Writer's Corner:
Life is busy and time to write literally disappeared. I finished grad school, began work, am now a proud mama, and a home owner. Yay! Apologies for the long hiatus and for making a promise I obviously took way too long to follow through on. I was writing all this time, it was just really broken up given all the various life events that sucked my time away ;)
I'm going to do my best to give you some more fun Sango/Sesshomaru stuff along with moving the plot along. I almost feel bad for turning him into a human… but then again, not really ;-). He needs to learn about himself and how to properly utilize the heart that he has! Wouldn't you agree?
Chapter 10:
"She'll never trust you, you know," the devil snickered, agitating the youkai that paced about the chamber that he had secluded himself in. Mareo's head snapped around to glare into a jagged piece of glass that rested on the mantle of the fireplace. He snarled at the image that reflected back at him; it was not his own but belonged to the being that resided within his tainted body and soul.
"Silence," the demon snapped, his hostility lacing his voice. He spun on his heel and removed himself from the proximity of the shambled mirror so that the form of a man with a long face, blue-black skin, and a fanged malicious smile that resided, seemingly within, could not bore into him furthermore.
"You know that what I say is true," the creature taunted, causing Mareo to pass a trembling hand through his thick, raven locks, his breathing labored. "If that child experiences true hate then she will not be a candidate for resurrection embodiment." The youkai that paced about the room nervously paused in his tracks, his crimson eyes falling to the floor. He sank to his knees, his hands splaying on the ground beneath his shoulders in an attempt to stabilize himself; he felt heavy and listless.
"Why must you torment me in this way?" the youkai whispered, surprised by his own voice. "Is it not enough that you tricked me into betraying Eri and giving her means to end her life, convincing me that the key to happiness was gaining the full power of the Shikon no Tama?" he trailed off as he dug his talons into the rough textured rug beneath him. Why did I even listen to him? Mareo thought, defeat and anguish welling inside him.
"You listened because you have no choice," the hateful presence occupying the youkai's chassis rumbled, sending chills down Mareo's crouched spine. "Have you never heard that great power comes at a great price?" the devil snorted, knowing for certain that the demon had heard such phrases in his childhood, yet had been blinded by his physical disabilities to the point where he had been desperate to have functioning legs like those he was raised around. "In the end, you will find yourself listening to me because you are mine," the heartless creature whispered maliciously.
Mareo's massive hands balled into fists, his talons digging deeply into his palms, producing a stream of blood that trickled down to the carpet beneath him. He drew in a ragged breath, gathered himself up, and stood. He peered into the shard of glass, fixing his eyes upon flaming red orbs that reflected back at him. "I don't believe you," he growled, his crimson eyes flashing obstinately. The devil's blood red eyes narrowed dangerously at his minion's defiant and emboldened statement. "And I will gain the girl's trust and prevent her from filling her heart and thoughts with hate."
The form in the mirror began to laugh insidiously, the sound resonating throughout the barred off chamber, the flames in the fireplace flickering in and out. "You do not have much time," the malevolent creature chuckled as Mareo headed towards the doorway of the chamber. "She already resents you. Resentment can quickly become hate in the human heart."
Mareo scoffed as he tore open the door to the room that he had chosen vainly for recluse. "Part of me remains human, despite all of this demonic energy," he spat towards the devil that eyed him in the mirror above the fireplace. "And the stubborn persistence of human nature directs me toward doing what I must to get my way," he finished before he ventured down the hall toward the chamber where he held the small human girl prisoner.
"Wow!" Shippo exclaimed as Inuyasha bounded atop another green, grassy hill toward an estate that appeared to be an illusion against the landscape of the Sengoku Jidai. The kitsune gripped the hanyou's fire rat haori tighter, his cobalt eyes large with excitement and awe; he'd never seen anything like it. "You weren't kidding, Inuyasha. The castle of the Western Lands is unlike anything we've ever seen!"
Kagome made a sound of agreement, her chocolate brown eyes drinking in the details of their breath-taking surroundings; her lethargy had subsided somewhat, yet she still was not feeling as she had before they had passed the demon slayer's village. "I can't believe that Sesshomaru lords over all of this," she mused, her eyes attempting to hone in on the distant parts of countryside that her eyes hardly made out from their vantage point.
"Hmph," the inuhanyou grunted, rolling his amber eyes. "Yeah, well, he inherited all this from my old man," he added, picking up his running pace slightly. Sango's scent was growing stronger as they continued to approach the estate, along with the other scents that he simply could not identify. It also seemed odd that the Taiyoukai had not approached them if he was, in fact, near to the estate; also, if he hadn't been near the estate, why was Sango's scent masking the castle? "Something's not right here," Inuyasha voiced aloud, catching the full attention of the fox demon and the young priestess who rode atop is back.
"What do you mean?" Kagome questioned, her eyebrows rising slightly. Shippo began to take whiffs of the air before his small brow furrowed in confusion.
"Sango came this way but there are other scents too," he informed the young woman who lacked the demonic sense of smell. "None of the scents I'm picking up belong to Sesshomaru though."
"Yeah," the inuhanyou barked over his shoulder as he continued to pick up speed. "This isn't sittin' well with me. I don't smell Sesshomaru or anyone from his party and I know for a fact that he screens everyone that crosses his borders in some way or another," Inuyasha finished.
"Let's hurry then!" Kagome responded, her energy slightly higher than it had been. "I'm worried something's happened to Sango if she's come here alone!"
"Yeah," the half-demon answered her sharply, taking a massive leap over the small, mossy mountain that stood between them and the entrance to the grand estate of the Western Lands.
Sango hurried down the hall, wiping her tear stricken, salty eyes in an attempt to hide her crying. I should have expected nothing less from a proud and cold-hearted demon, she grated internally, nearly tripping over Jaken who had appeared before her without her realizing.
"Woman, I've brought what you've requested!" the human-turned toad youkai announced, holding a clay container that had a liquid with a pungent odor splashing about inside of it. "Ah-Un is cleaning up the remnants of our work as we speak." Upon getting an eyeful of the young woman's disheveled appearance, the old man's brow scrunched up in bewilderment. "What ails you?"
"N-nothing!" The tajiya exclaimed, running her hands over her face swiftly in an attempt to better her complexion and appearance. "It's nothing; I must return to bed," she finished promptly, attempting to push past the old man with bulbous brown eyes whose attempts to engage her in conversation caused her to want to evade him furthermore. Jaken reached out and grabbed a fistful of the end of her satin haori, catching the young woman's attention. "What is it?" she demanded, her voice belying her sense of urgency and irritation as one of her eyebrows elevated slightly over her puffy dark brown orbs.
"You must give this to Sesshomaru-sama," he told her matter-of-factly, thrusting the clay container that housed the herbal elixir that he and the human turned dragon had concocted. Sango's eyes narrowed in anger, and embarrassment, as she pushed the container back into the grubby hands of the toad youkai.
"No," she began, turning on her heel to resume marching off toward the chamber where Kirara was resting. "You do that."
"WHAT?" the old man shrieked, clamping his hands over his mouth when he came to the realization that he had likely screamed loud enough for his lord to hear despite the fact that he had a human sensory panel. "Ah-ah Sango-sama, that is out of the question," he fumbled as he held the jar in his hands, his arms trembling. "B-besides!" he exclaimed, his huge brown eyes twinkling. "He's been most amiable to you as of late!"
Sango's breath caught in her throat as she turned her head halfway to gaze at the old man over her shoulder. Her stance relaxed as she shifted her body around to face the toad youkai. "Gomen ne, Jaken-sama. I don't dare go back into that room," she informed him, her voice full of resolve. The old man eyed the tajiya up and down, his eyebrows lowering over his eyes as if he were scheming.
"You seem awfully flustered, woman," the toad murmured before his eyes became as large as watermelons; it was as if he'd had some stunning revelation. "D-did my Lord touch a human?" he gaped as he began to pace anxiously from side to side which earned an irritated and flustered round-house kick from the demon slayer that stood before him.
"Don't worry," Sango hissed between her teeth at the crumpled form of Jaken as he lay, strewn about, on the floor of the hallway that they were occupying. "Your Lord didn't touch a filthy ningen. And even if he had, I wouldn't have allowed it," she finished, her voice hoarse with both anger and grief. I could never touch a human and truly enjoy it, resonated in her mind, her chest tightening sharply; her eyes threatened to well up again but she swallowed back her tears as she cursed the Taiyoukai inwardly.
Jaken, who had been forced to become aware of how delicate the matter that he had attempted to venture into was, gathered himself up and stood on shaking legs. I surely do not want to be kicked again! The toad thought hastily as he cradled the jar of herbal remedy in his small, wrinkled hands. "I suppose that I will take this to my Lord and he can drink of it," he mumbled before he spun rapidly and padded away from Sango.
Guilt plagued the young woman for having kicked the aggravating human-turned toad; the dense creature really had no sense when it came to holding his tongue. Ah well. I'm sure he gets that kind of treatment often, she thought before she made her way back to the chamber. Kirara, who had been awakened by the bustle and voices in the hallway just outside the room, sat alert on the futon, her brown orbs large. Sango's eyes narrowed as she approached her fire neko that had taken on a human personage.
"Your eyes, Kirara," she muttered, cupping the small blonde haired girl's cheek as she gazed into the dark depths that belonged to her companion; the feline slitted pupil had returned. Sango drew back her hand, her brow scrunched up furthermore when her fingers grazed along the girl's cheeks, the texture not quite feeling like skin anymore. "Hm," the tajiya noted, shaking her head. Kami-sama, I must be so exhausted and distraught that I am imagining things that aren't there…
Purrs, that sounded as if they were originating from a feline, rumbled from the human turned neko that had begun to nuzzle the dark-haired woman's uninjured shoulder. Sango swallowed yet attempted to keep her mind on the matter at hand. "Kirara, we are going," she informed her human-turned friend. The golden haired girl, cocked her head to the side, her cat-like eyes helping to neutralize the demon slayer's anger and unease. "I'm not comfortable staying here any longer," she added, collecting her things; Kirara simply stood, her spine curving somewhat so that her shoulders were beginning to hunch forward.
The Taiyoukai rested quietly, the pain from his wounds becoming tolerable, a large improvement from agonizing as it had been earlier; he was thankful that his fever remained down, though he could only assume that his body was still battling the infections of his wounds. His form tensed when he was drawn from his thoughts by a crackling, withered voice that began conversing with him.
"M-my Lord?" Jaken called, his short stature hardly reaching the corner of the elevated cot that housed his human turned master. When the toad youkai received no reply, he held the container that housed the herbal remedy above his head, hoping that the Lord of the Western Lands would take it from him and nurse himself with it. "Here is an elixir that that woman had us make for you."
Hm. That woman indeed, the inuyoukai groaned internally, his dark brown eyes drifting to the bottle that wavered next to the edge of the sick bed. His dark orbs narrowed when he realized that Jaken had been put up to offering him this herbal substance. He reached sideways and snatched the bottle from his vassal, ignoring the fact that the toad shied away the second the container left his quaking hands. "Where is the tajiya?" Sesshomaru questioned, his voice harboring no emotion.
Bulbous brown eyes glanced up in disbelief at the cot where his powerful master lay; he could actually perceive that his lord was bothered by something! "She… she headed back to one of the guest chambers," the Taiyoukai's servant replied, his fingers fumbling together before he added, "she seemed most distressed, my Lord."
"Did she," the dog demon replied stoically, though he could feel himself growing more frustrated by the minute. His dark brown eyes narrowed in irritation as his vassal continued to prattle on.
"I assume her distress was attributed to the fact that she had tried to take advantage of you in your human form, my lord," the wrinkled old man continued, his voice haughty and presumptuous. The toad was caught completely off guard by a large hand that seized him by the collar of his kimono and lifted him off of the floor. When had his master shifted his grasp on the container he'd handed him?
"Though human and wounded, no ningen could possibly take advantage of this Sesshomaru," the taiyoukai ground out, his baritone voice thrumming with quiet anger and ardor. "Get out," he finished, turning his regal head slightly to regard his facetious servant, his brow furrowing slightly when he noted the subtle changes to the aged human man's appearance. His skin was beginning to don a greenish-gray hue, much like it looked in his youkai form. Perhaps the fever is creating illusions, the human turned dog demon mused before he released the vice grip he had had on his squirming vassal; the toad dropped unceremoniously to the ground, his limbs splaying in all directions.
Not needing to be told twice, knowing the nature of his lord's temper, Jaken gathered himself again from a heaped position from the floor and fled the chamber, merely uttering, "Y-yes, Sesshomaru-sama!" on his way out. The toad turned human scurried as fast as his short legs would carry him thrusting himself into his self-appointed chamber on the opposite end of the hall to seek out solitude and to grumble about the two bouts of mistreatment he'd received within the same hour.
Shifting his brown robes, the toad gawked at the welt that was forming in his side where the meddlesome tajiya had lodged her foot earlier. He shifted his stance towards a looking glass that hung upon the wall to get a better glimpse at the abrasion in his skin, his bulbous eyes widening when he met his reflection. He nearly appeared to be his youkai self again, only his eyes were still the brown of a human's and his nose had not assumed its pointed beak-like shape. This is odd, he mused, rubbing his hands together and then over his face, noting that his skin was beginning to become sticky with the natural secretions of a toad.
The toad youkai froze in mid ministration of his skin as an epiphany formed in his mind. "Perhaps the transformation is temporary?" he muttered, continuing to observe his body. His brow scrunched together in thought before he mumbled, "yet Lord Sesshomaru appears to be unaltered and clearly very human still…" the vassal to the Lord of the Western Lands trailed off, unable to piece together what exactly was transpiring in the castle with all of the youkai. What could it mean? The toad thought fleetingly, squawking when his nose shot out and flattened into a beak.
Sango swallowed, glancing over her shoulder at her feline turned human charge, whose spine was curving so dramatically that she was nearly forced to go on all fours. "Kirara, why don't you just put your hands on the ground? It looks like it would be more comfortable," the tajiya offered gently, demonstrating what she meant. The little golden haired girl that had been weeping and unsettled since they had arrived at Sesshomaru's estate seemed to be feeling more herself. She is certainly looking more like her old self, the demon slayer conjectured, noting the fur that was appearing on the little girl's arms and the cat-like kyphosis of her spine that continued to force her hands towards the ground.
As she continued to step quietly down the hall, Sango couldn't quite figure out what was happening to Kirara, other than the fact that her appearance was becoming that of a neko demon all the time. I'm not sure I have the time and energy to worry about this, she sighed inwardly, her hand tightening at her side. The dark haired woman paused as she approached a familiar door frame. The room where she had left him. Kirara froze, her slitted golden eyes gauging her master carefully and curiously.
Sango analyzed all aspects of the door frame; the color of the wood, its scent, how smooth the finish was… She closed her eyes and blew out a breath of resolution. Regardless of how injured the Taiyoukai of the Western Lands was, she was leaving. She wasn't going to fool herself into thinking she could have travelled with him and truly befriended him. That's probably why I was so upset by his comments, she pieced together.
She took a step past the door and paused, an epiphany making itself evident. Perhaps the reason my feelings were hurt was because all of my encounters with men have been less than appropriate… Though her beloved Miroku appreciated her intelligence, spunk, and passionate personality, it was quite clear what his priorities were in the form of groping hands and wandering eyes. Somehow though, this wasn't the case with the Lord of the Western Lands. Sesshomaru, a demon known for his clear disdain for humans, had shown her uncharacteristic respect and had provided her with physical protection. Yes, he had teased her by watching her bathe near the river (earning him a sound kick in the crotch) but he could have had his way with her and claimed her body for his own if he had so desired. He also could have touched her when she was working over him, like so many men in his position would have done… Yet, he didn't. Perhaps he had been relatively hands off because of his disdain for ningens, but the young woman was having a hard time convincing herself that that was the entire story.
Smiling sadly, Sango shook her head. At this point it doesn't matter… He has made it clear that he'd rather have nothing to do with me. This is for the best. Ushering the awkward looking Kirara beyond the door to the other side, Sango hopped across it in suit, hoping to pass by unnoticed as guilt began to fill her chest.
To her surprise and dismay, the tajiya heard a baritone voice call out her name from the room that was now behind her. The young woman's breath caught in her throat and a chill ran down her spine. The fire neko turned human began sniffing toward the door frame, causing Sango's heart to sink. She thinks I need to stay and take care of him… "Kirara, no," the tajiya began to whisper, her voice heavy. Part of her didn't want to leave; though the Lord of the Western lands was an overbearing, arrogant killer and a cold fish much of the time, she'd been able to catch glimpses of a part of him whose company she enjoyed. However, the other part of her was mortified by his blatant disgust and dismissal of her war-hardened body that was covered in old battle scars and wished to vacate the premises as soon as possible.
"Sango, I know not what it feels like to die as a human, but perhaps this is it," Sesshomaru called to her from the other room, effectively breaking the young woman from her reverie. She pushed aside all of her thoughts and anxieties, charging into the chamber where the human turned Taiyoukai laid on a cot. Approaching him cautiously, her dark eyes scanned over his stitches and wounds; she lifted his arm and put her index and middle fingers to his wrist to collect his pulse.
Sesshomaru laid silently beneath the young woman as she examined him methodically, feelings of victory permeating his insides. He had seen her leap in front of the door (to avoid being noticed, he surmised) with her belongings to leave his estate, and was pleased with himself for effectively drawing her back in. His coffee colored orbs observed her contently as she worked, all anger and guilt he had been feeling previously, dissipated. It was funny how quickly human emotions came and went. Nearly an hour ago he was seething with rage at how she had aroused him which was followed by guilt for having lashed out at her unnecessarily. He now was feeling even tempered, as if he hadn't been furious previously.
Unable to find anything remotely wrong with the human turned dog demon (other than his many injuries), Sango met his stony gaze. "You are fine," she told him coolly, getting ready to turn on her heel to proceed with her evacuation plan. Sesshomaru took hold of her forearm as she made a step forward, which inadvertently drew her back to his side. The young woman's brow furrowed in irritation as she attempted to tug her arm out of his grasp.
A dark, slender eyebrow raised in what Sango perceived as amusement as his dark brown eyes reveled in her struggling. "Leaving so soon?" The Lord of the Western Lands used a bit of force to draw the tajiya closer to him, though she was clearly trying to escape from his grasp. A smirk lit Sesshomaru's lips, thoroughly amused at how flustered she was becoming.
"That's none of your concern," Sango insisted, her voice hinting at anger as she ceased fighting him. "The only reason I came in here was because you thought you were dying," she finished, averting her gaze to a different corner of the room to avoid looking at the attractive man lying beside her on the cot. The inuyoukai loosened his grip on her forearm, but didn't release her completely. His thumb began to trace along the lines of a scar she had just below her wrist. Sango turned slightly, feeling somewhat conscientious, her chocolate brown eyes studying his every move.
"So this is what a scar feels like," Sesshomaru murmured, lifting her arm at an angle so that his other hand could touch it.
"Sesshomaru—Your… You have an arm again," Sango sputtered as his second hand came forward to caress the scar beneath her wrist. The demon lord froze in mid-motion, his calculating coffee colored gaze studying her unabashed observation in wonder. But, there it was: a fully functioning hand, forearm, and shoulder cloaked in olive skin in place where his false arm once resided.
"Well," the taiyoukai turned human stated, his voice not harboring the sense of relief and elation that he felt at the sight of his existing and moving appendage. Where had it come from? His eyes shifted toward the dark haired young woman, whose arm he held in an attempt to keep her from leaving his side. She appeared to be genuinely surprised and pleased with the discovery so he decided to trust his intuition which said, she's not going to leave now. Sesshomaru slowly relinquished the hold he had had on the demon slayer's slender arm, his hand returning to his side on the cot.
Distracted by the sight of his intact, flawless human arm, Sango leaned over him toward it. "May I?" she asked, reaching her hands toward it. Unsure at first of what her intentions were, Sesshomaru's form grew tense. Noting the abrupt change in the Taiyoukai's demeanor, the young woman paused, taking a moment to push some loose hair back over her shoulder, smiling gently at him. "I just wanted to examine it," she offered. "Now that I think of it, you may have had your arm since the transformation," Sango added, meeting his gaze. "I was so distracted at the thought of the Lord of the Western lands dying of human wounds that I didn't notice that you'd sprouted a new arm." She chuckled softly, making a motion toward his arm again.
"Dying of human wounds indeed," the human Sesshomaru mused, his throat tightening when Sango took hold of his left hand, her calloused hands stroking his palm and his fingers. His eyes narrowed as he continued to experience heightened emotions, his heart rate picking up. The young woman noted his unease and asked him if he was all right. Drawing in a deep breath, the dog demon nodded. "It seems like ages since I have felt any semblance of sensation there," he began his voice harboring little of the pleasure he was experiencing in response to her gentle ministrations to his hand.
"There was a man in my village who had lost his arm when I was young. It drove him mad," Sango began, doing more of the massage-like motions that Kagome had showed her on Sesshomaru's new hand. "He used to say that he would feel it then would go to move it… but nothing would happen," she finished, her eyes roaming over the broad expanse of his patched up chest. "Did that ever happen to you?"
Before she could comprehend the movements, she found that Sesshomaru had sat himself up and had pulled her against his chest using his new arm. Her cheeks began to glow red and she could hear her heart pounding in her ears. "Sessho—" she began to say, her voice trembling but was silenced when she felt his hand in her hair.
"This hand works well," his cultured voice rumbled from deep within his chest as he allowed his fingers to play through the thick, silken strands of Sango's raven hair. "The arm as a whole can move quickly for it being of the human kind, especially when another's guard is down," Sesshomaru added, humor lighting his tone. "You are so easily swayed by your emotions, tajiya."
"Perhaps I don't see you as a threat," Sango retorted, shaking her head free of the long fingers that were lazily cascading through her dark locks. "You are, afterall, lacking your youki," she added, dislodging herself from his reach. "And I feel as if it's below your honor to harm the person that helped save your life," she finished, stepping away from the bedside to resituate her hair, staring at him down her noise with confidence.
Frowning, Sesshomaru gingerly laid back down on the cot, sore from all the movements he'd made in the last 12 hours. "I am finding that conversing with you is like climbing mountains in the east. The elevation is always changing," the Taiyoukai huffed in annoyance, his eyebrows lowering. "One moment, you are angry. The next, you're staring at me with a gaze like Rin's with kindness and warmth. Now you are cross again," he continued, raising his good hand up to run it over his face. "This Sesshomaru is exhausted," he breathed, clearly allowing Sango to hear the exacerbation in his voice.
"You're exhausted…" Sango began, ready to return his quip but paused and took a deep breath. He never has these interactions, Sango, not to mention he almost died earlier, the voice of reason within her piped. He's being infuriating but how else is he supposed to behave when he's done nothing but turn off anything he's ever felt other than anger, lust, and condescension his entire life? "All right," the tajiya breathed, sliding a hand through her disheveled mane. "I can't keep arguing with you in good conscience, Sesshomaru."
The human-turned inuyoukai's jaw shifted, a slender eyebrow arching in irritated disbelief. "I beg your pardon?"
The young woman crossed tired arms over her chest, her chocolate eyes fixing on his coffee ones. She opened her mouth to continue speaking but was interrupted by a familiar female voice that called out her name from another location in the castle. What followed next caused the man on the table's entire body to seize.
"HOW DID YOU HUMANS GET IN HERE!"
"AW, SHUDDUP! DOESN'T MATTER HOW WE GOT IN HERE! GET OUTTA MY WAY! WHERE DID HE PUT SANGO AND KIRARA?"
"INUYASHA, CALM DOWN! YOU'RE GOING TO BREAK SOMETHING!"
"THE HELL IF I CARE! HE'S BROKEN EVERY BONE IN MY BODY AT SOME POINT OR ANOTHER! AND I'M GONNA BREAK HIM IF HE DID SOMETHING TO THE TWO OF THEM!"
"Kami-sama…" Sesshomaru breathed, his brown eyes growing wide as the voices and noise drew closer. He reached out and took a vice grip to Sango's arm, causing her to cry out from his strength. "They can't come back here," he breathed, his normally stoic voice filling with an emotion that was foreign to the tajiya's ears. "Sango," he grunted, attempting to get himself off the cot where he had been recovering in what appeared to be a panic.
Sesshomaru felt his heart pounding in his chest, his mouth drying out as his wounded body barely cooperated with him. I cannot believe I am being affected in this way, he cringed inwardly, unable to control the waves of unfamiliar feelings that were rolling through him. "I'm not in condition for battle. Not in this form," he forced out between unsteady breaths. He growled in frustration before he began to slide a trembling hand through his tousled dark hair. "Kami-sama, what am I saying? My chest… my lungs… I cannot breath," he rasped, hardly able to catch his breath.
"Sesshomaru!" the young woman uttered, completely taken aback by his complete lack of composure. He seemed to be having what Kagome would have termed a 'panic attack.' "If I'm to stop them, you have to let my arm go!" she made more attempts to break free from his grasp but he held fast. She froze, a gasp escaping her lips, when she met his tortured, bloodshot gaze. He's terrified, she realized, her urge to leave him and alert her friends dissipated. Before she knew what she was doing, she wrapped her free arm around him, pulling his body in towards her for a comforting embrace.
Sesshomaru buried his head in her chest, drinking in what he could of her scent, the warmth and softness of her flesh enveloping him completely. How could he have said her body was too tough and hardened, when it was all he could do to keep himself from nuzzling into her full breasts. The taiyoukai felt Sango's hand pass through his hair several times as he contemplated the alien sensation of his limbs trembling in this sturdy young woman's arms. He hadn't ever been held this way, not even as a child when he had been afraid.
"Sesshomaru, my son, were you frightened today?" a deep rumbling voice asked him, a large clawed hand reaching toward him. "Do not worry, I will never let anything harm you." Sesshomaru's small hand reached out to take his father's, but a slender female hand swatted him back.
"Don't baby and coddle our son," a cool, haughty female voice said. "If he was afraid it is because he is not strong enough yet," she continued, reaching down to catch the young inuyoukai's eyes with her own. Sesshomaru beheld his mother's flawless visage: her heart shaped face, her demonic markings, and her large golden eyes. She was so beautiful… yet so cold. "Do not feel, my son. It will only make you vulnerable," she stated informatively as she grasped his father's hand and began to drag him away.
Sesshomaru recalled his parents arguing after that moment, his father cross with his mother for being so cold and emotionless toward his son. Why had his mother been so cruel? And why on earth were these memories surfacing now? They made him feel uncomfortable and overwhelmed with emotions he did not know he had the capacity to feel. The taiyoukai groaned and began to pull his face away from Sango's chest, his breathing somewhat ragged. "I… I need to become a youkai again," he muttered, disentangling himself from her embrace. "These feelings… these memories," he panted, rolling onto his side, gritting his teeth in pain.
Sango stood at a loss for words, worrying her lower lip between her teeth. "I do not know what to say," she told him honestly, her attention drawn back to reality when she began to hear lumbering in the hallway.
"DO NOT COME THIS WAY!"
"GET OUT OF THE WAY YOU STINKY OLD TOAD! WHY ARE YOU EVEN HERE? SHOULDN'T YOU BE OUT GALLAVANTING WITH SESSHOMARU?"
"INUYASHA, STOP IT! THIS ISN'T YOUR HOME! YOU NEED TO BE MORE RESPECTFUL!"
"NO WAY! THE OLD BASTARD ISN'T HERE SO I'M GONNA TRASH THIS PLACE UNTIL I FIND SANGO AND KIRARA'S BODIES!"
"Sesshomaru, what should I do?" she asked him quickly, pulling her arm to her side when he released his unforgiving hold on it. Sesshomaru lay motionless on the table, all the fight seeming to have left him. Groaning, the young woman made a mad dash for the doorway, nearly tripping over herself when she crossed into the hallway. There she beheld Inuyasha on the rampage, a very distraught Jaken who had returned to his youkai form, and Kagome and Shippo who were yanking on the ends of the hanyou's fire rat haori to try and slow him down.
"S-Sango?" Inuyasha sputtered, his arms dropping to his side in relief. Kagome squealed and ran towards her dear friend with open arms, catching her in a big hug. Shippo bounded up onto the tajiya's shoulder and began to nuzzle her cheek. "Geez, you've been here this whole time?" the half-demon asked incredulously, a clawed hand reaching up to scratch behind one of his ears. His nose twitched from side to side quickly. "Why does it smell like human blood?" he queried as he started to look down the hallway.
"Yes, my friends, I've been here," she began, her eyes darting nervously to the chamber that the human-turned Sesshomaru was occupying, knowing that it wouldn't be long before the hanyou decided to investigate the blood smell. What do I do? What do I say? If Inuyasha finds him in a human state…
"Why didn't you come out sooner?" Kagome asked, her large brown eyes confused as she studied her apprehensive friend. "Is everything okay?"
Without warning, Jaken broke down and fell in a heap in the middle of the hallway, blubbering and sputtering. "Ohhhhh PLEASE, Inuyasha!" he wailed, scooching himself across the floor toward the hanyou's feet pathetically. "Please don't slaughter my lord! Oh PLEASE!"
Disgusted and bewildered, Inuyasha staggered backward away from the toad youkai that was slithering toward him. "What the hell are you—" he started to shout as he continued faltering backwards; for some strange reason the aroma of blood was increasing. "Get off of me!" the hanyou barked when Jaken launched his whole body toward him, pushing him into the door frame of a nearby chamber.
"Keep away from that room!" Sango cried, effectively dodging the preoccupied half-demon and blocking the doorway. She groaned inwardly, wondering where her loyal Kirara had gone. She surely would be doing a better job at guarding this door than I.
"Sango, why are you so upset? We came to save you!" Shippo exclaimed, his large blue eyes filling with tears. They had come all this way and she wasn't even happy to see them. The tajiya continued to hold her ground in front of the door frame in a rigid stance, her expression hard and determined.
"Sango—what's happening?" Kagome pressed, approaching her dear friend. Her eyes that were normally so soft and warm widened in shock when she glanced over Sango's shoulders and beheld the entity that the demon slayer was protecting. Suddenly Jaken's harping pleas to spare his master's life made sense… "Kami-sama… is that—"but before she could ask anything further, Sango began to plead with her eyes for the miko to hold her tongue. "Oh..." she breathed, unable to take her eyes away from the young man lying on the table with flowing jet black hair. "Shippo-chan… Keep Inuyasha back…" the young woman breathed.
"Me? Keep him back?" the kitsune gaped incredulously throwing his hands above his head in exasperation, "but I'm just a kid!"
"I've had just about enough of this!" Inuyasha roared, clutching Jaken's brown robes in his hand. He threw the toad youkai to the side, spinning around to glare at the two young women that were hovering at the entrance of what seemed to be a forbidden chamber. Thick dark brows descended over smoldering amber eyes; the hanyou was not impressed. "What are you hiding?" he queried impatiently, the smell of human blood and the odiferous perspiration that accompanied human adrenaline rushes thick in the air. The scent sourced from deep within the chamber, he surmised. "I smell the blood," Inuyasha began, crossing his arms inside the billowing sleeves of his red robe. "But I don't know why you're blocking me out of there."
Shippo let out some nervous noises and slunk behind Kagome's legs, unsure of how this was going to play out. "Inuyasha, go somewhere else," Kagome pleaded patiently, trying to catch his eyes. The hanyou snorted in response, making movements that were faster than both the demon slayer and the miko could comprehend.
"No!" Sango shrieked, spinning on her heel; she threw herself toward Inuyasha in an attempt to tackle him before he laid eyes on the wounded human-turned Sesshomaru. Thankfully, she and Kagome were on the same wavelength.
"SIT-BOY!" The young woman from the future shrieked, pointing her finger in his direction. Before the hanyou could even focus on the cot that laid in the center of the chamber, his body was hurling toward the ground not of his own volition. He smacked down onto the tiled floor, his limbs splaying in all direction. Sango found herself flopping right on top of him in a small dog pile due to her attempted tackle.
"WHAT… WHAT WAS THAT FOR?" The hanyou howled in frustration, his words seeping into the marble that surrounded his face on the ground as his hands and feet twitched from the incantation.
"Quick! We have to move him—" The tajiya started, leaping to her feet above the temporarily paralyzed Inuyasha, her shoulders dropping in relief when she noted an empty, blood stained cot. Her eyes scanned the room and darted up to the ceiling, wondering how the wounded human turned Taiyoukai had made his escape.
"Sango, the window!" Kagome stated informatively, breaking the young woman from her harried search. Two sets of dark brown eyes studied the open window, noting that drops of blood were staining the frame. Sango's eyebrows lowered as she tried to figure out how Sesshomaru had escaped the chamber in his relatively immobile and vulnerable state.
"Kagome, he's getting up!" Shippo exclaimed, turning into the big pink ball that could float in the air in an attempt to stall the stirring, angry half breed.
"SIT-BOY!" Kagome shouted fervently, the hanyou screaming as his body collided with the cold, unforgiving tile once again due to the rosary beads that he wore around his neck. "Sango, go now! Shippo and I will handle Inuyasha!"
"WHAT… THE HELL… IS GOING ON HERE?" the hanyou stammered, his silver white mane splayed out all around his body. "WHY… AM I BEING PUNISHED?" He tilted his head up shakily as best he could under the control of the prayer beads to see Sango's lithe form slipping through an open window and out of sight. Where the hell is she going? He thought, confusion and irritation blending together to create exacerbation which was further perturbed when Kagome and Shippo both began to chatter his sensitive ears off…
"Sesshomaru?" Sango called, willing her voice to remain calm although her heart was drumming in her throat. Her chocolate brown orbs darted back and forth around the gardens that she had jumped into from the window. Kami-sama, that was so close, she worried internally, images of the terrified and trembling human turned Taiyoukai flashing through her mind. She pushed an unsteady hand through her thick black hair, exhaling fully as she continued to keep a vigilant eye on her surroundings. There had been blood on the windowsill… his blood, yet she couldn't find any trace now. "Sesshomaru!" she tried again, coming to the end of the paved stone path that she had been stumbling on.
A thick mass of trees and thicket stood before Sango. "Could you have wandered in here?" she mumbled, mainly to herself as she began to trek into the brush, leaves and twigs crunching noisily under the indoor sandals she wore. She felt bare without her hiraikotsu and her tajiya suit, and cursed herself for having dashed off so irrationally without even bringing a means to defend herself and Sesshomaru if she needed to.
Perhaps that pompous youkai is right, she mused, pushing an exceptionally large branch out of her way. My emotions do get the better of me— her train of thought ended with the breaking of the large branch. As it fell, she was washed over with an ocean of relief when she beheld the scene before her in the clearing. There was Sesshomaru, lying on Kirara in her larger youkai form, resting peacefully. The tajiya smiled softly as she quietly made her way over to where the familiar pair was situated.
Kirara extended her head toward her master, her eyes closing contently when the young woman began to rub behind her delicate feline ears. A low rumbling purr emitted from the large fire neko, which made the human turned inuyoukai stir a bit in his sleep. "I shouldn't have worried about you, Kirara," Sango whispered, continuing her ministrations. "You had all of this handled for me."
Sighing, the young woman got down on her knees beside the seemingly exhausted Sesshomaru and began to visually examine his stitches and wounds. There was dried blood between the seams of the stitches… yet somehow the wounds beneath were drawing together. That's odd, she mused, her chocolate brown orbs becoming distracted by the pallid tone that his skin was beginning to take on in addition to his fast healing wounds. "Hm," she muttered, her slender brows working together in thought as she took the opportunity to pore over his physical appearance.
Impulsively, she reached her hand out toward him to move some thick skeins of his hair away from his face but reflexively drew her hand back when his eyes fluttered open. Amber eyes, very similar to the color of Inuyasha's, bored into her. Sango swallowed and plastered a shy smile on her face in an attempt to mask her shock at the change in his eye color. "Um… how do you feel?" the tajiya asked, feeling uncomfortable under his heated gaze.
Sesshomaru blinked several times, realizing that he was able to make out more of the finer details of his surroundings than he had earlier. There were small buds ready to bloom on the tree above them… tiny insects were crawling about in the grass beneath him… and Sango's hands were shaking ever so slightly.
"Fine," the Lord of the Western Lands replied, his baritone voice lacking sentiment, though he was physically fatigued and sore. He also felt emotionally drained and naked in the human woman's presence; he had completely lost his composure back at the estate at the thought of Inuyasha discovering him in human form. It was likely that she hadn't forgotten that. In an attempt to ease his own mind and change the subject, he added "this neko of yours is a compassionate creature," shifting his position so he could sit more comfortably against the warm feline.
Sango drank in the sight of his muscled chest, the stitches scattered about it taking nothing away from his impressive physique. She nodded mindlessly in reply. "Thus why she is my companion," she told him with a smile, sitting cross legged in front of the handsome man who gauged her every move with clear and emotionless amber eyes. It's such a contrast, she noted, recalling the terror and anxiety that had been present in his coffee colored orbs less than a half an hour before. Silence passed between the two as they sat in the clearing; their lack of conversation wasn't unbearable much to her surprise, but the young woman had to know how he had gotten away safely.
"Sesshomaru," she began, her breath catching in her throat when his tawny colored eyes fixated on hers. She quickly noticed that it was nearly impossible to tell what he was thinking. Perhaps the transition from human to demon was happening to him too, although much more slowly… "Sesshomaru," she continued, pretending to find a snag in the kimono she wore so she would not have to meet his icy, emotionless gaze. "How did you get out of there with such little time? You couldn't possibly have done it yourself—"she bit her lip after speaking the last part when she glanced up from fiddling with her robe to see him glaring at her sardonically.
"Ningen… I see nothing particularly interesting about your kimono," the Lord of the Western lands began, his voice donning the cool, cultured tambour that the tajiya had grown so accustomed to. "Look at this Sesshomaru when you are speaking." He added, reaching forward to grasp one of Sango's nervous hands in his own, his tawny orbs narrowing when the fast paced thudding of her human heart filled his ears.
"W-what is it?" Sango stammered, noting the change in his demeanor; he seemed pleased about something and she couldn't quite figure out what based on what had just happened.
"Your heart is racing," the Taiyoukai muttered, releasing the hold he had taken on her slender, but strong arm. The swift contractions of her heart had aroused him somewhat; he was certain that if his youkai sense of smell had been present, he would have been buried by the sweet aroma of her pheromones. As if that is even remotely appealing, he grated inwardly, his youkai pride attempting to stamp his carnal lusts down to where they normally resided deep within his subconscious. He ran a hand through his mussed dark bangs and returned his thoughts to the present when he noted the demon slayer's wrinkled brow and skeptical chocolate brown orbs.
"…And?" she pressed after a few thick moment of tense silence, her eyebrows lifting somewhat over her eyes to enforce her point.
"And I was merely informing you," the human turned dog demon answered her coolly, tilting his head to one side. He smirked at her, hoping to come off as condescending. "I conjecture that we may have been spending too much time together as of late and just being in my presence is enough to fluster you."
Sango straightened her spine up stubbornly, her hands balling into fists in the kimono that she donned. "Fluster me, indeed," she spat back at him, her shoulders tensing. "As I recall, YOU were flustered merely half a day ago when my kimono wasn't tied shut." She took two hands over her full breasts, cupping them to accentuate their shape, her irritation and exhaustion from the past days events taking their toll on her. "I can't believe I was worried about you and made an effort to keep Inuyasha from slaughtering you. I should have let him have his way with you!"
The human turned inuyoukai felt a familiar warmth and stirring down in his loins but willed it to stop, Sango's furious yelling fading into the background as he concentrated on maintaining his composure. It seems I have somewhat more control over this bludgeoning inconvenience, he mused, noting that his arousal was not spiraling out of control as it had before. This was going to spice things up, especially since the young woman seemed to be throwing her modesty out the window.
"Let him have his way with me?" Sesshomaru chuckled, his slender dark eyebrows narrowing slyly. Before Sango could even register it, the man before her had yanked her into his lap with a force that knocked him off of Kirara. The fire neko roared and hopped to the side, her golden eyes wide as she tried to figure out if her master was in danger or if they were "playing."
"What—what are you doing?" The tajiya sputtered, her raven hair scattering about her shoulders as she began to struggle in the demon lord's awkward grapple. Sesshomaru, who was lying on the ground beneath her at this point, held his grip on her flailing arms and roughly positioned her atop his hips to bring the odds into his favor again by taking her out of her element. Sango cried out at the familiar burgeoning stiffness that suddenly met her thighs, her face beginning to glow crimson when she realized what he was trying to do.
"Perhaps I will have my way with you, tajiya," the Taiyoukai informed her, his voice as cold as ice though his amber eyes were dancing with malevolent excitement.
Kirara, confused by the obvious pheromone scents in the air, glanced between Sango and the dog demon that she had rescued from Inuyasha's grasp. Initially, the feline had been extremely uneasy around the Taiyoukai but once they had arrived at the estate, her sentiments changed. Something about him had changed, aside from his transformation, and the neko had grown fond of it. The smells of imminent mating filled the air and Kirara knew she should give the pair some space and keep watch of their surroundings.
Sango watched in dismay as her loyal fire cat began to take flight into the trees and out of sight. "Kirara!" she called, her voice raspy with frustration and fatigue. The young woman whipped her head back around to behold the man beneath her, her ire further fueled when she felt him chuckling beneath her. "How is this funny? You're a pervert! Even to pretend to engage me in this act!" she roared wiggling her hands in an attempt to get a grip on his hair or something that would cause him to relinquish his hold on her. To her dismay, the Lord of the Western lands released his tight grip on her and continued to laugh, his white teeth hinting at the sheen and sharpness that they once had in his full demon form.
Confused, the tajiya stayed put on top of the clearly amused human turned Taiyoukai and couldn't decide if she needed to slap him to bring him out of this, or enjoy the show; he had a superb, rumbling laugh and smile that filled her abdomen with butterflies. Warmth coursed through her middle and she found herself relaxing as she continues to observe him; she attempted to press the deep, resounding chuckles that escaped his perfectly chiseled frame.
How long has it been since I have laughed like this? The transitioning dog demon mused to himself as he slowly started to open his eyes, beholding a bewildered, but patient Sango. It had been decades since he'd allowed himself to laugh aloud, yet after so many years of stuffing down hearty smiles and raucous laughter, he'd manage to let these grandeur cachinnations escape him in this woman's presence. I suppose she has seen everything now, he thought begrudgingly, a feat, however, that was starting to weigh less heavily on him than it had prior to her joining him in his travels. He sat up gradually, barely feeling the weight lovely human woman whom he was forcing to straddle his lap.
"Sesshomaru? Ja ne? Are you all right?" Sango's voice brought the Lord of the Western Lands from his reverie and back to the present. "I called your name three times but it seemed like you were elsewhere," she finished, slowly starting to dismount the human turned youkai's hips now that he seemed more himself. She gasped when large hands clamped onto her, rooting her in place upon him; her temperature rose yet again due to her proximity to his manhood and prominent physique, but she exhaled deeply as an attempt to stamp it out.
I am tired of this game, she glowered internally, narrowing her eyes as determination filled their chocolate depths. It was time to stop cowering in his attractiveness and the notion of who he was, Inuyasha's very powerful older brother who reigned over the Western parts of Japan. She'd "played the game", as Kagome termed it, for years with Miroku and it led to a broken heart and aching loneliness after he died in her arms. The tajiya was strong in her resolve that the cycle would not repeat itself, Sesshomaru or not. "This is very confusing for me," she began, crossing her arms tightly across her chest.
One slender, dark brow raised surreptitiously. "Confusing?" Sesshomaru began but was cut off when Sango placed her diminutive, yet powerful fingers to his lips. He became perplexed and lost in memory at her gentle touch, his amber orbs widening in disbelief. His father was the only being to ever successfully silence him this way, without spurring his ire and indignation; he remained calm and quiet under her touch, locking his eyes with hers, though he was taken aback with how peaceful he felt in this moment. The human experience is so overwhelming… where do all of these memories and feelings come from? He wondered before giving the demon slayer who straddled him currently his undivided attention.
"First, I am disgusting because I am a human, then, you deny any attraction you have to me despite your body communicating the opposite," Sango continued, her face flushing when she felt Sesshomaru shift beneath her. Don't get distracted, she scolded herself, pushing her hair over her shoulder with her free hand to keep from losing her nerve. "You grabbed me in your chamber after showing signs that you'd enjoyed the massage I'd given but then pushed me back by calling me emotional," she breathed, letting her head and hand drop together. "What do you have to say for yourself?" Sango questioned, meeting earnest chocolate orbs with cloudy amber ones. "I can't begin to piece together what your actions mean."
Hopefully that made some sense, Sango worried internally, her shoulder blades locked together behind her in anticipation. She leaned back towards his thighs and away from his hips, realizing that he'd released the vice grip he'd had on her while she'd been talking. The tajiya waited patiently, gauging his face and body language for any signs that she'd made some kind of impact with her words.
Sesshomaru schooled his features to be neutral. He became cognizant of the fact that he'd never been confronted in this fashion by a female and was left without any experience of how to respond to such statements. No former female youkai pursuits dared to approach him with matters of the heart, yearning to know where his interests lay. The lady demons that he formerly bedded kept themselves busy with personal pleasuring or attempts to entice his sexual appetite than to demand that he be fond of them or… in love. The human turned demon dog felt his stomach flipping at the thought, a sensation he wasn't familiar with or enjoying very much. Kami-sama, it was a challenging feat to attempt to rationalize with a woman sitting on one's manhood, whether or not one had voluntary control over its erection. Drawing in a breath, Sesshomaru's cool cultured voice began with, "I understand that I pulled you atop me. However, I find that I require more personal space to contemplate what you've said."
Sango blinked twice, her mouth fixing into a smaller configuration as she gauged him. I could get used to this honesty, she mused to herself, beginning to dismount again. "I suppose that's a reasonable request."
The moment the demon slayer leaned forward to move a knee over the dog demon's thighs happened to be the same moment that Sesshomaru decided to retrieve his hands from her hips. Still lacking the majority of his youkai vision, which would have allowed him anticipate movements seconds before they might have happened, he miscalculated and grazed one of her breasts. "That was not intentional," the human turned Taiyoukai muttered, half to himself, wondering which higher being he'd upset to end up with such poor luck the last 24 hours. He turned his face away from Sango in an attempt to shut her out for the moment; he found himself feeling emotionally exhausted again after their recent exchanges.
Sango reflexively brought her hands to her haori and pulled it between her fingers after the accidental graze. She scrutinized the dark haired man before her, trying to ascertain his intentions, but immediately felt sorry for him given his dejected posture and inability to meet her gaze. This particular touch seemed accidental, so the young woman attempted to diffuse the tension that hung thick in the air. "No harm done," she smiled, standing up. She held a hand out to him, hoping to cheer him up.
"Indeed," the dark haired man ground out, gazing up at her through narrowed amber eyes. She wishes to help this Sesshomaru stand. How humorous, especially after bombarding me with so many blatant sentiments that I have no concrete answers to, he found himself grating internally, his heart rate picking up ever so slightly. "I need no assistance," he told her, dismissively. "I need solace, for you, woman, are tiring."
The young woman's hand dropped to her side as she shifted her weight to her right hip in exasperation. "I'M tiring?" she began, but stopped mid-sentence, remembering her rationale for giving him more grace than usual. He didn't really need emotional coping skills as a youkai, as he could just kill or fly away from whatever was causing him to feel anything he didn't like, she mused to herself and almost chortled aloud at this realization. Sesshomaru appeared to have the emotional capacity a child, despite his intellect and enjoyment of rationalization.
"Yes. This Sesshomaru grows weary of your conversation, especially since you've given no time for private thought on your multiple accusations," he snapped at her curtly, the stoicism and finesse that he'd managed to gather moments ago dissipating. The Lord of the Western lands ran a frustrated hand through his hair and glared daggers at stubborn woman that stood over him.
"All right, Sesshomaru," she began again, sliding a hand gingerly over her fair face. "I will return indoors and try to see Inuyasha, Kagome, and Shippo away from here. I do ask that you consider what I've said." She turned on her heel to venture back on the path towards the estate but paused, feeling amber eyes burning holes into her back. The dark haired young woman sighed, closing her chocolate brown eyes. She couldn't leave with such thick tension in the air, it left her unsettled and she instinctively knew she wouldn't be relieved she articulated her remaining sentiments. Especially so since Sesshomaru is so irritated and flustered right now, she groaned internally.
The dark haired young woman turned half way to see the human turned Lord of the Western lands with fixated gaze upon her, his amber eyes obstinate, yet passionate at the same time. He appeared deep in thought, his full lips drawn together purposefully. Sango noted a shadow of the once prominent crescent that adorned his forehead was making a reappearance. With grace, the demon slayer turned fully and crouched back down before the heavily muscled, healing man and took his renewed hand in both of hers, gently pressing her thumbs into his palms. She remained unaware of how her touch, in that moment, unhinged something that had been locked up tightly inside of the once proud, powerful Taiyoukai.
"I may seem bold with what I've asked you, but it is only so because I have wasted much time in the past toying with the idea of being affectionate with a man," she endeavored calmly and earnestly, continuing her gentle ministrations to his flawless new appendage. The tajiya found it difficult to ascertain whether or not he was listening to her, as his eyes glazed over once she'd taken his hand. "Honestly, though you've made claims that have disappointed and embarrassed me, I've enjoyed my time with you," she was unable to meet his gaze any longer, her cheeks filling with blood as she pressed on. "I also don't believe you're as detached or ruthless as you'd have me believe."
Inuyasha managed to crawl, in agonizing pain, out onto a terrace on the second floor of the estate out of earshot of Kagome. He'd clawed, moaned, slunk, and all but slithered through the "SIT" spell up the cool, marble stairs and appeared to have lost his vivacious mate and kitsune companion somewhere along the way. He chuckled proudly as he waited for the familiar incantation that had been uttered at least 100 times in the last quarter of an hour to wear off. Sesshomaru had better be dyin' or something, for me to get pounded on like this, the hanyou growled internally.
Inuyasha still couldn't quite manage to put the pieces together. Why the hell was Sango even HERE of all places? Wasn't she looking for jewel shards to resurrect Miroku? What had she been hiding and getting all upset about inside? Shaking his head, the half-demon shifted gingerly so that he could rest his weight on the balcony of the terrace. In moments, he was standing, though his body felt like it weighed a metric ton after the excessive dose of incantations it had received. He stretched his arms long and leisurely above his head, coincidentally yawning, and scratched one of his ears before turning survey the thicket beneath him.
The inuhanyou's nose crinkled and filled with Sango's familiar scent, and he fixed his gaze west to hone in on his target. He spotted two figures in the distance, one of them Sango and the other—
Inuyasha's mouth dropped open and he did several takes, rubbing his eyes roughly to ensure that he wasn't seeing a mirage. "What the—" he whispered, studying Sango's dark haired companion, observing that the dark haired man bore many similarities to his pure blood youkai brother.
"INUYASHA!" Broke the silver haired hanyou from his shocking discovery, and he tensed every muscle in his body, awaiting the impending "SIT" he suspected was coming.
Kagome sprinted out onto the terrace, with Shippo bumbling not far behind. She fell forward letting her hands go to her knees as she fought to catch her breath. "How… did you… get…" she wheezed through her tousled ebony hair. She gazed up at her mate, in awe of how he'd manage to escape, despite her attempts to keep him "grounded."
"Is THAT what you were keepin' me from?" Inuyasha demanded, pointing a single clawed finger toward the expansive greenery below them. Kagome peered over the balcony and scrutinized the forest; Shippo hopped up on her shoulder and gasped, his large eyes darting to Inuyasha.
"Ah," Kagome treaded slowly, unsure of what he was pointing at, as her human eyes could only make out the greens and browns of the leaves and thick tree trunks from this distance. I don't want to give them away if that's where Sesshomaru escaped to! She worried internally, fixing a silly grin on her face. "Keeping you from what exactly, Inuyasha?" she breathed, laughing nervously. Inuyasha's arms drooped in irritation, his amber eyes narrowing.
"He sees Sango and a man with her!" Shippo exclaimed, more for Kagome's benefit than Inuyasha's, and the hanyou grabbed the kitsune child by his fluffy, cream colored tail. "HEY!" the fox shouted in outrage, running on all fours in the air in an attempt to get away.
"That ain't Sesshomaru… is it?" Inuyasha demanded bluntly, his tone harboring no nonsense. He allowed Shippo to hop down, where the kitsune scurried unceremoniously up onto the balcony beside Kagome. The young woman seemed stuck in place, her legs feeling like bricks. She drew in a deep breath and pulled all of her hair into one hand, nervously.
"You have to promise me that you can handle what I'm about to tell you," Kagome warned, releasing her hair so that it fell dramatically over her right shoulder as she made steps toward the silver haired hanyou. Inuyasha raised a skeptical eyebrow and muttered stubbornly under his breath about something. "And—" the high school girl added, pulling the half-demon toward her by the chest of his fire rat haori, her dark brown eyes blazing with determination. "You have to promise you won't go into that forest and kill that man."
"Yeah, yeah, fine, fine," Inuyasha sputtered, not enjoying how serious his lovely and normally bubbly mate was being with her curt demands.
Kagome turned toward the forest that spread out before them and placed her hands on the balcony. "The man with Sango is Sesshomaru. I don't really know much more than that. She wanted to help him escape before you found him in a human body, I gather," the young woman exhaled, tapping her fingers on the cool, white marble that rested beneath. She stiffened anxiously when her only response was silence and spun around to behold the silver haired hanyou rooted in place. He stared with an intense concentration into the thicket. Shippo seemed mesmerized as well.
"What's going on?" Kagome interjected but Inuyasha shushed her, waving a clawed hand in front of her face. He pointed toward the western part of the brush; the young woman barely made out the figures of two people, engaged in what appeared to be conversation.
"I'm tryin' to hear. I can, but it's quiet from up here," he whispered impatiently, his fluffy white ears flickering left and right, his eyes glazing over as they honed in on the targets in the distance. Sesshomaru is human… without youkai abilities and senses… and having a conversation alone with Sango… this I have to hear, the hanyou mused, though he was having trouble containing the excitement he felt. The hanyou grinned greedily on the inside, knowing the leverage he had over his cocky, conceited, and arrogant elder brother. He was eager to rub his brother's human blood in his face and rough him up the way he'd been roughed up hundreds of times in the past.
"I can tell you what they're saying if you want," Shippo whispered to his maternal figure, hopping up onto her shoulder. "I'm just barely making it out."
Kagome nodded, swallowing against a lump in her throat. The events of the day had been odd, and they seemed to be growing stranger by the minute. She crossed her arms and leaned onto Inuyasha softly, waiting for any updates from her companions with heightened senses of hearing.
The Lord of the Western lands remained still for many moments after the dark haired human woman before him had ceased speaking, making Sango wonder if he'd sustained physical wounds deeper than she'd been able to treat and they were beginning to take their toll. He was fine, however, at another loss of speech as his human turned mind made attempts again to unfold and process the maelstrom of emotions that her words evoked. How can she share so much of this with me and not fear the consequences, Sesshomaru puzzled, warmth spreading throughout his chest as he paired her words with what he was being visually and physically stimulated by. In his youkai form, he'd noted immediately that she hadn't been touched or known another man, as she didn't carry the earthy odor of a bedded human woman or one that had born children. Her actions, since she'd become part of his company, also affirmed this, manifesting in the way that she behaved and held herself. Sango was merely a girl when it came to the carnal flesh, and he doubted she would be able to manage herself when introduced to HIS touch—Kami-sama, why do these thoughts come? Why do I entertain this? How dare she speak to me so brazenly and demand I consider her words? She is a ningen! The Lord of the Western Lands became filled with anger and other feelings that he stubbornly attempted to force back.
The dark haired man tore his hand from her grasp, sending her onto her backside from her crouched position. Unbeknownst to him, in the distance, Inuyasha had nearly sprung off the balcony at that maneuver out of instinct but was halted by Kagome when she opened her mouth to yell "SIT."
Sesshomaru noted that he moved easily now and was less constricted by the "stitches", as the tajiya had termed them. The proud human turned inuyoukai managed to roll up to a standing position, but more clumsily than he would have liked.
"What-?" Sango commenced, her voice slight with disbelief, also coming to her feet. She stepped in his direction cautiously, hoping to calm him as he was appearing frenzied, but he staggered away from her touch.
"No more," he barked, his inflection gruff and dripping with frustration and outrage. "You have said more than enough to this Sesshomaru and have presumed far more than I'll ever allow again," he continued, unable to fight the anger that bled into his tone. Cease this talking, fool, you are becoming emotional, he heard a voice in his mind state, but he stamped it back beneath the whirlwind of anger, arousal, mystification, and other complicated sensibilities that overwhelmed him. "You are a human, Sango. What could become of us if I were to contemplate what you've said and decide to mate with you?"
"Mate with me-?" The flabbergasted young woman initiated again but ceased movement when the dog demon in human form threw his arms in front of his enormous figure as a barricade.
"Back!" He snarled through gritted teeth that were sharpening ever so slightly. "I will NOT bed a human. It ends POORLY!" Sesshomaru finished, unable to get his breathing under control. His expansive chest grew heavy and tight again as he attempted breath. Why can I not desist? The Lord of the Western Lands felt panicked again, akin to what he'd experienced when he was under the impression that Inuyasha could slay him if he were found.
"You're not making any sense," Sango chimed in, hoping to break Sesshomaru from whatever frenzied reverie he was now engaged in in his own head. "What ails you?" she attempted to draw closer to him, for lack of anything else to do, and was taken aback when he spun and started in her direction.
"My father is deceased because he loved-" the dark haired man practically spat the word out, "a human woman and claimed her as his own. This Sesshomaru is not a fool," he continued on, his amber eyes on fire as he stomped toward the demon slayer in a blind rage. "I have deduced that I share similarities with my father, long before I met you, however I was not abreast of the in-bred attraction to ningens," he ground out, grabbing her slender, but strong forearm in his hand, not entirely in control of his physical actions. "You have been in my mind since that day at the stream front near the tajiya village; your scent, your voice, your supple…" he trailed off, horrified that the thoughts he'd forced down as a youkai were erupting out of him now in verbal emesis. "Why—why does the speech continue? Where do these thoughts come from? This Sesshomaru has willed these emotions away repeatedly… yet they still resurface in this cursed human vessel," Sesshomaru breathed in exasperation, relinquishing the hold he had on Sango's arm.
The Lord of the Western lands had endured various trials and tribulations over the centuries, but he remained unable to stabilize himself emotionally in this young, human woman's presence. He buried his flushed face in one of his hands while struggling to regain his composure and sense. His breath caught in his throat when he was pulled into a rough embrace by the tajiya, his entire form stiffening in disbelief and bewilderment. This was not the response he'd been expecting from her, however, he knew he was calming in her small, but strong arms.
Unsure of what to say, Sango reached a hand up to grasp his chin firmly so she could fixate his harried amber eyes upon her chocolate brown ones. She chose to speak from experience and from her heart, hoping she could dispel the whirlwind of complex emotions that he was feeling. "It is normal for any being to feel," she began, moving her touch from his chin to rest on one of his pallid, sweat dampened cheeks now that she had his full attention. "I know not who told you to cease feeling or trained you to hold disdain for your own sentiments, but human or not, these memories, feelings, and thoughts clearly must be dealt with," she felt his hardened frame softening at her words. "You have seen and known too much to deny yourself the opportunity to have peace and closure regarding these thoughts that continue to surface. I know not your full story, but am happy to listen and provide human perspective," she finished, swallowing when amber turned tawny eyes gazed down at her, searing her with a heat and intensity she hadn't seen in days.
Without a word, Sesshomaru lifted a hand that was tapered with well-groomed talons and placed it over Sango's atop his flushed cheek. He turned his face slightly, long eyelashes closing over fatigued, tawny orbs as he nuzzled her calloused hand gently. Peace and closure, he mused, his mind seeming less cloudy than moments before. "If speaking of these matters aids in this Sesshomaru's inability to cease chattering in this mostly ningen form then, speak I shall," he uttered, his baritone voice barely audible. He raised his free hand and impulsively ran his clawed fingers through the young woman's silky, jet black locks, revering at the softness.
"Wow… I can't believe they're having the magnitude of conversation that they are," Kagome gaped in awe after Shippo and Inuyasha had summed up what they'd seen and been able to decipher from the tajiya and Taiyoukai's heated interactions in the forest.
"Yeah… Being human must really have done a number on Sesshomaru," Inuyasha stated, appearing shocked and disgusted at the same time. "I almost pity him," he started and broke off when he saw Kagome staring at him with a sheepish smile and watering, happy brown eyes. Staggering back a few steps, the hanyou sputtered, "what're you lookin' at me like that for?"
"I think it's sweet that you're being so compassionate towards the brother who you have an extensive, mostly negative, history with," the high school girl sighed, tilting her head to rest on dramatically clasped hands. "You're a good man, Inuyasha. I think I'll keep you," she teased, enjoying the embarrassed reaction in him that she evoked.
"Inuyasha's sweeeeeeeet—" Shippo started to coo mockingly but yelped when the silver haired hanyou bopped him on the head with his fist. "OUCH! KAGOMEEEEEEE!" the young fox shrieked, bounding back from his spot on the marble balcony to her slim shoulder.
"What's wrong with you? You are sweet!" The defiant young woman shouted obstinately. "It seems you brothers both have a hard time expressing yourselves. At least he's willing to admit that he needs to face those things!"
"All right, all right, let's just all gang up on the dog, huh? That's just the easiest thing!" Inuyasha barked back, his ears flattening against his head defensively. The trio continued to rile each other up on the balcony, oblivious as to how loud they were being as they prattled on.
Sango was pleased that her verbiage had produced such a pleasant (and not explosive) outcome and was enjoying having her hair toyed with gently. She sighed contentedly, unsure of what her next move would be as she hadn't planned to share what she had with him and to have him receive it. "I've noticed that you have a great capacity for gentility, in your touch and demeanor at times," she informed him. "Why do you mask these things?"
"Learned habit, I suppose," Sesshomaru mused, drawing his hand out of her hair while he slowly disentangled himself from her tender hold, deciding instead to take one of her diminutive hands in his own. The Taiyoukai in human form studied his body, noting that the threads Sango had utilized for stitching his wounds were coming loose out of his skin. His healing rate had accelerated exponentially since he'd escaped the estate and his youki returning to him also. This pleased him. It seemed that matters were righting themselves.
Sango shrugged, rather enjoying the fact that he'd picked up her hand. Is it selfish of me to want him to remain like this forever? She thought inwardly, but dismissed it, knowing instantly that that wasn't fair to him. "Well, Rin seems to enjoy your softer side, and I wouldn't mind being better acquainted with it either," she informed him, feeling his grip on her hand tighten reflexively.
Sesshomaru mulled her words over in his head, deciding what he thought of her statement now that he was able to contemplate clearly. Had he been in youkai form, he would have simply smashed any sentiments of warmth and grown irritated at the idea of being gentle; gentility and kindness were used to exploit weaknesses against a demon in battle… yet what battles had this mattered in of late? Surely the Lord of the Western Lands couldn't be overpowered so easily, weaknesses or not.
"Perhaps you shall be then," he stated flippantly, teasing her with his tawny orbs. He smirked and it began to show hint of his distinctive inuyoukai fangs. Sango choked on a giggle and could barely contain her amusement. He must have some idea of how attractive he is, else he wouldn't go out of his way to fluster me so, she mused, intertwining his long fingers with hers.
"I would like that," she grinned, not bothering to reserve her true feelings about the matter. The Taiyoukai's mouth turned up halfway, belaying his amusement as he arched one slender dark brow as if to silently say 'be careful what you wish for.'
The pair's playfulness was interrupted when Sesshomaru's ears began to wiggle and he stiffened where he stood. Sensing danger, Sango's chocolate brown orbs darted all about them to gauge the location of a potential enemy. "Calm yourself," the human turned demon lord stated coolly, staring toward the estate, "This Sesshomaru has fully regained his sense of hearing," he informed the young woman whose hand he continued to grasp. "Inuyasha appears to be out of doors and nearby."
"Oh?" Sango questioned, her eyes drifting to the path she'd traveled into the clearing on.
"This proves to be an interesting dilemma," the transitioning Lord of the Western Lands murmured, mostly to himself. His amber eyes lowered to study the back of Sango's head. "As I'm sure he has heard the length of our conversation."
The young woman turned back to gauge how Sesshomaru was feeling, but she found that it was becoming increasingly difficult. "What should we do?" she asked him, tightening her hold on his hand, not particularly wanting him to leave her side. Is he going to brush me off to save face in front of Inuyasha? She worried internally as her eyes trailed along every delicate feature of his prominent visage. They had made such progress, even in the last little while… Sango internally cursed the fact that Sesshomaru had regained his demonic sense of hearing.
Sesshomaru continued to be still, calculating in his mind the implications of everything that had happened in the last 30 minutes or so, his face not revealing a thing to his human companion. His cool, amber eyes floated toward the young woman's face again when he heard her heart rate increasing and caught scent of her adrenal hormones.
Growing tired of his silence and his lack of action, Sango dropped the human turned dog demon's hand and turned on her heel towards the clearing path. This is more of those "games" Kagome talked about; honestly, men and not making up their minds. "I won't stand here if you are deciding whether or not to toss me aside because I am a 'filthy ningen' to save face for Inuyasha. I tire of your indecision," she called over her shoulder, attempting to mask the disappointment and sadness in her tone. "I am glad you feel better and are regaining your youki, but I am not going to wait around to be dismissed," she added as she continued to make her way back to the estate, her strides getting shorter and quicker all the while. She felt an ache within her chest but stamped it down as she pressed on.
Sesshomaru found that he was having a harder time than usual expressing himself as he watched the tajiya's lithe, sumptuous form slip further way. The Taiyoukai narrowed his eyes impatiently as he felt another well of emotions rise up in him. Was he to chase her? Was he to leave her be? What did she want him to do?
The transitioning Lord of the Western lands longed for a familiar release to these types of problems, where if he did not know what to do, he killed or tortured the creature in question until he felt solace once again. If the creature in question was a female, he had the option of seducing and pulling her soft, feminine form to him. He then would slowly rip off each layer of the female's garments, trailing his mouth and hands all over every inch of her flesh so she would be so distracted by his mastery of evoking pleasure that he would not have to continue figuring out what he was feeling within. Yes, making love to Sango, human and all, and causing her to cry out in pure ecstasy were much simpler tasks, than having to sift through and decipher these horrible emotions.
Before he realized, the human woman was out of sight and he remained alone in the clearing. Sesshomaru drew in a deep breath, but tensed and assumed a defensive position when his ears detected movement in the tree above him which was accompanied by a familiar scent. "Inuyasha," he muttered, turning his head with disdain toward the tree branch immediately above his head to the left.
"Yeah, yeah, it's me," the hanyou grunted from a crouched position before he grunted again and leapt down to the ground, keeping a solid distance from his human turned half-brother.
"Are you so pathetic that you'd try and take this Sesshomaru down in such a weakened, vulnerable state?" Sesshomaru taunted, his voice edging between his normal cool composure and sardonicism. He received a "puh" sound from his silver haired half-brother before a rock got kicked in his general direction.
"I ain't here for any of that. Kagome'd never forgive me," Inuyasha snapped, his hands burying deep into the sleeves of his red haori. He blew out an exasperated breath when he noted that Sesshomaru's stance never wavered and he continued to stare him down defensively. "I'm serious! She's waiting for Sango to get back so they can talk about what you two were yappin' about!"
Sesshomaru straightened up upon hearing that bit of information. "And what, exactly, were we 'yapping,' as you call it, about?" he queried, one of his dark slender eyebrow rising with interest.
"Not anythin' I want a lot of details about," the hanyou muttered in disgust under his breath as he kicked more small stones around on the ground. When a stone got pelted toward his forehead, the half dog demon sputtered for a few moments before he realized that his cold-hearted, ruthless older brother actually wanted to know. "Uh… you were talking about mate relationship stuff, which was weird, and then it seemed like you messed it up," he finished, his voice uneasy as he observed the dark haired man's reaction.
"I messed it up," the Taiyoukai in human form repeated neutrally, his mind working through it slowly. Inuyasha continued to watch in disbelief at the Sesshomaru that he had never even known existed. All his life, Sesshomaru had been nothing but a bastard that threatened his life and continually wanted his sword… and now Inuyasha was supposed to believe that he could FEEL?
"Uh yeah…" The silver haired dog demon replied carefully, taking a few steps back. "I wasn't sure about this, but I think she wanted you to say you wanted her no matter what I thought," he continued, his cheeks starting to glow red with embarrassment. He ran a clawed hand over his face and glared begrudgingly at his half-brother. "Are we really havin' this conversation? I mean, really? You should be askin' Kagome this shit! Whaddo I know?"
"Quiet," Sesshomaru snapped, less than calmly. "Are you presuming to say that that this Sesshomaru was supposed to answer that second?" he growled in frustration, both of his hands balling into fists. "The tajiya had agreed to allow space for thinking, and then she demands immediate answers moments later? This must be a human problem," he continued angrily, "for not once have I ever had this much trouble with youkai females. Once we rut all words and problems stop, and business assumes as usual afterward. But Sango—she requires that this Sesshomaru read her thoughts and anticipate her whim-"
"Well, yeah; I mean you are more than 500 years old, old man, and with that amount of manipulatin' youkai and humans that you've done, you'd think you'd know somethin' about that," Inuyasha began then gaped when it suddenly dawned on him that his half-brother had two fully functioning arms. "Whoa, when'd you get that back?" he asked, gesturing to the new arm which had a vein visible over the forearm with the amount of effort Sesshomaru was using to make a fist.
"Supposedly sometime after I was drained of my youki," the human turned dog demon retorted and began to march toward the clearing path. "This Sesshomaru would rather not talk of that now but of the fact that human women are outrageously frustrating and unreasonable creatures!"
Inuyasha's lips tightened and he felt a warm sense of familiarity rise in him. "Heh, you're right about that," he mused, lazily allowing one of his fangs to show as he smirked. "They're not all bad though. Kagome's helped me with a lot of stuff, even if she drives me crazy most of the time," he added as he started pacing around, studying the trees and other greenery in their environment.
Sesshomaru paused in mid-step and his eyes looked in Inuyasha's general direction without turning his body. It seemed odd that they could so comfortably converse in this way… let alone have something in common. It wouldn't be the end of the world to inquire what his half-wit younger brother knew of human women… would it? "These memories and feelings that rise up… How does the tajiya know exactly what to say?" he finally asked, his voice genuinely curious. Inuyasha paused in mid-stride and studied Sesshomaru for a few moments before responding.
"Well, that's something that humans do well. They feel stuff all the time so have to take the time to 'process it' Kagome's always saying. I asked her the same thing not too long after I met her."
The Taiyoukai's eyes narrowed for a moment as he digested this. "I see."
"It ain't that hard to process things though, if you've got good help," the hanyou continued, feeling odd that his brother had asked for and was seriously contemplating his advice.
"Processing, as your ningen calls it, poses numerous unanticipated challenges," Sesshomaru replied, his eyes hardening.
A gentle gust of wind blew through at that moment, almost seeming to calm a tension which had grown throughout the conversation. Inuyasha stood rooted to his spot. "Yeah," he started, his eyes going to the ground. "I'm learnin' that if I just live it in the moment, it ain't so bad. Kagome told me that, and I've been tryin.'"
"A question for you, brother. How does one just live in the moment, as you say, when all they have ever been taught was to avoid or push off emotions?"
Inuyasha started to feel uncomfortable and out of his element with that question. "Uh… well, I'd asked Kagome about that one," he grumbled, scratching behind one of his ears nervously. "I ain't sure why you ask that. You had two parents all your childhood, anyhow. If anyone should be well-adjusted out of us, it's you."
"You didn't dare say that, did you?" The human turned Taiyoukai growled, his heart rate rising. Before he realized it, he was seeing red and his fists were bleeding due to talons that had finished growing in and had pierced his palms. "You know nothing of my childhood!" he roared, and blindly began to charge his half-blood brother, remembering his vulnerable state moments later. His vision returned to normal, yet he continued to snarl angrily toward Inuyasha.
Inuyasha could sense that he had bounded into uncharted territory and had no certainty of what to do next. I can't believe he's acting like this. Being human is really doin' a number on him, he thought, feeling something akin to compassion filling his insides, even though he knew straight compassion wouldn't be received well coming from him. He straightened his posture and looked down his nose at the furious dark haired man next to him. "Whatever. I ain't sorry. You had two parents and it ain't my fault if no one taught you how to love. Go take it up with your ma. I remember our father as kind even though I barely had time with him."
Our father… Sesshomaru found himself back in time again, remembering the man who had sired him but who had been barely allowed to raise him. He recalled warm smiles, a gentle but massive hand that would rest on his shoulders from time to time—but amongst those positive memories, he felt and recalled anger at the fact that his father had left his mother to take a human woman as his mate.
The Lord of the Western Lands drew in a deep breath and exhaled to will the conflicting emotions that became a maelstrom within him to pass, but it did not help. "Leave my mother out of this," he breathed, attempting to keep his voice neutral, but firm. "She was wronged…" he continued to say but trailed off, his mind returning to scenes past that he was surprised he had recollection of.
"Do you struggle again? How can such a child ever learn to be Lord of the Western Lands. Let us hope nothing ever happens to your father, else our estate and lands are done for."
"This Lady does not wish to be touched by a blubbering child. Sesshomaru, you must learn to feel less. No one appreciates crying."
"Stop coddling the boy. If you are not careful, he will turn out exactly like you and all in the land will take advantage of the kindness of their Lord. Is that what you want?"
Inuyasha observed Sesshomaru as he seemed to be at odds with himself. "Uh… can I go? Kagome told me to come talk to ya but I think I made things worse…" He drew his hands out of his sleeves and began to carefully pace backwards, gauging the response he would get from dark haired man before him.
Feeling overwhelmed by his memories, thoughts, and all else that had turned upside down in his life in the last 24 hours, the side of Sesshomaru's mouth turned up in sick amusement before he began to chuckle in irony and exhaustion. Inuyasha's amber eyes widened and he took a step back. What's he laughin' about? That can't be good…
"Perhaps this Sesshomaru must return to the past in order to understand my present state," he mused, mostly to himself. "I require Bokseno's council now," he finished flatly and began to stride back toward the estate, brushing past the flabberghasted hanyou that stood in his way.
"What is goin' on with you? You're just droppin' all that?" Inuyasha called after him, his voice filled with confusion. Geez, human Sesshomaru's mood swings are just as bad as Kagome's when she is in heat, he thought in exasperation as he stomped after his older, now seemingly calm, half-brother toward the estate.
Who is to say that once I am returned to my full-fledged self that these memories won't debilitate me in the middle of battle? Sesshomaru thought as he picked up his pace, intent on where he was headed.
"I told you! I am not eating your food!" Rin shouted, kicking the dish of slop-like looking food toward the door of the chamber that confined her. "Sesshomaru-sama is coming for me soon! I will eat then!"
Mareo smirked, watching the obstinate little imp pout against the chamber wall. He had been away from humans for so long that he'd forgotten their stubborn, rebellious nature. "I ask you again, little one. Why has he not come already?" he queried, watching with satisfaction how his words seemed to piece her tender little heart.
Rin rubbed one of her arms nervously and pushed back the feelings of doubt that wanted to rise up in her. It was true, he was taking a surprisingly long time to get her… but perhaps he'd been mortally wounded! Yes, that had to be it. Perhaps he was nursing his wounds then would be coming to save her! "I bet you know why. I bet you hurt him," she retorted, her voice trailing off in a whisper with the last few words.
"Indeed I did," Mareo replied calmly, his rumbling baritone voice seeming to reverberate off of every wall of the chamber. He took 2 long strides forward and crouched down, grasping the young girl's dirty chin in his hands, forcing her to stare into his smoldering eyes. "In fact, he may be dead. I sucked the youki from him as we left and he was already seriously injured," he informed her, releasing her chin as she digested this information.
"W-what does that mean?" she fired back at him in disbelief and anger as she rubbed her face where his fingers had held her roughly. "Did… did you make Sesshomaru-sama… human?"
"Yes," Mareo laughed menacingly. "Not to worry though. He will regain his youkai nature and strength in time," the malicious half-breed responded, flippantly. "If he survived, that is." He added before standing and turning his back to Rin as he approached the exit to her chamber. "I am certain he will come for you. And when he does, I will reclaim his youki again and grow more and more powerful." He turned so that the dark haired girl who was slowly starting to whimper and sob could see his regal profile.
"Here are more queries for you child. How does your Lord handle his feelings?" Blood red eyes studied a finely tapered hand before continuing. "I imagine, like most youkai, he takes advantage of the ability to compartmentalize. This is something you humans aren't fully capable, as emotional creatures."
The young girl rested rigidly against the cool, chamber wall attempting to process what she was forcibly being told. Lord Sesshomaru… handling feelings? She felt her stomach tighten with worry. She knew her lord was capable of many, many things… but she wasn't so young that she was ignorant to the fact that whenever her beautiful lord was frustrated he would leave and never explain his departure upon returning. Jaken always seemed to mutter about the activities he presumed the great dog demon to be engaged in, but she could never be sure. She always wished to give the taiyoukai the benefit of the doubt but-
"Child, how many times do you think a demon can have his essence taken before his body gives up?" The tall, dark haired youkai's voice boomed, his heated, malicious gaze probing over her. "I venture likely not more than once," he added, a cruel chuckle laced within his sultry, but maddening voice.
Rin felt something within her snap and could no longer bear to contemplate her beloved master's condition or his fate as a wounded, dying human. All of it it was more than she could bear and she found herself standing unvoluntarily, her legs racing her small, rage-filled body towards the beast that held her captive; she longed to hurt him physically in some way. Mareo released a roar of maniacal laughter and seized her by the back of her dress, where her limbs splayed in various directions angrily as she dangled in the air.
"I might consider sparing your master if you assist me in the matters you heard me discussing before," he whispered in her ear, knowing that this was how he was going to seduce the girl into unknowingly helping him bring back Eri. All Rin's appendages went slack, though tears continued to drip down her face. She drew in and released several shaking breaths as she contemplated his offer.
"Please don't hurt Lord Sesshomaru anymore… I… I will help you…" she whispered, her voice trembling. Mareo studied the girl who hung in the air by the back of her dress, gauging her resolve. Noting that there was little fight left in her, the demon turned her so that she could rest over his shoulder. Her body seemed lifeless from grief, and likely hunger; he knew he could probably get her to consume food now, especially if it tied into his mission.
"Good," Mareo's voice rumbled and he strode out into the hall with her in his arms. Rin's mind shut down somewhat, as she processed what she'd been told and she decided she would do what she needed to keep her lord safe. No one would kill Sesshomaru-sama, especially if she could stop it from happening.
"My friend, I'm sure you've been through a lot lately," Kagome said, running a brush gently through her friend's long ebony locks. They were sitting together on one of the satin couches in the grand foyer of the estate, working at catching up on missed time together.
"Yes," Sango replied, closing her eyes as the miko ran the brush through her hair, enjoying the gentle pulling sensations on her scalp. "Rin has been taken captive, Sesshomaru and the other demons had their youki stolen and turned human, and just prior to all of this transpiring, I started my monthly bleeding. It has been particularly painful this time," she continued running a tired hand over her face. She longed to discuss her newfound relations with Sesshomaru with Kagome but was having a hard time skirting the subject.
The high school girl from the future could sense Sango's pensiveness, and used her powers of intuition to stab at whatever may have been on her mind. "It seems you and Sesshomaru-sama are pretty familiar now," she ventured gently, hoping she'd hit the nail on the head. "Were you nursing him back to health? Is that why you were protecting him?"
The demon slayer relaxed under Kagome's gentle touch in her hair and turned half way, but didn't meet her companion's gaze. "One could say that," she began, beginning to toy with her hands, studying every detail of her calloused fingers. Familiar indeed, the tajiya mused internally, remembering the feeling of being caught in the taiyoukai's firm but warm embrace just a short while ago.
Turning fully to face the miko, Sango's dark eyes met Kagome's. "Kagome-chan… I think I care for Sesshomaru; at least, I must at some level. His words… they either fill me to the brim with happiness and warmth or crush me from the inside," she found herself somewhat breathless as her thoughts returned to the human turned Lord of the Western Lands. "I remember feeling that way at times with houshi-sama… but not to this extent."
The dark haired teen set the brush down on the couch, digesting what she'd been told, unsure of how to respond as Sango was clearly conflicted. It was also a complex matter, as it seemed her friend was falling for the notoriously cold-hearted, human-loathing dog demon that reigned the Western Lands. "Ohh. Gotcha," she started, her deep brown pools of light following her friend as she got up off the sofa and started pacing back and forth around the room. "What's happened, Sango?"
Sango paused in mid-step, gazing back toward her friend and feeling utterly relieved that she has asked her. Before she knew it, she was babbling on about everything that had happened since her encounter with Sesshomaru at the stream (where she ended up kicking him in his manhood). She detailed moments where she felt they had truly connected and understood each other. She also noted that her body responded to him with desire, which she had very little experience with. Sango also confessed that it pleased her that she'd caused him such arousal that he couldn't control when dressing his wounds and told of the disappointment she felt when he claimed that she meant nothing to him.
Kagome, frozen on the couch, found her cheeks flushing from time to time as she listened earnestly to her friend's rant; she wasn't sure what to say throughout it so she went with "Oh!" especially at parts that seemed to be especially filled with sexual tension or passion.
"And he now that he's human, or at least when he was fully human, it seems that every large or life altering event that he's ever experienced comes to the surface and plagues him," the tajiya finished, finding that her own face was ruddy. She began wringing her long ebony locks for lack of anything else to do. "We have met many people and youkai throughout our journey who have pushed painful memories down and they later erupt into anger or go mad… could it be that he has never allowed any of them to play out?"
Kagome worried her lower lip between her teeth as she contemplated Sango's words. She rose from the couch and went to take her friend's sweating hands in her own. "I really don't know, Sango, but it sounds as though you've been a positive influence since traveling with him. He seems to have opened up to you, as much as he's able to anyway," the teenage girl continued, observing the maelstrom of emotions that were rolling around in her friend's dark eyes. "It might be time for you to let him know how you feel about him and what you expect; I know they're not the same person but I have to spell everything out for Inuyasha most of the time."
Sango pondered her words for a few moments. It was comforting to have her friend near again. All of the troubles that she'd had seemed far away and small for the moment.
"You know," Kagome continued, "if you hadn't been with him after his youki was taken, he would probably be dead," she ran her small thumb over her friend's battle toughened fingers. "I'm sure human Jaken would have been a great help to him all by himself," she giggled.
The tajiya found herself relaxing at her friend's words and began to chuckle. "I was so embarrassed for the toad," she mumbled between laughs. "He was so unsightly in ningen form AND seemed to be causing Sesshomaru more irritation than usual."
"Ha! I can imagine!" Kagome burst out, using the back of her hand to wipe the tears that came to her eyes from their merriment. The girls continued to laugh but were interrupted by loud panting noises that were coming from the toad in question as he approached.
"This Jaken brings you the fox-child! He has eaten all my treasured sweets right out of the kitchen!" He cried, dragging the young kitsune behind him by the tail.
"They were sitting out! How was I supposed to know? I'm just a kid, and hungry!" Shippo shot back at the toad demon defensively, wiping crumbs and something that looked to be purple jam from his lips as he made attempts to wiggle his tail from its slimy hold. "Inuyasha is taking so long and I needed a snack—"
"So you ate MY tarts and other goods? Oooh, everything is turned on its head since we encountered that wretched demon!" Jaken whined, tossing the fox demon's tail away from him, burying his head in his hands in defeat.
Sango and Kagome found themselves unable to control their amusement and were bent over, giggling. "What perfect timing," the miko from the future breathed between laughs.
Sesshomaru's ears were greeted by the sounds of roaring female laughter and whining from his vassal as he strode through the estate toward the foyer where he had sourced Sango's delicate scent. His slender eyebrows worked together as he absorbed information from his surroundings. The tajiya appeared to be in good spirits, from the sounds of things, so he continued the trek down the hall towards her. He paused briefly when he could both smell and hear Inuyasha trailing him; he turned halfway around to glare at the hanyou.
"Following this Sesshomaru again? Don't you have better things to do?" The Lord of the Western Lands (who'd completed the transition to half-breed dog demon on the walk back to the estate) called up to his half-brother who had been loping along the stair banisters, attempting to be undetected.
"I wouldn't go in there right now. Those girls are probably schemin' somethin'," Inuyasha called down before he leapt down to the ground, feet away from Sesshomaru.
The taiyoukai's tawny eyes narrowed as he studied the hanyou perched beside him. "So it is likened to a trap, and the laughter is a ruse to draw me in?"
The silver haired hanyou shrugged, sliding his arms into his haori sleeves before answering. "Hell if I know. I don't know why I'm helpin' you out but it'd probably be better if I just went and told her you need her or something—"
"Hmph, indeed," the familiar condescension returning to his baritone voice. "As if this Sesshomaru would need anything from that ningen—"
"Ya know, in some ways, you're worse than Miroku ever was," Inuyasha sighed, shaking his head, causing the half-breed Lord of the Western Lands to raise an eyebrow. "Make up your mind; do you want her or don't you?"
"This is fine talk coming from the hanyou who played between two females for years," the taiyoukai mused, sarcasm heavy in his tone. "Or have you forgotten?" Inuyasha's cheeks turned beet red and he began to huff about. "This Sesshomaru is not a coward; I will approach," he added, making further headway toward the foyer. All sounds died off when he entered the room and all he could hear were the tachycardic beats escaping the hearts of all who occupied the room.
"My lord! Your countenance has altered yet again!" Jaken cried, earning an annoyed death glare from his master. The toad found himself hiding behind the fox demon child who had been beside him, feeling the familiar ire and power of his lord's temper. Shippo wiggled around to try and escape his amphibian clutches, but the old toad youkai held fast.
"Jaken, this Sesshomaru will not endure your insolence. Anyone with half their sense can see that. Make yourself useful and leave," the taiyoukai ordered, his voice cool and composed. Jaken did not need to be told twice and scurried across the foyer and out of sight. Sesshomaru turned his stony gaze toward the two dark haired young women that stood side by side, gaping at him.
Kami-sama, he's nearly healed, Sango noted, drinking in his appearance and studying various parts of his regenerating body. His raven hair had scattered skeins of pure white peppered throughout it, and it they didn't seem to age him or detract from his handsome countenance at all. His characteristic crescent moon rested on top of his forehead, his eyes belaying fewer and fewer signs of the emotional torrent she'd been witness to hours earlier.
The tajiya was snatched from her reverie when she felt Kagome's bony elbow jab her gently in the ribs. She whirled around and gaped at her friend as she began motioning about something using her head in the taiyoukai's direction. Sango narrowed her eyes as if to ask "what?" and the miko from the future sighed and took a few steps toward the half-breed Lord of the Western Lands.
"Is there something we can help you with, Sesshomaru-sama?"
Sesshomaru found himself almost smirking at her question, particularly because of the irritated and sassy tone she used to pose it. He schooled his features to be neutral though before answering. "Indeed, but all who is needed for this matter is the tajiya," he replied, fixing his tawny eyes hotly upon the dark haired young woman whose arms had crossed defensively over her chest as he spoke. He felt pride wash through him when he could sense her body temperature rising accompanied by the change in her scent in response to his words.
"Are you all right with me leaving?" Kagome asked turning to rest a hand on her friend's shoulder.
"Not particularly," Sango replied quietly, her dark eyebrows lowering over smoldering chocolate brown orbs. "I feel as though I will merely be tossed aside again should Inuyasha be within ear shot of any serious words we exchange," she finished flatly, crossing her arms tighter across her breasts in an unsuccessful attempt to hide her feminine curves.
"Ah," Sesshomaru mused, his voice laced with sarcasm and amusement as he studied the flustered Sango. "Inuyasha warned of this kind of scheming. So this Sesshomaru shall be addressing the both of you due to Sango's inability to stand alone with me? I assumed we were past this, human," he finished, using a clawed hand to move his dark bangs out from over his eyes almost flippantly.
"Inuyasha said what about scheming?" Kagome asked impatiently, anger rising in her voice. "I'm trying to be here for my friend! It's not my fault you don't know what you want! You brothers and your inability to acknowledge and honor your own feelings!"
"So you speak for her now?" the Lord of the Western lands shot back bemusedly, one of his dark brows arching over skeptical eyes.
"Yes, she does, because she cares for me," the demon slayer fired, pacing angrily toward the half dog demon before her. "She speaks truth, you know. I offered to speak with you about those challenging emotional matters from the past that kept resurfacing and—"
"Mm. And did I not acquiesce that I would share those matters?" Sesshomaru interrupted, his eyebrows lowering over his tawny orbs which were searing her with passion and irritation. "This Sesshomaru was brought to terms with the implications my actions in the clearing may have had," he continued taking steps toward her, feeling frustration well up when she evaded him and returned to Kagome's side. "However, this behavior is childish and I will not tolerate it."
Kagome studied the situation, noting how hard the Lord of the Western lands was trying, in his own way, to make peace with Sango. It may be awkward and he is still acting high and mighty about it, but I think he may be trying to apologize, she thought, deciding she needed to figure out how to make her exit. It was clear she wasn't needed here anymore. "Sango, I think I'd better go," she stated softly to her friend, feeling a pang of guilt when she saw the alarm wiped across Sango's delicate facial features.
"Indeed you should," Sesshomaru's baritone voice rumbled, belying the fact that he was fed up and wanted his way. "My brother hovers at the end of the hall, should you need more excuse to leave," he shot at the young woman from the future, feeling the calm cool composure he'd mustered starting to slip away. He seemed to have more control over his emotions in this half-breed state, however, he noted that it didn't last for very long.
"Kagome-chan! Wait—" Sango began reaching a hand out toward her companion but pulled it back half way when she heard the young woman whisper "Sorry. I'll be across the hall." She swallowed as her friend's figure disappeared down the long corridor and she was left alone with Sesshomaru.
He stared at her calculatingly for a few moments before he blew out a breath, rolled his eyes, and held out one of his finely tapered hands to her. She gauged him with wide dark eyes, unsure of what to do. Tawny eyes met chocolate and he nodded, almost impatiently toward her as if to say "take it." The tajiya found herself tentatively resting her small hand in his much larger one, having no confidence in what to do next.
"You seemed at ease the last time your hand rested in mine," Sesshomaru offered, schooling his voice neutral and indifferent, though he felt somewhat uneasy himself. After centuries of seducing female youkai, bedding them, and pleasuring them, here he stood, struggling to woo this human woman.
"Oh, I-I see," Sango stammered, blood rushing into her cheeks as a warm feeling spread throughout her chest and stomach. "Y-yes, I did enjoy that," she mumbled. "You effectively ruined that moment though. If you are such a great and powerful demon, why care you what your half-breed younger brother thinks of your affairs?" she stepped out on a ledge and asked him.
"This Sesshomaru cares not what opinions the half-breed carries. You did not linger long enough to receive my response," he replied, his voice condescending. He could smell Sango becoming aroused with passion and anger, and his eyes narrowed. "My words anger you again. I speak honestly, yet receive fury."
"You despise humans, that is why I did not want to wait for your response," she barked, throwing his hand back to him. "You were so kind and gentle in those moments, but I knew it could not last for you have hated my kind for centuries," she continued angrily, feeling tears of disappointment welling up in her eyes, though she fought to keep them back.
Sesshomaru's tawny eyes widened in disbelief, feeling out of his element. Her words seemed to have nothing to do with anything he had said and he stood, confused by everything she was saying. "Perhaps this Sesshomaru needs to be enlightened about whatever thoughts are prattling around in your head," he sent to her aggressively, his back tightening angrily. "You, young one, are a fool," he ground out, wondering why her complete dismissal of him informing her of his decision to begin courting her was causing him to be frenzied.
"Indeed," Sango laughed furiously and clamped her arms over her chest again as she began to pace back and forth.
"Indeed, what?" the taiyoukai growled, deciding to give up the ruse of composure in that instant and marched toward her, grabbing both of her arms and slamming her body against his massive, muscled form. This effectively silenced her, but led to a serious increase in her heart rate, her breath shaking and escaping from trembling lips. "You claim that this Sesshomaru toys with your emotions, yet I cannot speak in earnest to you," he sneered, drawing his claws up along her arm, tracing the line of her throat and then eventually the contours of her flushed, heart-shaped face.
"I-I'm sorry," she breathed softly, her voice shaking because of his gentle, but also lethal, touch. He held her fast as he continued his soft ministrations of her skin under his talons.
Sango recalled Kagome's words about outlining her expectations and being honest with him, yet all she was doing was acting defensively so he could not cast her aside. In truth, that was what she was afraid of. I couldn't bear it if two men I cared for left my life, she thought, mustering up her courage and drawing in a small breath. She gazed up into his tawny eyes that had gone void of emotion while he kept her motionless. "I want to stay with you," she began, searching for any change in his demeanor at her words. "I wish to talk with you about your past, to hear what has hurt you, to hear what pleases you. I wish to spend more time with Rin once we recover her. I wish to hear your honest perspectives. And, I wish for you to teach me about…" she stumbled at this part as she felt her stomach tying in knots, "about my body."
Before she could comprehend the action, the taiyoukai had lowered his head down and caught her full lips in a passionate kiss, his hand arching her head so he could enjoy all of her sweet mouth. She relaxed instantly into his hold, her breasts aching as they remained smashed against his hot, rock-hard chest, one of his hands tangling into her ebony locks. The kiss seemed to last forever, though Sesshomaru kept it to just a few moments, feeling as though she needed to be taught to endure more, and slowly. He chuckled softly, noting that her eyes remained closed even after he'd lifted his head; he drank in how enduring she looked in that moment.
"Oh…" Sango breathed after what seemed to be an eternity, her eyes fluttering open, her vision hazy. "That was… oh…" she felt as though her insides were boiling with ardor and something that was altogether pleasant and foreign.
"Yes," Sesshomaru spoke softly. "And that, is just the beginning of any pleasure you may experience," his voice caused her middle to grow hot with desire and she stared achingly into his eyes as if pleading for more. He sent her a fangy, haughty smirk and planted a gentle kiss on her forehead before he disentangled himself from her.
"In time, Sango," he mused, feeling a sense of pride when she made a disappointed face and blew out an impatient breath. "And in that time, this Sesshomaru requires your patience, if your wishes are to come true," he added, catching her chin between two of his finger so he could look her in the eyes.
Sango nodded mutely, swallowing as she willed her rapidly beating heart to steady. "What now?" she asked him, unsure of what to do next. I hadn't expected this to go so well, she thought, her hands rising subconsciously to massage her lower lip which was puffy from his kiss.
"Kagome-chan, why are we going to find Rin again?" Shippo asked, munching on one of the numerous snacks that the high school girl from the future always kept in her yellow backpack for him. Kagome paused in the middle of stitching her skirt and smiled at the young fox.
"Well, we are assuming the youkai in question that attacked Sesshomaru-sama could be carrying jewel shards," the young woman replied, her dark eyes focusing in on finishing her next stitch. "Also, Sesshomaru and Sango felt that he wasn't well enough to rescue Rin yet, so they are going to consult Bokuseno for help," she replied calmly, but stiffened when she heard Inuyasha grumbling behind her.
"Even if that monster, or whatever, is using jewel shards to gain power, we're stuck doin' that bastard Sesshomaru's dirty work," the silver haired half-demon complained, twirling sheathed Tetsusaiga around one of his clawed hands in boredom and frustration.
"We are not!" Kagome exclaimed, frustration heavy in her voice. "Don't you remember ANYTHING that was discussed?"
"Me? Discuss?" Inuyasha asked sweetly and innocently, his amber eyes lightening for a moment before they clouded over impatiently again. "All of you discussed it; I tried to participate and apparently all my ideas were bad," he huffed, clutching his sword in mid-air then tossed it next to him promptly.
The dark haired young woman shook her head, running a hand over her face in exasperation. "Inuyasha, it wasn't that your ideas were bad, you were just so focused on us getting back to the trail of collecting jewel shards that we had to force you to focus on more important things!"
The hanyou leapt to his feet at that remark and placed himself face to face with his mate; he was fuming but schooled his voice to be calm. "So… sitting me was the solution, huh? The ONLY solution?" he ended up yelling in the end, sending Kagome's hair flying all around.
"Inuyasha, what are you really upset about?" the miko questioned him, tilting her head to the side as she studied him. He couldn't have been that mad about not being listened to; it's not like it hadn't happened before…
"I ain't upset!" he barked, shoving his arms in his sleeves as he turned around to pout. He relaxed somewhat when he felt her diminutive hand squeeze his shoulder from behind, gently and affectionately. The inuhanyou sighed and placed his hand over hers. "I'm your mate; do you really have to sit me so much?" He turned halfway around to look her in the eyes. "Can't you trust from the get go that I'll listen if you say 'don't go in there' or 'we need to talk about somethin' more important'?"
Kagome's eyes softened at his words and she nodded. Inuyasha gave her a half smile and turned fully to pull her into his arms; he tangled his claws in her long, raven hair. "It also makes me uneasy that there's some… beast out there with enough power to take and handle Sesshomaru's youki and mask your ability to sense jewel shards," he added, resting his chin atop her head. He closed his eyes and allowed her fragrant scent to permeate his senses.
The high school girl drank in the sound of her mate's heart beat and pulled him tighter. "Well, that, and the fact that the Sesshomaru we thought we knew may not exist anymore now that he and Sango… are becoming better acquainted," she mumbled into his chest, enjoying his warmth. "It's so weird to see her happy with someone other than Miroku, and your brother nonetheless…"
"Keh, yeah… talkin' to him outside about her was pretty uncomfortable," he chuckled. "I hope Bokuseno can get him figured out. He's got a lotta past stuff going on in his head and if this—creature is specifically out for him and uses Rin for battle advantage, it ain't gonna go so well for him."
Kagome gazed up into Inuyasha's amber eyes and pushed a few skeins of silver hair out of his face. "Even if Bokuseno can't, we can help. We can help him retrieve Rin, at least and be there for Sango," she finished, reaching up to kiss him softly on the cheek. His face went red at her touch and he smiled softly down at her.
"Yeah. Sure," he whispered, his voice husky. What have I done to deserve such a sweet, thoughtful woman? He thought warmly. The pair was brought from their tender moment when Shippo called to them, asking them for help in opening up one of the snack packages.
The wind whipped through Sango's ebony locks as she soared through the air on Kirara's back next to Sesshomaru who sat atop Ah-Un's monstrous form. She drank in her surroundings, noting the trees and green scenery that rushed beneath them, the smell of the various types of wood below them, and the devastatingly handsome being that was positioned to her right…
She drew in a labored breath, imagining what his expansive, warm hands could make her feel depending on where he decided to massage her… Tawny amber eyes caught her in the act of staring and one dark, slender eyebrow arched up at her sardonically. Sango looked away immediately, her visage hot and ruddy with embarrassment and shame; his kiss had apparently opened the flood gates to a matter of perverted and desirous thoughts. For lack of anything else to do, the tajiya buried her sweating palms in her fire neko's fur in a feeble attempt to distract herself.
Sesshomaru chuckled inwardly aware and now empathetic to her plight. Humans simply could not handle being aroused and if they held it back too long, there were disastrous consequences. Soon enough, Sango, he thought to himself, envisioning the young woman laying barren atop his chamber bed, her scarred but firm flesh beckoning to him. He felt a stirring sensation in his loins but willed it to pass. It was becoming less and less difficult to control his urges, desires, and arousal as more hours lapsed since his transformation. He angled his head slightly so that he could observe the tajiya's lovely form adorned by her pink haori, her skin tight black battle suit residing underneath; he could make out the curve of her full breasts from his vantage point and decided that he didn't have to completely restrain himself, especially if she was struggling to keep her own passion at bay.
Kami-sama, one kiss from him and all I can think of is him teaching me more about these pleasurable feelings, the tajiya grated to herself. I must focus on the matter at hand, she thought in resolve, straightening her posture on top of Kirara. Her eyes went wide, her head snapping around when she felt something brushing her leg; Sesshomaru had commanded Ah-Un to fly directly beside her fire neko. She smiled sheepishly when she caught the amusement in his now golden eyes.
"Another lesson?" He asked, his voice neutral but husky with growing arousal.
"A-a lesson? Up here?" The tajiya almost choked on her own question, but decided she needed to trust his judgement. She received a reassuring, confident nod and climbed into the now black and white haired dog demon's arms where she sat facing forward atop Ah-Un. She could feel the heat of his muscled form behind her, her low back stiffening when he slowly, and gently slid his hands down her arms, his nose and mouth beginning to bury into the crook of her neck.
"Relax, Sango," Sesshomaru whispered, his deep voice penetrating something inside her that was pent up, and she leaned back further into his chest, allowing him more full access to her throat and neck. The dog demon drank in her scent before he trailed kisses along her neck and teased her soft flesh with the ends of his fangs gently.
"Sesshomaru…" Sango whispered, her voice ending his name in a moan; she was in rapture at his touch, unable to comprehend that she had gone so long in her life without this kind of attention. "I… I want to touch you," she begged, her hand going to cup his face, trailing her finger along the pointed curve of his ear as he continued to tease and fondle her neck. The taiyoukai could feel the grip he had on his control slipping, yet knew that if he denied her such a simple request now, he'd likely regret it later.
"Come," he breathed, his eyes flashing crimson for a fleeting moment as he turned her around so that her thighs were straddling his middle and they were chest to chest now atop Ah-Un. She gasped when he thrust her hands into his hakama, her diminutive appendages resting on his hot, chiseled pectoral muscles. He smirked haughtily at her innocent, surprised reaction and tangled his hands in her long, wind-tousled ebony locks.
The young woman allowed her hands to explore what she could of his sculpted form beneath his clothing and trailed them up his chest to rest around his neck, where she acted on her desire to taste him again. She pulled his head down and placed her lips on his, her mouth open; she didn't realize what this would do to her dog demon companion, she only cared to satisfy her own need to be physically appreciated and touched lovingly.
Sesshomaru's breath caught in his throat when he felt her tongue expertly playing against his. For a woman that has been relatively untouched by men, she seems to have a lover's talent, he thought, deciding that this could be used as a learning opportunity as well. Moments later Sango had to break the kiss, her breaths coming out in pants, her chocolate brown orbs hot with passion.
She smiled, content and breathless, before she rested her head on Sesshomaru's expansive chest. The dog demon felt warmth surge through him as he held her close; it was going to be a challenge to not bed this fiery young woman several times before they had acquainted themselves furthermore. He watched her as she rested peacefully on him. He was resolved in his decision to make Sango his lover but unsure of why being with her felt so incredibly easy. He'd taken several lovers and partners over the centuries and their relations had been pleasant, but never had he felt connected in the way that he did with the demon slayer. He was drawn from his thoughts when he felt Sango's head pull away from his chest.
The young woman gazed up at him sweetly. "I rather enjoyed that lesson," she informed him, tossing some of her hair that had blown forward into Sesshomaru's face back over her shoulder. "Shall I head back to Kirara now?"
The taiyoukai gauged her with interest, sending her a cheeky half smile before he nodded. He studied her lithe form as she climbed expertly back toward her fire neko and mounted. His gaze drifted toward the curve of her backside as she sat atop Kirara and he cleared his throat, deciding that he needed to dampen some of his passion in order to focus on the important matters at hand.
Sesshomaru fixed his eyes ahead, and after some time, his nose was greeted by familiar scents and his ears, familiar sounds. They were quickly approaching the forest where Bokuseno resided. Hopefully he could glean answers about his past, and resolve the emotional maelstrom inside that threatened to bubble over since he had had his youki stolen. Sesshomaru also wondered if his father's old friend had knowledge of a demon able to completely suck the life force away from youkai.
Ah-Un made a moaning sound, as if to alert its master that they had arrived, before it began descent into the deep, green forest below. Kirara followed the dragon down toward the treetops and before Sango knew it, they were standing in a dark clearing were not much light permeated through the leaves and branches above. The tajiya gazed around with wide chocolate orbs, her hand subconsciously reaching back to touch hiraikotsu for comfort. Too many times had she let her guard down in places such as these and she wasn't about to let that happen right now.
Sesshomaru went a few paces toward an older looking tree that seemed to have an oval etched in the center of its trunk, almost at the height of the dog demon's eyes. He closed his eyes and drew in a breath to steady himself before positioned himself directly before the tree. The tajiya watched cautiously, unsure of what to expect; she'd heard of Bokuseno but had never seen him.
Sango's breath caught in her throat when the oval in the center of the great tree began to rumbled, reconfigure, and shift to look like an aged face. Two sunken, but wise eyes appeared and rolled about to fixate on the taiyoukai that stood before it. Sesshomaru remained motionless before the tree, his eyes staring into the tree's.
"Lord Sesshomaru, I presume…" a deep voice rattled, causing the branches and leaves of all the trees surrounding it to rustle like with the wind.
Author's Corner:
Let it be known that I currently have more in the works for the next chapter. Hopefully I did all right in the liberties I took with character development and with how I'm shaping the plot Thanks for reading!
