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His chest was tender at the spot where she'd burned him, and combined with the prickling sensation as it healed was a constant reminder that the priestess was an annoyance. Clutching a damp rag he wiped the area, he scowled and made a noise, half snort, half sigh with discomfort before immersing himself into the warm waters drawn for his bath. The balmy water was soothing, lessening the stresses from his mind and body, although no amount of relaxing baths could completely erase the reasons for his anxieties. Unless of course, the cause for all his worries would suddenly vanish from within his midst.

That notion was an unlikely scenario that would never happen. He had promised Inuyasha to look after her, and as much as he was rethinking that promise, because having Kagome around was more trouble than it was worth. He sighed deeply and made a silent wow, his jaws locked tight with frustration; regardless of the strain he would honor his word.

He shifted in the bath so that now his head rested on the metal edge of the tub and closed his eyes. With his eyes closed he recalled the raw passion that their one intimate act had awakened in him. But this unexpected emotional need, one that made him yearned to break her and then mould her into whatever shape he desired wasn't something he was prepared for. Perhaps the dog in him and its ever increasing territorial instincts were the explanation for the bothersome urges. The woman fed his wild nature in a way that no other female ever could.

Whether or not she understood what her insolence and the way she regularly defied him did to his psyche, and how it affected him didn't concern him too much? If she chose to continue on that same taxing path he would simply break her without another thought. Many times over the past six months he'd tried to convince himself that she was insignificant and that he'd even hated her for the disruption in his well ordered life. He had ignored her and had kept his anger as a low burning fire that he held close to his heart and strengthened whenever his mind wandered to that rainy afternoon in the cave; and still he could not hate her.

The more stubbornly he'd tried to suppress his weakness whenever he saw her, or in the dark of the night when alone, he found himself longing for her and the passion that she'd stolen from him. He still ached to touch her, to feel her pliant flesh fitted to his form. Still longed to smell the wild berries of her hair, and although he did not get the chance then, he longed to taste the sensuous flavor of her womanhood that had flooded the cave when she had been aroused. Even now he wondered what that taste would be like imprinted on his tongue and senses.

He hissed and clenched his jaws tight to keep from thinking about her, and a moment later with a heavy sigh guided all his energy into reducing the size of his shaft that was rigid and painfully hard, pulsing with need in the water. As hard as he tried he could not rid of the throbbing erection. Yet again tonight he would have to find release by his own hands. The indignity of it all was most infuriating. He groaned and submerged his hand, hesitating briefly before grasping his swollen phallus and then began the degrading task of cooling down.

His only redemption coming tomorrow would be that he would be gone from her presence for two weeks. He had his lands to patrol, allowing him some much needed breathing room. But for now he had no other choice than to engage in a task that he found to be quite shameful.

He gritted his teeth, refusing to react to the pleasure coursing through him as he sought release. The muscles in his arm flexed each time that he pumped up and down. A line of sweat formed across his brow as the physical demands of his body soared. The tingling in his scrotum stretched all the way to the bulbous head of his manhood. A trickle of pre-cum gushed from the opening at the apex of his shaft, his spine stiffened, his grasp tightened and the movement of his hand increased with his strokes.

His climax was almost upon him and he groaned gutturally in spite of his efforts to repress the sounds earlier. The evidence of his relief spurted from his stiff member turning a portion of the clear water cloudy as it mixed in with it. The amount surprised him and he was revolted even further by the disgraceful sight.

He freed himself of the water in a hurry, drenching the spaces around the tub and walked briskly to his bed. There he unloaded himself wet and naked and tried hard to find rest.

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Sleep was slow in coming for Kagome that night sitting and resting against the door. Her nerves in tatters and her hands shook from having to defend herself from a feral demon lord, she couldn't move yet her body was on high alert. Her place by the door was a vigil of sorts; it was the only place in the room that she felt safe because if Sesshomaru suddenly attacked, she would be alerted of his presence immediately.

She couldn't understand what went wrong. Why did Sesshomaru display so much hostility towards her; even going out of his way to provoke her without cause when all she was trying to do was to be civil so that they could have an uncomplicated time living together. Needless to say none of it was making any sort of sense to her at the moment. They had never been friends in the traditional way, but after destroying a common enemy together they had what she had believed to be a quiet truce.

She shook her head sadly not fully grasping what had caused, still was causing the problems between the two of them. Nothing that she thought clarified the situation any further, except, maybe…But no! That couldn't be. Her eyes widened in the dark for one fleeting moment. Stunned she gasped. How could she have been so naïve?

It had happened several months ago in a cave high up in a mountain on the outskirts of Edo. Could it be that he still held onto a grudge because she had stopped him? But to what end? She had just buried Inuyasha and was in mourning. He had been cold, she was a mess and things had gotten out of hand, it was as simple as that, or so she had thought. She couldn't accept it, the knowledge. Not now. Not yet. To realize that she was partly to be blamed for all of it in a time when she was at her lowest was too much to handle. She closed her eyes, hoping in the process to shut out the dreadful reality.

If in fact she was indeed correct, things would only get uglier if she did not give in to his demands. Inuyasha had told her that as demons especially canine ones, they were natural born predators. The blood of a victim excites, calling out to primal urges; sometimes the urge was to kill, to rut, to claim a mate or even just for carnage. Either way the urge would not cease unless the need was sated. Inuyasha was only a half demon and had been so passionate when he'd related that bit of news to her. So she could only imagine the excruciating lust and confusion that Sesshomaru must be feeling as a full bloodied demon. But he wasn't a low life beast, he was an intelligent being with complex desires and had control over them, so she hoped, or else she would be caught up in a very serious predicament.

For kami's sake she had already started to like the Daiyoukai a great deal, but her liking him wasn't about the physical alone. Together they had almost crossed into dangerous waters, and now it would seem that Sesshomaru wanted what she was not prepared to give him at the moment. She forced her eyes closed, wiling her mind into blankness so that she could sleep. When she finally found rest, it was an uneasy one.

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Sunlight streaming through the tops of the curtains hit her face with its warm breath and she opened her eyes. She stretched before getting up, her bones snapped and she felt better. What she needed was a long soothing bath to clear the remaining chinks from her mind and body.

The knocking at the door startled her; she got up quickly and reached for a robe that was already on the bed. She slipped into it easily and then answered.

"Please come in."

Her eyes were steadily focused on the door even though she knew that it was just one of her attendants and not Sesshomaru. She was still nervous from last night and as of yet had not gained control over the edgy sensations. The door opened a short time later and the red haired demoness entered.

"Good morning lady Kagome," the demoness greeted her upon entering. Kagome nodded her reply, the demoness continued. "Your bath is ready and so too is the morning meal, you can eat as soon as you are done."

It was obvious to Kagome that although the demoness had spoken kindly something seemed to be bothering her. She turned to leave, then paused and turned around and sighed.

"Mistress the lord has left and I was told to inform you that he will be gone for two weeks," she said it quickly, bowed and left this time for good, leaving Kagome alone with her thoughts and miserable.

This was so much like him, every time that there was a crisis between them he would leave; nothing will ever be resolved between them this way. It was frustrating; she clamped a hand to her forehead and snorted in exasperation.

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Before the day was done, she had walked the length of the property at least five times feeling alone and empty, more so now because he wasn't around. At least before although he did not speak to her much, she had always taken comfort in the fact that he was close by.

She spent one wretched week without him and by the time the second day of the following week had expired, she couldn't sit still any longer. She felt stifled, she couldn't breathe, she had to leave now or she would certainly explode.

After breakfast she went in search of Ah-Un and found him feasting on fallen plums near the river. She gave him carrots and whispered in his ear. "Take me to Edo." He lowered himself in silent understanding and she climbed on. When she had been gone for some time she remembered that she had not related her intention to leave to the servants. She shrugged, it was too late anyway and she was definitely not going to turn back.

It was a hot day, and even with the heavy breeze she had started to perspire. She felt perspiration running down her back and constantly had to dab at her brows and throat with her handkerchief, and now it was so moist and dirty she couldn't use it anymore.

Nearing Edo she pulled on the dragon's reigns directing him to the forest floor; the open sky was making her hot and uncomfortable. She would travel the remainder of the way on the ground in the shade of the trees.

It was cooler now in the shade, nothing to hinder her now but her thoughts. There was no easy way to stop the flood that immersed her mind with Sesshomaru, though she tried her best to ignore them, focusing instead on the woods teaming with life with its shy inhabitants. Soon she was almost in Edo and there was one urgent thing that she needed to do while she was there; she must visit Inuyasha's grave. She had left abruptly after the burial ceremony chasing after Sesshomaru. She had been grieving at the time and couldn't manage to say the words that she'd needed to say to her husband, and now it was time to say her final goodbyes.

Slowly she dismounted when she was in the familiar space of Inuyasha's forest; holding onto the beast's harness she guided him the rest of the way. Her eyes brimmed with tears the closer she came to the unmarked grave, that state was something that needed to be changed soon.

She stopped and looked down on the baked earth of his grave, a patch of yellow, white and red flowering bushes had begun to spread around the right side of the mound. Her knees buckled and she fell onto them as overwhelming sadness rushed throughout her body pooling painfully into her heart. She couldn't breathe for a moment.

Grief so weighty filled her that she cried out. Ah-Un came to stand behind her and she leaned onto his side for support as sorrow and the tears she'd held back burst forth from her being. She trembled and sniffled as the world spun around her, she felt unbalanced and faint, but held onto a promise that she had made to her husband before he'd died and it gave her strength.

She had promised him to continue, to live on long after he was gone. She wiped her tears, blew her nose to clear the congestion away. She tried to smile but her face contorted into a frown instead, she cleared her throat to rid of the sting before she could speak. Now she was as ready as she would ever be.

"I am trying to live without you but it is so hard. I miss you so much and I will never forget you my love. I will never forget our disagreements or the love that we'd shared," her voice broke as the tears flowed once more so that she had to pause awhile before she could carry on.

"It is so hard here without you my love and at times I fear that I will never make it."She stopped speaking again, closed her eyes tight now that her heart felt so full that it might actually burst with all the grief it carried.

Minutes passed before she was able to continue. "I am with your brother now, and although we had not spoken about it I think it would be what you would have wanted me to do. He is difficult but with him I feel closer to you. I have to go now but I want you to know that I will never forget you."

She didn't get up immediately; she maintained her lowered position by the graveside, waiting for the tears that streamed down her face to stop. Then suddenly an idle wind blew over and seemed to stroke her cheek gently, her body quivered and she stilled. She didn't move while she felt the soothing caress. There was no malevolence in it and oddly enough she wasn't afraid.

The wind and the soft touches passed over quickly. Her fingers mapped the path of the caress afterwards; she felt calmer now and got up. She looked around searching for the ghost of her husband and saw only the dragon. She sighed deeply and held onto the beast's reigns, knowing in her heart that Inuyasha had tried to comfort her just now.

Silently she left the gravesite after she had calmed. Her next stop would be at the slayers village; however, before she went there she would leave Ah-Un in the woods where he would be safer. As she walked the rest of the way to the compound of Miroku and Sango's descendants she contemplated whether or not to ask them to build a headstone for Inuyasha's grave. But then she thought, no problem there, she wouldn't ask anyone in particular, she would just throw the idea out there and let it linger; she had a feeling that it would sort itself out.

The sound of hammering grew louder as she approached the metal smith factory in the slayers village, there she would find whom she searched for.

She walked briskly inside the yard and a nostalgic feeling overshadowed her, it reminded her of the good old days. She smiled and approached a group sitting under a large tree; everyone there turned around and greeted her with happy smiles.

"Priestess," the man that had given her the kitten called from inside the shop, "are you back in Edo for good?"

Kagome smiled and said. "No I'm only here for a short time, is there something that you would like me to do?" She questioned him.

He smiled back at her and then responded. "Well it's convenient since you are here; a friend of mine is sick and is in need of care and medicine. I know it's a lot to ask of you so suddenly so you needn't bother yourself with it if it's too much."

"I could stay awhile,"she replied to the pleasure of everyone present.

"Good," the only female of the group said, "come and sit we are preparing lunch."

She smiled sweetly and then nibbled on her lips as she sat down. "I was wondering," she said gaining everyone's attention again, "would it be a bother…ahm, say around the anniversary of Inuyasha's death to build a monument for his grave to honor him."

"A bother," the man to her right said a little loudly, "your husband and our ancestors are heroes and should be remembered as such. We will craft the headstone and make merry in his honor."

"Thank you all," Kagome gushed, "I will come back close to the time to help with the preparations."

"It is settled then priestess."

Kagome spent four more days in Edo with her friends before going back to the west. She felt more like her old self again. The sabbatical really did her a world of good.

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The first sign of summer's rain hung in the sky like a thick dark curtain, telling him that it was time he went home; his business here was done and yet he was reluctant. These past two weeks alone had given him some semblance of clarity and order and he was hesitant to change it. Still he could not stay away forever, whatever he avoided he would have to face soon.

Impulsively he made a detour to Edo and now stood looking down on his brother's grave. Faintly, but it was there, the scents of the woman who plagued his thoughts and that of his beast.

He was startled at first and couldn't help but to scowl. Then he relaxed, he had no authority over what the priestess did or where she wanted to go. She was a guest in his home and as such was free to do whatever she wanted.

After some thought he sat by the base of the tree. Here he would remain until tomorrow morning before he left. He sighed as his mind wandered to the last time that he had seen his brother alive and a gentle smile came upon him. He had finally acknowledged Inuyasha as his brother during the fight with Naraku and had come to genuinely care about him in spite of their differences.

His brother had been a very integral part of his life, in hate, in love and now in death. He felt peaceful here and wondered if Kagome had found peace and solitude here as well. He stayed the night watching over his brother's grave and felt better doing it.

In the morning before he left he took a feather from inside his yukata that had fallen on his brother's face over thirty years ago and buried it deep down under the dirt of his grave. He stood up after he was done, lifted his head and stared at the sky wondering if his half brother, like the feather that had floated to him had found peace and freedom in the afterlife. He shifted his head downwards and gazed at the grave once again, and then silently walked away.

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Kagome became annoyed by the heat and something else she would rather not think about at the moment. Rain had fallen for a short time heavily, making the day even hotter somehow. The sun was out again and just by looking no one could tell that earlier in the morning the heavens had opened up and had unloaded its burden.

The heavy garments that Sesshomaru had procured for her were beautiful but uncomfortable and hot. She had brought along with her four simple peasant dresses made of cotton which were cool from Edo. She scrunched her face up in thought, then undressed and redressed in the beige frock that she had made.

"Humph," she sighed, "so much better." She rolled a blanket and dropped it into a bag as well as some fruit to carry. On her way out she stopped at the door beside both demonesses and addressed them.

"I will be at the river for some time," she said and waved goodbye.

"Have fun lady Kagome," one of them responded.

I will,"she replied as she left.

The walk to the river was leisurely and sometime during the long stroll Michi jumped out of the bushes and clung to her leg like a sloth. She didn't stop; the added weight to her leg was not at all significant. The kitten was spending less and less time indoors and more time outside learning to catch small rodents. As she continued she passed Ah-Un along the way still indulging themselves on over-ripened plums. She picked up a few and dropped them into her bag. She might eat them later though she highly doubted that; the reddish purple fruit was not a favorite of hers because of the sourness. Perhaps she could feed them to Michi, the thought made her smile sheepishly.

At long last she reached her destination. She inhaled deeply the scent of the water and the vegetation around. It was peaceful here; the sound of the river as it gushes had a calming sleepy effect on her that she yawned. She shook off the drowsy sensation with a spirited stretch and then unfolded the blanket under a shady spot. First she would take a swim to lift the anxieties from her mind before she did anything else.

What to do? She had brought only one dress and she was wearing it, and she dared not get it wet if she was going to put it back on when she was done. Well, she thought, here was secluded; no one was around to see. With that in mind she stripped down butt naked and dove into the water.

The splash had the kitten running away from the edge of the water. Kagome laughed. "I am so sorry I forgot that you don't like to get wet much."

The water was cool and inviting, she had so much fun swimming around with not a care in the world. Sesshomaru should be back tomorrow she thought before getting out of the pool. To dry off she lay on the blanket naked making use of the mild breeze and soon she was lulled asleep by the tranquil surroundings.

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He was back home a day early because of his dead brother's wife. He simply could not get her off his mind though he'd tried his best. The sun was highest in the sky, it was around midday and he sensed that she was not in the house. He greeted his servants and went in search of the woman. It was time for them to talk; he did not like the aggression between them anymore than she did, and also he had promised his brother to care for her.

At the river he glanced around but did not see her immediately, she was some way from it in the shade. Quietly he made his way to the other side and saw her cat eating what looked to be a large lizard; he patted the kitten's head and pressed on. Before he knew it he was standing under a tree in the cool shade staring down on the priestess lying naked on her back. He was frozen, he couldn't move even if he had wanted to, and he could not look away either.

Her skin was clear and smooth, wine red nipples erected and her ample bosom fallen against her chest, a cinched waist that flared nicely into wide hips and firm toned belly and thighs. One leg lies flat on the ground while the other elevated and bended at the knee making it plain to see the spattering of dark hair there, and the fleshy portion of her womanhood peeking outside.

He was so close, two steps and he would be upon her. The heat was back hotter than ever. A flurry of emotions moved through him quickly settling in his loins. He steeled himself; he had no right to feel this way. He better leave now. He turned to go but it wasn't quick enough. Kagome woke up and saw him with his back turned as he was about to leave.

"Sesshomaru," she muttered sleepily, "when did you get back?"

His fist clenched at his sides but he did not turn around. He'd hate for her to read in his eyes what he was struggling so hard to hide.

"Just now," he answered stiffly, before making a hasty retreat.