Embracing Ice by Yabou

Section Seven

- - - - -

Embracing Ice - Section Seven

Character of Wepwawet Created By: Rinseternalsoul

Warning: Lemons Present

- - - - -

"Seven more sunrises," Kagome smiled, pressing her lips to his bare chest.

Sesshoumaru returned her gesture with a gentle look and ran his hand through her long, dark hair as she cuddled against him, "Seven more sunsets."

"Do you think you can handle being bound to me forever?" she asked.

The demonic prince snorted. "That is not the appropriate question, little miko."

"Then what should I ask?"

With a careful tug, he pulled her into his arms and held her close. "One can only wonder how the rest of the world will fare when beings such as we are joined, eternally."

"What are you trying to say?" Kagome laughed and ran her finger tips over his side to tickle the sensitive skin of his lower stomach.

He laid a kiss on her neck and inhaled deeply. It was a scent he never grew tired of. "Between you and I," he chuckled, "all of Japan has never seen such a strong-willed combination."

"Hey!" Kagome squealed when he returned her antics. "Are you saying I'm stubborn?"

Sesshoumaru seemed to think twice about his answer for finally settling on, "I do not recall saying that."

"Uh huh," Kagome shot him a knowing glance. "That's okay. I'll get you later."

Raising one eyebrow, the daiyoukai smirked. "Is that a promise, little miko?"

As she took in his heated stare, the priestess swallowed slowly and backed out of the bedding. "I don't have time. Sesshoumaru, no! I've got to go see-"

Any further argument she may have attempted was silenced by her future mate's skilled tongue.

- - - - -

'Four days. I'm getting married in four days,' Kagome sighed, lost in her own thoughts. 'I wish Mama was here. She'd be so happy. Gah, she's going to get those grandchildren with the cute ears that she had almost given up on. I love you, Mama. I'll be back there soon. After all, how hard can it be to wait 1300 years when I've got Sesshoumaru by my side? '

"Kagome?" Ikris frowned. "Are you listening to me?"

The young miko blushed, pulled from her daydreams. "I'm sorry, Ikris. My mind seems to wander lately."

Smiling, the priestess patted her knee comfortingly. "I understand. I remember waiting for my own mating ceremony. All those nervous butterflies. However, we do need to discuss how your training will change now that Ishi is gone."

"Ishi is gone? What happened?" Kagome wondered, shocked at the sudden disappearance of the battle-hardened instructor.

Ikris shook her head. "Someone like Ishi cannot be expected to stay long. She comes when she is needed, and she leaves when she is not."

"She didn't say goodbye," the young miko sadly replied.

"It is her way," Ikris soothed. "Do not worry yourself, Kagome. It is likely that you will see her again some day."

"What do you mean she's not needed? Of course I need her. Who's going to finish my training with the kamas?" she huffed, upset that the older woman left without a single word of parting.

Ikris cringed, a sudden pain rippling over her swollen belly.

"Are you okay?" Kagome's eyes widened at her clenched expression. "Is something wrong? Is it time?"

"Calm yourself, Kagome." She chuckled, sighing in relief as the waves passed over her. "It is nothing - merely a young lord voicing his displeasure. Already, he is so much like his father."

Kagome blushed. "Sorry, I've never really been around a really pregnant woman before. What were you saying... about my training?"

"Your pack members will now instruct you in the areas concerning your weapon and I will resume assisting you with your reiki as soon as I am able," she answered, still soothing the pup inside her womb with soft caresses.

"What are we going to do today, then?"

Ikris gave her a humorous smile. "Meditate."

"My favorite," Kagome sighed and grumbled

- - - - -

"I have heard a very interesting story as of late, Wepwawet." Ptah shifted on his throne, absently stroking the long, braided beard that hung from his chin. The Creator settled him with a stern look. "You have obtained the Shroud of Osiris, have you not?"

Light from the flames of the underworld played over his superior's bald head and made the thick, charcoal lines around his eyes stand out even more against his light brown skin. Pushing aside his distraction, the Opener of the Ways responded, "I have," meanwhile thinking, 'Damn Ammit. She has taken her souls and betrayed mine.'

"Osiris thinks the fabric unimportant," Ptah continued.

A new figure stepped up to the throne. His appearance reflected Ptah's, but he wore the white crown of Egypt upon his head. "However, I did not realize that it would be gifted to a mere mortal woman. Are your actions wise, Dog?"

Wepwawet looked between the two and pondered what he should say. It was Osiris's Shroud, but Ptah was the more influential of the two. If only one was to agree, it would have to be Ptah. Osiris was logical. Osiris would seek whatever he believed to be justifiable. Ptah, however, could be swayed. Choosing his battle, the dog god bowed deeply. "The cloth is needed in Japan."

"For a priestess," the third and final member of the trio appeared as Wepwawet rose.

Ptah frowned. "You are not needed here, Seker. Return to your post."

"I have news." The bird-headed god moved forward, his green skin appearing sickly even in the dim light. The long, curved beak that served as his mouth opened again, "I have been visited by your Grecians, Ptah."

"Ah, what say the lovely Fates?" Ptah grinned.

"It appears," Seker sneered, "that they wish for you to create a set of feminine armor from the Shroud of Osiris. Why should we be forced to cater to the whims of your pets, Ptah? Is it not enough that I delivered their message?"

"What think you, Osiris?" Ptah questioned. "Do you agree with our Second?"

"I do not," He replied stoically. "If the Fates have deemed it so, it must be done."

Ptah clapped a hand against his Second's arm. "You have been outnumbered, my friend."

Osiris, the Third deity, called the Shroud into his presence and Wepwawet was hard pressed not to snarl. The object had, after all, cost him one hundred souls. It was a difficult task to complete - nearly impossible given his time constraints. Still, he had done it. He had earned the Shroud of Osiris for his Ikris.

"I, the Creator and god of craftsmen, will produce what is required for you, Wepwawet." Ptah informed him.

Osiris passed the fabric to his predecessor. "However, we will require something in return."

Ptah's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Ah, yes. We must have something in return."

Wepwawet nearly groaned. It seemed as if he would never reach his dear Ikris.

- - - - -

"You're going to get me into trouble." Kagome pointed out even as she sank into his kiss.

Sesshoumaru smirked against her mouth, sliding his hands around her waist to lift her off the floor. "And your point, little miko?"

"You shouldn't be here," she whispered. Her legs wrapped around his lean torso, contradicting her hands, which were pushing against his chest. "We're supposed to be getting ready to greet our guests."

"And what do you want to do, Ka-go-me?" His sinful voice caused her body to flush. Clawed fingertips grazed over her fabric covered breasts while his other hand occupied itself with supporting her weight and fondling her curved backside.

Kagome gasped. "We can't do this now."

"Three more nights," he breathed, a lusty promise filling his every word. "Then I shall see just how loudly you can scream my name, little miko."

The hazy fog of arousal that swamped her body might have driven her to test his theories. That is, if she had not felt a cold blast of air sweep up her kimono from how quickly he deposited her against the wall and disappeared out the window.

"Where has my son gone?" Bishou appeared in the doorway, an amused look sparkling in the depths of her golden eyes.

"Um..." Kagome blushed. "Wasn't here?"

"Of course not," the youkai female laughed. "It must have been the wind."

"Right." The young miko sighed in relief when she realized that her future mother-in-law of sorts was willing to let the instance go.

Moving to a chest in the corner of her room, Bishou sorted through it contents, selecting a thick, wrapped package from its depths. A sad smile curved her maroon lips. "I would like for you to wear this for this eve. It was... meant for my daughter."

Kagome felt her breath catch in her throat. "Bishou... I can't... I can't accept something so precious. I can't take this from you."

"You..." the Seer continued, "Would you be... I would be honored if you would become my daughter, Kagome."

"I," Kagome nearly cried at the heartfelt emotions etched into Bishou's face. "It is a privilege to consent to such a request, Honored Mother."

Encased in the warm embrace of her youkai family, Kagome wept in earnest. She was not alone. Even when Sesshoumaru was not near, this female had come to mean nearly as much as her son did.

Drying their eyes, Kagome and Bishou prepared for the evening's opening ceremony. The Seer managed to keep her happy facade in place until the miko had slipped out the shoji screen to join the others in celebration of her impending bond. With a weak hand pressed against the cold wooden wall, the demoness barely kept herself from falling to the floor.

Her visions had been even stronger since the departure of her mate. While his youki usually kept them at bay, his absence allowed them to wreak havoc on her mind. It was, perhaps, her biggest weakness. Her magics were strong in different directions. She held a poison in her claws strong enough to defeat any foe. Her movements were quick and agile, able to escape most attacks, but her own body fought against her.

The magic that most youkai possessed in battle was lost to her. She could See into the future of a soul but, beyond that, her capabilities were limited to abnormal strength and the toxin in her veins. She was unable to even protect herself against her foreign power.

Most demonic beings considered her useless. She smiled ruthlessly into the empty room, her silver hair shining in the faint light seeping through from the outdoor torches, 'Perhaps, I am.'

Finally, she allowed her body to collapse against the chest. Bishou's delicate claws carelessly rearranged her dark purple kimono as she lost herself in thought. 'My mate, I do this only for you. This eve I will still my hand as I watch my children fumble. Do you even know what you have asked of me? This last test... Kagome will prove her worth. I know the situation is not of your doing, but my heart still shudders at how little you see. Why do you let your future rest in a haze when I am able to clear it?'

Crossing her hands over her chest, she closed her eyes and quietly laughed. 'Perhaps your human mate will understand you in the ways I cannot.'

- - - - -

"Let a mother dote on her son," Bishou teased, brushing his bangs away from his eyes; eyes that so closely resembled his father's. "In a few days, you will no longer be mine to care for. Surely you will grant me these last moments."

"You coddle me now and you will continue to do so, even after my mating. Do not attempt to deny the truth in it, Mother." He smirked. "You are not one to be so easily pushed aside. Do not believe you can fool me into sympathy."

"Ah," she feigned a hurt expression. "What a wicked son I have raised! And to think, I went through many difficulties to have this kimono made to your Lady's specifications just for you."

"You made this because of Kagome?" He asked, surprised.

Bishou looked away, enjoying her torture of him. "I did, but what will I tell her, now that you've refused her gift from your disrespected mother?"

Taking more time, Sesshoumaru examined the white silk so lovingly prepared by two of the most important beings in his life. A splash of deep red colored the hem of the sleeves and right shoulder. It was an odd pattern that he had never seen before, part of him wondered where she had seen it.

Once his mother exited the chambers, he donned the fine fabric with practiced ease and tied the sash Kagome had created around his waist. Allowing his tail to slip from its bindings, he wrapped it over his shoulder so that he would not walk on its extensive length. It was slender, not quite as long as most he had seen, but it was also newly formed. The fullness would not develop for many years. Still, it was a symbol of power to be worn with pride on this occasion. He only hoped that his little miko would not be overly shocked by its appearance.

- - - - -

Kagome's heart nearly stopped at the sight before her. There, in the corner of the garden, was the regal demon lord she had not seen in over a year. His head was tilted back as he stared at the dark red moon hanging low in the sky and contemplated thoughts she was sure she knew nothing about.

"Kagome," he breathed, the whisper barely reaching her over the expanse of space between them. The miko closed her eyes and shivered. She would never grow tired of hearing her name pass through his lips.

Sesshoumaru turned and was entranced by the appearance of the ethereal woman who was to become his mate. Blood red fabrics with birds of golden thread rested delicately against her porcelain skin. Kagome's normally unbound hair had been swept into an elegant coif and adorned with several small, golden cranes. The most beautiful thing he saw, though, was the loving smile she presented him with when he spoke her name. It was enough to leave him breathless and wanting.

"Ah, how nice of you to call such a gathering," a dark voice echoed around them. "However, I assure you it was not necessary to do so on my account."

"Sesshoumaru!" Kagome cried out as the form of Tsukiyomi materialized between them.

The moon god's laughter reverberated through the night when the daiyoukai released a low, threatening growl. "Do you think yourself a match for me, pup? You may have gained your tail, but your power cannot possibly wish to rival my own."

"You will not stand between us," Sesshoumaru warned, wisps of youki gathering close to his body.

Tsukiyomi sneered. "I will do as I please, dog."

"Sesshoumaru!" Bishou darted into the clearing, ripping the sword at her side from its sheath.

"And now the den mother attempts to protect her pups. How amusing," The moon god continued, black power sliding over his form to reveal a humanistic hand that held a small, dark orb. "I would be better matched against your offspring. What can you hope to do to me, Seer?"

"I will protect what is mine," Bishou declared.

Sesshoumaru snarled in outrage. "It is my battle. You will stand down."

"Sesshoumaru," Bishou gasped, her sword falling slightly.

"Do you not see where he stands?" he questioned angrily. "It is my place to defeat him as he challenges me!"

Kagome felt the gaze of the violent god fall upon her as soon as Sesshoumaru and Bishou turned their attention toward one another. 'Oh no.' She inwardly cringed and attempted to take a few steps away from him.

"You are right to fear me," Tsukiyomi grinned, suddenly appearing only a few feet in front of her. "I could crush a little mortal like you without thought."

"You will leave her be!" Sesshoumaru raged, lunging forward to strike him down.

Black lightning shot from Tsukiyomi's semi-corporeal form as he laughed at the dog demon's attempt. "You hope to defeat me with your pathetic maneuvers?"

The bolt stretched around the young youkai's form like a slithering snake and squeezed tight, forcing the air from his lungs. Kagome watched in horror as her love's eyes flashed red and knew that his strength could not save him. "No!" She screamed, stretching out her hand and saying the words automatically, "Protect Sesshoumaru!"

A bright, white light gathered around the sash at his waist and exploded, tearing through the darkness as if it were a sheet of rice paper. Tsukiyomi fumed, turning on his newly-made opponent. "You, bitch."

Gathering a larger portion of power in his hand, he directed the flare toward her, gleefully watching as the youkai male rushed to save her. Perhaps he would kill them both at the same time. They were beginning to aggravate his already inflamed temper.

The miko panicked as she watched the ki and Sesshoumaru hurtling toward her at the same time. 'It's going to hit him,' she realized. 'No. Gods, no. Please... please... please...' Opening her mouth, she said the only thing she could. "Protect Sesshoumaru."

Sesshoumaru's expression wrenched into one of pain when he was rendered incapable of moving by the cloth tied around his waist. "No! Kagome!"

But his words were too late. The darkness shot into her body, spilling red blood over her kimono as well as the grass surrounding her. She gasped for breath and clutched her chest. "I love you, Sesshoumaru."

Eyes rolling backward, her body slumped, and Sesshoumaru was released from her hold. The dog released a mournful howl as he clutched the fallen female to his chest.

Bishou growled fiercely, standing in front of her son and his future mate. "You will put away your weapon."

"And what will you do to me, Inu? Surely, you do not hope to defeat me?" The moon god laughed. "Such thunder from one so weak."

"You have yet to feel my rage." She hissed and adjusted her stance. "How dare you insult Sesshoumaru's chosen female on the eve of their ceremony. Surely, you would not underestimate me."

Like lightning, the black bolts of his power shifted around Tsukiyomi's form. "Helpless dog, attempt to entertain me if you wish. It seems that your mate will not make it in time. What a pity. I had hoped to stain the moon red with his blood."

"You overvalue yourself, Tsukiyomi." Bishou's eyes flashed red. Sword drawn back, the female youkai began their death dance. "This will be your downfall."

Swiftly, the god avoided her first blow, allowing his form to dematerialize into the wind only to re-collect on the other side. "Do you not see the moon in the sky, Inu? I am constant. I am unchanging."

"In your arrogance, you forget. Every night, the moon dies and gives way to the sun." She smirked and dodged his magical sparks. "Your hands are tainted with Uki Mochi's lifeblood. Will you disobey Amaterasu again?"

"I owe Amaterasu nothing," he retorted.

A faint glow lit the horizon, and Tsukiyomi stopped, frozen by fear.

"Brother, brother. Look how you have gone astray."

"Amaterasu," Tsukiyomi hissed, her name sounding like poison upon his tongue. "You have no right to interfere."

Pale, golden hair spilled down the back of her human form caressing her bare, tanned body, only covered by a piece of golden fabric that swayed on an unearthly wind around her torso. However, black eyes stared harshly at her brother, proving that they were of common ancestry. "I have every right."

Floating above the mortal creatures, the gods argued heatedly. "What hope you to achieve here? Sunao has wronged me. It is my right to seek vengeance!"

"The night is ending, Tsukiyomi. You must release your hold on this plane and return to the sky," Amaterasu replied, her cold voice in complete contrast with her warm appearance. "Do not make me force your hand."

Tsukiyomi gave his sister a harsh smile. "Force me? Will you cast me from the sky completely, Amaterasu? Will you tie my hands with the rays from your immortal sun? Why not banish the darkness completely?" he sneered. "Surely the world would be a better place without my nightly reign."

"Silence," she commanded, yellow flames licking her body. "You know I cannot, will not, do this. You allow your feelings for this creature to taint you further!"

Both god-figures snapped their attention to the entrance of the garden as the immortal priestess entered. "Tsukiyomi," she whispered in a tone filled with sorrow and misery. "Why are you doing this?"

"Sunao," he straightened, and the anger that had tugged on his features smoothed to a stoic facade. "You owe me your life. I saved you from the wrath of the koi, yet I have received no thanks in return."

"Replace one monster with another?" Sunao gave him a weary smile. "You have also killed one of the few who sought to protect me. I see your dark magic in Kagome. What has she done to deserve such a harsh punishment?"

"She interfered," he replied.

"Ah," the miko laughed humorously. "And you would have my life's blood as well? That is what I am to you, Tsukiyomi. An interference."

"Do not tell a lie, Sunao. You know the truth!" He roared, black bolts leaping from his extended hands.

"Amaterasu is my sister as much as you are my mate!" Sunao returned with equal fervor. "I do not wish to sacrifice my time with one for the other. Why will you not share me, my love? Why do you let your anger swallow your soul? Is it not enough that I love your black heart, even in the darkness?"

Tsukiyomi turned away. "What is done is done. I will not be assigned a mere portion of your time. I am not a pet, Sunao. You cannot push me to the side when you tire of me."

"Now it is you who seeks to bury yourself in a lie," she declared.

"Enough!" Amaterasu interjected. "I will not stand for this foolishness. Tsukiyomi, you have done your damage here. You will return to the sky at once." Facing the immortal priestess, she said, "Return to your home by the sea, Sunao. Leave the dogs be. Your time here is over."

With one last glance at the female he once dedicated his endless years to, Tsukiyomi allowed his tie in the mortal plane to slip away, his form vanishing completely. Sunao stared at the blank sky and blinked back her tears. "You will greet me at first light?"

Amaterasu sighed, the harshness in her tone falling away. "You could not prevent their deaths. Fate will have its way in the end. You know this. Why did you attempt to alter what I told you of?"

Her eyes rested on the fallen miko and the mourning inu. "They are young. I hoped to keep the damage Tsukiyomi caused at bay."

"All will be well," the sun goddess assured. "Leave me be. There are matters I must attend to here."

The air around the group stilled as the great dog lord entered the small area and called out to his mate, "My love."

Tears streamed down the female inuyoukai's face. "She is dead. Your delay has killed my child."

"Calm yourself, Seer," Amaterasu addressed her, even though her eyes followed Sunao's path out of the garden. "Your mate has done well in his absence. You carry the blade forged by Totousai, do you not?"

"You knew," Sesshoumaru spoke, arms still holding the corpse of the one who should have been his lover. "You knew she was to die, and you said nothing. Have you plotted behind my back to rid me of her?"

"We would not," Bishou denied. "Do not accuse me of such treachery. I merely wished to spare you the pain it would cause. Your father has created the sword of life. Let us heal her, my Son. We will happily welcome Kagome into our pack."

Konton stepped forward, raising the sword from his side and examining the fallen woman. "She gave her life to save yours?"

"She accepted the full wave of the moon god's attack," Sesshoumaru growled, not liking the demon lord's hesitance.

Bishou placed her hand on the Inu no Taisho's sword arm. "She has proven herself, my mate. Gift your son with the return of his happiness."

The straight blade slid gracefully through the air and cut down the creatures of the other world. Waiting impatiently, Sessshoumaru crushed her body against him at the first beat of her once still heart, "Kagome."

"Sesshoumaru?" A confused expression twisted her features as she struggled against the sleepy fog covering her brain. "I thought I... Tsukiyomi... he was trying to kill you..."

Running a hand through her hair, he resisted the urge to bark at the ones surrounding them. "All is well, Kagome. All is well."

After dissipating into the early morning wind, Amaterasu watched the pair through invisible eyes. 'These are the two who can save us all?'

- - - - -

"How do I separate from it?" he asked, keeping his questions direct. After all, he was still upset with his Alpha male over the incident with his soon-to-be mate nearly three days earlier.

Konton crossed his arms over his chest. "You are being stubborn. It is not wise to detach a part of your tail so soon after it has formed."

"If she refuses to protect herself, I will do it for her. She can restrain my movements through the sash-" Sesshoumaru argued.

"Then dispose of the sash," his father countered.

The young daiyoukai growled in response. "It was a gift. This is her life's work, the knot around which her powers were trained. I will not toss it aside as if it were refuse. If you will not teach me this, I will manage on my own."

"No," Konton calmed him. "I will tell you what I must. I would not have you walk blindly into such a task."

Together, they completed the spell and, in only a few hours, a small, white creature rested in the palm of the younger dog's hands. "What is this?" Sesshoumaru scowled.

Konton resisted the urge to laugh as the tiny puppy barked at his master. "This is a fraction of your youki - collected into a living form."

"Surely you jest. A snail youkai could defeat this pup." He snarled at the tiny being only to have it leap forward and joyously lick his face, wagging its little tail exuberantly.

The Inu no Taisho chuckled. "I would not be so certain, my son. He does hold a fair amount of power, even in this restrictive body."

"I cannot give her this," Sesshoumaru complained, dropping it on the floor.

"What will you do? You cannot reabsorb the youki now. It would rebel against your body."

A brief knock on the screen was followed by a delicate, striped hand pushing back the door, unknowingly allowing the dog-like creature a chance to escape. Bishou watched the pup scamper away. "What is that?"

Konton was unable to restrain his grin, "Sesshoumaru has created a being of youki."

"Sesshoumaru?" The female youkai turned wide eyes to her son. "You were able to complete the process so soon?"

"I was," he confirmed, watching the puppy disappear around a corner. "Where has it gone?"

"To find his charge," Konton answered. "You built his entire will around the wish to keep Kagome safe."

Sesshoumaru frowned. "Kagome?"

"To Kagome," the demon lord nodded.

Sesshoumaru sighed in defeat. There was no way he would be able to pry the furry bundle from his loving female's arms.

- - - - -

Kagome felt something crawl into her lap. A youkai something. "Ikris," she whispered, disturbing the calm meditation. Opening her eyes, she spotted the furry culprit. "It's a puppy!"

"A demonic puppy," Ikris clarified. "He has Lord Sesshoumaru's aura."

The young miko felt her jaw drop as tears welled in her eyes. "You don't think... I mean, he wouldn't cheat on me, would he?"

"Kagome, that is not what I meant," Ikris laughed. "This creature is Sesshoumaru. Feel the aura surrounding him."

Absently petting the white dog, she placed one hand to his forehead and concentrated on the signature buried beneath the skin. "You're right. What do you think happened?"

"I created him for you." Sesshoumaru appeared in the entryway. "A gift."

"For me?" she wondered before turning a happy grin on her new pet. "What did you make him out of?"

"My tail," he responded. "Daiyoukai are able to separate such growth from their body and manipulate them into different beings."

Kagome squealed, "And you made me a cute little puppy? How adorable!"

Sesshoumaru sighed. "It was not supposed to be this way. It is supposed to be in battle-form."

"He is fine just the way he is." The miko argued, before pausing to allow a devious smile to slide over her lips. "And, his name is... Snowy."

"Please, do not call an extension of myself... snowy," the inu nearly begged.

Kagome huffed. "Fine. What about Fluffy?"

"I would sink into the depths of the underworld before being subjected to that name," he replied.

Tilting her head to one side, the young mortal wondered aloud, "What's wrong with F-?"

"Do not repeat it," Sesshoumaru warned. "I cannot be held accountable for my actions if you do."

With a soft laugh, she pushed the unbearable names aside and attempted to think of a decent one for her tiny protector. "Shugosha. Your name will be Shugosha."

- - - - -

'I barely recognize myself.' Kagome smiled as she looked over her reflection in the koi pond. Closing her eyes, the young miko slowly released the breath she had been holding. "This is where I'm meant to be."

"It is," a baritone voice assured her.

Jumping slightly, she turned to face the great inu. "Lord Konton, what are you doing here?"

"It is tradition for the Alpha to wish his newest pack member well before the ceremonies begin," he answered.

Her happiness lowered a notch or two. "Because tradition demands it."

"You have done well," Konton admitted. "You are... worthy of my son, Kagome. Do not believe that is the part I refuse to accept of your presence here. The tidings you have brought cause me great sadness. This Konton will not accept that he will one day love another."

"I understand," Kagome responded, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "I didn't think it would happen to me either, but it did. You shouldn't think about the future so much, my lord. I have found that I must live in the present. If we do not, we may miss what gifts we have been given."

Konton looked away, choosing to stare at the golden fish swimming in the small stream. "Totousai has placed the Tetsusaiga in this." He pulled a small, dark bead from the depths of his robe. "He asked that I think well on its safe-keeping. I have spoken with my mate, and we have reached an agreement. You will watch it well."

"The black pearl," she whispered, mesmerized by the familiar object. "You trust me with this?"

"I give you my son's heart, Kagome. By comparison, this is a mere trinket," the Inu no Taisho replied.

Wet trails wove their way down her face. "Thank you, my lord. I will protect it with all my heart."

A high-pitched yipping at her side caused them both to look down at the tiny puppy as he energetically waved his tail. Konton released a rich, deep laugh. "And you will protect my jewel as well, Shugosha."

- - - - -

"You are no longer the pup I once held." Konton stood behind his son and wondered at the hardened expression on his face.

Sesshoumaru kept his gaze on the distant horizon. The sun was fading away, and when the full moon finished its ascent, they would begin the mating ceremony. "It was necessary that I step from your shadow, Father."

"You were never in my shadow, Sesshoumaru." Konton frowned. Something was wrong. "An Alpha must lead and train his warriors so that they grow strong. Dependent as you were, it is necessary to be guided when we are young."

Sesshoumaru watched intently for the first appearance of the moon. "Youth escapes me now. Tell me, Father, what other trials did you put Kagome through? Was it not enough that I approved of her? You could not trust my judgment?"

"It is the way of our kind to test future pack members. You know this," Konton replied, angered by his insinuations.

Sesshoumaru scoffed, "However, it is not a tradition to hide your actions from her male. She never even told me. You all concealed your endeavors."

"She would have informed you if she believed it important." The Inu no Taishou kept his rage buried by the thinnest of threads.

The demonic prince's eyes flashed red as he finally faced his father. "Kagome has honor. She would not do so because she would believe it a betrayal toward my mother. What is your excuse?"

"The Inu no Taishou does not need to explain himself," Konton bristled. Shocked by his own words, he stared at the hint of fear touching the younger inu's eyes. In a softer tone, he continued. "Do not challenge me so, Sesshoumaru. It is the eve of your mating. I did what I did because I thought it best and, as Alpha, it is my right to do so. Now, there must be a better subject at hand than this."

Unresponsive, Sesshoumaru felt something in his heart shift. For the first time in all of his existence, his father had used his place as the pack leader to force him into subservience.

Sesshoumaru was not one to be silenced so easily.

- - - - -

Kagome was buried in an enclave of female youkai. They formed a tight knit circle around her to shield the view of any male who might attempt to see her. Sesshoumaru would be the first. It was tradition. A habit formed by the story of the very first demons. Love at first sight was a powerful thing. Each of her ladies-in-waiting possessed a red fan, strongly contrasting against their stark white kimonos.

Her own clothing was a reversal. A blood red robe with depictions of great inu swaddled her form, while a small white fan swung from her wrist. She was too busy wringing her hands beneath the sleeves of her kimono to be worried about actually holding the thing. Bishou told her only the most basic parts of the ceremony. It was another tradition to force the mating pair to rely on instinct.

At first, she had been amused by the extreme differences between their cultures, but now she was worried. 'What if I do something wrong? What if I end up offending everyone and they kick me out? Can they even do that? Gods, what I wouldn't do for a bowl of chocolate ice cream right about now.'

"Kagome," Bishou whispered, an amused smile twisting her lips.

Shaking her head to release her daydreams, she returned the expression with a weak one of her own. "What?"

"We are here. When we back away, you will step forward and join Sesshoumaru."

She felt her heart beating so hard that she feared it might knock her over. "Okay."

And then, they were gone.

His eyes entranced her, and she stepped forward without realizing that she was moving. When his hand wrapped around hers, she snapped her attention toward it and blushed. There would be no more backing away now.

Sesshoumaru was lost. There, gathered in a swath of red fabric, was everything he had ever dreamed of having. Her smile lit a fire in his soul, and all thoughts of his earlier disagreement with his father slipped away.

Tonight she would bind her soul to his, leaving no question as to whom they belonged.

A sharp cry of pain erupted from the gathering of females, and the couple turned sharply.

"Ikris," Kagome gasped. "Ikris, are you all right?"

Rushing to her side, she knelt and pressed a hand to the flushed priestess' forehead. As she checked her body for any sign of injury, she caught sight of the dampened material. "Your water broke."

Ikris frowned, struggling through the first set of contractions. "What?"

"The baby," Kagome laughed. "It's time to have the baby."

The foreign miko attempted a smile. "Good."

- - - - -

"A boy," Ikris laughed weakly, allowing the midwife to wipe the sweat from her face as she stared down at the tuft of dark brown hair covering his tiny head. "He's so beautiful."

While his eyes remained closed, he nuzzled into her breast. It was the first sign of inu recognition. On the most basic of levels, he recognized her aura as that of the female who carried him in her womb. Wepwawet watched the interaction and lowered his nose to the infant's forehead, woofing gently and allowing his tongue to slide across the wrinkled skin. His mind instantly filed the scent and smell away; they would be eternally engrained into his being now, as his would be in his son.

"You have given me the most precious of gifts, my love," he whispered in low tones, a smile filtering over his features when the tiny demi-god in her arms yipped back at him. "It fills my heart with the deepest sorrow that I could not be here throughout your pregnancy."

Cuddling into his chest, she smiled and carefully handed him the newborn. "You were here when I needed you the most. That is what matters, my mate. Now, tell me the name you have chosen for our most precious son. I have waited many moons to hear your decision."

"My son," he stared down at the pup, who did not even fill his large hands. "His name is Khai. Crowned. He shall be a prince in the land of darkness, as well as that of the living. Sleep well, my little demi-god."

- - - - -

Her throat was dry. She could feel her sandpaper-like tongue rubbing uselessly against the roof of her mouth as she sought some sort of non-existent relief. Through slow, measured movements, the miko and future mate of an inu youkai kept her head down and watched her feet as they peeked out from beneath her kimono with each step she took.

He was breathless, staring at the entourage that surrounded her, hiding her from prying eyes. Carefully, the demonic prince examined their circle for a fault - some place where she would be visible. The need to see her, to confirm her presence, was overwhelming. He had to resist the urge to push them aside and run away with her. They were so close now.

When the sea of females parted, their eyes caught, then they were both gasping for air.

Butterflies erupted in a symphony of movement in the pit of her stomach, but she focused on the one who had become her world. By his side, there was no need to fear. His aura was like a balm against her soul. It reached out to embrace her, and she smiled in return. 'You always seem to know what I need... You are what I need.'

She was beautiful. He smiled as he watched her twist her hands inside of her sleeves. It was a nervous habit that was very unbecoming of a lady, and he loved her all the more for it. She was never, could never be, the prim and proper sort. She was Kagome. Even without sleep from assisting Ikris' birthing, she was beautiful.

"Kagome." He whispered her name and the rest of the world fell away. At that moment, they were all that mattered in the universe.

Smiling, she stepped away from the crowd and up onto the small platform. "Sesshoumaru."

His eyes gleamed with unspoken humor. "It would seem that we have some unfinished business, little miko."

"Do we?" Kagome laughed, not noticing as the women took their places amongst the crowd. "I don't know about you, but I always wear my ceremonial get-up to assist in the births of demi-gods. Don't you?"

"It was a joyous occasion," Sesshoumaru conceded. "However, I had hoped to accomplish something else last eve. My only respite is that it will be accomplished now."

Her expression twisted into one of love and sincerity. "Oh that. I suppose we probably should see about it."

"You suppose?" Sesshoumaru teased, raising one eyebrow. "I assure you, I will not force your hand."

Turning toward the cave ahead of them, she slid her arm against his and moved forward. As they entered the darkness, she whispered, "A little rough love never hurt anyone."

Her demonic prince nearly faltered.

"So what are we doing?" Kagome continued in a soft voice.

Sesshoumaru chuckled. "We are walking."

She frowned. "I can't see anything. Where are we walking to?"

"My father," he replied, his tone a little tighter than before.

"My son," Konton called out from the all-consuming black. "Who has dared to enter our ancestral home at your side?"

The young youkai nudged his future mate, signaling her necessity to speak.

"I am Kagome," she responded, unsure of what he wanted to hear.

Red eyes pierced the empty space, and tiny blue pupils focused on the human female. "And what are your intentions here, Miko?"

"I wish to mate my lord Sesshoumaru." She answered, resisting the urge to tangle her hands in the sleeves of her kimono. Among youkai, words did not hold much value, they relied on actions to convey what they felt. Appearing nervous would do her no good if she wanted to be gifted with Sesshoumaru's soul.

"Can you accept the consequences of your actions, Miko?" the demon lord asked as he watched her body for any sign of hesitance. "Will you give up your spirit in return for his? Can you sacrifice your identity to become one with a beast?"

"He is not a beast," she argued, gripping Sesshoumaru's hand to control her anger at Konton's statement.

The Inu no Taishou laughed, "Do not fool yourself, Miko. We may hide our identities in pleasing shells, but our minds remain the same. We are creatures. We are beasts."

In front of and beside her, the two inu youkai morphed into the forms they were provided from birth. An unearthly light cut through the darkness from behind the demon lord. Powerful, white, fur-covered legs raised their animalistic torsos many feet above her own head. Kagome smiled and nuzzled against the soft coat covering Sesshoumaru's leg. "You are wrong, Lord Konton. Even in this body, he is still Sesshoumaru. He knows who I am. He loves me. And, I will always love him, no matter what shape he holds."

The dog at her side lowered his great muzzle to woof softly into her hair as the one before them lowered his massive body to the ground, tucking his head between his front paws in a sign of acceptance. A low, swishing sound echoed through the empty cavern as the two swayed their tails from side to side.

Kagome resisted the urge to giggle at their antics. It would not do to upset the battle-hardened warriors by admitting that they were cute enough to make her squeal with girlish glee. Her hands caressed the soft pelt while she continued to address the Inu no Taishou. "I accepted Sesshoumaru's heritage long ago, and I will not let the boundaries of our species keep me from loving him. He has given me his whole heart by accepting me as I am, and I cannot expect to give him anything less in return."

Their bone structures shifted once again, returning them to their humanoid identities. When the transformation was complete, Konton spoke, "You have passed the trials required of our kind. You are immune to our poisons. You accepted our ways, and you sacrificed your life for that of your mate. There are many things that you have yet to learn, but you are willing to do so." Shifting to face Sesshoumaru, he inquired, "Is this the female you wish to join?"

"It is," the younger youkai replied without a moment's pause.

"Will you sacrifice your spirit in return for what she has offered you?" Konton continued.

Sesshoumaru nodded curtly. "I will."

The demon lord's aura flared away from his body like a wildfire, cutting a path across the stone floor toward Kagome. "You will block my attack," he commanded. "If you prove yourself to me, I will allow you to mate Sesshoumaru."

Focusing her powers into a shield, she attempted to hold the youki at bay. As it slammed against her barrier, the young miko was pushed backward, stumbling for few seconds before slipping her feet into a battle stance. Hands raised in front of her face, she reinforced the power flowing from her body.

At her side, Sesshoumaru bristled. "What are you doing?"

"If she is to take a place among our pack, I must determine that she will not be a hindrance. You have approved of her. Your mother has approved of her. Now, it is my turn," the great inu replied.

"You will not-" Sesshoumaru attempted to stand between them, but he was interrupted by a quiet voice.

"Don't," Kagome whispered, sweat beading on her forehead. "Don't stop me. Let me do this. Let me show that I am worthy of you."

Settling her with a hard look, he nodded his consent and backed away from the fight, taking up a position against the far wall. "I will not interfere if this is what you wish to do."

With a small smile, she returned her attention her opponent. "Do what you must, Lord Konton."

In a flash, he was on her, tossing her into the ground and rolling their bodies. "And if I must kill you?" he asked, pressing her into the stone.

Kagome grunted, jabbing her elbow into his ribcage and scrambling away. "Then you'll have to do better than that."

The demon lord chuckled and wrapped one of his powerful arms around her calf to yank her down again. "Do not believe that you will escape so easily, Miko," he replied, landing a blow on her shoulder that nearly rattled her brain.

Sesshoumaru watched the pair as they wrestled in the dirt, eyes wide with wonder. No more of their magics had been exchanged, and it almost seemed as if they were beginning to enjoy the tussle. Konton was treating her almost as if she was a wayward pup undergoing training.

Kagome gasped when she felt a clawed hand press trap her throat. Taking slow, deep breaths, she examined the face of her attacker. His lips were twisted upward in a confident, half-smirk, and his entire body was relaxed against her. It was then that she realized his intent. 'He's playing with me. He's treating me as if I was his own.' With a brief nod to her Alpha, she allowed her head to fall limp in his grasp, exposing her throat for all to see.

"You have done well, Little One," he whispered, gaze lit with pride. "You will make a fine mate for my heir." Rising, he pulled Kagome to her feet and led her to her place at Sesshoumaru's side. To his son, Konton said, "She has demonstrated her capabilities as your mate. Tonight, you will retire with your lady in our den, and when you return, our games will begin."

Kagome frowned as the demon lord left them alone in the dim space. "Games?"

Sesshoumaru shrugged, turning to lead her deeper into the quiet cavern. "Youkai sport. You have shown your strengths against my father. It is expected that I show my abilities in front of a crowd. You have no need to fear, Kagome. It is merely a game."

"This isn't one of those 'ha-ha-let's-kill-each-other' things, is it?" she asked worriedly.

The demon chuckled in response. "No, Kagome. I do not know where you get these ideas."

Stomping her foot, she frowned at him. "Most of the time they are!"

"It is simple posturing, Kagome," he calmed her. "Do not be afraid." Taking her hand, he guided her along the softly lit corridor toward the den's center. It was a long-standing tradition for a newly-accepted couple to spend the night of their mating in the protective belly of the ancient home. It was an impenetrable fortress that assured them that they would be undisturbed while tying their souls together.

Several minutes later, they were greeted by a set of heavy, wooden doors. Sesshoumaru lifted his claws and sunk them into the ancient timber, barking low in his throat. A deep blue sheen shuddered across the surface in response to his request and forced the barriers open.

"What did you just say?" Kagome wondered aloud.

Sesshoumaru gave her a soft smile. "It is the call of my pack. After we are mated, you will be able to feel its pull no matter where you are."

Kagome shivered as the cool air rushed out of the space. "It's so cold."

"We are in the heart of the mountain. It is much higher than the main house. The air filtering from outside is much colder here," he informed her, as he worked his way to a pit carved into the stone wall. "Would you like a fire?"

Kagome nodded, trying to resist the urge to let her teeth chatter. Her mind raced when she caught sight of what the den contained. Depictions of great dogs had been painstakingly engraved into the mountain, and several large, colorful banners portraying the massive, white inu hung from the nearly invisible ceiling. The space was substantial enough to house nearly a half dozen of the demons in their true form. "What is this place?"

"It was created long before my father's birth," Sesshoumaru informed her. "It was the home of my kind before they could contain themselves within a mortal shell. As the Inu no Taishou and Lord of the West, it is his right to den here."

"Wow," she gasped, still caught up in the enormity of the den.

"Come," he returned to her side after lighting a fire in the hearth.

Kagome's earlier nervousness returned when he escorted her into a smaller room that held a pallet large enough to support Sesshoumaru's demon form. She carefully settled into its softness as he stirred the fire to life. Watching his movements, she sighed, caught up in the fluidity of his body. He possessed a grace that she could never hope to achieve. After he completed his task, he walked slowly toward her and took a seat next to her on the edge of the bedding.

"You are uneasy," Sesshoumaru said, finally returning his gaze to her eyes.

"No," she shook her head, trying to dispel the worry in his face. "Not about this. Not about you."

Leaning forward, he carefully brushed his lips over hers. "Then what do you fear, little miko?"

Kagome closed her eyes and sighed, enjoying the feel of him. "I've never done this before." She blushed. "What if I'm... bad?"

Sesshoumaru laughed. "I do not believe it possible," he conceded, slipping a hand under her hair and drawing her forward again, enjoying the feel of her skin. "We will conquer the unknown together, little miko. As a monogamous creature, I will never know anyone else."

"That doesn't really make me feel better," Kagome frowned. "I'm not totally reassured by the idea that you won't know the difference. I want to be good at this. I want to please you. I want to make you happy."

Stopping her with another kiss, he pressed his forehead against hers and whispered, "Lay with me?"

"Okay," she acquiesced, and nodded, attempting to hold back her blush.

Sesshoumaru slipped between the blankets and wrapped an arm around her waist, bringing her as close as he possibly could without losing sight of her wide, gray eyes. His Alpha had approved of his chosen mate. To receive such a gift so early in life was unheard of, and he was determined to stand by her side for the rest of his days in thanks to the gods. "I love you," he breathed.

"I love you too," Kagome smiled, feeling the knot in her chest loosen. He always seemed to know just what to say. With a soft sigh, she closed the distance between them and nestled into his chest. "You'll never leave me, will you?"

Dipping his head, he breathed the light floral scent of her hair. "I would not - could not - exist without you, Kagome." Moving lower, he kissed a trail down the side of her face and neck, reveling in the feel of her small hands clutching his arms. His fingertips traced the slight v in her clothing, barely slipping into the fabric and following the curve of her breast. "What of you? Will you stay by my side?"

"Always," she promised, gifting him with a quiet moan and arching into his touch. Her breath hitched when he assaulted her throat, nipping and licking the delicate flesh to his heart's content. One of his hands breached the cloth barrier separating their bodies and cupped the swell of her chest. With a tentative caress, the demonic prince created a pattern over her skin that made her heart race.

Sesshoumaru felt himself come alive as she moaned against him. The passionate way her body responded never failed to stir his lust. Arms slipping down her body, he circled her waist and pulled her flush against him, letting her feel the full effect of what she did to him. Her legs parted, moving to delicately grip the edge of his hips through the layers of fabric, and she pressed against him. Realizing that there would be no other way to remove her clothing, he tugged her upward. "You must stand."

Complying with his wishes, Kagome allowed him to maneuver her form until he stood behind her in the middle of the pallet. She panted heavily as the youkai continued his attack, placing fevered kisses along the length of her collarbone while his hands manipulated the ties holding her kimono shut. The slow burning heat in her stomach grew as each glide of his tongue over her skin sent another bolt of arousal through her. Winding one arm over her shoulder, she fisted his hair and held him close, never wanting his electrifying touches to stop. The heat of his breath skated over her skin, causing her to shudder in his hold.

Finally, the boundary dispersed as her obi fell to the floor. As she turned, his fingers outlined the curves of her body, starting with her breasts and working his way down until he was at the swell of her hips. Her clothing slid from her shoulders and caught on the crook of her elbows as she buried both hands in his haori, melting easily into his hard form. Dancing over her thighs, Sesshoumaru dipped between them, caressing the young miko with a touch so soft that he remained on the outer edge.

A single digit slipped inside, burying deep in her body with one smooth stroke.

"Sesshoumaru," Kagome cried out, unconsciously rocking against his hand as he pushed into her.

Growling against her neck, his eyes clenched shut at the feeling of her muscles rippling over him, beckoning him to enter previously forbidden territory and bring her to new heights. Withdrawing halfway, the demonic prince pressed upward again, using his other hand to manipulate the small protrusion of sensitive flesh that made her beg for more as he set the pace.

Kagome worked her way between their bodies and gripped his obvious arousal through the layer of thick hakama, unsteadily stroking him as he made her body sing. Her legs shook from the force of holding her own weight, and when her first orgasm raced through her body, she drooped in the circle of his arms, trusting his strength to keep the both of them from crashing into the bedding.

He lowered her gently to the pallet and removed the unwanted clothing from her form, tossing it into a corner to be forgotten.

Kagome smiled, wrapping her hands in his haori as she caught her breath. "It's no fair. I'm naked, and you're still wearing all of this."

"A situation that will be quickly remedied, I assure you," he chuckled, allowing her to push the top from his shoulders and untie the confining hakama. With quick movements, he deposited them beside her things and returned to the bed.

Parting her thighs, Kagome beckoned him to come closer. "I think I feel a little chill."

"Do you?" he asked, stalking forward, the muscles in his lean body contracting as he hovered over her. Lowering his hips, they both gasped at the pleasurable initial feeling of friction.

"I love you," she whispered, and raised her head to slide her tongue over his pointed ear, drawing a pleased groan from his mouth.

With one hand on each side of her waist, Sesshoumaru slowly pressed into her, restraining the snarl that threatened to escape his lips at the first feel of clutching warmth pulling him deeper.

Kagome choked as he eased into her body. The uncomfortable stretching grew into a burning pain when he filled her completely. Closing her eyes, she fisted the sheets and resisted the urge to cry. Each breath she took made her shift, sending another sting through her.

Noticing her pained expression, the demonic prince stilled, willing his movements to freeze while she adjusted. Tapping her chin with the hand closest to her face, Sesshoumaru spoke softly, "I love you too, Kagome." Her beautiful gray gaze caused a smile to cross his features.

"Help me through this," she pleaded, wanting the pain to fade away.

With a small nod, he pulled away only to press into her again. He attuned his senses to her body, taking note of the way she winced. "I do not wish to hurt you."

"No," Kagome shook her head. "It was less. Do it again."

Hesitating for a moment, Sesshoumaru repeated his actions and was surprised by the small gasp that escaped her lips. "Are you-?"

Kagome reveled as the pressure eased and gave way to an enticing tension. "Again," she whimpered huskily, "please."

Slowly, they learned the rhythm, slipping against one another until the strength of their want spurred them forward. Her hands caressed his hair and the sinful contours of his body as he drove into her. He focused on her touch and dropped haphazard, open-mouthed kisses over her chest as she seductively arched into him.

With a passionate cry, Kagome reached her second completion, slick from sweat and newly learned satisfaction as Sesshoumaru growled into her breasts and spilled himself into her welcoming depths.

- - - - -

(923 A.D.) Two hundred years later...

- - - - -

Warm evening air caressed her face, soothing her soul with its tender fragrances. The gardens were an explosion of blooms, thriving in the midsummer heat. Over one hundred years before, though time had become a relative state for her, she never imagined the rapturous beauty that would develop from the first tiny buds planted by her own hands.

Faintly, the miko could recall a memory of her home, Nagaoka, in the future. Then it would be known as Kyoto, and the flowing countryside would be lost to the hard angles of a concrete jungle brimming with humans. However, her recollections were dim. It had all been so long ago.

"What has captured your thoughts this eve, little miko?" The voice of her mate brought a smile to her face.

When he was fully seated beside her on the porch, she slid between his thighs and leaned into his chest, comforted by the familiarity of it. There had been many nights since their joining when she cried in his arms in similar position. The loss of her family and friends could still bring a tear to her eye when she allowed it.

Sesshoumaru often told her that she had a sentimental soul.

She liked the phrase; he seemed to have a way with words that could pacify even the most tumultuous of spirits. It would aid him greatly when he stood as the Inu no Taishou.

"Old memories," she replied, cuddling into him and running her nose over the skin beneath his ear. Though the youkai ways were not instilled in her from birth, they were now a natural action that occurred without thought.

After returning her gesture, Sesshoumaru settled his chin over her head and wrapped her small form in his arms. "I believe you are shrinking," he commented, attempting to lighten the mood with the customary banter.

"Am not," Kagome retorted, eyes dancing with mirth. "It's not my fault that you can't decide when to stop growing."

"Ah, but I must possess a superior body for the role of the Taiyoukai," he answered, flexing his arms to demonstrate.

The miko let loose a disbelieving laugh. "We are not discussing that out here."

"Does my form displease you, little miko?" he teased, his fingertips brushing lightly over the ticklish spot in the crook of her elbow.

Smoothing her expression, Kagome frowned up at him. "You know, I think it does."

"Is that so?" His tone dropped to a sensual rumble and lit a flame of arousal in the pit of her stomach. "What can I do to change such an opinion, dear mate? I would not have you think so poorly of me."

Pausing to turn, she looped her hands behind his head and heatedly whispered, "I'm sure I could think of a few suggestions."

Sesshoumaru opened his mouth to speak, but his sensitive nose caught a nearly forgotten scent on the wind.

"What is it?" Kagome asked, detecting the slight flare of his nostrils and the way his head tilted to catch the oncoming breeze.

Taking the time to draw in one more breath of air, he smiled down at his mate. "It would seem that Ikris has a visitor."

"Wepwawet is here?" The miko beamed. "Oh! She'll be so excited! He hasn't been here in ages!"

"He is," her youkai lover assured her. "Come, we should greet him before they hide themselves away for the evening."

Kagome laughed and playfully swatted his arm. "Play nice."

"I will if you join me," he teased, taking her arm as they walked through the garden toward the structure that housed the shrine.

In front of the main building, two men were laughing as an exotically colored woman looked on with an expression of joy clearly covering on her face. Kagome watched the father and son share a brief embrace before the inu-god turned to his human mate. It had been far too long since the dog god last ventured into the land of the living.

Stepping forward, Sesshoumaru nodded toward Khai and waited for the two lovers to part. "What brings you to our homeland this day, Lord Wepwawet?"

The inu pressed one last brief kiss to Ikris's forehead before finally giving the prince his attention. "This journey has been made on the behalf of my god and ruler, Osiris, but it is not necessary to cloud our present with such. Let me first see how well my family fares here under the hand of your father. Then we will deal with what must be done."

A cold knife speared through Sesshoumaru's chest. The feeling of sorrow and despair was overbearing but, in the next instant, it was gone. Foreshadowing; Wepwawet's stay was not to be a festive occasion.

Kagome felt the inuyoukai's hand twitch slightly against her palm. Though there was no outward sign, she knew that the power of his Sight was pounding through his veins. 'What do you see, Sesshoumaru? What could Wepwawet have to do here in Japan?'

"Come," Ikris beckoned, interrupting any possible questioning. "Let us discuss your travels over tea. You must have many stories to tell your son."

Slinging one arm over Khai's shoulder, Wepwawet smiled at the man he had become. A tall, well-built demi-god, nearly equal his own stature, possessing his own straight, dark, waist length hair and ethereal blue eyes. However, the gentle, kind nature he carried belonged to his mother. He would much rather work in the battlefields, healing the injured, than lift a sword. His dark appearance was in complete disagreement with his caring soul. "You must tell me of this woman your mother has mentioned."

"She is a daughter of one of the local samurai." A light blush stained Khai's cheeks.

"I see," Wepwawet's voice boomed through the courtyard, full of happiness over the reunion.

Kagome discreetly tugged at her mate's hand, allowing the group to continue into the main house, while they remained near the shrine. "What has unsettled your mind?" she asked, stepping into his side and laying her cheek against his chest. "Your silence worries me."

"I have Seen the spears of sadness in my heart," Sesshoumaru confided.

"What do you think he meant about the reason why he's here?" the miko asked, hanging onto his every word. If Sesshoumaru believed something to be true, then there was no doubt as to its occurrence. It would be. His Sight would never be as strong as Bishou's, but that which he had been gifted allowed him foresight in battle, as well as times like this. Over the years, he had developed the ability to devise what would happen from the clues he was given.

Sesshoumaru closed his eyes, recollecting his feelings at the time of his Sight. Replaying them in his mind, he sighed. "I believe Ikris's time with us nears an end. His magics are capable of sustaining her life in this world far beyond normalcy, but it is not without reason that I discern his need to have her at his side."

"And he can't live here," Kagome finished.

Her youkai mate nodded in agreement. "That, as well."

Sighing, Kagome gathered strength from his presence and followed him toward the sounds of laughter.

"Sesshoumaru, Kagome," Bishou smiled, waving them in and delicately arranging cups of tea in front of their customary places at the formal table. Though her mouth curved upward in a pleasant expression, the female demon's eyes revealed the truth of the situation. She, too, was aware of the reason behind the inu god's visit.

- - - - -

"I'm going to miss her," Kagome whispered into the darkness of their chamber much later that evening. "She has become a very dear friend."

Sesshoumaru's eyes roamed over the garden scene painted on the far wall as he trailed his clawed fingertips through her hair from scalp to tip. Their room had become a myriad of imagery over the years. Kagome enjoyed the peaceful tranquility of the pastoral views, while he preferred the sight of a full-formed inu howling victoriously over its eviscerated prey. He was often amazed by how easily their contrasting souls, dark and light, accepted one another.

Their souls.

His enhanced Sight still shuddered at the thought of what was left undone.

All because of a damned trinket. The Shikon no Tama.

Because of the jewel, he had never been able to properly tie their souls together in the traditional way of the youkai. Kagome's soul was trapped in a sort of limbo that kept her body and spirit from growing.

Her accidental wish during those first few months - to see her friends and family once again - had, inevitably, frozen her state. She was a walking, talking, living catatonic of sorts. Capable of being injured, but incapable of dying. Capable of breathing, but incapable of moving forward.

Capable of loving, but incapable of committing to her youkai mate.

As Bishou had revealed, she would be unable to join with him until her soul reached the point of its initial disappearance - when the eagle youkai dropped her into the well.

Sesshoumaru continued to lightly caress her hair and pressed his lips to her temple. His thoughts would need to be locked away for a moment far from this one, after Ikris was gone and his mate was consoled.

Though they were not joined in spirit, she was his, as he was hers. There would be no changing the fact, and, when the time came, they would become one - of the same essence. It would be pronounced to the world that the human miko was, in truth, his.

Finally, he spoke. "It will not be impossible to see her again, little miko. This day should be filled with cheer, for she will not be dead and beyond your reach."

"Of course," Kagome agreed, nuzzling against his collar bone. In the quiet moments, when words were of the most importance, Sesshoumaru spoke very few, but he always managed to conquer her fears with the ones he selected. His age brought a calm demeanor that was filled with the wisdom of those who journeyed before him. Watching him grow from late adolescence, there were still days when she was in awe of the depth of his understanding.

Releasing his memories to be mulled over another day, Sesshoumaru secured his arms around her waist and tugged her body to sprawl over his. It was a sign of respect among those of inu descent to allow the weaker counterpart a position of dominance in any aspect of the relationship.

Her dark hair formed a sinful halo over their intertwined bodies, and Kagome smirked into his chest as his hands began the lazy trek over her naked flesh. Content to be played by his skillful fingers, the miko satisfied her need to feel his skin by lightly running her nails over the defined lines in his upper torso.

"I love you," Sesshoumaru mumbled, his voice caressing the shell of her ear in a way that sent shivers skating down the length of her spine. Large palms slipped across her back, over the softly curved swell, and down to the sensitive tissue behind her knees. Clasping one leg in each hand, he parted her thighs, causing her to straddle his stomach. "Much better," he commented, returning his gaze to her face.

Entranced by the way the dim candlelight reflected through his piercing golden eyes, Kagome lowered her head and swaddled his mouth with her own. A rush of familiar emotions swam in the pit of her stomach, stirring the beginnings of arousal into a veritable storm. There was something about Sesshoumaru that always left her breathless and wanting for more. Some nights it seemed as if the sun rose all too soon, and there was always too much time between one encounter and the next.

But then, she gasped as she caught herself falling into everything that was him, there were also moments like these, where the world seemed to pause. "I love you too," Kagome replied. "So much."

With a subtle shift, he raised his body enough to give himself full reign of her neck. Sesshoumaru used his mouth to fuel her lusts into an almost frenzied state of wanting that left her panting against him.

Kagome resisted the urge to speed their coupling. Instead, she slowly rolled her hips against her youkai lover's awakening length, enjoying the way the soft flesh hardened under her ministrations. The low rumbling in his chest vibrated against her where they were molded together, causing her rhythm to fail for a moment.

Sesshoumaru's hands worked their way back up her body, one long finger tracing the arc of her hip to her inner thigh. Seductively, it slid into her - his knuckles brushing against her in a way that made Kagome melt into his embrace and release a low moan. The youkai's form tensed at the initial feeling of her readiness, but he prolonged his torture, adding a second and pumping into the heated dampness.

Her arms laced together behind his head as she rocked into his hand. Taking note of his exposed ear in such close proximity, Kagome gently outlined the tip and blew softly, enjoying the way he trembled beneath her. Creating a pathway, the miko formed a haphazard trail of kisses down the line of his jaw.

Sesshoumaru felt the subtle increase of tension in her abdomen. Her thighs quaked against his body, and her head fell to rest against the hard planes of his chest as she focused on the friction between his hand and her hips.

Just when she believed that relief would never come, her lover changed the angle of his thrusts and managed to delve deeper into her body. Kagome's eyes closed, unwillingly, when she felt the knot begin to unravel. She cried out as the pressure inside shattered and she felt his hand slip away, leaving her empty once more.

Pushing himself into a sitting position, Sesshoumaru pulled the human woman in for a hungry kiss. He could still feel the phantom contractions surrounding his fingers, and he wanted to revel in her heat with a completely different part of his body. Hand seeking her breast, the youkai palmed the generous flesh and attempted to hypnotize her with his tongue.

"What did I do to deserve you?" Kagome playfully whispered, backing away from his lips.

Sesshoumaru raised one sculpted brow in return and crossed his ankles beneath her. "I do not know. Perhaps, that is a question for the gods, little miko."

Changing her position so that she could lift herself on her knees, Kagome raised her body so that her eyes were level with his. "Is that so? Then perhaps I should go ask Wepwawet."

"I do not believe it would be wise to leave," he teased, long tongue snaking out to slide beneath her ear.

"Oh," she gasped, "and why is that?"

Squeezing her breast with his hand, Sesshoumaru reminded her, "You are naked."

"He's seen a naked woman before," Kagome retorted, bending to lightly nip the skin covering his throat.

The arm behind her back tightened in response as a low growl issued from her mate's mouth. "He will not see you."

"No," Kagome smiled, leaning back to look in his eyes. "I'm only for you."

"Yes," Sesshoumaru agreed, his hand sliding down to cup the full swell of her behind.

Slowly lowering her torso, Kagome grasped his erection and guided herself down. Groaning at the feel of him, her head fell backward, tossing wild, dark hair over her shoulders. Her body had become accustomed to his. There was nothing about him that she did not know. Every little dip, every little quirk. They were all amazing pieces of the puzzle that made up Sesshoumaru. In these moments, she was able to see a clear portrait.

He was not a warrior. He was not a son. He was not a prince. He was not a demon.

He simply was.

And he was hers.

Lifting up, Kagome set the pace. Slow and steady, their bodies came together, seeking the unity that they could have nowhere else.

Rising up to meet her, Sesshoumaru allowed her to keep the control. It was a lazy, loving combination that formed an ache so deep inside that he thought he might be hollow when she finished with him. The wave of arousal built until he could no longer satisfy himself with his wandering hands, so he settled them against her waist, holding her steady when their joining became more exuberant.

The coil in her stomach tightened at a snail's pace. Building and building, it drove her past the point of thinking, until all she could feel was the slip and slide of flesh between her thighs, hitting the spot that left her reeling. Bracing her arms on his shoulders, she pressed down harder in search of completion.

Not one to disappoint, her youkai lover sensed the shift in their coupling and sped his movements to match hers. Sesshoumaru's body throbbed with each stroke, waiting for the ripple of her release before he let go of his own. Loosening one hand, he sought to soothe the ache with his hand, circling the delicate protrusion between her thighs with a quick, rolling pattern.

Her breath caught at the feeling of the additional stimulation. Hips jerking forward, she pressed her face into his chest, her nails raking a line of angry red welts over his arms as she climaxed and went limp against him.

Sesshoumaru shook from the tightness echoing over his length. Twice more, he pushed into her body before the power of her orgasm became too much to resist, and he joined her in release. Staring at the faint changes on her face, he lovingly traced the pale pink stripes on her cheeks. One on each side. Poison immunity. However, the spell of the jewel worked quickly, and they were gone before his fingers finished their path.

Those markings should have been a physical sign of what they had - of what they were.

Kagome smiled down at him, pushing her sweat-soaked bangs out of her eyes. "You'd think two hundred years would slow you down."

"Little miko, one day you will learn that nothing can stop me." Sesshoumaru replied as he laid back down and pulled the coverlet over their bare forms.

- - - - -

"You're really leaving?" Kagome resisted the urge to cry as she reached out Egyptian woman.

Ikris smiled, opening her arms and accepting a hug from her former student. "My time here is over, Kagome. My son has found his match in Etsu. He will form his life with her, and I will have no place here. I belong with Wepwawet now."

"I understand," she whispered, laying her head on the older female's shoulder. "But I'll miss you."

"As I will you," Ikris replied. "You have been a dear friend, Kagome."

"Will you visit?" Kagome questioned, finally releasing her and stepping away.

She frowned in response. "If I am given chance."

Kagome nodded and held back her tears. "I understand. I want you to be happy."

"I will be by his side," Ikris beamed. "That is all that matters now, but there is one more thing I must do before I go." Stepping to the trunk in the corner of the mostly empty room, Ikris opened the heavy lid and removed a bundle of fine, red silk from its depths. As she settled onto a pillow beside the low table, she watched Kagome closely, beckoning her to take a seat as well.

"What is that?" Kagome wondered, curiously eyeing the package when Ikris placed it between them.

Ikris laid a hand on top of hers. "This is for you. It has taken many years to complete, but it has been done. I ask you to accept this, not as my ward, but as my friend. Bishou revealed to me the necessity of it. I would hope that you wear it, not only to protect yourself, but to remember me."

Untying the knots, Kagome gasped when the delicate reds slipped away to reveal a shimmering white. "What is this?" She asked as she carefully lifted the embroidered top. A pattern of silver wove its way across the neckline in a set of carefully stitched Egyptian hieroglyphs, a matching design adorning every hem. A deep red sash, covered in similar characters, was folded neatly next to a flowing white skirt in the bottom of the makeshift bag. The layers of carefully crafted white linen slipped through her fingertips as she played with the silver dancing along the edge of knee-length fabric. "This is too much, Ikris."

"It was meant for you," she assured her, closing Kagome's hands tightly over the cloth. "Please, do not deny me this one last gift. You need armor, and this will protect you in times of great danger. Do not take away my peace of mind."

Softly shaking her head, Kagome laughed as the tears finally rolled down her cheeks. "Gods, I'm going to miss you, Ikris. What will I do when you are gone?"

- - - - -

(1241 A.D.) Three hundred years later...

- - - - -

Her eyes scanned the distant valley for any sign of change or stray movement. The wood of her long bow bit into her flesh as her hand tightened with every passing moment. Somewhere in the darkness, his heart echoed a call of longing. So many nights had passed since they stood side-by-side.

Tilting her head back, she let the breeze capture the loose ends of her hair and reveled in nature's touch. The playful wind had become her only companion in the passing months. Bishou was locked away at the top of the mountain, wracked with visions that left her weak and helpless. Konton and Sesshoumaru traveled abroad, searching for the reason behind her pain.

Before leaving, the dog general moved his mate into their ancestral home and charged his son's beloved with her protection. It was a heavy burden to bear and, with each passing day, she felt the weight of it pressing her down.

The miko's white god-armor fluttered carelessly. It would have been impossible to believe that the light cotton layers held the protection of Osiris had it not been for the unearthly sheen of the fabric. A soft sigh escaped her lips, and she turned from the ledge to reenter the den.

- - - - -

They were screaming inside her head.

In the past few days, they seemed to have gathered more strength and were weakening the chains she held over them. With each struggle, they sent pain rippling through her like she had never before known, and her resolve to remain in the Land of the Living started to slip through her fingers.

'You wish to be rid of us, yes?

You wish to torture us until we cannot whisper in your mind.

Tell us, Bishou, when did you become so weak?

You could call us before...

Yes, you called.

You called!

But, powerless dog, we are stronger now.

We feed in the night,

Off fears and shadows,

Worries and torment,

And the sickness in your pretty little head.

We will not be banished.

We will not be called.

We will be master.

We are master,

And we have called you.

We will tell you. We will tell you.'

Tightening their hold on her body, the spirits sent a cold stab through her back, causing her to arch and writhe in agony. "Don't do this," Bishou cried, her hands moving to clutch her head. "You need me."

'Need?

We need nothing, dog.

We need no Seer.'

“I am your vessel," the inu argued, holding her voice steady with the last bit of strength remaining inside of her.

'Worthless.

We could find a home in another's body...

Your son's, perhaps.

Yes, yes, so much easier to control, he is.'

With a devious cackle, they taunted her.

'Should we go to the inu prince, Seer?

Should we command his body the way we do yours?

Flesh and bone, you are;

Dirt and dust you will become.

An end is near,

The Eye is clear.

The dragon's strength rests in his claws,

Mightier than the worthless dog's paws.

He hunts; he feeds!

He hates; he seethes!

Son and father vengeance seek,

Still, between them, anger, bleak.

This you know; in this, you lie.

Heed our words, Bishou,

You will die.'

The world faded to a dull gray, background noises reverberating through her empty head. Struggling to rise, Bishou ignored the sweat trails painting her face and rose to take a drunken step toward the entrance of the den. 'My daughter. I have to warn Kagome.'

- - - - -

Shugosha's tiny form vibrated with happiness as she returned to the recesses of the cave. Though he remained small through the years, the youki offspring had proven to be very useful in the ways of detecting possible intruders. However, considering the light tone of his barks, it seemed there was no danger present on the mountain top today.

Smiling down, Kagome lifted the white dog and cuddled him within the circle of her arms. "As long as you're with me, Sesshoumaru is fine." She stated. It calmed her nerves to know that the puppy could not exist without his master, and Sesshoumaru would never chance the possibility of leaving her unprotected. "He's fine."

"Kagome," the softest of whispers sprung up from the dark cavern.

Eyes widening, the miko released the dog and ran to the fallen lady. "Bishou, what are you doing out of bed? You're not strong enough to go traipsing around the den."

"Enough," the demoness hushed her. "A warning, Little One. I feel their return approaching."

The joy welling up in the human woman's chest was quickly quenched by the next sentence that passed through Bishou's lips.

"There will be injuries. Call the servants up from the hillside," the lady continued, her face hardening as she issued her orders. "There will be no death this eve."

Holding her tears at bay, Kagome nodded quickly and helped the Western Lady stumble back to her futon. Once the coverlet was tucked firmly around the inu female's deteriorating form, the miko rose and strode toward the main room. Pausing in the doorway, Kagome's voice was edged in steel as she called out to Bishou, "When I return, you will tell me what it is you sacrificed to those bastards to get that kind of information, Bishou. Remember, no deaths tonight. You promised."

With that, she was gone.

Bishou allowed her body to sink into the mound of pillows surrounding her and felt the visions rising to control her Sight once more. "No, Kagome," her watery voice softly whispered, "not tonight."

- - - - -

Gritting his teeth, the demon ruler ignored the pain of the poison talon raking through his arm and twisted to block an attack on his unguarded belly. With swift and sure movements, Konton protected himself and kept watch over the battle his son waged against the wailing wraiths that thrived off of the mighty dragon's youki.

They shrieked fiercely as they sought to protect their life-giver. Sliding over the air currents, the apparitions hurled violent energies toward the young demon lord. "Die!" they cried out as one. "Whorish mongrel, we will have your soul."

Sesshoumaru effortlessly evaded their wild tactics and focused on separating them from their source. They were a creation of darkness and malevolence. Their only purpose was to defend their provider, while he, in turn, allowed them to sup from his very life force. As a result, they had no mind to create individual, strategic thoughts; their only advantage over him was the fact that they could reproduce from the source when enough power was available.

Slaughtering them was tedious work.

“How can you hope to defeat me, Dog?" the dragon boomed, his massive body taking the blows of the Western Lord with little consequence.

Konton released a malicious chuckle. "You ask me this, and yet you feel the need to sic your ghosts on my son. What fear you, Ryuukotsusei?"

"I will use what I have at my disposal. Will you not do the same?" Ryuukotsusei challenged. "Will you bring me more sport, Konton?"

Slashing at the talon that descended upon him, the demon lord jumped over the dragon's tail and raced up his back, only stopping once he stood behind the youkai's neck, clutching the fragile skin beneath the slightly parted scales. "Why do you attack, Ryuukotsusei?"

"Your mate is beautiful, is she not? I have heard many tales about the exquisiteness of the inu Seer." The dragon's mocking tone caused Konton to press his claws more tightly into his back. "She could be open to persuasion, if you were dead."

Konton sneered, "You will manage nothing of the sort." Jumping off of the dragon demon, he lifted his bloodied hand and carefully licked the blood away. "You will stay away from what is mine, Ryuukotsusei. Your father was my ally, but I will not lie idly by while you contemplate the debauchery of my mate."

Glancing toward his son, the Western Lord instructed Ryuukotsusei once more. "Call off your phantoms. Do you wish to risk the pounding of my army upon your back?"

With no more than a narrowing of his eyes, Ryuukotsusei silently called back his wraiths.

- - - - -

Their pace was slow as they traveled over the countryside toward the ancestral den. Konton's injuries were, by far, more substantial than those of his son, but his experience with the like allowed him to ignore the pain and focus on the fact that his lady's visions would subside. Ryuukotsusei had been neutralized, as far as he was concerned. The simpering young demon was easily riled, but he would think twice before waging war against the Western Territories for the mere beauty of an inu.

His heart leapt in his chest at the thought of his lady. When they had parted, she was tremendously weakened by the strength of her Sight and the spirits that controlled it. That had been many moon cycles before, and he feared that her condition would not improve quickly enough.

The human rulers were becoming agitated. They fought against one another daily, and they had, most recently, began distancing themselves from their stronger, youkai allies. Worry ran rampant in their minds. They could not understand why such a durable species would want to blend with a weaker counterpart.

Younger generations of youkai also called for change. They, too, did not see the profit of assisting those who attained them no short term goals. They could not understand how well the diversity of their two groups could complement one another on a united front. All hope of peace had fallen to the wayside many years ago.

Sesshoumaru's deep sigh interrupted his brief reflection. Shifting his thoughts, he directed his attention toward the unsettled prince. "You have been distant, my Son."

"Kagome," Sesshoumaru responded, wanting to divulge his feelings in a way he had not done in a very long time. "She was unsettled when we left."

Konton considered his words carefully. "Was there a disagreement?"

"No," the younger demon responded. "We did not quarrel, but I can detect that she is dissatisfied with our relationship."

"In what way, my Son?" the youkai lord questioned.

Sesshoumaru's head bowed, watching the branches passing beneath their feet as they continued toward the den. "Kagome wishes for a litter."

"Offspring," Konton repeated. "It is a dangerous time to bring new life into our world, my Son."

"It is, Father, but it should be my decision to make," the younger commented. "My mate and I should have the ability to procreate if we so wish it. Your years as a life-maker have passed. Why have you not granted me the right to bear my own?"

"Sesshoumaru," Konton began uneasily. "To bring life into the world is a heavy responsibility. With it comes the right to rule."

"You have accepted me as your heir in the eyes of our society," Sesshoumaru retorted, an angry edge lacing his voice. "Do you wish to rescind it now?"

"You are my heir," the demon lord countered. "Do not try me, Sesshoumaru. You are not ready to rule. You do not have the knowledge and understanding that you will need to oversee our lands. Only time can give you what you need. Be patient, my Son, and it will come."

"Patience," Sesshoumaru furiously replied. "You have no use for another son, yet you deny me the right of my own. You know I will not seek your throne, and, still, you would punish me because of the possibility."

"Sesshoumaru!" a joyful voice called out from the base of the mountain top den.

Abruptly ending the conversation with his father, Sesshoumaru drank in the sight of the woman bathed in white standing on the hillside. His soul nearly burst with his own happiness.

- - - - -

It seemed like the large den was closing in around her. The hustle and bustle of servants set her on edge, as she had grown unaccustomed to noise within the cavern late at night. Two of the women were still working on stemming the blood flow leaking out of the demon lord's arm, and the miko from the village was attempting to soothe Bishou's reawakened visions.

Kagome allowed a soft sigh to escape her mouth as she closed the shoji to their private quarters. Sesshoumaru was already in bed, his white hair fanning out over the dark coverlet in a way that called to her twitching fingers. Her initial attentions had been stolen by the youkai lord and his lady, while the injuries of her own mate were shallow enough to heal without interference.

"Kagome," Sesshoumaru mumbled, his smoldering gaze sending a heady heat through her body.

Smiling softly, the miko moved toward him, lowering herself onto the pallet and snuggling into his side. "I missed you."

"And I you," he responded, tilting his chin to rest against the crown of her hair. "We were gone much longer than I anticipated."

There was something about his tone that remained distant, as if his mind was occupied elsewhere. "Yes, but you found Ryuukotsusei. That is all that matters. I know that the priestess said that she cannot determine when Bishou's visions will subside, but I have a feeling that it will be soon."

"You do?" Sesshoumaru wondered, not doubting the power of a miko's intuition.

Kagome nodded. "I do."

"That is good," he replied, a small part of his form relaxing against the pallet.

The human woman frowned and twisted in his arms to stare down at him. "Is something wrong, Sesshoumaru?"

After a moment's hesitation, her mate revealed the early conversation with the demon lord. "My Father will not grant us the right to breed."

"What?" Kagome tensed. "Why would he do something like that?"

"He does not believe that I am capable of ruling the Western Territories," Sesshoumaru answered, his tone growing cold.

Placing a soothing hand on her chest, she tried to soothe him. "I'm sure he didn't mean that. What did he say?"

"That I do not have the knowledge and understanding necessary to rule," the youkai responded, bitterly repeating his father's words.

"Why would he say that?" Kagome questioned. "He has shown the world that you are his heir. Why would he take that back?"

"He says that he does not deny my right as heir and only that I am not currently capable of handling all of the responsibilities." Sesshoumaru growled. "It is wrong to deny our right to produce. He knows I will not usurp his territories."

"I'm sure he didn't mean it like that Sesshoumaru."

"You would side with him?" the demonic prince snapped.

Kagome gasped. "I'm doing nothing of the sort. I am saying that you should give him a chance to explain himself. Maybe there is more to this than you have heard. What was the extent of your conversation?"

"That was the extent of our conversation," he returned. "Do you doubt me?"

"Sesshoumaru." Kagome reared back, sitting up straight. "Really, your relationship with Konton has not been smooth as of late. Give him some time to think it over. I'm sure he'll come around."

Propping up on his elbows, Sesshoumaru shook the hair from in front of his face and angrily inquired, "You are not distressed that he will not grant us the right to produce our own litter?"

"Of course," Kagome answered. "I want children as much as you do, but I know the time will come when it is right for us to have them. Now is not that time, Sesshoumaru. With all of the war, it wouldn't be right to have any now. I don't want my sons and daughters to grow up not knowing their father."

"I am not suggesting that we would have them now, but I do not see the necessity in denying the right," Sesshoumaru said, laying back down.

Shaking her head, Kagome smiled and leaned forward to plant a light kiss on his nose. "Give him time, Sesshoumaru. It has been far too long since I laid by your side. Please do not waste it with a simple disagreement."

"I love you," Sesshoumaru spoke, his quiet words filling her heart.

"I will always love you, my Lord," she replied and draped her body over his.

- - - - -

They were arguing again. Kagome's eyes clenched shut as she attempted to ignore the sounds of raised voices and the pressure their clashing youki created in the air. Her breathing and heart rate dropped, an instinctual habit of inuyoukai that she had learned to develop over time, to make herself even less of a possible target.

Focusing on her hands, she wrung out the small cloth and exchanged it for the one on Bishou's overheated forehead. Several weeks ago, the Lady had fallen under an indeterminable illness, and each day that passed only left her already weakening body in a more deteriorated state.

"Soon, there will be nothing left of me, Little One," Bishou whispered, her dimmed golden stare settling on her caretaker.

Kagome shook her head and continued with the task of wiping down her arms and legs. "Don't say such things, Bishou. This sickness will pass, as have all the others."

"I fear it will not be so," the female inu returned. "Something grows within me, Daughter, and it's deliverance will not be kind to me. The spirits are too strong."

The sound of a bestial roar in the main room drew Kagome's attention, and she stumbled away from Bishou's pallet to find the source of the noise. Coming around the corner into the center of the den, the miko was appalled by the sight of her mate and the demon lord clawing and biting at one another in their natural forms.

"What are you doing?" Kagome shouted, rushing into the fight without a second thought. Both creatures paused, mid-attack, to stare at the tiny woman who dared to interrupt. "This is ridiculous. Have you both lost your minds?"

They glanced between one another, and a large cloud of dust swirled through the air as their bodies morphed into their humanoid state. Neither attempted to speak as Kagome continued her tirade.

"I can't believe this. Your mate, and your mother, is near death and the two of you can't put aside your petty arguments long enough to realize what's going on. Honestly, I believed that even a child would have sense enough to see what would be best for Bishou right now," she narrowed her eyes and turned swiftly on her heel, intending to return to the Lady's side.

Lord Konton growled. "Dare you insinuate that I would put anything above the value of Bishou's life?"

"Oh," Kagome seethed. "What would you call it?"

"Control your tongue, Child," the demon lord responded. "You have no right to speak to your Alpha in such a manner."

Sesshoumaru snarled at his father. "And you will not speak to her in such a manner."

"You would both do well to remember your places," Konton replied.

"Stop it," Kagome cried out. "Just stop it! Don't you hear yourselves? You sound like bickering siblings. Do you not realize-?"

"Kagome!" a female shriek echoed from the end of the hall, and the miko was racing toward the sound with two irritable dog demons on her heels.

Bursting into the room, Kagome caught sight of the pool of red soaking into the sheets surrounding the inu. Quickly, she ripped the blankets away to find the source. "Bishou," she gasped. "You're... you're pregnant?"

"O-of course," she panted, trying to ignore the shudders of pain that were reverberating through her slightly distended abdomen. "It was m-meant to be this way."

Lord Konton stooped near her face as the miko worked in the blood. "Bishou, I sensed nothing of this. Why did you not inform me of your condition?"

His mate wearily shook her head as he carefully brushed the sweaty locks of silver hair out of her face. "Nothing can be done, my love. Fate h-has b-broken my string."

"Why didn't you say anything?" Kagome sobbed, attempting staunch the flow with the leftover blankets. "There's so much blood."

Sesshoumaru watched the scene dazedly, unable to take in the reality of the situation at hand. With unbelieving eyes, he took in the picture of his own mother spread out like a sacrificial lamb before his father and his mate as the pair attempted to soothe her fears. The smell of gore and birthing fluids nearly overcame his senses as he listened to the pair assure Bishou that she would not - could not - die.

There was a scent of death in the air now, but still, Konton denied it.

Kagome bit her tongue to concentrate on the task at hand. If only there was some way to stop the bleeding, she might just have a chance.

"She will perish," Sesshoumaru finally spoke, whispering the dreaded reality even as those at her side tried, helplessly, to prevent it.

His disconnected tone gained Kagome's attention for the breadth of a second before she gritted her teeth and shoved the cloths underneath the writhing female. "Stay with me, Bishou," she pleaded, her hands stroking the contracting belly while her knees braced the makeshift towels against the inu's pelvis. "This isn't over."

She could feel the blood soaking through and coating her own legs, but it didn't matter. At that moment, nothing was more important than listening to her breathe. It was almost as if the world paused on its axis to mourn the inevitable loss of such a beautiful creature.

Konton lifted one of Bishou's hands from the sheets and twined it together with his own. Her grip was far weaker than he could ever recall, but it did not stop him from returning the light squeeze and scattering a row of impossibly soft licks over her face. A whimper escaped his lips when she gasped for air.

Bishou coughed loudly, choking as her lungs began to fold into themselves from lack of oxygen, and feebly nuzzled her lord's nose; she knew that she would never know a greater feeling than that which existed when she rested in his hold. To say the very least, her life had been full of love and happiness and for that she was grateful.

After all, what more could anyone have asked for?

- - - - -

"Sesshoumaru?" she whispered against the door, wondering if he would actually open it this time. It had been nearly four weeks since the death of Lady Bishou, and Kagome had yet to see her distant mate.

Konton had ordered that all of the former Lady's belongings be put out of sight, and the entire mountain side was bustling with activity as the daytime servants hurried to follow their master's wishes. Sesshoumaru had been no help in the matter - locking himself away from everyone to mourn his mother's death alone.

Kagome's heart clenched as she pressed her palm against the worn wood. With each day that passed, she could feel the ice slipping between them, building a barrier that she was afraid she might not be able to break.

"Sesshoumaru," she murmured once more, moving to push her ear against a gap between the planks.

There were voices rumbling inside, speaking of Bishou. Kagome frowned and listened closely. No one had made their way to the top of the mountain since the night Sesshoumaru had taken refuge there.

"Never as good,

Do you hope to be?

Ah, I see, I see!

Foolish pup,

Nothing more,

Feel our power,

We will control all that is,

Break, youkai,

What else have you but this?"

Their malicious tone sent a shiver racing down her spine as the reality of the situation set in. "Bishou," Kagome gasped. Reaching up, she screamed as the white magic burst from her fingertips and decimated the door. "Sesshoumaru!"

A whirl of spirits hovered over his nearly unconscious form, mocking what little remained of him. However, her entrance drew their attention away, and they sneered at the small human who attempted to interfere.

"Miko,

What hope you to accomplish here?

See how he gives himself to us,

An offering of the soul.

We will breathe,

And we will be whole."

"How did you get here?" Kagome questioned as she knelt by Sesshoumaru's side, feeling the tears well up in her eyes.

The voices laughed, deep and threatening.

"Know you nothing, Miko?

We cannot be disposed.

Our power is without equal.

We cannot be opposed."

"Bishou fought to take you to her grave, and now you're trying to defile her son? Can't you just leave us alone?" the miko argued, splaying her arms over her mate as if to shield him from their taunts.

"Thus is the power of Sight.

We hold a body until its death,

And then we take our flight.

Sesshoumaru is the heir.

It is his duty to absorb our might.

Born into this desolate servitude,

He is our Right."

Kagome growled, anger enveloping her. "I won't let you take him."

"He is no longer yours to keep.

Even as we speak,

His soul does weep.

Your bonds are strained;

Your love is weak.

He Sees Truth,

A future bleak."

"You're tricking him," she argued. "Your power is corrupted; you're only showing him what you want him to see! I won't let you do that!"

"Lies, lies, half-truths,

This they may be.

Still, it is what He,

Does choose to See."

They wound a path low in the air and brushed over his body, cackling as he writhed in pain beneath their touch.

Kagome watched in horror when they slipped beneath her fingertips and began to settle into Sesshoumaru's ravaged body. Desperately, she called out to the spirits once more. "Please, don't do this. I'll do... I'll do anything. Please, just leave him alone."

"Anything," they purred, intrigued by the offer at hand.

"What a great promise you lay in our grasp.

Tell us, Miko,

Can you complete such a task?"

"Anything," Kagome gritted her teeth and wound her arms tighter around her unconscious mate.

Biting back the screams she felt rising as their powers washed over her own, Kagome let the world slip away, whispering her answer to their greedy delight. "Yes, take me. You can have me. Just leave Sesshoumaru alone."

- - - - -

"Lady Kagome," a soft voice whispered, helping Kagome journey through the final few layers of haziness that had settled over her form and return to the land of awareness. "Lady Kagome, how do you feel?"

Kagome groaned as the pain sprung from her limbs. "W-where am I?"

"You are in the healing rooms, my lady," the woman answered, touching a cold rag to her forehead.

"Who are you?" the miko asked, not recognizing the female.

Waiting for the demonic prince's mate to open her eyes, she greeted Kagome with a tentative smile. "I am Chiyu, my lady. I was brought here to care for your body when you were invaded by the spirits."

"Chiyu," Kagome repeated the name. Allowing her eyes to fall shut once more, she focused on the dull thrum of power rolling just beneath her skin. She could feel the familiar coil of her own ki threading through her stomach and winding its way into her veins, but something new was layered over it - something malevolent - barely contained by her flesh. "What have you done to the phantoms?"

"It is an ancient art practiced by my family," Chiyu explained while she continued to run a cool cloth over Kagome's face, arms, and legs. "Though I possess no spiritual power of my own, I am able to harness that of others through ink."

"Ink," Kagome frowned, still struggling to process the lights and sounds.

"I was able to bind the demons beneath your skin with my ink. Never before has my art been performed on flesh, but I am glad to see that you have finally awakened."

"Girl," Sesshoumaru's rumbling baritone sounded from the doorway. "You will leave us."

"Sesshoumaru?" Kagome questioned, watching Chiyu obediently lower her gaze and move to wait in the hall. "I'm so glad you're all right."

The youkai prince stood before her in complete silence.

"Sesshoumaru," she repeated his name, lifting her hand to beckon him forward, but he remained still. "I wish for a kiss, my mate."

"What were you thinking, Kagome?" the words were harsh and rough against his tongue. "Did you wish to die? Because, surely, there are better ways than at the hands of my demons."

"Of course not," Kagome sharply retorted. "I didn't want to see you die, idiot. What were you thinking - taking those things on alone? You knew you couldn't handle them!"

"I did what I felt I must," he returned, his tone cold and even. "It was my decision to make, Kagome. You had no right to interfere. It was not your place."

"Not my place? Not my place?" Kagome gave a harsh laugh. "This is ridiculous, Sesshoumaru. I did it because I love you. I couldn't just wait idly by and watch you lead yourself to the slaughter."

Sesshoumaru's hands unconsciously clenched at his side. Looking around the room, he caught sight of the mirrored disc on a nearby table and threw it into her lap. Walking to the door, he paused in the entry way and spoke to her without turning. "It was not and is not your place to carry my burdens, Kagome, and now you must look upon the consequences of your unnecessary actions."

Kagome watched him leave the room, disbelief and anger in her features. Clutching the mirror, she shifted her gaze and was shocked by her own appearance. Hands painted with symbols she couldn't recognize turned white as her grip tightened. 'My face... my body...'

Her skin was pallid, and the normally vibrant features of her face seemed to be sunken from weight loss and strain. However, it was the dark markings that drew her attention the most. Her hairline was edged with a thin row of tattoos that disappeared beneath thick ebony waves and repeated along her fingers, wrists, and ankles. Her sleeping gown and Chiyu's reappearance brought her inspection to a halt.

"My lady," Chiyu spoke.

"Kagome," the miko whispered, turning the mirror away and laying it on the ground beside her futon. "My name is Kagome."

The shy woman turned her face away. "I came to tell you that a bath has been readied in the next room."

"Thank you," Kagome responded. Allowing Chiyu to assist her, she rose from the pallet and struggled to remain on her feet. Her mind centered on her demon mate, flitting with views of her own face and hands covered in foreign symbols. 'What did I do wrong? Why was Sesshoumaru so angry?'

"Chiyu," the miko spoke up once more when she was soaking in the tub and watching the paint on her body as it refused to fade. "When will these come off?"

"They will not," her quiet voice caused Kagome to swallow convulsively.

Kagome sighed. 'Is he upset because of the way I look now? Can Sesshoumaru not accept this change in me? Surely, this can't be...'