What's A Dragon to Do?

Chapter 23

(Authors note: Before I get e-mails telling me off I thought I would clear something up. I like Sesshoumaru's and Inuyasha's father. I just had to portray him as I did to make my story work. I know he would never do what I have written.)

Kagome watched Sesshoumaru come back into the clearing. She could tell he was slightly upset. Ok slightly didn't really describe it. She sent the kids to pick flowers and walked up to him.

"What happened to upset you?"

Sesshoumaru looked down at his mate. She was beautiful he couldn't think of another demoness or human that could hold a candle to her. "I talked to Ah Un. They still refuse to release us from the orb."

Kagome frowned up at Sesshoumaru. "Why would they do that? We are mated now and that is what they wanted. Why don't they release us? I for one would like to be able to walk under real stars and not to mention seeing my friends. I just hope Sango and Miroku don't get married while we are in here. I would really hate to miss their wedding."

Sesshoumaru thought about all he was missing being in the orb. I hope Inuyasha is taking good care of the palace and my lands. Why I ever asked him to do so I won't ever know but he had better not mess up? "I too would like to get out of here but they said I must admit to you how I feel."

She looked up at Sesshoumaru in shock. "Well how do you feel about me?"

Sesshoumaru picked Kagome up bridal style and carried her to his tree and sat down with her on his lap. "That's just it Kagome. I don't know what I feel."

Kagome looked up to his face and saw a look of confusion on his face. She had never seen him show any sign of emotion besides anger. "How could you not know how you feel?"

"Kagome the last time I remember having any feelings was when my okaa-san was alive. But she died when I was young. Then my father took over raising me. And since he was busy with the lands I spent most of my time with tutors who wouldn't allow me to show emotions. It was deemed wrong for my fathers heir to be able to show emotions. I had been trained to hide everything I felt. I couldn't show sadness or love or I would be punished. After enough beating I learned to hide all my feelings and after a couple hundred years I forgot what they were. I learned not to care about anybody. All I cared about were my lands." He hugged Kagome to his chest when he smelled the scent of tears. "Why are you crying?"

"I can't help my self. That is such a sad story. But Sesshoumaru you didn't forget how to care about anyone. You took in an orphan child, a human one at that and made sure she was taken care of and protected. You care about Shippou and me in the same way that you do Rin. You haven't lost the ability to love you just forgot how to show it. We can help you with that." Kagome leaned up and put her arms around Sesshoumaru and lowered her head to his neck. She nuzzled at the mark she had made on his neck and let little whimpers of comfort out. She had no idea what she was doing but it seemed right to her.

Sesshoumaru was shocked that Kagome was comforting him in the inu way. How did she know to do that? He growled lightly back at her and squeezed her tighter to his chest. He heard Rin and Shippou approach them and was shocked once again when the kitsune jumped on his shoulder and whined at him too.

Rin watched as Kagome and Shippou hugged Sesshoumaru and started whining. She didn't know what they were doing but it looked fun and went to Sesshoumaru's other side and hugged him and started mimicking Kagome and Shippou's sounds.

Sesshoumaru couldn't believe that his whole family was comforting him in the inu way. He knew that Rin was mimicking Shippou and Kagome. But that didn't take away from the fact they were trying to comfort him. The Lord who was feared by all of Japan, human and demon alike. He growled to them and watched, as Shippou was the first to remove himself then Rin followed him then only Kagome remained. He felt her try to get up but didn't feel like releasing her just yet. He looked at Rin and Shippou and saw them watching him and Kagome intensely.

"Why don't you two go get your swords and practice with each other." He watched as they grabbed their swords and started sparing. Then he turned back and looked down at Kagome. He saw a strange look on her face. "What is wrong?"

Kagome didn't know what had come over her. She didn't know why she had nuzzled Sesshoumaru or whined at him.

"What is happening to me? First I was able to mark you which I still haven't figured out why and now I am whining and comforting you."

Sesshoumaru knew everything had happened suddenly and Kagome was left to deal with a lot of things she hadn't expected or even knew what was going on. He turned her so that she was straddling his lap and then lifted a claw up to her mouth. He opened her lips and saw that her teeth were slowly turning into fangs. He lifted her hands and saw the beginning of claws appearing. And if he looked close enough at her hair he could just make out the bluish tint that was developing. Boy did he have a lot of explaining to do.

"Kagome when you marked me and drank my blood you took on some youkai characteristics. You are growing fangs and claws and your hair is starting to turn blue." Kagome looked up at Sesshoumaru in total shock.

"You didn't tell me that by my marking you I would turn into a youkai." She ran her tongue over her teeth and felt the slight difference to her fangs. Then she quickly grabbed some of her hair and pulled it into her face and saw the bluish tint to it. At the same time she saw the nails on her hands were no longer round but pointed. Why does everything always happen to me?

Sesshoumaru saw the shock on his mates face as she took in her changes.

"Kagome you are not truly a youkai yet. In order for you to completely change you must drink a little of my blood each time we are mating until you become a full youkai. That will give your body time to adjust to the changes. It is totally up to you if you wish to do so."

"So I am not really turning into a youkai and it is up to me to make the decision." Kagome didn't know what to think about her turning into a youkai. She had always told Inuyasha he was just fine the way he was. Wouldn't she be a hypocrite if she changed herself into a youkai? But on the plus side she could stay with Sesshoumaru forever. "How would my being a youkai effect my miko powers?"

"It is totally up to you. You may do what ever you desire. And as for your miko powers I am not totally sure. If done slow enough your youkai and miko powers should combine." Sesshoumaru leaned back against the tree and then a picture of what Kagome would look like if she did change into a youkai flashed through his mind. Her breast were bigger and her hips were rounded out and her hair was longer and he then pictured her laying over him and her hair draped down her body to caress his.

Kagome sat looking at Sesshoumaru and suddenly a vision flashed through her head of her being a youkai laying over Sesshoumaru. She could see the lust in his eyes as he watched her. Kagome gasped at the picture and glared at Sesshoumaru.

"Is that how you want me to look?" Sesshoumaru was jerked out of his thoughts at Kagome's angry words.

"Kagome I like you just the way you are. I couldn't stop myself from thinking about what you would look like though." Kagome continued to glare at Sesshoumaru. Did he honestly expect her to believe him? She stood up and went to the other end of the clearing and found herself another tree to sit under. She sat down and continued to glare at the demon on the other side of the clearing.

Sesshoumaru watched Kagome stalk away from him. Well she was the one who wanted to know what he was thinking. And now she gets mad at him for something that he had no control over. It wasn't his fault his beast decided to picture her as a youkai. Now how was he going to convince her that he liked her just the way she was. He was brought out of his reverie by wood hitting wood and turned to see the kids still sparing.

"Rin, Shippou come here." He waited for them to get close to him. "I need you all to keep Kagome very busy for a little while." He watched as they ran to Kagome and talked her into playing a game with them. When she was busy with the children he took off into the forest and to the edge of the orb. "Ah Un"

He didn't have long to wait before Ah appeared before him.

Ah bowed to Sesshoumaru and then stood to listen to his lord.

"You said that Kagome and I were the ones being kept in the orb. Rin and Shippou are free to leave. Take them back to the palace and place them in my brothers protection." Sesshoumaru watched as Ah thought this over then nodded to him.

"When would you like for us to deliver the pups to Inuyasha?" Ah stared at Sesshoumaru as he thought it over.

"After dinner tonight would be a good time. I must talk to them first." He turned and left Ah staring after him.

Sesshoumaru walked back to the clearing and found that Kagome and the children were still playing. He walked over to them and sat down.

"Rin, Shippou we must talk." He waited till they calmed down and came to sit in front of him.

"Do you know how to keep a secret?" Rin and Shippou looked to each other then back to Lord Sesshoumaru and they both nodded.

"Ah and Un will be taking you back to the palace this evening and you must not tell anyone that Kagome and I are now mates. You must act like we are still nothing but allies. It is my job to inform my court of my mating and terrible things could happen if they found out about it from anyone besides me. Do you two think you can keep our secret?" Sesshoumaru watched as both children nodded yes to him.

"I will not tell Otou-san." Rin smiled at her father and then looked at Shippou "Does this mean I can't call Shippou brother or Kagome Okaa-san until you get to the palace?"

"That is what I mean Rin. When I announce to the court that Kagome is my mate then everything can return to normal." He saw Rin nod her head again.

Shippou looked to Kagome and then back to Sesshoumaru. "I swear I will keep your secret safe."

Sesshoumaru bowed his head to him in thanks and then watched as both children ran to Kagome. He watched her hug them both to her and she dried their tears.

Kagome couldn't believe that he would send the children away. Who would protect them? She hugged them both till they were all but screaming at her to release them so they could breath.

"I will miss you both so much. But I am sure that Sesshoumaru and I will join you before long. And if anyone is mean to you go to Sango, Miroku or Inuyasha. They will protect you."

Sesshoumaru felt regret when Kagome turned her face to look at him. He could see the trails on her face from the tears she was shedding and knew that she didn't want to part from the children. But they must have some time to themselves as mates before they return to the palace. He stood up and walked over to her and held out his hand. He watched as she put her hand in his then he helped her to her feet.

"Kagome they must go. It would be better for them at the palace now that Jaken is unable to harm them. Your friends and my soldiers will watch over them carefully."

"I know but I will miss them." Kagome couldn't seem to stop her tears. No matter how she tried they refused to dry up. Sesshoumaru pulled Kagome to his chest and wrapped his arm behind her back.

"Do you want the children to see you thus or would you rather they see you strong?"

"S-s-strong." Kagome used Sesshoumaru's haori to wipe her eyes and then turned to smile at the children. "Don't mind me kids I just get emotional for no reason." She knelt down before both of them and hugged them to her again. "I will miss you both so much." A few hugs later she stood up and smoothed out her kimono.

"I say that we have a feast tonight to celebrate your going home. We can have berries and mushrooms and what ever meat Sesshoumaru and Shippou find for us. How does that sound?" Shippou and Rin started jumping up and down in excitement.

Kagome took Rin by the hand and they went into the forest to find what they could for their feast. They found some apples and pomegranates and Rin found some mushrooms and they found a few different types of berries to go with the feast. When they couldn't hold any more items they returned to camp to find Sesshoumaru and Shippou still gone.

Sesshoumaru watched the girls enter the forest and turned to look at Shippou

"I guess we hunt." He waited for the kitsune to jump on his shoulder and then they went the opposite way of the girls and a little distance away from camp they found a deer. Sesshoumaru sat Shippou down on the ground and took off after the buck. He caught and killed it in no time and returned to where he had left Shippou "This should work for the feast." They hurried back to the camp with their kill making sure to stop by the river along the way to clean it. When they returned to camp they found the girls making necklaces of flowers. They had flower crowns on and flowers were braided into their hair. He saw the girls look at each other then at him and Shippou, Oh no what are they up to?

Kagome and Rin had made everyone a crown and necklace of flowers while they were waiting for the males to return. Then they braided flowers in their hair. When the males returned they smiled to each other then stood and walked toward the males.

Sesshoumaru saw the girls headed toward him and Shippou with the flower necklaces and crowns. "There is no way that I am going to wear that."

Shippou looked up at Rin and Kagome then turned back to look at Sesshoumaru. "I agree with Otou-san. I don't want to wear flowers either."

Kagome winked at Rin and they continued to walk to the males. They stopped when they were right in front of them. Kagome stopped in front of Sesshoumaru and, "Please Sesshoumaru, it's just for tonight and no one else will see you."

Sesshoumaru glared down at Kagome. There was absolutely no way that he would wear those flowers.

"No and nothing you say is going to change my mind." Kagome smiled at him and stepped closer to him. When she was against his body she reached her hand up and brought his head down to hers. She placed her mouth on his and licked his lips and when his tongue joined hers she had to fight back a moan. While he held her hand that had the flowers she used her other hand to run her fingers through his hair and when she thought he wasn't paying attention to her she started to place the flowers she was wearing over his head.

Sesshoumaru knew she was up to something and then he felt her hands in his hair. He felt her move and knew what she was up to. When she tried to place the necklace on him he moved his hand to stop her. He broke the kiss and smirked down at her.

"While I enjoyed the kiss there is still no way that I am wearing those flowers." Kagome sighed and then looked back at Rin.

"Well we tried maybe the next time." She went over to the fire and started the meat to cook. She and Rin went to wash off the sticky residue left over from the flowers and left the males to watch the meat. Later when the meat finally got done they sat down together for their last feast in the orb.

When the meal was done Ah and Un appeared in the clearing.

"It is time my Lord and Lady" Sesshoumaru had earlier found some paper and used what Kagome called a pen to write a letter to Inuyasha to request some items from the palace and handed it to Ah.

"Make sure my brother or Kitaro gets this." Kagome hugged the children and went to stand by Sesshoumaru. She watched as they were put in little orbs so that they could leave the big one safely and they were guided away from them. When they were out of sight Kagome fell into Sesshoumaru's chest and started crying.

"I wish they could have stayed here."

"I know but they deserve to be able to go outside and play not be kept locked up with us in this orb." He hugged Kagome to his chest and ran his hands down her back to comfort her. He leaned down and nuzzled her neck and growled at her.

"I know but I will still miss them." Kagome finally felt her body growing tired. And before she knew it she fell asleep to Sesshoumaru's growls.

Sesshoumaru knew when Kagome fell asleep in his arms. He picked her up and carried her to her blankets. He laid down beside her and soon joined her in sleep.