Dirty, Sinful, Little Secret

Hello everybody! I want to thank everyone for their wonderful reviews so far! They really do help, and I hope that ya'll will be able to look and tell that I am trying to make this story flow as easy as possible… so on and so forth! Well I will not take up any more of your time! I hope you enjoy this next chapter! Flames, Criticism, and Praise are more than welcome! Thank you once more! BloodyHues.

Chapter Five

The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret

"Feh, stupid wench. How are we supposed to find any jewel shards if we do not go hunting for them? They are not just going to come fall into our laps you know. We have been here for months and we haven't got one Shard to show for it!" Inuyasha angrily hovers near Kagome as she prepares ramen, eyeing her state of dress. She had been acting strange lately, and it was really starting to irritate him.

Sighing, Kagome stirs the ramen momentarily before standing up and brushing off the front of her new kimono. It was beautiful, in its own way, and reminded her greatly of Sesshomaru. She had gone back through the well to her time, requesting that her mother take her to a store where traditional kimonos were sold. Her mother had held true to her word, letting her pick the one that best suited her.

The baby light pink fabric melted perfectly with her creamy pale skin, making her seem to almost glow in the sunlight. Silver leaves fanned out along the ends of the sleeves, as well as along the hem that almost brushed the ground. It was fall style, however, and the collar of it did not dip down. Instead, wooden type toggles bound the front together, all the way up her neck and cutting off around the middle of her throat. It fit to her figure; accentuating her curves and making her already glossy black locks seem to shine even more. It was the kimono she wore for her birthday.

It was becoming easier to avoid Inuyasha's eyes… along with Miroku's the more that she chanted it in her mind. It was almost as if she was bred for this kind of thing… but she really didn't like the sound of that idea either. She bites down on her lower lip and furrows her brows, thinking of how to stall him still. Her excuses, she knew, were starting to sound weak and even she heard the lying hint in her voice when she spoke now.

Some how she knew that she had to tell Sesshomaru that they had to move their meeting place so that she could continue hunting jewel shards. The environment was becoming extremely tense and she didn't really want it to be that way. True, her love for Inuyasha had faded long ago, but she never thought that she would be the one to cause the group to stop because of a secret relationship.

"Inuyasha I am well aware that we have not gathered any more jewel shards, but you have to trust me. We will be leaving soon to hunt for them, I promise." Her tone was soft, even if a little standoffish. She had lost her patience with him a couple of days back when he had blown up at her and tried to force her to look him in the eyes. It had taken Sango and Miroku to drag him away because Kagome had defiantly… finally… peered up to meet his eyes with her own and dared him to strike her.

That was the only time she ever looked at any of them except for Sango and Shippo… what would it matter? He was a kitsune and she loved him as her son. There shouldn't be a problem in that. Sango, on the other hand, was female. That was never stated against the 'Rules of Secrecy', as she so fondly came to call them.

Inuyasha simply scoffs, moving off to wait for his meal with an impatient look plastered upon his face. Kagome settles back down in front of the cooking ramen and quickly finishes it in her silence. Dishing out portions for the group it went unnoticed by everyone that she didn't take any for herself.

She moved finally to hand Miroku his helping, only to dodge his hand and walk away. She learned very quickly that she had to pay more attention for him… he had nearly groped her the very next day of her last meeting with Sesshomaru. They all found it odd, however, that she was shuffling about all docile. Little did they know that she was finally letting the situation settle.

Sesshomaru had mated her. It didn't bother her at first… but the realization was slow to sink in. When it had finally hit her full force, she freaked out. That was stating it nicely. She literally had run out into the forest crying. That wasn't really like her anymore, but she didn't know how else to express her… feelings.

And she wasn't even sure what it was that she was feeling. She had welcomed Sesshomaru with open arms… he was her comforter. He took away all the pain, guilt, and uncertainty, sweeping it away along with his demon pride. Many times she wondered if he would kill her on their next meeting to regain that pride.

This, unfortunately for her, was today.

Happy Birthday Kagome. She twirls a lock of hair between her fingers nervously as she stands off to the side, away from the group. She had half the mind not to go. Something inside of her was urging her to go to Sesshomaru, and she was running out of time, and fast. Biting down on her lower lip she knits her brows and fidgets. The sun was already starting to set.

Maybe if I don't go, he won't come looking for me… She laughs at herself. Wow, she was arguing with her own instincts now. Rich, dark chocolate eyes peer towards the small trail that led to the Well and she made a move as if to go to it. A glance from Sango made her freeze. Her adopted sister had been oddly cold around her lately, since she told her that she was lying about where she was going and what she was doing. That was one of the main reasons that stopped her tonight.

The hurt that shone in Sango's eyes betrayed the blank face that she wore as she stared at Kagome. Kagome felt that if looks could kill… she would already be dead. Of shame? That was easier to die from. It ate at her from the inside out and threatened to consume her very being.

She nibbles at her lower lip again, nervously shifting from one foot to the next before taking a deep breath and leaning against the nearest tree trunk. Every fiber in her was screaming for her to dash to the trail now that it was pitch black. She knew where it was, even if she could not see it. Tensing her muscles, she still ignored the call.

Kagome probably could have kept up the secret if only she had gone.

Before she really had time to react, a hand clasped around her wrist and jerked her backwards only to allow her to slam into another tree with a frightened yelp. She could already feel the bruise welling up on her shoulder and she slid down to sit on the ground, her wide doe eyes peering up into the face of the one who had assaulted her.

His face was rigid. It looked almost as if it were carved from a roman coin. The light from the fire licked at his pale complexion, golden orbs reflecting its very appearance as he stares back down into her dark brown eyes. Long silver locks tumble down his back, a few strands daring to tickle his shoulders. He was looking at her as if she was lower than him…but something else grew behind those eyes… sadness? Betrayal?

Inuyasha, Sango, and Miroku instantly jumped to their feet, each automatically in a defensive stance. Shippo did what was expected of him… he found his place safely behind Inuyasha. Sesshomaru was the one to look away first, peering at the pitiful sight before him. He had to fight back the amusement… it wasn't that hard seeing that he was so angry.

"Sesshomaru! What are you doing here?" Inuyasha's voice rang out against the trees, echoing back and forth in the small clearing. Kagome was surprised how childish his voice sounded compared to Sesshomaru's when he spoke as if uninterested at all in any fight that Inuyasha was thinking of enticing.

"I'm here on no business of yours, mutt. It would be wise that you mind where you stick your nose." It was a growl… a very feral sounding growl that earned a narrow eyed stare from Inuyasha who looked about to protest… that is… until Kagome slowly stood up and openly begged to Sesshomaru.

"Sess-...Lord Sesshomaru… please, ignore Inuyasha and the others…" All eyes, she knew, were now turned upon her. She was mildly shocked when Sesshomaru turned his side to the group to face her as well, their eyes locking as they had so many other times in the past. Kagome could see him battling with his inner beast.

It was telling him to punish the others for keeping her. He had watched for some time as Kagome stood prancing about. Satisfied when she made a move towards the path, he was sure that she would come to their meeting place. He had wanted to kill the human that gave her the look that made Kagome stop.

Now that he peered into those captivating eyes he couldn't bring himself to do it. It felt as if he was weakening… but that couldn't be so. True, he had gone back on his promise to never take a human as his mate, but he would not be called weak. The consequences he was already dealing with… he didn't need negative thoughts as well.

"Kagome, what the Hell is going on?" Sigh. Inuyasha again. Why couldn't you just keep your mouth shut, Inuyasha? But… her mistake was probably worse than the one Inuyasha had just made. Her brown eyes broke away from Sesshomaru's gold to meet Inuyasha's angered ones. Before she even had time to think, Sesshomaru had her pinned against that same tree as before by her throat.

His claws bit into her skin through the high neck of that pink kimono, savagely drawing blood. She couldn't breath, and that was obvious from the small gagging noises that she made. Inuyasha made a move to come forward, but once more Sesshomaru's voice barked out coldly. (No pun intended…lol.)

"You should learn your place, mutt. This matter does not concern you!" He clutched at Kagome's throat even tighter than before and she could feel tears welling to the sides of her eyes. This was not right… this was not her Sesshomaru. The demon who had been so gentle… so caring and heated in his passion… this couldn't be the same man she fell for.

Ah… yes… man… The word rang through her mind unsteadily. Man? Yes… he was a man, no matter it be demon or human. No matter how much he denied it, he had as many feelings as any human male had, and he proved her thoughts right when his eyes flicker and he slowly lowers her feet to the ground, his hand slowly falling from her neck.

"You know the rules, Kagome. You deliberately disobeyed me." It was a soft, dangerous whisper that he dealt her. Again, Inuyasha had to act on insolence instead of keep his mouth shut. "Feh, what the Hell are you talking about?" Another bored glance, even if slightly irritated, was thrown to Inuyasha. The last thing Kagome wanted to hear came from his lips and she knew that she had to visibly pale.

"You will not question me on matters that concern my mate and I, Inuyasha." Sesshomaru spit out Inuyasha's name like it was an unsatisfying morsel. Stunned silence followed his words and again Kagome felt as she became the center of attention. Her eyes fell to the ground between her and Sesshomaru and she felt as the guilt finally over whelmed her.

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Eh… sorry. I have been trying to get this chapter out for a while… uhm… I apologize for the cliff hanger but I have been out of school since like, Wednesday, and I have a bunch of work that has to be turned in tomorrow… Tuesday. Goody, huh? Well, please review! They really do encourage me to put out more chapters, whether you know this or now. BloodyHues.