The Fires of My Heart

A.N.: Here it is....*sigh* Now leave me in PEACE, Hib! I'm in the process of starting up my own art studio for a business so a lot of my attention has been sacrificed. Sorry for making you guys wait but this business is really important to me. I promise I won't quit this story or my other! Please be patient with me! Thank you and enjoy.

**Last Chapter**

Lightening flashed across the sky as Himoto shot up from his bed, clutching the sheets with a shaking fist. His long black hair fell around his shoulders, matted to the skin with sweat. Echoes stirred in the cold air of the dark bedroom as his own mind whirled to a stop. Grinning maliciously, Himoto swung his legs out of the bed and breathed deeply; listening to the world around him. Stepping up to the bedroom window, he gazed out into the city.

"They will pay for what they did." Himoto whispered against the glass. "With every breath, they will pay..."

**On with the story.**

Chapter 9
A Curtain Falls...

The pale moon waned against the dark of yet another oncoming storm, thunder echoed distantly against the disappearing stars. Coal-black eyes stared out against the cold glass of his bedroom window in quiet hate of the bustling city beneath him. An elegant claw tapped at the wood of the window seat in tune with some nameless song. Pale, thin lips curled in a sneer as lightning flashed against the flickering exterior of the city and surrounding bay. Himoto growled and turned from the dying, silver light of the moon, grabbing clothes from a drawer and quickly dressed.

The demon pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration as his scattered memories fought for their rightful places. So close to setting things right and it had all been for nothing! Within a blink of an eye everything had been rewritten! The Hellhound whore was behind it....he just knew it! Her and those weak companions of hers! How could he have actually wanted anything to do with her?! For weeks he had pined over her for dates and companionship. He had even endured the bitch's brats! Bile rose in the back of his throat as Himoto straightened his coat and opened the door to his loft, keys in hand.

The door of his upper-class apartment closed with a resounding thud, filling the darkness of the empty hallway. The shoulder-length, forest green hair swayed with his motions as he descended the stairs and exited the building into the cold of the night. Whispering softly to himself, Himoto smirked as the concealment spell fell into place.

Pulling out of the bleak parking lot, the demon's black Jaguar sped through the streets. Himoto continued to smile to himself as he pulled a gold chain from his pocket, thumbing the azure gem at its center. A soft aura began to pulse from the jewel as he continued onward towards the outskirts of the city. Parking alongside the road, he killed the engine and proceeded through the forest on foot. The bright blue glow of the necklace lit up the green of the leaves and grass as he walked on.

This new life had led him to believe the necklace to simply be a token left by his parents upon their death. Lies. In truth it had been given to him by his father upon the death of his mother. The key to his rightful place in the world. The last words his father had spoken to him echoed in his mind as a meadow came into view.

*Flashback*

Himoto gaped, wide-eyed, as his father gripped his shoulder and gently placed the gold chain into the palm of his outstretched hand. The corpse of his young mother had been lain on the bed at his side, a pale sheet covering her cold, once-loving features; a dragon demoness of a proud family, but weak bloodline which had forced her into servitude. Her long violet hair blanketed the bed beneath her, as her smoky eyes remained closed. The gruff voice of his father cut through his grief-fogged mind.

"For reasons beyond your understanding we can never be the family you wish to be. As far as the rest of the world is concerned, I have no son. This is how things must remain. Take care of yourself....no one else in world will. But if I am ever slain, this token is the key to your true birthright. Farewell, my son." With those final words, the demon turned and left the small hut with his knee-length green hair swaying to and fro. The afternoon sun danced off his armor as he motioned for his soldiers to follow him.

The young demon stared on, shocked beyond words as he clutched the necklace to his chest. For years he had wondered who his father was and now after the one person who had shown him love had passed, a stranger appeared claiming to be his sire. Turning his eyes back unto the unmoving form of his mother, he silently swore an oath that he would claim what was his no matter what.

*End Flashback*

Ignoring the stab in his heart at the memory of his mother, Himoto pushed on through the tall grass to where the land dipped into a large bowl-like valley. At its center stood a large tree, devoid of any animal life but blossomed large, red, fang-like flowers that carried the stench of ash. The stone in his palm flared almost violently with each step towards the tree. His eyes narrowed to focus a small indenture in the tree's midsection. Coming within a foot of the dark bark, the small mark seemed to be a small lock.

Eyeing the area around him warily, Himoto grunted and slowly brought the gem up towards the marking. The blue light seemed to blind him as he pressed the jewel against the indenture. With a slight click, the gem sealed itself within the lock and turned. Stepping back from the pulsing trunk of the tree, Himoto jumped slightly as a dark voice boomed from the night air around him.

"Who is this demon who claims my burden?"

"My name is Himoto Jatsui!" The demon choked out as the darkness around him purred with an evil aura.

"And who are you to put forth claim?! I demand one of proper blood!"

The air grew cold as Himoto approached the tree once more, a hateful fire burning in the depths of his dark eyes. Standing before the looming branches, he brought out a small dagger and cut a slim line into his hand. The dark droplets spotted the lush grass and jagged surface of the tree.

"I am Himoto Jatsui! Only son of the late Lord Mashiru, and true heir to the Southern lands!" A sharp hissing noise filled the meadow.

"Step forward, Lord! Claim what is rightfully yours!"

A grim smile spread across the demon's lips as the tree pulsed brightly before withering away to ash. In its wake was left his father's armor, his sword, and an aged scroll. Upon reading its contents, the young demon slowly closed his eyes. Revenge would be much sweeter than he had anticipated.

*Sesshomaru's Suite*

Ellie jumped slightly as her mate grunted lowly to gain her attention, his eyes landing on the embracing couple momentarily before connecting with her own once more. The Southern Lady nodded in quiet understanding before letting Kouga lead her from the room. A three in the morning coffee date sounded marvelous at the moment. The shadowed Western Lord and Lady never seemed to notice their departure, for their eyes had remained locked on one another.

The rain returned with its own icy passion as the droplets tinkered and crashed against glass, concrete, and steel. Shadows danced across the carpet in a slow waltz. Kagome's misted garnet eyes scanned the marble features of her lover in silent inquiry. Gold pools gazed back, years of longing and heartbreak swirling in their depths.

The silence seemed to stretch into an eternity of its own; neither person really knowing what to say. With uncharacteristic uneasiness, Sesshomaru leaned forward and brushed the tip of his nose against the crown of Kagome's head. Her scent sang to his very being; it had been far too long of a parting, but he would have gladly waited for the Earth's end for her. The woman in his arms sighed and leaned into his embrace. Her mind was already swimming from the rush of memories and emotions. Two separate lives had come crashing down on her all at once.

"I don't know how, Kagome....but we will figure this all out." Sesshomaru's rich voice broke through the smoke-screen of thoughts Kagome had been building.

"I know Sess." Kagome murmured into his shoulder as her eyes drifted shut. "It's just a little overwhelming." Her head shot up at the short chuckle her mate gave, her eyes accusing.

"Don't be upset with me for laughing, I was simply remembering the last time you said the very same statement." Sesshomaru's lips twitched in a small smile as he gazed down on her. "After you reclaimed you demon heritage and I began to court you."

"Oh." Kagome blushed lightly in response as she smiled in remembrance.

Giggling lightly to herself, Kagome tipped her head up to kiss her mate lightly on his jaw. A small growl rose in the Taiyoukai's chest as he felt the heat of her lips. Every emotion he felt refused to give light to the proper words to describe them. Shame ate away at him for not being able to tell her how he truly felt.

"Koi....I just...." Kagome's slim finger landed on his lips once more, a small shake of her head accompanying it.

"It's okay, Sesshomaru. You never were one for words." Kagome whispered against the dark, a smile on her lips.

"I only wish to tell you how much I..." The treacherous lump in his throat returned with full force. Sesshomaru mentally kicked himself as he once again fought for his ability of speech.

"Then don't tell me, Sess..." Kagome's voice had dropped low and strange. Her eyes taking on new light as a smirk spread across Sesshomaru's lips.

Fire shot throughout his entire body as the longing of five-hundred years fell on him full force. Blood thundered in his ears and shook his heart as he gazed down at the tiny woman in his arms. The mother of his child...his Lady and closest friend; her every detail forever burned within his mind. Flashes of their activities at the club froze the hairs on the back of his neck on end. Kagome nuzzled his neck lightly, earning a low growl from the Taiyoukai. The minx was walking a very dangerous line with him and the Inu wasn't sure how long he would be able to hold himself back.

"˜Calm yourself you fool!" Sesshomaru barked within his mind, seething at his own lack of control. "˜She's only just regained her memories! Kagome needs time to sort things through!'

Another low rumble rose in his chest as Kagome shifted against him, sending bolts of electricity to his loins. Sesshomaru silently swore; pondering the idea that the gods may have some hidden vendetta against him. Little did he know that the demoness in his arms smirked as she held her head bowed into his chest. She knew full well what she was doing to her frustrated lover, and was quietly counting down the moments until her seething mate would break free. With fierce determination, Kagome lightly rolled her hips against him and smiled when his cracked voice rose in the dark.

"Ka...gome...." Sesshomaru whispered harshly into the top the Lady's head, his hold on her tightened to the point his claws had dug into her arms.

Kagome's smirk widened as the smell of her own blood hit her nose. The punctures didn't even register pain, for a light pleasant tingling sensation had taken its place. Apparently a small portion of Sesshomaru poison had slipped in through the tips of his claws. Such a small dose is hardly hazardous to her; the dose would only numb the area it touched. She felt her spine shiver as the man holding her went rigid. And that wasn't the only thing she felt go stiff against her.

Red swirled and danced with gold as the scent of his mate's blood surrounded him. Her blood always did taste of a wild wine and a howl from Sesshomaru's inner beast marked his need to taste it once again. A wild groan rose in his throat as he lowered his head to nuzzle her neck. The female below moaned in return to the tender caress. Kagome was quickly becoming as frustrated as the towering demon touching her.

"Sess." Kagome leaned forward, her warm breath dancing over Sesshomaru's ear. "It feels like we've been apart forever. You haven't seen me in five centuries and all you want to do is cuddle? You've grown soft in your old age..." She snickered as the low growl grew and darkened. Challenge reigned in her garnet eyes.

Sesshomaru's reddening eyes widened as he listened to the temptress. How dare she insinuate him to be weak? The bitch had to realize who the real alpha of the two of them was. The hardness between his legs had already taken on a rather painful throb, so now he would be able to kill two birds with one stone. Or however the hell humans were putting it these days.

"Bitch....mine..." Sesshomaru grunted huskily as he roughly pushed the surprised demoness against a wall, growling her into compliance.

Kagome was shocked at the sudden change but welcomed this beastly side of her mate. He needed this and she knew it. Gods know that she needed it too. Grabbing one of his hands, she shifted it to cup one of her pert breasts. Sesshomaru's narrowed eyes widened slightly as he cocked his head at her. What was his mate playing at?

"Yes, Sesshomaru. I am yours...forever." Kagome whimpered as the heat of her center rose to new heights.

This dark side of him always brought out the beast in her. Dutifully she turned her face away from him, but kept her eyes trained on his, to expose her pale neck and mating mark. She licked her lips in anticipation as his searing molten gold eyes broke away from hers to survey the exposed skin, his nose suddenly twitching lightly at the scent of her arousal. A low moan tore through her throat as her mate thumbed a nipple to pucker and harden, his eyes taking in every reaction across her beautiful face. Kagome arched into him and whimpered with need. Sesshomaru leaned into her, massaging the one breast with careful adoration.

"You're right, Kagome..." Sesshomaru growled out through clenched teeth. The woman was barely able to register the words. "I never was great at telling you how I feel, but..." An involuntary buck of Kagome's hips momentarily threw him. "I can show you, Koishii." Kagome's eyes widened as Sesshomaru lowered his lips to gently kiss her mark.

Before she could raise protest, Sesshomaru quickly let go of her to enter his bedroom and return with a silk sheet. He noticed Kagome's raised eyebrow and smirked. The demoness yelped in surprise as the demon grabbed her wrist to pull her down to the sheeted floor. The lush carpet was nice as a cushion, but she wondered at her mate's choice of bed. Sesshomaru gently pushed her back to lie beneath him.

"I don't want to pay for damages that may occur to the bedroom." Was the curt answer the demon gave before running his tongue along her jaw.

Kagome blushed furiously at the image his words provoked. Surely he was joking! The fierce fire in her lover's eyes told her otherwise. Slowly pushing Sesshomaru back, she waited for him to make eye contact before raising a single claw to slice down the center of her shirt. Hungry crimson eyes wanted the motion with acute interest, his beast purring with each inch of skin revealed. He would be gentle enough to keep the pup safe...but that would be his only string of control.

With the final length of cloth cut, Sesshomaru brushed Kagome's hand away and pushed the material back himself. A loud growl of approval escaped him as his hell goddess gazed up at him through ebony lashes. She growled back in response before sitting up to kneel and let a claw glide over one of his stripped cheeks.

"Well, lover? Here I am..." Kagome was stopped by a set of pale lips crashing down upon hers, a rough tongue licking at her lips for entrance.

Her arms wound themselves around Sesshomaru's neck in a tight embrace, pressing her hardened caramel nipples into his stone-like chest. The heat at her center cried with renewed fury as they fell to the silken sheet. Kagome's own eyes began to bleed red as she slowly ripped and shredded her mate's clothes. Once that was taken care of, she returned to crashing her bruised lips against the panting male's above her. He quickly slid his tongue between her petal-soft lips to taste her. Kagome's tongue rose to meet his, dancing and massaging all at once. A startled gasped escaped her as a firm hand landed to cup her heat. A slim digit parted her slick folds rub and tease her.

"Oh!" Kagome arched up off the floor, her eyes closing in bliss.

Sesshomaru nipped and suckled at her breasts as he slid his thumb to stroke her while the first finger entered her dripping core. A rough bite to the swell of a breast brought the sweet taste of her blood to his lips. Kagome groaned heavily in response, her fingers tangled in the Inu youkai's moonbeam mane.

Lightning flashed across the wide, bare windows of the living room. Rain continued to pound at the concrete as thunder shook the glass. The bright light left only the silhouette of the pair in a heated embrace. Sesshomaru grinned wickedly as he added another digit to his pumping. The demoness's growls and purrs became a melody to him as he continued to kiss his way down her body. Her hands fell from his head to fist the sheets, slicing through the silk without hesitancy or remorse. Kagome moaned loudly as she felt the tightening at her center, rocking her hips to meet his hand.

"Sess....Sessho..." The demoness cooed as the pressured built within.

"Tell me, koi." Sesshomaru growled out as he reached her mound.

He continued to thrust but removed his thumb. Kagome whimpered at the loss but shrieked as fevered lips and a hot tongue took its place. With a flick and swirl of his tongue, Sesshomaru sent Kagome soaring amongst the stars. Kagome threw back her head to roar out her bliss. Pride swelled in Sesshomaru's chest as he greedily lapped at her flowing juices. Only he would be the one to make her cry out in pleasure.

Her body trembled as a light layer of sweet coated her flushed skin. Kagome seemed to glow in the dark as lifted his hand to lick it clean, making sure to lock eyes with his mate as he did so. Leaning down, Sesshomaru lightly nuzzled and kissed her stomach. Within a blink of an eye, Sesshomaru was flat out on his back with a growling Hellhound demoness straddling him.

Licking her lips hungrily, Kagome began to nip and lick her way from Sesshomaru's neck down. She grazed a fang against his hip, licking him clean and savoring the taste of his blood. The demon groaned and panted beneath her as she went lower only to dance the tip of her tongue over the head of his erection. Kagome smirked before taking him into her mouth, delighted with the hiss of pleasure that left her Demon Lord. Rolling her tongue along his shaft, she steadily pumped the rest of him with a free hand while the other cupped his sack.

Sesshomaru's claws massaged Kagome's scalp as she continued to feast on him. Before long the demon was bucking into her mouth with needy thrusts. The Taiyoukai groaned and growled as the pulse in his shaft grew, signaling his release. Kagome removed her mouth to blow on the moistened skin, sending shivers down her mate's spine. With one final rough lick, she slammed her mouth over his length once more. Sesshomaru gasped and clenched her hair as thrust into her welcoming lips, his hot seed spilling into the waiting cavern. With hearty licks of her own, Kagome drank all he offered. When she removed her mouth, a small trickle had down her pale chin. She purred affectionately as she used her long tongue to reach down and clean up the gleaming trail.

A loud rumble brought her attention back to the man beneath her who was still looking as heated as ever. The Inu snarled as he flipped the woman over to her knees, reveling in the way the moon shined off of her smooth back and silky tail. His own tail went to the front of the demoness to caress her breasts. Kagome's shifted to the side, acknowledging his dominance. Putting one hand to the end of her ribcage to hold her, he leaned her forward and quickly buried himself within her quivering walls.

Kagome shrieked at the sudden intrusion, rotating her hips to accommodate his size. Sesshomaru moaned at her movements, savoring the feeling of being inside her once again. He coaxed her hands to go over her shoulders to hold the back of his neck for balance while he settled his hands on her hips. Lifting her lightly, he motioned for her move with him as he began to slowly, but roughly, pump in and out of her. Brushing her hair aside, the demon kissed her neck and murmured to her as they moved against each other. He smiled at how nicely she fit him....in more ways than just the obvious. The flickering light of the charged clouds hummed in tune to the rhythm of mews and grunts.

Kagome groaned as his thrusts became more demanding, his claws digging into her hips. Thin lines of crimson ran down her thighs as Kagome arched her back into his chest. Her own claws gripped the back of his neck; thin red lines left her wake. The familiar pressure at her core drove her roll her head back to rest on Sesshomaru's shoulder. Her mate growled possessively as he licked the shell of her ear, sliding one of his hands down to stroke the throbbing nub between her legs. A sharp cry rose from her shaking form as she gave in to Sesshomaru's wild thrusts. His every breath, shift, and pant drove her higher than she could ever hope to fly. The Inu instantly knew she was dancing on the line of bliss.

"Sing for me, my Kagome....sing my name to the heavens!" Sesshomaru barked out against the cry of thunder, a smirk of satisfaction breaking over his handsome features as her walls tightened around him.

"Oh gods....oh Sess!" Kagome's chest heaved and tightened. "SESSHO....M-MARU!!!" Sesshomaru hissed as she gripped him without relenting, her walls dragging him into his own soul-shattering release.

The Western Lord let loose an ear-splitting roar as he felt his essence spill into the trembling woman. As the cry ended, he brought his fangs down to pierce the flesh of his mate's neck. Warm blood filled his mouth as he marked her once again, sucking and licking the wound clean. Kagome was far too lost in her pleasure to even notice the bite or the pain.

The Western Lady slumped against Sesshomaru's quaking chest, her chest heaving as he nuzzled and growled softly against her. The weariness of the night's previous events, and now the drain of a VERY eager Sesshomaru, hit Kagome like a brick wall. Sighing in pleasure, Kagome let her eyes drift shut as Sesshomaru gathered her into his arms and entered the dark bedroom. He could have gone another round, but he was more than willing to let her rest. Sesshomaru settled his dozing mate under the remaining sheets of his bed and pulled her to his chest.

"I've missed you so, Kagome." He whispered gently as he buried himself in her scent, and drifted off.

The storm continued to rage, but no one knew that a storm of another kind was close at hand. Darkness once again had come into their lives and this time it would take more courage and love to break it. This time there would be greater losses and an end to the madness would demand a sacrifice of which no one could imagine.

TBC

*sigh* Sorry for the wait guys....kinda been busy for the past couple of weeks. Some of you are pretty pissed and that sucks, but it's kind of outta my hands. Family reunion from HELL and no internet....now THAT is true Sucksville. At least I got to go to the Warped Tour! That was my only saving grace!!!! Anyways, review and I will love you forever!

BIG thank you to my reviewers at Single Spark and AFF.net.

I'm tired and bitchy...need sleep. Cheers, guys. "“ G.S.