Kagome awoke to the sounds of crackling fire and a comforting heat against her face. She slowly sat up, pushing the covers of her sleeping bag off her legs.

It was night. A comforting hush met her ears other than the gentle sounds of the flames dancing from the campfire. 'Was it all a dream?' She wondered as her eyes swept across the camp. Sango and Miroku were sleeping against Ki-la-la looking adorable. The monk was leaning against the fire neko, his staff laid within close reach to his side. His arms were wrapped protectively around the Slayer's waist as she laid back against his chest, fast asleep. She would probably hit him for it when she woke up, Kagome mused.

Kikyo laid on a pallet across the fire from her while Inuyasha was sitting up in a tree that overlooked them all, his head resting against his chest.
Her eyes moved over to the bright, fire-red head of Shippo and Rin's contrasting black hair, who were sleeping against the belly of Ah-Un with Jaken leaning against the dragon's massive neck. White caught her eye and her gaze suddenly froze on the sight of Sesshomaru across the fire, amber eyes fixed on her's, staring expectantly right at her.

"Good morning," she whispered softly in greeting, running a hand through her hair in a some what nervous fashion. She looked down in surprise as her fingers continued through her tresses longer than she was used to, confused at the newly acquired length, weight and texture. She had expected it to be a tangled mess but found the thick strands sliding obediently through her fingers like silk. It settled perfectly across her back, not a hair out of place and flowed in elegant, perfect waves. Her jaw dropped in amazement.

"Good evening," he corrected her smoothly, glancing up at the sky once for emphasis.

Kagome smiled up at the brilliant night sky, filled with twinkling stars. "I suppose so," she answered with a wry smile. Her smile disappeared when a serious thought occurred to her. "What happened?"

"That, miko, is a good question," he answered in vague amusement.

Kagome yawned and rubbed the sleep from her eyes haphazardly. "Whadduya mean?"

"I mean that this Sesshomaru has never seen anything like it and probably never will again," he declared seriously, his face deadpan.

"So...it wasn't a dream, then?"she asked dreamily, hope lining the edges of her voice.

Sesshomaru regarded her quizzically before coming to an understanding and nodded once. "It wasn't a dream."

She smiled then and sighed with relief, her eyes filling with joy. The sight made something clench inside Sesshomaru's chest and he felt his respect for this creature grow. Her expression seemed to show just how glad she was to know Naraku was vanquished, not because she was proud or boastful but because of the people she loved he had brought such misery to.

"Miko-"

"Kagome," she interjected, correcting him politely.

"Kagome," he tried the word on his lips for the first time, finding he liked the sound of it. She, too, seemed to shiver at the pronunciation. He dismissed the thought of why she would have such a reaction. "Do you feel any different?" he ventured carefully, taking measures to conceal his underlying interests.

Her eyebrows rose into her hairline at his sudden cooperation and the way he said her name. In all her years of knowing the stoic demon lord, she'd never heard him say so many words in one sitting. She dragged her bag over to her as she mulled over the question, freeing a bottle of water. "Do I feel any different? Well, kind of, but it's hard to explain. When the jewel merged with my body, it felt like something I was missing clicked back into place. Why do you ask?"

"You are a Fate," he offered simply but the weight and significance of his words lay heavy on the air.

Kagome choked on her water, nearly spitting it onto the ground. "Come again?"

"This Sesshomaru does not repeat himself."

"Sorry, just having a little trouble processing that last part," she managed. "You said I'm a Fate?"

A curt nod was her answer. She giggled. "I don't think so."

Sesshomaru lowered his eyes. "You doubt the word of this Sesshomaru?"

"No, I think you're mistaken," she corrected gently.

"I am not 'mistaken,'" he huffed, "You are a Fate."

Kagome laughed outright, much to his continued annoyance. "O...ok," she babbled, still giggling, " If I'm a Fate, I want Rin to be an Inu so you won't have to watch her die one day." She waved her hand dramatically over the child, grinning like an idiot at the chance to burst Sesshomaru's bubble. When would she get this opportunity again? "Poof!" she blurted for emphasis before breaking down into peals of shushed laughter.

But her giggles died with spikes of alarm replacing them as she watched the Western Lord's eyes widen in shock as he stared at his ward. Kagome followed his gaze and sucked in a breath of surprise to see a tiny head full of shock-white hair laying next to Shippo.

"I...I...I...What the hell?" she cried incredulously, forgetting to keep her voice down in a shriek of surprise.

The sound woke Rin with a jolt and she covered her pointed ears with her hands and immediately started crying, not used to her demonic hearing. Sesshomaru rose swiftly, kneeling at her side and gathering her against his torso. A soothing, deep rumble came from his chest and Rin pressed her ear against him, instinctively calmed by her Alpha's comfort as she slowly slipped back into sleep.

The sound had woken the rest of the tachi, however, who stared in surprise at Rin's changed state. A glare from Sesshomaru kept them quiet from voicing this astonishment, however, until she was once again fast asleep and laid next to the now-awake Shippo once again.

Sesshomaru then strode across the camp and surprised everyone even further by lowering himself to one knee and bowing before Kagome. "This Sesshomaru is in your debt, Kagome. "

"What? No! You could never be in my debt, Sesshomaru, that's ridiculous!" she hissed, trying to keep her voice low, despite the now full attention of the rest of the camp.

At that, the Western Lord looked up from his position. "You have done something that could not be done by anyone else save the Kami themselves and you have fulfilled a personal wish of this Sesshomaru. I am in your debt."

Inuyasha had woken hearing Kagome's shriek along with everyone else. He caught Rin's changed scent immediately and his brother bowing respectfully to Kagome before quickly put two and two together. "He won't relent, Kagome, it's Inu instinct. Just accept it and move on," he chimed in, interjecting when Kagome looked as if she might try arguing more.

"O-Ok," she relented meekly. "But I still think it's ridiculous. I honestly can't believe that even worked!"

Sesshomaru stood, looking down at her with respect. "You are very powerful, Kagome. With that power comes great responsibility. Your will is going to manifest itself, take care where your thoughts trespass from now on; should you wish harm on a person, that harm will come to pass. Likewise, as with Rin, should you wish good, it will also manifest itself."

"He's right," Kikyo agreed softly. "Fates are born every 500 years and they live forever. You can only become a Fate if your heart is pure and since I highly doubt you've ever wished harm on a person other than Naraku, I'd say the Kami chose well when they invested their power with in you," she smiled encouragingly, offering a wink. "Midoriko was a miko before she became a Fate and created the jewel. The mark on your forehead is identical to her's, there is no mistaking your new status among us. She was the last Fate I have known to walk the Earth in more than 500 years."

Kagome dove nearly head first into the yellow backpack at her feet, freeing a small, round contraption that the group watched her open, revealing a mirror and a strange, soft pad. Kagome held the mirror up to inspect her forehead carefully, finding the six small, black lines that made a small star on the crest of her brow. It was not an overly significant change and she felt an immense relief that she was indeed, still herself.

She felt the same, but obviously that wasn't the case. She held power now, her very will held the power to change reality as they all knew it. It was a dangerous thing, something capable of disrupting the time line, altering the reality of the future. She had to be careful with her thoughts, true. But she was a Fate and her heart bled for the pain of her friends. Her judgment was what it really came down to and when she looked inside herself she found the answers waiting, having known them all along as well as she knew herself.

Kagome looked up at Kikyo and thought the words and smiled as she watched her gasp, her hands flying up to grasp her heart.

"Inuyasha!" she cried, turning her head sharply to meet his eyes.

"I know! I can hear it!" he answered, listening to the sweet music of her heartbeat. His hands squeezed her tightly to him as he buried his nose in her hair. He closed his eyes against her, opening them to the sight of silver white like his own. Sniffing the air, he realized her scent was changing, become more alive as her skin warmed with heated blood, the flesh of it beneath his hands softening at his touch. Just when he thought it was over, her human ears elongated into pointed elven ears like Sesshomaru's. Her fingernails sharpened, hardening into claws before their eyes, she grew fangs and when she opened her eyes, Inuyasha found a pair of amber like his own.

The air grew heavy as her new demonic aura manifested itself with her next breath. Her hair grew shock white and fell near the back of her knees. "I'm alive!" she exclaimed with an overjoyed smile, looking down at herself. "And Inuyasha! I'm a demon!" she cried, smiling brightly. Inuyasha crashed his lips to her's, happiness and shock radiating the entire camp.

Sesshomaru couldn't stop staring at the now two new demons of his own race. This morning, he and Inuyasha had been the last of the silver Inu clan. This evening, two females were returned to the pack and Sesshomaru could sense Kagome's intentions blazing forward, showing no signs yet of diminishing. He could feel the magic pulse in the air down to his very bones as she now fixed her attention to Inuyasha.

He was tightly locked in Kikyo's embrace when he felt a wave of power crash over him like no other. It was warm and comforting and he all but collapsed into the magic of Kagome's will, some subconscious part of him recognizing and trusting her intent. His aura manifested against Kikyo's, overpowering her's in a haze of red as his dog ears disappeared from the sides of his head. His elven ears were hidden by thick locks of silver white hair, two fleshy points peaking out from the mass of white. They were both now full blooded Inuyoukai.

Kagome glanced at Sango and Miroku next and though outwardly nothing happened, she knew only time would reveal her gift to them. Miroku's wind tunnel would be returned only when he needed to use it as a weapon. Tomorrow, they would find Kohaku alive and well and as their lives progressed, they would find a life of immortality before them.

In fact, everyone sitting around the fire was now immortal from just a glance, blink and a thought from Kagome. They deserved that life, in her opinion, after a life time of suffering and sacrifice trying to rid the world of the worst villain it has ever seen. She didn't know if there were rules regarding her new status, but she figured if the Kami had deemed her worthy, they probably would have foreseen her choices long before she made them.

She thought of Kaede and arranged to have the offer made for her to become an Inu like her sister and Inuyasha, to be given the time with Kikyo she had lost and to live as long as her heart desired.

Sesshomaru watched the new Fate, Kagome, as her eyes swept across the camp. He could feel the magic at work and knew the lives of those seated around the fire would be changed forever. The blessings she had given spoke loudly of her generous, kind nature and he had always held respect for her determination and courage in battle, as well as her loyal, positive personality.

He felt her power wash over him, caressing him with soft, warm tendrils of power. His brow furrowed as he was accosted with...feeling. Raw emotion at it basest form threatened to weaken his knees as he finally relented, allowing the power to take him over. Her will was felt in one solid pang of feeling that spoke of her intense desire to see him happy and at peace. She wanted him to live and to love, to take what he needed to appreciate life. All this, he gathered from the torrents of magic that overcame him before settling as their goal was reached.

His mind immediately began considering what would make him happy. In times past, he had considered the miko as something more than an ally but finally decided against courting a female that wouldn't live even a quarter of his own life time. It was going to be hard enough loosing Rin in sixty years or so, he reasoned. Were he to take a human as a mate, she would be dead long before that.

But now, she was immortal and there was nothing holding him back. He strode to her purposefully, his mind made up, ignoring the stares of everyone else on his person. "Kagome, this Sesshomaru would appreciate a word in private."

"Of course," she agreed easily, curious as to his motives. She followed him out of the clearing, wondering what he could want to say that he couldn't say in front of the others when she was suddenly picked up bridal style and flying through the air. Looking up, she found herself in Sesshomaru's arms as the scenery flew past them in a blur.

He slowed his speed suddenly and Kagome was able to make out the sea in front of them, stretching on and on under the moon's pale light. It was absolutely gorgeous, the dark waters churning under the stars, the waves cresting occasionally in white and the salty wind on her face. She sighed and leaned her chest against his with a grin, guessing where the conversation was about to go and surprised to find that the idea excited her. "So...what did you want to talk about?" she asked casually, belying her anticipation.

"This Sesshomaru seeks permission to court you. Will you allow me to mark you as my intended mate?" he inquired huskily, his arms holding her just a little tighter.

Kagome sucked in a breath, considering his offer. Inuyasha and her had been over for a long time and she saw both him and Kikyo as family. They were brethren with no need of blood ties, so deep was their connection and she found she could not harbor any heartache over her old feelings. Her heart was indeed ready to move on. Sesshomaru was honorable and she had always admired him for his strength and under lying sense of righteousness. He lived by a strict code of disciplined morals and ethics that she found refreshing and she had always adored the way he protected and took care of Rin. Most of all, she trusted him easily.

With a blush staining her cheeks and her heart beating furiously at the admission, she smiled a brilliant smile. "Yes, I would like that very much."

She was surprised to feel him breathe a sigh of relief before nuzzling her neck. She exhaled sharply as she felt his lips close against her skin, the warmth of his mouth and the movement of his tongue sending delightful shivers through her body. Sesshomaru craned his head back, opening his mouth as he felt his fangs elongate with the intent to mark his intended. They pierced her skin slowly as his tongue massaged the area, easing the pain. His saliva quickly closed her wounds, leaving behind a brilliant, blue crescent mark in their place.

Kagome thought it felt a lot like getting a shot as there was a slight stinging sensation before it was all over. His hand found her's and their fingers wove together as they sped across the ocean and back to camp.

As they were nearing the shore, a thought struck her and Kagome turned to Sesshomaru with a smile on her face, giggling. "So, if I'd said 'no', would you have just dropped me in the ocean?"

To her surprise, she was rewarded with a rare smile from the stoic lord. "Not unless I wished to be turned into some kind of foul creature or have some terrible misfortune befall me. It is unwise to anger a Fate, after all."

As Kagome turned forwards with a slight laugh and shrug, she felt his lips close around the shell of her ear and she shivered again, a pang of longing filling her senses and weakening her knees.

"I would have simply changed your mind," he declared confidently and Kagome's head swam and she realized she believed every word. She trembled as she turned to face him and their lips crashed against one another.