Bold As Love

Bold As Love

Ch 4: closer

Sesshomaru sat in his room just staring at the poster board he was about to send in to the National Science competition. He’d decided to send it in a day early since he had some other work to do before Monday.

He looked over it again and staring back at him were those baby blues. The picture he’d lifted from Kagome’s room came in handy when he realized he didn’t get to even take a snapshot of her. Thankfully her features were clearly visible in his stolen picture, since she was looking directly at the camera.

The picture was perfect; he almost didn’t want to share it with anyone. The thought that other males would see that beautiful image infuriated him. It was an innocent photo, she was fully clothed and he’d scanned it and cropped it so that all was visible was her face and upper body. However, she looked absolutely radiant, the photo captured her very essence and the ethereal beauty she exudes every day.

He looked harder to try and determine his fixation with the human bitch when his face lit up with realization. It was everything about her, from the sad smile and look in her eyes to her beauty and internal fire.

The kimono she wore in the photo made her eyes look cobalt against her milky skin while her lips looked so soft and luscious. He greatly admired the subtle confidence she exuded, because unlike most, she knew exactly who she was and did not pretend to be anything else. She held such fire and strength; he longed to have that passion near him forever. She was the epitome of flawlessness.

He took the original copy of the photo from under his pillow and just gazed at it. He turned it around and sniffed it. It held the faint trace scent of her room and his beast purred in delight as her scent came into his nostrils.

He turned it to gaze at it again and traced her face with the pad of his finger as he let his ego swell when he remembered that she’d shared the video of her father with him. He furrowed his brow as he remembered the strong creature in the film.

The man was most definitely not human though Sesshomaru could not say what in fact he was. He was not a demon, a demon’s aura was specific as was a humans and he noted that the man’s aura was nothing like any normal aura he’d seen on any creature.

Another crucial thing Sesshomaru noted were the man’s ears. They were definitely pointed, at one point while he was watching the film he looked at Kagome’s ears and noticed that they too were slightly pointed. He looked down at the picture in his hands and noted that her ears were very round in the photo, which was likely taken within the last year. He also remembered that power spike in the hallway of the school.

The miko did not usually give off the aura of a powerful creature but that day, after she’d healed, her aura was immense and like her father’s the natural auras around her seemed to bend in her wake.

He was sure her ears were changing and knew for sure that she did not wear ear points like many demon teens did. It was a bit of a fashion trend among demons to wear false pointed ears. Kagura and Kouga did it as did many others. Sesshomaru didn’t have to resort to such fashions because like all true tai-yokai and their descendants up to the fourth generation he too had naturally pointed ears in his humanoid form.


He wondered if it was some sort of joke to the gods to make him want this girl so badly. She was like no other female he’d ever encountered, human or otherwise. She was not petty or cruel, she did not care for his riches or his physical appearance….though he had caught her admiring him in her home the day before… he knew she would not want him solely for his beauty.

He chuckled at the notion, for she was beautiful and soon she would be more beautiful than him, he would admit it without qualms, she was magnificent.

He’d already started agreeing with his beast about her and it was no longer just lust, he realized that his beast recognized something in her very soul. She was something special, he knew it and he would cherish her, human or not.

The fact that she was at least half human was something he would accept…only because it was her… their pups would be hanyou and he would be proud because they would be theirs and they would be beautiful.

He caught himself for a moment, it was the second time he’d thought of pups with her and it surprised him a bit, as it was all happening so fast. He’d never thought of pupping any bitch, demons usually mated just after high school and pupped their bitches early so that they would have as much time as they could to produce pups and ensure the demon species lived on.

Demons started high school at the age of one hundred as it was standard age for mating, while Hanyous started between the ages of 25 and 30 depending on the strength of their demon blood. This however
Was not achieved through the passing of actual time.

When demons initial began to blend in with humans, the kitsune tribe developed a spell that would age demon children at the pace of humans and stop at their one hundredth demon year birthday, though only about 16 or 17 human years would have passed. They did the same for hanyous and stopped at the 20th birthday.

Sesshomaru was now one hundred and four and ready to pup his chosen bitch, only he wasn’t fully aware of that yet as his beast was waiting for the perfect opportunity to remind him that it was in fact; time to make pups. The beast would let his master figure it out on his own, and if he did not, he would remind him harshly.

He’d smiled when he thought that the little miko was the one his beast was screaming for….though in the back of his mind he wondered what her reaction would be to his condition….would she be like the rest? Or would she prove him right in his hopes and assumptions that she was in a class above all others.

He found that he was no longer confused as to his feelings for the girl, he fought with his beast at first but after talking with her and getting to know her a bit better he found himself falling fast and hard. He was afraid to admit it to himself, he was afraid to let her in. Somehow though, he knew she was different, he knew she was special and that once she was his he would never let her go.

He looked back down at the photo and sighed “what other secrets do you hold, little miko?” he muttered before stuffing the picture back under his pillow and groaning.

It was time to finish his project and send it in because he also had a take home quiz due in his calculus class and he dreaded even thinking about it. All that was left to complete his project was the gluing of a strange ornamental border he had crafted using construction paper.

He walked over to his immaculately organized desk and opened the drawer to locate his glue stick. His eyes opened in surprise then narrowed in anger when he discovered that the spot where his glue stick normally sat was empty.

“Half breed” he bit out knowing his idiot brother had come into his room while he was gone and pillaged the desk of his glue stick.

Sesshomaru set out to his brother’s room to find the glue stick the mutt of a half-breed had taken from him, when he passed the study and overheard his father with Toshiro. He rolled his eyes and continued on his way as he didn’t want to even bother with the affairs of the council until he was forced to do so.

Toga popped out of the study and looked around before closing the door and turning to Toshiro who wore a huge grin on his face.

“What is it Toshiro? My patience wears thin; it has been far too long since a dog ruled Japan. I fear that if we do not find a way to strengthen our clan we will be no better than the insipid wolves with no true power and no hopes of having one of our clan as supreme ruler of the council.” He turned to face the window and looked out with hard eyes while Toshiro just waited for him to finish speaking.

“The council convenes in three months time and will discuss the next supreme ruler. As of now the Tigers have a second generation tai-yokai male, if the council becomes desperate and another true tai-yokai is not born they will likely move to make him supreme lord.” Toga looked on at his inferior as if to question his very presence.

“I have found another clue my lord” beamed Toshiro as he handed Toga a large scroll

“It was among the things my soldiers sto…er…recovered from the palace of Ryukotsusei when you defeated him my lord” said the lesser lord.

He watched Toga’s eyes light up as he read from the ancient scroll. The first part was in a language Toga did not know but the introduction mattered not. He knew what he held in his claws, it was a large piece of the puzzle his clan was working so fervently to solve..

His eyes moved down the scroll and he began to read…..

Antiquity and Creation

Before memory, before time, before the consciousness of life, there existed air, fire, water, earth and the great and powerful ancients who inhabited the heavens. The ancients lived in peace but soon their souls longed for completion and they took lovers and spouses. Their offspring were selfish and spoiled and because of the combined blood of the ancients were vastly powerful.

There were long battles, bloody and brutal, soaking the heavens with blood and gore. The gods of old were gentle and peaceful creatures that lived to love and create life however, their malevolent children soon gained the upper hand and all was lost…

Those ancients who survived the vicious battles were chained and hidden away, banished to the depths of the new domains created by their cruel offspring to toil away in darkness and be tortured for eternity. The gods of new made their homes in the various parts of heaven and the underworld, set up their own regions and governed the earth.

After the revolution of the heavens the new factions met to deicide the fate of the barren realm of earth. The first meeting went without superbly. It was decided that the earth would be populated with demons and animals in order to bring life to the desolate lands of the earthy realm. Each faction returned to their dominion to implore their knowledge and populate their lands to their tastes and so were born the first demons.

To keep variety, the gods gave them several forms and an internal class system. Some demons had more animal attributes than others and the noblest could take on the form of the gods themselves, though they were not nearly as magnificent.

Soon the gods grew tired from creating demons and their energies were being depleted far too fast and thus the formula had to be changed. Another meeting was called and the gods came from the far reaches of the heavens. They ventured down from, Tonatiuhichan, The Fifth World, Valhalla, Olympus, Tian and Svarga to name a few. They called for a simpler creation formula, which required less energy from the gods themselves, thus was born the human.

Humans were weak compared to demons, governed by their emotions, frail and easy to kill; their life spans lasted but a fraction of a demon life. Many of the gods worried for their new creations, thus they were given the ability to reproduce much faster than their demon counterparts and a select few were gifted with hereditary spiritual powers. Humans were set out in large numbers for protection though the gods still feared that their presence would change the balance of the earthly realm.

The gods were justified in their concern; for soon the demons and humans began to quarrel, great hatred was born between the races and earth was divided.

Humans exploited the earth and lands and ravaged the forests and lakes like the plague while the demons developed a taste for human flesh. Soon demon claws were red with the blood of humans while human hands were red with the blood demons, animals, other humans and anything else that crossed them.

The gods were frenzied, believing that the earth would soon be destroyed, and the balance between worlds would be shattered. Frantic for a solution another council was convened and it was decided that the gods of Valhalla, who had comprised a perfect plan to harvest energy would create a new race to inhabit the earth.

The fair ones of Valhalla created a system that would keep balance on earth while ridding themselves of the gods of old, as they were growing restless in their chains. Soon the ancient ones were freed from their restraints in the realm of Alfheim, their tortured souls were cruelly reconditioned and squeezed into flesh before being cast down onto earth.

…thus were born the Ljosalfar, later known as “Earthbound Creatures of Heaven” or simply Earthbound. They were a race far greater than any who had come before. Their physical forms were breathtakingly beautiful. Said to be fairer to look upon than the sun, the moon and all other celestial bodies combined, they took on the exact form of the Ancient gods of Valhalla. Their intelligence and capability to learn very fast remained from their original forms and easily surpassed human and demon intelligence. They were known for their kindness and humility but their wrath was said to be unspeakable, as they had retained many of the powers of old. They could wield a magic that was greater than the strongest Jaki and easily surpassed the trite spiritual power of humans.

Created to bring balance to the earth, they were not capable of ………

Suddenly Toga was brought out of his reading by the voice of his underling.

“Am I to understand that humans are a generic brand of demon?...and that these Earthbound creatures not only have the souls of gods in them but the souls of the ancient first gods of Valhalla?” inquired Toshiro from over toga’s shoulder where he had been reading.

Toga growled in warning and prepared to speak before they heard a high pitched shriek come from the other room followed by harsh snarls and yelling from Inuyasha and Sesshomaru

“CURSED PUPS!” roared Toga before he stowed the scroll safely in his locked drawer and locked his study after he ushered Toshiro out. They exited to see what all of the commotion was about……..

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OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO A Few Moments Earlier Across the Hall
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Sesshomaru strolled to Inuyasha’s door; he was completely unaware of what was transpiring within, thanks to an unnoticed sound and scent proof sutra hanging outside the door, though it broke the moment the door was opened.

He smirked as he threw the door open unannounced and ready to make as much noise as demonly possibly, since he expected to find his brother sleeping because it was so quiet within. His face twisted in horror when he looked in to find his exasperating younger sibling between the legs of the miko Kikyou, pumping away frantically.

“Oh Kikyou, Koishi...ahhhh, I love you” Inuyasha hissed, he locked into his female, his knot swelling while Kikyou dug her nails into his back throwing her head back as an orgasm ripped through her.

Kikyou snuck away from the shrine after helping Kagome with the final preparations for the festival. The festival was only a couple of hours away but her impatient hanyou demanded she come to his home first and he would take her back and stay for the festival. Kikyou had managed to convince her aunt with kagome’s help that it would be ok for Kikyou to go to her “friends” house to get him.

“Ahhhh…yes….yes….ouggh…. Inu….ya….sha” she breathed moaning hard. Neither of the lovers noticed the disgusted demon that’d just entered the room until he cleared his throat, though the look of disgust was still prevalent he tried to maintain his superior and indifferent demeanor.

“This Sesshomaru requires a glue stick” he announced as he casually glided across the room toward Inuyasha’s desk.

It took Kikyou a moment to register what just happened. As soon as she did she let out a high pitch scream and tried to cover her naked body with a sheet, she buried her head in Inuyasha’s neck to hide her humiliation.

“WHAT THE FUCK!?!?! GET OUT YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE!!!” Inuyasha raged

He sneered and growled, his beast threatening to break its chains…something that’d never happened before. Inuyasha’s beast was different than Sesshomaru’s in that his human blood prevented it from developing normally which made it violent and completely irrational, more so than any normal beast.

“Fear not, little brother I have no interest in watching you rut with that disgusting bitch. Locking your pitiful little half-breed knot inside of one so unworthy……it is shameful” he turned and sneered at the pair in the bed curling his lip in disgust after Kikyou’s scent hit his nose.

“How can you rut with this creature? One that stinks of death and human filth” he spat before he retrieved the glue stick and made to leave, he felt Kikyou’s aura rise with anger, for being referred to as a creature.

“Yeah right asshole; you need something else to jack off to cause your own bitch hates you. I love hearing Kagura make fun of you with her stupid little friends while you shower her with expensive shit and she goes off and fucks anything with a cock except you” scoffed Inuyasha

Sesshomaru prepared to teach the insolent whelp a lesson when, to Kikyou’s absolute horror and humiliation, suddenly toga barged in with Toshiro and Jaken in tow.

“What is the mea….” Toga trailed off when he saw an incredibly angry, incredibly embarrassed female on the verge of tears, in the large bed under his youngest pup.

Kikyou held back the tears and buried her face further into Inuyasha’s skin trying to disappear. Since Inuyasha’s knot had formed, they could not dislodge for at least another twenty minutes to an hour and she was beyond humiliated since four other males had just seen her in her current state, nude and filled to the brim with dog half-demon.

“HE BARGED IN HERE BECAUSE HE’S JEALOUS!!!” screamed Inuyasha as his frustration grew. There he was bare assed, locked with his bitch, unable to move and trying not to wince in pleasure every time he released a spasm of seed into her.

Toshiro and Jaken both looked at one another after witnessing the scene within and fled to the family room without another word, leaving the household males and the miko to their own devices.

“Sesshomaru did you barge in uninvited?” asked Toga calmly while he tried to avoid looking at the scene in the bed.

“OF COURSE HE WASN’T INVITED!!!!?!?!?! WHY THE HELL WOULD I INVITE THIS ASSHOLE IN WHILE I’M TIED TO MY BITCH?!?!” Inuyasha was hysterical at this point and his eyes were tinting pink while Kikyou just whimpered and tried not to have the orgasm that was looming from the spasms inside of her.

“INUYASHA CONTROL YOURSELF! Sesshomaru, come with me” said Toga as the elder brother just glared at his father, he had not been beaten since he was able to fight back but his father gave him the look he knew only promised pain.

“Inuyasha you and I and….this girl will have a talk about the consequences of knotting and doing such in this home, in the day time while others are present” reprimanded Toga in an unforgiving tone as he left with his disgusted elder son in his wake.

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Kagome was relieved when Kikyou and Inuyasha had shown up in one piece. Sango and Bankotsu had arrived right on time as well; Sango joined Kagome and Kikyou in the kitchen while Bankotsu went to help Inuyasha and the other men with manual labor.

Kikyou explained everything that transpired earlier including the part where she and Inuyasha narrowly escaped getting “the sex talk” from his father after the old dog couldn’t bring himself to speak of such things in front of a Priestess, though many would consider questioning how serious Kikyou was about her calling after learning of her activities with a hanyou. Thankfully Toga merely told them to keep their fornication restricted to the nighttime and to make sure to lock the door. He also decided against telling Izayoi of the incident.

Kagome wondered why Sesshomaru would just barge in to the room like that but she then remembered Kikyou had previously mentioned that she and Inuyasha often used scent and sound masking sutras when they engaged in sexual activity at his house.

She wondered if Kikyou had even considered that Sesshomaru didn’t know what was going on when he barged in. Considering how he treated Inuyasha, it was to be expected that he would not announce himself to his younger sibling before entering his room especially if he heard no sound coming from the room.

Kagome sighed…..It was going to be a long Saturday, she and Kikyou still had to go change into their Miko uniforms for the events, plus the volume at which thoughts of Sesshomaru Taishou were entering her mind was rather alarming.

“kagome I have something for you” said Kikyou with a warm smile she rarely showed anyone as she broke Kagome away from more contemplation of the silver headed dog demon who recently began a full scale invasion of her mind.

She handed Kagome a parcel of silk. Kagome undid the bow and gasped as a silken miko haori and Hakama were revealed to her

“Kikyou? Where did you…” she began

“They used to belong to our great grandmother, she had seven silken sets made for herself but she never used them because she felt more comfortable in her native clothing so here is yours, there are three more in that trunk along with some other things that belonged to her” Kikyou went to the trunk and pushed it out of the way a bit so they could have some more space to dress

“Kikyou…thank you” Kagome hugged her cousin before they both dressed in the lavish kimonos and Kikyou and Sango did kagome’s hair and makeup.

So Sango….tell us what’s going on with you and Bankotsu….he’s got a pretty suspicious looking hickey on his neck” said Kikyou with a giggle while Sango blushed over Kagome’s head while they worked on putting the ornaments in the girl’s hair.

Kagome tried not to grimace too hard as the girls brushed, pulled and poked her head with the intricate ornaments once worn by her Celtic grandmother.

“Well, it’s all so fast but….it just feels natural, he’s nothing like Miroku. He’s such a gentlemen and he doesn’t blatantly look at other women while he’s with me and he’s such a good kisser” she beamed with a shy smile

“I’m so glad you’ve finally found someone worthy of you Sango” said Kikyou with her own genuine smile while she jabbed an ornament into Kagome’s hair, she hadn’t seen Kagome move her head excitedly, so the ornament missed its mark and stabbed her ear.

“YEAH ME TOO!!” yelped kagome with a mixture of excitement and pain. She was trying to look up at her friend only to be met with Kikyou’s hands on her head to hold her still, while she rubbed her ear miserably.

“Hold still Gomies or you’ll be earless by the end of the night!” Kikyou steadied her head again before jutting another ornament in.

“Anyway, Bankotsu’s great! I really like him” Sango gently brushed out a section of Kagome’s hair while her dreamy smile told Kikyou everything she wanted to know.

The look on Sango’s face reminded Kikyou of something else. She’d caught Kagome with the same dreamy look about her the night before. She’d questioned the girl to no avail and wondered who or what it was that occupied her mind for the better part of the night.

“Now if we could only find out who this mystery guy of Kagome’s is” Kikyou laughed as Kagome gasped and blushed

“Mystery guy? OOOOHH!!! COME ON KAGOME TELL US!?!?!?” Sango was rabid upon learning that her friend had a “secret crush”.

“I….There….I’m….ERRR!!! Kikyou there is no mystery guy!!” she yelled as the other girls just laughed at the exasperated look on her face..

They finished fast and moved on to Kikyou’s hair before they walked out to the festival to be met with gaping mouths and looks of admiration.

The two priestesses set off to give tours and greet guests while Sango went to work at a food booth with Bankotsu..

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Sesshomaru growled as he pulled into the driveway of his home, the caterers had arrived for his stepmother’s ridiculous little gala.

He was in no mood to deal with the outlandish bitch but he had a feeling she would be more than ready to dish out her usual criticisms and her new favorite subtle questioning of his sexuality, apparently Kagura decided to spread a lovely little rumor with her friends and it had trickled up to their gossiping mothers .

He strolled into the house with his usual arrogance as he passed the workers who were setting up for the party; he noticed his father’s aura was in the family room with Toshiro who’d been there earlier.

“ANIKI!!!” roared a voice form the stairs as a young human pre-teen bounced down the steps and slammed into the demon

“Rin, did you finish your homework?” he asked as she looked up at him with a smile

“Of course Aniki! I want to be just like you when I get to high school and get good grades” she said letting the exasperated demon go.

“Then you shall make me proud little sister” he said patting the head of his younger sibling.

Rin had come to them as a new born. She was the daughter of Izayoi’s childhood best friend. The newly wed human couple had just brought their babe home from the hospital when they came home to discover their house being robbed by a couple of rogue wolf demons.

The woman was brutally rapped and murdered and the man forced to watch while his newborn baby cried. One of the assailants put the child outside, on the ground uncovered in the winter cold to make her stop crying.

Izayoi, Inuyasha and Toga had been on their way to drop off a few things and see the new child when they saw a fire in the distance. They arrived too late to save the charred remains of the parents but the tiny, lifeless body of the half-frozen infant was still intact.

Sesshomaru received a frantic call from his father and flew to the site with Tenseiga, he saw the motionless infant and stared wide eyed, she was so small, just a newly whelped pup. He did not know what drew him in but soon everything dropped away except him, the tiny body and the imps around it.

He cut down the pallbearers of the underworld and held his breath until he heard the pup draw her first breath and cry.

His father gifted the fang to Sesshomaru that day and was proud of his son. It was the first time he showed any emotion since his mother died and it would not be the last.

The child was taken in by Izayoi and Toga though she was left to be raised by nannies and was often neglected emotionally as Izayoi liked to spend her days shopping and gossiping rather than raising another child.

Rin would often cry out at night waking Sesshomaru, he would go to her crib to find exasperated nurses, he secretly felt sorry for the pup so he would dismiss the servants, rock the pup and purr a fatherly purr for her.

She was like his own pup, he was the one who gave her the most affection in the house, he was the one who would consol her when she dreamed of scary things, he was the one who held her when she scrapped her knees. He was the one she called “papa” when she spoke her first words, though that was rectified for propriety’s sake. He was already at the beginning of mating age when Rin came to them and it seemed almost natural to him to take on a fatherly role for the neglected pup.

“Rin, where is Inuyasha?” he asked

“Oh, he and Kikyou went to Kagome and Souta’s shrine for the festival….I wanted to go but Mother said I couldn’t because of her party” pouted Rin

“Do you know Kagome?” he was surprised to hear her mention the miko by name

“OH YES!! She’s sooooo pretty and sooo nice….I wish my eyes were blue like hers” she giggled making circles around her eyes with her fingers.

“How do you know her?” he asked the overly excited twelve-year old.

“Oh, well Souta, her brother, is in my Judo class and one day when Jaken was away with you in Kyoto, mother was supposed to pick me up but she forgot. Everyone left and I was all alone but I guess Kagome noticed when she walked by with Souta and Kohaku and she asked me if I wanted to come home with them and call my mother” said the girl blushing a bit when she mentioned Kohaku who she’d had a major crush on since fourth grade.

“Anyway, she took me to her house and gave me a snack and waited with me until mother finally came. I think kagome had some important stuff to do for school because another girl came and she was kind of mean and annoyed that I was there but Kagome sent the girl away, made me feel better and told me not to worry about it. She even showed me how to play a song on the guitar. I told her I would come see her again but mother never has time to take me and Jaken says it’s inappropriate to go to a house where there is a boy my age, unsupervised” she said with a sulk.

“Oh, I wish I could go see her dance today, Souta says she’s the best miko dancer in Tokyo” she stomped a bit and glowered.

Sesshomaru chuckled at his sibling who he thought of as his own pup

“Perhaps I could arrange for you to visit sometime soon” he felt his heart swell when she smiled so big he thought her eyes would pop out of her head

“REALLY?!?!?! YOU’LL TAKE ME TO SEE KAGOME AND SOUTA?!?!” she yelled

“Yes” he feigned annoyance and hid his smile

“THANK YOU ANIKI!!! I’M GOING TO GO PRACTICE MY GUITAR SO I CAN SHOW KAGOME THAT I’VE GOTTEN BETTER” she yelled over her shoulder as she raced up the stairs almost knocking a servant over.

Inuyasha thankfully was gone but unfortunately he’d sensed the other inhabitant of the household too late because his stepmother was fast approaching and he bit back a growl when he felt a tap at his shoulder.

“Sesshomaru my dear, would you be so kind as to go and get your brother for me, I’ve been trying to call him but he won’t answer” she flipped her hair in what he assumed was supposed to be a seductive manner but it translated as smutty.

“Perhaps he is at the shrine festival thrown by that miko’s family” Sesshomaru spoke with disdain, while referring to Kikyou and trying not to look at his filthy stepmother.

“Oh, that’s right….Kikyou’s family is having a festival. Well you’d better go and get him or he’ll be late to my party, and make sure Kikyou comes, she’s such a sweet girl” she turned to leave in her flighty manner but before she did she turned back and glared at him.

“If you don’t go and get my son I’ll make sure to tell your father how cruel you are being to me” she made an exaggerated pout before she ascended the stair, leaving the demon standing there with his lip curled in anger.

He’d actually planned on attending the festival anyway, he wanted to keep his promise to Mrs. Higurashi….he also wanted to see Kagome so this would provide him with the perfect excuse.

What he didn’t like however, was the fact that his bitch of a stepmother had just commanded him to go and get his brother, he would comply this time because he’d already been reprimanded earlier for his trespassing into Inuyasha’s room unannounced and he would be damned if he gave his father another excuse to release his frustrations on him.

A trip to the dojo was standard now if either of the boys stepped out of line, though Inuyasha rarely felt the wrath of his father, since the demon usually let Izayoi handle the Hanyou’s punishment.

Sesshomaru was strong but not nearly as strong as his mighty father and when they spared to settle a punishment Toga would not hold back.

This time he beat his son mercilessly while the younger dog was able to get in a few hits, more so than the time before. It was not skill he lacked, toga taught him everything he knew and the boy was technically an excellent fighter. It was passion the younger one lacked; he fought with the same dry countenance he spoke with.

Sesshomaru could see the remorse in his father’s eyes after he’d dealt the final blow, dislocating Sesshomaru’s shoulder and slicing his arm with his claws. It would heal by the next night but the helpless feeling of being beaten almost every time he met his father in the dojo stabbed at him. One day he longed to fight his father and win, to meet him as an equal and finish as victor.

His thoughts returned and he casually walked up the stair to get his coat and set off to see Kagome….

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“HEY TRANNY!” called a overtly feminine male voice.

Kagome rolled her eyes when she saw Bankotsu’s brother Jakotsu bouncing toward her.

“OH MY GOD!! You look so fierce!!!” he snapped his fingers and crushed her into a hard hug.

“Thanks Jakotsu I’m….” began Kagome

“…The hottest bitch ever? Don’t worry lady, we all know” he finished her sentence with his dramatic flare.

Kagome sighed, he had a thing for calling everyone either “Lady”, “Tranny” or “Bitch” regardless of their gender but it still weirded her out.

“Actually I have to dance right now” Kagome smiled when his eyes lit up.

“OH MY GOD!!! I LOVE THE DANCE!! You guys have those hot little bells and those fans!! OH MY GOD, LOVE IT!!... You’re such a stripper I LOVE IT!! well then run along and have a tranny old time!!” he bounced away and she smiled in a confused way.

Kagome shook her head and walked to Kikyou who just finished her last tour of the shrine and now it was time for the dancing portion of the festival to begin

Kikyou didn’t dance, not at all she had two left feet and wasn’t ashamed to admit it. It was kagome who danced the lead in the Mikagura dance and Kikyou always had to concentrate on not running into kagome or falling off the stage, though it often happened in practice.

Kikyou and Sango helped Kagome fix her hair and makeup for the dance before they moved on to Kikyou’s

Kagome and Kikyou giggled as they saw their parents watching Kikyou with looks of worry.

Kagome got in character, this dance was dedicated to the spirits and Kagome would honor them. She always was able to command the energy around her if she concentrated enough, though lately she’d been having the strange power spikes, she hoped it wouldn’t happen during the dance lest she purify all of the demon guests.

She and Kikyou took their dance stances and Kagome put her head down to clear her energy before the dance as the people began to gather.

Inuyasha was standing with Sango, Kohaku, Bankotsu, Jakotsu and Souta as they readied. Everyone who knew Kikyou crossed their fingers so that she’d make it through this one.

Last year she fell off stage and into a flaming ornamental incense platter, which caused the tapestries to catch fire. She squealed as her sleeve caught fire, she ended up running around the stage with a flaming sleeve before she ran to the side of the shrine where her cousin Souta was waiting with the hose. He hosed her down and they managed to put the flaming tapestry out before they were met with fierce applause.

Everyone held their breath for the dance and those who did not hold their breath for fear of Kikyou’s two left feet, held their breath at the sight of such beautiful mikos preparing to honor the gods.

“You got the hose kid?” asked Inuyasha as he’d heard about the debacle last year, normally it was kagome who was the klutz but not when it came to dancing.

“Right here man” Souta replied brandishing a hose that was connected to a spout in the side of the house.

“How bout you stud? You got your hose ready?” asked Jakotsu moving a bit too close to Inuyasha for his liking.

“There you are you little imbecile!” Inuyasha sighed hard as he prepared to look upon the last person he wanted to see at the moment.

“Sesshomaru! What the hell do you want? No one invited you!!” Inuyasha bit out through his teeth

“Did you forget your gold digging mother is holding a dinner party today?” he was cold, disregarding the remark about his invitation, he most certainly was invited.

His mind was racing as was his heart. He hated the fact that kept the company of his brother. His brother whom he hated, whom their father allowed to do as he wished while Sesshomaru was punished for the slightest misstep. The truth was he was insecure, not only about winning Kagome over but about how his brother would react to his interest in the girl.

He tried to think of a way to be seen at the festival without having to admit to his half-breed sibling that he was there to see Kagome. He found he could not admit the truth to the hanyou and even if he did, the hanyou would interfere, so he decided he had to rid himself of the half breed and the half-breed’s bitch, then return to see his beautiful bitch.

“They’ve sent this Sesshomaru all over the city in search of you, filthy hanyou. I have wasted enough of my time searching for you. I have a quiz to finish, apparently I am the only one in the family who cares for his studies” He glared at Inuyasha and spoke with poison in his tone.

He tried to maintain his aloof demeanor while he scanned the crowd for Kagome.

“EWWW!! EXCUSE ME LADY! Don’t get bitchy” Jakotsu snapped his finger in Sesshomaru’s face only to see that he was paying no attention to him or Inuyasha, he was completely caught up with something on stage.

Sesshomaru’s nose picked up the most heavenly scent in the world, he pushed his brother and the flaming homosexual aside ignoring the dramatic scream and call of “Rape”.

He looked up at the sight in front of him, on stage. HIS miko dressed in fine silks, her delicious scent laced with incense, she held a fan in one hand and bells in the other as she looked down, Inky hair falling forward to frame her delicate face, her warm blue orbs were currently closed but he waited as his heart leapt into his throat for her to open them.

The music started lightly with just bells at first as she and the other miko stayed still. He hadn’t even noticed there was anyone else on stage until he heard the annoying bitch ton the other side of the stage giggle. He paid her no mind as he watched the unmoving Kagome, he could feel her power under the surface as she calmed her aura.

Suddenly the first drum beat sounded and she lifted her head, her beautiful eyes opened and it sent a shiver down his spine waking his beast. He felt as if all of the air had been taken from his lungs as he looked on at her delicate form.

He was drawn closer to her as he walked without even knowing it to the front of the crowd pushing those who stood in his way aside. He was absolutely entranced as she moved with the music, eyes kept closed for the most part as if she was feeling the very melody of the music.

She was the most striking thing he’d ever seen in his entire life, moving with the beats, making the very music tangible as she awakened the spirits. He could feel the flood of spiritual energy but it was not harmful, he felt loved and at ease, he felt her controlling the energy in everything from the trees to the wind, she was like a kami come to earth commanding the heavens with her fan and bells.

She was most definitely not a mere human priestess and she was without question……

“Mine” he whispered as he was staring at the magnificent female. He didn’t even notice Kikyou fall off the stage with a loud thud or the few stray laughs from some of the children.

The music ended and kagome finished with her gaze to the floor in a dramatic pose with the fan in front of her.

There was applause and even some arousal as he noticed some of the teenage tourist men looking at Kagome with lecherous grins. Sesshomaru wanted to snarl and growl and bare his fangs so that all would know that this female belonged to him. But he knew if he succumbed to his impulses he would end up yielding to his beast and transformation would be eminent. He could not and would not transform in front of the miko, at least not yet.

Kagome looked around and noticed Kikyou was at the side of the stage rubbing her elbow.

“KIKYOU! Are you ok?” asked Kagome as she went to her cousin

“I’m good….nothing broken this year” she said with a smile and laugh

“How do you do it?” asked Kikyou

“You have your eyes closed half the time and you’re the best dancer I’ve ever seen” she huffed crossing her arms.

“It’s not about the dancing it’s about the music” said Kagome whimsically with a smile as she did a sashay and a pirouette across the stage then returned with some turns, she was actually quite good then she hit something hard and fell flat on the floor.

“Sorry” she said quickly then she realized who it was and looked up with wide eyes.

“Miko” he inclined his head slightly and picked her up by the arm like a doll, he winced a bit but felt his body tingle when she held his arm and looked up at him with concern in her large blue eyes.

“Are you hurt? You looked like you were in pain just now” she said softly as she ran her hand over his shoulder instinctually, the gesture was completely innocent to her, though it made his beast cry out.

“This Sesshomaru is fine miko, I thank you for your concern” he stammered leaving her quickly to go and get his brother who was currently fondling his own miko.

It took everything in him not to pick kagome up in his arms, kiss her luscious pink lips, look into her beautiful eyes and hold her to him. He could not, not in front of his brother lest he cause another scene, no matter how much his beast cried out and struggled to be free. He looked back one last time to see her speaking to the monk with the lecherous look about him, he was torn for a moment between going to investigate what the male wanted with his bitch or going to his idiot brother.

“Are you ok?” asked Inuyasha trying to look at Kikyou’s wound while Sango joined Kagome and Miroku. She smiled knowingly as Bankotsu came and encircled her waist with his arms. Miroku’s face hardened with jealousy and he rubbed the bandage on his arm from where Sango had hit him with a kendo stick when he’d tried to fondle her the day before in P.E.

Sesshomaru was relieved to see the demon slayer and the other male join Kagome as this freed him up to go to his brother.

“Yeah I’m ok” said Kikyou as Inuyasha hugged her from behind and let his hands roam her flat stomach as he pulled her flush against him

“Do you want me to kiss it better?” he asked huskily in her ear before he nipped the lobe

She giggled and leaned into his touch as he nuzzled her cheek.

“STOP WASTING MY TIME LITTLE BROTHER!” hissed Sesshomaru

“We must leave” he added trying not to look back at the miko he knew was behind him or else he would lose his resolve and pick her up, nuzzle her neck and take in that scent, oh the icy scent of the bitch he screamed for. How he so wished to take her away and never come back.

“Your whore of a mother demands your presence at her little gathering” he said coldly as Kikyou’s gaze hardened and she glared at him.

“Please leave, this is a gathering for the gods, demon filth should not be defiling our shrine” said Kikyou coldly

“Humph and hanyou filth is ok?” he spat

“It’s better than being completely corrupted, and don’t worry he gets a bit of purification energy every night” she said with a smirk as she rubbed one of Inuyasha’s ears.

Kagome looked on at the scene, she knew Kikyou should have kept her mouth shut and let the brothers handle their own quarrel and she couldn’t help but feel anger at the insult hurled at her guest, a guest invited by her own mother.

“Little whore” he hissed snapping Kagome out of her thoughts and back to present where her mind went into defensive mode. Guest or no, he didn’t have a right to talk to Kikyo like that but before she could speak on her cousin’s behalf Inuyasha interjected.

“Don’t talk to her like that!” Inuyasha stood in front of his bitch protectively and spoke heatedly as he got in his brother’s face.

“Please stop” said a voice from behind Sesshomaru

“This is a festival, please don’t dishonor it by fighting” she said fiercely with no hints of fear in her tone, she’d reasoned to remain neutral in the quarrel as both sides were at fault in her eyes.

Sesshomaru backed down instantly “The miko is correct, I will not dishonor myself or my family by fighting you like a savage Inuyasha. This family has enough to be ashamed of by your mere existence. You gave your mother your word you would attend her gathering, therefore it is up to you to act with honor” he turned a heel and left without another word.

He would not face her right now, not after insulting her cousin like he did. He would wait and then he would explain himself.

Kagome ran after him and called to him “SESSHAOMRU!” she yelled running after him in her ridiculous silk garment.

It was like the angels signing when his name left her lips; he turned and looked at her with an indifferent look, a look that dare not betray the deep need within his heart.

“Thank you” she said with a smile …a smile that melted him into the ground

“For?” he asked coolly

“For not fighting with him and causing a scene….thank you for that” she said before she smiled again and turned to go back to the festival

“Miko” he called

She turned and looked at him quizzically

“You are welcome” he said softly as she smiled again and was gone.

He charged to his car and sat in the driver’s seat with his head thrown back against the seat looking up trying to clear his mind of her radiant smile.

“My bitch…..the one who is ever in the presence of my brother and his impudent bitch” he sighed hard and realized that he was going to have to work very hard to be able to be near his miko.

‘My miko….my Kagome’ he thought finally giving in to his beast and acknowledging his growing feelings for the girl. He looked up the steps and growled when he saw his miko chatting with a handsome young tourist, she laughed hard at something the boy had said.

He growled low and threw the door of the car open in a rage, his blood boiled as he tried to hear their conversation but the noise from the festival drowned it out. He saw the boy take her hand and kiss the back of it in an introductory manner but it was enough to make his beast writhe in his chains. He wanted the human’s blood on his claws and he wanted his bitch under him in submission.

He was stalking toward the scene hell bent on taking possession of his bitch and staking his claim on her properly, his brother and all others be damned, when his brother and the miko Kikyou came walking down the stairs.

“Hey asshole” said Inuyasha with a smirk as he knew that his brother had to take him home as per his father’s orders so he had to put up with him and it made him smirk

His smirk disappeared when he saw the feral rage in his brother’s eyes; he looked up to see Kagome in conversation with a French tourist who was trying to make the girl swoon.

“Did you see that ridiculous French tourist trying to make Kagome swoon, he even thought she was laughing at his lame jokes when she was actually laughing at Miroku getting fondled by Jakotsu, hahaha serves him right. I hope Kagome isn’t too hard on the poor guy, she can be down right rude when it comes to unwanted attention from males” said Kikyou with a chuckle

Sesshomaru shook his head for a moment as he registered what Kikyou was saying he then looked up again to see a dejected looking French boy walking away from kagome, the rejection was radiating from him as he joined his friends at the bottom of the steps. He smirked; the boy narrowly escaped his wrath.

In that moment he knew he had to make his move soon, for she was something special and he wasn’t the only one who thought so.

“Come on asshole, we’re gonna be late” said Inuyasha eyeing his brother oddly before getting into the car

“You will refrain from being such a rude oaf in my car Hanyou if you do not want to be reminded of your place” replied the stoic yokai as Kikyou glared at him coldly and sat in the back seat.

He looked up one last time to see the beautiful female who filled his senses and haunted his mind speaking to her demon slayer friend.

‘Our miko is honorable, beautiful, and talented; she is more than worthy of us’ said his beast

‘Hn, we shall court her…. Kagome, she shall be ours, no other will do’ A smile crossed his lips as he replied to his beast.

She was feisty…he knew it and it would be amusing to get her to agree to court him but he would not fail in his pursuit, of that he was sure. He would return to her shortly.

A/N: So I had major issues with this chapter and chapter 5, I re-wrote them like six times because I absolutely hated their first incarnations. Let me know what you think!! I’d like to thank Michele for her awesome work on this chapter and for putting up with my lateness in getting it to her. Finals are next week for me …GAH!! I’m going to try and get my fiance to post my next chapter for me since I have a final on Friday but it’s not a guarantee as he tends to “get bitchy” when it comes to my fanfiction since it takes away my precious time with him…. Boys can be so dumb sometimes…. Anyway if he won’t do it, I’ll do it after my final. So yeah…I’d ALSO LIKE TO THANK MY REVIEWERS!!! I LOVE YOU GUYS AND I AM SOOOOOOOO HAPPY YOU LIKE MY STORY!!!*** HUGS ** I almost died when I saw that my reviewers are such talented authors!!! Some are authors that I myself admire a great deal, THANK YOU!!

Spoiler for next week: We get to follow our friends to the party then back to the shrine for more fun festival action. Jakotsu makes a cameo at what he refers to as the “cock and tail” party. We discover part of the insidious plot of the villains in our story and we learn that there is a traitor in our midst. We also get to laugh at Sesshomaru’s expense while he tries to impress and court Kagome…… don’t worry good puppies always get their bones in the end ;)

RATE AND REVIEW!!! I really want to know what you guys think of this chapter since it pissed me off so much!! THANKS!!!!! MUAH!!!!