The moment Kagome returned the kiss, something inside Sesshoumaru shifted—no, snapped.
It was as though centuries of control unraveled in an instant and his restraint melted away under the heat of her response. His hands moved with a desperation that was foreign even to him. The fabric of her dress crumpled under his fingertips as his grip tightened on her waist, pulling her flush against him.
When Kagome broke the kiss to catch her breath, her soft gasp drove him to trail his lips down the line of her jaw to her neck. The heat of his mouth and the graze of his fangs against her sensitive skin was making her dizzy. She let out a mewling sound that betrayed her resolve and Sesshoumaru's low growl in response vibrated against her throat.
She had to focus. She needed to focus. If she let herself get lost in the sensations he was stirring, she wouldn't be able to think clearly. Placing both hands firmly on his shoulders, she prepared to push back only for his hand to slide up her thigh, his claws brushing dangerously close to the heat between her legs.
"Sesshoumaru" she groaned out his name as her breath hitched. The strength she didn't think she had finally surged to the surface and she managed to pull away, putting a small but necessary distance between them.
He didn't let her go easily though. His hands lingered, his claws curling slightly as if reluctant to release her. When she finally succeeded, he straightened, his liquid gold eyes burning into hers. The fervor in his gaze made her stomach flip and she realized she might have waited a moment too long to speak because he began leaning in again, his lips seeking hers once more.
"Wait!" she blurted as she jerked her head back to avoid his kiss.
Sesshoumaru froze and his eyes narrowed slightly in frustration. But slowly he drew back, his posture straightening as he worked to rein himself in. For a moment, the only sound between them was the rapid rhythm of their breathing.
"Can we talk first?" Kagome asked, her chest rising and falling as she struggled to steady herself.
Talk? Hadn't they done that already? What more could possibly need to be said? Sesshoumaru's jaw tightened as he stared at her still in his arms. Even through his vexation, he recognized the importance of her words. If he was to keep her trust—to keep her—he would have to show that he could hear her. He would have to do as she asked.
With a reluctant nod, Sesshoumaru withdrew his hand from beneath her dress, sat her back on the forest floor and increased the distance between them. His claws twitched at his sides as he tried to keep his desires under control.
The space he put between them was small but enough for Kagome to feel like she could breathe again. She glanced up at him through dark lashes, taking in the barely contained hunger in his eyes and the way his chest rose and fell.
"Speak," Sesshoumaru said, his voice dipped in a dangerously low octave. Kagome tucked her legs under herself, squeezing her thighs together as if the action could calm the swirling tension in her body.
Her gaze dropped to her lap, her fingers fiddling nervously with the Shikon Jewel hidden beneath the high neckline of her dress. His gaze made it hard to think let alone form coherent sentences. It would be so easy to give in—to let the moment consume them—but there were questions she couldn't ignore.
"We should probably get back to the village," she murmured, her voice small, almost tentative. Her fingers tightened around the jewel as she chanced a glance at him, "To tell the others about collecting the last of the shards."
"Tomorrow," he countered with a tone of finality, leaving no room for negotiation. "We will stay here one more night."
Kagome's cheeks flushed as her heartbeat quickened. She nodded. "I'd like to see more of your lands before returning to the house," she admitted, her voice soft but sincere.
Before she could look away again his hand reached out and gently but firmly cupped her chin, tilting her face up so that her wide sapphire eyes met his golden ones.
"You are stalling," Sesshoumaru crooned, "What is it you truly wish to ask of me?"
A wry smile tugged at her lips, her nerves easing just slightly. Straight to the point, as always.
Taking a deep breath, Kagome finally voiced the question that had been lingering in the back of her mind. "What will happen if we… complete the mating?"
Her words sent a bolt of heat surging through Sesshoumaru's veins and his body responded immediately. For a fleeting moment, the idea of claiming her here and now—beneath the ancient tree planted by his great-grandfather—was almost too tempting to resist.
His eyes darkened as he studied her, his thumb brushing along her cheek in a touch that was both tender and possessive.
"Is that what you wish to take place?" he asked in a husky whisper that sent tremors through her. "For this one to indulge in his darkest desires and claim you in both body and soul?"
He didn't wait for her to answer; he didn't need to. His gaze alone demanded her honesty, and yet he continued.
"To give yourself over to a demon…" he began, his thumb pressing lightly against the sensitive skin just beneath her jaw, "...would mean an unbreakable bond. I would bind us together for all eternity. Whether you are here by my side or centuries away in the future, I will always be with you. A part of you, just as you will be a part of me."
His fingers moved to the base of her next and tangled in her hair, drawing her closer until the space between them was nearly nonexistent.
"If you choose this," Sesshoumaru murmured, his lips brushing against hers, "there will be no turning back. You will be mine, and I will be yours, in this lifetime and all others to come."
Kagome's mind raced, her fingers trembling slightly as they wrapped around Sesshoumaru's wrist. His words lingered in the air between them, heavy with meaning, with promises that felt too vast, too consuming to fully grasp. What he offered wasn't just about passion or desire—it was something far deeper, a commitment that seemed to touch her very soul.
Her thoughts veered sharply, as if daring to believe that Sesshoumaru could truly love her was too much to hope for. But the question lingered in the corners of her mind like a whispered secret and she wondered... Did she love him?
Her eyes searched his, the golden depths swirling with something she couldn't quite name. She thought about all the ways he had cared for her over the past few months, ways that had seemed impossible once upon a time. He had tended to her wounds with a gentleness that belied his strength, brought her back to safety when she'd been too weak to stand, and stayed by her bedside through her darkest nights.
And now, he had brought her here, to this sacred place in his lands as if baring a part of himself that no one else had seen. Sesshoumaru had given her more than she could have ever dreamed of asking.
Her heart skipped a beat as an image rose in her mind—one she hadn't dared to picture before. A future with him. She saw herself holding a baby, its tiny hands grasping at her fingers, its hair the color of moonlight like his and eyes a vivid blue like hers. The thought filled her with a warmth so profound it left her breathless.
Before she could second-guess herself, before doubt could creep in, Kagome leaned forward and closed the small distance between them. Her lips brushed his in a kiss that was soft and fleeting.
The shock in Sesshoumaru's eyes was genuine, his body momentarily still as if he hadn't expected her boldness. Taking advantage of his hesitation, Kagome pulled back.
"I think…" she began, her voice filled with a renewed hope. "A lifetime together wouldn't be so bad."
For a moment, he simply stared at her, as if committing every detail of her face to memory. Then, slowly, a small but unmistakable smile graced his lips.
Maybe a demon lord was capable of love.
From his perch on a low cliff, Sesshoumaru watched as Kagome darted through the shallow creek, the sunlight catching in her dark hair and painting it with streaks of blue. She was utterly engrossed in her task as her hands splashing through the crystal-clear water while she tried to capture one of the jewel-toned frogs that leapt from rock to rock. Despite her serious expression, the sight pulled a soft grin to his lips.
If his father could see him now, Sesshoumaru had no doubt the old dog would be doubled over with laughter. But his amusement was not born of mockery—it was admiration. Kagome was unlike any other. She wasn't some delicate, pampered human princess, expecting the world to bow at her feet. She was fierce, independent, and capable of standing tall on her own. She didn't need him, not in the way others had. Yet, she chose to let him into her life, to share her moments of joy and frustration.
Yes, he thought, his chest swelling with a quiet sense of pride. He had chosen well. Kagome was worthy in ways few could ever hope to match.
"I got one!" she exclaimed triumphantly, holding up a tiny neon-pink amphibian that looked more annoyed than frightened.
Her victory was short-lived. The frog wriggled free of her hands leaping back into the water where Kagome lunged after it causing her balance to teeter precariously. She recovered, though not without a grumbled string of complaints under her breath and rinsed her hands in the cool water.
When she stepped onto dry land she cupped her hand over her brow to shield her eyes from the afternoon sun, scanning the landscape. Clearly, her adventure wasn't over yet.
Before she could move, strong arms encircled her waist pulling her back against a firm chest. A startled gasp escaped her lips as the familiar warmth of Sesshoumaru enveloped her. His breath tickled against her ear.
"Shall I show you my realm from the sky?" his low rumble seemed to resonate in her very core.
Kagome tilted her head to look up at him, cheeks flushed from the proximity. "From the sky?" she echoed, her curiosity immediately piqued.
He nodded, his eyes gleaming with something almost mischievous. "The view from above offers a perspective even you might find enchanting."
Before she could answer, Sesshoumaru scooped her up with practiced ease, cradling her against him as if she weighed nothing. Kagome let out a small squeak and her arms instinctively looped around his neck. "Wait! I didn't say yes yet!" she protested, though her laughter betrayed her excitement.
With a powerful leap, Sesshoumaru ascended into the air, his demonic energy wrapping around them like an invisible current. Kagome tightened her grip as the ground fell away beneath them. She felt the wind rush past her, cool and exhilarating, and when she dared to open her eyes the view stole her breath.
The land stretched out endlessly in every direction—rolling hills, sparkling rivers, and dense forests painted in the warm hues of late afternoon. From this height, everything seemed both vast and beautifully connected, as if she were seeing the world through Sesshoumaru's eyes.
"It's beautiful," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the wind.
Sesshoumaru's gaze drifted down to her, his attention captured. Her azure eyes sparkled like twin pools of illuminated water reflecting the sky's brilliance, while a rosy flush painted her cheeks and nose from the cool rush of air. In that moment, he found himself silently conceding—this view, as vast and breathtaking as it was, could not compare to the vision in his arms.