A Dream Come True

Disclaimer - I don't own Inuyasha but I own the thoughts of what I could do with them if I did…hehe.
Thoughts - Second Chapter! Actually, this was the other half of the first chapter (i.e. part 1 and 2...anyway I just got sick of trying to correct all the stuff so I made them into 2 different chapters.

Translation Box:

Iie - No
Onegai - please
Tennin - Japanese equivalent of a western angel

Chapter 2: Hot Springs Blues Part 2


I said, “Let me walk in the fields.”
He said, “No; walk in the town.”
I said, “There are no flowers there.”
He said, “No flowers, but a crown.”
I said, “But the skies are black, there is nothing but noise and din;”
And he wept as he sent me back;
“There is more,” he said, “there is sin.”
~ George MacDonald (Excerpt from “What Christ Said”)

“You seem to never care exactly how I act or feel at times Inuyasha do you? How dare to follow and spy on me?”

She stepped forward.

“Coward…lowly filthy coward!” She whispered coldly, pointing to where he was, her index finger glowing a soft yet vibrant blue as she summoned her priestess powers from within her, drawing on her anger to make her powers expand.

A rustle of bushes was heard and Inuyasha appeared guiltily from his hiding place, yet even through his guilty look, she saw his eyes moving over her form.
She looked at him distastefully as she covered her lower self loosely with her free hand, her long hair falling over her shoulders to cover her breasts. Her heart seemed to become nothing but ice as she looked at him.

“Don’t you ever know when to quit, mongrel?” She bit out coldly, making him growl at her. She replied with an unladylike snort and spit into the water in front of him.

“You’re such a pitiful excuse for a man. No…not a man…a hanyou. Not worth anything at all like your brother Sesshomaru is!” She said bitingly, her voice soft yet clearly heard around the suddenly silent clearing. He growled again and took a step towards her but she stood where she was, refusing to move.

Her eyes and instincts ignoring the strange look in his eyes.

“What do you mean by that? I don’t understand why you still believe that I did something to you all of those years ago - because I didn’t!” He said back angrily.
She replied with a cold look that could have rivaled Sesshomaru’s.

“You speak of my brother as if he is something special to you.” Inuyasha said, changing the subject involuntarily as he crossed his arms across his chest.
As he said so, he came ever closer to her but still she didn’t move. Her back was straight and her head was held high, signaling that this was a fight she would not loose.

“And what if he is? It does not benefit you in any way to know.” She said scathingly, finally taking a step back as he was only an arms length away. She could no longer trust him, and for good reason; and while that made her sad, she did not show it. She would not pity such a monster. What he had done to her was unpardonable!

“No it wouldn’t, but I’ve heard the rumors Kagome about you and that bastard. Don’t you understand anything about youkai? You certainly don’t understand me! After so many years together searching for shards what makes you think I would harm you? You are harming yourself by being with these men - with becoming what you are now!” He said sorrowfully.

Sesshomaru saw her flinch slightly but she stood her ground.

At her silence Inuyasha continued.

“Just thinking of what you’re doing is destroying ‘me’! I don’t even know what to say to you. Kagome why won’t you believe me? Don’t you remember all of those years ago when you said that you were mine?”

“Yours!” She screamed suddenly, cutting him off.
Her brown eyes blazed with fire as her miko powers spiked, shooting from her pointed finger towards him. He quickly jumped out of the way but she felt no regret at the thought of him being hurt.

“I AM NO ONES! You are so simple - minded it’s amazing that you’ve come this far even! Why would I believe you when you have no proof to your innocence? How dare you lecture me on how I live? You are the one that made me like this! You are the one that broke my heart!” She screamed at the top of her lungs, her aura exploding around her in a blazing maelstrom of blue electricity.

“Kagome---” The hanyou said fearfully, as a nearby pine tree cracked in half, the splintered halves falling into the water behind her to create large waves.

“NO!!!! You didn’t Inuyasha! I’m sick of you and ALL of this…this…!”

“Kagome I swear that I did not know!” He yelled back as he threw his arms up into the air to protect his face from the deadly blue sparks that were being shot from her entire body.

He had become used to this, he thought sadly. While she wasn’t always this…feral, she had come close on many occasions even before this whole mystery unfolded.

“Know?” Brown hair hovered around her like a protective shield. It was obvious that she no longer cared about her nakedness. Her eyes flashed white for an instant before coming back to their normal hazel color. Still, Inuyasha and his brother had seen it.

“You…you swear not to know? Just like all those other time? Liar! Liar from hell and beyond all its gates! How dare you! How dare you say that when all this time, you’ve been with Kikyo?” She asked wildly, her voice dropping considerably as she reined her aura under control. She felt tears come to her eyes and didn’t try to stop them as they cascaded down her cheeks.

“Kagome Kikyo is-”

“No! To hell with you! If you want your damn Kikyo so much why doesn’t she just take my place?” She asked acerbically as she reached down and forcefully threw a rock the size of a baseball at him. He ducked it and without a word appeared in front of her, his arms going around her waist, pressing her forcibly into him.

“BECAUSE I WANT YOU! I WANT YOU TO BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY IT WASN’T ME WHO HURT YOU!” He yelled into her face, his mouth covering hers, making her cry out and push against his chest.

He couldn’t take this anymore! Couldn’t live without her trusting him…no longer loving him like she had so long ago! It hurt too much to even begin to explain! He had never even kissed her before until now! Why wasn't it like it was only a year ago? When she would sit him for knocking around Shippo and Miroku would try to grope her and she'd slap him. What happened to that? To them?

'To us?'

His grip around her form tightened, his skin ignoring the water lapping around him. His life had been cruel enough already…with Naraku gone it shouldn’t have been like this. Why were the fates so hateful towards him? What had he ever done? He ha survived, that was what he had done - and yet it seemed like the more he fought, the harder it was to wake up everyday. When he had met Kikyo - and then Kagome, they had shown him the meaning of what life was. They had shown him why getting up everyday was worthwhile. And when they had killed Naraku he had thought everything would change.

Wasn’t the pain supposed to be buried with Naraku’s corpse?

He yowled in physical pain as she bit his tongue kneeing him as hard as she could in the groin and backing swiftly away as he collapsed onto the shallow water; his gasps of pain bringing forward no sympathy from her icy composure.

Gagging forcefully, she spit again, trying to rid the taste of him and his tongue from her mouth, as he lay writhing and gasping upon the pebbled ground.

******

Sesshomaru watched, rage boiling from deep within him at his brothers actions. And just when he was about to intercept his brother, he watched as she quite effectively forced him away from her, and so he settled back again to watch the two, his eyes as sharp and cold a hawk’s as he focused on his brother.

******

“You…you know it…wasn’t me Kagome! Please…you’ve always…believed me until this!” He rasped out as he clutched at himself desperately, as if that would stop the excruciating pain coursing through him.

“Yeah well you never raped me before this!” She said scathingly, the piercing, deep seated agony in them cutting Inuyasha sharper then any knife or sword.

“Kagome I love you!” He chocked out, actual tears coming out from the corners of his eyes.

He was so frustrated! Frustrated that he couldn’t defend himself - couldn’t reason with her! She was slowly destroying herself and he saw it, even if she herself refused to! Her angry eyes changed slowly into pained ones as he said this.

From his perch, Sesshomaru growled.

“That saying is so cliché Inuyasha. Long ago it may still have worked but you’ve changed since then…! You want to know something Inuyasha? I did give myself to Sesshomaru!” She said her voice turning into a harsh whisper as she leaned towards him. Her face coming inches from his has she looked directly into his pain-filled eyes.

“And it felt good.”

He momentarily paused in mid gasp, his eyes glazing over from the pain and incredulity of her statement.

“Oh yes Inuyasha…you heard me. Your little Kagome felt lust for the first time in her life. And not with you…but with your hated half brother.” Her creeks glistened from her tears; her breakdown evident as her screams grew and grew, until everything else had grown silent.

She chose not to notice the thick tears streaming down Inuyasha’s face at the same time.

“Your brother had me…and you know why? Because you threw me away and he helped me get over my pain by giving me something real to cling to instead of the hell you put me through!” With that she turned away from him, her eyes moving up to look at the nearly eclipsed moon, now dark except for a small sliver of blue light.

'It is almost time…something is coming…'

Once again she felt hot tears burn her eyes but kept them back, damning herself when her next words were choked.

“And now…and now you know! But what satisfaction does it give you? It gives me none, that’s for damn sure!”
The tears, unable to be stopped came out harder, making her eyesight blur to where she couldn’t even see. Her legs against her will collapsed out from under her until she lay on her knees waist deep in the steaming water. She didn’t feel any pain from it. All of the memories…everything was coming back…flooding her, drowning her…and she didn’t know what to do. She didn’t know if she could even keep herself afloat in the tsunami raging over her.

'Sesshomaru…I need Sesshomaru!' The words came unbidden to her and she grew strength from them, the sound of his name all she needed to snap herself out of her pain. No…she would not fall! Not now that she had come so far…not now…and not ever! Her fists pounded the water savagely, water spraying everywhere. She didn’t notice.
Inuyasha choked in misery but she took it the wrong way.

“I wish I had stayed with him…stayed forever instead of just one month!” She said in almost a whisper as she turned and stared at him with frigid eyes full of pain and years of unspoken words. Inuyasha looked up at her, his amber eyes full of misery at her and her words. She laughed brazenly, and forced herself to stand as she wiped away the tears. Turning, she slowly let her hands skim over the waters surface around her, her long hair trailing behind her in a curtain of fall colors, a wave of ripples left in her wake. When the water was high enough to cover her breasts she stopped and sighed softly, her anger and grief visibly dissipating, as if the water was draining her of her every worry.

“How…how can I prove it to you? I don’t know how if you won’t let me! I love you Kagome! I can’t lie about that - not with all of the pain I’ve gone through in my life. I’ve lived through so many miseries already! I don’t need to live with yours as well as mine now!” He yelled, standing shakily.

“I wont Inuyasha…I already told you that I will never trust you. A long…long, time ago when I was young…foolish…and naïve I might have but not now! But sometimes, things change…and you know what?” She asked, turning to face him.

Her eyes had calmed slightly and were becoming softer now, as if suddenly the water had channeled all of her grief and anger away only to leave her gentler side.

*****

Her emotional whirlwind confused him to the extreme. First she was calm and then seconds later she was crying. She was angry and then she was lifeless. It both amazed and frustrated him, both at his lack of understanding and at the anger at his brother for causing this to happen to her. Why?

He could see her losing steam, her momentary breakdown a thing in the past as she pulled herself out of the pit she had been in, to fight off the threats around her. He admired her for that. Not many would be able to look over their own problems in order to fix themselves.
Not many knew how to be strong.

'But she does…she is strong both because she has to and because her spirit will not accept anything less of her. But still…why do I feel this…sadness. Sadness and something else I do not know of. It both hurts and pleasures…chills and heats…it feels like neither happiness nor grief…what is it?'

“What is it that I feel?”

*****

“Some things do change Inuyasha. But other things…other things don’t and never will. I will someday find the strength to forgive you…but not today. Now go. I don’t want to look at you any longer!” She said softly as she turned away from him once more, dismissing him.

“But-” He took a step forward, the sounds of his beaded necklace jingling softly. She felt a spike of memory from that night and felt her body go cold as if she had no body heat left within her.

She wondered why, but shook it away and snapped a reply to Inuyasha.

“No Inuyasha! Just go! I’ve said all I care to say to you. Think about my words. And think…think about your actions within our past. You hold no power over me now. Nor will you ever again!” She said forcefully as she sensed him walking towards her, the soft sound of his body moving through the water making her grit her teeth.

“I know that you’ve done much for me in the past…and because of that…I am in your dept, but what you have done to me is unforgivable. Both you and I know that we can never be friends again…”

He stopped, one hand clenching as the other gripped the wet cloth of his pants.

Why couldn’t he just hold her? Why…why couldn’t he touch her; make her feel better? That hurt him more then any of her words. She was unreachable.

She was lost.

“Kagome what happened is something that every day I destroy myself for! You won’t allow me to help you…but I need to…I need to save you because that is what you need…to be saved!”

He watched her stiffen, her face looking over her shoulder at him. The look in her eyes made him take a step back. It was like her earlier looks; freezing…so coldly bitter and alarming that he thought for a second that he had turned into a flake of snow.

“And does that change things? Does that change the fact that you hurt me?” Her wintry words stopped him dead in his tracks, his hand fisting against his clothes. He could feel her sadness. But that was it. Not abhorrence or anger…just unhappiness.

Complete and utter sorrow.

“Kikyo…your history with her runs deeper then I could ever have imagined. All this time…it was like a competition between us…and I never realized what I was doing.” She said shaking her head as he became silent.
His cheerless eyes seemed to shatter with hopelessness but she still stood tall and unyielding. A hesitant smile showed itself fleetingly as she sunk into the water. And for a while, he just looked into her eyes.

“Damn it Kagome this has nothing to do with Kikyo.” He said softly as he turned away from her, walking rigidly from the steaming water.

“Nani Inuyasha?” Her soft words made Sesshomaru’s heart twist painfully but he continued to watch without interfering. His time to come to her was approaching…but not yet. Not now.

“I’m sorry…not for me but for you. You may never know the truth and that wounds me deeper then any sword. Good bye…Kagome.”

And he was gone.

She watched him go and almost felt tears come to her eyes when she heard the sound of the clay priestess’ laughter filter into her ears. She was sure that Kikyo had witnessed the whole scene and sighed softly as silence once more engulfed her. All in all she was glad that he was just gone.

Truthfully, she was.

Wrapping her arms around herself she hugged herself soothingly. She had done the right thing…but that was only one of the many problems she had yet to solve.

She sighed and sank deeper into the water, the steaming liquid going up to just below her lips.

“Sesshomaru… Where are you right now? Can you hear me?” She whispered as she looked up at the stars. They twinkled down at her and she saw a small shooting star wiz past.

“Why can’t you be here? With me now? Like you once were…”

Sighing, she sank down to her chin in the steaming water.

'I wish…I wish he were here…with me now. I don’t dare wish for more.' She thought desolately.

Settling down against the edge of the spring she crossed her arms and sighed again, her anger completely gone…washed away to be replaced by a soothing tranquility she had not felt in many months.

'I said some pretty strong things just now…and…I don’t know if I really meant them or not…but for my sake I hope they were.' She thought sadly.

'But it is for the best…just as it is that I never see Sesshomaru aga-'

Suddenly she heard the sound of cloth running over bark and instantly, her entire body stilled. Her heart itself stopped, her blood running slower as she sensed the powerful aura of a youkai behind her and slowly, very slowly she turned her face to look over her shoulder at him. Her eyes widening as she realized who it was.

*****

Sesshomaru cursed himself as she looked up to see his glowing eyes watching her from his post in the tree. He saw her eyes widen as he stood up at the top of the tree and she watched as if in a trance at how, he was positioned directly in front of the eclipsing moon, it being his silhouette as it surrounded him on all sides, his body directly in the middle of the large sphere.

And then, the earth’s shadow completely covered the moon, and turned it completely into darkness with Sesshomaru still standing in front of it, a light blue ring outlining the entire outer ring.

A sudden and unexpected gust of strong wind wound through the trees and through his hair, whipping it around his tall, silvery figure, and she felt her heart beat once, slowly and painfully against her ribcage as everything began to slowly work again.

'Sesshomaru…why are you …did you…did you see what just transpired?' She watched as he jumped down from the tree he had perched himself on, and instantly the momentary spell he had woven over her was broken. She turned her head away from him as for a moment there was silence.

“It’s been almost a year you know Sesshomaru…why have you come back now?”

She was quiet as he appeared in front of her on the outside of the hot spring.

“Would you rather me have not come back at all?” He asked softly as he leaned back against the same tree she was hung her kimono on.

She didn’t answer him, only moved away from the rim of the spring and swam over to an opening in which rocks were piled together on top of each other. From them, ran a steady stream of hot water that ran in from another neighboring hot spring.

“It would have saved me the pain my heart is enduring as of this moment yes.” She admitted, refusing to look at him. He smiled somewhat, knowing she wouldn’t see it and slowly, he began to take off his spiked armor.

“What are you doing?” She asked, daring to look up at him.

He gave her another small smile in return that sent her heart fluttering slightly and then looked back to his waist where he was in the midst of untying the knot that secured his swords.

“Don’t-”

“Why?” The sharpness in his voice stopped her from replying. One perfect eyebrow arched, perfect lips pursing slightly.

“You know you cannot stop me Kagome…and besides, it has been a while.”

“The relationship that we had is over.” She said shortly making him straighten slightly.

“I don’t recall ever ending it…” He said casually as he finished untying the knot of his hamaka and moved on to his haori. He stilled at her next words.

“You didn’t, but I did.”

She seemed to take comfort in her words, as if once spoken they would become true. He could not believe that. The onna Kagome may be many things…do many things, but dismissing him…Sesshomaru, was not one of them. He looked up at her then, and saw the lie written plainly in her eyes. He felt the usual feeling of supercilious pride but did not allow her to see it.

“That will not stop me Kagome.”

“But Inuyasha is-”

“Inuyasha is previously engaged as I am sure you already know.” He said jerking off his haori and letting it fall to the ground. A soft female scream bellied his words and Kagome flushed slightly in both pain and embarrassment.

“Stop being so cold Sesshomaru... It chills me.” She whispered softly. Seeing his hands go to the tie of his hamaka once more, she turned away from him. Her display of what could have been embarrassment amused him greatly and so he took great enjoyment in watching her wriggle like the worm on a metaphorical hook.

“If that is your wish then I will heat them up, along with the rest of you.” He said silkily. He heard her sharp intake of breath and smelt the desired affect of his words on her. Allowing his eyes to become hooded, he smiled slightly as he watched her submerge herself under the water as if trying to escape from him.

“Have it your way tennin.” Removing his hamaka, he placed it neatly to the side with his haori. Knowing the Tenseiga and Tokijin would be safe as he would be able to sense whoever would dare to approach; he placed them on top of his other clothing and slowly entered the steaming water. When she came up again for air, he was directly behind her.

Stiffening suddenly, as if willing it not to be true, she turned, only to see his broad, muscular chest towering over her. She gasped as she hadn’t expected him to be there and fell backwards, clumsily slipping on an underwater rock. He caught her before she could be completely submerged but her back arched, the effect being that her head went under the water. She came back up seconds later sputtering and coughing violently, her hands clutching onto his arms to keep her from falling again. He raised an eyebrow at her antics and gave one short bark of laughter before he allowed her to right herself. She gave him a look of bewilderment. The look suddenly changed into a playful, teasing one despite the situation occurring between them.

“Did my ears deceive me, or hath the mighty lord Sesshomaru laughed?” She asked before she could stop herself. His amber eyes flashed slightly and she watched as a smile curved his enticing lips. One of his upper canines poked over his lower lip as his smile widened and she gulped softly.

“Seriously my lord I-” In the blink of an eye he moved to stand in front of her making her gasp.

“I love it when you call me that…” His husky voice said just loud enough for her to hear.

“Call you what?” She asked, trying to distract him even when she knew it was a worthless effort. One thing she had discovered from Sesshomaru in the short time she had actually known him was that when he wanted something, he would have it. It didn’t matter if he had to journey through the seven gates of hell to acquire it. But that was what she liked…she liked the never-ending perseverance that was his nature.

His predatory smile never left his face as he cornered her; his hooded eyes surveying her languidly as he watched her slowly walk backwards away from him.

“You know that of which I speak.”

She felt the hard rock waterfall behind her and stopped as she felt the water cascade over the top of her head and shoulders, water spraying all around her. Sesshomaru growled, and appeared in front of her, cutting off her exits as he placed both of his hands on the rock on either side of her shoulders. He watched her eyes widen, her full lips opening soundlessly as if she couldn’t find her voice.

“You escaped me once Kagome, but not again.” He whispered to her, his eyes refusing to let hers look away.

“Why do you not go after another?” She asked shivering slightly despite the heat of the water as his face came nearer to her, his body sliding softly against her own, his raw masculine heat engulfing her with his sensual grace. Her eyes closed slightly but it was no use…she couldn’t help but submit to him.

'Was it my wish? Is that why he is here? Or is this an imposter…no it can’t be…it’s all too familiar. All the things he does…the way his body moves…it’s all so familiar to me now…it’s as if I fell asleep and am waking up again.'

“Sesshomaru…” Her words were a soft pant that made him growl softly, his nose and cheek bumping against her lips and cheek in a doglike gesture that he knew aroused her.

“No…no …this shouldn’t happen…” It was a useless plea; her lips sought his out almost instantly, her hips pressing against his in a silent plea.

He smiled at that, one of his hands sliding down the curve of her waist where it stayed, his fingers stroking the firm flesh, drawing a soft moan from her mouth.

“What care I for the others’ thoughts? What do I care for useless guild lines such as those? I care for nothing and no one except this moment.” He whispered as his body fit against hers harder, making her gasp as she felt her stomach and legs tingle excitedly in anticipation. The rough rock wall behind her scratched roughly at her back and she whimpered as she felt one of the rocks pierce her soft skin.

“No…Sesshomaru we can’t---”

“We can’t…or we shouldn’t?” He whispered as his hand began to slide down her hip and caress the side of her lower stomach with his thumb. She swallowed a moan from the pleasurable chills it caused her and was dragged within his silken web of words and sweet, sexual pleasure.

“Both.” She said finally, her voice almost incoherent as her eyes fluttered closed, her mouth opening in a soft panting gasp as his long, agile fingers rubbed against her center.

“Good.” He whispered back as he placed his lips over hers in a fierce kiss.

She melted against him just as instantly and lifting her up against his body, he supported her with his arms and thighs. It was almost like that day…that day, a month ago when she had discovered Inuyasha’s betrayal and stumbled over Sesshomaru in the forest bordering his lands…the day her life had began its traumatic change.

Her hands wrapped almost instantly around his neck as she felt his power wash over her. She knew this wasn’t right but…it didn’t matter now. Nothing did. She needed Sesshomaru... There was something in his touch…something about him that she could not describe. She would not allow herself to regret what they had together.

She felt his fingers delve within her moist folds and arched her back, her nerves on edge as her head tilted back, equally moist lips opening to gasp in air. His fingers began sliding deeper back and forth within her, creating a rhythm that her wildly beating heart could not even dream to match. She never even noticed his grazing lips as they began to suckle tediously against her neck. Bodies moved like snakes, winding, coiling, sliding against each other, neither knowing anything else except their partners. Both were sinking…sinking not only into the water but also into each other’s souls, their long lost passion engulfing them both before either could think to curve its roaring flames.

She had finally accepted the fact that Inuyasha didn’t love her like she had thought. She was nothing to him…nothing but a shard detector. And that was all. Somehow, she had known deep down inside…but…she had never wanted to believe it. She had wanted…no…she had been naïve and foolish to believe that a high school crush had been love. She would never be Inuyasha’s…and yet…now she didn’t think she would want to be, even if she had the opportunity. Maybe it was because of the rape…? Or perhaps was it because she now belonged to someone different…someone worthwhile.

Now…because of Sesshomaru, she knew the feeling of being needed not only in a physical sense but in an emotional one as well. They needed each other and as much as they both knew it, neither showed it, for it was an understanding beyond words.

“Oneigai…show me…show me once more what we had.” She whispered softly.

“Had?” Rough hands slid down her legs, savoring the feel of her silky skin against his own.

“It is something we never lost.”

It was a torture within itself. He wanted to speak more…volumes and volumes of endless words, and yet he did not. To speak was to break the chain that wound them together.

When he became one with her body, it felt as if he had reached a joy so fierce…so powerful that he felt he might die…but a death so unbelievably euphoric that he could not have cared had it meant the end of his rule. It was beyond description…and yet it was so easy to feel…to smell, and hear, and see, and feel…

Soft hands captured his as he thrust deep, her eyes staying with his even as she felt him coming…even as she felt his body tightening, reeling, pulsing within and around her.

He kissed her again, fierce and domineering as was his way. It warmed her even more to feel this within him. Inuyasha had always been possessive towards her but somehow it was different with Sesshomaru…because it was a wanted feeling of possession. She wanted him to want her and to feel that he wanted only her. She doubted that any other male could be as strong and protective and yet so careful with her. It was just so…

“Kagome!”

Their sexual connection was more then just a quick and simple pleasure. It was a joining. It was a symbol of a trust that had been built between the two simply because of a few words from a broken girl to another broken individual.

Feelings became frozen…anesthetized, as flesh seemed to melt…and breathing no longer became necessary as minds and flesh and emotions melded into one another. Torturous cries of release and pleasure echoed around them both as one buried themselves within the other, their connection unbroken as they found their strengths awaken within each other’s pasts. And it was then that breath became needed. It was then that emotions surged past any boundary that had been laid out. One might have thought that in this simple sexual experience it was no different then any other but they would be wrong. What they would see was the most dangerous and bloodthirsty of men brought down to his knees by a woman…a simple woman.

To be miko and to be demon were at that moment just words…words that meant nothing to the lovers as release and fulfillment coursed through them. And upon this fulfillment, both found their permanent place in the world.

And it was in each other’s arms even though they didn't know that yet.

*****

He picked her up in his arms gently as he waded towards a shallower part of the ideyu. Sliding back, he found a rock to sit on and submerged himself to his forearms. Yawning, she sat sideways within his lap, her head resting against his chest as his hands wrapped loosely around her waist. He felt her snuggle closer against him, her arms tightening as if she would fall off of him otherwise.
He became still.

Leaning back against the rocky wall behind him, his eyes were barely open as he brought the sleeping girl closer to him. However he did not sleep. Many years of alertness and the constant possibility of danger had made him sleep only when absolutely necessary. He instead allowed himself to relax, his mind finally free to decide which card he was now to play. But even then he could not think, and shrugging slightly, he looked out across the ideyu’s steaming surface.

He was foolish…so foolish, but at that moment, the idea of being a fool did not cause him displeasure. He felt only a warm indifference that seemed to surround him and his lover in a protective bubble. He sighed, the rumbling of his chest making the onna move against him slightly as she began to wake from her light sleep. His ears scanned the darkness around them for any threats and sensing none, he turned his face down to hers.

He watched her wake fully, watched her glassy eyes become clear as she brought herself back to the present. He sighed again, his mind and body content with her nearness. She smiled timidly up at him and he gave her an infinitesimal smile. He was surprised when she spoke, her soft words quivering slightly.

“Why do you torture me like this Sesshomaru? You have everything you want so…why do you bother yourself with me?” She asked, burying her face into his shoulder, her nose breathing in his musky scent and sneezing softly as its spicy tang sent a tingle through her. At her antics he leaned back against the rim of the spring.

“Because…I remembered what you said so long ago. Besides, I’m sure it will please you to know that this Sesshomaru has decided to take time away from his holdings in order to observe you more closely.” He said imperturbably as he leaned his head back to rest it against a large rock that conveniently resided there.
Looking up at him, she studied his chin and sighed slightly.

“How long?” She asked softly as she played with a piece of his silver hair, brushing the end back and forth against her puffy lower lip.

He shifted her in his lap so that she would be more comfortable.

“About…three or four months.” He said as he suddenly stood up, making her wrap her arms tightly around his neck. She hadn’t expected the sudden movement and cried out softly in alarm at seeing a small cut across his neck where her nails had sliced. She kissed it apologetically and leaned back to see it completely healed. She stared at it.

‘Why do I always find myself forgetting he’s a demon? My god, knowing him he’d flaunt his fast acting healing
powers as well, if he knew I wouldn’t just roll my eyes…’

“My brother comes.” His words were almost venomous. They made her cringe and she snuggled closer to him upon his soft growl of apology.

She had known that Inuyasha would come. It made her sigh in discomfort. She wanted for Sesshomaru to be alone with her for at least a little while longer, no matter how short. He shifted her slightly in his arms so as to cover her more and she wrapped her arms tighter around him, knowing he would be taking off shortly.

“Let him. He is nothing to me now as I’m sure you…heard earlier.” She said, shaking her head as sure enough, she heard a loud crash in the undergrowth all but a few hundred yards away.

“I do not care. Come with me.” He said suddenly as an idea came to him. She sighed as she heard a string of muffled curses approaching them.

“Iie…I have to go home.”

“Then I’ll come with you to…wherever this home of yours is.”

“You can’t!”

“Woman!” He growled and with that, swiped up their clothes and reappeared in front of the well, knowing it was a place that would take his brother a few moments to get to.

“You’re not coming with me! You don’t even know where I live!” She said as he let her down. She couldn’t help but blush at how ridiculous her statement sounded but quickly quelled it.

“Interesting, now cover yourself. I do not like the thought of that hanyou looking upon you.” He said authoritatively as he handed her, her kimono. Unable this time to contain it, she began to blush and took the garment hastily as she quickly put it on, much to the inner disappointment of her lover.
She glanced up just as Inuyasha came stumbling out of the forest.

“Kagome! I know what happened! It was-“

Unfortunately, something must have been out of his line of sight, and he suddenly fell to land face first only feet in front of them. Unable to help it, she smacked a hand to her face in embarrassment. Instantly however, Inuyasha was back on his feet, his eyes like large glass bulbs as he suddenly seemed to realize Sesshomaru was there. In a flash, Tetsusaiga was out and swinging as he took a swipe at Sesshomaru who easily dodged it.

Gasping in surprise, she moved backwards and screamed as she tipped over the lip of the well, and fell in, purple and blue light engulfing the outline of her body, making the two brothers pause.