Battle of wills.

Kagome opened her eyes to yet another beautiful day as the sun fall across her face and she lay in her demon lover's arms. She looked up at the peaceful figure who slumbered next to her. As the sun fell across his peaceful face she felt as if she were seeing him for the first time. She could not help but stare with wide eyes as she took in his beauty. Kagome was entranced with the color of his hair and skin, the markings on his face, and the cresent moon hidden slightly by his bangs. She lightly reached out to trace it's pattern against her fingertips when the demon lord began to stir beneath her.

Sesshoumaru grabbed his new mate's wrist as he snapped open his eyes, staring at her with a cold expression. He allowed his gaze to drop from her hand and into her eyes, searching only momentarily before smiling slightly as the small girl, and releasing her wrist. He lowered his hand back against the bed as Kagome began her inspection again, somewhat hesitantly.

Kagome's body relaxed against his as she once again began to reach for the small decoration in the middle of his forhead. She lightly ran her fingertips over the small emblem as the demon lord smirked up at the inquisitive woman. His expression seemed to communicate how pleased he was with the girl's new found interest in his body.

He watched Kagome's face as she ran fingers through his hair and down to his ears. She slowly tucked a piece of hair behind the pointed ear, rubbing it lightly, eliciting a soft purr. Quickly, she brought her attention to his face as he made the soft sound, finding his golden eyes fixed upon her. She blushed slightly as she realized how strange her behavior must have seemed.

“I'm sorry,” She began, “I've just never--”

“Don't apologize,” Sesshoumaru interrupted as he lightly stroked the side of the girl's face with his thumb, “I will keep no secrets from you.”

Kagome smiled back at him as she rested her hands against his chest. “I've just always wondered...I mean, you're a dog demon, so for example if I...” She slowly let her hands creep down Sesshoumaru's chest until it rested on his hard stomach. The young girl looked up into the demon lord's eyes before she began to run her hand up and down, rubbing his tummy as you would a small pets. She couldn't help but grin as the dog demon's eyes rolled back in his head and a low guttural growled escaped his lips. She tortured him this way for several minutes feeling his leg twitch underneath her body.

Sesshoumaru grabbed the young miko's hand from off of its resting place, on his stomaholdholding it above her head. “We seem to be playful this morning.” He cooed as he rolled on top of her, nipping at the crescent shape mark she now bore on her neck.

Kagome sighed heavily as the large man pinned her to the bed and nibbled on her back.

“Kagome? What are you doing?” Called a confused hanyou from a nearby balcony.

The young girl quickly turned towards the open glass doors, gasping as she saw Inu Yasha slowly walk into the room. “Inu Yasha!” She eeped as she attempted to hide behind Sesshoumaru.

The demon lord growled fiercely from his place atop his newly claimed mate.

“Kagome?” Inu Yasha began, “What are you doing? What is this place?”

Sesshoumaru jumped from the bed and stood in between Inu Yasha and Kagome, noticing that his half brother still did not see him.

“Inu Yasha, you weren't supposed to follow me.” Kagome began as she pulled the covers up around her naked body.

Inu Yasha simply stepped forward so that he was only an inch from his unseen brother and stared at the girl, particularly at her neck. “Kagome? What...is that...you've been..?” Inu Yasha found himself at a lose for words as he stared at the girl. Something about the shape of the wound, a crescent moon, seemed familiar, like he had seen it in a dream.

Suddenly, Inu Yasha collapsed to his knees as images flooded his mind, all of which brought but a single name into focus with such sharp clarity that he could not stop it from escaping his lips. “Sesshoumaru.”

Kagome's mouth dropped as Inu Yasha spoke his brother's name. She watched as the hanyou blinked his mind into focus before jumping to his feet again.

“That bastard? Where is he?” he cried as he fumed at his brother's mark upon HIS Kagome's neck. “Did he hurt you?” He questioned as he walked forward with out stretched hands only to be shoved violently to the floor. Inu Yasha groaned quietly as he rubbed his neck. “What the hell?”

Kagome jumped out of bed and stood in between the two men. “Don't Sesshoumaru!” She scolded, seemingly into thin air.

Inu Yasha looked at around the room and then at the naked girl in front of him blushing lightly. “Where is he Kagome? I don't see him.” He sniffed at the air, “ I don't smell him.” Inu yasha watched as Kagome seemed to argue with herself.

“You promised!” She paused briefly, “No! I don't that it does..........How did you think I would act?.........You know he would never do that............You should trust me...............You certainly don't act like it...............I can take care of myself.”

“Kagome?” Inu Yasha questioned as his eyebrow twitched in confusion.

“Stay out of this Inu Yasha.” She barked as she turned away from him again, continuing to q wit with Sesshoumaru.

“I never asked you to protect me.” She quipped.

“We are mates, that is my duty and right.” Sesshoumaru countered.

“He wasn't attacking, he was just upset, he can't even see you.” She answered.

“That is beyond my control, and besides I did not harm him............even though I greatly desire to.” He answered finally as he crossed his arms against his bare chest, mumbling the last part.

“Fine!” She growled as she glared into the demon lords face stubbornly, “May I at least have a moment to explain to Inu Yasha why he can't see you, or do you still believe he will “attack” me?”

“Not in that attire.” The demon lord stated coldly.

Kagome looked down, noticing for the first time that she was standing naked, in front of Inu Yasha. Her face grew beat red as she grabbed her backpack and ducked behind a large chair in the corner of the room.

“Kagome, what's going on?” Inu Yasha questioned as Kagome began changing.

The young miko quickly dressed and brought herself to kneel in front of where Inu Yasha had been sitting on the floor.

She took a deep breath, “Do you remember your brother now?” She asked meekly.

Inu Yasha nodded slowly and remembered her story of being save by Sesshoumaru. For some reason he recalled not recognizing the name, but he could not explain why.

“You're under a spell.” She began again. “Sesshoumaru is here, but you can't see him....I....some things happened while I was trapped....some things I didn't want to tell you about...and when I finally returned home....I found myself wishing there was a way I could hide it from you.” She covered the mark on her neck as she felt Inu Yasha stare at it again. “I didn't mean to.....well...I didn't mean for any of it to happen.” She smiled over her shoulder and placed a hand on top of Sesshoumaru's as he placed it against her shoulder comfortingly. “But it has.....and I realize now...even though it would hurt you....I should have just been honest.”

Inu Yasha let a growl build up in his chest that seemed to get louder as it found it's way to his lips. Kagome braced herself for what she assumed would be a lot of screaming, that she decided she very much deserved, considering how she had handled things.

Inu Yasha clenched his teeth, rising to his feet and opened his mouth to speak. “Where is he?” He questioned.

Kagome blinked.

“Where is he Kagome?...You can see him?...Tell me where he is and I'll destroy him!” He screamed as he unsheathed Tetsiega and stepped forward.

“Inu Yasha no!” She cried as the hanyou slashed wildly around the room.

“Tell me Kagome!” He screamed once more as he stared into the young girl's eyes. “Where is he?!?!”