoumaru-sama will most likely relinquish and gain some – perhaps most - physical traits along with the restless spirit of his youkai by the end of the night. He might even end up surpassing the power of his great and honorable Father, Inu no Taisho-sama."

The idea seemed farfetched to the phoenix, as the Great General had been an immensely powerful creature, but it was hard to ignore when it was happening – right at this moment – somewhere, deep in subterranean levels of the estate.

Kagome was suddenly pale, eyes wide and full of vibrant colors and so contrasting with the ebony tresses. "When is this going to happen? Why haven't I been informed until now?"

Minako blinked in confusion and barely hidden concern. "The moon is in position as of half a candle mark. The process has already begun."

For a moment, the young woman looked like she wanted to jump up and make a run for it towards the door…towards her beloved mate. Then she blinked, took a startled breath and fainted in Minako's arms.

"Princess!"

Oh, the drama. I have mentioned Rin, something is going on with Sesshoumaru and now Kagome is not feeling well enough. This chapter has a second part, which I will add soon enough hopefully. It would've been way too long if I had continued it. I hope you like the idea – Sesshoumaru will appear in the next chapter and you'll get to see some very interesting changes in him. (Grins)

I love this story I swear. My plot bunnies can be very creative creatures. (and this is not even the last of the surprises I have in mind for Silk and Blood)