DISCLAIMER: All Inuyasha goodness belongs to the amazing Takahashi-san!
A/N: Lime alert~
The Sword Smith's Secret
By MissKatt
Chapter Fifty-Five: Piece of Flesh
"I am glad to see you are back," The former Western Lady commented earnestly as they walked down the hall of the shiro. "I had some doubt in the miko's ability."
Citrine pools glanced down at his mother. "I have learned to not doubt her strength for she constantly proves me wrong."
"I see," She hummed. "How has your journey faired so far?"
"We have gathered five-" He paused as he remembered that Naraku had one of the shards. Checking his hakama pockets and then the ones in his sleeves, he pulled out a single black shard. "Six shards." He finished, holding the shard between his thumb and pointer finger.
She stared at the innocently gleaming shard with disdain. "How many of them are left?" She questioned.
"If Ryura was correct, then there is only one more left to seek out." He replied and tucked the shard back into his pocket as a passing youkai servant stared longingly at it.
"Do you think the miko will be able to find it?" She asked.
"I know she will." He answered firmly.
Inukimi's brow twitched ever so slightly as she turned towards him and put her hand on his arm to stop him. "You…feel for her."
He knew it was a statement and yet he could hear the uncertainty in his mother's tone. "What gives you that assumption?" He was not denying the fact that he fancied her, but he was still curious.
"Sesshoumaru, your confidence in her is something you have never praised anyone else with. And do not think I am naïve as to not notice the scent of arousal," She pointed out. "And shall I mention that your beast craves her? Or did you forget that you came to me with that issue?"
He stared at her impassively. "I suppose you are upset by your findings."
Inukimi's eyes softened a little. "Yes, but not for the reasons you may think," When his brow arched into his bangs in question, she continued. "I have watched you live out these past years alone, Sesshoumaru. I had always hoped you would find a woman worthy enough for you to mark as a mate, but I also feared the reality that you may not. However, if this miko is who you have deemed worthy, then that troubles me."
He scowled slightly. "Did you not just contradict yourself, mother?"
She shook her head and gazed up at him sadly. "I do not wish for you to fall for her because you have no future together," She tightened her hold on his arm when he tried to pull it away. "She is the Shikon Miko, Sesshoumaru. She must die with the jewel to rid the world of it. Her life is extremely limited while yours is infinite. I do not want you to find love when it will be inevitably taken away from you."
The Western lord glared at the reminder. He put his hand on his mothers and gave it a brief squeeze before removing it from his person. "I will not allow what is mine to be taken away from me."
She blinked as she lowered her hand back to her side. "You cannot bring her back a second time, Sesshoumaru."
"I will not have to." He stated confidently. "I do not plan on losing her again."
"Sessh-"
"If there is nothing further to discuss then I am returning to my chambers; I require sleep after my ordeal. I will see you in a few hours, mother." He said, clearly ending the conversation as he turned from her and began to head back to his room.
"Oh, Touga, I hope your son knows what he is doing." She murmured to herself as she caressed the Meidou Stone on her chest before heading the opposite way to her own bedroom.
Sesshoumaru stepped into his receiving room and slid the door shut behind him. He instantly noticed that his two female pack mates were not in the room. Following their scents to his sleeping quarters, he slid open the door and felt his chest warm unexplainably at the sight that greeted him.
Kagome and Rin were passed out on his cot, the younger of the two practically draped over the older as they cuddled. Rin was using the miko's shoulder as a pillow, her arm draped across her chest while her leg was tangled with hers. The miko had one arm wrapped around the little girl, her chin resting on the girl's head.
His beast's rumbling growl of approval echoed in his head.
He removed his boats, leaving him in his inner haori and hakama, and kneeled down on Kagome's free side. He reached out and pet Rin's head affectionately before running his claws through his beta's hair. He watched as a smile flickered sleepily across her pink lips and felt his own twitch up into a brief smirk. He settled down next to her, and let his smirk turn into a smile when she turned her head towards him, her head nuzzling into his shoulder. He lowered his head and nuzzled the top of her head in return.
What was the lingering warm feeling in his chest?
'The feeling that comes with being complete,' His beast rumbled in content. 'The feeling of having your own pack.'
Sesshoumaru could not disagree.
*~~~SSS~~~*
Brown eyes fluttered open at the first sight of morning light. The youngest pack member blinked the traces of sleep from her eyes and looked up at the ceiling. She blinked once again when she let out a yawn and felt something next to her stir. She looked to her right and smiled when she saw her mother-like figure sleeping on her side, her body facing her. She followed Kagome's arm as it settled on her stomach and beamed when she saw a familiar striped arm laced with her mother's. She followed the arm to the owner and grinned at her father.
"Otou-sama," She whispered with a smile and then glanced back over at the miko with the same smile. "Okaa-sama." She couldn't believe that she was sandwiched and cuddled comfortably between the two people who had become her new parents. She lifted her hands and placed one on each of theirs, patting them lovingly.
"Rin." Came a soft baritone voice.
She turned her head towards her lord and smiled at him embarrassingly for being caught while addressing them as such. "Good morning, Sesshoumaru-sama."
"Good morning," He greeted back quietly as to not wake his beta. His ears picked up the sound of her gurgling stomach and his eyes went to her disheveled hair. "Why do you not go get ready for breakfast? I will wake up Kagome and we will meet you there."
She grinned and nodded, "Okay!" She whispered happily and waited for him to remove Kagome's arm from her before wiggling out from between them. She gave him another grin and a little bow before scurrying out of the room to ready herself for the day.
Sesshoumaru waited until she was gone before scooting over closer to Kagome. He propped himself up on his elbow as he gazed down at her, his eyes falling on her peaceful face. Against his will, his mother's words from last night drifted into his mind. His eyes narrowed slightly at the thought of losing her. Though it may be not love he felt for the miko, he was definitely fond of her and wanted her by his side. As he stated to her last night, she was his; and he would not let anything that belonged to him be taken away.
He lifted his clawed hand and ran it through her dark locks, his ears picking up her soft hum as she shifted to lay flat on her back, her arm resting across her stomach. He noticed the bandages on her forearm and was reminded that he did not finish the job he sought out to do last night. Picking up her arm, he removed the bandages and wiped off the herb mixture coating her forearm. Leaning down, he ran his tongue along her abused flesh, lapping at the wound until healed to his satisfaction.
Soft lips smirked against her palm as she hummed once again, her legs shifting ever so slightly as his tongue traced the lifelines in her palm. He gently set her arm back down and leaned over her so that her body was beneath his. He dipped his head down and ran his nose along the expanse of her smooth neck, a soft growl vibrating in his chest when he felt her dainty hands rest on the back of his neck. He gave the tempting skin a gentle bite before pulling back enough to see her face.
Kagome gave him a sleepy smile. "I think I can get used to waking up like that." She murmured happily.
He smirked at her. "Perhaps, if you behave, you will be rewarded with such greetings."
She pursed her lips at him, her fingers tangling in his silky hair. "Behave, hm? I don't think I'm capable of doing so. I think you're rubbing off on me."
His eyes flashed and he lowered his head close to hers again. "Are you saying I am ill mannered?" He asked.
She smirked up at him. "You have your moments," She teased and lifted her head to give him a kiss. When he pulled back, she frowned and fisted her hand tighter in his hair to yank his head back down so she could plant a quick kiss to his lips. "See? This is one of those moments. Maybe you need a little discipline."
He growled at the dominate action and pulled her hands from his hair to pin them above her head. His beast growled in approval when her eyes sparkled with excitement. Damn this woman and her perfect responses to him. How did she manage to ignite the fire of arousal in him so easily?
He held her hands above her head with one hand and let his free hand grab one of her heavy globes. "You are the one in need of discipline. Do I need to punish you like last night?" He asked, his tone heavy with the promise of a thrilling threat.
Kagome's breath hitched when he pinched her nipple through her yukata, but she gave him a half-hearted glare. "How did you turn this around on me?" She asked incredulously and closed her eyes tightly and bit her lip when he bit her bruised breast through her fabric.
"Because, my little Beta, I am the only one between us who will be carrying out any form of punishment." He growled as he released her mound to untie her yukata and push it open. He watched as she squirmed under his gaze, but was pleased when she didn't try to hide herself from him.
She let her eyes flutter shut when his fingertips ran down her body from her neck to the apex of her thighs. She tried to keep her moan in her throat when his finger brushed against her curls. "Sesshoumaru…" She breathed, biting down on her lip.
"Bend up your legs," He ordered. Amber pools watched as those long limbs of hers hesitantly bent up on either side of him. His nose was instantly filled with her tangy scent and his mouth almost watered with the need to taste her. "You smell good enough to eat."
She blushed with embarrassment at his words, until she remembered Totosai mentioning her scent from last night. She gasped and tugged her hands free from their imprisonment. "S-Sesshoumaru, stop!" When he shot her a questioning glare, she pressed her knees together. "W-we can't do this. Toto-ji said that I can't-" Her cheeks burned with embarrassment. "…Fornicate with you."
The taiyoukai gave her an unamused look. "You cannot because your ward said you cannot?"
She furrowed her brow. "I-it's not like that," She murmured. "Miko are known for their purity, Sesshoumaru. Very few have married, and those that do supposedly lose their power. You stated yourself that aren't many scrolls on miko so who knows if it's true? If I lose my power by laying with you, I will not be able to complete the jewel."
He frowned down at her as he considered her words. "I am half-tempted to take you now then," He stated seriously, watching as her blue eyes widened. "If it means that you will not have to fulfill your obligation to the jewel, and thus keep you safe, then I will take you."
"To keep me safe?" She repeated, her eyes softening as she looked to the side. "So I do not have to die with it?"
He glared and cupped her jaw to turn her head back to look at him. "You will not die with the jewel."
Her brow furrowed. "I can't just let the jewel stay in this world for another hundred years, Sesshoumaru. I birthed it into this world and then proceeded to shatter it. I have to put it back together and send it away."
"And you truly believe you will not be able to do so by me taking your barrier of innocence from you?"
She flushed. "I don't know. Toto-ji said-"
"If there really is not a way to rid the jewel from this world without burning it with your body, do you really wish to leave this world without experiencing one of its greatest pleasures?" The western lord asked as his thumb wiggled between her nether lips and pressed hard against her swollen pearl. His ears purred at the sound of her gasp.
"I don't think-" She let out a little moan when he began rubbing firm circles along her clit. "I should take the chance! Ah!" She cried when he pinched the bundle of nerves.
"How foolish can people be?" He breathed in her ear as he leaned down towards her, his skilled fingers working her swollen bud. "To think that some thin strip of flesh can cause one's being to change. Allow me to give you a brief glimpse of what awaits you in my company."
She blinked at his words, not being able to help that she agreed with him. How could something so little change someone's fundamentals? The meaning behind his last sentence sunk in when his head suddenly disappeared from her view. Her stomach knotted in anticipation when she felt his strong hands push her knees apart. "S-Sessh-Oh!" She cried out when she felt a slick movement between her curls.
Sesshoumaru, the Lord of the West, rarely bestowed this gift upon a female partner. However, as soon as the taste of her nectar touched his tongue, he knew he would never have his fill of Kagome's taste. His eyes burned red when his beast howled in need within him. Gripping her thighs tighter, he dipped his tongue into her entrance before flicking it back up to circle her pearl.
Kagome gasped as that damned skilled tongue of his began to assault her womanhood. She closed her eyes tightly as pleasure took over her. Her lips parted as moan after moan escaped her, her mind shutting off as her basic instincts took over. She was briefly reminded of when Ryura did this act to her, but it quickly vanished as Sesshoumaru's skilled tongue rolled over and flicked her bundle of nerves.
Daring to be bold, she placed a shaking hand on his head, her hips shifting when he ran his fang over the pearl. She whimpered slightly when his mouth pulled away from her, but squirmed in delight when his mouth found her inner thigh. When his thumb found her clit once again, his mouth sucking and nipping at the sensitive flesh of her inner thigh, her body fought on what pleasure to concentrate on.
Sesshoumaru bit down on her inner thigh and ran his hand up her outer thigh until he found her Beta mark. He grabbed it roughly and growled in approval when she gasped loudly and tossed her head back, a strangled cry that sounded like his name escaping her lips. Keeping his hand on her mark, he removed his mouth from her thigh to stare at her flushed face as his thumb increased it pressure and ministrations.
Her body was on sensory overload and her stomach was painfully tight with the need of release. She was aware of his hungry eyes on her, but she couldn't bring herself to care or be embarrassed. She was too focused on her pleasure to be bothered. "S-Sesshoumaru! I-" She didn't have a chance to finish as he chose then to tighten his hold on her thigh, his thumb quickening its pace.
Honey orbs watched intently as her chest and cheeks flushed as she neared her peak. He knew exactly when her orgasm hit. Her back arched off the bed, her hips sinking down against the covers, before her body grew rigid. And then, of course, there was the loud cry of his name. His chest filled with pride momentarily before he released her thigh and removed his thumb. He dipped his head back down to her flower and he greedily lapped up her nectar.
Kagome's body twitched of its own accord when too much pleasure attacked her as his tongue drank up her juices. Her back flopped back down against the bed and she tried to calm her racing heart as he continued his meal. Still, she couldn't stop herself from watching him do his task. There was something…sexy about it.
Making sure he got almost every trace of her orgasm, he lifted himself back up and saw her flushed cheeks. He flashed her a smirk and leaned in to kiss her, his tongue sweeping into her mouth to give her a taste of her delicious self. He pulled back and gave her another smirk. "I hope I have given you something to think about."
She swallowed thickly as she struggled to find her voice. "You have," She finally replied and then gave him a grin. "I think I'll have to misbehave more often."
Sesshoumaru's smirk widened. "Be careful what you ask for, my Beta."
She blushed at the underlying promise and then felt her cheeks burn hotter when her stomach growled hungrily. "Um…"
"Rin and everyone should be waiting for us to have breakfast," He stated as he got to his feet and helped her to hers as well. He slid open the door to his sleeping quarters and saw s fold of fresh clothes for both of them. He handed her the obvious pile meant for her. "Dress and we will join them."
She took the fine silk yukata from him and smiled at his back when he turned from her to remove his clothing to change into his new outfit. She took in the exposed flesh of his toned back and turned away from the tempting sight so that she could focus on dressing. Still, as she slipped into the dress, she couldn't help but think about what both he and Totosai had said.
Could a little piece of flesh really change someone so much?
Could she bring herself to be selfish enough to risk it?
Could she take back the reins to her own life?
A/N: A little shorter, but it had its purpose. The next few chapters will be their journey to find the last shard!
