He always hated these times when his demon blood slept.  It left him feeling vulnerable both physically and emotionally.  Out of necessity for survival he would find a quiet spot away from any magic to wait out the night.  Not this time.

No… Instead of finding solitude, he had to run into a demon’s lair.  Or more specifically, had to be dragged into it, thanks to Kagome and her foolish ideals.

To lose control to a mortal was humiliating.  How had his father survive his mother?  Surely she must have driven him mad.  What had his mother said?

He remembered.  Even when his demon blood waned he could still remember every moment of his life.  Instead of the detachment he usually felt he experienced emotion with each memory.

He remembered her warm arms enfolding him when he was young.  He would play with her kimono sleeves and obi as she smoothed his hair.  He felt peace in her arms.  “Little one, you must not forget that you are a part of me.  You hold potential for both great destruction and great good.  Choose your path wisely.”

He knew great destruction with his claws and fangs.  His survival was based on destruction… but good… Kikyo… She was like his mother.  She gave him peace.  For a moment he understood his mother’s words and… maybe understood father’s devotion to mother.  Or maybe it was the dog demon legacy to be bound to another soul.  He should have been bound to Kikyo, but she was gone.

No!  She was alive.  She returned to him in another form.  Kagome… There were many differences between her incarnations, but the same peaceful soul resided within her.

She had cried out fearfully for him…

Something touched his forehead.  Peace washed through him.  He opened his eyes and focused on Kagome.

“I’m sorry I woke you,” she said nervously.

“I was awake.  I was just thinking,” he said quietly.  “Why were you crying over me?”

“I thought you were dead.”

He stared at her for a long moment.  His mother had cried over his father.  He remembered asking her why.

“I loved him.  Humans often cry over people they love.”

A little something thumpled in his chest.  “Your lap.”

“Huh?”

“May I borrow your lap?”

“S-sure,” she said as she rearranged her legs and gently rested his head there.  “Is that better?”

“Yes,” he said, closing his eyes, to feel the peace wash over him.  He felt like a child again, secure in his mother’s arms.

“I thought you said that you hated my scent.”

“Well… I lied,” he said quietly.  Some things the man could say that the demon’s ego could not.  He breathed her in and began to lose himself to oblivion.

“You best get some rest too,” another voice said.

He found himself on the cold, unforgiving floor.  “Did you hear us?” Kagome asked fearfully.

“Well, this is a small room,” the voice answered.

He opened an eye and scowled at Kagome.  She blushed and gently restored his head to her lap.  She leaned against the wall and closed her eyes.  He closed his and once more the peaceful oblivion came to claim him.

Something bounced on his stomach and he sniffled at the fox boy’s scent.  Something tapped his shoulder and moaned, “Too much blood…”

He smiled faintly to himself, secure with his companions.  The demon wouldn’t like it, but the man was content.

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