That night as Kagome lay tucked safely inside InuYasha's arms after returning to their village, she silently resolved to try harder in her training in order to become stronger. She could never stop being a human, but she thought that there had to be some way to grow strong enough for InuYasha to lay his worries aside. It wasn't fair for him to have to stress so much about her, and have to rescue her all the time. Thinking back on how many times she was too defenseless to stop a demon from scooping her up and using her as InuYasha bait was not only embarrassing, but down right pitiful.

"What's on your mind?" InuYasha asked, his eyes still closed in mock slumber. He knew that she had been awake, despite that he could not see her eyes. Every night he waited for her heart rate to slow in signal that she was asleep before he could rest easily, and tonight he noticed that her heart rate was strong and awake.

For a while, her only response was to tense in his arms. Slowly she exhaled, and clutched the material of his haori deciding it was better not to inform her of her plan. "I'm just thinking about all that happened tonight and I guess I'm just too tired to sleep."

InuYasha grabbed her lightly by the shoulders and held her at arms length, gazing into her downcast eyes. "Listen. Don't dwell so much on what I said. I was just upset about being so stupid and...," He paused shaking his head when he realized she was too stubborn to accept his make shift apology.

"No you were absolutely right. I'll just have to be more careful." She replied, smiling up at him and ducking her head down to snuggle back into his arms. She knew that she shouldn't be keeping anything from him after asking him to open up, but she also knew she couldn't cause him even more worry. "Besides," She thought, closing her eyes, "If InuYasha knew I would be going to Sesshomaru for help on this matter, he'd be furious."

Rin peered eagerly out the window of Kaede's hut, standing on the tips of her toes to gain an extra inch of sight. The clouds all taunted her, promising to bring her Lord Sesshomaru, and then laughing as they passed by empty handed. She ignored Kaede behind her, who begged her to come closer to the fire before she caught a cold, and breathed out a puff of visible air.

In her mind's eyes she saw him dropping before her in a flurry of clouds like in her dreams, and she rushed into his welcoming arms. She imagined him lifting her into the air and twirling her around, the silks of their kimono's intermingling in flight. He would gaze into her eyes with his steely golden orbs and their lips would just brush-

"Rin."

Nearly jumping from her skin she reopened her eyes and dropped her puckered lips into a flustered frown. "Se-Sesshomaru... My Lord! How long have you been standing there?" She squeaked, dropping down onto her heels and rushing from inside the hut to the other side of the wall.

"Not long." He replied, his face devoid of any hints that he may have seen her enacting her fantasy by herself. She stopped abruptly before him and smiled up at him with her sweet brown eyes. He crushed the unacceptable urge to pat down the stray hairs on her head and handed her a small green box.

"Huh?" She murmured, taking the box from his hands. It was about the size of her palm, and she plucked at the ribbon. "You've never given me anything but Kimono's and clothing before."

"This one is from Jaken as well." The demon replied, watching her reaction with what appeared to be mild and detached interest.

"This...," Rin gasped as she slid the top of the box from it's lower half and gazed at the shimmering necklace in her hand. The chain was a thick metal that looked dusted by snow as it twined over itself like a vine. At the end, the purple gem that matched the marking on her Lord's forehead to perfection clung to the chain. "It's... so beautiful." "Just like MiLord." She added in her mind, looking up to said man. Her smile fell as she noticed her was turned away from her towards Kagome, who was approaching them quietly.

From the path Kagome advanced upon them, her eyes shining in determination for an unknown reason. "Sesshomaru. Can we talk for a moment?" She asked boldly, her arms folded at her chest as if it were cold outside. He didn't object, and she took it as a yes. "Rin, I'm sorry for stealing Sesshomaru away, but would you mind leaving us alone for just a minute." She asked kindly.

Rin opened her mouth to protest, but Sesshomaru turned towards Kagome and away from her, sending Rin a fleeting look that suggested she oblige. Once Rin was out of ear shot, the demon Lord raised a brow at the priestess, urging her to talk.

"I want your help. I want you to help train me to become stronger." Kagome blurted, not at all intimidated by the immediate look of incredulity that he shot at her. "I can't ask InuYasha. He'll never agree to something that he thinks will endanger me. If he knew I wanted to become stronger to fight demons, he'd think I was doing it to fight along side him. I just want to be stronger to protect myself. Kaede is a sweet teacher and all, but she's only trained in the ways of a Miko. Not a killer. And Sango is so busy with her kids." She rambled on, the look on his face not becoming any less intimidating.

"And why, exactly, do you think this Sesshomaru would help you?" The demon Lord asked slowly, unsure of whether or not to laugh or to be repulsed by her how daring she was being.

Kagome sighed, "Because if you do I will help you with Rin. And if you don't, who's to say that the next time a demon attacks, you will be here to save us from it?" She argued, her hands coming to rest defiantly on her hips.

For a long while he simply stared at her, his face a clean slate which refused to reveal what he was thinking. "What sort of help could you offer me with Rin, that Kaede does not already provide?" He inquired.

"Well, Kaede takes care of her and all, but I'm sure you're confused as to her recent personality change, am I right? I mean... even right now, she's glaring holes into me from the window." She replied, a bead of sweat forming on her forehead.

Without having to turn around, Sesshomaru knew that Kagome was right. Lately he had been utterly perplexed as to why she was acting so strange. Her mood was wildly jumpy, never staying the same for even a minute during his visits. One minute she was thrilled that he was there, and the next she was furious that he came if he was only going to leave so soon. "I suppose you won't give me much of a choice." He replied, seeing Kagome's serious expression, "Fine, however, I will not be here all the time. I'll come one extra day a month, that's all."

"Than we have a deal." Kagome grinned, pleased at her bargaining skills.

Rin, from the window, groaned outwardly as Sesshomaru gave her a hard look from the distance that signaled he was leaving. She knew he didn't want a repeat of the time she clung to his leg so he wouldn't leave, and so she stayed put. Kagome shrugged sheepishly and called, "Sorry!" from her spot before jogging off down the village.

"Ugh!" She called, plopping down in front of the fire next to Kaede. The scowl on her face diminished when she reached into the folds of her Kimono and pulled the necklace out to examine it. Her face reddened, and she touched the cool material tenderly before stuffing the box back in place. "Lord Sesshomaru...,"

Kagome slipped back into the house as quietly as possible, slipping off her sandals with her toes and pushing them into the corner by the door. She looked around for InuYasha, and, not seeing him, she walked into their room. She knew he didn't have a job today, so she had not a clue where he could have been. When she had awoken he was gone, and she hadn't taken much mind to it due to the fact that she had plans that morning that she didn't exactly want him knowing about.

Silently she fell onto the bed, relishing in the soft down of the comforter. Her fingers traced a feather inside the fabric, and she smiled as she once again thought of the hard work InuYasha had put into their home.

"Kagome?" InuYasha called, standing in the doorway. His eyes traced the outline of her form inside her Miko garb, and he swallowed as he made his way over to her.

Turning over and using her elbow to prop herself up, Kagome watched as InuYasha came to stand before her. "There you are." She said, confusion washing over her face at his expression. "What are-,"

Taking her hand in his, he held her fingers to his lips and said, "I left early this morning, to talk to Kaede. And I arranged with her... our wedding day... how does 2 weeks sound?" He asked, his lips brushing her finger tips as he spoke.

A shiver ran through Kagome's body as she felt his dangerous fang touch her index, and was amazed at how delicately he could wield such a fierce weapon. "That's... wonderful...," She breathed, her eyes locked onto his.

"Mm." InuYasha replied vaguely, running kisses from her palm to her wrist, and up to her arm. He felt her skin jump at the contact, and smiled against her flesh. "You smell fantastic." He said in a voice that was deep and gravelly as if it weren't even his own.

"Inu... Ya... sha... InuYasha. InuYasha! Stop!" Kagome shouted, smacking him hard across the cheek. Jerking back, she knew he was about to question her, and she pointed behind him at the mirror on her dresser.

Turning to look at his reflection, he flinched as he saw the last traces of purple markings fading from his cheeks. The red in his eyes faded out, and he dug his clawed hands into his hair. "Sorry. I'm sorry." He said, watching through his bangs as she pulled the sleeves of her kimono back down to hid the scratches his enlarged fangs had left. "Did I hurt you...?" He asked, his voice almost cracking with the effort it took not to run.

"No. I'm fine. Are you alright though?" She asked, leaning forward on her knees to cup his face in her hands. The intensely concerned look in her eyes only helped to hurt him more, for she was the victim here, not him. She didn't even realize how lucky she was to have stopped him when she did, because he wasn't sure if he would have been able to relent if she had waited even a moment longer.

"Why would you ask that. Of course I'm fine. That was a stupid question." The half demon blurted, stepping back from her. He calmed slightly as he grabbed her hands and placed them gently at her sides. "I just need air." Was what he shot back. "Lies. Go back. Take what's yours!"

"Inu-," He heard her yell at his back as he turned and darted out the front door. The wind stung his face as he sprinted at break neck speeds to InuYasha's Forest. He couldn't recall ever touching the ground at the rate he was traveling, not that he was thinking much at all about it. In mere minutes he reached the center of the forest and climbed the enormous tree he had once been pinned to for 50 years. "Ah! I'm such an idiot!" He shouted, enraged, and punched the strong trunk of the tree, unsurprised when it shook from the force of the blow. "What is wrong with me!"

"Nothing. It's nature. She's your mate, is she not?" The more demon recesses of his mind pointed out, smug and satisfied when he could not respond otherwise. "She's in heat. You're both animals. What's stopping you?"

Slowly his fist uncurled, and he stared down at the punctured skin on his palm. "If nothing else. I will wait until we are married. It's the least I can do to save her purity." He responded, and laughed when he realized he was waiting for a reply from himself. "Yeah. It's the least I can do."

The young Miko sat, dumbfounded and utterly perplexed, at the transpiring of the last 5 minutes. She rolled up her sleeve and peeked at the skin where his canines had scraped. If anything, the skin was reddened, and not much else. "Why did he react that way? I wasn't hurt at all." She groaned, afraid for her lover. She realized how terrified he was of hurting her, but he had to realize that she was not afraid of him; human, half demon, or full demon otherwise. She couldn't stand the thought that any intimate moment would be ruined by his insecurities.

Quickly hopping off the bed, she followed behind him, knowing all too well where he had gone. It took her much longer than she expected to reach her destination, but in a moment, she could spot the little red fleck of color amongst the green of the leaves. "InuYasha?" She called, shielding her eyes form the sun with her hand. In less than a second he dropped before her, landing lightly on his feet as if he had floated down from the heavens. "Stop running away from me." She barked, pulling one of the strands of hair that hung over his shoulder.

"Do you realize that I could have seriously hurt you? If I had stayed, I might not have been able to stop myself from taking you right then and there." He snapped back, leaning in to stare into her eyes with a look of annoyance; though at her or himself she didn't know.

She couldn't help the rise in heat that flooded her cheeks at his words, but didn't miss a beat in her reply. "What makes you think I didn't want you to?"

InuYasha's eyes shot open ever so slightly in surprise, and he leaned back. Her grip on his hair loosened and he tugged away from her, staring at her with a look of bewilderment. "No. Not that way. Not when I'm not in control of myself. Besides. I've told you before. Not until we are married. You agreed to that. Remember?"

"I agreed to marry you. That's what I remember." Kagome said innocently, putting her finger to her chin in a mock thought.

InuYasha's face dropped and his shoulders slumped, "You are stubborn." He accused, his eyes narrowed at the girl.

"And you're a hypocrite." Kagome answered smiling. She walked up to him, hugged him tightly around the waist and sighed. "Just don't run away from me, okay? I can handle myself against you. Really I can."

"Just think. In two weeks, you'll be married to a hypocrite. Are you sure you're okay with that?" He asked, his laughter coming out throaty and soft as he stroked her hair gently.

Beaming up at him, she kissed the tip of his nose happily, "I'm more than okay with that."

Circles! Circles I tell you! I have fun depriving InuYasha, because I am cruel!

So this chapter is short and definitely not my best work. But I got very few reviews, so I didn't have a whole lot of inspiration. Wink wink. I'm just the worst, aren't I?