InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Bloodlust ❯ All These Words... ( Chapter 6 )

Kagome lay on Sesshomaru's lap, listening contentedly to his laughter as Rin chased Jaken in circles, poking him with his two headed staff whenever she got close enough. Sesshomaru stroked her hair gently, holding her close.

"Rin needs a mother, my mate."

Kagome looked sharply up at him, and he avoided her eyes, holding his breath. She reached his arms around his neck, and pulled his lips to brush against hers softly.

"Do you think she would have me for an okaasan, Sesshomaru?

He leaned back, cradling her limply relaxed body.

"I think she has already come to see you that way, my Kagome. One can tell just by talking to her…listening to her voice when she speaks to you."

She sighed softly.

"I want her to know me first, Sess-chan…I take it she has had no mother since you took her in?"

He shook his head, and tightened his arms around her possessively.

*How do I make her stay? She may not fear me…but I am starting to fear what she will do…*

Kagome sensed his sudden panic, and pulled far enough away from him so she could see into his face.

"Sesshomaru what is this all about? You've barely said a word since we left the dojo….I can sense something is wrong, Sess-chan? Please talk to me?"

There was a pleading note in her voice, and she placed the flat of her palm against his cheek. He nuzzled his face against her soft hand.

"It….is difficult for me to speak of these things, Kagome, even to you. Because it is you."

She wrapped her arms around his chest, and pressed herself against the steel of him.

"What are you feeling, Sess-chan?"

"Fear…desire…hope…love."

His eyes burned into hers, and she knew at once what he meant, and took a shuddering breath.

"How can you love me, Sesshomaru? You barely know me?"

Her thoughts betrayed her.

*You mean how can I love him…why…love?*

"I know more than you think, koi. I watched you with my brother, watched you love him unconditionally, watched you become a mother to an orphaned kitsune, a friend to a doomed monk and a heartbroken Taijiya. Until this morning, I had thought my brother destroyed Naraku. But it was you, Kagome, you who saved them all. It was always you."

She felt a hot, irrational flash of anger, that he could expect her love, that he would dare mention InuYasha. Sesshomaru felt her tense in his arms, and he looked down at her worriedly.

"Koi?"

"Don't…call me that."

She turned to look back at him, and the red flash of her eyes startled him. The desire he always saw in them when her youkai escaped her control was gone, replaced by burning rage. He caught her claws coming at his face out of pure instinct, and instantly had her pinned to the ground.

"Kagome! Control your youkai! Control it!"

She growled at him, low and furious, and he stared unyielding into her hot eyes. He bent his head over her, and drew his tongue over his mark.

"Mate, come back! You can control this, Kagome. You belong to yourself, not to this rage!"

She continued to thrash against his hold, and he sank his fangs deep into the mark on her neck. Her howl cut the air, and he stayed locked against her until he felt her struggling subside completely, and she grew quiescent under him. He pulled away, and sat stiffly against a tree, as far away from her as he could get without moving conspicuously. He could smell the hot salt of her tears, and mentally berated himself for bringing up love when she was obviously still in pain over the betrayal of InuYasha, forcing himself to remember that she had loved his bastard of a brother. He had heard her dreams, and every time she cried out in her sleep it made him want to kill InuYasha a little more slowly.

Kagome shuddered in tears, wanting nothing more than to crawl into his arms like a child. He had not hurt her, but she knew she had hurt him. She heard him stand and walk slowly out of the small clearing towards the castle, and then she understood. Her heart contracted inside her and she knew she could not let him go.

"Sesshomaru! Please don't leave me…"

He turned back to look at her, the old emotionless mask in place, and the sight of it nearly stopped her cold. But she could feel anguish seeping from him in waves, and she ran to hi, stopping close, sobbing against his chest. His eyes rested carefully in the distance, but an overwhelming desire to protect his mate overrode his pain, and he wrapped his arms around her.

"I'm sorry Sess-chan, I don't know what happened…please forgive me…please…"

Sesshomaru sank to the ground and rocked her gently. Gradually her sobs quieted, and he nuzzled his mark on her neck apologetically.

"I am sorry as well, Kagome. For asking for what you cannot give me, as well as for this."

The place where he had bitten her was bruised dark, and he kissed it gently. She caressed his hand, and returned to her earlier position against his chest, his chin resting on her head.

"Sess-chan?"

"Hm?"

"You didn't ask for anything you shouldn't have."

She took a deep breath, and stole his gaze, locking it with her bright eyes.

"I love you."

He kissed her softly and thoroughly, until the last bit of sorrow was gone from her silver eyes.

"My mate."

She growled a low purr at him, and lifted her head to watch the first few stars flicker into the clear sky. Sesshomaru's ears perked up, and he laughed quietly, twining his fingers into Kagome's.

"It looks like we're about to have company, my Kagome."

Her nose twitched.

"Rin?"

He nodded, as the girl burst out of the flowers and stood in front of them, shifting from foot to foot.

"What is it Rin?"

The words tumbled out of her mouth quickly, and the girl turned a bright pink.

"Rin heard Lord Sesshomaru talking and then the Lady yelling and then Lord Sesshomaru yelling and she thought something was wrong so Rin came to see if the pretty Lady and Lord Sesshomaru were being hurt so she could help them if there were bad people. Rin likes Lady Kagome, Lady Kagome, and Rin wanted to ask if the pretty Lady would be her new okaasan like Lord Sesshomaru said?"

Kagome pulled Rin into her lap, and leaned back to press her lips against Sesshomaru's.

"I'd like that Rin. But are you sure that is what you want?"

The girl nodded and made a face.

"Kagome Lady plays with Rin and picks pretty flowers. Jaken pokes Rin with the ugly stick and says filthy human…he is a bad okaasan."

Kagome laughed and nestled the girl against her body, and kisses her forehead.

"Its alright Rin…I promise I will be a much better mother than Jaken."

Rin made small happy noises, and quickly fell asleep, snug and safe. Kagome too fell asleep, exhausted from the emotional havoc that had ravaged her soul, and finally only Sesshomaru was left awake, holding the woman and the girl who had taught him to care.

*Father was right after all. Love…is not bad.*

He closed his eyes and pulled his mate and newly adopted daughter close, a slow small smile curving his perfect lips. The sun rose slowly on the scene, and Kagome's eyes opened just as slowly, still really used to waking at sunrise from all her time spent searching for the shards of the jewel. The girl in her arms stirred slightly, and rolled closer to Kagome's body. She turned her eyes to Sesshomaru's sleeping face, surprised he hadn't woken when she did. His expression was relaxed, his breathing deep, and she drew a measure of calm from the smile that graced his lips. Her hand cupped his cheek, and the beauty that he was filled her senses.

"My mate…"

She whispered, almost unaware that she had spoken at all, until Sesshomaru's lips brushed her cheek.

"What are you thinking, Kagome?"

"I was thinking about fate…about what strange creatures the Gods must be, weaving a destiny that allowed me to end up here, by your side. I came such a long way, Sesshomaru…such a long way."

"Do you miss them, koi? Your family?"

"Of course I do…but I would miss you more if I left to go to them. I could never come back, you see."

"It does not matter how far, or how many, they could not keep me from you."

"Even you can not fight time, my love. It is nowhere you could come to. My home is not a place…it is five hundred years in the future."

"You moved in time?"

"The old well in InuYasha's forest was a portal between the two times. But now that the jewel is whole, the trip would be one-way. I could not come back."

He held her tight. He was no stranger to magic…but this, whatever it was…it was beyond his knowledge.

"You said I could keep you."

Her eyes radiated love, and he pulled it deep into his heart.

"I am yours to keep, Sess-chan. And you are mine."

The smile that was forming on his lips died, and he stiffened and growled. His words were harsh, with all of their old coldness.

"Kagome, take Rin and go inside."

His sudden change in mood drove through her heart, and tears welled in her eyes as she stood with the girl in her arms.

"Sesshomaru…"

His eyes were gentler when he looked at her.

"No, koi, it is not you. My brother has come, my brother and the dead miko."

Kagome nodded and walked towards the castle, red rising in her eyes.

"I will take Rin inside, Sess-chan…but then I am coming to stand by your side. This is my battle too, my mate."

His brows drew together, but she was already gone, and he moved with demon speed to stand at the gate. Kagome lay the still sleeping girl on Sesshomaru's bed, and ran with grim speed to stand beside him.

*Inu…Yasha….*