Battle of wills.

The sun shone brightly against Kagome’s face. She sighed happily as she listened to the sounds of the ocean crashing against the shore. How many times she remembers lounging on this beach; it seemed so long ago to her now. She stretched her arms over the warm sand and gave a contented sigh. She had almost forgotten this kind of warmth could even exist.

“Kagome!” she heard a familiar voice call as he strolled down the beach toward her. “There you are!” he smiled down at her as she pushed herself up on her elbows. He lay down next to her lying on his side resting his face in a clawed palm. “Trying to hide were you?”

Kagome held out a hand toward the sun trying to block its rays so that she could make out the face. “Maybe I was just hoping you would find me?” she flirted.

He smiled back at her snaking an arm around her waist. “Is that so? Well then, now that I’ve found you, what should I do with you?”

Kagome smiled wrapping her arms around his neck as his body pressed partially on to hers. She smiled playfully, “I could go hide again.”

“Vixen.” He muttered as a low growl built up in his chest and he nipped at her neck.

“Stop, stop!” she giggled. “You beast!”


He brought his face above hers, blocking the sun and whispering. “You need not fear me.” Slowly he leaned in for a kiss.

Kagome’s eyes grew wide as the face became clearer. “Sesshomaru!”

As his lips pressed against hers she sat up in her sleeping bag. “Oh gods…oh gods…oh gods…oh gods.” She mumbled as she rubbed her face frantically. The cold began to seep in around her sweat covered body as she took a breath. “Just a dream….Just a dre Sl Slowly, she lowered her head back onto the sleeping bag, rolling on her side.

Sesshomaru was sitting on the ground staring at her intently from behind the dwindling fire.

“What?” she grumbled trying to hide any emotion in her voice.

“Even in your sleep you are quite noisy.” He stated coldly as the last of the fire was squelched.

Kagome bit her lip and blushed, ‘What had he heard? Oh gods, I’ll never hear the end of it he knows.’

“Then sun should rise soon, we should get moving.” He ordered.

Kagome nodded, very thankful for the distraction, as she pulled herself free of the sleeping bag and began to roll it up tight enough to slip it back into her bag. ‘I should probably take some food as well.’ She thought as she grabbed at the leftovers and wrapped them up into her bag as well.

“All right, I’m ready.” She stated as she flung her bag around her shoulder.

Sesshomaru nodded at her as he walked to the entrance of the cave. “Then lets be off’ he stated coldly as he scooped the young girl up in his arms and headed off towards the southern glacier.

Kagome’s whole body burned as she stared up at the demon lord, his focus on theirectiection. “I can walk you know.”

“Unacceptable,” he grunted as the countryside rolled underneath them. “That would take entirely too long.”

Kagome folded her arms around her chest, glaring at him. ‘If he makes some crack about me being a slow human ….I swear….I’m going to……bite him. Pffft! He’d probably like that.’ She thought. “Oh gods, I did not just think that.” she mumbled quietly enough so that even the dog demon who held her in his arms could not hear.

“Pardon?” he questioned.

“NOTHING!” she frantically giggled as the blush rushed back a crossed her face.

Sesshomaru simply grunted in acceptance as they continued on their path. He couldn’t help but wonder what she could have said that would make her body tense and her heart beat so loudly that he could have easily detected it even if she wasn’t pressed against him. He found himself letting his mind wander on the feeling of her thigh in his palm as he held her. She had not done a very good job of wrapping the scraps of clothing around her legs and there were still small parts where flesh would poke through. It was the flesh that had his mind preoccupied. The way it felt against his hand, the warmth. He shook his head ‘Control! This Sesshomaru cares not for lowly humans.’ He gripped her tighter as he increased their furious pace emphasizing the point he was making to himself.


They had traveled for an entire day and still no well. To make matters worse as the sun began to go down they realized they had no fuel for the fire. Kagome had hoped there would be something they would stumble upon since it didn’t seem to be a problem at their previous location, but it seemed the southern pass was quite barren.

“We will have to make camp here tonight.” Sesshomaru stated coldly.

Kagome sighed, “I was afraid you’d say that. I only brought one piece of woodwood. I don’t think that will be enough to keep me warm through the night.”

“I will keep you warm.” Was Sesshomaru’s monotone reply.

She eyed him suspiciously. “Why?” she questioned.

“So that you will survive the night.” He answered. “Are you suggesting I have ulterior motives human?” he quipped smirking slightly.

Kagome blushed, “I’m not trying to be disrespectful, it’s just ….an offer …like that… isn’t usually innocent.”

“I see.” He uttered stoically.

“I mean, what would you think if some woman offered to keep you warm through the n—“She stopped, realizing what she was saying, as a smirk once again graced the demon lord’s face.

“Oh shut up!” she yelled with frustration before the demon lord could comment. Several short moments passed before they spoke again. “Which way will be headed in the morning? Kagome questioned.

“Further south.” He answered motioning in the direction.

Kagome sighed and looked down at her ice covered clothing. “Would you,” she gulped, “Would you mind turning so I could take off my wet clothes? “

He nodded, turning his back to her as she removed her frozen clothing and ran for the warmth of her sleeping bag.

“Tomorrow we can use the last of the wood to dry our clothing before we leave.” He stated dryly as he removed his Kimono, his back still towards her. He mentally argued with himself, ‘You’re crawling in with the human again. I DO AS I PLEASE. You enjoy being with her too much all ready. IT’S A MATTER ORVIVRVIVAL. But you enjoy it as well. THAT CANNOT BE HELPED AT THIS TIME; I NEED HER TO RETURN TO MY TIME. But do you really believe that or is that what you tell yourself so that you can be close to her? I AM IN CONTROL; THE …SITUATION CAN NOT BE HELPED. He quieted his mind as the last of his clothing was removed and cast aside.

Kagome buried her face in her sleeping bag trying desperately to fight the urge within her to watch the demon lord undress. She would slowly bring her eyes to the edge of the sleeping bag daring herself to peek just for a moment over the top only to pull it further over her head. ‘Bag Kagome, bad!’ she scolded herself. She kept her face buried in the warm fabric as she listened to Sesshomaru walk over to her. She bit her lip in anticipation as he pulled at the fabric against her back letting the wind whip inside and send shivers down her spine.

“C-c-c-cold!” She stuttered as she felt clawed toes lightly rake against her back. Her body tensed as she felt his slide deeper into the small space pulling her body against his. She bit her lip hard as he wrapped his legs around hers and snaked an arm around her waist. Her heart beat loudly in her chest. She closed her eyes tight imagining a million different scenarios where Sesshomaru would force himself on her, with nothing and no one around to save her. As his hand draped around her waist she almost let out a scream but hesitated as the demon lord spoke.

“Adequate?” he questioned.

Kagome gulped, “S-s’cuse me?”

He leaned forward pressing his mouth to her ear. “Are you warm enough to survive until morning?” he questioned in his monotone voice.

Kagome nodded. “Yes, thank you. Good night.” She shifted around as if positioning herself to sleep and closed her eyes, but could not will herself to do so. Every muscle in her body was tense. She really didn’t trust Sesshomaru to be this close to him, nor did she trust herself. Her thoughts would continually run through a checklist of ‘Where are his hands? Did he just move closer? Is he pulling away? Why is he pulling away? Ack! He’s moving closer again. What was THAT?’ Kagome sighed. ‘I’m going to drive myself insane. ‘

Sesshomaru stared at the back of her head, questions plaguinm asm as well. ‘Why is she not asleep yet? Strange girl.’ He felt as her body tense at any slight movement, and he heard her heart race every time he breathed against her neck. She was scared he could tell, but also excited, which confused him even more. Before, when she had acted like this, he had asked her if she wanted to mate and she had said no. ‘So what are these strange combinations?’ he thought. He understood the smell of fear all to well, and had smelled lust from a woman before, but never at once. As he pondered the meaning of the signals she was silently sending him he found himself stroking her long black hair with his free hand. It was soft, and soothing just to touch. Why he reached for it in the first place he could not answer, because he did not understand it himself. Lost in the feeling of the smooth hair falling between his claws he was faintly aware of a small voice questioning him.

“Sesshomaru?” Kagome whispered.

“Your hair is frozen.” He whispered as he continued to stroke at the hair, bringing a lock to his face and quietly taking in the scent.

Kagome blinked, unwilling to move. ‘He sounded almost…soft ...just then. Sort of comforting.’ She desperately wanted to turn around to try and read what was going on in his eyes, but decided against it. “Good night, Sesshomaru.” She whispered as she closed her eyes letting him quietly stroke her hair.

“Good night….Kagome.” he whispered into her ear, taking a strange sense of pleasure in calling her by name.