Kagome awoke with a start, her head snapping from side to side. She shuddered from the cold as her eyes finally adjusted to the lack of like. It was pitch black as far as she could see, and her body ached. As her memories rushed back to her, she cried, "Kakudan?! Kakudan?!" A shudder ran own her spine when she heard a growl, but as her mind processed it, she heard words.

"Calm down, miko."

"S-Sesshomaru?" She jumped with a start when Sesshomaru's large, furry head leaned down to look at her. "You transformed?" She questioned, astonished. She'd forgotten how beautiful he was in this form. Sure, the first time she'd seen it he was trying to do her in, but she'd managed to take the time to realize just how majestic he was.

Sesshomaru yipped softly. "Kakudan is at your side, curled into you."

Arching a brow at his reply, she looked down to her side and found Kakudan buried into her hip, his legs intertwined with hers as he clung to her. "Oh. I can barely feel my legs. I didn't know it was him on me. Actually, I assumed it was just my imagination." She giggled a little, then shivered, wrapping her arms tight around her body.

"You are cold." Sesshomaru stated, and it came out as a slight whine. He hated his true form sometimes. It was far more emotional than his humanoid form.

"A little." Kagome whispered.

The large dog seemed to frown before he lowered himself so that his body was covering them more. "I assume that is better."

"Much." Kagome smiled over at him as her right hand rose to stroke his belly. She giggled a little when he growled lowly and moved his stomach back and forth against her hand. "You're just like a big dog." When he growled at her, she sighed and closed her eyes. "What, you are. Heck, technically you are just a large dog.

"Hn."

"So is it morning?"

Sesshomaru lifted his head to look around them. Truth be told, until the miko had screamed her son's name, he had been fast asleep in the most comfortable slumber he'd been in since he was a tiny pup. The sky was covered with clouds, and the surrounding area was rather dark. "I am not sure."

"Oh. When do we look for the others?"

'The others.' Sesshomaru thought. In all actuality, he'd considered the others almost immediately when they'd been separated. However, he'd immediately pushed thoughts of them out of his head. He would enjoy his time alone with the miko, and not allow himself to have a time limit that he knew of. "When the feeling returns to your legs, your son is well, and the weather lightens."

"Good. This is pretty comfy." She caressed his stomach again, running her hand to his silvery locks. He growled lowly, contently, then tensed slightly. Kagome snatched her hand back. Obviously, she must have been annoying him like she'd done the others. She didn't want to run him off as well. "I'm sorry, Sesshomaru." She whispered, rolling over and forcing herself to sleep.

Sesshomaru blinked down at the miko. Had his tensing caused her sudden change? It was not her that had caused the tensing, but more the sound of her son's near silent whimpers. The miko had not heard because she had not been taught yet how to hone her senses.

Kakudan clutched his mother tighter, his whimpers and whines growing a little louder. He was having the reoccurring nightmare he often had when his father wasn't happy. His father, whom he adored, loved, and respected, was leaning against a wall, holding him in his arms. He could feel the pain, anger, and frustration that pumped in his father's fluctuating aura, and it pained him as well.

Naraku would hold him tight, stroking his hair gently. He would talk to him, explaining things about himself and his relationship with his mother. From what he understood, his father truly loved his mother, but could not have her because of things he'd done. Every time he would that that to his father, visions came rushing through his head, a different set each time. They were memories of his father, sometimes those of his mother.

The memories were so raw, so real that he felt as though he was there. He saw the fight between his parents over the years, the battles. He saw them come together. He saw them make love, something that had once confused him, but now made him smile. He saw his parents hold each other, his father pressing his face to her protruding stomach and cooing because they were alone. But tonight he saw something he wished he hadn't. He saw his father, eyes flashing with betrayal, as he tortured his mother, punching, scratching, stabbing, and slapping her.

The Naraku he knew didn't do such things. The way his father spoke to him in his head made him feel loved, cherished, adored. The way his father spoke to him, that look of utter happiness in his eyes, as he told of the things he and Kagome had done … It just didn't add up that he could purposely crush his mother the way he had.

Kakudan shot up with a cry, tears streaming down his face. He drew his knees to his chest, sobbing into him. His momma had been bleeding, torn and basically mutilated. His father had done it, the man he loved more than any other save his momma.

Sesshomaru watched the boy carefully, watching each movement he made. An uncertain aura shimmered around him as he bawled. The small child peeked out from his knees, sniveling. He glanced at his mother before burying his face into her chest and wrapping her arms around him.

"Momma." He wiped his eyes. Catching Sesshomaru's eyes on him, he started. "W-who are you?!"

The Daiyoukai didn't bother to reply. He was certain the young boy wouldn't understand him.

Kakudan frowned at the lack of reply, standing on aching legs in front of his mother. He would protect her at all costs. Growling, he repeated, "Who are you?"

Sesshomaru would have smirked if he could, his lips quirked slightly. The boy would protect his mother no matter what, very good.

'Where is Sesshomaru-sama?' He glared at the beast. "Did you harm Sesshomaru-sama?" No reply. "Did you harm my lord?!" He screamed angrily. Kagome groaned, rolling over in her sleep. Kakudan stiffened a little, and remained that way until his mother was sleeping soundly again. "Where is Lord Sesshomaru-sama?"

The boy was loyal, also very good. Sesshomaru leaned his head toward the boy as best he could and growled softly, soothingly.

Kakudan, confused, frowned. The markings on the dog's face matched Sesshomaru's. He fanned his aura out the way his mother had taught him, and smiled when he realized that it was indeed Sesshomaru. "Sesshomaru-sama!" He embraced his lord's leg.

Sesshomaru smiled slightly, before resuming his blank expression. "Kaku-" He paused when he felt a group of youkai bandits moving closer. Growling lowly in annoyance, he converted back to his humanoid form. "Kakudan," He called to the boy who was now hugging his arm.

"Hm?" He asked, looking up at Sesshomaru with happy eyes. It reminded him of Rin, that look of utter trust shining. Realizing that he was embracing Sesshomaru's arm, Kakudan blushed and stepped back. "Forgive me, milord." He'd learned that from a servant, and found it funny that his mother refused to say it.

"Hn." Sesshomaru glided to Kagome's side, lifting the sleeping woman into his arms. "We must move. Follow."

Nodding, though he felt a little overexerted from his crying, he stumbled after Sesshomaru.

XXX

"Damnit, Damnit, Damnit." Inuyasha paced back and forth around the fire.

"Inuyasha, calm down." Miroku told his friend as he bit into a piece of fish. "We'll find them. But there's nothing to worry about. She is with Lord Sesshomaru after all."

"Oh yeah, she's totally safe. You idiot!" Inuyasha growled, stopping in front of him. "The last time we left her alone with Sesshomaru, she got decapitated! He was only training her then! If he really gets made, we'll be finding Kagome bits scrambled all around the fucking area!"

Rin gasped. "Sesshomaru-sama won't do that again!"

Miroku nodded. "I must agree with young Rin."

Sango glared at him. "What in the world makes you think Sesshomaru won't harm Kagome?"

"He cares for her."

"No!" Kohaku yelled before he could stop himself. Blushing when all eyes snapped to him, he looked down at his fish. His appetite was suddenly gone. "I-I mean, he doesn't care for her. He's the i-ice lord of the west, right?"

"That is merely a façade." Miroku replied knowingly as he accepted the cup of tea Kikyo offered him. "Thank you, Kikyo-san." Taking a slow sip, he closed his eyes and exhaled through his nose.

Inuyasha growled, frustrated and impatient. "Ain't you gonna tell me what you mean by that?"

Miroku smiled gently. "Oh, I'm sorry, my friend. I simply bask in suspense. What I meant was, Lord Sesshomaru has…changed."

"How?" Jaken sputtered. "And how dare you even utter such lies?!"

"Can it you overgrown toad!" Inuyasha hissed, turning back to Miroku. "Go ahead."

Miroku glanced at Jaken and found him shuddering in fear behind Ah and Un, who was, as always, curled up around Kirara. "I mean…have you noticed the way he looks when Kohaku spends time with Kagome, when any male spends time with Kagome. He even glares at Shippo."

"Who glares at Shippo-kun?" Kagami asked as she appeared in the middle of the small clearing. Koga and Ayame rushed in behind her.

"Hi, Kagami! Hi, Ayame and Koga!" Shippo chirped happily. "What are you guys doing here?"

"There's been an outbreak in the area. Youkai bandits have been popping up everywhere. I…" Koga blushed a little when Ayame nudged him, "I mean, we came to make sure you guys…and Kagome…were alright."

Shippo sighed. "We're good, but momma, Kakudan, and Lord Sesshomaru are gone. We got separated when Kagome and Kakudan fell into the river."

Koga's face reddened with anger, his heart pounding roughly within his chest

. "Dog breath, you let my…you let Kagome fall into the river?!" He really needed to work on those slip ups. "What the fuck is your problem?!"

"It was an accident, alright?! Kakudan fell through the ice and Kagome went after him! Then Sesshomaru jumped in. But they ended up going down the river too fast! By the time the confusion was over and we reached the end, they weren't there! And I couldn't smell!"

"You damn half-breed! Kagome could be dead!"

"Why do you care so much?!" This cry came from Ayame.

Koga blinked after turning to her. "H-huh?"

"Why do you care so much about her safety if you don't love her anymore?" She asked lowly. "You're supposed to only attend to Kagami and I."

Koga stroked the back of his head. "Ayame, Kagome is a very good friend. I worry for her safety."

Ayame nodded. "But if I were the one in her place, would you feel the same?"

"Of course. I'd be devastated if something like that happened to you."

"So you really do love me? You aren't wondering what life would be like if Kagome were your mate instead of me?"

Koga frowned at the question. He couldn't say he hadn't wondered, but since Kagami had been born, he'd forced all thoughts away. Now loving Ayame came easy. "Ayame, you are my mate. I love you more than I love anyone. Kagome's my friend, whom I love in a different way."

Ayame blushed, looking at her feet. "I feel foolish."

"You shouldn't." Leaning over, Koga pecked her lips. "Not like I'm doing anything to persuade you that I'm not still feeling for Kagome." Sighing, he turned to Inuyasha, who was smirking. Narrowing his eyes in annoyance and embarrassment, "And you've never been in it with Kikyo?"

Inuyasha's spine went rigid, his ear twitching. With a blush, he scoffed, "Keh."

Nodding, the wolf prince asked, "So, what're you doing about Kagome, Kakudan, and Sesshomaru?"

"We'll have to look for 'em." Inuyasha shrugged, though inwardly he was racked with guilt and worry.

"You shouldn't blame yourself, Inuyasha." Kikyo cooed soothingly, placing her hands on the hanyou's shoulder.

"I can't help but think it is. I mean, I'm the reason she ran off to begin with. If I hadn't run her off, we'd all be safe and warm in Sesshomaru's castle. If anything happened to her…or Kakudan," his eyes widened, "Holy shit, Kagome's going to fucking kill me if anything happened to the kid. I'm going to be sat to freakin' hell, and then she'll decapitate me with Tetsusaiga." He started to pace again.

A soul-shivering breeze blew past him, whipped around the fire, then extinguished it all together.

Sighing, Inuyasha ran a hand through his hair. "I guess we should hit the sack."

"Yeah." Koga slumped back against a tree.

"No fucking way! You aren't staying."

"Until Kagome is found…if that's alright with you, Ayame and Kagami?"

Ayame leaned against her mate. "Of course."

Kagami giggled, squealing. "I wanna sleep near Inuyasha!" She clung to the hanyou's leg.

"Come on, kid." Inuyasha smiled at her, before walking, with a slight limp because of her grasp on his leg, to Kikyo's side and settling down. 'I'll find you again, Kagome. I swear. And I'll never leave you again.'

XXX

"You sent my son fishing, Sesshomaru?! Didn't you say there were bandits out here?!"

Sesshomaru looked over to the miko, who was storming around. She'd sometimes pause, glare and point at him, yell some obscenities, and then started to storm again. "Sit, miko, before you pace a hole into the ground."

Kagome sniffed angrily. "No, you go get my son! He could be hurt."

"Do not order me, wench."

"I'll order you if I want, bastard!"

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at her briefly, before closing them. "He will not learn to survive as a demon if you baby him. He is old enough now to go off on his own, gather food, and return safely."

"…" The miko blinked a few times, then turned to go deeper into the forest. "Riiight. I'm going to get my child." She moved a few steps, each time her feet getting a little heavier until she found that she could not move at all. 'He's smothering me with his aura.' She realized after forcing her neck to turn and glancing behind her.

A smug smirk crossed the beautiful demon's features. It seemed that his little miko couldn't move, poor girl.

'That cocky…' Kagome fumed. 'Alright. I'll show him.' Her aura flared to life around her, forcing his aura to either back away or be purified. When she felt his aura letting up, she bolted off.

Sesshomaru's eyes widened momentarily before he glared after her. Shooting to his feet, he flitted after her. "You are a dead miko once I've captured you." He could not lie to himself and say that the chase would not be enjoyed. In fact, the chase would be just the opposite. It'd been sometime since he'd been able to enjoy one. He unleashed a loud growl, warning her.

Kagome gasped at his warning. 'There is nowhere to hide, bitch.' She picked up speed as she felt him nearing. 'I'm weighed down by too much.' She had to get rid of some extra baggage. As she sprinted, she untied her armor, allowing it to fall from her body. She tossed off the heavy kimono, leaving her in nothing but hakamas and a camisole she'd brought from home.

The forest was silent besides the crunching of snow beneath their boots. Sesshomaru's elfin ears twitched as he searched for her footsteps. He glanced back at the discarded articles the belonged to the miko and smirked. If she honestly thought that disposing of a few clothes would give her a lead, she was mistaken. He spotted her up ahead and smirked. 'A few more steps.'

One… Kagome knew Sesshomaru was on her tail, and it made her heart pound.

Two...She wasn't so much afraid of him, but afraid because she had no idea what he was going to do.

Three…Kami, how she hated surprises.

POUNCE. Sesshomaru leaped at the miko, grabbing her in his arms. Kagome gasped loudly and whipped around, her feet stumbling out from under her and taking them both to the ground. She squealed as they rolled in the snow. Sesshomaru's first instinct was to press the miko's head to his chest with his left arm, which had grown to just above the wrist, and he held her body to his with his only full arm.

When they had finally stopped rolling, Sesshomaru pushed himself up off the miko, straddling her waist with his hand beside her head. She was breathing heavily, her ample bosom rising and falling. Though his breathing was near silent, his chest rose and fell as heavily as hers.

His beast was inwardly panting, and not entirely from the chance. 'Damnit. *Pant* Bitch look good.'

Sesshomaru pinned the miko's hands above her head in his right hand when she moved. She did look delicious, her hair wildly splayed around her head, her tongue hanging partially out of her mouth, that twinkle of defiance in her eyes. She looked good enough to devour. And devour he would. "Miko." He crooned.

Kagome's eyes widened at his tone. "Sesshomaru?" She whispered meekly. 'Why is he leaning in? Is the arrogant bastard taunting me?' She blinked when she felt Sesshomaru's hand wrapping in her hair. 'M-maybe he's serious.' She shuddered as his breath ghosted over her lips before he suddenly drew back.

"Afraid?" He taunted in a husky tone. When he found her about to retort, he yanked her hair roughly, but not enough to harm her.

"Hey!" She glared at him.

"Do not retort to your alpha. Simply obey and answer." Smirking, he ran his tongue over his lips and leaned down again to kiss her.

Before he could kiss her though, Kakudan approached, dragging a dead and bleeding boar with him. He cocked his head to the side curiously as both his mother and Sesshomaru turned to look at him. "Why is Lord Sesshomaru on top of you, momma?" Sesshomaru's body was practically crushing his mothers, just like he'd seen his father doing. "Are you having sex?"

A furious blush crossed Kagome's face while Sesshomaru smirked. "What do you know about sex?" She shrieked. "Have you been talking to Miroku?! I kill that damned panda priest!"

"Panda priest?" Sesshomaru drawled as he looked down at her, amused.

"Yes, a panda priest."

"So are you having sex?" Kakudan asked, his tone borderline indifference.

Kagome blushed harder, kicking Sesshomaru in the stomach and forcing him off. "Of course we aren't."

The western prince fumed. "The nerve of you, wench." He forced her onto her stomach and straddled her again, holding her arms behind her back. "You are of no rank to do such to a Lord."

"I'm princess of the west. It's like I'm your sister." My, had that tasted odd.

Sesshomaru didn't like the way that sounded. It would make him a sick man to imagine the things he'd imagined doing with her. "You are not my sister."

"Okaa-san, you're half nude." Kakudan pointed out.

"He was chasing me!"

"So you could have sex?" He asked in a whisper.

"No! Kami, what do you even know about sex?! Sesshomaru, get your heavy as off!" She shrieked as her face was pushed hard against the ground before she was let up. "Bastard!"

Kakudan dragged the boar over to her as she dusted herself off. "Sex is when a man puts his-"

Kagome slapped a hand over his mouth. "Where did you learn that?!"

"Mm mmm mm." He pried her hand off, gazing at her with sad eyes. "I saw it."

"Where?" She asked incredulously.

"In my head." He whispered softly.

Kagome frowned. "How?"

"I…" He looked away. She didn't need to know. She'd break the connection. He wanted to talk to his father. He had questions for him. "I don't know." He averted his eyes after lying to her. It felt as though a part of him was missing. If she knew, he knew it would crush her.

"Hm." Kagome sighed, standing up. "Well, did everything go alright? I thought you were going fishing." She'd deal with the lie later.

Kakudan nodded numbly, wondering why he felt so strange. Perhaps it was because that was his first lie ever. "Yeah, but then these bandits came."

"Sesshomaru!"

"Hn."

"After looking at me, okaa-san, they decided I wasn't worth it. So they left. Then a boar ran past me. I ran after it, killed it, and brought it back to find you two about to have sex." He finished with a small smile.

Kagome's left eye twitched. "We weren't going to have sex, and don't even think you're going to until you get older, waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay older. You can't have sex until you're mated. Got it?"

He nodded. "Uh-huh."

"Good." She sniffed. "Now, let's strip that boar. You get started." Kagome stiffened when she felt Sesshomaru behind her.

He smirked, leaning over to whisper in her ear. "You should go retrieve your clothing. You are peaking, miko."

"Wha?" Kagome looked down at her chest when Sesshomaru did the same. "Agh!" She shouted, covering her chest. 'Why didn't I feel the cold air on my breasts?! They were fully exposed!' "You damned hentai!" She bolted off.

Sesshomaru resisted the urge to chuckle, instead turning to assist Kakudan. He found the boy glaring at him.

"Do you want to have sex with momma?" He didn't bother waiting for a reply. "You can't. Only she and papa can."

The Daiyoukai growled lowly. "Your 'papa' is no concern of mine."

Kakudan sighed. "Sesshomaru-sama, I like you, but if you and momma had sex that would mean that you love her, and she loved you, right?" Again, he wasted none of his time by waiting. "If momma loved you, papa would be sad. When he's sad, he remembers the bad things that happened with momma. I don't want him to be sad, so…I'm sorry, but momma is off limites."

Sesshomaru smirked. He had to respect the boy if nothing else. But he didn't give a damn about Naraku. If he ever decided to take the miko, he would, and nothing would stop him.