Day One

Kagome smiled as she gathered the berries,humming a soft tune to herself. Her friends Sango and Miroku had gone on a trip to her family's village with Kohaku for pilgrimage, which meant Shippou and Kilala had joined them. Later tonight, she and Inuyasha were going to finally go through with their mateship. She stopped for a moment to wipe the sweat from her brow, the warm late spring promising a sweltering sun ahead. She stood back, rubbing at her sore back and her eyes searching for her intended. He was walking around the perimeter of the rice paddies lazily, his stride showing no hurry to get to her. Suddenly, he feet froze, his knees bent slightly, and his stance became defensive as he sniffed at the air. Eyes widened, he looked over at Kagome and screamed, "Oi, onna! RUN!"

Now, Inuyasha knew she could hold her own, but what was coming was far beyond his capability, nonetheless the miko's. The said miko currently ran, knowing what was coming surely seemed frightening, so much that the small sack of berries still in her hands as she frantically she ran as he commanded, her heart pounding. In the years she had never seen him get that terrified under any circumstance. But why wish her away? Was she not able to hold her own? What was wrong?

Inuyasha looked up at the three Grand Daiyoukai refusing to show his fear, but waiting until they spoke. As much as he wished to open his mouth, whatever it was, it had to be serious. If he was still standing, he had better not do anything, ANYTHING to change that.

"Half-Demon brother of Sesshoumaru, we have come to notify your kin's reign shall end shortly. At that time, you shall be named the successor of the Western Lands. Do you understand?"

Inuyasha was in shock, and simply nodded. "Then we have served our purpose here." Without further word, the three Daiyoukai leaders left. The calls of Kaede and Rin as they ran out of the village to join him were ignored. He simply stood in shock. His brother...would die?

"This seems stupid....Why do I always have to be a freaking damsel in distress? I can hold my own!"

She stopped, looking back and sensing the threat had already vanished. She looked around and scowled a bit at the realization that she was lost. Lost, lost, lost. Sighing, she pulled out a small compass Inuyasha had insisted she keep on her after her showing him how that article from her time worked. "Ok. The village is east of the forest." Aligning herself, she walked in the correct direction and chuckled. "There, Kagome, are you NOT one of those lame damsels you used to read in those fanfictions. You are a capable, smart woman! Huzzah!" She gave a small cheer with a giggle. Returning to the clearing before the village, she smiled with relief to see Inuyasha unharmed and ran forward. However, as he turned, she halted. Something was wrong.

"Inuyasha....what's" she said softly, her petal-shaped lips pressed together in nervousness. A sticky fluid seeped onto her hand, her mind not registering that her hands grasped the sack of berries so tightly, berries were punctured and their juices were now staining her hands a vibrant red. Her eyes scanned his face for a sign of the words to come. When they did, she wished they had not.

"I'm sorry. Kagome. I can't mate you right now. I have to do something. Wait a little longer, ok? I will be back." he said, his mind fractured from the impact of the visitor's words, and without even giving her cries and pleading a second thought, he turned from her and ran in the direction in the West.

Kagome stood there, uncaring to her spectators eyes as now the whole village had come out to see the fuss, as she tried to froce her knees to keep from giving way, trying to blink back the tears. 'I waited...why leave...why tell me to leave you to danger...what...is going on?' she thought. She ran from the village towards the forest, heading to the only spot of her refuge- the hot springs. There, she would cry it out, then pretend everything was ok, again. After all, she was Kagome! She would wait. And wait. Because this time, he meant he would be back, right? That he would be ready, right?

A nagging voice in the back of her mind told her it truly could not be helped, no matter her strong her doubts were. Being as upset as she was, she chose to ignore it. Sitting down in a flat warm stone by the spring, she looked down at her hands. 'Red as if stained with blood' she thought, thinking it strange. The trees about her rustled faintly, and she looked around. 'A Daiyoukai...' she quickly discerned, yet by the time she whipped her head around follow his aura, he was already there.

"B-" she started, then remembering the days' event that had... not occurred, she said softly, "Sesshoumaru-sama" as she bowed her head gently.

Sesshoumaru took a moment to eye her. 'Every day...until I cease to be' he had remembered, and he meant to abide by it. So took gave into his sweetest torture. He kept his eyes on her form, breathing in her scent from two meters they were apart, truly and unabashedly examining the colors of her aura. What he found, surprised him. In being overwhelmed with emotion during his visits, had he absolutely failed to notice that she was still unmarked?

"You do not call me onee-san?" The young woman sniffled. "No. Inuyasha said there was something he had to do. We were to be mated today, but he left."

His eyes widened, but as her head lifted up he quickly slipped on his impassive mask. Her eyes, shimmering with unshed tears looked back up at him, as if to plead for a reason to stop them from continuing their onslaught upon her cheeks. In that moment, they held each others gaze, Sesshoumaru held his breath as she looked at him.

Was this it? His chance? Did the fate, kami, whatever they were, grace him with this one opportunity? He looked down at her hands, seeing the red upon them, and watched as her gaze upon him broke as her eyes followed. Blushing sheepishly, she feebly started to explained and stuttered, before finally saying rather aruptly and pushing the small sack up awkwardly, "Uh...would....you like some berries? Oh...you don't eat them, do you?" she asked quizzically.

He stepped forward, an unreadable expression on his face as he neared. Coughing nervously, she looked over into the water behind her, not sure what to make of the situation. Still sitting on the flat boulder by the spring, she felt the rustle of his hakama as they brushed against her own. He stood tall above her, the front of his legs almost brushing against hers through the fabric. Reaching down, he took her hands and eyed them carefully. Looking to the water, he sat down beside her holding both hands in one as he spooned the water with his free hand. Running it over the palms of her hands, he rubbed at hers with his own, slowly removing the stain from the berries. Kagome's face was practically beat red from the sudden change in his demeanor. What on earth was he doing?

'What the hell am I doing!' He wondered, forcing himself to keep his frozen, emotionless mask upon his face, but inwardly relishing the brief warmth of her hands. Anger bubbled in his chest at the knowledge that all this time, he had stayed aside, and given up all thoughts of this female, only to discover she not not properly claimed yet! The hands now clean. he reluctantly let go, his eyes still on those hands. Now having felt their touch, the softness of them, he would only have to be satisfied with daily glances? No! This could not be...

Kagome was now growing perturbed at the recent action of his, her head tilted, a small pink tongue darted out nervously as she parted her lips to say meekly, "Thank...you. For your kindness....I mean. I hope there is something I can do to return it one day."

"Come live with me." Now, where the FUCK did that come from? His head darted up to see the miko staring at him in shock. Looking at her for a moment keeping an expression of calm, he haphazardly thought of reasons, explanations....anything that made sense. "There are many holy texts in my library. The villages nearby have an excellent miko. You could pursue a new length of training. If you are upset, perhaps some distance would offer some aid, and next time my foolish brother would redouble his efforts with you, miko."

She was upset. And she was at a plateau in her training. But go with Sesshoumaru? Wait a minute, was she considering this?

"Sesshoumaru...it's not just that. I want to mate. I want to have a family. I don't want to wait forever. What if there's nothing left of me by the time he decides he needs me?"

Sesshoumaru took in a sharp intake as he heard her words. Yes. He knew exactly, EXACTLY how she felt- and more then he could ever tell her. Looking up for a moment, he closed his eyes and threw caution to the wind.

"Stay with me for a longer period of time. If he realizes his desires, he will come for you, will he not? But if not...then this Sesshoumaru will mate you, if you wish."

She looked up in his eyes, frozen in shock, stammered and yelped out, "What?!"

"I meant it, Kagome. I have seen my five hundreth year as of the yester day. If you and I are amicable, and wish for the same things- then maybe at the end of the time we can consider it."

She wanted the training...and she realized he was making an offer that was beyond any comprehension at that moment on her frazzled mind. After all, it wasn't everyday you expected to get married then left behind! Seeing a lot of good in his training proposal, and then sighing, she nodded. "Ok...Sesshoumaru-sama", she said nervously. After all, how many times had she suffered to wait for Inuyasha, with no clue of his whereabouts? She could learn more to protect the village, and the family Inuyasha and her were to have. And if not, she could remain under Sesshoumaru's protection. She wasn't even going to think about his other idea now. She was distracted from her thoughts as she felt a gentle pressure against her lap as his hand scooped up a few berries from her sack. Shocked at him acception her invitation to the sweet snack, she was shell-shocked at what came next.

"Sesshoumaru. When we are alone, only call me Sesshoumaru." A soft smile graced his lips at hearing her accept. If he was a dead demon soon...what did a title matter? It would be nice to hear one call him so informally for a change- almost as if they were lovers, perhaps? He popped the berries into his mouth and chewed silently, feeling more relaxed then he could remember in a long time.

Kagome eyed him suspiciously- was the terrifying daiyoukai really sitting here, eating a simple little ningen snack such as berries with her? His actions were completely out of character for him! She could swear the dog demon was almost smiling. SMILING! He normally only smiled when...someone he didn't like was about to die. She tensed as a hand as thrust into her view.

"Kagome? May this Sesshoumaru have more?" he asked, beckoning to the small sack once more. She nodded numbly still feeling very weirded out by the situation, reaching in and drawing out a few to place in his hand. Her fingertips brushed against his warm hand as she set them down, then she quickly withdrew. "Here you go..." she watched him as he looked down at his hand. "Sesshoumaru." He started to eat them, looking at the forest ahead silently for a moment before speaking.

"Would you gather berries for me during your stay, Kagome?"

She nodded, not sure what brought this on. The demon had thoroughly perplexed her by his actions. They continued to eat in silence, one of them content and joyous, the other completely confused. 'This Sesshoumaru...enjoys her presence. It is soothing.'

"Sesshoumaru? How long do you supposed the training would last?" she inquired, and he stopped, one berry left in his hand. Not even thinking before answering, he was beginning to wonder if he had indeed, truly lost his mind already.

"Three hundred and sixty-five Days." Popping the last berry in his mouth, he quickly turned to pick her up in his arms, hearing her protest at the length of the time specified, which he ignored as he took to the skies. All that mattered to him was the fact that she was here, in his arms. She would be near for his last days. And perhaps in that time, he could find favor in her eyes for him. If he lost, he lost. He at least indulged...for a brief while.

They landed, and Kagome looked up at their surroundings and practically leapt OUT of his arms and scrambled to her feet. "W-where are we?" she asked nervously. She was in a warm, dark room. Teak and kiri accented the room, and a gentle, soothing incense was lit, a curl of smoke curling out of its holder and tickling at her nose. A large, plush futon with furs was in the corner, and a desk near a set of shoji that had been opened for their landing upon the balcony.

"Kagome, we are in my room.' He watched her as she looked around in surprise. It was not what she expected of him- his room, while tasteful, was more cozy then expanse. In fact, it reminded her a great deal of....a den. She kept looking around, her eyes taking in the warm earthen tones of the room.

His eyes never left her form as she looked, somehow feeling as if this felt...right. It seemed as if he just brought his bride home, and was awaiting her approval. Thankfully her back was turned as a look of horror swept over his face. No. He should not get his hopes up so soon. He would do all he could, but in the end, it was up to the miko. But a twinge of fear curled up his spine as he realized with a gut-wrenching clarity that he was already getting used to her scent as it was permeating his chambers, her lovely presence, her gentle voice...how long would it last?

A knock rescued him from the rest of his thoughts, a servant entering and bowing politely. "Kagome, this servant will show you to the bathing chambers. Your quarters will be next to mine- this Sesshoumaru himself will make sure no harm will come to you while you are under his training."

Kagome nodded, still feeling a bit in shock over the day's events. Maybe when she got to bath, she would feel better. The door closed behind her, the miko unaware of the Daiyoukai's eyes still following her as she left. Only after she returned from the bath and climbed into the futon in her room did he relax somewhat. His futon against the wall that, in her room, where she lay, he stayed awake listening for any signs of an ill rest. Finally, a few short hours before sunrise he fell into a slumber, only after erecting a barrier around his precious visitor.

In his slumber, a smile softly graced his lips as felt the soothing, comforting aura of his intended. If this was his luck on the first day...perhaps he had a chance, after all.