This is a work of fanfiction. Inuyasha and all characters belonging to the anime/manga do not belong to me. The plot and original characters do. So please don't sue. SPOILERS up to Kikyo's death

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WARNING: This story is rated ****R **** for adult themes (i.e. sex, violence, and language). Lemony goodness is anticipated. Stay away if you are underage. If you feel that this story is abusing its R rating, please bring it up with the author, and I will adjust it. I would much appreciate it if you did this first, before bothering ff.net's beleaguered administration. Thanks.

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The Red Hunger

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Chapter 4

[Words in Italics are thoughts]

Years of creeping up on unsuspecting female bathers had definitely taught Miroku a few things. It was with the greatest care that he crept up to the ledge overlooking the small spring that he knew Kagome-sama was currently occupying. Ah, be careful not to slip on the rocks as you did last night!!

That had been a particularly painful moment, falling from the edge of the cliff into the spring – only to surface and have a brief reconnoiter with Sango's weapon. Damn but that woman has a good arm. Poking his head out from a protective boulder, the monk looked down. There stood Kagome frantically stripping off her Kimono. It was all Miroku could do not to gasp when he got a good look at her body.

Down her chest, partially covered by what Miroku had heard Kagome call a 'bik-een-eey,' was a long painful cut that looked partially healed. At her neck was a rather vicious looking scar, which appeared for the entire world to be a bite mark. Added to the healing claw marks going down both arms, the miko looked as if she'd been engaging in some highly questionable activities. Kami-sama….what caused this? What happened to her?

What confused him the most was that she was just standing there, waist deep in the spring, with her arms crossed…..looking slightly impatient, but not doing a thing. After a few seconds she brought a hand to her shoulder, where the new wound was, and studied her bloodied fingers rather curiously.

"Hai, this is more than enough….where is he?!"

He? Before Miroku could finish the thought, he saw a white blur slam Kagome into the rock face of the very cliff he was leaning off of. His eyes grew wide as saucers when he saw whom it was. Sesshoumaru! Fear and worry for Kagome lanced through him, and he was about to jump down and start calling for Inuyasha when he caught the Taiyoukai's words.

"Who did this to you?" Hearing the tone of Sesshoumaru question was akin to sampling a fine wine: colored with many flavors. Fury, tenderness, and unending resolve were all couched the frosty question.

Kagome's response was most surprising. Instead of crying and struggling like she should have been, Kagome lay complacent in what had to be a very painful position. "No one did this to me, it was an accident. I fell while running from a youkai…a…a branch caught my shoulder."

"I will kill this youkai. Tell me, who dares to touch you?"

"It is already dead. Inuyasha killed it."

"None are allowed to spill your blood…except for me."

Kagome snorted at Sesshoumaru's, or rather his Beast's statement. "Yeah, except for yo—" whatever else she was going to say was silenced.

Miroku stood riveted by the sight before him. It was both the most vicious and tender act that he had ever witnessed. The youkai was leisurely tonguing the cut at Kagome's shoulder, as she bit her lip in a desperate bid not to cry out. This is enough! He is hurting her.

Once again he was about to intervene when Kagome lost her battle and moaned. Kagome was not in pain, but awash with sensual pleasure. Her body went limp at Sesshoumaru's ministrations, as her hands buried themselves in his tinsel hair, pulling the youkai closer.

I can't be seeing this. I ……it…… Miroku's thoughts stuttered to a halt, as he got a good look at Sesshoumaru's eyes. They were the sharp, bright red of freshly spilt blood. He was startled to see the youkai growl and nip his way down Kagome's neck until he reached the soft swell of her breasts. It was only when Sesshoumaru flipped them over so that Kagome was laying beneath him, did Miroku see what her hands were doing.

Eyes that were already impossibly large grew even bigger. Nimble fingers were busy working Sesshoumaru's shirt from his pants, in what was definitely a practiced motion. In frustration Kagome pushed at her blood letter's shoulders until he grudgingly halted his exploration of her cleavage. A harsh tear rent the silence as Kagome heatedly flung the white cloth away.

She gazed upon the muscled expanse of skin exposed to her with pleasure, as she delicately traced each ridge and dip down his abdomen. The taiyoukai was having none of that. With a deadly flick of his wrist her 'bik-een-eey' lay in tatters about her, baring her pert breasts to Sesshoumaru' s heated gaze.

Miroku's pupils dilated as his mind feebly attempted to assimilate what it was seeing. In any other instance Miroku would have been sending thank you prayers to Buddha, but…..But this is unreal. I don't understand…how can she… how can he be doing this? The monk was frozen in place as impossible events unfolded before him. Sesshoumaru raised his blood kissed lips from the becoming pucker of Kagome's nipple and plundered her willing mouth. Their unwilling spectator was held in the thrall of shock. Fates unknowing catalyst.

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Kagome sighed as she slowly began her descent back into reality. Sesshoumaru's wicked tongue was probing the corner of her mouth setting her poor abused nerve endings awhirl with delight. She eagerly let him in, naughtily flicking her own tongue betwixt his fangs.

It was to her surprise, when a few days ago she'd discovered his fangs were an erogenous zone. Hai…his fangs and his tail. Sometimes, when she felt particularly 'bad,' she'd even purposely nick her tongue on a scalpel sharp point. Yes, frenching a fanged person was a learned art form. Not that Kagome was complaining……that just meant she'd have to practice.

It had become a secret point of pride that the smallest drop of her blood would push the stoic youkai into a frenzied state.

The cool press of flesh again flesh startled her completely awake, "You did it again!"

Sesshoumaru, who was straddling her, crossed his arms and eyed the healing cut at her shoulder. "It is noon. Why am I here now?"

"Well, there was this youkai, and then…. I ….ah ….tripped over it. Then there was this bush---"

"Indeed."

The honey thick condescension in that word made Kagome flinch. "Don't patronize me. You've ruined another bathing suit!! Can't you keep you hands to your self?"

Sesshoumaru merely raised an eyebrow. "You yourself have ruined a fair number of my shirts."

"What?! I've only ripped a seam…or two."

"It is odd that you ningens are so ashamed of your natural form. One would think that you felt your breasts were inadequate."

"What?! Why…why…you…. HA! At least I don't have an Oedipus complex!!!"

At this Sesshoumaru stood, and walked rather menacingly towards her. He was not quite sure what exactly an Edd-oh-puss was…..but it cannot have been complimentary!

Kagome scrambled backward, "I apologize….but you have to admit you do have this obsession with breasts. I was reading about it in my textbook and I think you have these unresolved issues with your moth---"

"Can you not be silent for a moment Ka-go-me?"

Kagome 'Hmph'ed,' but complied. The taiyoukai delicately sniffed the air.

"It would seem that we have company." With this statement Sesshoumaru's tail reeled Kagome in like a fish. It looked as if she was wearing a fluffy tube top.

Have you never heard of the man that grabbed hold of a tiger by its tail? It is said he was never able to let go for fear of being eaten.

Kagome's eyes frantically searched for their observer, until she was jerked forward when Sesshoumaru jumped atop the cliff that over looked the spring, Hey that's were Miroku fell from last night…..

"Miroku!" Fear pervaded Kagome's mind as understanding dawned.

"Is he a part of your group?"

A small broken "Hai," was Sesshoumaru's answer. His eyes narrowed as he took in the monks still form. This Sesshoumaru does not tolerate spies.

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The press of claws against ones neck did wonders to snap you out of shock. Really it did!

"Grmph—"

"Let him go!!"

"No."

"Please!!! "

"Why should I?"

"He is my friend……….please I …………beg you."

"Your friends spy on you?"

"No...it's just that ….." Kagome trailed off as she realized that this line of reasoning would not solve the problem, and by the interesting blue color Miroku was turning, she had to think fast. How do I get him to let go…….

Miroku collapsed to the floor in an ungraceful heap. Each gasp of breath punctuated the deafening silence. Silence? As his bleary eyesight cleared Miroku looked up to see the unnerving sight of Kagome and Sesshoumaru kissing.

In a few short seconds Sesshoumaru raised his head and pinned Miroku with a stare that could have frozen the droplets of sweat forming on his back. The Taiyoukai's tongue ran the seam of Kagome's lips cleaning up the chain of ruby beads spilling forth. All throughout, his bleak eyes were boring holes into the gaping monk.

"Why are you here?"

In a show of bravery, Miroku clasped his staff and pushed himself standing. With uncharacteristic calmness, and a hopefully diplomatic stance Miroku eyed the youkai before him, " Is Kagome O.K? "

At his question Sesshoumaru glanced down at the miko he was cradling to his chest. Miroku could have sworn he saw satisfaction flash through the Taiyoukai's eyes.

"She will be fine…………it takes her longer to recover."

Ah! Finally a piece of information. " Recover from what?"

"I have taken more blood than usual, and she is still caught up in it."

"It? What exactly do you mean?" More blood than usual? This has been happening on a regular basis? What exactly is happening?

Before Miroku could continue his thoughts Kagome began to stir. Her clear blue eyes looked at Miroku. Empires rose and fell in the seconds before she spoke, "I don't know what to say to you."

For a moment Miroku could only continue his cunning impersonation of a rock before answering her. As the monk studied Kagome, he saw before him a woman torn, and a friend in need, but most importantly a person desperately begging for forgiveness….. But what has she done?

He'd never been able to deny his Kagome-sama anything. "Kagome—please—what is happening?" The rigid tenseness that had possessed her melted away like ice cream under a blazing summer sun. Miroku was sure she would have collapsed in relief at his accepting words. He, more than most, knew the true value of acceptance.

Miroku had no idea how valid his thoughts were, Kagome would have collapsed in relief….if not for the tight hold that Sesshoumaru (via his tail) had on her. The Taiyoukai had resolved to keep his own council in this matter.

Kagome led her friends like well-trained dogs, and in this instance they were both of the same mind—the less people that knew of their unlikely circumstances the better. Plus, he trusted that if Kagome's charming brand of persuasion could not buy the monk's silence….then his ten sharp, and poison infused claws would do the trick. They certainly were handy little things!

As Kagome wrapped up the tale of the odd occurrences that surrounded their current circumstances, Miroku could only wonder how none of them had noticed what was happening. Why didn't she tell anyone what was happening to her? She's had to deal with all of this on her own……well maybe not quite.

Miroku ventured a glance at the youkai behind Kagome. Throughout the entire conversation he had not said a word, but Sesshoumaru's silence was thunderous. While the Taiyoukai's seraphic face remained characteristically devoid of any expression, his hands were in constant contact with Kagome.

At first they possessively held her waist, and rubbed a spot just below her hip when she began their story…..as Kagome had gained some confidence his grip loosened, and Sesshoumaru's pale fingers darted through her hair like minnows through a bed of kelp. While Kagome did not actively notice the Western Lord's peculiar attentions, she seemed to pull comfort from them.

For her part Kagome fiddled with the waistband of Sesshoumaru's pants. Neither really noticed that they were keeping in constant contact with each other. In Miroku's eyes this was all rather odd behavior for a girl who claimed that all touch between them was forced, and for a human hater the youkai had no qualms cuddling the miko in his tail. What startled Miroku the most was how they fit together….Like two halves of a Ying Yang.

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Night waltzed in with a sweep of her black satin skirts, bedecked in diamonds galore. Kagome sat by the fire, attempting to cull what warmth she could. Her shoulders were hunched, and her small hands would spasmodically clench and unclench around the hem of her kimono. Every now her eyes would flash to Miroku's silent form.

After 'the Telling,' he'd simply nodded and said he need some time to think. However before taking his leave, Miroku promised to keep their secret, agreeing that it was the best thing to do. Kagome was thankful that Sesshoumaru had nodded in agreement, or else they'd all still be out there, as she was numb with shock.

It had taken previously unknown reserves of strength to keep some semblance of calm when as she looked into the eyes of one of her dearest companions, and told him how she'd deceived him for the past two and a half weeks. Curiously enough her main source of strength was the youkai Lord. There were times during the account where days of pent up emotions strained to break through, and if not for the reassuring warmth of Sesshoumaru's tail she would have definitely broken down into a sobbing jumble of hair, meat, and bone.

When Miroku had left them, under the auspice of 'allowing Kagome-sama to dress,' Sesshoumaru had swiftly spun her around and captured her dainty chin with his claws. Like the sun they mimicked, the youkai's eyes appeared to see everything… including the fact that Kagome was tottering on the edge of a dangerous precipice.

"Who are you?"

"What?"

"Who are you?"

O.k. maybe he should not have quite so much of my blood….it obviously makes him a tad loopy! As his golden gaze continued to unerringly meet her pristine blue one, Kagome realized that Sesshoumaru was serious. "I am Kagome Higurashi."

"Whose are you Kagome?"

"What?! I am no ones!!!" His claws tightened their hold on her jaw.

"Who do you belong too?" Her hand flew to the silvered scar at her neck, as his growled question shot shivers up her spine. It became obvious to Kagome that the only way to appease the demon was to give him the answer that he oh-so-obviously wanted. She was only left to wonder where this was all going.

"I belong to you Sesshoumaru-sama." She was rewarded with a glint of approval.

'Do I possess weak things?"

"No."

"Then you must be strong." This was most definitely a statement, and not a question.

Time sluggishly inched by, as Kagome stared silently perplexed at Sesshoumaru. Eventually, the light bulb dinged, the fireworks went off, a bell clanged, the sun rose, and a man in a bathtub shouted 'Eureka!'

"Yes, Sesshoumaru….I am strong." A terse nod of approval was the youkai's response to her revelation. He abruptly planted a sugar sweet kiss on her mouth, and was gone after reminding her to summon him tomorrow at the usual time.

As a 'pop' came from the fire hastily garbling up a young piece of wood, Kagome came to a decision. I refuse to sit here like some prisoner awaiting sentence! Firmly pushing all thoughts of guilt and betrayal aside she stood. "Miroku-chan….may I speak to you for a moment."

Her soft voice jolted the monk out of his contemplations. The seconds stretched as Miroku considered her for a while. "As you wish Kagome."

With that she stood, and began to lead him back towards the now infamous spring. She heard a rustling in the trees above her. "I would like to speak to Miroku alone Inuyasha." A grunt that sounded suspiciously like a 'Feh' was heard, and the gossiping leaves above went silent.

Neither said a word until they reached the waters edge. Kagome frowned in consternation when Miroku removed his shoes, sat on a rocky outcropping, and began dangling his feet in the warm water. She knelt beside him and sighed.

"Miroku….. I apologize."

"What are you sorry for Kagome?"

"For everything."

"Do you know what I realized?" He looked up and saw her shake her head, "I realized that you are really not to blame. If I were in your situation I would be doing the same thing. It is I that should apologize for making you doubt that you were to blame for anything that has been happening." At this he finally met her tear-pricked eyes, "And I don't just mean these recent events. The question is Kagome…..do you forgive yourself?"

Kagome's form stood poetically silhouetted against the rising moon, until she gave in to the emotions that had been gnawing at her gut. Miroku's arms enveloped her crumpled figure, as he wondered how he'd been upgraded from hentai to comforter. The miko's next words stabbed at his heart.

"Sorry , sorry, sorry!" her wet sobs punctuated each apology.

Miroku sighed, "For what Kagome-sama….you are blameless." This just made her cry harder.

"I apologize for lying to you about this—this—thing, and for breaking the Shikon, for being Kikyou's reincarnation, for not being strong enough, and….and….."

"Shhhh. Kagome it's O.k.…..shhhh." The monk awkwardly patted her back as he had seen mothers do with crying children. Unfortunately Miroku was no Moses, and there was no holding back this sea of tears. Eventually she began to quiet, until she was just hugging him tightly.

"You must think I am such a weakling."

Oh, if she only knew how strong I think she is. "Hardly Kagome-sama, I think that you are the strongest of us all."

"Thank you Miroku…for being here….for helping me with this."

"No Kagome-sama it is I who should be thanking you!"

"Errr….for what?"

"Well, for proving my theory right of course!"

"Huh!?"

"Oh, I had always wondered who had the bigger breasts…..you or Sango-chan…..today I finally was able to put my mind to rest. Your breasts are much bigger Kagome-sama. Are you sure you wont bear my children?"

Kagome stood dumb struck for a moment. The sharp crack of skin hitting skin at high speed echoed through the moon washed forest, "HENTAI!!!!"

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Sesshoumaru was staring into his bedrooms large fireplace, while reclining on a decadent set of overlarge black silk pillows. For lack of a better word, the Greater Lord of Japan was brooding. Why did I try to comfort her?

Sesshoumaru was more confounded than usual when it came to his treatment of Kagome. He had become frequently aware of a growing respect for the woman-child, and was being remarkably calm about the odd possessiveness he had developed towards her as of late…..but… This is too much! I tried to make feel better for God's sake.

The possessiveness could be chalked up to the fact that he'd marked her. He'd expected to feel that, and was prepared to deal with it. After all, to a youkai that had spent no small time fighting to keep what he had, possessiveness was no new emotion to Sesshoumaru. Even the respect he had for her was due to the uncommon level headedness she'd used to approach the….the…situation. She was a testament to the remarkable diversity of her race.

Yes, her race…yet another mystery. Today as she talked to the monk, he'd been in a position to try and test the idea that had occurred to him earlier. The more he thought about it…..the more positive he became….Kagome was definitely not ningen.

Her aura, both on the terrestrial and astral plane, were much too large….and as active as any respectable youkai's. But the most solid piece of evidence was her smell….or rather lack of one. All humans, including his Rin, had a base stench. It was the smell of sweat, and the continuous death of each cell that made up the husks that housed their souls for their brief lifespan.

The miko smelled of cherry blossoms, and more recently of sweet, sweet arousal. Sesshoumaru squelched a groan, and settled in for another night of dreams haunted by the miko's moans.

Jakken grinned to himself as he stoked the fire, Finally, it seemed that Sesshoumaru-sama was catching on. His faith in the Great Lord was not misplaced. Yes, everything is going well. That means….soon….soon this Jakken will have to show Sesshoumaru-sama the scrolls. His hunched form shuddered at the thought of his master's reaction when told that he'd hidden them from him to begin with. Sesshoumaru-sama is very creative when it come to new ways to cause pain.

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Kagome settled down around the campfire, having finished her day's business with human's, hanyou's, youkai's, and Taiyoukai's alike! She furtively looked up into the surrounding tree's to make sure that her suspicions were correct. It was three day's before the new moon, the night that Inuyasha turned from hanyou to ningen.

Over the years, Kagome had noticed that a few days before the 'dreaded event' Inuyasha would skip off at night and brood about his horrid lot in life, or his mortality….who knew?

Seeing that the hanyou was indeed gone, that Shippou was asleep next to Kirara, and that Sango and Miroku were busy flirting…errr….she meant fighting, Kagome pulled out a folded piece of white cloth and a sowing kit from her yellow back pack.

Had Miroku not been occupied, he could have vouched that the cloth bore an eerie resemblance to the shirt Sesshoumaru was wearing (or that Kagome had stripped him of), the day he'd "chanced" upon them.

It was some time later, when the moon was high in the sky, and all good little miko's were abed, that Kagome heard Sango rustling through the sack that contained their foodstuffs.

"Sango-chan, are you O.k.?" Usually the huntress slept like a log.

"Hai Kagome-chan… my stomach is bothering me a bit. You

know…its…er…my womanly time."

Kagome winced in sympathy. Once she tried to introduce Sango to pad's and tampon's, only to watch a look of horror, usually saved for time when death was imminent, cross her friends face. She still recalled the screech, 'Put what….where?!!!' It seemed that these things were not discussed in medieval Japan. Ah well, it was worth a try!

Just as sleeps gentle embrace was about to claim her, Kagome shot straight up. OH GOD HELP ME!!!!

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Sesshoumaru frowned as the sun's rosy fingers gripped the edge of the horizon for one last moment. Kagome usually summoned him by now. Ever since she'd been harmed- again- he'd grown increasingly paranoid for her physical health.

As the North Star made its brilliant presence known, Sesshoumaru inhaled deeply, and took off in search of his errant miko.

When he found her by the edge of a spring, he realized that it was maybe not her physical health he should concern himself with, but rather her mental health. Kagome was frenetically pacing back and forth, muttering to herself.

Not used to having his being ignored, Sesshoumaru growled. Her response was instantaneous. Kagome snapped around and chucked herself into the unknowing youkai's chest. It was even more difficult to make out what she was saying now that his sleeve was muffling her words.

"Sesshoumaru…we have a big…..no HUGE problem! I mean how could I forget!!!! Thank Kami I remembered…..oh Kami-sama what will we do? Its really quite a lot of blood…..and it goes on for SEVEN days. What will they say….there is no--"

Kagome found herself being shaken. Once Sesshoumaru determined that she'd re-gathered the obviously shattered pieces of her sanity, he put her down and tilted her chin upwards. "What are you talking about?."

Her wide, wide eyes met his…..just before she began to blush wildly. "Errrr, what exactly do you know about the…..uh…heheheh…ummmm…..the uh…you know……thefemalereproductivecycle?" Something must have betrayed that he had no idea what she was talking about. "You know…that time of the month."

From what he was able to piece together she was referring to the few days that females would disappear after they went into heat. That was as far as his knowledge went. Did she think she could get away without seeing him for that week?

Kagome just stared at the evidently clueless youkai in front of her. The poor man really did not know what was about to hit him.

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The Red Hunger: Chapter 5 Preview

"Fine! But if you get into trouble don't call my name!!!"……….. "Well….it's…uh…ah…it's a tampon."………… Sesshoumaru's mind whirled, and a wicked, wicked smile graced his fey features………… '….for seven days….Oh……the possibilities were endless.'

This Weeks Fanfic Recommendation

Title: Yume

Author: Tsukitani

Darlings this is good stuff….go read it!

Hi All,

Thank you all so very, very much for your kind reviews! I apologize for the lateness of this chapter I have lots of work, and decided to post it all without review responses! I am sorry for not putting the entire 'that time of the month' episode in this chapter. However it was growing quite big, after all there is so much to play with ne? So I decided it deserved it own chapter. So that you are all prepared…..the next chapters will be getting a bit squicky (no nothing vomit inducing), but I am warning you NOW so I don't get any childish reviewers having dealing issues. It will address the menstrual cycle…and other naughty bits! Anyway, I can't tell you how much your reviews have inspired me so please keep it up !!!

Bai bai,

Xan-chan (Bella Jade)