Awakening slowly to warm puffs of breath on the back of her neck, Kagome yawned groggily, trying to recollect her thoughts and memories of the day before. Thoughts flooding back to her, she stiffened in Sesshomaru's arms, her right hand rising up to her neck. She let out a shuddering sigh of relief when her hand brushed over her bare skin. 'No mark. So, so it was all a dream. Thank god.'

Sesshomaru tiredly pulled Kagome closer to him, curling his body further around hers. They were nude again, as they often slept at night, giving them a sense of closeness they could not get while clothed. She vaguely wondered how it would be to be mated to Sesshomaru.

Would she wake up each morning this way? Cradling in his arms, surrounded by his body, warm flesh against warm flesh? Or would he always be attending to some important matter as she slept? She didn't like the thought of waking up alone, and to be truthful, she had to admit that Sesshomaru was only with her at night because she was injured. Otherwise, he would surely be in his study as he often was before.

And meals, what would they be like? It wasn't like she expected everything to change wh- if they mated. Obviously, she expected no men to enter carrying their breakfast on an aluminum platter. But maybe, if they were together, they would cuddle on the futon, spoon feeding each other as she told him her plans for the day.

She blushed a bit at the thought of feeding Sesshomaru, and could almost feel his thin, long fingers in her mouth as he placed a small slice of persimmon into her mouth. 'He'd adore that.' Then there came the sex. There was no way she could deny that she craved his body, at least, not to herself. Would it be wilder than their first few times, which she could hardly remember? Or would he take his time, and make love to her?

At the scent of her spiked arousal, Sesshomaru unconsciously lowered his hand from its position splayed across her stomach to her womanhood, cupping her and moaning lowly. Carefully, Kagome folded her hand over his, trying to pull his hand away, but his grip tightened, his middle finger massaging gently. Her lids fluttering, she fought back the strong urge to groan.

'Oh, Sesshomaru, let go!' She whimpered helplessly at the feeling of his hard-on pressed deep into her backside. Wiggling her hips a bit in an attempt to get free, she readied her reiki to give him a soft sting when a cry rang through the castle.

"Daiki-sama and Takeshi-sama have arrived!" A servant's voice shrieked.

Sesshomaru sat up instantly in the bed. Takeshi had arrived already! Damn him! And damn Jaken! The fool had told him that it would be at least three more days before Takeshi arrived! He'd have to talk to that overgrown imp. Shrugging into a pair of plain silk hakamas and a haori, he cast Kagome a glance, narrowing his eyes when he found her to be dressing quickly, too eagerly for his liking, but then again, perhaps it was all in his mind.

Once she was dressed in a flowing, thin kimono, she followed him out the door. 'Lord Takeshi! I would like to thank him for being so kind at the ball!' On the tips of her toes, she walked closely behind Sesshomaru, awaiting her chance to once again meet Lord Takeshi.

Takeshi sniffed the air lightly, drawing his eyes from Kayo to the door of the dining room as Sesshomaru entered. "Dear cousin, a pleasure, it is to see you again." He bowed and smiled slightly.

Sesshomaru bowed in return, stiff. "As it is you, Takeshi-san."

Kagome bounced on her toes as Takeshi's eyes came to rest on her. "Lord Takeshi, it has been some time."

"L-lady Kagome. I had no idea you would be here. My, don't you look ravishing."

"You are too kind, milord."

"Please, call me Takeshi, Lady Kagome."

Smirking mischievously, Kagome placed a hand on her hip. "If you will call me Kagome."

Takeshi's own smirk spread across his face. That was what he liked this onna. She was, not only a tremendous easiness on his eyes, but she was intelligent and confident, secure. It was hard to find a woman like that, whether she be a youkai or a human. She was truly…something special. "That I will."

"I'd like to thank you for keeping me entertained at the ball. I'd also like to apologize for…for losing control of myself when I…when my son…" Trailing of, she crossed her arms and lowered her eyes to the ground.

"It is quite alright." Takeshi's face melted into one of concern, his hand rising to comfort her. He was startled, though, when Sesshomaru gripped her shoulders and pulled her back into him. 'A-are they together now?' The thought was quickly dismissed, though, when Kagome shrugged him off. "Kagome, how would you like to take a walk with me?"

Sesshomaru answered before Kagome could even open her mouth. "The miko is healing. Perhaps later. I must tend to the wounds she contracted yesterday. Come, Kagome." Turning, he started out of the room. "Takeshi, Jaken shall lead you to your chamber and assist you with unpacking."

Kagome bowed to Takeshi once again, then followed Sesshomaru closely. 'What's his deal? Jealous idiot.'

"So, is that really what you've been up to since I've been away?" Kagome grunted when Takeshi nodded and chuckled. "My, the life of a Lord is awfully dull, ain't it? I couldn't imagine that. But, then again, my life hasn't been all cherry blossoms and buttercups either."

Takeshi nodded, stepping closer to her and smiling."I've been meaning to ask you this since the gala…What's your relationship with Sesshomaru?" Immediately, he decided that he did not like the abrupt tensing of her body.

"Sesshomaru and I…are complicated. I mean, he is mated, you know." She turned to face him, tilting her head to the side. "Can I confess something to you?"

"Of course."

"I once had…a relationship with him, you could say. I can guarantee you that it wasn't like most relationships. We weren't a couple, I mean. We just…He wanted to be…and I wanted to be. And there was a tiny amount of sex." An intense blush sprouted on her face. "He just…to be this supposed perfect being, Sesshomaru makes a hell of a lot of mistakes."

Smirking despite his annoyance at her words, he answered, "Sesshomaru has always been less than perfect, as people tend to think. He is a killing machine, precise, quick, decisive. He never had any social skills though. He has absolutely no idea what a woman wants."

"Oh, you hit right on the money!"

"Excuse me?"

"Never mind. It's a phrase from…my homeland. Anyway, it just means, you're right when you say that."

Nodding, he processed the phrase, then continued, "And above all, he never had much of an idea of how to express himself and speak his thoughts, despite the fact that he was very articulate. My dear cousin, I don't blame him. He was probably confused. His father and mother hardly spoke to one another. And then one parent was overly happy, Uncle Inutaisho, and the other always selfish and angry, Aunt Setsuki."

Kagome licked her lips nervously, "I never even considered it that way."

Takeshi blinked, mentally smacking himself. 'Don't urge her in his direction, moron!' "B-but that's merely my perception. He truly was rotten. He was utterly selfish sometimes. I'm sure you knew about him abandoning his younger brother when Izayoi and Uncle Inutaisho had both perished."

"Yes. There was that." Sighing exasperatedly, she laid her head onto his shoulder. "He's like two different people. One of his persona's, I actually love to death. The other, I want to force beneath a large body of water until he stops struggling…if you get that." She blushed prettily.

"I understand. Sometimes I feel that way about myself."

"What do you mean?"

Gazing ahead of him, a glazed over look to his narrow, Persian green eyes, Takeshi halted in his steps. "There's something you ningen don't know about us demons. But, then again, you may have realized by now. You've been a demon for quite some time as I've been told. There are at least two sides to every demon. I, myself, have one persona that I despise. He is vicious, blood thirsty, rude, and ruthless. Then there is the other persona, the one you've been beginning to know since my arrival. He is loving, kind, humorous…lonely."

Kagome's heart cried out for him, for the entire demon race. No wonder they were so broken. A battle was being raged within themselves, much like within humans. But the way he described it, it was as though he had literally two different people within his body. "Takeshi," She whispered.

"Oh, but enough of that. On a happier note, I'm glad that I have you here to spend time with me. My loneliness is soothed by your presence." He started forward, pulling Kagome's arms gently as theirs were linked.

"If I didn't know any better, Takeshi, I'd think you were flirting with me." She teased with a giggle and a wave of her hand. "You know, I bet Sesshomaru still hasn't realized that I'm gone. He'll have a royal fit when he does."

"What is he doing?"

Kagome's brows furrowed, and she huffed. "He abandoned me in my room to go tend to his 'mate and heir'."

"Ah…you know, those are two beautiful children you have in there, Kagome, and so well behaved. I wish mine weren't so terrible."

"You have pups?"

"Yes, one of each gender."

"So, you're mated too?"

Takeshi replied with a quick, "No. No, of course not. I was forced to take a breeder perhaps a century ago. When we all leave the palace tomorrow, my son will meet us. I cannot wait to introduce you."

Kagome hesitated, her thoughts still on the fact that he wasn't mated. "So you had pups…with a woman you do not love?"

"So is the life of a Lord, Lady Kagome, a demon lord. We have been taught since a young age not to love so that when we do grow older, and situations such as that present themselves, we will have no problem together. I, though, have found myself going against everything I've ever been taught. I love, Kagome. And I love strong."

"I knew demons weren't nearly as heartless as they try to seem. I bet you adore your pups with everything in you, don't you?"

"With everything with me, everything in them, it's indescribable. And when we demons find something we care for, we will kill ourselves to protect it." He assured her, tightening his grip on her arm.

Kagome beamed up at him. "We humans are the same, you know. We do everything we can to protect loved ones. But, being human, there's only so much that we can do."

Takeshi nodded with a thoughtful smile. 'She truly doesn't see how different we are. All she sees is how we are alike.' "Well, we have arrived back at the palace. After you," He opened her door, bowing.

"You just say that so Sesshomaru will kill me first." Kagome scowled playfully, moving past him.

"Ah, you already know me so well." He joked in return, tickling her under the chin. Upon hearing her giggle, he decided that he very much wanted to hear it again. There was a tickle to her neck, then one to her arm, and quickly, he had her against the wall, tickling mercilessly as she laughed and writhed to get free.

Finally managing to break free, Kagome gave a maniacal laugh of triumph, then gulped at the predatorily wide grin on his face. "Shi-kun?"

Baring his fangs, he uttered one word, "Run." And Kagome bolted, with the Lord right at her hills.

"Excuse me. Pardon me. Oh! I'm sorry! I'll pick that up on my way back!" Kagome cried as she ducked and dove to avoid servants. "Cut it out, Shi-kun."

Takeshi smirked when she glanced back at him, flashing his crimson eyes at her to frighten her. When she raced faster, he quickened his one steps. Rounding a corner, he skidded to a stop when he saw his cousin standing in the middle of the hall, Kagome on her butt before him.

"S-Sesshomaru. Ah, hello. How has your day been going?" Kagome gave a nervous giggle.

"Where have you been?" He asked without daring to look to his cousin, for he knew he would kill him.

Inuyasha sighed from behind his brother. This couldn't end well. It was starting the way his fights with Kagome always had.

Said girl from the future huffed, crossing her arms, "Since when are you my father?"

Sesshomaru's eyes widened, then narrowed so far that they nearly closed. "Miko," the deep rumbling in his chest echoed within the suddenly silent hall. His hand darted forward, grabbing her tightly, but not roughly, by the arm and pulling her up. "Now-"

"Hold up, there, Sesshomaru." Takeshi stepped forward, ripping his cousin's hand from the miko. "Don't get upset with her. I drew her out of her room and tricked her into following me."

"You fool, she is still recuperating."

"Sesshomaru, she isn't the human you seem to recall. She's all healed up. Those are simply scars that won't go away. Let her be."

Sesshomaru's chest swelled. Who did the bastard think he was to challenge him over his property? Face to face with his cousin, he bit, "The only reason you are not dead right now is because you are my cousin, my senior of half a century. Setsuki would be extremely upset to return to the palace and find her favorite nephew dead. So step aside."

Takeshi squared his shoulders and challenged, "Make me." Knowing his cousin, as Sesshomaru's hand rose, so did his own, and he countered the swift hand slice, though he was pushed back a bit. He looked behind him as Inuyasha pulled a worried Kagome down the hall and nodded gratefully, turning back to face Sesshomaru. "Look, you need to calm down. Weren't you supposed to be attending to Kayo?"

"The wench is asleep."

"Dear little cousin," he smirked, "you can't claim two women. You can't own Kagome when Kayo is already yours. She is free to roam as she pleases. You are not her alpha male. If anyone is, I would say Inuyasha itoko-san."

"You dare? That pup could not handle her. She is mine." Sesshomaru furrowed his brows, sending a swift punch to his cousin's chest, and causing him to slide back a ways. Eyes narrowed, he watched his every move, shocked to find himself slammed against the wall, his cousin's grueling voice in his ear.

Takeshi grinned maliciously. "You forget who I am, little Sesshy. Let me ask you something…Do you love that girl?" When Sesshomaru growled, opening his mouth to answer, Takeshi forced him deeper into the wall, wrapping an arm threateningly around his neck. "That was rhetorical. I can tell you now that you don't love her the way that I do."

Sesshomaru's eyes widened, and he breathed, "You don't know her."

"What can I say? I'm a sucker for her. She's perfect. And I know enough about her to know that she will be mine."

That was more than Sesshomaru could bear. Something within him snapped, and his control was done for. Aggressively, he shoved away from the wall, and into the other, sandwiching his cousin between the wall and his back. Reaching up to the wall, he grabbed a katana, and swung, smirking when he met his cousin's blade. "You shouldn't take things from my wall, itoko-san."

"Sesshomaru, you have your bitch. You didn't appreciate Kagome when she actually wanted to." He drew back his sword, thrusting it forward at Sesshomaru, who immediately leapt back, then ran at him, his sword aimed at his chest. "Stab me, Sesshomaru! Right here!" He smacked his chest.

"You won't take her from me!" Sesshomaru swung his sword downward, snarling when it met Takeshi's. "She is mine. My bitch, my miko, my mate! My breeder."

Takeshi stiffened. 'Breeder?'

"Did you not know? Her children? Yes, they are my pups, Takeshi. Haven't you noticed the resemblance? Those adorable pups you care for, they belong to me."

Takeshi hissed. That wasn't possible! It wasn't! Kagome would have told him! Sesshomaru was a liar! He broke the contact between their swords and swung, each swipe stronger, faster, but sloppier than the one before. "No one likes a liar, Sesshomaru!"

"And a fool in denial will only end up broken, whether mentally," his fangs gleamed, "or physically."

Kagome crossed her arms and shook her head as she left the infirmary. 'Idiots. Lucky them all they needed were stitches and naps. Why would Takeshi do all that just to protect me? Who knew demons could be loyal not only to loved ones, but friends as well.' Strolling down the hall, she paused when she heard a noise in the dark corridor. "Hello?" There was another noise, the sound of scurrying. Carefully, she followed the sound until she came to a shoji, which she saw a shadow behind.

Instinctually, her hand went to her hip, having forgotten that her swords were being polished. Cursing lowly, she flexed her claws, and opened the door, looking curiously at the old woman who sat at a fire, rocking.

"It's about time. You're almost late, you know." The hag cackled, sipping her tea. "Sit, sit. Those white pillows there."

Uneasily, Kagome stepped into the room. "Who are you?"

"Sit, girl!" She snapped angrily, flashing Kagome a blissful smile when she sat quickly. "I am Lord Sesshomaru's seer."

"Sesshomaru has a-"

"I just said that I was." The old woman rolled her right eye, the other permanently pointed to the left, and sipped her tea again. "I would offer you some tea, but…well, I simply don't want to share. So, let's get down to business. Ask your question."

Kagome shuffled uncomfortably on the stiff pillows, and cast the woman a glance. She looked eerie, sitting in the dark room with the flicker of the fire lighting her face. "I, I don't have a question." The old woman was ugly, and looked like she'd come out of her mother looking the way that she did at the moment. Her breasts hung low in her thin kimono, the veins popping out from her skin. One of her eyes, which could move, was a startling shade of silver, the other frozen in one direction, beady and black.

The woman snorted. "Don't stare, girl. Beautiful I may be, but that's no reason for you to glare in envy."

"Wha?"

"My name is Sora, girl."

"It's Kago-"

"I know what it is, damnit! I'm a seer. God, you young people are annoying. Now, to answer your question-"

Kagome lifted her hand, uttering, "I didn't ask a-"

Sora narrowed her good threateningly, then proceeded when Kagome lowered her hand and shut her mouth. "You love him- Don't ask me who! Lord Sesshomaru!- That's what the dream meant. You love him. You want to spend the rest of your life with him. But you, little girl, are afraid. Of what, I wouldn't know? I mean, you may not be easy on the eye, but neither is he."

"Uh huh."

"Kenji couldn't pick out a better husband for you if he tried."

Kagome froze. "F-father?"

"Kenji is disappointed that you had sex before you were in a committed relationship, but he understands the circumstances. He likes Sesshomaru far better then he does Naraku."

"F-father is dead, has been since I was seven."

"If I have to tell you one more time that I'm a seer, I'll slit your throat. Now listen, your father, as well as the late Inutaisho, wish to see you happy with Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru wants you to be happy with him. Just, watch out when tragedy strikes."

"Wha-"

"Now get out! Out!" She slung her tea at the girl.

Eyes wide, Kagome left the room, slamming the shoji closed behind her. 'Crazy bat…but thank you.'

Sora smiled up at the shoji as Kagome left. 'You're welcome, child.'

"Rin, come over here!" Metsuki giggled happily as she a Shippo sat on the bridge, swinging their legs.

Slowly, the girl dragged herself over to her friend and his 'girlfriend.' Just the thought upset her. She'd thought Shippo had liked her, until that girl had come along. "Huh?" She sniffed softly.

"What's wrong, Rinny?"

Fighting back a scowl, Rin thought, 'Don't call me that! My name is Rin!' "Nothing. I think I'm getting a cold."
Shippo frowned, easily detecting her lie, but he would let it be…for the time being. "Look what I picked for you. Lord Sesshomaru said I could take one." He held up a white magnolia.

Rin smiled brightly as he placed in her hair, embracing him. "Thank you, Shippo-kun."

Metsuki giggled, pointing to the flower in her own hair. "Now we're matching!"

If that hadn't been enough the crack Rin's face, the way Shippo smiled at the other girl would have. He looked…happy. 'With her.' "W-we are, aren't we, Metsuki-sama."

"It's just Metsuki, Rinny-chan."

"Right. Um, I'm going to go see what Lord Sesshomaru is door. Later Shippo-kun, Metsuki-sama." She ran away, worried that she would cry in front of them. 'Is this how Kagome-okaa-san felt when Inuyasha kept going to see Kikyo?' She slowed down as she reached her father figure and sat at his feet, looking up at him. Upon sitting down, she'd expected him to rub her head, but instead, he was staring ahead. Following his gaze, she frowned at the sight of Kagome lying in a hammock with Inuyasha, rocking. 'So Lord Sesshomaru is hurting as well?'

Kagome laughed and tweaked Inuyasha's ears, laughing even harder as he shoved her away. "Oi, stop it wench! I knew that was you I felt in my sleep when I was on that tree! Why the hell were you caressing me! You didn't know whether I was dead or not!"

"I knew you were sleeping and wanted to know if they were real." She gripped her stomach, laughing so hard that no sound came out when he shot her a look of disbelief.

"You didn't know me, or anything about my sleep. I could have killed you or all you knew!"

"I know, wouldn't that have been bad!"

Miroku chuckled. "That is our lady Kagome, always putting herself in danger without even considering it."

Sango nodded, laughing as well. "It's always so funny to see the look on her face when Inuyasha tells her to duck because someone or something is about to slice her head off, and she's been oblivious to the fact that we were even in battle!"

"Hey, I resent that!" Kagome yelled, crying out when Inuyasha shoved her out of the hammock.

"Resent that, wench!"

Growling, Kagome stood and shoved him back, laughing as he fell, then gasping as he pulled her down with him. "OWEEE!

Sesshomaru's frozen face finally melted as he smirked. His brother was no threat, and it was nice seeing her so happy and peaceful…unlike whenever she was around him. Finally noticing that Rin was in front of him, he reached down and stroked her head. "How are you this evening, Rin?"

"Fine, Sesshomaru-sama…Can I ask you something?"

"Do as you will."

"How do you get over the pain you feel when you see Kagome okaa-san with someone else?"

Sesshomaru's face hardened against, and he averted his eyes to Kagome. "I do not, Rin. I simply bear it. I am the one who she comes to when she feels threatened. I am whom she spends her nights with. I know things about her that some others don't. So, should anyone challenge that, they would fail." He looked down at his 'daughter' and stroked her head again. "Shippo?"

Rin opened her mouth, about to reply, when she heard Kagome's shriek. Turning quickly, she watched as her mother fled to Kakegae who was lying face down in the dirt. Kagome was howling, screaming brokenly as the others tried to pry her from the child. She turned back to face her father, to ask him what to do, but he was already beside Kakegae, lifting her up and darting toward the castle.

"What happened?!" Rin cried, following everyone else. "What happened?"