Hey guys… well and girls! I know I said I would get the new chapter up quickly, but it turned out that this chapter was really hard to write. But at least I got it done in a month…. Rather than two. So I hope you're happy. So here's the next chappy!

Disclaimer- Ok… I swear if you sue me cause you think I own the characters I'll gape at you and then shoot you for being so stupid that you don't deserve to live on this earth. Ok well I hope you like the chapter! Remember I STILL own Lord Tashko!

Chapter 10- The Bonding of the Blood

The instant he had heard Kagome scream, Sesshomaru was kneeling by her on the floor. He was about to ask her what had happened when he found that he wasn't looking at the same Kagome. Her body had changed dramatically. The whole of her figure seemed to be more slender and smooth. Her once raven black hair had now turned even bluer. She had two cerulean stripes on each of her cheeks resembling Sesshomaru's, along with a sliver shaped moon placed perfectly in the middle of her forehead.

Sesshomaru stared in utter disbelief at the even more beautiful Kagome lying on his bedroom floor.

"Sess… what happened to me?" Kagome half whispered catching Sesshomaru by surprise.

Sesshomaru gathered the distraught Kagome in his arms before speaking. "I … I have no idea." Sesshomaru answered truthfully.

Suddenly he noticed Kagome's scent for the first time that morning. It was almost as if she smelt like a demon. Her scent had changed, that was one thing that was for sure. "Kagome… y- you smell like a demon…" Sesshomaru stumbled, still in disbelief. "You look like one too." He added.

"How could this have happened? How could I have turned into a demon?" Kagome questioned senselessly.

"Maybe… when we mated… our blood bonded and turned you into a youkai." Thought Sesshomaru out loud. "I've never heard of this happening before though."

"How is it possible for it to just happen to me then?" Kagome cried.

"Maybe it's because you're a miko." Sesshomaru answered.

Kagome began crying, tears streaming down her soft pink cheeks.

"Kagome please don't cry." Sesshomaru said while tightening his hold on the young girl in his arms.

She slowed her heavy breathing making it steadier, trying to relax.

"I'm sorry… I guess I was just… overwhelmed." Kagome said silently.

"There's no need to be sorry Kagome." Sesshomaru said while smiling slightly towards her.

Realizing she still had no clothes on, Kagome blushed while trying to cover herself up. Sesshomaru laughed slightly and helped Kagome up so she could dress.

"There's no point in dressing if we're just going to bathe." Sesshomaru said.

"Oh, and who said we were going to bathe?" asked Kagome grinning as she put her hands on her hips.

"Well my mate, I did." Sesshomaru said as he scooped Kagome into his arms. She let out a small eep of surprise as Sesshomaru began heading to the springs.

Sesshomaru slowly lowered himself and Kagome into the warm, soothing water, then pulled Kagome onto his lap.

"So, are you rested enough to go out again?" asked Sesshomaru as he rubbed circles on Kagome's back.

"Yeah. How many more shards do we need?" asked Kagome giving a relaxed sigh.

"Well, we've already got three, so we need 7 more. Come on, we need to get ready to go." Sesshomaru said.

They both finished bathing and had something small to eat in order to build up their strength. Within an hour they were ready to set off yet again to finish the task that awaited them.

After taking a while explaining to the group why she had changed dramatically (Shippo had fainted when he saw her), Kagome said goodbye to Rin before getting ready to leave.

It was very awkward, somehow, just standing there in the entrance hall with Inuyasha and everyone else. Kagome shifted uneasily to her other leg while waiting for someone to speak.

"Well… we'll see each other again soon… I hope." Sango said, breaking the long silence.

"Sango, I'll miss you so much." Kagome said sadly as she walked over to her sister-like friend and gave her a hug. "I'll miss all of you." Kagome added as she hugged everyone else, except Kikyo.

After they had all finished their good-byes, they parted ways. Kagome watched sadly as her friends made their way slowly to some unknown place.

Noticing Kagome's nervousness, Sesshomaru said, "Don't worry. We'll see them again." He pulled Kagome into his arms to comfort her, only to find that it had little effect. Growing annoyed that he could not comfort Kagome, he asked, "Why are you so worried?"

Kagome gathered a deep breath before answering. "I'm sorry… I don't know. I guess I just have a bad feeling." Kagome said while hugging Sesshomaru. Wanting to ask what she had a bad feeling about, Sesshomaru decided against it, not wanting to worry her even more. He just let a rare smile slip across his face before grabbing Kagome's waist.

"Should we get going then?" asked Sesshomaru.

"I suppose so." Said Kagome. She grabbed her bag and latched onto Sesshomaru in fear of falling off the cloud that slowly formed beneath his feet. He held Kagome tightly, assuring her that she would be safe, before gliding into the air.

The cold air swept across Kagome's body like an ocean as they picked up speed. Shivering, she huddled up next to Sesshomaru hoping to warm up a little.

"Is there a certain place we're going?" Kagome asked a few minutes later, trying to start a conversation to forget about the cold.

"Well, I figured we would head to the place we were before and stay in that area since we got so many shards so quickly." Sesshomaru answered.

"That's a good idea."

Eventually forgetting about the cold, Kagome slipped into a light sleep while they continued gliding over the vast Western Lands.

A few hours later, Kagome slowly opened her eyes when she heard Sesshomaru call her name.

"Yeah?" Kagome mumbled sleepily as she rubbed her eyes.

"We're nearing the lands we were in before. I just want you to be awake and alert just in case anything comes our way." Sesshomaru said. Kagome muttered a sleepy O.K. while trying to wake herself up.

"I hope it doesn't take too long to gather the rest of the shards." Said Kagome after she had woken herself up more effectively.

"I'm sure it won't take too long." Said Sesshomaru.

Another few minutes passed until suddenly, Kagome said, "Sesshomaru! I just remembered. I don't know why I never thought of it earlier. Jeez I feel stupid now."

"What is it?" Sesshomaru asked, cutting off her rambling.

"I have three other shards from when I was hunting them with Inuyasha!" Kagome said feeling excited. "Now that means we have six total! Now we only have to get four more. Good now it definitely wont take as long."

"That's good. I didn't want to find seven more, that would have been a pain." Sesshomaru said, his mood lightening a little knowing that he didn't have as much work to do.

"Sesshomaru, what's wrong?" Kagome asked after she noticed Sesshomaru was sniffing the air and he had that protective look on his face as if something dangerous was nearby.

"I smell a demon." Sesshomaru said. Suddenly feeling a surge ahead of them Kagome realized the demon had jewel shards.

"Sesshomaru, it has jewel shards. I think it's more than one. Maybe two." Kagome said. Sesshomaru nodded and raced forward towards to powerful scent. Sesshomaru began descending to the forest ground.

After landing he unsheathed Toukijin, while Kagome knocked an arrow into place after removing one from her quiver. Getting ready to fight a gruesome battle, Kagome slid off her backpack and threw it carefully aside. Expecting some giant monster to suddenly appear, Kagome tried to rid her fear.

Suddenly coming out of nowhere, no one stood in front of Kagome and Sesshomaru, but the one and only…

Koga.

"Koga? What are you doing here?" Kagome practically screamed. Sesshomaru became confused at the fact that Kagome knew who the strange demon was.

"Why Kagome, I have as much freedom as you do to wander the lands." Koga said. Kagome flushed slightly. "Why are you with Inuyasha's brother?" he added as he noticed Sesshomaru standing beside Kagome.

"Err… umm… Koga, Sesshomaru is my mate… that's also why I look like this." Kagome managed to say as she was feeling embarrassed.

"Oh… well… I'm happy for you. You look beautiful by the way." Koga said awkwardly. "But just because you have a mate now doesn't change my love for you. If any thing ever goes wrong with him my offer still stands." Koga said a few moments later as he grabbed Kagome's hands.

A low growl escaped Sesshomaru's mouth as his eyes flashed red threateningly.

"Sesshomaru calm down." Kagome said, taking her hands away from Koga. Sesshomaru snaked his arm around Kagome's waist and pulled her to him protectively, giving a death glare toward Koga.

Koga took the warning, then feeling awkward said, "Well, I suppose I should go. See you later Kagome."

Kagome almost waved goodbye when she remembered why her and Sesshomaru had come all that way.

"Wait! Koga!" Kagome shouted right before he was about to leave.

"Yes Kagome?" Koga asked.

"There's actually a reason why I'm out here." Kagome said quietly.

"And that would be?" Koga was growing impatient.

"Well, see, we are collecting jewel shards and we need yours." Kagome said lamely.

Koga smirked. "Kagome, as much as I love you, I'm not going to give you my jewel shards."

"Koga, I don't want to have to take them from you forcefully." Kagome warned.

"Kagome my dear. I'm not going to fight you." Koga practically laughed.

"That's what I thought you would say. So just give them to me so we won't have to fight." Kagome said seriously, which quickly wiped the smirk off Koga's face.

"Kagome, I'm not fighting you." Koga repeated.

"Well then, I guess you're going to have to get over that because I will fight you for them if I have to."

"Kagome, I would never dream of hurting you, so sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not going to fight you. Koga said.

"Then perhaps you'll just have to fight me then." Sesshomaru said, cutting in, taking a step forward.

"Ha, yeah right. I'd kick your ass any day." Koga laughed.

Sesshomaru growled. "You really want to take your chances?"

"Hell yeah I do." Koga growled.

"Be my guest." Sesshomaru said.

"Sesshomaru, please don't kill him." Kagome said. Sesshomaru nodded sweetly before unsheathing his sword yet again.

Koga gracefully leapt forward preparing to run into Sesshomaru with his powerful legs, but Sesshomaru easily stepped aside in time. Koga turned to face Sesshomaru and growled, realizing it wasn't going to be an easy fight.

"Do you still think you can kill me so easily, you foolish wolf?" Sesshomaru asked with a hint of amusement in his voice.

Koga said nothing, but leapt forward again in another attempt to strike Sesshomaru, which he once again, easily dodged. Sesshomaru quickly spun around and pinned Koga to a nearby tree.

"Now, wolf, unless you want to die right now, I suggest you hand over your jewels shards." Sesshomaru growled, not even an inch from Koga's face.

"Not a chance." Yelled Koga, attempting to get free, but failing horribly.

"You can try all you want. You're not getting free." Sesshomaru smirked, holding back his laugh.

Koga looked at Kagome. "Is this really what you want?" he asked.

"Yes." Kagome said quietly.

"Kagome, I'm doing this for you. Not for him." Koga said.

Sesshomaru loosened his grip on Koga and let him fall. Koga stood up and walked over to Kagome.

"Here." he said as he handed the two small shards to Kagome.

"Thank you Koga." Kagome said. Koga nodded.

"Well, I need to go. Bye Kagome." Koga said as he began walking away. Kagome could hear the bitterness in his voice as he said his goodbye. Her heart began to sink with guilt. She suddenly felt two strong arms wrap around her waist. Knowing that it was just her loving mate, she sank into his warm embrace.

"Kagome, you don't need to feel guilty." Sesshomaru whispered silently into her ear. She smiled and turned around to rest her head on his chest. They stayed like that for what seemed like eternity, but was only a few minutes. Kagome looked up at the sky. It was growing dark and you could just make out the first stars that glittered in the sky.

She yawned, suddenly feeling very tired.

"Let's stop for the night. Ok?" Sesshomaru said.

"Ok." Kagome replied while nodding into his chest.

Sesshomaru laid down against a tree nearby and pulled Kagome close to him. She snuggled into his chest. Sesshomaru lightly bit the mark on Kagome's shoulder where he had claimed her. Kagome moaned quietly.

"That's not fair." She said as she crawled on top on Sesshomaru. She kissed him sweetly on the lips. Sesshomaru growled playfully, pulling her in for another kiss. Kagome pulled away from the kiss and quickly sank her fangs into Sesshomaru's shoulder. Sesshomaru flinched in surprise while staring at her with a shock/confused looking face.

Kagome licked the blood away from his shoulder.

"You got to do it to me." Kagome said innocently as if to apologize.

Sesshomaru smiled and kissed Kagome as if to say it was o.k. Kagome nuzzled his neck before getting off of him and resting her head on his chest again. She fell into a deep sleep very quickly. Sesshomaru pulled her closer to him before following her into the land of dreams.

End of Chapter

Yay I hope you all liked it! Please review review review! I promise I'll really try hard to wrtie the next chapter in less than a month but I seriously doubt that that's going to happen because this next chapter is going to be hard to write. But I'll try really hard! In the meantime review review review! Thanks!

Ja ne!

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