Once Again with Love

Disclaimer: Inuyasha is the property of its creator.

Author Notes: Hey, everyone. I know it been forever and y! By! But I've been so busy with school. But I want to say thank you if you've reviewed.

So thank you for the reviews.

They were great!!! I really like to get them because they let me know that someone is reading this and that they like it. That helps when I'm writing so that I have some inspiration. But please remember that this is my first story so be a little lenient senses about mistakes.

I try to get my chapters out as often as I can—but between work, school, and everything else it's sometimes very difficult.

So far I have made Kagome very, very accepting in the fic, (maybe to accepting) because she is in the anime. Look how much she has put up with… the whole Kikyou and Inuyasha thing. By now, if it had been me, I would have skewered her and kicked Inuyasha in his…. We'll just say that he wouldn't like it. But tolerates only goes so far…

So look out for the fireworks now.

Thank You

Cerulean Rose



Chapter 10



…Assembly of the Gods

"She must be STOPPED!!!"

"What action would you call for, my daughter? We do not interfere" he stressed sternly as he watched the scene unfold before him, "we have never interfered with a mortal life's free will. Humans and youkais must be able to make their own decisions and earn their punishments or paradises. We do not interfere." the large elderly man stressed once more as he lounged against the back of his throne with a regal and and stroked his long white beard as he awaited the response he was sure would come.

"You ask me "WHAT TYPE OF A RESPONSE?" IT'S REALLY SIMPLE, I WANT HER DEAD! My children, lost." furiously she looked at him, sitting so calmly on his golden throne as their children's souls were being stolen by this giIt wIt wasn't as if he needed his worshipers, but she did!

"Our worshipers are dying and their souls are being stolen from us. I WILL NOT BE DIMINISHED IN THIS WAY." She angrily hissed out. "Can't you see that this little fool will do anything for Naraku? This girl is limitless in the souls she can take. Who knows if we'll get our children back?!"

The woman brimming with outrage swepted across the floor, her willowy figure draped in the warmth of the sun, yellows, reds, and golds, as she made her demands of the large man.

Her long black hair fell in rippling waves down her back almost with a life of its own, as she finally turned away from the image of a now cold faced Aniketo walking away from the withered remains of Hana and Hiroshi as it was splashed across the wall of the temple.

She turned, her anger hot and fiery, her eyes burning with twin suns, as she looked into the face of the first of them, and the creator of them all…their father who was quietly sitting upon his throne. "We may have never interfered with free will before, you say that we have given them the right to chose for themselves and make their mortal destiny. I know this…it has always been our law. We do not kill."

"Yea, I know this. But still…I want that bitch dead!"

A large, muscular man his hair pulled into a top knot and dressed in blood stained armor stood and spoke, his booming voice filled with swords clashing and war drums drumming to the father, "We have always allowed mortals to make of themselves what they can."

He turned and exchanged a long look with his livid sister before one more turning to his father, "Good, bad it has always been the same to us, father."

He paused, "But this one, she is not natural, she was not born of this world…she is a construct, a golem. She takes what she has no right to… the souls that are ours. We must act." To drive home his point, his demand for action his fist hit the palm of his other hand.

"We did nothing when Kikyou was reborn with the witch's magic, as she stool the soul of young girls, she had limits to what she could take. We did nothing when Naraku birthed Kana she to had limits and her victims could be freed if saved in time. She sustained them. She was at least born of his body. I tire of this. This time we must act." A buxom woman barely dressed in red silk called for their attention as she reclined gracefully onto a pillow and silk covered sofa, her scent wafted throughout the room—a scent filled with the warmed of fertility and spiced with sweat, desire and sex.

"Be hae has gone too far this time, his insolence knows no bounds, he has dared to mingled his blood with that of a heaven-child, a miko, one of our special children, and what did he CREATE?!" With this she stood her body swaying in an unfelt wind as her emotions began to over take her and she trembled in quiet fury.

"He created a child born of the foulest type of magic, this—this thing is an abomination in our sight, we must act on this impertinence, and Naraku must be made to pay!"

"The miko was our chosen. She is ours. Yes?" The sound of swords clashed thought the room and he paused and looked at the others to mark their reactions to this statement. Each of his sisters and brothers nodded in agreement and he when on.

"brotbrothers and sisters, our chosen once more she must be. This…this thing is blood of her d, sd, so then let it be her responsibility, as it should be. She must somehow redeem it or kill it. I care not which." Drums and swords clashed as he spoke, his hard face was cold, icy, and his blood stained armor glowed for a moment as he moved closer to the sun filled one as he pronounced sentence on his condemned prisoner.

All it once, filled with doubt, with the question was plainly written on her face as she looked with sun filled eyes at her brother. How can we condemn this child… but how can we not? How to we save both our children and this girl?

"We exist as powers only as long as we are worshiped, that is how it is and has always been. One god is born and another fall to the wayside. I will not be diminished anymore." She spoke softly, her face hardening as it filled with resolve and the woman with the sun filled eyes spoke again to her father, the first of them all and charged. "This child must be dealt with. What do we do, father, the decision must be yours."

The father of them all turned and focused on the image before him, tuning it with his will and freezing it on another image… Aniketo dirty hands rubbing her tear stained face… he stood quietly as he watched her, his minerflerflowing with worries.

What to do? Order the girl's death or attempt to redeem her?! And if we attempt to redeem her how? How to save this girl? Could it even be done? But to order her death…for simple existing?

He then stood with a swish of white robes and looked down at his children as they clamored for action and demanded that he… Yes!!! !!! The Creator—He who give life—Pass judgment and sentence this unhappy, unfortunate child, "If I condemn this girl, which of you will act? Which one of you will take a life and move to save your peoples? Who will thrust home the knife?" He hissed out and then paused to await an answer… but received none.

Even the Lord of Battles looked away—blood was his coin, but a coin he had never spilled himself—he was the embodiment of the pains of war not a killer himself. The Father again looked at the images on the wall in front of him, of a young, crying child and motioned for the rest to look.

"Ahh, yes, it is as I thought, each of you calls for a solution to this child but will offers no help yourselves. Each mortal life has always been what that life has created for itself. We, their Gods, may interfere with minor acts… but for anything such as this? To kill? To call one before their appointment with death? The fates give each live a given number of days and they then must meet their appointment with your mother. However this child was created she now has life—her name entered into the book of days. Humans and youkai then can be reborn or reach enlightenment. We have always had one rule--"

His shame-faced children looked away from him and he turned from them his shoulders squaring as he made his decision—his thoughts deep and troubled by the actions he must order only to be interrupted.

A normally round and jolly man stood, disturbed by the words, he was the protector of children it was his duty and honor and was this not a child, even if she was an strange, abnormal one, and when he spoke his normally happy, laughing voice was filled with the crying of children.

"Act we must, I know. Souls that should be bound for the underworld are trapped and denied their rebirth. The book of days is gone, destroyed. The child must be stopped. Yea I understand that, but then what?"

He stood,ned ned and looked at each of the others in the temple. "Father? Brothers? Sisters? What of that child, for a child she is. Strange and unnatural as you have called her, but still a child all the same. She laughs, she cries… she longs. She did not ask for this life, will we condemn her or save her…"

He paused and cocked an eyebrow in puzzlement, "Can we even save her? I have never experienced anything like this, Naraku's other detachments where born of his body…thus pos possessed soulst tht this creature…." He paused he would not repeat their mistakes and denied this child life, "This Child… she is a soulless creature and yet she lives… what of this child?"

The protector of children looked at the crying child that had caught and held his father attention, "the child is not the problem. The real question is how to stop Naraku, break his connect to her, and free her. Father, could a soul be found for the child?"

The father looked at his son, "That is a difficult question, is it not? It has never been done before, to place a soul within a body already born. Who—what identity would take precedence? The girl personality or the soul's the struggle that would result, who would win control? Is it even possible?"

A look of puzzlement crossed his bearded face, "That this something that even I don't know, my son, hmm, yea, even I do not know. I will speak with your mother."

Suddenly, the protector of children laughed as his face erupting with childish glee, "Ha, Ha, Ha. Oi, oh, oh, I have a plan…a trick for Naraku." The other's looked on with alarm and mistrust at their brother's glee as he rubbed his hands together in glee.

It's never good to see that look on his face. spooked and frightened at his glee, they had each been on the receiving end of that look, they each thought to themselves almost beginning to pity Naraku. Almost. "Yes, we've been looking at this wrong. The girl is not the problem, Naraku is the problem."

He sobered and calling his will he turned the image covering the wall to Naraku's tomb, "So we must take the girl from Naraku. The Lord of Battles is correct the girl is blood of the miko…so she is her responsibility. I believe it's time for her to mother her child. But first we must separate the child from Naraku influence, and to do that Naraku must release his hold on her mind."

"That still leaves the problem of Naraku. The Shikon no Tama shards have given Naraku near immortality, but not true immortality. My orb could kill him." Okuni-Nushi, god of sorcery and medicine looked up from his normal single minded examination of his orb and called out, "As you know, the child of fate has returned the miko to this time breaking the bonds of time and destiny and trapping the girl here…"

"Yes, she foresaw the return of Naraku, but what she did was irresponsible, foolish—only an object of power with the help of a god can open a gate through time, she could have destroyed this world if her spell had gone wrong. Once before we turned away, closed our eyes, and allowed the breaking of the time barriers for the girl,keepkeep the Shikon no Tama from Naraku's hands, but the miko had served her purpose here and been sent home to make her destiny. Her time had been assigned. Her days numbered. Already the time stream has changed and the future has clouded. The child of fate will be punished." The father of them all, his voice booming with the force of a volcano's fire as it lashed outs, his fury bathed the room.

Okuni-Nushi started to reply but paused as he felt a touch of magic brush against him. He turned in his seat and watched as a woman shape vaguely appeared before him. The child of Fate. Humph, speak of a devil and they shall appear.

He looked at her…catching her eyes with the full force of his power and she gasped and trembled as his eyes caught hers and held her. Trapping her with the intensity of a snake trapping a mouse with his gaze before he has lunch.

She watched, struggling to move, held in place with in the grip of his gaze, as he reached out one hand as if to touch her face only to pause with a knowing smirk and then with his other place his orb in her hands.

When she attempted to refuse to take it, shaking her head back and forth, knowing pain would come her hands where slowly forced up to reach though the smoke to him and she took the orb from his hand.

The moment that the orb touched her skin her mind and body were flooded with pain as his anger filled voice, a deep booming sound of waves crashing against the rocks of the ocean, began echoing endlessly thorough her mind and body.

"We know what you have done, child of fate, and there will be a reckoning. You have dared what the gods will not, you have disrupted time and changed its order of destiny. The girl destiny had been written for another time she was to stay in the future, but now that future is cloudy and unclear. But this is another matter, for another time."

"We have decided to take a hand in this matter for Naraku endangers all our children." He paused and looked away for a minute as if listening to another's voice as his father voice filled his mind.

"You will go to the Western Lands and tell it Lord that his mate is in danger, give him the knowledge and power he needs to be our champion and defeat Naraku. When the moment is right, tell the woman she has a daughter."

He paused again as if listening to another and the lady sighed as the pain began to lessened only to gasp aloud when it started again as he went on, "Take the orb to him for only a Tai youkai with great power can hope to use its power and perhaps live. He must hold the orb as his mate channels her powers though it. When Naraku is weakened, then the Tai youkai can strike."

"We, your gods, the gods of greater Japan, desire that Naraku meet the Ruler of the Underworld…"

"See that the Lord of the West succeed, child of fate."

With a flick of his wrist the god of sorcery and medicine sent the child of fate away.

The father shared a long look with his son, the protector of children and then looked out at his children, his children that were changing the order of the cosmos and ordered. "Today, my children, we will break that rule… today we act."

"Now we need to separate Naraku from the girl." The Protector of children nodded to his father then turned and walked away, "I'll believe that I can take care of separating the girl from Naraku, father, if you will have someone warn the villages as she approaches them."

…Voices on the wind

Voices were calling on the wind.

Dread

Fear us

Stay for us

Uneasiness

Flight from us

Wariness

Hide from us

Flee while you can.

Shaking with fear, Kaede stood and watched as Inuyasha's forest darkened with a foreboding overtone, a screech that promised trouble and death. What is happening out there? Afraid. I'm Afraid… but of what? And why these emotions, these feelings…a warning, yes, yes it is a warning, but of what?

The forest was being taken over by an indefinable shadow…a creeping, slithering, darkness, a stain from some dank, nether world. Kaede hadn't felt this way since the last time she was in Naraku's presence, as he is miasma slithered along the ground.

Feeling her miko senses tingling across her skin, Kaede shivered once again and wrapped her arms around herself as she fought the desire to gather her villagers and flee the area, to run as fast and as far as possible.

Voices, intense voices warning us to escape.

Something –or someone was coming.

Flee, flee, run away, be quick...before it too late. A woman's voice called. She swallowed, her throat felt so dry, she could hear the whispers on the wind.

Yes, voices calling—the voices of the dead. Of souls lost. Something's coming, something evil and yet… there purity mixed in as well. Holy powers. What is it? One part of this invokes fear and dread… the other is a warning to run. What is coming? Who is coming? Kaede paused as a shimmer blue fog appeared beside a tree at the edge of the forest.

What was that she watched in trepidation, as a large man slowly began to materialize out of the fog, his bloodstain armor gleaming in the setting evening sun and he wore a mask of brash colors, demons signed, he simple stood there, waiting.

He was…

Watching…

Watching her.

Watching the village she was sworn to protect. His presence gave off a horrible chill, a warning that she had heard on the evening wind.

Kaede stumbled back in fear and knew that she was looking at the Lord of War, Master of Battles, Father of Youkai.

Frightfully, with her thoughts rolling through her mind as one turned on another, her confusion was reined in as Kaede began to realize one thing with clarity. A warning received from the gods should never be ignored…the gods give only so many changes…and a warning not heeded can destroy you. Yes, we're leaving.

Her thoughts clearing for the first time that night, Kaede took one last look at the Lord of War, before timidly bowing to him she then turned and ran back to her village as quickly as she could.

They were leaving.

'Everyone is gone? Father, where are they? Where did they go?' Aniketo stood quietly on the outskirts of the abandon village of Edo and scanned the area with her mind as she let her father see thorough her eyes, with a slight pout she thought, 'I was going to harvest here for you.'

'Someone warned them we were coming and ruined my revenge!' Naraku gashed out, now provoked beyond all endurance, he had been looking forward to destroying this village, leaving a dead, husk strewn village as his calling card for that bitch of a miko. The miko's pain would have been wonderful, a taste so sweet and tempting.

'What do we do now, father, since they have fled? Should I go to the cavern were they have your body?'

'No, I have been moved. Look around first, Aniketo, maybe someone in hiding. I want to know who warned them we were coming. Oh, they will pay. I had plans for this place. I'm going to rest. Call me if you find anyone.'

Hopefully Kaede is here somewhere. Maybe I can still leave the miko a calling card. Naraku thought with an evil smile before he turned his attention inward to think and watched with a distracted eye as his chained miko floated in front of his crystal casket.

Not far away hidden by the underbrush, a round and jolly man, watched from his hiding place as the girl surveyed the village as Naraku had ordered. He smiled as he watched Naraku's attention wandered from the girl, leaving him free to enter her mind.

He quietly sent his mind out tamping down and controlling his power as he took his place, as he mind spoke with a whisper, feigning Naraku's subconscious voice and attempted to cloud Naraku's mind she's a fool, a little idiot. All she had to do was reach this village and take the souls here—a simple task—yet even this she couldn't do. Even with Kagura rebellious behavior, she was a better minion. I want—need out that they— that bitch would dare trap me! Me!!

The protector of children slided his words into Naraku's carefully. It's the miko's blood, it damaged my spell, I need to be out there myself. But how? How do I get out when I am trapped behind this crystal?

Naraku seethed in frustration. I'll rip that girl apart for daring to trap me. The bitch. Inuyasha's whore. A false miko—I…Naraku—trapped by a false miko... A bitch less than the dirt below my feet, how dare she. Naraku, unable to get to the bitch he wanted, sent a wave of energy into his chained, trapped miko and smiled with a chilling joy as he heard Hana's screams of pain filling his mind.

'Does it hurt, bitch, this is her fault you know. The pain you feel. All she had to do was give me what was mine… the Shikon no Tama. I deserved it, I won it from Inuyasha and Kikyou…it was mine. MINE!!! Hate her as I hate her. My little false miko.'

The round and jolly man planted the first of many seeds. Aniketo needs to go to the castle…maybe there I can find a way to escape.

'Aniketo' Naraku called, hiding what he was doing to the miko soul from her. 'We're leaving now, this place hold nothing for us, began walking towards the setting sun.'


…the morning after

Squeak, squeak, squeak, the low sound encircled Kagome and pulled her toward wakefulness. Kagome slited her eyes and tensed as the sound of footsteps on the wooden floor filtered into her sleeping mind, her instinctive flight or fight response kicking in and adrenal began to flow through her.

She was not alone.

Who's there? She released her claws, they slide out of her fingers and she dug them into the futon beneath her. She could feel someone in the room with her, someone that did not belong.

Kagome felt the air around her become heavy with the presence of another as she delicately sniffed as she played as if she was still asleep and attempted to identify the aromas floating in the air.

Sniff, whiff…no make that the scent of two someones. She forced a growl down, must be quiet.

The essences with in the aromas…. are familiar. Mmm, these scents are not dangerous—prey. Kagome relaxed with that thought, yawned and then stopped in shook, had she really thought of someone as prey? Bleary-eyed and still half-asleep, a shocked Kagome looked up to see Ami-ria and Amita exiting the newly cleaned room and walk into the lavatory and bathing room.

As she sifted her body ached, an ache deep within her bones, causing Kagome to moaned slightly as she turned over onto her side, pulling a pillow up to cover her head as the mid morning sun streamed much to merrily for her thorough the balcony doors and then proceeded to cheerfully bathed her face.

Acck. The sunlight is way too bright for this early, especially when I feel like this.

Owwwww.

Kami, why do I feel so bad? I really, really, really hurt, Kagome felt a particularly hard twinge in her back. What happened?

Kagome, as she laid sprawled on the large futon and began to take stock of her body— from her head, neck, to the inside of her thighs to her…. Sesshoumaru! Sex.. we.. together…OH, OH, Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Kami.

I… had… sex… with… Sesshoumaru…sex with…Really good sex…but still…with Sesshoumaru. Kagome eyes widened as flashes of them appeared before her eyes, shocking her as she remembered what she had been doing over the last few days.

She turned over to lay there and looked up at the high ceiling. She could still smell the scent of lust and sex hovering in the room.

Oh, my. She thought and her face flushed, she had felt strange as she served the meal, she remembered something said about a drug… but what about it. Scenes began to flashed across her mind and then and then what…his lips gently touching hers…then fire, they had… his teeth in her neck, his heavy body on hers, and then…What. Oh, my.

Sex Oh, my kami, lots of sex. Oh, my. Kagome blanched as she remembered other snippets. On her knees… against the wall…back to the bed…then…oh, yes, the wall several time, Oh, my, oh, my.

…He had bent her over the table…on her hand and knees, again…the floor then back to the table. She remembered her nails scoring his back and chest as she screamed in pleasure she remembered his yells, roars of satisfaction.

Oh, Oh, Oh, oh, kami, how will I face him again? How will I face any of them, they heaTheyThey had to have.

She moved and gasped, oh, I hurt. She slowly raised the blanket and looked down at her skin, the peaches and cream skin tone was marred by marks and bruises, and Kagome blanched as she slowly begin to remember how each came to be.

Kagome flushed and shivered in remembered pleasure, the sheer sensuality and the enjoyment she received with his every touch, his every caress. He made me beg...

Sesshoumaru had made her beg him in the end, beg him to take her and then made her promise what ever he wanted, Kagome frowned, now I just have to remember what I did promise.

The last part of her… her what? The only word she could think of to describe it was heat… a heat like an animals'… Kagome frowned, she didn't like that term… heat, but could not think of another.

Her… heat was a haze, with little remembered but flashes of emotions and images of sex. A lot of sex. A lot of sex with SESSHOUMARU!!! The normally cold fish Lord of the Western Lands.

But what she did remember was that she had been promised two or more weeks before they would… They lied. Abigeru lied to me. I was starting to like her…trust her. She seemed so nice. But I heard something about a druidn\idn't I? He said…No, thied…ied… they tricked me. Tears formed in her eyes…

I wanted Inuyasha to be my first. But that was impossible… she knew, Kagomes' breath came hissing out as her hands covered her face as it flushed with anger and embarrassment. But I never would have chosen Sesshoumaru.

Eimi carrying another beautiful kimono for her new lady opened the large oak doors, and held it open for Lady Abigeru as she preceded her into the room. Eimi was pleasantly surprised to see that Lady Kagome was already awake this morning and sitting up, she had been sure they would have an impossible time getting her to wake up let alone sitting up.

"Ah, good, Kagome, you're awake. I thought you'd still be asleep but I suppose you're hungry, yes?" Abigeru smiled and spoke cheerfully, as she walked into the room, carefully scenting the air and looked the girl over as she sifted on the bed. "It has been several days seen you've eaten. Sesshoumaru-sama wishes the pleasure of your company for breakfast if you feel up to it."

Hmm, not much blood or at least not enough to matter. Abigeru thought.

Abigeru was relieved that the girl seemed to be fine, except for a few bruises and some unmistakably sore muscles, it was common knowledge that sometimes the first mating of a couple could get very violent.

Rolling her eyes, Abigeru approached the young, headstrong girl who was hiding her face with her hands. And Kagome especially seemed to her to be the type that would die before submitting to a man even a male as powerful as Sesshoumaru.

Outraged, Kagome looked up and watched as an almost humming… Yes, Humming! Abigeru walked over to the bed.

Abigeru sighed, She's so young, a pup almost, and I don't know what Sesshoumaru will do with this one. She'll never give his the submission he will demand. Her instincts are all wrong. Unfortunately she a pup with none of the natural instincts of an inu youkai pup.

"Good…Good morning." Kagome replied as her anger and embarrassment fought with her intrinsically good manners, but years of having them being drilled into her by her mother easily won out. Her voice had squeaked as she looked at the Kitsune maid and Inu youkai lady, knowing full well from their flared nostrils that they could see and smell the signs of sex in the room.

They know, I knew they know. What Sesshoumaru and I did.

Oh, Kami, Kagome thought as embarrassment took over and her face turned even redder, they really do know what we, what I did, they don't need to see the evidence of it because they can smell it.

I won't be embarrassed. They should be… they're the one that lied. But a drug… I did hea… no, they lied. Liar she felt betrayed. Kagome knew she was being silly, she should give them time to explain, but she didn't care. She wanted to be silly and stubborn right now. In fact right now if she was being silly and stubborn she knew she would be screaming and throwing thing in a rage. Kagome thought with a hard angry look at Abigeru, as she fought her embarrassment back, she wasn't going to give in they had lied—and that was that—to her at every turn as far as she was concerned.

Abigeru can act as cheerful as she wants, I not going to talk to them. I won't trust them again. I was supposed to have at least two weeks to find some way out of here, to escape and find Shippo. They ruined it. Liars.

"I can tell you're very sore this morning, that normal with a first mating. You're bath has been prepared by Ami-ria and Amita they have added herbs that will help with your soreness. We'll help you up, all right?
K
Kagome couldn't help it she had to say it, "You lied to me." She hissed angrily, her face red as the emotions of embarrassment, betrayal and anger rolled right through her. She watched as Abigeru shook her head side to side and she insisted with a hissed," You DID"

"I didn't, Sesshoumaru wanted to explain about this, but…Kagome, you and Sesshoumaru where drugged, a very powerful aphrodisiac that provoked an early heat in you. There was nothing we could do once it came on you, you had to mate. We did not lie to you." She sighed when the accusations didn't leave Kagome's stubborn face. "That's all I'll say about it, you must speak with Sesshoumaru."

Kagome turned her nose up and looked away from Abigeru as she read the look on her face, I'll be stubborn and unreasonable if I want! She thought, almost sticking her tongue out at the older woman.

Looking away from Kagome, Abigeru allowed her face to harden as she thought of the reasons for the girl's early mating, a magical spell that induced fertility. Who would dare drug the Lord of the Western Land, in his own castle? Causing him to lose face to his new mate? To Sesshoumaru honor is everything, whoever did this would pay for it. Bloodily.

Abigeru reached for the robe lying on the end of the bed and attempted to pull the blanket back only to have a blushing Kagome grab it and hold it to her. "What?"

"No." Kagome stuttered as she blushed once again, her emotions boiling to the surface, with mortification wining out. "I'm naked!"

She noticed the look on Kagome red face. She's shy? With the way she screamed over the last few da"Ah"Ah, Eimi help me with the robe please." Carefully they wrapped the robe around the sheet covered Kagome, tied it, before pulling the sheet away from her.

"You'll feel much better after a bath, my dear."

"Now that you're ready, I'll show you the way to the dinning room, Kagome-sama, please follow me." Leading the way from Sesshoumaru quarters, Abigeru smiled and laughed silently as she kept up a cheerful dialogue with a fuming embarrassed Kagome. "Just think, soon you'll know your way around the castle and won't even need someone to show you to where you're going."

Abigeru shook her head Kagomes' thoughts were completely obvious, they were written on her face as plain as if she was screaming the words. She was still in pain, at least slightly, and also enraged, because she was sure that they all had lied to her.

Perhaps I should explain more… She paused to think. No. She must learn to look to Sesshoumaru, he's her marked mate and that bond is forever.

Abigeru almost smiled but hide it from Kagome, Kagome had decided she was going to ignore them no matter what and had attempted to refuse to speak to either of them when they had talked to her. The poor girl had been so sore that she could barely move and luckily that caused her angry was to be only a minor irritation or the girl most likely would have exploded.

As Kagome followed Abigeru down the long hallways, she kept casting hard looks at the female inu youkai as she carefully walked down the long curved steps that lead to the front hall of the castle.

Kagome almost moaned out loud, she had never been so sore in her life, but at least she was now able to move after Eimi and Abigeru had pried her out of bed and helped her to the bath were she had soaked in the hot water. Then Ami-ria and Amita had given her a massage to loosen up her tight, tense muscles.

She was feeling a little better, but still she hurt, Kagome's eyes hardened, Lair her eyes drilled into the back of Abigeru head as she followed her. They walked down the long hallway to a large black shoji door. The servant standing at attention beside the door, bowed, and then opened it as they neared.

"Well, I will leave you here and go notify Sesshoumarut yot you're ready. I'll see you at lunch."

"Humph" Kagome replied, as she looked away from Abigeru. Angrily, Kagome turned her nose up at her and gave her a regally dismissing nod, which Abigeru knew would have done Sesshoumaru proud when he was at his most arrogant.

What am I going to do? I'm mated to Sesshoumaru and it's permanent, I can feel it. I can feel the need to please him… I'm being silly… Kagome paused at that thought as she walked around the low table to the large window overlooking the courtyard gardens. Oh, the bastard. Let's think about something positive. At least the bruises are healing and I'm less sore than I was.

Still Kagome could already feel and see the results of her body healing she did like that about being youkai, not having to wait for days or weeks for an injury to heal. I mean, I'm healing but nowhere near the way Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha had healed, shouldn't she be all the way healed by now? It was just sore muscles and a few bruises. I've seen Inuyasha with a hole in his chest that healed within a few days.


In his study with paperwork spread across his desk, Sesshoumaru leaned back in his chair. His paper work was forgotten as he gazed out the window as he waited for word that Kagome was ready to join him for breakfast that morning. He knew that the girl would be furious with them—with him. She was going to be sure that she been lied to, he sighed this morning was going to be difficult.

He turned back to his paper work with another sigh and a roll of his eyes—his little bitch would have to learn to behave, it would be a hard lesson for a girl use to running wild with his hanyou brother.

But she would learn. He thought as his face blank farther.

Sesshoumaru gritted his teeth and flashed his fangs at the thought of Inuyasha ever having touched Kagome. She's mine. Inuyasha. I'm jealous. Jealous of my lowborn, hanyou brother.

Kagome…She belongs to me now and I will not share her with a ghost. I will drive him from her mind. He paused as he smelled and heard Abigeru coming down the hall and forced the emotions from his face, leaving only his normal bland expression.

She another problem. One of the carefully worded letters lying on his desk was yet another offer for Abigeru from one of his lords this time Sushi, an inu youkai, wanted her for his youngest son, Tomili. My Abigeru wasted on a young fool with no honor and little brains, a waste since the first time his mother placed him to her teat. The stupid bitch should have strangled him before his first feeding.

To refuse the offer would insult a high member of his court… but to have his blood mingled with that boy's. Sesshoumaru shuttered. Hmm, Sushi only wants her for her link to the Western Throne. If I died and I'm sure he has already arranged an "ACCIDENT", Sushi would have her puped and in concubine chambers and Tomili on the throne as a puppet within a week.

And then some unfortunate accident would befall her after her pup was born. Maybe it was time to arrange an "accident" of my own Sesshoumaru thought, yes, an accident for the young fool and his father. The Western Lands are dangerous, after all. Hmm, it has been a while since my last lesson to the court.

Abigeru need a mate that can be trusted as well…but who.

Knock, Knock. The sound echoed throughout the large room.

"Enter, Cousin." This isn't important now. Sesshoumaru force his body to relax and he leaned back into his chair as he watched as Abigeru entered the room.

"Good morning, Cousin," Abigeru replied with her normal easy smile, but her eyes showed she was hiding something from him. "It's a wonderful day, isn't it? I showed Kagome-sama to the breakfast room. The cook is only waiting for your presence and orders to begin serving breakfast."

Hmm, I order her to breakfast as well. Sesshoumaru with the training of many years, easy read her guilt and responded with a raised eyebrow and a minute narrowing of his eyes as he noticed that she had left herself out of it I want Kagome and Abigeru to form a friendship not just to easy Kagome into her new responsibilities but because Abigeru has been lonely too.

"You will eat with us, yes?" Sesshoumaru with the intensity of a hungry eagle spying a mouse as he watched his cousin playing with the folds of her kimono, a nervous gesture held over from childhood. She always played with her kimono when she was attempting to hide something. Hn. She lying...no, not lying, his cousin would not lie to him, but she would try to turn my attention from something. Now what?

"I rose early this morning, and had already eaten before I received your invitation. You should go, Kagome is waiting for you." Abigeru smiled nervously and chattered away, knowing Sesshoumaru would not be happy with her for eating with Jiro without his presence if he found out.

Jiro was not a lord…in fact, he was only the peasant son of farmers, and there had been much rumbling from the minor lords when he had been promoted to master of arms of the castle above the sons of those nobles, and then there was that other thing a lady didn't eat or stay in the presence of a male not of her direct family without a chaperon.

We didn't do anything… Although, I sometime wis-- Abigeru sighed wishfully, I like Jiro. But it would be viewed as indecent and Sesshoumaru always took great pain to avoid the appearance of indecency—it made him appear weak before the other lords—and in the world of the Lords of the Lands appearance and strength was everything… that was a harsh lesson that had been drummed into him by both his parent's families.

She's hiding something from me…and I don't like it. Something about Jiro.

"Did you now…" Sesshoumaru trailed off as he watched her eyes shadow with more guilt before she looked down, and then asked "What have you been doing for the last few days?"

"Nothing really…It took me a few days to get over the headache caused when you mind spoke me, you know that I never could tolerate that and I spent that a few hours in bed. Then after that I watched Rin for Jiro…She keep trying to sneak into the gardens after he told her not to—she keep saying that she forgot."

Sesshoumaru made a mental note to talk to Rin about that—her safety was important to him and she must listen to those that spoke in his name…but what was Abigeru hiding behind that innocent smile from him? I will think on this.

"Beside Kagome's very upset and sure that we lied to her, I don't think you want an audience for breakfast." Abigeru pretended to looked out the window as she every once in a while snuck a peak at Sesshoumaru from the corner of her eye, and watched as a patrol returning in the distance.

As she once again attempted to turn his attention from her as she said frowning. "A patrols coming in early, it looks as if they'll reach the castle within the next hour, would you like me to have a servant find Jiro to meet them? We can summon you if you're needed. You should go to breakfast, Kagome's probable hungry and you should be too, so why don't you and and I'll see you at lunch?"

"Hn, yes, I suppose so. I'll be in the breakfast room if anyone needs me." Sesshoumaru said as he swept around and walked toward the door. "Ah, yes, cousin, we will be speaking of whatever you're attempting to hide later."

Oh, my, that absolutely sounded like a threat. Abigeru sighed.

I can't just ignore him. Even though I would love to. Nervous, frustrated, and slightly fearful all at once, Kagome was seated at the low table gazing out the window but she was not really seeing the beautiful well maintained landscape before her, which the castles' groundskeepers had obviously worked hours on.

Kagome had finally calmed down enough to see that it wasn't really Sesshoumaru's fault. Her mind wandered, her thoughts confused, every new instinct she possessed wanted her to submit to an obviously stronger mate, how do I get into these situations? Do I have a sign on me that says please abuse me? Kidnap me, drug me, fuck me until I can't mov…

Oh, Kami. Taken aback at her thoughts, Kagome slowly lowered her head to the table and rested it on her folded arms, she didn't even looked up as several servants came in carrying several trays. No, her attention was focused on the Taiyoukai she could hear walking toward the room she was in.

"Good morning, My Lord." She heard the servant greeting Sesshoumaru as he opened the door for him as he entered.

Sesshoumaru acknowledged the servant standing behind him in the doorway with a slight nod, and ordered "Kagome will serve us, Yoshi. You are dismissed." The servants bowed out of the room.

Lovely. Just lovely. Sesshoumaru stood quietly beside the door for a moment and looked at his prize before moving into the room and taking a seat at the head of the large table, as Kagome attempted to ignore him, but her scent gave her away.

It was a heady mixture, succulent even, a mixture that slide down his throat and made his fangs elongate with wanting to sink into her, her scent smelled of nervousness, anger, fear and….desire, Sesshoumaru found that he didn't like the smell of fear on her—as it and her other emotions perfumed the room.

His delicate little bitch should not know fear of him—unless she deserved it he thought in amusement and cynicism, Hmm, was his little bitch was actually beginning to melt his icy, dark heart?

Oh, Kami's blessings help me. Kagome stirred up reluctantly and raised her head to look at him, and considered crying. Desires stirred in her and that still tender spot between her legs melted, and it was all she could do not to reach for him to pull his slim, powerful body into her arms.

Oh, kami, what am I going to do? How does one man manage to be so lovely…so hot…so sexy…just so…so everything and then still look so very male? One look that all it took one look and I'm putty in his hands.

In a minuscule change of expression, Sesshoumaru allowed a perceptive smirk to grace his lips, His little bitch was not unaffected by him, and that pleased him, pleased him greatly.


Damned instincts, wants to mother every kit in sight. Hazuki went back to scouting ahead as Makkenji took care of the prisone—Err guests. She had been too disturbed by the little kitsune kit and his whimpering for his mother—although she did find it odd that such a very young kitsune was out running around with fire cat, and two humans—a priest and a youkai exterminator if her guest was right.

Hazuki had been fighting the instincts to mother the little one and she really didn't understand what the little one's mother had been thinking to leave a defenseless kit alone with humans…especially a priest and a youkai exterminator.

And if that was not bad enough they had picked up two other humans this morning and for some reason when the woman had instructed them to take her to Sesshoumaru they were almost half way there before she realized what she was doing.

Taking orders from a human. She thought with a shake of her head. What's the world coming to?

Hazuki looked at Makkenji—that damned inu youkai was smirking again! She watched as he wiped the expression from his face and gave her a bland look that didn't hide his wicked humor at her expense.

Hissing, she thought, If Makkenji gave her one more smirk that implied she could not control her female instincts, she would…nothing. She sighed, I'll be glad to hand them off to Master Jiro. She quickened her pace and motioned the patrol to pick up their pace as they followed her, as the castle came into view. Let's get this over with.

Hazuki's patrol—unusual Jiro stood at attention, his shoulders thrown back and legs slightly apart, as he waited for the group coming up the mountain to reach him and he was surprised to note that they had four humans and a fire cat wihem—hem—Along with a kitsune kit? Hmm, interesting.

Kagome sit quietly beside Sesshoumaru somehow, she was still not sure how but he had her serving his meal with one, simple look. How does he do that? Kagome shook her head at that and looked up as she hear thumps coming down the long hall outside the parlor, several people where marching down it.

The door slide open and…

That smell…where have I? Kagome paused in pouring more tea into Sesshoumaru's cup and sniffed, that scent…it was very familiar to her, important to her and smelled of earthy, like a mixture of evergreens and grass.

Sesshoumaru sighed, he recognized those scents quite well…he had smelled them every time he had visited with his younger brother. The youkai fire cat, the houshi and the exterminator, and two others humans, hn …with the young kit—he rolled his eyes. Kagome will want the brat I'm sure, but first the bitch must ask and nicely.

Sesshoumaru listened to the shard group as they argued with his Master at Arms is the hallway, Jiro was fighting a losing battle to keep the kit and exterminator in the hall until Sesshoumaru was summoned.

That familiar. Kagome thought as she heard the voices buzzing in the hallway and absent-mindedly laid the tea pot back down on the table as she turned to look at the door it was then that she hear a happy screech in the hallway and an orange and brown streak came zooming at her, yelling her name.

"Kagomeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee," Shippo screeched as he catapulted himself over the table and into Kagome's lap only to be grabbed by an outstretched hand.

This was unacceptable behavior in his presence. Sesshoumaru held the bothersome kit at arms length by the scuff of the neck, growling at Shippo when the pup attempted to nip, twist and struggled to get lose.

He's got me, Kagomeeeeeeeeeeeeee, he's got me. Shippo thought as he froze and whimpered before curling up into a little ball hanging from Sesshoumaru's hand. Help me.

"Shippo-chan," Kagome stunned, her eyes lightening with happiness and filled wteartears at the same time, oh, I thought I would never see him again, as she reached for him only to have Sesshoumaru stand and pull him away.

"Kagome, you must ask for him—nicely, and then I may let you have the brat. But you must ask." Sesshoumaru held the kit away from her. His eyebrow slowly rose as he heard the growl coming from her.

"He's mine, give him here." Kagome lunged up at Sesshoumaru hissing, driven to rage by Shippo's whimpering and the smell of fear coming from him and lunged for him only to have Sesshoumaru fly to the other side of the room. The necklace around her neck began to flare. "Give him back!"

"No. Control yourself, bitch. Do you want to hurt the--your pup?" Sesshoumaru instructed in a harsh growl as Kagome reached for Shippo again, he moved the kit away from his mother once more.

"Ask!" Sesshoumaru growled every time she reached for the pup and pulled him away.

Just what I need another unruly bitch, who does not know her master. Sesshoumaru could hear the exterminator yelling and attempting to pass Jiro to get into the room. He stood calmly and waited for Kagome to display the correct visual cues as the pup was doing, he was exhibiting the fact that he knew that he was in a more powerful male's presences and behaving with proper submission.

Sesshoumaru shook his head in dismay when he finally realized that the bitch didn't know the correct response to this situation. Training this girl to be obey me is going to be harder than I thought.

He sighed when he heard Jiro yell and the youkai exterminator managed to enter the room and hissed at Kagome. "You'll have to ask in an appropriate way. He's not going to respond to a threat."

"I won't." Kagome stopped and looked at the other girl with a threat in her eyes, and then back at Sesshoumaru who had moved to the other side of the room, her eyes slowly tracking him to keep her kit in view.

Sangowly wly approached Kagome after looking to Sesshoumaru for permission she may not like it but he was master here in his own home. She drew her to the other side of the room before whispering to Kagome, "He's master here Kagome, if you want Shippo returned to you, you'll have to ask for his permission for him to be here."

Kagome turned red and whispered back, "It's humiliating, Sango, he thinks he's my master. He's always ordering me around. "

Sango pointedly looked at Kagome's marked neck "What more important now? Your pride or Shippo's terror?"

Kagome flushed even brighter feeling ashamed when Shippo whimpered once more, before she turned to Sesshoumaru to ask in a breaking voice, "Please, Sesshoumaru, Oh, please let me have him."

"Please, may I have my son?" Kagome slowly walked up to Sesshoumaru and looked up at him, her pleading eyes once again filling with tears. What if he sends Shippo away or worse yet hurt him?

"You please me, little one." Sesshoumaru gently touched her face and with a nod and slight smile to show he was pleased with her asking him as she should, Sesshoumaru placed the pup in her arms.


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