"You two," an older gentleman waved a hand to them, beckoning them closer. "A storm is coming in do you seek shelter?" He wobbled slightly from walking, but he was sturdy enough to hold his own.
"Yes," Sesshomaru led the Kirin—now disguised as an ordinary horse—to the man's stables and locked the pen. "How much do you request for lodging?" Sesshomaru was good at acting human, though he implied enough times he was not fond of them repeatedly. His disguise of his demonic aura and markings was hidden using a jelly from a strange tree we've passed before getting here that hid demons' true self for a time.
They were speaking for some time now and I wasn't paying attention. "I'm an old man, traveler. These bones ain't what they used to be. Cut enough wood for the night and you'll be doin' me a favor."
[I guess they were making a deal?]
"Then it's settled."
Turning to me and resting a hand on my head to see if everything was still hidden in place beneath the cloak, he was acting as a caring man so people won't question us. I tried using the jelly to disguise myself as well but it didn't work as intended. Having my ears still show and my tail only shrunk down to the size of a baby fox nub. Frustrated, Sesshomaru luckily came upon a wondering caravan and managed to get some clothing to disguise my appearance.
"Here's my humble abode you two," the man was smiling as he led us inside his home. "Down there is the spare bedroom. The straw bed has been changed recently so it should be just fine."
"Thank you." Sesshomaru peered inside and scoped the place before nodding that it was alright. "Where is the wood you require?"
"Follow me," the man was cheery getting help before the storm hit and I unpacked a few things before really looking at the room seeing only one bed. I knew better than to think we would be sleeping in it together, but after the hot springs my mind has been cloudy with such ludicrous thoughts that I felt my face heat up.
[I really need to get a grip on myself…he made it quite clear that night he won't go further.] Saddened by my own words as I finished settling in, the man had returned and knocked on the door frame.
"Hello my dear, will you help this old man out in the field? I have some potatoes we can harvest for dinner tonight."
"Sure." Fixating my cloak and making sure my ears didn't move too much beneath the hood, I followed the man to his small garden and the neighbors all greeted warmly as they prepared for the winter storm. He handed me an empty sack and began slowly moving through his field and began plucking the ripe potatoes from the ground in a steady fashion.
"You live alone?" I asked him, wanting something to talk about.
"Of course," he chuckled warmly. "But not truly alone here. Everyone here is family to me no matter how old I get. Grandchildren and my own have grown and moved on with their lives."
"Then during the winter you are by yourself? That seems so lonely."
"Oho child, many travelers come and go and help me with the things I can no longer do on my own. Like your husband there, chopping the wood, it helps quite a bit."
"How sweet of you. Is that why you helped us?" Getting the sense for his generosity, he nodded in kind and continued filling the bag without me noticing he hasn't stopped. It should be getting pretty heavy by now but I can't feel the difference in weight.
"Weary travelers, monks, demon hunters, they all come through here to make it through the pass to the other side. Demons do not tread the skies here."
"Why?"
Sesshomaru wouldn't tell me the reasoning, he merely insisted that we stayed in this particular village until the storm was done. He was quite intent on it.
"The sky here is unforgiving. You will see no birds here either. These mountains suffocate anything that flies above its peak." He usually charming voice was dark and bleak as he looked up. "I've never seen anything fly through here in all my years."
"...and yet we're safe below while taking the trail?" Odd that would be the case for how severe the storm sounded, he nodded.
"Oddly enough," the man gave a soft chuckle while tending the field a bit more and placing bushels of potatoes in the sack. "Demons don't bother this village either. They will pass right on through, ignoring us. Not worth their time."
"Have you housed demons before?"
The man was amused by my question, he laughed wholeheartedly. Unsure how to take the reaction I just left it at that and continued holding the bag.
"Thank you for allowing us to stay."
"How early shall you be leaving then? When the storm settles it should be close to sunrise."
"I would have to ask him. He planned this trip," unsure what our story was to him, he seemed to nod at the response and slowly made his way back to the house.
"For a woman you are quite strong," he mentioned as I carried a full sack of potatoes without dragging it on the ground and hands unfazed by the weight. I wasn't sure how to react as I smiled with confidence that it was no big deal considering I've been on the road a lot, but he seemed suspicious now. The man eyed me quietly while heading inside that I was unsure if we should stay with him being suspicious.
[I'll need to speak with Sesshomaru...I may have cost us shelter.] Deep in thought as I dropped off the bag and went towards where Sesshomaru was splitting wood.
Ready to speak out and stopping in my tracks when seeing his bare chest in the open and his kimono only around his waist, he was presenting himself normally in the eyes of a human chopping wood but my thoughts rampaged like a raging sea and I got flustered seeing him half naked.
[Get a hold of yourself, Clara! Now is not the time to fantasize!] Berating myself as I approached him, he caught sight of me and stopped chopping.
"Um…we need to talk."
Night had fallen, the old man was fast asleep by now. The storm had come in as expected, far too reckless to brave it themselves.
"We cannot leave this house until it passes. The man will not know what we are if we leave before he wakes." Making the goal clear, she sunk low into the bed with her head hung low.
"I'm sorry..." chastising herself for not acting 'human' like she once was, he did not scold her, nor did he admit her mistake. He simply patted her head and stared out the window watching the storm roll through.
The tension had eased keeping themselves on watch if the man would attack them while they slept. Clara was the first to fall asleep as the night prolonged. Sesshomaru paid no mind having her lean against him, for he kept himself at the ready if the human dared to try anything while their guard was down. She shifted with a small grunt as he looked down to see her brows knit together while curling her fingers in the covers. Without a thought he picked her up and cradled her in his arms and kept her from bringing out her foxfire.
Small flickering flames would spurt, but the fire was withheld each time.
"no..." she whimpered. Flames flickered to life around the room as orbs as she whimpered resistance to something—someone—in her sleep. The orbs became more vibrant but condensed in power as the flames no longer flickered but was now a solid mass.
"Clara," he tried waking her, but the flames sparked at his hand and singed his skin. Wary what was to happen if a fire broke out here and the humans finding them, he attempted to wake her again only to be burned once more. The flames reacted to her voice crying out in pain. Each spark in time with her cry, and each whimper the flames would grow larger. Taking her face in his hand and tilting her chin at an angle, he paused to stare at her, face pained and serene all at once. Clarity in his mind to do what he must to keep her power in control, it was his inner desires that he worried about in the back of his mind.
[Would I be able to control it?] He thought carefully. His innate desire had nearly overcome him several occasions, but this would be testing his patience to the fullest. Little time to ponder as she let out another yelp of pain that triggered a large ball of fire to come forth, he extinguished the orb and succumbed to the act.
Soft ample lips touched his own as a fiery desire rose within him to overtake her. His nails bit gently into her skin as she responded to him in her sleep, taking hold of his kimono and pulling him closer. The flames sputtered only a few times before putting themselves out and a low growl came deep within him as he craved more than a subtle kiss. She slowly woke to the force and was breathlessly in shock.
"Sessho…maru?" Out of breath as she searched his features for answers, he said nothing other than taking hold of her once more into his embrace.
Her wispy look in her eyes making his senses snap as he pulled her back onto him, the taste of her lips fresh and tantalizing, she groaned beneath his touch and he felt the pulse he's been denying.
First there were protests from her, hands trying to push him away. She slowly lost strength in his grasp as he traced her collarbone with his tongue and nipped gently at her skin to listen to each gasp. Her display of false wants were no longer in sight as her fingers coiled around him wanting more.
A low growl escaped him as he forcibly picked her up and placed her onto the bed and mounted her.
"Clara…"
Speaking her name invoked a fire within as she reached out for him to take her. Moaning at his touch as he traced her body in full and tasted her. As if a thirst unquenched, he delved past her hips and pried her thighs open for him to enter her. He disrobed immediately, seeing her flustered face made his innate desires come into view and the inner demon he had held back no longer being caged as he slipped his cock easily into her and watched her spasm in full pleasure.
"You're mine…" he rasped. She couldn't speak as he penetrated her more fiercely, making her gasps and moans drown out his thoughts. He desired the foxfire—the power she held in her grasp, but he craved the woman before him to tame his desires.