Chapter 3

Kagome watched with unveiled horror as he took it the exact way she had prayed for him not to.

Every ounce of light left his eyes, leaving him staring blankly at nothing. The slight rosy tinge in his cheeks that Kagome always thought was beautiful slowly dissipated until his face was completely void of color. Even his hands which had held hers with such earnest a moment ago slackened and grew cold within her grasp, as though he didn't have the strength to move them anymore. All in all, he seemed to shrivel in on himself and Kagome felt that by saying those words, she'd just asked him to sacrifice his own life.

"No!" she cried, desperately, her own eyes filling with tears. "No Sesshomaru, please! I didn't mean it that way."

It was a long moment before Sesshomaru could find the right words, if any, to speak. He felt as though he was shattering, every part of him spontaneously crumbling into millions of irretrievable pieces. All that was running through his mind was those words, spoken so quietly and tenderly from those lips, with the sound of that beautiful lilt, condemning him to slow, and painful death.

"If it is what you wish," he finally said. Each word felt ripped from him, as though by some supernatural force, for he was fighting against his very being in saying them. But all that matter to him was her happiness, and if this was what it meant, then so be it. Kagome felt lost because it seemed like nothing she could say could make it right. She felt like she just ruined everything that could've ever been between them.

She shook her head vehemently, "No, no! Forget it! Forget I said anything! I don't want to do it if it's only going to upset you."

The demon lord wished he could take her up on her offer. He didn't want to let her go; not now, not ever, but if it was what she truly wanted…

"If you wish to go, then go Kagome. I will not stop you." He replied simply.

Kagome swallowed back a lump in her throat that was growing by the second. Why couldn't he see that she would never leave him? That this wasn't at all the way he thought?

"Sesshomaru." She tried to explain, staving off her mounting panic, "I don't want to go home and be away from you. If you could come with me, I would demand that you did. But listen to me," Kagome put a hand on either side of his face since he was still kneeling in front of her, and looked deep into his eyes, ' I do not want to leave you. I love you. Do you understand what I'm saying? I love you."

Her firm words slowly waded through the dark cloud possessing his mind and caused him to awaken. The demon lord dared to hope he was hearing her right. Did she say she didn't want to leave him? Did she honestly say that she loved him? Was it possible?

Sesshomaru's slightly glazed eyes shifted slowly to focus and the words tumbled from his lips completely of their own accord.

"You still wish to be with me?"

At hearing him say that so sweetly, so full of vulnerability but with so much hope and longing, Kagome realized exactly what effect her declaration had on him. She fell to her knees before him and wrapped her arms around the body she knew she could never live without.

"Yes," she whispered, "yes, I still want to be with you. I'll always want to be with you."

The demon lord was barely breathing. He was having a very hard time processing what she had just said. He wasn't sure if it was real. Did she not just ask to leave him? To disappear into the one place he couldn't follow? And now, his dear Kagome was saying exactly what he wanted to hear: that she loved him, she wanted to stay with him, and that she wanted to be with him. Could he let himself believe her?

It only took him a few seconds to realize that he couldn't convince himself not to.

"Oh Kagome," he murmured into her hair. His arms came around her and pulled her so close every inch of them was touching somewhere. "Kagome, Kagome, Kagome…" he went on and on, an endless mantra, keeping her tightly clasped to her, breathing in her scent and telling himself he would never let her go. Kagome thought her ribs might crack but she definitely wasn't going to say anything. It seemed like he needed that moment to het himself back together. Kagome was willing to do anything it took to get him to see that she wasn't actually leaving him. This seemed to be it.

After what felt like forever (which was fine with the both of them), Sesshomaru finally pulled back and looked into her eyes.

"You don't want to leave me?"

She shook her head slowly, "No."

"But you do want to leave." It wasn't a question, it was a statement. He knew what she was saying, must've heard in her voice that she really wanted to go. Kagome hesitated for a moment and Sesshomaru smiled reassuringly, resting his palms on her cheeks. "It's all right Lady Kagome." He said softly, "You may go anywhere the wind takes you, so long as you find your way back to me. I couldn't stand losing you."

Kagome's smile was sweet and tender, "I'd never run away from you Sesshomaru." She replied. Then, "and you could never lose me silly. I'm always close by," and she put her hand over his steady beating heart. He understood what she was implying immediately and smiled also. Yes, she would always be in his heart; there was no doubt about that.

"If you want to go home, go ahead. Now that I am assured you will come back to me, I see no problem with it." He told her calmly. He was really feeling better about the whole thing though it would still be hard to see her go.

Kagome breathed out a huge sigh of relief, "Is it really okay? Because I won't go if you don't want me to. Really, I won't. I'm just as happy right here with you."

The demon lord smiled, "Well, naturally I would prefer you always being by my side. But if it is really and truly what you want to do, then it is what I want you to do." He lovingly ran the pad of his thumb over her nose. She smiled again, slowly and warmly, and she set her hands on his wrists. He was so sweet and understanding. The miko knew that the chances of finding anyone as good as him in this time or her own were close to nothing. She was so lucky to be able to claim him as her own.

"You do realize what I want to go home for, don't you?" she asked softly. Kagome hadn't originally planned to tell him her reasoning g for the spontaneous visit, but he was being so good to her about it, she just wanted to make him happy.

The demon lord's brow furrowed slightly. He hadn't really thought about any reason she might have to go back to her home. But the way she was talking right then made him feel like he should know because it was of some sort of extreme importance.

"No," he replied slowly, "I assume it's to say hello to your relatives—"

"Goodbye," she broke in suddenly, the cutest half smile on her face. He faltered for a moment, confused.

"I beg your pardon?"

Kagome looked deep into his sharp amber eyes, "I'm not going to say hello." Her tone was playful, but he could tell how completely serious she was, "I'm going to say goodbye."

The demon lord stared at her for a moment, "Goodbye?" he echoed dumbly (as dumbly as Sesshomaru could anyway). Kagome nodded, thrilled.

"Mhmm. Forever."

Sesshomaru's beautiful eyes widened as what she said clicked in his mind. "Forever?" there was no sound to his words, he merely mouthed them, but to Kagome, it was all the more powerful that way. She'd actually managed to leave him speechless for once, instead of it being the other way around.

"Yes Sesshomaru. Forever and a couple years after that," she closed her eyes, imagining what it would be like for her, for them, "I want to go this once so I never have to go again. I want to live here with you in your gigantic palace and wake up in your arms every morning." She giggled, "I want to be near you so much that your smell is in my skin. I want to get annoyed some mornings because your hair is on my clothes. I want to be around you so much that I'll already have the reason why it doesn't bother me figured out."

Once again, the demon lord was speechless. It was very rare that she made him this way and hearing what she was saying was pulling things from him that he no longer thought he had. His throat tightened in the most peculiar way and he felt as though even if he had words, he wouldn't be able to speak them. Kagome went on, heedless of the emotions overtaking him.

"I want to be with you for so long, time no longer has meaning." She opened her eyes and finally saw the expression on his face. She had to pause for a minute because the tenderness in his golden eyes was overwhelming. She could feel herself preparing to cry and willed the tears flooding her eyes away. "I want to have all my babies with you," she didn't miss his soft intake of breath, but she kept going, "I want to give you a strong, healthy heir to carry on your legacy, but I also wan to give you a precious baby girl, or whatever else you want. I want to watch them grow up and be blessed with a love as extraordinary as ours because there's no other gift in this world more magnificent than that. And then, I want to be able to cradle their babies in my arms with you right there by my side and—" she could've kept going, but he'd heard enough to be convinced. Without warning, Sesshomaru leaned forward and kissed her, cutting off her words. She stiffened slightly with surprise, but the feeling of his hands on her waist, pulling her closer, completely loosened her up. Kagome responded to the unbridled passion in his kiss by giving the rest of her words without speaking. She could tell he knew what she was saying.

Sesshomaru was stunned by all the things she'd been saying, but the second she started going on about having his children, he was so overcome with love and admiration for her, he couldn't keep himself from kissing her anymore. She spoke so sweetly and confidently, as though she felt it was an honor to bear his pups. Nothing could make him happier at that moment than to hear how much she wished to raise a family with him. There was nothing he wanted more.

The miko's arms wound around Sesshomaru's neck even as his own arms came around her waist to hold her as close as he possibly could. She didn't know what it was that she'd said that had driven him to that point, but she honestly didn't care. It didn't matter anyway; she'd completely meant everything she said.

Sesshomaru pulled back, kissing her eyes and cheeks before withdrawing completely, "Kagome, you do not realize how much joy you have filled me with by saying those things to me." He declared softly. The miko smiled and laid her head on his shoulder.

"I meant every single word."

The demon lord's heart swelled once again, though she didn't say it all again, her words just moments ago continued to play in his mind.

Kagome squeezed him ever so slightly, then pulled away and took his hands. There was one thing she hadn't gotten to tell him yet, "Sesshomaru," she began in the same tone that had started this whole thing, except this time, the demon lord wasn't nearly as worried, "when I told you I wanted to say goodbye, I didn't mean just to my family."

His brow furrowed, "What do you mean? Who else where you referring to?"

The raven-haired girl spoke slowly as not to startle him or anything, "I want to say goodbye to everyone. Including the people in this time."

Sesshomaru wracked his brain, trying to figure out who she could be talking about. The answer was, of course, obvious; he just couldn't seem to think of it. It took him a minute, but the encouraging look in her eyes helped prompted his decision, "Do you mean…?" he didn't go on. He hoped he was wrong.

She nodded her head, "Yes. My friends. And your brother."

There was a long silence in which Kagome felt she would die if he didn't answer.

"No," he replied flatly. Kagome was completely shocked. He'd never, in the entire eight month period they'd been together, told her couldn't do something. No matter how much it may have bothered, he wouldn't flat out say no.

"What?" she asked flustered.

"No," he repeated firmly, completely unrelenting. Sesshomaru would give her anything she wanted, he'd even let her leave him, but this was one thing he couldn't allow.

Kagome was still flabbergasted. "But why not? I used to live with them Sesshomaru."

He shook his head, "That's right. Used to. You don't anymore."

"So? What does that have to do with anything?"

Sesshomaru sighed, exasperated, "Kagome, dearest, it's been quite awhile since you were with them. Certain… opinions of you may have changed"

She sighed, "You're talking about Inuyasha, right?" when he didn't answer, she knew she was right, "Sesshomaru, you two's problems aren't my problems."

"Yes," his voice hardened, "at this point, they are. He will resent the fact that you now belong to me."

"Yes, well, the difference is that I don't give a damn." Any other time, that whole belonging to business would bother her, but she actually liked the concept of being his property. It was so different with him in that she felt like she was the luckiest person in the world to know that she belonged to him. Now, her expression showed her vehemence.

If the situation weren't so serious, the demon lord would've laughed. She went on, unwilling to give in.

"He's not the only one there that I want to see. I have other friends that I couldn't stand to leave forever without saying goodbye to. If push comes to shove, I'll just ignore him—"

"Kagome."

"—I mean, he's not that important. Hell, he's the one who gave me the most trouble —"

"Kagome,"

"—he never treated me right anyway. He doesn't even deserve for me to come say bye to him!"

Sesshomaru took her face into his hands, "My love," finally, she stopped talking though her chest was heaving from the lack of air, "any other time, I'd let you go, you must understand that." He looker her eyes and she could tell he meant it.

"But why not now?" she whined, "What's so special about right now? I'm just as strong as I was back then, if not stronger now that you run through me. He can't do anything to hurt me."

He shook his head for maybe the millionth time in that discussion, "Kagome please. I love you and you're about to leave me. I know it is something you really want to do, so I don't want you to take any chances that may impede you. You're especially sensitive right now as well, what with you getting ready to change you life completely around. Just, please, I beg you; see this one thing my way."

The raven-haired girl pouted for a little longer, even tried climbing into Sesshomaru's lap and begging, but it was clear that he wasn't going to budge. He didn't mind her in his lap though.

Finally, Kagome got up and walked over to the closet, throwing it open more for something to do than any real need. Her husband, so to speak, was royally pissing her off. All she wanted to do was say goodbye to all her friends of this time. She never really did get a chance to, and plus, they didn't know where she was. She was pretty sure they all thought she was at home, which, technically she was, just not the home they were all thinking of. How surprising it would be to discover she'd been there all that time. But Sesshomaru, though she loved him to pieces, was being quite the stubborn ass. He was acting as though he thought she couldn't take care of herself, like she was too fragile to handle one stupid half demon.

"Kagome," he began tiredly, "it is not that I doubt your abilities when it comes to taking care of yourself against my brother."

The miko turned around, astounded, "and when did you start reading minds?"

Sesshomaru smiled briefly from his spot on the ground, "Please see where I am coming from. I love you dearly. I do not want you in any environment that may cause some harm to befall you. Especially if I can not be there to protect you."

Kagome had turned back to her closet when he began speaking again, but then she whipped around, a huge smile on her face.

"So come with me."

The demon lord was momentarily caught off guard, "Excuse me?"

Suddenly delighted with the easy solution, Kagome crossed the room to him and grabbed his hands, pulling him to his feet. "You heard me, Sesshomaru." She slipped her arms around his waist and looked up into his warm amber eyes. "Since you're afraid your dumb brother will hurt me or something, come with me when I go to them. That way you can keep me safe or whatever."

"Kagome," the demon lord was slightly dazed by her sudden change, "please do not take this offensively, but are you completely insane?"

The raven haired girl laughed out loud, "No. of course not. I'm as sane as can be. Why do you think I'm crazy?"

"Because the words you say to me make no sense." He replied bluntly. "Obviously, my coming with you to visit the brother that despises me to the point that it drives him to rash acts is not the best idea you've had."

"Once again, who cares about Inuyasha?" she reiterated calmly. Her arms were still around his waist because she absolutely refused to give up on her plan. This was foolproof; there was no way he could tell her no because his entire argument was solved.

Sesshomaru chuckled. Her determination was just one more reason he loved her. He'd discovered that particular trait, however, rather early their relationship.

"Very well," he said resigned. Kagome's face lit with glee and her arms tightened around him momentarily.

"I can go back to them?"

"Yes. You may go back to visit your friends. But I'll definitely be there."

The raven haired girl squealed with joy and reached up to grab his face, "Sesshomaru, I don't know if you realize this, but I love you." And she gave him a peck on the lips before releasing him and skipping back to the closet.

The next twenty or so minutes were another argument about when they would be going to visit Inuyasha and the others. Naturally, it would take a bit of time to track them down; they obviously wouldn't be in the same spot she left them at eight months ago. That, however, was the least of Sesshomaru's problems. He was a pure dog demon after all; his nose was so sharp it would take him mere minutes to track them wherever they were. To Kagome, it seemed like his whole purpose was to dissuade her from going. Every second, she was hearing an 'it is very dangerous for you right now, Kagome,' or 'I am still unsure of this, love,' and even, 'do we really have to do this hummingbird?'

That one was the most fun. He'd taken to calling her hummingbird because of the way she was while they were talking. She couldn't stand to be still in the middle of their 'discussion' so every couple of seconds, she was flitting to different places in the room and eventually, around the entire castle to the point that Sesshomaru had was trailing behind her. Once he practically had to chase her up and down hallways in his own home, he had frustratingly referred to her as a hummingbird. Surprised because she hadn't realized what she was doing, Kagome vainly tried to stay in one spot but she fidgeted so much, the demon lord ended up laughing at her.

Of course, that argument ended up the same way as the first one; Kagome got her way. They would be leaving to visit all of her friends in three days but she'd come back to the palace and three days after that, she'd leave for home and spend- this was the only decision Sesshomaru got to make and he surprised her with his answer- five days saying goodbye to her family and packing up anything she thought she would need.

For the rest of forever.

When she said those words to Sesshomaru, he stopped speaking and just looked at her and then smiled. He continued to smile every time he looked at her all day. Sometimes, when she would be doing something else like reading a book or sun tanning in the garden, she would look up at catch him smiling at her with the sweetest look in his eye. He also seemed overly clingy, but not in a bad way, but not in a bad way. At least, not to Kagome.

Later in the day, she'd been lying in a makeshift hammock, picking daisies and making a crown by braiding them together. Sesshomaru came from no where and lay beside her, not even disturbing the hammock, and stroked her arms with his fingertips, occasionally kissing her cheek or her temple or anything in reach.

Sesshomaru had always been extremely gentle, but as of late, he'd been treating her as though he thought she would fall apart. It was weird for him. Even in the beginning of their relationship, he didn't act that way. Kagome wondered why he was being like that. It could be because of her decision and the fact that in six days, they would be apart for the first time… ever. That would definitely explain the clinginess. Hell, she didn't know how she was going to manage walking away from him.

Kagome awoke from her daze of thought because she noticed that the rhythmic swirling of his fingertips that had steadily been slowing down had come to a complete stop. The miko focused more intently on man lying beside her and realized that the stream of his breath on her neck had become long and deep and he was completely relaxed against her. She smiled ever so slightly and was careful not to move so as not to awaken him. She let her arm hang over the side of the hammock so her fingertips were just barely grazing the ground. A few minutes later, she was asleep, feeling warm and secure, and most importantly, filled the brim with love.

An hour or so after the miko drifted to sleep, Sesshomaru woke up, his thoughts still a heavy burden on his mind. What in the world was he going to do with that girl? She belonged to him, after all. Shouldn't he be the one telling her what to do? Just the thought made him smile. He knew it would never work that way with his hummingbird, the little demanding thing she was.

He just wished that on this one thing, she would relinquish the control to its rightful owner and do what he said. If he knew anything, Sesshomaru knew his dimwitted brother and he knew she was seriously underestimating what his reaction would be to hearing that Kagome was now mated to the brother he absolutely despised. It was common knowledge that the half breed had strong feelings for the miko though he continued to carry on his affair with the hellish clay pot or whatever it was. That was most certainly his mistake from the beginning. That stupid hanyou chased the girl right into the demon lord's arms.

That had to be the best thing, as a brother, Inuyasha could've ever done for him. It was a very good thing he was so irrevocably dumb. Just to think, if he had been even inkling smarter, he may have realized what an astounding woman he had just begging for his attention, and he may have kept her. And then, Sesshomaru would walk around for the rest of his very long life, missing an entire half of him.

But regardless of all that, Sesshomaru knew what kind of pure anger he'd probably be faced with. Inuyasha could be quite a pain once his fur had been ruffled enough. The bad thing was almost every example of what his anger could lead him to do that the demon lord had seen had something to do with the miko. Whether her actions where the cause of it, or someone else's actions against her, Inuyasha's temper flared almost instantly, leading him to do things he could never do any other time. And it had been quite some time since he'd gotten to see Kagome. Sesshomaru didn't know if that was good or bad, but he was betting on bad.

Why couldn't she see this for herself? All Kagome could focus on was the fact that she was going to get to visit all her friends. He didn't even understand why it was such an important event for her. The demon lord did see why going back to her time was extremely substantial, but Inuyasha? Was he still that important to her?

The mere notion made his chest tighten uncomfortably. Even after eight months, the half breed was still on her mind? Why would she even bother with someone who refused to lower his pride for even a moment and acknowledge his feelings for her? No, she was a very smart girl. She knew far better than to let herself lower her standards and have feelings for someone who treated her the way he did. Kagome had told the demon lord she loved him several times, just that day. He had no doubt in his mind that her heart was still beating for him.

The demon lord just hoped that whatever happened three days from then, he'd be able to protect her before anything really bad happened.

Sesshomaru shifted slightly so he was on his side and gently swept Kagome's hair off of her forehead, then slipped his arm around her waist so his hand dangled in front of her stomach. Kagome sighed in her sleep and rolled more into him, smiling softly. That made the demon lord chuckle. Even in her sleep, she was dazzling him with her smiles.

Her scent wafted towards his nostrils and he drank it in, reveling in the unique, wonderful smell that had been slowly dominating his senses. He hoped, he prayed, that everything would work out the way she wanted it to.

Now was such a terrible time for all of this. He couldn't stand to let anything harm her. Everything had to work out.

*****