The Condemned

They sky was falling. A beautiful cluster of diamonds sailed across the moonless night sky. Shooting star after shooting star streaked the heavens, dazzling any who took the time to stop whatever task they were doing and look upwards or stayed up late enough to watch the show that didn't happen too often. Some would marvel at such a sight while others shrugged their shoulders, uncaring of the beauty of nature.

Kagome was not among the unfeeling. She lay back on the grass, staring up at the sky, dazzled. Lips parted in soundless awe, she tried to speak but could not. In the next breath, a shadow appeared in her vision, obstructing her view of the sky. Lips descended on her own before she even realized who it was. Firm lips, sure strokes of a tongue moving past her parted ones. So familiar. The pressure, his taste.

"Sesshomaru." Her lover's name was nothing more than a low utterance, a smile mixed with a moan.

"Are you pleased, aijin?" His deep baritone sent shivers down her spine, though not from cold as the night was warm. He made it warmer still by his mere presence.

Kagome briefly glanced at the falling sky before gazing into glowing amber. Inhuman eyes that she loved so much. Very different from hers, but for all the strangeness, those demonic eyes put not a thrill of fear in her bones but a rising heat within her.

They were lying on a hill, the forest not far behind them, and miles and miles away from any human villages. For the last two weeks since they departed Kikyo and Inuyasha's company, they'd wandered, desiring to avoid any and all contact with others as much as possible. They wished to be alone, to heal from previous battles, but most importantly, to reconnect. Without even voicing the desire to take time away from the world to spend it alone together, the choice had been an unvoiced agreement between them.

They were still strangers, Sesshomaru and her. There was something between them, something fierce that went beyond lust. Perhaps it was love. Kagome was sure it was there, shared between them, but they still did not really know each other. She had seen all the negative and evil within Sesshomaru's heart, or at least a good portion of it had been revealed to her since he'd rescued her that fateful day she'd journeyed to the Inu no Kami's temple to beseech divine intervention to save her village. And he'd seen the worst in her. And yet, here they were. Together.

Kagome yearned to get to know her Inugami lover, but if she'd thought anything would change just because Sesshomaru no longer wished to corrupt her soul, she was mistaken. Words did not come easily to him, so pulling him into conversation was a lot like pulling teeth. Grueling and painful work. And he had never said the exact words I love you to her. Oh, he'd implied it a few times. What was more, his actions spoke volumes. He did love her, but it was so like him to keep the words to himself.

But she hadn't. It was both freeing and disconcerting to have said those three little words that meant so much. Freeing because silence held weight and she had enough to bear upon her shoulders. However, it was disconcerting because Sesshomaru never said it back. It hurt—a little. She knew that words were just air given sound and shape. Insubstantial. It was only until conviction suffused the words that gave them life, meaning. She wanted the words, greedy woman that she was. She never pressed, never asked. She would not beg for that which should be freely given.

Hope was like a living thing within her breast. A hope for more. But even she had to admit that she was not completely sure how much more she wanted. Was their liaison temporary? Did she want it to be? Only the future would tell, and she was eager to walk towards it with this demon by her side. For now, she wanted him there, and that was enough.

"Kagome?" Sesshomaru prompted her when she remained silent too long, too busy staring up at his devilish features, enrapt by him.

A small smile curved her lips as she lifted herself off the ground with elbows supporting her weight to gift him with a warm kiss. Words ceased between them for long seconds. Breathless, she drew back a scant inch. "It's beautiful. Thank you for sharing this with me." Now her eyes went to the sky. The shooting stars were decreasing in numbers, but it was no less beautiful what with all the diamonds lighting the darkness.

Wordlessly, Sesshomaru settled on his back once more. He curled his arm under then around her waist and pulled her against his side, where she readily rested her head on his chest. Innocently, her right hand moved to lie low on his abdomen.

Silence reigned between them, and she didn't mind. Sometimes it was best not to say anything at all. Until she felt his hand shift until he cupped one breast. Her breath caught, anticipation sizzling along her nerves.

He said nothing as he fondled her almost absentmindedly, but there was nothing dispassionate about her response to his touch. Kagome's cognitive thinking threatened to malfunction. Only the gentle breeze rustling around them reminded her that they were outdoors. Where anyone could stumble upon them if things turned…heated. Her worry dissolved when he pinched her nipple—hard. She jerked against him with a strangled moan.

No one was here. There wasn't a human or otherwise near them for miles and miles. She was sure Sesshomaru would be aware of any living presence that came near. More confident, she boldly reached down and grabbed him. So light, she almost missed how his breath caught. Her fist tightened around his length. His reaction was to let go of her aching breast. She almost voiced a complaint until she felt that very hand slide into the back of her hakama.

Sesshomaru groped her ass, squeezing, caressing.

Her hand moved along his shaft through his hakama, the loose fabric making it easy for her to grip and squeeze, to stroke and explore. He was already erect, so quickly did he respond to her touch. It was invigorating, made her feel more comfortable in her growing sexuality, more daring.

Until she felt his fingers glide between the crease of her cheeks. She stiffened, her hand going motionless at the unfamiliar touch against what she thought was the wrong opening. But then his searching fingers found a familiar place, delving between her folds, making her moan and release her tension.

A wicked and all too amused chuckle rumbled from his chest. "Unclaimed territory, aijin." Again with the touching against the small ring of flesh that brought back her unease. "It's only a matter of time before I conquer all of you." Before she could worry as to what his words implied, he was back to stroking her slick folds, paying special attention to the place that gave her the most pleasure.

Her hand tightened around his cock in reaction. Reminded of what she held trapped in her hand, Kagome began pumping her fist again. Up and down, up and down. Faster and faster. Just the way she knew he liked it.

Still, a nagging thought intruded upon her pleasure of touching and being touched. "People don't really…do that, do they?" Uncertainty made her voice low.

His free hand grabbed her breast, adding to her torment—the wicked tease!

"There is much I have yet to teach you." Dark temptation made Sesshomaru's voice huskier, thrilling her. And somehow, he made such a foreign act that had seemed distasteful at first into an idea she found curiously interesting.

His flesh pulsed in her hand. He was too big, surely! "That does not sound at all comfortable," she hedged.

Two fingers delved within her heat. She gasped and bit her bottom lip. Sesshomaru nuzzled the top of her head as he whispered shamelessly, "And yet I hear a note of curiosity in your voice."

He knew her far too well, she inwardly groused. But how could she hold onto her ire when he teased her so masterfully, slowly building her towards the precipice that would launch her into mind-numbing ecstasy? Wanting to bring him with her, she halted her ministrations briefly so she could delve into his hakama to grasp bare flesh. As if eager, his shaft pulsed against her palm. Knowing the tip was particularly sensitive, she would tighten her fist on every upwards stroke.

Soon, they both forgot about the implication about anal penetration, groans—both his and hers—filled the almost silent night. Minutes later, she came apart with a cry. Kagome was hardly aware of Sesshomaru grabbing onto the back of her hand to continue her stroking along his length, but a faster, harder rhythm. He followed her into bliss seconds later, his seed splashing against her palm when Sesshomaru forced her hand to capture the tide.

Only when she came down from her high did she understand why he'd done it. Sesshomaru hadn't wanted to stain his garments. Probably a wise decision but…

Retrieving her hand from his hakama, it dripped with his seed. On impulse, she dabbed at it with her tongue, tasting his release. Sesshomaru groaned, prompting her to look up at him. He was watching her. His cheeks were flushed, lips parted as he breathed heavily through his mouth, and she saw a hint of his fangs. Looking into his red rimmed eyes, demonic eyes, it was obvious his ardor had not abated.

Then he was untying his obi and shoving his hakama down to mid-thigh.

"You missed a few drops, aijin," his voice husky.

Kagome knew what he meant. A saucy grin spilt her lips and she was moving downwards. Leaning over his hip, she moved his garments aside to bare his semi-erect cock. Just as he'd said, she'd 'missed a few drops'.

"Do you ache for a kiss, demon?" she teased.

His hand curled around the back of her skull, drawing her closer to his shaft.

"Tease me more, priestess," he dared.

Not a second later, Sesshomaru's deep groan of satisfaction rang around them.

The next morning, they started their aimless roaming late, since Sesshomaru had been inconsiderate to her sore flesh and insisted on starting the new day with more sex. While Kagome enjoyed everything that he did, the wicked things he whispered to her, and though she no longer regretted giving and receiving pleasure with him, Sesshomaru could be rough and demanding.

There were a few bruises on her body, where he held her hips too tightly and around her wrists when he restrained her, but those minor aches and pains she didn't really mind. What made her curse him was the soreness between her thighs that threatened to make her wake in an unnatural way. And fiend that he was, Sesshomaru laughed at her before either giving her a wide grin or teasing words.

Kagome pretended to be angry and swatted at his backside, which he allowed but returned the light spank in kind. The Inugami was being…playful almost. She couldn't help but chuckle and shake her head at him.

"Shall I carry you?" he asked. It would have been a polite offer had she not seen the amusement in his eyes.

"No, thank you. I'm perfectly capable of putting one foot in front of the other," was her tart retort.

"Hn, perhaps I was too rough with you?"

"You think?" She rubbed her hip in exaggeration.

"Poor, delicate human," he murmured.

"I can take you." Her tone was confident, her smile knowing.

He returned that grin, but his was much better than hers. "Yes." It was more hiss than anything, one that caused her heart to skip a beat. "You can."

And with that, they were off. The day was beautiful, if a bit on the windy side, and travelling across the open land instead of within a forest left no buffer against the wind. Hair and clothes flapped in a mad dance. It had made eating breakfast difficult, for Sesshomaru couldn't catch her any small game with the wind so predominant that any fire could potentially set the field aflame. So instead, Kagome ate leftover bread and cheese he'd paid for the one time they'd ventured into a human settlement not two days ago.

Sesshomaru had accompanied her, standing tall and regal by her side, and though he was in human form, his eyes and demonic markings marked him for who and what he really was. Still, it had taken the villagers awhile to catch onto his true identity. It wasn't until she'd stopped at a vender for supplies and food that everything went downhill. Sesshomaru had insisted on paying for everything. Kagome didn't have any money and she didn't know where Sesshomaru got his, but she never thought for one second that he'd stolen it.

However, when he'd handed over the money for her items, the vender got a good look at his face, blinked in shock, before fear filled his round face.

"Demon!" With a cry that gained several massing villagers attention, pandemonium struck. Running, screaming villagers fled from them, while others took up whatever weapon were at hand. Most were just shovels or other tools, while some held thick logs like a club. None dared advance, but more shouting filled the once peaceful village.

"It's a demon!"

"What is it doing here?"

And when they noticed her, there were many cries for her aid to purify the devil in their midst. No matter how Kagome tried to tell them that Sesshomaru meant them no harm, her words fell on deaf ears. So afraid were they, the villagers turned on her and called her demon's whore and much worse. The only thing keeping them at bay was their fear and Sesshomaru's dire warning.

"Stand aside and you shall live." No feeling entered his voice. Sesshomaru's cool detachment was worse than any shout or curse.

They'd left, but not before Sesshomaru placed the coins on the vender's table and instructed her to pick up the supplies she'd picked out. And as if in defiance of the villagers' cries for them to leave and never return, Sesshomaru led her out at a sedate walk. Not fast or slow, but measured steps. None dared attack, but many followed not far behind, making sure they had departed their humble village.

It had stung, their blind hatred and contempt. They didn't even know her or Sesshomaru, and yet they felt it was their right to cast stones. The opinions of others should not matter to her. They were strangers and ignorant. But it hurt just the same. Sesshomaru had caught onto her feelings, probably because she was uncommonly silent.

"Ignore them. They are fools."

"I know." She didn't really want to talk about it. She wasn't ignorant. She knew many would react just as the villagers had. Humans and demons were constantly at odds, but she was a miko, which was even more condemning in other's eyes that she consorted with a demon.

"They have no right."

Kagome was sure he knew what she meant. No right to judge. Instead of lecturing her on the ways of the world, what she already knew to be true, no matter how unfair, Sesshomaru kept silent. His hand had reached out to clasp her own, connecting them. With just a small touch, he conveyed his willingness to ignore anyone and everyone who tried to come between them. He'd made his choice. The scar on her neck from his bite weeks ago proved it. She was his, and he was hers.

It was enough for her.

Now they were walking again. Remembering having his hand in hers two days ago after the fiasco in the village, Kagome took his hand in hers now. Sesshomaru glanced her way but didn't comment, merely held her hand gently but firmly. She couldn't stop the small smile that lifted her lips. Sometimes, the smallest touch conveyed so much.

Though she didn't mind their aimless travels, she couldn't help but ask, "Where are we going?"

"Do you have anywhere you wish to go?" he asked in return.

She shook her head. "Not particularly, but…I am curious. You once said you had a residence in this world."

"I recall you were against going." There was no rancor in his tone.

"That was then," she returned.

"And this is now?" She could hear the smile in his words. He smiled more freely around her. It made her chest warm upon realizing it.

"Shall I show you were I live?" An innocent inquiry with so much weight. His earthly home, his domain. What would she find there? Did he live alone or in some castle? With the regal Inugami, anything was possible. She didn't want to ask too many questions. Just the idea of going to his home filled her with anticipation and uncertainty.

Instead, she asked a simple question. "Is it far?"

His hair rustled as he nodded. "It is deep in the Western Territory, but we will travel at full speed to make up time."

"Then what are we waiting for?" She spoke with more confidence than she felt, but her curiosity was stronger than her fear.

He hesitated. "Inuyasha and your sister will most likely be there, waiting for us."

She hadn't thought of that. Kagome had no doubt that Kikyo was still hell-bent on 'saving' her. Remembering Kikyo's refusal to acknowledge Kagome's words that Sesshomaru was more than he seemed infuriated her. She was not a child anymore! And her sister was just going to have to realize that fact, because she was not going to choose between family and Sesshomaru. Either Kikyo was in her life and accepted her choices or she wasn't. Kagome refused to take the blame for Kikyo's close-minded attitude.

Kikyo was such a hypocrite. Kagome hadn't realized her sister could be so judgmental and worse. Kikyo dealt in double standards. Whereas it was alright for her to find happiness with a man not wholly human, kami forbid Kagome chose a demon to stand beside. And yet she still loved Kikyo. Remembering Kikyo's lost and tortured expression as she'd left with Sesshomaru dragged on her heart when she thought about it. So she tried not to.

Sooner or later, they were going to have to talk. Kagome was trying to be optimistic by thinking Kikyo will one day come around and accept Kagome's choices, and her choice was to be with Sesshomaru for however long they both desired the other's company. And Inuyasha, Sesshomaru's half-brother who just so happened to be half-human and half-Inugami? She'd soon learn more about him as well, but what she had seen of him so far, he was like a child, brash and boorish. But she was willing to get to know him. Admittedly, she was even more curious about the dynamics between the brothers. It was obvious Sesshomaru hadn't been the most loving of siblings… She wasn't sure how she felt about that, but since she didn't know the whole story, she was not about to make assumptions like she'd been wont to do before she'd met Sesshomaru and outgrown her own childish tendencies.

She was a different woman, a better woman, she liked to think, and it was all because of the demon striding beside her, hand-in-hand.

"Then we best greet them," Kagome replied.

"If that is your wish." Sesshomaru released her hand only to pick her up in his strong arms. "Hold onto me."

She nodded, and a bright light surrounded them. They were trapped in a small orb of Sesshomaru's demonic energy and speeding off through the sky, high above the trees, and soaring to a destination she knew not where, except that it was west. But she trusted him. For all his betrayals, he'd earned it.