I think you know what these are by now…

1: Over a hundred reviews. I think this deserves a little party of some sort.

2: A few people were confused about Sesshoumaru's mood swings, and I feel I should explain something. Sesshoumaru likes Kagome. His demon side has accepted and embraced that fact (hence the warm, fuzzy moments) but every once an a while, the Sesshoumaru side of Sesshoumaru tries to deny and resist the fact (hence the mean, evil moments.) I hope that will make everything a bit clearer. Any other questions you can put in your reviews.

3: I think we all know by now that I don't own anything.

4: This chapter might be a little confusing. You have to understand that I have this whole elaborate thing in my head, and it's hard to put it into words. It's like a little motel, and each one of my stories has a different room, and each room is fashioned to look like the world of the story. I can't correctly do justice to each world, but I do the best I can. So if there is anything I can't correctly describe, I apologize.

5: This is also a bit mature in the beginning, for nudity and Sesshoumaru checking it out. If you don't like, skip.

6: I apologize for the long wait… the only explanation I can offer is that I had a TON of things going on, along with drama between my friends. The one friend I keep talking about, tried to commit suicide once again and has been placed in a mental institution for treatment, and to top it all off he's mad at me for telling the school's councilor that he was having suicidal thoughts again… But, enough with my little troubles, I hate being serious, it's so depressing!

7: BUBBLES! I hope that made every one of you smile.


Take This To Your Grave

CHAPTER EIGHT

A soft breeze whipped itself across Kagome's face, making her roll her head, trying to rid herself of the sensation. A soft voice came to her, as if from a great distance, speaking to her. "Kagome… Ka-go-me. Wake up." The demoness groaned and rolled over, closing her eyes tighter and telling herself that she really didn't hear anything. "Time to get up, Kagome. You'll miss a chance to stuff your face." With another defiant groan, Kagome opened a eye to blink up blearily at whoever was trying to wake her up. She could see the blurry outline of snowy white hair, magenta stripes, a blue crescent moon, and bright gold eyes.

Her eyes were suddenly as wide as dinner plates as she jumped and yanked her covers up to her chin. "You know the thing we talked about with the bubble and respecting my personal space?" And with that, she kicked him in the knee and sat up while he glared at her. "That was for not knocking and showing proper manners towards your future mate. You may continue now." He still glared at her, but held out his hand nonetheless for her to take.

Kagome hesitated. If she accepted his hand, he would pull her out of the bed, and succeed in seeing her naked for the first time. It was tradition, for the male to dress the female, but she wasn't too sure of herself. What would someone like Sesshoumaru, who had the most beautiful women on earth throwing themselves at him, think of her? She would be nothing compared to some he had seen, but what could she do? Shaking, she grabbed his hand gently, and let him pull her out of bed.


Sesshoumaru thought, for a moment, that he had forgotten how to breathe. If he had thought she was beautiful the night before, it was nothing compared to how she looked now, void of any clothes whatsoever. His golden eyes scanned her hungrily, greedily. Her feet were small and dainty, leading up to her shapely calves and thighs. Her hips were not wide, but rather slender, though she'd have no problem bearing him a healthy heir. The sloping curve narrowed further for her waist, then flared out again as his eyes traveled up her torso. She possessed a flat, tight stomach and nicely pleasing buttocks. Her breasts were full and rounded, and pert nipples stood out in their rosy little buds. Her shoulders were slender and her arms long and willowy. She gazed at him through her vivid blue eyes and turned her head slightly, embarrassed.

Raising a hand to her face, Sesshoumaru cupped it under her chin, and looked into her eyes. "Come, Kagome, this is no time for shyness. We need to get you dressed." He longed to touch her body, to run his hands along the soft curves of her breasts and flat stomach, but he held himself back, settling for grabbing her hand and leading her towards her wardrobe.

He knew exactly what he was going to pick out. It was a favorite of his, one that she had only worn once, but had kept his eyes on her the whole time. Kagome standing beside him shifting awkwardly from side to side, Sesshoumaru rummaged through her numerous outfits until he found it and pulled it out. The first layer was midnight blue, and made of the finest silk available. The second layer was thin, see through and floaty; also blue, but many different shades of it, shifting from dark patches to light patches without a certain pattern.

"Hold out your arms." He said softly, trying to make his voice as gentle as he possibly could while holding in the arousal at her unclothed state. She did as he said, holding out both her arms parallel to the floor, cooperating with him for once in her life. Sesshoumaru grinned as his betrothed shivered when the silk slid over her skin, falling loosely around her small form. The next layer was placed on top of that, practically defying gravity as it billowed around her. His inner beast roared in disapproval as the soft skin was covered as she pulled the kimono closed.

Reaching back into the wardrobe, Sesshoumaru brought out a white silk obi and tied it gently around her thin waist, completing the ritual. Kagome pulled away him and walked past him towards her vanity, picking up a brush from the polished surface. The demon lord followed her, plucking the brush from her small hands and running it through her silky black hair. She looked over her shoulder at him as he did this, her cerulean eyes scanning his face questioningly. He just gave her a look that told her to turn back around and take it. And that she did.

When he was finished with her hair, she grabbed a ribbon from her vanity desk and made to pull it back. Sesshoumaru growled and grabbed her wrist. "Leave it down." It was an order, not a request. He loved it when her hair was down; another one of his secret fetishes. When they were mated, he would make sure it was never held back again. "Come." He griped her hand softly and pulled her towards the door and out into the hallway.


Kagome was engulfed by Sesshoumaru's bed as she sat on it, the masses of comforters and fluff consuming her entire body. To some extent she was jealous. His bedroom was far more extravagant than hers had ever been; even in her dizziest daydreams. But then again, in two days time, she would be living in the West, and probably in chambers three times more luxurious than even her father's. Sesshoumaru was walking around to the other side of his futon, preparing to join her on it. A servant would be in any moment to bring them food, and they would spend the morning eating breakfast in bed. "You have a beautiful room, Sesshoumaru." Kagome commented, laying back onto the pillows and staring at the ceiling.

"It is… acceptable." She had been right. His chambers at his castle in the West must be beyond imagination. So lost in thought was she, that she barley noticed when his arm snaked around her waist and drew her into him. Before she knew it, her body was pressed against his, and her head was resting on his chest. It was strange. She had spent her entire life hating his guts, but now, when the time came… she couldn't bring herself to pull away.

There was a knock on the door, and, with permission from Sesshoumaru the door opened, and in walked a servant, laden with two large trays of food. Without a word, the servant placed the food on the bed and exited the room, as Kagome expected he had been instructed to. This made her wonder just what her father thought they were going to be doing in there… the thought made her shiver. Nonetheless, Kagome was starving, and she gladly accepted when Sesshoumaru offered her a piece of raw meat.

Unlike the ball, they would feed each other, meaning Kagome and Sesshoumaru took turns placing pieces of food in each other's mouths. Kagome couldn't see the point. Did they honestly think that her and Lord-who-gives-a-shit would actually be feeding each other when they were mated? They would be lucky to even eat in the same room. He nipped playfully at her fingers as she reached up to feed him the last piece of meat on the tray. "You eat it." He growled, taking her hand in his and guiding it to her mouth. She could feel his words rumble in his chest, and opened her mouth to accept the food.

Much to her surprise, Sesshoumaru leaned over her and licked the remaining juice from the meat off her face. Once again, she simply couldn't find the will power to pull away. When she was satisfactorily clean, Sesshoumaru slid out of the bed, and Kagome did the same. She had no idea what they were going to do; all she knew was that she had to do whatever he asked of her. He grabbed her hand and led her once again out of the room. The halls were mysteriously empty, and Kagome suspected that her father once again had something to do with it. This made her nervous; she would have felt better with Sesshoumaru if there had been at least servants around. But there was no one, and she was completely alone with her fiancé; who was prone to mood swings, and could turn on her at any moment.

But he didn't turn on her. In fact, he acted like the perfect gentleman all the way through the castle and out onto the grounds. Only when she realized what direction they were headed in, did she know where they were going. Why was he taking her to the stables? The normal thing to do would be to stay inside; perhaps read her a book, or even take a small stroll around the gardens… but no. Sesshoumaru had to be different, not that she minded all that much, but she didn't feel completely comfortable in a stable with two ton animals that could crush her with one hoof, and someone who had hated her all her life.

Sesshoumaru, noticing her discomfort as they approached the building, merely looked down at her and flashed a wolfish grin that made her go weak in the knees. "Don't worry, I'll protect you." Kagome gulped as they entered the stables, the smell of straw and musk entering her nostrils and making her sneeze. She had always loved it here; when she was alone. In fact, she had been here just a few days ago… the memory made her cringe. That was when Sesshoumaru had finally told her that she ment nothing to him. Kagome wondered if that was still how he felt. "We are going for a ride this morning. Pick your mount." Kagome grinned, knowing exactly which one she would choose.

Half an hour later, Kagome was seated on Ryuu the temperamental, and Sesshoumaru on a huge white stallion called Katashi, meaning firmness. Together they set off around the grounds, going as far as they could while still remaining inside the castle walls. Sesshoumaru didn't let Kagome get out of touching range, however. After he had seen the mount she had chosen, he had thrown a fit, and only agreed to let her ride him when he found a mount who was far bigger and stronger, and could overtake the other horse if the need raised.

And so there they were, chatting away about random things while riding horseback across the courtyard. The mid morning sun set an orange glow about their skin, glinting off Sesshoumaru's silvery locks and turning them a golden yellow. Kagome found that, in spite of everything, she was more relaxed with Sesshoumaru now than she had ever been. Somehow, she felt that she wouldn't have a problem spending the rest of the day with him. Looking over at his handsome face, Kagome let a small smile cross her face. He was ranting on about some political problem, and had not even the slightest idea that she wasn't listening. The tone of his voice was passionate and smooth, and she could tell that he really loved what he was talking about; despite his callous exterior. He would make a great lord someday.


A/N: I'M SO SORRY! I know it's been over a month, but as you can see from the notes above, I've been swamped. I hope you will all forgive me, and I will get the next one (which you've all been waiting for) out as soon as I can. School's winding down (24 days left!) so I'll have a lot more time to write. Thank you to all my loyal readers and reviewers. I love you all!