Kagome was pleasantly surprised to see that the house was empty when she made it back home. It wasn't like she didn't want to see her family, they were the main reason she wanted to visit but she knew she had to talk to Sesshomaru and figured the best way to do that was if they were alone. Except, she didn't know where he was, she felt him near, in the way that a miko always felt Yokai but she was still learning how to use that feeling to find them. She knew he was outside, at least, so she decided to sit by the tree and wait for him to find her. It didn't take long, for someone who was supposed to have a lot of patience, he really only held out five minutes before coming to her.

He long ago stopped denying the effect she had on him, he didn't even bother to try to hold out to look strong, when he wanted her, he went to her. Today was a little different though, he was still mad at himself for having trouble speaking his emotions, it wasn't surprising, he supposed, considering how he was raised, and who his parents were. So instead of talking, he landed next to her after jumping down from the roof and swiftly sat down next to her. They stayed that way in silence for a while before Kagome got her words in order.

"I'm sorry." That surprised Sesshomaru into looking over at her, he wasn't sure what she was apologizing for or if she should really even be sorry. "I shouldn't have gotten so upset and distant. I might have overreacted, I wasn't expecting to, you know, that night and so I might have freaked out a little when I woke up with you in that situation. And then I might have looked for any excuse to get upset and put distance between us. I'm not saying that is what I did, but if I were to do something like that, it would have been pretty childish of me and dumb. And I'd be sorry and promise to try not to do it again."

Sesshomaru wasn't sure if she was apologizing anymore or talking about some hypothetical situation that would explain her reactions. He decided the safest response was no response at all, so he continued to stay quiet. He knew they had some kind of disconnect, not only because humans and demons looked at things differently but also the fact that they were from different times, it was hard for him to understand what her point was, though he was trying. He'd been gaining anger at himself over the last week because he'd not been able to say the words that she wanted to hear, and now it sounded as if she didn't even really care, she was just using it as an excuse to be angry and distant with him.

That angered him, he knew she was younger than him, and less experienced but up until now he didn't think it made much of an impact on their relationship, he was starting to think he might have been wrong. He used the calming techniques his childhood instructor/nanny taught him to try to get his thoughts straight because he felt the anger boiling over. He'd never had much use for these techniques in the past, he was one to use the anger, to turn it into something useful such as when he was fighting but right now he didn't think that would help much.

Once he had better control over himself he took a deep breath and looked over at his little miko. He was able to think more clearly headedly and realized she most likely wasn't explaining herself well, he'd seen her in situations such as this in the past and when she'd get over-excited, worried, and worked up she'd speak a lot very fast and usually whatever came out was not what she meant to say. Plus, though he'd like to pretend he could accept no fault in this situation, he knew that wasn't true. His social and emotional shortcomings (Though he'd never admit they were such to anyone else) were stopping him from giving his mate to be what she wanted and needed and that simply could not be. He'd always strived to be the best at anything he did, fighting learning, ruling, rutting, and now communicating and relying on someone else, though these new tasks he must master don't sound anywhere near as entertaining as the things he'd conquered in the past, conquer them he would.

He reached over to grab her hand and just held it for a while as was the human custom and tried to say the words for her again. That is when he got an idea, he might have a problem expressing himself in the human ways but there were other ways to speak to her. He leaned over to her letting out a low deep growl while running his nose from her forehead all the way down her face to her chin. For some reason, Kagome felt a shiver run down her spine and she felt more calm after he'd done that. She'd been with him long enough to know that was another expression for Inu.

"What does that mean?"

He stayed quiet for a while but Kagome was used to those silences by now. "Kagome, I was raised differently than you were."

"I know that. Well I was pretty sure anyway, you don't talk much about your younger years."

"Yes well, I was raised to be a lord, someone who did not let things as pesky and fickle as emotions rule me, it is how I've lived my life over the centuries and has worked out for me quite well. Then you came along and gave me no choice but to change. I might not show affection in the way you are used to but I do."

Kagome wasn't sure, because he didn't actually answer the question, but she had a feeling what he just did was how Inus showed love. She smiled, she could be happy with that. "Can you do it again? I want to learn."

He quirked his lips up slightly and nodded his head once. He leaned in close again and let a growl out, she didn't know if she was starting to develop something or if it was strictly related to Sesshomaru but the growl really did something to her, this time the shiver down her spine had to be clear to Sesshomaru. He proved her point when he smirked and the growl became more deep and guttural. He used his nose to almost outline one side of her face from the top of her forehead to her chin, she thought that'd be easy enough to copy, minus the growl of course. She lost track of her thoughts when she felt his nose move back up her face and then she felt his tongue trace the curve of her ear. She couldn't stop but let out a shaky breath.

"You smell magnificent, miko." He rumbled lowly into her ear.

The breathy exhale turned into more of a moan at his words, "I do?"

"Oh yes," He pulled back pretty abruptly after confirming, "Unfortunately, I hear that your family has just arrived in that metal monster you call an automobile."

Kagome's eyes were glazed over with lust and if Sesshomaru were the type of being to do so, he'd laugh at her face when his words penetrated her lustful mind. She let out an 'eep!' Before pulling back and looking around. It was only then that she was able to hear the voices of her family talking as they were walking up the stairs. Thank Cami for yokai hearing, that could have been embarrassing. She thought as she stood up to greet them.

Kagome enjoyed the rest of the trip and the fact that they were about to spend time with her family but now that things were no longer strained between her and Sesshomaru, a part of her wished that they didn't come to the future and instead used the time to go to his lands so they could finally become mates. Normally, she'd just suggest going when they got back to the past but she felt bad for making the rest of their group wait for even longer for them.

Oh well, She decided, she'd just have to wait until they had another opportunity to get away for a few days. Sesshomaru was sitting on her floor by the window while she was trying to fit all their supplies into her yellow bag.

"Miko, I don't understand why you do this to yourself."

"What do you mean?" She grumbled while taking all the stuff out again to try to rearrange it to all fit.

"Spend so much time packing it into one bag, use another bag, it's not as if you have to carry them both, they'll fit on Ah-un."

She froze before wondering why she didn't think of that. It wasn't as if she'd hadn't been putting her bag on Ah-Un for a while now, she supposed it was just habit because she hadn't known Ah-Un would be with them when she packed the first time. She felt a little silly for needing someone else to point it out to her, she thought about doubling down, being stubborn about only having one bad so that she didn't feel dumb in front of him but quickly changed her mind. She turned to him and put her hand behind her neck to rub it while laughing awkwardly, "Yeah, that would probably be a lot easier, wouldn't it?"

"Hn."

"You could have said something any of the last five times you watched me do this." She was back to grumbling.

"Yes, but it was quite entertaining watching you try to fit so much into one hideous yellow bag."

"You think my bag is hideous?"

He just quirked his eyebrow at her and she huffed again before going into her closet to find another bag. It took another 15 minutes and three bags total to get all her supplies packed comfortably without squishing everything. Once she was ready he picked up the bags for her but she quickly snatched the yellow one back, "I don't want you to have to carry and be seen with such an ugly bag." She said while sticking her tongue out.

Sesshomaru had to stop himself from moving in and taking her tongue for himself, instead, he smirked at her, "I appreciate that."

She growled, offended, and that sound coming from her made him again want to stop what they were doing so that he could have some time alone with her so that he could get that sound, and others like it, out of her again. She must have seen his intentions in his eyes because she quickly turned around and started making her way downstairs, with an inaudible sigh he followed.

Sesshomaru had noticed that Kagome's mother had been giving him weighing and almost knowing looks during their days in the future and he couldn't help but wonder what she knew, or at least, what she thought she knew. She didn't say anything to him though and so he decided to wait and see if the looks continued through their next visit, if they did, he'd question her then. They said their goodbyes and made their way to the well house, Kagome snuggled into his shoulder when he wrapped his arm around her and they jumped into the well. Kagome might be used to traveling through time at this point but it was still a strange sensation.

They had just landed their feet at the bottom of the well in feudal Japan when Inuyasha poked his head over the edge of the well looking down at them. "About time you two made it back here, we were getting tired of waiting."

"Speak for yourself Inuyasha, I quite enjoyed how friendly all the women of this village are." She heard Miroku chime in from someplace a little further away from the well which made Kagome roll her eyes and feel bad for the villagers.

Sesshomaru, while still holding Kagome tight jumped up and over the edge of the well landing them back safely on the ground. Kagome took a deep breath and felt herself become at ease because she was back here. She decided to not think too deeply about that, she was sure her mama wouldn't like knowing she felt more comfortable in the past than at home with her and her family.

"Yeah Inuyasha, I had a good time taking a break to wait for them.. Plus, I know the longer she's gone the more goodies she's going to come back with." Shippo said as he and Rin ran up to the pair to greet them.

Sesshomaru was surprised when Rin ran up to his legs and wrapped her arms around them while Shippo scurried up Kagome so that he could hug her face, Kagome giggled and hugged him back.

"Kagome, Sesshomaru-sama, Rin missed you!"

"Aw, we missed you too Rin! Were you good for Jaken?"

Both the kids giggled with a look of deviousness in their eyes, Kagome was sure the poor toad had to work his butt off the last few days. Speaking of the toad, it seemed as if the children not getting yelled at for touching his great lord gave him the courage to do the same. When he noticed that Sesshomru was back he ran up to him, squawking his lord's name the entire way, when he made it to Sesshomaru he fell to his knees and wrapped his arms around Sesshomaru's ankles.

"Lord Sesshomaru, Lord Sesshomaru, you're here, you're finally here. I knew you wouldn't forsake your loyal servant and leave me alone with these little monsters for longer than I could handle. Oh, it was terrible my lord, they were so mean, they kept playing tricks and trying to…" he had no choice but to stop when Sesshomaru lifted the leg he was attached to and shook it until the imp lost his grip and went flying.

Sesshomaru huffed internally and didn't think twice about throwing a rock at the imp for good measure. He was not fond of that interaction, what were these humans teaching Jaken? He used to be trained much better than that, it seemed he'd have to be retaught. A small evil smile came over Sesshomaru's face, he did enjoy training the imp the first time around. Kagome gave him a reprimanding look that he decided to ignore, he was willing to do a lot to keep her contented but he wouldn't stand for his servant, loyal as this one may be, to disrespect him in such a way.

Since it was getting late they decided to stay in the clearing for one more night before starting their travels early the next morning. As they sat around the fire Kagome, as always, sat next to Sesshomaru with the children surrounding her. After they ate Kagome asked a question that had been bugging her for a long time now.

"So Miroku, I know you're also looking for the jewel shards but you never told us why."

"I want to defeat a terrible demon that goes by the name Naraku."

"Naraku?"

"Yes, it is the same demon that left me with the cursed hole in my right hand." He said while holding up the hand.

"That sorta demon is this?"

"I know little of him except that he is very wicked and thought to devour people."

"Yeah, go on…"

"According to my father, my grandfather battled Naraku long ago in his youth, it was over 50 years ago. Their battle ensued for several years and each time Naraku appeared before my grandfather he took on the form of a different human."

"He was a shapeshifter, seriously?"

"They say that the last time he appeared before my grandfather he took on the form of a beautiful woman. My grandfather had great spiritual powers but unfortunately, as fate would have it…"

"Don't tell me, he was a lecher…" Kagome asked incredulously.

"Remarkable intuition," Miroku said, sounding delightedly surprised. "Naraku pierced my grandfather's right hand that held his sacred religious seals and managed to escape but not before informing him that the hole in his hand would be passed to his children and their children too so long as Naraku lives. That each generation would be cursed until no more remains. Each year the hole in my hand becomes bigger and the wind evermore powerful. Unless I can defeat Naraku, I will eventually be devoured by it."

"So in other words, you mean it will kill you?"

"Yes, and I am prepared to accept that fate if such is truly my destiny, and in the meantime, I must continue trying to stop Naraku. The sacred jewel of the four souls vanished over 50 years ago and now it's scattered into many tiny shards. Knowing Naraku, he is certain to attempt to gather the fragments in order to strengthen his own malicious power, I'm sure of it. I know this because Naraku once became so close to getting the jewel 50 years ago. In doing so he slew the priestess meant to protect it."

Inuyasha gasped and jumped up, "Did you say he slew the priestess?"

"That's right."

Sesshomaru's eyes sharply flicked to Inuyasha coming to the same realization his little brother was, this Niraku is who really killed Inuyasha's priestess and he must have shapeshifted to Inuyashsa's form to incriminate him. No one does such a thing to his family and gets away with it, it didn't matter that he didn't like his little brother, merely tolerated him, sometimes not even that, this Naraku would pay for the sins against his family. Inuyasha looked to his brother and Sesshomaru could tell his world was shaken, Sesshomaru nodded his head once at Inuyasha, letting him know that he'd help him on his quest for vengeance. Inuyasha's tense frame softened a little at the knowledge that he wasn't alone in this, that even if he couldn't have Kikyo back, he'd have vengeance on the person who took her from him.

Neither Miroku nor Kagome knew exactly what passed between the brothers but Kagome couldn't help but smile, she knew whatever it was, it would bring the two closer. Inuyasha ran up to Miroku and grabbed him up by his collar, "Mirokue, you said the Naraku used to change forms, right? What about now, what does he look like now?!"

Miroku stood up straight, he wasn't going to let Inuyasha try to bully the information out of him."Calm down, if I had that information I would have slain him long ago myself."

Inuyasha let go of Miroku but Kagome was sure she'd never seen him so mad, and she expected, so hurt, he was shaking with it. Kagome opened her mouth to try to comfort him but he didn't give her a chance, as soon as she took a step toward him he growled menacingly. The next thing she knew he was jumping from tree branch to tree branch to get away, she heard him as he was leaving as he said, "I'll be back, get some rest, we're leaving at first light."

Kagome looked after him for a few moments before sighing and turning back to the group. She reached into her shirt and grabbed the jewel shards that she had as a necklace around her neck. "If we keep looking for these jewel fragments, we're sure to run into Naraku sooner or later."

"Precisely, it's why I was willing to travel with you when you begged me."

"Excuse me?" She asked indignantly.

"It's nothing to be embarrassed of, you're a beautiful woman, it's not surprising that you need a strong human man to look after you when the nights get long."

Miroku jumped a few feet in the air and instinctively went for his beads to free his hand when Sesshomaru growled at him in a way that promised his early demise. Kagome laughed awkwardly and ran over to Sesshomaru to calm him down, his growling quieted a little when he had Kagome back in his arms. She quickly turned her ire to Miroku, "You wish, you lecher! You're just lucky we're letting you come with us!"

"You're right, I do wish, and every night I dream of the time my wish will come true."

Sesshomaru's growling became louder and he held out the hand that had started leaking his poison without his consent, which happened from time to time when he became angry enough, he didn't want to ruin his miko's clothing. The monk was lucky Sesshomaru had such great control and his miko and the children were present, he'd be dead before he was able to get his beads unwound from his hand otherwise.

"What are you trying to do, get yourself killed before you can get your revenge?" She asked incredulously, she didn't know what this guy was thinking, she loved Sesshomaru but she knew he was someone who had a temper and who didn't have a problem taking that temper out on people that angered him, that usually ended in that person's death, and all though she wasn't fond of the fact that Miroku kept hitting on her, she certainly didn't want him dead.

"I'm sorry, I was just responding to the vibes you're so clearly giving me," Miroku defended.

The next thing he knew it was the demon that was holding Kagome back from attacking him "No, let me go, let me at him, I'll show him a thing or two about 'vibes'!"

Everyone was even more surprised when sweet Rin ran up to Miroku and kicked him in the shin, "You don't talk about Kagome-sama like that!" She demanded.

It certainly calmed Kagome down and the next thing anyone knew, Kagome was giggling at Rin's antics, and before long that giggle turned into a full-on belly laugh. Seeing Kagome so happy calmed Sesshomaru down, it was only his instincts that made him so angry, made him think someone was after my mate he knew that he had nothing to be angry about, Kagome was loyal, and on top of that she was strong, he knew that she could handle a male like the monk on her own, that he had nothing to worry about (although he'd always be there if she didn't feel like dealing with males such as he). There was a difference between knowing the truth and your instincts though, his instinct would always tell him to conquer anyone, no matter how small and inconsequential, who tried to get between him and his mate.

The rest of the night went much more smoothly, Kagome cuddled up against Sesshomaru who was sitting with his back against a tree, which was becoming the normal, and the kids cuddled around them. Kagome couldn't stop the stray thought 'I can't wait until we have the rest of our children but for now, I can be happy with just our first two, adopted as they may be, they're still ours.'

Miroku, rightly scared of the daiyokai as he was, slept on the exact opposite side of camp as them. It wasn't until much later, after all the humans and children were asleep that Inuyasha came back, he perched at the top of the tree that his family was sleeping against, and he worked hard to ignore the strange feelings he had for his soon-to-be sister in law, but he knew they loved him and felt like tonight was the night to be close to them. Sesshomaru almost didn't say anything to Inuyasha, his instincts were to not respond to his brother's pain with words, actions would be the only thing to help him. But after an hour of this brother perched atop him, he couldn't help but to let out some words of comfort, he blamed Kagome for his weakness. "We'll get him, Inuyasha, you needn't worry, you'll have your just-deserved revenge."

"Keh, thanks." It was more a rumble than a response, if Sesshomaru wasn't Yokai he wouldn't have heard. Sesshomaru knew he could say more but he had no intention to, he got his point across.

Sesshomaru closed his eyes and pulled his future mate closer, he needed her close, the soul bond that pulled him together was constant now, pulling him and her together he wasn't sure if he'd be able to handle her taking a trip through the well without him at this point, though he'd never say that out loud. She was no longer a want, she was a need and truthfully, he didn't care, he didn't want it any other way. He loved her, regardless if he could say it out loud or not. Which he still cringed thinking about because he was not a weak male and not being able to say three small words sure made him feel weak and small. In fact, he was done, he decided. He'd make her his, and now, he thought about shaking her awake right now, they weren't far from his families land, from the place all in his clan who had power went to mate. He could take her there, mate with her, and have her back by morning with no one the wiser. He stopped himself though, those thoughts were just his baser urges and he was smarter than that, stronger, more than that. He wouldn't let his instincts and his needs, strong as they may be, control him. He was Sesshomaru, the current Inu Taisho, and he would be for a long time if he had anything to say about it. He's had his way with his miko and made her his mate, he was sure of that, he'd do it right though, regardless of how much he wanted to rutt her right here right now.

No, tomorrow he'd' tell his pack to stay where they are, then he'd take her on his cloud and bring her to the cove, the cove that his family has used for over a millennia, the cove that not only brought more power to them during the mating but brought more power to the land. He'd do it right, he was Sesshomaru, Inuyokai, the strongest being in the land and he could manage to keep his dick in his pants until an appropriate time, no matter how much it wanted Kagome right now. Sesshomaru stayed up and kept watch while his pack slept, Kagome, as always, was at his side curled up, tonight she used Moko-moko as a pillow and blanket while the two children were curled up around her. Something about that image brought Sesshomaru great contentment and joy.