Last time on The Worthy One

We find out why Sesshomaru just tried to decapitate Youko in lieu of shaking hands: he's in heat. He desires to rut with Youko, if he can survive. We find out Youko might be amenable to the idea, providing the Inu Yokai can prove himself worthy of his time. Their battle ends in a draw. Yusuke and the others discuss Sesshomaru's motivations for attacking Kurama, and agree on a 'don't ask don't tell' policy. Sesshomaru has summoned his potential rutting partner to the forest.

Sesshomaru

The kitsune had survived. Not only that, but had actually neutralized his dragon strike. Indeed, he might be worthy. His body, his lust, that beast inside him had already decided. Take the fox, have your way with him, fuck him until he passes out, or you pass out, whichever one came first.

But the rut wasn't just about sex. It was also about dominance and submission. Much of the purpose was to dominate one's partner or victim whatever the case may have it. Sesshomaru had never fully sated his ruts because he had never had to work for a submission. After searching for a worthy partner, he would simply have to take his pleasure and move on. This would prove a challenge, and the idea of a challenge was not unpleasant.

He knew the fox was interested. Kitsune were attracted to power, and intelligence, and he, Sesshomaru was not lacking in either. He knew by the way Youko had looked at him and how he had provoked him that he knew exactly what Sesshomaru's purpose was. And when he had twitched that delicious silver tail at him, it was an invitation.

Sesshomaru had made his decision. He let the fox knew it was time. Three words. Come to me.

Youko

Youko moved swiftly and quietly through the forest. Judging by his scent, Sesshomaru was 20 miles away. Youko was sure that Sesshomaru expected him to come as summoned, to travel twenty miles to meet him.

That was not going to happen. He stopped after nine miles and waited. No Sesshomaru, he thought. You are the pursuer. You will come to ME.

Sesshomaru had no idea how dominance and submission really worked. The submissive really held the power, if they knew how to use it. In TRUE dominance/submission the dominant could not just take what they wanted, they had to sue for it, or prove that they were worthy. Youko was a master at this game, and he had acquired a new and very obstinate pupil. Youko had been in this area for ten minutes, by now Sesshomaru had gotten the message, and was moving towards him with lightening speed.

Time for the lessons to begin.

At camp

Kuwabara woke with a start. He looked around. Everyone was in camp except Kurama. Where was he? Had he gone to meet that Sesshomaru guy again? But then again, Kurama was a bit of an introvert at times; he rarely revealed what he was thinking and often went off by himself. Kuwabara had learned not to ask so many questions.

But that's not what woke him. He sensed a presence, a very evil presence. What was it? Was it that Naraku guy they were talking about earlier? He knew Urameshi wouldn't know so he decided to wake Inuyasha.

Inuyasha awoke before he even touched him, sword instantly drawn. "Oh, it's just you. What is it?"

"There's something headed towards us."

Inuyasha sniffed the air. "Naraku! He's sent some of his incarnations after us. Wake up!" Inuyasha hissed at everyone loudly.

"Huh?"

"What?"

"Naraku!" Shippo exclaimed.

"So this is the guy you were talking about?"

"Probably not. He rarely makes an appearance. He usually sends his minions."

"Hn. Sounds like a waste of time," snorted Hiei.

"Are they strong?" Kuwabara asked.

"Usually they're just annoying. There are a couple that are particularly bothersome though."

"You must be talking about me."

They all turned to see Kagura floating above them on one of her feathers.

"Who the hell are you?" Yusuke asked.

"Ah, I see you've made some new friends Inuyasha. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Kagura, the wind sorceress."

"Wind sorceress? Hn. Impossibly weak." Hiei leapt towards her with his impossible speed and made a single slash with his sword, slicing her in two; or so he thought.

"I can't believe that pathetic weakling was giving you trouble," Hiei said.

"Nice try."

Hiei turned around to see her floating on her feather again. He growled in irritation.

"Oh yeah. She does that," Inuyasha informed him.

"You're a bit hotheaded, aren't you?" Kagura observed of Hiei. "Reminds me of you, Inuyasha."

"Shut up. Just ignore her," Inuyasha advised. "She won't bother us if we don't attack her."

"I don't think so. No one makes a fool of me!" Hiei charged after her again.

"Wait!" Miroku called out.

"Let him be," Kuwabara advised. "He's not going to stop til' he gets her."

"Let's focus on the incarnations," Inuyasha said, noting the twelve pairs of glowing eyes.

In the forest

Sesshomaru closed his eyes and focused. He's coming. I can feel him; I can smell him. That's it, fox. Come to me. Submit to me. Sesshomaru would never admit it, but he could hardly wait.

All of a sudden, the fox stopped. He was not quite halfway to his destination, to him. Why had he stopped? What is he playing at? Sesshomaru demanded silently. He waited. Sesshomaru waited. He never waited for anything. If he wanted someone or something, he either went after it, or summoned whomever he requiring. Everyone, even Inuyasha always came when summoned. This fox dared to have the temerity to keep him waiting. He felt his anger rising, or what he believed to be anger.

The fox would pay for his insolence.

Back at Camp

"Spirit sword!" Kuwabara exclaimed and summoned his signature weapon. He sliced through one of the incantations. "Gotcha!" He exclaimed.

Much to his dismay, the beast grew another appendage to replace the one he cut off. "Darnit!" he exclaimed.

"Spirit gun!" Yusuke shouted, firing off a blast and taking two of the incarnations' heads off. Much to his dismay, both creatures stood back up and began to grow another one. "Shit!" Yusuke exclaimed. "What the fuck!"

"You're holding to much energy back," Miroku explained. "You have to find their weak point, and go at it full blast!"

Back in the forest

Sesshomaru reached the clearing in record time; he traveled quickly and stealthily, like a thief. Youko's heightened senses told him exactly where he was, and he could smell Sesshomaru's indignation.

"You did not come to me," he stated.

"Yet here we are," countered the fox.

Sesshomaru growled that same growl from earlier, with a tinge of anger. "You dare to mock me?"

"Of course not."

Sesshomaru pinned Youko against a tree. His breathing was labored, and his pupils were dilated. Youko, being the super sensory demon that he was, could feel him trembling. Oh this will be enjoyable, he thought.

"In future," Sesshomaru announced, "you will come to me when summoned."

"I'm afraid that is not possible."

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes and tightened his grip. "I will play no games with you fox. You will come when I summon you. And you will submit to me."

"And if I refuse?"

He dragged his claw down the fox's face, marring the perfect skin. A drop of blood ran down Youko's cheek, like a red tear. "I will kill you." Sesshomaru gathered the blood onto his finger. The scratch on Youko's cheek had already healed. He licked the blood off his finger.

Oh, fuck.

The taste was like nothing he had experienced before. Tangy, exotic, enticing. He wanted more. He needed more. He would have this fox; he would have his blood, his body, his everything.

Youko studied Sesshomaru as he savored his blood. In all is 1000+ years, he could count the times his blood was spilled in battle on one hand. And his blood had never been spilled in a rut. And yet, he had let the Inu Yokai do it. And when Sesshomaru had threatened to kill him, Youko knew he would do it. His pulse raced. For the first time ever, Youko wondered if he would be able to maintain complete control of the situation.

Sesshomaru was wondering the same thing.

Back at camp

"You've found the point at which they are most susceptible. Continue to strike it!"

Each time that Yusuke and Kuwabara struck, the incarnations rose again, but slower and slower each time, sustaining visible damage.

"One more time," Miroku encouraged. "And move back!" Miroku removed the rosary that held void at bay.

"Hn. What can you do?" Hiei sneered.

"Watch this. Kazanaa!" Miroku unleashed the full force of his wind tunnel of the remnants of the beasts that Naraku had sent.

"Whoa," Yusuke commented.

"Cool!" Kuwabara exclaimed.

They all turned to the dragon. "Hiei?"

"Apparently you're not as useless as you look."

Miroku chuckled. "I'll take that as a compliment."

"A high compliment indeed," Yusuke confirmed.

Back in the woods

Sesshomaru leaned in, lengthening his fangs so that he might taste more of this fox's blood, but Youko had other plans. He took advantage of Sesshomaru's distraction to slip out of his grip and was gone in the blink of an eye.

With not a moment's hesitation, Sesshomaru took off after him.

Will Sesshomaru catch his fox? Will Naraku make an appearance? Did Hiei actually compliment someone? Find out as The Worthy One continues!