Chapter Eight

Kouga found himself in a wheat field with the remains of a very large snake demon that had been sliced evenly down its centre and the decomposing flesh was being picked at by vultures. Despite the rotting stench, he was able to smell Kagome's lingering scent in the air. What he wasn't prepared for, was discovering that it was mixed up with Inuyaha's brothers. The wolf leader didn't know the Inudaiyokai well, in fact, he'd only crossed paths with him on a couple of occasions. What he did know though, was that he was no ally to Inuyasha's group and therefore Kouga could place no logical explanation to the connection. The Monk had claimed that the group believed Kagome to be abducted by Naraku, yet this new evidence had suggested otherwise. Nevertheless, the wolf leader followed the scent in the direction of the North, propelling himself with the force of the wind and leaving a tornado in his wake.

…

It was the second day of training and Sesshomaru had been drilling Kagome all morning. The pair had returned to the allocated training space by the river quite early and the demon Lord had cut down a relatively small tree with his youki whip and spread it lengthways across the river, instructing Kagome to walk across it without faltering. Her feet were barely wide enough to cover the narrow body, making it incredibly difficult for the young Miko to maintain balance.

Sesshomaru ruled that for every time she fell, more time would be added to the training before she would be allowed a rest. He hadn't informed her however that he would once again be whipping her with his youki if she didn't cross fast enough, or stable enough, or just simply to put her off balance to test her reflexes. The first time she had tried to cross it, she had planned to take her time. Her arms had been outstretched in an attempt to balance her instability when seconds later there was a bite on the back on her heals caused by Sesshomaru, causing the Miko to slip and crash into the unforgiving water.

"What the hell?" she had scolded the Inu after she emerged and spat water out of her mouth, her raven locks had been released from their binding in a wet lump that cascaded down around her. As she had exited the river, her soaked garments stuck to her figure and trailed water in her wake.

"You are too slow." He had informed her as she scowled.

"I didn't want to fall!"

"If you were to be pursued, then you would not have the luxury to take your time."

This routine, in similar variations, had been on repeat for most of the morning until Sesshomaru decided it was time for Kagome to practice what she had learned thus far by means of a parry. It hadn't taken long for her to dry off as she repeatedly charged at him in constant failed attempts to strike him, each time earning her an insult of some form.

Kagome launched herself at the demon with her fist for the umpteenth time, only for the daiyokai to dodge her attack effortlessly. The young Miko had yet to lay a single blow upon the daiyokai's person and she was growing increasingly aggravated with each insult, mostly about her pathetic mortality or human weakness.

"You are not trying." Sesshomaru eventually surmised angrily.

"Yes I am! I'm only human, and you'rea daiyokai! You're a lot faster than I me!" Kagome snapped.

"I am being generously lenient, Miko." He affirmed as he jumped several paces away. He could sense her anger growing and she was tiring quickly and breathing heavily. "Do not blame me for your lack of effort."

"This is lenient?" she bit through heavy breaths.

Using her anger to motivate her, Kagome lashed out and darted towards the Inuyokai who made no effort to move. She reached him and went in for the strike, only to have him deflect it. Their forearms collided heavily causing a red mark to form on her arm that would surely bruise. She jumped backwards panting heavily, trying to catch her breath.

"Well I'd hate to see you strict!" she spat.

Faster than Kagome's eyes could see, the Inudaiyokai disappeared and reappeared behind her. In one swift maneuver, his arm wrapped around her upper torso and she found herself bound to the demon Lords chest. The force caused her to exhale sharply and her muscles ached from exertion. Sesshomaru had removed his armour for the sake of their training exercise, leaving only fabric between them as she was pressed firmly against him. He growled and she could feel the rumble in his chest skit up her spine. He bent his head down to her neck with his elongated fangs threateningly at the side of her throat, his warm breath caressing her skin and sending a cold chill through her body.

"If you wished for me to parry at my full potential Miko, you would fail. It would take very little for my fangs to pierce your flesh right now, consequently severing a major artery." He whispered with almost seductive sadism, causing Kagome's heart to accelerate and goose bumps to appear over her skin. She gave her best growl as she clawed her blunt human nails against his skin which only served to provoke Sesshomaru to pull her tighter. Never had she been so moulded to a figure before. Kagome hopelessly attempted to wriggle free of his bodied cage but he didn't release her, causing her anger to spike insatiably.

"Let me go!" she yelled aggressively at him.

"Relinquish your anger."

"I swear to the Kami Sesshomaru, if you don't let me go I'll purify your remaining arm off!" she threatened futilely, to which she heard him chuckle slightly in response.

"You lack the ability and control to even attempt such." Kagome was quickly becoming intolerant towards his mocking and constant need to degrade her.

"Come on, Miko. Summon your reiki, use it against me." He teased, almost as if he was enjoying her empty threats. In a way it reminded Kagome of those troubled children who enjoyed plucking wings off helpless butterflies. Her reiki spiked with her anger towards the demon Lord but he was right, she had no control. She had only ever been able to expel her reiki offensively a few times before and normally the circumstances had been due to her life being threatened and even then, she had no idea how she had done it. She had learned to imbue an arrow but expelling the energy on its own was entirely different.

"Calm yourself." He reiterated, this time reverting back to his usual serious persona.

"I am perfectly calm!" Kagome snarled, thrashing hopelessly in his arm. She summoned all the energy she had and fought against his vice to no avail. Her muscles ached and her energy was failing her.

"Miko, you need to contain yourself. You use up unnecessary energy when you fight with anger thus causing hastier excursion. You will tire much faster and consequently be bested, as I have just proven."

"Inuyasha gets much stronger when he's angry!" She defended, still trying in vain to detach herself from him.

"Inuyasha is a fool." He growled in response. "Anger may serve to be a decent motivation, however if your opponent is strong and has the ability to withstand it, then the energy would be wasted. To battle strategically is to conserve your energy until your opponent has little left and then strike."

Kagome was still panting heavily and her muscles screamed at her, refusing to listen to her demands any longer. She lost all energy and couldn't continue trying to pry herself from him any more, therefore going limp in his grasp. He made his point. She had practically used up everything she had and was now trapped in his clutches.

Sesshomaru held onto the Miko with ease, her struggling form writhing against his person. For the most part of the day, training her had been frustrating. Her lack of balance left much room for improvement, and her overall battle strategy resembled his brothers far too uncannily. He could see she had already been influenced by his recklessness which would only serve to provide him with further work. However, in this moment he had to admit, even if only to himself, that he was enjoying it. He felt her entire body shiver beneath his breath when he spoke and it pleased him for reasons that eluded him. Demonstrating his power if only for a brief moment just to remind her of who he was and his capabilities was incredibly satisfying. There was however the fact that she was not fearful of him and that revelation irked him. She had responded in frustration and she had reacted with unease but fear was not something he was sensing from the girl. Although for some it was an admirable trait, for her it was foolishness.

"What the hell is going on?" a voice broke through angrily from the edge of the forest. Kagome looked up to find Kouga standing at the break in the trees. His fist was raised, his canines bared in a growl and cobalt eyes glaring threateningly at the demon Lord who still held Kagome to his figure. Sesshomaru finally released Kagome and she barely regained control of her reluctant muscles to stop herself from plummeting to the ground.

"Kouga!" she beamed. Despite her exhaustion she was ecstatic to see the familiar face. Kouga walked towards her and she met him half way, Sesshomaru temporarily forgotten. The demon Lord remained where he stood, starring on perplexed. He watched as the wolf clasped onto Kagome's hands in a gentle caress.

"Kagome! I was so worried about you. Are you alright?" Kouga peered into her eyes with deep, genuine concern.

"I'm fine. What are you doing here?" she asked surprised, strangely comforted by the way he held her hands. Normally she would feel relatively awkward when he would do it but this time it made her feel like there really was someone left in this era who truly cared for her. This revelation caused her to do something completely uncharacteristic. She removed her hands from his and swung her arms around his waist in an embrace. Emotions came crashing down on her and she let herself rely on the wolf demon for strength. She didn't entirely understand why she felt she needed him in this moment, but she assumed it had something to do with how lonely she had been feeling of late. She knew that Kouga genuinely cared a lot for her – his love declaration had proven that – and genuine care was exactly what she needed right now, and so she allowed herself to crumble into his willing arms to receive it.

Kouga leant down and rested his chin comfortingly on her head and his heart welled. The Miko had never hugged him before and he was happily surprised. He reached one arm down around her waist tugging her closer and the other arm was bent up to hold and support her head against his chest.

"I found so much of your blood in a field and I was so worried. I thought that mutt had failed to protect you." He whispered gently and affectionately in her ear with relief.

"Oh it was nothing." She lied. "As you can see I'm perfectly healthy."

The wolf leader shivered as her breath skittered across his bared skin above his armour. Hugging Kouga was not something Kagome would normally do, but what was more surprising was that she liked it. Kagome had always known he was strong – he was alpha after all – but in that moment, she had never been so aware of it. His muscular arms were warm and strong and wrapped so attentively around her, causing her to shiver slightly. His chest was firm yet so incredibly soft beneath her cheek, and he smelled decent despite being such a brute demon. She could hear his heartbeat, slightly accelerated beneath his skin and she was so aware of his heated person pressed up against her own. Blushing profusely in embarrassment, Kagome pried herself from his reluctant arms, suddenly so much more conscious of all the muscles that he embellished.

The scene playing out before Sesshomaru had for some reason made him very uncomfortable. He assumed it was to do with the disgust he felt that a demon was showing such consideration and affection for a mere human, but he feared his reasons for discomfort did not end there. Disregarding his thoughts he growled at the intruder, refraining from going over there and breaking their now reconnected hands apart.

"What business have you here, wolf?" Sesshomaru demanded, Kouga sneering at him in response.

"I have no beef with you, but if you want a go, I'll gladly take you on." He pulled his fist up threateningly with a growl, irritated with the demon Lords audacity to interrupt. "What are you doing with my woman anyway?"

"Your…woman?" Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow, ignoring the wolf's challenge.

"Yes, my intended. She is to be my wife." Kouga spat, his fist still displayed warningly. "Why were you subduing her?"

"I do not need to explain myself to the likes of you." Sesshomaru sneered.

"It's fine Kouga. We were training, that's all." Kagome cut in awkwardly, trying to prevent the situation from getting out of hand.

"Oh." Kouga calmed down and dropped his raised fist back to his side, returning his attention back to Kagome. "So you're here willingly?"

"Yes. Everything is fine, Kouga. I'm travelling with Sesshomaru for a while is all." She smiled. Kouga wasn't one to question Kagome too much, all he needed to know was that she was safe.

"Oh, in that case," he looked back at the demon Lord who still regarded the wolf as a nuisance. "We don't have a problem. Just keep your hands off my woman."

The demon Lord raised his eyebrows further, insulted that such a thing would be suggested. He watched with disgust as the wolf grabbed the Miko's hands back in his own and kissed them gently.

"Now that I know you're safe, I must go. Until next time, Kagome." He informed her with a smile, to which she returned awkwardly. "And if anything happens to her in your care," Kouga turned his attention to Sesshomaru. "I'll kill you."

Kouga turned and ran off, a whirlwind of dirt was the only thing you could see retreating from the river side. Sesshomaru growled. Had the wolf just threatened him? He turned glaring and questionable eyes to the Miko who was staring at him sheepishly.

"He's…uh…"

"Your husband to be?" Sesshomaru finished for her.

"Oh no! See, he found out I could see the jewel shards and he's been claiming me as his own ever since. However we are not engaged…" she nervously tried to explain. She didn't even know why she was so nervous, it was really none of Sesshomaru's business.

"So you are not betrothed to a demon?" he queried the confirmation nonchalantly.

"No! I care for Kouga. A lot. I don't want him hurt. But that doesn't mean I want to marry him!" she babbled nervously. There was a short silence before Sesshomaru finally spoke.

"We shall break." And with that he walked away, leaving a relieved Kagome on the bank of the river.

…

Inuyasha had his nose to the ground and his rear pointed at the sky sniffing profusely. He had managed to find the faint scent of Kouga. He still couldn't find Kagome's but he would hunt down the wolf and hope that she was with him.

"I can smell the filthy wolf but not Kagome." He informed the group as he glided along the earth inhaling deeply. The group didn't reply, but merely followed behind the intent hanyou. He was so focussed on the scent on the ground that he nearly missed the approaching wolf. Inuyasha stood, a clawed hand grasping Tetsusiega ready for a fight. As the wolf came to a halt, Inuyasha released the sword from its sheath.

"What do you want, mutt?" Kouga snarled.

"You better tell me what you've done with Kagome or I swear I will blast you back to the Northern Mountains in pieces!" Inuyasha growled.

"I didn't do anything with her you filthy dog! Although I don't know what you did to send her packing to your brother, but she's probably better off with him." He retorted. There wasn't a closed jaw out of the group as they all gasped in shock.

"What?!" Inuyasha only barely managed to screech out through gritted canines.

"You're lucky she's okay, or you would already be dead!"

"Why you!" Inuyasha brought Tetsusiega to a battling stance. "Tell me what you know!"

"And why would I do that?"

Inuyasha growled furiously.

"Please Kouga." Sango begged. Her chocolate hues desperate for knowledge of the girl that she had grown to regard as a sister. Her hands were clasped together by her heart and the anxiety was evident.

Kouga sighed. He didn't care for the hanyou but he knew Kagome also cared for the others in her group and it wouldn't be right for them not to know.

"She's with the Mutt's brother. She's fine, but she's chosen to stay with him." He told the desperate Taijiya with a shrug.

"WHAT?!" Inuyasha yelled again. "Impossible!"

"Why would she do that? It doesn't make sense." Miroku deliberated out loud.

"I didn't ask. She was alright and that's all I needed to know."

"You're lying! There's no way Kagome would be with him!" Inuyasha growled.

"Well she's further North that way," he signalled to the direction he'd just come. "So you'll have to talk to her yourself. I'm busy." And with that the wolf demon leader was gone in a whirlwind yet again. Inuyasha growled and with one swipe of his blade, the wind scar was released upon an innocent body of trees.

Inuyasha had been searching for days only to find out that she was with his brother. How was that even possible? Was his brother holding her captive in a bid to acquire Tetsusiega? Nothing made sense. With fierce determination the hanyou began leaping off in the direction Kouga had pointed.

…

Kagome was aching from crown to toe. Parrying with Sesshomaru caused every muscle in her tiny body to act up. Just as she had predicted, there was a bruise formulating on her forearm where it had connected with Sesshomaru's as he blocked her attacks. Kagome had dug through her bag to retrieve a cream from her first aid kit that was supposed to act as a muscle relaxant. She had stumbled upon it the last time she returned to her time and decided to try it out. Much to her relief, Sesshomaru had given her the afternoon off from training, so she had gone downstream to bath and change into the Kimono that Sesshomaru had given her. Now that she was bathed and adorned in the beautiful garb, she smoothed the cream all over her arms, shoulders and legs. The kimono fit perfectly and hugged her torso elegantly, the silk fabric caressing her skin beautifully. The royal blue base colour brought out the colour in her eyes, making them stand out all the more. When she entered the small camp area that they had made, she nervously found all eyes upon her. Rin's eyes were wide with glee as she clapped her hands together.

"Oh, Lady Kagome you look beautiful!" the small girl chirped happily.

"It's about time you dressed appropriately!" Jaken squawked disdainfully.

Sesshomaru stared at the young Miko for a brief moment before turning his head to stare at the river bed silently. The demon Lord had not expected the garment to accentuate her features so much. If anything he deserved commendation for choosing appropriately. He was indeed satisfied with the woman's attire compared to her previously chosen garment, but of course he would not voice such a thing. Sesshomaru's gaze suddenly flicked toward the bushland behind Kagome and he released a venomous growl, startling the small group.

"Inuyasha approaches." He snarled distastefully.

Kagome froze, her heart and mind going into a catastrophic frenzy. Her heart rate tripled in speed and yet at the same time felt like it had stopped beating.

She wasn't ready.

XX

A/N: So I have been a little hesitant with posting this chapter as I am unsure if I am completely satisfied with it. I hope you guys enjoy. I have heaps of ideas that will be coming up soon that I'm pretty excited about. Also, I have to say I am really enjoying the training scenes! Eek!

I apologise if the characters are becoming OC. I am trying to keep them as much to who they are as possible while slowly developing them but this story is virtually writing itself, so anything can happen really.

Thank you SO much again guys for reading and reviewing this and I hope you're all still enjoying it. Xx

Kem: Haha! All issues aside, I still love Inuyasha. I want him to be happy as well. But at the end of the day, I feel Sesshomaru and Kagome would complement each other. Eventually lol.