Chapter 4: Jealousy

Three days had passed since I had seen him last. Part of me wished that he was here with me. It felt lonelier without him somehow. I loved it here. I did not like admitting that he was right. I was settling in nicely. I had gone into town yesterday, and the people here were kind to me. I had even made a friend. A woman around my age, by the name of Sango. Sesshomaru had stoked many things in my cellar; dried meats and such. I was capable of catching my own food, but I knew he was not one to take no for an answer. Still, I was grateful for it. It was the same with clothes, blankets, and books. He even replanted my herbs. The God of War, planting. It was a sight to behold. I appreciated everything he had done for me, but I did not like being taken care of like this. It made me feel as though I would owe him later because of it. I know he'd said that he wanted nothing from me. Only to give me things but I still could not shake the feeling; that I was indebted to him. He dressed as if he was one of us. A regular mortal. So the townspeople did not fear him. They knew him not as Ares; the God of war, but just as a regular man who happened to live with me. He spent a lot of his time here. Though he never spent the night.

I sat by the window. I had a nagging suspicion that I was being stared at. I turned my head, and I was right. He was outside looking at me. I waved for him to come in. He gave me a small smile making his way inside.

"Is there something wrong?" I asked.

"No. I was simply watching." he'd said.

I smiled. "Yes. You were watching me, and you do it often. Why is that?"

"I enjoy watching you."

"Even though I am not doing anything but sitting here?"

He nodded.

"But why? It must be awfully boring, no?"

"I think you are beautiful," he said matter of fact.

That had caught me off guard. He was always very blunt with whatever he said. It was not that I hated it. Every woman wanted to hear those words and be treated like this. However, it was another thing to be complimented and taken care of. It was another to be treated like this by a God. There was always more. Something would eventually be expected. Despite him saying otherwise. I turned away from him hiding behind my hair. I could hear him coming over to me. He brushed my hair over my shoulder, his fingers slightly touching my shoulder. Before meeting him I had never been touched by a man, let alone been this close to one. I did not dislike it. The problem was that I enjoyed him being this close to me... I enjoyed it too much. Still, I did not want to be just another mortal woman who fell for another God's charm and then ended up being thrown away.

He leaned in closer. "Why do you turn away from me?" he asked softly.

"What are you doing?" I asked ignoring the question.

"Do not avoid the question."

"When you are staring at me that way..." I trailed off.

"Does it make you uncomfortable?"

Quite the opposite.

"If my being here bothers you. I will leave."

"It does not make me uncomfortable. I am not used to men being close to me. Or anyone else for that matter."

For some reason that made him smile.

"You are a virgin after all." he teased.

I crossed my arms and turned away from him. That made him laugh. It was the first time I had heard it. I looked over my shoulder at him, and he still had not moved.

"You are so close to me," I mumbled.

He leaned forward, his chest pressing against my back and arms on either side of me gripping the window pane. His chin rested on my shoulder.

"Yet, you have not pushed me away. If you wish for me to go, just say the words."

"I do not wish for you to go. I enjoy your company. It is nice… to not be alone."

"Then what troubles you?"

I want you to touch me more.

I sighed, shaking off my inappropriate thought.

"I will not be your mistress Sesshomaru."

He chuckled and it vibrated through me. "When have I asked such a thing of you?"

"Your behavior says otherwise. The way you look at me, the way you touch me. Giving me all of these things. It is very obvious what you want." I said, turning to look at him. I regretted it the moment I had. Our noses were almost touching. I had no room to move away. His eyes were locked on mine.

"Oh, and what is it that I want, Kagome?"

The insinuation lingered in the air between us.

"I…" I trailed off.

"Come now Kagome. Tell me what it is that I want."

I could feel his breath on me there was a banging at the door. I pushed his arm aside, quickly running downstairs. I had let out a breath that I did not know that I was holding. I unlocked the cross bolts. Pulling the heavy door open, I saw a man standing before me. A strange feeling came over me, and I could not put my finger on what it was. But it was so warm and comforting. It felt so familiar but so foreign all at the same time. He was young. Most likely the same age as me or close to my age. He had short brown hair, and he was taller than I was. His looks had a boyish charm about them.

He grinned at me. "Oh, hello. My mother had said that someone new had moved here. That I should come and introduce myself." he said, holding out her hand to me.

I took his hand in mine and shook it. I held onto it for a while just lingering there. I liked how his skin felt on mine. It was so strange, this feeling he gave me. It was as if I knew him somehow. We pulled our hands apart and I missed touching him. Why was I behaving like this? He hadn't stopped smiling at me. Neither did I. I heard Sesshomaru clear his throat behind me, catching the man's attention.

"My apologies. I was not aware that you were married."

I shook my head, stepping closer to him. "He is not my husband. I'm sorry I did not catch your name?"

"It is Hojo, my lady."

I smiled. "It is very nice to meet you, Hojo. I am Kagome."

"Kagome." he'd said.

I enjoyed the way my name sounded leaving his lips.

"It is a beautiful name."

I smiled. "Thank you."

"Is there something you need help with?" Sesshomaru asked.

"No. Just acquainting myself with the neighbors."

"You have been acquainted." he'd said

Sesshomaru closed the door, locking the cross bolts.

"Sesshomaru, what are you doing? Why were you so rude to him?"

"That boy has other intentions than just acquainting himself with you. By the looks of it seems as though you share his intentions."

I put my hands on my hips. "I beg your pardon!?"

"It seems that you are comfortable with men after all."

He held no emotion in his face, or his voice but it was obvious what he was implying.

I unlocked the door. Hojo was only a few paces away.

"Now I want you to leave."

He stared at me for a few moments. Glaring at Hojo, before he'd left without a single word.