Shiver
Kagome stared at the pile of naga ashes feeling…empty. Even though she was seeking vengeance for Inuyasha, every life she took did not bring her any closer to peace.
The clear, commanding voice of Sesshoumaru brought her out of her thoughts. "The three generals present will take platoons south, spreading to cover as much land as possible. Our goal is to remove them from our land completely. We will join south of the river after the area is swept. "
Kagome moved closer, looking over the map spread across the table as she tried to understand the battle strategy. Stones were lined up in three separate sections, each spreading out. Sesshoumaru's fingertip rested at the end of the river, marking the place the troops were supposed to meet.
"You are all dismissed. Be ready at dawn."
"What would you like us to do with the naga arm, my lord?"
"Give it to Tanakashi to be refashioned."
With a bow, all of his generals and advisors filed out of the study leaving Sesshoumaru, his mother, and Kagome alone.
Kagome stared at the map a few moments before tapping her finger at the rendezvous point. "This is where the village Shippo disappeared from is located, correct?" Her eyes met Sesshoumaru's as he nodded to her question.
"Yes, it is."
"Which route are we taking?"
Sesshoumaru glared at her as Lady Manako snickered.
"I told you, my dear. Your intended is just as stubborn as you are."
He closed his eyes for a moment, before placing his finger on the map lining a route. "We will follow this river. The kitsune believe that the survivors are hiding to the northeast of their last known location."
Kagome placed a hand on his arm, garnering his gaze. "You know, I can find him on my own. I do not mean to pull you away from your troops."
He scoffed and pulled away from her. "Do not be ridiculous. This plan allows us to find your kit, but also clear this land for the troops."
"Ah…" Kagome said looking relieved. Her gaze wandered to the floor and landed on the faint glimmer of the obsidian shard, forgotten in the pile of naga ash. She bent down to pick it up when a sharp stab of pain shot up her arm. She cried out, the shard slipping from her fingers as her free hand grasped the area of her arm now burning with pain.
"Kagome-dono?" Sesshoumaru asked, suddenly by her side.
"What the hell is wrong with my arm?" She murmured through clenched teeth, trying to fight through the immense pain.
He pulled her arm from her grasp, sliding her sleeve back to get a look. His eyes narrowed at the few red spots that appeared on her arm. "It appears the snake had a bit of venom left in him after all."
"When he spat at me, my arm must have been exposed." Kagome winced as a new flash of pain shot up from the welts the snake's acidic venom left behind.
"Tsk Tsk, you should know better than to have gotten so close to that snake, Kagome." Lady Manako admonished.
"You aren't helping!" Kagome snapped, her irritation growing.
"I know!" Manako said playfully, her hand waving in a flourish. "Why don't you and Sesshoumaru meld your energies to heal it? Rumor has it that you were able to earlier when healing the girl. I'd very much like to see it in practice." Her eyes narrowed in a sly smile.
Is she not even concerned with the pain I'm in? Kagome thought, brows knit in irritation. Manako did have a point though; if their energies melded then they could possibly use it to heal her wound.
"I'll try…" She murmured hesitantly before seeking confirmation from Sesshoumaru.
"This one will try as well." He replied, his eyes closing in concentration.
Kagome closed her own eyes, focusing on Sesshoumaru's touch. She could feel his youki dancing across her skin but all she could focus on was the pain in her arm. Her reiki stayed put at the point of injury, as if it were doing all it could to prevent the poison from spreading further. She could feel droplets of sweat beginning to form on her forehead as she struggled to move her reiki to meet with Sesshoumaru's youki.
"I can't do it," Kagome admitted after a few long minutes of intense focus. "The pain is too severe, my reiki won't-"
Manako slammed her hand down on the table producing a loud thump. "Excuses!"
"Mother," Sesshoumaru murmured quietly. "Not now."
"It is the perfect time! If you cannot do this task when it is commanded of you, how do you think it is going to be of any use?"
"Mother."
The weight of Sesshoumaru's strong youki suddenly filled the room. Kagome could feel her chest grow heavier and heavier as she did her best not to lash back with her reiki. This action wasn't directed at her, but at Lady Manako.
Manako let out a click of her tongue and the weight of Sesshoumaru's youki dissipated from the air.
"Fine." She spat in irritation, turning her nose up at the two of them to show her disgust. "When you two are done, I'll be waiting for you in the dojo and you will show me what you both have learned while you were away."
With a whirl of fabric, Lady Manako took her exit from her room, her youki nipping at Kagome as she passed by.
Kagome glared at the demoness as left the study, closing the door behind her.
"What the hell is her…ahh…" She lost her train of thought as Sesshoumaru raised her wrist to his mouth and softly licked at one of the burning spots on her arm.
Would she ever get used to him licking her? It hardly mattered when it took the pain away.
Sesshoumaru closed his eyes as he ran his tongue up the topside of her forearm, where a few more welts appeared on her skin. He savored the soft feminine taste of her. His tongue laved at the small wounds, removing the bitter poison from her, but leaving him wishing he could run his tongue elsewhere on her body.
"Ah…thank you, Sesshoumaru-sama." The beautiful miko in his grasp said softly.
His mouth moved against her skin, and she could have sworn he smiled. His amber eyes darkened as he looked up her arm to meet her eyes. In a swift move, he pulled her against his chest as his mouth descended on hers. Kagome sighed as he maneuvered her till her backside hit the end of the table. Having cornered her, he leaned into her, wrapping his hand around her throat as she opened her mouth to him.
His youki spilled over sending a warm flush down her body. Kagome returned his kisses with equal fervor. His attentions were fiery and passionate; so unlike his usually stoic mannerisms around anyone else. It ignited a need long forgotten within her.
There was so much more to him that Kagome was still discovering.
His hands slid from her neck down to her waist, and with no effort, he picked her up and sat her on the table. The small stones covering the map scattered across the table, and scrolls fell to the floor.
Kagome opened her legs as far as her thick kimono would allow her, and he stepped closer to her. His lips found hers again, and she snaked her arms around his neck, pulling him closer.
He growled against her mouth, before nipping her lip. She ran her fingers through his hair, as he trailed kisses down her neck. Kagome tilted her head back sighing, and exposing her neck to him.
A pleased rumble escaped his chest at the sight of her submission. Her powerful reiki laid bare, trusting him with her body and very essence. What a beautiful gift she presented him with.
He tugged at the folds of her kimono till he dislodged her robe enough so that it fell to each side of her shoulders, baring the top of her breasts to him. She let a soft sigh as his arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her closer.
Kagome closed her eyes as his tongue slid across her shoulder, then trailed south, leaving a warm tingling sensation as he went. His warm mouth settled over the top of her right breast. A small hum of frustration left her, before she leaned backward offering her chest to him. Mindful of his fangs, he softly bit down on her chest, leaving his own mark on her.
Sesshoumaru ran his hand down the front of her, squeezing her hip before settling over her knee. Then he did what he had longed to do since she first crawled across his bed. He slid his hand up her soft, shapely leg, starting at her strong calf, and trailing his clawed fingers gently upward. She gasped as his strong hand clenched her inner thigh. His fingers dangerously close to her most intimate parts.
The study door slid open with a crack.
Kagome flinched in his arms, startled by the sound.
"My Lord, the generals will need some direction as to what weapons to take from the arsenal." Tortuga's voice cut across the quiet room. The old turtle adviser stepped into the room, and closed the door behind him, shielding anyone else from the intimate sight they made.
A snarl tore from Sesshoumaru so loud that the wooden beams shook with the force of it. Kagome sat up, clutching the front of his robes, pulling herself to his chest to cover herself. Her heart raced, and she struggled to control her breathing.
Tortuga remained silent, appearing neither shocked nor bothered by their actions. He simply stood there with his arms folded in his sleeves, waiting for an answer.
Sesshoumaru focused on the flushed woman beneath him. Her bright blue eyes stared up at him, as though trying to discern his next move. Her lips were red and swollen, and the scent of her arousal coiled around him, beckoning him closer. How long would they play this game before he needed more?
Gently, he removed his hand from in between her legs, and pulled back the sleeve on her injured arm to inspect it. To both of their relief, the welts had disappeared. Idly his clawed thumb rubbed over the pulse point at her wrist. She had an unbelievable amount of power flowing through her, but reality had rudely reminded that she was still a fragile human.
"I'm going to kill him." He said her.
Kagome gave him a smile that sent his blood pooling southward. She fisted her hands in his kimono, as if she could hold him in place. "No, you're not. Deep down you know you need him. Besides, I like him."
He raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? I hear turtle soup is a delicacy."
She mock gasped. "Are you joking?"
Sesshoumaru held her gaze for a long moment before pulled himself out of her grasp. Kagome felt a shiver of cold in his wake, as if he took her warmth with him.
"Tell them to take any heavy weaponry that can break through armored scales, and wear gear that will afford them protection from poison." He said directing his attention to Tortuga.
"Of course." Tortuga said, turning his gaze from her, as Sesshoumaru joined him at the door.
Sesshoumaru admired her one last time, before closed the door leaving her alone in the study.
Kagome let out a whoosh of air and hopped down off the table. She ran her fingers through her hair, trying to tame her wild look. Her kimono was a useless mess. It hung off her shoulders lopsided, giving a generous view of her chest, and the very obvious love bite on her breast.
Dread filled her. How in the world was she going to make it back to her room to fix this?
A soft knock outside the door sent her into full-blown panic.
"Kagome-sama?" Maiko's voice sounded through the door.
Kagome held a hand to her raging heart, as relief nearly drowned her.
"Come in."
Maiko quickly opened the door and slipped in. Kagome awkwardly pulled her robe together, trying to hide her chest, and obvious dishevelment.
"I guess the cat is out of the bag, huh?" Kagome asked.
Her maid pursed her lips together and tried not to laugh, not only at her appearance, but her odd choice of words.
"Oh, I'd say the dog has been out of the bag for a long time."
Kagome gave up on modesty, and opened her arms revealing the source of her distress.
"Look at what he did to my kimono! It took a good while to get into this thing, and now look at it!" Kagome said indignant.
Maiko laughed. "Alright, my lady, let me help."
Kagome covered her face. There was no way she would chance having Lady Manako see her like this. She would never hear the end of it.
"I am so lucky to have you, Maiko-san. Thank you!"
xxxxxxx
Author's Note:
I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter! I wrote this chapter a couple of times, until my good friend Saruwarui stepped in and picked out what she liked from all the different versions. Together we smushed together what we liked into one chapter, and even then, I rewrote a bunch of it, and added to it. I have no idea why this chapter gave me so much grief.
Well, please review. I love to hear everyone's thoughts on this chapter.