I had a throbbing headache when I woke up. I didn't have to wonder why I had such a horrible head ache because I remember very well how hard that man had hit me. He should have just dropped a pile of bricks on my head instead it would have gotten the job done just as fast but less painfully.
"Thank goodness you're awake!" Kagome said.
"Unfortunately." I added, while rubbing my sore head.
"The panther demons kidnapped us. I have no idea what they plan to do to us."
"They plan on sacrificing us to revive their old leader." I stated rather nonchalantly as I got up, scaring the other humans trapped with us. I wasn't sure if they were more scared of being sacrificed, or the fact that they were trapped in a barrier with a demon. "But InuYasha should be here."
"Are you okay?"
"I'll get there eventually, but we should try to get out of here."
"We can't. There's a barrier that won't let anyone in or out."
"That won't be a prob-"
"Kagome!"
Kagome turned to face where her name had been called. I took the moment to take a deep breath and shake away whatever held me back. I hoped to get some adrenaline pumping through my body by rocking back and forth. Things were about to get hectic.
When I turned to face the Inu that was coming to our rescue, his blade was already bathed in a red light and was crashing down on the barrier. It stood no chance against the sword and shattered in a matter of seconds. With the barrier gone, everyone inside scattered like deer running from the sound of a hunter. I took the liberty of helping Kagome herd the panicking civilians away from the panther demons and away from immediate danger. Despite our effort, many still succumbed to the panther demons' trap, animating the pile of bones that was once their leader. Not soon after, he turned on his own followers and harvested their souls as well to complete his "rebirth." Not a drop of blood was spilled, but seeing their eyes glaze over and sometimes roll back sent shrills down my spine.
The air was filled with a low rumble as the hairs on my neck became painfully stiff. I turned to face the giant demon, and was terrified to watch aged and decrepit skin fill until it was plump, revealing the muscles that had regrown through the torn patches. The old layer of skin fell off as new skin pushed its way to the demon's surface, giving new pours for its dark hairs to shoot from. Its eyes were filled with a milky white liquid before red veins attached to the bottom of them and pulled its eyes down to reveal large, black pupils and irises. The claws on its hands shone with vigor; and, its tail wagged with delight. I was paralyzed not only by the sheer size of the demon, but of the power that had been hidden in its bones. This demon had been an arch nemesis of InuTaishÅ, of the Western Lands.
"How great it is to live again!" It bellowed, further sticking me to my spot.
His eyes glazed over the field looking for the lives he had missed while reaping souls for his cause. His gaze stopped, staring at the distance before sliding toward InuYasha. But his scan didn't stop until he came across me. A grin pointed his lips as his tail stopped its wagging. His arm reached out, sending a gust of wind ripping through my hair as I watched its fingers start to close around me. My silent horror soon became physical as my shoulders scrunched upward and I let out a sharp cry before being silenced by his grappling of me.
I was stuck inside his fist, hyperventilating from the sudden darkness, dampness, and congestion I had been snatched into. I couldn't hear anything but the large demon's voice, and it only sent me deeper into shock. I wormed my way out of the fetus position I'd sunk into and stood to have my back against the demon's hand. I tried to calm myself while I listened from my cage.
"What's this? Did I anger you pup?" The large voiced boomed. "This is nothing compared to the blow your father dealt me, but he was a fool to think he could still me forever! I am not like him. My life is eternal!"
Then all I could hear were my desperate breathes as I steadied my heart a bit. I started to look for any nook I could slip through to get out of the demon's grip. My hands started to explore and look for what my eyes could not see, but my senses were soon flooded as wind brushed against my skin and my eyes were suddenly looking at the stars. The wind stopped as I flipped to face away from the stars. I was staring at the roofs of the village homes and the bonfire that had been lit earlier for the panther leader. As I fell back down, another cry escaped my lips and was silenced when I crashed into his palm of his hand. My nervous system had been wrecked, leaving me as a twitching mess while his fingers closed around me again.
"Come take her then." The panther purred.
The rumbling of battle shook my entire body as the panther refused to let up his grip. I focused on breathing. I suddenly found it hard to understand the action that was supposed to be involuntary. After managing to pry myself off of the large palm, disregarding the pain, I tried to walk myself into a standing position, but found my feet slipping from under me as I was sent into free fall again. I tumbled around in the fist before slamming against its palm again when the free fall came to a sudden end. The whiplash bounced me into the fingers of the demon before I could settle with my face buried in its palm. Tears gathered in the corner of my eyes as a sudden migraine ravished my head and what felt like broken bones kept my body still.
I was stuck like that for five minutes at the most, but it felt like an hour. I'd actually started to fall asleep. I was pretty sure it was from my body's weariness, but the pain of suffocation might have been dulled by my body's attempt to fix itself. Regardless, I was stopped, first by a rush of air cooling my back, and then by a pull out of what started to look like my tomb.
I made no argument as I ran into his shoulder before we both sat down in the palm in the presumably dead for good panther. The scuttling of feet outside of our walls assured me that.
"Do you understand now?" He asked me as his cool hand ran across my cheek.
I said nothing, still trying to escape the shock of the fall. The only response he got from me was my clinging onto him from delayed fear and from my desire to be comforted by his scent, to be swept away from reality, just for a bit.
He wrapped his arm around me and took off, stopping far away from the panther den to sit down with me in the privacy of the forest.
"You are fine." he stated.
I nodded my head and let go of his kimono, upset that I couldn't lose myself to his scent the one time I wanted to. I turned away from him and attempted to get up, but was pulled back into his lap before his pointer finger and thumb caressed my chin. I opted to sit on my knees to turn and face him. Why would he do such a thing while I was already shaken up?
"You are fine." He repeated as he brought my face closer to his.
I pushed myself away and turned my gaze downward, suddenly losing myself in that scent I was searching for seconds before.
He wrapped his arm around my waist again, and pulled me closer. I placed both of my hands on his shoulders to keep myself from falling onto him as he slipped one of his legs in between mine, forcing me into more of a kneeling stance, making my downturned face stare into Sesshomaru's eyes as he reclined into his usual sitting position with his other knee propped up beside me.
We were both silent as those eyes of his caught me in their spell again. This time, there was no chance of escape for me. He swept me away, tilting his head up, and giving me a clear view of his finely set lips while the sunrise gleamed in his eyes. I couldn't stop myself from tracing those lips with my fingers while turning my head and lowering myself to trace them with my own. That tracing became a light kiss as I felt him pull me downward to recline against his knee while he sat up. Our light contact became more intimate as we progressed further away from the innocent lip only kiss we started with. He led the way, since I was a novice and all, as I was wrapped in what felt like velvet. His heat, his scent, he was dominating all there was too me. The next thing I knew, Sesshomaru's hand was slipping under my kimono.
My cheeks flustered, and I found myself pulling away.
"St-stop." I said after fighting away my desire to ignore his hand.
"You are intoxicating." He told me as he abandoned my kimono to bring me back to him and rest his nose on my neck.
My body was shivering violently as his hair fell over my shoulder.
"Stop it." I said with more of my mind behind the command. "This is obscene."
"How so?" he asked, as he caressed my thigh.
"You try to touch anything you want." I stated as I moved his hand away from me.
"I will take you. Your actions now show me that you will not reject me."
"Don't flatter yourself." I told him.
He said nothing as he reached out to run his fingers through my hair as I moved away from him. I sat a couple of feet away from him as I tried to suppress the blush that came to my face. What was I thinking? I'd made out with the man, and now I was sitting here denying him what I had insinuated. But I couldn't really control it. I mean, who could refuse such the perfect set up? A woman without ovaries, that's who! And then there was his scent too. That's what I tried to convince myself at least. I was having a tough time doing so.
