In The Blood

By: Ryu Katanna

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Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter Twenty-One

Kagome turned to rub her cheek against Shippo's to return the affectionate gesture as she watched the two inuyokai. Sesshomaru had never been the most affectionate person, displaying that he cared in other ways, so to watch him now with his son was admittedly heart-warming. Several moments passed before the pup's attention turned back to Kagome and Shippo. He looked at them curiously before sniffing in their direction.

"Go on." Sesshomaru prompted, giving the pup a slight nudge away from him as he moved back to where he had been sitting and watching over them as they slept.

The pup whined at first as he looked at Sesshomaru before turning his attention back toward the other two. Kagome was slowly revaluating how old she had thought him to be. At almost a century old his speech should have been developed more than resorting to whines and growls to communicate. At least she thought so. She didn't know as much about inuyokai development as she did about kitsune as she hadn't needed to.

When she had decided to adopt Shippo the demon way, Kagome had asked Sesshomaru to teach her everything he knew about kitsune. That included how they aged and developed. She had thought it would be similar for Inu, but maybe she had been wrong. Shippo had been about seven in human years, though small as kitsune tended to be when they were young, though he had been just a decade or so shy of a century.

Kagome pushed away her thoughts. She would need to ask Sesshomaru later. If she was to raise the pup then she knew she would need to know just as she had for Shippo. That could come later though. For now, he would need time to adjust and get used to them. The conversation she needed to have with Sesshomaru was not something Shippo nor this pup needed to be involved in.

Kagome smiled softly as she held her hands up in offer; careful not to bare her fangs. She waited patiently as he slowly moved over to her, stopping to glance at Sesshomaru twice for reassurance before reaching her. Kagome lifted him slowly and gently set him down on her lap before nuzzling the top of his head affectionately with a soft humming growl.

The pup looked up at her curiously, and Kagome knew it was because he didn't understand her the same way he could with Sesshomaru. Every demon communicated at a primal level with growls, snarling, and so on but she wasn't an inuyokai. It was like speaking another language that could only be vaguely understood. Yusuke or her father would have been able to understand her, but the pup would only be able to understand the basic emotion that she communicated.

Various other social cues differed from race to race among demons and those that were the same. Then there were ones that were specific to the race of demons in particular. Demons like Sesshomaru, Koga, and Shippo, whose beasts were more like animals, bore inherent traits to those animals. Their social cues and structures naturally differed from her as a mazoku, and they gathered a lot more information through scent than she did. It did nothing for her, but she had adopted those social cues when she interacted with them for their benefit.

Mazoku valued clan rather than pack. They didn't depend on scent but on behavior. For example, it was seen as a symbol of deep trust to allow oneself to be vulnerable in front of another. She had proven how much she trusted and cared for both Raizen and Yusuke as her clansmen when allowing herself to be weakened with them while trying to prolong her father's life.

She had done so again in front of Raizen's grave after learning of Inuyasha's death. If anyone other than Yusuke had approached her at that time then there would have been a fight. A clan was similar to being a pack, but the hierarchy and social structure of a mazoku clan differed from that of an inuyokai's pack.

The clan of a mazoku were those that were family. Her clan had only been Raizen, Yusuke, and herself until Raizen's death. Though he was he son, Shippo wouldn't be considered of her clan until she adopted him the mazoku way. Her father had instructed the extra steps needed when he learned of the kit. She had adopted him in the way of demon, but Mazoku adoptions required an additional step that involved the sharing of blood.

Clansmen were those who shared blood or were mated into the clan. An adoption wouldn't make Shippo a mazoku, as he would still be fully kitsune, but it would connect him to the clan with a Mark he would share with her. The blood connection would not be passed on from him. She would need to repeat the sharing of blood with any kits Shippo had for her grandkits to be considered clan and share the Mark.

Kagome pulled herself out of her thoughts after several minutes as the pup relaxed in her arms and nuzzled into her collarbone. She smiled softly as she leaned down to nuzzle the crown of his head comfortingly. Shippo peeked over her arm at the pup before moving to curl against him in the empty space of her lap. Kagome watched as the two watched each other for a moment before relaxing against each other and soaking in her warmth and scent as well as each other. She looked up to see Sesshomaru watching the three of them and knew that he was pleased.

"Well, Sesshomaru? What will be the name of your son?" Kagome asked after a few moments of silence.

"Ryomaru." Sesshomaru replied, and Kagome had to hold back the chuckle as she looked down at the pup in her lap after thinking about the kanji he must have been thinking about.

'Sesshomaru's name translates to the destruction of life or killing perfection. So if I have the right kanji... He wishes for his son to surpass or overcome perfection.' Kagome thought as she ran her fingers through Ryomaru and Shippo's hair.

"You hope for him to surpass you as you did your father... It's a good name Sesshomaru." She replied as she looked up into golden eyes with a bright smile of approval, and received a tilt of the head in acknowledgment.

"Welcome to the pack, Ryomaru."

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They took breakfast in her sitting room as Sesshomaru's instincts still hadn't settled enough to risk the pack being in a large public area like the dining hall. Kagome waited with Shippo and Ryomaru in her rooms as he left to have the staff deliver food and a change of clothing for the children. He allowed only Kimi through to the bed-chambers to assist Kagome with dressing herself, Shippo, and Ryomaru. Seeing the garments in Kimi's arms for the children, Kagome almost sighed.

Normally she wouldn't bother dressing formally unless she was at a council meeting or here in Sesshomaru's lands. Formalwear at the council meetings was more a display of rank and power while here it was more because Sesshomaru was a stickler for 'appropriate clothing'. Yukata and junbei were acceptable for the hot springs and bed, but never for the day.

Kagome understood that it was more because it had been the way he had been raised in a time when things were a lot different from how they were now. It was why she didn't bother arguing. It had gotten her nowhere five hundred years ago when he had forced her to stop wearing her school uniform after they had become one pack, and it would get her nowhere now. She had long grown accustomed to living and fighting in the more traditional clothing.

"Shippo, take Ryomaru to the changing screen and help him. Once you both have your fundoshi on then I'll help Ryomaru while Kimi helps you." She said as she handed the kit the white cotton undergarments that she and Kimi hadn't bothered with when dressing them for bed the night before.

"Yes, mother." Shippo replied as he took them and led Ryomaru over to the changing screen; not noticing the sadness in Kagome's expression at the formal address.

She could certainly see the influence of Sesshomaru on her son. He had always called her Momma in the past. Then again, maybe it was because he was so much older now and wanted to be more grown up. Either way, it would take some adjusting for them both. There were still a few centuries in which she could watch him grow into adulthood.

"Thank you, Kimi. If you would select something for me after Shippo is dressed, I would appreciate it." Kagome requested as she pushed away the melancholic thoughts before the children could pick up on it from her scent.

"Of course, my lady." Kimi replied with a bow as she sorted through the garments in her arms before handing her the nagajuban, koshihimo, kimono, hakama, obi belt, and tabi for Ryomaru before moving toward the changing screen to assist Shippo once they were finished.

"Come here, Ryomaru." Kagome called softly as the pup came back out from around the screen as she sat down and pulled the nagajuban from the bundle to start with and proceeded to get him dressed.

"I know it will be uncomfortable with so many layers pup, but your father will not be swayed on the issue of proper clothing." Kagome chided softly as she secured the kimono, hakama, and obi before moving on to the tabi when Ryomaru growled and started trying to pull away.

He stopped when he heard what she had said, and Kagome smiled gently as she fixed the fold of the kimono before picking up her comb to sort his hair. She looked up to see Shippo come over to her as Kimi moved over to her wardrobe. His hair had been left down and Kagome motioned to him to sit as she pulled back the sides of Ryomaru's hair to secure it out of his face as the long strands were left to flow freely down his back.

"Alright, Ryomaru. You are done. How would you like your hair, Shippo?" Kagome asked as she prompted Ryomaru to stand so that Shippo could take his place in front of her.

"You can do mine the same way you did Ryo's, mother." Shippo said and Kagome nodded with a soft hum as she started running the comb through it.

"Alright. I need to get changed now. You both can go wait with Sesshomaru in the sitting room." Kagome said after she had finished before she stood up.

She took a moment to look over the two of them to ensure Sesshomaru would find their appearance acceptable. Ryomaru had been dressed in a white silk kimono and hakama that looked very similar to that of his father with a purple obi sash. Kagome silently doubted if white was a wise choice for such a young pup. The servants would have a difficult time cleaning the silk after a day of playing or training.

Shippo was also dressed in silks, but his were black with a purple crescent moon on the back, and a purple obi edged in light pink. The crescent moon on his back marked him as pack to the Lord of the House of the Moon while the light pink edging in his obi sash marked him as hers. These were the same colors that most of his clothes were, she knew. Sesshomaru had clothing made for them when he had claimed them as pack, and kept to the same colors to make it simple as he didn't care for the fuss.

"Yes, mother. Come on, Ryo. Your father is waiting for us." Shippo said, holding his hand out to the pup, who grasped it before they both left the room.

Kagome took a deep breath as she untied the less intricate obi to her yukata and walked toward the changing screen to see Kimi laying a clean nagajuban over it. She removed the yukata and set it over the screen before pulling down the nagajuban once she was behind it. Only once she was dressed in the nagajuban did Kimi come around the side of the screen to secure it with a koshihimo. It took a bit of time to fix all the layers over that with Kimi's help until Kagome sighed in relief that it was over once the inu-demoness had secured the obijime.

She stepped out to view herself in the mirror before nodding in approval. She looked very good, but what was important was that Sesshomaru would not be able to find a fault in what she was wearing. Kimi had chosen a light pink furisode kimono with deep purple crescent moons and white and silver clouds. She knew most of the outfits in the wardrobe were variations of this pattern or simply black and white for training clothes with the crescent moon on the back.

It was Sesshomaru's way of denoting her position as both the Shikon Miko as well as his claim on her as a member of his pack. The rich silk also claimed her high rank and importance, and the furisode style of the kimono displayed that she was unmated. The colors and moons weren't something she would wear when outside of his company or his lands. The most she wore then was some form of bracelet or hair ornament with the crescent moon to denote her place in his pack, but otherwise, she stood on her own. She didn't complain about the possessive claim of his pack because she knew it was just his way of stating that they were under his protection.

Demons in general were possessive creatures. The males, typically, are even more so than the females. That which was seen as theirs was guarded zealously. It was natural for them.

Sesshomaru was possessive of Kagome, Shippo, and now Ryomaru because they were his. His pack and his son. Even Inuyasha had been his brother and packmate in the end, and that had been another reason for his anger after the combination of the two packs. He had avenged Inuyasha's death. He hadn't been able to go after Rekai, but he had killed the demons who were involved.

They shared their resentment for Rekai. Their pack had been separated because of the barrier. Sango and Miroku had left the pack after the battleto settle down in a human village. Rin, her husband and their children had been lost to the pack with them seperation to the human world. Sesshomaru had been left to track down Shippo and Inuyasha in this new world, saving Shippo from the chaos, but finding it too late for his brother. Their pack, which had been flourishing even in Kagome's absence, had been cut down to two.

'We will never forgive it.' Kagome thought before shaking away the dark direction her mind had taken her as she stepped back from the mirror to move over to her vanity to start on her hair.

Kimi didn't offer to help with this part. She had done so once before only to be denied. Other than herself, Kagome had only allowed her father to care for her hair since her awakening, and she had done the same for him. She had been told by Raizen that, as a mazoku, it was only acceptable for a parent, mate, or her child to care for her hair or claws.

This was because, as a mazoku grew stronger, their youki couldn't be contained only within their bodies. It spread into every strand of their hair and claws before flowing outward, making it easier to tap into, and this was why it grew back every time Yusuke had cut it and then suffused himself in his youki. It actually took her brother a lot of restraint to hold back his youki from making his hair grow as it flooded every cell of his being. By cutting his hair, Yusuke was actually restricting the power of his youki that was readily available. It was another reason his Mark faded while hers had stopped doing so almost a year ago.

Raizen had scoffed every time Yusuke had cut his hair and claws and goaded him over weakening himself. He had also warned Kagome not to be like her brother. Yusuke had made it clear that he planned to live in the human world, but Raizen had known Kagome would be staying. His time had been limited, but he had done his best to teach her what it meant to be a mazoku and to ensure she could survive without him or Yusuke there.

Yusuke had been too engrossed in getting strong enough to defeat their father, but by teaching her, Raizen had ensured they would both have the knowledge because she would teach Yusuke when he was ready.

"Thank you for your help, Kimi. Please inform Sesshomaru I will be out momentarily." Kagome nodded to her in dismissal as she tried to tame her hair.

"Yes, my lady." Kimi answered before she left Kagome to finish getting ready.

Kagome shuffled through the ties and hair ornaments that had been prepared for her use. Picking out a black hair stick with a bright pink cherry blossom made of gemstones, Kagome started French braiding her hair from the front until she was halfway down the back of her head. Pinching the braid and loose hair, she separated it from the loose strands underneath before finishing the braid and twisting it into a bun before using the hair stick to pin it in place. She checked that it was neat before standing to watch as the loose hair fell down her back until brushing where her ankles would be under the folds of fabric.

She sighed in relief that she was finally finished. It was fine to do this for special occasions or official meetings but to go so far every day was taxing after a while. Kagome didn't understand how Sessomaru could be bothered. Then again, males didn't need as much time as she did as a female. She wore traditional clothing in her day-to-day life, but she didn't bother with anything too elaborate when she was at home.

A simple kimono with hakama and haori were enough unless they had official guests. The only time she wasn't modestly covered was occasionally during training. That had aggravated Yusuke when he was there, but Kagome hadn't cared. She trained both with and without the more cumbersome clothing to be prepared for anything.

Kagome left the bed chamber and stepped into her sitting room. Looking around, she could see Shippo whispering to Ryomaru in their seats. Deep brown eyes made contact with gold before Sesshomaru tilted his head in a way that she knew meant her appearance was acceptable. He waited for her to approach the table before seating himself, and Kagome followed after.

Kagome waited as the pack hierarchy dictated that Sesshomaru was to be served first and to take the first bite. That was, unless, he indicated for the young ones to start first. Sesshomaru and Kagome didn't need to eat or sleep nearly as often as Ryomaru and Shippo. They didn't need food or sleep as often as the children unless they were weakened or injured. Admittedly, Kagome needed it more oftn than Sesshomaru, but that was only because she had not fully matured even if she appeared to be.

She could see that Ryomaru was growing impatient. He reached for his plate without permission, and a deep growl came from Sesshomaru. It was a warning and a correction, one that the pup abided by as his hand pulled back.

Once Sesshomaru was served, she followed as the alpha female before serving both Ryomaru and Shippo. It didn't take long before Sesshomaru took the first bite from a bloody deer liver and the rest of them followed. The meal was quiet except for Kagome's gentle corrections to Ryomaru. He followed her direction though she had to watch him so he didn't eat too quickly. She doubted the pup had ever seen so much food before as his wide-eyed expression spoke volumes.

Kagome glanced at Sesshomaru once the meal was done and found herself relaxing further. She could tell that his instincts had mellowed now that Ryomaru and Shippo were cleaned, fed, and safe in their presence. If they hadn't then they would have been stuck in this room as he kept a close eye on them. That wouldn't be ideal with two rambunctious little ones with demonic levels of energy.

"What do you say we take Shippo and Ryomaru outside? They could do with some space to run around and play." Kagome suggested to Sesshomaru as she thought of the small cells they had been trapped in.

Sesshomaru didn't reply other than to glance back at the two before standing. Kagome sighed in relief as she followed. She looked over to see that both Shippo and Ryomaru were watching them and motioned for them to follow. Shippo jumped up immediately and came over to grasp her hand. Ryomaru was slower to follow; looking a bit unsure of himself.

"Come along, Ryomaru. We are going outside so that you and Shippo can play. We will not leave you." Kagome reassured softly as she let go of Shippo's hand to lift the pup into her arm before grasping her kit's hand again.

She turned to see Sesshomaru waiting at the door. He turned to lead them out of the castle walls only once he was sure they were following. It didn't take long until they stepped outside. Shippo almost bounced with his repressed energy while Ryomaru looked around unsurely. Kagome bit her tongue harshly as she thought that this was either the first time he had been outside or the first time in many years.

"Now, go run off some of that energy. Stay in sight." Kagome said as she set Ryomaru down once they had made it to the forested clearing that Sesshomaru had led them to.

"We will, Mother! Come on Ryo!" Shippo smiled brightly as he grasped the pup's hand and lead him away to play; Ryomaru glancing back at Sesshomaru and herself every few steps.

"Please tell me that kumo is in the smallest cell available." Kagome said quietly so as not to be heard by them once the two had made it far enough away.

"He is. We can pay a visit after the kit and pup are in bed." Sesshomaru assured her knowing how she felt about the matter as he was having similar thoughts.

"Mio told us how long Shippo was there, but we need answers about Ryomaru. How old is he, Sasshomaru?" Kagome asked the question she had been mulling over since he woke.

"At least twelve summers." Sesshomaru answered and Kagome's shoulders slumped.

"I don't know as much about inuyokai development as I do kitsune. I will need to know if you still expect me to raise him." Kagome told him and Sesshoaru's head tilted in acknowledgment.

"Ryomaru is the result of this one's previous rut. He will not be of an age to fend for himself for at least another three centuries though I doubt you will leave him to do so until he is grown. Inu pups grow to his size within the first six months to a year. He will not come to maturity until his eighth to ninth century. I know nothing of the bitch who bore him, but it matters not if she is alive. The pup is mine, and he is yours to raise unless you do not wish to do so." Sesshomaru's tone held a note of possession as he spoke the last sentence; knowing that she was the best female to raise Ryomaru.

He had watched her first with the kit and then again with Rin until she had been taken from them. She had been maternal even as a young human, and he had already seen the signs that those instincts had only been amplified after she had come into her heritage. Watching the three of them from last night into that morning had only confirmed that for him. His beast had selected their alpha female wisely, even if she was not to be their mate, and was not an inu.

Kagome made an effort with the young ones to cater to their instincts even when she did not share them. She doted on them, taught them, and mothered them even when they were not her own. An inu bitch would not have bothered overly much with young she had not borne. They would have been cared for as pack young, but she would never have nurtured them the way Kagome tended to do.

"Of course, I will raise him, Sesshomaru. He is your son. We just need to make plans so that you also have time with him. Would it not also be best for his development if he has the pack together? That's just not possible with the current situation. Not all the time, anyway." Kagome sighed as she watched Shippo teaching Ryomaru how to play tag.

"I agree. His development appears to be delayed. Inu should be capable of simple speech after six months. The pup is more than a decade old, and is only communicating through his beast." Sesshomaru acknowledged and Kagome's shoulders slumped a bit.

"I do not know if it is because he is incapable. He understands well enough. We do not know what he went through while in that place, or even before he was brought there. I do think it is better that he spends time with you. You are both his father as well as his pack alpha, and I think what he needs most right now is security." Kagome replied as she watched Ryomaru stumble after Shippo with a smile on his little face.

"You may be right. Remain for a month, and we will see where things stand then." Sesshomaru said and Kagome nodded in agreement.

"Alright. I will need to send a messenger to Kujou and Natsume to let them know I will be away. I told Hiei that I may be away from council meetings, but it would be best if I wrote to Enki directly. I will also need a messenger who can behave in the human world. My brother will want to know that we have retrieved my son safely. Hopefully, he will agree to make the trip. I want to ask him to pick up a few things for Ryomaru and Shippo." Kagome told him as she started mentally making a list of things she would need for them that weren't available in Makai.

"What could you need from the humans? Sesshomaru asked, and Kagome could see the incredulity in his expression from the pinch to his brow.

"A few things to make learning fun. They will need something fun to keep them occupied while I'm busy. A kitsune, an inupup, boredom, and left to occupy themselves equals mischief, potential chaos, and headaches." Kagome told him, and Sesshomaru tilted his head in understanding.

"Yes, I would imagine so. What will you be teaching them?" Sesshomaru asked; taking an interest as these things had to do with their education.

"Well, the humans have a game called Shogi and another called Go. Both of them would help with the learning to strategize, and Shippo is old enough to learn. There are also workbooks to help them learn numbers, reading, writing, and such. Oh, I should ask Yusuke for a Buddha Board. It would be helpful to teach calligraphy without wasting paper and ink. There are also some toys that can help to train reflexes, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving." Kagome explained as watched Ryomaru pounce on Shippo who was laughing.

"Acceptable. You may use my office for your correspondence. The servants are, as ever, at your service." Sesshomaru replied as his attention turned away from her toward Shippo and Ryomaru.

Kagome knew it was his way of saying that he would watch them, and so nodded and turned to walk back to the castle. Sometimes the changes in Sesshomaru caught her a bit off guard. She had grown comfortable with him in the past and learned how to glean the surface of his emotions. More often than not he was a blank slate, but then she started getting small glimpses of insight. He always appeared disinterested, but that was because Sesshomaru was naturally stoic.

Still, it was looking at the small things he did that had helped her to start understanding the Lord. Sesshomaru was the type to let his actions speak for him. In that way, he was the same, but it seemed that the last five centuries had opened him up to better verbal communication. He was still quiet, but he was more open now to sharing his thoughts. Even if it was only a few words.

Kagome smiled privately to herself as she listened to Shippo and Ryomaru's laughter and giggles until they were out of her hearing.

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I had a lot of trouble before I finally settled on Ryomaru's name, let me tell you. I had eventually decided on Akihiro before changing my mind. By that time I had already almost finished this chapter. I had to comb through it to make the correction, but please do tell me if I missed one.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it. The inspiration for this one has been flowing steadily, but I'll admit to some trouble with the next chapter. Unsure how to deal with the scene with Isami the kumo. I've never written torture scenes, and I tend to dislike reading or watching them. It's made me a bit twitchy, but it's needed. Therefore, please don't be too disappointed if it sucks once it's done. ^_^

~Ryu

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