Note: I'm moving the story into more intensely romantic and sexual territory. It's going to earn its R rating for more than just the occasional swearing and violence.

Thanks to KeeraSango for the review! I'm afraid that my interpretations of the characters aren't strictly cannon, especially Miroku, Sesshomeru and Koga, but I'm having too much fun with them as is to apologize or change.

I'd like to thank Kat Morning for the setting of my story, which is based on the alternate universe of her inu fanfic "Blood Ties."

Disclaimer: I do not own Sesshomeru, Koga, Yura, Kagura, Kageromeru, Jeromeru, or any other Inuyasha characters. They are owned by their author/creator, Rumiko Takahashi.

Chapter 24: Infatuation

Kagura arrived scant minutes after she was called. She had been expecting the summons. She knocked on Sesshomeru's door, and heard her lord answer, "Enter."

Kagura came in and dropped down to one knee, her head bowed. Unusually formal for the wind demon, Sesshomeru noted. That indicated that she was worried that he would become angry. Interesting. "You know why you have been called?" the demon lord asked.

Kagura answered formally, "I beg you to tell me, my lord." Very diplomatic: she completely avoided answering the question.

"There is an unusual scent clinging to the Council girl's skin. I would go so far as to say it was similar to your scent."

"Indeed, my lord?"

"Could you explain to me why you licked my prisoner's neck?" Sesshomeru's voice was light, amused.

Kagura raised her head slightly to respond teasingly, "Have you never wondered how a Senior Council member tastes?"

"So you wanted to know more about the girl?" Sesshomeru asked, his voice filled with polite disbelief. His voice hardened when he demanded, "Or did you want to learn more about my physical relationship with her?" Kagura dropped her head again and clenched her fists. "The truth, now."

"My lord, I . . . Who you choose to spend your nights with is none of my business."

"I am glad that you remember, Kagura."

"However, Sesshomeru-sama, your recent behavior has been a . . . cause for concern."

"Speak plainly." Sesshomeru interlaced his fingers, waiting quietly, but his eyes were hard and attentive.

The wind demon looked up into those flint-hard eyes, but was forced to drop her eyes. She blurted, "I feared that you had become infatuated with her, my lord."

"So you tasted her skin, to measure the physical level of our relationship?" His voice and face were expressionless. She nodded. Sesshomeru said confidently, "Then your fears have been laid to rest."

"Not at all, my lord. They have grown."

"What?"

"Please explain to me, my lord, why the girl tastes of Tensaiga's power."

Sesshomeru's voice was suddenly quiet. "I must answer to my own vassal for my actions?"

Kagura was too upset to take the warning. "Please, Sesshomeru-sama, tell me why! Why save that human, when you wouldn't save Kanna? Why?"

Sesshomeru softened slightly; he sounded weary. "We've discussed this before. The Tensaiga's power is extremely difficult to wield. It has taken hundreds of years to gain my current level of control, and mastery is still centuries away. When your sister died, it could have cost me my life to revive her. When I saved the human girl this morning, my only cost was draining the sword's energy for fifteen hours."

"What if you have need of it . . .?"

"It is a risk I chose to take. After all, we need her monk to take down the Nosferatu shield."

"Not necessarily," Kagura contradicted. "We could ally ourselves with the Nosferatu." Sesshomeru fixed her with a piercing gaze, but she continued, "Just think. With a Nosferatu emperor, we would no longer need to disguise ourselves from humans. We could show our true natures instead of hiding in these concrete boxes. Surely you, too, miss the savage world we were born into."

"It was savage in many ways, the least of which was the untamed wilderness," Sesshomeru reminded her. "Have you forgotten the wars between demonkind and vampires? The last Nosferatu emperor killed the last demon emperor over three thousand years ago, but the ground is still filled with the bones of our ancestors who fought in their Great Wars. An alliance with the vampires makes no sense."

"Instead we ally ourselves with humans who pave and pollute land which was ours?"

"You have never given me reason to believe that you dislike your current lifestyle which is, may I remind you, supported by my investments in human industries."

"My lord, you're acting like one of them!" Kagura bit down on her tongue until it bled, but she couldn't unsay the words.

Sesshomeru went still; the only part of him that was alive were his livid eyes. There was a long silence, during which Kagura struggled to breathe in a room suddenly deprived of air. When he finally spoke, his voice was barely above the level of the other demon's breath. "It is good that you brought your concerns to me in private. I never want you to say a word about an alliance with the Nosferatu, or about my supposed "infatuation" ever again, understand?"

"My lord . . . please believe me when I say that my loyalty to you will never waver. I beg you . . ."

Sesshomeru interrupted scornfully, "There is no need to plead for your life. You should know that I don't kill my vassals for expressing opinions to me." He turned away, a clear dismissal.

Kagura reached into her kimono and pulled out her fan, opening it with a snap. Sesshomeru turned to look at her, concerned but not alarmed. He had defeated her previously without any major injuries. But what was she planning?

The woman touched the razor-sharp edge of her fan to her abdomen. "I pledged my life to you, Sesshomeru-sama. If you consider that a burden, say the word and I'll end that life." She looked into his face, demanding an answer.

"Seppuku?" He crouched so that his eyes were at her level and lay a restraining hand on her wrist. "I forbid it. It may be an honorable death, but it isn't good enough for you." A slight tremor went through her hand. "Look at me, Kagura. I still need you to stand behind me. Plus, you're still the only one in the world with any influence over Yura." His voice became more brisk and professional. "I want you to keep an eye on your comrades for me. Let me know what they speak of when I'm not alone."

The fan closed with the sound of paper folding. "I hear and obey, my lord." She touched her head to the floor before rising and leaving.

Sesshomeru clenched his jaw, annoyed. If even his most trusted servant was worried, the others would be thinking along similar lines. He cursed silently, thinking, "I don't have time for this now, with several Nosferatu lords in the city." He called to Masayo, "Send for the human girl."

A minute later, the door opened as the rabbit demon announced, "Kura-san, my lord."

Kura entered hesitantly, uncomfortable in a bright yellow kimono decorated with red leaves. The obi, sized for the slender Rin, wasn't long enough for Kura, so she wore a long ribbon as a belt. Sesshomeru noted with detachment that it was a more flattering pattern when it was worn by Rin. It made this young woman look sickly and washed-out. Or was that because she was especially pale?

She knelt awkwardly, and said hesitantly, "Sesshomeru-dono? You, uh, summoned me?"

"We need to clear up that misunderstanding we had in the mall."

"Um, about that, I was out of line . . . I panicked, my lord." Kura hung her head in shame.

Sesshomeru raised his eyebrows at this admission. "Really? It looked to me as if you knew exactly what you were doing. You went to aid the humans who needed help the most." The demon lord's mouth twisted into an ironic half-smile. "Not at all what I had hoped you would do, but . . ."

"I'm sorry . . ."

"Are you really?" Sesshomeru mused, half to himself. "I should have anticipated your softheartedness." Kura flushed slightly at his condescension, but at least he wasn't angry anymore. "Be warned that, in the future, I expect you get my permission before rushing to the aid of humans. At the very least, you should look to your own safety first." The slight flush reddened. He was pointing out that she had ignored the very first rule of first aid: don't become another victim.

"Hai, Sesshomeru-dono." She started to bow and exit, but he stopped her.

"There is one more thing you should understand. It's about the Tensaiga." He drew the blade, the edge of which was polished to a high sheen and didn't have a single nick. "When you look at it, do you see it's indigo aura? Look closely."

Kura stared at the blade until she could see its afterimage when she blinked, but she was forced to admit she couldn't see anything unusual.

Sesshomeru said, "You don't have even a trace of magical power. How did you get involved in the supernatural world?"

Kura took a step back, startled at the change in topic and defensive. One hand went automatically to the small scar on her neck caused by vampire fangs. "Why do you ask? What does it matter to you?"

Sesshomeru noted the defensiveness of her tone and let it drop. "I simply find it remarkable that someone with no connection to the supernatural both survived the initial encounter and remembered it. As I said to you before, humans have a remarkable capacity for denial."

Kura pressed her lips together and said bitterly, "I've noticed."

Allowing that to pass unquestioned, Sesshomeru said, "If you were able to see the aura, you might notice how faint it is. The sword's power has been exhausted recently.

"Oh?"

"In other words, it takes a great deal of power to cheat death. That power is not unlimited. One thousand years ago, it might have killed me to save a single life. Just four hundred years ago, it would have left the sword exhausted for months. Now, the sword will reach full strength in another six hours. At that time, it will be possible for me to use Tensaiga's power once again."

Kura stared at him, astonished. "One . . . thousand . . . years? How old are you?"

Sesshomeru chuckled. "Did you hear a single word I said after that?"

"Yes, but I don't understand why you're telling this to me . . ."

"I'm telling you that you can't expect miracles from me at every turn. According to the sword's master forger, it has the ability to restore a thousand lives with a single stroke. Unfortunately, that will probably take another thousand years to learn that technique. The Tensaiga requires more patience to master than it's twin fang. For the foreseeable future, don't expect it to save more than one life every fifteen hours."

"Twin fang?"

Sesshomeru shook his head. "I'm not going to stay up all night answering your questions. Get some rest. You look strained."

"Oh. If you wish it, Sesshomeru-sama . . ." She paused, uncertain. Sesshomeru gave her a nod to continue. "Um, could I get some dinner?"

"You were just eating fifteen minutes ago!"

Kura became cross. "Well, you interrupted my snack, and I'm still hungry. On top of that, Masayo won't let me into the kitchen, on your orders!"

Sesshomeru smothered a chuckle. "I'll make you something. What would you like?" Before she could answer, he interjected, "Actually, don't answer that. It probably would have something to do with peanut butter and eggs. You'll just have to eat an actual meal, for a change."

Kura bit her tongue. She had been going to suggest an omelet of leftovers, which was as ambitious as she had ever gotten in the kitchen. "Don't you have a servant to cook for you? That small green demon, perhaps?"

"Jakkin?" Sesshomeru asked, surprised. "You clearly don't know what he considers edible, or you wouldn't ask. No, I haven't ever found anyone, human or youkai, who could meet my standards. How are you with spicy peppers?"

"I never met a Jalepaño I didn't eat," Kura answered.

"Mexican it is, then."

The demon lord made such a show of chopping the vegetables and throwing them into a sizzling pan that Kura half expected him to start juggling the knives. Each spice was added with a practiced flick of the wrist. His speed and grace was as awe-inspiring in the kitchen as it had been in his dojo. Though he didn't smile, Kura could see his pleasure in creating this masterpiece. Oven-warmed tortillas appeared on plates, heaped with beans, cilantro, salsa, rice and vegetables. He folded the tortillas too fast for Kura to follow, but the result was a triangular pocket that kept the steaming sauces inside. Kura hesitated for a moment to displace the garnish and ruin such a delicate creation, but hunger won out. She bit in, letting the warm salsa drip down her chin.

"Wunnerful," she slurped, trying to lick the sauce from her fingers. The rest of her meal disappeared in the time it took Sesshomeru to take a single bite. He raised an eyebrow at her manners, but she refused to be embarrassed. "It really is fantastic cooking. You should open a gourmet restaurant."

Sesshomeru blinked at her, his expression unreadable. "A restaurant?"

Kura wondered if she had just insulted him, but shrugged off the concern. "You're really talented. It would be a great way to unwind. That is, if you ever get tired of your day job of trying to take over the world."

Sesshomeru almost choked on a piece of green pepper. "Take over the world? What would I do with it once I had it?"

Kura noted wryly that he hadn't considered it impossible to take over the world, simply undesirable. What if he changed his mind? Playing along, she said lightly, "Issue a proclamation banning peanut butter. I dunno. Don't evil masterminds always have a goal?"

The demon lord rolled his eyes. "You mean apart from trying to seduce the virginal heroine?"

Kura didn't blush, but her eyes widened slightly as she looked over to be sure he was kidding. Whatever she saw in his eyes, it didn't reassure her; she stared for a moment, transfixed, before she lowered her gaze. "It's been a long day. I'll just go to bed now, like you suggested." As Kura pushed away from the table, Sesshomeru caught her hand.

"Wait." Kura froze, staring at his hand holding hers. He gave it a tug, which made her look up into his eyes. "Masayo is organizing a strategy meeting for tomorrow between myself, Himake-san and your boyfriend--"

"He's not my-- um . . ." She bit her tongue again.

The slight curve of the demon lord's lips was too slight for Kura to notice. As if she had not interrupted, he continued, "I expect you to be there. I'll wake you at eight." He released her hand.

"Hai . . ." Kura said quietly, trying to ignore the sudden warmth she had felt between her thighs the moment he touched her. She thought fiercely, "I am not attracted to him. He's a demon lord, and I'm just a human woman. Why would he even notice me? Not that I care!" She paused for a moment outside his bedroom door and, looking back furtively to make sure he wasn't watching, she laid her palm against the wooden door. She muttered, "Baka, acting like some silly lovestruck schoolgirl. The sooner I leave, the better." She rubbed her hand absently where he'd grasped it, and went into Rin's room with a sigh. She felt exposed wearing only a nightgown to bed, so she rummaged around in the bureau until she found a pair of running shorts.

Lying in Rin's canopied room in the dark, she found all her concentration focused on the door, waiting. "What am I waiting for?" she wondered. "Do I really expect him to come sneaking in here?" Her stomach clenched a bit, and she rolled over so she could watch the narrow line of light shining under the door. "Why the hell would he sneak around in his own house? If he wanted to-- and I can't think of any reason why he should-- he could do anything he wanted with me." She clenched a fist. "I'm sure Masayo is much more attractive to the demon lord than I ever could be. And he certainly seems to be on friendly terms with Yura and Kagura . . ." Unbidden, the memory of Kagura's embrace resurfaced. The sensation of the wet tongue on her neck, the faint chill of the drying saliva . . . and in her imagination, it was Sesshomeru's soft voice that whispered in her ear, stirring the small hairs on the back of her neck.

"No!" she said aloud, angry. "I love Miroku. He's never hurt me, he's always been kind and considerate. He would never hurt me. Not like . . ." She saw Sesshomeru's yellow eyes, not exactly cruel, but so cold and uncaring that the force of that gaze had taken her breath away. A hunter's eyes. The heel of his hand pressing on her broken ribs, the other hand choking her. The flex of muscles in his predator's lithe body, the inhuman speed and grace, the sheer force of his presence. And by god, he was beautiful. The porcelain skin, the perfect symmetry of his face, the elegant movement of his fingers, the gorgeous hair . . . would it feel like silk if she ran her hands through it? Or would it be as soft and warm as down feathers?

"Go to sleep," she told herself firmly. "Just stop thinking and go to sleep." She was sleepy, but her muscles were still wiry and her mind raced. She reached down the low collar of the nightgown to fondle her breasts, stroking around the sensitive nipple with her calloused fingertips. The difference between soft and hard, smooth and rough, warm and cool, was arousing enough to dimple and harden the nipple. Running her nails gently along the inside of her arm, from the wrist towards her breasts, she wondered how claws would feel against her skin. With a slight smile on her lips, she fell asleep remembering eyes that were liquid gold.