Human Compensation

“I can’t believe I’m finally going to meet the man I've heard so much about at work,” Kagome told Inuyasha as they stood in front of the door. 'Maybe I can talk him into letting me go,' she thought.

Instead of ringing the door bell, Inuyasha banged on the door with his fist. “Hey! Open this damn door. I know you saw us driving up!” He yelled.

"Inuyasha, stop being so rude," Kagome scolded him.

The door flew open and little green man who looked between a lizard and a frog stood in front of it.

“Yikes!” Kagome yelled, hiding behind Inuyasha when she saw the hideous creature. ‘What is that thing? Some kind of ugly green monster?’ His eyes budged out of his pointy head as he stared at them with a look of disapproval. His head only reached the top of Inuyasha’s knee, yet he had the audacity to try to look down on them.

“Master, your heathen brother and his wench is here!” He called out.

“Hey, watch it martian!” Inuyasha said, walking into the mansion. He would have stepped on him if he hadn’t moved out of the way. Kagome followed close behind Inuyasha as he walked down a long hallway.

“What was that?” She asked.

“His name is Jaken. He’s a youkai and he's been a servant to Sesshoumaru since Sesshoumaru was a little kid. Jaken’s age is ancient and he’s very cranky. Don’t let him bother you, he’s harmless.”

Inuyasha walked into a room that looked like a parlor. Kagome saw a tall man with long, straight, silvery, white hair standing by the window. He was dressed in dark dress trousers and a grey silk shirt. He didn’t bother to turn around when he spoke to them.

“I’m surprised you actually agreed with your human counterpart. I was afraid I would have to send all those clothes back,” he said in a masculine, sexy voice. “The woman with you must be very important for you to go through the trouble of bringing of her here... I’m curious.” He turned around and looked at Kagome. His grey, silk, shirt was half opened, exposing the muscular pecs on his broad chest.

Kagome gasped. The man was extremely good-looking, gorgeous, really. He almost looked feminine with his perfect, long, white hair flowing down to his waist, and his smooth, flawless, face that looked like it never had facial hair or wrinkle in it’s life. But, Kagome knew he was far from being feminine. Masculinity and virility oozed from this man as much as it did from Inuyasha. He walked towards them tall and proud, his lean, muscular, body straight as a rod. He almost acted like he was royalty. Kagome felt a cold shiver go down her back as he watched her. His eyes, although beautiful, held a certain danger in them and a silent, deadly, promise to anyone that challenged him. She wouldn’t want to get on this guy’s bad side for nothing in the world! His golden eyes peered into hers before quickly going over her body and then, settling on the marks on her neck.

“I see,” he said, simply.

“I’m surprised you’re lounging around at home on a work day, Sesshoumaru,” Inuyasha said.

“Rin wanted me to be here to welcome our...guest,” Sesshoumaru said, walking back to his bar and pouring himself a drink. He lifted a glass to Inuyasha who shook his head.

Inuyasha finally noticed how quiet Kagome was being and frowned when he saw her mesmerized expression. “Snap out of it,” he hissed. He hated the way his brother affected women when they first saw him and now he was doing the same thing to his Kagome.

Kagome heard Sesshoumaru’s deep chuckle as he sipped his drink. He hadn’t looked up, but she was sure he heard Inuyasha’s enraged whisper with those pointy ears of his.

“Kagome?” She heard a soft, feminine voice behind her. She turned around and gasped again out of shock and happiness.

“Rin?”

The girls screamed and threw their arms around each other in an excited hug.

Inuyasha watched them jump up and down, pretty much the same way Kagome had reacted with Sango. He shook his head wondering if it was some kind greeting ritual between women.

“Look at you! You haven’t changed a bit!” Rin said.

Kagome kept her face in a strained smile. Sango had said the same thing. Yeap, she was still plain, ordinary, Kagome compared to her friends who’d grown into beautiful women.

Rin resembled one of those expensive, porcelain dolls her mother used to collect. Her skin was milky white and flawless. The only color to it was the excited blush on her cheeks. Her eyes were a vivid grey, almost the color of Sesshoumaru’s shirt. She was small, slim, with delicate features and long, black, hair that curled slightly at the ends. Yeah, Rin had grown into a beautiful woman. Unlike Sango who was beautiful and strong, Rin looked like a delicate butterfly. She was extremely feminine which made Kagome feel like a tomboy standing in front of her. She was dressed in a beautiful dark pink, silk, chiffon dress. Diamond earings in the shape of tear drops hung from her small ears and sparkled brightly in Kagome’s eyes.

“I was so excited when Inuyasha told me you were coming to stay with us. I would have visited you sooner, but Sesshoumaru wouldn’t let me,” she turned to him with a pout.

Sesshoumaru smiled, slightly. Kagome was surprised at the warmth that had replaced the coldness in his golden eyes.

“Anyway, we have so much to catch up on!”

“Just forget I’m standing here,” Inuyasha said with his arms folded and his eyes closed.

“Ohh Inu, I’m sorry,” Rin said, hugging him. “I was so excited to see Kagome. It’s feels like forever since I've last seen her." She kissed him on the cheek affectionately and ruffled his hair. “How’s my favorite brother-in-law. You never come to see me anymore.”

Kagome raised her eyebrows at Inuyasha allowing Rin to be so affectionate with him. She had expected him to push her away or say “Feh.”

“I’m your only brother-in-law so how can I be your favorite?” Inuyasha asked, with a smirk. “Besides, I’ve been sort of busy,” He look pointedly at Kagome.

Rin smiled. “Oh I see,” she said, looking at Kagome and giggling. She linked her arm through Kagome's arm and led her out of the room. “We have so much to catch up on. Let’s leave the men in here.”

“Rin,” Sesshoumaru said.

She stopped and turned around. He raised an eyebrow, slightly. Rin cheeks turned pink as she walked to him and kissed him lightly on the lips. “Good afternoon, my handsome husband."

Sesshoumaru softly kissed her brow. “Now, you can leave, and never kiss another man again. Your lips are for mine, only.”

‘Oh brother,’ Kagome thought, then smiled. She was right, he was Inuyasha’s brother and he seemed to be just as possessive as Inuyasha, if not worse.

Sesshoumaru waited until the women had left before he spoke to Inuyasha. “Why haven’t you mated with her?”

“That’s none of your business,” Inuyasha said.

“I think it is, since I played a role in helping you find your future mate.”

“Never thought you’d end up playing matchmaker huh?” Inuyasha said, smirking. “Kagome’s beautiful isn’t she?”

“Not as beautiful as my Rin,” Sesshoumaru said.

“Of course, no woman can ever hope to compare themselves to your Rin,” Inuyasha rolled his eyes.

Sesshoumaru ignored the sarcasm in Inuyasha’s voice.

“Despite Rin, what do you think of her?” Inuyasha asked.

“Why do you care?” Sesshoumaru asked.

“I don’t,” Inuyasha snapped, getting defensive.

Sesshoumaru turned his back to him, hiding a smirk. "She’s...pretty...in an innocent way.”

“She’s downright gorgeous and you know it!” Inuyasha yelled at him, annoyed.

Sesshoumaru sighed, “okay, she reminds me of Rin.”

Inuyasha nodded satisfied. He knew that was as far Sesshoumaru was willing to go for a compliment.

“Yeah, she does. They could be sisters,” he said, thoughtfully.

“I find it disturbing that we have the same taste in women when it comes to finding a mate. We are more like father than I thought,” Sesshoumaru said. “Will every Taisho be destined to betray our youkai blood and mate with a human?”

“Feh! Stop your poetic rambling and tell me what you did with the clothes I sent here.” Inuyasha demanded.

“They’re in a room I picked out for you and your mate. Rin is probably showing her the room now. Bringing her here was a wise decision."

Inuyasha walked to the window. “Kagome needs a peaceful place to deal with everything that’s happened to her.”

“It feels strange to see you think about someone other than yourself for once,” Sesshoumaru said.

Inuyasha frowned at him.

Sesshoumaru sat his glass on a table. “Enough small talk, we have work to do.”

"Ohh yeah," Inuyasha drawled. "The Phalon Brothers...you were discussing them with my human counterpart. Well, now that I'm back, what do you want me to do about them?"

"Bring me their heads," Sesshoumaru said as casually as if he was asking about the weather.

Inuyasha watched him walk out the room and laughed cynically. His fangs showed and his eyes reflected dangerously. "Oh yeah, feels good to be me again." He said, extending his claws into razor sharp blades. He left the room in a blur.

***********************************************************************

“How can you walk around this place without getting lost?” Kagome asked Rin as they walked down the hallway. She felt like they’d been walking forever. The hallway twisted and turned like a maze until she got so confused, she didn’t know if she was coming or going.

“When you spend as much time as I do here, you get used to it,” Rin said. “This mansion have five floors. Sesshoumaru and I live on the fifth floor. You and Inuyasha will be living on the fourth."

“Why can’t we stay on the same floor?” Kagome asked.

“Sesshoumaru thought you may like some privacy. You see each floor is like an entire house stacked on top of each other.”

“I don’t understand,” Kagome said.

“Well, each floor has it’s own kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, dining room, living room, recreation rooms, entertaining rooms, and so on. They also have their own maids and cooks. You could live on a floor and never have to see anyone else, except the people who work there. Going to another floor would be like leaving your house to visit neighbors.”

“Wow!” Kagome said in fascination.

Rin nodded in agreement. “When I first came here, I use to get lost all the time and Sesshoumaru would end up having to find me when it was time for dinner or bedtime. Thank goodness for his sensitive nose! You really have to be careful! One of our maids got lost for days before anyone noticed she was missing. We found her a week later on a deserted floor of the mansion half starved. After that incident, I asked Sesshoumaru to use all the floors, even if no one lived on them, so if someone got lost again, there would be food in the kitchens so they wouldn't starve to death."

“Rin, what’s it like living with Sesshoumaru?” Kagome asked. “Are you happy?”

“I’ve never been happier in my life! Before I met Sesshoumaru, I didn’t have a family remember? You and Sango were the only family I knew and now I’m married to a warm, kind, loving, romantic, man.”

Kagome looked at her as if she was crazy. Were they talking about the same person? Her first impression of Sesshoumaru was anything but warm, kind, loving and romantic. She didn’t think he was entirely evil because he married Rin, but there was definitely a darkness about him she didn’t like.

Rin laughed at her expression. “I see he's somehow managed to intimidate you too. I was never afraid of him. He’s never shown me his dark side that most people fear. “

Kagome thought for a bit. “Maybe it’s because he knew you were his mate when he first met you.”

Rin nodded. “Yes, that’s what I thought. Did Sango tell you how we met?”

Kagome laughed. “Yes she did. You were always too curious for your own good.”

Rin laughed, softly. “Yes, I know. I got into trouble so many times, but this time it paid off. I would have never met my soulmate if I hadn’t followed Sango to The Plaza." She stared at the marks on Kagome's neck. "Inuyasha marked you pretty good,” she teased.

Kagome blushed. “He did it in his sleep.”

Rin looked at her surprised and started laughing.

“Are all dog youkai so possessive?” Kagome asked, rubbing her neck.

“I think it comes as second nature to them when they find their mate. Sesshoumaru can really be annoying when he gets into one of those possessive, bossy, 'I-know-what’s-right-for-you-and-you-don’t' moods.”

“So can Inuyasha,” Kagome said.

“I’ll let you in on a secret. It’s better to let them think they can have their way, arguing with them only makes it worse and they can be pretty stubborn, but don’t give in too soon or they’ll get suspicious. I’m so glad you’re here. You’ll going to need me. You think Inuyasha’s bad now? Wait until he mates with you!”

“Why? What’s going to happen when we mate?”

“Well I guess you should be worried about what will happen after you mate,” Rin said smiling.

“How do you know we haven’t already?” Kagome asked.

“There are ways humans can tell,” Rin pulled her hair back from her neck.

Kagome saw two dark blue crescent moons that glowed faintly on the side of her neck. “What are those? Some kind of tattoos?”

“They’re symbols of our mating. They appeared after our first night together as mates and they never went away. Any youkai or human that sees these will know who I belong to.”

“So it’s like a permanent marking,” Kagome said. “He might as well just tattoo his name to your skin.”

“You can have tattoos removed, but these will never come off. They’re here for the rest of my life as a constant reminder to me and anyone else that I’m Sesshoumaru’s mate or wife. Dog youkai mate for life so if you’re not ready to be with Inuyasha, then you should let him know.”

“As if I have a choice in the situation!!!” Kagome exclaimed.

“But you do!” Rin said.

“But Sango told me they can force whoever they want to be with them.”

“That’s true, they can force you to be with them and they can call you their mate, but you’ll never actually be their mate until you go through the mating ritual. The mating ritual is like a human marriage. There are certain things you have to do and both of you have to vow to love each other forever. It won’t work if one of you are having doubts. When Sesshoumaru took me home with him the night I met him, I didn’t want to be his mate. It was true that I was infatuated with him because, well you can see for yourself that he's a hottie. And, he treated me like a queen, spoiled me, romanced me, but I still wasn’t sure I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him, no matter how long he held me prisoner.”

“He held you as a prisoner?”

"A pampered prisoner, but nevertheless, a prisoner. Do you think I just suddenly decided to stay with him? No, he brought me here and wouldn’t let me go. And even though I had nowhere to go in the first place, it was wrong to take away my freedom like that. For a long time I couldn’t decide if I hated him or loved him, but he was always sure about me. He made love to me the first night I spent here, but I didn’t become his mate until I was sure I loved him.”

“I understand,” Kagome said, making sure to remember this helpful information. ‘Is this the reason why Inuyasha is being so patient with me? In order to truly become his mate, I would have to love him unconditionally?”

“Here we are. This is your room,” Rin said, stopping in front of a door.

Kagome frowned in confusion. “But we didn’t walk up any steps. How did we get to the third floor?”

“It’s one of the after-effects of living between dimensions,” Rin said. “Sometimes the stairs appear, sometimes they don’t, as long as you keep walking in their direction you’ll get to the top floors.”

“Are there anymore after-effects I should be aware of?” Kagome asked, suddenly feeling dizzy.

“Yeah, dizziness and loss of consciousness, but only for a few days. It takes humans a while to get use to the atmosphere....” she didn’t finish. Kagome had dropped to the floor, unconscious.

Kagome woke up three hours later in a bed big enough for ten people. She looked around the huge bedroom and hit the sheets in frustration. “For once I’d like to stay conscious for an entire day!” She said, angrily. “This is getting ridiculous.” She crawled out of the bed. The closet doors had been left open so she could see all the pretty clothes Inuyasha had bought for her. She decided to take a shower and wash her hair before she changed into one of her new dresses. Feeling refreshed after her shower, she blow dried her hair and then rummaged through the closet trying to find something that wasn’t too fancy to walk around the mansion in. Finally deciding on a short skirt and blouse, she put the clothes on and checked herself out in the mirror. “Not bad Kagome," she said posing. She turned toward the door. “I wonder where they are?”

“Hello?” She whispered as she peeked out from her room down the long hallway. Praying she wouldn’t get lost, she started to slowly walk down it, trying to remember the direction Rin had taken. After a few minutes, she stopped and looked both ways. “I don’t remember,” she said. “I’m lost! Okay, don’t panic, Kagome. I’m sure I’ll run into someone sooner or later or maybe Inuyasha will sniff me out with his nose. Yeah, that’s it, I’m fine.” She kept telling herself that over and over. She passed by a huge picture on the wall and decided to stop and look at it. It was picture of a sophisticated, middle-age, woman with pointy ears and long black hair. She was dressed in expensive clothing and jewelry decorated her neck, ears, wrists and fingers. She had on a huge broad white hat. “She kind of looks like....

“Me?” Sesshoumaru asked, suddenly appearing beside her.

Kagome nearly jumped a foot in the air. She put a hand to her chest to calm her pounding heart. ‘Where did he come from? There was no one here a second ago,’ she thought as she stared at the tall man.

Sesshoumaru stared at the picture. “She’s my mother,” he said.

“Oh,” Kagome said. “Is she still alive?”

“No,” he said. “She died giving birth to me. I clawed my way out of her stomach.”

Kagome rubbed the chill bumps on her arms and shivered. “Was she your father’s first wife?”

Sesshoumaru looked at her with his cold, empty, eyes. “No, Inuyasha’s mother was his first and only mate or wife as you humans call it. My mother was just a youkai who happened to be in heat when he came across her,” he said, bitterly. “There was never any love between them.”

Kagome couldn’t help but wonder if Sesshoumaru was jealous of the relationship his father had with Inuyasha’s mother.

“It seems my brother and I have the same craving for human flesh, must run in the family,” he said, staring at her like she was about to be his next meal.

‘Is he trying to scare me? Cause it’s working,’ she thought. "Where's Inuyasha?"

"I sent him on a mission. He should be back by tonight. Rin is in her room preparing for lunch."

“You...you...gave me to Inuyasha.” She said, her voice trembling in fear. If she was going to confront him about this she might as well do it now.

“Yes,” Sesshoumaru said, waiting for her to continue.

“Why? You have no right to give a human being away as if they’re just a possession.”

“You’re afraid of me, yet you’re standing up to me,admirable,” Sesshoumaru said. "Come, you’re late for lunch." He walked away without giving her a backward glance to see if she would follow him.

Kagome felt angry and irritated at his rude behavior. He’d just dismissed her in the middle of her conversation. “Arrogant dog,” she mumbled.

He stopped walking. Kagome froze in stark terror. Had he heard her? She sighed when he began to walk again. How was she ever going to survive living in this crazy mansion with a powerful, youkai criminal like Sesshoumaru?