A Sister's Gift

Chapter 14 – New Attitude

Kagome stirred when she heard the horse whinny. It was barely light out and the rain had apparently stopped. She blinked a few times to clear some of the fuzziness from her vision, then glanced around for Sesshomaru. He was sitting in the same spot he had been before she fell asleep. His molten gaze flashed in the dim light of the cave. Kagome caught her breath briefly upon seeing his glowing eyes, lit up like those of a predator in the night. Quickly it registered that it was her demon lord, staring at her.

Sesshomaru’s velvet voice cut through the silence, “Ohayou Mistress.”

“Ohayou Sesshomaru,” Kagome replied softly.

Gracefully the tall youkai rose to his feet, “Mistress, I require nourishment. I request your permission to go on a brief hunt. I have thoroughly scanned the area, and you should be safe until I return”

Kagome quickly gave her approval, and watched as he disappeared into the hazy dawn. She sat there for a moment, trying to remember the last time she actually witnessed him eating since they left Sango’s. Much to her distress, she couldn’t remember one time. She was well aware that he required more than just human food. Had he been starving these many days? The thought sent an ache through her chest. She would just have to ask him when he returned. From now on she would make sure he was eating. No way was she going to have him starving.

Speaking of starving, Kagome dug through her bag and pulled out a piece of jerky and some dried figs. By the time she consumed her little meal, tidied her hair, and packed her things away she caught sight of a glimmering white flash in the corner of her eye.

Sesshomaru walked into the cave and began the process of saddling the horses. Kagome immediately went to his side. “Sesshomaru, have you been going hungry since we left Sango’s?”

He regarded her for just a moment. She had a note of concern to her voice. “I do not require daily nourishment, however I do require fresh game every few days.”

Kagome pushed the image of Sesshomaru eating ‘fresh game’ out of her mind. Not a pleasant thought. She grabbed his wrist bringing his full attention to her. “You have my permission to hunt whenever you need to. I do not ever want you to go hungry.”

Sesshomaru acknowledged this with a short bow, and continued in his task of saddling the horses. Kagome understood that he was a little reserved about discussing his eating habits with her, and decided not to press the issue further.

“Hmm I wish I could take a bath,” Kagome mused aloud just before stepping into the saddle. She squeaked when Sesshomaru suddenly pulled her back. The awkwardness of being pulled while balancing on one foot, threw her back roughly against his broad chest. While the minor impact was a little startling, the feel of his strong warmth flush against her, sending a delightful set of shivers through her body.

Sesshomaru almost pushed her away, in order to keep the tightly controlled grip on his sanity. The overpowering scent of her arousal, combined with her racing heartbeat, was just too much to bare. For a moment he stood frozen, unsure of what to do. What his instincts were telling him to do was definitely not in the guidelines to being a Protector. He wanted to crush her frail body against him and capture her soft pouty lips with his own.

His beast knew what it wanted. It wanted to bury his engorged length deeply inside of her tight core and feel her writhing beneath him. It wanted to take her in every way imaginable. Yes, the beast wanted to mark her for his own.

Sesshomaru dared not move at that moment. Afraid that the beast would have his way. He was not entirely sure that the necklace he wore could fend off his inner demon. True, it held him captive easily enough with its powerful enchantment, but it would have to be potent indeed to hold back the all consuming devil within him.

The taiyoukai was disturbed at the ferocity at which his dark side fought to be released. Never had it been so unruly. Mutual co-operation was usually the name of the game. Separate, but the same. A dual effort to maintain balance, in order to sustain life. Yin and Yang.

It suddenly became very clear to Sesshomaru that not only did he find this woman appealing, but his beast wanted her badly as well, enough to actually fight against him. This knowledge would have to be thought through carefully. The fact that for all intents and purposes, he was simply the miko’s property, would definitely mean many tumulus times ahead.

When she moved to look up at him, Sesshomaru lost just a little more of his inner struggle. Enough to forget about his station for the moment. He was trapped in her sparkling chestnut gaze, and did not even realize what he was doing. His face lowered as he closed his eyes. Her lips met his with such velvety softness that he was sure it was the touch of a cloud. A flash of how wrong this was, pushed against his desire, but it was swiftly stomped down as he felt her answering his kiss.

The taiyoukai groaned as Kagome slipped her tiny hands around his neck, thoroughly entangling her fingers in his thick hair. The softness of her brought his tongue out to trace her lower lip, begging for entrance into the treasure of her sweet mouth. With just the tiniest parting of her lips, Sesshomaru slipped his long tongue into her mouth to taste her. Ever so timidly she touched the tip of her tongue to his own, and he felt his arousal begin to peak.

Kagome was simply washed away with the pleasure of the moment. His probing tongue invaded her mouth with want, and it sent her mind reeling with desire. The fog creeping over her was light and soft, clouding her thoughts to propriety and reason. She felt so alive with this strange feeling coursing through her young body, that it was almost overwhelming. As the kiss slowly came to an end, Kagome opened her eyes to stare into Sesshomaru’s golden orbs. She could clearly see the passion displayed there, but it seemed there was something else. Something she couldn’t quite put her fingers on.

With one last silent roar, Sesshomaru caged the beast. It took a power he had no idea he possessed. He wanted her badly, and if she were a female youkai, he would have let nothing stop him from making her his, but alas, this was no youkai. This was a fragile, loving, human miko. A beautiful woman, inside and out. He could not take her in the ways of the youkai. His beast could not be allowed to have the reins. Sesshomaru would have to keep him at bay, so as not to harm this delicate flower.

He looked into her glazed eyes, and flushed face. Still only inches apart, as they both searched the other for answers that neither held. Slowly Sesshomaru raised his hand, and with one graceful clawed finger he lightly traced along her lower lip. “I will not beg your forgiveness for kissing you any longer Kagome. If I must be punished, then I am willing to accept my fate.”

Kagome felt another rush of heat at his softly spoken words. She did not reply, however, as she was sure that her voice had left her. Instead she smiled gently, and leaned forward to plant another quick kiss on his lips.

Reluctantly Sesshomaru released his hold on Kagome. “If you still wish to bathe, there is a stream just through the brush behind this cliff. I will take you there.”

Kagome gratefully accepted his offer and quickly pulled out her things from her pack.