A.N. another chapter closer to the end. this is chapter 18... and i'm 7 from the end. hehehe, they'll just keep getting longer until i'm at 25.

Last Time

Kagome was stunned, he'd never smiled like that before, she liked it. He was still grinning when he leaned down and captured her in the most passionate and delicious kiss she'd ever received.

Now

Sesshoumaru was smirking when he pulled away from the dazed Kagome. He had spent a good five minute kissing her senseless and was now holding her close as she tried to find said senses.

"Ow," she said softly, her hands still fisted in his shirt.

"Are you hurt?" he asked, looking down at her with real concern in his eyes.

"Not badly," she replied, realizing who she was standing so close to and wrenched her body away from him, "I have a bruised jaw remember?"

Sesshoumaru nodded and bowed his head, "I am sorry. It will not happen again."

"Damn strait it wont," came InuYasha's angry voice, before putting a protective arm around Kagome's shoulder. "What the hell do you think you were doing Sesshoumaru?"

"She is my betrothed," Sesshoumaru replied coldly, "I can do so if I choose. Kagome seemed not to have a problem with it, right Kagome."

"Ah well you see," she started, until Sango came running out of the building.

"KAGOME!" she cried, "your mother just called me. She couldn't get ahold of you on your cell phone. Souta's in the hospital."

"WHAT!" Kagome screamed, running toward her car that was just a few spaces down, turning it on and waiting for Sango to get in, "what happened?"

"He got into a fight," Sango said as Kagome raced towards the hospital, not realizing Sesshoumaru was on her tail, "some boy was talking about you and your engagement to Sesshoumaru and Souta didn't like it. I guess the boy pushed him and he fell and hit his head on a rock."

Kagome nodded, she wouldn't cry. She couldn't cry. No matter what happened, Kagome couldn't cry, literally. She just had to see her brother.

When they got to the hospital, Kagome found her mother and grandfather and Sango's younger brother already there. They had all been crying, and Kagome felt like she would, but knew it wouldn't happen.

"Where is he?" she asked when she reached her mother.

"He's getting a 'check up' by the doctor," her mother explained, allowing her daughter to take her hands, "they said that there was no rock fragments, but it might have broken his skull a little. They're going to clean him up and take him for a cat scan. There was a lot of blood, and the gash was pretty deep."

Kagome nodded, hugging her mother lightly, "why did this happen?"

"I believe I can answer some of that," came a deep voice.

Kagome looked up to find a man she'd never seen before standing in front of her, "who are you? And how can you answer this?"

The man smiled lightly, "the names Detective Hiromi. I am working on this case, the school wishes to press charges on behalf of Souta Higurashi. We've taken a statement from the boy who he got into a dispute with, and the whole thing revolves around you ms. Higurashi."

Kagome nodded, "what happened? Who is this boy that made my little brother so angry?"

"I will need to question you on some things," the man said, ready to lead Kagome to a more secluded area before being interrupted.

"Kagome will speak with no one until she has a lawyer," Sesshoumaru said, stepping between the man and Kagome.

"And you are?" the man asked, not realizing who he was speaking with.

"Sesshoumaru Takahashi," he replied coldly, "I am Kagome's fiancé."

The detective nodded, "right. Well it says here that the Higurashi family has no lawyer so it is actually up to Kagome's mother whether she speaks with me or not."

"Actually," Kagome spoke up, "I am no longer under my mothers 'protection.' I am on my own, I have the paperwork to prove it."

The man nodded, "no need. I understand. But I still need to speak with you, it would appear that you've done something to upset the young boy enough to make him talk about it in school."
"What is the boy's name?" Sesshoumaru asked, he had moved closer to Kagome, all the while making it seem like he was just being comforting.

"Hakudoshi Naraku," the detective said.

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Somewhere else

"How did things go," he asked the boy.

"I made him hit his head," the younger boy responded, "he's in the hospital. But they now want to press charges."

"I see," the man replied with a evil smirk, "this is Kagome's fault though. If she had just stayed with me, we wouldn't have to do things this way."

"What are you going to do?" the boy asked, looking up at the man.

"I'm going to start with the people she loves," he replied. "You've done your part Hakudoshi, do not worry. You will not loose your battle. Next we'll focus on someone who'll be harder, let them both dangle a bit."

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"Kagome breathe," Sesshoumaru was instructing her. Kagome started hyperventilating when she heard who the boy her brother fought was, and Sesshoumaru wouldn't let anyone but him be near her.

"I…can't…he…I'll…" she couldn't get the words out, her breathing still wasn't working right.

"Who?" Sesshoumaru asked, he ended up sitting on the floor with Kagome, placing her in his lap so he could help her regulate her breathing, "who are you trying to say?"

"Na-Naraku," she coughed, "m-my N-na-naraku."

Sesshoumaru growled, "how are they connected?"

"B-brothers," Kagome wheezed, allowing Sesshoumaru to hold her and take her weight, "I'm, I'm going…"

"Breathe," Sesshoumaru soothed, resting her head on his chest, "listen to my heart and breathe. It's okay love, breathe."

Kagome's mother watched in awe, surprised that her daughter was letting Sesshoumaru treat her this way, hell that she was allowing Sesshoumaru call her 'love'.

"I need water," Kagome said weakly, trying to sit up, but Sesshoumaru wouldn't let her. The second he was able to focus, the fear that he smelled on Kagome was taking over his senses, he didn't want to let her go.

"Someone get her water," the detective ordered, "she is having a mild panic attack."

Kagome's mother ran off towards a vending machine to get Kagome a bottle of water when InuYasha showed up.

"What happened to Kagome? I thought it was just Souta who was hurt," he asked Kagome's mother when she returned. The woman liked InuYasha enough, even after Kagome and him broke up she always treated him well, and welcomed him in their home like family.

"Souta is hurt," she replied, opening the bottle and giving it to Kagome, "but Kagome had a panic attack hearing the name of the boy who got into a fight with Souta. It would seem that it is Onigumo's younger brother."

InuYasha nodded, "Sesshoumaru let her up. Can't you see that she can stand?"

Kagome was nodding in agreement with InuYasha, trying to disengage Sesshoumaru's hold on her waist.

"I will do no such thing," he replied, standing up, taking Kagome with him, and sitting in a chair.

Kagome groaned, "what if I have to go to the bathroom? Are you going to go in there with me?"

Sesshoumaru looked at her, thinking about it, "I might."

"You will not," she said angrily, "you will let me up now. I know how much you love your ring, would you like it back?"

Sesshoumaru looked at her, anger looming at the surface of her eyes, but he agreed and let her get up on her own.

"Thank you," Kagome said sharply, standing up and moving into her own seat, which was right next to him. InuYasha stared for a minute before moving to sit on Kagome's other side.

"Well I guess we need to find a lawyer," Kagome's mother said.

Sesshoumaru nodded, "I will contact father's lawyer. Kagome will speak to no one until one is present."

Everybody stared at him a moment until he got up and left.

"You and Sesshoumaru seem to be getting along better," Kagome's mother said with a smile, hoping Kagome would speak to her again.

"I guess," Kagome replied, allowing InuYasha to take her hand in his and rub gentle circles on the palm.

"How long has all of this been going on?" she asked, motioning to the way Sesshoumaru was acting with Kagome, and the way InuYasha was now acting.

"A while," Kagome replied, looking up when Sesshoumaru returned, "what did your father say?"

"He is sending a lawyer now," Sesshoumaru replied, looking at her and InuYasha before turning away, "I also spoke with the doctor. Souta can have at least 2 visitors right now."

Kagome nodded and stood up, "mama are you coming?"

"I can't right now dear," her mother replied, "it's too hard to see him like this. Grandpa can't either… mainly because he's asleep."

"I will accompany you," Sesshoumaru said, standing up with Kagome, giving InuYasha a look that said 'do anything and you'll be in the ICU as well.' InuYasha gulped and didn't say anything, instead he decided to talk with Kagome's mother.

"You don't have to come with me," Kagome told Sesshoumaru as they got closer to Souta's room, "I can see my brother alone."

"It would be best if I came with you," he responded, "you seem unwell and it would not be wise for both you and your brother to share a hospital room now would it?"

Kagome sighed and nodded, "I guess your right."

"Of course I am," he replied with a light smirk, "now let us see your brother."

Kagome nodded and opened the door to find her younger brother lying on the bed, half asleep from the drugs, "hey squirt."

"Hey Kagome," Souta said with a smile, "did you hear what happened?"

Kagome looked at him sadly, "I did. Sou, you know better than to get into a fight. You should've just let it be and told me about it all. Now look. What did the doctor say?"

"I don't have a fractured skull thankfully," Souta said softly, his eyes drooping, "but I have a concussion. So they don't want me asleep. Kagome I'm tired."

"Don't go to sleep," she warned, sitting on the chair next to him, "with a concussion you can slip into a coma. I'll stay with you until the doctor says your okay."

The younger boy nodded, "okay. Thank you."

Kagome nodded and smiled, she leaned forward and kissed her brother on the forehead gently.

"Sis that's gross," Souta whined, rubbing his head.

"You're my brother," she said with a grin, kissing him again, "I can do whatever I want."

Souta grumbled something and looked up at Sesshoumaru, "why are you with her? She could've come to me alone you know."

"Souta be nice," Kagome chided with a smirk, "Sesshoumaru's being a overgrown puppy today and won't leave my side." Sesshoumaru growled at the comment but said nothing, instead he opted for looking out the window until there was a light knock on the door.

"Miss Higurashi?" came a small voice, one that matched a tiny man who had walked in, "I am Miyouga. Lord Sesshoumaru's attorney."

Kagome nodded and shook his hand, "well you know who I am. This is Souta, my little brother."

The small man nodded, "well I guess I have to take a statement from you for my own records. The police also want one from you I understand?"

Kagome nodded, "yes. I guess this whole situation revolves around me and a crazy ex."

Miyouga nodded and wrote down the information, "and the ex. What is his full name?"

"Onigumo Naraku," Kagome responded.

"What was your relationship with him?" Miyouga asked, disregarding the growl that emanated from Sesshoumaru.

"We were engaged," Kagome replied.

"How long ago was this?" Miyouga asked.

"About one year ago I guess," Kagome responded, "actually we were in a relationship more than once. But last year we got engaged, then he moved and I broke it off."

Miyouga nodded, writing this all down, "how did he take your rejection?"

"Not to well," Kagome replied, "he got very angry. He…"

"If he laid a hand on you…" Sesshoumaru started but Kagome gave him a look.

"No," she said, "he 'cursed' me. Saying that even if I didn't want him, I'd always be his. I didn't think anything of it, and then a week later he called me apologizing for the whole thing. He said it was his MPD (multiple personality disorder), I had always known about it… but never really seen the way it makes him act. That was the first time it had happened with me around."

Miyouga put all of that in the paper before standing, "I will return in a few minutes. I need to speak with the detective, the questions he has for you are similar so maybe he will not need to question you any further." Kagome nodded, looking at her brother who had fallen asleep.

"SOUTA WAKE UP!" she squealed, poking him in the tummy for extra notice.

The boy's eyes shot open, "that wasn't nice."

Kagome laughed and poked him again, "I'm your big sister. I'm not supposed to be nice."

Souta nodded and looked at Sesshoumaru again, "why is your hair so girly?"

Sesshoumaru chose not to answer, and looked at the boy. They stared at each other for what seemed like hours until the doctor came in the room.

"Alright Mr. Higurashi," the doctor said, looking at his papers, "you can go home. Your cat scan proved well, but the concussion must be observed. You can sleep, but only for a half hour at a time, and someone must monitor you at all times."

Souta nodded and tried to sit up, "I understand."

The doctor nodded and smiled at Kagome, "are you his mother? You're quite young."

"I'm his sister," she replied, not liking his smile, and grabbed Sesshoumaru's arm, "and this is my fiancé. We'll be watching him while my mother works this evening."

The doctor frowned at bit, looking at the demon she was currently holding, "I see. Well remember as I said, watch him while he sleeps, and wake him every half hour. Change his bandages every 4 hours, make sure it's a gauze wrap with antibiotics, when you clean it use hydrogen peroxide, it won't hurt him in the least. Give him this medicine if he is in any more pain, he'll probably suffer from migraine's for a while. It's a low dosage of Vicadin but it'll make him feel better, because Souta is so young only give him half a pill when he feels pain. If it continues wait about 4 hours to give another. If the pain continues after that bring him right back here."

Kagome nodded and took the paper before handing it to Sesshoumaru, "you'll hold this right babe? I don't have pockets?"

Sesshoumaru nodded and took the paper from her, opting to stay quiet and question her later.

In the waiting room

"Kagome," her mother called when Kagome walked into the waiting room, followed by Sesshoumaru who was pushing a grumbling Souta in a wheelchair, "what'd the doctor say?"

"He has a concussion," Kagome replied, "and his bandages need to be changed with gauze wraps and cleaned with antibiotics (Neosporin works well) and hydrogen peroxide, and he has been prescribed a low dosage of Vicadin. Give it to him only when his head hurts, and 4 hours after that if it continues, if it's longer then bring him here. Don't worry about work either mama, I'll take Souta for the night."

Kagome's mother stared at her a minute, "Um okay. Well I guess you know what to do, I'll drop some of his stuff at your house on my way to work then?"

"Okay," Kagome said with a smile, "that'll be fine. Sango'll get it fro you, I'm gonna take squirt and get some food. Want me to leave anything for you at your work?"

"No thank you," her mother said, "I ate hospital food. I wont be eating anything for a week."

Kagome nodded and motioned for Sesshoumaru to follow her, pushing Souta along, "you're staying with me. Sango has to work tonight, and it'll give me a chance to understand you better." Sesshoumaru nodded, not sure he liked being bossed around by this simple girl or not.

"Kagome I am leaving for work," Sango said, "InuYasha said he'd drop me off at the apartment, he's headed in that direction."

Kagome nodded, "are you going home? Mama wants to drop some stuff off at the apartment for Sou and I'm taking him for lunch."

"I'm going home long enough to get the car," Sango said, "if you bring me food I won't have to leave early."

"Deal," Kagome said with a grin, "c'mon guys. We gotta get squirt loaded into the car."

"Stop calling me that," Souta whined.

"I will when you're taller than me," Kagome said with a grin, "now let's go."

Sesshoumaru said something to Souta and looked at Kagome, "Kagome, wouldn't you think it'd be better if I brought you all food and you took your brother home?"

"I don't trust you with my food," Kagome replied, ignoring the angry expression on his face, "and I'm only going through a drive thru. It'll take no time at all."

Sesshoumaru nodded, "well I am going to my own home after I help you. I need to get something, and I think Rin'll be good company for your brother."

Kagome nodded, "yeah. What ten year old doesn't want to play with a six year old?"

Sesshoumaru smirked at her, and helped Souta out of the chair and into the car, "exactly. Maybe they'll make friends or something."

Kagome frowned, "you're strange."

"I know," he replied, giving the chair to a nurse and walked around to where Kagome was standing, "but it's one of the way's I'm going to make you love me."

Kagome smiled, "how do you know I already don't?"

Sesshoumaru smirked and placed a hand on her waist, drawing her to him, not speaking until his lips were a centimeter from hers, "call it a insurance policy."

Kagome smirked and allowed him to kiss her, until Souta honked the horn.

"THAT'S GROSS!" he cried, "DO IT WHEN I'M NOT LOOKING!"

Kagome laughed and climbed in the car, "I'll see you later. Shut up Souta, you're 10, not 5. Beside's don't pretend you don't have a girlfriend."

The young boy blushed slightly as Kagome pulled out of the hospital parking lot and drove towards McDonalds to get their lunch.

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"Sesshoumaru what'd you do to her?" InuYasha growled when Sesshoumaru returned to his home to collect Rin.

"Nothing," the other brother replied, "come Rin. We're going to Kagome's for a while."

"YAY!" the child squealed, jumping onto Sesshoumaru's back from where she was on the staircase, "are we going to spend the night with her?"

"Not this night," Sesshoumaru replied, "InuYasha if we need anything will you bring it to us?"

"Do I have a choice?" InuYasha asked.

"Not really," Sesshoumaru said, "just thought I'd attempt to be polite with you. It's a futile emotion so I am done with you. Tell father where I have gone."

"Of course," InuYasha grumbled, before running to his room to call Kagome, "I have to have her back. I won't let Sesshoumaru take this from me."

InuYasha hung up the second he dialed and laid down on his bed to think. What are my feelings for her anyway? Is it because Kikyo dumped me? Well she really didn't, she just said she doesn't want to see me for a while… I should call her.

At Kagome's

"I don't know why I'm allowing him to act this way," Kagome explained to Sango as they ate their meals, "I just… I don't know."

Sango laughed and took another drink of her soda, "just admit it. You're falling for him, it's okay."

"No it's not," Kagome complained, "for the longest time I didn't want to be married to him… now I'm letting him kiss me randomly and flirting with him. It's not supposed to happen this way."

Sango laughed again, "your living in a movie. It's great."

"Shut up," Kagome said, looking at the clock, "I gotta wake Souta. Be back in a minute, Sesshoumaru's coming over. Let him in when he gets here."

"Yes master," Sango replied sarcastically, taking another bite of her hamburger when there was a knock on the door, "c'ng."

When she opened the door, she almost passed out. Sesshoumaru was standing in front of her, but there was a small girl latched onto his back, talking very fast, and he was LISTENING.

"KAGOME!" the girl cried, jumping from Sesshoumaru's back and into the apartment, "she's not here?"

"I'm coming," Kagome called, before emerging from Souta's room, with him in tow, "hey Rin." she said with a grin, hugging the girl as she jumped into Kagome's arms.

"Hi Kagome," the little girl said, "you know what Sesshoumaru told me? Guess."

"I don't know," Kagome said, "what?"

"You have to guess," Rin whined.

"Um…" Kagome pretended to think as she sat on the couch, "he's going to buy you a pony?"

"Do not give her such idea's," Sesshoumaru said darkly, watching in amusement.

"NO!" Rin exclaimed, "he said I can call him daddy if I want!"

Kagome grinned, and smacked Souta's arm, who was currently poking her in the head, "Souta go eat your food. You're acting like a idiot." The boy grumbled something and went into the kitchen. "That's great news Rin," Kagome said with a smile, "Are you hungry? I got you a happy meal. It's in the kitchen with my brother."

Rin nodded and hopped off the couch and ran into the kitchen, "thank you."

Kagome smiled, "you've showed her good manners."

"I try," Sesshoumaru said, smiling after the small girl, "the family she had before wouldn't even tell her right from wrong. But she learned fast with us."

"How long have you had her?" Kagome asked, "she's not that old."

"She is not," Sesshoumaru said, "but she was placed in foster care when she was 2. And everyone want's real babies. So she was bounced around for 2 years when I found her in the park. Her other family was pretty bad I guess, she would go to the park when her other parents would fight. I went there daily to play with her, that's how often they fought, and then I adopted her. She's been mine for two years."

Kagome grinned and got up, "that is amazing. I never thought you were so soft."

"Only with this child," he replied, noticing that Kagome was standing next to him, peering into his eyes, "and you."

Kagome grinned, but squeaked when Sesshoumaru grabbed her by the hips and pulled her into his lap, gently rubbing his nose on the skin of her neck, then Rin raced out of the kitchen, "SESSHOUMARU!"

"Yes," he asked, looking at the small girl.

"Can I play with Souta?" she asked.

"You should not need to ask," Sesshoumaru replied, "as long as you stay in the apartment." Rin nodded and followed Souta to Kagome's room to play video games. "Now," he said with a growl, "where were we?"

Kagome laughed, not sure why she was allowing this to happen, when Sango came out of her room.

"Hey Kagome… oh I'm sorry," she started and ran out of the apartment, her face bright red from finding her best friend… snuggled with her fiancé.

Kagome groaned and leaned her head on Sesshoumaru's shoulder, "I guess we're doomed."

Sesshoumaru chuckled lightly in her ear, "you would be correct."

Kagome didn't look up, but still spoke, "you've become so… I don't know, different recently. Why?"

"They say you change when you've found the one you love," Sesshoumaru said, his hand gently massaging her thigh, "it would prove true. Even in my case."

Kagome giggled, "I guess so."

She didn't know what to do, for some reason she was all of a sudden so comfortorable with him. Sesshoumaru always made Kagome want to shrink away and not be around him, now, she was allowing him to kiss and touch her in a manner that only InuYasha could've done in the past. It was like, overnight Sesshoumaru had managed to weasel his way into her heart and make her feel for him the way he does her. Just as quickly as Kagome's thoughts entered her mind, she felt something warm and soft against her neck.

A.N. AND I'M DONE! Not with this story, but with the chapter. Hehehe, I hope your enjoying it. I know I am. This was such a great chapter to write, review it! I have to know whats going on in your heads! hehehe, don't worry. theyy'rell be action in the next chapter becaues the one after that'll be more 'fluffyness'.