*Dream Sequence*

Sesshomaru panted softly as he walked briskly and eagerly toward his father's study. He had so much to tell him, and he knew that his father would be proud of him. Pushing open the door to the study, he smiled softly, "Father, you will not believe what happened."

"Uh-huh." Inutaisho paced back and forth between the two scroll shelves on opposite sides of the rooms, hardly paying any attention to his son.

"I've defeated your strongest guard, Ryo."

"How wonderful, Sesshomaru. Where did I put that scroll?" Squatting, the dog general skimmed over the titles of the scrolls on the wall.

Sesshomaru's face fell. "Are you listening?"

"You defeated Ryo. Keep talking."

"Yes, well…you said that once I had defeated him, I could begin sparring with you. Do you not remember such, father?"

"Yes, my boy."

"Then, I will be waiting in the dojo." He said, flashing a brilliant smile, which his father failed to see because he was too busy searching the shelf.

Inutaisho rose, nodding. "Uh-huh. You do th- Aha!" Laughing thunderously, the daiyoukai reached up, snatching a scroll from the very top shelf. "I've found it."

Sesshomaru went to his father's side, looking over his shoulder at the book. "What is it that you have found? A scroll of battle tactics? The treaty you made at my birth for me to mate the Southern lord's first born daughter?"

"Hm? Oh no, Sesshomaru! This is a list of nursery rhymes that I read to you when you were a pup! Oh, Izayoi will just love this. And Inuyasha will be simply brilliant if I read these all the way through his birth. He will be as smart as his elder brother. I must go." He patted his elder son's shoulder, stalking off.

"Father, you gave your word that we would-"

"Spar? We will, Sesshomaru. Just wait until I get back. Spar with your mother again, or perhaps Inumimi."

Helplessly, a young Sesshomaru watched as his father left, unable to do anything to stop him. "I wished to spar with you, father." His face hardened in anger as he whipped out of the study in search of his Inumimi, whom he found in the gardens, watering some safflowers.

Looking up at him, she smiled, only to frown knowingly when she saw the anger flaring in his eyes. "He did it again?"

"He hurried off to see that ningen hime and their child after giving his word to spar with me once I had defeated Ryo."

"You finally defeated him?!" Inumimi squealed happily, embracing him and kissing his cheek. "I'm so happy for you. You're a step closer to being an invincible lord!"

"I will not be close enough until Father keeps his word." He bit out harshly.

Inumimi sighed. "Hey, calm down." Looking up as the moon settled in the sky, she sighed, leading him toward the bridge not too far from the cottage in which she subsided. She leaned against the bridge railing, looking between the two bushes on either side. "Sess, grab a flower from that bush." She nodded towards it as she plucked one from the bush nearest her.

"What will you do with these flowers?" He inquired curiously, picking out the thorns before handing them to her.

"Thank you." Holding the flowers up so that the moonlight hit them directly, she whispered, "Do you see how different these flowers are?"

Sesshomaru scoffed. "For one, one is black, while the other is white."

Inumimi nodded. "Let's run with that. What are black and white?"

"Colors. Different colors with different meanings. Black is thought to be tainted, dark, while white is thought to be pure, bright."

"Precisely, tainted and pure. Keep those in mind. What else is different?"

"The white Magnolia is somewhat flimsy, delicate. The black Serena-do has thorns as protection, and the petals are stronger."

"There we are. Tainted against pure, delicate against strong. Which do you prefer?"

Sesshomaru rolled his eyes. "I care not of flowers, but if I were to choose, the Serena-do. It is obviously far more evolved than the Magnolia."

Inumimi smirked. "Did you know that Black Serena-do die within hours during the day? They cannot survive because their dark color captures too much heat. They are not very good at reproducing because the bees cannot come near to pollinate, and many beings cannot assist for fear of being cut on the thorns."

"Hn." He eyed the flowers closer, never seeing such that way. It made sense now that she had explained it. But he knew they weren't speaking of flowers, but youkai and ningen. "Yes, however in the winter and during the rainy season, do the Magnolia not have issues holding their own against nature's harshness?"

"Yes, but that is when the two intertwine? Have you not come into the garden to find their vines wrapped around one another, and their bushes drew close? Sometimes, those stronger must not berate the weaker beings, but protect them…As your father must with Izayoi."

"She is too weak to hold her own, so father must take time from his schedule to protect her?" He muttered in disgust.

Inumimi sighed. "Can two beings not coexist?" She dropped the flowers, smiling gently when they landed in the water, causing ripples to flow. "When two beings of different races blend, there will be affects, ripples in the pond…But notice how they seem blind to it?"

Sesshomaru arched a brow. "They are flowers."

"Ugh, you know what I mean, Sesshomaru! Don't be so hardheaded!" She swatted his arm.

"Hn." Sesshomaru furrowed his brows, looking away. He hesitated, before admitting, "I am still young. There are times when I too need his guidance and assistance. He is my father. I will forever need him."

"Oh, my Sesshou." Inumimi drew him into her arms, holding him tight. "Inutaisho will learn…I pray before he dies in the next few thousand years." She giggled lowly. "You give my son a chance, though, Sesshou. He will come around, sweetheart."

"I am not so sure, grandmother."

*END DREAM SEQUENCE*

Sesshomaru sat up on his futon, wiping a hand down his face. 'Grandmother.' His eyes cut to Kagome, who was sleeping peacefully at his side, a trail of tears down her face. 'You are so like her, miko.'

*Flashback*

"What's this about?" Inuyasha asked, yawning.

"Miko, come." Sesshomaru called, ignoring his younger brother. He'd told the little fool to rest already. They didn't need him, and he would have to reawaken in a few hours to begin his command over the troops for training. Sesshomaru almost smirked. It was shocking even to him that he'd offered his little brother the role of Head General in his army.

Kagome scowled at him, approaching. "What?"

Annoyed, he narrowed his eyes. "Watch your tone." When she looked away, he ordered, "Flare your reiki." Once she had obediently done so, he plucked a piece of hair from her head, disregarding her cry. He flared his aura before plucking out one of his own hair. Tying the hairs together, both of which shining with the energy of their owners, he thought a cantation, nodded his head firmly, and tied the hairs around her wrist.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"As of this moment, you are not able to leave my presence unless I allow it."

"Isn't that a bit far, Sesshomaru-sama?" Miroku asked, looking to Kagome who was staring in horror.

"I am doing what is necessary, monk. Come, miko. We retire." Turning on his heels, he stalked off to his room, their connection dragging the miko closely behind. Once inside his chambers, he slid the shoji closed and began undressing for bed.

Kagome clenched her fists. "I don't want to be here."

Sesshomaru blinked. "What you want matters not. You brought this upon yourself." Going to his wardrobe, he withdrew one of her sleeping kimono and tossed it to her, turning his back as he slid onto the futon.

Changing quickly, Kagome whipped around to face him. "You have no right to do this."

"I am your lord, as well as your sensei."

"You haven't taught me much since you decapitated me!"

"Hn."

"Sesshomaru, break the connection."

"No."

Grimacing, she replied, "Then, I'll do it myself." She pulled at the hairs, thinking that she would easily be able to slice through, but alas, she could not. Her eyes filled with tears. "Sesshomaru…"

The daiyoukai closed his eyes. "Lie down and rest." Using their connection, he pulled her to the bed, forcing her to lie down.

"Fine," She spat angrily, scooting as far away from him as she could, curling into a ball, and sobbing softly. 'How am I supposed to see Naraku now?'

*End of Flashback*

He smoothed his finger over her lips. She was so beautiful in that form, that that she hadn't been as a human. Now, though, she was absolutely delicious. She was still as vulnerable as a human in many ways, but he was fine with that. Eyes lidded from sleep and emotion, Sesshomaru lowered his lips to hers, pushing against her.

Sleepily, Kagome's eyes fluttered open. She was startled, but she found herself kissing back gently. Moaning softly as his hands stroked her inner thighs, she whispered, "Are you sure?"

"This Sesshomaru has never been unsure about anything."

"But this, Sesshomaru? Are you sure about his? Have you thought about the consequences?"

"I think far too much, miko." He pecked her lips. "If I think now," he kissed her again, "I may not continue. So be silent."

Eyes sliding closed as Sesshomaru devoured her lips, Kagome nodded. She needed to be silent, and be silent she would…save the moaning and screaming that Sesshomaru was sure to bring out of her.

Satisfied, the Daiyoukai allowed his instincts to take control. He would have the miko he so craved. He would take her, and enjoy everything she had to offer to him. Taking his time, he would show the miko his true feelings, even if he couldn't speak them in his conscious state.

"Show me, Kagome." Naraku commanded to Kanna lowly, tilting his head back against the wall.

The young girl nodded, grasping her mirror and summoning a picture of her master's miko. But what she saw startled her so much so that the palest pink blush appeared on her cheeks.

Naraku's eyes widened, then narrowed dangerously as he let out a loud roar. She was fucking him, mewling beneath that goddamn dog! He snatched the mirror away from Kanna, clutching it tightly until it shattered in his hands. "That bitch…how dare she?!" She was his. Sleeping with another male didn't suffice. "Whore!" He snarled.

"What will you do in return?"

"Much, Kanna. Firstly, call Kagura into the room."

Kanna nodded, rising from her kneeling position. "And what will you do to her, milord?"

Naraku smirked. "Don't you worry about that." He pulled off his haori, tossing it as the girl left. Discarding his hakamas and undergarments, he smiled lazily, despite the anger and pain in his eyes. Kagome would see what it felt like to have the one she cared for fucking someone else.

"Ungh." Kagome groaned as she sat up. She looked over to Sesshomaru and smirked when she found him to still be sleeping. 'Okay, then. I'll wake him.' Smiling mischievously, she straddled his waist and kissed him full on the mouth, her free hand trailing down his thigh.

Instantly, the daiyoukai's eyes snapped open and he pushed her off, glaring. "What were you doing, miko?"

"I was waking you." She said softly. "What's wrong, Sesshomaru? You asked for my kisses last night. And you moaned each time I touched you." A slight blush spread on her face.

"Last night," The memory rushed back to him, and his eyes widened. This would not do. It simply wouldn't. 'She is a miko, a ningen at heart. I must not. I was not thinking last night. Damnit, I should have thought. "Nothing happened last night."

Kagome stared at him, stunned. "What do you mean? I have scars on my body, and you do! On your back!"

Sesshomaru growled, grabbing her by the arms. "Nothing happened. Understood?"

"B-but…"

"Do you understand? If any questions are asked, nothing happened. Say it."

"N-nothing h-happened." She fought back the tears, hugging herself when he released her.

Nodding firmly, Sesshomaru stood, pulling on the hakamas that had been discarded the previous night. "Get up, get dressed, and go to the dining hall."

Kagome shook her head. "No…No! Sesshomaru, you can't treat me like some whore! W-we made love last night."

"We rutted like animals, by sick instincts. I do not love you." He reply coldly. "Get out of my chambers."

"You can't be serious! I gave myself to you!" She yelled, getting up and lunging at him. But Sesshomaru lunged back, slamming her into a wall. "Unh…"

"That was your mistake. You should have denied, or clarified. It was not what you thought it was. Now, if you value your life, you will leave."

Her eyes hardened. "You're a bastard, Sesshomaru, and I hate you for this." Pushing him off, she pulled a sheet around her, grabbed a kimono from the wardrobe, and stormed out.

The instant he knew she was gone, Sesshomaru flinched. Her words had cut him, like he knew his had cut her. But after their night together, his dream had come back, and this time he looked at it differently. It wasn't telling him to ignore her being human. It was warning her of what their lives would be like in the future. He would forever be endangering his life protecting her. He would have to put up with her emotions, her annoying emotions. He would ignore the important things to watch after her, to babysit her, and he couldn't bring himself to do that.

He needed a strong, independent mate, and he would find one…at his mother's gala.

'He's doing this on purpose, ignoring me.' Kagome thought sadly, gazing at her plate. Her appetite was none existent, but since she had managed to persuade Inuyasha that she didn't need breakfast of lunch, getting out of dinner as well was impossible. 'I bet it wasn't me he was seeing as we…rutted,' she shuddered at the word. 'He saw his precious Inumimi.'

"Kagome, eat." Inuyasha ordered, then turned to Kikyo. "You too."

"I do not eat, Inuyasha." The half dead miko replied softly, nudging her plate away. "Bones and clay have no reason to eat." Sure her stomach felt empty, but she assumed it was due to something else. 'I have no stomach.'

Inuyasha grabbed her hand. 'When did it get so soft and fleshy?' Taking his chopsticks, he picked up a few noodles and placed them before her mouth. Upon hearing her sigh, he smiled triumphantly and slid them into her open mouth. "Tastes good, huh?"

Kikyo blushed a bit, looking away. "Yes. It does." 'Taste…'

Kagome smiled bitterly, gazing at Sesshomaru. He could never be like that, especially not after he denied a night with her…Oh, she'd forgotten! Not one, but two nights he denied. Was she really so repulsive that he hated the memory of being with her, that Inuyasha would rather be with a dead woman?

"Stare somewhere else, miko." Sesshomaru said coldly without looking up from his plate.

Her eyes narrowed. "If I want to stare at you, I will, you cocky bastard." Around them, the table quieted, gazing intently at the pair.

"You are in my home, bitch. Watch your tone or I will for you."

"I don't want to watch my tone! And what are you going to do to make me? Remove that stick from your ass and beat me with it? Fuck you…" She paused, before muttering, "since you can't seem to enjoy doing it to me."

Sesshomaru stood, glaring down his nose at her. "Do not be bitter, wench. No one fucks a sour female."

Kagome's eyes widened, before she shot to her feet. "You know something Sesshomaru? You're the most hateful bastard I've ever known in my life."

"And you are delusional."

She ignored the stream of tears that flowed down her face. "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, Sesshomaru, and what goes around, comes around. You will get what you deserve."

Sesshomaru arched a brow as she turned to leave. "Are you hexing me?" He asked, grabbing her wrist.

"No. I'm telling you the destiny you have created for yourself. Pain will come to you, and you won't know what to do with yourself when it does."

Narrowing his eyes in annoyance, Sesshomaru pulled the bracelet of their hair from her wrist. "You are no longer wronged, miko."

"Thanks." Was all she said, her opposite hand holding the wrist. Clenching her fists, she walked calmly out of the dining hall to the gardens a sat on a bench, staring out at the setting sun. 'He really acts like nothing happened.'

"Kagome-sama?" Kiyoshiyuki called softly as he approached her. Again, he had snuck in while some of Sesshomaru's men had left.

"Oh, Kiyoshiyuki, hi." She croaked, wiping her eyes.

He sat his hands on hers, startled when she pulled it back, setting it in her lap. "Is something wrong? You've been crying."

Kagome bit her lip, staring at her feet. "You came for something. Tell me what."

"I came to see you…And to tell you something."

"Out with it then."

"I don't know if I should. You seem upset already."

Kagome closed her eyes and shook her head. "I don't care. I'd rather deal with all the hurt now, instead of putting it off until later. So, what's the bad news?"

Kiyoshiyuki sighed. He didn't think he should do this, but Naraku had ordered it of him. Setting a hand on her shoulder, only to be shrugged off, he whispered, "Naraku took…Kagura into his bed last night."

"Did he?" Kagome asked in a watery tone, her shoulders trembling and pain in her heart. "Why wouldn't he? Kagura is simply beautiful."

"Kagome-sama? You may cry if you like."

"No. I'm fine. Would you mind leaving though? I'd like to be alone."

Kiyoshiyuki pushed his eyebrows together then sighed, kissing her cheek. "Until next time, Kagome-sama." He disappeared from her side.

Certain he was gone, Kagome tore off, deeper into the garden until she could not run anymore. Falling to her knees and scratching them on the coarse ground, she buried her face into her hands, tossed up a barrier, and let out a loud, broken wail.

Author's note: Oh, poor poor Kagome. She can never get a break, huh?"