RE-UPLOADED DUE TO DELETION. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED ME GET A COPY OF IT.

Disclaimer: Don't own.

I can't believe Inuyasha hasn't come to get me yet. Kagome thought with a snort as she trudged towards the well house. Usually by the end of her first day in her own time Inuyasha would lose his patience, or just grow bored, and come over to her time to make sure she was 'really doing your stupid tests' and not 'going out with Hobo'.

Shaking her head with a smile, Kagome opened the door to the well house that had once terrified her so, and sauntered over to the well, jumping up onto the mouth with practiced ease.

Five years had passed since she'd fallen into the well, freed Inuyasha, and began searching for the shards. Now at nineteen she was far from the girl she'd once been. Her hair was longer, silkier, and her body a roadway of firm curves. Her eyes a tranquil blue, and one might have said that she resembled Kikyou more now, but with her constant smile and cheery disposition, no one could ever confuse Kagome for her gloomy ancestor.

Surprisingly enough thanks to their truce, Sesshomaru had trained her in the art of fighting since Inuyasha didn't have the patience. Kagome still couldn't believe that the youkai who hated ningen so much would take time out to teach her how to fight-and get her a sword. When she'd asked him why he was helping her he'd told her in his emotionless voice that she was the guardian of the nearly complete Shikon No Tama, and with the fate of his kingdom depending on the outcome of their soon battle with Naraku he had to make sure that at least one of them could hold a sword the right way.

Obviously he was still disdainful of Inuyasha and his fighting techniques.

Those two will never be close. Kagome sighed.

Not only had she grown into her looks and fighting abilities, but Kagome had grown into her miko abilities as well. Her purification powers had long since surpassed Kikyou's own—much to the other miko's constant displeasure—and they were as natural to her as breathing.

Her fingers glowed and cackled with pink light, but she fisted her hands and the glow faded away.

Why did this feel off somehow?

Frowning, Kagome sensed an odd feeling in the air, unconsciously touching the sword that hung from her wide hips and the bow and quiver with arrows that were slung over her shoulder. Was this presence she felt a youkai come to challenge her for the shards she had?

Follow me through the well and leave my loved ones alone.

Jumping into the well, Kagome felt a cold chill pass through her, but before she could wonder at the difference in the travel, she was on the other side.

Odd.

Climbing up the well, Kagome sat on the mouth and her frown darkened. Where was Inuyasha? And why did this look different somehow?

Movement in the forest caught her attention, and she sensed youkai…many of them. She would have left rapidly—for they were too many to take on foolhardily—until she heard a female cry out in fear.

Without thought as to her own safety, Kagome took off, hoping that Inuyasha would soon pick up her scent and come to help her. Pulling out her bow and arrow she leapt towards the sounds of fighting, and paused in horror at the scene before her.

Multitudes of youkai were surrounding a young youkai female with a young pup around Shippou's age, who was trying to fight back despite how disadvantaged he was. The inu female was fighting admirably considering the odds against her and the fact that she had to keep her child safe.

Kagome let an arrow loose in the back of the group away from the female, worried that she might get purified as well. The arrow pierced six youkai and purified them, exploding and purifying many more around them, cutting down the numbers drastically all around the female yet making sure that she and her pup were safe.

The constant blasts of purifying energy stunned the youkai, and Kagome met the surprised yet grateful eyes of the female youkai before her eyes widened when one of the male youkai thrust their hands through her stomach.

"Mama!" The child cried as the female fell.

Kagome gave a cry and dropped her bow and arrow, pulling out Raidon, the sword given to her by Sesshomaru, and charged. The youkai turned their backs on the fallen female inu youkai and attacked Kagome, but despite her show of power they underestimated her and paid for it.

When the last youkai fell, Kagome hurried to the female inu youkai, who was cradling her son, and was whispering comforts to him as she breathed heavily.

"Are you okay?" Kagome asked, keeping her distance because she knew that animals tended to attack when injured.

The young pup, covered and hidden by his cloak, turned and growled at her.

"You're a ningen." The female hissed out after chastising her son with a warning growl. "Why would you help this Nami?"

Kagome blinked. This woman spoke a lot like Sesshomaru. Was she a cousin? "You were being attacked, Nami-sama. Should I have allowed you and the pup to be hurt?"

The little one growled once more, sounding annoyed at having been called a 'pup'.

The inu youkai looked up at Kagome in suspicion, before an awed expression crossed her face. "You are an odd ningen, miko."

Kagome nearly snorted. This woman had to be family to Sesshomaru. How many times had he told her that very same thing while they were training? "You are still hurt," she whispered, suddenly realizing that the wound wasn't healing.

Nami-sama opened her mouth to say something when she frowned and with a hiss of pain she leaned forwards, sniffing. "Come closer, miko."

Kagome hesitated but did as told. "We need to heal you. I—I might purify you by accident if I try, so if you have anyone I can contact to-." She gave a cry when the youkai reached forwards and grabbed her hand, pulling her closer, sniffing her nearly frantically. "N-Nami-sama?"

The pup suddenly froze and sniffed the air as well before hesitantly leaving his mother's side to sniff around Kagome. He whimpered and pulled back as it to run, before pausing, straightening his back, and returning to her with steely resolve, sniffing once more.

Kagome frowned. Did she smell that bad?

"How do you have his scent all over you? Why is that specific scent coverings yours?" Nami-sama asked herself, she then gave a little cry of pain as her wound grew.

Realizing that the youkai wasn't about to hurt her, Kagome frowned. "I need to look for help for you. Who can I-." Had the pup just growled at her again?

Yes, he HAD!

The pup sniffed the arm his mother had in a death grip, and once again he growled, but instead of it sounding threatening it was a throaty, pleased sound. He sniffed up the young miko's arm and altered between making the odd growling sounds and…was that a purr?

Kagome frowned at the pup. She wasn't used to this behavior—Shippou didn't do this. The young miko wondered if this was Inuyoukai behavior, never noticing that she was glowing, or that thanks to the hold Nami-sama had on her, she was glowing as well, and the injury she now sustained was beginning to close up.

The female inuyoukai was amazed, realizing the power in this miko, and the significance of her son's actions.

"Hey!" Kagome exclaimed when the pup grabbed the hem of her skirt and lifted it, sniffing all the while. Slapping at his hands, she glared at the child she had yet to see thanks to the cloak when he growled at her for her actions. "Look here runt, I don't know what you think you-hey!-stop growling at me!"

The child grabbed the hand she'd slapped his with, and with a strength that surprised her, pulled her towards him, growling all the while.

"Sesshomaru." Nami-sama growled scolding him for his actions.

Kagome's eyes widened. Sesshomaru? Does Sesshomaru-sama have a mate and pup? Why didn't he tell us?

The pup froze and reluctantly let go of Kagome, as did his mother.

The miko stood and turned to look at Nami-sama, surprised to see her completely healed. "Oh, you healed yourself." She sighed in relief, standing. "I'm glad." Sesshomaru would have killed her if she let something happen to his mate and pup!

Nami-sama was surprised that the miko hadn't realized that she'd healed her. Were her powers so strong that even though she'd subconsciously healed a wound that would have killed her, she didn't even feel weak?

There was movement in the shadows and Kagome sprung forwards, grabbing Raidon once more and standing in a defensive pose.

There was a feral growl.

"Touga." Nami-sama rapidly stood to her feet as a menacing figure stepped from the shadows. "Do not hurt her. She saved this Nami and your heir from those dishonorable youkai who would have murdered us."

The inuyoukai stepped out into the sunlight, growling at a suddenly pale Kagome. "Why would you help youkai, ningen?" He wanted to know as he stalked towards her.

Kagome's face drained of color. No. It CAN'T be! Her heart stopped as she saw Inutaisho…Inuyasha and Sesshomaru's father. She remembered him from when they'd sealed his third sword in hell. Dear Kami. The well sent me more than a 1,000 years back in time instead of 500!

Just then she caught a look at herself in Inutaisho's armor and nearly cried out when she realized that she was fifteen again! What was HAPPENING TO HER?

Due to her inner stress she didn't notice the pup Sesshomaru go in front of her and growl at his father, neither did she see Inutaisho pause and frown at his son's behavior before sniffing the air around her and his eyes went wide.

The Taiyoukai shared a look with Nami-sama and she nodded. He frowned, looking from his son to at Kagome thoughtfully, all menace replaced by curiosity. "Ningen."

Kagome looked up at him. "H-hai, Taiyoukai-sama?"

"You will accompany us to the Western Lands as an honored guest for having saved my mate and heir's lives."

Her eyes went wide. "Arigato, Taiyoukai-sama, but I must decline the most generous offer, because I have a long journey to my home. I-I-my family will be worried and I must continue with my duties as miko and my duties to my family and-." Once again the pup-was it really Sesshomaru?-was growling at her.

She frowned at him, growing more and more annoyed at the moment, and she was sure the three youkai could smell it on her. What was his deal? Sure, he hated humans—but she was leaving for crying out loud!

The hood fell backwards, and the face of a very young, very displeased Sesshomaru glared up at her as if she'd committed some capital crime against him.

Kagome gasped, shocked to see Sesshomaru like this—so young.

He's so CUTE!

She couldn't help but giggle at the evil look the Sesshomaru she knew would have given her if he knew she'd thought that about his younger self-even if it were completely true.

The glare softened on the pup's face at her giggle.

"Miko, I am sure your family and your promised one will understand the honor being given you." Inutaisho declared. "You are to be the miko of my palace."

Nami-sama understood what her mate was doing, and she allowed herself a small smile, agreeing with his method. Plus, she truly wanted to get to know the young miko that not only had saved their lives, but had her son's fully grown scent all over her.

Kagome thought about Inuyasha and shook her head. "Thank you for the offer, Taiyoukai-sama," she bowed rapidly, taking some steps backward. "But I'm afraid he wouldn't be too happy at all, and I have a duty that I am honor-bound to and cannot leave." Bowing once more, she sheathed Raidon and hurried to where she'd left her bow and quiver filled with arrows.

Slinging them over her shoulder she was about to hurry towards the well and jump in when there was a blur of white, and Sesshomaru was in front of her, growling, advancing on her.

She took a couple of steps back before frowning and keeping her ground. "What is your problem?" She growled, side-stepping him and taking a step forwards only to have him block her move, growling in growing displeasure.

"How dare you address this Sesshomaru in such a disrespectful way, ningen?" He spoke, surprising her silly because despite the fact that he looked the age of Shippou, she'd still expected to hear his older, emotionless voice.

"Listen Sesshomaru," Kagome frowned at him, narrowing her eyes. "I am not taking this from you! Especially not when you're a mere pup!" Side-stepping him, she took off as quickly as she could towards the well. She almost made it only to have something barrel into her, causing her to crash into the grass.

By the time she recuperated from the fall, she didn't need to look up to know what had happened. The angered growl was enough to let her know that that little runt had crashed into her.

"Sesshomaru, she may be a miko but she's still human." Nami-sama's voice was right next to her. "You might hurt her."

"Then order this ningen to obey this Sesshomaru." The pup ordered difficultly.

"Be glad I don't hurt pups." Kagome groaned as she forced herself to her feet, hand itching to grab Raidon just to hit the arrogant pup on the head with it's dull side. She was beginning to understand Inuyasha's relationship with Shippou.

"That sword…"

Kagome looked up and at Inutashio, who stood besides his mate, looking at Raidon in surprise. "It is made from a fang freely given of Sesshomaru!"

The miko froze in shock. What? He'd never told her that!

"I knew it!" Nami-sama smiled, her suspicions confirmed. "You are from the future, ne?"

Kagome grew uneasy. "I—I—I'm terribly sorry." With that she jerked around, climbed up on the well and jumped in before anyone could stop her.

Climbing back out of the well, Kagome froze.

She wasn't back home.

Frowning uneasily, she sat on the mouth of the well and looked around. She wasn't even in a meadow, but in a secured, exotic-looking garden. Where the heck was she and what was wrong with the well?

Inuyasha's going to be sooo angry! I'm never going to make it back there and he's going to think that I'm just fooling around or taking tests or-.

"You are to follow me, miko."

Giving a little cry, Kagome realized that she wasn't alone any longer. Sometime during her inner rambling an ugly little green creature had appeared before her and—wait—was that-? "Jaken?"

The younger version of the ugly toad youkai looked up at her in surprise. "How do you know my name, ningen? Are you a witch as well as a miko?"

She frowned. This wasn't good. This wasn't good at all. "Where am I?"

"In the Palace of Lord Inutaisho of course." The toad youkai sniffed at her in disdain. "Now come with me. I have been ordered to that post for too many centuries to have you run off now that you've returned."

Kagome frowned, her curiosity getting the better of herself. What was Jaken talking about? And why was the well now in the Western Lands? In Inuyasha's father's palace for crying out loud?

Feet touching the ground, Kagome followed the prissy toad out of the garden and into the majestic palace. She'd never been in Sesshomaru's palace before, and wondered if it looked like this during Inuyasha's time or if the new Lord of the Western Lands had changed it up.

She didn't think of Sesshomaru as the decorative type, so she guessed the palace looked the same.

"Jaken?" She asked as they continued to walk. "Where are you taking me?"

He stiffened, obviously angered at the thought of her questioning him. "My Master has entrusted me with the sacred duty of guarding that vile well, and I have finally proven my worth to him after all of these years."

Great for you, Kagome thought sarcastically. But you didn't exactly answer my question.

"Are Taiyoukai-sama and Nami-sama well?" She asked out of pure curiosity.

Jaken paused before continuing his waddling. "Nami-sama was killed two hundred years ago by rogue youkai."

Kagome's heart hurt at the revelation. She'd always known that Sesshomaru had lost his mother at a young age, but still the revelation broke her heart. He was truly like her little Shippou now—except, of course, he still had a father.

So lost in her thoughts, Kagome never noticed that they'd reached their destination until she nearly trampled over Jaken, who'd thrown himself onto the ground in a clumsy yet enthusiastic way.

She frowned, looking down at the prostrate creature. "Did you trip or something?"

"Bow you fool!" The toad hissed, voice muffled by the carpet.

Frown growing deeper, she looked up and her eyes widened when she noticed that they were in an almost empty throne room, and sitting on the throne was the Taiyoukai himself.

"Taiyoukai-sama!" Kagome bowed from her waist rapidly.

"Miko. You haven't aged a day." There was a pause, and his lips curled upward in obvious amusement. "How very…convenient."

She winced. I'm still fifteen then? Darn it. What has that well DONE?

"I have brought her as you have requested, my lord." Jaken continued bowing fervently.

"Well done Jaken."

The toad nearly fainted with joy at the praise.

Kagome rolled her eyes at the creature before turning to its master. "Taiyoukai-sama, why was the well brought to the Western Lands? It doesn't belong here."

Jaken jumped to his feet and shook his fist at her. "How dare you question my lord and master? How-?"

"You sent for me father?" A voice asked behind her. "I-." He suddenly went silent as the sound of sniffing reached her ears.

Kagome froze. While it wasn't the deep, emotionless voice she was used to, it was quite different from the one she'd heard him use last time.

Turning, she gulped when her eyes fell upon Sesshomaru, except, he was quite a bit older than he had been during her last visit. The pup had grown into a young youkai of what would seem to be sixteen in human years, but she knew that he was far older than that.

"Sesshomaru-sama." She quickly bowed as well, remembering that long before this age Sesshomaru's hatred for humans had already been planted in his heart, and she hadn't really made a great impression with him last time so-.

She gave a little 'eep' when there was a blur of color and she was pushed against the wall hard enough to knock the air out of her but not enough to truly hurt her. Sesshomaru grabbed her wrists with one hand and held them above her before pinning her against the wall with one hand pressed against her chest.

"Hey!" She exclaimed, trying to wriggle free from him only to go still when he leaned towards her and began to sniff.

What was it with him and sniffing her?

"Get off me buddy." She growled, thrashing in his hold. She didn't care that he was the 'killing perfection', she wanted him to let go! He had no right having his hand on her chest and restrain her like this!

He growled right back at her. "Silence bitch! Submit to your alpha!"

"What are you talking about?" She continued struggling. "You are not my alpha!"

His hold on her wrists became numbing as he stopped the flow of blood to her hands. "Who is?"

"I don't have an alpha you—you—argh!" She sent a blast of purification power towards him and sent him staggering back in surprise, cursing the burning pain that'd engulfed him for a second. "Touch me again and I'll purify your ass!"

Inutaisho watched the happenings with open amusement.

Jaken's bug-eyes widened in horror.

"Who is the hanyou that marred your scent during our last meeting and still mars it today?" Sesshomaru asked in a dead calm voice.

It scared Kagome more than his anger ever could. Still, she wouldn't back down. "That's none of your business, Sesshomaru-sama."

"This Sesshomaru will decide whether it is his business or not." Came the emotionless answer.

"No he will not." She narrowed her eyes at him angrily before turning her back on the son to look at the father. "Jaken informed me of Nami-sama's death—I'd like to offer my condolences."

Inutaisho smiled sadly at her.

"Do not offer so freely your condolences, for he is not a youkai in mourning." Sesshomaru announced. "He is expecting a hanyou bastard by a conniving ningen."

Obviously this was a sore topic, but Kagome couldn't help but smile. Inuyasha was soon going to be born!

Sesshomaru growled warningly in her ear.

She frowned at him. He wasn't acting like the Sesshomaru she'd grown used to. Sesshomaru never growled, never showed his anger—or any emotion for that matter. So why was he acting so out of character? And why was he so angry with her? Sure, they hadn't gotten along so well the last time they'd met, but he'd been a mere pup at the time and she had saved his and his mother's lives, hadn't she?

Shouldn't that count for something?

"You will come with this Sesshomaru." He ordered, grabbing her upper arm.

She jerked it away from him and went towards his father, savoring the surprised and outraged look on the young inuyoukai's face at her continual defiance. Good. He needed to be put in his place once in a while.

"Lord Taiyoukai, I must speak to you urgently." She bowed from her waist once more, deciding that the well had brought her back in time for a reason…what if it was to warn the Taiyoukai of what was to happen? If she could change the past Inuyasha would grow up with both parents and in the Western Lands as a prince like he should always have! He wouldn't be tortured, hurt, and persecuted!

Inutaisho nodded. "Speak."

She looked behind her at Jaken and Sesshomaru. "Alone."

Amusement grew in the Taiyoukai's face and he quickly looked at his son. "Is that alright with you, Sesshomaru?" He voice was filled with mirth that Kagome just couldn't understand.

And why ask Sesshomaru for permission?

"This Sesshomaru doesn't agree with this bitch's demands."

Her hackles begun to rise and she clenched his fists. "Well, this bitch doesn't want this Sesshomaru around." Why was he continuing to insult her? Plus, she preferred to think that she was 'catty' instead of 'bitchy'.

"How DARE you speak to young Lord Sesshomaru like that!" Jaken screamed in horror.

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at Kagome. "Bitch, you will learn your place."

"It will never be beneath you!" She'd meant that in a very innocent way, but seeing the shock on Sesshomaru's face before he suddenly smirked at her, Kagome gulped.

In seconds he was in front of her, nuzzling his face in her hair and whispering in her ear: "This Sesshomaru could make it very agreeable to be beneath him."

Too shocked to react, Kagome just looked up at him, face red, as he smirked and bowed to his father before leaving the throne room, Jaken trailing behind him.

"Who was that and what has he done with the Ice-Prince Sesshomaru that I know?" She whispered, forgetting that she was in the presence of Inutaisho and that he could hear her easily.

The Taiyoukai cleared his throat.

Kagome turned back to look at him with a sheepish expression for having forgotten he was there, and then started to explain.

Tired, the miko decided to take up Inutaisho's offer. He'd listened to her intently before announcing that he wanted her to stay for a while to help council him, since she was the one with the knowledge of the future, and while Kagome didn't know how Sesshomaru would take a ningen living under the same roof, she'd decided that Inuyasha's happiness was worth any fights or taunts she'd get.

She still couldn't believe that Sesshomaru had said that to her. He hated humans!

He was probably just rattling you.

And he succeeded.

Shivering, Kagome closed the door to her new bedroom and began to undo her belt. Laying Raidon and her bow and quiver of arrows on the bed, she sighed, taking the clip out of her long hair and taking out the plat. She'd discovered it to be a more practical hairstyle when one was fighting-loose hair could easily fall in your face a blind you while in battle-and a moment's blinding could cost you your life.

The door opened behind her, and a human servant entered, bowing once she saw her. "Excuse me Lady Miko, but I have been ordered to show you to the hot springs."

Kagome smiled. Now that was something she was in need of. "Thank you." Following the servant out to the private gardens, Kagome's smile grew when she saw the warm pool with steam rising from the water.

"Will you need me to bathe you, Lady miko?" The servant girl asked.

"Oh no!" Kagome shook her head rapidly. "I'll take care of that myself."

"As you wish." The girl bowed once more before returning the way she'd come.

Turning to the hot spring, Kagome began to undo her clothes and then once she was naked, she entered the hot spring and shivered in delight at the warmth that surrounded her on that chilly night. "Sango would love this place." She sighed, dipping her head under the water to wet her hair before resting with her back against a heating rock. "It's much better than the ones Inuyasha finds for us."

Just thinking of her best friend made Kagome sigh with nostalgia, wondering if he was looking for her or angry that she 'preferred those tests' to spending time with him.

"Oh Inuyasha," she sighed, hugging her knees to her chest. "I miss you, my stubborn yet utterly handsome and protective hanyou."

She was so lost in her thoughts of Inuyasha she didn't hear the jealous growl from behind the bushes.

"I wonder if he misses me like I'm missing him." Kagome asked herself before deciding to take a swim in the large warm water, diving under and never noticing the streak of white that flashed from the bushes to the palace.

Once she was too tired to enjoy the hot spring, Kagome dried and wrapped herself in the robe the maid had brought for her to change into. She remembered vaguely which room was hers and how to get to it, and after some minutes walking she stumbled into her bedroom and was in the process of throwing her robe on the ground when she suddenly realized that she wasn't the only one in the room.

Twirling around, she gave a scream and quickly reached for the robe, pulling it on so quickly one would have thought she had youkai genes. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?" She screamed, face red as a tomato, all sleep completely gone.

Of course, she was screaming at the silent, emotionless inuyoukai who was lying under her sheets.

He kept his eyes closed, hands behind his head. "This is this Sesshomaru's room, miko, where else would he be?"

Kagome blushed in shame. "Oh, I'm sorry Sesshomaru-sama. I—I must have mixed up the rooms and they look so much alike on the inside. I—I am so sorry for this intrusion, it won't happen again." She went to the bedroom door to open it, but it wouldn't budge.

"You haven't mixed up the rooms." He announced in a bored fashion, eyes still closed. "Your weapons and foot apparel are in the other closet, though I shredded your clothes and had the remains burnt because they were indecent and I wasn't about to have you dressing like a harlot."

She paused, turning to look at him with a frown, deciding to ignore the last part. "What do you mean I haven't mixed up the rooms?"

"Are you hard of hearing?"

She growled. "No, I just find it hard to understand how you can say that this is your room but that it is my room at the same time." She threw her hands in the air in frustration. "It's like saying it'sour room! Which, it isn't." She tried opening the door again, her attempts quite unsuccessful. "Why won't this thing open?"

"It's enchanted so that when this Sesshomaru is to sleep, no one can get in or out. It's a protection spell." He remarked dryly. "Quite handy actually."

"Well then, you'll just have to get out of bed and so I can get out of here and find another room, won't you?" She snarled, losing her temper. She was only wearing a robe and it was really cold.

He finally deemed the conversation important enough to open his eyes and look at her. "And, bitch, what room do you think you're sleeping in?"

"I don't know, it's a big palace." She shrugged, giving a tug at the door just for the heck of it. "Anywhere with a bed would be fine. I'm tired. Centuries might have passed for you since the last time we saw each other, but it's the same day for me, and I really need to rest and try to recuperate."

"Then get into bed and rest." That was an order.

And it pissed her off. "I will when you get off your ass and open the door for me!"

"I'm not getting up. Bitch, you were placed in my room, you will sleep in my bed, and you will rest and stop acting as snappy as if you were in heat." He closed his eyes and smirked in amusement. "Because this Sesshomaru knows you're not in heat, he'd smell it."

Kagome didn't know whether to be shocked, angry or embarrassed. Who the hell WAS this guy? There was no way the cocky bastard talking about her 'heat' was the ice-prince Sesshomaru she knew.

"Get in bed, bitch, its getting cold."

"Will you stop calling me bitch?" She snarled, getting fed up with the whole situation. "My name is Kagome, Ka-Go-Me, or you can even call me Miko. Just stop calling me bitch."

"I call you bitch because that's what you are." He announced as-a-matter-of-factly.

"Yeah? Well, you bring out the worst in me, you know that?" She growled, shivering, tugging angrily on the door. She wanted out, and right away!

"I don't understand how I haven't trained you better. Am I so busy in the future that I don't have the time to properly train my own bitch?" He seemed to be talking to himself. "Then again, being the Lord of the Western Lands does take time. And you might be a new acquisition of mine."

She stopped tugging and turned to him with a glare. "Excuse me, I'm not yours."

"How did we meet, bitch?" He asked, ignoring her earlier statement. "Did I buy you off of a slave market? Were you already working in the palace and I liked your smell? Were you given to me as a gift?"

"No," her voice was dripping with anger. "You tried to kill me."

He opened his eyes and sat up at that one. "Impossible, this Sesshomaru would never try to kill his own bitch."

"Once and for all, I am not your anything!" Kagome stomped angrily to the bed, keeping the robe wrapped around her, and dove under the sheets. She was freezing, and sick of standing bare-footed on the cold floor.

"Impossible." He declared, lying back down and closing his eyes.

"Oh?" She snorted, rubbing her hands together, trying to get warmth back into them. "And pray tell why is this so impossible?"

"My scent is all over you." He pointed out. "Even when I was a pup I scented my grown scent all over you and knew from then you were my bitch."

She paused, starting to understand the whole confusion. "No, no, no. You've got it all wrong. I travel with your brother." She didn't notice him tense up at that. "I live and travel with Inuyasha, the child your father is going to have with the human woman you seem to despise so much. We also travel with Miroku, a monk, Sango, a Demon Exterminator, Kirara—her neko demon friend, and-."

He interrupted in a soft voice. "The hanyou I smelt all over you, it was my brother."

"Yes!" She was glad that he got that.

"And you were with him when I supposedly tried to kill you?"

"Exactly!" Great, now he had understood everything.

"No wonder I tried to kill you. What was my bitch doing living with my brother?" He snarled, muscles tensed as he turned to glare at her. "Did he touch what belongs only to this Sesshomaru? Did he possess you?"

Kagome cried out as she was flipped with her back against the bed and an angry inuyoukai straddling her, eyes pink in anger.

"Answer me, my bitch! And know that I will know if you lie."

Her heart was racing. She'd never been in this position before with a youkai male, and the fact that he was aroused, and straddling her—well—she gulped.

"You aren't pure, bitch." He frowned deeper. "And I don't think that I have touched you—your body behaves as if mine is a foreigner. So I must have first discovered your existence while you were traveling with the hanyou bastard my father is to have with his ningen bitch and decided that I wished you for myself." The pinkness left his eyes and he seemed placated, talking calmly once more. "Who else traveled with you?"

"Shippou." She whispered, not understanding the heat her body was experiencing. She'd had sex before—with Hojo—but she'd never felt anything like she did with the youkai straddling her. "He's my pup."

Sesshomaru stilled completely. "Your pup?"

She nodded.

Getting off of her he laid on his back, looking up at the ceiling. "How old is he?"

"Around your age when I first met you." She whispered, turning her back on him and pulling the blankets up over her, sadness entering her as she thought of her little adopted youkai pup. "He must be missing me now." She sighed. "I know I miss him."

Sesshomaru was silent.

Closing her eyes, Kagome fell asleep, dreaming of her friends, of Shippou, and of a fully grown Sesshomaru, never noticing when she turned in her sleep and curled around his figure, seeking the warmth he offered her.

The inuyoukai looked down at her in silence, all the while wondering who the father of her pup was, if he was still alive—and if he was—how to kill him as painfully as possible.

TBC