Disclaimer: Inuyasha is sooo not mine.
Chapter 9
"Shitshitshit!" Gil whispered anxiously to himself. He had brought Kagome back to her cottage and laid her down on her couch, but there was no change in her condition. She remained quite still, her eyes staring fixedly up at the ceiling.
"Oh hell, what am I gonna do?" he whispered to the room. He began to pace back and forth, all the while wringing his hands. "Damn, I never meant... I never... shit!"
He stopped pacing and dropped to his knees beside the couch, and clasped his hands to his chest. "Mother, please help me!" he cried softly, as the panic seized him. He was scared; not only because of what he had very nearly done to Kagome, but also because she had not moved a muscle for nearly an hour since he shoved her to ground. "Please, mum, I need you!"
As soon as the last word left his lips, the room began to darken, the lights above flickering rapidly until they finally went out. Gil lifted his head. Before him materialized a soft, pale gold light whose rays gently pierced the darkness around him.
"Mum," he breathed, as the light began to take the shape of a woman. It was his mother, whose sleek, curvaceous shape appeared first, followed by her face, then lastly, her glorious mane of golden hair.
The glimmering apparition reached for him. "Gil, darling," said the radiant Miranda as she smiled lovingly down at her kneeling son. But her expression changed when she saw the guilt-stricken look on his face. "What's wrong, beloved?" Her eyes shifted from him to the figure on the sofa beside him. "Oh, Gil! What's happened?"
Gil choked back a sob and hurriedly explained what had occurred. The ghostly figure of Miranda glided over to where Kagome lay and placed a misty hand over the girl's eyes. Kagome's body instantly relaxed and her eyes slid shut. She fell into a deep sleep.
"Is this the young woman who stole your heart, Gil?" the she-elf asked of her son as she gently stroked Kagome's hair.
"Yes, mum. This is Kagome."
Miranda smiled. "She's lovely, my dear," she said and once again placed her hand on Kagome's forehead. A second later, however, she jerked her hand back as though she had been burned for she had glimpsed what her son had seen earlier. "Oh, that monster! How could he do such a wicked thing to this poor child?"
Gil nodded gravely. "Yes, I saw that too. That makes me feel even worse about what I've done, mum. How can I possibly make up for my incredibly foolish behavior? What do I say to her?"
His mother shook her golden head. "Don't fret about it, beloved" she told him. As she spoke, she passed a transparent hand over Kagome's face. "When she awakens, she won't remember anything after you rescued her." She paused and eyed her son thoughtfully. "I know you never meant her any harm, but darling, please try to restrain yourself the next time you find yourself aroused like that. You want her to trust you, but how can you achieve that end when you pounce on the poor girl every chance you get?"
He hung his head. "Forgive me, mum. I never meant to hurt her..." He paused, then his words fell from his lips in a rush. "It's just that... well, I'm in love with her and I want her so badly and I hate Yuki because he has her heart and he doesn't know how lucky he is and-"
The shimmering apparition held up a hand. "Whoa! Hold on there a moment, boy. Yuki? You don't mean Rini's son, Yuki?"
"Yes, that's exactly who I'm speaking of." Gil stared angrily up at his mother. "Kagome's in love with that damned fool, but it's a plain as day he doesn't feel the same about her. How am I supposed to compete with him? He's so bloody perfect and I'm... I'm not." His shoulders slumped dejectedly and he bowed his head. "Perhaps if I was a pure-blooded elf like him, she would like me."
"Don't you say that!" admonished his mother severely. "You are every bit as handsome as that boy and if I may so myself, far better mannered than him. I love him; he's my nephew, but I've heard of how he behaves when he's not around his mother and let me tell you, I would prefer to have my half-human son over that pure-blood elf any day. If he's not careful, he'll bring shame on his family."
With a groan, Gil covered his face with his hands. "But haven't I done that to you already? I've been arrested for pinching beer, bubblegum and crisps, for crying out loud-"
Miranda waved his words away with an impatient hand. "So? What does that matter? Mere trifles. At least you don't treat women like pieces of meat and then ruthlessly discard them when you don't want them any longer. You're a gentleman, Gil, and that alone speaks volumes."
The tall young man kneeling on the floor doubled over and began to weep loudly. "You don't understand, mum! I'm not a gentleman! I nearly r-raped her! I tackled her to the ground- oh god, I'm an animal just like him! An animal!" His body shook violently with his heart-wrenching sobs.
Seeing her son so miserable made Miranda's heart ache fiercely. She knelt before him and placed her hand on his head. Embracing him was impossible in the form she was in, but she could at least lend him some of her peace. "Here now, don't cry. Ah, my sweet, sweet angel, I want so much to hold you and take away your pain. But you didn't mean to do what you did. I know you didn't. You love this girl, but you don't know the right way to express your feelings."
Lifting his head, Gil sniffed. He could feel his anguish lessening, much to his relief. "It still doesn't change the fact that I forced myself on her." His gaze shifted upwards to look into his mother's face. "I couldn't help myself, though. She wouldn't admit to being love with Yuki, but I know she is! I can see him in her thoughts and she knows I can read her mind. Why would she continue to deny her feelings for him? She knows I'm wild for her, but she doesn't seem to care about that at all. I'm as jealous as hell because she doesn't feel anything for me even though I've tried really hard to get her to like me, but it seems like I'm always doing something wrong because she always keeps me at arms' length." He took a deep breath and then sighed resignedly. "It's just so damned frustrating wanting someone who won't give you the time of day. I just don't know what to do."
His mother's gauzy figure wavered slightly then came back into focus. "I have to go now. Sweetheart, all I can tell you is that you need to be patient with this young lady. Be her friend, first and foremost and use your gift to help her, to be attuned to her at all times. That's all she needs right now. When the time is right, you'll know it and she will let you in." Miranda smiled down at her son, as her image began to fade. "Goodbye, my love. I'll be home soon."
"Goodbye, mum. Thank you." After the image of his mother had vanished, Gil got to his feet. For a few silent moments, he watched Kagome. The lights flickered back on, but he went quickly to the wall and turned them off. Faintly, moonlight shone in through a couple of windows at the other end of the living room, but Gil did not need that light to see her slim form shiver slightly. As one with elven blood, Gil could see quite well in the dark.
He made his way into her bedroom, found a blanket and brought it back into the living room, where he covered her with the warm material. He then took a seat in a nearby armchair and sat facing her. Once he had settled comfortably in the chair, he continued to watch her in the semi-darkness until his eyes grew too heavy to remain open.
ooo
When Kagome awoke at last, she found Gil sitting in the armchair across from her, fast asleep. She sat up slowly, testing to see if she would feel light-headed or groggy. When neither sensation, nor indeed any other disagreeable feeling presented themselves, she sighed with relief.
"How are you feeling?" asked a solemn voice from the direction of the armchair.
Kagome froze and looked over at him. She frowned. Was he looking just a wee bit anxious? she wondered. "I'm fine," she said aloud and pushing the blanket off of her, swung her legs over the side of the couch. "If you don't mind, could you tell me what happened last night? I'm afraid I don't seem to recall very much."
Gil obliged, but tactfully left out the part where he had attempted to maul her. "The young man is being sent home, naturally. After his half-witted actions last night, I'm surprised he didn't hang himself in shame, the tiresome little twat," he grumbled irritably.
"Good riddance," agreed Kagome. "Thank you, by the way, for coming to the rescue. I thought we were goners there for a moment."
"Not at all," Gil said, shaking his head. He yawned, then got up to leave. "You don't need to thank me, Kagome. I was just doing my job, that's all."
She rose with him and walked with him to the front door. When she opened it, the cool morning air smacked her in the face and gladly she breathed it in, suddenly feeling better than she had in a long time. "I'm allowed to thank you at least, right? I, for one, am very thankful to still be among the living."
The sergeant chuckled. "As am I. Life is so much more interesting with you in it, Kagome." He gave her a quick salute and a wink, then took himself off, whistling a cheerful tune.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Miranda was happily ensconced in her nephews' house, in the kitchen, whistling a cheerful tune and making dinner. She was browning some meat in a skillet when Yuki walked in. "Hi there, handsome!" she chirped sunnily. "I hope you don't mind, but I told your brothers that I would cook some dinner for the three of you."
The fair elf, who looked so much like herself, smiled gratefully back at her. "Thanks, Aunt Miranda. That would be great."
"Oh, it's the least I could do. Hiro does most of the cooking I hear, so I thought I would give him a break for a change. Would you like some tea, sweetheart?" She indicated the tea kettle on the stove.
He shook his head. "No, thanks, aunt. I was just coming in here for a beer, if that's okay."
Miranda chuckled. "It's your house, love, and you're well over the legal drinking age."
"I've been well over the legal drinking age for a long time now," remarked Yuki a trifle ruefully. "It's somewhat depressing."
"Don't feel that way, darling. At least when you really start getting up in age, no one will even know. You'll have that pretty face for as long as you live." She winked at her grimacing nephew. "So... how have you been doing, young man?"
"Okay, I guess."
"Hmm." Miranda looked askance at him. In a casual voice she asked, "Are you seeing anyone? Are you ready to settle down and start a family?" She laughed when she caught a glimpse of his bright red face. "Oh, I see. You've found a lovely young woman but you don't want to introduce her to your mother. I don't blame you one bit."
Yuki reached up and ran a hand through his bright yellow hair. "Well, actually, I'm not seeing anyone, Aunt Miranda. At least, I was interested in someone a while back, but-"
"But?" prompted Miranda.
"But... I suffered a moment of total brainlessness and let her go," Yuki finished with a heavy sigh.
"Oh, I see. I gather you must have been in love with this woman, then."
He nodded and drank deeply from his beer bottle. "Insanely in love with her. I still am. I would go look for her and try to make things right between us, but I have no clue where she might be. Her mother said she didn't know either, which is strange since Kagome tells her mother pretty much everything."
So Yuki's young lady was Kagome. This wasn't a good thing, Miranda thought morosely. Yuki and her son were in love with the same woman and while she didn't want to cause her beautiful nephew any pain, Miranda would not hesitate to brush him aside for the sake of her son, whom she felt deserved Kagome more. Not that she didn't care for her eldest nephew; far from it. She did indeed care about Yuki, no matter how clouded his past was or how reprehensible his behavior toward women was. But she needed, as a mother, to further the interests of her offspring. Besides, Yuki had already had his chance with Kagome.
Yuki began explaining about what had occurred between himself and Kagome to his aunt, who listened with the utmost interest. The story he told was heart-breaking, but Miranda knew that the final outcome had been his own fault. To throw away a wonderful young woman such as Kagome was foolish. But at least Yuki had had the decency to admit just how foolish his actions had been.
"Well, I'm sure you'll get the chance to apologize to your young lady one day," Miranda murmured vaguely as she began to chop some onions.
To her dismay, Yuki gave her a sad smile. It nearly broke her heart to see this beautiful young elf so wretched. For a moment, she wanted to admit to the poor boy that she knew where Kagome was, but then she recalled her son's poor, pitiful face and quickly stiffened her resolve. Her boy deserved to be happy, damn it, and even if it meant withholding information vital to Yuki's love life and breaking his heart in the process, she would make certain that Gil would be given the chance to win over the girl he so desperately loved.
"I hope so," Yuki said, his long fingers absently fondling his beer bottle. "I've never met a woman like her before. I don't see how that idiot Inuyasha could have lived with himself after he treated her like dirt, then dismissed her as coldly as he did." He took a swig of his beer. "He hurt her terribly, from what I've been told."
The knife in Miranda's hand ceased its chopping motion and the she-elf eyed her nephew with narrowed, icy blue eyes. Inuyasha? Was this Inuyasha that evil black-haired man she had seen in Kagome's memory? "Who," inquired Miranda in a deathly quiet voice, "is Inuyasha?"
Yuki gave her a brief description of Inuyasha, which seemed to exonerate him from the role of Kagome's ebony headed rapist, but despite his innocence in that area, Miranda felt troubled anyway. Would this individual try to win Kagome back, too? Oh no, no, no... this could not happen. It would not happen. There must not be yet another impediment to her son's happiness, she thought, feeling her maternal protectiveness for her son flare wildly. Kagome would be his, even if she had to cast every spell in the Elven tongue to make it so.
"Are you alright, Aunt Miranda?"
Miranda started. "Of course, my boy. Why do you ask?" She did not look at him, and resumed chopping, which seemed to have streak of viciousness in its movements that had not been there previously.
Yuki's green gaze rested on her hands. "Your knuckles are white," he remarked simply.
She looked down and saw that indeed the knuckles of her right hand were white from gripping the handle of the knife so hard. "Goodness me, so they are," she said with a short nervous laugh and set down the knife, then proceeded to flex her hand a few times gingerly. "I guess I should stop for a moment then. I don't usually prepare my own meals, you know."
"Would you like me to do that for you?" Yuki set down his beer and held out his hand for the knife.
Graciously, Miranda allowed him to take over. She helped herself to a beer and sat down at the kitchen table to drink and watch her nephew as he finished chopping the vegetables. Yuki really was devastatingly beautiful, she thought to herself, taking a sip of her brew. But so was her son. He was just as pleasurable to look at as his cousin was. The only real difference was that Gil had a more masculine appeal, while Yuki's looks were delicate, feminine almost, with an insubstantial, ethereal quality. One could only imagine the stir he would have caused had he been born a female.
She took another sip and her mind went promptly back to Kagome's attacker. From what she had caught a glimpse of in the young woman's memory, it was a man with jet-black hair, a set of impressive shoulders and a pair of hands that possessed a brutish, feral strength. That in itself was rather curious, for while the man had used his strength to hurt her, the words that fell from his lips had expressed his undying love for her. But those words of adoration meant little to Miranda. It was obvious that the vicious man had no qualms about using his power to subdue Kagome into a state of helplessness. Monstrous fiend! She would find the beast and give him what he deserved.
ooooooooooooo
After a few more hours of restful sleep, Kagome took a shower, got dressed and headed off to work. On the way over, Kagome was joined by Gil, who seemed to materialize out of nowhere. She said nothing as he fell into step beside her, but after a few minutes of silence she said, "If you meant to go for a run, then by all means, please do. You don't need to walk with me."
Gil lit a cigarette with an amused look on his face. "I don't feel much like running today, if you don't mind," he said with a grin. "No, I rather prefer to take in all this lovely scenery." His twinkling blue eyes swept over her, informing her wordlessly that he was interested in looking at something other than the trees.
Kagome was instantly scarlet and trained her eyes on the road ahead of her. "The English countryside has always appealed to me," she managed to say at last. "It's very pretty; so lush and green. I'm glad I came here."
The sergeant sensed that he was making her uncomfortable yet again, in an attempt to compliment her on her loveliness. He sighed inwardly. "Yes, England is rather beautiful, although I much prefer the warm seasons to the cool. Spring and summer are decidedly the best part of life on this sparkling isle, in my opinion." He began to expand on the subject and as he did so, he noticed that Kagome began to relax in his presence. By the time they reached the station, she seemed completely at ease with him.
He marveled at the change in Kagome, who even bade him a friendly goodbye as she went into her office. His mother had been right! All he needed to do was keep the conversation on neutral ground and by Jove, it worked! They hadn't spoken like that ever, in his recollection. He was always either embarrassing her by dragging his feelings for her into the conversation or simply just talking about himself.
Gil snorted. What arrogant little wanker he was turning out to be! No wonder she wanted nothing to do with him. Sitting down behind his desk, he shut his eyes for a moment and listened for her thoughts. A moment later, he was happy that he had done so. It was a short burst, but when she thought of him just now, it had been with the friendliest of feelings.
His eyes opened and he smiled to himself. When he saw his mum next, he would take her out for an indecently expensive dinner and a night at the opera to thank her. How he would have been able to face Kagome after the events of the previous evening without his mum's intervention, he didn't know. But that woman definitely should be crowned Mother of the Year.
In the back of his mind, Gil could hear Kagome's tummy rumbling and saw that she was craving a chocolate covered doughnut and a cup of hot milky chocolate with fluffy white marshmallows that floated lazily on top. With a tender smile, he got to his feet and went off to fulfill his lady's wishes.
oooooooooooooo
The next day, Miranda returned to her nephews' house for the last time. She was about to leave Japan and return home to England, so she dropped by to wish them goodbye.
As she closed the door behind her, she heard loud, argumentative voices coming from the direction of the living room, so she went to investigate. She found Yuki standing toe to toe with a shorter, white-haired male of indiscriminate age and clad in a red outfit. Both were immersed in a shouting match.
"I know you know where she is, you pointy-eared freak!" yelled the man in red. "Now for the last time, where... is... Kagome?"
Yuki's eyes narrowed. "And I keep telling you, you stupid bastard, that I don't know where Kagome is! She's gone, okay? Gone! Get that through your thick, ugly head!"
Miranda watched in consternation as insults were hurled back and forth until another white-haired man appeared and spoke a word that instantly brought her off the sidelines.
"Please restrain yourself, Inuyasha."
"Inuyasha?" Miranda rushed forward and grabbed the man in red by the scruff of the neck and whirled him around to face her.
"Oi!" cried Inuyasha in alarm. "Who the hell are you? Get your hands off of me!" He put up his hands to shove her away from him, but seeing that his captor was a woman, he lowered his hands. "Let go of me, lady. I nearly swung at you. Hey! What are you-?"
Miranda placed a hand on his forehead and shut her eyes. She could see flashes of two young women in his mind, identical in body, yet wore dissimilar clothes. Ah yes, the woman in modern dress was Kagome. She foremost in his mind and the other, who wore traditional miko garb was in the background. Her image was hazy, faded; it seemed as though Inuyasha was beginning to forget who she was.
Then, almost as though she was watching a home video, a small scene from Inuyasha's past played out before her mind's eye. From Inuyasha's point of view, she saw Kagome's face, wracked in pain, turned up to his. She was pleading with him to help her, but Inuyasha refused. His voice, hard, angry and merciless, flowed from him.
Another picture formed, this time it was of himself as a young man with long black hair and Miranda immediately seized upon it. But she paused. Another image quickly followed; this one of a night sky, dark and moonless. A night of fear... a night of weakness.
Miranda knew something of half demons. Each one had a night where they were completely vulnerable to others, as their demon form left them and their human form came forth. No, Inuyasha was indeed not the man who had raped Kagome.
Slowly she removed her hands from his person, took a step back and backhanded him hard across the face.
He stared hard at her, his cheek a bright red. "What the hell did you do that for?" he demanded, stunned.
Her blue eyes glittered with suppressed rage. "That is for Kagome, you worthless... useless... pathetic... loser!" she shouted, emphasizing each word with a hard jab of her finger into his chest. She took great delight in seeing Inuyasha's face turned bright red then go completely white.
"H-how did you-?"
"Easy, you vile little man. I peered into your simple little mind and saw for myself. I hope you're sorry for what you did to that girl," she hissed and poked him in the chest with a hard finger one last time.
Inuyasha's dark brows came together. "Of course I'm sorry! I've been sorry since the day it happened! You have no idea how many times I've wished to make up for what I did to her."
"Yeah, I'll bet," Miranda muttered sarcastically, and was about to lay in on him some more when Hiro walked into the room, followed by something that caught her eye.
"Aunt Miranda? What are you doing to Inuyasha?" Hiro exclaimed, confused.
But Miranda was on the war path and when she glimpsed the male standing behind her nephew, she saw red once again. Inuyasha and his iniquities now forgotten, she strode over and brushed Hiro aside. The male behind Hiro only stared blankly down at her.
"Yes?" said the man. "May I help you?"
In response, the she-elf raised one glowing hand and swung it at the man's head, but Hiro was quicker and grabbed her wrist before contact was made.
"Aunt Miranda!" he cried, pulling her away. "What are you doing?"
She struggled against her nephew's arms, but her eyes remained fixed on the black-haired man in the doorway. "Him!" she yelled, "He's the one! He's the one who raped her! I saw it!"
"What?" Yuki cried and raced over to where his aunt and brother were. "Is that true?"
Hiro glared at his brother. "Don't be a fool, Yuki. You know damn well that it's not true."
"Are you calling me a liar?" Miranda stiffened in offense. "I know what I saw, Hiroshi. It was a black haired man with powerful shoulders. He hurt her terribly, all the while professing to love her."
The black-haired man stepped into the room. "I do love Kagome," Kouga said quietly, "but I would never hurt her and she knows that."
"Oh please, you expect me to believe that?" laughed Miranda harshly.
"Kouga is telling the truth, aunt," said Hiro soothingly. "He and Kagome have been friends for a long time."
Miranda snorted. "You expect me to believe that, too?" she asked again.
Hiro sighed. "Yes I do, because Kouga was with us the night we found Kagome and her attacker together."
The elf princess appeared to mull over this new bit of information for a moment, then she held out her hand. "Come here," she said imperiously to Kouga, who couldn't help but flinch. "Come. I won't hurt you." Kouga did as he was told and stood before her. She took hold of his wrists and closed her eyes.
Love. There was nothing but love in his hands, she discovered with some surprise. Light touches, soft caresses; the curve of a young woman's jaw... the sweep of her slender throat... the cool smoothness of a silken cheek...
Her blue eyes opened wide. Without asking his permission to do so, she lifted a hand to Kouga's forehead and laid her palm across it. A beautiful, tender scene met her eyes and she cried silently. She saw Kagome lying beneath him; her dark eyes full of passion and want, her lips slightly parted... her voice breathing his name...
With an effort, Miranda pulled herself away from him and nearly collapsed. But Kouga grabbed her before she hit the floor. "Hey, are you alright?" he asked, helping her to her feet.
She nodded and stared up at him. "Forgive me, young man. I should not have jumped to conclusions about you. What I saw just now..." A watery smile curved her lips. "What I saw just now was simply beautiful. I know now that you couldn't possibly have harmed a hair on her head."
Kouga nodded solemnly at her and suddenly she felt miserable, as though she were robbing him of happiness. Certainly she was doing just that. But if Kagome did not want her son, then Miranda felt that this ebony-haired, blue-eyed stunner should be the one to have her.
"I just came to say goodbye, my dears," Miranda managed to say and wiped her eyes. She turned to Hiro and gave him a hug, then gave one to Yuki. "Is Akira asleep?"
Hiro nodded. "Yes. Kouga and I checked on him before we came downstairs. But I'll give him a hug for you, okay?"
"Okay," Miranda agreed and turned to leave when the man who had uttered Inuyasha's name earlier caught her eye. He was now sitting in a chair, one long leg crossed over the other, sipping from a bottle of mineral water and watching her intently. Her heart skipped a beat. "Who might you be, youkai lord?"
The pale man lifted an elegant eyebrow and stared calmly at her with honey-tinted eyes. "Sesshoumaru," he said simply. "And who are you, elven princess?"
"Miranda." She was stunned, although she didn't show it. How he knew she was a princess was beyond her, but she knew the moment she looked at him that he was a very powerful demon. Without another word, she sent him a nod and left the room. Elves and demons normally had little or nothing to do with each other; they could scarcely stand to be in each other's presence.
So how could she explain the odd fluttering in her chest when Lord Sesshoumaru looked at her?
oooooooooooooooooooooo
Summer passed calmly into autumn, which, in its turn, gave way to the cold clutch of winter.
It was now early January and the six months trial for the second crop of young slayers was at an end. All passed with flying colors and were soon scattered all over the world.
Another two weeks R&R lay ahead of Kagome and her team; Corporal Meyers, along with Sergeants Blake and Devere, had just returned from their two weeks off. They would be the only ones patrolling the village and the surrounding area until Kagome and her team returned from vacation. In years past, the demons seemed to go into hibernation in the winter as there were little to no sightings of the creatures from mid-December to early March.
Corporals Delgado and Hunt were not only going back to the States to see their parents, but they were going to spend a week in Las Vegas, during which time they would get married. Kagome and Gil, who were the first to congratulate them, had also been the first to notice how close the two had become over the past year.
"All I have to say is that it's about damn time," Gil grumbled good-naturedly and clapped Jack on the shoulder. Since they were due to start their vacation the next day and since there was nothing to do at the station, the four of them had left work early and were presently at the pub, where Kagome bought a bottle of champagne in order to toast the couple.
"I know, I know," Jack said, lighting a cigarette. "But tell her that." He jerked a thumb at his future wife's direction. "She's the one who took forever to give me an answer."
"Whatever, fool." Gina tossed her black hair over one comely shoulder and sipped delicately at her champagne. She sent an irritated glance over at her soon-to-be husband. "I had to be sure you weren't fucking with me."
Kagome nodded solemnly in agreement. "I think you were quite right to take your time, Gina. No one should rush into marriage when they're not sure of the other person."
Across the table Gil scowled, but quickly hid his sour expression. He had just seen his cousin's face make its nauseating appearance in her mind for a moment. Damn you to hell, Yuki! he thought darkly.
Thankfully, Jack changed the subject and Yuki departed from Kagome's thoughts.
At last, Gina announced that she was tired and that she and Jack should go, since they had an early flight to catch the next day. The four of them bundled up against the cold and once outside the pub, they parted ways. Gina and Jack bade Gil and Kagome farewell and that they would show them their wedding pictures when they returned. Then the two strolled slowly off down the snow-covered street, holding hands.
Kagome waved at them then turned to find Gil waiting for her.
"Since we're headed the same way," he explained as he reached for her hand and slipped it through the crook of his arm, "I decided to see you home."
"Thank you," she replied a trifle doubtfully, "but... I'm a big girl. I think I can walk home by myself." For emphasis she tugged on the arm that he held. At least she attempted to tug it free, but Gil held it quite firmly against his body.
"Yes, I'm fully aware of that, but please humor me. This is for my peace of mind. It's night and it looks as though it will snow soon." He looked askance at her and clicked his tongue reproachfully at her mutinous expression. "My, my, such a face, Kagome. Didn't your mother ever tell you not to make faces or else it would stick that way?" He ducked just as her free fist came flying at his face, but his hold on her arm remained as firm as ever. "By the way," he said in a light-hearted attempt to change the subject, "do you know what my name means?"
The woman beside him composed herself before she ground out rather nastily, "Of course I do. It's English for 'pompous jackass'."
Gil blinked then laughed cheerfully. "I suppose I deserved that, but no. I'm afraid you're way off there." He squeezed her hand warmly. "Actually, Giles is Greek and means 'shield bearer'."
Kagome huffed and turned her head away. "Interesting," she muttered, sounding none too interested.
"Yes it is," he went on blithely. "You see, my mum named me when I was born and years later, I asked her what my name meant. I'd never really liked the name Giles and told her so. That day she said to me, 'Gil, my love, some day far in the future, you will be called upon to protect a beautiful young woman from a horrible creature and save her life. I named you Giles because you will be her shield, her protector.'" Gil smiled blissfully to himself in spite of the cold.
Kagome, now rather interested in his story, felt warmed by his sweet expression. "Go on," she said, urging him to continue.
He smiled and nodded. "I asked my mum if the woman would be a princess, because back then, I'd just found out that I was descended from nobility. My mum's a princess, you know. I'm not bragging, you understand; this is just how things are in my family. Crap, I lost my place! Now what was I saying? Oh yes. So naturally I needed to have a princess. Anyway, she told me that the woman I would fall in love with would be an extraordinary creature, a woman who could charm and bewitch any man. She said that the woman I would fall in love with would be a goddess."
A jolt shot through Kagome's body. A goddess? What the hell-?
"But," he babbled happily on, "I knew that was silly. Even if gods existed, they're supposed to be all-powerful and immortal, aren't they? They can't die. Being only half elf, I figured that no real goddess would want a bloke who was part human, because humans die, don't they? As it is, my mum says that my mortality is questionable. We won't know for certain if I inherited an extended existence until I'm a bit older than I am now." Gil shrugged. "Anyway, to make a long story short, I felt my mum lied to me to make me feel better about giving me a prissy name like Giles. Why do you think I prefer to go by the name Gil?"
As he spoke, Kagome listened to him and appeared perfectly calm outwardly. Inwardly, however, she was extremely shaken. Even the part of her that was Niobe was mad with excitement. Could this man be the one she had been searching for so long? Could Gil actually be Timeus reincarnated?
She was so deep in her own thoughts that she paid no attention to Gil as he tried to lead her down a different, much darker path. Coming out of her reverie and seeing him try to get her to walk with him down that darkened lane; Kagome panicked and pulled her arm out of his grip. Without thinking, she took off, tearing down the road as though her life depended upon it. And to her, it did. She couldn't let him in. She just couldn't! To trust another man would destroy her... kill her...
A sweep of headlights coming around the bend startled her and she saw with horror that the vehicle was coming towards her and coming much too fast-
Something warm grabbed her and yanked her off the road as the car zoomed past, just where she had been standing not a second before. The next thing she knew, she was lying flat on her back on the ground with a panting Gil looming over her.
"Hell, I thought I wouldn't make it in time!" he huffed, his breath coming out in cloudy puffs. "Are you okay?"
"You... saved me..." she whispered in a stunned voice.
He nodded and got up, then helped her to her feet. "Yeah. That's why I walked with you, Kagome. I had a feeling-"
"But how-? Can you see the future?" she asked, still feeling a little breathless. "Is that another of your gifts?"
Again he nodded. "Yes, sort of. Since I'm half human, I don't get premonitions very often. Not like my mum does. Anyway, I tried to take you another way when you bolted." He gave her a grin. "Man, you're quick. I very nearly didn't make it."
A thought struck her and she frowned. "Now wait a minute. If you hadn't insisted on seeing me home, I wouldn't have encountered that car in the first place."
"Well, not at this particular spot, no. What I saw was rather grisly, so I'm not going to tell you all of the ghastly little details, but further up road the car would have struck you down. You wouldn't have had time to react, thus the driver would have killed you. After striking you, the guy would have ended up skidding into a tree and totaling his car. A few days from now, the driver would have hung himself in a fit of remorse. Thankfully, you reacted to me exactly the way I'd hoped. Your distrust of me saved your life and the life of that driver." He paused to gauge Kagome's reaction. "That's why I insisted on walking home with you."
Now thoroughly shaken, Kagome swayed unsteadily on her feet, but Gil reached over to steady her. "Here now, don't lose it on me, my girl." With an effort, Kagome pulled herself together and he nodded approval. "Hopefully, it will be the very last time, yeah? Your not trusting me, I mean. But I have to say that what you thought about me was rather hurtful."
Kagome frowned. "Huh? What do you mean?"
"The thought that ran through your head just before the car came flying along. If you trusted another man, it would destroy you... kill you. Remember?"
Shame filled Kagome. She knew ought to trust him by now; she wished she could do so whole-heartedly but it was difficult. "I'm sorry, Gil. I thought... I mean..."
"You don't trust me yet," he finished for her. She shook her head and he sighed. "I understand. Trust takes time, but I will give you all the time that you need."
"Why did you save me? Heaven knows I've been nothing but rude and ungrateful to you..."
Gil put a finger against her lips. "I was born to protect the woman I love. I will be your shield, Kagome, and keep you safe." He leaned forward and pressed a light, fleeting kiss on her mouth. "Please remember that."
He took hold of her arm again and once more slipped it through his. Then he saw her the rest of the way home.
oooooooooooo
The next day, Gil asked Kagome if she would like to run up to London with him. He would stay for about a week and then probably come back to Horningsham. "There are a few things in Town that I'd like to do," he told her amiably. "But you don't have to do any of them with me; you are perfectly welcome to do as you like. I'll even get James to drive you round and keep an eye on you. It's big city, you know. Wouldn't like to explain to your mum that I managed to misplace you." His smile was confident, as though he knew she would say yes.
And that was exactly what she did. While she packed, Kagome imagined all the things she would do in London. Last time, she left before she could do what she really wanted to do: go shopping on Bond Street. She practically salivated all over herself at the thought. CHANEL, Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, Yves Saint Laurent, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Hermès, Armani- and that was only to name a few!
For the first time since she'd agreed to pose and be interviewed for those women's' magazines, she was truly thankful she'd done it. Because of that, she and the elves were asked to model for a few clothing lines that created specifically the men and women of Slayer Corp. Even better, these clothes were created by well-known designers and in consequence, the four of them were very well paid for their services. And Kagome, ever practical, had set that large amount of money aside for a rainy day. Or in this case, she thought, taking a peek outside her bedroom window, a snowy day.
She packed only a few items for her stay in one suitcase and left the other one empty, because when she returned, she would be returning with two suitcases full of brand new clothes and other goodies.
A honk outside signaled that Gil arrived and before he had time to get out of the car, Kagome had rushed out of her house, locked it behind her and charged towards his car, luggage in hand. He looked surprised for a moment but when she handed him her bags, he hefted them cautiously and look of confusion crossed his face.
"You didn't pack much, did you?" he asked, wondering if he should ask if she was done packing.
"No, I didn't," she returned briskly and opened the passenger side door. Looking over at him, she realized that the lightness of her cases were confusing him and she said airily, "I am going shopping in London. Yes, I know it's expensive there, but I feel I deserve to get new clothes. Let's just say this will be a belated Christmas present to myself." She got into the car and shut the door.
The sergeant grinned and put her bags in the trunk of his Jaguar. "Ah, I see. You only brought the basics, then," he said jovially as he slid behind the steering wheel. "Good thinking, my girl. But I daresay you'll end up buying a couple more suitcases to contain all your wonderful new treasures."
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "I daresay," she retorted, mimicking him perfectly.
He burst into hearty laughter and started the ignition. "That was good! You'll sound like a native in no time."
Instead of an uncomfortable silence in the car during the drive to London this time around, Gil and Kagome managed to have a relaxing, friendly conversation.
ooo
In due course, they arrived at his home in Mayfair. After she got settled in her bedroom, Gil told Kagome that he had a surprise for her and whisked her away from the house before she had time to refuse. While he drove, he handed her a pair of earplugs and a mask, sans eye holes. "When I tell you, put those on, alright?"
Puzzled, Kagome looked over at him. "What?"
He chuckled. "I know you heard me. Now before you get mad, I have to let you know that this is a surprise, so please humor me. Will you do that?"
Kagome dropped her gaze to the items in her hands and heaved a sigh. "Fine," she grumbled. "Tell me, how many times do I have to humor you? I humored you only last night."
Gil shot a look at her, his blue eyes sparkling with mirth. She would love what he had in store for her. When they got close to their destination, he told her to put the mask on. "You have it in place? Good. No peeking, Kagome. Now, when I get out of the car, I want you to put the earplugs in." He smiled at her look of confusion. She looked really upset wearing the blindfold. "Don't worry so. Oh, by the by, it's a bit of walk. About a block away. Ready?"
"Yes," she murmured and he got out.
He walked around his car and opened her door. Good girl, he thought, as she stuck the earplugs into her small ears. Gently, he helped her out of the car, shut the door and locked it. Then with much care, since the ground was rather slick, he led her onto the sidewalk and down the street.
Several minutes later when they came to a halt, Kagome felt him move behind her. She jumped slightly when she felt his fingers brush her ears and remove the foam plugs. "Gil?" she asked curiously. "Where are we-" She stopped cold.
All around her were sounds of happy, excited chatter. But there was something odd about the chatter. This chatter that was not in English, the language she'd been completely immersed in for the past year. No... This was not English she was hearing...
A massive wave of homesickness rushed over her. She raised her shaking hands and lifted the mask from her eyes. Gil had brought her to, of all places, an anime convention! And the sounds she heard, the odd chatter... was merely Japanese, her native tongue. It had taken her a moment to realize what she had been hearing, for she had fully expected to hear English.
Mixed in with the British subjects that strolled leisurely about were excited young Japanese men and women who were rushing to and fro between stalls. There were numerous cosplayers roaming around... and for the first time in a very long time, Kagome felt happiness fill her and despite the tears that coursed down her cheeks, she laughed. Oh, how good that felt! She hadn't laughed in over a year.
Turning to her host, Kagome sent him a watery, grateful, and brilliant smile. "Thank you! Oh, thank you so much!"
Gil said nothing but all the while, he watched her intently.
She shook her head and wiped her eyes. "You seem to know me, I mean, really know me. It's uncanny how well you read my mind. I must confess that I've tried really hard to block my thoughts from you... But I see that I failed to do so." She sniffed and glanced over at him. "What? Why are you staring at me like that?"
He stood still for a moment longer then said quietly, "I've waited for so long to see this."
"To see what?" Kagome was confused. "To see me cry?"
Slowly, Gil shook his head and reached out to cup her face in his hand. "To see you smile." He lowered his hand and took hold of hers. "Come on, let's have a look round."
With a nod, Kagome turned her head to look at the nearest stall. A young Japanese woman was sitting behind a table covered with anime paraphernalia. She hummed softly to herself as she thumbed through some manga. Without thinking, Kagome made a beeline for the stall, dragging Gil along behind her. The moment they reached the woman with the manga book, Kagome began talking away to the vendor in rapid Japanese. The young woman stared at her with amusement for a moment and when Kagome was done talking, the woman remarked that she seemed rather excited.
Realizing how odd her behavior must seem to her countrywoman, Kagome blushed brightly. She continued in their native tongue. "I'm so sorry! It's just that-" Kagome glanced at Gil, who stood by her side and still held onto her hand. She looked back at the woman and smiled shyly. "Forgive me. I've been here in England for the past year, you see, and even though I love it here, I'm terribly homesick."
The young woman, whose name tag read Katsura, smiled brightly up at Kagome. Nodding emphatically, she replied in Japanese, "Oh! Yes, yes, I understand. I spent a year in California, which I enjoyed tremendously, but I missed being home with my family." She gave Kagome an encouraging smile. "At least you are not alone here."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Katsura nodded in Gil's direction. "You have your boyfriend."
Once more did Kagome's face turn red. "My... b-boyfriend?"
"Yes. Not only is he terribly good-looking, but he's obviously in love with you." Katsura gave Kagome a saucy wink and a thumbs up. "You're one lucky girl!" she exclaimed with a grin.
At that moment, Kagome felt as though if she could have been knocked over with a feather. In love? Gil? In love with... with her? She jerked her head around and stared up, wide-eyed, at him. Those impossibly smoky grey eyes were staring back at her with an intensity that caused her heart to skip a beat.
"Are you alright?" he asked, pulling her gently away from the stall. "You looked rather flushed. Are you coming down with something?" But when he tried to place his hand on her forehead, she backed away.
"No, I'm fine." Taking a deep breath and pushing the ridiculous thought that this man might actually have feelings for her, Kagome smiled. "Let's go look around some more, okay?"
"Okay," he agreed, returning her smile and clenching tighter onto her hand, they walked off.
ooooooo
The next day, the snow fell yet again, but that did not deter Kagome from her mission. Despite warnings from both Gil and James, she was determined to tackle the shops of Bond Street. Snow or not, she declared vehemently, would not keep her from doing what she wanted to do.
To prove that she was completely serious, she headed for the front door, ready and willing to make the trek to London's shopping paradise on foot. Gil practically had to tackle her and pin her down to keep her from going out in the snow and wind. He persuaded James to drive them and soon all three headed out into the cold.
The first shop Kagome demanded that they visit was Burberry, where she purchased a black gun flap coat, a pair of drawstring ankle boots, a pair of belted Wellies, three cashmere scarves, a Chelsea umbrella and various odds and ends. Next she decided that she just had to visit Prada, and she did, leaving the normally athletic Gil struggling to keep up with her frantic pace.
By the time they straggled into CHANEL, Gil searched desperately for a chair and sank wearily down upon it. An attendant came forward and asked him if there was anything he needed he merely waved the young woman away and shook his head. When he looked up, he saw that Kagome had disappeared. Alarmed, Gil jumped to his feet and looked around. Instead of seeing a short woman with black hair, he found a tall woman with bright yellow hair that was covered with a navy blue silk scarf; a pair of dark glasses perched on her pert little nose, and she was clad in a Burberry trench coat and fashionable black Wellies. She was skulking rather suspiciously by a rack of black cocktail dresses.
Gil shut his eyes for a moment in exasperation then went over to the blonde woman. "Just what do you think you're doing?" he hissed at the golden haired beauty.
With a violent start, Miranda turned a pained face to him. "Damn it, boy, you nearly gave me a heart attack!" She clutched at her chest. "Do you want to kill your mother?"
"That depends. What the hell are you doing here? Playing detective?" he demanded of his mother.
Miranda pouted prettily. "Don't be absurd. I just wanted to get a better look at Kagome," she whispered and peered cautiously around the rack of black dresses. "Ohh, she's got lovely skin, doesn't she? And that hair! I'll bet it's silky smooth! I wonder what kind of shampoo she uses...?"
"I told you yesterday that I didn't want Kagome to meet you just yet," he said in a strained voice. "You know full well that you look too much like... him."
"Well, I can't help that, now can I?" said Miranda, miffed. "But I do so want to meet her at last." She was quiet for a moment then said, "She doesn't know you intend to ask her to marry you, does she?"
Gil flushed a bright red. "No, she doesn't and I'd like to keep it that way for awhile if you don't mind. Now, if you've finished making yourself look conspicuous, could you please beat it? I don't want to have to explain to the woman I love why some blonde dame calls me son and who just so happens looks like her former lover."
"Fine, have it your way, you mean little beast," Miranda sniffed and readjusted her coat. "But you'd better hope that I don't die before I get to meet her, because then I'll come back to haunt you and ruin your wedding night!" With a huff, she walked out of the store.
"Who was that?" Kagome asked, coming over to stand next to Gil, with a couple of CHANEL bags hanging from her already heavily laden arms.
Gil relieved Kagome of a few of her burdens. "No one. Just a bag lady."
Kagome blinked in surprise. "A... bag lady? But she was wearing a Burberry trench coat and CHANEL sunglasses."
"She was obviously a very fashionable bag lady."
"Oh."
ooo
The following day, after some wrangling with his mother- and many apologies! - Gil escorted Kagome to the Mandarin Oriental Spa in Knightsbridge, which was not that far from his home on Park Lane. He explained to Kagome that this was mother's favorite spa, but in order to secure an appointment, one must have booked it well in advance. His mother, the loving and generous creature that she was, had asked that Kagome go to the spa in her place this time.
Kagome was stunned, but Gil waved that aside.
"Mum likes you a lot," he told her, "and she wants you to enjoy yourself in while you're in Town. Do you want me to go with you and hold your hand?" He smiled guilelessly at her.
Kagome smiled back. "No, you don't need to hold my hand. Remember, I'm a big girl."
Gil did not bother to hide his disappointment. "Fine, fine. Well, come on then."
ooo
That night, Gil took Kagome to Piccadilly Circus and they went to his favorite club. Like before, he had to practically drag her out onto the dance floor, but unlike the first time, she allowed him to touch her while they danced.
Earlier that day, while Gil waited patiently in the waiting room, Kagome had emerged from her spa treatment, looking fresh and radiant. It had been at the moment that their eyes met and the look on his face and in his eyes had sent Kagome's heart to racing.
Gil was wonderful, she thought of this tall, handsome man, who had twice saved her life and wore his heart on his sleeve for her. All he ever seemed to do was want to see to her needs and wants. Perhaps it wouldn't hurt to return the favor...
They stayed out until nearly three in the morning and took a cab home. By the time they returned to his house, it had begun to storm outside. Gil paid the cabbie then they bolted out of the car and into the freezing rain. After much fumbling around in his pockets for the keys, Gil managed to open the door before they were soaked to the skin.
"My word, that was intense," Gil managed through chattering teeth. "I'm freezing my arse off."
Kagome nodded but did not reply. Her teeth were chattering too much to allow her to talk.
He put an arm around her and led her upstairs. "Go on, have a hot bath," he said, propelling her into her room. "I'm about to do the same. If you're still wide awake after you get dressed, would you like something hot to eat or drink? There's some leftover soup in the fridge that I could heat up and I could make us some coffee."
With her arms wrapped around her, Kagome nodded again. Gil smiled at her, then left the room, shutting the door behind him. Once he had gone, she made for the bathroom and started up a nice, steaming hot shower.
At last she got out and hurriedly dried herself. Going into her room, she dug through her new clothes until she found a pair of flannel sleep pants, a white wife beater, a pair of socks and a flannel robe. She slipped into her new clothes and sighed. They were warm and incredibly soft against her skin and she couldn't wait to fall asleep in them, robe and all. After she brushed her hair, Kagome went off in search of Gil.
ooo
She went downstairs and headed to the kitchen, which was dark and empty. Figuring that she must have finished her bath before he finished his, Kagome went back up the stairs and for some reason, decided to go down the hall to his rooms.
There were two doors, one of which had a thin strip of light beneath it. This must be his bedroom, she thought, and turned to go when she noticed that the other door had been left open a crack. And this room, Kagome thought with overwhelming curiosity, must be Gil's study, the room where he kept the portrait of his mother. Earlier that day, on the way to the spa, Gil mentioned it briefly and ever since then, Kagome had been dying to know what his mother looked like.
Lightning flashed, allowing Kagome to get a brief look at the rather large portrait, which hung on the wall behind Gil's desk. The woman in the portrait had a head of pale hair and light eyes; she looked very much like Gil, save the color of the hair. Her style of dress was somewhat odd, too. Old fashioned, perhaps? Kagome couldn't tell. But there was something about her that was strangely familiar. She knew she'd seen this woman's features before. Perhaps if the lights were on she'd be able to tell...
"I told you she was magnificent," came Gil's voice from behind her. His frame filled doorway. She couldn't help but notice that his torso and feet were bare; his only piece of clothing was a pair of silk sleep pants. His damp hair was slicked back from his face.
Thoroughly shaken, Kagome moved away from his desk. "I'm... I'm sorry," she stammered. "I didn't mean to pry, but I was curious. You've spoken so much of your mother that I just had to see what she looked like." She moved cautiously towards him. "I'll leave you alone now." As she attempted to pass by him, but he shifted slightly to the left and blocked her with his body. With consternation, she found herself staring straight at his broad, bare chest.
"Where do you think you're going?" he asked her softly.
"To my room, I find I'm really sleepy after all. I don't think I want any soup or coffee right now," she whispered and put her hands on his chest to push him back to allow her to get through. That was a mistake. The second she laid her hands against his warm, smooth flesh, he covered them with his own and held them captive against his body. Her head jerked up and she saw the heated look of want in his grey eyes. "Gil?"
He shook his head. "Don't. Don't act like you aren't aware of how I feel about you." He lowered his head to kiss her, but she pulled away from him as far as she could go. That was another mistake, for he merely followed her into the room and with a deft turn, pinned her bodily against the wall. "I know that you know that I want you."
Tears swam in Kagome's eyes. She wanted him as well, but swore she would never tell him. There was no way she could allow him all the way in, for she knew that it would only be a matter of time before he ripped her heart out and deserted her too. "I can't do this. Please Gil, you must understand..."
His hands released hers only to slip around her trembling body. "I understand plenty, Kagome. I understand that I love you and I understand that I want you as I've never wanted any woman before." He pressed a light kiss on her forehead. "I also understand that you are determined to think that I will hurt you. That is what you think, isn't it? That I would hurt you?" She nodded and he gave her a sad smile in return. "My darling, my sweet, my love... I'm not Yuki."
Her eyes shot upwards and gave him a searching look. "I never said you were."
"No," he muttered, "but you compare me to him."
Dark brown eyes widened in surprise. "Wha-? How did you...?
Gil bent down to pick her up in his arms. "It's quite simple, really. I have seen it in your eyes countless times. Every time you look at me I see your little mind working, placing a mental picture of him next to me in order to study us side by side." He smiled at her again and carried her to his bedroom, then over to his bed and lay her down. "You have the most expressive eyes, Kagome, no matter how hard you try to hide it."
When she tried to scramble off the bed, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back before he climbed on top of her. "I can't let you go," he told her, kissing the tip of her nose. He stared unblinkingly down at her and a thoughtful look crossed his face. "I know that before this night is over, you'll wish he was in my place when I make love to you. That's okay though, because in reality, it won't be him touching you and making you moan in ecstasy. It will be me. The only thing I ask of you is that you not utter his name. Do you think you could do that for me, Kagome?"
His thoughtfulness and consideration for her feelings sent a wave of misery rippling through her. How could he be so unselfish? "Gil, I..."
"Promise me, Kagome. Promise me you won't say his name out loud."
She continued to stare up at Gil. His face was close enough to hers that she could feel the warmth of his breath on her face. At the moment, Yuki was the farthest from her mind than he'd ever been. Gil really was quite an amazing man. He had a knack of enabling her to forget the golden haired elf. She knew he was the only one who had, or ever would, make her stop thinking of Yuki and she was thankful to him for it. It had taken her awhile before she had stopped seeing Yuki's face whenever she looked at Gil, but eventually, Gil's face was the only thing on her mind.
Yuki. Oh, that beautiful, foolish man! Yuki would never be hers, she knew that full well. He had never been hers. She'd allowed him in and to make matters worse, she'd fallen for him like a fool. But in her arms, right here, right now, was a man who had picked her up off the floor, dusted her off and began the process of allowing her to forget Yuki and to heal.
Lightning lit up the room again just as she realized just what is was that she had been searching for. Gil continued to watch her, a curious look on his face. How could she keep wishing for Yuki when the man who had everything she needed and wanted was right here?
"I don't think I will have a problem with that," she said at last. She slid her hands up to his face and cupped it tenderly. "You're right though, about me comparing you to him. But he doesn't even begin to compare to you, Gil. You have always been good to me, always been a gentleman. Yuki never treated me as well as you have. It's only lately that I've come to realize that... and I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I didn't see it sooner."
A tender smile graced his beautiful face as he bent down to kiss her lips. Kagome's eyes slid shut and she moaned with bliss as he gently ravished her mouth with his.
"It doesn't matter now, does it?" he asked quietly as his hands began removing her clothing. "Let's not talk of this anymore." His teeth nibbled on her shoulder. "My mouth has more important things to do."
Smiling, Kagome nodded and surrendered herself to him.
ooo