InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Enigma of Power ❯ Decisions ( Chapter 17 )

Sesshomaru lay next to Kagome, his arms around her sleeping form. They had been there for almost a week. Everyday she left with a Wanderer and returned exhausted. She would fall onto their sleeping mat and be asleep before he could speak to her. The children were worried and so was he. Gently he stroked her hair. Even after all this time it was still soft. She sighed in his arms and slid closer. He could sense dawn coming, soon someone would come to wake her and take her away from him. Even as he thought it the tent flap was pulled aside. His eyes fastened on Khalil and the man bowed slightly. He sat watching the youkai and the woman he held.

"Her love is great, greater than any being I have ever encountered. It is her most valuable asset and her greatest weakness. Her love for you though, amazes me even more."

"Why is that?"

"Because not only does she love you, but you love her. You protect her even now. Today is a day off. I will let her sleep and spend time with the children. Hear me, Sesshomaru of the Western Lands, the woman you hold so close to your heart is human, merely a different breed. She will live many centuries, perhaps even as long as you. She will not leave you and she will never stop loving you. Stop living for others and start living for yourself, and for her."

Khalil rose and left silently. Sesshomaru looked down at Kagome. She was human, but he didn't care. He loved her, wanted her to be his mate. Would she be willing to become his mate? Would she be willing to take on the responsibility? Could he even ask her? He felt her stir next to him. After a moment her eyes opened and she smiled at him.

"Good morning. Where's Khalil?"

"He told me you have a day off."

She settled closer to him, her eyes closed. "Would have been nice if he'd bothered to tell me."

"Kagome…"

"I love you too." He felt a smile touch his lips. She looked up at him. "You look so beautiful when you smile."

"Beautiful?"

"Hai."

He swooped down and claimed her lips in a gentle kiss. She tasted so good, and it felt so right to be here with her like this. He released her and smiled again at the glazed passionate look in her eyes.

"Kagome, will you be my mate?"

Her eyes widened in shock and she opened her mouth slowly. She could sense him holding his breath as she fought to find hers. At last she managed to speak.

"You are sure? I mean, you know what you're asking? Who you're asking?"

He touched her face gently, stroking her silky skin. "I know that I am asking the woman I love to spend the rest of her life with me and to allow me to spend the rest of my life with her."

A tear slid down her face as she smiled at him. "Then the woman you love will have only one answer: yes."

He gathered her to him and buried his face in her hair. He closed his eyes and inhaled. He surrounded himself in her scent. He felt her wrap her arms around him and pull herself against him. After a moment he pulled back. Gently he brushed the hair out of her face.

"Do we tell them now or later?"

"Now, I want Rin and Shippou to know."

He rose and pulled her up with him. He gripped her hand and pulled her toward the opening. He felt her stop and looked back at her. She was staring at his hand where he gripped her. He looked down. His long deadly digits surrounded her soft hand. Gently he stroked her fingers. He felt her squeeze his hand gently and they both looked up. Blue eyes locked on golden.

"I love you, Sesshomaru. Thank you for loving me."

"I should be thanking you. I would not know how to love without you. You taught me. I wanted you, I admit it, but by wanting you I learned about you and about your love."

He guided her out of the tent. The children were already up, playing with the children of the Wanderers. Even their youngest were completely covered. No skin showed, even the hands were gloved. Shippou and Rin saw their linked hands and they both let out wops of joy as they sprinted toward their parents. They threw themselves into the adults waiting arms. Kagome laughed softly at their obvious delight.

"We wanted to tell you, for you two to be the first to know, Sesshomaru and I have decided to become mates."

Rin looked up at her, her innocent brown eyes wide. "What does mate mean?"

Kagome flushed a deep red and Sesshomaru answered for her. "It means that Kagome will be your Okaasan and Shippou your brother."

She yipped with glee and the two children began to dance around. Kagome sat down and began to play with them. Sesshomaru stood and stepped away to watch them. He felt more than heard Khalil come up beside him.

"She learns fast. We need only keep her another few days. Then there is the ceremony of course."

"Of course." Sesshomaru's voice was as emotionless as ever, but inside he was trembling. There were things about the Wanderers that made even his blood run cold. "I hope this will not be like the ceremony you preformed for me."

"It will be exactly like it. We must open her eyes, even as we opened yours, Sesshomaru of the Western Lands, and the Eastern Lands, and the Northern Lands, and the Southern Lands, and the Submerged Lands, and the Drifting Lands. You are of all Lands, Sesshomaru. Someday you will see that. Someday soon I hope, for her land must become yours if you wish to keep her. We have seen your heart Sesshomaru, and judged it pure."