A day later Kagome awoke and found herself alone in a room that seemed vaguely familiar. She lay motionless and stared at the ceiling as her head hurt and she was quite disoriented. It was strange but she could not remember clearly anything that had occurred recently. She glanced around, looking fervently at every little thing trying to fill in the blank spaces within her mind. Unfortunately, nothing was forthcoming. At the moment her mind was a foggy mess of splintering confusion. It felt as though her brain scattered and her memories swirled outside her vision absurdly.

None of her thoughts made complete sense, they were as perplexing as trying to remember a forgotten dream. Her mind was simply convoluted, utterly incompetent at tying the events of the last time that she was with Sesshomaru in the forest and wakefulness. She inhaled a deep laconic breath in frustration, because all she knew and could feel now was disorder and pain. She ached all over and the awful throbbing at her temples made her nauseous. Her entire head and neck was on fire, pulsing strongly with fever and a dreadful headache.

She closed her eyes tight against the pain and drew mouthfuls after mouthfuls of air into her lungs which helped to calm the unease. For the time being she was calmer. Maybe if she remained so her memories would return she decided. She sighed with the thought and concentrated harder; if only the despicable headache would discontinue perhaps her mind's conundrum would subside.

A few minutes passed by as she meditated, but no matter how hard she tried to stay calm or to will the ache away it would not ease. Unsteadily she lifted tired limbs from her sides to her face and massaged the sight of discomfort tenderly to alleviate the severe strain. While she caressed her temples, her eyes narrowed almost to slits as she focused hard trying to remember the missing bits of her life though without much success. After some time had passed without a single recollection being retrieved she shook her head with a very infuriating notion.

It had become quite clear to her now that the horrendous headache was the cause of the temporary amnesia. With that conclusion drawn, she continued with the steady manipulation of her face, kneading and circling the areas that were most affected. Slowly, gradually the pain eased and her forgotten memories rushed to the forefront of her mind like the raging seas charging to shore. She gasped with the shock of the flowing remembrance. But as the memories flooded her being, the narrow eyed expression of deep concentration on her features morphed into guilt and sadness.

Strangely enough even with the negative emotions daunting her spirit, dainty fingers crept purposely to her neck and instinctively she reached for the cuts that Sesshomaru had carved into her skin. Feeling the tenderness there, she gasped with the memory of how she'd received the wound. It was a very curious thing that had happened when Sesshomaru had delivered the gashes. At first the pain was unbearable; stinging, burning and driving clinically into every fiber of her being. Then the pain had begun to settle and the pleasant euphoria of lust and an awaiting climax shuddered throughout her body.

She sighed again feeling unbelievably distressed, and not knowing why Sesshomaru had done such a thing when he had been devoid of most of his power and strength was another matter that left a sinking feeling into her gut. She hissed, If she continued to immerse herself in thought trying to figure out what Sesshomaru might have been thinking when he'd bitten her, she was sure that the splitting headache would return.

Perhaps her imagination was simply running wild from missing him so much, but the more she ran her fingers along the path of her neck and thought of him, the more she felt closer to him. It was almost as if he was right there beside her sharing her thoughts and feelings.

sksksk

Sesshomaru lie unmoving though awake in a rundown human dwelling barely able to keep his eyes opened. He realized quickly to his dismay that there was nothing he could do about his current condition. One sudden movement would be all that it would take to undo the careful work that Kagome had done to partially heal his burns.

Lifting his head he peered down his stomach and saw that only shallow creases were left behind of the damage to his chest, but if he acted rashly in his endeavours to save Kagome by moving about too quickly, then the injuries to his upper torso would tear right open again. And to make matters worse he had used up every ounce of energy that he could spare to form a bond with Kagome, making it even harder for him to heal himself and to replace what he had lost.

The observation was very irritating, but it was one that could not be denied. He hadn't yet amassed enough power to speed up the recovery process. That feat alone could take another two to three days. So in the meantime he needed to rest. He knew consciously that resting and sleep would be the quickest way to recover. However, his heart was another matter altogether. For how could he rest when his soul yearned to rescue the woman that he had chosen?

A look of exasperation claimed his features at the inconvenient and most vexing truth. He hissed feeling angry at himself for his ineptitude. The entire situation was undesirable, and it would seem that his troubles weren't enough, because his thoughts were suddenly transported back to the island and the secrecy surrounding it.

Breathing deeply he tried not to become too consumed with curiosity, because in this state he needed to remain calm. Being a curious creature by nature he found it a bit tricky to keep his mind off the island, Kagome and their troubles. Although he knew that recuperating quickly could only be achieved if he was patient, it was also precisely why he needed to leave this place as quickly as he could.

He had already figured out that the air around the island was shrouded in mystery, and the monk had somehow deciphered its secrets and was up to no good. That's why it was imperative for him to take the necessary precautions that would aid in his victory. He needed more information to arm himself, and there was only one other soul that he could think of who could furnish him with such, and soon he would set out to find her.

In another instant his thoughts were obliterated by a deep sadness clutching at his heart, he was stunned with pain and his hard fought self-control lost temporarily. He closed his eyes when he realized that it was Kagome's feelings that overshadowed his own. He dragged a terse hand through his hair in frustration as he felt the aching tide of her emotions. A sweltering rush swept throughout his body, leaving him weaker as it impacted...

Despite the weariness and emotional turmoil he smiled a little, grateful that his efforts were not inconsequential and had borne fruit. He could only hope that their bond would last until they were re-united before the need arose to strengthen it. He was not quite certain, but still he felt that the mating wouldn't last. He had mated her when he was at his weakest, defeated and scarcely conscious.

His guess on the subject would be an intellectual one since he had no point of reference. The mating would dissolve over time; his youki would simply vanish from within Kagome in a matter of days. When he'd made the gesture he hadn't the energy to sustain it indefinitely. That's why he had gone even further and had made extra provision just in case his efforts failed. He had forced her to ingest his blood from a gash that he had inflicted to his lip.

Whatever happens from here on out would be left to fate. He could only trust that their bond would be strong enough for Kagome to feel and sense him; however small it might be, their connection would be a link to their consciousness. He shifted from his back to his side feeling a little restless by his thoughts. Even with all the added precautions that he had taken he was still a bit worried.

Understandably, Kagome hadn't any idea of what he had done to the both of them and what it meant. At the time that he'd taken the decision to bind them as mates she was in need of hope that would last until he could rescue her and he'd needed a way to outlast the sheer magnitude of spiritual energies emanating from the barrier to do so.

It was a quick heartfelt choice, impulsive even, but Kagome had expressed her love for him and wanting him to save her. The undeniable truth was that he had no better way of fulfilling her wishes, mating her was the only solution. He had already a tolerable amount of resistance against spiritual energies on his own; however, mating Kagome provided him with immunity.

His actions were justifiable he reasoned. If he looked at the situation pertinently, mating Kagome was the right thing to do even if the events leading up to it had forced his hand. Most importantly he had already come to terms with his love for her, and by her own admission she loved him as well.

The only other important argument would be how she would feel being chained to him in an irrevocable union. He sighed, what's done was done. Thinking too deeply on the issues would not solve the burning crisis. He had to regain his strength and save Kagome before she lost all hope. Time was running out for the both of them.

But ridding his thoughts of his concerns was easier said than done. The woman in question was human, complex and emotional, and at times illogical in her reasoning. Where he could see some things clearly, logically without conflicting emotions congesting it, she sometimes took the opposing side to his sentiments.

Figuring out credibly what she felt and thought was as perplexing as the woman herself. Would she be angry at him when she realized that he had taken her as his mate and that they could never be parted in this life or the next? He couldn't help but to groan by the thought. He had a vivid image in his head of the lecture that he would get when she found out.

A thin smile graced his face; sometimes separation made things simpler, made it easier to see how much someone was cherished. In the past he had always found her stubbornness and outspoken attitude to be somewhat trying, and if he had not been totally in control of himself he could have hurt her far worse in a fit of temper. Now he wished that he could see the angry pout, hear her loud sweet voice reprimanding him and the sparkle in her eyes when they'd made love.

Sesshomaru let out a harsh breath as he came to a conclusion. He was weak but still had enough strength left to seek out his mother. Her floating castle and its inhabitants could be sensed by him, all he needed to do now was get moving. He sat up with difficulty, his chest still raw and tender and even the tiniest motion became excruciating. He reached for the wooden wall behind his body and gently eased himself to his feet, being careful not to cause any more damage to his body.

It was late evening, the sun had set but the sky was still bright he noted as he stood up straight. He took a step and then hesitated a moment when he remembered his indecency. All that he had left on as clothing was his tattered hakamas, his yukata was torn to shreds and discarded on the island along with his swords.

He turned to leave but stopped again, the brown blanket on the floor that was his pillow caught his eye. Perhaps it could be used as a covering of sorts. Carefully he bended his knees without putting any strain on his upper torso and picked up the blanket. On his way outside he placed the thick cloth about his shoulders keeping it secured with his right hand. Outside was cool and crisp and in his weakened state he felt the chill. His features hardened considerably with determination. He would make his way northbound, the last place that he had sensed his mother.

sksksk

Kagome heard footsteps long before the key turned into the lock and the door opened. She was surprised however to see a female servant standing at the door beside Ko. She sat up defiantly; she would not give him the satisfaction of looking down on her in bed. The brown haired servant stepped away from Ko and approached the bed with a jar and a bowl.

"Mistress would you like some water," she asked politely and waited. Kagome looked at the woman and frowned deeply before responding lowly.

"Thank you."

Ko watched the interaction between both women silently. As he stood there staring at Kagome he was struck with two thoughts simultaneously: He wanted Kagome more than he'd wanted any other woman in his life. Yet he knew he could not have her wholly.

No, his conscious mind rebelled. He would have her and heaven help him she would love him as well. Marrying her would be just the beginning, he would make a proper lady out of her, fulfill his duty of carrying on his line while he honorably satisfy the fierce desire to take her body whenever he wanted. he eroticism of exploring her beautiful body again made his manhood pulse with need. His body shuddered with the primitive urge of filling her over and over with himself, to hear her sweet cries and to feel her quivering form as he quelled both their thirsts.

The scandalous thought formed a bubble in his throat and he swallowed thickly to clear it. He inhaled sharply, air rasped between his teeth sounding like a hiss of discomfort. Kagome looked away from the bowl on hearing the groan and gazed at him in perplexity. He lowered his head breaking eye contact to hide his shame. His only saving grace was the loose fitting robe that he wore over his regular clothes; else he would have given away the prominent bulge standing at attention in his hakamas.

A few moments passed before he raised his head and their eyes met. Ko gave the priestess an assessing glance. Kagome's disgust for him had not changed; he could see that clearly in her eyes.

He frowned deeply so that his brows knitted together before speaking. "You will be happier once you've relieved yourself of the notion that the big demon will come and save you. I am here to tell you that the marriage ceremony will be performed tomorrow morning," Kagome's heart sank by the reminder, however she said nothing.

He watched her a little while longer and thought she seemed changed, before his eyes shifted to the young servant briefly and then back at a quiet Kagome again.

"Chizu will serve as your maid for the duration of your stay here, if you need anything let her know and she will inform me," he advised.

Chizu smiled at Kagome timidly whose expression had not shifted from the moment that Ko had started to address her. Her face showed no emotions but her eyes flickered with blue fire.

Ko stared at Kagome's face long one last time seeing nothing but loathing for him and sadness for her demon.

He couldn't understand it. How could she be harbouring such deep emotions for someone else since they'd shared so much that one night? Could it be that she was with the white haired demon lord before him? He shook his head in frustration. How could that be? He asked himself. He remembered clearly when they had first met that she was alone; drunken later that day without another soul for companionship and she had turned to him.

Ko disengaged from her sad unblinking eyes, wishing that he could go back to that night in Edo when they had no history between them. The path had been clear then. If only he had not left so suddenly, if only he had followed his own heart then perhaps they could have had a real chance. Unfortunately their stars were not aligned and now she hated him.

He turned and left feeling the deprecating sensation of unrequited love and had no solution to ward against it. His love for Kagome would not die, could not die as long as he lived. It was embedded deep inside his heart, covered with flesh and blood, sprouting roots so thick and thorny that it pierced his soul whenever he thought of her.

A nervous hand closed the door quietly behind him. He leaned against it for many minutes listening to the woman that he loved crying for another. Her sobs broke his heart but still he would not let her go. Clearly she felt the same cruel sensations as he did. His heart was being ripped to shreds because of his love for her, and she wept for a lost love. Both of them were victims of fate's twisted games.

sksksk

Night time gradually closed in around him as he walked from the west to the mountains of the north where the land met. It was much cooler here where the west winds finally rested. He stopped by a large tree and sniffed the air. The fragrance of his mother mingled closely with the refreshing night breeze. She had been to this spot not so long ago. Approving the discovery he continued to walk in spite of the pain and tiredness that mounted. He couldn't tarry in one place for long, finding his mother quickly was his objective at the moment. He didn't care that he could smell blood now as it trickled down his chest from over exertion and his rapidly beating pulse.

He stopped and gazed at the tired sky leaning against a tree. He could feel his remaining strength dissipating like mist and was irritated by it. The damage to his body was overwhelming and if it hadn't been for Kagome's assistance he might have been food for the crows right now. That inescapable truth would not be enough to stop him. His mate's emotions of hopelessness and sadness filtering down on him like a fiery storm which made his heart race and ache with the same intensity was all the encouragement that he needed to continue.

He clamped his lips together with the combined weight of his injuries and the riveting spades of emotions plunging deep within him. He would never have guessed that her love for him was this strong if he wasn't feeling the depressing sting of her broken heart so plainly. Now more than ever he had to keep going, he had to save Kagome no matter how taxing the personal cost was to him. Deploring the pain and anxieties he moved away from the tree and treaded on, the blanket shielding him from the elements long forgotten in his haste.

The longer he travelled the worse the ache and the blood. Any opportunistic demon would be able to smell his draining essences and the stink of sickness wafting off him from miles away and attack. He smirked, even at his weakest few were a match for him.

Two hours later he still chased after his mother's shadow and scent. He knew her to be weirdly playful to the point of cruelty. It wasn't an assumption at this point, he was damn certain that she knew that he followed her and that she deliberately eluded him. She had an uncanny sense of humor that he did not find amusing presently. She wanted him to plead for aid because he had not been a dutiful or a filial son over the centuries. He had his pride and was prone to stubbornness, however, he needed her help in more ways than one. In any case she was his mother and family. He had nothing to fear suppressing his pride.

The pulse of youki that he sent out was a dispirited one. Wincing at the bitter after taste he stood still and waited. Not more than five minutes had elapsed before he felt her presence getting stronger as she honed in on him. When finally she appeared Ah-Un followed closely behind her. She made a complete stop and stared dispassionately at him and then smiled ruefully.

"I believe that you are in need of transportation. I know that you think me cruel but you are my son and I never want to hear from your lips that I wasn't a good mother to you."

She did not wait for him to respond, she knew that he would not, she simply turned and walked away.

Hours later, about two hours before dawn, Sesshomaru was cleansed, his wounds dressed and he had replenished his life force by eating the flesh of a young deer. He was lying on his side on a long sofa facing the balcony staring into space. He heard soft foot falls behind him and did not turn around, it was only his mother.

He heard the scraping of metal over the cold floor as his mother pulled up a chair to sit beside him. When she was seated he felt the brush of her youki against his own. He cringed in distaste by her actions. His mother was too much in love with playing silly games.

She snorted in amusement. "I take it that you do not like me showing you any affection," she said quirkily, "but as family it is those ties that we share as mother and son that made me aware that you were brought to death's door. I came to find you the moment our connection began to unravel; you were asleep so I left to go find your beast."

He cocked his head at her. "Mother I am sure that my well being is not the only purpose you have in finding me. It is clear that the sudden appearance of a castle and spiritual force matched only by the kamis have piqued your interest of the island."

"Ah, here begin the crux of the matter," she admitted unapologetically. Stretching out her legs before her, she sank into the deep backing of the chair making herself more comfortable.

She inhaled deeply then let it back out in total relaxation. "It is a shame that we don't meet more often. I am offended Sesshomaru that you only seek out your mother in times of crisis," she said in feigned annoyance.

Sesshomaru remained silent, studying the pre-dawn sky like it held some strange appeal, his mother continued. "I see that you are as unpleasant as always, making small talk with you is so unsatisfactory," she sighed and then carried on, "your father was a charming one and yet you have not inherited any of his gentle ways."

Sesshomaru turned to his mother and smiled a little bitterly. "Can you blame me? Father was a philanderer whose charm served only one purpose, and I have no intentions of following in his footsteps."

"Hush," she rebutted crossly, "your father was a good demon, powerful and giving and his ways should not be lost on you. Whatever life that he and I have led was what we'd both agreed upon."

"So you condemn me unfairly and approve of father's unfaithfulness," he replied sourly.

"Is it really so unfair? How many females have graced your bed over the centuries and yet it is only now that I have scented the blood of a human female mingling with yours? You are your father's son in every way whether or not you choose to admit it."

A dark brow rose with the impertinent suggestion but he did not comment on it. Arguing with his dam now was not something he was prepared to do. Their meetings were always like this, she would meddle in his life and he would simply ignore her. Silence stretched between them for a long time. Each reflecting on the day and what was to come. A certain seriousness darkened her beautiful visage and she stood up just as the dawn began to break.

Hiding her concerns she met her son's gaze head on, she could tell that he burned with curiosity. She looked away from him again. He was so much like his father but different as well. His scent had changed and if she had to guess, Sesshomaru had taken his half brother's wife for his own. She had kept an eye on her son throughout the years with very creative methods.

The sound of his mother clearing her throat had his attentions. "Sesshomaru," she said, "there is an old legend surrounding the island, and if the occurrence of the last month had not happened I would not have believed that the tale could be true."

He watched her as she turned away from the dawn and sat back down wearily and could not suppress a sigh of alarm. His mother smiled at him and after a few moments began to speak.

"There is an old legend that supposedly happened nearly a thousand years ago when demons and humans still lived in harmony, at a time when the kamis still walked the land and communicated with people... A young priestess by the name of Natsu sought to become a heavenly creature. She was not of this land but from mainland China.

After many prayers and sacrifices to the gods she met a heavenly being one day when she went to purify herself in the river. Knowing her wishes he instructed her how she could achieve immortality and subsequently becoming a celestial being.

The goddess told her that the only way to accomplish her goals would be to forsake her people and the past. Severing all ties with her family and lead the life of a nomad, touring all over world doing good deeds. At the end of her journey that would last ten years she was informed to live in seclusion, praying and meditating to cultivate immortality until the things of the world were discarded from her soul.

She was pure of heart and the goddess Nuwa was quite taken with her gentle spirit, not only that the young woman was a master of playing the lute. It was also believed that one of the reasons that she was accepted into heaven so quickly was because of her mesmerizing music.

The story also claimed that after Natsu became a heavenly being her heart still yearned to be among her kind, so the goddess Nuwa agreed to let her walk the land for a month every one hundred years.

Natsu counted the years as they ticked off, waiting patiently to walk the land of her ancestors again. The time came and she was allowed to cross the border from heaven down to earth. Her physical appearance was still that of a woman in her late twenties but in fact she was well over a century. Yet she had not aged a day since her ascension.

But as fate would have it the Mongols were raging war against the people of China and chaos and death were far reaching. It was written that Natsu used her skill as a priestess to heal the sick and suffering. Not long after that she found a dying prince and brought him to a cave, she spent a week caring for him trying to save his life but he died anyway.

Natsu was distraught by his death and did the unthinkable by passing some of her life force to him out of love; she had fallen in love with him. History claimed that she bathed and dressed the prince, had looked upon his nakedness with longing which was sinful. The gods in heaven knew what she had done and had voted to deny her entry back into the kingdom without her ever knowing. The goddess Nuwa objected to the ruse and contacted Natsu.

The assumptions were that Natsu had given herself to the young prince many nights in the cave and was with child. Nuwa came to her in a dream and told her to come to the great river. She woke up the next morning and did the goddess's biding but was spirited away to heaven from her lover never to see him again.

The distraught female cried day and night to be re-united with her lover, she was even willing to sacrifice her immortality to be with him again but the gods did not understand clearly the emotions of love and denied her request. Eight months later she had a son and the promise of happiness loomed at her door once more when she saw her baby's face for the first time.

However, that new found joy was short-lived, she was told that she could not keep the baby and was being was forced to give him up. Natsu would not go down without a fight. She begged the goddess Nuwa to return her to the doorstep of her lover so that she could give him his child. The goddess granted her wish.

She found her prince and he was happy again, for he too had missed his love terribly. Natsu gave the prince the baby and told him the story of her life. He was saddened to know that he could never be with her again, but at least they had created a little life together and he would always have a part of her. They said their goodbyes after naming the child Kazu.

Many years later the prince became king and as his son grew he noticed that the boy was stronger than other children his age and he would heal quickly from a wound. His son grew up to become a strong warrior and together they conquered many territories.

After his father died Kazu expanded his conquest towards Japan. Ten years after the death of his father when he was thirty five years old he married the first of his nine wives. Those unions produced twelve children, and among them were four daughters and eight sons. As the years faded Kazu children grew up but he never aged. Citizens started to gossip that the king was cursed, and he himself had started to worry.

Fifty more years passed and he remained intact, untouched by old age or sickness. But when his children grew old and died his heart grew heavy with bitterness. The rumors of the cursed king spread far and wide and soon he was unable to leave the castle. His countrymen were afraid of him.

A year later Kazu left China and settled near the island that you were nearly killed. Legend has it also that he remarried five young girls and had ten new children. The royal astronomer assured him that the stars were aligned in his favor and that the cursed had lifted. But when his children grew old and died again and he did not age, the sadness pushed him over the edge.

When finally the last of his grandchildren also died, Kazu ordered that one child should be selected and killed each day until the curse was lifted. In his madness he believed that the blood of the innocent would appease the gods.

It was also reported that the waters around the island ran red from the constant bloodletting. Kazu's mother Natsu watched the life of her son from heaven each day from he was a small child and now that he was an adult he was lost, he did not know who he was. Her heart bled for him, and as his mother she was anxious to save him."

The demoness paused at this point and the expression on her face would suggest that she was lost in thought.

All this time Sesshomaru sat quietly listening to his mother, he would continue to wait until she tied the pieces of the story together. Now that it was morning his mind wandered to Kagome again; he hoped that she fared well.