Firebrand

Firebrand
FaTaLfURy

Chapter 16, Part III - Reprieve

After hearing what he wanted to hear, Inuyasha shot off to the direction of the stables, rudely leaving a startled Myouga. But the chuckling butler didn't mind one bit. In fact, he was tickled fancy by the duke's actions.

'Now there's a man deeply in love with his wife,'

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Inuyasha threw the stable doors wide open, catching the sleeping stable master slacking on his duties. The duke paid him no mind, going through every stall in the stable to find his wife. When he got to where Kagome's mare, Tempest, was housed, he found the horse and his wife gone... but all the riding equipment left behind. James was right behind him every step of the way, having roused himself when the duke arrived. Inuyasha now hauled James by the collar, fiercely demanding to know where Kagome was.

"Your Grace, mercy. I cannot breathe["

"Yes, you can, James. However, if you don't tell me what I want to know in the next second, then I promise you: you really won't be able to breathe by then,"

The stable master cracked, knowing the duke meant what he said.

"I tried to stop her, Your Grace. I really did! But your wife's too stubborn["

"That she is. I don't hold it against you. But why are all of those["

Inuyasha gestured to the riding equipment Kagome left behind.

"[here when my wife is obviously out riding her horse?"

James didn't have to spell it out for him; Inuyasha came to the conclusion on his own. And he didn't like it one bit.

"Dear God, she's going to break her neck,"

"That's what I tried to tell her, but she wouldn't listen. She seemed used to riding that way though, Your Grace,"

Inuyasha quickly let go of James and went to where his stallion, Thor, was kept. There was no time to lose. Kagome could be anywhere and he had to find her before she killed herself.

Once he found her though, she'll probably wish she DID break her neck instead.

Not bothering to put on any riding equipment on Thor, Inuyasha leapt up on his steed's back and thundered out of the stables much like the way Kagome did earlier. James was chuckling on his own before long as he thought of something.

"Well, what do you know. A perfect pair,"

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Kagome was currently lying on her back in a meadow, looking up at the clear sky as though all the answers to the universe was there. Tempest was grazing not far from where she was, content on whetting her appetite after the arduous pace her mistress set for her.

Kagome was trying to convince herself she wasn't in love with her husband. She probably liked him though[even a lot[ but that was only natural since Inuyasha was nothing but kind to her. She desired him too, but it was also inevitable as her husband was such a virile, talented and sensual man. Yes, that was probably it. A mixture of gratitude and lust.

She couldn't (and most importantly, wouldn't) love him. Not now, not ever. He'll only break her heart if she ever did fall for him. And she couldn't bear that.

Having reassured herself, Kagome was feeling pretty good about it when a thunder of hooves reached her ears. Tempest was inconsolable, rearing back on her hind legs and tossing her head in agitation. Kagome was busy soothing the mare when Inuyasha crashed into the scene.

Her mouth literally dropped open when she noticed her husband was riding bare-back as she did. She all but forgot about her horse who needed calming, especially now that the demon of a stallion her husband had for his horse was perpetually near her mare. Inuyasha took over her duty for her, his amber eyes shooting golden sparks of fury as he successfully managed both steeds before dropping down on the ground and confronted her.

"What in bloody hell do you think you're doing, wife? You could've broken your damn neck!"

Kagome bristled at that, her impetuous nature asserting itself.

"This 'damn' neck belongs to me, so it is none of your bloody business were I to actually break it!"

"Of all the stubborn, selfish["

Inuyasha's litany continued as he advanced on Kagome, the promise of retribution in his eyes. Seeing his dark look, Kagome almost tripped in her haste to get away from him and that's when he caught her. Forcing her to lie face-down on his lap with her buttocks up in the air, Inuyasha pulled one of his gloves off using his teeth as he easily dominated her every struggle.

"I think this is way overdue. Don't you think so, love?"

Kagome doubly reinforced her struggles, knowing what was to come. She didn't relish being treated like a child (even though she's acting like one).

"Don't you dare, Inuyasha! You have no right!"

"Aah, but the right is all mine, my darling wife. If you're going to behave like a naughty little girl, then it's time you knew you'll be treated accordingly. Perhaps after this, you'll think twice before you act irrationally,"