Winter Wind
Gamble
Sesshoumaru raced into the western wood in true form, his beast raging dangerously. They'd lost her, almost not gotten her back. His beast was angry, lethal. He wanted to race back to his rooms and ravish her until the three of them were exhausted and sated. He couldn't do that at present. Not as he was.
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A short time later, Enoa burst into the bedchamber in a flurry of tattered silks. “Lady Kagome!” she cried out and hugged the tiny woman close, “Thank the moon. I was so worried about you. I was certain we’d lost you.”
Kagome shook her head, “For a minute there you did.”
“Sesshoumaru wants you bathed. It was a terrible fright for him.”
Kagome dutifully walked to the bathing chamber, “I don’t think anything frightens Sesshoumaru.”
Enoa smiled softly, “I would agree. That was until tonight.”
Kagome slid into the hot water, “It’s all my fault.”
“What is?”
“That all of this happened. If only I hadn’t been such a coward and run away.”
Enoa sighed, “That isn’t true. And no one blames you.”
“He’s going to kill Inuyasha….”
Enoa blinked, “He won’t” she promised, “There is a lot of bad blood between them, and they need to resolve it. Had he truly wanted Inuyasha dead, he could have seen to it, hundreds of times over.” She peered into Kagome’s eyes, “Surely you know that.”
And she did. At some level. Kagome admitted that of the two of them, Sesshoumaru was the calmer, even kinder one. But she knew that his temper was legendary and that Inuyasha could push all the right buttons.
“I’m confused.” Kagome whispered.
Enoa sank to her knees beside the water and studied her friends carefully. “You love him.”
Kagome flinched.
“And you feel guilty, because it’s not Inuyasha that holds that love.”
Kagome nodded, “I only cause problems between them now. And Koga is getting dragged in too. I should just go home and not come back.”
“And leave the jewel incomplete? This world in chaos? Is that what you want to do?”
“No. Maybe once all this is over.”
Enoa hide a smirk, ‘and perhaps my lord will wake up tomorrow as a pink butterfly’. She seriously doubted that Sesshoumaru was capable of releasing her now.
When Kagome was clean and dry, Enoa dressed her in a loose lavender gown. “I think he might be in his study if you want to talk to him.”
Kagome considered going back in to the bedchamber and resting but her mind was frantic. She nodded and headed for the study instead.
As she neared the door, one of the soldiers caught sight of her. “Lady, I am glad you are ok.”
She thanked him and reached for the door.
“My lord is not in.”
“Where is he?”
“He headed into the western woods, his beast was in a state.”
Kagome nodded, thanking him for his time and headed for the courtyard.
Jaken paced back and forth muttering to himself.
“Jaken?”
“Oh. Lady Kagome. What are you doing out here, you should be resting.”
“I was worried about him.”
The imp drew himself up to his full, unimpressive height, “My lord is master of these lands. He certainly doesn’t need you to worry for him.”
A powerful fist slammed down atop his little green head.
Kagome looked up into bright blue eyes. “Koga…”
She reached to hug him but he side stepped her. She looked at him in confusion.
“Sorry Kagome” he said, “But any male’s scent on you would be his breaking point right now. He needs you, or his beast does.”
Kagome flushed, “Well, my powers do help him subdue his beast.”
Koga blinked at her, “Riiiight.”
“How do I help him?”
Koga scratched his cheek, “Go back to his room.”
“But…”
“Just go… and bleed…”
“Bleed?”
“Just a little bit, prick your finger or something. He’s so on edge that his beast will catch the scent.”
“Isn’t he dangerous in the palace?”
Koga leveled her with a cool stare, “When is he not dangerous? You want to help him, that’s what you do.”
She nodded and turned in a swirl of silks and dashed off, shouting for Enoa as she did so.“You want to what?” Enoa asked.“Prick my finger. Koga said the scent of my blood would bring him back. Then my powers will help him calm.”
Enoa shook her head, “I don’t know.”
“Give me a damn needle already!”
Enoa nodded and headed to her sewing basket and handed the silver needle to Kagome. “After this, you are on your own with him” Enoa told her, “Whatever happens, submit to his beast. He will not harm you.”
Kagome nodded and waited until Enoa had left, then she moved to the open window and stabbed the pad of her finger.
The dark crimson droplet welled up and slid down her finger. “Hope this works.” She whispered as a roar filled the air.