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Still Primero

36

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Sango's eyes opened slowly. The slayer whined when the simple act felt abnormally difficult and panic blossomed in her chest. Her breathing quickened as she tried to give her body the necessary adrenaline to sit up, but a heavy hand on her shoulder stopped her.

"Easy, Sango," Kuranosuke said softly. The young lord then rubbed her shoulders soothingly until he felt her body relax some. "You had a fever; it's getting better now."

"Fever?" asked Sango as she blinked her eyes and glanced around, "Where am I?" she asked and then remembered something, "Where are the wolves?"

Kuranosuke smiled gently, "The wolves went to get Kagome-san and you are in my castle," he explained softly, trying not to scare her away.

Sango simply nodded her head and watched her surroundings curiously. After a moment she just sighed, "I was in bad shape, ne?" she asked bitterly. She knew she hadn't been feeling at her optimum lately, but she never thought it was going to be this bad, "I am a shame to the slayers. Countless times I've heard stories about my mother vanquishing demons with me in her belly. This is so…sad."

Kuranosuke said nothing for a few moments, only moved to change the cloth covering Sango's forehead. She said nothing either, only pursed her lips in thought once in a while. The young lord had little experience with females, none with pregnant ones, so he chose his words carefully, "You carry a life inside of you, dearest slayer, the future generation of slayers. Perhaps, this child will be far stronger and troublesome than you, Sango. Do not belittle yourself; you have abused your strength and body hunting Naraku for so long, everyone needs rest."

Sango said nothing, only took a deep breath and released it, "Where's Kirara?" she asked, missing her feline companion dearly. She was never without her.

Kuranosuke sighed and moved to Sango's side and sat after he was sure he wouldn't have to change the cloth on her forehead for a while. The brown haired girl was still lying on the futon, covered by blankets. He thought about making an excuse to Sango about Kirara's absence, but when her brown, suspicious eyes turned to him he decided against it. "I sent Kirara to get the monk Miroku."

Sango's mouth opened in her surprise, mimicking her eyes, but then she merely turned away from him, saying nothing. Now, he wasn't sure he wanted the monk to come or not. Had he done something wrong?

xxoOoxx

At the Western Lands, most of the civilians had fled to the forest with the soldiers creating a 'safe' perimeter. However, the battle remained difficult.

Tohru had a hand to her middle, trying to put pressure on a wound she had sustained from one of Naraku's tentacles while she tried to dodge an attack without hurting her bad leg. The scent of blood was driving her instincts crazy, but she felt contained. She had everything she needed to turn automatically. She was injured, weak, angry and in pain. Her eyes were red, but…she was still unable to turn.

Mannaro, Tohru begged her beast mentally, but the child-beast could only whine apologetically. Angry tears prickled at her eyes and Tohru shook her head in defeat. She knew her beast was trying his best, but he was still too young. It was during adolescence when the beast finally accumulated the necessary energy to turn and while Mannaro was almost there, he wasn't.

A dark chuckle made her turn towards Naraku and her muscles froze when he walked near her. Her golden eyes sought help desperately, but both Todo and Hatori were fighting the demons that tried to follow after the civilians. It was surprising to see that the inuyoukai had more trouble downing the hanyou pair that smelled like Naraku than other full-fledged demons. But, after witnessing what was happening, and the dark hanyou's twisted use of magic, she couldn't find it in her to fault them. There was something to this Naraku; something which defied logic and natural order. She knew he possessed the Shikon Jewel, but…was that really all? Were they missing something important?

The hanyou moved towards her, tentacles at the ready, and Tohru was forced to dodge. She growled in pain when more blood poured from the hole in her leg and she cried out when her injured limb buckled, causing her to fall to the ground.

This is impossible, the inufemale thought miserably. She was felled by a hanyou?

The onslaught of victorious youki from Naraku allowed her to feel his presence. When he neared from behind, she turned with fangs at the ready and bit on his neck like a rabid animal. She bit once, twice, then thrice, but it was only then that she finally tasted the dark, poisonous miasma that poured from his wound and into her mouth, down her throat. Her lungs constricted painfully, trying their best to keep the fumes down, but the poison started to burn at her throat and she heaved uncontrollably.

Tohru heard Naraku's dark chuckle, but her golden eyes were unfocused. They rolled up behind her head and she could only distinguish a dim shadow. The feeling of her body was intact, however. She felt his hands snaked around her wrists and pull her closer to him. She gaged, both in disgust and pain, and tried to push away from him, but her limbs started to lose their strength while her mind continued to fog.

"Ah, inuyoukai," said the dark-haired hanyou with a pleased voice, "Become a part of me?"

xxoOoxx

Sesshomaru and Kagome rode on Meta's back. Kagome sat in front, secured by Sesshomaru's embrace, and wore a slight blush to her cheeks. They had been mostly silent since their altercation beneath the tree, but strangely, there was a feeling of exhilaration tickling under her skin.

Sesshomaru proposed to me, her mind supplied yet again. It seemed as if Kagome's brain had short-circuited after such a declaration and she had to remind herself every so often to remember it had indeed happened.

Beneath her Meta snorted again, aware of her mistress thoughts very well. This only made Kagome blush harder and she pulled on Meta's silver fur like a mean child. Meta growled low at this.

"Kagome," admonished Sesshomaru softly making the human sitting in front of him start. He frowned and placed his hands on her upper arms, "Are you all right?"

Kagome stammered a weakly yes, going redder by the minute. She then shook her body and Sesshomaru dropped his hands from her. She mumbled a soft apology and she moved a little away from her mate, feeling too awkward.

The beastless Taiyoukai said nothing for long minutes, but in an uncharacteristic rebellious move, he confronted her openly, "Are you upset with this Sesshomaru's words?"

Kagome stiffened and sighed softly. She turned her body halfway in order to meet Sesshomaru's gaze. Her brown eyes were soft and warm, but the smile on her lips was bitter and scared. "No, Sesshomaru-sama," she said softly.

He cut her off, "This Sesshomaru once told you that you are not his servant, but his mate," reminded the silver-haired inuyoukai with an angry frown to his lips.

Kagome's smiled broadened an inch and she nodded her head acceptingly, "I'm just…nervous," she told him honestly. The truth was that her life had taken a wrong turn after suggesting Sesshomaru take her as mate. She couldn't say that she regretted the decision or that she didn't regret it, but everything after that moment was just plain crazy. She was now forced to live the moment, rather than make plans for the future.

Youkai society and mating had turned to be more than she anticipated and more unexpected than what she thought possible. It didn't help much that Sesshomaru was as lost as she was in all this. It was endearing though, to see him trying so hard at everything. She always thought him to be perfect and though he excelled at a lot of things, now she realized he wasn't. He was a normal being, with faults, flaws and lots of worthy abilities and feelings. This somehow made her feel more at ease. A while ago Sesshomaru was like a God while she was but a tiny-worthless human. It was scary. Now, they were individuals trying to survive a trying mating.

"Why are you nervous?" asked Sesshomaru with a tilt of his head, "You are this Sesshomaru's mate."

Kagome rolled her eyes and turned to the front again, "Well…we aren't really mated," she reminded the Taiyoukai behind her. It was so easy, and yet so complicated, to talk with him sometimes. Everything was so easy to him.

Sesshomaru's hand grabbed her shoulders and softly pulled her towards him until her back rested over his chest. They stayed like that for a few moments, just trying to adjust to the feel of the other. While they've been together for quite a while, they touched little. It wasn't uncomfortable, their current interaction, but it was still sort of new. It was something they would have to work on.

"This Sesshomaru is nervous too," he whispered against her hair and then began to purr as he brushed her middle-back length black hair with his clawed hands.

A soft smile appeared on Kagome's lips, and she finally allowed her shoulders to relax.

xxoOoxx

To be continued…

xxoOoxx

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