Chapter - 9 Should Have Known Better

Kagome sat in her room trying to pull her mind from the previous day's events. She couldn't purge the sympathy from her soul. Tears sprang to her eyes for the tenth time that day as she tapped away at the laptop keyboard; recalling the events and the chaos that had ensued brought with it the pain of reliving the saddening experience. She sighed as she thought of some noble word to explain the fire demon's passing, but it was hard to show appreciation for a custom that she didn't even begin to understand. The demon world seemed to thrive on strength, and only the strong survived. Sango had stopped in her room to check on her late the previous night, and had told her that with time she would begin to understand and accept it for what it was. She had promised that with each challenge it would get easier to handle, that Kagome would learn to separate herself from what was playing out before her. Kagome had hoped that she was right, but the idea of watching another battle still rattled her to the core.

Kagome closed the laptop and went to the kitchen; she pulled a bottle of wine from the refrigerator and began to search the drawers for the opener. Maybe a drink would cool the fire in her chest. She pulled the opener from the drawer and began to screw it into the cork. She tugged and pushed, but the bottle refused to give. "UGH!" Kagome slammed the bottle onto the counter, opener still sticking out of the top. Nothing was going her way today. She needed to get out of the suite, out into the fresh air and be left to sort her own thoughts out. Kagome turned and stomped to her room. She pulled a bathing suite from her bag and snatched up her tote. If the wine wouldn't cooperate certainly the bartender would.

Once outside Kagome was about to burst out the door of her suite when she remembered what InuYasha and Miroku had confessed. They were her escorts, assigned to her for her own protection. It occurred to her that maybe she should call them. Sango had said that she was going off with Lord Sesshomaru to some meeting and that if she needed anything to call the guys. Kagome was halfway to the phone when she stopped herself. If she called them then they would certainly want to go with her and that was the last thing she wanted. It was bad enough that she had allowed her own aura to escape her control in front of them, what would they think if they were to see her on the brink of tears over some demon she didn't even know. No, she would just go down to the beach for a little while and sort herself out.

Kagome headed straight for the bar. She played it safe and stuck to a good old fashioned glass of wine. She strolled down to the beach and laid her towel over the sand. The people and demons passing by were enough to remind her that what she had experienced was just another way of life for the residents of these islands. For so many years societies had been based on who was the strongest, why should demons be any different. Kagome found herself relaxing as the day wore on. She started to jot down some of the questions that she would ask Lord Sesshomaru at dinner. She hated to admit such an impossible wish to herself, but she couldn't stop herself from hoping the look that they had shared in the limo was a sign that to him, she was more than just another meaningless resident under his rule. He had been fair in letting her go, and even protective of her emotions. He and InuYasha had both known how it would affect her, but she hadn't listened. Now a little piece of her innocence had been lost forever, but she had gained a look into the demon world that precious few would ever see. She started to fade off into fantasyland when she finally forced herself to put the pad and pen away. She plugged in her headphones and laid back. Before long Kagome was soaking up the sun's beautiful rays as she drifted in and out of a light nap.

Kagome imagined her future here on these islands. Would the novelty ever wear off? She hoped not. With her eyes closed she didn't hear the figure approaching, but as it grew near she could sense the strong aura. As a shadow passed over the brightness of her sun she opened her eyes to see Kouga standing over her.

"Beautiful day isn't it?" He asked her.
Kagome sat up and shielded her eyes from the sun. "Yes it is." She replied. Her thoughts drifted to her fainting spell. Kouga had surely seen it. The simple memory brought the blood to her cheeks and she flushed.

"You look much better. I am glad to see that you are alright." He said sitting down.

"Thank you; I don't know what came over me - maybe just too much sun and water." She said looking into the handsome face. His big brown eyes seemed so bright as he looked at her.

"Have you seen the rest of the beaches?" He asked her.

"No, I have only been here a few days and I haven't gotten the chance." She answered.

"Well would you care to go for a walk?" Kouga tried to hide his desire for her behind his proud demeanor.

"Actually that sounds kind of nice." Kagome said while getting up. She brushed the sand from her legs and tossed her towel over her belongings.
Kouga led Kagome to the water's edge and began to walk down the beach,. "So why did you decide to move to an island meant for demons?" He questioned her.

"Well, to be honest, it's exciting to see how demons live. They don't seem to be affected by the monotony of everyday life. They seem happier." She confessed.

"We are." Kouga said simply, his eyes undressing every inch of the curvaceous woman at his side. He imagined how soft her skin would feel beneath him. How she would submit to his desire and he would show her the better side of demon life.

"So if I may ask, what exactly do you do?" She inquired.

"I rule the Northern Wolf Tribe. Our territory is the island just over there." He said pointing to the island across the bay.

Kagome gave him a confused glance. "But I thought that Lord Sesshomaru ruled over all the islands."

Kouga was irritated with the demon lord's mention, but he collected himself to answer. Once she was his he would forbid her to speak his name ever again, he thought to himself rather smugly. "Lord Sesshomaru, is like the king, and the leaders of the different demon tribes are like governors." He explained.

"Oh, I see." She could sense that he was trying to make an impression, but to be honest she was flattered that such a young, handsome, and powerful demon seemed to be interested in her. She looked up and out at a rocky cliff that protruded into the ocean. How far had they come? She wondered.

"C'mon, I'll take you out to get the best view." He swept her up in his arms and leapt along the rocky surface to the plateau out in the ocean. Kagome clutched at the wolf surprised by his actions. It was not something that any human man could, or would have done, and Kagome found herself awed by the ease at which the demon traversed the terrain. She clung to his strong shoulders and eventually rested her head on one as they moved rapidly along the rocks.

"Thank you. You are quite the athlete." She said smiling. Kagome couldn't help herself from feeling like she was flirting. The wolf was attractive, to say the least, and he seemed to be nice enough.

"From here you can see all the surrounding islands." He said pointing out to the vast expanses of land that dotted the ocean. Volcanoes towered from some and others were covered in dense forest. The exotic views from all angles were enough to take her breath away.

"Wow, this is beautiful!" She exclaimed.

"Not half as beautiful as you." The wolf whispered quietly as he stepped forward.

Kagome could feel him closing in on her. His aura mingled with her own as she tried to decipher nerves from desire. The wolf leaned over and gently took her in his arms. Kagome sucked in her breath. She tried to relax in this handsome demon's arms, but a flash of Sesshomaru tore her mind from the man in front of her.

"Kouga, maybe we are taking this a little fast." She squeezed out.

"This is the demon way. I can smell that you want me." Kouga drawled as his eyes pierced into her own.

Kagome recoiled as she realized that it was not easy to keep secrets from a demon. She placed her hands on the wolf's chest and gave a gentle push to hold him at bay. "Humans can feel one way and know that following those emotions are wrong." She said holding his gaze.

"That's why humans aren't happy. They have learned to ignore their instincts." He drawled. "Follow them and I promise that you will be happier for the effort." He was closing in on her in spite of her resistance.

Kagome didn't know if she should bend to his will, and her own, or try to keep him at a distance. Her effort to hold him off was in vain. His arms were like a great vice holding her in place and her futile efforts at pushing him away were like that of a child trying to push a car. Her anxiety rose and her breath became short as he closed in on her lips with his own. She was breath's width away from giving in when an explosion tore into the rocky path to her side.

Kouga swept the girl behind him. "STAY BACK!" He shouted at the cowering girl.

"THE PARTY IS OVER!" A very agitated and gruff voice thundered.

Kagome peeked out from behind Kouga to see InuYasha standing back on the beach wielding a gigantic sword. He appeared as though he were going to explode with fury.

"Well well if it isn't the mangy mutt!" Kouga chuckled. "You had better watch where you are swinging that thing." He taunted.

"Kouga, I have just about had it with you. Give me Kagome and I will forget that this ever happened." InuYasha's jaw hardened as he prepared to do battle.

"And what if she doesn't want to go with you mutt? What then?" Kouga asked.

Kagome looked at the wolf and the hanyou as if they had both gone mad. "Uh, Hello! I am standing right here. How about someone asks me where I want to go?" Kagome stood upright. How dare these two barbarians talk about her as if she were some kind of pet.

Kouga looked back at her as if she had lost her mind. 'Once I get my hands on her, the only thing that she'll be saying is 'Yes, Master.' These human girls amaze me, for such fragile creatures, they can't seem to stop from provoking others into a fight.' Kouga thought to himself.

InuYasha bounded over the rocks just as Kouga had done. He landed within a few feet of the pair. "Kagome, come over here. We're leaving." InuYasha's command was sharp, and his eyes intense as he stared down the wolf.

Kagome nearly exploded into a tirade about her right to choose where she wanted to be and when. 'The nerve of that damn half demon to order her around as if she were some kind of hand maiden.' She fumed internally. She crossed her arms over her chest and threw her chin into the air. She would wait until he asked her nicely.

"Looks like she is fine, right where she is, hanyou." Kouga spat the word at InuYasha as if it were a bullet from a gun. Nothing could infuriate the half demon more than his half human heritage.

"Kagome!" InuYasha ignored the wolf and snapped at the defiant looking human. "Let's go!" InuYasha wasn't taking no for an answer. He had seen what was about to happen. The wolf was going to lay claim to her. Kiss her and seal her fate. Once she openly displayed interest he could announce his claim to her and there would be no way that she could refuse. Unless someone else challenged the wolf Kagome would be as good as his.

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InuYasha placed a hand on the hilt of Tetsaiga as he knocked on the door. He was sure that Kagome would be interested in seeing a training session. Sesshomaru had even said she could take a few pictures; a rare offer. So now why wasn't she answering? The thought that she could be asleep crossed his mind and he banged on the door loud enough to wake the dead. Nothing. InuYasha's chest tightened with the thought that she could possibly have gone out on her own. He pulled the master keycard from his haori and turned it in his hand. After one more failed attempt he slowly opened the door and called the girl's name. No answer. A quick sweep of the suite confirmed it she had gone. "How can one human girl cause so much trouble?!" He muttered as he fled from the room.

Her scent had been easy enough to follow down to the beach and her things still lay covered over the sand. InuYasha's smelled someone else's scent strong around Kagome's. "That bastard of a wolf!" He growled loudly. The surrounding guests turned to see what was going on. InuYasha stormed off after the scent leaving a horde of curious onlookers looking after him. Once off she was easy enough to track and it wasn't long before he found the both of them. He couldn't believe what his eyes were seeing, but he had to put a stop to it.

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Kagome looked from the wolf to the dog demon and weighed her options. She could stay with the wolf and have a romantic afternoon that she didn't quite know if she was ready for, or she could play it safe and go back to the hotel with InuYasha. As tempting as it was to stay Kagome could see the tension mounting between the two demons. She was fairly sure that InuYasha and Kouga were about to have a challenge of their own the way that their auras were flaring around them.

"Fine, but InuYasha we are going to have to talk about this!" She barked at the hanyou.

"Yeah, we are!" He snapped back slinging the oversized weapon over his shoulder.

Kagome turned to Kouga. "I am truly sorry. I don't know exactly what is going on here, but I mean to find out." Kagome brushed a hair from his eye and smiled. "I don't want any fighting over me, I will deal with this."

"Don't worry, Kagome. This won't be the last time that you see me. I am sure that we are going to be seeing a lot more of each other." The wolf looked deep into her eyes as she turned to go InuYasha.

"Don't be so sure of that you flea ridden bastard!" InuYasha barked back at him. The two demons exchanged one final glare before InuYasha sheathed his sword and swept the tiny woman into his arms and started back to the hotel.

Kagome breathed deeply as she watched the white sands rush by. Once she was sure that she was out of earshot of Kouga she opened her mouth and began to unleash her fury on the hanyou. "What the hell was all of that about?! You can't just track me down and scare off all my dates, you know! What's your problem with Kouga anyway? He seems like a nice enough guy to me."

InuYasha's ears flattened at the screams of the woman in his arms. "Listen you don't know how things work around here. That wolf is nothing but trouble! He isn't as sweet as you think he is, and trust me it's only certain parts of you that he is interested in anyway." InuYasha tried to hold back his temper. There was no need to make another scene. Even though the girl in his arms was still chewing him out as they raced along the shoreline. As they neared the hotel he finally barked at her. "Shut up! We can talk about this inside!"

Kagome was shocked into silence. The idea that this demon even had the nerve to raise his voice to her after what she had just told him infuriated her beyond words. Her cheeks turned crimson as InuYasha placed her on solid earth. Some of the guests stared openly, and as the moments ticked by more and more people turned to look at the pair.

"Is it just me, or are people staring?" Kagome whispered, pushing her anger to the side.

"No, they are definitely staring." InuYasha agreed while looking over to a small crowd of demonesses that were gathered around a news paper and pointing at Kagome. He scanned the beach and found a young demon boy frantically trying to keep up with the crowd of people scrambling to get a paper. "Something's fishy here." He said walking over to the boy. The crowd parted as he approached. "Hey kid, let me get one of those papers." InuYasha instructed reaching into his pocket.

"Here you go, Lord InuYasha. No charge." He said as he handed a paper to InuYasha.

"Oh my Kami!" InuYasha's eyes went wide at the picture. "Let's go. Right now!" InuYasha snatched Kagome by the wrist and started dragging her to the elevator.

"InuYasha, what's going on?" Kagome stumbled along after him.

"We'll talk about this upstairs, trust me." He spoke without ever turning to look back at her or the crowd that was staring after them. Some even snapping pictures.

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Sesshomaru sat on the back of Ah Un and raced across the sky. Sango and Kirara were not far behind. The trip to the furthest island was always faster by air, and planes necessitated having to deal with photographers. He just wasn't in the mood for it today. Silence was what he craved, but his own mind wouldn't allow him the pleasure. His thoughts of the woman rattled around like a pinball bouncing from her beauty to her innocence. He couldn't help but remember her display of sympathy for the demon that had fallen. She was endearing, and still she had tried to put up a brave front. She had not belittled their tradition, in spite of her own reaction. Even though she was betrayed by her own miko energy, she did her very best to be polite and gracious. There was something so very refreshing about her, something that warmed his soul, no matter how subtle it was, the feeling was still there. She was like a seed planted deep within his mind that had grown to a great tangle of vines choking out his logic. He looked out over his veritable kingdom and took a deep breath. They would be back soon and he might see her there.

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InuYasha locked the door behind him and walked over to the couch. Kagome couldn't stand waiting any longer. "Are you going to tell me what is going on here or do I have to beg?"

InuYasha locked a golden gaze on her. "Sit down. You are definitely going to need to be sitting for this." He said handing the paper over two her.

Kagome's jaw dropped and her eyes widened to saucers as she looked at the gigantic front page picture of Lord Sesshomaru with none other than herself on his arms. Above the picture lay a bold headline: "MIKO TRYING TO STEAL THE MOST ELIGIBLE DEMON IN THE LAND." Kagome fell back as she read the beginning of the article.

-At a recent challenge the great Lord Sesshomaru was seen in the company of a miko. As seen in the picture, a smirk of victory lined the lips of this human as the sound of breaking demonesses' hearts filled the air in and around the arena.

"This can't be happening." Kagome exclaimed. 'I was so close, only twenty-four little hours until our dinner, now he'll never want to be seen with me again.' Kagome felt tears well up into her eyes.

THANKS TO MY FABULOUS BETA READER BETA-GIRL FRIDAY ANGELICATT WHO CAME UP WITH ANOTHER WONDERFUL TITLE FOR THIS CHAPTER!

I KNOW THAT THIS ONE IS SHORT, BUT LIFE HAS BEEN HECTIC AND I HAVE BEEN OUT OF COMMISSION WITH A HURT BACK SO PLEASE FORGIVE THE SHORT CHAPTER.

ARTISTS AS EACH CHAPTER COMES OUT THERE IS MORE TO ILLUSTRATE!