AN. : Hy. I have finally found the time to write and upload the next chapter. Hope you like it

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha not do I own the characters.

When she woke up next morning she felt more tired than the previous night. She could barely stand up, and that not without getting dizzy. She could not walk, not talk. But she would try. She was not a person to give up that easily. So, leaning her entire weight on the tree she was currently sitting under, she tried to stand. Not without great effort, she managed it. Little she knew Sesshoumaru was watching her every move.

'Miko, what is the matter?'

'I can barely stand. I feel drained of all my energy.' With this being said, Kagome lost her balance and fell to the ground. But before she could touch it, Sesshoumaru caught her.

'Pup, climb on my shoulder.' he told Shippou. The kitsune was still afraid of the demon lord, but seeing his oka in such a state he didn't question him, so he hopped on the Taiyoukai's shoulder. Sesshoumaru then picked Kagome up bridal style and summoned his demonic cloud. He was set upon getting to his companions as fast as he could. He wanted to get the miko to his castle and to a healer as soon as possible.

'What could have brought her in this state over night? Are you worried? I mean she is very powerful and beautiful, but as you said so many times, she is only a ningen. Is the great Taiyoukai of the West worried for a human female? She is part of our pack now. I am worried for my pack. Do you think it has something to do with the bond? This Sesshoumaru will find out. And there must be some books in the castle to tell us about this sort of bond.'

While Sesshoumaru was deep in thought, Kagome fell into a deep sleep, curled up at the demon's chest. Her miko powers were flaring around her, trying to regain her body energy and renew it. Sesshoumaru was protected against her purifying energy thanks to their bond, but Shippou was not, so in order for the pup not to be purified, the demon lord had to put a barrier around him.

'Kagome, little one, you have to rein your fear.'

'Who is there? Who are you?'

'I am Midoriko.'

'How can this happen? Where am I? Am I in the Shikon no Tama?'

'No, little one. You are merely sleeping so I took this opportunity to appear in front of you. Child, you have nothing to fear about. If you do not rein your fear, you will end up in purifying Shippou.'

'No. I can't do that. What is happening with me? I feel so exhausted. I cannot even stand or walk.'

'I cannot tell you too much, for it is your fate. I can only tell you this: you house a great amount of power within you. Lord Sesshoumaru also is very powerful, so the bond between you naturally is very powerful. Your body suffers changes to be able to house such great an amount of power and the bond between you.'

'What is this bond? Can you tell me about it?'

'There are three types of bonds. One of them is the blood bond, the other is the bond that occurs while mating and the third one is the bond you and the demon lord share. Through a blood bond, the two persons increase their powers and use them in ways they never knew was possible. Yes, they grow more powerful than before, but this bond is made only when full trust occurs between its shares. The mating bond allows the two mates to feel some of the other's feelings. It is like a spiritual bond, the two mates' feelings calling for each other. Since the moment a male and a female mate and they mark each other, they have the power to read the other's state of emotion. They will never be alone after such a bond occurs. While these two bonds are quite frequent, the third one is very rare. In fact, yours is the first one in centuries. It is so rare because it is the most powerful one. It needs total trust between the two parts, as the blood one, but it also requires for them to wield great amount of powers. But this bond gives each of the parts one of their greatest powers. That means that each part will have some of the powers the other has. It is like a switch of powers, only that you do not lose yours in favor for the other's. You can imagine why this bond occurs so rarely. There are few demons or humans with such amount of energy and power and they do not usually trust each other.'

'You mean that Sesshoumaru and I will always share this bond? Until the day I die?'

'Yes child. You have a destiny to complete. The Kamis have betrothed you a great fate. You have nothing to worry about, little one.'

'So now what happens to me? What will I change into? You said my body changes to be able to house the power within me and the one the bond gives me. And how come Sesshoumaru does not need to change?'

'I cannot tell you what changes will occur to you. Your body will keep changing until it would be sure the power will not tear you apart. In fact I am quite amazed you have managed to keep it under control until now and not change. As for Lord Sesshoumaru … he is a very powerful demon, child, his body is the perfect shelter for such power.'

'Midoriko … I wanted to ask you one question. What will happen with the Shikon no Tama?'

'You will remain its guardian. Only when someone will ask a selfless wish from it, my soul will find its peace and the jewel will be completely purified and disappear. Now child, I must go. Do not be afraid of the changes. And remember, the Kamis are with you.'

With that, Kagome woke up from her deep sleep and opened her eyes. She found herself in the arms of the Taiyoukai, flying towards their destination. When realization set in her mind, she blushed the deepest shade of red. She was embarrassed to be in his arms, carried bridal style by the great Lord of the Western Lands.

'Miko, you are awake.' Sesshoumaru said.

'I am. And I now know what happens with me. And what our bound means. Would you care to know also?' she said in a tired voice. She was fighting her fatigue to answer him.

'Hn. How could you know more than this Sesshoumaru about it?' He could not tell her how eager he was to find out. He knew from her scent she was not lying.

'I have been visited in my sleep by Midoriko, the priestess that sealed herself in the jewel I wear now around my neck, with a hoard of demons in order to save the world. She has told me everything she could reveal about the bond.'

Sesshoumaru did not say anything. But he was listening intently.

'She said that our bond is the rarest one. You know about the blood bonds and the mating bonds, I am sure. She also told why the bond we share is so rare. Apparently, it only occurs between beings very powerful and trustful with each other. She added that we also share some of the other's powers, just as you suggested. I have your claws and poison and you have my purifying powers. What happens with me is a consequence of this. Apparently, my body is not strong enough to house the amount of power I have and the power that surges from our bond, so I will suffer changes. I do not know to what extent, because Midoriko didn't tell me. She only told me I will change.'

'You said that the two parts have to be trustful with each other?'

'Yes. Odd, isn't it? I do not know what she meant with that, since you tried so many times to kill me. But maybe we do trust each other to such an extent, our bond to occur.'

After a few moments of silence, Kagome asked:

'Sesshoumaru, where is Shippou? And where are we going?'

'You pup is with Rin on Ah-Un. Jaken is with them. We are heading to my castle. They left ahead of us. I had to be extra careful with you in my arms, so I would not injure you further more.' At that moment, he turned his gaze towards her, locking his golden hues with her black ones.

'I feel like I could drown in his eyes. So beautiful and at the same time so cold. He was raised to be emotionless so he could become a powerful lord. But he cannot live like that. How could he find a mate if he is so cold? How could he produce an heir for his lands if he shows no emotion? Now you are worried about his lands' welfare and him having an heir? I-I-I-'

'Miko, we have arrived.' Sesshoumaru said, breaking their gaze. 'She is blushing again. I wonder what makes her feel embarrassed about this Sesshoumaru. Maybe she falls for us? It would be wonderful. How come you worry about her? Are you also falling for this female? This Sesshoumaru will never feel anything for a ningen girl.'

Turning towards their target, Kagome gasped in surprise. Never had she thought Sesshoumaru's castle to be so beautiful. It was situated on the brim of a rock, two of the walls being surrounded by nothing but abyss. It was two stores high, but it widened in length twice as much as any castle she had seen.

The fence was made of thick tree trunks, twice the stature of a human in height. The gate was huge, made of hard, rough wood. But the beauty of the entire place came exactly from that: the wildness of the nature and the tameness of the building itself.

Walking inside of the enforcement, Kagome's eyes widened in disbelief. The castle had gorgeous gardens, situated in the western part, and right next to them, a koi pond. Further to the south she could see a huge building, as high as the castle only that this one had only one level. She guessed it was the dojo.

'Beautiful.' was all she could muster at the sight in front of her.

Sesshoumaru was glad she liked his establishment and could not stop the pride appear in his eyes. 'She likes our humble home. She is speechless. She should wait and see the interior. I can't wait to see her reaction when we take her inside. Indeed. I must say I am curious as to how she will react when she will see the room she will reside in. And what room would that be? The one right next to ours. You mean the one that should be our mate's room? I thought you said you don't want to have anything to do with this ningen. I gave a second thought. She is very powerful and as the Kamis have given me an ultimatum, I have to figure out something to get out of this. This Sesshoumaru does not want to be reduced to a mere human. So you have come to a decision? You will try and make her fall in love with us? This Sesshoumaru has chosen. As you pointed out she would be a good mate for the time being. What do you mean with that? She is a human. So she will die eventually. I can take another mate and have an heir with a demoness, so it will be a youkai and not a hanyou. But remember that you have to fall in love for the girl too. That is why the Kamis have given us the choice. We have to fall in love and have feelings. You cannot lie the Kamis. I do not intend to. This Sesshoumaru has honor. And where is your honor in doing that to the girl? If you make her your mate you have to love her. In doing what you have planed you lose your honor. Hn.' With these thoughts in his mind, the Taiyoukai made his way through the gardens towards the entrance of the castle.

Giving her no time to further admire the surroundings, he entered the castle, Kagome still in his arms. At seeing his servants greeting him and bowing, he gave them orders to prepare the room next to his for his guest and dismissed them. The girl was by now beat red, cuddled at the demon's chest, head buried in his undershirt. She knew how she appeared in front of the servants: in their master's arms, dressed in nothing more that his haori. At this last though, her embarrassment increased and her scent changed dramatically.

'Why are you embarrassed, miko?'

'Umm … Sesshoumaru … I-I-I-

'Speak up girl. Why are you embarrassed of this Sesshoumaru?'

'Well because of the situation I am in. I mean look at me. I am in hour arms, dressed in nothing more that your haori. What would you think if you had seen this exact scene before your eyes?' she said in a whisper, muffled by his undergarment.

'I see now. You have nothing to be embarrassed of, girl. They are only servants. If you would be able to walk by yourself I would have put you down, but since you are in the state you are, I have to carry you.'

That being said, he walked towards the western wing, to his and soon to be Kagome's quarters. Upon entering her new room, Sesshoumaru saw the glint of excitement in her eyes. The room was huge, the ceiling that high that a transformed Inu youkai had plenty of room. The walls were a deep blue with a pattern of white Inu youkai in their true forms. The drawings were so exquisite that Kagome squealed in delight, forgetting about the demon's sensible sense of hearing. Sesshoumaru walked to the bed and laid her down.

'I have instructed the servants to bring your dinner in the room, given your weakened state. I suggest you rest today and tonight and give a try of leaving your confine tomorrow. I will send you a personal servant to help you with your needs.' Saying this, the demon left the room.

'Thank you.' whispered Kagome to the empty room in front of her.

Being alone, she took the advantage of studying the chamber. The bed she was occupying was huge, three times bigger than a normal two sized one from her era. It occupied three quarters of the wall next to the door. On the right side of the bed she had a little night table, with a few drawers. The wall across the bed was entirely glass. Big windows from the ceiling to the floor stood proudly, giving her an amazing view over a particularly secluded part of the gardens. A door also made of glass gave her access on the balcony. On the wall on the left to her bed was a huge fireplace with two comfortable looking chairs in front of and a thick fur on the floor. On the last wall she could see a door and next to the door an enormous wardrobe, a smaller cupboard with a mirror and personal items.

She was so excited about the room she was in, that she was restless. She would have went to the wardrobe to look inside and to check what was with the second door if she could have walked, but the fatigue in her body pinned her down. So she laid once more and fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

Before getting to his office, Sesshoumaru called for a youkai female servant.

'Liu, I have a guest. When dinner time comes, I want you to take her food in her room, the one right next to mine. Also, from now on, you will tend to her every need, I trust you to be the lady's personal maiden. Do not disappoint me.'

'Hai, my Lord.' Liu said and retreated to her chores.

Once in his office, Sesshoumaru sat down in the large chair and started working. He had lots of paperwork to see to and official letters to read and answer. It seemed that the other lords were gathering for the winter ceremonies and were asking him to attend. He always hated these gatherings because all the present female youkai tried to become his mate. 'Take Kagome with you as your intended. It will be a great occasion to tell the other lords of my decision of mating. But they will consider I am weak. They will think I am like my father. Our father was a great youkai. You should not disrespect him. He has chosen his fate long before we were born. And how do you know that? And what fate was it? To die for a human mate and a hanyou? That was despicable from his behalf. As I told you, everyone has a fate. Do you not remember the tales he told us when we were a mere pup? You will understand soon enough what those stories symbolized. Humph.'

Sesshoumaru was brutally brought back to reality by the flare of the miko's aura. It was alarmingly high and he could sense the once dormant powers within her now brimming and escaping from her control. In a word, the powers reigned in Kagome's room, she no longer being able to control them.

Upon approaching her room, he could see Liu with a tray of food in her hands, backing away from the girl's door, frightened of her powers.

'My L-L-Lord' she stuttered, not being able to say anything.

'Leave, Liu. I will take care of this myself.' With that being said, Sesshoumaru grabbed a hold of the doorknob, opened the door and slipped inside.

AN. : I must admit I am not very pleased with this chapter, but I don't think I can work it better, so here it is.

Thank you all for reading and reviewing this story.

Ja ne.