Chapter Nine (Anywhere You Go)
Kyo walked into the cave, he had seen Kagome starting to walk up this way with Setsujin and decided that he should warn Sesshomaru that his would be mate, or the woman parading as such,were on her way up.
As soon as he had stepped into the cave he gasped as the great fire bird Suzaku dove from the statue and went clean through Sesshomaru. He managed to get out one good growl before Kyo covered his mouth, knowing that his cover could not yet be broken, he needed still to play the part.
"Sesshomaru-sama." He said softly as he bucked back against Kyo, trying to get the great bird off of him. Sesshomaru's eyes were red, and his stripes and moon were shining. The wind picked up around him, a trait that he got from his mother; along with the fabled demon cloud that he road on much of the time. "Please, don't change Sesshomaru-sama."
"Kyooooo" By the end of the scream it was more of a howl than a cry of his name. Sesshomaru struggled against the bird that held him tight and Kyo wondered if he were doing the right thing. He looked to the statues, all of the eyes were shining, the green eyes of the black turtle, the golden eyes of the white tiger, the red eyes of the fire bird and the blue eyes of the water dragon.
"Please, Sesshomaru sama." He said again softly. His large orange eyes turned away as a sudden burst of blood came from his missing arm. The bird gasped, still holding his master's mouth closed. "Sesshomaru sama…!"
The bone started to push from the skin and again the wind kicked up, Kyo coiled those large wings around them both, to keep the wind from involuntarily pulling him off the ground. Kyo almost screamed when Sesshomaru bit down on his hand because of the pain, writhing and struggling to get away from him. What could he do? How could he help him? What was happening?
Kyo watched in sheer horror as the bones put themselves back together. Sesshomaru slumped in his arms then, leaving the boned and bloodied mess at his side, gasping for breath.
"Kyo… it… isn't done…" Sesshomaru gasped, his eyes going wide again. "Don't let… me change… I have… to prove… control!" The last word was distorted into a near growl again and Kyo covered his mouth once more, again his large hands bore the scars of his loyalty as Sesshomaru bit hard into them. The muscles and skin knitted over the bones, tendons and ligaments creeping out from nowhere, even the colored stripes appeared on his arm. It was his.
"Sesshomaru? What happened?" Sesshomaru was about to answer when his head swung towards the door, the injured dogs eyes alight as the figure entered the cave. Kyo's reflexes failed him as Sesshomaru slipped from his hands darting forward.
Kagome watched quietly as Setsujin returned to his men. He seemed to be likeable enough, but she did remember that demons tended to have power struggles and she surely didn't want to be on the other side of that one. She didn't really know what to think about him, part of him said that he was too willing to be taken on by a human leader, part of her said that he was a loyal soldier, following whomsoever should be seen fit to lead him, and part of her said that he was a turn coat that would most likely knife her as soon as he got the chance.
All three parts of her agreed on one thing, she was certainly fine when he left to go back to the troops.
"What am I doing?" She thought as she turned to look at the cave, her fingers nervously picking at the sleeve of her haori. "I shouldn't be here, he'll come to me when he is ready." But even as she said it, her feet took her forward into the cave anyway.
She heard the movement and reacted only a moment to late, hoisted up off of her feet, those red eyes staring up at her with a crystal blue center, for a moment she thought it was InuYasha. It was then that she saw the red stripes down the arm, she opened her mouth to speak and then thought again, If the beads were to drag him away than surely he would tear out her throat with it. Her hand rose, grabbing his wrist with both of them, those nails making a sickeningly wet sound as they grew another inch around her neck.
She was going to die, right here at his hand she would die.
"Ses…sho…ma…ru." She managed to push out of her lungs. His growl answered her and her hand went down the arm, the beads were gone! How had he gotten rid of the beads? It was then that shock number two came, his arm was shaking, as if it could barely hold her aloft, which of course was ridiculous, Sesshomaru could easily hold her weight without a thought.
The final shock came as she followed the arm back up to his right side, the arm that InuYasha had removed.
Suddenly there was a flash of orange claws and Sesshomaru growled, releasing Kagome and skittering back away from Kyo, who now stood in protection of her.
"Sesshomaru sama! It is Kagome-sama!" He squawked at him. He responded with a low dog like sigh and she watched the glowing eyes fade away. When next he emerged into the light he was dressed in a white hakuma and nothing else. Her eyes widened, following not only the beautiful musculature but also the red lines that wove over his figure. Then her eyes followed down the graceful slope of his shoulders and over both arms.
"Sesshomaru!" She gasped; the same elation that washed over her when he regained his sight came over her now. "How? Why? What?" And before she knew what she had done she had closed the space between them, throwing herself onto his chest, her arms coiling around his neck. For a moment, as his long arms, both of them, coiled around her and his head came to rest on her forehead everything was forgotten.
She didn't care that he was covered in sweat and blood, she didn't care about the fight, she didn't care about anything. Some miracle had happened; somehow he had gotten his arm back. And now, as a blush crept across her cheeks, he was using it to hold her.
"A… a gift." He murmured softly into her shoulder. His knees finally letting go on him, he sank down onto them, his arms sliding down so that his head was on her stomach and his arms around the back of her legs. "From Suzaku."
"Sesshomaru-sama." Kyo said quietly. "Should we plan for Shidi tomorrow?"
"No. We haven't the time. We go this eve." Sesshomaru panted. He pulled himself up, brushing the beaded hand under her chin and turned, walking away from her. He lifted the deep blue haori onto his body; the patches were a deep purple with the startlingly white blossom pattern on it.
His long white hair would be bound up in a high ponytail then braided down his back, a large blade fixed into the end in a manner that even she almost couldn't tell it was there. Even now he looked nothing like himself, but when the pendent was put on his features changed. His stripes remained the same only there were three instead of two and they took a slightly brighter red color, the moon on his brow vanished, his hair changed from white to a deep reddish hue and his eyes became the most breathtaking blue she had ever seen. "Kagome."
"Yes Sesshomaru." She said, almost jumping, the voice that came to from him had a more velvet sound to it, a slight purr to it, not as silky as it used to be, and much less flat.
"Maru." He responded.
"Gomen." She bowed slightly.
"And don't do that." He growled.
"Gomen!" She said a bit more irritably and remembered this time not to bow. "Yes Maru."
"Take Tenseiga, it is not really a weapon and thusly a proper ladies sword. If anyone asks the reason that Maru wields Tokijin is because it would be uncouth for you to wield such a weapon, are we clear." He said.
"We are Maru." She said smiling some at him. "And I think it would be best if This Maru didn't give this Kagome orders." She chuckled. He rose a slender brow and made a decision… he opted to ignore that comment.
"There we are!" Kyo said, a crooked smile twining onto his hooked beak. He clapped his hands together as Kagome went about getting Sesshomaru's red and blue obi tied. "The happy couple again!"
"Shut up Kyo." The both said in unison, in the same bland and unamused voice.
"And feeling at one with each other apparently."
She didn't know weather to blush or glare, but she was pretty sure she did both at once, as was the same reaction from the man that stood before her that was Sesshomaru, but wasn't. She squeaked slightly as her hands were batted irritably from the bow she was tying.
"I have two hands again, I can tie it myself." Sesshomaru growled. Kagome thought for a moment and blushed again, seeing as, when checking the Idiot's Guide to Understanding Sesshomaru, which had been implanted into her mind when he bit her, and saw that that roughly translated to: 'get your hands away from that woman, it is mine not yours'. And the glare added after translated to: 'no matter how bad I want you to.'
"Two days." Kagome said nodding sternly. Sesshomaru's now blue eyes looked at her and nodded slightly. It struck her that it would be much harder for him to resist her, seeing as she was still herself, only when she looked at this figure, and thought really hard did he effect her like that, he even… smelled wrong.
She closed her eyes and shook of various images of very bad things that crept into her sight. Kagome is good… Kagome is good… Kagome is good… she wondered for a moment if Sesshomaru was thinking the same thing and nearly laughed out loud trying to picture Sesshomaru curled up, rocking, biting his own thumb nail, going Fluffy is good… fluffy can keep it in his pants… fluffy is a good doobie.
"What is so funny?" Sesshomaru growled narrowing his eyes at her.
"Nothing." She said haughtily as she picked up the heirloom and tossed it over her shoulder. He grumbled something she didn't hear and she laughed again. "Come now Maru, we must fly. What's mine is mine… and now… what's yours is mine!" She said with a little sing song tone.
She knew she needed to stop before she crossed a real line… but then again, what fun would that be. She was full of Sesshy juice, and had no idea when enough was enough.
Sesshomaru followed Kagome. His thoughts swimming, he was in fact not thinking that Sesshomaru was good because he was rather understanding of the fact that Sesshomaru was not good. Plain and simple. But what was Sesshomaru's was Sesshomaru's, not Kagome's!
Then again, right now, what is Sesshomaru's belongs to a dead man remember, she has to act out the part. Keh! That annoying part of his mind was talking again, the one that recently seemed to want to justify everything that she was doing! He needed to invest in a muzzle for that part of his mind! He needed to get angry, to yell at her, tell her right out that what was his was his, that she was his, thusly everything she owned became his… not vice versa. So! With that in mind, he huffed up his chest, resolved his mind… and followed her like a good dog.
"We ride for Shidi, Maru." Kagome said softly as she moved towards Ah and Un who were aimlessly ambling about.
"Yes Kagome-sama." He answered. Yes, that was painful. Kagome quirked a brow at him and giggled. She needed to stop that! That giggling was more infuriating that anything, she had the leash right now and she knew it, he also knew that should he get angry and attack her, she could, with one word send him hurdling into the nearest solid object.
She started to walk towards Ah and Un. He raised his heads and glanced at her, a low grumble from Ah was met by another one from Un, and they turned and trotted away from her. Sesshomaru actually chuckled at this, well, she certainly didn't own them. Ah and Un made up his mind that he didn't want to ride right now. Of course, Sesshomaru knew that if she were to whistle to them, or show them that she was serious, they would fall into line, but for now he amused himself watching her, in all her pomp and glory call a dragon that pretended that she didn't exist.
"Damn you!" She growled. "Ah and Un. NOW!"
The two heads turned to her, both blinking; the Sesshomaru joined them, blinking as well. Well, she showed them she was serious, now they just stood there looking at her. Neither head was muzzled; he could have charbroiled her at any time but yet she stood her ground with them.
Finally the animal sighed Ah looking to Un and they seemed to come to an understanding as they walked over to Kagome. Time to play was over.
'Maru' saddled and harnessed Ah and Un, who didn't seem to like his presence at all. Of course he had expected no less, he was unfamiliar to them and they were after all a War 'Horse'. Once they were set he offered Kagome a foot up onto Ah and Un, then went to pull himself up. There was an understanding between Ah and Un as they stepped forward and Sesshomaru found himself settled nicely on the ground.
Kagome giggled again and both heads of Ah and Un turned to look at him from opposite sides. He growled slightly at them and they greeted it by smacking him lightly with their tail. Had he actually trained this dragon to be this annoying? Or did it come natural for them? It was infuriating. Again he attempted to get up on them, and once more they sidestepped them. Kagome was too busy laughing to chastise them for their behavior.
"Kagome-sama." He growled bitterly. "Might you instruct your dragon that This Maru is permitted to ride with you?"
"Oh… yeah…" She laughed, pulling up on the reigns. They instantly took poise ready to go. "Sorry about that Maru."
"I'm sure you are Kagome." He growled.
"Sama." Kagome corrected.
"Sama…" Sesshomaru growled.
Finally atop the dragon Kagome kicked them into motion and they started to amble away. She pulled up on the reigns some and they hoisted themselves gracefully into the air, the only place that they had any grace at all.
"You know how to fly a dragon?" Sesshomaru said he was actually impressed.
"Naw, I'm winging it!" She said. Suddenly the feeling of being impressed was replaced with annoyance. She handed him the reigns and he grumbled slightly. He didn't want to take them because that meant that he had to reach around Kagome to do so, and he didn't want any unnecessary contact to take place that would grind at his already raw sense of self-control.
Finally he relented, reaching around her and taking the reigns. He felt her sigh some and lean back against him, an uncomfortable tightness in his chest was the response to that.
"What are you doing?" He growled.
"Sleeping…" She answered, her brain was already asleep, the response was automatic. Sesshomaru grumbled. She went to sleep! How dare she? But then again, what did he expect? This wasn't the most entertaining flight.
It could be entertaining, very entertaining part of his brain thought. He blinked a few times, as if unable to comprehend that any part, even the most primal, of his brain would think such a thing.
"This is ridiculous." He voiced, talking to no one.
"Yep." Kagome uttered in her sleep. "Whatever you say."
"Stop that." He snarled.
"No." She said softly as she curled into him a little more.
"What do you mean no! Stop that!" Now he meant stop cuddling against him, or else his chest would not be the only thing so uncomfortably tight.
"No mom… I don't want to go to school." Sesshomaru blinked. "I'm gonna stay here and… sleep with… Sesshomaru." He blinked again. His ears moving back just slightly as he looked down at her. She certainly was amusing; did she always talk in her sleep? He wondered.
"What if Sesshomaru doesn't want to sleep with you?" He asked her to satisfy his endless curiosity.
"Hmmm…He wants to." Sesshomaru scoffed outright! There was no damned way in hell she could draw such a conclusion! For a moment the rational part of his mind seemed to forget that she was sleeping. It wasn't like they were actually having this conversation.
"How do you know he wishes this?" He asked, unable to contain himself from asking more. Damnable venom was pissing him off.
"Mom… come on… he's hung like a moose… if I didn't notice he wanted me, I'd be blind." Again his head perked in shock. First. He had no idea what a moose was. Second. What was it to be hung like one? And Third. Did she really talk to her mother like this! His mother would have smacked him across the mouth for half of what she was saying.
"A moose?" He asked. He tried really hard to fight it, but it just… sort of… came out.
"Yeah mom! A moose… you know huge!" She said as she snuggled into him more.
"Huge?" Sesshomaru gasped.
"His penis mom! Come on!" His eyes widened and he couldn't find anything to say, let alone think! She was conversing with her mother about his manhood! What the fuck was she thinking? Do women speak this way to each other? Should her mother be alright with all of this? And when did she take the time to notice how well he was… what had she said… hung? She bathed you baka, that annoying voice piped up again, annoying… but right.
"You can't judge from that." He said softly, more or less to himself.
"Sure you can!" Kagome answered her. He huffed indignantly, wondering if she could hear that voice talking to him. Then deciding that was impossible for that to happen so it was coincidence. Now back to the problem at hand, how could she tell and why was he thinking about this for so damned long?
"You are a strange creature Kagome." He said softly, one hand leaving the reigns to run over her head as she cuddled it against his chest.
"You too." She said softly, and fell back into sleeping silence. She shifted again just a little and he grumbled to himself, unnecessary friction was really all it took right? "See mom… told yah he wanted me. A moose…" She whispered the last two words. Sesshomaru was glad she was sleeping, for it would have been highly embarrassing if she had been awake to see him blush, because Sesshomaru didn't blush! This was all her fault. Yes, that explained it. It was all Kagome's fault. There. With that decided, he pushed Ah and Un a little faster towards their final destination.
Her world started to get light again, she was shaken once, and tried to ignore it, and then again, and remembered yelling at Sota for something.
"Wake up Kagome-sama." He whispered in her ear. Her heart stopped and her eyes flew open, she didn't recognize the voice right away, and in the hazy dream like state the tall man in the dark colors with the red hair wasn't one she knew or remembered if she did know him.
Her hand shot into her sleeve and pulled the closed fan out, lashing forward with it at the stranger that awoke her. His hand caught it and it hit the beads that were wrapped around his hand. Those she recognized.
"Kagome-sama." He said gently, stepping back away from her and bowing at the waist. Ah and Un growled at him some and she absently raised a hand to stroke Ah's head, only to have him nudged aside and Un's head butting her hand. Which naturally started a fight between them.
"Enough!" She growled at the bickering dragon and then handed the reigns over to the young youkai waiting. They were apparently outside of a stable that was attached to the inn. She glanced around some and sighed. "How long have we been here?"
"Five minutes Kagome-sama, This Maru didn't wish to wake milady." He said gently. She focused some. Yes. Maru, Sesshomaru! That was right. She fought off a blush realizing that she had almost smacked Sesshomaru with the fan, she suddenly flipped it open, putting it between her and the onlookers on the street, fanning herself slightly. She put a hand out to him and he came forward, his strong hands grasping her waist, as he hoisted her weight up, she couldn't help but notice his one arm shaking slightly, as he placed her on the ground. Then he came to his knees and again the fan was in use. She needed to stop thinking of him as Sesshomaru, and start thinking of him as Maru, the problem was, her mind hadn't fully made the distinction between the two just yet.
"Rise." She said passively and he stood to his full height, apparently his height had come from his mother's clan, he was just as tall as he had been before, he moved with her now, one step behind her as she walked towards the inn. Trying to remember what Setsujin had told her, remain calm, never falter, treat the place as if she were the ruler and all else her servants, and should she get in over her head, never fight, allow Maru to defend her. That would be the hardest part because she wanted to fight. In fact she was having trouble resisting the inner urge to pick a fight with some of these demons that were looking her way as she moved gracefully away from Ah and Un with Maru at her heel.
She stopped before the door, fanning herself idly, don't touch anything Setsujin had said, remember you are too good to be dirtied by the filth of Shidi. She waited as calmly as she could, her heart fluttering in her chest, but she did the best she could to remain calm and poised on the outside.
Maru came forward, leaning around her to open the door.
"Ignore them." He whispered softly to her. He was talking about those that were now staring. Whisper that she, a human Miko was donning the colors of the House of the Moon. Whispers that she was Sesshomaru's whore, wench, concubine, slut, mate and several other words none more endearing than the others. She simply shot her eyes to him and he pulled the door open allowing her to enter.
"Lady Kagome, Mistress of the House of the Moon." Sesshomaru announced, apparently, everyone needed to know this information. But then again, he knew the formalities better than she did. She wasn't as shocked as she could be when the youkai there bowed to her, most of them. Maru quickly put those few exceptions in their place. Maru took her hand only long enough to lead her around the bloodied patches where those offenders once stood and toward the counter, where there was a man awaiting her.
"Lady Kagome." The youkai said, his dark eyes watching her almost too closely for her liking. "And what do I owe the pleasure of the new Mistress of the House of the Moon to pay us a visit?"
"Remove your eyes from this Kagome before they are removed for you." She growled. From behind her she heard the definite shing of metal on metal and Maru spun a sai on his finger, gripping between slender digits and moving to her side.
"Lady Kagome you have my humblest of apologies…" The man whispered as he stepped back, his eyes cast to the floor, only glancing her way so to know he was still speaking to her from time to time.
"The reason for my visit does not concern you Keep. I will have the finest room prepared." She ordered.
"But that room… belongs to…" He started.
"My mate. Are you questioning me rat?" She asked. He hissed a little at his own idiocy and shook his head violently, greasy black hair falling from the bind he wore it back in.
"Never milady, please." He said, a scared glance falling again on Maru, it was obvious to her he was far more frightened of Maru than of her, but it didn't matter anyway, she would get was she had coming. "Please… um… follow me… yes… this way."
He moved from behind the counter quickly, glancing at the mess made by Maru only moments before. He grabbed one of his workers, a young hanyou it seemed.
"Clean that up hanyou, it detours company from our establishment." He grumbled as he started for the stairs.
"Has this hanyou a name?" Kagome asked, Maru's eyes widened only slightly but he refused to say a word. The man turned to answer her only to see that she was speaking to the boy, not to him. The boy looked nervously to the Keep.
"Answer her." He growled. "Mustn't keep the Lady of the West waiting."
"Hai." He whispered softly. Kagome smiled some. That was obvious, of course he had a name, the object had been for him to tell her what it was.
"And what is this hanyou's name?" She asked kindly.
"Rikuo." He answered softly.
"Well than This Kagome thinks that your employer has no business treating This Rikuo in this manner." The boy gulped, swallowing hard. Kagome knew what he was debating, should he agree with the Lady of the West and risk his Master getting angry, or defend his Master and risk her getting angry.
"Milady…" The keep started, but that fan was closed and swatted across the Rat Demon's pointed face. He hissed again and reeled away from her, sputtering some form or apology. How did Sesshomaru put up with this man she wondered, he annoyed her from the first time she laid eyes on him.
"Maru." She said raising a hand. That sai was again spun in his fingers. She took a hand and reached it out to Rikuo, he looked nervously and put his hand in hers as she started up the stairs.
Kagome hummed slightly, she didn't want the boy to see or hear it, but the rat died loudly, begging for it's miserable life. She looked over at Rikuo as she walked and he caught her glance, quickly hiding the grin.
"You find his death amusing?" She asked.
"Nyah. I find the means of it amusing milady." He answered.
"Really, how so?" She asked.
"Because, my father killed my mother with no less violence involved." He answered.
"I don't understand." She said stopping and looking down at him.
"Because. You're guard killed my father the same miserable way that he killed my mother." The boy answered. "He got what was coming to him."
"That rat was your father?" She asked.
"Hai." He answered. She did indeed see the irony in it. Nodding, with no understanding of rat demons at all, she turned and walked down the hall with the boy.
"Boy." She said stopping.
"Nani?" He asked nervously.
"Do this Lady a favor."
"Anything you ask."
"Take a bath." And with that she continued to the room what was where Sesshomaru said it would be. The boy, stood there blushing before bowing deeply to her and running off to the bathhouse.
"Kagome-sama." Maru said, he entered almost twenty minutes later. He had killed the rat with enough ease, but then had to remove the vermin's stink from himself, that had taken most of the time. "Mayhap a barrier is in order so that you can rest."
"This Kagome is not tired." She answered looking at him. She seemed then to get the hint, and cast the barrier. The pendent around his neck was grabbed and pulled off over his head as he melted back into the Sesshomaru she knew.
"What in the name of… what was that all about!" He growled at her. His eyes were hard.
"He offended me." She answered, blinking at him some.
"You can't risk your life over a hanyou!" He growled.
"I did it before!" She yelled at him. "I risked my life over your brother time and time again! It isn't that he is a hanyou! It is that he deserves better than this!"
"How do you know? He is a rat, rats don't have a bad name for nothing Kagome!"
"He is half human!" She retorted.
"So wasn't InuYasha, but that didn't stop him from scratching his ear with his foot or playing fetch! He was still half dog, and this boy is still half rat!" Sesshomaru answered
"What is so damned bad about the Rats anyway!" She said crossing her arms over her chest. Her annoyance spiked something, her scent filling the room making him not want to fight with her, but she had to know what she was doing, so he moved away from her, yes, put distance between you and her, that is the best method.
"They are double crossers. You can't trust them. A rat would just assume put a knife in your back as listen to your orders." He growled.
"And this is where I say that a human can be taught to change." She said canting a hip and glaring at him. He reached up, pulling his hair out of the bind it was back in and growled deeply. "Listen to me Sesshomaru! In my time there aren't many of you if any! I have seen two, do you understand that, in all of my travels at home and abroad… two!"
He snapped his eyes over to her, narrowing them dramatically. Two. That was all there was. He did have to admit when he had been there that he hadn't sensed more than what had been there. Kouga and Shippo.
"That's right Sesshomaru! Two!" She said, she was fighting back tears, he could smell the salt on her, it made him want to go to her, and tell her to stop before she even started crying, an urge that was so strong that he couldn't help but take a step forward before sinking down on the chair to force himself not to go near her.
"What does this have to do with the hanyou you saved?" He said.
"What gains a rat's loyalty?" She asked.
"Fear, then turning to respect, but it is rare that fear with a rat ever goes that far." Sesshomaru answered.
"And if they find one they are loyal too?" She asked.
"They will do anything to please them." He answered.
"He said he would do anything I asked of him. It seems I just gained an ally." She answered. "One that knows more than he says he does, because no one pays attention to the little rat hanyou when he is cleaning, they just talk away as though he doesn't exist."
"Kagome." He said, he wanted to come forward again. Again he fought the urge too. "Do you understand what I mean by anything?"
She looked at him oddly and shook her head slowly.
"Anything means that Kagome." He answered. "Be careful and be very clear with this boy, or he will do something rash because he can justify it as being good for you, or what you would want, even if you don't tell him."
"I will be careful Sesshomaru. Now stop treating me like a child and turn around so I can undress. I am going to bed!" She hissed walking away from him.
Sesshomaru stood, turning his back from her, which of course didn't stop the images from seeping through his closed eyelids. He could hear her moving around and unfortunately he had, back in her time, trained his senses not to need the aid of the eyes to get the picture. So he stood, respectfully with his back turned to her.
"That's right keep your back turned, I wouldn't want to be indecent." She said referring to the day that day in her bedroom when he lost his sight. That was simply an unfair jab! She had told him to turn his back to her, and he has simply concurred and done so! He went to turn around, of course something vile ready to slip off the tip of his tongue. Something that never made it that far because she was standing there, hakuma strewn to one side, haori half way untied, and his obi tossed over a chair, fighting to get the women's obi off. He simply stood there. Her back was too him, so she didn't know he was looking at her. "Damned thing."
He took the opportunity of her speaking to creep closer. Fear, that was what he wanted to instill in her. Just a little bit, to find a powerful youkai so close in such a precarious situation. He wanted her to gasp; he wanted that bittersweet smell of her fear that he had gotten in the cave. He wanted her to react to him like he was Sesshomaru damn it, and not her lap dog that had been following her around all day! There was no way that he would allow that to become the normal. For her to forget in all of this, who she was traveling with.
Had he been thinking clearly he would have remembered that she was very rarely afraid of him. All the better to be afraid in this situation, when she hasn't the strength to fend him off, and she knew it. But it would only be fear, he wouldn't take it far enough to cause her to purify him or anything, just a game.
Had he been thinking clearly… he would have remembered that he was all the way across the room from her for a reason! But he wasn't thinking clearly, he let the animal have a little control to play the fear and domination game and it had run away with his reason. Damned dogs.
"Here let me help you with that." The sound of tearing fabric was all she heard, she felt that claw graze down her back and felt the fabric fall loose around her, the fabric of the haori falling open. Her eyes wide she didn't dare turn around. He was too damned close to turn around right now. And breathing in her ear and right there. She felt the fingers of his slender hand coil up her back and the first of two pins was removed from her hair, part of it tumbling down around her shoulders. She swallowed hard, trying to remember why it was that she wasn't giving into him? Right! It was because she wanted love not lust.
"Two more days, two more days…" She whispered to herself.
"Four for me." He growled, that growl vibrating his chest against her back and the warm breath that hit her ears. "I was dead for two. I am sure you haven't forgotten."
She clutched the haori closed and spun around to face those icy golden eyes. Tears brimming in her own. It seemed at last they were together, and she was herself for this moment, and he himself. But Kami, that hurt, did he have to play that card.
"I don't owe you this for that." She growled at him.
"I never said that you did." He answered. She narrowed her eyes at him, holding her haori a little tighter, like it might protect her from him. He needed to back up, move away, we are entering the red zone… danger… danger Will Robinson… danger!
"You only want to do this because of the venom." She said swallowing hard. "You hate humans remember?"
"I love Rin." He answered. "She was human."
She was struck silent for a moment. He had never said anything quite that profound, even about Rin, before.
"I… I…" She was struggling for words now. "I'm not Rin."
Good job girl… that was a weak comeback! She scolded herself as he raised a brow.
"No." He said, his clawed thumb rubbing up her cheek. "You are not Rin."
What. Are. You. Doing! The voice in the back of his head was screaming. 'I'm giving into my emotions.' He answered it. Well! What the hell are you doing that for? It insisted. 'Because I can't stop myself' he answered.
"No." She whimpered. Those golden eyes locked on hers. She was amazingly strong willed. He had met youkai without his venom that couldn't stand up to his advances without becoming butter on the floor, but this human, was seething with his venom, and still told him no. He stepped in again anyway. He had misjudged her. He had been wrong about her, and it only brought her appeal up in his eyes. "I don't want this."
"Don't you?" He breathed softly. His head canted, in a hair's breath he could close his lips over hers, but yet, he didn't there was something in her voice that held conviction. A conviction that almost cut him deep, rejection? Sesshomaru had never been… rejected before.
"No. I do… but… not like this." She said. Like what? Against the wall? Well that could be fixed easily, again he came forward, and her hands pressed against his chest, pushing him back, he could have fought her and pushed forward, but Sesshomaru wasn't a rapist.
"Like what?" He asked. Short and sweet.
"I don't want instinct." She said.
"You don't have instincts." He answered. He wasn't really that confused, he just didn't want to hear what she was saying now. That voice in the back of his head was screaming at him now. She is human. She is human and you can't do this! She is a Miko! It is forbidden for Miko and Demons to mate. But right now he didn't care, did he ever?
"Yours Sesshomaru!" She gasped and he stopped. "I don't want instinct or lust. If I am going to give this to you, I want you to love me."
He stepped back a pace. She wanted him to love her? Love, not a concept that he had really thought of as an issue that would pass between them. Where was Kyo when he needed him, that bird had the answers to everything, certainly he would have the answer to the 'love' situation. But he had left Kyo behind. How was this happening to him? He stepped forward again and Kagome slipped away from his grip.
"No." She said calmly. She didn't panic, she remained calm. She was a confusing creature, intriguing, not something you want to be when it came to Sesshomaru. He had to play with intriguing things, since he was a child it had been that way.
"You want me to love you?" He asked, not turning to face her.
"Yes Sesshomaru. I want you to love me." She responded. "I have held onto this one thing for so long, I won't give it up in a fit of instinct driven hormones!"
"One thing?" He asked turning to her now, she was leaning against the other wall, her haori pulled closed around her, though she wore it like a short dress. His eyes scanned her over and then back to her eyes. There was pain there. Honesty. Pain. But no fear.
"My purity Sesshomaru." She said blushing and turning away. "I have never…"
"But you were…" He said his eyes widening.
"With InuYasha? Yeah, we had more important things we were worrying about than getting it on in the bushes! You know like saving the world from Naraku?" She said scowling at him some. "No, we never… you know… and I've never. My purity is still intact." She had never mated InuYasha? Surely he was so protective of her for no other reason? Then again, he was overprotective of Rin. But InuYasha had shown interest in her, mourned her loss when she was gone like a lost mate. They had never mated? Was this the love she spoke of?
"Are you worried that it will defile you?" He asked.
"You missed the point!" She said glaring at him.
"Than speak clearly." He retorted.
"It is not about defiling myself with a Youkai! I was willing to give it to a hanyou…" She said her brown eyes eating right though Sesshomaru. "Because he loved me! Love Sesshomaru that is what this is about!"
He said nothing, simply thought on what she had said. He hadn't really considered that she had never been with InuYasha, he supposed that he just assumed it happened and moved on or didn't assume at all it hadn't mattered. His brows fell some. Thoughtfully he looked for his next words.
"Tell me Kagome…" He said sitting on the edge of the futon looking at her. "Tell me how one knows one is in love?"
"Why so you can tell me what I want to hear?" She growled at him. In a flash he was there, her arms gripped and he had pushed her back.
"If this Sesshomaru did that, he would be lying. Have you ever stopped to think that This Sesshomaru doesn't understand your… love." He growled.
"Let me go Sesshomaru." She stated plainly. He complied. His eyes spoke an apology that didn't make it to his lips. "Love isn't about dominance Sesshomaru. It isn't about who is in charge. It isn't abut what it can gain you, or the other person. It is about trust. It is about loyalty. It is about understanding. It is different for everyone. You don't trust me Sesshomaru, and I don't blame you for that. But without trust, you can't love me." The tears were coming down her face again.
"Stop that." He said. The feeling those tears gave him was an unpleasant and unwanted one. "Stop crying."
"Why?" She asked.
"Because…" He responded. "It hurts."
She looked at him. He didn't know any other way to explain it. He rested his hand on his chest, where the sight of her tears had taken the breath clean out of him, left him clinging for any way to make those tears stop.
"You're right Sesshomaru. It hurts." She said turning away from him. He wanted to comfort her, but there were no words he could use, not gesture he could make, he was simply far to ignorant of human emotions, or even youkai emotions to even attempt it. "Do you want to know what I am really afraid of Sesshomaru?"
Normally he would have said no, there were a day and a time when he didn't care. But now, and not to use it against her, he did want to know what she was afraid of. Something inside of him thought… what did it think… if he knew, than he could fix it? He simply canted his head at her, even though she wasn't facing him. Leaving the question hanging in the air.
"I'm gonna be forced to go home, alone." She said, her voice cracking, a fresh trickle of salty tears scented the room.
"Alone?" He asked gently. Yes, gently, his voice could find no fire. She was afraid of being alone? Odd, he himself enjoyed his time alone, but then let's think deeper Sesshomaru. It was her turn to leave the question hanging, and the silence left him in thought. Deeper? Yes, alone, but not an alone that would end. Not like in his travels, when alone was just that, time alone, a time that would end. Was it eternity alone she was afraid of? She didn't fear death, she didn't fear youkai, and yet she feared loneliness. Sesshomaru tried hard to tap into her fears. They were somewhere inside of him. Concentrating on the loneliness that she was talking about. Yes, she was afraid, trembling, shaking and crying type afraid. The type of debilitating fear that Sesshomaru had worked so hard to rid himself of. "Why would you be alone Kagome?" He said when he found his voice at last.
"Baka, because you're all dead!" She snapped at him. He thought on this as well. They are all dead, she had told him this before, Kouga and Shippo had told him this. But he never really let it sink in that it would affect her like this. "Do you think I could go back to a life with nothing magical in it? Do you think I could ever be happy living the mundane life at home? The last year there nearly drove me insane and then you showed up!"
"I think I understand." He said softly. "We have become what you know, what you feel and understand, at times even better than your own people. And thus you are afraid to be without us?"
She nodded slowly. It suddenly broke Sesshomaru's heart to see this. She seemed suddenly so small and vulnerable to him, standing wrapped in that haori, the tears rolling down her cheeks. What was going on inside of him? What was it he was feeling? He couldn't understand it, couldn't explain where it was all coming from.
"I still bear Kouga's mark, now I bear yours. When I go home, I'll have scars but no more feelings of you. You'll be dead." She said. It was then that Sesshomaru made a decision.
"I will not be dead." He said clearly. She blinked and looked at him.
"Don't make a promise that you can't keep." She said as the tears started anew.
"I can make this promise. I will not be dead unless I die here at your side." He said again.
"Sesshomaru…" She whispered.
Sesshomaru stood, moving to her now; she backed herself against the wall as he leaned down into her ear.
"No matter where you go, I will find you." He said gently, his voice hot against her ear. Another decision was made. It was time to bear it all for her wasn't it? "I don't know what I feel when you are around, it is like my mind is fighting it's own great battle, understanding vs. instinct and behind it all is this one voice. This one voice that asks, is it more than that Sesshomaru. Does she mean enough to you that you can promise her this? I can say this Kagome, I don't know if what I feel for you is the love that you are looking for, but I am willing to find out, if you are willing to find it with me."
Kagome drew in a breath that hitched in her throat as Sesshomaru came forward, this time she did not retreat as his lips met with hers, the first spark almost seemed to fly between them as their lips contacted, again drawing the breath out of her. His hands moving into motion, one hand grasped the side of the haori that sheer shock alone caused her to release, the other slipped up, pulling the other hair pin from her hair.
"Are you sure…" She gasped when the kiss was broken for much needed air. Sesshomaru said nothing, his features calm, serene, at ease, he nodded and leaned back down once more. Her question seemed so innocent, so pure.
Through all the death this woman had inflicted, even just an hour before ordering the death of the rat youkai, she was still pure. It was then he realized she was like a songbird. Free. If she were to be caged, she would never sing again.
Her purity was in her heart. That is why she held no fear of bedding him or his half brother. Their youki wouldn't taint her. Even if she were to carry their child, it would not taint her. Her purity wasn't based in her blood, it wasn't based in her royal status, it wasn't based in virginity, it wasn't based in hatred or prejudice. It was based in her heart, in her ability to love, and love freely.
That is what gave his brother strength. That is what gave him strength. That is what gave Kouga strength. That is what Kyo was talking about. She wasn't a Miko at all, she was there to save them and Hell be damned if he wasn't going to be there to make sure it happened.
"Before," he paused… "Understand we cannot fall prey to the drive of jealousy…" it was tearing himself apart to say it, but it had to be said. "We both need our heirs… and if youkai become so rare…"
"Shhh… I know…" she kissed him again. "But tonight, tonight is ours Sesshomaru, right?"
That registered, he understood what she wanted from him. She wanted gentle, she wanted caring and understanding, she wanted his trust back. She was trusting him right now. Fully. His youkai nature could snap this woman in two with a flick of his fingers, yet here she was asking him to gently mate with her. Not to rut, not to be wild, but gentle. This was something Sesshomaru could and would do. He leaned down, scooping underneath her knees and lifting her into his arms, he looked down into her eyes. So trusting. His arm shook slightly bearing the weight of her lithe legs, as he moved to the futon and laid her upon the plush pillows.
It was then he realized something. No other female had ever been in this bed, short of a maid to clean it. No woman had ever graced his personal chambers. Not that he hadn't had women, of course he had. But never in 'his' space. He didn't want to smell their grotesque odor afterwards. Yet here was this frail human, gracing his silken sheets, breaking every barrier, every rule, every notion he ever held dear with something as simple as her tears and her trust.
'I understand now father….'
He removed his obi, laying the sword and sai where they would be within easy reach. Making sure with a glace the shoji were locked, he knelt down to her. Catching her lips in another gentle sweep, he lingered, as his hands worked into her hair. His lips slowly parted, begging for entry to hers. Still gentle, still slow, still testing the waters to make sure they would not burn.
He was received with an invitation by her pulling down hard on his haori, pulling the flesh of his now bare chest against her breast. What started as an innocent kiss, suddenly deepened, her passion on fire. His warmed with the same ferocity, but only in the kiss. His hands were gentle, one buried in her hair, twirling it against her scalp, the other sliding down the still silk covered side of her body. Caressing it as if he were to let go, it would be gone.
He could feel her heart pounding wildly in her chest, his was as well, but damnit he was going to be gentle. He moved from her lips, trailing his tongue down her neck. He felt her skin against him, smooth, silky. Her scent filled his nostrils, green tea and sakura petals… and clean. He felt something that sent shudders through his body, electrifying shocks of pleasure as he felt Kagome's lips kissing over the shell of his ear. 'Why do they always… always… always… go for my ears….when I am in front of them…' the thought alone was enough to make him realize they were both still wearing entirely too much clothing.
The sad part of all of this was she was only wearing his colors of his haori. Nothing else… and that was too much… a slight growl passed from his chest. A lustful rumble as she lightly licked the earlobe of his elongated ear making him shudder again. Her fingers slid up his chest to under his haori, pushing it down his shoulders. She apparently had been reading his mind again… damn human… Slowly he lifted one arm then the other so she could feed the sleeves off of his body and let the beautiful haori slide off of his form, leaving him in his hakuma.
Her flesh against him was electrifying, he could take years just touching the pads of his fingertips over her body, committing it to memory for all eternity. Instinct told him he must, he should knowevery curve of his mate. His body was taut, his hakama was getting tighter by the moment, and her flesh was calling him to her. But he would wait. He would take his sweet time and enjoy the pain of the wait.
She would never regret this night, despite the pain he knew would come, she would never regret this night.
"Kagome…" he whispered her name as his lips traveled away from her neck down her collarbone. She shuddered hearing him say her name. He nipped and gently licked over each nip, mindful of his fangs, until he found her full mound, where he latched on like a child. Gently suckling her coral mound, she arched and whimpered. Her body was trembling, but not out of fear… his body was reacting in kind, his hips gyrating against her thighs, he felt his hardness pressing against her flesh through his clothing nearly driving himself mad. But no, he was waiting for her.
Mindful fingers drifted down her belly, rubbing over her belly softly in small circles before decending ever lower. He elicited a soft purr as he felt there was no hair anywhere on this woman's body. It gave her innocence an even more delicious temptation, she apparently removed it all.
He felt her fingers sliding down his chest, then stopped as he slipped two fingers between her soft folds, finding her pearl of nerves awaiting him. Her breath cut short, and her legs trembled just at the grazing of the pads of his fingers. Her arousal was filling the room, but it wasn't causing his loss of control. If anything it was causing him to feel immense satisfaction.
This was different than he was used to, this was mating, not rutting. This was the intense desire to make her happy, coddle her and protect her, hold her and care for her, bring her to brink over and over until she fell asleep in his arms. This wasn't about him, it was about them!
Catching the nub between two fingers, he slowly moved his fingers in small elicit circles, watching with each rotation as her body trembled, shook, shuddered and spiked. All control, all composure gone from her elegant form below him. She was holding her breath, trying desperately to remain quiet. Biting down on her lower lip to the point of pain. It took a moment for him to realize what she was doing. She was sheltering his sensitive ears from her noises of pleasure. He frowned. This would not do at all.
"Let it out, let me hear you Kagome… please…" she gasped for breath as if someone had released her from a house on fire. He could hear her fighting within her own chest, her muscles tightening all over her body. He continued his ministrations gently, slowly, wanting it to build. Wanting it to burn. She fisted his hair, needing something to hold onto to keep her world from toppling over. Her legs would not stop shaking, her breath would not catch up.
He took her coral tip into his mouth again, suckling on it as her breaths came in shorter and shorter pants. Each time she exhaled, a moan escaping causing his masculinity to soar. He was doing this to her, and it was pleasing them both. He would prepare her for their next step, but she was going to have pleasure before he was forced to bring her any pain.
She took in a deep breath, she felt like a volcano was rumbling into life within her body. Suddenly it was too much, the heat, the emotions, the tightness in her body. Toppling over the edge of insanity, she screamed as her body jackknifed impossibly backwards against his hand. Her hands shot out of his hair and clawed his shoulders viciously. The sheen of sweat over her body intoxicating, he shuddered as she did. Slowly he let the pads of his fingers slow, and dipped them slightly lower, feeling her wet climax over his fingers. He pulled them slowly from her and let her breathe as he tasted his future mate's sweet flora.
She shuddered and pulled him close to her, her body needing his warmth, and he was willing to give it. Holding her tightly against him as she recovered.
"Sessh…Sesshomaru… " she panted into his ear… her body was still needy. She felt so incomplete right then. Empty, she let out a distinct whimper.
"My hime… what comes next will hurt you… " he whispered softly. "But before the night is out, I will have you crying out with me in pleasure, this I swear to you…"
Her fingers slid slowly to the ties on his hakuma, untying it. He was never so thankful as that moment when he was released from the tightness in his hakuma. Slowly she slid up his body, still trembling and hooked her fingers in the hem at his waist.
"I want you, I want to be one with you Sesshomaru," she nuzzled against his chest begging him to let her undress him. And he was more than willing to comply, letting her slide the pants off of his body before she let the sleeves of the haori she wore fall off of her shoulders.
The sight of his colors being shed from her skin was absolutely erotic to his eyes as he beheld her body before him. Only marred in two places he could see from the front. A claw mark on each arm where InuYasha had dug in his claws, and a long but pale scar along her side where she had explained Miss Centipede had removed the jewel. Both scars were enticing to him. Testaments of her battles, and survival, he could not help but find them beautiful.
He pulled her to his seated position and kissed her deeply, his tongue dancing within hers. She crawled up into his lap, wrapping her legs around his waist, her arms looping around his neck.
He rubbed his hands down her shoulders, until he felt her thrust her hips forward, grinding against him. Teasing them both as she rubbed her slick womanhood against his large manhood sending moans and chills down both of their spines.
"Kagome.. This is the point of no return… " He whispered. "I cannot guarantee I can stop…"
"Then don't stop… I am not made of glass…" she kissed him again lifting herself above his throbbing manhood. "Carefully Sesshomaru… and slow to start…"
She lowered herself slowly, the hardness responded to feeling her heat just touching the tip of his manhood. His body was rebelling against him. He wanted to thrust in, take her in all ways. But he forced himself to stop, wait, and let her set the pace.
He felt the tip enter into her extremely tight shaft, hot and wet, ready… he shuddered at the feeling. He had never known anything so tight, so painfully wanting, so wonderfully willing to give him what he desired.
"Look at me," he commanded. He locked his golden citrine orbs with hers, and all she could see was sincere compassion. "Do not let my eyes go, but let your body go." She nodded slowly as he felt his hands tighten on her waist. "I will help you, but please my hime.. there is nothing pleasurable for you.."
"Yes there is, I'll be at one with you," she smiled despite the extreme stretching just the tip of his manhood was causing. A part of her had been through this before, but it was not like this.
In another timeline, that would probably not exist now, Kouga had mated her out of convenience for the pack and her temple of orphans. It had been hurried, and there was no passion to it. She knew passion now, she knew that although this too was out of convenience, it was something they both felt for one another.
She wanted so desperately to be loved at that moment, but his passion and his fire would hold onto her for all time.
Her eyes told him before she moved, and she released the grip she had on his shoulders and his waist with her legs. Letting gravity do what he was did not want to.
He felt himself suddenly in to the hilt, and he moaned loudly at the tightness around him, the heat enveloping him. Her maidenhood shattered under the weight of her own body and she screamed, she fought the urge to curl away, take some fetal position.
It was best she had done it herself, as with all pains, it is better when the control of the pain is in one's own hands. But now she needed his comfort, and he would never deny her that. Never again would he deny that. He pressed his hands into her back, pushing her against his chest, and holding her there.
They both shuddered at the intense sensations coursing through their bodies. She panted for breath, breathing off the pain, her hands fisted into his long locks as he fought not to move. Just to hold her, that would be a perfect eternity. He knew she was in pain, but there was nothing he could do to prevent that.
The scent of her virgin blood caught his nose. Suddenly this was all very real, very tangible. He realized the precious gift he held in his arms. No woman had ever offered him so much without expectation of the Western Lands, status or power. Yet here was this slip of a human, powers unknown, who only wanted him to live. Only wanted the survival of his people, and was willing to give up everything about her body to do it. Even risking losing her Miko abilities to assure it. That was the dowry she asked for. And in reality, it was all she had ever asked for. Sesshomaru reminded himself of his decision in that moment that he would survive, he would grant her dowry. He would not dishonor her gift to him.
She had put her life before his, risked his ire healing him, bathed him, held him when he could not hold himself up, refused to let him succumb to self loathing, kept him strong in his time of weakness, she had taken his life, given it back, given him the opportunity to avenge his beloved Rin, given him her trust, her heart, and now her body, and maybe an heir.
Slowly her body began to relax, the pain that came in sharp waves with his large girth lessening somewhat. He held her tightly against his chest, not letting himself move within her. He slowly moved forward, laying her down upon the pillows of the futon, and looked into her large mahogany eyes tinged in tears of pain. He leaned down, licking up the tears gently, sensuously.
This creature of ultimate giving could never be totally his, heart and soul. But right now, she was his. At this moment her heart shone with nothing but him, illuminating and warming the ice that flowed in his veins. Melting away hatred and adversity. Right at this moment, Rimiku didn't exist, InuYasha didn't exist, Rin didn't exist, the past didn't exist and the present hung in the balance. Death couldn't touch this girl, no she was now awoman, below him.
She looked deep into his eyes, and let herself slip into them. Wishing she could crawl into his skin and keep him warm forever. Her arms gripped his shoulders, pulling him to her lips, she kissed him with all that she was.
Pouring herself into him through their lips. Slowly he felt her hips flinch below his, pushing against him signaling she was ready.
Energy flew wildly through the room. Crackling and popping as the two colliding energies forced themselves to merge. Threatening to blow, as he answered her mating call, lifting himself slightly and pressing down back into her womb.
His eyes drank in her soul, her eyes drank in his hate and fears, dissolving them for all eternity. He would never be able to see the world the same way, and neither would she. Her human claws scratched deeply into his shoulders, and she winced and hissed at his first thrust. But this was as ready as she could be, and his self control was not eternal.
"It's alright Sesshomaru kun, I'm not made of glass," she whispered as her hands slid to his hips, grasping tightly as her legs lifted around his muscular frame. "Take me… "
Her hands pulled his hips in hard against hers, grinding him into her to the hilt. She was so hot, so tight, he felt strangled and barely able to breathe. "I'll heal as soon as it is over… take me, make this mark ours…" she cooed.
A rumble erupted from his chest, a call to mate, something wild and feral. She was pulling it out of him, telling him to let go. Submitting to him. It was more than he could bear, and his thrusts became longer, pulling his length out and thrusting it back in with more and more abandon.
Her cries below him were pushing him onward, her hips moving with him despite her pain. Red tinged his eyes, his markings seemed to deepen in pigment and his body flushed with a sweat driven by desire and lust. He couldn't hold it back anymore, and she knew it.
Kagome let each whimper, each cry, carefully elicited song lyrics to his ears be ones of longing and wanting. She had learned this from Kouga, and somewhere in the recesses of her mind she pushed these beautiful lyrics out for his ears. Her body hurt, but she also felt his intense pleasure.
The sensations were overwhelming and conflicting causing her body to react, wetness slipping around him, making it easier for both.
"I'll always love you, Sesshomaru…" she whispered as she began picking up the pace of her thrusting, forcing him to do the same. Her body shuddering with each thrust he delved deep into her body. His body was trembling, his hands holding her face as their eyes refused to let go of each other. He had never rutted with someone in such a way that he could see their face. It caused too many emotions that were unnecessary for such trivial pleasures, trivial releases of stress. But now, seeing this venom ridden woman locking eyes with him as he thrust deeply into her body caused a whole new wave of desire, he could feel the tightness in her body and understood her mewls driving him into a frenzy.
With each thrust he reassured his promises to himself and her, pouring the thoughts into her eyes praying she heard him. The intense tightness of her passage caused him to growl slightly with each and every thrust into her body. Her fingers dug into his sides, her legs climbed higher up his back until her feet were on his protruded shoulder blades.
He felt himself as deep within her body as he could possibly be, and it was teetering on reckless abandon now. His resolve fading, he thrust harder into her frame causing her breasts to bounce against his chest. Their erect nipples brushing against his chest with each rise and fall of her breaths and his thrusts. Every sensation was overwhelming.
This was suddenly the venom in her system. Each part of her was within him, on him, part of him suddenly. He thrust harder, faster, leaving her behind in the race for eternity, leaving her unable to keep up. She held on tightly with her legs and let him carry her in the pace.
Each growl grew louder and she knew he was nearing his peak. Hers was not even building with the pain, but she could feel his, and it was overwhelming. Her screams started rising in intensity, meeting his groans exactly. This was what she meant. This was them being one being.
Her head arched back as she gasped for air. Sweat pouring from her onto the bed, staining it with their lovemaking. His body arched as his climax approached, teetering dangerously over the edge he went to move out of her body as he had always done.She growled hard in her chest, her legs tightening on his back not letting him remove himself. She wanted his seed within her, and he would not deny her. It was the last piece of control he had, lost. He thrust hard into her body, then again, her screams sending him over the edge and he spilt. His seed searing into her body with every pump of his sex, set to the beat of his frenzied heart. Again a thrust, again he spilt into her. His red feral eyes still locked on hers, their stare down only ending when she relented turning her head submissively to the side. Her eyes closed as he let the last of his potency into her body.
He collapsed under the extreme emotion, laying his sweat-laden body atop hers. Allowing their scents to mingle. He panted into her hair.
"At… one…" he whispered. His hands pulled her hands up and his fingers interlaced with hers.
Her body shuddered feeling his release within her. His hard member still deep into her womb. She nuzzled against his face, she didn't feel her own orgasm, but she had felt his as if they were one entity. She shuddered as she felt his venom leaving her body and moaned slightly as she felt suddenly alone within herself.
"One," she whispered as she felt him shudder at the same time. Her blood from the bite left his system. It was done, they were mated. His mark would never fade now. It would sit beside that faded one of Kouga's.
They rested for a time. Sesshomaru washed her body, gently removing the sweat and blood from her first consummation. Her body relaxed at his ministrations as he lowered her into a hot bath and did for her as she had done for him while he was blinded and ill. After their baths, he let her sleep for a while to regain her strength. It was true what she had said. She was healed the moment their mating was consummated, just as his mark sealed on her neck.
What perplexed him only briefly was her scent. Although changed, it was not purely his. There was a tinge of his scent on her. But he had bore witness to many mateships before, and even Izoai reeked of his father's scent. Kagome just seemed to be an enigma all her own. And it reaffirmed his belief that Kagome was just never meant to be owned by anything but someone's heart. And right now, he owned that. That would have to be enough.
After letting her nap, they ate. She seductively fed him, pampered him. Brushed his hair, and caressed his body. He felt himself relaxing, his icy demeanor his own again, but Kagome would always know now. She had been within his thoughts. She had lived it. She knew.
All his pregnant pauses that all assumed were his arrogance, and he let them believe so, were actually his silent contemplations. Although many of those contemplations were indeed arrogant, and fitting his station, she understood them now. As he, much to his chagrin understood her outbursts, her fears and her ready temper.
They made love many times that day, true to his promise, he made her crest her world, topple into oblivion and scream his name. He felt immense satisfaction in knowing everything about her body, what pleased her, what made her feel that peaceful abandon. And when she called his name in her heated abandon, he was thankful that she had managed to keep the barrier up shutting out the sounds of the world from their passions. For just as it ended, so did that barrier, unable to keep it in place any longer. She fell into him, exhausted and shuddering in her own passions. He held her tightly to his body and let her sleep.
When she awoke, she started realizing she was alone under the blankets. Panic seized as she looked desperately for Sesshomaru. She looked over to the door, and there sat Maru. His disguise back in place, he slept with his back against the door, seated. Blinking, she looked about the room and realized the barrier had fallen and realized that he had taken this station back incase of an intruder. But beneath the guarded bangs of her bodyguard, she could see that Maru was grinning, even in his sleep.