An Unexpected Love

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An Unexpected Love

Chapter
Two : The First Mark

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It was all a blur for
Kagome.  She vaguely remembered agreeing to marry
Sesshoumaru and then she was at camp again, with him beside
her.  Shippou and Rin ran to greet them as the
taijiya and houshi exchanged glances.  Her head
hurt a little and Sango’s words only echoed in her
ears.  She heard her concern but could not
understand the reason.  What had happened before
then?  She searched her memory and then it hit
her. 
Inuyasha. 
Inuyasha had left her alone.  He had
went to Kikyou. 
Again.

It had become painfully
apparent to Kagome, Miroku and Sango that Inuyasha would not keep his word,
especially after the third ‘visit’.  Even though
he promised to stop after Sesshoumaru joined the group, Kikyou’s pull on him
had more of an affect than Kagome could ever compete
with.  And to be honest, she was tired of
trying.  She didn’t want to come between them,
but Inuyasha’s secrecy and constant absence became annoying and had even
begun to effect their journeying.  It had even
started irritating Sesshoumaru.  She had no
choice but to say something to him.

Inuyasha blew up in her
face when she finally did mention it to him. 
Kagome was not even able to get through her first sentence before he
flew off the handle.  His rage had startled her
and she felt fear of him for the first time.  His
outburst had attracted Miroku and Sesshoumaru’s immediate
attention.  Kagome was grateful for their
appearance but felt shame at the scene that the hanyou was causing.

The spectacle that unfolded
was not pretty.  Kagome tried to dissipate
Inuyasha’s foul mood with apologies before a real fight
ensued.  However, when Sesshoumaru spoke about
Inuyasha’s escapades and his inability to focus with his head, the hanyou
pulled Tessaiga and challenge the demon.  In the
end, Inuyasha was on his back and Sesshoumaru promptly escorted the miko and
houshi away for him to think about his actions. 
He stayed away for three days before returning. 
Guilt weighted heavily on Kagome after that.

“Kagome?”
Sango spoke her name for the third time. 

She looked up, jarred out
of her thoughts, “Huh?”

Sango’s expression turned
to worry.  “What is wrong
Kagome-chan?  Did Sesshoumaru-sama hurt
you?”

“Sesshoumaru-sama?” 
She looked for him, but the campsite was seemingly
vacant.  She remember
his proposal and her answer.  “Where is
everyone?”

“Sesshoumaru-sama went to
check out the surrounding area.  Rin and Shippou
are gathering things for our bath.  You are
coming, aren’t you Kagome?” 

She had completely
forgotten their bath.  It had been five days
since they had had a chance to clean themselves. 
Her expression light up.  “Yes, of course
I want to come.” 

“Good,” the young woman
smiled.  “I already have all of your
things.”  Sango held up Kagome’s pink shower bag,
the one her mother had packed for her. 

“Will Miroku be
there?”  She giggled. 
She would have to wait and tell her friend later about
her...engagement.

“He better not
be!”  The taijiya locked arms with her friend and
pulled her to the bathing area.  “He said he was
going to look for Inuyasha.  Come on, Rin and
Shippou are there already.”  The trail was short
and it only took ten minutes to walk from the campsite. 
They could hear the children’s laughter and were greeted
happily.

“Nee-chan! 
The water is great,” Rin’s bubbly voice floated to her. Kagome nodded
and surveyed the area.  They were in a small
alcove with trees surrounding them, causing a natural sunroof showing the
nightsky.  Large
rocks towered over half the spring, letting them have some shelter from
prying eyes.

“Kagome-chan,” the
kitsune’s voice echoed beyond the
girls.  He suddenly popped up beside the
human.  “The water is so
warm.  It’s just like the bathes at your
home.”  Kagome nodded but mentally had
hope that Rin did not catch his last statement.

“Come
Kagome-chan, let’s get ready for our
bath.”  Sango pulled the woman with her and they
disappeared from the path behind the granite looming over the
waters.  The two women waded into the warmth,
hiding their bodies.  The group was ignorant to
the watching figure in the trees as they continued their little
celebration.

“Ahhh,
isn’t it wonderful to have a hot bath?” Kagome sighed
heavily.  The liquid eased her aching
body.  The past month’s journey had been hard on
them, but she held her tongue, refusing to complain in front of Inuyasha
and Sesshoumaru.

Rin and Shippou were
splashing around, playing a game on the other end so they wouldn't disturb
Kagome and Sango.  Rin’s laughter was so
cheerful, Kagome found that she could never have
a heavy heart around the child.  Who knows what
horrors she had seen traveling with Sesshoumaru. 
Yet that was the safest place for her.

“Yes, we must thank
Sesshoumaru-sama for this rare opportunity.  Who
would have known that he could smell a hot spring,” Sango’s voice was filled
with appreciation.  “I bet Inuyasha would have
never thought of this.”  The statement slipped
from her lips before the woman knew it.

Her friend only
laughed.  “You are right.” 
She quickly adverted her
eyes.  “I suppose Inuyasha could be capable of
such things.”  She knew that now was the time to
tell her friend.  Inuyasha was a thing of her
past now. 

“Kagome...are you
okay?”  She laid a hand on the young miko’s
shoulder.

“Sango, I have to tell you
something.”  Her voice was barely above a
whisper.  Kagome could hear the children playing
several feet to her left.  “Sesshoumaru proposed
and I accepted.”  She shut her eyes tightly
before quickly opening them.

Sango jumped up and
remained standing, her mouth open,
unable to speak her questions.  Kagome
stood up trying to pull her nude friend back into the
water.  The taijiya grabbed her hands stilling
the miko.  “I knew it! 
I told Miroku that you two were spending a lot of
time together, but he did not want to believe me.” 
Her face was full of amazement.  “But
Kagome, are you sure about marriage?  It seems,
soon?  And I thought that he did not really like
humans?”

“I, We, What
spending time?”

“Tell me what you two
did?”  Her friend wanted the juicy details but
Kagome was a little confused.

She kept her voice
low.  “I haven’t done anything with
Sesshoumaru-sama.”  She inched closer to the
female.  “Sango, what do you mean by spending
time together?”

“Kagome, haven’t you
noticed that everywhere you are Sesshoumaru is always close
by?” 

The girl looked
shocked.  Had Inuyasha noticed this as
well?  She stuttered, trying to find
words.  “I, no, I did not
know.  But why?” she asked bewildered.

“Well, I was hoping you
could tell me.”  Sango only smiled at her
friend.  “Kagome, I think that Sesshoumaru-sama
is a great catch.  He is very
honorable.”  The girl was
silent.  “Kagome, try to forget
Inuyasha.”  The children could still be heard as
Shippou showed Rin some water tricks.  Their
laughter filled the small area.

It seemed weird that Sango
would be so understanding toward
her predicament.  Did she not understand that
everything would change from then on?  “Sango, I
would have thought you would be more... upset than this.”

“Kagome,
I only want you to be
happy.  Since you are still not able to stay in
your world... I do not think Inuyasha is fit to protect you
now.  I’m sorry but I do not want to see you hurt
any
longer.” 
Sango hugged the younger
girl.  “I
am sure that Sesshoumaru will treat you properly. 
But, Kagome you must be aware of their mating
ceremony.  Make sure that you talk to him about
it first, I have heard some very awful
things.”

“Huh, what do mean?” her
voice squeaked. 

“Well I have never heard
anything about the Inu-clan mating rituals so anything I say is pure
speculation.”  She laughed
nervously.  “Please Kagome, don’t put too much
into my words.”  Her friend
nodded.  The duo sat back, gazing up at the stars
above. 

Kagome was consumed in her
thoughts until her eyes caught a glimmer of light. 
“Oh, Sango, look a shooting star! Quick you have to make a wish,”
Kagome clapped her hands together and closed her eyes, hoping her silent
prayer would reach the Fates. 

Sango looked quizzically at
her friend and mimicked her actions. 
“Kagome-chan what do I wish for?” she whispered.

“Anything,” the girl
whispered back.

The children had stopped to
stare at the two older women.  Shippou laughed as
Rin repeated their actions.  A figure in the
trees smiled.  It was unusual to see three human
girls praying to the heavens.

Footsteps could be heard on
the path before a voice called out.  “Ladies,
Sesshoumaru-sama has brought dinner back and it will be done
shortly.”  Miroku’s voice echoed into their
haven.

“Very well,” Sango spoke,
“we will be there shortly.”  They heard the
footsteps retreat back into camp and Kagome covered her mouth as she
laughed.  “What are you laughing about?”

“Miroku can be a gentleman
when he wants.” 

Sango laughed at her
comment.  “Yes, I suppose
so.  However, I suspect that it may be more
because of the children.”  The woman rose after
the children scampered up and gathered their clothing, changing on the rocks
above.  “Aren’t you coming, Kagome?”

“Yes, but I want to wash my
hair.  I’ll be there in fifteen
minutes.”  She pulled her all natural shampoo
from the bag and began scrubbing her head.  Sango
had dressed and returned to camp when Kagome began rinsing the soap from the
tangled tendrils of hair.  She struggled with
several knots before giving up and grabbing the
conditioner.  It would take an extra five minutes
but she had not other choice.  ‘They might not
even notice.’ 

The woman was lost in
thought when Sesshoumaru cleared his throat behind her. 
Kagome spun around to find him standing nude in front of
her.  She went to cover her eyes but his hands
had held her wrists in place.  He sniffed her and
could smell the gel in her hair and on her hands. 
“What is this?” the lord asked when he held her hand for a closer
inspection.

Kagome had been trying to
dip her body lower into the water, so that her breasts were covered by the
spring, however, her fiancée caused her to still
herself.  “It’s conditioner. 
I put it in my hair to keep it clean.” 
The girl knew she was blushing horribly, but she was still new to
this whole idea.  “Um... Sesshoumaru-sama... is
this part of your courting?”

He causally glanced around,
making sure that they were indeed alone before returning his eyes to the
female before him.  Inuyasha had been gone longer
than they had all thought, even Sesshoumaru. 
This was a perfect time to make his first mark. 
“Yes.  Tell me, Kagome, are you not happy
with Sango’s reaction?” he whispered in her ear.

She was surprised and
skipped past his question.  “Huh, you heard our
conversation?”  She felt his chest vibrate and
decided that he seemed to be in a foul mood. 
“No, I was just surprised. 
Sesshoumaru-sama,” she began formally, “may I ask you some
questions?”

He smirked at
her.  She had brains, he gave her
that.  The lord nodded for her to
continue.  “Will you explain to me the ceremony
and what has to be done?” her voice was small as Kagome realized that she
was clueless about what she had gotten herself into.

“There is much you need to
know but it is not the time to explain everything to you.”

She pouted at his
answer.  “Then I suppose that would be your
answer if I was to ask you about your laws or why you are willing to marry a
human ...eh?”  He nodded. 
“You aren’t going to answer any of my questions.”

“All the ones you ask take
much to long to explain.  Now,” he pushed her
against the rock, ignoring her whimpers and moving closer to her face, “my
turn for a question.”  His silky voice and hot
breath cooled her warm skin.  “What did you wish
for?”  She remained submissive but silent under
him.  Kagome couldn’t bring herself to even speak
the words under an assault like this.  He nipped
at her ear, throat and shoulder, each bite harder than the previous yet she
still held her tongue.  “Forget about
Inuyasha.”  He pressed his body along hers,
holding the woman in place as he moved his hands down her
body.  The youkai felt her trembling under his
touch.  “Shhhh, do
not be afraid.  This is the first step to our
mating, my love.”  The tenderness in his voice
calmed her as they connected eyes.  “I will only
place a seal and mark upon you so that everyone may know that you are
mine.  It will not hurt much.”

Her expression turned from
concern to surprise as she felt his fingers on her. 
“Sesshoumaru...” her voice squeaked as she threw her arms around the
demon, “what are you doing?”

“Shhh,
I am placing my mark upon you.”  The youkai engulfed her mouth with
his, covering her screams.  His fangs nipped the inside of his mouth as
the youkai cut the necessary fingers releasing the necessary blood to finish
tying off her aroma.  The seal required nothing more than his blood to
enter her, thus planting his scent on her.  Sesshoumaru was only taking
an extra precaution by placing a double seal.  The woman squirmed under
him, offering a slight annoyance.  The demon lord knew that his blood
must weigh heavy on her and adjusted his hold to keep her still.  Her
body had accepted him but what troubled the youkai was her common
sense.  He did not need her making a fool of him.  Sesshoumaru
released Kagome, breaking the intimate contact as he gazed into her hazy
eyes.  She was limp in his
arms. 

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As some of you may have
figured out, I began the first chapter after some important events
occurred.  There are and will be clues as what
happened before, so don’t worry everything will be
explained.  However, if you have questions,
please ask them!!!  I would love to answer them
or maybe I haven’t even thought of it
yet.

Okay, now I want to mention
that I realize that the characters are slipping their titles when they speak
to/about each other (ie -chan,
-sama, etc).  I do
this because I am trying to emphasize a tone in their
voice.  I’m hoping it
works/ed.  And as hard as I may
try I can’t promise to keep the characters IC
(in-character).  Thanks goes to Marcia for being my beta.