I do not own the rights to Inuyasha

Sesshomaru found himself in a state of near bliss. Had anyone told him two years earlier that he would find himself between the miko's legs and tending to her wounds, he would have ended their life in that moment. But as his contact with the young woman increased, so did his interest and eventually desire. She was not weak, unintelligent, or filthy as other humans were. Soon, he found himself actually looking forward to finding his half-brother's pack. He would never admit it, but eventually he began seeking them out — particularly if they were near his lands.

He had been on a walk with his young ward, the imp, and A-Un. He often indulged Rin in evening walks through some of the most beautiful fields in his lands. Once, she even braided flowers into A-Un's manes. It was during one of these walks he smelled the miko alone near his lands. It was odd enough for her to be alone, as normally the half-breed kept her within his sight. But what drew him to her so quickly was the smell of her blood and fear in the air. He had demanded Jaken to take Rin and A-Un back to the palace as he took to the sky — desperate to find the maiden he had begun to desire so much.

When he found her, he saw an Ogre of unusual size pressing her into the rock face. His vision flooded with red as he unleashed his power on the ugly demon. He had Kagome in his arms before the mutilated pieces of the Ogre's body hit the ground. He knew she would need rest and though he wanted to take her to his palace, he knew it would be best for her to have her say. She was not a weak-willed or soft-spoken woman and he had no desire to anger her.

He found himself tempted to heal her wounds on the spot, but managed to restrain himself. His inner beast growling at his self-control. "We must have her permission before bathing her wounds. It would not do for her to awaken and be startled," he thought to both himself and his beast. "To hell with her being startled. Take her. Here. Now. We need a strong mate and she can give us that," his beast snarled back at him. "She is untouched, and we will not take her honor from her. She must give it to us freely." His beast growled in protest against his last thoughts, but gave in. Deciding it would be best to not frighten their future mate.

Now that the young woman was allowing him to care for her wounds, Sesshomaru found himself fighting against his beast, yet again. It didn't help that her skin felt like silk and tasted of honey under his careful ministrations. He admitted to himself that perhaps he was spending an excessive amount of time on some of her cuts, but he could not bear to tear his mouth from her skin. Her compliance when he nudged her neck made him hum with pride and approval. "See? She wants us to take her. She has bared her neck to us. Take her!" "No. Now silence." His beast went and sulked in the corner of his mind, peeking out on occasion in jealousy as Sesshomaru remained in control lapping at the young woman's neck, and her side, and finally her firm yet soft legs.

As his tongue traveled higher up her legs, he could feel the warmth begin to radiate from her body. Breathing in the ambrosia of her arousal. He had to brace himself from the heady experience and suppress a deep growl. As his tongue darted out once more to lap at her body, he heard her let out a moan. He smirked against her inner thigh, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over her, only to be replaced almost instantly with another surge of arousal.

"Are you well, Ka-go-me?" The demon lord asked slyly from his spot between her legs — a spot he did not want to leave any time soon. He accented each syllable of her name with a leisurely lick up her leg. His hands venturing only a bit higher. He would not allow himself to completely give in to his desires at the moment. Although her scent drew him in, he knew that she did in fact need rest for her ribs to heal. "Once she's healed we will take her." "Hn. Yes, perhaps then we will."

Kagome flushed at his acknowledgement of her moan. But her embarrassment couldn't last. Her desire and the sensual movements of his tongue left no room for any emotion except lust.

"I...I'm fine," she managed to squeak out. Certainly she had desired the demon lord — by the Gods, who wouldn't? He was the very image of perfection. Not to mention, over the past year or so, she found him to be more and more pleasant of company as her troupe ran into his. "But that was always just coincidence. The situation almost forced him to be near me. But now, he could have just left me to die, but he chose to save me and now...oh Kami! Now his head is nestled between my legs!" The pain in the miko's ribs was momentarily forgotten as the demon lord worked his way up her leg a bit further.

When he was finished, he pulled himself away from her. The loss of contact was agonizing.

"Sesshomaru?"

The miko glanced at him through her eyelashes. Once again, brown met gold and the energy between the two hummed.

"Hn?"

"Thank you. For saving me and … " she took a breath, contemplating her next words, "and for not abandoning me."

Sesshomaru's eyes widened only slightly, but the shift in his expression did not escape the young woman.

"Why would I abandon you?" The Lord of the West asked, moving closer to Kagome.

"Well, it's just that sometimes I know I can be such a burden. I know you're not the type...well, or normally not the type, to take on extra burdens. And then, of course I'm human and you haven't necessarily seemed to be overly fond of humans in the past. Not to mention, Inuyasha always seems to abandon me — probably because I am a burden, but…"

"Stop." Sesshomaru snarled, cutting the miko off. "The hanyou is a fool. And though you are correct, that I do not often praise humanity, it is because so many humans are weak in mind, body, and will. You, however, are not weak in any way. And do not speak of yourself so lowly again. You are not a burden. Do you understand, Kagome?"

Her eyes widened in shock at the demon's outburst. Slowly nodding her head, she attempted to soak his words in. "He doesn't hate all humans? Well, I suppose I knew that. There is Rin after all… Wait! He thinks I'm strong? I'm lying here under his protection because I couldn't fight a stupid Ogre, but he thinks I'm smart and strong?"

"Kagome."

His voice pulled her out of her head and brought her attention to the beautiful demon beside her.

"Yes, Lord Sesshomaru?"

"Do you understand?"

She began to nod her head once again when one of his powerful and deadly hands suddenly cupped her chin up to him. He handled her so gently, like one would a precious piece of china or a newly formed butterfly. His face moved down slowly towards hers. Soon their eyes were once again locked, this time on a hair's breadth from one another. His body gracefully hovered over her own.

"I need you to tell me that you understand, Kagome. Not just nod."

Her heart was racing from how close she and the demon lord were — his gaze burning into her, his eyes molten pools of gold with flecks of copper. She could feel his breath against her skin.

"Yes," she whispered out as the Lord of the West gently closed the distance between them — his lips warm and soft against her own.