(Later)

Ayame held her breath. She tried not to move. If she did, all would be lost. She would be found, and it would be all over. The faint light from the campfire glowed in the distance. Cautiously, she peeked out around the trunk of the giant oak that hid her body from the one looking for her. Her eyes widened as she took in the scene... everyone was completely gone from sight. Jaken, Ah-Un, Sesshoumaru, and Rin. She took in a deep breath and pressed her back against the trunk once more. She'd been hidden there for nearly eight minutes now. For eight minutes there had been complete silence. Her blood was pounding in her ears. The adrenaline rushing through her body helped her stay perfectly still, though her muscles were ready to run the moment she was found. If she was found.

Her eyes widened again and she forced herself not to look as a scream pierced through the forest. Jaken.. he'd been found. She could hear two pairs of feet scuffling about as Jaken ran for the campsite. She let herself breathe a bit more quickly, though silently. Poor Jaken.. the first to fall. Ah-Un was next, a short time after. Now only she and Sesshoumaru were left.

She took in another deep breath and cautiously looked out at the area before her, careful not to let any bit of her be seen from the other side of her tree. Her eyes skimmed the darkness, looking for Sesshoumaru. She would probably be next.. he would probably be the last to fall. He was used to this. This was completely new to her. She caught a glimmer of a silver wisp in a patch of moonlight. His hair! He was hidden behind a giant tree, just like her. So it wasn't a bad spot. She let herself give a small, inward sigh. But it was only a matter of time before they'd both be found. She peeked around the tree again to notice that their stalker had gone off in the opposite direction, for now. She took the opportunity to silently creep over to where Sesshoumaru was hiding. He rose an eyebrow at her as she joined him.

"You realize," he whispered, "That we'll be found easier this way?"

Ayame peeked around him. Still safe for the moment. "Yes, but.. I was getting too anxious hiding alone.." She blushed slightly, and pressed close to him as the stalker finally turned in their direction... guided ever so slightly by Jaken. Traitor.

Sesshoumaru sighed and slipped an arm around her waist, gently pulling her closer. "You'll never win if that's the case. And you'd bring someone else down with you, every time."

"She can't outrun the both of us.."

"She's only human. We have to be fair. And she's still a pup."

"And she's coming this way!" Ayame whispered, placing a finger to his lips. If they were going to lose at hide-and-seek together, so be it. But it wouldn't be because they were talking to make themselves obvious! Sesshoumaru rose an eyebrow at Ayame and nudged her finger from his lips. He could hear Rin's small footsteps now, treading cautiously over fallen twigs and dried leaves. On an instinct, he held Ayame around the waist, close to him as he slowly slipped around the trunk of the tree, just in time with Rin's circling of it to make them still invisible to her. Ayame grinned, trying not to laugh as Rin proceeded past the tree, then suddenly stopped.

"Eh? Oh, Sesshoumaru-sama... where are you hiding?" She cooed softly, tip-toeing back toward the tree. Ayame's eyes widened. Should they run now? If they ran and made it back to base, they'd both be safe! She opened her mouth to word it to Sesshoumaru, but he placed his finger over her lips. She pouted at him. Revenge? Not at a time like this! She thought she saw a corner of his lips raise into a sort of smirk just seconds before he called out, "RUN!"

It caught her off guard, and she couldn't help but laugh as the two of them ran almost painfully slowly toward the campsite. Rin was laughing, trying to catch them. Even though they were running what was extremely slow to them, the child was just barely catching up. Ayame smiled. The precious child was seeming more delicate the more she knew her. But she was still so darling. She couldn't blame Sesshoumaru for watching over her so closely.

She made it back to base just before Sesshoumaru, making him the winner of the night. Rin wasn't upset at all. She hugged Sesshoumaru. She was used to him winning, and at least she always found Jaken and Ah-Un. They rested up beside the fire for a while before it was time to set Rin to bed. Rin reached up for Ayame, who carried her to a spot to sleep and set her down on her feet. Sesshoumaru was beside her, watching as Ayame lifted her cape off over her head and wrapped it around Rin, showing her how to cuddle up in it so she'd stay warm for the night. She kissed Rin's cheek, receiving one in return before they rubbed noses and Rin hugged Sesshoumaru goodnight.

Ayame walked close beside Sesshoumaru as they returned to the campfire. Ah-Un soon shuffled to sleep near Rin, and Jaken wasn't far behind. Sesshoumaru and Ayame were up a bit longer before they began to sprinkle dirt on the fire to douse the flames. Ayame stood, stretching her arms above her head. She supposed this was the part where she left again for another few days. What an annoying groove they'd fallen into. She'd rather not leave, but it might be too awkward for Sesshoumaru if she stayed a night. So, she preferred to leave.

Sesshoumaru's golden eyes studied Ayame very closely in the dim light of the moon and campfire embers. With her standing right beside him, he was rendered a very tempting view of her legs. And with that cape off and her body stretched... he found his mind nearly whirling, thoughts coming to him that he'd never thought of before, and hadn't ever really expected to. But he certainly was now.. her figure was so lithe and lovely, and her scent... absently, he reached out to take one of the jagged strips of her skirt into his fingers, feeling her soft fur. She felt the slight tug on her skirt and blinked down at him. Instantly, she felt it again. That heat overtaking her. Damned mating season! Now she had no choice but to leave for the night.

As if reading her mind, Sesshoumaru looked up to her and stood, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close against him, making her gasp in surprise. "Princess," he whispered in her ear, his breath against the skin of her neck making her melt almost instantly. "Don't plan on going anywhere tonight."

She gulped and licked her dry lips, a shiver running through her body as his words registered in her mind. Still, she hoped it didn't mean what her corrupted thoughts were interpreting. "Umm.. for.. for Rin, right?"

"Yes.. for her, too." He murmured, and placed a soft kiss to her neck, feeling her shudder against him.

Ayame's mind was wheeling out of control. He couldn't really mean to...-? With her?

Tonight? And yet, she wanted to, so badly. If things continued this way, she knew she wouldn't be able to stop herself. While the thought scared her a bit, a little rush of adrenaline kept her hopes up, anticipating it. Besides... hadn't she promised Rin..? "Sesshoumaru-sama," she whispered hotly beside his ear, giving him a taste of his own medicine. She felt several of his muscles stiffen against her in reaction. It brought a smile to her lips and she let another breath slip against his skin as her teeth gently grazed along his jawline toward his lips.

Sesshoumaru shuddered. He hadn't ever been with a woman, but so help him that would change tonight. It couldn't be helped. Ayame was simply too tempting. Despite his efforts to hold back any feelings for her that attempted to surface, he'd failed miserably. And now he was losing any self-control he'd tried to maintain. His body tingled all over as her teeth slid along the skin of his jaw and he turned his head to meet her lips in a soft, needing kiss.