Battle of Wills (revised)

Kagome jumped suddenly to the sound of wood crashing against the rock floor of the cave. “Sessho--” she began only to clamp her mouth shut. A large pile of wood was set against the wall of the cave, next to that lay six or seven small fish, but the most disturbing of all, next to that knelt Sesshoumaru, his clothing covered in ice. “You're blue!” she exclaimed her eyes wide with worry.

“A true youkai does not let physical pain get in the way.” he stuttered as he began to get dizzy and braced himself against the ground.

Kagome frowned, “You shouldn't take such risks, we need each other to survive out here.”

“I will be fine.” he stated coldly before closing his eyes and falling against the earth.

“Oh gods!” Kagome exclaimed. “Sesshoumaru?...Sesshoumaru?” she called from her sleeping bag. No answer. She slowly emerged from the warmth of the sleeping bag, the cold air biting at her body as she made her way to the demon lord on her hands and feet, placing a palm against his face. “He's ice cold.” she whispered as she pull her her hand away from his face. “What do I do?” she ran a hand over her forehead. “If he was human I would assume he was hympothermic but would he respond the same way?” she carefully considered her options. “I can't just do nothing.” she spoke softly, “I will not die out here alone.”

Her mind made up, she pushed the heavy demon lord over, tugging at his clothing to remove it. Her hands were trembling from the cold as her fingers began to go numb. She quickly untied sashes and pulled apart the vestments, adverting her eyes as she did so , not wanting to be accused of 'liking this' later. Quickly she wrapped her arms underneath him and began dragging him to her sleeping bag. She decided it would be easier to pull the bag over his body, holding him in place against her shoulder. “Gods he's heavier then he looks.” She groaned. Once the demon lord was tucked inside she hesitated slightly biting her lip. “Well.....he's in.” She eyed the unconscious Sesshoumaru, his face still emotionless as ever. She shivered as she look at the sleeping bag, and then back to her soaked clothes. She wimpered loudly through clenched teeth. 'You can do this Kagome, ' she thought internally, 'you're saving a life..and possibly your own in the process..you can do this.' Without hesitation she climbed in giving herself no time to reconsider. She shrieked, “He's so cold!” Worry began to overtake her again. What would become of her in this world if even the mighty Sesshoumaru could not endure it? She reached for his icy fingers and began to rub and blow at them, letting her body relax against his as she grew accustom to the cold.
“Come on Sesshoumaru, wake up so I can see your face when you realize you've been saved by a human.” Kagome smiled. She rubbed her feet up and down his leg and let her palm circle around his chest, feeling his body warm under her touch.

Suddenly Sesshoumaru opened his eyes, staring up at the cave ceiling. “Kagome?” he questioned, confusion in his voice.

“You lost consciousness.” She answered, “Your body was ice cold. It seemed as if you were going to die, so I.” Kagome hesitated, she blushed as she thought of how to explain to him what she had been doing.

“You were attempting to keep me warm.” he interjected.

“Yes exactly.” She smiled, a little uneasy now as she realized just how much of her body was pressed against his.

“and now you wish to mate?” he interjected again.

Kagome stared at him startled. “What? NO! I was just--”

“Your excitement is detectable even in my weakened state.” he stated coldly

Kagome's eyes narrowed, “Obviously, LORD SESSHOUMARU, you are still delirious from the cold.” she bit out sarcastically pulling herself up and away from him as she attempted to pull her body away from his.

Sesshoumaru gazed upon her, speechless for but a moment, before replying in his trademark monotone voice. “Perhaps you are correct, forgive me. I obviously have not fully recovered.” He closed his eyes momentarily as the feeling came back to his extremedies. His eyes opened again as he felt her tremble on the edge of the sleeping bag. The space she put between them allowing the bitter cold in. "The cold is quite intense here." He whispered as he moved a clawed hand over her shoulder, easing her trembling." We will both need to guard ourselves against it." He finished as his arm wrapped around her waist pulling her body up against his, closing the gap that had been allowing the cool air in.

Kagome bit her lip fiercely refusing to move for a great while before she slowly rolled over to her back, and began to let her hand rub against his chest again in the same innocent action. She layed her head against his neck as she did this and stopped abruptly when she swore she felt him growl against her forehead. She looked up eyeing him suspiciously only to find him again deep in sleep. 'So he wasn't fully recovered.' She thought as she stared at him before pulling herself out of the sleeping bag. Kagome carefully crawled over the sleeping demon making sure not to wake him as she moved. She slipped on her now dry clothing, which had hung beside the fire and replaced them with Sesshoumaru's. She eyed the pile of wood against the wall of the cave. “Well thank the gods.” she smiled, happy that even such a little convenience existed in this time.

Kagome stared into the fire, deep in thought, until Sesshoumaru finally woke. “How are you?” she questioned as the demon lord opened his eyes with a grunt. “Stronger.” he replied as he slipped out of the sleeping bag causing Kagome's eyes to widen to the size of saucers. A deep blush filled her face as she took in his naked form for the first time. Every muscle in his body tensed with every small motion. It was the first time she had ever really gotten a good look at his tail, she realized before suddenly turning away, afraid to let her eyes wander further. “Warn me next time will ya!” she growled as she quickly turned around, averting her eyes.

“I apologize,” he stated in a monotone voice, “ I did not anticipate your reaction. I had assumed you had all ready seen me unclothed when you had laid with me earlier.”

“I was saving your life.” she huffed.

“My thanks.” he replied with a very small smirk on his face. Truth be told he found pleasure laying with this female, even knowing her intentions had been anything but lecherous. She had a pleasant scent about her that was only amplified by their frozen surroundings. He could not help but smirk a little as he realized just how much his perceptions had changed over the past years. Saving Rin and raising her as one of his own had softened his heart towards humans, and never before had he been in such an intimate setting with a human female who obviously found him very attractive. Deny as she may, her scent betrayed her. Even now he could still pick up the faint smell of excitment in the air, namely hers.

Kagome blinked. She swore he had sounded almost amused. Something very uncommon for Sesshoumaru. She turned around to investigate only to realize that he was still not dress and quickly turn around, the blood rushing to her face once more.

“Y-Your welcome.” she stuttered as she tried to compose herself.

After getting dressed Sesshoumaru stood next to her. “Food is very scare here. You will have to make these last for quite awhile.” he commanded as he pointed to the small group of fish. “ I believe we could find more if I searched the south.”

Kagome nodded. “This should last me at least three days. We should really concentrate our efforts on finding the well to take us back until then.”

“Very well,” he stated blandly, “You can remain here and I will further search for the well.”

Kagome gave him a playful glance, “Just don't push yourself so hard this time. If it happens again I'm going to assume your doing it on purpose.”

Sesshoumaru raised an amuzed eyebrow. 'She dare tease the Lord of the Western Lands?' He scoffed out a laugh as he rose in the air. "Do not dilude yourself."

Kagome gaped as she watched him depart. She could not believe she had said that to him, or that he let it slide. There was a time when he would have simply crushed her windpipe for a such a comment. But he hadn't. In fact she almost enjoyed their banter. It left her wondering how much she really knew about Sesshoumaru, after all, a lot had changed since the day when he fought Inu Yasha for Tessaiga. She shook off the disturbing memories and curled back into the sleeping bag which was laced with the smell of Sesshoumaru. She inhaled deeply and felt strangely comforted. 'Never in my life did I ever think anything about Sesshoumaru could be comforting.' She thought to herself as sheh snuggled deep into the soft fabric, closing her eyes and praying for sleep.