Encounter with Strip Poker Chapter 3

Sesshomaru crept behind tree leaves. Kagome's friends and him were sitting around a fire, cooking fish. The sun had set long ago, and still, Sesshomaru had not been able to get Kagome's belongings. Inuyasha kept catching a bit of Sesshomaru's scent, and then Sesshomaru would have to change location. Now, Sesshomaru had to get it, or he wouldn't be able to until they all went to sleep.

"I wonder how Kagome is. Do you know why she didn't show up last night, Miroku?" The demon slayer asked, taking a bite of her fish.

"She beat us all at that game and was in high spirits when she left for her bath. No clue, do you, Inuyasha?" The monk asked.

The half-demon shrugged. "Probably felt so guilty for beating me and getting me mad (remember how she sat me from the spring?), she went home," Inuyasha suggested.

"I don't think so," a small fox demon spoke up. "Inuyasha, that tone she screamed it in, she was more scared than angry. I've heard her when she was angry at you, and that wasn't it."

"Shippo," Inuyasha called. The fox demon looked up. "Shut up!"

A feline demon mewed and settled in the demon slayer's lap. "I think even Kirara is worried. Aren't you just a little bit, Inuyasha?" She asked.

"Get off my back, all right? Nothing happened to her!" Inuyasha snapped, standing up. Sesshomaru took his chance then. Inuyasha was so preoccupied with the conversation, perhaps he wouldn't even sense him.

With a huge take off, Sesshomaru rushed by the group to Kagome's belongingness. His hand snatched the bag and bows and arrows at once and sped towards the castle. Mission accomplished.


Kagome forced her eyes opened. She was getting quite drowsy, but she had to stay awake. Her shoulder burned every time her eyes closed.

"Jaken," Kagome finally said, knowing full well that she was disobeying Sesshomaru's demand, "I need you to get Sesshomaru here, and quickly."

Jaken said nothing, just continuing to walk with Ah-Un's reins in hand. But Ah and Un heard her, and halted where it stood. Jaken was jerked back and glared at Kagome.

"I will not disobey Sesshomaru, unlike you," Jaken growled, pulling the reins.

"Jaken, I beg of you. Call Sesshomaru," Kagome begged. She needed sleep, and soon, or another demand of Sesshomaru's would be broken; her touching the ground.

"Master Jaken, I think Lady Kagome is in real need of Lord Sesshomaru," Rin piped up with worry.

"I will not call upon Sesshomaru unless it is an emergency," Jaken snapped. "Now come on, Ah-Un."

Rin frowned before whispering to Kagome. "Cover your ears, Lady Kagome. This will be loud."

Kagome smiled and covered her ears with both hands. Suddenly, Rin broke into a high pitched scream, loud and long. Kagome smiled. Yes, that was sure to get Sesshomaru to come.


Elsewhere, running at the speed of light, the sound caught Sesshomaru's ears. Rin's scream! Jaken was dead, allowing Rin to be in trouble. Quickly changing courses, he ran backwards, towards Rin and Jaken. And, to his forgotten horror, Kagome as well. If she happened to die, so would he. Another disadvantage of mating... He sighed before quickening his pace even more, the arrows in his hand banging into each other. He had to get there, and soon!

He skidded right before Rin. She smiled, her scream stopping. He looked around; no danger. So why did she scream?

Kagome and Jaken coughed from the dust he picked up, but then were fine.

"Lord Sesshomaru, Lady Kagome needed you! Isn't that sweet?" Rin asked.

Sesshomaru looked at Kagome with a glare, throwing her belongings below her feet. "What am I, just some male you command? You asked for your belongings, which have been taking me forever to get, and now you 'needed me'?" Sesshomaru snapped in public, for once in his life. Jaken took ten huge steps back, so that his was hiding behind a tree. This was not good, not good at all.

Before Kagome even responded, her eyes fell closed, and she fell off Ah-Un. Sesshomaru's glare quickly disappeared as he caught her. She could have not fallen asleep without him around. She must had been exhausted. He felt so guilty. Quickly, he adjusted her in his arms to hold her properly.

"Jaken," he demanded harshly, but quietly, "prepare a campground. We will camp here tonight."

Jaken poked his head from around the tree, still quite afraid, but gathered firewood and prepared a fire. By then, Sesshomaru and Kagome were gone. Jaken sighed; another night stuck alone with Rin...


Sesshomaru undid the tie on his cape, which was still around Kagome, and placed it down as a bedding. He laid her upon it, covering her with it quickly afterwards. He placed her belongings, which he carried as well to the cave, next to her head softly. He quickly removed his armour and laid next to Kagome, covered in his cape as well. He pulled Kagome close to him. He never needed someone to sleep next to before, but now he did. He needed this Kagome next to him, as well as she needed him. It was why she needed him. She was exhausted, but could not fall asleep without Sesshomaru around. She probably endured a lot of pain because of his absence. She would have been asleep a long time ago if only he had stayed next to her the entire day. How foolish of him not to think of her human ways.

Kagome moaned as her eyes clenched. Sesshomaru backed away to see her. Something was paining her. What could it had been?

Taking a guess, he pulled the cape down from her, just far enough that he could see her shoulder. It looked fine, but he did not think Kagome would moan in pain because of nothing. Reluctant for a while, Sesshomaru placed his hand slowly on her shoulder. He just touched it the lightest, and Kagome's shoulder jolted up to meet his hand. He was suspicious for a while, before pressing her shoulder down again, and leaving his hand there. He pulled Kagome closer to him, and relaxed there. He only hoped he would not fall asleep.


-----

Kagome rubbed her eyes as she awoke. Gosh, she was tired. The night before, last thing she remembered was hearing Sesshomaru yell at her, once again. She sighed as she opened her eyes. She just broke her vow.

Kagome had to blink a few times. A white shirt was the only thing in her view. Was she laying next to Inuyasha?

"So, you have awakened?" A cold voice said. Kagome looked up to find Sesshomaru looking coldly at her. Kagome's eyes went wide. Did they go again?

Kagome was trying to say something, but couldn't find the words to speak, and nicely. She just wanted to burst or yell or just scream at him, but, of course, in two minutes flat, she'd be dead.

"You slept for a long time. The sun is high in the sky," Sesshomaru told Kagome. He was making no move to back away, and Kagome's back was against a cold wall.

"I was tired," Kagome told him. "Long day with a lot of events."

"If you desire, you may dress in clothing. I brought your bag in here," Sesshomaru told Kagome, sitting up. Kagome saw what he meant; her backpack was right there. She sat upright quickly and grabbed it, searching through it. She wanted to badly change into regular clothes. She only hoped she had a spare bra, panties and uniform.

"YES!" Kagome exclaimed. She had them all! She pulled them out and started dressing, seeing that she wasn't really wearing anything. She was done in two minutes flat, and looked at Sesshomaru. His stance never wavered, and Kagome saw that he looked like he was wearing some comfortable clothing, like he was lounging around. Just a white top, his sash, and pants. No armour, no swords, nothing like that. He still wore his shoes, but, as Kagome suddenly realized, she had none! No socks either! "Uh," Kagome mumbled, "do you happened to have any extra shoes?"

"It is not like you will be walking. You shall receive the royal clothing and footwear when we arrive at the castle, today," Sesshomaru told Kagome, picking his armour up and putting it on. He placed his swords on his sash and walked out. Kagome finally noticed she was in a cave. She picked up her bow, arrows, and backpack and stood, following Sesshomaru out. But, before she knew what had happened, her bag, arrows and bow were dropped on the ground as she was scooped up into Sesshomaru's arms. She was held bridal style, able to see Sesshomaru's face even more clearly. The thing was that Sesshomaru started walking away from her items on the ground.

"Um, my items!" Kagome snapped. "You went through so much trouble to get them, and now you're going to leave them behind? If Inuyasha gets them again-"

"You speak when not spoken to too much. Jaken will get your belongings. And do not speak of his name," Sesshomaru stated coldly. He walked into the forest and found Rin and Jaken's sleeping forms. Ah-Un, though, was wide awake, and bowed when Sesshomaru arrived. Sesshomaru placed Kagome on the dragon, side-saddle, and kicked Jaken. The sound the toad made when he was kicked over awoken Rin, who yawned and stretched before wishing her lord, her master, and even her lady a good morning.

"My lord, my lord, did you rest well last night? I saw you left with my queen, but did not return. Did she awaken and keep you there for another night?" Jaken asked, bowing low to his lord.

"Get her belongings. They are at the entrance of the cave in the east. And quickly; we shall be leaving soon," Sesshomaru stated before seating himself near the burnt out fire. The toad blinked a few times, registering the information. Had Sesshomaru just ignored him? "Now, Jaken."

The toad jumped before bowing once and scurrying off towards the cave. Kagome remained on Ah-Un, still. Rin, meanwhile, was stretching still and yawning, and even moaned a couple of times. She suddenly then spoke up. "My lord, I never got to ask you yesterday. Why did screams come from your spring area the night before?" Rin asked so innocently. Kagome saw a slight twitch of Sesshomaru's eyebrow before just looking at Kagome with his eyes, but not turning his head.

"Your lady seemed to be quite loud, is all I shall tell you Rin. You are still too young to know," Sesshomaru stated. Kagome looked away, slightly angered at Sesshomaru. How dare he just answer her. The least Kagome would do, if Shippo was to ask a question like that, was just state he was too young, and then blush. But, the thing was, that never was brought up with her and Inuyasha, nor would screams be heard, other than the ones because of a lecherous monk. But they would all return in the end. Well, Miroku a little behind than the others...

Kagome brought her gaze to the ground. How were they all? She had not returned at all that night. They must have all been worried about her greatly. She was worried about them, especially Inuyasha. Would he be running to Kikyou at this moment, or worrying about her? Or, she thought as her eyes went wide, did he go to her time? If he did, oh, she had more troubles than expected! If he was to ask her mother about where Kagome was, and her mother was to tell him she hadn't returned for weeks, for that was the length of time since she had returned, there would be an uproar, as an understatement. Kagome's mother always worried about things, and, if her mother was to ask Inuyasha why he was asking, and he told her the truth, Kagome's mother would worry non-stop. And then Inuyasha would worrying, or tell their friends, and they would worry. Kagome held her head in her hands. Oh, her life was turning upside down!

"Queen Kagome," Sesshomaru stated coldly, and Kagome looked up to see that he was looking at the pile of ashes in front of him, "stop worrying. Your friends are fine. Inuyasha, I must say, perhaps not be, seeing how oblivious he is, saying that you were angry at him, and that was your reason for not returning that night, but you must understand that your friends do worry about you and blame Inuyasha. You should be content about that news, for I am," he told her. Kagome was now more confused than before Sesshomaru started talking.

"How would you know?" Kagome asked. He raised his head and turned to look at her.

"I gathered your belongings. Your friends were talking about you, worried as well. But, as I might let you know, Inuyasha put blame on you for being angry at him and that was why you did not return. He did not worry, nor care. And, did I not tell you before, do not think of him," Sesshomaru said, standing up, still looking at her.

"My, um, lord..." Kagome trailed off, gathering her words. She just wanted to yell, "HOW IN HELL WOULD YOU KNOW?" but, of course, death was definite for that. So, as kindly as possible, she asked, "How would you know what I am thinking about?"


Sesshomaru finally had to tell her. How else would she stop asking him? "Because of our situation, I know your thoughts. Anything you think, I think. Just that half-breed's name passing through your head and thoughts shall pass through mine. I do not prefer that name passing through my thoughts anymore than needed, so, if it is possible, which I highly doubt, refrain from thinking about anything about him or related to him. Which means, Queen Kagome, if you cannot think about your friends without relating them to Inuyasha, you are banned to think about them."

Kagome's lips parted as her eyes held sadness. Yes, it was quite unfair, not to allow her to even think about her friends, but he did not like thinking about Inuyasha. "My lord, why can I not hear your thoughts?" She asked.

"This conversation is over," he stated, walking past her and Ah-Un. She had asked yet another question he could not answer. Why did she think that he knew absolutely everything about mating? Anyways, he did not wish to have to explain the mating to her and Rin, who would like all the details as well. He'd just order Jaken to explain what he knew to Kagome, and alone. But, if Jaken knew more than Sesshomaru did, that would not look good on his part. Gosh, he was happy his thoughts did not go through Kagome's head. If they confused him sometimes, Kagome would be dizzy with the size of them. He always had thoughts passing through his head. If she had to work with his thoughts along with hers, she'd go crazy. It was bad enough Sesshomaru heard hers. He knew exactly what she was dreaming about last night! It was quite sickening, seeing that he could not awaken her to order her to stop dreaming about that half-breed. He gagged just recalling the memory. She actually desired his brother more than him. It was probably why her mating mark hurt that night. Well, he told himself, the next time she dreams about him, she can deal with the pain.

A grunt was heard along with a lot of curses and swears. "What does this woman carry in her bag, lead?" Jaken bickered.

"Jaken," Sesshomaru called. The bickering, swearing and cursing stopped.

"Yes, my lord?" A squeak came out.

"What is taking you so long? You should have been here long ago," Sesshomaru growled coldly.

"My lord, her items weigh a ton," Jaken complained and Sesshomaru walked into view. Sesshomaru sighed before grasping one of the straps on the bag and started carrying it back to the camp.

"Carry the rest, and keep up," Sesshomaru ordered. Gosh, he was surrounded by idiots! Other than Rin, that was...