Only Human

by effinsusie

[COMPLETE] Winter is coming, and Kagome is prepared. A thoughtless wish binds Kagome to Sesshoumaru. Winner- FC Awards 2021 Q2, Best Angst- 3rd place Winner-FC Awards 2021 Q3, Best AU/AR- 3rd Place

18. Foreign Tongue, or Domestic?

A/N:

I'm not one for trigger warnings, cuz I don't like to ruin the surprise (which is why I also don't give too much away in my summaries). But to cover my bases, I felt an urge to warn you that this chapter has some mildly racist language/stereotypes that i do not condone.

I kinda hate using it in my stories, not because I oppose it's use in an artistic setting, but cuz it is such a softball pitch to make my villains unlikeable. However this is the way the scene played in my head, so it shall be.

ENJOY!

---

Their trip across town proved a bit more fruitful than the day before.

While most able-bodied men were put to work rebuilding, the wealthier lords generously offered up their homes for the injured to recoup in. It was also a haven for the women and children of the town, most of whom had lost their protector to either the battle, the army, or the reconstruction effort.

They were given a safe place to stay, as well as jobs providing services such a laundry, cooking, or tending to the sick. As such, the female to male ratio in this part of town was certainly to Miroku's liking.

As these people tended to have been more directly affected by the recent demon attack, they were able to offer first-hand accounts, and therefore more valuable information than had previously been acquired through simple hearsay.

It turns out that the youkai responsible was actually an elemental. A water demon, who came up from the sea in the south to wreak havoc further inland. Such demons don't usually come up this far, so it was a strange attack. But elementals do not have clans, so the small group wasn't sure why the innkeeper seemed to think it had been the work of one. They probably weren't used to a single youkai causing so much damage on its own.

So, while it was disappointing and more or less a dead end, it was at least good enough to satisfy the travelers that this demon had nothing to do with their tigers, and therefor required no further investigating.

Their questioning had led them to Lord Takashi's mansion. The biggest in the area, he had fashioned the whole first floor into sort of a makeshift den for the displaced townspeople.

There were a few men littered about who were nursing some very serious injuries, but they seemed to be on the mend. Other than that, and a few children running around, the home was filled with mostly women.

Several tables and seating had been made available for them, as well as a plentiful supply of sake, apparently. It probably helped soothed a lot of their pain- both physical and emotional.

So after the group hand made their rounds, getting all the information they could out of everyone present, they were offered a seat at their own table – complete with complimentary bottle of sake.

The last female they had questioned was still at the table with them. Because despite having told them all that she knew about the attack, Miroku had questions for her of a more personal nature.

She had been a little on the ditsy side, but Kagome was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt and blame it on her age.

She was of age, but likely not by much. When Miroku offered her some of their sake, however, it did not help her case.

"In your hand?" she asked incredulously, as he held up the appendage in question.

"Yes, I'm afraid so."

His wind tunnel was still covered up safely, and Kagome mused that if the thing ever got cured, he could probably still claim to have it for his own purposes. It wasn't like he could open it and show them.

She'd venture the thought had crossed his own mind a time or two.

"Oh, my. That's awful!" the girl screeched in an annoyingly high tone.

Kagome and Sango's eyes met, then rolled at one another at the monk's familiar antics.

"Indeed. But the very worst part is that I may not live to see my family line passed down."

His fake sorrow seemed so obvious to them, but they had heard him use this schtick a million times. It was totally shameless, but they couldn't deny how often it actually worked.

"You poor man." The girl put her hand on his shoulder and offered her sincerest sympathy as he hung his head dramatically.

"I could go at any time. The only way to ensure I am allowed to pass on my legacy would be if I started fathering children right away."

She didn't seem to be catching on, as she only continued bestowing him silent comfort. He met her eyes earnestly.

"Of course, you could help bring an end to my lifetime of torment if you wished to aid me in this endeavor." Sango lifted her sake to her lips, but Kagome's had been drained well before the start of this agonizing display.

They often felt that they should jump in and save these poor women themselves, but then they would be plagued by a very disgruntled monk for the foreseeable future.

No, as long as he didn't do anything too dastardly, they wouldn't stand in his way. But they weren't going to help him either.

"Oh, I don't know..." At the girl's reluctance, he took her hand in his and pulled out the big guns.

"I would consider it a great honor, and service if you would be willing to bear my child."

Another eyeroll, and the two women turned away from the couple across from them. It was just too painful to watch. They opted instead to have their own conversation. Sesshoumaru, who was on the monk's other side, seemed more preoccupied observing the other people in the area; the ones they had already interviewed.

"Well, I think that's everyone," Sango announced, draining the rest of her cup and setting it on the table in front of her.

"Yeah, I think so."

"It looks like it wasn't our guys, and no one around has heard a thing about any tigers." Sango scanned the room again for anyone they might have missed. It was a large floor, with dozens of people, and not particularly well lit.

Kagome dropped her gaze to simply stare at her hands in front of her, thinking.

"Too bad. I guess that means we move on to the next town in the morning."

"All that hard work, and all we've gotten for our troubles is a few cups of sake." Sango had grabbed the bottle, set to pour herself another serving. But at the last moment, she remembered her manners.

"Do you want another?"

Kagome scrunched up her face and shook her head.

"No. And I don't think you should either. Kind of early, isn't it?"

Not really. The sun was still up, but they'd had an early start, and a busy morning. And after a hard day of work, if some kind soul offered you free alcohol, you took it. Sango shrugged, and topped herself off.

"What else are we going to do? It might help get me to sleep early tonight, and then we can get up early and leave this village for good."

Kagome looked across to Sesshoumaru to garner his reaction, only to find him staring off somewhere in the distance, completely ignoring them. Looking down, she saw the cup in front of him remained untouched.

"At least Sesshoumaru has the right idea. We do not want hangovers tomorrow."

A loud, obnoxious giggling from across the table pierced Kagome's ears, before her gaze drew over to the bottle once again.

"Maybe I should have another. It will spare me the pain of listening to Miroku work his magic on the poor village girls."

If Miroku, or his young friend heard her, neither of them showed it. That con artist smile told them he was well into his little routine, but it perhaps was not going as well as he would hope.

Maybe this girl wasn't so dim after all.

"Come now! I may be a lowly monk, but you can't deny these striking good looks. Don't you want your children to be attractive? You will get no finer offer."

He leaned into her, grabbing the bottle back from Sango and pouring the girl another glass. But as he did, she was looking around him at the stoic figure to his right.

"Oh, I don't know. I think your friend there is much cuter." She smiled intently over at the man who seemed to be doing his best to tune out everything that was going on at his table.

"Him?" Miroku asked incredulously, sticking his thumb in his direction. "He is in his element as the strong silent type, sure. But talk to him for 10 seconds and then tell me how you feel."

It appeared he was listening, because he turned long enough to shoot the monk a dangerous glare, which caused him to laugh nervously and scratch the back of his neck.

"Eh..heh heh..."

"Come on, Miroku. Let's get out of here," Sango begged, fully through with his antics. "We have to go back to the inn now."

"Just a few more minutes, ladies. I beg of you."

He argued a moment with the two women, who were increasingly warming to the idea of simply leaving him behind, when the girl he had been talking to leaned around the monk to try her hand at getting Sesshoumaru's attention.

"Hi. What's your name?"

But he was much more interested in the party that had just walked in through the door.

Two men decked out in very strange clothing entered the den, each with a young woman in tow.

The men were tall, cocky, and definitely not from the area. These men weren't even from this country.

Their coloring was strange. Their facial features, exotic. They were foreign, but somehow familiar to Sesshoumaru. He had seen their kind before, but he just couldn't place where.

Letting themselves in confidently, they took a seat at a table nearby, and it was not long before one of the residents made haste over to them brandishing a bottle, and a cup for each of them.

These men must have some sort of business with the lord of the manor.

The women with them were quiet, but that in itself wasn't strange. He just noted that they appeared to be unhappy to be there. He couldn't necessarily blame them.

"You see? Not very personable. I, on the other hand..."

Miroku reclaimed the young girl's attention as he continued to make a case for himself. Kagome and Sango were doing their best to get this show on the road, but Sesshoumaru was still staring at the odd group across the room.

Only a few minutes in, and they seemed to have already downed their bottle. With a deep, demanding shout, another was quick on the way.

When the young woman rushed to their side with more sake, one man grabbed the bottle from her, while the other one reached out to grab her unsubtly on the ass, earning a shriek for his efforts.

This caused them to laugh, but when the woman ran off, they simply turned their crude attention to the women sitting with them.

The girls twisted awkwardly when the men reached over and began grabbing their chest. They were groping them openly, but because of their size, there was little the women could do to ward off the attention.

They only squirmed with mortified expressions, shifting uncomfortably and trying to get the men to remove their hands from them, but their resistance only seemed to encourage firmer groping.

The other members of Sesshoumaru's party were too wrapped up in their separate conversations to notice what was going on across the room, but the newcomers now had the Western Lord's undivided attention.

One of the women gasped incredulously when the man beside her tried to grab between her legs, and her reaction only incited more drunken laughter.

Cursing his human hearing, Sesshoumaru had to strain in attempt to discern what the men were saying.

After a few minutes of struggling, it had finally occurred to him.

He thought them unintelligible at first, for he could not understand a word. Then, as he focused more intently, he began to realize that he did know this language.

He was right when he had assumed they were from another country.

As a boy, his father had taken him on many a journey to lands outside of Japan.

Some of his fondest memories were taking trips with his father; flying from country to country to see what lie beyond his doorstep.

The Western Lands were his, he told him. But there was much more to take, if only he had desired it.

He liked the idea of one day expanding his territory. For now, however, he was content with the land he had. Besides, ruling was such tedious business at times. Why would he want to cause more work for himself if it wasn't necessary?

But he recognized this language. His father demanded he become fluent in several tongues over the years. And though he hadn't heard it since he was a pup, he found he still knew it well.

"You see any more that you like?" he heard the one man say to the other.

"No. These girls are putrid." He wore a disgusted look as he scanned around the room and answered his companion. "I think this is as good as we're going to get for today. Let's just get them back to the ship and get out of here. I'm bored."

"Ah, hold your horses, jackass," the other demanded, reclining in his seat and bringing the sake to his lips. "We don't set sail 'til tomorrow, then we will be stuck on that boat for weeks. You'll be begging to stand on dry land again by then. So just relax. Let's enjoy ourselves."

The statement caused a cruel smile to play at his friend's lips, and he threw a lascivious look over to the female at his side.

"I'll be enjoying myself more when I get this one on the ship."

To illustrate his point, he went to grab for her chest again. She shied away from the attention but had apparently given up on trying to stop him.

This earned a laugh from his buddy, who followed up by filling his cup for him, and then one for the girl.

"Have another drink. Give her one too, it will make her more fun."

The threatening grin he gave her seemed to cause her even more discomfort.

Accepting his offer, the man lifted his newly replenished sake to his lips. After some coercing, he managed to get the women to follow suit. She didn't appear to understand him, but the way he gestured, and insisted made his instructions clear.

"I'm surprised they are going to pay us so much for these island monkeys." He looked down at her disdainfully as he continued to drink.

"I know. By the time we make it back home, they are going to be pretty used up."

"Just tell the boss you found her that way." The drink must have been taking effect, because though initially loud, the man was now practically shouting to his friend. And apparently, he noticed.

"Keep your voice down. What if someone hears you?"

"These stupid mongrels don't speak our language," he assured him. To prove his point, he turned to the rest of the room and shouted even louder. "Fuck all you slope motherfuckers! I'm going to fuck all your mothers!"

The entire room seemed to have stopped whatever conversation they were having to have a look at the odd men doing all the shouting. But he was right. Nobody there could understand their strange tongue, so they were quickly disregarded and ignored.

Kagome, who up until now had been going back and forth between talking to Sango and trying to convince Miroku to give it up and leave with them, finally looked over to the other table. She could immediately tell that they were speaking another language, but she couldn't put her finger on which one.

'It kind of sounds like Spanish, but that's not Spanish. Huh.

Long way from home, eh boys? I wonder what they are doing here...'

But she thought little of it, instead opting to comment on their obviously inebriated state.

"I guess those guys have had enough." Sesshoumaru turned to the miko at her utterance. "It's getting kind of rowdy in here. Maybe we should go."

She was sure he would want to leave, and hoped to rally the troops into finally getting out of there.

But to her surprise, Sesshoumaru didn't take the bait. Instead, he turned to Miroku's latest victim for the first time since her arrival, and leaned in.

"Who are those men?" he asked, and gestured over.

She seemed to light up at finally gaining the aloof man's hard-won attention. With a wide smile, she was doing everything she could not to blow this opportunity to speak with him.

"Who?" she began, then managed a peek to the other table. "Oh, you meant the traders? They come from overseas, to trade with Takashi-sama... He owns this manor."

Yes, that made sense. In his youth, those trips abroad showed him how many of these countries traded with one another. Those with the best ships and most useful goods tended to fare better among their race. They obviously did not have the benefit of flying as he and his kind did.

But those countries hadn't made it as far as Japan the last time he was there. There must have been advancements. He must remember to keep better eye on these humans, and their achievements in the future.

"What do they trade?"

The girl thought for a second, trying to recall as best she could. It wasn't really her expertise, but she had been there long enough to know the basics around the manor. Though not entirely sure she'd ever seen these particular traders before, others who looked and spoke just like them were constantly in an out of the village.

"Mostly weapons, I think." She tapped her finger to her chin. "Sometimes other things, but I know they have brought guns before."

Guns? This could be a problem.

But looking over to the men again, he was able to discern that neither was carrying one. Each man had a large hunting knife strapped to his belt, but that appeared to be all.

What they had on their ship, however, was a different story entirely.

"Do weapons interest you, my lord?"

He heard her question, but to her dismay, did not see fit to answer her. He was too busy sizing up those foreigners once again.

They brought guns from their land. Sometimes other things. But for what did they trade? Money?

Perhaps.

But he was also aware of a recent scourge among the humans on his lands.

Females had been going missing lately at a much higher rate. Young ones in particular.

He'd heard tale that men from overseas were trading their goods to wealthy lords, and in return being given young girls as slaves for the men to take back with them.

Seeing as a woman of any standing would be missed, they tended to scour battle-worn lands looking for girls who had been displaced. Ones who were unmarried perhaps but lost their fathers, so they had no protector.

There were others, sure, whose protectors were too weak, or too poor to keep them, so they traded them away for whatever riches they could acquire. But for the most part, it would not be too hard to find women whose fathers or husbands had simply been killed, and thus had no autonomy.

Sometimes they would be told they were going overseas to work for a new master, but by now they must be aware of what was truly in store for them.

He wondered which manner of female these girls were. Were they traded away by their unfit protectors? Or were they simply without family at all? He wondered if the recent demon attack had taken their fathers from them, thus leaving them ripe for the plucking. And briefly, only briefly, he wondered if those soldiers he'd killed last night had any daughters who were now on their own.

It wasn't his fault. If those brutes had cared for their families at all, they would not have put him in the position where he would be forced to eliminate them.

His thoughts were starting to drift to Rin, and how she was now faring without the aid of her protector...

"Wow, how did I miss that one?"

At the belligerent man's utterance, Sesshoumaru was drawn from his musings and looked over to the men once again... to find one of looking directly at them. Well, at one of them.

"Where?" The other man was searching the room, to see what his friend was talking about.

"There." When he pointed in his direction, Sesshoumaru had a pretty good idea who he was talking about. "Look how she's dressed. So sexy."

The other man was looking their way now, but had more of a dubious look than a hungry one.

"She looks strange."

"She's exotic." The man was practically salivating, and it made something inside Sesshoumaru burn with undomesticated ferocity. "Something different."

"You want my dick, baby?"

This time, when he yelled at her in his language, Kagome looked up to find both men staring directly at her with wide grins.

The other man was laughing into his cup, and this only seemed to spur his cohort on.

"Come wrap those legs around me, and I will have you squealing."

This incited more laughter. Confused, and not in on the joke, Kagome only smiled weakly and turned back to her friends.

"I don't know that language. Do any of you know what he said?"

A combination of shrugs and head shakes was her answer.

Her dismissal seemed to anger the man now, so he raised his voice again.

"Do you yellow bitches really have sideways pussies?"

This time, since he changed from jovial to apparently angry very quickly, Kagome looked back to him again. She didn't know what she was missing, but didn't want to offend him.

She looked around briefly for anyone who might know what he was saying to her, but everyone else seemed just as oblivious as she was.

"Huh?" she finally asked, when it didn't appear he was going to let up.

"Does your pussy run side to side?" He spoke slower, and more clearly, and even louder this time.

"I'm gonna find out!" he declared, and now both men indulged in a huge laughing fit.

Just writing them off as drunk, and no real threat, Kagome turned from them again, set on ignoring them if possible.

Brushing it off as weird, she and Sango went right back to their attempts at getting Miroku to leave; an idea to which he was increasingly resistant.

Sesshoumaru still had his eyes – and ears – on the foreigners.

"Ah, forget her," the quieter of the two men said. Then his eyes flicked to their table again. "Her companions might be a problem. Let's just take these two and leave."

Taking his suggestion to heart, the man drunkenly reached for the nearest girl's ass again, while she squirmed uncomfortably to get him to stop.

"You want me, don't you?" he asked mockingly. His face was redder, and his words perhaps a bit sloppier than when he had arrived. Having gotten no response, he angrily stood, and stepped closer to her, causing her to become more afraid. He pulled her up from her seat and pulled her face within an inch of his own. She flinched when he dragged his finger languidly along her cheek, and he spoke clearly, and cruelly, because he knew she couldn't understand him.

"After a few more drinks, we are going to take you onto our ship and turn you into real women." Then, with a large grin, he reached between her legs and grabbed her roughly. She tried to push him away, but he still declared to his friend, "I think she likes me."

The next thing he knew, his legs were being kicked out from under him with a speed that would have caught him off guard no matter how much he had been drinking.

A large barrel beside their table was close enough to hit his head on; and seeing that Sesshoumaru guided his face there on his way down to the floor, that's what happened.

Shocked, but still with his wits about him enough to react to the threat, the man who was sitting rose to lunge while his friend lay on the floor still reeling from the unexpected assault. But before he could get up, Sesshoumaru's fist made sharp, painful contact with his throat, causing him to double over while he choked for air.

This gave Sesshoumaru enough time to pull the knife from his belt in one fluid movement, successfully relieving him of his only apparent weapon.

The man on the floor was beginning to stir, but Sesshoumaru stopped his ascent by placing his foot strategically on his neck and stepping down. This kept the man in place very effectively, and the newly acquired blade kept the violently coughing man still as well. But just to be certain he couldn't get away, he grabbed him by the hair and held him firmly against his knife.

Leaning forward added pressure to his victim's neck, causing him to groan out in pain. Simultaneously, he pressed the tip of the knife into the throat of the other man, who was now doing his best just to cease coughing.

Wide eyes betrayed the fear he felt as the knife pressed even closer, finally drawing a prick of blood near his jugular. But there was a spark of rage in there too. It was that small amount of rage, marring his otherwise fearful submission that screamed at Sesshoumaru to dispatch of him now.

He must only know fear in his presence. Anything short of that he considered disrespect.

He forced his blade closer.

"Sesshoumaru, no!"

The monk's firm command stopped his momentum; and seemed to pull him out of his trance.

He didn't have to look up to know that his traveling companions were now out of their seats behind him, and that everyone else in the den was now likely watching on terrified.

Looking down to his right, the two women at the table probably embodied the feelings of every other soul in the room at the moment. Eyes wide in fear. Hugging each other for comfort, while awaiting to learn of their fate.

"Perhaps you should take your leave," he suggested simply in his bored monotone.

And then he turned back over to his hostages, leaving the shocked women a second to gather themselves.

For a moment, he thought they might remain. But luckily, they didn't need to be told twice. At his command, the two women got up and bolted out the door.

"What's your problem? What did we do to you?" The man on the floor apparently caught enough breath to finally speak. The one at his knife's edge either hadn't the breath or the courage yet.

His Japanese was very good. But Sesshoumaru was in no mood to pay compliments.

When he spared the man under his boot a glance, he pressed the knife even closer to the man's throat, causing more blood to stream down his throat.

"You insulted This Sesshoumaru," was all he said, and then returned his glare to the other man.

"How?" he demanded; his reply almost muffled by his boot.

Then, trying out his first Portuguese in centuries, he answered the man.

"You insulted my companion. Therefore, you insulted me." He must have done pretty well, because fearful look of men who have just gotten caught accompanied a long silence in which they offered no retort.

"Don't kill him!" Kagome pleaded. "They will run us out of town."

She didn't know what these men had done to offend him, but Sesshoumaru usually had his reasons. Though sometimes those reasons were terribly petty.

This whole episode was bad enough, but it could be forgiven. If they started killing people, they were going to have the entire village after their heads. And without Inuyasha, she wasn't so sure they could take them.

Sesshoumaru considered her request. They were leaving in the morning. It didn't really matter what they did.

They got all they needed from these people; they would lose nothing by having to flee.

But they had a nice room at the inn for another night. It would be a shame to put that to waste.

Leaning closer to the man, he slowly removed his blade.

"By her mercy, you live. But leave here quickly."

When he released him, the man backed away, holding the spot at his throat that now harbored a very thin but incredibly sharp cut.

Sesshoumaru bent down, and before removing his foot, he reached out and removed the second knife from the other man. If he let them walk away, he could not have them armed.

Now holding two blades, he leaned close to his ear, and spoke the man's native tongue once again.

"The next time I see you, you will die." That was a promise.

When he lifted his foot, the man scrambled to his feet, and wasted no time rushing terrified out of the den alongside his cohort.

Sesshoumaru didn't watch them leave. He was too busy comparing the two blades, deciding which one he was going to keep. In the end, he settled for both, but only tucked one into obi sash.

Finally, some weaponry. And he was pleased to find them sufficiently sharpened. He stood admiring the blade in his hand when Miroku approached him with a disturbed look.

"We need to leave. Now."

He looked to the monk, and then to the women. And then around the rest of the den, to find the inhabitants staring at him, stilled in shock by uncertainty and fear.

A part of him reveled in it. This was what he had been missing. This is how men should regard him. How they used to. He could soak this up all day, and was tempted to.

But the monk probably had a point. With a nod, he made for the exit, with the others not far behind.

"Damn it Sesshoumaru. What were you thinking?!" he was asked as soon as they got outside. Miroku was almost pacing, and he wondered what it was that had the normally cool-headed monk suddenly in a tizzy.

"I was getting somewhere with her!"

Ah. That was is. What did the miko call it? Dick blocked? Dick barrier? Something with a dick...

"You weren't getting anywhere, houshi." Sango informed him, sounding incredibly annoyed. Though he was inclined to disagree, Kagome had to side with Sango on this one.

Sesshoumaru was mentally working on some retort which effectively cut down the monk's perceived success rate with village girls, when a couple of said village girls started making their way over to them.

He recognized them immediately as the girls he had just liberated from their captors, but he was regretting his decision at their approach.

He told them to run. They were ducks in a pond. If they didn't make use of his interference, perhaps becoming a sex slave was the only slate they were suited for.

But they'd at least tempered the monk's increasingly perturbed demeanor.

Something akin to hope graced Miroku's features, but it dropped a smidge when they continued passed the group to stand in front of Sesshoumaru. He stood a little straighter at their audience.

"That was incredible, Hero-sama. Thank you."

He offered nothing. Not even a nod. But that didn't appear to matter. That they had his attention seemed to be enough. He kind of liked these girls.

The second one spoke next.

"If you didn't step in, I don't know what would have happened."

He looked down on her and offered an upraised eyebrow at her statement. The action caused them to squirm in the most pleasant of ways.

"I believe you do," was all he had to say to that. He thought he detected a smile when they shared a clandestine glance between them.

The second one spoke again.

"Yes. It would bring my family shame to be defiled by that filth. Such pleasures should be saved for those who are worthy."

These women were attractive.

Too attractive for the vermin they rode in with. He could see why those men captured them for their pleasures.

They let off an air of innocence, but by the way their eyes were raking him over, he was certain that they were not.

They seemed like they knew... things.

Looked like even though not privy to his particular brand of pleasures, they were experienced enough to recognize when a man was in their presence who could give them what they wanted. What they needed.

He was not a man. But he was still a male, the last time he checked. And this was a long time coming.

It was not his intent to impress these women into giving him their favor, but at the moment it was sounding like a nice benefit of his heroism.

The miko would not be so free with her physical affections, though he was certain he could crack that code when the time came.

For now, perhaps he could cool the fire in his blood a bit with the help of some grateful young villagers.

He saved their lives, hadn't he? Saved their 'virtue,' as they claimed.

It was about time someone recognized all he could offer. It had been too long since someone had, and he felt it was his due.

Perhaps it was time to finally receive what it was a warrior like he had coming to him.

"You are staying at the inn, right? You are those travelers asking about our demon attack."

The first girl had regained her boldness and addressed him once more. While the others in his pack scoffed dismissively, he entertained her request.

"Indeed. Have you any information regarding tiger demons or the like?"

"No, I'm afraid we don't," she admitted sadly. "But perhaps, given some time to think about it, we will remember more. We could come to your room tonight and... see if anything comes up."

Kagome rolled her eyes, as she had done when Miroku spouted his lame pick-up lines. Only this time, it had not panned out as she expected.

"That is acceptable." Her eyes drew incredulously to Sesshoumaru. Was he so oblivious?

"Not too late, however. We must depart in the morning."

The first woman smiled coyly, very pleased with her progress.

"So little time," she all but pouted. "But we will do our best to make it worthwhile for you."

All were openly listening to this suggestive exchange, and none could believe what they were hearing. But all for different reasons.

The two women shared another glance, then turned their attentions back onto the man that had rescued them from a most terrible fate. They offered him a grateful smile.

"Until tonight then, Hero-sama."

A soft giggle was heard before they turned and scurried off out of sight.

The group all watched them leave with varying degrees of incredulity.

Once out of hearing rage, Miroku stepped forward, and approached Sesshoumaru with a big dopey grin on his face.

"That was incredible!" So excited he was, he forgot himself, and clapped an audacious hand on the Western Lord's back. For which he earned an incredulous eyebrow of his own. "Great job, my friend. And one for each of us, too. How fortuitous."

Looking back menacingly at the spot the monk had touched him, he was drawn out of his stupor when the miko approached at his side.

"Yeah, um, Sesshoumaru... those women don't want to come over and talk about demon attacks."

"This One is aware."

This incited a pause, in which Kagome tried to understand why he would agree to such a thing.

"But they won't be able to help us."

"Perhaps not you," he began, sticking his nose in the air where it was comfortable. "But This One may benefit from female attention."

She had nothing in the chamber for that response. She turned her thoughts inward, and eventually gave up on answering him altogether.

Seeing her difficulty, Sesshoumaru ushered her along. He was tired of this location.

"Come along. Let us continue our search."

And when he boldly took off ahead of the pack with a confidence he hadn't displayed since his transformation, she wondered what being a demon last night had done to him... and what she could do to correct it.

---

She waited the rest of the day for him to tell her he was joking.

That this was all some elaborate hoax, intended to punk those ditsy females into thinking he was interested, and then dash their aspirations to bits.

It wasn't necessarily funny. But then, he wasn't really a funny guy.

But he was also not the type of guy to hook up with human randos while on a serious quest to save his ward.

Still, she worried.

Because Sesshoumaru never joked. Even if Inuyasha may have insinuated that he was capable of duplicity, he never promised to do things he had no intention of seeing through.

And the sun was setting.

Soon, those women... those girls would be coming over, and then what was going to happen?

The prospects made her sick, though she wasn't entirely sure why.

He had been holed up in his room with Miroku ever since dinner. And instead of waiting rather impatiently for a couple of floozies to show up, Kagome finally decided to take charge and see herself into the guys' sleeping quarters.

Deciding last minute against barging on in, she opted to announce her arrival through the thin front door.

"Enter," was all she heard, and she obeyed.

Miroku sat quietly upon his futon. Legs crossed, he appeared to be in a deeply meditative state.

Across the room, she'd spotted Sesshoumaru, doing something she... had definitely not expected to see him taking part in.

Long, black hair in hand, he appeared to be about halfway through going all Brittney Spears on her and chopping off the majority of his impressive mane.

Okay, maybe that was an exaggeration. But he did have his midnight locks in one hand, with his newly acquired hunting knife in his other, slicing through the hair near the top of his neck.

"What are you doing?" she demanded, rushing over to his side.

"Cutting my hair," he replied simply, not pausing in his actions as he successfully sawed away the rest of what trailed behind him.

She turned again to Miroku, to find him still meditating.

"Shouldn't you be helping him, at least?"

"I offered. He rejected," he informed her with a shrug. "I saw no need to press the matter."

Stepping closer, she fought the urge to touch his short, if choppy new haircut.

If it was still silver, she might have cried.

"Why?" was all she could ask him. He managed not to show his amusement at her apparent, unjustified sense of loss.

Something occurred to her in the time it took him answer, and it made her irritable.

"Getting ready for your date?"

He shook his head, and felt through his strands, judging the uneven sides with a sigh.

"Long hair is reserved for the powerful. It taunts your opponent. Gives them an extra opportunity to best you. One strong pull could easily see your throat cut. I no longer can afford such indulgences."

She supposed he had a point, though she never thought of it that way.

What had happened that made him think of this? That made him admit to it?

As much as she'd always secretly admired his gorgeous hair, she never considered how good he might look with a more modern do. And where the black version of his long hair made him look like an underwear model, this short, cleaner cut made him appear more like a movie star. Or else, it would have if he'd done a better job of it. But with no mirror to work with, she decided he hadn't done half bad.

Despite her frustrations with his evening plans, she couldn't ignore the part of her that was dying to give him a makeover.

"Well, at least let me clean you up," she offered eagerly. "I have some scissors in my pack, I will be right back."

And before he could protest, she was out the door and back. A short, quick sound escaped Miroku in her absence, but as soon as Sesshoumaru looked over, he was already back to his meditation.

She stood behind him as he allowed her to even out his very crude haircut. She left a little on the top, while taking the back and sides down about as much as she could without a razor. For a moment, she wondered what he would do to her if she screwed it up, but that was the nice thing about cutting a man's hair; if it looked terrible, you could always just cut more.

She went along, trimming and snipping about his head, and found the process surprisingly soothing. With a task before her, she felt like she could relax, as if his dome was a bonsai tree. Or a rock garden, maybe.

As it came along, she mused that it wasn't her worst haircut to date.

When money was tight around the shrine, she had been forced to cut Souta's hair on several occasions. She had gotten a bit better since then. Too bad she didn't have a bowl, though.

She remembered how nervous he was right before his first date with that girl from his math class. She was nervous herself about fucking up his hair that night, but both were relieved when she had given him an acceptable cut. And if she remembered correctly, he had received his first kiss that night as well. Not that she was taking full credit for that.

It only reminded her of what Sesshoumaru had planned for the evening, and she considered fucking up his hair on purpose.

"It just doesn't seem wise," she offered after she was mostly done. She was just finishing up the small chunks of hair she had missed on the side. "We have an early day tomorrow, and you are going to spend the night with two women?"

She tried so come off as admonishing. But as she said it, it sounded like she was offering him up another simple challenge right on a platter. A challenge which he more than likely was up to achieving.

His haughty response confirmed it.

"Even in this form, I am certain I can handle myself." He shifted his pupils upward, to try and judge her reaction as she put on the final touches. "You are welcome to join us if you like. I can easily pleasure all three of you."

She paused at the insinuation, ignoring the choking sound from the man across the room. She was sure he was joking. But it wasn't funny. None of this was funny, as a matter of fact.

Good thing she was done cutting hair, because she was done humoring this strange conversation.

He could see how upset she was getting. But even though she gave away much, he gave up nothing.

Though he had to admit; it did take some work to restrain the amused smirk that threatened to crack apart his flawless mask. She was just too easy.

"Those condoms in your bag," he started, hoping he pronounced the word correctly, "may I have one?"

It took a moment to settle in. But when it did...

"What?!"

He tried to put on his most innocent façade. Though, that one usually ended up making him look the guiltiest.

"In this form, I cannot detect if a female is fertile. Nor can I discern any disease she might carry. Despite their claims, those women appear less than virtuous, and This One would not like any afflictions as a reminder."

There was just so much to unpack from that statement.

He pretty much confirmed that he planned to have sex with those girls, which was... not what she wanted. But how did he know about condoms? How did he know that she had them? She nearly forgot that she did.

There was only one explanation.

"You went in my bag?!"

He figured by now, that the haircut was over. So he stood and brushed the remaining black hairs off his shoulders and chest.

"Hn. I was looking for your washboard," he explained casually, not making eye contact. He had a feeling that wouldn't fly.

She was still holding the scissors as she sputtered. Perhaps he should have relieved her of them first, as she had only grown angrier since their conversation started.

"You knew that wasn't in there! How could you invade my privacy like that?"

He shrugged. But as far as offenses went, she was shocked to find that was not the most egregious of them.

She could have forgiven him going through her bag. But that he now planned to go off with some horny village girls... that was what made it unacceptable. Asking to use her prophylactics with them...

"And how can you even think of doing something like this? You are supposed to be focused on finding Rin. You have all of us going way out of our way to help you. And you decided you are going to man whore it up when we are supposed to be focused on our mission? You're a pig!"

When he narrowed his eyes and took a step forward, he was a bit perturbed, and excited to find that the miko hadn't even considered taking half a step back. His façade remained icy, however.

"It does not concern you. And why is it of any consequence? You do not bat an eye when the monk constantly womanizes." Neither noticed when the monk in question made a show of looking offended. "Why should it matter to you unless..." When he paused, she simply waited quietly, expectantly for him to continue his argument. But it seemed like in that moment, he just realized something. She was more than eager to learn what that thing was.

Unfortunately, he remained as tight-lipped as ever. With a small, knowing smirk, he regarded her with it for a long moment, before finally giving his cryptic reply. "Ah," he began condescendingly as he pulled back, "now I see."

He turned his back to her, seemingly now more interested with fussing over his new hairstyle than conversing with her further. This annoyed her to no end.

"What?" she demanded. She couldn't see his smug grin, as his back was still to her.

"You want This One for yourself."

"Oh, fuck you." She responded in exasperation. His smile never faltered, however. It was exactly the reaction he was expecting.

"Hn. That is your desire, is it not?" He wished he could turn around. He had visions of steam shooting out of her ears in a way that was no doubt priceless. But he had to keep his cool.

"You have got to be, the most self-centered, egotistical dog I have ever met! I don't want you. I can't even stand you." She had been approaching him slowly throughout her mini tirade. But when she was not a hands breadth away, he turned sharply on his heel and took her by surprise.

"They why do you care whom This One patronizes?"

He wondered if she was more startled by her dangerous attempt at threatening him, or the implications, and possible answers in respect to his pointed questioning.

Either way, he noticed how she sputtered a moment before answering his condescendingly expectant demand.

"Because, we are on a mission to find Rin," she finally responded, "not a mission to get you laid."

This time, when he stepped closer, she did retreat... If only slightly. But he was slightly put off that when he drew his face uncomfortably close to hers, she did not waver.

Searching her with his eyes, he would have been taking in her entire scent if he was a dog demon still. His voice was low, and slow as he responded, as if wanting to ensure she understood every word.

"Are you certain you simply cannot stand the idea of me ravishing a woman who is not you?"

She did fairly well at reining in her outrageous reaction to his statement... until he kept going. "Perhaps your little pink massager is not sufficient to your needs?"

She couldn't hide it anymore. If he knew about the condoms, then he knew about the vibrator, and that was just... unacceptable. It was disturbing, and unacceptable and surreal.

She didn't owe him any explanations. She didn't owe him anything!

And for a guy who claimed to hold honor in such high regard, he was sure taking an awful lot of liberties going through a young woman's- a young human woman's- personal things.

But she couldn't let him win. He wasn't going to get the better of her.

She hated how amusement danced in his eyes while a plethora of emotions washed over her normally sympathetic features. She was ready to blow.

"You know what?" she asked, much more calmly than he had been expecting. He watched on curiously as she crossed back over to her bag and pulled out the unopened box of condoms her stupid mom had bought for her. She shoved them into his stomach, and he could do nothing but accept them. "Here. Take all of them. God knows I don't need them."

When he took them from her, she threw her hand up into the air and turned away, flustered. "Go, fuck your way up to the Northern Lands for all I care. Just don't come complaining to me when you are exhausted tomorrow."

Did men ever complain about being tired the day after having copious amounts of sex? Would being a human render him to such a whiney state?

Before he could formulate an answer, she had reclaimed her backpack, and stormed out of his room in a snit. He chanced a look over to Miroku, who only offered a casual shrug, as if it were something he encountered on a regular basis.

---

When she got back to her room, she found that Sango was already out like a light. Apparently, the sake did help aid her in getting to bed early. Kagome would come to envy that decision.

Seeing no reason to remain awake, the miko decided to follow suit. After getting ready for bed, she tucked herself in tight and bunkered down for the evening.

But she was too upset to sleep. Her mind was racing a mile a minute at what the night held in store for her neighbor. Funny, even though Sesshoumaru wasn't a demon anymore, it didn't stop him – and Miroku for that matter – from behaving like total dogs.

She tried to shut the world out; ignore everything so she could get some rest because really, it shouldn't be affecting her this much. But when she heard the two giggling females from the den walk past her door and be given access to the boys' room, she physically felt ill.

She wanted to sleep; to believe it was possible for nothing to be happening in there. But when she started hearing... noises; obvious noises from at least one of the girls, she knew it was foolish to believe that anything else was occurring.

Soon, the sounds of the other girl reaching pleasure hit her ears, and she took her pillow and shoved it over her head. At least they were having a good time. It sounded like the two girls were taking turns all night long reaching orgasm after orgasm.

She guessed Sesshoumaru wasn't lying about being able to pleasure all of them easily. But then, when did he ever lie? This went on late into the night until, much later than she would have hoped, the miko was finally able to treat it like white noise and fall asleep.

She woke up even more upset.

It was one thing if he wanted to struggle through the day in exhaustion because of his inability to control his most basic urges. But just due to proximity, he had made her an unwilling victim to his night of incredible pleasure as well.

Well, that's fine. If he wanted her to be a bitch all day, he had succeeded. And she knew who was going to bear the brunt of her displeasure.

Sango was still asleep when Kagome awoke, and she decided to get breakfast started as long as she was up. Her reeling thoughts and imagination made it impossible for her to get back to sleep.

But before she finished getting dressed, she heard the door next to hers closing, and the two females who had so rudely kept her awake with their pleasure were tip-toeing back outside.

She decided to exit her room because, well, a little humiliation was in order. She heard them bidding a very giddy goodbye to their host just as Kagome was leaving her room. But when they eyed her shyly as they began their walk of shame back to whatever hole they crawled out of, she found that her superiority didn't make her feel any better.

Thinking it best to keep herself distracted, she left to fetch water to boil and began doing just that as she readied the oatmeal cups for her companions to consume.

When she made it back to the fire pit, she noticed Sesshoumaru already standing there. Still in his clothing from the night before, it appeared. Never much one for breakfast, she figured he must have worked up quite an appetite last night, if the noises he induced were anything to go by.

But she wouldn't let him see how upset she was. She decided to play it cool.

"Well, you look like shit."

He raised an eyebrow as he watched her struggle to put the heavy pot upon the already started breakfast flame.

"Good morning to you too, miko."

She might have been biased, but she wasn't wrong. For as rested as he looked after his night as a demon, he looked twice as bad now. Not as bad as when he had been beaten up, but the dark circles under his eyes almost made it look like he had taken a couple more shots to the face.

Maybe he had; she didn't know what weird kinky shit he was into.

And she didn't want to know. She avoided eye contact as she worked on breakfast, totally not enjoying how amused he appeared to find this whole situation. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of acknowledging it.

"Like I said, I'm not putting up with you slacking today. So if you are tired, you are just going to have to deal with it."

With his focus fully on her, she expected his biting response. But before he had the chance to give it, a very tired, but very happy Miroku made his way out of the room; dressed and bright-eyed and bushy tailed as she had ever seen him.

When he drew closer at a very quick speed, she was worried he was about to grope her. She hoped he would try, as she was in no mood today. She was looking for an excuse to put a male in his place as physically as she was able.

But, to her surprise, he bypassed her completely and made a beeline for Sesshoumaru.

He both seemed to expect the audacious bear hug he was consumed by, and to be shocked the incorrigible monk would have the nerve.

"Thank you! Thank you so much, my friend."

To his own surprise, all he did was peel the grateful man off him, instead of pounding him unconscious. He probably knew that in his current state, the monk wouldn't have minded in the least.

"You enjoyed yourself then?" he asked, doing his best to create some distance. Kagome only watched on, thoroughly confused.

"Giving me one was generous enough, but both of them?" His dazzling smile was entertaining. And the look on the miko's face was enough for Sesshoumaru to forgive the friendly arm being slung around his shoulders by a monk who seemed by all accounts ready to die in that moment. Accenting his point, the lecher squeezed him tighter. "Best night of my life! Your brother can take a hike, you are my new best friend!"

This display was too surreal, and Kagome was too tired to assemble this strange puzzle.

"What?" was all she asked, praying someone would make sense before she lost it.

Miroku was happy to oblige.

"Our wonderful ally here made himself scarce all night long so I could enjoy those beauties to my heart's content." At his declaration, Kagome turned to Sesshoumaru just in time to see him finally remove the monk's offensive arm from his person. That didn't stop him from issuing praise.

"They were disappointed at first to find Hero-sama would not be joining us. But they were more than happy to pass on their gratitude to this handsome young monk in your absence. This guy is amazing!"

"Where did you go?" She hated that pleased little smirk on his face, as if he had gotten the best of her again. But as he tried to act nonchalant, she could read his excitement in informing her of her misinterpretation.

He studied his nails casually as he deigned to respond.

"I went to inspect the ruins myself. The dark made it difficult to detect, but This One was able to discern that it was indeed a water elemental which attacked this village." At her dumbfounded silence, he continued. "Thus, the tigers must indeed be travelling northbound, as cats and water are constantly at odds. And that Jaken is headed primarily north, I will suggest to Inuyasha that he focus his search to the east, to cover the most ground possible."

So, that's what he was doing all night? Following leads? She didn't know what to say. Why, then, did he let her believe-"

"If you will excuse me, I am exhausted." Miroku's gleeful declaration interrupted her thoughts. "I am going to try to get some shut eye before Inuyasha gets back. I love you, man! Enjoy your breakfast!"

She was happy to be rid of that lecherous monk for a time. But watching him go, she couldn't deny the foreboding she felt at being left alone with the self-important, gloating former daiyoukai.

Maybe if she just ignored him, he would go away...

"Are you pleased?"

Damn. She knew it was too much to hope for. You know what they say about assuming. And Kagome had a feeling he was going to make her feel the burn of her scandalous presumptions... and how they affected her so.

Still, trying to save some face, she responded casually.

"I am glad we are heading in the right direction."

But as she tried to brush past him, he called after her, stopping her in her tracks.

"You know that is not what I am referring to. Does it please you that I did not lay with those females?"

Oh, she knew what he was talking about. And for all her accusations, he deserved to get his own answers. So graciously, she stopped, and turned back.

His pleased smirk was just too much. He gave himself away, though she had the feeling he wanted to. He had nothing to hide anymore. But did she?

She couldn't help but smile weakly in the face of her own misstep.

"Well, you were out all night anyway, so you are still going to be exhausted." But all he had to do was lift his brow expectantly, and she caved. She really was a victim of her own conscious. She relented with a sigh and finally gave him what he was looking for.

"But yes, I am relieved that you didn't do it."

Taking a predatory step forward, she only backed up halfway.

"Why is that?"

His remaining, admonishing upturned eyebrow became a heavy weight to bear. He seemed to tower over her, and she began to buckle under the great pressure of him.

She turned again, returning her attention to the oatmeal cups she had been preparing.

"Why do you suddenly care about my opinion? Are you actually starting to take my feelings into account?"

She tested the water with her fingertip. And though not yet boiling, it appeared to be more than hot enough to use. She withdrew her finger from the scalding hot water and put it into her mouth to sooth the pain.

"Perhaps."

She turned from her food preparations as she continued to blow on her burnt fingertip. Seeing the earnestness in his gaze; hearing it in his voice, she realized she believed him. Realized he meant it.

From where she crouched before the fire pit, she regarded him seriously over her shoulder for several long seconds, while he patiently waited.

Coming to a decision, she stopped blowing cool air onto her finger long enough to give the answer he was waiting for.

"Hm. That's good."

She put the tip of her digit back between her lips, wetting it again so the cool air had more affect.

As she did this, she gave him a nice long up and down, seemingly scanning everything he currently was into her memory, and smiled.

"Very good."

As she blew more cool air onto her scorched skin, she relished as she watched him smirk in return. And then, she found herself answering in kind.

Pleased with her response, he finally was satisfied enough to leave her be. With his signature air of highness, he declared,

"If you don't mind, I believe I will also attempt to get some rest before the hanyou comes to retrieve us."

He made to leave then, and she appeared ready to let him. But something inside him was left unfulfilled. And before he made it out of there, he decided that he simply could not help himself. He had more to say.

"You know, miko. If you wished to stand in those female's stead, you need only have voiced it."

He watched her back stiffen as she paused again. But that wasn't his intended goal this time. Before, he had relished how obviously discomfited she was when forced to examine her recent behavior. And while gratifying, he desired more than to simply force her to acknowledge his desirability.

He waited for a reply, and she did not disappoint.

"Trust me, that is not what I wanted."

That was what she insisted. But her back remained to him. Sure, she had chores to do, but to him it seemed like she couldn't look him in the eye and say such a thing. He was going to make her.

"If that is so, then I still fail to understand you taking issue with my associating with those women. And do not say it is because you worry about me simply being tired."

He was creeping back to her, and she must have been aware. For before he reached her, she turned to face him, almost as if to ward him off. But from what?

At her silence, he pressed further.

"You do not wish me to lie with them, yet you do not offer yourself up to me either."

This had started as some sort of game to be won between them. Maybe it was only he who viewed it as such, he couldn't be certain. But as things progressed, he found he only accrued more questions regarding her. And loathe as he was to admit it, she was the only one who could sate his curiosity.

Facing him fully once again, he watched with unobscured intent as she slowly produced her tongue long enough to wet her parched lips. He couldn't tell if the move was for him, or because of him.

"So you're saying that I need to sleep with you to keep you from sleeping with anyone else?"

He could tell she was curious. But mostly, she voiced incredulity.

"Precisely, yes."

Not the answer she wanted. And recognizing that caused his enjoyment to soar yet again at her reaction.

"Oh, that is just so-"

"Just so what? Rational?" In her distraction, she had foolishly allowed him to draw dangerously close.

If he were a demon, she would be close enough to bite. To kill. But now, for the first time, he didn't know what he wanted to do with her. All he knew was, he wanted her right there.

He gave her a moment to gather herself. She was working with an obvious handicap, and it was no fun to play the game with one so incredibly outmatched. He liked the sport, so he gave her time. He was patient.

Finally, with a sigh, but never dropping her intense blue eyes from his own, she answered him.

"Look. Maybe I'm curious," she admitted. He preened. "But I won't be blackmailed. You aren't going to give me an ultimatum."

"That is exactly what I am doing."

He was fascinated. Captivated by her.

The deepness of his eyes, even though not occupied by a demon, still were enough to scramble her brain upon intense scrutiny.

"What?"

He had the urge to lift his nose, for his explanation required a deep delve into his regal pedigree. But he didn't want to look away. All he was willing to do, was continue looking her straight in the eye, holding that piercing gaze he couldn't believe he'd never noticed before, and tell her the truth. So, he did.

"I am a highly sought, highly desirable male, apparently even in my human form." His hubris urged her to roll her eyes, but he didn't give her the opportunity. "It is ridiculous for you to demand I remain celibate on the off- chance you may one day deign to lay with me. If you will not, there are many who will. You overvalue your worth. I suggest you assess your value to me. Assess your value to society while you are at it."

It was strange to hear him speak this way. It was beyond strange to hear him talk about sex. This incredibly weird subject matter was enough to put her brain on a path to insanity. Likely aware of his effect on people, and having said his piece, he turned on her again, intent to leaving her his cocky little message to stew in until she saw him next.

But her brain did work. With a clarity she hadn't been expecting, or hadn't ever tapped into, she was able to see exactly what he meant. What he wanted.

And because of that, what she wanted was as clear as day to her. Well, at least what she knew of what she wanted.

Finally, she felt she could articulate herself. And she wasn't going to let him leave without doing so.

"Okay wait." Surprised by her command, he absolutely halted in his tracks. Only a small measure of shock was enough to show how effected he was, and he didn't attempt to hide it. He turned again, and she had his full attention.

"You're a blunt guy," she began. And she wasn't wrong. She had his undivided attention. "While you may not be tactful, I know that you are honest. And I know that just because other guys aren't as rude as you, they also probably aren't as truthful. Many of them may in fact feel the same way as you, but you are straight up with me, and I appreciate that."

She was babbling, but she was brave. He respected that. So despite her ineloquence, he deigned to grant her his audience, for as long as she wanted it. He simply listened, devoid of any reaction.

"And because you are strait up with me, I'm gonna be strait up with you. You have earned that much."

When she took a step closer, close enough to touch him, he didn't back away.

"The truth is, there is something about you that interests me. I don't know what it is, but I can't deny that it's there." He smiled at her admission. Just as he'd suspected.

"But I'm not going to be rushed, and I'm not going to be pressured into doing anything that I am not ready for."

Her honesty intrigued him. This was the most upfront the miko had ever been with him about anything. That it centered around her feelings towards him was... gratifying.

"And my ultimatum is this: You're a big boy. You can do whatever you want, and I am not going to stop you. But if you go off and mess around with other women, I am no longer interested." Her forward declaration shocked him, and he actually had to work at keeping his famously stoic mask schooled in place.

"That will be it for me. And I'm not promising anything is going to happen. Like, at all.

"But if you even want a shot at being with me, you are going to have to resist the advances of any other woman who may throw themselves at you. Maybe you can't, I don't know."

Oh, she knew what she was doing. In challenging his will, she was setting him up to fail if he was not up to the task. She really was a crafty little thing.

"But that's how I feel. Maybe it isn't fair, or strategic, or whatever... but that is my red line. And if you don't want to do it, that's okay. But that is my requirement to even be in the running."

No female had ever spoken to him this way. Not even the most high status of female within his own youkai circles had been so bold.

Here she was, this small, human miko, making demands of him... he'd never seen anything like it. It was... beyond exciting. All he could do was listen to her.

"If you go around screwing other women, you can just forget it. It's up to you. That's all I'm going to tell you."

And then, she turned from him.

She turned from him... He didn't know if it was because he was human or what, but this woman's gall had his mouth absolutely dry.

He wanted to rise to her challenge.

He wanted to meet her requirements. Meet his match.

In a daze, and watching her go, he could do naught but turn to do the same.

But as soon as he did, she surprised him again. Stopping him with her captivating voice, he refused to turn back to her. For if he did, he wasn't certain that he couldn't return to his room with his dignity. Or even with his honor.

"But if you can restrain yourself from seeing other women, I just have to say... your chances aren't as 'off' as you might think. That's all."

But with that, he snapped his neck around back to her so fast, he nearly injured it. Only, it wasn't fast enough to catch her eyes before they set back on her path to head off to her room.

He decided he couldn't go back there. He needed some space from the miko, for as long as he could manage.

---

It was only another hour before Inuyasha finally returned. Seeing as everyone else was still tired, no one objected when Sango suggested the two of them take a nice long 'walk' while letting the others rest a little longer before heading to the next village.

Sesshoumaru was still napping when Miroku finally emerged. It wasn't close to enough sleep for him, but seeing as how his night had gone, he would not be complaining.

In fact, Kagome had a feeling he would not be complaining about anything for a very long time. Maybe that was part of Sesshoumaru's plan.

With the girls' room packed up and ready to go, all that was left was for Kagome to wait on her friends to return.

Miroku exited his room to find her sitting on a rock, and apparently taking in the scenery of the inn one last time before they ventured out. He joined her at her side, sitting down as well.

"Are you alright, Kagome-sama?"

If she turned to him then, she would have only caught the sight of his contemplative face staring out into the distance. But she didn't.

"Are you upset with them?"

She didn't have to ask who he was talking about. He probably noticed how she was staring off in the direction the two lovers had disappeared down.

He didn't know if she was going to answer. And to be honest, it didn't matter if she did. He just hoped she knew she could confide in him.

To his relief, she did respond. And thoughtfully, at that.

"I am upset, but not at them. Not really. It's just, this whole situation..."

He waited patiently for her to continue. Waited for her to find the right words. He didn't want to rush her with his scrutiny, so he kept his gaze as distant as hers was. "I feel like my life just got turned upside down in an instant. I was so sure we were going to be together, and then... I guess I'm kind of mad at myself for being so stupid." With an ironic smile to herself, she continued. "But I can't really be mad at them for how they feel."

When she looked up, she found he was already staring at her, full of sympathy and concern. It only made her smile linger.

"What about you?" she ventured softly. "I mean, I know you were seeing other girls, but... you were in love. And now she is with your best friend. Don't you hate him?"

With a genuine smile, and not a moment's hesitation, he shook his head.

"No."

"How can that be?" She really wanted to know. How could he not feel any resentment for what happened? With all that had happened, how could the precious relationships in his life remain untainted? Maybe it was a Buddhist thing...

"One day, my wind tunnel is going to open up, and swallow me whole." His blunt statement startled her, and she regarded him with a startled sadness at the reminder. "I have known this my entire life. And though I have always proclaimed that I wished to create many children to leave behind a legacy, the truth is, I simply wanted to enjoy my time while I had it."

This conversation was starting to sound achingly familiar, but she didn't interrupt.

"When you know for sure you are going to die, you don't want to waste your life living in regret. You don't want to miss out on anything. I wanted to experience everything I could in this life. That was my mantra, and I remain true to it."

She realized in that moment why he and Sango had gotten on so well before. A shared understanding of their likely fates gave them something big to have in common. Was she the only one who didn't live like she was going to die tomorrow? Was that a mistake on her part?

"I thought when we killed Naraku, that my wind tunnel would disappear. We both know now that it didn't." As he wriggled the fingers on his cursed hand, both sets of eyes were immediately drawn down to it.

His plastered, forced smile did not hide the pain in his features. And she didn't even try to hide her own. "And for a brief moment there, I thought that maybe I could be a normal man. Have a normal life, with a beautiful wife and children." His fake smile finally fell, and he looked sadly down to the ground beneath his feet.

"But even if my curse was removed, I know now that it never could have been." Finally lifting his gaze to her, she was floored at the normally lighthearted, joking monk's deathly serious expression.

"I am not a one-woman man. I never have been. And even if I began this lifestyle out of fear of meeting my maker prematurely, that is just who I am now. I am that man. And as much as I love Sango, that was never going to change."

He was pouring his heart out to her, and it was difficult to endure. He was admitting that in his mission to find purpose in a life that could be taken at any moment, he had lost the part of himself that could ever have had what he had once considered a normal happy life.

In living a life where he was forced to keep others at a distance, it rendered him now incapable of that closeness he had once yearned to achieve.

It was too late for him now. He could never go back.

"But honestly, I am glad she left me." And with his casual smile, she felt like he meant it. But at the same time, she wanted to tell him that he was wrong. That he could still have that life, if it was what he wanted. But he was reserved. She didn't have it in her to interrupt the worldly man who had taught her more than she had even realized, until now.

"Because one day, not terribly far from now, I will meet my fate." And she immediately knew what he meant. Even if she could forget his fate for days on end, she knew that he never would.

"Even if she is not in the vicinity when I go, she would still be harmed by the fact that her husband - the father of her children - was gone. I do not want that for her."

This was making her horribly depressed, and he seemed to have realized that. Because when gazing on the young miko once again, he smiled. Only this time, it was genuine.

"Inuyasha is a good man. He will care for her well. And as much as it does bring me pain, it brings me more pleasure to know that she will be loved, and cherished. So no, Kagome. I do not hate Inuyasha."

All this time, she thought he had been being a cad. Being careless with the heart of the one he loved most, and who loved him in return. But now she could see that it was that love for Sango which ultimately forced him to drive her away.

He cared for her so much, that he did not want her to endure the pain of ever losing him. And sure, he wasn't a total altruist. He slept around because he enjoyed doing it. But in the end, he really wanted what was best for Sango. What was best for all of them.

And as much as it had to hurt, he was happy that she found someone who could treat her as she deserved. He was happy enough that she was happy, and it seemed to give him peace.

Could she do the same thing? Did she love Inuyasha enough to let him be in love?

She could.

She wanted him to be happy. And if he was happy with Sango, then she was happy for him.

She thought she couldn't approve of it because she loved him too much to do so. But it was that very love which allowed her to let him go.

She thought she might cry, but she really didn't feel like breaking down. To hide her pain, she tried her best to lighten the mood.

"But maybe all those women you see helps to ease your pain a little?"

At her accusatory glare, he chuckled.

"Indeed it does. Perhaps you should try it. A wild night of passion might help you get over your broken heart."

And now he was back. His large, boyish grin and his waggling eyebrows got her smiling again, and she was grateful for it.

"Pfft. No thanks. Inuyasha and I weren't even a couple. We never even had sex."

She completely expected it when he grabbed her by the hand and looked deeply into her eyes.

"Know that all you need to do is ask, my lady. I would be more than happy to aid you in getting through this grief process."

She yanked her hand away from him.

"That sounds like a terrible idea."

"It is a fabulous idea!" he declared, throwing an arm around her shoulders and leaning closer. "The loves of our lives have gone to each other. It only seems fair that the two of us could indulge in carnal pleasures as well."

When she shifted her gaze uncomfortably to the ground in front of her, he regarded her thoughtfully.

"Or perhaps Sesshoumaru-sama would be able to assist you."

"Oh, god." She finally shoved his arm off her dramatically.

"Talk about a great guy! That man is my new best friend," he reiterated. Suddenly, his grinning face turned serious, and he wagged a condemning finger at her in warning. "On second thought, stay away from him! I need him free and clear to help me get girls. I don't know how he does it, but that man is a genius."

The gears were turning in the monk's head, as he thought of all the ways he could use the fairer sex's apparent attraction to their newest member to his benefit. Kagome scoffed.

"The only women you are going to get using Sesshoumaru as bait will be shallow harpies. His looks are his only redeeming quality."

He scowled in her direction.

"Do not talk about my best friend like that."

She rolled her eyes and looked away.

"Whatever."

She didn't see the knowing smile he bestowed her with in that moment.

"You admit that he is good looking. Though I wouldn't say he is any more attractive that me."

"He is. Quite a bit."

She laughed at his frustrated huff.

"You women are crazy. Don't know a good thing when you see it."

At her continued laughter, he couldn't help but join her.

---

Inuyasha and Sango returned a short while later, looking a bit more disheveled than when they had departed. His rumpled clothes, and the twig in her hair were telling, but instead of mentioning it, the rest of the group simply did their part in containing their laughter. This seemed to confuse them a bit, but they elected to let it drop.

After Kirara was all packed up and ready to go, Inuyasha approached Kagome, and asked if she was ready to get on his back.

"No, that's okay. You should take Sango."

Her suggestion surprised him, and he floundered a moment.

"Are you sure Kagome? Cuz I really don't mind if-"

"Nah, its more appropriate." Her gaze shifted to Sango, who was acting like she wasn't listening, and she smiled. "Miroku can take the reins on Kirara, right Miroku?"

The monk grinned his charming grin and hopped up onto the fire cat.

"Absolutely. But only if I have the pleasure of you sitting behind me."

Waggling his eyebrows suggestively had the half demon scowling, but he made no moves to prevent the new traveling arrangements. He was excited at the prospect of carrying Sango with him, but he silently communicated that the monk better watch his hands.

Kagome hopped on behind him and lightly grabbed onto his robes.

"Hold onto me tightly, Kagome. It can be a bumpy ride."

"You better not try anything, pervert." But she had a feeling she was in for some turbulence.

Sesshoumaru got on last. Situating himself in the back to keep Kagome protected between them, he made himself comfortable behind the miko in the middle.

She turned shyly to him just in time to see Inuyasha take off out of the corner of her eye.

"Hold onto me, Sesshoumaru. In case the monk tries anything stupid, we don't want you to fall off."

He rested his hands gently on her hips. The way her legs were spread on either side of Kirara had her feeling much more sensitive to his touch.

She tingled as he leaned into her. And when he lowered his head to speak lowly into her ear, she shivered.

"I must warn you, miko; once I've got you, I hold on tight."

She felt as much as heard every word. His lips brushed her ear with every syllable, sending a jolt of excitement through her entire form. Aware of his effect on her, he smirked in smug satisfaction.

As promised, it was a somewhat rocky ride. It might have been partially due to Miroku not being quite as practiced at steering Kirara as Sango was, but she was willing to bet money it had equal part to do with him trying to get her to grab him out of fear.

One particularly harsh jolt seemed to take Sesshoumaru by surprise. And in reaction, he wrapped his arms snugly around her middle, causing her breath to hitch in her throat.

She wondered if he had really been worried he'd fall, or if he too was taking advantage of the bumpiness of the voyage... She decided it didn't matter as he gathered her more closely against him.

Hours had passed soaring through the air. The next village on the itinerary was very far away. And due to being out all night last night, Sesshoumaru somehow managed to actually fall asleep while they flew.

Kagome marveled at that. She couldn't even fall asleep on an airplane.

She felt when he slackened behind her, relaxing his weight to press against her back. His chin was on her shoulder, and she let his even breathing sooth her haywire nerves.

His grip on her hips loosened, and his hands started to find their way down her thighs. She thought he was doing it on purpose at first, but each twist and turn in the air had his fingers moving across her legs in time with Kirara's movements.

His hands were slipping lower, getting dangerously close to the juncture between her thighs. She felt the heat pooling down there, and she found herself wishing he would move his fingers just a little closer to touch her more intimately, and satisfy her increasing, burning desire.

Another jolt in the air had the pad of his index finger graze her swollen pearl, which was incredibly puffy from his maddening, teasing touches.

"Careful Miroku. Sesshoumaru is sleeping." Her command sounded husky to her, and she hoped Miroku didn't notice.

She felt herself almost coming undone at these jerky motions, so against her baser wishes, she finally put an end to her torment and placed her hand on his wrist, shaking him awake.

He finally came to, lifting his head off her shoulder, and righting his hands so that he was holding her hips again like he had been before. Not that it wasn't any less enjoyable.

"Did you have a nice nap?"

He seemed a little embarrassed that he had been caught sleeping. He shouldn't allow himself to get so vulnerable where so many people could see.

Wanting a distraction, Kagome remembered something she had been wanting to ask him.

He never did tell her what made him attack those men with the knifes yesterday. So, with the others distracted, she finally asked.

"What did those men say before you attacked them?" she asked quietly. But she knew he heard every word. "Yesterday, in that den..."

Damn. He thought she had forgotten. He didn't want to have to explain it to her. Such things were not fit to grace her eardrums.

He remembered how angry he had been, when they had disrespected her. His feral reaction had bothered him. But not as much as it bothered him when she demanded they be spared. That was something else he didn't want to tell her.

He was recalling the night before, and what he had really been doing.

He said he was at the ruins but was a lie...

Last night, while Miroku was reaping his spoils, he was in search a ship.

And he found it.

No, he hadn't returned to his demon form again last night, but that was why he needed to get his revenge.

He could not waste any time spent as a demon on petty things like revenge. That was why he needed to settle his scores in his mortal skin.

He'd found their docked ship, tracked those foreigners down.

When he found them, they were passed out drunk. That was no surprise. And he first took the opportunity to locate all the other women being held prisoner on their ship, and set them free.

A harsh kick to the ribs then roused one of the men out of his stupor. He still had the wound he had given him in the throat with his own knife.

The pained yelp woke the other man up, and they both stood up in a flash, preparing to defend themselves.

They recognized him immediately, and he reveled once more in the fear he was able to incite when just simply recognized. He smiled maliciously.

He still had the knife he had taken, and he held it out in front of him menacingly. The men raised their hand defensively.

"What do you want?" he asked, his voice shaking in fear.

"I want to ask about what you said to my companion," he told him calmly. "What is it that you asked her?"

Trembling, the man thought for a second.

"I don't remember."

Sesshoumaru pressed him further, unsatisfied.

"Something about her pussy, I believe. What did you ask her?"

He never repeated himself, so it was a very bad sign for them that he did.

He could tell by the way his eyes widened that he suddenly remembered what he had said. But he was afraid to tell him.

"Come on. You asked if it ran a certain way. Which way was that?"

Backed against a wall, there was nowhere for him to go. All he could do was give the terrifying man what he demanded.

"Side to side?" he all but stuttered. Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow.

"Like this?"

With a quick, powerful motion, he slit the man's throat crossways with his own blade.

He gurgled as he bled out in seconds, while Sesshoumaru only watched. The other man looked on terrified, too afraid to speak. But Sesshoumaru wanted to wait until he was dead before he started in on the other one. So they watched, and waited in silence.

When it was clear he was finally dead, he lifted his gaze and began to slowly approach the second man.

He seemed to know his fate. He knew there was nothing he could do. So, he decided, there was no point in groveling.

"I don't see what the problem is. Their pussies do run side to side."

Though his evil smile remained, his eyes narrowed dangerously as Sesshoumaru continued to stalk forward.

"Have you had a look at it? Maybe she will show you?"

And with another quick cut from side to side, another throat was cut. He finished the job he had started in the den.

He watched that man bleed out too, which an immense sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.

Then, after wiping the blade off on the dead man's clothes, he turned around to head back to the inn.

Kagome was looking over her shoulder at him expectantly as they flew atop of Kirara, hoping to get her answer. But he would give only one.

"Nothing."

---

A/N: Hannibal Rising anyone? Anyone?

Now and then I pay an homage to a movie, and this was it. Let me know if you liked it. It's usually a mixed bag when I do something like that...

Also, most people seemed to appreciate me not getting to gory with Sess's murder scenes, and I agree. It's just not that fun to write.

But for those of you who wanted some... here was a little, I guess.. Not terribly graphic, but I hope that appeases you a bit, lol XD