[Hey guys! I finished packing early, so I had time to write one more chapter before I leave. Joy! As always, please review and enjoy!]
Sesshomaru and Kagome returned to see Ame sitting up, talking to Shiemi. The child, Shuichi had gone to look for survivors, and he had insisted on going alone.
"Ame! You're awake!"
Kagome rushed to her friends side, despite her exhaustion, but was brought up short when Shiemi growled at her. She clapped her hand to her mouth immediately afterward.
"I am so sorry, Kagome. I don't know what's gotten into me."
"No worries. It's fine."
...
Sesshomaru was beyond annoyed. He had merely walked past the shewolf, when the other wolf had tried to attack him. He fought the urge to roll his eyes, until he caught a certain smell in the wolf's scent.
Oh... That's it.
...
"Sesshomaru? Do you know what's up with Ame and Shiemi?"
He shrugged, "It is spring."
"What does that have to do with- Oh. Oh!"
She paused, thinking.
"Does it affect you too?"
He paused as well.
"Yes."
Good to know, she thought, before mentally kicking herself for even considering it.
...
[Time Skip. A week later.]
The tension around the small camp had been nearly unbearable for the past seven days. It was now the day of the full moon and the sun was setting. Kagome sighed. She was exhausted. She'd spent the past few days breaking up fights while they traveled, and it had been a lot of work. She glanced at Ame and Shiemi, who avoided everyone, including each other, while at the same time making sure no one else got near the other one. [AN: That was an awkward sentence :P] She stood up, drawing everyone's attention, then moved to sit near Sesshomaru. He had said the season affected him as well, but he showed no signs of it, and was by far the least aggravating of her friends. (Rin was out playing, she wasn't being annoying.)
"How long are they going to be like this?" she whispered.
"Until they get satisfaction."
"Is the same true for you?"
"Hnn."
"Oh."
She suddenly found herself blushing, and hoped desperately that he hadn't noticed.
...
Ame was in a constant battle with himself. He had to keep himself from killing anyone who went near Shiemi, while staying away from her as well. He knew that if he got too close, he'd completely lose control. He wouldn't be able to keep from touching her, or kissing her, or running his hands along her luscious-
He stopped that thought in it's tracks. Sighing, he laid against a tree, closing his eyes for a moments retreat.
...
Sesshomaru felt the affects of the season. He had but to look at the miko, or catch her scent, and he would find his senses leaving him nearly completely. This would be a long season, he was sure of that, but he found he didn't hate it completely. It was good to feel something positive for once, even if he did only feel it internally.
...
Kagome put her head in her hands, closing her eyes for the first time in hours. She reopened them when she heard Shiemi gasp. She saw both her and Ame stiffen. She noted that the moon had come out. The sun had gone down. She knew what this day meant. She'd lived with the wolves long enough to know that. This was the day of joining.
...
Shiemi looked at the moon, then back to Ame. She had to stay still, but she felt her senses slipping. It was Ame who cracked first. One moment he was sitting with his fists clenched, the next he was scooping Shiemi into his arms and kissing her passionately. He carried her off, ignoring the stunned glances of their companions, carrying her far away to the riverside, where fireflies flew and the moss created a soft bed.
She removed her armor hurriedly, discarding it at her feet, and the two wolves fell into the intimate tenderness of joining, the stars above bearing witness to their love.
[AN: I feel so scandalous O.o This is probably the closest to a lemon I'll ever write.]
...
Sesshomaru watched the miko as well. The full moon heightened his wanting, and she was so close. She turned to look at him, the wind blowing through her hair bringing her scent to his nose. In a split second all sense went flying from his brain. He gripped her jaw in his hand and kissed her almost violently, and though she was surprised, she didn't protest, their hands tangling in each other's hair.
"I think..." she said when they paused to breathe, "I think the season affects you more than you let on."
He chuckled, "Comparatively, I am showing nothing."
She laughed too, ramming her lips against his. She only protested when he beagn to reach his hand into her shirt.
"None of that, thank you. I'm only fifteen."
He pouted, in all his Inu-glory, but continued to kiss her. They fell asleep like that, in one another's arms.
...
When morning arrived, Ame and Shiemi had returned, also sleeping side by side, and Rin was the most confused she'd ever been. Though she had been off with Jaken until late the previous night, she was positive that her lord would never allow himself so close to a human. She sighed, utterly confused, and slightly jealous. While it was true she felt no romantic feelings toward her lord, he was as close to a father as she had, and he had never been so close to her.
She felt resentment toward the priestess-turned-warrior.
Frowning, she got up to walk down to the river. She needed to cool off.
...
Kagome woke up to find Sesshomaru's arm around her, and Shiemi and Ame in a similar position not to far away. She could tell from her time with the wolves that they were now a mated pair, and she smiled. She had hoped from the moment the three were introduced that Shiemi and Ame might be together, and now they were. Slipping silently from under Sesshomaru's arm, she walked down to the river, deciding that a bath might do her good.
...
Kagome thought the oposite once the icy water touch her skin. She had slipped into a bathing suit, not wanting to swim nude with so many men around. She shivered, still enjoying the water as it washed to sweat and blood from long days of travel away downstream. [AN: She hadn't bathed since the fight with Naraku. They didn't come in contact with any water.]
She paused when she heard crying. Not just crying, but great shuddering sobs. And the voice sounded so familiar. She climbed from the water, walking upstream and ignoring the rocks as they scratched her bare feet.
"Rin?"
The girl was sitting on a rock with her kimono tucked up to the waist and knees in the water, crying her eyes out. Her head snapped up when she heard Kagome's voice.
"Go away! It's your fault!"
Kagome was surprised to hear sadness and anger in the girl's voice, since she usually showed almost as little emotion as Sesshomaru.
"What's my fault?" she asked, trying to make her voice sound soothing despite her surprise.
"It's your fault Lord Sesshomaru doesn't care about me anymore!"
Kagome's eyes widened as sudden realization hit her.
"Oh Rin. I'm so sorry."
Rin allowed her to wade through the stream, and sit beside her, putting an arm around her.
"Lord Sesshomaru is all I have left!"
"Rin. I swear on my life. When Naraku's defeated, and Sesshomaru and I are (probably) together, we'll adopt you."
"You would really do that?"
"Of course."
"I'm so sorry!"
"It's alright Rin. I've been where you were, and I can't say I acted much better."
[Aww. Rin gets a happy ending :) Well, I guess I can't write anymore until I get back. The next chapter will be longer to make up for it. As always, please review and let me know of any suggestions you have, by PM or review. There's also a poll on my profile for my next story, so you guys should check that out if you have a chance. Byeeeee!]