Finding My Place

Disclaimer

I do not own any of the Characters Rumiko Takahashi alone has that honor.

P.S. The name of the story might Change later on. Just giving you a heads up.

Chapter Five: Pup? Mate...

When Sesshōmaru left Kagome he was making his way back to the castle when he came across a pack of wolves following a child, he normally would just ignore something like this but her sent smelled of wildflowers and reminded him of the sent of the woman that he had just left. He slowed down and landed in front of her. She skidded to a halt and looked from him to the wolves which were almost upon them. She stood for just a second longer and then dived behind him and clung to his leg. When the pack got close enough to smell him they turned tail to run but feeling annoyed at having to stop and wolves in general he swiped his claw killing them with his whip and not having moved from his spot. He looked down and peeled the young child from his leg and began walking away.

The young girl began following him as he turned to leave. "Leave." Sesshōmaru said without turning. She shook her head and hurried to catch up to his longer stride. He stopped and looked and looked at the human girl who trailed after him. She had long black hair part of which was tied up on one side of her head and her eyes were a soft brown that though a different color had the same softness that the Miko's did. Kagome liked having 'children' she would not appreciate him leaving her alone and he would not lie to her. He would bring the pup to her to care for until a suitable home could be found. Sometime later he noticed that the sun was going down and looked at the girl she was falling asleep though still trying to catch up to his longer strides. Sesshōmaru sighed and picked her up and took to the sky it wasn't but a few minutes later that he saw that she was asleep. He flew to a glen were he settled the girl on his Mokomoko to allow sleep; he then went hunting to provide for her (Kagome's voice was sounding in his head again.).

Sesshōmaru caught a fourth rabbit as a scream pierced the night air. He turned and scooping the other rabbits into his hand and ran toward the girl. He dropped them and seeing a snake yokai poised above the child huddling into a tree he rushed to her and used his arm to block the snake. Grabbing the tail of it while it tried to free itself from his arm he threw it from them and sent his whip after it slicing the snake in two. He looked over at the girl and seeing that she had passed out he slid down the tree and shut his eyes waiting for his body to acclimate to the poison running through his system.

Sometime later he opened his eyes to see the human child coming toward him with a rabbit that she had put on a stick and cooked over the fire. She offered it to Sesshōmaru who looked at it and turned his head away. Her face dropped for a moment before she smiled again and turned and walked away. He thought she finally was going to leave him alone and leaned his head back closed his eyes when a moment later she came running up to him with a stone that had a sizable dip in it to him with water in it. -She is not going to stop until you take something from her.- Sesshōmaru's beast said to him. 'Agreed... She tore what little of her kimono there was to wrap our wound.' -She did not have to... We should call for Ah-Un so that she may ride upon him. She would be able to keep up better and she would be in no danger when we leave her if they were with her-

Sesshōmaru flexed his arm testing to see if any poison remained and then stood and whistled sharply while slightly flaring his Yokai calling his two headed dragon to them. He looked down at the girl who was staring at him wondering what he had was doing. "I am Lord Sesshōmaru of the West. You will come with me." He wondered why she just grinned and nodded her head. "I have business not far from here. You will wait here with Ah-Un 'til this Sesshōmaru comes back." Again she nodded her head and then looked around at the flowers in the glen started picking them.

Sesshōmaru kept his eyes on her as he rested against the tree he had been resting against. As the sun began to reach its peak he spotted the two headed dragon flying toward him. He gave instructions to the beast and took to the skies himself heading to the castle.

He arrived just hours before the she wolf was to arrive; he went to his bathing chamber so that he could wash the road and sweat from his skin. Before he could really relax his mother burst into the room. "And what have you been up to leaving so soon before your mate arrives?"

Sesshōmaru could feel his head begin to ache as he turned to the uninvited woman standing in his bathing room. "This Sesshōmaru was simply gathering his thoughts. As well as trying to deal with the Naraku problem. Not that this Sesshōmaru answers to you or any other." was his reply. He turned back to washing his body as Lady Inukimi huffed and walked from the room.

Inukimi walked to the throne room where she and her son would greet Zaira of the wolves and his future mate in a few hours time. She could not help but remember meeting her own mate his father there ten centuries ago. He was splendid so powerful that even at her young age she could tell that he was more than worthy it didn't hurt matters that he was handsome as well. When she walked in she remember having to hold onto her father to stop the trembling that she had felt. Inukimi wanted her son to have what she did before he met that human princess. She hoped that this mating would give him that.

Sesshōmaru walking in to the room an took his place on the throne next to his mother who was and would sit in the Lady of the West's throne until he was mated. They did not have long to wait until the Northern Wolves were announced. The soldiers streamed in lining the aisle and stood at attention after the last one had filed in Zaira and her father strode into the throne room and stilled when they reached the raised dais. They each gave a bow to the royal family and waited to be acknowledged.

Zaira though fair stood proud beside her father and as Sesshōmaru observed her began to look annoyed though she tried to hide it. They could smell it on her though she did not know. -She is pretty..?- 'She is proud, she sees herself as on the same level as I' -Oh! So you see it too do you. I was not going to mention it.- '... She is already seeing herself as mistress of the west' -Kagome doesn't care. In fact I think if we ever enumerated the riches she would receive as Lady of the West she would likely say no.- 'Hnn'

It took less than two minutes for Sesshōmaru to form his opinion and even less for Inukimi. She was disappointed to say the least but they had already made arrangements and it could start a war if they backed out. Sesshōmaru stood "This Sesshōmaru is regretful that my duties will call me away after we dine but first I will have Jaken see to you to your rooms." So saying he left to his office where he was writing missives to several yokai in his domain.

Inukimi stood as her son left and said to the gathered Yokai, "You will have to forgive my son as he has been distracted with a pesky problem which he wishes to eliminate before the mating takes place."

Zaira's father Choro replied "It is no matter after all he is young and so rudeness can be forgiven." He turned to the toad that had entered and motioned for his daughter to follow him as they were shown to their rooms.

"Father can you believe how cold he was. I am to be his mate and he could barley spare me a glance!" Zaira complained as soon as the heavy oak doors were shut. "At least being mistress of all this will make up for occasionally having to warm the cold Lord's bed. I can after all keep my bed warm with some of the other handsome demons I saw on our way here."

Choro looked at his daughter and cautioned her, "I would not tempt it my dear. Though he is cold I have no doubt that he still has the instincts of his kind. They do not take kindly to infidelity." Zaira laughed "As if he would care anyways he can take who ever he wishes to his bed as I will to mine." Choro shook his head and hoped she was right. He had heard some awful stories of what Inu's had done to both their mates and their lovers of those who were not faithful. Judging by Sesshōmaru's demeanor he thought that it would probably be worse than those together.

As the sun began setting Jaken made his way to the Lord's future mate's and Lord Choro's quarters. He knocked and opened the doors when bid. "It is time for supper if you will follow me I will guide you to the dining room." he squeaked.

They descended the stairs and entered the room taking their seats. They were seated close to their host and watched them with interest. It soon became apparent though that neither was inclined to talk. Zaira tried to make small talk, "This is a pleasant feast my Lord." Sesshōmaru responded how he usually did "Hnn". For a while she continued to try and get him to make more than that one sound to her.

She was in the middle of another question when he stood and was standing over one of his soldiers. "What were you saying?" Zaira was shocked and annoyed she had been trying all evening to get him to talk and now he was and not to her. "I...I... I was talking of the human village not far from here." He growled and she had never heard anything that had frightened her so much before. "This Sesshōmaru heard also I heard something about you raping one of them." Sesshōmaru stared at him waiting for the answer. "Yes..." That was the last word he said as Sesshōmaru flicked his fingers and his head rolled to the ground. He turned to demon beside the now decided one and said, "You are to find the woman and compensate her; if she is with child you will offer to bring them here." finished he turned and began to make his way out of the now quite room. "Yes My Lord!" the young demon said already replaying the story so he could find her and soon followed him out.

Both Lord Choro and Zaira were surprised about what had taken place they had been led to believe that he hated humans. Lady Inukimi seeing their unguarded expressions (which she found tiresome they were horrible at hiding them and choose to keep trying it was insulting.) answered the unasked question, "My son does not tolerate rape of any kind human or demon. Though he seems to be in a good mood as the punishment is usually much worse before they are killed..." she trailed off lost in thought. Seeing that the party was breaking up they all went their separate ways with Inukimi extending an invitation to Zaira for tea the next day.

Sesshōmaru quickly made his way to where he had left his dragon and the young human. Ah-Un lifted his head at his masters appearance and then settled back down around the you girl he had taken a liking to. Sesshōmaru was pleased to see her sleeping soundly; he settled himself down to rest 'til she awoke. The sun was over the horizon but not nearing its peak yet when she woke and rushed to him upon seeing him there. He picked her up and set her on the dragon saying, "We leave now".

He traveled in the direction that he had left his Miko, 'Since when has she been mine?' -She has always been ours it only took you a while to know- he conversed with his beast. When he caught the sent of his half brothers group he began to descend. He landed in front of Inuyasha's group who got into a battle stance when they saw the InuYokia begin to descend upon them. When Sango and Miroku saw the young human girl on the two-headed dragon they could not believe there eyes.

"Where is the Miko and the half breed?" Miroku was the first to gain his composure and replied, "Kagome you see she was... was..." Sango tired of him being tongue tied and wanting to continue on answered for him. "She was kidnapped a day ago. Inuyasha went after them." Sango barely got it out of her mouth before Sesshōmaru growled and with his eyes bleeding red ground out, "You will watch her. I will retrieve m... Ka-gome." He had wanted to call her what she was his Bitch but knew she would not like it.

As soon as he was done he ran on foot through the trees following his half brothers sent until he found her sent of sakura blossoms and vanilla. He was just cresting a mountain when he heard Inuyasha say, "Kikyo?" Though she looked like Kagome, Kagome was much more beautiful. Kagome was angelic. He was scanning the area when he heard it.

"Sesshōmaru!" It was weak but he had found her.

Author Notes

So sorry it took so long to update but please please review! Tell me what you think. I wanted Sesshōmaru there when this happened but I also kind of need everyone else so everything is kind of out of order but I hope you like it. Should Inukimi be good? How about Kikyo? Please tell me what you think.