Chapter 4 - Tempers Rising

Kagome laid stunned on the floor looking at the heavy cuff wrapped around her wrist. Why in the world had she hit him. She was lucky he had spared her life the thought closing her eyes and trying to catch her breath. It had been a split second decision and the wrong one at that. For just a moment she had let her passion overcome her common sense and allowed herself to be seduced by the striking Sesshomaru. It was a mistake that she wouldn't let happen again. What would InuYasha say? He would probably never speak to her again, she might as well have kissed Naraku. She would never tell him for more reasons than just her own heart, InuYasha would confront Sesshomaru head on and probably get himself killed. Kagome laid back, her heart slowing to a jog as she tried to pretend she was anywhere else.

Sesshomaru paced his room. Who was this miko, who did she think she was to lay a hand on him. She had been lucky he hadn't split her in two with a single swipe of his claws. Come to think of it why hadn't he killed her? Never had anyone struck him and lived to tell of it, and the fact that she had even been able to make the slightest of contact warned him that he was allowing himself to be distracted. He looked out into the magnificent garden and slowly pulled himself back into is calm demeanor. Tonight he would scout the Western Falls, there had been rumor of an overwhelming demonic aura there. Tonight though he would go alone, he would let her rest. There was too much at stake to risk running into that mutt, InuYasha, and loosing her. No tonight he would go alone.

The door slid silently open and Sesshomaru stepped into the room. The miko lay sleeping peacefully on the floor, the cuff still encircling her wrist. He place a cup of water and a plate of food next to her. He paused in the doorway to look at her. She truly was striking, her long legs splayed gracefully, and her tiny frame rising and falling softly as she slept. Her long black hair flowing out onto the pillows that surrounded her. Sesshomaru felt that stirring within him again. For a brief moment he allowed it to engulf him and he began to imagine stripping her of those few articles of clothing that she wore and covering her with his body. He imagined how it would feel to be pressed against her naked body. How it would feel to own her completely. Sesshomaru wanted to entwine his hands in her hair and silence that mouth of hers with his own. The last time hadn't been nearly long enough and now he was yearning for more. She had eventually submitted to him, but that final reaction had been totally unexpected. Still as he slid the door closed he knew this miko wouldn't last long in his embrace.

Kagome woke in the early morning hours to find the food and drink next to her. In spite of her desire to be as difficult as possible in hopes of going home she was starving. Kagome dug in eating every last morsel of the food before she even considered the fact that someone had left it for her. Who could have left it, surely not Sesshomaru, he would never be considerate enough to bring her anything. Who else could it have been though she hadn't seen a single soul since she had arrived yesterday. Kagome laughed to herself as she imagined Sesshomaru slaving over a hot stove apron and all.

"You find something amusing?" Kagome's head spun to see her captor standing in the doorway.

"It's nothing, thank you for the meal. Did you make it?" Kagome questioned quietly.

"Yes." Sesshomaru said quietly. Kagome looked questioningly at him. She finally shrugged off her curiosity, even demons have to eat. She thought back on InuYasha's ever growing appetite. Sesshomaru looked at the girl in thought. Was she thinking about him, that worthless half-breed? Anger rose within him.

"When are you going to let me go back to my friends, back to -" before she was able to finish Sesshomaru was standing over her leering down at her.

"Do not speak his name. The less that I hear about that miserable mutt the better off you will be." Kagome felt anger rise up in her, never had she been told what to say by anyone much less Sesshomaru. Something came over her in that moment. She went wild eyed and sprang to her feet facing off with Sesshomaru who towered a full foot over her.

"InuYasha, InuYasha, INUYASHA! What Sesshomaru? You can't stand that I would prefer him to your cold hearted company. That I would rather be free on the countryside than chained up in your home!" Kagome yelled wildly without restraint. Sesshomaru's eyes widened and he growled as his hand flew on its own striking Kagome in the face and knocking her back onto the sea of pillows.

"Listen here, wench. I will not allow you to pollute the air of my home with his name. Do you care to try and repeat his foul name again." Sesshomaru challenged her in a calm menacing tone. He stared down at the girl, her head hung at his feet. Finally on her knees at his feet, in her rightful place this human girl. "Look at me girl. Have you anything else to say? Is there any other profanity that feels the need to come leaping from that mouth of yours?" Sesshomaru continued to prod her. Still her head hung. "Look at me!" He hissed. Her head slowly rose her face red from where the back of his hand had caught her cheek. What was that glint? He thought to himself when suddenly he realized it was tears. She was crying. He felt a tiny tug at his chest somewhere between victory and pity. He couldn't bring himself to back down simply because she was crying. "You were warned and I will not be responsible for your lack of respect. If I were you, miko, I would consider that InuYasha was off in the woods with that dead priestess, not to mention that he did not offer her in exchange for you, actually, miko, he didn't offer anything in exchange for you. I would consider that the next time you stick your pretty neck out for the mere sake of his name."

Kagome knelt at his feet shocked, her face stinging. He must have used some restraint she thought to herself because had he not he would have taken her head clean off. How could she have been so careless, she had nearly gotten herself killed. His last comment stung even more than her rosy cheek. Kagome let her head drop as the tears began to flow freely from her eyes. Sesshomaru was right, InuYasha had simply kissed her goodbye and left her to her fate. Something that he would have never done before Kikyo had shown back up. She was doomed to stay here with her cruel capture as Kikyo and InuYasha roamed the countryside rekindling their lost love. Her heart felt as though it would break at any moment when she felt a hand gently rest on her head. It was Sesshomaru. She looked up into his face and he brushed the hair from her eyes. He knelt down in front of her and looked deep into her tear filled eyes.

"You must let go of what your life was like and see what it is now. Your resistance will only buy you pain and suffering while your submission will bring you things that you may have never known you wanted." With that Sesshomaru wiped a tear from her eye and kissed her. Gently, not like before, for a brief moment she was given refuge in the arms of her tormentor before he rose and left the room.