InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Demon Should Act Like A Demon ❯ The Way To Control ( Chapter 11 )

Disclaimer: Inuyasha and friends were created and lovingly brought to life by Rumiko Takahashi.

A/N: The glossary and responses to reviews immediately follow the story. Text in '__' are thought expressions. I've added a teaser for the next chapter. _^,,^_

A/N 2: Okay, I posted it. _^,,^_ I was just getting excited by the number of reviews in FF.net that I was getting as I was writing the end of this chapter. I was going to wait to post this until it reached 75! ::GRINS:: Please let me know what you think of this one. Arigatou!

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A Demon Should Act Like A Demon

By Ericedwyn

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Chapter Eleven: The Way To Control

~* At Sesshoumaru's Fortress *~

The Taiyoukai stared at the ceiling as he laid on his futon. It had been another restless night resulting from opening memories of the past as well as from thoughts of the woman who slumbered next door.

At one point during the early hours of the morning, he had focused, for an undetermined amount of time, on the sound of her shallow breathing. His oversensitive ears had also picked up the kitsune's breathing mingling with hers to his annoyance. 'That kit needs to learn how to sleep in his own room.'

Sesshoumaru, having learned self-control and self-discipline at a very young age, has learned how to function with very little sleep. Yet his fatigued body cried out for rest while slight dark smudging under his eyes marred his beautiful face.

Again his thoughts returned to Kagome. He had to admit that he has never met anyone quite like her, even when she was human. 'When did I start seeing her as anything besides a weak, disgusting human?' He had been shocked when she accidentally pulled tetsusaiga from the stone slab and when her arrow transformed it from a fang to a regular katana. 'When was it?'

He frowned at the ceiling as if it had done something untoward. Then a memory of an event when he had battled Inuyasha, when he was driven by youkai rage, came to his mind. After he committed the last blow that rendered his brother unconscious, she had faced him to stop the battle. 'She didn't even have a weapon ready,' he mused as he thought of the Miko. 'Brave, reckless, loyal…'

'Her loyalty was misplaced, as was her love,' he thought grumbling. Sesshoumaru didn't doubt that his Hanyou brother had great feelings for the Miko next door, but it disgusted him when he made a fool of himself with the undead Kikyou. It was reminiscent of his father's dealing with his women.

He combed his fingers through the silkiness of his hair and let his arm drop on the bed beside him. 'Kagome needs someone more consistent,' he thought decidedly.

'Like you?' A voice in his mind questioned. The Demon Lord groaned inwardly and rolled on the bed to his side, adjusting the side of his head comfortably on his bended arm. He left it unanswered as he closed his eyes, only to think about another occasion that moved him.

~*~*~*~ Flashback ~*~*~*~

The stench of the decapitated demons that littered the battlegrounds was offensive to the Taiyoukai's highly sensitive nose. He caught a movement from his peripheral and severed another youkai, who had tried to surprise him, in half with Toujikin. 'Pathetic.'

Then he caught sight of something green and white among the fallen. The blue-black tresses shifted as the woman's head rose from her arms on the ground. Kagome failed to see or hear the movement behind her, but he did. He heard his brother scream her name, but Inuyasha was too far away to do anything.

He rushed forward with his sword raised. She looked up at him then, and he remembered how her dark blue eyes had filled with fear as he had approached her.

"Duck," he simply said, and without question, Kagome slammed herself flat on the floor before he cleaved the head off of the youkai behind her.

He watched as she turned her head to look at the object that made a "thud" sound as it fell next to her, and froze as the dead eyes of a boar youkai stared at her. She gasped before looking up at her rescuer. His eyes locked unto hers and searched for the fear that had appeared there just seconds before. He did not find it. In its stead, he found gratitude.

He broke the eye contact and turned to walk away from her, sheathing his sword. He heard his brother running to his wench asking if she was hurt.

He stopped when he heard soft footsteps behind him. Without turning, he knew it was her. The Miko's heavenly scent alone overrode the stench of death. She made it easier for him to abide the place.

Kagome reached out, barely touching his arm through his sleeve, but she withdrew her hand just as quickly as she touched him, as if she had touched embers. Sesshoumaru had been surprised by the jolt of electricity that coursed through his arm. Her effect on him made it difficult for him to keep his usual mask of indifference, so he didn't look at her as she spoke.

"Ano, Sesshoumaru-sama... Arigatou for saving my life," Kagome had said softly. He could see from the corners of his eyes that she wasn't looking at him directly.

Sesshoumaru laid his eyes on her then, drinking in her beautifully reddened cheeks and her dark, long eyelashes. His heart's rhythm had quickened, and he began to feel uncomfortable near the human's presence. He felt the need to vacate immediately, but found himself saying the first thing that came to his mind. "I, Sesshoumaru, did it only to get in the way of Naraku's plan. Your death would have meant his success." He left the scene quickly with a befuddled woman staring after him.

~*~*~*~ End of the Flashback ~*~*~*~

"By the Gods, why did I say something so foolish…' He sighed, berating himself the same way each time he looked back on that specific event. But somehow, since that fateful day, he has found it very difficult in keeping her image from invading his mind. Even when he was hundreds of miles away, it was as if her scent followed him everywhere.

'And she is just in the next room…' He rolled to his back to stare at the ceiling again. He remembered Tsumi asking him if he was in love with Kagome before he left the fortress. He had looked at her speechless. 'In love?'

'Am I in love?' Sesshoumaru marred his face with a deep frown. 'I find her beautiful. I am attracted to her. Her presence is… pleasing…'

Sesshoumaru sat up and climbed out of bed to watch the sun about to rise from his window. 'But surely that doesn't mean love…'

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Two hours later, Sesshoumaru entered Kagome's bedchamber with the intention to check on how she was doing. He found her awake, still in bed, with her back towards him.

"How are you feeling?"

When he didn't receive an answer, he crossed the room to face her. He looked at her hollow, far away eyes and inwardly cringed at her unresponsiveness. 'Just like Mother.'

Sesshoumaru felt a dread come over him. He tried again. "It is rude to ignore someone who is speaking to you."

Nothing…

'This is not right. This is not the Kagome I know. She will not end up like my mother.' He felt his anger rise.

He left the room only to return a few minutes later carrying an haori and hakama in his hands. He dropped them on the writing table.

'Now how to get her out of bed...' With very little qualm, he pulled her blanket off of her. Kagome gave him a startled glance. "Get up or I'll drag you out."

"No," she simply said and stared out of the window from the bed.

Sesshoumaru's anger rose a notch. He didn't feel like playing any games with her when she's like this, and he always meant what he said. Sesshoumaru firmly took her by the arm and dragged her to her feet.

"How dare you!" She shrieked, her eyes glinting with anger.

"I dare." 'At least they are no longer hollow,' he thought as he searched her storming dark-blue eyes. 'I will take whatever I can get.'

The Taiyoukai took the articles of clothing from the writing table and shoved them into her hands. "Change into those. Your training starts today."

Kagome glared at Sesshoumaru, stomped her foot, then walked past him towards the bathing room. 'Arrogant, self-centered, bastard… Who does he think he is?' She threw the yukata she was wearing on the floor and shoved her legs into the hakama. When she was dressed, she stomped out into her bedroom.

Sesshoumaru didn't wait to hear anything she had to say but left the room intending for her to follow him. He led her down the north wing of the fortress to the dojo. It was a place she had seen only once while she was playing hide and seek with the children last week.

He crossed the room until he was standing in the middle of the room. He waited until she has entered the room and closed the door behind her. "Defend yourself." He said calmly as he rushed towards her with claws extended.

Kagome's eyes went wide with shock and sidestepped to her right when he neared her. He moved in a human paced speed, but she still wasn't fast enough. His claws caught the left sleeve of her yukata and it was sliced into shreds.

She looked down at her arm, but before she could check for damages, he attacked her again. "Where are your eyes, Woman?" She ducked as he swiped. "Keep them on your opponent."

She ran as fast as she could to the other side before he could corner her. She turned around and waited for him to come at her again. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears. She knew he wouldn't really hurt her; he has kept her alive for the last two weeks. But Sesshoumaru was still an enigma to her, and he can be extremely unpredictable.

Somewhere deep inside, she felt the stirring of thrill for the game. She placed her weight on the balls of her feet to get ready. When he approached her, she ducked as she sidestepped. She tried to slash at her opponent's back with her extending claws, but he was too fast for her yet again.

Sesshoumaru smelled the excitement in her scent. 'She is beginning to like the game.' Sesshoumaru grinned darkly as he turned to face her from across the room.

Kagome's heart nearly stopped at the sinful beauty of the smile that he directed at her. 'Kami, he's so beautiful… Ack! What am I thinking? Concentrate, baka! You might get hurt!'

He started to walk towards her, still grinning, watching her like a hawk. With growing impatience, she decided she wasn't going to play the victim, and attacked him. She raised her arm to deal him a mock blow, but he grabbed her wrist and captured her mouth with his lips in a brief kiss before pushing her away from him.

Her eyes went wide when she felt her senses come back to her and gained footing again. "What was that?!?"

'Foreplay,' he said in his head. "A counterattack," he said loudly.

Her cheeks began to burn crimson as her anger began to build. "You play dirty, Sesshoumaru."

"I never said I played fair. Attack me, Kagome." Sesshoumaru turned his back slightly towards her to provoke her even more. "You know you want to…" The Demon Lord's words flowed like wine…smooth. He had bowed his head, watching her through the corners of his eyes. His silver bangs almost hid them, but she thought she saw them glint crimson.

She couldn't understand how those words were affecting her… rather how the sound of his voice felt like she was being caressed. She knew this was a dangerous place to thread in, but something inside of her wanted it to continue. It was thrilling… She didn't know that her eyes were darkening…

She curled her fingers and felt the sharpness of her claws on her palms. Without thought, she went for the attack, slicing at Sesshoumaru. Left, right, over and over again… and Sesshoumaru evaded each and every one, carefully watching as her eyes grew more and more crimson.

She jumped back and landed gracefully a few feet away from him. In the expanse of the dojo, she started to circle him like prey. She licked her bottom lip as she studied him for an opening. It was then did she notice the change in his scent. He was giving off the same kind of scent as she was. Her lips curled into a smile.

He watched as she circled him with great interest. He wondered if she knew how her smile is affecting him. He was rather surprised that someone so virginal could have such a seductive smile. He felt his blood boil.

He can tell from her scent and movements that her instincts are beginning to take over. He wanted to see how well she can control herself when or if her demon rage takes over. He smiled as her circling grew smaller.

He lashed out when she was at arms length, startling her and slicing through the other sleeve of her haori. She retaliated by blindly attacking him with her claws, clearly not in control. He backhanded her, enough to force her to the ground but not to hurt her. She stared at him as she touched her jaw where he had hit her. Her red eyes blazed, as she jumped to her feet to attack him again.

Just as soon as she jumped to her feet, she was sprawled on the floor again. "Take control, Bitch." However, his words fell on deaf ears as she lunged at him again. He didn't hesitate when he punched the air out of her stomach. She fell backwards on the floor. "Keep this foolishness up, Kagome, and the lesson will become even more painful."

Kagome climbed to her hands and knees. She didn't look up but eyed him from the corners of her eyes through the curtain of her dark tresses. She struggled against her instincts to continue to fight, but kept herself down on the floor.

He continued to observe Kagome as she struggled. He was impressed by her efforts to keep herself from attacking him. He was surprised by how quickly she was learning. If this had been Inuyasha he was teaching, he would still be at it. He looked at the red eyes peeking through the fall of her blue-black hair.

She continued to repress her rage as she curled her fingers against the floor into fists, feeling her own claws dig into her palms. She felt the wetness that cried from the wounds, but she started to feel the edge leave.

She pushed off the ground to sit on her heels. She stared briefly at the small drips of blood on the floor in front of her, before finally locking her red gaze with his golden one. "Did I pass?" She growled softly.

"Hai, Kagome. You did better than I expected." He murmured softly as he walked towards her. He kneeled on one knee as he took one of her hands in his. He watched as her eyes began to change in color.

Without breaking his gaze, he slowly licked each small wound she made on her palm, his tongue and saliva sealing them closed. Her blood had tasted salty and sweet in his mouth. He heard her soft gasp and noticed the change in her breathing and pulse. Her claws have retracted, yet he slipped each finger slowly into his mouth, to remove the blood that tainted them.

She tried to look away, but she couldn't. Her dark-blue eyes felt trapped by golden bonds. Her lips parted and felt her breathing becoming ragged. She couldn't understand the feeling that is going through her. 'What is this? What am I feeling?'

Without looking away, he took her other hand in his and gently gave it the same treatment. When he was finished, he helped her to stand. His eyes fell on her parted lips, and wrapped his arm around her waist.

Kagome allowed herself to be pulled in closer in his embrace, and closed her eyes when his lips descended on hers. His lips felt warm against hers, and she almost cried out when his lips sucked on her bottom lip.

"Sesshoumaru-sama!" A voice outside called out after the rapping on the door outside the dojo.

Sesshoumaru cursed under his breath as he heard Jaken's voice. 'I am going to kill him.' He gave her upper lip a nipping kiss before pulling away. He reluctantly removed his arm around her waist and moved to open the door of the dojo. "NANI?"

Jaken took a few steps back at the sound of his Master's voice and the thundering look on his usually stoic face. "You… you told me to c…come get you w…when Tsumi has returned, My Lord."

"Leave." Sesshoumaru barked at Jaken, but Kagome slipped past him quickly as she left the dojo. "Not you, Kagome..." He called out to her, but she had already turned the corner. Sesshoumaru growled and mentally threw the thought of kicking Jaken out of his mind.

He followed the steps Kagome had taken down the hall with Jaken trailing behind him, to look for Tsumi.

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Glossary: (For new Japanese terms only. Please see the previous chapters for other terms used in this chapter. Arigatou!)

Ano - Excuse me

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Next chapter summary teaser: Sesshoumaru teaches Kagome the way of the sword. She overdoes it and later needs help getting out of the furo. Who's there to help when Tsumi has left for another errand?

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Responses to Reviews: Arigatou gozaimazu, minna-san. I hope you are enjoying reading my story as much as I am enjoying writing it. Please let me know what you think of this chapter. Again, I want to tell you how much your review means to me. I can't wait to read them. _^,,^_

FF.net reviews (WOW! 74 reviews!):

Shichan: Thanks! So do I. "Sess, tell her you love her already, darn it!"

Mala: I am glad you enjoyed Chapter 11. Hope you like Chapter 12.

Me..(): Thank you for your wonderful words. Now, I'm gonna cry. ::sniffsniff::

Clow Angel: I'll try to make it up to Sess and Kagome and Inuyasha, too! Thank you for your review.

Laura: Almost is good enough! ::grins:: Hope you enjoy the next chapter! I'm posting this chapter as soon as I finish replying to the reviews.

Cecilia: I am glad I sparked your interest. I hope to continue to do so. Enjoy!

A reader (): I'm really enjoying what I am writing and hope to be consistent in my output rate even though the course I am taking for the next 5 weeks and 2 days is making me cry.

Silver Dragonfly: Thank you for your review!

Yin-lin Hu: Hope you got my e-mail. Thank you for reviewing!

CTCandInuyasha60516(): Oh, you're gonna make me cry too! Arigatou for your reviews, though. I hope you laughed at some parts too! Inu65, I'm glad the glossary helps. That's cool about your royal Russian blood! I think you should learn both! Like one for fun and one for your heritage.

The Good the Bad and the Freak: Thank you for your 10/10 100% rating. Your name rocks!

Nankinmai: Thank you again for reviewing and for your support. I'm glad you liked the way I wrote Sess' past. Shippou sniffed the lingering scent of Sesshoumaru on Kagome's cheek when he had caressed it before going to the window.

m.e.: Arigatou. I hope you liked Chapter 11! _^,,^_

^.^(): Thank you!! I'll try to start the next chapter soon.

SapphireStar: I was going to post, but caught your review. ::Adds her response at the last minute:: Inu will have to try to help Kagome deal with his wish. Kagome will also have a big doggie form like Sess, but that's farther along in the story.

MM.org Reviews:

Duo no Tsuin: I really enjoy your long reviews! I've gotten to the point in my story where I can't reveal too much anymore, but I hope you will continue to read and enjoy it. It's going to get a whole lot more interesting now that I've finished most of the set up of the story. Oh, yeah. Popcorn good, burning down house, bad! As far as the full demon thing, it's in the Prologue. Inuyasha tells Sesshoumaru what Kagome became. Arigatou for your reviews and rating!

Lady love: Thank you for reviewing my work! Hoped you liked Chapter 11.

Miss_Marilyn69: Here's more. ;) Thank you for continued support, Miss Marilyn!