**CHAPTER 2**
Steam enveloped the two women relaxing in the quiet forest pool and only the occasional squawking of a passing bird marred their peaceful scenery. But in the silence the curious sound of softly padding footsteps could be heard, walking along the branch of a tree. The bathers had a secret visitor.
Through the mist one woman could be seen about to get out.
"Oh, that was wonderful!" Sango took a deep breath and stepped out of the hot spring smiling.
"You're leaving already?" Kagome frowned and moved to join her friend on the bank.
"Yes but don't be silly, you can still stay in." Sango shook her head. "I'm just going to go help Miroku start dinner. You know he fails miserably when trying to make a meal." She picked up her towel and wrapped it around herself. "I'll call you when we're ready."
"Well I don't want you to have to do it by yourself. I'll come and help."
Sango smiled and stole Kagome's towel. "Don't worry about it. Relax, I know you want to stay in longer."
"Hey, that's mine!" Kagome cried out playfully and her best friend grinned.
"I'll give it back when it's time to eat. Now just sit there and relax. I want you to have a cool head when Inu-Yasha returns, okay?"
"Alright," Kagome smiled and Sango waved goodbye.
Returning the wave, Kagome sat back down in the water and sighed contentedly. She was grateful to Sango for forcing her into these extra few minutes. Humming under her breath, Kagome drew circles in the water with her finger and reveled in the warmth of the spring. Thinking she was alone she closed her eyes and rested her chin on her chest, wondering back to Inu-Yasha's mysterious behavior.
"I wish he would just tell me what was wrong," Kagome grumbled dejectedly. "Maybe I could help."
High above her sat the hanyou occupying her thoughts and he stared down at the young woman in the pool with such longing that he was almost dizzy from self-restraint. Inu-Yasha gripped the branch he was on so tightly his knuckles were turning white and he closed his eyes for a moment, trying to fight the urge to let go. His breathing came out strained through clenched teeth and as Kagome's breasts rose above the water the fire in his chest intensified
"I can't believe this is happening to me," Inu-Yasha muttered. "And it's only going to get worse. I can barely control myself now, how much will I have to fight this damned thing tomorrow?"
The force inside him made him afraid. It was a power Inu-Yasha had never known and it was compelling in its strength. Right now it was compelling him to leap down and surprise the naked girl. Take her up into his arms and put his mouth on hers. Run his hands along her skin and breathe in deep the fragrance of her hair. Cup her breasts and--"
"AAGH! ENOUGH!" He cried aloud, trying to stop the thoughts running through his head.
Below, Kagome heard the familiar voice and ducked down in the water.
"Inu-Yasha?!" She crossed her arms over her chest and scanned the trees. "Is that you?!"
Inu-Yasha held his breath and kept silent.
"SIT!!"
He yelled in surprise as his prayer beads pulled him from his perch into the spring. Landing with a splash, the hanyou sputtered to his feet.
"What was that for wench?!"
"You don't go around spying on me you pervert!!" Kagome looked for something to throw at him and was caught off guard when the hanyou crossed the distance between them.
Inu-Yasha stopped right in front of her and as instinct took over he reached under the water and circled her waist with his arms.
"W-What are you doing?" Kagome's face flamed red and she pushed against his chest.
"I'm sorry, I can't help myself." Inu-Yasha blushed as his hold around her tightened.
"Inu-Yasha!!! S-Stop!" Kagome's voice rose in pitch as her naked body pressed up against his robes and she was about to clobber the dog demon when he cupped her face with one clawed hand.
Tilting her chin upward, Inu-Yasha leaned down and kissed the young woman full in the mouth.
Kagome's eyes widened in shock but she didn't fight him and as her lips parted she felt how he was filled with need.
What's going on, she thought to herself. Why is Inu-Yasha holding me like this and why can't I seem to refuse?
The taste of Kagome's mouth and the feeling of her body up against his was more than he could bear and Inu-Yasha pushed her away roughly, fearing what he might do if they remained like that any longer. Kagome backed up, confusion and frustration plainly on her face.
"Alright, what the HELL is going on here?!!" Her chest heaved and she looked ready to beat the man in front of her. "You owe me an explanation. RIGHT NOW!"
Kagome's face was flushed and her hair lay askew around her shoulders. She was growling low in her throat and the spark of anger smoldered in her eyes.
Inu-Yasha's breath caught in his throat and he thought she had never looked more beautiful or more like a miko. At that moment he had never wanted to mate with a woman and give her his mark more in his entire life.
.
Steam enveloped the two women relaxing in the quiet forest pool and only the occasional squawking of a passing bird marred their peaceful scenery. But in the silence the curious sound of softly padding footsteps could be heard, walking along the branch of a tree. The bathers had a secret visitor.
Through the mist one woman could be seen about to get out.
"Oh, that was wonderful!" Sango took a deep breath and stepped out of the hot spring smiling.
"You're leaving already?" Kagome frowned and moved to join her friend on the bank.
"Yes but don't be silly, you can still stay in." Sango shook her head. "I'm just going to go help Miroku start dinner. You know he fails miserably when trying to make a meal." She picked up her towel and wrapped it around herself. "I'll call you when we're ready."
"Well I don't want you to have to do it by yourself. I'll come and help."
Sango smiled and stole Kagome's towel. "Don't worry about it. Relax, I know you want to stay in longer."
"Hey, that's mine!" Kagome cried out playfully and her best friend grinned.
"I'll give it back when it's time to eat. Now just sit there and relax. I want you to have a cool head when Inu-Yasha returns, okay?"
"Alright," Kagome smiled and Sango waved goodbye.
Returning the wave, Kagome sat back down in the water and sighed contentedly. She was grateful to Sango for forcing her into these extra few minutes. Humming under her breath, Kagome drew circles in the water with her finger and reveled in the warmth of the spring. Thinking she was alone she closed her eyes and rested her chin on her chest, wondering back to Inu-Yasha's mysterious behavior.
"I wish he would just tell me what was wrong," Kagome grumbled dejectedly. "Maybe I could help."
High above her sat the hanyou occupying her thoughts and he stared down at the young woman in the pool with such longing that he was almost dizzy from self-restraint. Inu-Yasha gripped the branch he was on so tightly his knuckles were turning white and he closed his eyes for a moment, trying to fight the urge to let go. His breathing came out strained through clenched teeth and as Kagome's breasts rose above the water the fire in his chest intensified
"I can't believe this is happening to me," Inu-Yasha muttered. "And it's only going to get worse. I can barely control myself now, how much will I have to fight this damned thing tomorrow?"
The force inside him made him afraid. It was a power Inu-Yasha had never known and it was compelling in its strength. Right now it was compelling him to leap down and surprise the naked girl. Take her up into his arms and put his mouth on hers. Run his hands along her skin and breathe in deep the fragrance of her hair. Cup her breasts and--"
"AAGH! ENOUGH!" He cried aloud, trying to stop the thoughts running through his head.
Below, Kagome heard the familiar voice and ducked down in the water.
"Inu-Yasha?!" She crossed her arms over her chest and scanned the trees. "Is that you?!"
Inu-Yasha held his breath and kept silent.
"SIT!!"
He yelled in surprise as his prayer beads pulled him from his perch into the spring. Landing with a splash, the hanyou sputtered to his feet.
"What was that for wench?!"
"You don't go around spying on me you pervert!!" Kagome looked for something to throw at him and was caught off guard when the hanyou crossed the distance between them.
Inu-Yasha stopped right in front of her and as instinct took over he reached under the water and circled her waist with his arms.
"W-What are you doing?" Kagome's face flamed red and she pushed against his chest.
"I'm sorry, I can't help myself." Inu-Yasha blushed as his hold around her tightened.
"Inu-Yasha!!! S-Stop!" Kagome's voice rose in pitch as her naked body pressed up against his robes and she was about to clobber the dog demon when he cupped her face with one clawed hand.
Tilting her chin upward, Inu-Yasha leaned down and kissed the young woman full in the mouth.
Kagome's eyes widened in shock but she didn't fight him and as her lips parted she felt how he was filled with need.
What's going on, she thought to herself. Why is Inu-Yasha holding me like this and why can't I seem to refuse?
The taste of Kagome's mouth and the feeling of her body up against his was more than he could bear and Inu-Yasha pushed her away roughly, fearing what he might do if they remained like that any longer. Kagome backed up, confusion and frustration plainly on her face.
"Alright, what the HELL is going on here?!!" Her chest heaved and she looked ready to beat the man in front of her. "You owe me an explanation. RIGHT NOW!"
Kagome's face was flushed and her hair lay askew around her shoulders. She was growling low in her throat and the spark of anger smoldered in her eyes.
Inu-Yasha's breath caught in his throat and he thought she had never looked more beautiful or more like a miko. At that moment he had never wanted to mate with a woman and give her his mark more in his entire life.
.