AN: I've got no excuse for this long break, just life stuff. Forgive me!

Warning: Smut, gore and finding out what happened to Souta (i.e child murder) the latter two start with the italics so just skip those if the subject matter makes you uncomfortable.

Chapter Twelve

Stirring awake disoriented, Kagome had sat up to find herself alone, a blanket covering her body. She brushed a hand over weary eyes, set her shoulders and got up.

It felt like a cycle to continually experience such large, consuming emotions and quietly pack them away, but it proved necessary. Rin needed her to be strong. By day she'd be everything the little girl needed, by night she could allow herself to fall apart a little. Just so long as she could put herself back together in time for the next day.

After showering and dressing she hurried through the kitchen where Jaken squawked that 'he'd be the one to get Rin,' which she ignored, jogging out of the penthouse to the elevator.

While standing inside the metal cage, a skittish thought occurred to her. No one's watching me.

Sesshoumaru wasn't around. She'd left Jaken behind. Maybe she and Rin could...perhaps, take the elevator down to the first floor? No. It would be crawling with demons. She needed to stop running blindly into obstacles and start planning a genuine escape. With routes, a map of the city, knowledge of the guard's shift schedules and such.

Shaking her head at the knee jerk reaction to flee, Kagome stopped at Kouga's floor, approaching the door and knocking.

It swiftly swung open, Rin immediately launching herself out and hugging her legs tightly. Kagome swayed a little from the impact, grunting and giggling a little.

"Hey there, kiddo. Miss me?" she smoothed her hand over her hair.

"Mhm!" Rin nodded, squeezing tight.

Looking up, Kagome's eyes widened at the sight of Kohaku stepping out of the apartment as well, avoiding her questioning gaze.

"We had to call him down," Ayame approached the door, laughing a little awkwardly. "Turns out so many boisterous boys was a bit much for Rin to handle. We had to separate them until Kohaku gave us some help. He was a real trooper, you should have seen it! He was like a Knight, guarding her and telling my lil rascals to play nice."

Her stomach tightened with guilt. Kagome knelt before Rin, rubbing her arms in soothing motions. "I'm sorry. Are you alright?" she asked, brow furrowed. So much had been clogging her brain she hadn't stopped to think. Of course a child that had been isolated most of her life would freak out from so much enthusiastic attention.

Rin nodded, sniffing and rubbing at her eyes. "Mn. Kohaku… helped. Mrs Ayame and Mr Kouga were very nice. I felt… bad, for being…" she trailed off. The unspoken word was left hanging in the air.

"Well don't," the miko said firmly. "It's not your fault. I'm so proud of you," she murmured, gentling. "You've been strong. If things were different, you know I'd have come and got you myself."

It hadn't exactly been a traditional sleepover. Rin blinked, smiling a little.

Standing, Kagome noticed Ayame's large grin and glittering eyes. "You two are adorable," she cooed.

Kagome felt her face heat up, starting when the little girl took her hand, squeezing. It felt as natural as breathing to squeeze back. She then glanced at the boy, taking in his dulled expression. At least she now had a chance to tell him about the encounter with his sister last night. "Come have breakfast, little Knight," she said. "You helped out Rin, it would mean a lot to me if you joined us."

Kohaku nodded in his usual silent, doleful way.

With a quick but sincere thank you to Ayame, Kagome led the kids to the elevator.

Something occurred to her then, pushing the button. "Kohaku. Did Sesshoumaru order you to keep watch over Rin?"

He nodded, "if the wolves didn't request me, I was to go to them anyway and wait until you came to pick us up today."

Kagome's eyes narrowed as they stepped into the elevator. While on the surface it looked like a sweet thing to do, now she knew; Kohaku was just another way of monitoring them. If he hadn't been there, theoretically she could have taken Rin down to the first floor and try to glean the layout and distance to the door. But Sesshoumaru was one step ahead of her, blocking off exits the second she got the skittish urge to run again.

"Isn't that really nice of Lord Sesshoumaru?" Rin was beaming and swaying their joined hands. She'd picked up Kohaku's and was happily doing the same with him, much to his confusion.

"Yeah, very nice," Kagome muttered.

During breakfast, Kohaku remained silent save for a few non-committal noises. Rin jabbered on, her shyness far away now that she was comfortable once more. Jaken had huffed and stepped out of the penthouse to go run a few errands.

Kagome watched the door swing shut, soon turning to the boy. "I've been meaning to tell you but...I saw your sister last night."

Brown eyes flickered, briefly widening as they remained on his food, lifting slowly. "You... did?" He croaked thinly, looking fragile and brittle.

Dark brows pulled together and Kagome carefully reached out, placing a hand over his own. "Sango's doing alright. She asked about you and everything."

Some life warmed his eyes, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. The embers inevitably died within his gaze however, and he visibly withdrew, pulling his hand away. "Oh," he murmured at length.

"What's wrong?" Concern knitted her brow.

"It's nothing. I was just hoping that she'd have forgotten about me by now."

Horror knotted in her stomach, but it was Rin who piped up. "Why would you say that? That's mean!" she burst, tiny hands balling into fists.

Kohaku picked at his food, uncomfortable, and the miko swallowed. Withdrawing her hand from the cool surface of the table, she was about to say more when a quiet voice reached her ears. "It would be...less painful for her, if she forgot I existed. There's no point in wishing or wanting to see each other again, it'll never happen."

Rin and Kagome exchanged a glance.

When the boy excused himself to go to the restroom, Rin leaned over slightly. "I don't want Kohaku to be sad."

"I know."

"He's my friend," she insisted. "My very good friend. And friends look out for each other, yes? They make sure they're happy."

Kagome's heart warmed and she smoothed some hair back from the girl's face. "Mhm. I know what you're thinking."

"And?" Rin looked at her beseechingly.

Kagome stifled a sigh, flicking her forehead and causing giggles to break out. "I'll see what I can do, kiddo."

Since the revelation last night that she was privileged, the miko felt it only right to capitalise on it. Make use of it for others less fortunate than herself. She glanced at Rin and gentled her voice. "I'm glad he was there to help you. Was it...scary, before he showed up?"

Pushing her food around on her plate, Rin's eyes remained on her untouched eggs. "A little. There was just...so many kids. And they were loud, and jumping, and- they kept tugging my arms in different directions to go play, but I didn't want to."

Mood plummeting, Kagome stiffened. Her belly churned, stirring white-hot fire into her veins. Rin noticed her expression and jolted, waving both hands. "Mrs Ayame stopped them until Kohaku arrived, I was okay, promise."

Releasing a breath, the miko leaned down and hugged Rin, muttering an apology into her hair. In the grand scheme of things, boisterous boys were the least of their problems.

"I've been thinking about the time when I'll become a father. I do hope Rin will like the name 'Souta' for our son."

Kagome swallowed and squeezed the girl a little tighter.

Dutifully that afternoon, the miko trained. She pushed her body to its limits, coiling reiki out into her bow fairly easily now. Rin and Kohaku had tagged along to the training hall, doing some more defensive moves. The spark from earlier that had livened his body had entirely disappeared, leaving him withdrawn, expression as smooth and cold as a mannequin.

It was with this in mind that she asked Jaken to take her to a certain Daiyoukai.

Looking over the latest report from overseas, intent golden eyes flicked up the second a certain presence registered, drawing closer. How odd to feel the miko approach his office of her own volition. He lifted his head and leaned back slightly into the comfort of his leather chair, hearing two voices argue briefly outside the door.

There came a knock, and then; "Lord Sesshoumaru! We ask most humbly for permission to disturb your great sanctuary!"

He inwardly winced. Jaken's tone remained as high and nasally as ever. "Enter."

The door swung open, green toad trotting in, followed by Kagome. Their eyes met instantly, and he was rewarded with the sight of red blooming on her cheeks. The memory of her willing embrace and eager hips moving against his came to mind. He wondered what part, in particular, she was recalling, blunt teeth grazing her bottom lip briefly in a sensual drag.

Thin lips curved, and Sesshoumaru resurfaced, only catching the last few sentences of Jaken's latest tirade. "-and THAT'S why she sees fit to disturb you today. I tried to stop her, mi Lord, honest I-"

"That will be all, Jaken. You may leave us," Sesshoumaru dismissed.

His retainer made a small squeak, dipping into a bow and glaring at Kagome as he left. The miko watched the door slide shut with narrow eyes, turning her attention where it belonged; back on him.

"I uh- didn't want to get in your way but first off..." taking a breath and setting her shoulders, wary blue eyes flitted away. "Thank you," she muttered, "for sending Kohaku to watch over Rin last night. She would've had a tough time of it without him there."

Suprise briefly coloured his expression. How rare for the miko to thank him. Strange too, since it hadn't been a benevolent act on his part. "You are welcome," he uttered.

"I also had a question I wanted to ask," Kagome folded her arms. "A request, maybe."

"Another?" He couldn't help but tease, watching the miko tense and meet his gaze. When she didn't move, he gracefully gestured to the seat on the opposite side of his desk with a sweep of his hand. "You may sit and tell me."

Stiffly approaching, a hand self consciously sought the bite marks on her neck, rubbing them. No doubt they ached.

He ached.

"There was...a Purple Tulip woman last night. Sango. She's...Kohaku's sister," Kagome said.

Sesshoumaru was momentarily distracted by her shifting in the seat, thighs rubbing together, and inwardly hissed. The bond was certainly inconvenient. He knew the magnitude of heady sensations swimming between them frightened and alarmed her, but for the demon who had expected such things, it merely annoyed him. They were distracting, and admittedly somewhat surprising in their sheer volume. It had taken near all his self-restraint at the banquet not to give in and mount her like some baser animal in heat. Ridiculous.

He shook himself and gave a curt nod to prompt her to continue.

"I just wanna know if it would be possible to make her a...um...maid? For us?"

The heavy silence within the office spoke volumes and she quickly hurried on. "Or a nanny might be more accurate. That way she could see Kohaku- and maybe Doctor Miroku- ah shit. I probably shouldn't have told you that part," Kagome winced, groaning. "Look I figured you can't buy her as you did with Kohaku?"

"Did you now?" He purred, resting his chin on one hand and watching the woman squirm.

Blue eyes darkened as she straightened and huffed. "Are you making fun of me? I'm nervous in case you couldn't tell."

"For the life of me, I cannot fathom why. You are speaking with your mate."

Kagome floundered, hands coming to rest on her knees. "I guess because I'm discussing other people's lives and I don't know what I can give you to make this happen. I've already agreed to sex, having your kid and becoming your mate. There's nothing more I can offer of myself."

Sesshoumaru observed her with all the languid watchfulness of a jungle cat. The smoke of a smile lingered on his lips, and long fingers unfurled from his palm, offering it out for her to take.

Kagome swallowed and stood, making her way around the desk and obediently placing a hand in his, yelping when the demon tugged her down to straddle him.

"It is still so ingrained in you...the habits of wastelanders. Trades and exchanges," he hummed. Unlike usual, he held off on immediately tasting sunkissed skin or teasing her. To his sadistic glee, Kagome squirmed in an almost agitated way, only to blink and pause when he did nothing. A flash of disappointment entered her gaze, before sharpening into a glare. Always wrestling with artificial or real emotions.

She was so very amusing.

"Can this one not simply give you something because it will please you?" He went on to muse.

"No," Kagome said quietly, warm hands resting on his chest. Her gaze dropped. "No, I- wouldn't want you to do that. I don't want hand-outs."

"Because you are frightened of being endeared to me," Sesshoumaru smirked.

The miko bristled, sighing. Her body fit so nicely against his, and the feeling of her straddling him was a comfortable one, their muscles relaxing in recognition of each other.

"It is interesting...that you do not wish to like me, and yet last night you guarded me so viciously from other females," the languid observation escaped him.

Kagome's cheeks bloomed red and she groaned, burying her face in both hands. "I did do that, didn't I? I feel terrible," she grumbled. "That poor woman..."

Chuckling quietly, large palms smoothed over the curve of her hips. His cock predictably stirred a little, seeking her tight heat.

"If you regret it so much, perhaps you should apologise by inviting Kagura into my bedchambers and-"

A snarl rang out, briefly deafening him. Her hands tightly gripped his fine modern clothes- nose inches from his own. Kagome's eyes had darkened into fierce blue hues.

Ah- that did not help his erection. Now it was a tent in his pants, prodding against her thigh. Sesshoumaru didn't know what he expected, but it certainly wasn't the miko pushing herself up and off his lap and instead spreading his legs, yanking at his belt.

"You know her name," she grit out, voice coloured by rage and instinct.

Loosening it, she tugged the leather-free and discarded it, sinking to her knees. In a blind rush of sensation, she'd freed his cock and taken the straining head into her mouth.

It was the Daiyoukai's turn to snarl, gasping and feeling his lips peel back, panting hot, needy breaths into the air.

Yes, the bond was inconvenient, an annoyance…but it was also addictive and golden. Her tongue and mouth never failed to elicit a reaction out of him.

Claws trailed into black hair and latched tight, quiet grunts and groans escaping clenched teeth as she bobbed her head and sucked. She dragged blunt nails down his thighs and pushed herself back, salvia connecting her glistening lips to his aching length. "That's what you wanted her to do last night, right?" She grit out.

Sesshoumaru growled, hand tightening in her hair. "You fool. Continue-"

"Fuck you!" she snarled, making him twitch and sigh all over. Hot blood pumped hard and fast within his veins. It was getting difficult to hold himself back. "If you take another woman into your bed then I'll- I'll-" the strength and blind jealousy waned in her voice, logic and sanity rearing inside her. Sesshoumaru did not like the doubt it awakened, and he moved his paperwork aside and reached down, tugging his miko up to sit on his desk.

His hands clamped down hard on her hips as she squirmed to get away. "You truly are a brat. A foolish woman," he muttered, nipping hard at her collarbone. "This Sesshoumaru has his hands full with you. I do not want another."

Kagome stiffened beneath him. He sensed the moment relief and self-hatred for that relief bloomed in her scent.

"However," he continued, kissing her neck. "To request the Purple Tulip known as Sango to be our 'nanny' would be quite impossible. She is a prostitute to her owners. I will have to request her services as a prostitute in order to justify having her around our penthouse for a few hours a week. That is all I can grant you."

Kagome stared up at the ceiling, a shaking hand coming up to press against her eyes. "...P-please….tell me what you want in exchange."

"No."

"Please," she begged, shoulders shaking.

Sesshoumaru tugged her hand away, staring into the woman's eyes as they swam with unshed tears. "No," he repeated softer. "Try as you might, miko, you cannot remain impassive to me."

Kagome's arms wrapped around his shoulders, back arching to let their chests meet, body seeking out his own to reassure, to comfort.

"I'm anything but impassive," she said thinly, watching her movements as though they weren't her own.

It felt so easy and natural to pry her clothes aside and sink inside her. Kagome clutched him close and let out the soft, keening sounds he was quickly becoming obsessed with. He took her roughly on his desk, the wood squeaking and jolting with distress. Bucking lean hips hard and pressing her back into the surface, he panted against her mouth.

Instincts arose to take her from behind but he stifled it by sinking aching fangs into her shoulder and groaning. Kagome cried out in pleasure.

When their pace became erratic and reached an encompassing crescendo that threatened to undo him completely, Sesshoumaru rammed his hips forward and released. His mate practically mewled and clenched tight around him, trembling beautifully.

In the lingering aftermath, a wet tongue slid over the expanse of her cheek. His Kagome lay spent and still, twitching slightly. A haze had sheened her eyes. Distress and confusion spiralled through the pleasure, rapidly making it murky and unclean. Sesshoumaru studied her.

While no expert on humans, he sensed something pooling within her mind; Potential darkness that threatened to corrupt her sanity the more she punished herself for enjoying the pleasure of the bond. While it stroked his ego to see his mate so jealous over the Purple Tulip, her body moving of its own accord, and the feelings being injected into her via the bite mark obviously distressed her.

"You trained today," he pointed out quietly, able to sense the faint reiki clinging to her hair.

"Yes," she said softly, gazing out of the floor-length window as they remained as one, him bent over her on the sullied desk.

"...Show me what you can do now," he uttered.

Picking themselves up and haphazardly dressing, Kagome had clung to him as he'd flown to the training room on a higher floor. It was there that she summoned reiki to her hands. Strangely enough, she faired better when using a bow and arrow, using the wood as a sort of conductor to allow the holy powers to race across straight to the arrowhead. Not quite perfect, but shining out with visible control all the same.

"This one did not expect you to progress so quickly," Sesshoumaru uttered.

"Guess I feel more in control when I'm holding a weapon," she joked weakly, catching his gaze.

Sesshoumaru hummed, fang hooking over his lip briefly in a dark smile. "I think you are ready. Do not drink any contraceptive tea today. We begin trying tonight."

Kagome's eyes widened, soon squeezing shut. "Alright."

Perhaps it was sooner than initially planned but he felt it necessary. The bond's demands that they produce an offspring were getting out of hand. He needed to soothe it, lest the mating mark push Kagome over the edge. For Sesshoumaru's purposes, he needed her sane.

A few hours later, after eating dinner with the children on the rooftop garden, Kagome felt Sesshoumaru's presence draw close once more. She rose a brow, glancing up at where he lingered in the doorway to the roof. Approaching when he beckoned her over, warm breathed fanned over her ear, voice quiet.

"There is a complication with your request."

Glancing back at where Kohaku and Rin were colouring at a low table, she took his clawed hand and tugged the Daiyoukai into the stairwell. "What do you mean? They won't let you have Sango for a few hours a week?"

He shook his head. "Apparently those mated cannot indulge in a second woman right now due to their 'limited supply' as Lord Menōmaru put it."

Kagome folded her arms, frowning slightly. "Crap," she muttered, mind whirling. "There has to be another way..." Sesshoumaru's smooth, emotionless features slightly winced- imperceptible, but she caught it. "What is it?"

"Hn, there is another option. Whether or not she'd agree to it depends on the caprice of her mood..."

Kagome tilted her head slightly.

"This bores me, can we please skip the tedious drawl and just get to the part where you tuck your tail between your legs and leave?" Inukimi sighed, inspecting perfect nails.

The last thing Kagome had expected to happen when going to visit Sesshoumaru's mother would be the surprising sight of a large bull youkai blocking entrance to her lavish apartment. She stopped with Sesshoumaru in the hallway, watching the pale demoness stare up at the imposing male.

The bull snarled, nostrils flaring. "You bitch, I am not leaving!"

"Then you are a fool. No one likes a pestering male," she tutted, peering around his bulky hide to smile sharply at Sesshoumaru. "Ohh look at that. My precious son has arrived~" she purred, plucking the air with deft fingers to invite him over. "Darling Sesshoumaruuu! Do take care of this little pest for me."

The bull glanced over his shoulder at Sesshoumaru, steam hissing out of his nose. "I have no wish to fight you, Dog Lord. I simply demand back what this female has stolen from me!"

Kagome stepped forward, "what did she steal?"

"My mate!" The bull roared, head rearing back to scrape large horns against the ceiling.

Golden eyes cut to the ceiling. "So dramatic. You cannot steal something that willingly runs into your arms," Inukimi hummed.

A terrible booming noise ripped itself from the bull's throat before he swung for her. A green whip snapped through the air- wrapping around a burly wrist and pulling taut, stopping it inches from Inukimi's gloating features.

Sesshoumaru sneered, keeping a tight hold of the glowing energy as the bull turned blazing eyes upon him.

"Mother," he said in a cool tone. Youki flared into the air, cold and pricking the back of Kagome's neck. "Return his mate to him."

With a sigh, the demoness adjusted the furs around her shoulders and glanced back into her apartment. "I am sorry," she said.

A dark-haired woman with four arms stepped into view, stopping beside her, face showing a perpetual smile. She was incredibly beautiful, wearing fine, colourful silks arranged to accommodate the two arms on either side of her body.

"Not at all, it was only a matter of time before he found me," the voice seemed to come from the youkai whose mouth did not move.

Inukimi smiled and hummed, reaching for the back of her head- where Kagome realised with alarm that a second face lay hidden behind the fall of dark hair. Planting a kiss on the two-faced demoness and heedless of the bull's incensed snarling, Inukimi gave a wave.

Once the two strange mates had taken their leave, Sesshoumaru releasing the bull- the demon and miko gave sighs of relief. They then looked at his mother wearily.

"What?" she tutted, lighting her pipe. "A little mischief helps spice up my days. Speaking of which," inhuman eyes smiled. "You look as though you have delicious secrets of your own to talk to me about."

Kagome glanced up at Sesshoumaru, silently asking if he still thought this was a good idea. He glanced down at her and lifted a shoulder. It was her call.

Clearing her throat, she gave an awkward smile. "Let's take this inside your apartment. It's a uh...delicate mischief."

This only seemed to delight Inukimi, who gestured gracefully to enter.

"So in short," Inukimi closed her ruby red mouth over the tip of the pipe, taking a drag. "You need this one to request Sango for a few hours a week. During that time, she will spend it with her brother, Kohaku and lover, Miroku?"

Kagome nodded seriously, seated on the plush sofa beside Sesshoumaru.

Pale lashes slid shut as the demoness hummed with disinterest, letting wisps of smoke leak out from between her teeth. "That sounds very dull indeed. What, pray tell, do I get out of such an arrangement?"

The miko swallowed and shifted in her seat. "Y-you'll be getting grandbabies soon enough?"

Inukimi giggled, "I would've gotten those anyway without agreeing to this boring proposition. Try again."

Sesshoumaru's claws twitched, eyes narrowing. "You will do it because this one and his mate have requested it of you."

"Hah! Are you ordering your honoured mother, little pup? Mind yourself."

A growl began to build within his throat, but Kagome lay a hand on his tense arm. "Let me speak to her alone," she said quietly. "I'd feel better if you were with Rin right now, anyway. I'll send for Jaken once I'm finished here to escort me back."

Indulging her, Sesshoumaru reluctantly stood and inclined his head, leaving with a frown at his mother, who smiled serenely.

Left alone, the two women gazed at one another. So much chaos had been happening lately, it felt a little strange to sit across from the regal demoness without the threat of something else happening looming over her head. Now that Kagome really looked at her within the glamour and safety of her own home, Inukimi exuded a poised, calculating aura, hidden by sleek smiles and lavish furs.

"Why do you wish to reunite the Purple Tulip with her brother?" Inukimi asked.

Kagome blinked. Wasn't it obvious? "Because it's the right thing to d-"

"Dull," she cut her off, sighing. "Give me a better reason."

"I'm not here to entertain you!" Kagome burst, before reeling herself back in. She sighed and rubbed her forehead, glancing at Inukimi's knowing smile. It was sharp, and full of perfect teeth. Reluctantly, she parted with the words; "She reminds me of myself. I...want to be reunited with my brother more than anything," she muttered. "But I can't, because he's dead. Is that what you wanted to hear?"

"Indeed," Inukimi giggled behind a trailing sleeve. "Thank you for exposing your belly to me, little one," she purred. "Though, such knowledge was announced for all to see last night, judging by your heated reaction towards Naraku. Did he kill your kin?"

Kagome stiffened and hugged her arms. "...Something like that."

Cruel eyes assessed her, Inukimi taking another drag. "Tell me what happened to him and I will agree to request the Purple Tulip for you."

Panic and dread welled up inside her, the idea akin to picking open an old scab that may bleed her dry. "Why do you want to know? That information means nothing to you!"

"But it means everything to you," Inukimi hummed. "This secret sent you screaming over the dining table towards Naraku as though an unhinged creature. You act like a wary animal, but even beasts have more sense than to reveal their weaknesses so openly. You are hurting from this memory," she said in clipped tones. "And the city will pick at that wound like vultures unless you conquer it. I will not have my son be placed in danger from such a landmine mate."

Slowly, the tension leaked out of Kagome's shoulders. "I never asked to be his mate," she said quietly.

"Perhaps not, but we adapt to the situations at hand."

Her hands clamped down on her knees, releasing a breath. A mother protecting her son was something she could understand. And didn't she promise herself to help Sango and Kohaku? Compared to what the Purple Tulip was probably enduring right then, dredging up painful memories was a luxury in comparison.

"Can I have a drink?" she muttered.

Inukimi's painted lips twitched. Opening a bottle of wine, she poured one out for the miko, who accepted it and stared down at the red, shimmering surface contained in the glass.

"Souta and I had been searching within Tokyo for food not long after the world had turned to shit. One day, Naraku happened upon us."

"I could help you be reunited with your mother," silky tones purred.

"Really?" Souta gaped, staring up at the man cloaked in a baboon pelt. The stranger looked right at home atop the mound of corpses.

"Of course~ she's taken refuge at a building near the hospital. I can take you to her if you'd like."

Wide brown eyes swung to Kagome, staring up at her pleadingly.

"No," she muttered, gripping his small hand tight. "I...I don't believe you."

"Naturally an older sibling must be protective of the younger," he gave a throaty chuckle. "But you really are passing up a valuable opportunity. She misses you both terribly."

Visible tears swam in Souta's eyes and he stepped forward, tugging his arm to try and escape her grip. "We should go!"

"Why? Just because some creepy guy is telling us Mom's there, you believe him?"

"You're always like this- you're always bossing me around! You never listen to what I want to do!" Souta burst, tugging his hand free and moving away. "Just once, why can't we do what I say?"

"Because you're little!"

A thud cut them off. Just a footstep. Weight shifting closer. But it was enough.

The two children glanced behind them, stomachs twisting as they noticed several demons looming over tops of the buildings. Some hung from street-lights. Their large, gaping mouths were stretched into thin smiles.

Kagome's throat became dry. Reaching behind her, she grabbed Souta's waiting hand without looking, before breaking into a panicked run.

"It's useless," the baboon pelt man chuckled, watching them go.

She fled like the devil was at her heels, heart thundering.

"Hurry, Souta!" she barked. Glancing back at the boy- she was alarmed to see a child-like yellow imp holding her hand instead, bursting into laughter as she shrieked and threw his hand aside. Looking around frantically for her brother, she bolted back in the direction she'd come, hurrying around a building and gasping- feet tripping and causing her chin to smack on the ground. Dazed, Kagome shifted, glancing at the wrecked truck blocking her path, bathing her in shade from the blazing sun.

Hearing a panicked noise, Kagome stilled and peered under the truck, crawling beneath it. Souta trembled behind a tire- and she bit back a sigh of relief, huddling closer.

Only for a purple, misshapen hand to plunge under the truck. Souta let out a cry as it grabbed his ankle, tearing him out from under the vehicle. Two large hooves shifted within Kagome's view, a booming voice inquiring:

"Should we take this brat back to the main buildin'?"

"We have enough young boys to work for us. With the state of provisions, it would be unwise to add to the number of children we already house," came the silky voice from the baboon pelt man. "Dispose of him."

Kagome's breathing hitched, as though the wind had been knocked out of her. And then the screaming started.

It couldn't have lasted for more than five seconds, but they were five seconds in which she did not move.

She couldn't.

Her body hadn't responded, frozen stiff. Even though she yelled and agonised within her mind to get up- to fucking move- because it was Souta out there, her baby brother, and he needed her-

Kagome trembled beneath the truck and chocked on her fear. A sickening snap cut off the awful wailing, followed by a thump.

She wasn't entirely aware of the keening noises rattling out of her the second it registered that Souta's small, broken body had been dropped. His lifeless, brown eyes stared right at her.

"Do catch the girl, we always have need of those," came that sinuous voice again.

That monstrous hand latched onto metal, causing it to shriek and tear. Kagome cried out as her sanctuary was lifted from over her head. It was only then that the 13 year old scrambled out from under the truck.

Coughing and panting, she could barely see through the hot, sticky tears that clung to her face. Buildings passed in a blur as her legs pumped, feet pounding on the broken concrete. She weaved around abandoned tanks and scavenging, thin men with gaunt faces- the demons pursuing her causing them to scatter like roaches.

The ground practically shook with the weight of so many chasing her- or maybe there were just a few and were so giant and heavy it caused the earth to brace itself. Kagome didn't know. She didn't dare look back once. In all the confusion and brain-splitting grief crying out through her nervous system, Kagome didn't even realise she was climbing the stairs of the family shrine again until she was nearing the top.

"Gotcha!"

Yelping- she felt something scrape across her back, and quickly raced on. Hurrying around the back of her old home, she patted her back, finding torn material but thankfully no blood for them to sniff her out with. Grabbing the handle of the back door, she threw herself against the wood and followed when it flung open. Shutting it behind her, she panted wildly, choking on air. Her lungs blazed, feet throbbing. Sweat dotted her brow and clung to the back of her neck.

Hearing voices outside was the only reason she dragged herself up and stumbled through the house. Hearing the front door open however- she froze. There was no way she could hide upstairs now. The kitchen was out, as she was too big to fit into the small cupboards. That left...

Kagome looked down the narrow hallway at the barely lit door awaiting her. The memory of flies took flight within her mind. But she had no choice.

It took all her willpower to hurry to it, opening the door to the storehouse and holding her breath.

When the demons searched the whole house and came up empty, naturally they opened that same door.

"Fuck, that's foul-" a tiger youkai hissed, raising a hand over his nose.

"Dead humans always have that scent. Like rotting meat that's been left out in the sun too long," said a gangly oni. "This one's been dead for a while, looks like an old man."

"Let's get out of here- I doubt the brat would enter this room."

Even after the door slid shut behind them, Kagome did not rise from her hiding place beneath the soiled covers with Grandpa's rotting corpse. She stayed there, feeling his skinny, hollowed-out husk resting beside her. She lifted the blanket slightly enough to suck in less putrid air, trying not to breathe in his stench, trying not to whimper at the maggots catching in her dark hair, trying not to think of Souta's broken body lying somewhere alone on Tokyo's streets, abandoned by his only sister.

Kagome lifted her head listlessly.

Inukimi stared. Her pipe had long since fizzled out, unnoticed. Whatever sadistic glee she'd hoped to gain from watching Kagome squirm had been wiped away.

Quietly, she repeated her vow to start requesting Sango every week, and would do so in a few days time. Nodding, the miko stiffly rose and downed her drink, bidding her a goodnight. Once Jaken arrived to escort her back, Kagome followed him down the cold, barren hallway, glancing out of the window at Tokyo's war-torn streets.

I wonder if anyone ever buried him.

She didn't know how she'd managed to actually escape the shrine and Tokyo in the first place all those years ago. Somehow, she'd lost consciousness during the entire nightmare in the storehouse and woken up outside of the city in a forest. No supplies, no extra clothes, yet not a scratch or maggot on her. She'd figured after the ordeal her body had been on autopilot and she'd staggered out of reach of Naraku's clutches.

Reaching Sesshoumaru's penthouse, she found that a pillow fort had been set up. Within it, Rin and Kohaku slept soundly, their faces smeared with colourful face-paint.

Kagome's heart shuddered in her chest, blue eyes sliding up to meet Sesshoumaru's prying golden gaze.

Dismissing Jaken for the night, he waited until the kappa had waddled out, before crossing the room in a matter of moments and standing before her. Kagome forced her mouth to bend into a smile. "So...you wanted to make a baby tonight, right?"

Apathetic, handsome features barely shifted, but a large hand ensnared her wrist.

Kagome swallowed and steeled herself when he drew in close- grabbing her hips and sitting down in an armchair, yanking her to sit atop him.

Stifling a shriek, she whisper-hissed; "what are you doing?"

Grabbing a blanket from the back of the chair, he wrapped it around her shoulders. "Rest here," he muttered, soon adding; "we cannot leave the children unattended in the living room. We will try for a pup tomorrow."

It sounded like an excuse, but she wasn't sure how to take that. Tired of second-guessing everything however, Kagome rested her head against a broad, warm shoulder.

Under the blanket, Sesshoumaru lay a hand on her knee. The warmth of his skin bled through her clothing, anchoring her in place. She brushed tentative fingers against the back of his hand.

Feeling a palm stroke the back of her hair- hot tears pricked her eyes. A simple action. A kindness. For some reason, it caused her to cling tightly to the Daiyoukai, burying her face in his neck.

While feeling his large hands drag up and down her back, Kagome dimly searched for the artificial feeling of the bond forcing its will upon her, but there was nothing.