He was in agony. His body was so tight, his cock so stiff and full and sensitive that he could hardly concentrate on clambering up into the trees, leaping from one branch to another to retrieve the items he'd stashed up there. He ignored the howling of his body long enough to drop the bundle down to her, and to watch as the woman retrieved the strange coverings she wore over her skin. And then he waited just long enough to see that the other two men— the short, round one who appeared harmless, and the tall one who'd angered her last night— appeared.

His ears, sharp as a wild dog's, had heard them coming in the distance long before they could have heard him. They were there now, and she was no longer alone. Though he wanted to, he couldn't stay. He'd touched her… there, and she'd cried out, sending him spinning away in shock and confusion. The expression on her face had been one of pleasure, he thought.

But she'd told him 'no', and he remembered that word, and knew it for what it was. He bared his teeth in a frustrated growl. Last night, he'd seen the expression of fear and anger on her face as she faced off against the dark eyed man. He didn't want to see her look at him in that way. Ever.

Finally, he launched himself from the branch on which he stood. He jumped in a smooth arc, brushing past leaves and flowers to another sturdy branch. Gliding through the air among the birds and butterflies, he made his way as easily as he walked. Silently and smoothly, he moved back to his own nest where he could tend to himself in private. He knew his reaction was to the woman, despite his isolation.

Once, far from here on one of his explorations, he'd seen a group of women, swimming in a stream. They wore no coverings and he'd watched them for a long time, fascinated and intrigued by the shape and movement of their bodies. He saw very few men or women animals like himself, and never any with features like his own. They were the same, but different.

The youkai in the area were all animalistic, bearing no resemblance to either himself or the other people he had seen. He seemed to be unique in the world. He tried to remember what his mother had told him, long ago. But when he tried too hard his head hurt and he felt dizzy and sick. He had been very young when she had died, and he had forgotten much of what she had taught him, and nearly all spoken language.

He turned his thoughts to the blue eyed woman. She'd been the most beautiful, compelling creature he'd ever seen. As he lay here, he remembered her skin. She was soft and smooth, so different from himself from any animal or living creature he'd ever touched. Fragile and thin, but her skin was alive and supple. And the scent of her! He closed his eyes, drawing in the imagined essence once more… then he remembered, and lifted his hand to his nose. A tremor rippled through him when he smelled her on his hand, her scent mingling with that of his own.

His cock pounded again, hot and hard and insistant. Refusing to put it off any longer, he closed his hand around it and stroked. He imagined the woman again, coupling with her as the animals did. It didn't take long. He cried out in triumph as his release bolted through him, hard and fast and nearly painful. It went on for a long time. When it was finished, his body still pulsing and throbbing, he slept. And dreamt of her.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSs

"Did you find some neat birds today, Grandpa?" Kagome asked her grandfather. They'd just finished a dinner of roasted fish, rice and plantains and were sitting in the living area of the treehouse.

"We had no luck finding anything truly rare," Tomo replied, puffing on a long, slender pipe. "But I did find a great many feathers just the same. Will you sketch them for me?"

"Of course," she told him, and rose to retrieve her sketching tools. Since Hojo disappeared, she'd hardly used her pencils and pastels and she missed them. It was too painful, reminding her of her fiancé. More than once they'd said that after they were she would accompany him on his expeditions. He would write the travelogue, and she would sketch the images that would go with it. They would partner to create a book.

Now, Kagome pulled out her supplies and settled to draw the various feathers. Despite the distraction, Kagome couldn't help recall her emotional encounter that afternoon.

Her belly did a little flip and a sudden rush of heat and pleasure rushed through her. Her body tightened at the memory of the man-youkai touching her with those large, clawed hands. Despite the roughness on the pads of his fingers, his caress had been tender and tentative… and maddening. Maddening, because she'd wanted more. Her cheeks burned now as she remembered how she'd begged.

What was wrong with her? How could she even contemplate such a thing?

Especially when she was here to find her missing fiancé, the man she was supposed to be in love with. The man she was supposed to marry. But today, she'd been all but demanding a stranger make love to her. A stranger, who, as it happened, seemed to have no idea of her desires.

The pencil she'd been using snapped in half, leaving an ugly stroke of red on the paper. Kagome sighed in frustration. Her drawing was ruined. She'd have to begin again.

She fought back an unexpected wave of tears. Today's little adventure had impressed upon her that Naraku was likely right. Hojo wasn't going to be found. He'd disappeared in this jungle and surely had been dead the entire time. She'd seen how thick and dark the terrain was. She'd witnessed one of the legendary youkai for herself. There was no hope of finding any sign of him now in such a place. Her heart throbbed with pain at this thought.

"Miss Higurashi, would you step outside with me please," Naraku asked, interrupting her musing. "I must discuss things relating to this mission."

Kagome did not want to be alone with him. He unsettled her. Nonetheless, she got up to follow him down the ladder, giving apology to her grandfather on the way. She would finish the drawings another time.

Once on the ground, Naraku walked around the clearing below the tree that supported their living quarters, lighting several torches. "The flames will discourage animal youkai from approaching. Most of the nocturnal ones are afraid of light."

Sitting on a withered stump, she watched him. And at the same time, found herself peering up into the trees as if to see the wild man lurking in the branches. Hoping to see him. And then she felt foolish and hot all over again and made herself stop.

"I must ask you about the last time you saw Hojo," she said, not waiting for him to begin. "I need to hear it again, and perhaps you've remembered something new."

She heard his sigh as he came closer and knew he thought her mission was a vain one— a realization she was beginning to accept. But she still needed more closure.

He offered her his arm. "Walk with me and I'll tell you whatever you want to know," he said.

SSSSSSSSSSssss

Another shortie, but slowly but surely things are falling into place, building, ect...