Chapter 4

Asa shoved her hands in the pockets of her heavy kimono as she watched the back porch of her home travel down the steam, emptying into the lake that was currently overflowing. Somehow, the small waterfall she had created had turned into a big waterfall. The ground under her home was wearing away and soon, rather than later, the whole thing would be down with the porch. She was going to have to move the whole thing.

Where? …higher above the falls? Or below on the grassy plains? She supposed it would be easier for her to bring the house down onto the plains. But first, she would have to create channels to relieve the water in the lake.

Maybe underground tunnels?

No, that would be too much work and right now she wasn't in the mood. She shifted her house, the bottom scrapped against the gravel. Once it was back far enough, she made her way down to take care of the flooding lake. She held her hands out above the ground, swaying them back and forth above the lake. The ground shook, cracked, and then spit. Three small canals began to form; one would go into Lady Kaede's village, the other two towards the villages nearby. As she swayed her hands, the canals lengthen, stretching out at a steady rate to their destinations.

She worked, but she couldn't shake her foul mood. Though she had every right to be upset in her opinion. It had been three moon cycles and Sesshomaru dismissed her her feelings as if nothing she said fazed him.

It pissed her off!

He would still come to her. He would still talk to her, or rather she would talk and he'd listen. He would still kiss her, touch her; have sex with her. Just back to the same routine as if pouring her heart didn't matter to him. Maybe that's what he was telling her. Maybe that was his answer. That this would be her life if she decided to stay. She would be his to control, to manipulate, and he would treat her like a common concubine. Because essentially that what she was. She would receive gifts, his presence, his loyalty, sex. But at any given moment, he could leave her without a qualm. She was given everything but what she desired from him.

Was she willing to stay in that position forever? Even though she wanted children, a mate, a family; was she willing to sacrifice what she wanted, what she deserved, for someone that she wasn't sure loved her?

With the sudden realization of her future with the one she loved, Asa crouched down; hugging her knees closed to her chest. She wanted to cry, but she held back. It wasn't fair. She deserved everything she worked hard for. Why should she settled for anything less?

"I need a break." She murmured.

"Asa?" Joplin rubbed against her hip. He could sense his mistress was upset. He climbed under her arms.

"I need a break, Joplin." She nuzzled his fur and squeezed him gently.

She just couldn't take it anymore.

Sesshomaru walked slowly through the forest debating with himself. He never debated with himself, not ever. Not until Asa appeared into his life once more that he seemed to be questioning his every action.

That night when she laid out her demands, he wasn't going to lie that he wasn't mad. He heard the ultimatum underneath it all. No, she didn't say it out loud but she pretty much said she wanted this, this, and this and if he didn't comply, then she was through with their relationship.

How fucking dare she? No one forced his hand; No one. And to piss her off, he continued to do as he pleased with her and not once did he answer to her demands. And not once did she reject him.

Imagine that!

So what was the damn point of talking all that nonsense if she wasn't going to back it up?

That was the point he was trying to make. He was a man of few words for a reason. Not because he wasn't taught to express his emotions verbally, that was part of it, but also his father taught him that words could be spoken by any man or demon. Verbal threats and promises meant nothing. Action would show the world what that man, or demon, was truly made of.

Sesshomaru never spoke the words, but didn't he show her? Every day he saw her, his actions proved that she meant more to him than just a vassal or someone he pleasured himself with. He had shown time and time again, for several months. How could she not know the he loved her?

Fine! He grumbled internally, finally giving in. If that's what it took. He would say the words, but one time only and then he'd put the questioning of his love for her to rest.

He scanned his surroundings; had he gone the wrong way? No, he was sure he was where he was supposed to be. The waterfall that Asa created had grown since the last time he had seen it. Not that he'd paid any mind to it. The fact that the large hut that resided next to it was no longer there caused some concerns. He didn't sense her. She was nowhere close, not even a lingering scent of her.

He heard splashing down below, past the roaring sound of rushing water. He spotted the vassal that accompanied Asa swimming in the lake that now had channels running from it.

"Where's Asa?" He glared when the otter took his time, flipping on his back, paddling his paws to go backwards.

"I don't know." Without warning, Sesshomaru snatched him by his neck

"I won't ask again." He growled, squeezing slightly to prove his point.

"I said, I don't…" Joplin lost his breath as the demon lord's grip tightened. "She left!" he squeaked.

"Where?!"

"I don't know! She said she needed a break. I haven't seen her since this morning." His pupils became big as saucers. "But even if I did know, I wouldn't tell you." He shook, more out of fear that he said that to him. He knew he would kill him without a thought. "You make Asa cry. She cries all the time because of you!"

Sesshomaru slammed the demon back, water splashed on the leg of his pants. He ignored his heart as it raced in his chest. Picking up his pace, he'd have his answers soon enough.

"Get the hell off me!" Inuyasha roared in his ears. Grabbing his wrist, his claws dug into his skin as he pinned him against the tree.

"Don't lie!" If anyone knew where Asa was, it would be this asshole. Inuyasha mirrored his expression of anger and disgust. If looks could kill, they would both be dead.

"You can fuck off, Sesshomaru. I already told you she's not here." He pushed back hard. He fell to his feet only because his brother let him go. "Do you sense her? Do you smell her? Huh?!" Inuyasha straighten his clothes. "She ain't here." He knew where she was, but he wouldn't give in to his bullying. Let him sweat. He deserved it.

"She's always here, playing with that child."

Inuyasha's ears twitched. "So what?! She's welcomed to play with my son!" Sesshomaru felt a small tremor at the corner of his eye when he smirked. "What? She left you or something? Got tired of you. Yeah, I can see how that would piss you off."

"Right now, you're pissing me off."

"Ain't nobody to blame but yourself. Pretty sure the fight at her house sealed your fate. You can't even tell her how you feel. That attitude of yours will be your downfall."

He punched him. He wasn't thinking about it as his body reacted. He didn't want to be lectured, especially not by a half breed, about his relationship. So what if he wasn't the first to express his feelings? She knew that walking in. Why should she want more out of him? How selfish could she be?

Lost in his own thoughts, he barely dodged his brother's attack before he leaped on him. They fell to the ground. Tussling, throwing hits and kicks at one another.

"What the hell is going on?!" They stopped in mid swing. Sesshomaru's heart stuttered when he saw her. The mass of pink was tied away from her face, swing in the crisp breeze. The baby, just two months old, tugged at the pieces that fell away. A bag sling over her shoulders as she and the other woman walked towards them.

Inuyasha's wife, Kagome, twisted her mouth so she wouldn't laugh and shook her head in dismay.

"Hey!" Inuyasha swung on last time, hitting his brother in the shoulder before pushing off. "How was the trip?" he kissed her on her smiling lips.

"Amazing!" Tears formed in the corner of her eyes. "Mom was so surprised and happy. She didn't want to let go and Souta was there for Holiday so that was a treat." Kagome dug inside the sleeve of her kimono, pulling out a square frame. Enclosed was a small photo of her family. Three generations of Higarashis; the baby of the family gave a toothless smile, as he was begin held by his grandmother.

"This is nice." Inuyasha commented and was happy that Kagome's wish had come true. She had been somber over the fact that she had her first child and her mother and grandfather wouldn't be able to see him. The bone-eater's well was long gone for over a decade and though Kagome had accepted her life as it was, she still missed her family.

"Thank you, Asa. I don't know how I can thank you for everything."

"Don't worry about it." She waved her hand in dismissal. "It was my pleasure. Right, Kichirou!?"

The baby squealed as she nuzzled his face. He went off in a tangent of happy squeals and babbling. "You had fun, huh? You saw your grandma, and your great-grandpa, and your uncle, yeah! You were so happy." Her answer was more squeals as she talked to him.

"Ok. Time to go back to Mama." She handed the infant back, sliding the bag off.

"What's in there?" They didn't leave with anything.

"Clothes, blankets, and toys." Kagome shifted Kichirou. "Mom went bananas. There's so much. He's going to outgrow them."

"That's ok." Inuyasha kissed her forehead before kissing his son's. He could tell how happy she was. That was all that mattered.

"Well, I'll be going." As she said that, Kichirou began to whine. "No, no. No cries. No cries." Asa came back, tickling him under his chin. "I'll come back, yeah?!" The baby started to babble. "See, Auntie Asa will come back and we'll have fun! Okay!?" She kissed his nose. He giggled. "I'll teach you how to kiss too. Say kisses!" She kissed his nose again. "Say kisses! Muah!" She gave him a fit laughter as she kissed him over and over. "I taught your daddy how to do kisses, I'll teach you!" Asa gave him one more loud one.

She waved behind her, making her way up the hill. She didn't acknowledge Sesshomaru. Didn't speak even as he followed.

"What the hell?" She finally said about halfway through the forest. "Can't you two go one day without fighting? I thought you were passed all that."

He glared at her. Who was she to lecture him? He about had enough lectures for one day.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"What? That I was taking Kagome back to her time? That wasn't planned." She crossed her arms. "But what did it matter?

Really? What did it matter? Did she not realize the fear that slowly crept through his being? Every hour that passed, her scent faded more.

"You don't like the baby. So why would I tell you if I go see him?"

"That has nothing to do with anything."

"I don't have time for this, Sesshomaru." She knew where this conversation was going, nowhere. "I have other things to do. I had to deal with losing half my home and I got frustrated. I wanted to see Inuyasha and the baby. He presented me with the request to take Kagome and Kichirou to see her family and I did. We stayed a while and came home." Asa threw her arms over her head.

"There! Are you satisfied?! You know everything that I've done! Would you like to know when I ate or slept too?!"

She saw it coming and tried to stop it, but he overpowered her. Slamming her back against the tree, the impact caused the multi-colored leaved to fall around them. His growl was menacing, daring her to challenge him. One thing Sesshomaru wouldn't tolerate was disrespect. She knew that, deliberately pushing his buttons.

She wanted something out of him. Anything.

"So how was your day?" she said disinterested. "Oh, what, I forgot. His Lord doesn't have to answer to anyone. He can go for weeks at a time as if his presence doesn't matter to anyone. So excuse me, Lord Sesshomaru, if I thought that I had the same courtesy."

He sensed her anger, her sadness. He had no idea that he made her feel this sense of abandonment, betrayal, and sadness. It never occurred to him before now. He had always traveled; really never staying in the same spot for a long time. He never had to think about anyone else. Yes, there was Jaken and Ah-Uh in his company, but he only had to worry about himself.

If only she knew why he always left; being bounded was not something he was prepared for. His father would mention to him when he was a child that it would do strange things to him that he might not be ready to accept. He wanted to say things to her that were beyond his comprehension. He wanted to do things to her that surely she would think of him as a savage.

Even now as she stood in front of him, pinned to the pine biting at his hand; her eyes were burning mad. Everything was churning inside of him, he couldn't pinpoint what he wanted to contain. When he controlled one urge, the others would escape, and if he managed to gather them all, he felt like he was ready to explode. So he did the only thing he could to control himself. He left to cool down, to gather himself and his thoughts so when he was around her again, he wouldn't be a complete idiot.

Was he hurting her more that way? He had no intentions on making her worry, on making her feel that she didn't matter to him. Maybe he wasn't supposed to be away. Maybe holding on to these feelings that were developing were supposed to come out only for a moment for release and then finally, once heard, they would subside and he would stop feeling overwhelmed.

Just stop being so in control and let it go!

He descended upon her without another thought; his rough mouth fell on hers. He felt her protest; she pushed back, gone as far as to bite until blood was drawn. He ignored it all until she was lax, falling into the passionate kiss. Her arms went around his neck when he let go. Their hearts were pounding rapidly. Using his strength and speed, Sesshomaru carried them deeper into the forest.

They broke apart; those moments were not wasted. He undid her kimono; pulling at it until it unwrapped from her body. The cool air against her heated flesh sent chill bumps over her skin. Instinctively her back arched as he feasted on her breasts. He left a trail of fire behind his touch and kisses as he went down further and further. Her scent attacked his senses without mercy. He craved her and didn't hesitate. Once, he had deemed this act vulgar, demeaning in nature. He never had the urge to do this with any woman he deemed worthy enough to share his company with and that wasn't many.

But with Asa, it was a whole different experience. He wanted to do anything and everything with her. He wanted to give her pleasure for hours, to fill her mind and thoughts with nothing but him. He craved the taste of her constantly throughout the days; wanting her always.

How could a man get anything accomplished this way?

Her low moan was followed by her orgasm flowing into his mouth. He was careful not to waste a single drop as he sat on his hunches, drinking the sight of her; panting slightly, her body flushed with droplets of sweat coated over her. He'd like to think that he was the only one that could make her feel that way. Of course he was not fool. But as he mounted her, he vowed that he'd be the last.

Still coming down from his high, he could feel their hearts beating in time. Asa's head rested on his chest; pink tresses splayed everywhere, disheveled. Their limbs tangled together; Sesshomaru's tail moved to cover her naked body when she shivered from the night air. Asa let out a purr when his fingers massaged her scalp lovingly. Until her lover tugged at it, hard enough to make her look up at him. Confusion ran across her face. The moonlight peaked through the bare branches gave her a clear view of his features. She could tell that he was trying to say something. She waited patiently in silence for the moment he would speak.

"You are mine. Make no mistake about that. Have no doubt that it will change. It hasn't changed then, now, or ever. I want no one else but you, Asa."

She replied the words in her head at least five times just to make sure she heard them correctly. He wanted no one but her. No one else but her!

Her heart was going to burst. She just knew it would. It was going to pop and she would melt into a watery mess. But she held it together. She wasn't going to cry. …at least not now.

She shifted, rising to her knees in front of him. "Is that your way of saying you love me?"

Stoic mask in place. "Yes."

Asa smiled. "But you won't say it." He gave her a deadpan stare and she sighed. "Well, I guess I'll accept that." Giggling, she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I want babies." She kissed him. "Lots of babies." She kissed him again. "Right now."

"No."

Asa laughed. She couldn't begin to express her happiness.

TBC

SMOOCHES!