In complete incredulity, Sesshomaru gazed at the sight before him. She'd lost. Kagome had fallen, but it didn't make sense. Up until the point, she'd been crushing the foolish older youkai. So why had she suddenly end up defeated? He couldn't comprehend it. Locking eyes on the miko, he found her wondering as well what had happened to fail her. The entire courtyard was silent, while the Eastern Lord gloated, and his daughter jumped up and down, cheering alone. How had it come to this?

{Flashback}

The previous day…

"SESSHOMARU!!!!!!!!" The Eastern Lord, Daiki, flitted through the many corridors of the Western Palace, creating his own wind, which tossed his silver locks from his face. His cool grey eyes were aflame with barely restrained rage. His cheeks, hands, and revealed chest were charred with burn marks. Forcing open the doors to Sesshomaru's bedroom, where his daughter lay on his future son-in-law's chest, he shouted, "SESSHOMARU!"

Snarling at the invasion to his privacy, Sesshomaru thrust his aura out in warning. "What?" He bit.

Trembling in anger, Lord Daiki heaved, "I demand that that wench of a Mikoyoukai be punished. Either you send her to the dungeon, or I will battle her. Your choice, for this is your room." His nostrils flared with each powerful inhale and exhale.

Before Sesshomaru could answer, or question as he had been about to, Kagome stalked in behind Daiki. She cast a bored glance at Sesshomaru and Kayo, before glaring at Daiki. Her kimono was ripped across the breasts, on each side of her hips where his fingers had dug, and down her back. "I suggest a battle, you bastard. I'll show you what happens to those fools who attack me."

"F-fools?!" he cried in an angry, disbelieving voice. Surely, she didn't think she could beat him, did she? "It is you, whore, who shall see what the future has in store."

Sesshomaru mentally blocked out the barking that Kagome and Daiki were doing. Instead, he concentrated solely on her appearance. Those strategically placed tears and ripped, they could only mean one thing. Faster than anyone could blink, Sesshomaru was before the lord, bare of his usual clothing and unaffected by it. The restraints on his beast were nearly ripped apart as fury pumped through each blood vessel in his veins. "What did you do to her?"

"What did I do to her?! Sesshomaru, I know you know how devilish and sneaky this little vixen is! She practically begged me to take her, and when I began to, she attempted to purify me! A lord! It states in the Elder's rules that a demoness is to be seen, not heard, and she must obey. This disrespectful wench must learn the rules sometime."

Kagome noticed Sesshomaru's fingers twitching, and when his arm struck out, she grabbed his wrist to stop him from decapitating Lord Daiki. "I want to battle him. He is right. I am a youkai now. I must go along with the rules of your society. If I win," Kagome swiveled to face Daiki, "I want a public apology."

"Fine." The lord sniffed haughtily. "And when I win, I will beat the submission into you, in public."

"If you win, then I'll do so, naked. Heck, if you actually manage to win, you can touch me." Kagome rolled her eyes at the .333% chances of him winning. "But let me assure you, I will not fall without a fight. Sundown tomorrow, outside in the courtyard." Releasing Sesshomaru's arm, she muttered, "Hope you enjoyed yourself."

Sesshomaru watched with longing in his eyes as she left. He felt guilty for assuming that she would be sleeping with Lord Daiki. He felt even worse at the prospect her battling the disgusting old fool without knowing everything there was needed to know. She'd never learn in time, but he could try. As Kayo slept, he bathed in his private springs, considering how he would make things up to her, and teach her the basics. Sighing, he sank into the water, wondering when life had truly gotten so difficult.

The Western Lord's entire body was stiff and frozen. His muscles twitched anxiously, worriedly. He stood on the sidelines of the patio. Kayo sat to his right, grinning like a Cheshire cat. To his left were Inuyasha, Kikyo, Miroku, Sango, Koga, and Ayame in that order. Koga and Ayame had arrived at the castle late the night before with word that Naraku was in the area, and they had stayed, because Kagome was there.

The horns, made of the bones of a bull's hollowed out hind thigh bone, blared, signaling the battle beginning. Sesshomaru sprung into action when Daiki raised a foot to step forward. He grabbed Kagome by the shoulders, jerking her to him. "You do not have to do this." He whispered to her.

"Yes, I do. Now, back out of my fight."

"Daiki will hit you with all of the power he has got."

"And that won't be enough to knock me over."

Sesshomaru snarled at her. "Do not be so arrogant. He is a Lord, one of great power."

Kagome rolled her eyes. "I'm fine, Sesshomaru." She brushed his hands off. "I told you earlier that I didn't need your help. I'm going to fight him, for my honor. I am youkai. These are the rules."

"Miko-"

"Mikoyoukai! Now, back off!" She barked at him, eyes flickering with venom. 'He obviously has yet to realize just how strong I am. And even if I lose, this is my battle.'

Sesshomaru's shoulder's lowered ever so slightly in defeat. "As you wish. Fight your best." Folding his hands into his sleeves, he turned from her and walked off.

Lord Daiki followed him, glaring harshly. "Thanks for that necessary interruption, Lord Sesshomaru."

"Watch your mouth, Daiki, or it will be I you battle, not the Mikoyoukai." He returned to his position near Kayo, shrugging her hand off when she touched his shoulder. 'Be careful, miko.'

The horns again blew, less enthusiastic than the first time. Daiki, however, couldn't have cared less as he shot forward, swiping his claws at Kagome who sidestepped and chopped him in the neck with the side of her hand.

Gasping as he hit the ground, and the air was knocked out of him, Daiki blinked up at her approaching fist, which he narrowly avoided by rolling away from her. His leg swung out to knock her off balance, but she jumped, landing on his ankle with a pop.

Trapping a growl behind his teeth, Daiki ripped his leg out from under her, smirking when she stumbled back, giving him enough time to shoot up from the ground. He grabbed her by the neck, slamming her to the ground, where Kagome easily rocked backward.

Once on top, she wrapped her own small hands around his neck, putting pressure on his pulse. Gagging, Daiki slapped her across the face with enough force to knock her off.

Kagome crouched, blood dripping from the four cuts across her cheek. Smirking at Daiki's smug smile, she flared her aura, wrapping it around him. The smile was instantly gone as his eyes went wide. He attempted to raise his own aura, but hers instantly patted it out.

Upon noticing that Daiki's was too distracted by trying to get his aura to rise, she sprung at him, plunging her claws toward his chest. Caught off guard as they hit the ground, he twisted to keep her claws from driving far enough into him to harm his heart. 'This onna is going for my death.' Eyes narrowed into slits, he began to push himself up from the ground.

Kagome, though, would have none of this. Grasping his shoulders tightly, she dug her knee into his back and pulled him back against it.

Daiki unleashed a howl, knocking her off. 'It felt like someone just split my spine in half.' He spit a mouthful of his blood onto the dirt, and then wiped his mouth.

Kayo shuddered, gnashing her teeth. The wench was destroying her father. Grinning softly, she mused, 'Not for long.' Sesshomaru was too enthralled in watching his miko battle to notice Kayo slid her left foot out of her boot, stab her toenails into the ground, and shoot a small river of poison toward Kagome.

The Mikoyoukai was about to go in for the kill when she felt her feet flame. Looking down at the green tinted dirt, she looked up to Kayo, her eyes narrowing in hate. Her mistake, because Daiki chose her time of distraction to attack.

{End of Flashback}

His hand was still holding her neck, drawing a great river of blood near her pulse, while the other stroke her hip lazily. "I win." He smacked in her ear.

Kagome was frozen. Th-that hadn't happened. She hadn't lost. But when she looked over to her…'friends,' she saw that their heads were bowed. Sesshomaru was tenser than he'd been before the battle, and Kayo, Kayo wasn't even attempting to restrain the excited grin on her plumping face.

"I know." She whispered back.

"Strip." Releasing her, he let out a loud, throaty, hearty laugh. "So, the Mikoyoukai has fallen!" he laughed again, this time more tauntingly as a guard carried to him three brass poles. The first two were shoved into the ground, the third glued to the top of the two with poison. A rope was tied from the top, dangling. "And her punishment is to be whipped! Publicly! Nude! You know how humans are with their modesty!"

The crowd of nobles and shaken servants laughed nervously, only wanting to appease the Lord.

Head high, Kagome sauntered to Daiki, bare of her battle kimono. Even as she was tied up onto the poles, her feet dangling a foot above ground, she did not lower her head, and Sesshomaru hated her for it. If she bowed her head, perhaps the Eastern Lord would be gentler with her. But he couldn't help but respect and love her for being strong and having her pride.

His right hand came up to his shoulder. Her mark was almost completely gone, replaced when Kayo had bit him the day he marked her as a potential mate. Now, all that was left of it was a small blue dot the size of a tiny mole. Perhaps, if he tried hard enough, he could contact her mentally through the small connection. 'Miko.'

'Great, now Sesshomaru's in my head.' She mused with a quick, exasperated sigh.

'There is no reason to go through with this. I am the lord of this manor. I decide what is and isn't to be.'

'I…I need this, Sesshomaru. Thanks for the gesture, but no thanks.'

'I am not asking.'

Kagome was about to retort when she felt Daiki's hands begin to caress her back. A shiver zipped down her spine as her brows furrowed in disgust. Her restraint just barely kept her from purifying him. His hands worked the flesh on her back, sliding down and swatting her rump.

He simply chuckled at the sight of her eyes reddening. Filtering his poison into his finger tips, he drew his arm back and lashed out at her with a teal whip. The surveyors gasped, waiting for Kagome to cry out. Frowning, Lord Daiki whipped harder, and harder, and harder still. Yet the miko kept her mouth clenched shut, and her eyes forward despite the deep wounds forming on her back.

Daiki forcefully whipped her legs, growling as she remained silent. He tore at the flesh on her arms, then circled to her front, ripping the flesh across her breasts. His whip broke skin on her stomach, the front of her legs, her arms, her neck, even her face, and she remained still.

He wanted a sound out of her. This was not as he imagined it. He wanted to hear what she would have sounded like had they rutted. "I will not stand for silence, wench! You are in pain, scream!" He cut her across her stomach again, but she only gazed into his eyes. Snarling, he grabbed her hips. "W-" His eyes lowered to her womanhood, and a cruel smirk formed on his lips.

Kagome's eyes widened as she saw his intent. Her lips trembled. He wasn't so evil. It was impossible, but she knew that it wasn't…for he rammed three of his fingers into her, none too careful of his claws. Her eyes clenched shut and she breathed out, trying not to cry out.

Sesshomaru started forward when Kayo grabbed his arm. "Release me."

"Sesshomaru, this is her fault. This is her punishment for thinking she could cross a Lord."

"No." His eyes bled crimson. No one was allowed to touch her that way. He started forward, shocked to meet a barrier. "Daiki." He snarled viciously, but lowly, clawing at it.

Paying no heed to the Western Lord, Daiki slid his hands out, then shoved them back in, chuckling when Kagome tilted her head back and whimpered. "What was that? This time, a little louder for our audience, ne?" This time, he shoved four fingers within her, dragging his claws down her walls when he pulled his fingers out. Kagome let out a throaty howl as the barrier fell and Sesshomaru charged at him, shoving him away from the woman.

Quickly, urgently, Sesshomaru released her. "I should have put a stop to this before it began. I was a fool to let him harm you, and even more of one to trust him not to take it too far." He knelt on the ground, cradling her to him and muttering, "I am sorry, miko."

"My daughter is your mate, Sesshomaru. Attend to her. Let your companions take care of the wench."

"Kayo is fine." Sesshomaru snapped.

"You haven't looked at her since this battle began. She and the pup are starving. His aura is fighting with hers."

Sesshomaru looked over to Kayo for a split second. "She is your daughter. Feed her. My decision is made." Standing, he began to carry Kagome's unconscious form to the castle.

"I knew that little whore was your personal concu-" He choked on the word, clawing at Sesshomaru's wrist as he was choked.

"Disrespect her again, harm her again, even look at her…You've been warned. I want you out of my home tomorrow by High Sun."

Daiki stiffened, seething. "If I leave, I take my daughter with me."

Sesshomaru paused at this. "You may take her…once my son is born."

Daiki gaped. "B-but, she's your mate."

"By legal terms."

"Sesshomaru!"

Refusing to stop, seeing as his miko was already bleeding and in pain, Sesshomaru continued on. He cared her up to his room and laid her on his futon, ignoring the tachi as they filtered in.

Inuyasha was the first to speak. "Har-hardest thing…I ever…ever s-sa…" he couldn't hold it in anymore. Rushing to Sesshomaru's balcony, he tossed open the doors and vomited over the edge. Seeing her, torn into that way, touched that way…it'd sent tremors up his spine and paralyzed him, as he was sure it had the other, seeing as they had hardly been able to move even when it was over.

"I only thank God that the children didn't see it." Kikyo whispered, tears collecting in her eyes. She wished she hadn't attended herself.

"How are the pups supposed to drink wi-with her breasts that way?" Miroku whispered, holding Sango by the waist as she slumped into him. "I mean, those wounds won't heal as quickly as usual because they were inflicted by a youkai whip of poison."

Sesshomaru didn't answer, not because he knew the monk didn't need him too, but because his tongue was too heavy. He didn't' deserve her. Truly, he didn't. He'd stood, frozen on the sidelines as she was whipped and beat until her skin hung off of her muscles. He filled his hands with his poison and began to gently caress her body, cleaning out Daiki's tainted poison with his own gentle –to her- poison. Finishing, he wrapped her body in a fresh sheet. Bandages would soak through. These blankets, insulated with baboon fur and covered in crane feathers, soaked up large quantities of blood. He'd had to use some himself for severe wounds.

Nuzzling his forehead to hers, he inhaled. 'My miko, forgive this fool.' He pecked her lips, careful of the cut on her lower one. "You will be fine. I assure you." He lowered his forehead to hers again, then withdrew. "Slayer…Sango, fetch a cool rag."

"Of course."

"What can I do, Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha asked quietly.

"Tell the servants to ready the room next door. I will be sleeping with her tonight."

A cry rang out from the nursery, and Sesshomaru cursed, covering Kagome's ears, but it was too late. Her eyes sprang open as she shot up. "My pups."

Sesshomaru forced her back down gently. "I'll attend to them."

"B-but-"

"They are my pups as well." He said softly, but sternly. "There is no doubt I can handle them."

"I'll go, Kagome." Kikyo turned on her heels and left the room.

"Let me up, I'm fine." Kagome struggled.

Miroku gazed at his friend with soft eyes. "Lady Kagome, please lie down. Would you rather the pups miss you this time, or for the rest of their lives? You must give yourself time to heal."

Kagome hissed. "I'll heal later. My pups need me." She began to pant. "Kami, it's hot! When did it get to be like 150° degrees in this place?" Her lids lowered a bit. "And when did I get so sleepy, and thirsty?"

"A fever," Sesshomaru touched her forehead gently, "A terrible one. Miko, we need to get you into some cool water. Monk, tell your woman to assist the priestess with my pups. Watch over them." Lifting Kagome up into his arm, he jumped over the balcony. Were he in the mood, he would have thought to tell his brother to watch the foul stench of his vomit from his balcony.

"W-where are we…"

"The pond, miko." Pausing at said pond, he stripped away the sheet that was wrapped around the miko. Without bothering to undress himself, Sesshomaru walked straight into the water until he was in it up to his lower chest, and Kagome up to her neck.

Sighing, Kagome leaned into him, circling her arms around his neck. "I'm cooler now…Thank you."

"I do not deserve thanks."

"Why not?"

"I brought this upon you. I knew you were not ready for the battle."

Kagome lowered her eyes. Should she tell him about Kayo? No. No, he seemed content with her. She wouldn't ruin that. "I guess I wasn't."

Sesshomaru buried his nose in her hair. "During the battle, what made you look to this Sesshomaru?"

"Nothing you should worry about." She replied, before changing the subject. "I like moments," she coughed- more like hacked-, "like these, when I'm not so full of anger and hate."

"What brings this anger and hate?"

"…I don't know. A lot."

Sesshomaru tilted her head back to force her to look at him. "This Sesshomaru?" Her head lowered, and he took that as a yes. "I-"

"Love me?" Kagome interrupted bitterly. "Yes. I know."

"I do."

"…I'm tired." She yawned into his chest.

Gathering her up, he slowly made his way to the room next to his. He could smell Kayo and anger. 'So, her father told her. Hn.' That made things easier. Lying Kagome on the futon, he curled around her, realizing just how much he missed the few times they did spoon. "Sleep. We will give your wounds time to breathe, until morning."

Kagome nodded, drifting off against him. "'Night, Sesshomaru."

"Oyasumi, Mari."

Sorry it too so long! I got a job and I'm stressed. Things are happening that shouldn't. Ugh, anyway, hope you enjoyed! Also, the next chap will show Sess and Kaggy girl getting closer! And then, there's Naraku's arrival! Til next time!