The Hot Springs

---Inuyasha's Village---

"We need to take the fight away from the village, but unfortunately, it's not us they're after," Inuyasha said as he met his older brother outside his home. Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed, as if to say, Of course.

"Homes can be rebuilt. It's better if the villagers leave," Sesshoumaru answered. Inuyasha frowned, wanting to disagree, but to Sesshoumaru's surprise, he nodded. The older demon watched as the younger sprinted towards the village center, heading towards a large bell suspended from a tall pavilion. Inuyasha quickly scaled the ladder up to the bell. It rang loudly in the small valley and the worried murmurs of a couple hundred villagers arose all at once.

"Enemies are coming! Everyone, go up the hill and hide at the shrine! Shimizu will protect you!" Inuyasha called. Sesshoumaru found it strange that the villagers looking up at him on the pavilion ladder actually followed his orders. "Hurry, everyone! Enemies are coming! Take nothing with you!" Inuyasha resumed with ringing the bell and the sudden tsunami of people rushing up the shrine steps was oddly coordinated.

Then again, living in the same town as a half-demon and his son would make the villagers much more wary.

Sesshoumaru put his nose to the air again and felt a sneer curl his lip. The enemies were just minutes away, if not less. He looked back at the house behind him, which sheltered his wife and daughter. He would not let a single thing even touch the roof, he swore to himself.

A few dawdling elderly were being assisted up the steps, but the village had otherwise emptied and Sesshoumaru felt his eyes bleed to red as familiar outlines appeared on the horizon. Inuyasha returned to his side then, his Tessaiga at the ready.

"Here they come," the younger demon said with a growl. Sesshoumaru remained silent, letting his transformation take over. He could feel his skin tightening and then stretching, his bones moving and growing. "S-Sesshoumaru! Are you--" Inuyasha blanched, watching his older brother grow in size.

Fur sprouted. His clothes melted into his body—-even his two swords. His face and ears elongated. Long, canine teeth pushed past his lips and suddenly, Inuyasha looked much smaller than before. Sesshoumaru let out a baying howl, though it was more like a roar. He could see the enemies begin to fly over the village, over two dozen crow demons. Their leader, more than ten times the size of his minions, flew in the middle. Like the crow demon who had stolen the Shikon no Tama so many years ago, these enemies bore a third eye, which supposedly could see the souls of those who had recently passed. It was their way of telling which bodies to steal.

All that entered Sesshoumaru's mind was the image of his teeth sinking into their feathers, followed by the gush of blood as it entered his mouth and ran down his jowls, turning his fur pink. He leapt with this murderous thought in mind, not caring to ask questions. The enemy's intent was obvious.

Though he barely acknowledged it, Sesshoumaru felt rather than saw Inuyasha leap to he meet the enemy. Sesshoumaru opened his jaws wide and though the crow flying towards him tried to change course, it was too slow. Sesshoumaru landed amongst the trees bordering the village, his large body breaking branches as his feet pounded to the earth. The crow's bones popped sickeningly as his jaws squeezed down on the struggling bird.

It was only a second before the creature's struggles ended and Sesshoumaru dropped the dead carcus. He then quickly found another flying rat and jumped after it, his growl of anger loud in the silence of the abandoned village. Inuyasha had already dropped four of the enemy, his sword's long-ranged attacks more efficient, but Sesshoumaru found his method much more satisfying.

---Inside Inuyasha's Home---

The kitchen was utterly silent as its four occupants listened to the sounds of battle outside. Rin jerked every time she heard her husband's howls. Karran, sitting beside her and hugging her mother's side, comforted her as best as she could. Kagome could hear it every time Inuyasha used his sword, though by the sound of it, the Kaze no Kizu attack was being thrown into the sky, both to kill the flying enemies and to avoid damaging homes. Kouryoku stood at the entrance to the kitchen, hand on the hilt of his sword and obviously ready.

The house rattled every time Sesshoumaru landed from his great leaps and Rin feared every single time that he had fallen rather than landed. She wanted to be able to see what was happening, but if she went outside, the demons might mistake her for the girl with the Shikon no Tama. Also, Sesshoumaru's anger at seeing her in danger would be phenomenal.

"What's happening out there?" she whispered.

---Outside---

The Crow Lord, having deftly avoided every swipe aimed at him, landed on the roof of the bell's pavilion, his anger obvious at how quickly all of his minions had perished. Dozens of crow bodies were scattered over the village, one of which had unfortunately crashed through the roof of someone's home. Sesshoumaru, still in his dog form, stood between the Crow Lord and his brother's home. Inuyasha stood near him, his Tessaiga clenched in his hands. The Crow Lord flapped his wings in agitation, squawking loudly.

"I sh'ee we have sh'orely underesh'timated you," he hissed, his voice sounding strange through a beak.

"Who is 'we'?" Inuyasha asked, ready to fire off his sword if necessary. Just by the amount of demon energy he could see, Inuyasha knew that the Crow Lord, though skilled, was no match for either of them. Now that it was two-on-one with no minions to worry about, they could take him down fast.

"Have you not heard?" the crow cackled, its leathery tongue poking out from its beak as it laughed. Sesshoumaru could feel his anger rising and a growl leaked from his throat.

"Spit it out then!" Inuyasha yelled, brandishing his sword about. The Crow Lord flapped his wings again, obviously made nervous by the sword's movements.

"As large a group as we are, we crow demons are no match for the likes of you. We allied with a much more powerful group. A brother of crow demons, the owl demons of the eash't agreed to sh'tand with us in a united front against the wesh't. It was our job to sh'ecure the Shikon no Tama. Fukurou-sh'ama knew it would reappear sh'oon," the Crow Lord explained. Sesshoumaru took a step forward, his anger so keen that it put his stomach in knots. Yokiri, the daughter of the Lord of the Eastern Lands could very well be deceiving his son with her words of love as part of some elaborate plot to undermine his entire family, but Sesshoumaru knew that the Owl Lord was not smart enough to hatch such a plan.

Such information would be useful, though. It was a well known fact that Fukurou was a complete coward. Even so, he made a mental note to separate his eldest from Yokiri...and kill her if necessary.

"I leave it to you, Sesshoumaru." Inuyasha lowered his sword. It had been obvious that the older demon was itching to kill the Crow Lord and Inuyasha was willing to give his brother the kill. The corner of Sesshoumaru's mouth shook as a deep growl spilled forth. The Crow Lord squawked, seeing his intention, and began flapping his wings in earnest to take off and escape. Sesshoumaru jumped forth, roaring as he closed the distance to the bell's pavilion. The Crow Lord tried to defend himself and flung one wing toward the dog demon. Some of his feathers shot out, stiff and sharp as kunai, forcing Sesshoumaru to dodge by rolling his body in mid-air. Two of the dagger-like feathers flew past harmlessly, but one landed directly into his shoulder.

Being hit only served to further anger Sesshoumaru, though, who let his momentum carry him the last few feet to his target. His jaw clamped down onto the large bird, bearing it to the ground as he landed on his side. His fall had ruined someone's garden, but he hadn't landed on a house. If he had, his mate would have been upset.

Getting to his feet, Sesshoumaru whipped his head from side to side until the wing of the Crow Lord completely tore off, eliciting a pained squawk from the crow demon. Spitting the wing to the side, he went after the main body, biting down and shaking his head again. Finally, the Crow Lord moved no more and Sesshoumaru dropped the foul thing, ready to return to his human form and wash out his mouth.

"Sesshoumaru-sama!" he heard Rin cry. Turning in surprise, he espied his mate running toward him from the house, and with only a few steps, had more than halfway closed the distance between them. His daughter was on the porch of his brother's house, having let her mother leave once she confirmed that all the enemies were dead. Lowering his head, Sesshoumaru closed his eyes as his wife wrapped her arms around his muzzle.

"You're hurt!" she sobbed, obviously upset. "Are you in pain? Should we take it out?" She let go of his nose then, stepping back and rolling up her sleeves as if she would do the job now. Sesshoumaru looked to the house, and without saying a word, Karran approached.

"I'll take care of it, mother. The blade may be poisoned," Karran offered, placing her hands on her mother's shoulders.

"P-poisoned? Have you been poisoned? Oh, God!" Rin fretted, her hands fidgeting as if she would touch him again. He lowered himself to his haunches, letting Rin press herself to his enormous cheek. She worriedly petted his fur, and he closed his eyes. Her smell was stronger while he was in this form, despite the crow blood around them, and he was extremely content to bathe in her sweet scent. Karran had walked around to his other shoulder. She gripped the shaft of the feather and then braced one foot on her father's shoulder.

"Are you ready?" she softly said. He had turned his head towards her mother and all she could see of his head was his large, fluffy ear. There was no answer, which for him meant "yes".

With a mighty tug, Karran ripped the feather free of his shoulder. Sesshoumaru didn't even flinch. After flinging the large, bloodied blade to the side, Karran looked at the wound but found no remaining pieces. The feather hadn't been poisoned, either. What a weak demon, she thought to herself.

"It is finished," she announced, taking care not to touch herself with her bloody fingers. She let her parents be alone together and walked into the house to wash her hands. Sesshoumaru stood again, forcing Rin to let go of him and she worried her hands as he began his transformation once more. More blood rushed out of his wound as he shrank, pushed out by his own muscles as a result of moving bones and organs, so when he finally stood up as a human, the entire left side of his clothing was soaked with blood.

Rin was balling by then and rushed to him. She paused before touching him, uncertain if hugging him would hurt him or make him angry. Whenever she stubbed her toe, she herself didn't want anyone to touch her while she bore the pain.

"It's all right, love. Come embrace me," he said, lifting his good arm. She gratefully ducked under his arm, pressing herself to his cleaner side and crying onto his armor. His arm came around her, comforting her as they walked to the house together.

---Castle of the Lord of the Western Lands---

Inutaisho sat in the kitchen, lazily stirring a pot of stew as very faint sounds of rutting drifted to his ears. He sneered, his head leaned upon his palm. He had wanted Yokiri for so long and waiting these last two days was going to drive him insane. However, listening to his brother and that fire demon going at it was also coming close to driving him insane. His jealousy ate at him, but he just continued to stir the stew.

Toku definitely deserves his own happiness...

Inutaisho just wished he weren't so noisy about it.

------

Ikkatsu was straddled over Toku, her thighs trembling, her skin covered with sweat, and her heart racing a mile a minute. Her lover bucked up one last time and his ecstasy looked more like pain as he came inside of her. His hands tightly gripped her hips, keeping her pressed against his pelvis as he weakly thrust into her. She lay down over him, touching her bare breasts to his chest and enjoying the remaining hum of pleasure still frothy in her veins as she pressed a kiss to his lips. She then reached up and pulled her blood red hair to one side, baring her back.

"Do it," she whispered against his mouth. Toku nodded slightly, his hands lazily stroking up her bare back to the nape of her neck. Touching his claws to the scar that Zannin had placed there, he pushed the tips into her skin. She stiffened, hiding her face against his neck as he dragged his claws down her back. Her soft cry told him that it hurt, but she stayed still as he scored her back with three long welts.

In her head, she could hear an angry curse from far away and knew that Zannin had felt the marking.

"He's coming. I can hear it," she informed Toku, who stroked her sides comfortingly.

"He comes for his death, and I shall give it to him. Do not worry, Ikkatsu," Toku rumbled, his voice a bit husky after their lovemaking. "I will take care of you...forever," he promised her.

"Toku..." she whispered, curling closer to him.

---Castle of the Lord of the Northern Lands---

When Genbu had pulled Chihaya back into the compound, the men had cheered uproariously, but he paid them no attention. Now that he knew what he wanted, he wanted it badly.

Chihaya was an exceptional fighter and extremely powerful as a demon. She had learned to use many of her powers while under his tutelage, though mostly by accident. His father would therefore have no objection to her. She was also outgoing with the men and knew how to be diplomatic. The soldiers often had short tempers, but any of Chihaya's methods for calming them down almost always worked. When they didn't...she simply knocked out both brawlers. His mother would therefore have no objection to her.

He had been too blind by his amibitions to notice her beauty, but after seeing his parents reunited, after hearing of his eldest brother's wish to take a mate and after knowing that even Toku would soon be mated--it was like a splash of ice water. Brought out of his fixation, he had found before him a deadly, beautiful demon. He lusted for her, he wanted to take her, claim her... All he needed to figure out now was if he loved her.

Before he realized it, they were nearing his bedroom and a middle-aged human servant was exiting his room with a few dusty rags, which she had tossed into a half-full bucket.

"Are my chambers ready?" he asked, his voice booming in his urgency. The servant cried out in surprise, flailing backward and then pressing her hands to her chest.

"Y-yes, sir," she hastily replied, tugging the bucket's handle and quickly backing away.

"Make sure all the servants know not to disturb this room," he bade the middle-aged woman. She hastily nodded, her eyes wide. He realized that it was the first time he had ever seen this servant. He lowered his voice, though it took effort. "Thank you for your work, madam," he added. Then he pushed Chihaya through the open door and followed her inside, slamming the door shut.

His personal quarters were lavish, to say the least. The furniture was of the best quality. The thick futon was wide and made of the finest materials. The ornate lamps cast a soft, soothing glow. None of that mattered to Genbu now, though. He only had eyes for Chihaya, who stumbled around to watch as he hastily began to remove his armor.

"Get undressed," he ordered. Chihaya regarded him with uncertainty and her swollen, blushing lips parted in surprise. He dropped his gauntlets to the floor first and then began to work on the main piece strapped to his torso. "Now," he asserted when she didn't immediately do as he said. Hurriedly nodding her head, she finally began to strip and for a long minute, all that could be heard was the thump of armor hitting the floor and their shallow breaths.

Chihaya was thrilled by the heat in Genbu's eyes. She was desperate to do the things to his body that she had longed to do ever since she was sixteen and had first realized that she loved him. She wanted him inside her mouth, his muscular buttocks in her palms and his powerful thighs pressed against her breasts. She wanted him beneath her, his hands on her hips as she ground against his pelvis. She wanted him bent over her, biting the back of her neck and slapping his hips against her rear. Softly moaning aloud, she finally threw off the last of her armor, which hit the floor with a satisfying clunk.

Genbu had already pulled his haori out of his hakama, but Chihaya could wait no longer. She closed the distance between them, grabbed his hand, and tugged him toward the low dresser against the back wall of his chambers. Shoving him against the wall, she yanked his hakama down. Genbu was thrown off balance and fell to the top of the dresser, knocking aside an empty ink well and a roll of parchment.

"Chihaya, what the hell are you--"

"Genbu-sama," she sighed, unhesitatingly grasping his cock and pushing it into her mouth. Genbu choked on the rest of his question, his body frozen for a second as she sucked him between her eager lips. His hands instinctively went to the back of her head, holding onto fistfuls of her hair as she greedily bobbed her head over his lap. He could barely get a full breath, too overwhelmed by shock and pleasure. As her mouth continued to pull on his erection, her hands smoothed up his bare stomach to his chest. She immediately located his nipples and began to rub the flat, brown pads with her thumbs.

"Chi--" he gasped. He couldn't stop his hips from bucking up into her mouth or look away from the gorgeous sight of her full lips sliding up and down his arousal. Her aggression was somehow unexpected, even though he knew it shouldn't have been. Though he was her superior, their sparring matches were always knock-down-drag-out fights and they both always ended up bloodied and bruised.

Chihaya's legs were trembling and she was soaking wet between her thighs. Genbu tasted wonderful and she loved his hands in her hair. So many times, he had bested her in combat, but every time he groaned and pushed up into her mouth, she felt more and more exultant. She basked in the power she had over him.

"Chihaya, wait. Stop," Genbu said gruffly. He gripped her shoulders, trying to pull her away from him, but she wouldn't have it. She wanted all of him. She wanted to swallow the pleasure she evoked in him. Clamping her hands around his wrists, she pinned them to the dresser-top, sucking harder on his cock. Genbu threw his head back, bashing it against the wall as she sucked the orgasm right out of him. Shouting, he rolled his hips up, pumping deep between her lips. His balls tightened and heat shot out the tip of his erection into the back of her mouth. He could even feel her tongue and throat swallowing every pulse of pleasure he spilt.

Even if Genbu wanted to, he couldn't move for a short moment. Lolling about on top of the dresser in a haze of satisfaction, he merely concentrated on getting his next breath. Chihaya eventually released his hands and his cock, her lithe body slinking over him as she very nearly purred, seemingly as satisfied with his orgasm as he was. She licked her way up his stomach and chest until she was pressing wet kisses to his neck and shoulder. Kneeling between his spread knees, she half-lay upon his chest, her hands never stopping in their quest to caress every part of him she could.

I think she killed me.

"Genbu-sama, you're absolutely delicious," she whispered into his ear. "So much more than I had fantasized." And I fantasized about you quite a lot, she said to herself. Though she had scratched a major itch by taking him into her mouth, she only wanted more of him and couldn't stop petting every inch of bare skin she could find. She explored the smooth, muscular skin over his abs, the rise of his pectoral muscles, and the wide, sculpted surfaces of his back.

He didn't know where he pulled it from, but Genbu finally roused the strength that had so easily fled his limbs a moment before. Sliding his arms around her, he pulled her flush against him and nuzzled her cheek. A familiar scent wafted up to him, something like wet, spring grass. He had often smelled it on her before, but not all the time.

Wait a minute...

Surging to his feet, he snatched up the luck dragon draped over him, stepped out of his hakama, and then strode to the futon waiting for them. Chihaya slid her arms around his neck, still as amorous as before she attacked him, if not more so. He laid her upon the bed, pulling her arms from around his shoulders when she would have gathered him close, and took a page from her book by yanking down the pair of hakama concealing her body from him.

"Get that haori off before I rip it off," he growled, tugging the hakama down her legs and feasting his eyes upon her pearlescent skin. Taking a second to shrug out of the haori hanging from his elbows, he glanced up to make sure that Chihaya was doing as he said before pushing her legs apart. He heard her gasp a second before the smell of grass suddenly intensified. Gazing down at the slick cleft weeping for him, he crawled between her thighs, getting a large lungful of the scent of her arousal.

Every time he had caught this scent before, she had been wet for him. More times than I could possibly count. Genbu tried to resist a smug smile, but knowing that she had lusted for him for so long stroked his ego no small amount. A tight-lipped smile pulled his mouth wide.

Chihaya finally spread open her haori and her hands went to work on the bindings around her breasts, for she was desperate to feel his hands and lips on them--licking, sucking, pinching. Looking down, she spotted the wide smile on Genbu's face as he stared unabashedly at the crux of her thighs.

"Genbu-sama, please," she begged, hoping he would do something--anything. Wriggling impatiently, she tried to entice him to touch her, taste her. He did not disappoint.

Genbu was drawn to her sex like a dying man to water. He felt his cock stir again as he closed the distance to her body. Lying upon his stomach, he gently massaged the bare lips of her vagina. A soft growl rose to the back of his throat as he coated his fingers with the fragrant oil she exuded, running his fingers up and down her slit.

With a high, loud gasp, Chihaya pushed her hips toward him, begging for more. His name became a soft, endless chant as she drowned in her desire for him. When his tongue touched her, she nearly levitated. He licked her like he was licking the bottom of a bowl--long, hungry strokes. His tongue then rapidly flicked the hard ball of nerves she so often played with.

"G-Genbu-sama!" she cried out. Finally ripping off the bindings around her breasts, she reached down and grabbed his head, pulling him against her in a bid for more of the same intoxicating sensation. When he sealed his lips around her clit and sucked, she took in one long, harsh breath, her back arching as though he were sucking out her soul.

She tasted like nothing he had ever sampled before. Only wanting more, he consumed her, swallowing her down. Chihaya's hips lifted, forcing him to follow her body, but he propped her up with two hands under the globes of her rear and continued his feast. When suddenly she screamed and jerked against him, he felt contractions on his tongue and groaned.

Aching again for another release, he lowered her body to the bed and rose to his hands and knees. He then wrapped his hand around his cock, pumping as he looked at his lover. Gazing at her gold-black hair spread around her, her arms limp at her sides, and her pert, bare breasts heaving as she panted for air, he could tell that they wouldn't be leaving the room for a very long time.

"Hold your legs back for me." Surprised at the booming depth of his voice, he realized that his demonic side was coming out. Chihaya weakly moaned, but did as he said. With one hand behind each knee, she pulled her legs up and waited.

Crawling over her, he let his cock brush against her and caressed her calf with his hand. Chihaya boldly looked up at him, her eyes glazed with lust. "Are you ready?" he asked.

"Take me," she moaned, undulating beneath him. He continued to tease her, though, enjoying her impatience too much. "I've waited so long, Genbu-sama. Please," she begged him.

Grasping his cock, he aimed it at the soft flesh waiting to part for him. "Watch." Chihaya lifted her head and looked down between them, her attention fixed. Both moaned as he sank into her. Genbu then pounded both hands into the bed and arched his back, pressing deep until the base of his erection was flush against her body.

Chihaya cried out, startled by the feel of his thick cock spreading the walls of her sex. It was more than a fantasy now. It was real. Hot, tight, and maddening. When Genbu tested their fit with a few short jabs, she gasped as pleasure stole over her.

And then he pulled back and thrust, a long, full, delicious slide of hot, hard flesh.

"Chihaya," Genbu growled, lying fully upon her for a kiss. His tongue jabbed into her mouth in time with his cock into her body, mimicking the real act as he thrust a second time, a third. Chihaya was already overwhelmed and yet wanted more. Even as she moaned into his mouth every time her body rocked under his heavy thrusts, she wanted more sensation, more pleasure.

His body pinned her legs back, so she reached around her thighs to touch his naked back and dig her nails into his muscular shoulders. "Faster," she panted. "Faster!"

"Yes," Genbu groaned, plowing into her. She cried out, unable to help it when she scraped her nails down his back. He felt so huge inside her and over her.

Genbu hissed in pain but was only spurred on by the mild sting. The scent of sex in the room was both sweet and musky, and air sawed in and out of his lungs as he raced for the peak with her.

"G-Gen--" Chihaya gasped a second before she clawed his back again. She then let out a harsh scream. His breaths left him in shudders as her sex clamped down on him, rippling contractions preceding a wave of delicious scents that rose from her body. He wasn't far behind her and pushed through her flexing flesh with a few hard thrusts. Then throwing his head back, he roared his pleasure as he slapped his hips down and burst inside of her.

---Inuyasha Forest, Mid-Afternoon---

Standing near the well, Kagome watched as Inuyasha spoke with their son.

"I'm sure Sesshoumaru isn't happy about it, but his mate seems to approve. Just...be careful. Try not to step on your uncle's toes," Inuyasha warned. Kouryoku nodded.

"When will you and mom be back?" he asked, looking up at the sky. It would be dark in a few hours.

"Karran said that the ritual must be performed at dawn, so we will return an hour before sunrise. It might be better for the Shikon no Tama to disappear tonight, anyway. We don't want to attract more visitors," Inuyasha explained. Kouryoku nodded again in silent agreement.

"I'll be here then, waiting for you." Patting his son's shoulder, Inuyasha then turned to Kagome, who gave him a small smile. Together, they jumped into the well.

---Inuyasha's Home, Mid-Afternoon---

Sesshoumaru's bloodied clothing had been washed and was drying in the warm sun. Rin had already washed away the blood that had splashed one side of his body and was now fretting over the wound still on its way to mending. Sesshoumaru, sitting on the back porch in his robe and reclining against a support post, secretly enjoyed her worried ministrations.

"You're sure you're not in any pain, Sesshoumaru-sama?" she asked for the tenth time, kneeling down next to him on the porch. She held a bowl of warm water in one hand and a clean rag in the other. Setting down both, she leaned over him to peek under the temporary bandage over his wound. Taking such a ripe opportunity, he dragged her into his arms, smiling at the squeak of surprise she made.

"I feel no pain when you are with me," he softly admitted. With tears in her eyes, Rin slid her arms around him, whispering his name. "I remember another time when I had been wounded and you had tended to me." She looked at him with a nostalgic smile.

"It was the first time we ever met, all those years ago."

"You were so young and unafraid. So curious." He had been drawn to her fascination of him, surprised that she showed no fear. He had never been met with such happy curiosity or such kindness from a human.

"And you were so handsome and mysterious," Rin whispered. "You still are." He could no longer stop himself and lowered his mouth to hers, sealing their lips together. This was the medicine he needed. She was the balm that could fix anything. Letting his hands roam and his passions ignite, he prepared to pick her up and carry her to their room. He would need a lot of medicine...