Whew… took forever before I felt even an inkling of inspiration for this fic, but I finally did! Yaaaay! And sorry for the wait, but I won't force a chapter no matter how badly I want to update something. I write when I'm inspired to do so, and I'd like to think that that's why my work is good. So… without further ado… more problems for Lord Fluffy. :D

"Everything ok?" Usagi asked softly, already half-dozing when Sesshomaru closed the door behind him a little loudly, his eyes bleeding pink. "Sessh?"

"Do not call me that," he snapped out coldly, then pointed at her with a single claw. "Now go to sleep, healer."

She fully roused at that and sat up, clutching the blanket to her chest. "I'm sorry, Sesshomaru, but what's wrong?" She worried her lower lip when he only glared at her, wondering if… "Did I do something to upset you?" She whispered.

No, it was the hanyou that had done something; he'd made the inu lord realize that he was beginning to care for this weak little human female, and that did not sit well with him at all. Nipping and kissing the throat of a female was something reserved for mates, not for casual lays, and in attempting to satisfy her strange human customs he'd ignored that. "Lie down, shut up and sleep. Now. Or this one will knock you out, healer."

With tears welling up in her eyes, Usagi flopped back down and rolled so that she was facing the wall and he couldn't see her crying. "My name is Usagi," she choked out. "And if you're going to be a bag of dicks, then you can't call me anything else, Sesshomaru-sama."

Baring his teeth at the feeling of his inner demon fighting him tooth and nail, urging him to comfort her somehow the moment he smelled her tears, Sesshomaru simply growled and clenched his fists tightly as he continued to fight for control over his traitorous body. "Go to sleep and stop that crying. Usagi."

If you want the goddess to sleep with you, hurting her feelings is not the way to win her over.

"Silence," Sesshomaru ground out at the Tensaiga. "This does not concern you." Never mind that the sword had never given him anything but sound advice whenever it had deigned to speak with him. And never mind that he'd had every intention of staying in the bed and holding her to keep her warm and take in that delicious scent of hers… before Inuyasha had shown up, anyway.

He seemingly ignored her quiet, frustrated and exhausted sobbing—while he was truly battling with his inner demon for control—and after she finally dozed off, he cleaned up to give himself something to do, to keep him busy and ignore the scent of sex and her.

Even lighting some scented candles that he'd found and opening the windows didn't quite get the lingering aroma out of the air, but it helped, and Sesshomaru found it easier to function after a few hours and several trips outside for fresh air.

It was on his return from the last trip that he found her shivering, and when he checked her, she was nearly as hot as she had been before he'd given her Kaede's remedy. Swearing under his breath, he stripped the covers off of her and began an alcohol rub, ignoring her soft, unintelligible mutter when she protested in her sleep.

Once that was done, it was time for meds, and he roused her enough to dose her with a happy pill and a few of those brown pills, coupled with a full glass of juice. His demon was in full control by the time he settled in beside her, his sensitive nose protesting the strong smell of alcohol, but his beast demanded that he help ease her shivering and stay close to keep an eye on her. Frankly, fighting himself and his demon's instincts had him worn out, and even Sesshomaru could only take so much. So he stopped fighting it and held her tightly to him, his face buried in her throat while he enjoyed the feeling of her breath ghosting over his bare chest and the naked length of her feverish body pressing intimately to him.

Dear gods, surrendering to anything should never have felt so good.

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Sesshomaru woke the moment he felt a shove to his chest; it was weak at best, but it was still more than enough to alert him and draw him out of his nap. "Sleep," he grunted, too tired after battling his inner demon to even want to argue with her.

Usagi just glowered up at him and shoved once more. She'd been awake for well over ten minutes, and when she'd first cracked her eyes open, she'd been too stunned to find him in her bed to even move. That shock had given way to wondering if him cuddling up to her had been his form of an apology, but after a minute of gently exploring his markings, she noticed the bottle of alcohol, the rag, and the medicine he'd left at the bedside.

Her fever had gone back up. That was the only reason he'd come to her bed. Sure, she appreciated the concern, but it was nothing more than his unease over her dying before he got a chance to satisfy his lust with her. Not like she actually cared or anything, of course… because he sure didn't.

"Get out of my bed," she finally ordered.

"No. This Sesshomaru requires rest. Now be silent and sleep, Usagi." He growled in annoyance when she shoved at him again and ignored a second one, but when a sudden jolt of electricity nearly made him piss himself, he pinned her flat on her back. "Do that again and this Sesshomaru will be forced to—" Another shock, this one harder than the last, made him gasp and he nearly punched her. If not for his inner demon, he surely would have. "Usagi! That is enough!"

What little power she'd regained—not even enough to transform and sustain her first body—was spent, and she sagged and just fought for air, her crystal blue eyes glaring wishes of pain and death up at him. "You made me cry," she finally whispered. "And you're a dick. Get out of my bed."

"You are ill. And cranky. And about to start your flows," Sesshomaru managed, trying his very best to stop himself from pinning her with his teeth. Gods, the scent of what an inu youkai would interpret as her impending heat had him inwardly climbing the walls! "Unless you wish for this Sesshomaru to fuck you into submission, lay still and sleep."

Even Usagi knew when she was pushing too hard and while her eyes held no less fury, she relaxed and rolled onto her side, facing the wall once he'd released her. "I thought youkai only slept a little every few days, anyway. Don't tell me you're turning into a pussy."

Markings growing jagged, Sesshomaru dug his claws into the futon and growled. "This one is fighting his inner demon. It is very tiring… as is your constant prattling. Sleep."

Oh hell, no. She was going to annoy the hell out of him since she was too weak to do anything else. "Why are you being a prick?"

"Why are you not asleep as this one commanded?" He countered smoothly.

"You promised to answer all questions honestly, Sesshomaru. Why are you suddenly treating me like shit? Did I do something wrong when we were making out? Or are you simply satisfied now, done with me, and you haven't left out of a sense of guilt for leaving me while I'm ill?"

"Silence. This Sesshomaru will only answer your questions honestly… should he choose to bother answering them. This one has not lied." Both his demon and the Tensaiga were nagging him then, and he growled in agitation. "You did nothing wrong. And this one is not satisfied, nor is he going anywhere. Now sleep and allow me time to rest."

"Whatever," she grunted angrily. An arm wrapping about her waist made her tense, but she knew damned well that her futon wasn't made for two and that there wasn't enough room for both of them unless they snuggled close, so she kept quiet. Eventually she felt him drop off, and still very upset with him, she slipped out as soon as he was deep asleep.

"Asshole," she whispered the moment she was dressed and out of the house. She did her business in the outhouse then and went about checking the hides that were still tanning. They seemed ready, so with much grunting and sweating and a few breaks to get her breath, Usagi lugged them out and readied them for the next step of the process. She was utterly ready to collapse by the time it was all done, so she took a break and laid out in the grass near her garden, soaking in the rays of the late afternoon sun.

Even ill and feverish, Usagi could only enjoy the warmth cooking into her and the sound of the birds, reflecting that this was by far the most peaceful dimension she'd ever dropped into. Normally, when she stayed in a place for more than a few days, it was for a reason, but this world was easily the longest place she'd stayed in decades just because she could. "And I'm not leaving now," she realized. "Not just because an arrogant inu youkai wouldn't leave me alone and chased off all my mortal friends. Hell, this was my village first," she added with conviction, "and I won't run like a coward with my tail between my legs."

#####################################

Sesshomaru's inner demon was in a fine rage when he awoke and found himself alone in the dark, the house devoid of Usagi's fresh scent, and he nearly destroyed the door as he practically went through it in his search for her.

Luckily for her, he tracked her easily by her scent and clenched and unclenched his fists as he stared down at her peaceful, sleeping form. She was bathed in the sliver of moonlight from the waxing crescent above, and unless he was losing his mind, the moon actually seemed much larger and brighter than usual and the light was actually focused on her body. "Tensaiga. Is it healing her?"

Yes. As well as trying to help her replenish her drained powers. Even if she is in a human body, the moon knows its queen.

Sesshomaru merely grunted, still beyond annoyed that she'd left the house, and that emotion became hot anger when he noticed the tanned hides lying out to dry. "She is doing it just to anger this Sesshomaru, is she not?"

She was very upset by your behavior and came outside to get away, the silver crystal answered softly. And Usagi is no stranger to hard work during the last two millennia. Be nice to her and you'll have what you seek, Sesshomaru.

Ignoring its advice, he merely looked to the glow emanating from the blonde's chest and studied its aura curiously as he had many, many times over the course of Usagi's illness. "What, exactly are you? Your aura reminds this one much of the Shikon no Tama, yet it is subtly different."

Different dimensions, different names, I suppose. That would likely explain the subtle difference in aura as well. From the stories we've heard about the Shikon no Tama, Usagi and I both surmised that we are twins of a sort. Twins are a common occurrence between dimensions, you know, it informed him lightly. You had a very similar physical twin in Usagi's first life, it added mischievously.

"Hn… dare I ask?"

His name was Kunzite, and before he turned to the path of darkness, he was engaged to marry Minako. She was the princess of Venus and Princess Serenity's physical twin.

That definitely had Sesshomaru's interest piqued; like called to like, so it was comforting to know that another quite similar to himself would be attracted to the moon goddess's body double.

He was also gay after he went over to Queen Beryl's army, the crystal deadpanned, chuckling audibly when Sesshomaru growled and his eyes glowed.

"This Sesshomaru is not amused."

Ah, but I am! It's so nice to talk to someone besides Serenity after all these centuries; Atem was the only one besides Alucard that could even hear me on a regular basis… and since Alucard felt actual pain when exposed to my light, conversations with him were few and far between. It's been awhile, to say the least. So… read any good books lately?g

"You prattle on even more than she does," Sesshomaru muttered in exasperation. "Do either of you ever shut up and simply enjoy the silence?"

Of course not.

"At least you admit your shortcomings," he sighed, digging deep for any and all patience he possessed. It was going to be a very long night, sitting out here with the ginzuishou yacking his pointy youkai ear off.

Wow, you're actually being almost nice, the crystal purred.

"Because it is futile to become more than annoyed with something I cannot smite." And it was true, too… without anything to really focus on in order to shut the crystal up, even Sesshomaru's inner demon was at a loss for how to stop it. So it just sat there inside of him, utterly confused, and that emotion filled the inu lord as well. Never had he dealt with a chatty, sparkly rock before, and the Tensaiga always honored his requests for silence. The ginzuishou, however… "This Sesshomaru does not suppose that a polite request for quiet would be honored."

Mmm… nope. But I very much appreciate how wonderfully polite it was. So… as a token of my gratitude for easing my loneliness, you may ask me anything. Oh, and I mean anything.

Sesshomaru and his inner beast both perked up at that, and his ears twitched a little in anticipation. "You know what this one wants to know, crystal. Speak and he shall heed your advice."

First, unbutton her camisole and push her skirt up to her thighs. The crystal didn't have eyes, but it saw Sesshomaru hesitate, and if it had had the aforementioned body part, it would have rolled them in impatience. Not that, you pervert. She needs the moonlight on her skin; it'll speed her healing. And since it's barely a sliver, it'd be better if her skin were mostly bare.

Sesshomaru did as he was told, and within moments, Usagi's chest and legs were naked. And it seemed to him that her lightly tanned skin actually glowed in the moonlight focusing down upon her. "This will give her enough power to transform?" He asked curiously.

Not even close; sorry, lover boy. The crystal disregarded his little sniff and growl of annoyance for its disrespect. It wasn't there to respect him; it was there to make Usagi happy and nothing more. If this had happened at the full moon or closer to it, Usagi wouldn't have gotten so ill. The moonlight gives her strength, and of course she was the sickest right before the new moon. So the light couldn't help her. It can barely help her now, but the moon always did try as hard as it could for its queen.

"When. When will she be able to assume her goddess form."

The first night of the full moon. Perhaps a day or two beforehand, but it's doubtful.

"You are doing this on purpose," Sesshomaru growled impatiently. His demon wanted her now, not in twelve or thirteen days, damn it!

If the ginzuishou had possessed shoulders, it would have shrugged. Maybe, it replied coyly. Why don't you look at this as an opportunity to woo her a little? After everything Usa's been through and all she's sacrificed for the well-being of the universe, the girl deserves a little romancing, damn it! Would it really be so fucking hard for you to be kind and make her happy, fluffy boy?

"Gods, your mouth is as foul as hers."

Oh no, I'm much worse, trust me. Especially where my queen's happiness is concerned, it replied smugly. So… are you gonna try to be nice to her? I may be willing to divulge certain… um… sexual preferences about her if you promise, it continued with a waggle of its nonexistence eyebrows.

Fuck that, he'd figure it out for himself. But just as he had that fleeting thought, his demon was rising up and practically drooling at the idea of having her moaning his name in ecstasy as it claimed her over and over again. "Define 'nice.'"

Well, I suppose that for you, nice would be simply not acting like a total dick all the time. And if you start randomly doing kind things for her without any reason, she's going to suspect something's up. So don't do anything too out of character. She loves generous touching and kissing just to show affection… would that be too much of a stretch?

"Generous, yes. Such a thing would be greatly out of character for this Sesshomaru. But I shall make an effort not to be unkind," he hedged.

Guess that's the best I can hope for, the crystal sighed. So, she likes to snuggle, as you already know. Contact is a very big thing for her in general since she hates to be alone. And she adores backrubs. Oh, hey!

Sesshomaru could practically see the thing grinning at him; the aura between Usagi's breasts had become playful and joking. "What. So far, she seems to need coddling as much as a pup."

Be nice and I'll tell you about her off switch! Wanna know how to shut her the fuck up in less than a second!?

"This Sesshomaru is all ears," he replied with a ghost of a chuckle, his lips twitching up momentarily. The woman had an off switch? Something that would actually stop her yammering in its tracks!? How delightful! This might not be as bad as he'd previously imagined!

Her shoulders and the back of her neck! Just start massaging them, and she shuts down like a T-101 with its chip pulled!

"Pardon?"

Er… nevermind. It's a pop culture reference from the future. Just do it when she starts yacking your ear off and you'll see, it giggled.

"Do not get this one's hopes up," he chuckled, unable to stop from voicing his mirth at the very idea of shutting the moon goddess up.

And speaking of her neck, there's this spot on her left side, towards the back… well, kiss it or nibble on it a bit and you'll see what happens. Hm… what else? The crystal went silent for several moments while it pondered, and the inu lord was more than happy to enjoy the quiet while it tried to think about the next tip for seducing Usagi. Don't be too rough with her breasts, it finally said. Vincent's demon got out of hand one time and I remember that the results wound up with her as Cosmos and… well… it was a little messy. Hell, it was always messy when those two fought, as it was with Alucard. But I know she liked it, too, it snickered. I swear, she practically thinks of battle as foreplay after being with those two.

"Hn… that actually sounds… very youkai by definition," Sesshomaru commented thoughtfully. "This Sesshomaru shall definitely take that bit of information into consideration. Ginzuishou… tell me something. Why are you advising me on how to easily take your mistress? If she is hesitant to mate with this Sesshomaru, why are you not telling me to keep my distance?"

Because you'll make her happy, it said with solemn honesty. I know much that neither of you can even imagine, thanks to Sailor Pluto's starseed… and Her Majesty's happiness is my main priority. Just as it has been since her mother wished for it long, long ago.

Extremely suspicious of the crystal's words, Sesshomaru was about to question it further regarding just exactly what it meant when he heard a horse drawing near. "Ah-Un," he said in mild surprise, standing and striding towards the sound to investigate. Jaken must have finally caught up with him; when Sesshomaru had orbed from Rin's village, he'd left all of them behind.

It wasn't until he'd gotten a little closer—careful not to let Serenity out of his peripheral vision—that he smelled his daughter, and not his retainer. "This Sesshomaru shall have a word with Jaken for allowing you to travel unescorted."

"This Rin is sorry, Sesshomaru-sama."

That got him moving; her voice sounded faint and weak, and he smelled the illness on her before he'd even drug her out of the saddle. "Rin. You are hot. Is your throat sore as well?"

"It is spreading throughout my village, Sesshomaru-sama. This Rin was the only one strong enough to make the journey, and Ah-Un is much faster than a horse. We heard about the healer… and she is needed."

"Jaken should have come, not you," Sesshomaru growled. "You should be resting, daughter. Come," he ordered, scooping her into his arms. He carried her over to Usagi then and shook the healer awake, feeling only a twinge of guilt at the sight of the bags beneath her eyes. "Usagi. This Sesshomaru's daughter is in need of your powers." When she only blinked and seemed confused, his eyes became a little desperate at the thought of losing Rin… again. "Please, megami."

That rare word leaving his mouth and the feeling of his fear through her empathic powers made her nod wearily, and Usagi reached out and took Rin's hand in her own, giving it a squeeze. "I can't heal you quickly since I'm drained, sweetie. Sleep with me and don't break contact; the crystal will heal you."

"You have this one's gratitude," Sesshomaru whispered, kissing Rin's forehead and then Usagi's after he'd laid his daughter down beside the blonde and covered them up with his mokomoko.

"The village," Rin breathed softly. "They are sick, too, Father. It started last night… we'd taken in an ill traveler and we must have caught it from him. Ah-Un does not like Jaken much, so this Rin rode in his stead. Jaken stayed to tend to the ill, under my orders. Please do not punish him."

"You did well, Rin," Sesshomaru assured her, running his claws through her ebony hair affectionately. "Megami… the ginzuishou has informed this Sesshomaru that you will not be able to transform until the full moon. Is there anything you can do for Rin's village?"

Usagi frowned but finally nodded. "I shall take care of it," she replied sadly. There was only one option, and as much as she detested transforming to Cosmos, she'd do it for the sake of the innocent. "We'll go at first light."

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As good as her word, Usagi was up at first light, leaning heavily on Sesshomaru for balance since he was carrying Rin, and practically falling asleep on her feet. "Sorry I'm so weak," she whispered. "Just get us there and I'll take care of the rest. Silver crystal, do you even have enough power left for me to transform one time?"

Hai, Majesty.

"It was this one's understanding that you could not transform for two more weeks," Sesshomaru said suspiciously. "Were you avoiding the inevitable, megami?"

"Iie, I won't be changing into that body," she whispered, trembling a bit at what was about to come when Sesshomaru orbed them to Rin's village. And when he set her on the ground, she shivered as she spoke the words and was engulfed in white light so strong that even Sesshomaru was temporarily blinded.

"Stay out of my way," Cosmos ordered Sesshomaru sternly, looking around and seeking out the starseeds of the sickest villagers. "I am weaker than I've been in a long time and this will require my full concentration."

She was off then with a speed even the inu lord couldn't follow, so he merely carried Rin to her home, stepping on Jaken—as usual—the moment he entered through the doorway.

"My Lord!" The little imp cried out happily, uncaring that he'd been trod upon like a doormat. "Your lowly servant is relieved to see you! Did you bring the healer with you?"

"This Sesshomaru brought her, yes. She is tending the ill as we speak and I must ensure her wellbeing. Watch over my daughter, Jaken." He left then, ignoring the typical bowing and scraping from his retainer; the imp was faithful, but he sure talked way too much for the youkai's liking.

He found the fuku-clad angel healing several children at once, her eyes closed in absolute focus as she glowed brightly and her wings fluffed in a sign of what Sesshomaru interpreted as impatience. Clearly, she was used to having much, much more power at her disposal. And when she stood and saw him, she frowned. "This one is not in your way, he is merely waiting to assist should you require it," he said knowingly.

This version of the goddess was not like her at all, he realized. This was not Serenity or Usagi, this was the Cosmos woman that she had mentioned before, and he had to admit that she was strikingly similar to himself in her carriage and in her manner of speaking. This woman was definitely a goddess, and he would admit it without hesitation.

"I will need food… a very large amount of it," Cosmos stated as she knelt beside an elderly woman that was barely hanging on and began to fill her with her starlight. At least the villagers had had the sense to bring all of the ill people to the largest home in an attempt to contain the virus. It made things much, much easier on her. "Enough to feed several grown men. My mortal form will be very weak after this, but I shall attempt to feed the ginzuishou some of my power before I depart. That way she won't be as weak as a kitten and forced to rely on anyone else to care for her."

"This Sesshomaru shall find enough food for such a meal," he said before striding back out of the large sick house.

When he returned, he found Cosmos looking drained, healing what appeared to be the very last person, and he waited patiently for her to finish before clearing his throat and holding out the tray full of food, ignoring the annoying thought that he felt like some sort of servant. "The women are preparing more."

"It's a start," Cosmos sighed. "Thank you… and do me a favor and do not get nasty with Usagi anymore. Her and I are very, very different people… she is hurt far more easily than I by your words and your deeds."

"You are not the same person?" Sesshomaru inquired curiously.

"No, we are not. Similar, but not the same. We do not even share the same mind or the same power source, demon." Cosmos let out a weary sigh, knowing that her mortal body could not handle an interrogation, so she decided to stick around for a moment to explain, despite her eagerness to go away and rest. "I am the warrior side of Usagi. She is a fighter, too, yes. But I am the part of her that ascended as Cosmos, and I take care of things that are too distasteful for her to handle. Her only wish was to live a normal life, and I am what resulted from that wish on the crystal, made several millennia ago. She split into three beings then; Usagi and Serenity are basically the same and their minds are practically one. I, on the other hand…" She shrugged one shoulder emotionlessly.

"You are the facet that is not so innocent," Sesshomaru supplied. "All in one, yet none the same."

"Yes… it is difficult to explain, I am sorry. Now, I am going to detransform, but be warned… Usagi is very, very weak, despite what power I had left to channel into the crystal so she would not die." She hid a smirk when the inu lord's jaw twitched. So, he actually cared, did he? "It would not be the first time that we have thrown our lives away for the sake of others, Sesshomaru-sama." She waved away another question, knowing exactly what it was. "We would have been reborn—again—in the Cauldron. We are truly immortal, Sesshomaru-sama. There is no final death for us. Ever."

The inu lord was truly surprised to hear this. She was genuinely immortal… no wonder she was so lonely, no wonder she had been hurt so badly by his planting of doubts among the mikos. He was even more surprised at the feeling of his beast taking over completely and speaking for him. "This one shall care for her and ensure her health and safety."

With a wry little smile, Cosmos nodded. This was what she had been waiting for, and she detransformed without another moment of waiting.

The daiyoukai moved quickly and caught the blonde as she blinked once and immediately collapsed, and he was lying her down on an empty futon as gently as possible, listening closely to the sound of her heartbeat and the rhythm of her breathing. "You need nourishment," he said when a villager brought over the forgotten tray. "Lean back," he instructed when he sat her up, using one arm to hold her in place and another to take a bowl of stew from the tray. "Drink, Usagi-san."

The term of respect was what roused her the most, and she blinked up at him, her chin tilting back so that they could lock eyes. "You have saved this one's daughter. You have his undying gratitude," he rumbled before nudging her face down towards the bowl, which he then held to her lips. "Drink."

Usagi complied, and for the next hour, she opened her mouth whenever instructed, ate and drank, but finally she found herself sagging wearily in his arms, unable to even hold her head up. "Sesshomaru… need to sleep," she mumbled almost incoherently, her words slurred and her body slumping heavily into his hold.

"Then sleep, Usagi-san. This Sesshomaru shall care for you and ensure your safety." When she gave him a tiny, grateful smile, the inu lord returned it with a solemn nod, and then he sensed her lose consciousness.

##############################

"Lord Sesshomaru, this Rin insists that you get some rest. You have not slept in five days, Father," the graceful young lady added gently as she carried the bowl of hot water into the cleared out sick house and placed it beside Usagi's beside along with several towels and washcloths.

"This Sesshomaru swore to care for her," he mumbled, obviously willing his eyes to stay open. "No," he grunted when Rin moved to begin washing the blonde lying motionless in the bed. "I promised to care for her. No, Rin," he repeated when she just continued as she had been, never losing that knowing smile as her father growled warningly at her.

"Yes," she replied brightly, giving him a smile that she knew he could never resist. "She has started her flows, so it would be improper for you to wash her. And when this Rin is finished, you will lay down with her and rest. I will wake you at moonrise."

"Daughter, you are trying this one's patience. I swore an oath to protect her. I cannot do that if I am sleeping," Sesshomaru ground out in annoyance.

Rin just laughed at that and leaned over to kiss his cheek, something she knew he liked but would never admit to. "Spare me, my Lord. This Rin knows as well as you that if anything or anyone so much as steps into this room while you are sleeping, you will be ripping them apart. Now, do not force this Rin to tuck you in like a stubborn child, Father." When he just glared at her, she grinned and pointed to his kimono. "You could use a bath as well, you know."

"Fine," he grunted before shedding his outerwear to retreat to the bathing room while Rin tended to the unconscious goddess.

When he returned, he frowned to find his daughter patiently waiting for him—he'd been hoping for her to leave so that he could continue his watch uninterrupted, but Rin knew him better than anyone else and clearly meant to make sure that he slept. "Shall this Rin tuck you in, Father?" She teased.

"No."

"I'll tell you a bedtime story!" She giggled when he just growled at her and his eyes turned a little pink, and Sesshomaru mused that he would have reacted much differently ten years ago.

"It is time for you to rest as well, Rin," he pointed out before gesturing towards the door. "Leave us. This Sesshomaru shall send for you in the morning if you wish for his company."

"This Rin does," she replied primly. "Sweet dreams, my Lord," she added with a giggle before she left the house and closed the door tightly behind her.

Sesshomaru decided that perhaps his daughter was right and laid down with the goddess, bringing Tensaiga with him to bed so that it would aid Usagi's crystal in healing her.

Like all his kind, he was asleep within moments of ordering his body to do so, and when he woke in the morning he was amazed to discover that he'd slept the entire night and not just for three or four hours as he usually did. And he'd woken to a stirring beside him… "Usagi. You are awake."

"Yeah," she croaked as she tried for the hundredth time to reach the water pitcher. She was grateful as hell when he reached across her and retrieved it for her, and sagged into his arms when he sat her up and held a cup to her lips. "More?" She asked hopefully.

Sesshomaru merely grunted in reply and allowed her a second cup of water, but he shook his head when she requested a third. "Wait. This one does not wish for you to vomit it up. Food, first."

Usagi just nodded and didn't even argue when he sat her up against his bare chest several minutes later and he held a bite of porridge to her lips. "Thank you," she whispered once half the bowl was gone and he offered her a cup of milk.

He regarded her silently as he fed her the rest of the bowl, reflecting that watching over her as she slept for several days and then feeding her was not even close enough to equal payment for saving his daughter's life. His honor demanded some form of payment for such a deed, but he was hesitant to offer it due to his worry that she would ask him to cease pursuing her. Damn it, why should I care so much whether this woman rejects my advances or not?

"Why are you upset?" Usagi asked softly between bites. She could feel his emotions as plain as day, and his worry was pouring into her as steadily as her energy was returning.

"You did this Sesshomaru a great service, megami. He is merely wondering how to repay your kindness," he replied in his usual monotone.

That warmed her heart a little and she smiled as she leaned into him. "Don't worry about it, Lord Sexy. I would have done it again even if I'd known how hard it would have knocked me out."

"Which is precisely why this one should offer recompense." He paused as he fed her another bite and steeled himself and his inner demon for her response when he spoke again. "You may choose any favor that is within this Sesshomaru's power to grant."

Blue eyes widened at that statement and she tilted her head back to find his mouth set in a grim line. Whoa… he was serious!? "That's an awfully generous offer, Sesshomaru. I mean… hell, anything in your power? That's an awful lot I could ask of you."

"Indeed." He was slightly mollified by the fact that she hadn't automatically asked him to stop trying to get up her skirt, but that only made him wonder what sort of material, greedy favor she might ask for instead. The inu lord had already made the offer, though, and he would stick to his promise to fulfill it even if she asked for his title and lands.

"Friendship and equality."

He blinked in surprise at that and his hand froze as it moved in to give her another bite of food. "Pardon?"

"Hee… you actually asked a question, that's cute," she chuckled. "Friendship and equality," Usagi repeated. "I suppose I already have the first, but I feel like I'm sorely lacking on the second. I just want you to drop the holier-than-thou attitude, is all. Treat me as an equal and a friend; that's all I want."

"You would not ask this Sesshomaru to leave you be once he has returned you to your village?"

Usagi giggled at that and shook her head. "You know, that idea didn't even cross my mind! Maybe I should take back my wish in favor of that!"

"Hn… you are joking. But this one does not find it funny," he huffed as he shoved the spoon in her mouth to shut her up. "You were serious about what favor you would ask of me?" He finally asked once the bowl was empty and he'd laid her back down.

"Yup. Though I think that treating me as an equal would be a lot harder than simply walking away," she mused.

Sesshomaru considered her request seriously for several moments and found himself strangely pleased by the idea of having her as his equal. He was also happy to hear that she hadn't even considered sending him away; that meant that she harbored a deep attraction to him and wanted him as much as he wanted her. "It is settled, megami. But this Sesshomaru requires the same level of respect."

"I already regard you as an equal, you big dope," she snorted. When he glared at her, Usagi just rolled her eyes, but she finally gave him a knowing smile. "Sesshomaru, if I don't pick on you, it means I don't like you. It's just the way I am."

"Oh. So your disrespectful comments are your way of telling someone that they are your friend… hn… this one has much to learn about these strange human customs."

"You don't pick on Inuyasha?" When he shrugged a little, Usagi giggled. "He's your brother, so it's different. I get it."

"Half-brother," the daiyoukai corrected her smoothly.

"I don't see a difference between the two, Sessh. Either you're brothers or you aren't. My sisters weren't related to me by blood, but our close bonds made us more than just comrades or friends. Family is family, regardless of blood ties."

"Hn. You may have a point." He sat there silently for a long moment before tipping his head in a brief nod. "This Sesshomaru shall honor your request, Usagi-san." Her smile warmed him, and when Tensaiga pulsed in approval he knew that he was on his way to gaining her affections enough so that she would share her body fully with him once the full moon rose.

Not because he was truly beginning to value her company… no, of course not.

Now… aren't yall so glad that I didn't force it? Huh? Huh huh huh? So… be assured that Sesshomaru's promise is definitely going to be put to the test a bit, and that there shall be some fun sexytime in the next chapter! So R&R!