Chapter 7
Sesshoumaru's Task
It had been a long time since Kagome had been to school, but she knew that being her would be no different. Not only was she suppose to be taking classes but every time she had somehow gotten in trouble it felt as though she was being sent to the principle's office. The principle being Sesshoumaru of course. She leaned against the wall waiting for her turn to enter the small room that was known as his office.
Finally Inuyasha left the office wearing the face of a scared little kid, but she could tell it was just an act. Kagome looked at the hanyou with a puzzled look on his face hoping he would get the message. She needed him to tell her what to expect upon her entrance into the office.
"My brother wants to see you now," Inuyasha simply said while looking down at the ground.
Of course Inuyasha wouldn't be able to tell her anything. They were right outside of Sesshoumaru's door so they were probably being listened too. Kagome let out a sigh as she went over and lightly knocked on the door.
"Come in," Sesshoumaru voice said making her hair on the back of her neck stand on end.
Kagome couldn't control the nervous gulp that came to her while she walked in, "you wanted to see me Lord Sesshoumaru."
"Shut the door," he said with his silky voice teasing her ear.
She did as he said before walking up closer to him. That was when she noticed how horrible she probably looked to him. She was still wearing the same kimono that she had been wearing all day yesterday and she didn't get a chance to find a hair brush before her, Inuyasha, and Tsuin when underground.
"You put yourself in a dangerous position today," stated Sesshoumaru as he sat down in his chair and faced her.
"I know,' she replied while trying to run her fingers through her hair to make it half way decent, "luckily Tsuin and Miyori were there. Speaking of them I want to talk to you about something."
"You may at a later time," he responded as he removed an object from his pocket, which thanks to her powers Kagome could tell it was her jewel shards, "is this why you went down there?"
"Yes Sesshoumaru."
Sesshoumaru made one of his scary smirks as he laid the small pouch that contained the two jewel shards on his leg, "then come and claim them."
Very slowly Kagome got closer and reached out to grab the pouch. Before she could react he gently grabbed her arm and pulled her forward while using his free hand to remove the shards from his leg and hold them up in the air. Kagome suddenly found herself sitting in Sesshoumaru lap being restrained by the same arm that had pulled her.
"The Lady of the Western Lands gets what she wants by asking for it," he continued as he tried to keep the struggling woman still, "she is to never put her life in danger for anything unless it is for the well being of her lands."
"Then can I have my jewel shards back?" Kagome asked while reaching out for them.
Sesshoumaru just moved the pouch slightly out of her reach, "you are an exception from all the former ladies of the western lands. You must earn these."
"That's not fair though," Kagome whined as she finally stopped struggling seeing as how it was a useless attempt, "those are my shards. The jewel belonged to me before it shattered."
"These shards belong to me for now. You should be grateful I am giving you a chance to reclaim them. Any other mate would have just disposed of them and you would never be allowed to leave your room again."
"Then what do you want me to do to earn them?"
"We will this discuss later, I am still not quite sure myself. Until then go get dressed, we shall have lunch together."
"Okay," she responded getting up once his arm was out of the way.
She made it back to her room easily enough thanks to her actually remembering the way from the office. Who did the jerk think he was? First he told her that they could discuss Miyori until later and then he made her sit in his lap almost like she was his mate or something. Well she was his mate, but that was beside the point. Who was she kidding though? She liked it when she was pulled into his lap. Her heart wouldn't stop pounding.
She changed into a pink kimono with a magenta obi. It was one of the simplest out of the whole batch she was told to chose from. She had to remember that she was expected to change clothes at least three times a day. That made her look at her dresser full of clothes in distaste. There had to be millions of girls in the feudal era that had to wear the same outfit over and over again because their stuff was lost in a raid or they couldn't afford it while she had to wear different clothes for different parts of the day. She wasn't going to do that. That didn't sit well with her especially after she just got out of being poor herself.
Sesshoumaru came into her room without even knocking while she was trying to brush her hair, "I don't have much time left you need to hurry up."
"I am almost done," she replied quickening her phase, "and couldn't you have knocked or something? I could have been still changing."
"If I want to see you then I can," Sesshoumaru stated, "your hair looks fine now lets go."
"Your still pushy," sighed Kagome as followed him out into the hallway.
"Is there a problem with that?"
"Actually there isn't. Its nice to see something hasn't changed."
"Do you believe everything else has changed?"
"Well yeah, I mean this isn't even the same castle this time, and I feel as though I am here without a purpose considering it will be impossible for me to get the other shards and Naraku is dead."
"Your purpose is to help me rule these lands and be the perfect obedient mate and mother."
"I am already failing in all of those, especially the mother part."
"I don't believe that, you and Tsuin seemed to get along and there is a bond between you and Koinu."
"I haven't seen Koinu at all today."
"I am surprised he didn't take part in your little underground adventure. I wanted to begin his training today but figured he could have today off, it could count his birthday present from the last three years."
"Better then the gift I got him. Hey wait a minute that means Tsuin and Miyori really aren't three yet and their birthday is in four days."
"They consider there selves three because we had a small dinner celebration a few days ago. Everyone else including the Southern lands thinks we are going to have it on their actual birthday though, so they won't be expecting the attack we have planned for that very day."
"When I was a kid I always wanted an attack on an enemy nation too. And I guess I have gotten along pretty well with Tsuin, but Miyori is a little different story."
"I guess I should have warned you."
"You mean you knew Miyori would be this way this whole time?"
"I thought it would be better if you found out on your own."
"Have you thought of trying to tell Miyori that she is a hanyou and her mother was a human?"
They had now just reached the dining room and sat down in their usual seats. It seemed they were just waiting for their meal to be served. Sesshoumaru's face went to its usual emotionless self when he was staring off into space, but when he looked at her he seemed to have a look of aggravation on his face, and she knew why.
"That's what you chose to wear?" Sesshoumaru asked looking at her kimono for the first time since they left her room.
"What's wrong with it?"
"Nothing."
She knew that he was mad because she chose one of the plain kimonos. Her closet had two types of clothing styles and that was elegant with a lot of pretty designs or just plain. Clearly the plain type were meant just for sleeping in or when she wouldn't be seen that much.
"Well since you changed the subject I didn't see the point in overdressing. I didn't see Miyori wearing any pretty stuff."
"No but Rin does. Miyori has been raised to be a fighter while you and Rin are to just watch over the castle and make sure the servants stay in line."
"And let me guess you were too busy raising Miyori to be a fighter that you forgot to mention what she was."
"Things have been difficult. Right after you left this war began and it was hard dealing with that while my children were growing up within days. I had to begin training them on the third week of your disappearance and I had to go fast to make sure they were never too old to be taught what they were trying to learn. There was never any free time at all and I think they have just made up their own thoughts about who their mother was."
"Tsuin knew who I was pretty easily."
"Because he had free time and he cared about finding this out. Eventually he asked Rin and found out he was hanyou, he tried telling Miyori, but she said if she couldn't smell the human blood then it wasn't true."
"I don't think she ever will. She seems to have something against humans and hanyous."
"She never use to be that way…"
"What changed her?"
"Lord Sesshoumaru-sama!" screeched a voice Kagome hadn't heard in a long time.
Both of their heads turned and watched as Jaken ran forward to Sesshoumaru.
"Why do you bug me while I am dining?" the youkai lord asked.
"Please forgive this humble servant," Jaken replied nervously, "but earlier today the tiger demons had made a defeat against one of prince Tsuin's armies. Only half of them survived and they are now being pushed back into our lands. They need back up before they are totally taken out all they have to defend them is a few neko demons who are following Lady Rose's orders."
Sesshoumaru quickly got up and faced Jaken, "has Miyori been alerted?"
"Princess Miyori has already headed out all on her own to scout the situation before making any decisions about what to do with her armies since most of them are tired after they were attacked last time."
"Nekos won't stand a chance against Tigers we are better without them. If Tsuin's forces get pushed back where will they end up at?"
"That unnamed mountain my lord."
"Jaken you will call that mountain Razzmatazz peak no matter what you think about that name. Especially when you are in the prescense of the one who named it."
Jaken looked up at Kagome with just one glance and then looked back at his master, "she is back? There was a rumor going around that you were going to make an alliance with the East by finally marrying Lady Rose."
"I would rather not share my love life with you Jaken no go dispatch Tamasha and Infernoflames since there close by. They should be able to handle the tigers."
"I am sorry my lord I will make sure the armies you have requested are in their proper place."
"Make sure that you do."
Jaken quickly scurried away and Kagome could only sigh, "it looks like things would be better if you would just make Rose your mate."
"Rose cares nothing for me anymore and we will both remain allies through this war anways," he informed her, "the south has wronged them too many times."
"And what did the south do to you?"
"I did something to the south, that sapphire that you pocess, I stole it from them."
"You what? Well then take it back you just can't steal things where is the honor in that? Actually come to think of it you steal a lot, after all the first thing you did when you learned I was pregnant was steal me from Inuyasha."
"I would rather go against my honor then have Koinu raised by Inuyasha. And when it came to your sapphire I stole it because they had stolen from my lands numbers of time. I was only paying back the favor. As much as I would like to get lectured by my mate I need to go and find a resolution to this little problem."
"But you were just about to-
Sesshoumaru cut her off, "eat your meal when it comes and then go back up to your room and do not leave until I return. Understood?"
"You're grounding me?"
"If that's what you call being sent to your room for the rest of the day then yes your grounded."
Sesshoumaru started to walk away but Kagome quickly grabbed on to his sleeve, "you can't ground me especially after I have spent most of my days grounding Koinu all the time."
"Don't argue with me Kagome. Go to your room and start acting like the Lady of the Western Lands and just take your punishment."
Kagome let go of his sleeve and looked down at the ground in disbelief. How dare he treat her like a child. It was then that it came to her. He was treating her like a child because that had been the way she was acting. She must have looked so stupid grabbing on to him and complaining about something hoping to get her way. It had never worked that way before so what made her think it would work now. Before when she had Sesshoumaru wouldn't agree on something either quickly agreed with him or she defied it by using actions and not words.
"Okay Sesshoumaru I will stay in my room," she finally said as she sat back down in her chair as a chicken dinner was served.
"Good," he responded as he followed Jaken out of the dining room.
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Sesshoumaru let out an irritated sigh as he walked back into his castle well after midnight. Today had been more of just an endless problem more then any type of challenge. The cats from the east along with Tsuin's army, his army, and Miyori herself had been victorious against the attacking Tigers, but the problem was the fact that Tsuin's army got pushed back in the first place. Something strange was going on. According to one of the soldiers who were attacked they had already managed to wipe out most of the tigers while the others had become exhausted. It was then that they had somehow all of a sudden had a huge increase in power and fought back with better skills then before.
The only thing he knew about that could increase powers like that were those jewel shards that Kagome always seemed to be after. If that was the case then he would strike the South and deprive them of their jewel shards though he wouldn't do that for himself of course. He couldn't hold any respect for any youkai that raised it's power by relying on magic and stones. It meant they were too weak and were to lazy to earn their strength. He wanted the jewel for a different purpose. He was interested to see how well the south would fair without it and it was the perfect thing to use against Kagome.
At first he didn't think his newest plan would work at all, but when she agreed to try and earn the two jewel shards she went after earlier he knew that he had the perfect plan. This way the would get what both of them wanted. She wanted the shikon no tama and he wanted to mate to gain control over his demon blood. He didn't want to take her by force so instead he would start to make her do a few task for him in exchange for the jewel shards. By he gave away a few shards he would take her and it wouldn't have been forced making both of them happy.
"I see you have returned," pointed out the voice he was just thinking about.
Sesshoumaru spun around and saw his mate standing there right in the middle of the entrance hallway, "are you suppose to be out here Kagome?"
"Am I?" she asked knowing the answer as she walked up closer to him.
"I believe you were told not to leave your room," he said not minding her walking up at all.
"Three years ago I wouldn't have obeyed a command like that so why should I now," she replied.
"So I am guessing you have decided to go back to the woman I found three years ago."
"Well that's kind of difficult. Three years ago I was Kagome lady of the Western Lands mate of Lord Sesshoumaru of the Western Lands who was marked after being rescued from my old home Atlantis."
"So you still remember all of that little pretending we did, do you? That might come in handy for you tonight as you try and earn those jewel shards."
"Tonight? Don't you think it's a little late?"
"The longer you wait the longer you will have until the jewel shards are yours again, I am wide awake though so I have the time."
"I don't know though…I still don't know what you want me to do for them, but I really want them."
Sesshoumaru turned his back on her and started to walk further into the dark hallway, "if you really want them follow me, if you don't then return to our sleeping quarters and I will be there later to punish you for leaving your room today."
Kagome of course rushed after him not wanting to be punished right away, "how would you punish your own mate?"
"The same way any other youkai would punish their disobedient mates, by beating them, but like I have said before you're an exception. For you I just might back down and allow my demon blood to have control for one night, I don't think you would enjoy that."
"Damn right. So I take it that since I have chosen to earn my jewel shards I am not going to be punished."
"Of course you will be punished Kagome. I wouldn't be a good mate if I allowed you to brake rules whenever you wanted and not pay for them. I was going to reward you both shards at once for your task, but now you will have to do two task and you will be doing them for every jewel shard that I will bring home to you."
"Your going to collect the shards for me?"
"They are giving my enemies powers that they are not worthy of and since you are the guardian of the shikon no tama it belongs to you and it is an insult allowing these weak youkai to have hold of your item."
"Thanks I guess."
It took Kagome awhile at first but she started to recognize this hallway. Tsuin and Inuyasha had led her down it earlier when they were trying to go down into the old castle. She remember the exact way they went too, at the end of this hallway there was suppose to be a set of stairs which led down to the cellar and under that was the trap door which led to the highest floor of the old castle. And as fate would have it that was the exact way Sesshoumaru was leading her.
"So your not going to tell me about my task yet can you at least tell me why we are coming down here?"
"I believe it's the perfect place for you to fulfill your first task at," he answered while gently picking her up to help her go down into the lower castle.
"Are these task suppose to be fun or have you decided to make them so hard that it will be impossible for me to get the shards and in the end I will be so mad I will just want to try and kill you?"
"In order for it to be fun you must allow it to be fun, but I plan with every task that you past it should change your mind about a few things and help you relax a little."
Kagome continued to trail behind Sesshoumaru until they got to a door that really brought back memories, "our old bedroom."
"Yes I believe this will be the perfect place for you," he said as opened the door and walked in, "now in order to earn your first jewel shard…"
"There are some shards that will be hard to collect. Aoi and Katsu both have one, so does Miyori and Sango's brother Kohaku, and no one knows about the grant piece that Naraku had."
"I will take care of those later," he noted as he sat on their old bed, "now come closer."
Kagome took a few steps, but she did them very slowly. After all the last time she came close he forced her into his lap. She found herself taking a few steps back when she noticed a small smirk appear on his face. He had a smirk before he got her last time. Quickly before Kagome could get out of range his tail shot out and constricted around her.
"As though you could run from me Kagome," he said as he used his tail to bring her into his lap once again, "now are you ready to find out about your first task."
"As much I as I would like to just say screw you and beat you upside the head for dragging me into your lap like this again I will have to ask what the first task is so I can hurry up and reclaim my shards."
"That's the kind of attitude that will prevent you from experiences any 'fun' during these task, but that's okay because it just makes things more interesting for me. Now are you really ready to find out about your first task."
"Yes I am ready to learn about what I must do to earn my shard."
"I am tired,. but I can't go to sleep unless I have been told a story. So tell me a story."
"What? You're a full grown inu taiyoukai you don't need a story."
"Now that you have returned there are a lot of things that I am in need of. And this can't just be any story. I want to hear about how the taiyoukai Sesshoumaru met the miko reincarnation Kagome and made her his mate."
"Fine I guess if you promise to hand over the shard I can tell it to you."
"You can even hold it," he said as he placed a single shard in her palm, "now tell me the story."
"Okay then," Kagome finally agreed as she held on to the shard tight, "once upon a time there was a miko who thought she was in love with a hanyou, but thanks to a curse her mind changed for the better…"
Kagome let out a yawn right after she got to the part in the story where Sesshoumaru had marked her without her permission. That was when she turned and faced the taiyoukai lord. His eyes were shut and his breaths were evened out. Was he asleep? It was hard to believe that anyone could sleep sitting up, but she couldn't hold it past Sesshoumaru. If he was still awake would she get in trouble for not continuing the story and get the shard take away again? Carrying on with the story would probably be a good plan, but she was tired. She needed to lean her head up again something. She couldn't move either. Even though Sesshoumaru appeared to be sleeping his tail had a hard hold on her. His tail was pretty soft though. It would be nice to lay against it. And that was what Kagome did. She laid her legs up against his tail as she found her body against his chest. She whispered the rest of the story as her eyes finally shut and her breaths started to carry her off into sleep.
(End chapter 7)
A/N: Another Koinuless chapter. Oh well this is a Sess/Kag fic after all. This chapter was meant to show how Sesshoumaru and Kagome's relationship is going. Next chapter is going to be another one of those Koinu chapters though so don't worry.
Inuyashaluver52293: Thanks for the review, I am 15 years old.
Halfbreed Kagome: Hey you shouldn't punch me, punching me makes me update slower.
corlee1289: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Sorry this chapter got done earlier then I expected it would, but to make up for it your present will be your name being used in the next chapter. And I know how it feels with the people in the library watching you all time. Its like there antifanfic spies.