"Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same."
Emily Brontë

Start the Traditions

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Stressed
Kuronue sighed as he tapped his fingers against the table. His claws clicked and nicked the wood with each tap. He watched as Kagome walked into the room and sat across the table from him. Her eyes darted to the grinning Kurama and to the annoyed Sesshoumaru. Kagura had her evil smirk on and that instantly had Kagome on alert. Sesshoumaru stood up once Shippo entered the room and took a seat. It was not necessary for the others to come to this.

"As the Lord of the Western Makai Lands, I have 'say' over mating matches. I approve the matches and intendeds to benefit the families and my lands," Sesshoumaru declared as he glanced at Kagome.

"Are you and Kagura finally tying the knot?" Shippo interrupted as he received a meaningful glare.

"I herby approve that ancient courtship rituals shall take place between the Miko of the Tama, Higurashi Kagome and the Prince of the Okinawa Bat Clan," Sesshoumaru announced as Kuronue's face paled.

"You're a Prince?" Kagome questioned.

"Yes, your thief was once a Prince that decided to run away," Sesshoumaru informed.

"You'rePrince of the Okinawa bat clan…you really are a fruit bat," Kagome muttered with a laugh.

"That's why he gets defensive at the nickname," Kurama informed with a grin.

"I thought Youkai royals could only mate within the royal bloodline," Kagome stated.

"That is normally true, but he can't take the throne since he literally died," Sesshoumaru informed with another pointed glare.

"Who took the throne?" Kuronue questioned.

"Your brother Shurijo," Sesshoumaru calmly answered.

"Will his being a prince cause any problems?" Shippo questioned.

"None…unless he's hiding something," Sesshoumaru simply said.

"How do these ancient traditions work?" Kagome questioned as she mad quotes with her fingers.

"You've already been marked, but that mark must be remade by the next full moon or else it will vanish and you will never be able to be a mate," Sesshoumaru explained.

"A thirty day guarantee or your money back?" Kagome questioned as Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow. Kurama covered his mouth to keep from laughing, but her expression seemed true.

"Do not mock the ancient traditions," Sesshoumaru warned, he had a feeling that he would have a headache.

"I'll keep quiet," Kagome promised.

"You will first receive a mark then he will give you a token of his family line proving that you are worthy to be received into his family," Sesshoumaru explained as she scrunched her face at the wording. "You then have thirty days to bond with each other, and on the night of the full moon you will either accept his mark or rebuke him."

"Question," Kagome piped up.

"Speak," Sesshoumaru ordered as she glared at him.

"Can I accept before the thirty days?" Kagome questioned.

"Trust me, use all the time you have," Kagura muttered as Sesshoumaru glared at her.

"Do not rush it, because through the mark you will literally become one once he gives you the family token," Sesshoumaru explained. "You do have a family token?"

Kuronue nodded and reached into his pocket. Kagome watched as he pulled out what appeared to be a necklace. He gently cradled the gem in his hand and she got a good look at it. It was a miniature pendent no bigger them her thumb. It was a scythe and the blade looked like an indigo gem. Kuronue stood up and walked over to her and Kagome followed him with her curious gaze. He stood behind and carefully went to place the necklace on her.

"With this token, I give you my heart, I offer you my soul, and bind us into one," Kuronue spoke as he locked the clasp.

Kagome felt the pendent rest upon her chest as his hands pulled her hair from the chain and laid it back upon her back. It gently pulsed and she felt something warm. Curiosity replaced her fear because she knew she could trust him.

"I accept this token and give you my heart, I offer you my soul," Kagome responded as she felt something flood her.

"Do I give him anything?" Kagome questioned. She felt stupid for not knowing any of this.

"The females of my clan would share blood," Kuronue spoke.

"The Inu females give a mark much similar to the males," Sesshoumaru spoke.

Kagome silently thought before she took Kuronue's hand. Before he could react, she slit the palm of her hand. He jerked his hand back and she quickly brought her palm up and placed it on his bare arm. Her Miko ki flared and he yelped at the soft sting. It surprised him more then anything. Kagome removed her palm and there was the mark of the Sakura blossom upon his forearm. Kagome smirked at her mark and mentally applauded herself.

"I assume you will be heading back to Ningen-kai now?" Sesshoumaru questioned as Kagura elbowed him.

"Yes, I still must search for Hakudoushi," Kagome sadly replied.

"Remember that he controls the darkness in peoples hearts," Kagura firmly reminded.

"I remember," Kagome assured.

Houjou calmly waited outside the Higurashi shrine with a smile. He walked around the area calmly studying his surroundings. His eyes landed to the Goshinboku and he smirked. He raised his hand and gently ran his fingertips over the scar on the bark. Everything was slowly being pulled into place; it was only a matter of time now. Houjou closed his eyes and inhaled the air. He sensed them coming back, Houjou slipped off the shrine grounds and vanished.

A soft blue portal opened in the air and Kagome stepped through. The others followed as she continued her trek to the door. Yusuke yawned and stretched in the sunlight. The earth's sun appeared to be warmer then the sun in Makai, it didn't make sense, but it was true. Kuwabara scratched his head and mumbled something about sleeping with his cat. Hiei scoffed at them all and vanished in a black blur.

"I have to check in with my mother," Kurama said.

"Come back soon," Kagome said as she hugged him.

"Sayonara," Kuronue simply said as Kurama nodded and took off down the steps.

Kagome grabbed Kuronue's wrist and pulled him into the shrine. His eyes widened as she ran through the door with him in tow. Kagome laughed and pumped her fist in the air.

"My power's back!" Kagome cheered as she did a little dance.

Kuronue sighed and rolled his eyes at her antics. Kagome stopped her happy dance and looked up at the ceiling with a sigh. Today they had the day off with no commitments. A grin broke across her face and she ran up the stairs. Kuronue jumped out of the way, as she took off running. He sat down on the couch and tapped his foot against the floor. Kagome fell from the air and landed in his lap. His heart almost popped out of his chest. Kagome kissed his nose and sighed.

"Since we have the day off I have plans," Kagome sang as her grin turned more mischievous.

"What are you plotting?" Kuronue questioned.

Kagome snapped her fingers and his outfit instantly changed. She grinned and snapped her fingers again. His appearance turned perfectly human, except she left his eyes indigo, she loved those eyes. Kuronue studied the clothing before he offered her a dry look.

"Come on, you practically get free 'in style' clothes and you give me a dry look," Kagome complained.

"They're weird," Kuronue mumbled.

Kagome pushed off him, pulled him up, and walked around him.

"I will explain how these clothes are un-weird," Kagome declared.

"Explain, my precious guru of clothes," Kuronue mocked. Kagome bit her lower lip as she decided on ways to tease her bat.

Kagome walked over and placed her hands on his hips. He raised an eyebrow and remained calm at the action. Her hands slide to his down hips and he heard something unzip. His indigo eyes followed her hands down to see that she had unzipped the sides of pants to the knees. She then reached inside and revealed a pocket.

"These not only look cool, but they hide your money," Kagome pointed out.

"What money?" Kuronue questioned. Kagome stuck her tongue out at him.

Kagome sighed and ran her hands down his legs and she slowly kneeled in front of him. She reached the bottom of his pants and tugged at the inside and outside.

"The flare is to provide you with enough room to wear boots," Kagome added.

"Why did you pick black?" Kuronue questioned.

"The color nicely shapes your butt," Kagome mumbled.

Kagome stood up and then tugged at his shirt. He watched as it shifted colors until it landed on red. Kuronue then noticed that there were strange words on his shirt. They were white and thick.

"What's on the shirt?" He questioned.

"It says 'Buy Me' in English," Kagome pointed out as his eyes narrowed.

"You're trying to sell me?" Kuronue questioned.

"No! It's a joke you Okinawa," Kagome growled.

"There's nothing funny about it," Kuronue pointed out.

"I think it's funny," Kagome pouted as she turned away and huffed.

"Where are we going?" Kuronue questioned, he didn't want to start an argument over garments. Kagome brightened at this and ran to the door. She threw it open and ran outside.

"We're going to the carnival," Kagome said as she beckoned him to follow.

"What's a carnival?" Kuronue questioned.

"You'll have so much fun!" Kagome promised as she locked the shrine door.

"What's there?" Kuronue asked, as he felt stupid.

"There are roll-a-coasters, Ferris wheels, game stands, and so much more," Kagome explained.

"It sounds dangerous," Kuronue sighed.

"Don't be a wimp, it's not dangerous," Kagome teased as he doubtfully sighed.

"I'm going to take you on all the rides," Kagome promised.

Kuronue was reduced to being pulled along the sidewalk. His indigo eyes narrowed as he watched the sun begin to set. It seemed that they would be spending the night together. He wondered if this would turn out better then it sounded. Kagome looked over at him and smiled. He smiled back and figured it couldn't be that bad.

Author's Note:

Thanks for reviewing the last chapter
This story won't have a lemon, maybe a bit lime but nothing really descriptive, if I do anything it will be like the last chapter
Please leave a review