Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the story or characters of InuYasha, they belong to Rumiko Takahashi. I make no profit from writing this fanfiction.
A/N: I have no excuses for the lateness of this chapter other than a severe case of self-doubt. Please forgive me.
Perfect Match / No One Said It Was Easy / Something Different
The next morning, and throughout the day, Shippo tried to take Kagome's mind off her concerns as much as possible. He helped with her chores and told her stories from his time at school. He had progressed faster in ranking than most his age and Kagome couldn't have been more proud.
Around midday Kagome and Shippo were in a large prairie picking herbs to replenish her supply when they felt a strong youki approaching quickly. Recognizing the aura Shippo's eyes snapped to his adopted mother. Kagome was looking in the direction the demon was coming from, her back stiff and her eyes widened. Shippo stepped to her side in solidarity and a show of support. It was only a moment later when they could see Sesshomaru coming towards them.
The demon lord had been concerned when he'd sensed a youki presence close to Kagome and had sped his return for the last leg of the journey. As he neared he recognized who the young demon was, and he could see their proximity for what it was. He stopped a yard from the two and waited.
Kagome's nerves were on edge. "Lord Sesshomaru, welcome back." She bowed respectfully and Shippo stood still watching the demon. The priestess swallowed trying to quell her anxiety. "You remember my son Shippo," she motioned to the fox demon.
Sesshomaru's eyes shifted for the first time from Kagome to the younger demon. He nodded his head in recognition. The boy had changed much in the interim years.
Shippo narrowed his eyes but Kagome nudged him and he bowed, albeit stiffly. "Lord Sesshomaru." He was getting no indication from the lord's demeanor as to his intentions. He was not going to leave Kagome to this predator!
Sesshomaru took a step closer and focused on Kagome again. "This Sesshomaru would speak with you privately, Priestess."
Shippo clenched his fists. "Whatever you have to say, you can –" Kagome cut him off with a hand to his chest and he gave her a pained look as she sought out his eyes. "But, Mamma, I want to stay for you," he hissed quiet.
She smiled thinly. "I know, but it's alright, Shippo. I'll be fine."
"Yeah, runt, you can come with me for a bit." InuYasha walked out from behind his brother, his arms folded into his sleeves.
"InuYasha?" both Kagome and Shippo said at once.
"What's going on?" Kagome asked in confusion as she looked between the two white-haired demons. She had never expected to see them together, especially not now.
InuYasha had seen the look on Kagome's face when she'd seen his brother again and it tore at him. He used to elicit that look from her, nervous anticipation mixed with hope, now all he got from her were guarded emotions. He wanted to be selfish, say the things that he knew would tear them apart but he couldn't bring himself to do it.
He wasn't afraid of Sesshomaru's reaction, Shippo's wrath, or even what Kagome would do, though they were all valid reasons to hold his tongue. It was the past that stopped him, how he had mucked everything up so badly.
He remembered a time when Kagome's eyes would seek him out within a crowd, now she didn't even notice when he'd walked up behind his brother. All the pain and sorrow that he'd caused her over the years came crushing back on him. Before this he may have known in his head what he'd done to her, but now he felt it in his heart. It was enough to suffocate him.
At least this gave him the clarity to see things as they really were. He was certain now what had to be done.
He walked up to the priestess and saw the tension in her face and posture, he knew he'd put that trepidation there and he deserved whatever she could deal out to him. "It'll be alright, Kagome. You'll see," he kept his voice low, though he figured the two full demons still probably heard him. He walked around her and grabbed Shippo's collar as he went so he could drag him away.
"Hey!" the youngest protested. He tried to loosen himself from the half demon's grip but wasn't able to.
Sesshomaru was mildly surprised at InuYasha's actions. It was an out of character chivalrous move on the boy's part. He hadn't known he had it in him. He might have to thank him later. Might.
Kagome watched until the other two were out of sight before looking at Sesshomaru once more. She was very confused as to what was going on. "You went to talk to InuYasha?" she asked, still disbelieving this was real. Her inquiry was met with silence and a penetrating stare. She twisted her hands in her hakama in her nervousness. "You... you wanted to talk?" She looked down at her feet to hide her burning cheeks. She watched the breeze blow the grass around her ankles.
He shifted foot to foot. "Fight me."
Her head snapped up and her eyes analyzed him with a glare. "What? Why?" She always had her bow and arrows with her when she was this far from the hut, but she had no intention of using them on Sesshomaru!
He stepped back and drew Bakusaiga, holding it at the ready. He had comprehended what InuYasha had said to him, and though he thought his half-brother was basically a moron most of the time, he couldn't deny that the boy knew Kagome quite well. Sesshomaru wasn't going to talk if words were empty to her now, he was going to show her.
She tensed. "My lord, what are you doing? What's gotten into you?" She was worried for him, he was acting odd.
"If you do not fight back I will destroy you," he said calmly, and with that he swung his sword at her.
She dodged back and grabbed her bow more tightly. "Stop this."
"Are you afraid, miko?"
Was she? She didn't think so, at least not for her life, but she was definitely concerned about his behavior. She found him intimidating, sure, but she honestly didn't think he would consciously hurt her. That stopped her in her tracks, she wholeheartedly trusted the demon before her. 'When did that happen?'
Still, she supposed she should answer him. "I... I don't want to hurt you."
He smirked at her with a tilt of his chin. "You may try."
-/-~
InuYasha didn't stop dragging Shippo until they were well out of sight of the duo in the field. They were deep in the woods when he sighed and let the fox go, but still kept moving away from the clearing.
"What is with you, InuBaka? I said I would be there with her when Sesshomaru came back!" Shippo furiously straightened his clothes and dusted himself off.
InuYasha shook his head and tossed a smirk over his shoulder. "Trust me, kid, we both don't want to be there for this."
"What are you saying? What is going on?" Shippo demanded. Just then sounds of fighting and blasts of power could be heard and felt through the trees. Shippo looked back in alarm, the size and power of either of the two auras when they weren't actively constraining them was immense.
InuYasha kept walking and waved the other male to follow. "We should probably get further away from them."
"What are they doing?" Despite his reluctance Shippo fell into line behind the red-clad demon, realizing this wasn't one of those times to argue.
InuYasha made a scoffing noise. "This is the demented bastard's way of flirting."
Shippo's green eyes popped wide as he gasped. "So he does like her?"
InuYasha paused and looked back, an almost thoughtful look in his eyes. "Yeah, I think they both do. They're just too stubborn to ever admit it without beating it out of themselves." With that they trudged on, intent on waiting out the madness in the village.
} ~-
For the most part Kagome dodged the demon's blows, deflecting the ones she couldn't avoid. "Stop this! This isn't like you!" she tried to rationalize with him.
He paused to give her a wicked look. "No, it is you who will have to stop. Or should I say you will have to start."
She gasped at him, she'd never seen him like this. It had been a long time since she had seen Sesshomaru truly fight, and obviously never from so close. She wondered what had spurred this on, but also what was wrong with her, this was exciting something inside her. It was exhilarating, he was breathtaking. Every blow was tantalizing to her, the closer he came to hitting his mark the greater the rush. "I thought you wanted to talk," she made one more desperate attempt at reason, though her intentions to argue were wavering.
Sesshomaru could see she wasn't trying to hurt him, even though that was exactly what he wanted her to do. He could also see she was reluctantly enjoying this little exercise. All he needed to do was push her just a little further and she would see they were a match. Perhaps he needed a more direct approach. He slashed at her but she jumped back again. "Priestess, would you consider a suit from This Sesshomaru?"
That threw her for a loop and she frowned. "Suit? What sort of suit? I'm already your servant, besides aren't you currently trying to kill me?"
He ignored her last statement. "A betrothal."
She paused and he did as well. 'Is he testing me? Maybe he suspects I have feelings for him and wants to see for sure, and once he knows he'll toss me aside as a liability.' It seemed a likely scenario to her. "It would be improbable that we could be together, my lord."
He gave her an unreadable look as his sword glinted in the sunlight. He stalked ever closer to her position making her tense into a defensive pose.
She bit her lip as her head went into overdrive. "You've done some horrible things in the past, I'm not sure can be forgiven..." Okay, even she knew that was grasping at straws, but she felt she had to wake him up somehow, maybe resurfacing the past would do it.
He looked at her incredulously then suddenly he was behind her and a hand was around her throat. "What of InuYasha?" his voice was a low growl.
She was startled at his move and put up her free hand to clasp his wrist. He wasn't squeezing he just held her back against his chest. Her heart rate shot up with a thrill. When she'd calmed enough to speak she figured she should address the apparent change in topic. "Your brother? What about him?"
His voice lowered now that he was inches away from her ear. "Before that priestess trapped him to a tree for half a century he had killed many humans. I myself witnessed him disrespect you on multiple occasions. And you claim to have forgiven him for his latest atrocity perpetrated on your person. You even claim he is still your friend."
Kagome blinked unsure of how to respond. He was right.
He ignored her silence and pressed on. "Or the wolf prince, you are friends with him are you not?" He was not unaffected by her closeness but he had to remain focused.
"K–Koga? Well, yes... though I haven't seen him in a while."
That bit of news eased his thoughts some but he had a point to make. "You seem to overlook his role in the massacre of Rin's family, and Rin herself would not be here if it were not for my father's sword. You would forgive those transgressions but not my own, why is that?" He paused to pull her closer. "Even the creature in the cave you offered amnesty to if he changed his ways. Is This Sesshomaru not worthy of even that?" his voice was now almost a whisper.
Kagome was in shock at this point and unable to speak. He was completely right, and she realized what he'd done had been in the past for her for a long time. "No, I do. I do forgive you," she croaked out. Another thought came to her at that. "Do... do you want to be betrothed to me?" He didn't answer and she frowned. "Why would you? I'm not a demonness or anything else you're looking for."
He pushed her away and came to stand in front of her once more. "You presume to know This Sesshomaru's desires?"
She didn't dare look away as he stared her down. She didn't doubt his words on the surface but she wasn't sure if he was even aware of what he truly wanted. Perhaps it was egotistical to make that assumption but she couldn't see how HE could possibly want HER. Maybe he was doing this out a misplaced sense of obligation or pity? That prospect turned her stomach.
He was becoming exceedingly frustrated with her attitude, she was above this self pity which she currently wallowed in. "It would not have been offered if it were not sincerely made. You will cease your thoughts on this matter."
She frowned at him as her ire grew. "You can't order me how to think."
He almost smiled, there was the woman he knew. Now to further shake her into place. "Can I not? Am I not your master?" he prodded her.
She growled at him, drew and arrow, then fired it at his head. He dodged and stared at her with fire in his eyes, a small upturn to his lips. His expression made her weak-kneed but she held herself together and focused.
As he charged this time she dodged past him, she then turned quickly and shot an arrow. He turned equally as quick and deflected the shaft with his sword but she'd come very close to hitting him. The reki contained in the arrow transferred to Bakusaiga.
The interesting thing about Sesshomaru's sword is that it is, on a base level, an extension of his own body. He was able to feel the absorption of energy taken in by his sword and it made him tremble.
This was exactly what he wanted, he wanted her to lose control and use all of her power on him. He could admit this excited him far more than anything he'd found. "Yes!" he growled and lunged again.
Kagome had made it a few paces away while Sesshomaru was lost in his thoughts so she was able to fire a volley. He avoided one but another went straight through his pelt, singeing a black hole through it. She was sorry for that but the demon didn't seemed pained by it. On the contrary he seemed... happy or excited? That made her blood race and her cheeks pink.
He flashed towards her, catching the tip of his blade on her arm. She winced but the cut healed almost immediately. Her sleeve did not fare as well, it was ruined. She tore the now drooping cloth off and out of the way. She glared at him. "You'll pay for that."
He shrugged one shoulder. "It matters not. It is my garment on my miko."
Her eyes widened, hoping his words meant more than the apparent, but it still made her mad how flippantly he'd said it. She moved quicker than he'd seen her move before and she shot off an arrow. It struck true on the metal edge of his shoulder guard. Due to the force of her reki the metal shattered like glass.
Sesshomaru was impressed and a bit turned on. His eyes flared at her as he stalked around her. "Who am I?" he demanded.
"You are Sesshomaru, Lord of the West." She was confused.
His eyes narrowed. "No. Who am I to you?"
She blinked owlishly, she wasn't sure what he wanted. He'd gotten impossibly close so when he slashed down all she could do was crouch down and raise her bow while creating a barrier. The barrier hummed around her like a bubble as he held his blade against it.
He felt his skin tingle to life at the nearness and magnitude of her power. He purred his enjoyment, which she took note of, and looked up at him, her eyes wide. 'He really is enjoying this!' she thought in surprise, and flushed with something close to lust.
Sesshomaru raised his his left hand and caressed the bubble. "Don't!" she warned him, but stopped when she realized he wasn't being burned by it. 'Odd. How can that be?'
Sesshomaru released some of his aura into his poison and let it flow out through his fingertips. It trailed a path behind his hand as it moved across her barrier. The green trail sizzled and smoked but the barrier held firm.
Kagome's back arched at the sudden rush she received when she felt his power transfer to her through her shield. It was indescribable, not remotely painful, in fact it was downright pleasurable. Their eyes met and she could see what he'd done had been intentional. What was more he seemed to be receiving a similar reaction from her power.
Understanding hit her as to why he'd challenged her and a fire lit withing her. He had felt something when their powers had connected the time she'd healed his hand, just as she had. He wasn't doing this out of pity, he desired her. It was her turn to smile, a sly quirk to her lips. She didn't move but she pushed back, expanding her aura.
Sesshomaru's eyes closed in pleasure as a new wave of power hit him. He had never felt anything like this in his prolonged life and all he could think was he wanted more.
Kagome used his distraction and side stepped from under the path of his sword, then attempted to dash some distance away.
He had lost temporary focus but that didn't mean he was wholly unaware of what was going on, he sensed when she moved and where she was. He pivoted and caught her remaining sleeve in his hand.
She twisted to get out of his grip and in doing so she lost her other sleeve. She was able to finally put some distance between them and assess her clothing. "Are you trying to undress me, my lord?" she asked cheekily as she readied another arrow.
He didn't answer other than to give her a cocky grin. She nearly swooned at the sight, instead she fired at him. It was aimed for his head but he caught it between two of his fingers. The power pulsed from the shaft into his hand and he growled. She had doubled the amount of energy she was putting in the arrows and he trembled from the rush.
She had two arrows left, she hadn't planned on getting into a fight today so she hadn't reloaded her quiver. A bold plan formed in her mind, it was risky but it would be worth it if she could pull it off. She had to end this, she couldn't let him gain the upper hand.
She drew back and fired at his left side, he batted it away easily. He wondered what she could be thinking with such a weak shot, and her low on ammunition. While he focused on her arrow she charged him with the last one in her hand. She leaped when in range and grabbed onto his neck, her legs around his waist, as she positioned the the tip of the arrow to his throat like a dagger.
She was panting slightly and he was honestly surprised by her actions. "Do you yield, my lord?" she growled out in a whisper. He paused and she thought he wouldn't answer. She was about to withdraw when she felt his arms come up to keep her in place.
He had dropped Bakusaiga to hold her. He shifted his left arm and his hand enveloped hers as it held the arrow. He slipped the weapon out of her fingers, tossing it to the side, then placed her hand around his shoulder.
Their eyes had a conversation for a moment and Kagome flushed red. Oh yes, her plan had worked, but now what did she do with the demon she had a hold of? She was feeling high, she'd never thought in a million years that Sesshomaru would willing embrace her in a way she'd only dreamed of.
He leaned in and pulled her even closer. "Only to you," he murmured softly in her ear.
She had to think through the fog he had created to realize he was answering her question. She hummed, she was ecstatically happy. She wrapped him tighter and rubbed her nose into his neck.
They both savored the feeling of holding the other. Kagome messaged the back of his neck, feeling the silky strands of his hair between her fingers. He buried his nose in her raven locks and inhaled her tantalizing aroma. His arms tightened around her and he felt her flinch against the spikes on his armor.
She said nothing but he didn't wish to hurt her unnecessarily, nor did he wish to linger out here in the open. He reluctantly pulled her away from himself and was faced with her questioning eyes tinged with worry. "Do you agree, Priestess? Do you accept me?" Her smile was soft and filled with emotion, he was struck with the sudden urge to kiss her, but he withheld.
"I do, my lord. On one condition."
He set her on her feet and took her hand and kissed it tenderly. "Anything for you."
She flushed warm at his unexpected pronouncement. "I would like, at least when we are in private, for you to call me Kagome."
He dipped his head in agreement. "Likewise, there is no need for my title between us."
She smiled brightly, she hadn't expected that. She always thought of him too proper to forgo his title even when with someone he cares for. Even Rin calls him 'lord'. He bent to retrieve his sword, sheathing it quickly. Kagome was slightly disappointed, the moment seemed to have passed.
Sesshomaru was thinking the opposite, he was desperate for her and was barely containing himself.
It startled her when he grabbed her up and lifted her bridal style. She opened her mouth to ask what was going on but her words were lost when they were suddenly moving so fast it literally took her breath away. When they stopped they were outside her hut.
Sesshomaru would have liked to be somewhere grander but this would do for the time being. He walked in and set her on her shaky legs. He turned swiftly and once more drew his sword.
"Wha –" Kagome started but was silenced by what he did next. He plunged Bakusaiga into the ground in front of her door, then turned back to her. She could sense a barrier produced by the sword stretch around the house, encasing it in a dome. She was distracted from wondering what was going on by the sight of him removing his armor. Her eyes went wide and her breathing picked up in anticipation as she looked up at his face.
"I do not wish to be disturbed, Kagome," he said in lieu of explanation.
The low, dark tone of his voice coupled with the way her name tripped off his sinful tongue left her trembling and needy. How did they get here so fast? From fighting to... other activities, it was a bit of a blur but she was enjoying the ride. "Sesshomaru," she whimpered out his name. She found herself instantly back in his arms, pulled by his firm grip, so she looped her arms around his neck. She had to stand on tiptoe and he had to lean over some. "I don't know when or how but I've fallen in love with you," she sighed. She kissed his neck and a deep grumbling sound came up from his chest.
It was a sound indicating his pleasure and contentment. His long fingers wound into her hair and cupped the back of her head, he then guided it so he could see her blue eyes. He was pleased that there was very little of the blue left, with her pupils so wide all he could see was a thin blue ring. "This Sesshomaru wishes to have you in every way, Kagome." His voice was so raw and deep his lust was evident from every syllable. She shuddered but remained silent, though the scent of her arousal was clouding his judgment. "If you do not wish to be ravaged you must inform me now."
She chuckled and tightened her grip on him. "There is no getting away from me now. She licked her lips and his eyes strayed in that direction. "Besides, who's to say you will be doing the ravaging?"
He let out a growl that made her bones shake and he bared his teeth. He had never been so aroused in his long life. He fisted her hair in his hand and bent her head back. He didn't so much kiss her as he tried to devour her whole.
This wasn't a delicate press of lips, tentative and sweet, like she'd had in the past. This was needy, raw, hot. This was what she'd missed before, what had been lacking in all of her previous encounters. Passion. She wasn't fragile and Sesshomaru acknowledged that, he took as much as he gave. Her heart thrummed in her chest and one of her legs crawled up to catch on his hip as she tried to increase their closeness.
He abruptly stopped kissing her long enough to aid her in wrapping her legs around his waist. "Sesshomaru," her voice quavered and he dove in for another kiss.
His tongue traced inside her mouth and she chased the appendage with her own. He tasted exotic and a little coppery, then she realized it was her own blood she was tasting, she had nicked her tongue on one of his sharp teeth. She moaned in her excited state.
Sesshomaru was intoxicated, the bit of blood coming from her punctured tongue was driving him mad. Another rumble came from his chest as he sucked her tongue into his mouth. He felt her tremble as he held her close. He could not get her close enough.
He broke away with a snarl, they needed to move this along. He wasn't adverse to taking her standing right here but he wanted her first time to be a little slower. Oh the things he wanted to show her.
She cleared a little from her lustful haze and she cupped his face with her hands. "Sesshomaru." His eyes met hers. "Are you sure?"
He took her lips in a gentle and slow kiss, it was almost worshipful. "Mine," he rumbled out.
That was all she needed. She leaned forward and took his earlobe between her teeth. "Bed," she demanded and pointed to her bedroll still laid out by the fire pit.
He smiled with a glint to his eyes. "Anything for you."
She was already lightheaded and lighthearted so when she caught the humor in his tone she threw her head back and laughed.
In that moment he swore to spend the rest of their lives in pursuit of getting her to laugh again, as many times as possible.
A minute later he found there were other sounds he wanted her to reproduce.
.
A/N: This was supposed to be the end but at least another chapter has come to me. I do appreciate all of those who have read, commented, and favorited. It means the world to me. Thank you so much!
This was a hard chapter for me. I wanted to get everything in that I wanted to say without making it repetitive. I also struggle with fight scenes, they are not my forte (it turned out a bit bland for my tastes). And in this instance I wanted the payoff to be worth the struggles they went through (and the ones I put my readers through). I hope I was at least partially successful. Thank you all for reading this far.
