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

29. A Girl's, and Man's Best Friends

This mission was threatening to make a lush out of him.

Whether it was ubiquity, stress, or just his new low human tolerance, Sesshoumaru had been finding himself on the wrong end of a sake bottle more in the last month than his entire youkai existence.

But it wasn't like he had anything better to do.

After meeting with the village elder, the group was regretfully informed that the coyote clan who had agreed to... coyote them into the Northern Outskirts had run afoul of a puma pride on their way down to collect them, and would be detained at least a day or two.

The coyotes' misfortune only reinforced the notion that the pack of vulnerable humans would not have much success venturing out on their own, so it didn't take much cajoling to convince the Western Lord to pump the breaks on their relentless maneuvering, and take the night off.

Inuyasha and Sango had been given a hut to share, while everyone else was generously issued their own. Despite their private arrangement, neither Sesshoumaru nor Kagome lobbied publicly for their own shared domicile, but that didn't stop the miko from tip toeing over to his borrowed space after everyone had agreed to turn in for the evening.

That's where the sake came in.

He didn't ask where she got it. But even though the Lord of the West didn't take to altering his senses under normal circumstances, it had long been established that his current situation far from qualified as such. And even if it had, he liked to think he wouldn't be fool enough to decline the invitation when a female he fancied expressed the desire to do so with him alone. Especially when she snuck into his room in the middle of the night. And most especially when she came in looking like that.

He'd anticipated the soft knock on his door as he got the irori ready for her arrival. But before he could decide if he should prepare some water for tea, her impressive entrance banished all coherent thought from his mind, leaving desire and instinct to fend for themselves.

The sake was far from the most interesting thing she'd brought to their little private party. Even the thin, silk yukata she came in with – while very interesting – was not what drew his eye.

The necklace he'd given her - the priceless, indestructible cluster of breathtaking diamonds he'd painstakingly acquired and used to spring her from captivity - sat beautifully on her chest. Perfectly, as if made specifically with her in mind, the tapered rows guided his eyes down the expanse of her exposed, creamy skin, where the clothing parted generously and let him privy to where the swell of her breasts began before wretched silk disturbed his view and left him only to wonder how that story ended.

But the fine material wasn't completely cruel. The delicate cloth accentuated her deliciously, and was kind enough to let him see how brutally the cold winter night affected the poor girl on her short trip down the dirt road. Though, he liked to think she was just happy to see him.

She was at least comfortable enough to forego the padded breast binding that had kept her from his eager hand the night before.

And that was only the half of it.

He recalled the request he'd made of her in the hollow tree that morning while his brother was out finding them breakfast. Still high off of their daring escape – and yes, opium – he held her covetously in his arms and revealed his spontaneous desire to see her just like this.

She wore her hair up in an elegant bun that had obviously taken some care to perfect. It left the expanse of her throat completely bare for his perusal, and allowed his greedy eyes unhindered access to the feminine slope of her neck. The deep purple mark he'd given her just last night was also on full display, reminding him of their deeds, filling him with pride and stirring dormant bestial instincts to the surface.

Last but not least, the burgundy lipstick – applied appropriately this time – was also a reminder of the intimacies they'd shared. And though it looked much more fetching on her, he couldn't help hoping she would be willing to put a little on him again. Or a lot.

She blushed at his awestruck reaction, but was confident enough to let herself in. That was good, because he didn't have the wits about him to be a dutiful host at the moment. Admiring her beauty with reverence, he slowly stood from the raised platform that housed the hearth, and let his jaw hang open uselessly while she made her way over to him.

She took it as the compliment it was, and didn't push for conversation as she strode to join him. She let him soak her in, and when she took a seat on the wide ledge beside the sunken fire pit, he breathlessly followed.

This was what he'd wanted. This was all for him, and she was going to let him get his fill.

It wasn't awkward. She'd grown accustomed to their comfortable silences. With most people, she felt the need to fill the void with useless chatter, but not Sesshoumaru. Just being there was enough, and she felt perfectly at ease when she poured them both their first serving of sake, and drank in companionable quiet.

Appreciative violet eyes considered her over the rim of his cup each time he took a sip, conveying to her more than any conversation ever could. After their second helping, he'd finally broken from his trance, and casual, comfortable banter gradually filled the space between them. The alcohol helped them relax, and after indulging in some friendly back and forth, Kagome was ready to make good on her promise from earlier.

They hurriedly knocked back their third when she instructed him to turn away from her so she could get to work on his shoulder. Muscle memory led her to the same spot as last time, and she quickly confirmed that the troublesome rhomboid was indeed the culprit yet again. So once more, experienced hands took on the task of banishing the terrible disruption from his otherwise flawless body.

The way she rubbed him with practiced ease spoke of her fluency with his form, and he realized he loved how this woman knew him so well. It felt almost as good as the massage to know there was someone familiar enough with his person to anticipate his needs without any words spoken.

She knew what he needed, and he trusted her to give it to him without fear of foul play. She wouldn't use anything she learned about him to extort or manipulate, to cause him harm or enrich herself. She just wanted to help him, wanted to make him feel good. And she was. By the gods, she was.

His thankful groans were becoming more indecent as she inflicted him with that pleasurable pressure, but he felt his heart race with anticipation when she got up on her knees and wrapped an arm around his shoulders to steady him from behind. It was almost too much when she dug her elbow deep into his shoulder blade, but he bit his lip to keep from sounding too pathetic. He'd like to think he succeeded.

He was more than a bit disappointed when she withdrew unexpectedly, and released him from her glorious torment with a frustrated huff. It hadn't been nearly as long a rub down as the last, and the pain that remained in his back told him he'd yet to be fully cured. But he didn't want her to continue if she was growing sore herself.

Though, he supposed that then he could return the favor... Maybe that was something he should consider offering her.

But in truth, his sore shoulder wasn't what had been on his mind all evening, nor was it the reason he'd been looking forward to this massage with embarrassing giddiness. The last time she'd rubbed him like this, it progressed naturally into a heated make-out session that nearly turned into more. Of course, it hadn't ended as well as it could have, but he stood by his reasons for shutting things down.

After last night, his hopes had rekindled that maybe Kagome was finally ready for him; she was certainly indicating that she was. Unless he completely misread the situation – which, to be fair, was possible. He'd made strides, but Sesshoumaru still couldn't claim to be an expert in human behavior.

He'd vowed to handle her more cautiously this time, as to not have a repeat of the river incident. But now, it didn't even look like she'd be giving him the opportunity. It was discouraging, but he refused to pout. It was kind of her to try and heal his wounds, and he was grateful for the attempt. She didn't owe him anything, and it still felt nice to have someone care so much about his well-being.

And particularly odd, seeing as he had nothing valuable to reward her with at the moment. Well, nothing tangible, anyway.

He turned back to thank her, but she spoke before he got the chance.

"I can't get enough pressure like this," she informed him, catching him off guard. "It would be better if you got on your stomach."

The flames flickered beside him, dancing seductively in his eyes and lending them a warmth that defied any notion of the cold-blooded killer within. Bathed in the soft glow of the irori, the dim lighting exposed just enough of him, concealed just enough. Kagome couldn't see the Ice Prince sitting beside her, just a prince. There was no Perfect Killer here, just perfection.

Sesshoumaru simply continued to stare, so she rose to encourage him to do as she'd ordered. She indicated that he lay on his stomach at the edge of the platform, and he shifted a bit in compliance before pausing.

He looked into her eyes with harrowing intensity, and she relayed her muted question curiously while awaiting his.

"Would it help if I removed this?" he asked softly, and tugged at his cheap travel haori for emphasis. Keeping calm and even, something heated passed between them as she physically felt her excitement buzzing beneath the skin.

"Couldn't hurt," she responded nonchalantly, but the prospect of getting a glimpse of his bare skin was more than enough to increase her own pulse rate. She hadn't seen him so exposed since the river. Not outside her memory.

His naked body had been invading her thoughts a lot lately, to the extent of her actually considering manufacturing some sort of ruse or another to get him out of at least his shirt. But unfortunately, there was no firewood to chop, as far as she could see.

She watched on shamelessly as he started to undress, making him brim with male pride. He could practically feel what she was doing to him with her eyes, but played it cool by betraying little more than standard smugness in his expression.

After peeling off the clothing and tossing it aside, Sesshoumaru made himself comfortable beside the fire. The irori had warmed the wooden planks beneath his skin, and he made a cradle for his head with his arms, turning to face his masseur.

She'd considered straddling him, but opted instead to squeeze in next to him on the ledge, folding one bare leg beneath her and planting her other foot on the floor below. The yukata she wore only covered to mid-thigh, and rode a bit higher when she took her seat. It was no more or less revealing than her usual green skirt, but for some reason she was feeling more exposed tonight.

The new leverage indeed allowed her to dig her thumbs into him a little harder, and she kept her attention on his handsome face as he closed his eyes and whined appreciatively at the contact. The sound of his pleasure intensified her own.

"You know, I never got to hear the whole story of how you got this necklace." He cracked his eye open just enough to quirk an eyebrow at her half-heartedly.

He didn't know who she was trying to fool with her faux-casual cadence. The miko was many, many things, but sneaky was not among them. "Miroku says it's a good one. Care to tell me?"

"I would not," he replied instantly, and shut his eyes again. That unfortunately meant her convincing grin would go unobserved.

"Come on," she goaded sweetly. "I know it was all to rescue us. I won't be mad."

Her attempt to lure him into a false sense of security was unsuccessful, however. Because though her jealousy was flattering in a way, he'd rather not deal with the ramifications. Especially not when she was being so generous with her hands at the moment.

Kagome seemed aware of this, and let out a defeated huff. She knew a dead end when she saw it.

"Was she a good kisser at least?" she asked, hoping to get even a little something out of him. But the Western Lord wasn't born yesterday. Not even close.

"No, she was awful," he insisted with confidence and conviction. "And unattractive. Very unattractive."

He threw that in for good measure, but Kagome wasn't born yesterday either. And though incredibly closer than he to that day, she recognized his pandering.

It didn't upset her though. He actually had her laughing at his shameless answer, though the wine might have had something to do with it.

He smiled at the sound. When she was happy, he found that he was too. Being the one to get her there was an added bonus. And though he wished to open his eyes again to take in the sight of her merriment, he kept them closed so he could focus on her voice instead. It always managed to soothe his tension, and he felt himself melting into platform under its sweet caress. Not to mention hers.

"Oh, she wasn't that bad. You forgot I met everyone at the front when they paraded us around before locking us up."

He had forgotten, actually. He had a lot of things running through his mind as they were being captured, and roll call at the castle gate did not top the list. But he stood by his assessment regardless.

"Your standards are entirely too low," he informed her haughtily.

She leaned in closer, a mischievous curl at her taunting lips.

"Says a man I have kissed more than once."

"Hn." She was going to take that as Sesshoumaru for 'touché,' and laughed at him again. Her giggling only increased as he continued to complain.

"Thank you for reminding me," he bemoaned, "of my attempts to buy your freedom with my body. I feel unclean."

But delivered through his smirk, his annoyance didn't come across as genuine.

Feeling the knot in his shoulder dissipating under her touch, she moved her hands up top to either side of his neck, and leaned in again. In doing so; the part in her yukata fell open just a little.

"She got her money's worth; I'll give her that."

It was a beautiful necklace, but given the choice, Kagome knew what she'd rather walk away with. He opened his eyes to see her grinning very near his face, and he returned it just as dazzlingly. The evil glint was how she knew he was truly enjoying himself.

"She is faring better than her husband, I am sure."

A thrill shot through her then, and the miko had to work to repress a shiver; her efforts resulted in squeezing the tight muscles beneath her fingers a little harder.

Why did talk of his conquests turn her on? Not even sexual conquests. He'd killed people.

Killed humans. A lot of them, and he'd done it like it was nothing.

And not all of his victims had it coming to them, though she liked to believe he didn't kill simply for the pleasure of the act.

But Juzo sure had it coming. She remembered looking right in his face as she watched the life leaving his body under the brute force of Sesshoumaru's mortal strength. She saw the fear in his eyes as he struggled to breathe, and the calm, merciless look in Sesshoumaru's as he refused to let him.

She'd been horrified at the time; it was traumatic. But it had to be done. It was him or them, and it was not going to be them. He wouldn't allow it.

The man beneath her gentle hands was a remorseless killer, with a terrifying resume even for a demon. But he would do whatever was necessary to get them – to get her – to safety. And the reminder of that, of what he was capable of and why he had done it, caused liquid heat to pool deep in her abdomen and make her slick between the legs.

She no longer gave out free passes just for being human. Just the same as she didn't kill demons indiscriminately. Now, she worked on a case by case basis.

She'd encountered mortal men who had done vile, disgusting, detestable things. Those men needed to die, and she would not mourn them.

She had also met youkai who were sweeter and gentler than any man could ever claim to be. Somewhere in between, lay the rest of them, and it was left to the Kagomes and Sesshoumarus of the world to sort them out. It wasn't always easy to determine, and almost always tinged with some shade of grey or another. But at the very least, it was done without prejudice. It was fair.

Being a priestess who occasionally killed humans to save demons made her a pariah among her kind, but so long as her moral compass was calibrated, she could operate without compunction. She could see Sesshoumaru's compass recalibrating as their journey continued on. He was learning what she had since coming to the past; all he needed now was the courage to follow his heart, and she had no doubt that he would. She would help him.

As she pondered the ambiguity of good vs evil, she'd lowered her fences just enough to be relieved of her position.

He might not be demon, but he apparently still had the strength and speed to flip onto his back, and pull her seamlessly by the hips so that in one swift motion she was straddling his own.

With an 'eep,' she sat astride the Western Lord, his delicious body tucked between her bent knees in a way that was not entirely appropriate, but in no way unpleasant.

His grin betrayed his self-satisfaction, and his hands still holding her hips were ready to prevent any hasty retreats she may be considering.

"Hey! What are you-"

"My front is stiffer all of a sudden," he happily informed her; his gravelly tone itself was a threat to her purity. "It requires the utmost attention."

Indignant at first, her placement on his lap left little question to what he was referring, and reflexively resistant, she placed her hands out in front of her to push against his chest.

But his handsome face looking up at her in the firelight was a sight to behold, and the view from up there of his perfectly chiseled torso was not one she wished to relinquish just yet. She felt the firm muscle beneath warm, smooth skin, and retreating was the very last thing on her mind.

When his hands slid down her ass just a little, it caused a desperate ache between her legs. And with the way she was positioned, she was sure he could feel the hot, moist situation he'd created as much as she could feel the scorching swelling that parted her outer lips, and pressed against her tender pearl so gloriously it took all she had not to grind it into his stomach.

So instead of dismounting, she grew a smirk of her own. Tapping into her newfound well of courage, she used her splayed hands upon his pectorals to rub small, innocent circles lightly beneath his collar bone. But that was not was he had in mind.

"Lower," he commanded through his grin. She never broke eye contact as she moved her hands down only an inch, and continued her massage with a coy smile. He deviated from his rule, and repeated himself. Though he did drop an octave.

"Lower."

Once again, she moved only about an inch south, still well above the tightened peaks of his nipples.

She could feel his erection pulse between her legs with every beat of his heart, and her weeping core clenched in tune with the animal need to be filled by him.

"Much lower."

"I know, Sesshoumaru!" She finally broke, slumping just a bit. "I can feel it, okay." She laughed as he smiled wider at her acknowledgement. "I'm practically sitting on it."

He instantly groaned at the images that conjured, and used his grip to grind her into his lap. At the same time, he thrust up to meet her, and incredulous amusement nearly rendered her speechless.

She'd felt his impressive desire for her before, but never so intimately. Only a few thin layers of cloth separated his throbbing sex from hers, and the pointed pressure on her sensitive flesh made her yearn for friction.

"What's gotten into you?" she demanded instead. Despite the shocks of pleasure he'd sent through her, she was not prepared for such a blatant display. "You've never been this forward." But she was still smiling as she arched a skeptical brow. "Is it the wine?"

"Perhaps," he conceded, also still grinning as he gazed up in adoration. "I cannot handle as much as I used to, you understand."

His sparkling eyes drew her in, but his flushed cheeks held her back. As silly as it sounded, she did not want to take advantage of his inebriation. But she still wasn't moving.

"Well, you better figure it out. Until then, maybe you've had enough."

"I am not drunk." His hands on her hips began kneading her lightly, and he was pleased to see she enjoyed his ministrations. "I simply do not fear consequences."

"Oh, like you did before?" she asked playfully.

"I did." But she remained skeptical despite his earnest tones. She raised a brow again.

"Like what?"

Kagome instantly regretted her question when he features took on a somber air.

Of course he feared consequences. That was the whole point of this mission. The consequences of her wish...

He noticed her mood fall with his, but didn't want to talk about that now.

"Aside from the obvious?" he asked, and she nodded, also grateful to avoid the depressing topic.

But he realized that it only led them to another. Because he knew what she was really asking him, and it was high time they discussed it.

She felt him sigh heavily between her thighs, and he removed his hold on her hips to cover the hands still resting on his chest.

She used to loathe his teasing. At least, she thought she did. But it had become a security blanket of sorts as of late. If the most serious guy on the planet could find it in him to tease her, things couldn't be as dire as they seemed. But when he seemed worried – scared even... it worried her too.

"You were so upset with me at the river."

She wasn't expecting that, and became slightly distressed at the reminder; it wasn't her finest moment. Softening eyes soothed her, however, and he ran his palms up to her elbows, and back down in a comforting caress. "And I recalled how upset you were at Yakimoto's mansion. I feared if I pursued you before you were ready, you would become upset again."

That was why, despite their burgeoning desire for each other, he had refused to take things any further with her.

"That's not-"

"When we kissed," he continued gently, "after you healed my shoulder the last time... I thought perhaps that you were ready." He could see the protest forming, so he clarified, "Emotionally ready, for something that could not endure."

It was an unpleasant topic, but one that had to be addressed. As badly as he wanted her, even if she wanted him, he refused to take her if she still entertained the notion that they could remain together beyond his transformation. He would not lead her on, but he needed her to know that the reason he'd denied her was not because he lacked desire; it was quite the opposite. His desire for her threatened to tear their whole world apart. If he didn't want her so badly, he wouldn't need to be so carful.

"But here and now failed to be enough," he reminded her regretfully. "You still desire a future that I cannot give you."

That was the only way he was willing to follow through with their mutual attraction in any capacity. They could proceed, but only if she knew it wouldn't last, and only when she was okay with that. Until then, he refused to do what every fiber in his being was screaming at him to do.

He knew that fact displeased her. Hell, it displeased him too. But he had to remain firm in this. It was for her own good, even if she couldn't see it. He would not lose another human he cared for just to sate his own desires, even if the desires were mutual.

With a frown, she removed her hands from him. Withdrawing from his gentle touch had his fingers trailing down her arms as she reclaimed them to cross in front of her chest. And despite the wonderful feeling of her settling back on his straining cock even more pleasingly, his heart ached when she turned her face away from him.

"Sorry, but I don't want to be used and thrown away."

His eyes widened at her assessment, and he immediately shifted up onto his elbows. He sought her gaze desperately, but she refused to regard him.

"Is that what you think?" he asked, and the pain in his voice left her feeling guilty at the accusation. "That was not..."

He cursed himself. He had no idea that was what she'd been assuming. He thought he'd made himself clear on the matter, but her reactions to his reluctance suddenly made a lot more sense.

"I am sorry if I gave you that impression." His frustration with himself was evident, and the softness in his tone forced her to look at him again. She could see the regret he harbored, not just at himself, but with the whole situation.

Then, a tenderness she didn't know he was capable of was begging her to understand. "Are we not both betting on the chance for me to be demon again?"

When she recognized the desperate plea, she softened too.

"Of course."

Even though she wished he would stay like this with her forever, she knew it wasn't what he wanted. And if he wasn't happy as a human, she wouldn't wish anything else for him; especially because it was all her fault. She vowed to do all she could to get him back the way he was.

He reached forward to take her hand in his.

"So any time we are together like this-"

"Is borrowed time. Right, gotcha." Her resigned acknowledgment of their circumstances provided him with a joyless relief, but her defiant nature spurred her forward, albeit cautiously. "...unless you never change back."

Whether he wanted to acknowledge it or not, it was a possibility. One she was tired of ignoring.

His responding glare was expected, as was his stock reply.

"I do not plan for fai-"

"I know." She didn't mean to be dismissive, but she didn't need to hear it. Though apparently, he did need to repeat a lot of things to her. This was all stuff he'd been trying to get through to her from the beginning. No matter how their circumstances changed, his stance never did. His convictions remained the same; it was she who would have to change this time.

Kagome smiled weakly, though she wasn't happy at all. She just wanted to relay that she wasn't mad at him. He looked so worried that she would be. She squeezed his hand tighter, and he ran his thumb affectionately across her knuckles. "You were just you being honest with me," she realized. "Why can't I accept that? I want to. I know that I should..."

"You want things a certain way." Now it was his turn to smile joylessly. He continued to rub her hand in his, knowing even his most pleasant tone would not offer her sufficient comfort. "A way they can never be."

That bitter reality never got easier to accept, and when she averted her eyes sadly in acknowledgement of it, Sesshoumaru tugged at her hand to draw them back to his. The sincerity she found there was almost paralyzing,

"I could not honestly say I do not wish for those same things."

"Then aren't you failing? If you don't get what you want?" Kagome tried, desperate to poke holes in his logic. Perhaps her recent habit of debating him had her thinking that if she could outsmart him, maybe he would concede.

His smile, while still sad, was completely genuine. She always made him defend his position, and he loved that about her. But she wouldn't talk him around this one, even though he wished she could.

"You need to prioritize which of your wants matter most," he explained reasonably. "As well as whom your choices effect."

She knew what that meant. He had people, and lands, and a country to run. She couldn't just waltz in and fuck up all he had built. Even if it was stupid, it was like that for a reason. Sesshoumaru didn't do things without carefully considering the consequences... usually. And if he said something was too dangerous, you better believe that it was.

Thanks to Toran's little pep talk, she could now finally understand why she could never go back with him. It wasn't because he hated humans, or was embarrassed of her. He was looking out for them both, and countless others. He was doing the adult thing, even though it wasn't easy. At least, it wasn't for her. And before she would concede, she just had to know.

Even if it could never work between them, she needed to know that he felt the same way she did; that she wasn't just imagining it. That, if things were different, he would choose to be hers.

That this was as hard for him as it was for her.

Large, painful eyes shimmering with hope sought his out.

"If-"

"Yes." His answer was instant, and sure. Ragged, as if the single word pained him to speak it. "In a heartbeat." And she understood why, because it hurt just as badly to hear it spoken. "But I do not live in a land of ifs, Kagome."

Her eyes began to fill the moment he said it. The obvious feeling behind his answer, the look on his face left no doubt it was true.

She thought it would make her feel better to know, but it made her feel a thousand time worse.

Unrequited affections were a pain she was definitely accustomed to enduring. But even worse, she learned just that moment, was having them returned, but knowing there was nothing to be done about it. It would have been easier if he just didn't care about her. How would it be, knowing he was out there wanting her too, but could never come and get her? It made her feel so... helpless.

"And to protect your heart," he continued, "I suggest you do not either."

Is that what he was doing? Protecting his heart? Is that what he was protecting behind his wall of ice and indifference and rudeness? It didn't sound like a much better option.

"Where should I live then?" she asked bitterly. His thumb continued to roll across each knuckle, trying to ground her with his gentle affection.

"The only place you can never fail. Now."

She scoffed.

"Are you saying you can never fail in a moment?" It was such a him thing to say. His self-confidence had apparently returned, and she wished she had just a little portion of it.

"Of course not," he said. "Until you actually die, you simply cannot fail living a moment. You never stop." Sesshoumaru was the last person she expected to give her the 'live for now' advice. Maybe that was a sign that she should finally listen.

She knew what he was doing. He was protecting her, and she had to protect him too. Just like Toran said...

But she still wanted to be with him. Looking down at him now, she wanted him more than ever.

"The only thing you can hope to control is what happens right now. But fortunately, it is always right now." He was almost optimistic in his declaration, and she was surprised to find it reassuring. "This is a moment, right now. And this. And-"

She'd had enough.

Between Toran's story about Sesshoumaru's father, the burning need between her legs, and the advice of almost everyone she'd spoken to, Kagome couldn't fight it anymore.

And he was right. She hated to admit it, and she wished it wasn't true, but being with the daiyoukai would cause everyone a lot of problems, him not least of all. If anything happened to him like his father, and it was her fault... no, she couldn't put him in danger like that.

She didn't know what the future would bring for them, but he was right again; the only moment in time she had any control over was right now.

Someday, the future would be right now, and she would deal with it then. But for now, in this moment, she just wanted him.

Kagome lunged forward, and put a stop to his annoying advice. Her lips met his, stunning him momentarily, but Sesshoumaru was quick on the uptake. He returned her affection, lifting a hand to cradle her jaw delicately as he allowed the kiss to deepen. Mouths dragged sweetly against each other as tongues briefly touched. She pulled away too soon, and he slowly opened his eyes, somewhat dazed from the passionate display. But he was smiling.

He took a moment, and enjoyed the sight of Kagome catching her breath again, and his heart soared.

"Success," he told her softly through pleased, yet unsatisfied lips. His hand was still cupping her cheek when he crunched forward to kiss her again, but her hands on his chest stopped him before he could reach her.

He feared more resistance from the frustratingly hot and cold young woman, but he could only comply as she pressed him back until his shoulders hit the wooden platform beneath them. He was confused but trusting, as silent questions emitting like radio waves soon dissipated, and gave way to curious excitement that took great effort to contain.

As her intentions became apparent, his heart pounded thunderously against his chest, making him feel like pup his first time out with a female. His youthful anticipation urged a thousand questions forth, but thankfully he had just enough sense to keep his dumb mouth shut.

It wouldn't do well to be over eager, and startle the emboldened miko before she began what she intended to begin, but anxious fingers twitched at his sides. She seemed caught up in a spell, but fairly confident she was not, Sesshoumaru opted not to disturb the young priestess from her gratifying reverie.

When she shifted against his stiff cock in timid exploration, a sharp breath escaped him, and his eyes slammed shut instantly.

Taking control of the encounter, Kagome put all her weight on the palms still splayed on his chest. It took the pressure off her hips, and freed them to rotate experimentally in his lap. He bit back a groan as she slowly began rocking against him, too afraid to scare her with the enjoyment she was giving him. Terrified that if she knew, she might stop.

Instead, she rolled her hips forward again, dragging her moist heat up the length of his arousal, and back down as she drew a shaky breath of her own. A low groan left his throat that he couldn't contain, so his hands flew out and grabbed her hips to support her any way he could.

He held her firm, pulled her against him tightly to increase the friction, and coated his cock with the wetness he provoked. And with each pass of her slick heat, his own hips rutted slightly, trying to dance in tune with the motions she'd set.

This seemed to encourage her, as her movements became bolder and trepidation fell away with each suggestive slide against him.

The thin cotton panties she wore beneath her yukata were soaked through, and he could feel the damp stain she was grinding into his hakama. She was pressing against him so intimately that he could feel absolutely everything. The swell of her lips, the tightness of her opening... even the crest of her labia as it quivered into his shaft. When he closed his eyes, he could picture her perfectly.

It wasn't until her hands left his chest, and she sat up to arch her back that he forced his eyes open so he could enjoy the sight of her.

Head thrown back, eyes closed in bliss; those sinful painted lips opened wide as she panted from the pleasure she was taking from him. If she wasn't careful, she was going to milk him right through their clothing.

He refrained from thrusting too harshly, grunting softly as she rubbed her sensitive core into his erection to both their delight. The way she seated herself on him so perfectly felt like they were meant to be like this. Like they were built for each other, with the other's satisfaction in mind.

Despite the burning impulse to take control and flip them over, and show her what he could offer her, Sesshoumaru simply laid back, and watched. He refused to push for anything more from her, and until she requested otherwise, he was content to allow her to take this encounter as far as she was comfortable with.

He knew she was inexperienced, so if she wanted to use him to find out what she liked, she was free to experiment. He was at her service.

But so far, she was doing just fine. He could feel her soft flesh so wonderfully that he worried how long he would be able to endure this treatment before she actually finished him. He considered warning her of such a thing, but quickly reconsidered.

He was afraid to speak, or move, or do anything to break her from the trance she seemed to be in. With her eyes closed, she looked lost in sensation, and the last thing he wanted was to bring her back to the reality that had been anything but kind to them in recent weeks.

But it wasn't long before she returned anyway. Far too soon, she stopped moving, and opened her eyes again as if only just remembering where she was and who she was with.

He hated the concern, and uncertainty she displayed just moments before finally looking down at him again. He wanted to ask, but couldn't find it in him. All he could manage was to draw a cautious brow in silent question, and let her answer in her own time. He was patient.

Patient as only a man who had lived for millennia could be. But by the kami, did she test it.

He loved that about her. He wondered if his newfound humanity had any large role to play in his sudden reactive nature toward this human woman, because it had gotten wildly out control. She set every single one of his nerve endings aflame. He wanted to know all of her secrets with his mind and his mouth and his tongue.

He, who had withstood centuries, found little to be mildly interested in, let alone excited by. He could comprehend almost everything in this world, but he just couldn't figure her out. And she seemed just as confounded by him.

That's why they fought so beautifully. They were exact opposites; rivals in every way. But in the ways that mattered, they were not.

She was naive, but she wasn't duplicitous.

She was good-natured, but she wasn't stupid.

He, of course, was none of those things. But they held just enough in common to be considered allies, yet just enough in contrast to be considered adversaries.

She could debate him on almost any topic from a rational, if not almost understandable viewpoint. He'd never worked so hard, or so long to justify his positions on the half they didn't agree on. But those tended to be the pettier of the two.

Where they saw eye to eye was where it really mattered; the heart of the issues. Perhaps how to react, or maybe when to evoke was the tricky part. The semantics.

But he loved how she always made him explain himself. It gave him a chance to prove what he knew, and why he knew it, and why it mattered. He knew she felt the same way. He loved to pick apart her logic and force her to rebuild, because it stripped her down and showed what she really knew. What she really believed. Which, unsurprisingly, was quite a lot.

He knew where she was from. He worked with a handicap at not having lived 500 years in the future. He had the handicap. But somehow, it made the game more even. More fun.

He wondered if all women from the future were as stubborn and interesting as she was. Until he found out on his own, he decided to believe she was an outlier. It didn't take much imagination; she was in contrast to absolutely everything.

But she accented him perfectly. His opinions and his body and his race. That was a troubling thought that could not seem to stay buried, but he had an ounce of fight in him, so he would dig.

His wayward thoughts regarding her always looped around to the same go point; it could not simply be his humanity which was drawn to her, because he'd known her while he was demon still. He'd first spotted her on this earthly plane, but they'd become officially acquainted within the belly of his father's tomb.

Quite a personal location for a first encounter. As far as he knew, only the three of them had ever been there... by that day, at least. Discounting, of course, his dead father himself, and the bones of the living his true form had consumed. Some may have been devoured whole, but he was unwilling to count them in the official guestbook.

No. That she was there; she was important. He didn't realize how much then, just foolishly written her off as a stupid girl who had followed her heart right into the literal belly of the beast... in the netherworld, no less.

And even less than that, for a half breed who still mourned his dead lover. He could at least understand that waking up from the equivalent of a 50-year coma – which, of all people, Kagome had explained to him – would delay one's development, and void the years that had actually transpired.

But then, she lifted his sword. If he couldn't do it, Inuyasha certainly didn't have the strength. But who was she? What was she? That's what he actually asked her, before foolishly writing her off as useless again and dousing her with 50x the lethal dose of his poison acid for a mortal girl her size.

And yet, she stood, with not a scratch on her. It was humiliating.

But that humiliation was soon buried, pushed out of analyzing range when his left arm had been taken. That is what consumed him after that, not the indestructible human. He knew she was different then, and it was not simply her era which leant her mystique.

She would be an anomaly, no matter what time, or country, or even race she had been born into... or by some magic, traversed from afar...

Just like him. He wore his demon skin proudly. Provided his pedigree preceding demand, and shouted his hard-kept title loudly. But the truth was, it didn't matter. No matter who he was, or what he was, or what he had done, he was still Sesshoumaru. He knew that now even more than before this unfortunate incident.

No matter what he looked like or which race he claimed, he could feel that he was still himself.
Altered, certainly, but most of it was perception. The half that mattered was still the same. The half that was semantics - the petty bullshit - that was what changed. He was himself to his core.

But he'd proclaimed that petty half so proudly, it was going to take more than a few weeks and a sexy miko to poach him from his petty, self-important nature. But that was the fun of it.

She seemed startled when she opened her eyes to see him staring back at her, mesmerized. He would admit to gawking, but the erotic display rendered him no better than a deer in torchlights.

He worried he'd made her nervous when she slowed to a stop, and fear and uncertainty dominated her aura. She lifted trembling fingers to her head to comb unruly black locks out of her flushed face.

"I..." she began uncomfortably, as if an elixir had just worn off. "... I don't think we should."

'Ah. Another debate,' he realized. This, he could work with. 'What was on the docket tonight? Should we take off our clothes and see what transpires...? It's been done, but let's give it a go.'

He glared at her, unconvinced.

"Liar."

'Ooh. Okay, going for the big guns up front. Operating with a sense of urgency, I see.'
Perhaps that patience reserved for only her was being chipped away at more efficiently. Yes, that was a nice tidy way to put it.

"It's an opinion," she countered. Her confidence grew as she entered the comfortable territory of arguing with him, and stepped away from the scary unknown of screwing him. She was grateful to him for taking the detour. "You can't lie about an opinion."

He felt her whole body tense as she took in his menacing smile. That meant he already won, and he was going to toy with her until he grew weary.

She wasn't totally off base.

Most men couldn't detect her small untruth, but a man who spent centuries upon centuries relying on his superior senses so intently for survival had an advantage. Tonight, she had the handicap.

For even though he could no longer see the color of her aura, he'd learned how to pick up on subtler clues. And where his scent could not detect her anxiety or fear or excitement, he now knew how a human might decipher such things.

He couldn't read her as well as his demon form, no. But he paid attention. More specifically, he paid attention to Kagome. And of what he could read from that distance, he was certain he knew her better than her own mother in that moment.

He was actually trying to restrain his smirk, and then she knew she was in trouble.

"I simply know that you are displaying the signs of one who is lying," he informed her calmly, and tickled her bare knees when he danced his fingertips upon them. "Why you would lie about your opinion is another matter."

His condemning assertion made her falter, but she was curious. She hoped she was able to appear as casual as he was managing.

"Oh, r-really?" Forcing a low-key calming breath, she tried to ignore his ministrations as she ventured, "like what?"

"Stuttering." He smiled wider, and received a highly unamused glare as he ran his hands up the tops of both her thighs. She drew in a sharp breath at his unrushed caress, and he smiled as he felt the gooseflesh he inflicted upon her sweat-slicked skin.

"Perspiration," he added, and watched her eyes following his tortuous path up her legs. He paused before his hands slipped beneath the edge of her yukata. "Dilated pupils."

He could hear her breath come quickly as he stroked her inner thighs, and nearly lost his composure when he felt the sticky substance seeping out below her panty line. He drew dangerously near her pubic area as he continued, and though he didn't touch it, even the possibility caused an involuntary quake to roll through her form.

"Trembling." He didn't smirk, because he kind of cheated on that one, but his voice was coming lower with each word spoken. "Flushed skin."

He noticed her eyes roving wantonly over his chest and stomach as he touched her, and fought off the degrading urge to flex.

"Avoiding eye contact." Her eyes snapped right back to his, but she knew it was way too late. Now he was smirking again, and he retreated, dragging his hands back down her legs, grabbing lightly in a soft tease.

"Not all components are required to indicate that one is lying," he informed her, void any mockery or mischief. He was just reciting fact now, as he so often did. "One, or any combination of the aforementioned symptoms could betray deceit."

He'd made a fine point. Laid out his argument cleanly, complete with live – and completely relevant - case material.

But now he was done. It was her turn to make her case, so he laid back and waited for her to speak, enthralled. Enraptured, by just the prospect of her giving him a run for his money. She always did her best for him when they bickered. Sometimes, about half, she even won the argument. And those times that she did, his pride and satisfaction outshined her own by a landslide.

It was so nutritional to defeat a man who was rooting for her victory even harder than she was. Because when he could bet against himself, it was always win/win. And she wanted to make him proud. This time, it felt like a win/win for her too.

She watched as he continued to touch and tickle her bare skin, a smug smile on his patient, yet expectant features. She smiled in return, and lifted her own fingers to stroke the back of his audacious hands. He'd removed her doubts, returned her confidence. She loved how he could do that.

"But those symptoms do not pertain exclusively to being deceitful," she argued, smiling coyly at the curious brow he lifted. "And not necessarily, either."

She had to fight every natural urge in her body to throw herself forward, and put her mouth literally anywhere she could reach of him while simultaneously resuming those grinding motions, but much harder than before.

Because though his eyes had softened, and focused a little in the minutes... perhaps seconds since she had engaged in such a needy act, the hardness between her thighs, undeniably unrepentant and somehow insistent as it pressed perfectly against her center, seemed to reinforce, and become harder and hotter and larger than it had been just a moment prior.

He remained silent. Still. Immovable, as he waited for her to continue on baited breath. Being the subject of this demon's scrutiny had once been unbearable to her. But now, as a human – though she didn't necessarily presume that's why – his undivided attention was everything.

His interest, his focus, his respect... if she could somehow bottle it up, she was sure she could sustain herself several lifetimes happily in lieu of air or water. She wanted to drink him. Breath him. Taste him, touch him. But she'd settle for being with him, as near as she could, for as long as she could get it.

"It could be nervousness you witnessed," she suggested innocently. "Those are all also indicative of that."

And once again, she rolled.

It was a dirty trick, not very sportsman like. But she highly doubted she would receive any grievance.

Her hands rested on his to sandwich them against her thighs. But at her touch, like a spark of electricity, they resumed their movement up to her hips, and curled around them.

"Or fear," she continued.

His eyes were large, and predatory, and absorbent. And when she pressed her hands harder onto his, he squeezed her in a way which caused the next roll of her hips to make much firmer friction than she had dared thus far.

"Arousal," she included lowly. Though in tune with his deep groan, it was possible he could have missed it.

She doubted it though.

And as she moved upon him again in rhythmic motion, she finally became lost. Her virginal body had never attempted such bold intimacies before. Never achieved such a position, on top of any manner of beast. Let alone the perfect specimen beneath her.

Save for some experimental prodding, she had never entered herself. Clitoral stimulation was all she had known, and it had worked beautifully when she needed it to, which had become increasingly often in just the last few months.

So the way she gyrated her womanly hips, the way her legs parted so she could press her sensitive clit right up against his impressive, persistent cock - though never previously in such a position, or with any audience at all - proved more than enough to throw her over that cliff. Unashamed, unrepentant, and unattainable in any other company than his.

He'd seen her get off before; he'd made her get off. But no one had ever seen her pleasure herself. At least, no one that she had known about. And though his painfully beautiful face had helped her get where she desperately needed to be, when the time came, she couldn't bear to watch him.

Because this was for him. He'd earned it, and he could enjoy it at his leisure. Sesshoumaru would have no witness to his enjoyment of a simple, human girl using him shamelessly for her pleasures.

If his past self saw him now, only from a month ago, he might have jumped in the well himself to see about killing her... or himself, before this indignity was borne into existence.

This moment, right now.

Though he wasn't inside her, he might as well have been. It was not self-stimulation, she decided. He had stimulated her again.

When she came down from her towering high, still shaking from the aftershocks seconds after slowing to a stop atop him, she reopened her eyes to find his still on her. They probably were the whole time. But the point was, she didn't know that for certain. He still had his plausible deniability, if he actually still needed it.

He was so hard, and hot between her legs. His hands still on her hips, and short fingernails digging into her flesh in a way which in his previous form would have caused her ugly scars... maybe even would have killed her. His eyes were still on her face. Studying, waiting, calculating, she didn't know.

That was the problem.

She didn't know what he wanted from her. She could guess what his most base desires were. But then why wasn't he demanding that? With what she had just taken herself, he was at least within his rights to ask for the same treatment.

And she wanted to give it to him. She wanted to be there for him, for whatever he wanted with her. But despite his massive hard on, despite his human features, despite the proximity that would have spelled her death four weeks ago... this was Sesshoumaru. Not your typical man. Not even your typical demon. Anything less than the very best just wouldn't be sufficient.

This man knew what he wanted, and was not shy about asking for it. And sure, he wanted her. Physically, she knew that. But what did he want her to do about it?

Would he have her simply give in to him? Was her virgin treasure enough satisfy him? Or did he want more from her?

She knew she could make him cum, but how could she please him? She needed to find out.

She needed him to know that with her, he'd met his match. She would find whatever it was that he needed, and give it to him completely. If he wanted any less than that, she would give it to him too. All he had to do was reach out and take it, and she would be his.

But he liked a challenge. He liked games. He liked sport. And she'd won close to half of their matches so far. This next one, was going to be a win/win.

She turned from him then, and looked dismissively to her side, as if deep in thought. "Or maybe it's just cold in here."

And all he could do was watch, motionless, dumbfounded, and she removed herself from his obviously unsatisfied lap, and made her way out the door.

He didn't know where she was going, or why, or what in heaven's name had just transpired between them, but she had every dulled sense of his trained on her body. Her voice, her shadow. Any sign of her, he would snap to attention. She was the only interesting thing in the world at the moment. And in the state she had left him, it was no small wonder.

He'd made a mistake. He'd never been a generous man, but he allowed this one woman to take what she wished of him, and simply leave him cold.

Well he was the king of cold. The Ice Prince, or so he'd heard. And not only a master of his own form, he had a measure of control over everyone else's as well. Particularly the females of her species.

He had aroused countless women without attempting or even wanting to. Just now, even, the sight of him had her so worked up she rode herself to completion right on his thick cock. Shame, too. He could have really made it worth her while.

Yes, he would have her. But he wanted her begging him, pleading him, even bargaining with him for his attentions. And because he was a gracious man, he would consider it. But she would soon be aware, as too many had, with whom she was dealing. She had met her match.

Unaware of her fate, and with not a backward glance, she left the warm, cozy, delicious smelling room, and headed for the cold, barren, biting dark of the night. But before she did, a soft voice reached out to her. Whisper quiet, yet meant for her ears, it reached them just as she closed the door behind her.

"Cruel miko."

As if Toran's advice hadn't been consuming her thoughts enough, his assessment brought her to another of the panther's insights.

'Who do you think you are, cruel miko?'

Since landing, she had been obsessing over the story of Inu no Taisho and his hime. She couldn't help but draw parallels to her own situation, and the tragic end that may be awaiting them if she didn't bother to learn from history. It was as if his father's legacy was a template, warning of things to come if he wasn't careful. But he was.

And now, Kagome would be too. Now she could fully appreciate the danger they were in, and took his rejection of that eventuality as his attempt to protect her, rather than simply a distaste for her race. But with that settled, Kagome could now recall part two of their little chat in the sky.

Toran had made two conflicting points; one being that Sesshoumaru enjoyed a challenge. This is what went through Kagome's mind as she ignored her desperate need to have him in favor of playing the game he supposedly wanted to play. But then there was the panther's second insight.

'A good male deserves his due.'

Only a few steps up the road, it stopped Kagome in her tracks.

How long was she willing to lead him on like this? What was she waiting for?

'Why deny yourself the pleasure? Why deny him?'

He'd already made his intentions clear; it wasn't like he was denying his desire for her. And it wasn't like he was going to impose himself.

If they were playing a game, she'd already won by forfeit. But it sure didn't feel like winning. She burned hot between her thighs, empty and unsatisfied despite achieving orgasm only minutes ago. She could only imagine how he must be feeling.

'Has he earned you?'

She wanted to be enough for him, not like all the other females who threw themselves at his feet. But enough was enough.

'Who do you think you are, cruel miko?'

Maybe it was her own need helping her rationalize the desire to return to his side, but she didn't care. He'd kindly brought her to peak three times now - that he knew of - and she hadn't returned the favor once. That needed to change right now.

She immediately turned, and walked the few steps back to his door.

When she opened it silently and managed to sneak in undetected, she was captivated at the sight that greeted her.

He was still laying by the irori, just where she had left him. One arm bent behind his head, he appeared to be studying the flames, but she could only imagine what was going through his mind.

His other hand was inside his hakama, taking long, unhurried strokes. Still incredibly hard, the heavy cock that had only moments ago been nestled beneath her core was tenting his white silk as he took it upon himself to relieve the terrible strain.

The fire reflected off his pale skin, making him shine like a beacon in contrast to the rest of the dark room. He looked like some angel, banished down to earth for the sinful desires he created in any who would look upon him.

He was in no rush, as he appeared to stroke himself almost absent-mindedly. Kagome wondered what it was he was pondering over while he touched himself alone in the darkness.

He heard her approaching when she just a few steps away, and turned his head from the fire to acknowledge her. He wasn't startled, or embarrassed. He didn't even stop his lazy movements as Kagome took a seat on the ledge, squeezing in on his side, and watched as he pulled on his large, throbbing cock.

His face would look passionless to anyone else, but she saw a thousand things dancing in those curious violet eyes. They never left hers as she twisted her body to hover a bit, so he could look up at her as easily as watching the clouds pass on a sunny afternoon.

Even though he was still concealed beneath his silk, from her angle she could see the tip as she broke his gaze to peer down into the opening at his waist. A thick bead of ejaculate had formed there, and she watched him smear it around his head, making it glisten in the firelight.

He didn't stop when gentle fingers lifted to touch his arm, nor when she ran them down the length of it. When she breached the barrier of his clothing to rest boldly atop his hand, however, he compiled with her silent cue to hand himself over.

A soft gasp left his lips when her fingers glided over his, and made first contact with his hardness. Looking up into her determined features, he shivered the moment she ran her hand down the length of him.

His eyes stayed locked with hers as he pulled his hand out of his pants, but slammed shut the instant steady fingers wrapped around his girth. She was barely able to encircle him as she took him in her confident grasp.

A long, low noise left the back of his throat, and the way his face contorted in pleasure had the miko abusing her bottom lip. Watching Sesshoumaru come undone by her hand was addictive, and feeling his strong, smooth shaft; the undeniable proof of his desire for her only made her want to touch him even more.

After a few experimental pulls that had him struggling for composure, she began a steady rhythm. His breathing increased in pace, and she marveled at the sight of his perfect abdominals clenching as he prepared to sit up. Her free hand stopped his ascent, and she found those curious eyes looking up at her again, but he wordlessly complied as she forced him to lay down on his back once more.

Eagerly, in consolation, he slipped his hand up under the high hem of her robe and wedged it between her thighs. She cried out when he instantly found her tender bud through soaked, skimpy underwear, and began stroking her in return.

She immediately stopped him, however, taking his diligent hand in hers and pulling it back over his head. Though he was stronger, he didn't fight, letting her trap his wrist against the wood planks behind him while she yanked his cock with the other. He looked pained even as she pleasured him, desperate eyes boring into hers helplessly as he took the one-sided pleasure. He tried not to buck into her hand as she jerked him.

"Not touching you is torture," he finally told her, and the roughness of his voice let her believe him. She still had his bent arm pinned over his head. Copying his move from before, he grunted when she twisted her fist around the end of his cock, catching more precum before sliding down his shaft again.

"Then touch me."

She pulled his hand back over his head, and guided it between the loose part in her yukata. When he felt the hardened peak of her nipple beneath his fingers, he grabbed ahold of her breast and hastily propped himself up on his other elbow for leverage.

It wasn't what he had in mind, but her soft breast in his palm was more than enough to satiate him. Kneading and pinching and rolling had them both clamoring for a measure of composure, all the while Kagome was still stroking him, becoming bolder, and more confident in her attempt to bring him to completion.

She threw her head back, cried out in enjoyment at the feel of him rubbing her bare breasts without any barrier preventing their skin from meeting. She felt him grow inexplicably harder in her own hand, and escalated speed and pressure as she moaned in response to his attentions.

When she ripped his cock out of his pants and increased to a furious pace, he seemed paralyzed in pleasure, and his mouth hung open as he drew ragged, choppy breaths.

She could feel his squeezing become desperate as his breath became shorter, and he could no longer hold himself down. He attempted to sit up again, muscles flexing amazingly as he suspended halfway up. She saw the urgency in his gaze as he panted her name in warning, but she bent to touch her sweaty forehead to his, pulling his face closer.

"It's okay," she whispered, dragging her lips across his ear, "I want you to."

She ran her tongue along the rounded shell before sucking it into her mouth, and Toran's advice proved to be accurate. The strangled sound that left his throat was all the warning she needed to angle his cock away from them to avoid the eruption that ensued.

She continued to pump him, continued to at lick his ear until his breathing evened out and every last drop was spent. He allowed himself no time for recovery.

The moment his climax was through, he arrested her face in both of his hands and pulled her into a needy, passionate kiss. It went on for quite a while, as they both desperately enjoyed the prolonged celebration in the wake of his release. After, when he tucked his cock back into his pants and coaxed her to lay down with him, she laid her head upon his chest, and complied.

He held her possessively, rubbing her back and arms. Admiring her as he reclaimed his breath. Appreciating her the best he could. She seemed just as satisfied as he was, and he didn't know how that was possible.

"Why did you not let me reciprocate?" he finally demanded, kissing her forehead as she curled into his side. She looked up at him with a grin.

"I wanted to focus on you." She was stroking him back, thoroughly enjoying and taking advantage of the bare, sticky skin she couldn't seem to touch enough of, and she dug her chin into his chest. "Besides, I owed you one from earlier."

He scoffed, dismissing that notion immediately.

"You pleasured yourself," he insisted, almost resentfully. But she wasn't convinced, so she smiled up at him.

"But I used your cock," she retorted confidently, "so you pleasured me."

He refused to adhere to that logic. She may have used him as an aid, but she orchestrated her own release. He refused to take credit for simply being there.

"Priestess," he warned, "when I pleasure you, you will know it."

There was a promise in that tone. A threat that could not go unchallenged.

She looked up at him innocently, forcing herself not to laugh at his flushed skin, messy bangs, and overall rumpled appearance. Actually, she was pretty proud of herself.

"I will? How?"

He smirked down at her before accepting the open invitation. She shrieked and giggled as he flipped their positions, and finally had her on her back beneath him.

Looming over, he used one hand to undo the knot of her obi, and easily parted the silk material down the middle with an effortless swipe.

At least his human form wasn't totally useless, he realized, as he instantly got hard again at the sight of her. Her perfect breasts were bare as the silk hung off her shoulders, and only her futuristic underwear kept her from his hungry gaze.

He relished the sight of her splayed out under him, nipples hardened from cool air and raw excitement. Breath heaving dramatically in nervous anticipation. He could see the wet cotton clinging to her swollen flesh, and could not restrain himself from reaching forward to stroke her protruding nub gently with the back of his knuckle. She shivered.

He was memorizing her. Unlike in the cave, he was going to commit every part of her to his memory. He wanted her clear in his mind whenever he desired it, for he knew these moments between them would prove all too fleeting.

He wouldn't dwell on that now, wouldn't dare waste this time in lament. There would be plenty of time for that later, he was sure. He would have many regrets in the years to come, one would not be wishing he'd taken the time to appreciate the gentle miko before him while he had her. Nor would one be failing to commit their brief intimacies to memory, to hold tightly in the cold centuries to come.

As he simply sat back on his knees to stare, she seemed confused at his reluctance. But as he set to assuage her insecurities, something else occurred to him that gave him pause.

"I have never been with a human like this," he admitted, though it wasn't news. She knew what he meant though. She wasn't the only one having a first here, and it actually put her at ease.

"Neither have I." Also not news. But her innocence was so confident, or perhaps it was the other way around. Either way, she was smiling, and it made him smile too. "We'll figure it out together."

She was trying to assure him, and there was something so endearing about that. He was unable to resist her.

He crawled up her body, and put his face within inches of hers.

"Are you sure?" She seemed more than ready to him, but he needed to know for certain. Her smile was encouraging as she lifted her palm to stroke his cheek.

"All I am sure of is that I want to be with you right now." As he looked deep within her eyes, he knew she was telling him the truth. She whispered, "Let's live in the moment."

He pressed forward, kissing her again as she ran her fingers through his hair. He left her panting when he finally pulled away, but held her cheek to gaze intensely into endless blue.

"I have never looked upon any female as I look upon you." She deserved to know; he wanted her to know. She wasn't just the only human he'd ever wanted. He'd never wanted anyone so badly in his life. He certainly hadn't been expecting that, but now that they were here, there was no denying it. "No demoness has captured my attention, or stirred my lust as you have. Know that any time we have together will never be enough, Kagome."

He kissed her again, before abandoning her lips to leave a trail of them down her throat. She sighed happily as he bypassed her necklace and made his way down her body, but when he wrapped his lips around her taut nipple, a sharp cry escaped her and encouraged him further.

She grabbed his hair as his tongue played with the highly sensitive area, and she bucked upward involuntarily in a fruitless attempt to relieve some of the pressure he'd built.

In the cave, he had put his mouth right there, but it was nothing like this. Back then, he'd driven her wild with arousal, though it had not been his intention. This time, his focus on her breasts was for her pleasure. This time, he wanted to get her excited, and it was almost too much.

He didn't stop until she begged him to, begged him to stop teasing her and continue his journey south. When he finally did, she squirmed at the ticklish feeling of his lips descending her abdomen, and coming to stop at the elastic waist of her panties.

He looked back up to see Kagome's eyes screwed shut, head thrown back in pleasure as she awaited him to proceed. He smirked at the alluring sight, and rubbed from her hips back up to her breasts, and down again with both hands. The moans he received was music to his ears, and he began to salivate as he prepared to remove her last scrap of clothing.

He grabbed her hips as he bent low one more time to kiss a seductive path below her navel. With her eyes closed, she could feel everything he was doing to her with his lips and his tongue and his teeth even more acutely.

As he hovered just above her womanhood, she felt his chest expand like he'd taken a deep breath. She wondered if it has something to do with the youkai in him trying to scent her arousal. She wouldn't be surprised if she was currently producing enough for even a human to detect.

Her lust was becoming unmanageable. He had her so out of control, so foggy with need of him that her reiki flared awesomely in response. It almost startled her, the sudden large swell of her purity in that moment.

She whimpered when his grip tightened, and she felt a prick of pain when his nails dug into her a bit harder than she would have wanted. She lifted her head to ask him to ease up a bit, but her needy body was finding it difficult to form any protest, or stop him at all. She'd given it all she had in the last few weeks, but when it came to him, she was finally all out of fight.

Luckily, he released her on his own before she had to intervene, but now, he wasn't using that perfect mouth of his to bestow his wonderful affections to her highly receptive skin. He simply continued to hover, and frustration became too much in just the seconds he'd stopped touching her. She'd waited too long for him as it was.

She could feel him breathing, much deeper and much heavier than he had a moment ago, and she worried he might be having second thoughts. When she suddenly realized how tense he had become, those fears tripled. She lifted her head again, and opened her eyes timidly, afraid of what she would find. Afraid more than anything she would find rejection, or regret, or even worse, disgust.

What she found was even more frightening.

When she pried her reluctant lids open and looked down her wanting body, two fearsome, glowing red eyes were staring back up at her, and she screamed.

She was sitting up in an instant, and scooted back so fast she almost fell off the platform.

She was one of the few to look into that nightmare-inducing demonic gaze and live to tell about it. It wasn't the first time, but somehow, it was much more terrifying. Her heart pounded against her chest as she wrapped her yukata shut, more out of a ridiculous attempt at self-preservation than any coherent notion of modesty. Her pupils consumed her eyes, which seemed to be trembling, despite the oppressive swell of reiki which manifested in response to the natural threat.

"I will not hurt you," he insisted urgently. "Kagome, I will not hurt you."

She looked on terrified at a completely transformed Sesshoumaru, stripes and all. Even his hair had grown back, explaining the tickling sensation on her stomach she thought she had imagined.

His hands were up defensively and he wasn't moving towards her. He seemed pained at her fear of him.

"Please believe me," he begged, and the desperation coming from that face just did not wash at all. "On my life, these claws will never cause you harm. You know that."

It was the first time she'd seen him like this since the wish, and his abrupt return was startling, especially considering where he was, and what he was about to do to her. But the terror in his own eyes – the fear of her fear – had her instantly regretting her reaction. She told herself she was only startled.

"Yeah, I know." The trembling in her voice suggested it was not only him she was trying to convince. "Sesshoumaru, I know it. I trust you. I-I'm not afraid."

By his frown she could see he didn't believe her. To be fair, she was not being entirely convincing. Shakily, she stood, and tentatively, she approached him.

He remained still, attempting to look as non-threatening as he could manage in his awesome youkai presence. He could see her taking him in, see her memory returning just as he had warned her about and feared. But he remained silent, as he let her adjust to the sudden appearance of the old him. Well, most of him.

"So, are you back now?" she asked nervously, once the shock fell away some and gravity set. "Is it over?"

Her eyes were dragging all over his form; he was so different. She hardly recognized him this way. She'd truly forgotten what he looked like as a demon. This youkai was a stranger to her, and old unease in his terrifying presence overwhelmed her senses, screaming at her to be wary. She forced those instincts aside.

Because even though the tender human she'd come to care for was inside that demon, the real Sesshoumau had never been kind to her when he looked like that. It was hard to put that face with the things his human self had told her; the things he'd done with her. This demon... would take some getting used to.

It wasn't fair, but Sesshoumaru was going to have to earn her trust all over again. Reassure her that she was still safe with him like this.

"No," he answered, and ran a clawed hand through his long, silvery white hair. "As last time, something is missing. I am not complete." She felt sympathy at his obvious uncertainty as he tried to make sense of himself. He said the last time he transformed, a part of him was still absent, but he couldn't pinpoint what. He appeared just as lost now, trying to discern it. "I believe I will return to my human form at sunrise."

His eyes widened at the implications, and she marveled at the genuine look of regret in the demon lord's face when he turned his gaze to her.

"I must go," he realized frantically, almost guiltily. "I must find Rin before I transform again. I have but hours to locate her."

He took a slow step toward her, and when she didn't retreat or recoil, his confidence bolstered enough to lift a gentle hand to her cheek. At the touch of her skin on his fingertips, the painful knot in his stomach slackened just a bit.

His always-earnest gaze took rein of the chaos, and grounded her in an instant. Though no longer violet; it was still him in those eyes. There was no mistaking him.

"I detest leaving you like this," he assured her softly, and she believed him. "I wish for nothing more than to remain here with you tonight, but Rin..." He'd never looked so raw. His features, wrought with turmoil, betrayed his inner struggle as strong youkai instincts threatened to tear him in two. "I would never forgive myself if-"

"Of course." The way she softened in understanding relaxed him immensely, as did her gentle smile. "Go. I'll be here when you get back."

Her sweet assurances eased his fears, and his chest filled with warmth when she allowed him to pull her close. Though they were barely touching – at least, not nearly as much as they had been a minute ago - the familiar heat of his body seemed to reach out to her, drawing her in.

He was being so delicate with her, it bordered on overcompensation.

"The second I find her, I will return," he told her, his confident baritone leaving no room for doubts. "As soon as I do, I will find you."

He really was in there. She'd forgotten how gorgeous those golden eyes were, so she lost herself in them while she could, and reached up to touch a maroon-striped cheek.

"I'll be waiting."

He couldn't explain the relief he felt in that moment. Her reaction to him at first was just what he'd been fearing. His demon form was a reminder of all the wrong he'd done her in the past. But by the way she was looking at him now, maybe she really could forgive him.

He bent down to kiss her, and reveled in acceptance when she met his lips instantly and eagerly. At the contact, a jolt shot through them both; a pleasing combination of their powers caressing one another. It seemed their natural born forces surfaced for more than just battle...

He had to leave before he lost the resolve. Now, all he wanted was to play with her power, and see what else it might do to him.

After a longing look into her eyes, he flew out the door with his incredible demon speed, and Kagome was suddenly alone.

A heavy gasp instantly escaped, and she nearly collapsed into the wall behind her. Her heart pounding in her ears made it too loud to think, and each trembling breath she drew seemed to come out quicker than the last. Everything was happening so fast, she barely had time to gather her bearings.

Before she could get her racing thoughts in order, a blur of white materialized before her again.

"-for fuck's sake," she barely heard him mutter, but before she could ask what he was doing, Sesshoumaru crashed to knees, and dragged her panties down to hers. She felt the cold woosh of winter air disturbed by inhuman speeds as it traveled across her exposed, dampened sex.

Giving her no time to protest, he lunged forward, pressing his hot mouth to the bundle of sensitive nerves between her legs. Her shriek of surprise at the unexpected action morphed quickly into a long, wanton moan.

His powerful youkai tongue parted her lips and played with her clit like he'd done so a million times, finding every spot she needed him to instantly and without guidance. She entrusted her weight to him, and the wall behind her, rolling her head back helplessly against it.

His clawed hands grabbed her hips to pull her to him, holding her firm and giving him purchase. He felt her legs shake as he feasted upon her mercilessly, so he affirmed his hold to assure her she was safe in his hands. He had her.

Hours, if not weeks, of teasing and tension were finally coming to a head, and Sesshoumaru could make a fine case that he needed to give her this even more than she needed to receive it.

How many times he'd fantasized about her taste... How long it had tortured him...

Broken parts of his name were cried out between incredulous wails of pleasure, and when he cracked his red-rimmed eyes to chance a look at the angel unraveling above him, he felt immense satisfaction. Eyes closed and head tilted back, her mouth hung open in disbelief, screaming even when no sound was produced.

He worked his neck furiously in time with his skillful tongue until he felt the thrill of her reiki building to new heights, attempting to intimidate him. He'd never been happier to possess his demonic youki, and when he used it to rebuff her threat, the force of their combined power was so intense that all of her knuckles hit the back wall behind her head.

She begged him for release, and literally with his eyes closed, he complied. He panted heavily through his nose as he guided her through the last choking sob, and not until he felt her body uncoil above him did he finally remove his lips from her quivering flesh. She felt as well as heard his own ragged panting as they caught their breath together, but her spotty vision didn't begin to clear until he stood, dragging her panties back up with him to secure over her hips.

She sought him with her hands, shaking from a combination of fear, excitement, and aftershocks of her impromptu climax, but his own were steady and sure. He used them to close her yukata for her, and leaned in close.

Only inches from her face, burning gold eyes held her in an intense glare that endured as he used the back of his hand to wipe her pleasure off his lips.

"Now, we are even."

That unfair demon speed had his greedy mouth on hers before she could even think to respond. And when he managed to flee the hut again before the tingle of his awesome power left her lips, she knew he was just showing off.

---

A/N: All one scene! I love it when that happens XD

Hey, I managed a (relatively) short chapter! Less than 20 pages, but man there was a lot going on there. Once again, there was supposed to be more, but I'm pushing the next scene to the next chapter because I'm merciful and I respect your time lol.

Pleez tell me if and what you liked about this one; it will influence my smut confidence going forward XD

Thanks for reading!

Oh yes, and I had a question about Kag's role in Sess's original transformation. In the first half of chapter 2, there is a brief flashback scenario that should clear that up. Feel free to hit me up with your questions, and I'll do my best to respond =)