She felt something, she was not sure what, run through her. She could only describe it as warm, protecting, confirming, and matching. Of course, that was the mating bond.

Once he was done, he pulled back ever so slowly, and they locked eyes. He saw gold fill her eyes and then vanished.

"What about Kikyo,"

"Do you wish revenge on her?" He asked,

"Honestly, no, but-

"I will take care of it," His words were absolute, and she felt it. She rubbed her mark, and he smirked. "You feel it,"

"Feel what?"

"My protection,"

She blushed. "Will I be feeling a lot?"

He smirked more, and she blushed more, but she wasn't quite ready for that yet, "I um,-

"Should we try kissing again?" He asked,

She blushed, and then she felt heat in her neck. "Oh," She breathed.

He growled in response, "Want," He told her as he leaned in and softly claimed her lips, which turned hungry.

The next thing she felt was not in her neck but in other parts of her body, and he could smell it but she was not ready for him to answer that call just yet.

This was still new to both of them.

He broke the kiss again,

"Come, we will return."

He grabbed her hand, and they made their way back as the sun began to rise. How could anyone sleep anyway?

Inuyasha did not look up, but Miroku and Sango smiled.

"Woman," Sesshomaru snapped,

Kikyo raised an elegant eyebrow

"My mate does not wish you harm. However, any more attempts at a spell on either of our persons will result in your final death,"

Inuyasha was about to say something, but Kikyo put her arm out, instantly shutting him down.

"Are you sure I can still add beads,"

Kagome's mouth dropped open at Kikyo's clear joke.

"What the fuck!" Inuyasha said,

Sesshomaru growled, and that was a whole other feeling Kagome wasn't ready for. "Um, no thanks, im good," She said quickly.

Kikyo bowed. "As you wish, Lord Sesshomaru,"

He stopped growling and looked down at Kagome; she was blushing again. "Are you well,"

"I think so?"

He wanted to chuckle; her mating mark was going to prove entertaining, but now, with all these people around.

Suddenly, he could not wait to awaken more of her, of this, of them. She would also need to find a way to mark him; it was only fair, though it might prove difficult.

"Come," He told her and took her hand again.

"Oi, where are you going?"

But Sesshomau gave no answer, and Kagome followed after.

"The hell,"

"I presume we will not see them for some time," KIkyo said

"Why?"

Miroku rolled his eyes as Sango started to pack camp.

"He has many things to teach her about her mark," Kikyo said,

"And she has many things to teach him," Sango said,

"Among other things," Miroku smirked, making Sango elbo him,

"What other things?" Inuyasha asked,

Miroku blinked and shook his head. "Why, the next time we see Lady Kagome, she may carry!"

Inuyasha fell backward. "I did not need to know that,"

"You did ask." Sango sighed,

Kikyo stood above him, shaking her head.

Sesshomaru didn't have all the answers, and Kagome didn't know all the questions, but she had a mark, and he had her hand.

"It's not fair," Kagome said. "You have the advantage,"

He thought about not telling for a moment, but what was the fun of that?

"Hn, you will need to mark me as well,"

Her eyes grew wide. "I, um, dont think I can do that?" She ran her tongue across her dull tooth.

"You need not bite me to do so; you may come up with your own,"

She looked confused. "Something that tells all others you are mine?" She blushed, her mark tingled.

"Flirtatious yet shy," He told her, reading the look, knowing what her mark was telling her.

"Hn, do humans not have something similar?" He asked,

Kagome gasped. "Rings!"

She had to explain, and he knew only one person could commission something they would need. So he took her to Totosia.

The old man was surprised to see them together, mated, and even more shocked when Sesshomaru made the request.

Of course, when the ring was done being forged, and Kagome put her magic and a bit of her soul into it, he hesitated; that looked an awful lot like Inuyasha beads.

But his mark was on her, and so he allowed her to slip it on his finger, and in true human fashion and in secret, Totosi forged one for her, made of Sesshomaru fang.

That night, she slid his ring on, accepting, trusting, wanting. He then slipped hers on, honoring and proclaiming to forever protect her.

Forsaking all others in life and death, in a cave warmed by fire, they tested her mark and his ring. Kisses here, touch there, trusting and leading.

Sesshomaru completed the bond slowly and gently. It was calm and quiet besides her shy moans and his escaped grunts. Their power danced as their marks burned with desire and it unlocked her womb, and true to her friend's words, when they returned, she carried.

Sesshomaru awoken something new in her- passion, and not so many moons later, she would awaken something new in him-Love

THE END.