The Beast and the Miko

Sesshomaru gazed down at the miko before him, his face still emotionless. His beast was happy by the turn of events, but he wasn't. He didn't need a mate, nor did he want a human one. Humans and their emotions, he had expected her to ask such a pointless question and answered it with what he assumed she wanted to hear.



"That is agreeable to this Sesshomaru." he responded in that same emotionless voice.



Turning his gaze down to Rin, he set his hand gently on the girl's head. "Good Job, Rin." He said before turning away from the two females to walk back over to Au-Un.



Kagome watched him silently a moment, contemplating his words. He loves me? she wondered silently, and gazed back over her shoulder in the direction she'd come, her thoughts drifting back to Inuyasha... And what had caused her to run.



Her back straightened like a steel rod, her emotions hardening against the hanyou. She'd had enough. Even if Sesshomaru was lying, he was offering her something Inuyasha never would. He'd be a better protector, too.



Turning her attention fully on the taiyoukai, she bowed. "I am honored, Sesshomaru-sama, that you have chosen me for this duty." Straightening, she offered him one of her kindest smiles.



Turning to look back at her, Sesshomaru arched a slender brow and merely nodded. Good, the miko at least understood the honor that was being bestowed upon her. “We will be leaving shortly for the Fortress.” He said.



Rin grinned brightly up at Kagome, grasping the older female’s hand. “Kagome will be living with Sesshomaru-sama and Rin?” she asked.



This caused Kagome to come up short. “Live… with?” she shook her head and grinned weakly. “I still have to finish finding the jewel shards and help destroy Naraku – plus I have exams I need to go home for.”



Sesshomaru frowned at this. “Naraku will be killed by this Sesshomaru, of this you can be assured.” He said, for a split second sounding annoyed. “As for these ‘exams’, they are of no concern.”



Kagome’s jaw dropped. “Not important?!” she demanded, taking a step towards the taiyoukai, one hand still clasped in both of Rin’s. “I’m already struggling because I have to come here to find the jewel shards! If I don’t pass my exams, I won’t get into high school or be able to get a good job!”



Rin tugged on Kagome’s hand, she knew that yelling at the Taiyoukai wasn’t the wisest thing; she’d seen what happened to others who stood in his way or argued with him. “Kagome-san…..”



Sesshomaru turned and stalked over to the girl before him. “You have agreed to mate this Sesshomaru, anything beyond the duties allotted to you as the new Lady of the West is unimportant. We will continue to seek out these shards, as is your duty as the Shikon Miko.



“Beyond that, you will learn your place.” He said in a tone that said his word was law and he would accept no argument on the topic.



Kagome’s jaw opened as if she would continue to argue, but the light tugging on her arm caused her to snap her jaw closed with an audible click. Okay, this deal wasn’t working as she thought it was.



At least she had a way with Inuyasha to get her way so she could go home. “I can’t stop traveling with my friends, we were working together to get the jewel shards.” She said.



Rin glanced up between her surrogate father and the miko, and decided to intervine. “I’d like to see Shippo-chan again, do you think he’d like to play with me?” she asked, giving the pair her sweetest expression.



Sesshomaru glanced down at the young human, before he looked up at the untouched miko. “…….” Gritting his teeth, he schooled his face into an emotionless mask. “….For a time, we will travel with your pack – until this Sesshomaru destroys Naraku.



“After” he said before the miko could interject, “you are officially mated to this Sesshomaru.”



Kagome closed her eyes with an aggravated sigh. “….Fine.” She said in exasperation.



Rin squealed happily and skipped in a circle around the pair.