DISCLAIMER: All Inuyasha goodness belongs to the amazing Takahashi-san!

The Sword Smith's Secret

By MissKatt

Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Mark

It did not surprise Sesshoumaru that he had fallen asleep so easily, nor did it surprise him how late it was in the day. After the battle, as well as reviving the miko, it was to be expected. What did surprise him was waking up to a tickling sensation under his nose. Wondering if perhaps Rin had decided to come wake him, he let his eyes part open. He frowned when he did not see his youngest pack mate.

It was then that he felt the weight on him shift.

Honey pools lowered to find the miko curled up to his chest, her head under his chin with one arm draped across his chest and one leg tangled with his. He stared at the arms wound around her as if they did not belong to him. He was actually holding her close to him, one arm draped around her shoulders while the other hand rested on her hip. His brows furrowed slightly. He had slept with many women in his vast amount of years, but he had spent the night with very few of them, and none of those times had he cuddled with them.

Yet, there he was with the human who had managed to sway his beast. Instead of pushing her away, he took in the situation with interest instead of disgust. She molded to him as if she was born to be there, as if she existed for the very purpose of fitting into the niche of his side. He frowned when he came to the dawning realization that he enjoyed the contact. Why did something as simple as her comfortable weight make him feel more whole?

Was this from their bond?

'No, but it helps.' His beast cooed.

She let out a soft sigh in her sleep and he quickly became aware of the warm puff of air that tickled the skin of his neck. The hair on the back of his neck stood up at the tingling sensation. Even without his beast's help, he imagined her full lips planting kisses there and her white teeth nipping at the tender flesh. He was powerless to stop the heat that began to travel to his loins.

Damn his sensitive spot.

'Find what she wants to show us,' He pressed. 'Her robe is already loose.'

Sesshoumaru's eyes instantly fell down to assess her sleeping yukata. Part of it hung off her shoulder, revealing the smooth skin of her shoulder and, if he tilted his head just enough, the tease of her collar bone. The hand on her left hip twitched slightly before it slid down a little. He had more reserve and respect than to fondle her in her sleep, but simply tracing the line of her side was not pushing it too much, was it?

He watched his foreign hand as it slowly made his way down from her hip to her thigh, his claws delicately tracing the fabric. As he reached the outer side of her thigh, he stilled his hand when he felt her tense up a bit, the hair on her arms rising, but no fear was present in her scent. He lifted a brow at the odd reaction and re-stroked the area, watching her face for her reaction. This time, she shuddered and huddled in closer to his side.

Testing to see if it was just that particular spot, he trailed his hand down to her knee, but her body did not react as it did when he touched her thigh. Curious, he grazed his claws back up to the seemingly sensitive spot and applied a gentle amount of pressure. His eyes widened slightly when a breath of a moan escaped her lips to brush against his neck.

What could possibly be on her thigh to make her react that way? Was the hidden mystery what she wanted to show him? Or was she just hyper sensitive in that area?

Subconsciously, maybe a bit consciously, he gave her thigh a squeeze. She moaned against his neck again, her body squirming against his once again. Using her thigh and shoulders, he pulled her in closer to him, his nose running along her hair as he inhaled her clean scent. He opened his pink-tinged eyes when the slight, sweet scent of her arousal tickled his nose and stirred his restless beast.

Kagome had been sleeping quite peacefully on her luxuriously warm pillow. When she had first tried to fall asleep, her nerves had been too much for her tired body. They forced her to be awake until finally her fatigue won over, claiming her body in a deep sleep. She sighed when she realized that consciousness was beginning to wake her, but refused to let it do so. She curled in closer to her large pillow and tried to sink back into her sleep.

That was when she felt the over powering sensation on her leg.

She couldn't quite explain what exactly it felt like. It was a combination of being tickled with a feather and receiving a slap on the wrist, all the while receiving the barest of shocks from the tiniest lightning bolt

Thinking her dream had shifted, she allowed herself to relish in the feeling. It was delightfully tingling at first, but the more pressure applied, the deeper the sensation ran. When she felt her thigh being squeezed she felt warmth flutter in her lower torso before it throbbed between her legs. What kind of delicious dream was this?

She quickly realized it was not a dream when she heard a soft growl from above her head while she felt the rumbling through her body. Blinking her eyes awake, she rubbed the sleep from them as she took in her surroundings. The first thing she learned was that her oh-so comfortable pillow was Sesshoumaru and that she was tangled around him. The second thing was that he had his arms around her, holding her close. The third was that it was his hand on her thigh which was causing her the immense feelings. The final thing was the very hungry look in his molten honey eyes as they stared down at her.

She swallowed dryly with nerves at both the situation and the way heart skipped a beat at his look. "Umm, I'm sorry for sleeping on you." She tried to move away, but, to her own excitement, his hold tightened.

"Tell me, Miko, what is it that you wish to show This Sesshoumaru?"

His voice was deep with a tone that excited her further. At his words, she glanced down at the firm hold on her thigh and then back up at him with a blush. She still couldn't bring herself to show him. "I-it is nothing, I'm sure." The growl that echoed into her chest and ears made her bite her lip. Again, the memory of their kiss replayed in her mind.

"I do not appreciate lies." He growled and tightened his grip on her thigh. His eyes flashed dangerously as she arched her back away from him, giving him the tempting view of one delicate collar bone and the beginning of the swell of her breast. "Show me."

Without her permission, a gasp of a moan escaped her lips when he squeezed her thigh again. Embarrassment flooded through her at the thought of revealing so much of her skin, but also for the sounds that were escaping her. Her eyes flashed back to his and she shivered at the carnivorous smirk on his face.

'He knows what he is doing to me…' She thought as it hit her. 'But why is he doing this?' He was always throwing remarks and jabs at her, and yet he held her against him. Surely if he completely loathed her, he wouldn't allow her such proximity to him. Or was he just playing with her? But, he had kissed her before. Again the memory flashed through her eyes, making her lips tingle in need.

The inutaiyoukai carefully watched as she stared at his lips before her tongue darted out to moisten her own. Did she wish to kiss him? His beast, sensing his need and thoughts, urged him forward, 'Do it.'

Without needing much encouragement, he lifted his hand from her shoulder and cupped the bottom, underneath part of her jaw, his last three fingers resting against the side of her throat as he titled her head up. He saw the forbidden thrill flash across her eyes before they closed in anticipation. With a satisfied smirk, he lowered his head to slant his lips across hers.

Butterflies and warmth exploded in her stomach from the touch of his lips against hers. It was just as amazing as the first time and she forgot about how wrong it was. He had Asano and she had Ryura and yet everything felt so right. Fitting into the curve of his side, the feeling of his lips moving against hers, and the way his hand grabbed her sensitive thigh as shocks of pleasure shot from it.

He tightened his hold on her jaw as his tongue ran across her bottom lip, demanding entrance. When she complied, he rewarded her with more pressure on her thigh before dipping his tongue into her mouth to taste her. When her tongue joined his, they rubbed against each other forcefully, each one trying to better the other.

There was something absolutely thrilling about his hold on her jaw. The mere fact that she knew that he could snap her neck in an instant was one thing, but to feel him tighten his hold without actually hurting her excited her to no end. He was over-powering her, but it wasn't suffocating like it was with Ryura. With Sesshoumaru, it felt as if he were reminding her of his strength. It was almost like he was allowing her to do what she pleased until he wanted something else. So, she decided to fight back. Her hand fisted the fabric of his yukata as she tried to pull herself closer to his mouth, her teeth knocking against his as she tried to win.

While it excited him that she fought back, he would prove his dominance. He tightened his hold on her jaw once again and nipped at her lip with his fang. At her startled gasp, he took advantage, his tongue dominating hers with satisfaction. He then removed his mouth from hers to stare at the liquid crimson as it beaded at her lip before slipping down the smooth surface.

The miko watched with her mouth slightly agape as he closed in on her again, but this time she felt his wet tongue lick up her warm blood. Blushing, and daring herself further, she lifted her hand to cup his cheek, her thumb brushing against the stripes. She smiled a little when he pressed his face into her hand and stroked them once again, but stopped when she felt his own thumb rub circles on her thigh. She sighed contently at the action.

Sesshoumaru was not sure if it was lust that had taken over him, or something much deeper, but he looked into her eyes as the hand on her thigh slid down to the hem of her yukata as it rested on her calves. "Let me see it."

Kagome pursed her lips together at his tone. It wasn't quite demanding nor pleading, but a subtle mix of the two. Without looking at him, she nodded. It was better to find out what it was anyways, right? And based on the symbol, she assumed he would know. She felt her face warm into a blush as he slid her yukata up her leg, she could only thank the Kami that he was being discreet enough to keep her private area covered. Goosebumps covered her skin, despite the warm air of the summer season.

The Lord of the Western lands greedily took in the sight of the creamy skin of her leg as more and more was revealed to him. It was so taboo for anyone but her future husband, or mate, to see so much of her skin, but he could not help himself. But, once the fabric was up high enough for him to see the spot that made her react so much to his touch, he froze immediately. The crescent moon was the color of his, and the lines that looped around each end of the moon were the color of his stripes. And it was on her thigh? There was no doubt about what this mark was.

It was a Beta's mark.

The Beta of his pack's mark.

He growled before pulling away from her, his arms releasing her body as he stood up from the futon. He couldn't believe it. How could it be possible that she had received a Beta's mark? With the many centuries he lived as Alpha, never once did he have a Beta in his pack. Granted, his pack was only him, Inuyasha, his mother, and until just recently Rin and Kagome, but still.

How could this have happened?

She quickly moved to make herself decent again and sat up as she watched him with confused sapphire eyes. "Sesshoumaru?" She questioned. She could feel her nerves still reeling from what had happened moments before. How did she end up getting so lost in him when she knew it was wrong for them?

He turned his eyes on her and clenched his jaw at her confusion. Of course, he couldn't blame her. Plus, she had no idea what was going on. "It is a mark of status in my pack." He grit out.

She flinched at his tone. "Status? Does everyone else have one?"

"No, only the Alpha and Beta." His hands tightened into fists. "Apparently, you have been deemed worthy."

She blinked. She was Sesshoumaru's second-in-command? But, why? How? She was human! "I-I don't understand…"

"I do not understand completely either, but I do believe it has something to do with our pack bond." He answered as he moved towards the door of his sleeping chamber. He slid open the door and sent out a pulse of his youki.

Almost instantly, Jaken was entering his receiving room with a bow. "My Lord?"

"Call for Totosai, Inuyasha, and Ryura. Tell them they are to meet in my study within the hour. Also, summon for Eri to dress the miko." He ordered before turning back to his room.

Jaken bowed. "Of course, My Lord," He sputtered for a second after Sesshoumaru's words sunk in. The miko? He looked up and saw that she was indeed in his lord's sleeping quarters. "M-my Lord? The Miko?"

Sesshoumaru paused his walking to glance over his shoulder. "Did I stutter?"

"Well, no, My Lord, but-"

"Since when do you question my orders, Jaken?"

Hearing the tone that promised him pain, he quickly bowed to his lord. "Never! And I would never dream of it! I will get right on that!" He cried before running out of the room.

Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, he turned back to look at the miko whose face was crest fallen. He could smell the regret and self-loathing on her and it only angered him. "Pull yourself from your pity, Miko, there is much to accomplish today."

She buried her face in her hands. "I hurt Ryura again," She murmured, ignoring his words. How could she have done it again? He made her promise she wouldn't kiss Sesshoumaru again and yet she had practically begged for it and still wanted it. "I am the worst."

"You do not belong to him," Sesshoumaru stated with a growl. "Did you not once tell me that no one rules over you? Then make your own choices and accept them without regret."

She blinked at him. "Sesshoumaru, I do not regret kissing yo-"

"It matters not; it will not happen again." He cut her off and elegantly waved his hand at her. "Go bathe in my person springs and rid yourself of my scent, the bond should be strong enough to allow us that much distance."

Frowning, she stood up from the futon before silently making her way towards the door. She paused briefly to look back at him, but gave a soft sigh when she saw his attention was elsewhere. Without another word or glance from the two, she made her way across his receiving room to the bathing room.

*~~~SSS~~~*

Kagome stared at each of the men around her with her mouth slightly agape. Totosai looked ashamed, his large bulbous eyes staring down at his worn hands, and Inuyasha looked positively bored with the meeting as he rested his chin in his palm. Cerulean eyes glanced back at Ryura, but he refused to look at her, instead finding everything else in the room suddenly more interesting. So, she swiveled her eyes to look beside her at the only male who would actually look at her.

"What do you mean it broke?" She asked.

"It is exactly as This Sesshoumaru said," He stated, looking down at her. "Your arrow shattered the Shikon no Tama, the shards scattered in different directions."

She looked down at her hands with a furrowed brow. How could she have been so stupid? Who knew what would happen now that there were several small Shikons all over the land? She frowned at the possibilities. Suddenly, she felt a pull in her body and she perked up as she stared in the direction where she felt it.

The taiyoukai watched her out of the corner of his song as she slowly turned her head to the right, as if following something that they could not see. He was about to ask her what she was doing, when a knock sounded at the door. "Enter." He called and watched as Eri walked in, a small fold of silk in her hand.

"Pardon my intrusion, My Lord," She bowed low. "But Ryura-sama told me to bring this as soon as it was found."

Already knowing what it was, Kagome held out her hands for it. She gingerly took it from Eri before unfolding the silk. She sucked in a breath when she saw the small, glimmering pink shard laying there. "It is true," She breathed with furrowed brows. "I can't believe I did this…"

Inuyasha's ears drooped. "Hey, don't beat yourself up, Kag. You destroyed Naraku with what you did, so what if this is a small price to pay?"

"You miss the point, Inuyasha-sama," Ryura spoke, speaking up for the first time since the meeting. "Now we must gather all the shards to make the Shikon whole again."

"Okay, so? We'll just go get them all and put it back together. So what?"

"We do not know what the consequences will be. The Shikon is very powerful; we do not know what a single shard is capable of." He clarified.

"Oh."

The dragon then let his eyes fall on Kagome for longer than a brief second, finally letting himself drink in her appearance. Her wet hair was tied up into a bun, her silk yukata a pretty lavender hue. "We will get all the shards back, Kagome."

Kagome nodded in agreement with him and gave him a forced smile. "Then we will have to get rid of it."

Silence engulfed the room as they recalled how the jewel left the world the first two times.

Inuyasha lifted his head with a determined glare, his clawed hands slamming down on the table. "Like hell I'm gonna let you die again for some damn jewel!"

She glanced over at Totosai. "There is not any other option is there, Toto-ji?"

He finally met her eyes. "I am not sure. I know the jewel lures it's users with promises of everything if they make a wish, so perhaps if the right wish was made? But it has never been done before. Burning the jewel with the Shikon Miko is the only way I know how to get rid of it for sure."

"But that is not very permanent, now is it?" Kagome asked as she stared down at the jewel in her hand. She decided to change topics, not liking the fact that they were discussing her death when she had just recently come back from it. "How many jewel shards are there?"

"The light was blinding, but I believe there were seven," Ryura answered her, but again avoided her gaze as he looked at Eri. "I saw one fly this way and so I sent out a few trusted staff and troops to search for it."

Eri nodded. "Yes, one of the troops found it and brought it here. I told him I would take it to you, but he looked very reluctant to part with it."

"It is the pull of the jewel," The miko responded and then looked at each youkai. "You four are strong enough to resist its call now, but what happens when it gets bigger?"

"None of us will betray you, Kag," Inuyasha stated with a frown. "How can you think that?"

Her eyes fell on her grandfather. "Because one of you already have."

Totosai shrank back, trying to disappear from her disappointed gaze. "I am sorry, Kagome. But, you have to understand my reasoning."

She sighed and set the silk cloth down on the table. "I know, I just wish I had been prepared for this." She murmured and then jumped in shock when the door to the study slammed open. She stared at the beautiful woman before them, but her amber eyes were on the shard on the table.

"What is that thing doing in the House of the West?" She asked coldly.

A/N: Oooh, yeah, I left it there (; So many things to consider, my lovely readers! And thanks to you all, 'The Sword Smith's Secret' won 1st place Best Drama in the 2nd Semi-Annual 2013 Dokuga Awards!