At What Price

SUMMARY: A pulsating pain gained Kagome’s attention from her memories. Ice. I need ice. Kagome went searching for the kitchen and an hour later found it.

Author's Note: I no own Inuyasha ect. Enjoy and review.

CHAPTER 26: SWEET PAIN
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“That is some human you have there Sesshoumaru- sama.” Whistled out Rayen. “It is rare to find one so…. alluring and …” Rayen was at a loose for words.

Sesshoumaru only nodded in agreement. Kagome was different, but why did that surprise him. Kagome had called Rin ‘cherub,’ he remembered the silly endearment. Sesshoumaru had been a little shocked that Kagome knew of Rin. He had wanted to want until after they were married for her to meet Rin. Sesshoumaru knew women, even demoness, acted strange about children that were not their own, and would not care for them. However, Kagome had. ‘When did Kagome meet her?’ He would get an answer later from her. Sesshoumaru smiled at her departing words,‘Will it upset you if I beat that little man?’ The fury he saw in the depth of her blue eyes was great, as Kagome went to Rin side. Her rescue. In fact, Kagome was her champion.

Sesshoumaru laughed out loud. It was a rich and sensual. He almost pitied the toad demon that angered his business partner. Almost. When Kagome was done with Jaken then he would have his turn. That was, if there was anything let of him by then. Sesshoumaru was so deep in thought of the past, he barely remembered the second time he had seen Kagome so livid. Or better yet, full of fire; and that was the time she punched his brother’s fiancée. Poor Jaken indeed.

The elder demons were floored when they heard Sesshoumaru’s deep baritone laugh. This was the first time they had ever witnessed such a display from him. Gone was his cold arrogant reserve.

Lakou and Enyo grinned like simpletons at each other. Both taiyoukais had a knowing look on their faces, the Lord of the West was in love. How else would you explain his unusually behavior. Even Rayen, who found a smirk, couldn’t deny the obvious. Sesshoumaru was in love with a human. But, he would probably never admit to that sin to anyone for as long as he lived.
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Inuyasha was worried when Kagome didn’t come into work the next day. ‘This is so unlike her,’ he thought to himself. Inuyasha had called her apartment, but no one answered the phone. And after his attack last night, he wasn’t sure if any of his employees were safe either. ‘I bet that bastard Naraku had something to do with this,’ Inuyasha fumed, ‘but how do I prove it.’

Kikyou entered her fiancée’s office and noticed that he was deep in thought. A frown marred his rugged features. A vile smile came to her when she thought about last night. She wasn’t going to kill him, at least not yet. Kikyou wanted to have some more fun with him first. Her hands went to the collar of her shirt and pulled it down. She purposely was showing off her bosom. “Yashie, baby. What's the matter?” Kikyou asked in a sultry tone as she lean over the desk.

Inuyasha heard her voice and turned around to see the love of his life. “Kikyou babe, I was just thinking.” His eyes notice her firm globes popping out of her blouse.

“A penny for your thoughts.” Kikyou walked closer to him.

Inuyasha wasn’t going to tell her that he was worried about is Kagome. That would only infuriate her, and start world war III. He could do without her fury for one day, so he opted to tell her the next troubling thing that came to his mind. “Uh, I was trying to find out about the mysterious company that gave me the financial backing I needed to keep my company. Thing is,” he paused. “it’s like a nonexistent company. I can’t find anything on them. It’s like whoever gave me the backing doesn't want me to find out who they are.” Inuyasha finished with a deeper frown.

’What?’ Kikyou thought. ‘That means Naraku didn’t get Inuyasha's company.’ Kikyou had to shake off the horrified look on her face, and plaster a sincere one on. “That’s wonderful babe.” She lied as she walked over to him. Kikyou sat on his lap, pressing against him, while her hand went to Inuyasha face. “Don’t worry about it Yashie. I’m sure that we will find out what company gave the backing soon enough.”

“Feh, who said I was worried.” Inuyasha hissed in a husky tone. “More like curious.” He snaked his arm around Kikyou’s waist and brought her closer against him, grinding his hips to her’s.
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They found Rin’s dolly on the desk. It was stuck on the top of the computer screen, and to make matters worse was when Rin saw the vase she knocked over, she started to cry all over again.

“Kagome,” the girl grabbed her hand and squeezed it tightly. “Rin didn’t mean to brake the vase. Sesshoumaru’s mama gave him the vase. Rin knows because Sesshoumaru- sama told Rin so. His going to get cross at Rin, but Rin only wanted her dolly. So, Rin tried to climb up the desk but fell and hit the vase.” A shudder racked the little girls body as she wailed rather loudly. "It was an accident!"

“It’s alright Rin, Sesshoumaru would never get mad at his little cherub.” Kagome said while smoothing out the girl's hair, in a soothing touch. It calmed her wailing and her tears which earned Kagome a giggle from Rin.

“Why do you call Rin, cherub?” She smiled, her tears quickly dissipated.

Kagome answered thoughtfully to the girl. “Because you look like one.” With that Kagome reached over and gave Rin her dolly.

Rin squealed with joy as she was reunited with her favorite dolly. “Rin must go now, Rin has to begin private lessons.” Rin hugged the doll to her chest and thanked Kagome before running off again, like a flash of light, somewhere in the palace.

‘Now,’ Kagome fought the urge to crack her knuckles, ‘to find that little toadie man, Kagome thought darkly. ‘He is so toast!’
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Later on that day…

Kagome’s knuckles were bruised and swollen, and she wanted nothing more than to put an ice pack on her pained hand. ‘It was worth it,’ Kagome consoled herself. ‘That little toadie man didn’t know what hit him.’ A smirk graced her lips just seconds before the throbbing in her hand began. ‘Jaken would think twice before picking on Rin,’ Kagome almost laughed at a mental image that flashed through her thoughts. There was Jaken knocked unconscious lying sprawled out on the ground. He had two black eyes and a rather large goose egg on his forehead.

A stubborn, pulsating pain gained Kagome’s attention from her fond memories. ‘Ice. I need ice.’ Kagome went searching for the kitchen and an hour later found it. Funny thing was that there was nobody down there, and yet an ice pack had been left out on the countertop. It was as if it had been waiting for her. There was a small kitchen table off by the side, so Kagome sat down with the ice pack on her now purpling hand.

Sesshoumaru found Kagome in the kitchen and apparently had walked in on her talking to herself. ‘Interesting,’ he thought, ‘she finally has snapped.’

"Good going Kagome. How are you going to explain your swollen hand? People are going to think you’re violent individual." She laughed lightly. Kagome stopped when she sensed someone lurking behind her. It completely interrupted her self-ranting session. She turned to find Sesshoumaru watching her with amused interest.

“You did well today, Kagome.” He spoke plainly. It was praise.

She only nodded as she returned her attention back to her hand, feeling very nervous under Sesshoumaru’s watchful gaze.

He moved next to where she sat and continued to observe her. Sesshoumaru kneeled down until he was level with her. “So, Kagome, are you a violent person?” He teased her.

Her eyes widened. ‘Oi, he heard me.’ “No, not really.” Kagome lowered her head a little in shame. "Only when it comes to annoying individuals who deserve it." A lock of her wavy hair fell so that it shielded her face from view.

He moved the lock of her hair out of her face. Sesshoumaru didn't know what had possessed him to do it, to touch her so freely. Kagome, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, leaned into his touch. Sesshoumaru cupped her cheek and Kagome turned to him more. ‘What is going with me? She is nothing more then a human woman, so why do I feel weak around her.’ His thumb traced her lips slowly.

Kagome, in an immediate reaction to his searing touch on her bottom lip was to flicked her tongue out to cool it. But, she accidentally licked his thumb. Kagome went to apologize but didn’t get a chance to.

Sesshoumaru took his hand from her cheek and moved it to the back of her neck bring her head closer to him.

The kiss was earth shattering to Kagome. His lips commanded everything of her, nothing less. She forgot about her bruised hand for the time being.

Sesshoumaru wanted to deepen the kiss, so he gently bit Kagome’s bottom lip to get her to open for him, however; his fangs gazed the swollen skin of her bottom lip drawing blood. He growled at the metallic taste enter his mouth. Sesshoumaru pulled Kagome’s body into his body and then switched places with her. He sat down in the chair while settling her in his lap. The two were locked into a passionate embrace.

Kagome felt him nick her lip but it didn’t hurt. It sent waves of longing through her.

Sesshoumaru lost himself, it was Kagome’s blood, almost comparable to sweet nectar. He licked the blood off her lip and suckled her lower lip into his mouth. His tongue plundered her mouth.

Kagome moaned, as her tongue went in search of his mouth. At first, Kagome meekly slide her tongue into his oral cavity exploring it. She made contact with Sesshoumaru’s top fang. Kagome explored it sliding her tongue against it to the tip, it was needle sharp.

Sesshoumaru felt Kagome’s hand reach into his hair drawing him closer to her. There tongues dueled together in an unspoken battle of wills. Sesshoumaru growled when Kagome started to rub the back of his neck.
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