I can feel the paradise before my world implodes

"Where are we going?" Kagome asked, if she was supposed to be helping Sesshomaru, shouldn't she be with Sesshomaru?

"To a place as old as time,"

"The earth is as old as time," Kagome said under her breath,

"Do not mumble, girl, and come,"

Kagome wondered how this woman could walk so gracefully on uneven ground. It was rocky and dusty, but the only one having trouble making the uphill climb was her. Kagome blew her hair out of her eyes. "How far up are we going?"

"Do you have someone where else you need to be?" Did she not tell her friends she was going with them, and she didn't know when she would be back? They have no time limit; who knew how long this would take. "A pressing matter, perhaps?"

Now that Kagome thought about it, she probably should have told her mother what was going on. she groaned, which made her ladyship turn to look at her. "You are not going to fuss the entire time, I hope,"

"I should have told her mother,"

Inukimi stopped walking. "You mean you are not orphaned?"

"What, no, though my father did die when I was very young,"

InuKimi eyed her up and down, "She allows you to run around fighting and wearing such clothing unmarried; why does she not sell you off? You are quite a prize for a human not of noble blood, and its clear you have not taken full vows of Miko hood,"

Kagome groaned again; she knew she couldn't lie.

"Um, thank you?"

"Perhaps I should meet your mother; we shall travel to her first,"

Shit.

"It's a long way,"

"As you say, I have all the time in the world,"

"But your son doesn't."

"Are you avoiding having me meet your mother? I will find her by pure scent alone, Miko,"

Kagome laughed nervously. "It's a really long way,"

Inukimi narrowed her eyes. "You are keeping secrets, Miko,"

"Well, you see, you can't actually meet my mother,"

Inukimi waited,

Kagome bit her lip,

"Where are you from, Miko?"

"Not where, when,"

Both of Inukimi's eyebrows shot up, and she unfolded hers. "When?" She said slowly.

"I may be, sorta, from the future,"

She really needed to stop telling people that. It was amazing that Naraku never found out, and if he did, he never acted on it.

Iunkimi stood silent for a moment. Did her son know about this?

"Please don't tell anyone else; I don't even think Sesshomaru knows; well, he probably does knowing him,"

If her son did, he didn't tell her,

"I am not a gossiping demoness, Miko, that is below my station to do so,"

Kagome cringed; she had not meant to insult her. Inukimi turned. "It is best you speak that to no one else, Miko; we will talk on it more when we arrive,"

The sun was setting as they climbed higher, and Kagome took in a breath as she looked at the land below. They were only halfway up the rocky mountainside, and though the air was thinner, it was fresh and cool, yet warm at the same time.

"On the other side of this mountain, through the fog and an unseen barrier, lies a place no other human has gone, it will be your home for a while though it is no home, but for now, you will visit mine, close your eyes."

Kagome closed her eyes, and her breath caught when she felt warmth implode over her body. She felt her body lift and float, like she was in space, or more what she thought space would feel like.

"Do not open your eyes, least you be sick," She heard Inukimi speak.

Then she felt her feet touch, and she was given permission to open. As she did, her breath caught; she watched as the sun set and rose at the same time, like the sun against calm seas, as if heaven and earth collided.

"Is this heaven?" She wondered out loud.

"It is my heaven," The queen of Inu stated, "I do not bring me here, just as you shall keep your home a secret. I entrust you to keep mine one as well, miko,"

Kagome nodded in silent agreement as she looked around the paradise. "Does Sesshomaru live here?"

"Surely you jest woman,"

Both women looked back to see the stotic lord walking up to them; he seemed more like himself now.

"Yeah, you don't really seem like clouds in the sky kinda guy,"

"Surely not Miko," He agreed.

"Sesshomaru, do you know about her home?" His mother asked. Sesshomaru looked between the women. "You told her?"

"You knew!?" Kagome sounded shocked. "Why am I not surprised,"

"Blame the monk, a slight slip of the tongue may go unnoticed by many but this by this Sesshomaru,"

"Interesting indeed," His mother stated, "Now I see why all the questions" She replayed their earlier conversation.

Kagome blushed. "Sometimes I forget the time difference, things that are so natural here as so unnatural there,"

That got his mother thinking, "Are there no demons in your time?"

"If there are, they are very well hidden, but every day I am here, something there can change; I never know what ill jump to."

Kagome looked out again. "Sometimes I dont even know where I belong or where I am supposed to be," She never really felt normal in the future, but she also never felt like she quite fit in this time either.

"You are right where you are supposed to be," His mother stated. "Now it's time for you to make a bond of agreement with my son,"

"That is not necessary, mother."

"What is that?" Kagome asked,

Inukimi pulled out a blade. "A vow of trust, a contract if you will,"

"She is human; therefore, it can not be completed, nor do I need such a binding contract,"

"She is a Miko,"

"Even worse,"

"Im standing right here,"

Inukimi looked at Kagome. "Where humans shake hands, demons bind with blood,'

"What do I do?" She agreed to help, and she wasn't going to back out, was this really needed, or was this just another ritual of a bloodline. She didnt want to insult anyone.

"A simple cut, hand to hand a few words,"

"And if for some reason I break my contract,"

"Vow," His mother corrected, "Your blood will burn with demon power till you beg for mercy!"

She said that as they were talking about the weather!

Kagome eyed the blade the took a peek at him, then back at his mother,

"What doesn't kill me makes me stronger?" She didn't sound convincing,

"Do you not wish to request payment, Miko?" Sesshomaru asked,

"Payment?"

"How much is your life worth," He asked, "As I have stated before, there will be death, and I make no promises as to your safety during the night,"

Kagome looked down at her hand; what was her life worth. Hard to say when you didn't even know where you wanted to settle to start that said life. She could ask for a million things, even the castle they now stood in, but she looked at him. "If I return to the future, promise me if you are there, you will find me?"

"Hn, and if you stay here?"

What reason did she have to stay here? But what if she got stuck here? What if Inuyasha and her try and it doesn't work, but her life is here? What if?

"Find me a place to belong?" It sounded like a weird asks, and now she wished she could unmask it.

"Hn," But he agreed without judgment,

"Hands, both of you,"

Sesshomaru gave his freely because he did not think it would work. Kagome gave hers as well, and both hands were cut. Sesshomaru did not move, Kagome flinched. Inukimi pulled them close, side by side, and gave Kagome's hand to Sesshomaru; he took it, and the moment their palms met, fingers entwined and blood mixed.

Two worlds implode into one another, energy builds, demonic power, and holy power swirl. They go blind to the outside world as heat forms in their hands and creeps up their arms. In his eyes, he sees her soft smile. Is she smiling at him like that? Did her hair grow? What is that pinkish golden light around her? It was bright, larger, and he tried to touch it. It's powerful and slams against him.

In her eyes, she seeks his. They are so concentrated on her; why is he looking at her like that? He is shimmering in blue and gold aura, and it reeks of pure power, but it's oddly beautiful as it dances around him as he moved. He is strong, thrusting his sword, baring his fangs. He is beautiful. She reaches out to let him know she is there, he is looking at her, but it feels like he cant see her. But his power snaps, strong, but then it take a hold of her.

Her aura wraps around his, and their souls kiss.

. "The bond ties, she to him, to be at his side, the keep and protect until the bond of rite override, till he finds that which he must protect, aid you lord and be rewarded, do you, Miko, agree to be his trust,"

Kagome was breathless, hot, tingling, blushing, but the words rolled off her tongue without even a thought to it "I do,"

"Do you accept the bonds of the agreement, Sesshomaru Tashio Lord of the West?

He didnt know what this feeling was, but he had never felt more like a man in his life; his title rang in his ear, her hand warm around his, his lips felt hot as if they had touched the flesh, his fangs hurt,"

The power that mixed between them was, was, dare he say, arousing.

It worked.

"I do," He stated

His mother looked between them and tilted her head; that was new. Their auras were like flames around them, but instead of snapping at each other, they were dancing.

Interesting. This just may work and if her thoughts where correct the Miko would be protected from those seeking to harm her, and there was no mistaking that, many would seek to harm her.

"The rite is complete,"

Yet their hands still held fast. Their eyes opened. The night skies filled with stars. not a cloud in the sky. The night wind cool against both their heated flesh.

Shooting stars zoom by, and Kagome can feel the calmness, and they both realize they are no longer at the house of the moon but at the mountainside meant only for mating demons. It is only them; they are the first to arrive. Kagome is now standing in robes of Sesshoamru's color with a yellow bow at her back.

"Do not let its beauty full you, Miko, for it is an illusion," His mother whispered, "It seems like paradise, but it's not, be not trusting, rely on your instincts, and do not fight against his power for it wraps around you in protection, for that will be all he can offer you once it begins,"

"When does it begin?"

"Now," She whispers, and then she is gone.

Kagome suddenly could feel the implosion of massive amounts of Demonic power; it's crushing. His aura alone is keeping her on her feet.

He lets go of her hand and moves to stand in from of her. "What does not kill you,"

"Make me stronger,"

"Then do not let them kill you,"

She nods

"Trust no one; stay close. During day light I protect you, but at night you must be the one in control, take your place Miko Kagome, show no fear and give no mercy, do you understand,"

She nods again,

"Miko, power,"

She lights up with holy energy and smiles softly at him, and it calms his beast. But he knows a simple smile is not going to control his beast for long, not with the hot wonton women drawing closer.

His mother was right; this was no paradise, this was hell, and he was the devil.

She was an innocent angel. Kami if she died, he was going to feel guilty as fuck. She was unmarried and without children.

Who's dumb-ass idea was this again.

He put his hand on his sword, he could just kill them all and be done with it.

No, he trusted her.

But he didn't trusts anyone else.