Gambling with Ice and Fire

Sesshoumaru looked down at the charred remains of a campfire, the ground still eminating a faint warmth from the fire that had been smothered not long ago. He could see flattened areas of grass where figures had laid prone for many hours, sleeping. Most of all, he could smell his half-brother and his companions scents.

On impulse, the taiyoukai followed the scent away from the camp and towards a nearby villiage.

"Master Sesshoumaru! You're not following that hanyou, are you?" Jaken questioned, running to catch up to his lord. Sesshoumaru stopped his stride and stared back at the kappa, who shrunk back at his lord's stare. "I apologize, master Sesshoumaru, please, don't hurt me!"

With that, the inuyoukai resumed walking, following the scents of his hanyou sibling and the miko ningen, the two scents he could most easily identify. There was also a strange, lightly flowered scent in the air that made his nose tickle. He didn't like it, and wanted to find out what was causing it.

"Master Sesshoumaru!" Rin shouted, running up to his side. "I picked these for you!" The girl offered the demon a lovely bouquet of flowers she had been picking as the walked.

"Thank you, Rin," he simply said, taking the flowers into his clawed hand. "Go walk with Ah-Un."

"Yes master Sesshoumaru!" she smiled, running back past Jaken to her demonic steed.

"Jaken?"

"Y-yes Lord Sesshoumaru?" Jaken stuttered, wondering what would become of him.

"Take Rin home." Sesshoumaru looked Jaken in the eye, making sure that his order was understood, and took off at full speed into the forest.

Not long after, he came to the outskirts of a wheat field, one that was entirely unremarkable in itself, but the ground had been freshly scarred with bits of flesh laying scattered in bloody splotches around the small group of people standing in the middle of the long stalks. He could see the miko bend to the ground and pick up something dark and shiny, which soon turned to a brilliant pink in her grasp. He noted that his hanyou half-brother was too busy wiping the foul smelling innards of a caterpiller demon off his face to notice his precence, but the monk was looking straight at him.

"I think we have company," he could hear the monk say to the rest of the group, who turned to look at him as he approached.

"Sesshoumaru!" Inuyasha growled, pulling Tessaiga from it's sheath. "What do you want?"

"Inuyasha!" the miko scolded him. "Why do you always have to go picking a fight?"

"I smelled something foul, and came to find the source," the taiyoukai said. "It seems to be coming from you, slayer."

Sango blushed. "It must be the perfume Kagome gave me." Sesshoumaru eyed her, then Kagome who was turning red as well.

"It smells like you're in heat."

With that statement, both Inuyasha and Miroku broke out into heavy laughter. The women turned a few shades redder, and the kit looked at Kirara and shrugged his confusion. Finally the laughter died down with the men leaning heavily on their weapons for support. "Something amuses you?"

Inuyasha cracked up laughing again. "Sango... in heat! HA!"

"Inuyasha," a very red Kagome growled. "Sit boy!"

Inuyasha's body created yet another crater into the field. Kagome walked closer to Sesshoumaru, looking around where he had come from. "Where's Rin?"

"She is safe," he replied, his curiosity piqued.

"I have something for her," Kagome replied, smiling. "But I want to give it to her myself."

"She is at my home," he looked down at the woman who had seeminly tried to seduce him just a few days earlier.

"What'd you do that for?" Inuyasha moaned as he finally managed to pull his face out of the dirt.

"Let's go then," Kagome said to the rest of the group, ignoring Inuyasha.

"Where?" Shippo piped up.

"To Sesshoumaru's!"

Everyone gaped at her. "Why would we go there?" Inuyasha demanded.

Kagome sighed. "I have things I want to give to Rin, and that's where she is, so therefore, I'm going there."

"Feh. I'm not going," Inuyasha said, sitting up and crossing his arms over his chest, reminding Kagome of her brother when he was sulking.

"I will take her," Sesshoumaru suprised himself as his lips formed the words without him realizing it. He ignored the amazed looks the humans were giving him.

"No way! You'll try to hurt her!" Inuyasha growled, jumping to his feet.

"I give you my word, little brother," Sesshoumaru glared back at him. Kagome picked up her backpack and slung it over one shoulder, then walked over and wrapped her arm around Sesshoumaru's waist, waiting to be lifted into the air.

"I'll be fine! Besides, you know where I'll be," Kagome sighed. "Let's go!"

Before Inuyasha could protest, they were gone in a blur of light.

"You hurt her, I'll kill you!" Inuyasha yelled at the quickly dissapearing ball of light.

"You think this is part of her plan?" Shippo whispered to Sango.

"I'd bet on it."

----------

Kagome was suprised that Sesshoumaru had taken off when she had said to, but she let it slide as she quickly closed her eyes against the rapidly moving ground beneath them. "I thought you didn't have a home?" Kagome questioned, hoping to break the silence.

"I mostly roam, but I have dwellings to reside in so should I chose," he replied, giving her no further details. With a glimmer of hope, she pressed on.

"It must have been lonely before you had companions," she mused, but he did't respond. Guessing that he might answer direct questions, she took another route to her words. "How did you meet Rin?"

The daiyoukai looked down at her, but still didn't speak. Kagome fidgeted uncomfortably within his rather tight one-armed grasp, but only succeded in his grasp tightening around her waist.

"Don't squirm or I might drop you," he stared coldly at her. Kagome crossed her arms over her chest, making sure that her backpack was securely on her shoulder before leaning her head wearily against his mokomoko-sama. The fur was wonderfully soft against her skin, and suprisingly warm. Her mind began to wonder, frantically searching for a conversation topic that might induce more than a simple reply from the demon.

She thought of the first time she had seen Sesshoumaru, standing on the demon who held an imitation of Inuyasha's mother in his grasp. He had been trying to find the tomb of their father, Inu No Taisho, which he eventually managed to succeed, but failed in his attempts to gain the Tessaiga, since the sword wouldn't allow him to wield it.

She remembered the many fights betweent the brothers that nearly always seemed that Sesshoumaru was merely gauging his skills, or perhaps taunting his hanyou half brother, and she gasped.

"That's why you took me along so quickly! You're trying to torment Inuyasha!" she laughed at the thoughts of the two demons succumbing to sibling rivalry that ran through her mind, pictures of a little Inuyasha and younger Sesshoumaru arguing over petty things.

"I do what I please," was all that he said. Kagome frowned at him.

"You're a very hard person to have a conversation with, you're even worse than Inuyasha when he's pouting!" She thought she heard a slight growl from the taiyoukai, but wasn't sure with the wind in her ears. She could, however, see the ice in his glare, and decided not to push her luck for the rest of the trip.

Unfortunately for her, nature had another thing in mind.

Kagome became aware of a pressing need to urinate, which was rapidly becoming stronger due to the demon's strong arm pressing hard into her stomach region. She began to squirm a little which resulted in a warning glare from Sesshoumaru. He loosened his grip slightly to let her know that he was serious about dropping her if she moved too much.

"Uh, I'm sorry to bother you, but I really have to pee!" Sesshoumaru stared down at her coldly, then slowly lowered them to the ground, releasing her a full three feet above the hard dirt below.

"Be quick about it."

Kagome blushed at the thought of urinating in front of Inuyasha's brother, so she ran behind his back and stepped behind a large bush to do her business, still feeling awkward at the knowledge that he could head, and more than likely smell, everything that was happening.

Of course, it was always a similar situation whenever Inuyasha was around, but she could always tell him to butt out for awhile, whereas she knew that if she told Sesshoumaru to go away, he really would, and leave her stranded, alone and unarmed, in the middle of a youkai infested forest.

She chose to bear the embarassment and just do what she had to do.

Soon they were in the air again, and Kagome soon grew tired of the silence, then just plain grew tired. After a half hour of travelling, Sesshoumaru looked down to see the miko asleep using the soft fur of his mokomoko-sama as a fluffy pillow.

----------

Kagome awoken to being painfully dumped onto the hard dirt ground. She glared daggers at the stoic Sesshoumaru before looking around at her surroundings. The first thing she saw was a path leading towards a villiage from wherever they were. It didn't look like an overly large villiage, but she sensed that it was regular humans living there. She turned to look over her shoulder to see the front gate of a lord's home like any other she had seen in her travells. She could clearly define which of the buildings where for lodging, the main dining area, and even a bathhouse.

Sesshoumaru walked towards the largest lodge, obviously meant for the lord of the villiage. Jaken ran out from another lodging, calling a greeting of joy at his master's return.

"Jaken," he said, not looking down and continuing his steady pace towards the structure. "Show the miko to one of the guest rooms."

The kappa stood staring blankly at Kagome for a moment before shrieking a protest. "But mi'lord! She is human!"

Sesshoumaru stopped and glared at Jaken for his brash objection, at which the kappa slunk back and quickly motioned for Kagome to follow him.

Jaken stopped outside the quarters that were closest to the gate, the smallest one, Kagome decided judging by the exterior. Deciding not to be choosy about where she was staying, Kagome gratefully accepted and headed indoors to sort through her belongings to find the presents for Rin.

Not long after she had finished unpacking and re-packing her backpack, Jaken slid the door open to her room, ordering her to come to diner. Within the short distance from Kagome's lodge to the dining hall, Jaken had managed to aggrivate her nearly to snapping point with his ramblings of useless humans stinking up his master's home.

Rin looked towards the door as it opened and quicly burst into giggles at the rather large lump on Jaken's head. "Master Jaken, who is this?"

Kagome walked over to Rin, smiling at her. "My name is Kagome," she told the girl.

"I know you!" the girl grinned as she remembered the woman's face. "I've seen you travelling with that adorable kit!"

Kagome smiled as Rin reffered to Shippo as adorable, something that she had been chided for many a time from her young ward. She nodded, sitting on a cushion beside the girl.

"What are you doing here?" the girl asked.

"I actually came because I have something I want to give you."

"A present? For me?" Rin said, wide eyed. "But why?"

"Because I wanted to, and one of the things I think that every little girl should have," Kagome beamed and looked up as a human brought out their meal.

"When can I have it? Where is it?" Rin questioned, suddenly excited. Kagome couldn't help but be reminded of her little brother and his enthusiasm for presents.

"It's in my room, we can go get it after we eat, ok?"

Rin nodded, then turned her attention to the meal in front of her. Kagome noticed that the taiyoukai was absent, but she hadn't expected him to join them. The kappa stood near the door, leaning on his staff and glancing over at the two females out of the corners of his large round eyes every now and then.

"Aren't you going to eat?" Kagome asked him.

"I don't eat human food," he replied, crossing his arms.

Rin giggled. "That's exactly what Lord Sesshoumaru said to me when I first met him!"

Kagome smiled, realizing that this was her chance to finally learn how the girl came to be with the demon. So, she asked the girl to tell her tale, which the child happily did.

Kagome was horrified as the girl spoke, telling her of the bandits who slew her parents and the villiagers who beat her, but Kagome's mind whirled with suspicions when she said that she had been chased down and killed by a pack of wolves. Koga, Kagome thought with a frown.

"But Lord Sesshoumaru saved me!" she exclaimed happily, taking another mouthful of rice before continuing. "He let me stay with him, he's so kind! I know that no matter what, he'll always come back for me!"

Kagome smiled at the girl before taking the last bite of fish on her plate. She eyed Rin's plate, which was almost empty, and waited until she was finished before speaking again.

"Let's go get those presents, shall we?"

Rin immediately jumped up from her seat, pulling Kagome up with her. Within moments they were out the door and racing across the courtyard towards Kagome's hut. As they neared, Kagome noticed that someone had taken the time to light a lamp just inside her door so that she would be able to find her way around upon her return. Thankful for small favors, Kagome slid the door open.

Rin bound into the room ahead of her, plopping down on her bedroll and waiting eagerly for her gifts. Kagome smiled at the child, reaching for her yellow backpack that was starting to show serious signs of wear after the abuse she had put it through the past couple years.

Opening the front flap, Kagome told the girl to close her eyes. Reaching under the doll, she pulled out the silky kimono she had bought a few days earlier and draped it across Rin's outstreached arms.

Opening her eyes, the girl squealed with glee. "It's so beautiful!" she exclaimed, holing the cloth up for closer inspection.

"Why don't you go try it on?" Kagome suggested, motioning to the back where a standing screen provided a change room. "I'll have the other present for you ready when you come out."

Rin nodded and ducked behind the screen, soon tossing her worn orange checkered kimono out from behind as she began to dress in the new robes. Kagome smirked and pulled the doll out of her bag, sitting it on the bedroll and straightening its clothing and soft, dark brown curls before placing her backpack in view of it, draping her towel over top to completely obscure the view.

Rin stepped out from behind the curtain, spinning a full circle to show off her new outfit. Kagome gasped and applauded, thankful that it seemed to fit the girl quite well. After a moment of this, the girl noticed the pile on the bed, and pointed at it. "What's that?"

Kagome grinned, motioning her to sit beside her. When she was seated, her eyes closed yet again in anticipation, the miko removed the blanket and placed the doll in the girl's lap.

Rin opened her eyes, blinking a couple times to focus, then widened her brown orbs in wonder. "This, it's so wonderful!" she cried. "I've never seen anything like it!"

"It's a doll from where I'm from, most little girls have them and take care of them, brushing their hair, dressing them in pretty clothes," Kagome smiled at the memories of her own dolls when she was a child. "I thought that you should have one, too."

Rin's eyes misted over as she flung her arms around Kagome's neck. "Thank you so much, Kagome-sama!"

Kagome blushed slightly, but returned her embrace. "Your welcome," she smiled as she held the child away from her. "Shall we go show Sesshoumaru?"

Rin nodded, taking Kagome's hand and heading ourside. Instead of pulling her towards the largest housing unit, the girl led her to another small building right across the courtyard from her own. Kagome noticed a light flickering inside and wondered if the taiyoukai had been in there the whole night. The one room building had a decent sized window that one was afforded a view of the enitre courtyard, the better to see the coming and going of his guests.

But as they entered through the sliding door, Kagome couldn't see the demon lord anywhere. The room was made smaller due to the floor to ceiling bookshelves covered the walls on either side of the room. A large desk stood in the middle of the room, piled high with stacks of scrolls, both old and new. Behind the desk was a large painting of an impressive looking man, his hand on the shoulder of a younger man,

Kagome smiled as she realized that the younger man in the painting was Sesshoumaru, deciding that the older demon in the painting must have been his and Inuyasha's father. She was examining the painting from across the room, one that seemed almost alive. The great Inu No Taisho looked like he would walk out of the painting, but Kagome jumped back as Sesshoumaru's image really did.

"Don't worry miko, the painting is an illusion."

Kagome's heart still raced. "You could have at least warned me!" she shrieked at the demon. The pictures remained the same, so it seemed almost a fluke that he had stepped out in precicely where his own image was painted. Rin, seemingly unnoticing his entrance, ran over to Sesshoumaru.

"Sesshoumaru-sama! Look what Kagome got me!" she grinned, handing him her doll and spinning to show off her new kimono. The hard lord's eyes softened watching the girl who was so full of joy at the simple gift. "Isn't it gorgous?"

Sesshoumaru nodded his agreement, a slight movement of his head that made the girl beam with happiness.

Just then, Jaken came bursting into the room. "Master Sesshoumaru! I beg your forgiveness for allowing these humans to disrupt your work!" he fell to his knees, watching his master's face. The demon's lips turned up in an uncharacteristic smile, which frightened the kappa beyond reason. "Please don't hurt me!"

"Jaken," Sesshoumaru said, stopping his servants fearful cries. "Take Rin to bed."

The kappa bowed, thankful to have been spared his masters wrath. "And the miko?" Sesshoumaru glared at the former demon-lord, who shrieked and pushed Rin out the door.

They sat in silence for awhile, Kagome growing increasinly uncomfortable. Finally, she couldn't take it anymore and broke the silence. "So, you have a very nice place."

He looked at her, then turned to sit at the desk, barely accepting her comment with a slight movement of his head. He motioned for Kagome to sit oposite him, which she quickly obliged, wondering what the invitation to stay was all about.

**********

Author Notes and Review Responces:

Ok, so I'm not sure if having Kagome kind of flirty-ish would be totally out of character... she's normally kind of... well, I'm hesitant to say prudeish, but she's more innocent than to do insane things, but she's also rather stubborn and I'm making her extremely determined to do whatever it takes to win this bet!

Because, well, let's face it, who knows what Inuyasha would make her do if she lost O_O

Kawaii Kirara: Thanks! I guess that it wasn't really clear, but Sango HAD been wearing the perfume, and Kagome's had likely mostly worn off since the previous day. And yes, I'm finding it a little difficult to make him interested in her and keep him in character, so if you notice me slipping a little, PLEASE! PLEASE tell me and I'll try my best to fix it! I think that the pheremones will play a rather large role in his warming up to her, but we'll just have to wait and see now won't we? ~_^

Kikyo18 & lala_land: Thanks for continuing to read and review! Much Loves!