Toga halted once he believed he was far enough from any listening ears. He urgently tore open his umanori, seeking relief from the burning desire that had overtaken him. He grabbed his throbbing member and began to violently tug it. He wasn't taking much pleasure from his ministrations, he just wanted to rid himself of the need. Grunting and shivering he quickened his pace and relentlessly squeezed his tortured organ.
He forced the last drop out and collapsed on the mossy ground. He slumped onto the moss-covered floor, his breath heavy. Why now? Throughout countless spring cycles, no female had stirred him like this human. Although many sought his lineage due to his esteemed ancestry, Toga had always been indifferent about passing on his bloodline. There were offers, certainly tempting ones, but his reasons for restraint had always prevailed.
It was true that some of the inu youkai enjoyed recreational mating, but it wasn't as common as it was among humans or other youkai species. Inu youkai mainly mated for reproduction purposes during the spring when the bitches were in heat. Outside of this season, unions with other species, especially humans, were rare and potentially dangerous. Many male youkai, to protect the purity of their bloodlines, sometimes killed their partners.
Toga had never been tormented by his celibacy. Although he'd entertained innocent flirtations in his youth, he had never been this consumed by passion. He dug his claws in the soil. Now, he felt almost defenseless against Kagome's allure. He'd be as powerless as a willow against a gale if she offered herself to him. He growled at the realization – he must ensure that it would never transpire. Regardless of what his cock demanded, he wouldn't compromise his lineage. There was just one pressing problem. His treacherous nose. A mere whiff of Kagome's heated scent threatened to shatter his resolve. Toga groaned and sank his face in the moss.
Unless. His eyes lit up. Unless he couldn't smell her, she couldn't tempt him. Toga's face broke into a triumphant grin as he grasped a clump of moss, laughing manically
Back at the camp, Kagome felt out of place. All the demons avoided her presence, which she was used to, but there was something bothering her in the way they did. Usually when she had been in the proximity of other demons, they simply held their noses high and turned their backs at her. Now they seemed almost... Scared? They would quickly eschew her when she came near and instead of showing open disdain, they looked concerned and began whispering to each other. It greatly bothered her, but she knew there was absolutely no-one she could ask about it.
Confused and feeling isolated, Kagome sought refuge in the forest, hoping to forage for edible plants. She couldn't rely on her stock of chips forever. Toga still owed her that rabbit, though.
Kagome trekked her way into the forest, making sure to not wonder too far off from the woodline. If she ran into trouble, there was no-one saving her ass. The miko crumpled her nose when a twig lashed at her leg, tearing into the fine fabric of her leggings. These weren't an ideal outfit for the time or the weather, but she had wanted to pack lightly to save room for food when leaving home on that particular day. Plus, her mom hadn't had the chance to do laundry yet, so she was stuck with some unconventional choices regarding her wardrobe. It's not like actually thought ideal to wear leggings and tank tops in the spring. But it was still better than skirts and kimono's when it came to mobility. Besides- Kagome stopped suddenly and quit defending her clothing to someone who hadn't even questioned it. She sensed a demonic aura nearby. She carefully hoisted her bow up and drew an arrow from the leather quiver fastened to her back.
The aura wasn't threatening but it was overwhelmingly strong. Kagome squeezed the bow in her hands.
'It's better to sit this one out. I should just back out slowly. It might've not noticed me yet. Better for both of us to avoid confrontation.' Kagome tried to calm herself as she began walking backwards. Not wanting to turn her back at that great aura that clashed with her own reiki. But she could sense that it was too late. The aura suddenly darted straight into her direction. Kagome froze, knowing that whatever was coming at her, it would outrun her effortlessly. The whole area was taken over by that magnificent aura in just seconds. It waited her in the shadows.
Kagome remained in her stand and scanned all the bushes, the peak of her arrow following her gaze.
"Put down your weapon, human. You are at no harm here."
Kagome almost dropped her bow when she heard the voice. Following the sound was a figure that peaked from behind a large tree.
In awe, Kagome let the string of her bow loosen and descended her weapon. She stared at the youkai that gracefully walked towards her.
Although likely older than Kagome, she appeared a mere twelve in human years. Draped in a blue hakama with a contrasting white shawl, her pristine hair was neatly divided into two tails. A crescent mark adorned her forehead. As captivating as her external appearance was, Kagome sensed something even more mesmerizing within the child.
All the dog demons Kagome had encountered up to now had intense, fiery auras. This girl's, however, was different. It was serene and cool, and terrifyingly strong. In fact, Kagome realized, she had sensed an aura like this before. And that crescent marking... it was so familiar.
"You are... Are you related to Sessh-? I mean," Kagome stammered, connecting the dots. This must be Sesshoumaru's mother, Toga's wife—or future wife. And mentioning Sesshoumaru now would likely make no sense to her.
"I am the daughter of the great Sesshoumaru-sama. The lord of the Eastern lands. I am... Kimiko." She answered to Kagome's unintelligent stammering with a polite smile.
Okay, so obviously the killing perfection was named after his grandfather. And the miko had to admit, he took way more after his mother's side of the family. In many regards.
"May I know your name?" Kimiko's soft-spoken question held an undertone of command.
"I'm... Kagome... Uh. Daughter of the Higurashi shrine." She clumsily tried to introduce herself in the same fashion as her interlocutor.
Kimiko chuckled softly, though her honey-gold eyes maintained a frosty demeanor. As she turned to leave, Kimiko's keen nose caught a particular male inu scent on Kagome. Quite an interesting move from his part.
"Run along now, Kagome. Our paths will cross again." With a flick of a wrist as goodbye, Kimiko vanished into the forest's shadows.
Kagome didn't wait for a second admonition. The small hair on her skin stood up all over her body.
Upon reaching the camp, Kagome found Toga still absent. Feeling a mix of concern and disappointment, she headed to her temporary dwelling. But before she could get far, a rude nudge hit her back.
"Hey, ow, watch it!" Kagome protested and tried to rub the aching spot. She turned around to meet a familiar face that hovered much higher than her own. What was even more familiar, was the dress on the body of the demon – Ishu. They would have to have another discussion about private property, Kagome decided, but Ishu had another thing coming.
"Is it true!?" Ishu fumed. Quickly she covered her mouth and nose in disgust. "Oh, kami, it is!" She squawked when the offending odour drifted down wind to her nose.
Kagome swiftly forgot her gripe about her school uniform by this new accusation.
"What now?" Kagome grumbled.
Ishu tried to reign her gag reflex, at least enough to let that human harlot get a piece of her mind.
"How dare you? Have you no common sense or decency, you... You loose slag!"
Kagome almost fell to her behind from the sheer force of the other woman's voice. She wiped off droplets of saliva that had splattered on her face as Ishu was yelling at her no more that few inches away.
"Say it, don't spray..." She cut herself short. The expression would just go way above Ishu's head. "What exactly are you excusing me of?"
With a haughty scoff, Ishu crossed her arms. "Oh, feigning innocence now? I suppose you are completely unaware that Toga's cock went up your cunt last night then?"
Intense heat gathered around Kagome's face. One third of embarrassment, one third shock and last third of sheer anger. WHAT WAS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?!
"I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT!" Kagome shrieked, her eyes burning just as hot as her cheeks and Ishu had to actually take a few steps back, just to avoid any permanent hearing damage. "NO-ONE'S... NOTHING WENT UP... NOWHERE LAST NIGHT! OR ANY OTHER NIGHT!"
If there was any way possible that someone hadn't heard their previous shouting, now it was utterly impossible. The dead could hear Kagome's bellows.
On cue, Toga suddenly appeared to stop the females from shouting each other deaf.
"Enough!" he declared, positioning himself between the two feuding women.
"What is she talking about?" Kagome pointed at Ishu from behind Toga's back.
"How could you?!" Ishu shouted and pointed right back at Kagome.
"What is going on?!" Both women yelled at Toga.
Toga lowered his head for a moment, taking a deep breath to steady himself. When he raised his gaze, it fixed unflinchingly on Ishu. "Just what do you think happened, Ishu?" His tone was firm, more a statement than a question.
Ishu, confronted by his stern gaze, faltered. "You can't possibly mean..." Her accusing finger still pointed towards Kagome.
"It's not your concern, Ishu," Toga responded more gently, though his voice had a strained quality to it.
Kagome, feeling left out, interjected, "What are you two talking about?" But the two demons seemed to disregard her entirely.
Ishu's eyes brimmed with disbelief. "How could you do this? To Kimiko? Your mate? How could you possibly go and rut another woman? A human, nonetheless!"
The heat that had just began to dissipate from Kagome's cheeks, returned with a vengeance. Ishu, and now thinking about the behavior of the other demons, suggested that they were all under the impression that Toga had laid with her. But how could they have come to such a conclusion? And more importantly, why was Toga not denying it!
"It's not..." Kagome tried to explain, but Toga silenced her with a wave of his hand and a glare so powerful, Kagome lost the track of her own sentence. It was also that Kagome finally noticed that Toga's nose was stuffed with moss.
'Whatta?'
"What I choose to do is my prerogative," Toga said with finality. "I have not mated Kimiko. If my discretion displeases you, that's your issue, not mine." His tone left no room for further debate. Ishu, seemingly defeated, shot Kagome a disdainful look and left in a huff.
Toga took a deep breath, feeling the hot reiki emanating from the woman behind him.
Following Kagome into her hut, Toga watched as she took a seat. Her posture and expression clearly demanded an explanation. She didn't wait for Toga to find comfortable place to sit.
"Explain. Now." Kagome commanded.
Toga leaned his body on his hand that rested against the wall of her hut. No point beating around the bushes.
"You are in heat." He assumed this revelation would clarify things for her.
Kagome paused. She had learned from Sango that male demons used the term 'in heat' to describe a woman's ovulation period.
"So what if I am?" Kagome challenged. "What has that got to do with any of this nonsense?"
Toga turned his eyes on Kagome and gritted his teeth. How did she not understand!
"I was... forced to take measures ensuring that no other male would try to claim you." He explained under his breath. Hoping that the human woman was capable of doing some reasoning on her own. And not to force him explain in any more detail his humiliating acts.
But all his answer did was to create more confusion in Kagome's head.
"I still don't understand. What 'measures' are you talking about?" She had an eerie inkling on his answer, taking how all the other demons thought Toga had slept with her. But she wanted to hear the whole thing.
Aggravated, Toga decided that she would never drop the subject lest he give her a full explanation. Even though he reeeeeeally didn't want to.
"Your fertility attracts male attention, especially since you're a maiden. While my kind doesn't usually engage with human females, some were tempted by you. And the end can be grim. Some youkai even kill their partners to prevent any potential half-breed offspring. They abhor diluting their bloodline." Toga swallowed trying to figure out how to sound as nonchalant as possible about the next part. "I didn't particularly hope that to happen to you. So, I offered my cum to you so you could stray any other males off. To protect you, ensuring others would sense my claim and avoid challenging me on the matter."
Kagome processed his words. The world in the ancient times weren't full of puppies and rainbows, yes, she knew that perfectly well, but Toga's revelations were jarring. The grim reality of youkai males harming women for fleeting pleasure and the utter disdain they had for half-breeds, like Inuyasha, was a bitter pill to swallow. They were nothing. Less even. Just now she could truly grasp the hate and fear Inuyasha must have been forced to suffer through whole his life. Because that man who stood in front of her. Telling her calmly that it was a common practice to rape and kill human women just to satisfy demonic twisted desires.
Kagome asked softly, "Do you condone what your kind does to women who might bear unwanted offspring?"
Toga considered her question deeply. "I've never had reason to ponder the morality of such actions," he admitted. "But I believe a man should master his desires rather than be enslaved by base urges."
Kagome bit down on her lip. "Have you ever been tempted to?" The question came out half-subconsciously. She really didn't know what she wanted to hear him answer. And couldn't really blame him for not wanting to answer at all. But those... uh, inventive nose plugs of his just tugged at her curiosity. Toga swiftly turned his back at her.
Why would she want to know such a thing? Had she noticed something? Did she remember what happened the night before? Toga's brain frantically thought. Was he so affected by her that he might lose restraint? Toga sneezed the tufts of slimy moss out of his nose and relished at the ability to breath freely again. His joy was quickly clouded by her scent. It wasn't as overpowering as it had been earlier. Her heat was obviously waning, but it still called out to his blood. What was he supposed to answer her when even he didn't want to admit her effect on himself.
Kagome sensed his reticence, understanding his hesitancy to discuss any potential temptations.
She tried to lighten the atmosphere. "I believe hanyous are beautiful," she mused. "They represent a balance — strength from their youkai side and heart from their human heritage." As she spoke, she pictured Inuyasha, her expression softening. "Full-blooded youkai might dismiss hanyous as weak, but I've witnessed their prowess — feats even you might struggle with. While youkai pride themselves on superiority, hanyous lack the shortcomings you're oblivious to. In my eyes, they're... perfect."
Toga's eyes widened. He had never known any hanyous intimately to form any definite opinion besides what had been taught to him about them. But why was she telling him all this? He had assumed humans were as disdainful of hanyous as youkais were, viewing them as reminders of unnatural unions. Maybe... She didn't look upon such joining as unnatural? Did she not find the prospect of bearing a half-youkai child unsettling? Her words prompted unfamiliar, conflicting emotions in Toga. One thing was clear: Kagome was truly exceptional.
A silence passed between them, as they mentally bridged the chasm separating their worlds.
Clearing his throat, Toga ventured, "May as it be, come tomorrow, your heat will subside, and you won't need to concern yourself with this for another year."
Kagome suddenly remembered that she was lathered in... Toga's intimate product. Thought which called a deep rouge on her cheeks regarding the future. Dogs did have a period of oestrus once a year, but...
"Uh... You did know that human females have heat once a month, right?"
In that instant, Toga had turned into a salt statue.
"What?" he croaked.
A/N: No rest for the wicked, Toga.