~InuYasha POV~

The first thing I noticed was that my head was pounding.

Groaning I moved so that I could lie on my side while I pulled another pillow towards me and burred my face in it. What the hell? It felt like someone dropped a boulder on my head. I was so focused on my pain that it wasn't until I opened my eyes did I notice that I was in Sesshomaru's room.

What the?

How did I get here? The last thing I remembered was …..

Holy Fuckin Monkey Balls.

I looked down at my body and noticed that I had a red kimono lying on top of me, but other than that, I was completely naked. I then remembered breaking out of my room and following his scent until I reached his room in the far tower. My body had been so heavy with desire that I couldn't think straight, I had needed to feel his presence and his power around me and in me while he took me. I recalled how his tongue licked very inch of my skin from my calf's, legs, hips, stomach, arms and chest…. there wasn't a single inch of me that had not been tasted or kissed my Sesshomaru now. I blushed bright red as I remembered how good it felt to be caressed by him, how he had tasted me in the most intimate place and made me climax so hard I was blinded to everything but the pleasure his tongue brought me.

How would I face him now? As I looked around his room I felt a wave of longing pulse through me. I remembered how I hated this room but now with everything that has transpired between us I couldn't help but feel warm and secure in this room that had his scent blanketed on everything. I secured the kimono around my body and got up and walked up to the dresser and picked up the red peony hairclip that was his favorite ornament on my hair. I reached up and pulled the band holding my hair up that Kagome gave me when even my own hair was too arousing for me. I groaned as I messaged my scalp, I haven't even realized just how tight I had my hair tied.

I jumped when I felt arms wrap around my waist and a strong body against my back.

"Why did you put it up koneko?" he said right by ear making my shiver a bit. I blushed as I shrugged, too embarrassed to do anything else.

"I know that you are feeling uncertain to look at me InuYasha, but you have to realize that it was your heat cycle. I am sorry I wasn't able to control myself more for you"

I turned around and looked up at him "I don't blame you Sesshomaru" It was the truth. I oddly didn't blame him for what happened between us, it was strange but I felt so connected to him.

Then I remembered I bit him.

"What did I do? I bit you…what does that mean?" I was almost afraid to know.

"We are linked for eternity konkeo, we have formed a bond with our spirits, we are life mates now" he said softy leaning down to kiss me softy on my lips. I sighed and leaned into him as I kissed him back, it must be the remains of my heat because I still wanted him…or was it me who felt this way? Damnit I was so confused now!

He chucked as he must have guessed my inner monologue.

"Your heat as not passed completely but I can sense it is starting to fade. Don't worry…I will not ravage you again" I groaned and punched his arm.

"Don't remind me! I still feel weird when I think about it…I mean….gah!" I say as I moved to open the window and take a deep breath, inhaling the cool air. Winter was almost here, I could see puffs of my breath forming in the air in front of me.

"Do you regret it?" he asked quietly so that it almost seemed like a whisper.

Did I regret it? I didn't feel disgusted when I thought about it…in fact it was opposite. I couldn't find any remorse for what we did anywhere in my heart, so I guess my answer was….

"No…I don't regret it. I just don't like talking about it" I say to him turning around to see the relief in his eyes before he covered it. I smirked at him, I didn't feel the heat of my arousal, but what I did feel was the need to be playful with him, to tease him. He's had it too easy with me lately and I wanted to make him work for the right to touch me.

"Are you worried oh great demon lord?" I say moving to walk up to him, he growled at me "Well I guess for my first it was…alright" I say then dodge him as he tried to grab a hold of me. Laughing I move past the door and ran down the corridor, my long silver hair trailing behind me as I look back to smirk at Sessh, his eyes danced with amusement while he tried to catch me. I ran past Kagome who looked at us in shock.

"Sorry Kagome!" I called out to her as I moved again before Sesshomaru could get a hold of me "Don't you want to catch me mate?" I taunt him as I laugh at his surprised expression at calling him mate. I reached outside and raced over to where the gardens where, I leapt over to a tree branch and looked down to see Sesshomaru glowering at me.

"Either come down here or I will go up and get you…and I don't think you want that..do you?" he said narrowing his eyes at me but I saw the brightness in his amber eyes, he was enjoying the chase as much as I was. I stuck my tongue out at him then moved to leap from branch to branch my melodious laughter echoing around the trees so that it seemed like he was chasing a forest nymph rather than a demon.

"What's the matter?" I say as I jumped from tree to tree letting him get a glance me peeking out from around trees before I disappeared to another tree "Getting a bit old? Can't catch one little half demon?" I laughed as he would try to catch me but I was at home in forest and I had years of experience of making my movements silent as I landed on the branches.

"Koneko you are playing with fire little one" he said as he used his powers to make him blindingly fast. I know I only had a few more moments before he catches me so I turned around and ran right at him. In his surprise he halted enough for me to tackle him to the floor; we landed on a pile of leaves it managed to break most of the fall. He grunted as I used him for a cushion then sat on his stomach while I laughed at him.

"Oh great demon lord, I think you have some leafs in that perfect hair of yours" I say smiling at him as he looked at me for a long time then chuckled softy.

"I think I have said this once, but let me repeat it. You are going to be the death of me" I pout at him and punch his gut lightly "That is not nice Sessh …..whoa!" he rolled over and pinned me to the forest floor in one graceful move.

"I never said I was complaining though" he said giving me one of his rare grins that reached his golden eyes making them twinkle a bit.

I rolled my eyes at him then reached up and moved the collar to his kimono to look at the mark I left on him. I felt a wave of possessive smugness run though me at the sight of my fang marks on him that claimed him mine now. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would end up being bonded to this powerful demon, it sent butterflies though my stomach at the knowledge that I owned him just as he owned me now.

"This pleases you?" he asked as he lay down next to me on the ground, reached out and cupped the side of my neck so that his thumb caressed my jaw line "Knowing I belong to only you now?"

I swallowed as I nodded mutely "It's strange, I can still remember parts of my life when I was still male, I keep waiting to feel repulsed again but I can't seem to find it. Ever since my heat cycle hit me I feel more and more feminize in my heart and mind…it's confusing as shit I have to say"

"Language InuYasha, language" he says in exasperation "I will have to make sure to rid you of that awful habit of yours"

"Keh" I say turning my nose up at him, then smiled as I gave him a peck on the cheek before leaping up and started to run back to the castle "Don't tell me your tired already?" I tease him "Your gonna have to start exercising more Sessh!"

He gave out a bellowing laugh before he launched towards me once more "Little minx" he called out making me wink at him before I resumed out little game of tag.

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For the past two week Sessh and I have been growing closer, I kept him company in his study as he worked or while he read, he took walks with me as he showed me his lands and the people, we ate outside in the fields when he wanted me to himself. Kagome, Sango and Miroku where teasing me wondering when the wedding was going to take place.

"So…where did he take you today?" asked Sango as I put on my red sleeping kimono while getting ready for bed. Sango and Kagome where hanging out in my room, where they usually were every night.

"He took me out to visit the lake by the base of the mountains" I said as I moved closer to the burning fire in the hearth. Winter was moving in fast and the temperature along with it, I was extremely grateful for the little luxuries that Sessh's castle came with…like a fireplace in the rooms.

"Tell me InuYasha…what do you feel for him?" asked Kagome as I sat on the rug in front of the fire.

"I don't know Kagome…..I feel like I'm still fighting against my former self" I say quietly. I know I felt a deep longing to be with him, it was stronger and more concrete now that we shared an intimate moment "but it's starting to fade, I find myself calling him mate more and more often"

"He loves you…you know that right?" said Sango who was brushing out her hair.

I felt my heart flutter at the thought of Sango's words being true "I don't know if your right Sango, he hasn't said anything to me" I say feeling a bit disappointed that he hasn't.

Oh what was I thinking? Did I want him to be in love with me? Was I with him? I felt like I was sometimes, but how much did I really know about the subject?

"InuYasha" scolded Kagome making me blink and give her a gesture that said 'What!?' with my hands.

"I don't think Sesshomaru is the kind of man who expresses himself with words….must be a family trait but you should realize that he is telling you with his actions"

I thought about what she said and reflected back to our times tougher, his endless patience with me and my attitude, his gentle embraces and tender kisses, the way he would caress my hair softly when he thought I wasn't looking and the way he always put my wellbeing ahead of his. He even has growing a fascination with my ears, caressing them and stroking them whenever I let my guard down around him. If I had to weigh his love by his actions then his spoke in volumes, but what about mine?

I admit I was afraid of falling in love. Of the possibly to getting hurt, of giving someone so much power over me and the idea of giving them such a fragile piece of my soul and trust them not to smash it into bits. How could I not feel afraid of that?

I didn't give her a response but just told then that I was feeling tired and wanted to go to bed. I lay in bed as I thought about the possibility that Sesshomaru did have strong feelings for me, if he did would he admit it if I asked him? Or would he laugh at me for asking if he felt such a human emotion? No, he wouldn't laugh at me, I was sure and with that I forced myself to close my eyes and go to sleep.

~Sesshomaur POV~

I paced my room feeling restless as I thought about an intelligence report that I received from one of my commanding generals. There was a rumor that Naraku was seen with a pack of male panthers and where plotting an attack on the castle.

What could possibly drive Naraku to ally himself with such a weaker clan? The panthers where not known for their battle strategies and they have been defeated on more than one occasion so why form an attack? To make matters even more confusing was the fact that I know Naraku knew that he would have no chance of victory against me on my lands with my army on high alert. There was something else he was planning and either this was a scheme to lure me in or I was giving his intelligence too much credit. What bothered me was if he was trying to lure me to him….who or what was his real objective? Kagome, the priestess who could see the jewel shards and purify him….or InuYasha, my mate and the only silver Inuyoukai female because I know that if he was with the same mangy panthers I ran into weeks ago then he must know about InuYasha being female by now.

If InuYasha was indeed Naraku's objective, then for what purpose? What did he have to gain by her capture? This was the part that was making me pace at this every moment. The thought of my beautiful mate in the hands of that disgusting half demon as enough to make my demon blood boil and rip him apart piece by piece.

As I moved to remove my kimono top I heard the whimpering distress of my mate from the other room. I opened to hidden door that adjoined my room to hers and entered her chambers to find her thrashing on the bed.

"No…" she whispered as her little nose would scrunch up before she would whine slightly. My heart lurched at the sight of her having a nightmare; I couldn't stand for anything negative to touch her not even if it was a dream. InuYasha was my personal little vibrant ray of sunlight, dazzling, joyful and sassy so it felt unnatural for me see her either in pain or upset.

I slid into the bed next to her and pulled her into my arms. I have missed feeling her body next to mine while she slept, but I stayed away to give her space and think about her feelings for me. Now that I was holding her again did I realize just how much I missed her.

"Koneko wake up" I whispered into her ear as I stroked one of her tiny white triangles. I have grown so fond of her ears loving the way they twitched and moved that I would find myself constantly wanting to touch them. I nibbled on her neck until she gasped and woke up clutching on to my arms, her breathing labored as she tried to yank herself from her nightmare.

She looked up at me and blinked a few times "Sessh?"

"Shhhh…it's okay. You were having a bad dream so I came in to see if you were okay" I said softy as I rested my head on top of hers. She shuddered slightly before she laid her head on the pillow and allowed me to just hold her.

"It was so real" she whispered "It felt like a premonition, Naraku is coming after me and will try to use my friends to lure me out"

I growled before I cupped her face in my hands and forced her to look at me.

"I will never let him touch you" I said fiercely not letting her see just how uneasy her dream made me. Had I not just been worrying about the very same thing a moment ago?

"It's not me I'm worried about Sessh…it's my family, my friends. I can defend myself, I have Tetsusaiga" I shook my head at her, my little warrior had no fear, and it frightened me more than any threat to me, she would face danger head on without a second thought if it meant protecting those she held dear to her heart.

"For my peace of mind, if an attack did come, would you please consider staying in put?" I asked even if I knew the answer already.

"I can't do that" she said shaking her head at me. I sighed in exasperation but knew that no amount of argument would convince her to stay hidden while I fought against Naraku.

"Why do you ask that? Is something gonna happen that I should know about?" she asked me looking at me with her golden cat eyes "No koneko, go to sleep" I say as I tried to get up so that she could sleep but she touched my arm softly.

I looked down at her feeling hope swell in my heart as I saw her bite her lip gently making my eyes linger in her lips for a second longer.

"Do you want me to stay with you?"

Her only response was a little nod of her head before I leaned down and captured her lips and kissed her softly. I moaned as she opened up and started to stroke my tongue with hers, she tasted sweet like a ripe peach. My mouth nibbled and sucked on her lips until she was whimpering, oh how I missed the little sounds she made in the back of her throat. She wrapped her arms around my neck holding me to her while she continued to kiss me deeply. We have not kissed in two weeks, two long empty weeks of not feeling connected to her so now that I had her I felt starved and greedy. I devoured her, my head was going blank as I allowed myself to just feel, to enjoy being with her knowing that her caresses and kisses were not caused by her fertile cycle but because she wanted me just as I wanted her. My hands moved so that I could part her kimono permitting me to caress one smooth leg. I was half on her while she had one of her legs against my waist bent and exposed, I traced the skin of her leg all the way to her waist loving how soft her skin was.

"Sessh" she breathed out as my mouth went to nibble on her neck as I finally moved so I was now on top of her holding her tightly to me.

"I have not held you in a long time koneko" I said as I licked her mating mark enjoying how she shivered in my arms "I find myself ravenous for your body and lips" I confessed as I moved to nuzzle the side of her face.

"I know…" she didn't say anything else, but I could feel her blush bright red. She didn't need to say anything else, that little admission from her told me that she too had missed this intimacy between us. I moved to capture her lips once more in a long lazy drugging kiss that had me thinking just how much I adore this woman in my arms.

She was created in such a way that I wondered if father had some connection to the gods, because there was no doubt in my mind that when father made her he knew I wouldn't help but fall in love with her. Her taste made me crave more, her body enticed me to touch her, her heart made me capable to feeling compassion and her personality challenged me and brought me laugher.

I moved so that I could rest my head on the pillows and dragged her body next to mine almost throwing her on top of me without breaking the kiss. I held her face in my hands as I moved to kiss her neck making her moan a little. I pulled back, knowing that I couldn't claim her until she gave me the okay; I wanted her to come to me willing. I looked into her golden eyes and awarded her with one of my rare smiles knowing that she liked it when I smiled at her.

"I missed you InuYasha, I miss having you next to me at night, I want you in my bed again, but I want you to be there willing this time" I want it be her choice, I want her to choose me.

"Okay…I hate to admit it to you but…I've missed you too" she said going a bit red. I picked her up and carried her to our room, where I hope she would remain forever. I laid her down and joined her pulling her softy in to my body so that my body heat and youkai could protect her.

"Sleep my little mate" I say rubbing one of her ears again making her purr slightly as she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep in my arms. I wanted her but I also craved the pleasure of just holding her, I was torn between my feelings for her and the instincts of my demon, but I love her too deeply to hurt her so in the end my heart won and I closed my eyes and drifted to sleep with my mate safely in my arms.

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~Normal POV~

Naraku stared at the great castle of the western lord and smirked evilly. His plan was made out and his chess pieces where all in place waiting for his signal. The plan was simple, have the panthers attack the castle distracting the guards, he would show up and face off with Sesshomaru insuring that his attention was kept on himself. Naraku knew InuYasha too well to know that she/he…or whatever it was, would just sit it out, no she along with her friends will come out and help in the battle against Sesshomaru wishes he was sure. Byakuya will attack Kagome, Miroku and Sango using an illusion of him while the real he from afar will shoot InuYasha will a sleeping dart.

Once InuYasha goes under the hard part starts, to get her out in time before Sesshomaru reaches her. Naraku was confident he would get to InuYasha first, Byakuya was fast and hand never let him down. Then the real fun would being.

He had every intention to make her suffer dearly. If what the panthers told him was true then InuYasha transformed into a beauty without rival, and it will be her doom in the end. He imaged how helpless and broken she will be once he locked her into the dungeons….with about 10 horny demons just waiting for a taste of her.

He laughed at the thought of InuYasha helpless against the multiple rapes, how distraught Sesshomaru will feel when his precious mate is defiled and soiled in such a disgusting matter.

He wasn't a fool though, he would send in weaker demons first. InuYasha was strong even as a female no doubt and will kill the first batch…but after say…the 5th batch she would be tired and worn out. He will make sure to keep her without food, drink or sleep until she was simply drained…then and only then will he send in the three male panthers. He had promised them the pleasure of mounting her first…then if she was beautiful enough, he decided, he would take and rut the little half demon until he had his fill of her.

Naraku shivered in anticipation at the thought of destroying both of them in such a way that they would beg for death by time he was done with them. He watched as the front doors to the castle opened revealing a small silver hair demoness. Naraku almost laughed out loud, it was almost like she could hear him. She had a long red cloak to protect her from the cold; he narrowed his eyes as she saw her face.

This creature couldn't have been InuYasha. He refused to believe that the female demon was the half demon he hated with every fiber of his being.

This female had the face of a fay small delicate and sweet, eye of a cat and skin that looked like moonlight, she was perfection. Her little ears that adorned her head where too alluring, he watched her as she walked over the far end of the castle towards the gardens. Still within his barrier to keep him from being detected he moved to see if he could get a close look at her. He had to make sure that she truly was InuYasha….but even if she wasn't now that he's seen her he wanted her. His envy of the Diayoukai grew even more as he realized that he had claimed this demoness as his mate, even if it was InuYasha, her beauty alone would make a fine prize to any male demon.

Naraku prided himself at being to strongest, of being undefeatable he had a massive army of demons at his disposal and the almost finished Shikon jewel in his possession but he didn't have a woman to warm his bed. He watched her jump onto a large branch to prop herself against to trunk and closed her eyes. He wondered if he should just take her now…she was within reach now and if he waited until he attacked with the panthers he would have to share her. Now that he's seen her, he didn't like the idea of sharing her with anyone. He drank in her angelic face and small frame. She was a small little thing he mused as he observed her, she didn't hold a hint of her former self, the only thing that he could see was her ears.

"InuYasha!" I looked up to see the human girl Kagome making her way towards her. So it was InuYasha, somehow he turned into this beautiful creature before his eyes.

"Hey Kagome…what's going on?" I heard her voice respond to the pesky human girl. Her voice had an almost musical ring to it, he smirked darkly, and he wondered what it would sound like as he took her.

He had to rethink his strategy now, he was not a generous demon and he no longer wanted to hand her over to the panthers…..no he had better plans for her, he was going to keep her.