Here is your next chapter! I have another story out called Worship and I would love if you checked it out and told me what you think!

Chapter Seventeen- Getting Stronger

Later on that day, Kagome and Sesshomaru ignored one another like the proverbial plague. It was uncomfortable being around each other, but when they traveled even a slight distance apart, the pain would remind them to get closer.

If Kagome went to the bathroom, Sesshomaru could only be two rooms away. If Sesshomaru wanted to go outside and stretch, Kagome had to follow him. On this occasion, Kagome had to go out and let Hero use the restroom. Her yard wasn't fenced in so she kept an eye out on him from running into the street and hurting himself. At that moment though, the neighborhood cat, puddles, decided to walk around the corner and hiss.

The cat was orange except for the white on it's chest. Miraculously the cat wasn't fat with all of the older people feeding it everyday. He was probably more well fed than herself.

Hero looked up from relieving himself and froze solid. Kagome was too slow to react, but Sesshomaru saw it coming. The cat made a dash at the puppy and Hero ran as best he could with his injury.

"Hero!"

Kagome started after them, but they were too fast for her.

Sesshomaru had to think fast or he and Kagome would be on the ground in pain and Hero would be under the torment of a cat no less..

He ran, picked Kagome up around her waist, and was on his way. The dog demon took off after the cat chasing the dog. It would have been comical had it not been for the serious situation of them both being seriously hurt it he had not taken charge.

He caught the pup up by the scruff of his neck like a person would hold a cat. The yellow cat noticed that a bigger dog was behind him and took off in another direction. Sesshomaru should have chased it just to scare the thing away for all time, but that would have been degrading to him. He sat kagome down and placed her pup in her hands.

"I'm so sorry that that mean old puddles chased after you Hero! I promise to keep an eye out for him in the future so that we can avoid any more crazy cats." She hugged him.

Kagome looked up and was surprised that Sesshomaru was standing so close to her. She took a cautious step back and nodded her head in thanks for him saving Hero. He looked at her and started back towards the house.

She followed without questioning.

Kagome just noticed that if she had done what she would have done and ran after Hero, then she and Sesshomaru would be in a lot of pain.

"Um, what do you do for fun." She started to ramble.

Sesshomaru slanted her a look and said nothing as he walked on.

"I asked you a question Sesshomaru! I know you heard me with those demon ears of yours."

"Do you not with to be back in the safety of your home in your room with the door locked?" He growled out.

That was a lot that Sesshomaru had spoken and it threw her off. "Why would I want to be in my room with the door locked?" She asked, seriously curious.

Sesshomaru almost growled at her.

Almost.

"So that I will not ravish you! I am restraining myself now because we are out doors. I suggest that when you arrive inside, you leave me be." That made Kagome mad for some reason. It was her home and she would do whatever the hell she liked and nothing else!

"No! You can go to your room and I'll relax in my home. It's not my fault your so turned on!"

"You are wrong Miko! You are precisely the reason why I am so called 'turned on'. Need I remind you of a kiss that changed everything?"

Kagome couldn't say anything, but she darn well wanted to.

And she did.

"Why are you turned on so easily and I'm not? Is it mostly just one sided?"

Kagome did not realize that she insulted his pride.

Sesshomaru turned around and kissed Kagome full on the mouth and forced his tongue inside to taste her. It ended at soon as it started, but it still tilted her world to the side. "This is not one sided, you feel it too and I will remind you that this is still your fault."

Kagome followed behind Sesshomaru like a lost puppy. She looked down at Hero already asleep in her arms. He had it easy. Well, besides the broken ribs and all. She was stuck to a demon that didn't want to be stuck with her. It hurt her inside, but Kagome vowed that it would not let it bring her down. Just because a beautifully handsome man craved her but didn't want her did not mean that she should put her head down and weep.

She would brave down the rejection and move on.

Kagome didn't even know why she was mad at his rejection because she was constantly rejecting him. Was this how he felt whenever she voiced her opinion? She knew that It was already hard enough on him with a constant hard on, but it wasn't as bad with her. She would blush and maybe be turned on, but he was always the one to make the first move.

Making it inside of the house, Kagome sat Hero down on the couch and made her way back in the kitchen, where Sesshomaru sat on a stool at the counter with his hands buried in his silvery hair.

Her left hand started to itch and Kagome looked down at it as she scratched it. It was hard to break the habit after the old superstition of if your hand itches, you'll be getting money soon. There was a barely visible pink mark in the center of her palm that confused her.

It kinda looked like a heart..

Going to the sink, Kagome washed her hands and looked again. It wasn't on her right hand, just on her left.

"That's strange." She whispered.

Sesshomaru with his excellent hearing heard her and went over to the sink as she washed her hands a second time. He arrived as she was drying them off with a hand cloth. "What is wrong?" He spoke up.

"It's some kind of mark in the center of my hand..."

Sesshomaru's whole body tingled when she ran her delicate little fingers over the mark. He knew what it was, and he looked down at his own. It was more noticeable then when he had first received it.

He ran his own fingers across the mark on his right hand. Kagome gasped and her whole body shook. Sesshomaru could smell her arousal in the air.

Tapping Kagome on the shoulder, she turned and looked at him. "I think that the curse is getting stronger."

He held up his hand.

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~_~^-^~_~ - Ditto Princess