NOTE: Definitely AU. Some episode spoilers. Sango has joined the group. They've met Rin, Sesshoumaru's ward. Things are tense between InuYasha and Sesshoumaru. Naraku is still on the loose.
NOTE: I've used japanese and english terms intermittantly. I'll probably post a glossary or reedit the file some point in the future but right now I'm impatient to get the fic up for reviews so enjoy!!
AN: WARNING!! WARNING!! Smut Alert. Vivid Imagery Ahead!!
===================================================================
~*~ Dreams Confuse Two ~*~
A pair of strikingly brilliant, laughing, eyes.
Warm silky smooth arms that reached out and embraced him caressing skin without care.
The haze from a strikingly familiar aroma of flowers and musk.
Full, soft lips exploring every inch of exposed skin. Sharp teeth nipping hard enough to sting but not to draw blood. A raspy moist tongue following the first two.
Slim lithely muscled legs that wrapped around his waist.
The moist heat between said legs tempting him beyond belief.
Blindly he reached out trying to hold her. His hands passed through fog and mist.
Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands, sat up abruptly in his bed yukata clinging to his muscled form from his perspiration, his cock stiffly erect and hard as a rock. Furious with his empty bed and yet unwilling to sate his aroused lust on the nearest convenient female he grabbed the nearest object, a porcelain ewer, and threw it at the sandalwood screen. It shattered into tiny fragments with a satisfactory crash. But it wasn't enough. He wanted her, the lady of his dreams.
Absently he rose from his bed and walked to a detailed screen door and slid it aside to walk onto a small wrap-around walkway. Not tactically secure but Sesshoumaru didn't give a damn about tactics in the heart of his territory.
He had abandoned his home base, a mountain fortress, in favour of a recreational property his mother had used when she desired peace and privacy. But He was denied that. The dreams kept on coming; taunting, seducing, arousing him beyond belief. Sesshoumaru was so out of control he deliberately sent away his retainers unwilling to risk his temper on unwary by-standers.
At first he had wanted the dreams to stop but with each subsequent experience he found himself yearning for the wistful beauty that somehow caused a matching resonance within him with her open delight. He found himself lusting after a figment of his imagination that was becoming more important than his quest to secure Tetsaiga.
Red bled into amber eyes. Claw-like nails dug into the polished wood splintering the balcony rail to shards.
No! He would not be a weakling! He would not let emotions bind and lead him down the path to destruction! He would not!
A dozen measured breaths later Sesshoumaru felt more in control of his youkai rage.
He needed Tetsaiga. His foolish brother would not give it to him, and InuYasha's ningen allies would not help him since the sword sealed the blood-rage of youkai blood. Perhaps someone else would have a solution to his quandary. The miko InuYasha traveled with, Kagome, she was educated and less mulish than the hanyou. Perhaps she would have an idea.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
A few weeks later and Sesshoumaru wasn't quite certain how it happened: Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands, traveling with his despised hanyou brother. He had originally decided to approach InuYasha's miko, Kagome, to discuss a possible trade/alliance. It had turned into a full fledge alliance with the misfit group.
It suited his purpose of sorts; basically clearing his land of uncivilized youkai and hanyou that tended to go on useless destructive rampages.
A few meters away Kagome grinned at Sango as she stretched enjoying the heated waters of the hot springs. They never would have known about this particular treat if it wasn't for one of their newest traveling companions; Sesshoumaru prided himself on knowing detailed aspects of his land including hot springs and out of the way villages.
"I told you having Sesshoumaru along was a good idea Sango." She smirked at the taijiki who was also enjoying the au-natural bathing facilities. She frowned as she caught sight of the little ones in the pool. "Shippo, Rin, I want both of you guys to wash your hair."
"Kagome onee-chan!!" Shippo whined shrinking away ready to flee.
"No buts Shippo!" Kagome ordered sharply. "Don't you dare run or I'll wash your hair for you!" She gently finger-combed Rin's hair to remove the worst tangles and knots.
Grumbling the kitsune pup conceded, obeying her orders. Of course being children he finished up as fast as he could and dressed before fleeing followed closely by a giggling Rin. Kagome and Sango watched the two children flee.
Kagome sighed feeling slightly irritated. What was it about boys and washing up? She could remember her brother Souta giving her mother problems as well.
Sango studied the pensive look on her friend's face.
"What's bothering you Kagome?"
The teenager blushed bright red. "Nothing. Much." She muttered.
Sango arched a brow. "Much? Seems like a lot." She responded. "What is it?"
Kagome hesitated before confiding in her close female friend.
"It started with that reptilian youkai attack a week ago."
*~* Flashback *~*
"Inu Yasha! Don't be an idiot! Wait for Sesshoumaru!"
Kagome screamed as a tree shattered into splinters from the youkai's attack.
"Shut up wench! Get out of here!"
Kagome hissed with displeasure as she scooped up Rin and fled with Shippo clinging to her back.
"That idiot!" She muttered to Miroku who was hiding behind the boulder with her.
Both shuddred as the impact of the Tetsaiga on the youkai had the expected effect with lots of screaming and spilled blood. Kagome peeked over the top of the boulder. Blue eyes widened in horror.
Tetsaiga had no effect!
"What?"
"The Shikon shard the lizard-youkai has is augmenting its scaly armor." A dispassionate cultured voice murmured from above her shoulder.
"The shard has to be removed before it can be killed." Kagome murmured grimly as she studied the crocodile-like monster that was wearing InuYasha down with its very mystically augmented physical attacks.
"Can you determine its location?" Almond shaped gold eyes were intent on the youkai attacking his half-brother.
Kagome nodded. "Yes. There are five. One in its throat and in each shoulder and in each thigh."
Sesshoumaru frowned. "Naraku is taking some risk augment this youkai with five shards."
"He wants to remove you." Kagome stated with certainty. "He doesn't like it, that you have chosen to ally with us, against him."
The taiyoukai lifted one shoulder in a tiny shrug. "I care not what that hanyou feels." A small frown creased the smooth brow. "It is a reckless move, quite unlike him."
Kagome winced. "I have to agree with you." A loud explosion interrupted their converstion. "But could we talk about the implications later?"
"Yes."
*~* End Flashback *~*
Sango stared at her friend curious. She moved closer to the girl through the heated water of the pool until she sat next to the younger woman.
"What does that have to do with what you are feeling?"
Kagome winced and shifted.
"Everything started changing after that fight."
"What do you mean?" Sango was confused. "What's changed?"
So Kagome explained.
*~* Flashback *~*
Kagome hissed and arched her back reflexively to get away from the pain.
"Oww!" She yelped as a large hand pressed down on the small of her back flattening her against the rough straw mat upon which she lay.
"Stop moving miko." A cool familiar voice murmured.
Kagome fumed. She could recognized the hints of amusement in the low husky voice.
"You don't have to be so happy you know. And don't call me miko!"
A low masculine chuckle behind her head.
"Very well... Kagome."
Sesshoumaru emphasized each syllable in her name as he smoothened herbal salve into the open welts in Kagome's back. They weren't serious – just shallow scrapes over her ribs caused by shards of rock and splinters that were deflected across her rib cage without actually penetrating her torso. The rest of her injuries were minor scrapes on her hands, legs and knees.
Kagome moaned before going limp with pleasure as the pain killing agent in the antibiotic salve went to work numbing the worst of her aches. She smiled in contentment as she concentrated on enjoying the feeling of strong slim fingers working the salve into her back.
The tai-youkai raised a slim brow in speculative interest. Humans tended to avoid him for whatever reason. Rin was the only one who would run to him for protection, for safety. The taijiki was looking after the houshi and the hanyou. It had surprised him when the miko told her friends the Western Lord would treat her wounds and vice versa. InuYasha had protested her preference to have him, Sesshoumaru, treat her wounds but Kagome had stood firm in her choice.
Sesshoumaru wasn't concerned about his own wounds, his preternatural healing was rapidly closing the shallow wounds even as the seconds passed. He was so intent on making sure each of the scrapes on Kagome's back was treated that he did not notice a few drops of his blood fall into one of the scrapes in her back.
Long fingers tipped with claw-like nails carefully slipped under the elastic straps of the strange garment she wore under her strange kimono – a horizontal strap across her back and two perpendicular narrower straps to each shoulder. The garment left large amounts of skin naked to the viewer. He could understand Kagome wanting a woman to treat her wounds but Miroku and InuYasha had shoulder and arm wounds that needed a third party to treat them. InuYasha would not tolerate Sesshoumaru, the least injured, treating his wounds so that left Sango. InuYasha had fumed over the knowledge that his despised elder brother would be seeing Kagome in practically nothing but Kagome got her way.
Sesshoumaru was intrigued by the stretchy material under his fingers. It could be pulled out of shape but returned to its original tension when released. How curious, just like the design of the outfits she wore and she herself.
"You can turn over." He announced.
Kagome pushed herself up on the heels of her hand and turned to sit on her backside. A deep blush suffused the pale skin of her cheeks and breasts. Yes she had exposed as much wearing a bikini but that was different! This was Sesshoumaru, a guy brought up in a different time with different standards of feminine modesty!
The tai-youkai simply raised a brow, gold eyes skimming over the expanse of pale skin barely covered by two scrapes of shiny material and lace. How intriguing… Intense eyes studied the construction of the strange garment. When considered intellectually the item was definitely more effective than the breast-bands most females, youkai and ningen, used. And it definitely had an interesting effect on the male libido. Sesshoumaru firmly ignored the surge of heat in his blood. He tried to force his desires down to concentrate more on her wounds
Kagome shivered as the callused supple slipped over her waist coating the raw welts and scrapes with salve.
Sesshoumaru was more interested in exploring the texture of satiny soft skin. Was all of her as silky smooth? Youkai tended to be heavily muscled but Kagome's skin held a resilient softness that intrigued the tai-youkai. Nails whispered over pale skin leaving a trail of goosebumps as fingers explored the female form exposed to his senses – the defined pectoral muscles of her shoulders, the slender indent of her waist, the curve of her belly, the flare of her hips. Sensitive nostrils flared as he caught scent of her arousal – pheromones, musk, jasmine and violets. His own desire surged when he heard the small hitch in her breath, the sharp intake of air, noted the dilation of round pupils until all that remained was a thin ring of blue around black pools, the subtle arching invitation in the female body before him. It took all of his control to stamp down the desire to take up the invitation.
"Done." He was proud of the steady tone of his voice even as he gave thanks for the years of experience in maintaining an icy façade.
*~* End Flashback *~*
Sango gaped at her friend.
"You what?!" She screeched in low tones. She did not want anyone running in and interrupting the conversation.
Kagome blushed.
"I couldn't help it." She defended herself. "For some reason I started really 'seeing' him."
"Seeing him as a potential lover." Sango pointed out skeptically. "What about InuYasha?"
Kagome shrugged. "InuYasha was a crush. Besides he's too hung up on Kikyo." Sango gaped. Kagome struggled to explain. "It's like I started seeing Sesshoumaru as more than just an ally against Naraku.
"Do you know he truly doesn't enjoy killing? He likes pitting his skill against adversaries to become better. Only thing is there are no formal contests in this time, all fights are to the death. He prefers to use his reputation to avoid petty fights."
"Then why does he attack InuYasha?" Sango asked skeptically.
"He wants Tetsaiga." Kagome answered wistfully. "Youkai will not dare attack a tai-youkai that wields a sword that can kill a hundred youkai in one stroke. They will think twice before attacking the Western Lands."
Sangos eyes widened, her mouth a slight o of astonishment. She thought for a moment before speaking.
"Okay, you have the hots for him. Lots of girls have crushes on guys. But this guy is a tai-youkai who hates ningen."
Kagome smiled wistfully. "I know. I keep telling myself that. Besides I don't want to risk our friendship. Lots of girls out grow crushes on older guys."
Sango stared at her friend. Kagome fidgeted before looking away.
"What are you not telling me Kagome?" She asked suspiciously. Kagome blushed and submerged herself into the water. Sango waited until her friend rose out of the water for a breath of air. "You are hiding something!" She exclaimed gleefully. "What is it?"
Kagome glanced away before meeting Sango's eyes shyly. There was a strangely adult knowing look in the blue eyes.
"I've been having dreams."
Sango frowned. "Dreams? What kind--." Brown eyes widened. "You mean--?"
Kagome blushed. "Yes." A pause while she gathered her nerve. "Not just when I sleep. Sometimes I daydream. I find myself looking at his hand and wondering how it would feel like to have him touch me. Everywhere."
"Kagome!" The tone was scandalized but there was understanding laughter in the brown eyes. "Spill it!" Sango ordered.
Kagome did.
"I've been dreaming more and more since that fight. At first of a faceless lover. Now I dream of gold eyes and silvery hair. Not InuYasha's face. A triangular face with red markings and a blue crescent. A hand with red markings touching me everywhere.
"I dream of a lover that takes me over the edge with a touch, with just his voice…" Kagome confessed rapidly. "Sometimes I feel I could be forever happy if I could just Be with him listening to his voice. I understand why Rin follows him everywhere, why she is happy with him.
"He is gentle Sango. In a strange fashion he is the most gentle person I've met. He never uses more than necessary force in any conflict. In fact he goes about to avoid conflict in a rather arrogant fashion. In my time there are men who abuse their wives and daughters, they drink and are violent and crude. Sesshoumaru would never do that. He practises a code of honor that is different even though it is harshly pragmatic."
Sango stared at her friend with sympathy.
"Kagome, Sesshoumaru is a tai-youkai. He hates his father for tainting the family bloodline by taking a ningen-hime as a second wife. He will never consider you as a potential lover, not to mention wife."
Kagome sighed wistfully. "I know it is just a foolish girlish dream. But sometimes I hope that he will look at me and really See me."
Sango made some appropriate, comforting, noises even as her mind worked.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
In the days that followed the tajiki watched her best friend and the tai-youkai surreptiously and what she saw gave her hope.
She saw a man and a woman dancing the courtship dance; one step, circle, bow, step back, and repeat. She saw Kagome growing more and more frustrated by the growing desire building between the pair. She saw Sesshoumaru pointedly ignoring the attraction and Kagome. She saw everyone around except InuYasha was aware that Something was going on between the miko from the future and the Western Lord.
"This is driving me crazy," Kagome confessed one evening as she prepared dinner while the male members of the group scouted the surrounding area for any threats. "I know he knows I watch him. He's a youkai, don't they smell fear? Can't he smell my desire?" Kagome whispered even as her eyes dilated from cherished memories. "I want him, all of him, any of him. Sango, his voice is enough to make my stomach knot, when he is near I feel as though every nerve is on fire. Sango, I think I love him, I truly do."
"Kagome, this is just a crush! Remember your crush on InuYasha? You've just transferred it to the closest available guy and Miroku doesn't count." Sango tried to insert a sense of proportion into the situation. "You think you want Sesshoumaru because you don't and can't have him."
There was a strangely haunted light in the miko's blue eyes when she responded. "I don't think so Sango, I think this is the real thing."
Sango stared at her friend feeling fear for the first time. Where would this lead them?
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
TBC...
===================================================================
Please review, no flames though..
--Sarhea
NOTE: I've used japanese and english terms intermittantly. I'll probably post a glossary or reedit the file some point in the future but right now I'm impatient to get the fic up for reviews so enjoy!!
AN: WARNING!! WARNING!! Smut Alert. Vivid Imagery Ahead!!
===================================================================
~*~ Dreams Confuse Two ~*~
A pair of strikingly brilliant, laughing, eyes.
Warm silky smooth arms that reached out and embraced him caressing skin without care.
The haze from a strikingly familiar aroma of flowers and musk.
Full, soft lips exploring every inch of exposed skin. Sharp teeth nipping hard enough to sting but not to draw blood. A raspy moist tongue following the first two.
Slim lithely muscled legs that wrapped around his waist.
The moist heat between said legs tempting him beyond belief.
Blindly he reached out trying to hold her. His hands passed through fog and mist.
Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands, sat up abruptly in his bed yukata clinging to his muscled form from his perspiration, his cock stiffly erect and hard as a rock. Furious with his empty bed and yet unwilling to sate his aroused lust on the nearest convenient female he grabbed the nearest object, a porcelain ewer, and threw it at the sandalwood screen. It shattered into tiny fragments with a satisfactory crash. But it wasn't enough. He wanted her, the lady of his dreams.
Absently he rose from his bed and walked to a detailed screen door and slid it aside to walk onto a small wrap-around walkway. Not tactically secure but Sesshoumaru didn't give a damn about tactics in the heart of his territory.
He had abandoned his home base, a mountain fortress, in favour of a recreational property his mother had used when she desired peace and privacy. But He was denied that. The dreams kept on coming; taunting, seducing, arousing him beyond belief. Sesshoumaru was so out of control he deliberately sent away his retainers unwilling to risk his temper on unwary by-standers.
At first he had wanted the dreams to stop but with each subsequent experience he found himself yearning for the wistful beauty that somehow caused a matching resonance within him with her open delight. He found himself lusting after a figment of his imagination that was becoming more important than his quest to secure Tetsaiga.
Red bled into amber eyes. Claw-like nails dug into the polished wood splintering the balcony rail to shards.
No! He would not be a weakling! He would not let emotions bind and lead him down the path to destruction! He would not!
A dozen measured breaths later Sesshoumaru felt more in control of his youkai rage.
He needed Tetsaiga. His foolish brother would not give it to him, and InuYasha's ningen allies would not help him since the sword sealed the blood-rage of youkai blood. Perhaps someone else would have a solution to his quandary. The miko InuYasha traveled with, Kagome, she was educated and less mulish than the hanyou. Perhaps she would have an idea.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
A few weeks later and Sesshoumaru wasn't quite certain how it happened: Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands, traveling with his despised hanyou brother. He had originally decided to approach InuYasha's miko, Kagome, to discuss a possible trade/alliance. It had turned into a full fledge alliance with the misfit group.
It suited his purpose of sorts; basically clearing his land of uncivilized youkai and hanyou that tended to go on useless destructive rampages.
A few meters away Kagome grinned at Sango as she stretched enjoying the heated waters of the hot springs. They never would have known about this particular treat if it wasn't for one of their newest traveling companions; Sesshoumaru prided himself on knowing detailed aspects of his land including hot springs and out of the way villages.
"I told you having Sesshoumaru along was a good idea Sango." She smirked at the taijiki who was also enjoying the au-natural bathing facilities. She frowned as she caught sight of the little ones in the pool. "Shippo, Rin, I want both of you guys to wash your hair."
"Kagome onee-chan!!" Shippo whined shrinking away ready to flee.
"No buts Shippo!" Kagome ordered sharply. "Don't you dare run or I'll wash your hair for you!" She gently finger-combed Rin's hair to remove the worst tangles and knots.
Grumbling the kitsune pup conceded, obeying her orders. Of course being children he finished up as fast as he could and dressed before fleeing followed closely by a giggling Rin. Kagome and Sango watched the two children flee.
Kagome sighed feeling slightly irritated. What was it about boys and washing up? She could remember her brother Souta giving her mother problems as well.
Sango studied the pensive look on her friend's face.
"What's bothering you Kagome?"
The teenager blushed bright red. "Nothing. Much." She muttered.
Sango arched a brow. "Much? Seems like a lot." She responded. "What is it?"
Kagome hesitated before confiding in her close female friend.
"It started with that reptilian youkai attack a week ago."
*~* Flashback *~*
"Inu Yasha! Don't be an idiot! Wait for Sesshoumaru!"
Kagome screamed as a tree shattered into splinters from the youkai's attack.
"Shut up wench! Get out of here!"
Kagome hissed with displeasure as she scooped up Rin and fled with Shippo clinging to her back.
"That idiot!" She muttered to Miroku who was hiding behind the boulder with her.
Both shuddred as the impact of the Tetsaiga on the youkai had the expected effect with lots of screaming and spilled blood. Kagome peeked over the top of the boulder. Blue eyes widened in horror.
Tetsaiga had no effect!
"What?"
"The Shikon shard the lizard-youkai has is augmenting its scaly armor." A dispassionate cultured voice murmured from above her shoulder.
"The shard has to be removed before it can be killed." Kagome murmured grimly as she studied the crocodile-like monster that was wearing InuYasha down with its very mystically augmented physical attacks.
"Can you determine its location?" Almond shaped gold eyes were intent on the youkai attacking his half-brother.
Kagome nodded. "Yes. There are five. One in its throat and in each shoulder and in each thigh."
Sesshoumaru frowned. "Naraku is taking some risk augment this youkai with five shards."
"He wants to remove you." Kagome stated with certainty. "He doesn't like it, that you have chosen to ally with us, against him."
The taiyoukai lifted one shoulder in a tiny shrug. "I care not what that hanyou feels." A small frown creased the smooth brow. "It is a reckless move, quite unlike him."
Kagome winced. "I have to agree with you." A loud explosion interrupted their converstion. "But could we talk about the implications later?"
"Yes."
*~* End Flashback *~*
Sango stared at her friend curious. She moved closer to the girl through the heated water of the pool until she sat next to the younger woman.
"What does that have to do with what you are feeling?"
Kagome winced and shifted.
"Everything started changing after that fight."
"What do you mean?" Sango was confused. "What's changed?"
So Kagome explained.
*~* Flashback *~*
Kagome hissed and arched her back reflexively to get away from the pain.
"Oww!" She yelped as a large hand pressed down on the small of her back flattening her against the rough straw mat upon which she lay.
"Stop moving miko." A cool familiar voice murmured.
Kagome fumed. She could recognized the hints of amusement in the low husky voice.
"You don't have to be so happy you know. And don't call me miko!"
A low masculine chuckle behind her head.
"Very well... Kagome."
Sesshoumaru emphasized each syllable in her name as he smoothened herbal salve into the open welts in Kagome's back. They weren't serious – just shallow scrapes over her ribs caused by shards of rock and splinters that were deflected across her rib cage without actually penetrating her torso. The rest of her injuries were minor scrapes on her hands, legs and knees.
Kagome moaned before going limp with pleasure as the pain killing agent in the antibiotic salve went to work numbing the worst of her aches. She smiled in contentment as she concentrated on enjoying the feeling of strong slim fingers working the salve into her back.
The tai-youkai raised a slim brow in speculative interest. Humans tended to avoid him for whatever reason. Rin was the only one who would run to him for protection, for safety. The taijiki was looking after the houshi and the hanyou. It had surprised him when the miko told her friends the Western Lord would treat her wounds and vice versa. InuYasha had protested her preference to have him, Sesshoumaru, treat her wounds but Kagome had stood firm in her choice.
Sesshoumaru wasn't concerned about his own wounds, his preternatural healing was rapidly closing the shallow wounds even as the seconds passed. He was so intent on making sure each of the scrapes on Kagome's back was treated that he did not notice a few drops of his blood fall into one of the scrapes in her back.
Long fingers tipped with claw-like nails carefully slipped under the elastic straps of the strange garment she wore under her strange kimono – a horizontal strap across her back and two perpendicular narrower straps to each shoulder. The garment left large amounts of skin naked to the viewer. He could understand Kagome wanting a woman to treat her wounds but Miroku and InuYasha had shoulder and arm wounds that needed a third party to treat them. InuYasha would not tolerate Sesshoumaru, the least injured, treating his wounds so that left Sango. InuYasha had fumed over the knowledge that his despised elder brother would be seeing Kagome in practically nothing but Kagome got her way.
Sesshoumaru was intrigued by the stretchy material under his fingers. It could be pulled out of shape but returned to its original tension when released. How curious, just like the design of the outfits she wore and she herself.
"You can turn over." He announced.
Kagome pushed herself up on the heels of her hand and turned to sit on her backside. A deep blush suffused the pale skin of her cheeks and breasts. Yes she had exposed as much wearing a bikini but that was different! This was Sesshoumaru, a guy brought up in a different time with different standards of feminine modesty!
The tai-youkai simply raised a brow, gold eyes skimming over the expanse of pale skin barely covered by two scrapes of shiny material and lace. How intriguing… Intense eyes studied the construction of the strange garment. When considered intellectually the item was definitely more effective than the breast-bands most females, youkai and ningen, used. And it definitely had an interesting effect on the male libido. Sesshoumaru firmly ignored the surge of heat in his blood. He tried to force his desires down to concentrate more on her wounds
Kagome shivered as the callused supple slipped over her waist coating the raw welts and scrapes with salve.
Sesshoumaru was more interested in exploring the texture of satiny soft skin. Was all of her as silky smooth? Youkai tended to be heavily muscled but Kagome's skin held a resilient softness that intrigued the tai-youkai. Nails whispered over pale skin leaving a trail of goosebumps as fingers explored the female form exposed to his senses – the defined pectoral muscles of her shoulders, the slender indent of her waist, the curve of her belly, the flare of her hips. Sensitive nostrils flared as he caught scent of her arousal – pheromones, musk, jasmine and violets. His own desire surged when he heard the small hitch in her breath, the sharp intake of air, noted the dilation of round pupils until all that remained was a thin ring of blue around black pools, the subtle arching invitation in the female body before him. It took all of his control to stamp down the desire to take up the invitation.
"Done." He was proud of the steady tone of his voice even as he gave thanks for the years of experience in maintaining an icy façade.
*~* End Flashback *~*
Sango gaped at her friend.
"You what?!" She screeched in low tones. She did not want anyone running in and interrupting the conversation.
Kagome blushed.
"I couldn't help it." She defended herself. "For some reason I started really 'seeing' him."
"Seeing him as a potential lover." Sango pointed out skeptically. "What about InuYasha?"
Kagome shrugged. "InuYasha was a crush. Besides he's too hung up on Kikyo." Sango gaped. Kagome struggled to explain. "It's like I started seeing Sesshoumaru as more than just an ally against Naraku.
"Do you know he truly doesn't enjoy killing? He likes pitting his skill against adversaries to become better. Only thing is there are no formal contests in this time, all fights are to the death. He prefers to use his reputation to avoid petty fights."
"Then why does he attack InuYasha?" Sango asked skeptically.
"He wants Tetsaiga." Kagome answered wistfully. "Youkai will not dare attack a tai-youkai that wields a sword that can kill a hundred youkai in one stroke. They will think twice before attacking the Western Lands."
Sangos eyes widened, her mouth a slight o of astonishment. She thought for a moment before speaking.
"Okay, you have the hots for him. Lots of girls have crushes on guys. But this guy is a tai-youkai who hates ningen."
Kagome smiled wistfully. "I know. I keep telling myself that. Besides I don't want to risk our friendship. Lots of girls out grow crushes on older guys."
Sango stared at her friend. Kagome fidgeted before looking away.
"What are you not telling me Kagome?" She asked suspiciously. Kagome blushed and submerged herself into the water. Sango waited until her friend rose out of the water for a breath of air. "You are hiding something!" She exclaimed gleefully. "What is it?"
Kagome glanced away before meeting Sango's eyes shyly. There was a strangely adult knowing look in the blue eyes.
"I've been having dreams."
Sango frowned. "Dreams? What kind--." Brown eyes widened. "You mean--?"
Kagome blushed. "Yes." A pause while she gathered her nerve. "Not just when I sleep. Sometimes I daydream. I find myself looking at his hand and wondering how it would feel like to have him touch me. Everywhere."
"Kagome!" The tone was scandalized but there was understanding laughter in the brown eyes. "Spill it!" Sango ordered.
Kagome did.
"I've been dreaming more and more since that fight. At first of a faceless lover. Now I dream of gold eyes and silvery hair. Not InuYasha's face. A triangular face with red markings and a blue crescent. A hand with red markings touching me everywhere.
"I dream of a lover that takes me over the edge with a touch, with just his voice…" Kagome confessed rapidly. "Sometimes I feel I could be forever happy if I could just Be with him listening to his voice. I understand why Rin follows him everywhere, why she is happy with him.
"He is gentle Sango. In a strange fashion he is the most gentle person I've met. He never uses more than necessary force in any conflict. In fact he goes about to avoid conflict in a rather arrogant fashion. In my time there are men who abuse their wives and daughters, they drink and are violent and crude. Sesshoumaru would never do that. He practises a code of honor that is different even though it is harshly pragmatic."
Sango stared at her friend with sympathy.
"Kagome, Sesshoumaru is a tai-youkai. He hates his father for tainting the family bloodline by taking a ningen-hime as a second wife. He will never consider you as a potential lover, not to mention wife."
Kagome sighed wistfully. "I know it is just a foolish girlish dream. But sometimes I hope that he will look at me and really See me."
Sango made some appropriate, comforting, noises even as her mind worked.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
In the days that followed the tajiki watched her best friend and the tai-youkai surreptiously and what she saw gave her hope.
She saw a man and a woman dancing the courtship dance; one step, circle, bow, step back, and repeat. She saw Kagome growing more and more frustrated by the growing desire building between the pair. She saw Sesshoumaru pointedly ignoring the attraction and Kagome. She saw everyone around except InuYasha was aware that Something was going on between the miko from the future and the Western Lord.
"This is driving me crazy," Kagome confessed one evening as she prepared dinner while the male members of the group scouted the surrounding area for any threats. "I know he knows I watch him. He's a youkai, don't they smell fear? Can't he smell my desire?" Kagome whispered even as her eyes dilated from cherished memories. "I want him, all of him, any of him. Sango, his voice is enough to make my stomach knot, when he is near I feel as though every nerve is on fire. Sango, I think I love him, I truly do."
"Kagome, this is just a crush! Remember your crush on InuYasha? You've just transferred it to the closest available guy and Miroku doesn't count." Sango tried to insert a sense of proportion into the situation. "You think you want Sesshoumaru because you don't and can't have him."
There was a strangely haunted light in the miko's blue eyes when she responded. "I don't think so Sango, I think this is the real thing."
Sango stared at her friend feeling fear for the first time. Where would this lead them?
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
TBC...
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Please review, no flames though..
--Sarhea
