Recap: Naraku froze, turning to face his son, then inhaling fearfully. It was her. Slowly, he began to walk that way, a barrier protecting him from the onslaught of attacks the Inu tachi sent his way, until they too realized what had caught his attention, and halted. And then, there she was, in his line of sight. "Kagome." He whispered.

Kagome skidded to a stop, her eyes on her son. "Kakudan." Then she heard her name called, and looked to his father. "Naraku." She ran toward him, calling his name a little louder. At first, he'd thought, quite foolishly, that she would run into his arms and kiss him. But when she was a few feet away, she whipped her swords from her sides and screeched, "Na-ra-kuuuu!"

Naraku was shocked, paralyzed as his emotions flitted across his face. Happiness- Kagome had returned! Surprise- She's coming at me! Fear and Pain- With a sword! He locked ruby eyes with hers and waited to feel the bitter bit of her sword shoving through his chest. Faster than he could blink, Kakudan was before him, his sword pushing against his mother's. 'Son.'

Kagome blinked four quick times, then growled a warning to her son. "Get out of the way, Kakudan."

"Put your sword down." He ordered, his soft voice deepened a bit with anger. "Put the sword down!" Red began to crawl into Kagome's eyes, drool spilling from her mouth as her fangs jutted from her mouth. Taking this as his mother's stubborn reply, Kakudan placed more force behind his sword.

'When did he get so strong?' Her hands loosened on her sword, only to tighten again. "It will take more than that to make me stop, Kakudan. Once you're out of the way," she looked back to Naraku, "your father is a dead bastard."

Kakudan thought over the tactics his father had taught him. 'If an opponent is too strong, catch them by surprise. How?' He noticed his mother's face softening, and frowned a bit.

"Kakudan, please, just step out of the way for mama."

"No. I won't let you hurt him." With that, he broke their swords' contact, sliding between her legs and kicking her in the back of the knee.

Stumbling forward, Kagome whipped around. "How dare you?"

"I. Won't. Let. You. Hurt. Him." He repeated again, his dark hair whipping around him as his aura flared. Sometimes he just didn't understand his mother! Somewhere inside…he just, he knew that they deserved to be together. And Sesshomaru wasn't treating her well, so why didn't she return to him and his father?

"Why do you stand up for him? Would you hurt me, Kakudan?" Her angry scowl vanished. "Would you hurt me to protect him, the one who hurt me so much, the one who didn't even want you!"

"You don't understand!" He bit his lip, closed his eyes, and swiped his sword blindly at her.

Kagome easily sidestepped him, dropping her swords to the ground with a dull CLUNK. "What don't I understand?! You're hardly 3 years old, Kakudan! You didn't see everything!"

"I've seen enough! Pick up your sword and fight me!" He ran to her, swiping his sword again.

This time dodging was not so easy. While angry, the young tike was perfectly precise, and managed to knick Kagome's leg. He fought back a whimper, setting his mental mask in place. He couldn't believe he was doing this. But if he hadn't intervened, his parents would have been fighting. And if his father hadn't been hurt, his mother would have.

"You've seen nothing, and I'm not fighting you! You're my son! I've loved you. I've cherished you. I've taken care of you. What did he do for you?!" She pointed to Naraku for emphasis. "He beat me in an attempt to kill you! He snatched you away from me! He's mistreated us since he was born!"

"Stop it!"

"Kakudan-"

"Shut up!" He snapped at her, stabbing his sword into the ground and pointing at her. "Enough now!"

She dropped to her knees, grabbing his pale cheeks. "He's never even said he loved you."

"I said 'Enough'!" Tentacles shot from his sides, one smacking her hard across the face. He was too angry and hurt to hear her name being screamed by her friends as she fell to the ground. Fisting his hands tightly at his side, he wrapped his rough tentacles around her body, slinging her to the ground once again. "You don't understand! You could never understand!"

Sesshomaru snarled loudly, rushing forward to stop the boy, only to be forced back by the intensity of the rage and pain in his aura, mixed with that in Kagome's. 'Damnit!'

Kagome gasped for air as she was crushed in his grip, lifted into the air. Her bones bent at the pressure, and she was shocked they didn't break into a thousand tiny pieces. Her mouth fell open, to plead for him to stop, to ask what she had done to make him so upset with her, but no sound came out, just a raspy exhale. Were he anyone else, she would have fought back. Easily, she could have escaped literally ANYONE else…just not him.

"You abandoned me! You didn't try to come after father to get me! You left me!"

'I-is that why he's angry with me?'

"And you've been back for Kami knows how long, and haven't even come to see me, in the least!" His eyes grew even harder, burning with anger. "You don't know anything about father! You haven't seen inside his head, inside his body!" His small, yet muscled body shivered involuntarily. "There's a man in there! A scared man! And he wants…he wants…" His eyes filled with tears. "You. Why can't we be a happy family…Why won't you try?! For me?!" He closed his eyes and dropped her to the ground.

Hardly conscious, Kagome remained still on the ground. Her muscles ached, her head was pounding, racing with the new information he'd given her. 'Onigumo…is still there?'

There was silence as they awaited her rising. When she didn't, however, Kakudan became the first to panic. "M-mother…mother, are you alright?" No answer. "M-mother…momma! Momma, get up!" He started toward her, falling back on his butt when Sesshomaru appeared before him, the wind rushing behind him.

"Don't you dare touch her, you spawn of Satan." Sesshomaru growled thickly, his tongue heavy with malice. Whipping away from the child, he knelt and tucked Kagome into his arms.

"Y-you put her down! N-now!" He shook his head as Sesshomaru began to walk away. "Papa, do something."

Naraku opened his mouth, and Kakudan expected him to curse at Sesshomaru. In fact, he smirked as he awaited his father's harsh words at the other demon. But when Naraku spoke, "Come, my son." His smirk faded.

"W-what? No! I won't leave her!"

"So you can hurt her, but you refuse to leave her? Think, my son, before you speak and act. Now come." Naraku's voice was tight, angry as he walked away.

"No! It's not fair!" He stomped his feet in a tantrum, not as mature as he tried to seem. "I'm not going anywhere." He pointed to Sesshomaru. "And you are going to put my mother down!"

Sesshomaru glared coldly at the twisted child. "You have no right to command me."

"You'll hurt her."

"You did that, foolish mite."

Kakudan clenched his teeth, grabbing the bottom of Sesshomaru's hakama. "Put. Her. Down. My mother, sit her down."

Inuyasha sighed as he picked Kagome's swords up off the ground. He only hoped Sesshomaru didn't hurt the little runt.

Sesshomaru slid Kagome into the crook of his incomplete left arm, raising the fist of his right to knock the little boy off.

Naraku cast a glance over his shoulder, his eyes widening. Quickly, in a flash, he was before Sesshomaru, his son cradled tightly to his chest, and his stomach sore from the blow Sesshomaru had dealt, the one meant for his son. Spitting blood, he hissed, "Attempt that again, mutt." Loathing that had not always been heard in his voice shone. "Even without the Shikon no Tama, I could kill you. Should you touch my son again, bastard…" He turned and carried his son away.

"Let me go! Momma! I have to make sure she's okay! Momma! Mommaaa!"

Naraku thrust the boy away from him, holding him at arm's length and scolding, "Do not cry now. You did this. You are no pup, so don't act like one."

"I'm-"

"And never, I mean never hurt your mother that way again! I ruined our relationship, understood? She was nothing but perfect." Sighing, he held his son to him again. "I am a twisted man, my son. I am evil, yet not so evil. Hated, but she loved me. I am confused, fighting a battle. Believe it or not, that man you saw was my pure side…and every time I look at you, or I think of your mother, he gets stronger…The point is, you are to respect her, for she does not wrong. If you should be angry at anyone, it is me."

"B-but you're confused. You're like two different people."

"That is no excuse." Naraku whispered. "No excuse at all. Everyone has two sides, if not more. It is those who are strong who pick a side and stick with it. I want the side of evil. I crave it. But with you and your mother near, I cannot seem to be with it."

"Oh." Kakudan clung to his father, burying his face in his chest. 'I'm sorry, momma.'

'Oh, Kakudan.'

His eyes widened at the voice, and he thought uncertainly, 'Mother?'

'What you did made me realize something…You are simply your father's son.'

'My father's son?' His eyes lowered. Did that mean he wasn't hers? What could she mean by that? 'What are you saying?'

'You are…Naraku. You are everything your father is. You were created of him.'

His heart sped up, and he decided that he didn't like what she was saying, or the way she said it. 'Wh-what do you mean, mother? Stop saying things like that. I don't understand.'

'…'

'Mother!'

'…'

'Mother…' He whispered mentally as he drifted off in his father's arms. One thing on his mine. My father's son.

XXX

"You were right." Kagome whispered across the spring, breaking the silence that had hung between her and her companion. Her back was to him as she sat, soaking her sore muscles. "This certainly feels nice."

"I'm sure. However, I had not planned on you keeping your back to me the entire time." Sesshomaru walked over to the shallow water she sat in, the water level lowering until it barely his package. He sat behind her, placing his hand gently on her shoulders. When she tensed, he whispered, "Relax, miko," his hands worked at the tight muscles in her shoulders and back. "Does that feel nice?"

Instead of answering, the young miko nodded, leaning her head back onto his shoulders. 'His whole face looks just as sophisticated at this angle.' She giggled softly to herself at the weird thought. 'Sesshomaru's going to be aristocratic no matter the angle.'

"May This Sesshomaru ask what is so amusing?"

"Nothing. I'm just eccentric."

"That you are, my miko." His lips tilted in a half smile when she huffed at his reply. "I find that eccentric women are truly the most wonderful type. I'm surprised anyone can deal with a female who is not."

Kagome blushed at the compliment, closing her eyes to avoid his heated gaze. She had begun to drift off when she felt his hands slide from her shoulder's and down her back. "Sesshomaru," She warned.

"Shh, enjoy." He smirked against her forehead, placing a kiss there.

Relaxing into his hold, she smiled warmly at him. "I was thinking that as soon as I'm better…we could go Naraku hunting."

"No."

"Why not?"

"I won't allow it."

"Why not?!"

"Because he will be dead long before you heal. I am killing that hanyou, and soon."

Kagome sat up abruptly, facing him. "Not without me! You're not."

Sesshomaru snarled, his glistening fangs bared. "I will."

"No!"

"Yes!"

"Augh, you're just an idiot…" She began to mumble angrily after the word idiot, then suddenly stopped and sighed. "How can you expect us to be together, when we fight all the time?"

Sesshomaru paused in his own low rambling to look at her. "I cannot imagine being mated without arguing. Truth be told, I cannot imagine being mated with being mated to you."

Kagome quickly averted her gaze when he leaned down, as though to kiss her. "You shouldn't say such sweet things, Sesshomaru. They may make me give in. Then the chase would be over."

"Miko, I would chase you until death, whether mated or not."

"Sesshomaru, you make it so hard not to love you when you say things like that."

"Then stop your fighting." Sesshomaru gripped her chin, forcing her to look up at him. She swallowed at the emotion in his eyes. "I need you. Going on without you being a part of me has gotten difficult. It takes much persuasion to get my legs to bring me from the bed in the morning. I don't want to live without you for a moment longer."

"Ugh! Can't you just let me hate you?!" She tried to push him away, but Sesshomaru jerked her body into his.

That arrogant smirk on his face warmed her belly, sending the butterflies to flutter. "I believe it was I that told you that hate is merely another form of...love."

Kagome's hands trembled, rising to cup his face. "You really love me?"

"With every ounce of my soul."

"I love you too." She flashed him a watery grin. "And Kayo means nothing to you?"

"Nothing."

"A-and your pup?"

Pain flashed on his face, and he looked away from her. "I could not give up my pup for you. I am sorry. He will remain here, though he will not be heir." This was it! It had all come down to this and he just knew his answer would not satisfy you. But when he felt her warm kisses trailing up his neck, and her arms around his waist, he began to think otherwise.

Kagome smiled when he looked at her curiously. "Did you honestly think I'd ask you to get rid of an innocent pup? The only issue is that it wouldn't be right to separate Kayo from her pup."

"She is a youkai, Kagome. They feel absolutely no attachment to their pups unless they spend time with them."

"I don't know."

"We will address her about it."

"Okay. But for now," Kagome pecked his chest, "let's say we," she kissed his Adam's apple, "how do you demon's say it?" She kissed the side of his mouth. "Couple?" Her lips brushed across his chin. "Rut?"

Sesshomaru growled at her, cursing her teasing nature. Clutching her to him, he crushed his lips to hers, kissing her for all he was worth. When he drew back, for less than a second, he breathed a quick, "We mate!" then kissed her again.

"You are irritating it." Sesshomaru reprimanded, grabbing Kagome's hand to keep it away from the object of her annoyance.

"It's irritating me." She bit back, scratching agitatedly at her shoulder with one hand, and her inner thigh with the other. "Why the heck did you have to bite me in two places? And when I said 'what do we do,' I didn't mean for you to mate me just yet."

Almost sheepishly, Sesshomaru apologized, his royal head bowed, "I had the control of a pup in its first heat."

Kagome snorted. As if she hadn't known that. She wasn't limping for no freaking reason! All she could remember from their mating was him pounding into her.

Sesshomaru thrust Kagome against the rock that sat behind her. Hiking her leg up and around his waist, he rubbed his manhood against her opening, groaning at the feeling of her wetness on his shaft. Driving his claws into her shoulders, he began to ease himself in. She'd pled with him seconds before to be careful entering her, due to the damage Lord Daiki had inflicted. Driving in at such a slow pace was killing him, but hearing Kagome's pained pants, he slowed even more.

"Y-you can go faster."

"I will cause you no pain."

"Sesshomaru, the point of good sex is to feel a little pain, I personally think. I mean, honestly –Ungh-, what's the most eu- ssssss- What's the most euphoric part of sex for you?"

Sesshomaru considered it. Pounding roughly into her tight walls, he had to admit did leave him aching when they were done, but he loved it. Oh, and feeling her claws dig into the tight skin on his ass! Yes. Oh God yes, that felt good! Then there was the biting, especially when she was giving oral sex! Kami, thinking about it made his hard-on bricklike in hardness. "Grrr." He grumbled throatily, and Kagome was unable to tell what he was saying.

She knew he had the just of what she was saying, though, when he quickly thrust the rest of himself into her. Her howl rang through the woods, and no doubt back to the castle, but she didn't care. The pain was leaving, and she was left with nothing but pleasure as he withdrew a bit, then thrusted back in, smashing their pelvic bones together.

"Ah!" Kagome tossed her head back, her hands clutching his shoulders, entirely too close to his neck. But he found, strangely enough, that he liked this. His next hard push brought her claws to scratch a pattern in his neck. When he let out a loud gruff, guttural growl, she let out a soft mewl. In a matter of seconds, he picked up rhythm, practically tearing into her. She felt raw! Literally! But in the most sexy, climax-inducing way!

Sesshomaru grabbed a handful of her hair, jerking her head back, so roughly that she was almost in a backbend, her head touching the water that was at her lower back. His hips rolled smoothly as he crushed into her time and time again, nipping and sucking at her stomach and breast. With the blood rushing to her head, Kagome found herself enjoying the act even more.

She smiled lazily when Sesshomaru jerked her back up right, her face red, her hair plastered around her face delicately. Her smile quickly became a grimace of pleasure as she fought back a loud moan. Sesshomaru dragged his fangs over her shoulder, thrusting into her harder. Kagome gasped, her legs trembling. "S-Sesshomaru…"

"No."

"No?"

"Wait for me." His eyes bled red slowly as he began to lose control of his body and time. His rhythm sped up drastically, and Kagome felt as though her body were going to explode! "NOW!"

Their loud howls blended and disappeared into the night as they panted.

She'd asked why he hadn't bit her then once she remembered, and he'd simply replied that it wasn't the proper position. He had then taken her from behind as they knelt on all fours. Each time she'd opened her mouth, water had flowed in. When she had begun stifling her screams, something that dissatisfied Sesshomaru greatly, he had gone harder, faster, further, until she was hoarse.

Their final position, the last of five, had been her sitting up on a rock, while he ate her, tasting every nook and cranny until she was dry. He'd then nibbled about two inches to the right, and one down before chomping into her.

"Why did you bite me twice again?"

"It is this Sesshomaru's way of saying that you are his from head to toe, or if you wish to be technical, shoulder to thigh. That merely pertains to sex. Your entire body is mine. Know that." He ordered softly, cradling her to him as they walked to their pups' bedroom.

"Of course…So when do I put my marks on you?" Ever since he'd bitten her, the overwhelming thirst for his blood had been itching at her.

Noticing her anxious tone, Sesshomaru made a mental note, though he outwardly ignored her. Sliding back the shoji, he smiled lightly at the sight of his pups, Kakegae cooing happily as she played with her belly button, and Oyo Banai watching her peacefully, a slight pout on his face. "Pups."

They each sat up quickly at their alpha's voice. "Fader!"

"You have them calling you 'Fader'?"

"That is what I am to you?"

"You're their daddy. And I'm their momma. Right, pups?"

Kakegae squealed. "Momma!"

"Mader." Oyo Banai replied simply.

Kagome scowled at his father, huffing, "You changed my name."

"I corrected it." Sesshomaru said in the same simple way that Oyo Banai had spoken, going over to pick up his daughter. "Hello, Kakegae."

"Kak!" She giggled warmly, nuzzling him.

Oyo Banai reached his arms up to his mother from his crib, blinking adorably. "Mader."

"Momma." She corrected gently.

He gave her a bland look, then climbed up into his arms himself. "Mader."

Sighing, Kagome pecked his forehead, "I guess 'Mader' will do." The instant she sat down, he began to scratch at her breasts, mewling softly. "No, no. I'm weaning, young man." His scratching grew rougher, his claws biting her skin.

Sesshomaru took note of her discomfort and growled in forewarning, but the pup paid no mind, growing agitated. "Pup!" Sesshomaru's harsh tone halted him, but he started up again in mere seconds. "Pup, stop this!"

"I-it's okay, Sesshomaru. I'll just let him drink a sip, then we'll give him some meat or something." Before she could pull out her breast, Kakegae was laid into her arms, and Oyo Banai taken from her. "Sesshomaru, don't-"

"You listen here, pup, I am your alpha. You will obey, or suffer the consequences." He growled a command in the Inu language that pups were born knowing, or more that their instincts deciphered everything.

"Hmph." The pup looked away, letting out a whimper when Sesshomaru growled a string of angry demands and curses. "Mik." He whined.

"No milk. You are too old."

"Mik!"

"NO!" Sesshomaru knocked his head against the pups in a reprimanding manner, arching a brow when he let out a wail.

Kagome leapt up. "Give him to me." Ignored, she reached for her child, snarling when he was pulled away. "He'll get sick wailing like that! Give him here!"

Sesshomaru plopped the sobbing pup into his crib, sat on the floor with Kakegae, and pulled Kagome down into his lap, holding her tightly as she struggled to get up. "He must learn."

"He's young."

"He knows more than he can speak. He understood everything I told him, everything you told him. He is simply rebellious, a streak he obviously got from you."

Kagome frowned, then lifted her nose, looking down it at him. "I'll take that as a compliment."

"It couldn't possibly be one."

"I'd hate to cure my mate to hell, Sesshomaru. Shut the heck up."

The Daiyoukai sighed. "Only you, my wench, would I ever allow to speak such words."

Slowly, Oyo Banai's sobs softened to sniffle. "*sniff sniff* Fader *sniff* Mader." He bowed his head in submission.

"Very good, my pup. You learned rather quickly." Sesshomaru lifted him out and sat him on the floor where he played with his sister. Pulling Kagome against him, he stiffened slightly when she jumped, searching the area with his senses. "I sense nothing, my miko. What is it?"

"I just realized what that guy said. The old village leader in that place you found me at. He was all like, 'May that which summons thee at night bring you together.' Maybe he was talking about the pups. They bring us together at night all the time, and without them, I would have never returned to this era."

"Perhaps."

Kagome smiled at him. "You know, it's okay that you don't talk much. I talk enough for the both of us. And I like you this way." She scratched her thigh. "How long do you think I can hide these? I'm not in the mood for a confrontation with Kayo yet."

"Some time. It rather depends."

"That was so helpful."

"I'd like to think it was."

"You're too good at sarcasm for your own good."

Sesshomaru sighed silently, leaning into his mate for the sake of her scent and warmth. "You are mine."

"Why do you change the subject that way?" No answer. "Sesshomaru…Sess." She narrowed her eyes at him and folded her arms, staring at her children as they played. "I know I'm yours, my Sesshomaru, and you belong to me."

AN: Someone reviewed and said that what happened was almost predictable, so I decided to spice it up with a teeny tiny Battle, if that's what you'd call it, between Kiggy Kaggy and Kiku Kaku!