My Boyfriend's Brother

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Originally this story appeared in the Sesshomaru/Kagome section. As the story expanded however, Inuyasha's role became more prominent, possibly because of my growing affection for the character. This did not sit so well with some as will be reflected in some of my feedback... At the moment I am in the process of editing (I'm sure it shows) the piece because I intend to add to it at some point. This is not an update.

This chapter: Kagome has a saucy dream about the object of her affection. However, when she sees him later that day that's when things start to get weird...


Chapter One


Kagome awoke with a cry. She was breathless and her body was clammy with sweat. Between her legs she was wet and her face was flushed. It had been another one of those dreams. Just how long had this been going on? She could not remember. She threw back the blankets that covered her and tried to get her breath back. The cool night air was like a balm. Inuyasha’s concerned, curious face appeared over hers. His unkempt white hair hung down, mingling with her own dark hair.

“Are you okay?”, Inuyasha said, “You cried out...”

“I’m fine”, Kagome said, “Go back to sleep.”

“Okay…”

He did not look so convinced. He sniffed the air. Could he smell her arousal? She caught her breath. She certainly knew that he could smell a lie. He said this was because the person would begin to sweat and the heartbeat would quicken. He could only tell if he was standing right in front of the person. His nose and ears were not quite as good as Sesshomaru’s.

His gaze trailed downwards and fixed on a point on her chest. His golden eyes went a little wide. She frowned at him. She followed the direction of his gaze and realised that under her summer-weight t-shirt her nipples were hard, standing in relief from the soft mounds of her unrestrained breasts.

She screamed and grabbed the blankets. She held them against her breasts. Besides the t-shirt she wore only her underwear. Her clothes were drying on a makeshift clothesline strung across the cave because their party had been caught in a downpour earlier in the day. Inuyasha fell backwards in alarm. His face reddened. Sango roused herself.

“Inuyasha, what are you doing in our room?”, Sango demanded sleepily.

“I’m not in your room!”, Inuyasha cried, “We’re camping in a cave on a hillside. Remember?!”

“Oh, right… What did you do to Kagome to make her scream at you like that?”

Sango managed to look menacing, despite the fact she was half-asleep. Miroku shook his head.
“Inuyasha, you have to be more subtle than that if you want to get results”, he said.

“Inuyasha’s a pervert”, Shippo said in a sing-song voice.

Inuyasha’s face reddened. He made a grab for Shippo’s tail. The Kitsune fox cub scuttled across the floor and cuddled up to Kagome.

“I’m not a pervert!”, Inuyasha cried, “And I wasn’t doing anything to her! She was moaning and thrashing about in her sleep. She woke me up!”

Kagome’s face flushed.

“I was having a bad dream”, she lied, “I’m alright now.”

Her blush became even deeper as all eyes turned towards her. She was such a bad liar.

“Let’s all just all go back to sleep”, she said.

She rolled on to her side facing Sango’s bed. She felt Shippo lean on her hair as he rolled himself into a cosy little ball by her middle back. He was like a living, breathing hot water bottle. She squeezed her eyes shut. She listened to her friends shuffle about as they settled down to sleep once more.

“Hey, Kagome! Psssttt!”

Sango was trying to get her attention. She opened her eyes.

“What?”, she whispered.

“What were you really dreaming about?”

Sango’s eyes were bright with amusement. The corners of her mouth were turned up in a knowing smile. Her face flushed anew. Her friend laughed softly.

“I hope it was a good one!”, Sango said.

She lay back and pulled the blankets around her. In moments she was sleeping. Kagome stared at the patterns the dying fire was making on the wall, trying to stop the stream of images passing through her mind. She squeezed her eyes shut again, as if that would make them go away. Eventually she slept.


The next day was clear and bright after the rain the day before. A cool breeze swept across the open countryside, drying the fields. It made Kagome shiver. Storm clouds were chased across the sky or pulled apart leaving wispy, candyfloss strands in their wake.

Kagome stopped pushing her bicycle. She kicked down the stand and pulled up the collar of her jacket. She jammed her hands into her pockets, wishing she had a heavier coat. Then she took them out and rubbed them together for warmth. It was nearing the end of autumn. Once the month came to an end they would be plunged into the bitter cold of winter.

Shippo had managed to contract a cold. They were heading towards a patch of healing herbs, Inuyasha knew of. Miroku had grumbled but he stayed behind to baby sit the Kitsune at the cave. Kagome was angry with herself for not realising Shippo was feverish the night before. She was the closest thing to a mother to the orphaned fox cub had and she felt as though she had failed in that duty.

“Brrr!”, Sango said, hunching her shoulders, “Cold! I hate the cold. I wish we only had to travel in the summer time…”

“Me too”, Kagome said with a tight smile.

“Women! Always complaining…”

It was Inuyasha who spoke. Kagome started. Her face flushed, remembering the night before. She had managed to get through the morning without saying very much to him. He pushed his face closer to hers.

“Why is your face all red?”, he said.

“Is it?”
She stepped backwards away from him. Inuyasha frowned.

“Yes, it is… What’s wrong with you?”, he said, “You’ve been acting weird all morning.”

“I have?”

Sango nodded.

“He’s just been pretending not to notice, as usual”, she said.

Sango rolled her eyes. Inuyasha shot her a dirty look.

“I didn’t ask for your opinion!”, he said.
“Well, you got it anyway!”

Sango knew it was childish but she stuck her tongue out at him. The look on Inuyasha’s face was murderous. He had such a short fuse.

“Stop it, you guys”, Kagome said, “Don’t fight because of me. I’m just a little tired. I didn’t sleep very well last night…”

She pushed her bicycle forward leaving them to bicker. Her face was flushed. She really was such a bad liar. Behind her she heard Sango cry out in alarm and Inuyasha shout a curse.

“Dammit!”, Kagome cried, “I told you guys to…”

She turned quickly. Her words died in her throat. Sesshomaru was there, casually holding Inuyasha by the throat. His feet dangled about a foot off the ground. His arms flailed, trying to grasp his older brother's arm. He and Inuyasha had always had an uneasy relationship but they were supposed to be on slightly better terms these days. Still, somehow she was not surprised to see him behave so violently. What had set him off this time?

The wind whipped Sesshomaru’s long silver hair around his face. It rippled the white kimono with its block red and white flower detail on the shoulders and the sleeves, and the legs of his white hakama, but he remained immobile, unmoved. His serene expression belied his outward behaviour.

Her bike clattered to the ground. The front tyre spun. She ran towards them. Then she saw Sango signalling frantically to her. Sango shook her head. She was sprawled on the ground looking a little dazed. Kagome stopped, realising it would be foolish to get any closer.

She fitted an arrow into her bow. Please hit. The arrow skimmed past Sesshomaru’s head, went wide and buried itself in a tree. Threads of silver, hanging from the tree bark glinted in the sunlight. She realised that she had cut off some strands of Sesshomaru’s hair. Crap! That’ll only make him madder. She looked back to the feuding brothers. She could only watch as Inuyasha’s face turned from red to green.

“Sesshomaru”, she cried, “Stop it! You’re killing him.”

The Taiyoukai’s head turned sideways. He looked at her out of the corner of a wide golden eye.

“Do not shoot any more of those purifying missiles of yours at me, wench”, Sesshomaru spat, “You do not want to incur my wrath.”

His voice was a growl. Kagome held up her bow defiantly. Her hand scrabbled for an arrow behind her. Fear was making her clumsy. Abruptly, Sesshomaru let Inuyasha drop. His body hit the ground with a sickening thud. He gasped for breath.

“Eeep!”

Kagome stepped backwards, tripping over a rock. Sesshomaru was suddenly in front of her, hand clamped around her arm to prevent her from reaching her arrows. He stopped her from falling.

“Eeekkk!”

She had not seen him move. He wrenched her arm away from the arrows, almost tearing it out of the socket. The arm went numb. He let go of her arm to tear the quiver off her back. The sleeve of his white kimono brushed her cheek. His armour pressed against her breasts and stomach. His hakama brushed her bare legs.

Fear loosened her grip on the bow. It slipped from her fingers and fell uselessly to the ground. Her quiver hit the ground and the arrows scattered. The sound seemed far away as she stared into his face.

His face was only inches away from hers, close enough to kiss. She was facing imminent death, but it did not stop her from observing the magenta stripes on his cheeks and eyelids, and the royal blue crescent on his forehead peeking out through the parting in his fringe. She had always imagined that the markings were slightly raised, like scars. They were smooth as the surface of his perfect skin. She felt compelled to touch them.

She was dimly aware that his poison claws were poised, ready to strike.
She watched her hand reaching out, like it was somebody else’s hand. He was so tall she had to strain to touch the crescent moon in the centre of his forehead. Her fingertips trailed down the perfection of his nose and across his cheek to trace the stripes across his cheekbone. The demon lord’s skin was warm to the touch.

Sesshomaru was still. Kagome met his eyes. He was staring at her in surprise. Then a small furrow appeared between his eyebrows, signalling his recovery. He gripped her shoulder, claws cutting through the cloth of her denim jacket and polo shirt and sinking into her flesh. She made a small sound but she hardly felt the pain. She was too focused on his nearness. The life came back into her numbed arm. She touched the white fur pelt he carried. It was soft under her fingers. Confusion showed in the demon lord’s eyes.

“Incorrigible human wench”, he said, “Have you no reason? I am here to punish you for trespassing on my lands but you call me Sesshomaru. I threaten you with death but caress my face like we are on more intimate terms! I am moments away from crushing your shoulder and you touch my attire!”

Wow! That was an entire paragraph. Usually it’s all one-liners with you. Outwardly Kagome was silent. She stared up at him, into his golden eyes, eyes that at first glance were so like Inuyasha’s. When you looked more closely you realised that they were wider, narrower, world wearier with a colder kind of awareness in them, the eyes of demon who would cut you down and feel no remorse for taking your life. They made Inuyasha’s eyes look like the eyes of a harmless puppy.

She made no move to remove her hands from his face or pelt. Her fear of him had vanished. Sesshomaru stared back at her. The furrow between his eyebrows deepened and a small frown line appeared across his forehead as a realisation hit him.

“Stupid female”, he said, “You are not afraid of me, anymore…”

The idea seemed to disturb him. His voice was soft, deep and wonderful. The sound caressed her ears. Kagome found her voice. It came out as a near whisper.

“No”, she said, “I’m not...”

“That does not entitle you to take liberties with my person. I demand that you remove your hands immediately. Your touch is repugnant as your human stench and visage!”

The usual mask was back in place. The light in his eyes and the tone of her voice told her he was angry. Her eyes widened. Was the touch of her soft human fingers really so repulsive to the demon lord? Could he really not tolerate the smell of her skin nor her appearance neither? It was hard to accept.

When they were travelling it was hard to keep clean but she washed everyday and bathed at every other available opportunity. She knew she was no raving beauty but her pretty face and slim figure with its ample breasts, tiny waist, long legs and small hands and feet drew admiring glances. Those who knew her well would not describe her as a vain person but his words made her angry.

“If I’m so horrible, why don’t you let go of me first, huh?!”, she cried.

He regarded her with those cool eyes. As she watched a kind of warmth seemed to leak into them, making them glow. The corner of his mouth twitched. He grunted softly, as if in approval. Kagome’s eyes went wide at the change in his expression.

“My brother comes.”

He let go of her shoulder and shot upwards. Kagome lost her equilibrium and landed painfully on her buttocks. She grunted. Inuyasha whirled around in mid-charge. His older brother kicked him in the face. He staggered backwards. He tripped over Kagome’s feet and fell on top of her, knocking her flat on her back. Tetsusaiga plunged into the ground dangerously close to her head.

“Eeekkk!”

Inuyasha’s face was red as his armour. Somehow he had ended up facing her. The press of his hard body, though not entirely unwelcome, was unsettling after the incident with Sesshomaru moments before. Kagome struggled to free herself from underneath his body. She slapped at his face and shoulders. Her knees impacted with the softer tissue of his legs.

“Get off me, you big lummox!”, she cried.

“Stop slapping and kicking me!”, he said, seizing one wrist and then the other, “God, it’s not like I’m enjoying it! I got other things on my mind right now…”

He released her wrists. The pressure on her body eased. Kagome was surprised when she realised just how heavy Inuyasha had been. He was only a few inches taller than she was and puffed out fire rat robes made him look bigger than he was. The body underneath them was lean and corded with sinewy muscle. She had seen him bare-chested enough times to know. Once she had seen him naked but she had been too panicked to make any lasting memories.

He sprang to his feet and started pulling his sword out of the ground. She stared up at the sky overhead. Rejected by two men in one day. Great! She felt a breeze around the upper part of her legs and groin. She looked down her body and realised her skirt had worked its way up to her hips.

“Eeep!”

She scrambled to her knees and struggled to pull her skirt down, wishing she had not chosen today to wear her Hello Kitty underwear. She looked up and met Sesshomaru’s eyes. He was still hovering above them observing the whole spectacle. His eyes were filled with amusement. Her face flushed. She was aware that Inuyasha was shouting at Sesshomaru but her ears filtered the sound out. There was only room for Sesshomaru in her private little universe at the moment.

He was looking at her like she was suddenly interesting. If he paid any attention to her at all when he encountered her, he looked at her like she was particularly unpleasant bug. Saving her from being raped and killed by one of the undead Seven they had encountered had only been incidental. He was interfering with their conversation… Other than that, he usually ignored her. This was new.

Her broke eye contact with her and looked at Inuyasha. The corners of his mouth twitched.

“As usual you are too slow, half-breed”, he said.

His voice held a scornful edge. The half-demon emitted a wordless roar and jumped upwards, swinging his sword. The demon lord moved sideways out of reach. He swung his blade repeatedly. His older brother avoided the blows easily. His feet touched the ground. Sesshomaru stared down at him.

“You bore me”, he said.

He made a show of yawning. Inuyasha muttered obscenities and charged him again. Sesshomaru moved easily out of the way. He punched him in the stomach and he landed face first on the ground with a painful thud.

Kagome put a hand to her face to stifle the giggles that rose unexpectedly in her throat. Her eyes went a little wide. Just whose side was she on? She looked at Sesshomaru. He was watching her again with those cool eyes of his. Then he was gone in a white blur of speed.

Sango limped to her side. She knelt on the ground. Worry made her dark eyes huge in her pretty face. In an unusual display of affection, she hugged Kagome. The pain in her shoulder caused her wince.

“My shoulder…”, Kagome said.

“Let me see”, Sango said.

She did not resist as Sango unzipped her jacket and unbuttoned the neckline of her polo shirt. She pushed the shirt off one shoulder to examine the wound.

“I was so worried”, Sango said, “I saw what he was going to do to you but there was nothing I could do… Then he just seemed to stop…”

She looked confused. Inuyasha was walking towards them but he stopped and turned his back as soon as his eyes fell on Kagome’s exposed flesh.

“How bad is it?”, he said.

He glanced over his shoulder.

“I’ll tell you in a moment…”, Sango said.

Kagome stared at Inuyasha’s back, resentment filling her.

“Did you know we were in his territory?”, she said.

Inuyasha was silent.

“Inuyasha, answer me or I’ll say the o word!”

He snorted.

“Maybe…”, he said.

She shot daggers into his back with her eyes. She felt some sense of satisfaction when his shoulders twitched under her gaze.

“You are unbelievable!”, she said, “How could you put us in danger like that?”

Inuyasha turned towards her. His nostrils flared. His expression was arrogant not unlike that of his older half-brother.

“I handled it”, he said, “He’s gone, isn’t he?!”

Kagome rolled her eyes.

“Baka!”, she cried, “Osuwari! “Osuwari! Osuwari! Osuwari!”

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Inuyasha’s face became acquainted with the ground repeatedly. When the onslaught was over he drew his body out of the small crater he had created and sat back on his haunches with a dazed expression on his face. He spit out grass.

“Bitch”, he muttered under his breath.

Kagome sighed and gave him a withering look. Sango giggled unkindly.

“That never gets old!”, Sango said.

“Believe me”, Kagome said, “It does…”

She watched Inuyasha stand up and dust down his robes. If you were giving me what I need would I be fantasizing about your brother? Would I have gotten myself into a potentially fatal situation like that? Her eyes widened when she realised that the answer to both questions was yes. She stared down at her knees as Sango examined the wound on her shoulder. She blotted it gently with a handkerchief. Kagome tried not to flinch.

“Hmm… The puncture wounds aren’t that deep at all!”, Sango was saying, “I don’t think it will even scar. He didn’t poison you because the wound isn’t discoloured. You’re lucky. It could have worse, much worse….”

Kagome sighed again. She was half-listening to Sango’s words. She stared at the threads of silver hanging from her arrow buried in the bark of the tree. They caught the light as they moved in the breeze. Inuyasha put his hand out to retrieve the arrow, then thought better of it and withdrew his hand. He lapsed into his usual crouch and stared up at it with a scowl on his face. She wondered if those silver strands were as soft as they looked...

It would be late afternoon by the time they made it back to the cave. Although injured, Kagome volunteered to gather kindling to restart the fire. Miroku had fallen sleep and let the fire die. They had found Shippo curled up happily on the monk’s belly when they returned.

The undergrowth was still damp and it was difficult to find twigs that were dry enough. Without realising it, Kagome was venturing deeper into the woods and further away from her friends and the relative safety of the campsite. Deciding that she had gathered enough kindling, she turned and began the trek back. Her foot caught on a tree root concealed in the undergrowth and she went sprawling, her eyes wide.
“Uff!”

The fruits of her labour scattered, she drew herself up into a sitting position. One of her knees was bleeding. She sighed.

“Great!”

She rummaged in her pocket for a clean tissue. Then she drew the leg up and pressed it to the wound. A twig snapped nearby. Kagome looked up. Sesshomaru was standing no more than six feet away from her. He was holding a twig in his hand. The end of it was jagged. He let it drop.

“Eeep!”

She realised he had broken that twig to taunt her. The question was why? Why is he bothering? She stared at him the way one does at a caged animal. Its physical beauty steals your breath but you must never forget the potential for violence in its body. She lowered her leg, realising she was flashing her underwear for the second time that day. Her face slowly turned red. The corners of his mouth turned up as if she had done something amusing.

“Sesshomaru…”

He moved in an amazing blur of speed. She choked. His hand was clamped around her throat, pinning her to a tree. The sleeve of the kimono had fallen away revealing the stripes on his wrist. She clawed at that wrist, but to no avail. His grip did not loosen, even when her fingernails drew blood. Does he feel pain at all? His face was impassive. She had a sense that he was waiting, as if he expected something of her.

“Please…”

Her voice came out as a scratch. He let go of her neck so abruptly she fell forward. He put his hand on her injured shoulder and pushed her backwards. She fell back against the tree with a cry.

“Aaahhh!”

She squeezed her eyes shut. She was not sure which part of her to clutch, her injured shoulder or her bruised throat. He had aggravated the wound when he pushed her against the tree. Tears sprang to her eyes.

“Let that be a lesson to you”, he said, “Do not be so familiar when you address me, human, or next time I will kill you.”

She gasped for breath, afraid to look him in the eye lest he should hurt her again. Sesshomaru carefully put two clawed fingers under her chin. She caught her breath.

“Look at me when I talk to you”, he said.

She raised her head, knowing first hand what those claws could do. He could melt her into a puddle of goo without a second thought. His arm dropped by his side again. She wiped away her tears with the back of her hand. She stared at him in disbelief.

“I called you Sesshomaru instead of Sesshomaru-sama”, she said, “That’s why you choked me? That’s so petty…”

He made an inelegant snort.

“If I choked you, human, you would not be watching me with those insolent eyes now”, he said, “You would be dead. I was merely disciplining a lowly human as is my right.”

“Is that what you call it?!”

“Alter your tone or be punished. Would you like a new set of scars to keep company with those I gave you this morning?”

“Not particularly… How do you know you cut me?”

He stared at her. Kagome wondered if he was planning to turn her into his next meal.

“I licked your blood off my claws when I left you”, he said.

She made a face; surprised he had given her an explanation at all. He was just so damned snotty.

“Ugh!”, she said.

“My thoughts exactly, human. Your blood is a little salty for my taste.”

Kagome felt sick. She paled. Sesshomaru placed his hand on tree by the side of her head. He leaned into her. His hakama brushed her legs. She jerked backwards but there was nowhere to go. She bumped her head against the tree.

“Ow!”, she cried.

“I can tell that sickens you, wench. How your attitude has changed since this morning! You did not mind me being this close to you then.”

She tried to sidestep him. He moved his body, blocking her escape route. She stared up at him angrily.

“Ah! The fire returns”, he said.

There was a warmth in his voice as if the situation amused him. He put his hand on her shoulder and pushed her against the tree again. She gasped in pain. He leaned towards her. For a moment she thought he was going to kiss her. His face only a few inches away from hers, she noted just how long and curling his silver eyelashes were.

“Tell me, human”, he said, “What dirty little fantasises do you have about me? Am I a caring, considerate lover?”

He was so close she could feel his body heat, his breath on her skin. His lips were a delicate pink colour. They looked soft and kissable. Kagome began to sweat. Inuyasha claimed that Sesshomaru smelled like a wet dog but her nose made him a liar. She could smell his metallic tang of his armour, the warm odour of the fur pelt he carried, even the oil he used to maintain his swords but she also smelled soap and a hint of cologne.

Her panicked brain carefully separated the scents. Underneath it all was the musky scent of his skin. It threatened to overwhelm her senses. God, he even smells gorgeous! I must be crazy. He’s about to kill me and all I’m thinking about is how great he smells.

Her eyes were wide. The sweat on her skin collected on her upper lip. It pooled under her breasts, in the small of her back and in any available crease on her body. Her heart was thumping in her chest. She was sure he could hear it, taste her fear as keenly as he could smell the sweat on her skin. She swallowed.

“Sometimes…”, she said.

Her voice sounded strangled. The corners of his mouth twitched. His eyes glittered as if he was fighting laughter.

“Hah!”, he cried, “Reality must be so disappointing for you. My dear little brother must be a very poor lover indeed if you are fantasizing about this Sesshomaru who would rather kill you and consume your flesh, than copulate with you. Does he not know how to keep you satisfied?”

“We haven’t…”

Sesshomaru’s surprise showed. She noted the subtle movements of his eyelids and eyebrows, the slight parting of his lips as if she was saving the memory for detailed recollection.

“You have not had sex with him yet?”, he enquired, “Little wonder you are so frustrated, wench. Is Inuyasha really so unwilling? Does he still pine for the affections of a dead woman?”

She saw something in his eyes. Was it pity? Did he pity her? Her anger flared.

“My name is Kagome!”, she cried, “Stop calling me, human or wench God! If you’re going to kill me could you at least hurry up and get it over with it?! I thought even you were honourable enough to give an enemy a quick death!”

For the second time in the space of a few moments, Sesshomaru looked surprised. He rapidly recovered. His eyes narrowed. He shoved his knee roughly between her thighs pinning her lower body against the tree. Kagome gasped, very aware of the parts of her he was touching with that muscular thigh, places Inuyasha had not touched her with his hands. Fear rose in her throat. The blood pounding in her head threatened to deafen her.

“Are you going to rape me first?”, she said.

Her voice failed her. It was barely a whisper. His eyes narrowed. He looked at her with utter distain.

“Is that one of your sick little fantasises?”, he said, “I would never sink to such depths, sully myself by resorting to such measures, even if it would hurt my half-breed brother….”

He grasped a handful of her hair. He turned an interested gaze on her.

“In a certain light, you are almost tolerable to look at human female...”

Kagome gasped.

“No”, she whispered, “Please… Anything but that…”

He stared down at her.

“Did you not hear what I said?”, he said, “I do not rape for my carnal pleasure. I will only partake of the pleasures of the flesh when a female gives herself to me willingly…”

He could see that Kagome was not really listening. The fear had taken hold. A small furrow appeared between his perfect eyebrows. His face dropped towards hers. She pressed the back of her head into the tree, pulling painfully on her hair clutched in his hand. She swallowed. Is he really going to add insult to dishonour by expecting me to kiss him? Not that I can stop him…

He followed as if it were some kind of flirtatious game. The pain in her scalp ceased when he let go of her hair. She did not have time to wonder why when his mouth came down on hers. He kissed her, just a soft brush of lips. Her eyes were open, giving her an odd close up view of his face. Sesshomaru drew back. He was met with utter confusion.

“I thought…”

“What did you think, wench?”, he said softly, “This Sesshomaru is many things but not a rapist. You do not believe it or you would not have let me take a kiss. You would have fought me as you fought me when I held your delicate neck, afraid that I would crush it…”

The back of his fingers trailed gently down the side of her face. His hand dropped a short distance and settled lightly on her shoulder. The tenderness of the caress alone did not make her tremble. It was the look in his eyes. He was looking at her as if he wanted her. What? How? He leaned down and kissed her again. Kagome closed her eyes. She kissed him back. He took his hand off her shoulder. Then she felt the press of it on her waist. The tension went out of his thigh between her legs yet he did not move it from position.

The tree bark was slimy beneath her hands. She rubbed her hands on the sides of her skirt, not wanting to sully Sesshomaru’s ethereally white kimono. Her small hands trailed across the cold, hardness of his breastplate. Then they moved upwards and touched the soft, warm, silk material of the kimono covering his broad, muscular chest.

His rapid heartbeat thudded under her hands. She felt the tip of his tongue press against her slightly parted lips. She parted her lips a little wider, enough for him to slip a firm, wet tongue into her mouth. He gently probed the inside of her mouth, at first teasing her with soft touches of his tongue, then finally caressing her tongue with his. Boldly, Kagome reciprocated.

She felt the sharpness of his fangs and tasted her own blood. Sesshomaru made a soft growl. She felt the vibration under her hands on his chest, all the way to her elbows. It sang through her lips and tongue. It ran down her chin and her neck until it reached her breastbone. It made her gasp in surprise, then shiver with pleasure.

His thigh rubbed against the tender area between her legs as he leaned into her, pressing her back against the tree. The smooth, silk fabric of his hakama was warm against the sensitive flesh of her inner thighs. She moaned softly. The cotton fabric of her underwear felt like an impediment rather than a confine for her virtue. She wished that there were no clothes, no armour, and no sword to separate their bodies. Finally they broke apart to catch their breath. Sesshomaru stared down at her with seemingly impassive eyes.

“Was that anything like your fantasises?”, he said, “I hope I did not disappoint…”

She ignored the sarcastic edge to his voice.

“No, you could never…”, she said.

A thought occurred to her. Her eyes sparkled mischievously.

“You keep talking about my fantasises…. Do you ever think about me?”, she said.

His eyebrows lifted. The look in his eyes told her she had just said something clever. He made no answer.

“Sesshomaru-sama?”, she said, “I know I’m right…”

Kagome smiled, enjoying the notion that she had made him eat his own words. Uncharacteristically, she hoped they were very bitter to swallow. Sesshomaru growled. His eyes narrowed. Anger and irritation burned in their depths. She felt the sound vibrate through her hands on his chest. Her eyes widened. That is so hot!

“Show me your wound”, he said.

“What? Why?”, she said in utter confusion.

“Show it to me willing or I shall tear the clothes from your body and you shall have to walk back through the forest to your campsite alone, naked as the day you were born!”

Her lips parted in surprise. He really was ticked off! Her bottom lip pushed outwards.

“You were being nice”, she said, “I hoped it would last...”

He raised an eyebrow. Reluctantly Kagome took her hands off his chest. She unzipped her jacket. She popped the buttons on the neckline of her polo shirt. Sesshomaru pushed her jacket off her shoulder. He lifted the neckline of her shirt and pulled it aside so he could see the bandage. She felt the cloth give before she heard it rip.

“You can smell the blood?”, she said.

His reply was a glance and a slight nod of his head. He moved the bra strap off her shoulder, looking slightly disconcerted. It occurred to her that he might not know what a bra was. She felt her breast relax in the cup without the tension of the bra strap to hold it higher than it naturally sat. His claws brushed her skin. He tore the bandage off her shoulder exposing the wound. She winced as the surgical tape came away from tender skin. He dropped his head towards her shoulder. He inhaled the scent of her skin.

“This scent… So sweet, so innocent…”

His voice was a near whisper. It had a husky edge. It made her chest and throat tight. Her eyes widened. Don’t I smell like sweat? He said I stunk before! Sesshomaru sighed. Any further thoughts on the matter were interrupted when he blew softly on her skin. His breath was warm but it made her shiver.

His silver hair slid around his shoulders in a soft, swishing motion as he leaned forward. Some of it fell on her bare skin. It brushed her face. It was so soft and warm. The individual strands were almost baby fine. She trembled.

She felt the press of his tongue against the wound. She tried not to flinch. Is he going to kill me and eat me after all? Then he began to lick the wound clean with short, soft jabs of his firm, wet tongue. He clutched her upper arm to keep her still while he worked.

For sometime he continued in that way, licking the wound clean. He bore down on the wound where the claw marks were deeper. The pain was just this side of pleasurable. Kagome made a small sound in her throat. Eventually he lifted his head and met her eyes. He tossed his head and his hair and it settled over his shoulders once again. There was a something very feminine about gesture but somehow Sesshomaru pulled it off. He restrained any stray tendrils of hair behind his ears.

“You should heal, now that I have cleansed the wound properly”, he said, “Any trace of poison is gone.”

“There was poison in the wound?!”

Her jaw dropped in surprise. She promptly closed her mouth again when he raised an elegant eyebrow.

“A trace”, he said, “Did you not find the wound painful?”

“Yes, but when Sango examined the wound she said it wasn’t discoloured…”


“It would have taken time to discolour. The amount of poison was minute but it would almost certainly have killed you within a day or two…”

“Eh, great! Thanks… So you’re immune to your own poison?”

Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow. Kagome’s cheeks flushed.

“Sorry, silly question… I was just wondering… Do I still have to call you Sesshomaru-sama though you put your tongue in my mouth and you licked my wound clean?”

He made no reply. His strong fingers closed around her throat and squeezed. Panic rose in her chest. Her body went rigid with fear. He loosened his grip, so it was just comfortable to breathe. The corners of his mouth turned up into a malicious smile. A dark light burned in his eyes. He deliberately rubbed his thigh between her legs. Kagome shuddered and moaned, hating him in that moment.

“You bastard”, she said softly.

“Kagome! Kagome!”

In the distance, Inuyasha was calling her name.

“Kagome!”

That was Miroku’s voice. Sesshomaru sniffed the air. He turned his head to look over his shoulder giving her the benefit of gazing upon his perfect profile. The markings on his cheek disappeared into his hair close to the ear. His almost delicate-looking pointed, pixie ear was lightly tinged with pink like the inside of a shell. The sudden movement had upset the collar of his kimono, baring a long line of his pale neck and a glimpse of collarbone. He turned to face her. She could feel his eyes on her. Kagome realised she was staring. She met his eyes. Her cheeks flushed.

“Are you done staring at me?”, he said.

He made no attempt to adjust the collar of his kimono.

“Yes”, Kagome said.

He let go of her neck to brush her cheek with the backs of his fingers.

“Why do your cheeks flush such an endearing shade of pink?”, he said, “Are you embarrassed?”

“Yes!”

The corner of his mouth twitched.

“Do not be”, he said, “This Sesshomaru is used to the whimsical reactions of dim-witted females to his appearance.”

She huffed in annoyance.

“Why you…”

He gripped her throat again reminding her that he was in charge. Her eyelids fluttered in panic. This did not go unnoticed by Sesshomaru. Inuyasha and Miroku’s voices were coming closer.

“Your little friends are looking for you”, he said, “Why do you not call out to them?”

Kagome’s facial expression was a question.

“Ah!”, he said, “You do not want them to find you in such a compromising position…”

Laughter glittered in his eyes. He pressed his lips to hers one last time. Then he was gone, leaving her gasping. She touched her tender throat. Then she looked down. Her clothes were dishevelled and dirty. The shoulder of her shirt was torn. The wound however, did not look as bad now, not as bad as it had earlier.

She remembered something her science teacher had said about saliva having antiseptic qualities, even if the human mouth was rife with bacteria. A dog’s mouth contained fewer bacteria. Did that mean a demon dog lord’s saliva might possibly have healing properties? Her friends’ voices were coming closer. She stood up and fixed her clothes as best she could. Then she smoothed her hair.


“Inuyasha! Miroku! I’m here!”, Kagome cried.
She walked in the direction she thought their voices were coming from. Inuyasha bounded through the trees and landed in a crouched position in front of her. He straightened up. Seeing her dishevelled state he cupped the side of her face in one hand. He put two fingers under her chin to tilt her head upward and surveyed the bruises that were forming on her neck.
“Are you alright?”, he said, “What happened to you?”
“I fell”, Kagome said, “I’m fine.”
“Why don’t I believe you?”
“Eh, because of your naturally suspicious nature…”
Inuyasha lifted his eyebrows.
“Only because you give me reason not to”, he said, “I believe you might have cut your knee and gotten dirty from a fall but you didn’t get those marks on your neck from falling on your face... They look awful!”
Kagome pulled a face.
“Thanks!”, she said sarcastically.
Inuyasha ignored her. He was sniffing the air.
“That stench… I’d know it anywhere… Sesshomaru! He was here!”
Kagome tried to hide the widening of her eyes. She should have known she could not fool Inuysasha’s nose. He frowned. His nose dropped towards her. He sniffed her hair, her face, her neck, and her shoulder. Kagome pushed his face away as his nose dropped towards her breasts. Automatically she clutched the breast pocket of her jacket. That was where she had secreted the strands of Sesshomaru’s hair.
“His smell… It’s all over you!”, Inuyasha cried, “What did he do to you? How badly did he hurt you?”
Inuyasha was concerned, then angry. He gripped her chin and her shoulder. Kagome winced in pain. He adjusted his hold on her injured shoulder. Kagome shook her head, which was hard to do because of his hold on her chin. Should she try to lie?
“I’m fine”, she said, “He didn’t lay a hand on me...”
Inuyasha let go of her chin. He put his hand on her other shoulder. He gave her a hard look.
“Tell me the truth, Kagome”, he said, “Don’t hold anything back out of some misguided female notion that if you don’t tell me what happened I won’t go after the bastard and kill him… Did he try to force himself on you to get at me, is that why his smell is all over you?”
The concern was seeping back into Inuyasha’s eyes. Kagome snorted.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Inuyasha”, Kagome said, “That stuck-up bastard of a brother hates humans. The idea that he should try to have sex with me… Come on! I think he’d rather bite off Jaken’s toenails and eat them!”
Inuyasha’s eyes were narrowed in suspicion. Normally he would have laughed at the wisecrack.
“You’re still not telling me the whole truth, Kagome”, he said, “Why are you defending him? I know he gave you those marks on your neck…”
Kagome sighed.
“Fine”, she said, “You’re right. So he did rough me up a little…”
“Hah! I knew it!”
Inuyasha let go of her shoulders. Kagome grabbed the sleeve of Inuyasha’s haori as he walked away from her. She turned pleading doe eyes on him. Inuyasha looked at her in surprise.
“Inuyasha”, she said, “Please don’t go after him!”
“Why? Don’t tell me you’re into him, Kagome? Because if you are, that’s one feeling that’s never going to be returned!”
Kagome’s eyes went wide at Inuyasha’s moment of insight, even if it was in jest. Her face flushed. Then Kagome threw back her head and laughed. The laughter sounded fake to her own ears.
“I believe that’s got to be the stupidest thing you’ve ever said”, Kagome said, “I’m not into Sesshomaru! I just don’t want you to go charging off after him and getting hurt…”
Inuyasha made a cross face.
“I can take him”, he said, “Each time we’ve fought lately I’ve won! Me, Inuyasha, the weak, filthy half-breed! It’s so nice to know you have faith in me and my abilities…”
Inuyasha turned his back on her.
“Inuyasha”, Kagome said, “It’s not like that…”
“Hmmphf! Well it sure sounds like it…”
Kagome put her hand on Inuyasha’s shoulder as Miroku entered the clearing.
“Kagome-sama”, Miroku cried, “I’m so glad to see you…”
Kagome and Inuyasha turned to look at him.
“Am I interrupting a tender moment?”, Mirokus said.
“No!”, Inuyasha said, his face turning red.
“Shall I come back?”, Miroku said.
“No, that’s alright, Miroku”, Kagome said.
Her face flushed a pretty shade of pink. She took her hand off Inuyasha’s shoulder. She turned towards the monk. His eyes widened as he took in her appearance.
“Kagome-sama”, Miroku exclaimed, “What happened to you? Did you fall afoul of demons?”
He covered the distance between them in record time and clutched her hand in his. For once it was purely concern for her welfare that she saw in the lecherous monk’s eyes.
“Yeah”, Inuyasha answered for Kagome, “She ran into my bastard older brother…”
“Sesshomaru!”, Miroku said in surprise.
“Yes”, Kagome said.
“Are you alright, Kagome-sama?”, Miroku said, taking the opportunity to run his eyes over her, “Did the beast try to partake of your virtue by force? How did you get away from him?”
Kagome’s face flushed.
“God!”, Kagome said, “He didn’t try to rape me! I already told Inuyasha what happened…”
She reclaimed her hand. Inuyasha scratched his head.
“Actually”, Inuyasha said, “You told me very little about what happened…”
“Only because I was trying to stop you from going after him!”, Kagome said, “Let’s face it, you won’t be in any fit shape to take on Naraku and the ghouls he keeps sending after us if you’re in a bad way because you were fighting with your stupid brother yet again! Uhhhh!”
Kagome stomped off towards the camp, leaving the two men staring after her.
“She might have a point, you know?”, Miroku said, “In fact since you and Sesshomaru seem to have a common goal...”
“I have nothing in common with that jerk!”, Inuyasha said.
Miroku smacked Inuyasha on the head with his staff.
“Ow!”, Inuyasha said.
Inuyasha rubbed his head.
“Just listen for once in your life”, Miroku said, “As I was saying… Since Sesshomaru seems to be intent on killing Naraku as well, instead of turning up at the same place and fighting separately or attacking each other on the battlefield, why not ask Sesshomaru to join forces with us?”
Inuyasha stared at him, dumbfounded. Then his lip curled into a sneer.
“You’ve got to be kidding me?!”, Inuyasha said.
“No, for once I’m being perfectly serious. See? This is my serious face.”
Miroku pointed to his face. It was indeed his best serious look. Inuyasha pulled a face.
“Even if I did ask that pompous ass for help”, Inuyasha said, “What makes you think he’d give it to us? We’re so far beneath him, after all…”
Inuyasha snorted. Somewhere in the forest Kagome cried out in alarm.
“Baka!”, Inuyasha said, “She just can’t seem to stay out of trouble…”
He bounded into the woods leaving Miroku to his thoughts. After a moment or two Miroku followed.


For the past two days they had been travelling, chasing a rumour. They came upon Miroku’s raccoon dog demon friend on the road, who confirmed that the tales of a demon to the north who may have shikon shards were indeed true. It meant travelling further into Sesshomaru’s territory. The prospect chilled but excited Kagome simultaneously. She was alert, waiting for him to appear. When it came to the end of another day and he did not, she was relieved, but a small part of her was disappointed.

In the early evening they made camp in a forest clearing. Miroku had erected a spit over the fire to cook some fish, left over from a previous catch. Kagome produced some ramen from her backpack and they settled down to eat. Shippo gobbled down his share and promptly fell asleep.
“Miroku”, Inuyasha said between mouthfuls, “I’m beginning to suspect that your little raccoon friend has been telling us lies.”
Miroku did not take his eyes off his food.
“Hmm…”, Miroku said, “I was thinking that too. That said, Hachi might be a little morally suspect I don’t think he would lie on purpose.”
“Oh, really?”, Inuyasha said.
“No”, Miroku said, ignoring the sarcasm, “He may be unwittingly passing on false information, not knowing that it is false.”
“Huh?”
Miroku put his hand on Sango’s shapely buttock and squeezed gently. Sango promptly smacked him across the face leaving behind a red, hand-shaped impression on his cheek.
“Ouch!”, Miroku said, “Not so hard, woman.”
“I think what Houshi-sama means to say is that like Hachi he doesn’t care if the rumour is true or not”, Sango said, “So long as he has ample opportunity to peek on me and Kagome while we’re bathing or feel us up when we’re not paying attention. Isn’t that right?”
Miroku smiled and shrugged good-naturedly. Kagome and Inuyasha exchanged a look.
“Maybe…” Miroku said.
Inuyasha made a face.
“Feh!”, Inuyasha said, “Well if something doesn’t cross our path by tomorrow I think we should turn back. We haven’t seen my bastard brother for two days but I know he’s out there somewhere just itching to attack. He seems to be out to hurt Kagome and I won’t have it!”
Inuyasha’s hand curled into a fist. His golden eyes blazed with impotent rage. Kagome’s eyes widened slightly. If only you knew!
“Aww… I am sure the wench is touched by your concern, half-breed, but is that anyway to talk about your beloved and only sibling? If we are going to be technical it is you, not I who is the bastard son…”
Kagome’s heart missed a beat. Then it restarted with a thump. She gasped. The sound of Sesshomaru’s voice seemed to be coming from above them. Inuyasha was already on his feet, sword drawn by the time Kagome could breathe again. Frantically she scanned the twilight sky expecting to see Sesshomaru hovering above them. There was nothing but clouds and the treetops.
Her eyes moved lower and then she saw him. Sesshomaru was casually standing on one of the sturdier branches of a large tree ten feet away. She met his gaze. The sight of him made her chest tighten. He seemed to be amused by something. He put his foot on empty space and dropped lightly towards the ground. Then he was rushing towards her. Kagome’s eyes widened, knowing she would not be able to get out of the way on time, even if fear had not glued her to the spot. Inuyasha snarled beside her.
“I won’t let you hurt her!”, Inuyasha cried.
“Good”, Sesshomaru said, “Because I am here to kill you!”
Sesshomaru changed direction. He barrelled towards Inuyasha. He knocked the Tetsusaiga out of Inuyasha’s hand and carefully aimed punch to the jaw sent him flying across the clearing. Sesshomaru followed. Inuyasha’s upper back and head collided painfully with the foot of a tree.
The tree shook from the impact. Dead branches, insects and even small, angry mammals rained down on them. Sesshomaru stood over Inuyasha, his hand on the hilt of his sword, Tesseiga. The debris seemed to bounce off him, as if his aura was solid. Inuyasha remained semi-conscious on the ground by his feet.
Sango readied herself and threw her Hiraikotsu. Sesshomaru half-turned. As the boomerang bone drew close enough to hit, he drew his sword and sliced it in half. The pieces fell to the ground with a dull sounding thud. There was shocked silence all round.
“Do not interfere, puny humans”, Sesshomaru said, “My fight is not with you. This is between my half-breed, half-brother and I.”
His gaze moved over all off them, ensuring that they understood. His golden eyes lingered a bit too long on Kagome’s face. Something moved behind his eyes. Then he turned back to Inuyasha. Inuyasha stared up at Sesshomaru with a dazed expression.
“We’ve got to do something!”, Kagome wailed.
“What, exactly?”, Miroku said.
Kagome stared at him. His expression was one of defeat.
“Can’t you use the wind tunnel and suck him in?”, Sango said.
Miroku shook his head.
“He’s too close to Inuyasha”, Miroku said, “I’ll suck him in too.”
“Damned if you do, damned if you don’t”, Shippo said.
Kagome started at the sound of Shippo’s voice. The commotion had woken him.
“We can’t just do nothing!”, Kagome said.
Miroku sighed. Sesshomaru replaced the sword in his obi belt. He knelt by Inuyasha’s side.
“Well, this a little anti-climatic, little brother”, Sesshomaru said, “I never thought killing you would be this easy.”
His clawed hand moved to strike.
“Sesshomaru”, Kagome cried, “You coward! Is this really how you want it to end? Don’t you want to beat him honourably in a fair fight?”
Sesshomaru’s head snapped upwards. He looked towards her.
“I told you not to be so familiar with me, wench!”, Sesshomaru glowered.
Kagome put her hands on her hips.
“Well, what are you going to do about it, you big poser?! You big-haired, girly-faced, make-up wearing, dandy!”, she cried.
Sesshomaru’s face did not move but his eyes blazed with anger. Kagome held his gaze. Beside her, she heard Sango gasp, then stifle a laugh with a cough. Shippo laughed out loud. Miroku turned towards Kagome. His face was a mask of confusion.
“Kagome-sama”, Miroku said, “What the hell are you doing? He’ll…”
The words had barely left his lips when Kagome was gone from his side. All he saw was a white blur as Sesshomaru slammed into her, knocking her across the clearing.
Kagome learned first hand just how heavy a tall, muscular Taiyoukai could be. She was pinned to the ground by Sesshomaru’s weight, his hand clutching her throat. Automatically she tried to wrench his hand away but it would not budge.
He was growling. She could feel the vibrations in her chest and stomach. She stared up into his golden eyes. Her own brown eyes were wide in shock and terror. Sesshomaru leaned his face towards her as if he was going to kiss her. He stopped only inches away.
“It is not make-up”, he said, “I was born with these markings. No doubt you know that already.”
His breath was warm on her face. The light of the fire was behind him so there were shadows on his forehead, around his eyes, under his cheekbones and around the edges of his face. What she could see of the markings on his forehead and cheeks stood out in vividly. She found her voice. It came out as a squeak.
“Yes, I know”, she said.
It was a struggle to speak. His hand around her throat and his weight restricted her breathing. The hilts of his swords were digging into her flesh. Despite her panic, Sesshomaru’s warm, muscular body was beginning to feel very good pressed against hers. His nearness made her heart beat faster and her cheeks flush.
Kagome tried to swallow but her throat would not co-operate. It strained against Sesshomaru’s hand. He loosened his grip. He shifted his weight slightly making it easier to breathe. Kagome realised that he did not intend to kill her. Her boldness returned.
“So you don’t deny that you’re a big poser and big-haired, girly-faced, dandy to boot?”, Kagome said.
A furrow appeared between Sesshomaru’s eyebrows.
“Why must you provoke me into hurting you, human?”, Sesshomaru cried in exasperation, “Why do you not learn the lesson?”
“I don’t know… I guess I’m just incorrigible!”
“Or merely stupid.”
The condescension in his voice and on his face made her angry despite her predicament.
“In my time this is not a territory patrolled by a petty demon lord”, she cried, “I do not have to call anybody lord and master!”
She saw surprise in the demon lord’s eyes. Then he looked thoughtful.
“Someday”, he said slowly, “You shall have to tell me more about your time…”
He let go of her throat then. His hand trailed downwards. It came to rest on her chest. His fingertips hovered over her collarbones. Her eyes widened. She gasped softly. He’s touching the tops of my breasts! Her bosom heaved under his hand as she breathed deeper.
“Until then….”
His face dropped towards hers as if he was going to kiss her. Panic rose in her chest. Not in front of my friends! The corners of Sesshomaru’s mouth turned up. He stopped, face hovering above hers. Then he licked the side of her face, wet tongue bearing down on the sensitive flesh of her cheek towards the end of the gesture.
“Bleurgh!”, Kagome said.
Sesshomaru laughed, surprising her. The sound was thick and luscious like melted chocolate. She felt his chest move against her. Kagome shivered. The pressure on her body eased as he shot upwards into the night sky. She sighed. Sesshomaru did like to make a dramatic exit. I wonder if I’ll ever get to see what’s under that armour…
Inuyasha was first to her side. He helped her sit up. His eyes were wide with concern but the rest of his face was tight with anger.
“Are you okay?”, Inuyasha said, “Did he hurt you?”
Kagome winced. She clutched her abdomen where the swords had dug into her flesh and rubbed her lower back, which was sore from the impact with the ground.
“I’ll be okay with a little rest”, she said, “Are you okay?”
Inuyasha grunted.
“I’m fine”, he said.
He scratched his head behind the ear and looked away. His pride was hurt. Shippo crawled into her lap and put his little arms around her. Kagome cradled him against her breast.
“I was so worried”, Shippo said, “I really thought Fluffy-sama was going to kill you.”
Shippo’s voice was muffled against her chest. Kagome stroked his hair and suppressed a smile. How would Sesshomaru react if Shippo called him Fluffy-sama to his face? Would he squeeze the life out of dear little Shippo or make allowances for the fact he was a child? Would he escape with a slapped bottom?
“I’m okay now”, Kagome said, “He’s gone.”
“What is with that guy lately?”, Sango said, “He’s acting so weird…”
Inuyasha grunted in exasperation.
“What is normal for Sesshomaru?”, Inuyasha said.
“Good point!”, Sango said.
Sango rolled her eyes. Kagome was conscious of suspicious eyes on her. She looked at Miroku. When she met his eyes, his usual good-natured expression returned. The canny monk was catching on. Kagome looked away.
“Do you think he’ll come back?”, Kagome said.
She was addressing Inuyasha.
“Tonight?”, Inuyasha said, “Probably not... We should be on alert anyway. I won’t sleep tonight. If he comes back, the bastard won’t know what’s hit him!”
Inuyasha’s shook a fist at empty air.
“Right”, Kagome said.
Somehow she did not feel reassured.

Sesshomaru did not come back that night. In fact he did not appear again over the next few days. They did not encounter Hachi‘s demon either. Seemingly it had been an idle rumour. Inuyasha had speculated that it was some kind of diversion. Miroku denied this. Hachi was not that devious. It had become colder the further north they travelled. Their autumn clothes were not thick enough to protect them from the cold so they were forced to turn back and head for the village.
Kagome was quiet while they travelled. She was preoccupied and miserable. Her friends would regularly enquire if she was feeling well. Kagome would say she was tired or she was thinking about her studies. Her dreams about Sesshomaru were becoming more graphic. She was felt guilty for having these thoughts. Yet she could not stop the flow of images or the feelings they invoked. In truth, she did not want to.
Sitting in the hot springs, before supper, a day from Kaede’s Kagome found herself thinking of him, one small hand absently stroking an itchy spot around her navel. She liked the way he tossed that long silver hair, the way the breeze gently teased it around his face. She wanted to tease the real live thing, instead of cold remnants that had taken up residence in her jacket pocket. She remembered how warm it had been when it brushed her face and chest.
She thought about the way his long, long lashes framed his arrogant eyes, about how much she had liked surprising him and making those wide golden eyes, even wider. Then she thought about his lips, how they had felt on hers, how hot and wet his tongue had been when it moved around inside her mouth and when it had licked the wound on her shoulder clean. She touched the marks on her shoulder. The heat of the spring was not good for the ugly scabs that had formed but after days of washing in cold springs she had been unable to resist a bath.
As ungentlemanly as Sesshomaru’s general behaviour and his kisses were, he had never groped her. That was the most puzzling thing of all. He had kept his leg between her thighs to hold her against the tree when had kissed her and deliberated rubbed it between her legs to taunt her. Aside from that he had not taken advantage of the situation. Even when her body had been pressed into the ground beneath the weight of his, he had done little more than trail his hand downward from her neck. It had been Kagome’s deep breaths that had rubbed his palm against the tops of her breasts.
Her hand stroked the meeting place of her collarbones. When she laid it flat in imitation of Sesshomaru, it did not reach as far. She looked at her hand against her upper chest. Below it were the mounds of her breasts. She was slouched down in the warm water, so she could look down her body and see her legs fan outwards under the water. What was the point in having this sensuous, sensitive body if no man she wanted, wanted to touch it?
She trailed a hand lightly over one her breasts, fingers fanning over the nipple. Sesshomaru had a beautiful hand, so elegant-looking but strong. He had such long fingers. He could probably cup her entire breast in it. How would it feel to have him do that? Her fingers massaged the top of the breast. Then she moved on to the nipple, shaping it into small peak. She continued in that way stroking the tender piece of dark flesh until the pleasurable sensation was almost painful. Her breathing deepened. She gasped softly. Would it feel anything like that?
She continued her ministrations on the other breast. That felt good. If she closed her eyes she could almost imagine Sesshomaru was doing it. She thought about the soft pink tinge of his inner ear, that long, smooth line of throat and those strong collarbones showing through the gaping neckline of his kimono. What was his body like under that armour? Was it thin or muscular?
Her pulse pounded in her ears. She could feel the warmth in her belly as blood rushed to the area. Her hand trailed down her belly until it touched the patch of soft dark hair between her legs. Her index finger threatened to slide between the outer lips of her vulva. Kagome squeezed her legs shut around the offending extremity. No! Not today! I can’t! She drew her hand out from between her legs. Her legs she kept firmly squeezed together.
Oh God! Why can’t I stop thinking about him? She put her hands up to her face. God! What does he look like when all that armour and silk comes off? He’s got beautiful skin. I wonder if the rest of his skin is that smooth? What does his chest look like? Is it muscular? Of course it is! I bet he’s got killer abs as well… I bet he’s big down there. I mean he’s so, tall he’s got to be! Would I be able to fit all of him into me? Her throat was dry. She swallowed her own saliva.
Her hands dropped to her legs. She slid them up and down her thighs in frustration. Her hands moved inwards. Oh God! Don’t! She drew her legs up to her chest. She pulled her hands out from between her thighs and rubbed them along the outside of her thighs. She settled them on her knees. Her legs were trembling. She took a breath. Then she let her legs settle down into the water again. She pressed one hand into the ground under the water and propped herself up. The water covered her to the middle of her breasts.
“Oh, Sesshomaru…”, she sighed.
Where the hell are you? What would you think if you saw me now? Would you be disgusted? Would you get in and make love to me? Or would you stand there and watch me get myself off? She frowned. Her naval itched. She rubbed the skin around it. She lay there looking down at her hand and the patch of dark hair beyond it, inches away. Screw it anyway!
She let her legs part. She tilted her pelvis slightly upward. She put her hand between her legs and found the clitoris under the tender lips of flesh. Her fingers began to rub the sensitive bud in small circular motions. It soon hardened under her touch. She gasped as she felt the first spike of pleasure. She closed her eyes. Dammit! This should be you doing this to me, Sesshomaru. I shouldn’t have to do this for myself.
Her fingers paused in their work. Her fingers moved down between the pink folds to touch the entrance to her vagina. It was half covered by hymen. She dared not slip a finger inside, though she knew in that theory there was a spot on the wall of the vagina that would bring her intense pleasure. She feared that she would tear the veil and cause herself intense pain and/or bleeding.
Kagome had read one too many romance novels. She imagined herself waking up the morning after her first glorious night of passion and finding a virginal bloodstain on the sheets. She moved her hand away, rubbing her fingers back along the path to the clitoris.

She imagined Sesshomaru’s face, the lightness of his touch on her waist, the feel of his fingers as they caressed her cheek. She thought about his tongue touching hers, bearing down on the wound so that the pain became pleasure, the feel of it on her cheek. Would it feel as good if it were bearing down on her clitoris? Her eyes flashed open. She gasped at the thought. Then she closed her eyes again.
Her fingers resumed their ministrations. Slowly the sensation began to build, but not fast enough. Her hips were undulating causing friction against her fingers. She could feel the walls of her vagina pulsing. She wanted that earth shattering orgasm and she wanted it now. Maybe today would be the day? She began to rub harder, back and forth, back and forth.
Small sounds escaped her lips. Kagome’s neck arched. The sensation peaked. Then her body went limp. Little aftershocks pulsed through her body. She suddenly felt weak. She sighed. Average. Maybe next time… Then the sense of shame set in. A good girl shouldn’t want to have sex with a demon lord not matter how gorgeous he is. A good girl certainly shouldn’t masturbate while her thoughts were on him. She should be a good, repressed, little masochist!
You should be saving yourself for a human boy instead of thinking about the lack of attention you’re receiving from a Hanyou or a Taiyoukai. Maybe you’re not such a good girl after all… Maybe you’re a just some unnatural, wicked, lust-filled girl who deserves to be punished!
Kagome cleaned herself up between her legs and soaped her breasts several times. She scrubbed her fingers red. She waded out of the water and dried herself off on the bank. She wondered just how long she had been soaking in the spring when she saw how wrinkled her fingers and toes were. Maybe not that long if nobody had come looking for her. She dressed quickly and headed towards the camp.


From his perch in the tree, high above the ground, Sesshomaru watched her go. There was a slight smile on his lips.
“Such a surprising creature…”
He sighed. His hand dropped and brushed the front of his hakama. The cloth was taut against his erection. That gentlest of touches made him hiss as that stiff member threaten to leak its juices from the tip.
Yes, he had arrived to find her soaking in the spring. He let his eyes roam freely over her naked body, eyes drinking in its fragility, lushness and dusky beauty. He took in her full breasts with their dark pink nipples, her tiny waist, the width of her hips, the flat of her belly, the unruly patch of dark hair partially covering the soft mound between her legs and the length of her toned limbs.
His eyes lingered longest on her pretty, heart-shaped face freed from the swirling mass of her dark hair. Her dark brown eyes seemed huge, framed by wet, dark, spidery lashes. Her cheeks were slightly flushed. Her full red lips were slightly parted. Her hair clung wetly to her head or floated in the water around her shoulders. Her uncovered jaw line, neck and collarbones seemed absurdly delicate.

He caught his breath as the girl trailed her hand downward and began to massage her own breasts. His eyes had widened in surprise when he heard the girl utter his name. She could not know he was watching, surely? She had some power but not enough to sense him. A master in many disciplines, hiding his power until the opportune moment to release it, was one of them. He realised she must be thinking about him as she touched herself. Then she stopped and drew her legs up to her chest. He could smell the sweetness of her arousal from his hiding place.
He thought to reveal his presence, when she had parted her slender legs, revealing to him the tender pink flesh between them. He had stayed hidden, curious to see what she would do next. He stared as she began to rub her clitoris with her own small, soft fingers. He was hard and painfully erect by the time her hips began to undulate of their own accord and ecstatic looks appeared on her face.
As she had brought herself to a climax, Sesshomaru growled, wanting release. Somehow it seemed undignified and unreasonable to appear once the girl had pleasured herself, with a large erection and demand instant sexual gratification. The idea of trying to have an adult conversation was laughable. His baser instincts wanted to be sated.
He had barely had an intelligent thought since he had intruded upon Kagome in the spring. His erection was not going down so Sesshomaru had little choice but to watch as she cleaned the smell of her arousal off her body and dressed herself again. As she walked slowly through the trees, he followed, ensuring that nothing and no one molested her. For now the beast in him would have to wait.


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I welcome any new comments. I realise there is an awful lot of gibberish for you to wade through at the end there but the other chapters are slightly better put together.


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