Chapter 8: For her Sake

"You're in pain," Sesshomaru says.

"Just a bit. I'll heal."

Sesshomaru nods as he considers, 'Perhaps I should bring her some sake. I know it can numb pain.'

Jaken returns later with 2 fish.

Sesshomaru seeing him calls him, "Jaken."

"Hai."

"Watch Avalon. I will return soon. Do not fail me again or I shall kill you."

Jaken gulps and nods his head.

Sesshomaru leaps into the air and flies off. Avalon lets out a sigh watching him fly off through the canopy of trees till she can't see the speck in the sky.

Jaken skewers the fish and places them around the fire. Avalon rests against Sesshomaru's dragon who will eventually be known as Ah-Un. She lets her eyes drift close as she listens to the water flowing in the nearby stream and eventually she nods off.
"Hey the fish are done."

Avalon slowly opens her eyes to the squeaky voice. Blinking a few times she goes to grab one of the fish but stops when her body rebels. The pain flares in her back, abdomen, and shoulder causing her to fall back down against the dragon. "Jaken can you please hand me one."

Jaken looks at her for a moment. 'She is asking? Is she really that hurt?' Jaken grabs one of the fish and hands it to her.

"Arigato."

Avalon sits against the dragon eating her fish. She has a dull throbbing in her shoulder when she isn't moving it. Her back and abdominal pain doesn't even register till she moves. When only bones are left she tosses it into the fire. She closes her eyes. 'The more I sleep, the quicker I'll heal plus I am really tired.' She thinks as she drifts back to sleep.

It's late day by the time Sesshomaru returns. He lands looking down at Avalon seeing her asleep, he's alarmed. 'Could she have fallen prey to konsui ((昏睡) coma)?'

"Avalon!"

Avalon awakes instantly. "Oh, Sesshomaru what is it?"

Sesshomaru's worry evaporates. "I have something for you."

Avalon's eyes search him and sees the bottle he holds in his hand along with a small sack. Avalon raises an eyebrow. "Sake?"

Sesshomaru uses his other hand to pull something from his front and hands it to her.

Avalon looks at the proffered item. Her eyes light up. "A comb." She takes the comb moving to brush her hair but Sesshomaru stops her. She gives him a questioning look. "Put it away for now. We are leaving for a little while." He grabs her around the waist and sits her on the dragons saddle. He secures the bottle and sack to the dragon, grabbing the reins. Jaken moves to put out the fire. "Jaken you will stay here."

Jaken moves to protest but thinks better of it and nods.

Sesshomaru walks guiding his dragon thought the woods.

"Where are we going?"

"To a hot springs. It will aid in your healing."

"Sesshomaru, though I appreciate your concern I don't need to go to a hot springs."

"We are going," he says with finality

"Well you better keep your hands to yourself."

"Hands to myself?"

"Yeah, no more trying to get between my legs."

Sesshomaru chuckles. "I will refrain while you heal."

She says, "fine," while crossing her arms and hisses when she pulls too hard on her left arm.

After traveling for a little while Sesshomaru stops and lifts Avalon off the dragon carrying her bridal style walking until the hot springs comes into view setting her down. Sesshomaru leaves to grab the sake and cups as Avalon strips of her clothing off and steps into the water.

Sesshomaru quickly returns setting the sake and cups on the edge of the water stripping and joining Avalon in the water.

"Sesshomaru are you sure sake is a good idea?'

"Why wouldn't it be?"

"Well..." She blushes a little. "I've never drank before."

"Impossible."

"I haven't," she says a little flustered

"Why?" He arches an incredulous eyebrow

Avalon looks down and with a dismal voice says, "my father and mother were killed by someone who was drunk."

She thinks back to the night when the officer knocked on her door to tell her that a drunk driver had killed her parents. She was watching TV when she heard a knock on the door. She walked over and answered the door. "Can I help you?" She was looking at a female officer with brown hair and pale skin.

The woman looked at her with a sadness that Avalon couldn't place. "Is this the McLeon residence?"

Avalon answered hesitantly, "Yes."

"Then you must be Avalon. I'm sorry to inform you, there has been an accident."

"You mean like I need to get to the hospital to be by my parents side right?" she asked hopefully

"No miss. I'm sorry they didn't make it."

She looked behind the officer for the hidden cameras, sure it was a joke. "Miss?"

"Where is the camera? Who put you up to this? Was it Ray?"

"I'm sorry miss. This isn't a joke."

Avalon looked up at the officer and saw the pain behind her started to flow down her cheeks. "No, it can't be," she whispered. She was only 17. She still needed her parents. They were the only people she trusted.

"You are an orphan," he states simply. "Is that why you make no effort to return to this North America?"

"Yes partly," Avalon whispers.

"Partly?"

"I never found anyone to care about afterwards either."

"Brothers, sisters?

"Ie"

"Friends?"

She shakes her head sadly.

"Are you so unlikeable?"

She laughs a bitter chuckle. "What do you think?"

"Debate-able." Sesshomaru grabs the sake and pours two cups and hands one to Avalon.

She takes the cup offered to her, taking a sip and sputtering at the burning and bitter liquid. "Kami that's horrible!"

Sesshomaru chuckles. "Drink." He pushes the cup back up to her mouth.

She glares at him but takes another swig swallowing the bitter liquid. "Ehhh"

"Again," he smirks drinking his own cup down and pushing her to finish hers.

"Fine!" She holds her breath and swallows the rest of the liquid in one go. "There." She lets her hand drop holding the cup. He picks the cup up and fills it again, thinking that he will find out more about her if she is drunk. "How does a drunkard kill anyone but themselves from stupidity?"

Avalon thinks for a moment, 'he won't know what a car is but a cart yeah.' "He ran into their cart with his cart."

"This kills humans? Pathetic fragile creatures." Although his heart is not in the statement as he speaks.

"Not always."

"You would be dead if I had not come and healed you. How could you possibly survive on your own?" He refills his own cup and drinks.

"I told you I need a weapon," she pushes

"And how would you use this weapon? Waving it around and hoping that your enemies believed you could fight." He tops her cup off with more sake. "Drink."

She huffs but tips the cup and drinks. "I can fight. I didn't wave my sword around with Ojike. I stabbed him"

"But not where it counted," he said pridefully. "But you cannot expect more from a ningen onna."

"You..you..ah" She turns around to look away from Sesshomaru. She whispers, "I expect more from myself"

"More?" He raises the bottle to her.

Avalon can feel her reactions are slowing significantly but also the pain dulling. She hoped with more, her pain would be gone. She holds her cup up for him to fill, turning back to face him.

He fills her cup and continues, "if your sensei had taught you properly, you would have aimed for his neck or the belly where blood loss would render them useless. Where did you train?"

"I would have loved to hit him in one of those spots but he was protecting his body with me as his shield. I can't exactly stab through myself now can I? As for where I trained it was Aurora."

"As I said you were improperly trained." He sips his cup. "What is this Aurora?"

"It's a village."

He crosses his arms thinking. His own vision is slightly blurred from the heat of the hot springs and the sake. "There are no men that have asked for your hand? You are very old to be an unattached onna."

"Where I'm from we have to date first and I was never interested in dating."

"Date? Do you prefer females?"

"Hmm date, is like courting and though females have beauty they have never appealed to me.I much prefer you." Avalon covers her lips. She can't believe she said that.

"Date," he mulls the word over. "As if this Sesshomaru would take a ningen for more than pleasure. Odd that no one would ask for your hand." He blinks staring at his fingers going in and out of focus. "Unusually strong sake. Drink!" He spills the liquid into her cup

"You are so you Sessh." She downs what is in her cup

"Sessh?" He refills his cup. "Watch your tongue. I may be..." he burps covering his mouth, "intoxicated but..." he shakes his head to clear his vision. "I could still kill you."

She leans in towards him. "Ah Sesshomaru-sama, Sessh, it's better than fluffy." She giggles as she jumps back but stumbles and falls backwards into the water going under. She flails her hands not being able to figure out up from down.

He lifts her out by the top of the head and plops her in his lap, wrapping his arm around her waist, again becoming pensive. "Strange female," he huffs drinking from the bottle. "Why father would love something so tender." He tickles her sides with his claws. "Would it be worth bedding you? Or would I still be hungry afterwards? Perhaps you would be an appetizer. I would send for Sakura for the full meal and Yuri for desert."

"You say that, but you have no idea what I could do for you in bed." She laughs thinking of all the porno she's watched and wonders how many things he has participated in.

He only breaks into laughter. "With all of your experience? What do you know about pleasuring men?"

"I know more than you think obviously." She hiccups and starts laughing.

He snorts. "Like a puppy saying she is a wolf. No Sakura and Yuri will take over in the morning and then I will be satiated.

"Who said anything about me doing anything with you tonight?"

"The bottle is empty." He shakes it up and down and throws it to the side. "I must go to Jaken," he stumbles, dropping her back in the water. "I will send for them all. They will teach you."

She reaches and grabs his hand. "Uhhh, will you let me try something?"

"Jaken!"

"Shush!"

He stands up out of the water. "Where the hell is he? Jaken! Mother has many beautiful women in her castle."

"Sesshomaru, you're drunk."

"This Sesshomaru does not get drunk." He leans forward and sniffs her mouth. " you are drunk. You will practice on one of her courtiers and then come to my chambers...yes that will save time."

She becomes bold with him, her face so close to his and kisses him on the lips

"You wish to play now?"

"We can see where things lead."

"It has been sometime since I deflowered a virgin last..." he glances at Avalon although in a way, she was still innocent. "Perhaps I will allow you the honor of losing what is left of your virginity to me."

"Sesshomaru..."She looks into his eyes beseechingly "Can I trust if I tell you to stop, you will?"

He sits down, somewhat sobered. "It should begin with what you want. Not what you are forced to do."

She looks down and to her side, "yeah. Sesshomaru I don't know if I told you or not, but I was only 15 when I was raped. In my homeland that is young. I was still considered a child. After that I never responded to men's advances. It's why I never dated and I was never interested in women."

He pats the ground next to him, offering her a seat. "What do you want?"

"I want to be honest with you and you to be honest with me. I am interested in you a lot more than I should be, since I know you will never look at me as anything ... special. Still, you make sexual advances at me. I thought you hated my kind."

"I do. Your kind is useless." He picks up the bottle and shakes it to ensure it's empty. "I do not wish to procreate only to satiate a primal need. What do you want from this Sesshomaru?"

"How can you be sure you won't procreate if we have sex?"

"This Sesshomaru can smell when a ningen is fertile and you are not at this moment."

"Interesting, I wish for your complete honesty even if you have to swallow your pride for a little bit. Do I mean anything to you? You realize that liking one doesn't mean you have to like them all and I won't hold it against you but if I knew there was something there I would love to experience..." she gestures between their bodies "things with you."

"Physical pleasure does not require feelings of fondness. But perhaps it is here you should be looking for your value." As he speaks, his index finger lands squarely between her breasts, slightly confused at first, he jiggles his finger and watches them move, blinking to bring his world back into focus. "We need more sake."

"Do we have any?"

"It's empty. What do you want Avalon?" He pats her on the head. "Do you want to experiment?" He lays on his back staring at the stars, lacing his hands on his abdomen.

Avalon looks over at him lying there. She leans over to look him in the face. "Experiment, hmmmm hai but if I say stop we do?"

"Perhaps you should tell this Sesshomaru what you want. Specifically," he says with a smirk.

"Hmmm, well I want to explore your body first. Don't touch me yet though okay?"

Sesshomaru's intrigued by her request as it places him in a submissive role. "This Sesshomaru will allow it. For now."

Avalon reaches over placing an index finger on his forehead tracing the crescent moon. It feels like the rest of his skin. "You were born with this?"

"Hai."

She drops her fingers and moves them along his face, feeling every contour and brushing along his strips.

"Are your markings more sensitive than the rest of your skin?"

"Ie, but none touch my face."

Avalon quickly pulls her hands away and looks down ashamed. "Gomen."

"Ie, you have permission. Continue."

Avalon hesitantly puts her hands back on his cheeks and moves to brush his nose, then finally to run her finger along his lips. Sesshomaru opens his mouth at that moment and bits down on her finger to hold it in place and licks the tip. Avalon closes her eyes at the pleasurable feeling he causes her. He releases her finger. She pulls her hand back and bends down to kiss his lips. He brushes his tongue along her bottom lip asking for entrance. However Avalon has other ideas and pulls back to look at him. He lets out a quiet frustrated growl.

"No touching." she chastises. She places her hand along his neck brushing it delicately down and feels the way her fingers glide along his silky skin moving further down. She spreads her fingers as she moves them along his chest and pushes the muscles feeling the firmness. She continues her exploration down to his abdomen feeling the perfect six pack men would die for. She reaches her right hand down and takes his flaccid penis around the shaft in her hand and rubs her thumb along the foreskin covering the head. Sesshomaru releases a slight hiss when she grabs him. She starts to pump him attempting to get a reaction from his cock. She feels disappointed that he's not reacting to her touch.

"Am I truly that unappealing?"

"I have seen more beautiful among my kind."

"Shush, you're mean." She crosses her hands over her chest, feeling overly hurt by his words. She goes to get up.

Sesshomaru reaches for her, grabbing her around the waist pulling her back down "Where are you going?"

"I'm unappealing apparently, so I was going to grab my clothing and leave your highness's sight," she spat bitterly. When Sesshomaru still holds her, she says in a tight tone, "Let me go."

"This Sesshomaru cannot allow an intoxicated onna to wander alone."

"Well you don't have to hold me either." She struggles to get away from him but he just brings her to his chest holding her against his body.

"Rest Avalon. We will leave in the morning."

Avalon huffs in his embrace but resolves to sleep even if he was holding her against her will, it did feel nice to be held by him. With that happy thought she drifts off to sleep.

Avalon awakes shivering, laying naked on the ground while Sesshomaru rests against a tree clothed. She moves to rub her arms to help bring warmth back to them. Feeling the pounding in her head and the ache in her shoulder.

"You're awake?"

"Yeah but I need water."

Sesshomaru points behind them at the hotspring.

"To drink," she says flatly. She searches the ground for her clothing. 'He could have at least covered me.' She grabs her juban and kimono wrapping them like a robe around herself. Avalon looks over at him in the dim light of the moon. He is beautiful as ever and she feels like a haphazard disaster. She shakes her head and instantly regrets it. She puts her head down into her hands. "Sesshomaru please, can you get me some water to drink."

"We will return to camp once you are dressed, then you will be able to drink." He gets up to help her dress being careful of her left arm. She then moves to put on the sling to keep her arm stable. All the while her head is killing her. She gathers the sake bottle and cups. 'At least I can carry water with me now'.

Sesshomaru lifts her up carrying her bridal style. She becomes mesmerized with the way the moon reflects off of his skin and seeing his lips, she can't seem to stop herself. She bends herself forward to kiss him on the lips. Sesshomaru is momentarily stunned by her boldness. He lips remain unyielding under hers. Avalon pulls back disappointed that he would not return her kiss.

"Avalon." Sesshomaru moves to set her down, letting her stand.

"Sesshomaru?" She worries she has pushed him too far but she can't see why since he's been going after her for the past several days. Why the change?

"Get on the dragon." Avalon nods, still unsure of what she did. Avalon climbs on when she is settled Sesshomaru grabs the reins walking back to camp. She wants to ask what's wrong but she doesn't know how to say it. Sesshomaru leads them back to camp where Jaken still sleeps. She slides off the dragon grabbing the bottle. She slinks off towards the stream feeling depressed. 'I'm finally willing to do something with him and he rejects me. Why?'

Sesshomaru calls, "Jaken."

"My Lord you've returned."

"Go gather wood for the fire."

"Hai right away." Jaken scurries off into the woods.

Meanwhile Avalon arrives at the stream bending down, she submerges the bottle in the water filling it. She lifts it to her lips drinking greedily, knowing most of her headache is due to dehydration. Once the bottle is half empty she plunges it back beneath the surface. Pulling it from the water, she makes her way back to camp. She lays herself down next to the fire. She turns to look over at Sesshomaru who has sat himself beneath a tree at the edge of the clearing, looking at the sky. Avalon sighs and rolls back over and let herself drift off to sleep.

Jaken comes back laden with wood, depositing some in the fire and most beside it. Jaken finds a comfortable spot and falls asleep.

Avalon starts shivering in her sleep. Sesshomaru notices it and comes over removing his pelt as he walks, positioning it over Avalon. Slowly her shaking ceases. Looking her over he wonders if he should find warmer clothing for Avalon as fall will be turning to winter soon. He sits pondering the strange things that have happened. He lets his mind wander for the rest of the night.

Avalon wakes when the sun starts to rise and light filters through the forest canopy hitting her eyes. She sits up feeling something roll down her. She looks down and sees Sesshomaru's pelt pooled around her waist. She looks to her left seeing him. "Morning Sesshomaru-sama."

Sesshomaru nods his 's considered all night and decides, she needed time away from him. She's too eager to have his affections and he cannot afford a love sick onna following him. He remembers the old miko who offered her shelter. He will leave her there.

"Jaken."

Jaken hearing his name shot up. "Hai."

"Find food for Avalon. Once she has eaten, we will be on the move."

Jaken nods and head off looking for food. Avalon can feel that the air is weird. She still feels, she erred last night. She can think of nothing to say, so she picks up Sesshomaru's pelt, lays it over her right arm and shuffles over to get closer to Sesshomaru. She hands him back his pelt. "Arigato."

Again Sesshomaru merely nods to acknowledge her. Avalon presses her lips together. Something's definitely off. Jaken comes back with berries and hands them over to Avalon. She slowly eats them. Her stomach is in knots, she can't seem to finish. She sets them down.

Sesshomaru asks in a cold tone, "Are you finished?"

"Hai." She answers disheartened. 'He's being too cold.'

Sesshomaru gets up. "Come."

Avalon moves to get up on the dragon as Jaken grabs the reins and follows Sesshomaru. She quickly realizes they are heading back towards the village.

"Why are we going back to Kaede's village?"

Sesshomaru does not answer and just continues to walk while Jaken exclaims, "Do not question Sesshomaru-sama."

Avalon huffs and crosses her arms. She's sure she would find out soon enough. It should only take about an hour or so to get there. They arrived at the edge of the village to a similar greeting. Men are ready with weapons but Kaede's already there waiting.

"Avalon, you will be staying here."

"Nani,naze?" She doesn't move from her mount.

"Come."

Avalon reluctantly gets off the dragon. "This is a mistake."

"Miko, you will ensure this onna's safety or your people will pay the price."

"Sesshomaru-sama you can't order people around. She isn't your servant."

Sesshomaru looks at Avalon with a deadly glare. "Jaken you will stay here as well to ensure Avalon's safety."

"He can't stay, he's a demon." Avalon argues.

"ONNA! Cease your arguments this Sesshomaru's word is final."

"I will do no such thing! You don't know what a mistake you are making by leaving me here."

"This Sesshomaru makes no mistake."
"Why are you wanting to leave me here?"

"You are unnecessary."

"But you are leaving me in the care of this village. If I was truly so worthless nazena no (why not) leave me in the woods?"

"This Sesshomaru need not answer you."

"You don't think I know what I'm talking about. You think this has all been a big guessing game for me? Perhaps if I start telling you of your past you might believe me."

"Proceed."

"Bokusenō."

"You may have heard rumors."

"Your mother living in the clouds in a castle, she looks very much like you but she only has one slash mark on each cheek but she has the same moon on her forehead as you."

"All things you could learn with enough determination."

Avalon presses her lips together. "I sure planned this out well didn't I? Researching everything I could find out about you, getting raped and it just so happens you saved me? Believe what you will, just don't expect me here when you get back."

Sesshomaru is outraged by her audacity. "You will be here when I return."

"This village holds nothing for me. I have no reason to stay."

"Jaken will stay to assure you remain here."

"You don't control me Sesshomaru," she says in a dark tone. She turns to walk toward the village. Sesshomaru grabs her injured shoulder to spin her around. Avalon exclaimes, "Ahhh!" in pain from the jarring of her left shoulder.

Sesshomaru nearly growls out, "Do not disrespect this Sesshomaru."

Avalon looks directly into his eyes saying in a monotone, "As you wish"

She turns her back on him taking on the stands of his late father . "Sesshomaru Obiru mamoru Dareka?"(帯びる 守る 誰か /Do you have someone to protect)

Sesshomaru's eyes widen momentarily then narrow but Avalon cannot see since she is looking away.

"Where did you hear that?"

Avalon looks over her shoulder and smirks at him. "I know many things Sesshomaru. Do you still intend to leave me here?"

"I'm going."

Avalon screams in frustration leaning down she grabs a rock turns around and throws it as hard as she can at the back of his head. Sesshomaru turns and catches it then crushes it turning it into rubble. He levels a glare at Avalon. Avalon doesn't look away, she is seething with rage. In a dead tone she says "Baka." Avalon turns her back and starts walking towards the village. Sesshomaru is in shock, how could the onna be so defiant? He rushes to grab her spinning her around to face him. "Have you no sanity?"

Avalon locks eyes with him a fierceness he's never seen. "Not when it comes to you."

Sesshomaru scoffs turning into his signature blue ball of light and blasting out of sight. 'Jaken and the dragon will stay to watch over her and if the miko fails in her duties, I will slaughter the village in retribution.' He leaves behind a very pissed Avalon and a very distressed Jaken.

Avalon turns back towards the village and screams as loud as she can as tears stream down her cheeks. She glares at the gathered villagers, "Stop looking at me!" She starts to head toward the village. She knows what she wants and she knows who she wants to see. The villagers exclaim, "Lady Kaede what do we do?"

Kaede responds with a shallow voice, "Do? I have been charged with caring for the girl. That is what I will do." 'Though I think the girl does not intend to say long, this will be a bother.'

Kaede catches up to Avalon leaving the men behind. Jaken stays rooted to his spot with tears sparkling in his eyes trying to hold them back hoping beyond hope his master will come back. Finally seeing that he will not return her scuttles over to the rubble of the rock exclaiming as he kicks it, "See what you did wench…" his foot sizzles when he makes contact dropping his nintojo, he grabs his foot and holds it in his hand, while blowing on it. 'What is this?' He looks over his shoulder at the retreating forms of the villagers and Avalon.

A/N I thank my beta for her patients Elohiniar. I don't own Inuyasha. Rumiko Takahashi still has not gotten back to me on our negotiations probably because I have just been asking the air. Please read and review. thanks everyone.