So today we're taking off to travel around looking for jewel shards. I didn't tell Kagome about my little incident with Sesshomaru. Today I wore a pair of dark denim skinny jeans that had a tear under one back pocket so that it showed a part of my ass cheek. It also had a rip in the knee. There was white paint splatters all over them, from painting a fence. I also wore a white tank top and a tight black sweatshirt with the sleeves pulled up. I got a horse to ride which was pretty cool. The villagers gave him to me when they saw me playing with the horses. He was huge like draft horse size. He was black with a white back leg and white down the front of his face. His mane was long and wavy. I named him Hamai which meant free slayer in my native tongue.
I put all my belongings in the saddle bags and left my duffel bag in Kaede's hut. I stretched and climbed into the saddle. I patted Hamai's neck. Kagome was riding her bicycle and Miroku and Sango were riding Kilala who turned into a huge lion like cat that could fly nonetheless. Shippo rode on Kagome's shoulder and Inuyasha ran along with us. I rode at a trot next to Kagome. We traveled for two hours and stopped to rest. I left Hamai grazing next to me as we ate.
Suddenly Hamai spooked, I jumped up and walked to him slowly as he shook his head and pawed the ground. He reared up and the whites of his eyes showed. I inched forward and held out my hand. He stretched his head forward touching my fingers with his velvety nose. I grabbed his reigns to steady him and keep him from bolting. Inuyasha sniffed the air.
"There's a demon coming, and it's not Sesshomaru." Just as he finished his sentence a huge lizard like creature slithered from between a bunch of trees. Hamai started to huff and back up tossing his head in fear. I rubbed his shoulder and tied him to a tree. Then I stepped forward looking curiously at the strange demon thing. Suddenly it was lunging toward Kagome. Inuyasha leaped in front of it slashing with his sword. I stripped quickly leaving my clothes in a pile and shifted.
I leaped toward the lizard and bit the back of it's neck. I dug my claws into it's back to keep myself from being thrown and put as much pressure as I could. I felt my fangs break skin and muscle but couldn't find bone. It was too meaty and thick for me to reach deep enough to break its neck. It writhed and hissed and spat.
"Give me the jewel shards!" It's voice was strange, gravelly and echoey it was strange. I kicked my back feet and tore at it's back. Finally I let go and jumped toward Inuyasha to try and find a spot to get a better hold. As I jumped it's tail whipped out and hit me, I heard a crunch as my rib broke and I flew through the air and slammed into a tree. I hissed and pulled myself back to my feet. I stalked toward the lizard baring my fangs at it.
I faked a lunge and it reared back. As it reared back I leapt for it's throat. I sank my fangs into it's throat, I felt his jugular burst, and hot blood filled my mouth. I shook my head hard and heard a crack as it's neck broke. It was making strange gurgling hissing sounds as I let go and backed up. Kagome made a face, and I tilted my head at her. I winced a bit as my rib started to fix itself. See shape-shifters heal very quickly as long as the wound isn't caused by another shape-shifter or man made metal. Like swords wounds or bullet wounds would take kinda long to heal. Faster then a normal human but still slow by my standards. Kagome inched forward and slid her hand into it's tail and pulled out a jewel shard. I stretched and turned walking back to my clothes when I looked up I saw Sesshomaru standing there. I blinked my eyes at him, my tail twitching threateningly.
"You are quite….magnificent in this form. You can not talk, that is a plus." I twitched my ears at the sound of his voice. Then I walked past him to my clothes where I shifted back to human. I pulled my clothes on slowly, being sure to make sure my scent floated over to him. I saw his shoulders' stiffen. I brushed my hair out with my fingers and flipped it over my shoulder. I quirked an eyebrow at him. He turned back toward Inuyasha but I saw something in his eyes. I can't put my finger on it.
"I have found a lead on Naraku. I will be traveling with you. You hold the Tetsaiga and can cut through his barrier." He spoke in a monotone. He didn't ask to travel with us, he told us. I arched a brow and I heard Inuyasha snort.
"I'm not travelin' with you. I ain't gunna help you get through his barrier either!" Inuyasha said angrily. I shook my head and walked around from behind Sesshomaru so I could see them both. I glanced between them and had an urge to raise my hand like in school. I smiled a little at the thought.
"Inuyasha, just cause you refused doesn't mean he's not gunna follow us and wait for you to open the barrier anyway. Because that's what you're gunna have to do anyway if you want to beat this guy right? And what's so wrong with Sesshomaru? He's obviously powerful, why does it matter who you fight beside as long as Naraku is destroyed?" I said this a bit sarcastically, or more like if I was talking to a dumb five year old. I saw Sesshomaru nod. Inuyasha snorted again. He mumbled a fine, and Kagome suggested we move away from the dead lizard demon. I walked alongside Sesshomaru, Hamai followed his nose bumping my shoulder now and then. Soon I was riding Hamai beside him. We traveled in silence for the rest of the day with Sesshomaru's directions.
We stopped by a small stream and I left Hamai to drink and graze as Kagome set up a fire. Sesshomaru sat by a tree, and closed his eyes. I watched him for a moment. He really was quite handsome even if he was a jerk. I went behind a tree and changed into a pair of pajama booty shorts and a purple button-up jammy shirt. I had to leave the top three buttons' undone cause they didn't fit over my chest. I came back out and sat cross legged next to Sesshomaru. He opened his eye so I could see a narrow sliver of gold.
"Where's Rin and Jaken aren't they usually with you?" I asked quietly. He re-closed his eyes.
"At my castle. This battle is to dangerous for them." He said back just as quiet. I nodded with a look of understanding. I looked up at the moon through the trees and yawned. Then I walked over to where everyone was bedding down for the night. I gathered up my sleeping back and went back to Sesshomaru. I shimmied inside the warmth of the blanket and leaned against the tree.
"What are you doing?" I heard him say. I shrugged tiredly.
"You look lonely all by yourself….." I felt myself start to drift to sleep. I felt something warm tickle my cheek Something soft as rabbit fur enveloped me and I fell asleep on a white cloud.
I woke up the next morning and realized I had slumped over during the night and my head was on Sesshomaru's shoulder. His fur was tickling the side of my face. I had one leg curled over his, the other tucked underneath. One hand was holding his shirt in a gentle grip. My other hand was underneath his fur pressed up against his rib. I wiggled and unentangled myself from him. I scootched away and looked at him expecting him to be angry. He looked at me from the corner of his eye, I felt myself blush. I reached up a hand to run through my hair and looked away from him. Suddenly I felt two warm fingers under my chin. As he tilted my head toward his I felt my blush darken. I tried to look away again. Play the submissive little kitty Cinder, come on! Maybe the big bad doggy won't eat you! I heard him growl and I looked back at him.
"You always seem so defiant, tiny kitten, so why can you not make eye contact now?" He said quietly. His breath tickled my skin, I shivered. The man exuded sex I mean come on! That deep silky voice, and the face and body to match. Even though his eyes were rather cold. They looked hot now, a bit of red tinged them around the rim and iris. I bit my lip unsure what to say.
I pulled back. I probably had morning breath! Oh God! I jumped up and hurriedly brushed my teeth. Without taking another glance at him I slid behind a tree to change. I chose normal light blue skinny jeans and a gray tank top, with a tight white sweatshirt. I quickly laced up my shoes and when I came out. Everyone was awake and bustling about. Sango was cleaning her boomerangs. Kagome was cooking breakfast. Miroku was…groping Sango and being smacked. Inuyasha was sitting in a tree watching over everything. Shippo and Kilala were rolling around in the grass and playing. I took in a deep breath of the non-polluted air. I went into Hamai's saddlebag and pulled out my mirror and make-up. I did my eyeliner and mascara quickly and even put on a bit of clear lip-gloss that made my lips look shiny. I put the things away then brought my canteen to fill in the stream.
As I looked up from the water I saw an old willow tree. It had a deep scar in the bark of it's trunk. It's branches were whistling in the wind and I smiled. I went back to my saddle bag and pulled out my sketch-pad and pencil. I went back to the stream and sat atop a big rock. I started sketching out the tree then after I had it looking right I darkened the lines, then started shading it and adding the small details of the tree. Like spots where there was no bark, probably from deer rubbing their antlers across it. A small hole where a squirrel had probably been storing food. There was an abandoned bird's nest in one branch. I worked for nearly 30 minutes until I had a perfect replica of the tree. I leaped off my rock and hurriedly showed Kagome my drawing. She gasped when she saw it. Soon Sesshomaru had drifted over. He took my sketch-pad and studied the drawing. I saw something flash in his eyes before he covered it again.
"Very nice, kitten." He said it in a monotone like he said everything. Kagome nodded in agreement. I smirked proudly. He handed the sketchpad back to me, and I looked at my picture before shutting the book. My stomach growled loudly and I looked at Kagome sheepishly. She laughed and motioned me to follow her to the fire.
She handed me a small wooden bowl filled with what looked like scrambled eggs. I munched them down quickly. I grinned and handed the bowl back to her. I walked to Hamai and put away my sketchpad and pencil. I removed his saddle and set it on the ground. Then I ran my hands over his back rubbing the muscles that were probably sore from the saddle. I moved to walk away from him and he nudged my shoulder. I turned back and lightly stomped my foot at him.
He trotted away and whinnied. Soon we were playing a game of chase. I was running and I could hear his hooves pounding behind me. I stopped and turned and he whipped around running away from me. We chased each other back and forth for 15 minutes. Sesshomaru was watching me the whole time. Then I fell to the ground and closed my eyes lying perfectly still. I felt hot breath on my cheek. Heard Hamai huffing softly against my cheek. I opened my eyes and tickled his nose. He pulled his head back and huffed. I hugged his nose and got back up. He followed me back to the rest of the gang who were getting their stuff together. Sesshomaru was looking at me still. I pretended not to notice. I picked up the saddle and re-tacked Hamai. Or tried to. He was so tall and so tiny. I couldn't get the saddle completely onto his back. I sighed in aggravation. I felt someone pressed against m y back and I saw a hand come out and put the saddle on Hamai. I turned my head slightly and looked up to see Sesshomaru. He glanced down at me. My lips parted to say something. But what should I say? Thank you would work dumb ass.
"T-thank you, Sesshomaru…" I gave him a small smile. He nodded then turned and walked away. I leaped onto Hamai, patting his neck. I pulled out my canteen and took a sip then leaned over to put it back into the saddle-bag. When I looked back up, Sesshomaru was standing next to me. I caught his eye. I saw his nostrils flare, and his eyes slid down to my chest then back to my face. He didn't even blush! What an arrogant jerk! But then I liked when he looked at me……
We traveled for a long while, Sesshomaru walked next to me the whole time. As we made our way down a path I noticed a large log. I haven't jumped a horse in three years. I dug my heel into Hamai's side and he broke into a canter. I slid my hands up his neck and stood up in the stirrups. I took a handful of his mane before digging my heel in again. The log was huge! I needed speed to jump this. He started running, and I clung harder focusing on the log. We sailed over it, I heard a thud as his back hoof bumped it. But we landed nicely, and I sat back down in the saddle and slowed him down. I clapped my hand on his neck.
"Good boy Hamai." Kagome smiled at me.
"That was great Cinder! I wish I knew how to ride a horse!" She exclaimed.
"I'll teach you, if you'd like?" I grinned.
"Really?!" She said excitedly. I nodded at her. I remember how excited I was when I got my first horse. I was twelve years old. I had to teach myself how to ride though. I learned how to stay on bareback. It's difficult but definitely fun.
I had a Hamai at a nice walk and we had made a lot of progress today. We had been traveling for almost five hours now. Sesshomaru was still walking beside me. Suddenly Kagome looked up and to the east.
"Kouga is coming." Just as she finished saying this a whirlwind landed in front of us. When it stopped a man stood there. He had long black hair in a ponytail, he had dark eyes and tan skin. He wore armor over his chest, and fur padding on each shoulder. He also wore what looked sort of like a loin-cloth except it went all the way around his hips, almost like a skirt? He also had a fur headband and wrist band. He wore what looked like fur boots that went up to his knees, but his feet were bare. He also had a brown tail. He wore a sword on one hip. He grinned at Kagome and walked straight to her, he took her hands, and leaned close to her face. She blushed and attempted to lean back.
"Kagome! It's been so long since I've seen you, my woman." His voice was kind of gravelly, very manly though. She gave him a sheepish smile.
"Uh, yes, how have you been?" She asked. Suddenly Inuyasha was between them.
"Leave her alone you dirty wolf." He looked pissed. That's when Kouga turned and looked at me. His nostrils flared and he moved to step over to me.
"You're new. You smell strange, almost like a tiger but you also smell human?" He questioned.
"Yeah, I'm a tiger. I'm a shape-shifter, I can change into a tiger whenever I please." I smiled. He took another step toward me, when Sesshomaru was suddenly standing in front of him.
"Not a step closer to her. She is mine wolf, do not even think about it." He said calmly. Kouga looked at the man, with an arrogant air about him.
"You have not marked her. She's powerful, I can smell it, and since you haven't claimed her I could take her if I wanted."
I arched an eyebrow, and hopped off Hamai. I went and stood between the two men.
"I am right here! Stop talking about me as if I'm not! And I don't belong to anybody! I am not a possession to be fought over. Thank you very much!" I looked at both of them, hands on my hips. Sesshomaru's arm whipped out and he grabbed me around the waist. I was yanked against him, and I yelped. He leaned his head down to my neck, I could feel his breath tickling and then he bit me. It didn't hurt, it felt amazing. I fought the urge to moan and I melted against him. He pulled back suddenly, and glared at Kouga.
"Now I have marked her. Stay away wolf." Kouga growled. I stood there dumbfounded for a second before pulling away from Sesshomaru. I whirled on him, poking my finger into his chest.
"You bit me! Don't you know you're suppose to ask before you go around biting little girl's necks'! You are so rude!" I was poking him in the chest hard enough that it hurt my index finger a little. He simply looked down at me unfazed.
"Be quiet, kitten." He grabbed my wrist, and looked back to Kouga who let out a 'humph' then turned back to Kagome. The whole gang was staring at me and Sesshomaru like we had sprouted extra heads or something. I turned back to Sesshomaru.
"What did you just do?" I asked, my voice sounded a bit shrill even to me.
"I marked you as my mate." He said matter-of-factly. I blanched. What do I say to that?
"What does being your mate entail exactly?" I asked as calm as I could.
"You belong to me. As alpha-male to your female you will do exactly as I say when I say it." He looked down at me. I shook with anger.
"You did this without my permission?!" I yelled at him.
"The mark will fade after a few days unless he mates with you. He's only marked you, not claimed you." I heard Kouga's voice. I glanced at Kouga then back to Sesshomaru.
"Why would you mark me? You don't even like me as far as I can tell!" I said glaring at him.
"You're powerful and different. Naraku will not be expecting something such as you. We could defeat him easily with you. In my court in the Western Land's the other Lords' have been complaining about my lack of a mate. No demons' are powerful enough to stand at my side though you seem to be." He said this calmly, indifferently.
I scowled at him, I heard someone clear their throat and turned to see Kouga watching us strangely.
"I need to go," He turned to Kagome and kissed her cheek lightly before turning and taking off in a whirlwind.
I sighed in exasperation. Wow, what a day! I turned to Sesshomaru.
"I'm not having sex with you." I heard someone snort and start laughing. It was Inuyasha. Sesshomaru glared at me. I looked back at him unfazed. I blinked at him then turned back to Kagome.
"I feel like taking a bath is there a place to?" She nodded and pointed to what looked like a small deer path.
"Follow that path it comes out at a hot spring." She smiled slightly. I smiled back, and turned walking past Sesshomaru to Hamai who was standing patiently waiting for me. I took my bath things from the saddle-bags, and turned walking down the path, again not looking at Sesshomaru. I could feel him following me down the path. As we arrived at the hot spring I turned around and twiddled my finger motioning him to turn around. He shook his head. I glared.
"I'm not getting naked in front of you!" I hissed at him. He just lifted an eyebrow and kept looking at me. I threw my hair brush at him. He dodged it easily. I stomped my foot at him.
"If you don't I'll scream really loud." I said. Doggies had sensitive ears right? He just quirked his eyebrow at me again. Fuck it! I stripped in front of him. He watched every little move I made. I squirmed a bit under his gaze. I slid into the water and sighed as the hot water massaged my muscles. I relaxed against a rock, then pulled out my shaving razor and started to shave my legs. As I finished shaving everything else I noticed Sesshomaru watching me with his head tilted to the side.
"What?" He looked at the razor in my hand.
"What is that strange object?" He asked curiously. I looked at my razor. Then back at him.
"It's a shaving razor. It takes the hair off my legs and stuff, so I'm not furry like a puppy." He stepped forward, looking down at me. He held out his hand and I handed him the razor. As he inspected it I washed my body and hair. As I resurfaced from rinsing my hair I heard a sharp intake of breath. Looking over I saw he had cut his finger. I tried not to giggle at him. I got out of the water, put on my towel, and walked over to him. I took his finger inspecting the cut. Then I stuck his finger in my mouth, sucking the blood off. I ran my tongue over the small cut. When I let his finger out of my mouth all that remained was a small pinkish scar. That quickly faded also. I licked my lips and looked up at him.
He watched me lick my lips then looked back to his finger.
"Healing spit." I chuckled, then turned and pulled my clothes back on. I went and picked up my hairbrush and brushed out my hair. I pulled it into a messy bun, and used a pair of chopsticks to hold it against my head.
I sat down on a rock to pull my sneakers back on, Sesshomaru continued to watch me. He walked toward me slowly. Like a predator. I felt my fight-or-flight instinct kick in. He was looking at me like he was hungry. Dogs do eat kitties' after all. I paused and looked at him wide-eyed. He leaned down till his lips were inches from mine. I leaned back a bit and his hand snaked out cupping the back of my head. He kissed me. I made a sound of protest and lifted my hands to his shoulders to push at him. He leaned forward against me, and I pushed at his shoulders. I was strong but he was most definitely stronger then me.
His lips were soft and warm against mine. I slowly, tentatively kissed him back. He growled against my mouth. Almost like a cat would purr he growled. His hand moved to my waist and he pulled me up off the rock to press me against him. I rested my hands against his chest. He moved his kiss down across my jaw, down my neck to where he had bitten me earlier. He nuzzled my neck before releasing me and turning to walk away. Leaving me flustered and blushing.
"You have no willpower kitten. If I had wanted to I could have taken you just now." He disappeared down the path, and I sighed heavily. I guess he was right…