A Sister's Gift

Chapter 20 – Discovery

Kagome began to feel a little uncomfortable sitting across from Inuyasha. The little fire flickered in front of them, casting a soothing glow in its midst. The soft crackling of embers was hypnotizing in the quiet of the night. Kagome knew he was staring at her, and couldn’t help herself when she glanced at him. She was right, he was staring, and he had this smirky grin on his face. “Um... What?” Kagome finally asked.

Inuyasha was waiting for her to say something, and now he had his opening. “So... Kagome, how do you like my brother?”

Kagome smiled slightly at Inuyasha, and glanced to Kikyo before returning her gaze to the fire. “Sesshomaru is a very apt Protector.” She looked back up when Inuyasha let out a chuckle.

“Come on Kagome, that’s not what I meant, and you know it.” Inuyasha said with a smirk.

Kagome gasped, and looked to Kikyo for help, but the girl seemed just as interested as Inuyasha. ‘No help there.’ Kagome turned back to Inuyasha and said, “Whatever do you mean?” She knew her face was probably as red as the haori on his back, but she feigned innocence as best she could.

Kikyo surprised her when she suddenly moved over to sit in Inuyasha’s lap. The hanyou smiled and pulled her closer to his chest with a hearty grunt. The miko turned to Kagome and smiled. “Oh calm down, Kagome. You can tell us.”

Kagome was more than shocked, she was speechless. “I... uh... well...”

Inuyasha spoke up again as he peeked over Kikyo’s thick main of ebony hair. “Oh come on Kagome, we know there’s something going on between you two. I can smell it.”

Kikyo twisted her head to him with a shocked look on her face and a huge smile gracing her lips. She playfully slapped at his shoulder. “You naughty little doggy!”

Kagome was aghast. She wasn’t sure what he meant, but she knew this had to be the most embarrassing situation that she had ever been in. She coughed a little to clear her throat. “Well... Hey, what so you mean ‘you can smell it’?! I assure you there is nothing going on between Sesshomaru and I.” There. Maybe that sounded convincing enough. She hoped it did anyway.

“I don’t believe that for one second. Besides, you can’t hide your arousal from my nose. On the ride here you were hotter than freshly fucked fox in a forest fire!” This statement was followed by loud rolling laughter from Inuyasha, accompanied by the sucking intake of air from two stunned miko’s.

Kagome jumped to her feet and pointed her finger at Inuyasha as she placed one tightly clenched fist on her hip. “Just who do you think you are?! You can’t talk to me like that you... You... BAKA!”

Kikyo decided that she should intervene. Inuyasha had certainly stepped over the line... again. She stood to her feet. “Kagome, please... I must apologize for Inuyasha. He is most rude at times.” She swiftly turned on Inuyasha. “INUYASHA! How could you! That was unnecessary and rude!”

Suddenly Inuyasha regretted his words as the necklace he wore began to tighten around his neck. “Damn it wench!” Before he could protest further he was struggling to breathe and then the piercing pain shot out from his neck through his body. He struggled to crawl over to his mistress. He began to caress her lower stomach with his cheek. Finally the horrible pains lessened. Her tiny hand came to his head, and she rubbed his ears, just like he liked. Inuyasha purred and Kikyo said, “Forgiven.”

Kagome watched the display in wonder, tinged by horror. It was all too clear that they were lovers, but the harsh reality of the bond tore through all to assert itself in the heat of the moment. Kikyo was Mistress, and Inuyasha was slave.

“What is going on here.” The steel coated growl of Sesshomaru startled all three of them.

Inuyasha recovered enough that he was able to stand. Kikyo wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him close, as if to ask his forgiveness in return. Inuyasha hugged her close while looking to his brother, who had a dangerous glint in his eye. “Fey! Just a couple of women wearing their feelings on their sleeve.”

Sesshomaru looked over to Kagome. “Are you alright?”

Kagome smiled and nodded. She had never been so glad to see him. She almost hurled herself into his arms. As if he knew her thoughts, he asked, “Would you care to walk with me?”

Kagome accepted his outstretched hand, and let him lead her away from the strange couple.

Sesshomaru led Kagome away from his ignorant half brother. The little whelp never did have any manners, and while he didn’t catch the entire conversation, he was pretty certain that the idiot had said something crude in the presence of his Kagome. Wait... ‘his’ Kagome?

Yes, damn it, HIS Kagome!

When he reached a small clearing far away from the camp, he stopped and turned to her. He pulled her close to him and inhaled her intoxicating aroma. It helped to sooth the anger he was currently feeling towards the hanyou. A couple of minutes later he felt calm enough to ask. “Kagome, what did the hanyou say that upset you?”

Kagome turned crimson again, and shook her head as she looked away. It was just too embarrassing to discuss with him.

“Kagome, tell this Sesshomaru what Inuyasha said to you.” His voice was soft yet stern. If that baka said something hurtful to Kagome he would be eating his liver for breakfast.

“I... I ... oh, it’s kind of embarrassing.” Kagome replied in a tiny voice.

Sesshomaru growled deeply. He made to turn back to camp, but Kagome made no move to follow.

“No Sesshomaru. Please don’t. Come, let’s have a seat over there under that tree.” Kagome said.

Sesshomaru walked with her, and the two settled down against the old tree trunk. They just sat quietly for a time, content to listen to the sounds of the night. The soft rustling of the leaves was very peaceful, and Kagome laid her head against Sesshomaru’s shoulder.

“He wanted to know about our relationship.” Kagome said at last. Sesshomaru growled again and made to speak, but Kagome cut him off and continued. “He thinks that we have a... deeper relationship, than just Miko and Protector.”

Sesshomaru was trying to keep calm, but underneath his cool exterior he was seething at the audacity of that half-breed whelp. He clenched his hands, causing his knuckles to pop. It echoed through the still night air. He took a deep calming breath. “What did you tell him, Kagome?”

Kagome looked up to her Protector. His golden eyes shining through the darkness, were like tiny candles, flickering safety in their luminescence. “I... I tried to tell him that we are nothing more than Miko and Protector.” Kagome sighed deeply and looked down, away from his gaze. “He didn’t believe me. He could tell I was lying.”

Sesshomaru listened carefully to her words. ‘She was lying. What is the relationship that we share? How do we fit into this world? A Miko Mistress and a Youkai Protector. How do we find our place?’

“Sesshomaru?” Kagome interrupted his thoughts.

“Yes?” he asked.

“I feel things... I feel more for you than simply that. I know it’s wrong, but... I... can’t help it.” Kagome said. Her voice was so soft that it was just a whisper in the wind.

He hugged her close to him, while breathing in her calming lavender scent. “Kagome... I feel... the same way.”

Kagome looked up then. ‘He feels the same way?’ She was lost in the infinite gaze of his molten eyes of gold, and soon her lips were pressed softly against his. The kiss was warm and sweet. A tender play of emotion through the caress of soft pink flesh.

Her lips wer as soft as the petals of a rose. He drank of the sweetness they held, and allowed her scent to take him away from the harsh realities of the world. He teased her lip and begged admittance into her mouth. Shyly she parted her lips, and he entered, tasting of her moist cavern. He teased her tongue with his own and felt himself harden when she responded with the same.