InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Destiny, Time Travelers, and a Little Baby ❯ The morning after..... ( Chapter 12 )

Disclaimer : Yeah. So I'm thinking of ways to get ownership. But kidnapping Rumiko Takahashi just seems so messy. Not to mention expensive. I mean look at what I'd have to spend:

Booking a flight to Japan, getting a hotel room for however long it takes to stake out her place, gas money, return flight from Japan, and.....uh.....food and.....um.....stuff.....like, uh.....kidnapping stuff.

And, really, if I were to kidnap you, would you give me your stuff? I don't think so. I know I'd be all like:

"Dude. Step off. And no you can't have my stuff."

But don't fret. I' always thinking of more ways to get them. Then I shall use my newfound wealth and power to rule the world! *insert scary background and flashes of lightening and thunder*

Ahem.

I guess what I'm trying to say in a VERY roundabout way is.....I don't own Inuyasha.

Yet. *wink*

Chapter 12 : The morning after.....

Miroku roused first. He yawned and moved to roll onto his back. Except, when he did, he got a very pleasurable feeling in a certain area. And someone was moaning beneath him.

`Eh?'

His eyes shot open wide and he noticed a sleeping, and very naked, Sango under him.

"Oh. Shit."

All the events of last night came crashing back to him and he looked at his hand to make sure it wasn't a dream. Sango's hair ribbon was still there. He had really done his own wedding.

And consummated it.

`Oh. My. Buddha!'

What was he going to do? Sango was gonna flip. He'd done something irreversible while they were both drunk. She couldn't get her virginity back. He knew that you lose all your reservations when you're wasted, and there was no way he could convince her that he didn't. `Well, at least I put a cover over us at some point.'

Quickly he slipped from where he had slept, intently focused on not getting hard as Sango sighed under him and began to rouse. He noticed she was waking and decided it would be best if he was asleep when she woke. Less painful that way. So, he resettled atop her and closed his eyes, forcing his breathing to even out, even as his heart sped faster, praying that she wouldn't notice the irregularity.

Sango slowly opened her eyes. She felt a warm weight on her and looked down, wondering why a crushing weight would feel so comforting. It was Miroku. Blurry, broken visions of the night before raced through her mind.

`What was THAT?!' She thought in astonishment. `Did we really.....?'

She lifted her left hand in front of her face. Sure enough, Miroku's earring sat on her finger. She sighed heavily and dropped her hand. She looked down into his `sleeping' face. Her own contorted into a visage of painful sadness as she touched his cheek.

`He's going to be sooooooo mad when he wakes up. I practically told him I had to be married before I'd do that. I bet he just performed the ceremony to get me into bed. That LOSER! That wonderful, caring, PERVERTED LOSER!' She dropped her hand and turned her head away, willing the tears from her eyes. `Maybe I should leave before he gets up. He wouldn't want a wife anyway.' And she tried to gently shove his bulk off of her.

Miroku decided now would be a good time to `wake up'. He got the feeling she was sad and had to know if she regretted it. He started fluttering his eyelids and arching his back. Unfortunately, this put something right into contact with something else.

Sango stiffened. `Oh no. I woke him up. Ooooh that feels good. Ugh! What am I gonna do?!'

He sucked in a breath and opened his eyes quickly. There was his Sango, looking like a child that just got caught swiping sweet dumplings. He smiled sleepily at her and breathed "Good morning."

Sango was surprised by his response to waking up over her. Maybe he wouldn't be so averse to this. She stiffly smiled back.

"Morning."

"So how did you sleep?" Miroku inwardly cringed. `Not the best opener, baka.'

Sango looked off to the side and blushed slightly. "Pretty good. You?"

"Never better." He racked his brain for something else to talk about. But what was there? `How was it for you? Yeah. That'd make GREAT progress.' He closed his eyes so she couldn't see him roll them. Finally he thought of something. "Well, I'm hungry. Want to go get something to eat?"

Sango smiled her first smile of the morning and nodded. Suddenly, she felt a throb pulse through her head. It was so intense her eyes crossed. She groaned and vowed never to drink sake again.

He stopped any thoughts of moving at her groan. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah." She forced out through a grimace. "Just a little headache."

"It doesn't look little." He climbed off her and put his robes back on hurriedly as Sango averted her eyes out of propriety. He moved next to her when she tried to sit up only to fall back on the futon. He sighed and rubbed her head, hoping to alleviate the pain at least a little bit. "Stay here while I get us something. I'll be right back." She grunted her ascent, not wanting to nod again, and he left.

He searched the halls of the "Geisha" house for the kitchen or dining room, anything that held food that he could buy or trade for. Since when did he start buying things? Oh well. He'd think about it later, after he had food in his gut and some sort of antidote for Sango's hangover in his hand. He was almost certain that's what her headache was. She never did drink sake. At least not since he'd known her. He himself didn't have as much as her and was pretty used to the effects of the drink anyway, so he didn't have a headache at all.

After a vain attempt to find anything, he resorted to asking one of the girls where food was. She truly was a vision. Silken black hair, pristine kimono, face painted to perfection. She smiled seductively at him but he was unaffected by her beauty and expensive attire. There was only one woman on his mind. Seeing that he just wanted food, she pouted and pointed him towards the main room.

"Breakfast will be served in a moment for all the guests that stayed the night, my lord." She simpered at him.

He was much more handsome than the man she'd had the night before. When had he come? She tried to remember the night before and finally remembered catching a glimpse of him. She was certain that as the prettiest whore, she would be the one to get his attention that night, but no. He had come in with that demon slayer that she had to help dress. The woman had small scars all over her body and a huge one on her back. She was hardly feminine at all.

But he had taken her away when she'd passed out and not made another appearance for the rest of the night. Surely they weren't involved. She had a man' profession and he was a monk. Weren't they supposed to be celibate? Certainly not this one. That hunk of man couldn't' possibly have stayed a virgin that long. `Besides, he's a warrior monk. If his outfit is genuine anyway. His kind are unpredictable.'

She sighed as he crept past her. This girl was creeping him out just staring at him like that. He found the main room and got two bowls of rice. Sango wouldn't want much more than that. He set them aside and got his own breakfast, ignoring the looks of the women in the room.

He finished quickly and asked the owner, who was in attendance, if there were any herbs used for pain nearby. He nodded and sent one of the girls to get some from the storeroom. The girl returned shortly after. He thanked them and made his way back to the room.

Sango waited on the bed for at least thirty minutes. What was taking him so long? It shouldn't be that hard to find a kitchen and swindle some food. That's what he'd always done before. Maybe he'd found a girl to occupy his time.....

She gasped as a dull pain made itself known in her heart and a hollow void opened in her stomach. No. They were married. He wouldn't. But. There were no witnesses for their union. The ruling lord didn't give his consent. Were they really married or was it all just for her benefit? Whatever it was, when he got back they needed to talk.

Just as she was about to struggle through the pain, get up, and drag his ass back into the room, he walked in, looking sheepish and juggling two bowls of rice and a pouch of herbs, by the smell of it.

"Sorry it took so long." He apologized as he sat down. "I ran into some trouble. Apparently they don't have a kitchen here. I had to eat breakfast in the main room with everyone else and smuggle some rice. Here you go." He handed her the rice and she mumbled a thank you.

She ate and watched him make her medicine. He seemed so calm about it. Was he even feeling anything right now? He made a fire in the long- forgotten pit in the middle of the room with the logs conveniently stacked by the wall, and made her a tea of the leaves and bark. She drank it when he handed it to her and immediately felt the pain leave her head.

"Thank you." She said simply and fell back to the bed.

He smiled and leaned down to rub the last vestiges of pain from her head. She was quickly falling back to sleep. He was taking away all her pain bit by bit until she was a shivering mass at his command to do as he wished.

"Sango. About last-"

She was suddenly wide awake again. "That was wonderful Miroku. Thank you for taking away my ailments." She stood and began dressing, in her own clothing, trying not to blush as she felt his heated gaze upon her naked form. "We must get going if we ever want to find Kaede."

Miroku sighed and tore his gaze from her intriguing form. He could wait until she was ready to discuss their new life together.

Sango finished dressing and walked out into the hallway.

`What was that about us needing to talk? Well that was all shit. GODS! I'm such a coward!' She sighed heavily and hit herself in the head as she dropped off the Geisha costume at the bathhouse.

After thanking the owner for his hospitality, they were on the road again.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*Inuyasha and Kagome's Journey*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Inuyasha and Kagome had walked for days after the incident with Mrs. Yataki and her son. Well, Inuyasha walked. Kagome mostly hitched a ride. He sniffed for Kikyo or Kaede's scent and searched for even a footprint to indicate their passing, but he couldn't find a trace of either. Kagome watched the sky for signs of her soul-stealers. Not even a cloud took a likeness to the glowing snakelike creatures.

They were about to turn around and head back when Inuyasha looked to the sky and began growling.

Kagome turned to him, alarmed. "What's wrong?" She looked to the heavens just in time to see an orb of light falling towards the earth a few feet from them.

It landed with a flash and who would emerge but the Lord Youkai of the Western Lands.

"What are you doing in my territory?" He asked with a regal air.

Inuyasha's growl increased and he stepped forward as if to fight. Kagome saw his movement and stopped him with a hand on his arm. His growls ceased as he looked questioningly at her. Kagome stepped towards Sesshomaru without fear.

"We are looking for the little girl, Kaede."

Sesshomaru's face contorted. After all he'd told them about her, they still let her get away?!

"You fools!! Did you not hear me when I told you about the people who would want to use her?!"

Inuyasha shoved Kagome behind him. Even if his brother was somewhat civil to him the last time they had met, he still didn't trust him. He cut off Sesshomaru's tirade with one sentence, spat with venom at the older youkai.

"She was kidnapped."

Sesshomaru's face went even whiter, if possible, as he processed this new information. "By whom?" He growled out.

Inuyasha turned his head away.

"Kikyo." Kagome said quietly.

Both brothers were lost in their thoughts as Kagome related the details. Once she was finished, Inuyasha described the fight, to the best of his ability, seeing as how Kagome wasn't there for it.

"So this ninja-" Sesshomaru started.

"Kosimu." Inuyasha corrected.

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed. He did not like to be corrected. "Right. He seemed to know any move you were about to make?"

"Yes."

"Was it like with Goshinki?" Kagome queried.

His brow furrowed as he thought about how to make them understand. "No. Goshinki was, um, cocky. He let me know that he could read my mind and everyone else's. This guy seemed almost as amazed as I was that he could read my thoughts."

"And he smelled human, but not." Sesshomaru quirked a brow at the oxymoron.

"Yes."

"But not demon or hanyou either."

"Right." He confirmed with growing impatience.

"So what is he?" Sesshomaru wondered, more to himself than anyone else.

"I don't know, but it's not good." Inuyasha answered as he too thought about the possibilities once more.

Kagome also joined in on pondering the possibilities of what the `ninja' could be. Sesshomaru was the first to notice the dwindling light.

"Where are you staying tonight?" He asked tersely.

"Huh?" Inuyasha and Kagome came out of their thoughts quite suddenly.

"Oh. Wow. It is getting pretty late isn't it." Kagome said as she admired the sunset. It was always so much more vivid here than in her time.

Inuyasha shrugged. "Guess right here."

"You will stay at my castle tonight." Sesshomaru said expecting them to comply promptly. "We will discuss this matter more in the relative safety that I can provide."

"Now wait just a minute you-" Kagome slapped her hand over his mouth.

"We'd love to." She said instead.

"Buh bud?"

"Yes Inuyasha. We would." She whispered in his ear. His answering growl shook her hand and she pulled it away before he could lick it. Or bite it. Ya know, whatever.

"Very well. Follow me." He turned and walked away.

"You want to SLEEP in his HOUSE?!" Inuyasha bellowed.

"Not really." Kagome admitted. "But it would be rude to say so to his face. Besides," she sniffed, "it's not like we had any place better to sleep."

"Fine." He growled. "We'll stay ONE NIGHT at the bastard's house."

"Castle, Inuyasha." Sesshomaru called from up ahead. "And I'm glad to hear it. Rin could use someone to play with."

"It's only one night asshole!!" Inuyasha yelled.

"Of course." Sesshomaru said from beside him. Inuyasha started at his sudden appearance. The youkai lord smirked. "Still, it would be good for her and Kagome to become friends."

With this mysterious declaration, he orbed away again. Inuyasha snorted at the path he'd taken and squatted for Kagome to get on so they could follow.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*Sesshomaru's Castle*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Sesshomaru-sama!!" Rin called as she raced down the corridor. "You are home! Did you find what you were looking for?"

"Yes Rin, I did." He stepped to the side to reveal Kagome climbing off Inuyasha's back. She disembarked just in time to catch Rin running at her.

"Kagome-san! You come to see Rin?" The girl looked around. "Where are Shippo-kun and Kaede-chan?"

Kagome looked to Inuyasha for his help, but Sesshomaru answered for her. "Rin, Inuyasha and Kagome have come to spend the night. Would you show Kagome to her room?"

"Hai, Sesshomaru-sama." She beamed at him and grabbed Kagome's hand. "Come on Kagome. I'll show you where you'll sleep." And she pulled an indulgent Kagome away.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*Naraku's Fortress*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Kick!"

"Block!"

"Jump! JUMP!! When I say jump, I mean jump NOW."

Such commands were heard for miles around as Kikyo molded Kaede into her demented little killing machine.

"Jab! Punch! Backhand!"

Kaede performed all commands made of her to perfection, or as close as she could get. After a few days, Kikyo decided that she had executed them well enough to move on to something else.

"Good work Kaede. I believe it is time to begin training with another. Kosimu!!" The ninja came to his mistress from the shadows in a corner of the courtyard.

"Yes mistress?"

"Spar with Kaede. She needs to learn hand-to-hand combat and swordsmanship. Teach her the ways of the ninja." He seemed reluctant to acquiesce to her request. "Now!!"

"Yes mistress." He took a fighters stance reluctantly before the seemingly six-year-old girl. A look passed between both fighters, one of determination, one of concern overshadowed by duty. And so, Kosimu began his instruction of Kaede.

Kikyo scrutinized every detail of the introductory fight. Kosimu tested Kaede's reflexes, her ability to read her opponent, thinking on her feet, and her technique. When he was finished, Kikyo applauded as they tried to regain their breath.

"Good work. We'll take a short break." Servants brought out water and some fruit. When they left, Kosimu and Kaede sat down for a snack and rest. Kikyo watched them for she had no need for food.

After a time, she clapped twice. "Alright. Break over. On your feet. Oh, and Kosimu, I expect you NOT to take it easy on her this time."

"Yes Mistress." He bowed and approached Kaede.

Five minutes in and it was painfully obvious to Kaede that she was in no way, shape, or form prepared to do real battle. And if she wasn't strong enough to defeat HIM, then how could she possibly defeat the murderers that killed her parents and took her from her loving godmother Kikyo.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*Miroku and Sango*~*~*~*~*~*~*

After leaving the brothel disguised as a Geisha House, they traveled around looking and asking for signs of Kikyo. Once again, it proved to be a fruitless search. No sign of Kikyo for at least three months at the next village they happened upon.

With no leads and no battles, the two were fighting each other.

"Would you speed up monk?! I don't want to sleep in this forest any longer than I have to."

*sigh* "Sango, you know as well as I that there are no towns for at least two days."

"Exactly why you should speed up hentai!"

A growl rose in Miroku's throat. Not nearly as scary as Inuyasha's, but it shut Sango up nonetheless. They walked in silence for a few miles until Sango stumbled. Miroku caught her and steadied her. She gripped him until she regained her balance. When she realized what she did, she smacked his hands away and smoothed her kimono.

"What is your problem?" He asked in genuine confusion as he rubbed his injured hands.

"You! You ecchi houshi. Never touch me again."

"No problem, frigid taijiya. I shall never touch your foul body again." He stormed down the path and away from the woman he loved.

Sango stood frozen in the road after she heard this. "Did he just say.....?" She stared at his tense back as it got farther and farther away from her. "And what the hell is that supposed to mean?"

He spun around and walked back to her purposefully. "It means that I never should've married us if you still think I'm a pervert."

"We aren't married Miroku." She tried to speak calmly but it came out harsh and strained. "There were no witnesses, the ruling lord gave NO consent and YOU DID THE CEREMONY!!"

He had suddenly lost his thunder. `The woman does have a point.' A voice whispered to him.

`But she still didn't believe you had honorable intentions. She still thinks you're a pervert.' Another hissed.

`Just stop thinking and kiss her.' His inner pervert said. `She seemed to enjoy your touch well enough last night.'

`Yeah she didn't even feel pain when you-`

`Wait a minute.....'

"Well at LEAST it was MY first TIME!" He accused.

She went pale as what he said registered. Stricken, all she could do was stare. Then all at once, the color returned with a vengeance. "How could you say such a thing?!!" She hit his shoulder, knocking him on his back, as she fumed past.

"Because it's the truth!" He called from the ground as he struggled to his feet.

She stopped and glared a glare so strong it was amazing he didn't shrivel up and die, as was her wish and his at this moment.

"Kirara!" She called to her faithful companion. In a flash of flame, Kirara transformed. Sango boarded her fire cat and off they rode, back to Kaede's village.

Miroku sighed as he turned and started walking.

"This is going to be a long trip home."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*Sesshomaru's Castle*~*~*~*~*~*~*

After Kagome left, Inuyasha turned to his brother. "Well. Been a while since I've seen this place." He looked around as much as he could without turning his back to Sesshomaru. "Not one for change are you?"

"You already know the answer to that Inuyasha." Sesshomaru said boredly.

"Yeah, yeah. You haven't changed clothes in sixty years, why change your house." Inuyasha stated with sarcasm.

Sesshomaru almost smiled. "I'm amazed you can remember that far back." He declared airily. "But it's been much longer than that since you've seen my home. After all, you were.....indisposed for fifty years."

Inuyasha bared his fangs at his brother. "I see your lips moving but all I hear is blah blah blah fifty years blah blah I'm a girl. You're such a tard." Sesshomaru's face darkened. "Look. I didn't want to come here and I'm sure you don't really want me here. So I'll just nab Kagome and we'll be gone."

"Listen, little brother. Much as I loathe to admit it. I'm your family. Your ONLY family." He looked away. "It would bother me to leave you out when you're so close to my home."

Inuyasha looked at him with suspicion as Sesshomaru walked down the hall.

"Jaken will show you to your room." He called over his shoulder. "I've kept it as it was when you left. Dinner will be served soon." He turned down a hall and out of sight.

"Screw that." Inuyasha muttered, knowing full well that Sesshomaru could hear him.

Jaken came from nowhere, his face even more gruesome in his disgust. "Come half-breed. I'll show you-- HEY!"

Inuyasha removed his foot from Jaken's head and continued down the hall. "No need toad. I remember where it was. I did live here for forty years, you know." Ignoring Jaken's muttered obscenities and threats, he followed Kagome and Rin's scents.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*In Kagome's Room*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"And the best part is, Rin is right across the hall." Rin beamed as she chatted all through the halls, giving Kagome a mini-tour and all around her room. Kagome was amazed at the extent of knowledge the girl had of the castle, from which way to turn in the maze-like estate to who was in what tapestries, though she strongly doubted they were all called `Pretty Lady', `Pretty Man', or `Sesshomaru-sama'.

"Thank you for showing me around Rin." Kagome bowed.

"It was Rin's pleasure Kagome-san." The girl giggled and bowed back.

Kagome smiled at the child. She was adorable, happy, and so innocent. Just as Kagome always pictured her daughter. Minus a pair of doggy ears.

Whilst off in her own fantasy world, Kagome had no idea Rin was asking her a question. That is until a small hand floated across her vision and a shrill voice screamed in her ear--

"You want to see Rin's room now?"

Kagome jerked at the sudden raise in volume and nodded her agreement. Rin's grin enveloped her face. She grabbed Kagome's hand and dragged her across the hall. Upon entering, all Kagome could do was stare.

"How can Sesshomaru be so cold if he would allow this?" She wondered to herself as she perused the room.

It was all in pinks and purples. No expense was spared. The paintings, curtains, wall hangings, rugs, even the bed sheets were of the finest material and craftsmanship.

The outside of the castle looked very cold and foreboding, just as the lord of it appeared to be, with all it's wooden spires and stone parapets.

But this room defied all of that. It was everything a girl could hope for. A very comfortable looking futon on the left, a bureau of polished cherry wood on the right, and a huge window overlooking a garden on the far side wall. Pictures of lovely things, like butterflies and grassy meadows and mountains were hung everywhere. White curtains covered the window. A woven reed mat, that was dyed a soft pink, covered the floor. The futon had pink silk sheets and a lilac comforter for warmth was folded at the bottom. All in all, it was a picture of girlish luxury. For the Warring States Era that is.

Rin watched as Kagome looked around her room. "Do you like it?"

"It's beautiful Rin." Kagome smiled down at her eager face.

Rin smiled back. "Rin has another room for learning and one for bathing but I eat with Lord Sesshomaru in his side of the castle."

"This entire side is yours?" Kagome was astonished. She didn't think Sesshomaru would be that generous.

"Hai. Sesshomaru-sama said that Rin should have her own wing and gave me all these rooms." Her little brow furrowed as she scratched her head, remembering. "But when Rin asked if they could make me fly, he just walked away shaking his head." Kagome stifled a giggle at the girl's confusion. "It wasn't until Sesshomaru-sama got Rin a teacher that I learned that's what all these rooms together are called. Do you know what else they're called?" She looked hopefully up at Kagome.

"What?" Kagome smiled.

"A suite!" She proudly proclaimed. Then her expression turned thoughtful. "But they don't taste good at all."

Inuyasha had followed the girls' scents to his old wing, but when Kagome's laughter rang out, he no longer had to follow his nose to find them.

"Well isn't this cozy?" Kagome turned at the voice and found her hanyou looking dashing propped against the doorjamb. She smiled at him and his heart sped.

"I think so. Don't you agree Rin?"

"Yes." The little girl smiled. "Have you seen Kagome's room yet Inuyasha?" She looked up at him hoping she'd get to play tour guide again.

He contained his smile very well. Had to keep up that macho image you know. "Keh."

"That means no." Kagome translated. "Do you want to show him?"

Rin nodded enthusiastically, grabbed each of their hands, and dragged them across the hall. Once in Kagome's room, Inuyasha was struck by how familiar it was. Everything really was as he'd left it, right down to the message he'd written on the wall in a show of disrespect to Sesshomaru. The familiar angry slashes of kanji and obstinate words struck him. A rare thought occurred and he had to find that asshole brother of his before it slipped away.

In an instant he was gone. Kagome and Rin were left looking at each other in bafflement.

"What was that about?"

"Rin does not know." *head shake and shrug*

*~*~*~*~*~*~*West Wing*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Inuyasha barged into Sesshomaru's study.

"You put her in my room?!! You gave Rin-"

"Your wing?" Sesshomaru cut in with an elegant raise of his brow. "It was no longer yours after you spurned my hospitality and our ancestry for that-"

"Why didn't you at least have that wall washed or replaced or something. Did you always want to-"

"Why I did or did not do something is my business, not yours." He went back to his scrolls. "Is that all you wanted to talk about?"

Inuyasha growled. "Don't dismiss me like some kind of trash jackass! I want answers!!"

Sesshomaru set down his brush and rubbed between his eyes. "To what? Rin's wing? Kagome's room? The wall?"

Inuyasha was dumbstruck. "Well. Yeah." Then he remembered he was supposed to be angry.

"I see." Sesshomaru stood. "We will talk about this after supper. Come along." He walked towards the open eating area with Inuyasha glaring suspiciously at the back of his head.

Dinner was exceptional and served with precision. Not that one would expect less from someone employed by Lord Sesshomaru. The girls had joined the room a few minutes after them. The tension between the brothers was palpable and no one said a thing, although Kagome was amazed to notice that Rin's manners were almost as impeccable as Sesshomaru's.

When she was finished, Rin stood and asked to be excused. Sesshomaru nodded his head in compliance.

"Good night Sesshomaru-sama." Rin bowed.

"Good night Rin. Sleep well."

"Hai." She turned and walked down the hall to the East wing.

"Kagome, if you wouldn't mind....." He inclined his head in the direction Rin had gone.

"Of course." Kagome stood. "If you'll excuse me." She looked to Sesshomaru who nodded again as Inuyasha snorted at all the respect his brother was getting. It was almost painful to watch.

Once they were gone, he turned to Sesshomaru. "Well?"

He sighed heavily. "Yes, Inuyasha. What would you like to know first?"

He thought for a moment. There was so much he wanted to know. "Why didn't you wash off my letter? Or replace it? I'm sure you could've had it done with all the shit you got from Dad."

Sesshomaru clenched his jaw. "It was not `shit' as you so crudely put it. It was antiques and-"

"You're avoiding my question."

Sesshomaru blinked slowly as he formulated his response. "At first, when you left, I didn't know what to think. I take you into MY house after YOUR mother dies. I provide everything you could possibly need or want and at the first utterance of that damned jewel you run off." He stopped.

Inuyasha was now thoroughly perplexed. He'd never thought about their fallout from Sesshomaru's point of view before. He felt eyes boring into his head and looked up, his confusion written clearly across his face. Sesshomaru continued.

"It made me feel.....hurt. I did NOT like that. So I dwelt on it and the hurt turned to anger, the anger to hate, and I left the writing on the wall to remind myself that you hated me just as much as I hated you." He paused. Talking about their feelings was just NOT something men do. Especially these men. To say it was awkward was a gross understatement. "Happy now?"

Inuyasha was still confused. "I guess. Is that why you gave Rin my wing? To spite me?"

"No."

"Then why?"

Sesshomaru smiled slightly, very slightly, and shook his head. "Because it wouldn't be proper for her to stay in my wing and that wing is safer for her then the North wing."

"Because it's straight down the hall....." Inuyasha trailed off as understanding dawned on his face.

"Instead of around a corner." Sesshomaru finished his thought. "Rin is.....very special to me."

"I get it now. But why did you put Kagome in my room? Am I not sleeping there?"

Sesshomaru's brows knit in confusion. "Of course you are."

"What?!" Inuyasha jumped up. "We can't sleep together! Last time that happened I-- Wait a minute. You don't need to know that."

Now Sesshomaru was the confused one. Was his brother not courting the young maid? Or could it be that he does not know he is.....? As this thought came to him for a second time, he nearly laughed aloud, but he was too composed for that kind of frivolous behavior. Instead a stifled snort came out.

Inuyasha's ire rose again to the surface. "What?!" He demanded. `I KNOW that pompous ass is NOT laughing at me.'

"As I suspected." Sesshomaru sobered up quickly. "You have no idea, do you?"

"What are you talking about?" Inuyasha asked, his confused laced with indignation.

Sesshomaru sighed. "It seems you have yet to remember the ways of Youkai Mating then?" Inuyasha just blinked at him, waiting for him to get to the point. "I see. Well you ARE half human. It must have gotten lost somewhere in that thick head of yours. I guess the responsibility falls upon me then."

Inuyasha held up a hand. "Wait a minute, wait just a damn minute." He fairly shouted. "You," he pointed, "are going to tell me," again with the pointing, "about mating?" He finished incredulously. Sesshomaru nodded. Inuyasha snorted. "Riiiiiight. And just what makes you think I'll listen to you about this?"

"I doubt you'll believe whatever I say, but I've been testing your performance for the last few months and I no longer wish for Tetsusaiga. I just go after it to make sure you're learning to use it correctly. And to get a proper spar." He explained. "I have no wish to do you ill will. And I hope to make your life more.....interesting once I've explained this."

Inuyasha was still doubtful, but it didn't hurt to listen, even if he thought the older youkai was lying about it. He nodded his assent and Sesshomaru began.

"Good. What do you know of Mating? Anything at all?" He looked at Inuyasha expectantly.

Inuyasha nearly choked at his abruptness with delving into this touchy subject. Once he'd cleared his airways, he managed to choke out, "Some things. Just what I've learned from out there." He pointed vaguely in the direction of the forest. "You know. What goes where.....and.....scents." He turned away to hide his blush.

Sesshomaru sighed deeply. "I see. Best to start at the beginning. There are eight steps to a youkai mating. Each has intricate meanings and instinctual foundations. Usually youkai pups are born with this knowledge. Although, they don't recall it until it's actually happening to them."

"So, Shippo knows more about youkai mating than me right now?" Inuyasha asked, suddenly regretting giving his permission for his stoic brother to tell him all of this. `This is so embarrassing!'

"The fox kit does know more but doesn't remember yet. However, after I finish, you will not be left out." Sesshomaru informed him. `This is so humiliating. Telling the half-breed what he should already know.' A growl was squelched in his throat before Inuyasha could catch it. "As I was saying. There are eight steps. Upon meeting your future mate, you would've smelled her, correct?"

Inuyasha nodded. "Yeah, but just to make sure she wasn't someone else."

Sesshomaru let his chuckle out. "So you say. Smelling them imprints the scent in your memory. You should've had a natural reaction to it. A certain body part calling for attention."

Inuyasha's jaw fell open. "I thought that was just because she was rubbing against it. Then practically got her head shoved in it at the time!" Once he realized what he'd said, he blushed a deep scarlet.

Sesshomaru chuckled in his chest. `This is more entertaining than I thought it would be.' "Back to the subject. By having that scent sticking to your nose, you can't stay away from it for too long. Your mate's scent will become almost like an aphrodisiac to you. You felt calmer and more relaxed around her from almost the first day. Am I correct in my assumption?" Inuyasha nodded again. "As I thought. The second step is protection. You don't have to like her to feel the intense need to keep her safe. You might not even want to, but you do it anyway. Eventually you become friends, that's step three. It can happen when you don't even know it. Step four is watching her sleep, and I know you have." A sudden thought occurred to him. "How long have you been traveling together now? Two years?"

Inuyasha nodded. "Almost three. She'll be eighteen in human years this spring. That's how I remember."

Sesshomaru was shocked, although he didn't show it, that his brother had been with her for so long and hadn't marked her. "Well, she's a little old to not be claimed yet, isn't she?"

Inuyasha looked at the ground and nodded slightly. "I didn't even realize that I wanted a mate until we found Kaede's parents and started watching over her."

"It was a shock wasn't it? To suddenly have this little person depending on you." Sesshomaru said so quietly Inuyasha had to strain to hear him.

Inuyasha looked at his brother strangely. He wouldn't have guessed the Great Sesshomaru would admit that he was actually CARING for Rin, though he did say she was special to him earlier.....

"So, when are you going to mate?"

The great Lord of the Western Lands surprisingly pinked at the question. "Actually, I'm waiting for Rin. She's too young right now, but she is to be mine."

Inuyasha started. "You mean.....that little girl.....?"

"Yes." He said impatiently. "Now to get back to you. Step Five is slight touching. It forms a more intimate bond. You'll find reasons to touch her. Step six is public touching. It basically states that she's yours to all Youkai. Her riding on your back was a big one. Pervert."

"Hey, I'm not the one waiting for a little girl to grow up so I can ravage her."

Sesshomaru's mouth actually fell open a little bit. "First off, it's none of your business what I do with Rin. Secondly, I wouldn't `ravage' her. I would make love. There's a difference."

"Riiiiiiight. Sure there is." Inuyasha rolled his eyes and nodded like he knew what he was talking about. Which he didn't.

"Anyway." Sesshomaru was getting a little peeved that he had to go through this. "All through the first six steps, you try to push your mate away. It's an instinctual thing to do and has no defined beginning, though it tends to stop by step seven. It's to test her faithfulness, loyalty, trust, patience and ultimately her idiocy tolerance, which I'm sure Kagome has to have a high one to put up with you. To a human looking in, it would seem like you didn't like your mate, didn't want to love her. I assume you performed this test using the other miko."

Inuyasha finally understood why he felt like he could never forget Kikyo. Because his instincts were telling him push away Kagome and see what she'd do. Kikyo was the logical choice, once she came back anyway, because Kagome figured out that he was involved with her already. It was all coming together. To think that he was doing all this and had no idea that it was the right thing.....

Faintly he heard his brother continue with his lecture. "Step seven is sleeping together."

Inuyasha's eyes widened to a painful point. "Do you mean.....?"

"Not that kind of sleeping together. Just sleeping by each other. It starts to put her scent on you and your scent on her. It's really very innocent. This step is usually only performed if your mate is too young to mate. It's commonly called an intent claim since nothing actually happens. I can tell that this is as far as you've gotten. Next is the claiming. The actual real mating. During this step, and it's very important, you do three things. Have you understood everything I've said so far?" He looked at his brother.

Inuyasha was reeling from how far into the courtship Kagome and he had gone without even knowing it. "Yeah, I think so." He turned glazed eyes to his brother. "So, you and Rin are on the intent claim too?"

"Yes. That is why she always smells like me. But my situation with Rin is different than with most Youkai. I found her at such a young age that it is impossible for me to go about this the correct way. I have made an intent claim but in truth we are only on step four. Now would you stop dwelling on her?! This is about you." Sesshomaru was practically red with irritation

Inuyasha looked slyly at the older youkai. "Sorry. I just can't get over the fact that you will someday mate with a human. It goes against everything you've ever yelled at me."

A look of pain drifted across Sesshomaru's face so quickly it was easily missed. He sniffed arrogantly to cover up the feeling. "Well, it isn't that odd. After all, Father did it, as are you. Must run in the family."

"Sure. Explain it away any way you like." Inuyasha muttered but knew Sesshomaru still heard him. "There's just one thing I want to know. If all this has already happened with me and Kagome, the point is pretty much mute. So why tell me all that instead of just the stuff that hasn't happened yet?"

"Because one day you will have pups and knowing you, they won't remember either. You could consider it my gift to your family."

"Well, damn. I should've been taking notes." Inuyasha muttered.

Sesshomaru chose to ignore him. He cleared his throat and took a deep, calming breath for this next part. The most important part. "Now, the claim is very important. It is when you mark your mate for life. During the height of the claim, you must bite her jugular. It's the most vulnerable part of her body, showing that she trusts you, and it can be seen even if she's fully clothed, showing that we inu-youkai have decency with our mates. Beware of clawing her hips. That's the sign of a wolf. And if you take her from behind, try not to bite the back of her neck to drown out your growls. It's fox marking."

Inuyasha was amazed. How his brother could keep a straight face and not blush while talking about sex was a mystery. His own blush felt like it was burning a hole in his face. `This is insane!'

"Are you listening to me, hanyou?"

"Huh?" Inuyasha snapped out of his reverie.

"I said, after you mark her, she must accept your claim. It's called The Acceptance and it's a very important half of the marking. When you mark her, you form a bond. This bond comes with certain.....perks, that I'll let you find out for yourself. If she doesn't accept your mark by marking you on the opposite side of your neck, you have an incomplete bond. It's a very painful thing. One of the other, more foolish, lords did so and was in constant pain. He couldn't ignore the perks and yet couldn't take another because he'd marked her. He became a shell of the youkai he once was. He died only months after that mistake." He stared at his brother with a serious intensity that was most disarming. "Do you understand the heaviness of this situation? If she doesn't mark you back, you die."

Inuyasha gulped and nodded. "I understand. I'm going to have to tell her about this, aren't I?" Sesshomaru nodded. Another thought came to Inuyasha. "I'm going to live longer than her. Is there a way to have her live as long as me?"

Sesshomaru knew this question was coming. "Yes. That's the third thing I told you about. But it's very risky. She might reject it."

"What is it?" Inuyasha asked eagerly. "I'm sure Kagome can pull through it."

"During The Acceptance, she must drink a portion of your blood. If you were a full youkai, like myself, she would only need a drop or two. But since half your blood is human, she'll need a little more than a drop."

"What'll happen then?"

"Well, as far as I could tell from our father's bond to your mother, she'll stay as she is and go on living with your lifespan. Your blood will fuse with hers, giving her some other benefits not confined to the bond."

"Father did it to Mother?" Inuyasha asked in amazement.

"Yes. He loved her very much. That's why he bonded to her and gave you Tetsusaiga." Sesshomaru looked down. "He wanted to protect you. Even from yourself."

Inuyasha looked down too. It seemed only right. A show of respect to their father's memory.

Once they felt enough time had passed contemplating that, Sesshomaru looked up. "Besides, how else could she have survived your childhood?"

"Hey! I wasn't that bad!" Inuyasha protested.

Sesshomaru almost snorted. "Yeah right! I was there for a lot of it, remember? AND I was speaking of the TIME span until she....." He trickled off as Inuyasha's face became sullen at the mention of his mother's death. "She was a wonderful woman. Even if she was human." Inuyasha found himself smiling at his brother despite himself.

After a night filled with so many emotional confessions, Sesshomaru had to clear his throat. "Yes. Well. It's getting on in the evening and I'm sure you want to get some rest. Think on what I've said, Inuyasha, and don't let that girl go on without the knowledge much longer."

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. As if he had to be told that. "Yeah, yeah. Night." He walked to his room, barely hearing the sentiment returned by his older brother.

By the time they'd finished, Kagome was half asleep. She still had no idea this was Inuyasha's old room nor that she was sharing it in this huge house. Being a human, the writing on the wall that Inuyasha was so worried about was invisible. He'd forgotten that he'd written it in Youkai ink. The ink was specially made almost two hundred years ago to stop the Mortals from seeing the secret business of the Youkai. So, all she cared about when she entered the room was the bed. A nice, big, comfy bed with four plush pillows all in blue, red, green and black. She pulled back the lush covers and snuggled down into the mattress, huddled under the warm sheets, and started slipping into a deep sleep with no other cares besides seeing her dreams again.

So she was rightfully surprised when Inuyasha slipped into said nice, big, comfy bed with her and wrapped his arms protectively around her torso. She knew exactly who it was once she was held and felt no need to do anything but mutter at him through her semi-conscious state.

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing." He said with a secretive smile hidden in her sweet smelling hair.

"Whatever." She mumbled. "Too tired to fight. *yawn* Must sleep. Night."

"Goodnight. Mate." He whispered to her.

As she drifted off, his words mixed into her dreams. She felt him kiss the top of her head and the contented growl rumbling from his chest and through her back soon pushed her over the final edge into the abyss of dreamers. It was the best nights sleep she'd ever had. It felt so right. Being with him like this.....

*~*~*~*~*~*~*Differing points in returning to the Village*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Sango had ridden Kirara hard all day and was barely a day away from Kaede's village and familiarity. She looked to the stars as she thought over the day.

How had it gone so wrong?! All these questions and no answers. Did Miroku love her? Were they really married? Did he hate her now?

Was he okay out there alone?

Could he find his way back?

Did he need her there with him?

She shook her head as thoughts of the houshi reverberated through her mind. She needed to clear her head and brooding wasn't doing anything to help it.

While Sango was pondering Miroku, Miroku was pondering Sango.

After he realized she wasn't stopping, he'd run after her, hoping to catch her when she stopped for a rest, but to no avail. He slowed his pace as it became apparent that he wouldn't get to her anytime soon. So now, as he made camp and looked to the stars, he wondered.

What happened out there?

Why did he snap like that? And at her of all people?! His own wife!

How could things have gotten so out of hand?

Sure, he COULD blame her. After all she did start it. But he finished it with that whole `questioning her purity' thing. He never should've said that. But she thought he was a true pervert and would still go after other women. He had to convince her that that wasn't the case.

And when he got to the village in, `What is it? Four days?', he'd prove it to her. Now to get some sleep so he could continue fighting for her love and trust.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*At a Distant Castle*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Kikyo finally let them sleep off the hard days work.

Kaede went to her room and collapsed, thoroughly exhausted, onto her futon. She could barely keep up with Kosimu's instruction.

And tomorrow it would be worse.

She groaned at the thought. There was no help for it. She had to get stronger. And that meant only one thing.

Another transformation was in order.

Her scream echoed through the hallways of Naraku's castle, frightening maids and servants. Making Kagura to look up from her talk with Kanna and bewildering Naraku himself enough to stop drinking his tea.

Kosimu winced in sympathy as Kikyo slowly smiled.

It was all too easy.....

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

R&R, as usual. Thanks bunches.