Ch. 25

6 months later...

The patter of feet could be heard as two rushed down the corridor. Auburn and brown hair could be seen flowing behind them as they ran.

"Slow down brother! I don't have demon speed like you do!" yelled a young female voice.

"No way! It's not my fault you're slow! Besides if we don't hurry we will miss them!" said a young male.

Rushing towards the front door the two young ones ran past an exasperated and stressed green toad.

"SHIPPO! RIN! No running in the halls! You know that!" yelled the green toad as he glared in the direction they ran.

"Sorry, Jaken! But we're in a hurry!" Shippo called back.

"Yes, master Jaken if you don't hurry as well you will miss them!" Rin yelled out.

"Miss them? Miss who?...!" as a thought came to him on whom the two children were referring to, he rushed after them. As the now three running figures reached the front door they could hear talking on the other side of it. Throwing the door open the two children launched themselves at the closest figure there.

"MOMMA!" Shippo and Rin called out at the same time. Kagome chuckled and smiled down at the two kids attached to her leg.

"Hello Shippo, Rin, have you both been behaving while I was away?" she asked in a motherly tone. The children smiled and nodded vigorously. Kagome turned her attention to the white clad figure behind her and smiled lovingly.

"Sesshomaru-sama! Welcome home my lord! Oh and you as well my lady!" Jaken said as he bowed deeply.

"Hn. Jaken have you heard any word from him?" Sesshomaru questioned, ignoring the toads usual display in groveling. Jaken lifting his head, glanced at the young miko, whom now was staring at him intensely, and sighed.

"I'm sorry my lord, but...no," Jaken replied solemnly. Sesshomaru nodded and turned his attention to his miko. He opened his mouth to say something when he felt a pressure on his leg, looking down he saw Rin attached to his left leg and Shippo attached to his right. Raising an elegant brow at them he waited for them to speak.

"Welcome home lord daddy-sama" Rin greeted with a big smile.

"Rin I told you can just call him daddy, Lord and sama are unnecessary," Kagome said with a small sigh. Catching the glare Sesshomaru sent her she glared back. "What? She is our daughter she shouldn't have to address you like that," she said with a frown.

"Hn. To say they are unnecessary is... displeasing," Sesshomaru replied after a moment.

"Ah...um.." Sesshomaru glanced down at the stuttering fox kit and waited. "W-welcome home Sesshomaru-sama." Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow at the kit.

"You can touch this Sesshomaru, yet you cannot address me as father?" he said, with a small glance at Kagome out the corner of his eye.

"Ah, that's because, um... Rin she...I..." Shippo rambled, sighing dejectedly he let go of Sesshomaru`s leg and moved to step away, only to be picked up by the stoic lord. Shippo gasped as he was held in the arm of Sesshomaru. Reaching down Sesshomaru picked up Rin in his other arm, noticing her jealous look.

"See I told you it was ok!" Rin exclaimed cheerily. "You should do it now! Go on say it!" she urged. Shippo blushed and glanced up at Sesshomaru.

"W-welcome home...Father." Shippo was taken back as Sesshomaru gave him a small smile and a look of approval.

"I am home my son," Shippo looked as though he was going to cry tears of joy as he smiled at Sesshomaru and hugged him from his place in Sesshomaru's arms.

"No fair, daddy! Call Rin your daughter!" Rin said with a small pout. Sesshomaru inwardly chuckled at her childishness.

"Of course, my daughter." Rin smiled a big toothy smile and kissed Sesshomaru on the cheek, surprising him. Kagome smiled at the sweet moment, then her thoughts turned to the one person she hadn't seen in a long time.

'Inuyasha,' Kagome thought sadly.

FLASHBACK...

"come it is late I will have rooms prepared for you at my estate." with that said he turned with Kagome next to him and headed for the castle, Sango, Miroku, Kirara all following along, and a sad and reluctant Inuyasha trailing behind them. Inuyasha followed silently until they reached the door, there he stopped and looked back at the place he last saw Kikyo. Kagome looked back at him, saw the sad nearly destroyed look on his face, and felt a rush of guilt overcome her.

"Inuyasha? I... I'm sorry... I..." she said suddenly, looking at her feet, unable to meet his eyes. When he said nothing she risked a glance up at him. Inuyasha looked at Kagome for a moment then his eyes widened and he backed away from her. Frowning in concern Kagome reached her hand out to him and whispered his name.

"Inuyasha are you-"

"DONT TOUCH ME!" he roared as he smacked her hands away. At once Sesshomaru had his hands around Inuyasha's neck and he growled lowly at him.

"Sesshomaru no! Its fine he didn't hurt me! Let him go!" Kagome pleaded.

"He should not have laid hands on you, as my mate and future western lady it is taboo to raise a single hand towards you!" Sesshomaru growled out as he added pressure to his grip on Inuyasha's neck.

"LET GO OF ME SESSHOMARU!" Inuyasha snarled.

"Why? So that you may harm her? No." he stated.

"Sesshomaru drop him!" Kagome said as she laid her hands lightly on his arm. Sighing inaudibly Sesshomaru dropped Inuyasha and watched, with a twisted sense of satisfaction, as the half breed gasped for air and rubbed his neck.

"Why?... why do you share the same face?..." Inuyasha muttered.

"Inu-"

"Don't call my name when you have her face! She's gone! And you are to blame!" he snapped with a glare in Kagome's direction. "You have her face, you have my love, just as she did, but now you're gone too! You're truly a cruel woman Kagome," he ended with a sneer.

"Wha... Inuyasha...I..."

"What right do you have half breed? You who is ruled uncontrollably by your wild and untamed emotions. What right do you have to spew such nonsense at her? She has been with you for a while now and you have never once shown interest in her. No, you've only seen her as a means to an end. And now that your so called beloved is dead you think Kagome will replace her? Never! I will never allow it! Kagome is my mate! Mine!" Sesshomaru ended, his eyes bleeding red as fluffy began to surface, thoughts of Kagome leaving, running rampant in his mind. Kagome grabbed Sesshomaru`s hand and began rubbing soothing circles on it, calming him. Looking over at Inuyasha as he still glared at her, Kagome let a single tear run down her cheek.

"I'm sorry Inuyasha but...she was killing him, and she was going to kill me. I've told you before I will not let her take my soul, not a single piece...at least not another one. Sesshomaru is a piece of my soul Inuyasha, I wasn't gonna stand by and lose him. Inuyasha you are important to me as well, we started this thing together remember? We've gone through so much and mad so many friends, please Inu-"

"DONT SAY IT!" he roared suddenly. "I DONT WANT TO HEAR THOSE WORDS!" with that Inuyasha turned and took off in the opposite direction.

End flashback...

'Since then no one has heard from him, Inuyasha, where have you gone?' Kagome thought as she tilted her head to the sky.

"Kagome," hearing Sesshomaru call her name shocked Kagome from her thoughts.

"Ah, yes?" she responded.

"The children asked you a question." he said, knowing what had previously occupied her thoughts.

"I'm sorry, what was it you said?"

"Can we have lunch under the cherry tree today? I wanna see the koi fish!" Shippo asked with a smile.

"And I want to pick flowers for you mama!" Rin chimed in excitedly.

"Alright, sure, just go tell the chef to make us a picnic basket and come get us from our room when it's ready ok?" she said.

"Ok!" they replied, already rushing to find the chef in the kitchen.

Sesshomaru grasped Kagome around her waist an ushered her to their room, there he closed the door behind them tightly and pulled Kagome into his arms.

"Sesshomaru?"

"You're thinking about him again."

"Eh?"

"Do not toy with me woman. I can tell," he said as he tightened his grip on her lightly.

"Ah... yes" Kagome said as she buried her face in Sesshomaru`s neck, bringing her arms up she wrapped them around his waist.

"Why?"

"I still feel at fault."

"But you are not. The blame lies with him and his conflicting emotions," Sesshomaru stated coolly.

I know Sesshomaru but-"

"Mate..." Sesshomaru said, cutting her off. Leaning back from their embrace slightly Sesshomaru forced her to look at him. "Do you trust me?"

"Huh?"

I will not repeat myself."

"O-of course I do, Why?"

"Then trust me when I say he will return to you when he is ready," stated Sesshomaru confidentially.

"Yes," Kagome said with a sweet smile, Sesshomaru leaned in and lightly brushed is lips across hers.

"Mmm, I both love and hate when you do that," Kagome whispered against his lips.

"Really?" Sesshomaru questioned as he did it again.

"Yes," she nearly moaned. "It makes my lips tingle and yet it's not enough," she answered as she pulled him closer and melded her lips to his. Sesshomaru slanted his mouth across hers, making the kiss more passionate.

Kagome moaned into the kiss, giving Sesshomaru the chance to slip his tongue into her mouth. As the kiss deepened Kagome's hands found Sesshomaru's sensitive ears and she lightly tweaked them. Pulling away from Kagome's mouth Sesshomaru began trailing hot wet kisses along her throat. Feeling himself grow hard with lust Sesshomaru reached his hand into Kagome's clothes and fondled her soft breast, causing her to gasp and arch closer to his hand.

"Mine!" he growled against her neck.

"Ah! Y-yes! I'm y-yoouurs!" she said moaning out the last word, when Sesshomaru pinched her nipple. Just as Sesshomaru was about to rip her clothes away there was a knock at the door, causing both of them to freeze where they were. Sesshomaru's hand stilled on her breast and Kagome's hands, which had left sesshomaru's ears to move to his chest, stilled as well. Sesshomaru slowly lifted his head and turned towards the door.

"What?" he snapped.

"Ah, um, Sesshomaru-sama, the...I-" came the stuttering reply through the door.

"What do you want Jaken," Sesshomaru snapped more impatiently than before.

"The children are ready and waiting for you and the lady in the garden," was the rushed reply from the toad.

"Very well. We will be there shortly," Sesshomaru called back. Listening for the fading footfalls of the toad, after he groveled at the door, Sesshomaru turned his still lust filled gaze on Kagome.

"No, Sesshomaru," Kagome said, seeing the calculating look in his eye. Smirking evilly Sesshomaru began backing Kagome towards the bed. "Sesshomaru no. we said we'd have lunch with them." Kagome protested.

"And we shall," he replied not breaking his stride.

"You said we'd be there shortly," she tried to reason.

"And we shall." he repeated.

"But-"

I am a demon miko my speed is far greater than you could comprehend."

"Sesshomaru! No! I will not be a wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am!" she argued.

"A what?" Sesshomaru said with a pause. Kagome blushed and glared at him.

"You know... a quickie...oh never mind just get off me, you horn dog," she said as she shoved at his chest.

"You are correct in your sentiment mate," he said with a dark chuckle. I am a horn dog, but only where your concerned." he whispered the last part in her ear, making Kagome's blush turn darker. Chuckling again Sesshomaru let go of Kagome and moved to the door, turning he looked behind him at the still flustered miko.

"Coming?"

"Ah, yeah," she replied. As she passed the dresser she quickly gabbed the doll sitting there and followed Sesshomaru out into the garden.

Upon nearing the cherry tree they came upon a wet Jaken covered in wet flowers, and two giggling children. Kagome laughed at the scene, picturing what happened, and caught the kids attention.

"Momma! Papa!" Rin yelled as she rushed over to them excitedly.

"Papa?" Sesshomaru said glancing at the snickering miko.

"Yes! Shippo told me he used to call his papa, papa. So Rin wanted to call her papa, papa too!" Sesshomaru glanced at Shippo, whom had jumped into Kagome's arms and raised an eyebrow at him, earning him a light slap from Kagome.

"Oh stop it! You like it when they call you daddy and father and anything else that symbolizes they are your kids, so stop pretending you don't!" she said with an irritated huff. Sesshomaru opened his mouth to retort when rin piped up.

"Momma you brought little Sesshomaru!" she squealed with glee. Sesshomaru glared at the offending doll and Kagome sighed with a smile.

"There is no reason for that Sesshomaru... Rin... I would like for you to have this," Kagome said as she handed Rin the doll. Rin's eyes widened and she looked at Kagome in disbelief.

"But momma... this is important to you right?"

"Yes, Rin, it is very important to me. Which is why I'm giving it to you. I want you to take very good care of it for me?" Rin nodded and clutched the doll to her chest.

"Momma will you tell us the story of little Sesshomaru?" Shippo asked.

"Oh yes, momma tell us please!" Rin chirped. Kagome glanced at Sesshomaru and saw that he was also interested to know the story.

"Ok," she said with a sigh. "How about I tell the story while we eat," the children nodded and rushed over to the cherry tree, with Kagome and Sesshomaru trailing behind. Once everyone was seated Kagome began her tale.

"You all know that I made little Sesshomaru, but none of you know why. Well it all started with another argument with Inuyasha..."

flashback...

"Damn it Kagome! This is all your fault! You should just have let me handle it!" Inuyasha yelled.

"You were going to kill him!" Kagome screeched back.

"We needed his jewel shards!"

"You don't have to kill him for it!"

"You're so stupid! Kikyo would have just gone with my plan!" in his furry Inuyasha didn't notice the gasps behind him or the shocked hurt look on Kagome's face.

"I'm not Kikyo!" Kagome said in a low tone. Inuyasha, finally noticing the change in Kagome's demeanor, rushed to pull his foot out of his mouth.

"That's...what I mean is...Kago-"

"SIT!" Kagome yelled. Inuyasha face planted into the ground with a grunt.

"Ugh...Kagome...listen..."

"SIT! SIT! SIT! SIT! SSSSSIIIIIIIITTTTT!" she yelled, with that she turned and ran, leaving an unconscious Inuyasha in a crater and four worried friends.

"He is such an idiot," Shippo said from his place on Miroku's shoulder.

"You think he would learn," Sango said, receiving nods of agreement from Miroku, Kirara, and Shippo.

Kagome ran blindly through the trees, focusing solely on getting as far away from the heartless half breed idiot as possible. She paid no mind to the low branches that snagged her clothes and scratched at her legs and arms.

'You idiot! Stupid, stupid Inuyasha!' she repeated over and over in her mind. In her blind haste Kagome didn't notice the root sticking out of the ground and she tripped. Tumbling down a small hill Kagome prayed that she would land unharmed. When she finally slid to a stop, she laid there checking to see how injured she was.

'The ground is a lot softer than I thought it would be.' she thought absently.

"Woman how long do you intend to lay on this Sesshomaru's mokomoko." came a cold voice. Kagome gasped and looked up into the cold golden eyes of Sesshomaru. Scrambling off of Sesshomaru's fluff she finally stood and glanced up at him.

"I-I-I'm so sorry...I slid down the hill...I-"she hurried to say.

"Clearly," came the cold reply, making Kagome forget her momentary fear of the demon lord.

"You're just as big a jerk as your idiot brother!" Kagome snapped. "Here I am trying to apologize and you being all... you-ish!" Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow at her and glared.

"Woman, you tread on dangerous ground," came the warning.

I don't care! I've had it up to here with being looked down of by the demons of this time! I hate it here!" she yelled.

"Hn, if you dislike it so much why not leave?"

"I..huh?" Kagome asked dumfounded that she wasn't being ripped to shreds by him for being so rude.

I will not repeat myself woman," Sesshomaru said coldly.

I cant." came her defeated sigh.

"Cannot or will not?" came his retort.

"...I have an obligation here..." she said slowly, still surprised that they were having a normal conversation.

"Then you should silence your whining, "said Sesshomaru coldly.

"But...arg! Your brother is... he can be..."

"Yes, I understand how infuriating my half brother can be," he said adding emphasis to half brother.

"Yes, yes I know you hate when people don't add the half part," she ended on a sigh.

"Hn," he said as Kagome sat down on the grass, legs pulled in close to her chest. She looked to be in deep thought.

"Neh, Sesshomaru?...have you ever felt inadequate?" Kagome glanced up at him and found Sesshomaru staring at her stoically. Kagome blushed under the intensity of his stare. "Probably not, I mean you're Sesshomaru, a lord, mister perfect, you've probably never felt inadequate," Kagome looked back to her knees and lost herself to her thoughts. Thoughts of how she would never compare to Kikyo danced in her head, followed by thoughts of Inuyasha forever comparing her to Kikyo.

'Inuyasha you dummy.' she thought sadly.

"You are wrong, miko." Sesshomaru's cool voice made Kagome remember that she was in the presents of a stoic demon lord, and that they were having an actual conversation, one that didn't involve him threatening to kill her.

"I'm wrong about what?"

"This Sesshomaru has felt...inadequacy." he said as he looked up to the sky seemingly lost in thought.

"Really?" she asked on a whisper, not believing it to be true.

"Hn, yes...when I was a young pup."

"Will you tell me what happen?" she asked tentatively. Sesshomaru finally looked over at her and stared for a moment, not saying anything.

I was the young heir to the western throne," he said after a moment of silence, where Kagome thought he was not going to tell her. Looking back to the sky he continued. "Everything I did, was compared to what my father had already accomplished. By many others I was seen as inadequate, simply because I was not my father. My father, the great dog general, he was skilled and anything he tried was accomplished the first time. I, however, was not given that skill...many times I failed during training and many times I had to hear the same words...words that made my blood boil and my resolve strengthen."

"What were the words?" Kagome asked, all her attention focused on the demon lord. Sesshomaru looked over to her and slowly said the words he hated to hear.

"If you were more like your father..." Kagome gasped and could feel the sting of tears in her eyes.

"Why do you weep miko?" Sesshomaru asked curiously.

"B-because, you were just a child...being told something like that...I'm already like this at the age I am...I can only imagine how those words would have affected a child," she ended with a sniffle.

"This, Sesshomaru, does not need not desire your pity miko." he said with a glare.

"It's not pity," she said as she whipped her face.

"Then what is it?" he asked, feeling the burnings of anger rise in him.

I guess you could say that I...understand what you went through," she said as she glanced up at him, eyes bright.

"Hn, you couldn't possibly understand." he said coldly.

"Wha-"

"You seem to think, hearing those words as a child has broken me, or made me week in some way. No, those words caused me to work harder, to work towards perfection. I used those words as a mantra to surpass my father. Now no one would even dream of saying those words. So no, miko, you do not understand, I used those words to make me stronger, and you seem to only run away from them."

"Ah... I do not!" she said harshly, standing and placing her hands on her hips.

"No? Then tell me miko what is it that has led you here? Why were you running so blindly? I sense no danger," Sesshomaru said with a raised eyebrow.

"I..." Kagome's shoulders sagged as she realized that Sesshomaru was right and she was running away from her inferiority to another. "Don't you ever get tired of being right all the time?" she asked sarcastically and received another raised eyebrow in reply. Kagome smiled at Sesshomaru and turned to leave him. Pausing she turned and looked back at the demon lord.

"Ya know, you're not as bad as your brother...half brother makes you out to be. Thanks for the advice Sesshomaru-sama," with that Kagome turned and trudged back up the hill, ready to meet her friends again.

What she didn't see was the slight widening of the demon lords eyes or the ghost of a smile that played on his lips.

END Flashback...

"After that conversation with Sesshomaru, I went home and made little Sesshomaru. He's been...kind of a protector to me. He's helped me remember and he has kept me strong." Kagome finished as she eyed the doll lovingly. Rin, whom was holding on to little Sesshomaru for dear life, had tears in her eyes. Shippo was holding her hand trying to comfort her and Sesshomaru sat next to Kagome with his usual stoic expression.

"Momma! Don't worry I swear I will protect little Sesshomaru with my life! I will take great care of him!" the words were Rin's, but they were said by both of them. Their voices mixing eerily sending a small chill up Kagome's spine.

'I don't think I will ever be able to get over how creepy their voices sound mixed together like that. Although I am glad that they have a special ability when together. It sort of seems like all of this was meant to be. Whenever they hold hands my babies have the ability to see the aura of others...well that's all we have figured out anyway, but it makes me wonder what else they can do... I mean there has to be a reason for the voice merging thing.' Kagome thought to herself. She was pulled from her thoughts when they spoke again.

"Momma, there is little color in the doll." this time the words were Shippo's however they both said them.

"What do you mean? He is a doll how can he have an aura?" she asked confused.

"It's the same color as yours momma... you must have put a lot of love and care into making it in order for you two to share colors," Rin's words rang out, in their merged voice.

"Hm, yes, I put a lot of care into making him... he is so important to me," she said with a happy sigh.

"You …. You made the doll to remember my words?" Sesshomaru asked carefully. A small frown gracing his brow.

"Of course, you have no idea how much you helped me that day. I am forever grateful Sesshomaru." she said as she kissed him lightly on his lips. Sesshomaru was about to deepen the kiss when he remembered where he was and with all whom he was sitting with. So instead he just whispered in her ear, causing her to blush.

"I love you."

XXXX

Whew it's finally completed! I never thought I would get as many reviews as I did and I'm soooooo happy! (Tears of joy!) Thank you all for sticking with me through my story. I've got to say I'm sad to see it finished. But I'm happy I did it! Please review!