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

30. Metamorphosis

Knowing full well that a good night's sleep was now completely off the table; Kagome streaked hurriedly up the long dirt road. After a brief stop in her own hut to change into respectable clothing; a blast of her purity sanitized her body of any incriminating scents, and she was banging on Inuyasha and Sango's door to tell them what had happened. Well, the PG version anyway.

Sesshoumaru's transformation warranted an impromptu pack meeting, so once Miroku was informed; they gathered in the couple's hut to plan the next course of action.

"Where'd he go?" Inuyasha asked impatiently. Unlike him; the others had all taken a cushion beside the irori, and Kagome had wrangled one of their blankets for extra warmth – and comfort.

"Looking for Rin," she told him, adjusting the thin cloth over her shoulders more effectively. "If she is anywhere nearby, I am sure he will find her." The miko's face darkened. "and kill all those tigers, I assume."

She knew that vengeance was on the Daiyoukai's mind, and had likely been pent up the entire month she'd traveled with him. He'd done a pretty good job of keeping his violent temper at bay, but now that he was him again; she didn't doubt he was itching to use those razor-sharp claws against those who had wronged him so terribly.

She briefly worried for his safety, but quickly disregarded those foolish thoughts. The tigers were in danger tonight, not him, and thinking otherwise was only insulting him.

"If it's like last time; he only has until dawn to find her." The hanyou's focus kept straying out the window in obvious frustration. He was still upset with himself for not sensing his half-brother's change before the demon lord departed.

"Yeah, but last time he was preoccupied with his petty revenge," Kagome reminded him. "This time; he won't waste a second of his demon night. I'm sure he will find her."

"That would be fortunate," the monk supplied. "Then, we won't have to keep traveling, and we can finally go home."

A round of cautious nods supported the sentiment, though none in the group would elaborate further.

Getting the hell out of the deep North and going home sounded good to all of them, but the road-hardened group had learned not to get their hopes up prematurely. This journey had taken a lot longer and a lot farther than any of them were counting on, and despite their various difficulties; they'd actually been very lucky so far. But that luck was bound to run out eventually, and the longer they stayed away from home, the greater the chances were that they didn't make it back in one piece.

With each day that passed them; their anxieties multiplied.

"So his demon night is like Inuyasha's human night? Is that what is happening?" Sango's question was aimed at no one in particular, but it was the hanyou who shook his head.

"I don't think so," he answered with a frown, and his eyes drifted to the golden moon hanging up above. "It hasn't been a full cycle yet since his last one. It has to be something else causing it."

It wasn't exactly a science, but watching the moon was their first experiment. With that idea debunked, they would have to look for other reasons for his change.

At least the first one wasn't a fluke. They just had to find out what was making him do it, and then maybe they could see about keeping him demon for good.

Everyone had retreated within themselves, hoping to hit upon the answer. It was Sango who would break the silence again.

"You were with him, Kagome. What happened?"

The miko frowned regretfully at her friend. She really wished she could say, but it all happened so fast - and she had been sufficiently distracted. It was like she blinked her eyes, and the human was gone. She felt guilty about how much she missed him.

"I don't know," she admitted, wrapping the blanket around her more tightly. "One second he was human, and the next; all of his demonic traits had returned."

"There has to be a reason," Inuyasha insisted, his gears clearly turning. "What was he doing when he changed?"

Kagome was a terrible liar, and notoriously wore her heart on her sleeve. It took all of about two seconds for her cheeks to pinken enough to answer for her.

Three sets of knowing eyes widened in understanding.

"Kagome," he shrunk the young woman with his accusatory tone. "were you guys... "

"No!" she insisted, popping out of her cocoon somewhat. Though her indignance was short-lived, and she quickly retreated back into her blanket. "But I think we were about to."

Her blush deepened in the ensuing silence, until Miroku offered his sympathy.

"Unfortunate timing."

"Maybe not," Inuyasha countered, and caught the miko's curious gaze. "Sesshoumaru said he was alone the last time. Was that a lie?"

He wasn't trying to call her out; he just needed to cover his bases.

But Kagome distinctly remembered being with Sango that night, when he said he changed. She furrowed her brow.

"No."

But the half demon was still suspicious, and maybe rightfully so. He was too busy to keep an eye on everything, and Kagome's bashfulness might render her... uncooperative, pertaining to personal matters. He pressed for more.

"So nothing happened between you two that night?"

That was certainly a different question.

When she took a second to answer; he thought he might have hit on something. Kagome averted her eyes, half in thought, half in embarrassment.

"Well, that was the first time we kissed," she admitted, recalling the passionate incident not for the first time. She shook herself of the memory quickly. "But that was way earlier. You think that had something to do with it?"

"I dunno," he answered honestly, and shrugged. "Maybe."

Another thoughtful silence passed as this new information settled within the group. No one was all that surprised when Miroku spoke next. "Hm. In both instances; Sesshoumaru-sama's change was preceded by intimate contact with Kagome. I think the next course of action is obvious." Not a single one of them couldn't predict his suggestion.

"You have to have sex with him."

"Shut up, idiot," scolded his annoyed alpha. The women showed their solidarity with simultaneous eye rolling. "She don't have to do anything."

The monk seemed innocently surprised at the deep scowl he received from the red-clad hanyou. Sango, however, seemed to be considering something.

She recalled their chat in the hot spring back at the last village, and surprised the men with her response. "Unless you wanted to," she saw no harm in pointing out. "Then we could see if it worked."

If she was going to fuck him anyway; she supposed they would find out eventually. It was just something to keep in mind.

If his vow before he left was anything to go by; they might find out sooner than they thought...

Seeing his friend considering the advice, Inuyasha turned to the others and gestured to the door.

"Hey guys, can you scram? I need to talk to Kagome alone."

Nodding in acquiesce; the pair rose from their padding. They offered their supportive farewells to the somewhat shaken miko, and after a quick kiss from her boyfriend; Sango followed Miroku back to his hut.

She was nervous when Inuyasha removed his sword from his obi and grabbed a seat beside her, but she wasn't exactly sure why. She just had a feeling things were going to get very personal.

"So," he began, propping Tetsusaiga against his shoulder. "Things are getting kinda serious between you two."

'Called it.'

The pink returned to her cheeks in an instant, and she shied from him involuntarily. "I don't know."

She assumed he knew something was going on. He wasn't always the most perceptive guy on the planet, but between his girlfriend and his best pal; she figured the odds of him being completely oblivious were slim to none.

She just hadn't talked to him about it yet. She wasn't necessarily trying to keep it from him, but hadn't made a point of bringing it up either. It was on her list of things to do, but everything was happening so fast lately, and she was afraid things might get awkward. She was right.

"You almost slept with him," he pointed out bluntly. "that sounds pretty serious."

It was hard to make eye contact, but she forced herself to act respectfully. You know, like an adult. She rebounded from her previous recoil.

"I guess when you put it that way." Wincing up at him; she tried to discern his reaction, only to find he was a lot harder to read than usual. "Are you mad?"

His mask was easily broken as her question seemed to confuse him.

"Mad?" he asked, creasing his brow. "Why would I be mad?"

Looking away a moment; she pulled the blanket closed in front of her once again.

"I don't know," she replied defensively. "Because he's your brother, and you haven't always gotten along." That was a mild way of putting 'used to literally try and murder one another at every opportunity.'

She supposed her fears were valid. Even though they seemed to be on the mend; she wasn't sure if Inuyasha would see her going to his brother as a betrayal. He did have a competitive streak – especially where Sesshoumaru was concerned - and was known to be jealous on occasion. It mostly stemmed from being protective, though.

"There's always been this intense rivalry between you two, and I mean, with Koga..."

Mention of the Wolf Prince actually had him smiling. Getting him and Sesshoumaru in the same room would be high entertainment, no matter who came out on top. He vowed to orchestrate a 'chance' encounter as soon as they got back.

"I'm not mad," he assured her gently, his eyes softening. "I think it's great."

'Great?' That was not what she was expecting. Begrudging, mildly annoyed acceptance was the absolute best she was hoping for. She didn't hide her confoundment.

"You do?" she asked incredulously, and made him chuckle.

"Yeah. I mean, it's obvious that you're doing him a lot of good." His assertion brought her blush back from dormancy, and he smiled a little wider. "Being human has toned him down a bit," he conceded, "but I think it's your influence that's making him halfway tolerable. He really owes you a lot." With an exasperated smirk, he added, "We all do."

She was a little embarrassed of how easily he caught on. Were they really being that obvious about it? Enough to draw scrutiny?

"But I think he's good for you, too." The hanyou's observation reclaimed her attention, and she saw him become slightly uncomfortable in the way he did when he was attempting to be tactful. He met her eyes. "He ain't afraid to tell you the stuff you need to hear, and he's smart enough to know what it is."

Sesshoumaru had a way using his keen observation and penchant for bluntness to cut right to the heart of things. Once he'd learned to be considerate of her feelings; it proved to be a very effective tool for her self-awareness, and ensuing self-improvement. "He isn't the only one who has grown in this last month. It makes me happy."

She smiled at his genuine approval. This had gone way better than she anticipated. She couldn't help but thinking she should have given the half-demon a little more credit. She thought she was protecting him by keeping quiet about it, but he was actually a really good outlet.

It was a huge relief, but she couldn't celebrate quite yet.

"So then, if you aren't mad," she asked cautiously, "what did you want to talk to me about?"

When his contented features instantly darkened; she knew she was right to be wary. With a scowl; he released a troubled breath.

"I'm worried about him."

She looked on confused as he moved his sword to lay across his lap, and began inspecting the steel in nervous distraction.

"We ain't talked about it yet cuz we haven't really needed to, but I think it's finally time to acknowledge it."

With mounting concern; Kagome gave him her undivided attention and remained silent while he tried to articulate his thoughts.

"Rin's been gone a long time, and nobody's seen her." He didn't bother to hide the regret in his statement. "And I haven't met these tigers, but judging what they did to Sesshoumaru; they are really bad news. They'd have to be crazy to do what they did to him, even if he was human. And crazy and violent is a dangerous combination."

Kagome could see what was coming, and as much as she wanted to; she couldn't find a way to avoid the horrible subject. Sesshoumaru didn't allow this line of thinking, so he'd been making it easy to ignore. It looked like Inuyasha wasn't going to let her keep pretending.

"He's got a one-track mind right now, and we are closing in on those tiger youkai. There is a very good chance he has tracked them down already." He paused morosely, and held her frantic gaze with his. "I also think there's a very good chance that Rin is dead."

She visibly faltered at the notion, distressed by even the prospect. Inuyasha expected that, so he kept pushing forward. "He won't let himself believe it, but if she is and he finds out about it; he is going to finally lose it."

Her concern for Rin melded with her concern for Sesshoumaru, and the look on her face betrayed the sickness it incited within her.

Not planning for failure meant not talking about Rin being gone, but Inuyasha was right. If something had happened to her, and he found out tonight; she couldn't honestly say what he would do. But the prospects terrified her.

"He blames himself for what happened to her," he continued, but Kagome already knew. "and I worry what its gonna do to him if that's the case."

She felt her heart speed up in mild panic as she was finally forced to deal with the worst-case scenario.

What would he do if he lost Rin for good? She didn't even want to think about it.

"I need you to be there for him," he told her confidently, but his plea was naked and raw. His genuine concern for his brother would have been endearing if it wasn't scaring her so badly.

That grim, serious countenance was only reserved for the most dire of situations. It meant things could finally become unmanageable for them, and that was far from reassuring.

"I think you alone will be able to help him through this," he continued earnestly, capturing her wary gaze in his. "If it wasn't for you, he might do something stupid. But as long as you're here, I'm confident he will keep it together for your sake. He'd never abandon you to do something crazy."

She didn't know what he was implying. She didn't even want to think about it. The idea of Sesshoumaru losing his composure was unsettling on its own. If it came to that, would she really be able to help him? What could she even do?

"I'd help him if I could," he assured her, "but you are the only one he will listen to. Just please, if something terrible happens; I need you to take care of him for me. Can you do that?"

That was the second time today someone close to Sesshoumaru had pleaded with her for his sake. Toran made a similar request on the trip over, and now his brother was asking her to protect him. They seemed to think she had the capability to mitigate his pain, but she had no idea how she would do such a thing. It was a lot of pressure.

"I know it's a lot to ask, but-"

"Of course."

But it was nothing she wouldn't have done in any case. She didn't need them to ask her to help Sesshoumaru, but it did show how much the people in his life seemed to really care for him. And how much they trusted her as well. It was as flattering as it was nerve-wracking.

She wondered if he knew how much the people in his life really did care about him.

Kagome shook her head defiantly. "But I think you're wrong about Rin. I think she's okay; she just has to be."

"I sure hope so," he said nervously, tucking his arms in his sleeves. "But we gotta plan for the worst. If he can't do it, then we gotta do it for him this time. Get it?"

Kagome nodded sadly.

She never thought she'd see the day the hanyou beside her actually felt concern over his brother's wellbeing. He actually looked physically torn up about it.

Then again; she never thought she'd be messing around with him either, so it shouldn't seem so ridiculous.

Human Sesshoumaru sure seemed to have a way with people. It was almost funny enough to laugh.

But she couldn't. Not now. In fact; her whole world was pretty much on hold until the demon lord came back, hopefully with Rin. She'd be on pins and needles, and sick with worry until he returned.

But, so long as she was stuck in limbo, she might as well be productive about it. Maybe a distraction would help soothe her anxiety.

"I can't sleep," she told him as he stood to return his sword to his hip. She followed him up. "I think I'm going to head to the hot springs. Wanna come? I could put on my swimsuit."

"No thanks," he answered with a grin. "I'm gonna get my ass kicked."

"I'm sure Sango won't mind."

He tilted his head admonishingly as his lids dropped a hair.

"I ain't talking about Sango, and you know it." She smiled back shyly, unwilling to dispute him. "Just be careful."

"Okay." The two shared a knowing glance in a moment of bittersweet acknowledgement, and then Kagome departed.

---

She hadn't even found her towel yet when a familiar pulse of oppressive youki dominated her senses and roused her miko blood. She almost forgot to drop her shampoo bottle as she instantly bolted out the door, and ran up the dirt road as fast as she could manage.

She tried to outrun her troubled thoughts, willing her fearful mind blank until she saw the results with her own eyes.

By the time she got there; her breath was heavy, and her heart was trying to jump out of her throat, but she refused to pause and wait for either to get under control.

When she burst through Sesshoumaru's door for the third time that night; she saw the brothers kneeling over his futon.

She saw what they were looking at, but her eyes refused to tell her brain exactly what was going on in front of her. So finally, she froze.

Momentary shock rendered her useless, but at least prevented any one of the many terrible reactions bubbling in her chest and clamoring for release. None of them would do anyone present any good, so she willed herself to remain still.

For lying motionless upon the futon, under the gentle gaze of the looming half-brothers, was Rin.

And for a moment, all of her fear and uncertainty and terrible questions she did not want to ask melted away. For just that brief moment; she let relief wash over her like morphine, and the warmth spread through her entire body, ridding it of all her pain instantaneously, and completely.

It was her. She was here. He had found her.

But Kagome could read the room, so her excitement at seeing the small human child they had been searching relentlessly for was immediately tempered back down to almost nothing.

Neither dog demon looked her way as she rushed to the young girl's side, and fell unceremoniously to her knees. Wide, panicked eyes searched desperately for signs of life, and the renewed relief she felt was glorious when a subtle rise and fall of her little chest indicated she was breathing normally.

"What's wrong with her?" she demanded, and reached forward to take her pulse. It was more out of anxious impotence, for the demons beside her could surely hear every heartbeat loud and clear from where they sat.

"She was like this when I found her." Sesshoumaru's eyes never left his ward, and he continued to assess her even as he spoke; the hint of a scowl forming at his sculpted youkai mouth. "She appears to be sleeping, and I cannot wake her."

"Does she have any head trauma?" she asked next, and very gingerly touched around the girl's cranium. She turned her just a little, looking for cuts or bruising.

"Not that This Sesshoumaru can discern."

Aside from a few minor scrapes; Rin appeared to be unharmed. Physically, at least. That was good, of course, but also unhelpful in assessing her unconscious state.

"Any other injuries?" she asked for good measure. "Any bite wounds, or cuts?"

Kagome was going down the list of possibilities, but she'd wager that if Rin was indeed poisoned; the sharp-nosed poisonous youkai that found her would have been able to sniff it out.

"No," he confirmed. "Her heartbeat and breathing patterns are exactly as when she is sleeping."

Endearing images of the Western Lord watching over his young charge while she slept pulled at Kagome's heartstrings, but she had little time to fawn. They were running out of options, and none of them were good.

"Well, if she wasn't injured," Kagome surmised, "and she wasn't poisoned; it could be a spell. Or a coma."

Being from the future; she had an advanced wealth of medical knowledge... well, enough to be helpful. But with demon magic and witches' spells... it made it difficult to reach logical conclusions with any certainty.

A miko's arrow sealed Inuyasha to a tree for fifty years, but she doubted those youkai had a miko at their disposal. They had encountered demon magic in these lands; who knew what they were capable of?

"Where did you find her?" Inuyasha asked, as Kagome wracked her brain for answers.

"At the stronghold. It seems Toran's instincts were good." And his own, in choosing to follow them. The Daiyoukai straightened to sit back on his knees, and his brother followed suit.

When Sesshoumaru lifted his gaze away from Rin, only the distracted look in his eyes betrayed his cluttered thoughts and exasperation.

"Did you kill them?"

He didn't look his brother's way as his golden gaze returned to the sleeping child. She appeared peaceful, at least.

"All but one. I wished to get her back here first."

Inuyasha was very interested in the details of the battle, but he would get them another time. With how quickly his brother returned; he could guess it was a pretty quick hit job, and not as slow or satisfying – or just – as Sesshoumaru surely preferred. But he was surprised he'd let even one of those bastards get away.

He had a feeling this wasn't the end of it.

"How do you cure a coma?" Though he wasn't looking at her; Kagome knew his gentle question was for her. She only wished she had a better answer for him.

"You don't," she regretfully informed him. He finally lifted his eyes to meet her sympathetic gaze. "If she is in a coma; it is up to her when she wakes up."

"Unacceptable. There must be something we can do." After a moment of silence, he asked, "What else do you need?"

That had been what she was trying to determine. She had been learning to cleanse and repair damaged bodies, but the mind was a beast of another breed. Anything beyond a minor tune up was well out of her depth, and if it was a spell, out of her field completely.

"Um... Kaede taught me some stuff," she admitted, but Sesshoumaru did not like the uncertainty quivering her tone. "but I need to speak to the elder. He will know more than I do."

Nodding resolutely, Sesshoumaru stood.

"Very well. I will send him to you now."

The others remained knelt beside Rin as he made to exit the hut, but something in his tone caught Kagome's attention. It did not sound as if the demon lord would be returning.

"Where are you going?"

Pausing as he reached the door; he responded over his shoulder.

"I have a few more," his tone darkened maliciously, "matters to attend to."

Though his answer was cryptic; they could both guess what at least one of those matters might be.

"Sesshoumaru..."

He didn't turn; he had an idea what troubled plea might follow. But he stayed still, and Kagome surprised him.

"You did it." The pride in her voice was unlike anything he had ever heard. But as much as he appreciated her heartfelt praise, he couldn't relish it. He knew he didn't deserve it.

But with a smile; she continued, and let her immense relief be known to him. "You saved her. I knew you would."

It should be a joyous moment, but it wasn't. He was happy she was alive, absolutely. But this was far from a success.

He still didn't turn to face them, opting to look at the door beneath his hand instead.

"It is early yet for celebration," he said coldly. "Do all that you can."

When Daichi entered 20 minutes later; he was alone. After instructing him to assist the others; Sesshoumaru took off to handle his business while he still had his youki. He'd found Rin quickly, so the night was still fairly young. It would be hours until daybreak, and they expected him to be gone until then.

Kagome hoped he at least took a moment to enjoy himself in his old form. Last time he seemed to come back rejuvenated. She wanted him to find some measure of peace, if he could get it.

"My grandfather spoke of a spell that put humans to sleep indefinitely."

After being briefed on the state of things; the elder had a quick look at Rin and suspected that a spell was indeed to blame. Though, Kagome was suspicious. Not that she didn't trust him, but people in the era just didn't know about comas. Ignorance was the driving force behind many superstitions. But demon magic turned out to be a real thing, so she decided to keep an open mind until she had any better ideas.

"Is she okay?" the miko asked nervously. "Does it hurt her?"

The old man's kind smile put her at ease. He shook his head.

"She should be fine," he assured her, and it let her relax some. "It as is if she is in a deep sleep, nothing more."

How long had she been like this? And why would they do this to her?

Maybe she was simply a pawn, and the tigers didn't want to deal with the troubles an unruly child could bring.

It might actually be good news. The less she remembered about her kidnapping was probably the better. She almost looked perfectly preserved.

"How do we wake her up?" Inuyasha asked the man anxiously as he continued to assess her condition. The elder's thoughtful pause was not encouraging.

"There is a way," he imparted confidently, "though I do not recall it exactly."

The couple appeared dejected. That was not very useful to them.

Taking note of their disappointment, Daichi straightened.

"Fret not," he said. "It is in my texts somewhere; I simply have to unearth them."

That was all it took to lift the miko's somber aura into a brilliantly bright ball of optimism. She was happy to tightly grab onto any scraps of hope thrown her way.

"Great!" she beamed, flashing Inuyasha an excited glance and grinning radiantly. "Thank you! Just go get it and-"

"I am afraid as village elder, I am the keeper of thousands of scrolls, miko. It is going to take some time to find it."

Daichi's admission tempered her enthusiasm slightly, but at least they were getting somewhere.

"Oh. Well, okay." Chancing another look at Rin; she focused on the girl's steady breathing to placate her. "As long as she isn't hurting; I guess all we can do is wait. Can we help?"

"Not unless you know what to look for. No, you would do well to leave the task to me alone." As much as she wanted to assist; she could understand that. The last thing she wanted was to get in the old man's way. Though there was nothing worse for nerve-wracking anxiety than waiting helplessly on the sidelines. "I will get started on it at once."

"Thank you," Kagome offered again nonetheless as he brushed past her to exit. But still eager to be occupied, she asked, "What should I do?"

"As you said," replied the elder, with kind eyes to match his smile, "wait."

---

An hour later, Miroku and Sango had found their way to Sesshoumaru's hut, and were made abreast of the exciting new developments.

Having Rin meant the search mission was over, but until she was awake; they were kind of at a standstill.

Still, it was enough to warrant a sense of accomplishment, and huge relief at not having to venture any further into the unfamiliar, youkai-infested lands. The mood was easy and relatively light while they waited for Daichi to find his cure, but Inuyasha noticed the stress still mounting in the miko's aura.

She'd made herself comfortable beside Rin, touching the girl lightly and talking to her to try and reach through, but he saw it every time her eyes cut longingly to the window as if looking for any sign of his brother's impending return.

It was hours until sunrise yet, and he knew how Kagome could get when she was worried. He also knew the cure. At least he could fix one human girl tonight.

"Hey Kags, we got this. Why don't you go take your bath?"

It was where she was headed before his half-brother's early return interrupted her. He supposed it was better than interrupting her right in the middle of it, however. She could still relax and enjoy herself.

But she shook her head.

"No, I can't leave-"

"She ain't goin' nowhere," he assured her with a crooked smirk. "I promise I'll protect her."

He leaned casually against the wall where he sat. Between his legs, Sango was cradled in his hold, playing affectionately with his hands. Across from them, Miroku was meditating next to a dozing Kirara.

"Are you sure you don't mind?" she asked, and the hanyou smiled.

"I'm too restless to sleep anyway."

Not that he needed much of it, but all the excitement would make sleeping almost impossible. No, he was content to stand guard until his brother got back.

His grin widened when Kagome finally stood. He knew she wouldn't take much convincing.

"If anything happens, come and get me okay?" she begged.

Hands full; he gestured his head toward the door. "Go."

And with a thankful smile, she acquiesced, and went to resume looking for her towel.

---

She vowed to make it quick, and return to Rin's side, but just like quicksand; hot springs had a way of grabbing hold of her the second she entered, and it required impressive effort to remove herself from its seductive clutches. The way the hot water soothed the tension in her aching muscles ensured she came up short on resolve.

The secluded bathing area was a system of pools, tiered on an incline, and running the water down through them like a fountain of champagne. Previously unoccupied; she had her pick, and chose a pool in the middle level so she could stand beneath the water as it streamed down onto her like a waterfall from the pool above it, creating a shower effect.

Once she washed the conditioner from her hair; Kagome moved off to the side of the spring that had a submerged ledge – the shallower end ensured she could keep her chin above water - and tilted her head back against the lip's edge.

Now that she had a moment alone; she attempted to get her frazzled thoughts into some semblance of order, but PTSD was leaving her mind almost forcefully blank. It had been one hell of a night – so far! - and she didn't even know where to begin.

Before she'd even stepped foot in Sesshoumaru's hut; she had a feeling something was going to happen between them tonight. She may not have admitted it to herself in any certain terms, but sake, and a massage... a silk robe! She knew what she was doing, even as surrendered control and let her instincts take over.

She didn't know how far she planned to take things with him, but she had a feeling that if his youki hadn't returned, she would probably not be a virgin anymore.

That brought her to part two of her crazy little evening. Almost having sex with Sesshoumaru was a huge enough ordeal to wrap her mind around, but then he changed back.

She knew it had happened once before, but this was her first time witnessing the transformation.

She had been so scared, looking down her body only to find the dark-haired man with violet eyes had altered back to all his demon glory... well, almost all of it. She wondered what it was that was missing.

She remembered the pained look in his crimson gaze when she started at the sight of him. But really, it was quite startling, his unannounced return – between her legs, no less. It was a completely valid reaction.

But deep down, she knew it was more than that. She had a feeling the perceptive demon lord knew it too. It was just as he'd been telling her, and she hated to admit that he was right.

She'd spent the past month getting to know Sesshoumaru as a human. Though she'd known him longer; she'd spent decidedly more time around his human self than his demon. Hell, after the first day with him she'd already accomplished that.

And though she wanted to return him to his old form on paper; she already mourned the loss of the human she was becoming frighteningly attached to.

That demon with the scary red eyes was not the man she'd grown close to. The man she'd laughed and teased and bickered with. The man she'd kissed, and trusted with her life. The man she nearly gave herself to.

Instead; that was the demon who'd hurt her friends. Who hated his brother. Who tried to kill her.

And though she was confident that he no longer wished her any harm – especially after the way he'd left things in the hut – it was going to take some time in his presence to cure the unease she felt around him. Some new, more friendly memories were going to have to be made to replace the unpleasant ones he had left in her mind. But she was willing.

She was more than willing to give the old him a chance to be the new him, if that was what he wanted. From their last intimate encounter, it seemed like he did.

And if that wasn't enough, that brought her to part three. Rin.

The little girl was back with them, and she was alive. The joy in finally rescuing the girl was tempered greatly by her unconscious state, but at least she appeared relatively unharmed. It was a huge relief.

Her... coma? spell?... left all of their futures uncertain, but at least they could stop looking for her. Their search had ended. They now had a new task – getting her to wake up, and hopefully Daichi's cure would do the trick.

After that, all that was left was to go home. But even the prospect of home wasn't as joyous a thought as it should have been.

She was happy to get back, and happy the mission was over. But once they got home, then what?

Sesshoumaru couldn't go back to his home yet. She didn't really know what his plan was now. He had been so focused on finding Rin; he hadn't given his humanity much attention. But now that he found her; the next step would be trying to find a way to change him.

Kagome still hadn't found the cure for his problem, though she did have a few ideas.

But until he was fixed; she assumed he would be staying with them in Kaede's Village. Which meant, she supposed; he would be staying with her. The thought made her blush.

Maybe she was being presumptuous, and it really did warrant a conversation. But it wasn't like he had anywhere else to go.

She didn't want him to go anywhere else.

And now that he had Rin, she would probably be staying with them too. While they looked for his fix...

That was the hardest part of all, but she'd already come to terms with it. Once they got back; he would be searching for the cure to make him demon again for good, and she would be helping him. Because it was her fault, and she had vowed to him that she would; Kagome would be working tirelessly alongside him to try and change him back.

She would be forced to help him become a demon so that he could leave her forever. If she failed; he would die a human. It was a lose/lose, for the both of them. She didn't know what she had done to piss off the fates so badly, but it must have been a doozy.

Kagome lifted her head off the edge of the spring to give her neck a quick stretch, and sleepily opened her eyes.

This time, when she took in the image of Sesshoumaru's demon form before her; she managed to stifle her scream. Her wide eyes, startled gasp, and violent full-body flinch was more than enough reaction to alert the dangerous demon of her state, however.

"Kami," she cursed in a whisper, closing her eyes again and placing a steadying hand to her chest.

He really had to stop doing that; he was going to give her a heart attack. She wondered if he'd forgotten just how scary he was, though she didn't know how he could. Maybe it was her who had forgotten.

"You are frightened of me like this."

Beside her in the small pool – a respectable distance away – Sesshoumaru sat bare chested, with his elbows propped up on the edge behind him. She assumed the rest of him was bare as well, but the water bubbled as it fell into their spring, and rushed past them before falling into the pool down below in a way that disrupted the water enough to keep his lower half from her view. She couldn't say she fully appreciated that.

"No," she insisted, doing her best to calm herself after the initial surprise. At least she didn't stutter, but her heart was beating so fast that even she could hear it; could see it, trying to jump right out of her chest.

His flat expression darkened, eyes narrowing almost imperceptibly.

"Now I can scent your lie."

Yep, there was no point lying to him now, not that she necessarily wanted to. She just didn't want to hurt his feelings. She knew her fear upset him.

"I know you won't hurt me," she said honestly, wanting to assure him. She met his eyes, "it's just a bit jarring."

He studied her for a moment with those keen eyes, and she couldn't tell if he believed her. At any rate, he appeared to accept the answer.

"Do you want me to leave?" he asked; his baritone gave nothing away.

She instantly appeared frantic.

"No!" If he was surprised at her reaction, he didn't show it. She immediately gentled. "Stay."

Sitting up straighter and turning toward him, the water was high enough to cover her naked breasts, though she supposed it didn't matter. With his demon sight; she was sure he could see through the water like it was glass, but she didn't mind it. He'd seen a lot more only hours ago. The memory caused a familiar burn low in her abdomen.

For his part, however; his eyes never strayed from hers. She found the intensity of his scrutiny a bit unnerving, but she pushed through it.

"You're back fast," she observed. None of them were expecting him to return before the sun. Like last time; she figured he would want to enjoy his demon night to the fullest, whatever that entailed. She could only guess, but she had an idea. "Did you kill the last tiger?"

He hadn't said it in so many words, but one of Rin's captors had managed to elude him. Now that she was back in the safety of the village; the miko considered that revenge was a likely candidate for the 'matters' he had to attend to. But he surprised her again.

"No."

"No?" Then what was he doing here?

"I tasked Jaken with finding him."

So, he'd found his loyal imp too. But this didn't seem like the kind of job he'd shove off onto his vassal. She was certain he would want to handle this particular task personally.

"You did?" she asked, scrunching her brow in confusion. "Why?"

He studied her thoughtfully another moment, and she had to force herself not to squirm.

"The last time I changed, I learned that revenge – while gratifying," the way his sinister smirk reached his eyes and lit them up with malice caused a shiver of terror to wrack through her form. "- is not worth the regret. I have more important matters to see to at the moment."

"Like what?" she wondered aloud. He surprised her again when he casually lifted his clawed hands to gesture carelessly around them. Her brows both shot up into her wet, curling bangs a moment before she forced them back in place. She gawked at him a moment before finally finding her voice.

"Sesshoumaru," she began in a careful, measured tone. He lifted his own brow innocently in response. "are you saying that, even though you do not know when or if you will ever be demon again; you are choosing to spend your fleeting hours as a Daiyoukai bathing with me?" His silence was all the answer she needed, and she stared back; aghast. "Why?"

This was his one chance to get the last tiger who had taken Rin from him, who had attacked him and stolen from him and instigated this whole god-forsaken mission. Why would he pass up the chance to get his pound of flesh? He could still get hours of torture in if he started right now.

"My revenge will always be there," he explained reasonably. "You may not."

She faltered as her chest flooded with warmth that far surpassed the water in the spring.

She knew he regretted wasting his demon night on revenge last time when he could have been searching for Rin, but now he had her. He was free and clear to go conduct his 'business' with a clean conscious. Unless, he feared regretting something else.

And sure, she wouldn't always be with him – but she would be here tomorrow, most likely. They still had time. Unless...

Her throat suddenly became very dry, and she eyed him cautiously.

"Is there something you wanted to do with me that you couldn't do as a human?"

She couldn't say she wasn't curious, but the prospect made her nervous. She was already operating with almost no experience relationship-wise; she didn't need any demon surprises to contend with.

But maybe he was just eager. He had promised to find her as soon as he found Rin...

There was something heated in that passive glare that told her she was onto something.

"I suppose we will find out."

His suggestive answer had all of her senses on high alert, but when he said nothing more; she began to reconsider her assumptions. Rin was still lying unconscious in his hut with the others, and she was a bit surprised he wasn't there with her now.

"Did you find out how to help her?" she asked. The question seemed to catch him off guard.

But only for half a second. Another half later, his cool mask was back in place.

"I conferred with the elder," he explained. "He is still scouring his scrolls. It looks as though it may take a while yet, however I told him to fetch me the second he learns anything."

She supposed there wasn't much to be done until then. But if he wasn't out looking for that last tiger, she wondered what he'd left them to go do.

"What else did you-"

"I do not wish to discuss it now," he said firmly, she could tell it took effort to keep the sharp edge out of his tone. "I came to you for a distraction."

His blunt admission sobered her a bit, and she gave herself a shake.

"Of course. You had a rough night." She couldn't tell if he was offended by her presumption, but he didn't counter.

She wasn't sure how she felt about him using her as a respite from all that was going on, but she understood. As hard as this all was for her, it had to be a thousand times worse for him. And even though she had a lot of questions for him – about Rin, and his night out, and what to do going forward - she admitted that she wanted a distraction from it all too.

Was he hoping to pick up where they left off?

Shyly, she started to ask, "Did you want to...?"

Finally; the first genuine smile since his return graced his handsome demonic features, and it excited and terrified her all at once. Just being around him was a thrilling experience.

"Your presence will suffice," he answered gently, and she felt herself relax. She still wanted him, but the fact that he was demon was incredibly intimidating and she didn't know if she was ready for that.

Was that why he wanted to refrain? He did say that he could only be hers while he was human, but he'd already crossed that line back in his hut...

She pushed those thoughts aside for now, and returned his smile, hers brimming with admiration.

"You did it," she offered proudly once again. "You found her." If she didn't know any better, she'd say he looked uncomfortable with the praise. It wasn't like the Western Lord to be modest.

Still, she continued to gush.

"I knew you would. She is very lucky to have you."

But he only continued to look back at her stoically, and for the first time in a long time; the silence felt tense in the air between them.

It was hard not to focus on his reclaimed demonic traits; she was so used to not seeing them brandished now. His long, white hair spilling carelessly into the water around him... His pronounced magenta markings on his face and arms stood in stark contrast to his pale, ivory skin... And those eyes – so different, and yet, so achingly similar somehow to the violet that so often sought her own, and consumed her like prey.

She was becoming overwhelmed by an irrational sense of loss, and she hoped he didn't notice as she continued to babble nervously.

"All we have to do is cure her, and then we get to go home." She forced a tight smile, "The hard part is over."

He still did not respond, and Kagome felt awkward in the long moments that followed. He was just looking at her, not saying anything. She didn't know what he wanted from her, and it was making her edgy.

She felt saved by the bell when something suddenly occurred to her. She needed a distraction from being a distraction.

"Oh, I have to get out," she informed him. He glared back flatly in suspicion. "I... forgot my razor. I was going to shave."

"Shave what?" he demanded.

She paused, and smiled in embarrassment.

"My legs," she admitted. "Under my arms."

Another long stare, and then he made his offer.

"I can shave you."

Instead of being startled by the suggestion, she gave him a confused once-over.

"You have a razor?" she asked skeptically. With a devious smile, he fanned his fingers.

"I have ten."

Her eyes widened a fraction when she realized what he intended, and she wasn't sure if she was comfortable with it or not.

"Is that safe?" she asked. She'd seen what those claws could do. Those poisonous claws.

He held her stare meaningfully, face bereft of his prior amusement.

"If you trust me."

Damn. Now she didn't have a choice. She couldn't refuse without seeming like she didn't trust him. She had a feeling this was a test for him, and she didn't want to fail it.

Meekly, she inquired, "Is that okay?"

"Would I have offered otherwise?" he asked rhetorically. No, she supposed he wouldn't have. "It will bring me pleasure."

She knew what he meant, but she allowed for a short, uncomfortable laugh anyhow. It distracted her from the fact that he was now standing, and making his way over to her.

"You're so weird."

Her rude remark earned his smirk. As he waded over, her eyes were drawn to the thick cut of magenta wrapping around each hip, and disappearing into the water beneath the pronounced V in his lower abdomen. Wow.

He had a very nice human form, but it was nothing like this. She felt like she could actually see his power. When he spoke, it startled her from her ogling, and she offered a guilty smile. He didn't seem to mind it.

"You are not one to talk; time-traveling Shikon Miko, who enjoys bathing nude with demons."

His teasing was familiar, and reminded her that the human she knew was still in that godly, powerful demon body. It made him sound comfortable, and that made her comfortable with him.

Comfortable enough to stand as well, exposing her upper half to him.

"Just one demon," she reminded him, and noticed how his gaze dropped from hers for a moment as the space between them got smaller. "and I'm not super corruptible, he just happens to be ridiculously hot. It really isn't fair."

She stopped before she reached him, smiling up into his much taller frame. When he reached forward to brush her face gently with his clawed fingers; she leaned into his touch, closing her eyes as she placed her hands on his immovable chest.

He bent low, and she trembled when she felt his hot breath ghost across her ear.

"I would make it my life's work to corrupt you."

His low tones made her ache, and she expected him to kiss her. Actually, she was very eager for him to do so. So she was fairly disappointed when he pulled back slightly.

When she opened her eyes; he was still staring down at her, but his gaze betrayed nothing. She couldn't tell what he intended, so after a moment she offered her suggestion.

"Alright, well, let's see what you got." She was trying to project courage, but it was all bravado. "How do you want to do this?"

A man of action; he answered by grabbing her by the hips, and lifted her to sit on the lip of the hot spring. She squeaked in surprise, but he was so fast in this body that before she could protest, he'd already expelled mokomoko and arranged her comfortably on top of the luxurious fluff.

The position left her feeling incredibly exposed, completely naked as she was, with her legs hanging off the edge and dipping down into the full pool of water. It was hard not to cover her breasts with her arms out of reflex as he stood before her, the waist-deep water still keeping him from her view.

She blushed as she folded her arms over her lap, but he eased her discomfort by keeping his eyes on hers. Her blush spread down her entire body.

This was all so new to her, but he'd seen her femininity before. He'd touched it, with his fingers, and now with his tongue too. But it was different then, being distracted by pleasure. Now, perched before him; she felt like she was on display. She wasn't entirely comfortable just being looked at.

But she forced herself to look at him, and something in his golden eyes put her at ease. It helped that he was holding her gaze, but the way his crinkled in the corners relayed a gentle kindness that let her muscles relax some.

He reached down and grabbed her calf in his hands, lifting it above the water. It was unclear if his small smile was for her or at her, but it brought her comfort as he rubbed water over leg, wetting it.

She smiled back as tended to her, and almost made her laugh when he planted her foot against his solid stomach. He flashed one last lingering glare at her amused features, before turning his focus to the slight prickle of hairs below her knee, and brandished his index claw.

Starting at her ankle; Sesshoumaru ran the edge of his deadly talon all the way up to her kneecap. The perfect angle kept her skin safe, but the fingers on his opposite hand trailed to ensure the ending result had her completely smooth to the touch. Pleased with the outcome; he moved to the next section and repeated the process.

He was intently focused on his chore, and nearly halfway done with the first leg before Kagome found the wits to comment.

"This has got to be the most bizarre night of my life, and that is saying something."

"Hn."

He never lifted his eyes, nor paused his task, and Kagome wanted to giggle. All he needed was his tongue determinedly sticking out the side of his mouth and it would be perfect. She bit her cheek.

"Don't get me wrong" she backpedaled, "it's not a bad thing. In fact; I'm trying to think if I've ever had a better night."

With the last pass completed; he finally allowed himself to meet her eyes once more. He was pleased to find her much more relaxed now.

"It was almost perfect," he told her, but the longing in his amber gaze was tempered by the barest hints of sadness in his tone.

Dragging his hands all over her lower leg for anything he might have missed served to stoke her desires with the firm, gentle touch she knew he could offer. But instead of roaming higher like she wished he would; he lowered it, and wet it down one last time before lifting the other to start the process again.

"Well, that's good that it wasn't." He raised an eyebrow, and acknowledged her with a questioning look. She was still smiling. "It means your perfect night is still ahead of you."

He actually paused long enough to send a pointed, heated glare. He took the opportunity to rinse his claws.

"I believe you just agreed to another night together."

If it was supposed to be a threat, she wasn't scared. Her grin widened.

"Try and stop me."

The way he held her leg so softly, so tenderly made it easy to forget just what those hands were capable of. The tingles his touch sent coursing through her body made her forget the terrible things he had done.

When she closed her eyes; she saw a human with short black hair and violet eyes caressing her so carefully - not a bloodthirsty, power hungry demon lord. But he wasn't here. Or was he?

Just how much of that human man was really Sesshoumaru, unchanged by his transformation? How much of him would be lost once he returned for good?

Watching him work; she summoned the courage to ask.

"So," she began carefully, "now that you're demon again, do you feel any different?" The dubious look he quickly gave relayed his confusion. "As far as... I don't know; do you feel more violent than you did when you were human? More angry?"

When he paused his task; she worried she might have offended him, but then he ran his fingers over her in a featherlight touch as if trying to prove how gentle he could be with her. She closed her eyes at the soothing action.

"My lust for blood and vengeance is no different than it was," he said so calmly, so casually. His rumbling tone soothed her too, despite what he was using it to say. "Now I simply have the means to act on it. My human form had never altered the desire, simply limited my options."

He resumed shaving, and Kagome absorbed what he just told her.

So being human hadn't made him any less angry, just hampered his ability to act on it? Was it possible that maybe he hadn't really changed that much? That there were other things that wouldn't leave him with his humanity?

That it was his recourse, not his feelings, that would change when he did?

Maybe being human limited his choices for how to act out his rage, but being demon limited his options for how to respond to his attraction to her. Unless, it took away the attraction all together.

"Has your distaste for my race bolstered at all, compared to before you left?" His eyes instantly cut to hers at the sound of her soft voice. "Do you hate humans again?"

"Indeed," he confirmed, and her chest constricted painfully. "So much so that I endeavored to bathe with one, and assist in her grooming as if I was no more than a common servant."

His monotone delivery and placid facial expression were completely on-brand, but he was so deadpanned that it scared her. Finally, the slight upturn at the corner of his lips allowed her heart to resume beating.

"I apologize. It appears my proficiency in humor leaves something to be desired."

She released an uneasy breath, and forced a pained smile.

"Maybe not the best time for jokes," she suggested.

"Hn. I recall a certain miko who is known to make inappropriate jets at the most inopportune times."

She saw amusement dancing in his eyes, curling his lips while he shaved her legs, and she couldn't help but crack a grin. She knew just what he was talking about, and was pleased that they could finally laugh about it now. It seemed like so long ago...

"Well, it's funny when I do it."

The look he leveled her with begged to disagree, and a short burst of giggles escaped unbidden.

"I will have you know," he replied with mock indignation as he rinsed off his claws, "my council finds my humor quite uproarious."

"Yeah, I'm sure you're a real cut up," she replied sarcastically. "As in, if they don't laugh at your jokes, you will literally cut them up."

He smirked at her assessment, but said nothing.

"You need to find an audience whose life you don't hold in the palm of your hand."

"I am afraid that leaves me without an audience," he replied haughtily, causing her grin to spread.

"Ah, there's that cocky bastard I remember. It must feel good to be the most powerful guy in the world again."

He didn't have an answer for that, but luckily, he didn't need one. With the second leg finished, he wetted it down and took a moment to rub his hands sensuously over its expanse. He took his time, making sure to touch every square inch, running his palm slowly up to her knee, and back down again in a gentle caress.

"Ready for inspection." At the address, Kagome lifted her legs out of the hot spring one at a time, and felt her skin all over to admire his handiwork. She bent her leg, placing her heel up on the lip of the spring, and he finally took the chance to gaze down at her opening as she thoughtlessly spread herself for him.

The smell had been driving him crazy, but now he could see the various shades of pink shimmering between her thighs. But it was not water from the spring which had her glistening from the inside. She looked so soft, so inviting, so-

"Wow," she gushed as she petted her bare legs, and tore him from his open appreciation. "I've never been so smooth." She flashed a thankful smile before she returned to admiring her naked skin. "And not a single scratch. You did better than I would have."

"I promised these claws would never cause you harm," he reminded her, and she didn't miss the husky tint in his voice. "I take my promises very seriously."

His honeyed gaze turned thick, and heavy, and he could scent the force of her arousal as it permeated the air between them.

This side of the spring had no ledge, so he was able to press his submerged hips up against the wall as he stepped closer. Forcing himself between her knees, they parted easily to make room for him, and she stiffened momentarily at the new proximity.

His face was inches from hers, and he had to command himself not to let his gaze drift down to her glistening, obviously excited breasts. Her breath hitched, waiting to see what he would do, and she burned hotter in her core when he began to lean into her. But he surprised her when he took hold of her wrist and lifted her arm high above her head.

Momentary confusion was cured when he lifted his claw under her arm and removed the hair there for her as well. A blush stained her cheeks as he did the same on the other side. He did not retreat once he was through, however. Leaning forward, he placed his hands on her thighs and began stroking her suggestively at the tops, all the while trapping her in his intense, hypnotic stare.

"Anywhere else?" he purred enticingly. "You have but a few hours before the chance will be lost, I suggest you do not squander it."

He lifted his hand to emphasize his temporary claws as she fought for the courage to ask him for more.

He saw her battling with herself, and his patience was rewarded when her already flushed cheeks became an impressive shade of red.

That color always bode well for him.

"Well," she began shyly, and her blue eyes drifted down to her swollen sex – spread open to accommodate him, and dripping for the same reason. His amber depths would immediately follow. "sometimes I shave myself here." When she lifted her shimmering sapphires again, she saw him studying her womanhood very intently, and became self-conscious. "But it gets hard to keep up with the longer I stay in the past. And with the mission and all-"

"Would you like me to shave you there?" he asked, about as close to begging as she'd ever heard from that demon. It gave her confidence, and her voice became breathy.

"Would you like that?" she asked him.

He never broke her gaze.

"Yes."

His voice was thick with desire, and it should have scared her. But all she could do was nod and say, "Okay then."

"All of it?"

She paused, and her shy smile intrigued, and excited him all at once.

"I leave a little up top," she told him, and rubbed the area in question. "Is there any shape you are good at making?"

"Such as?" he asked, but his voice sounded distant as his focus remained on her exposed flesh.

"Well, like a triangle?" she floated, but then something amusing occurred to her. "You could try a crescent." He lifted a brow, but when he saw her smile; he had the distinct feeling he was being mocked. "But I usually do a landing strip."

At his puzzled expression, the explained.

"It's just a long stripe." She stroked the patch of hair in question. "Right here."

His eyes lingered as she touched herself there, stroking the area lightly up and down. When he finally tore his eyes away, he pinned her with an earnest, albeit hungry expression.

"I will give you a stripe," he told her softly. For some reason, it made swallowing difficult for her.

"Okay."

She adjusted herself to lay back on his pelt of soft fur, enjoying the warm comfort as it caressed her skin. She was embarrassed when he coaxed her heels up on the lip of the spring, but she forced her discomfort aside, bent on showing the extent of her trust in him. She spread her legs wider.

If this didn't show her faith in him, she didn't know what would. She was so prone and open for him; so incredibly helpless. He could do anything to her in that moment, and there would be nothing she could do to stop him. She didn't even know if her reiki could fully fend him off, or be summoned before substantial damage was done.

She was at his mercy, as vulnerable as she could possibly be, with his poison claws poised to end her in less than half a second. He could do whatever he wanted with her. But didn't doubt her safety for a moment.

Between her bent knees; she felt his dangerous fingers pulling her tender flesh taut, and the sensation of the razor edge dragging so carefully across her skin. Her breathing became heavier, and not only from fear, as his claws scraped against her most sensitive of places.

The first whisps of her miko magic instinctively gathered where this powerful demon touched her, but her acceptance of that touch made her flesh tingle and sing instead of frying the offender. His youki buzzed pleasantly within him, too.

She quivered as he teased the edge of her lips, and when he gently grazed her puffy clit; she knew there was no way it was an accident. He was so close, so close to where she wanted him, and she was trembling with desire as she silently willed him to touch even more of her. To incite that wonderful crackling sensation his youki inflicted more pointedly.

She could feel her juices gushing out of her, reaching for him, trying to coat him, as her tight virgin walls clenched impotently, desperate to grasp onto him and only him.

Her first few pathetic mewls of want escaped against her will, but now she withheld nothing, moaning openly, crying in frustration, and expressing her need to him with each frustrating pass of his deft fingers. He had to be teasing her, and she hated him for it.

"It feels so good," she panted out, from her place on her back, "to get clean." Another long scrape along her outer lips had her breathing come even deeper than before. "Stripping away the excess, starting new."

Her engorged nub stood tall, and fat between her outer lips. His red-rimmed gaze would have no trouble spotting it from a mile away. So, not inches from his endeavoring fingers; it was impossible to ignore. Not that he wanted to.

She was so reactive, so sensitive to his every brush and graze. Even when he didn't touch her there, just the threat, just the possibility was enough to make her cry out and tremor with want. Human women really were something to behold. Youkai females were nowhere near as fun to play with. Getting such an enthused response was gratifying.

Tempting. And, he found, irresistible.

He had a job to do, but her pleasured reactions to even his slightest touch persuaded him to see what more pointed pressure would deliver. Mindful of his claws; he paused from his self-imposed duty to bend his toiling digit, and grazed her with his knuckle experimentally.

As predicted; the grateful, demanding moan of relief was his very satisfying reward. So with the next pass; he applied more force, stroking her swollen clit that seemed to be straining out to reach him. Calling for his power.

His name from her lips was heaven, and repeated many times as he drew several circles overs her heated flesh. She didn't appear capable of looking at him, however, but that was okay. With her head thrown back against his pelt, her lips opened wide to surrender freely whatever sounds he was able to wrest from her.

She whimpered with loss when he dragged his knuckle lower to trace at the slickness of her opening. He watched it quiver and clench as he tickled and tested the edge of her lips, before finding her center and entering her just slightly.

She lurched forward, desperate to absorb him into that elusive final frontier. That curious enigma that held promise of unnamed pleasures and eternal damnation alike. That last, untraversed unknown that he had been warned against, and sworn against, and actively avoided for centuries.

Now, it called to him. Beckoned him. Tempted him. And he felt himself falling. Heeding. Following willingly. As she lured him forward, he found he didn't struggle. Then he realized, he hadn't been for a long time.

In fact, had he been seeking this whole time? He honestly couldn't say.

His knuckle was coated in her thick juices as he shallowly penetrated her heat. When he pulled back out, he returned briefly to rub what he'd collected onto her abandoned pearl, and she ground needfully into the caress.

But he had a job to finish, and she seemed very irritated at that fact when he brandished his claw once again, and resumed his work, somewhat more rushed than before. He was eager to get this done while he still had the resolve. He could feel it slipping.

He didn't say anything, staying completely focused on his task. But as he continued, his breathing took on a feral edge, something resembling a growl deep in his chest escaped with every rough exhale.

He made her stripe last, and when he was done; he leaned forward to hover over her splayed, gasping form.

"Anywhere else?" he asked roughly. "Last chance."

"No."

But before she even answered, she watched as he put the ends of his two fingers into his mouth. He gnawed the claw tips down, blunting them and rounding their edges, before spitting the poisonous clippings far off to the side.

Lifting his index finger to her lips; her eyes remained locked on his when she parted them, and let him put himself in her mouth.

She wrapped her lips around him tightly, and she felt him tremble between her legs as he slid himself all the way down to the base. When he removed himself; he took a moment to admire her flushed, willing body, and lowered his hand between them.

He took the finger coated with her own saliva, and prodded her opening gently, testing its give. Until finally, slowly, and gently; he forced himself inside, watching her face contort as he slid between her folds.

A moan escaped her at the intrusion, and his mouth hung open in disbelief as he watched the pleasure bloom on her soft features. He marveled at the satiny soft feeling of her inner walls as he pried them apart with just one digit, but something occurred to him the deeper he went, causing waves of incredulity to crash over him. He could hardly take it, and used every bit of his strength to keep himself in check as he entered her as far as he could go.

He curled in on himself, and fell forward. Only his free arm was propping him up, preventing him from crushing her under his weight. He couldn't even look at her as he hung his head, letting long strands of silvery white hair fall over her bare skin. He clenched his jaw.

"Miko," he panted, screwing his eyes shut. "you are... impossibly tight." He couldn't even move inside her safely. The sensation of her clamping down so firmly on just his one finger had his beast scraping for control, begging to be free to partake in the pleasures this woman could offer. His voice became raspier. "It feels as if nothing has ever been inside you."

Releasing a shaky breath of her own; she lifted her hand to comb her fingers through his bangs, pushing them out of his face. His eyes were still closed, and he looked like he was in pain.

"Nothing has," she admitted.

His cock was so hard, and smashed so uncomfortably against the wall of the spring, but it had to stay that way. All he wanted was to finish crawling on top of her and sink inside her incredible tightness. The rough wall in front of him stifled him a bit, and he began to gather his composure.

"You pleasure yourself, at least." He pushed himself up some, and shifted on his elbow so he could look at her as he loomed over her body.

"I do," she admitted, "but I don't put anything inside."

He was staying still, giving her time to adjust to the intrusion, and giving himself time to adjust to the knowledge of just how glorious it felt to be inside of her. She was even more snug than he had imagined. If he didn't have his demon scent, the sensation alone would attest to her purity.

As he remained motionless inside her; they both gathered their bearings.

"I simply thought," he gasped, cracking his eyes at her, "due to your access to futuristic sex toys..."

When she released a breathy laugh; she clenched around him tighter, and he stifled a groan.

"Hey, I didn't buy that. My mother gave it to me, if you recall."

He looked up into her smiling features, and managed a smirk of his own.

"Strange family."

She tried to look indignant, but he was hardly feeling admonished.

"Now it's you who has no room to talk, Mr. son of a great demon warlord who fell for a human princess, and brother to a half demon." When his smirk widened; it gave her access to one of his fangs, and she found herself captivated by it, before dragging her teasing glare back up to him. "And let's not forget; you enjoy bathing naked with silly human mikos."

"Just one miko," he quickly corrected. "and I cannot be blamed; she is fabulously tight." She threw her head back and moaned again when he withdrew almost completely, and entered her to the hilt once again. "I never stood a chance."

Loving her reaction; he repeated the act several times. Slowly at first, but increasing speed each time he forced himself through her tender folds. Always gentle, however.

Her eyes remained shut as she moaned her encouragement, and he was content to watch her. But when she reached out to weave her fingers into his silky strands, he paused; earning a frustrated huff for the hold up.

"You must begin entering yourself regularly to prepare yourself for me," he informed her apologetically. "I do not want it to be painful for you."

He was always so concerned about her. Hearing his gentle tone, Kagome lifted her head to take in his considerate features, and smiled.

"I could..." she offered innocently. "or, you could prepare me." His eyes hooded instantly as he kept his gaze intently on hers. Her coy smile turned wicked as she saw desire consume him. "Are you terribly busy these days, or could you squeeze me into your schedule?"

When she clamped down on him for emphasis; the groan he'd been repressing finally made its way from his throat. Answering the taunt; he resumed his previous plundering as he dipped low to pull a pert nipple between his fanged teeth.

She used her grip in his hair to hold him to her breast, and he used that talented tongue she was now familiar with to stimulate her nerve endings in two places at once. The clashing of power intensified in both erogenous zones, and she could tell she wasn't the only one affected by the occasional growl that escaped him.

She wasn't prepared for him to withdraw from her so suddenly, and when he did, she lifted her head to complain. But when she did, she saw him lifting his declawed index finger to his mouth. He held her eyes as the digit slipped past his cruel lips, and he made a show of removing every last drop of her arousal with that greedy tongue.

It reminded her of that night in the kitchen, and she remembered exactly how it felt when he'd licked her own finger clean, and what he'd alluded to.

In his hut earlier that evening; she'd confirmed his unspoken claims.

"How do I taste?" she asked breathlessly, and wondered if he remembered that night too.

It would appear that he did.

"Exquisite."

She sighed with impatient need when he lowered his hand between them once again. As his fingers returned to prod at her opening; he lowered his head as well to resume his attentions on her breasts.

Light sucking, and forceful licks made entry easier this time around, as he seemed to commit to memory which methods might help grant him passage later on when he would need much more assistance.

He switched to her other breast as she clawed and yanked at his hair, pulling his face closer and smashing him against her supple flesh. He was trying to restrain himself – he didn't want to scare her – but she noticed the soft snarls that managed to escape the back of his throat intermittently. She found she didn't mind them. In fact, making the fearsome demon lord lose his cool was beyond gratifying.

As he continued to pump her, she loosened up enough for him to feel comfortable adding a second digit to her tight passage. He growled as he gently forced his way in, and earned a sharp, pleasured cry at the intrusion. It only made her hold him tighter, but after given time to adjust; the sensation of being filled and stretched by him had her soon bucking into his hand, desirous of even more.

To appease her; he shifted his hand so that his clawed thumb could press on her clit without harming her. She seemed to appreciate the consideration, and ground into him as he began rubbing small circles into and around the extended flesh.

At the same time; he resumed pumping inside her - with two fingers this time - spinning several plates and doing a mighty fine job at it. When he chanced a soft bite on the tip of her nipple, she finally pulled him away by his hair.

"Sesshoumaru," she begged, holding his head in her hands. "please."

He could hear her desperation; he could smell it. But his control was on point, and he both praised and cursed it in that moment. He looked down at her apologetically.

"I will not take you."

His tone was gruff and breathy, but stern as ever. Something like hurt flashed in her eyes as they breathed heavily into each other.

"Because you're a demon?"

He knew what she was asking, and he didn't blame her. He'd given her more than enough reason to doubt his intentions, to suspect his misgivings as having to do with their most obvious of differences. But that wasn't why.

"You are not ready for me," he explained, still panting. He saw the counter on her tongue, so he clarified, "Not like this."

They had to wait until he was human again, but not because he found fraternizing unseemly. Not anymore.

It was for her own protection.

It was going to be difficult enough for her in his other form, and his demon body was for experienced riders only. Not to mention – and he hated to admit it - he was not entirely confident he could control himself with her just yet. He promised he would never bring her harm, and he couldn't ensure her safety at the moment.

"But I need you."

His eyes softened as his reckless desire tempered, and he leaned closer.

"You have me." After assuring her that; he closed the remaining inches between them, and slanted his lips carefully over hers.

He tried to ease her fears and worries with his gentle, albeit fang-filled mouth. And though he'd soothed her anxieties some; her troubles were far from extinguished. Neither were his, but he would deal with them tomorrow. For now, he let himself enjoy the power he coaxed from her, and tempered with his own, and how it put all of their previous encounters to shame. It would be hard to go back, after this...

When he parted from her; he started drifting lower down her body. Before he retreated; her most urgent fear couldn't help from escaping before her brain could give the go-ahead.

"Is Rin going to be okay?"

There was something he wasn't telling her. Something was bothering him. But when he let his guard slip for just a moment; the pain in his eyes made her wish she hadn't asked it. Not yet, at least.

He clearly needed her comfort right now. She was supposed to grant him reprieve, no matter how brief. They could deal with the world tomorrow.

He gazed up at her sadly before schooling his mask back into place.

"We shall see."

And just in case she had any follow up questions; he immediately descended onto her freshly shaved mound, and tested the new smoothness against the top of his tongue.

Hands clenched blissfully in silvery white strands as she urged him closer, and he resumed fucking her with his impressively long fingers.

With the addition of being filled; he'd managed to bring her to climax with his mouth even faster than last time. He was going to enjoy beating his time over and over again until he was forced to start clocking laps instead of speed, but not yet.

As she waited to come down from her explosive release; she trembled in the aftermath and waited for her vision to clear. She barely registered as he lifted himself out of the hot spring, and threw on only his hakama as he went to collect her.

He lifted her gently off of his pelt, and wrapped her in the towel she had brought with her. He didn't bother dressing her, but had no problem grabbing the rest of their things and carrying her comfortably in his arms back to her hut.

Inuyasha was still in his hut, with Rin and maybe the others, and that was where she assumed he was going. So when he gently deposited her onto her futon and ensured himself of her comfort; it was selfish of her to reach out and grab desperately at his arm.

"Don't go," she begged. In the darkness she couldn't make out his confused expression from above her.

"Go?" he asked, and removed the pelt from his shoulders. He tossed it carelessly aside with his haori and her clothing.

"I have no plans to 'go.'"

A wide, hopeful smile lit up her face, that despite the dark; he could make out just fine.

"You're going to sleep here?"

He stretched over her, moving from his crouching position at her side to loom over the length of her body with his own. On his hands and knees; his face hovered just beneath hers as he looked up at her.

"I have no plans to sleep."

A deep sigh escaped her as he lowered himself enough to press his sinful lips into the hollow of her throat. Instinctively; her hands slid into his glorious hair, and he began kissing a purposeful path down to her breasts.

After bestowing eager affection to her tightened, rosy peaks - to a very enthusiastic reception - he resumed his path southward, and she managed another breathless question.

"What are you going to do?" Anticipation and excitement and fear and nervousness all combined to make a dizzying scent as he kissed his way down to her navel. Mixed with the tang of her arousal – both new and spent – was enough to bleed all the gold from his eyes, making them glow bright red in the darkness of the hut.

She could easily make them out now, and this time when she looked down her body into those feral depths; she gasped, and shuddered... but not out of terror.

He held her gaze, and answered her with a very serious expression.

"I am going to make you cum until you lose consciousness."

His threatening tone demanded her fear, and he actually had it for the brief second he held her eyes as he lowered his lips to continue trailing kisses down below her navel. But when he broke her gaze to venture further, she knew only ecstasy. Lust coiled tightly the further he descended, and her excitement surged as he used his deft hands to pry her smooth outer lips open enough to expose his treasure.

And when he wrapped his lips around it at last; pure, mindless relief melted away every last ounce of her tension. All worry and fear was removed at the behest of his firm, soft mouth and dexterous tongue. She instinctively attempted to thrust her hips forward, but his unmatched power kept her helplessly in place.

She didn't mind it; she liked being helpless for him. She wanted it. Because she knew he was more than capable of helping her even better than she could help herself, and she trusted him completely... even more than she trusted herself.

In his hands, she knew she was safe and cared for and looked after, and that's where she wanted to be. He would do what was best for her, even if she couldn't seem to manage it herself. The way she saw it, she was better off in his sturdy hands.

He'd made good on his threat, and it wasn't terribly long before the miko was asleep in his arms – and he hoped well-worn enough to sleep soundly, without her compassionate subconscious torturing her even as she slumbered.

He knew he would not be afforded the luxury, but luckily; he didn't need sleep tonight. So instead, he watched Kagome, and tried to keep his thoughts with her until she awoke once more.

She was sleeping peacefully enough for the both of them, and he was immensely satisfied in that. He stripped her of her excess and clutter so hopefully she could start clean tomorrow.

But something in the back of his mind that he refused to yet acknowledge told him that was impossible.

Things were different now, and nothing would ever, ever be the same.