They followed Taya through the forest. However, when she told them that she had been travelling for a week at least, it was understandable why Kagome would be so annoyed. She wanted to get away from this youkai. She seemed to be intent on getting her hands on Seshoumaru and that fact pissed Kagome off to no end.
She crossed her arms over her chest, brooding. The number of times the she witch had 'accidentally' brushed against Seshoumaru was too many to count. Well, twenty nine to be exact. Not that she was counting or anything. She didn't understand why she was reacting so. Agreed, Seshoumaru's dropped bombshell of courting her had taken her by shock, but she had been so lost at that declaration.
Seshoumaru had as good as admitted that he wasn't as averse to humans as he liked to show. But why her? Why did he want her specifically? He was good looking, she admitted. Drop dead gorgeous but she refused to go on his looks, even if one touch of his made her knees go wobbly. She wasn't interested in Seshoumaru. She couldn't be. He was violent, sadistic and killing was second nature to him, heck his name meant Killing Perfection!
However, a small voice niggled in the back of her head. He had changed so much. He was more affectionate, his touch ignited a fire inside her, he was more protective. She closed her eyes, and his loyalty never wavered.
A curious aura touched hers and her eyes opened startled. Seshoumaru's back was to her but she instinctively knew it was his aura. Tentatively, she released some of her aura and watched it curl around the searching aura and stroke.
Seshoumaru jerked.
Kagome repeated the action.
His fist clenched.
She smiled.
Oh, this would be fun.
Taya watched Seshoumaru.
When he twitched, she immediately became alert, thinking that he might have sensed danger. Then when he clenched his fist, she saw the miko smile. A very satisfied feline smile. And she knew something was going on between the two, something that was not visible to the naked eye. Fury clouded her senses, but for now she could not do anything. She knew that any action might be perceived as a threat. Any elimination would have to be subtle.
She smiled viciously.
She knew all about subtle.
Seshoumaru had felt distress radiating from the miko. Remembering the previous incident where he could feel her emotion, he released a tendril of aura and reached out to the miko. It was to his utter shock and delight when she not only curled her aura around his but stroked it gently.
The first time was a shock.
The second stroke made his blood rush south.
He sensed her satisfaction and to his astonishment, she did it a third time. The little minx knew exactly what she was doing.
He glanced behind him. Maru had come up to Kagome and was asking her something in a soft voice and she was smiling and talking to him.
His eyes narrowed as she lifted her head and gave him a smile which was so sadistic in nature that it made him worry. The miko was up to something.
Payback.
Kagome smiled viciously.
This was going to be payback for all the times her Alpha played her body like an instrument and pretended innocence. He would get a taste of his own medicine now.
When Seshoumaru's aura retreated, she waited for a few moments before letting out her own tendril escape. She curled it around his and petted. When his form stiffened, her grin grew wide. She kept on her little game.
"Whew, is it getting hotter out here?"
Seshoumaru glared at her whilst Shippou frowned, "I don't think so. You must be tired, 'Gome."
Rin piped up, "Me too. Can we rest? May we, Lord Seshoumaru?"
Taya watched Seshoumaru glare at Kagome and smiled in glee. Something was wrong in paradise.
Through gritted teeth, Seshoumaru spoke, "Yes. Jaken guard the children. Miko, a word."
Taya watched the color rush out of Kagome's face and felt a cruel satisfaction. The miko was dead.
Kagome paled.
Oh, this wasn't good.
Weakly, she took a step back, "Do we have to? I mean, I am so tired. I really don't want to -"
She was flung over Seshoumaru's shoulder before she could finish her protest.
"Seshoumaru!"
She was whisked away.
A second later, she was pushed against a tree, roughly.
Her eyes wide, she tried to speak and just managed to mumble, "You started it."
He ignored her and pushed her neck to one side, forcefully and jumped at her throat. The mark that he seemed to enjoy ravaging, was once again the centre of his attention. She twisted, struggled, but he pinned her down.
His slow deliberate licks made her go wild. Her moans made him bite down and she screamed as something exploded inside her. He pulled his head away and grinned savagely at her gasps. Her eyes were clouded with pleasure and her hair was rumpled as were her clothes.
He put his hands on either side of her head and wondered if she knew she was clutching on to his outer shirt like a lifeline. Leaning closer, till their lips were a millimeter apart, he whispered, "Next time, you try to play games again, Miko, I will toss you onto the ground there and then. I will rip off your clothes and take you there in front of everyone to see."
Her eyes widened and she struggled with a response. His fingers flew and pressed against that mark, and her eyes closed and her back arched, the pleasure was so intense.
What had he done to her?
Why was that spot so sensitive?
He released her and she grit her teeth to bring back some control. Yanking for her healing powers, she tried to heal the leverage that the inuyoukai seemed to have over her body. However, nothing happened, and a smirk grew on Seshoumaru's face.
"What are you trying to do, miko?"
"Getting rid of this- this thing!"
His smirk grew even more snarky, if that was even possible, "You may try."
When, despite her best efforts, the mark remained, she snarled, "What did you do?"
"Nothing, I can assure you. You allowed me to put another mark on you. This just made our bond more resilient."
"What if I don't want you to 'court' me?"
Seshoumaru might have believed that hours before. "However, you do. So, the matter is resolved."
He turned his back on her to give her some space before she passed out.
"I can't believe you blamed me. You started this whole thing. I was just giving you a taste of your own medicine."
"Be as that may, miko. You tried to arouse a response in me. I simply taught you a lesson."
"I hate you."
Seshoumaru smirked, "If that is how you respond to someone you hate, I can give you more reasons to hate me."
Kagome clamped her mouth shut, and tried to fix her clothing. What would the others think? The children and...Taya.
Her hands stilled and she left her clothes as they were. Seshoumaru raised a brow at her appearance and she just smiled sweetly, "Let's go back."
Suspicious of how quickly her anger just evaporated, he watched her stride back to the campsite, her aura not only sated, but triumphant, as if she had just won something.
What was his miko up to?
"Sango, where are you going?"
Sango froze and fumbled with her words, "I need to, um, take care of something. I'll be right back."
Miroku watched her as she walked away and noticed that her gait was awkward.
Was his Sango hurt?
She took a long time in coming back, and although she was walking normally, there was something different.
She looked oddly uncomfortable, uneasy.
He wondered if he should ask her what was wrong but he had a feeling she wouldn't tell the truth, so he decided to investigate.
Making excuses, he left in the same direction. Sango had her eyes closed, so she didn't see the direction he took. He walked a little further and saw a small area of flattened grass like something had been standing or sitting here. He leaned closer and found a wierd oval cloth that Kagome used to keep in her bag. He frowned and picked it up.
His eyes widened at what he saw on it.
His Sango WAS injured!
Kikyou watched as Inuyasha's eyes slid closed. A smile tilted her lips as she played with his hair. When she was certain that he was in a deep slumber, she took out a small knife and pricked her finger. As the blood welled up, she placed it upon the hanyou's forehead and wrote something and started chanting. A malicious smile formed on her lips as the words she had written had started glowing.
It was only a matter of time.
"Sango."
Sango looked up from the fire to see Miroku who wore a panicked look on his face. She immediately grabbed her weapon, "What is it? What's wrong?"
"Why didn't you tell me?" Her fiance looked pained.
Confused, she put down the weapon, not removing her hand from it entirely, "Tell you what?"
"About your wound?"
Confused, she blinked, "What wound, Miroku? I'm perfectly fine."
The look he gave her was grave.
"You don't have to lie to me. I don't understand why you're not telling me. I found the bandage."
Sango stilled.
Oh, hell no.
Taken her silence as acquiescence, he leaned forward, earnestly, "Let me help you."
Through gritted teeth, Sango asked, "What exactly did you find, Miroku?"
He sighed, under the impression that she still wasn't willing to tell him. Fishing in his robes, he produced the 'evidence'.
"I don't see why -"
"Miroku, you filthy pervert!"
It was lights out for Miroku.
A.N: Just wait. It's coming soon. I'm too sad to write a preview today.