Holy crap. This is quite the popular story...

Well, thanks, everyone. I honestly didn't expect this. :)

You guys are wonderful.

Sincerely,

D.O.C

P.S. I'm going to make Sesshomaru's moko moko his tail.

Also, I don't own Inuyasha

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Kaede was working the hardest in her life.

She had been working for eighteen hours straight. Alone.

Why alone?

She was working on her own apprentice, that's why.

Kagome had fallen into a coma, and had been sick for weeks. She had been complaining that her ribs burned, but Kaede had written it off as 'Kagome not wanting to train' at first. But then, as the sickness progressed, she began to fear for the little miko's life.

"Kagome... please, be alright." She coaxed more herbal brews down her throat. Kagome was still unresponsive.

At least her heart had stopped slowing four hours ago.

Kaede shivered. Thankfully, the fire was around the wall, not in front of the door like she was. The mat had blown off nine and a half hours ago. The wind that had blown it off was still raging. There was a strong storm on the horizon.

She looked at the futuristic watch that Kagome had taught her to read. It was around five A.M.

A bolt of lightning lit up the earth.

"No, no... the storm can't come now!" She rushed around the hut, trying to find anything, anything, to block the door with.

Another bolt of lightning flashed, outlining a shadow. Kaede slowly turned, the youki rolling off of the person in the door frame was sickening, it was so strong.

"S-Sesshomaru?"

An animalistic snarl became her only answer.

"LEAVE MATE BE."

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Kagome awoke, pain hitting her full force. She opened her eyes wider, trying to see past the dimness in the hut. She looked around her uncomfortable bed and screamed.

"Be silent." A growl came from above her.

She heard the sound of metal on metal, and sparks flew in front of her. A small fire bloomed.

The face above her, that had scared her, became Sesshomaru.

Her uncomfortable bed became his lap.

The hut became a cold, small, stone cave.

She tried to smile, but the pain wouldn't let her. He sighed. A wave of youki washed over her, making her flinch at her 'Natural enemy', but then soothed all of her pains.

She tried to look up into his eyes, but he looked away. It was strange, it looked like he was ashamed.

"What's wrong?" Her eyes widened. Her voice was back to normal.

"Nothing." His voice was deeper than she remembered. It sounded like a rumble as well. A growl.

"Look me in the eyes..." She tilted her head on her now healed neck.

He snarled, but complied. She bit her lip at the bright crimson and teal eyes that met hers. At least he didn't seem hostile towards her. His tail curled tighter around her.

Okay, he definitely wasn't hostile towards her.

In fact, he seemed the opposite.

He leaned down, and started sniffing her neck. Kagome froze up. She was terrified at what he might do if she moved.

"Mate..."

"WHAT?" She shouted. He growled in protest against her tone.

"Sessh-Sesshomaru?" She whimpered as he ripped her clothing to expose her neck and shoulders to him. He made a sound of approval at her slim neck. His fangs scraped her shoulder.

He bit down, hard.

She screamed, but her mouth was clamped shut with his hand. He pulled his canines out of her shoulder and licked the blood off. He made a little whine of happiness. He liked her blood. It was clean, pure.

Kagome was shocked. She looked from his red eyes to the two crescent marks on her shoulder, to his eyes again. They were fading back to amber and white.

She couldn't comprehend why he would do that. Punishment?

She was too tired to think anymore though.

The darkness closed in on her.

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When Kaede awoke, there was no one in the hut.

"KAGOME?" She called frantically. Then she recalled what had happened that morning, when it was still dark.

"Sesshomaru... just, don't hurt her." She smiled at the memory of his protective stance in front of Kagome. Kaede had just been moving to stand by Kagome, but in a flash, Sesshomaru was in front of her, blocking her passage to the dying miko.

Sure, he had tried to kill the elder after that, but had stopped before he touched her. Kagome's ki was calling to him, forcing his beast to back down, to get his future mate to safety. Yes, Kaede understood all of this. It was a simple bond that kept Sesshomaru tied to Kagome.

It happened to many mikos.

Their ki called out to a loved one, most of the time an apprentice, making them bonded for life. So they became like a mother and daughter. It strengthened their powers as well.

So the mystery of Kagome becoming so strong so quickly was solved.

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Kagome awoke to the smell of meat cooking. Her stomach growled in anticipation.

"I apologize." Was the first thing she heard. She sat up, looking towards the fire, where Sesshomaru was seated, turning a rabbit over to cook in thoroughly.

"For what?" She asked, all traces of sleep vanishing.

"I marked you this morning."

"What?" She suddenly became worried. She had heard about mating marks. About how important they were. She didn't want to be forced to stay with him if he had done that without her permission.

"Do not worry. It is only a courting mark. You don't have to accept it if you do not wish." He stated coldly.

"A... what?"

"It is a request."

"A request for what?" She was becoming angry with his vague answers.

"A request for you to court me."

"Which leads to what?" She asked, her tone demanding.

He sighed at her ignorance. "Courting eventually leads to mating."

"Um..."

"Think of it in human ways."

"And what would that be?"

"A proposal." He turned to look at her, cocking his head.

"You.. proposed to me?"

"My beast did. But since he knows me better than myself, I guess yes, I did propose to you." He shrugged slightly. He smiled a tiny smile, and stared into the flames.

"Really?" She sounded a bit hopeful.

"So what is your answer?"

"Hm?"

"Will you court me or not?"

Her eyes widened at his sincerity.

"Will you?" He asked again.