I'm strong on the surface, not all the way through

His home needed a lot of work, and the only reason anyone stayed was because of their undying love of his father and honor for his mother. They didn't like him, and they didn't truly respect him, but they showed respect because they feared him. They were willing to fix the place back up, to run it. Of course, Kagome told him he needed to offer them something in return.

"Is my house not enough?"

She eyed him "Of course it is but you know they can leave and find their own homes Sesshomaru."

She was right, so he offered them his protection which would have been a given anyway. Kagome had been pleased not that it mattered to him "I won't die for them Miko remove that look from your face."

She smiled "So since I technically live here does that mean you're going to protect me too?" Her tone was slightly teasing, and she had a smile on her face. "You need protection from your own shadow Miko thus it must be so."

Her smile faded, and she placed her hands on her hips "Next time remind me not to save you!"

He almost smirked at that, but suddenly he was hit when a headache which didn't make any sort of sense to him.

"You ok?"

Sesshomaru looked away and his vision blurred,

"Sesshomaru?" She walked up to him, and he looked down at her, she was so small next to him. "Perhaps I am not as healed as I thought."

"You need more blood don't you" She looked around and bit her lip "I don't think we can ask any of these people."

"They would give it."

She looked at him "Out of fear" She sighed "Come on" She grabbed his hand, and he looked down shocked that she had the audacity to touch him, but he followed to where she led him. It was once a library. They went in shut the door, and Kagome turned around "Ok" She stood there, and he looked at her "I didn't think you would want an audience."

He understood, and he wasn't entirely willing to bite into her again.

"What? You need blood plus I think one more good time and you will be back to you" She smiled. He was almost healed, he only had one cut that had been deep that wasn't all the way closed on his side.

He stepped closer to her and watched her as she swallowed. She was very good a pretending to be strong. He almost wanted to smirk again, her fear of this was funny. She didn't fear his deadly claws or his dark sword; she feared contact, gentle contact with him. But as amusing as it was he was strong, and her neck still had a mark on it from the last time. He brushed her hair back and ran his thumb over the wholes, he snorted.

"What?"

"This mark."

"What does it look bad?"

Yes and no. "I will place a mark very similar to this on my mate when I claim her."

Kagome blushed "What the difference?"

He looked into her eyes "What?"

"The difference, you said they would be similar."

He rubbed down her neck again "Her mark will never fade and will always smell like 'us,' it will be sealed with my power, my demonic aura."

Her heart quickened, and he looked down at the spot again "You are sore here" She winced as he pressed down,

"I have another side."

"Careful Miko, people may think I'm trying to eat you."

Kagome honestly did know if she should blush or not at that, so she giggled a little.

His vision blurred again, and she saw it "Sesshomaru" She moved her hair over and he moved his hand away, and she offered him her other side "Here, one more time won't kill me, maybe you but not me."

He knew she was trying to light his mood, but that was not working "No" He moved her neck back to the other side "If I do this" He touches the mark "It must be from here, I am not willing to scar you on both sides" Because there was no mistake, his fangs were going to leave scars. Their eyes met "Ok" She said softly "Thanks."

He wanted to roll his eyes "I am about to bite into you, thus deepening the scar and you are thanking me."

She blushed,

"You are a horrible Miko."

"So I have been told."

He moved in "It will hurt more this time."

She closed her eyes "Just do it and stop talking" She was losing her willpower. He leaned in "Are you afraid again."

"It's a heavy feeling, but I'm not afraid."

He placed a kiss on her neck "It is unnatural for you not to fear me."

"Maybe, a little," She said truthfully, him being so close and him being so large, she knew it would be nothing for him to kill her.

She forced herself not gasp when he licked her neck and without thinking she closed her legs together.

"I could kill you" He grabbed her chin and moved her neck more "I could drain you of your blood Miko."

"Now I am afraid" She wasn't lying, he was scaring her,

"Why do you pretend to be strong Miko."

"What?"

He inhaled her neck "You are strong on the surface" His fangs elongated "Do not be afraid; I offered you my protection even from me."

He sunk his fangs into her neck and her toes curled, and she opened her mouth to cry but nothing came out but a small gasp. He sucked hard, and her hand came up and grabbed his wrist "Ah" It did hurt, and her power started to come up "Sesshomaru" She tried to warn, but he simply overpowered her power and ignored her.

His hold on her lessened his lips grazed her neck, and she could not help but to moan. His fangs retracted and the only thing left was his lips on her skin, and he was holder her close, neither remembering him grabbed her.

He licked the blood, smelt her again and kissed her neck again wrapping his lips around the mark and she gasped again.

"Well ain't this a fucking site."

Sesshomaru felt Kagome freeze, and he cursed himself for not feeling him sooner. He moved away from her neck and looked back, but he did not let her go.

"Nice to see you to Inuyasha."

Kagome trembled, and he looked back at her. Kagome was very strong on the surface, but it was clear that she wasn't all the way though, but then she didn't need to be, that's what he was for.