"Remain still, he says. Do not act, he says. I am very well capable of handling this, he says." Kagome snorted as she wrapped the bandages around Sesshomaru's torso. "Well then, Mr. 1-Daiyoukai-on-forty-youkai, why in the hell are you wounded?"

Sesshomaru growled in response. Had he been alone, he could have handled them in mere moments. With the miko and her son hiding in the bushes, at his command, he'd been wounded a few times, covering the place where they hid. He would not tell her that, though. Because then she would think he cared…which he barely did.

Kagome narrowed her eyes in concentration, sniffing the air. "I've covered the ones on your back and stomach, as well as the one on your right arm. Still, though, I smell flowing blood. Where else are you wounded, Sesshomaru?"

His eyes lowered to his thigh, where blood was seeping through his white, pristine hakamas. He'd gotten stabbed in his upper thigh in midair just before he landed before the miko's bush. The sword had stopped just before the bone. "Hn."

"Is that even a word? Tell me what it means." Kagome stood, circling him slowly to find where his wound was. After the battle, she'd led Sesshomaru and Kakudan to an abandoned shrine. While she attended to her lord's wounds, Kakudan had slept in a back room.

"It means a number of things." Casually, he laid his hand over his thigh, covering the blood spot. Her touch sent shivers up his spine, and fire through his veins. He'd managed to keep calm when she dressed his higher wounds, but this one…he'd have to be naked for this one, and her hands wound be so close to his cock. No way in hell could he not react to that.

"Where is it, Sesshomaru? I'm sure you can feel it…And what do you mean, 'a number of things.'"

"It means what I wish it to. It may mean yes, no…of it may man absolutely nothing, or simply a way to silence your ningen mouth." That sounded a little harsh even to him. "And there is no other blood."

Kagome froze. 'Have I offended him?' Backing away from him, she nodded. "Alright, then. You rest or something…I'll go check on Kakudan." She dashed from the room, hoping to be less of a burden to him. The other's had made it clear that she was annoying, cuddly, pushy. She didn't want Sesshomaru to be anymore irritated by her than he already was.

Sesshomaru's eyes followed her out. 'Damn miko.'

'You upset mate.'

'She is not our mate, and why should I care if a ningen onna's feelings are hurt.'

'You mean bastard.'

'Hn.'

'Pfft.'

Lying flat on his back, he stared up at the ceiling blankly, blinking slowly. His leg was stiff from the blood loss when he attempted to adjust it. Sighing, he inhaled deeply a few times. Her scent lingered around him, and it smelled delicious. After a few deep breaths, he found himself dozing off, and did nothing to stop it.

Kagome bit her lip worriedly when she noticed her son shivering. She hoped he didn't get a cold. Her thin kimono would do nothing to warm him, and she was one hundred percent sure of that. It was when she noticed Sesshomaru's kimono lying folded in a corner that she smiled. Grabbing it eagerly, she draped it over her son. Better that he'd be healthy and Sesshomaru kill her, than he'd be ill, and everything being fine.

Kakudan smiled in his sleep, snuggling deeper into the kimono. Unconsciously, he inhaled the powerful, ocean-like scent Sesshomaru had left in his clothing. He sighed happily, whispering, "Sesshomaru-sama."

"You like Sesshomaru-sama?" Kagome asked with a smile, stroking his hair. "I like him too. He's very nice…when he wants to be. He protects us well too. I think he likes us too, even though he acts like we're burdens…or maybe he likes you, and only puts up with me. He's starting to respect Inuyasha too. I'm starting to see brother's out of them. Speaking of Inuyasha, Sesshomaru says that they'll be arriving soon."

"Hm." Kakudan yawned, adjusting in his sleep.

"You aren't hearing a word I'm saying." She rose, stretching her arms above her head. After glancing at her watch, she leaned against the wall. The blood she smelled coming from Sesshomaru was driving her insane. She didn't want to go back and bother him, so she busied herself with meditating. Sitting in a corner, her back against the wall, she crossed her legs, clapped her hands together in prayer position, and began meditating.

She managed to do so for no more than twenty minutes before she shot to her feet. She needed to find that blood and cover it before she lost it. According to her ears, he was sleeping, breathing softly. Tiptoeing into the main shrine room, she snuck over to his side. "Sesshomaru?"

The Daiyoukai growled lowly, turning onto his side. His hand fell aside, giving Kagome a perfect view of the spreading blood spot on his hakamas.

"I knew it!" She whispered, beaming. "You were hiding the wound on yourrrrr thigh." A deep blush spread on her face. "Crap. And the blood's spreading faster." She took a deep breath. "Alright, Kaggy. This is no time to act like a prude. You had sex with Naraku for god's sake." Carefully, as to not disturb him, Kagome slid his hakamas down to his knees and observed the wound, despite the fact that her eyes kept wandering to his covered manhood.

Sesshomaru growled a little louder than the first time and rolled back onto his back. He grunted at the sharp pain in his leg, his hands clenching.

"I knew it hurt you, you big puppy." Kagome smiled. "Okay, first thing first, gotta apply some pressure." She pushed down on his leg, keeping her eyes concentrating on his face. 'Don't look down, Kagome.'

'You know you want to.' The voice reminded her slightly of Ashi, who had more base to her voice than Kagome did.

'Leave me alone, you.'

'Just look down. One time, just look down.'

'I can't.' Kagome clenched her eyes shut, her pushing growing a little rougher because of her lack of concentration.

Sesshomaru frowned as he awakened against his own will. He hadn't slept in over 30 moons, which was like a human not sleeping at all for three days. He hadn't wanted to wake up, not in the middle of such an arousing dream. The miko's hands had been so close to his cock, and he'd been about to make her grab him when he'd been awakened by a gentle caress on his thigh. The caress had then become harder, causing him to grimace in confusion. When his mind fully registered that he was being touched, he shot up, his eyes flying open and his hand snapping out to grab the hand that touched him.

Kagome jumped, looking at him, startled. "Did I wake you? I was healing about to heal your wound."

His head tilted to his side. The miko had been touching him, and his hakamas were down. His eyes widened. No doubt she'd seen his erection already. Cursing loudly, he released her to pull his clothing to cover him. "What the hell were you doing, miko?"

She covered her mouth with her hands, gasping. "Did I do something wrong? Was I hurting you?" She felt something warm and moist dripping down her lips and removed her hands, which were covered in his blood. For reasons unknown to her, her tongue darted out, smoothing over her lips and picking up the drops of blood.

Sesshomaru seemed startled, though he didn't say anything. The miko had just tasted his blood. A small smirk spread on his lips. 'Damn her.' She looked so unbelievably beautiful with his blood reddening her lips and smeared around her mouth. He noticed her reaching for his hakamas, and grabbed her hand again. Their eyes locked, and their breathing hitched.

"Sesshomaru…"

"Kagome…" He spoke her name aloud for the first time, loving the way it rolled off his tongue.

"You've never said my name before." She said softly. "And w-why are you looking at me that way? Is there something on my face?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact, there is." He leaned closer to her, sweeping his tongue down her cheek and collecting his blood in one sweep. Pausing when she jumped, he smiled and licked the blood from the other cheek. "There you are."

Kagome blinked a few times, overcome with the sudden urge to kiss him. His thin lips looked so firm and so good smeared with blood. Her vision flickered red, and Kagome shuddered. 'What is this feeling?'

Sesshomaru lowered his eyes to their linked hands. He couldn't remember the last time he'd held a woman's hands so intimately and looked into her eyes. And he swore for a second after her eyes had gone red, he'd heard her thoughts. "Miko," he drawled.

"Yes, Sesshomaru?"

"What are you feeling?"

"Huh?" Kagome's eyes widened. Since when could Sesshomaru read minds? "I-I don't know. I wanted to kiss you though for some reason." Her hand rose to cover her mouth. Why did she keep blabbing things?!

"You wish to kiss me?" Sesshomaru smirked, pulling her hand from her mouth.

Kagome shook her head furiously, backing away from him. "I'm sorry, Lord Sesshomaru! I didn't mean to offend you."

'My miko is so strange.' Sesshomaru got on his hands and knees and crawled toward her. He grabbed her hand and pushed their noses together. "You are extraordinary, little miko."

"W-what? Sesshomaru, are you sick? Lost too much blood?" She tried to back away, but Sesshomaru snatched her closer, his eyes bleeding a fierce red. "Sesshomaru?" She squeaked. Now she knew something was wrong.

"Say my name again." He whispered, brushing his lips against hers. She was just too much for him to fight. He wouldn't deny it anymore. He'd denied it for too long. He needed her, and he wouldn't contradict it anymore.

Kagome pried his arms off. "Something's wrong with you, Sesshomaru. I know it. So, until you're normal again, I'll stay out of your way, k?" With a swift nod, Kagome tore from the room, racing as far away from Sesshomaru as she could. He was just behind her, she knew, and running far faster than her. In an instant, she was grabbed and slammed into the nearest wall. "Sesshomaru, let go!"

Sesshomaru smirked deviously at her. "Afraid, miko? Do not worry. I will be more than gentle…the first time."

"First time! Sesshomaru, you let me go this instant!" He let her go alright, but he did so after ripping her kimono from her body. Kagome shrieked, covering her body. "What's wrong with you?"

"Trust this Sesshomaru when he says that he is fine." He dropped his hakamas to the floor and pursed his lips at her. "I am sure you see how much I want you."

Kagome blushed as her eyes locked on his now unclothed member. "S-s-s…"

"S-s-s," he mocked. "I assume Naraku was not as equipped." He crooned, pressing his body to hers.

"D-don't do that." Kagome hissed. The only barriers that existed between the two were the wraps that bound her breasts and the panties that covered her womanhood.

"Do what, Kagome?" He breathed into her ear."

Kagome shuddered. "None of it. Don't do any of it, please."

Sesshomaru arched a brow. "You do not want me to do this?" He ground into her, causing her to moan. "Or this?" He licked at her collar bone, dragging his fangs against it. "Oh, or perhaps this?" He groped her behind.

"Ah!" Kagome clutched Sesshomaru's shoulders, accidentally pressing her body against his. "Don't do that!" She leaned up and bit his mark.

The Daiyoukai hissed in a mixture of pain and pleasure. He swatted Kagome behind harshly. "Bad bitch." He growled at her angrily, causing her to jump in fear.

"Sesshomaru," Kagome wailed, stroking her butt, "I think your claws broke the skin." She withdrew her hand from her butt, blinking at the blood. "Baka!" Her heart leapt in her chest when he narrowed his eyes at her and bared his fangs.

Sesshomaru's nose twitched. 'Blood.' He thought, and an evil smile spread upon his lips. Without warning, he drove his claws deep into her backside.

"Oh!" Kagome's eyes filled with tears. She wiped her eyes with the back of her fist.

He stiffened at the salty scent. 'Tears.' He blinked a few times as the red receded from his vision. He stepped away from her. 'She is nude.' He looked down at himself and found that he was as well. 'I did not.' I cursed lowly, looking back to her. She was standing, a good sign that he hadn't penetrated her yet. He wanted to slap himself, something very strange for a Daiyoukai of his status.

It was that damned mark of hers! It made him want her more and more each day until he couldn't stand it. He'd nearly taken her…He'd nearly lost her trust. Her lower lip quivered as she tried to hold back her tears. Opening his arms to her, Sesshomaru beckoned her to him, "Come, miko."

"S-s-s-s..ah!" Kagome fell into his embrace, sobbing uncontrollably.

Sesshomaru laid down on the floor, holding her flesh against him. He stroked her back as she sobbed, burying his nose in her hair. When her sobs faded to occasional sniffs, he asked, "Are you better now?"

"Yeah." She replied hoarsely, rolling over to face him. "I'm glad…that you're back to normal, I mean. You scared me."

"Hn." He twiddled a piece of her hair between his thumb and index fingers.

"Why'd you act like that?"

He'd been expecting that for a moment. "Miko," he sighed softly, placing his palm against the side of her face, "I am sure that you know very well by now that this Sesshomaru," he paused a moment, "harbors feelings for you."

Kagome blushed deeply. "Oh, really? What kind?"

"I do not love you. Though I care for you more than I wish to."

Her eyebrows furrowed. "You don't want to like me?" She asked softly.

Sesshomaru nearly cursed. He'd upset her. "That does not matter, miko. All that does is that I do." A smile lit her face, and Sesshomaru closed his eyes. Apparently, he'd managed to avoid one angry and depressed miko.

"I don't…I-I don't…" Her voice stirred him to open his eyes.

"You wish to take things slowly." He finished for her, pecking her forehead. "And that we will." Kagome beamed at him, closed her eyes, and snuggled closer. Moments later, he heard her breathing become soft and slow as she slept. Though he had planned to stay awake and watch her sleep, he too drifted off into a comfortable sleep, holding his miko tight.

Kakudan's eyelids fluttered slightly as he awoke. "Momma." He whispered sleepily, raising his head slowly to observe the room. He frowned at the kimono that covered him. "Sesshomaru-sama?" Great! Now he'd reek of the youkai who was trying to take his mother from his father. The more he glared at it, the angrier he got. His nostrils flared and his eyes narrowed, then widened when two tentacles shot from his body, flinging the article off.

He waited until they'd retracted before standing up. His small hands shot to his side, rubbing the spots where the tentacles had come from. 'No holes.' Shivering a little, he lifted his nose and sniffed for his mother. Stumbling tiredly through the halls and rooms, he pushed back the shoji that led to his mother and froze. 'They did it!' Angry, melancholy tears flowed down his cheeks, dripping off his chin. Turning around, he flitted outside, falling to his knees in the show. It wasn't fair! He'd warned Sesshomaru!

The scent in the room was pretty stale, and he could tell from their scents that they'd been asleep for some time. 'Sesshomaru-sama ruined everything! And he waited until I was asleep! He's a…a…a coward!' He kicked at the snow. Everything was going to fall apart. Everything was going to fade. Stupid Sesshomaru-sama! His head lifted at a familiar scent, and he stood up, turning around. "I-inu-yasha?"

"I can smell, Sesshomaru! He's near, and that means Kagome's near!" Inuyasha nearly laughed with joy. He looked back at Kikyo who had a smile on her face, and warmth in her eyes. She was becoming more human with each passing day. Now, all they needed was that soul Kagome promised.

"We found her." Kikyo sighed with relief. "I was getting worried."

"You?!" Koga beamed. "I was going to kill your mutt if he let her die!"

Ayame nodded, "Not before you let me get my turn to beat him to a pulp!"

Kagami squealed, hugging her father's head as she sat on his neck. "That means we get to see Kakudan, right, papa?"

Koga growled. "Why are you so eager to see him?" Kagami's (I know I changed her name. I like this one batter) tell-tale blush made him grow louder. "No. You're too young."

"Koga, let her have a little crush." Ayame scolded him. "I think it's adorable."

"It isn't. She's too damn young, so leave it alone."

"You're unbearable."

Koga snorted. "Yeah, love you too."

Sango and Miroku exchanged glances before laughing. "Cute. Too cute."

Inuyasha took a deep breath, and grinned broadly. "Kakudan's scent is just ahead, at that shrine up ahead." His speed built up, and he rushed toward the scent, which, as he grew closer, he realized it was laced with saltwater. As he rounded the shrine, coming around to the front, he spotted Kakudan turning to face him with bloodshot eyes and a tearstained face.

"I-inu-yasha." Kakudan greeted, before tearing into a run. He collided with Inuyasha's leg and held on. "Inuyasha!"

Sympathetic and worried, Inuyasha let Kikyo down and kneeled. "Hey, what's up?"

"Your stupid big brother ruined everything! He ruined it!" He wailed loudly.

"Sesshomaru usually does. What'd he do this time?"

Kakudan scowled. "I warned him. I warned that, that…baka!" His red eyes grew angrier.

Inuyasha patted his head. "Calm down. What did Sesshomaru do? Did he hurt Kagome?" When Kakudan shook his head, he asked, "Worse?"

"Much worse." His fists clenched and tentacles sprouted from his sides and back. "He had sex with my momma!" He cried.

"W-what?" Inuyasha asked with wide eyes.

"Impossible!" Koga shouted.

"…Wow." Miroku smirked a little. "I knew they had chemistry."

Kakudan whirled to face him. "This isn't funny." He said menacingly, giving the monk a look that matched his father's perfectly.

The monk held up his arms, smiling calmly. "I'm sorry."

Kagami jumped from her father's neck, approaching Kakudan against Koga's order not to. "It'll be okay, Kakudan." She wrapped her arms around him.

"No, it won't." He whispered as he calmed. "Everything is ruined." He pulled away from her when his mother stepped out of the shrine, looking at him with worry. His approach was halted when Sesshomaru leaned against the doorway, his upper body bare save for the wraps around his chest and an indifferent look on his face. Glaring, he huffed.

Kagome wiped her eyes tiredly, kneeling before her son. "Something wrong, sweetheart."

"Momma, how could you?"

"How could I what?" Her voice was soft and raspy.

Kakudan searched her eyes for some sign of deceit, then replied, "You had sex with baka Sesshomaru-sama."

Kagome's eyes flew open. "W-why would you think that?"

"…"

"Kakudan," she said in the best scolding voice she could manage, "answer me."

"I saw you in that room, and he isn't wearing his kimono."

Kagome sighed. "Kakudan, he was wounded. I wrapped him up. Besides, we didn't do anything in that room."

"B-but…"

She rolled her eye and smiled. "Why is that the first thing you always think? Why are you so suspicious?"

Kakudan crossed his arms. "I want to make sure…and he looks like he wants to have sex with you."

"And why do you want to make sure?"

"Because…" He looked away. "If you sleep with him, Papa won't like it. And if papa doesn't like it, he won't like us and he won't take us back."

"B-but…"

Kakudan cut her off immediately as he started to cry again. "He has to take us back! Don't you want to go back?!"

Kagome sighed. "Kakudan-"

"He'll come back to take us with him if you don't love anyone else. I know it. He'll come," he began to pace slowly, "And he'll apologize for hurting you, for hitting you, for throwing you away! He'll apologize for not wanting me at first, for trying to hurt me when I was inside you! And we'll be a family!"

Kagome remained quiet, shocked by all that went on in her little boy's head. Damn Naraku was tearing her child apart.

"Why didn't he want me, mama? Why didn't he think I was his baby?" He finally allowed his mother to hold him. "I want to ask him, mama. I want to ask why he hurt you so much, why he made you leave, why he let me see it all."

"You saw?"

"In my head, everything. He kept hitting you, scratching you, ripping your skin." He shook his head vigorously. "You could have died. He could have killed you! If you were dead, but I wasn't…I don't know what I'd do."

Silent tears ran down Kagome's face. "Kakudan."

The boy covered his ears with his hands. "You were bleeding so much! And you protected me!"

"Kakudan."

"I thought you were dead! The bad dreams! I need my momma! I love my momma!"

"Kakudan!" Kagome grabbed him by the cheeks, causing him to look at her. "Sweetheart, okaa-san's here, okay? And I'll never ever leave you if I can help it."

He whimpered. "If you can help it? A bad demon could hurt you."

She smiled at him. "I could kill it with my hands tied behind my back."

Kakudan smiled a little. "Or daddy could protect you."

"Kakudan, baby, I don't think Naraku and I will work out."

"Why not? He loves you. He said so. He tells me lots of things in my head when I'm sleeping. He holds me and tells me lots of things. He really misses you, and he's really sorry."

"Can we meet somewhere in the middle?" She asked, wiping the tears from his face.

Kakudan yawned, rubbing his eyes. "For now."

Kagome nodded, kissing his cheek. "For now. Is that okay?"

"That's okay."

She licked her lips and stood. "I'll go get our things, then we can go back to Sesshomaru's palace." When he nodded, she smiled, "Now, tell him you're sorry for calling him a baka."

Kakudan bowed, albeit reluctantly, in Sesshomaru's direction. "Forgive me, milord."

Sesshomaru closed his eyes and nodded slightly. Eyes sliding open again, he looked directly to Kagome, "Miko."

She acknowledged him with a slight raise of the brow.

"Come."

Despite her annoyance at the fact that he'd basically ordered her, she went to him, stiffening for a moment when Sesshomaru placed his hand on her neck. He tapped her chin, causing her to tilt her head back. She had to admit, having him caress her neck felt heavenly.

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes, murmuring, "Swollen."

"I'll be fi-" Her voice cut out of its own accord. "S…S…" She cursed silently. Her voice was gone.

"I will retrieve your accessories." He said firmly, turning to enter the shrine when Kagome touched his forearm. Eyes hard, he repeated, "I will retrieve your accessories. You will ride upon Ah-un." His eyes warmed when Kagome puckered her lips lightly, pouting. 'ridiculous little miko.' He entered the shrine.

Kagome nearly smiled at the tight muscles on his back, but refrained, because she could feel eyes burning into her. Walking to her son's side, she picked him up and headed toward Ah-un. When Shippo, Rin, and Kagami ran to her, she smiled widely. She'd really missed them.

"Momma/ Aunt Kagome, we were so worried!"

Shaking her head, Kagome climbed upon Ah-un, then helped them on. She rolled her eyes when everyone gathered around her. Inuyasha looked a little pale. "A-are you my sister now?" When she shook her head, he sighed deeply. "Thank god."

"Wow." Miroku sighed. "It is a little romantic. Go off alone, and return a couple."

Kagome narrowed her eyes. They were a couple.

"They aren't a couple." Kakudan muttered, smiling a little when his mother smiled at him.

Rin frowned. "What's wrong with Sesshomaru-sama?"

Kakudan looked up to the sky in thought. "I like Sesshomaru-sama…just not with my mama."

"Hm. I think they'd look nice together, and you could be my brother."

"I'm your brother already."

"Sorta."

"Hn."

Rin giggled. "You sould like him."

He growled. "Leave me alone!"

"You like Sesshomaru-sama!"

"Shut up!"

"You like…" Rin trailed off when she saw Sesshomaru sprinting out, sword in hand. She watched as Inuyasha unsheathed Tetsusaiga. "What's wrong?"

Sesshomaru growled as a gargantuan (loveeee the word) snake demon burst out of the forest. He moved toward Kagome and Rin. "Pups, remain here. The same goes for you, miko. Ah-un." He nodded at the dragon, and it flew into the air.

Kagome glared at him, but couldn't do much else. She watched the fight with narrowed eyes as they battled with the large, rogue demon. It was trying to make a path for her, she could tell, because it kept using it's tail to sweep her friends out of the way. She couldn't just let her friends be in danger. So, she slid off of Ah-un, landing lightly on the ground despite how high up she'd been. She stuck two fingers in her mouth and whistled loudly.

The attention turned to her, and Sesshomaru and Inuyasha growled. "You were told to remain from the battle."

Rolling her eyes, she took off running, the demon after her.

Sesshomaru could only think of killing his miko once he saved her. That damned snake demon was way too close to her.

Kagome glanced behind her. 'There it is.' Her eyes opened wide when she saw, way too late, that it's tale and swept in front of her. Tripping, she stumbled to the ground and turned…in time to be swallowed whole.

/Snake demon very important to story!!!!!!!\