Kagome left the bath first and caught a glimpse of Mal on Sesshomaru's arm, and she knew where they were going. Mal was a dominant female for sure. Kagome shook her head and found her room and shut the door behind her. Most of them shared a room; it would seem the wives had grown found of sleeping together, Kagome was glad to have her own room. Unlike them, she needed time alone. She walked to the mirror and lowered her dress down, and looked at her back. It was a mark straight across her back from her shoulder to hip. She flinched, looking at it.

Stupid jewel.

"Uh, Lord Touga, what are you thinking,"

She knew now why she was here. She was supposed to test him, push him, fight, for it brought out his inner demon. That was made clear in the bath they shared. She got him all fired up, and he called Kaugra out to take his heat in a primal way. She was a tool. Always a tool for someone or something.

This jewel was no blessing of power; it was a fucking curse that could make her bleed but never die.

A knock came, and Kagome pulled up her dress and turned, "Yes?"

Kio poked her head in. "Hey, I was told to come and give you a rundown for tomorrow,"

"Uh, ok,"

She wondered why it wasn't Kaugra.

Kio came in. "As you know, Mal is a panther demon,"

Kagome nodded,

"Her lands are in a vast jungle, and it is quite dangerous. You must heed and take care, for the men are lustful and deadly, and the women are very protective and jealous,"

Kagome nodded, but Kio moved in closer. "And be on very high alert if you meet her brother, Naraku,"

Kagome raised an eyebrow,

"He is very handsome and very good at putting spells on women,"

"I don't have to worry about that,"

"You aren't immune to everything, Lady Miko; please be careful,"

Kagome smiled. "Thank you, Kio,"

Kio smiled back and then rubbed her hands together,

"Are you cold, Kio?"

"We normally sleep together,"

Kagome looked back at her bed, maybe having a friend near wouldn't be so bad after all, all they had was each other.

"You can stay with me,"

"You don't mind?"

Kagome smiled and shook her head no. "Better you than Kaugra,"

"Or Mal," Kio said, and they both giggled.

They talked until they both fell asleep, and that is how he found them when he went to check on them. Kio was curled up, and Kagome was humming with protective power over her. At least she bonded with one of them; otherwise, her life would remind boring, cold, and lonely. The Next morning Kagome got settled into walking just has she had before when Mal made her way out looking refreshed.

"Well, you're glowing," Kagome said without meaning to.

Sesshomaru wasn't far behind them, ushering the other wives out.

"Why would I not be, I am headed home, and I have spent the night in my Lord's bed,"

"I really didn't need to know that,"

Mal ignored her and walked ahead and took to the carriage. One by one, everyone took their places, ready for travel. But then Sesshomaru brought a horse to Kagome.

"I thought I was walking,"

"If you wish to add to your scars,"

"The land we travel to is not for humans, Miko," Kagura told her from her floating feather, "Just say thank you,"

"Thank you," She said flat.

Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow as Kagome started to help herself onto the horse. He grabbed the bow on her back at stilled her. "Remove this,"

"But it's my bow,"

"Remove it, or ill break it,"

She sighed and did as she was told; meanwhile, he settled onto the horse before she could see him do it.

"What, hey, aren't you supposed to be with her?"

"If you were not human, I would be,"

She hung her bow. "Cant I ride with one of the others,"

"You are not their obligation, Miko,"

"Right, just yours, you could have just left me,"

"Can we go pleased!" Mal snapped,

Sesshomaru offered his hand, and Kagome slowly took it and found herself sitting up front, her back to his chest.

"This is as close as you will ever get to me, Miko, enjoy it,"

She swallowed and tried to think of anything other than his body, warm and strong against her, as the horse moved.

"I was told her people are lusty,"

"They are; mind yourself when I am not near,"

"How did you end up with her?"

"She is strong,"

Kagome was silent, having nothing to say about that.

"Her people are strong and have no allies," He added.

"Ah, I see, and what happens if she becomes pregnant,"

Sesshomaru stopped the horse, and this made Kagome look at him. "What?"

"Do you think it will be she?"

Kagome looked back at the wives, who were far ahead now. "I think her or Kaugra,"

Sesshomaru snorted,

"What?"

"Kaugra would be a horrible mother,"

"That's not nice,"

"Her words, Miko, she has no wish to be a mother,"

"Then, why?"

"I simply freed her, and her life is owed to me, and in part to appease my father for that year,"

So, in other words, they were using one another,

"We have an understanding,"

"You have a relationship with benefits,"

"It's not benefits when you married Miko,"

"Isn't it, though?"

"Not when I am free to fuck whoever I want,"

Kagome blushed and kicked the horse, making it go. Sesshomaru smirked slightly behind her. "Does that word make you uneasy, Miko?"

"How is that fair,"

"Life isn't fair, Kagome,"

They had silence for a bit. "Do you?"

"Do I what?"

"Sleep with whoever you want?"

"Fuck, Miko, I fuck,"

Kagome closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, damn him. She wasn't going to let him win this. She turned her head, "Fine, do you fuck whatever you want?"

His eyes went serious as they met hers. "I am not a whore, Miko, nor a drunken idiot, I have no need of whores when I have wives,"

Kagome turned and rolled her eyes, yeah he had wives.

"You didn't answer my question,"

"What question?"

"What happens if she is pregnant,"

"She isn't,"

"So you just,

"Pull out,"

"I didn't need to know that,"

"Yet you asked,"

"It was more of an unfinished rhetorical statement!" She sighed heavily, "But what happens when one day you dont pull out," Gods, that was hard to say.

"Then she is pregnant; I do not understand your question,"

She was silent.

"You think it will free you?"

"Won't it?"

"My Lord!" Mal interrupted, and they both looked forward. "We are entering,"

"Hai, move forward,"

Their conversation would have to wait for another day.

"How come the other wives can enter alone,"

"Because they have been here, you have not,"

"And I'm human,"

"I do not need a reminder, woman,"

Soon open land became grassy, then tall grass, the wooded and then lush jungle. Dry jungle with a misty wet jingle. Kagome loved the colors and the sounds.

"It's beautiful here,"

"That is what it wants you to think, but heed my warning, Miko wife; it is deadly,"

"More so than you?"

"Nothing is more deadly than I, Kagome, and you know it; heed me least you find out,"

She said nothing, which meant she would listen to him. He was pleased, for now.