Chapter 8

The children had played except for Rin who was still resting from her ordeal, Kagome watched happily as the children played in the field in front of her, the sun was now set over the hills and the fireflies came out to play. Kagome stood up, detecting an evil aura.

"Children! Back over her with me."

The children heard her warning and quickly made their way back to her standing behind her for protection. Kagome quickly ushered them back into the castle and flared her aura.

The lords were still where Kagome had left them when Sesshomaru felt Kagome's aura flare. He stood quickly and ran towards her knowing she wouldn't unless trouble was near, seeing shippo and the pups of the north run inside the palace without Kagome startled him but also filled him with pride as his mate made sure the pups were in safety before facing the danger.

Before long he was joined with the other lords as they all stood behind Kagome while she battled nuraku.

The battle was fierce as Kagome used her miko powers and made a bow appear in her hand.

"And what do you hope to accomplish, I will squish you like the pathetic, weak human you are. I will then claim the jewels for myself"

His laugh filled the area as he sent a tentacle at her, she quickly jumped out of the way but it still had managed to leave a gash on her shoulder big enough for the bone to poke out she still didn't scream out in pain as much as she wanted to she wouldn't give him the satisfaction to hear her scream. Kagome looked up when she heard a vicious growl and saw that Sesshomaru joined the fight against the vile hanyou.

Inuyasha and miroku had been running towards the western lands, they felt nuraku's aura and were determined to find it to find him. After what felt like hours they jumped into the clearing in front of the castle, they watched to asses the situation before jumping into battle. As they watched they saw Sesshomaru battling viciously his beast in control, they watched as the north, south and east lords had jumped in.

"I don't get it, Sesshomaru is strong, not only that but he has help from the three other lords of the lands why has his beast taken over, I've found sango but I don't see Kagome"

Miroku voiced his concerns his eyes again scanning the area for what he could have missed

Inuyasha scoffed

"She's probably hiding since he won't protect her like we did. She had it easy with us"

Before miroku could respond Inuyasha was already running into the heat of the battle. Miroku had decided now was as good of a time as any other to join in too since the baka couldn't be bothered to assess the situation first, he mentally cursed the hanyou.

The joined group battled for hours, Sesshomaru had landed a few hard blows to nuraku wearing him. He smirked when his eyes caught Kagome reading another arrow, he whispered a chant that activated the hold he had over Inuyasha.

"Inuyasha. Kill Kagome."

Everyone hearing what he had said, there eyes had looked at the hanyou who's own eyes were now void of emotion and life. He lifted Tessaiga towards Kagome as he ran towards her. His voice was not his but void of any kind of life

"Backlash Wave!"

He threw the sword to the ground and released the attack, everyone's hearts were in their throats for none of them could reach her in time try as they might, even koga with his increased speed was unable to get to Kagome in time before she was consumed in high winds that would have shredded even the strongest of demons.

"KAGOME!"

everyone screamed in unison, nuraku's evil laughter once again filled the area booming off of the empty valleys before he disappeared, sure that his newest little puppet had just gotten rid of his biggest threat.

When the winds cleared they noticed a bright pink light overshadowed Kagome's form, quickly and little by little the pink barrier began to crack before completely shattering like broken glass and falling all around her, she collapsed onto the ground. Her eyes caught the looks on everyone's faces and noticed the void look still in inuyashas as he walked towards her. She heard Koga and Sesshomaru's threatening growls telling him to keep away from her. Within an instant Sesshomaru had her in his arms while Koga stood in front protecting them. With the last of her energy she spoke.

"Inuyasha. SIT"

Those with youki hearing heard her words before the darkness claimed her. Within seconds Inuyasha was in a deep crater six feet into the ground, his form not moving. Sesshomaru heard the slayers and monks question.

"Sesshomaru is she…"

The slayer was informal but he let it slide as he heard her choke on the next word of her sentence, given the circumstances he would not reprimand her this time.

"No, she is not dead..only sleeping. I am unsure how she managed to survive the ultimate attack of the tessaiga but she is still badly hurt"

He looked to the crater where his brother lay unconscious and anger grew over his body.

He looked to the lords.

"It's going to take all three of you in case he wakes again, take him to my dungeons. I will deal with him myself"

The mix of cold and poison in his voice didn't escape anyones ears, they all nodded before doing as he bidded. It was tradition when a lord chooses a woman for a mate she must pass a test of strength first but for the first time in over eight thousand years she would not have to for she had already proven her strength while she battled the hanyou then withstood the full brunt of the attack. She may be human but she was indeed strong.

Sesshomaru had laid Kagome on his bed, he undressed her to tend to her wounds. He noticed her shoulder and knee when she got it. His inner beast had spoke

-*she's so determined to prove that she isn't weak she didn't back down when she was fatally wounded*-

He licked her wounds so they could start healing. He continued to do so until he saw, smelled and saw no other injuries. He finally answered his beast.

-*she is strong in her own right, the next time we face nuraku she will be the one to bring him down and send him to hell*-

His beast growled in agreement. He wasn't sure when or how but just within a couple days she had won his beast. She hadn't won him completely but she had him at least considering him and that was a tough battle all of its own. She slowly laid beside Kagome wrapping her in his arms, careful not to move her too much to cause any discomfort or pain, but enough that she was safe in his embrace. His nose laid in her hair and took him in, her scent had relaxed him so much he had fallen completely asleep.

Weeks have passed and Kagome still had not woken up, everyone in the castle had begun to worry for the miko that had captured their hearts. The sun began to rise on the start of the third week and Kagome began to stir, she opened her eyes to see golden eyes full of love and worry, she smiled weakly.

"Hello koi"

He reached down and nuzzled her neck, her hand came up and cupped his cheek. With a rough voice she spoke quietly

"Killing perfection, the great lord Sesshomaru worried for a pathetic human like me? Oh come now, you would have been save from dumping me to find a more suitable mate to bear your pups"

Sesshomaru looked at her and shook his head

"No never, you will be my mate. There is no one who is more suitable for me than you, there is no one who I want more than you. You koi are strong, not pathetic. As long as I have air in my lungs Kagome, you will always be my queen, my mate, my heart, my strength and my love. I have never known love in my life, my father perished while I was young and my mother only cared about being a ruler and preparing me to be the ruler she wanted me to be, she not once showed the love that you've shown our pups or the love you will show the pups we create. Kagome if you will allow me, I want to meet your family so I may get your parents permission to be your mate. I want you by my side for the rest of my life."

Before she could speak he crushed his lips onto hers, she kissed him back, he didn't let the kiss last for long before parting from her despite her protest.

"Now come my mate, you need to eat and I know several people will be happy to see you up and walking"

She smiled, happy tears falling down her face at his proclamation she nodded and began to sit up with his help. He got her sitting up in the bed, while she slept he had her clothes brought to his room. He went to his wardrobe and pulled out a simple kimono, he helped her dress and watched as she took a brush to her hair. She attempted to stand up on her own but wavered, he quickly caught her and helped her into the dining hall.

The doors opened for them to reveal a table full of people waiting for Sesshomaru's arrival, when all their eyes caught Kagome everyone sighed a breath of relief. Both shippo and Rin had ran to their mother tears in their eyes as they hugged her legs.

"Mother!"

Both of the kids were crying heartfelt sobs at the possibility of losing their mother, Kagome sat on her knees not caring what the other lords thought of her for doing so, she wrapped both her children up in a tight hugged while she soothed their achy hearts.

"Hush now, I'm alright, everything will be ok. I promise. I will never leave either of you behind. I love you both so so much"

Both children looked up at her, quieting down as she spoke. In between sniffles they spoke at the same time.

"We love you too mother.."

Kagome smiled warmly at her children as she stood up with help of Sesshomaru.

"Now let's go eat, they have worked hard on our breakfast..and Rin, no more citrus. We don't need a repeat of last time."

Rin nodded as she attempted to help her mother sit down comfortably and went to take her own seat. The table was full of smiling faces and laughter. Kagome noticing the southern lord spinning a tale that had everyone's attention, she leaned over and spoke to miroku.

"Hey. I'm so happy to see you. But I'm afraid I need to ask a grim question. What has happened to Inuyasha, he wasn't himself when he attacked me..his eyes were completely void but I didn't sense or see kana"

He sighed, he should have figured she'd be the one to get straight to the point she was never one for beating around the bush.

"To be honest with you Kagome, I do not know. I have questioned this myself. Even before the battle he was not himself, I have tried to look at different scrolls to see what could have happened or what the cause was and I have found nothing."

He stopped for a moment questioning if he should clue Kagome in or not and decided that it would be best so they could work together and try to save their friend.

"Kagome..you remember the night we slayed the panther demon, you and sango had went to bed early?"

She nodded, remembering the night like it was the night before.

"Yes. What about it?"

"Well"

He started, knowing this was a lot for kagome at the time being but he knew she needed to know.

"We had spoken since you two and shippo were completely asleep, he had mentioned that he was going to find Kikyo and tell her to go to hell without him, he knew they held no future together and he wanted you. He had finally come to his senses and was honest with himself about how he felt for you. After he left he was gone for hours, and when he came back his aura had shifted. At the time I thought nothing of it other than it was hard for him to let go of his past."

"Kyiko? What does she have to do with any of this?"

Miroku sighed

"I don't think she's tied in directly but what if kana or nuraku had intercepted before he reached her and had done something similar to kanas mirror?"

Kagome thought about her friend's words, it was possible. But wouldn't they have noticed? Questions and possible solutions came into her head.

It wasn't long after that everyone had begun to part ways except for Kagome, Sesshomaru, Rin and shippo. Kagome began to question it until her eyes had seen the northern lord and lady standing in the doorway with pups in tow.

"Lady Kagome"

The lady of the north began as she had gotten on her knees and bowed deeply to Kagome.

"I wanted to thank you for protecting the lives of my pups and mate during your battle with the hanyou. I have asked for my mates permission and was granted my request, so I humbly offer to you. At any time you or the west needs help. Please allow us to be the first ones you call upon. I know we will never be able to pay our debt back to you, whatever you need it will be yours, we will come running."

Kagome quickly scrambled to raise the last of the north off of her knees.

"My lady please, I do not require any debt to be paid. For if your mate wasn't here, I am unsure if my home would still be standing or if I would still be standing. We were in battle on the same side, I was more than happy to help in anyway I could provide. As for the pups, all children deserve to be happy and allowed to be children no matter the species. It should be I who is asking for forgiveness for putting your children in harm's way, if I hadn't spoken out of place and asked for them to join me and my pups they wouldn't have been in harm's way to begin with. I hope you can forgive me."

The lady smiled at Kagome before hugging her tightly. When she let go of Kagome she turned to Sesshomaru.

"I hope you take good care of her, she is a gem that you have found. She has strengthened the Alliance between our two nations more than I thought possible."

Sesshomaru had smiled as his chest swelled with pride for his mate.

"Of course I will take care of her, our lands need a ruler like her."

With that done everyone stood. Kagome had shippo on her hip and Rin standing in front of her and Sesshomaru happily waving goodbye as they saw to their guests safe departure.