The Demon's Ball

A thousand apologies for not updating for so long, please forgive me…

Last time…
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*Enough of this,* he pulled her head to one side and let out an aggressive snarl before sinking his teeth into her neck, briefly but none-too-gently.

Kagome hissed and stilled in his arms. He pulled back slowly so both of them could catch their breath. Suddenly, she felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise up. She shivered as a chill ran down her spine. There was something sinister in the air; a menacing presence.
She looked up curiously, just past Naoki and Kayashima’s shocked expressions, she saw him.
“Sesshoumaru.”

In moments, the taiyoukai was beside the couple. He knocked Shinji aside and grabbed her arm.

“A courting mark,” he hissed in realization. He didn’t know who he was angrier with: Shinji for doing it or the miko for allowing it. He tightened his grip on her arm and snapped angrily when she made a pained expression at his hold on her.

"You're coming with me," he yanked her through the crowd and they disappeared from sight.
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Kagome heaved a sigh. Tapping her finger impatiently on the conference table.

“I wonder if he’d even notice if I left…”

She glanced at the taiyoukai who hadn’t stopped pacing ever since he’d first pulled her into the library and so unceremoniously dumped her into an open seat.

She lowered her head and peeked through her eyelashes at the door.
‘I could make it if I move fast…’
Her leg twitched as a rush of adrenaline shot to her aid.


“I would abandon such imprudent notions of escape, miko.”

Kagome froze.

Sesshoumaru didn’t break his stride as he continued to pace. He watched her out of the corners of his eyes. He hadn’t missed the tensing of her muscles and the increase in her heart rate when she’d contemplated her imagined getaway.


Kagome sighed again and leaned back in her seat.
“Of course not my Lord, I would never dream of assuming I could outrun you.”
She glanced at him menacingly, ‘I could however, outmaneuver you…’ She kept this thought to herself as she turned away from him.


Sesshoumaru’s mind was a mess. What was he doing? He glanced at the girl but her back was turned to him. He’d broken hundreds of years of tradition by intervening in the courting. He glared at her as he paced past her once more. This was all her fault.

He hissed through his teeth as he remembered her kiss with Shinji. How dare they?! Who did they think they were? What gave Shinji the right to put a claim on the Empress?

He hissed when he realized that the title had risen smoothly out from the depths of his mind. His beast was already positive that she was to be his master. His pure demon blood boiled at her presence, untrained and inexperienced at handling the influence of her power over him.

He frowned and glanced back at her again. She wasn’t paying the least bit attention to him as she stared out into the distance. Despite being in the same room, breathing the same air, hearing the same soft crackle of the fire and feeling the same gentle warmth from its glow, she seemed so far away. He looked at her again but her back was still turned from him. Why?? Why everyone…everyone but him?? She gave everyone attention except for him.

He halted in mid-stride. Could it be? He felt as if his breath was being pushed out of him. Did she not like him?? What was wrong with him that she would not be pleased? What was it? What?? What?!! He vaguely realized that his demon blood was overrunning his mind.


Kagome felt a chill run down her spine. She turned to glance over her shoulder and her eyes widened in alarm. Sesshoumaru was doubled over, desperately clutching the sides of his head.

Her eyes darted to the door on reflex. If she ran now, she’d undoubtedly be able to get away safe. But something kept her there, something that felt like a forceful pull of both obligation and duty. He needed her. She didn’t know how, she didn’t know why…but he needed her help.

Allowing herself to sulk for a moment, Kagome huffed and glanced at the door just one more time. Then, resigned to her fate, she rose from her seat and calmly approached him.

There was no response as she reached his side; he was trapped in his own panic-stricken world. She hunched down so she could look at his face. She drew in a sharp breath as she took in his expression, it was as if the entire world was collapsing in on itself, as if the very ground he stood on was crumbling slowly away beneath him where the darkness was waiting to devour him whole.
‘Fascinating,’ she examined blandly.

It wasn’t exactly her style but it appeared that he needed some sort of physical contact. She grimaced at the thought. It was still a bit of a painful subject for her.

Sesshoumaru was still clutching the sides of his head. Slowly she reached out, placing her hands over his. He was shaking.
She pressed her forehead against his and closed her eyes.

“It’s okay now. It’s alright,” the whisper was barely audible over the sound of his panting. She purred and nuzzled him affectionately while sending waves of soothing calm through her hands.

After a few moments of this treatment she drew back to look into his eyes. They looked hazy, as if not really seeing her but still sensing the coolness and composure with which she pacified him.

She returned to nuzzling him gently and smiled as she noticed his eyes begin to regain their luster.

She closed her eyes, running her fingers calmly through his hair. But her eyes snapped back open when she felt something warm sweep across her lower jaw. Had Sesshoumaru just licked her?

She tried to push him away so she could take a look at his face but his arms locked her in place. His head moved slowly downwards until he was level with her neck. Burying himself deeply there, he inhaled forcefully. Suddenly she realized, that was the exact place Shinji had left his mark.
Sesshoumaru’s grip briefly slackened and Kagome was quick to take advantage as she gingerly pried herself loose. She barely gained three centimeters of freedom before his hands tightened around her again. However, she did manage to catch a glimpse of his face.

She wasn’t sure if it was his expression or the crushing force of his arms that pressed the air right out of her lungs but perhaps it might have been a combination of the two. His eyes had been staring at her with the most heartbreaking expression she’d ever seen. It was by far, the most emotion she’d ever witnessed on his face since she’d first met him.

She stopped struggling. He pulled her close to his chest once more.
….
…….

‘This is inconvenient…’
After three minutes of what seemed like an eternity, Kagome was ready to attempt escape again. What was he planning on doing? Get on with it already! She would’ve liked a beating rather than this unbearably long silence.

Suddenly there was a light tapping on the door. Kagome turned her head minutely so she could see what it was. The heavy door scraped open and a familiar voice made her sigh in relief.

“Kagome?”
“Inuyasha”, she hissed out. She desperately darted her eyes to his and back to the taiyoukai who had become like an abnormal growth to her body.

Her long time friend took this scene in. He pursed his lips and raised a brow. Silently he mouthed, ‘What’d ya do?’

She narrowed her eyes but seriously contemplated the question. Moments later, she looked back and half-shrugged while still in the demon lord’s embrace, “Nothing worth this.”

Inuyasha nodded and decided to step in.
“Sesshoumaru?...” He hesitantly approached his half-brother, wary of any sudden attack that might harm him or Kagome.


Right as he was about to call the taiyoukai’s name again, a hand on his shoulder stopped him. “It wouldn’t be wise to continue any further Inuyasha.”

The pair turned their attention to the person who’d interrupted their expedition.
“Shinji,” Inuyasha took a quick glance back at Kagome before diverting his attention to the weapons master, “why not?”

The dark haired inuyoukai stared at Sesshoumaru and sighed.
“That boy,” he huffed, “I think he’s imprinting.”

“Imprinting?” Kagome questioned suspiciously, throwing a wary glace down at the demon at her throat.

Shinji nodded, “He’s making you his home.”

She lowered her eyes apprehensively, “Care to explain that?”

“His place to come back to,” Shinji pressed his hand to his temple. It looked like a casual gesture but Kagome knew he only did it when he was worried.
He sighed, “It’s a place you’ll always be able to return to.”

He ran his claws through his jet black hair and sighed. He shouldn’t have been that surprised. ‘After all, your master IS your home.’ Since Sesshoumaru had one of the purest, most unadulterated bloodlines, the taiyoukai would experience a pull that was twice as powerful as his own. And the variety of the demon that they were certainly didn’t help. Dogs didn’t earn the title of man’s best friend for nothing. Shinji had imprinted on her too but at least he’d done it much more discreetly, while she’d been asleep.


Kagome tossed this new tidbit of information around in her head for a turn. I’m his home? Did this mean she’d be seeing Sesshoumaru a lot? Forget inconvenience, what a nuisance! The taiyoukai would be the death of her. Her heart still responded to him at moments, more exposure would be unnecessarily wearisome.


Just then, there was a loud scuffle in the hallway.

“The others have arrived,” Shinji turned toward the door, “We will delay them from entering so get this sorted out quickly Kagome.”


She nodded back at him and watched both he and Inuyasha as they quietly exited the room, shutting the door as they left.

Turning to the problem at hand, Kagome gently attempted to loosen his hold. He relented but barely enough to allow her breathing space let alone room to move. She sighed again.

Suddenly, his hold slackened and his breathing began to slow down.

‘Is he finished?’ Lightly, she placed a hand to his forehead.
“Sesshoumaru?”

Suddenly his mouth was on hers, crushing her lips against his. She struggled.
‘What is this?’ she pushed at him desperately to get away. Sweating from her efforts she narrowed her eyes, ‘such a cruel kiss…’
He forced his tongue into her mouth as he pressed himself into her hips. She struggled to separate him from herself.
Sesshoumaru growled in frustration as she bit his bottom lip with force. Slowly, a streak of crimson blood trickled from his mouth.
With a sharp motion, the inuyoukai shoved her backwards. Kagome gasped as her back slammed into the edge of the table behind her. Sesshoumaru was in front of her in a flash as he lifted her and roughly threw her onto it. Suddenly he was on top of her, he had her pinned to the conference table, her legs trapped against his.


The taiyoukai raised his eyes to meet her gaze. His expression was one of an exhaustion and failure. He lowered his eyes.
“Master.”

He ground his lower body against hers and let out a low groan of both pleasure and desire.

“Master?” She repeated.

Her question was like a bucket of ice water pulsing down his body. He had told her.

Suddenly he withdrew from her, looking angry and violated. What power she had over him! He stared into her eyes, seeing only confusion and suspicion. However, he watched as a flash of fury and anger made itself known inside her. He glanced over her loosened clothing and manhandled appearance.

Before he could realize it he was back on top of her, desperately laying kisses across her face and neck. Sorry, sorry…each kiss planted the word anew.

Kagome closed her eyes and furrowed her brow in exhaustion. What was going on with everyone today?

She placed a hand at his the back of his head and massaged the spot comfortingly, something she always did for Shippo and Inuyasha when they were stressed. She released a burst of calming energy into the base of his skull and waited patiently for her ministrations to take effect.

The response was almost instantaneous as the inuyoukai allowed himself to be swept away in the sensation.

Kagome doubted that this treatment would have worked if the demon lord had been his usual self but his mind was already worn down to the point of exhaustion.

He swayed and her mind switched into overdrive. He was still on top of her and if his limbs gave out she would be trapped beneath him.

However, seeming to sense her distress, Sesshoumaru moved and successfully fell to the side, off of the table and into a heap on the hard marble floor.

Despite her misgivings she scrambled up to help him just as the doors burst open.

Kayashima charged into the room, full of fiery indignation at being kept in the dark for so long. What was going on?
The sight that met his eyes was alarming at best.
His empress was kneeling on the floor looking like she’d been assaulted, her clothes askew and her hair thrown back. However, even more startling was that she was crouched over Sesshoumaru, checking his pulse. His eyes began to open and they knew he was alright.

Reassured that there was no permanent damage, Kagome stood and rose to her full height. Calmly and filled with a silent confidence she passed the dragon youkai that seemed frozen in shock and came to stand directly in front of her old weapon’s master.

She radiated a commanding atmosphere as she spoke, “First, Shinji, you will remove this,” she indicated the mark on her neck.

He nodded, knowing full well that the mark was never meant to be permanent but was only used to stop Naoki from placing one first.
“Next,” she eyed him as if she could see through his expressionless mask, “you will tell me what is going on.”

It was already late at night or decidedly, very early morning by the time everything was explained. From the Great Betrayal to the meaning behind everyone’s radical behavior, Kagome understood now. She also began to realize that Shinji had been planning this from the start, when they had first descended from the staircase he had promised that they would be coming to Umbra quite a bit from then on.

“Sneaky old man,” she thought aloud, bitterly and full of resent, “even turned my own son against me.”
Inuyasha was seated next to her and was pondering this new development seriously and silently. He could understand why Shinji would do this. The black inuyoukai wanted to tie the priestess down and make sure she couldn’t escape. Inuyasha felt the same way. He was ridden with the constant fear that at any time, she may decide that she no longer wanted to be in the feudal era and disappear down the well, never to be heard of again. By taking her to Umbra, Shinji wanted her to establish a permanent position in feudal society and make her irreplaceable to the population. Her honor and pride would bind her to them for life. And Umbra was a place that his foster brother knew best, where Shinji could guard her and subsequently take back his position as Commander of the Royal Forces of the capitol.

Inuyasha was pleased but somewhat worried. Would he also be allowed to stay by her side? Knowing Kagome, she’d be able to read his concerns and insist on him staying but his half blood status made him an outcast. He still remembered his childhood amongst nobility. Kagome would understand as she always did, the moment it appeared in his anxious expression. But he didn’t dare show it on his face while Kagome was still mulling over her misfortune.

“He didn’t tell me anything, just let me trundle in, demons freaking out left and right, wanting me to roll with the punches. There’s only so much one person can take!” Kagome was still riled up.

Though it would seem that she was beyond upset, Inuyasha recognized the signs. She was gradually wearing down. It was resignation to fate, something the girl was very experienced in.

After several more minutes of mumbling obscenities to herself, she quieted down and Inuyasha welcomed the silence. They’d been shown to a suite for the night and he already felt uncomfortable enough staying indoors. At least the ceiling was high, it didn’t feel as closed in as Kaede’s place.

Sango and Miroku were sitting closely together on a lounger, having falling asleep after listening to their friends’ explanations. They had accepted this predicament easily enough, knowing full well of the history of Demon and Human relations. They didn’t try to push Kagome in either direction, they knew she’d have to make the decision herself. She just needed time to stew on it for a bit and eventually the right decision would be made.

The aforementioned traitor Shinji was shown to a separate room. Having been an accomplice in knowing and trying to convince her to stay in Umbra, Shippo was also bunking with him.

Abruptly, Kagome stood and walked hastily over to the overly large bed in the middle of the room and sat down. She sunk into it. It was as if the bed was about to engulf her in its folds. She punched the puffy bedding at her side, she wanted to scream.
“This is ridiculous!”
Everything was so overly done. The luxurious bed was so soft it was uncomfortable and confining, the jewel encrusted cups at the bedside only held a mouthful of water, the marble cut chairs were impossible to move and too hard to lounge in. Could this place possibly be Hell??
It was obvious that everything in this room was for decoration and not for habitation.
Losing her patience she grabbed a fur that was pinned to the wall for heaven knows why and tore it down. The heavy brown pelt barely needed a tug before it fell loose. She gathered it up and headed for the door.
Inuyasha jumped up, “Wait, where are you going?” He jumped up and grabbed her arm before she could escape.

Kagome sighed, “I can’t sleep in here, it’s suffocating. Look, I think I saw the door leading to the garden back a few corridors so I’m just going to sleep outside.”
Inuyasha nodded, “I’ll come with you, I don’t think I can sleep in this kind of place either.”
She agreed and they woke their friends to tell them what they planned on doing. Sango and Miroku sleepily acknowledged them. However, since the monk and slayer weren’t used to this kind of opulence, they decided they’d try it out for the night.
Sango flopped on the bed with a sigh and curled up for some sleep and Miroku followed her example.
Kagome smiled and just as she shut the door she heard the sound of the monk being pushed over the side of the bed.
They found the exit soon enough and walked into an amazing sight of flowers and foliage. Inuyasha immediately found what he was looking for and was up the tree in a flash. It was a beautiful and leafy maple tree, not too large but allowing shelter and cover for the night. Instinctually he checked for threats before settling himself down comfortably. Kagome laid down on the soft grass and pulled the fur over herself.
“Much better,” she sighed.
Her companion grunted in agreement as he leaned back into the tree.

After several moments of comfortable silence, Kagome spoke.
“Hey Inuyasha?”
“Hnn?”
“….what…what do you think I should do?”

The inuhanyou snorted, “Just do what you always do. Don’t listen to what anyone else says and do whatever the hell you want.”

She laughed, “What I always do? You jackass.” She picked up a pebble and flicked it at him with frightening speed and accuracy. He deftly caught it and tossed it in the opposite direction. She laughed again and settled back down into her makeshift bed, “I guess you’re right.” Sometimes his sharp bluntness could be the wisest thing anyone could tell her.

He smirked and plucked a copter seed from the branch above him, spinning and launching it downward toward his target.
“Now get some sleep.”

Kagome smiled as the maple seed whirled to a stop near her head, she picked it up delicately and turned it around in her hands. She continued toying with her newfound treasure until eventually she fell into a light but peaceful sleep.

Sesshoumaru cursed himself for the hundredth time. Ultimately he had been the one to reveal the secret. She knew. She knew everything.
He was so vulnerable to her. How could he have been so weak against her influence?

He dug his claws into the heavy and polished oak desk again. Four deep lines penetrated the surface, revealing the pure and white core that lie beneath.

He wanted to see her. All he wanted to do was to see her, to smell that wickedly sinful scent of hers and taste her skin and mouth again. It was like breathing for the first time or taking a long drag of ice cold water on the hottest day of the year. And he was suffocating, mad with thirst.
The hold on his beast was getting looser as he let his mind drift to her image.
*’So lucky. Master is such a beauty. Glad it wasn’t a man this time. Tastes so good. Smells delicious. So lucky…’* A memory flashed in his mind of when he had pinned her to the table in the conference room, rubbing his stiff member against her warmth.
Sesshoumaru moaned. Both from humiliation and desire. He had smelled a brief scent of arousal coming from her when he’d done this. Did his master like it rough? Because he could be rough. Rougher if she liked. He could slam her against one of the library book shelves and take her standing. Or maybe she’d like it more if she was leaned over a table and taken from behind. Umbra housed a large indoor hotspring that they could play in. Thrusting in and out of her in the searing warmth, steam rising as he moved within her, gasping into each other’s mouths as they came. Or maybe while they were in the training room, the dojo with its sliding doors to the outside. He could have her screaming for everyone to hear when he slammed her against the padded floors and entered her again and again. Or maybe even take her while he was transformed, let his beast take over and ravage her, mate her for life and never let her out of his sight, keep her locked up where all the other demons wouldn’t see. The thought of letting his dog demon have his way with her jolted Sesshoumaru out of his reverie.

Frustrated, he decided to get some rest.


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-KPO4