Chapter 12

"Look, Lord Sesshoumaru! Kagome taught me how to make jewelry with these flowers," Rin said, showing Sesshoumaru the garland.

"Very nice, Rin," Sesshoumaru nodded.

"Come on Rin, let us decorate Jaken while he's here," Kagome smiled mischievously.

"Wheee!" Rin cheered, chasing Jaken.

"Lord Sesshoumaru, Lord Sesshoumaru, the wretched ningens are attacking me," Jaken whined, running to cower behind Sesshoumaru.

Sesshoumaru raised a delicate eyebrow and replied, "Jaken, indulge Rin this time."

"But milord!" Jaken cried.

"Rin only wants to make Jaken pretty one time," Rin said, placing a flower necklace over Jaken's head.

"I'm not sure that's possible. That toad is butt ugly," Kagome busted out laughing, while handing more garlands to Rin.

After she was done, Rin giggled, "Rin's all done. Now Jaken is pretty," Rin squealed.

Kagome laughed even harder, as Jaken groaned in defeat. Kagome felt like she busted her gut open.

"Okay, okay, no more. My stomach hurts from laughing so hard," she laughed, holding her stomach.

"Indeed," Sesshoumaru said, one elegant eyebrow still raised and a slight smirk on his face. "It is time to go in now. Kagome, tomorrow you get to go home."

Kagome nodded, then ushered Rin inside. Jaken trailed after, trying to tear the garlands of flowers off.

"If you don't mind, I'd like to sit in the garden for a while once I put Rin inside," Kagome said.

"Do as you wish," he replied. "Instead, Jaken."

"Yes milord," Jaken said awaiting Sesshoumaru's request.

"Take Rin inside," he said.

"Right away milord," Jaken left with a skipping Rin following behind.

"You're joining me out here?" Kagome asked, looking up at the stoic demon lord.

"Yes," he simply said.

Kagome then looked at the sunset and sighed, "You know, I'm gonna miss these sunsets. Modern Japan doesn't know what they're missing."

"You mean to say you might not be able to return once the jewel is completed?" Sesshoumaru inquired, sitting next to Kagome.

"Exactly. I'll miss this era because I love to enjoy any view of a sunset or night sky. It is much different in the future. You can't see half of the stars in the sky as you can see here," she sighed sadly. "Oh, I forgot to thank you for the new kimonos. They are beautiful. I hope they were not to expensive. I'm almost afraid to wear them. I'm not beautiful enough."

Sesshoumaru turned to her, and cupped her face with his only hand.

"You are beautiful enough for them, " he replied, then abruptly left.

'Did Sesshoumaru just say what I thought he said?' Kagome asked herself, her heat beating rapidly in her chest.

Sesshoumaru was just around the corner leaning against the building in the same state.

'Did I just say that? This onna is definitely making me soft,' he said to himself.

** FLASHBACK **

"Thank you for coming," Kagome said, already wrapped up in her sheets. "I'm really tired and sore today since we stepped up the training."

"I apologize. It was necessary to advance you in your training. You are learning quite quickly," Sesshoumaru replied, retrieving her oils.

"No, I knew what I was getting into. I hope you do not mind if I might rest. I took a shorter bath than usual and skipped my nap," Kagome yawned, her eyes drooping heavily.

"Go right ahead. It is best," he said, beginning.

Kagome drifted off fast. Sesshoumaru noted her soft easy breathing. Rather than rush, he carefully massaged her shoulders. He had begun to get use to the feel of her soft skin under his hand. As he moved from the shoulders to her upper back, Kagome moaned in her sleep, startling Sesshoumaru.

'She has never done that before. She must be dreaming. It cannot be the massage,' he thought to himself.

He continued on, until he heard her gasp as his hands moved to her lower back.

"Sesshou," Kagome sighed, still asleep.

The undeniable spike in her scent sent his inner beast off. He dipped his hand down her side, timidly cupping her breast. When she moaned again, his eyes starting bleeding red as he growled softly. He massaged her breast gently, being careful of his claws.

It was then that Kagome awoke.

"L- lord Sesshoumaru?" she asked, shocked to find Sesshoumaru's hand on her breast.

She had to admit that it felt divine, but fought the urge to moan.

'I hope Sesshoumaru is not becoming another Miroku.'

Sesshoumaru turned her over, and she noticed his eyes were bleeding red. He leaned down and kissed her, while his hand ventured to the towel around her waist, caressing her skin. Kagome could not deny that the demon lord was attractive, but she was almost sure that he did not want to be doing what he was currently doing.

Kagome froze. Sesshoumaru broke the kiss, peering into Kagome's stormy eyes.

"Woman, what are you doing to me?" he demanded huskily.

She was highly confused.

'How could he want to kiss me?' she wondered.

"Uh... uh... noting. You kissed me. You were the one fondling me," Kagome gulped.

Sesshoumaru growled in frustration, willing himself to calm, the red leaking from his eyes. The golden- eyed demon lord rushed out of the bath house, leaving Kagome with her confusing thoughts.

'I'm a human. I'm so confused. I liked his kiss. Oh no, this can't be good,' Kagome said, while freaking out a little.

** END FLASHBACK **

Kagome sensed Sesshoumaru around the corner and quietly went to his side, touching his only arm lightly.

"Thank you, Sesshoumaru. No one has ever said anything so sweet," She got on her tiptoes, and kissed him on the cheek.

Sesshoumaru did not stiffen under her gentle lips, and found himself tingling all over.

'Is this what purification is?' he questioned.

He did not find himself in a pink light, but a gentle blue one. He closed his eyes, kissing her deeply.

'Well, might as well get a good kiss in before I am purified,' the demon lord reasoned.

The feeling was not of pain, but a gentle warmth. He had touched purification powers before, as sometimes Kagome had shot arrows at him during training, since she needed a moving target. Those arrows burned his hand, so definitely this was something different.

Kagome withdrew from him, but found herself held by both of Sesshoumaru's arms.

'Arms?' she asked, bewildered.

'Arms?' Sesshoumaru said, also confused.

"Milord! Your arm! It's restored!" Jaken exclaimed, just walking in.

Kagome examined it. She had never done anything like this before. Sure, she had done some minor healing in the past with her friends, as she had received some lessons from Kaede.

'I did this?' she marveled.

"This Sesshoumaru is in debt to you, Kagome," he leaned down, gently kissing her.

He then licked her lips and as she gasped, he took advantage, tasting the inside of her mouth with an eagerness he had never had before.

'She tastes even better than she smells," he reveled in his new discovery.

"You're welcome," Kagome blushed, slightly out of breath. "Please excuse me. I've exhausted myself."

Sesshoumaru watched her leave. He had a dilemma now. He could not deny the attraction he had with Kagome. Some nights he went into rage and left to hunt to calm himself. He had not wanted to fall into the same situation as his father, and it was exactly what he was doing. He was not going to lie to himself. Kagome was indeed beautiful and smart. She was becoming a great warrior, as his she took to his training like a natural. He could not get her out of his mind and the fact that her enticing scent permeated all the rooms in his palace did not help him. His inner beast wanted her more than any female. It was almost scary, and that is something that Sesshoumaru rarely was. He knew that despite her being a human, she was an adequate choice for anyone's mate, and he knew it.

It was then that Sesshoumaru decided.

'She may be a human, but it does not matter anymore,' he decided.