Making up

Lady InuKimi looked at her mate. His form was tense and his face blank. She put a gentle hand on his arm, restraining him. He looked at her, and she shook her head.

"He is still young, mate. He has to learn from his mistakes."

Although he didn't shake off her arm, he still growled in protest.

His mate sighed, and framed his face with her hands, "Do not. Let him see himself, the damage he has caused."

The Lord of the West sighed in defeat, and nodded.

"Very well. It shall be as you say."

His mate licked his cheek in approval, and he rumbled.

Seshoumaru presented his prey to his father, who inspected it with a cold eye, and nodded, "You have sufficed."

Seshoumaru's eyes narrowed, "Sufficed?"

His father stared him in the eye, "You are the heir of the Western Lands. You could have done better."

Seshoumaru resisted the urge to snarl, and then noticed something. Kagome's scent was two days old in the royal chambers. That was odd.

He frowned. Her father usually kept her with him, when he wasn't around. Why did he not bring her here for two days?

However, he refrained from asking questions, and bowed stiffly and departed, wanting to catch a glimpse of Kagome.

He looked at the doors of his chambers, and hesitated. Would she be happy to see him? Would she cry? Or would she still hate him?

Pushing aside his fears, he entered his chambers, and looked towards the futon.

Kagome lay in a corner, curled into a ball.

From her scent, he determined that she was asleep. He walked towards her, wanting to see her face.

And his eyes narrowed immediately.

She was thin. Extremely so.

Clenching his teeth, he lef the room, and summoned Higurashi.

The female youkai bowed to him, and he snarled, "Why has she not been taken care of?"

HIgurashi sighed, "She was taken care of, My Lord. However, she refused to eat or drink. She has been listless ever since your departure, My Lord. I tried feeding her, but she spat it out. She would purify anyone who would come near her, including the Lord and Lady. They too could not approach her."

Higurashi hesitated, before continuing, "She has also been having nightmares, My Lord. She screams at night in her sleep. "

Seshoumaru stared at the youkai. Kagome had been that upset?

"Bring some food, now."

Higurashi nodded, and left immediately.

Seshoumaru entered his chambers, and sat down next to Kagome's prone form.

"Kagome."

The girl did not move.

"Kagome?"

She mumbled something in her sleep, and Seshoumaru frowned.

He placed a hand on her delicate shoulder and shook her.

Jostled awake, Kagome blinked frightened eyes into the darkness.

Someone was there! Crying in fright, she flailed her fists in the air. Her Seshou wasn't there to protect her. She was all alone. Tears blinded her eyes, as she struggled furiously against the pair of arms that were trying to pick her up.

"No! No! No! No!"

"Kagome!"

The familiar sharp voice, made her cease her movement, and she stared with tears at the beloved face of her Seshou.

He looked at her tear-stained face, and something cracked inside him.

He had left his little ward alone for three whole days, and she had starved herself because of her grief.

His pride had caused her this much pain.

Suddenly their fight seemed of little consequence, as he saw the still present fear etched on her tiny face. They stared at each other for a few moments before Kagome started crying.

This was no ordinary crying. She wasn't wailing or sobbing. Quiet tears fell down her cheeks, as she mumbled over and over again, "Seshou hates Gome."

Seshoumaru immediately buried his nose in her neck, and shook his head ardently, "That is not true! I do not hate you! I- I care about Kagome, a lot."

His voice cracked on the last sentence as all the pain, and worries of the past few days, came rushing back, and for the first time ever, he felt something wet touch his cheek.

"Gome sorry."

Seshoumaru lifted his head, and stared at the sad face of his ward, and he touched her cheek, hesitantly, "I am also sorry."

Kagome nuzzled his haroi, "Gome good now. Gome eat bad food for Seshou."

Seshoumaru stared at the wondrous child who sat in his lap.

He stroked her hair, and heard her mumbled question, "If Gome be good, then Seshou no leave Gome?"

Seshoumaru looked at her hopeful and yet terrified face. She did love him.

He bent his head, his bangs shading his eyes, and he admitted in a low voice, "I was wrong too, Kagome, for leaving you alone, and ignoring you. You have my word I shall never do that again!"

The last sentence was a fierce promise, and Kagome smiled.

"Gome be good too!"

Seshoumaru held her tight to him, and murmured, "I haven't eaten in three days, either. We shall eat together, and then retire."

Kagome just hummed, her tears forgotten. Her Seshou was not mad at her any longer. All was well in her world.

Unknown to either of them, the Lord and Lady of the West were spying on them, and Inu no Taisho scowled, "She forgave him too easily."

His mate just smiled, and flicked his ear, "Behave, mate. They are happy now. Let us leave them in peace."

That night, Seshoumaru pulled Kagome closer to himself, and she clutched his yukata, murmuring his name in a sleepy daze.

A small smile lifted the corners of the young prince's lips, as he too finally slipped into slumber, peacefully.

A.N: Okay, I know most of you must be thinking that Seshoumaru is way out of character, but he's just ten years old, in human and youkai terms. He's bound to have a little emotion and be a little childish. The Seshoumaru you know is all grown up. Review, and tell me what you think about this latest instalment. Your reviews give me the inspiration to write on.

Love KJ