Disclaimer: I own nothing... d*mmit.

Author's note: And so continues the story. Sorry it took a while but it was a long write with part 1 and 2 luckily I had loving reviewers who nagged for another chapter. Please nag some more because it really gets me working. Lol. Love yah.

"So what have you been wanting to say to me Sesshy- I mean Lord Sesshomaru?"

"You may call me what you wish," Lord Sesshomaru said feeling easier without their companions around them. It was far easier to let his façade drop when they were alone. "And how do you know that I've been wanting to speak to you?"

"Ever since I turned into a demon you've had this… well this mood around you as if you were contemplating something… I know it sounds stupid but I think I'm starting to know you better though you don't talk a lot," she said ducking her head because of the blush. She was babbling. But she had to stick to the plan. Keep him at ease and believe she was doing nothing wrong. Kagome knew it was a small prank but had gotten the idea after a bunch of the pranks the children liked to play on Jaken (author says: hint hint of whats about to happen).

"You're more perceptive than anyone gives you credit for I've been wanting to ask you if you wanted to train with me," he breathed with a furrowed brow as they came across a pile of broken trees and stepping over them before holding out his hand to help her down. She's more astute than I ever gave her credit for. Its comforting to know that she can tell my moods. I wonder if others have caught on to my moods or if it is just her.

Kagome walked over the trees and held onto Sesshomaru's offered hand tightly as his thoughts answered his own question, Its just her. She's the only one who would take the time to look at me without fear and take my hand without question when offered. He felt such a need to watch after her especially when he noticed how small her hand was that his fingers curled around hers completely with more than enough room that he could've held both of her hands.

As Kagome's foot came down on the last tree it cracked beneath her; after being so rotted in the forest, and she fell forward into his warm hard chest. She can be clumsy like now and make false steps…

Sesshomaru had luckily wrapped his arm around her waist and he pulled her close to him as he lifted her and brought her down steady on her feet. But she trusts me to catch her and trusts me enough that should she make a wrong step she knows I can help her fix it. Like this mess with my brother… Kagome was lost in his eyes as he stared down at her.

And Sesshomaru smiled, a slow beautiful smile just for her as his thoughts trailed on, I'm glad my brother messed things up with her terribly…

A flood of emotions passing in that one look that she didn't have time to understand they were so quick. Otherwise I would never have taken the time to see her… Kagome smiled, dipping her head innocently in shyness. Never known how she looks for the good in people before the bad…

They began walking once more until Kagome stopped and sat down under a nice willow tree near where the forests turned into hills, patting a seat beside her saying, "We can watch the sunset together." Or how her smile reaches her eyes…

Sesshomaru sat beside Kagome gracefully. Did his bones ever pop or crack? Kagome asked herself chuckling inside her head. Sesshomaru was so sweet to her, he was making it hard not to go ahead and open her mouth and tell him what she had been wanting to tell him. Something that felt like bursting from her mouth every time she glanced at him, every offered hand she touched, every time they brushed up against each other, or when he gave her that slow glowing smile that she'd never seen before she first began traveling with him. I love him. It was a new love she had never felt before that was deeper than what she had ever had for Inuyasha.

But first she had to settle a score. There were things needing to be said and done to make them even. And like hell a guy can get away with a shameful proposal like that.

"I need to talk to you," Kagome said turning where she sat to face Sesshomaru with her fists on her hips. "First of all why can't Rin call you papa? You clothe her, you feed her, protect her. The only semblance of a family the child has is you, you're her savior and she idolizes you like I did my father." Did? His mind caught that word. "If you let her call you that it would make the girl's day. I bet you she'd beam like a star from saying it."

"She never asked," Sesshomaru replied, Kagome sagged a bit with a cocked brow and a mouth that hung wide open like a fish's.

"She never asked… you mean to say had she done so you would've honestly said yes?"

"No," he answered honestly and then turned his full gaze on Kagome. "I probably would not have but if I knew she wished it as well as you than yes. She can all me her papa." Kagome sighed heavily thinking to herself that at least they didn't have to argue over that and wondering why Sesshomaru gave in so easily to her demand. He reached in his pocket and pulled out the box of pocky. Her eyebrows rose as he opened it and offered her the box. "The fox pup gave them to me," was his only explaination.

Kagome pulled out one of the long chocolate covered straws and bit it as Sesshomaru just stared at the pocky in the box. Kagome reached out and pulled out a stick holding it in front of his mouth. "Lean forward and take a bite. It won't harm you its pretty good." He looked at her through bent brows doubtingly. "Well if you're scared," she added knowing how to get him to do it. Sesshomaru leaned forward and bit into the pocky. Sesshomaru nibbled and felt the sweet chocolate covered bread across his tongue and his eyebrows perked up at this as he bit the pocky out of Kagome's hand and then tossed back five more pieces into his mouth in three bites. Dear Kami, this is delicious, he thought to himself. Kagome smirked. Who would've thought the great demon lord had a weakness for sweets? Lord Sesshomaru pulled out the rest of the pocky, gave Kagome two sticks and kept the rest for him. As he was about to eat it all Kagomg grabbed his arm and pouted, "No fair. You got the most of it." He looked at Kagome and gave her one more piece. She sighed. He's just like Inuyasha when it comes to sharing food. He popped in the rest of the pocky in less than 5 seconds and eyed her three pieces hungrily. "I know what you're thinking but no. Mine." And she ate it as quickly as she could.

"Now I shall ask you a question," he commanded, Kagome rolled her eyes and chuckled to herself. Why can't he just ask if its okay to ask a question? Is it really that hard for him? Then again he has gotten his way since a child. He must've been adorable pouting and giving puppy dog eyes that were quite literally puppy dog eyes. "What happened to your father?" Her train of thought stopped. No man had really asked about her family. Well no one but Sango who was her best friend and they talked about everything together, quite a bond had formed between the two women. Miroku never asked then again he was troubled with his own family problems. Inuyasha, after all this time searching with him he never asked about her family even though he had been there enough to notice her father wasn't present. It was nice to find some guy who actually was curious enough in her he wanted to know about her family.

"He died when I was eight," she said easily as she began plucking blades of grass and twisting them in her fingers making a little ring she slipped on her hand due to her nervousness under his gaze. "We were really close. Mama says I got my caring nature from him. A drunken driver hit him with a car. When the medics came to him he asked if the guy in the other car was okay. And then he died. But at least he went quick from what I heard. And besides at least I have memories you know." Here she looked up at Sesshomaru though tears shown in her eyes. She was touched at the idea some guy would care enough to ask and the sadness she had for her father, that he would never get to meet Sesshomaru. The man whose motives contradicted his actions. After all why did he keep Rin around? He said so she wouldn't be a burden to others, at least thats what he stated to Jaken one time but Kagome knew otherwise. There was a sweet Sesshomaru underneath his exterior. "I think that's one of the reasons Inuyasha doesn't like you," she continued blinking away the tears. "You got to have memories of your dad that he didn't. His dad died when he was born so he doesn't know how great of a fighter he was, how much he cared for either of you, if he sang you to sleep off key, or would be there to fight off the demons under your bed." He quirked a brow. "You know what I mean," she laughed. Sesshomaru reached out for her hand and held it gently just to touch her.

"I never saw it that way."

"Well you never asked him," Kagome replied back smirking as she made a roundabout with his earlier explanation for Rin. She leaned against his shoulder.

"Am I ever going to get my skirt back?"

"When is the date?"

"The day I get my skirt back."

"That's the wrong answer considering you won't get it back," smirked Sesshomaru.

"Well at least let me gain a favor for my stolen garment," she smirked as her demon side told her to do it. Get back at him. Go ahead already. It would be nice to see him steamed for once. "I have this light brush," she said pulling out a permanent marker, "and it is supposed to relieve presser and relax you… I was wanting to try it on you because you always seem so tense." Its her favor and she wants to use it on me, he thought curiously. She's always looking out for others well-being. How did I end up traveling with this creature? "Just close your eyes." He did so and leaned back against the tree. Kagome smirked. It was like taking candy from a baby.

"Sesshomaru you really are kind when you want to be," she said trying to inflate his ego as she began doodling on his face making the crescent on his forehead into a bow with an arrow shooting out beside it. She didn't mess with his purplish red lines but decided it fit a tiger and decided to draw whiskers on either side of his nose. He makes this so easy. And he's awake! "You are charming, too charming for your own good." She drew eyes on his eyelids and added a black kitty nose on the tip of his nose. "However I do have to say I was rather angry yesterday. Not only did you take my skirt-" She was finished. She pulled out her cell phone and took a picture before placing the items back in her pocket and smiling brightly with her handheld mirror in her hands offering it to him, "Open your eyes and see what you get for such a horrible proposal." He opened his eyes, startled by her words, and saw in the slowly fading of the light that made his face look orange; a rather good color considering she was trying to make him look like a tiger, Kagome's handy work.

Sesshomaru got a good look at himself and suddenly began shaking as he dropped the mirror and placed his head in his hands. At first Kagome thought he was hurt or having a seizure of some kind. As she reached out to touch his shoulder he threw back his head chuckling and then seeing the worry on her face began laughing his heartiest like he'd never laughed before in his life. Then again he probably hadn't. Sesshomaru was laughing. Actually laughing, head back and eyes close to tears enjoying it all laughing. And Kagome couldn't help but smile and laugh with him as she realized something. He had only ever laughed in front of her and she had done something humiliating to him that had caused him to laugh so much. That meant something.

Only this woman would dare mark my face like this. How come I'm not mad? I can't stop laughing! What's come over me? It is rather funny. Does some demon overcome me? No. Does my brother bring down my demise? No. But a beautiful innocent miko with sweet words resulting to childish pranks. Yes.

Why am I still laughing? Furthermore, why do I let her get by with this?

"I love you Kagome," he chuckled teasingly and then his eyes widened at the sentence that had escaped his mouth so easily. I love her! Sesshomaru stopped laughing as his gaze swept over her.

Kagome's heart sped up at the four words thrown so easily from his mouth. Clearly he had meant it as a ragging moment just between friends but that was the first time he had told her he loved her. And now that he too realized it she noticed him staring at her heavily. Her eyes sparkled back at him luminous and dark as the sun finished setting leaving them in a dark blue hue as it grew darker.

"Kagome," he breathed his voice raw with emotion as he stepped forward and clasped her hands in his one, the largeness of that one hand encompassing both small ones. He pulled her flush with him and began kissing her thoroughly. She grasped onto his robes and began undoing them with her fingers, sliding her hands inside his clothing to feel the broad chest beneath and his quick beating heart. If Kagome ever doubted the feelings he experienced with her all she had to do was touch where his heart was beating like her own, like a trapped bird flapping its wings. She didn't care that the man she was so thoroughly engrossed kissing had a face that was doodled on like a tiger. He let his hand trail along her neck to trail over her breast before lightly cupping it. Kagome gasped at the touch feeling her body arch int it and Sesshomaru growled low as his hand went down around her waist to squeeze her round bottom closer to him. Kagome became very aware of how Sesshomaru felt at that moment when she felt something bump into her stomach as she was brought closer to him making him groan a bit and something akin to excitement bubble in her stomach. Her two voices spoke loudly in her head trying to be heard over each other. I may want him. Need him. I may feel wonderful with the idea that he wants me to. Wonderful is a mild word for this feeling for the demon lord. I've never really wanted any guy like I do now. My blood boils for him. My body wants him. Its about time I felt this way. He is mine! I never felt so many different desires burning in my body. Take him. Rip off his clothes now and take him. But I know it isn't just lust now. Though that helps at this opportune moment. How can I just stand here? I should act on my instinct and claim him. Feel skin upon skin. It would be my first time ever with a man if I did that but- I want him. I want him to be the one. The only one. Mine. I love him. I love him. Then Sesshomaru froze as Kagome got up her courage and let her hands inch lightly along his waist teasingly causing Sesshomaru to groan from both her teasing and his mind rushing forward some urgent thoughts, "Wait I have something to tell you," he murmured into her lips pulling away. Kagome's lips chased after him and he laughed a beautiful sound full of mirth and joy at her wanting more from him. She kissed him once more sending a fire down his body in many different areas, particularly two, his heart and his groin.

"But Sesshy-"

"We can continue with this once I've had my say," he breathed trying to regain what composure he could as he pulled her an arm's length away from him. Her swollen lips, red blush, and eyes that were laced with desire made him wish he'd just gone ahead and continued where they had been going in their passions but he wanted her to know something first. Something Miroku had said would definitely prove to Kagome that he cared for her before he did anything further with her body. And he'd be damned if he ruined what would undoubtedly be her first time by not telling her.

"Kagome," he murmured reaching out and letting his hand trail across her cheek wishing he had another arm to hold her as he did such, "I love you."

"I love you too," she whispered back to him. Sesshomaru's heart burst at that moment full of love, the unbidden emotion that came so easily with this woman. He knew that the monk was right, Kagome did deserve this and he would give it to her before anything else. And before Kagome could realize what was happening Sesshomaru got down on one knee and said, "I deserved your anger for the first time, then again I didn't exactly do it right to begin with. I'm sorry for that but Kagome..." He paused seeming almost nervous, her powerful demon was nervous for once. She just beamed down at him with confused eyes, she had an inkling as to what was happening but she wouldn't believe it, couldn't believe it until he did it. This was Sesshomaru after all. She didn't want to give her hopes up. But her hopes were already high in the sky bouncing and she was already imaging her future being his. "Will you please be my-"

"Kukuku," came a laugh as Sesshomaru immediately rose to his feet and swept Kagome behind him.