A/N: In the anime, Sesshoumaru and Kouga met once, but I don't think that happened in the manga, and that's what I'm going by here.

Rin ducked under the water and came up sopping, laughing happily as she brushed dripping hair back from her face. Kagura vaguely noted that Rin had begun to fill out, becoming slightly less gangly and somewhat more curved. Perhaps she'd stop tripping over herself soon. These were all idle observations, however, for the majority of Kagura's thoughts were still focused on her mate.

She could sense his aura moving away, and realized he must have decided to leave for the duration of her heat. She understood his motivation; he'd confided in her before about the possibility of him having another brother and the fact that their children ought to be conceived within an official union. And this being her fertile period, it was very likely that if they were to become intimate, she would conceive. So she understood his leaving. Still, she was surprised by how angry she suddenly felt with him. Was this a part of their bond as well, this anger she felt with him for daring to ignore her needs? After all, her body and instincts couldn't understand logic. Instead they simply cried out that her mate was not fulfilling his duty to her; that he was supposed to satisfy her, as she was meant to satisfy him, and that it was somehow wrong for him to deny them both that pleasure. She shook her head, frustrated.

Shippo was swimming around in circles near her. He eyed her curiously.

"You smell funny, Kagura."

She rolled her eyes and splashed him. As he sputtered, something suddenly occurred to her.

"Shippo, how old are you, really? By human standards?"

"Still young. Even InuYasha is two hundred years old. And Sesshoumaru is like seven hundred or something, I think. I'm only fifty."

"Why are you so little, then? By the way Sesshoumaru talks, I thought you animal demons age at a human rate until you're fully mature, and then stop. So shouldn't you look at least twenty?"

"We foxes are different than the InuYoukai. It's a survival technique. We're not very strong even when we're full grown, so we stay kids as long as we can because lots of things are more hesitant to kill kids; either because we're cute or because we're too small to make a good meal."

"So hold on a second…does that mean you're completely mature mentally? And if so, why are we letting you bathe with us, you little pervert?!"

"No, no! I really am a kid. But if I wanted to, I could be an adult. But I don't wanna. It's fun being a kid, especially now that we're all safe and not always almost getting killed and stuff."

"Yeah well still, I think it's time you started bathing with the men. Scoot, brat. Shoo."

Shippo scurried away quickly, grabbing his clothes, and Kagura smiled, amused by his apparent fear of her wrath. When it was just her and Rin, she felt considerably more comfortable. She didn't particularly like having Shippo around. It wasn't that she didn't like him, but she knew Sesshoumaru didn't like the small fox's scent on her. She also didn't particularly want to be around that keen little nose in the state she was in. Though she supposed she'd have to be around him or InuYasha eventually. InuYasha, however, despite often being tactless, would understand that it was a natural process, whereas Shippo might simply mention to that pervert monk that she smelled funny, and Miroku would figure out that she was aroused, and from there he'd conjure up all sorts of dirty things she might have either been doing alone or with Sesshoumaru. Ugh. Annoying little fox, he'd better keep his mouth shut.

Kagura rested her folded arms on a large, smooth boulder and watched Rin splash around for a while, bored. Eventually Rin joined her, facing her from across the rock, biting her lip and seeming to be trying to get up the courage to say something.

"Rin, you want something?" The girl nodded, looking shy. "What is it?"

"Well…I once asked InuYasha, but he got all upset and flustered…and I didn't want to ask Kagome because she was so busy getting ready for the baby, and Miroku was always around Sango, so I couldn't talk to her, 'cause I think he'd tease me for asking…"

"Come on, Rin, just go ahead and ask. I'm dying of curiosity now."

"Okay…I thought it was a pretty normal thing to ask, but InuYasha got so upset that now I think maybe I shouldn't…but…how does a baby get inside someone's belly, Kagura?"

With a groan, Kagura slid into the water, cursing inwardly. Did it have to be today? There was no way she could discuss the topic indifferently in the state she was in. Still, it was completely natural for Rin to be curious, what with the baby's birth and the fairly recent changes in her own body. Kagura had explained her monthly bleeding to the girl, but at that point Rin hadn't seemed too interested in the entire process of fertility and such. Kagura supposed it was her duty to explain it now that Rin was asking, since she had essentially taken over the role of mother to the girl. She dunked herself completely under the cold water and held her breath, letting the water sooth her and cool her heated blood before she rose back up.

"I'll try to explain it Rin. It's kind of an awkward topic, though."

Ten minutes and a great deal of discomfort on Kagura's part later, Rin tilted her head curiously.

"I don't get it. Why is that so embarrassing? I didn't know it was the same thing, but I've seen plenty of animals do that. Isn't that just the way it's supposed to be?"

"Innocence must be so nice. Oh, but remember, among your kind, it ought only to be done within marriage. Don't just do that with any boy who asks you, you know? In fact, if any boy asks you, you should probably tell InuYasha and let him rough them up a bit."

"Kagura, you're blushing."

Kagura groaned and rested her head against the smooth wet surface of the boulder, trying to still the rushing images in her mind. For every brief, basic fact she'd given Rin, another twenty more detailed pictures hit her brain, seemingly dozens and dozens of different scenarios, all of them centering around herself and Sesshoumaru.

"Kagura, do people…like doing that? Is that why Miroku's always touching Sango and InuYasha and Kagome used to have 'naps' at random times of the day before the baby got really big inside her?"

That made Kagura snicker slightly.

"Yes. Always surprised me when InuYasha came up with those lame excuses to get Kagome alone. Hardly pictured him to be the type. But then I suppose most men are."

"You mean the women don't like it?"

"Depends on the woman and how her man treats her, I guess. I think most women who have good husbands, like Sango and Kagome, enjoy it."

"What about you and Sesshoumaru-sama?"

"Rin! Don't be so nosy! Anyway, we haven't done that yet, we're not official mates."

Rin giggled. She'd never seen Kagura so flustered before. She couldn't comprehend what made all the adults so uncomfortable about the subject. She'd found it slightly odd but not particularly disturbing when animals did it, thinking it simply another natural event, like eating and drinking. After all, every species needed to produce young in order to survive. She couldn't comprehend why something so natural, and apparently enjoyable, made all the grownups squirm. Still, she decided not to press the topic, since her question had been suitably answered, so she swam away, leaving Kagura to her thoughts.

Kagura most decidedly did not want to be alone with her traitorous thoughts. Frustrated beyond belief, she pulled herself up onto the boulder and glared at a small fish that nibbled at her toes. Finally, sick of doing nothing, she wrapped herself loosely in her kimono and tied it in a simple knot, her entire body heating at the memory of this morning's passion and the way Sesshoumaru's scent clung to her clothing. She wrung out her hair and wrapped it in a towel, and headed back towards the house.

………

InuYasha was lying on his back on the roof, hands behind his head, enjoying the feeling of the sun on his face. Kagome and baby Kikyo had fallen asleep, and for what seemed the first time since the baby's birth, there was a moment of complete peace and quiet. He was contemplating simply falling asleep up there, when suddenly his nose twitched and he sat up, eyes going wide. What the…?! He dug his claws into the roof and inwardly cursed his brother.

Kagome smelled incredible when she was in heat; hence the fact that only about eleven months into the marriage, they were already parents. But this…Kagura smelled wonderful, certainly, but there was something else too. He could almost hear her body's call. He'd been around Kagura on her heat before; she'd been living with them for some time, after all. But she'd never smelled like that. Could Sesshoumaru's presence, even if only for a short period of her heat, really cause such a difference? Sesshoumaru, that jerk! Didn't he realize that once the full potential of her scent was awakened, it would call to any male animal youkai, mate or not? At this rate InuYasha would probably have to run around the village all night fending off horny attackers while trying not to get aroused himself. Stupid Sesshoumaru really should have just taken care of it himself, despite his logic. Surely he could have figured a way to take care of her without getting her pregnant?

Cursing strongly under his breath, InuYasha leapt down to meet Kagura as she was about to enter the house, and she glared at him like it was all his fault, looking rather ridiculous with her hair wrapped up in a towel atop her head. Her cheeks were flushed; something that was very uncommon to see on her, and looked very odd with her red eyes. He opened his mouth to say something rude, but snapped it shut again when he saw the confusion and upset in her eyes. Why, she almost looked ready to cry! He spoke more softly than he usually did, never able to stand the sight of a woman upset.

"I think you should keep your fan close tonight, Kagura. And, if you can, it'd be good if you can somehow use the wind to keep your scent in, otherwise there's gonna be a lot of youkai coming after you."

She nodded and stomped into the house.

…………

Sesshoumaru only went about a mile, and then settled into a tree to watch over the most obvious path into the village. He knew InuYasha would defend the village itself, but if he could, he'd turn back or kill any youkai he saw going this way. Even from this distance, he could sense the call of his mate's body. He'd never felt such a strong pull from any female, and the fact that it was directed at him made it even worse…or perhaps better.

If all went well, they should be mates officially by within the next three weeks. He'd set the entire palace on its ear with the news that he was bringing home a mate. He'd seen at least one of the older servants actually swoon at the announcement. He smirked at the memory. Jaken had screamed nonsense at him after finding out about the news. He'd had to kick him to shut him up. It had taken a while longer than he'd thought, but the palace was ready now; chambers prepared for both Kagura and Rin, maids lined up for both of them, notices sent out to his allies to inform them he'd be mated, and any number of other small things that might be important. His mother had shown up and taken over right before he left, which pleased him, since her female mind might recall some things that wouldn't seem important to him.

He stretched a leg out along the branch he was sitting in and closed his eyes, allowing himself to fantasize much more explicitly than was his normal custom. Suddenly he heard quick footfalls some distance away and looked down the road. It was that wolf prince, he realized quickly. He was the one whose wolves had killed Rin, and he also had a history of attacking Kagura. Kagome called him friend, but Sesshoumaru, even having never met him, most decidedly didn't like him. Still, if the wolf was here tracking Kagura's scent, he would thoroughly enjoy informing the idiot just who he was chasing after.

Kouga was so absorbed in tracking the incredible scent of an unsatisfied female in deep heat that he didn't even recognize the scent or aura of a Dai-Youkai. Idiot. Sesshoumaru dropped gracefully down in front of him, one hand laid casually on the hilt of Bakusaiga.

"Kouga, I believe your name was."

The wolf slammed to a halt, suddenly realizing that he'd very nearly run straight into an extremely powerful being.

"Yeah, and who're you?"

"The female you're tracking is my mate."

"Humph. She doesn't smell mated to me."

"Do not be a fool. No female goes that far into heat without being around her mate, whether satisfied by him or not."

"Who are you? Your scent if familiar, like that jerk InuYasha's. Wait…are you Sesshoumaru?"

Sesshoumaru merely nodded once.

"Even if she were not my mate, I don't believe you'll want that female, wolf."

"Oh, you think you can tell me what I want, now?"

"That's not what I said. By all means, if you care to attempt a mating with Wind User Kagura, go ahead, I'm sure she'll be glad to relieve a little frustration by chopping a limb or two off you."

"Kagura?! Kagura is dead, along with her stinking master! And good riddance to them both!"

"I'm afraid you're incorrect. Kagura is alive and well, and within the next month will be my mate. Should you threaten her or attempt to take her, I will rid you of your feet and let her do the rest while you are unable to run. Understand?"

"Huh. I don't have any desire to ever see or smell that witch again. I'm leaving, but don't think I'm running away!"

Sesshoumaru resisted the urge to laugh at the wolf's quick retreat before he leapt back up into the tree and once again immersed himself in fantasies of his mate.