Inuyasha jumped from tree to tree letting him get a glance at her, peeking out from around trees before she disappeared to another tree "Getting a bit old? Can't catch one little half demon?" She teased, she knew he would try to catch her but she was at home in the forest, and she had years of experience of making her movements silent as she landed on the branches.

"Inuyasha you're playing with fire" he said, amused, as he used his powers to make him blindingly fast.

"Cheater" she thinks

knowing she only had a few more moments before he catches her, she turned around and ran right at him. In his surprise he halted enough for her to tackle him to the floor, landing on a pile of leaves that managed to break most of the fall.

He grunted as because she used him for a cushion, sitting on his stomach while she laughed at him.

"Oh great demon lord, I think you have some leaves in that perfect hair of yours" she smirked at him as he looked at her for a long time, then chuckled softy.

"I think I have said this once, but let me repeat it, you're going to be the death of me"

Inuyasha pouted at him and punched his gut lightly "That's not nice Sessh--whoa!" he rolled over and pinned her down in one graceful move.

"I never said I was complaining though" he said giving her one of his rare grins that reached his golden eyes making them twinkle a bit.

Inuyasha rolled her eyes at him then reached up, and moved the collar to his kimono to look at the mark she left on him.

She felt a wave of possessive smugness run though her at the sight of her fang marks on him, that mark showed he was hers now.

"Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would end up being bonded Sesshomaru, it's sending butterflies in my stomach, the knowledge that I own him just as he owned me now"  she eagerly thought, feeling excited

"This pleases you?" he asked, lying down next to her on the ground, he reached out and cupped the side of her neck so that his thumb caressed her jaw line "Knowing I belong to only you now?"

Inuyasha swallowed and nodded"It's strange, I can still remember parts of my life when I was still male, I keep waiting to feel repulsed again but I can't seem to find it" she began "Ever since my heat cycle hit me I feel more and more feminine in my heart and mind, and t's confusing as hell, I have to say"

"Language Inuyasha, language" he sighes  in exasperation "I'll have to make sure to rid you of that awful habit of yours"

"Oh, please" said turning her nose up at him, then smiled and gives him a peck on the cheek before leaping up and started to run back to the castle "Don't tell me you're tired already?" She teases "You're gonna have to start exercising more Sessh!"

He gave out a bellowing laugh before he launched towards her again"Little minx!" he called out making her wink at him before they resumed their little game of tag.

_______________________

A few weeks has passed

For the past few weeks, Sesshomaru and Inuyasha have grown even closer, she kept him company in his study as he worked or while he read. He took walks with her, showing her his lands and the people, even ate outside in the fields when he wanted her to himself.

Kagome, Sango and Miroku teased her about when the wedding was going to take place.

"So where did he take you today?" asked Sango while Inuyasha put on her red sleeping kimono. Sango and Kagome were lounging in Inuyasha's room, where they usually were every night.

"He took me out to visit the lake by the base of the mountains" Inuyasha said, moving closer to the burning fire in the hearth. Winter was moving in fast and the temperature along with it, she was extremely grateful for the little luxuries that Sesshomaru's castle came with, like a fireplace in the rooms.

"Tell me Inuyasha, what do you feel for him?" asked Kagome, sitting on the cusioned chair by the bed

"I don't know Kagome, I feel like I'm still fighting against my former self" Inuyasha admitted quietly.

"I know I felt a deep longing to be with him, it was stronger and more concrete now that we shared an intimate moment, my former self is starting to fade, I find myself calling him mate more and more often"

"He loves you, you know that right?" said Sango who was brushing out her hair.

She felt her heart flutter at the thought of Sango's words being true "I don't know if you're right Sango, he hasn't said anything to me" Inuyasha was a bit disappointed that he hasn't.

What was she thinking? Did she want him to be in love with her? Was she in love with him? She felt like she was sometimes, but how much did she really know about the subject?