Chapter 8: Visits

One month had passed since the battle with Naraku had happened. I wasn't sure what it'd be like. Having to be the mate of the Western Lord, but I never expected it to be boring. I had learned the maids, servants, and guards' names. I made sure to become familiar with them; seeing as I would be here for the foreseeable future. To make the time go faster, I slept, I read, and I even tried a little. I spent most of my time with Rin. We did the same thing we did every day. We explored the grounds. We had tea and we talked. Rin would spend hours making my new dresses. It was sweet and I appreciated it. I would sit by Rin's side and read while she made them. As much as I enjoyed spending time with Rin. All of this was becoming repetitive. I was used to traveling at my leisure. My entire life since I was fifteen had been an adventure. It was all I knew. Now, I would no nothing but this place. I was slowly starting to accept that this was my life now. I was getting used to everything, even their strange shoes. It had been about three weeks since I had last seen Sesshomaru. I'm sure he was off doing whatever it is, that Lords/princes do. Still, even when he was here, he wasn't really here. I often went to bed alone. We did not speak much. I mean what did I expect? Love? Friendship? Nothing that serious, but being treated like an acquaintance would be better than this. We made a deal that benefited us both and that was all. This is what I signed up for. So, did I even have the right to feel… unsatisfied? I sat in the courtyard with Rin. I smiled as I watched her. She still made flower crowns like she did when she was a child. Life wasn't the best here, but at least I had Rin. She always knew how to make someone smile. Still, I couldn't help but wonder how everyone else was doing.

"Are you alright Lady Kagome?"

I snapped out of my thoughts and gave her a small smile.

"Of course". I lied. "I'm just a bit tired I guess."

A horn blared in the distance.

Rin smiled brightly.

"Lord Sesshomaru has returned."

She took off and I looked back down, continuing to read my book. I could hear him approaching me. I thought I could ignore him but he stopped directly in front of me. I looked up at him. He held his hand out to me.

"My Lord?" I said slightly annoyed.

"I wish to speak to you, Kagome."

I sighed and took his hand, getting up. He pulled me back toward the palace gates. Passing Rin she had a huge grin on her face. We continued in silence like that for quite some time. He suddenly came to a stop. I looked around. We were in the middle of the forest.

"What are we doing here?"

"I am unable to concentrate."

"Okay… well why?"

"You are the cause."

I threw my hands up in the air. "What, how? You haven't been here in forever. How could I possibly be distracting you?"

He touched the mark on my neck. It made my hair stand on end.

"Your feelings are no longer your own," he said, dropping his hand.

I put my hands on my hips.

"Well, I'm not sorry that I have feelings."

He pinched the bridge of his nose. "If there is something you wish for. All you have to do is ask for it. I cannot read your mind."

I stayed quiet and wrapped my arms around myself, looking at the ground. He took a step towards me.

"You are unhappy here."

"I miss my friends… I am lonely here, Sesshomaru." I said simply.

"Why have you not gone to see them?"

I looked up at him. "I can do that?"

"You are Lady of the West, you can do as you please. You are not a prisoner here."

I dropped my arms to my sides. I felt silly.

"Oh."

I took a step toward me leaning down. "Is that the only way that you are lonely?" He asked quietly.

It took me a second to realize what he meant. I felt my face get hot. I quickly backed away from him, and almost tripped in the process. He straightened up.

"You are my mate. It is my responsibility to cater to your needs. All of your needs."

Responsibility. The word echoed in my mind as a reminder. That is all this would ever be.

"What I want is to see my friends. That is all..." I trailed off.

He grabbed me by the wrist and pulled me into him. A white light surrounded us. It felt like I was floating, then it felt like we were moving at full speed. I felt like I was going to be sick. We had landed about ten minutes ago. It took me about five of them to stop being dizzy. We were just at the entrance of the village. We walked in quietly until he spoke.

"There will be a gathering soon. To introduce you to the other as Lady of the West. I will get you a governess to teach you the ways."

"If I refuse?"

"You cannot."

I sighed. "Great."

"You are still angry. Why?" he asked plainly.

I huffed.

Why was I angry?

My shoulders slumped.

"I do not know. I'm sorry."

"Hn."

"Kagome?"

I turned to see Mirkou and Sango standing there. She ran over to me and gave me a tight hug.

"God, I missed you so much," I said

She kissed me on both cheeks. Miroku tried to hug me too but Sesshomaru stuck his arm out, separating us. I looked at him, but he was staring straight ahead. Mirkoku gave him a sly smile, stepping back.

"It is alright Lady Kagome. You are newlyweds after all. No man wants a man touching his woman. Especially not according to demon customs."

I could feel myself blushing, I punched him in the arm.

"Oh shut up, will you? I'm guessing Inuyasha told you."

He nodded. "He told anyone and everyone who would listen. It is safe to say, he is not very happy about you coupling with his brother."

Sango flipped her hair over her shoulder. "Serves him right. He was an idiot for thinking she would wait on him forever."

"Hn. Indeed." Sesshomaru quietly chimed in.

"Are you staying?" I asked him.

He came closer to me. "Do you wish for me to stay?"

I cleared my throat, turning away as I tried to hide my embarrassment.

"I guess it would be fine if you stayed," I mumbled walking away.

It was nice seeing everyone again after such a long time. We sat, ate, and joked. Sesshomaru stuck close by my side. He did not say much. He only sat there quietly with his eyes closed. Inuyasha was nowhere to be seen. Maybe it is for the best, that he wasn't here. I didn't want the two to end up in a fight. The mark on my neck was tingling. It was a warm comforting feeling. It felt like I was being pulled toward him. I unconsciously rested my head on his shoulder, and I felt his hand on my knee. The moment I had, everyone had stopped talking. I sat up straight embarrassed.

"What?" I asked.

"Kagome, could I speak to you in private?" Sango asked.

I nodded, following her out of the hut and into a clearing.

"Now that we're out of earshot. Kagome what were you thinking? Mating Sesshomaru, of all people. He tried to kill you once, and Inuyasha many times."

"I wanted to stay alive Sango. I wanted all of you to stay alive. I made a deal with him, and we're better off because of it. I only made that deal with Kikyo because I knew we needed her help. I wanted to keep all of you alive even if it meant putting my own life on the line. I saw a way out and I took it. About the trying to kill me part, he has apologized for that. We have moved past it. Besides, he does not mistreat me. He is the reason I am still alive Sango."

"Do you love him?"

"Of course not. I barely know him."

"Then what's with the way you're acting? Telling him you want him to stay, and leaning on him like that?"

I touched my neck. "It's the mating mark, it makes me behave strangely, him too. Even though I don't have any romantic feelings for him. It's as if my body has a mind of its own."

"This bond is for life Kagome."

I sighed. "I know, but we're all here. That's all that matters."

She sighed. "Alright, I just-"

"Kagome."

I turned around to see Inuyasha standing there.

"Why are you here? Did my brother throw you out already? Serves you right."

Ignoring him I grabbed Sango's hand, trying to walk away from him, but he got in the way.

He scowled. "Oi, I was talking to you! How does it feel to be thrown away by me and my brother."

I had a knot in my stomach. That was a low blow even for him, but I wasn't going to let him speak to me that way.

"How does it feel to be thrown away by another priestess?" I shot back. "Even in death, Kikyo didn't want you. Do you remember what she tried to do to you? The reason you hate her so much. You crawled back to her and begged her to take you back. She had gotten so annoyed with you that she tried to send you to hell. This time on your own, and who had to come and save your ungrateful ass? ME!"

He scowled at me. He wasn't the only one who could say hurtful things. I saw a bright green light, followed by. The sound of a whip cracking through the air. Inuyasha cried out in pain, dropping to the ground. Sesshomaru stood behind him.

"This is the third time that I have told you to watch your words half-breed."

He came over to me, stepping on Inuyasha's back.

"You son of a bitch!"

"Consider this an extension of my grace half-breed. She is the only reason you are still breathing. However, if any words leave your lips that are meant to insult her for a fourth time, then you will not live to do it again."

He took my hand pulling me away. I looked over at Sango, mouthing the words I'm sorry.

Maybe we shouldn't have come.

We strolled quietly through the forest. The moon was full tonight, so thankfully it was not pitch black.

"Is it safe to walk through the forest at night like this?" I asked him.

"No low-level demon would dare to try and attack while I am near."

"I see… Thank you. For sticking up for me."

"You are my mate, you are my responsibility. It is my duty to protect you, and your honor."

Responsibility. There was that word again.

"I can still feel your uneasiness," he said.

"It's not fair that you can read me so easily. Meanwhile, I'm still struggling to understand yours."

"It comes with time. What plagues your mind?"

"Well, I guess you can say I'm coming to terms with this… being someone's mate. The way it all happened; how fast it had happened. We're basically in a contractual marriage. This is not how I wanted this to happen. I had pictured a fairy tale ending."

"You wish for love."

I nodded.

"Hn. I can offer you many things-"

"But love is not one of them." I finished for him. "I've already accepted that much. Like I said, I'm just coming to terms with things. That's all." I said quietly.

I didn't want to talk anymore. By his silence, I am sure he could feel that.

I made this bed, now I would have to lay in it despite the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.