The challenges presented by his masters were no little feat to overcome, yet Sesshomaru paid them little mind as he outmaneuvered each of his former tutors with ease. Try as he might, Sesshomaru deeply desired a moment to himself where he could reflect upon what he had learned and hopefully find some way to help his pack mate. Thankfully, these were less battles of strength than they were of mind, allowing him a brief reprieve after the exhausting experience of having visions burned into his mind.

Of the exams his masters brought forth, he found the battle simulation to be the most intriguing. The kitsune had summoned illusions of various unfavorable situations he might face in battle and he had to maneuver his men skillfully if he wished to be victorious. There was never a question of his success, the quickness of his mind outmatching even the greatest of stratagems.

Knowing that little over an hour remained before dawn, Sesshomaru was confused when the group of his tutors left the arena. Looking to his father for explanation he nearly failed to dodge the arrow aimed for his right thigh.

Casually strolling into through the sand toward him was Kagome. Of course he should have suspected that she would be participating, being one of his teachers, though he never considered that Kagome would raise her sword against him in battle. Yet, there she stood as though their meeting today was the same as any other. Only the fearsome sword she twirled casually as she warmed up her muscles, the numerous daggers adorning her body, and the bow and quiver abandoned in the sand a few paces back belayed the friendly smile on her face.

Kagome was excited. The last time the two of them had spared was almost a century ago when he had announced, quite arrogantly too, that the training for her that he began in his puphood was complete. She hadn't even known that he was continuing that until he presented her with a sword saying that he now trusted her with "sharp objects." Nonetheless, Kagome had watched his matches over the past few days with growing anticipation for their own.

It was no secret that Kagome was a member of the Watchers clan and thus the gathered audience waited on the edge of their seats to see a display of two great swordsmen testing their blades against each other. Though Kagome was petit and almost childlike when compared with Sesshomaru's build, they had heard stories of her clansmen laying waste to entire armies. One watcher held the same strength as an entire battalion of seasoned warriors equipped with the finest equipment available. Sesshomaru knew this as well and, for the first time since the start of the tournament, drew his sword.

"I was wondering when you planned on using that." Kagome said gesturing to the gleaming sword with a nod of her head.

"There was not a need to." He returned evenly.

"How arrogant." Kagome muttered under her breath. Sesshomaru continued watching her closely; it would be remiss of him to give her anything but his full attention. Therefore, when her first strike fell, he was prepared.

The weight behind her blows never failed to surprise Sesshomaru but he repelled attack after attack; she was relentless. Sesshomaru had long since realized that fighting Kagome was much like trying to capture the wind, she seemed to dance in and out of his reach at her leisure while occasionally making passes at attacking him. There was no pattern or predictability to her movements making her impossible to read. He also recognized that he was being led by her, a casual lunge to his torso forcing him back or the a slash aimed at his shoulder causing him to turn, each time leaving him in an unfavorable position for her next advance. It was like the most elaborate game of chess where he was blindfolded and she was being told his moves ahead of time.

That's not to say he wasn't holding his own. Kagome's arms had long since gone numb under the pressure of his sword meeting her own. Sesshomaru was not one to hold back; even against a pack mate. Kagome could say with confidence that she had not had such an invigorating and challenging match since she had last spared with his father. Though he had not yet reached the same level of ability as the Taisho, he was well on his way to becoming one of the greatest swordsmen of his time. Each of his advances was done with a precision that spoke of great dedication to the art and his sharp eyes and quick intuition demonstrated his natural ability to read his opponent. The sword art style Kagome inherited had been tempered by the world's greatest masters over eons. That Sesshomaru had lasted this long was truly a testament to his strength.

Though Kagome was not putting forth her greatest effort, she was being forced to concentrate more with each passing minute of their fight. 'His ability to adapt and grow is truly remarkable.' She mussed silently even as she avoided what would have been a critical blow to her head. However, with the beginnings of color seeping into the horizon, she knew that the match would need to be concluded soon.

Sesshomaru was understandably exhausted. He had been fighting nonstop for nearly seven days and had had visions burned into his mind. Even with the reprise from fighting he had when taking the exams from his other masters he found his energy failing. He was hungry, worn out, and his mind was filled with unanswered questions. Yet, despite all this, he focused himself all the more. Perhaps it was because it was Kagome he was facing that he wanted to put forth his best effort. She was the last person he wanted to have think him weak. The only one who's opinion truly mattered.

When Kagome moved away to create space between them, he felt her demeanor change entirely. Her stance had dropped into a crouch with her sword drawn behind her, all signs of teasing and levity left her face and the air around them crackled with her suppressed power. The woman before him was not the spirited lighthearted Kagome he had grown up knowing, Sesshomaru felt as though he were staring into the eyes of an assassin; one who knew they were moments from making a kill and were confident in their success.

Kagome raised her sword arm.

It wasn't that she moved faster than Sesshomaru's eyes could follow or even that she employed her miko powers. Rather, it was a slight of hand in which Kagome utilized the blind spots in Sesshomaru's vision that allowed her to momentarily vanish from his sight. When faced with an opponent charging headlong towards oneself, it is only natural that the eye is drawn to the weapon one needs to defend against. Such basic common sense was what Kagome ultimately utilized to bring about the downfall of numerous opponents and tip the balance in her match against Sesshomaru. The slight angling of her figure allowed her sword, which she had held behind her, to leave his line of sight. Predictably, Sesshomaru had no reason to doubt that the sword had since changed locations. Thus when Kagome moved to strike with her right hand, Sesshomaru blocked nothing but blank space; Kagome having already transferred her sword to her left hand.

Though clever, this was not enough to defeat Sesshomaru and he quickly followed through with his block to make a great arc with his sword. Kagome, having faked her last attack was leaning heavily to her left and was able to slip under his arm to make a devastating cut across his calf. Using her momentum, Kagome quickly rolled into her next movement and leapt to wrap her legs around Sesshomaru's neck and flip him forcefully to the ground.

Recovering quickly, Sesshomaru tried to create a distance between them. However, his wound could not be so quickly forgotten. Kagome had been ruthless and destroyed the tendons which allowed that legs movement, preventing him from achieving the space he was attempting to place between them; that's not to mention the three daggers she had managed to impale him with while maneuvering him to the ground.

He was not one to be defeated so easily though and the arena was suddenly overwhelmed as his yokai bled out while he transformed into his true form. Despite being in the heat of battle, Sesshomaru couldn't help but smirk at the smile he had brought to Kagome's face; she always did like his furrier side.

Kagome had not wanted to drag the fight out this long and had hoped that her last attack would have immobilized him enough to corner him in checkmate. She should have taken into account the inu clan's damned stubbornness. She would simply have to use greater force.

The only reassurance that kept Sesshomaru from faltering when Kagome released her power was the knowledge that Kagome would never harm him. The clenching of his stomach and the raised hair on his back could not be avoided though, not with the rippling currents of energy flashing through his fur or the aura of leashed malice dripping from Kagome's form.

A small cloud of kicked up dirt was all that remained of where she last stood.

The purifying energy she had zapped him with when he misbehaved growing up were like static electricity shocks in comparison to the overwhelming subjugating force he fought against each time she came into contact with him.

Sesshomaru used every bit of added power he had from being in his true form to attack Kagome while holding back enough to prevent lethal harm. His foot was still injured though and his exhaustion from earlier was only slightly abated from being in his more spiritual body. He attacked with his claws and teeth, going so far as to even use his poison, and was met with dismal results.

Kagome's agility did not fail her in allowing her to successfully avoid any attacks. In addition to her usual speed though, Kagome seemed to be able to form platforms of solid energy she could jump between to move across large areas in the air. Launching herself high above him, she allowed gravity to take hold and she spun towards him wielding two flaming swords she had materialized from holy power.

Sesshomaru was able to avoid them, only just, but doing so had exposed his underbelly and neck, two vital areas to be protected at all times. Kagome pressed the advantage and quickly had her swords at both points. As the dust in the arena cleared, both sides panted heavily while looking into each other's brightened eyes.

Sesshomaru had not honestly though that he would win against her, she had a considerable amount of experience to draw from while he had little. Though he had held little expectation for himself, Kagome found herself impressed with how well he had done under the circumstances and even the stubborn relentlessness that drove him to continue even when the odds were clearly against him. In the end, there was little for either to be disappointed about.

As they continued to watch each other, Sesshomaru's father announced the completion of the event.

Smiling, Kagome allowed her swords to dissipate into mist while she reached down to help her student up.

"You were excellent, Sesshomaru."

For Sesshomaru who was completely worn out, her smiling face and kind words of praise reassured him that his efforts were not in vain; that she did, indeed, seen him as a worth protector and pack leader.

"Hn."

Kagome heard, even though no words were spoken, his gratitude and he allowed himself to be led back to the citadel by his most important person.

Cool hands brushed across his heated, over sensitized skin; tracing along his brow to fingering the bow of his lips almost reverently. The moment he felt the first touch, Sesshomaru's body tensed in apprehension until warm breath fanned out across his neck as the unknown person whispered calming nothings into his ear.

'Kagome.' He thought, recognizing the owner of the voice.

He opened his eyes to meet her own blue impassioned ones before she returned to her previous position. Her soft hands marred only by the callouses she had from practicing the sword moved from his mouth to his exposed chest even as her lips moved in the opposite direction, tracing the edge of his jaw and the contours of his face until the ultimately resting above his own. Sesshomaru didn't dare breath, in fear that at his slightest movement she would pull away. She didn't.

Soft pliable lips moved slowly across his own; teasing and endearing. Sesshomaru didn't hesitate to reciprocate but allowed her to remain in control. The hands massaging his chest moved lower to slide along the waistline of his hakamas stirring other reactions farther down. Kagome sucked on his lower lip before languidly moving her tongue across the seam of his lips in invitation.

Sesshomaru allowed her entrance and she continued her slow pace, savoring his flavor and the touch of his skin against her own. Unable to restrain himself any longer, Sesshomaru reached up to cup the back of her neck and deepen the kiss only to have his hand restrained by one of her own. He felt her smile against his lips before getting a nip in reprimand. Clearly Kagome wanted to be in charge.

Sesshomaru didn't mind this dominant behavior as long as she knew that he was her alpha and didn't undermine him when in public. Not that he had to worry about those things; Kagome was the perfect being in his eyes. To him, she could do no wrong. As long as she didn't stop touching him he was willing to go along with whatever she wanted.

Her mouth moved back to his ear only to pull lightly on the lobe and trace the edge with her tongue. Almost instantly Sesshomaru shivered in delight and his body was infused with heat. His breaths were coming out in shorter breaths; his heart continuing to beat at a rapid pace. Yet, it wasn't until she rested her teeth beneath his ear by his jaw, the exact location where mates would mark each other as only they could be trusted enough near such a vulnerable location, that he felt his world shift.

His whole body seemed to be in a state of suspension, curiously enough Sesshomaru found himself hoping, no longing, for her to sink her teeth into his flesh marking him as hers for the rest of eternity. A kiss, one so light he scarcely noticed despite his over sensitivity, was all he received before she withdrew completely away from him.

"Kagome!" Sesshomaru called out as he reached for her where her retreating form should have been only to grasp air. Confused, he looked around and saw through the window that the sun was slowly sinking in the distance, Kagome nowhere in sight and the place beside him cold.

He vaguely recalled falling asleep to Kagome's voice after returning to the citadel earlier that day. He had been too tired to question her about what the southern lord had shown him and figured that he would have the opportunity to do so later, allowing himself what should have only been a few hours of rest. Stretching his limbs, he found that his injuries, including those done by Kagome had healed sufficiently for him to move about unaided.

He decided to first find sustenance; not having eaten in days was causing his stomach to cramp. The polished wood floors were silent as he moved through the halls, servants making themselves scarce so to not disturb their young master. It was probably because of the silence that he was able to make out a pair of voices from one of the outer chambers; a guest's quarters. The household being full of guests, Sesshomaru would have moved on without giving the voices a second thought, that is, of course, had one of the voices not belonged to Kagome. Sesshomaru didn't even miss a step when changing direction the moment he heard her soft voice.

"-prised that you cared enough to see me." A voice practically spat from the other side of the closed screen.

"I never stopped caring for you," Kagome replied sadly, "I couldn't stay with you forever. I had to come here, there were no other options. You know very well how little choice I have in things."

"WHAT YOU DID HERE WAS YOUR CHOICE!" The voice Sesshomaru now recognized as belonging to Naga returned scathingly. "How could you risk yourself like that? How can you treat your life so carelessly?"

"I did the same for you, didn't I?" Kagome replied evenly, "I chose you too!"

"And that's why I hate you."

"… I see." Kagome said subdued, "Then I won't take up anymore of your time, thank you for speaking with me."

Sesshomaru practically flew down the corridor he moved so quickly, not desiring to be caught listening in on what was clearly a very private conversation. Sesshomaru didn't breathe until he heard the clack of the screen closing and Kagome's light pattering footsteps moving away from the room he had ducked into.

'So Kagome knows the northern heir personally enough to be in his room alone.' The moment the thought entered his head he dismissed it; he knew that Kagome worked with the different lords and had rather strained relationships with each. It was also unlikely that she had been intimately involved with the dragon seeing how Naga was only about six hundred years older than him. If he assumed correctly in believing that the 'coming here' Naga referred to was when Kagome joined them in the West, Naga would not have matured enough to have such desires when they were previously acquainted.

What most worried Sesshomaru was the implication that in coming to the West, Kagome had in some way endangered herself; a concern he obviously shared with the green dragon. 'They must have been close.' Sesshomaru mussed absently to himself as he tried to sort through the new information, 'Yet, she left him all the same.'

'She wouldn't abandon me.' He laughed to himself hesitantly, 'Would she?'

Slowly Sesshomaru sat as his greatest insecurity was ripped open. He had no formal claim to Kagome, he had tried that both as a pup and an adolescent. Her clan duties often took her from him and even now after they threw her away they are involving themselves in her life. Sesshomaru truly did not know what caused Kagome to move to the West, he had never had reason to question it before, and consequently he did not know what was keeping her here.

'She might leave me too.'

He allowed these thoughts to fester for a moment before dismissing them altogether. He was above such self-deprecating thoughts. By recognizing his fears, he overcame them and moved onto taking action against them. If Kagome thought to leave, he would stop her.

Sesshomaru was not a generous creature, what he perceives as his he hordes much like a dragon does its treasure. If it came down to it, he would lock himself and Kagome away where the world couldn't reach them; far from their responsibilities to their clans.

Kagome would be staying with him.

When Sesshomaru entered his room later, Kagome could sense that something had changed. His brow was furrowed and there was a determined light in his eyes that dared the world to challenge him. She was unsure what had brought this about nor could she decide if the change was positive. She did not have long to ponder though, for Sesshomaru had swiftly moved across the room and pulled her into his arms.

Having her in his arms calmed him immensely and he allowed himself a moment to breath in her ever changing scent. Unfortunately, the sensation of holding her only brought his dream to the forefront of his mind. Though he couldn't say what had brought on the dream, the feelings of affection he held for her seemed to have deepened. He also couldn't deny that he had desired to have her mark him, to show to world that he belonged to her and her alone. This in mind, Sesshomaru began to unconsciously nuzzle the same juncture on Kagome.

"Sesshomaru?" She hesitantly inquired.

"Hn."

"Is there something bothering you?"

"… There is a great deal on my mind."

"…"

"I saw a great battle between humans and demons. The earth was ashen and drenched in blood."

"The Battle of Creation." Kagome said gravely, "The two fought for supremacy for many years. It was the demons who called for the truce, they were unable to reproduce at the same rate as the humans."

"I saw the accords as well." he paused, "and the first Watcher."

"Ahh."

When Sesshomaru next spoke his voice was thick with emotion, "Your house in the woods, the meeting in the caves, you…being hurt."

"Sess-"

"Then you were being harmed again, your eyes were lifeless yet you continued to live. The earth was burning and there was a man standing in the middle of everything."

"I'm sorry that it happened like this but it was the only way I could explain parts of my past to you."

"You mean…"

"I asked the southern lord to share these visions with you. I cannot speak much on them, clearly, and this was the only way I could think to do it."

"The burning world and you … in that state. Those were visions of the future."

"I believe so."

"Hn."

Smiling at his silent agreement to change that future, Kagome allowed herself to snuggle into his broad chest. Sesshomaru didn't speak for so long that Kagome had thought he fell asleep sitting up and was thus surprised when he asked his question.

"Are you going to leave me, Kagome?"

Sesshomaru's heart dropped to his stomach when she didn't respond for a long time. Tightening his hold around her she seemed to come to a decision.

"No, Sesshomaru. No, I won't leave you."