Chapter Six:

Demon Savior

Sesshomaru waited patiently on the roof for them to leave the establishment.

I have been here for almost six months. I hope that all is well with Rin and Jaken. It seems like I shall never finish this quest and return home. The Transient Well has yet to reappear. I am beginning to wonder if I am stranded here permanently . . .

Then he heard Madeline's date ask for the check, making the comment to Madeline that he wanted to take her somewhere "special." Sesshomaru stood up and watched for them. His amber eyes tracked them from the door to the car. As the man started his vehicle, Sesshomaru cloaked himself again and rose into the skies. The man drove Madeline far from the heart of the small city they had drove to.

Why am I following her like a guard dog? She is of no concern to me! No, I am lying even to myself now. I do care about her. In fact, her happiness is the only reason I did not express my outrage at this "date." How did our lives become so entangled? Damn you, Bokusenou! You could have given me more clues for this search. Sesshomaru gasped as he recalled one thing Bokusenou did say, "Your destiny will be forever changed by a single mortal maiden . . . It is a well that appears whenever it is needed, and will take you where you need to be." Could it be that what I have been restlessly searching for has been in front of my face the whole time?

The car came to a stop at a lookout point above the city. Sesshomaru began to descend slowly. He heard movement within the vehicle, and heard Madeline say, "Stop it." The man was trying to coax her, he heard him say, "Come on baby, you know you'll like it." He sensed Madeline's heart rate rise rapidly and heard her say forcefully, "No! I said stop it! NO!" Then came the sound of tearing fabric and Madeline's fearful screams. Sesshomaru's eyes blazed like the fires of hell and he flew to the car like lightning. That bastard is trying to force himself on her!

He landed and tore the passenger side door off the frame of the car and tossed it aside like a discarded tissue. The man had Madeline pinned down on the reclined passenger side seat. Her dress was torn in the front and he had pulled her bra askew to expose her breasts. Herdress wassnagged and torn from the struggle, and her skirt was up by her waist. Madeline looked to see Sesshomaru standing at his full height, fangs bared, claws twitching, and eyes as red as fire. "Sesshomaru," she whispered with relief.

"Hey, what the fuck!" the person spat at Sesshomaru.

Sesshomaru reached into the car, pushed this guy off Madeline, and pulled her from the car as gently as possible. He set her on her feet, and she covered herself as best as she could.

"Man, what the fuck is your problem?That broad is mine!"

"Madeline, step back," Sesshomaru commanded as the man came out of the car after them. Madeline backed away obediently. The man came at Sesshomaru, trying to punch him, and Sesshomaru avoided him with the greatest of ease. Sesshomaru raised his forearm to face-level and his fingertips began to glow yellow.

This cannot be good! Madeline ran in front of Sesshomaru, "No! Sesshomaru, don't! He's not worth it! The police will definitely come after you! Please, no!"

"This man tried to violate you and he has hurt you. He must die."

Madeline boldly reached up and lowered his hand with tears in her eyes, "Not if it means that I have to lose you!"

Sesshomaru regained his composure and looked down into her eyes. "Very well, but he will not leave unpunished." In a flash, Sesshomaru wove around Madeline to her attacker and punched him in the face. The man flew up into the air and then landed on his back. Sesshomaru was standing beside the would-be rapist as he looked up in terror, realizing that he was up the creek without a paddle. Sesshomaru kicked him hard in the ribs, easily breaking a few. "You. If you call the police, I'll kill you. If you dare come near Madeline again, I'll slowly tear out your innards and then kill you. Leave."

Sesshomaru turned away from the man and approached Madeline. She collapsed into him, and he cradled her against him with his arm. He held her tightly as he arose into the skies and headed for home.

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Sesshomaru flew through the window he left open. He landed gently and carefully laid Madeline on the bed. She shivered for the room had become quite cold in their absence. He closed the window and walked toward the door. Madeline sat up slightly, "Sesshomaru, don't go. Please don't leave me." He turned slowly and saw her tousled hair, torn dress, and big, green eyes. He walked back and sat on the edge of the bed. Suddenly Madeline started to cry. Every sob tore at Sesshomaru's heart and soul. He could not bear to see her in pain.

Sesshomaru removed his shoulder armor and swords, setting them by her desk. He lay on the bed next to her and pulled her close to him. He cradled her again as she cried. He whispered, "Don't cry, little one. Don't cry, it's tearing me apart." She sobbed and sobbed, holding on to him for dear life.

"Oh, Sesshomaru! I can't believe he almost . . . almost . . . Oh, I am so stupid!"

He held her tighter, "You are not stupid, Madeline. My dear Madeline, you did not deserve his rough treatment. You, of all people I have met, deserve so much more than that," he nuzzled his face into her hair, "I was frightened tonight. I, Sesshomaru, Lord of the Western Lands, was frightened. Frightened for your safety." He moved and looked into her eyes.

She looked into his golden eyes with her tear-stained green ones, "L-Lord Sesshomaru?"

"Yes, little one, Lord Sesshomaru. But, you need not call me by that title. For you, Sesshomaru is quite enough."

"I see. Please allow me to use it once more. Thank you for saving me tonight, Lord Sesshomaru."

He held her green eyes in his amber gaze and whispered, "It was my honor and duty, little one," and he pressed his lips to hers, kissing her gently. He broke off the kiss slowly and she was breathless. She barely gasped, "Sesshomaru . . ."

He pressed his finger to her lips tenderly, "Please wait, Madeline. I must finish. I realized something tonight. All this time you have been assisting me in my search for a mortal girl. You have been so kind to help me, a stranger to you then. But tonight I found what I have been looking for. I realized that I sought not a girl, but a woman, and she has been right under my nose. I came here for you, Madeline. Bokusenou said you would change my life."

"M-me? Why me?"

"I don't know why, except that I have grown to love you dearly and I would protect you with my life," Sesshomaru kissed her intensely, lovingly, reverently. Madeline returned the kiss deeply.

When their lips parted, Madeline whispered to him, "I love you, too, Sesshomaru. Tonight I thought for a moment that there would be no one to help me, no one to hear my screams. But I knew you would come for me. I knew you would save me. I could feel your presence." They kissed each other wildly, passionately. Sesshomaru's hand traveled her body, peeling the torn dress from her in the process. Madeline's hands were just as adventurous as she untied the belt of his haori and hakama. She parted the folds of his haori and her hands caressed his chest. Sesshomaru growled with excitement as her hands skimmed his flesh, and he pulled off the remainder of her tattered garment. Rather than fight with her undergarments, he used a few careful maneuvers with his claws and her bra and panties fell away. Sesshomaru slowly ran his hand over her beautiful, naked body. He kissed her fervently as he cupped her breast with his hand. She melted beneath his lips and timidly ran one of her hands towards his manhood. He growled deeply as she gently touched the fabric that stood between his lust and her fingers. Sesshomaru slowly broke away from her and stood up from the bed, stripping himself of the rest of his garments. He came back to the bed and positioned himself to take her. She looked up at him with love and need. Madeline whispered, "Take me, my love."

He pressed himself into her, and felt a significant resistance. He was stunned.

She is untried! A maiden! A mortal maiden!

Sesshomaru looked into her eyes and saw tears forming from pain. She saw his shock and thought it disgust. "I knew it. Don't look at me. You're disgusted with me."

"No!" he kissed her softly, "No, dear one! Your purity is an honor. It is nothing for the cause of shame! I am honored beyond my dreams to know that I will be the first and only one to have you, my love, my mate."

"My beloved," she spoke softly, and he kissed her.

Sesshomaru gently began to move himself within her, being ever so tender with his virgin bride. He gradually picked up the pace, and began the mating ritual. "For all time, there will be no other. I give myself to you, Madeline, as mate for all of our lives and beyond. And as I give, I shall claim," and he bit down upon her shoulder, marking her as his mate as she screamed with ecstasy.

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As the sun peeked through the windows, a sleeping Madeline lay cradled against Sesshomaru's chest. He lay watching her sleep peacefully, carefully stroking her hair, and admiring every inch of his mate. He smiled softly at the Mating Bite that remained brilliantly painted on her shoulder. Sesshomaru was on the brink of sleep when a scent caught his senses; a scent he recognized.

She is in heat. No wonder that miserable bastard tried to force himself on her. But, she is mine, now and for all time. Who knows, she could be with child soon . . .

With that, Sesshomaru slept beside his mate.