NOTE: Definitely AU. Some episode spoilers. Sango has joined the group. They've met Rin, Sesshoumaru's ward. Things are tense between InuYasha and Sesshoumaru. Naraku is still on the loose.

NOTE: I've used japanese and english terms intermittantly. I'll probably post a glossary or reedit the file some point in the future but right now I'm impatient to get the fic up for reviews so enjoy!!

AN: Sorry for the long wait. I've had other projects on the go. That's the difficulty of writing, posting, and editing so many fics simultaneously. Now on with the show. You may wish to read the previous chapter at least.

AN: WARNING!! WARNING!! Smut Alert. Vivid Imagery Ahead!! Skip if you're underage.

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~*~ To Accept ~*~

Kagome bit her lip tasting the coppery tang of blood. It was not enough. A frustrated whimper escaped her as her actions honed the edge of her desire. One hand between her legs fingers slick from her juices and the water, the other caressing one breast testing the edge of her nails against the sensitive tip.

A soft suppressed scream broke the harsh heated stillness as she came. Her body slumped against the worn stone breathing raggedly. The emptiness within her made a mockery of the relief she had just gained. Tears welled in her eyes. It was not enough. It would never be enough.

She crossed her legs, drawing them up in a futile attempt to sate the ache between her thighs. She could feel the emptiness in the pit of her stomach.

A soft growl broke the silence.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Sesshoumaru wasn't certain what kept him rooted to his position, every muscle frozen, denying his rational side's attempts to get him to move, to give her some privacy.

He stood watching her pleasure herself with inexperienced hands. He could see the hesitation in her motions, the slight pause before she caressed herself. He could smell the scent of her desire, her need, her yearning; salt, jasmine, musk, blood. His body did not react as expected; it froze and watched instead of moving to pounce on her. This was more than just a potential bed-warmer, this one could be so much more…

His cock ached with almost exquisite pain. It was easy to ignore the physical reactions. It was more difficult to ignore the emotional urge to pleasure her and in doing so pleasure himself.

He heard her soft scream as she came; smell the salt of her tears, sense her unhappiness.

An involuntary growl escaped him.

The slim form turned to him, arms crossed across her torso self-consciously before she slipped deeper into the pool.

Blue eyes widened as the miko realized who had violated her privacy.

"Sesshoumaru…"



Kagome stiffened when she realized He knew. Feminine pride tamped down the innate desire to make excuses for her actions.

Blue eyes met gold, without fear, with a hint of challenge. Without words he moved towards the edge of the pool and knelt down by the rim. A clawed hand ran through black tresses, lightly tugging at the knots, massaging the scalp.

Kagome couldn't resist the urge to purr as she turned her cheek into his hand and brushed her lips against his palm.

"Are you sure?" It was the first words he had spoken since he entered the cavern. He was surprised at the harsh rasp in his voice.

No. "Yes." It was what she wanted, it was what every instinct desired.

He was confused. "Why?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. I don't care."

Much later Kagome could never explain what drew her to do what she did; she reached out and tugged at the fur-like pelt that lay across his right shoulder.

Both froze.

He could feel the purity and strength within her flowing into him. It didn't destroy or hurt. It was intoxicating like alcohol.

She could feel the dark energy of his youki under her fingertips. It didn't scare her. She could feel it reaching out and wrapping around her like a blanket, warm, comforting, entrancing. The nerves between her legs screamed for release. Her nipples hardened to the point of pain. Her breath escaped choppily.

"Sessss…" It was a plea. He could not resist.

His mouth came down on hers. Fangs nipped at her full lower lip drawing blood. Without concern she slipped her tongue into his mouth exploring, tasting, feeling…

A few seconds later Kagome found herself hauled out of the water and tossed to the ground. Instead of falling on dirt she sprawled on her back atop the fur pelt. She could sense the energies in the pelt under her skin. A small hand stroked the long fur enjoying the silky texture. She twisted to enjoy the sensation on every square inch of bare skin.

He hissed. He could feel her hands stroke, her body writhe against his skin…

"Kagome!"

She stilled. "What is it?"

"Stop that!" He ordered harshly.

Kagome was confused. "Stop what?"

"Stop moving! I can't control myself when you move like that!"

An imp of mischief came to life within the Shikon miko.

"Really?" She drawled slowly.

Gold eyes burned. He was kneeling on the pelt besides her.

"Yes really, miko." He responded, mimicking her drawl.

A few deft movements and he was nude. Her breath caught as she devoured the sight of him, the defined lean perfection. Blue eyes followed the maroon vine-like markings; elaborate tattoos representing mystical channels. Kagome couldn't but help rising on her knees and reaching out with both hands to trace the markings. Perfect symmetry along calves, thighs, hips, abs, shoulders, back. The only jarring note was the arm missing below the left shoulder. Regret and self-hatred were foremost in the miko's mind. She was responsible for this travesty. She was the one who removed Tetsaiga and helped InuYasha activate it.

Somehow he sensed her feelings.

"Don't. If you hadn't I most likely would have killed InuYasha and you." He tilted her chin up and kissed her deeply reminding her of the preceding emotions to regret.

Kagome responded without a qualm. Instinct guided her hands over the markings even as he pulled her to new dizzying heights of pleasure.

"Sess-shouuu!!" The name was hissed out between clenched teeth as she tumbled into the abyss of pure pleasure and blacked out.

Sesshoumaru caught the limp body and gently stretched her out on the discarded clothing before sitting beside her to wait. He watched the pale oval face under him even as his hand idly caressed the length of her body. His body still ached for respite within her but deeper desires over-ruled those surface instincts. He watched the sweep of black lashes flutter and lift. He watched dazed blue eyes dilate then contract into self-awareness. Full moist lips curved into a welcoming smile.

"Ses-shou-ma-ru." She whispered his name between breathy pants.

He could not resist the urge to tease her.

"Yes, Ka-go-me?" The silken voice stretched each syllable sending shivers up her spine.

He's doing it deliberately! Kagome fumed. He wasn't going to have all the control. A sly smile curved her lips.

She arched thrusting her breasts into prominent display resting back on the heels of her hands, clenching her fists in the thick fur cushioning her from the stony ground.

He hissed feeling that deliberate caress on his youkino. Ghost fingers trailed an electric path up the backs of his legs and his spine.

"Ka-go-me…" This time the tone was filled with warning.

She pouted and disregarded the tone as she twisted to lie on her stomach. The texture stimulated her already heated desires. She glanced over her left shoulder.

"Yes Sesshoumaru?" She asked with studied nonchalance. She could almost see his control fragmenting. It excited her. She wanted him to let go. She wanted to feel the full fury of his passion. She wanted everything.

Red bled into gold. He growled. It was a small sound that was enough to thrill her. He pounced.

She was lost in a haze of pain and pleasure as he tested every square inch of creamy skin with taste and touch, with fang and claw, raising welts and drawing blood but she didn't care. She could feel her own blunt nails digging with far less care to draw blood as well.

Power. Power and bliss.

Her hands moved without conscious control tracing the maroon markings drawing blood.

He hissed but she sensed his approval of her actions.

This was more than love. This passion screamed for blood.

And Kagome was more than ready to gift him with a different kind of blood. She parted her thighs readily biting her lip at the sensations – his hard cock sliding slickly against her wet core between the fleshy folds. She shifted and came as the tip of his shaft brushed against her clit. She bit her lip quivering as the aftershocks of her orgasm rippled into her belly.

It wasn't enough. She shifted until could feel the strength between her thighs as she raised her knees for more comfort, in preparation for him. Glazed blue eyes met red flecked gold. Strangely enough, the sight did not scare her, it thrilled her.

"I am yours Maru-chan." She did not know why she called him that but the name suited him. She saw the fleeting recognition in gold eyes.

"Yessss." He hissed before sinking his fangs where neck met shoulder the same instant his shaft slid into her. Every single instinct screamed at him to take her hard and fast, to bind her to him for all time, to cover her with his scent, to Mark her. He could feel the musky juices from her coating him; she was ready. He shifted…

She felt the fleeting pain at her shoulder and a sharper hurt between her legs that blossomed into a different sort of ache. Her eyes drifted shut as she tried to focus on the sensations of his cock within her body. She felt him shift, moving deeper until felt he would tear her apart. Her eyes flew open filled with panic.

"Stop! You're too big!" She gasped.

Kagome felt the fangs leave her flesh and the abrasive tongue lap soothingly at the small wound. He chuckled softly. She could feel the vibrations in the chest above her, through her loins.

"Shhh." He murmured softly nuzzling her hair, tasting the sensitive shell of her ear. "It only hurts the first time."

"Says you!" She retorted.

Sess stomped on the urge to ignore her protest. He could understand her panic. Inu-youkais were naturally more endowed than ningen. Very few females, youkai or not, could accept the full force of his passion. He had thought Kagome could. There was so much strength in her.

"Do you want me to stop?" He asked through clenched teeth. Don't do that. Don't ask me to stop.

Kagome was startled. Did she want to stop? "No." She admitted. "But help me." Her lip trembled. "I want you. I want all of you." She whispered. "But I can't take you like this."

Red retreated as he considered her words. Would she? He drew back and sat on his heels. Kagome winced as she felt his thickness slip out of her. He caught her gaze.

"Do you trust me?"

Kagome was confused. "Yes."

In one quick motion he flipped her onto her stomach and manipulated her body like a doll until she was on her knees before him, forehead resting on her crossed arms. There was something about this that made her feel so vulnerable, like prey, but oh so feminine.

She shivered feeling the light caress of his claws on her flanks, her buttocks, drifting across the sensitive skin of her inner thighs to the soaking thatch of hair from behind. She could not disguise her reactions to claw-tipped fingers exploring her moist channel. Her stomach knotted, and her vaginal muscles clenched in a futile attempt to hold onto the slender, teasing digits.

"Do you feel comfortable like this?" His voice was slightly harsh. This was affecting him as much as it was her.

"Yes." Her own voice was raspy.

The taiyoukai stared down at the sight laid out before him: the creamy curves of her buttocks, the dip above, the dimples at the base of her spine, the shallow indent bisecting her slender torso, the vulnerable nape exposed by the fall of hair tossed over one shoulder, the scent of musk, sex and jasmine.

Kagome was inexperienced but she was not ignorant. She had heard enough from her girlfriends in the future, read enough forbidden books; there was no real taboo when it came to sex; if the parties involved consented. She knew she could pull away if she had to in this position; and conversely her lover could move more strongly. Fresh arousal jolted her raw nerves as she imagined how much more strongly he could take her. She bit her lip but was helpless to stifle the moan that escaped her.

"Sess…"

A soft growl broke the heated hush.

She could not restrain the scream that escaped her lips. The force and angle of penetration plus her arousal was enough to send her over the top. Kagome could feel the heat burning in her veins, the energy screaming for release. This was worse than arousal left her feeling empty once she climaxed. This was a forest fire that demanded a climax she knew nothing about.

Her nipples hardened to an extent she was in constant sensory overload teetering between pain and pleasure. She could feel the harsh raspy breath over the back of her neck. She could feel his need to taste her. Driven by feminine instinct she pushed herself off the ground. She gasped feeling the hardness inside shift stroking places and stimulating nerves she did not know she had. She could feel him. Inside. Pressing against her from within. If Kagome were the swooning kind of girl she probably would have fainted long before this point.

"Sessh…" His name was hissed between clenched teeth.

Instinct was driving her to a precipice she knew nothing about, to a point that terrified her more sensible side. She could feel him within her, behind her, around her, under her. She clenched her hands in the thick pelt cushioning her hands and knees.

Sesshoumaru hissed at that sensory overload. He had never felt anything like this before, it was almost too much. He had never risked so much as he was right now. He could feel her ki, the power behind her miko energy, rising, building in the almost fragile form under him. Experience urged him to kill the potential threat. Blood ordered him to claim her, to be one with her.

He sank his teeth into the open wound. His intellect knew he had to restrain himself. Kagome would not heal as fast as youkai without any scarring. His blood insisted he make her his.

Kagome moaned. She wanted to move but her muscles refused to respond to her commands. She was teetering between pleasure and pain, satisfaction and hunger, on her hands and knees filled by him. She could feel his pulse between her legs but she couldn't move! She had to do something. She wanted to do something for Sess. He had literally ripped her pre-conceptions apart and shown her a world she liked, a world where she was free to love with every bit of her body and soul. She wanted to give him what no other could.

A blaze of purple-pink light surged from her hands into the pelt staining the material a silver tinted lilac.

For an instant he panicked. Instinct and experience told him this was miko energy, ki that purified, destroyed youkai. It would destroy his youkino; but it didn't; purify and destroy him that is. Sesshoumaru hissed as he felt the tendrils of ki weave through the youki of his youkino. He could feel the different energy twist around his own, forming a protective sheath for his own. Sesshoumaru knew he was armored against most other taiyoukais and mikos. Only one more powerful than Kagome, the Shikon miko could break the protection. He wanted to do the same for her.

Kagome could not resist the smile that curved her lips at the new sensations. She could feel the dark energy of his youki wrapping around her, literally armoring her like she had done for him. Arms that would be forever wrapped about her, shielding her from the world, giving her strength, confidence, reassurance. She wanted to give him more. Kagome was a very loving girl who cared a great deal for the people around her. She did not want anything to detract from his happiness.

I wish…

He could feel the near limitless depths of energy still flowing out. She was trying to do something. But what?

He felt a fire blossom and grow in his shoulder, down towards the stump of his left arm. He could feel the energy twisting the weave of the youkino, and with it his humanoid form. He hissed. What was she thinking?!

Before his incredulous gaze flesh and bone grew forming an elbow, lower arm, wrist, palm, then fingers. It was identical in every fashion to his original arm from the maroon tattoos marking the wrist to the angle at which the claws curved.

The shock was enough to distract him. He lost control and came in hard, violent jerks.

Kagome cried out in protest. She still needed. She heard the soothing murmur and felt the slim fingers manipulate her clit so she came hard and fast, spasming around him. Her muscles unlocked and she sagged utterly exhausted. She would have fallen flat on her face if it hadn't been for his quick reactions.

She was vaguely aware of two clawed hands hold her shoulders and gently lower her to the soft fur. The warm sticky fluids between her thighs. The heavy scent of flowers and musk in the moist air. The ache permeating her body though it was concentrated at her crotch. The sense of utter and complete satisfaction and absolute rightness.

"I love you Maru." Incomprehensible murmurs. A clawed hand raking her hair back. The welcoming darkness of sleep.

Sesshoumaru stared down at the slumbering form before him even as his newly formed hand raked the sweat soaked tresses away from her flushed face. He had so many questions. How this happened, he did not know. But he wanted to know; what had happened, what would happen.

He remembered her last words spoken in almost child-like tones. 'I love you Maru'.

His mother used to say that before leaving, a private farewell between a mother and son who loved each other dearly. She was the only source of affection from his childhood. She looked after the household while his sire spent days away looking after the lands. The only time she didn't make her farewells was when she was ambushed by a pack of lesser youkai. She died protecting him but she never had the chance to say goodbye. He never had the chance to tell her how much he loved her.

A surge of protectiveness came to the forefront. He was not going to let anything happen to Kagome. He lay down behind her, wrapping himself about her. No one was going to take this piece of his soul away from him.

~*~*~*~*~*~

TBC...

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AN: Wow! Was that hot or what?

Please review, no flames though..

--Sarhea