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 's beleaguered administration. Thanks.

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The Red Hunger

Chapter 8

Words in Italics are thoughts

Kouga awoke with a blistering headache. What happened? He ever so slowly pried open his eyes, barely containing a flinch as a stripe of dim light hit his pupils, causing them to contract painfully. It was only when he attempted to move did he realize he couldn't. Thick manacles chained his arms above his head, suspending him like a cut of beef in a butchery.

With the greatest care for his aching head, he took in his surroundings. It seemed he was in a large, dark room that was far below the earth- if the cool air was anything to go by. A heavy iron door with a small barred window, that allowed in some flickering torch light, was the only entrance. The wolf Prince hastily tried to recall his last memories….I was…testing the barriers around…I was trying to see the Great Taiyoukai! Yes. Then…then I awoke here, in this dungeon.

Sesshoumaru stifled a sigh as he watched Kouga-kun try to understand his situation. Really, captives were so boring. No one was original anymore. He could practically hear the Princeling's thoughts. Hmmm, time to relieve some tension, ne?

Kouga jumped as he saw a shape detach its self from the shadows. Then his gaze traveled upward and was captured by a pair of brilliantly red eyes. The gray figure stepped into the torchlight, and shone like a fallen star. It was then that Kouga knew true terror. Sesshoumaru-sama.

The Taiyoukai allowed a small sneer to cross his face upon smelling the bitter tang of fear coming from the wolf. "It seems that you are in a bit of a predicament Prince Kouga. May this Sesshoumaru ask why you were attempting to breach the border of my estate?"

Kouga fought to move his thick tongue, but fear held him immobile. The icy politeness of the query made him sick. Those eyes, with that hungry gaze, devoured him. Piercing through the layers of his consciousness, into his very soul. Kouga's eyes cast about the room desperately trying to gather courage. It was only then that he realized the Taiyoukai was naked. Every rumor he'd ever heard of the Great Lord's bizarre sexual practices tumbled through his mind. Women, little girls, men. Oh Gods, please --please-- help me!!

Why is he staring at my …groin? I don't know. Do you think he's one of those deranged people who think pain is arousing? Kagome likes pain. She is not deranged. Really? I could have sworn she -- I my self, find any pain Kagome inflicts on me…exciting. True, it makes the pleasure so much sweeter. I do not smell lust on him, just intense fear. Oh, he probably believes we will rape him. Ah. One of those who think the rumors are true. This will be delicious. Mmmmm, I wonder how loud he can scream. Indeed.

"You have not answered my question? Maybe a less difficult one will be simpler for your doubtful intelligence to comprehend. Tell me, do you know any miko's?"

Confusion furrowed the Prince's brow. Miko's? What does he want with a miko? " Yes. I know a miko." Kouga winced at the crack in his voice.

Sesshoumaru stepped closer and pressed his torso against the back of the shivering youkai. "How do you know this miko?"

Kouga couldn't hold back a whimper when he felt the inuyoukai's chill breath slither across his cheek. " She helped my pack, and is my mate to be. Why?"

"How very interesting. I have a problem, maybe you can help this Sesshoumaru?" His clawed hand stroked gently down Kouga's neck.

Kouga felt the flame false hope light in him. Maybe he needs the help of a miko against an enemy? If I can help him, maybe he'll set me free? Surely Kagome will agree to help! "Yes Sesshoumaru -sama, I will help you solve your problem in anyway I can."

The demon lord pulled back, and favored Kouga with a calculating look. "Of course you will. What is the name of this miko, your mate to be?"

Kouga gulped, the Taiyoukai's lips were still only inches away from his ear, his hand still rhythmically grazing his pulse, still intimately pressed back to front. " Her name is Kagome."

The wolf Prince didn't scream when he felt Sesshoumaru's fist push through his spine, then his viscera, only to finally poke through his abdomen. He didn't yell as fragrant green poison melted through his groin. Nary a whimper came out of his mouth when his ribcage was pried open like a clamshell, and his heart impaled on the Great Lord's claws. Maybe he was so very silent because Sesshoumaru had ripped out his vocal cords. However, he did make some truly humorous gurgling sounds towards the end.

Sesshoumaru was very disappointed that he had to silence Kouga-kun. It turned out that he screamed rather loudly. But it wouldn't do for Kagome to hear him. No, it wouldn't do at all.

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Stupid, stupid, stupid youkai! Argh!!! I can't believe him. Kagome flopped back on the large bed, she was back where everything had begun: Sesshoumaru's blacker than black bedroom. The color suited her mood perfectly. She had always thought that Inuyasha's worst, and most annoying, trait was his unruly temper. Then she met Sesshoumaru. Never had the stark difference between the two siblings been more evident then when she had argued with the Western Lord earlier.

The greatest reaction she'd gotten from him was the elegant lift of a silver eyebrow. Then she might have…. kinda…maybe lost control.

"Please, please let him go."

"No."

"Why? He wasn't doing anything."

"He was attempting to break through my wards. He does not have permission to be here."

"LET HIM GO."

In retrospect it was a bad idea to launch herself at Sesshoumaru. Nix that. It was a horrific idea. Unfortunately, this only occurred to her after she felt his warm, naked flesh press up against her own barely clad form.

With an understated shrug of a shoulder he tossed the unconscious Kouga to the ground, and bent so that he was eyelevel with Kagome. This is where he raised the infuriating eyebrow!

"Why do you argue? What you say has no point."

"…………." All of Kagome's thoughts had flown out of the window, when his intense voice shushed across her rapidly flushing face.

"You wished for me to put him down, I have done so. What do you require now?"

All of a sudden it hit her. He was right, her argument had no point. She really had no clue why Kouga was here, she didn't even know what youkai laws or rules Kouga might have breached when he entered Sesshoumaru's domain. She only started to object on instinct. She was so used to forcing Inuyasha to see logic by fighting with him. Sesshoumaru had every step planned far in advance. Hell, they'd probably patrolled the border because he'd felt Kouga trying to get through earlier. Dammit, she hated apologizing!

"I am sorry Sesshoumaru-sama. I was not thinking. I guess I was just upset to see Kouga-kun unconscious."

In response the Taiyoukai pulled back, separating their bodies. Kagome felt oddly bereft at the lack of contact. He bent to pick up Kouga, giving Kagome a fine view of his perfectly curved buttocks. She smiled faintly at the memory of Sesshoumaru's low purrs when she touched the sweet spot where the base of his spine tapered off and his tail began.

Kagome was so caught up in ogling the Western Lord's backside, that she had to run a couple of step to catch up with the swiftly walking youkai. Walking…wait, why are we walking?

"Sesshoumaru-sama, why are we walking? If it will be faster, you can….transform and I shall hold Kouga-kun while riding."

He abruptly stopped, unceremoniously tossed the wolf off his shoulder, and snarled in Kagome's face. "We will walk." With that harshly spat statement Sesshoumaru took hold of Kouga's ponytail and dragged him behind him like one would a sack of potatoes.

Once Kagome emerged from the shock that Sesshoumaru, ye olde ice prince, just snarled at her-- she raced to catch up. What was that?

Now here she was sitting in bed, fuming. Once they had entered the grand hallway of the Western Citadel, Sesshoumaru had summoned the little green toad thing, and told him to lead Kagome to 'our' room. That had been an hour ago! She was starving, and had too much time to think.

She was torn between giddy shock at the fact that she'd just had her first sexual experience of any type last night, and immense guilt that it wasn't with Inuyasha. Oh Inuyasha, what am I going to do? The miko felt somewhat cheap that she done that to someone she didn't love. Yet she couldn't regret it. What Sesshoumaru had made her feel….the expression on his face….how could she regret having helped create that glorious beauty? But I love Inuyasha! Why do I feel this…connection…to Sesshoumaru? WHY?! She sighed into the satin sheets. Life was so confusing. I don't even fight Sesshoumaru anymore. Last night I wanted him to touch me, and my senses were not even under the influence of that blood bonding stuff.

Just as she was about to continue herself recrimination, a soft 'whushing' sound echoed through the room. From previous experience Kagome turned, knowing the heavy doors had just been opened.

There stood Sesshoumaru, his normally pristine white skin streaked in some glistening red substance that matched his crimson eyes perfectly. His hair was drenched in the stuff, and slicked back away from his face.

Time stilled as the two stared at each other. Then the Taiyoukai turned and stalked with inhuman grace into the washroom, leaving an affronted miko in his wake.

What was he covered in? If I didn't know better I'd say it was drying blood. No. There was so much of it, who…they would be dead… Kouga. The thought ricocheted through her shocked mind for a few moments, then she sprang into action.

Kagome burst into the washroom just as Sesshoumaru had reached the center of the large bath. The tips of his hair skimmed the surface, swirls of blood like the gnarled fingers of an old crone gripped the water.

He merely lifted his brow at her, as if to say 'yes?'

"What have you done?"

"That is such a broad question Kagome-sama. Do you mean to ask what has happened with Kouga-kun?" The last part was spit out with such derision, it almost sounded like jealousy.

"Yes, what-happened-to-Kouga?" Each word was sharply punctuated by the harsh beginnings of hysteria.

More silence met her query. Then he raised his fisted hand to eye level and then opened his hand. Two gleaming Shikon shards tumbled to Kagome's feet. "Well parts of Kouga-kun are in a decent sized cell down below, and the rest of him….well Kagome-sama you are looking at the rest of him." With this he immersed himself fully into the steaming liquid, quickly tainting it pink as the flaking blood and gore dissolved. Peripherally he observed Kagome's reaction to his statement.

Her eyes grew wide and glassy, as her skin quickly became unhealthily pale. Soundlessly Kagome turned and walked out of the bathing chamber, seemingly unaware of the silent tears running down her face.

I should of taken care of this more discreetly. Yes. She did not take the news of his death well. Can you make a bigger understatement? You- we- cannot treat her with the casual cruelty as we do with others. You speak the truth. It was a mistake to be so flippant. Go. Fix this.

Chapter 9 Preview

Red eyes widened in shock as they fixed on the scene before them. … ….The youkai pressed a chill, white, hand to her shoulder-- hoping for at least a flinch-- there was nothing. ….You can play with her all you want, I intend to screw her.

Hi All,

I apologize for the charpter's lateness. But here it is. I thank you all so much for your encouragement and threats. Though there might be times when RL keeps me from posting please rest assured that the story will be finished.

Also NO ONE has won the contest yet. There are three different couples states in the prophecy, read it carefully then think about it. Please don't limit yourself to conventional couples either (there will be one male/male couple so think outside the box folks, you must all already be good at that-- after all you are reading a kag x sess.) Before anyone asks NO sess will not turn gay.

CONTEST RULES

Many of you have tried guessing who the "lover of fire," from last chapter's prophecy, is and more importantly who that persons lover is. The prophecy is literal in that sense. The first three reviewers who correctly guess the pairing that the prophecy is referring too will be contacted (leave your email) and allowed to dictate the sex/physical appearance/and characteristics of three minor characters in the story ( a servant and the two remaining Lords). So the question is who is the "lover" and who is the "fire?" Only one guess at one pairing per reviewer!!Bai bai,

Xan-chan

(Bella Jade)

As always, death threats, prophecies of the future, stock market tips, psychoanalysis, the secret of life, and reviews are much appreciated!