Chapter 1
Asa uncurled on her tatami mat. She felt so rested and relaxed; completely satisfied in every way. Coming out of her sleepy haze, she realized that her mat was soft, very soft and warm. Now fully awake, she realized that she was laying on a pile of fur, his fur.
Was this a dream? Did Sesshomaru actually stay with her the whole night?!
Trying not to disturb her companion, she gently rolled over.
Yup, he's still here.
The sun now creeping through the cracks of the window shutters left a light glow in her bedroom. Asa didn't know what to be more excited about: the fact that Sesshomaru was still beside her, or the fact that she had caught him sleeping.
It was definitely both.
They had been intimate for months now, but he always left her before the dawn broke. As if he were too ashamed to be seen with her in such a state. She knew that wasn't the case. He could have cared less what anyone had to say about the two of them being together, but he always left her in the morning, no matter what she said or did. Even if she begged, he wouldn't cave in. But this morning he was with her, in all of his naked glory, sleeping soundly.
She took her time, drinking in the sight of him. He looked so relaxed and harmless. In this state, no one would know that this handsome face was a ruthless killer. His silver hair was tussled about his face and over his shoulders. His muscular and lean body was lax, pillowed by the ridiculously long tail he carted around. Her eyes traveled downwards, gazing as every slope and hard edge; she noted the magenta strips that were splayed over his biceps, wrists, thighs, hips, and ankles. She licked her lips and let out a soft purr, reliving the passionate night they spent.
Asa sensed the pattern in his breath changing and instantly laid back down, pretending to be asleep. The last thing she wanted was for him to be aware that she was watching him get his beauty rest. That thought alone would mortify him and probably wouldn't stay another night.
That was not worth the risk.
Sesshomaru felt eyes on him and opened his. He was supposed to leave hours ago. He had told himself he'd stay until his lover had fallen asleep and realized that he allowed himself to fall into such a deep sleep as well. He never really slept. He couldn't afford too; any enemy would be upon him if he let his guard down. Yet here he was, still in her home, in her bedroom, in her arms.
He shifted, turning on his side. He stared at the woman. He couldn't understand how she was comfortable in such a position; her head tilted upwards, her upper and lower halves were twisted in opposite directions of each other. He was compelled to brush the strands of hair from her face, exposing the dark lashes that dusted the apples of her cheeks. He had noticed then that she had freckles; four on one side, six on the other. Had they always been there? How had he missed that? Maybe he wasn't paying attention until now.
His eyes trailed down. She wasn't thin like when she was younger. She had put on weight, but he didn't mind. She body was toned, but full with sloped and curves that he had explored more times than he could count. He enjoyed every part of her, every sound, and every touch.
Was this love? Was this feeling that he buried within him, now flourished by her presence, her touch, her warmth; was this love? The feeling where he wanted…no… he needed to be around her. To be near her, hear her voice, her laughter. Just the sight of her filled him with such desire. Did his father feel like this with his mother, with Inuyasha's mother? Did he want to be near them so badly that it felt like death if he were apart from them?
Father, the night of your death, when you asked me if I had someone to protect…I thought you were foolish to ask me such a thing. The only person I needed to protect was myself and any other person would be a distraction, a hindrance. I believed that you had become soft, that this…this love for another woman had made you weak and ultimately ended your life.
Father, I was wrong.
I now understand. That desire to protect someone, I found that in Rin. I didn't think I would risk my life for anyone, let alone some silly human girl. But I grew fond of that child, and I wish to protect her always, even with my life.
But this…this feeling I have with Asa, there is no comparison. None. She drives me insane but I want to be near her every day. I want to kill her sometimes, but I would no doubt murder anyone who so much as breathed on her wrong. I lust after her with such a burning desire there are times I fear I will be consumed in my own flames. I crave her; I want to touch and taste. I want to keep her under me, over me night after day, taking her, making her mine. I want to give her the world, the moon, and stars and still shower her with more. I have this desire to always make her happy, to always keep her smiling.
Father, I understand now. It took me long enough, but I understand now.
He watched her has she opened her eyes, the glazed over gray eyes were becoming clearer with each second. How had he been a fool for leaving all those nights before; what man wouldn't want to wake up next to this gorgeous maiden? A smile crept on those soft lips that made his stomach jump.
"Good morning." She stretched her arms over her head, pushing her naked breast towards him. With ease, her leg went over his thigh, connecting them at the hip. Her smile grew wider. "I'm surprised you stayed." He didn't reply, not that he did any other time. A man of few words, but she talked enough for the both of them so it worked out.
Asa pushed herself up, kissing him softly. "Whatever the case may be, I'm glad you're here." She fell back, snuggling herself into the abundance of plush fur. The sight of her, well rested and naked, was all the demon lord needed. He moved above her; the ends of his silver hair mixed in with her pink as he deepened the kiss. His arousal grew and became hard, pressing against her stomach.
"Oohh!" she purred, lust darkened her eyes. "I get morning sex too. This must be my lucky day." She squealed with delight and he growled in lust as he began to devour her.
Just below the hillside, Inuyasha made his way to the threshold of Asa's home.
She was late, which wasn't like her. He began to worry when she didn't show up at their spot for training. It was now late in the afternoon and still no sign of her. If she wasn't at home, then he would assume that she was with Sesshomaru.
It creep him out that they were now a couple; not that he didn't want to see Asa happy. But really? Sesshomaru?
He still couldn't wrap his head around that idea. Maybe he wasn't supposed to. It was none of his business anyway.
In the distance he saw Asa's traveling companion, Joplin. The large otter sat on the edge of the porch eating what looked like to be the fruit from the nearby bushes.
"Hello, Inuyasha." Joplin greeted, waving his small paws covered in berry juice. "What brings you here this afternoon?"
"Just seeing if Asa is around. She missed our training session this morning." The hanyou stopped at the threshold; carvings he never seen before were etched in the pillars. "What are these?" his fingers traced them.
"Barrier spell." Joplin said around his food. He did his best to swallow the rest of it. "Asa created it. It spreads out into part of the forest and down the lake. Only those that are trusted and mean no harm can enter. Anyone else can't even see this place. No scents or sound can be heard beyond the barrier." Joplin had begged the woman to put it up so he could travel freely without fear.
"Yeah, I notice that. I can't hear anything or sense her." He paused. "Do you think she'd be able to put on up at our village?" With Kagome due any day now, the last thing he needed to worry about were some low class demons terrorizing the village. With a protective barrier, he could put his mind at ease when he was away.
"Sure! I don't see why not. But try her bedroom first. She's usually holed up in there studying or mediating."
Inuyasha walked around the home; it reminded him of a small shrine. He was invited in a few times. There were three rooms total, a meditation room, her bedroom, and a kitchen; Joplin's was more comfortable outside by the river. It was functional for her, more than enough space.
"Asa." He called out. Passing the rustic kitchen, he opened the door to her mediation room down the corridor. He sighed when she wasn't there.
"Asa." He walked down to the last door. He knocked once, twice. What if she was sleep? Or naked? Gods, she would have his head if he saw anything.
I mean it's not like I haven't seen what she's got. We took baths together…but that was when I was a kid. She's not gonna let that fly now. Sigh…now what?
"Asa, if you're in there, I'm coming in." he announced, but realized it was useless. If there was a sound barrier on the outside, there must be one on the inside. She wouldn't be able to get any mediation done if there wasn't.
The door slid open….after that it was a blur. He heard a scream, and then his name. But that was about it. The blood supply from his brain drained and he hit the floor.
The hanyou splashed the cold water from the lake below onto his face. His ears flattened on top his head. The image was permanently engraved in his mind. Asa, his mentor, his friend, in the most vulnerable and intimate of ways, straddled the man who just happened to be his older brother. Her back arched, her head tilted back as the wave of her orgasm washed over her. Her lover's hips shot up, meeting hers as he too came.
He was going to have to kill himself. That was the only way he could get that memory out of his mind.
Pst…knowing my luck, I'll relive that exact moment even in the netherworld as punishment.
"Inuyasha." He smelt her before he heard her. She smelled the same, vanilla and fresh rain, but now there was a slight undertone of him. It was subtle, but it was there. It was all about marking his territory so that no other demon would approach her, unless they wanted to be castrated. It's the same with him and Kagome, so he understood.
But why!? Why did he have to see it!?
He didn't look up at her. He couldn't. This was so awkward it was killing him!
"Inuyasha." Asa didn't know what to say. How was she supposed to start? "Sorry."
"No…no. It was me."
"No! It was my fault." She sat down next to him and he all but scooted a few inches away.
She had only put up the barrier to keep their love making private, but she could still hear the outside world. Sesshomaru was more in the mood than usual, still taking her over and over again, well pass the morning hours. She had put up the second one because all she wanted to hear were the two of them; no distractions, no noise.
Nothing but them.
"I knocked. I swear I did." This is weird. Too weird.
"I shouldn't have placed the sound barrier on the outside as well as around my room. I would have heard you otherwise." Why wasn't he looking at her?
Oh gods, this was so awkward.
"Inuyasha."
"No." He jerked when she reached out to touch him. She recoiled back in rejection. "Don't. Not…not now." He tucked his hands in the sleeves of his hakama, his head bowed so he wouldn't have to see her. His face was burning in embarrassment. He shouldn't, he'd seen it all. But this was different. This was Asa. He'd never thought of her as he would Kagome or Sango or Kikyo; he never thought of her as a woman.
The woman sat with her hands in her lap. She had no clue what to do or say to him to make him feel better. She feared that their relationship would change because of this one accident. She didn't want that.
"Grow up." The baritone voice loomed over them. The two looked behind to see Sesshomaru walking over. Fully clothed, Inuyasha could appreciate that, but… He shook his head.
"Don't make your problem, our headache." He grabbed Asa's arm gently, pulling her up to her feet. He could sense her distress and he wasn't pleased. Her body tensed when he pulled her close, a protective arm went around her waist.
"You know what? Butt out! Nobody was talking to you!" The younger brother jumped to his feet, nearly hissing at the taller man.
"So leave." Sesshomaru's eyes turn to slits as he glared at him. He wasn't happy that his afternoon with Asa was completely interrupted by him. Furthermore, his actions were upsetting the woman in his arms. If it was because of his presence, then he needed to go.
Inuyasha matched his brother's expression of anger; he would like nothing more than for him to back down. He wouldn't give him the satisfaction.
"No. Me and Asa have training to do. You can screw her anytime."
"Inuyasha!" Her face turned beat red at his comment. What the hell was going on?!
Sesshomaru growled, pushing Asa behind him. If it was a fight he wanted, then a fight he would have.
"Then let the battle begin."