The Snow Angel by SunsetMiko

The Thanks

Chapter 162 - The Thanks *Stream of Consciousness* & *Tangent* (Stella's Soundtrack Challenge)

Kagome knocked softly on the door to Sesshoumaru's study and opened it slowly when she heard him call out for her to enter. She spotted him immediately and smiled.

"You do not have to knock," he said.

"I didn't know if I was interrupting," she said while walking closer.

"You are always welcome to interrupt me," Sesshoumaru replied with a smirk. He held out one hand to her and scooted back, making room for her in his lap. He pulled her gently to him and buried his nose in her hair, breathing her in deeply. "Is there something you need?"

"Not really. I just... I wanted to thank you... for everything." Kagome had been thinking about it for a while and she finally had the chance to get it all out.

"You have nothing to thank me for."

"Yes, I do. Thank you for accepting Inuyasha. I know you did it for me, and I know he didn't make it easy," she said with a small smile. It was the truth. Her hanyou friend had gone to great lengths to antagonize Sesshoumaru, and he never once took the bait.

"It is I who should be thanking you for reuniting me with my only brother. If you had not changed the way I look at the world, he and I would still be enemies."

Kagome shook her head but moved on, knowing she was never going to get him to simply accept her thanks on that one. "Thank you for accepting Shippo, even though he's not inu. It means a lot to him. He's always needed a strong male influence, and Inuyasha's just not capable of being a good role model."

"I was happy to. It was because of you that I was finally able to tell Rin that I think of her as my own. I accept everything that comes with you. You could not be happy without Shippo, and I want for you to be happy here with me."

The miko smiled and continued, following her train of thought. "And thank you for getting the potion for everyone. I don't think I could have handled watching Sango and Miroku grow old while I stayed the same. They're like family. And I know I would have lost it if Inuyasha died."

Sesshoumaru merely nodded this time. He had done it for the same reason he accepted Shippo as his own. Kagome loved her friends, and he would do whatever it took to keep them with her. She was already giving up so much: her family and her friends in her time, and all the comforts and advances of home to stay with him. That alone would be hard enough.

"Thank you for thinking I'm worth the trouble. I know choosing a human mate is going to cause problems for you with the other Lords and with your people.”

"Perhaps, but only in the beginning. I suspect they will accept you quickly and over time your humanity will be seen as a benefit. The humans in my lands will find it easier to be ruled by a human rather than a demon, because you will understand them, and they will feel represented. There are already a great deal more humans than demons, and the disparity grows daily."

"Maybe. I suppose it makes sense, but I doubt the demons will accept me so easily."

"It matters not. They will respect you as my mate, or they will face the consequences."

Start *Tangent*

Kagome smiled and laid her head on his shoulder. "My big tough protector." They both fell silent for a long while before something else entirely unrelated popped into the miko's head. "I was thinking. When I go back home for the last time to say good-bye, I'll have to leave my textbooks there. Otherwise, Mama will have to pay the school for them, and I don't want to leave her with problems. It's going to be hard enough for her as it is. I wish I could keep them, though. They'd come in handy. Do you think it would be possible to have them copied? I mean, I know the pictures couldn't be, but the text would be enough."

"It can be done easily. Atsushi?"

Suddenly, a head popped up on the other side of the room from behind a large pile of loosely rolled scrolls. "Yes, my Lord?"

Kagome jumped in surprise. "Where did he come from?"

"My apologies for startling you, My Lady," the young inu said, worried that Lord Sesshoumaru would be angered that he frightened the miko.

"It's not your fault. I just didn't know you were in here," Kagome said with a smile before turning her attention to the taiyoukai. "Sesshoumaru, why didn't you tell me?" she hissed.

"I did not think it mattered," he answered before turning his attention to his scribe once more. "You write quickly enough. Would you be able to copy several books over the next few weeks?"

Atsushi was stunned for a moment, as he wasn't used to being asked if he could complete something, only ordered to do so. "It should not be a problem. I am nearly finished with these."

Sesshoumaru smiled at Kagome. "Atsushi has been writing the announcements that will be sent out after our mating."

The miko looked over the many scrolls, her eyes wide. "You have to announce it to that many people?"

"Indeed. To leave someone out would be considered a slight, and so I must ensure that everyone of even minor importance receives one. Are your books in our chambers?" Kagome nodded. "I will have them brought to you, Atsushi. Prepare to be surprised by their contents."

Again silence fell for several minutes, Kagome unsure if she wanted to say anything further in front of the young inu. Her stomach growled, which caused Sesshoumaru to check the time.

"Ah, it is almost time for dinner. Your stomach keeps better time than some clocks."

The miko blushed. "Yeah, it doesn't let me forget a meal. Oh, I was thinking. Your mom's been locked up in her room all this time, right?"

"Except for her walks in the gardens with Inuyasha. Why?"

"Well, maybe she's decided to behave. We're not going to know unless we give her a chance. It's not like she can tell us. Maybe she could join us for dinner."

Sesshoumaru looked thoughtful for a moment before nodding. "Alright. I will collect her after I take you to the dining hall. You can tell the servants to prepare her meal to be served with ours." Kagome looked nervous, but hesitantly agreed. Seeing her worry, the taiyoukai pressed his lips to her temple. "You will have to learn to address the servants eventually."