Progression

3. Beneath the Surface

She could remember when, exactly, it was that she had realized the truth of the mated pair before her. The small looks that promised more than simple friendship...the touches that lingered far longer than they should have to be considered platonic. She recalled when…exactly…she had caught on to the charade, even if she might have missed the moment when they themselves had realized the truth of their own connection. Because looking back, she could see glaring hints of the precise nature of their attachment to one another.

Even before ‘that night’ as she had come to think of it.

At first, she’d been embarrassed by her lack of intuition. How could she have possibly missed it? Small gestures, such as the gentle way he handled the female despite the brutal strength so casually on display in every movement he made. In fact, to her memory, Kagome had not once borne so much as a scratch at his hands. She’d even witnessed the extraordinary sight of the male retracting his claws whenever he touched his mate. It was unheard of, something that had struck a chord in her mind, though she’d not yet known what to make of it. It was that very observation that had first brought her attention to his hands, themselves. Strong and cleanly shaped, though strangely elegant despite all of the hard use they endured, they were an exact mirror of the male in their own fashion. Away from Kagome’s presence, they appeared to be nothing more than an extension of the young Inu lord’s more heartless nature, the claws sharply honed and willing to rend the flesh of anything that boasted the stupidity of getting in his way.

Then, Kagome would enter the room, and those hands, equally adept at both blade and bare-handed cruelty, would reshape themselves into something able to caress her fragile humanity with a slow and deft gentility that was uniquely for her.

It was by watching his hands that Kagura had gained any ability to read the Inu at all, for his eyes, those supposed windows to one’s soul, were flat and coldly predatory to her. The gold eyes so sharp that she occasionally found herself shivering as if she had indeed been sliced by them. She had never shared her observations with the rest, because she did not trust any of them to refrain from opening their big mouths in his hearing. She never wanted to be left unprepared in his presence, even as rarely as she found herself in it. Having grown up with an uber-devious sibling, she was well taught in the art of keeping her observations close to the chest. And spilling the beans in such a public manner would be akin to turning her back on the danger he represented by drawing his attention to any type of 'tell’ in his actions. Because, after all, one never turned one’s back, metaphorical or otherwise, to a predator of his caliber.

Her next response, after she had worked though the mortification of her blindness, was anger. How could Kagome have failed to tell her? Was she so insignificant in the other female’s life that she did not warrant the knowledge of such a momentous change in her friend’s life? But it had taken her even less time to move beyond that pointless emotion than it had the first one, because she was no fool…and she realized that it was her own fault for missing what was now painfully obvious.

Though how she could have continued missing the cues after one specific incident almost made her laugh at herself in self-disgust.

It had come at the beginning of Kagome’s now infamous seventeenth year, and Inuyasha was attempting to taunt his brother about anything at all, having had just a bit too much to drink at the time. The elder Inu was in a strangely indulgent mood that night, an amused, faintly mocking smile curling his well-shaped lips. She was quick to note that Kagome had been present, an observation she was beginning to make more and more often when it came to Sesshomaru when in his more affable of moods. His younger brother was weaving faintly where he stood, one eye half shut in an almost piratical fashion, a soft slur to his words as he mentioned that his brother never changed his hairstyle, and what, was he stuck in the feudal era, or something? Did he have such trust issues that he couldn’t let the family hair dresser cut off some of it….like a foot at least? Or was it simply that said creature was…gasp…a human?

Now, in all honesty it could have been simple jealousy talking. All one sleek length, Sesshomaru’s hair flowed in a silvery sweep almost to his ankles and there wasn’t a female( and quite a wide variety of males) alive and over the age of one and a half that could honestly deny the urge to run their fingers through the gleaming strands, no matter their sexual orientation.

But for some reason, that night, the big Inu had stood without a word and swept from the room, with a curious but game Kagome in tow. They had assumed that he had simply reverted to form and removed himself yet again from Inuyasha’s rambling, which now consisted of loud objections and curses as he accused the hat rack of trying to trip him up when he couldn’t properly see to defend himself. And it seemed that Inuyasha would then be left to fend for himself as they began to tune him out in favor of finishing up their previous conversation, when the strangest sound reached them from the other room.

A soft buzzing sound that almost sounded like-

They had all eyed each other, before six people abruptly tossed their things aside to follow the other two, only to be blocked as they reached the bathroom.

Tiny giggles and low masculine laughter wafted through the door; halting the hand that Sango had lifted in preparation to rap her knuckles against the heavy wood.

“Do your worst, little girl,” the male snarled playfully, his voice faintly muffled through the thick wood of the door. The tone brought about a bug-eyed effect on the human female, and she turned to gaze to Kagura. At that point, the youkai female realized that what she had begun to observe between the two in the bathroom had yet to be seen by any of the others. Sure, that first incident four years ago had stuck in her mind, but it had taken years for her to begin to realize that it was a completely normal behavior. At least…normal for a predatory male youkai when protecting the one he’d chosen as a future mate.

She had only just discovered that little tidbit a few weeks ago, and guarded it even more zealously than her knowledge of how to read his moods. And it had also never occurred to her that the young, youkai lord had, himself, been unaware of the actions of his beast on that long ago night.

Now, she wasn’t alone in her suspicions. Sango blinked as the most improbable of sounds came from behind the locked door. A low, male rumble of contentment that she had never imagined him capable of. ‘Oh, just wait, honey, the Kazi thought to herself, ‘it gets better.’ And of course, it would be another female to pick up on undercurrents, though to Sango’s credit, she was hindered by her lack of youkai senses and so it had taken her just a bit longer than Kagura herself. The two females had exchanged glances and silent promises to compare notes later that evening, because if it was a fair trade, then she was losing nothing in the exchange even if she continued to keep those two things to herself.

But even at that point, she was still in the dark. Yet she continued to replay the memory, as it had provided one of the best laughs she’d ever had.

A stranger had emerged from the bathroom in the wake of a giggling Mini-Miko. He’d taken up the dare with spectacular enthusiasm…and he’d given Kagome the clippers without a qualm. A thick rope of silver was flipped over his stunned little brother’s shoulders as he’d smirked and sauntered by with that lovely, loose limbed stride, every muscle rippling under his tawny flesh in an almost hypnotic manner. The impossibly broad width of his shoulders were now exposed by both the lack of the distraction of his unusual hair and the shirt he’d removed while allowing Kagome to work her magic.

His hair had been cut until the razored tips just barely grazed the arrogant thrust of his jaw and Kagome had sheared off the underside to the temple, leaving behind just enough to make you want to stroke him and feel the cat’s-fur-like softness. Glittering locks dipped occasionally before his golden gaze, before he’d toss them back with an absent flick of his fingers. And in the years to come, it would always give the impression of having been lovingly stroked by playful female fingers…for hours at a time. Which Kagura now knew to be the case.

Inuyasha had gaped, even as Sesshomaru tauntingly stuck his tongue out at him with almost childish glee, the silver stud through his tongue catching the light and seeming to add to the mocking gesture. The hanyou had blinked and seemed to rapidly sober up as his now rather exotic looking brother bent to nip

Kagome on the shoulder in passing, before tugging her up the stairs after him for the night.

“When did he get his tongue pierced?” was the only thing he had thought to ask.

Kagura had rolled her eyes; because that was the least important thing he should have been asking. And because she had just begun realizing that Kagome did not, in fact, sleep in her own room…but with the young Inu lord. And most especially because she just remembered that when Mrs. Higurashi had once again been relocated, the kindly western Lord had simply added the long-wished-for female ‘pup’ to his family and taken her in to prevent yet another move for the child…but she had to wonder if that decision had been influenced by his eldest son’s mating of the girl.

So many questions had rolled about her head, and having not enough answers was completely unacceptable to her. So she had sat and observed for another three months before the truth had finally been all but shoved into her face…

*}----(past)

Kagura had giggled at the antics of the human mates as one pretended to ogle the waitress, and the other pretended to smack the first one silly. They never failed to bring her a smile or two, because everyone close to them knew that Miroku would never stray just as Sango would never truly raise her hand to him in anger. It was an ongoing in-joke amongst them that a great many folks had failed to understand over the years, occasionally creating confusion with the females that took the young monk seriously and wished to pursue the suggestion in his mischievous violet eyes…never realizing that the suggestion was for the young huntress alone.

A commotion across the room drew her eyes to Inuyasha and his on-again-off again lover…a rather selfish ‘bitch’ named Kikyo. For her own part, Kagura could barely stomach the snooty human female, and even less so when her brother had informed her of the wench’s actions against Kagome…and while she may not have been as overt as her brother, she was every bit as protective. Kagome was an oddity amongst humans, let alone Miko-kind, and she wasn’t about to let anything change her friend. Because, while her brother was devious, Kagura, herself, was downright Machiavellian. She just hid it better.

Shippo and his newest girl had drawn Naraku, Sango and Miroku, as well as herself into a drinking game, while Kagome perched on her barstool, quietly observing the crowd and almost seeming to try to blend into the background. She had allowed herself to be dragged from her homework. She bit her lip as Kikyo suddenly screeched in a tone that would hurt a human’s ears…she couldn’t imagine the pain it would produce in a youkai’s far more sensitive ears.

Apparently, it was unbearable, because the girl was suddenly surrounded by a crew of growling youkai bouncers. Inuyasha had made an honest attempt at chivalry and tried to defend her even as she continued to berate him, but soon found himself ejected along with his loudmouthed female. The two of them argued all the way out the door, and the rest of those left behind breathed a sigh of relief as the door swung shut behind them.

Kagura was uncomfortably aware, however, that she would never hear the end of it when they returned to the house for the night. Because Kikyo was completely incapable of not attempting to force others into choosing ‘sides’.

And yet…Kagome appeared to be almost uninterested in their games. She would sigh occasionally, seeming to be reciting mathematical equations under her breath from time to time. Sesshomaru had been out of town for the last three weeks and the girl had appeared to feel his loss in ways that Kagura did not understand. For his own part, the Inu had originally refused to leave, but his presence was demanded by the youkai council in regards to a certain personal matter. Kagura had mentally scoffed, because she thought it far more likely that he had simply bloodied yet another council leader’s son for sticking his mouth where it had no business being.

But it had all boiled down to-

“SESSHO!”

Only Kagome would have dared to call him that, just as only Kagome would have gotten away with it as he swept her out of her seat and embraced her in that strangely possessive way he had.

The music in the club was loud enough to keep the attention of most of the patrons, but the rest? They blinked in disbelief as one of the most notorious bastards of the modern known world hefted a human female, then appropriated her barstool and twirled her about in his arms before dropping her into his lap.

The faintest of sounds…a muffled click with a slightly rougher shhhnct...went unnoticed by the rest of the population. As did the way Kagome stiffened at the impact of her bottom across the male’s thighs. Her blue eyes widened as if in shock, though she managed to school her face into a blandly relaxed expression in mere moments.

The Kazi had the oddest suspicion, just then, that there was more to her apparent surprise than simply the abruptness of his actions.

Sesshomaru had wrapped an arm about the Miko’s waist as he reached the other around to snag her drink, downing it and signaling for the server to bring her another to replace it. The residual tension in Kagome’s body finally dissipated as she leaned back into the heat of his body, tucking her head under his chin with an almost contented sigh. And Kagura would almost have believed the show they presented, that of quiet companionship, but for one tiny detail.

Every time the Inu shifted under her, Kagome would tremble. The subtlest flex of his thighs, the twist of his hips as he re-adjusted his position on the barstool.

At first, she had not known what to make of the tiny tremors running through the girl. The gooseflesh that occasionally appeared over her arms and legs spoke of a faint chill, but Kagura had spent enough time with predator males to know that it would be almost impossible to take a chill when cuddled up to one.

They had a higher internal temperature than most, and they were never selfish in sharing their warmth with those they claimed. Nor were they a prudish lot, caring little for other’s opinions of their public actions.

In fact-

A loud noise had drawn her attention just then, and she had turned to see Koga and his new mate as they came through the door, laughing and chatting loudly with a couple of the bouncers as they checked ID’s and grinningly allowed them in without the cover-free. They were, after all, long time costumers, and the bouncers in question had at one time been sprung from jail by the Ookami during a brawl gone wrong a few years ago when the instigator had claimed to be the victim. The two were, in fact, defending Koga’s little cousin from the unwanted advances of a drunken Hebiyoukai. Koga had stepped up and claimed the two older males as pack-mates, as their own families were across the country, providing them with the backing they needed to gain a good lawyer. The two were tall and lean, the one who currently bore a blue mohawk grinning as he bowed to his friend’s mate and set her to giggling. And Kagura knew from personal experience that those two were in fact, despite appearances, far more bite than bark. She almost shivered as the other turned and winked at her, before dragging his cohort off to resume duties, because she just knew by that look whose bed she was going to fall into later that night.

Walking the wildside had never been so fun as it had become when they had joint-claimed her.

She’d never even considered such a thing, before one night last year when she’d had a bit too much to drink and had woken pressed between two warm male bodies…head a bit fuzzy and her body pleasantly sore.

The oddest part was that the two had absolutely no interest in each other sexually. All their considerable attention went into pleasing her and, oh lord, did they do it well! Their youkai natures prevented anything so ridiculous as homophobia, leaving them with very few inhibitions when it came to the touch of another male as they directed each other into acts that could make her head spin…and very frequently did.

She remembered gasping in dismay as she realized that, not only had she actually slept with someone…but that it was in fact two someone’s. She had felt shame and fear, because not only had she managed to lose her virginity, she could not remember having done so or the circumstances that had lead to her being sandwiched between two rather lovely males. But any doubt had soon gone the way of the Dodo as the two had then quietly gone about ‘convincing’ her to let them keep her. They had been most persuasive.

She remembered the anticipation she had felt that night, before she managed to bring herself back under control
just as the two Ookami mates sat beside her.


The female had turned and given Kagura a brief hug before jumping into the conversation with the others at the table, snickering as the rules of the game were announced and shots passed about the table.

And Kagura might even have missed it then…but for the strangest look that suddenly flashed into Koga’s eyes. He’d blinked, surprise flickering into his cobalt eyes as he turned to the pair almost hidden in the shadows. Kagome did not notice the look, but Sesshomaru was, as always, sharply aware of his surroundings. His golden eyes were hooded and almost unreadable, but his hands? They were slowly kneading the Miko’s thighs as they lay splayed over his own.

And for that fraction of an instant, when Kagome’s skirt pulled up she caught a glimpse of a bare hip wrapped in dark, curving marks before the Inu smoothed the fabric back into place.

Kagura knew for a fact that Kagome never went fancy-free in a skirt!

But she was then and-

A low chuckle, almost inaudible, came from the Ookami male just then, and Kagura had only just managed to curb the desire to smack the male for having discovered the answer to the questions she had been struggling with for months before she had. Stupid predator youkai and their highly developed senses! It wasn’t fair! She had been the first to notice the almost hidden undercurrents between the two, damnit!

And then she knew.

Under the guise of stretching, Sesshomaru had slid down in his seat as his body rolled upward into the motion.

Kagome had paled, choked, then flushed furiously. All in that order. She’d hastily snatched up her drink before attempting to cover her lapse by downing it as hurriedly as she could manage. But Kagura had heard the soft gasp that had been forced from her as the male under her shifted yet again, setting his heels onto the bar and arching even further as if to stretch his back.

The small female clutched his forearms as if to keep her balance as she abandoned her glass, only just managing to get it on the table and not dump it to the floor.

Oh, Kagura had known it, then…

A subtle smirk curved the full lips as if in satisfaction, and Kagura heard the choked laughter of the Ookami as he subtly inclined his head in answer to the other’s shameless audacity. Because the Inuyoukai had just managed to fuck the little miko in front of their faces…before their very eyes, under their noses…and had gotten away with it.

She had wanted to gape, but she had curbed the urge with more self control that she had even been aware she possessed.

She had solved the mystery…and she could scarcely believe it.

Kagome- little, very nearly prudish, Kagome!- had allowed it. No. Because even here Kagura had realized that she must correct herself yet again.

Kagome had enjoyed it. The way she lay almost boneless against the male told it as surely as if she’d spoken the words aloud. The dreamy quality of her heavy-lidded blue eyes and the almost satiated curl of her bowed lips. It was just subtle enough to pass for sleepiness, and so there was no mention of anything out of the ordinary.

And she was left to wonder just how many times this had happened…and no one had seen it. Never noticing the way Sesshomaru became even wickeder of tongue in his post-orgasmic haze, because they never realized the timing of it all even as his propensity for physical violence dropped in direct correlation.

And when the club closed for the night, long after Kagura had gone home and come to curl up between her sleeping males, she finally allowed the smile to cross her face. Because she realized that not only had she been one-upped by a master in terms of slyness…but that she now had a perfect understanding of the concept of ‘morally ambiguous’, because the big Inu was the card-carrying deviant poster-child of the concept.

(present)----{*

A red-clad figure slipped through the bodies on the dance floor, and Kagura had enough presence of mind to take note of a rather distraught looking hanyou as he quietly made for the door.

Had they finally been brazen enough for even Inuyasha’s willful blindness?

It appeared to be so, because the door he had exited soon opened once again as Sesshomaru and Kagome appeared through the doorway. They appeared to be having a private word, before rejoining the throng of bodies swaying in the darkness. She hugged her own two males closer to her as she smiled. And wondered at the ways of the world in which a miko could be the perfect mate to a youkai.


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a.n. – well…it’s become apparent that Sesshomaru has once again managed to take control of yet another story…