Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, or any of its characters.

A/N: Gah! I know it was late (by like a month), but its here. I apologize for its sucky-ness though. And its pretty short, so hopefully it won't take a month or two for the next chapter. And there is a poll to take on my profile…DO IT! SHOUT OUT TO RubyJeweler, my 100th reviewer!

Chapter 13: And the scars that they bring…

He had kissed her. She had kissed him back. And since she was being honest with herself, Kagome had to acknowledge the fact that they had almost gone further. She sighed, easing herself down into the indoor spring until the water rose to her chin. Only when she was alone did she allow herself to throw a pity party…and what a sad, sad party it was turning out to be.

Sitting up, she stared at her reflection as the water calmed and allowed it to come into view. She snorted; it was obvious he didn't hold any type of feeling for her by the way he had just dismissed both her and the incident, but what about her could have made him act so rashly? She was nothing special. Her skin was tanned irreversibly dark from the hours she spent out in the sun searching for Shikon shards, and freckles dusted her nose and her cheeks now also. She was a little on the short side, only standing at five foot six. She poked herself, grimacing at the feel of the softness of her belly.

He was the Western Lord! He was…perfect! So perfect, that "perfection" was literally in the name of his heir! He was majestic and beautiful, and she was the ningen nanny to his son. That had to be why he had rejected her so harshly…she was nothing like Sesshomaru's pale-faced, tall, slender birth mother…

XXXXX

Even the old maid servant, Mai, had noticed he was at least a little attracted to her.

Her hair was a sea of inky blackness that he imagined was as soft as silk even though it was so thick. His skin was naturally tanned, but hers spoke of the hours she spent out in the sun. Doing what? Only the Kami knew. And even still, combined with her bright cerulean blue eyes, she looked even more exotic. If anything, the adorable smattering of freckles on her face were the only thing that really kept him – and any other man – from jumping her; their subtle innocence toned down her sensuality just enough. She was shaped like a woman should be…like a mother should be…

She was caring and compassionate, the loving caretaker of two inu youkai pups, and what was he? Sure he had status and strength, but he was cold and guarded…nothing like the man a woman like her deserved. He would keep her away, and when Sesshomaru didn't need her anymore, he would release her to find something better…someone better.

XXXXX

So he had been right; not addressing this kiss had made it lots easier to ignore, and what with all she had to do every day with the pups, Kagome did find it slowly moving to the back of her mind. Even if she had wanted to discuss it, the Western Lord had been making himself scarce around the palace in the two weeks that had passed since – he was much too preoccupied as of recent to do much of anything outside of his study. In fact, the only reason Kagome knew he was still alive and in the palace, minus the obvious lack of uproar a sudden departure would cause, was Shippo. Apparently, the Western Lord had been helping him with his combat training every so often.

Kagome giggled as Shippo went on and on about his day, watching with what she hoped looked like rapt attention; unfortunately, even she had to admit – even if only to herself – that when Shippo really got going keeping up with him could be a challenge.

"And then, Kaa-san,"

She made a point to smile at him then, since she knew he had made a point of addressing her now specifically in order to see if she was still paying attention. She mused that he had learned that trick from when she used to come back from the present and complain of her teachers using a similar tactic on her and other students they suspected were dozing off.

"I'm listening to you, Shippo-chan."

She assured; he beamed at her, running through his training circuit one more time for her.

Before –

"Surely Touga knows the repercussions of hiring attractive maid staff."

Kagome shot up from her spot on the soft grass at the sound of the cold voice behind her. She quickly closed the gap between herself and Shippo, conversely separating herself from the stranger, and tugged her son behind her.

"Who are you?"

She questioned the youkai male that now stood before her, the lack of real separation making her very uncomfortable. And the sound of his dark chuckle sent cold chills down her spine in a way that nothing had since…Naraku.

This was a bad man.

"You asking me who I am? Know your place, onna."

He ended his words with his face in a tight sneer. Despite the reasonably warm weather in the garden clearing, Kagome found her entire body struck cold as the strange man raked his eyes over her form. She flared her reiki outward in an attempt to ward him away from her, but he didn't even seem effected. Her miko powers also allowed her to sense youkai energy in her surrounding area, but even as it was, nearly blanketing both him and the entire clearing, she could feel nothing.

It was like he wasn't even there.

"Sesshomaru,"

After he spoke the pup's name, Kagome clutched him closer to her chest.

"I received the announcement of your birth not but six months ago. How could you have grown so big?"

Realization dawned on her as she concluded that he was talking to Shippo, the same realization making her pull him further behind her.

"Ah, but of course, you have no daiyoukai stamp, making you no son of Touga."

Shippo whimpered, clutching so tightly to his mother that his small claws pricked her skin.

"At least…not a legitimate son.

The evil smile that claimed his expression rendered her completely still in fear. With Sesshomaru in her arms she could do next to nothing. She couldn't remember terror like this, and she could hear her own breathing become labored as he advanced on her.

"Do not misunderstand me though, miko,"

He growled, stopping not a foot from her.

"On my own terms, now, I will gladly introduce myself."

He laughed at the war between confusion, fear, and anger in her expression.

"I am-"

"Kirei!"

Kagome gasped, tearing her eyes away from her aggressor, a sense of relief flooding her body.

'Touga-sama.'

Shippo ran from behind her and gripped the newly arrived daiyoukai by the leg, and one look from the Western Lord had her moving quickly behind him as well.

"Are you alright?"

He whispered. Subconsciously, Kagome noted that these were the first words she had heard from the Western Lord in almost a month.

"Fine. We're fine."

She replied, clutching at his haori. He nodded stiffly.

"Get inside. I'll come find you."

She made a sound to assure that she understood, feeling safe enough now to turn her back on "Kirei", as she now knew him, now that Touga was there.

"Well, she is certainly more delectable than Hatsu."

Touga was snarling, really challenging himself with not cutting down the intruder that stood before him on the spot.

"Never speak of her like that again."

His tone dripped with acid similar to the kind he could summon at will.

"What are you doing in my lands?"

A/N: And so it ends with the million dollar question! Meh…I told you it was going to be bad. Review please, and feel free to leave a critique (it's pretty deserved, I think).