Chapter 13

Shippo had returned quite some time ago, but kept his distance so that they could patch up their situation. He smiled when he saw how close Sesshomaru allowed himself to be next to Kagome and he busied himself with practicing his fox fire.

Sesshomaru glanced at the time and decided it was best to get moving again. Kagome closed up her book and put it away. Shippo came hoping back to her and jumped in her arms for a big hug. He nuzzled her jaw and laughed when she started tickling him. Sesshomaru looked at them with a bored look, but within himself he was miserable. He turned his back to them.

"Let's go," he ordered. They got on his cloud and continued their tickle fight. Shippo won, as Kagome always allowed him and he stood on top of her stomach pumping his arm like some big shot demon. Kagome laughed heartily and hugged him tight.

During the remaining hour of their trip, Shippo had fallen asleep for a nap. Sesshomaru glanced down to see him resting peacefully in her arms as she stroked his hair softly.

"Why did you take him in?" he asked curiously.

Kagome looked up at Sesshomaru before she realized what he was asking. "I don't know. The minute I met him my heart instantly reached out for him. I didn't want to be his mother at first, that thought hadn't even crossed my mind. But after taking care of him for so long, putting him to bed so many nights, watching him grow, it felt very wrong not having him call me mama."

"Why you, though? He is a youkai, he should be with a youkai mother," he said. It wasn't really meant to insult her. She knew what he meant.

"A youkai mother would have helped him better his skills, his senses. She would know everything about youkai children. You can't pick and choose who you're family is, but I think he was content with my pack. A youkai mother wouldn't love him any more or less than I. That's more important than training," she answered gliding her finger over Shippo's cheek.

She really did love her son. She wanted the best of everything for him.

"Hm."

"I know it's a strange topic for you, but…what's going on between you and Rin?"

Sesshomaru was tense in an instant. He didn't want to answer her, but leaving it at that seemed unfair to Rin.

"I don't know," he told her honestly.

"Well, you've been taking care of her as long as I have for Shippo. I mean, does she recognize you as her father?"

He refused to look Kagome in the eyes. He didn't like her asking these questions. "It's not your place," was all he said to her.

"It wasn't really yours to ask about Shippo, was it?" she retorted.

He turned his face to her, looking down at the sleeping boy. Closing his eyes for an instant, he lowered himself to sit on his cloud and stared ahead of them, over the tree tops.

Kagome's miko senses were picking up on his distress, although, you didn't need to be one to see it in his face. His teeth were gritted together and his clawed hand was flexing and unflexing. Something came over her, and her hand instantly covered his.

"It's okay to worry about her. I know that look in your eyes. It all comes with parenthood. Even if you don't know it, or even accept it, you're her father. Don't let any other demon or human deny you your own family."

She moved her hand away and hugged Shippo to her tightly. She lowered her eyes and allowed him to think to himself.

She touched this Sesshomaru, and I don't feel repulsed by it. Maybe it was her words.

We love Rin. We are Rin's father. Miko is right.

His beast sounded off, his speech was broken. It was then he felt the pain in his beast's heart. His beast wanted Rin's affection as its cub. He would be lying to himself if he said he didn't want it, too.

Yes, we do. I need an heir before we can have that. This is the circumstance and you know it.

I know. But seeing her with her cub brings me pain. You feel it too.

He remained silent and closed his eyes briefly. How he wished he could be like this with Rin. But only time would allow it.

"Sesshomaru?"

"Hn?" he replied raising an eyebrow to her.

"Remember what I told you, about listening to me when we are in the future. It isn't just you're safety. It's Shippo's, my family's safety, and mine at risk. I won't make you look like a fool, but you have to trust me." She lifted worried eyes to him and waited.

"Very well," was all he said as they approached the clearing where the well stood.

Sesshomaru felt something amiss, but dismissed it for now, keeping his senses alert. Kagome jumped down when he landed and walked without a word towards the well. Sesshomaru kept his distance, still feeling something was off. Kagome paused and looked around herself, and he figured she felt it too.

She rubbed Shippo's head so he would wake, and she placed him down beside her softly. She peered down the well and braced herself on its wall. Sesshomaru saw her knuckles turn white and her shaky breath.

This is the last time I'm going home. God, I don't know if I can do this.

Shippo hugged her leg tightly and looked up at Sesshomaru. Not feeling that it was his place, Sesshomaru turned his face and looked on for whoever was watching them.

"Mama, are you okay?"

Kagome quickly wiped her eyes and smiled at him.

"Shippo-kun, come on. You're going to meet grandma now," she said changing the mood.

"Okay!" he said happily.

"Sesshomaru?" she said turning to look at him. He walked up to the well and glanced down.

"Miko, how did you say you go back to your time?"

"By trusting me," she told him firmly. He raised an eyebrow but kept silent. "Uhm, in order for it to work," she said shyly, "you have to be touching me some how."

Shippo automatically leaped into her arms and smiled ear to ear. He had seen Inuyasha and her do it a million times, but never got to go himself. He was overly excited, and you could tell by the constant wag of his tail.

"Hmph. Well, tell me what to do," he ordered.

For a moment, Sesshomaru ordering her to give him an order blew her mind. She regained herself and set as straight a face as she could.

"You have to jump down the well. That's it."

Before she could breath another word, she was lifted up and suddenly felt the feeling of falling. Her heart raced for two reasons. The sudden shock of his quick movement, and the absolute close proximity she was to him. The blue lights began to engulf them and as always, she hated this part. She buried her face against his chest and swallowed the icky feeling of falling.

He noticed her face turn to him and he glanced down. His feet finally landed on the old bones of the well, and confusion set in on him. They were in the same well but the smell was all wrong. He couldn't name what it was, but it was disgusting.

He set Kagome down and stepped back from her. It was the closest contact he'd had with another person, other than Rin, in a long time. What bothered him further was, again, he did not feel repulsed.

His attention was quickly diverted when he saw her climb back up.

"Miko, why are you climbing back to where we just came from?"

"Because we're here. We just have to get out now," she said simply.

"Hn." He grabbed hold of her again and leapt up. This time, there were no lights or strange feelings. Just darkness.

But when he came out of the well, the scenery was totally new. They were inside some sort of shack, perhaps a shrine. The smell was stronger and the sounds were different.

Being so distracted from what was around him, he had forgotten what he was carrying.

"Uhm, Sesshomaru. Could you let me down?" she asked with a blush.

He dropped her unsteadily and earned himself a glare. He made his way to the door right before a shrill cry stilled him.

"WHAT DID I TELL YOU! Wait just a minute. You can't go walking out like that!" she yelled stomping up to him. She pointed a finger with one hand and placed the other on her hip.

"Human, stop that gesture if you wish to keep that limb."

Kagome huffed but did as he told. "Now just wait here a minute. You're a little larger than my father was but I bet some of his clothes will fit you. When you dress, we have to do something about your…appearance."

An angry scowl and a raised eye brow was all she needed to hear him ask, "What do you mean appearance, what's wrong with mine?"

"It's just that, you don't look human. And in my world," she paused a moment. Even Inuyasha was bent over hearing this. "Demon's…well. You're looks can cause problems."

"Miko, I do not sense any demonic auras. Are you telling me demons and humans don't co-exist at all in this time?"

Kagome looked away and scuffed her shoe against the floorboard. "Sesshomaru…"

"Enough. Just get what you need to get quickly. We will talk later," he said looking away from her. She knew it wasn't easy news to hear. To think that you're entire race is just, non existent…she can only imagine what was going through his head. Inuyasha was at least half human. He could some-what relate. But Sesshomaru was a powerful Daiyoukai. She was basically tell him he did not live to see this era.

She drew a frown on her face when she saw the distant look in his eyes, but turned and did as she was told. She told Shippo to wait with him, and then left the shrine. Shippo heard what she said and his ears drooped against his head and he looked to the floor. He felt eyes on him and when he looked up, he saw a determined look in Sesshomaru's face. For some reason Shippo couldn't name, he just knew everything would be alright from the look in his eyes. For the first time ever, he felt like he could trust in the ice cold Lord Sesshomaru.

Sesshomaru turned his face and sat gracefully against the well, meditating and keeping silent.

This news does not disturb me. I will find a reason and fix this.

"MAMA!!!! IM BACK!!!!"

Mrs. Higurashi peeked out of the kitchen and her face lit up with happiness. "Kagome! What a surprise, I thought you had just left!" she ran out to greet her daughter. She wiped down her soapy hands with her skirt and hugged her daughter tightly.

"I know mama. I don't have a lot of time to explain but I need dad's clothes. Where did you put the box?"

Her mother's face drew a dark look and she stepped back. "They are upstairs. What do you need them for?"

"We have guests. They need something to change into. Oh, and Souta's baby clothes too, are they with dad's?" she asked as she ran up the stairs.

"They should be in a bin next to them. Who's here Kagome?" she called after her. She heard her mumble something from the attic but couldn't understand. She threw her hands up and went back to the kitchen. Great, apparently they are having important guests since Inuyasha never had to change clothes and the house was upside down. What was she going to do with this girl?

Kagome threw the door to the attic open and was assaulted with dust and more dust. She coughed and stepped in and looked around for the bins. She found them tucked away against the far corner and pulled the lid over them. She found Souta's clothes first. They were a little too big for Shippo, but she could hem them to fit him alright. She put them aside and then hesitated before opening the other bin.

She lifted it's cover slowly and shut her eyes when the smell of her father's cologne still lingered on his shirts. She picked one up and remembered his smile, his big hand engulfing hers, and how happy they once were. Before…he destroyed everything.

She wiped her tears away and quickly gathered her father's best suit and Souta's stuff and ran down the stairs.

"Okay mama, I'll be right back!" she yelled as she ran out the door.

"Kagome! Who did you bring with you?!" Again, her question was left unanswered. "Oh well, guess I'll find out soon enough anyway," she said shrugging. She quickly dusted and vacuumed before Kagome returned.

Making her way back to the shack, her heart raced with the fear of Sesshomaru not accepting what she had to do to him. She was essentially going to turn him into a human. She wondered slightly if the only way to make him accept would be if she offered her throat so he could slice it. Sighing, she opened up the shrine door and grinned at her companions.

Shippo bounded to her and sniffed the clothes she offered him. He saw they would be baggy and gave her a strange look, but took off on the other side so he could change.

Standing straight, she turned to Sesshomaru, who was still meditating. "I found these for you. They might not fit you perfectly, but there is a…market where we can find you something more your size."

He looked at the clothing in her hand and stood up to inspect it. The suit was nothing like he had ever seen and there was a metal thing on the hakama he wasn't sure how to use. Feeling very flustered and frustrated, he pushed them back to her.

"What's wrong? I told you if you don't like them we will find something more suitable," she said with a frown in her tone.

"I do not know how to dress myself in these clothes."

She immediately blushed and lowered her eyes. She knew exactly what he was getting at, and both were extremely embarrassed. "Well, we have to get you in these, so I guess I'll have to help," she said looking him in the eyes. She tried to keep her gaze as professional and bored as his, but it was very difficult with the notion of him being naked in front of her popped in her head. She turned her back so he could undress and so she wouldn't have to look him in the eye.

"Shippo, if you're done, why don't you wait just outside. There are some toys you can play with. Please don't wonder off," she told him

"Okay sure," he said as he waddled his way to the door. He kept tripping over the pants and the sleeves were a bit too long. He shut the door behind him and Kagome then felt very vulnerable.

Sesshomaru could feel the blush radiating off her in waves, and he found it amusing. For a girl who dressed so immodestly, she was very shy. He first put down his weapons and then was struck with an idea. A very evil grin spread over his lips and he eyed Kagome closely.

The hairs on the back of her neck stood up, and Kagome suddenly felt like prey. She turned her face to glance at him and gulped and the look he had. "What?"

"Since it is partially you're fault that I am missing an arm, I think it is time you paid me back," he began.

"What do you mean…pay back?" she said turning more to him cautiously.

"Is it so wrong for me to ask the woman responsible for my lost limb to assist me removing my clothes?"

"Oh please! That never stopped you. You've been doing just fine without it," she said in a huff and turned her back to him again. She felt warmth press up against her but no contact and she knew he was only hairs away from her.

"No, because before I didn't have you to return the debt. If you want me to wear you're garb so bad, you should be assisting me taking off mine," he said in a whisper.

Shivers ran up her spine and she felt very feeble. For some reason, removing the clothing of a Daiyoukai seemed very challenging, regardless if he was willing.

Then it clicked. He was toying with her. Trying to make her feel immature and run out red-faced. Well, Mister, I'll show you red faced, she said to herself.

She turned and face him and set on a determined look. His expression became all the more amused and he stood waiting. She put down the suit on the corner of the well and hesitantly reached for his haori.

"I'm not going to bite. Unless…you like that sort of thing," he said. She looked up shocked and then noticed the mirth in his eyes. He's enjoying this! That arrogant pig!

She harrumphed and tugged at his obi. It opened fairly easily and she folded it and placed it beside the suit. She studied his armor trying to figure out where it came undone from. She was growing frustrated and she fumbled with it trying to get it off.

If he were any lesser of a demon, Sesshomaru would be rolling in fits of laughter. Her expression and the tug on his armor was making his stomach quiver in silent chuckles and he tried so very hard to hold back. When she still couldn't find the latch, he took her hand and brought it up to it, and watched her. Her cheeks reddened and she unhooked it, feeling stupid for not seeing it before. She caught his spiky armor before it fell and placed it on the floor.

Next was the body plate. She found the latches much easier and that fell off without much fumbling. Kagome new that a few more pieces of clothing, and Sesshomaru would be as stark as the day he was born. She brought her fingers to his haori and undid the tie. She moved behind him and focused on his fluffy…thing. She had to move it to get the haori off. Not sure what it was, but with a sinking suspicion it was a tail, she brushed it softly. She felt it twitch under her fingers and she brushed it again. It was like satiny feathers and was completely knotless. Sesshomaru glanced at her from the corner of his eye and watched her touch his tail. Unwillingly, a growl of contentment quietly made its way out of his throat and he shut his eyes. She noticed it and laughed to herself. I guess this is like Inuyasha's ears. If you scratched them just right, he became putty.

She dug her fingers into his fluff and itched where she felt the flesh of his tail. His growl grew loader and she saw him clench and release his fist. Suddenly, her wrist was caught in his hand and she was staring into blood red eyes. Thinking she did something wrong, she lowered her gaze and bore her neck to him in apology. When he didn't sniff it, she looked at him again. That's when she noticed his rugged breath and the real look in his eyes. She then became aware that he wasn't angry. Very aware.

He released his grip on her and pushed his tail off his shoulders. Then he stood back and waited for her to continue. Feeling very flustered, she wasn't sure she should. But deciding to just make sure she got it done as quickly as possible, everything should be okay.

She pulled back his haori and folded it, placing it on top of his obi. She turned to him again and tried not to stare. His body was perfectly chiseled, and could suffice as armor on its own. He saw her staring but didn't call her out on it. In fact, he felt prided in himself with a woman so captivated at him. She was stirring up a lot of things within himself and he wasn't sure if he wanted to feel them or not. But, whether he did or didn't, he wasn't going to tell her not to stare. He just never found much disgust in her. Even less than most of the youkai bitches. Which was very odd indeed.

She made her way over to him and they both realized he only had on one last piece of clothing. Deciding not to make her go through with it, he turned and pulled down his hakama. She was relieved that she didn't have to do it herself. But she caught a very good glimpse at his backside. He's got a nicer bum than me, pfft.

She reached for the suit pants and handed them over to him. He put them on but noticed they were still loose on him. "You have to zip it up," she told him. "There is a little metal piece, you grab onto it and pull up. But be careful not to zip your…skin," she added hastily. He looked down and found what she was taking about. Being careful, he zipped it up and turned to her. She inspected the pants and noticed that they were a little short on him. But not so short that it was stupid looking. Still, she would take him to the mall and get him some new clothes.

He turned to her and watched as she grabbed what he was guessing to be a haori of some sort. It looked tighter and not as comfortable as his own. She made her way back to him, but stopped when she looked at his arm. She saw the stub where his arm used to be and suddenly felt very guilty. She placed the shirt down and studied it closely. He noticed her emotions change and followed her eyes. Straightening, he looked out in front of him. He didn't in fact blame her for it. It was his own recklessness.

"Does it hurt?" she suddenly asked.

"Not anymore."

"I'm sorry," she said dropping her head. He looked at her closely and felt the sincerity in her apology.

"Silly human. Why does your race like to regret things they did not do?"

She lifted her eyes to him and furrowed her brows. "I know I shouldn't apologize. After all, you were trying to kill me. But, I walked away without a scratch. You walked away without an arm," she braved herself enough to touch his arm lightly. She waited for him to pull back, when he didn't, she followed his arm to the stub. She felt the velvety flesh that grew over it, and the scar tissue that didn't heal. Suddenly, she felt very much like crying. Something within her spirit didn't like the thought of him being hurt.

She expresses herself to us. See how she cares.

I do not need her care.

Then why haven't you pulled away from her touch?

Sesshomaru did not answer his beast, instead he kept looking at the miko. She seemed lost in thought and she was tracing her fingers around his stub. Before he knew it, he felt a burning sensation and nearly pulled back Then he realized what she was trying to do. She was trying to re-grow his limb. He moved his arm away from her slowly and looked her in the eyes.

"I have no need for it. Do not waste yourself trying to bring it back. It is a reminder of my own mistake, my motivation to be more careful. It taught me not to be so presumptuous that I was invincible. I will not make that mistake again."

She nodded slowly and grabbed the shirt again. She moved behind him again and got him to put his bad arm in first, then his good one. She came to the front of him again and buttoned up his shirt. Stepping back, she noticed the sleeves were really tight on him and the buttons looked like they were going to burst, but the suit jacket should hopefully cover that up.

She grabbed it and held up the final piece, and slipped it over him with ease. Once she had it buttoned up, she gave him a look over and nodded to herself. "Okay, you're dressed. But, I still have to do something about you're markings," she said looking away from him.

He stood staring hard into her. It was insulting to have to hide himself. He was a powerful Daiyoukai that had maintained the entire western province of Japan. Why should he hide himself?

Looking at her though, he felt her remorse and pain for asking, so he understood she wouldn't be saying it if it was not necessary.

"Go ahead." She looked up surprised when he said that.

Are you sure? She wanted to ask.

I trust you.

She felt a connection with him that she had never felt with anyone before. For a moment, they were both still. They both had noticed that they could understand each other fairly easily and that neither seemed to be too uncomfortable in the other's presence.

"I came up with a concealment spell. I used it on Inuyasha when he would visit here. I mastered it a while ago, so now it wont fade unless I lift it. You can show your true self to my family. But when we leave the shrine, you have to wear it. It is safer that way for all of us."

Sesshomaru didn't say anything. There just wasn't much to say.

"We don't have to do it now, first I will introduce you to my mother. She probably already prepared the guest room for you. She knows about demons and she's more than welcoming to all my friends," she said smiling.

She walked to the door and found Shippo playing in a tree with stick-on darts.

"LOOK MAMA! I'M A NINJA!" he shouted from the treetop.

She laughed heartily and opened her arms out to him. He jumped down gracefully and landed in her embrace. "Ready to meet grandma?"

"Mhm!"

She turned to Sesshomaru and waited. He walked out of the shrine, surveying the area. They were close to Inuyasha's forest, but it was much different. He saw the god tree, and noted that it was much larger, and had grown throughout the years. He saw her head to the house and followed behind, feeling uneasily out of place.