Woo Hoo! Another chapter and it's bringing us closer to The Confrontation! I love the way you handled Shippo; he's such a brave little lad. Anything for his Kagome! Poor Kagome, being so sick all the time, but it's keeping Sesshoumaru off her back - literally. Yep, you got me totally involved in their lives. And the change in Sessh is welcome but surprising. He's still the bullying, selfish brute, but at least he can show her some compassion. He's still a jerk, though.
Now to the part where we work!
Mainly, he worried for his mate’s comfort.
As she finished vomiting up the small amount of tea and rice she’d been able to get down not even an hour before,
She was clothed in only a sleeping yukata, as he’d (Clothed is just a suggestion, the comma is to separate two dependent clauses.)
While Ami gathered up the bucket to empty and clean it out,
While Ami gathered up the bucket to empty and clean it out,
“And he’s getting it. Both of your scents are strong, as well as your auras.
He’d spoke truth to her; her scent and that of their pup[’s] was healthy and strong. (the phrase: that of their pup is possessive, that negates the need for 's.)
“Easy, my mate…
The steady vibration of Sesshoumaru’s chest against her smaller body, combined with the soft nips he was giving her mark, actually soothed Kagome. (parenthetical phrases should be set off by commas for clarity)
Indicating her hands on her stomach, Sesshoumaru explained,
Considering the way I claimed you, it is even more baffling.
“So, why haven’t you given me the Jewel yet?”
Arching a brow, Sesshoumaru asked,
If I was going to make a selfish wish, I’d wish myself home and away from you.”
but none of this matters since I am neither stupid nor selfish enough to make an impure wish.
Making his way back to the bed he gathered his breeder into his lap with her back to his chest and sought to comfort her.
As Sesshoumaru began to purr against her back,
Breathing deeply as he [said] advised, she ignored the feel (I suggest advised to bring a little more variety to the language.)
‘Come on, baby…settle down in there.
Settle for Mommy, my beautiful baby boy…
Mommy loves you so much, baby,
“D...did you feel that?” (Elipses are always 3 periods.)
‘Hear me, my pup…hear me
“Is all well, my Lord?”
After Ami [had] left Sesshoumaru reached for the cup of already prepared tea (The had is really not necessary, the sentence reads more smoothly without it.)
She was about to argue, but when her stomach gave a grumble, Kagome decided it was probably best to just go along with it for now. Besides, he’d already said once she’d eaten he would be leaving,
Across the lands Kagura was approaching Edo on her feather. (I would suggest putting an extra line before this sentence, it will help denote a change of scenery.)
She wasn’t happy [that] about all that she’d discovered yesterday, (In this sentence, [that] is in the wrong place.)
After Sesshoumaru and his entourage had arrived yesterday, she’d learned that, as the true Shikon Miko, Kagome
Sesshoumaru taking her for his mate would be the fact she couldn’t give him a pure blood inu heir.
She could give him a full demon child, but not pure inu, due to her being a wind demoness.(Adding child gives the sentence more clairity. Remember, your readers are like husbands, you have to tell them EVERYTHING! LOL.)
However, if he already had a pure inu son and something were to happen to his little human breeder, there would
She could still provide him with other powerful sons, (Adding with makes the sentence flow better.)
Setting down at the outskirts of the village, Kagura held her head high
and was no different than any other servant’s of the West,
Clicking her fan impatiently, she watched Inuyasha
“I have come with orders from my Lord.”
Eyes widening as he saw the Western Crest, Inuyasha laughed, “You work for Sesshoumaru now? Trading one bastard master for another, huh?”
Eyes narrowing at his vulgar language, Kagura hissed, “I’d like to see you say that to his face. All know that Sesshoumaru could kill you at any time, filthy half breed.”
“You wanna go! Bring it on, bitch!”
Forcing herself not to sneer at the mention of the girl, Kagura nodded her head.
Taking Sango’s hand, they left without saying a word to Inuyasha or Kikyo.
Crossing his arms over his chest Inuyasha growled, “Why do you wanna know?”
Unimpressed with his protective display, Kagura replied,
Thoroughly bored by now, since all the important information had been obtained, Kikyo turned from the Wind Witch
Her powers were greatly diminished, of course, but even she
‘I am the rightful guardian, after all.
It is not a selfish wish, as I will be using the powers
A knot had [been forming] had formed in his stomach ever since he’d abandoned Kagome to Sesshoumaru, and it had been growing by the day. (If the knot is growing, then surely it is fully formed. Just saying.)
Outside of their mating each night, he took no enjoyment from being bound to her.
Out by the God Tree, Kagura landed on the ground and replaced her feather in her hair. The majority of the children screamed and ran when they saw her, while Shippo moved to stand
“What are you doing here, Kagura?”
“I’m going to see Kagome?”
What are we standing around here for?”
“Well, let’s get going.
Kagura bowed and left, leaving only Jaken and Shippo in the office with Sesshoumaru.
“Do you know why you are here, kit?”
“Indeed. Tell me, kit, is it your wish to be raised by her as her adoptive son?”
“Uh...y...yes sir.”
“Well, in order to do so you will have to take up position as my ward and remain here permanently. You will be allowed the same luxuries I provide my ward, Rin,
Clearly shocked, Shippo gasped, “What?”
Knowing he needed to explain
, since the child before him was young, but not stupid,
As she is the true Shikon Miko, she is capable of providing me full demon heirs, and, thus, I took her as my mate.
For now, if you intend to stay here with her indefinitely, I need your vow
Clenching his little fists at his sides, Shippo held his head high and said,
“If you fight me, you will die.”
“I know…but as long as I’m dying for her, it’s ok.”
Nodding his head, he finally said, “You are a brave kit.
Of course, as you have made it clear that Kagome is your mistress and her orders are your law, I will have
but your loyalty and bravery impress[es] me.
I will check on my mate and if she is awake from her nap, I will come to collect the boy to see his mother.”
“As you wish my lord…come, kit.”
He would make a fine playmate for Rin, and later his pups. Then one day he would serve as a worthy warrior of the West.
go to your room, kit, and I’ll send for you to see Kagome soon.”
After Shippo nodded at him and followed Jaken out of the study
, Sesshoumaru
Nodding his head, Sesshoumaru entered his room and dismissed his mate’s handmaid. Taking a seat beside the futon, he watched his dozing mate
I do this for you, since you have pleased me with your care of our son.
You will not overexert yourself, and you will not get out of bed.
Shippo fought down his need to jump at her and bury himself in[to] her chest. Sesshoumaru had warned him to be careful with her, since she was breeding and getting sick a lot. Instead, he ran up to her and hopped up on the futon.
Setting her hands on her stomach, Kagome whispered, “I’m better now that you’re here…I’ve missed you so much, Shippo…so much.”
His own eyes filling with tears, Shippo held his little hands out and asked, “Can I touch?”
“Of course you can, silly…he’s
Biting her lip, Kagome said, “I know we never talked about it, Shippo,
Tears slipping down his cheeks, Shippo whispered, “I think of you as my mother too, Kagome. I didn’t want to say anything before, in case you didn’t
Laying his head down on her stomach to listen to his baby brother inside her, Shippo stated,
Unwilling to tell her kit how upset with her circumstances she was, Kagome said,
“Sesshoumaru asked me to swear allegiance to him…I said no. I said my allegiance is to you and your baby and if you asked me to fight him, I would.”
“Oh, Shippo, no! I don’t want you to fight Sesshoumaru!”
Shrugging, Shippo replied, “I will. If you ask me to hold him off so you can run, I will. I’d give my life for you, Kagome. Any time and any place.”
Stroking her kit’s cheek, Kagome whispered, “That means a lot to me, Shippo. It really does…but my fights are my own. I don’t ever want you to get hurt for me...and if Sesshoumaru thinks you’ll betray him, he’ll send you away, and I don’t think I could bear to be separated from you again.”
Shaking his head, Shippo replied, “He said I can stay, regardless. He said as long as I’m loyal to his son, that it’s enough. He said he’ll have me watched so I don’t help[] you escape, but that my loyalty to him isn’t necessary, as long as I’m loyal to his son.”
“And are you? Will you be ok with his son, knowing how he came to be? Will you resent him?”
Smiling up at his adoptive mother, Shippo answered, “It’s not his son, Kagome. It’s your son. This is your baby, and my loyalty will always be with the two of you…I’ll fight for you both.”
“Oh, Shippo,” Kagome whispered as she drew her kit in for a hug. “You don’t know what that means to me.”
Outside the room, Sesshoumaru smirked at the words he’d heard whispered between the two. He’d shielded his scent and aura from the two inside so he could listen to their conversation without them knowing. He was just as pleased with the kit as he was his mate. They were both worthy of the House of the West. Heading down the hall, he went to collect Ami so she could bring them their dinner. His mate needed sustenance and he would make sure she had it. She had a trying week ahead of her. He knew Inuyasha and Kikyo would be there within a few days, and it would be quite the reunion. ‘It will break Inuyasha to see his true love swollen with my seed. He will despair at the knowledge she is truly lost to him now and all his dreams are now mine…come to me, my brother. Come and see the fate you abandoned your true love to…come and see that she is MINE!’
