Passion

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, as we all know.

Back to the story. Enjoy!


Chapter VII – To The West Part II

During the next few days, they kept their direction and came across some scattered villages where they were told they were going the right way. Naraku was still heading straight west, and so did they. Surprisingly, they had neither seen nor heard of Sesshomaru. Miroku and Sango held back from discussing this topic in order not to anger Inu Yasha, who had once more begun to show visible signs of irritation whenever his brother was mentioned.

Kagome was satisfied with their resolve. She was convinced that he was somewhere near, whether they saw him or not, but she could not tell her friends why she was so sure. Thus, talking about him could have led them to nothing and would only have thrown her off balance further. As a result, the only things that kept endangering her mental sanity were her constant arousal and the memories that refused to leave her alone.

One afternoon she was suddenly roused from her day dreams by the feeling of a shard rapidly approaching them. She lifted her head from Inu Yasha’s shoulder where it had rested and glanced back.

‘Inu Yasha …’ she began but was cut short.

‘Stop arguing, Kagome,’ the hanyou growled. ‘I won’t put you down! We’re quicker when I carry you and the others go on Kirara.’

They had had a heated discussion that morning whether Kagome was to ride on his back or not. Kagome had made clear that she wanted to walk. He retorted that would slow them down, to which she said lightly she might ride on Kirara. From that point it stopped to be a discussion and became an argument where both parts yelled at each other.

Miroku ended that by begging Kagome to oblige. She had done so, but every now and then she had dropped one or two words about being forced. Inu Yasha was furious at her for making such a fuss about such a small thing – though it was not small to her – and Kagome sighed now, understanding him very well.

‘That’s not the matter, Inu Yasha,’” she went on gently. ‘I sense a shikon shard. It’s –’

She almost fell off his back when he stopped dead in his tracks. Inu Yasha cast her a piercing glance over his shoulder.

‘A shard? Only one? Where?’ he asked quickly.

‘Yes, only one. From the east, and it’s approaching rather quickly.’

Kirara, who had at first not noticed Inu Yasha’s sudden stop and had ran on, returned to them. Miroku slid down and asked, ‘What’s up? Why did you stop?’

Inu Yasha put Kagome down and unsheathed Tessaiga, transforming it in the process. He got into battle-stance and sniffed the air. Kagome turned to answer the monk’s question.

‘I sense a shikon shard from the east. It’s approaching quickly.’

‘Only one shard, and from the east? So none of Naraku’s …’

Miroku was not allowed to finish his sentence, for in that moment a thundering roar filled the air.

From the very direction they had come from they heard wood splinter and saw trees crash down. The ground beneath their feet shook with the impact of the demon’s steps. Inu Yasha started growling and clutched Tessaiga’s hilt tighter. The others got ready for the fight as well.

They separated a bit from each other, so that they could attack the demon better. Miroku held his staff in front of him, a determined expression on his face. Sango quickly slipped out of her kimono under which she wore her armour, grabbed her boomerang and jumped on Kirara’s back. The cat-demon tensed her muscles, ready to leap into the air as soon as her mistress demanded it. Kagome had her bow and arrow ready, but retreated a few steps. The others would fight the demon and she would protect Shippo, as usual.

Then the demon broke through the trees. Its shape was of a really huge ape, but it had sharp teeth, and claws on his hands and feet. When the demon’s small, red eyes fell on the figures in front of it, it roared again and flung out its long arms to swish them away.

They all dodged the attack, and Inu Yasha yelled at Sango and Miroku to get out of the way. He would do this alone.

‘Kagome!’ he shouted, dealing the demon a blow on his left ribcage with his blade. ‘Where’s the shard?’

The demon howled when Tessaiga cut through his skin and flesh and tried to smash Inu Yasha with a giant fist. But the hanyou was too quick; he leapt away easily, only to collide with Miroku, who had not stepped back.

‘You moron! Get out of my way!’

Miroku opened his mouth to apologize, but the demon attacked again, and they had to move quickly to evade another blow from the huge fists.

Blood trickled out of the wound in the demon’s left side, running down his body and dripping to the earth, but this neither stopped him nor slowed him down. He moved quickly, and for some time Inu Yasha and Miroku were busy dodging. Then, one punch got Miroku, and the monk was smashed against a tree where he fell down into a motionless heap.

‘Miroku!’ screamed Sango and ran over to him. She bent down to search for life-signs, oblivious to the ape-demon stepping closer to its fallen prey.

‘Watch out, Sango!’ yelled Inu Yasha.

The huntress looked up. Her eyes widened when she saw the monster towering above her. There was no time for her to fling her weapon at the demon as one giant fist fell down.

Sango closed her eyes and threw herself over Miroku’s body, wrapping her arms around him and burying her face in his clothes. If she had to die, then she would die with him.

‘Fuck!’

As fast as he could Inu Yasha dashed towards the demon and kicked its left leg.

The ape stumbled, thrown off balance by the unexpected attack, and its fist smashed into the ground a few inches away from Sango and Miroku.

The demon-huntress peered up and sighed with relief. She would not die yet, thanks to Inu Yasha’s quickness.

The demon roared with fury and turned to Inu Yasha. He bared his fangs at the hanyou who hastily darted away from the threatening fists.

‘Damn you, wench!’ he hollered at Kagome. ‘Where’s the fuckin’ shard?’

Kagome blinked rapidly and tried to concentrate. She had been watching the fight, worried for her friends instead of looking for the shard. She chastised herself for her stupidity as her eyes darted over the ape-demon. Something glowed in its right shoulder.

‘Inu Yasha! It’s in the right shoulder!’

She had to scream to be heard over the demon’s bellowing.

‘Bout damn bloody time!’ snarled the hanyou.

Quickly, he jumped back from the demon and aimed for the said part of his body. With an angry yell he shot forwards, Tessaiga in position to deal a blow, and brandished the blade with so much force it slashed through the demon’s body and cut it into two parts.

Kagome closed her eyes and gulped. This sight was always sickening: the blood and bits of youkai spraying everywhere. But she had to look at it because she had to take the shard from the body. Indeed, Inu Yasha already called for her to come and get it.

She gingerly picked her way to him, trying to avoid all the blood and things . The most disgusting thing was to take the shard from the still warm, slightly twitching limps. Wrinkling her nose, she took the shard and held it up for him to see.

It was a rather large bit, glowing pink now that it was purified. Inu Yasha regarded it with satisfaction.

‘Hah, one more for us!’ He grinned. ‘One less for that bastard Naraku. And a nice big one, too.’

Kagome smiled wearily at him. Then she looked over to where Miroku lay. Sango had turned him on his back and was checking his body for injuries.

‘Is he alive, Sango-chan?’ Kagome asked cautiously as she walked over to her friend.

Sango raised her head. Her eyes were red but her face dry. She nodded. ‘Yes, only unconscious. But I’m afraid he’s badly hurt.’

Kagome knelt down beside her and began checking the monk as well. Soon, she discovered many bruises, and one of his ribs felt broken or at least sprained. She looked up at Inu Yasha, who stood near them.

‘We need to find a place for camp where we can see to his injuries.’

Inu Yasha huffed and turned away, followed by Shippo, who felt the need to do something. While they were gone, the girls cautiously heaved the unconscious monk on Kirara’s back. During the process Kagome spotted a large bump on the back of his head and she expressed her worry he might have a concussion. Sango was silent and only wrapped a wet cloth around Miroku’s head with slightly trembling hands.

They did not have to wait for long. Shippo returned soon and asked them to follow him. He and Inu Yasha had found a good place for camp. There they would have the possibility to heal Miroku.

The girls grabbed their belongings, Sango told Kirara to walk slowly and take care of her burden, and they followed the fox-child through the wood.

He led them to a small spot under large trees that was free of brush. A small spring with clear, cold water welled up from underneath the roots of one tree. They laid Miroku gently down on a grassy spot. Sango removed the necessary parts of his clothes so that his wounds were bared, and Kagome dug her first aid kit out of her bag. Shippo collected twigs and branches and set up a fire together with a grumbling Inu Yasha.

Kagome rubbed ointment on the monk’s bruises while the others watched on. Afterwards, she inspected his rib and his head. The rib turned out to be only sprained, and with Sango’s help Kagome put on a tight bandage to fix it. Then she renewed the compress around his head. When she was done, she turned to her companions and informed them that all they could do now was keep him warm and wait until he came round. So they waited.

The monk woke up some hours later. Sango, who had been watching him incessantly, looked over to the fire where her friends sat. Inu Yasha was obviously still angry for the renewed delay. He sat a little bit aside, glowering at Kagome and Shippo, who were talking quietly to each other.

‘Kagome,’ said Sango to get her friend’s attention. The other girl looked up. ‘He’s waking up.’

Kagome stepped over and knelt down, watching Miroku’s face. He frowned heavily and his lashes fluttered. Then he opened his eyes and looked dazedly at the two faces above him.

‘Angles! I died and passed on into Nirvana,’ he said with a faint smile on his pale lips.

Both girls smiled back at him.

‘I’m sorry to disappoint you, Miroku-sama,’ answered Kagome, ‘but you’re still in the Western Lands of Japan and very much alive. You only had an unfortunate encounter with a tree. Don’t you remember?’

He tried to fix his eyes on her. ‘No … I can’t remember anything …’

‘Don’t strain yourself! You have a large bump on your head and I’m afraid you have a concussion, so exerting yourself would do only harm,’ she explained in a calm voice.

He blinked in confusion. ‘Huh?’

Kagome sighed and raised her hand, holding up two fingers. ‘How many fingers am I holding up?’

The monk raised his heavy lids and squinted at her hand. ‘Um … four?’

She put her hand down. ‘Try to rest, Miroku, and don’t move too much. If you wish for anything, tell Sango-chan. She will stay at your side.’

Miroku managed a tiny, lecherous grin. ‘Ah, thank you, lovely Sango.’

Sango eyed Kagome.

‘What was this thing with your fingers about? Why did he say he saw four instead of two?’ she whispered.

‘I wanted to find out whether he has a concussion or not. Had he seen properly we could have been sure he is okay. But his sight was blurred and therefore it’s evident he has a rather heavy concussion,’ Kagome explained quietly, her eyes on Miroku’s face. ‘He mustn’t be moved for some time so that his head can heal as it should. And please, Sango-chan, don’t let him fall asleep. He might fall into a coma.’

Sango nodded and turned to Miroku, ready to carry out her friend’s order.

Kagome looked over to where Inu Yasha sat and met his dark glare. ‘I’m sorry, Inu Yasha, but we can’t go on for some days.’

Of course Inu Yasha did not take that well. He stormed and ranted at her, cursing, yelling, and arguing, yet Kagome only shrugged.

‘He can by no means go on now, Inu Yasha. Maybe he’s well enough tomorrow to ride on Kirara. We shall see.’

With this the hanyou had to be content. However, the next morning Miroku was no better, and Kagome decided he had to rest longer. Inu Yasha was furious about the delay, again caused by the monk, but Kagome was adamant. Miroku was very ill and it would harm him a lot to be moved now!

Inu Yasha came up with the idea to go after Naraku alone, but was stopped by Shippo. The fox-child asked him who would protect Kagome when he was away. Sango had to look after Miroku. She wouldn’t be able to protect Kagome as well, especially not if Sesshomaru appeared. Grumbling, Inu Yasha yielded and stayed.

Kagome caught herself wishing he had gone. It was not easy to take care of Miroku and keep peace with a highly infuriated hanyou around. After all, she knew that Sesshomaru posed no threat to her.

At that thought Kagome blushed. He would not harm her, no, but … Her rapidly beating heart, her breathlessness, and the fire of passion that surged through her blood as well as the over-sensitiveness of her nerves whenever she simply thought of him could not be healthy, so he posed a threat to her physical well-being …

Kagome blushed even more when she thought of how well she always was when she was lying in his arms. She came to the conclusion that his absence was a threat to her and wished he would come for her again. She really missed him, missed him so badly it hurt.

It has been seven days now! I wonder where he is and what he’s doing. And why he’s not calling for me … Has he grown tired of me?

The thought clenched her heart, and she felt as if a heavy fist had knocked every breath out of her. It hurt even more than seeing Inu Yasha with Kikyo.

It can’t be, it mustn’t be! He must call me again!

Through her heartache and her miserable thoughts she heard again the tiny voice from the back of her mind talking to her, scolding and admonishing, but she could pay it no heed, even if she had wished to. All she could think of was how much she missed Sesshomaru and how much she wanted to be with him again.

With this on her mind, Inu Yasha irritated and incensed, Miroku hurt and Sango over-worried, life was not easy for Kagome.


* ~ * ~ * ~ *


On the second day after his unfortunate rendezvous with a tree, Miroku was at last able to sit up for a while, talk to his friends – if they spoke softly – and eat without help.

He sat propped against a trunk, carefully spooning his ramen, while Sango hovered above him, ready to assist him. Kagome watched the spectacle with melancholy amusement. She wished somebody would care for her like Sango cared for Miroku. Of course, Inu Yasha was there to protect her, and dear little Shippo was always hugging and patting her as if he felt her sadness, but that was not the same. She yearned for somebody to love her and care for her, someone she could share her life with. Once she had thought this to be Inu Yasha, but now …

Kagome sighed and stirred one last time the bowl with ramen she had prepared for Inu Yasha. She got up to bring it to him. But when she looked up, she gasped, and the bowl fell from her hands.

At first she thought her wishes had conjured up an image, but the next second made her realize he was really there.

He stood three or four steps away from her, unmoving, not even blinking, his deep golden eyes fixed on her. The few rays of sunlight that filtered through the thick tree-tops traced bright patterns on his white clothes and silvery hair. The forest around him seemed to have grown only to be a dark background for his fair beauty.

Kagome’s heart skipped a beat only to start pounding madly in her chest. Her breath hitched, her stomach curled into a searing knot, and a wave of raw need surged through her whole body. She trembled and longed to run over to him and throw herself into his embrace, yet all she could do was staring at him.

She was abruptly roused from her silent admiration when Inu Yasha jumped in front of her. He was tense, his fists clenched, and glared threateningly at his half-brother, growling deeply in his throat.

His deep growl caught Miroku and Sango’s attention as well. They had previously been very much absorbed in each other and had not noticed their surroundings. Now, Sango got up and stood protectively in front of the monk who had instinctively reached out for his staff.

‘What do you want, bastard? Why’re you here?’ Inu Yasha asked, watching the demon through narrowing eyes.

It irked him to no end that this damned bloody bastard did not even look at him! His brother gazed at Kagome, who was standing behind him, and Inu Yasha felt once more his suspicions, his anger and his worries rise. They became very distinct when his brother answered.

‘This Sesshomaru has no business with you, Inu Yasha,’ he said coolly, his eyes still on the woman that stood behind the hanyou. He did not even spare his younger sibling as much as a fleeting glance.

Inu Yasha growled again. He took some steps back until he stood directly in front of Kagome. It was good he hadn’t gone after Naraku! Now he was able to protect his Kagome against his brother. He felt her trembling, heard her heart beating wildly, and noticed her heavy scent. His anger became burning fury. This bastard scared her! He would end this! He would kill him!

Slowly, Inu Yasha unsheathed Tessaiga. When the blade was entirely free, he transformed it into the gleaming fang with one thought. He was ready for attack when he felt a small hand tugging on his sleeve.

‘Inu Yasha,’ Kagome’s voice shook slightly.

‘Stand back, Kagome,’ Inu Yasha said over his shoulder. ‘I won’t let him come near you again. I’m going to end his life once and for all!’

‘Inu Yasha,’ the tugging did not cease and she sounded persistent. ‘Inu Yasha, he has shards!’

Everybody gasped in surprise, and Inu Yasha spun around to look at Kagome. Her eyes were fixed on his brother’s hand that hung, closed into a loose fist, at his side. Inu Yasha blinked and turned back, his thoughts running wildly through his mind.

‘Does he?’ he asked slightly incredulously.

He felt Kagome nod.

‘Yes, at least four pieces.’

She had felt the shards as soon as Inu Yasha had broken her eye-contact with her silver god. The slight tingling on her neck that indicated the closeness of a shard had got through her lust-clouded mind. Highly astonished that Miroku had evidently been right about Sesshomaru possessing shards, she had at first not noticed her friend was to fight her lover. Only when Inu Yasha had drawn Tessaiga she had realised what he was about to do, and she had hurried to tell him about the shards.

Inu Yasha looked from the hand that was holding the shards to his brother’s face. Sesshomaru smirked slightly. He raised his hand.

‘Five,’ he answered, a mocking undertone in his cool voice. He looked pointedly at Kagome and held out his hand towards her.

Inu Yasha took a step forwards to get them, but Sesshomaru shook his head.

‘This Sesshomaru has no business with you,’ he repeated softly.

Kagome drew in a deep breath. She stepped past Inu Yasha, who made gesture to hold her back, and towards Sesshomaru. Her knees were shaking, and she hoped she would make the way without falling. When she stood in front of him, she raised her eyes to meet his gaze.

He had watched her coming closer with blank face and unreadable eyes, but now that he looked down at her, his eyes were not unreadable anymore. She shivered as she saw the hunger in the golden depths, and unconsciously her tongue darted over her rosy, slightly parted lips.

His eyes followed the movement, becoming darker and glowing with an inner fire Kagome thought she could almost feel. She blushed. His concentration on her lips stirred her desire to feel his, bruising or caressing, she did not care. But she felt the stares of her friends in her back and called herself to order.

Kagome raised a hand and laid it on his. A violent jolt of electricity rushed through her at the touch, and she gasped softly. She heard Inu Yasha’s growl, but all that counted for her was Sesshomaru. He seemed to be affected in a similar way, for his hand trembled slightly. Slowly, he opened his fingers to present her the five shards that lay on his palm.

Her eyes fell from his to the jewel fragments in his hand. Brushing her fingers longingly over his hand, she picked the shards up. He drew in his breath audibly and his fingers closed over hers. Her midnight blue orbs flew to his face. The deep gold of his eyes was tinged with red; she saw the hint of fangs, and there was an ever so faint blush on his pale cheeks.

Kagome felt ready to faint into his arm. Her knees were shaking badly. Her body was intensely hot and prickled, aching for his touch. His nostrils quivered as he took in her heavy arousal. His fingers tightened over hers.

No, he has not grown tired of me.

A sweet, lovely smile curled Kagome’s lips. Her eyes sparkled with pure happiness. She raised her other hand and touched his.

‘Thank you,’ she whispered, and it was for more than for the shards.

Sesshomaru nodded at her and, pulling his hand reluctantly away, he took a step back.

Inu Yasha watched the exchange with a profound frown. His eyes darted from his brother’s face to the back of Kagome’s head. There was something going on between them, but he could not name it. They were both acting strangely, almost like lovers, which was of course impossible! He didn’t know what was going on; only that it pissed him to no end.

He heard her whispered thanks and waited for a question how Sesshomaru had got the shards or why he would give them to her, but she said nothing more.

As the demon lord made move to leave Inu Yasha lost patience.

‘Hey, Sesshomaru!’ he yelled. ‘How did you get the shards? Why give them to us now? Why only to Kagome?? Hey!!’

Sesshomaru had turned away. He did not answer. Inu Yasha clenched his fists and opened his mouth again to forcefully, and loudly, demand an answer. Kagome, though, was quicker than he.

‘Sesshomaru,’ she called out softly, and immediately the demon stopped and turned back to her. Inu Yasha scowled.

Kagome pressed her hand that was holding the shards to her chest. Her face was tinged scarlet. She had completely forgotten to ask him how he had got the shards! Inu Yasha’s cry had called to her mind what was expected from her.

‘How did you get these shards?’

Sesshomaru answered her gaze. ‘They were given to me by demons that are loyal to me.’

Kagome blinked. ‘Huh? How did they get them?’

The demon lord walked back to her.

‘Naraku’s detachment, the wind-sorceress Kagura, approached my vassals with a message from her master. He would give them shards of the shikon no tama if they joined his evil plans to destroy me. My vassals took the shards but brought them to me, and informed me of Naraku’s scheme. This Sesshomaru has no need for shards, so I gave them to you.’

It was evident he spoke only to Kagome. Inu Yasha felt like exploding with irritation. When Sesshomaru mentioned Kagura he gasped. As soon as the other one had finished he cut in,

‘So it wasn’t Naraku?’

Sesshomaru quirked an eyebrow at him, and Kagome hurried to explain, ‘We thought we had been following Naraku these last few days.’

Sesshomaru snorted. ‘This Sesshomaru would never allow this vile creature to enter the Western Lands.’

‘Yes, we’ve already wondered …’ Kagome blushed under his intense gaze. ‘So, it was Kagura after all? The evil aura that the people in the villages had felt?’

The demon lord nodded, and Inu Yasha started to curse. With an angry cry he whirled around and punched a tree. When it did not fell down the first time, he punched it again, and again until it broke into, wishing it was Naraku.

That damned snake-demon had set them on a wrong scent! Dammit! Naraku was still safe in his hiding place. Perhaps he had even got stronger or, worse, had again tried to take Kikyo’s life! Inu Yasha shredded the tree to pieces.

When he had cooled down and turned back, his brother had left, and Kagome stared at him with a heavy blush and a strange expression on her face.

‘Damn,’ the hanyou panted.

‘A very interesting morning,’ remarked Miroku, and received a death glare from Inu Yasha.

‘You! It has been entirely your fault! If you hadn’t delayed us, we might have caught up with that witch! We would’ve known earlier Naraku wasn’t here!!’

Miroku hold one hand up weakly. ‘Don’t shout, Inu Yasha, or I will get another headache. By the way, why are you so angry? We got the shards, anyway!’

‘I’d rather not have them than having them received from that bastard,’ Inu Yasha grumbled. ‘Naraku is still hidden somewhere and is probably plotting new schemes.’

Sango shrugged. ‘We’ll deal with them when they come up.’

She stopped Inu Yasha from a yelled answer by glaring at him.

‘Don’t shout! You’ll make Miroku ill again. Why do you think,’ she changed topic, ‘that snake believed that Naraku went to the west to find more shards?’

Miroku had closed his eyes. ‘Perhaps it knew only parts of the plan or mixed two things up. I don’t know. Sango, my love, please help me to lie down. I’m tired.’

Suppressing her growing suspicion that he was not as ill as he pretended to be and only enjoyed being pampered, Sango helped him. When he had lain down, he cracked his eyes open and peered at Kagome, who was busy putting the new shards together with the others. She was still brightly red and rather clumsy because of her shaking hands.

Miroku smirked. ‘Well, to be sure, Sesshomaru shows a distinct interest in you, Kagome-sama.’

She flinched and blushed harder.

‘Yes, he does,’ she answered almost inaudibly.

‘Hm … do you have an idea why?’

Everybody was gazing curiously at her, waiting for her answer. Inu Yasha’s eyes narrowed.

Kagome looked up and directly into Miroku’s eyes.

‘No,’ she answered and her voice was steady. ‘I don’t know.’

She sighed inwardly with relief when her friends accepted her claimed ignorance of Sesshomaru’s motives. It was only a half-lie, for even though she knew he felt a strong desire for her she did not know why. She did not know why he did what he did, and to be honest she did not care any longer. Whatever his plans for her might be she did not care if only she could be with him.

That night she went to bed shivering with anticipation. He would surely call her again tonight! What had he been doing these last days? Had he been following Kagura? Or had he been away in other business? If only her friends would fall asleep quicker!

Kagome lay restless but she did not dare to turn around too much, for that would draw attention to her. Yet, it was hard to stay still. Ever since she had seen him that afternoon her body had been aching, longing for him. It had been so long …

It seemed like ages to her until her friends fell asleep. When Inu Yasha’s snoring told her that even he slept, she crept out of her sleeping bag. With shaking hands she slipped out of her panties and bra. Then she sat down and waited, tense and torn between hope and worry. But at last she felt the tug at her soul, and she jumped up and ran into the appointed direction.

She hurried through the forest, disregarding twigs that pulled at her clothes and tendrils of thornbushes that tried to detain her. All she could think of was Sesshomaru, that he was near, that he had called for her, and that he still wanted her.

Soon, she reached a broad river with a quick current. It flowed in a bend around a cliff that rose suddenly out of the grassy plain. Sesshomaru stood at the bank of the river where it touched the cliff.

Kagome did not stop in her run but dashed to him and threw herself against his chest. She wrapped her arms around him as tightly as she could and pressed herself against him. When she felt his arm around her waist, she moaned and buried her face in his chest, taking a deep breath.

It was heaven to be near him again, to hold him, to feel his arm tightly around her, to listen to his steady heartbeat, and to smell him. She moaned again.

He gently caressed her back and raked his fingers through her hair, patiently waiting for her to look up again. He knew what she was feeling. He felt it, too.

‘I missed you, Sesshomaru,’ he heard her whisper. ‘I missed you so much! I was so frightened when you didn’t call me for so long …’

He pressed her closer to his body and buried his face in her hair. ‘Why so?’

She clenched her fingers into his silken kimono.

‘I was afraid you’d grown tired of me,’ she answered softly.

He took a deep breath, an odd feeling constricting his heart. ‘There is no need for you to be afraid, dear.’

Indeed there was not. He would not grow tired of her that soon, if he ever would. If he ever could , which he began to doubt. Yet, this was not the time to think of what the future may bring. Right now he was not tired of her. No, his burning need for her, the fire in his loins, and his quickly dissolving self-control did not speak of tiredness.

His hand glided down her back and slipped under her sweater. It trailed up her spine, his claws softly grazing her skin. Kagome shivered as jolts of desire shot through her. She panted, and her nimble fingers opened his kimono and stretched on his chest. She brushed her lips over one nipple.

‘But why didn’t you call me for so long?’ Her warm breath fluttered over his heated skin and sent a shiver down his spine.

He slid his hand over her back, over her ribcage and up to her breasts. Cupping one soft mound, he brushed his thumb over an erect bud. His lips had found her ear, and he placed a gentle kiss on it.

‘You were exhausted and needed rest,’ he whispered huskily. ‘I would have called you earlier, though, had business not detained me.’

‘I see,’ she whispered back.

Then she looked up to him, a faint blush on her cheeks and a sparkle in her darkened eyes. Her lush lips quivered into a smile.

‘Well, I’m rested now.’

Her breath caught in her throat as his eyes flashed red at her words. The next moment his lips were on hers, searing and demanding. She opened her mouth, and his tongue darted in, exploring the sweet cavern. Kagome flicked her tongue against his fangs. He growled.

She trailed her hands over his broad chest, revelling in the feeling of soft skin over firm muscles. His heartbeat sped up as her fingertips fluttered over his hard stomach muscles. She moaned with delight when she felt them tensing under her touch.

He groaned in response, his previously tender touches became more forceful. He traced her breasts with a clawed finger, playing and teasing with the tips until the puckered buds were oversensitive.

Her hands softly caressed his hips before she wrapped her arms around his waist. She grazed her fingernails over his back to his tight bottom and pressed him closer to her, rocking her hips gently against his.

Sesshomaru groaned at the feeling of her heat so close to his own burning need. He trailed his fingers down her body, causing her velvety flesh to rise in goose bumps, and slipped them under the waistband of her skirt. He traced patterns on her backside before he dipped his fingers between her legs. Dark curls tickled his fingertips as he brushed past the softly pulsating bud.

Kagome whimpered; a slight tremble shook her body. She kissed a hot path across his chest, twirling her tongue around his nipples. He growled, and pressed searing, open-mouthed kisses on her neck.

His fingers caressed the folds of her womanhood and, after tracing a circle around the entrance to her body, slowly pushed one finger in. Instantly, he met liquid heat that engulfed his finger and poured out of her. She moaned and unconsciously spread her legs. He moved his finger in a steady rhythm in and out, each movement accentuated by a soft moan or gasp from her.

Kagome felt the tension build inside of her. Instinctively she rocked her hips against his finger, yearning for more.

He inserted a second finger, and as he did so he felt her nails dug into his behind. The heat radiating off her grew, and her scent clouded his senses.

He kissed her again and withdrew from her. However, before she had time to protest, he had slipped out of his kimono and removed her skirt. As quickly as her trembling hands allowed, she pulled her sweater over her head and threw it aside. For one breathless second they simply stared at each other. The next second found them lying in each others arms again, heightening their mutual desire with passionate kisses and hungry touches.

Sesshomaru’s arm tightened around her and he lifted her up, so she was face to face with him. Kagome wrapped her arms and legs around him, and gasped as she felt him slowly pushing into her body. Her head fell back. Her eyes closed.

His hot lips burned over her breasts at the same time as he buried himself deep inside of her. She moaned blissfully, wriggling against him. She heard him growl, and suddenly her world seemed to move. Kagome gasped and clung to him.

When the spinning stopped, she opened her eyes and found him lying under her, his glowing red eyes fixed on hers. His lips were pulled back so she was able to see his fangs. His talons pinched the skin on her waist. A shiver of lust, mixed with fear ran through her. He was wild and dangerous, he could kill her with a flick of his wrist, but right now he was hers, spellbound by her body. Kagome smiled a slow smile and raked her nails down his chest.

He growled and bucked his hips up. Her smile turned into a low moan. He gripped her tighter and started moving. She clung to his shoulders for support and moved with him; slowly at first, but soon his thrust became harder and faster, and she met each with equal force until the building tension inside of her burst and the world vanished around her, leaving her floating amongst the stars.


* ~ * ~ * ~ *


Kagome lay in silent contentment. Neither the hard ground underneath her, nor the chilly air disturbed her. A strong arm held her tightly to a firm, warm body. She was listening to his slow and steady heartbeat next to her ear and felt his breath brush over her neck. She sighed and snuggled closer to him, a faint smile on her lips.

She had not slept much this night. He had been eager to make up for the long wait, and that had been more than all right with her. She would have problems walking or sitting for the next few days, but she did not mind. These were only minor inconveniences, and nothing at all compared to the sensation of thorough satisfaction she was feeling now.

A bird chirped its happy morning song into the silent air.

Kagome cursed the bird and buried her face in Sesshomaru’s chest. Singing birds meant dawn was near, and at dawn she had to go back to her camp. But she did not want to leave so soon. He was so warm, and being so close to him felt so good. She just wanted to stay a little longer.

But neither the birds nor the sun took pity on her. The day grew brighter, and more birds joined the first until the forest was filled with various chirrups and twitters.

Finally, she could not ignore the passing of time any longer. Heaving a deep sigh, Kagome pulled back.

‘I have to go now,’ she whispered regretfully.

He did not answer, nor did he let go of her. Surprised, Kagome looked up and her eyes widened slightly. He was watching her through his lashes, and even though his face was blank as usual, there was a strange expression in his hooded eyes. They were more piercing than she had ever seen before, but not threatening, more like he was trying to read her soul.

She blushed, feeling oddly shy. ‘Sesshomaru? Is something wrong?’

His arm tightened around her.

‘You could stay.’ His voice was cool and even, yet his eyes glittered.

Kagome blinked. ‘Huh?’

‘Stay.’ He lowered his head to look directly into her wide blue eyes. ‘Stay with me.’

His hand came up, brushing the heavy curtain of her raven-black hair aside, and his fingers came to rest on the junction of neck and shoulder.

She stared at him, eyes huge in shocked surprise. Her heart had jumped at his words and was now beating so hard in her chest she thought he must hear it. Her mind whirled as thousands of questions, wishes, obligations, desires, and fears struggled to be heard. Reason and Instinct fought a vicious battle inside of her soul about what to do now.

Kagome started shivering. She felt torn between them. She wanted to stay. She could not stay. She wanted to be with him. She had to go back to her friends.

His golden eyes burned into hers, and she closed her lids to hide form his intense gaze, trying desperately to get her wild thoughts and emotions under control. She was awfully tempted to stay, but what about her duty to collect the shards? She longed to stay here in Sesshomaru’s arms. She wanted to be with her friends. She needed to stay. She had to run away …

A moan escaped her lips as he pressed a searing kiss on her neck. Voices screamed in her head to stay … to run … stay … run … run …

A lightning of desire shot through her as his fangs pierced her skin, and she arched her body into his. Her nails dug into his chest; she whimpered, the force of her emotions ravaging her. He growled deep in his chest, and that sound sent another wave of searing desire through her. She sobbed, pressed her body even tighter against his, and moaned again. Every muscle in his body was taut, and he was trembling slightly.

‘Stay,’ he whispered huskily against her skin.

His hot breath sent shivers down her spine. They fanned the flames of the already searing fire inside of her. Kagome felt ready to faint, to surrender, but her mind still struggled. Through the engulfing mist of passion flashed memories of her friends, of her family …

Suddenly another heat was rising inside of her, a heat so strong she felt frozen. Her skin tingled and her palms itched. A terrible tension was building in her head; it pressed against her eyes and dissolved the mist of passion into nothingness. Yet before she had time to even take this really in, Sesshomaru drew back with a sharp hiss and the tension disappeared. She felt drained from all emotions but somewhat light-headed.

She opened her eyes and blinked at him, trying to understand what was going on. His eyes had narrowed and were watching her attentively. A sudden coldness caused her to shiver, and she realized he had drawn back so far that the only places they were still in contact were her hands on his chest. Then she understood what the second wave of heat had been: her miko powers.

Her eyes widened in shock and fear, and with a soft cry she snatched her hands back, worriedly gazing at his chest in order to see whether she had somehow hurt him. But there was nothing to see. His pale skin was as flawless as ever. Kagome sighed in relief and looked up again.

‘Thank gods I didn’t hurt you,’ she breathed and tried to smile.

He did not move. His unreadable gaze was still fixed on her.

‘Sesshomaru? I didn’t hurt you, did I?’

Kagome began to worry when he remained silent. She put a shaking hand on his chest, but his steady heartbeat calmed her. Suddenly she gasped and hefted wide, pleading eyes on his blank face.

‘I didn’t do this on purpose!’ she cried, fear that he would believe otherwise constricting her stomach. ‘I swear I don’t know how it happened! I’d never hurt you. It wasn’t me! Please, I …’

He stopped her by putting one finger on her lips.

‘I know.’ His voice was as calm and level as ever. ‘Don’t worry.’

Kagome relaxed, but as he drew his hand back and got up another alarming thought occurred to her. ‘Are you angry with me?’

Sesshomaru turned and looked at her expressionlessly.

‘It is time for you to go back,’ he said after a moment. Then he bent to pick up his discarded kimono.

Kagome blinked at him but her surprise vanished as she remembered what had happened before the outburst of her powers. He had asked her to stay …

Quickly she jumped up and stepped over to him, taking his hand in hers. ‘I wish I could, but I can’t. I’m sorry.’

He raised his head to look at her but did not answer. Neither did he move. Kagome squirmed under his scrutiny and looked away.

‘You know, Inu Yasha would get mad if he wakes up and I’m not there. He’d come to look for me and if he found me here … with you … He’d kill me.’

‘I promised you to protect you.’

Kagome shivered at his emotionless voice. This was the Sesshomaru that had tried to kill her and not her fiery lover. Rising fear made it hard to speak.

‘Yes, I … I know you did,’ she whispered. ‘I know you would. But you can’t protect me forever, you know. I have to go back to my friends and finish my task, and you have your own … things to do.’

She shrugged helplessly and looked back up. He was still watching her expressionlessly. Nervously, Kagome moistened her lips with her tongue, waiting for his answer. It did not come. He was completely still, like a statue, and neither his face nor his eyes gave her any clue to what he was thinking.

Feeling all at once very cold, Kagome let go of his hand and wrapped her arms around her body, hugging herself. Turning to the river, she bit her lower lip to suppress the up-welling tears.

He asked me to stay and as an answer I nearly purified him, even though I didn’t do it knowingly, and now he’s too angry to even talk to me. Maybe he never calls for me again after today! Why had this to happen? After we haven’t seen each other for such a long time! And I’ve missed him so much, and now he’s angry with me and … A sob escaped her lips despite her efforts. Damn.

A hand on her shoulder raised her from her brooding. Eagerly she looked up to him, but Sesshomaru only nodded wordlessly at the river. Kagome’s shoulders drooped. Hanging her head she traipsed to the stream. Deeply immersed in her renewed misery, Kagome waded into it and, stemming herself against the strong current, she absently washed herself in the ice-cold water.

He asked me to stay … and I attacked him and then told him I couldn’t stay … Oh, it’s not surprising he’s angry, but … What could I have done? What should I have said? I can’t stay with him. This is about more than protecting me from Inu Yasha’s rage! If I’d stay with him … no, I can’t. He’s a demon and I’m human. He despises humans! We can never be together… A tear trickled down her check. We can never be together and he knows that, he has to now that! Oh, but why did he ask me to stay?

Finally, the coldness of the water reached her consciousness, and Kagome hurried to get ready and out of the river. Shivering in the equally icy air, she dried herself quickly and dressed. When she was done, she turned back to Sesshomaru, who had not once moved and was still watching her. Her dark blue eyes, filled with sadness, regarded him for a while before they turned away.

‘I’m ready to go,’ Kagome told him with a slightly shaking voice.

This caused at last some reaction. A slow frown appeared on his face and he stepped over to her. He hooked a finger under her chin, tilted her face up and looked into her eyes. His golden orbs were serious, and Kagome felt her heart clench. He had asked her to stay …

Suddenly, to her surprise, she heard her own voice speaking. ‘Why did you ask me to stay with you, Sesshomaru?’

Her surprise grew as he closed his eyes with a groan. The next second she was pressed flush against his body, and he was ravaging her mouth with a wild, searing kiss. His arm was around her waist, and she felt something hard straining against her belly. With a muffled cry she threw her arms around him and answered his kiss, loosing herself in the rising heat. He’s not angry with me … was her last coherent thought for a long while.

Finally, Sesshomaru released her mouth, kissing his way along her jaw to her ear.

‘I want you,’ he growled huskily, and Kagome trembled, the sound sending stabs of longing through her whole being. ‘I want you with me. Always.’

And he kissed her again.

After another long while he reluctantly drew back. Kagome moaned in protest and tugged at his hair to make him kiss her again. He sighed and pulled the silver strands out of her fingers. At her pout he pressed another quick kiss on her red, swollen lips.

‘No, dear. If you want to be back before your friends wake up, we have to go.’

Kagome sighed, too, and nodded.

Sesshomaru took her hand and together they set off into the direction of her camp. As usual, they walked in silence until they were close to her sleeping friends. He kissed her one last time, and then Kagome traipsed cautiously to her camp, discarded her shoes and slipped into her sleeping bag. With a silent sigh she closed her eyes. A small smile lingered on her lips. He’s not angry with me. He wants me. Sheer happiness at these thoughts made her forget everything else.

Sesshomaru watched her until she was out of his sight. Then he turned and, walking away, allowed his mask to slip. A triumphant grin spread over his lips and his eyes glowed. He was close, very close. She would soon be his.

He had almost succeeded today; he had almost marked her as his own. He had not planned to do it, knowing she would not be ready to surrender. But her words had given him enough hope to at least give it a try. She had missed him. Sesshomaru laughed silently, pleased with him and her. She had missed him, had been afraid that he had grown tired of her. She had wanted to stay with him.

She had strongly been tempted to stay with him when he had asked her. He had seen it in her eyes and on her face. He had felt her inner struggle, the distraction of her soul. The woman she had been made and the woman she truly was had been fighting for control. Yes, she had heard the call inside of her, the call of something that she did not even know existed, the call that drove her towards him and that would finally made her surrender to his claim. This day was not so far away now.

But it had not been today, as he had known before, and therefore he had not really been surprised as her miko powers had flared up to defend her from the demon so close to her. What had surprised him, however, was that she had not hurt him at all. Her powers had merely sent him a warning. Her instinctual side was more than ready to accept him.

This thought had given him enough strength to hold his demonic beast back. It had raged and howled inside of him when he had bound it again, screaming at him to complete what he had begun and mark this female as his mate. The beast did not know or care about the difficulties in marking this special female. It did not know that her consent was necessary or otherwise she would simply be another human that stayed for a short while at a demon’s side. It did not know that she had to truly accept the union or she would not be able to give him the child he wanted. It did not care about his wishes or plans; all it wanted was this female.

He knew his distant behaviour had caused her pain, but it had been necessary. With the beast still straining against his chains it had been the safest thing to keep her as far away as possible. Her question, and more so her sorrowful eyes, had shaken his resolve and he had given in to the beast’s wish to make her pain go away. Her response had delighted him as her readiness for him always did. And had it not been her expressed need to go back to her friends … She still placed her obligations higher than her wishes, and he honoured her for that. But she could not escape her destiny, and this destiny was to be at his side.

Sesshomaru grinned with satisfaction. She was his whether she knew it or not, and very soon he would make it clear for everybody to see.


* ~ * ~ * ~ *


That morning Miroku felt well enough to travel and, Kagome having no objections, they packed their things together and set off. Miroku was riding on Kirara’s back, held and supported by Sango, who sat behind him. The others were walking along. Kagome did not ride on Inu Yasha’s back again. She refused to be carried, and this time there was no need to hurry. It was rather the opposite: Miroku was still not fully healed.

They had decided they would go back to Kaede’s village. The old miko was to check Miroku again, and they would try to gain new information on Naraku’s whereabouts. In order to make the journey as easy for Miroku as possible they travelled on the main roads. It was a large roundabout way back to the east, but they had agreed it was best to take it slow. Even Inu Yasha had only shrugged when asked for his consent.

The roads led through quite many villages where they were able to purchase food and even a stay for the night. Kagome did not like sleeping in villages: there was no way she could escape at night without anybody noticing.

The first evening she and her friends were offered a sleeping place in a village, Kagome knew it would be hard to get away at night, and she almost hoped Sesshomaru would not call her. But he did.

He had called for her every night since their meeting at the river, and he had shown no signs of bearing a grudge towards her. Kagome was more than glad, and she stayed each night as long as possible, feeling each morning more and more reluctant to go back. But she knew she could not stay with him, as much as she wished for it, and so they always parted when the sun rose.

That night, when she felt the familiar tug at her soul, Kagome quietly slipped out of her sleeping bag and crept to the door. Unfortunately, she stepped on a loose board in the floor and the wood creaked loudly in the silence of the night. Of course Inu Yasha woke up, and of course he asked where she was going to.

‘I couldn’t sleep and wanted to walk round the house for a while,’ she said, hoping to coax him back to sleep.

But Inu Yasha was not in the mood to go back to sleep. He followed her outside and kept arguing with her about the dangers of lone midnight walks. Kagome felt frustration and anger building inside of her when more and more time passed. The tugs became harder, painful, and it was not easy to hide the effects they had on her from Inu Yasha.

Furthermore, she was annoyed by his presence; his stubborn refusal to leave her alone and his incessant grumbling tore at her nerves. This in combination with Sesshomaru’s calls and her need to be with her lover dissolved her patience.

Hissing a furious ‘Sit!’ at the hanyou, Kagome marched back inside the house and lay down again, cringing from the pain the unanswered calls caused inside of her. I can’t , she sobbed inwardly. I can’t! Sesshomaru, please forgive me, I can’t come! Inu Yasha is awake and he won’t let me go! After a while, the calls stopped and she fell into an exhausted sleep.

The following two nights were the same, and Kagome’s mood became worse each time. Though she did her best not to show her friends and none asked if there was anything amiss, she noticed the sidelong looks Sango and Miroku cast at her from time to time. The only thing that helped Kagome through these days was the knowledge that her friends did not know or even suspect the truth. They evidently thought she had quarrelled with Inu Yasha again, because the hanyou was even more irritable than usual.

Inu Yasha was in a dark mood indeed. The encounter with his brother, the fact that he had been tricked away from Naraku, and Kagome sitting him that night when he had only tried to help and protect her still gnawed on him. Plus, they had to travel very slowly because of Miroku’s still aching head. Every now and then Inu Yasha thought he could hear Naraku’s nasty cackles and, cursing under his breath, he set off to take out his frustration on any demon he might encounter or – if no other opponent appeared – on the annoying foliage.

After one particularly hot day on the road, they made rest near a hot spring which Inu Yasha had found on his exploration of the area. It lay a good deal away from the road so they were to have peace there. It was a bit difficult to get there, though, but they were all eager to have a bath, and not even Miroku complained about being viciously attacked by twigs and branches while making his way through the brush.

Kagome was elated. Camping in a forest would heighten her chances to slip away at night, and she hoped Sesshomaru would not stop calling for her because she had not answered his calls the last three nights.

The hot spring turned out to be a reasonably large, deep pond with milky white water. It felt like liquid velvet to the touch, and Sango sighed in blissful anticipation. That sound caused Miroku to remark that he had never believed he would one day be jealous of a hot spring, which made everybody laugh and Sango blush heavily.

They agreed the girls would go first while the boys set up camp, so that the girls would be able to prepare dinner while the boys took their turn. Chatting happily, Sango and Kagome gathered their bathing utensils together and set off. While they undressed and slipped into the warm, relaxing water they heard Inu Yasha, Miroku and Shippo rustle through the brush and their distant voices talking. Otherwise the world was silent, and both enjoyed this comfort, neither feeling the need to talk.

Sango was, as usual, the first to finish. She would always wash quickly and then stay only for another few minutes to relax before she left. Lying in water for too long, she would explain to Kagome, would do damage to a girl’s skin. Kagome had never been able to make her friends believe she actually bathed each day when at home.

‘Well, Kagome-chan,’ Sango said, grinning at her friend who was still chin-deep in water, ‘I think you’d like to stay a bit longer, am I right?’

Kagome grinned back. ‘Yup.’

‘You don’t mind if I go back?’

‘Nope.’

‘You think it’s safe?’ Sango’s voice sounded slightly worried.

Kagome smiled. ‘It’s near enough to camp, Sango-chan, for you to come and save me if I scream. And you remember, I will scream as soon as anything touches me without my consent.’

Sango smirked. ‘Hm, the way you say that …’ She cast her friend a mischievous glance. ‘You wouldn’t mind if Inu Yasha joined you, eh?’

Kagome flushed a bright red and sputtered. Sango laughed.

‘I see how it is, Kagome-chan. Well, see you later!’ She winked, waved, and walked away.

Kagome groaned and dived under the surface. Oh, I would mind if Inu Yasha joined me! I’d rather have his brother … Ah, but as long as she thinks it’s Inu Yasha … I don’t know what I’d do if they ever find out that it is not Inu Yasha but Sesshomaru …

Kagome resurfaced and, brushing the water out of her eyes, took a deep breath. Small waves rippled the pond’s surface and splashed against her shoulders as she leaned back against the spring’s edge. Smiling at the wonderful feeling of the soft water on her skin, she dreamily opened her eyes.

They shot open and she gasped, but before she was able to say anything her mouth was covered by another in a searing kiss, a bold tongue darted into her sweet cavern, and a firm body was pressed against hers.

After a moment of surprise, Kagome moaned and wrapped her arms and legs around Sesshomaru, responding passionately to his kiss. She trailed her hands over his broad shoulders, down his muscular back to his slender waist and firm bottom, revelling in the feeling of his wonderful body close to hers. She moaned again as she felt something hard and hot brushing over her thighs to the place between her legs, and from deep inside of her waves of heat rushed through her body.

Sesshomaru placed burning kisses over her jaw to her ear and then down her neck. Teasing the soft flesh with tongue and teeth, he covered every inch of skin with kisses. Kagome gasped and arched her body into his, pressing her aching breasts against his hard chest. As he bit softly into her neck, on the very spot that seemed to fascinate him so much, the fire in Kagome’s lower regions was answered by a lightning running down her spine, and she cried out softly. Her need for him was growing rapidly. She rocked her hips against his, and they both moaned from the delicate friction as their sexes brushed over each other.

A barked laughter from Inu Yasha not far away snapped Kagome out of her heated desire. She froze and dug her nails into Sesshomaru’s shoulder.

‘S-stop, Sesshomaru,’ she gasped and moaned as his hand grabbed her behind to press her closer to him.

His tongue trailed a hot path over the pulse in her throat. Kagome’s eyes fell close as she tilted her head back to allow him a better access. Yet even as she welcomed his heated kisses by tangling her hands in his silver hair, she knew she had to stop him. The camp and her friends were too close by, they would hear her …

‘Sesshomaru,’ she whispered huskily. ‘Stop … gods … oh … no, don’t stop. Do it again!’

He gave a throaty chuckle and twirled his tongue again around one rosy nipple that peeped out of the water. Kagome moaned and tried to press his head closer to her breasts. His hand came up, and while his tongue teased one bud, his strong fingers paid skilful attention to the other. Kagome sighed with pleasure, but an angered cry from Sango brought her back to reality.

‘S-Sessho … hmm … ahh …’ she began and moaned again as he grazed one tender nub with his sharp fangs, before he sucked it into his mouth while rolling the other one between his fingers.

Kagome grabbed his silver strands forcefully and pulled his head back. After a moment he complied, but cast her such a heated glance through black lashes that she forgot for one moment why she had done it. Shippo’s high voice, scolding someone for being a pervert, brought the memory back.

‘Sesshomaru, why are you here?’ she managed to ask before he had freed his head from her grasp and traced the curve of one soft mound with his lips.

‘What do you think?’ he asked back, and his hot breath caressed her skin, sending shivers through her body.

Her mouth suddenly gone dry, Kagome croaked, ‘But … but … it’s still day … my friends, they are … ah …. n-near and –’ The rest of her sentence was swallowed in another burning kiss that left both breathless and yearning for more.

‘It has been too long,’ Sesshomaru breathed into her ear. He took the earlobe between his lips and sucked gently.

Kagome panted. Her hands seemed to have a will on their own, for they slipped between their bodies and glided down, fingers stretching over firm muscles, before they dipped deeper and closed around his erection. Sesshomaru groaned and thrust his hips into her hands.

‘I know,’ whispered Kagome back, her words ragged by her erratic breath and occasional moans as his lips resumed the teasing of her nipples. ‘But I couldn’t answer your calls. We rested in villages and there was always the one or other that held me back.’

Her hands had set on slow, rhythmical strokes and Kagome closed her eyes again, enjoying the feeling of him in her hands, the soft skin, the hardness, and his languid thrusts that matched her movements.

‘There is no one to hold you back now,’ he all but growled, his hand gliding down her back and over her bottom. Kagome spread her legs as his fingers reached her pussy. Achingly slowly he pushed one finger into her body. Kagome whimpered.

‘Oh … oh, there is … my-my friends … Ah!’ With a sudden move he had pushed his finger deep into her core, and a second finger flicked against her clit. Kagome bit on her lower lip to suppress another moan as he moved both fingers. He thrust into her again, and then pulled his hand back. She could not hold back a disappointed sigh, and he raised his head, ceasing all movement.

Her eyes fluttered open and widened as she saw his feral grin.

‘Your friends are not here,’ he drawled. His eyes flashed red and he claimed her lips, bruising them with his passion.

Kagome kissed him back with equal fire, but suddenly his mouth was gone. She whimpered softly, yet before the sound had died, his hot lips burned down her neck to her breasts. He ravished each mound thoroughly, eliciting sobs and pants that Kagome desperately tried to stifle, before his head disappeared under the surface. He kissed and licked down from her breasts, circling her navel with his tongue while his shoulders opened her legs further.

Kagome gave up her futile and half-hearted attempts to stop him, tangled her fingers once more into his silky hair and allowed him to pleasure her. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the edge of the pond, slipping deeper under the water.

His mouth reached its destination, and Kagome panted as he drew his rough tongue leisurely over her pussy. His hand cupped her behind for support as he began to tease her clit as he had teased her nipples. He drew circles around it, never reaching it, and Kagome bucked her hips into his mouth.

He pinched her, and Kagome yelped in surprise but moaned as he continued his sensual torture. She wrapped her legs around his shoulders and began massaging his head. As her fingers reached the spots behind his ears she felt his shoulder muscles shiver under her thighs. She smiled a lazy smile and intensified her strokes.

His tongue had meanwhile discovered every fold of her sex and returned to her most sensitive spot. He flicked the tip of his tongue against the bundle of nerves and Kagome panted. Then he licked over it. Kagome bit on her lip to suppress a moan. He traced his tongue over it again, and again, and again …

Kagome rocked her hips gently in rhythm with his tongue, each stroke inciting the fire of her desire further and further. Heat coiled deep inside of her, centring on the small spot he so deftly paid attention to. The tension inside of her rose and she felt the first signs of the nearing peak.

‘Kagome?’

She gasped. Her eyes shot open and she froze. He did not stop his steady ministrations, and Kagome clenched her fingers in his hair to make him stop. But instead of ceasing he closed his lips around the small bundle and suckled softly. She fought down a moan.

‘Sh-shippo-chan,’ she panted, tugging at Sesshomaru’s hair.

The small fox eyed her flushed face and wide, sparkling eyes worriedly. ‘Are you okay, Kagome?’

She nodded and nervously moistened her lips. Sesshomaru’s gentle suckling incensed her desire to a painful extend. She felt every muscle in her body tense as the peak came closer and closer.

‘Uh, y-yes, Shippo-chan. Y-you scared me,’ she managed to say, her voice trembling only slightly. Casting a worried glance down on the surface she noticed to her relief that Shippo could not see what happened under it.

‘Sorry, Kagome,’ Shippo said. ‘Um, Inu Yasha sent me to ask you if you’re ready. He gets impatient.’

Kagome closed her eyes as Sesshomaru moved his mouth away from her clit and further down. His tongue pressed against the entrance to her body, almost but only almost entering.

‘T-tell Inu Yasha,’ Kagome panted, ‘that I’ll come soon.’

She couldn’t hold the moan back as Sesshomaru thrust his tongue into her.

‘Okay, but you’d better hurry,’ Shippo rolled his eyes, hinting at Inu Yasha’s temper, and turned to walk back to the camp.

As soon as he was gone Sesshomaru resurfaced, burning red eyes intently on Kagome’s flushed face.

Kagome managed to glare at him.

‘You …’ she began but was cut short as he kissed her again.

The next second he thrust forcefully into her, and Kagome forgot everything safe the searing fire inside of her that needed to be sated. Her hands clung to his shoulder and her legs were once more around his waist. Her tongue fought wildly with his. She answered every thrust vigorously.

She heard voices, the voices of her friends. Inu Yasha’s voice, loud and angry.

Sesshomaru tore his lips from hers and pressed them in a searing kiss onto her neck. He sped up his pace, thrusting harder and faster into her body, and Kagome matched every move.

Inu Yasha was grumbling, and his voice became louder as he came nearer to the pond.

Kagome grit her teeth and pressed her lips together to let no sound escape. The tension inside of her was building into something akin to pain.

Inu Yasha stepped onto a twig and it snapped under his foot.

Sesshomaru groaned next to her ear and pushed deeper into her hot body. Kagome felt tensed like a spring that was close to snapping.

Inu Yasha came closer … the spring strained … and snapped.

Kagome threw her head back and screamed ‘SIT!’ as she exploded.

Through the waves of bliss she heard Sesshomaru giving a strangled laugh. She felt him thrust once more, and then he went rigid in her arms.

Panting and shivering, Kagome and Sesshomaru clung to each other. Not far away they heard voices, teasing and laughing.

Kagome opened her eyes and glared weakly at Sesshomaru.

‘You … you …’ she huffed, trying to muster enough energy to sound angry.

He simply grinned at her. Kagome thought he had never been so beautiful: wet silver strands hanging into his face, eyes deeply golden and glowing with satisfaction and a little mischief, pale face flushed and lips red from their wild kisses. Her arms around him tightened.

‘How could … could you manage t-to hold … your breath … for so long?’

His grin broadened. ‘I am a demon.’

With his last word he pushed his hips against hers and her eyes widened. She felt him deep inside of her, hard and throbbing and ready again. She moaned as fire rushed through her veins and the tension build once more. Dark blue orbs glazed over and turned almost black. Kagome bucked her hips, and with a throaty growl he started moving.

His thrusts were short, hard and urgent, each eliciting a soft whimper from her. He bent his head and impaled his fangs into her shoulder, not deeply enough to draw blood but enough to cause pain. Kagome hissed, and in her clouded mind pleasure and pain became one.

She dug her nails into his backside and urged him on. He sped up his movements, his whole body tense and concentrated on his task. Kagome arched into his thrusts, each of them bringing her closer once more. Lava was running in her veins instead of blood. Her skin was on fire. The heat inside of her was so strong she thought she would melt any moment.

She felt a finger slip between their entwined bodies. It slid down, between her legs, and pressed onto her sensitive clit. The world around her disappeared.

Kagome opened her eyes as Sesshomaru moved away from her. He looked as thoroughly sated as Buyo after a tasty meal, and she wanted to hold him in her arms again. He caught the longing expression on her face and a small smile played on his lips.

‘Your friends,’ he reminded her softly.

Kagome sighed with annoyance.

He laughed his silent laughter and stepped out of the pond, walking over to where he had discarded his clothes. Admiring his beauty and grace, she watched him dress. When he was finished, he came back to the pond where she was still sitting. He knelt down and pressed a chaste kiss on her lips. Then he left.

Kagome blinked and looked around. One second he was there in front of her, the next second he was gone. Sighing once more, she quickly washed herself for the second time. She hurried to get ready, and when she was dressed, she walked quickly towards the camp.

As she saw the deep, Inu Yasha-shaped hole in the brush and ground she blushed. Usually, her commands held only enough strength to subdue him. Only in the beginning of their quest, when he had still disliked her, had she spoken the word with enough force to actually slam him into the ground. She eyed the depth of the hole wearily.

Oops … That’s rather deep. Well, I screamed it and … O dear, he must be furious!

She hastened on and started apologizing as soon as she saw the first shadows of her companions through the trees.

‘I’m so sorry everybody that it took me so long to get ready!’

Five faces turned towards her, three held a grin, one a heavy frown and the fifth no expression at all, though Kagome would have sworn Kirara winked at her. She looked at the infuriated, dirty hanyou.

‘I’m terribly sorry, Inu Yasha! I didn’t mean to sit … ah, sorry!’

Sango, Miroku and Shippo giggled as Inu Yasha was once more forced down. He growled dangerously and muttered curses at everybody. Kagome knelt down next to him and patted his shoulder.

‘I’m so, so sorry, Inu Yasha! But you shouldn’t have come to the pond, you know. Please, don’t be angry! Please?’

Inu Yasha sat up and cast her a dark glare. ‘Keh.’

He got up. ‘Ready to go Miroku, or would you like to stay a bit longer and have your fun at my cost?’

‘Sorry, Inu Yasha. Coming!’ The monk stood up slowly so as not to strain his head and grinned at Kagome. ‘Did you have a good time at the pond?’

Kagome blushed violently as Miroku, followed by a confused Shippo, trailed after Inu Yasha towards the pond. She looked at Sango, afraid to ask.

‘What was he talking of?’

Sango shrugged. ‘I don’t know. But he’s a pervert and you can be sure he thought you’d have … er …’

She blushed and busied herself getting the cooking items from Kagome’s backpack.

Kagome’s shoulders sagged with relief. Better he thinks I … er … did it myself than suspecting the truth. Though … urgh. She shook herself and stepped over to help Sango prepare dinner.

When the boys came back, dinner was ready and Inu Yasha’s mood had lightened up again. They spent a merry evening, laughing and joking, and when Sango lost patience with Miroku’s lascivious remarks, all she did was emptying her bottle over his head. Everybody felt relaxed and in a good mood. Only Kagome was sure she could never see a hot spring again without blushing furiously.


* ~ * ~ * ~ *


The next morning they tried to find another way back to the road; preferably one were they would not have to wade through waist-deep brush. It turned out to be a difficult, nearly impossible task, and at midday they were already covered in sweat and dirt again.

They had just made it up a small hill from where they hoped to get a better view of the area when Kagome stiffened. She abruptly turned a movement that caught her companions’ attention.

‘Kagome-chan?’ asked Sango. ‘What is it?’

‘Shards,’ Kagome answered curtly. ‘Two, and they are approaching very quickly.’

Shippo jumped on Inu Yasha’s shoulder. ‘Koga?’

The hanyou growled in irritation, but the demon that burst out of the forest shortly afterwards was not the wolf. It was a huge, shapeless creature with too many tentacles sprouting from its body.

‘Back!’ yelled Inu Yasha and pulled out Tessaiga.

They all hurried to follow him, splitting up as usual when it came to a fight. They had just time to get their weapons ready when the demon, running on hundreds of little feet, stormed up the hill. It shrieked and lashed out its tentacles in every direction, and soon they all fought with one or the other appendage.

‘Kagome!’ yelled Inu Yasha, dodging and cutting the tentacles, ‘where are those shards??’

Kagome ducked down to evade a blow and peered from under her hands at the demon. It took her a while to detect them, and luckily Sango was quick to cut the tentacles with her boomerang, otherwise one of them would have smashed the girl.

‘On top of it, where the head ought to be!’ she shouted at last. ‘The other one is in its belly!’

Inu Yasha redoubled his efforts to slash the demon at the pointed parts. But it was very fast, and it just had too many of those damned tentacles. There was no way getting nearer to cut the shards from the body.

Suddenly, Miroku cried in pain and fell down. One tentacle had hit him, who was still affected by his injuries and not quick enough, square in the chest. He rolled down the hillside, pursued by several tentacles.

Sango screamed and threw her boomerang, cutting the tentacles. She hurried over to where the monk had fallen and stood protectively in front of him. New tentacles swarmed their way, but Sango sliced them all off.

Kagome had only time to cast a fleeting glace their way before she, too, was attacked savagely. The tentacles did not seem to become less. Was the demon regenerating? Probably, with two shards it was thinkable it had gained that power. She shot another arrow at the demon, but it missed the tentacle. Kagome dodged it, but felt a tug at her bag she still carried on her back.

Her head jerked up and she cried with fury. The demon was taking her shards! Her eyes burning, she jumped up and aimed at the tentacle. This time she hit, the appendage dissolved and the little jar with the shards fell down. She leaped forwards and grabbed it, hearing a roar above her.

When she looked up, the jar tightly in her hand, she saw Kirara tearing another limp to pieces.

‘Thanks, Kirara!’ she shouted and the cat roared again, plunging its long teeth into another tentacle.

The demon howled in rage, feeling the numerous cuts and blows on its body. Its attack, however, did not lessen. It wanted more shards and it would get them.

Sango was having a hard time with her part of the demon. She had to keep an eye on the tentacles and she had to keep an eye on Miroku. He was not unconscious, but dazed, and clearly could not be counted on for a while.

One time her gaze lingered too long on the monk, and she felt herself grabbed and hurled into the air by the demon. She cried in surprise and anger, feeling the air rushing by and herself falling down. Shortly before she hit the ground she was grabbed once more by her neck and carried out of danger.

‘Thanks a lot, Kirara,’ the demon-huntress panted when the cat sat her down. Kirara purred as the girl patted her head thankfully.

Unfortunately, Kirara’s rescue of her mistress left Kagome alone at a critical moment. Half a dozen tentacles shot towards her. She tried to evade them, but one hit her legs and she stumbled and fell. With a quivering heart she waited for another tentacle to seize her and wrest the fragments from her, but instead she heard Inu Yasha shout a challenge and chop off the tentacle with one swing.

He landed next to her and jerked her up. ‘You okay?’

Kagome nodded rapidly, her eyes on the demon.

‘Watch out!’ she cried as more tentacles shot towards them.

It seemed as if the demon made a last, great effort. Sprouting new tentacles everywhere, it lashed out at them all. Inu Yasha was soon immersed in a fight with a dozen of them. Sango and Kirara were struggling hard, and Kagome tried her best to support her friends wherever she could.

Suddenly, the demon grew a bunch of new tentacles out of his head. They shot with an alarming speed towards her, and Kagome stumbled back, trying to get out of their reach. But they came closer and closer. Her eyes were fixed on their sharp tips. From far away she heard Inu Yasha shout her name. The tentacles became fewer, but there were still enough to ...

Just before they could reach her, Kagome felt a strong arm grab her around the waist and lift her up. Within fragments of a second her view had changed from several tentacles shooting towards her to an overview of the battle scene: the demon, Inu Yasha, Sango and Kirara, Miroku – she wondered fleetingly where Shippo was – all below her feet that were dangling in thin air. She gulped.

‘Hold on,’ her saviour said in his cool voice, and Kagome looked up.

Sesshomaru’s eyes were fixed on the demon on the ground, a cold sparkle in them. His face betrayed no emotion, but Kagome felt anger radiating off him. A small smile on her lips and a becoming flush on her upturned face, she obediently wrapped her arms around him.

And squeaked when he suddenly let her go. Clinging to him as tightly as she could she felt him draw Toukijin. Her eyes wide in fear and awe she watched – and felt – as a blinding light shot out of the blade, crashing into the demon and tearing it apart. This sword is really scary … I’m glad to be at the right end of it!

Sesshomaru put the sword back behind his sash and wrapped his arm around her. He pressed her so tightly against him she felt the sharp edges of his armour pierce her skin, yet she did not mind. Being close to him felt so good that she willingly accepted these little inconveniences.

She lifted her face up to him and smiled. ‘Thanks again.’

Sesshomaru looked down into her lovely face and her enchanting eyes that gazed at him so tenderly. He gripped her even tighter and his fingers stretched on her body, his thumb brushing softly over one breast. Its tip budded immediately and her scent spiked up. Her eyes fell close, her lips opened slightly, and his body reacted to the intoxicating sight she was.

How he wished to take her with him this instance! But he could not. This was not the time, for he had other things to do now. So he descended back to the earth and put her down, holding her until her knees were able to hold her up.

Kagome’s eyes opened slowly when she felt the ground beneath her feet. She cast him a slightly confused, disappointed glance and Sesshomaru had to recall his reasons why he had to leave her behind again.

He bent down and murmured against her ear, ‘You’re welcome, dear.’ Then he let go of her.

Kagome felt as if somebody had jerked her roughly from a pleasant dream. For a moment she was lost and could only stare at him. The next moment, her mind informed her of somebody growling menacingly behind her. She half-turned to see Inu Yasha making his way through bits of demon towards her, his eyes blazing with fury. She felt a short pang of worry, but then a loud buzzing sound distracted her and she looked up.

A swarm of Saimyosho appeared out of nowhere and approached the dead demon. Quickly, two of the giant insects took the shikon shards from the corpse. Kagome became angry. With an irritated hiss she grabbed her bow and arrow.

‘Oh, no, you won’t,’ she pressed through gritted teeth, aimed at one of the insects, and let her arrow fly.

Her anger had sharpened her eye. One of the shard thieves dissolved in a pink glow and the fragment fell down. Immediately some of the Saimyosho dived after it.

‘Inu Yasha!’ yelled Kagome. ‘Quick! Get the shard!’

Inu Yasha had stopped dead in his tracks as she grabbed her bow. He had not seen the Saimyosho before because his mind was set on killing Sesshomaru, and thought she was about to shoot him. Briefly, he panicked, images of Kikyo shooting him in front of his inner eye and the thought of Kagome betraying him for Sesshomaru running through his head. But Kagome had shot a Saimyosho, which roused him from his stupor, and as she now shouted at him to get the shard he ran off without second thought.

He arrived in time to shred some more of the poisonous insects and to get the shard. He turned with a triumphant grin and Kagome grinned back at him. The Saimyosho buzzed angrily, but took off.

Sesshomaru watched them. It was time to go. He laid a hand on Kagome’s shoulder, and she looked up at him, still grinning.

‘Good shot,’ he said quietly and she blushed sweetly. ‘Take care.’

Kagome blinked at him but before she was able to say anything he was off at his demonic speed into the direction the Saimyosho had taken. She still stared after him in confusion as Inu Yasha appeared in front of her.

‘Oi, wench! No time for day-dreaming!’ he puffed. ‘Get on my back! We have to follow!’

Follow Sesshomaru?

‘Huh?’

Inu Yasha roughly grabbed her shoulder and shook her. ‘The Saimyosho, you idiot! They have another shard! They might even lead us to Naraku!’

Kagome hurried to obey him. Inu Yasha looked over to Miroku, who had scrambled up and was now leaning heavily on Sango, who had both arms around him.

‘You guys!’ the hanyou shouted and they raised their heads. ‘You’d better hurry, too!’

With these last words he took off, jumping from branch to branch, because the thick brush would have stopped his progress. Kagome clung to him, feeling slightly nauseous.

‘They might not be able to follow, Inu Yasha,’ she finally said.

‘Keh, they’d better.’

‘But Miroku-sama is still hurt, and that attack from the demon certainly didn’t improve his condition.’

‘Bah, you humans are so weak,’ Inu Yasha snorted. ‘I’d be up and away by now!’

Kagome sighed and leaned her head against his shoulder. ‘Yes, you’d be. But Miroku-sama is human and he needs more time to heal.’

Inu Yasha grumbled something under his breath.

‘I don’t want to hear that again, Inu Yasha!’


Inu Yasha continued his run over tree-tops for a while, then he dived back under the roof of the leaves and ran down a forest path. The path widened suddenly in front of them into a large clearing, and Inu Yasha stopped as soon as he had entered the place. They had hunt down their prey.

In the middle of the clearing stood Sesshomaru, his back turned to them, and opposite, facing him, was Kohaku. The Saimyosho buzzed around the boy like they usually swarmed around Naraku. Kohaku had his sickle ready to attack, his eyes were vacant. Kagome shivered. She had seen this once before. Fortunately, Sesshomaru had back then understood Kohaku was a pawn in Naraku’s game and had refused to kill him. This time, though … Sesshomaru was very angry, she felt it.

Kohaku raised his sickle and attacked. Inu Yasha cursed, dropped Kagome unceremoniously, and jumped between the combatants to stop Kohaku just like he had done the last time. The boy was knocked out and crashed into the ground. Rubbing his knuckles Inu Yasha turned to glare at Sesshomaru.

The demon lord had not moved and only watched the human boy with ice-cold eyes. His claws, though not held up for fight, glowed green with poison.

‘Hey, Sesshomaru!’ yelled Inu Yasha. ‘What’ve you done to Kohaku?’

Sesshomaru snarled. ‘You had better ask what that human boy has done.’

‘What’re you talking of?’

The demon turned his freezing gaze to his younger half-brother. ‘That boy sent the demon that attacked you. He gave the order to kill you all in order to get the shards you possess.’

A shiver ran down Kagome’s spine at hearing his cold, hard voice. Inu Yasha gulped; he had never seen Sesshomaru like that before. As the words reached his mind, the hanyou shook his head.

‘Hey, man, you know he’s Naraku’s tool! He’s not doing this because he wants to! He’s made into doing things!’

‘Tool or not tool,’ answered Sesshomaru icily, ‘he will die today.’

He took a step towards the boy who was slowly getting up, but was stopped by Inu Yasha, who stood protectively in front of Kohaku.

‘Do you want to die, too, Inu Yasha?’ Snarling, Sesshomaru raised his hand, cracking the knuckles. The green glow on his claws intensified.

‘Keh, you can’t kill me, Sesshomaru!’ challenged Inu Yasha, drawing Tessaiga.

The demon only growled, and Kagome’s heart clenched in fear. Sesshomaru was really angry, and she knew beyond any doubts that if he set his mind on killing Inu Yasha, the latter would die. Sesshomaru might get hurt by Tessaiga, but that sword would not stop him. Terrible images of a dead Inu Yasha and a badly hurt Sesshomaru inside of her mind caused her to pale. As the brothers got into battle stance she couldn’t suppress a sob. They mustn’t fight each other! She had to stop them!

Looking around frantically, she noticed Kohaku. He had got up and was now watching what was going on, his sickle hanging limply from his hands. As if he had felt her eyes on him, he turned his head to look at her. His brown eyes ware still vacant, but suddenly Kagome thought she saw a gleam in them.

Kohaku’s grip on his weapon tightened, and he started walking towards her, carefully avoiding the two males that seemed ready to rip each other’s throat out. Kagome’s eyes widened and suddenly she knew what the light in his eyes was: he had received order from Naraku to kill her!

She jumped up and opened her mouth to shout, when several things happened at the same time.

Inu Yasha growled and attacked Sesshomaru, who dodged him easily. Kohaku raised his sickle and threw it at Kagome, who stumbled back. Sesshomaru noticed the movement and turned to the boy, knocking Inu Yasha out it the process with one perfectly aimed blow on the back of his head. He then made a motion to jump forwards in order to stop the sickle, but its course was suddenly interrupted by a large boomerang.

Kagome breathed in relief as the mighty weapon clashed with the sickle and stopped it. She turned around just as Kirara landed behind her. On the cat’s back sat a tensed Sango, a pale Miroku and a very ruffled Shippo.

‘Kohaku!’

Sango literally fell from Kirara in her haste to get to her brother. The boy’s progress was stopped by his sister barrelling into him. Sango wrapped her arms around her brother as he stood.

Tears in her eyes Sango looked into Kohaku’s face. ‘Kohaku? Please, wake up, little brother! Please remember me!’

But the boy did not even look at her. His eyes were fixed on Kagome. Sango blinked and looked over her shoulder.

‘Oh, you’re okay, Kagome-chan?’ she asked a little guiltily.

Kagome nodded and dusted her clothes.

‘Yes, I’m fine. Be careful, Sango-chan,’ she went on hurriedly as Kohaku struggled in his sister’s embrace. ‘Naraku ordered him to get the shards from me, so he might attack you!’

Sango nodded once but did not let go of her brother. He ceased his struggle and stood lifelessly in her arms. She looked at him and started talking to him softly, coaxingly, hoping he might hear her and shake Naraku’s control off.

Miroku watched them for a while, and then his gaze wandered over the place. He blinked when he saw Inu Yasha lying motionlessly on the ground and Sesshomaru standing next to him, his red eyes fixed on Kohaku. With growing worry the monk noticed the dangerous expression on the demon lord’s usually blank face, the tension in his body, and the green glow of poison on his claws. Obviously he was set on killing Kohaku, and with Inu Yasha knocked out they had a great problem! For Sango would not stand back and watch, while Sesshomaru had no qualms killing a woman.

Miroku’s eyes fell on Kagome, who was watching the siblings, oblivious to the danger behind her. All at once he had an idea and coughed politely to get the miko’s attention. ‘Ahem, Kagome-sama?’

Her head turned to him. ‘Yes?’

Miroku pointed vaguely at Sesshomaru. ‘Could you perhaps …’

Kagome looked over her shoulder. ‘Oh!’

Sesshomaru chose that moment to move. He took a few steps towards the human boy that had dared to endanger the woman he had claimed as his own. He was seething with fury, and his claws itched to tear the human to pieces. If that girl would not step back he would kill her, too, even if she was Kagome’s friend. He would not allow anybody to hurt what was his! Besides, the boy was Naraku’s minion; one more good reason to kill him.

He growled menacingly and raised his hand to strike, but froze when he felt a gentle touch on his arm. He knew that touch. Looking down, he met Kagome’s large, deep blue eyes. He felt like drowning in their velvety depths, and a slight shiver ran over his body.

Kagome met his red gaze unwaveringly. She tried a smile, her lips trembling.

‘Please, Sesshomaru, don’t kill him. Please leave him be.’ she begged softly.

The demon frowned down at her. ‘He tried to kill you.’

Kagome’s heart skipped a beat and she blushed, her smile becoming radiant. ‘No, Naraku tried to kill me.’

He would kill Kohaku because he had tried to kill me? He must feel more for me than lust… Her heart leaped in joy.

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes, glaring at Kohaku. Evidently he was not convinced yet. Gently, Kagome wrapped her fingers around his, disregarding the poison, and pulled it to her chest. Immediately, his eyes snapped back to her, the red faded from them and the poison vanished from his claws. Kagome smiled lovingly up at him and with both hands she pressed his against her chest.

‘Sesshomaru, he doesn’t know what he does! You know this. Don’t kill him, please. After all, he hasn’t even hurt me,’ she whispered.

He looked at her, his golden eyes unreadable and his face blank. He neither moved nor spoke, just answered her gaze. Kagome felt her skin prickle and her blush rise under his scrutiny. The first small flames of desire flared up, but before she could lose herself in the feeling she was jerked back to reality.

‘Kohaku!’ she heard Sango cry and something metallic clattered behind her.

Kagome whirled around. Kohaku had broken free from Sango and grabbed his sickle. The demon huntress held her arms out to him, tears trickling down her face. Kagome wanted to comfort her, but before she could make a move she was pulled back against Sesshomaru. His arm was wrapped around her shoulders, and he pressed her so close to him that she thought she would bruise.

She cast a quick glance up at his face. He was glaring at Kohaku again, who had retrieved his weapon and stood some steps away from them. As Kagome followed Sesshomaru’s eyes she realised Kohaku was watching her. It seemed as if he was pondering to attack again. Sesshomaru growled, almost inaudibly, a warning for the boy not to come closer.

Sango took a step towards her brother and the boy jumped back. For a moment he stared at her, and then he turned and ran away, the Saimyosho buzzing behind him. Sango’s shoulders drooped and she sighed. Miroku walked over to her and carefully embraced her. But she did not slap him, only laid her head on his shoulder and stared sightlessly into the direction Kohaku had disappeared in. Kagome felt with her. If it had been her brother …

She looked back at Sesshomaru when he let go of her. His gaze was fixed on where Kohaku had disappeared. Kagome frowned.

‘What are you going to do?’ she asked him as he walked away from her.

Sesshomaru looked back at her.

‘This Sesshomaru will make sure that Naraku’s minions leave the Western Lands,’ he answered coolly and left.

Sango straightened. ‘He will kill Kohaku!’ she cried in horror.

‘Oh, no,’ Kagome reassured her, walking over to her and patting the girl’s shoulder. ‘He won’t, believe me.’

Miroku and Sango eyed her curiously.

‘Are you sure?’ asked the monk.

Kagome nodded, smiling, and opened her mouth to answer, but a groan interrupted her. They all turned to the source of that sound.

Inu Yasha had woken up. He sat up and was trying to get his head clear. Kagome hurried over to him and knelt down beside the hanyou.

‘Are you all right, Inu Yasha?’ she asked.

Inu Yasha looked up at her, then at the others. ‘Where’s Sesshomaru and Kohaku? What happened?’

‘Sesshomaru knocked you out,’ answered Miroku. ‘Kohaku tried to attack Kagome, but Sango stopped him. He has just left us, and Sesshomaru is going after him to make sure he leaves his domain.’

The hanyou stared dully at him.

‘Oh.’ He buried his head in his hands. ‘My head’s aching,’ he mumbled.

‘Well, Inu Yasha,’ Kagome said, ‘Sesshomaru did knock you out. You might have a concussion now, too.’

Inu Yasha groaned. ‘Not again!’

They decided it would be best to look for a safe place to camp and see to their new and old injuries. Shippo and Kirara undertook this task, because the others were all hurt or exhausted. It took them some time to find a place, and then it took even more time for the friends to get there. But the place Shippo had chosen was a good one to make camp, and when they had all arrived, the small fox immediately busied himself with searching firewood, fetching water, and helping them all as much as he could.

Kagome checked Miroku’s wounds and ordered him to rest and take care of his head. She had just persuaded Inu Yasha into letting her check his injuries as well when she felt shikon shards.

‘O dear,’ she mourned. The others looked at her.

‘Shards,’ she explained and everybody struggled to their feat, expecting it to be another attacking demon.

But the whirlwind that appeared suddenly between the trees was no attacking demon; for those who were not named Inu Yasha, that is. The said hanyou tried to pull out his sword, but the next second he found himself lying face-down on the ground with a wolf-demon standing on his back.

Sango and Miroku sighed and plopped back down, eyeing the scene with mixed amusement and annoyance.

Kagome felt her hands grasped between two strong ones, and the smell of wolves, sweat and, well, man enveloped her. She looked up into Koga’s blue eyes that were smiling down on her. A broad grin lay on his handsome face and for the first time Kagome noticed that this demon had indeed a lot of sex-appeal.

‘Kagome’ exclaimed Koga happily. ‘Nice to see you! How are -’

He interrupted himself and the smile vanished from his face. His eyes became piercing, and he leaned closer to her, sniffing at her.

‘Kagome,’ he said slowly, a menacing undertone in his voice. ‘What happened to you?’


Yes, I know, it’s very little Koga in this. Originally I planned for more, but the chapter is already so very long without him that I decided to end it here. You’ll get more of Koga next chapter, I promise.