(A/N Okay, six months and I am back in action. Sorry, I've been busy getting settled into my new career, EMS. For those of you whom are unfamiliar with what this abbreviation stands for, it means Emergency Medical Services. Any way, I do hope others will continue to read this. crickets chirp Shoot. Oh well. Here we go. Oh, I almost forgot questions that need answering and other such B.S.
Birdy22- I was inspired by the series, of course. But most of the characters I created are based off of people I actually know.
Hellspixie18- Yes I do intend to put in a few overly graphic, almost kinky sex novel style, situations in this story. There is actually one in this chapter. But I do require patience of you for the rest of the pairings, mainly the Sess/Kag.
Lyn- PLEASE…I'm begging you. What are your true thoughts? Are you going to tell me anything more, or should I start calling you Vanilla (Galaxy Angel reference).
AikurushiiNakiqao- pant…pant Thanks for the advice. It worked.)
Disclaimer- This is getting redundant.
The sun was beginning to rise over the lush green mountains in the far ends of Sesshoumaru's western province. The morning was one other thing that Sentaru lost himself with. It was something about these lands that made him feel free, and fill him with hope. Which is probably the reason he has fought so hard along side Sesshoumaru to protect them. He watched the golden sun slowly move from behind the mountains and turned the sky a beautiful blue. A smile stretched across his lips as he opened the heavy drapes of Sesshoumaru's study, flooding it with brilliant light.
"It's morning," he yawned as he returned to his seat across from Sesshoumaru at the marble desk. He was exhausted; he and Sesshoumaru spent the whole night trying to figure out what to do about the Naraku situation. Sesshoumaru wanted to take him on alone, but Sentaru insisted that he take his army. "So should we pause to train or continue with this never ending argument about how to go about the up coming battle."
"I'm kind of partial to continuing with the argument that will end my way." Sesshoumaru retorted. "But we should discuss something else. The servants are complaining about the guards'…unwanted attention. I told them I would think of something, but I am unsure of what."
Of coarse Sentaru knew what he was talking about. Some of the guards were getting extremely sexually frustrated. Some haven't even seen a woman other than the servants for some time now. Honestly, Sentaru was beginning to feel the same way.
"Now, being the captain of the guard, what do you intend on doing about the guards'…needs?"
"I was considering allowing them all a furlough to a geisha or bath house. Not all at once though. 8 or 10 at a time."
"For how long?"
"3 maybe 4 days."
Sesshoumaru held his head in his hand as his headache slowly throbbed. He was over exhausted and needed a suitable rest, in his own bed preferably. "I do not like this at all. I am not one who takes advantage of women."
"Neither am I, but we can control our feelings of lust. The men are more simplistic than that."
Sesshoumaru couldn't help but understand his comrade's logic. As much as he hated to admit it, Sentaru was right. But he would remain against it whilst it followed through. "Go ahead, but…I do not like using women like that."
Sentaru lowered his head. He hated it when he was right, and this was a moment where he was right. He knew what to do, but didn't want to. Besides, it would work out better this way. "Any wa…" his comment was left uncompleted as he heard someone at the door. There was a subtle knock and then it slowly creaked open. Sentaru was relieved and heart lifted when Kagome appeared from around the door. She seemed to glow, though her visage remained impassive. He stood and pulled out a chair for her. "Please, sit. It would be an honor to have you to join us, Lady Kagome."
"Thank you Sentaru," Kagome cheerfully addressed as she sat down. "I came to tell you that Rin is up and eating with Shippo." Her eyes were locked with Sesshoumaru, who was still reading a note or letter in his hands.
"Thank you," His eyes rose from the paper to hers, her wide, brown orbs of warmth and kindness. Completely different from his, she was indeed his exact opposite; she was warm while he was as ice. She was kind while he was unforgiving. His study of science came to mind as he watched her intently. 'Opposites attract, Sesshoumaru,' his mother's voice echoed in his head. A memory from long ago. "I wish to know something."
"Yes," Kagome muttered. 'Why is he watching me so intently? Is there something I did?'
"How are you enjoying your stay here? I am aware it is very unexpected, but I hope it is satisfactory thus far." His voice was monotone and cold, but what else should one expect from him.
The question hit Kagome like a physical blow. Surprised would be an understatement for what washed over her as his words registered in her mind. She stammered for a moment but caught herself. "I am doing quite well. I am very comfortable in the room I am in."
"Good, but unfortunately I must move you. It will not be right now, but I must move you into a room on the other end of the palace with in the next few days. You will share it with another; she seems to have no problem with it, but I wanted to bring it to your attention for your approval."
'Great, now I have to leave that comfortable bed. Ah well, it is his. I guess I have no choice.' "I have no problem. But I must ask where Shippo will be able to stay?"
The memory of the boy entered Sesshoumaru's mind. 'I can't very well allow him to stay with another woman, though he may appreciate it later. I will have to allow them a guest room.' "I'm sorry, I have forgotten about your son. I suppose I may allow you to stay in a guest room. The one across from mine should be suitable for the two of you. I doubt you need to move anything."
"No, I have nothing. And Shippo is not my son." 'Well, not literally anyway.'
"I am aware. I am not a fool." His gaze hardened, but it was only for effect. To have her see any of his feelings, it would be weakness.
Sentaru got up and walked over to the cabinet next to Sesshoumaru's desk. He decided a drink would be a good idea right now. Watching others argue was not a pleasant pass time for him. He opened the glass doors and delicately poured a drink.
"Um, if you don't mind my asking, why are you moving me?" The question, oddly enough, was as unexpected to Kagome as it was to Sesshoumaru and she was the one asking. 'I know why he's moving me. But still, playing dumb is a good way to stay out of trouble…and alive.'
Sesshoumaru leaned back in his chair and his gaze turned to its previous state of impassiveness. "Because I believe you would feel better else where. Also it is my bed that you rest in. So unless you wish to share a bed with me, I suggest you move."
"Is that an offer?" Kagome blurted out without thinking.
The comment made Sentaru spit what little he managed to drink back into the cup and start to cough. Sesshoumaru looked at her with an eye brow raised in inquiry. Realizing what she said, Kagome turned a deep red and started to stammer. "I was kidding, really. I wouldn't want to share a bed with you. That is not if you didn't want to. I mean I wouldn't if you did but not that under different circumstances I wouldn't."
"And what circumstances would those be?" Sesshoumaru's tone remained the same and the inquisitive gaze he locked on her never shifted. But inside he was enjoying himself as he taunted her.
By now Sentaru was clutching his gut laughing and trying to stay upright while Kagome continued to stammer and blush. But the bizarre scene was sorely interrupted when the door flew open and Gaten, panting with exertion, ran up to the row of chairs in front of the desk. Sentaru stopped laughing immediately and Sesshoumaru stood up.
"We have intruders on approach to the palace from the east. Two women, one man. One is on a feather; the other two are ridding a neko-youkai. The man appears to be a low level monk and one of the women is a demon slayer."
"That's Sango and Miroku." Kagome stated as she got to her feet.
"And the other is Kagura." Sesshoumaru growled. "Have the guards set up a perimeter around the eastern cloister, Sentaru and I will be there momentarily."
"Yes, sir." Gaten sped out from the door way as fast as he entered. And Sesshoumaru started to move around his desk, but was confronted by Kagome.
"Please, don't kill them. Don't kill Miroku and Sango." She put her hands on his chest and started to cry at the prospect of loosing more of her friends.
"Miko, I had no such intention to kill the monk or the demon slayer as long as they remained docile." He said as he gently took her hands of his chest and placed them back by her side. "The wind witch however is another matter entirely." He moved around her and half ran, half flew out the door, followed closely by Sentaru leaving Kagome alone in the room, her hands tingling from his gentle touch. She hesitated for a moment and ran after them.
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The trip over the lush forest of the western province was a silent, but long one. Kagura kept to herself, specifically dwelling on how foolish she was to leave Naraku, and how this was the fasted way to a slow and painful death. But things were now in motion and there was little she could do to stop them.
Sango and Miroku shared very few words. Most were Miroku trying to comfort his love and dry her tears of sorrow; others were Sango telling him how much she loved him and how much she missed her brother. But the trip was mostly spent by Miroku holding her close.
Every so often Kagura would shift her gaze towards the young couple and wonder if she would ever find a love like that. She wondered what it would be like to be love rather than despised. To be caressed rather than beaten. To be held rather than pushed away. But it soon came to her attention that such a fairy tail would not exist for her. She scoffed at the thought and turned her attention back to what was in front of her.
Sesshoumaru's castle was now in view, and the question of what his reaction would be like entered her mind. 'He would very likely be angry, though when is he not?' As they grew closer she noticed the guards assembling along the walls and courtyard.
"I think we should have sent notice that we were coming," Miroku shouted as he saw one of the guards pull back his bow.
"Oh, well. We might as well land. There's no turning back now." Kagura shouted back.
Sango leaned down to Kirara and told her to descend into the courtyard, Kagura followed suit as the moved over the walls and settled on the grassy ground. Sango and Miroku dismounted Kirara and the neko-youkai returned to it's smaller state. Kagura hopped off her feather before it shrank and placed it's now tiny form back into her hair.
Sesshoumaru, who was standing next to Kagome, had his trademark emotionless mask firmly in place and was now beginning to walk up to them. "Sentaru, do not take your eyes of the one in front of you."
His eyes were locked on Kagura as his words were spoken. She turned around and was faced with a tall kitsune youkai wielding a spear. His green eyes were piercing through her and seemed to be able to read her every thought.
"What are you doing here?" Sesshoumaru unceremoniously inquired, forcing Kagura's attention back to him.
"We are here to see Kagome," Sango responded as she took a step forward. She stopped after the guards around him lifted their spears, ready to attack. "We wish to know if she is okay."
"The miko is in no danger here, but I assure you that you are if you don't leave."
"Sesshoumaru please," Kagome shoved through the guards. "Don't let them go. They can help us defeat Naraku. They are both very well trained and are very useful."
Sesshoumaru turned and found Kagome staring at him as though she were ready to fight him if he harmed her friends. 'She is fierce and unrelenting…but foolish if she thinks she can sway me. She is right none the less.' He turned back to the small band that just entered his palace and was about to speak when a voice shouted from behind him.
"Sango, Miroku!" Shippo ran between Kagome and Gaten and right under Sesshoumaru's legs before he jumped into Sango's arms. "I missed you guys so much. I thought Inuyasha was going to kill you."
"No Shippo," she said as she ruffled his hair. "Inuyasha didn't even come near us." She looked up to Sesshoumaru before she put him down. "Lord Sesshoumaru, we wish to join you in your search for Naraku. We wish to end this."
"And what is it that makes you think that I need you're help."
"Because it is not just Naraku that you face. He has an army at his finger tips. They are ready to go to war with you and the other demon lords that stand in his way."
Sesshoumaru looked at her with benign interest. "And where did he get such an army?"
Kagura stepped forward and once again, the guards raised their weapons. "Some of the wolf tribes, all actually with the exception of Koga and Ayame's. He has also alliances with some of the lower demon lords in the eastern, central, and northern lands. They even have some demon mercenaries from the continent."
"And Naraku just let you come here with this information."
"He is unaware neither that I know nor that I am here…yet. It is inevitable that he will find out."
"And how is it that you think I will believe you?"
"I do not. But he will attack the lords standing in his way at the wedding ceremony in the southern islands."
Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed. "Stand down!" he bellowed to his guards. "Return to your posts and continue watch." Without question, they all filed out of the cloister and went back to their positions. "Sentaru, keep an eye on the witch. The rest of you follow me." He turned and walked away. They all followed, Sentaru staying behind Kagura keeping a close watch on her. A very close watch on her as she swayed delicately and smoothly as she walked.
"We will be leaving for the Southern Islands tonight. I want you all rested and ready for battle. That includes you Kagura." He turned and locked his eyes on her. "You will fight too, if you are truly ready to defy Naraku."
Kagura held back a poisonous retort and clenched her fists. She hated being told what to do, but he was correct. She defied Naraku, her life was forfeit. "I will fight, but not for you."
"Good enough." He turned and led them further into the palace. They all took in the scenery that captivated Kagome not two days before, all showing some small sign of interest in one item or another. He showed Sango and Miroku into a room that was along the same hallway as his but separated by the door to the bathing chamber, which he brought their attention to so they might clean themselves.
"I expect you all to get at least some rest. We leave before sun set. I will have some food brought to you momentarily. Kagura, you will rest in Sentaru's chamber."
Kagura looked behind her and noticed that the fox demon wasn't watching her, but staring daggers at Sesshoumaru's back.
"Is there something wrong Sentaru?" Sesshoumaru stated as he caught the kitsune's glare.
"Why am I the baby sitter?"
"Are you questioning my orders?" Sesshoumaru's tone was now as furious as a raging inferno, but most of the anger on his visage was from the pain of his migraine.
"No sir." Sentaru relented, knowing it was for the best. Sango and Miroku were shrinking away into the room that the great lord designated them to and were thankful to find that it was sound proof. Kagome took Rin and Shippo to the study to start their lesson leaving Kagura to listen to the two argue alone.
"Good. Then do as I say and show her to your chamber."
"Do you wish me to watch over her as she sleeps as well?"
"I will send down a guard to watch the door. When he arrives, meet me in the dojo." With that Sesshoumaru turned and stalked down the hall. Sentaru breathed a grunt of frustration and looked down at Kagura. He stood a full head taller than her but was only slightly broader.
"Baby sitting? Did you have to refer to it as that?" Kagura stabbed as she continued with Sentaru down the hall to his chamber.
"Perhaps you would have had me refer to it as jailer." He offered in a smooth, upbeat tone. 'No sense in pissing everyone off today. Besides, she looks tired.'
"I would rather have you tell him that there is no need to have someone watch over me."
"Well…that wouldn't have done any good. He trusts no one, especially no one with links to an enemy. Besides me trying to talk him out of something, I might as well talk to a wall." 'Well…he seems to trust Kagome enough to have her close to him.' They turned down the right fork as the came to the end of the hallway and were faced with a seemingly dead end.
"Have you lost your way?" Kagura offered sarcastically.
"No." Sentaru retorted innocently as he walked over to the wall, pushed in a brick and revealed a stair case. "I know exactly where I am going." He started to descend the torch light passage before he turned and offered his hand to Kagura. "Don't worry. It's safe."
Refusing his hand she followed him down the dank passage. 'If he thinks I'm going to stay in a place like this, he's insane.' Kagura's bitter thoughts enraged her further as they came up to a wooden door. The air was cold and chilled her to the bone, but she noticed the fox was undisturbed by the climate. As the reached the bottom of the stairs, Sentaru turned and smirked at her. A warm and kind smirk.
"I'm not sure what kind of room you are used to, but I assure you that my bed is more comfortable than many of the others in this palace. Save the lord's of course." He opened the door and showed her in.
Her eyes widened at the view that awaited her. The room was large and filled with numerous bookshelves filled to the brim with tomes and novels, weapons of different sizes, shapes, ages and origins were hanging from the walls and leaning on racks. There was a large circular bed at the end of the room, surrounded by a curtain of some kind.
"This used to be the harem when the lord's father ruled these lands. After he died Sessh…the lord ordered them to leave or aloud them to become servants."
"That sounds like something Sesshoumaru would do," Kagura thought aloud. "I am a bit surprised that arrogant bastard didn't keep them for himself."
Sentaru let out an amused chuckle and followed her into the room. "Well…it is a long story, but he did not wish to use their services."
Kagura turned and stared at him. It was the first time he saw her eyes and was amazed at their red brilliance. But they were saddened, and pained. "Are you insinuating he enjoys men?" Her tone was as surprised as the look on her face.
Her answer wasn't expected. It wasn't even in words. Sentaru just started laughing, trying to hold it in, but every so often letting out a snort or other sounds of entertainment. "No," he finally managed as he calmed down. "As I said, it is a long story." He watched as she walked over to a wood desk with scattered papers and a pile of unwashed food dishes.
"Not in the habit of cleaning up?"
"I apologies, I did not know I would be sharing a bed with some one today."
Kagura's angered glare made his heart jump into his throat. She walked over to him and stood with in a hand's breadth of his face. "Excuse me?"
"I didn't mean that. I meant that I wasn't aware I'd be having someone other than I sleep in this room."
"Don't ever think you can make me do something I do not want to."
"That is not my intention."
Kagura let out an enraged grunt and stepped away from him. Her anger was reaching the point where she was going to break something. She started to breathe rapidly as her anger turned into sorrow. Sorrow about all the things he made her do. "I just want to be free."
Sentaru began to understand her anger now. Before it seemed unnecessary, but it was all coming together. "But you are free. You don't have to go back to him."
"You don't get it. I will never be free of him. He will always have my heart and no matter what I do he will always make me come back."
"It is because you're love for him that you live as a slave?"
Kagura took a step up to Sentaru, and with a quick and uninterrupted motion, slapped him across the face with all the power she could muster. "NO! I DO NOT LOVE THAT DESPICABLE BASTARD! HE HOLDS MY HEART! My physical heart!" Her anger was returning. It came with enough force to bring tears to her eyes, tears that were not stopping. "And if I don't return to him, he will kill me. Especially now, when he finds out, he will kill me and there will be nothing I can do but take my own life to stop the pain." Small droplets of torment and agony feel to the floor one after the other.
Sentaru stood in front of her, his cheek slightly stinging from the blow he deliberately allowed to connect. He truly understood now. She was in such pain that there was no way to relieve it. But being the empathetic, kind creature he was, he could not bare to stand by and do nothing. As she crammed her eyes shut and sobbed uncontrollably, he took a step forward and put his hand on her shoulder. The reaction was partially unexpected, instead of turning or pushing him away…or for that matter striking him again; she turned into him and cried into his chest, her arms wrapped around his waist. He put his arms likewise around her and began to run his hands along her back. "I'm sorry." He whispered as he put his chin on her head.
Her tears were beginning to soak through the black cloth that covered his chest. Sentaru could almost feel her pain; feel the way the world began to close in around her and the fear of sheer helplessness and weakness. He tightened his grip around her and did his best to make her feel wanted. It must have been her desperation for love but it seemed to work. She began to relax and backed up just enough to look him in the eyes. They were a brilliant emerald, glistening with unshed tears of sympathy.
What happened later shot Kagura out of his arms and made Sentaru turn with an annoyed demeanor. It was two of the guards, two of the best. One made a sound like he was clearing his throat, the other stood there impassively. "The lord wishes to see you in the dojo."
Sentaru turned toward Kagura who was facing away from him, trying to keep from crying again. "Will you be okay?"
"Yes…I will be fine."
Sentaru nodded and left the room. After he left the door was closed and bolted locked. Leaving Kagura in the room alone. Tears welled up in her eyes once again but her reaction was different. She ran for the bed and jumped in. She buried her head into the soft pillow and cried herself to sleep, the same way she has done many other nights.
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Miroku walked over to the bed and sat down. He rested his staff on the floor and took off his sandals. His gave shifted over to Sango who was picking up a towel as she was leaving the room to take a bath. "Will you like some company?" He asked innocently.
"No," she said with pleading eyes. "I need to be alone."
His heart now concerned and his mind cleared of lust he stood and walked to her. "Are you sure?" He held her to him and slid his hand down her hair.
"Yes, thank you." She said nothing else and left, turning down the hall and taking the short walk to the bathing chamber. "It isn't like I've never bathed alone before." She turned and walked out the door. The hall was empty now, but she could here slight rustling from down another passage way. Her light footsteps resonated just slightly as she made her way to the bathing chamber door.
When she stepped in, the steam from the heated pool met her cool flesh and it felt almost heavenly. She slipped out of her cloth garments and delicately tested the water with her foot. It was a little hot, but that was a welcome change from the cold river she was used to. As her body slipped into the wonderful pool, she aloud her mind to wander. Thoughts of her brother were the most abundant, the rest were of revenge. None were even remotely related to Miroku until she asked her self; "What will I do after Naraku is dead?"
A family was the first thing she thought of. After all of the time she spent chasing after Naraku, the thought never came to her mind as a serious consideration. She wondered if she could make a good mother to children for it was her father that raised her and her brother after her mother died. 'Mother,' she could sparsely remember her. All she could remember was her kind nature and beautiful face. But all other thoughts of her and how she raised Sango were but blank spaces in her memory.
"How can I raise a family when I do not have any examples to follow? Keade might help, but still." She started to clean her hair with deft fingers and slight pressure. It was dirty and grimy from the week of missed opportunities to bathe. She continued to rub her body to get the dirt and sweat out of her pours. Her hands ran over her smooth skin and smiled. "At least my combat gear has more than one use." The fact was that since she wore it constantly since a young age and the fabric was so tight hair was never able to grow.
Sango suddenly realized that she totally lost track of time. She took her hands from the water and noticed that they were beginning to prune. She lifted herself from the pool and dried he hair to the best of her ability before wrapping the towel she brought around her body. All she could think about was getting back to Miroku, there was no telling what he was up to now. The fear of him hitting on the servant girls jumped to mind and she started to walk a little faster down the hall.
When she reached the door, she straitened her back and composed herself before she entered. What met her eyes was a sign of relief; Miroku was asleep on the bed. Apparently Sesshoumaru's cooks had delivered food to their room and in a large quantity also. There were platters of food that simply smelled delicious and looked like they were prepared for an important guest. Some plates were already missing food, eaten by Miroku presumably. She tested some of the foods, which was all that was needed to make her indulge in them.
As she finished swallowing a bite of fish, she began to feel very woozy and tired. The open space on the bed next to Miroku seemed extremely inviting and giving into her wish, she laid down beside him. His body was so warm, and she snuggled closely into him, accidentally waking him up. She looked up and found him staring at her, his eyes weary but twinkling with mischief.
Before she could ask what he was thinking, his hand was already running down her side, and then start to move under the towel that she still wore. The reaction cause was an elevation in her breathing and a chorus of elicit purrs and soft moans. His hand continued to caress her thigh as he reveled in her pleased state. Her eyes were closed, mouth open and one hand gripping the bed while the other was clenched around the collar of his robe.
His mouth curved into a sexy grin as, without warning, he slipped his middle finger between the slick folds of her sex. She began to moan loudly, but couldn't continue, for Miroku sealed her mouth closed with his. He slid his tongue into her mouth in the same rhythm as his finger in her core. Sango began to kiss him back; both hands now tugging at his rob, hoping to rip them from his body.
'She's gonna' shred my clothes,' he thought as he took his mouth from her lips. "Hold on," he whispered as he hurriedly took of the robes and other under garments. This was all the time Sango needed to take the towel off and time the exact moment when she could take control. As soon as he stripped the last article of clothing, she forced him on his back, and purposely pressed her wet core against his now hard endowment, rubbing it intently.
The hot juice, slick skin, and soft motions Sango made against his hard erection sent Miroku's heart rate into the stratosphere and caused his breathing to become rapid and erratic. He stretched his hands out and gripped her hips, making her movements faster and more forceful. She groaned slightly as she could feel and intense surge of need for him, all of him. She bent down and kissed his lips gently, to divert his attention as she moved her hand between her legs and placed his erection at her untouched entrance.
"You will be my first," Sango muttered huskily. "And I swear you will be my only."
"I'm glad to hear that," Miroku said as he smiled, building up to the moment at hand. "But I would much rather hear you moan."
Sango's mood also took a trip down the perverse path as she slid down onto Miroku shaft. She closed her eyes and prepared herself for the pain she was told she would experience her first time. With a small amount of force, she let her weight fall on to her lover. The pain she expected was just a dull pop and a little discomfort, but nothing like what she was told. She shifted her weight slightly, getting used to the new fullness and moaned with each motion.
Miroku noticed with pleased interest that what ever unease she suffered was short lived. He began to move his hips with her subtle motions extracting small purrs and light groans. With an intensely lustful gaze, he watched as Sango, with closed eyes and an open mouth steadily moved around him. His lust grew as each motion grew more and more excited and more forceful. It took very short time until Sango was almost bouncing on him, forcing her tight passage around him, and screaming liberally as she continued to build to a pleasurable end that both felt was near by.
The constriction around Miroku was sending him into a blind yearning for control and to bring his lover to a place that for all he knew only existed in dreams for her. He shot up with such force, it replaced their positions exactly. Sango was now looking at him from the flat of her back and saw his blind desire and yielded to his power. Her hands clenched his upper arms as he began to plunge himself in and out of her. His grunts of pleasure resonated into her ears and brought her into an animalistic wanting for more.
The word animalistic was an appropriate word for what happened next. Miroku, who was now only thinking of bringing his lover to a euphoric climax flipped her onto her hands and knees and continued to grind into her as if they were dogs. Sango's mind was tainted with the red color of passion and lust. She paid little mind to the nonsensical words and utterances that she was crying wildly into the air. All she felt was the final, pleasuring thrust that was Miroku coming up to. The one that would make her transcend into heaven and return to the mortal realm a changed woman.
Miroku could also feel his limit approaching quickly, but tried to delay it as much as possible. 'Her first,' he thought with determination. 'She is all that matters right now.' Each of his thrusts arrived faster and faster, sending him over the edge. He tightened every muscle to keep from exploding inside of her, until her last scream of ecstasy ripped through the room like a sharp blade. He matched her high pitched yell with a low, forceful groan as what he held back was finally released.
The state of euphoria that they were both left in was replaced by the sense of perfection as Miroku moved up next to her. They exchanged words of love and soft, delicate kisses before they both slipped into a deep sleep. A dreamless slumber that lasted into the dark hours of the night.
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Sentaru walked along the dirt path that led to the large dojo that rested in the near by woods. Thinking of why he held that woman to him as if he was her fabled knight in shining armor, and what it was he felt as he held her so. It was better to leave such thoughts until another time. 'Now,' he thought as he reached the entrance. 'Now it is time to concentrate on battle. Sentaru closed his eyes and let his mind delve into the horrors of his fears, the blood he saw on the battlefields he's fought on, and the screams of those he sent to the netherworld.
When he opened them, they were as icy and unfeeling as Sesshoumaru's. And if one were bold enough, they would say they were filled with much more hate. He stalked through the door way and found Sesshoumaru already performing his practice kata's with the perfection of a century's experience. Sentaru watched the deft, ballet like movements of Sesshoumaru's shirtless body. Reading every muscle ripple of each movement Sentaru calculated how he would dodge, block, or tactically take each strike.
The world seemed to slow as Sesshoumaru, with the speed that made the air around them explode like thunder, grabbed a dagger and hurl it at the still fox demon. Sentaru saw it coming and grinned evilly as he grabbed it from the air and dodged Sesshoumaru's flying kick that closely followed.
The great inuyoukai hit and skillfully leapt off of the wall behind Sentaru. When he landed, he began blocking and dodging his opponents lightning like attacks. Each was aimed for either his throat or below the rib cage. Sentaru knew where to strike, and never showed mercy in a fight, practice or reality. He was truly Sesshoumaru's one and only rival.
Before Sentaru could launch another attack, Sesshoumaru sent him spiraling into the center of the floor with a well placed round kick to the floating ribs on Sentaru's left side. Before he could even think to react, he did. Sentaru leapt from the floor before Sesshoumaru's fist put a hole where his head was not even before an instant passed.
Landing deftly Sentaru stared at Sesshoumaru from the short distance, and the look of his lord was not pleasing. "Why do I smell that wind witch on you?"
"Women," Sentaru said with a snide curl of his lips. "What can you do?"
Another attack was launched by Sesshoumaru, but it was less thought out and sloppier than the first. Sentaru easily dodged to the side and connected a well placed fist into the side of Sesshoumaru's head, putting him off balance enough for him to trip him and then kick him across the room before he hit the ground.
"Come on," he called knowing it was going to take more than that to put down the demon lord. "I thought you once said you were the strongest."
The reply came as Sesshoumaru closed the distance with inhuman speed and stabbed strike after strike with each of his three appendages. Every one of which was dodged as if they were moving at a snails speed. They were both so adept to fighting each other they often held conversations during their sparring. But this session was different, each had a "beef" with the other. Sentaru was sick of Sesshoumaru's arrogance and Sesshoumaru was enraged with Sentaru's insubordinate behavior.
"Why did you let that whore touch you?" Sesshoumaru spat.
"I have my reasons. And I would appreciate it if you stay out of my life."
Sesshoumaru leapt away from him and it was Sentaru's turn to charge at his opponent. "You speak as if you think I give a damn about your life."
Every one of Sentaru's attacks was blocked, but they were all near misses. "I am the only friend you have. I certainly give a damn about you." Sentaru leapt away and took his garb off of his upper body and tossed it to one side. His body was slick with sweat, and his breaths were only slightly labored. "I'm just really pissed off with you right now."
Sesshoumaru leapt into the air and unleashed his poison whip at Sentaru, who slapped it away with his bare hand. A steam rose from the acid like wound, but it was given little notice as Sentaru was soon surrounded by the bluish green flame of his fox magic. It was unleashed in a spewing inferno right at Sesshoumaru, who like his counter part, blocked the flame with his extended hand, sending the flame into two different directions. "As am I with you." The soot and slight burn on Sesshoumaru's hand was very misleading. The power of the blast was many times stronger than Jaken's staff of two heads.
Sensing that this was not the right way to settle their dispute, they stood down, and approached each other. They gave each other a small nod, a respective gesture that when their minds cooled they would continue their sparring. It was Sentaru's stomach that shaped the next chain of events as it rumbled with a plea for food. The small twinkle of amusement in Sesshoumaru's eyes was the only give away that he was entertained.
"Shall we go eat?" Sentaru asked as he walked over to his discarded garment.
"Lead the way." Sesshoumaru retorted as he followed his lieutenant, his silk haori draped over his shoulder.
(A/N There it is. No flames please and leave a review at the door. Thank you for reading this lousy piece of bung fodder.)