My Boyfriend's Brother

Well, here's the latest installment. I hope you enjoy it. You'll probably find that I took on board some things you guys said. Thanks for the reviews! I'll come back and respond to individual comments and questions later. Chapter seven is underway already and sections of the next chapter are also written. I'm not sure how you guys will take to the spin I'm putting on it but I can only take a chance and put it out there...


Hmm… I don’t like to think of it as cheating lala_land since Sesshomaru has given his permission but according to some I’m just morally corrupt…

Genseng I’d like to point out that this is fanfiction therefore it falls into the realm of fantasy. The actions of the characters do not necessarily reflect how I as the author would behave in a given situation. Okay? If you don’t like my fanfict, don’t read it…

Glad you like the hotspring lemon with Inuyasha mad miko! It was all in good fun. As you read on you’ll have noticed I did give credence to your suggestion about the beta male thing. I think I was heading in that direction anyway but thanks for the push! Naraku is due to make an appearance soon enough. I realise I have dragged it out a little…

Mmm… I’m afraid I have made both of them into peeping toms Kawaii Kilala! It just happened. Getting him to join in is something I really should have done, isn’t it because it was a progression…?

Anybody I haven’t replied to personally, thanks for you input. I really do appreciate your support. I’m glad that you’re all continuing to follow this fanfict because otherwise I think I would have ended it long ago. Thanks again!

When they finally re-emerged from the well, firmly back in the feudal era, not only were Jaken and Ah-hun waiting for them, the welcoming committee had swelled its ranks to include Inuyasha and Shippo. Sango, Miroku and Kaede were also there. Kagome deposited Makoto in Rin’s arms as Shippo came barrelling towards her. He nearly knocked her over in his enthusiasm. Inuyasha walked forward to greet them. Miroku, Sango and Kaede hung back temporarily, not wanting to be in the line of fire.

“So!”, Inuyasha said, “How did the big meet with Mom and Gramps go?”

He smirked at his older brother. He gave him an icy stare him in return.

“Great!”, Kagome said, smiling.

“As well as can be expected...”, Sesshomaru said, “Kagome’s mother does not entirely hate me…”

The half-demon snorted.

“It’s probably that pretty face of yours that won her over… I bet Gramps tried to purify your ass over and over again?”

The demon lord raised an eyebrow.

“Surprisingly… No.”

Inuyasha’s jaw dropped. The corners of his older brother’s mouth turned up in a self-satisfied grin. He closed his mouth, his face red. He grunted. Then his older brother’s usual impassive facial expression returned.

“Inuyasha, I would speak with you”, he said.

The half-demon scowled.

“What about?”

“The possibility of I, Sesshomaru, joining your party…”

His younger half-brother’s eyebrows shot upwards and his eyes threatened to pop out of their sockets with shock.

“What? Why?”, he said.

“Kagome wishes to resume her search for the Shikon jewel shards.”

“She does?”

A huge smile spread across his face. Shippo gave a happy cry and hugged Kagome again. Behind him, Sango gave made a sound that was half-scream, half-gasp. Her face flushed when all eyes turned towards her.

“What?”, she cried, “I’m allowed to be happy…”

She rushed towards Kagome threw her arms around her and Shippo. He made a small sound of protest at being crushed by the enthusiastic demon slayer. Kagome hugged her back one-armed. Miroku and Kaede followed Sango, deciding that the potential for violence between the demonic half-brothers had passed.

Miroku smiled at Inuyasha at he passed, earning him a scowl. He smiled at Sesshomaru too. The demon lord gave him a puzzled look. Inuyasha looked at Kagome. He caught her eye and she smiled and winked at him behind his older brother’s back. He grinned back at her. A small furrow appeared between the demon lord’s eyebrows.

“Is my proposal acceptable to you?”, he said.

Inuyasha ripped his gaze away from Kagome’s pretty face. He scowled at his older brother, annoyed that his adoration of his earthbound goddess had been interrupted.

“I don’t know…”, he said, “I might have to think about it!”

Sesshomaru gave him a condescending look. Inuyasha bristled. He opened his mouth to speak. Miroku cleared his throat, interrupting the tirade that was about to spill from his lips.

“Inuyasha”, the monk said, “I think Sesshomaru-sama’s proposal has merit. Think about it…. With Kagome-sama re-joining us, our search for the shards should be considerably shortened. The addition of Sesshomaru-sama’s firepower will certainly be an asset to us in the fight against Naraku… You should not dismiss him out of pride.”

“Who said anything about pride?”, Inuyasha snapped, “The bastard will just be impossible to work with. He’s always trying to take the lead…”

Miroku raised his eyebrows.

“What of it?”, he said, “The final battle with Naraku draws near with each passing day, if we are to defeat him, we must be willing to compromise…”

He scowled at him, knowing that as usual the monk was right. He grunted. He looked at his older brother. He was staring at him impassively.

“Alright!”, he said, “Fine! You can join us but I don’t have to like it!”

Sesshomaru held out his right hand. He stared at it. Then he looked at his older brother’s face again.

“What’s this?”, he said.

The demon lord raised an eyebrow.

“Circumstances dictate that we should seal the deal with a handshake or the contract is not binding”, he said, “Even you, with your limited intelligence should have grasped that…”

The half-demon’s face contorted in anger.

“Why you…”, he began.

“Now, Inuyasha”, Miroku said, “It is only manners to shake the man, uh, sorry demon lord’s hand when he offers it to you.”

He scowled at him, disappointed that he would not be able to utter the creative string of insults he had just devised. He looked at his older brother’s face. It was impassive as usual. Only his eyes showed mild interest. He looked down at his hand with its long, almost delicate-looking fingers. It was still held out before him, not wavering, though it had been held in position for a number of minutes. He met his eyes again.

“Fine!”, he cried.

He made no move towards him, forcing him to go to him. He grasped his wrist and felt strong, elegant fingers close around his own. He met his older brother’s eyes. There was an amused light in them. He scowled and loosened his grip but Sesshomaru did not let go. His scowl deepened.

“Let go, you big ass”, Inuyasha protested, “I accepted your handshake. What more do you want?”

“I would ask you to embrace me, but you cut off my left arm and I would not be able to return the gesture…”

His older brother’s face was perfectly straight. His eyes went wide.

“Huh?”, was all he could muster.

“It was a joke, Inuyasha. Have you never heard of such a thing?”

His face flushed.

“Of course I have!”, he cried, “I just never thought I’d hear one from you! Did the trip through the well do something to your mind?”

The corners of Sesshomaru’s mouth turned up.

“No…”

He released his wrist. The half-demon stepped backwards out of reach, worried that the demon lord might really try to embrace him. There was a strange light in his older brother’s eyes. Then he realised that he was happy he had accepted his offer to travel with them, however begrudgingly. He scowled.

“Well…”, he said, “So long as you remember who’s in charge!”

Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow.

“And who might that be?”, he said, coolly.

“Me, of course!”

“I see…”

Inuyasha uttered a wordless roar of frustration. He stabbed an accusing finger in Miroku’s direction.

“See, see?!”, he cried, “One minute and he’s already at it!”

Miroku exchanged a look with Kagome. She sighed and rolled her eyes.

“What might that be?”, Sesshomaru said.

His younger brother let loose another gutteral noise.

“If anybody wants me I’ll be in my tree!”

He bounded off. Sesshomaru sighed contentedly, a slight smile on his lips. He could feel eyes on him and he turned towards the source. Kagome was staring at him, reprovingly. As their eyes met she slowly shook her head from side to side. He shrugged his shoulders at her. She frowned at him.

He offered her a smile. She frowned harder. He tilted his head slightly to one side, still smiling at her. His wide eyes widened further, giving her the benefit of his most beguiling look, cultivating careful oblivion to the surprised/puzzled/frightened faces of her comrades.

She heard Sango gulp and utter a soft “wow!” but she did not turn her head to look at her. She did not see the annoyed, angry look Miroku directed at him. She felt the vibe touch her aura but she brushed it off. All she wanted to concentrate on in this moment in time was Sesshomaru. Against her better instincts she began to smile back at him. His efforts were too much. She could never stay angry with him for long…


Travelling with three children in tow made for slow progress. They had to stop quite often to let them rest or eat. When demons attacked it was nerve-racking trying to keep them safe. Kagome could not hold a protective shield over them for long while the others fought.

In the past she had spent many hours with Kaede training to further develop her Miko powers. While she had excelled in healing arts and her purifying arrows held great power, she was sadly lacking in ability when it came to divination, protection spells and ritual magic. The reason was easy to discern. Her mind was too divided with all the happenings in her life to form the necessary concentration required to really excel in these areas.

Kaede consented to look after Rin and Makoto for longer and longer periods of time while they went in search of the shards. Surprisingly, Jaken had elected to stay with the children and the aging Miko, rather than accompanying Sesshomaru. Goodbyes became routine but they were always as emotionally charged as reunions.

Each day they came closer and closer to gathering the remaining shards. Her friends worried for her safety, but none more than Sesshomaru and Inuyasha. At all times one of them was close, knowing it was futile to try to dissuade her from her mission.

Sesshomaru was particularly fearful that the children were such easy targets for kidnap and assassination by Naraku’s agents. He insisted that they be returned to the mansion where they could be guarded by his retainers, and that Kaede should accompany them.

He had expected the Miko to object voiciferously to the new arrangement. Yet, she had surprised him by readily agreeing with his decision. She requested only that he give her a little time to collect some of her belongings, and to inform her most able apprentice that she was now official Miko to the village.


Kagome yawned and stretched. Her chest swelled and her upper body lifted out of the water uncovering her almost to the hips, head pressing against the softness of the grassy bank behind her head. She let go the breath and settled her body back down into the warm water again with a sigh. She leaned against a rock.

She splashed water on her face. She sighed. It seemed like days since she had proper rest and a bath. Being pregnant while shard hunting was hard work. When they had happened upon the spring, she could not resist a soak.

“Now that, is a sight for sore eyes in the morning!”

A wolf-whistle accompanied the leery comment. Kagome opened her eyes. Inuyasha stood on the bank, a smirk across his lips, hands folded in his sleeves. She raised an eyebrow. A faint blush spread across her cheeks despite the fact that they had, had sex twice in living memory.

“Perv!”, she said.

His eyebrows went up. His hands dropped to his sides. He shook his head from side to side.

“Really, Kagome…”, he said, “You know me better than that.”

She smiled.

“Yes, I do… So what are you waiting for? Get in.”

His eyes went very wide. His eyebrows threatened to disappear into his hairline. A faint smile formed on her lips. It took him a few moments to recover. He grinned.

“You don’t have to ask me twice!”, he said.

He stripped off his fire rat robe and shirt in record time. If he was wearing underwear, she did not see it. She ran her eyes over his thin, muscular frame. Ears, face, throat, broad shoulders, heavy collarbones, dark nipples, narrow waist, slim hips, groin, limbs, hands, feet… She loved every part of him but she loved Sesshomaru too. Until she met them, she did not think it was possible to love two very different men in completely different ways.

He waded into the water until he was standing in front of her. He was clearly excited as evidenced by his half-erect penis. He looked down at her body submerged in the water, eyes lingering on her breasts and small, round, pregnant belly. Was it wrong to find that little belly sexy? He met her eyes again.

He sank into the water in front of her. Kagome drew her legs up to her chest. She ran her tongue slowly across her bottom lip. She put her index finger into her mouth and drew it out slowly. Inuyasha’s eyes were a little wide. She grinned at him. He gave her a mock-scowl.

He put his hands on her knees. She let him move her legs apart and move between them. His hands ran down her thighs to her hips. She leaned forward and took his face in her hands. His hands covered hers. She leaned her upper body towards him. Then he leaned forward and kissed her on the lips. She kissed him back.

His hands dropped to her waist. He slipped his tongue between her parted lips. She opened her lips a little wide allowing him easier access. She wound her arms around his neck. His tongue touched hers. She reciprocated, deepening the kiss. When they broke apart, they were breathless. She pressed her forehead against his.

“We really shouldn’t be doing this”, she said.

“Because you’re pregnant?”

She raised her head and met his eyes.

“No”, she said, “Because it’s not fair on you…”

“Oh!”

“Yes, oh…”

He smiled slightly. Then he reached out a hand and caressed her face.

“Don’t worry your pretty head about me, Kagome”, he said, “I’ll decide what’s fair and what’s not fair…”

“But…”

“Ssshhh!”

He pressed his index finger to her lips and she lapsed into silence. He took his hand away and leaned in for another kiss. His kisses moved across her chin and down her neck. She made soft sounds of appreciation. He kissed her collarbone. He kissed her upper chest.

Then he kissed her breasts, cupping a soft bosom in his hand and lavishing his attention on them in turn. He licked the sensitive flesh around the nipple. Then he drew the pink bud and as much of the surrounding flesh into his mouth as possible. He licked and sucked until she groaned and begged him to stop.

His fingers stroked her belly. Her eyebrows lifted in surprise. He had not paid the sensitive area that much attention before. It was sandwiched between too many more glamorous areas. His lips moved to follow. His head dropped below the water. Kagome’s eyebrows lifted once more. Then Inuyasha surfaced, gasping for breath. She could not help but smile.

“I think me, licking you between your legs is not on the cards today”, he said.

“Ohhhh!”, she said, genuinely disappointed.

Then he grinned.

“I still have fingers though”, he said.

She chewed her lip.

“Yes, you do…”

At the moment his left hand was caressing her hip. Now it moved across her belly and over the soft mound between her legs. Her legs were already open but they were only slightly bent at the knee, resting on the floor of the pool at either side of him. At this angle he could not see much, just faint hints of pink at the edges of shadowed areas.

He took his left hand off her body and out of the water. She watched as he bit off the claws on the ends of his index and middle fingers. He took them out of his mouth and flung them into the water behind him. He examined the tips of his fingers, making sure there were no jagged edges. Her eyes went wide.

Her surprise made him smile. His hand dropped towards the water again. It came to rest on her upper thigh. His fingers moved inwards, caressing her inner thigh. She made a small sound. Then they slid under the fleshy lips of skin between her legs. She gasped. He met her eyes.

He leaned in for a kiss as his fingers began to explore her soft folds. His exploratory digits found the entrance to her vagina easily enough. He slipped a finger inside making her gasp.

“Be as loud as you like today”, he said, “There’s no baby to wake…”

He smiled at her.

“That’s right…”, she said.

She returned his smile. He drew his finger slowly out of her. Then he slid it in again. The second finger joined it. She made a slight sound. She was a little tight. He drew them out, then pushed them in. Out. In. Out. In… Her hips began to buck, grinding down on his fingers. Kagome shuddered, gasped and moaned. Her walls had expanded to accommodate his fingers. Now they tried to close around them. He reclaimed the impudent digits.

His fingers moved over her soft flesh, towards the clitoris that had hardened into a little bud. Gently he began to stroke her in small, circular motions. Her breathing was harsh. Her hips were undulating. He did not try to restrain her. He let her move, fingers bearing down at the opportune moment. Her cries were soft, her head moving from side to side as he continued his ministrations. Her neck was arched slightly.

He leaned into her, fingers still moving between her legs. A gentle hand on one side of her neck held it still. His mouth kissed, licked and sucked the tender flesh. Kagome moaned. Her cries were louder, her breathing harsh. It would not be long now, until she climaxed. As much as he loved watching the ecstatic expressions move across her face, knowing it was him who was causing them, his fingers and wrist were beginning to cramp.

The sensation was rising with each stroke, coming closer and closer to reaching its peak. Her eyelids were half-closed, eyeballs rolling underneath them, not focusing on anything. She felt that one, final, tremendous spike of pleasure and her body went stiff. No sound came out. Her body felt warm, weak. Her cheeks were flushed, her head thrown back.

“Kagome”, Inuyasha said.

She lifted her head up and looked at him. He kissed her on the lips. She could feel his hand, still between her legs.

“How was it?”, he said.

She sighed. Then she smiled.

“Amazing. Thank you.”

He smiled back at her.

“Glad to be of service”, he said, “Now maybe you’d like to do something for me…”

He glanced downwards. She followed the direction of his gaze. The shape of his penis was slightly distorted by the water but he was clearly erect and waiting.

“Oh, Inuyasha”, she said, “I would but…”

His face fell.

“But it’s not safe?”, he said.

“No, it’s not that. You can’t hurt the baby. The neck of the wound closes so that…”

She noticed that his eyes were a little glazed.

“Basically when I’m brought to orgasm that way, I get so tight. Try to get your fingers into me if you don’t believe me…”

He raised an eyebrow.

“Okay”, he said.

His fingers moved downwards towards the entrance to her vagina. He tried to slide them into her but they would not budge. She made a slight sound. He frowned slightly. He tried again, this time with one finger. He barely got the tip inside her. It was if somebody had drawn it closed with a string. He took his finger away but his hand remained between her legs.

“Wow!”, he said, “What do we do?”

Kagome smiled.

“I’m not adverse to a little foreplay”, she said, “Then you can try pushing your fingers into me gradually…”

That’s what Sesshomaru does… Inuyasha frowned.

“Is that what he does?”, he said.

Her eyes went a little wide. Then her cheeks flushed.

“Uh…”, she said.

“That’s what I thought…”

He took his hand out from between her legs. She grasped his wrist.

“Oh, Inuyasha”, she said, “Don’t get mad. It’s not like I compare the two of you and rate you on a points system!”

He raised an eyebrow.

“Don’t you?”, he said.

“No!”

“Well, you brought it up!”

She sighed.

“The way you make love and the way he makes love to me…”, she said, “Are two different things.”

“Yeah?!”

“Yeah…”

“What about that big, glorious cock of his? Wouldn’t you rate that over mine any day?”

Her eyes widened slightly.

“Big, glorious cock?”, she said.

She smiled. His cheeks flushed. He made no answer. She stared at him in disbelief.

“Does it really bother you, that his penis is bigger than yours?”, she said.

“Yeah. Maybe…”

“Oh, Inuyasha…”

She sighed.

“What?”, he said softly.

“What matters is what you do with it, not how big it is…”

His eyes widened slightly.

“It does?”, he said.

She smiled at him.

“Oh, yes…”

She pressed her lips to his, while he was still slightly stunned by her revelation. Then he seemed to come back to himself. He smiled. Then he kissed her back. She smoothed stray tendrils of white hair away from his cheeks. His hand touched her hair. His other arm went around her drawing her closer to him.

He kissed her again. He traced her bottom lip with his tongue. She let her lips part and she slid his tongue into the warm, sweet, wetness of her mouth. Her small hand caressed his chest. He made a small sound against her mouth. It moved across his flesh to rub the nipple.

She broke the kiss to lean down and lick tight circles around it. It hardened in response, making him moan. The corners of her lips quirked into a smile. Then she continued her ministrations, making him moan harder. She repeated the process on the other nipple. Inuyasha breathed deeper.

“I thought I was the one who was supposed to giving out the foreplay?”, he said.

She shrugged.

“I like to give sometimes…”, she said.

She smiled, wickedly. He barely had time to wonder what she was planning when she took hold of both of his ears. She tweaked the sensitive tips. He moaned involuntarily. Then he swallowed, glad she did not have two mouths or he would surely die. There was only so much she could do with her hands, but the amount of pleasure contained within her oral molestation of his ears was tantamount to torture.

She let go of one of his ears and moved her hand lightly over his hair, down to the back of his neck. She pressed down gently. He leaned his head down so she could flick, lick and suck the sensitive extremity. Inuyasha gasped and moaned. His eyes rolled in his head.

This was one point where Kagome dared to compare him to Sesshomaru. It was not that Inuyasha was more receptive to her touch; he just did not think it weak to groan aloud and let it show on his face, when she found a sweet spot.

She released the hostage ear. Gently she turned his head to the side and began her ministrations on his other ear. His face was pressed against her breasts. The sweet smell of her skin was particularly potent here. He began to kiss the sensitive flesh. Kagome moaned and the sound sensation travelled through his ear in her mouth. He yelped, so profound was his surprise at the pleasure the action provoked. Let me try that again.

He licked the parting between her breasts, making full use of the length of his firm, wet tongue. Kagome gave a soft cry and let go of his ear. The sound buzzed against the back of his ear. He trembled. The ear twitched involuntarily, tickling her face. She laughed softly, making him tremble all over again. He felt her draw back. He lifted his head. Her hand caressed the tip of one of his ears.

“That was interesting…”, she said, “Maybe we should do it again?”

He took her hand away from his ear.

“Maybe later”, he said, “You do that again and I’m going spray my seed before I get inside you.”

She put her arms around him.

“Well, we can’t let that happen…”, she said.

“Nope!”

She trailed a hand down his back and grasped his tail. It was damp, but that did not detract from the softness of the fur and flesh around the bony core. She let it trail through her fingers. Inuyasha made a mock growl. She smiled at him and tugged gently on the tail. He growled again. He made a lunge for her throat. Kagome shrieked in mock alarm. He nuzzled her neck. Then he nuzzled her chest. She laughed softly. She let go of his tail to trail her hand across the top of his buttock and down along his bony hip.

He slipped his arms around her. His hands gently kneaded the sensitive flesh of her waist. One hand moved upwards to touch the hollow between her shoulder blades. He hit the sensitive spot, making her tremble. He met her eyes. She touched his face. His mouth came down on hers. She opened her mouth and her tongue slipped out to touch his.

He stroked her hair. He caressed her neck and shoulders, her breasts, her belly, her buttocks, her thighs, her calves. Satisfied that she was breathing hard enough he finally put two fingers between her legs. They slid into her opening easily. He drew them out and found them slick with the remnants of her juices. He raised his fingers to his nose. Kagome wrinkled her nose in disgust. Her noted her expression.

“It smells sweet to me”, he said, “Like your skin, only muskier, earthier…”

There was heat in his gaze. He pulled her onto his lap. Gently he raised her legs up so that the entrance to her vagina was exposed. Then he moved and began to thrust into her. Only his arm around her, stopped her from falling backwards.

As he thrust more of his length into her, he pressed her towards him. Once he was fully inside her, position was familiar to her. It was the position Sesshomaru had used the first time she had penetrative sex with him after Makoto was born. A slight furrow appeared between her eyebrows.

“Why didn’t you just let me lower myself on to you?”, she said.

Inuyasha smiled. He took the time to draw himself out of her, then thrust back in. She gasped.

“It was more fun this way”, he said.

He began to draw himself out of her again. Kagome had to catch her breath before she could reply.

“But more hazardous!”, she said, “There’s a big rock behind me…”

He thrust back into her, making her gasp. Her hips began to move.

“I caught you”, he said.

“Still…”

He put his finger to her lips. He stopped in mid-thrust.

“Pushing myself into you, when you’re wet and ready for me, Kagome”, he said, “There’s no feeling like it in the entire world. It’s like coming home.”

The expression on his face was tender. It made her chest tight.

“Oh, Inuyasha…”
He caressed her cheek with the back of his fingers. She rested her hand on his chest and leaned into him. Their lips met in a soft kiss. He began to move again. She found the rhythm and moved with him. She stared into his eyes for what seemed like a long time. He stared back, his expression still tender, telling her just how much he had missed being home with those beautiful eyes and the movement of his hips.

His mouth dropped to kiss her neck. His kisses moved down her neck and across the top of her chest. He kissed her breast making her moan. Kagome returned the favour. She sucked his one of his upturned ears into her mouth. She licked and sucked the sensitive ear until he begged her to stop.

Then he began to move faster. She moved with him. The cries that spilled from her lips seemed very loud to her. She saw him smile at her, but that smile was soon replaced by a gasp and growl as the feeling of pleasure intensified. The sensation was building and it would soon reach its peak for both of them.

Heat rushed over her with each thrust. Her skin was slick with sweat, her breathing harsh. This feeling… Why does it build so slowly? It’s like torture! But that’s what makes it so good. She watched his face. She could feel the warmth and tenderness radiating from his eyes and his body. Her hands rubbing up and down his back pressed down on his flesh. He mirrored the action on her body.

Her cries were becoming soft screams. Soft growls slipped from his throat between moans. Her hands wound themselves around thick locks of his unruly, long, wet hair as he pushed her over the edge and into the chasm below below. He soon followed her, rushing ahead of her to break her fall.

Instead of falling forward as she had expected him to, he fell backwards into the water, taking her with him. Her eyes went wide. She just about had time to fill her lungs before she was submerged underwater. His eyes were wide as they met hers.

Bubbles formed in the water as Inuyasha struggled to breathe. Her lungs burned despite the precious air in her lungs. Her nostrils flared in her panic. Her air passages drew in liquid and she choked. Her body was weak and trembling with little aftershocks of pleasure, but instinct demanded that she pull herself up, get her head above water. She grasped him around the neck and under one arm.

With superhuman effort she drew herself up bringing him with her so that one shoulder and the lower part of his face were out of the water. He choked, turned his head to the side and vomited up water. She was straddling him, his limp member still inside her. His body was too heavy to hold. It strained her back muscles.

Then his strength returned. He pressed his hands into the bed of the pool and hoisted himself up, relieving the pressure on her back. His arm went around her and his mouth came down on hers. His other hand reclaimed his flaccid penis. Kagome did not kiss him back. She moved her hand around him and pressed the rosary painfully into his chest. His eyes met hers.

“What?”, he said softly.

She stared at him, aghast.

“What, you say?!”, she cried, “Baka! What were you thinking? You could have drowned both of us!”

He gave her an easy smile. It had the effect of making her angrier.

“Come on”, he said, “I knew you’d be alright…”

“That’s not the point! You could have drowned!”

He grimaced. He turned his head to the side to let water out of his other ear.

“Can you stop shouting at me?”, he said, “You’re hurting my ears…”

Kagome stared at him.

“God!”, she cried, “Why do you have to be so frustrating?”

He smiled at her again.

“It’s a special talent of mine!”, he said.

“I’d say the o word, but then you’d really drown!”

He looked at her in mock-horror.

“Yaaahhhh!”, he said with exaggerated seriousness, voice deadpan.

Kagome smiled at him. She shook her head. He grinned back. Then he kissed her. This time she kissed him back. An angry growl announced Sesshomaru’s presence. The sound raised the small hairs on the back of her neck. The sensation prickled down her back and made her shiver, despite the warmth of the pool.

Inuyasha broke the kiss and turned towards the direction of the sound, his eyes wide. The demon lord was standing on the opposite bank, eyes red, long, silver hair flaring around his head and shoulders in a wind of his own making.

“Holy crap, Sesshomaru!”, Inuyasha said, “What the hell is wrong with you? Why did you growl at us like that?”

Sesshomaru’s thumb and forefingers stabbed the air.

“You!”, he growled, “Get away from my mate now!”

“Why? I thought it was okay for me to mate with Kagome? Or does the rule only apply when you’re around?”

“Oh, it was never okay, little brother….”

Inuyasha’s eyes widened.

“What? When did you change your mind?”, he said.

“It is irrelevant. Do as I say Inuyasha. I do not want to have to resort to violence, especially when Kagome is in such a delicate condition…”

Inuyasha’s face contorted in anger.

“You can’t invite me to mate with Kagome and then just revoke the invitation just because you feel like it! It’s not fair!”

Sesshomaru’s head cocked to the side.

“Oh”, he said, “Can’t I? Life, unfortunately is not fair… Consider your invitation revoked.”

“You bastard!”

He moved to stand. Kagome’s hand grasped his arm, knocking him off balance and back down into the water with a splash. He looked at her in surprise.

“Kagome”, he cried, “What are doing? Can’t you see how he is? He’s five seconds away from turning into his true form and tearing me to pieces! I can’t beat him without Tetsusaiga!”

“I see it”, she said, her eyes on Sesshomaru.

She looked back to Inuyasha.

“I’ll talk to him”, she said, “Now go.”

She kissed his cheek quickly. Then she let go of his arm. He stared at her for a moment. Then he got to his feet inhumanly fast and started wading towards the bank. His cheeks were flaming because Sesshomaru was staring at him. His older brother was not interested in his body but it was still embarrassing to be naked in front of him, when they were not in bed with Kagome together.

“Wash her scent off your skin before you exit”, Sesshomaru growled.

Was it not painful to talk in that voice? Inuyasha stared at him. He stopped moving.

“What?”, he said.

“I want you to wash my mate’s scent off your skin before you get out of the water. Was I not clear enough?”

“Sessh, come on”, Kagome said, “Don’t you think...”

“Silence, woman!” Sesshomaru said.

Her eyes went a little wide. Inuyasha scowled.

“Hey!”, he said, “Don’t talk to her like that.”

Sesshomaru turned his crimson gaze on Inuyasha again.

“I will talk to her anyway I wish”, he said, “For she is my mate; not yours!”

“That still doesn’t give you the right…”

“Silence half-breed! Your wailing upsets my ears. Now, wash my mate’s scent
off your skin or there shall be consequences…”

He smiled. Inuyasha felt a cold stab of fear. Behind him, Kagome gasped. Again he felt the coldness of the metaphorical knife in his flesh. What if the stress makes her miscarry? His eyes widened in horror. Obediently, he sank down into the water and splashed water on his face. He rubbed the skin with his hands. Then rinsed.

“Do not forget your ears and tail!”

Inuyasha’s eyes went a little wide. He did as he was told. Then he stood up in the water. He walked towards the bank, eyes on Sesshomaru because he was standing behind his clothes. His eyes were still red but at least the wind had stopped. His hair had settled behind his shoulders again, not a rib out of place. He dressed quickly and picked up his sword, conscious of his half-brother’s freakish, angry gaze on him.

He looked back towards Kagome, still sitting in the water on the other side of the pool. She was staring at Sesshomaru. The look on her face told him that she appeared to have calmed down. The rise and fall of her chest suggested otherwise. Her breathing was a little fast.

When she felt Inuyasha’s gaze on her, she turned her face towards him. There was no fear in her eyes. He was stunned. Did she really trust Sesshomaru enough not to hurt her? Either she was right or she was crazy. Perhaps it was a little of both…

“Go!”, Sesshomaru said, making him jump.

He glanced at his brother. Then he looked back to Kagome.

“I’m alright”, she said, “Go, Inuyasha. I’ll see you back at the camp later…”

Furrows appeared between his eyebrows and across his forehead.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure…”, she said.

He gave her one last look, then he turned away. When he reached the tree line he glanced backwards. Kagome was not looking at him. She was staring at Sesshomaru. He scowled. Then, reluctantly he walked on.


Kagome waited until Inuyasha was out of sight before she spoke.

“Would you like me to wash the scent of Inuyasha off my skin too?”, she said.

Sesshomaru stared at her.

“That will not be necessary…”

She frowned at him.

“Why not?”, she said, “You made him wash!”

“I did it only to remind him that I am the dominant male.”

Her eyebrows shot up.

“Really?”, she said, “That remains to be seen. Without his sword, you are physically stronger and faster than Inuyasha, that much is true, but when you fight on the battlefield you don’t use your most powerful techniques on each other. How do you know which one of you is really the strongest?”

He lifted an eyebrow.

“Are you proposing I fight Inuyasha to the death to prove my dominance?”, he said.

Her eyes widened in horror.

“No!”, she cried, “God, no! That was just in jest. I don’t want you to kill each other to prove a stupid point!”

“The point is anything but idiotic…”

“Not from where I’m standing! Besides, if you fought over me, and one of you died I’d never forgive you! Or myself for that matter…”

The corners of his lips turned up.

“I believe you are sitting my sweet…”, he said, “And it is a mute point because Inuyasha has already submitted to me…”

Her eyes went wide. He looked so pleased with himself she wanted to smack his arrogant face.

“That was today”, she said, “And it was for me. It may be a different story tomorrow…”

He sighed. He looked slightly bored.

“Perhaps…”

He drew his sword out of the sash and place it carefully on the bank. Then he removed the sash and let it drop to the bank with his pelt.

“What are you doing?”, she said, “Do you really think I’m going to have sex with you now? I’m still angry with you. I thought you should know…”

“I noticed…”

He sighed.

“I shall take this opportunity to bathe…”

He broke eye contact with her to attend to the ties on his armour. She watched him remove his armour and clothing. Then he waded into the water and took up a position not far from her. He sat down in the water, not exactly ignoring her, but not paying her much attention either. He began by splashing water on his face. Watching him rub his hand over his own hard, naked flesh was stimulating to say the least. She stared at him, hoping he would not notice her heightened breathing or her renewed arousal.

She opened her mouth to speak but Sesshomaru pre-empted her.

“I shall talk with him later”, he said, “It is foolish to fight with Inuyasha…”

She tried to mask her surprise.

“I’m glad you think so!”, she said.

“From a practical point of view, since we are forced into each other’s company in the pursuit of these accursed jewel shards, it would be better if we were not at each other’s throats again…”

He sighed.

“It wears on my nerves being in the company of others at all times. I miss my solitude…”

She stared at him.

“Is that the only reason?”, she said.

He turned his golden gaze on her.

“I would not say it, if it were not true…”, he said.

“Oh, really?”

“Yes.”

He turned back to the business of bathing.

“I’m nearing the end of my fourth month…”, she said.

He looked at her sharply. A furrow appeared between his eyebrows.

“My first pregnancy only took three months…”, she said.

“So it did…”

She frowned.

“Don’t tell me the possibility hasn’t occurred to you?”, she said.

“What possibility would that be, my sweet?”

His voice was smooth and calm. She had his full attention.

“It’s human slow”, she said, “A human baby takes nine months to develop in the womb…”

“Please make your point, Kagome, if there is one. I am not in the mood for idle chat today. In case you had not noticed…”

“I noticed…”

She took a breath.

“I think this might be Inuyasha’s baby...”

Sesshomaru was silent. His face and body were utterly still for some moments. His eyes were fixed on hers. It was almost frightening. When he finally opened his mouth to speak, she jumped.

“I know”, he said.

He broke eye contact. He stared down into the water. For a few moments she sat still, unsure what to do, what to say… Then she went to him. She knelt up behind him and leaned her the front of her body against his back. Her arms went loosely around his neck. His body was rigid, like stone. Then he seemed to soften. He touched her wrist. Relief flooded her.

“I should have considered this possibility when I asked him to join us in bed…”, he said.

She made no reply. She just pressed her face to his hair. It was soft, and slightly ticklish against her lips. She made a slight sound.

“I was arrogant enough to think my seed was more potent, I being a full demon, and he, a half-breed…”

His lips curled into a bitter smile.

“Seemingly I was wrong!”

For a few minutes there was a silence.

“Was inviting Inuyasha into our bed was a mistake?”, she said.

He half-turned in her embrace so he could see her eyes. The look on his face was pained.

“No”, he said, “It was not a mistake. Sharing our bed with him has brought us all closer together. He and I are on friendly terms like brothers should be, instead of trying to kill each other at every opportunity… All of this is because of you, Kagome, because you had the courage to love both of us, as we love you... It is through you, we have rediscovered our brotherly love for each other…”

Her eyes were wide, her lips slightly parted as she stared at him. He cupped one side of her face in his hand.

“Do you understand?”, he said.

She smiled at him.

“I wish he could have heard you say that too”, she said, “It would have made him so happy…”

A pale pink flush appeared across his cheeks and nose.

“I could not say it if he were with us…”, he said.

“I know.”

Her voice was soft.

“What are we going to do?”, she said.

“What exactly do you mean?”

“Once we’ve fought Naraku and we go home, what are we going to do about the baby?”

“What is there to do? You are my mate and you are pregnant. I will provide for you and our pups.”

Her eyebrows went up.

“So you’ll raise Inuyasha’s child as your own?”, she said.

“Yes.”

She fought the urge to smile. Yes!

“What about Inuyasha?”, she said.

“What about Inuyasha?”

“Will you let him have any input into the child’s life?”

“Of course. He will be welcome to visit and spend time with the pup...”

She chewed her lip to lessen her grin.

“We should tell him about this”, she said.

“Agreed, but not now…”

“Why not?”

He pulled her on to his lap. She yipped in surprise.

“I want to make love now”, he said, “Inuyasha can wait!”

His arm went around her holding her against him. His mouth came down on hers. He kissed her softly on the lips. Her hand touched his face. The other came to rest on his chest. She returned his kisses. Intimate moments such as these were a rarity in such troubled times. When he showed her affection she savoured every touch, each kiss.

His tongue slipped out of his mouth to touch her parted lips. He tried to press it between them but he only succeeded in opening her lips a little wider. He traced her lower lip with soft flicks of his tongue seeking a way inside. She decided to stop teasing him, not matter how good it felt and let her lips part, letting him slip his tongue into the soft, wet inside of her mouth.

Gently, he explored the sweetness of her mouth with soft touches of his firm, wet tongue. It touched hers, trying to lead her to participate more fully in this intimate dance. She reciprocated, slipping her tongue into his mouth, mirroring his movement. She just managed not to cut herself in her enthusiasm as she negotiated around his fangs. Despite her efforts to remain nonchalant, she was loosing the battle.

Her breath was coming faster, making her breasts and belly heave. A soft moan slipped out of her throat and into his mouth. He growled softly in response. The sensation running through the soft tissue and bone to her chest made her tremble. He resumed control of the kiss, tongue curling around hers as he touched and tasted her. When he finally released her, she was breathless.

She stared up into his golden eyes. She basked in the warmth of his gaze. Words of affection seemed so unnecessary. He stood, taking her with him. She found herself, pressed against his chest, his arm holding her against him. She made a small sound of surprise. She expected him to smile at her but he grunted softly.

“Kagome, if you would put your arms around my neck and raise your body slightly?”, he said.

“Okay…”

Her voice was soft. She wound her arms around his neck and hoisted her body up slightly in compliance with his request. His arm tightened around her, holding her there.

“Thank you”, he said, “I underestimated your increased weight. Without the aid of my missing limb I could not have carried you safely to the bank unless you adjusted your position in my grasp.”

Her eyes went a little wide.

“It’s not my fault I’m fat!”, she cried, “I’m pregnant! I can’t help it!”

If he could, he would have flattened his ears against his head the way his younger brother frequently did, to block out her wails. Unfortunately that was not an option. He did not have the necessary fuzzy, flaps of skin, the boy called ears. Envying Inuyasha those ears was a first. His wide eyes went slightly wider.

“I am aware of those facts…”, he said.

“But you didn’t have to be so cruel and call me fat to my face!”

“I did not at anytime say you were fat! Did you hear me say the words?”

She mentally reviewed what had been said in the past few minutes.

“No, you didn’t actually say the words…”, she conceded, “But you did imply it!”

He sighed.

“I merely commented that your were heavier than expected”, he said, “It does not mean that I find you any less attractive, Kagome. In fact, pregnancy suits you. You positively glow! No other woman has ever been so beautiful…”

She stared at him in surprise. A slight smile crossed his lips. His eyes sparkled. A pretty pink blush spread across her cheeks.

“Do you really mean that?”, she said softly. “I would not say it if I did not mean it…”

She smiled at him. She kissed his lips, just a soft brush of lips. Then she kissed him again. He kissed her back.

“Come”, he said, “There will be no drowning during or in the aftermath of our love making…”

He carried her towards the bank. He knelt on the bank and set her carefully down on the grass while he arranged his pelt for her to lie on. She lay down and he leaned over her. He kissed her lips. He kissed along the edge of her jaw. His attention moved down her neck and across her collarbones. He kissed the tops of her breasts. Each soft caress of lips was feather light, barely touching her skin, like the brush of a delicate butterfly wing.

It made her tremble and gasp. His mouth moved lower, kissing the fullness of the breast. His tongue slipped out of his mouth and formed the soft, pink nipple into a stiff peak with soft flicks of its tip. He drew a soft moan from her throat. Her back arched, pressing her breast into his face. He nuzzled the parting between her breasts, the sensation making her giggle.

He raised his head and kissed her lips. Her hand touched his face. Gently she caressed the smooth skin of his cheek, the sensitivity of the magenta stripes causing him to make a soft sound against her lips. His head dropped to her other breast, covering it with soft kisses. He cupped the breast in his hand. He massaged the sensitive mound, fingers concentrating their attention on the upper part of it and the nipple.

The nipple hardened painfully into a small peak. She gasped. He leaned down and licked the stiff bud. He bore down on the sensitive flesh, making her gasp and moan, while his hand began its ministrations on he other breast. Her hips began to move, rubbing her expanding belly against him. He could feel the blood rushing to his lower body, his penis stiffening in response.

His wide eyes went wider. He lifted his head to kiss her lips again. Then he licked the parting of her breasts, making her shudder and moan. His soft kisses moved lower, dancing over skin, towards her belly. His hand explored the roundness of it. Then he trailed feather light kisses over it. Her eyes went a little wide, remembering Inuyasha’s earlier ministrations and how he had nearly drowned for the first time… Her cheeks flushed.

His mouth moved lower, over the soft mound between her legs. His hand massaged the sensitive flesh of her upper thigh. Then it slid between her legs to caress the inner thigh. Gently, he parted her thighs, exposing the lips of skin and the moist pink flesh between them. He tilted her pelvis upwards. Then he knelt between her legs.

His head dropped downwards towards her exposed sex. A soft sound escaped her lips. Silver mingled with dark as his hair fell around her lower body. He began to lick her along the inside of the outer lips of her vulva. Then he moved on to the inner lips, licking along the outside, then the inside. He licked a path to her entrance. He kissed it like he would her lips, pushing his tongue inside and licking around her walls.

Her cries were soft, yet still louder than they would be in a sleeping child situation. He licked a path back towards the clitoris. It hard already hardened into a little bud in its flesh surround. At first the flicks of his tongue were soft, licking her in a circular motions. Then he began to bear down, licking her in precise, timed motions. It was so hard to hold back the motion of her hips. She lost the battle and they began to undulate, rubbing her groin against his face.

His hand gripped her hip, controlling the motion as he worked. He licked her faster. Her cries were louder, growing with amazing sensation that was building between her legs. It seemed wrong, yet so right that one tiny piece of erectile tissue could give such pleasure. Her head pressed into the fur underneath her, moving from side to side in her esctasy.

Her voice was a soft scream as his expert tongue brought her to orgasm. The world was a shining place tinged with gold. For those precious moments all her worries melted away. Her body went stiff, then relaxed in grasp. He let her rest against the pelt. He wiped his mouth and chin with his hand. Then he rubbed those juices on his chest. Kagome stared up at him as her vision returned to normal.

He crawled over her, body brushing hers at odd moments. She reached up and touched his face. He leaned into the caress. He leaned down and kissed her on the lips. She kissed him back. He slipped his arm around her and gathered her too him. As he leaned backwards into at sitting position he took her with him.

He kissed her, slipping his tongue into her mouth. She tasted herself on his tongue and realised that Inuyasha had been right in saying it smelled sweet, yet earthy. It mattered little. She expected him to kiss her when she brought him to orgasm using her lips and tongue. His hand caressed her hip. It moved across her body and caressed her belly. She broke the kiss to meet his eyes. There was a strange mix of emotions in them.

“It is strange…”, he said, “The pup is not mine, yet I am still aroused by this swollen belly of yours…”

Her eyes went wide. The corners of his mouth turned up. He cupped her face in his hand and kissed her mouth again. Her hand touched the back of his hand holding it there. His kisses moved along the edge of her jaw. His tongue slipped out of his mouth and lapped along the underside of it. Her hands massaging his chest and shoulders caused him to make a slight sound against the skin of her neck.

He began to kiss and lick the sensitive skin of her neck, drawing soft moans from between her lips. His caresses moved across her collarbone, down her chest and over her breasts. He took the nipples in his mouth in turn and sucked on them gently, making her gasp and moan. The sensations travelled down her body to her groin. She could feel movement as the tight walls of her vagina loosened and moistened to receive him.

His mouth moved across her belly. He moved his legs apart and she fell that few inches, down onto the pelt between them. She gave a small cry of surprise, which earned her a smile and a kiss on the lips. Then he leaned down and turned his attention to her neglected legs. He put his hand under her knee and lifted her thigh towards his lips.

His kisses moved across the thigh and along the underside to the back of her knee. He found the sensitive spot with his tongue and the sensation ran up the back of her leg to the groin, making her writhe and moan. He bent the leg and massaged the tension out of her calves and feet. Then he sucked each toe in turn. He repeated the process on the other leg, working up to the groin.

His fingers slipped between those tender folds and into her hot, slick passage. He drew his fingers out slowly, the outer edges rubbing along the walls of her vagina, making her groan. A shiver ran down her spine. She trembled. She tried to hold her lower body still, conscious of the sharpness of his claws.

He put his hand on her shoulder and claimed a kiss. He stroked her hair. Then he moved it aside to caress the side of her neck. She made a soft sound of appreciation. He kissed the edge of her shoulder. Then his hand began the slow progress of caressing her.

He lingered on and returned to the places where she most liked to be touched: her neck and shoulders, her breasts, her waist, her belly, her buttocks, her inner thighs, the soles of her feet... His mouth would follow more often than not. He kept going until she was a helpless, mass of writhing flesh. He kissed her lips once more. Then he pressed her down on to the pelt.

He put his hand under her knee and lifted the leg. The shin came to rest on his shoulder. Gently he pushed moved the other leg aside, exposing the dripping folds and slick pink flesh between her legs. He saw the dark entrance and caught his breath. Bracing a hand on the ground by her hip, he began to thrust into her.

“Oh, Sessh…”

Her voice was a sigh. She reached out a hand to touch his face but it fell short. It trailed down his torso. Soon his thrusting rhythm changed to a slower, more sensual one. Her hips moved in time with his. The appreciative cries that slipped from between her lips were soft.

The back of her thigh was pressed against his chest, the position giving him easier access to her groin but not allowing him to kiss her. A slight furrow appeared between her eyebrows.

“What is it, my sweet?”, he said, voice slightly breathless, “Why do you frown?”

She gave a soft cry.

“It’s nothing…”, she assured him.

He raised an eyebrow.

“Oh!”, she cried, as a spike of pleasure hit her, “It’s just that you know how I like to kiss when you’re inside me…”

“Ah! I shall keep that in mind next time…”

He leaned down and nuzzled her swollen, ticklish belly. She giggled. He growled softly. The sensations coursed across the sensitive skin of her belly and buzzed down the sides to her hips and groin. She shrieked and wriggled beneath him but there was no escape. He effectively had her pinned. He raised his head to look at her face, laughing softly. The angle was odd so she could only see the curve of his eyeball under his lids, the line of his nose and the quirk of his lips. He leaned down to nuzzle her belly again and she shrieked again.

“No, please don’t! I’m so ticklish!”, she cried.

He raised himself up, still smiling, to begin his thrusting again and she thanked the gods. She stared up at him, breathing hard as if she could draw that masculine beauty into her. She watched the sweat bead on his skin and his red eyes roll back in his head as the animal motion overtook him. He neck was slightly arched, his hair clinging to the damp skin of his body or flailing around him as if it had a life of its own.

He clitoris was really beginning to feel the benefit of this position. She secretly revised her opinion of it. The rhythm changed again, his thrusts becoming shorter and harder. Her cries were soft screams. Again, her head was rolling from side to side on the pelt, her neck arched. God! Her hair was really going to be hell to brush out later.

His hard member was rubbing against the sweet spot on the inside wall of her vagina. The sensation was building on two fronts. Oh, God! Oh, God! If I don’t come soon I’m going to explode! No, don’t explode! Baby!

“Oh, Sessh… You’re amazing… Don’t stop…”

His reply was a soft growl. He was beyond words. She still shivered though she could not feel it on her skin. She gathered handfuls of the pelt beneath her, fingernails digging in. Waves of pleasure washed over her and she screamed. Her body stiffened, then went limp. He was still moving inside her and her hips soon began to move again with his. This time when she orgasmed, her mouth opened but no sound came out. It got strangled in the rawness of her throat. For a little while the world seemed to slow and her vision clouded.

She felt the warmth of his seed spill inside her and pressure on her leg as his body simultaneously went weak. She sensed movement to her left. Automatically she looked his long, white arm next to her. The elbow jerked. She caught her breath. It could be bad if he collapsed on top of her now.

The arm held long enough for him to extract his flaccid penis and collapse on his hip beside her with a contented sigh. He smoothed damps locks of her hair away from her face. She touched his chest. He pressed his lips to hers. Then he lay back on the pelt next to her. She rolled over and laid her head down on his chest. His arm went around her. He kissed the top of her head.


Kagome drew herself up and pressed her elbow into his chest to hold her up. He grunted softly.

“Sessh…”, she said.

There was a slight tremor in her voice. She wondered if her nervousness was apparent to him as he turned his lazy, golden gaze on her.

“Yes, my sweet plum blossom?”, he said.

He looked at her through half-lidded eyes. There was a faint pink flush across his cheeks, making his makings appear darker, more prominent. She hoped that not all of his post-coital contentment would slip away at her next words. She took a breath.

“I hate to ask now, but I feel that I must… I can’t let it go.”

A small crease appeared between his eyebrows. The usual sharp intelligence in his eyes was suddenly made apparent.

“What is it, Kagome, that makes you so serious all of a sudden?”, he said.

She made no answer. The furrow between his eyebrows deepened. He pressed his elbow into the pelt and drew himself up. She sat up, keeping her body pressed against his.

“Kagome?”

She took another breath.

“It’s about Inuyasha…”, she said.

“Yes?”

“Will you allow him to mate with me again?”

He stared up at her. His expression did not change. She was so tense she could feel the small hairs lifting on her arms and the back of her neck. A tremor ran down her spine, causing her to shiver though her body was warm.

“I’m not asking you to let him mark me below your mark to show that he is officially my second mate”, she said, “He doesn’t even have to come live with us, just share our bed occasionally, if that’s what he wants... He may not be interested in a permanent arrangement. Having sex with me could be just a bit of fun until the next big love comes along…”

His eyebrows lifted. His wide eyes went wider.

“I have seen the expression on his face when he copulates with you. It is not merely an amusing diversion so far as he is concerned. It is very unlikely that he will loose interest and take up with another female in the near future…”

His eyes narrowed. A deep furrow appeared between his eyebrows.

“You have been reading the scrolls in my personal office without my permission”, he said, “I had noticed that certain items had been disturbed, and your sweet scent permeated them, but I thought little of it. A touch is sufficient for your scent to linger… I am most displeased by your behaviour.”

“I didn’t think I’d need your permission to read the scrolls? We are mated…”

Her face was already flushed from the heat of the spring and their recent sexual activity. Her sudden embarrassment at having unwittingly invaded his personal space and incurred his disapproval deepened it. A frown line appeared on his otherwise smooth forehead.

“I am aware of that, but those items are my personal property”, he said, “Do I go rifling among your clothes, female items and other personal possessions?”

She lifted her eyebrows.

“No…”, she said, “At least I can’t tell if you do. Yuki cleans so obsessively…”

A mental image of Sesshomaru wearing lipgloss, romantic poetry book in hand, trying on her clothes and hair ornaments flashed across her brain. Giggles spilled from her lips before she could stop them. The furrow, which had been ever-present for the duration of the conversation, returned.

“Why do you laugh?”, he said, “Did I say something to amuse you?”

“No! Yes. Sort of…”

She grinned at him.

“I think that jade pin with the silk ume blossoms you gave me for my birthday would look particularly good in your hair, don’t you?”

He gave her a reproving look.

“What are you talking about, woman?”, he said.

She chewed her lip. The gesture had the effect of making her look like a naughty little girl.

“So you’ve never thought about it?”, she said.

Despite himself, a ghost of a smile crept across his lips.

“No”, he said, “Do not be ridiculous….”

“I believe you…”

He sighed.

“You are most frustrating…”, he said.

“I thought that was part of my appeal?”

The corners of his lips turned up. He said nothing. Kagome made a face. She grunted softly. His smile got a little bigger. She became serious again.

“So…”, she said quietly, “Do you think you would consider letting him back into our bed again? I could go on the pill after the baby is born so you wouldn’t have to worry about me getting pregnant…”

He sighed.

“Ah…”, he said, “You have mentioned this pill before… It must indeed work wondrous magic to give a human female such control over her fertility!”

The expression on his face suggested he did not approve.

“It’s called science”, she said, “I believe you have that here too?! I know you don’t think much of the idea, but what choice do we have? Especially if you don’t want me to get pregnant by Inuyasha…”

“Then you will not become pregnant with my pups either!”

She sighed.

“I know…”

He was thoughtful, staring ahead of him for some moments. Then he looked at her.

“I could not invite Inuyasha back…”, he said.

She stared at him in surprise.

“Do you really mean that?”, she said.

“Yes.”

It was Kagome’s turn to be silent as she considered the possibility.

“Do you know how unfair to him that is?”, she said quietly, “You’re willing to let him to visit us and spend time with the child once it is born, but you will not let him sleep with us. You’re completely contradicting what you said earlier about brotherly love and bringing us all closer together…”

Her voice was rising in tune with her anxiety level.

“Can’t you see it, Sess? The very thing that brought us all together is going to be what tears us apart! He’ll end up hating you and me! We’ll end up hating each other! I’d rather die than let that happen…”

She was suddenly cold despite the warmth of the pelt and his body next to hers. Goosebumps rose on her flesh and a shiver skittered down her spine. She hugged her arms to her chest and rubbed her hands up and down her upper arms to warm herself. Sesshomaru’s eyes were very wide, staring at her. He sat up on the pelt.

“You would leave me over this?”, he said.

She stared at him, at a loss for words

“Kagome?”

He cupped one side of her face in his hand.

“No, I’ll never leave you”, she said, “I love you. I made a commitment and I intend to honour it.”

He sighed deeply. His relief showed on his face. He let go of her face and gathered her to him. He wrapped his arm around her, not caring that the elbows of her trapped arms were digging into his flesh. She made a small sound of protest and he loosened his grip.

He kissed the top of her head. Then he rested his chin on it. She drew her hostage arms out from between their bodies and put them around his midriff. She leaned into him. She closed her eyes, inhaling his scent, appreciating the solidness and warmth of his body pressed against hers.

For a long time neither of them spoke. She was glad they were not in the spring or her skin would be horribly wrinkled and dried out by now. Despite the seriousness of the moment her mind could not help but wander.

“Be patient with me, Kagome”, he said eventually, “You must understand that this has been a terrible blow to my pride…”

“I’m beginning to…”

“After Inuyasha’s pup is born, birth me another pup. Then ask me again about this pill you speak of…”

Her heart leapt. She pried herself away from him and met his gaze. Her eyes were a little wide.

“Does that mean…”, she began.

He interrupted her inquiry.

“Give me a little time… That is all I ask of you.”

“But you’ll at least talk to him when we get back to camp, try to patch things up?”

He gave her that look which meant she had said something he had not quite understood.

“Kiss and make up?”, she said.

She saw the look of understanding cross his face.

“Yes, but there shall be no kissing…”

Unexpectedly he smirked at her.

“Unless you wish it, my sweet?”, he said.

She raised her eyebrows.

“As hot as that sounds…”, she said, “I’m not sure Inuyasha would really appreciate another big, wet kiss from you… But I know I would!”

She smiled at him. He raised an eyebrow.

“Would you?”, he said.

“Very much…”

“Since you asked, how can I refuse…”

He smiled. Then his face dropped towards hers.



Eventually they returned to the camp together. Kagome carried her own bundle. She did not hold his hand in case he should have to draw his sword in a hurry. It seemed silly to her but she did not contradict him. She settled for clutching the ends of his obi belt as she walked slightly ahead of him, a smile on her lips.

As they entered the clearing his eyes scanned the area, looking for Inuyasha. He was not in plain sight. He raised his eyes and scanned the trees. Predictably, he was sat on the one of the highest branches of a tree on the other side of the clearing. His face turned towards him, feeling his gaze on him. Then he looked away with scowl.

Sesshomaru looked at Kagome. She was looking in Inuyasha’s direction, a slightly pained look on her face. He was slightly surprised that she had sighted him so soon. She had some power but not that kind of accuracy. Perhaps it was something to do with the bonds of love?

Sometime after Makoto was born he had taken it upon himself to train her to be a better archer. He tried to teach her a little hand-to-hand combat and swordplay. He had even tried to teach her how to use a rope/whip as a weapon. Sadly, with her hand/eye co-ordination, she was something of a lost cause…

Truthfully, he had enjoyed the lovemaking that came after bathing and tending to her injuries. Then they would have to bathe again. He had enjoyed spending time with her, admiring her efforts to excel and please him. They were the reasons he persisted so long in trying to train her in the martial arts.

Firmly back in the present, he touched her arm. She looked at him.

“I shall talk with him later”, he said, “When he has had a little time to think and reflect…”

She frowned at him.

“With respect, Sessh”, she said, “He may not in need of much more thought or reflection…”

He raised his eyebrows.

“Is that your way of telling me that I should talk with him now, instead of leaving the wounds to fester?”, he said.

“Well… I wouldn’t have put it quite like that, but yeah, I think you should get it over with.”

He sighed.

“Very well”, he said, “I shall go and “get it over with” as you put it now.”

He leaned into her and kissed her forehead. She closed her eyes, savouring the softness of the kiss. Then he walked across the clearing and stood under Inuyasha’s tree. He stared up at him, knowing well that his half-brother could smell him and hear him breathing. There was no need to announce his presence. Inuyasha glanced down at him out of the corner of his eye. He made a little grunting noise and stared ahead of him once more.

“You are being childish and petty by ignoring me”, Sesshomaru said.

“Reeeeally! Well, excuse me if I don’t feel like talking right now!”

The demon lord snorted.

“Come down, Inuyasha”, he said, “It is imperative that we talk…”

“Are you deaf? I don’t want to talk to you. Go away…”

His arms were folded in the sleeves of his haori. He hugged them closer to his chest. His older brother remained standing at the foot of the tree. He stared up at his half-brother for some moments. Then he launched himself into the air. Inuyasha’s head snapped upwards at the sound in time to see him perform a somersault in mid-air.

His foot touched down lightly on the end of his branch, followed by the other. Show off! The end of the branch leaned closer to the ground, now that it was burdened with the weight of another taller, heavier body. A distinct cracking sound was heard as the limb separated from the trunk of the tree. Inuyasha’s eyes went wide. He yelped in panic.

He jumped upwards and caught the nearest tree branch. His legs dangled in the air. He swung his legs back and forth to gain some leverage. He grasped the tree branch with his ankles. The he hauled his body up on to the branch. It sagged under his weight but it held. Just about. He looked down, hoping to see Sesshomaru unconscious on the ground or at least rubbing an injured body part. He was disappointed to find him levitating a few feet below him, a faint smile on his lips.

“You bastard, Sesshomaru”, he yelled, “What the hell are you playing at?”

“Trying to engage in meaningful conversation…”

“Is that what you call it?! I thought you were trying to kill me!”

“Tsk, tsk… If I really wanted you dead, Inuyasha, I would have killed you long ago...”

Inuyasha tried to keep the surprise off his face. He failed miserably. His eyes went wide and his lips parted slightly.

“So why did you jump up and break the branch I was sitting on, huh?”, he said, “If that’s not intent to kill, then I don’t know what you’d call it!”

“I was merely trying to get your attention, little brother. I had hoped the branch would hold… I had faith in your ability to save yourself from falling. Failing that, I knew you would not be hurt that badly from the fall.”

For the second time in the space of few short moments, his half-brother had surprised him. His large, golden eyes threatened to pop out of his head. The demon lord raised an elegant eyebrow at him. As he struggled to re-arrange his features, a dark blush spread across his cheeks. He grunted.

“Now that we’ve established you’re my biggest fan”, he said, “What is it you want to talk to me about? I thought you said just about everything you needed to say when we were at the spring?!”

Sesshomaru quirked an eyebrow at him. For what seemed like an eternity he was silent, staring at him. He could feel his patience wearing thin, and frankly, the staring was starting to creep him out. He stood up on the tree branch. He heard a cracking noise and his arms automatically shot out and grabbed the tree trunk behind him, claws damaging the bark. The branch held. He let go a breath he had not realised he was holding. He looked down at his half-brother.

“If you don’t start talking soon, jerkface”, he said, “I’m leaving!”

“Then I shall follow…”

Inuyasha’s face contorted with anger.

“So talk, you annoying prick!”, he said, “After all, you’re the one you wants to have a meaningful conversation sooohh badly…”

Sesshomaru was silent a moment.

“Very well”, he said, “What I will say to you next, will not be easy for me…”

He stared at the half-demon. He paused dramatically for effect.

“And I do not say these things lightly…”

The half-demon rolled his eyes.

“So get on with it!”

The demon lord took a breath.

“You know that Kagome is pregnant?”, he said.

Inuyasha looked at him quizzically.

“Yeah… What of it?”, he said.

“I suspect the pup is not mine…”

The half-demon’s eyebrows threatened to ascend into his hairline. His heart missed a beat. Then it re-started with a thump. It began to race. The blood pounded in his ears and the collar of his shirt was suddenly too tight. He curled his index finger around it and loosened it. That’s better…

“What do you mean the pup isn’t yours?”, he said.

His voice sounded a little strange to his own ears. It was higher pitched than usual and a little breathless. His half-brother’s face was expressionless.

“Exactly what I said”, Sesshomaru said, “Kagome is entering her fifth month of gestation. Therefore the pup she carries in her belly cannot be mine…”

“Oh!”

His older brother stared at him. His eyes narrowed. A furrow appeared between his eyebrows and his mouth fell into harsh lines.

“Oh?!”, he said, “So eloquent… Is that all you have to say for yourself, Inuyasha?”

“What do you want me to say, Sessh? I’m sorry? I don’t know… Just, what do you expect me to say?”

The demon lord rubbed his finger across his bottom lip thoughtfully.

“Yes”, he said, “An apology would be an exceedingly good place to start!”

His eyes narrowed. Then he moved. In one smooth motion he shot upwards and grabbed him by the throat. Inuyasha’s eyes went wide. His arms wind milled as the branch cracked under their combined weight and felt to the ground. Yet he did not fall. He was saved by his half-brother’s hand clamped around his throat. He choked as the weight of his body pulled him downwards. Sesshomaru held him aloft easily, levitating at least twenty feet above the ground. He stared up at him with impassive eyes.

“I do not hear you apologising, little brother…”

If I could talk, just what am I supposed to be apologising for again? I can’t help it if I got Kagome pregnant. Though I can see how it would piss you off…

A smirk crossed his half-brother’s lips.

“Are you not you going to attempt to free yourself?”

Inuyasha growled, low in his throat. No, Baka, because that would be suicide! Even I’m not that stupid… You bastard! You’d better not let go…

“Are you not going to say anything?”

He glared back him. The demon lord laughed, eyes glittering like wet, broken glass in the sunlight. The sound was full and deep, bitterly mocking and cruel with a cold edge. The sound echoed around his brain. His ears buzzed with it, making them twitch and flatten against his head.

He could still feel the insects crawling around his brain long after his older brother’s face became sober again. He already knew he did not want to hear that sound ever again. Narrow golden eyes, stared into large golden ones.

“You really have no idea why I am so angry, do you little brother? I would speculate that the thought has never crossed your mind if I could not smell a lie…”

He was met with silence and confused, frightened stare. He looks like a pup... The demon lord sighed.

“Shall I enlighten you, Inuyasha? I know that you are the father of Kagome’s pup. It can only be yours and yours alone, because you are the only male with human blood to grace our bed around the time the pup was conceived…”

The half-demon’s eyes wide. Somehow, hearing his older brother confirm what he already knew made it all seem so big and scary. His jaw tried to drop but it was impeded from falling. His half-brother was staring at him, face and eyes impassive.

“If you could talk, Inuyasha. What would you say? Would you tell me how happy you are, that on this particular night, your seed was more potent than mine? It is a blow to my demonic pride, my sense of self…”

Without warning, he let go of his younger brother’s throat...