Kagome slowly opened her eyes, staring up at a bright blue sky with fluffy white clouds lazily drifting by. The sound of grass swaying in the breeze and the distant laughter of children filled her ears. She sat up, looking around for any signs of Shippo or Rin but found herself alone in the middle of a lush meadow. Something soft and heavy floated across her shoulders, enveloping her in a blanket of fur. Turning, she found Sesshoumaru staring down at her, his golden eyes darker than usual, filled with an intensity that made her heart race.
"Sesshoumaru." The sound of her own voice felt foreign to her now.
His gaze was so intense it felt as if he could see right through her. Kagome noticed he was wearing the modern clothing her mother had bought him—jeans and a fitted shirt. She furrowed her brow in confusion. Why would he be dressed like that if they were back in the past?
Without a word, Sesshoumaru lowered himself to sit behind her, his long, jean-clad legs stretching out on either side of her. The firm press of his broad chest against her back was warm, sending waves of heat coursing through her body. He gently removed mokomoko from her shoulders, and suddenly Kagome realized she was only dressed in her thin pajamas.
Instinctively, she moved to cover her breasts, the flimsy fabric doing little to hide her body, but Sesshoumaru's large hands stopped her.
His hot breath brushed past her ear, making her shiver. She tried to speak his name again, but the only sound that escaped her lips was a breathy moan as his hands cupped her breasts. He tested their weight before fully grasping them, his fingers teasing her hardened nipples. Kagome gasped, her head falling back against his shoulder, her body arching into his touch.
Sesshoumaru still hadn't spoken, but a deep, rumbling growl emanated from his chest. One clawed hand left her breast to guide her face toward his. Kagome's only warning was the heated look in his eyes before his lips claimed hers.
His kiss was demanding, his tongue delving into her mouth with a hunger that left her breathless. She responded in kind, her hands clutching at his thighs, feeling the hard muscles beneath the denim. Sesshoumaru's other hand roamed her body, tracing the curve of her waist before slipping beneath her pajama bottoms.
His touch was scorching, leaving a burning trail wherever he touched. Kagome moaned into his mouth, her body squirming and seeking more of his touch as he found the sensitive spot between her legs.
Sesshoumaru's fingers teased her, slipping through her wetness before circling her clit with slow, demanding strokes. Kagome's hips bucked, needing more, her breath coming in ragged gasps. His growl deepened, vibrating against her back as he increased the pressure, driving her closer to the edge.
Kagome's world narrowed to the sensation of his fingers and the heat of his mouth on hers. She felt her release building, her body tightening with anticipation. Sesshoumaru broke the kiss, his lips trailing down her neck, nipping and sucking at her skin.
He whispered her name, his voice a husky rumble. "Kagome."
The sound of her name on his lips was her undoing. She cried out as her orgasm crashed over her, her body convulsing in his arms. Sesshoumaru held her through it, his touch never wavering, his presence a steady anchor in the storm of her release.
"Kagome…"
Kagome suddenly shot up in bed, breathing heavily as she tried to gather herself. Her sleep-hazed eyes darted around, seeing nothing but a sea of white. When she spotted confused golden eyes staring up at her, a blush spread across her face as memories of last night flooded back. The flush deepened when she realized she had just had a wet dream about the demon sleeping next to her bed.
Trying not to look directly at Sesshoumaru or his slightly pouting lips, Kagome signed, "Did… I say anything in my sleep?" She peeked at him long enough to see him simply shake his head, indicating 'No.'
Nodding mostly to herself, Kagome quickly crawled out of the halo of white fur and bolted for the bathroom. Once safely behind the closed door, she let out an exasperated sigh. A long, hot shower was exactly what she needed to clear her head.
As she headed for the tub, Kagome caught a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror and froze. The left side of her neck was dotted with small love bites, trailing down to a rather large hickey. The sight of the bruises brought a new flush to her cheeks. Closing her eyes, she could almost still feel the phantom touches from last night.
Her breath began to quicken as those memories twisted and intertwined with images and sensations from her dream. Without realizing it, one of Kagome's hands began to trace the same path down her stomach and between her legs, mirroring dream Sesshoumaru's touch. When her fingers brushed against the damp spot on her underwear, her eyes flew open, and she yanked her hand away, mortified by her actions.
Quickly, she stripped and turned on the shower before stepping in, letting the hot water cascade over her. The heat of the water seeped into her muscles, relaxing the tension she hadn't realized she was holding. She leaned against the cool tiles, trying to calm her racing heart. The water streamed down, washing away the evidence of her arousal and the lingering traces of her vivid dream.
Back in the bedroom, Sesshoumaru remained on the floor with a slightly furrowed brow. The scent of Kagome's embarrassment, shame, and hints of desire still lingered in the air, leaving him confused. From her reaction last night, he was certain she had enjoyed their kiss. He had even made sure to use some of the tips he learned from that inappropriate magazine.
One of his hands twitched as he remembered how firm yet plush her rear had felt in his grasp. It was the perfect size, fitting into his large palm. He had felt the heat radiating from her center when he curled his fingers beneath the scrap of fabric covering her plump cheeks. If he had just moved his hand a little further south…
A low groan filled the small bedroom as Sesshoumaru shifted and adjusted himself. Reaching behind him, he grabbed Mokomoko to cover his lap as he tried to will away his growing erection.
Why was he behaving like a pup hitting puberty? It had been centuries since his body acted on its own. It wasn't like he had never touched a female before, granted none of the demonesses he bedded in the past had felt as soft and supple as Kagome.
The sound of the water being shut off and the shower curtain being pulled back drew Sesshoumaru's attention. The realization that she was now only a door away, possibly still bare, had him suppressing another groan.
Closing his eyes, the demon tried to concentrate. He forced himself to think of anything that would deflate his twitching cock. He had almost succeeded when he heard the door crack open and the scent of Kagome's nervousness hit him.
Sesshoumaru's eyes snapped open, and he turned to see her attempting to sneak into the room, wrapped in only a small towel and cheeks flushed. Her damp hair clung to her shoulders as she avoided his gaze while digging through her dresser for something to wear.
When Kagome bent over to reach one of the lower drawers, Sesshoumaru had to close his wandering eyes as the bottom of her towel began to rise. This was not helping calm him down at all. He kept his eyes firmly shut until he heard the bathroom door close again. He needed to leave this room before Kagome's delicious scent and the sight of her bare skin drove his beast into initiating another aura transfer or worse, an early rut.
Focusing his mind and conjuring up images of his idiot half-brother's face did the trick, and his growing arousal finally subsided. Deciding to avoid further temptation, Sesshoumaru stood and headed downstairs.
Entering the kitchen, he found Mrs. Higurashi busy making breakfast. She turned and greeted him with a warm smile. "Good morning, Sesshoumaru. I'm making French toast. Would you like some?"
Unsure of what French toast was, but enticed by the mouthwatering smell, he nodded. "Yes."
As Sesshoumaru enjoyed his first Western breakfast of French toast, bacon, eggs, and potatoes, Mrs. Higurashi stood behind him, braiding his long hair with practiced hands. The sensation was oddly soothing, reminding him of simpler times when his mother would care for him in a similar manner when he was a pup.
The French toast was unlike anything he had ever tasted. The sweetness of the maple syrup combined with the savory flavors of the bacon and eggs created a delightful contrast that he savored with each bite. He hadn't realized how hungry he was until he started eating, and he found himself thoroughly enjoying the meal.
Just then, Kagome entered the kitchen, feeling refreshed and more composed. She paused for a moment, taking in the scene of her mother and Sesshoumaru. The sight of him enjoying breakfast as her mother styled his hair into a neat braid brought a smile to her face.
Mrs. Higurashi finished his hair and gave his shoulder a gentle pat. "There you go, all done." Noticing her daughter standing nearby, she signed and spoke, "Good morning, sweetie."
Sesshoumaru had been so immersed in his meal and grooming that he hadn't sensed Kagome entering the room. He looked up only to find her back to him as she made a plate for herself. To his disappointment, she had decided to wear her hair down and had applied a strange-smelling flesh color paste to her neck, covering the markings he had made.
When all three were seated at the table together, Mrs. Higurashi caught her daughter's attention and signed to both of them. "Souta wants to see the two of you off when he gets home from school this evening. So I thought we could all go shopping together and gather some extra supplies for you both."
Confused, Kagome looked at Sesshoumaru. "Are you ready to go back?" They hadn't spoken about it, but to be fair, she had been doing her best to avoid the demon lord all morning.
"Yes," Sesshoumaru replied, trying to keep his displeasure hidden as he stared at her neck. "Your wound has healed, so there is no reason to delay."
Kagome pursed her lips, the motion a subtle attempt to hold back the flood of emotions threatening to spill over. Sure, it made sense to go back through the well now that she was better. Logically, she knew that. But the fact that Sesshoumaru hadn't even discussed it with her before making the decision on his own stirred something deep within her, something she hadn't felt since she stopped traveling with Inuyasha.
It was the same feeling of being sidelined, of having her choices stripped away without so much as a conversation. Her chest tightened as the familiar resentment bubbled up, accompanied by a sense of hurt and frustration. She had thought things would be different with Sesshoumaru, that he would continue to treat her as an equal rather than someone to be ordered around.
The memories of traveling with Inuyasha came rushing back—countless moments where she had felt overlooked, undervalued, and taken for granted. And now, here she was, faced with the same dismissive behavior from his half-brother. It cut deeper than she wanted to admit.
Kagome's hands clenched into fists, her nails digging into her palms as she struggled to keep her emotions in check. The hurt was raw, mingling with a fierce determination not to let this pattern repeat itself. She wouldn't let herself be pushed aside again. Not this time. Not by anyone.
She picked up her knife and fork and began to aggressively cut apart her French toast, all the while keeping eye contact with the demon across from her. Sesshoumaru merely raised an eyebrow in question at her strange behavior.
After taking a few large bites and washing them down with orange juice, Kagome wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and signed, "Fine. We will leave after Souta gets home. Until then, we will do whatever I want."
Sesshoumaru saw no reason to argue. He still knew very little about this era, so no matter what they did, he was at the mercy of these two human females. He shrugged his shoulders and went back to his meal, unaware that his nonchalant gesture only further enraged the priestess.