He glances over his shoulder only for the inu-youkai he was facing to slam him against the ground. He lands with a thud on an already bleeding stomach and rolls, reaching for his opponent's neck, his hand lighting green. The other one leaps backwards flying into the air as Sesshomaru dashes back after him.
"Distractions Sesshomaru!" he taunts Sesshomaru from a corner. "You can't afford them now!"
Sesshomaru doesn't speak. He flies at him again, with his arm outstretched, then flicks his whip to close the gap. The youkai spins, dodging it, sending his own, looping it around Sesshomaru's ankle, sending him back first into the wall. "This may need to wait, Avalon." He hacks the whip off his ankle and flies after the youkai again. The other youkai dodges him, flying left and right.
"You're off balance!" he taunts Sesshomaru.
Sesshomaru snarls and grabs the youkai's neck, only for them to take turns slamming each other into the walls.
"Alright, is it alright if I watch?" she asks gingerly.
Sesshomaru's eyes bleed red, dilating, his skin changing from pale to white, then covers in fur as he smiles changing into his true form. The other follows and the two dogs face off. He lunges for the neck of his opponent, while the other attempts to leap onto his back. He's off balance because of his missing leg, but compensates by putting more weight into his back legs. Flipping the dog off his back and rushing to pin it down.
Avalon shakes her head eyeing the dogs fighting. She keeps her distance from them, holding the bottle of blood to her chest. She worries that Sesshomaru is pushing himself too hard, but she doesn't want to embarrass him by interfering. Her eyes flick to the satchel full of vials wondering how many are left. She carefully makes her way over to check the bag and finds three unused vials.
She smiles that he hasn't used them all and goes back to the area she was in before watching the dog fight. As she watches, the words of Ainu echo in her head. 'How many has he taken to that futon before her?' "I'll be back," she says happily as a devilish grin brandishes her lips. She walks down the hall till she gets to Sesshomaru's room. She stands in front of the futon discontent filling her and the sword manifests in her hand. She pushes her reiki into the blade and slashes down at the futon tearing it apart as feathers and shredded material goes all over the room.
"Much better." She sighs happily. She walks back to the training area to watch the fight continue.
By the end of the fight, Sesshomaru finally manages to gain somewhat of an upperhand, by rolling onto his back, then shooting up and grabbing the underside of the other white dog's neck, throwing him on the ground. The dog yelps in defeat and they both change back into humanoid form, covered in bruises with gashes galore. Sesshomaru's shoulder bleeds, as well as his stomach and hip and his back has new bruises on it. He approaches Avalon curiously. "Was someone bothering you? I sensed your reiki." Sweat drips down his muscled chest and abs, mixed with blood.
Avalon purrs, "Ainu," as she offers him the flask.
He takes it drinking down the liquid. "Shika blood?" He quickly finishes what is in the flask.
Avalon nods. "Hai, it tastes rather sweet, wouldn't you agree?" she eyes him slyly
He pecks her cheek, still breathing heavily. "Find two more," he tells the other dog demon.
"I'm not up for another round," the other one protests.
"Then three," he focuses back on Avalon. "You tasted it?"
"Hai, I was very curious," she purrs as her right hand glides over his sweat soaked chest.
"Leave," he says to the demon in the room. "You are being very bold with this Sesshomaru."
"Am I any bolder than Ainu?"
"She said something to you," he says placidly.
"She said many things to me including that I am your concubine," she says seductively. "Is that what I am?" She rubs her other hand over his bleeding shoulder and brings her blood covered hand to her mouth. She smears the blood on her lips like lipstick, before plunging her finger in her mouth and sucking on it.
"Have you been into the sake?" he asks her, confused at her strange behavior.
Avalon shakes her head as her eyes lower. "What did you talk to your mother about while I slept Sesshomaru? Hmmm?" She wraps her arms around him and let his blood and sweat smear and soak into her kimono as she licks his neck.
He pushes her off of him, taking her by the arm and leading her back to his room, getting annoyed with her behavior. He takes the stairs in one bound, then brings her back to his room, closing the door behind them. "Clean your face."
"Mmm." She shrugs and goes to the basin to dip a cloth in and washes the blood of her face. "Happy?"
"That conversation was private." He takes a towel and dries off his stomach, inspecting the cut and his shoulder.
"Not so private that a servant knows what was talked about. You intend to take an inu-youkai as a wife and have me as a mistress," she accuses.
He throws the towel violently into the corner of the room. "A human cannot rule by my side and you cannot give me a pure-blooded heir." His fist clenches at his side. "I asked to have the bond broken."
"And how did that go? Hmmm?" Avalon spits out bitterly.
"How do you think, Avalon? It's still intact."
"Oh, too bad," she patranizes him. "And why can't a human rule by your side?"
He suddenly notices the feathers on the floor and the shredded bed, then looks up furiously at Avalon. "Disrespect...again?"
"It reminded me of Ainu and every other woman you have slept with. It can be replaced." She shrugs unfazed by his furious looks.
"You knew you were not the first!" he yells back at her, "and you will not be the last either!"
"Oh ouch, that hurts." She clutches her heart and swoons. "I did not know your previous conquests walked these halls Sesshomaru! I did not know you hated me so much that you wanted to be rid of me!" Real tears slip from her eyes. "You have no idea how much I care about you and how much I hurt right now!" She turns her back on him.
He quiets at her confession and says, "you were not meant to learn of that conversation. I am who I am Avalon. If you know me as you think you do, you know this cannot work between us." 'Can it? She gave herself to this Sesshomaru. Do you remember the dream?'
"If the bond could be broken, what do you think that would do to me? Would you even care? My love for you has nothing to do with this bond." She confesses, falling to the ground on her knees.
"Love?" His mouth goes dry. "You do not know this Sesshomaru."
Avalon covers her mouth in shock. She said that word but she resolves to just say what has been on her mind. "I feel for you. I would die for you. I have fallen for you. I feel how I feel," she says pleadingly.
"No," he resists her, despite sharing her dream and how the warmth had spread through his heart. "I cannot love humans." He kneels in front of her. "I cannot return your love." He reaches for her hand, holding her palm. "I asked for you, so you can find someone who will return your affections. I cannot love you."
"Can't or won't even try?" she whispers out.
"Do not ask me to answer that. I cannot love you. You cannot give me the heir I would need. I…" he clenches his teeth. "I did not want you to hear this conversation."
"So your solution is to make me a mistress and you get a wife and the kid you want?" she accuses with pain in her voice.
"What other solution is there? You will not be respected. This is not your world. This is my world and there is no place in it for a human, a miko."
"But it is my world now. You know how strong I am. I will force them to respect me. You want an heir then take a...a inu-youkai to your bed for that purpose alone." Her heart hurts giving that admission. She feels so broken inside saying it. "But don't...don't think you can put me in a corner to be used for your pleasure. I would rather die. I am no mistress."
"Arrogant," he spits out at her. "There are many much stronger than you are. There is nothing attractive about a female that courts death. She would be my wife and the bond would compel both of us back to my bed. How am I any different than the ones that have forced you before? You did not come to my bed willingly. You came because I put my yoki inside of you and you could not resist. If this Sesshomaru did not at least try, what am I? No better than Naraku, than the Samurai? The one when you were fifteen?"
"No you are not like them! Why would you think that? The bond wasn't with my consent but if you have asked I would have given myself willingly to you. You could have talked to me!"
"And break what has already been broken before you have had a chance to heal? To remove your last comfort?! You should appreciate I tried to free you from this fate. I asked for you, to free you."
"I don't want to be free from you and now…" Avalon swallows the painful searing in her chest. "And now that you know it can't be broken and I can't be free, you make me your whore?" she whispers.
"No," he says firmly, still breathing heavily as he brings her hands to his heart. "I have no such plans for now. What compromise would soothe your heart? Until after Naraku is dealt with, you will be the only female in my shredded bed. I will not take another until after then."
"And then what? My fate is sealed?" she says looking up into his eyes as tears pour down her face. "I am to what? Be happy?" Her head drops as her body gives out on her
Sesshomaru takes a knife out from his ankle, underneath his hakama and puts it in her hand, bringing it up to his neck. "Then take my life and you will be free. I will not stop you."
"I could never kill you. I could never do that. I want you to be mine, why would ending your life help me. I could kill myself and free you but I could never harm you," Avalon's hand shakes trying to get her hand away from the knife.
"You must live," he tells her firmly, kissing her, throwing the knife down. "I have lived for 900 years. I wanted to free you, Onaga. Not because I thought less of you, because you must live and I cannot love you. I cannot be the one you love."
"You don't get to choose who I love, Sesshomaru. Live with me or I will have no will to go on," she says crashing her lips to his.
"And when your life is threatened because of me? And I cannot protect you and you cannot protect yourself?" He lifts her chin up. "What then? Love is weakness. You have experienced enough pain. They will come in droves to kill you, to kill any hanyou I sire, to kill this Sesshomaru."
"Inuyasha lives, he is a hanyou. We can't know what will happen. Love isn't a weakness it is strength. To have something to protect is a most potent force."
"I will protect you," he grips the back of her neck, "I cannot love you and the hanyou only lives because mother willed it. I can't."
"So protect me, keep me by your side. I don't want to go anywhere," she says desperately, wrapping her arms around his neck and shoulders.
"You don't understand." He returns the distress of her embrace with his own. "You will never be safe. I can't free you." He kisses the inside of her neck. "I can't love you. I will not take another, Avalon. Not until after Naraku is defeated."
"Are you saying that to convince me or yourself?" she asks him gently.
"I had no plans to take a mate now. To sire children now. I have not found one worthy to bare me children that will rival my power. Onaga," he mutters against her ear. "I will not look until after Naraku is defeated."
Avalon head drops defeated, there would be no convincing him now. "I will submit for now," she says distantly.
He knows he's hurt her and it makes his own chest ache. "I have taken no other while you have been here." He tries to comfort Avalon. "You will be by my side until Naraku is defeated and the only one in my bed." He picks up a handful of feathers and drops them on Avalon's head. "Is this your handiwork?"
"It is. Can you tell Ainu to fuck off?" she asks meekly.
He takes another handful dumping it on her head. "Fukko offo?" Sesshomaru pushes her into the pile of feathers, jumping on her waist, and tickling her stomach to relieve the tension between them.
Avalon laughs. "Ummm...word from the future and my own native tongue but everyone knows what it means in my time. Basically I would love for her to go away but it's a much stronger implication: burn in hell, die, be tortured over a bed of knives. I think you get my drift here."
He nods, knowingly. "Fuko offo for destroying this Sesshomaru's bed." He grabs shreds of the material and the grey goosefeathers and covers her in them, turning her on her stomach and tickling the dips in her knees.
"No, for calling me a whore and telling me that I've seen more action than a watering hole," Avalon says in a huff, not amused, remembering her words
Sesshomaru stops abruptly and pulls Avalon up by the arm. "Why would she say that? Dammit!" He slams his fist sideways against the wall. He attempts to pick feathers out of Avalon's hair and face but she's covered in them now and so is he. "She will be dealt with. Mother would not appreciate her repeating what was said in private."
"Well it was kind of her words that made me hate the futon so much," she says lightly.
"The futon can be replaced." He pulls Avalon onto his lap. "But it will lack your scent and this Sesshomaru will have to break it in. I wonder if his mate would help?"
"How many females have you slept with in the castle?" Avalon asks curiously.
A guilty look crosses his face and he starts tallying them up on his fingers, naming names under his breath, going through his hand three or four times before he gives up. "Many."
"How many could you smell on that futon?" Avalon waves at the mess all over the room.
"Only you. I have not been back to this castle in a century. It has been more than a year since I have bed a woman before you. I have been searching for power, not pleasure."
"Well you said many had been in that bed too many to count?" she edges
"I am 900 years old-"
Avalon leans forward kissing him, silencing him. "The new futon will be easy to count. It will just be me and you," she says lovingly.
"We will make Ainu clean this mess." He kisses Avalon tenderly, licking the roof of her mouth. "You slept well?"
"Yes and no and then yes?" Avalon shrugs. "I just feel like my dreams were all over the place."
"Do you remember your dream?"
"Sometimes. I remember part of last night, I remember Naraku commanding me to…..but then I don't know it's weird," Avalon confesses. "Either I remember my dreams or I don't. They don't usually break up. Did you have something to do with that?" she asks curiously.
"No," he keeps a straight face. 'She doesn't remember.' He picks more feathers from her nose. "What will your punishment be?" He changes the subject to something else. "For destroying your mate's bed?"
"Definitely, I would have to make my mate break in the new bed with me," she says nodding her head. She smiles, looking up at him slyly.
"He would want her in a new position, but he would first have to remind her of submission!" He grabs Avalon by the ankle knocking her over and starts tickling her again, this time ripping at the sides of the kimono to get at her skin. He goes for her ribs, her sides, and her groin.
Avalon laughs squirming around trying to get out of his grasp. Her stomach starts hurting because she laughs so hard "Please stop...please stop!" she says between laughing and struggling to get away.
He flips her on her stomach and sits on her back going for her armpits. "Submit Onaga!" He can't help but let his lips twitch.
"I submit!" she says between laughing and throwing her feet out like a frog.
He ceases tickling Avalon and leans over her ear. "Then you will submit and bathe this Sesshomaru."
Avalon takes a few deep breaths to catch her breath. "Happily." She turns her head to steal a kiss from him.
He kisses her back, still perching on her lower back, but finally gets up. "I heard another rumor early this morning, about your Hikari." He rises off the floor, opening his trunk to remove a kimono.
Avalon gets up looking at what is left of the kimono she was wearing. "What did you hear?" she asks, walking over to retrieve a yukata to wear to the bathing area and a kimono to come back to the room in.
"It seems someone has taken a liking to her. A young man," Sesshomaru says mischievously.
"Oh?" Avalon looks at him curiously. "And who might this young youkai be?"
"His name is Doumaru, he goes up to here?" He can't avoid grinning when he points to his hips. "He's just into his eighties." He leads her to the washroom.
"Hiromaru's boy?"
"Yes." He opens the door to the bathing area bringing her in. "Apparently he found her last night and has decided she must be his."
"He seems like a mischievous boy, it's cute."
Sesshomaru unties his hakama and lets them drop on the floor, then steps into the water sighing at the heat and how it relaxes his muscles. He thinks of the picture of himself on the wall in Avalon's room and what she has said of him. "Would the one I was in the future love a human?"
"Hai, he is quite capable of loving a human."
"You base my actions off of this?"
"No, I just know individuals can change. I have hope for the future. Is that so wrong?"
"When did this great change happen?" he asks, half sarcastically, half interested, not wanting to cause her pain than he already has.
Avalon disrobes and joins him in the bath. "It was gradual. It was not just like you woke up one morning loving humans." She shakes her head. "But it started with Rin."
"No," he argues, turning to face her. "It started with you." He rests his face on her shoulder, hugging her waist, tasting her balmy skin.
Avalon feels a tear slip down. His admission touched her heart so deeply. She wraps her arms around him as she rests her head on the side of his face.
"When I am with you, my heart is warm. When you cry, it aches. I don't understand...what I feel, but I know this Sesshomaru yearns for your happiness."
Avalon smiles and whispers, "That sounds like the budding of love Sesshomaru," she turns her head to kiss his cheek.
"I am fond of you onaga." He kisses her mouth. "I do not feel love."
Avalon rolls her eyes. 'Just keep telling yourself that.' "Sesshomaru, I want to tell you what I feel for you."
He nods, leaning his nose back into her neck, resting, while glancing at the water that has a slight red sheen from his blood. 'At least I am not in pain.'
"I am happy when you are happy. I ache when I see you in pain. I worry when I see you hurt. My instinct is to protect you. When you were sparring with the other inu, I had to stop myself from interfering. Even when I am pissed at you, I still want you to be happy. Perhaps I am foolish and irrational but I would die for you, fight for you, and follow you wherever you would go, if you let me."
"Peeeesed? Is that Engolish?"
"Hai, it means really really mad."
"You make this Sesshomaru peeesed too," he says proud of himself. "Your faith is misplaced. I need time." He moves closer, sucking on her neck. He could taste the sweet fruits on her neck as he tasted her skin. He moves her hair out of the way and gently clamps down with his fangs, leaving small imprints without drawing blood. "Your taste is pleasant."
Avalon moans with the contact, exposing her neck to him fully.
"Do you still fear submission?" He licks up to her ear then stops.
"Not so much any more, now that I understand it better," she says languidly.
He takes a washcloth and passes it to her.
Avalon takes the washcloth and grabs a bar of soap turning around to start cleaning him.
"And it's pronounced pi..i..i..issed," she chides, playfully. She says more seriously, "It's not faith. It is feelings. I do not control them. I can pretend they are not there, but they are and we have time, Sesshomaru. We basically have thousands of years."
"As long as no one kills this Sesshomaru. Your feelings also warm my heart." He turns his back to her so she can clean it.
Avalon washes his back and trails kissing as she goes. "I am glad I warm your heart."
He groans at the feel of her mouth against his skin but then hisses when the cloth is brought over the gash in his shoulder. "Onaga," he reprimands her.
"Gomen." She kisses the outside of the wound in apology.
"Continue," he whispers.
Avalon moves his hair over his shoulder as she carefully washes his neck and shoulder avoiding any large gashes. "How soon till these heal?" she asks gently.
"Tonight." He groans, pushing his stump against the side of the bathtub and letting his head lull to the side. "This a few more days."
Avalon takes the opportunity of his fully exposed neck to bring her mouth down on it kissing, licking and sucking on the skin
He holds her face, cupping her cheek, letting out small sounds of pleasure.
With one final swip of her tongue she pulls away. "Any wounds I should just clean with water?" she asks lovingly by his ear.
"Leave them." He leans back against her chest, resting his cheek between her breasts. The air is permeated with her scent, making his body slump. "You don't miss your life before?"
"What life? The one where I was Naraku's prisoner or before I came here?" she asks, confused.
"Before you came here," he mutters, turning his side into her and holding her like a pillow.
"Not really, not much to miss," she says dismissively.
"Mmh," he answers. "I would have told you of this discussion eventually. When the time came and I began looking for another. Perhaps when the time with the device was up. I did not want it lingering over your head."
"You would have been wrong to hide it from me," she says, running her hands through his hair, cupping water and letting it pour along her chest and his hair.
"I would not have hurt you again."
"You are very wrong, Sesshomaru," she says, kissing the top of his head where she can reach.
He opens his mouth to speak then closes it again. 'She is still too fragile. So strong, but so fragile.'
Avalon's hand moves along the side of his ab, dipping into his groin, lightly touching his member with her fingers.
He turns his face into her chest, smirking where she can't see. "Do you want something from this Sesshomaru?"
"I do," she says, seductively.
He sits up, somberly turning to face her and caresses her cheek bone with his thumb. "This also warms my heart, that you ask for what you feared."
Avalon rubs her face against his palm turning to kiss it. "I don't fear you Sesshomaru," she says lovingly.
"Was that what drove you to the cliff that day?" He pulls her face to his. "Do not lie to this Sesshomaru. You feared I would turn you into a bed warmer, a vessel for pleasure."
"I feared that but what am I now? What will I be after…" she trails off.
"A friend," he kisses her mouth. "A companion."
"But we will always be drawn to each other's bed," Avalon says sadly.
"Do you understand now why I asked? It was not to hurt you." Their lips connect again.
"But the solution you have come up with," she says, bringing their lips together again, wanting to drown her pain in his body.
"I give myself to you until Naraku is defeated." He slides her into his lap. "What happens after, will happen. For now, this Sesshomaru is yours."
Avalon slides her body further down, bringing her hips low, searching for him to enter her. "You are mine for now," she says against his lips.
He nods. "Now tell this Sesshomaru what you want," he whispers.
"Take me, here and now," she says pleadingly.
Sesshomaru's body shakes lightly. The pain had started just after he got into the bath. He leans in and slowly kisses Avalon, curling his fingers around her chin. The steam from the tub makes his skin feel hotter. "Soon." He lets his hand glide along her slick body, fingers beginning to shake. 'Let me finish this,' he tells his body.
"Are you okay?" she asks, noticing his hand shaking.
He groans, leaning against her neck. "I should not have transformed."
"You're hurting again. Where is the satchel?" she asks, running her hand along his cheek soothingly.
"The dojo." He laps at her neck. "Take what you need from this Sesshomaru." He leans back, bringing her closer to his shaft.
"I can't do that when you are suffering. I can wait," she says, lovingly.
"It can wait. I will be fine," he sags against Avalon's shoulder.
"Are you sure?" she says gingery. "I want you to enjoy it too, it's not just about me."
"I can scent your pain, your upset. You want comfort. Find rest in my arm. There's time before it gets worse."
Avalon is unsure of her desires at that moment. She brings her lips to his seeking comfort in them. While her hands delve into his hair. She opens her legs to wrap them around his body. Satisfied with the close contact. Sex was not always the key to curing her hurt.
He slides his hand up and down her back, returning the kiss, letting their tongues meet, their lips finding warmth against each other. He tries to angle her closer again to his shaft, encouraging her to take more if she wants it. "It's okay, you can take more."
Avalon feels his hardened member against her, closing her eyes. She still wanted him, so she slides herself to let him slip inside her fold. She sighs contently when he fills her. She rocks her hips lazily, having him slip up and down within her. "Is this okay?" she whispers.
He nods, gripping her hips and leaning back against the tub. The sensation of their bodies together shifts his mind from the growing pain in his missing arm to something more pleasurable. He caresses her stomach, bumping his palm over her hardened abs. 'No, she is more solid now than she was then.'
Avalon stares intently into his eyes as she quickens her pace, her body is desperate for the release, she moans with pleasure feeling her stomach tightening and her back straining. The water sloshes as she moves faster and faster until she finally comes with a scream of pleasure and her walls contract around his shaft in rhythm. Her mouth crashes down on his kissing him with abandon.
He lets her take what she needs from him, returning the desperation of the kiss. He moans at the contact but the building pain keeps him from finding his own satisfaction. He pulls out of Avalon still stiff, but ignores it.
Avalon notices he didn't find his own release. "I want you to have your release too," she says tenderly
He shakes his head. "Unnecessary."
Avalon kisses his lips lightly. "I will return in a few moments," she says, getting ready to leave the tub.
He nods, lowering his left side into the water. He had not felt pain since the day before. 'At least it was longer this time."
Avalon grabs a towel, wrapping it around her hair and then throws on the yukata before taking off to the dojo. She runs down the hall and up the stairs. She slides the door open finding the satchel and grabbing it, checking the content before slinging it over her shoulder and dashing back to the bathing area. Avalon pulls out a vail opening, handing it to Sesshomaru. "Here," she says a little out of breath.
He takes it and drinks, slightly sticking his tongue out at the bitter taste and sets the vial aside. He pulls Avalon closer to his chest and places a chaste kiss on her forehead. "Just rest with me."
Avalon nods, stripping off the yukata, towel, and the bag with the vials, placing it in a spot where she will not forget it. She steps into the warm water joining him. She leans her back against the tub.
He presses his chest into her side. "I am sorry. Perhaps I should have let you die and used tenseiga. My presence has only brought you pain."
Avalon wraps her arm around him. "No, you have not only brought me pain, you have brought me pleasure, warmth and a sense of belonging. I may have been alive in my world but I was not living. I had no connections. I doubt anyone has even realized I am missing other than my bill collectors."
"This Sesshomaru would notice your absence. You will be protected when we leave. Naraku will be killed for what he has done to you."
Avalon sighs despondently. "Part of me doesn't want him to die any more," she whispers.
"He would never stop hunting, haunting your dreams. If he took you from this Sesshomaru, what would he do to you?" He raises an eyebrow at Avalon. "Hikari—"
"That isn't what I mean. I meant once he is gone, you won't be…" she trails off as she blinks back her tears swallowing thickly, she continues "You will look for another. As long as we are hunting him, it's us."
He shakes his head, holding her tightly. "I would not leave you wanting. You would have a home, servants, food, clothing. I would come when you sent for me. You will still have this Sesshomaru."
Avalon shakes her head. "I rather have just you, I don't want to leave your side."
Sesshomaru curls his fingers, rubbing Avalon's stomach. "I am not leaving you now. Why must you have my love? Now? This was not what I wanted. To take a human as a mate. Yet I accept this. I did not ask for your love or your loyalty. Only your trust. I would have waited months, years for you to come to my bed. You cannot do the same?"
"I said I want to be at your side, your love is something I am willing to wait for, if it ever comes, " she says tenderly.
"So you can watch this Sesshomaru bring another to his bed?"
"Do you think it hurts any less not seeing it if I know it?" she shakes her head forlornly.
"And you ask why I tried to break this bond. This is not freedom. I am your captor."
"I understand why you wanted to break the bond, I do. You are right but I would not take your life to free myself. I could never do that. I care too much for you. I care more for you than my own freedom. You would only take one other? One to have to produce an heir?" she asks her heart breaking, asking the question wondering if she could watch that, be part of that.
"For an heir and for love. There will never be more between us than friendship."
Avalon's head falls back as tears come uncontrollable. "You could love her but not me? Why?" she asks with a shaky voice.
"You are human." He kisses her neck. "I don't know if I would love her. I do not know love."
"I think I would still want to be by your side, my pain would be more being away."
"No. Enough Avalon," he says as he rises out of the tub. "It's enough that for now this Sesshomaru is yours."
"For now," she says meekly while whipping her tears away.
He nods and sits on the rock, drying his hair.
Avalon splashes her face with some water, washing the salty trails away. She gets out of the tub, grabbing a towel, wrapping it around herself and grabbing another and sits behind Sesshomaru. She runs the towel gently through his hair, drying it for him. "I'm sorry," she says quietly.
He shakes his head, waiting for her to finish while examining the injuries from sparring. He would have to be more careful of his left side.
Avalon finishes drying his hair, then she runs her fingers through it, untangling any knots with the delicacy of a butterfly before moving on until his hair is straight and free of any tangles.
"I think Onaga likes my hair."
"It is wonderful. I wish my hair felt like it," she says, whispering by his ear.
"There are other enjoyable things about your body." He takes a clean Kimono that was hanging on the wall and hands it to Avalon to put on him.
Avalon holds it open, sliding the one sleeve over his arm and then over the stump. She grabs an obi that is nearby and ties it around him. Avalon shakes her head. 'One does not talk about friends like that.'
"Get dressed. I asked that breakfast be brought to one of the gardens. You may join this Sesshomaru, or mother in her dining hall."
Avalon smiles, shaking her head, grabbing her kimono and putting it on. "Hmm, joining the man I want to be with? Or eat with a woman who frightens me? I wonder which I will choose?"
Sesshomaru takes her hand and leads her to the first door out of the washroom. He stops abruptly and pulls Avalon next to him, whispering quickly in her ear. "Ainu is in the hallway. You will submit to this Sesshomaru, completely, no matter what I do to you. You will show her and the others that you are worthy of our bond."
Avalon nods. "I will submit to you," she says quietly.
Sesshomaru slides the door open taking Avalon through the first door and then through the entry room out into the hallway. He holds Avalon's hand as they walk towards his door.
Ainu walks out with feathers in her hair and all on her kimono. She had just finished cleaning up the room. 'What did that whore do to the bed?' Her eyes narrow seeing Sesshomaru holding Avalon's hand. She purses her lips and holds her head high. She sways her hips temptingly walking towards Sesshomaru.
Avalon's grip tightens on Sesshomaru's hand, but she keeps her shoulders loose and her face relaxed.
Sesshomaru lets his mouth fall into a smirk as he pulls her face first against the wall and starts lifting up the back of her kimono. "I want you," he growls in Avalon's ear, low and sensuous, parting his own kimono and taking her from behind, quickly and forcefully. He reaches for the front of her apex to stimulate her bud and starts panting at how she feels against him. He kisses her cheek as he thrusts inside of her.
Ainu's teeth clench down as a low growl erupts from her throat. Her eyes alight with fury.
Avalon gasps looking over her shoulder at Sesshomaru watching him take her from behind. Her breaths shallow as pleasure builds inside her and her legs jump when he runs his thumb over her nub.
Sesshomaru nuzzles her nose, slowly and seductively, moaning, once again shocked how it seems she fits him completely and her trust, knowing she needs to see him. He loses his composure, forcing her harder against the wall, pressing her bud more quickly until he can feel her dancing on her tiptoes. He's never been able to finish this quickly. "Onaga," he croons in her ear.
Avalon moans. "My Sesshomaru."
Ainu's hands clench into fists. She wants to slit the woman's throat. Her yoki flares up as her teeth lengthen and her claws elongate.
Sesshomaru chuckles at Ainu's flawed attempt to get his attention. He pushes harder into her, until Avalon's body thumps against the wall. He vibrates his finger over her bud, intensifying her reactions, making her grip him harder. "You satisfy this Sesshomaru. So tight," he praises her, completely lost in their interaction. 'Finish, scream my name.'
Avalon's pleasure keeps rising as her legs twitch until she feels the pleasant crash where her body stiffens for a moment screaming her release. "SESSHOMARU!" as her body starts to relax.
Ainu wants to leap to attack Avalon. 'I will teach the whore her place!'
Sesshomaru stimulates Avalon harder, not letting her relax as he comes against her. "Finish again," he whispers in Avalon's ear, not letting up.
Avalon pants and her hips thrust with abandon as her mind feels bliss she feels herself coming again. "SESSHOMARU!" she half screams, half moans at her release.
"This is submission." He glares at Ainu, taking his hand out of her sex and licking it off. "Mmmh, such a sensuous taste. You can leave, Ainu. Your services are no longer required. This Sesshomaru is satisfied with his mate." He pulls Avalon's body next to his, helping to support her. "Should I make her finish again for you to see?" He pushes Avalon's back against the wall and goes on his knees. "Give her what I refused you?" He pushes his nose into Avalon's slit, lifting her left leg over his shoulder and then begins sucking on her clit.
Ainu's eyes go wide with disbelief and rage. She turns and stalks away.
Avalon lounges back against the wall half falling asleep from exhaustion.
Sesshomaru nuzzles her lower lips and then kisses the still bare skin and sits back on his haunches, with an arrogant look on his face. "Are you alright? Did I cause pain?"
Avalon breathes deeply. "No, it was just intense," she says, languidly.
"She will not bother you again while I am here with you." He takes Avalon by the hand and starts walking down the hall again to one of the gardens. "Did you decide to join this Sesshomaru? Or do you need bed now?"
"I can lay next to you in the garden," she says, lazily.
Sesshomaru leads her up several flights of stairs, then out a large set of sliding doors onto a veranda that is set with a low table, filled with rice, fresh fruits, vegetables and cooked fish as well as several bowls of innards and raw meat still covered in blood. From there they can see the expanse of the sky, the clouds, and the tiny view of the earth below. He sits first, angling his lap for Avalon's head. "Rest, Onaga."
Avalon nods happily laying with her head in his lap. "I'm still vibrating," she says, distantly.
"Would you have been able to finish again?" he asks as he takes a piece of fruit and holds it in front of her lips. "Can humans tolerate such an appetite?"
"Maybe and some can we can always try and see," she says as she opens her mouth wrapping her tongue around the fruit and his finger.
He leans over her face and puts a piece of peach in his mouth, so it sticks out and lowers his mouth close to Avalon's.
Avalon opens her mouth hungrily taking the peach from his lips, while wrapping her hand around his head to bring her lips to his.
He returns the kiss, lifting her back up and into his lap. They spend the rest of the morning making love, until Avalon is sore and can't take anymore. Sesshomaru falls onto his back laughing with his clothing in complete disarray and hers mostly in shreds. It makes his heart warm when she curls into his side and he falls asleep, with the sun heating their bodies, uncaring if they are seen.
The next few days pass with Avalon spending time between Sesshomaru and Hikari. Sesshomaru makes love to her when she wishes, which is often and they sleep in bed together. Avalon's dreams are peaceful and she wonders if it is solely because he is sleeping next to her or if he has been guiding them while she slept. She would ask him and he would deny it. The day comes when he did not feel any pain for a whole day and he decided that they would leave the next day. They shared the bed that night and when Avalon wakes Sesshomaru is already dressed
He takes his armor, sliding it on and picks up Tenseiga. "Prepare to leave." He's focused, things will be different below. He will hunt for Naraku, they will be in danger.
Avalon feels a slight loss as she feels like things will be changing. She gets up and quickly brushes her hair putting it in a bun. She starts packing up a few of the kimonos he gave her into the black bag she got from Kagome. She takes off her kimono and juban, pulling out a new pair of underwear and a sports bra putting it on. She grabs a pair of tight stretch jeans and puts them on followed by a tank top, then a kimono over the whole thing and a pair of black boots. "Alright," she says despondently. "Let's go say our farewells to Hikari and go." She slings the bag over her shoulder and waits for him.
Sesshomaru approaches her curiously, seeing her strange garments. He pulls the front of her kimono open and then raises an eyebrow at the sports bra. "Why this? You would hide beuroestos from this Sesshomaru?"
Avalon grins at him shaking her head. "It's not about hiding them, it's about being more comfortable while we travel. They tend to bounce and rub and get sore, so if I wear this they stay in place. Kind of how your fundoshi keeps your testicles from bouncing too much."
"They move in fundoshi." He tugs again on the material again. "I do not like it. Take it off."
"So you rather I be in pain or aesthetically pleasing you?" she asks, looking him in the eyes.
He slides his index finger between her breasts, snagging his claw on the material ripping it. "My yoki will cure your pain. Take it off."
"Your yoki heals me but I still feel pain, Sesshomaru. And constant rubbing causes constant pain," she counters.
He lifts her face up to his. "And when this Sesshomaru wants to see beuroestos? You bar his way with a useless fabric."
"I only wish to wear it while we are moving. I don't need it when we are resting. I can take it off then," she offers.
He eyes her carefully then relents. "It comes off at night, all of your strange clothing. You will submit and wear the clothing this Sesshomaru gives you."
"I have no problem with that," she says brushing her lips against his.
"We leave." He slides the door open and finds Hikari's scent down one of the hallways. He follows it twisting past the kitchen.
"Oh can I stop and say goodbye to the cook?"
"Go," a small smirk crosses his face. "She's hiding."
"Where is she!" Doumaru comes running up behind them shouting, "Mate!"
Avalon is walking through the door when she hears a small voice crying, 'mate.' Avalon turns to look at who said it. She sees Doumaru smiling, thinking it cute. She walks over to him. "Who is your mate Doumaru?" she cooes at him.
"Hikari. She is mine." He sniffs the air, his tiny nose rises up. "But she has used something making it hard to smell. You smell like him." He points at Sesshomaru. "He is your mate."
"He is my mate, you are right. But I have to tell you something Doumaru," she says seriously getting down on his level.
"What?" He leans forward until his nose is almost touching hers.
"You know Hikari is ningen right?"
"She is a pretty ningen. Not like you, ouch." He cups an ear that was flicked by Sesshomaru. "She smells like the wind and has hair like night. She is mine."
Avalon shakes her head sadly. "She will only live for another 40 to 60 years."
"Not if I bond her, but my yoki isn't strong enough yet." He smells the air again heading into the kitchen and opening one of the cabinets to find Hikari with the spices. "I found you."
Sesshomaru touches Avalon's shoulder and shakes his head. "He won't understand."
Avalon sighs. "Well at least Hikari will have someone who wants to be around her."
"Why wouldn't he want to be around her?" Hiromaru hobbles up. "He's my son." He ruffles the little boy's hair.
Avalon smiles widely. "I know, but our welcome has been less than warm."
"I told his mother to bring him," Hiromaru says then glances at his son whose eyes are turning red. "Hey don't you start that!"
"You hid her!" the boy yells, fangs growing and his skin changing to fur. He leaps at his father, in the form of a small white puppy with shaggy hair.
Hikari leaps out of the cabinet. "Doumaru! Stop it!" she rushes to stop him from attacking his father. "Doumaru, I was trying to hide from you!"
Hiromaru shakes his arm wildly trying to get the puppy off it. "Oi get off!" He bats at his face.
"Avalon, it's time," Sesshomaru says softly from the corner of the kitchen.
"Hiromaru-san do you need any help?" She walks steadily towards the scene of chaos.
"You just wait until I tell your mother you little mongrel!" Hiromaru tries to pry the puppy's jaw off his wrist.
The puppy whines and quickly changes back into a boy falling on his knees bowing. "Please don't tell ka-chan!"
Avalon rolls her eyes. She walks over to the young boy and ruffles his hair. "Hiromaru-san we are leaving now thanks for everything. Can you do me a favor and keep an eye on Hikari. I just want her safe."
"I will Avalon-sama. Just remember what I told you," he winks at her.
Avalon looks over at Sesshomaru. She bows her head to Hiromaru and walks over to HIkari. She gets down on her knees and hugs the girl fiercely. "I am going to miss you." Tears build in her eyes
Hikari's face is already soaked. "Just like this? I don't want you to go! Please onesan? Don't leave me again! Please?" she sobs.
Avalon's heart breaks seeing her begging to come with her. Tears slip down her cheeks. "Hikari, I love you. I don't want to leave you. I wish I could take you with me and keep you safe but I know my enemy and I can't guarantee even my own safety. You seem to have an admirer at least." Avalon looks slyly at the boy bowing to his father. "We will see each other again. I promise. I have faith in that. Please believe me Sesshomaru-sama will be at my side and I have faith in him."
Hikari nods, unable to speak through her tears. She wraps her arms around Avalon's shoulders, sobbing. Jaken Jr. comes through the door and pushes his muzzle against Hikari's belly, whining to comfort her.
Avalon holds tight to Hikari crying into her shoulder. "I love you sister." She breaks the embrace.
Hikari nods, face contorted in sorrow.
Avalon steps away to be by Sesshomaru as tears still flow from her eyes. "Let.t.t's g.o.o," the words tremble from her lips.
Hikari bows to them both, wiping her eyes. Doumaru hugs Hikari around the waist, nuzzling her. "It's okay mate."
Sesshomaru lifts up Avalon's hand, kissing the back and pulls her into the hallway. "Jaken!"
The little imp comes running at his name and bows down before Sesshomaru and Avalon "Hai milord?"
"We leave." He leads the way to the head of the castle. "Bring the dragon."
Jaken gets up. "Right away milord!" He skitters down the hall, tripping over his own feet, dropping nintojo and scooping it back up, running full tilt down another corridor.
Avalon walks at Sesshomaru's side, not saying anything with her head down. She feels so torn by leaving Hikari.
Sesshomaru squeezes her hand reassuringly as they make it to the steps that exit the castle.
Jaken returns with the dragon. Sesshomaru strokes the scales, wondering whether or not to put Avalon on It's back or fly with her. In her dreams she likes flying. He playfully nudges her off the steps and then flies after her, reaching for her hand.
Avalon screams in fear, reaching for his hand
He grabs her hand, pulling her back against his chest, holding her around the stomach. "Fly with me," simpers in her ear.
Avalon's ankles wrap around his knees. "Don't let me go," she says as she puts her arms out like a plane
"Did you think I would?" he yells over the whipping wind as he propels them forward.
She yells back, "I didn't think you would push me out of the castle, so who knows," mischief laces her voice.
"No fear," he growls into her ear and lets her go, moving his body next to hers, holding her hand, so they fly spread eagle together.
Avalon grasps his hand tightly. "Easy for you to say," she counters, while trying to master the fear of the ground approaching quickly, knowing he won't let her fall.
Jaken follows them on the dragon calling "Wait for me!" trying to keep up at the rate they plummet towards the ground.
Sesshomaru waits until they are about to hit the top of the forest and trees then grabs Avalon's waist, lifting them both back up into the air. "Brave Onaga!" he raises his voice, carrying them up high into the clouds again, then lets her go, lacing his fingers through hers. "Fly!"
Avalon feels the wind rushing through her hair and the kimono flaps open from the turbulence. She smiles letting her fear go and letting the freefall free her heart for the sorrow of leaving Hikari behind.
Sesshomaru propels them forward as he searches for Naraku's scent. 'No sorrow, Onaga.' He spies a waterfall ahead and smirks, grasping Avalon's hand. They were already partly down the top of it. He knew this falls well, where the rocks were. He propels her faster towards that fast falling water.
"Oh, no, no, no, no!" she says half heartedly as the waterfall comes closer. "I'll be soaked!"
Sesshomaru let's her feel his chest vibrating with laughter as he soars up the falls and they burst through the top, splashing through white rapids and dodging boulders.
Avalon holds her breath when she meets water and she simmers with slight irritation. Even though part of her feels like laughing.
He lands them along the banks of the river, finally letting Avalon onto her feet. He can't find Naraku's scent, but that doesn't matter. He would search for as long as it took. The trees are tall here, casting shadows on the lush green forest floor. "Come," he tells Avalon as Jaken lands behind them. He goes to the dragon and pulls out the sea-green kimono he had first dressed her in after bonding her. He hands it to her and leaves her to clean herself up.
"You don't have to leave." she says quietly as she walks to the dragon grabbing another bra and underwear out of her bag. She walks back behind a tree and starts stripping off her soaked clothing and setting them on a branch to dry.
He continues searching for Naraku's scent, circling the area. There were no trace scents anywhere. He growls under his breath then returns to Avalon and Jaken. "Jaken, find food for Avalon."
Avalon finishes dressing and comes out wrapping her arms around Sesshomaru's neck pulling him into a kiss. "Arigato, that was fun," she whispers against his lips.
He nods, silently taking in her lips and then pulling her closer, plastering his body against hers, tasting the salt of unshed tears in her mouth. "She will be safe. Now we," his mouth crashes into hers again, "hunt."
"He will die," she says with determination.
He nods again, pushing her back into a tree and groping her breast. "A gruesome death." He squeezes it, while dipping his tongue into Avalon's mouth. He licks the flecks of sweetness from the corners of her mouth, barely giving her time to breathe.
Avalon regrets putting the bra on now. She pushes Sesshomaru away lightly.
"What?" He stops himself, leaning over her panting.
She smiles mischievously pulling the kimono down and then pulling her bra off then grabbing him by the armor pulling him to her, crashing her lips to his.
He reaches for the ties on the armor and throws it to the side, throwing Tenseiga aside in the process and returns his body to Avalon's, so aroused by her scent and an instinctual need to care for the sorrow he knows she feels. He kisses down her neck and captures one of her nipples. His tongue drags back up her neck to her mouth. "This Sesshomaru wants something from you." They had not done this yet, he had not asked.
"What do you want from me?" she asks panting against his lips.
He pushes on her shoulder to make her kneel in front of him and raises a questioning eyebrow.
Avalon looks up at him with wonder in her eyes. "You want me to suck on your penis?" she asks. 'Really? So typically male.'
"As I have sucked on you," he reminds her, confused with her expression. "I will do the same in return. You can stop before I finish."
She laughs with a smile on her face. She grabs the ties of his hakama letting them slide down his legs. "We may have to try 69 some time," she says, and moves his fundoshi aside, taking his hardened shaft into her mouth. Her tongue swirls around the lip and the tip of her tongue dips into his hole slightly before she takes what she can into her mouth sucking on his flesh. Her hand moves to grasp his testicles and lightly massages them in her hand. She looks up at him, wanting to see how he reacts to her.
He threads his fingers into her hair and starts rocking his hips lightly into her mouth. 'How does she do this?' He has never been more satisfied and felt more complete than when he is with Avalon. "Mhh," he groans.
Avalon uses her other hand to run up his shaft where her mouth can't cover as she lets saliva drip from her mouth to moisten her hand to allow for an easier gliding effect. She sucks and moves her mouth and hand up and down his shaft in unison, continuing to roll his balls in her other hand. She enjoys knowing he is being pleasured by her and hopes he has never had a better blowjob in his long life.'I wonder what he would think if I stimulated his prostate gland, does he have one?' She pushes her finger behind his sack, hard into the perineum, rubbing up and down with her knuckle.
He jolts forward, gripping the tree to stay upright and thrusting hard into her mouth, eyes dilating and bolting open to look at Avalon. "Again." He digs his claws into the tree over Avalon's head.
Avalon smiles internally as she pushes her knuckle hard into his skin again to stimulate the prostate gland, she now knows exists. She will make him cum for her.
He fights with his body not to finish in her mouth. His hips rock back and forth trying not to gag Avalon. He's so involved in the wet sensation of her mouth on his cock that he doesn't notice the rumble of the trees behind them, the blind stumbling steps of a rabid, giant, red ogre, approaching with unnatural speed.
A/N I hope you all are enjoying my story. I thank all my followers and favoriters. A big thank you to Elohiniar my wonderful co-author. Stay safe and thank you for your reviews they feed my soul and let me know you are enjoy this story so please drop a review.
Itzatakahashi- thank you for your review I don't think he loves her but he cares for her I am certain. Please stay safe and keep on reading and reviewing.