He hated the smell of opium, but he appreciated the acrid burn each time he inhaled.

He needed to clear his mind, to calm the rage that still swam through his head, flashing ever hotter each time he thought of another man laying hands on Kagura.

Sesshoumaru had gone looking for her, when he had realized she'd disappeared. He had been prepared, had been ready to forego his pride, to ask her to stay, beg her if he had to. It might have been the alcohol, the infectious mood, but he had steeled himself to the possibility, and instead had picked up the scent of another man in her room.

The rage had overcome him, and he had… threatened to violate her. And that was not… was not right.

He took another puff and rubbed the bridge of his nose with two fingers, being careful with his claws. He'd only just managed to get those under control.

A gust of wind rattled the shoji screens.

At this point, the anger was no longer solely directed at the woman, or the man, but at himself. At what he was becoming. How quickly he had lost his temper. It was pitiful and immature, but he had still done it. No changing that fact, no taking it back, no apologies. Just his own shame.

It was foolish and wasn't suited to him. Shame. But he kept remembering the terror in her eyes, the smell of it. He hated it. Hated that he had been the one to cause it. That his foolish, selfish, immature, pitiful pride had gone to straight to his head. Regardless of the circumstance, regardless of whatever instinct had driven him to it, he should never have. He had no claim, no right to her, no reason behind his own want. She was not his, and even if she was, there was no excuse.

And it hurt. Pinpricks in his chest stung like nothing he'd ever felt. Foolish and stupid, stupid, stupid. He kept berating himself in his mind, but that changed nothing. What would she even think of him now? She would run, of that he was certain. Far from this place and him. And he would not stop her, what right did he have? Even if she was the woman he wanted, needed. The woman he…

That brought him up short. That changed things.

Once again, the screens shook and oh, right, it was just the wind.

Sesshoumaru took in one last puff and stood, letting the smoke out slowly through his nostrils. She must have registered the movement, as just as he made to approach the door several wind blades had slashed the screens to nothing.

With no moon to illuminate her, Kagura was a dark silhouette standing in the small clearing before the deck, her robes still loosened from where he had grabbed her. Her hair whipped around her face and shoulders, free of its usual bindings.

"You son of a bitch!" her shriek quickly became a painful yowl that threatened to split his skull. Kagura merged with the air as she lunged at him, the wind kicking up the debris scattered across his floor and the trees outside shaking with such intensity Sesshoumaru vaguely wondered if they would snap from the force.

He could feel the small nicks being cut into his skin, the blood bubbling up to the surface, the bruises forming underneath his silks where the wind bludgeoned him, chunks of wood and paper came flying at his face, tangling themselves in his hair and fur.

He allowed it.

On the one hand, it was because he felt no need to fight her, when wounds such as those healed quickly and he could easily stop her. It was beneath him to engage in petty battles. On the other…

"How dare you!" her voice was tangible now, a real voice, one spat from crimson lips. Kagura's toes balanced on the edge of the deck, keeping her as far from him as she could. Her body was tensed, ready to spring away if needed. But she didn't, she merely huffed and watched him, her eyes a flaming red.

"You're a bastard." She growled. Sesshoumaru marveled at that, how she could sound so beastly while still maintaining a human form. He remained still, keeping to the shadows near the back wall, watching her and waiting for the next assault.

"How dare you, how fucking dare you." She was seething, her shoulders rising and fall sharply with each breath she took. "Who do you think I am? One of the many bitches lusting after you constantly? Wanting your affections? Do you think that just because I live under your house I owe you something? I owe you nothing, Sesshoumaru!"

True, he shouldn't expect anything from her, but he-

"Yeah, we fuck, and what? And what? Did you think that it meant something?" that was low, if only she knew, she wouldn't- "it means nothing, Sesshoumaru! I will not let you act as if you own me, I am not apart of this kingdom, I am not one of your vassals or servants. You have no right to treat me as such! I will not go back to that, I will be not be some commonplace bitch, nor will I be your whore, Sesshoumaru!" she took a heavy breath, and was that, the smell of salt… "I hate you, you know that? I hate you so much. And it's your fault, it's your fucking fault…"

"Kagura, I-"

"Don't, Sesshoumaru, don't." she sneered, her nose crinkled with disgust. It was an odd expression given the state of her clothes and hair, which still danced around her face. "I will not be a toy, a plaything, I will not be apart of this house if it means that I am nothing more than a slave again. I am done, Sesshoumaru, I will not let you, and the likes of Naraku, be-"

With a shattering thud, Kagura was thrown against the wall, the wood against her back threatening to splinter and crack with the force, and Sesshoumaru's claws around her throat. He did not squeeze, and her feet remained on the floor, but the intent was clear on his now bloodshot eyes.

"Do not compare me to that scum." He growled through elongated fangs. "He was nothing in comparison." And there he was again, acting out. But how could she compare them? He had crossed a line, and was doing so again, but he couldn't stop. It was always a struggle with this woman, it was getting intolerable. If only he could just end it.

A smirk spread across Kagura's face as she tilted her head back. "At least you seem willing to make good on your threats." She snorted, staring down her nose at him.

His hand retracted without a second thought and he stepped away from her, taking a shuddering breath as his eyes returned to their normal color. He averted his gaze. Had she been trying to get a rise out of him? Well, she had succeeded.

Kagura rubbed at her throat as she glared up at him, watching his expression change from demonic anger to pained, his brows furrowed and aimed at the floor. She sighed and turned away from him, going to stand just on the edge of the deck, her toes curling around the wood as she stared up at the sky. Her fists clenched and unclenched as she took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

"I know that it bothers you." She dropped her chin, her lids squeezed together. "He's dead. Been dead over three years. But he'll never be gone." She let out a sharp breath, talking more to herself. "It'll never change, no matter what you do or hope or whatever, it won't."

Sesshoumaru brought up his eyes to settle on her back. He said nothing, because what was there to say? To tell her that she was wrong, that he hadn't intended to lay claim on her, when really he wanted nothing more. That the shadow would fade, when it was clear upon her back. He couldn't lie to her, it wouldn't change anything or make it better. So he said nothing, and just watched her strands of ebony hair dance in the soft breeze on her shoulders.

A gust kicked up the debris in the yard, and the trees began to tremble with the force of it. Kagura tensed and Sesshoumaru's breath caught in his throat.

"You leaving?"

The wind quieted and her head shot up, but she did not turn to him. "Is that supposed to be a joke?" because he'd asked her that before, and at that time…

Sesshoumaru said nothing.

"Do you want me to?"

No. No, a thousand times no. But the word wouldn't come.

Silence again, and this time it was deafening and seemed to stretch on and on. He almost swore he could hear the earth itself turning in those moments, so quiet they were, as they stood still as stone.

"I love you."

Quiet.

He reached for her, taking hold of her wrist and turning her to face him. The look on her face was obviously not pleased, but she gave no resistance. Kagura lowered her eyes to the floor as he closed the distance between them, chest to chest, Sesshoumaru leaned forward til his chin rested on her crown, he inhaled and took her in.

"You're such a bastard."

"I know. I'm sorry." he breathed into her hair. "I am, Kagura, I am sorry."

"Yeah, you're still a bastard, though."

Sesshoumaru smirked into her fringe, moving his lips to her forehead, he closed his eyes. This next part would be difficult… He would be honest with her, if only her. He would bare himself, because it was different now. Things had changed.

"Stay."

"Se-" she tried to take a step back, but the hand around her wrist remained firm. Instead, Kagura had to crane her neck to look him in the eye. "Sesshoumaru, you know I can't, not like-"

"I am not asking you to stay as some concubine, Kagura." He pulled her close again, unable to keep her gaze as he continued, he rested his chin on her head again. His voice was low, the words struggling to leave his throat. "You are better than such, and I was a fool for acting as if you were. For that, I am sorry. I want to be honest with you." He sighed. "I am not suggesting that you chain yourself to me and this place. What I propose is a bargain."

"A bargain?" Kagura snorted. "From what I remember, those usually don't work between you and I…"

"Shut up." His grip tightened. "Kagura, I am sorry. I will apologize, but that will not change or excuse my actions in the past. In the future I will do whatever you ask of me, I swear it, no matter the task."

"And? What of this bargain?"

"Let me see it."

"What?" this time he let her back away, Kagura stared up at him, her brows furrowed in confusion.

"Your mark."

"You've seen it." She crossed her arms across her chest.

"Years ago. I wish to see it now."

Kagura hesitated, wondering if she was still willing to disappear, and save herself from whatever he was playing at. But she'd never really been willing, not even when she'd first come here, so she conceded. She turned away from him and loosened her kimono, letting it slip off her shoulders and catch around her waist.

Yes, his memory of it held true. The discolored scar that covered her back, spine and shoulder blades and all. The spider clinging to the woman's body just as it's master had once done. But no more. That was no more.

Kagura tensed as Sesshoumaru brushed a finger across her deformed skin. Something twisted in her gut and she moved to pull the sleeves back up, but he stopped her.

"No, don't." he pulled the kimono down until it hung off her obi. Kagura crossed her arms and steadied herself as Sesshoumaru brushed her stray hair over her shoulder. There was a rustle, and then something warm touched the center of it, making its way up and down her spine. Was he, kissing her…?

"This is him." his breath ghosted over the burns, hot and heavy across her skin, "But, Kagura, it is you. You came from him, and I don't give a damn. You are Kagura." Two hands came up to grip her hips, she gasped and her hands shot up to cover the sound, the twisting in her stomach was painful now. Every touch of his lips upon her skin burned, til it felt as if her entire back was aflame. "And what I want is Kagura."

She spun around to face him, Sesshoumaru on his knees before her. His golden eyes were steady on her, his expression unchanging. He had his resolve. He would end this silly game.

"Kagura, my bargain… is for you to become mine, and I… yours."

She shook her head quickly. "And that means what, exactly?" she avoided his gaze. The words seemed, strange, coming from him. They were unsuited for his voice.

"Lover, partner, queen, wife, mate." He stood, the words tumbling out of his mouth. "mother of my children, the lady of these lands and kingdom. That is what I am asking, Kagura."

She laughed. He was laying down his pride for her and she laughed in his face! "If you do not want-"

"Of course I want, Sesshoumaru! You damn fool!" she rubbed her forehead with a hand, still averting her gaze. "Of course I do… But that's not an easy thing to-"

"Then make it easy."

The hand dropped, and Kagura gave him a sullen stare. "Sesshoumaru, I don't want to be some matron, or some bitch pumping out pups and constantly needing to be handled, I can't, I can't…"

"Do you think I would treat you as such?" it was insulting that she thought he would do such a thing.

"I don't know, Sesshoumaru! Fuck." Her fists clenched against her thighs. "I don't know, okay? You can't just ask me that and expect it to be so simple! I've seen what it means to be a lord's woman, and I want no part in that." She squeezed her eyes together before taking a shuddering breath. "But, I've thought about… you, and I… if I'm willing to give up everything…"

She shook her head, her eyes rose to meet his. A wistful smile spread across her face, her eyes remained vacant as she watched him, and she closed the distance between them again. Kagura reached for the lapels of his haori, she loosened them and slid the fabric off his shoulders, the mokomoko falling to the floor, til they were both bare-chested and mere inches from each other. Her hands rose to trail across his chest, fingers following his planes, til they came to rest just below his waist. The smile became a smirk, and a mischievous glint appeared in her eyes. She brought her lips to his collarbone, laying burning kisses in the crook of his neck. She pulled away just to breath the words across his flesh. "But then I remember, it's just you." And she raked her nails across his skin.

A growl rumbled in his chest as it registered, the sting of it, as she'd cut him quite deep, and the realization of what she'd just done. He grabbed her wrists and jerked her hands before his face, her fingers now wet with his blood. She'd done it with no warning, no hint, and he wondered if she had merely been mocking him the whole time.

Kagura watched him, unblinking as his eyes widened and the marks upon his cheeks went jagged. A shriek escaped her throat when he dug his claws into the tender flesh of her wrists. She tried to pull away, the wounds beginning to burn and the skin already turning pink with poison.

Sesshoumaru remained unmoved, his golden eyes were stern.

Kagura whimpered, watching trails of blood begin to trickle down her forearms, resembling the dark spots spreading across the fabric at Sesshoumaru's hips.

After several moments, the pressure around her arms began to lessen, until the claws were retracted completely. Kagura steadied her breath as Sesshoumaru brought one of her palms to his lips, trailing down until they found the wounds he had inflicted, crescent shaped holes that would grow to connect into a scar, a mark to match his own.

He lapped at the blood still flowing, the red stained his lips, and he smirked.

"You're an asshole."

"Yes, but now I am yours."

Kagura slipped her hands out of his grip, took a step back, and punched him in the jaw.

Still standing and unmoved, Sesshoumaru let out a chuckle as his woman lunged at him, her arms snaking around his neck and her legs around his waist. She kissed him, tasting the salt of her own blood on his lips. And she could feel it, his smile, as he gripped her hips and sank to the floor. Kagura broke the kiss, pulling away just slightly to watch his face, his golden eyes warm and glowing, his lids beginning to droop.

"I'm still angry with you."

He nodded and moved to her throat, tasting her. He smiled against her skin, and just held her. Had it always been that easy? He should have spoken up sooner, it would have saved him the trouble…

Kagura combed her fingers through his hair, a small smirk playing across her lips as she pulled bits of wood and dirt from the silvery strands. "Your hair is a mess." She chuckled.

"Mm." He didn't care. The only thing that mattered was her. It didn't matter that his room was a mess, debris covering every inch of the floor, he'd have someone fix it in the morning. It didn't matter that she was still angry, she had every right to be, they would fix that later, too. But she was his, she was there, in his arms, and she would stay. He let his hand rest in the center of her back, covering the spider, as his other hand worked to untie her already loose obi.

Kagura chuckled again, tightening her fist in his hair and pulling on it so that he would look at her. "You know that this means nothing, I'll still do as I please."

"I never said otherwise." He smirked and slid his hand to her neck, and pulled her down for a kiss. "But you're wrong," he whispered against her lips, "it means everything."

She gasped when he slipped a finger inside her, and tugged harder on his scalp, causing a growl to rumble from his chest. She laughed, arching her back into him. The sound of it filled him, warmth spreading from his chest, it didn't fade. And with every second it seemed to burn brighter and hotter as he took her in, slowly now, because he had all the time in the world.

And it was all for her, this woman, all the time he had would be for her. His woman, his wife, his mate. The only woman that he wanted. The only woman he needed.

The woman he loved.

…

So, um, hey guys…

I'm almost sorry I'm not sorry that I haven't updated in so long, but I do feel guilty, and hopefully you guys haven't forgotten about me. I was going to update in early January but then I found out that there was going to be a new Inuyasha chapter (it was actually really disappointing so I don't know why I thought anything important was going to happen.) Expect another update maybe sometime in late March.

Anyway, this chapter isn't exactly where I wanted it to be, but at the moment I'm not sure how to make it better, so I figured I might as well post it and edit it later if I want to. But, hope you guys enjoy.