Hot Stuff

Disclaimer: Inu Yasha and its affiliates are the property of Rumiko Takahashi, duh!

Chapter One

She slapped him, hard. "Damn you! I'm sick of your toying! I know you can't stop loving Kikyou, but I can't stop loving you!" Kagome gasped at her own words. She'd never managed to say it out loud. Everyone was watching, Inu Yasha was not. "Look at me!" She screamed and hit him again.
Her anger was washing over her, her ears were ringing, everything else was blocked out except for Inu Yasha. Still, he would not look at her. She barely felt her hand move and didn't hear anything but the loud smack that landed in Inu Yasha's face. "I can't, I won't do this any more!"
She turned and ran. She ran faster than she had ever run before. She didn't run for the well, she didn't want home. She wanted release. Release from this hatred for Kikyou, release from loving Inu Yasha. Tears didn't overtake her, just fury. She passed the edge of the village, the well, and the lake. Still farther her legs carried her. When she could no longer run, she walked as fast as she could manage. It could have been hours, she didn't know. Breath did not fail her, or at least she didn't notice.
The sudden change in slope cause her fall. Down she fell, over rocks and spiky bushes that did not yield to her weight. She hit the bottom of the ravine with a thud that stole her breath and broke her wrist. She felt tears well up, but she had no air to sob.
Finally, her breath returned and she let out a wail. Damn Inu Yasha. Damn this ravine. Damn her. She bit her lip hurriedly. It was dark. There were all manner of youkai about and she had the audacity to run away without bow or arrow. Very carefully and with a great deal of pain she sat up. She leaned against the ravine's sharp slope and cradled her wrist.
A small sound to the right made her jump and she curled up, hoping to become invisible. Another sound followed and Kagome recognized them as footsteps. She held back a whimper and silent tears began to roll down her cheeks. She was as good as dead if it was an enemy. She had no weapon and she was in no shape to fight.
"I did not realize you cried, woman-child," A deep, cool voice said. Kagome wanted to scream, she had the worst of luck. The white youkai saw her wide-eyed expression and chuckled, "Do not tell me you have no bold words for Sesshoumaru?"
"N-not at the m-moment," Kagome stammered nervously, although nervous did not begin to describe the fear that was brewing within her.
He laughed again. "What is the woman of my hanyou brother doing all the way out here at night," He added with an tilt of his head, "alone?"
Kagome didn't see the point in lying or playing games with Sesshoumaru at the moment. If he was going to kill her, she didn't want to wait. "I'm angry with your stupid younger brother, I suppose."
He raised and eyebrow. "Really?"
Kagome was confused. "Y-yes."
He seemed to hesitate for a moment. "You must be truly angry with him to have found your way here."
"Where is here?" Kagome asked, inching away as he stepped closer.
"My territory," Sesshoumaru smiled, almost proudly, "Only great anger or hatred for the hanyou could have allowed you entrance to my domain."
"I don't hate Inu Yasha," Kagome said defiantly.
"You said yourself you were angry with him," He examined his nails calmly. Kagome had lost all of that anger with the appearance of Sesshoumaru, "Is it Kikyou whom you hate so much? She leads Inu Yasha around by the nose, does she not?"
Kagome felt her anger jump uncomfortably to life. "Yes! She hasn't ever done anything for him and he still loves her! I've given him my entire being and he still can't let that bitch go!"
"Your entire being?" He sounded curious.
"All of me," She said weakly as she lowered her head, "Every part. And he still..." She couldn't finish.
"All of you..."
"Yes!" She shouted, "All of me!"
He looked at her and Kagome felt as though he was raking her mind with those overly-sharp claws of his. She held herself tighter, yelping when she caught her wrist wrong.
He right next to her, reaching for her before she had time to think. She tried to push away, but there was nowhere to go. She shut her eyes tight and prayed. His hand gently lifted her right wrist and her eyes snapped open.
"It is broken," He whispered.
"I fell," Kagome whimpered, horrified at what was happening.
Sesshoumaru stood and reached for his sword. Kagome cringed, then remembered Tenseiga was no threat to her. He gave a quick stab and slash at her wrist and Kagome felt the pain reside. She starred at him, mouth agape.
"Why..." She didn't get to finish her sentence as a huge lump rose in her throat.
Her eyes filled again and Sesshoumaru placed a hand on her shoulder. "Sleep," He murmured and Kagome thought nor felt any more.