AN::: GOOOOO BACK AND RE-READ. I REALIZED THIS MORINING THAT I

SKIPPED A WHOLE CHAPTER! A IMPORTANT CHAPTER! CHAP 3 HAD TO REPLACED WITH THE CORRECT WORK, SO SORRY! PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO GO BACK AND READ!

And tonight had something wonderful

"I can already feel them," Kagome shivers,

"Come, Miko,"

Sesshomaru pulls himself from his moment and turns,

"Now, where are we going?" She really wanted a hot bath.

"Our home for the summer,"

They didn't have to go far. There were many caved entrances, one after another, with all openings pointing towards to filled mixed with clay dirt with patches of green grass and flowers. Far to the north of the fields were dark wooded gates; she wondered what was behind them.

"This one," He stated, coming to a halt. She was glad he spoke because she almost ran into him.

To Kagome, it didn't look any different than any of the others. "It's yours?"

"My families, my fathers, and his fathers before him and so on,"

They were not kidding about the ritual.

Sesshomaru waved a hand, and the barrier shimmered, and he walked in and vanished. Kagome blinked.

"Come in, Miko,"

Slowly she reached out and watched her hand disappear, weird. But she had no time to second guess. He grabbed her hand and pulled her and behind the barrier. She came flying in with a stumble.

"Hn,"

"A little warning next time!"

"I did warn you, are you harmed?"

She eyed him. "You didn't pull me that hard,"

He looked back at the cave entrance. "I was unsure if it would allow you in,"

"Wait, you guessed!"

"Indeed,"

"And what if it had slammed me back?"

"Then you would be harmed,"

She blinked. Did he fail to see her issue with that? "How about we dont, guess? I am no good to you, dead mister,"

She wasn't wrong, and did she just sas him?

"It was my father's barrier; I trusted in his fondness for humans,"

Kagome looked at the barrier; it shimmered like light bouncing off water.

"I thought humans never came here,"

"None ever has, but such is like my father,"

"That's why he was great, wasn't it?"

He chose not to answer that. Kagome looked around. She didn't know what she had been expecting. He was always a roamer to her knowledge. Did he even have a home?

The cave was lined with torches that were lit by demon power. The cave went on forever. It was warm, but she knew at night it would be cooler.

"Come,"

She followed, "So what do you need me for exactly?"

"No one can enter or leave without my beast allowing it," He started, then stopped and looked back at her. "But when nightfalls, my control will slip," He hated to admit it, but it was useless to lie and beneath him to do so.

"Why at night?"

"The moon calls to our power," He continued. "You will need to keep me in and them out,"

"But uh, isn't that the point to let someone in?"

"Perhaps,"

"How will I know who to let in?"

He stopped again. "Would you not choose whom you believed would come to care for me?"

"Sure, but I thought you didnt care about that?" She said with a half smile.

"Hence why you are here,"

"So no more most powerful?"

He actually blew air out of his nose. "No one is more powerful than I,"

"But what if the one I think is best is the weakest,"

"Then I shall be her protector; my power is my own," He looked away.

He sounded like he had little faith in the female crowd of his kind.

"Just because you chose one Miko does not mean I will agree,"

"That would be wasting time, time you dont have,"

"Hence the danger,"

Her heart picked up speed; it was at that moment she realized the pressure she was under. Whoever she chose would most likely end up as his mate.

"No pressure at all,"

"You can pick more than one," He began to walk again,

"What!"

"My beast will select one,"

"So not two?"

"We mate bond to one Miko and only one,"

"But your-

"Mated my mother, married a human."

Now she understood why he was upset about it. They took mating seriously even if full fledged love wasn't involved. But she knew many demons who took more than one lover.

"You only want one," She said softly. Maybe this man did have a heart. She knew he did, as surprising as it was to think about a man who lived up to the literal meaning of his name.

"I have very little want of one, much less the patients of more,"

She almost giggled but stopped herself.

"Those you see with many seek only to breed to further their bloodline."

He stopped once more and turned fully to her. "I only need but one to carry my many sons and daughters,"

Was it her, or was it getting hotter in here?

"This one is for you,"

Etched into the cave was a room. Lit up just like the rest of the cave, the floor was covered in silk and furs and pillows. There was a mirror and a chest as well. It was bright for a cave. "Wow,"

"I will be there," He pointed across. "You will need to be close; however, a barrier will keep you safe and hidden if needed,"

She nodded,

"Come,"

"There is more,"

"Do you not wish to bathe?"

"Please tell me the water is warm; Inuaysha always led us to cold water,"

"It is warm,"

"So am I here because I am me, or because I am a Miko?"

"Both, you are the-," He thought for a moment, "The most powerful Miko and an ally that I give my respect to,"

"I believe that's the nicest thing you have ever said to me; actually, it's probably the nicest thing you have ever said; I kinda fill honored!" She smiled brightly.

He glared daggers at her.

"You will need your power to fight anyone enters you deem not worthy,"

"I have to fight?"

"You may kill,"

The gravity on this was really starting to scare her, and he could feel it.

"It is not just them you will have to fight, but males as well,"

"What!"

"Human, you may be, but a demon in blood lust won't care if control is broken,"

She swallowed.

"Stay within the cave at night for your best chance at staying pure Miko,"

She hated how he knew that.

"During the day?"

"I will be with you outside the cave; we will need to eat,"

"Ok,"

They didnt have to walk far before she could feel more heat and hear water.

It was a hot spring! He watched as she ran up it and knelt to touch it with her fingers; sparkling blue lights lit the water up and made her smile. "Magic?"

"Hn,"

She was so innocent; when she left here, he knew that would be gone but perhaps that was good for her.

"Miko, there will be throws of passion, blood, nakedness, heat,"

She didnt dare look back at him.

"You think ill have to really fight you,"

"Do not insult me; my control is not like the others; I may fight you to get to something, but I will not touch or harm you, Miko, not in that way, regardless of my mother's lack of faith,"

She almost felt insulted.

"Does Inuyasha have to go through this?"

"He is half demon, though he could choose to, but it is unlikely he will do so since his beast has already chosen," Plus, Inuyasha loved to ignore tradition.

Kagome stood and turned to him. "It has?"

Their eyes stayed locked.

"Long before you were born, long before her death,"

He watched her emotions in her eyes; their bond made his sense of her stronger. First, hurt, then loneliness, fear, question, then calmness, understanding, relief? How was it she was so blinded when it came to herself?

"I think, I think I always knew; I was just fighting it,"

"Why?" He asked,

"I think I really wanted a reason to stay here,"

"You do not need him as a reason to stay, Miko,"

"I dont really have a reason to stay otherwise, to give up my family,"

Oh, but she did.

"You are the Shikon Miko, are you not, holder of the jewel,"

"Yes,"

"It does not belong there,"

"It would be safer there,"

"Are you sure,"

Come to think of it, demons had been able to break through to her time, though brief.

"I do not believe your timeline would be understanding of an immortal Miko,"

"What?"

Did she really not know?

His eyes drew concerned. "Miko, are you not aware?"

"Aware?"

"You are immortal; your lifespan is attached to the power of the jewel; it isn't will and your curse to carry for no wish is the correct wish,"

She paled.

"Our agreement," She whispered,

"I will find you a place as agreed; it is but a simple request,"

Fear settled in her, a new fear.

"Time literally bends for you; power draws to you, the jewel chose you, and this surprises you?"

This never crossed her mind.

"It is possible for you to die, Miko; your life is only spared from aging,"

Her heart raced, her mind raced. Perhaps he should have waited to tell her this wonderful news.

"Do not dwell on this now, Miko," He turned his back to her,

"You knew that's why you agreed to my payment,"

"Hn,"

"I could still go home,"

"Come or go, Miko, it does not matter, but do not dwell on this now. You will have plenty of time after,"

She sighed. "One more question?"

"Hn."

"Can a demon mate with a human?"

He turned,

"I know your thoughts on it, so dont judge me!" She put her hands on her hips, "It's not like I can marry a human now, can it!"

He had not even considered that. He thought for a moment about her question. "A demon can make you his mate, though the bond would not be like that of demon to demon. A normal human would probably die from it, and if she were to life, their children would either be halfbreed or deformed."

She blinked. Wonderful. This jewel was a cruse. Was it too late to wish and curse everyone else?

"You are not a normal human, Miko,"

They went down a rabbit hole at the wrong time.

"Do not make any hasty decisions, Miko,"

"Im not!" She stomped her foot like a child,

"I do not trust that; you have been around Inuyasha for far too long,"

"Im not an idiot," She pouted.

"At least we agree he is an idiot,"

"Sesshomaru!"

He almost smirked. "I will amend our agreement,"

"Oh?"

"Once this is done, just as you will do for me, I shall do for you,"

She titled her head, and then it dawned on her, "You're going to find me a husband!?"

"I will make sure you do not end up with a fool nothing more, I do not trust your judgment,"

"Im sorry?!"

"Inuyasha and the wolf," Was all he said,

"Oh, but you trust me to pick you a woman,"

He turned away. "Perhaps not"

She growled as he began to talk away. "Your place will be within my pack Miko, that has been decided, and I do not wish to be inconvenienced with your choice of a male; killing an allies mate is often frowned upon,"

He was teasing her, the jerk! Her face was red. But at least her mind was not on her lifespan now, fear gone replaced with fire.

He did smirk.

"I hope you mate the female version of yourself you jerk!

"Bathe Miko, and that does not insult me,"

"Such a cocky-

He put a barrier to hide her and her voice. She was still name calling, he was sure.

He was most definitely cocky; she had no idea.

What an amusing and wonderful night this turned out to be. At least for him.