Passions, Chapter 10

Sesshomaru had to see her again. He did not fully understand why he was going through so much trouble for one mere mortal, yet Kagome was different. Somehow, during their short time together, a bond grew between them. It was not a matter of pride or will, but it was a yearning, a yearning that he was not familiar with. It was far stronger than any war's surge, and far more alluring than any blood lust he experienced.

Illogical as it was, he could not think about anything but the girl and her touch. She plagued his thoughts constantly. He merely took pursuing her as a whim, nothing more. He was no fool. Demons were not known to act in such sentimental manners. When his taste for her was sated, he'd rid himself of her presence.

He had to. He could not go on this way for an eternity.

He remembered her begging him to leave. She was in tears, hoping he'd comply. His shoulder blade and upper arm were injured- the bandages sullied and a pronounced red.

She was only trying to protect him, and he had to remind himself that he left to please her.

He did not run away from Inuyasha.

The very thought of such made his blood run cold.

He could have killed the half-breed anytime he wished, but he would not do so with Kagome present.

The best thing to do then was to leave and forsake destroying Inuyasha, despite his desires.

It took him half a day's journey to find Rin and Jaken, and to his satisfaction, the little imp kept her alive and well. They were both in the same place he left them. However, now he was in a rather odd predicament.

He was unsure of where his idiot half-brother had taken Kagome. A midnight rain washed away all traces of their scent, and he was not necessarily familiar with any of his brother's traveling routes.

There was only the village- the village where the dead priestess Kikyo used to occupy. He found Inuyasha there once before during a stunt to retrieve the Tetsusaiga. With all of those humans in his group, his half-wit, half-brother would need a place to rest, and more than likely, they still used the village.

For now, it was the only lead he had. It was a matter of time before Inuyasha and his group returned to the village to rest and gain supplies. It would provide his best opportunity to see Kagome, and he realized he could not go empty handed. It was in his best interest to present something to her when he came. IT would make his presence easier to deal with. There was no telling what lies the half-breed had been feeding to her. A gift ensured that he came on peaceful terms.

He knew well that mortal girls were fond of gifts. Whenever he acquired a new kimono for Rin, she acted as though he had given her the world. He could see the uninhibited joy within her eyes when he presented the gift to her.

He assumed that Kagome would be no different. He only hoped, for Inuyasha's sake, that he was taking care of her.

The half-breed had a habit of keeping her in harm's way. He remembered just how careless Inuyasha was when it came to her safety. On several occasions, he nearly succeeded in killing her. By some fluke or unexplainable act, she survived. It was mere luck, but it was bound to run out sooner or later.

Xx

"I should be back in a day or so…" Kagome murmured, pulling her backpack's straps onto her shoulders. Her azure eyes flickered up to view Inuyasha's somber face. They were in Kaede's hut, alone, and it had been sometime since they spent time together. Ever since the incident with Sesshomaru, Inuyasha had been reluctant to let her out of his sight. Despite that, Kagome still avoided him.

She couldn't deny that she missed Sesshomaru, but she felt guilty about their time spent together. She felt as though she somehow betrayed Inuyasha. It was a nauseating feeling deep in her stomach. She was unsure of what felt worse, missing Sesshomaru, or feeling like Inuyasha's enemy.

She prayed to Kami that Sesshomaru's injuries were fully healed, but she knew better. If anything, Sesshomaru was already up and about, ignoring the pain his wounds created.

It was just like him.

"Kagome?" Inuyasha spoke her name softly, grasping onto her shoulders. His brows knitted as his golden orbs intently bore into her eyes.

"Hm?" She was broken from her thoughts by his voice. He was staring at her, and she could not help to notice how his gaze resembled Sesshomaru's. She looked away from him, finding the fire in the center of the hut oddly interesting.

"Just...don't come back by yourself. Wait for me to come get you. Alright?" He licked his dry lower lip. The only reason Sesshomaru got his hands on Kagome was because she was alone. He couldn't risk that happening again. The moment he spotted Sesshomaru, he was going to slit that sad excuse of a demon in half.

Of all of the low and disgusting things Sesshomaru was capable of, taking advantage of Kagome was the worst, and he wouldn't stand for it happening again.

"Okay…" She nodded, but she didn't meet his gaze. She couldn't. She doubted she could ever look at him without feeling guilty.

"I'll walk you to the well…" He swallowed a growing lump in his throat before beginning to guide her out of the hut.

Xx

"She left about an hour ago…" Sango sighed, folding her arms across the well's frame as she gazed into the depths of its darkness.

"Can you blame her?" Miroku made his way over, peering into the well the same.

"Not really I guess. Things between them have been pretty tense…" She sighed, "I mean, Kagome is a smart girl…but Sesshomaru of all people? Its…surprising really…"

"Oh, you don't think he forced himself on her?" Miroku's brow arched, "I'm sure that Sesshomaru was just taking advantage of her…"

"No…" She shook her head, "Kagome told me that it was mutual. I think that she really…cares about him."

"That may be, but it's hard to believe that Sesshomaru would have feelings for her. He despises humans as his birth right." The monk elevated his gaze towards the skies, "Hm, well, sitting out here will solve nothing…Let's go Sango…" He turned his back to her, beginning to pace towards the village.

"Right…" Reluctantly, she pushed herself up from the well and pressed after him.

"Miroku, Sango, come quick!" Shippo called, parading his way through the shrubbery of the forest. He nearly ran into the two, but he leaped into Sango's arms.

"Shippo, what is it?!" She asked, attempting to coax the answer out of the panting kit.

"Try to catch your breath! What is it?" The monk asked, gently beginning to pat him on the back.

"It's Inuyasha! He ran off! Grandma Kaede mentioned something about Kikyo!"

Xx

"Master Jaken, I beat you!" Rin threw her arms up above her head as she came running through the clearing. She nearly ran into the arms of the well, yet she skidded to a stop. "That was faster than last time!"

"You silly girl, we weren't racing!" Jaken's form hobbled over as he stumbled towards her position, "You stay away from there! You might fall in!" Rin seemed to ignore his scolding. She continued to twirl around the well, lost in her own world as it seemed. Scoffing, Jaken folded his arms across his chest before settling his gaze in the direction of his master, who was just emerging from the trees, "Uh, Lord Sesshomaru?! What are we doing here?"

Her scent ran cold there.

It was…strange, how her scent simply vanished. Without peering into the well, he could tell that the girl was no longer around. He was relatively disappointed, though it did not cross his features. He wordlessly flickered his gaze in the imp's direction.

Once he noticed the steel like gaze of his Master, Jaken's form shrunk into a bow, "Oh, Milord! Please forgive me…"

Inuyasha wasn't around, at least for the moment. Sesshomaru was more than certain that the half-breed would be over-protective of Kagome, but it seemed as though his brother was as careless as ever… Unless he was certain that Kagome was safe. Inuyasha was stupid, though he wasn't that stupid- at least the demon lord figured. Though, who knew? Inuyasha's stupidity seemed to know no bounds.

"Lord Sesshomaru?" Rin inquired, her head setting at a slow tilt. She elevated her hand, pointing at the magenta colored bag tucked underneath his arm. It seemed to be clasped together in lavender ribbons, "What's that?" Before, she saw the bag tied to Ah Un's saddle, but she figured that it was for her. She was simply going to wait patiently until he offered it to her, but he seemed to have other intentions.

Jaken's curious gaze lifted the same. He noticed the silken bag in his Lord's hand long before, though he paid it no mind until now.

He only stared at Rin, his countenance forever unreadable, however his brow lethargically lifted.

It was Kagome's scent.

She was at the bottom of the well. He was unsure of how, yet she was back.

"Man, I knew that I forgot something." Her texts books. She wondered why her backpack felt lighter. Grumbling, she bit onto her lower lip and grabbed onto the wooden, rickety ladder that was inside of the well.

He recognized her voice immediately. It was indeed Kagome.

Jaken's form jumped backwards, and Rin's eyes grew large as saucers. "That's Lady Kagome's voice!"

Even the little imp recognized Inuyasha's wench's voice. But why? Why were they meeting her? His mouth fell agape as his large eyes quickly moved to his Master.

"Is anyone up there?" Kagome called, embarking her way out of the well. She was sure that she heard something. Her lips pursed as she lifted a hand on top of the well's arm, and she felt someone grasp her hand. It must vhae been Inuyasha still waiting around for her. She couldn't help smiling as she was pulled upwards- hastening her way out of the well, "Thanks Inu-…" Her voice quickly caught in her throat once she realized exactly who it was.

She couldn't even speak his name. She continued to stare at him, her azure eyes wide as saucers as he helped her out of the well.

This wasn't good, not good at all. Sesshomaru wasn't supposed to be there! No, they were never to meet alone again!

"…Jaken." Sesshomaru muttered his name, causing the little demon to jump to attention. His worried gaze moved between the two as they simply stared at one another. He had a sick feeling about this….a really sick feeling. "…Right Milord. This way Rin. I think I saw some flowers back the way we came." He quickly grabbed onto her kimono sleeve, beginning to pull her after him.

"Oh, but I want to spend time with Lady Kagome!" Rin groaned, though Jaken continued to lead her away, squawking about having time for it later.

Kagome was nervous to see Rin leave. With her gone, there was no telling what Sesshomaru would do- what he would make her feel…or how she'd give into his touch. Her stomach churned and she lowered her gaze.

He was still as beautiful as she remembered- with the same commanding presence. He was staring at her heatedly- as he always did, as if taking in the very essence of her soul. If Inuyasha was around, he would have since come charging through the trees. No, he was gone again, off somewhere, to her dismay.

She wished that he was there.

She wasn't able to face Sesshomaru alone, not under the pretenses that they departed.

"…You seem dejected." His voice entered her senses, and she couldn't help lifting her gaze to face him. He figured that the girl would be reluctant to meet him again. She had been exposed to the lies of the half-breed over the span of several days. There was no doubt Inuyasha made him out to be the monster that he very well was. However, things were different concerning Kagome.

"W-What are you doing here?"

Her words came as a surprise to him. Surely, she knew of why he sought her out, "…Is it not obvious?" He closed the distance between them with a single step, but Kagome continued to hold her ground.

She was not afraid of him, but he could sense her nervousness, "…No, it's not obvious. You shouldn't be here…" She forced her voice to remain even as she muttered the words. She wanted nothing more than to hug him, but she knew better. They couldn't continue down that path.

It was wrong.

Wordlessly, he held out the gift to her.

Was it...for her? Her cheeks grew red at the thought of such. "S-Sesshomaru, I can't…You can't be here! Go, before someone sees you!" She shrugged her backpack from her shoulders, "You have to leave!"

Wordlessly, he still held out the gift to her. He wasn't leaving, not after finding her. No matter Inuyasha's whereabouts, or any other factors, he was not leaving her, not again.

He wasn't planning on leaving. He must have figured out that Inuyasha was no where around.

But, she couldn't get wrapped up in him, not again.

She remained silent, and he drew closer to her, his arms securing around her waist.

"S-Sesshomaru...we can't-...We just can't..." She wanted too. By Kami, she wanted this, but this would hurt Inuyasha...it would.

"...No one commands me, girl..." The words were not hissed, and they did not spill venomously from his lips. They were taunting words, as if he was...teasing her. He pressed a brief kiss to her lips, adoring the red coloration that dusted her cheeks.

He missed this.