Sesshomaru stepped closer. "You will prove useful yet, Kagome, but hear me, woman, I will not let you disrespect me again; the others would not be so lucky as you have been."

"Lucy?" She breathed, "I'm lucky?"

He leaned down, "Your humanity cannot save you every time, woman, and I will not have you causing the others to think that they can speak out of terms."

He was warning her for the last time.

"We are not children anymore, though I cannot call you a woman, can I?"

He backed up, and she turned red.

"You!" She began,

"Me, what, Miko?"

He was teasing her, testing her, wanting it. She narrowed her eyes, "I'm not going to give you the satisfaction, Sesshomaru."

He smirked, "You wouldn't know how," He turned and began to walk away.

"No good dirty dog." She gritted,

"Demon hearing," He said,

"Very away, husband of mine."

He went silent. The game was set and matched.

They were both silent the rest of the way.

Sesshomaru took his place at the font with Oceana, "You smell like her now." She said, and he glanced at her, "I fail to see your point, woman."

"Am I not to smell like you? Are you not to smell like me? These are my lands we travel to, to my father."

He stopped and glared, "Do you think to reprimand me?"

"I only stated the facts, my Lord."

"I do not need your facts; your jealousy is unbecoming."

"Jealous?" She stopped, "Of her, surely, my Lord, you jest!"

He did not like the raise of her tone; he growled, but she did not submit.

"You insult me," She said, pointing her chin high.

He had her by the neck in a blink. Everyone had caught up and was now watching.

"Watch Kagome; this shall be a lesson to you," Kagura whispered.

"Is it not you, woman, who insult me?" He squeezed slightly, "Daughter of God, you may be, but you belong to me to be nothing more than a handmaiden in my chambers to which I do not call you too often."

She didn't fight back at first, "I beg your forgiveness," Though her voice was cold. "Surely, my Lord will overlook this as you have overlooked her."

"This is what he warned you about, Kagome," Kagura whispered.

"You make one fatal mistake Oceana," He said close to her ear. "You are not weak and are of demon blood." His eyes flashed "Do not think to trick me, now shall we show the human?"

He growled louder and pressed his demonic power down her til she could not breathe.

"Sesshomaru," Kagome went to step forward, but Kaugra grabbed her hand and shook her head no.

Sesshomaru yanked the girl's head to the side, but he did not bite her neck. Instead, he ripped the back of her dress, showing her shoulders off, and then tossed her to the ground.

"There is your mercy, woman." Then his eyes met Kagome', and she was trembling. Good.

"Move out," He snapped.

No one was to help Oceana up, and she would have to enter her homeland in shame.

It was a lesson Kagome learned well. Not that she feared for herself; she feared for them. Yes, they were strong in their own rights and could hold their own in their own right, but Sesshomaru had an advantage over them that he did not over her. They were all demonic and had a sense that she was missing. Dominance would rule solely by instincts to them. She had come to like them really and did not want to see them hurt because of her. Then, the thought of children came to her mind. She would not want to act out in front of children. She did not want them to see that. But she also didn't want them to be afraid.

Kagome could only hope time would change things, laws, and people.

But one had to start the movement if there was to be one.

So, she had another choice to make.

But Kagome would not change in the course of one night. Kagura watched; she could see the wheels tuning in Kagome's head.

"Can you swim?" Kagura asked out of the blue.

"Yes, why?"

"Just making sure one of us won't have to save you."

"Save me?"

Just then, they came to a lake that held one boat.

"Are we here?" Kagome asked as night began to fall.

"Yes and no," Kaugra spoke,

"Oceana and Kio will go first," Sesshomaru stated.

Kagome watched as they boarded the small wooden boat, and Kio paddled out to the middle of the lake. They sat there for a moment; then, the boat began to sink. Kagome gasped, and Kaugra put her hand up, "You will have to hold your breath, Miko."

Soon, the boat came back up, and the women were missing.

Kagome always liked adventure, but suddenly, she wasn't feeling the water.