For life

(I do not own any rights or have affiliation to Inuyasha, or its characters, that belongs to the wonderful Rumiko Takahashi.)

Sesshomaru had spent some time with Rin, promising to make it back to her for a longer visit, then sought his Hanyou brother out. Following his scent towards a hut outside of the village, Inuyasha must have expected him, for he was waiting outside of the house.

"Tell me more about this war." Inuyasha asked, Sesshomaru explained everything that had transpired. "Oi, I'm sure I helped with this then…" Inuyasha stated, "I will be there to help when the fighting begins."

"I don't need your help, little brother…"

"I'm not asking you to let me, I helped cause the problem, I'll help you solve it."

"If you so choose." He growled. "We're leaving as soon as Ryusei can stay astride Hideo."

"What is she to you Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha asked out of curiosity.

"My balance." He stated, being vague on purpose, then strode back to the hut to try and collect Ryusei. Healing as fast as she could, she would be about ready to make the trip by sundown, and the sun had already made it's decent in the sky.

"But you have just awoken Ryusei!" Hideo was nagging Ryusei. "You could become worse on the journey back to the palace…"

"I'll be fine Hideo, I need to get back, I need to remove myself from the grasping hands of the East. If they can do what they did back at the palace, what is to stop them here?" She leaned towards her companion and said, "I can't be taken by them Hideo…what they want from me…" Her eyes darkened as she remembered Ritsuo's request.

"I know…" Hideo sighed, then walked from the hut and stood nearby where Sesshomaru waited for them. She thanked the old Miko once again, thankful for her saving her life. The Miko smiled back at her and inclined her head in acknowledgment. Hideo transformed into his true form, and leaned down so Ryusei may climb up.

"I know I know… just this once." She giggled towards Hideo, who growled in response.

They made it back to the palace about three hours after night fall, Sesshomaru set the fast pace, eager for the ceremony to begin between him and Ryusei. She walked back into the familiar atmosphere of the guest house, glad to be back where she belonged. She sighed at the familiar smells.

"How are you feeling child?" Hideo asked, concern etching his face.

"I'm fine Sensei, I healed fairly quickly with that Miko's help."

They decided to bed down for the night, both exhausted from the battle.

The next morning Ryusei woke up to the sun slanted high through the bamboo curtains, she had slept until late morning. Hideo was sitting up, a bowl of apples in front of him. She smiled and walked over to pluck one from the bowl.

"What are you thinking of Hideo?" she asked the dragon youki.

"I'm worried about this impending mating between you and the Lord… will you be happy in the end?"

"I believe I could, he has shown more and more compassion towards me, I would've never assumed he was capable. I believe I could make it work…"

There was a tapping on the door of their house, Hideo rose and opened it. The Lady was there, accompanied by two servants.

"I am here to explain and prepare Ryusei for the ceremony."

Ryusei swallowed the lump in her throat. So soon?

She looked to Hideo, who smiled his encouragement to her. She rose and followed the Lady to the palace. She led her to a place within that Ryusei had never seen before. There was a hot spring located in a bathing room near the main rooms that belonged to Inu kimi. There were stone benches aligning the room, along with bottles of soaps and perfumes. The servants poured the bottles within the spring, while Inu kimi coaxed Ryusei out of her kimono and into the scented water.

"You may leave." She told the servants after they were done preparing her bath. "Do you know the process of the ceremony between you and my son?" Ryusei blushed as she shook her head no.

"He will come to you just as the sun sets, and you will both hunt, live, and mate within the wild for three days to establish a bond. You will serve and be a helpmate to him, just as he will protect and help you. This is the bond of any mated pair within the Inu youki clan. Do you understand?"

"Yes." She whispered. Ryusei had questions, but none she felt comfortable asking his mother.

Inu kimi's expression softened towards her future daughter in-law when she noticed how nervous she was.

"He will be good to you, as long as you give him reason to be. Just as I believe you will be for him…you are not weak, and you are honest. I can say I was surprised at his decision, but I understand why he would choose you."

"What reason is that?"

"Trust. He can trust you, for someone in his position, that is rare indeed."

Ryusei nodded her head in understanding and began washing her hair. After she was done lathering it up, Inu kimi helped her rinse out the soap. Ryusei was surprised at the caring way Inu kimi performed this duty for her, and thought that maybe they may begin to get along finally. The Lady looked outside towards the window, and noticed the sun beginning to set. She knew that Sesshomaru would be ready for her soon.

"Time to get dressed Ryusei." Inu kimi said while bringing her a towel that was warmed from the steam of the spring.

Ryusei rose from the water and towel dried off. Inu kimi picked up a kimono of red, with white cherry blossoms decorated on the sleeves, and a white obi for her waist. It was the exact opposite of what Sesshomaru wore, but with the same colors. Inu kimi then picked up a comb, and began pulling Ryusei's hair back, weaving just the top half of her hair, and tying it with a red strip of silk.

"You are ready for him." She said with a smile.

Ryusei's face felt frozen in place as she followed behind Inu kimi, headed towards the front stairs of the palace. She would be in Sesshomaru's care within minutes, following his direction blindly into unknown territory for her. Something like this took a lot of trust, on both parts. If he was willing to move away from being closed off towards her, she would make an effort to do the same for him. Squaring her shoulders, she walked out into the pale sunlight of dusk. Hideo was waiting for her at the top of the stairs, Sesshomaru at the bottom. Reaching to her side and realizing at that moment that she was without Hoshi no ha, a look of panic covered her face as she looked at Hideo.

"He will be your sword in a time of need, Ryusei. This will be a partnership." Hideo said while smiling at her. "You look beautiful little one…" He reached over and hugged her. She fought back the tears, knowing their days of roaming the countryside together, just the two of them, were over. Hideo escorted her down the steps towards Sesshomaru, and guided her towards him. Her family giving her care up to her mate. Ryusei looked up into Sesshomaru's face, nervously waiting for his direction.

He inclined his head at her when he noticed her shaking.

"This would be a lot more pleasant for you if…" her mate said to her.

"If what?"

"If you trust me."

She slowly nodded in agreement. Sesshomaru reached out to her, putting his arm around her waist and pulling her towards him, forming the cloud he used to fly at both of their feet. He took off, keeping a firm grasp on her so she wouldn't fall. Ryusei let out a little squeak of surprise, and turned her face into his chest while wrapping her arms around his waist.

"Koryu does not make you nervous?"

"No. There's a lot more to her, a lot harder to fall off…"

She heard a laugh rumble through his chest. She slowly moved her face away from him so she may see where they were going. Looking out to the horizon where the sun was making its way behind the mountains, the view took her breath away.

"After two hundred years, you still cherish the setting of the sun?" He asked her, looking down into her eyes.

"Yes I do, especially today. This changes everything."

"Hn."

They slowly descended an hour later, to a place that Ryusei had never seen before. Hopping back to ground, she realized they were in a copse of trees, with flowers sprinkling the grass around them. She could hear a river not far from where they were at, instantly falling in love with the area. She looked to Sesshomaru, who was watching her reaction.

"Where are we?"

"It's a place I discovered as a child, and would sneak off to once my lessons were done for the day."

"It's beautiful…"

Ryusei felt a pleasant tug within her abdomen, this place was special to him.

"Would you like to take a meal?" He asked, slowly approaching her like she was a deer about to bolt.

"No, thank you." She replied, her quickening heartbeat making her breathless. She didn't know what to do, and felt powerless while making him take the lead.

He held out his hand and pulled his claws through her hair, gently scratching her scalp. She closed her eyes and relished what he was making her feel.

"Ryusei," she opened her eyes and looked at him in a haze, "last chance. What do you want?"

She studied him for a few seconds, and smiled as she realized what he wanted to hear to move forward with her.

"You, I want you Sesshomaru…"

"Then I will take you as my mate for life, putting you above no others, my sword to protect you…"

"I take you as my mate for life, my mind and body for your comfort." She repeated the age-old promise between mated Inu youki.

With a low growl in his throat he captured her lips with his own, she opened to him, no longer a novice to what he wanted. She slid the tip of her tongue just inside his mouth, avoiding his fangs. Emboldening Sesshomaru with her moans of pleasure, he grasped the back of her neck, opening her up for him even more, and guided her towards his body. She could feel the hard length of him against her. She knew a little of what was going to happen, it's hard to miss the interactions of the wild animals in spring while journeying through the countryside…

Sesshomaru broke the kiss and bit the lobe of her ear making her groan with pleasure. He reached for her obi and untied it, slowly taking her to the ground at the same time. He pulled the sides of her kimono open while feasting on her neck, making her raise her hips towards him, not knowing what she asked for. Sesshomaru crouched over her, watching her become flustered because of him… it aroused him beyond reason.

Unclipping the straps that held Bakusaiga and Tensaiga around his waist, he laid them to the side, as well as his armor. Ryusei watched in fascination, as the last of the sun light escaped from view. She could still see him by the starlight, and what she saw took her breath away. Taking off his kimono, he sat with his knees on either side of her waist, naked from the waist up, and watching her intently. He leaned over her and took one of her breasts into his mouth, gently rolling his tongue over her. She moaned loudly at the sensation, relishing the warm pleasure he was giving her, making her try to reach him. Letting out a huff of laughter, he took the last obstacle off between them. She reached down with curiosity, lightly grasping him with her hand. He buried his face within her neck and groaned, licking and biting once again. After he had all he could take, he grabbed her wrist away from him, then felt her to see if she was ready for him. Feeling moisture seeping from her body, he rose up above her and rested his weight on his elbows, looking into her eyes.

"If there was a way to prevent the hurt, I would." He whispered to her.

She rose up to kiss him in answer, as he thrust inside of her. She let out a hiss of pain and shut her eyes, feeling him inside of her and holding still. After a moment the pain turned into a dull throb, and her curiosity of holding him this way took over. She opened her eyes and found him trying to hold back, staring intently at her face, she could tell he wanted to move. She ran her fingers lightly over his back, feeling his long silver hair surrounding her fingers, which she finally rested on his bottom. She applied pressure with her palms, raising her hips at the same time in encouragement. He growled again, taking her mouth with his, thrusting his tongue and member in time. The initial pain ebbed away, leaving a building pressure low in her abdomen. She started meeting each of his thrusts, trying to lift him in her eagerness. He grabbed her hips and held them to the earth, as he changed the angle that he entered her. She felt a buildup of pressure within her, and then fell into the abyss, screaming out in pleasure. After the last few twitches had left her body, Sesshomaru put his arm under her head, and the other underneath her hips, anchoring her to him. He started a faster pace, her whole body moving every time he entered her. She felt him reach his climax, and he bit down on her shoulder. Being filled with him, spilling into her, and the total domination of his bite threw her into another orgasm, making her yell out into the night and clamp down on him with her body.

When the stars finally cleared from her vision, she blinked open her eyes and smiled at him. He remained a part of her, and caressed her face with his lips. Noticing the two drops of blood coming from her shoulder, he bent his head over them and licked them off her body. He gave her another kiss, slow and drugged, as he lifted himself away from her. She moaned in response, feeling the ache of what just happened. Crouching next to her, he slipped an arm underneath her neck and the back of her knees and lifted her to his chest as if she weighed nothing, pinning her kimono under her, and started walking towards the sound of the river. She wound her arm around his neck for balance, relishing the feel of his muscles at play underneath her. They reached the side of a river, that had hot springs attached to the side of it. He tugged the kimono out from under her and laid it on a nearby rock, never letting her out of his arms. He walked into the hot spring and sank the both of them until they were neck deep, sitting on a submerged rock, her muscles relaxing with the heat surrounding her body. She looked into his eyes, not knowing what to say. She stretched until she nuzzled underneath his chin, then kissed him on his jaw.

"Do you regret it?" Sesshomaru had asked quietly, feeling as if he pushed her to these events at his own pace.

"No…" Ryusei said looking into his eyes. She moved out of his arms and straddled his lap, her arms loosely draped over his shoulders. "But I do think I'm hungry again…" She whispered reaching for his lips with hers.