It was much easier to get along with him when she wasn't embarrassed by what they'd done. Sesshoumaru wasn't the type to kiss and tell—or whatever they'd done and tell—so she wasn't worried about the others finding out.
They had no say in what she did with anyone, but Inuyasha was sure to throw a fit, even if they weren't together. She hadn't had time to clarify their relationship was anything more than platonic, but he'd been spending so much time training with Sango there hadn't been time.
The two had been getting along really well lately, which meant less arguing between the two brothers, and that was something they could all agree on. Inuyasha was quiet in general whenever they returned from training, so Kagome could only guess he'd had his ass handed to him and didn't want to talk about it.
Maybe she'd ask to join next time, just to witness it.
Her chuckle caught the attention of Ah-Un, their heads brushing against her shoulders, and it only increased her laughter. "I don't have any more treats if that's what you're after," she said. They continued to nuzzle her, even as Kohaku pated their saddle.
"They like that you're happy."
"Is it that obvious?" she asked, wondering if she'd given too much away.
"Only because you weren't yesterday." The dragons seemed to understand, bumping their heads against her, their snorts ruffling her hair. Kagome sighed, her hands running down their scaled necks.
Coming across such a significant location had been jarring for both her and Inuyasha, though she seemed to be coping better. Her soul had been ripped out, but the effects had been physical, minus the heartbreak. For Inuyasha, having the life he could've had rubbed in his face had left him with guilt, regret, and a bruised ego.
It was a wonder he could function at all.
"Are you worried Kikyou-sama will return?" Kohaku asked, fiddling with the chain attached to his scythe.
She'd considered it probably a hundred times since they'd arrived at the cave but shook her head. "She's at peace now. Her soul has passed on." Her real one, anyway. The part of Kagome's that had sustained her during the hunt for the shards had returned upon her death, and Kagome was too experienced now for it to happen again.
The lack of Naraku's threat allowed for a lot more free time, and though she spent most of it studying medicine, she'd sought out others in order to train her reiki. She'd had to adapt to using a bow on the fly, but the essence of power control was something else altogether.
And considering what Sesshoumaru was capable of, she still had a lot more to learn.
Anticipation pooled low in her stomach at the thought of training with him—what it could lead to—and she cleared her throat. She wasn't sure how long they planned on staying in the area, but considering they were all supposed to be looking for Rin, they seemed to split up a lot.
After realizing who the cave belonged to, the group had quickly scouted out the trail they'd been following and set a new course. Inuyasha had been anxious but compassionate, falling in step beside her. His hands were stuffed into his sleeves, his shoulders tense, and they'd walked in silence, Sango keeping her brother distracted.
Neither of them had said anything, but she'd eventually linked her arm with his, giving him a comforting squeeze, and he'd finally relaxed, going into detail about how stale the scent of the mysterious abductors was.
They'd continued to follow it for several hours, Sesshoumaru darting about overhead like some hyperactive hornet, and though the brothers could still sense their auras, they'd come up empty.
Nerves were raw on all ends, and fuses were short, so they'd all agreed to take some time to regroup before heading out again. Sango and Inuyasha had gone hunting, and Sesshoumaru—she cast a sideways glance at Kohaku. "Did Sesshoumaru say where he was going?"
The teen shrugged, motioning toward the trees. "He's probably training. He does it to let off steam."
The reason behind it went unsaid, and Kagome rolled her shoulders, finally separating herself from Ah-Un. "I'll go check on him. The others won't be back for a while, and that leaves way too much time for Mr. I'm-Bad-At-Feelings to spend stewing." Kohaku smothered a chuckle, then pulled a brush from one of the packs, sliding it through the beast's mane.
Casting out her reiki, it didn't take her long to find him. There was a subtle flare of his youki, and though it wasn't a blatant invitation, the fact that she felt anything was invitation enough. Her pace picked up as she walked through the trees, wondering how long they had before Sango and Inuyasha returned.
Enough for another taste, maybe?
She broke through the trees to a wonderous sight, Sesshoumaru moving swiftly through various poses, Bakusaiga clasped tightly in his hand. He'd tied his hair back, the style making him no less intimidating, but that wasn't what drew her eyes.
He'd removed his armour, along with his outer haori, leaving alabaster skin glistening in the sunlight.
She salivated at the sight, finding a nearby boulder to perch on for a better view. He didn't pause or even slow down, continuing through each set as if he were still alone, and Kagome stared unabashedly. Lithe muscles rolled in tandem, each crease of his skin accentuating the stripes on his arms and hips.
The tantalizing stripes on his hips.
She'd never thought about them before, only ever getting a flash of magenta around his wrists. Inuyasha's stripes only appeared when his demon side took hold—something that, luckily, hadn't happened in a very long time—but Sesshoumaru's appeared to be permanent.
Kagome recalled every encounter she'd had with a full-blooded demon, trying to discern if breeding had anything to do with it. Kouga, Totosai, and Myoga lacked any external markings, so it left her to assume it was just inuyoukai—or at least those as powerful as Sesshoumaru.
"You are staring," he stated, and she suddenly realized he'd stopped moving, a thin sheen of sweat decorating his body.
Kagome leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "You're letting me stare," she replied, grinning slightly. She wasn't sure if whatever was between them allowed flirting, but she wasn't about to let the opportunity pass her up.
Especially with how good he looked.
"Is it something you wish to do more often?" The ponytail was flipped over a shoulder, catching her gaze before she was distracted by stripes again. He eyed her for a moment, then slowly approached her, a predator in human form. Muscles rolled with each step, and she lifted her chin as he got close, not backing down for a moment.
This wasn't exactly what she had in mind when she'd come looking for him, but she wasn't about to turn it down either.
It was his fault for being shirtless.
"You are not here for a massage," he clarified, leaning Bakusaiga against the boulder she was sitting on.
Kagome shook her head. "Nope. Not in the slightest." Her hands flexed, but she kept herself from touching him. "Unless you want one."
The edge of her mouth twitched before he placed a hand on her chest, encouraging her to lay back. "There are more pressing matters."
Breath hitched in her throat as one finger slid along the centrefold of her robes, not undoing anything but leaving a trail of fire in its wake. That odd curiosity was back, resurfacing in the slight tilt of his head before he leaned over her, inhaling deeply.
"What are the more pressing matters?" she asked, trying to keep as still as possible. His nose pressed against her neck, following the same path as his hand, which had now slid under the parted fabric around her thighs.
"To see if you taste as good as you smell."
Any heat remaining in her face rushed south, reiki sparking between her fingers as she gripped the boulder. He smirked at her reaction, eyes glinting as he pushed her thighs apart. Her mouth went dry as he continued to move lower, inhaling again when he got to her underwear. "You wear such odd clothing," he remarked.
"They're meant for protection," she replied feebly, barely able to get the words out as a pale brow raised.
"You are spending your money on the wrong things, miko. This," he motioned to the pale cotton, "will not protect you from anything." He proved his point by pulling them aside, his nose brushing against a hip before his tongue slid through her folds.
Kagome covered her mouth to stifle her cry—who knew how close the others were—hips arching off the rock. She was on full display, and they both knew it, but they also knew she wasn't about to deny him.
Especially with how intent he seemed on devouring her.
Fangs dragged as he took his fill, and she eventually gave up on trying to hold onto the boulder, going for fistfuls of his hair instead. The ponytail came loose, silver strands teasing her skin as his tongue continued its sweet torture. Bucking hips led to her legs being draped over his shoulders, giving him better access—and a deeper angle.
He didn't stop even as she reached her peak, the rise of paroxysm causing her body to seize. He gave her a moment to catch her breath, then dove in again like a man starved, sucking gently on the bundle of nerves above her opening before sliding a finger inside her.
Kagome writhed, the grip on his hair tightening as she pulled him closer, and it seemed to be the right thing to do, the resulting growl vibrating down to her toes. Her legs clenched on either side of his head as he quickly built her up again, heat coursing through her. She tried to back away, but his nails dug into her skin, keeping her in place.
A whimper escaped her lips as she got closer to the edge, but the sound only egged him on, a second finger sliding in beside the first. They curled inside her, and she was forced to release him, body arching as another orgasm washed over her. It came easier this time but was no less powerful, leaving her a quivering mess atop the boulder.
She felt him smirk as his tongue rasped against her overly sensitized flesh, and he slowly straightened, leaving her robes bunches around her waist. She didn't expect him to help her, but she didn't want it to be over, either.
Reaching out, she caught the tented part of his hakama, trying to control her breathing even as blood pounded through her ears. "Don't you want me to reciprocate?"