Seven Days by Yashodoa

Chapter 4, 5 and 6

Seven Days : Day Three

Morning dawned, SesshoMaru rolled out of bed and stretched, he paused, frowning as he tried to put everything in place and remembered that Kagome was here as well. He turned around and saw her still sleeping. Snorting slightly, he moved and went on his usual morning routine.

An hour later, he stood by her side of the bed and glared at the sleeping Miko. She was currently hugging his pillow. He poked her with one of his claw and got no response. Glaring dagger into her, he wondered about the girl. Yesterday she had gotten up on orderly time, yet this morning, she has not. He knew she had no problem sleeping next to him since they were forced to and had no choices.

He wasn't going to let the elderly defeat him; he will follow in the matter and mate with Kagome, just to be free of the bond. For now, he rather to keep it under secretly for it could had pose a risk to him since being bound to Kagome was a weakness. Patience was one of the virtues of being a lord. Right now, it was running out because he couldn't leave the bedroom because she chose to sleep in.

Poking her again, yet harder than the last, he was rewarded by her batting hand. Growling under his breath, he grabbed the pillow and yanked it away from her. She gave a yawn and rolled over, searching for another pillow and found one and snuggled up into it. He seethed right then.

"Wrench!" He muttered and pulled the blanket away from her body. Yet, she curled up and snuggled deeper into the pillow again, yet oblivious to the world. He looked upward and counted under his breath and turned away to make across his room. Shortly, he returned with a tea cup in his hand, filled to the brim with water.

Kagome's screech rang through the entire palace, possible the entire Western Land, giving everyone a moment pause, wondering what had happened. In the private of the Lord's bedroom, Kagome glared at the said Lord, soaked with ice cold water. He glared back, his face masked with indifference, holding the empty tea cup. One would have to look very carefully to find mirth in his eyes.

"What the hell was that?" Kagome seethed as she peeled herself out of the bed and saw her kimono was soaked on the top, showing her nice ample bosom to the world through the white silk and gave another screech.

"Stop that infernal caterwauling. Get dressed and hurry up." SesshoMaru snarled as he placed the teacup back on the nightstand.

Kagome gave a huff, "I was having a nice sleep, thank to you, and you woke me up in unfashionable manner!" She stomped toward the wardrobe that held her kimono in.

SesshoMaru stood there, narrowed eyed at her, "You are to be my mate, the Lady of the Western Land, you will wake up on orderly manner, get ready for the day and put yourself forth in responsibility and manner as well obedience to the Lord, which is me. Today, you have wasted half of the morning, therefore, had wasted the time given to the kingdom for your precious selfishness need of sleeping in. That is unacceptable."

Kagome spun around, "Hey! I didn't ask for this. Where I come from, it's perfectly all right to sleep in once in a while!" She shot back. "And the world kept going on just fine around me. I don't see how I have to wake up for this stupid land and all that. I'm only gonna carry your baby and I am sure you're going to kick me right out, depriving me of my child and I have to move on, finish searching for the shards and give it to InuYasha and go back to my world as if this whole thing never happened."

SesshoMaru was quick and slammed Kagome to the wardrobe, his hand around her neck, he snarled in her face. "How many times must I repeat to get through your mind that you are to be my mate? You will bear me my heir. You will be the Lady of the West, ruling by my side as long I live. There will be no kicking you out onto your sorry little ass." He stood back up and loosened his hold on Kagome. Still holding her, he whispered softly, "I will not have any other woman but you..."

She stared up at him, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. "You... you're going to keep me here?"

"Yes. You will help me rule the Western Land. You and I have not many choices but we are to make best of this. Now, today, you will have lesson in obedience and manner." He reached behind her and pulled out a kimono and handed it to her, "Wear this today."

Kagome gasped as she took hold the kimono and held it to her chest. She watched him move toward the bed and sat down, his back facing her. She berated herself because it was a repeat after yesterday, yet a little bit different. She had saw a new emotion in his eyes and it was longing, baffled, she shook her head, it was too much for her to take in. Silently, she turned around and slipped her yakuta and dressed in the kimono given to her by him.

It wasn't until she finished tying the obi that he had chosen the kimono that matched his. It was silver with red hue on the hem and black outlined curved lines pattern. The obi was black with silver leave patterns as well. It was simple and beautiful and it had flattered her figure very nicely. Slipping on the black and silver slipper, she moved to the vanity and pulled her hair up in simple bun and stuck black lacquered sticks in her hair to hold it in place.

Still rather upset, Kagome turned and walked toward the door and opened it. She saw SesshoMaru rise from the bed and walked past her out of the room. Seething under her breath, she followed him to the office. Since they had missed breakfast served in the dining hall, the servants brought them food in the office. Kagome sat at her usual place and ate in silence while SesshoMaru went over his scrolls.

When Kagome was almost done with her breakfast, SesshoMaru had singled a servant and told him to bring Rin's instructors to the office. A tall inu-youkai of black inu clan came in and approached SesshoMaru.

"SesshoMaru-Sama, you requested me here?" He asked as he bowed before the desk.

SesshoMaru gestured to Kagome, "For next couple of days, I need you to teach her everything about being a Lady. Everything; she needs to learn them all before the end of third day. Take whatever means necessary if you must."

Kagome gaped at SesshoMaru and spat, "Hey! I can be good mannered person! I did not live in a cave!"

SesshoMaru gave her a raised eyebrow, "Oh, it is rather impolite to shoot such thing out of your mouth. One would think you live with the õkami clan in the east. Their prince, Kogua, I believe is rather blasé." He knew he had hit a spot.

Kagome's eyes went wide. "Oh!" She turned her nose and crossed her arms, "Well, I happen to think he is much nicer than you and has more manners toward woman."

SesshoMaru curled his lips at her, "Too bad. The next time he put his hand on you, I will cut them off, perhaps more." Kagome ignored him and turned her back to him. "Do what you must." SesshoMaru said to the instructor and returned to his paperwork.

The instructor introduced himself as Shinji. Kagome eyed warily at him, he looked very imitating, his hair was peppered black, his skin was dark from being under the sun most of the time and he bore lots of old war scar on his face, arms and hands. He held air of no nonsense. She wondered if he is part of SesshoMaru's army, perhaps a general, retired one as it is which later on she had learned he was.

Kagome began to relax as the instructor sat himself across from her with the low tea table between them. As soon she began to slouch, a sharp crack rang in the air and she yelped, clutching her hand. He had whacked a reed stick over her hand.

"One would think you were raised by the baboons." She winced and had a flashback of Naraku in her mind. He glared at her disdainfully. "You are a Lady of the court, you must act like one or else you would mar the name of the house of Nishi." He gave her another whack across the back of her hand.

She glared at him and he glared back.

"I am not going to go easy on you because you are a human. SesshoMaru-Sama wants me to turn you from," He gave her a look over and snorted, "that, into a Lady. In my opinion, you might as well be a waste of time." He gave another whack.

SesshoMaru had to refrain from laughing and ignored them. He kept working through his papers through until lunch time; an occasional whacking would break the silence in the air. He got up and stretched, hating to do desk job and turned to look out of the patio door that led to the garden which were separated by a tall wall that bordered the castle ground to his vast Western Land.

Shinji had stopped the lesson, allowing Kagome to join SesshoMaru for lunch in the dining hall. Lunch was short with heavy silence and occasional glaring from her. Then the rest of the afternoon was spent outside in the garden where SesshoMaru trained with his generals, doing moves and rounds. Kagome was forced to sit aside with her instructor, enduring occasional whacks to her hands in crash course of learning mannerism being a Lady.

During the lesson, her mind wandered to the lord as she watched him move with grace, practicing his swordsmanship. The last couple of days had given her insight of who the man or rather, the demon is. She had never thought he would possesses such ability to feel any emotions, all she knew of him that he was a heartless cruel man. But now, everything changed. Watching him, she realized, he was indifferent to everyone else, yet around Rin, he would keep the mask up, but his eyes and body language showed different, expressing his true feeling toward the little girl.

She saw that he did indeed care for the girl as if she was his own daughter. It was not much like a human father would care for his child, but rather, a demon father. She figured it was the only way he could express, after all, he is a demon and the kind of love he showed for the girl was tough love. Rin didn't mind, she adored SesshoMaru and had followed him around, if to the end of the earth was possible, she would.

Kagome turned back to her writing practice and wondered, would he love her? He did mention that he would have her and no other. It had sounded that he was actually admitting his feeling to her. He was a dog demon, dog, from her knowledge are very loyal and Sango had once told her, dog demons mate for life. She worried most of all in her relationship with SesshoMaru was the lack of love between the two. She looked up to find him staring at her. Blushing, she realized, whatever he give her, she will have to accept and interpret as feeling for her from him. She had no idea how a demon treat their mate and figured it was different from humans. Making a silent vow, she would find everything about demons and their expression of emotions, because it would be the only way she would know, after all, she wouldn't be receiving normal human affection, but rather, a demon ones from him.

During dinner, SesshoMaru watched Kagome eat her dinner. She had been with him in the last three days, and not even once she expressed about her friends. Surely, must by now she would be asking about them or wondering if they were worried about her. Her eyes met his and he tilted his head slightly in curiosity, "You have not mentioned your friends since you arrived here."

"I have thought about them. They must be searching for me by now, usually, InuYasha come and get me after three days in my time." She saw his sliver brow rise and rolled her eyes. "InuYasha can't stand me being away so long. I am not worried, Kikyo and I share same soul, and she will tell him if I am in danger."

SesshoMaru frowned slightly at the thought of Kagome having any connection with the undead Miko. "You share the same soul, therefore, you can relay message to her?" He asked.

"No. Only emotions and feelings. If she feels my emotions in the last few days, she would know I am all right." Kagome said offhand and took drink of her tea.

"So, I should be expecting them to come within few days once they find your scent trail." SesshoMaru said as he finished his cup of sake.

"Maybe. InuYasha is not going to like this."

"He has feeling for you." He bluntly put, staring into her blue eyes.

She nodded and shrugged. "Yes and no. We thought our relationship was progressing but he kept getting me and Kikyo confused. I broke it right off, telling him that I can't keep going like that. I rather to be friends with him, nothing more." She rested her chin on her hand, looking at the lord. "Truth to be told, I've never told anyone this..." She took the broken marble from her necklace up to her face, "The Shikon no Tama, I had thought a long time about it and I've already decided my wish. It requires a selfless wish in order to make it disappear."

"And you have one."

"Yes. I'm going to wish for Kikyo to have a soul of her own and live again so she and InuYasha will have a second chance."

SesshoMaru's nodded, "That is rather very selfless of you to wish that."

The rest of dinner was in comfortable silence until Shinji came to them, requesting to continue lessons with Kagome for the rest of the day. SesshoMaru caught a pleading look from Kagome, asking him to rescue her from Shinji, he gave her a shake of a head and smirked, seeing her fume and glare angry look at him.

As the evening rolled around, SesshoMaru had to do his round around the palace, meeting with every retainers and head servants, getting news and giving out instructions for the rest of the year. Kagome was forced to walk along with SesshoMaru, enduring humiliation balancing a china bowl on her head. Each time she achieved the distance, her instructor would add another bowl to her head, making it difficult for her to keep up with SesshoMaru at his pace and not breaking the bowls.

Kagome sighed in relief as they approached SesshoMaru's bedchamber and followed him in and made a bee line to her wardrobe, pulling out her night yakuta. She quickly dressed with her back to SesshoMaru who had done the same on the other side of the room.

As SesshoMaru slipped into bed, he sat up and gave Kagome a pointed glare. "For your disobedience earlier today, you are going to sleep on the floor tonight." He picked her pillow and blanket and dropped it on the floor beside the bed.

Glaring at the stoic lord, she grabbed the pillow and the blanket, turned her nose high and stomped her way out of the bedroom, out of range. She knew it would hurt him as much it hurt her. She also knew his pride and stubborn was equal to her own and would not succumb to defeat. Wincing as the excruciating pain of being apart from SesshoMaru, she allowed the pillow to hit the floor and she laid herself down and draped the blanket over her body. Biting her lips, she fought the pain and finally, after a while, she passed out.

At first, it was amusing to see her ticked off but now, with her out of the boundary, the pain hit him as well. He waited a while, enduring the pain and realized she wasn't coming back. Growling under his breath, he got out of the bed and staggered toward the door. He pushed it open and glanced around, finding her in pile on the floor down the hall way. The pain was starting to become less as he approached her. He picked her up and sighed in relief as the pain subdued yet it still lingered. He couldn't believe how exhausted he felt as he carried her back to the bed and tucked her in on her side and finally, he collapsed beside her, allowing himself to fall asleep.

Seven Days : Day Four

SesshoMaru's eyes blinked open to the faint light misting through his window. Dawn was approaching and he knew, it was the fourth day since Kagome had been with him. He sat up and stretched, he flinched as he felt all of his muscles twinges with soreness before they faded away into nothing. He glanced to his side where Kagome laid.

He could tell by the scent that she was still in deep healing sleep and wouldn't be able to wake up for several more hours. Growling softly under his breath, he rose and went on about his morning ritual of getting dressed and all that. As he finished donned his day clothing, he went to the wardrobe and chose the kimono Kagome would wear for the day and laid it on the bed.

"My Lord?" Huro asked as he came to the bedroom after being summoned. He bowed and stood up, waiting for his order of the day.

"Huro, have breakfast brought here today. I will be staying here for the morning. And bring my work from the office." SesshoMaru said with indifference as he stood by the window, glancing out to his land. Huro bowed and left the bedroom. SesshoMaru turned to the bed and scowled as he watched Kagome sleep. "Bothersome girl." He muttered under his breath.

As the breakfast was brought, he went on to working on his documents, finishing up the inventory. Once a year, he would do the land's inventory and it usually took him three or four days to go through them all, since he ruled a very large and abundant land, it was a lot of work. He was glad he was almost done with the inventory; there were other things he had to attend to as well, such as dealing with the prisoners, overseeing his military and new recruits.

He glanced once again at Kagome, seeing that she had rolled over in her sleep, snuggling up to his pillow. He rested his chin on his fist, watching her. "I suppose, the good thing out of this situation, I get a mate, an intelligent one who might be able to help me with my burden." He murmured, knowing Kagome might as well do his inventory while he does the patrol of his land. Kagome had shown curiosity the other day about his inventory. He knew she could read and write very well and didn't find the task bothersome like most ladies of the court would find.

Kagome started to stir and stretch in bed before opening her eyes. She yawned and sat up. She glanced around and found SesshoMaru sitting at a small desk by the patio, writing on a scroll, appearing very intently focused. She stood up and moved about the room quietly as she could, to get ready for the day. Her muscles protested with soreness as she moved about and she realized her muscles had hurt from the pain she had forced upon herself and SesshoMaru last night, murmuring under her breath, "I am so not gonna do that again."

"See to it that you don't." SesshoMaru's cold voice rang behind her and she yelped, twirling around to find him staring at her with cold eyes.

"Well." She spat, glowering at him, "You banished me to the floor, which was unfair. I just had enough!"

SesshoMaru rose to his feet and walked over to her, towering over her. "It was your punishment for your defiance yesterday morning. I will not have such behavior coming from my mate."

Kagome seethed as she glared up at him, not allowing herself be imitated by him. "Who are you to say what I am to do and what I can't do? I am my own person!" She poked her finger into his chest rather hard as she could.

SesshoMaru's hand flashed before her eyes, quickly gripping her neck and raising her from the ground. Her toes barely touched the floor as she gasped. "You forget your place here. I am the Lord here, you are in my house, my land, and thus, you must obey me, wench."

Kagome gripped around his wrist, snarling as if she was a demoness. "My name is not wench." She grounded out, her nails biting into his arm, "My name is Kagome! In past few days I've been here, you have not called me once by my name!"

He snarled softly as he threw her to the floor. "My using your name is a privilege and you have yet earned it. You are being stupid and insane to think you could defy me." He turned and went to the bed, picking up the kimono and threw it at Kagome, "Get dressed. You have slept in this morning, therefore, missed breakfast. You will not have any food until lunch is served."

Kagome glared at him as she gripped the kimono in her hands. "I didn't ask for this." She said as she rose to her feet.

He turned to her, his eyes lined with tinge of redness, causing her to back up in fear. "Neither did I. I've been trying to be very patient with you and your little antics. Either you learn your place or I will make sure you do. Now, shut up and get dressed." He finally snarled before turning his back on her.

Kagome turned her back to him and started to get dressed. The kimono was beautiful and once again, had matched SesshoMaru's outfit. He was wearing white with yellow and gold and her kimono was overall pale yellow with gold obi and white design of phoenix in spread wing across the hem of her skirt and sleeves. It was breathtaking beautiful and she was sure it had flattered her figure, like the other kimono had done.

When she had finished slipping her slipper on, Huro came to the door, bowing before them, "My Lord, Lady." He handed the scroll to SesshoMaru, "Shinji is ready and waiting in the hallway." He then turned and left the room.

Kagome gaped, "Shinji again?"

SesshoMaru gave a small nod as he unrolled the scroll and took a glance at it. "You are not complete with your training. Come, we must see to the prisoners this morning." He left the room with Kagome chasing after him, trying to keep up with his strides. Shinji had caught up with them with a servant by him, holding several bowls.

"My Lady, that is rather undignified for you to run." Shinji scolded as he whacked her backside with his reed stick.

Kagome stopped and twirled towards him, glaring. "Then, how am I to keep up with SesshoMaru's pace without running?" She spat.

SesshoMaru stopped and turned to them, watching as Shinji looked down at her, placing a china plate on her head. "A lady is never in a hurry, if she must, she glide." He twirled the girl around and gave her a light shove. Kagome seethed and assumed position to walk properly as she could, her hands hidden in the sleeves across her belly and her head high.

SesshoMaru fought the urge to roll his eyes and resumed walking toward the prison section of his palace, which was on the other side of the military compound, south to the palace itself.

By the time they reached the prison section, Kagome had increased three bowls on her head and was struggling to keep it balanced while standing beside him. She looked utterly ridiculous, receiving strange looks from servants, soldiers and prisoners as they passed by.

SesshoMaru ignored her the entire time, pretending that she wasn't there. He met with the prison warden. "Bring the prisoners out and line them up." He said as he handed the scroll to the warden.

Kagome stood several feet behind him, standing very still as she could, listening and watching as the warden brought out the prisoners. They were variants of oni, humans and youkai, all of them appeared commoners and filthy. She figured it was another procedure that SesshoMaru had to do while he was at the palace each year. It was quiet a number of prisoners that had gathered over the year.

SesshoMaru glanced and saw the curious look in Kagome's eyes and brought his hand up to gesture for her to come and stand beside him. She moved and stood by him, tried to look at him without ditching the bowl off her head. He explained as the warden and the guards arranged the prisoners according to the list on the scroll, "Prisoners are gathered over in the year according to their crimes. They are the worse of all in the land. Usually villages handle their own criminals, but when it comes to rapist and murders, they are brought here."

"And you execute your judgment on them?" Kagome asked quietly as she watched the prisoners stand before them, their hands and feet bound in shackles.

"Hai. Today, I am simply listing their crimes to them and they will return to prison."

"What's going to happen to them, what is their punishment?" She asked, afraid she had already known what fate had befallen them.

"Death. There are various means of death that they will receive. I will see which types are more fitting for their crimes."

Kagome turned her head slightly to watch, trying to balance the bowls on her head. SesshoMaru stepped up, inspecting each prisoner as he read the scroll given back to him. She listened to him as he stated each prisoner's crimes and winced slightly, they were indeed the worse. They had killed, pillaged, raped and terrorized countless of times. Many did not show any remorse and SesshoMaru had ordered long painful death for those. Few did give remorse and begged for their lives, yet SesshoMaru did not relent. Very few were granted quick death. Little she understood, he would be the one who will be their executioner, after all, he is the Taiyoukai and he has the different mean to kill them, it was almost as if he were setting example for his kingdom.

"When will they be executed?" Kagome asked the prisoner warden who had stood aside near her. He was a tiger youkai, a burly looking one with scars marring his feature.

"In few days. In the village nearby, there's a large marketplace where nearly all of the Western Land gather once a month to trade and sell." He replied, watching with a surly expression.

Kagome gave a slight nod and sighed, "I never thought SesshoMaru had to do this."

"It's the best method; no other lords of the other lands do this. SesshoMaru-sama felt it was best if he give example to the people, which is why we have less of those prisoners than any other kingdoms."

"Oh." She said as the warden left her to take the prisoners back to their prisons and SesshoMaru joined her side. They returned to the palace in silence, yet Shinji kept whacking her for her missteps. As they reached the palace, she was already fuming, having received quiet amount of whacking because she kept tripping over rough ground.

SesshoMaru felt a tug and realized Kagome had stopped a quiet distance away and turned to find Kagome glowing bluish. He realized she was very angry, glaring at Shinji. She had taken the bowls down from her head and grabbed the reed stick, whacking him smartly across the face once before clenching her fist to cause the stick dissolve in her hand under her Miko power.

His eyebrow rose as she started to yell at Shinji. "That's it! I've had enough of you whacking me every step of the way. This is just downright humiliation! I know I walk just fine and surely, no one can walk like that all day without having a stick up their butt!" She yelled at him and started to throw the bowl at Shinji, causing it crash onto the wall every time he dodged. He noted that the instructor looked terrified despite his weathered experience in the battlefield. The ex-general of his decided to turn tail and flee.

Kagome saw she had no victim to express her rage, and turned upon SesshoMaru, "You!" She screamed and stomped up to him, she had two bowls left in her arm. He wondered if he should flee as well but realized, he is the taiyoukai and it wouldn't do for him to cower before a mere human. He stood his ground, staring stoically at her. "I can't stand this anymore! I had enough! Any more of this, you will have a doll for a mate and I am not going to be a doll!" She threw the bowl toward SesshoMaru, who had dodged as it smashed into the wall beside him. He kept his ground as she heaved for breath. "Four days! Don't do this, do that... shut up, behave. Whatever! I can't take it anymore! Why can't anyone accept me for who I am?" She started to break down, tears streaming down her face as she bolted down the hallway and turned around the corner, disappearing out of his sight. As she had turned corner, a small power exploded through the air, causing a shockwave.

He stood there, shocked from her outburst. Then he realized, he was actually expecting something from her and she had finally exploded. Blinking, he realized he felt no pain or any tugs. He had heard her footsteps running farther into the palace before stopping somewhere deep within the palace. She had broken the curse with her anger.

"Astounding." SesshoMaru murmured, realizing Kagome's Miko power was powerful enough to overcome the curse upon them both. Shaking his head, he followed her scent though several hallways before finding her in one of the large room he usually used for as a throne room. She was sitting on the tatami mat, crying in her hands.

He entered the room and knelt beside her, stroking his finger through her black hair. "Kagome." He said softly, feeling her hitch in breath. "It is expected for you to have manner of a Lady."

Kagome shoved her shoulder to get away from his touch. "I am sick of this. I didn't ask to be your mate. I didn't ask to search for the shards and fight Naraku. I didn't ask to be transported five hundred years before my time to be in the world of war, demons, ghosts and all that." She brushed his hand away from her shoulder, "InuYasha don't see me as Kagome, and he sees me as Kikyo. Everyone in Kaede's village looks to me as a Miko and here, you expect me to be a Lady. I am not any of those, I am Kagome, just Kagome." SesshoMaru frowned as he sat beside her, listening to her rant. She looked up to his golden eyes and found them soft with concern, "It's not fair that I can't control my own fate... everyone I know in my time, they choose what they want to do with their life, where they go to school, what they wear, what they eat or say and no one cares. Before everything, I expected to finish school, you know, my education. Choose whoever I want to marry, settle down, have children, however many I want and when I want them. But here, it's so different; you just don't know what you are allowed to have until you are given it. If you don't like it, too bad. It's not fair; it's not how I grew up." Her face was wet with tears.

He reached out and wiped her tears away. "That's how life is here, for centuries, I suppose until your time. From what I understood from your... history book..." She gasped at him and he gave a small smile, "Yes, I read it when you lost it some time ago, the world changed within less than a hundred year from your time. It had astounded me. But, Kagome, you are here, you are in my era, you have to live the way we live. Fate brought you here for a reason and that's where you should be."

She frowned at him, "But if I am to be here, why can't I be born in this time, instead of five hundred years in the future?"

SesshoMaru gave a small shrug, "I haven't truly thought on to the reason why until you showed me in the last few days, that it is not necessary to think of reasons. Perhaps..." He gritted his teeth and whispered softly. "I was wrong." He heard soft hiccup from her. "You are who you are and where you came from had given you that personality you have."

She looked up at him again, "So you are saying, if I were born in this era, I wouldn't be myself?"

"Perhaps. You are Kagome, and I will have it no other way." He said as he drew his fingers down her cheek, eliciting a blush from her.

She looked to her lap, "then, why do I have to learn all of those stupid manners?"

"For the others, you are to hold an image of a Lady; I will not have my mate insult the other lords. But in private, you may be yourself."

"I suppose I can do that." She sighed as she dropped her hands into her lap.

"However," he started, "you have broken the bond between us." He saw her look up at him with surprise. "In your anger, your Miko power broke the curse and now you are free. If you wish, you may go, go back to InuYasha, and go back to your time."

She gaped at him, realizing he was right. "But..." He rested his finger on her lips, stopping her.

"It would not be right for me to bind you here." He said softly.

She shook her head, taking his finger away from her lips. "I can't do that. I can't just go and leave you to those elders and the other lords. If fate brought me here, then I should stay here. I have seen how important your kingdom is to you and I wouldn't want that on my conscience that I was the one who was responsible for you losing your kingdom. I will stay; I will be your mate..." She swallowed hard and held his hand in her hand. "I will try my best to learn everything I can to be the Lady of Western Land."

He gave a soft rare smile, "Spoken like a true Lady." He rose and helped her up on her feet and drew her into his chest, holding her in his arm. "I am honored to have such worthy mate, a woman worthy of me. I still stand by my words; I will have no other, but you." He tilted her face up with his hand to stare into her blue eyes. She blushed under his gaze.

The silence was broken as her stomach growled. She gasped and giggled, grasping her stomach in embarrassment. "I suppose that was undignified."

"It cannot be helped." He led her out of the room toward the dining hall. "My Lady cannot go hungry."

For the rest of the day, SesshoMaru had banished Shinji from his lessons with Kagome and spent the day, showing her around the palace, explaining how the system of Lordship worked and what he expected a Lady to do around the palace. In return, she told him of her time, her childhood and her dislike and likes. She even told him of her adventure with InuYasha, what she had seen and who she had met during her journey.

The rest of the day went without any problems from the two. Rin was rather happy to be able to play with Kagome more and farther away from SesshoMaru. Kagome even went to put Rin to bed while SesshoMaru went to his chamber.

When Kagome joined him to bed, she blushed as she slipped into bed with him and turned to him, reaching up, she cupped his face and gave him a kiss on his cheek, bidding him good night and turned away to sleep.

He stared at her, surprised that she had given him a kiss and settled down next to her, drawing her close to him, his arm wrapped around her waist. Soon, he joined her in slumber land, sleeping peacefully. For the first time in his life, he was actually looking forward to life with her as his mate, knowing things would change from now on.

Seven Days : Day Five

Kagome eyes remained close but she knew it was already morning. She was feeling so warm and comfortable and didn't want to wake up, yet her consciousness was awake. She tried to move but found herself restrained. Opening her eyes, she glanced down and saw a clawed hand snaked around her waist, holding her very intimately, the hand was splayed on her lower abdomen, so close to her womanhood. She blushed and felt a strong heartbeat thumping on her back and realized, SesshoMaru was behind her, spooning her body, his warm breath breathing on her neck, causing her to shiver.

The hand gripped her waist tighter, bringing her to his back fully and he whispered in her ears, "Keep up with the thoughts you are having now, I would be forced to take you right here and right now."

Kagome blinked and gave a questioning hum, afraid to open her mouth. He then chuckled into her neck, his voice causing a delicious shiver down her spine and the heat to pool in her belly. "Mmhm," He replied, "Whatever you are thinking, I can smell your arousal and it is rather tempting... I wouldn't want to ruin whatever we started to build." He murmured in her neck, giving her small kisses down her collarbone.

She gasped and went beet red then nearly groaned as his lips were doing wonderful thing to her neck and shoulder. She shivered and suddenly with a flash, SesshoMaru was above her, pinning her down, looking at her with fierce expression that she couldn't decipher for it was the first time she had seen him with such look. The look was making the heat in her belly burn like a hot fire.

SesshoMaru had woken up before Kagome, yet he chose to lie there, enjoying her in his arm, her body flush to his body as they spooned in bed. He could feel her heartbeat increase tempo as she started to waken. It wasn't long that he knew she was fully awake yet had not opened her eyes. She then started to move and he held her in place and he watched her move her head, assuming she was looking at his hand around her waist, sure enough she was. Suddenly, her scent changed, becoming spicier and making his head spin.

He assumed whatever she was thinking was causing her to become aroused. Amused at this, he warned her to stop, yet the scent was getting stronger. He couldn't help but bury his nose into her neck, trailing tiny kisses down to her collarbone and over her delicate shoulder. Her skin tasted so sweet and he wanted more. She shivered under her touch and he couldn't take it any more, with a quick move, he hovered over her, boring his eyes into her ocean eyes. He could smell her arousal become heavier.

Growling softly, "Kagome..." he heard her gasp softly and repeated, "Kagome... I warned you..." He groaned as he dipped her head to rest on her forehead, his breath mingling with hers. "I don't want to take you right here, right now without your lack of knowledge of InuYoukai mating. I know you are not ready for me..."

She reached up and touched his cheek, blushing hotly as she heard him. She saw the desire in his eyes and it made her feel special knowing it was her that caused such emotion in the stoic TaiYoukai. "I can't help it..." She started, whispering. "You're right, I better learn about the mating..." He saw her blush deeper and wondered how much more he could make her blush. "If you don't mind, get off me and let me up for the day." She gave a small laugh.

He crashed his body down upon her, causing her to gasp loudly in his ear. He closed his eyes, knowing such sound she made, he would hear again once he takes her for his own soon. He opened his eyes to meet her eyes. "You are mine..." he whispered and rolled right off her, allowing her free.

She laid there as his weight came free from her body. She never thought she would be in such place when he laid his body upon her. It felt good and she wanted more. She sat up and went over to her wardrobe, pulling open the door to pick the kimono for the day. She recalled the seamstress telling her that she would be wearing her kimono once, perhaps twice if she was lucky. She wonders how ravenous SesshoMaru could get and blushed horribly red. She shook her head and murmured under her breath, "I got to stop blushing."

"It's rather attractive on you." She gasped as SesshoMaru suddenly was behind her, whispering in her ear. "Sweet and innocent." He said with such ferocity that caused her to think of the wolf and the red little riding hood. She could imagine herself as that fairy tale girl, facing before the wolf. Then she realized she had thought something rather kinky and groaned, smacking her hand on her head. She heard SesshoMaru chuckle behind her, reaching around her to pull out his clothes for the day. "You've been thinking naughty thoughts since the moment you woke... what brings this on you?" He asked as he withdrew from her back and moved away to dress.

She rolled her eyes. "It's not my fault." She retorted lightly as she took the kimono in her hand and went toward the door that led to the bath. "It's your fault." She said before disappearing into the bath chamber that had adjoined the bed chamber, only separated by thin shoji wall with decorative painting on it, showing the scenery of the lush land and majestic mountains.

He chuckled softly and went on his morning ritual. It wasn't long before they both were ready for the day. He led her silently down the hall to the dining hall and they found Rin already awake and sitting at the table. They ate in silence once again, listening to Rin's chatter about her plan for the day.

Then Rin paused for a moment before asking Kagome, "Can you play with me this afternoon when you are done with your lesson?" She had known about Kagome's lessons with Shinji and didn't like it but knew the importance that Kagome to learn to be a Lady.

"Kagome has no more lessons with Shinji. She may spend her day with you." said SesshoMaru.

Rin cheered, "Yay, oh, Kagome-chan, I want to show you the West Garden. Ooh, we can make flowers..." She went on and on about what they could do, what they should do with Jaken and many other things. Kagome looked to SesshoMaru, smiling at him.

"Why don't we bring some of the scrolls outside and read in the garden?" Kagome turned to Rin and saw the girl nod in excitement. "That way, I can keep up with my study that I've started when I arrived here." She blushed slightly, knowing what she will be reading about later on that day.

When they had finished breakfast, they all headed to his office and he went about pulling several scrolls and handed them to Kagome. He gave her a hint of a sly smile and watched her head out into the garden with Rin. He noticed that she had long stopped blushing, assuming she was getting used to the idea by now.

As Kagome reached the garden, she found a large tall willow tree with branches and leaves draped down, giving a rather nice shade. She went under the tree and found cushions already there. She assumed it was a favorite place to read for someone. She sat down and picked up a scroll. Rin had joined her with a scroll of her own. She started to read and became enthralled with the history of InuYoukai.

She was surprised how far superior the InuYoukai race was, the scroll had documented war and accomplishments that had brought to the Western Land. How they had influenced the mankind without their knowledge and she could actually see how much of the InuYoukai could have been at hand of her future from where she came from.

She looked up to find SesshoMaru standing before her, looking down at her. Rin had gone off some while ago to play. He sat down where Rin had vacated and leaned on his elbow. She felt her heart beat faster as she watched him recline, his face expressionless yet she saw amusement and curiosity in his eyes. He looked like a god just lying on his side, propped up by his elbow, looking at her with such intense eyes.

"Anything interesting?" He asked his voice low. He knew his voice had such effect on her and wondered why he had not used such method from day one, they would have been making faster progress, but no, their stubbornness and pride had to stand in the way.

She lowered her eyes to the scroll she was holding and nodded. "The history is so fascinating. I never realized that the InuYoukai had so much influence in the world, even in the human's history. It's rally sad that they didn't know most of their lives were made by the InuYoukai."

SesshoMaru nodded as he reached out and took the scroll from her hand and scanned where she was at. "Ah, yes. Kami-Sama had originally made us out to rule the world, all creature and such. He favored the dogs, for their loyalty and intelligence."

Kagome rested her head on her hand which was propped by her elbow, "Yeah, but what happened to the original plan, it obviously didn't happen then."

SesshoMaru leaned back and crossed his arms under his head, "That's another story for later. Now, did you read the other scrolls yet?"

Kagome shook her head and saw that there was only one scroll left to read. She picked it up and read it. She went red once again and sighed, "This is the mating scroll." She murmured.

He looked over to her and chuckled softly as he saw the pink tint on her cheeks. "How many times must you blush today alone?" He asked his voice soft and low.

"Stop teasing me. This kind of things is not a subject I tread on often." Kagome replied waspishly and returned to reading. "My, my..." She murmured as she kept on reading. "Not much difference from human mating except for the procedure."

SesshoMaru glanced up through the tree to the sky, watching the birds fly overhead. "Yes." He replied. "That is the only difference. There's grooming, exchange of bloods and giving one another pleasure before finally sealing the deal with the act."

Kagome stared agape at the scroll as it gave very explicit details. "Why is this required?"

SesshoMaru tilted his head to study her feature. "It is required to strengthen the bond between the two. It doesn't happen very often, the Silver Inu is growing less and less each century because the ritual is not followed through. The ritual also helps the female to go into heat to ensure pups."

Kagome frowned as she placed the scroll down. "SesshoMaru, I don't understand. Why is it so hard for your race to breed? In the last few days I have been here, I have seen different kind of youkai servants in your household, some are inu youkai, none of them are of your color, the white ones."

SesshoMaru sat up and turned himself to face her. "I am a Silver Inu. You will not find any Silver Inu servants, only the Silver Inu are of royalty. And indeed, there are not many of us left."

"Oh, no wonder." Kagome's eyes went wide. "But why me?" She asked as she tilted her head. "Those three old men said something about taking a Miko as a mate... won't I give you a hanyou child?"

SesshoMaru smirked slightly, "No. You are a Miko, and when we mate, you will give me a full blooded inu pup, a Silver Inu to be precise. The Silver Inu is considered Kami's favorite race, we are the only youkai with pure power, much like the Miko's, making us compatible without harming one another. The elders chose you because you are one of the most powerful Miko alive in this time." He rose from the cushions and held his hand out for Kagome to take.

She took his hand and he helped her up and led her back into the palace, leading her through the hallways until they approached a hallway with shoji wall that had painting on them. Not a single shoji in the palace were blank, all of them had images everywhere, of anything from history to tales and songs. They were all beautiful and precise painting, making the walls unique.

SesshoMaru gestured to the wall, "This is the history of the Silver Inu, of how they came to be in the beginning."

Kagome studied the wall, it was the full hallway. As she walked slowly, taking in the images, she could tell where the story begins and moves on. The painting was amazing in details. It was a backdrop of the Western Land, in its glory from the highest mountain to the lowest valley, covered in lust green forest. She recognized InuYasha forest and the snow capped mountain along the border. She had traveled there herself several time with InuYasha in the search of the Shikon no Tama shards.

As she moved along, she saw images of inu youkai, she figured was the ancestor of SesshoMaru's clan and the former Lords before Inutaisho. Finally, she recognized a figure to be Inutaisho. She touched the image, tracing his outline and whispered, "Your father."

"You recognize him." SesshoMaru stated his voice in slight awe. He was rather surprised that Kagome knew what his father looked like.

She looked up to him and smiled shyly. "I remember what he looked like when he appeared after we sealed So'Unga in hell." She turned and looked at the wall, seeing the story progress, telling how he met a Miko and gave birth to a son, who became SesshoMaru. Then the Miko disappeared from the picture, oddly enough, the entire time, she had no face. Kagome frowned, wondering at this. She noticed a familiar tale where Inutaisho met a human princess and fell in love with her, creating InuYasha then.

The painting showed that he was wounded by battling Ryuukotsusei and confront with young SesshoMaru. Since the images did not show dialogues, she wondered what words were exchanged between them then. Finally, the death of Inutaisho, in the fire locked in battle with Sestuna no Takemaru and Izayoi, the human princess holding an inu-hanyou child. It was the last documented images of Izayoi and InuYasha.

Kagome came to the next part of the wall and saw the image of young SesshoMaru. She guessed it was when he became the next Lord of the Western Land. The painting was almost exact, down to every detail. She reached up and traced SesshoMaru's young face. His face was set in innocent expression yet his eyes held hatred. Her heart went out to him, because she knew how he felt when Inutaisho died, angry that his Father had turned to a human and bore a hanyou. Angry that Takemaru had been the cause of his father's death.

She turned and on the opposite wall, she frowned, trying to figure it out, there was an image of a woman next to the backdrop of scenes, background and many images. She looked like an ancient Miko, dressed in the Miko garb and ancient armors. Kagome studied her face, finding the Miko familiar and it hit her, "That's Midoriko!" She gasped as he came behind her. "Midoriko, the creator of Shikon no Tama?" Kagome asked, looking up to his face.

"Hai, my father felt he should honor her, having this painted and this," He gestured to the mural of stories that she had took her time looking at. "This is the history of the Silver Inu Clan."

Kagome turned to the mural and it started to make sense to her, a little bit. "What happened there?" She pointed to the battle, blood and massacre of the Inu Youkai.

SesshoMaru gave a single nod, figuring she would learn eventually and the time was good. "In the beginning of the time, Silver Inu was a favorite race of the Kami, however, he made us too arrogant, harsh and selfish," He heard her snort and smirked a bit, "You believe this so?" He turned to her.

She glanced up at him, having the gall to look sheepish, "Yeah... you're arrogant and conceited. It makes senses. InuYasha is too, I suppose it's hereditary. Sorry, continue your story." She waved her hand.

He turned back to the mural, ignoring her underlying insults, finding them amusing. "The male of the Silver Inu became selfish with the female, they were too rough, in the end, and they were all wiped out. The Kami was very upset, he decided to not create any more female Silver Inu, and our lineage was in danger of fading out through cross breeding with other species." He moved to the scene on the mural where a large InuYoukai in his true form was standing next to a human woman, it was obvious that the woman was a Miko for her garb was red and white. "One of my ancestors found that he could keep the lineage pure by mating with a Miko, a powerful one." He turned to Kagome, "thus, it had become our tradition to mate with Miko and breed our lineage, to keep it going, pure and unsullied."

"So, that's why I am here... I'm a Miko and you need an heir." She sighed and closed her eyes, crossing her arms to hug herself, "I'm not from this era, I shouldn't be the one."

"Hai. But it is unfortunate; you are indeed the most powerful Miko in the area, perhaps, since Midoriko. The elders," He turned to the mural, "they are one of the few remaining true Silver Inus from the beginning of the time. They regret what had happened and they made it to their life's sole duty to the Silver Inu Clan to see that we keep our lineage going." His hand dropped from her shoulder.

She felt the warmth disappear, "What happened here?" She pointed to the scene above the inu and the Miko, where there was thunderstorm clouds hovered.

"When the Kami found that the Silver Inu found a way to keep their lineage pure, he cast a curse upon us, only male Inus would be born, no female. The elders believed that only a powerful inu and a powerful Miko would break the spell. How, I'm not quiet sure."

Kagome turned to SesshoMaru, "I see. Then, why is Midoriko is here?"

He looked to his mother's picture. "Midoriko... was my mother."

She gasped, "Your mother?" She grasped the jewel that hung around her neck in her hand. He turned to her and covered her hand over with his own, "Hai. You see why you are chosen to give me an heir?" He asked, searching her blue eyes, he found that he could read her emotions within them.

Kagome nodded, "I understand. I suppose, I'll..." She choked up and he saw the sadness in her eyes, "I'll give you your heir."

He threw the resisting out of the window and gathered her in his arm, he took her close to his body, "You wish to not part with the child, I understand this. I... I do not want my son to grow up without a mother, this is why you must be my mate, and be the mother to my son as he grows up."

Kagome sniffed as tears started to stream down her face, "You, you didn't grow up with a mother?" She looked to the image of Midoriko.

"No. Once she gave birth to me, she left. Inutaisho told me that she had a greater duty..." He drew back from her and took hold of the Shikon no Tama, rolling it between his thumb and finger,"She in the end made this." He sensed sadness in her, "You are sad."

Kagome nodded, "Yes. I... I want love... but in this case, I know it will be a long time before I have love."

SesshoMaru reached up to brush her hair away from her face, "You want love... True, we do not have such word for love in our language; it is simply an emotion that we find as a weakness..." He tilted her chin up. "It will be difficult. We express it differently than human do, and you only know the way humans express it."

Kagome gave a sad smile, "We are of two different worlds."

He gave a nod. "Hai."

"If I learn the way you express love, will you give it to me?" She asked with tiny voice, her eyes welling up with tears.

He stared at her, studying her face and one by one, the tears rolled down her cheeks. He felt stabs of pain in his chest, one for each tears. He realized he wanted her to be happy, make her happy and keep her happy. He didn't like the feeling he have when she was sad or upset. He knew a few days ago that he wanted to protect her and provide for her. He would kill for her; give her whatever she wanted if she ever asked. Is this love? He asked himself and the answer was staring at him in the face. It indeed was. A soft smile graced his lips as he wiped the tears away, he knew, if she ever cry, he would make sure he was there, to wipe each tears away, "You already have it."