My Boyfriend's Brother

Is that disclaimer required? I don’t know. The name Hakuryuu belongs to CLAMP and Kazuya Minekura. I make no profit from using it in my fanfiction.


I would like to thank all of you who continue to read and review my story. I would not continue this fanfiction without your support and in some cases your criticism…

Madmiko
You always have such positive words of encouragement for me. I’m glad that I still have the capacity to surprise you even when you anticipate correctly what is coming next. I wonder if you’ll still feel sorry for Sessh when you’ve read this new chapter? I’m glad that you have some sympathy for Kagome though she is the “bad guy” at the moment. As for Mom giving her a talking to… I decided to leave Mom out of it. I’m glad I’m giving such an accurate depiction of the crankiness of pregnant women!

Hahaha… I’m kind of embarrassed about that one! Why didn’t Inuyasha jump into the well?! Glad you like the Inuyasha/Sesshomaru scenes. What did they talk about? Hmm… They’re manly men, you know! Not big on talking unless it’s deep and meaningful… A friend of mine once told me that when you think you’ve made a good job of hiding things, there’s always somebody who sees it and brings it out of you. I thought an old friend like Ayumi would be just the ticket.


Naomi
Well things have to go from bad to worse before they can get better, right? Yes, I am enjoying torturing you!

Alatera
Sesshomaru does “guy stuff”. I afraid to ask in case he growls at me… A lot of your concerns will be ironed out in this new chapter when Kagome and Sesshomaru finally have a serious talk and some alone time. I get that you’re annoyed by the Inuyasha angle but that’s how things have gone. I don’t actually tell you what Sesshomaru is thinking a lot of the time. I prefer to let you learn about him from other people. Perhaps it’s a weakness but with so few characters it’s going to be Inuyasha a lot of the time….

Szaugglaughs
Glad you’re still finding it hot! I always aim to please in that department… Read on to find out how Kagome takes everything.

Raysha
Thanks Raysha. I love it when people love my story.

Eva
I hope not! I want you alive to read my story!




CHAPTER TWELVE

He noticed immediately how much rounder her belly was. He was surprised because it had only been two weeks since she he had left her at the well. She had been round before that, but it had only been a faint curve compared to this. Perhaps her pregnancy was more progressive than even he had originally estimated? He let Inuyasha run ahead of him, so he reached her first. He took her in his arms. He picked her up and swung her around, once, twice, three times before setting her down on her feet and claiming a kiss.

He walked forward to greet Rin. She was holding sleepy Kyoko in her arms. He touched the infant’s dark head. For a moment he stopped to wonder how they had all gotten out of the well without help. Then again Kagome was a resourceful female. Obviously she had found a way. He squatted down to Rin’s level and touched her cheek. As he pressed his lips to her forehead, he noticed that she again gotten taller. When he drew back her eyes were slightly wide. She smiled when she met his eyes. It warmed his heart. She reached out to stroke his cheek. He leaned into the caress.

A tiny hand touched his arm. He turned towards the interloper and met large golden eyes. Makoto! He realised he was smiling as he swept the little puppy boy up into his arms and pressed him against his chest above his armour. The child squealed and giggled as he rubbed his nose in his belly, inhaling his sweet scent. He felt large eyes on him and he turned towards the starer. Little Shippo was looking slightly lost. He set Makoto down on his feet and beckoned to the Kitsune. The fox cub’s eyes widened slightly. Then he grinned and ran to him.

Kagome he greeted last of all. He pressed her to his chest, not saying anything at all for a long time. At first his kisses were confined to the top of her head and her hairline. Then he kissed along the side of her face. She cupped his face in her hands and saw the hurt. His eyes told her just how much he had missed her. She drew his face down to her level and he let her kiss him. He closed his eyes and savoured the tenderness of the caress. Then he pulled away.

“Let us go.”

He turned and walked towards the children, leaving her staring after him. On the journey he did not speak. Even when they stopped to rest he seemed to be engaged elsewhere, talking to Inuyasha and the children or scouting the area. It was almost dawn before they reached the mansion. Once the children were all safely tucked up in their beds, she fell asleep by the fire. Inuyasha gathered her up in his arms. He looked at his older brother. He nodded. Then he carried her out of the room and put her into his bed.

The next morning she awoke, not knowing where she was. She looked about her in panic. Then when she realised she was lying in Inuyasha’s bed, she sank back against the pillows with a sigh. She was home, but was it really home if she was at odds with the demon she loved the most? Again she sighed. Then she threw back the covers and went in search of him. Neither he, nor Inuyasha were in the mansion. Seemingly they had gone off to patrol as usual. Great! Thanks guys! My first day back and you couldn’t hang around to have breakfast with me, just this once! That’s love for you…

By the time they returned it was mid to late afternoon. She was in the grounds with the children when they swept overhead, racing each other towards the house, in competition to use the washing facilities first. Inuyasha flashed her a grin and blew her kiss before continuing on. Sesshomaru carried on as though oblivious to her presence. She stared after him angrily, small hands curling into fists. After asking Yuki to watch the children she started back towards the mansion.

He was standing by the bed towelling himself dry by the time she made it back to the mansion. When she rolled back the shoji door and stood transfixed by the sight of her mate naked, he merely glanced at her and carried on. Then moments later, when he realised she had not moved he looked at her again.

“Would you mind closing the door?”, he said, “I would prefer if the servants did not know what their lord and master looks like without his clothing…”

His tone was condescending, but the sound of his voice was still pleasing to her ear. Her face flushed. Her anger and frustration flared. She struggled to keep the strong emotions in check.

“Fine!”, she cried, stepping into the room and sliding the door shut with a bang.

He gave her the barest of glances. She folded her arms carefully beneath her swollen breasts and walked a little further into the room. She watched him put on his inner kimono and the outer kimono, still marvelling at how well he managed after all this time. Then he stepped into his hakama, arranged the kimono within it and tied it taut at the waist. He sat down on the bed and pulled his socks on.

All the while he was conscious of her standing there glaring at him. The weight of her gaze bored into his face and body as if it had attacking power. He looked at her. Would it be too much to ask her to pass my hairbrush instead of standing there looking decorative? One corner of his mouth turned up. No. That would make her angry. She would probably throw it at me…

“Is there a reason you are here with me Kagome?”, he said, “Or did you just miss the sight of your mate dressing?”

She scowled at him. Wow! So he’s finally condescended to talk to me again…

“Isn’t it obvious?”, she said, “I want to talk. Really talk…”

His wide eyes went a little wider. He stared at her. Then he was on his feet walking towards her, a determined look on his face. Her body went rigid, feeling his energy flare. She stood her ground. What’s he going to do? He walked past her, sleeve brushing her kimono. Then he pulled back the shoji. She whirled around, an angry look on her face.

“Hey! Where are you…”

He held up his hand. Instinctively she fell silent. Inwardly, she cursed herself for complying so readily. She scowled at him.

“Wait here”, he instructed her, “I shall be back…”

He stepped out of the room and slid the door shut behind him. Then she heard him walk down the hall. She glowered.

“Fine! Whatever…”

She sank to her knees on the floor. She was feeling slightly dizzy from the race back to the house and from standing still in one spot for so long.



The sounds of water running were no longer to be heard in the bathroom. Sesshomaru concluded that his younger brother had already returned to his room. He hurried along the corridor and without announcing himself, rolled back the door of the half-demon’s room. He entered and shut the door firmly behind him. His younger brother looked at him in surprise. He was standing by the bed naked as the day he was born. When his eyes met his older brother’s eyes, he scowled at him.

“Hey! Do you mind, Sessh? I could have been doing something that required a little privacy… Announce yourself in future, would you? Give me a little time to cover up…”

The demon lord ignored the sarcasm in his younger sibling’s voice. He advanced towards him. The half-demon picked up his towel and wrapped it around his lower body, not wanting to be naked if they were going to talk. The circumstances were different and there was a fresh understanding between them, but the incident at the hot spring was still fresh in his mind. He reached his side. He waited for him to speak.

“Inuyasha…”

“Yes?”

“I would like you to go outside and spend the afternoon with the children in the grounds. I would prefer it if you did not return for sometime…”

A small furrow appeared between his eyebrows.

“Why?”, he said.

“I should like some alone time with Kagome…”

“Oh… I see…”

He raised his eyebrows.

“So soon? She’s just gotten back!”

The half-demon made a small, frustrated noise. The older male resisted the urge to growl back at him.

“I am aware of that fact”, he said, “But she wishes to talk. If the argument becomes heated and voices are raised, could you trust yourself not to interfere?”

He raised an eyebrow. The half-demon scowled at him. They stared at each other. The younger male looked away first. He sighed.

“You’re probably right”, he said, “Very well… I’ll go spend the afternoon with the pups.”

“Thank you…”

He levelled his gaze at him.

“You’re welcome!”

The corners of the demon lord’s mouth turned up. Then he dropped his gaze to look at his younger brother’s body. The half-demon could feel his face flush. He scowled at his older brother as he met his eyes again.

“Hey!”, he cried, “Don’t you remember what I said at the hot spring?”

The demon lord fought the urge to laugh. His eyes glittered with the effort. Inuyasha could be so adorable when he was indignant.

“Every word”, he said, “But that does not mean I cannot tease…”

The corners of his mouth turned up. He reached out and caressed the tip of one of his soft, white dog ears. The half-demon made a slight sound, caught between surprise and pleasure.

“You prick!”, he said, scowling.

The demon lord smiled wider, flashing fang. He bowed his head.

“Thank you, little brother!”

He released the ear. Then he turned and walked away from his younger brother. He looked back at him before he exited the room. For once the demon lord looked anxious.

“Please hurry, Inuyasha.”

The half-demon nodded. Then the door slid shut and his older brother’s hurried footsteps were heard in the hallway.



She was sitting on the bed when he returned. She glanced up at him as he walked into the room. Then she dropped her gaze again. He settled on the floor in front of her and patiently waited for her to speak. Her eyes were on her small hands clasped together in a tight ball in her lap.

“Things have been a little strained between us for a while, haven’t they?”, she said.

“So I had noticed…”

She raised her head and met his eyes. Like his face they were impassive, almost bored looking. She frowned.

“You say it like it’s all my fault!”, she said, voice rising, “There are other factors!”

He raised an elegant eyebrow at her loss of control. Her face flushed.

“So explain”, he said, “You have my full attention.”

She was silent for a few moments, trying to gather her scattered thoughts into something resembling organised speech.

“You’re not always the easiest person, uh, demon to live with…”, she began.

He sighed.

“I never claimed to be”, he said, “Do you not remember our deal when I made you my mate? I said I would try to adjust to your ways if you could learn to live with mine…”

“I remember… But what if I don’t want to have to learn to live with it?”

He stared at her. A coldness crept into his eyes.

“Does that mean you would rather leave me and set up home with Inuyasha elsewhere?”

Her eyes went wide. She stared at him.

“No, whatever gave you that idea?!”, she cried.

He grunted softly.

“I could not fail to notice that every time you need to talk, he is the one you go to first…”

There was an edge to his voice she did not like. Like you don’t sound horribly, insanely jealous when you say that?! But you do have a point…She considered this.

“Yes, I know I have been doing that an awful lot lately, but it wasn’t always like that… I just find him easier to talk to because I’ve known him longer, that’s all. You can’t blame him for the divide between us…”

He snorted.

“Why not?”

“Because it was your idea to invite him into our bed in the first place! Also, the final decision as to whether or not Inuyasha should become my second mate was down to you… It’s not like I pushed you into it!”

“True. At the time I saw him as a bridge between us, and you as a bridge between he and I... I never thought he would be the one to tear us apart!”

“That’s rich! Right now, the only one tearing us apart is you with that kind of stupid talk! If I didn’t know any better I’d say you were jealous?!”

He sighed.

“Can you blame me for being jealous, Kagome? I cannot be him for you. I am
what I am, and that used to be good enough for you. I can only change to suit myself not others…”

A furrow appeared between her eyebrows.

“But I don’t want you to change! I don’t want you to be him! I want you to be you! I just wish that sometimes you’d tone down this need of yours to be dominant all the time, to always been in control…”

He snorted.

“I am a Taiyoukai! It is in my nature to always be in control. You could say it is one of the most intrinsic characteristics of…”

He narrowed his eyes.

“Or would you rather I be like Inuyasha and play silly games to please you?”

He saw her eyes widen slightly. A soft sound escaped her lips.

“Do you think I do not know what goes on between you?”, he said, “You make a fool out of him!”

“Hey! Don’t you dare talk about him like that! At least he’s open to experimentation. It’s the same old thing with you every time…”

Again he snorted.

“Like your tired games are so creative? You begin to bore me…”

She stared at him, eyes a little wide.

“Are you trying to hurt me? That is possibly one of the worst things you could have said… I only meant that sometimes I want to be the one in the dominant position. I would like to be the one in control…”

He snorted.

“Control?! You do not know the meaning of the word! Your head is so filled with turgid rubbish… Just when I think I have shaken the last of it out, again you surprise me!”

She gasped.

“So I’m good enough to screw and make babies with but that’s about it… I’m not much good for anything else?!”

A slight widening of his eyes was the only indication he gave that she had surprised him with her words. Then his mouth curled into a bitterly mocking smile.

“You said it. Not I, wench…”

Her pretty face contorted in outrage.

“You bastard!”

When she recalled the incident later she did not remember standing or crossing the room. In fact she could not remember at what point he had stood during the argument. Her hand slapped across his face in her anger, nails accidentally drawing blood. A gasp escaped her lips realising what she had done. He so looked surprised it was almost comical. She stifled the urge to laugh.

She watched his hand reach up to touch the injury, smearing blood across his skin. He inspected the stain on his fingers. She felt his anger flare. He turned towards her, face impassive as usual. Then he was on her, forcing her to her knees as he trapped her arm in a painful joint lock behind her. She struggled against him, exacerbating the injury. She cried out in pain.

“Cease your struggling this instant”, he ordered her, voice low and menacing, “You forget how delicate your weak human flesh is but I do not. An unexpected movement in the wrong direction and your arm will separate from the socket…”

“But you’re hurting me!”

Tears sprang to her eyes. Her voice was a painful gasp. A furrow appeared between his eyebrows.

“Yes, as is my right…”

“What are you talking about?!”

“Stupid woman! As your mate it is my duty and my privilege to discipline you if you become unruly. Do not human husbands not have similar rights? Had I exercised this right beforehand perhaps we would not be in this quandary… I have allowed you to be altogether too free. That you should have been able to injure me…”

Her surprise showed on her face.

“You’re doing this because I scratched your face?”, she cried, “Wow! I knew you took a lot of pride in your appearance but I didn’t think you were that vain and petty! It will heal in a matter of hours…”

He shook his head. Then he realised she could not see the gesture.

“No”, he said, “Whether you realise it or not, when you slapped me your ki flared. So when you scratched me, you used some of your intrinsic purifying power. The scratch smarts like a burn and it will heal human slow.”

He jerked on the arm as if making a point. She cried out in pain.

“Aaaahhh! Damn you, Sessh! It’s only a little scratch and it’s not like I meant to do it deliberately. Even if it does heal human slow, it will heal… God! I almost wish this baby was Inuyasha’s. That he had gotten me pregnant that day at the woods… The consequences be damned!”

He released her from the hold. Then he grabbed her and turned her towards him before she could scramble away. He pulled her to her feet. She nursed the injured arm and shoulder, ignoring the furious expression on his face.

“Look at me wench!”, he cried.

She complied, compelled by the authoritative tone of his voice.

“You will repeat exactly what you just said!”, he said.

He shook her a little for emphasis. She made a small sound of pain as he rattled the injured shoulder. She stared at him, realising for the first time that Sesshomaru was actually shouting. His eyes were tinged red around the edges. Wow! I don’t think I’ve ever seen him get this angry with me… Yet she still did not believe that he would hurt her.

“All of it or just part of it?”, she said.

“From the word “baby” onwards!”

She squared her shoulders. She took a breath and stared directly into his eyes.

“I said, I wish this was Inuyasha’s baby, that it was he who had gotten me pregnant, that day in the woods… The consequences be damned!”

She was amazed by how even her voice sounded. He growled, showing his teeth. Then he dragged her roughly in the direction of the bed, clawed hand was gripping her arm too hard in his fury, bruising her flesh. His claws pierced holes in her clothing and punctured the skin underneath. She whimpered in pain. Tears sprang to her eyes.

“Stop it! You’re hurting me again! Uhhh!”

She cried out as he lifted her up and flung her onto bed. Her head and upper body came to rest on the mound of pillows near the head. Fear rose in her throat. She struggled to draw body up from the sea of softness, quickly realising that the situation had gone from bad to worse.

Whose idea was it to have such a big a pile of pillows on the bed anyway? They always end up on the floor…She tried to roll off the bed and put its mass between them, but he was on her in an instant. He rolled her on to her back again. He straddled her thighs, pinning her lower body to the bed.

She struggled, slapping at his chest and face. She heard him grunt. Whether it was in pain or exasperation she did not know or care. He seized one wrist and then the other holding them easily in one large hand. She writhed beneath him, trying in vain to free herself. He was in control. She knew this but she would not easily concede defeat. He leaned over her and she turned her head to the side with a cry. He spoke in her ear, breath tickling her skin.

“It is useless to struggle, Kagome”, he said, “You only tire yourself. Why not just admit defeat and I will let you go?”

Never! She turned her face towards him. Her jaw was taut with anger. Her eyes blazed with it.

“What is this?”, she said, “Is this your idea of a game? Look at yourself! You’re a large, powerful demon holding a weak, human, pregnant woman down. You’re nothing but a bully and a coward!”

Her words seemed to amuse him. He sneered and it chilled her to the bone.

“Oh! Am I not giving you what you wanted? My apologies… I know how much you like to play, Kagome. Especially when it is with the lives of others…”

She stared at him wide-eyed.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about…”

He raised his eyebrows. Then they pulled together in a scowl.

“Really? Like you do not derive some kind of sick pleasure from playing my brother and I off against each other?!”

She frowned at him.

“Now, you’ve really lost me…”

He raised his eyes to heaven.

“She says I have lost her!”

Confusion showed on her face.

“Who are you talking to?”, she said.

He laughed and it was a chilling sound, so bitter was it in its mockery. He met her eyes and she began to appreciate how the hunted feels when it looks into the cold eyes of the hunter. She shivered though the room was not cold. Then perversely she began to sweat.

“I am talking about this whole pup debacle!”, he cried, “You allow my brother to pound you like a whore out in the woods without protection. Then, when you return home, you do not say a word! That speaks volumes about your sense of having done wrong… As if it was not obvious to my nose what you had been doing!”

Her eyes went wide. Then her face contorted in anger.

“Did you really just call me a whore?! How dare you! You son of a bitch! How did you know we didn’t use protection anyway? Were you spying on us or did you choke the details out of Yasha sometime later, huh?!”

He snorted.

“Hardly! He was forthcoming with the truth but it did not matter at that stage. I overhead you talking in the bathroom on the day you left… Besides, when I had my head between your legs that night, I could smell and taste his seed on you, despite the fact that you had bathed. How fortunate that you had already conceived!”

She stared at him for a long moment.

“So you knew all along and you never said a word?”, she said.

Her voice was quiet. It was like the calm before a storm.

“Yes”, he said.

She shook her head.

“You sad, sad bastard… And you accused me of getting a kick out of this! All this time you knew and you let the just pressure build up! Have you any idea how much sleep I lost over this?!”

Her voice rose again. He stared at her impassively.

“Obviously not enough… You could have brought it all to a head at any time but you chose to stay silent. All you had to say was that it was a silly game that had spiralled out of control and I would have forgiven you, but no… You could not do that! You compounded lie upon lie and made my simple-minded brother your unwitting accomplice!”

She frowned at him.

“Yasha is not simple-minded… He can think for himself.”

“Not around you…”

“You prick! You make it sound like I’ve been plotting for weeks, trying to turn Yasha against you! Like I was trying to topple you and take your best ally with me…”

“Did I not just say so?”

He raised his eyebrows. She stared at him.

“What?! Now I know you’re utterly delusional! I love you, you idiot, despite everything you’ve said. Why the hell would I freeze you out if it wasn’t for self-preservation? Where the hell is Yasha anyway? I’m surprised he hasn’t come running in at this stage! If you don’t believe me, at least you’ll believe him… Yasha!”

She began to struggle anew.

“Yasha!”, she called.

She happened to glance up at Sesshomaru. He was smiling. It was not a nice smile. Then she realised the mansion was too quiet. Her fear spiked. Her heart began to beat so fast she could feel the thud of it against her breastbone.

“Why isn’t he coming?”, she said, hating how small and pathetic her voice sounded, “Where is he? Where are the servants?”

He leaned over her, hair falling around them with a silken hiss. His face was unmoving. His eyes were like ice.

“There is nobody here, Kagome, just you and I and the truth… That is, if you still know what the truth is?”

She stared at him in horror. Then she began to scream, over and over again. Her mate frowned. The sound hurt his ears.

“Cease and desist that horrible noise at once!”

His order was ignored. She continued to scream. He let go of her wrists to clamp his hand over her mouth. The sound was muted in mid cry. Her eyes went wide in panic. Then her hands moved, faster than he thought possible. One clamped around his wrist and he felt the nails dig into his flesh. The other scored his cheek as simultaneously she bit down on the palm his callused hand, and the back, drawing blood. The wounds burned with a searing heat. He roared in pain and surprise. For a moment she felt his fear. Then it was replaced by blinding rage.

“Damned Miko bitch!”

He pulled his hand out of her mouth, hitting her jaw a glancing blow. She grunted in pain, slightly stunned by the accidental hit. Her hand on his wrist fell away. She focused her eyes in time to see him raise his hand above his head, fingers poised to strike. Her eyes went wide with the certainty she was going to die. A tiny, hopeless sound escaped her lips.

His claws slashed across her chest, tearing the cloth of her kimono and scraping the flesh underneath. She made a small sound of pain, relieved to be alive, at least temporarily. He continued his assault on her clothing, appearing not to care when his claws happened to slice the skin underneath as well. She whimpered each time it occurred. She stared up at him, a confused look on her face. Then the realisation hit her.

“What are you doing?”, she said, with a mounting sense of horror.

Her voice was quiet. He paused long enough to stare at her with eerie red eyes. Then he ripped open the chest of her kimono, exposing her mutilated bra. His claws tore the thin piece of cloth and elastic between the underwired cups. Then he pushed the cups of the ruined bra aside, exposing her breasts.

He reached out and took one soft pink nipple between his thumb and forefinger. He pinched and rolled it between his fingers, causing it to harden painfully. She made a soft cry. The sensation snaked down her body to her groin, causing muscles to spasm and her hips to jerk beneath him.

“Stop!”, she gasped, “We’re fighting. I don’t want to have sex with you!”

He gave her a look that suggested he cared very little for her objections. His hand rubbed the swell of her upper chest. Then it followed the curve of the breast down around. Cupping it in his hand he fondled her, none too gently. A soft whimper escaped her lips. Despite herself, her body was responding to him. She wanted to press her tender flesh back into that rough hand, creating more friction as it moved back and forth.

“No, stop! I don’t want it!”, she cried

She pushed at his arm and hip trying to discourage him and dislodge him if possible. Hopefully if she could affect his balance enough she could gain some leverage. He grunted softly at her efforts but he was still as unmoving as stone. She wriggled beneath him but her lower body remained firmly pinned. Her renewed struggling created the undesired effect of fulfilling her earlier wish. She moaned softly.

“No…”

She temporarily went still. He took his hand away from her breast and tore open the rest of her ruined kimono. By some miracle the half-slip had survived fairly intact. He soon made short work of it. He trailed his hand down the curve of her belly. She swallowed. This is really happening…

“No! Don’t touch me anymore! I won’t have it!”

She slapped and pushed at his hand moving over her flesh, aggravating the earlier injuries. He snarled at her, showing his teeth. She gave a gasp of fear and surprise. Then she cried out in pain as her hands were wrenched painfully above her head and tied with the ruined belt of her own obi to one of the bedposts. She struggled in vain, head moving from side to side, upsetting her carefully arranged hair. Tears blurred her vision.

“No, no, no! Don’t do this, Sessh! I’m sorry, I’m sorry… I know I shouldn’t have lied and made Yasha help me but I was afraid. I was afraid of what you’d do…”

Her protests were falling on deaf ears. She felt the pressure on her legs ease but her freedom was short lived. What remained of the half-slip was torn away. Then her thighs were quickly splayed and pinned again by his weight.

“No! No! Don’t! I’ll be good. I promise. I’ll do anything you ask… Anything!”

She heard the rustle of silk and looked down her body at him. The sight of him undoing his own clothing, something that usually filled her with excitement, now filled her with dread. Her eyes went wide as they fell on his erection, so swollen she imagined she could see it throbbing. A thrill of fear ran through her. She renewed her efforts.

“No, wait, please! Not while I’m tight! I’m too tight! It’s one thing for Yasha to push into me when I’m tight, but he’s smaller than you are. You’re too big! You’ll tear me apart!”

Her voice rose. He growled low and menacingly in his throat. He reached out hand to cover her mouth as he leaned over her. She wrenched her head to the side away from his hand.

“No, don’t! Stop! Please Sessh! My baby… Don’t hurt my baby!”

Her voice rose to screaming pitch. His hips thrust downwards, ready to plunge into her. Then he went still. A shuddering breath worked its way along the length of his body. He raised his head slowly to meet her eyes, hips still poised over hers. Surprise was the word that popped into her head to describe his expression. His eyes were so wide. The red was ebbing away. His irises were gold once more. His hand reached up to touch her face but she gave a soft cry and flinched away.

“Just untie me!”

Her voice gave the order but the cry sounded disembodied as if it had not originated from her throat. She was conscious of the bed shifting beneath her as he moved. Then she felt the pressure on her arm sockets ease as he untied her wrists. She kept her eyes averted not wanting to see his face or look upon his mostly naked body. She struggled to free her wrists, snatching her hands away when he tried to help her. Once they were free, she rolled away from him. She brought her legs up, drew the remains of her tattered clothing around her and cried.



He felt numb trying to reconcile the loving mate he had been with the violent, jealous, petty one he had become. It seemed like Kagome had been crying forever. He could only stare at her, watching her body shake as she struggled for breath between sobs. Emotions began to seep through the fog of numbness. Horror, love, sorrow, guilt, fear… He wanted to crush her to his chest and tell her how sorry he was, but he knew it was better not to try to touch her. At least not for now.

The bed shifted beneath him as she drew herself up and flung her legs over the side of the bed. She tried to close the torn remains of her clothing around her. His gaze bored into her back, not wanting to be the first to speak. If he could speak what could he say? He was relieved of the burden when she cleared her throat and readied herself to speak.

“The time to start talking to you was when I felt I could no longer talk to your anymore… I know now I never should have kept what happened from you. It was wrong of me and I’m sorry. I thought that if it turned out to be your baby after all, then I would never have had to say a word… So, what just happened, what I almost made you do… It’s my fault for not being a better mate to you.”

Her voice was clear though her shoulders were trembling. She wiped at her face. He knew she was crying again. He could smell the tang of salt on the air. For some moments he was silent, staring at her back in utter surprise. He had expected anger but not this. He would feel so much better if she would just fly at him, beat him with her tiny fists and rend his flesh with her nails. He would not resist.

“No”, he said, quietly, “The fault is mine. My first duty as your mate is to protect you, not to take from by force that which I cherish and put the life of our unborn pup in danger… I am guessing you have seen the results of youkai/human rape on your travels?”

She nodded.

“Yes, once or twice. The injuries were horrible… The victim was usually dead by the time I saw… Thank God!”

She shuddered and closed her eyes trying to block out the mental image.

“I pushed you into action. I should have known better than to make you so angry. I just wouldn’t shut up when you told me to and then I attacked you with my powers! You gave me a chance to stop all of it but I just wouldn’t take the hint… I’m so stupid!”

He shook his head vehemently. Then he realised she could not see the gesture.

“No. I am the elder, the stronger, the dominant… The dominant always knows when enough is enough. This time I did not. The failing is mine and mine alone.”

She was silent, not having the strength to argue with him any further.

“The pup is alright?”, he said, “It is not hurt?”

He sounded stricken. Automatically she looked down at her belly. She realised that all this time she had been unconsciously stroking her bump. He reached out his hand to touch her shoulder. She sensed movement and flinched away. He withdrew the hand. He pressed his fist against his chest, fingers curling into his palm. Blood dripped on to his bare skin and rolled down his torso.

“Kagome?”, he said.

“I don’t know… At least I don’t think so. I don’t feel any pain in the lower part of my stomach. I don’t think I’m bleeding internally…”

She turned her head and looked at him out of the corner of her eye.

“Can’t you tell?”, she said.

He shook his head.

“No, not from this distance. My nose is confused by the blood from the wounds I inflicted on you. I would have to make a more intimate examination…”

He saw her eyes go wide and her lower body jerk. The muscles in her thighs convulsed as she instinctively drew her legs closer together. The gesture wounded him, but what hurt the most was that he was the cause of her distress.

“And I do not think you would be very forthcoming at this moment in time…”, he finished.

“No.”

There was a brief silence.

“There is another way…”, he said, “If you could bear it?”

She did not turn to look at him.

“What’s that?”, she said.

“If you would permit me to put my ear to your belly and listen for a heartbeat?”

For a moment she went very still, eyes slightly wide.

“Okay”, she said quietly.

She turned her body towards him. He caught a glimpse of the tender area secreted between her legs as she drew her them up and turned them to the side. There had been no underwear to rip. She did not wear it twenty-five days out of the month. Soon after the first visit to her mother, she had begun to wear her strange undergarments again. He had deliberately provoked an argument by ordering her not to wear them, saying they broke the line of her kimono.

He had enjoyed the argument almost as much as the make up sex that came afterwards. She compromised on the wearing of underwear if she could wear a brassiere every other day. At the moment, said brassiere was in shreds. It had been one of her favourites… At the time, his reasons had very little to do with appearance. He preferred unimpeded access to her breasts and damp curls when he slipped a sneaky hand under the layers of her kimono while they were petting….

He moved towards her. Her gaze was automatically drawn to his groin. A small sound escaped her lips. He stared down at her lap, automatically drawing the top half of her kimono around her breasts. She did not try to cover her belly and legs. He thought this strange until he realised she would only have to uncover them again for him. Always the practical one… He pulled up his hakama and tied the tie taut to cover his nakedness.

“Does that reassure you?”, he said.

She nodded, not meeting his eyes.

“A little…”

He swallowed the lump that had suddenly formed in his throat. He moved closer to her. Her body was rigid as if she was trying to contain her fear. It rolled of her in waves. He leaned down and pressed his ear to the warmth of her belly. A small sound escaped her lips. He felt her tremble but she did not pull away. He jerked his head away from her belly. Then he pressed it to the warmth of her flesh again.

“What is it?”, she cried, voice shrill.

A furrow automatically formed between his brows. Her voice had hurt his ears. He slowly straightened up and met her frightened eyes.

“Kagome…”

“Yes?”

“There are two distinct heartbeats…”

Her eyes went wide.

“What?!”, she said.

Her voice was shrill again. A frown line creased his brow.

“I said…”

“I heard you!”

He turned away from her, leaving her to her thoughts. She looked down at her round belly. He hands touched its warm mass. Joy surged in her chest and spread outwards, warming her to her extremities. Twins! I really am having twins! Ayumi thought so… She raised her head to look at Sesshomaru. Her mood darkened. But what kind of environment is this to bring more children into, when we can’t even talk to each other anymore without it degenerating into violence?

A sob escaped his lips. His broad shoulders quivered. She started. She stared at him. She saw a small movement in his shoulders again. He took a shuddering breath, causing his whole upper body to move. Is he crying? Is he really crying?! Silent tears belong to deep sorrow and pain... This I know. Then he really is sorry! She frowned. Or does he think himself too dignified to cry out loud like the rest of us?

“Sessh?”

“Do not talk to me!”

His voice sounded strange, as if it had become strangled in his throat. Her anger flared.

“Why not?”, she cried.

“Because I am not worthy!”

He sounded utterly wretched. He leaned forward and clutched his forehead in his hand. Her eyes went wide. He really is sorry!

“Whaaa?”, she said.

It was the most articulate answer she could manage at this moment in time. He made no answer. She tried again.

“Why not?”, she said.

“Because I am so undeserving! I almost destroyed everything I hold dear!”

“Maybe, but I did not help matters…”

She moved towards him. She reached around him and down until she touched the warmth of his cheek under tangle of his hair. It was slick with salty tears.

“And there is such a thing as forgiveness.”

He went still. His hand sought and closed around hers. Slowly, he lifted his body and head up. His cheeks were wet. His irises were dark gold with emotion. His eyes were rimmed red. The magenta stripe on each lid added to the effect. Beautiful even in his misery… His forehead and some of his hair was smeared with blood. She wondered where it had come from. She had not scratched his face badly enough for it to bleed like that.

“You would forgive me?”, he said.

His voice was quiet, slightly hoarse.

“Yes…”

“But I am so undeserving...”

His voice was flat. Her eyes narrowed. Her eyebrows moved together and her forehead furrowed into a scowl.

“I am your mate”, she cried, “I will decide if you are undeserving or not!”

His wide eyes opened a little wider.

“My lady has spoken…”

She slipped her hand out of his to touch his face and noticed that it was slick with something sticky. She looked down. Blood! Where the hell did that come from? It’s not mine… She looked at him. Then it must be his! Taking his hand in both of hers she eased his long, elegant fingers back and found the source of the bleeding. The claws were bloody. There were four deep crescent shapes imprinted into his palm. They were still filling up with blood. Oh! Oh crap! When did he do that?

“This hand needs to be bandaged”, she said calmly, voice almost businesslike, “It’s bleeding everywhere…”

She let his hand rest on her bare knee, palm up. Then she tore a strip of cloth off the end of her kimono, something that is not as easy as it sounds. Then she wrapped it tightly around his hand and tied the ends. She pushed the knot under the cloth at the front of his hand. Then she looked up and met his eyes. The whole time she had felt the weight of his gaze on her and she had studiously ignored him.

His lips were slightly parted, his chest heaving with strong emotion that overflowed into his eyes. She took his face in her hands, fingers stroking the sensitive markings on his cheeks. A soft sound spilled from his lips. Gently she pulled him down to her and laid a soft kiss on his lips.

She kissed him again. He kissed her back. She pushed her tongue between his parted lips, carefully negotiating around his fangs to touch the soft, wet organ to the warmth of his. Slowly it began to respond. She broke the kiss to meet his eyes. They were still closed.

“How can you bandage me, caress me, kiss me so intimately after what I’ve done?”, he said.

He opened his eyes to meet hers.

“Have I mated with a living saint?”

She shook her head.

“No, I’m just a woman…”

“Are you sure? Because sometimes I wonder if I dreamed you, that you are some kind of celestial maiden…”

“No, I’m real…”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m very sure… Would a vision’s lips and tongue be as warm as mine?”

His lips turned up at the corners. There was a spark of joy in his eyes.

“No, certainly not!”

He pressed his lips to her. She kissed him back. Encouraged by her response, he drew her across his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her belly and breasts against him. A soft noise like sigh sounded against her lips. She felt wetness of his tongue against her lower lip. She let her lips part and he slipped his tongue into the moist, sweetness of her mouth.

He licked the scratches on her skin clean. By the time that he was through she was trembling and breathing hard. He could smell the sweetness of her arousal rising up from between her legs. He longed to slip his fingers between her moist folds and find the small bud hidden between them just to watch her face in ecstasy, but he held back. She could feel the hardness of his erection against her bottom through their clothing. She stared up at him, wondering why he hesitated. She touched his face.

“Don’t you want me?”, she said softly.

A soft sound like a gasp fell from his lips. His eyes were overflowing.

“Yes…”

“So why do you hold back?”

“I…”

She kissed him softly on the lips.

“Ssshhh… It’s all right…”, she said.

He made a strangled sound in his throat. Then he pressed his face to her breasts inhaling her scent. He made a soft moan. Then he began to kiss the firm, yet soft flesh beneath his lips. Kagome moaned appreciatively. He lifted his head and kissed her mouth.

He removed every layer of her ruined clothing. He even painstakingly removed every pin from her hair. Then he lifted her, turned around and laid her carefully on the bed. She watched him undress, eyes roving over his body, then back up again to meet his eyes. He knelt on the bed. Then he crawled across it towards her. He lay down beside her and pulled the sheets up around them.

She reached out her hand and touched the stripes on his cheek. He leaned into the caress. Then she kissed him softly. He returned her kiss, slipping his tongue between her parted lips. A firm, wet tongue touched hers, leading it into a more intimate dance. She struggled to find an opening, vying for dominance, sometimes yielding. By the time they broke apart she was breathless.

Her hand skimmed lightly over the surface of his face finding the wounds. He tried not to flinch in pain. Small as they were, her purifying power had made them sting. She closed her eyes and he felt a warmth emanating from her fingers.

The heat travelled through the air particles between her hand and his face. Then it was absorbed into his skin. The wounds felt searing hot for a few moments. He almost cried out in pain. Then just as suddenly they began to cool. He stared at her serene, angelic face, not quite understanding what was happening. She opened her eyes and met his gaze.

“Did it work?”, she said.

A small furrow appeared between his eyebrows.

“What is supposed to have worked?”

His reply was ignored. She moved her hand away from his face. She stared at his cheek. She made a happy sound of surprise. Then she grinned.

“It worked! It worked! I’m so happy!”

She stroked his restored cheek. Then she took his hand so he could run his fingers over her handiwork too.

“See?!”, she said, “It worked!”

His wide eyes opened a little wider.

“Indeed it did…”

He stared at her. She snatched up his hand. Then she applied her skill to the small scars she had inflicted on his wrist with positive results. Next came the perfect impressions of Kagome’s teeth on either side of his hand. It was at that point that his mate began to show signs of tiredness. He slid his hand out of her grasp before she could remove the makeshift bandage and try to heal the self-inflicted wound. He met her surprised eyes.

“No”, he said, softly, “The bleeding has already stopped. The wounds will heal in their own time. You have already done too much today for a demon who is so undeserving…”

“But?”

“Sssshhh… Do not argue with me, my sweet. I do want to argue any more today…”

She lapsed into silence. He reached out and smoothed her hair away from her face. He stroked the dark layers. It was getting long. A few more inches and soon it would be down to her waist. When he had brought her to live with him, it was only shoulder length. She had not cut it at his request.

He had compromised in so many ways for her, but in her own way Kagome had compromised too. What she wore under her kimono or keeping her hair a certain way because he liked it were trifles to him, but to her they were big compromises. No matter how much she loved him, the biggest compromise of all had been remaining in Sengoku Jidai with him and leaving her modern world behind. Sometimes he did not appreciate her sacrifice enough, but today he felt it keenly.

He rolled her on to her back and his mouth came down on hers. He kissed her softly at first. Then his kisses became a little more insistent. He pushed his tongue between her parted lips, wanting to taste the sweetness of the inside of her mouth again. She made a small sound in her throat and he pulled away, a slightly stricken look on his face.

“I am sorry, Kagome”, he cried, “I did not mean to push…”

Her lips curved into a soft smile. She stoked his cheek. Her smiled confused him. It showed on his face.

“You silly demon”, she said softly, “That was a sound of pleasure. I wanted you to put your tongue in my mouth…”

His eyes went wider.

“Oh…”, he said quietly.

She smiled a little broader. Then she kissed him.

“For future reference, I am a demon lord”, he said.

His face was so serious she had to giggle.

“Then you’re a silly demon lord!”

He smiled. She kissed him again. He kissed her back, slipping his tongue into her mouth. The soft sound of pleasure was heard again. She put her hand on the back of his head and pressed gently, lest he should pull away again. He smiled against her mouth. Then he continued his plunder of the soft, wet inside of her mouth.

His tongue lapped along the underside of her jaw, feeling the delicate jump of her pulse point. His mouth moved down her neck, gently kissing, licking and sucking the tender flesh. She made soft noises of appreciation. Her small hands caressed his back, causing his heartbeat to quicken. She could feel it race against her breasts, pressed to his chest.

His tongue flicked across her collarbone. His lips brushed along the other, making her shiver. When he began to lick her upper chest with soft, yet firm strokes her breathing became deeper. He noticed that her breasts were swollen, slightly fibrous to the touch as he cupped one in his hand and began to caress her.

Kyoko had been weaned since October. It was now February. Not much of a reprieve for busy breasts. Her ample bosom provided plenty of milk to feed hungry pups but he had still offered to employ a wet nurse for Kyoko, remembering how breastfeeding Makoto had drained her. Kagome would not have it. She had insisted upon breastfeeding the child herself. In five to six weeks she would give birth again. No doubt she would attempt to breast feed twins alone...

He licked ever-tightening circles around the nipple, feeling the flesh pucker and tighten under his ministrations. He took it into the heat of his mouth and finished shaping it into a hard peak with a supple, wet tongue. Taking it between his lips, he pulled on it gently. Her hands stroked his soft, silver hair. One hand moved upwards and under his hair. She massaged his scalp, soft fingers applying just the right amount of pressure.

Inuyoukai lovers could take rougher handling. They could endure longer sessions of sex without tiring. They could hurt him back when he hurt them... But of all his lovers Kagome was the only one who kissed him so tenderly, massaged his scalp, stroked his markings... She was the only one he had ever wanted to be tender with, not just because she was so delicate. She was the only one he had ever wanted to stay when the sex was over and the lights were turned off…

He growled softly to show his appreciation. The vibrations travelled through the nipple and around the breast, making her tremble. She gave a loud gasp of pleasure. He took the nipple into his mouth again and rolled it with his tongue. The sensations seemed to be carrying on the nerves all they way down her body to her groin. She could feel her muscles spasming, her vagina moistening. She made a soft cry.

Her back arched, pressing her breasts into his face. Growling softly, he nuzzled her chest. The vibrations travelled across her skin, making her tremble and gasp again. Her cupped her other breast. Gently he caressed her. Her nipple, he subjected to the same gentle torture as before. Her body writhed beneath him, pressing her swollen belly against him. His hand trailed down her body to touch its warm mass.

His mouth moved down her ribcage and over her belly. He nuzzled the ticklish roundness of it, making her squirm and giggle. Gently he caressed her. He pressed his ear to her belly, listening for the reassuring sound of two distinct heartbeats. His lips curved into a smile. Her hand smoothed his hair away from his other ear. Soft fingers traced its shape, finally concentrating on the sensitive, pointed tip. A sound escaped his lips.

He raised his head to meet her eyes. She smiled at him.

“Hey, I’m up here!”, she said, “Remember?!”

Her words were sarcastic but the voice that went with them was soft. He smiled wryly.

“I remember!”

He tore himself away from her belly to kiss her. She rolled on to her side to face him. Her clutched her arm, pressing his body against hers, the unborn pups between them, safe inside her belly. For a little while he was content just to enjoy the sensation of kissing her lips. Then he slipped his tongue into her mouth, deepening the kiss.

Gentle hands caressed his shoulders and chest, fingers lingering a few moments around his nipples before moving downwards to caress his abdomen. One hand trailed down his waist and down along his hip, following the progress of the sensitive, curved markings. He made soft sounds against her lips. His hand caressed her shoulder. Then it trailed down her back making her tremble.

It settled on her buttock, caressing her idly for a time. Her fingers were trailing down his lower abdomen reaching for his erect member when his hand moved to cup her buttock more fully, giving it a gentle squeeze. Kagome jumped and gave a small, startled gasp. Her hand forgot what it was doing. She broke the kiss to meet his eyes. Her own were wide. His were filled with amusement. He laughed softly at her surprise. Her face flushed a pretty shade of pink.

“Sorry, my sweet”, he said, not really meaning it, “I could not resist…”

She gave him a look that suggested she thought otherwise.

“Liar”, she said softly.

She kissed him softly. He kissed her back. His hand slipped around the curve of her buttocks and into the moist heat between her legs. She gasped softly. Her eyes went slightly wide. The corners of his mouth turned up. He watched her face as he slipped a finger into her slick passage. Again she gasped. He pushed it in until inches of its length disappeared inside her. Then he began to draw it out slowly. The claw brushed against her inner wall. She made a small worried sound. His finger stopped moving. He met her eyes. When she spoke, her voice was breathless.

“As much fun as this is, I think the angle is wrong because I’m so big… But it does have possibilities for when I’m not pregnant with twins!”

He smiled at her. It was the kind of smile that made her blush across the breakfast table, when she knew he was thinking about something they had done the night before, or something he intended to do to her that night… Funny how it had the same effect when they were alone! Her cheeks flushed.

“You are right of course…”

He removed the rest of his finger carefully. He kissed her softly. Then he kissed her again. His hand travelled down the back of her leg, stopping just behind the knee. She broke the kiss to moan softly as his fingers kneaded the sensitive spot. He kissed the corner of her mouth. He kissed the side of her chin. His head dropped the short distance to her breasts. He kissed the soft mounds, making her moan. He sucked each nipple in turn. His hand drifted towards her belly again, lingering for some moments before trailing across her hip.

He pressed her on to her back. His mouth came down on hers. She wrapped her arms loosely around his neck. His hand touched the soft dark curls between her legs, fingers staying long enough to caress her and draw a moan from her lips. His fingers trailed over her thigh. Gently he caressed the sensitive flesh, before slipping his hand between her legs to touch the softer, silkier warmth of her inner thigh. She made soft sounds of appreciation.

Watching her face, he gently pushed her legs apart. She offered no resistance. He grasped one of her long, slender legs and hooked it around his waist. He saw her smile at him. No doubt that would be where it would end up but it was slightly more comfortable to do it at the start, now that she was pregnant. In a moment he would arrange her other leg, but right now he wanted to touch the tender, moist delights he had just exposed.

Her eyes widened as he bit the claw off the tip of his thumb. Beneath her moist folds he sought and found her little bud. Gently he pressed down on the clitoris. Applying just the right amount of pressure, he began to rub her in small circular motions. Soft cries escaped her lips as little spikes of pleasure rippled through her. He paused in his ministrations to push two fingers into her slick entrance.

He thrust them in and out of her, once, twice, three times. Kagome shuddered and moaned. Her hips tried to grind down on his fingers. Her sucking walls resisted as he drew them out of her. He wiped his hand on his chest. Then he leaned over her and cupped her face in his hand. His erection pressed against her stomach. His groin was so tight it was almost painful. His mouth came down on hers. Her small hands caressed his face. She smoothed his hair.

“Please…”, she said between kisses.

Her leg tightened around his waist. He met her eyes.

“Please”, she said again.

Desperation etched itself on his face.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Please Sessh. Give it to me.”

He kissed her one more time. She felt his hand trail down her flesh between their bodies. He lifted up her leg and she hooked it loosely around his lower arm. She felt the touch of his fingers on her bottom. Then he moved and pushed the tip of his erect member against her entrance. She made a soft sound. His eyes flickered up to meet hers.

“Please…”

He needed no more urging. He eased himself into her a little at a time. Soft sounds escaped her lips. Then, when he was fully sheathed inside her, he began to move. Slowly he drew himself out of her until only the tip was left inside her. Then he thrust his length back into her. He took his hand off her bottom and lifted the leg a little higher. He continued in that way, moving slowly in and out of her. Her hips began to buck. Soon she found the rhythm and moved in time with him. Soft sounds spilled from her lips.

“Oh Sessh! Ohhh…”

She reached out her hand to touch his face but it fell short. It trailed down his torso instead. She touched the vivid markings between his waist and hip. Gently, she stroked the sensitive stripes of flesh. A soft growl escaped his lips. He adjusted his position slightly so that her clitoris could feel the friction of his pubic bone with each movement. She gasped. The sensation was building slowly. Her breathing was deep and even. So was her mate’s, but when she touched his skin he was barely breaking a sweat.

“Faster, Sessh. Harder.”

He shook his head and continued with the slow motion.

“No.”

A furrow appeared between her eyebrows.

“Why not?”

“Cease your protests, woman. For once this is not about sating me.”

Her eyes went slightly wide.

“Okay…”

The gentle rocking continued. With it came a slow burning heat. He increased the tempo slightly making her writhe beneath him. Her head rolled from side to side on the pillow, groans spilling from her lips. The first intense spikes of pleasure rippled through her surprising her. She cried out. Her fingernails scored the smooth skin of his waist, blood blurring the lines. Only at the end did he begin to move fast and hard, growls issuing forth from a throat that seemed too delicate to hold them.

Once, twice he pushed her over that shining edge, leaving her weak and trembling. He soon followed her, calling her name as he released his seed and went limp inside her. He threw out his hand to stop his body from falling forward. Gently he disentangled himself from her long, firm limbs to collapse on his stomach beside her. She watched a tear fall from his eye and roll down his cheek. She reached out her hand and caught it on her fingertip before it rolled off his face. She stared at the shiny wetness of it on the end of her finger.

“I am sorry…”, he said, bringing her attention back to him.

His eyes were filled with conflicting emotions.

“No”, she said.

“I…”

“No.”

A furrow appeared between his eyebrows.

“Let me speak woman!”

“No, I don’t want to hear it.”

He stared at her.

“Then what do you want me to say? Tell me and I shall say it.”

“I don’t want you to say anything. Will you hold me? I just want to lie here for a little while…”

She stroked his cheek. His wide eyes went a little wider.

“I can do that…”

He drew himself up. Supporting himself on his elbow, he leaned down and kissed her lips.

“I did not kiss you. I always kiss you…”

She smiled at him.

“Yes, you do…”

Her fingers stroked his cheek. He turned his face so that her fingers touched his lips. He kissed her soft digits. He lay down on his back. She turned towards him and lay her head down in the crook of his shoulder. Her body pressed along the length of his. His arm went around her holding her against him. He kissed the top of her head. Then he lay back again. Gradually her breathing returned to its normal pace.



Idly her fingers made little circles on his chest. She closed her eyes. She inhaled the slightly musky, masculine scent of his skin. She sighed. How she had missed this. This was her favourite part, lying in his embrace after he had made love to her, listening to him breathe, feeling his chest rise and fall beneath her, his warmth, his arm around her. When she laid her hand over his heart she could feel it thudding under her fingers.

The smell of her alone threatened to overwhelm his senses. He felt her warmth, her softness. He could hear and feel her breathing, her heart beating. Her body seemed so frail, like the bird he had presented her with. Yet her life force was strong, perhaps stronger than his own. Her body pressed against him, in particular her breasts and belly were starting to feel good all over again. He could feel his heart rate increase and the blood rush to his lower body.

She could feel his heart beat quicken under her hand. She looked down his body and saw his erection rising. A smile crossed her lips. Her hand trailed down his torso, over his ribs and the ridges of muscle beneath the smooth skin of his abdomen. There her hand stopped. She felt him catch his breath.

“You’re hard”, she said softly.

“Yes, but we can just lie here…”

She leaned her hand on his chest. She drew herself up and met his eyes.

“Do you want to just lie here?”, she said.

He watched her face.

“If that is what you prefer… Then, yes.”

She stroked his cheek. Then she leaned down and kissed him, pressing her breasts against the relative hardness of his chest. His hand touched the back of her head. She licked along his lower lip. Her tongue darted in and out between his parted lips teasing gently. Her nipples hardened against his chest. He groaned. She smiled against his lips. Then she slid her tongue into his mouth. His arm went around her, holding her against him while their tongues battled for dominance. With a moan she submitted to him, letting him plunder the depths of her mouth.

His kisses moved down her neck, across her collarbone. His hand caressed lingering where she most liked to be touched, her neck and shoulders, her breasts, her waist, her bottom, her inner thighs… His mouth followed licking, kissing and sucking her flesh when appropriate. He massaged the neglected calves and feet, sucking on each toe in turn. That made her squirm and giggle. She was strangely ticklish when she was pregnant. His hands kept returning to her swollen breasts and belly.

Eventually he turned her on to her side, placing pillows underneath her shoulder, belly and knees. He kissed her mouth. Then he climbed over her and settled behind her. He moved her hair aside. Gently he nipped, kissed and licked the sensitive flesh of the back of her neck and shoulders. He massaged the muscles of her back, causing soft moans to spill from her lips. His hand trailed down to her buttocks. Briefly he caressed her.

His hand trailed downwards. He grasped her thigh and gently lifted her leg. Then he moved, pushing the tip of his erection into her vagina from behind. She made a soft sound and he went still. Her hand reached backwards to touch his face.

“I’m okay… It’s just always a surprise. I don’t know why…”

Her lips curved into a smile.

“You’d think I’d be used to it now!”

He growled softly knowing she was teasing him. His upper chest was pressed to her back. She felt the sound vibrate. She trembled and giggled. She sensed the line appearing between his eyebrows

“Sorry! Ticklish… Go on. I’m ready…”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

He kissed the back of her neck and again she trembled. He let go of her leg. His arm went around her. He eased himself into her a little at a time until his hips were bumping her buttocks. Slowly he began to move, drawing himself out of her until only the tip was left inside, then thrusting back in until he was fully sheathed inside her. She felt him bump the neck of the womb and she had to remind herself that he could not hurt the babies, that they were safe inside her.

He continued his slow progress. Her hips began to move in time with his. His penis found the sweet spot on the inner wall of her vagina, making her gasp each time it was struck. His hand caressed her breasts and belly. Soft moans spilled from her lips. His roving hand moved over her damp curls and slid between her legs. His thumb found the sensitive bud hidden in her moist folds.

Bearing down slightly, his thumb moved in circular motions while his erection moved inside her. Her cries became soft screams when both spots were stimulated simultaneously. He increased the pressure, rubbing the delicate tissue with small thrusting motions. Her breath came hard and fast. The pressure building inside her body was so intense she was sure she would explode if she did not find release soon.

She felt that last almighty spike of pleasure. She closed her eyes, giving herself over to it. The feeling was so intense she could not cry out. For a moment her body stiffened. Then she relaxed against him, body trembling with little aftershocks. He took his hand away, knowing that his work was done on that front, but he was not finished yet. His arm went around her midriff holding her against him. Then he began to move faster.

The pressure inside her body had temporarily eased but now it began to build again. The growls spilling from his lips made her tremble. The skin on her back was slick with sweat, not all of it her own. Between her legs she was wet, so wet and he was so hard, his body so warm. His erection moving in and out of her, rubbing that same spot over and over made her cry out.

The length of time between his thrusts became more irregular. It became harder to keep time. She knew it would not be long now. True to form he brought her, pushing her off that mountain peak to plummet headlong into ecstasy. For those precious moments her body felt weightless, as if it had no form. He followed soon after her, rolling on to his back and taking her with him before he fell against her.

She was breathless, trembling, heart racing in her chest. She wondered just how long it had been since he had given her four orgasms in a row. Had he ever? Beneath one side of her body, his chest and abdomen heaved. Her hand reached across his body. His fingers curled around hers. She stayed like that until her breathing and heart rate slowed to their usual output.

The weight of her stomach made the position too uncomfortable to stay in. He grunted softly as she moved off him. Must have hit something sensitive…He leaned over her and kissed her lips. She stroked his striped cheek. He made a soft sound of appreciation. Her other hand trailed across his taut flesh to touch the biggest of the fading scars on his chest. If they were still pink they had to be pretty recent. A small furrow appeared between her eyebrows. This did not go unnoticed by her mate.

“What is it, my sweet?”, he said.

She met his eyes.

“I was just wondering how you got these scars…”

He automatically glanced down at his torso. His hand covered hers.

“Dragon demon lord”, he said casually, the way Kagome would say cat.

Her eyes went a little wide.

“Dragon demon lord?!”, she cried.

“Yes…”

He seemed mildly amused by her reaction. A light danced in his eyes. The corner of one side of his mouth twitched.

“Oh! I didn’t think there were many more of them…”

“No.”

She stared at him.

“Well?”, she said.

“Yes, my love?”

“Who attacked first?”

“Hakuryuu.”

She raised her eyebrows.

“Am I supposed to know who Hakuryuu is?”, she said.

He sighed and rolled his eyes. He was not the sort of demon who explained his actions, even to his own mother. If Kagome, Inuyasha or one of the children asked him questions, he would answer, at least until the conversation became tiresome.

“Ryukotsusei had a son. He came seeking vengeance for the killing of his father…”

Her eyes went a little wide.

“Oh! So you killed him?”

He nodded, face impassive, as if the conversation was boring him.

“He would have taken my life, so I took his…”

“I see… Was Inuyasha with you?”

“No. He was elsewhere…”

“Does he know you fought Hakuryuu?”

“No.”

She stared at him.

“Are you going to tell him?”, she said.

“Perhaps… Perhaps not.”

Her lips began to tremble. He cupped her face in his hand. His fingers rubbed across her quivering lips. Her eyes were shiny signalling she was close to tears.

“What is it my love?”, he said.

“He could have killed you and you talk about it so casually!”

He raised an eyebrow.

“He almost did.”

Her eyes went wide. A soft cry escaped her lips. The first silver tear spilled over the rim of the bottom lid and slipped down her cheek. He gathered her to him and pressed her to the warmth of his chest.

“No, no!”

Her small hands tried to push him off her. His wide eyes opened a little wider. He relaxed his grip so he could see her face.

“Why do you push me away?”, he said.

She put her hands to her face and wiped frantically at the tears.

“Because I don’t deserve to be held by you!”

She put her hands on his chest, keeping him away from her. A furrow appeared between his eyebrows.

“Woman, you are not making sense”, he said, “Please explain yourself.”

“I’m a horrible, horrible person! I left you and I took the children without giving you a reason why! Then you went into battle with this hanging over you… Oh!”

She pressed a fist to her mouth, her eyes wide. His expression was one of compassion and forgiveness. It was not one that had been directed at her before. It overwhelmed her angst-ridden heart.

“Stop looking at me like that!”, she said.

“How am I looking at you?”

His voice was low, a gentle rumble. Tears slid down her cheeks blurring her vision. He touched her cheek. She squeezed her eyes shut. He pressed her towards his chest again. Her body stiffened. He was surprised by the strength of her resistance.

“Don’t!”

He pressed his lips to her forehead. His hand stroked her hair. Those small touches felt so good.

“Ssshhh… Do not cry Kagome for me. I did not die. I am here with you. Whatever you think you have done, I have done much worse. So I would say that makes us even…”

For a moment there was silence.

“Kagome?”

She opened her eyes.

“I’m here”, she said.

“Do you not agree that we are even?”

She swallowed.

“I…”

“Ssshhh… Do not answer now. It matters little in the scheme of things… Let us forgive each other and try to learn the lesson, so we may never stray so far from each other again… Agreed?”

She was silent a moment watching his face.

He asked me if he had mated with a living saint or a celestial maiden… Perhaps I am the one who has been blessed? Somebody once told me that demons had a right to choose, that like human beings they are not all good or all bad… But when he chooses, maybe he is more an angel than a demon?

He was watching her expectantly. Eventually she answered him.

“Agreed.”

Her voice was soft. The corners of his mouth turned up. She found herself smiling back at him. He drew her into his embrace. She closed her eyes and slipped her arms around him, pressing her body against his. Her hands grasped handfuls of his soft, silver hair. He held her for what seemed like a long time. Eventually he drew back to kiss her mouth. She accepted his kisses eagerly. He pressed her down on to the bed again, kisses moving down her neck.

Her eyes were closing. The combination of sleepless nights, the journey the day before, the argument itself and their lovemaking were taking a toll. He helped her turn her on to her side and arranged the pillows under her as he had done when they made love in that position. Then he pulled up the covers and settled behind her. He nuzzled the back the back of her neck, making her giggle. His arm went around her. She hugged it to her. Soon, sleep was upon her.



When Inuyasha opened the bedroom door after the children had been sent to bed, he was relieved to find that they were finally sleeping. It had been slightly embarrassing listening to them making love while he sat with the children in the main living area. Usually such activities were confined to the night or early morning when it was easier to pretend that such things were not going on in the next room. Kyoko was sleeping in Rin’s bed tonight.

He approached Kagome’s side of the bed. Gazing at her sleeping face, he almost tripped over a pile of clothing on the floor. Fortunately Sesshomaru had the presence of mind to fling the hairpins towards the dresser, so his bare feet did not fall victim to them. He clamped his hand over his mouth to keep from crying out. He picked up the offending items and then noticed there was significant damage to the material. What the hell went on?

He sensed eyes on him. He looked towards his brother, lying by Kagome’s side. His irises were lengths of gold under his half-closed lids.

“Oh! You’re awake… I thought you’d be asleep at this stage…”

“Yes…”

His older brother’s voice was muted with sleep.

“I was until you came lumbering in!”

The half-demon’s face flushed.

“Sorry!”

He looked at Kagome’s sleeping face. The sheet was pulled up to her chest so he could only see the outlines of her body. There appeared to be marks of some kind on her upper chest. He sniffed the air and scented blood, not just human blood, youkai blood. Are those scratches? I smell Sessh’s blood as well... What the hell went on here? Was it the fight or the sex that got rough?

“So… Are you getting in or are you just going to stand there all night?”

The sound of the demon lord’s voice made him jump. He met his eyes.

“I’ll get in.”

“Very well… Did you remember to wash your feet?”

“Yes!”

The half-demon scowled indignantly. His older brother ignored the look and lay back in bed again. He moved over and took Kagome with him to make room for his younger brother. She made a small sound of protest in her sleep. Inuyasha pulled his haori and shirt out of the waist of his hakama. The loosened article of clothing slid down a little lower on his body.

“So did you work things out?”, he said.

He dropped his haori on the floor. The shirt soon followed.

“In a manner of speaking… Yes. I would prefer to discuss this in the morning if you do not mind, Inuyasha. I am a little tired…”

The half-demon raised his eyebrows. Eeee… Cranky!

“Okay…”

He stripped off the last of his clothing. He slipped under the covers and gently lifted up Kagome’s arm to rest on his stomach. He automatically began to arrange the pillows under her again. She made small sounds in her sleep but did not wake. He moved his body closer, so that his hip was touching her swollen belly. She was lying on her side towards him. It was coincidence that she preferred to sleep on that side.

Not that Sesshomaru minded waking up the sight of bare buttocks pressed to his erection… He could see the appeal of those positions but he preferred to see her face when they made love. God I have the weirdest thought when I’m falling asleep. Sometime I wonder if they’re his and they’ve gotten into my head somehow… He sighed. Sleep soon claimed him.


Yuki came unannounced into the room the next morning to wake Inuyasha. Kyoko had fallen off Rin’s bed and hit her head and she would not stop crying. Yuki could not help but take a moment to look upon the bodies in the bed and smile. My mistress has come truly come back home to stay if the two masters are in bed with her. At first I wondered if it was right or wrong for her to have both of them, but now I realise this is how it’s meant to be…

Squatting down on the floor, she picked up Inuyasha’s clothing off the floor. When she laid them gently on his chest and touched his shoulder to waken him, his eyes flashed open almost immediately. They focused on his face.

“Yuki-san, what…”

He fell silent. His eyes went wide. She knew without asking that he could hear his little girl crying.

“What happened?”, he said, throwing back the sheet.

Then he remembered that he was naked when he saw her eyes pop and her cheeks flush. She tore her gaze away and turned her back to him. She stared at the wall. His cheeks flushed.

“Sorry, Yuki-san. I forgot…”

“It’s alright Inuyasha-sama. It’s not the first time I’ve, eh, seen one…”

His cheeks flushed as red as his fire rat robe that Yuki had placed on the bed. He got out of bed and began to pull his clothes on.

“Why is Koko crying?”, he said.

“She slipped off the bed when she and Rin were playing. She’s alright…”

She heard the shoji door sliding back.

“She’s just…”

She looked towards the open door.

“A little upset.”

She sighed. She looked towards the bed, where Kagome and Sesshomaru still lay sleeping. Again she sighed.

“Love… I do not have time for it while I am in this household!”

She picked Kagome’s ruined clothing off the floor and clucked her tongue.

“Again?! Oh, Sesshomaru-sama…”

She turned and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her, oblivious to the golden half-lidded gaze on her. The demon lord sighed. He nuzzled his mate’s back. She made a soft sound, responding to him even in sleep. He settled next to her again and promptly fell asleep.




I hope you enjoyed this chapter and that you found it credible. The next chapter is going to take a few days. I've got to iron out the kinks in some of the battle scenes. Until then...
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