InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Secrets of the Shinju (Part IV): Power of the Purified Shinju ❯ Compromise ( Chapter 32 )

Chapter Thirty-Two

Compromise

Kagome spent the rest of the morning showing Sesshoumaru all of the modern gadgets in her home. She watched him as he took in her words and studied everything. She found that she didn't have to explain anything twice.

Just after noon, Kagome grew hungry and went to the kitchen to make lunch. Sesshoumaru followed and was again looking around at the appliances when he heard Kagome gasp and bring her hands to her stomach. He was immediately at her side and asked if something was wrong. She smiled up at him and quickly pulled his hand to her abdomen. After nearly a minute he felt the baby push against his flattened palm. He stood there nearly dumbfounded at the feeling.

"I've felt the baby move before, but it was more like flutters. This is the first time I've ever felt her move so strongly." Kagome said in awe. Sesshoumaru moved his hand across her stomach slowly and then smiled slightly.

"So, it's a girl is it?" Kagome smiled and then grew serious. "I think so. I don't know why, but I'm positive it's a girl." Sesshoumaru grew quiet as he again felt the baby moving beneath his hand.

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Mrs. Higurashi heard Kagome in the kitchen and decided she wanted to speak with her before she headed back to the well. She stopped dead in her tracks when she stepped into the room. The sight before her was at first surprising then warmed her heart. Kagome was standing in the middle of the room. Her shirt was lifted revealing her growing abdomen.

The demon, that Mrs. Higurashi had thought to be rather cold and even dangerous, was kneeling in front of her daughter. One of his arms was wrapped around Kagome and he was gently rubbing her back. The other hand was slowly caressing the side of her abdomen, while his cheek was resting tenderly on her stomach. Kagome was softly running her hands through his hair and speaking to him about the baby.

She could instantly feel the love and contentment between the two of them and realized that she may have been mistaken about her impression of Sesshoumaru. She quickly turned and left the room, not wanting to intrude upon the private moment they were sharing.

She waited in the living room and shortly she heard them preparing to go back upstairs. She intercepted them in the hall and stood silently watching them. Sesshoumaru put his arm around Kagome and pulled her to him protectively. She could see the warning in his eyes as he watched her. She realized that he was indeed dangerous but only to those that would try to harm Kagome. She softened her gaze slightly and addressed him.

"I would like to speak with you before you take my daughter away." He stiffened but nodded. He turned and spoke softly to Kagome and watched as she went upstairs. He then turned back to Mrs. Higurashi and followed her into the den.

"I probably owe you an apology." Mrs. Higurashi began as she looked at Sesshoumaru. He made no attempt to speak so she continued. "The way I spoke to you earlier was rude. However, I will not apologize for being concerned for my daughter. It's not easy, as a mother, to know she goes off to the Feudal Era where her life is in danger. There are days when Kagome has been home that I have had to fight off the urge to have that well destroyed so that she can never go back." She stopped speaking and watched Sesshoumaru's reaction. He appeared to be listening to her intently and his face had softened and now didn't hold a look of hate.

"I spoke the truth when I said that I will protect Kagome. Never will I allow harm to come to her or our children." Mrs. Higurashi's eye brows rose. "Children?" Sesshoumaru nodded slightly.

"Yes, children. I do hope to have more than one child with Kagome. But even so, Kagome and I also have Rin, a child that I have taken as my ward; and Shippou, a young fox cub that Kagome has mothered for some time." Mrs. Higurashi stood staring at him. She had not realized that he would take upon the responsibility of so many that were not his own. Finally, she sighed and gave him an exhausted look.

"I understand that you are not going to leave Kagome by herself with this child, but please try to understand. In this time, it is looked down upon for a girl of Kagome's age to have a child and be unmarried. So, please don't resent me for worrying about my daughter's well-being." She looked up to him desperately, recognizing the curiosity that now plagued his gaze.

"I do not know what you mean by "unmarried", but Kagome will not be looked down upon. She is the single most honorable being that I have ever come to know." Sesshoumaru looked down at the woman, and began to turn when he heard her call out to him.

"Lord Sesshoumaru, to be unmarried is your equivalent, I believe, to mating and not being mated. Marriage is the human equivalent of marking for demons, or so my father has told me. It is a human ceremony to bond two people together for the rest of their lives. It is considered, well, uncivilized to have children with someone and not be married to that person."

Sesshoumaru looked back at her, realization ringing through him. The look on Kagome's face when he had said that he wouldn't be marking her. He had insulted her and she had not wanted to explain it to him. He turned back to the woman, fully intending on learning more of this human ceremony.

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A short time later Sesshoumaru returned to Kagome's room to speak with her. He had learned, from Mrs. Higurashi, just how important it was to humans to have a committed bond with their mate. She was lying on her bed asleep when he entered the room. Sesshoumaru could see that she was exhausted and instantly went to her bed and sat beside her. He stared down at her for a moment and then lightly brushed the hair from her forehead. He knew that her body needed more rest now that she was with child and didn't intend to wake her. However, her eyes began to flutter and she gave him a soft smile.

"She's been moving so much. It's such an amazing feeling." Kagome murmured softly. He ran his hand over Kagome's stomach as he gazed down at her. The idea of marking her still troubled him greatly. Markings were stressful on the strongest of demoness's when they weren't pregnant. He knew that Kagome was very strong, but she was still a pregnant human.

"Your mother would like us to remain here for another day, Kagome." She looked up at him curiously. He appeared to be conflicting and deep in thought so she didn't question what they had spoken of.

"Kagome, I would like to apologize to you for being insensitive earlier. I did not realize how important it would be to you to bear my mark." She looked up at him sadly. "It's ok. I know that you will take care of me even if you don't mark me." He watched as her eyes teared up slightly and she gave a short laugh.

"Sometimes I feel like I'm going to cry and then the next minute I can't stop laughing." He gave her a soft smile as she slowly sat up. He quickly pulled her to him tightly and took in her scent, which had changed since she had become pregnant. "You should get some more rest." He said softly and released her from his embrace. She nodded and lay back onto the bed. "I will return shortly to check on you. I wish to speak with your mother again." She watched as he left and quickly fell back into sleep.

A short time later Kagome woke to Sesshoumaru's light touch. "Your mother has prepared dinner. You should come down and eat something." She nodded and sat up. "Give me a couple of minutes; I need to get cleaned up first." He nodded and retreated to the downstairs and again found himself being asked questions about the feudal era by her grandfather. Once Kagome appeared everyone went to the dining room and began dinner. Kagome noticed that somewhat of a truce had fallen between her mother and Sesshoumaru. This made her curious yet happy.

After dinner, Sesshoumaru told Kagome that he wanted to speak with her. She gave him another curious look and then decided to take him out to the garden. It was dark now and the likelihood of running into tourists was very slim. They walked a little ways from the shrine and he asked her to sit with him on a bench that overlooked a great deal of the beautiful scenery. They both stared up at the moon for a moment, and then he spoke in an offhanded tone. "The first night I was with you and your friends…when I had no memories, we gazed up at the moon, much like we are tonight." She tilted her head slightly and looked at him.

"You wanted to speak to me about something…" She said lightly. He finally looked down at her. "Kagome, I have given this a lot of thought. I don't believe I can mark you as my mate. At least, not while you are carrying our child. It is a very stressful and painful thing. I do not wish for your health or the health of our child to be in jeopardy." She lowered her head. After his apology earlier, she had hoped he brought her out here to tell her that he would mark her.

He sensed her disappointment and slowly pulled her to him. "I have spoken with your mother a great deal today. Though I can't mark you, Kagome, I can marry you." She looked up at him, taken aback by his words. "You mean you want to get married?" He smiled slightly. "Though I am unfamiliar with many human traditions, your mother explained this one to me. She believes a friend of your grandfather would be able to perform the ceremony without worry of anyone finding out about me or your condition."

She sat contemplating his words. "Kagome, believe me when I tell you that I am only thinking of your safety. I will love and protect you regardless of the mark. I will gladly take part in this ceremony and vow myself to you."

She felt tears come to her eyes and he pulled her to him again. Finally she nodded her head and wiped a tear from her cheek. "You mother said she would contact this man tomorrow. He is an old priest, named Jomei." Sesshoumaru stopped speaking briefly, looking down at her. "Kagome, I know that you still wish to bear my mark, and perhaps after you have given birth and recovered I will fully explain what that entails. Until then I hope you will be happy accepting me as you husband."