The dark skies thundered. The blasted earth shook. Youki smoldered and seethed, a black, burning haze. “In due time,” Sesshoumaru said through gritted fangs, “I’d have secured a proper match for Rin—a mate, not a ‘husband.’ She might have lived on, my immortal daughter forever after. But now, thanks to your meddling, the chance has

Kagome’s trek from her home to the outskirts of Edo was a frantic blur. Shin kept pace with her, neither streaking ahead to scout nor falling behind to sniff. He padded along right beside her, soundless, with his pointed ears and plumed tail lowered. Kagome didn’t know whether her distress had subdued him, or whether

Before Kagome—or even Inuyasha—could blink, Sesshoumaru was on her, glaring daggers into her eyes. “Rin is gone,” he said, seething. “This is your doing.” “Hey, back the fuck off her,” Inuyasha growled, wedging himself in-between them. “So you’re mad that Rin and Kohaku got hitched. Fine, but how the hell is that Kagome’s ‘doing’? She

Kagome’s troubled glance flicked from Inuyasha to Sango. “I’m sorry, Sango-chan. Thanks for the offer, but we’ll have to decline.” Lowering Shin, Inuyasha glowered over his black pointed eartips at her. “What?” “Shin and I just got back,” Kagome said, turning toward him and fixing him with a look that was much steadier than she

Inuyasha wasn’t at home when Kagome arrived. Considering how late it was, she figured he was probably off on a days’ long mission trip with Kohaku. Kagome despaired at the idea. She’d psyched herself up so much for this confrontation that to delay it now set her nerves on edge. Her only remaining hope was

At the wooded outskirts of Edo, Sesshoumaru touched down. As the buoyant cloud of youki vanished softly from beneath her feet, Kagome turned toward him with Shin in her arms. She pressed a hand to Sesshoumaru’s armored chest.  Gazing up at him, she said, “Wait here for me, okay?” Sesshoumaru’s golden eyes strayed beyond her,

The next few days passed like a dream. Kagome spent her daylight hours wandering the magical winter landscape with Shin and Sesshoumaru. She spent her twilight hours locked in Sesshoumaru’s heated embrace, tangled up with him in flesh and in spirit, in the bed of lush furs which was theirs alone. A private world unto

Kagome sat up, staring down at her son. Lying curled between her and Sesshoumaru, Shin smiled toothily back. As in his humanoid youkai form, he had fangs and claws and an ethereal aura. But that was about where the similarities ended.  There was no ruff of silvery-white fur—no silveriness to him at all. No stripes

Passing back beneath the waterfall with Sesshoumaru, Kagome felt giddy, light as air. She giggled as he scooped her up and leapt with a single bound from the pool to the alcove high above. Not even Inuyasha could jump that far in one go. As Sesshoumaru set her on her feet on the golden floorweave,

Kagome’s chest clenched at Sesshoumaru’s choice of words. She didn’t know properly how to take it, or even if she should. Hand-in-hand, she followed him beneath the falls anyway. The iridescent spray pounded down upon her head and shoulders, pleasurably warm and crisply fragrant. She heard a silvery sound as she passed, like the faint