She decided that calling them gardens was a bit misleading. This was an arboretum, as far as she was concerned. Perhaps in the daylight, she could be a better judge. Her human eyes couldn't make out much more than shadows in the dark. She had no idea which way she was to go, or how deep in he was. But she was fairly confident that he wanted to be found, so she simply ventured forward.

She continued her journey in silence, anticipating the moment when he would make himself known. The fortress was now out of sight as well, and still, not a trace of life.

A cluster of trees guided her off to the side; leading her down a narrow pathway, before opening again to a small clearing. The sound of water gliding across rocks and earth told her of a river nearby, but the way it echoed off the mountains made it impossible to determine where.

She focused her senses, calling out for his youki. Searching, and stretching, and coming up empty. Until finally, and all at once, it hit her like a ton of bricks.

As she turned a corner, she finally located her daiyoukai standing near a bench of stone affixed to the ground, and looking right at her. She sped her approach until she reached him.

"Miko." She stopped herself from hugging him right away. She wasn't sure if she was in the dog house or not. Despite being in the dog's house.

"Sesshoumaru-"

"You are late." His face betrayed nothing; his eyes boring into her soul.

"I know. I'm sorry… I guess you know why..."

"I would like to hear it from you."

She sighed, and sat on the bench. He followed suit. Might as well get right to it. She had practiced the lines in her head during the flight to his fortress, and tried not to stumble over her nerves in his presence.

"You remember how I told you that Hojo was the one I made love with?" It was rhetorical. Of course he remembered. "Well, Kouga is the guy I fucked... before you."

"The Wolf Prince." Though he didn't really need the clarification.

"Yeah," she confirmed, "It was just a fling. He's mated now, but things had remained open between us. It's a long story, it involves a three way," his eyebrow lifted at that, but he said nothing.

"Anyway, they have a tumultuous relationship. Very on again, off again. I guess it's off again, so after you left, he came to me. I told him I was involved with someone, but he was persistent. He said I wasn't claimed and he...touched me. Over the clothes." She searched his face for a reaction, but found none, so she continued her explanation.

"I didn't want him to," his anger flared dangerously at this, "but I didn't exactly stop him either." She didn't want to give the impression he had forced her, but needed him to know she hadn't encouraged him.

"When I came, I... moaned your name. That's kinda been my habit lately." She smiled weakly at him, hoping he would take it as a compliment. It fell, however, when it garnered no reaction. She pressed on. "That iced him down real quick. He was terrified you would kill him for touching what you might perceive to be yours. He promised he would stay away after that."

"This disappoints you."

"No!" Her response was immediate, and she slumped in mild exasperation; almost seeming put out as she continued her confession. "That's the thing. I keep trying to tell myself that this is casual. I think I was trying to prove that we were able to have fun without being too serious." She touched his arm hesitantly, as if afraid he would recoil. He didn't.

"But I don't want anyone but you to touch me like that. And the thought of you touching anyone else- it hurts me." He wasn't prepared for the relief that washed over him at the admission.

"It doesn't' matter what we call it, but the feelings I have for you are NOT casual. I was so scared that you wouldn't want to see me again...that you don't want to. I'm...so sorry..."

Honesty was always the best policy with him, but for once his attractive features didn't make looking him in the face any easier. She couldn't take it anymore. She herself wasn't one to keep her emotions reigned in. But that didn't stop her from hating the fact that her tears were in a jail break; escaping past puffy eyelids, and falling freely down wind burnt cheeks.

She interpreted his displeased expression as confirmation; her weakness must sicken him.

He couldn't stand to see her destressed. Her tears were an unwelcome sight in his presence, and unnecessary on his behalf. He found himself quite inclined to put an end to them, and pulled her to him quickly. Placing a clawed hand on her cheek, he tried to soothe her, "Miko... Miko, it is fine." She turned her eyes to his face in near disbelief.

"The wolf was correct. We are not mated. I hold no claim over you. You made it clear to This One back at the village that you were not ready for anything serious. Has that changed?" His tone was so gentle; almost as if placating a child. Though she wondered if even Rin had ever heard him be so tender.

Relief and gratitude swelled inside her and were too much to bear. She kissed him hard, licking his lips with the tip of her tongue until he allowed her the access she craved.

What had this demon done to her? It had not even been a day, but the pain of his absence had weighed on her heavily. Combined with the guilt and fear of losing him over the whole Kouga incident had made for a rough few hours.

She could finally relax. He didn't hate her, and seemed more than willing to accept her attentions. She would give him everything she had.

A weight was off his shoulders now as well. When she hadn't arrived with the others, he had feared she had decided not to move to The West with them. Instead, from the sound of things, she was ready to accept her place by his side. He didn't care about what had happened with the wolf. It was he whom she desired, as she was currently making more than clear to him. The scent of her arousal was hitting him strong as she continued to kiss him and pull him nearer.

Gods, he had missed her. He had been anxiously waiting all day for her arrival with her friends, only to be disappointed. Now she was here, and he couldn't be more pleased. A rustle of silks was all she could feel before the sensation of being lifted as they jumped over the backrest to stand behind the bench.

He put one hand on her shoulder, and the other went up her schoolgirl uniform to rest lightly over the lips concealed beneath her panties. He began a slow descent to kiss her. She made to hood her eyes and part her lips in anticipation, but he halted his progress mere centimeters from her face. "Was this how he touched you?" he asked, looking into her eyes.

He was a dog demon after all. He would be the last one to touch her, in every way. He would erase all trace of another with his own touch, and scent. None but him would ever touch her again.

She shook her head and bit her lip, turning herself around so that her back was facing him. The tantalizing look she threw him over her shoulder drew his gaze from her backside by force. If he really wanted to know, she would show him. For how cool he was being about everything, she would be willing to do just about anything he wanted. She had a feeling this was not lost on him, filling her with an excited yearning.

She grabbed his hand and placed it back over her mound, and he used the motion to force her back against him. She took his other hand in hers, and moved it to grab her breast. "Like this," she whispered, and he used two fingers to massage her swollen nub. She gasped at the sensation, and he rubbed the side of his face against hers, giving her tit a rough squeeze.

"And what were you picturing when he did this?" She could feel his lips moving on her cheek as he spoke in husky tones. She closed her eyes as he rubbed her, before reaching between them and grabbing his cock, also stroking him over his clothes.

"This."

"And what was it doing?" he asked her, and began kissing her neck. She moaned at the contact, and raised her free hand to press the back of his head closer to her. He then released her, stopping his attentions, and she whimpered at the loss. It suddenly felt cold without him, but he grabbed her hip again. Now free, he took his member in his hand and rubbed the head along her still clothed slit, earning another moan from the woman.

"Whom do you desire, Miko?" he demanded, teasing her with his stiff manhood.

"You," she whispered in a shudder, as he licked the shell of her ear.

"Who?" he tried again, more forcefully, accenting his question by stabbing himself against her. The word blew from his lips and into her ear in a way which had her tingling all over.

"Sesshoumaru," was the answer he was looking for, and he continued his questioning.

"You have been naughty, Miko. You think you deserve my cock?" She turned to face him then, causing him to release her from his hold.

"I don't," she looked up into his striking face, "I've been so bad. And you've been so good," reaching between them, she took his member from his own hand and began stroking him. "I owe you a huge apology..." He found he liked her being in his debt, as she lowered to her knees to start sucking him off.

He tilted his head back and closed his eyes, grabbing her hair as she moved back and forth on him. His youki swelled as she fisted her hands in his silks, working her neck and trying to take all of him in. He hit the back of her throat before she reached the base, however, and the sensation ripped a growl from his own. His breathing had become ragged, and drowned out the sounds that her mouth was making around him.

"My Lord-" glowing red eyes cracked open to see that his general had just entered the gardens, and was stopped in his tracks at the sight they had made. He must have felt his youki, or perhaps heard a snarl, and came to aid his lord with whatever issue was befalling him.

But when he discovered his lord, and the human miko on her knees before him, with her lips wrapped around and working his cock, it appeared he didn't need any help. He was unable to move, trying to digest what he saw...was seeing. She made no indication she planned on stopping, even with the appearance of a strange demon on the scene.

He continued to watch the miko blow the demon lord, almost morbidly- like one might slow down to take in a carriage accident- until his vision finally made contact with his glowing red eyes.

"Leave." He commanded. What was the General waiting for? An invitation? This startled Jiro out of his stupor. He seemed to gather himself then, and made a hasty exit, no other words uttered.

Sesshoumaru was pleased the interruption hadn't stopped his miko in her actions. If it had, he would have had to take his frustrations out on his general. Once Jiro was out of sight, the dog demon pulled Kagome up to rise, and bent her over the bench. He had accepted her apology, and could now go about rewarding her submission. And they said he had no mercy.

He pulled her panties over to the side in lieu of removing them completely, and pounded into her waiting and ready heat. She cried out as he buried himself to the hilt over and over; slapping his hips against her backside, and bottoming out as he did so. The invasion was almost unbearable, but she could more than endure it. She used her hands to hold herself up on the backrest, and he grabbed her hips to continually pull her to him as he thrust. He took her fast and hard; at the same time showing acceptance and relieving stress. And as she came, he followed; snarls ripping from his throat as he does.

When he was finished, he only lingered a moment before pulling himself out of her and straightening himself up. She tried to catch her breath as she adjusted her panties and pressed the wrinkles from her skirt. Once he was satisfied with his own attire, he informed her, "I have a meeting with my general that I must attend. You will find your friends inside. Go enjoy yourself," he brushed his knuckles against the side of her face then. "Later, come find me in my chambers." He was almost feeling guilty for the hit and run, but he was apparently already running late. He would make it up to her later.

She didn't want him to leave, but didn't protest. He had responsibilities here. He had things in the works, not to mention playing host. She had to let him go...for now. Grabbing his hand to hold against her cheek she informed him, "This place is huge. I'll never find it on my own, and I don't want your guards to know-"

"I have been very careless," his statement confused her as he removed his hand from her. He then pulled the ring off his finger. She had thought it was weird, he had never worn it before. It must have been part of his formal attire.

"I seem to have misplaced my house ring. It belonged to my sire's sire, and is very valuable to me." He grabbed her hand back, and placed it in her palm, closing it for her. She looked up from her hand to find him staring right into her eyes as he spoke.

"Should anyone find it, I will be most grateful. I will inform the guards that they will receive a reward if they bring whoever finds it straight to my chambers so that I may... thank them personally," she caught on, and blushed at the insinuation. "I do hope it turns up."

She smiled mischievously at him, "I will keep my eyes open."

A/N: It seems like they are always getting caught! It's just too much fun to interrupt them.