A/N: So the first half would be Sesshomaru's POV. But it won't stay that way, so expect the POVs to switch. You'll know, though. I tried my best to make it distinguishable.

Lemons ahead. You were warned.

Thanks for the support. Thank you, really.

on a side note: no. Still blind. As i mentioned on the past chapter, she recognizes energy signatures and creates images of things in her mind.

and yes, still in the past. Her father is still alive, this should be clue enough. Thanks!

Promise

You will never know

How much you mean to me,

"Sesshomaru-sama?" She asked so quietly, the downpour of the summer rain drowning the silence of the heavy, humid air. But he did not hear, his heart was thundering as loud as drums, and the rush of his blood in his ears was so loud he thought he'd go deaf. He stood unmoving in the dim of the moonlight, waiting.

It is this… fear,

That grows with every smile you so foolishly give,

With every touch, I melt… helplessly into nothing…

"Take your clothes off," he said, and she stiffened. With conscious modesty, she crossed her arms protectively across her chest, but he strode forward and knelt before her, parting her haori so that it slid off her shoulders, falling on the floor. He fumbled on the knot of her hakama and it slid down her hips, and he pulled it off her legs. Now exposed, goosebumps rose on her naked skin as he wrapped her in a tight embrace.

Her cheeks flushed beautifully when she realized they were both bare.

Sesshomaru sighed and he closed his eyes. Images of his beloved Shrine Girl from the first time they met, flashed in his mind; her first confession to him on the shrine steps, and of them both laying on the grass- smiling so freely, pointing at the vast blue sky-

The Inu could not restrain himself. He held his breath.

The woman frowned when she felt little wet drops streak across her skin. Her unseeing blue eyes searched in worry, and her concern only crushed his heart in frustration: his tears fell into torrents, dropping in great amounts it pattered to the wooden floor. "Sesshomaru," she whispered, as she relaxed, wrapping him in her familiar warmth.

Sesshomaru clung to her tightly, and the great Daiyoukai's body trembled from his anguish.

If answering the question you ask of me,

If telling you those three words you so yearn for

Shall quell that unrest in your soul,

Then I will never give you fulfillment.

He pulled away and kissed her. Sesshomaru crushed her sweet lips against his, raking his fingers through her soft hair, and yanked her closer. Prodding her mouth open, he whimpered in desperation as he lifted her to his lap, his arms around her small, fragile frame and crushed her soft body against his.

She tensed when his hair tickled her breasts, the grip to his back tightening as her nails dug into his skin:

"I feel… strange…" she whispered, as he dipped down and pressed his ear on her form, and his frustration streaked down her exposed chest. He stayed still for long moments, quietly crying in her warm embrace.

The Shrine Girl realized the cause of his stillness… he was listening to her heart.

And the Inu realized, he could not stop the tears that so freely, shamelessly flowed. He listened to every beat of her selfless, loving heart, drowning in the warmth that he so loved and selfishly wanted all for himself, a maelstrom of emotions stirring up his soul, exposing his own vulnerability.

For how much you love me, I love you a million times more.

But you will never know.

Kagome, you will never know.

I love you more than my life, more than anything else in this world,

But I will never let you hear it from me,

I will let you chase me, I will let you keep on guessing…

Her hackles stood when his breath fluttered on her exposed mounds, and she grabbed his hair, squirming in torture when his strong, muscular tongue started lapping on her hardened nub. "Sesshomaru," she writhed, "I…this is,"

She was burning. Every teasing scrape, every wanton suck seemed to escalate the frustrating, electrifying sensation that was pooling in her core, and his golden eyes watched her in a terrible, aching desire, never satisfied, craving for more.

He captured her other neglected breast, and she whimpered, burying her face in the crook of his neck. "Keep your voice down," he whispered, taking her hand and leading it down to his large, throbbing manhood. "We don't want them to hear."

He wrapped her hand around his cock, and it jerked when it came in contact with her skin. "Squeeze it harder, shrine girl," he hissed when she put more pressure, and it throbbed when he guided her small hand, from the base to the already wet tip, pre-cum oozing out of his shaft.

"Sesshomaru, is this… is this where it came from?" She asked so innocently, and he groaned when her thumb swirled around his painfully sensitive opening,

And she squeezed.

He stopped her, snarling.

Startled, Kagome pulled away. But his hand kept her to where it was at, and with a shaky breath she started to stroke his hard length again,

"Yes," he snarled, "Kagome, yes…"

And without warning, his hand slid in between her thighs.

Her knees bucked when his fingers stroked her already wet slit. And a fire threatened to overwhelm her when he continued the heavy petting, coaxing her hesitant flesh to warm up to his invasion. She tried to shut her legs closed but he found her knot of pleasure, and he swirled his finger on her fissure. Kagome moaned, slumping on his shoulders, overwhelmed and losing bodily control.

"Sesshomaru," she mewled, and he rubbed her sensitive, slick clit with his thumb, already feeling her flesh twitch in delicious torment.

"Don't stop touching me, Kagome," he coaxed, and with shaky hands, she tried so hard to comply. The Inu savored at her palms stroking his throbbing cock, and he felt her quiver when he parted her folds open.

He thrust a finger inside. She gasped, tears streaking down her eyes when his finger curled inside her, all the while his thumb relentlessly kneading her bundle of nerves, her center of pleasure. He stroked her soft flesh from the inside, he could feel her muscles clamping down, and she sobbed as he continued to play with her nectar-coated core.

"What is it," he crooned, when she started moving on her own, her hips grinding up and down, panting as she pushed down his penetrated finger greedily into her slick sex,

"It's not enough," she pleaded, "I, I don't understand… it seems like-"

Sesshomaru repositioned her, and she suddenly found the length of his hard cock rubbing against her raw, private flesh. The lovers both moaned in ecstasy, unable to control their cries for lust. He thrust, his staff eating into the gape of her sheath, and she rubbed hard, the wet friction between them escalating their delicious pleasure.

Sesshomaru snarled and his seed spilled, coating his dick, spilling on the opening of her slit, and he growled as his eyes bled scarlet.

His claws lengthened, digging into her skin.

"Let me inside you," he rasped, "I want to be buried deep inside you," he swiped his finger on his cum-coated shaft, and he spread the thick substance on her nether lips, rubbing to on her clit, teasing her folds with his hot cum. Finally, he spread her slit yet again and invaded her with his seed-coated digits, allowing her womanhood to have a taste of his loyal love for her.

"All of you, mine-" he nipped at her neck, drawing blood. But the shrine girl was too lost in euphoria to feel any pain, and she submitted to his shameless ministrations like a heavily drugged woman. And he smiled, seeing her flushed and helpless in his touch.

"Yours," she whispered. He withdrew his fingers, his cum-covered shaft teasing into the very opening of her pussy.

"Yes," he grabbed her by the side of her shoulders, "All mine."

And he slammed his entire length into her, mercilessly to the hilt, and she cried out in pain. He groaned as he pushed her back on the wooden floor, her back slamming against the tatami. He roughly yanked her sideways and lifted her leg up, allowing him to go even deeper, his shaft hitting her fragile womb.

"It hurts," she cried out, "Sesshomaru, it hurts!"

He clenched his teeth in restraint when he pulled out, almost completely, but he could not control himself. "I'm sorry, Kagome," He rammed his cock back into her, and her nails raked the wooden floor in desperation,

"It will feel better, I promise it will feel better," he captured her moans with his lips, drowning her sobs with a deep, desperate open-mouthed kiss. The Inu devoured his woman, as he himself was enraptured by the flames of their sweet lovemaking. He drove into her, the sound of wet skin slapping against skin.

He had started to establish an impatient, violent rhythm, but she had no complaints. The pain was mixed with too much pleasure the shrine girl thought she would burst into flames of rapture. Her tight muscles seemed to relax with every thrust, and her lithe, sweat-glistening body arched up to meet him. "I love you, Sesshomaru," she said breathlessly, as the mix of the blood from her virginity and her own thick nectar sucked his cock into her wanting flesh, "I love you,"

He slid his length, in and out of her hot core, unable to hold his own moans of pleasure.

He lifted her other leg up, and she wrapped them around his waist. He bore down all his weight on her, crushing her generous breasts under his bare chest and the Inu started pumping, trying to reach deeper into her, pounding like a wild animal into his woman. He kissed the trail of her tears with his lips, as she tried to stifle her moans of ecstasy without avail. And he continued to slam against her, fucking his woman until all he could feel was her.

"Something's coming," she moaned, "Sesshomaru- something is," and she left all abandon. Her toes curled in orgasm, a wonderful explosion filling her being. She convulsed, her inner walls contracted, clenching his love-drunk, painfully hard member inside her.

And he bared his fangs and he clamped down on her neck, her blood dripping in great amounts on her creamy skin, as the world around him shattered. He released his seed inside her.

His love was too much for her womb to take in, because it oozed out of her slit, overflowing out of her sheath, dripping on her thighs to the floor.

His youki rushed into her veins, and her mana melted into his. And they laid still for long moments, listening to each other's breathing, basking in their aftermath of their untamed fucking.

He pulled out from her, the terrible emptiness immediately filling his soul. He braced his hands at her side and he pushed himself up, "Kagome," he whispered, his silver hair falling over his shoulders, isolating him and the woman he loved from the moonlit night.

The cries of the cicadas immediately filled the silence, and he searched her painfully blue eyes in shame of what he was about to ask of her,

"It's alright," she answered, already knowing what he needed. Kagome reached out, resting a hand on his warm cheek, "I am yours now,"

He took her wrist and kissed her hand, "Kagome," he hesitated,

He bent down and kissed her lips, trailing down to her jawline, to the crook of her neck,

And he lapped at her mark,

Their mating mark, the promise of his undying devotion to her,

A symbol of his vow that will go beyond death.

"I am yours now, " she continued, "And I am yours forever," she professed, "So do anything you want with me, Sesshomaru.

I want it too."

He wanted her to take a quick rest. He wanted to give her time to take in what had just happened between them tonight, but his member already throbbed painfully in anticipation. It had hardened again in arousal, the moment he pulled out and saw his woman laid down before him,

bound completely to him, body, mind, and soul.

"I'm sorry, Kagome." He said as he thrust his steel-hard cock back into her velvet folds, and he started moving again, building into that sweet, primal rhythm that would escalate him again into feverish heights.

Only to me. Completely mine.

"I love you, Sesshomaru," she sighed, and the couple, now mates, bound together as long as they lived, shared a deeper level of intimacy that they never knew existed. And as they pounded away into familiar delirious pleasure, she did not notice,

tears fell yet again from the Inu's beautiful golden eyes.

What I fear the most, my woman,

Is that if you find yourself satisfied, that if I fulfill what you crave for,

you will have no use for me anymore...

And you will leave me.

This terrible fear that you will suddenly disappear from my sight,

That I won't be able to feel your warmth….

Kami, what will happen to me then?

I will be left with nothing…

So stay by my side forever, Kagome.

Please, don't leave me.

Don't ever leave me.

If you do, that will be the day my soul will cease to exist.

"Kagome," he whispered in the dark of the well house, "Spread your legs."

He felt her thighs tremble when he braced his hands between them, and his hard, muscular tongue penetrated into her folds. Her knees buckled but his head between them kept it open, and he continued to swirl his tongue inside, tasting her sweet womanly nectar.

"Sessh- Sesshomaru," she whimpered, her unseeing eyes fixed on the ceiling, glazed in a trance.

"Keep your voice down," he pulled away slightly, "Kagome, keep still," his tongue darted in again, and she bit her tongue, trying to hold back her moans. She tried to concentrate on the drumming on the roof, as the heavy rain poured on the well house.

They had to be very careful, the council was in the manor.

The week had been over before they knew it, and this was Sesshomaru's last evening in the Higurashi Grounds.

She sighed when he pulled away he hovered over her, as a familiar hardness prodded her womanhood open.

She blushed, as she pushed him away gently, her hands on the open of his haori. "I… I wanted to make you feel good too,"

The Daiyoukai paused, taking in what she had just said. The previous night he had taught her how to pleasure his cock with her little mouth, and the memory of her tongue running from his base to the tip of his shaft, the sinful cavern sucking his wanton manhood made his cock ache more painfully than before. "I'm sorry, Shrine Girl." He apologized, his breath tickling her face. "I don't think I can wait,"

She nodded her head in understanding, and she braced her arms around his neck as she prepared to take him in. And he did, in a tormentingly slow penetration, as they allowed themselves to build that familiar euphoric rhythm only the two of them knew.

Ever since he took her completely, she would come knocking at his door every night… willingly, seeking for his warmth inside her. And he would quietly comply because he wanted it too. And the little moments they had in the night had spilled into the daytime.

He would steal touches whenever no one else was around, pet her heavily, sometimes the Inu would even initiate quick little fucks in the most unthinkable places. He could not keep his hands off her.

And there were the quiet moments when she would reach for his hand under the table whenever they would share a meal, when they would sit beside each other on the clearing and he would describe to her, as best as he could, what the sky looked like-

He loved those moments, too…

As equally as they were making love.

He did not notice, his tears fell yet again, unchecked, as he thrust into his woman.

Kagome, his Shrine Girl…

Oh how he loved her so.

As he built their rhythm up, Kagome wiped his tears away and softly smiled.

She had always kept mum about it, but she knew.

She knew he loved her dearly. His desperate cling, his tears whenever they made love… she knew his frustration.

For everything that he had shown, she wanted to let him know that she felt the same way. But to the girl's vexation, she felt as if he thought that his love for her was more than she to him.

And it would always cross her mind; why would he ever think that way?

She loved him, more than anything in this world, more than herself. And she made sure that he knew, she reminded him every time they were together.

But somehow he still thought he loved her more.

And so she would ask him so many times, even after he marked her, to hear those three words from his mouth: "I love you",

Not for reassurance. She was only asking him... because she knew he needed her chase.

His rhythm grew more impatient and rough, and her world shattered around her in a frenzied euphoria. He slumped over her satiated body and laid still, she knew he was listening to her heart.

"I love you, Sesshomaru," she said in the silence of the torrential night, her hands stroking his silver hair. She kissed the crown of his head softly, as she felt familiar wet drops streak again on her bare skin. "I love you."

They said their goodbyes at the Torii gates. He left her his umbrella, afraid that she would be soaked on her way back to the mansion. And she waved at him, knowing that he would be back pretty soon. Her smile was genuine, even giddy, at the thought of the next weekend to come.

Kagome ran up the stairs, smiling to herself. Her plan was to go straight to the Oratory Hall to offer a prayer to her great ancestor, Midoriko- the founder of Higurashi Shrine,

And to the Kamis, for hearing her prayers…

But a looming shadow greeted her cheerful form as she was on her way. "Papa," she smiled as she looked up,

Kagome's smile faltered. His aura was absolutely malicious, it licked on her skin like prickles of thorns, "Papa, what's-"

"Where were you the whole evening, Kagome?"

She stepped back, confused. Why was he so… hostile?

"I was with Sesshomaru-sama-"

Rough, uncaring hands grabbed her shoulders. Startled, the girl lost grip of her umbrella and it fell on the ground, exposing her to the rain, soaking her immediately to the bone. Her unseeing eyes were wide open in fear.

Her protective, sheltering father… seemed like a total stranger.

"Papa, what's happening-" her hackles stood and she felt her knees lose strength. He grabbed a significant amount of hair from her scalp and yanked her head sideways, and she whimpered in pain. Tears spilled out of her eyes in immense confusion,

And the moment the side of her neck was revealed, his malicious energy flared, engulfing Kagome in a suffocating strangle. She gasped for breath, and her eyes searched for some meaning to this horrible, confusing moment-

"You mated him." He finally said, and goosebumps rode on her skin, the prickly, thorny aura overwhelming her entire soul. "You mated a DEMON!" He screamed madly, and a surge of offensive aura flared on his hand as he reached out to her mating mark.

The girl did not know what happened next. The only thing she knew was that she reflexively shut her eyes tight in fear.

Another eruption of bright red, demonic aura flared the darkness of the rainy night.

Her father was thrown several feet away. Kagome touched her mating mark- the source of the red energy. It was protecting her, and she cried, utterly bewildered at her conflicting emotions.

"How can you do this?!" Her father stood, staring at his burned hands,

Kagome shook her head desperately and sobbed, and she ran to him, her selfless, gentle heart crushed at the scent of his tears.

"My Kagome… how can you do this to your own father," He lamented. As Kagome reached out to him he reached back-

Only to slap her, so forcefully the girl stumbled to the ground. "You whore!" He screamed, and he grabbed her hair again, yanking her up, "How dare you mix our purity with such vile, disgusting blood!" He shook her roughly, "What will the Kamis do?! They'll punish us… "

"Papa," Kagome cried out, "Papa you're hurting me,"

"Shut up!" He hit her again, unable to contain his rage. And the girl fell on all fours, paralyzed in fear, unable to think in befuddlement.

Soft footfalls came running to them, wrapping the shellshocked girl in a warm embrace. It was Anna, her mother, and the little child Souta.

The Higurashi patriarch ranted like a madman, "Our lifespan…" he rasped, "Our enduring lifespan… will they take it away?!" He was not talking to Kagome now, but more to himself, delirious in his paranoia, "My youth… I'll grow old immediately like a mere human,"

"Kyoshiro," Anna whispered, sobbing under the rain, "My sweet, loving Kyoshiro…what has happened to you,"

And his malice drew back, seeing his family hunched before him. With shaking hands, he reeled. He will not allow the enemy to destroy his perfect life.

He did not know if the Kamis approved of such a disgusting union. He did not know if they will take away his lifespan. But the high priest did not want to take the risk.

He will have to undo this mistake himself.

Whatever it would take.

The Shrine Girl woke up the next morning, on her bed with tear-stained pillows and aching bones. She laid still for long moments, wishing that everything that happened last night was a horrible nightmare.

She stood up and stalked to the door. When she opened it she paused-

Her little brother was curled up with his miniature baseball bat in his arms, sound asleep protectively by her door.

She covered her mouth to stifle her sobs so early in the morning. Her other hand unconsciously reached to her neck, stroking her mating mark, seeking comfort in this tumultuous, confusing time. "Sesshomaru," she whispered, "Where are you…"

She tried to control her sorrow as she carried her little brother, gently placing him on her bed as he continued his blissful sleep. And she quietly walked out of the room, into the hallways.

And a nagging feeling rose inside her heart. It was deathly, eerily quiet… and she felt a painful lump in her throat.

She navigated through the ancient hallways, her footfalls creaking the tatami in search for a soul. The mansion was empty.

She stepped outside, feeling the warmth of the sun comfort her chilled, goosebump-laden skin. Something was off in the air, she could not pinpoint. Not even the birds sang, no summer breeze rustling the Japanese Maple and Sakura. In her discomfit, she would utter a silent prayer every minute.

Something was really amiss.

And it was then when she reached the Kagura-den did she feel it: that overwhelming power. It hit her like a ton of bricks, like a detonation to her face: the aura was so familiar that her soul ached.

The Shrine Girl's heart immediately raced, as she found herself running towards the small building. And when she reached the entrance she halted.

She had to step back, and her tears spilled when she realized what was happening. She sank on the floor, unable to contain the storm of emotions inside her.

The room was filled with silver energy: Sesshomaru's whole family- the Inuyoukai clan.

More than forty of them were kneeling in humble prostration on the tatami, Touga and Sesshomaru leading them, also on their knees, before the clearly bewildered and shocked Kyoshiro and Anna.

In front of them was an open box with a decorative comb and hair sticks.

Sesshomaru, backed by his entire clan,

was formally asking for her hand in marriage.