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: Much later... how do some others handle it?

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~*~ And Celebrated ~*~

Kagome fidgeted as Sango and Kaede helped the female youkai servants adjust her wedding kimono - an elaborate arrangement of six layers of varying shades of green and gold-brown and designs of flowering vines. She huffed as Reika, a white usagi-youkai, arranged her hair into a bun secured by ivory skewers decorated with red tassels. By common consensus Kagome wore minimal makeup, the faintest dusting of rice powder and peach gloss.

"You look wonderful my lady." Reika announced after a few seconds of fussing.

"I must agree." Shinko, a chestnut kitsune, announced after arranging the layers of kimonos around Kagome's feet. "You are stunning. Sesshoumaru-sama won't know what hit him."

All the females giggled at that thought. Kagome smiled faintly.

"It is a distinct surprise though," Reika noted absently as she applied lacquer to arrange loose tendrils around Kagome's face. "Sesshoumaru-sama is difficult and he has very high standards. Many youkai have tried to get him as mate but failed abysmally. Everyone is curious about you."

"Well they'll see me soon enough," Kagome responded wryly. "That is the purpose of hosting this formal ceremony, isn't it?"

She was impatient to get the formalities over with. She had agreed to the week long separation required by youkai custom - their version of the groom not seeing the bride before the ceremony. It was almost a physical hurt being apart from him.

"Yes." Reika giggled. "I tell you it was a great pleasure to tell the Great Lord Sesshoumaru that he was barred from his betrothed's rooms."

Kagome winced. "I did not like that part. I miss him." She explained softly.

The two youkai murmured reassurances.

"Well it will be over soon enough," Shinko pointed out. "The last of the guests arrived an hour ago."

Sango stared at her friend with mingled concern and pleasure.

"Are you sure about this Kagome-chan?"

"As I am of the sun and the moon." Kagome replied.

Sango nodded her conscience satisfied. "Good. Now, what next?"

Kagome obediently spoke. "Lord Hiroshi is performing the ceremony. He is a bear youkai and the Northern Lord, a good friend of Sesshou's father, InuTaisho. The ceremony is a formal acknowledgement of a mated couple by youkai society. When a youkai mates and doesn't have the ceremony it is taken as a gesture of contempt, that he doesn't consider his allies and peers important enough to witness the event. Lord InuTaisho angered many when he married InuYasha's mother in secret."

"But what about the actual ceremony itself?" Sango persisted curious.

Kagome shrugged. "I don't know. Youkai don't believe in rehearsals."

~*~*~*~*~*~

Sometime later all of Kagome's fears and concerns had faded.

Reika and Shinko grasped the handles of the heavy teak doors.

"Are you certain my lady?" They spoke in choral formal tones. "Are you certain that this path is what you desire?"

Kagome was confused before she understood. She could feel the eyes of the female youkai guests behind her. Their male counterparts were in the Great Hall with Sesshoumaru waiting for her arrival.

She could feel their fear, envy, curiosity and concern about the situation, a second Inu-lord taking a ningen, a miko no less, as wife. At least this one was doing things properly. The older mated females were more neutral in their preconceived impressions, the younger ones were angry and scornful. Kagome ignored them all.

"I am." Kagome spoke evenly. All fears and second thoughts had faded leaving the path before her clearly illuminated.

They pulled the doors open.

"Then walk my lady... Approach your lord."



Sesshoumaru broke off the conversation he was having with Lord Tamashi, an older, respected water youkai. He needed all the support he could muster to force them, if need be, to accept Kagome as his mate.

Miroku broke off the conversation he was having with a serene forest youkai and turned to the main doors.

InuYasha stopped sulking to turn to the doors as well. He hadn't intended to acknowledge Kagome's entrance but he couldn't help it, none of them could help it.

Every single male in the room ceased their activities and moved to see what was drawing them so. Some were attracted by the picture of feminine beauty. Others were drawn by the strength she exuded. All acknowledged the potential she possessed in power, pure unrestrained power… Power that could destroy and create, heal and kill, power that could shift the balance and change the world.

Sesshoumaru wasn't just claiming a miko; he was claiming the Protector of the Shikon no Tama.

"Midoriko." Someone hissed.

Blue eyes flashed. Kagome did not like being compared to anyone. She had enough of being compared to Kikyo from InuYasha.

Everyone tensed at the spike of power and the mention of the legendary miko who had fought and defeated armies of youkai.

Hiroshi hid a smile at the consternation. It was time for a change anyway.

Kagome ground down the nervous desire to generate an aura to keep the youkai at bay; Sesshoumaru was here, he would protect her if they attacked her. Keeping that thought in her mind she moved gracefully towards the middle of the room where Sesshoumaru stood waiting, a picture of masculine beauty in the midnight blue and red kimonos decorated with white sakura flowers.

Her eyes were caught and enmeshed with his. She was not aware of the females entering the Great Hall, of the intricate dance that ensued as the guests arranged themselves in rings and sectors indicating alliances and loyalties. All Kagome could see was Sesshoumaru - he was her entire world.

Sango kept a tight grip on Shippo who was fidgeting. Kaede mimicked her action with Rin who looked as though she was going to start running about. Miroku stood a discreet distance from InuYasha though his attention was on the event taking place before his eyes - the formal mating of a tai-youkai and a miko. A few youkai had refused to witness the ceremony when they discovered the identity of the bride and her party.

Kagome came to a stop before Sesshoumaru and held out her hands palm up. The Inu-youkai responded placing his hands in hers

Hiroshi shook out his formal green and red kimono before clearing his throat as he glanced around the Great Hall.

"Sesshoumaru, Tai-youkai of the Western Lands has made his Choice. Does anyone present object?"

The words were spoken formally. Hiroshi did not expect real objection.

"I object!" Everyone turned to the neko-youkai, Lady Sakiko. She had been an ardent candidate for the position Lady of the Western Lands. "Why should we accept this ningen as one of us?" She cried as she looked about looking for supporters. She found it in the younger youkai. Sesshoumaru growled. Kagome squeezed his hands to keep him from attacking Sakiko, to remind him he did not have to fight all his battles. "She must have cast some spell to seduce Sesshoumaru-sama."

Kagome flushed then paled at the accusation, the scorn. Sesshoumaru stiffened, anger icing gold eyes. Kagome tightened her grip on him. She did not want him to attack the neko-youkai Sakiko and make things worse.

The murmurs began slow but steady. Objection to the proposed mating. A chuckle broke the angry atmosphere. It was the water-youkai Tamashi.

"Children." The word held affection and scorn. "You have forgotten our history, scorned the past as useless…" The pale blue eyes of the indigo skinned youkai moved meeting the eyes of the dissenters. "It's in the blood." Tamashi spoke the words with knowing emphasis. "It's always blood. Blood calls to blood, denying that is like denying you are youkai."

"Then kill her!" Sakiko hissed. "Kill the miko like her kind kill us!"

Kagome's blue eyes flashed. "I do not kill youkai without reason - those who attack me or defenseless ningen or youkai alike do not deserve a second chance!" She responded in cold even tones. "Why should I kill those who acknowledge my power and stay away?"

Murmurs of acknowledgement and support. This miko had never slaughtered wantonly; in fact she restrained her companions to hear both sides of the story before acting. In fact she adopted a kitsune a few years ago and formed an alliance - that had turned to a bonding - with the tai-youkai Sesshoumaru.

"You don't deserve him!" Sakiko hissed defiantly. "You are a ningen! You will die in less than eight score years! Any kits you bear will be hanyou!"

Strangely enough this time it was Sesshoumaru who spoke.

"You are wrong Lady Sakiko; it is I who do not deserve her. But I am not so much of a fool to deny a gift from the Gods."

Tamashi spoke increduously. "Die? Die?!" He broke into guffaws of laughter.

His partner Lady Yuri, a nine-tailed kitsune, hit him with her closed fan.

"Don't laugh at the young ones Tama, it has been eons since Blood called to Blood. They don't know anything about such a mating." The water youkai just laughed harder. Yuri sighed and spoke to Sakiko though her words were heard by all. "Just watch Sakiko, watch and learn how our kind really gains power."

Everyone stopped at the last word. Mating with a ningen miko gives power? Yuri caught the speculating looks and cut the thoughts short.

"It does not come from joining the material form," She warned them sternly. "It comes from joining with your fates-given partner. Very few ever meet, or realize when they do, what ningen call soul-mate."

Everyone subsided at that explanation. The miko Kagome and the tai-youkai Sesshoumaru were soul-mates. They could understand Lady Yuri's explanation now. Who on earth could expect a miko and a tai-youkai to become allies and find out they are soul-mates?

The ceremony proceeded without any hitches. It was a simple affair. After exchanging verbal vows of loyalty, protection, and affection came the final step - the blood bond.

"Watch and learn girl!" Yuri murmured eyes intent on the couple.

Sesshoumaru scored his right palm with a claw. Bright red liquid welled up in a line. He ignored the growl from InuYasha as he repeated the action on Kagome's palm. Kagome did not flinch from the small pain; her entire focus was on her soon-to-be mate.

The bear youkai glanced at the couple standing before him; their attention was exclusively on each other. He could feel the aura of power building, the tendrils of ki reaching out to make two one. Soon the young ones would witness how youkai once Created power instead of stealing and destroying stronger opponents.

He took both their hands and spoke in formal choral tones as he moved them so mere centimeters separated their palms.

"Blood calls to Blood, as Power calls to Power,"

A single drop of blood hit the open cut below. Everyone felt the audible hum of power building. A few disbelievers hissed.

"As Light calls to Dark, as Order calls to Chaos. Witness! Witness these two become One."

At the last word Hiroshi pressed the two palms together.

The moment skin touched skin, or more accurately blood touched blood, the charged energy peaked. Sparks of light and raw energy crackled around the two in a coruscating halo of colors and lightening. The halo continued to build exponentially until it enveloped the couple with a light haze.

"Where is it coming from?" Someone asked the question on everyones mind.

Kaede sighed. "From them. From Sesshoumaru-sama and Kagome-chan."

"But how?" Sakiko was frustrated and angry. "He hasn't even tapped into his youkino. That energy is not youki or miko-ki!"

"It is raw power." Yuri responded impatiently, like a teacher would with slow pupils. "When two souls meant for each other join they complete each other. Together they can do feats that they never could have done before when apart."

Miroku coughed discreetly.

"I understand a few of you challenged Sesshoumaru-sama to present the Tetsaiga as proof of his intent to hold what his?" Several youkai flinched, coughed, and looked away shamefaced. "I trust that is not necessary now?" Miroku spoke delicately indicating the cocoon of raw power. "I am not certain of what is happening but from what I understand Sesshoumaru-sama and Kagome-sama will come out far more powerful than they were before…" His words trailed off knowingly.

The leader of the faction to make the challenge spoke quickly.

"There is no need for him to recover Tetsaiga. Lady Yuri and Lord Tamashi both say Lord Sesshoumaru will emerge more powerful. That will make up for what power Tetsaiga would have given him."

InuYasha huffed and opened his mouth to speak. Kaede elbowed him.

"Look! The aura! It's subsiding!" Some lady cried out.

And it was. The cocoon spun itself into five ropes that drove into the marble tiles, scorching them black. The other ends went into the people within; two into him, two into her, the last wrapping around them both before sinking beneath skin. After several minutes the last of the static sparks faded as the energy sank into the ground or the couple. The coruscating haze faded allowing everyone to see and be shocked.

Sesshoumaru was the first to turn to the witnesses. There were few visible changes on the tai-youkai; a relaxed quality that permeated his posture and visage, a sardonic quirk lifting one corner of typically tightly pressed lips, a knowing light in amber eyes. The most obvious changes were two tattoos on the back of each wrist. Every youkai present had initially accepted the invitation to see the 'miracle': Sesshoumaru regrowing his left arm in less than a day. The tattoos were part of him like natural youki markings. A red teardrop on the back of one wrist, an inverted green teardrop on the back of the other.

The change in the miko was far more dramatic. Her heart-shaped face was youkai - three thin red streaks parallel to the cheekbone on both sides of her face - mirroring those on her new mate. The mark on her forehead was not a crescent or blue, but a green quartered circle representing earth. Any other physical changes were hidden by layers of silk and brocade. It was clear Kagome was not entirely youkai but no one could say she was 'just a ningen'. There was a sense of otherworldly power about her that made the younger, less experienced youkai shy away from her. This power was Goddess-given to Her chosen few.

Lady Yuri was the first to recover her wits. She stepped up to the couple and clasped a hand from each. She felt the power pulse from Him to Her, through her own body and then back again. The sensation was intoxicating. She smiled at both of them.

"Congratulations Sesshoumaru, Kagome."

Kagome smiled shyly feeling slightly embarrassed. This nice lady youkai was congratulating her and she couldn't focus on anything other than the heat between her thighs, the yearning for her new mate.

Yuri smiled knowingly as she caught scent of desire from the Mother's latest daughter. She couldn't help giggling.

"Go ahead you two. From what I've seen no one will be able to get a word of sense out of the both of you for a few hours."

Kagome smiled gratefully at the older youkai and glanced up at amber eyes. She bit her lip as fresh desire surged in her veins at the matching heat she glimpsed in his eyes.

Without a word the two turned and left through one of the many minor doors into the Great Hall. They did not respond to queries or congratulations and the memory of the coruscating aura was enough to keep well-wishers a safe distance away.

"Feh! How rude!" InuYasha grumbled. He was not happy with Kagome mating with his half-brother.

Sango smacked the back of his head for her best friend.

"Shut up InuYasha." She turned to Kaede who was smiling faintly. "Why did they leave? Don't youkai have a reception after the ceremony?"

It was Hiroshi, the bear-youkai, who answered her.

"Typically yes. However in this case it is better to wait until the next dawn to have the reception."

Sango was confused. "But why?"

"Sesshoumaru's gonna fuck her." InuYasha pointed out crudely. Sango moved to hit him when Lady Yuri spoke.

"Actually yes," The kitsune replied blandly. InuYasha's face twisted with distaste at the thought of his brother and Kagome. The cave was bad enough but this was worse. Yuri ignored his expression and continued. "An average youkai mating has the mingling-of-blood ritual but few matings have an outcome as dramatic as this."

"What do you mean Lady Yuri?" Miroku inquired in scholarly tones.

Yuri explained. "Typically, the blood exchange is purely ceremonial. If there is any minor, latent compatibility there has to be an elaborate ritual to draw the thin threads of connection between the two to the surface. In the old days families would test potential couples for compatibility before proposing an actual mating ceremony that binds the two." She waved indicating the scorched pentagram-circle in the white marble. "This compatibility is not delicate or fragile. The bonds between them were like ropes. The mating ceremony made that connection into chains."

Sango frowned. "I don't like the sound of that. Chains?"

Kaede shook her head. "Sango-child, chains work both ways. Sesshoumaru is chained to Kagome as she is to him. And they both want it."

"But what if he hurts her?!"

"Then he hurts himself." Yuri responded to the concern with patience. "They are One, body and mind, heart and soul."

Sango bit her lip and nodded. She still didn't understand what was going on but if Kagome was happy she was happy.

Several youkai stiffened and turned almost in unison.

"What is it?" Miroku asked concerned.

"Flowers." A female tiger-youkai spoke in wondering tones. "The scent of fresh blossoms."

"Jasmine." Someone else noted.

"And roses." Another added.

Curious the crowd moved out of the Great Hall to the terrace that opened to the landscaped gardens of the Western Lands Manor.

Miroku glanced up at the clear night sky. For some reason the stars seemed brighter this night. The crescent moon gleamed silver.

"The moon glows." He noted.

"Yes. The power of the Inu-clan grows as well." Tamashi noted sedately as he settled onto one of the many stone benches placed near reflecting ponds, bridges, bowers and sculptures.

The water-youkai had chosen one that gave him a clear view of a small detached building made of rose granite and roofed by green glazed clay tiles. It was a small structure, a guest house for important or respected visitors, designed to grant the occupant privacy and serenity. The lower walls were covered with lush green creepers, windows shaded by verdant shrubs and trees, the decorative moat populated by lilies and other water plants. The water-youkai waited expectantly, almost amused.

After several long minutes the rose granite walls began to shimmer. The tiny crystals in the stones reflected light that seemed to glow from within, from behind the dense opaque blocks. Before their eyes trees burst into fresh bud and bloom releasing an intoxicating medley of fragrance that seduced the watchers.

"What's happening?" Sango asked feeling slightly scared.

"The land is celebrating, it is being renewed by the presence of such a powerful soul-bonded pair." Hiroshi explained in soft tones.

InuYasha made a noise of disdain that was ignored.

"Where is the glow coming from?" Miroku asked.

"The stones are absorbing the excess power from their coupling." Yuri explained with a sly smile.

"Tantra?" Miroku inquired without a quaver.

Yuri was impressed. "Yes. A very old and primitive form of sex magick. It was from watching the benefits and effects of a soul-bonded couple that ningen started the practice of spring fertility and autumn harvest sacrifice festivals."

The unmistakable cry of feminine release gained from pleasure broke the still night.

Everyone stiffened. Some with jealousy and discomfort while others sighed in envy.

The sound of unmistakable masculine laughter followed mingled with Kagome's loud, verbal reprimands that were subsumed by her own pleasure and joy.

Something broke in InuYasha. Until now he had hopes that Kagome would change her mind, that she would come to her senses and reject Sesshoumaru. That fragile hope was crushed due to his own actions. If only he had claimed her from the start…

"It is done." Yuri nodded, satisfied with events. "Come. Let us celebrate the arrival of the new Lady of the Western Lands."

Briskly she gave orders waving. The crowd obeyed this matriarch without protest. Lady Yuri supported the new Lady of the Western Lands as many other powerful tai-youkai. Protesting now would only result in losing face and allies.

Sango sighed softly as she remembered Kagome's secret confidences. Would she ever find someone that would make her feel the say Kagome feels about Sesshoumaru? She hoped so. She did not want to be alone for the rest of her life. She glanced at Miroku through lowered lashes. Yes, he was a letch and pervert, but sometimes… Sango sighed. Maybe Kagome could help her figure out what exactly she felt about Miroku.

Miroku noticed that veiled glance though he gave no sign of it. He glanced at the sutra beads that sealed the Wind Tunnel curse in his left palm. He had always known he was living on borrowed time, that the curse would consume him one day, just as it did his father. Miroku had no desire to leave a grieving widow behind. But now there was hope; surely Kagome and Sesshoumaru could defeat Naraku if they worked together. Miroku had sensed the unity in the couple, a unity that made him believe, to have hope that one day soon Naraku would be defeated. Then perhaps he could have that talk with Sango.

~*~*~*~*~*~

TBC...

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AN: Next chapter will definitely be hot. Wait and see!!

Please review, no flames though..

--Sarhea