Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha
Chapter 11
Battle of Wills
The sky was overcast and the wind was starting to pick up as they made their way to Keade's house. The first patters of rain was just starting to fall as they walked through the door and thunder could be clearly heard in the distance with lightning striking the sky at odd intervolves.
Kagome sighed as she set her bag aside and sat down next to the fire, Sesshomaru leaning against the wall behind her and watching the others in contempt before settling his gaze on Miroku.
Kagome was busy showing Sango, Keade, Rin and Shippo her pictures and didn't quite notice the exchange between Sesshomaru and Miroku.
"In the future, houshi, I suggest you refrain from taking pictures of this Sesshomaru."
"Of course, Sesshomaru-sama." He bowed, his face pasty white as he realized how very close to death he was right at that moment.
Rin and Shippo hovered over Kagome's shoulder as they gasped at the pictures Kagome was placing in a photo album.
"You look so pretty Kagome." Shippo cooed.
"Kagome-sama and Sesshomaru-sama look so pretty." Rin agreed. "Can I look this pretty?"
Kagome chuckled.
"Of course Rin-chan. When we get back we will play dress up, Okay?"
"Yay!" Rin jumped for joy.
"Alright you two. It is past your bed times."
Both children pouted, but they did crawl into bed obediently after wishing everyone goodnight and fell asleep almost instantly. Keade also settled down as Miroku and Sango curled up together in another corner.
Kagome smiled at them, watching as Miroku's hand began to slip before Kirara would remind him where it didn't belong. Inuyasha settled down across the fire from her, going through the bags of stuff he had brought back.
"How was the mating ceremony?" Inuyasha asked her, ignoring the dark look his brother gave him.
"Good. Better then I thought it would. I even met Kouga-kun's parents."
"Wimpy wolf has family?" He asked surprised.
"His mother is a very nice lady and was one of the few youkai to talk to me and acknowledge I existed."
"That is good."
"I explained to a few of them about Naraku and they also expressed interest in him. We may have more allies then we figured."
"Keh. Don't need them. I'll destroy him myself before any of those arrogant taiyoukai could stir off of there lazy asses and get near him."
"Leave youkai business to youkai, hanyou." Sesshomaru said coldly.
"Keh. I was dealing with Naraku before you even knew he existed. At least I never made a deal with him." Inuyasha pointed out coldly, turning his attention to his brother. "What's your excuse?"
"He dared to take something of mine, not once but twice now. Leave my prey alone."
"He was my prey first, brother. You already took one thing from me, I well not let you take another." He snarled.
Kagome sighed, knowing where this was going.
"Please. Inuyasha, Sesshomaru-sama, you'll wake the children. Naraku is powerful. It is not just him we have to contend with, it is his armies of youkai and offspring as well. All of us have reasons to kill him, thus all of us should be permit a chance to pay him back for what he has done to us."
"Be silent." Sesshomaru snapped coldly.
She glanced at him in shock. He had never raised his voice to her like that before. In fact she was hard pressed to find a time he had ever raised his voice. Inuyasha's eyes widened, than narrowed in rage. He drew Tetsusaiga as Sesshomaru drew Toukijin.
"The children." She hissed.
Sesshomaru turned his glare to her again.
"I told you to be silent. Do not speak again until I say otherwise or you will regret it."
Kagome's eyes widened even further in shock.
Inuyasha snarled and launched himself at his brother, taking Sesshomaru by surprise since the hanyou had to leap over Kagome to do it. He couldn't bring Toukijin up in time for fear of hitting his mate.
He went through the wall as Inuyasha's hit nailed him. Kagome gasped at the sound of splintering wood. The sound awoke the others in an instant, startling all of them awake. Sango had her katana out as quickly as Miroku held his staff ready. They joined her at the hole, watching the two brothers exchange blows in the pouring rain, sometimes lit up by the flash of lightning before the thunder would shake the house.
Rin clutched at her robes, her eyes wide in horror. Shippo hugged Rin, trying to calm the child down.
"Why are they fighting?" Rin asked, tears in her eyes.
Kagome opened her mouth to answer, but stopped at the last second. Sesshomaru had ordered her to be silent until he said otherwise. Tears were streaming down her face as she watched them fight, both of them taking injury.
"Kagome-sama, what is going on?" Miroku asked.
She didn't answer. She was forbidden from speaking.
"Stop it." She mentally shrieked at them. "Your frightening the children and acting like fools."
Her fear for the children started to change to anger at the two of them. Snarling suddenly, she handed Rin to Sango and rubbed herself all over a startled Miroku, who was too stunned to enjoy the contact, before marching out onto the field, covered in Miroku's scent.
The rain dampened it, but by the time she was within ten feet of Sesshomaru his head snapped towards her, his eyes all but red as they caught the scent of another male on his mate.
She continued to walk up to them. Inuyasha noticed Sesshomaru seemed to be distracted and turned to see Kagome walking up to them, power cackling around her and Miroku's scent on her.
Sesshomaru was snarling, his youki raising. She stopped next to Inuyasha, pulled his head down and kissed him deeply, ignoring his stunned look and Sesshomaru's warning growls as she deliberately covered herself in his scent.
She broke the kiss as abruptly as she had taking it and calmly walked past him up to Sesshomaru, who's eyes were all but red by this point as the scent of not one, but two males were on her, and one of them was his brother.
She stopped before him, eyes locked on his and defiance radiating off of her in waves. He snarled as he fought for control. She raised her hand up, and slapped him across the face, the sound of it echoing out even over the thunder and rain. A powerful spark of purifying power flashed as she hit him, sending him to the ground.
Even the storm seemed to hold its breath as everyone gasped in shock. Not only had she hit him but the strike had knocked him to the ground, covering his once pristine robes in mud.
"You are acting like a foolish child Sesshomaru. I though you were above Inuyasha but clearly you are not. Pull yourself together and act like the taiyoukai you are suppose to be." She snarled at him, breaking his command to be silent.
He stared up at her in shock from the ground. Then his eyes flashed and started to change red, angered at her disobedience and disrespect. If that frightened her she showed no signs of it.
"Not in front of the children, especially Rin. I well accept my punishment later, but until then start acting like the Lord of the Western Lands and less like a jealous mutt, or so help me I'll have to knock some more sense into that pea sized brain of yours if I have to spend all night and do it in front of my friends to get it across that thick skull of yours."
With that she turned her back on him, a clear sign of rejection, walked back into the hut and erected a barrier around it.
"Until you two cool down and work out your differences you will have to just sit out there and soak. Good night."
The others stared at her in shock as she stripped out of her wet robes and curled up under her blanket and proceeded to fall asleep. Rin and Shippo joined her. Miroku returned to his corner with Sango as Keade chuckled to herself before retiring also.
(POV)
A stunned Inuyasha and Sesshomaru stared at the hut, the pink barrier glowing around it remained strong and steady. Snarling in rage Sesshomaru marched toward her, only to be reflected by her barrier.
The bitch was going to pay come morning. Snarling, he stalked around the barrier, trying in vain to find a weak point as Inuyasha watched from the shelter of a tree, silently enjoying watching his brother suffer.
Finally, sometime around midnight, Sesshomaru gave up and stormed to the cover of another tree, thoroughly soaked and pissed. Sesshomaru's back was facing Inuyasha so he couldn't enjoy the married of expressions passing over his frustrated brothers face, but it was still enough to lighten his mood.
As for Sesshomaru, as soon as he finally tired himself out, he marched off to get some cover from the rain and think of all the things he was going to do to punish her for such open disobedience and for daring to disgrace and dishonour him in front of, not only her friends, but his stupid brother.
Something crinkled in his pocket as he marched and he pulled it out as soon as he hit the tree. It was the picture the houshi had taken of him and Kagome. She looked so peaceful and content curled up against him.
Snarling at his weakness he nearly destroyed the wretched thing before cramming it back into his pocket. He leaned against the tree and spent the rest of the night entertaining thought and dreams of her punishment for all of her transgressions. So help him she was going to suffer if he had to leave Rin with Sango for a few days to do it.
(break)
Kagome woke with a yawn, feeling warm and uncomfortable. She was so use to waking up in Sesshomaru's embrace that not doing so was very strange. The memory of what had happened last night returned as she woke fully.
She sighed, knowing that today was not going to be pleasant. Sango was already awake and handed her a plate of food, which she gladly woofed down quickly before standing up fully and stretching.
"Sango-chan….can you watch Rin-chan and Shippo-chan until I get back? If Rin asks, tell her Sesshomaru and I wanted to spend some time alone together. She doesn't need to know what's really happening.
"Of course." Sango said, nodded her head solemnly. "Good luck."
"Thanks. I'm going to need it."
She cleaned herself up, taking pains to get Inuyasha and Miroku's scents off of her before dressing in a new kimono. She stood firmly at the door, head held high as she brought down the barrier and walked out into the morning sunlight, heading straight for where Sesshomaru's youki was.
Her mates head snapped up and looked at her as he noticed her barrier had come down. Inuyasha jumped out of his tree and landed beside her.
"You don't have to this Kagome." Inuyasha said.
"I well take responsibility for my actions Inuyasha. Take care of Shippo-chan for me." She said calmly, not once turning to face him and not once slowing her pace as she walked up to Sesshomaru.
Inuyasha stopped several feet away as she finished walking up to his brother and bowed before him, down on one knee with her head bowed.
"I stand ready to receive my punishment, my lord." She said respectfully as she waited for him to speak.
"Kagome, stand up." Inuyasha snarled.
She ignored him.
"Inuyasha. Leave them be. Kagome-sama has made her choice and as her friends we should respect it." Miroku stated as he stood beside Inuyasha, one hand resting on his shoulder.
Seeing Inuyasha contained, Sesshomaru turned his attention back to Kagome.
Her scent was laced with fear, but she smelt strongly of resolve.
"Stand." He ordered coldly.
She stood, but kept her head respectfully bowed.
"Come."
She fell into step behind him as they walked off into the woods. They walked in silence for over an hour before they stopped. She could tell he was furious by the way his fist was clenched so tight he was drawing blood and by the way he was stalking instead of walking.
He stopped in a quite glade and erected a barrier around them. She blinked, not knowing he could do that. She gulped as he turned to face her, his eyes flashing red.
"Your behaviour was not only disobedient, it was also disrespectful."
"Yes My Lord."
"Be silent. Perhaps this time you will actually hold your tongue."
She inclined her head in difference.
"You most certainly will never be permitted near my brother again unless if I say otherwise, or that houshi. I should kill them both as it is for having their scents on you. However, I will spare there lives seen as how the error was yours and not theirs."
She bowed to him again, keeping her mouth shut, despite the furious thoughts that were whirling in her head. How dare he tell her she needed his permission to see a friend? Her miko powers flared angrily before she managed to quell them.
"I must return to give my orders to that taijiya."
She opened her mouth to speak, but snapped it shut again. He did however, notice.
"Speak." He ordered.
"I asked Sango-chan to take care of Rin-chan until our return My Lord. I asked her to tell Rin-chan that we wanted to spend some time alone." She bowed again.
He looked down at her, silently impressed with the honor she was showing right now. She walked willingly into her punishment and already took care of loose ends. His anger at her decreased a fair bit, but he would still not let her get away with it.
Kagome noticed his youki dropping a little and did the same with her miko powers.
"I believe we are not far from the cave of our mating."
She stiffened in fear.
"Return to camp and gather your gear and return here at once. You are not to speak with either the houshi or my brother ever again unless if you have my permission first. Am I understood?"
"Yes My Lord." She bowed again, shocked that he would order her to never speak to her friends again.
"You are dismissed."
She bowed again and retraced her steps back to the camp to return two hours later with her bag full of supplies. They walked to the foot of the mountain the cave was in. She couldn't help but to whimper a bit as painful memories returned to her.
He grabbed her and flew her up to the cave, looked around once, ordered her to clean it up some, than left. The cave omitted a dark aura to her but she forced her head high and marched in, noticing someone had burned all the furs.
She set her bag down and opened it up, pulling out her sleeping bag and setting it up before pulling out some candles and incense. There was still a fair bit of wood so she started a small fire and lit the incense, letting it cover the smell of burnt hide that still permeated the air.
She only lit two instead of four, conscious of Sesshomaru stronger sense of smell. She moved her bag off to the side as she sat on her seeping bag, having set it up on the opposite side of the fire from where the furs had been.
She watched the flames flicker as she unconsciously scanned for Sesshomaru's youki. She felt it returning around evening. She held back a whimper as she stood and faced him as he landed and walked into the cave.
(POV)
He took off both of his swords and set them down at the back of the cave before scanning their surroundings. She had set up a few things to make it seem more homely and he could feel the dark aura that permeated this place.
"Purify that aura." He ordered simply as he walked past her back to the front of the cave.
He felt her power rising and waited patiently as she chanted for an hour before he felt the aura disperse. Smirking inward he turned to face her to see her exhausted. Providing he didn't infuriate her she would be unable to draw enough power to hurt him now.
"You have two choices for your punishment. You will chose one. Your pain, or my pleasure?" He asked emotionlessly, his back still facing her as he watched the sun set and the stars start to come out.
"My lord?" She asked, shock in her voice.
"Two choices. Your pain or my pleasure. Choose."
She lowered her gaze as she though over her options. He was asking if she wanted to either mate with him, or be beaten by him. Shuddering at the thought of a whip lashing her, she quickly choose the latter of his options. Beside, that was something she had some experience with and she could use it to help pay him back for what she owed him for his patients yesterday.
"I choose your pleasure, My lord."
He nodded his head, turning around to see her already disrobing, taking him by surprise. Now nude before him, she walked up to him and started to remove his own clothing.
Her hands shock slightly and he could tell she was afraid, but she remained determined as well. So help her she would keep her honor and go through with her promise no matter how uncomfortable or afraid she was.
(break)
"Where is Sesshomaru-sama and Kagome-sama?" Rin asked.
"They wanted to spend some time alone together." Sango answered calmly as she, Rin and Shippo were washing clothes in the stream.
"Oh." Rin looked disappointed.
"Don't worry Rin-chan. They'll be back." Shippo said, trying to cheer her up. "Now we have time to be by ourselves and can do whatever we want." He gave her a big grin.
Rin returned it. They finished with their laundry and then headed out to get into as much mischief as was humanly and kitsunely possible. Which was a lot. Their antics were so hilarious that even Inuyasha had a good chuckle, though he spent most of the time looking of towards the mountain he knew his brother had dragged Kagome off to.
"Baka." He thought with a sneer, uncertain if he was directing it at Kagome or Sesshomaru. "I would have protected you Kagome. You didn't need to do this. You don't deserve it. If anyone deserved punishment for dishonour last night it was Sesshomaru."
"Inuyasha, do you plan on spending all day in that tree?" Miroku asked calmly from where he was leaning against it.
"Keh." Was the expected reply.
"I do not like this anymore than you do, but as Kagome-sama's friends we must respect her decisions. We have no right to interfere in something that does no concern us. Did Kagome-sama interfere every time you confronted Kikyo-sama?"
Inuyasha felt a twinge of regret and pain. Miroku was right. Kagome had never interfered with him and Kikyo, no matter how much it had hurt her. He looked back towards the mountain, realizing that Sesshomaru's punishment, in many ways, was no different then Kikyo trying to bring him to hell.
"Kagome….be safe." He thought as he jumped down from the tree and walked off into the woods away from the mountain, vowing that if his brother hurt her spirit he would make sure he paid for it.
(break)
When he had giving her the options to take her punishment in her own pain or in his pleasure, he had never figured this would happen. He had never felt so good in his entire life, and the scent of the oil she was using was pleasant as well.
For once in his life he could truly say he was completely relaxed as her skilled hands worked out the tightness in his finely honed muscles. Her scent was also relaxing as she was completely at ease, having worked out her nervousness and fear half an hour ago.
"Alright, my lord, turn over." She said as her hands disappeared from his back.
He rolled over and looked up into grey-green eyes that were tinged with amusement at how easy she had turned his anger and thoughts of revenge into the content growling of a puppy.
She rubbed more oil on her hands as she set to work again, his eyes sliding shut in pleasure.
"Where did you learn this?" He asked.
"When my mother was pregnant with Souta she always had lots of muscle cramps so I took a weekend course to help her. She loved it so much I took a longer course to help her alleviate the pain. Her back was constantly killing her. After Souta was born and father died she was under a lot of stress. I just did what I could to help her." She answered.
"Honorable." He said simply.
She smiled as she got him 'purring' again. The flickering fire helped to add to the moment and the incense she had chosen matched her own sent and the oil so well she was able to get anything out of him at this moment, his mind too numb from pleasure to notice much of anything going on around him.
She held back a chuckle as she continued to work, her hands smoothing out the knots in his muscles. She tisked, astounded a how many there were.
"My lord?"
"Hmm?"
"I was thinking that I owe you a lot for your patience with my friends and for putting up with the disrespect offered to you from the people of my time and was thinking of a way to pay you back for it."
"Continue."
She smiled as she looked down into his golden eyes, now looking up at her with curiosity.
"Well, how about this? The cave really is a poor place to do this, but our private hot spring would be so much better. I could do this whenever you desire."
He didn't have to think about it for long.
"That is an acceptable payment for my patience." He said.
She smiled as she leaned over him and kissed him. He was shocked at first, than wrapped his arm around her and deepened it. They broke apart and she went back to making him growl contently.