A/N: I lied to you guys. This fic made such a big hit (11 reviews…..that's a lot by my standards) that I decided to make a happy ending for all of you guys. Read and review, I hope I lived up to your guys's expectations. Also, I started a doujin (6 pages). I have a deviantart, so please check that out if you want. The plot is all done, but I have yet to shade it in and stuff.

Please enjoy and thank you very much. Your reviews are what keeps me up at night.

Xxx

No Longer Lost

Xxx

It planted itself inside him. It buried deep within the confides of his heart and latched on, refusing to leave.

Thoughts of Kagome.

Her leaving provided nothing with the solitary exception of loneliness. Soon, the yearning transformed into a seed. It grew. Wild and untamed, it dominated his heart. 'find her' it whispered, nay, demanded. The branches of desire shot up and manifested. More of her, more. Unable to satisfy his yearning for the woman, he would fill his heart with empty lies, attempting to fool his heart. Sesshomaru would strut in their old room and drift off into an old revere. Her scent no longer graced these bedroom, yet, vaguely he was able to piece together what it was like. His eyes snapped open.

It was fading.

Bits and pieces of memories were slowly dissipating into nothingness. Sudden panic would fill up his heart. No, he would not forget her. His mind retracted and grabbed on tightly to what was left. Kagome's name. Her voice. Her smile. His mind stitched the loose fragments together, hoping for an absolute memory.

How the mighty has fallen. He now hung onto the shattered remains of a human.

"where?" He pondered.

Xxx

"I really shouldn't stay too long." Kagome insisted. "I've already been here for a week!"

"Oh please!" Shippo begged. His petite fingers curled on the soft outer layer of her kimono. He tugged with bright eunthusiasm. When all else failed, he buried his small head, letting his smooth skin grind with Kagome's soft cloth.

"Okay, okay!" She giggled. She kneeled to pick up the young kit and graced his forehead with a ghostly kiss. "Just a few more days." She squeezed her little treasure tightly in the confides or her protective arms, guarding the babe like a precious jewel.

"No! Not just a few more days! Forever! Forever!" He chanted. His iron tight grip on the collar of her kimino stiffened. As his eargerness for her to stay germinated, so did his determination to make her do so did.

"Shippo, I cant. I love you so much, but I cant stay at this orphanage." Kagome sighed. Her sapphire lids slowly came fluttering down and she leaned in towards her beloved adopted son. If she stays any longer, someone will take notice of her. She couldn't let that happen. Kagome took every single path to elude the wandering eyes of attention. If Sesshomaru found her…..

"But we need you!" He cried. "Rin needs you too! You're our family now! No one takes care of us until you came along…." Tears pooled in his eyes, but being the brave boy that he was, he held onto them defiantly, trying to preserve his masculinity but only fueling his child-like quirks.

"I'll stay for as long as I can." Kagome whispered. Her feet pivoted away from the direction she was headed to and carried her back to their small home on the hill. With one arm carrying Shippo and the other preoccupied with her bag, she was already a busy mother. She, of course, was not the biological mother, oh but how she longed to be. Rin and Shippo were such darling children.

The life of a wandering nomad greeted her with open arms. For years, it was Kagome's shadow and whoever was kind enough to guide her that accompanied her on her journeys. She ran in silent circles, avoiding Lord Sesshomaru and anyone she suspected of taking his commands.

Gone.

All of her tender moments with him was gone. In its wake were the loose and muddled waters of the blood bath she encountered before. Her picture of the lord was still that of a beast. A monster with no ethical values. An animal. That was, after all, what a youkai was. She could not change that but only run away. And in black fear, she flew. She flew as far as she could for as long as she could.

Wrong. Another side of her would yell out. The voice was infinitesimal. It could barely be heard. However, it existed. It would diminish and diminish but never completely fade. Was that a sign? Kagome would often wonder. Confusion swelled. She involuntarily pushed the thoughts away. Any memories of the lord needed to be crushed. They were nothing now. She was a wandering nomad and he was the Lord of the Western lands.

"I'll make you your favorite soup today!" She smiled. And like so many others repeated times before, she pushed down the memory. With her back turned away from the woods, she did not see the pair of golden eyes watching her.

Xxx

His eyes widened. "you found her." He stated.

"Yeah," Inuyasha scoffed. "There was a rumor about some blue eyed girl that stayed with some kids. I decided to check it out. You going to go after her?"

Found her. And with that all consuming thought, he left. With demonic speed, Sesshomaru escaped the confindes of his castle with ease.

"Hey! No thanks? Well, Fuck you too, you bastard!" Inuyasha screamed. Before the last word could be heard, Sesshomaru was already miles away.

His long strides drifted him to the destination. He would not waste a single moment. She was here. She existed and was alive. As his feet, with furious craving, carried him towards her, he pondered how to approach her. It has been so long. His only thought was to take her and force her to stay with him, regardless of her decision. He desired her and no other. As the distance between him and her shrunk, he suddenly began to feel something new bubbling within him.

'fear?' He thought to himself. Uncertainly overwhelmed him. No. This was nervousness. Shock quickly washed over it. Why was he so nervous to see her again? He day dreamed repetitively of what was to happen. In ever scenario he was inert and absolute. He would take her with confidence and she would gladly take him back. Now that it was really happening, his reactions deviated completely from what he wanted. Why was he acting like this? He felt his heartbeat. It burned with intensity. The furious pace that has set in has not diminished in any way. Kagome evoked to many emotions. It was completely unlike him.

He internally shook his head.

He was the Lord of the Western lands. No one would dare reject him. Who was Kagome to deny him? They had more yesterday than anyone else. She would be his. After all, she belonged with him. But what happens if she says no? What happens if she didn't want to see him? After all this time, what happens if she has changed?

Again. He snapped out of it. As he felt a small surge of confidence rising in him, he landed. In the not far distance, he spotted small house. With surprising caution, he inched towards it. Two silhouettes danced near the small home.

His honey eyes drew their attention to the small kids. Ignorantly, they laughed and swirled around each other. When they became conscious of his arrival, they abruptly froze. Rin's eyes slowly drifted towards Shippo. What would they do now?

The kids backed off. All was silent.

"Move." The lord commanded. His aura spiked and attacked the two small kids.

Rin's hand instantly searched for Shippos. Shivering they stayed frozen. What was such a powerful demon doing here? What would they do? Should they run? No, they were too scared. They felt like a deer caught in the headlights.

Suddenly, realization dawned upon Shippo. What about Kagome?

With his hands still entwined with Rin's, he ran towards the house. The two scared children ran to their adopted mother. The abrupt jerk from Shippo snapped Rin out of her trance. Their tiny legs leapt alive. "Mama!" Shippo bellowed. His tiny voice was unable to grab hold of their mother. He shouted over and over again until his lungs reached its limit. With the last of his breath, he collapsed in front of their house.

"Mama!" Rin shouted, her voice almost matching Shippo's.

The quiet demon lord followed after them. His calm strides contrasted dramatically with the children's panicky pace. As he reached the door steps, he heard it. The sound of her voice.

"Shippo? Rin?"

A symphony.

He must hear more. The music was sweet. His legs lulled him further towards her. It has been too long. His heart, which previously had been a chasm of ice was now beginning to be filled. The ache that had tortured him for years was usurped by warmth. This was it. He was about to have what he craved so desperately.

Kagome stepped out of the house. Her eyes widened. Her small mouth was blanketed by her shielding hand. She continued to stare at her previous owner. No. She shouldn't have stayed here. Rin and Shippo were in danger because of her. He found her. This couldn't be happening. Riding on pure instinct, she scooped up the kids and ran back in the tiny house.

"Do not run." He stated. It was not dipped in the usually stern tone he had. He said it as if it were a fact, like the sky was blue. Kagome disregarded his advice and tucked inside the small confides of the house. The stench of fear was powerful.

Sesshomaru's lips thinned. What he could only describe as an ache started to come to him again. He was hurt. Millions of men have ran away from him, hiding in their pathetic fear. He was use to people shivering at the thought of just saying his name, yet when Kagome ran, he was hurt. The action was like a deep scar, plunging even deeper.

Don't run. He thought.

He let himself in. His honeysuckle eyes roamed over what little there was to see. In the corner, standing defiantly, was the woman. His woman. Her eyes burned with a potent mixture of fear and love. Love for her children whom she so wanted to protect. Behind her were the shivering kids. They held on to each other, seeking warmth and comfort. Their world was shattering beneath them.

"L-leave." She whispered. Her voice was barely heard.

Another wound. He was not wanted by her. The cold rejection bit at him. Gold met sapphire. His eyes flickered with longing and yearning that had built up over the years. He had missed her. This was the greeting that was given to him? Hurt. He wanted so badly for her to rush over to him and say that it was a mistake to leave. He wanted her to come to him with knowledge of his longing for her. He wanted her to open her arms and accept him fully and yet….here she was, rejecting him.

His eyes deferred from hers. Standing in silent thought, he considered his options. Ignoring her previous command, he approached Kagome.

With one finger hooked, he lifted her chin.

Kagome, too scared to move, did nothing. Her fingers shivered but they remained curled into a fist. She couldn't back down. She would not disappoint Shippo and Rin.

Sesshomaru melted in her sleepless beauty. Raw emotion crashed over him like an undaunted wave. All of it came back to him. It was as if it was years ago, when he first slept with her. His bright eyes grew the courage to face her yet again. Her sleepless beauty was unfazed by the cruel hands of time. His large hands grew bolder and moved to cup her cheek.

"You left this one." He said. His voice drenched with his crestfallen despair. His face, now inches away from hers, were closing in.

"Stop!" She demanded. She slapped his hand away.

Suddenly, the warmth was stolen away from him. Deprived of what he just got used to, he stepped back. Why did such small things strangle him like this? The emotional wound bled heavily.

"We have much to discuss. I wish to claim what is mine." He said.

"I will never belong to a monster like you!" Kagome screamed. Black rage was in place of fear. How dare he come barging into their house, scaring her children and demanding her?

"What you saw was a manipulated perception of this Sesshomaru." He said cooly, covering what he truly felt. He brought his hand up again, wanted to touch her vanilla skin once more. He did it delicately, as if the slightest wrong move would cause her to disintegrate into dust.

"You killed all those people!" She screamed. She held her hands out protectively in front of her children. Her wild eyes shined with anger while hot rage stirred inside her sapphire orbs. If they were going to die, she might as well put everything she has into defending what she loved. Her pride would not die along with her. She would not beg for her life. She would not give her kids up. Never.

He paused, searching for the right words. All of a sudden, he felt like he was in a land mine. The wrong steps would only fuel Kagome's hatred, which, to him, might as well be destroying himself. He couldn't bear the thought of himself being hated so deeply by her. With careful planning he spoke.

"It was necessary. I was to conquer the land and I had no other option but to show my dominance."

"There were kids out there! Women, even!" Her voice heightened. "You took away so much."

His eyes widened a fraction. His burning irises dashed away from her accusing eyes. Is this what it was going to come to? After all those years of searching for her, it would all be pointless? His jaws tightened. No. This was unacceptable. He is a youkai, but that did not mean he was an untamed beast. He had thoughts and opionions. He is not a brainless murdering machine.

This would not happen. He would not allow this. She had to stay with him. She had to.

"This one would never hurt you!" His baritone voice bellowed. After years of holding everything in, he swallowed his pride. Yes, his status meant everything to him and yes, he hated to admit the ceaseless emotions he had developed for the woman, but none of it was worth losing kagome. "Never."

"Well, you did." She whispered. Her bangs hung low to her head. "I think you should leave now."

Standing in silent shock, only one thought ran in his mind. 'now what?' He pivoted. This was not over. Not by a long shot. He would return. He would claim her, one way or another. He had not wasted all these years just to watch her leave again.

He would have her, and she would come by her own choice.

Xxx

"You sure are determined. What got into you, anyways?" Inuyasha asked as his brother paced thorugh his library floors. "people are going to hear and your name is at stake. I've always known you to be cautious about things, but your being really really stu-"

"Half breed, you will silence yourself or I will do it for you." His gruff tone spat out. Pain swelled in his head. All he could think about was her. He considered many options of how to deal with his lust. He thought about just taking her, regardless of her opionion as he had done in the past. He instead, hatched another idea.

"What are you looking for anyways?" Inuyasha asked.

"I said silence." He growled. "You should be training with your captain or doing something equally productive. Annoying me will only heighten my already built hatred for you. You have no business searching into what I desire."

"Geez." Inuyasha scowled. "No need to be so dam snappy. Would it kill you to just say one nice thing, you bastard? And besides, I really think you should just let this go. All of us didn't say much, but the captains as well as everyone else thought that….well…you were getting too attached to her and-"

Sesshomaru glared. Was he telling him what to do? Who was he to teach him ethical lessons? Who was he to assume what was correct? Sesshomaru saw red as he glared at his disgusting half brother. "You do not command me. You are beneath me. You are garbage. The fact that I allow you to be graced with my prescence is a gift in itself, now do not take more than you deserve. Leave now before I rip you to pieces." He snarled.

Inuyasha twitched. Angry and hot blooded, Inuyasha backed off. "Tch." He scoffed. Whatever, it was his half brothers choice. He rolled to the balls of his heels and took off. Sesshomaru's explosive anger couldn't be matched with anyone else's. Inuyasha was reckless, but he was no fool. He would let the rage sit and dissolve. No need to tangle with the beast over something trivial.

As Inuyasha leapt out of sight, Sesshomaru buried himself back into the scrolls. Lost in the towers of education, he locked himself away. Then he found it. Grabbing the scroll that he had searched so long for, he rolled it open. He smirked in silent victory. He would finally have her. Everything would go back to the way it was.

On the edge of the scroll was beautifully carved kanji.

'memory wipe' it read defiantly.

Xxx

Confidence shook as he stepped towards the house. Thw wind blew furiously, as if the distain for his actions to be was already clear to it. He didn't care. He didn't care whatever he had to do. He was about to have Kagome and that's all that mattered to him. With his bold characteristics returning to him, he triumphantly barged in.

Kagome lept out of her seat. Her two kids lay in the bed next to her, sleeping soundly. In silent horror, she opened her mouth to scream, but in one motion to quick for her decieving eyes, he kissed her. With great hunger and furry, he locked his lips tightly with her own. He shoved his wet tongue down her throat. The hot liquid he drank poured from his mouth to hers. The potion would now do its work.

Kagome's muffled screams fought to get out. Her lips wrestled with the man, no, beast, that she so hated. As the slow poison delivered itself throughout her body, her hands fell limp at her sides. Like two fat hunks of meat, they went down. Her head twisted back. Sesshomaru caught her as she hung like a wet towel on his strong arms. He pulled her to him.

Drunk on her scent, he carried her over his shoulder and headed back.

xxx

Kagome's eyes fluttered open. She scanned around the room. Her head ached more than normally. She turned around, only to find the western lord gazing upon her. He held her tightly, as if letting go would cuase her to somehow fall and never come back. His strong chest was pressed warmly against her creamy back.

"Good morning, Sesshomaru." Kagome yawned. Cutely, she rubbed her eyes.

He smirked inwardly. Everything was fine. Everything was as it was suppose to be. She didn't remember a thing. Relief piled upon him and he opened it with welcome arms. This time, he would make sure everything stayed perfect. He finally had his view of perfect and he would go to the ends of the earth to preserve it. He buried his nose in the crook of her neck and lowered the his eye lids. Peace be stilled him.

No words were needed to express what he though. His tender touches epitomized what he felt right now. Pure bliss.

"What's gotten into you?" Kagome giggled. " Did you have a bad dream or something?" She swiftly turned around, greeting her lord, nose to nose.

"In a manner of speaking, yes. This one had a nightmare; however, this Sesshomaru conquers all." He responded, serenely.

Kagome gave him another chuckle. The sound of her voice fed his hunger for her, but continued to exacerbate his need for her. Her voice wasn't enough. He wanted more of her. He had to hear more, taste more, feel more, see more. It has been too long. He had a thirst and only Kagome could quench it.

He wrapped his fingers around her waist and pulled her closer to him. One forceful tug was all it took to have her face centimeters away from his. He locked his thin lips with her plump ones. It all came back. The memories cascaded over him. Oh, it was so sweet.

Her lips ghosted past his lips as well. She let her heavy lids close again, then softly, she mumbled in her adorable voice: "I'm tired…." And she ran into the arms of sleep.

Sesshomaru let his protective arms go. Warmth slipped away from him and Kagome. He walked silently. Some food would be proper to keep her energy up. She probably had little to eat in that disgusting little hobble of a home she lived in before. As soon as he left the room and was in the halls, a scowling Inuyasha greeted him. His arms were folded and his eyes pierced Sesshomaru's.

"Vermin." Sesshomaru greeted kindly.

"Didn't you learn your lesson last time?" Inuyasha shouted, ignoring the insult. "It's going to lead to the same thing. Tell her the god dam truth!"

Sesshomaru continued his struts, unaffected. "You know nothing."

As the two brothers parted, Inuyasha scowled and headed away. This was going to lead to disaster.

Xxx

"Ewwww, everything is so dirty!" Kagome huffed. "Geez, it's like I was sleeping for a thousand years!" She scurried around, arranging her room and dusting off her furniture. Sesshomaru stood at the door frame, eyes glued to his beloved. His posture was impeccable as he held firm in silent adoration.

"Come. You should eat. This job is menial and should be done by servants. Any further would be redundant." He entwined his fingers with her's and led her away. Kagome, shocked, looked at the back of Sesshomaru's head. He never held her hand before. It was always a vice grip on her wrist or a jerk on her shoulder. Most of the time, touching her would mean an action to convey his lust or fury. This tenderness was foreign. Kagome found herself liking it.

"I don't know what's gotten into you today," She murmured. "I like it."

"Things change." He stated bluntly, his back still towards her.

He couldn't see her, but he could feel her smile. It was like a warm sun, covering his body. She squeezed his hand as he led the way to the castle's kitchen. He felt so….

Complete.

Xxx

The castle was busy with hustle. The servants all felt the return of the mistress and unknown to her, silent understand flowed throughout the staff. They knew that if a single word slipped out, Sesshomaru would have heads. Every single able bodied youkai in the castle arranged things the way it was 5 years ago. How long would this lie continue? All they could do was play along in their lords game.

Inuyasha twisted in disgust. Everyone was obeying Sesshomaru like he was some kind of god. Keh. If only he could knock his half brother down a peg or two. Inuyasha made his way towards the training halls. He needed to blow off some steam. Fuzzy memories of Kagome resurfaced. He could remember seeing her a few times. She was always with him. Always. He didn't really know her but he could remember the one night he bumped into her.

- Flashback-

It was dark. He had just been mocked by the other captains for being weak and a half breed. Their sharp words shot at the most tender spots in his hardened heart. The words opened the tin heart, letting the contents float freely, making Inuyasha prey. "Half-whelp burden." And "disgusting creature." They echoed potently. He was only here because his father requested it and Sesshomaru worshiped father.

He shivered and sunk into the bushes, letting the leaves cloak him.

"Hello?" He heard.

Inuyasha twitched. Dammit, who the hell is in the gardens at this hour? He hugged his knees in quiet consolidation. He wanted nothing but to disappear thin in thin air. His amber eyes were traitorous and stood out rebelliously in the stillness of the dark. He was easily spotted.

"What're you doing out here?" The woman asked.

Inuyasha looked up. It was her. The whore that was always with his half brother. His eyes darted away to the grass that was cleverly hiding in the shade of the trees. "I'm fucking dancing. What the hell do you think? I'm alone and its late, don't be stupid. Go away. Sesshomaru's going to pop a vein if he finds you missing." He shooed her away. He couldn't see as well as the others in the dark, so he didn't know exactly where she was. Nevertheless, He could smell her. She radiated with the odor of his half brother.

"It's dark. You should be indoors. What're you doing out?" Kagome asked. It was as if his insult just bounced off of her.

"If you must know, I wasn't feeling well, okay? Now get the hell away." He grumbled.

"Are you sick?"

"No, dammit!" He screeched, a little too loudly. Realization of the volume hit and he shrunk even more into the bushes. He couldn't be discovered here. It was embarrassing. He grunted with frustration and buried his head in the folds of his arms. He just needed some solitude right now.

Kagome looked down. Now enlightened, she realized it was Sesshomaru's half brother. She heard about had heard about him. He was always being talked about by the other captains. They all chattered relentlessly about how he was beating them, even though he didn't deserve it. They were all just jealous fools.

She frowned. She understood now. She crouched down.

"Well, you better not stay sick." She demanded. "If anything happens, Sesshomaru's army would be a heck of a lot weaker without you."

Unknown by the young girl, his eyes expanded. He then shut them tightly again. A compliment. It felt nice. No one has ever been so kind. It was just two sentences, yet it patched a years' worth of pain from him. As Kagome walked away, he caught a small glimpse of the back of her head. Raven hair with creamy pale skin.

That night, he made the decision to always protect her.

-Flashback over-

Inuyasha knocked another soldier out of the ring. "Next!" His voice thundered.

He questioned on the right thing to do. Kagome did look quite happy. Ignorance is bliss. But was it the ethical thing to do? Which was better? To be happy in a lie or traumatized by the truth? He shook his head. He was getting to dam maudlin about this.

Xxx

Sesshomaru….was….strange.

Kagome didn't remember Sesshomaru being half this possessive. He stuck with her everywhere she went. If it was an insignificant walk, he would be proudly beside her. When it was time to eat, he fed her. He was becoming her world. She was surrounded by Sesshomaru. He provided clothes for her. He protected her. The first thing she saw when she awoke was Sesshomaru's sun kissed eyes. The last thing she saw was those bright orbs again.

She enjoyed the attention, but something was different. Something was off.

It wasn't all that bad, though. He made her feel…well…pretty. He made her feel loved and appreciated. It was as if she was the only woman in the world. She found herself growing accustomed to his attachment. She too, molded into him. Day and night became when he was here and when he was not. Even dreams became occupied by the demon lord.

Kagome lie on the bed, pondering. Her small voice shattered the silence of the night.

"Sesshomaru?" She whispered. Her voice was so meek and small that it was barely heard. She shook the large man, whose arm caged her like a piece of jewelry. His lids slowly fluttered open. She was eaten again by his strong gaze. His look said it all. 'What?' it said.

"Do you like me?" Kagome asked innocently.

Not a single word was uttered from the demon lord. He squeezed her. Then, his lips claimed hers in a soft kiss while his hands wandered to the low dips of her back. He released his tongue and it slowly stroked the insides of her mouth. Her moist cavern was so warm. His wet tongue dug deeper until he tasted every single inch of her. Satisfied, he pulled back out.

He closed his eyes again and drifted off to sleep.

Kagome's cheek flushed the brightest shade of pink. Even after how he had explored her body so well, she still felt like a little girl with her first crush. Well, he didn't answer her answer with words, but somehow, the kiss told her everything. She didn't believe it herself. He had taken her so many times. When did fucking turn into love making? When did sucking face become tender kisses? That kiss exposed Sesshomaru.

He loved her.

Xxx

"Next!" Inuyasha's deep voice penetrated the audible gasps of the other captains. "Come on! Don't any of you wimps want to get stronger?" He wiped a bead of sweat that rolled down his hot forehead. Heat built up in every single cell of his body. He wanted to fight. More fighting. More.

"Inuyasha, your strength is proven!" A captain shouted. "You have fought almost everyone in the House of the Moon! We have had enough!"

"Tch!" Inuyasha snorted. He took off the rest of his hoari, which was darkened with his sweat. "Don't tell me what the fuck to do." He was frustrated. He was conflicted. For some reason, the dilemma of which choice is more moral ate him up. He wanted to protect Kagome, to do the right thing. Even though it was only one event, she gave him kindness. He wanted to return that. But he was powerless. He couldn't go against Sesshomaru. That was suicide.

"You wish for a challenge, half breed?" A cool voice thundered.

All the heads turned at once to the source. Sesshomaru stood defiantly at the out rims of the training door. His aura spiked. His sharp and menacing claws dangled at his hips. He raised his claws, only to have his poison collect at the apex of his nails and crawl down to the floor. The acid drank the floorboard away, leaving nothing in its wake. Intimidation.

"Let's spar." Inuyasha growled.

The captains, knowing their place, split onto the two sides. The sea of warriors pulled to the safe zones of the training hall. They watched as the half breed approached the lord, with surprising calmness. It was so dam quiet. Would this castle be destroyed? Would someone die today? No one knew. Every single captain understood the gravity of this situation. There had always been hatred, but this time, it toppled over.

Inuyasha charged.

With reckless and clumsy movements, he attacked. Sesshomaru flawlessly shifted, dodging every single hit. "You are swinging to kill. Calm yourself." He stated coolly as he flashed through the halls. Soundless wind bounced off the walls from his amazing speed.

"Shut the hell up! You have no fucking right to command me!" Inuyasha bellowed. His lightning fists struck Sesshomaru, but it was greeted with disappointment from every blow. Sesshomaru swiftly evaded every single one. As soon as an opening presented itself, Sesshomaru took it. With his ironclad grip, he pinned the half bred to the unforgiving ground.

The floor cracked under the heavy pressure of Sesshomaru's strength. Inuyasha, back against the floor, coughed. Blood leapt out of his throat and attached itself onto the daiyoukai's face. With a stained cheek, Sesshomaru smiled. With a sick flicker of pleasure, Sesshomaru tightened his fingers. Inuyasha felt nauseas. His lung cried for air.

"Pathetic." Sesshomaru stated.

"You're…the one…" Inuyasha bit out in between coughs. "That's pathetic."

Havoc rage bent up. With one stroke of his arm, Inuyasha was sent flying to the other side of the wide room. Captains all made way for the flopping body. The crash of Inuyasha's flesh accumulated a large cloud of dust. Sesshomaru rushed to him, only to punch they young Halfling again. Sesshomaru's eyes burned crimson. "What angers you so?" He demanded to know.

"You're not a man!" Inuyasha choked out. He got on his knees and sent every single drop of energy he had to lift himself. "You're just a fucking little wimpy girl! Whose do dam scared of his own fucking shadow!"

Already pushed off the edge, Sesshomaru roared. Rotten anger and fury blinded the lord. Inuyasha took the barrage of punches and kicks. "You know nothing of this Sesshomaru! You are not educated enough to make any assumptions!" He bellowed.

"If you were a real man, you'd tell her!" Inuyasha managed to scream in between Sesshomaru's beatings. "If you had any fucking pride at all, you'd let her know! This isn't some great accomplishment you made by drugging her! You're a fucking cheater and you have no dam right to claim yourself as a Lord!"

And with those words finished, Sesshomaru stabbed him with his fists, bringing Inuyasha down. Too fast to counter, Inuyasha fell down. Down he went, like a boat sinking. Down he went, like a bird shot right out of the sky. Down he went like a crashing star, burying into the cold ground of the training hall. Hurt was everywhere. All he wanted to do was to reveal the truth, but here he was, down on the ground.

The captains stared in silent shock. Their lord's cruelty held no bounds.

The white of Sesshomaru's eyes slowly returned to him. The red dissipated. A heavy silence consumed the castle whole. The forbidden fruit was all but secret. Inuyasha was too bold.

"If you had any fucking pride at all, you'd let her know!" He could still hear it. It was loud and fresh in his mind. It was like having his eyes suddenly opened after it was in the dark for so long. It shocked him. What he was doing was….most unlike him. He always prided himself for being the most honorable Lord there was. Now….he resorted to this. Trickery to win a woman.

With heavy shame, he turned away. The prying eyes of the captains exacerbated his humiliation. All of them knew. All of them were watching. Suddenly, he felt sick. He needed to get away. He needed to get far far away. He needed Kagome. Now more than ever.

He flew.

Xxx

"What are you doing? Let me down! Let me down right now!" Kagome shouted. She squirmed in Sesshomaru's arm. He carried her over his shoulders as they glided through the icy air. The wind whipped her hair around, mixing it with Sesshomaru's silver mane. One moment, she was eating in the gardens, the next; she was lifted away and flying with Sesshomaru.

He didn't speak. He lifted her off his shoulder and placed her on his youki cloud. The bright skies and clouds confused Kagome into thinking that this was heaven for a moment.

He looked at her. Just looked. He didn't touch her too much or land anywhere. He just looked.

He lowered his head. All he could see now was their feet. His small black shoes contrasted strongly with his youki cloud. His silver hair was combed by the hands of the wind. It covered Kagome, closing off the rest of the world. All she was surrounded by was Sesshomaru. Caught in the strong shadow she looked at her lord.

"What's wrong?" Kagome asked. Her piercing eyes tore away at his agony. He found solace in the oceanic hue. His Kagome. His beloved Kagome.

He was able to bring himself to speak now.

"What are your emotions towards this one?" Sesshomaru started. This was so different. He had never spoken with such shyness, such quietness. His voice had never been so crestfallen and laced with …..Fear? What was he so afraid of? Kagome longed to know.

She gently brought her hand up to his cheek and cupped them. With one thumb, she lovingly rubbed over the youkai marks. She was very careful, as if the slightest touch would hurt her lord. This was completely unlike her and unlike him. Nothing but love overwhelmed her right now. The cancer spread and she could feel it. The warmth that Sesshomaru brought was causing her to be sucked right in.

"I don't know why you've been acting weird." She whispered. "But I know you're distressed. Even right now, as you hold me."

He was holding her? Sesshomaru found his arms already curled around the woman's waist. It came naturally to him now. It was as if she was originally a part of him to begin with and he was now finding out what it was like to be a single unity. Unconsciously, he drifted away. His mind started to numb. He didn't want to lose this.

"Sesshomaru." Kagome mumbled. Her voice was like a rope, snatching him out of his trance. "I love you."

A silent sigh escaped his lips. Then a deep chuckle soon followed. Thank god. Thank god for her words. Pure relief coursed through the demon lord's body. She accepted him. She felt what he had been suffering from so long. Was it okay now? Was it okay to say it? Would she run away again? Would she react differently from last time? He opened his mouth to tell her.

One sentence after the other, it all came out. With a few sweet nothings mixed in, he told the whole story. Every word strung along on his tongue. One truth led to another, then another then another still. Soon it was just a hodgepodge of stories and emotions. Agony, adoration, rage, jealousy, admiration all rode heavily with each completed sentence.

After a while, it was all out. Every single truth.

When the barrage of reality was over, he looked down. He was unable to face her. He didn't want to face it. He felt so weak it was disgusting. In all his years of conquest, he had gone through some very tough battles, but what he felt right now was incomparable. He was being torn apart from the inside out. All he could think was 'don't run.'

A pregnant silence erupted. It was shattered by Kagome's voice. "Don't look like that, Sesshomaru."

Tender.

She was so tender.

Her kiss freed him from the fears that had kept him fettered for so long. Her lips were dry, but it was sweet. It was like honey. Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed so much it was almost closed. Was this heaven? Oh god, don't let this be a dream. She was still here. She wasn't disgusted. She wasn't angry. She didn't look at him like he was some unbearable beast. Blood heated up from his body and battered all over his being. Hot, everything felt hot.

"This one is…." He leaned on her shoulder, hiding his face. "Most reassured."

"I'm…in love with you right now." Kagome whispered. She wrapped her creamy hands around his broad shoulders. "What kind of person you use to be….well…that's just it. It was what you use to be. It's not who you are now. You've changed. You can't alter the past in anyway. But Sesshomaru..."

His heart almost exploded out of his chest when she said that.

"This is now. Right now, I love you. I want to be with you. I want a future with you. I don't want to look back. I'm not the scared person I was before." Kagome closed her eyes and locked her lips with his.

With that kiss, which felt more like a seal that bonded them together, Sesshomaru didn't want anything anymore. It was as if the sea in his head that had constantly been swarming came to a stop. All he felt was Kagome. All he saw was Kagome. All he knew was Kagome. He felt strong again.

"Yes." He assured her. "A future containing us."

Xxx

Owari

Xxx

Oh god I'm tired. Okay, well my next fiction is probably going to be AU. But anyways, review as always and keep my hope alive! If you guys actually read through all of this, I'm very honored.

ITS FINALLY OVER! WOOT.