Nothin' happens after two; it's true.

Sesshomaru opened his eyes and sat up. He felt like death. What the hell happened last night?

Then he smelt flesh, his own, and looked at his wrist; she burnt him? Then he smelt blood, her blood, which meant something had happened, but what? He looked around.

"Kagome?"

He stood slowly; blood was on his pants, the floor, and his hands.

Suddenly he felt sick; where was the Miko?

He walked out of the cave slowly; it held no barrier, and looked out. Thunder rolled in the background.

"You are finally awake."

Hoga stood against the cave wall, still shirtless and way too calm for Sesshomaru's liking; he knew something.

"It is well past noon,"

"Where is the Miko," Sesshomaru scanned the area,

"She ran away,"

So she was ok, good, she did run after all.

"After you bit her,"

Sesshomaru looked back at Hoga,

"You almost killed her, you know,"

"What happened,"

"You dont remember?" Hoga raised an eyebrow,

"I do not have time for your games,"

"She protected you; you protected her; it was all quiet romantic, till it wasn't,"

Sesshomaru growled,

"I made this mistake of challenging you. I do apologize; when you said you were her alpha, I did not realize you meant in that way,"

What the hell was he talking about?

Hoga pushed off the wall of the cave. "Do you plan to go after her?"

He probably should; after all, he did tell her he would not hurt her or lose control, and he did both of those things in a very short period of time.

Sesshomaru knew instantly that her blood had something to do with this. He would need to consult with his mother.

Hoga waved his hand in front of Sesshomaru, who grabbed it instantly,

"Forgive me; you seemed gone for a moment."

Sesshomaru released him. "I will return," He turned,

"Lord Sesshomaru,"

He paused,

"Though she may be powerful, she is still a human woman,"

What the hell did that mean? Plus, he was well aware of what she was.

He turned and followed her scent, which right now was a mix of tears and blood. How long had she been out here? Rain was on the way; they would need to return sooner than later, that is, if she was even willing to, he was almost afraid to see what he had done to her.

It was a lot of blood.

But he would have to give credit to Hoga; he did seem to have respect for the Miko.

Sesshomaru stopped when the wind blew, her scent filled his nose, and he knew she was right behind the large tree with its roots sprawling out.

"Miko," He spoke,

"Im here," Her voice was weak, tired. He slowly walked around the tree and found her sitting. Her hair was a mess, her clothes all messed up and not neat, but worse was her face.

She looked up at him with a tear-stained face. Her cheeks were red, and her lips looked a shade darker; it was almost like she had a fever.

"It hurt,"

"Why didn't you run,"

"I couldn't leave you; Suko would have had you,"

He went down on his heels. "I am not that weak,"

"You bit me!"

"Apparently, we both like to bite Miko,"

She looked away; any other day, she would have been excited for him to joke because it was something he simply didnt do. Today, however, was not one of those days.

"Apparently, your blood is my weakness, an unforeseen complication; you should have left,"

"I dont know why but something about her doesn't sit right with me but-"

She looked up at him. "She is a good match if I think about it from your point of view; she said im projecting my own wants into this; maybe she is right,"

He almost snorted; the fact was, he had no interest in Suko.

"He said it was she or I," She looked up at him and placed her hand on her neck.

Of course, she chose herself; that was Kagome for you. Did he really think she would do anything else? That's why his mother chose her, why he chose her.

"Show me where I bit you,"

"You dont remember?"

"No,"

She tucked her hair behind her ear, and his eyes grew wide as they landed on her.

"You do bite hard,"

He was wordless. Her neck was black and blue, and her veins were deep red and reaching out through her skin as his power flowed through her. He reached out to touch it. How the hell did she survive it? How the hell was she not dead?

It should have killed her. So much blood, he was rather shocked that she wasn't pale from it all. His knees hit the dirt as the ramifications of what he had done came flooding into his mind.

"Is it that bad?"

That bad?!

His eyes met hers. "Miko,"

"In my defense, I ran as soon as you let go," She was breathing heavier, he noted,

"Bad dog," She giggled before her eyes rolled; he caught her before she hit the ground.

She looked up. "I think im a little sick; I might not be able to help tonight,"

Help?

"Maybe I am just a bit jealous,"

What on earth was she talking about? She was losing her mind.

"Suko is ok, not perfect like me, of course," She joked, her eyes opening and closing; she would pass out soon.

"But maybe you could-" She closed her eyes, "Bite her next time," She passed out,

Next time? There was no next time! Did she not know? Was she not aware of what he had done to her?

He stood, holding onto her tightly.

He debated on where to go but chose to return to the cave; after all, his heat wasn't over; he still needed release.

Hoga was waiting when he returned with the Miko.

"She is quite unwell. Will you finish it tonight?"

"She is unaware of what is at hand,"

"you mean she doesn't know? She's a Miko!" Hogas eyes held shock. "Suko knew the instant your fangs pierced the girl's skin; she walked away defeated,"

"I do not care about her feelings,"

"Clearly, my Lord," Hoga moved closer, but Sesshomaru's growl stopped him. "If you do not deal with it soon, it will kill her, im surprised she's even alive after that, im not even sure my sister could have withstood such a strong claim,"

Claim, the problem with that was Kagome was not property; she wasn't some demon female he could claim, even if he had. He couldn't claim to lay claim on her, not without her agreeing to it, accepting it. Wanting it.

Yet the bond was set. When had his beast chosen her? When had he?

When he realized no one else could compare to her. When he realized she was the strongest, when he realized she would fight for him and beside him when he realized he liked it when she challenged Suko, protected him like he was hers.

Surely it wasn't one-sided? Their bond had to be sealed; she needed to accept his claim; of course, she didnt have to.

But if she rejected him now, his bite really could kill her, and the lack of bond could kill him.

He knew he was not giving her much choice, and he knew how she felt about choice, so he decided against his own nature that he would not tell her. Not tell her she could die,

Not tell her that she was his.

He would give her the choice, but the damn girl didnt even know she was part of the game; she would have to choose him, and in order for that to happen, he would have to set the pace.

He laid her down slowly and brushed her hair away from his mark, and suddenly he realized she was what he wanted. She could give him more than anyone else.

So he deiced he wanted his mate to fall in love with him if that's what it took, true and freely, by her choice alone. Because he knew her, she would die in order to do what she thought was right if she thought she was saving him from a life he at one time swore against.

He couldn't tell her that denying him would also end his life.

He ran his thumb across the mark on her neck; he would make her see that he was wrong, so very wrong, and then he could release his passion into her, and that was when he realized.

That he could love her if that's what she needed, and that was what she needed, wanted, and he would give her anything she wanted so long as she chose him, them, this.