They hadn't gotten much by way of information from the townspeople.
When the three had gone to visit the damaged home, the lord wasn't there. Apparently, he had assembled a few allies and taken off after his attackers. But any able body from the village was put to work restoring his property. Others had their own huts to see to.
They got enough information to know that this was not the work of the tiger clan.
They'd conducted several interviews, and took notes on every demon sighting, or rumor that had spread. So far, nothing helpful had been acquired.
But the word was out. If any had news of tigers or a little girl traveling with demons, they were to be notified at all costs.
They were also informed helpfully that most of the villagers who were not aiding in restoring the lord's home were recouping across town. The attack left many injured or displaced, and the more fortunate residents offered their homes as havens until they were back on their feet.
This news initiated a change of plans. They were going to stay an extra day to meet the rest of the town, and that meant Inuyasha would have time to cover more ground while they networked.
Another useful piece of information Sango obtained was that one of the soldiers that had been killed lived alone in his hut, and had no family. After a bit of exploring, she had tracked it down, and was pleased to find it was thus far unclaimed.
She didn't feel guilty keeping this news from the others. The inn was comfortable enough, and the old woman had even been kind enough to set them up with an extra room. So she saw no harm in whisking Inuyasha away for a short while so that they could spend some time together before he left them.
Finally, they had been free to unleash their pent up desires. After a vigorous love making session, they were pleased to confirm that they were indeed sexually compatible.
Sweaty and naked on a dead soldier's futon, Sango curled up to her new lover. Smiling in contentment, he wrapped an arm around her and gathered her close; both wondering if they had time for one more round before he needed to go.
"So, what happened to Sesshoumaru?"
He smirked as he recalled the earlier events.
"He mouthed off to a few soldiers and got his ass beat." Crinkling her brow, Sango looked up to him.
"Why would he do that?"
Inuyasha gave an indifferent shrug as he continued combing his claws through her tangled strands.
"He's a jerk. Why else?"
The woman at his side smirked as she smoothed her hand across his chest.
"Yeah, he is a pretty big jerk, isn't he?"
She'd been willing to overlook it when she was trying to get some action. But his treatment of her in the hot spring was a bucket of cold water. She was sure glad that they didn't end up going through with it.
"Oh, the worst!" he agreed emphatically. "He's always been like that. And it's so perfect watching him eat shit for once. With how he treats everyone, I can't think of any fitter punishment."
Nope. As far as Inuyasha was concerned, this whole thing couldn't have happened to anyone more deserving. His faith in the Kami and karma had been restored. "Just too bad his kid got taken. If it weren't for that, I'd just be sittin' back to enjoy the show."
He put his free hand behind his head as he looked dreamily up to the ceiling. Sango propped herself up to look over at him curiously.
"Really? If it weren't for Rin, you wouldn't be helping him?"
"Fuck no! His high and mighty ass has nothing but disdain for everyone. Especially me. If you only knew some of the shit he's done." His features turned dark as he appeared to be recalling something, before shaking it from his brain. "No, he is a world class cocksucker who'd never lift a finger to help no one 'cept for himself."
"And Rin," she supplied helpfully, frowning a bit as his assessment. Inuyasha scowled.
"Yeah, and I don't even know what that's all about. He's a fucking creep." She knew the brothers' relationship was complicated, and she was not privy to all of the specifics. But it had looked for a moment like they had formed some sort of truce.
She settled back into his side and smiled as something occurred to her.
"Oh, he's not all bad. I mean, we wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't for him."
Inuyasha scoffed, and then smirked down at her.
"No, we'd be back home having a marathon fuckfest instead of on this stupid mission."
She smiled into him again when he squeezed her tighter, before shaking her head.
"No. I mean, you and I wouldn't even be in a relationship if it wasn't for him. Not yet at least."
Inuyasha's jovial attitude was gone in an instant, and he looked down at her dubiously.
"What do you mean?"
Realizing her slip, she chided herself and smiled sheepishly.
"Shit. He asked me not to say anything."
He didn't like the idea of she and his brother having secrets. Unwilling to let it go, he scooted up in a sitting position, forcing her to do the same.
"Say what?" he demanded with a scowl, and her cheeks reddened at being caught.
They'd more or less been over what had occurred between them in the hot spring. The part she left out was Sesshoumaru's bean-spilling regarding Inuyasha's feelings.
His request for discretion didn't make sense to her, but she easily agreed. She didn't think it was important how she found out, as long as they both wanted the same thing.
But there was no point in lying now. She pulled the blanket up to her chest for cover as she began her confession.
"Well, the other night, in the hot spring, we he and I almost..."
Her blush deepened furiously, and Inuyasha became incredibly uncomfortable. It wasn't something he wanted to think about.
"Yeah, what about it? What did he do?" As possibilities bloomed in his mind, he began to panic. "Oh, tell me you didn't-"
"No!" she assured him. "No, we didn't."
He exhaled visibly in relief. They hadn't gotten into the nitty gritty about their quick rendezvous in the spring, but he believed both she and Sesshoumaru when they insisted they didn't fuck.
Of course, other things could have occurred. It seemed unlikely that the two would be naked together without something going on. He was afraid of that answer, so he decided it was best not to ask.
But the way she was acting now made him nervous.
"We were about to," she admitted, but he already knew that. He tried not to react too much to the distasteful thought. "Then, I don't know, he just stopped. He changed his mind, or something. And he told me I should talk to you."
She didn't know what ended up turning him off in those final seconds. He eluded to it being her appearance, but he could have just been being defensive. She chose not to analyze it beyond that.
"He did?" Now he looked perplexed. Something didn't sound right. But Sango nodded.
"Yeah. He told me that you wanted me, and if I wanted you too, I should go talk to you. So that's what I did." She smiled happily and kissed him on the cheek, but his concern remained.
"So when you came to me after that, it was because of him?"
"I had no idea you felt that way. I mean, I thought you wanted Kagome, so I didn't even consider us as a possibility. But then when he said that... things changed. I wasn't even going to go through with it, because I was afraid of hurting Kagome. But he kind of talked me into it."
Puppy ears flattened to his head and he deflated a bit.
"Aw, shit."
"What?"
For a moment, he began to feel guilty. He thought he was being gracious by taking his brother in, and helping him with his cause; even though the way he behaved proved that he still wanted nothing to do with him beyond that.
He was being a pain in the ass, and Inuyasha had decided not to let Sesshoumaru's toxic personality infect his pack.
But something like this was so terribly out of character for him. Was it possible that he was trying to get along better? Maybe humanity had blunted his edges a bit.
It would have been a pretty nice thing to do for him, considering what he got out of the deal. And it made him feel kinda shitty for letting him get beat up just now.
But there was another possibility.
"We gotta go. I need to talk to him before I leave."
The hanyou stood and began putting on his clothes. Sango followed suit.
"Why?"
"Cuz what's in it for him if you and me are together?"
She thought about it for a few seconds. What did Sesshoumaru have to gain from setting them up?
"Nothing, I'd imagine."
"Exactly. So then why would he do that?" He finished putting on his fire rat robe and moved to grab his sword.
"Maybe he just wanted to help."
She sat down to get into her boots while he waited for her; clearly distracted by his troubled thoughts.
"The reason he got into that hot spring in the first place was to hurt me. He knew that I wanted you, so he was going to take you from me. That's what Sesshoumaru does."
"But he didn't," she reminded him.
"I know. So that means that unless he's got some evil plan I'm not seeing, he actually did something nice for me. It just doesn't fit."
"We're helping him get Rin back. Maybe he wanted to return a favor," she rationalized. "Remember when Kagome saved his life, and he demanded that he pay her back somehow?"
"By not killing us?" he scoffed sarcastically. "Yeah, nice favor."
"I appreciate it." The unamused glare he sent her had her smiling even wider.
"He couldn't even if he wanted to now anyway." It was true. And the thought had Inuyasha wondering if his brother had pulled a fast one. If he wasn't even able to kill them, it wasn't a super great favor to promise them that he wouldn't.
"He might change back someday. Nobody knows what happened to him. And then, you'll be glad you got that favor." He supposed that was the point, wasn't it? Kagome wasn't stupid. She knew the risks of bringing him in the group. As long as he was human, none of them were in danger. Once – if – he ever got to be demon again, was a different matter completely.
"I guess." He watched as Sango strapped on the rest of her armor, and couldn't help his thoughts from returning to the hot spring.
"Speaking of favors, I need one from you." With a mischievous grin, she sauntered back over to him. Now fully dressed, she slid her arms around his waist.
"You think we have time to go again?" she asked, before pulling him into a kiss.
He was happy to indulge, but it was clear his mind was elsewhere.
"No, not that." She was confused when he released her. He looked to be arranging his thoughts, so she waited patiently for him to speak.
"Look, whatever is going on with Sesshoumaru now, I was right when I said he's done a lot of bad things to me in the past. One of the worst was when he fucked a girl I had been seeing. My first, actually." He eyed her cautiously, judging her reaction. He knew that bringing up exes was a dangerous move. He'd just gotten Sango, and he didn't want to blow it by reminding her that he had been with anyone else. But Sango was a grown woman, and Kara was a long time ago. At least that was one ex he was certain he'd never see again. To his great relief, the woman beside him didn't seem upset, so he pressed on.
"Our rivalry didn't start with swords. That's just the latest trophy he's tried to claim for himself. Ever since I can remember, he has found the thing I wanted most in the world and taken it; just to prove that he can. It's like a fucking game to him." He started getting angry as old wounds resurfaced, but when she looked at him with mounting concern, he forced himself to calm.
"So when he found out I wanted you, that's what he was doing. He was gonna show me once again than everything I have can be his in an instant. That everything I have is only mine because he allows me to keep it."
"So you think I'm only with you because he allowed you to have me?" The thought of being some sort of prize did not sit well. Inuyasha could sense her growing irritation, and became defensive.
"You woulda fucked him in that hot spring if he didn't stop you, right?" Her eyes flew wide at the crude accusation, until she realized he was right. She thought she was making a point to Miroku when she announced she was going off with Sesshoumaru, but now she was really wishing she hadn't made such a scene of it. Now everyone knew, and she really wished they didn't.
Her silence relayed her shame in that moment, and Inuyasha immediately regretted bringing it up.
"Look, I ain't tryin' to make you feel bad about that. I never told you how I felt and Sesshoumaru is a master manipulator. I don't know why he sent you to me, I just know I'm glad that he did." When he gathered her back into his arms, she let him.
Though both could sense the new tense air in the room. It was a noticeable shift from the lightness that had been there a few minutes prior. But there was a reason Inuyasha brought all this up. He pushed her away slightly, but kept a firm grip on her upper arms.
"But if he changes his mind... I just gotta know that if this turns out to be another sick game to him, and he's just dangling my happiness in front of me just to make it hurt twice as bad when he takes you..."
She saw his determination; saw him struggling for the right words. It really was Inuyasha in a nutshell.
"Promise me that you'll never sleep with him. I need to know that if he suddenly decides he wants you again, that you aren't going to do it."
And there it was. The crux of his insecurities, all laid bare at her feet.
It was hard enough growing up hanyou. Living life as an other; something undesired and unacceptable to both races he was born from. A pariah.
But the hardest part of it all was living in the shadow of what many believed was the most powerful youkai of all time. He never expected to be better than him. He'd long ago given up trying. And he could have lived with the knowledge of his brother's superiority, if it was just that.
But even though he'd denounced him as kin, Sesshoumaru always seemed to make time for popping in and out of his life if only to remind him of what he couldn't have. What he felt he shouldn't have.
No, his brother would never stop beating it into him. Never stop taking what he wanted. He doubted being human would put an end to his torment.
He always found a way. And it didn't help any that the women in his life seemed more than willing to help him prove his point. He loved Sango, but he'd already decided; if she was going to do something like that to him, he couldn't be with her. He couldn't take the pain. He couldn't let that bastard win again.
"If he wanted to hurt me right now, taking you from me would be the worst thing he could do. He knows that. And if I lose you to him, even for just a quick fuck, I can't handle it." He was still holding her; still looking into her eyes with that ferocity she found so captivating. "So please, promise me that you will never go to him."
Sesshoumaru couldn't kill him, but it was only on technicality. And now that he couldn't, Inuyasha was more than certain he would be looking for the most effective ways to do some non-lethal damage.
He'd rather he just bat him around a bit, and he was sure Sesshoumaru preferred that too. But in his current state, he was going to need to make do.
"I promise. Inuyasha, you are the one that I want." A gentle hand on his caused his grip to slacken, and he was pleased to find acceptance where he'd worried there would be pity. "Your brother might be handsome, but you're right. He's a fucking jerk. And I don't want to be with someone like that. Even for a 'quick fuck.' Okay?"
He couldn't help but smile at her assessment.
"Nothing he can say will ever take me away from you. But I really don't think he wants that. You know him better than I do, but it seemed to me like he was just trying to help."
And that was another thing that bothered him. If Sesshoumaru wasn't trying to hurt him, then it could mean that he was actually trying to help.
It seemed unlikely, if the past was anything to go by. But then, he never would have asked for his help in the past either, and here they were. Sesshoumaru didn't know how to be in debt. Maybe this was a clumsy attempt at paying him back for helping find Rin.
"You told him you wanted me, and I told him I wanted to get over Miroku... He had the inside information to solve both our problems and he did." Sango sure seemed to think he had helped them anyway. But Inuyasha didn't know which option was worse. For if he really did help bring the two of them together, it made him the jerk for not lending a hand in the market earlier. It sure took the fun out of watching him suffer all of a sudden.
"I'm sorry for what he did to you. I can see why something like that would make you distrustful of him. But that was a long time ago. Maybe he's changed. Maybe humanity has softened him up a little bit."
"Feh, very little." His moody demeanor shifted when she smiled at him, and pulled him into one more kiss. He continued to hold her a moment after they parted.
"So, are you only with me because you wanted to get over Miroku?" he inferred, hating his insecurity. She held his gaze meaningfully to reassure him.
"I always wanted more," she admitted. "I just didn't think there was anyone out there who wanted me like that." He took on a sympathetic air, and immediately felt guilty for keeping his feelings hidden for so long. Maybe if he told her sooner, she wouldn't have been hurting all this time. "And I know how much it hurts to get cheated on. I will never do that to you."
Yes, if anyone understood the pains of infidelity, it was Sango. He realized then that she would be the last person to ever commit such a sin herself, knowing the pain it caused.
One more affirming kiss later, they were finally ready to go. With a last glance around to ensure they had everything, he moved for the exit.
"Alright, let's go see if Kagome's got that bastard patched up yet. I kinda feel bad for leaving her alone with him for this long."
After a quick trip to the girls' room to retrieve her yellow pack, Kagome was graciously granted access to where the guys would be sleeping. She entered to find Sesshoumaru already cross-legged beside the low table his room was furnished with. With a cushion placed readily at his side, he seemed to be expecting her. Kagome sighed.
And without a word, she folded her knees beneath her upon the offered padding, and simply began removing her items. She was trying to push down her annoyance as she pulled out a stack of cloths and placed them down in front of her. She'd hoped they would be at least a few days into their journey before she needed to use these.
She peeled the top square off of the pile, and after unfolding it, used it to rest her small handful of icicles on top of.
Sesshoumaru watched with guarded interest as she pulled out a water bottle next, and raised his brow slightly when she placed it in front of him with a thud, perhaps more forcefully than was necessary. But his attention quickly drew to the large bottle of pills now in her hand.
Kagome winced internally as she recalled the day her ligament had torn. At least she had been in the future where she could get the proper care. She just couldn't believe that she'd been able to survive so many vicious battles during her time in the past, yet something as simple as a soccer game at school was enough to put her out of commission for weeks.
She was a little foggy after that. The insanely strong medication had done wonders for her pain, but in return she was forced to live the rest of her recovery in a haze. She could see why people could get so addicted to the stuff, and was grateful that she never seemed to develop a dependence. She was relieved when she could walk again without them, and eagerly set them aside.
But she didn't get rid of them. She knew she was supposed to, but in a world of terrible occurrences, she was desperate to pluck a silver lining from the darkness. She decided that the one good thing to come from her injury was that she could now offer her packmates something stronger than Tylenol for their pain. They called it her magic potion.
Sesshoumaru eyed them skeptically when she handed him two large white pills, and finally accepted after a brief explanation.
"Magic herbs? You made them?" he asked, but popped them into his mouth before she could answer.
"No, but I- No!" The rest of her explanation was cut short at the unmistakable crunching sound. "You aren't supposed to chew them."
Oh, well. At least it would probably work faster now. But the look on his face told her he did not appreciate the taste. He finally picked up his water bottle and took a cleansing swing.
She used this distraction to pull the sleeve of his juban back, revealing a swollen and slightly discolored left elbow. She gently poked and prodded to assess the damage. After a moment of that, she turned back to her gathered ice.
She wrapped up the ice in the cloth and bashed it against the table until it could rest in there securely. When she placed it in the crook of his bent arm, she ignored his slight flinch.
"Keep that there while I make you a sling," she ordered, and his other hand moved to replace hers on the bag. But before she got started, she emptied the rest of the water onto another fresh cloth.
She'd considered boiling some, but decided that it wasn't really necessary. He allowed her to wipe up the blood that had run down his chin and neck, before folding the cloth in on itself. Gently, she dabbed the clean side of her rag against his lips. The split was puffy and angry, but seemed to have stopped bleeding.
"You want to talk about it?" she asked while still cleaning him, after a long moment of silence had passed.
More silence was her answer, and he did not make eye contact.
"Didn't think so. We will get your shirt back; they can't have gone far." They still had another day here at least, so they could look for it while they were asking around about tigers.
"It is of no consequence." His soft, almost defeated tone startled her somewhat, but only strengthened her resolve.
"We will find you something else to wear in the meantime. I can pick you up a hankimono at the market tomorrow."
This time, she would receive no answer. But as she continued to tend to his bloody lips, she couldn't help but muse aloud.
"You know, we have a saying in my time. 'Don't let your mouth write checks that your butt can't cash.'"
Hints of confusion peppered themselves into his glare as his eyes cut unamusedly to hers. But though he didn't fully understand her language, he had a pretty good feeling he was getting the gist of it.
"I know you are used to saying whatever want to people. But until you get your strength back, I suggest keeping your comments to yourself. Especially when you are outnumbered."
With a shrug, he turned his head from her, forcing her to lean a bit closer.
"I spoke no untruths."
"Hm. That may be, but it won't get you any less beat up."
"I don't care." His lack of concern caused her to frown.
"Then do it for my sake. You are going to run me out of first aid supplies at this rate. I'd rather save them for when we really need them."
When she once again got no response, she removed her rag from him with a frustrated huff.
"Actually, no. I'm going to have to insist." He turned back to her in time to see her toss the stained rag down on the table. "When you go around starting useless fights, you put us all in danger. You never know what a man may be capable of. As alpha, it is Inuyasha's responsibility to see all of us safe. I won't have you putting him at risk with your unfortunate mouth. Do you understand?"
He seemed to consider her for a moment, but she was relieved when he answered with a single nod. She thought she did well at hiding her surprise.
Next, she pulled out a tube of something. She squeezed the thick goo onto her finger tip, and he sat in mild surprise as she tenderly smeared it on his lips.
But before he could protest, she was done.
"Try not to lick that off. It doesn't taste very good."
He tested the texture by pursing lightly, so he was distracted as she began assessing him where he sat.
"I'm gonna need to remove your juban to see to that arm."
If the request made her uncomfortable, she didn't show it. After their time in the cave together, he supposed that it shouldn't.
When he placed his ice on the table, she took it as permission to continue. She tried her best not to be awkward as she carefully relieved him of his remaining garment.
"You are becoming quite practiced at undressing me."
She stiffened at the suggestive comment, but relaxed when she saw the corners of his damaged lips lift ever so slightly. It was the first time he had mentioned the incident in the cave since they had left it. At least the first time with her.
Both had been quite satisfied with acting like it had never happened, especially pertaining to certain parts. But she would be lying if she said that images of Sesshoumaru's naked body beneath her hadn't attempted to creep into her conscious more than once. It was work to keep those memories at bay.
She was pleased he had seemed to come to terms with it. At least he seemed comfortable enough to joke about it. She smiled back.
"I know. What will people say?"
She missed the way his brow drew together as she was making quick work of fastening another cloth into a sling.
"What people?"
She shrugged, more focused on getting her knots just right than explaining it to him.
"I don't know. It was just a joke."
He remembered how she made jokes to lessen tension in the past. She had done the very same thing when they were together in her sleeping bag. Was their proximity once again making her uncomfortable?
"Oh." But his reply seemed distant. In fact, he was beginning to notice that he felt strange. It was as if his mind was attempting to separate from his body, leaving him in a mildly detached state. It was making it difficult to think clearly.
But when she threw her homemade sling over his head and used it to cradle his arm, he remembered the potion she had given him. His arm, which had been killing him ever since it had been damaged, had almost ceased hurting. Even while she handled it, he found the pain was mostly gone.
She had warned him he might feel a little loopy, but it would be worth it in easing his discomfort. So far, he was inclined to agree.
She continued to adjust him in it, while doing her best to ignore the hard muscle of his chest that was now bare to her view. When her arms accidentally brushed against his toned form, those images of him in the cave threatened to consume her traitorous thoughts.
"They have, like, a bathhouse type thing here," she began, doing her best to keep her tone even. "I'm recommending everyone take advantage of it while we can. You can let me know if you need some help washing your hair, you know, with your arm and all."
She tried not to sound too embarrassed at her offer. It really should be Miroku's duty to assist his fellow male, but the monk had been increasingly unreliable as of late. Besides, it wasn't as if they hadn't seen each other naked already.
He seemed startled by her suggestion however, if not a little offended.
"I will manage," he assured her darkly, only frustrating her with his stubbornness. Inuyasha was just the same way; never willing to accept help when he needed it.
"You really think you can do it with one..."
Stupid. She was so stupid.
Of course he could take care of himself one-handed. He'd been doing it for years.
He saw that she caught herself, but decided to answer her anyway.
"Positive."
No other comment was made on the matter as she finished. Satisfied with her handiwork, she released him to assess his comfort level on his own.
But something else had been bothering her, and she figured that now that she had him alone, she might as well ask him.
"So," she began casually. "What did you say to Sango in the hot spring?"
He had told her before that it was none of her business. And for the most part, he was right. But now that she'd done him a solid, and now that the pills she had given him were appearing to take effect, she thought he might perhaps indulge her.
"That if she desired the attentions of a male, she should proposition Inuyasha." He wasn't looking at her as he flexed his fingers experimentally in the sling.
"Why would you do such a thing?"
He shrugged his good shoulder, causing the woman to scowl.
"You did it to mess with me?"
"What?" Her bold accusation had finally earned his attention
"To punish me, for demanding you pull your own weight. You are very petty, Sesshoumaru."
His eyes narrowed dangerously at her audacity.
"Is that so? If you want to see petty, perhaps you should find a mirror."
"Excuse me?"
She didn't think she'd ever get used to his rudeness. Even when people were trying to help him, he couldn't seem to find it in him to display the smallest hints of gratitude. Here she was, tending to his injuries – again – and once again, he seemed to go out of his way to insult her. She didn't know why she expected any different.
"Listen to yourself, miko. You assume that my actions were intended to harm you? They had nothing to do with you." She turned her head away from him, but it didn't stop his assault. It seemed that painkillers made the Western Lord much less reticent. "Inuyasha informed me he desired the slayer. It would appear that she desires him in return. None of it has anything to do with you." He offered a condemning side-eye. "And you accuse This One of vanity."
But she didn't want to hear it. That wasn't the point. This was all his fault, not hers.
She couldn't bear to look at him; turning away from his angered, accusatory glare to begin cleaning up the remainder of the supplies.
"Why do you care? You never showed any interest in your brother's happiness before."
"And it appears you only had interest when it served you as well." Supplies forgotten; he had won her attention once more. Her obvious incredulity did nothing to temper his biting assessment of her, and like the predator he was, he zeroed in. "You are a hypocrite. You claim to want the best for your pack. But when the wants of others do not align with your own, your interest wanes down to nothing."
She couldn't believe what she was hearing. No one ever spoke to her that way.
She was the most selfless person in this whole group. Everything she did was for the benefit of others. Even her life's mission was to save the world at the expense of her own happiness.
He was wrong.
"He does not want you. He told me so. Can you accept that, miko?"
He was wrong. She wanted to tell him that. Wanted to scream how off base he really was. But she couldn't find the words.
He was the selfish one. He was the one who used people. All she ever wanted was for her friends to be happy.
So why couldn't she articulate that to him?
He was very good with his words; one would have to be when he used them so sparingly. That was the only reason he was always able to win his arguments.
He lifted his nose haughtily, somehow looking admonishing and regal with his arm hanging helplessly in a sling.
"The actions of humans and half-breeds are of no interest to This One. Perhaps that you are no longer distracted by your misplaced feelings toward that whelp, you can focus on finding Rin instead."
The statement managed to make her even angrier.
They were here for Rin. Here for him. And he seemed all too willing to cut them all down despite that fact.
He just came into their nice, cozy little lives and after a manner of days, claimed to know how all of their hearts and minds worked perfectly. He thought he knew them so well.
He didn't know anything.
Words still escaped her as she felt her anger grow. In the absence of anything coherent to say, she only managed to stare at him, completely aghast.
Several long seconds drawled on, and the sight of him only made her more upset.
He seemed confused, then annoyed at the fact that she was making him wait for her reply. He was done waiting.
"May I put on my clothes now, or do you prefer to admire my form a bit longer?"
Finally, she snapped. That cocky little-
"You know what? If you think you're so hot, why don't you go fuck yourself? You seem to be pretty good at it."
Finally. He seemed relieved, if not slightly amused to at last garner a reaction.
He wasn't entirely pleased that it referenced that night in the cave again, however.
That wasn't the first time she had deemed fit to mock him regarding his momentary lapse in control, when he had believed her to be sleeping.
She seemed to like to poke him for that particular moment of weakness she had been privy to. But he wasn't a timid little creature like her. Such things did not embarrass him. Her on the other hand...
"Hn. Unlike you. Do you require my assistance in that once more?"
He was of course referring to their time in the cave. He actually was quite aware of her proficiency in self-stimulation. But she didn't need to know how he knew that.
He smirked as he saw the realization begin to dawn on her as to what he was referring, and relished as she tried her best not to appear mortified.
She succeeded, somewhat, and managed to gather herself.
"Hey. You did that on your own. I didn't ask for that."
"Not with your words," he conceded. "You begged for it with every press of your hips, and each whine in your throat. Each time you abused your lip, and fluttered your eyes. Oh, yes. You more than asked."
She didn't know what to say to that. He wasn't wrong, but he wasn't right either. She was tired of letting him get the better of her.
She gathered her strength and raised a suspicious eyebrow.
"You sure seemed to be paying pretty close attention."
"Indeed. You stripped us both bare, and pressed yourself to me."
He couldn't explain it, but he had been pleased once she began participating in this little war of words with him. Suddenly, however, he felt defensive. He had no need to explain himself.
"I saved your life."
And with that, she had managed to temper his assault. He couldn't exactly dispute that, and frowned at the reminder.
"Yes. You did." Damn. Why did that inconvenient fact seem to always elude his memory? Perhaps because he almost never found himself in the position of requiring aid. The last time he could remember doing so was when Rin...
Rin.
That was another fact that was annoyingly true. Not only had this woman saved his life, but now she had put her life on hold to help find his ward. Even enlisted the aid of her pack in the endeavor.
To make matters worse, here she was currently tending to his wounds even as they fought.
Why did he constantly feel the need to go to blows with this woman? After all she had done, could he not simply hold his tongue?
It seemed the more she tried to help, the more he was inclined to prove he didn't want it. At the very least, it seemed to distract him from his discomfort. He would rather be hated than pitied.
"And in return, you made me promise not to kill you. Or your friends. Probably the wisest decision you ever made. Not that it was much of a competition."
But the snide remark did not have its intended effect. The short, sarcastic laugh took him completely by surprise, and he raised an eyebrow at her.
"What did you think I would do? Beg you to fuck me? You are not as desirable as you think you are."
"Oh, no?" He grew irritated at her reaction, and even more displeased when she finally turned from him. With her focus back on gathering her medical supplies, she was being dismissive.
"Nope. In fact, I am sure I could have you any time I wanted. I just don't want you."
She tried to stand, but his hand on her shoulder jerked her to him roughly. He pulled her lips to his almost violently, dominating her mouth with his abused flesh.
He was still somewhat strong, but shock rendered her completely immobile. When she gasped upon the unexpected contact, he didn't miss the opportunity to invade her mouth with his tongue, and demand her submission.
His hand on her shoulder reached for the back of her head, and forced her stunned face to remain in position as he angled himself to devour her completely.
Her short-circuiting brain had her unresponsive for several long, terrifying seconds. Shaking herself from her stupor, she finally was able to lift her hands to his chest and push.
But her resistance was unsuccessful. Even with only one hand, she was unable to move him, or herself from his iron grip.
When her lips began to move with his, she swore it was of their own accord. An automatic response to being commanded so forcefully. His tongue played with hers, and finally coaxed from its dormancy in a way that resembled more a battle than a dance.
The taste of copper was strong, but easily ignored as she focused on the warmth and comfort of his offending cavern.
She relaxed in his hold; finally relinquishing her restraint as he continued to control her aggressively. Wide, indignant eyes became hooded. And for a moment, it felt like relief to give up the fight, and allow him to guide her in his confident and insisting movements.
But it only lasted a moment. After giving in to his demand, she became unsatisfied with complacency. Defiantly she pressed forward, forcing him back in a way he had not expected as she attempted to control the kiss.
His eyes widened briefly as he was shamefully displaced by this small human woman, and he answered her by responding in kind. With angry determination, he reclaimed his place of dominance as he continued to plunder her mouth. Only to have her match his ferocity.
His lips stung where they were split, and freshly closed wounds broke open once again to resume a very light bleeding. But still, he pressed onward. He was sure it was no accident when she forced her tongue onto the wound, and applied a harsh pressure that actually had him wincing.
His mouth burned at her touch, but he refused to pull back. He had posed this challenge, and he would not concede defeat. The pain was an addictive torture from which he could not turn away.
Having her knowingly hurt him, to even be capable of such a thing was exciting. And he was enticed at the thought of this sweet little miko, who mourned the idea of causing any unnecessary pain, zeroing in on his weakness and exploiting it so beautifully.
And the fact that each painful glide of her lips against his was only further proof of their sinful digression had his heart thundering in his chest, and his blood calling for more.
She was tired of his bossy behavior, and his bratty attitude. Even from a position of weakness, thoroughly shamed and vanquished again and again, he still managed to walk around with an air of perfection. Like nothing could touch him.
He had no gratitude for their aid. He acted like he owned them. Like he owned the world. But she wasn't going to be pushed around. She refused to obey him. She was not intimidated.
She kissed him petulantly. He didn't scare her. She wouldn't run.
He had her back against the edge of the table when he broke the kiss, and he leaned forward to use his good arm to swipe what remained of her medical supplies onto the floor. The unexpected action startled her, and she fought off a gasp when he cradled under her ass to lift her onto the cleared table.
Eyes were large again, and she was breathing heavily with him as he positioned himself to hover above her. He propped himself up with his one arm. And though he had one foot on the floor, his hips pressed her firmly into the low table beneath them.
Both of their chests continued to rise and fall dramatically from both the recent lack of air, and the palpable charge of excitement crackling between them.
After regarding her a moment, something finally occurred to him
"Do you not intend to stop me?"
He was sure he could get her to respond to his kiss. If their time in the cave together was any indication, the woman did indeed find him desirable. Physically, at least.
But he was more than certain that after a moment, she would come to her senses and put an end to his display before things got too far. Then again, he never expected to take it this far in the first place.
But here she was beneath him, yet making no moves to escape. He studied her face; expecting fear and disgust, but finding only impressive determination, and... something else entirely.
"Do you not intend to stop?" she asked huskily in return.
Neither said a word. His threatening, assessing gaze bored down into hers and was awestruck at what he finally recognized there. A challenge.
There was not the fear, or embarrassment, or even rage he had been expecting. She was daring him to proceed. She was calling his bluff.
And they were at a stalemate. What could he do now?
For he had also called hers. He had proven his point. She claimed not to want him; insinuated he could not have her if he so desired. It appeared that he could. But what was he to do with that information?
To simply declare her undesirable was not an option. Because with the way his stiff cock was pressing obviously into her hip, he could not convincingly claim such a thing.
What was his intent with this? He had foolishly placed himself in a lose/lose situation.
Had she denied him, he would have been proven unworthy. But allowing this...
He supposed he hadn't expected it to come to this. He was supposed to subdue her enough to affirm her attraction, and then cruelly inform her such a thing was not desired... like he had done with the slayer. But instead of stopping himself, he allowed this indulgence to continue far beyond what was appropriate.
He should have known better. With how his body had been behaving as of late, he should not have overestimated his ability to control it. Nor underestimated her ability to arouse it. She had been doing it an awful lot lately.
But they couldn't proceed. Could they? He'd already determined the miko an unsuitable partner, though at the moment he couldn't remember why. He had been willing – if only briefly – to lay with the slayer to satiate his lust. Had considered finding a random human to take care of his increasing need.
So why was the miko off limits? She was a constant bane to his existence. The endless thorn in his side.
Annoying and silly and just down right strange.
But that fire, that defiance he had just witnessed urged him to continue. It drew him near. Things he thought he hated about her had suddenly become intriguing. Piqued his interest.
Maybe this was worth investigating. It would be horribly convenient. That, or perfectly disastrous.
But he couldn't just fuck her on the table with her friends right outside. Could he?
"The medicine tastes funny." Her unexpected declaration startled him from his thoughts, and he was grateful for the distraction. He watched her lick her lips with a displeased expression, and he actually smirked.
He didn't need to follow suit to know she was right.
"Yes," he agreed in slight amusement. To his surprise, she smiled back.
Her hands on his chest only rested there ambiguously. He wondered if he leaned forward, if she would push him away.
If he retreated, would she pull him back in?
There is only one way to find-
"Kagome! Are you in there with Sesshoumaru?"
Sango's voice from outside stopped his impending descent, but he did not retreat. Neither moved, nor tore away from the other's gaze at the interruption.
"Yes. We're almost finished," Kagome finally called back through the door.
Saved by the bell. It seemed this game of chicken would end in a draw. For now.
"Inuyasha is leaving. Come say goodbye."
When she pushed up on her elbows, Sesshoumaru finally pulled back. Kagome straightened herself up on the table's edge, simultaneously looking about at the mess they'd created.
Medical supplies were strewn across the floor, but she decided she could clean them up after seeing Inuyasha off. Noticing the tube of ointment at her feet however, she retrieved it and crossed back to her patient.
He watched as she stood before him, and squeezed another small dab onto her fingertip. She paused a moment, communicating wordlessly, and he offered no protest when she gently reapplied the medicine to his tender flesh.
The taste of him was fresh, and she recalled what it was like to feel those swollen lips on hers not a moment ago. It was a hell of a time to put them to use; they'd probably never been in worse condition.
But finding nothing wanting from the impromptu exchange, she couldn't help but wonder how they would perform when they were in better shape.
He pursed lightly when she withdrew, and took her by surprise in the split second she lowered her eyes to screw the cap back on.
Her heartrate quickened when he took her jaw in his hand, but she didn't make a sound. Her eyes, large and alert shot to his face, looking for any indication of his intentions.
He appeared to be studying her lips very intently, and she found her gaze straying to his mouth again as well. But his injury was fairly distracting.
She was waiting to see what he would do, refusing to be the shy little teenager she had always been before. Whatever life had to throw at her, she was ready to catch it. She could handle herself; she was strong. She was... eager.
Recognizing that in her eyes, seeing the defiant fearlessness there; finally, he smirked. He moved his thumb over her plump lower lip, slightly swollen itself from his unexpected assault. Her lips parted slightly as it made several passes, and after repeating the act in a few nearby areas around her mouth, she finally realized what he was doing.
Her breathing calmed, and she wasn't sure if she was relieved as he removed the small amount of his blood she had acquired.
She repressed the urge to thank him. It was his fault it was there, after all. Instead, she opted to watch him retrieve his under kimono and try to don it with one hand.
Sure, he had experience in the matter. But his arm wasn't gone, just awkwardly affixed to his neck. He got through one sleeve okay, but was struggling to wrap it around the other side. She bit her cheek.
Couldn't he ever ask for help?
Stepping in, she got him into it well enough. His slung arm rested beneath the clothing, and once again he was cursed with an empty sleeve. He offered neither protest nor thanks at the assistance into his clothes, or when she opened the door for them to bid his brother farewell.
"Are you sure you have everything?" she asked Inuyasha, who had just finished loading Kirara up with supplies. He assured her he had. He didn't need much, after all.
"Since you guys are staying an extra night, I won't be back here tomorrow. Unless something happens, I'll see you the morning after next, okay?"
With all the action in the village recently, and seeing as they arrived so late in the day, they would spend all of tomorrow speaking to the townspeople for hopes of a break. Inuyasha could make it days on his own, so he would have no trouble taking some extra time on his search.
"Please be careful. I know you're strong, but don't push yourself too hard."
Having already bid her farewells, Sango stood aside to let the others have a turn.
Inuyasha noticed Kagome's somewhat disheveled appearance, but opted not to comment. He had put her through a lot lately, and he didn't want to make her upset with him right before he left.
"You too. Stay close to Sango. I need you guys to protect each other. And if that useless monk comes back, tell him the same thing, alright?"
This was goodbye. She wanted to hug him, but she didn't know if that was welcome any longer. He noticed her hesitance, and hated that it he harbored some himself. He exhaled dramatically.
"Come here." He smirked as he pulled her to him, and she finally relaxed in his hold; returning the embrace and burrowing into his shoulder.
"Take care of yourself. I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you."
"Same."
He held his best friend tightly to him, hating that he had to leave her behind. Kagome had always been his responsibility, and his greatest fear was something happening to her in his absence.
When he opened his eyes, he saw his brother's dispassionate gaze a few paces away, and glared.
"And don't let this bastard push you around. You're the leader when I'm gone."
She finally released him, and he crossed over to Sesshoumaru.
"You have the maps. Just do as we have discussed, and I foresee no problems."
Though no other would have noticed it, the desperation in his tone was plain as day to Inuyasha. Even in the form of an order, he knew how much was riding on him.
The scent of Kagome all over his brother was jarring, and very disconcerting. But he knew she was only tending to his wounds, so he forced his protective instincts at bay.
"Yeah, hey. I need to talk to you real quick. You guys mind?" Bidding a final farewell, the two women returned to the room to let the brothers talk.
"How's your arm?" he began causally enough once the girls were back inside. Sesshoumaru shrugged.
"I have had worse."
Obviously uncomfortable, the hanyou winced as he lifted his clawed hand to scratch the back of his head.
"Yeah, I'm sorry about that."
"Which one?" Sesshoumaru lifted an eyebrow, somewhat amused at his brother's sheepish cadence.
"Well, both of 'em. All of 'em really."
He didn't really know what to say to that, so he decided on nothing.
"Look, Sango told me it was you who told her that I wanted her."
Though his face remained passive, Sesshoumaru cursed internally. He did not want his brother privy to anything that occurred in the hot spring that evening. Most especially that.
He hid his discomfort with some light mockery.
"Did you need her to tell you that? Was it not obvious when immediately after you disclosed such information, she and This One had a private conversation which led her directly into your arms? Your obliviousness continues to astound me."
Ignoring his uncharacteristic chattiness, Inuyasha refused to take the bait this time.
"Yeah about that. It ain't exactly your style to insert yourself into other people's problems. Especially mine, and especially not to help me."
"So?"
Inuyasha frowned.
"So why'd you do it? Are you trying to fuck with me?"
"You as well?" Sesshoumaru scoffed, startling the half demon with such an expressive reaction. "Perhaps you and the miko are better suited for one another after all."
"What?"
"I am offended that you believe I have the slightest interest in your affairs, or that I would waste even a second engaging in foolish games. To do so would imply that I care enough to sway your happiness in either direction, and I assure you I do not. Whether or not you are miserable is of no interest to me."
Honestly, why did everyone seem to think that he, Sesshoumaru, would go to such lengths just to toy with them? He, who was famously apathetic and disinterested in everything, wouldn't waste his valuable energy on anything of the sort.
He couldn't understand why he had the reputation of being a narcissist, when everyone in this little pack seemed to think everything he did revolved around them. Ridiculous.
"Then why'd you do it? Why'd you tell her to come to me?" When Sesshoumaru turned away dismissively, the younger moved back in his sights yet again. "Far as I can tell, you either did it to help me out, which I just cannot believe." Sesshoumaru lifted his eyes to find his brother's intense, imploring stare. "Or else you did it to get my hopes up just so you could swoop in and take her away from me later. So what is it?"
Sesshoumaru actually huffed. He just wasn't going to drop it, was he? Very well.
"Did she tell you everything that happened in that hot spring?" The hanyou's eyes darkened into something dangerous, and his older brother smiled cruelly in return. "She didn't, did she? Well, allow me to educate you."
And he did.
Sesshoumaru proceeded to enlighten his younger brother over what exactly had occurred on that night.
There were points in the story which had his claws piercing the insides of his palms. But as much as he wanted to stop him. Throttle him. Kill him for what he had done, he refrained.
He needed to hear it, as much as he didn't want to.
In the end, he was pleased enough to confirm that what Sango had told him was the truth. She had only spared him a few of the more graphic details, which honestly, he could have done without.
He considered that was the point of his brother telling him his side of the story. He wanted him to know what he had done, what he could have done.
But he assured him that in the end, he couldn't go through with it because he simply couldn't lower himself. And to get her out of his hair, he sent her off in his direction.
"Keh, so that's why? You felt bad leaving her all hot and bothered so you sent her my way?"
"I felt nothing. It was simply my obligation."
He wasn't looking at him, but Sesshoumaru got the feeling he wasn't entirely buying it. Oh well, it wasn't his problem.
"Huh. And it just so happened to give me the girl I'm in love with."
It all seemed so terribly convenient. But this was Sesshoumaru we were talking about here. Would he really do something to help him like that? He was more inclined to believe he was having problems getting it up. Maybe he was using Sango's 'unsuitability' as an excuse for that.
That scenario was much more entertaining.
"Purely a coincidence. You were merely the only other male in the vicinity. Do not think that has nothing to do with her attraction to you either."
"Maybe so," Inuyasha smirked, but quickly became serious again. "Just know that if you do try to fuck her again, she ain't havin' it. And if you even try, I'll kill you."
He placed his face only an inch from his older brother's, and Sesshouamru nearly sighed in exasperation.
He wondered if he would ever reclaim the fear and respect he was so rightfully due.
"Now you question my word as well? Did I not already vow to never again touch any woman you have had?"
That caused him to pull back. Sesshoumaru was a lot of things, but a liar wasn't one of them. If he said he was going to do something, he'd do it.
"I don't doubt that you keep your word," he conceded, adopting a far less intimidating stance. Sesshoumaru lifted his chin haughtily.
"Hn. I wish I could say the same."
"Hey. I keep my word too!"
"What of your word to keep watch at the market?"
He recoiled from his indignation at his brother's accusatory tone.
"Didn't think you'd want my help," he muttered lamely, and shifted his gaze guiltily to the side. But he could still feel those violet orbs piercing through him.
"I do not. Did you not still vow to give it?"
"I'm sorry about what happened," he admitted. "You have my word now that it will never happen again. Okay?"
"We shall see."
"And if you were tryin' to help, with Sango and me, I just want you to know that I'm grateful. It'd be about the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me."
"Why would I do that?" Inuyasha smirked at how offended he seemed to be.
"I dunno. Maybe the reason you couldn't go through with it in the hot spring was because you do have a conscious. Maybe you didn't want to hurt me like that again. Maybe you felt obligated to make up for the last time."
And by the way the Western Lord appeared to grow uncomfortable, he considered he might be on to something.
"Ridiculous. I simply found her unsuitable."
"But not at first, right?" Sesshoumaru bristled. He was right. He certainly had no problems finding her desirable at the start of the encounter. He had chosen not to examine that little fact any further, and he was annoyed that he was being forced to now. When had his brother gotten so astute? It was very irritating.
"So what changed?"
"It was a momentary lapse."
And that was all he was willing to say.
Inuyasha decided to let it drop. It really didn't matter, he decided. If he was uncomfortable admitting he would help him, he wasn't going to make him.
The whole idea had him feeling a bit uncomfortable as well.
"Keh, whatever. Just don't be a huge pain in the ass while I'm gone. They got enough to worry about without having to deal with your bullshit, alright?"
"And do not waver out there. Remember the mission. I am relying on you to succeed."
Inuyasha straightened. That was all that really mattered.
The brothers were not big on words. Actions were way more important, anyway.
If they were going to do anything at all for each other, the results were all that mattered.
He had Sango, whether Sesshoumaru meant to help him or not.
And his brother would get his kid back. He had already vowed to himself that he would.
"I will do my best. And keep an eye on Kagome for me. She attracts trouble like you wouldn't believe."
But he did believe it.
And he had already made his own vow of sorts. He would definitely be keeping a closer eye on the miko.
It was almost time for bed, and the two women had taken to their respective mats inside their room.
It was the first time they had been alone ever since Inuyasha had declared his feelings for Sango, so it really should have been more awkward. Due to the day's events, however, each was too caught up in her head to remember to feel uncomfortable.
Sango had been in a daze; a euphoric daydream as she recalled the evening she had just spent with her new boyfriend, and she fleetingly hoped that Kagome didn't figure out why.
But Kagome was in her own world; thoroughly distracted herself at the strange turn her own night had taken.
What had that been about?
One moment she was defending herself from a barrage of insults being cruelly hurled at her by the snobby Western Lord, and the next she was forced to ward off an attack of a completely different nature. And she'd had about the same amount of success preventing both.
All that stuff he had said... Why was he being so mean to her? She was only trying to help him. That was all she had ever tried to do. How could he accuse her of such selfish behavior? He was the selfish one. It just bothered her that she couldn't come up with anything to say in her defense.
She had never been very good at thinking of things on the spot. He was much better at arguing on the fly, so it wasn't really an even match.
But now that she had time to think about it, she found she still didn't have any satisfactory excuses to give. But that was fine. She didn't owe him any explanations.
And then there was that kiss...
She should have stopped him. No. She should have slapped him. How dare he force himself on her like that? What was he trying to prove anyway?
That he was stronger than her? That he was handsome? That he was an incredibly good kisser?
Never mind that he was. She shouldn't have let that happen.
So why did she? It must have just been shock. She wasn't good at thinking of things on the spot.
He had no right to handle her that way. But why did he even want to? She thought he hated her.
It sure didn't seem like he did then. When he was on top of her... He looked like he actually wanted her for a moment. Whatever he was trying to prove, it didn't look like he was planning to stop.
If Sango hadn't interrupted them, would he have? And what about her? She couldn't deny, there was something thrilling about the way-
"How'd it go with Sesshoumaru?"
"What?"
The slayer's sudden question startled her out of her musings. it was the first thing she had said to her all night. At least, she thought it was.
"His arm. Is it broken?"
Of course. His arm. She released a relieved breath at not having to explain herself any further.
"It's hard to say. It might be fractured, but if we're lucky it's just a sprain. Either way, I've done all I can. We're just gonna have to keep an eye on it."
She pushed herself up to sit and found Sango already doing the same. The lantern in their room helped her see while they spoke.
"Not off to a great start, are we?" Sango asked with a wry smile. "He'd better learn to control that mouth of his, otherwise we're gonna be in for a long journey."
That mouth. Yes, his mouth was causing her all sorts of problems. She couldn't stop remembering how warm it was despite his cold demeanor. How unexpectedly soft-
"That's what I told him," she agreed, bent on derailing that particular train of thought. "I just hope he listens to me this time."
The women shared a comfortable smile, but as the seconds wore on, their ease with each other slightly diminished.
They still hadn't had a meaningful talk about Inuyasha. Sango was waiting for Kagome to bring it up, but the younger woman didn't seem ready to breach that topic. Until she was, things would remain a bit delicate.
Finally, Kagome's curiosity got the better of her.
"So, where'd you guys go?" She tried to sound casual, but she wasn't sure if she succeeded. "Kinda dark for a walk, isn't it?"
Sango reddened a bit, and the miko didn't like what that implied.
"Oh. I saw a hut on the way back that I wanted to check on really quick. I was told that a soldier lives there."
Her reply was nervous, and Kagome creased her brow in confusion.
"And you took Inuyasha? Aren't you worried that-"
"Actually, I lied. There was a hut, but the soldier who lived there is dead. I took Inuyasha there because it was abandoned."
Still confused, Kagome pushed further.
"Why would you..."
And then it dawned on her. It was abandoned. They went there to be alone.
Seeing her words register on her friend's face, Sango rushed to explain.
"I was afraid it might upset you, so I didn't want to say anything. But I don't want to lie to you. We really haven't talked about it yet."
"You slept with him?" she asked incredulously, the words sounding strange as she said them. "Already? Isn't that kind of... fast?"
She thought she had more time. Not that there was anything to do about it. They were going to do what they were going to do. She just felt like she needed more time to prepare.
By the way her heart twisted painfully in her chest, she clearly wasn't ready for this news.
Unaware of the extent of her friend's pain, Sango smiled.
"I don't think so. I mean, we have already known each other for years."
"I just thought you might want to... I don't know, court for a bit. Or something."
Couldn't anyone keep it in their pants in this era? Miroku was bad enough. Even Sesshoumaru seemed unable to control himself. And now her and Inuyasha?
She always considered sex to be something meaningful. Something you didn't just throw around so easily.
She really hoped that once she began having sex, she wouldn't be so careless about it.
"We were both pretty eager to just jump right in. We're not going to have a lot of time together coming up, so we decided to take advantage while we had the chance."
She could see Kagome's disapproval, and she couldn't say she wasn't disappointed.
She didn't want to hurt her friend, but she also wanted a girlfriend to talk about these things with. Apparently, she wasn't ready.
"Are you mad?" she asked hopefully, and Kagome honestly considered her question.
"I... don't know." Sango deflated a bit, but was glad she was at least being strait with her. "It's your business, obviously. Everything's just happening so fast. For me, at least. I just think people should take the time to get to know each other, and see if they can even work as a couple before jumping into bed together."
Sango smiled sadly at her young friend. She often forgot she wasn't from this time. She also forgot how naive she could be.
Kagome was always there with them, through even the roughest of times. But compared to the rest of them, she had lived a very sheltered life.
She had grown up protected from a lot of the hardships the rest of them faced in this time. Even now, they all did their part to ensure she was afforded an extra level of protection.
Maybe it was time to enlighten her a little.
"You know I turned 20 this year?" she began simply, earning the young woman's attention. "That's older than most people got in my village. Even before Kohaku..." Mention of her brother caused them both to falter, but Sango shook away the terrible memory that always threatened to do her in. "Even before that, the average life expectancy of a taijiya was pretty low." Kagome knew that was true. Even in these times, those who took on a warrior's role usually didn't expect to live to meet their grandchildren.
"When you know you're going to die, you don't waste a lot of time overthinking simple things. Every day with your loved ones could end up being your last. Everything you do could be the last time you do it." The far off look in her eye, something dreamy and sorrowful, turned intense the moment she focused on the enraptured young miko again. "If something were to happen to him out there, I know I'd regret it if I didn't do all I could to enjoy him while I had him. I know he feels the same way. He also understands."
Kagome heard what she was saying, even if she didn't want to hear it.
The idea of the two of them sharing things; understanding, physical intimacies, anything... it was difficult to accept.
It was hard to know they shared things that she could not be part of. That she could perhaps not understand.
"I know you loved him. And I am sorry for how things worked out for you. But I didn't want to be like you; wasting precious time pining away without doing anything about it. If things don't work out between us, at least we'll know we went in giving everything we had. That is the only regret I would ever have."
Sango knew it sounded harsh, and she wasn't trying to be rude. But life was too short for many things, and tip toeing around your closest friends was one of them.
Kagome needed to grow up a bit, and that came with learning some tough lessons.
She only hoped they could come out of this with their friendship still intact.
Inuyasha wasn't the only one who was important to her, after all.
"Are you going to be okay with this? With us? Or do you resent me?"
It was hard to hear. But despite everything, Kagome did appreciate her straight forwardness.
And if she was going to treat her like an adult, and give her complete honesty, she decided she could grant her the same treatment.
"I feel no resentment. Or betrayal." Sango released a relieved breath. "You can't help who you are attracted to, and who you aren't. And Inuyasha and I were never a couple." Sango smiled at her, but it fell when she saw the pained look on Kagome's face. "But it still hurts. He hurt me. You hurt me. And it doesn't make it easier to see the two of you moving along so quickly. I'm sure after some time I will get used to the idea. But for now, I'd appreciate it if you kept the details of your sex life to yourselves. Is that fair?"
It wasn't what she hoped for, but at least it seemed like they could move forward. It was going to take some time, but if they could respect each other and be honest, she was confident they were going to be okay.
"Yes," she answered softly, and watched as Kagome settled back down in her bed. After a moment, she added, "I'm sorry."
For a moment, there was no response, so she laid down herself. But once she closed her eyes, a quiet reply hit her ears.
"I know."
It was a lot to unpack, but they had a busy day ahead of them tomorrow. Finding Rin was the most important thing right now.
Sesshoumaru considered taking a bath. He wanted to wash this day off him quickly; scrub his failure away until it was gone, and start again tomorrow in new skin. But the miko's medicine had his head in a fog. And though not entirely unpleasant, he considered that perhaps he was not in the best position to be slipping around a bathhouse with one working arm. On top of that, getting himself in and out of his sling seemed like a terrible chore at the moment, and he'd already made a show of refusing the miko's aid in washing him. So, he would wait until morning when hopefully his senses returned. What was left of them anyway.
The medicine really was working quite well. The terrible pain he had endured at the hands of those soldiers was a distant memory. And not only that, but the effects of her magic pills had him feeling light as air. The weight he had walked around with since his transformation had lifted, and his worry-plagued mind was now free to entertain more enjoyable thoughts.
Like the faces of those soldiers. He had memorized them well. He casually fantasized about the numerous ways he would exact his revenge at the very first opportunity. It could take years, but he vowed to get his due. He was making a mental note of all who had wronged him during this unfortunate escapade. And whether he returned to his former glory or not, he decided he would find a way to make each and every one of them pay for their crimes on his person.
An easy smile graced his lips as he envisioned a particularly gory scenario; involving a steel wire and several gallons of salt, when another errant thought forced its way to the front.
It began as praise for the miko and her wonderful job with the potion. He started thinking of nice ways to kindly ask her for more when he saw her next.
Those thoughts were dangerous, and had him remembering the heated kiss they'd shared earlier that evening. That had been... interesting.
He did not know what possessed him, but one moment they were arguing over her childish behavior, and the next she was pinned beneath him; unaware of how dangerously close she was to getting deflowered right there on the table.
Or maybe she was aware. She certainly didn't seem to be fighting him then. That was also interesting.
He had meant to subdue her; to teach her her place. But somehow, she had managed to at once defy him as well as spur him forward. She did not submit; she accepted. She did not retreat; she encouraged. She appeared to have welcomed his invasion, while at the same time daring him to proceed.
He remembered the challenge in her eye; the fire. She was fearless against the threat he posed, yet seemed excited at the prospect of him posing it.
She wasn't exactly inviting pursuit, but she had made it more than clear that she was not intimidated by it. And while he had not intended initially to instigate such a thing, the fact that she would rise to the challenge had a baser part of him yearning to see it through.
Most intriguing perhaps was all of the uncertainty surrounding her. Now that she'd matched his kiss, he wondered how she would fare going forward.
If he had pushed for more, would she have still matched his moves? Would she have dared him to continue if he had removed her clothing, and imposed on her person? Would she have responded in kind? Or would she have eventually relented, and ran?
How far could he push her until she either submitted or retreated? He suddenly found that he very much wanted to know.
It had been so long since a female had challenged him; had put up any sort of fight.
Made even more exciting by the fact that now he was human, and that changed the game a bit.
It added a new layer of difficulty in that he would need to navigate challenges in besting a woman in his human form. They played by a whole different set of rules, and he would be forced to at once discover them, and excel at them.
But he was up to the task. Was she?
They would soon find out. That was the game, after all.
Finding Rin was his first priority; he would not detract from that. But in his spare time, so long as he was human, he would pass his idle hours seeing just what it took to get this stubborn miko to falter.
The medicine had him fuzzy, but even now he could recognize the strange effect the pills were having on his thoughts. Perhaps he shouldn't ask for more, lest he lose his wits completely.
Matter of fact, he was feeling increasingly strange all of a sudden.
At first it had simply killed the pain, and the pleasant effect on his mood and his nerves was soon to follow. He had not kept track of the time since he had returned to his room, which was still absent a very lecherous monk.
But since then, he had simply been content to relax and enjoy his mostly violent fantasies without the pain in his arm to distract him.
But now the pills were having another effect on him. Was this normal? Maybe he should go ask her.
But before he could stand, his entire body went numb; save for the intoxicating feeling of blood rushing through his veins. It felt like the valves had been open, and the pressure to surge encouraged his life force to flow freely at intimidating speeds. There was something familiar about it.
His fingers and toes tingled, and several sections throughout his body began to follow suit. The tingling soon turned to burning; hot and angry and insistent. It was not all together unpleasant.
He shot up from his futon, and ears and face and scalp seemed to throb in tune with his rapidly beating heart. He tried to touch himself there, but his burning fingertips allowed for no sense of touch.
Everything within him seemed to thrum. He briefly considered that he should go to the miko, and ask about this previously undisclosed symptom of her magic, but something unnamed kept him glued to his seat.
He couldn't shake that the feeling was familiar, and when all the tingling and buzzing and surging began to warm him, he simply basked in the increasing pleasure of the welcomed feeling.
As the burning subsided, he looked down to his hands. His breath caught.
Sharp, deadly talons gracing the tip of each digit.
Attractive cuts of magenta slicing their way across his skin.
Frantically, he pulled open his shirt, and began to inventory his heritage faster than his brain could follow. So far, everything he had been missing seemed to have returned to him.
He recognized his beloved youki as he lifted his claws to his ears again, and felt the elfin tip that had just moments ago been round. He couldn't see the marks on his face, but just by touching them he could tell they were there, and just as sensitive as they had always been.
Finally, he lifted his hair in his fingers, and let out a relived, and elated sigh, before quickly reining in his excitement.
Even his control over his form had returned, and for just a moment he worried that he might be dreaming again.
If the miko walked through his door and began to undress, he was going to be very disappointed. For the most part.
But he was soon convinced that this was real. The medicine he had been enjoying had lost its effect completely, but he no longer needed it. He closed his eyes to focus on the bulk of his youki. He had missed this.
But as he called forth his powers, something was wrong. It wasn't all there. Parts of him were still missing, but what couldn't be put into words. He just felt... incomplete.
Never matter. He would have it back in due time.
For now, he needed to run. He hadn't a second to squander now that he had returned to himself. Mostly.
He allowed a sinister grin to grace his features. And with unshakable intent, he was out his door in a flash; thoroughly relishing the speed which he could finally achieve once again.
A/N: I was gonna do 3 parts, but i managed to get it all into 2. So thats it for that chapter.
I knew you'd be back XD