The siren was quite talented but not enough to draw him out of his thoughts. Something happened earlier during the cleansing that kept his attention. When she was begging him to deflower her there was a glimmer in her blue eyes that he had seen several times before. But that gaze had never been directed at him before. He had only ever seen Inuyasha receive that look in the early days, so full of love and wonder- yet, still tinged with sorrow. It caught him off guard to have it directed at him.

The sceptic in him said it was his hopeful mind envisioning something that was not there. Except, it was there. It lingered in her depths even as her eyes misted over in lust.

And that is what kept him distracted from the siren's performance (that and he could not compare to Kagome's refined koto playing).

To his left, a seething dragon that had been stewing since the siren opened the competition finally erupted.

"I don't understand you at all. I truly don't."

Sesshomaru slid golden-eyes wearily to the dragon. Of course, he would have something to say; it was a surprise it had taken that long to do so.

"Ever since I've known of you knowing her and forming a friendship with her after some mushy late-night conversation that changed your view on love you have been in love with her -and don't you dare try to deny how long you've had these feelings. So much so you took permanent residency in your home for the first time in 50 years, returned to your artistic pursuits of art, storytelling and more surprisingly, poetry: an art form that you had abandoned the moment you finished penning those haikus on the backs of those who attempted to assassinate you for your throne as your skill for your 25 birthday celebration. You even studied how to make instruments in this village any time you had free time for roughly three years so that every instrument you gift her would be made by your hands, built an enchanted gazebo for her in secret that she still uses to this day and now you're dying because of it."

If Sesshomaru had less of a tight reign on his reactions he might have winced from his friend recounting his actions. Actions that were either inspired by Kagome or were for Kagome that she had no idea about. She was his inspiration; his muse in a way. If his grip was not iron he may have growled at the reminder of her curse that sat uncomfortably in his chest. Ryko had only learned of his illness earlier that day and was quite peeved with Sesshomaru for letting it get this bad without help.

"And now she is both 25, no longer attached to your half brother-" at this Sesshomaru's gaze turned questioning wondering how the dragon came to this information "servants like to talk Sesshomaru and your brother's infidelity to their beloved Inukimi was a highly discussed topic amongst the servants on her birthday and I like to eavesdrop. And even if they hadn't talked we were all there for breakfast that morning with his pregnant mate-to-be.

"Anyway, she is 25, officially unattached since at least her birthday and as if fate decreed it she had to undergo a cleansing ritual that you assisted in. How in the world is she still a virgin?"

His eyes narrowed dangerously at the dragon. Was he implying that Sesshomaru should have stolen her virginity? Should have taken her innocence as a consolation prize; the only piece for him since he could not have her heart?

Those were some dangerous assumptions that his long-time friend better clears up before Sesshomaru injured him. In the background, he absently noted that the siren had been replaced by another competitor.

Upon hearing the warning growl the dragon quickly raised his hands in a surrender position. "I'm not saying any of the deplorable things you may think I'm saying so stop plotting my demise. I'm just saying that a cleansing ritual has a lot of vulnerability, skin contact and heightened emotions. I had expected that at some point there would be an optional upheaval that caused a confession that led to sweet, sweet cathartic sex and your death off the table.

"Instead you both finish the ritual and nothing happened. Nothing changed. So, what gives? I know you wouldn't have because of your circumstances and because you seem to be mixed with an ass yokai that contributes to your stubbornness, but I at least thought Kagome would break."

"You were wrong. The Miko had no reason to break; she is still in love with the hanyo."

"No, she doesn't." The dragon rolled his plum-coloured eyes.

"We both heard her that day," Sesshomaru retorted.

He did not bother to further elaborate on which day he spoke of. The day was her birthday. Sesshomaru and Ryko had just left his study after having the item Sesshomaru had asked his friend to keep at their house returned to him and were walking down the hallway that led to the throne room where Kagome was set to perform. Ryko had been subtly trying to figure out what Sesshomaru had asked him to return it when a muffled conversation carried across to their ears

"Really Inuyasha? I LOVE... you," she had said with a voice so full of pain.

Once Sesshomaru heard that he tuned out everything else. Neither men slowed their stride to eavesdrop on the rest of the conversation nor did they show any overt sign of having heard anything. Even as he felt a numbing chill crawl from his chest to the rest of the body he continued to walk and act normally all the way to the elder to hand over the second of two scrolls (a backup he thought he didn't need) to be read at the end of the night.

Ryko opened his mouth, most likely to give some retort or remark but stopped. He slowly closed his mouth and a furrow appeared between his brow. It was clear to Sesshomaru that Ryko was attempting to re-strategize his approach but it was for nought. What had been done was done and little could change his mind that he had done the right thing.

"You know what," the dragon said after a few minutes of contemplating, "Let's forget that for now. Knowing you, that isn't your only reason. So give me another."

"She has two suitors gang for hand currently," Sesshomaru replied, eyes roving over the crowd aimlessly.

"And?" The Dragon prompted.

Unknowingly Ryko stirred up a recent memory of the Miko where she had snarled out that word in a demanding tone. She was so angry with him that day that even from a distance he could virtually feel the heat of her anger. And anger that blended into palpable betrayal once he had firmly taken the decision out of his hands. After that incident, she stayed holed up in her room or her music room with a silencing seal up and barely spoke to him for two weeks.

"I have accepted them for her and have coerced her to do the same."

Shock and understanding blossomed on Ryko's face. Unconsciously his head shook from side to side as if the simple action would be enough to deny the truth.

"How-"

"It was the best decision for her. The blow Inuyasha dealt her would have her shying away from the one thing she has craved." (The Miko had essentially given credence to his thoughts that day with her impassioned speech) "This way, I have forced her to move on and find her happiness in more suitable places."

"You speak as though Kagome will choose to always love your brother unless there is some interference."

"Because she will. She loved him when she was Kikyo. She loves him now and if she would regrettably die tomorrow she would find and love him still."

There was only a slight noticeable heat in his words. A thick resentment he couldn't quite repress. The sheer whisper of its presence was telling enough.

"Is that..." He didn't complete the thought.

There was no need to. What he said was the reason he continuously baulked at the idea of confessing (Other than her age). Kagome had been right, he feared her rejection becoming a substantial thing. If he never revealed his feelings he would never have to face the truth.

Kagome and her heart were intrinsically entangled with Inuyasha's and there was nothing he would be able to do about it.

And he resented that reality.

A bubble of laughter steadily rose from his friend's chest.

"Sesshomaru... for such a smart and self-assured person you're an insecure idiot."

Sesshomaru was taken aback by the blatant insult to his person. His claws twitched in response to the observation but that was his only outward reaction. He would let Ryuuku explain himself -for surely he had some long-winded oration to deliver, then he would injure his friend.

"It's just that you should know better but it seems as if you've forgotten or have chosen to not remember. Now I have to remind you of the past. And please do not interrupt.

"Now if you remember before the deadly love triangle that destroyed them, our fathers were great friends. Friends with a terrible habit of falling for the same people and competing against each other for them. If a person slept with one, anyone would know they were the focal point to one of their games that made the prize forget what they were to our father's: a reward, a prize. A victim to my father the romantic and your father the romantic.

"You know, if they had their way they would have encouraged us to do the same but I just had to have the best of both worlds in all things and my father didn't know how to deal with that- but I digress.

"Anyway, it all came to a head when they both fell for your mother. They both courted her at the same time; each doing feats to win her over. Everyone believed that your mother would have chosen my father if they had continued in their games but she never had the chance. As fate would have it, my father's attention was drawn to another, his first true love, and there was no other for him. They were in love and mated and your parents fell in love and everything was happy for the next 2 thousand years. Then she died while pregnant with us triplets. My siblings and I were lucky that we were still in egg form. My father was devastated and mourned for a thousand years before attempting to hatch us and raise her last memory without allowing us to see him completely mourn her.

"It was just us four for 22 years when it happened. He entered a mating alliance with some human Lord. He was to court then mate his eldest daughter, the princess Izayoi, once she turned 25 in exchange for protection for that lord's lands and people. They didn't meet until a month after she turned 25, 2 years later and it was with shock. The princess was the spitting image of my father's first love and when their eyes met- they knew each other. Though she was human, she was the reincarnation of his first love and the moment their eyes met she remembered her past life. I guess he must have been overjoyed at that moment but it was short-lived. We both know why and how this story ends."

They did.

According to the tale, Sesshomaru's father met the human Princess the night after she turned 25, they instantly fell in love and he immediately began courting her in secret. 6 months later they ran off, forsaking all duties and responsibilities. Ryokutuseki spent that time falling deeper into insanity and ravaging villages. They lived together for 2 years (neither mating nor marrying during that time) until Ryokutuseki was sealed away and his father died. Three years later Izayoi took her life.

"Now," Ryko continued after a moment's pause, "as I said before, Izayoi was the reincarnation of my father's first love. Her soul was so profoundly tied with his that in her new life she was given a chance to be with him once more and she was able to remember her past life the second they met. Yet... at the end of the day, she still chose to be with your father- the slag."

It didn't escape Sesshomaru's notice that not once did Ryko call the woman "mother".

"And although you say that Kagome is a reincarnation, she isn't. I should know because after that whole mess with our father's I went and studied reincarnation and how to recognize it. If anything Kikyo's soul might have been a soul sibling or relative from what Kagome has told me about what happened with that witch Urasue. I even told her so myself. But guess what? Even if she was a reincarnation of your half brother's lover it does not even matter. Because Izayoi was a reincarnation with her happy memories and still chose your father. Do you understand what I'm saying, Sesshomaru?"

Sesshomaru did understand. He understood quite clearly. His fears were unreasonably irrational and may have been used as an excuse to not act. He chose to ignore her autonomy (like an arsehole). Though it changed little. She chose to love the hanyo even through his near-neglect of the Miko's affection.

"Now returning to that overheard conversation on the night of her birthday, I'm not sure of all that you heard but with my curious and practised ears, I know that nothing she said was to win him over. I'm not sure how "Now I suggest you head in and sit with the mother of your unborn child. I need to perform" would eve be interpreted as that."

No, it could not be interpreted as the plea for the last chance that he originally interpreted for. Even to his cynical ears, he could recognize it as the 'goodbye' it was. That was almost 2 months ago and now that he was reassessing he realized that time was spent avoiding the hanyo. He even remembered her wrath as she pummeled a guard while sparing after a conversation with the slayer about taking Inuyasha back. At the time he had interpreted her anger as being unable to do so but on second thought she was (obviously) angry that someone she believed to be a friend had even tried to imply that she would do such a thing.

He let what he thought he knew shroud what was reality. He was enraged with himself, his actions and his thoughtlessness. His clouded judgment cost him time that he could have used to woo her.

His mind flashed to the look he saw her in her eyes earlier. Blue eyes full of love and wonder- yet, still tinged with sorrow- that stared up at him as though she knew him. Like no other had known before.

"I think, "the slightly younger demon said in a tone that indicated that he came to the end of his lecture (because this conversation was truly just a lecture), "two weeks is more than enough time to fall in love. Don't you?"

Perhaps it was when it appeared he already had a foot in the door without knowing.

He called for his son, who had been spending the better part of the performances hanging over the railing of their raised platform entranced with the music. After reaching in his haori and removing an object, he wrapped his son's fingers carefully around it. He purposefully ignored how the eyes of Fujisawa's Lord widened upon recognising it as Sesshomaru gave his son not only a precious parcel but an important message as well.

After wasting so much time, Sesshomaru could not let another moment pass without trying to enter her heart the way she entered his.

...888...

It took three more competitors until Ichiro had to leave to see Kagome. Not one to stay idle, Sesshomaru tuned out those mediocre performers and began devising plan after plan to win the Miko's heart.

The first step... had only just begun to form when Ichiro returned. Instead of happiness at knowing his mother figure was set to perform, concerning confusion coloured the child's countenance.

"She was crying and she said she loved me and that she was going to save you, father." Ichiro relayed with a frown.

Where once his small hands held a ring carved from one of his fangs now were clasping a creased and folded parchment.

Sesshomaru was just about to question his son further when he was distracted by the feeling of Kagome's aura rolling over him as she struck her first note. From there he was lost to shock and talent as she began to sing.

It was an experience he never experienced before, hearing his words sung back to him. Specifically, when the words originated from the story he began telling her in the gazebo a few months back. The empress and the dancer.

As every word that he had ever narrated about the tale, Sesshomaru was left to wonder if Kagome understood the story's meaning. The story was about them and the circumstance they had found themselves in (in common terms the story was a confession of what he felt). In the story, an empress (him) fell in love with a travelling dancer (Kagome) that often frequented the court but due to varying circumstances, the empress is hesitant to pursue the dancer. Eventually the attraction the empress has towards the dancer causes dangerous results. The story culminates with the empress choosing the dancer's happiness above their own and mates a suitor they do not love to ensure the dancer's freedom and happiness without discussing it with the dancer.

It stunned Sesshomaru to hear the perfect recitation of the story, but his amazement was overshadowed by a gnawing feeling of suspicion and dread. It was too perfect. When Sesshomaru told Kagome the story, he did not dramatize it. He did so with little emotion and a tone that carefully belied exactly what the story meant for him. Also, while he admired Kagome for many things- her acting ability was not one of them. She was terrible. He once remembered when she read a passage from one of her books to express how silly it sounded but she read it so woodenly that Sesshomaru barely understood that it was meant to be a romantic scene rife with innuendo. Yet...

Kagome perfectly related the emotions of the empress and the tone of the story as if it were her own. As if this were her life disguised in the story. And with her aura unfurled across the crowd, he could feel the emotions roll over his skin like the wind.

Disregarding the fact that her music was always alive with emotion, this felt excessively real.

The closer she drew to the conclusion the worse the gnawing feeling became. The entire song felt conclusory and targeted towards Sesshomaru. His mind began to race as he considered the implications.

Kagome had many renditions of the common/ traditional songs previously prepared and perfected on every instrument he gifted her. She even had original songs that she crafted from battles yet to be orated or documented like the death of Naraku. However, she chose to create a new song that hadn't been tested on any audience for a competition she had never witnessed before (unnecessary risks). The fact that she even entered the competition had baffled Sesshomaru. She always turned down the invitations to compete.

Though she claimed that the trip was for Ichiro's benefit (a way for his son to have a memory of his father taking him to a festival far away from the palace) and that "it would be rude to show up and not compete" those were secondary truths to mask her primary reason for being on the stage.

There was one other reason that had yet to consider, "Ryko, remind this one what the prize for winning is."

The dragon turned plum coloured eyes towards him, "A wish from Benzaiten, of course."

A wish from a kami?

What had Ichiro said, that she would save him?

All the pieces came together a second too late. He only had enough time to look up as the last note wrang out, then, she was gone.

"Huh," Ryko said with surprise, "A winner hasn't been picked like that in years. Nothing to worry about. Shell be back in a few minutes."

"Did you say 'Gome won?" Ichiro asked. After receiving a nod Ichiro pushed the folded parchment into Sesshomaru's hands. "This is for you. She said to give it to you after her performance."

With care, Sesshomaru unfolded the parchment noticing on one side was sheet music he didn't recognise. On the other, a short letter was addressed to him.

"Sesshomaru,

If you are reading this I have either finished my performance or have won. You might have been wondering why I even entered this competition so I'll tell you:

Divine Intervention.

I found a way to save you. However, since I'm interfering with the work of a kami I just might have to give up something myself. Or rather, exchange.

I believe that you deserve another chance at love and to be there for your son the way your father wasn't for you. Just make sure he doesn't forget me. I wish it didn't have to come to this. I wish you never got Hanahaki Disease and I wish that I could have been the one to alleviate your pain the way it was meant to. But since I can't, this is the option. I'll take your place, then I'll try it Bokusenso's way: purifying it. The

So this might be goodbye, Sesshomaru. Take care. I hope you understand why I did this eventually.

Love you, Kagome."

Sesshomaru read through the letter 5 more times after reading it the first time. Yet no matter how much time he read it, it stayed the same. The meaning refused to change.

She intended on being a martyr.

"Where did she go," he said in his chest voice.

"Somewhere on Enoshima. Why? What's in the note?"

He didn't answer. He had to go to Enoshima. He had to stop her. He had to confess.

It was as though the theme for the evening was just too late, because just as he rose to take off in the direction of the island the high reedy sound of a flute coming from southwest of their location pierced the air causing a hush to go over the crowd and an echo to pang in his chest. Most would find it beautiful but it made his skin crawl. The association between flutes and lessons about the cruelty of love were entwined in such a way that he had forbidden Kagome from even having one in his halls.

"Holy shit," the dragon snatched the letter from Sesshomaru's loose grip then deftly dodged the western Lord's chokehold. Frantically his eyes moved back and forth, however, what he was studying wasn't the note but the sheet music. "I don't know how, but that's Kagome playing and she's playing this song."

Sesshomaru watched the dragon's mind work in overdrive. "This must have something to do with the wish. She must have to play something to completion to get it because I doubt she wanted a loud ryuteki. Do you know exactly what the wish is?"

"To trade places; a life for a life." Sesshomaru answered. He was already feeling the effects of the wish. His chest already started to feel lighter. It was a slow and gradual change as though it was petal by petal.

"Fuck! Okay! Shit. We have at least 3 minutes to find her and stop her. Ahe's not here and she's not on Enoshima because the sound is coming southwest-"

"I can find 'Gome." Ichiro interrupted the dragon. "With this," he held his wrist up to showcase a bracelet.

It was the bracelet that Kagome gave Ichiro for emergencies. It was imbued with kitsune magic and holy powers that, once activated, would transport Ichiro to Kagome.

He nodded to his son after taking his son's raised arm and with a pop- the world spun, changed and deposited them at the front of the palace. The moment his feet touched the ground he instinctively knew she was in the gazebo and took off.

The garden in front of the gazebo was filled with all those who knew Kagome personally and his guards. There was palpable anxiety radiating off of each individual that was directed at the gazebo that told him that they did not know that Kagome was in there.

He quickly began barking orders for the guards and the few servants who found themselves outside to disperse the area. Then he hastily pushed Ichiro into Ichika's arms and sent them to Ichika's room. Once that was done he rounded on the monk.

"You will nullify the ofuda, now." Sesshomaru knew he could overpower the ofuda himself but it would take the time he didn't have.

The monk quickly nodded and moved to plant his staff firmly in the ground and begin chanting when Inuyasha and the slayer stopped him.

"Fuck you, bastard! Why should he help your arse?" Inuyasha yelled.

"This one has no time for your idiocy. Move or be moved." Sesshomaru snarled

"You don't get to tell us what to do, Sesshomaru; just because you have made Kagome your puppet- " Sango began and was subsequently interrupted.

"This one cares not what you think. Kagome must be taken out of there and it would take too much time to do it myself."

The half-breed's demeanour shifted at her name, "Kagome's in there? How?"

Miroku used this moment of indecision to push past his wife and his friend. "I'll do it, " he said with a tone that showed that he understood the urgency of the request.

Kaori also ran up to the monk with a promise to help and the pair began chanting. If Ryko was to be believed they had less than 2 minutes remaining.

"Son, what is going on?"

He debated answering but he estimated that he still had some time to give the briefest explanation.

"Kagome won a wish from the kami Benzaiten."

Yasuhiro eyes widened at the simple sentence. "Divine intervention..." he trailed off in wonder. "Why would you stop it?"

"It is not worth the cost."

"It's done," Miroku called out.

The monk hadn't been able to finish the sentence when Sesshomaru sped past them and wrenched open the door.

There she was. Dressed in all the finery he carefully put on her earlier that day. The glow of the crescent moon bathed her in soft light where she sat on the pile of cushions on the ground. Under the pale light, her skin looked pale and clammy and he observed sweat beading on her brow and a slight tremor in the arms that held up the accursed flute.

Before he could take a proper step inside, her brow furrowed and then he was blown away. Sailing high before landing on his feet. He tried again, moving faster and nearly grasping the flute, and he was once again pushed away with her holy powers.

"Miko, stop this nonsense! Your death will solve nothing!" He entered the gazebo again and braced his feet against the onslaught. He calculated that she only had seconds left.

After that second attempt, her aura surrounded her like a thick oppressive force. It was like traversing the sea bed with a heavy boulder in his arms. Yet, he continued and made it in front of her. With more effort, he reached forward and...

She played the last note...

Moved the flute away from her lips...

And smiled at him.

At the smile, Sesshomaru lost it. She essentially was bleeding out from cutting herself and she smiled like it was a gift. Something he should be thankful for so that he could live life.

But he wasn't thankful. He was horrified. Horrified that everything culminated into this right when he was finally going to do something about his sickness. How could he make her see how unnecessary her actions were?

She was talking and the people at the back of him were speaking but he heard none of it. Part of him was in chaos. There was a roaring in his mind that wanted blood. To tear the world into pieces. If Kagome died what was the point of all of this?

The other part of him was looking for a solution. It picked at the ruble of this disaster to find a way to salvage everything. And when she coughed, a sick hacking cough that brought up a bunch of little flowers, that part of him knew what to do.

Those were still his flowers. It hadn't changed to represent the object of her affection (for he doubted that they would be the same flower). That meant it was still his curse and since it was his illness then all he had to do was what he planned to do earlier. Get her to love him.

He ignored the questions on why she was now coughing up flowers and he picked her up bridal style. He walked quickly and carefully away from the garden, into the palace towards his studio.

"Sesshomaru, what's going on? Where are we going?"

"You shall see." He paused momentarily before continuing, "From this point, you shall limit unnecessary speaking until I have entirely said my piece." He ensured that his voice held no room from misinterpretation or gave her any leeway. Against his chest, he felt her nod.

"Do you remember that earlier tonight I had sent a message with our son that we were in need of a conversation?" She nodded. "I had come to a decision regarding my illness. After a rather enlightening talk with Ryuko, I realized that you were right. By not revealing my interest so that she may make her own informed choice I was being cowardly and selfish. I believed that I knew her heart better than she knew it and let my biases blind me. Thus, I have decided that I shall pursue her and that two weeks were ample enough to try and earn her reciprocated affection and had begun planning for such. However... you have devastated my plan with your actions."

Sesshomaru was quickly arriving at his destination. In his arms, he felt her curl further in this chest seeking warmth. He felt the beat of her heart thunderous as it laboured expeditiously. It seemed as though the Hanahaki Disease affected her more adversely than it did him (or the poison in the flowers were already affecting her).

"Now I must take drastic measures," he said as he opened his studio's door.

In the dark room, he deposited Kagome in the centre of it with his mokomoko and slowly moved around the room lighting lamps. He purposefully chose not to look at her while he set about his task then moved to look out the window. He said nothing. Only listened as she slowly appraised the room.

Perhaps he should have watched just to see what would her face be like as she realised the contents of the room. Her visage was documented and reflected in several pieces from observation, memories and dreams. Instruments both finished and in the process of being made with notes and instructions on construction and care. The various plans for the gazebo's structure were is and random poetry either explicitly or indirectly speaking of her.

"Though in hindsight, drastic measures should have been employed months ago if not years ago."

Trepidation laced her voice as she struggled to ask Sesshomaru what this place was.

"My studio, of course."

His heart, of course.

"Everything here was conjured by my mind and made by my hands."

"No that can't be true. Maybe everything else, but not the poetry. The handwriting is different and you don't do poetry." There was a self-assured tone when she said it, as though what she said refuted everything before here

He raised his left arm. "I can write with both hands though with incongruent styles. My left is solely used for poetry. Most demons know me for my poetry. It was the nonlethal skill I did for my 25th celebration. Though I must admit, I had abandoned it since then until I picked it back up 10 years ago."

"This doesn't make any sense. How were these ending up in my room?" She was steadfastly in denial?

"Ichika most likely. She has a habit of stealing my poetry and redistributing it. "

"Oh," she sighed despondently. However, just as she always did she tried to pretend to be happy, "What did you want to speak to me about in terms of getting your girl?"

"You still don't understand it? What does all this mean in the grand scheme of our lives?" He finally turned around to faze directly into her eyes.

The confusion mixed with denial was answer enough. Sesshomaru sighed. This was mostly the halfbreeds fault; after years of misleading conversations and mixed messages, it would be difficult to not take implications as the one before her with a spoonful of salt (the fault also laid with Sesshomaru for blindly allowing it to occur for so long).

"I should have prevented you from living in that village years ago." He began taking measured steps towards her

"Sesshomaru! I- I don't understand," Kagome said as he drew near.

Kagome suddenly shifted her weight backwards and her whole being screamed 'ESCAPE' and Sesshomaru couldn't let that happen. He quickly closed the gap between them.

One hand found her hip and used it to drag her body flush with his, the other softly cradled her face and tilted it up. He hesitated on the last step for just a moment as his eyes dropped down to her pink lips. Long enough to allow his mask to fully slip off and clearly display what he felt for her before he kissed her.

There was no unbridled passion in this kiss. It was soft and sweet and surprisingly chaste. Just his lips learning the shape of hers. And with each movement, he felt her melt in his arms. He was careful to not go any further than what he was doing. Coaxing touches though they were, he painstakingly poured every ounce of his affection into her so that there could be no doubt.

He could have kissed her for much longer. Until he could no longer draw breath and suffocate on her but he pulled away (she couldn't last without breath the way he could). Earnestly he tried to stare into her eyes to see any type of change in them. To see any type of understanding in them. However, her blue gaze lay pointed at their feet.

Sesshomaru felt something in his chest seize. Resignedly he bowed his head to rest on top of hers. "Please, don't make me say the words, Kagome. Not like this," he pleaded.

Unexpectedly he felt her head shift upwards and her soft lips pressed into his cheek before pulling him into a hug.

"I love you too, Sesshomaru," she said emphatically as she held on to him tightly. A grip he returned once the weight of those five words seeped into his soul.

She loved him, and he completely believed her as his mind's eye reviewed the look she had thrown him earlier that occupied his thoughts. He could plainly see it once more. A glimmer in her blue eyes so full of love and wonder that undoubtedly stared at him. And he believed her.

Once that thought cemented itself in his mind a wave of power passed over the land with them at the centre. Everything felt lighter, except his left shoulder that now sported his second tail (the other was still wrapped around Kagome).

Simultaneously they both took a deep breath that easily filled their lungs.

Hi guys. Thank you so very much for reading and enjoying it. This is the end and it's been a fun ride. The chapter may be extremely late but a lot of life happened (including a death and an art portfolio to work on) and there are two other versions of it: one from Kagome's PoV and one that explicitly deals with Sesshomaru's thoughts and feeling about certain events. I obviously went with this one.

Also, I have an announcement. I have started to work on my earlier fix The Truth and the Lies. The storyline is already slightly different from what is there so I wanted your opinion. Do I

a. Delete the story everywhere and start from the beginning.

b. Update and replace the existing chapters.

c. I mark the story as "complete", discontinuing that version and I start over from chapter 1 with the new version.

I'm open to suggestions.