"I think gentlemen that it is time you paid your debts and retreated inside. There is a ball to be preparing for."

With that she walked over to Sesshomaru and kissed his cheek on tiptoes before sweeping out of the dojo in the direction of the main castle.

Stunned eyes followed her till she rounded a line of Sakura trees and continued to stare even after she was gone.

A clicking of fingers snapped them all out of their stupor.

"Oi, oh knowledgeable ones...PAY UP!"

From a long way away a small shout could be heard just before a much closer, loud crash.

"Inuyasha, sit boy."

Everything was set up just right. There was only an couple of hours until the ball began now that the sun was sinking below the pink tinged clouds and Kagome was in her room. She did a quick check that Sesshomaru was nowhere around and her mind was closed before she lay back on her bed and did a quick mental check.

: The ballroom is all prepared and ready for the surprise? Check.

Outfit ready to put on and make up prepared for after my bath? Check.

Sesshomaru busy away somewhere else just in case I let my guard down? Check.

Everyone getting ready for the ball? Check.

I think everything is in order...for now!

Kagome slipped to the door and peered around the edge before quietly sliding it fully shut. She then moved over to the shoji door which led to the hot springs and after picking up her towel from home and all her bathing equipment she slipped into the room.

Her clothes fell away as she delicately hung them over the screen nearby before slithering into the hot waters. She could almost instantly feel her body start to relax. Hiding things from Sesshomaru was hard work and it was almost impossible when she was running so low on sleep. Closing her eyes she leant back on a rock and sighed deeply.

She suddenly had an image flash into her mind that was very confusing. It was of herself sliding a door shut and stepping into a room. Another joined it, this one of her naked and hanging up clothes. The final one was what triggered her brain with a flash. This one was of her lying against a rock with her eyes closed and a look of confusion marring her face, exactly as it was now.

Her eyes shot open as a low chuckle rang through the hot springs.

"Really Kagome, it would be sensible to check any others occupancy of such a room as this before you get in."

Kagome blushed and stared at the taiyoukai that sat across the springs from her. She hadn't even noticed him! How could she not have sensed him? She sank lower into the water, only her nose and eyes now visible.

Sesshomaru laughed again.

"Is that really necessary Kagome. You are my mate-to-be."

She rose out of the water slightly so that she could speak.

"That doesn't matter. It would be fine if I had been expecting it! As it is you being here is a complete surprise and one I don't exactly appreciate!"

Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow as he stood, his hips hugged by the water line and magenta stripes. Kagome had a sudden flash back to the time before when she had seen him like this. It was after he came back to her, and he had had angry red scars covering his chest and shoulders. All but one had now vanished; the final spear of adamant that had finally killed him being the only one to have left its mark. A jagged star shape sat just over his heart, almost silvery white against his pale skin.

She was so lost in her memories she was surprised to find Sesshomaru now standing right in front of her. She looked up at him as he leant down and kissed her, slowly at first, his lips barely touching hers. She jumped when she felt his hands running down her shoulders to take her hands and pull her up into a standing position so he could kiss her properly.

He kept his distance and brought his hands back up to slide into her hair. He didn't want to push her further than she was comfortable. He knew that humans were renowned for having an unfounded modesty and so he was surprised when she pressed into him, her hands exploring his sides and back as her lips pressed more urgently to his mouth.

This was like nothing she had ever felt. It was like the flame that had burnt quietly in her since their bond was first formed had suddenly been exposed to pure oxygen; it blazed within her, consuming her doubts and worries. She had thought she would be nervous for her first time but all she could think about now was the feel of his lips against hers and his skin which was under her hands and pressed against her body.

He moaned as her hands found his shoulders and she scraped her blunt nails down the length of his back. The feeling was divine. His open hands made their way down her sides, tracing the curves of her waist and hips until they came to rest on her gorgeous pert behind. He pulled her even closer, his mouth moving to kiss her throat and down her neck, pausing to suck gently at her pulse where it was thumping erratically at the attention. He had never felt like this about a woman. He had laid with demonesses over his many years, however he had only ever wanted the release it provided for him. Now he craved to be close to this priestess, to show her his love for him and make her feel like the most precious being in the world, which to him she was.

She could feel how much he wanted her, and to be perfectly honest her need was rivalling his. Feeling bold she steered him around so that his back was to the door of the springs and pushed him down so he was sitting on the rock she had previously been occupying, pushing his hands down onto her hips as she sat astride his hips.

She gently brought his mouth back to hers, nibbling at his bottom lip as his fingers gently stroked up and down her legs, lifting her briefly to press her against his obvious arousal. He needed her to know how much he craved her, how much he loved her, and from the look on her face she did indeed understand. Her eyes went wide when she felt the velvet covered steel pressed to her stomach. She whimpered quietly as his hands roamed her body, gasping as his lips made their way down to her breasts. She had never experienced this before, but coming from the future had given her the added advantage of sex ed classes. She was untouched but she wasn't innocent in mind.

He smirked as he swirled his tongue around her sensitive nipple, teasing her by never quite touching it. His fanged smile grew wider as she arched her back, pressing herself into him more as she begged him to stop taunting her with such pleasure. He obliged her wishes by capturing her rosy bud between his lips and suckling lightly, his tongue flicking over the tip while his hand did the same to the other neglected breast.

She unconsciously rolled her hips against him, her closed missing the red tinge that entered Sesshomaru's eyes as he growled in pleasure. Next thing she knew she was being lifted from the water and carried from the hot springs, the feeling of rich cottons underneath her and the red draped canopy above her indicating that they had moved to Sesshomaru's room and bed.

The taiyoukai laid the willing miko on his bed and stood back, admiring her beauty while chuckling as her hungry eyes perused his previously covered naked form. He was about to joke that it was rude to stare when a tendril of her power wrapped itself around his wrist and brought him back to the bed.

Kagome giggled as his hair fell around her face and tickled her neck. He swept it over one shoulder with one hand while the other arm held him over her, pressed to her but with his weight kept off her frail body.

"You, my darling Kagome, are the most beautiful being I have been graced with seeing."

Kagome blushed at this but didn't hide herself.

"And you Sesshomaru are being cruel. Stop teasing me and talking and come here!"

Sesshomaru chuckled at her impatience, dipping his head to kiss her again as he gently used his knee to push apart her creamy legs. He dropped his head to her neck and inhaled deeply, the fresh smell of her skin and arousal was almost dangerous to his senses.

"Kagome, are you sure?"

The young priestess nodded. She was more than sure, she as certain. She knew she wanted this, she wanted to be his and no-one else's, to belong to only him and for everyone to know it. She boldly reached down and ran her fingers up his dick, gently sliding her hand down till she held all of him in her palm and positioned him at her core.

He once more looked in to her eyes as he quickly pushed forward, eager to get the pain over with for her so that he could replace it with pleasure. Her eyes squeezed shut, a single tear leaking from her eyes which Sesshomaru kissed away. The pain wasn't as bad as she had imagined it would be, and it was hard to focus on it after Sesshomaru once more made a trail with his lips down her throat and across her collar bone.

She experimentally lifted her hips towards him and he hissed in ecstasy. His miko was obviously untouched and he had never had a bed mate so tight. He gently rocked forward again, encouraged by the whimper the female below him let out.

Kagome clawed at her taiyoukai's back, finally finding a hold on his butt as she encouraged him to go faster. She could feel her stomach coil at the intense pleasure he was giving her, unable to stop the moan that escaped her lips when he started up long, slow sensual strokes over her.

Sesshomaru's mind was flying high in the clouds. He finally had the woman he craved underneath him, writhing in ecstasy at what he was doing to her and he could feel her getting closer. He was lucky that she was currently so easy to please, because just the thought of what it would feel like when she came just for him was pushing him close to the edge as well.

Kagome's back arched as the tightness in her stomach was strung so tight she felt like she would snap. And then she did. Waves of bliss swept through her, racking her body as she trembled against Sesshomaru's shoulder. She felt his pace quicken as he threw himself towards his own release, and as just as he lost his smooth, controlled rhythm his claws and fangs elongated. He carefully sank his teeth into the junction of her neck and shoulder, infusing his spirit with hers and marking her forever. As he did so a brilliant purple light shone from their marks, their bond finally cemented and complete. Ripples of calm washed over them both.

Kagome could suddenly see the tiny minute dust particles that swirled through the late afternoon sunset light that shone into the room, could hear each and every thump of both Sesshomaru's and her own heart. And suddenly just as soon as it had come the strange sensation went. She had never felt as close to her mate-to-be. . .no, her mate, as she did at the moment.

They lay like that for a while, Sesshomaru lying next to her with her head tucked into his shoulder, quietly revelling in knowing that the other was now officially theirs until Kagome heard a clatter from outside of servants moving last of the decorations to the main hall.

Sesshomaru felt Kagome stiffen.

"Oh crap, the ball! I'm not ready! It's got to be soon. I've got so little time. Sesshomaru, you really need to learn the art of timing!"

With that she hurried from his room, bursting through the adjoining doors between their bed chambers.

Sesshomaru propped his head up on one hand and chuckled.

: Now my miko, I'm sure you will be stunning in time for the grand party.

: No Sesshomaru, it's going to take me ages to get ready. And now I need to finish my bath. I'm going to be so late and it's all your fault!

: This Sesshomaru does not remember you complaining like this at the time.

Kagome's head popped around the door as she made her way to the springs once more.

"Of course I wasn't Sesshomaru. It was amazing, and I know it wasn't all your fault. I just really could have thought of better times than an hour before we must be ready."

As she swept into the bathing room and he heard her slip into the water he sighed and swung his legs over the bed to start preparing himself.

: Kagome, you have plenty of time. The ball starts when we arrive. It is impossible for us to be late. You will be fine, my mate.